Doctor Mirage talks to the dead and, right now, they’re all saying the same thing – get out while you still can. As Master Darque readies to invade Shadowman’s city with a necromantic army powered by suffering itself, Jack is about to find himself with an unlikely supporter in the coming war against the Deadside – Baron Samedi, the undead vodoun deity that’s promised to secretly betray Darque’s cause. But can heroes and demons ever truly find common ground? And could a double-cross by either side doom New Orleans to the dead?

Find out when Shadowman walks where angels fear to tread on June 5th in Shadowman #7! And look for the limited Shadowman #7 8-Bit Variant by artist Matthew Waite, in stores the same day!

For more information on Shadowman and the rest of the Valiant Universe, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter and at ValiantUniverse.com.

SHADOWMAN #7
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131285)
8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE (APR131286)
Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON (APR131287)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 6/5/13

The pair of futuristic “gun sharks”—read: hit men—will be roaring in hot from Downlode, the European mega-city they call home, and they’ll be bringing an unbelievable cast of characters with them! From the original stories written by Dan Abnett and drawn by Andy Clarke, SINISTER DEXTER chronicles a vibrant, madcap world of futuristic intrigue and action. Deadly ninjas, acrobatic flying car chases, shape-shifting robot assassins, a devious Yakuza? All in a day’s work, dear reader. All in a day’s work.

‘”With its deft mix of black comedy and gritty urban action, the exploits of Sinister Dexter have remained a popular mainstay in 2000 AD for the past 17 years,” said 2000 AD’s Editor-in-Chief Matt Smith. “With IDW reprinting a selection of their tales, I hope a whole new audience is going to enjoy meeting the gun-lovin’ criminals.”

“I’m happy to expand our relationship 2000 AD,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief. “It’s been a pleasure working with the guys there, and even moreso because the books that we’re producing together are such fun things to expose to this market in an even grander way. Abnett and Clarke’s Sinister Dexter stories are gritty, crazy, and action-packed bursts of adrenaline and I can’t wait to set them loose among American comic readers.”

“IDW have demonstrated a real passion for 2000 AD’s stories and we’re delighted to develop our relationship with them further,” said Ben Smith, Publishing Manager for 2000 AD and Rebellion. “It’s fantastic to see the amazing work of two such significant creators as Dan and Andy set to reach even more readers.”

While specific plans have yet to be announced, it’s certain that between the thousands of pages of explosively excellent material, there are more than a few worthwhile collections to be had!

ELEPHANTMEN, Richard Starkings‘ epic science fiction series exploring the ramifications of genetic experimentation, war, and racism, is reaching a milestone this July: its 50th issue. ELEPHANTMEN debuted in 2006, published by Image Comics, a spin-off of Starkings self-published (and now Image title) HIP FLASK.

Following a group of human/animal hybrid super-soldiers who are struggling to integrate themselves into a society that is often hostile to their very existence, the series has gone on be collected into six hardcovers and trade paperbacks. It has featured art by Ladrönn, Boo Cook, Chris Burnham, Shaky Kane, and Axel Medellin, and the cover of ELEPHANTMEN #43 is among the work that earned Brandon Graham a “Best Cover Artist” Eisner Award nomination.

“Fifty issues! One more and ELEPHANTMEN is as old as I am!” marveled creator and writer Starkings, who also owns the well-respected comics lettering studio Comicraft. “When we launched the series in 2006, I thought maybe I had six issues in me, yet here we are, seven years later and six ELEPHANTMEN collections in stores and another in preparation for release this summer!“

ELEPHANTMEN #50, “Blue Collar Blues,” has a cover by renowned comics artist Frank Quitely, and comes after the close of the monumental “Sleeping Partners” story arc. It brings the story into the intimate sphere of one Elephantman, following his everyday life with its struggles and small triumphs. The issue is illustrated by series regular Axel Medellin and Gabe Bautista and also includes a re-presentation of ELEPHANTMEN #1, with art by Moritat, and a gallery of covers by Brandon Graham, Camilla d’Errico, J. Scott Campbell, Brian Bolland,, Chris Weston, Ladrönn, Ian Churchill, and Ed McGuinness.

ELEPHANTMEN #50 will be in stores on July 17 and is available for pre-order from the May issue of Previews (Diamond code MAY130418). The revised and expanded ELEPHANTMEN VOLUME 1, which now includes issue #0 with art by Ladrönn and an introduction by Jonathan Ross, will be in stores on May 22. The newest collection, VOLUME 6: EARTHLY DESIRES, due in stores in July 10, is also available for preorder (MAY130420).

Starting with Star Trek: Where No Man Has Gone Before, a deluxe hardcover collecting issues #1 – 4 of IDW’s ongoing series, IDW Limited will begin offering Trek fans a way to celebrate their fandom with a true cornerstone for their collection. The inaugural limited edition will be signed by the creative team of writer Mike Johnson and artists Tim Bradstreet and Joe Phillips. The Black and Blue editions will feature artwork by Bradstreet and Phillips, respectively.

