MTV Splash Page Includes Top Cow In Cyber Monday Deals Roundup

If you're anything like me, there are very few deals enticing enough to brave the Black Friday crowds at various retailers. (In fact, the image on top is what comes to mind when I think about what awaits me at stores' Black Friday sales.) Heck, with the amount of Cyber Monday offers flying around the 'Net today, you no longer have to leave your desk to snag a good price on various comics and comics-related swag.

After spending the first half of the day crawling through the Interwebs and getting suggestions from Splash Page readers about their favorite Cyber Monday comics deals, I've compiled a list of some of the most notable deals I've discovered from the comics side of Cyber Monday madness. From best-selling comics and comic book collections to digital comics, movies, games and assorted merch, it's great to be a comics fan this Cyber Monday.

50% Off Everything At Top Cow Store: Top Cow informs us that their half-off everything sale continues today, too. In order to get the discount, use the promo code "IWANTMORECOW" at checkout.

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Comic Book Revolution's Week's End Pulls Angelus #1 and Image United

Most Anticipated Comic for December: Angelus #1



While this series hasn’t been at the forefront of my radar, I still added it to the pull list as it’s Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic the great team behind Witchblade

Comic of the Week: Image United #1



Image United’s issue really blew me away with some gorgeous art and a lot of great character moments but at the same time the plot was very thin.

Though the thin plot was made up for as the characters where all written incredibly well and the artwork was absolutely gorgeous. A stunning view to the eyes and having each character drawn by their creator was such a brilliant idea.

While this issue was really something that Image fans will probably appreciate more then anyone else I still loved the hell out of it and for me it was the best comic this week.


Artists of the Week: Rob Liefeld, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, Whilce Portacio and Todd McFarlane.

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Newsarama Exclusive: Pilot Season: Murderer #1 Preview

Pilot Season: Murderer #1

(W) Robert Kirkman
(A) Nelson Blake II
(Cov) Marc Silvestri

From the creative minds of Image partners Robert Kirkman & Marc Silvestri!

Jason Sparks is cursed. His every waking moment is bombarded with the thoughts of those around him. Every dirty little secret, every hidden desire, screamed at him in a cacophony of voices in his head. The only way to silence these voices, the only thing that brings him a moment of piece... is murder. But he's trying to use his powers for good.

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 pilot

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Silvestri Original Art Auction for Charity

New Leash on Life ebay auction

Featuring an original piece of Marc Silvestri's art to benefit this fabulous organization that rehabilitates shelter dogs and finds them permanent happy homes! This is a great opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to own a piece of Marc's original artwork.

The art piece is a page from the recent Marvel comic "Civil War" Issue #1, page 23.

Click the link below and bid now!

EBAY AUCTION.

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Flippin' Thru Previews 'December' Spotlight Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer trade

Raise your hand if you love Previews #255! Yee-ha!!!!

If you've been really, really antsy for the trade of Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer (and honestly, why wouldn't you be?), it's offered on page 172 (10 February) for 15 bucks. Now that's value!


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TOP COW 50% Off Sale Continues for Cyber Monday

The Top Cow 50% OFF the entire Top Cow Store continues for Cyber Monday!

Get your Christmas shopping done early and catch up on all your favorite titles like Witchblade, Berserker, The Darkness, Tracker and more with the promo code: IWANTMORECOW!

TOP COW STORE.

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The SHADOWS & FLAME Within The DARKNESS

You should be afraid – not of what you can see in the darkness, but what you can't see in the Darkness.

For the comics character the Darkness, the same holds true. Created over ten years ago by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis and David Wohl, the Darkness is more than just one character – it's a cast, a mood and a mythology of the legacy of the mantle fo the Darkness through time. Rooted in horror, The Darkness title has explored many different areas but in the upcoming one-shot The Darkness: Shadows & Flames coming out in January, those horror roots come full circle – Lovecraft style.

Writer Rob Levin and artist Jorge Lucas are telling the story of a man who is a shadow of his former self. Salvador Gomes' spirit and life are broken after the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter, and he's now alone with only his thoughts and fears to keep him company. All this idle time leads Gomes to finding what he calls 'The Shadow God" and tries to bargain with him – no matter what the price.

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More Witchblade Cosplay at AFA09

Alodia (http://alodiagosiengfiao.com/) and her younger sister Ashley (http://orangeish.deviantart.com/) dressed up as the girls from Witchblade.



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Commentary Track: Image United #1

With the highly anticipated "Image United" finally in stores, fans are understandably poring over the long-awaited first issue, but there are plenty of details and story choices made by the creative team that might not be noticeable at a first - or even second or third - glance.

