Bryan Lee O’Malley’s SCOTT PILGRIM is most definitely funny. We’re talking slice-of-life slackerdom, five years out of high school funny. It’s also charming, somewhat mystical and one of the most purely readable comics being published today. Needless to say, we love it. And with several major industry awards in the past few years – including  the 2007 Harvey Special Award for Humor and Entertainment Weekly’s Independent Comic of the Year for 2006 – it’s also one of the hottest comics out there. Each volume is manga-sized and they are definitely worth checking out, if for no other reason than to be taken in by the title’s downright charm.

We recently added the newly released color editions of Scott Pilgrim, the third of which comes out this week!

SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR VOL. 3 HC $24.99 Presented in full-color for the first time, this gorgeous package includes new bonus materials, as well as remastered artwork and lettering! The second volume in Bryan Lee O’Malley’s epic, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World sees Mr. Pilgrim face off against another of Ramona’s exes–Hollywood icon and skate board enthusiast Lucas Lee!

Continue reading »

Prior to the Marvel NOW! initiative, Kieron Gillen’s run on Uncanny X-Men was one of the best reads in the Marvel Universe, and arguably the best title to fall under the X-Men umbrella. Following the events of “Schism,” the title followed Cyclops and his team as they took on the likes of Mr. Sinister, the mystery of Tabula Rasa, and ultimately the Avengers! Just an excellent read from start to finish. And the final volume hits the shelf this coming Wednesday!

UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 1 TP $16.99 Earth’s mightiest mutants! In the wake of Schism, Cyclops leads a team of X-Men whose express purpose is to deal with extinction-level events. Meet the X-Men’s “Extinction Team”: Storm, Emma Frost, Magneto, Namor, Colossus, Danger, Magik and Hope. And the team’s formation hasn’t come a moment too soon, for longtime X-Men nemesis Mr. Sinister has brazenly taken possession of the massive alien Dreaming Celestial – an act of open hostility designed to put the X-Men in their place, but also an offensive that will draw the attention of the godlike Celestials themselves. Now, the planet’s fate hangs in the balance as Cyclops and the X-Men fight a war on two fronts! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (2012) #1-4.

Continue reading »

Mark Waid and Leinil Yu’s Indestructible Hulk has easily been oneof the most entertaining comics to come out of the Marvel NOW! movement, taking the character in a totally new direction. The Hulk is an indestructible force, more weapon than man. Banner is the smartest man alive. Combined, they are the strongest, smartest weapon on the planet! Check it out!

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK VOL. 1 HC AGENT OF SHIELD $24.99 Now an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Indestructible Hulk must take down the new Quintronic Man and battle Attuma on the ocean floor to learn the secret of Lost Lemuria! But not everything is as it seems: What is Banner’s secret hold over S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill? What and where is Bannertown, USA? And which one of Banner’s lab assistants holds a deadly secret? Plus: Bruce Banner and Tony Stark are friends, but Hulk and Iron Man are anything but! Collecting INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #1-5. Includes designs, sketches, script, and pencils!

The X-Men have fought countless foes, from the sewers of New York City to the outer reaches of space, but the challenge that ultimately divided them… came from within. After the events of X-Men: Schism, mutantkind struck out in two different paths… and this series, written by Jason Aaron, represented the path taken by Wolverine as he opened the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning! Ever since it began, we’ve been saying that it’s far and away the most unique X-book on the shelf, following the day-to-day lives of students at a school… except of course these students are Broo, Quentin Quire, Eye Boy, Indra and many others. Not your usual student body.

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN VOL. 1 TP $14.99 Wolverine has taken half the X-Men back to Westchester to start over. SCHISM tore them apart, but can Wolverine lead the new Children of the Atom into the future? Only if they survive the new Hellfire Club and the return of another classic villain! Collecting WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #1-4.

Continue reading »

Trapped on an isolated island, 16 superhuman teens – including members of the Runaways and Avengers Academy – are given a chilling ultimatum by their demented captor: Fight or die… only one will walk out alive! Thus begins a primal battle that will test the skills, stamina and morals of each combatant. Welcome to Murder World – where secrets are plenty, alliances are fleeting, and the key to victory might be rewriting the rules of the game. This is Avengers Arena, by writer Dennis Hopeless!

