After more than a year in its current form — it dates back to the days of The Great Curve — “Can’t Wait for Wednesday” undergoes a format change beginning with this week. Instead of the entire Blog@ crew making their picks of the week, Chris Mautner and I will wade through the Diamond shipping lists, singling out the titles we think are worth considering during your Wednesday pilgrimage.

And, as always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

It’s a solid week for us to take the reins as DC ends Firestorm the Nuclear Man and kicks off Amazons Attack, Marvel releases two more Civil War-related trades and collects the final Vaughan-Alphona issues of Runaways, AdHouse Books unleashes Johnny Hiro on Tokyo and the world, and Chris can finally get his hands on Micrographica from Top Shelf.

For our rundown of the books scheduled to appear this week in finer stores everywhere, just click “more.”

DEC060038 LITTLE LULU VOL 15 THE EXPLORERS TP
DEC060251 WILL EISNERS SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL 21 HC
DEC063587 EC ARCHIVES WEIRD SCIENCE VOL 2 HC

Chris: It’s a big week for reprints of classic comics, which is great if you’ve got deep pockets. Not so great if you don’t. My daughter’s become a Little Lulu fanatic, so the latest volume is a must-buy, no question. The Spirit and EC books will have to wait until a later date, like when my lottery winnings come in. Seriously, I love the fact that Gemstone is reprinting these comics in such loving fashion, but I wonder if the monthly schedule is financially viable for even the most die-hard fan.

DEC060066 PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOL 6 TP (MR) $9.95
FEB070073 REX MUNDI DH ED #5 $2.99
FEB070087 USAGI YOJIMBO #102 $2.99

FEB070243 52 WEEK #51 $2.50
JAN070267 ACTION COMICS #848 $2.99

FEB070246 AMAZONS ATTACK #1 (OF 6) $2.99
Chris: I would so totally buy this if every other panel were of some Amazonian general screaming “Amazons, Attack!” For variety’s sake, the alternating panels could be of her yelling things like “Amazons, prepare your taxes!”, “Amazons, wash your hands before exiting the restrooms!” or “Dive, my Amazons, dive!”

OCT060266 ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK TWO #3 $2.99
FEB070251 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #5 $2.99
FEB070268 BLUE BEETLE #14 $2.99
FEB070309 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #32 $2.25
FEB070249 CATWOMAN #66 $2.99
FEB070279 CONNOR HAWKE DRAGONS BLOOD #6 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB070347 CROSSING MIDNIGHT #6 (MR) $2.99
FEB070351 EXTERMINATORS #16 (MR) $2.99
FEB070273 FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #35 $2.99
JAN070337 GALS VOL 10 $9.99

DEC060289 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN HC (MR) $19.99
Kevin: As a fan of urban fantasy, I had been looking forward to Mike Carey and John Bolton’s original graphic novel about slacker fairies, drugs and Queen Mab since it was announced last year. Occasional glimpses of Bolton’s beautifully painted pages only increased my anticipation. Then, this morning, the book arrived at my door (thanks, DC!). I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I’ve flipped through it, and it’s gorgeous. And I know Carey’s story won’t let me down. God Save the Queen is definitely my pick of the week.

JAN070292 HAWKGIRL THE MAW TP $17.99
FEB070287 JSA CLASSIFIED #25 $2.99
FEB070286 JUSTICE #11 (OF 12) $3.50
FEB070283 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #5 $2.99
FEB070284 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA VAR ED #5 $2.99
FEB070336 NINJA SCROLL #8 $2.99
FEB070293 OUTSIDERS ANNUAL #1 $3.99
JAN070338 PENGUIN REVOLUTION VOL 3 $9.99
FEB070337 RED MENACE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB070292 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #29 $2.99
JAN070315 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOL 4 $14.99
FEB070307 TEEN TITANS GO #42 $2.25
JAN070353 THUNDERBOLT JAXON TP $19.99
FEB070328 WETWORKS #8 $2.99
FEB070303 WONDER WOMAN #8 $2.99

JAN071922 BUCKY O HARE & THE TOAD MENACE DLX S&N ED $17.99
JAN071923 BUCKY O HARE & THE TOAD MENACE DLX S&N SKETCH ED $75.00
OCT051762 HUNTER KILLER SILVESTRI CVR CGC GRADED 9.6 SGN #8 $99.99
FEB071881 RIDE SAVANNAH (ONE SHOT) $4.99
DEC061892 TRUE STORY SWEAR TO GOD IMAGE ED #5 $2.99
SEP061804 TRUTH JUSTIN & AMERICAN WAY TP $14.99
FEB071939 UNIQUE #2 (OF 3) $2.99
JAN071948 WALKING DEAD #37 (MR) $2.99

