Marvel Comic Books On Sale In December 2011 [Solicitations]

Courtesy of Marvel, ComicsAlliance brings you an advance look at new comic books going on sale in December, 2011. All of the following books can be purchased at finer comic book shops, where you can also pre-order your selections to ensure you'll get a copy before they sell out. Among Marvel's offerings for December are Defenders #1 by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson, Captain America #6 by Ed Brubaker and Alan Davis, and Carnage USA #1 by Zebb Wells and Clayton Crain.BATTLE SCARS #2 (of 6)

Written by Christopher Yost,

MATT FRACTION & CULLEN BUNN

Penciled by Scot Eaton

Cover by Carlo Pagulayan

• Guest-starring Captain America!

• Who is US Army Ranger Marcus Johnson, and why is he the most wanted man in the world?

• SHIELD, Taskmaster, Captain America and more want him - dead or alive

• The mystery deepens as the hunted becomes the hunter!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS #4 & #5 (of 12)

Written by Cullen Bunn, MATT FRaction & christopher yost

Penciled by MARK BAGLEY & Paul Pelletier

Cover by Arthur Adams

Guest-starring the Thing and the FF, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Thunderbolts and more!

The Serpent's hammers could be the most dangerous artifacts in the world - vfm knows this all too well as she lays siege to the impenetrable headquarters of the FF...where the Thing stands guard over his own hammer of power! Meanwhile Sin and Crossbones pursue the weapons of mass destruction, from the depths of the seas to claim one from the undersea vault of the Sub-Mariner...to the shores of the island prison called the Raft to confront the Thunderbolts!

32 PGS. (each)/Rated T+ ...$2.99 (each) NOT FINAL COVER

DEFENDERS: THE COMING OF

THE DEFENDERS #1

Written by ROY THOMAS

Penciled by ROSS ANDRU

Cover by NEAL ADAMS

And there shall come a day...the day of the Defenders! With those words, Marvel heralded the coming of the universe's mightiest group of malcontents, the titanic trio whose awesome alliance formed the first incarnation of the dynamic Defenders: Dr. Strange, the Hulk and Namor the Sub-Mariner! This overstuffed issue follows the Master of the Mystic Arts as he enlists the peerless power of the Jade Giant and Atlantis' Avenging Son in a trilogy of tales spotlighting such thrilling threats as a nuclear Doomsday machine, dimension-hopping demon lords on Halloween and extraterrestrial brainwashing! Featuring the devastating Omegatron, the Dread Dormammu and Xemnu the Titan - with a cosmic cameo of future member the star-spanning Silver Surfer thrown in for good measure! Collecting MARVEL FEATURE (1971) #1-3.

88 PGS./Rated T+ ...$5.99

DEFENDERS: STRANGE HEROES

Written by JEFF CHRISTIANSEN,

MIKE O'SULLIVAN, STUART

VANDAL & MORE

Select Character Artwork by

Gus Vazquez

Cover by Leinil Francis Yu

The OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE helps usher in the Defenders' return to prominence with new profiles featuring Marvel's premier non-team! Past members (Manslaughter, Andromeda, Interloper, Cloud), foes (the Asgardian Lorelei, Mad-Dog/Baxter, Jake Fury, Sea Urchin), the unusual (Tapping Tommy, Sunshine Gross, Foolkiller/Salinger), objects of great power (Star of Capistan, Rose of Purity, Evil Eye), and one of the strangest moments in Marvel history and the man responsible for it: Defenders for a Day and Dollar Bill! Plus: updates on the team itself and its current members (Dr. Strange, Iron Fist, Namor, Red She-Hulk, Silver Surfer). Featuring new art for dozens of profiles by Gus Vazquez!

64 PGS./Rated T+ ...$4.99

DEFENDERS #1

Written by MATT FRACTION

Pencils & Cover by TERRY DODSON

Variant Cover by TBA

Variant Cover by TBA

Blank Variant available

I Am A Defender Variant also Available

• Spinning out of the stunning end of FEAR ITSELF! The final Worthy on a global rampage!

• Matt Fraction (FEAR ITSELF, THE MIGHTY THOR, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) reteams with TERRY DODSON (UNCANNY X-MEN, SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN)!

• Everyone's favorite Marvel characters banding together to solve a mysterious conspiracy deep at the heart of the Marvel Universe!

• The last line of defense against the forces of the unknown!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

AVENGERS ACADEMY #23

Written by Christos Gage

Penciled by Tom Raney

Cover by Rodin Esquejo

• X-23 joins Avengers Academy...will they survive the experience?

• A classic villain returns!

• Reptil's darkest secret is revealed!

32 PGS./Rated T ...$2.99

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #632

Written by Kieron Gillen

Penciled by MITCH BREITWEISER

Cover by STEPHANIE HANS

• The stage is set for a deadly new year.

• The most unpopular boy in Asgard receives a certain

four-pawed fire-breathing present. What will Loki do

with this most unwelcome gift?

