It’s a new week, which should have some exciting new stories dropping in your timelines. But with busy schedules and Labor Day on the horizon, it’s possible you missed something from last week. Let’s take a look at some of the news, opinions and reviews that you may have missed. Grab your morning coffee and enjoy your…

This contest has ended. The two winners are DIANE B. of WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI, and KELLY G. of GASTONIA, NC.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD hits the home entertainment market this Tuesday, September 1 on Blu-ray and DVD. So why not gear up your wardrobe for the occasion by winning one of these FURY ROAD tees?

The MAD MAX: FURY ROAD promotional tee has the MAD MAX: FURY ROAD logo on the front (with the theatrical release date), and "What a Lovely Day" emblazoned across the back. The shirts are black, and are a men's size S.

In 490BC, in the early hours of the morning before the Athenian will go to war with the Persians, Leander recounts his life up to that point, and how he not only came to be where he is, but how all of Athens arrived at this point. It's a story of political intrigues, assassinations, and behind-the-scenes manipulation of information and advice, a morass of dirty tricks and dirty politics, all with the goal of slipping an idea into the consciousness of the masses: Democracy.

Leander's story starts when he is a younger man, just beginning to take on responsibilities in his father's business. At a political meeting held by the brothers Hippias and Hipparchus ends in bloodshed and the assassination of Hipparchus, the people react accordingly, assuming a rebellion is at hand. The DEMOCRACY creative team of Alecos Papadatos and Abraham Kawa put forward that there may have been another reason for Hipparchus' killing, but that the event was taken advantage of by Cleisthenes.

Front Lines by Mike Maillaro, Mike Weaver, Grey Scherl, and Gina Maillaro

1872 #2 by Gerry Duggan and Nik Virella

Summary: Ten years ago, during the Civil War, Tony Stark designed a powerful weapon for the Union forced.  He expected them to use the threat of the weapon to force the Confederates to surrender.  But instead, the Union forces used this weapon to brutally massacre Southern soldiers.  This is what set Stark to becoming a drunk.

The difficulty with transcribing an interview with comics writer Mark Millar is not one of attuning the American ear to the Scottish accent. Rather, it's in the judicious editing out of all the exclamation points you find in your notes. Mark, like the comics he produces, is a high-energy personality, and every utterance comes across with a sense of excitement and urgency.

And why shouldn't he be excited? He's had several of his comic book projects turned into films, with more of those on the way, and he's living out the dream of playing daily with superheroes, and getting paid to do so!

The owner and operator of Millarworld sat down with CriticalBlast for a few moments to talk about his latest graphic novel venture, CHRONONAUTS, as well as drop some knowledge on us about some of his other projects he has coming down the pike.

Marvel released the following press release this morning: 

SECRET WARS #9! The Biggest Marvel Story of All Time Just Got Bigger!

New York, NY—August 26th, 2015 — It’s the story that has the whole world on the edge of its seat. The biggest Marvel event of all time. The story that destroyed the Marvel Universe. And if you thought it couldn’t get bigger – you thought wrong. Today Marvel is pleased to announce the expansion of the blockbuster Secret Wars event with SECRET WARS #9 – coming to comic shops later this year!

Today, in an effort to expand on it's DC properties, CW is offering an animated mini-series set in the world of their live action properties (ARROW and THE FLASH) titled:

VIXEN

Grant Gustin and Stephen Amell will both lend their voices to the animated versions of their live action counterparts. The show will introduce Megalyn Echikunwoke as the voice of the title character, to the universe DC is building on television.

Criticized for not merging their cinematic universe with television, like Marvel has done, DC is building an expansive world on the small screen. VIXEN brings the total to 4 current shows, with 3 more yet to debut: SUPERGIRL (CBS), LEGENDS of TOMORROW (CW) and TEEN TITANS (TNT).

With assistance by Mike Maillaro

Check out Newsarama for a complete list of Marvel books shipping in November.

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #1 & 2 by MARK WAID, ADAM KUBERT & MAHMUD

For those familiar with the ‘big three’ collectible games such as Magic: The Gathering (Wizards of the Coast), Pokemon (Pokemon USA), and Yu-Gi-Oh! (Konami Digital Entertainment), it's no surprise that their popularity has continued to thrive over the course of the last 20+ years. Collectible games draw popularity from a concept that started with Baseball cards: the ability to trade with others to complete your set. Packs of randomly inserted cards tease us with the hope that we’ll find the one that we’re looking for with the next purchase. Levels of rarity increase the difficulty and encourage the desire to trade.

