Best Selling Books by Fred van Lente

Hercules battled gods, men and monsters in a lifetime of violence and destruction. Today, Hercules is best known for his ''twelve labours'', a series of near-impossible tasks assigned to him as punishment for the killing of his wife and children. During those tasks, he slew the multi-headed hydra, wrestled with Cerberus, hound of the underworld, and stole the girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Yet even when his labours were done, his adventures continued. Hercules led armies, sacked cities, fought against the gods, and then joined forces with the gods in the great war known as ''The Gigantomachy''. This book tells the complete story of this legendary warrior, including information on the classical sources, his deification and cult, and his continuing popularity as a character in film, television and comic books.

A Civil War–era historical novel featuring the first female agents in the Pinkerton National Police Agency, who work to foil an assassination attempt on President Lincoln’s life. The year is 1861, the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration. For Kate Warn, the first female private detective in American history, the only assignment tougher than exposing a conspiracy to assassinate the new president is training her new mentee, Hattie MacLaughlin, in the art of detection. The two women’s mission to save the president takes them from the granges of rural Maryland to the heart of secessionist high society, and sets them on a collision course that could alter the course of history. When Kate’s cover is blown, Hattie must choose between saving her new friend, and her country. Based on a true story.

For the first time ever, the inspiring, infuriating, and utterly insane story of comics, graphic novels, and manga is presented in comic book form The award-winning Action Philosophers team of Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey turn their irreverent-but-accurate eye to the stories of Jack Kirby, R. Crumb, Harvey Kurtzman, Alan Moore, Stan Lee, Will Eisner, Fredric Wertham, Roy Lichtenstein, Art Spiegelman, Herg , Osamu Tezuka -- and more

When things get scary, it’s nice to know that Odd is on our side. The one and only Odd Thomas is back—in his second edgy and enthralling graphic-novel adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling suspense master Dean Koontz. It’s Halloween in Pico Mundo, California, and there’s a whiff of something wicked in the autumn air. While the town prepares for its annual festivities, young fry cook Odd Thomas can’t shake the feeling that make-believe goblins and ghouls aren’t the only things on the prowl. And he should know, since he can see what others cannot: the spirits of the restless dead. But even his frequent visitor, the specter of Elvis Presley, can’t seem to point Odd in the right direction. With the help of his gun-toting girlfriend, Stormy, Odd is out to uncover the terrible truth. Is something sinister afoot in the remote barn guarded by devilish masked men? Has All Hallows Eve mischief taken a malevolent turn? Or is the pleading ghost of a trick-or-treater a frightening omen of doom?

Study the tenets of Plato, the wrestling superstar from ancient Greece; learn the lessons of Nietzsche, the original Ubermensch; and meditate on the Bohdidharma, a kung-fu master. Laugh, learn, laugh a bit more and ponder the messages of history''s greatest thinkers as Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavy deliver this comprehensive cartoon history from the pre-Socratics to Derrida! This highly original, pretension-free and riotously funny collection celebrates its 10th anniversary in print with this deluxe hardback ''Uberedition''!

The inspiring, infuriating, and utterly insane story of comics, graphic novels, and manga is presented in comic book form! The award-winning Action Philosophers team of Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey turn their irreverent-but-accurate eye to the stories of Jack Kirby, R. Crumb, Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Lee, Will Eisner, Fredric Wertham, Roy Lichtenstein, and more! Reprinting the classic series in bold new color!

At last! The amazing, inspiring story of the comics medium in comics form goes global! In this volume, Fred and Ryan tackle the origins of Japanese manga, French graphic albums, the British Invasion of the American scene, the battle for creators'' rights in the US, and how comics have invaded cyberspace and Hollywood! Plus: the Her-Story of Comics continues, and we spotlight other countries'' funnybooks across five continents! The Comic Book History of Comics goes wherever comics go--which is everywhere!