• Guest-starring Volstagg!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

THE MIGHTY THOR #9

Written by Matt Fraction

Pencils & Cover by Pasqual Ferry

• The New All-Mothers of Asgardia battle their first threat

to the Nine Realms!

• Loki tries to expose the imposter thunder god Tanarus

by enlisting the help of... Doctor Donald Blake?

• Beyond the veil of space and time, the place where gods go

to die is about to heat up...

32 PGS./Rated T ...$3.99

NOT FINAL COVER

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #3

Written by JASON AARON

Pencils & Cover by MARC SILVESTRI

• Bruce Banner's beasts "The Boar Brothers" bash Hulk in a literally Earth-Shaking Battle!

• Banner reveals his new army!

• Hulk makes an alliance with mad scientist hunter Amanda

Von Doom that changes his destiny forever.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #511

Written by MATT FRACTION

Art & Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA

• The Mandarin attacks!

• Zeke Stane and a NEW Detroit Steel return

• Iron Man's enemies take advantage of Tony Stark's lowest ebb to destroy him

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

AVENGERS #20

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & Cover by DANIEL ACUÑA

Fantastic Four Anniversary Variant

by PAOLO RIVERA

• The latest and greatest roster of Avengers root out the

secret labs of H.A.M.M.E.R.!

• Who's really behind this latest threat, and who rebuilt the

new Dark Avengers?

32 PGS./Rating T+ ...$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA #6

Written by ED BRUBAKER

Pencils & Cover by ALAN DAVIS

Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary

Variant by

• Hydra rises from the ashes!

• What secret has Cap been keeping throughout Fear Itself?

• Alan Davis joins the all-star creative team!

32 PGS./Rated T ...$3.99

AVENGERS 1959 #4 (of 5)

Written by HOWARD CHAYKIN

Pencils & Cover by HOWARD CHAYKIN

From the beaches, shanty towns, and mean streets of Madripoor, to the elegant boulevards of Wakanda, Fury and the Avengers fight their way through a treacherous gauntlet to learn the truth behind ICON...and its hidden agenda.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

AVENGERS: SOLO #3 (of 5)

Written by JEN VAN METER

& JIM MCCANN

Penciled by ROGER ROBINSON

& CLAYTON HENRY

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

Movie Variant also available

OUTGUNNED AND ON THE RUN! To uncover a mystery meant to destroy the Avengers, Hawkeye must leave his own team behind and take down a human trafficking ring for good! Jen Van Meter (THUNDERBOLTS) and Roger Robinson (THOR) return for the action! PLUS! The Avengers Academy kids find themselves face to face with their enemies - the West Coast Avengers? By Jim McCann (NEW AVENGERS: REUNION) and Clayton Henry (SPIDER-GIRL)

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

NEW AVENGERS #19

Written by Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils & Cover by Mike Deodato

• Get ready for some old-school Avengers blockbuster action! It's the New Avengers versus the new Dark Avengers! And wait until you find out who is behind the masks!! Actually, wait until the Avengers find out who is behind the masks!

32 PGS./Rating T+ ...$3.99

SECRET AVENGERS #20

Written by WARREN ELLIS

Pencils by ALEX MALEEV

Cover by JOHN CASSADAY

RUN THE MISSION! DON'T GET SEEN! SAVE THE WORLD!

• The Secret Avengers are all dead save for the Black Widow. The world's greatest secret agent finds herself one year in the past, on the most secret mission of all: saving her team, and saving the world, without letting anyone see her... especially her team.

32 PGS./Rating T+ ...$3.99

AVENGERS:

X-SANCTION #1 (of 4)

Written by JEPH LOEB

Pencils & Cover by

ED MCGUINNESS

Variant Covers by

JOE QUESADA,

ED McGUINNESS & LEINIL YU

Sketch Variant by

JOE QUESADA

Blank Variant also available

• CABLE IS BACK! AND HE'S GOT JUST 24 HOURS TO WIPE THE AVENGERS FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY!

• How has Cable been reborn? Where has he been since "Second Coming"? And what dark event has driven him to destroy the Avengers? The answers are just the tip of an iceberg that threatens to smash the Marvel Universe to

smithereens!

• A crucial new series by the creators behind

SUPERMAN/BATMAN and HULK, Jeph Loeb

and Ed McGuinness

• THE COUNTDOWN TO 2012's STATUS

QUO-SHATTERING EPIC BEGINS HERE!

32 PGS./Rating T+ ...$3.99

Anita Blake: CIRCUS

OF THE DAMNED -

THE SCOUNDREL #5 (of 5)

Written by JESSICA RUFFNER

Penciled by RON LIM

Cover by BRETT BOOTH

THE PINNACLE ISSUE! The stakes are raised higher and lines are drawn around the circles of horror and danger in The Circus of the Damned...Anita Blake continues to be put to the test and pitted against deadlier and deadlier enemies as she resists eternal allegiance to not one, but TWO master vampires!