In an effort to point out some of these behind-the-scenes creative decisions, CBR News has tapped the "Image United" creators and Image Comics partners — writer Robert Kirkman and founders Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino — for a series of Director's Commentaries following the debut of each issue.

For "Image United" #1, CBR spoke with Kirkman and Liefeld, the writer and layout artist duo behind the first issue of the miniseries. The pair provided a scene-by-scene breakdown of the entire issue and offered their reactions to seeing "Image United" come together for the first time.

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Image United #1 Sells Out!

The debut issue of Image Comics' major crossover event Image United has sold out at the distribution level.

The first issue of the six-part miniseries - written by Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Walking Dead) - sold out immediately after its debut this week despite what Image called a "significant overprint", and will receive a second printing.

Image United sees company founders Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino reuniting to illustrate the comic.

The series sees heroes from Image titles including Youngblood, Spawn, Savage Dragon, Witchblade and The Darkness uniting to battle the original Spawn.

Image United #1 second printing will be released on December 23.

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50% Off Entire TOP COW Store This Weekend!

If you visit the Top Cow Store over the weekend and enter IWANTMORECOW, you get 50% off EVERYTHING!

TOP COW STORE

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Wizard Magazine Includes Top Cow in their Decade Issue

Wizard Magazine has included Top Cow in their Decade Issue out this month.

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Around Comics Talks Comics, Darkness, Phil Hester with Lance Briggs

Around Comics welcomes Bears great, and uber comics fan Lance Briggs to this week's show. Lance is one of the best players in the NFL, and he's also a dedicated comic book fan. Listen in as he talks about growing up with comics, how he's kept his love of comics alive through college and during his NFL career, and The Darkness.

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Chicago Bears linebacker a big aficionado of genre comics

Lance Briggs sank into the squishy red upholstered chair at Challengers Comics on Western Avenue. He sank so deeply his chin peeked above the table top before him. And though he looked a bit uncomfortable, he smiled like a kid who just found the compatriots he never knew he had.

He turned to Tom Katers, who sat across from him, whose face was half the size of Briggs' neck, and he said, yes, he was like Katers, he was a member of their "secret society."

Briggs said later he doesn't usually admit to that, certainly not to his friends or his teammates.

Not that he's ashamed.

It's just that, well, you know, he works weekends, has this intense job, and doesn't meet many people as obsessed with comic books.

Indeed, Briggs, 29, may be the most nonchalant comic book geek in the world, understandably oblivious to the taunts and snickers that greet your average, physically less-intimidating hard-core enthusiast.

So there was Briggs at Challengers the other night, prowling its aisles, stooping to examine a cover, then adding it to the expanding mound of $3 issues he was gathering beneath his arm, his eyes never leaving the racks. He's a big reader of "The Darkness," "New X-Men," "Pitt," "Silver Surfer." His total bill, a couple of hours later: $154.54.

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Lance Briggs can't wait for Darkness single issues

1 Bears linebacker and comic book fan Lance Briggs buys more single issues than trade paperbacks. Even die-hards wait for the paperbacks, which often collect a number of issues based around a certain story line in a handy, cheaper package. But you do have to wait, and Briggs can't wait.

2 He knows his stuff, who guest-starred where, which mutant is feuding with which sorcerer. ("I get behind," he said, "but I like getting behind because the nice thing is having someone say, 'You have to read this,' and I do and I get hooked again.")

3 His favorites are not trendy within comic-book circles or well-known to noncomic-book fans -- "The Darkness," "Pitt," for example.

4 He's a continuity freak -- he prefers comics that retain consistent plot threads over a series of years and throughout a variety of crossover titles. That's a point of dispute among aficionados, some of whom think it leaves comics inaccessible to newcomers.

5 He started a social-networking site dedicated to serious comic-book discussion: lancescomicworld.com.

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LED Witchblade Cosplays at AFA 2009 Regional Championships

WitchBlade from Philippines, highly anticipated team due to their costumes. They put in a lot of efforts in their costumes with the LEDs installed and WELL-HIDDEN. It added very nice effects to their performance. Their make up and hair styles were very well done too. Accurate to the anime -according to Kaname San. The performance had a bit of storyline, with the first beaten then triumph hero ending.

