This week sees a formidable wave of comics based on other media, led by Buffy the Vampire Slayer #4 and Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born #5 — the undisputed current juggernauts of the niche — and composed of the likes of Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus, Seventh Shrine, Battlestar Galactica #10, Doctor Who: The Flood, Eureka Seven, Vol. 5, and a bunch of Starship Troopers titles that I can’t quite figure out.

For a rundown of the titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth singling out, just click “more.”

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

FEB070093 MPD PSYCHO VOL 1 TP (MR) $10.95

Kevin: My pick of the week, hands down. The notoriously twisted and violent manga by Eiji Otsuka (The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service) and Sho-U Tajima pits a police detective with multiple-personality disorder — the “MPD” in the title — and a dark past against a serial killer responsible for a slew of bizarre murders. Dark Horse, which touts the book as “the most-requested manga series in recent memory,” points out that MPD-Psycho originally was licensed by another American publisher but was “deemed too shocking for them to release.” Given the manga’s recent return to the news in Japan and the response to Takashi Miike’s 1999 TV adaptation, it’ll be interesting to see North American reaction.

JAN070075 SOCK MONKEY THE INCHES INCIDENT #4 (OF 4) $2.99

Chris: Tony Millionaire’s latest Sock Monkey story comes to a close with this issue. Though ostensibly for kids, the SM stories have always been a bit off-kilter and … unsettling. This series is no exception, what with the evil ants controlling the broken porcelain doll and whatnot. And there’s a sentence I never expected to type.

FEB070102 XS HYBRID TP $10.95

Kevin: It’s gotten to the point that I’ll give any of Dark Horse’s new manga and manhwa offerings a try: Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man, The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Mail, Scary Book. None of them has disappointed. (Now if they were only released on something resembling a regular schedule. Where’s that third volume of Mail, Dark Horse?) Song Ji-Hyung’s XS Hybrid, part of the publisher’s new line of Korean comics, deals with a dystopian future, psychic powers and young love. Familiar elements, to be sure, but I trust Dark Horse’s selection, and I like what I see in the preview. Plus, the covers of the first and second volumes are some of my favorites in recent memory.

MAR072096 MYSTIC ARCANA BOOK OF MARVEL MAGIC $3.99

Kevin: Diamond lists the comic as Magic with a “C,” but as everyone knows, it’s with a “K” — as in Illyana Rasputin, the Soul Sword-weilding, teleporting younger sister of Colossus who apparently returns to the land of the living in the “Quest for Magik” storyline in New X-Men. I’ve long had a soft spot for the magical elements of the Marvel and DC universes, so I perked up when this odd little miniseries, Mystic Arcana, was announced. And when I saw this first issue starred one of my favorite characters from the early days of New Mutants, and was produced by the likes of Louise Simonson, Steve Scott, Eric Nguyen and Marko Djurdjevic, I knew I had to order it. (As an aside, I bought New X-Men #38, the first issue of the “Quest for Magik” arc, because I generally like Skottie Young’s art. I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining and, despite my lack of familiarity with the sprawling cast, easy to follow the issue is.)

APR072288 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #19 $2.99

Kevin: I’ve been a cheerleader for this series from the get-go, so I’m more than a little concerned there’s no solicitation for Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #21, the issue after writer Sean McKeever’s departure. Marvel is known for its stealth cancellations — no official announcement, just a lack of listing — so things don’t look promising for Mary Jane & Co.

APR073708 BLACK DIAMOND DETECTIVE AGENCY SC $16.95

Chris: Eddie Campbell’s hugely anticipated follow-up to last year’s hugely acclaimed Fate of the Artist. John Hardin is accused of a deadly train bombing, so he flees to America to chase the real culprits, and ends up joining the detective agency sent out to find him. Early reviews have not exactly been overwhelming in their praise, but c’mon, it’s Eddie Campbell, which means it will inevitably be better than 90 percent of whatever’s out there right now.