32 PGS./Mature ...$3.99

NORTHANGER ABBEY #2 (of 5)

Written by Nancy Hajeski

Art by Janet K. Lee

Cover by

JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO

Catherine Morland has not exactly taken Bath by storm, but she HAS acquired two suitors-John, boorish and sporting mad, and Henry, a charming young clergyman. Catherine favors Henry, but her brother and her best friend both urge her toward John. Will she listen to her heart or let peer pressure dash her chance of finding true love?

32 PGS./All Ages ...$3.99

FORMIC WARS:

SILENT STRIKE #1 (of 5)

Written by Orson Scott card

& aaron johnston

Pencils by giancarlo caracuzzo

Cover by giuseppe camuncoli

The all-new prequel to Orson Scott Card's science-fiction classic Ender's Game returns! With 44 million people killed by the toxic gas the alien formics unleashed in China, the only hope of a counter-agent lies with Mazer Rackham and the Mobile Operations Police safely retrieving a sample. Meanwhile, young asteroid miner Victor Delgado has snuck aboard the formic mothership in hopes of taking it down alone...and boy is he is for a big disappointment.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

THE STAND: THE NIGHT HAS COME #3 (of 6)

Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Penciled by Mike Perkins

Cover by Tomm Coker

The penultimate issue of the epic series! The last stand has happened, True Believers, but what of Stu Redman? Alone, leg broken, lost in the desert, sickness spreading through his body, can he possibly survive the wilderness and make it back to Boulder and his beloved Frannie? For Stu, the end truly is only the beginning, and the hardest part of his journey lies ahead. And don't forget, there is one other wanderer in the desert, who could mean the difference between life and death, if only they were to find each other...

32 PGS./Parental Advisory...$3.99

DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER - the way station #1 (of 5)

Plot by ROBIN FURTH

Written by Peter David

Pencils & Cover by Laurence Campbell

Roland's pursuit of the elusive Man in Black across the endless Mohaine desert becomes even more treacherous when he is attacked by a ravenous pack of desert dogs and vampiric dust devils when he is at his weakest!

It's the start of a new chapter in the life of the last gunslinger of Gilead as he struggles to remain alive and achieve his destiny! Don't miss the wonders of: The Way Station!

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

DOROTHY &

THE WIZARD IN OZ #4 (of 8)

Written by Eric Shanower

Pencils & Cover by Skottie Young

Watch out for the savage Invisible Bears who devour anyone they catch! Dorothy, the Wizard, and their friends battle for their lives in a race across the Invisible Valley of Voe. Their best chance of escape is to reach the spiral staircase inside Pyramid Mountain. But halfway up the mountain lives the strange Braided Man.

32 PGS./All Ages ...$3.99

JOHN CARTEr:

WORLD OF MARS #3 (OF 4)

Based on the Adventures written by

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Written by PETER DAVID

Art by LUKE ROSS

Cover by MICO SUAYAN

The thrilling prequel to the Disney adaptation of John Carter World of Mars continues!

Taken prisoner in an underground city controlled by the Warhoon, Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Mars, is forced into an arena to fight for her life! And the only person who can possibly save her is a man who is her sworn enemy.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

JOHN CARTER: A PRINCESS

OF MARS #4 (of 5)

Based on the Novel by

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Adaptation by Roger Langridge

Art by Filipe Andrade

Cover by Skottie Young

John Carter pushes himself to the very limits of human endurance as he battles his friend Kantos Kan in the arena, crosses the Martian desert barefoot, and uses the miraculous Ninth Ray to fly... all for the love of a Princess! Filipe Andrade and Harvey Award-winning writer Roger Langridge continue their bold new adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic tale!

32 PGS./All Ages ...$2.99

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #5 & #6

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils by SARA PICHELLI (#5)

& CHRIS SAMNEE (#6)

Cover by Kaare Andrews

• Miles' journey to becoming Spider-Man continues!

• Will Miles live up to Peter Parker's legacy?

• A mysterious figure from Peter Parker's past returns!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99 ISSUE #5 COVER

ULTIMATE COMICS

spider-man MUST HAVE #1

Collecting Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1-#3.

72 PGS./Rated T+ ...$4.99

ULTIMATE COMICS THE ULTIMATES #5

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Art by ESAD RIBIC

Cover by kaare andrews

• Tomorrow's Children are in control!

• All hope looks lost for Thor and the Ultimates!

• The Children's creator has revealed his sinister connection to the Ultimate Universe!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

ULTIMATE COMICS THE

ULTIMATES MUST HAVE #1

Collecting Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #1-#3.

72 PGS./Rated T+ ...$4.99

ULTIMATE COMICS X-Men

MUST HAVE #1

Collecting Ultimate Comics X-Men #1-#3.

72 PGS./Rated T+ ...$4.99

ULTIMATE COMICS X-Men #4 & #5

Written by NICK SPENCER

Pencils by paco medina

Cover by kaare andrews

• Stryker's back in a bad way!

• Our heroes must assemble to put an end to Stryker's evil plan!

