January 2003 Solicitations

It¹s Crusade catch-up month as the acclaimed SHI - THE ILLUSTRATED WARRIOR is offered again

FEATURED ITEM: SHI THE ILLUSTRATED WARRIOR LITHOGRAPH
By Billy Tucci, Christina Strain

This gorgeous lithograph (limited to 199 prints) "Masks" depicts everyone's favorite Sohei warrior adorned in Sohei war helmet and face shield. This stunningly detailed lithograph by Billy Tucci and digital painter Christina Strain served as the cover to Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #2. Lithographs are limited to 199 prints, are produced on premium linen paper and are signed/numbered by the artists.

Shi - The Illustrated Warrior Lithograph…$29.99

OFFERED AGAIN: Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #1
By Billy Tucci and Craig Shaw Gardner

Retailers and fans alike should prepare themselves for the first Shi series in over a year. Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #1, is the vanguard edition of seven monthly issues by Shi creator Billy Tucci and New York Times best-selling author Craig Shaw Gardner (Batman).

Combining the very best aspects of Craig's novelized verse and Billy's dynamic and richly detailed illustrations, Warrior is based on the legendary Way of the Warrior story arc but with an added twist that forever alters the Shi universe we've all come to know.

Focusing on Ana's tortured past, first battles and her quest for vengeance Warrior goes to great lengths to bring about the most thorough and thought provoking Shi series ever. The seven issues will ultimately be collected in hard cover format to be released in December.

The premier issue of Shi - The Illustrated Warrior originally shipped early May 2002

Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #1…$2.99 32 pages b/w

OFFERED AGAIN: Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #2
By Billy Tucci and Craig Shaw Gardner

The second installment of Crusade's new monthly Shi mini-series by Shi creator Billy Tucci and New York Times best-selling author Craig Shaw Gardner (Batman).

The Illustrated Warrior #2 places us alongside Ana Ishikawa as she dons the Sohei battle garb of her ancestors for the first time to avenge the brutal beating of her grandfather. It also focuses on Ana's torment as she witnesses the wives and children mourn those she has slain in battle. Ana vows to forgo her quest, but now it is the charismatic Yakuza boss Masahiro Arashi who is obsessed with vengeance and recruits the darkest and most ruthless of the warrior monks, the Nara Sohei. The Nara embark on a pilgrimage of blood as they search out "this demon of death" and turn the streets of New York City into a holocaustic arena of death.

To complicate matters, Ana struggles through a budding romance with a police detective. Then of course there's the sudden arrival of her best friend from Japan, Tomoe. Warrior goes to great lengths to bring about the most thorough and thought provoking Shi series ever.

Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #2…$2.99 24 pages b/w

OFFERED AGAIN: Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #3
By Billy Tucci and Craig Shaw Gardner

Ana Ishikawa abandons her quest for vengeance and attempts to leave her tortured and murderous past behind. She begins a budding romance with police detective Peter DeNyse and is overjoyed by the unexpected arrival of her best friend; the vivacious and beautiful Tomoe Gozan.

But, storm clouds have gathered overhead as Arashi, thirsting for revenge brings in the most notorious off all assassins -- the black cloaked Nara Sohei. These ruthless warriors have dedicated their lives to the destruction of their centuries old enemy, the Kyoto Sohei. Ana has carelessly left behind several clues, all leading to her Kyoto lineage, and the Nara's are sent to hunt down the Shi killer. And this can only mean one thing, Ana Ishikawa, once the hunter, is now the hunted. To make matters worse, the Nara will be led by none other than Ana's darling Tomoe.

Shi - The Illustrated Warrior #3…$2.99 24 pages b/w

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To place an order, visit your local comic book store
or visit the Crusade Store Online