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Robert Kirkman Takes Over Pilot Season

Writer Robert Kirkman isn't a hostage taker, but that's not stopping him from taking over "Pilot Season," Top Cow Productions' unique competition that asks readers to select one of several pilot issues to continue on as a miniseries. Past incarnations of the competition have seen a diverse roster of creators working on the "Pilot Season" titles, but this year's contest only has two masterminds: the aforementioned Kirkman, who is writing each of the five titles, and Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri, who is responsible for each book's visual design. Five illustrators - Nelson Blake II, Joe Benitez, Sheldon Mitchell, Bernard Chang and Brian Stelfreeze - will join Kirkman and Silvestri as the interior artists for each of the different issues.

Follow the link below to see unlettered pages from Pilot Season: Murderer.

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Berserker #4 just as gory as the others

If you're worried that Jeremy Haun is going to make Berserker #4 any less gory and visceral then your fears are unfounded. But there's nothing like a little friendly competition among artists as to who can out-gore the other.

Berserker #4 will feature covers by both Haun and Dale Keown and both really escalate the violence. Keown did a variant cover for Berserker #3 where Aaron snarls through his opponent's blood and guts as he tears him in half, and for this issue it looks like he's going a step further.

“In addition to producing a compelling story, both Jeremy Haun and Dale Keown seem to be engaged in a good natured competition to see who can produce the grittiest cover image” said Top Cow Publisher, Filip Sablik.

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Image Creators Unite TONIGHT LIVE for IMAGE UNITED Chat on Newsarama

On Wednesday, November 25th a unique comic book event begins. Six of the original Image Comics founders – Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, Erik Larsen, Marc Silvestri, Todd McFarlane, and Whilce Portacio – along with new Image partner Robert Kirkman, will unite and reunite for Image United. This six-issue limited series features all of the Image Universe's major characters like Spawn, Youngblood, Witchblade, Invincible, the Savage Dragon, and Shadowhawk, in a story written by Kirkman and uniquely illustrated by ALL of the original six creators, each drawing their own characters and creations, sometimes on the same page.

To mark the debut of the first issue, Newsarama announces a unique, live online Image United event.

On Tuesday evening, November 24th at 7pm EST, the night before issue #1 goes on sale, Newsarama will welcome all seven creators in a 90 minute online interview/chat hosted by our own Vaneta Rogers, and all comic book fans from around the world are invited to attend.

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Ron Marz & Image United in MTV's Twitter Report

@robertliefeld My 2 boys tore into my Image United copies, they were soo digging it, I ran to get my camera http://www.youtube.com/watc...
-Rob Liefeld, Writer/Artist ("X-Force," "Onslaught Reborn")

Parting Wisdom for the Day:

@ronmarz Lesson from 2009: If you make a shitty movie involving giants robots, vampires, werewolves or sulky teenage girls, people will see it.
-Ron Marz, Writer ("Green Lantern," "Witchblade")


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Wanted Named in 83 Best Superhero Projects of the Decade We're Leaving

The Comics Reporter is still in the process of building his Best Of lists for the decade we are currently exiting.

His final superhero comics list, due in early 2010 along with his overall list, will be posted, shortened a bit, altered slightly and ranked #1 to #whatever.

Included on his Best Superhero Projects of the Decade is Wanted.



* Wanted, series and trade, Mark Millar and JG Jones, Image (2003-2005)

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CBR Previews The Darkness #81

Story by: Phil Hester
Art by: Phil Hester
Cover by: Michael Broussard
Publisher: Top Cow Productions
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: Wed, November 25th, 2009

Jackie Estacado, in his quest to destroy all of The Sovereign’s remaining vessels, must first overcome an ancient swamp creature known only as “Bog”. And if an unbeatable ancient creature wasn’t enough, Jackie will also have to contend with the unkillable mercenary known only as Scab! Featuring a brand new cover by regular The Darkness artist Michael Broussard.

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Image United Weekly: Todd McFarlane Interview

We've been talking to the artists behind Image United over the last few weeks, and it's probably not surprising that we've saved Todd McFarlane for last.

One of the more recognizable comic book names outside the industry, McFarlane became a comic book superstar in the '80s as a (and later “the”) Spider-Man artist. In 1992, he launched Image Comics with Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. The group advocated self-ownership of characters and concepts, and McFarlane's Image series Spawn became somewhat of a phenomenon in the early '90s, inspiring a feature movie and later TV animated series.


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Pendragon's Post shows off Berserker #4 final cover images

Berserker is the first comic book series Top Cow has released in conjunction with DiVide Pictures, the production company founded by Milo Ventimiglia of Television’s Heroes fame and Russ Cundiff.

