New Releases by Bob Layton

The trio of David Michelinie, Bob Layton and John Romita Jr. make comics history in this iconic run! A new era begins for Iron Man -- and for comics! Visionary creators Bob Layton, David Michelinie and John Romita Jr. launch a character-defining run that proves Tony Stark is far more than a technological genius. Stark''s true strength shines through perseverance in the face of personal demons and relentless enemies. This groundbreaking era also introduces a dynamic new cast -- including Jim Rhodes, the future War Machine -- and showcases bold new Iron Man armors. While the Michelinie/Layton/Romita Jr. collaboration reaches its emotional peak with "Demon in a Bottle," the saga soars even further with epic clashes against Titanium Man, the All-Devourer and Madame Masque! Guest-starring the Hulk in a three-issue conflict between armor and raw power! COLLECTING: Iron Man (1968) #115-139 Written by David Michelinie & Bob Layton with Bill Mantlo, Peter Palmer, Jim Shooter & Roger Stern Penciled by John Romita Jr., Bob Layton & Jerry Bingham with John Byrne, Carmine Infantino, Sal Buscema & Alan Weiss

One of the most tumultuous eras in Iron Man history begins as Tony Stark goes after anyone and everyone wearing armor! Time for the Armored Avenger to start avenging! Tony Stark is back in the groove as Iron Man, from outer space to the ocean depths. But the new Stark Enterprises is on constant super-villain alert, under attack from familiar faces like Spymaster and new threats like the ethereal Ghost. And when Tony discovers that his technology has been stolen and abused, he declares war on anyone in armor! Iron Man's new ruthless streak brings him into conflict with the U.S. government, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. And as his actions grow ever more extreme, he must battle an old friend in a new guise - Steve Rogers, aka the Captain! By the time the dust settles on these Armor Wars, the world might need a new Iron Man! COLLECTING: IRON MAN (1968) #215-232 and ANNUAL #9

I principali eroi Marvel sono stati rapiti da una misteriosa quanto potentissima entità aliena e sono stati trasportati su un mondo-patchwork, dove dovranno sfidare i più forti tra i loro nemici. La posta in palio: vedere realizzato ogni proprio desiderio. Chi avrà la meglio? Chi riuscirà a fare ritorno a casa? E, soprattutto, quanto e come cambieranno le esistenze dei personaggi coinvolti? Domande a cui Jim Shooter (The Avengers), Mike Zeck (Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt) e Bob Layton (Iron Man) danno risposta nel primo vero crossover fra super eroi della storia dei comics statunitensi. Un’avventura semplicemente epocale. [CONTIENE MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS (1984) 1-12]

THE SEED OF DESTRUCTION? Aric dons the armor of Shanhara for the first time since his return from the past, only to find it changed. The armor''s new form, together with sinister dreams of a golden seed and an alien arena, promise to reveal the true origin of the X-O armor! Comic book legend Bob Layton (Iron Man) is joined by Valiant all-stars Bart Sears (BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS), Jorge Gonz?lez (NINJAK), Mike Leeke (H.A.R.D. CORPS), Jim Calafiore (ARMORINES) and more for the story that redefined the legend of X-O Manowar! Collecting X-O MANOWAR (1992) #10?20.

Collects Iron Man (1968) #113-128; Marvel Premiere (1972) #44. Many have lent their talents to IRON MAN, but few — if any — have had a greater impact than the creative trio of David Michelinie, Bob Layton and John Romita Jr. has! They remade IRON MAN with new co-stars — including Jim Rhodes, the future War Machine — and new armors, but more important than anything else, a new and character-defining take on the man inside the armor. Their Tony Stark is a hero not because of the extent of his technological wizardry, but because of his perseverance in the face of his own personal failings. This beautifully restored Marvel Masterworks edition presents the beginning of the reinvention of a Marvel icon, culminating in the classic “Demon in a Bottle”!