“There is no better fan base than the Trek fans,” Says series artist Joe Phillips. “When we were asked if we’d like to participate in this limited-edition line, the answer was an instant YES. To be able to take the time to do hand-drawn pieces that I knew would end up with happy fans was a thrill. And seeing the new design for the book is just awesome.”

With an exclusive all-new cover and casing, Star Trek: Where no Man Has Gone Before collects more than just the comics, it also collects signatures and artwork from the creative team behind the hit series. Each book is signed by Johnson, Bradstreet and Phillips and the Black Label contains artwork from Bradstreet while Phillips has provided full-color, hand-drawn artwork for the ultra-rare Blue Label.

“It’s a book we’re very proud of,” Says IDW Limited Director Jerry Bennington. “Star Trek is a title with a huge history behind it. There are expectations from the fans when you do something in this storied universe. I believe we’ll blow those expectations away with this book.”

BEAM YOURSELF OVER TO http://idwlimited.com/series/startrek.html and pre-order this book now.

STAR TREK: WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE DELUXE LIMITED EDITION (RED-$125; BLACK-$300; BLUE- $450; Tray Cased Hardcover

MORE TICKETS & BIGGER VENUE FOR JAIME HERNANDEZ COMICA CONVERSATION THURSDAY MAY 30th!

First off, huge thanks to you all for the amazing response to Jaime Hernandez, who is making his first public appearance in over twenty years and his exclusive speaking engagement in London on Thursday May 30th in a Comica Conversation with Woodrow Phoenix. All the tickets via WeGotTickets have already sold out, but the good news is that we have moved this event to bigger venue, the fantastic Cin頌umi貥 Cinema at the Institut Francais in South Kensington, London.

This lets us offer you a further batch of tickets through the Institut’s own Box Office - here is the booking link - click now and book asap, or ring the box office on 020 7871 3515 – these will also be snapped up fast!

And please note the EARLIER START TIME of 6.30pm sharp – doors open from 6pm.

New venue address: Institut Fran硩s, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT

Nearest tube station: South Kensington on the Piccadilly, Circle & District lines

New Earlier Start Time: 6.00pm to start 6.30pm SHARP! Runs till 8pm, followed by signing.

PLUS FOUR DAYS OF PASSIONATE EVENTS AT THE BD & COMICS PASSION FESTIVAL!

We’re thrilled that this extra-special Comica Conversation is being hosted by BD & Comics Passion, the third annual celebration of the very best in British and French comics, once again in association with Comica Festival! Highlights of their packed four-day programme include two Drawing Jams with top comics artists illustrating live alongside great singer-songwriters La Grande Sophie and Gi餒頯n Friday night, May 31st.

Saturday June 1st brings you Marc Antoine Mathieu, talking with Paul Gravett about his audacious new graphic novel experiment, launching in English from Jonathan Cape, 3″, which offers print and digital versions of a high-velocity whodunnit which lasts an intense three seconds! Then there’s comedy maestro Edika, all-star drawing duos between Posy Simmonds and Etienne Davodeau, and Hunt Emerson and Fran篩s Boucq! And Saturday night’s special event is a Drink & Draw combination of fine comics and fine wine!

Sunday June 2nd welcomes more UK and Gallic creators in conversation, including massively popular blogger P鮩lope Bagieu, the delightful, delirious Glen Baxter, a 2-hour masterclass with Fran篩s Boucq, SelfMadeHero’s I.N.J. Culbard, David Zane Mairowitz & Mark Stafford on adapting literature, and the first London appearance by R駩s Loisel for the publication of a complete English edition of Peter, his brilliant, dark take on Peter Pan, from Soaring Penguin.

With a prize ceremony for a comics competition, films for kids and all ages, signings, a digital workshop for teenagers, and spotlights on those blue imps The Smurfs, there’s something to suit everyone’s BD & Comics Passion. And what better way to herald the festival than with our extra special Comica Conversation with Jaime Hernandez and Woodrow Phoenix on May 30th, 6.30pm! Book your tickets for this, and for the Festival’s own great events, at the Institut Fran硩s without delay! See you there!

Paul Gravett, Megan Donnolley and Peter Stanbury

Team Comica

Comica – Inspiring comics!

Written by Joshua Williamson and drawn Goran Sdzuka, with Miroslav Mrva on colors and Eisner nominee Sean Phillips (FATALE) providing covers, GHOSTED, set to debut in July, is a dark supernatural mystery crossed with a classic caper. Expert thief Winters must assemble a completely different kind of team than the one he lost ten years before, made up of ghost hunters and paranormal experts. But the haunted house they enter may be more of a match than they’d bargained for.

“For years my obsession has been to do a book that took place in a haunted house; a crime and horror title, one that was fun but went to some dark edgy places,” said writer Williamson.  ”‘Gritty’ has become a sort of pop word to describe a certain kind of book but it really is the best way to illustrate Ghosted.”

