New Releases by Scott Beatty

War rages between the Monitors and the Monarch with Earth-51 as the battlefield! Caught in the crossfire, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and the Atom take on the Crime Syndicate while Donna Troy faces her duplicate. Plus, the secret of Jimmy Olsen''s powers revealed.

For comic-book fans everywhere - an updated edition of the A-Z reference of the DC universe. New and expanded, this one volume encyclopedia featuring more than 1200 of the classic characters created by comics giant DC is essential for any fan. With new entries on the latest DC characters and expanded ones on Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the JLA, Aquaman, Catwoman and Wonder Woman, all the world-renowned super heroes and super villains are here, as well as the weird and wonderful one-offs. Special features celebrate some of the DC heroes and villains'' more memorable exotic vehicles and weaponry, their titanic clashes, or romantic encounters plus recent story developments including the Infinite Crisis. With a brand new cover designed by Alex Ross, one of the world''s pre-eminent comic book artists and thrilling original, comic-book art, the fun and excitement of more than 60 years of comic-book history explodes off every page!

Learn how Ray Palmer ended up on Earth-51 and why he decided to stay in this pacifist society—and how the arrival of the Challengers will change everything. Plus, the battle between Eclipso and Mary Marvel rages on!

Alphabetical listings provide release dates, scales, articulations, accessories, first appearance notes, and photographs of more than 1,400 DC Comics action figures.

After the encounter with Deadshot, the Trickster is dead—but the Pied Piper is still attached to him and the cuffs are about to explode! Meanwhile, Granny Goodness continues to mold her new Female Furies and the women of Paradise Island continue their training and trials.

Super-villains crash the wedding reception of Black Canary and Green Arrow—and the Trickster and Pied Piper are caught in the middle. Meanwhile, at Project Cadmus, Jimmy Olsen mutates and the Challengers arrive on Earth-15!

Jimmy Olsen arrives at Project Cadmus and an ancient evil summons Mary Marvel. Meanwhile, Supergirl and Wonder Girl attempt to sneak into Black Canary''s bachelorette party!

Oracle tries to crack the code of Karate Kid''s illness. Meanwhile, the Atom, Bob the Monitor, Donna Troy and Jason Todd continue their search for Ray Palmer and the Trickster and Pied Piper run afoul of Poison Ivy.

Look, up in the sky! It''s a bird! It''s a plane! It''s The Superman Handbook, arriving just in time for the June 2006 box office release of Superman Returns!It doesn''t take super-powers to save the day, just superknowledge. This follow-up to the legendary Batman Handbook provides the tips, techniques and tricks of the trade to be the hero anywhere, at any time.The Superman Handbook offers practical information to perform Super Rescues of people falling through the air, give Super Aid to treat wounds and poisonings and use Super Skills to break down doors. All are illustrated with step-by-step images for easy use.

Created in collaboration with DC Comics, this is a chronicle of Superman''s heroic career. It contains specially commissioned artwork of key locations and drawings from the original comic books and depicts how the weapons and vehicles work. Originally published: 2002.

Based in the world of the Dark Knight but with real-world expert advice, The Batman Handbook teaches all of the skills of the world''s most mysterious superhero. Covering such essentials as throwing a batarang, constructing a Kevlar suit and withstanding poisoning, this ultimate guide is produced in partnership with DC Comics and features all original artwork from David Hahn, a DC comics illustrator.Batman comics ranked top in comic book sales for seven out of 12 months last year. The book will be published in time for the June 2005 release of Batman Begins, a movie focusing on how a young Bruce Wayne obtained the skills and abilities necessary to become Batman. With real-world advice about fantastical skills, The Batman Handbook will appeal to all superhero wannabes.

The Visual Guide to Summer 2005''s must-see movie most complex resident. Created in full collaboration with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Pictures, this book features character profiles, live-action stills plus in-depth details of Batman''s suit, weaponry and, of course, the new Batmobile.