YOU DON''T NEED A PAST TO HAVE A FUTURE? Rediscover the series that defined a generation of comic book fans in this first volume of the smash-hit series behind the blockbuster BLOODSHOT movie! From his very first appearance, Bloodshot comes armed to the teeth with bullets, nanites ? and questions. Featuring appearances by Ninjak, the Eternal Warrior, Rai, the H.A.R.D. Corps, and more, this collected edition presents the classic adventures of Valiant?s nanite enhanced commando from the very beginning! Join Valiant icons Kevin VanHook and Don Perlin ? along with an all-star cast of comics creators including Bob Layton, David Lapham, David Michelinie, and more ? as they dive headlong into the very first adventures of the original man from Rising Spirit! Collecting BLOODSHOT (1993) #0?7, ETERNAL WARRIOR #5, H.A.R.D. CORPS #5, and RAI (1992) #0.

SQUARE PEGS IN A ROUND WORLD Archer is the world?s greatest hand-to-hand ?ghter, an expert marksman, and a seeker of truth and righteousness. Armstrong is an immortal warrior who has reluctantly brawled his way from pre-history to modern times only to realize that the best way to face life?s many challenges is to grab a drink. But Armstrong counts as his worst day the one when Archer turned up and decided that they were partners ? a team chosen by fate to save the world! From the minds of legendary creators Barry Windsor-Smith (Weapon X), Jim Shooter (Secret Wars), Bob Layton (Iron Man), and more comes the first Valiant Classic Collection of the groundbreaking series CBR calls a ""comic book masterpiece""! Collecting ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (1992) #0?12.

Collects Avengers (1963) #195-196, 223; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #103, 146; Thing (1983) 26; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #308; Iron Man (1968) #254; Daredevil (1964) #292-293; Deadpool (1997) #2; Hawkeye: Earth’s Mightiest Marksman (1998) #1; Avengers (1998) #26; Captain America (1998) #44; material from Captain America Annual (1971) #11. He’s the skull-faced villain who can copy any action he sees — whether it’s Spider-Man’s agility, Daredevil’s fighting moves or Captain America’s skills with a shield! That makes Taskmaster more than a match for anyone — even the Avengers! And to make matters worse, Taskmaster runs a training school for villainous henchmen! With the sweetest moves around and an army of thugs eager for extra credit, watch as Taskmaster clashes with a who’s who of the Marvel Universe — including Spidey, Cap, Daredevil, Iron Man, Falcon, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, the Thing and Deadpool! Can any of them take him to task?

“MARTIAL L.A.W.” The heroes of the L.A.W. struggle to rescue the JLA before time runs out for all the world’s heroes! In the midst of a world-threatening conflict, we look back at the life of Hadley Jagger-also known as the legendary martial artist Judomaster! Forged in the fires of World War II, his origins contain the beginnings of Avatar-the being that, in the present day, threatens the entire world!

“THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR!” The JLA has vanished...and only a strange assemblage of heroes stands against the deadly Avatar! The Avatar will stop at nothing to eliminate all the world’s military forces...including its superheroes! The JLA has already been banished to another dimension; Captain Atom’s been abducted; and now only Blue Beetle, the Question, Sarge Steel, Nightshade and Judomaster remain. But is one of them a traitor to the cause?

The Elseworlds miniseries continues! Suffering a serious injury to the head, actor Byron Wyatt is now convinced he has always been his most famous role...Batman. Now ÒBatmanÓ is set on getting revenge against studio mogul Jack Òthe JokerÓ Napier for WyattÕs Òmurder.Ó

The Elseworlds miniseries concludes! In the Golden Age of Hollywood, studio-magnate-turned-actor Byron Wyatt has lost himself in his on-camera character: the Batman! Meanwhile, rival studio chief Jack Òthe JokerÓ Napier makes an all-out play to take over his business. ÒBatmanÓ and ÒJokerÓ collide in the not-to-be-missed conclusion.

