Comic books in 'Monster', graded by CBCS

Cover pencils by Steven Ellis, inks by Fred Fredericks. Tangled Web starring Spider-Woman, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Steven Ellis, inks by Fred Fredericks; the shocking conclusion to Spider-Woman's showdown finale with Deathweb. 36 pgs. $1.75. Cover price $1.75.

John Byrne/Bart Sears/Ray Kryssing & Randy Elliott Spider-Woman may have the shortest super hero career on record if she cant find some way to escape the clammy clutches of those sicko sisters known as Flesh and Bones! And even if the new kid on the block makes a miraculous escape, she still has her wildly unpredictable power to contend with! Plus: Matties worst nightmare comes true?its time for this runaway to go to school... courtesy of her Aunt Marla and Uncle J. Jonah Jameson! Talk about your all-star team: writer John Byrne and penciler Bart Sears, whose stint on PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN attracted oodles of fan attention. Now theyve been turned loose on a new character who expands the scope of the Spideyverse. -Comic Shop News. FC" Cover price $1.99.

Cover 1A by Bill Maus. Story by Bill Maus. Art by Bob Hanon. Another superhero spoof by Parody Press, this one sending up the interminable 1990s Maximum Carnage storyline in the Spider-Man titles. A microwave pop-tart disaster transforms a Caribbean Rastafarian into the spider-powered Spidery-Mon, who has to spin webs from clouds because there are no skyscrapers handy. If that wasnt bad enough, he must battle the evil Garbage and Venumb, who of course got their own spinoff title later. The Bill Maus cover forms one linked image with the covers of variants 1B and 1C. 32 pages, B&W. Cover price $3.25.

Cover 1C by Bill Maus. Story by Bill Maus. Art by Bob Hanon. Another superhero spoof by Parody Press, this one sending up the 1990s Maximum Carnage storyline in the Spider-Man titles. A microwave pop-tart disaster transforms a Caribbean Rastafarian into the spider-powered Spidery-Mon, who has to spin webs from clouds because there are no skyscrapers handy. If that wasnt bad enough, he must battle the evil Garbage and Venumb, who of course got their own spinoff title later. The Bill Maus cover forms one linked image with the covers of variants 1B and 1C. 32 pages, B&W. Cover price $3.25.

"The Vanisher Shows Up!" Story by Jean Thomas. Art by Winslow Mortimer, Mike Esposito, and Tony Mortellaro. Cover by John Romita, Sr. Can Spidey, Valeris, and Easy stop the diabolical mutant known as the Vanisher?! Includes the 1-page features "Spidey Sports," "The Secret of the Spider-Tracer," and "Ring in the New Year with Marvel Comics and the Electric Company." Includes the back-up tale "Spidey Jumps the Thumper!" Based on the Electric Company script by Tom Whedon (father of Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Plus, Spidey tackles his most dangerous adversaries the Lizard in "Lizard on the Loose!" Also includes a pin-up featuring the Spider-Signal. Cover price $0.35.

"Power to the People!" Story by Jean Thomas. Art by Winslow Mortimer, Mike Esposito, and Tony Mortellaro. Cover by John Romita, Sr. The electrically powered menace of Electro causes a citywide blackout! Includes the 1-page features "How Electro was Born," "More about Webbing at Work," and "Easy Reader's Valentine." Includes the back-up tale "Spidey up Against the Wall!" Based on the Electric Company script by Tom Whedon (father of Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Plus, Spidey tackles his most dangerous adversaries the Mole Man in "20,000 Feet Under the Ground!" Featuring the Short Circus. Also includes a pin-up featuring the cast of the Electric Company. Cover price $0.35.

"Leaping Lizard!" Story by Jim Salicrup, Karas, and Julie Mishkin. Art by Winslow Mortimer and Mike Esposito. Cover by Sal Buscema. The Lizard is back and deadlier than ever! Includes the 1-page features "Look Out for the Lizard," "Meet the Plantman,"and "Wit of the Webslinger." Includes the back-up tale "Ghosts and Goblins!" Guest-starring the cast of the Electric Company. Plus, Spidey must stop the Plantman in "The Plantman and the Garden of Eden!" Featuring the clip and collect Spidey Stamp: #19 (actually #20) Lizard. Cover price $0.35.

"Mystery of the Mole Machine!" Story by Jim Salicrup and Steve Grant. Art by Winslow Mortimer, Ricardo Villamonte, and Mike Esposito. Spidey battles the Mole Man. Includes the 1-page features "The Blizzard Storms In," "Who is the Human Torch?,"and "Wit of the Webslinger." Includes the back-up tale "The Real Spidey!" Guest-starring the cast of the Electric Company. Plus, Spidey gets some help from the Human Torch against the Blizzard in "The Big Freeze!" Featuring the clip and collect Spidey Stamp: #36 Blizzard. Cover price $0.50.