Given how skeptical we were at first, this series has really surprised us with how intriguing it’s been! Well worth checking out. And the first trade comes out this week!

AVENGERS ARENA VOL. 1 TP KILL OR DIE $15.99 As Cammi and Hazmat battle the mysterious Deathlocket, X-23 and Juston Seyfert’s Sentinel join the fray – but who’s stalking the heroes in their sleep? Who are the students of the Braddock Academy? What’s up with Chase and Darkhawk? Who is not what they seem? And which player will draw first blood? Betrayal! Secrets! Murder! We dare you to tune in to your new favorite comic…NOW! Collecting AVENGERS ARENA #1-6.

Though the television show only saw seven seasons, the legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has lived on in an outstanding series of comics. It began in Buffy Season 8 and has continued into this year’s Season 9, which has consistently been one of the best comics on the rack. (It’s placement in Rusty’s weekly Best Book nominees is virtually a lock.) Along with Angel & Faith, which runs concurrently with Buffy Season 9, together they have carried on the Buffy legacy in fine fashion! The newest volume comes out on Wednesday!

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 VOL. 3: GUARDED TP $17.99 In a bold move to give disenfranchised Slayers a meaningful societal role (with pay), Kennedy recruits Buffy to act as bodyguard for high-profile clientele. But unlike the other recruits, Buffy struggles to abandon her Slaying instincts and looks for demony threats where none lie (much to Kennedy’s dismay). So it’s only natural that her first job is to protect a tech mogul who just so happens to be running from demon assassins! Collects Buffy Season 9 #11-#15.

Continue reading »

Ever since his made his debut in the Ultimate Universe back in 2011, Miles Morales (aka the new Spider-Man) has been one of the most talked about characters in comics… a young kid of mixed race was a big jump from the Peter Parker many people knew! And now, with a few years’ worth of comics under his belt at the hands of Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Miles has earned the loyalty of many a comic book reader. His stories have been compelling, beautifully written and drawn, and great for readers of all ages!

This week sees the release of both the trade paperback for Spider-Men and the third volume of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man!

SPIDER-MEN TP $19.99 It’s the ULTIMATE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EVENT OF THE YEAR, as Spider-Man comes face-to-face with…Spider-Man! Can even Peter Parker and Miles Morales – the Spider-Men of two worlds – defeat Mysterio, the Master of Illusions? What happens when Miles encounters an older, wiser version of his inspiration, Peter Parker? And what will both Spider-Men do now that they know they’re not alone in the universe? Guest-starring Nick Fury and the Ultimates! Be here for the story that makes history, as Brian Michael Bendis tears down the walls between the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe! Collecting SPIDER-MEN #1-5.

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 TP $19.99 Nick Fury has declared Miles Morales a super hero; now, it’s time for that super-hero rite of passage: the team-up! But the new Spider-Man’s first team-up couldn’t possibly be with the Prowler, could it? It will be if it’s up to Miles’ Uncle Aaron, who’s not above resorting to threats to get his way. It’s a titanic battle of wills between uncle and nephew – with the Scorpion caught in the middle! Then, it’s the ultimate event in the life of any super hero: that day, unlike any other, when Captain America comes calling. With the nation at war, young Spider-Man heeds the call of duty – but is Spider-Man really going to join the Ultimates? Plus: The secret connection between Miles Morales and Spider-Woman revealed! Collecting ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN (2011) #11-18

Continue reading »

For the Image Comics series Thief of Thieves, writer Robert Kirkman employed a writing style utilized by many television shows, in which a group of people brainstorm on plot and character issues and the specifics evolve from there. It’s a style Kirkman adopted from the very successful TV take on his own Walking Dead series, and in our opinion it’s worked out very well for him! The first story arc, written with Nick Spencer (Morning Glories) and introducing us to master thief Conrad Paulson, was outstanding. The trade collecting the second arc, written by James Asmus comes out this week!