When humanity expanded beyond the safety of Earth to new stars and horizons, they never dreamed what dangers they would encounter there. When the alien juggernaut known as the Covenant declared holy war upon the fragile human empire, millions of lives were lost—but, millions of heroes rose to the challenge. In such a far-reaching conflict, not many of the stories of these heroes, both human and alien, have a chance to become legend. This collection holds eleven stories that dive into the depths of the vast Halo universe, not only from the perspective of those who fought and died to save humanity, but also those who vowed to wipe humanity out of existence. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Collecting Marvel Adventures Iron Man (2007) #1, 7; IRON MAN (1968) #234; IRON MAN (1998) #1. Iron Man is one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel-Verse - and these are some of his most action-packed adventures! When the genius Tony Stark is held captive and forced to make weapons, his best chance of escape lies in building the greatest weapon of all - the very fi rst version of the Iron Man armor! Then, Shellhead meets Webhead as Iron Man and Spider-Man team up to take down the deadly Radioactive Man! And when Tony Stark makes a dramatic public return to start the next chapter of his business life, a newly-souped up Iron Man finds himself targeted for death! Finally, does Iron Man stand a ghost of a chance battling the Marvel-Verse''s most fearsome armored foe - the dastardly Doctor Doom?!

Collects Amazing Spider-Man #634-637. Kraven the Hunter died with a violent, misbegotten honor, stalking his greatest prey - Spider-Man. Now, two women claiming to be his wife and daughter have weakened Spider-Man through the Gauntlet while they prepare to attempt an unholy resurrection.

A fast-break history of basketball--from its humble beginnings to its all-time great players--featuring engaging true tales from the court and vivid, dynamic illustrations. Whether it''s millionaire pros facing off in an indoor arena full of screaming fans or a lone kid shooting hoops on an outdoor court, basketball is one of the most popular and widely played sports in the world. The Comic Book Story of Basketball gives you courtside seats to the history of hoops. It chronicles the sport from its beginnings in a YMCA in Massachusetts to its current status as a beloved international game for men and women of all ages. Learn the true stories behind the college game, the street game, the women''s game, and the international game, with legendary players and coaches like Dr. J, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Steph Curry profiled throughout.

After an agent of the dreaded Black Seers of Yimsha assassinates the king of Vendhya, his sister Yasmina- now a queen- vows revenge! But her plans are derailed when Conan kidnaps her, and soon the Cimmerian has ruthless mercenaries, vengeance-crazed tribesmen, sinister sorcerers, and an entire army hard on his heels! Before it''s all over, to rescue the very woman he kidnapped, Conan will have to confront the Black Seers inside their impenetrable mountain fortress!

This massive collection features three classic Halo tales by some of the best writers and artists in comics. Halo: Uprising follows the Master Chief as he single-handedly takes on the Covenant''s miles-long Forerunner Dreadnought as it makes its way to Earth! Then, join the ranks of the UNSC''s meanest, most battle-hardened Marines in Helljumper, as a group of ODST respond to a remote science colony''s SOS call and discover an enormous Covenant military presence! Finally, a UNSC ship encounters a strange phenomenon that sends it plummeting toward an unknown planet. The Spartan Black fireteam needs to unlock the secrets of an ancient Forerunner installation if they''re going to survive the experience but, to complicate matters, they''re not the only ones shipwrecked. Check out their story in Halo: Blood Line!

A step-by-step guide to all aspects of comic book creation--from conceptualization to early drafts to marketing and promotion--written by two of the industry''s most seasoned and successful pros. Discover the Secrets of Your Favorite Comic Book Creators Do you want to break into the comics industry? There are many creative roles available—writer, penciller, inker, colorist, letterer, editor, and more. Each creator serves a vital function in the production of sequential art at companies such as DC, Marvel, Image, and Valiant. In Make Comics Like the Pros, veteran comics creators Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente team up with a who’s who of the modern comic book scene to lead you step-by-step through the development of a comic. With these two fan-favorite writers as your guides, you’ll learn everything from script formatting to the importance of artistic collaboration to the best strategies for promoting and selling your own sequential art masterpiece. Pak and Van Lente even put their lessons into practice inside the pages of the book—pairing with Eisner Award–winning cartoonist Colleen Coover (Bandette) to produce the swashbuckling, adventure comic Swordmaids, and giving you front row seats to their creative process. Make Comics Like the Pros provides all the answers you’ve been seeking to take your comic book–making dreams all the way to professional-level reality.