Written and created by screenwriter Rick Loverd (Boston Public, Friday Night Lights) with art by Jeremy Haun (Battle for the Cowl: Arkham, Chuck), Berserker #4 explores what happens when the Berserkers led by Midgard and Asgaard hunt down and push Farris and Aaron over the edge. As both rival groups compete to recruit these powerful young Berserkers to their respective causes, one wonders if there can truly be a winner. Will there be any hope for a return to humanity for Farris and Aaron after they awake from their frenzied rage?

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Quarter Bin Reviews Berserker #3

The gore-fest known as Berserker continues this week, with the third issue of the miniseries hitting shops Wednesday. Want to know what we thought? Keep on reading.

When we last saw Farris and Aaron, they were still dealing with their recently awakened Berserker powers, struggling with the curse and the horrific acts they had unconsciously committed. I was worried that the six-issue story arc wasn’t moving along quickly enough, and that writer Rick Loverd wouldn’t have time to develop a well-paced story in the remaining issues. However, this month, things start… happening. The two separae protagonists begin to veer in different directions, and their lives aren’t running parallel anymore.

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Impulse Creations' November Pull-O-Rama Includes Berserker #3 and Darkness #81

November’s Pull-O-Rama is now up at the Impulse Creations forums. This time it features reviews of Cinderella: With Love from Fabletown, Berserker #3, The Darkness #81, and Resurrection #5.

“Berserker #3 grabs you by the innards and refuses to let go.” - Berserker #3

"Scab mixes in a decent amount of entertainment through humor and a daredevil personality, and arguably his character makes the story at hand worthwhile. The Darkness #81 offers fans a comic both written and drawn by Hester." - Darkness #81

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Comic Box Reviews Darkness #81 (in French)

Darkness #81 [Top Cow]
Scénario et dessin de Phil Hester
Sortie aux USA le mercredi 25 novembre 2009

Il est fort, il est puissant et même capable d’être vicieux dans ses tactiques. Mais il y a des moments où le Darkness ne fait tout simplement pas le poids. Et si le protagoniste principal de la série terminait l’épisode précédent en assez mauvaise posture (un classique des cliffhangers), les choses ne s’arrangent pas pour lui. Le « Bog », monstre boueux hantant les marais depuis des siècles, a tout simplement l’habitude de pulvériser tous ceux qui approchent de trop près ses « prêtresses ». Bon, personne ne vous prendra pour un lecteur tombé de la dernière pluie. Le Darkness survit à la rencontre, avouons-le, mais les choses sont loin de lui être facilité. Phil Hester sculptee avec talent un personnage qui d’un côté correspond à un archétype des comics (le bio-monstre planqué dans les bayous) mais de l’autre a quand même assez de relief pour qu’on se dise qu’on aimerait bien le voir à nouveau croiser d’autres héros de l’univers Top Cow.

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Witchblade Cosplay at Anime Festival Asia

As previously announced, Filipina cosplayers Alodia and Ashley Gosiengfiao represented the Philippines at the Anime Festival Asia Regional Cosplay Championship 2009. The sisters masterfully portrayed Amaha Masane and Shiori Tsuzuki from the Witchblade anime, complete with elaborate costumes and killer moves.

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Project Fanboy Reviews The Darkness #81

The Darkness #81 has little bad-mouthed demons, mobsters, a man that can feel no pain, and a bog monster. All of that sounds strange but makes for a surprisingly poignant and sad comic. The story, by Phil Hester, is told mostly from the perspective of a mythical swamp defender and delves deep into the tragedy that is....well being a monster.

Hester does an excellent job of juggling a few plot-lines while keeping forward momentum. The lead (and darkness vessel) Jackie Estacado continues in his quest for vengeance and destruction of The Sovereign by taking out his remaining vessels. This comic is peppered with interesting and fun characters written by Hester. The actions of one particular character, Scab, a mercenary without a conscience or the ability to feel pain have to be seen to be believed.

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The Comic Addiction Talks Many Things Top Cow on Podcast

00:00:00 - Show Starts (duh!)

00:01:48 - Image United News

00:13:44 - Ron Marz's upcoming Angelus miniseries.

00:17:14 - Top Cow's upcoming Pilot Season w/Robert Kirkman.

LISTEN HERE.

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ComiXology Previews Darkness #81

Jackie Estacado, in his quest to destroy all of The Sovereign's remaining vessels, must first overcome an ancient swamp creature known only as 'Bog'. And if an unbeatable ancient creature wasn't enough, Jackie will also have to contend with the unkillable mercenary known only as Scab! Featuring a brand new cover by regular The Darkness artist Michael Broussard.

READ MORE.

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Newsarama's IMAGE UNITED Weekly with Marc Silvestri

This week, we get more information on the process behind Image United and its story from Silvestri, who's getting to draw the characters he and his studio have made into what he calls modern icons.