THIEF OF THIEVES VOL. 2 TP HELP ME $14.99 Conrad Paulson lives a secret double life as master thief Redmond. There is nothing he can’t steal, nothing he can’t have… except for the life he left behind. But when his big heist doesn’t go as planned… the aftermath shows that every action has an equal – and equally violent – reaction.

Continue reading »

John Constantine is a legend of DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint. A streetwise occult detective/magician of the British Isles, as gritty as they come, smoking Silk Cuts by the pack. Recently, Vertigo started re-releasing Constantine’s book Hellblazer, which has been continuously in print since 1988. These trades are new printings and in reading order, which we are supremely happy about. The series was originally written by Jamie Delano, but through its history has been written by a murderer’s row of comic book luminaries, including Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Brian Azzarello, and many others! The fifth volume comes out this Wedensday!

HELLBLAZER VOL. 5 TP DANGEROUS HABITS $19.99This new edition of a classic HELLBLAZER collection features several tales never before collected, including a look at John Constantine’s rough and tumble childhood and the beginnings of his unique skills. Then, in early stories from PREACHER writer Garth Ennis, John Constantine is dying. As a sorcerer literally haunted by the demons of his past, John is no stranger to mystic bedevilment or supernatural horror. But it’s his chain smoking that ultimately brings death to Constantine’s door. Collecting HELLBLAZER #34-46.

Continue reading »

Dennis Hopeless and Salvador Larroca’s Cable and X-Force has been enjoyable from the jump, marking the return of the one and only Cable! With a new X-Force at his side, he must tackle the threats nobody else can know about – even if it makes him and his team Public Enemy No. 1! The first trade paperback comes out this Wednesday!

CABLE AND X-FORCE VOL. 1 TP WANTED $17.99 Just who are Cable’s new recruits? Where has Colossus been since AVENGERS VS. X-MEN, and what’s wrong with his powers? What will happen when Cable faces his foster daughter, Hope, the “savior” of AVX? And most important, why is the new X-Force attacking a civilian company? Caught red-handed at the scene of a terrorist attack on a major American corporation whose CEO has expressed anti-mutant views, the members of X-Force finds themselves branded criminals and on the run -with none other than the Uncanny Avengers in hot pursuit. There’s no going back NOW! Collecting CABLE AND X-FORCE #1-5 and material from MARVEL NOW! POINT ONE #1.

Writer Nick Spencer has established himself as a solid talent in the comic book industry. He is known for both his creator-owned series at Image Comics (covering a wide array of genres and stories) and for his work at both DC and Marvel Comics. Morning Glories is one of the former. The series follows a group of kids who find themselves at a prep school with secrets underneath its inviting exterior… horrible secrets. And the newest trade paperback comes out this week!

But that’s not all! We’re also set to get Morning Glories #26, the issue immediately following the events of the trade! And THAT’S not all either! Issue #26 will only be $1.00! It’s obviously a great opportunity to hop on board this series, one of the most intriguing titles coming out right now. And with issue #26, look for the beginning of “Season 2″!

MORNING GLORIES VOL. 4 TP $14.99Still reeling from the climactic events of “P.E.” the Glories find themselves lost in time and space, confronted by a new group of students who might be even more dangerous than the faculty themselves– the truants! Questions are answered and new mysteries emerge as Season One comes to a shocking end! Collects MORNING GLORIES #20-25.

Continue reading »

Avengers vs. X-Men was arguably the biggest event of 2012, pitting Marvel’s biggest heroes against one another in a showdown of epic proportions. Even better, many people agree that not only was it the biggest event of the year, it was also one of the best! Following the story of the return of the Phoenix and its host Hope, which divided Earth’s heroes into two distinct factions, made for some incredible comic book moments.

UNCANNY X-MEN TP $16.99 AVX tie-in! The Marvel Universe’s two most powerful teams battle over the fate of Hope Summers. With the cosmically destructive Phoenix Force drawing ever closer to Earth, the planet’s heroes have chosen sides, with the Avengers seeking to take Hope into custody, and the X-Men pledging to protect their would-be mutant messiah at all costs. As the very future of mutantkind – and possibly Earth itself – hangs in the balance, the battle between X-Man and Avenger rages across the planet and beyond. But the Phoenix Force isn’t the only intergalactic entity posing a threat to the X-Men, as the alien war criminal Unit has taken control of robotic team member Danger – setting its own devious plans into motion! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (2012) #11-14.

