New Releases by Matthew Sturges

Written by Matthew Sturges Art and cover by Rafael Albuquerque Jaime Reyes faces the arrival of a mysterious group of men sporting super-abilities as they try to illegally cross into the U.S. from Mexico! And as the protector of both El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, that means double trouble in these stories from BLUE BEETLE #29-34. Advance-solicited; on sale April 22 - 144 pg, FC, $14.99 US

Graphic novel. Matthew Sturges, writer of the Eisner-nominated Jack of Fables , and Bill Willingham ( Fables ), proudly unlock the doors to the House of Mystery , a new series that reinvents a classic comics concept. Focusing on five characters trapped in a supernatural bar - each one with a terrible past they''d like to forget...and with no books, newspapers or TV allowed, they face an eternity of boredom. But stories become the new currency, and fortunately, the House attracts only the finest storytellers. Illustrated by a host of fine artists, including Luci Rossi, Ross Campbell, Jill Thompson, and Bernie Wrightson, the mysteries of the unknown are just a page-turn away!

Written by Matthew Sturges Art by Stephen Jorge Segovia, Chad Hardin, Dan Green, Robert Campanella, Walden Wong and Wayne Faucher Cover by Stephen Jorge Segovia Eclipso''s back - and this time, the villainous entity has possessed The Atom''s murderous ex-wife, Jean Loring. Eclipso''s first target: his former host, Dr. Bruce Gordon! Collecting stories from COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #1-8. Advance-solicited; on sale January 14 - 168 pg, FC, $19.99 US

Jack hits the road in seach of a lost city of gold in this new collection featuring issues #17-21. Aided by his sidekicks Paul Bunyan, Humpty Dumpty, Gary the pathetic fallacy and the mysterious Hillary Page, Jack''s in for the adventure of a lifetime!

Collecting JACK OF FABLES #12-16! Jack''s now a wayward Fable in the heartland of America. Follow his extreme road stories as he reveals the secret of his former relationship with the illustrious Snow Queen (when he took her powers and became known as Jack Frost).

Statements of responsibility vary from issue to issue.

Exhausted after their defeat of Doctor Gotham, the team of five mismatched heroes - and one hard-drinking chimp are attacked by a deadly new villain - and must face off against a horde of zombies.

Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges Art by Sean Chen & Walden Wong Cover by Joe Corroney The hit 7-issue miniseries spinning out of COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS is collected in this new trade paperback. Exiled to a distant hell planet, the villains of the DCU split into two warring factions led by Lex Luthor and The Joker! Advance-solicited; on sale September 17 - 192 pg, FC, $19.99 US

In this volume collecting issues #6-11, Jack reveals the secret of his former relationship with the illustrious Snow Queen--when he took her powers and became known as Jack Frost. And in present times, he lands in Las Vegas and meets his lovely new bride, a directionless heiress. Could it possibly be ''happily ever after'' at last?

The first five issues of the popular FABLES spinoff series are collected in this amazing new volume! Last seen hitchhiking from Hollywood, Jack''s now a wayward Fable in the heartland of America. His extreme road stories and encounters with other notorious, renegade Fables are just a few of the situations in store for this fan-favorite character.

Turning Pages part 3! Hillary Page is the gal who stole away to Americana to find her father and ended up kicking Jack Horner square in the tacklebox. Now she''s held captive by the vicious Bookburner with no hope of escape, and it looks like all of the good guys are about to be murdered!

The Great Fables Crossover part 3, continued from JACK OF FABLES #33. The Literals, who literally embody literary notions, may have created all of the Fables plus the universe in which they reside, unbeknownst to our beloved heroes, and the full story on this enigmatic crew of characters begins here! Continued in FABLES #84.

Jack is determined not to remain a prisoner in the Golden Boughs Retirement Village, run by the mysterious Mr. Revise and his army of evil librarians. He''s planning the great escape of all captive Fables, but we''ve seen what happens to most of Jack''s schemes before. Does this one have a chance of working...or is he doomed to remain a prisoner for centuries to come?

1883 part 1! 1883 was the year in which the scrofulous outlaw known as "Smiling Jack Candle" and his gang of desperadoes roamed the Western Territories, robbing and pillaging as they went. None durst stand up to the miscreant, until the day that a grim-countenanced stranger rode out to face him down.

The Great Fables Crossover part 2, continued from FABLES #83. Jack reveals the existence of The Literals to Fabletown, and things quickly get chaotic from there. Fables don''t like the idea of having a living god who can wipe them out with the stroke of a pen, and have thus decided to get rid of them! Continued in LITERALS #1.

From an all-singing analogue of New York to bootlegging on Lake Michigan all the way to even the myth(s) of Canada, Jack''s trek across the fabled lands of Americana with Humpty Dumpty, Paul Bunyan and more continues with "Americana" part 3!

Bigby tracks Georgie to the Pudding ''n'' Pie where he discovers the real culprit behind the "my lips are sealed" ribbons.

Bigby finally stumbles upon the location of The Crooked Man''s lair, and the accusations fly...

Bigby''s investigation brings him closer to the Crooked Man''s lair...

Jack gives rise to the haunted spirit of Halloween in this issue featuring guest art by Andrew Robinson! Go back in time to one of Jack''s many misadventures--back when he was none other than the legendary Jack O'' Lantern!

Jack of Hearts Part 1! Jack enters the City of Sin--Las Vegas! Up to his usual tricks, he tries to swing luck on his side, teaming with an old friend and fellow escapee. But as usual, not everything goes to plan when it comes to Jack!

The Bad Prince part 1! What happens when you become the most well-known Fable in America? Jack starts to find out in a truly bizarre way. Also, in the Golden Boughs Retirement Village, Mr. Revise takes drastic steps to keep the escaped Fables from spilling the beans on him and his facility.

The conclusion to "The Bad Prince"! Our hard-luck group of crash survivors tries to find a way out of the wilderness. Along the way we learn more about Wicked John, and our boy Jack doesn''t like a bit of it!

Why has Jack been carrying that briefcase around all this time? Why is Paul Bunyan buying big pants? Who is Dash Weinstein and why is he risking it all for a girl with million-dollar gams? Find out with the start Jack''s latest misadventure in "Americana" part 1!

The Great Fables Crossover part 6, continued from JACK OF FABLES #34. Even with his two Fable muses pressed into service, Kevin Thorn is having trouble getting started on his next grand opus. Meanwhile, the Page Sisters go to guns a-blazin'' against the Genres. Continued in FABLES #85.

Starring former wallflower Priscilla Page! The second part in Jack''s latest tale is chock-full of car crashes, brutal violence, shoplifting and the horrors of mime--not to mention our fearless protagonist facing off against a horrific monster. "Turning Pages" part 2.

The conclusion of the four-part "Jack of Hearts"! Jack makes a gamble against Lady Luck. Does it work out or does he need to cash in his chips? Writer Bill Willingham concludes Jack''s Las Vegas adventure!

Zatanna''s seen her share of strange magical artifacts, but a sword that cuts backwards through time is a new one! A rowdy roughneck named Backslash is using that very sword to cut a bloody path through her beloved San Francisco, but how can she stop him when he can undo any attack with a mere wave of his hand?

The Page Sisters finally find a new purpose in life: restoring the Great Library. And the one place you don''t want to be is between them and one of the books they want. Meanwhile, Jack Frost has just set upon the greatest quest in a long and distinguished career of great quests!