Collects Hercules: Twilight of a God #1-4. THE PRINCE OF POWER IS BACK WITH ONE, FINAL ADVENTURE AS ONLY BOB LAYTON CAN TELL IT! Hercules has been the champion of the Andromeda galaxy for over 75 years! But when an attempt to save the capitol city of Port Anteris goes awry, the Lion of Olympus is left incapacitated and needing to be looked after by his Olympic offspring. However, with a sinister plot brewing against his son''s government and the threat of Galactus looming, Hercules-even in his brain-addled state- is the galaxy''s only hope! It''s the long awaited follow-up to Bob Layton''s classic Hercules run!

In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places—some that have existed, or might have existed, and others that can’t, couldn’t or shouldn’t exist. The result: stories that make characters who are as familiar as yesterday seem as fresh as tomorrow. Featuring tales of Batman and Eliot Ness taking on Al Capone, a future league of Batmen protecting the night with an iron fist, a mysterious knight defending Camelot as an armor-clad Bat and a 19th-century Batman entwined in an operatic tale of love, horror and obsession. Now, for the first time, Batman’s Elseworlds tales are featured in a new graphic novel collection. Collects Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat, Batman: Dark Knight of the Round Table #1-2, Batman: KnightGallery, Batman: Masque and Batman: Scar of the Bat!

That Dirty Yellow Mustard: Part 1 of 4. An eight issue series consisting of two four part stories. ""Dinophobia"" - Panaam, the aged mentor of Ript and Claude, is being challenged to a death duel in the sky by a younger Pteradon who intends to replace him as the high, exalted wise one. The dueling part doesn''t scare him, but the flying part does. So it''s up to Ript and Claude to help Panaam overcome his fear of flying. After all, who better to teach him about being scared than a couple of spineless cowards? Beginning a brand new arc of stories, Bad Eggs mastermind Bob Layton explores the darker side of phobias and the laughs they can cause to the serious comic reader.

That Dirty Yellow Mustard: Part 3 of 4. An eight issue series consisting of two four part stories. ""When You Whiz Upon A Star..."" Guess who's coming to dinner! When Earth is visited by travelers from beyond the stars, those bad boys of the Jurassic, Ript and Claude, step up to the plate...as goodwill ambassadors. But will the raunchy raptors wind up as specimens in an interplanetary zoo, or will E.T. be added to Ript and Claude's menu? Comics' ""galactic sacred cows"" are about to be milked for all they're worth!

That Dirty Yellow Mustard: Part 2 of 4. An eight issue series consisting of two four part stories. ""Internal Conflicts"" - The ""inside story"" of the Bad Eggs' prehistoric world is revealed! Join the perilous adventures of Colin the Tapeworm as he gets all the inside poop on our cast of demented dinosaurs. It's a ""worm's eye-view"" of the Cretaceous Era as Colin passes from one host to another, piecing together a chain of ridiculous events that spell trouble for the rebellious raptors Ript and Claude, and tons of fun for you! So take a peek into a gastro-intestinal world you never knew existed, and hope that you never have the opportunity again! Hey, it doesn't say ""Number 2"" on the cover for nothing. Featuring a Really Neat Cover that has nothing to do with the story, but Bob made Don draw it anyway!

Meet 2015''s silver screen sensation in waiting -Scott Lang, the astonishing Ant-Man! To save his daughter Cassie''s life, Scott is forced to return to a life of crime, stealing Hank Pym''s original costumed identity. But when his noble intentions win the Avengers'' approval, he takes over as the all-new Ant-Man, full-time! Electronics whiz Scott secures a job with Tony Stark, but the size-changing super hero must save Iron Man after a brutal battle with the Hulk. No shrinking violet, Scott holds his own in astonishing adventures with Spider-Man, the Thing and the Avengers...and when Ant-Man and Hawkeye join forces, somebody'' gonna get it! Collecting Avengers #195 (May 1980) Marvel Comics, Avengers #196 Avengers #181 (Mar 1979) Marvel Comics, Marvel Premiere #47-48, Iron Man (1968) #131-133 and #151, Avengers (1963) #223, Marvel Team-Up (1972) #103.