Collects Marvel Zombies 2 #1-5, Marvel Zombies 3 #1-4, Marvel Zombies 4 #1-4, Marvel Zombies Return #1-5 and material from Marvel Spotlight: Marvel Zombies Return. The Marvel Zombies have left Earth, turning their ravenous attentions to outer space! But when the zombies finally return home and find a tiny pocket of mankind still alive, will they feast on flesh once more — or can they learn how to overcome their all-consuming hunger? Then, dimension-traveling zombies have found their way into the Marvel Universe, and no one is safe! Machine Man, Jocasta, Morbius, Werewolf by Night and the Son of Satan must repel the undead epidemic — but will they uncover the traitor lurking within their own headquarters? And when the Marvel Zombies are unleashed on yet another unsuspecting dimension, can the guilt-ridden undead Spider-Man stop a gruesome history from repeating itself?

Wade Wilson ist Deadpool, der durchgeknallte Söldner mit der großen Klappe und den Selbstheilungskräften. Frank Castle ist der gnadenlose Verbrecherjäger Punisher. Als Castle einen Mafia-Finanzexperten ins Visier nimmt, der seit Jahren mit Deadpool befreundet ist, geraten die Antihelden böse aneinander. Allerdings bleibt ihr Duell kein Tanz für zwei...

This illustrated mystery will appeal to comic book fans and anyone who appreciates an unconventional whodunit. Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, seeking sanctuary with other fans and creators—and maybe to reunite with his ex—but when his rival is found murdered, he becomes the prime suspect. To clear his name, Mike will have to navigate every corner of the con, from zombie obstacle courses and cosplay flash mobs to intrusive fans and obsessive collectors, in the process unraveling a dark secret behind one of the industry’s most legendary creators.

Fred Van Lente’s brilliant debut is both a savagely funny homage to the Golden Age of Mystery and a thoroughly contemporary show-business satire. As the story opens, nine comedians of various acclaim are summoned to the island retreat of legendary Hollywood funnyman Dustin Walker. The group includes a former late-night TV host, a washed-up improv instructor, a ridiculously wealthy “blue collar” comic, and a past-her-prime Vegas icon. All nine arrive via boat to find that every building on the island is completely deserted. Marooned without cell phone service or wifi signals, they soon find themselves being murdered one by one. But who is doing the killing, and why? A darkly clever take on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and other classics of the genre, Ten Dead Comedians is a marvel of literary ventriloquism, with hilarious comic monologues in the voice of every suspect. It’s also an ingeniously plotted puzzler with a twist you’ll never see coming!

Mystério, le Vautour, Silvermane, le Rhino, le Scorpion et les autres super-vilains de New York ne laissent aucun répit à Spider-Man. Derrière chaque adversaire vaincu se dresse une nouvelle silhouette, prête à frapper Peter Parker et ses proches. Au cours de sa carrière, l''infatigable justicier a toujours réussi à les vaincre. Mais lorsque leurs motivations ou leur identité changent, ces criminels deviennent plus difficiles à vaincre et surtout... beaucoup plus dangereux !

In the late 1930s, a covert government agency was established to protect Earth from the potential of extraterrestrial threats. The first on the scene of any reported UFO crash or sighting, these brave men and women were called Project Black Sky, and what they discovered would change the course of human history. Get in on the ground floor of the Project Black Sky series with this collection of the the smash webcomic from ProjectBlackSky.net. Who, if not you, will know the threats posed in the perilous Otherspace?

Based on the popular game series, Assassin''s Creed: Templars Volume 1: Black Cross collects the first five issues of a brand new story arc exclusive to Titan Comics. Collecting the first arc of the brand new explosive Templars series, from the world of Assassin''s Creed, Fred Van Lente and Dennis Calero offer a new perspective on the century-spanning feud between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order

Det. Sebastian Greene is determined to rescue his partner, Sana, even if it exposes his true demonic nature, but his only clue is the monster killing people all over New York. Can he find Sana, take down the killer, and protect himself from the powerful alien forces corrupting the NYPD? Fred Van Lentes newest original comic series!