With assistance by Mike Maillaro

Check out Newsarama for a complete list of DC books shipping in November.

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #1 by FRANK MILLER, BRIAN AZZARELLO, ANDY KUBERT & KLAUS JANSON

The epic ending you never saw coming is here because you demanded it! The Dark Knight rises again to face the dawn of the master race!

Iron Maiden is arguably one of the most innovative and influential metal bands in existence. Despite little support from radio or television, they are still considered one of the most successful bands throughout heavy metal history. Known for frontman Bruce Dickinson's piercing vocals, and the bands lengthy musical interludes, their songs often contain dark themes, such as 'Hallowed be thy Name', or historical context like 'Aces High' and 'Alexander the Great'.

According to NME, Dikinson spoke to an Italian publication about what song from the new album BOOK OF SOULS, was his favorite. Unfortunately, the publication was not credited in their article.

By Mike Maillaro, Josh Pollard, Jeff Ritter, & Graham Scherl

This Week:

• Summer Slam Predictions

• More “Best of the WWE Network”

This contest has ended. The randomly selected winner is JAMES C. of SCRANTON, PA.

Up for grabs is the second season of the hit CW series and sister show of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE ORIGINALS, on Blu-ray and Digital HD.

The Justice League is back, and ready to hit the bad guys like a ton of bricks. LEGO bricks, that is.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: ATTACK OF THE LEGION OF DOOM is the latest installment in the animated LEGO adventures of DC Comics' Justice League characters: Superman (Nolan North), Batman (Troy Baker), Wonder Woman (Grey Griffin), Flash (James Arnold Taylor), Green Lantern (Josh Keaton) and Cyborg (Khary Payton). Together, they've been successful in stopping the bad guys in their tracks.

Posing in full Supergirl costume, Melissa Benoist visited with some Girl Scouts from Oklahoma. Judging by their blue vests and patches, they were Daisy Scouts, which is the entry level for young girls. This provides us fans with comfort, knowing that Ms. Benoist truly understands the importance of not only putting on that costume, but what it means to girls all over the world.

She will be looked up to.

Actors and actresses will often dismiss the idea that they are 'idols' and will feed reporters with quotable lines such as, 'children should idolize their parents'. The truth is, to young children, the characters portrayed on film and television are fantastical. And provide the youth with hope and mysticism in an otherwise dreary world, that us parents fight to protect them from.

The root story behind MATCH is a simple one, but therein lies its mystery as well.

Patrick Stewart stars as Tobi Powell, an aging, single, Manhattan ballet instructor and former dancer who is forced to confront his past -- willingly at first, and forcibly later on -- when a young couple, Lisa and Mike Davis (Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard), from Seattle interrupt his life under the guise of wanting to interview him about his colorful life as a dancer back in the 1960’s.

I tend to love movies that feature a limited main cast in a confined set area (mostly Tobi’s apartment), where the story and acting are so strong that you not only lose track of the time but you're unaware of the limited surroundings. MATCH is a textbook example of this for me. While, yes, there are times when we are not in Tobi’s apartment, and there are some limited interactions with other people, those times are more to set up the story that plays out in the apartment between the three of them.

Reviews by Mike Maillaro, Mike Weaver, Grey Scherl, and Gina Maillaro

SECRET WARS #5 by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic

Summary: An old Thor is giving a funeral service for Doom’s first disciple, Stephen Strange.  Strange was the only witness to the miracle of creation, besides Doom himself.  A memorial statue has been built, next to the statue of Molecule Man in Doomstadt.  Franklin vows to find who killed Strange and “mash them into little pieces.” We find out that 616 Thor has infiltrated the ranks of Doom’s Thors after Strange scattered the Life Raft Survivors all over Battleworld.

When I first met Bird and Squirrel, they were on the Run. And my boy and I loved them! The pairing of the brave, cocky, devil-may-care Bird with the skittish, paranoid, defensive Squirrel made for the least likely of friendships, but they made it work. (They even made their own theme song.)

Now the pragmatic squirrel and plucky bird are back, in BIRD & SQUIRREL ON THE EDGE! They're trying to make their way back home, and they've made a new friend: a baby bear cub. They've also made a few enemies along the way as well, in the form of a pack of wolves who've got their hearts set on the taste of bear, with a little bit of squirrel appetizer. Fortunately for Squirrel and Cub, Bird is there to distract the wolves and send them running.