"Doctor Doom meets Prince Namor!" Guest-starring Sub-Mariner. Story by Steve Grant. Art by Winslow Mortimer, Ricardo Villamonte, and Mike Esposito. Spidey and Namor battle the nefarious Doctor Doom. Includes the 1-page features "The Story of Prince Namor," "Facts on the Cat,"and "Wit of the Webslinger." Includes the back-up tale "The New Job!" Guest-starring the cast of the Electric Company. Plus, Spidey and the Cat star in "The Meteor Man!" Featuring the clip and collect Spidey Stamp: #37 The Cat. Cover price $0.50.

"How Time Flies!" Guest-starring Mr. Fantastic. Story by Steve Grant. Art by Winslow Mortimer and Mike Esposito. Spidey and Mr. Fantastic battle Kang the Conqueror. Includes the 1-page features "Who is Mr. Fantastic?," "Points of the Porcupine,"and "Wit of the Webslinger." Includes the back-up tale "The Stand-In!" Guest-starring the cast of the Electric Company. Plus, Spidey and Medusa star in "Medusa on the Run!" Featuring the clip and collect Spidey Stamp: #38 Porcupine. Cover price $0.50.

Having fought to regain his soul after falling in love with the Slayer Buffy, the once-terrifying vampire villain Spike has been a bit less fearsome (to humans, at least). On his own adventure, Spike is forced to examine the man he once was, the man he is now, and the man he still hopes to become. As master of a steampunk ship filled with loyal, oversized alien cockroaches, Spike embarks on a journey to the dark side of the moon, setting into motion an adventure filled with demons, witches, and others who brew new evil in the world without magic!""(W) Victor Gischler (A) Paul Lee, Andy Owens (CA) Jenny Frison Cover price $2.99.

A Dark Place: Part 2 of 4 - (W) Victor Gischler (A) Paul Lee, Andy Owens (CA) Jenny Frison Spike, traveling in his steampunk ship with a crew of cockroach-like aliens and a batch of previously stranded demons, is headed back from the dark side of the moon to . . . Sunnydale. If you're a vampire on a walkabout who wants to gain some perspective and get over a girl (psst . . . it's Buffy), it might not be the best idea to return to the nostalgia-filled hometown you helped her destroy. But if you don't have a choice, maybe the best hope is to find another way to put out the old flame . . . Cover price $2.99.

Night Cover - Brian Lynch (w) ? Franco Urru (a & c) RAISE SOME HELL! Spinning out of the 'First Night' events in Angel: After the Fall comes the official story of Spike's first months in hell. How did he come to be here? Why is Illyria with him? And exactly how did he come to set up shop in a certain famous mansion in Beverly Hills? It's all the hell, none of the Angels in the first of four issues courtesy of the After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru, who provides two special Spike covers offered in a 50/50 ratio-one featuring Spike's human face, one in all its vamped-out fury! Aussie art team The Sharp Brothers offer a special 'grindhouse'-inspired incentive cover, too! Cover price $3.99.

Day Cover - Brian Lynch (w) ? Franco Urru (a & c) RAISE SOME HELL! Spinning out of the 'First Night' events in Angel: After the Fall comes the official story of Spike's first months in hell. How did he come to be here? Why is Illyria with him? And exactly how did he come to set up shop in a certain famous mansion in Beverly Hills? It's all the hell, none of the Angels in the first of four issues courtesy of the After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru, who provides two special Spike covers offered in a 50/50 ratio-one featuring Spike's human face, one in all its vamped-out fury! Aussie art team The Sharp Brothers offer a special 'grindhouse'-inspired incentive cover, too! Cover price $3.99.

Diamond Retailer Summit Exclusive variant with separate acetate cover overlay. Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch (plot); Brian Lynch (w), Franco Urru (a); Tony Harris, Urru (c) THIS IS IT! The official continuation of the ANGEL series! When last we saw Angel and company, they were charging into battle against Wolfram and Hart's Senior Partners and facing down endless demons in a dark and rainy alleyway. Now, IDW Publishing is proud to present the story of Angel: After the Fall, as presented by Angel co-creator Joss Whedon, with a creative team hand-picked by Whedon himself, the Spike: Shadow Puppets team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru. Picking up where Season Five of the fan-favorite TV show ended, the first issue in this maxi-series looks at who lived after that climactic battle, who died, and what happened to all of Los Angeles in its wake. Acclaimed artist Tony Harris (Ex Machina) and Urru provide special covers for each issue of this momentous series. Issue 1 features a full 27 pages of story and art!

