Imperium 12

?THE VINE IMPERATIVE? ? FINALE! Spy vs. superhuman! Toyo Harada?s utopian ambition has been shaken to the depths by a decades-old enemy. Since the day Harada began accruing power, the undercover agents of the Vine?s alien empire have watched?and waited. Years later, as Harada strives to reshape the global economy, establish governments friendly to his goals, and gift the ability of space travel to all humankind, the Vine want him put in check ? permanently. Now, with saboteurs riddling his organization and the alien assassin called LV-99 slavering to snap his master?s neck?are the Vine about to succeed?

The complete series that serves as a prelude to THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA is collected in this deluxe edition hardcover! A psychic dictator, an inhuman robot, a mad scientist, a murderous alien, and a superpowered terrorist are about to try and take over the world?and you?re going to be rooting for them every step of the way. Collects IMPERIUM #1-16, along with more than 20 pages of rarely seen art and extras!

?THE ORPHAN? ends here with an explosive finale?and a shocking new direction for New Japan?s fallen guardian! After being exiled to Earth by Father, Rai has survived on his own, finding new friends and discovering some familiar faces. Now, fully restored and ready for battle, Rai is ready to return to New Japan and rescue the allies he left behind! The next chapter for the future of the Valiant Universe starts here as acclaimed creators Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain present the can?t-miss finale of RAI?s latest volume!

?THE VINE IMPERATIVE? pushes our world to war! With his resources spread thin and his time running out, Toyo Harada must strike if his plan to save the world by force will ever succeed. After a push to take more of the African continent ? deposing corrupt governments and toppling extremists ? Harada?s moves on the world stage were too bold to ignore. The alien agents of the Vine race, who were entrenched throughout the global power structure, have seen their opportunity to strike?and Harada now has his opportunity to break their tenuous pact of peace and take them down. But with a specialized Vine killer among his own team ? the ruthless and lethal Lord Vine-99 ? will Harada be able to hold tight the grip on his monster?s leash? or will LV-99 turn on his master at last?

Claudius became emperor after the assassination of Caligula, and was deified by his successor Nero in AD 54. Opinions of him have varied greatly over succeeding centuries, but he has mostly been caricatured as a reluctant emperor, hampered by a speech impediment, who preferred reading to ruling. Barbara Levick's authoritative study reassesses the reign of Claudius, examining his political objectives and activities within the constitutional, political, social and economic development of Rome. Out of Levick's critical scrutiny of the literary, archaeological and epigraphic sources emerges a different Claudius - an intelligent politician, ruthlessly determined to secure his position as ruler. Now updated to take account of recent scholarship, Claudius remains essential reading for students and historians of the early Roman Empire.

It?s spy vs. superhuman as ?THE VINE IMPERATIVE? boils over! Toyo Harada?s war to save humanity by taking over the world roars on against the only enemy this planet cannot contain?a sinister network of undercover alien spies! A deadly chess game between Harada and the alien visitors called the Vine has been unfolding for decades. The Vine once even created the living weapon called LV-99 to assassinate their enemy, but failed. Today, as Harada executes his agenda upon Earth ? and with LV-99 on his side. This time ? the Vine?s cold war finally turns infernally hot. Jump on board the series that Bloody Disgusting calls ?the height of sophisticated comic book stories? here with a powerful new story arc from New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart (HARBINGER WARS) and red-hot artist CAFU (UNITY) and Juan Jose Ryp (NINJAK)! Collecting?IMPERIUM #9-12.

ItÕs spy vs. superhuman as ÒTHE VINE IMPERATIVEÓ boils over! Toyo HaradaÕs war to save humanity by taking over the world roars on against the only enemy this planet cannot containÉa sinister network of undercover alien spies! A deadly chess game between Harada and the alien visitors called the Vine has been unfolding for decades. The Vine once even created the living weapon called LV-99 to assassinate their enemy, but failed. Today, as Harada executes his agenda upon Earth Ð and with LV-99 on his side. This time Ð the VineÕs cold war finally turns infernally hot. Jump on board the series that Bloody Disgusting calls Òthe height of sophisticated comic book storiesÓ here with a powerful new story arc from New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart (HARBINGER WARS) and red-hot artist CAFU (UNITY) and Juan Jose Ryp (NINJAK)! Collecting IMPERIUM #9-12.

Published in 1998, these essays focus on Rome and the curia in the 11th and 12th centuries. Several relate to Cardinal Deusdedit and his canonical collection (1087) and to the pontificate of Paschal II (1099-1118). Both personalities and their ideas are presented within the larger setting of contemporary problems, highlighting divergent currents among ecclesiastical reformers at a time of the investiture controversies. A third common theme is formed by discussions of the organization and archival practices of the curia, which were of fundamental importance for the growth and codification of canon law, not to mention papal control of the Church.