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Last time we covered the Gold line-up of books to be released on May 1, 2010: Free Comic Book Day! Today, on this the final day of the regular NFL 2009 season, we take a look at the Silver line-up of comics. There’s a lot more titles on this list so brace yourself for some great previews!

Title: The Stuff of Legend/The Mortal Instruments Preview
Publisher: Th3rd World Studios
Creators: Various

Don’t be left in “The Dark” this year, as Th3rd World Studios presents not only a recap of the toys’ first adventure from The Stuff of Legend Volume I, “The Dark,” but also a first look at Volume 2, The Jungle coming in June. Also, get your first look at Th3rd World’s adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s New York Times best-selling novel, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, a young adult fantasy series in which a young teen girl discovers a shadowy world filled with demon-hunting warriors.

Title: Sonic the Hedgehog
Publisher: Archie Comics
Creators: Ian Flynn (W), James Fry (A), Jim Amash

“Hide & Seek & DESTROY!”: Dr. Eggman has vanished – or has he? As Sonic searches for clues, he stumbles across an old weapon from the bygone days of his childhood. Will Dr. Eggman allow Sonic to be destroyed by this threat from yesteryear? Will Sonic discover the truth behind his old rival’s disappearance? All the answers lie in this free issue!

Title: Worlds of Aspen
Publisher: Aspen
Creators: (W) David Wohl, JT Krul, David Schwartz, Vince Hernandez (A) Joe Benitez, Scott Clark, Marcus To, Eduardo Francisco, Alex Konat (C) Michael Turner, Peter Steigerwald, Various

A special compilation issue featuring four exciting outtakes from several of Aspen’s hottest titles including Soulfire (Vol 2), and Executive Assistant: Iris! Also showcased are two of Aspen’s newest titles, Fathom: Blue Descent and Mindfield!!

Title: Fearless Dawn/Asylum Press Sampler
Publisher: Asylum Press
Creators: (W/A) Steve Mannion, Various

Featuring a sampling of new and upcoming Asylum Press titles! Steve Mannion’s Fearless Dawn features our favorite new heroine battling a troop of mutants; Black Powder, a bloody frontier adventure by Dwayne Harris; Warlash: Origins is a tale of Bladeviper by Royal McGraw and J.C. Wong; Farmhouse by Elizabeth J. Musgrave and Szymon Kudranski, a tale of a drifter who falls in love with an artist undergoing an experimental art therapy; armored hero vs. brain-eating monsters in Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis by Frank Forte; and a look at Jason Paulos’ EEEK!, a retro-style horror anthology.

Title: S.E. Hinton/Fame
Publisher: Bluewater Productions
Creators: (W) CW Cooke, Dan Rafter (A) Various (C) Vinnie Tartamella

S.E. Hinton, author of the The Outsiders, was – and still is – one of the most popular and best known writers of Young Adult fiction. And now Bluewater Productions proudly announces an exciting new partnership with the best-selling in this special FCBD preview issue, showcasing the new titles from Hinton. Plus: Your first look at the new biography series Fame, featuring Lady Gaga!

Title: Bongo Comics Free-For-All
Publisher: Bongo Comics
Creators: (W/A) Matt Groening, Various

The comic company that brings you The Simpsons and Futurama in the fantastic four-color format joins with retailers to reel in new readers, with a comic cornucopia of tantalizing tidbits and a spectacular sampling of the best in humor comics! Check out the Amazing Fantasy #15 tribute cover featuring the Comic Book Guy and Bart!

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Title: Irredeemable #1
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Creators: (W) Mark Waid, (A) Peter Krause, (C) John Cassaday

Last year’s comic book industry event is this year’s best way to get more readers hooked on Mark Waid’s best-selling original title, Irredeemable, the series that dared to ask the question: what if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? And 12 issues later, that question has been answered with a best-selling comic series, two best-selling trade collections and Incorruptible, the companion series.

Title: DC Kids Mega-Sampler
Pulisher: DC Comics
Creators: (W) Landry Walker, Art Baltazar, Franco, Sholly Fisch (A) Eric Jones, Art Baltazar, Mike Norton, Dario Brizuela (C) Baltazar

This sampler is the perfect place to check out the sensational line of titles aimed at readers of all ages! It includes exciting, all-new stories starring Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Tiny Titans, Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam! and Super Friends! (side note: I really wish Mike Kunkel had returned for this one.)

