Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally made their U.S. debut in "Marvel's The Avengers," and to celebrate the joyous occasion, Gallery1988 Melrose kicked off their Avengers-inspired art gallery last night in Los Angeles with Director Joss Whedon and Clark Gregg! Check out our awesome photo gallery below!

Don't worry True Believers, if you couldn't go last night, you have from now until May 6 to check it out! Come see Earth's Mightiest Heroes before they're gone! For more information on Gallery1988 Melrose and this special exhibit, visit Gallery1988's website, and remember to buy your tickets for "Marvel's The Avengers"!

Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson) at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art by Kiersten Essenpreis at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Director Joss Whedon at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Fans assembled at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles for a special Avengers-inspired exhibit	Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) and Director Joss Whedon at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Director Joss Whedon and Executive Producer Jeremy Latcham at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Director Joss Whedon at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Iron Man at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Earth's Mightiest Heroes on display at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Assemble at Gallery1988 Melrose now through May 6 for the Avengers-inspired art gallery	Fans assembled at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles for a special Avengers-inspired exhibit

Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally made their U.S. debut in "Marvel's The Avengers," and to celebrate the joyous occasion, Gallery1988 Melrose kicked off their Avengers-inspired art gallery last night in Los Angeles with Director Joss Whedon and Clark Gregg! Check out our awesome photo gallery below!

Don't worry True Believers, if you couldn't go last night, you have from now until May 6 to check it out! Come see Earth's Mightiest Heroes before they're gone! For more information on Gallery1988 Melrose and this special exhibit, visit Gallery1988's website, and remember to buy your tickets for "Marvel's The Avengers"!

Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson) at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art by Kiersten Essenpreis at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Avengers-inspired art at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Director Joss Whedon at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Fans assembled at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles for a special Avengers-inspired exhibit	Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) and Director Joss Whedon at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Director Joss Whedon and Executive Producer Jeremy Latcham at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Director Joss Whedon at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Iron Man at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles	Earth's Mightiest Heroes on display at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles
Assemble at Gallery1988 Melrose now through May 6 for the Avengers-inspired art gallery	Fans assembled at Gallery1988 Melrose in Los Angeles for a special Avengers-inspired exhibit

As a comic book fan, you can't read everything. It's impossible. Hundreds of books come out every week, and sometimes, a classic may slip through your fingers. Maybe you got into comic books AFTER something awesome came out. Don't worry, we plan on getting you caught up on some series or a concept that may have slipped through your fingers.

This week, we delve into the first collected volume of a series near and dear to my heart, and one of the comic books that reignited my passion for comic books: The first collected volume of Exiles: Down the Rabbit Hole.

In 2001... wait... 2001? Has it really been 11 years since Exiles came out? Apparently so... Anyway, in 2001, a comic came out that blew me away. It was called "Exiles." The series ran for 100 issues before it was cancelled. The first collected volume of this series came out in 2002 and contained issues 1-4.

These four issues consisted of a dynamite creative team, and some people say it was the best team the book ever had: Mike McKone on art (Uncanny X-Force starting with issue 25) and Judd Winick as the writer (Batwing, Catwoman). These first four issues also feature Mark McKenna on ink.

It was this insane mixture of the traditional super-hero comic with incredibly familiar science fiction elements. For me, it stood above the rest. Exiles mixtures a time-tested, classic team comic book, filled with memorable characters with multi-dimensional travel.

What's most appealing about this first volume is the sense of familiarity most Marvel fans will have with these characters. The original team, within these first four issues, consists of Mimic, Morph, Blink, Nocturne, Thunderbird, and Magnus. Now, all of these characters come from different universes from within Marvel, and none of them are from Marvel's main universe, 616.

This comic brought back a fan favorite character from the realm of Age of Apocalypse, Blink. As well as what looked like to be Morph from that same time line, which you quickly find out that there are an amazing amount of parallel universes and from time-to-time, character will recognize each other with out ever having truly met. Fans will also be familiar with a few of the world's and tasks these characters have to accomplish, since they were once major events or stories in the Marvel U.