• Is there a traitor amidst the new X-Men?

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99 ISSUE #4 COVER

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2

Written by ZEB WELLS

Pencils & Cover by JOE MADUREIRA

Variant Cover by TBA

THE HOT NEW SPIDER-MAN ONGOING CONTINUES!

SPIDER-MAN and RED-HULK lead an underground army in this action packed extravaganza from superstar artist JOE MADUREIRA 32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #675

Written by DAN SLOTT

Pencils & Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI joins the regular Spidey artist rotation in this high flying free falling ride through Dan Slott's post Spider-Island world. The VULTURE IS BACK and making kids do his high flying dirty work for him. With Spidey back on the cops' bad side will he be able to stop this flying Fagan from twisting young runaways before another boy falls from the sky?

32 PGS./Rated T ...$3.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #676

Written by Dan Slott

Pencils & Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

RETURN OF THE SINISTER SIX!

Find out what everyone's favorite sextet of super villains has been up to while New York was spidered out. All leading up to Doc Ock's master plan to-well-you'll have to wait and see as 2012 promises to be the END of Spider-Man!

32 PGS./Rated T ...$3.99

CARNAGE, U.S.A. #1 (of 5)

Written by ZEB WELLS

Pencils & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Variant Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

WELCOME TO CARNAGE U.S.A. - THE ULTIMATE RED STATE!

Carnage's maniacal reign of terror continues, courtesy of the critically acclaimed creative team of Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain! Spider-Man and the Avengers must go on a brutal hunt to capture Cletus Kasaday before a small town in the American heartland falls under his mass-murdering spell! Buckle in and prepare for a violence packed adventure! Carnage U.S.A. wants YOU this December!

32 PGS./Rated A ...$3.99

VENOM #10

Written by Rick Remender

Penciled by LAN MEDINA

Cover by TONY MOORE

NEW DIRECTION. NEW ARTIST. OLD SOLDIERS.

Rick Remender welcomes Lan Medina (PUNISHER) with AMERICAN BADNESS!

SPIDER-ISLAND has changed everything and now the death of a loved one reminds Flash Thompson that his secret identity is in the hands of the villainous Crime-Master - and the only way to take his life back is to go rogue. But CAPTAIN AMERICA is out to shut him down. It's a good old fashioned road trip with Flash Thompson and an alien symbiote!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

VENOM #11

Written by rick remender

Pencils & Cover by lan medina

VENOM COMES FACE TO FIST WITH JACK-O-LANTERN!

But are these archenemies about to become partners?! On the run from his own country, Flash Thompson may have no choice but to ally himself with his newest enemy as Rick Remender and Lan Medina continue building Venom's brave new world!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA

& BUCKY #625

Written by ED BRUBAKER

& JAMES ASMUS

Pencils & Cover by

FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

VENOM COMES FACE TO FIST WITH JACK-O-LANTERN!

• The original Human Torch guest-stars as Captain America teams up with Bucky in the present day... for the first time?!

• Rising stars James Asmus and Francesco Francavilla join Eisner award winner Ed Brubaker for a rollicking adventure into the future of the star-spangled Avenger's past!

• Brand new arc! Easy jumping on point!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

SIX GUNS #3 (of 5)

Written by Andy Diggle

Art by Davide Gianfelice

Cover by Butch Guice

All hell breaks loose as five gunslingers converge on the Blackguard military compound in lawless San Diablo. The Black Rider, Two-Gun Kid, Tex Dawson, Matt Slade and Tarantula are outnumbered and outgunned - but they're not going down without a fight! Non-stop, high-octane action from the DAREDEVIL: REBORN creative team of Andy Diggle and Davide Gianfelice!

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

ALL-WINNERS SQUAD:

Band of heroes #7 (of 8)

Written by Paul Jenkins

Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico

Cover by Mico Suayan

The biggest mystery in U.S. military history is about to be blown wide open, as the survivors and descendants of America's WWII superhumans finally discover the truth behind Operation: Firefly.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

ALPHA FLIGHT #7

Written by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente

Penciled by Dale Eaglesham

Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN

IT'S REVOLUTION, BUB!

Alpha Flight marches on to reclaim the Canadian government from the fascist forces that have overtaken it, but one Canadian citizen and former ally might disagree with their tactics... WOLVERINE! It's Canuck versus Canuck as the battle for Canada continues! Master craftsmen Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak and Dale Eaglesham continue their lauded run!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

ANNIHILATORS: EARTHFALL #4 (of 5)

Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning

Art by Tan Eng Huat

Cover by John Tyler Christopher

Earth is the setting for the final battle as the combined might of the Annihilators and the Avengers go up against the world-corrupting Magus. What kind of sacrifices must be made to defeat a foe THIS dangerous? And - when the entire Universe is at stake - what is 'too great a cost"?