FEB072196 AGENTS OF ATLAS PREMIERE HC $24.99
FEB072166 X-MEN FIRST CLASS #8 $2.99
Kevin: It’s a good week for Jeff Parker — Marvel’s new go-to writer for all-ages superhero fun — as his entertaining but woefully under-ordered Agents of Atlas miniseries gets the premiere hardcover treatment and the X-Men: First Class mini wraps up. (Fear not, it’s returning as an ongoing series.) The $24.99 pricetag will likely scare off a lot of readers, it gets you the six-issue miniseries, plus the individual Agents’ first-appearance stories from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.

FEB078174 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2ND PTG YU VAR #539 $2.99
FEB072183 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC $99.99
FEB072184 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC VAR ED $99.99
FEB072208 CABLE DEADPOOL VOL 6 PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS TP $14.99
JAN072437 CIVIL WAR FANTASTIC FOUR TP $17.99
FEB072203 CIVIL WAR X-MEN TP $11.99
FEB072097 DAILY BUGLE MAY NEWSPAPER PI
FEB072121 DAREDEVIL #96 $2.99
FEB078027 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 2ND PTG VAR #1 (OF 7) (PP #760) $3.99
FEB072157 EXILES #93 $2.99
FEB072099 FALLEN SON DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA AVENGERS $2.99
FEB072122 FANTASTIC FOUR #545 CWI $2.99
FEB072126 HEROES FOR HIRE #9 $2.99
JAN078267 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI SECRET HISTORY (PP #758) $3.99
FEB072158 NEW EXCALIBUR #19 $2.99
NOV062346 POWERS #24 (MR) $2.95
FEB072170 PUNISHER PRESENTS BARRACUDA MAX #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
FEB072195 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL VOL 1 CIVIL WAR PREMIERE HC $19.99

JAN072433 RUNAWAYS VOL 7 LIVE FAST DIGEST TP $7.99
Kevin: The Runaways digests are always worth picking up, but this one is particularly notable as it collects the final arc of series creators Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona.

FEB072147 SILENT WAR #4 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB072187 SPIDER-MAN BLACK CAT EVIL THAT MEN DO TP $14.99
FEB072116 SPIDER-MAN POSTER BOOK $5.99
FEB072186 SPIDER-MAN VISIONARIES ROGER STERN VOL 1 TP $24.99
FEB072169 WISDOM #5 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
FEB072161 WOLVERINE #53 $2.99
FEB072162 WOLVERINE BLACK AND WHITE VAR #53 $2.99

MAR073034 SHRUGGED #3 WWT VIP YELLOW NEG VAR TURNER SGN CGC 9.8 ED (NE PI
MAR073035 SHRUGGED #3 WWT VIP YELLOW NEG VAR TURNER SGN ED PI
MAR073050 TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE SUPER SAVER PACK #1-8 PI
MAR073037 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #104 CGC 9.8 PI
MAR073048 WIZARD HC 4 PACK PI
MAR073029 WIZARD MAGAZINE DC TOP SECRET PROJECT CVR #188 $5.99
MAR073027 WIZARD MAGAZINE SPIDER-MAN CVR #188 $5.99
MAR073028 WIZARD MAGAZINE SUMMER PREVIEW ISSUE CVR #188 $5.99
MAR073038 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #10 QUESADA CVR CGC 9.8 PI

FEB073553 30 DAYS OF NIGHT SPREADING THE DISEASE #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
MAR073412 ABANDON THE OLD IN TOKYO HC (JUN063079) $19.95
FEB073665 AEGIS VOL 4 GN (MR) $9.99
FEB070019 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SWING SHIFT 2007 FCBD ED PI
FEB070022 APE ENT COMIC SPECTACULAR 2007 FCBD ED #1 PI
FEB070023 ARCANA STUDIO PRESENTS 2007 FCBD ED #4 PI
MAR073153 ARCHIE #500 (O/A) $1.99
FEB073258 BART SIMPSON COMICS #35 $2.99
FEB073166 BETTY & VERONICA #226 $2.25
FEB073168 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #174 $2.49
FEB073507 BLINDSPOT GN $13.95
JAN073586 BLOODRAYNE TIBETAN HEIGHTS CVR A $3.99
JAN073587 BLOODRAYNE TIBETAN HEIGHTS CVR B $3.99
MAR073438 BLOWJOB #21 (A) $3.95
JAN073672 BLUE EYES VOL 3 TP (A) $19.95

JAN073613 CASTLE WAITING VOL II #6 $3.95
Chris: Some online readers have been commenting that they find the current story’s pace more than a trifle slow. I actually have been enjoying the relaxed pace and I have faith in Medley’s superb storytelling abilities that she’ll be kicking things up a notch very soon.

