Marvel has launched a new Website service, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, where it will offer access to thousands of Marvel comics in a high resolution format for a monthly subscription fee.

Sharpening the Sword is a regular column by retailer John Riley of Grasshopper's Comics, a 1300 square foot comic and games store in Williston Park , New York . This week, Riley talks about the trend of superheroes cast as villains in many of today's comics.

These are estimates of the sales by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during September 2007.

A Thor figure based on JMS's new ongoing series is due from Marvel Select in March.

World War Hulk #3 crawled back to the top of the charts in August after losing to Thor #1 last month.

Direct market sales of comic stores were up a modest 6% over the previous year in July, and graphic novels were up only 1% leading to a combined growth rate of 5% vs. 2006.

The launch issue of Thor , which shipped with three covers during July, topped comic sales to comic stores in July with over 165,000 copies sold.

These are estimates of the sales on graphic novels by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during July 2007.

These are estimates of the sales by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during July 2007.

Marvel has chosen Layer Cake and Stardust helmer Matthew Vaughn to direct a live action version of Marvel's Thor comic book.