All these characters follow the "guidance" of a character called the Timebroker, who readers know little to nothing about for most of the series. The goal of this team is to travel to other universes and fix something that has gone wrong or that universe will cease to exist. If the team does not comply, it will affect their universe or their lives drastically, and in most cases, said character will die.

One idea that readers will get accustomed to right away is that no one is safe from death... no one. Because none of these characters are from the 616 Universe, it gives this book more leeway to do whatever they want with these characters.

The book is a lot more than a group of people accomplishing goals. The book deals heavily with character's pasts and their ability to cope with the human experience, even if they are super-human. Friendships are made, some that blossom into romances. Friends and lovers accomplish great feats, and others perish in battle.

If I could say anything about this book, it's that it's Marvel's grand experiment to do whatever they want with characters and stories, with minimal fan repercussion. While Down the Rabbit Hole may not get heavily into these topics, there's a wonderful set-up to future story lines, and a brilliant set-up to how this book works. I won't reveal much, but as a set-up to an on-going series that breaks most standard comic book rules, it's four issues that will keep you hooked.

All-in-all, it's a trade that will get you hooked to a series featuring characters new and old you'll quickly fall in love with. While the series had it's up and down moments, this first collection, along with the rest of Winick's run on this series, is fantastic and worth checking out.

Exiles: Down the Rabbit Hole is a brilliant mixture of super-hero comics you are familiar with and science-fiction, blended together into one of my personal favorite Marvel series of all time. This is a trade that is too awesome to miss.

Have you guys read Exiles: Down the Rabbit Hole? What do you guys think?

Mat "Inferiorego" Elfring is a comedian, writer, and host of the internet show no one watches, Barely Watchable. Follow him on Twitter: @inferiorego

BOOM! Studios tells The Pulse:

BOOM! Studios is proud to announce HIGHER EARTH #1 has gone to a second print seven days before its release on May 9th!

HIGHER EARTH #1 second print features white-hot creator/writer Sam Humphries (ULTIMATE COMICS: ULTIMATES, OUR LOVE IS REAL) with Francesco Biagini (ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST) on the art. HIGHER EARTH #1 second print is now available from Diamond Comic Distributors. This new ongoing series, a science fiction epic of infinite possibilities, debuts with a full first issue for only $1!

Comic book fans should keep in mind first printings of HIGHER EARTH #1 may still be found at a comic shop nearest you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use www.comicshoplocator.com to find one!

Created and written by Humphries, HIGHER EARTH is his sci-fi follow up to last year’s indie sensation OUR LOVE IS REAL. “Space is dead. Why conquer other planets when there’s a perfectly good Earth in the universe next door? Heidi, a girl born in garbage. Rex, a soldier gone rogue. The only thing between them and their destiny is an empire of a hundred different Earths, across a hundred alternate timelines. One majestic planet dominates them all: Higher Earth.”

HIGHER EARTH #1 second print ships with a must-have all-new cover by Zach Howard and a Diamond order code of MAR128272.

More here at BOOM! Studios web site:
http://boom-studios.com

It's the Hulk versus the Punisher in the upcoming issue of INCREDIBLE HULK. The two face off against one another in Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon's new story arc launching this issue titled 'Stay Angry' where, the Hulk, well, stays angry. Marvel has provided us with an unlettered four-page preview for you to check out below. What do you think of the preview below? Have you been keeping up with the INCREDIBLE HULK series? Are you looking forward to the eighth issue?

Marvel is proud to present your first look at, Incredible Hulk #8, from the fan-favorite team of Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon! Dive right into the Green Goliath’s next epic as Stay Angry erupts pushing the Incredible Hulk and his raged-induced fury to its limits! The criminally insane Bruce Banner has thrown Hulk into the middle of a murderous drug war and Hulk is forced into action; but with villainous mob of this stature- Frank Castle is never far behind! Its all-out war, as the Jade Giant faces off against The Punisher who faces off against a cartel in a brawl that no fan will forget!