JAN073811 DEGRASSI EXTRA CREDIT VOL 3 MISSING YOU GN $9.95
Kevin: I have a not-so-secret obsession with Degrassi — I had to take a break from Nogin because it was just getting to be too much — but I haven’t picked up these books yet. I fear if I’ll do, I’ll backslide.

FEB073831 DEVI #10 $2.99
MAR073421 DF MARVEL TEAMS & TEAM UPS SGN PACK $69.99

JAN073780 DOKEBI BRIDE VOL 5 GN $9.99
Chris: Man, I’m behind in my manga (sorry, manwha) reading. Volume five already? This is a very good series, though.

OCT063379 DORK TOWER #36 $3.49
MAR073411 DRAWING THE LINE VOL 2 GN $20.00
DEC063801 EMPERORS CASTLE VOL 3 GN (MR) $9.99
NOV063314 FATHOM KIANI #0 MICHAEL TURNER SGN ED $24.99
DEC063724 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE AMATERASU RETURN OF THE SUN HC $26.60
DEC063725 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE ATALANTA RACE AGAINST DESTINY HC $26.60
DEC063726 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE DEMETER & PERSEPHONE SPRING HELD HOSTAGE HC $26.60
DEC063727 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE HERCULES TWELVE LABORS HC $26.60
DEC063728 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE ISIS & OSIRIS TO ENDS OF EARTH HC $26.60
DEC063729 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE JASON QUEST FOR GOLDEN FLEECE HC $26.60
DEC063730 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE KING ARTHUR ENGLISH LEGEND HC $26.60
DEC063732 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE ROBIN HOOD OUTLAW OF SHERWOOD FOREST HC $26.60
DEC063733 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE TROJAN HORSE FALL OF TROY HC $26.60
DEC063734 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE YU THE GREAT CONQUERING THE FLOOD HC $26.60
FEB073664 H EOFIGENDLIC LODRUNG GN $19.99
JAN073466 HUNTERS MOON CVR A #1 (OF 5) $3.99
JAN073467 HUNTERS MOON CVR B #1 (OF 5) $3.99
MAR073285 IMP #4 HISTORIETAS PERVERSAS (A) PI

MAR073077 JOHNNY HIRO #1 $2.95
Kevin: I don’t know much about this release from Fred Chao and AdHouse Books, other than what the solicitation text tells me. But I’m kind of excited about it: “This fantastic first issue finds Johnny Hiro dating the daughter of a 1970’s Tokyo Action-Girl. Unfortunately, Gozadilla is out for revenge! The excitement never ends, even though Johnny Hiro really wants it to. Fans of Godzilla, Voltron, and other Japan imports will dig this indy homage, by hot newcomer Fred Chao!” See? It’s exciting. Plus, I really like the art. This could be good.

FEB073830 JOSH HOWARD PRESENTS SASQUATCH VOL 1 GN $24.95
Kevin: It’s Sasquatch Week here at Blog@Newsarama, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that it hits stores tomorrow. The creative lineup is solid — it includes Jason Burns, Grant Gould, Paul Harmon and Courtney Huddleston — and the previews are sharp.

FEB073170 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #130 $3.69
MAR073234 JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL CHEEKY CVR #1 (A) $5.99

JAN073598 KING CAT CLASSIX HC (MR) $29.95
Chris: OK, here we go. Pick of the week, easy. Drawn and Quarterly has collected some of John Porcellino’s best stories from his ongoing King Cat mini-comic and compiled them here into one loving, 250-page-plus volume all for your reading enjoyment. Porcellino has been self-publishing since 1989, and with more than 60 issues under his belt, there are a lot of gems to pick from. Expect to see this on a lot of “best of” lists come December.