Cover by Franco Urru. Brian Lynch (w) ? Franco Urru (a) Trapped in hell, surrounded by evil, and now, someone's taken his Primordium Demon away... Spike goes on the offensive, and faces off against the most evil creature in town. Maybe Angel's Dragon can help matters... but probably not. The next chapter of Spike and Illyria's story before Angel: After the Fall continues, courtesy of the Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru! The Sharp Brothers offer a special variant cover. And ask your retailer how to get the 'grindhouse'-inspired version of their cover, too! Cover price $3.99.

Limited Edition Virgin Variant Cover by Franco Urru. Brian Lynch (w) ? Franco Urru (a) Trapped in hell, surrounded by evil, and now, someone's taken his Primordium Demon away... Spike goes on the offensive, and faces off against the most evil creature in town. Maybe Angel's Dragon can help matters... but probably not. The next chapter of Spike and Illyria's story before Angel: After the Fall continues, courtesy of the Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru! The Sharp Brothers offer a special variant cover. And ask your retailer how to get the 'grindhouse'-inspired version of their cover, too! Cover price $3.99.

Cover by Franco Urru. Brian Lynch (w) ? Franco Urru (a) Defeated, tortured and beaten. The forces of evil are rising, threatening to destroy everything he holds dear. He is broken, he is alone. And he has them all exactly where he wants them. Spike's story continues, brought to you by the original Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru! The Sharp Brothers offer a special variant cover. And ask your retailer how to get the 'grindhouse'-inspired version of their cover, too! Cover price $3.99.

Limited Virgin Variant Cover by Franco Urru. Brian Lynch (w) ? Franco Urru (a) Defeated, tortured and beaten. The forces of evil are rising, threatening to destroy everything he holds dear. He is broken, he is alone. And he has them all exactly where he wants them. Spike's story continues, brought to you by the original Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru! The Sharp Brothers offer a special variant cover. And ask your retailer how to get the 'grindhouse'-inspired version of their cover, too! Cover price $3.99.

Red title. Vampire guy and shadows. By Brian Lynch & Franco Urru. The one friend Spike has made at the Mosaic Asylum has been staked. Bad for her ? but even worse for the guy who staked her. It's an all-out prison-style battle royale as Spike gets revenge the only way he knows how ? with insults, fists and sharp objects. But when Mosaic's dirty little secret comes to light, it looks like Spike is going to have to call in some outside help to save the day. Spike's latest adventure, courtesy of screenwriter Brian Lynch and artist Franco Urru! 32pgs, FC Cover price $3.99.

Cover by Sean Galloway. Brian Lynch (w); Franco Urru (a); He's been kicked, beaten, stabbed, blown up, and worst of all, turned into a puppet. Now Spike has to battle Smile Time for the fate of every child in Japan! But Smile Time has one more trick up their adorable, murderous felt-covered sleeves-puppet versions of ALL of Spike's friends and foes! It's a battle royale, puppet-style, courtesy of the Spike: Asylum team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru! 32 pages, full color. Cover price $3.99.

All Durak. Cover price $0.25.

All Durak. Cover price $0.25.

Stories by Jules Feiffer. Reprints of the later years of the Spirit strip, when Will Eisner's crimefighter was being run by other cartoonists in his studio. This issue includes Spirit strips #586, 590, 596, and 597. A man claiming to be Denny Colt suddenly shows up in Central City demanding his inheritance - but Denny Colt is The Spirit; A strange tale involving an abandoned bride, a missing treasure, a mysterious ape, and several murders; Young Marvin resolves to plot the perfect murder and get away with it. The Case of the Counterfeit Killer; The Curse of Claymore Castle; The Plot of the Perfect Crime; Panic on Pier 8. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover art by Will Eisner. Life Below starring the Spirit and A-Link. The Return of Roger starring the Spirit, A- Lt Grey, PS, and Ebony. The Strange Case of Mrs. Paraffin starring the Spirit. War Brides starring the Spirit. Scripts and Pencils by Will Eisner, inks by Eisner and Jerry Grandenetti. 36 pgs. $2.00. Cover price $2.00.