Continue reading »

Writer Grant Morrison has long been a Cosmic Comix favorite. From his work on Batman to JLA to last year’s Joe the Barbarian and much more, and these days he’s working hard on Batman Incorporated and Action Comics. This mini-series for Image definitely captured our interest, not only because it was written by Morrison, but because he teamed up with Transmetropolitan‘s own Darick Robertson!

"HAPPY! is a story I’ve wanted to write since hit-man Nick Sax and his ‘partner’ Happy the Horse appeared fully-formed in my head two years ago," said Morrison. "I wanted to do a classic Christmas story – like A Christmas Carol or It’s A Wonderful Life – but with all the junkies, killers and pedophiles which make our modern world so colorful!"

No wonder we enjoyed it so much! The trade paperback comes out this Wednesday!

HAPPY TP $12.99 Meet NICK SAX – a corrupt, intoxicated ex-cop turned hit-man, adrift in a stinking twilight world of casual murder, soulless sex, eczema and betrayal. With a hit gone wrong, a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail, and a monstrous child killer in a Santa suit on the loose, Nick and his world will be changed forever this Christmas. By a tiny blue horse called Happy…Collects HAPPY! 1-4

We’ve recommended GI JOE: COBRA for a long time now. It is truly an excellent series, and arguably the best GI Joe book on the stands… especially if you are NOT a GI Joe fan. It really reads like a crime or espionage book. The most recent trade paperback installment, featuring one of the best stories to date, comes out this Wednesday!

GI JOE: COBRA OKTOBER GUARD TP $19.99 Who is the OKTOBER GUARD? The deadliest group of elite killers and assassins ever faced by G.I. JOE or COBRA! But with the main G.I. JOE force focused on tracking down SNAKE EYES, it’s all up to FLINT and the covert G.I. JOE squad to step in-and take them down!

Continue reading »

Thanks to his work on books like Fantastic Four and SHIELD, comic book readers all over have taken notice of writer JONATHAN HICKMAN. But also worth noting is Hickman’s creator-owned material for Image Comics, which features some of the most imaginative and interesting comic work in years. You probably already know he’s an excellent writer and these books make an even stronger case for that, but what attracted many people to him early on is his artistic ability. (He provides the art for two of the books offered here.) He has an incredibly unique and brightly colorful style that makes his works a joy to read.

And this week we get the second TPB collection of MANHATTAN PROJECTS, which we’ve said over the course of the past few months has been one of the wildest rides in comics!

MANHATTAN PROJECTS VOL. 2 TP $14.99 "THEY RULE." The second amazing volume of the SCIENCE, BAD book of the new millennium. The battle for global supremacy is underway and the bad men of the Manhattan Projects will only accept one outcome: World domination. Collecting the coolest new series of the year into one super science package.

Continue reading »

Recently, Marvel handed the reins of the Fantastic Four over to one Matt Fraction! (He also took over the FF series.) He’s been a heavy hitter for the House of Ideas for a while now and it’s been cool to see what he has up his sleeve, and how it’s stacking up to Jonathan Hickman’s epic run. In Fraction’s story, the First Family leaves Earth to visit other galaxies, for what should only be four minutes…

FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 1 TP NEW DEPARTURES NEW ARRIVALS $15.99 We have seen the future, and it will be fantastic! When Reed and Sue decide the family needs to relax, they take Ben, Johnny and the kids on a year-long vacation – through all of infinite time and space! And in the absence of Marvel’s First Family, a handpicked substitute FF – Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk and the new Ms. Thing – stand ready to guard the Earth…for the four minutes the Fantastic Four will be gone. What could possibly go wrong? Find out NOW!, as Reed Richards struggles to hide his true motivations, someone starts having second thoughts (already?), a classic Fantastic Four super villain takes aim at the new FF, and the Future Foundation reacts to their mentors’ replacements. Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR (2012) #1-3, FF (2012) #1-2 and material from MARVEL NOW! POINT ONE #1.

