Best Selling Books by J. Michael Straczynski

Collects Amazing Spider-Man #544-545, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24, Sensational Spider-Man #41. At his darkest hours, Peter has always had one person who''d remind him who he is...now, he''s about to lose that person. What would he do...what would you do, if you only had "One More Day?

Graphic novel.

Spider-Man, his identity revealed after the Civil War, is overcome with grief as his Aunt May lies on her deathbed, and Iron Man seeks to bring Spider-Man in for not registering while Mephisto makes Peter Parker decide whether to save his aunt or his marriage to MJ.

The entire status-quo-shattering BACK IN BLACK saga, collected in one mammoth oversized hardcover! reeling in the aftermath of CIVIL WAR, Peter Parker has plenty of reasons to consider a change of wardrobe: Black is his state of mind. But the worst is yet to come for Spider-Man! In AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, events are set in motion that will forever change life of your favorite web-slinger. There IS no going back! In FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, the secrets of the alternate Uncle Ben are revealed, but not before the Sandman attacks! And in SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN, younger, less-experienced versions of our web-spinning hero begin appearing all over the city, causing havoc wherever they go. Can Peter stop them, and whoever''s behind them, before more lives are lost? Collecting Amazing Spider-Man #539-543, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #17-23 and Annual #1, Sensational Spider-Man #35-40 and Annual #1.

When a comet strikes the Earth just outside of Pederson, Illinois, 113 babies who were in their mother''s womb when the flash hit are born with extraordinary super-powers that develop as they grow older. Now, 20 years later, the people of the world who worried what the children might become now fear what these adults will do with the powers they have. Illustrations. (May)

Thor is back! And in a story only J. Michael Straczynski could tell! Returned to the pantheon of great Marvel heroes, the Asgardian God of Thunder is reunited with the mortal form of Dr. Don Blake. Together, they must reckon with the legacy of the mythic Norse kingdom and the awakening of its immortal heroes - but in a world that may not want them back! Collects Thor (2007) #1-6.

J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita Jr. introduce an enigmatic stranger who will forever change the way Peter Parker views himself...and the origins of his amazing alter ego! Plus, the web-slinger struggles with the most horrific tragedy ever to befall his city: the events of Sept. 11. Then, for years, Peter Parker kept his heroic double identity a guarded secret from his beloved Aunt May. Now that she''s finally learned the truth, how will May react to the shocking revelation? Plus: On a trip to California, Spider-Man takes on his classic foe, Doctor Octopus! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30-45.

A Hugo Award Nominee! Featuring an introduction by Neil Gaiman! “J. Michael Straczynski is, without question, one of the greatest science fiction minds of our time.” -- Max Brooks (World War Z) For four decades, J. Michael Straczynski has been one of the most successful writers in Hollywood, one of the few to forge multiple careers in movies, television and comics. Yet there’s one story he’s never told before: his own. In this dazzling memoir, the acclaimed writer behind Babylon 5, Sense8, Clint Eastwood’s Changeling and Marvel’s Thor reveals how the power of creativity and imagination enabled him to overcome the horrors of his youth and a dysfunctional family haunted by madness, murder and a terrible secret. Joe''s early life nearly defies belief. Raised by damaged adults—a con-man grandfather and a manipulative grandmother, a violent, drunken father and a mother who was repeatedly institutionalized—Joe grew up in abject poverty, living in slums and projects when not on the road, crisscrossing the country in his father’s desperate attempts to escape the consequences of his past. To survive his abusive environment Joe found refuge in his beloved comics and his dreams, immersing himself in imaginary worlds populated by superheroes whose amazing powers allowed them to overcome any adversity. The deeper he read, the more he came to realize that he, too, had a superpower: the ability to tell stories and make everything come out the way he wanted it. But even as he found success, he could not escape a dark and shocking secret that hung over his family’s past, a violent truth that he uncovered over the course of decades involving mass murder. Straczynski’s personal history has always been shrouded in mystery. Becoming Superman lays bare the facts of his life: a story of creation and darkness, hope and success, a larger-than-life villain and a little boy who became the hero of his own life. It is also a compelling behind-the-scenes look at some of the most successful TV series and movies recognized around the world.

With the mighty God of Thunder and Asgard to full glory, Thor is back in action with a vengeance! But as the Asgardians returned to this life and Thor returned to Midgard, so came the ills that have plagued the gods and man for millennia. Now, for the first time since their rebirth, Thor and his fellow hero-gods must venture forth from the Shining City to confront the growing evils that amass on their horizon - and within their walls. Collects Thor (2007) #7-12.