FEB073250 EUREKA SEVEN VOL 5 GN $9.99

Kevin: I’ve only read the first volume of this series, based on the anime I know nothing about, but I enjoyed it a good deal. Lots of spunky characters, flying skateboards and giant robots. Not usually my thing, but fun nonetheless.

MAR073413 EXIT WOUNDS HC (MR) $19.95

Chris: Rutu Modan, formerly of the Actus Tragicus comics collective, makes her full-length graphic novel debut with this story of a young Israeli man whose estranged father is killed in a bombing. Attempting to find out more about his dad he runs into a soldier that may or may not have been his mistress. Early word of mouth has been very strong, from such folks as Entertainment Weekly, if that makes any sort of difference to you.

APR073694 HOUSE GN $12.95

Chris: Josh Simmons’ (Happy) first graphic novel is a grim, wordless affair about a trio of teens that decides to explore a haunted house when tragedy strikes. Simmons begins the book with large, open, white panels that slowly get smaller and blacker as the characters’ plight gets worse. Not a “fun” book, certainly, but definitely something horror fans will want to check out as it packs quite a wallop.

MAR073437 I SHALL DESTROY ALL THE CIVILIZED PLANETS SC $19.95

Chris: Pick of the week. The words “demented genius” seem to crop up a lot when talking about Fletcher Hanks, and little wonder since his stories manage to combine surreal flights of fancy, rudimentary, almost willfully bad drawing skills and dark, vengeful undercurrents in just a few short pages. To read his stories is to take a trip inside a bizarre and bitter mind, one who likes to draw gorillas and beautiful women whose faces turn into terrifying death masks. I’m not sure there’s a trip I’ve been wanting to take more this year.

MAR073303 LUCKY LUKE MA DALTON TP $9.99

Chris: See? With classic books like this being out and about, do we really need to worry about there being a dearth of kids’ comics?

APR073543 PORNOMICON (A) $9.00

Chris: I’m actually surprised no one came up with this title before.

APR074038 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE 17 COMICS FROM AN UNPLEASANT AGE TP $18.99

Chris: An oversized anthology edited by Ariel Schrag (Potential) that deals specifically with the junior high school years, which, as we all know, were happy times filled with nothing but sunshine and rainbows and unicorns. Contributors include Vanessa Davis, Gabrielle Bell, Lauren Weinstein, Ariel Bordeaux and Aaron Reiner. An excerpt from Joe Matt’s Fair Weather and Daniel Clowes’ Like A Weed Joe is also included.

APR073701 THREE PARADOXES GN (RES) $14.95

Chris: Oh man, Paul Hornschemeier’s new graphic novel — an experimental autobiography that constantly shifts between styles and storytelling modes — is out this week, too? OK, Fantagraphics, that’s it. You’re publishing too many books that I want to read. I hereby declare a moratorium until I get caught up.

FEB073453 COMICS JOURNAL #283 $9.95

Chris: I mention this latest issue only because I have a couple of reviews in it. Never let it be said I’m not shameless.

Here’s the full list of comics shipping this week:

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC060035 ALIENS VS PREDATOR OMNIBUS VOL 1 TP $24.95
APR070029 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #4 $2.99
NOV060077 CLASSIC DC CHARACTER #1 SUPERMAN $49.99
APR070011 FEAR AGENT LAST GOODBYE #1 $2.99
MAR070073 GHOST IN THE SHELL 1.5 HUMAN ERROR PROCESSOR #8 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
FEB070093 MPD PSYCHO VOL 1 TP (MR) $10.95
FEB070100 OLD BOY VOL 6 TP (MR) $12.95
DEC060040 PINUP THE ILLEGITIMATE ART LTD ED HC (MR) $49.95
JAN070075 SOCK MONKEY THE INCHES INCIDENT #4 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB070102 XS HYBRID TP $10.95