NOV063628 KING OF KINGS VOL 1 PKT ED (MR) $1.95
FEB073613 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #126 $4.99
MAR073223 LADY DEATH ANNUAL VANQUISH CVR #1 $5.99
MAR073224 LADY DEATH BLACKLANDS SLAYER CVR #2 (OF 4) $5.99
MAR073225 LADY DEATH DARK HORIZONS LOST IN THOUGHT CVR $5.99
MAR073226 LADY DEATH LEATHER & LACE 2005 ROYAL BLUE CVR $75.00
MAR073227 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS UNIFIED FRONT CVR #2 (OF 2) $5.99
MAR073230 LADY DEATH PIRATE QUEEN HIGH GROUND CVR $5.99

MAR073222 LADY DEATH SACRILEGE FEARSOME CVR #0
Chris: Shouldn’t that be the other way around? Fearsome sacrilege I can understand, but sacrilege fearsome?

MAR073228 LADY DEATH SHI TUCCI PENCIL ART CVR #0 (OF 2) $9.99
MAR073231 LADY DEATH WARRIOR TEMPTRESS JEWEL CVR $39.99
MAR073232 LADY DEATH WARRIOR TEMPTRESS JURASSIC ASSASSIN CVR $5.99
NOV063623 LIBERTY GIRL #3 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
JAN073572 LOST SQUAD #6 (OF 6) (RES) $2.99
FEB070043 MARVEL ADVENTURES THREE IN ONE 2007 FCBD ED PI
FEB073078 MEN OF MYSTERY FAWCETT FIGHTING FAVORITES SP #1 $21.95
JAN073302 MEN OF MYSTERY GOLDEN AGE GRAND SLAM VOL 1 TP $24.95

MAR073734 MICROGRAPHICA GN (MR) $10.00
Chris: I was sure this was coming out last week, but no, it turns out I was wrong. Curse you, Previews! You’ve foiled me again! Anyway, this is another highly anticipated book, especially since The Ticking garnered such massive goodwill and critical acclaim. I fully expect Micrographica to do likewise.

FEB073472 NICK CARDY COMIC STRIPS TP $14.95
MAR073205 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD JUST A GIRL PHOTO CVR (MR) $5.99

FEB073100 NIGHTMARES AND FAIRY TALES #19 (MR) $2.95
Kevin: Although I read the first few issues of Serena Valentino’s quirky series, I wandered away from it for some reason. I liked it, so I’m not sure why it fell off my radar. But Issue 19 provides a good opportunity for me to return, because it introduces both a new arc — a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty — and a new artist, in the form of Camilla d’Errico, who’s also the illustrator of Avril Lavigne’s Make 5 Wishes. I really like her work. D’Errico’s, not Lavigne’s.

FEB073345 PAINKILLER JANE VOL 1 PX CVR TP $9.99
FEB073344 PAINKILLER JANE VOL 1 REG CVR TP $9.99
FEB073512 PET HUMILIATION DIARY GN (A) $19.95
FEB070021 PIRATES VS NINJAS 2007 FCBD ED SPECIAL #1 PI
MAR073197 PLAGUE O/T LIVING DEAD SPECIAL SAVORY BITS CVR #1 (MR) $5.99
OCT063255 PLANETARY BRIGADE ORIGINS #3 (OF 3) $3.99
MAR073322 PLATINA VOL 1 GN $9.99

MAR073444 PROFESSORS DAUGHTER GN $16.95
Chris: The delightful story of a thousand year old mummy and the woman who loves him. The Interwebs have been abuzz about this new book from First Second and rightly so. It’s a very funny and surprisingly tender and warm (considering the black comedy) look at love and family ties from the team that brought you Sardine in Outer Space (only with the roles now reversed).