No fan can miss Hulk’s struggle for survival, in the explosive opener of Stay Angry;kicking off in Incredible Hulk #8, hitting comic shops, the Marvel Comics app, andMarvel Digital Comic Shop this May!

INCREDIBLE HULK #8 (MAR120594)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils by STEVE DILLON
Cover by MICHAEL KOMARCK
Parental Advisory…$3.99
FOC –5/7/2012, ON SALE – 5/30/2012

This weekend on Marvel.com, we’re celebrating the release of "Marvel's The Avengers" with not one, not three, but four deals as super as the Avengers themselves.

First, for only 99 cents per single digital issue, you can read NEW AVENGERS #1-54 or AVENGERS (2010) #1-6 and relive some of the Avengers' golden moments on the Marvel Comics app or the new Digital Comics Shop. In NEW AVENGERS #1-54, see how Earth's Mightiest Heroes pick up the pieces after being disassembled as they encounter a prison riot, pre-historic dinosaurs, and several loose cannon team members. And that’s just the first few issues! In AVENGERS (2010) #1-6, see the team usher in the Heroic Age as they take on one of their oldest and deadliest foes: Kang!

If these single issues are not enough to satisfy your appetite for Avengers digital comics, then our next offer is right up your alley. For this weekend only, you can subscribe to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimitedand get 30% off the regular $59.88 annual subscription price. For only $41.92, you can access over 11,000 digital comics on your desktop or laptop. Just apply the promo code AVNGRS12 when checking out and countless Avengers adventures wait at the click of a mouse.

Also, if you crave a more tangible memento of your Avengers experience, head over to the Marvel Shop and take advantage of our free shipping for most items in our store. Just apply the FREESHIP promo code while checking out. With a vast array of products to choose from, you can wave your geek flag proudly by sporting some of your favorite Avengers characters at home or anywhere you roam.

And finally, if you act now you can pick up the "Marvel Vs. Capcom 2" iPhone and iPod game (normally priced at $4.99) for only $2.99. Also the "Thor: Son of Asgard" and "Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty" iOS games (notmally $2.99) will be available for only 99 cents.

Celebrate the launch of the year’s biggest movie by purchasing some of Marvel’s mightiest digital comic books and products. Purchase single issue epics such as NEW AVENGERS #1-54 or AVENGERS #1-6 (2010), subscribe to an annual MDCU digital comics subscription, purchase a product in our Marvel Store, or download "Marvel Vs. Capcom 2," "Thor: Son of Asgard," and "Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty" and take advantage of our free shipping offer. Do so quickly because this deal ends at 11 PM on 5/6/12.

This weekend on Marvel.com, we’re celebrating the release of "Marvel's The Avengers" with not one, not three, but four deals as super as the Avengers themselves.

First, for only 99 cents per single digital issue, you can read NEW AVENGERS #1-54 or AVENGERS (2010) #1-6 and relive some of the Avengers' golden moments on the Marvel Comics app or the new Digital Comics Shop. In NEW AVENGERS #1-54, see how Earth's Mightiest Heroes pick up the pieces after being disassembled as they encounter a prison riot, pre-historic dinosaurs, and several loose cannon team members. And that’s just the first few issues! In AVENGERS (2010) #1-6, see the team usher in the Heroic Age as they take on one of their oldest and deadliest foes: Kang!

If these single issues are not enough to satisfy your appetite for Avengers digital comics, then our next offer is right up your alley. For this weekend only, you can subscribe to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimitedand get 30% off the regular $59.88 annual subscription price. For only $41.92, you can access over 11,000 digital comics on your desktop or laptop. Just apply the promo code AVNGRS12 when checking out and countless Avengers adventures wait at the click of a mouse.

Also, if you crave a more tangible memento of your Avengers experience, head over to the Marvel Shop and take advantage of our free shipping for most items in our store. Just apply the FREESHIP promo code while checking out. With a vast array of products to choose from, you can wave your geek flag proudly by sporting some of your favorite Avengers characters at home or anywhere you roam.