Cover art by Will Eisner. The Springtime of Dolan starring the Spirit, Ward Healy, and Klink, script and pencils by Will Eisner, inks by Eisner and Andre LeBlanc. Barkarolle starring the Spirit, Roger the Dog, and Ebony, script and pencils by Will Eisner, inks by Eisner and Andre LeBlanc. The Thing starring the Spirit, script by Ambrose Bierce and Will Eisner, pencils by Will Eisner (Pages 1,7) and Jerry Grandenetti (Pages 2-6), inks by Grandenetti. The Eisner Travel Agency starring the Spirit, Octopus, Mr Carrion, and the city of Caramba, script by Will Eisner, pencils by Eisner, inks by Andre LeBlanc. 36 pgs. $2.00. Cover price $2.00.

Cover pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron and Team Tron. Untitled story, script by Billy Tan (plot), D-Tron (Plot; Script), and Malachy Coney (Plot; Script), pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron and Team Tron (Marcia Chen; Andy Kim; Jeff De Los Santos; Jose Guillen); Lance and Jasmine possess the Spirit of the Tao, a dragon spirit that is prophesied to one day destroy the Earth; They try to live their lives as normal college students while being secretly trained to control their powers by their mentor, Lang; Unfortunately, a group of Tao Hunters learn of their existence and attack, even though Lang fears the kids are less than ready to face their destiny. Ads for Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated #2, Darkness #15, Ascension #7, and Andromeda the Ascension. 36 pgs., full color. $2.50. Cover price $2.50.

Another Universe edition Cover price $7.95.

Cover pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron. Untitled story, script by Billy Tan (Plot), D-Tron (Plot; Script), and Malachu Coney (Plot; Script), pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron and Team Tron (Andy Kim; Jeff De Los Santos; Marcia Chen; Jose Guillen); Mary leads an assault on Alcatraz looking for the dragon sign but finds her quarry has already escaped; As Jasmine and Lance are sailing away from the island, Menicus tells them of a past mission where Joseph Chamberlain had his own son gunned down in order to kill Lang's lover Aimy; The blood of both victims touched the mystical dragon staff and awakened the Spirit of the Tao - creating two babies that Menicus and Lang were able to escape with; Those two children would grow up to be Jasmine and Lance. 36 pgs., full color. $2.50. Cover price $2.50.

Cover pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron. Untitled story, script by Billy Tan (Plot), D-Tron (Plot; Script), and Malachu Coney (Plot; Script), pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron and Team Tron (Jeff de los Santos; Andy Kim; Marcia Chen; Jose "JAG" Guillen); Jasmine and Lance try to deal with the stunning revelation of their dragon powers and origins; Jasmine freaks out and runs off, easily tossing a trolley car over her head as it gets in her way; Lance taps into his own powers to catch the car and prevent the passengers from getting killed; Later, a group of thugs try to accost Jasmine in a dark alley and she rips them to pieces. 36 pgs., full color. $2.50. Cover price $2.50.

Cover pencils by Billy Tan, inks by D-Tron. Untitled story, script by Billy Tan (Plot) and D-Tron (Plot; Script), pencils by Billy Tan, inks by Team Tron (D-Tron; Jeff De Los Santos; Andy Kim), Jose Guillen (Assistant), and Viet Truong (Assistant); Jasmine has had her hand cut off and she and Lance are wandering through the sewers when they encounter Messiah; Messiah tells them that they are the true saviors of Mother Earth and the Tao Hunters are the real threat; He makes Lance kill a sacrificial victim in order to save Jasmine's life; This act releases the Spirit of the Tao which transforms Jasmine and Lance into a giant dragon that begins to lay waste to San Francisco; Mary and her troops hit the dragon with nukes and believe they have killed it but Jasmine and Lance separate and escape back to Alcatraz Island. 36 pgs., full color. $2.50. Cover price $2.50.

Top Cow Comics (W) D. Tron (P) Billy Tan (I) D. Tron (C) Jonathan D. Smith Prepare for the end--the Grand Finale! This issue marks the exciting conclusion to the Spirit of the Tao maxi-series. In the end, who will live and who will die? Who will be the savior? The answers will surprise you. All the questions that have been raised since issue #1 will be revealed in this action-packed, double-sized series finale! FC, 48pg$3.95 " Cover price $4.95.

Kitchen Sinks 1998 revival of The Spirit continues, with modern artists crafting new adventures of Eisners legendary crime-fighter. This issue: Paul Pope, Jay Stephens, Eddie Campbell, Gene Hama, Pete Poplaski and Dennis Eichhorn, plus original Spirit art by Will Eisner. Cover by Pete Poplaski. Full color; 32 pages. Cover price $3.50. Cover price $3.50.

1st printing. Written by Michael Walker. Art by Michael & Katherine Walker. 6 1/2-in. x 10-in., 24 pages, B/W. Cover price $3.00.

