By Ben Morse

In March 2011, Marvel opens the gateway to exciting new universes crossing all genres and bringing comics' best talents to characters and concepts the likes of which the House of Ideas has never seen with the launch of Crossgen!

It all begins with RUSE and SIGIL, two series set to spin your expecations on their head and show exactly what Crossgen's capable of.

SIGIL stars Samantha Rey, a 16-year-old girl from South Carolina who gets swept up in a war beyond her understanding and may possess the power to turn the tide in the form of a mysterious symbol on her chest even she doesn't understand. New York Times-best-selling writer Mike Carey teams with artist Leonard Kirk for this next great comics tale.

"SIGIL is epic fantasy on a colossal scale, ultimately spanning the whole of human history," says Carey. "It tells the story of a young girl who has inherited a unique talent and destiny from her dead mother and has also been enlisted without her knowledge or understanding in a war that spans all of space and time. The amazing Leonard Kirk is our [artist], so when I throw around all these adjectives about huge scope and epic scale, you know I'm not kidding."

On the other side of the Crossgen spectrum, RUSE plants you in the heart of mystery as the world's greatest detective, Simon Archard, meets the alluring and enigmatic Emma Bishop, a woman who may well be his match and launches him into the greatest caper of his career. The one and only Mark Waid writes while star on the rise Mirco Pierfederici provides art.

"Simon [may be] the world's greatest detective, but he's overlooking a mystery that's right under his nose: the secret that Emma is keeping would floor him," teases Waid. "Together, they solve impossible crimes in a series that's a little FANTASTIC FOUR, a little Sherlock Holmes, and a lot of mystery. This may be the most fun I've ever had writing."

“Crossgen is one of the biggest comic book imprint launches this century,” says David Gabriel, SVP of Sales & Circulation. “You’ve seen Marvel redefine super heroes and now we’re taking on every popular genre you can imagine, with some of the most unique and compelling new series you’ll find in 2011, each priced at only $2.99 per issue. You’ve never read Marvel comics like these!”

SIGIL #1 (of 4)

Written by MIKE CAREY

Penciled by LEONARD KIRK

Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURJEVIC

Variant Cover by ED McGUINNESS

Rated T+ …$2.99

ON SALE IN MARCH

RUSE #1 (of 4)

Written by MARK WAID

Art by MIRCO PIERFEDERICI

Cover by BUTCH GUICE & MIKE PERKINS

Variant Cover by MITCH BREITWEISER

Rated T+ …$2.99

ON SALE IN MARCH