In a city full of superpowered do-gooders, the mob needs above-average enforcers to get away with robbery, murder, and so much more. Enter the Silencers, a lineup of criminals with extraordinary abilities who are more than happy to use lethal force for a mafia-funded payday. But when the Silencers'' leader, the legendary Cardinal, finds out his team''s being set up for a deadly fall, these pawns do more than try to put a mob king in checkmate . . . They want to take over the whole city''s crime scene. Collecting the gritty cult-favorite crime comic from New York Times best-selling creators Fred Van Lente (Marvel Zombies, Brain Boy, Archer & Armstrong) and Steve Ellis (High Moon, Breaking Bad, The Only Living Boy), this comprehensive collection features the entire Silencers story.

"Jericho Way, framed-architect turned thief, discovers he is a Resurrectionist, a member of an elite group that can awaken to remember and utilize the skills of every one of his past lives. He''s about to help pull off a heist 3000 years in the making"--

Christopher Sebela (_Captain Marvel_, _Ghost_) crafts a horror tale from World War II-there''s blood in the water in _Cruel Biology_! And two misters return to the pages of _DHP_, as Dean Motter delivers a new noir tale starring Mister X and Michael T. Gilbert''s Mr. Monster faces off against a telepathic threat bent on world domination! Plus, new installments of _Nexus_, Fred Van Lente''s _Saint George_, _Kill Me_, and more! "As always, I can''t recommend _Dark Horse Presents_ enough."-Unleash the Fanboy "Seriously, this is comics'' best kept secret trove of great comics."-Comic Book Resources

Though it looks like the (allegedly) retired crooks of Bountiful, Utah can run their dirt right under the nose of the Feds without any repercussions, everyone has to serve somebody. When the FBI comes to town demanding answers about the recent rash of murders, even the mob bosses of Bountiful have to snap to attention--but if corrupt Feds think their badges and warrants will keep them safe from the vengeance of Jennifer Blood...they''re about to learn how wrong they are! By FRED VAN LENTE (Wolverine) and VINCENZO FEDERICI (Red Sonja)!

Collects Incredible Hulk (2000) #106-112, Incredible Hercules #113-120 And Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide; And Material From Giant-Size Hulk (2006) #1, Amazing Fantasy (2004) #15 And Incredible Hulk (2000) #100. Smashing out of the events of WORLD WAR HULK, the legendary Hercules takes center stage! Young genius Amadeus Cho recruits Hercules to help the Hulk — but when the dust settles, Herc and Cho find themselves outlaws! And the situation is further inflamed by Cho’s grudge against S.H.I.E.L.D. and Herc’s feud with his estranged half-brother, Ares, god of war! Then, the Greek Goliath assembles the godliest super-team ever to take on the deities of the invading Skrulls! Prepare for the pantheon-pounding premiere of…the God Squad! But who among them is a traitor? Plus: Untold tales of Hercules vs. Hulk — and Hulk vs. the Champions! And the excellent origin of Amadeus Cho!

Agent Price''s new mission pits him against a doomsday cult leader with a political agenda that poses a direct threat to the president. But a mysterious hive mind has more menacing plans for Brain Boy. He''ll have no choice but to go head to head--brain to brain--with the mysterious Men from G.E.S.T.A.L.T.! The Men from G.E.S.T.A.L.T. collects New York Times best-selling author Fred Van Lente''s electrifying second arc of psychic spy Brain Boy''s continuing adventures!

"This volume collects issues #7-#12 of the Dark Horse Comics monthly Conan the Avenger series."

Stop rubbing your eyes, fanboy, they don''t deceive you! Everyone''s favorite Merc with a Mouth stars in a third on-going series, hacking and wisecracking his way across the Marvel Universe. First up: when master assassin Arcade and Nightmare, Lord of the Dream Dimension, join forces to destroy Wade Wilson and THE INCREDIBLE HERCULES, they get more than they bargain for, taking on two of the MU''s most irresponsible heroes! Drunken mayhem, bad jokes, and billions of dollars of property damage ensue!