Brian Michael Bendis

Fire: The Definitive Collection (Image; originally Caliber as Project Fire; 2-issue mini). [From Image: YOUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT YOU TO READ THIS BOOK! Loosely based on events in the American intelligence community during the Reagan administration, FIRE tells the unique and powerful story of a young man's virgin journey through the complex world of international intelligence. This is a complete globe spanning thriller for fans of "Bond," pulp spy novels, and true world crime stories. This definitive presentation of Eisner Award-winner Brian Michael Bendis' first cinematic noir comic features re-mastered art, lettering, and a newly revised script. The design and format will match the Bendis line of definitive collections (Powers, Jinx, Torso, Goldfish).]

Fortune and Glory (Oni Press; 3-issue mini). [From Oni Press: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY gave him an A, Hollywood insiders fell all over themselves to praise him, and fans everywhere gave him a full thumbs-up for hilarity. Now, on the heels of his praise and punishment, Brian Michael Bendis puts his sold-out miniseries, FORTUNE & GLORY, into one hefty volume. Marvel once again at the stupidity of Hollywood producers, the vanity of stars like Uma Thurman and Clint Eastwood, and the enthralling mood swings and ego nosedives of a little indie comic-book creator caught up in the maelstrom of the motion picture industry. Presented in a handy 6" X 9" format, this collection features brand-new pages left on the cutting room floor and not included in the original comics. The individual issues are becoming increasingly hard to find, and that's because everyone who read it didn't like it, they loved it. Featuring an introduction by Paul Dini, who himself knows a thing or two about the Hollywood machine.] ArtBomb review Old Book of the Week 3/2/05: [For another book featuring geeks at work, this time in the real world, see Brian Michael Bendis's hilarious and intriguing account of his adventures in Hollywood, told in comic book format. (OK, so it's not really set in the real world.) The writing is wonderful; not tied to a specific page-count, he can just let it happen. And the art's perfectly acceptable; Bendis is no Eisner, but he gets the job done.]

Goldfish: The Definitive Collection (Image; originally Caliber Comics as AKA Goldfish: Jack, AKA Goldfish: Ace, AKA Goldfish: Joker, AKA Goldfish: Queen, AKA Goldfish: King). [From Image: Goldfish is the story of an enigmatic grifter with a heart of gold, who returns to his old haunts to find his old flame, Lauren, practically running the city's underbelly, and his oldest friend and ex-partner in crime, Izzy, a police detective. But GOLDFISH has come back for one reason and one reason only, for his son. This new collection features a brand new book design, high grade paper stock, a GOLDFISH prose story written by Bendis, a never before seen retrospective look at the creation of the novel, and an introduction by Matt Wagner (Grendel, Mage, Ultimate Spider-Man.) This edition is the only place to get this long sold out crime series.An essential buy for the your comic book library.] ArtBomb review Old Book of the Week 3/29/06: One of Bendis's earliest works, this crime-noir thriller features a small-time hood returning after a decade's absence for...revenge? It's got gangsters, it's got dames, it's got gunfire, what more could you want? And while Bendis's rendering style is a bit too photo-referenced to be very good, it's adequate for the job—and his sense of design and layout is superb. Jinx may be Bendis's masterpiece, but Goldfish came first, and that's where you should start.

Jinx: The Definitive Collection (Caliber: 1-7, Special 1; Image: 1-5, three one-shots). [From Image: Powers co-creator Bendis brings back his Eisner award winning crime comic classic in an all-new collection. A female bounty hunter, a handsome small-time grifter, and his swarmy partner search for a hidden treasure that takes them on a winding trail through the seedy underbelly of Cleveland. A treasure that is a ticket out of the city and out of "the life." The treasure hunt propels this character-driven film noir loosely based on the western classic The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. Black and white.] ArtBomb review

Torso (Image; 6-issue mini). [From Image: Cleveland. 1935. Eliot Ness, fresh from his legendary Chicago triumph over Al Capone and associates, set his sights on Cleveland. He went on a crusade that matched, and sometimes even surpassed, his past accomplishments. But dismembered body parts started washing up in a concentrated area of Lake Erie Sound. Headless torsos that left no clues to their identity or reason for death. Elliot Ness and his colorful gang of THE UNKNOWNS chased this killer through the underbelly of Cleveland for years. As far as the public was concerned, he was never captured. But what really happened is even more shocking. This award winning series is finally collected into this handsome edition. Also included is material never seen before and a photo essay of the actual murders. A comic book library must have.] ArtBomb review

Total Sell Out (Image). [From Image: Three time Eisner award winning Brian Michael Bendis (Powers, Ultimate Spider-Man titles, Daredevil, Alias) didn't just appear out of thin air, you know! He worked his tuchas off at all aspects of the medium before totally losing his hair in mainstream comics.Compiled in this exclusive collection are dozens of short stories that are widely considered his best work, handpicked by the author. Ranging from the 'Fortune and Glory' style autobiographical anecdotes, to some of the darkest crime noir stories he has yet to tell. Also included is a smattering of his favorite short work collaborations with Warren Ellis, Mark (Nowheresville) Ricketts, James Hudnall, and Mike Avon Oeming. And a portfolio of line art and multi-media illustrations that have rarely been seen before. A fun and must have collection of rarely seen or never seen material.]