Title: Del Rey Showcase
Publisher: Del Rey Comics
Creators: Various

Featuring previews of Del Rey’s upcoming comics and graphic novels including: The Last Airbender by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, and Nina Matsumoto; The Talisman: A Collision of Worlds by Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Tony Shasteen; Odd is On Our Side by Dean Koontz, Fred Van Lente, and Queenie Chan; Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies: The Graphic Novel by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith, Tony Lee, and Cliff Richards.

Title: Green Hornet #1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Creators: (W) Kevin Smith (A) Jonathan Lau, Ariel Padilla, Aaron Campbell (C) Alex Ross

Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents the return of the Green Hornet! In 2010, Dynamite will unveil three brand-new Green Hornet series, starting with the worldwide debut of Kevin Smith’s vision for the masked crusader (based on his unproduced screenplay)! Get a first look with this special edition featuring not only Smith’s version, but the award-winning work of creators Matt Wagner and Brett Matthews as well! All in one Free Comic Book Day comic event!

Title: Weathercraft: A Frank Comic
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Creator:  (W/A) Jim Woodring

Are you ready? Because your life is about to change! Perception as you know it will cease! Fantagraphics proudly presents Jim Woodring’s Weathercraft! Every other free comic book will pale in comparison to our powerful and supernatural print-barge for both the enlightened and perplexed masses. Marvel at the toothy preview of Jim Woodring’s first original graphic novel, do your detective work with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, and gasp at rare out-of-print images, comics and transmissions, all from Jimland! Beware! Manhog lurks near…

Title: The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics
Publisher: Gemstone Publishing

How do you collect comics? How do you take care of the comics you buy? How do you grade comics? How do you sell your comics? How do you evaluate their worth? The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide answers the questions and more facing new collectors and experienced enthusiasts alike! (side note: This issue  is a very cool idea as there were plenty of new collectors who showed up for Free Comic Book Day 2009!)

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Title: Library of American Comics #0
Publisher: IDW Publishing

Presenting excerpts from the greatest comic strips of all time – from action/adventure to high drama, to fall-on-the-floor hilarious! IDW and the Library of American Comics present 32 pages of previews from upcoming volumes including Archie by Bob Montana, Secret Agent Corrigan by Al Williamson, Blondie by Chic Young, The Complete Bloom County Library by Berkeley Breathed, Rip Kirby by Alex Raymond, Polly and Her Pals by Chris Sterrett, Dick Tracy by Chester Gould, and Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.

Title: Artifacts: First Look
Publisher: Top Cow
Creators:  (W) Ron Marz (A) Top Cow’s Finest (C) Stjepan Sejic

Building on the success of First Born and Broken Trinity, Top Cow finally reveals the secrets of all 13 Artifacts – which include The Darkness, Witchblade, Angelus, Magdalena’s Spear of Destiny, and more. Launching a massive 13-issue event beginning in July 2010, this series will literally define and redefine the nature of the Top Cow Universe! The final identity of the remaining hidden Artifacts will be revealed, characters will perish, and the very existence of the Top Cow Universe will be at stake. And it begins here!

Title: Love and Capes #13
Publisher: Maerkle Press
Creator: (W/A/C) Thomas F. Zahler

The wedding and the honeymoon are over for comicdom’s favorite super couple, so what’s next? Getting settled, starting their new life…

and finding out what really happened at the reception. It’s a whole new start for “Love and Capes”, and a great lead-in to the second trade coming from IDW in summer 2010! (side note: This one was hot last year, so consider giving it a look: #10 is pictured here.)

Title: Iron Man: Supernova
Publisher: Marvel
Creators: (W) Paul Tobin (A) Craig Rousseau (C) Ed McGuinness

What happens when an armored billionaire teams up with a hot-headed, cosmic-powered teen to fight a trio of massively-powered super-apes? Find out when Iron Man and Nova take on Red Ghost and The Super-Apes! Out-numbered, the Golden Avenger and the Human Rocket will have to trust an apparent traitor in the gorillas’ midst if they are to survive and save an entire city. Will they succeed or are they being played? Find out in this all-new, action-packed adventure, which happens to be FREE!