Ript and Claude, the stars of this title are two ignorant, belly-scratching, lazy, disrespecting reptiles with no manners, no culture, no socially redeeming value whatsoever...so who better than them to instruct the granddaddy ancestor of us all -- the world''s first proto-human? Being mentors to the human race is no picnic, of course, and to our two heroes, this little mammal is one big pain in their sphincters.

""The Volcano''s coming, the Volcano''s coming!"", echo the words from Ript and Claude this issue, as Panaam collects his debt from our primordial heroes and forces them to spread the word to evacuate the jungle inhabitants to safety. But the rub, as they say, is that due to Ript and Claude''s past behavior, everybody thinks they''re trying to scam them. Jeez, and you thought Chicken Little had it bad.

The good Doc trashed on Sally Jesse Raphael?! It's true! In the late 1980s, Bart Simms' daughter has written a tell-all book about his exploits, and since she's hated him from birth, it's probably not going to be good for his reputation! As impostors emerge from the woodwork to claim his name as theirs, Tomorrow is faced with his final battle...the one for his legacy!

Bart must recover from his heart-wrenching betrayal quickly, or the future may just go up in smoke! More consequences of the Simms family's activities in the forties! And something BIG may be coming to Earth, and it ain't Orson Welles!

Doctor Tomorrow goes in an entirely new direction to deal with a new generation. Using his new contacts, he seeks out the daughter he never knew. But she''s not what he was expecting and he expects that she''ll hate him! Journey into the Space Age as the Race for Tomorrow continues...

The Doctor goes to war for the third time. Here he''ll meet a man he hasn''t seen in thirty years. Gilad the Warmaster from Eternal Warriors! They''re allied once again, but this time their agendas may not mesh - Gilad wants to free Vietnam from the aggression of a superstate, while Tomorrow wants to ease America out of the war! But if Gilad doesn''t like what Doc''s doing, how will Tomorrow stop a man who can''t die?

Asteroid A-271 is plummeting towards Earth, and President Eisenhower has made a personal plea for Doctor Tomorrow to itnervene. But Tomorrow smells a set-up. Using his incredible future technology he breaks into the top secret computer databases of the fifties. But here he''ll find more than just files and tape-drives. He runs smack into the most dangerous person he will ever meet - a twelve year-old Native American from the future named Mushroom Cloud!

Spurred by visions of nuclear disaster, Doctor Tomorrow races to dismantle the Nazi atomic program. But guarding it is the X-O of the 40s, the Teutonic Knight! Can Tomorrow''s future tech defeat a threat from beyond our world? Can he even survive intact?

Doctor Tomorrow is dragged into the 1950s kicking and screaming! Despite Doc''s heroic efforts in Korea and commie busting back in the states, ""Tailgunner"" Joe McCarthy sets his sights to expose Doc as a dyed-in-the-wook Communist. Besieged on all sides, Tomorrow is then betrayed by one of his closest allies, threatening his future technology and even his life!

Collected for the very first time – the debut adventures of the H.A.R.D. Corps in the original Valiant Universe by legendary creators Jim Shooter (Secret Wars), David Lapham (Stray Bullets), David Michelinie (Amazing Spider-Man), Bernard Chang (Green Lantern Corps) and more! The most important technological breakthrough of the century might also be its most dangerous. After years of trial and error, multinational conglomerate Omen Enterprises has finally perfected a cybernetic brain implant that will change the face of modern warfare forever. With a legion of ex-soldiers at their disposal, Omen is building the private army of the future – a squadron of enhanced commandos that calls itself the H.A.R.D. Corps! But even with the powers of flight, telekinesis, and mind control at their command, not everyone is willing to volunteer for service…but Omen has ways of making you fight for a paycheck. Collecting HARBINGER (1992) #10-11 and H.A.R.D. CORPS (1993) #1-6 for the first time anywhere, VALIANT MASTERS: H.A.R.D. CORPS VOL. 1 – SEARCH AND DESTROY also comes complete with process art, sketches and more rarely seen back-up material from the depths of the Valiant vault!

Aric has been set adrift in time to confront again the awesome force of Mothergod! Or has he? The ultimate secrets of the legend of Aric of Dacia revaled in this explosive final issue!