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

BLACK panther: the most dangerous man alive #526 & #527

Written by David Liss

Penciled by Shawn Martinbrough & MICHAEL AVON OEMING

Covers by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

The war with the Kingpin heats up - with two issues hitting this month! Lady Bullseye and Typhoid Mary are out to kill T'Challa...time to call in Falcon and Luke Cage! The former King of Wakanda and the former Kingpin of crime wage in a deadly game, with the Panther's homeland as the prize!

32 PGS. (each)/Rated T+ ...$2.99 (each)

MOON KNIGHT #8

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & Cover by ALEX MALEEV

Not everyone is thrilled that Marc Spector is using his alter ego Moon Knight as fodder for a television show....especially Marc's ex Marlene! Another rip-roaring chapter by the award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev (DAREDEVIL, SCARLET).

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

DAREDEVIL #7

Written by MARK WAID

Pencils & Cover by PAOLO RIVERA

Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary

Variant by

THE MOST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED LAUNCH OF THE YEAR CONTINUES!

Following his shocking discovery about the Marvel Universe last issue, Daredevil has a weighty decision to make, the results of which will affect his friends and enemies both! Meanwhile, the Nelson and Murdock law offices struggle to celebrate the holidays as insurmountable problems descend upon them!

32 PGS./Rated A ...$2.99

THE PUNISHER #6

Written by GREG RUCKA

Penciled by MATTHEW CLARK

& MATTHEW SOUTHWORTH

Cover by BRYAN HITCH

THE BIGGEST SHOT OF ALL IS DOWN!

• A fallen Frank Castle...alive but dead inside.

• Secrets of the Exchange revealed...and it's connected to

some of the Marvel Universe's darkest secrets!

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

GHOST RIDER #7

Written by ROB WILLIAMS

Penciled by LEE GARBETT

Cover by STEFANO CASSELLI

GUEST-STARRING HAWKEYE!

The Avenger Hawkeye has followed the trail of destruction and ruined souls the Ghost Rider has left in its burning wake. And he isn't the only one with his sights set on the Spirit of Vengeance. The wild hunt for the Rider begins here.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #601

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Pencils by STEVE EPTING

Cover by MIKE CHOI

Connecting Variant by TBA

Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary

Variant by RON GARNEY

"forever" PArt 2

Finally, It's Clobberin' Time.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

FF #13

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Penciled by JUAN BOBILLO

Cover by MIKE CHOI

Connecting Variant by TBA

ALL HOPE LIES IN DOOM, PART 2: PANIC ROOM

The Battle between the Council of Reeds and the Future Foundation extends through the BRIDGE and into the world now controlled by the Mad Celestials.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

HULK #45 & #46

Written by Jeff Parker

Pencils & Cover by

Patrick Zircher

HULK OF ARABIA reaches its astonishing conclusion! One of the most hotly anticipated Red Hulk stories yet has all been building to this! Red and Machine Man go mono a mono (a machino) against Dagan Shah, the mysterious new powerhouse whose mythical kingdom of Sharzhad has become a destabilizing new force to be reckoned with! Mastermind Jeff Parker and the brilliant Patch Zircher guarantee the result of this epic showdown is one you won't see coming, and will change the face of the Marvel universe!

32 PGS. (each)/Rated T+ ...$2.99 (each)

ISSUE #45 COVER SHOWN

Iron man 2.0 #12

Written by NICK SPENCER

Art by Ariel Olivetti

Cover by Salvador Larroca

The world is in the balance as War Machine races to take down global terrorist Palmer Addley once and for all! It's an all-or-nothing battle of wills as Rhodey presses every advantage, tests every skill, and depends on every relationship to finally outsmart, outfight and outlast his greatest enemy and become the twenty-first-century War Machine...or die trying!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

WOLVERINE, PUNISHER

& GHOST RIDER: OFFICIAL

INDEX TO THE MARVEL

UNIVERSE #5

Written by VARIOUS

The chronicle of the Marvel Universe continues its coverage of Wolverine (from 1999's WOLVERINE #142), the Punisher (from 2003's PUNISHER #21) and Ghost Rider (from 1997's GHOST RIDER #88). Watch the Marvel Universe's history unfold month by month as we provide synopses for dozens of individual comics, including backup strips - introducing the characters, teams, places and equipment that appeared within; and providing vital information about first appearances, where they last showed up and where they appeared next!

64 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

VICTor von doom #2 (of 4)

Written by nick spencer

Art & Cover by becky cloonan

Deep in the pits of Hell, teenaged Victor Von Doom is in for the battle of his life! As he fights to save the only good and true thing he cares for, our hero discovers the only thing worth living for is within his reach...by the exciting-hot team of Nick Spencer (ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN) and Becky Cloonan (Demo)!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

S.h.i.e.l.d. #4 (of 6)

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Pencils & Cover by dustin weaver

The Immortal City has been destroyed and Issac Newton is on the lam. Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Nostradamus and the Eternal Dynamo need to make an impossible journey to stop him.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

THOR: THE DEVIANTS SAGA #2

Written by Rob Rodi

Pencils & Cover by Stephen Segovia

THOR VERSUS THE CHAMPION OF THE DEVIANTS!