While we’ve mentioned the first Batman hardcover, as a part of Scott Snyder’s overall Batman run, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a post devoted to Batman in the New 52 as a whole, including all the main Batman titles. There was originally Detective Comics Vol. 1 HC and Batman Vol. 1 HC featured below, but the new 52 Batman family just keeps on growing. The entire Batman family has been one of the bright spots of the New 52 and the stories within these hardcovers and trades are a big reason why. The second Detective HC comes out this Wednesday!

DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2 HC SCARE TACTICS $29.99 In this second New 52 collection, Batman must face the madness of the Mad Hatter, and then take on the Talons of the Court of Owls! But even if he survives that, he must face a whole new set of fears when the Scarecrow returns! Can the Dark Knight overcome the terror the Scarecrow brings? And explore the bizarre similarities between these two enemies and how the idea of fear has shaped their lives! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #8-12 and #0, and DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL#1.

Continue reading »

Of all the new titles in DC Comics’ New 52, there is definitely a top tier of quality books, including the likes of Batman, Justice League, Nightwing… and Swamp Thing and Animal Man. These two titles feature the writing talent of Scott Snyder (Batman) and Jeff Lemire (Animal Man), and together they make for some of the most unique and absorbing comics coming out today. But why post them together like this? Because their stories are inextricably linked by the mystical powers known as the Green, the Red and the Black. And the second volume of Swamp Thing comes out this week!

(And if you never read Grant Morrison’s groundbreaking take on Animal Man or Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, we recommend those, too!)

SWAMP THING VOL. 2 TP FAMILY TREE $14.99 In this second collection, Swamp Thing must battle his way through the Bone Kingdom and The Rot to free his ally-and ex-girlfriend-Abigail Arcane. But will the cost of freeing her be…fighting her? Nothing, not even this titanic battle, will prepare Swampy for what he has to face next: a resurrected and even more dangerous Anton Arcane! Collecting SWAMP THING #8-11, 0 and SWAMP THING ANNUAL #1.

Continue reading »

Not too long ago, Wolverine promised Cyclops that X-Force would disband — he lied. A secret society has resurrected En Sabah Nur, putting into motion events that will turn this age of heroes into an Age of Apocalypse! To hold them back, Wolverine and Archangel bring together Fantomex, Deadpool and Psylocke to form the Uncanny X-Force! Stained by their history, they are the only ones capable of making the hard resolutions necessary. The series, written by Rick Remender and featuring art by Esad Ribic, Jerome Opena and others, has been outstanding. The newest volume comes out this Wednesday!

UNCANNY X-FORCE VOL. 6 TP FINAL EXECUTION BOOK 1 $19.99 The end of X-Force? The secret mutant hit squad has fallen to its lowest point. Its members have sacrificed much, and two have left the team. It’s a terrible time for a new, deadlier-than-ever Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to strike at X-Force’s heart. This is a Brotherhood like none before. Each member, each attack, has been designed specifically to hurt X-Force in the worst way possible – by a mastermind who knows all of X-Force’s weaknesses. Collecting UNCANNY X-FORCE (2010) #25-29.

Continue reading »

It was one of the best overall comics of 2012 and far and away the best mini-series of the year, and it’s collected this week in the PUNK ROCK JESUS TP! Written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, whose incredible artwork we’ve seen in the Grant Morrison series Joe the Barbarian. If you’ve never seen his stuff before, please trust us when we say it’s absolutely dynamite. Anyway the story follows a reality TV show starring a clone of Jesus Christ, which causes much chaos across the U.S. of the near future. Just a fantastic premise, extremely well executed. Check it out!

PUNK ROCK JESUS TP $16.99 A new title collecting the 6-issue miniseries – with ten new story pages! Religious zealots either love or hate the show, angry politicians worry about its influence on the nation, and members of the scientific community fear the implications of cloning a human being at all – let alone the Son of God. And what effect will this all have on Gwen, the young woman who is selected, through an American Idol-style process, to be the mother of the new Messiah? All this leads to the hiring of Thomas McKael, the clone’s bodyguard and a former IRA operative with a turbulent past who must protect the new Messiah-a baby who captivates the world but grows up to become an angry teenager.