This extra-sized battle marks a turning point in the life of the Man of Steel! Alien gladiators have been recruited to come to Earth to face the Last Son of Krypton in no-holds-barred combat. Now, as Vartox and two other intergalactic brawlers take the battle to Superman's hometown of Metropolis, the mastermind behind the plot is revealed! How will Superman emerge victorious from pitched battle and then defeatÉBrainiac 2.0?

Originally published in France and long sought in English translation, Jean-Paul Gabilliet's Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books documents the rise and development of the American comic book industry from the 1930s to the present. The book intertwines aesthetic issues and critical biographies with the concerns of production, distribution, and audience reception, making it one of the few interdisciplinary studies of the art form. A thorough introduction by translators and comics scholars Bart Beaty and Nick Nguyen brings the book up to date with explorations of the latest innovations, particularly the graphic novel. The book is organized into three sections: a concise history of the evolution of the comic book form in America; an overview of the distribution and consumption of American comic books, detailing specific controversies such as the creation of the Comics Code in the mid-1950s; and the problematic legitimization of the form that has occurred recently within the academy and in popular discourse. Viewing comic books from a variety of theoretical lenses, Gabilliet shows how seemingly disparate issues—creation, production, and reception—are in fact connected in ways that are not necessarily true of other art forms. Analyzing examples from a variety of genres, this book provides a thorough landmark overview of American comic books that sheds new light on this versatile art form.

Superman enters the post-CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS age with this limited series by superstar John Byrne introducing an all-new origin tale that gives a completely different take on the early days of the Man of Steel and his home planet of Krypton!

The fifth collection of Superman tales from the 1980s, featuring ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #432-435, ACTION COMICS #592-593 and SUPERMAN #9-10! Superman encounters the new hero Gangbuster, faces the menace of the Joker, teams up with Mister Miracle and Big Barda, and inadvertently becomes Metropolis's greatest menace!

"Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster."

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, comic book superstar John Byrne reimagined Superman for a new era in bold tales presented in this new collection! Starting with the six-issue Man of Steel miniseries, Byrne fundamentally changed Superman’s origins and propelled him into the present, including iconic encounters with Lex Luthor, Metallo, and Darkseid! This title collects The Man of Steel #1-6, Superman #1-4, Adventures of Superman #424-428, and Action Comics #584-587.

This value guide for Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments made between 1973 and 2005 is the most comprehensive guide to secondary market prices ever produced. It contains over 6,000 entries, which include Christmas Ornaments, Easter/Spring Ornaments, Special Issue Ornaments, Miniatures, and Other Special Items. Editorials cover the history of Christmas Ornaments and everything Hallmark has done to promote ornament collectability since it began producing Christmas Ornaments.