And finally, if you act now you can pick up the "Marvel Vs. Capcom 2" iPhone and iPod game (normally priced at $4.99) for only $2.99. Also the "Thor: Son of Asgard" and "Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty" iOS games (notmally $2.99) will be available for only 99 cents.

Celebrate the launch of the year’s biggest movie by purchasing some of Marvel’s mightiest digital comic books and products. Purchase single issue epics such as NEW AVENGERS #1-54 or AVENGERS #1-6 (2010), subscribe to an annual MDCU digital comics subscription, purchase a product in our Marvel Store, or download "Marvel Vs. Capcom 2," "Thor: Son of Asgard," and "Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty" and take advantage of our free shipping offer. Do so quickly because this deal ends at 11 PM on 5/6/12.

This weekend on Marvel.com, we’re celebrating the release of "Marvel's The Avengers" with not one, not three, but four deals as super as the Avengers themselves.

First, for only 99 cents per single digital issue, you can read NEW AVENGERS #1-54 or AVENGERS (2010) #1-6 and relive some of the Avengers' golden moments on the Marvel Comics app or the new Digital Comics Shop. In NEW AVENGERS #1-54, see how Earth's Mightiest Heroes pick up the pieces after being disassembled as they encounter a prison riot, pre-historic dinosaurs, and several loose cannon team members. And that’s just the first few issues! In AVENGERS (2010) #1-6, see the team usher in the Heroic Age as they take on one of their oldest and deadliest foes: Kang!

If these single issues are not enough to satisfy your appetite for Avengers digital comics, then our next offer is right up your alley. For this weekend only, you can subscribe to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimitedand get 30% off the regular $59.88 annual subscription price. For only $41.92, you can access over 11,000 digital comics on your desktop or laptop. Just apply the promo code AVNGRS12 when checking out and countless Avengers adventures wait at the click of a mouse.

Also, if you crave a more tangible memento of your Avengers experience, head over to the Marvel Shop and take advantage of our free shipping for most items in our store. Just apply the FREESHIP promo code while checking out. With a vast array of products to choose from, you can wave your geek flag proudly by sporting some of your favorite Avengers characters at home or anywhere you roam.

And finally, if you act now you can pick up the "Marvel Vs. Capcom 2" iPhone and iPod game (normally priced at $4.99) for only $2.99. Also the "Thor: Son of Asgard" and "Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty" iOS games (notmally $2.99) will be available for only 99 cents.

Celebrate the launch of the year’s biggest movie by purchasing some of Marvel’s mightiest digital comic books and products. Purchase single issue epics such as NEW AVENGERS #1-54 or AVENGERS #1-6 (2010), subscribe to an annual MDCU digital comics subscription, purchase a product in our Marvel Store, or download "Marvel Vs. Capcom 2," "Thor: Son of Asgard," and "Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty" and take advantage of our free shipping offer. Do so quickly because this deal ends at 11 PM on 5/6/12.

Skullkickers: Treasure Trove

Jim Zubkavich has posted an enlightening writeup of his experience selling Skullkickers comics after he started putting them online as a webcomic.

There are lots of good details about his audience, based on who bought from him at a recent convention, but here’s the summation:

I’ve effectively created a whole new audience for Skullkickers…. [Our webcomic audience is] about twenty times our monthly issue audience and reaches people in places that don’t have comic shops at all…. Serializing the issues hasn’t negatively affected our sales one bit. Our trade sales through comic and book stores are up, steadily climbing…. The comic shop audience is not the web audience.

In fact, the web audience is a lot bigger. If you think a rising tide lifts all boats, then how can you resist getting a lot more eyeballs on your product? Substantial positive outreach like this from a creator should encourage retailers to get behind the book, although clearly, the web audience is just as comfortable buying direct from the creator.

Graeme McMillan reports that the current issue #13 and next week’s #14 (which he posts teaser images for) should make good starting points for new readers. Or they can browse the online archives, whichever works better for them.