Mania: Top Ten Comics, Dec. 10-17, 1997

Iron Man is back! And now Tony Stark, returned after a year in Franklin Richards' pocket universe, must decide what to do with his new life. He tries to go for a walk and think about his future...but finds himself waylaid by super-assassins! It's a good thing Tony is really Iron Ma--uh, it's a good thing Tony's bodyguard Iron Man is there! Yeah, that's the ticket...

Kurt Busiek has been itching to write Iron Man for years, and all of that waiting and practicing has paid off in one of the best Iron Man stories of the decade! This issue reintroduces Iron Man and his cast, and it also introduced Shellhead's brand-spanking-new armor! Whoo-hoo!

Iron Man #1 is available at our on-line store.

Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1: 3-D Edition

Written by Kurt Busiek
Drawn by Brent Anderson and Will Blyberg
Cover by Alex Ross

This special 3-D edition reprints the first issue of the new Homage incarnation of Astro City...in 3-D! This issue will reintroduce you to Samaritan, Honor Guard, and the other heroes of Astro City from the perspective of a man and his daughter on the day they move to the city...which is also the day Thunderhead tries to level the city! In 3-D!

If you've missed early issues of Astro City, this is your big chance to catch up on things...in 3-D! There's nothing like seeing an Alex Ross painting or a sentient storm by Brent Anderson and Will Blyberg jump off the page at you...in 3-D!

Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1: 3-D Edition is available at our on-line store.

Darkness #10

Written by David Wohl and Christina Z.
Pencilled by Marc Silvestri, Joe Benitez, and Clarence Lansang
Inked by Joe Weems, Jason Gorder, Livesav, Edwin Rosell, Marlo Alquiza, and Richard Bennett

In part three of the Darkness/Witchblade "Family Ties" crossover, Jamie Estacado and Sara Pezzini finally face off against one another. And as if that weren't bad enough, the Yakuza and Nottingham fall into the fray as well!

This crossover series pairs up two of Top Cow's biggest stars with explosive results. The "Family Ties" story promises to shake things up in the Top Cow universe, and this story sure is shaking!

Darkness #10 is available at our on-line store.

Witchblade #19

Written by Christina Z. and David Wohl
Drawn by Michael Turner and D-Tron

What do you get when you combine the Witchblade and the Darkness? Here's a hint: don't try it at home. But Sara Pezzini and Jamie Estacado don't have that option when their powers are stolen and combined into on entity in a story that will change everything you thought you knew about Witchblade!

This story in an important turning point in the Witchblade saga, as Sara has a chance to be free of the Witchblade's power just as she's wanted all along. But now that she has the chance, she's not so sure she really wants to take it! Witchblade #19 is available at our on-line store.

JLA: Year One #2

Written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn
Drawn by Barry Kitson

Aquaman. Black Canary. Flash. Green Lantern. Martian Manhunter. These heroes represent the dawn of a new heroic age...and the mysterious Locus group wants to nip it in the bud. And with the help of high-powered villains like Solomon Grundy, Thorn, Eclipso, and Clayface, they just might succeed!

This series is a blast from the past that makes the DC Universe and the JLA feel brand-new all over again! This issue is full of little touches like cameos from the retired Justice Society heroes and other characters who aren't yet super-heroes! JLA: Year One #2 is available at our on-line store.

Fighting American: Rules of the Game #1

Written by Jeph Loeb
Pencilled by Ed McGuinness
Inked by Nathan Massengill and Marlo Alquiza
Cover by Rob Liefeld

When last we saw Fighting American, he had quit his costumed identity! And now, not even personal pleas from his sidekick Spice can bring him back. But when Poison Ivan and Hotsky Trotsky strike Fighting American where he lives, he may have no choice but to get back in the game!

Fighting American is one of the most talked-about books in recent memory, and after you see this issue, it's not hard to see why! This issue also reintroduces more classic Simon and Kirby characters from the original Fighting American series!

Fighting American: Rules of the Game #1 is available at our on-line store.

Gen13 #25

Written by Brandon Choi
Drawn by Al Rio

Caitlin, Roxy, and Grunge have returned from a desolate future just in the nick of time to stop the events that led to the D'Rahn takeover of Earth! But once they've accomplished their mission, Caitlin finds herself wrestling with doubts that could tear apart the team.

This issue also presents an 8-page story by the new Gen13 creative team of John Arcudi, Gary Frank, and Cam Smith, who take over next issue -- and that makes this a great jumping on point for new readers!

Gen13 #25 is available at our on-line store.

Wolverine: Days of Future Past #3

Written by John Francis Moore and Joe Casey
Pencils by Joe Bennett
Inks by Holdredge, Diaz, Hanna, and Wong

This mini-series returns to the X-Men's dark potential future, as Wolverine, Magneto, and a few mutant rebels fight to set a world ruled by Sentinels right again! They've got their work cut out for them...and that's before Baron Zemo and the Hellfire Club get involved!

"Days of Future Past" is one of the classic mutant storylines, and this series does a great job of building on it! And maybe by the end of this book, the future won't be so dark after all...

Wolverine: Days of Future Past #3 is available at our on-line store.

Legends of the DC Universe #1

Written by James Robinson
Pencils by Val Semeiks
Inks by Paul Neary

It's early in Superman's career, and the DC Universe is just starting to get used to these super-powered beings in their midst. And Lex Luthor still has hair. So far, Superman has taken all comers -- but he may not be up to handling the menace of the U.L.T.R.A. Humanite!

This issue not only kicks off a great new series, it also presents an intriguing look at a Superman who's not completely sure of himself and his Kryptonian powers. Add a beautiful painted cover, and you've got a winner of a book here!

Legends of the DC Universe #1 is available at our on-line store.

X-Factor #142

Written by Bill Rosemann
Drawn by Leo Fernandez and Dan Green

This issue reveals the secret history of Wild Child and his past with Valerie Cooper, as the fugitive mutant seeks refuge in her home on Christmas Eve! It should be an occasion for a happy reunion...but it won't be, if Sabretooth has anything to say about it!

We rarely get to see Marvel's mutant characters off duty these days, and this issue not only lets you do that, but it also presents a major turning point in the life of a key mutant!

X-Factor #142 is available at our on-line store.

previous hot picks

Top Ten Comics, Dec. 10-17, 1997

Top Ten, Dec. 5 - Dec. 12, 1997

Top Ten Comics for Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, 1997

Top Ten, Nov. 19-25, 1997

Hot Picks for November 12 - November 18, 1997

Hot Picks, Nov. 7, 1997

Hot Picks, Oct. 31, 1997

Hot Picks, Oct. 24, 1997

Hot Picks, Oct. 17, 1997

Hot Picks, Oct. 10, 1997

Hot Picks, Oct. 3, 1997

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Iron Man #1

Written by Kurt Busiek Drawn by Sean Chen and Eric Cannon

Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1: 3-D Edition

Written by Kurt Busiek Drawn by Brent Anderson and Will Blyberg Cover by Alex Ross

Darkness #10

Written by David Wohl and Christina Z. Pencilled by Marc Silvestri, Joe Benitez, and Clarence Lansang Inked by Joe Weems, Jason Gorder, Livesav, Edwin Rosell, Marlo Alquiza, and Richard Bennett

Witchblade #19

Written by Christina Z. and David Wohl Drawn by Michael Turner and D-Tron

JLA: Year One #2

Written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn Drawn by Barry Kitson