The thunder god travels to Olympia, home of the Eternals, to enlist their aid in finding the Deviant goddess Ereshkigal before she destroys the very fabric of reality. But the city is virtually empty...and what few allies Thor does find there are overrun by a horde of Deviants. Featuring the return of the superhuman behemoth Tutinax, whose one-on-one clash with Thor is unlike anything you've seen before!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

VENGEANCE #6 (of 6)

Written by JOE CASEY

Penciled by NICK DRAGOTTA

Cover by GABRIELLE DELL'OTTO

FOR DOOM COMES VENGEANCE!

The newest ruler of Latveria is targeted for death by the Young Masters - can the Teen brigade rescue young Kristoff, before his assassination sparks a World War? Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta bring you the rollicking conclusion to this year's sleeper hit!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

VILLAINS FOR HIRE #1 (OF 5)

Written by DAN ABNETT & Andy Lanning

Penciled by Renato Arlem

Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

Villain on villain action! Why has Misty Knight hired psychopaths like Tiger Shark and Speed Demon? Because the Purple Man is out to build a criminal empire with an army including Avalanche, Shocker and the all-new Scourge! Let the baddest man (or woman) win!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

SPIDER-MAN #21

Written by PAUL TOBIN

Penciled by MATTEO LOLLI

& ROB DISALVO

Cover by ALE GARZA

THE MUTANT MASTER OF MAGNETISM MAKES MAYHEM!

Peter Parker's class wins the vacation of a life time in a free trip to Greece - but when MAGNETO attacks our Webbed Wonder has to swing into action in PANIC AT THE PARTHENON! PLUS! That king of disguises the Chameleon returns -how can Spidey catch a crook who can be ANYONE?!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

SUPER HEROES #21

Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS

& JEN VAN METER

Penciled by WELLINTON ALVES

& PEPE LARRAZ

Cover by Carlo Pagulayan

The Hulk joins the circus! But why? And only Captain America can save Dr. Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme! But how? Circus smashing and demon demolishing abound in these two super stories!

32 PGS./All Ages ...$2.99

MARVEL SUPER STARS

MAGAZINE #9

Written by CHRIS ELIOPOULOS,

ROGER LANGRIDGE & MARK WAID

Penciled by IG GUARA, CHRIS

SAMNEE & RON GARNEY

Cover by

• Giant all-ages magazine featuring a rotating cast of your favorite Marvel super heroes!

• This month's issue spotlights Captain America, Thor and Iron Man!

• Only the Pet Avengers stand in the way of total devastation when the dragons of Earth decide it's time to take over the world!

• Thor takes on Mr. Hyde in a no-holds-barred brawl!

• Cap and Iron Man face a host of hypnotic robots!

• Collecting AVENGERS VS. THE PET AVENGERS #1, THOR THE MIGHTY AVENGER #1-2 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERY #5-6.

96 PGS./All Ages... $7.99

MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2011

Written & Penciled by VARIOUS

Cover by TIM SEELEY

• Four new holiday adventures featuring your favorite

Marvel super heroes!

• Wolverine finally learns the Canadian art of ice hockey.

• Written and illustrated by some of Marvel's hottest talent!

• Collecting MARVEL DIGITAL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2011 #1-4

from Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.

40 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+... $3.99

MUPPETS PRESENTS:

THE TREASURE OF

PEG-LEG WILSON

Written and Penciled by

ROGER LANGRIDGE

Cover by PAOLO CAMPINOTI

& GIANLUCA BARONE

• He's wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses indoors: Has Kermit gone greaser?

• Dr. Bunsen Honeydew civilizes the savage Animal!

• The rats dig up the entire theater to find

the elusive treasure of Peg Leg Wilson!

• Plus: hypnotists, Pigs in Space, the Swedish Chef,

catapulting penguins and exploding chickens!

96 PGS./All Ages...$5.99

NOT FINAL COVER

THUNDERBOLTS #167

Written by Jeff Parker

Penciled by DECLAN SHALVEY

Cover by JOE QUINONES

TO CATCH A MURDERER, THE BOLTS MUST BECOME HIM!

Hot on the trail of Jack the Ripper, the Thunderbolts have to battle their own teammates - and discover a dark secret that will push them to grisly choices. Meanwhile, in the modern age, the Ghost make a devastating decision to capture the fugitive Thunderbolts!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

legion of monsters #3 (of 5)

Written by Dennis Hopeless

Art & Cover by Juan Doe

MONSTER MADNESS!

The Legion of Monsters have uncovered the rampaging, blood-thirsty source of evil plaguing them and humankind...but are they too late to stop it! And as they succumb to their killer instincts, will monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone be forced to realize there's only one way to deal with the evil undead?! BY BLASTING IT BACK TO HELL WHENCE IT CAME?!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

DEADPOOL #47 & #48

Written by DANIEL WAY

Penciled by SALVADOR ESPIN

Cover by NICK BRADSHAW

Deadpool is a terrorist?! That's how Captain America sees it, but Cap doesn't know there currently are two Deadpools in NYC--one who's totally evil and one...well, one who's not quite as bad. How will our dubious hero clear his name, get Captain America to not despise him, defeat the most formidable enemy he's ever faced...oh, and evade capture by international law enforcement? Uh, who said he does?