Newsarama: We've talked before about how this whole project came together. But what was your personal motivation to do this? Why did the project and the opportunity appeal to you in particular?

Marc Silvestri: When Erik had that wacky idea, which is what Erik does, I think he either pitched it to Rob or to Valentino first. I'm not sure who it was. But at first, we were kind of chuckling about it, like wouldn't it be fun – or funny, depending on how you looked at it – and the more we sat and talked about it, which we did out in Arizona when we did a signing at Atomic Comics, the more fun it sounded.

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The Return of Filip Sablik on Comic Geek Speak

Filip Sablik, publisher of Top Cow, joins us to give us the scoop on Top Cow and to just talk comics.




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Comic Attack Reviews Witchblade #132

“The Bridge pt 1″: So after almost killing one of her closest friends, becoming possessed by the dark half of the Witchblade, and then finally becoming whole again, it’s time for Sara Pezzini to wind down a bit and fix a few things. And what better place to start than with her relationship with boyfriend and police partner, Patrick Gleason. While possessed, she said some things to him about their relationship that basically kicked him in the nuts, and now that she’s more herself it’s time to salvage what she can with the man she loves.

This is a Witchblade title, so you know things can’t stay normal for too long. While vacationing in Vermont, Sara and Patrick end up helping a local sheriff with a missing children’s case. However, there are things about the case that don’t sit right with Sara, so she and Gleason come back to the scene of the crimes later that night. Things take a turn for the worse as the two begin to cross a particular bridge in the park, and Gleason disappears when they split up.

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The Darkness Meets Lovecraft in One-Shot on Digital Spy

The forthcoming Top Cow Shadows and Flame one-shot will cast The Darkness into the world of HP Lovecraft.

The one-shot, penned by Rob Levin (Witchblade) with art by Jorge Lucas (The Incredible Hulk), sees its protagonist Salvador Gomes set adrift in a world of horror inspired by the legendary writer.

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ComicsPlace Lists Pilot Season: Stellar #1 As February Highlight (in French)

Le highlight de Top Cow en Février, c’est la sortie de Stellar #1 par Robert Kirkman & Bernard Chang (dans le cadre de Top Cow Pilot Season), le tout couvert par Marc Silvestri. Stellar est un cobaye devenue une menace pour la planète et exilée dans l’espace. Elle voyage dans la galaxie en sachant qu’elle ne pourra jamais revenir, et que la Terre est en danger. Que va-t-elle faire ?

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CBR First Look: Jeremy Haun's Berserker #4 and #5 Covers

Courtesy of Top Cow, CBR presents this exclusive first look at series artist Jeremy Haun's fully-colored variant covers for "Berserker" #4 and 5.

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CBR First Look: Dale Keown's Berserker #4 and #5 Covers

Courtesy of Top Cow, CBR presents this exclusive first look at Dale Keown's covers for "Berserker" #4 and 5.

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Major Spoilers Takes A Sneak Peek at Berserker #3

Top Cow sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of Berserker #3, that arrives in stores on November 25, 2009.

Berserker #3

(W) Rick Loverd (A) Jeremy Haun (Cov) Dale Keown, Jeremy Haun

The bone-crushing new series produced by Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia and DiVide Pictures continues this month! Farris realizes he has traded one war for another and refuses to fight the other Berserkers. Meanwhile Aaron must flee from the cops and other Berserkers. Featuring variant covers by series artist Jeremy Haun (Battle for the Cowl: Arkham) and Dale Keown (The Darkness/Pitt).

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Silvestri & Rest of the Image Creators Will Unite for Exclusive Live IMAGE UNITED Chat

On Wednesday, November 25th a unique comic book event begins. Six of the original Image Comics founders – Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino, Erik Larsen, Marc Silvestri, Todd McFarlane, and Whilce Portacio – along with new Image partner Robert Kirkman, will unite and reunite for Image United. This six-issue limited series features all of the Image Universe's major characters like Spawn, Youngblood, Witchblade, Invincible, the Savage Dragon, and Shadowhawk, in a story written by Kirkman and uniquely illustrated by ALL of the original six creators, each drawing their own characters and creations, sometimes on the same page.

To mark the debut of the first issue, Newsarama announces a unique, live online Image United event.

On Tuesday evening, November 24th at 7pm EST, the night before issue #1 goes on sale, Newsarama will welcome all seven creators in a 90 minute online interview/chat hosted by our own Vaneta Rogers, and all comic book fans from around the world are invited to attend.

READ MORE.

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