Is the Alessi comic empire showing signs of wear and tear? The new comics universe started by multi-millionaire Marc Alessi in 2000 is currently going through what many in the business consider a very noticeable shake-up that may have lasting ramifications for the young comics publisher which is based in Tampa, Florida.

So far,among the casualties are assistant art director and critically acclaimed "Ruse" artist, Butch Guise who tendered his resignation, in addition up to 25 employees have been reportedly laid off from the company. Some other big names that may be affected by the shake-up include comic veterans; George Perez (JLA/AVENGERS), Greg Land (Sojourn-Nightwing), and Chuck Dixon(Batman). CrossGen Entertainment has commented that it is supposedly all part of the closing of some titles due to a major storyline arc that involves a war of cosmic proportions in the crossgen universe-and as part of this cataclysm the following books, which include some of the core titles are; "Crux", "The First", "Meridian", "Mystic", "The Path", "Ruse", "Scion", "Sigil", and "Solus".

The huge multi-world war will begin waging in February/2004 and will irrevocably change the CrossGen universe forever...only time will tell if this young comics company can survive this cosmic holocaust along with what's left of their universe.