Title: The Tick #1
Publisher: NEC Press
Creator: (W/A) Ben Edlund

In honor of this year’s Free Comic Book Day, and to commemorate the first appearance of The Tick 24 years ago, NEC Press offers this special re-presentation of Ben Edlund’s legendary first issue of The Tick, in a special Free Comic Book Day special edition! The complete original first comic book appearance of The Tick, as it originally hit the stands in 1986!

Title: Oni Press Free-For-All #1
Publisher: Oni Press
Creators: (W/A) Chris Schweizer, Matthew Loux, Ray Fawkes

Coming your way this Free Comic Book Day: the Oni Press Free-For-All! This all-ages anthology packs in three exclusive terrific tales from The Crogan Adventures by Chris Schweizer, Salt Water Taffy by Matthew Loux and the all-new series, Possessions, by Ray Fawkes! (side note: this is another one worth checking out on the indie side of things.)

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Title: The Sixth Gun #1
Publisher: Oni Press
Creators: (W) Cullen Bunn (A/C) Brian Hurtt

During the darkest days of the Civil War, wicked cutthroats came into possession of six pistols of otherworldly power. In time, the Sixth Gun – the most dangerous of the weapons – vanished. When the gun resurfaces in the hands of an innocent girl, dark forces reawaken. Vile men thought long dead set their sights on retrieving the gun and killing the girl. Only Drake Sinclair, a gunfighter with a shadowy past, stands in their way!

Title: Radical: Bigger Books! Bigger Value!
Publisher: Radical Publishing
Creators: (W/A) Various

For FCBD 2010, fans can read the first 8 pages of 4 incredible titles showcasing Radical’s innovative “Bigger Books! Bigger Value!” format. Wesley Snipes and director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) join writer Peter Milligan and artist Jeff Nentrup for the sci-fi saga, After Dark; Jonah Hex’s Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray deliver Time Bomb, featuring art by comics legend Paul Gulacy; Driver for the Dead will keep your heart racing with a tale of action, horror and voodoo from writer John Heffernan (Snakes on a Plane) and artist Clint Langley (Sláine); and finally, Radical presents The Rising, from creator/writer E. Max Frye (Band of Brothers) and artist J.P. Targete (Pixar’s John Carter of Mars)!

Title: Atomic Robo and Friends
Publisher: Red 5 Comics
Creators: (W) Brian Clevinger, Various (A) Scott Wegener, Various

Eisner Award-nominated Atomic Robo knows that the rain forests of South America hide many secrets…but none so deadly as “The Terror Bird”! Forgotten by time, these prehistoric apex predators are primed to devastate the modern world! (The word ‘terror’ is right there in its name!) Plus! Previews of 2010 adventures of Red 5 favorites and some new faces!

Title: Freedom Formula: Speed Metal Overtures #0
Publisher: Storm Lion
Creators: (W) Edmund Shern ,Brandon Jerwa, Andrew Dabb, Tony Lee (A) Puppeteer Lee, Zid, Leah Liu, Zhaoweiyi (C) Puppeteer Lee

Metal twisting tales of the meanest, fastest mechs in all-out heart-pounding action, the legend of the Freedom Formula races starts here in this collection of must-read stories. Spinning out of last year’s acclaimed mini-series and soon to be a major motion picture from New Regency with Bryan Singer (Superman Returns).

Title: Owly and Friends
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Creators: (W/A) Andy Runton, James Kochalka, Christian Slade

Top Shelf is proud to join the 2010 Free Comic Book Day celebration with not one, but three all-ages tales! In this FCBD edition, we’ll not only present an all-new Owly adventure by Andy Runton, but also two other all-new, all-ages adventures from Owly’s friends: Johnny Boo by James Kochalka and Korgi by Christian Slade. Perfect for everyone in the family, this time around with a great cover by Christian Slade!

Check out these pictures of Free Comic Book Day 2009 at my comic shop here in LA, Collector’s Paradise:

Which titles are you looking forward to checking out?

Andy Liegl
andy@comicattack.net