In the words of novelist Harlan Ellison, "The trick is not becoming a writer. The trick is staying a writer. New York Times bestselling author and British Academy Award nominee J. Michael Straczynski knew he wanted to be a writer ever since he was a child. What he didn''t know was how to actually become, or stay, a writer. Now, he''s giving fellow writers the comprehensive guide he wishes he had all along, personalized tips and techniques that can''t be found in any other book on writing. Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer culls from Straczynski''s more than thirty years of experience writing for film, television, books, and comics. Designed for writers in any stage of their career, this quirky, insightful and often humorous book provides an inside look at these industries with advice and wisdom covering such topics such as: • What fledgling writers need to know to improve and sell their work—and avoid wasting valuable time • Tips for experienced writers who want to get to the next level • Staying disciplined when writing is your day job • Why writers should never wait for inspiration • Story-planning strategies that don''t kill your spontaneity • Expert techniques for effective, memorable world-building • How to get an agent and survive the writer''s journey in more personal relationships • Revising and editing with precision • When and how to reinvent yourself as an artist Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer includes Straczynski''s unique, tried-and-true methodologies that will help storytellers sharpen their work so that it''s polished and ready for publication. Part toolbox and part survival guide, this book will be an indispensable guide throughout your entire writing career, offering fresh and practical insights every step of the way.

Has Thor turned his back on Asgard...? Has Asgard turned its back on Thor?! After thedr monumental and cataclysmic events, the God of Thunder''s life will change completely! Collects Thor (2007) #600-603 & Thor: Giant-Size Finale.

The Breakfast Club meets The Silver Linings Playbook in this powerful, provocative, and heartfelt novel about twelve strangers who come together to make the most of their final days, from New York Times bestselling and award-winning author J. Michael Straczynski. Mark Antonelli, a failed young writer looking down the barrel at thirty, is planning a cross-country road trip. He buys a beat-up old tour bus. He hires a young army vet to drive it. He puts out an ad for others to join him along the way. But this will be a road trip like no other: His passengers are all fellow disheartened souls who have decided that this will be their final journey—upon arrival in San Francisco, they will find a cliff with an amazing view of the ocean at sunset, hit the gas, and drive out of this world. The unlikely companions include a young woman with a chronic pain sensory disorder and another who was relentlessly bullied at school for her size; a bipolar, party-loving neo-hippie; a gentle coder with a literal hole in his heart and blue skin; and a poet dreaming of a better world beyond this one. We get to know them through access to their texts, emails, voicemails, and the daily journal entries they write as the price of admission for this trip. By turns tragic, funny, quirky, charming, and deeply moving, Together We Will Go explores the decisions that brings these characters together, and the relationships that grow between them, with some discovering love and affection for the first time. But as they cross state lines and complications to the initial plan arise, it becomes clear that this is a novel as much about the will to live as it is the choice to end it. The final, unforgettable moments as they hurtle toward the outcomes awaiting them will be remembered for a lifetime.

The follow-up to the NEW YORK TIMES #1 bestselling graphic novels SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 and 2 is here! Written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Ardian Syaf (BATGIRL), SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 3 follows a young Clark Kent as he continues his journey toward becoming the World''s Greatest Super Hero. After defeating villains terrestrial and beyond, Superman faces a threat that he can''t simply outmuscle. A threat smarter, more cunning and deadly than he can imagine: the Luthors!

J. Michael Straczynski joins forces with rising star artist Shane Davis to create this original graphic novel that gives new insight into Clark Kent''s transformation into Superman and his first year as The Man of Steel. This is the first in a new wave of original DC Universe graphic novels, featuring top writers'' and illustrators'' unique takes on DC characters.

A novel based on the television science-fiction series, Babylon 5, set aboard a massive space station in the year 2257. Positioned in a key sector of the galaxy and under the jurisdiction of the Earth Alliance, Babylon 5 serves as a space-borne port of call, open to travellers from anywhere.

J. Michael Straczynski concludes his Amazing run - and everything changes for Spider-Man! First, Spidey gets some new digs - but can he stand living with the New Avengers? In the shocking story line "The Other," the vicious Morlun takes Spider-Man to the brink of death - and beyond! If Peter Parker has any hope of surviving, he has two choices: evolve or die! Then, Civil War erupts - and things really get wild! Spidey in red-and-gold armor! Spidey back in black! And Spidey unmasked in front of the world! But brace yourself for the big finish: As Aunt May lays dying, what would Peter and MJ give for One More Day? Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #515-545, FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN (2005) #1-4 and #24, MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN (2004) #19-22, SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN (2006) #41, SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER SKETCHBOOK, and SPIDER-MAN: ONE MORE DAY SKETCHBOOK.

Peter tries to find out more about the origins of his powers when his mentor, Ezekiel, returns.

A novel based on the television science-fiction series, Babylon 5, set aboard a massive space station in the year 2257. Positioned in a key sector of the galaxy and under the jurisdiction of the Earth Alliance, Babylon 5 serves as a space-borne port of call, open to travellers from anywhere.