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #3

Written by Kieron Gillen

Pencils & Cover by Carlos Pacheco

X-MEN Regenesis

Mr. Sinister's tampering with the Golden Celestial has summoned the immortal Space Gods to earth, to render judgment upon all mankind. If the X-Men we're looking for a chance to prove that they are earth's mightiest heroes, HERE. IT.IS!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #3

Written by Jason Aaron

Pencils & Cover by Chris Bachalo

X-MEN REGENSIS

With the Hellfire Club on the verge of overwhelming the X-Men, the team's only hope is...Quenton Quire?! The big question is, does he care enough to do anything? Wrap up the first adventure of Wolverine's branch of the X-tree with Marvel Architect and writer of X-MEN: SCHISM Jason Aaron, and superstar artist Chris Bachalo!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

X-men legacy #260

Written by MIKE CAREY

Pencils by khoi pham

Cover by clay mann

X-MEN REGENSIS

Veteran X-scribe Mike Carey wraps up his five-year run on X-MEN: LEGACY with a story that marks the end of an era! In the aftermath of SCHISM, the X-Men are divided. Magneto has chosen to stay with Cyclops on Utopia. Gambit has chosen to follow Wolverine to Westchester. And now Rogue must decide who she is going to follow...

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

GENERATION HOPE #14

Written by JAMES ASMUS

Pencils and Cover by

IBRAIM ROBERSON

X-men regenesis

Meet the newest member of Generation Hope...Sebastian Shaw?! When Hope and company investigate an unaccounted for mutant reading in Pakistan, they come across a full-grown mutant with no memory being used as a weapon. They see a mutant in trouble and help...not realizing they're rescuing one of the X-Men's deadliest foes!

32 PGS./Rated T ...$2.99

X-MEN #22

Written by Victor Gischler

Penciled by Will Conrad

Cover by ADI GRANOV

x-men regenesis

The X-Men and War Machine are on a collision course with an international incident of catastrophic proportions. No longer content to fend off attackers, the Governor and her army of Sentinels are hell-bent on going on the offensive...leading towards one of the worst ethnic cleansings in the history of the world.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

UNCANNY X-FORCE #18

Written by Rick Remender

Penciled by Jerome OpeÑa

Cover by ESAD RIBIC

Spoiler Variant available

Rick Remender (Venom, Fear Agent), Jerome Opeña (Punisher, Fear Agent) and Dean White (Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man) bring you a tale of devastation, bravery, and salvation.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99 *Note: This issue will be Polybagged.

UNCANNY X-FORCE #19

Written by Rick Remender

Penciled byRobbi rodriguez

Cover by RAFAEL GRAMPA

Variant Cover by NICK BRADSHAW

Spoiler Variant available

The aftermath of The Dark Angel Saga! A member lost! New members gained! An Avenger discovers the secret of X-Force! Fantomex and Ultimaton must allow the world's most powerful weapon to leave their care. Elizabeth Braddock must say goodbye to the man she loves. New friends must stand and make a suicide march. Next generation superstar artist Robbi Rodriguez joins Rick Remender to break your heart.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

X-FACTOR #228 & #229

Written by Peter David

Penciled by Leonard Kirk (#228) & Emanuela Lupacchino (#229)

Cover by David Yardin

X-Men Regenesis

Still reeling from the shocking death of one of their own, how can the X-Factor team possibly take down the one responsible -- the deadly Bloodbath? Then, in issue 229: Layla Miller. Jamie Madrox. Husband and wife. Lying murdered in their honeymoon suite. The moment you thought would never come is here, and not only are you a witness to it, but so is Jamie Madrox himself. We feel safe in saying that this is X-Factor as you've never seen them before in the first part of what has to be the trippiest arc in the history of Marvel.

32 PGS. (each)/Rated T+ ...$2.99 (each)

ISSUE #228 COVER

NEW MUTANTS #35

Written by DAN ABNETT

& Andy Lanning

Penciled by David Lopez

Cover by Leo Fernandez

Variant Cover by Jason Pearson

X-MEN REGENESIS

On a mission to track down the runaway mutant known as Blink the team runs smack into chaotic forces summoned by a band of Death Metal rockers. Yes, you read right: It's the New Mutants VS the awesome powers of Metal! Part 2 of 3

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

WOLVERINE #20

Written by Jason Aaron

Pencils & Cover by RenATO GUEDES

DON'T MISS THIS! It's a prelude to the biggest Wolverine arc in years. War is brewing between the ninja assassins of the Hand and the gun-toting gangsters of the Yakuza, and it leads Wolverine to come face to face with Wilson Fisk, the infamous Kingpin of crime. What mysterious former love interests have come along for the ride? And just who is behind this war anyway? Do you like surprises? If so, then don't miss this issue's last page, as it offers up a doozy.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #18

Written by Rob Williams

Penciled by Matteo Buffagni

Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli

With the final battle for Hollywood approaching, Daken is still weakened and lacking his healing factor while Donna's forced addiction to the HEAT drug leaves him betrayed and alone. Can his enforced alliance with The Runaways lead him towards some form of redemption? And even with the teenagers' powers at his side, will it be enough to defeat the most dangerous member of The Pride?