She has been called The Princess of Plunder, the Queen of Crime, the Feline Fatale, but her real name is Selina KyleQand she has had more aliases than a cat has lives. Catwoman: The Visual Guide to the Feline Fatale reveals every possible aspect of this fascinating, enigmatic she-rogue as she has appeared in DC comic books over more than six thrill-packed decades.

In "Knights Passed" part 3, Man-Bat enters the picture! But what does he want, and why is shredding Batman part of the answer? Meanwhile, the people closest to Bruce Wayne find themselves targeted by someone who wants the truth about the death of Jason Todd.

As events in the present force Bruce Wayne to look into the past, some of the actions and events surrounding the demise of the second Robin become clearer. ''Knights Passed'' part 2. Plus, in the black-and-white backup ''The Best of Gotham,'' artist Jill Thompson illustrates a tour of Gotham''s nightlife.

Knights Passed'' part 1! Events in the present force Bruce Wayne and Barbara Gordon to reflect on the short life of Jason Todd, the second Robin! Featuring an untold tale of the original Batgirl and that era''s Robin in a story that brings new details and perspective to the Jason Todd tragedy.

A designer drug has hit the streets of Gotham, reducing scores of victims to boneless piles of goo. Batman hits a wall in his investigation, bringing into play the one man who may know the secret behind the drug: Elongated Man!

In ''Knight Moves'' part 3, after the Huntress'' kidnapping, drugging and interrogation by Checkmate, Batman''s no longer sure if he can trust her. And now, time has run out: Checkmate is storming the Batcave!

A guide to the famous comic book heroine, Wonder Woman, created in collaboration with DC comics, containing full details of every aspect of her 60-year career.

No Man''s Land tie-in issue! Gotham Central''s Detective Renee Montoya finds her brother alive and well in the aftermath of the earthquake, keeping company with the neighborhood Good Samaritan--Two-Face! Plus, a young couple tries to survive in an apartment that was once the Joker''s hideout.

Already entrenched in the Batcave and his official training complete, young Dick Grayson has a world of experience to gain and a ton of new enemies to make--beginning with the truly insane Mad Hatter! The early days of the Boy Wonder begin here!

Barbara Gordon, following her chance meeting with Robin at the end of ROBIN: YEAR ONE, aspires to become a vigilante herself. But between the skepticism of Batman and the watchful eye of her adoptive father James Gordon, she''s finding the hero biz to be an uphill battle!

After last month''s disastrous first encounter with Two-Face, Dick learned the terrible sacrifice he must make in order to serve Batman and protect the greater good. But before his wounds even have time to heal, Dick meets an icy stranger ready to bathe Gotham''s streets in cold blood!

The Joker receives some shocking news while under lockdown in the Slab: he has a malignant tumor in his brain and is going to die. But it''s not like the Clown Prince of Crime to bow out without putting on one last show--and he kicks it all off with a prison riot!

It''s hard enough being a vigilante in Gotham when your father''s the police commissioner--it''s even tougher when Batman and Robin are standing in your way! Sparks fly, and what will happen when Killer Moth is drawn to the flame?

The final chapter in the fabulous saga of young Dick Grayson! Robin''s healed, but Two-Face remains at large, and a citywide manhunt is falling woefully short. While Harvey Dent is on the loose, Robin must prepare himself to face the man who nearly killed him during their first encounter!

Nightwing: Year One part 1! Before Dick Grayson can get on with life, he must look back at his early years, starting with his last caper as the Dark Knight''s partner Robin, the Boy Wonder!

Commissioner Gordon''s been kidnapped, and it''s up to the future Birds of Prey to get him back in one piece! Robin presents Batgirl with an expensive new toy, while a sly Batman affects Barbara''s destiny from behind the scenes.

Gotham''s latest hero has fallen into the clutches of the Dynamic Duo, and they mean to show her the business--the business of fighting crime, that is! See Batgirl make her historic first visit to the ultra-secret Batcave and her first meeting with Alfred!

Catwoman crosses paths with the metahumans of Relative Heroes as the Weinbergs'' road trip takes them through Gotham City. Plus, Robin must protect his secret identity during a visit to Brentwood Academy by emerald-skinned photographer Jade.