Williamson isn’t shy about putting his characters’ dark sides on display, either. “One of my favorite things to write are the bad guys. The underbelly of the crime world. Characters that are tortured, and are kind of jerks. Ghosted has plenty of that and has been a blast.”

Williamson spoke about GHOSTED at Comic Book Resources in March, after the title’s announcement at Emerald City Comicon, and at PreviewsWorld. The first issue of the five-issue miniseries is set to go on sale on July 10. It can be pre-ordered now (Diamond Code MAY130405) from the May issue of Previews.

It’s the most anticipated new animated series to launch this year and this July, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble reunites Marvel’s most iconic Super Heroes – Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow & Falcon! Featuring the team that took the world by storm in Marvel’s The Avengers, no fan can miss the action-packed adventures of Earth’s Mightiest as they must protect the Marvel Universe from the biggest threats they’ve ever seen – all while working together as a team! The world’s most dangerous Super Villains don’t stand a chance when the Avengers Assemble!

Don’t miss the miss the premiere episode of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble SUNDAY, JULY 7 with a special one-hour preview on SUNDAY, MAY 26 (both at 11:00 a.m., ET/PT) inside the Marvel Universe programming block on Disney XD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFFOQc4kU8Q

Las Vegas is burning, and the situation on the ground has gone from bad to worse. With the firefight between the Harbinger Foundation, Bloodshot and Peter Stanchek’s Renegades about to spiral out of control, Project Rising Spirit has only one option left to stop the conflagration from spreading. It’s time to bring the deep-black weapons development project – designation H.A.R.D. Corps – back online. But are they a scalpel or a sledgehammer? And can they be trusted with the enormous power they wield?

The Harbinger Wars hit their boiling point on June 12th as a ruthless new player steps out of the shadows and into the Valiant Universe! Don’t miss the H.A.R.D Corps’ devastating first assault in Harbinger Wars #3 (of 4) – then follow the fallout into Harbinger #13 and Bloodshot #12, in stores one week later on June 19th!

HARBINGER WARS #3 (OF 4)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131270)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR131271)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131272)
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131273)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 6/12/13 (FOC – 5/20/13)

HARBINGER #13
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by KHARI EVANS & TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131274)
8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE (APR131275)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131276)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 6/19/13 (FOC – 5/27/13)

BLOODSHOT #12
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY (APR131277)
8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE (APR131278)
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131279)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 6/19/13 (FOC – 5/27/13)

Every issue of Avengers includes a code for a free digital copy of that same comic on the Marvel Comics app for iOS and Android devices. Additionally, each issue of Avengers features special augmented reality content available exclusive through the Marvel AR app – including cover recaps, behind the scenes features and more that add value to your reading experience at no additional cost.

This June, Hickman, Spencer & Caselli prepare the Avengers for the worst in Avengers #14!

Join the conversation on Twitter with hash tag #MarvelINFINITY, and don’t forget to follow us at @Marvel [www.twitter.com/Marvel]!

For more on Marvel’s Infinity, please visit www.marvel.com.

AVENGERS #14 (APR130640)
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN & NICK SPENCER
Art by STEFANO CASELLI
Cover by LEINIL YU
FOC- 05/27/13 On-Sale – 06/19/13

The founders of the survivalist colony Safe Haven are sure that the end of civilization is at hand. Economic collapse, natural disaster, civil war — they’re prepared for it all in their underground compound deep in the woods of America’s northeast. But, in SHELTERED, the new series from Image Comics by Ed Brisson (COMEBACK) and Johnnie Christmas, the threat to their existence comes from a source they never expected: their own children.

Coming in July, SHELTERED follows the consequences after Safe Haven’s younger generation, raised in paranoia and isolation, rebel against their parents and take over the compound. Two leaders emerge from the rebellion: the teenagers Lucas, who led the revolt,  and Victoria, who leads another group of kids in their escape. With Victoria set to expose Safe Haven, Lucas and his faction are determined to hunt her and her group down before they reach the nearest town, forty miles away through dangerous wilderness.

The idea for SHELTERED grew out of Brisson’s interest in end-of-world scenarios. “Initially, I was researching preppers — people who are actively preparing for natural disasters, nuclear war, societal breakdown — to get and idea of how people would be able to survive any of the above,” said the writer. “My initial idea was to do a post-apocalyptic story. Through my research, I started to get obsessed with the culture — from the outside! I don’t own a bunker! — and how it would affect children raised in that sort of environment.”

With the art, Christmas strives to capture the isolation of the setting and the individuality of each character. “We’re going to be facing down the apocalypse with these people, it’s important to really get a sense of who they are and what they’re capable of,” he said. “These kids aren’t even out of high school, but they are probably the most prepared folks on earth, when it comes to riding out the end of the world.”

SHELTERED is a full-color comic book, with a five-issue first arc. Its first issue can be pre-ordered now (Diamond code MAY130408) and will be in stores on July 10, 2013. A four-page preview is up now at Multiversity Comics.