FEB073403 PS238 #22 $2.99
MAR073415 PUSH MAN & OTHER STORIES HC (JUL052818) (MR) $19.95
DEC068244 PYONGYANG A JOURNEY IN NORTH KOREA TP (MR) (PP #754) $14.95
MAR073206 ROMERO NOTLD BEGINNING SPLIT DECISION CVR #1 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99
MAR073207 ROMERO NOTLD BEGINNING UP A CREEK CVR #2 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99
JAN073777 ROUREVILLE VOL 1 GN (MR) $9.99
FEB073172 SABRINA VOL 2 #84 $2.25
JAN073927 SADHU #7 (RES) $2.99
JAN073511 SAVAGE TALES FOIL CVR #1 PI
OCT063799 SE7EN LUST #4 (OF 7) (MR) $3.99
SEP063511 SHENANIGANS GN $14.95
FEB073259 SIMPSONS CLASSICS #12 $3.99
FEB073838 SNAKEWOMAN #10 $2.99
MAR073176 SONIC & KNUCKLES MECHA MADNESS SPECIAL #1 CUR PTG (O/A) $2.25
MAR073175 SONIC & KNUCKLES SPECIAL #1 CUR PTG (O/A) $2.25
MAR073174 SONIC IN YOUR FACE SPECIAL #1 CURR PTG (O/A) $2.25
MAR073178 SONIC PRESENTS KNUCKLES CHAOTIX SP #1 CURR PTG (O/A) $2.25
MAR073171 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOL 1 TP (SEP063083) $7.49
MAR073177 SONIC VS KNUCKLES BATTLE ROYAL SPECIAL 2ND PTG (O/A) $2.25
FEB073522 STAR TREK KLINGONS BLOOD TELL #1 KLINGON LANGUAGE VAR ED $4.99
FEB073519 STAR TREK KLINGONS BLOOD WILL TELL #1 $3.99
FEB073544 STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION THE SPACE BETWEEN #4 (OF 6) $3.99
DEC063294 SULLENGREY GIFT SET (MR) $13.95
MAR073739 SUPER F$$$$$S #4 (MR) $5.00
MAR073266 TAG CURSED #3 (OF 5) $3.99
DEC063818 THE WAR IS ON GN $9.95
MAR073235 THRESHOLD MYTHIC SIRENS PINUPS WEBWITCH CVR (MR) $5.99

MAR073443 TINY TYRANT GN $12.95
Chris: I read this over the weekend and it’s a real hoot. Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme join forces to tell the story of Ethelbert, the six-year-old ruler of Portocristo. As you’d expect, he’s an absolute terror, and much of the humor comes from watching his subjects attempt to cater to his ridiculous and utterly selfish demands. Trondheim’s sharp sense of humor hasn’t lost any of its edge here, and Parme’s illustrations capture the book’s madcap pace exceedingly well. Buy it for the tyrant in your house.

JAN073917 TO TERRA VOL 2 TP $13.95
Chris: Wha-huh?!?! This is out too? So soon? Didn’t the first volume just come out? Goddamn.

MAR073314 TOMB RAIDER GALLERY LUCKY LARA COVER (O/A) $5.95
MAR073572 TONY LOCO #2 (RES) (MR) $3.50
JAN073650 TRAIN PLUS TRAIN VOL 2 GN $10.99
JAN073696 TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS #1 VAR CVR SLIPCASE $75.00
FEB073535 TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON BALANCING ACT $9.99
FEB073526 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT KUP $3.99
FEB073299 TRUTH SERUM THE LONELY PARADE TP $15.00
FEB073473 UNCLE SCROOGE #365 $7.50
FEB073839 WALK-IN #5 $2.99
FEB073474 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #680 $7.50
FEB073563 WAR OF THE UNDEAD #3 (OF 3) (MR) $3.99
MAR073313 WOLVERINE SHI BEAUTY & BEAST CVR (O/A) $5.95
FEB070025 WORLDS OF ASPEN 2007 FCBD ED #2 PI
JAN073682 WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE #7 (MR) $3.99

JAN073614 COMICS JOURNAL #282 $9.95
Chris: I think I’d be drummed out of the “art-comix” club if I didn’t include this little item, especially since I write for the thing occasionally. I’m not in this particular issue, but it does have usual assortment of pithy reviews and whatnot, including a lengthy interview with Fun Home author Alison Bechdel.

JAN074001 COMICS REVUE #252 $6.95
JAN074014 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 5 $12.95
JAN074035 DRAGON MAY 2007 #355 $7.99
MAR074711 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #87 PI
FEB073941 GEEK MONTHLY #4 $5.99
FEB074556 JUXTAPOZ MAY 2007 VOL 15 #5 $4.99
FEB073910 NEWTYPE ENG ED MAY 2007 $12.98
FEB073945 SCARY MONSTERS MAGAZINE #62 (NOTE PRICE) $8.95
JAN074016 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 6 $12.95
FEB073955 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #5 $6.99
FEB073952 STARGATE MAGAZINE NEWSSTAND ED #16 $6.99
FEB073953 STARGATE MAGAZINE PX ED #16 $6.99
FEB073954 STARLOG JUNE 2007 #356 $7.99
DEC064039 WEIRD TALES MAGAZINE #344 $5.95

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