I would like to touch on two big new #1 releases this week before we get to the nominees. SPACEMAN #1 by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso takes place in a dystopian future with the world split between have’s and have not’s. Pure Azzarello, pure Risso. Just about what you’d expect from them. And INCREDIBLE HULK #1. Hulk and Banner have been split into two distinct beings. Hulk now lives underground with the moloids and is chanelling a Planet Hulk persona. Meanwhile, Banner seems to be visiting the Island of Dr. Moreau.

And while I won’t be nominating them this week, although I’m sure Andy will be including them in the poll and you are welcome to vote for either of them, I do think they are both worth checking out. Both had lots of set up in the first issue. Think both have a chance to be even better as we move on to the second issues and beyond.

Nominees. And a ton of my favorites came out this week.

COBRA ONGOING #6 – You know I love this one. So much is happening as we get ever closer to finding out who the new Cobra Commander will be. And the funny thing is who the new Cobra Commander will be is almost the side plot at this point. Cobra! Read it up!

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #630 FEAR – Little Loki was barely even in the book. Which is one of the things I love about this title. You never know what you will find. Volstagg takes center stage this time and another unseen element in the defeat of the Serpent is revealed. I have criticized the portrayal of Volstagg as a buffoon on many occasion. This was Volstagg done right. Death to Nazis!

SCALPED #53 – You know I love this one. And once again so much is happening as we get ever closer to the finale of Scalped. Red Crow lives! Scalped! Read it up!

SECRET AVENGERS #18 – I was giddy. Warren Ellis is the man! David Aja is the artist. Risso and Aja in the same week? Awesome! Two of my all time favorite artists. Shang-Chi was kung fu fighting. And Sharon Carter even threw a move. Satan Claw!

STITCHED #1 – Garth Ennis is back with another mature readers Avatar jaunt. Army men stranded in the wilds of Afghanistan come up against some undead monsters who want to obviously kill them. Guts galore and not for the feint of heart.

ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #3 – The scale of this book is incredible! Nick Fury assembles an armada of helicarriers to take on the Children of Tomorrow. They get slaughtered. Four helicarriers destroyed. Over 9000 men and women killed. Gonna be interesting to see how it all wraps up. The genie is out of the bottle. The Children of Tomorrow seem to have conquered Europe and Southeast Asia. Asgard has been destroyed. Putting that genie back in the bottle at this point is gonna be tough. And I hope they don’t even try.

WALKING DEAD #90 – You know I love this one. And once again so much is happening as we get… wait a minute… wait a minute… it’s the Walking dead… I forgot… it’s the Walking Dead… and once again nothing happened! Now just hold on a gol-durn minute. The moron was disarmed and chastised. Carl got out of bed. Glen and Maggie talked. And Rick kissed Andrea. And you said nothing happened! Walking Dead! Read it up!

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #1 – I flat out loved it!

As for the DC books this week. No surprises. I liked what I liked last time. AQUAMAN #2, I VAMPIRE #2, SUPERMAN #2, TEEN TITANS #2 and VOODOO #2. All five titles have been quickly added to my favorites list and I think I will like all five titles for some time to come. All just gonna get even better. Read ‘em up!

See ya!

Rusty