Charlie Weiderman, the only kid in high school geekier than Peter Parker, has returned to town asking for Peter''s help, but Spider-Man may have to stop him from harming himself and his former classmates.

Spider-Man and his superhero friends spend his birthday doing battle with a collection of transdimensional creatures--a battle that culminates in a trip through time.

The brand new epic from comic book legends J. Michael Straczynski (The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor) and Steve Epting (Captain America: The Winter Soldier). An electromagnetic disturbance results in the sudden awakening of telepathic powers in a tenth of the Earth’s population. In the moments after the world comes to grip with this development, newly-telepathic Boston police find themselves sent against a wrongly convicted prisoner who becomes a hero and leader of other telepaths trying to escape a world in which their powers will make them targets. Both are heroes of their own story, and the future may depend on whether or not trust can be found between them. In this concluding issue, they finally come face to face.

A vicious killer stalks the streets of Los Angeles, and crime reporter Susan Randall is hot on his trail. When she meets Raymond Weil, she thinks she''s found an ally-except his knowledge of the killer seems too complete.

A young man awakes from a recurring nightmare to find that, once again, his apartment has been destroyed: the TV is on fire, the mirrors shattered, the aquarium exploded with such force that shards of glass are embedded in the opposite wall; and once again a voice is saying, "Come home..." And so he does. Home is the small Maine town where his parents were both killed in a grotesque car wreck years before. The kind of town Stephen King has described as ''mostly indifference spiced with an occasional vapid evil-or worse, a conscious one.'' A small town caught in a centuries-old war between supernatural forces. This is a genuinely frightening tale of death and demons, love and possession.

DC Comics proudly presents the 700th issue of SUPERMAN, a 56-page extravaganza, full of tales celebrating the Man of Steel''s past, present and future! First up is a story by the man who actually killed Superman, Dan Jurgens! Then James Robinson brings his epic run on the title to a close with a touching story that brings Superman back to Earth after his time on New Krypton. Finally, we preview the new creative team on SUPERMAN as J. Michael Straczynski & Eddy Barrows provide a story that sets the stage for an exciting and all-new direction for the Man of Steel! (Seriously! Wait till you read it!)

Based on Stracynski''s comic book series. Ten years have passed since the Specials had their standoff against the government. Now they are forced to come together once more when the Special known as Critical Maas takes the city of Chicago hostage. A small group of her former friends decide to take it back in exchange for a pardon from the government. But their actions will not come without a heavy price to pay. Original.

Some of DC''s biggest heroes team up in this revamp of the BRAVE AND THE BOLD series from Hugo Award-winning author J. Michael Straczynski! First up, the best-selling scribe pairs Batman and the fan-favorite Dial H For Hero concept. And when an experiment meant to alter the speed of light goes awry, Barry Allen finds himself face-to-face with some surprising allies - World War II''s legendary Blackhawks! Then, the shambling walking doll that is Brother Power, the Geek is reborn in Gotham City while Green Lantern and Dr. Fate team up to take down a mystical threat! Fans of Straczynski''s work on blockbuster titles such as Amazing Spider-Man and Thor will want to get in on this action-packed DC ongoing debut from one of the biggest names in comics! Collects The Brave and the Bold #27-33.

TOP COW is proud to bring you issues 1-8 of the critically acclaimed series RISING STARS. This is the first story arc written by J. Michael Straczynski and tells the tale of the beginnings of the Specials. With new cover by MIDNIGHT NATION artist Gary Frank. This collection is the perfect way to revisit the earlier issues of RISING STARS in one sitting or to discover fro the first time the mose realistic superhero epic since Alan Moore''s Watchmen.

To Dream in the City of Sorrows is the ninth book in this successful series of original science fiction novels based on the Emmy Award-winning Channel Four series Babylon 5. Ambassador to the alien world of Minbar, former Babylon 5 Commander, Jeffrey Sinclair, is one of the first to learn the truth about the Shadows, the ancient race pursuing the destruction of the galaxy. Sinclair also discovers a startling secret: he is the linchpin in the plan to stop them. Now, Sinclair is asked to revive the legendary Minbar warrior group, the Rangers. But the price may be his chance to love...and his life. Catherine Sakai, commercial pilot and planetary surveryor, has lost her heart to Jeffrey Sinclair. Not even an attack by the Shadows can stop her from getting to Minbar to join him...and the Rangers. As she trains with other pilots such as the mysterious Marcus Cole, the time is coming when their skills will be tested on their first mission. Led by Sinclair, they will venture into deepest space, into a battle of stealth and might, and towards a fate none but the bravest can face...and none but the luckiest will survive...