Refrigerator Magneto is worried. Until recently he was one of the most popular and stylized characters in the Marble Universe. These days, he's drawn like Heck...Don Heck. Teamed with X-Foe Snaggletooth and Spider-Foe Veinom, he vows to discover the truth behind the disappearance of Marble Comics' stellar way-cool artists. He finds 'em...and their latest creations...in the Spittin' Image Universe, a place where all is not what it seems...but everything sells a million copies. Written by Fred Schiller. Art by various. Cover by Sam Kieth. Cover price $2.50.

b&w. Mature Readers. Cover price $2.00.

Stories and Art by Dave Cook. Splatter Comix is a twist between the camp of old pre-Code horror books and the edginess of today's splatter movies. Each tale is introduced with sly humor and bad puns by narrator Necro Phil -- a tongue-in-cheek, rock 'n' roll, vampire punk. The first story, "Refuse Garden," concerns a sanitation worker whose partner is murdered by a deranged homeless man. Driven by revenge, our "hero" decides to clean up the streets by removing the human garbage. Permanently. That is, until the garbage decides to fight back. The second story, "Wormy," offers a new twist on the 98-pound weakling. In this case, the weakling -- after having sand kicked in his face -- decides to sell his soul for the body he wants. The problem is, while the weakling gets revenge, his body grows out of control with eye-popping consequences. 32 pages, B&W with Red. Mature Readers. Cover price $2.95.

Second Edition with silver foil seal. "Blood Sweat & Fears" written & illustrated by David Lapham. FC., 16 pages, standard paper stock.

Back Cover is Spasm by Todd McFarlane. Parody of the Image Universe by Don Simpson. Cover price $1.95.

Back Cover is Who is Traction Shock by Mark Silvestri. Parody of the Image Universe by Don Simpson. Cover price $1.95.

Back Cover is The Jolly Green Dragqueen by Erik Larsen. Parody of the Image Universe by Don Simpson. Cover price $1.95.

Back Cover is Youngbratbrood by Rob Liefeld. Parody of the Image Universe by Don Simpson. Cover price $1.95.

In 'Missing Man,' SpongeBob, Patrick, and Barnacle Boy go on a desperately dumb search for a wayward Mermaid Man, annoying the hero's entire rogues gallery along the way. And SpongeBob becomes the champion of an underground civilization living beneath the Krusty Krab in 'Look Out Below.' Also, Gary heaves a hairball, courtesy of James Kochalka (Dragon Puncher), and Squidward's clarinet playing gets an assist from Bob Flynn (Heeby Jeeby Comics). All this plus a Scott Shaw! (Simpsons Comics) ad-parody and a pin-up of this issue's sword-and-spongery cover!""(W) James Kochalka, Graham Annable (A) David Lewman, Jacob Chabot (CA) Jacob Chabot Cover price $2.99.

Written by Stu Schwartzberg. Art by Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe. Cover by Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe. Parody of horror anthology series Night Gallery. Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Marie Severin and John Costanza. Celebrities as the last people on earth satire with Snoopy, Julia Children, Coward Hosell, and Boob Hope. Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Win Mortimer. Parody of the musical, 1776. 36 pages, full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Mike Halblieb script. Keith Quinn art. Garrett Berner color. Cover price $2.95.

Youngblood parody Cover price $2.95.

Cover by L. B. Cole. Stories and art by Jay Disbrow and George Appel. Pre-Code horror comics from L. B. Cole's Star Publications. In one of the all-time classic lab accidents, an amoeba gains massive size and intelligence, and runs amuck in the city. Red Rocket discovers a plot to replace human babies with Martian mutants. Amazo enslaves a village and battles jungle hero Rulah, but falls afoul of her own superstition, featuring art possibly by good-girl art legend Matt Baker. Creeping Death; Death Dance; Red Rocket: The Monstrous Madmen; Rulah: Jade of Death. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Cover by L. B. Cole. Stories and art by Jay Disbrow and Howard Larsen. Pre-Code horror comics from L. B. Cole's Star Publications. A jealous musician kills his more talented identical twin, who then returns from the grave to steal the spotlight once more. Jungle hero Jo-Jo, Congo King, and his mate discover The Garden of Lost Maidens. A modern-day man must commit an act of bravery to free his family from an ancient curse. Another top-notch cover by L. B. Cole. Solo for Death; Jo-Jo: Spook of the Congo; Western Ghosts; Pete Stockbridge alias the Chameleon: Killer's Holiday; The Thing from Beyond; The Vengeful Phantom. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.