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

x-23 #18 & #19

Written by Marjorie Liu

Penciled by SANA TAKEDA

Cover by Kalman Andrasofszky

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING continues! What could possibly go wrong for X-23, on an already disastrous night? More dragons? Hellion and his bad mood? How about being kidnapped to another galaxy by...THE COLLECTOR?

32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory ...$2.99 (each)

astonishing x-men #45

Written by GREG PAK

Pencils & Cover by MIKE MCKONE

Something isn't what it seems when Storm and Cyclops go to fight Sentinels. Who has kidnapped them, who are these familiar looking mutants and WHY DID STORM AND CYCLOPS KISS???

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

x-club #1 (of 5)

Written by Simon Spurrier

Penciled by Paul Davidson

Cover by NICK BRADSHAW

"WE DO SCIENCE!"

In the wake of SCHISM, the X-Men's Science Team takes it upon themselves to make a gesture of goodwill on behalf of mutantkind and better the world...using SCIENCE. But just as construction of the X-Club's state of the art space elevator nears completion, chaos erupts! And it appears to the world that mutants are to blame. Can Dr. Nemesis, Madison Jeffries, Kavita Rao and Danger clear the X-Men's name before their experiment backfires? Don't miss this new limited series that will surely change how you look at the X-Men and the Periodic Table of Elements FOREVER!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

magneto: not a hero #2 (of 4)

Written by skottie young

Pencils & Cover by clay mann

Fresh of the murder of a mutant-hate group, Magneto forms a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and the membership will shock you.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99

DEADPOOL MAX 2 #3

Written by DAVE LAPHAM

Art & Cover by KYLE BAKER

Deadpool and Bob are the worlds' most wanted terrorists. The only person who can clear their name is Bob's secret agent ex-girlfriend, but she's shacking up with the metal-armed Adonis called CABLE! Maximum jealousy leads to maximum gunfights in DEADPOOL MAX II

32 PGS./Explicit Content ...$3.99

PUNISHERMAX #20

Written by JASON AARON

Penciled by STEVE DILLON

Cover by DAVE JOHNSON

The Punisher begins his final assault on the Kingpin and only one of them is going to walk away alive. But to get to his target the Punisher has to go right through his bodyguard, the vicious Elektra.

32 PGS./Explicit Content ...$3.99

DEADPOOL MAX X-MAS SPECIAL #1

Written by DAVE LAPHAM

Art & Cover by KYLE BAKER

How do Deadpool and Bob, the two most wanted terrorists in the world, spend their holiday break? By faking their own deaths, breaking into CIA headquarters, hunting down internet-porn-peddling jihadists and causing a riot in an insane asylum, of course!

40 PGS./Explicit Content ...$4.99

KICK-ASS 2 #5

Written by mark millar

Pencils & Cover by john romita jr.

For Dave Lizewski and the self-made superheroes of NYC, sh*t just got really real. The Red Mist, now known as the Mother****er, has assembled his own team of Toxic Mega-***** and they're striking the heroes where they're most vulnerable: Their loved ones. If Kick-Ass wants to put a stop to the supervillain rampage, he's going to need the help of Mindy McCready, the one and only Hit-Girl.

32 PGS./Mature ...$2.99 NOT FINAL COVER

ORDER USING THIS CODE: JUL118192

KICK-ASS 2 #6

Written by mark millar

Pencils & Cover by john romita jr.

The Mother****er and his team of Toxic Mega-***** are running rampant through New York City. With his life in shatters and his allies dead or locked away in prison, it falls to Kick-Ass to strike back against the supervillain uprising, with a little help from everyone's favorite pint-size death-dealer: Hit-Girl. The fight to save NYC from the Mother****er's masterplan beings here!

32 PGS./Mature ...$2.99 NOT FINAL COVER

DREAM LOGIC #5

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & Cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMING

This 48-page art book features a new story and art by David Mack, a sketchbook, step-by-step art techniques with commentary, and loads of never-before-seen art and extras - including figure drawings, a new tarot card set, new paintings, original scripts and more! Plus: art cut from the DVD documentary film on Mack's work, The Alchemy of Art: David Mack, from Herovideoproductions.com.

48 PGS./Mature ...$5.99

OFFERED AGAIN: KABUKI VOL. 1 HC, KABUKI: THE ALCHEMY TPB, KABUKI: THE ALCHEMY HC, REFLECTIONS HC and LIMITED EDITION WITH SKETCH, and DREAM LOGIC #2-4.