DC COMICS

APR070185 ALL NEW ATOM #12 $2.99
MAR070175 BATMAN TURNING POINTS TP $14.99
APR070188 BIRDS OF PREY #107 $2.99
MAR070178 CATWOMAN WHEN IN ROME TP $12.99
APR070180 COUNTDOWN 47 $2.99
APR070244 DANGER GIRL BODY SHOTS #3 (OF 4) $2.99
APR070161 DETECTIVE COMICS #833 $2.99
APR070268 EXTERMINATORS #18 (MR) $2.99
NOV060309 FABLES STATUE BIGBY AND SNOW $195.00
MAR070241 GO GO HEAVEN VOL 2 $9.99
MAR070274 JACK OF FABLES #11 (MR) $2.99
APR070207 JONAH HEX #20 $2.99
APR070225 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #34 $2.25
APR070230 LOONEY TUNES #151 $2.25
APR070232 MAD MAGAZINE #479 $3.99
MAR070253 MAN CALLED KEV TP (MR) $14.99
APR070245 MIDNIGHTER #8 $2.99
APR070166 NIGHTWING #133 $2.99
APR070208 OUTSIDERS #48 $2.99
MAR070245 PIECES OF A SPIRAL VOL 8 $9.99
APR070271 SCALPED #6 (MR) $2.99
APR070177 SUPERGIRL #18 $2.99
MAR070183 SUPERMAN #663 $2.99
APR070254 SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #2 $2.99
APR070250 WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY #7 $2.99
OCT060313 WONDER WOMAN VS SUPERMAN STATUE $195.00

IMAGE COMICS

MAR071833 ALIEN PIG FARM #2 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
JAN071957 DARKNESS LEVEL 4 DALE KEOWN CVR A $2.99
JAN071958 DARKNESS LEVEL 4 STJEPAN SEJIC CVR B $2.99
APR071865 DYNAMO 5 #4 $3.50
FEB071908 INVINCIBLE #42 (NOTE PRICE) $1.99
APR071857 RIDE VOL 1 TP NEW PTG $12.99
JAN071944 SPAWN #168 $2.95
MAR071821 STRANGE EMBRACE #1 ( OF 8 ) (MR) $2.99
JAN071945 STRANGE GIRL #17 $3.50
APR071883 WARD O/T STATE #2 (OF 3) $3.50
FEB071923 WITCHBLADE PUNISHER $3.99
MAR071873 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #4 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

APR072292 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #3 CWI $2.99
APR072371 BULLET POINTS TP $13.99
APR072369 CIVIL WAR IRON MAN TP $11.99
APR072370 CIVIL WAR MARVEL UNIVERSE TP $11.99
APR072296 DAREDEVIL BATTLIN JACK MURDOCK #1 (OF 4) $3.99
APR072272 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN #5 (OF 7) $3.99
APR072274 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN JAE LEE SKETCH VAR #5 (OF 7) $3.99
APR072273 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN LAND VAR #5 (OF 7) $3.99
APR072379 ESSENTIAL SILVER SURFER VOL 2 TP $16.99
APR072373 FANTASTIC FOUR INHUMANS TP $19.99
APR072300 GHOST RIDER TRAIL OF TEARS #5 (OF 6) $2.99
APR072299 HULK AND POWER PACK #4 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR072088 IRON MAN #18 CWI $2.99
APR072312 IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #9 $2.99
APR072327 LONERS #3 (OF 6) $2.99
APR072316 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #28 $2.99
APR072319 MARVEL ZOMBIES ARMY OF DARKNESS #4 (OF 5) $2.99
APR072320 MS MARVEL #16 CWI $2.99
MAR072096 MYSTIC ARCANA BOOK OF MARVEL MAGIC $3.99
APR072323 NEW WARRIORS #1 CWI $2.99
APR072325 OMEGA FLIGHT #3 CWI (OF 5) $2.99
APR072346 PUNISHER #48 (MR) $2.99
APR072355 SEVENTH SHRINE TP $11.99
APR072286 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #3 $4.99
APR072288 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #19 $2.99
APR072386 ULTIMATE MARVEL FLIP MAGAZINE #26 $4.99
APR072387 ULTIMATE TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #26 $4.99
APR072341 UNCANNY X-MEN #487 $2.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

APR073269 CIVIL WAR #1 MCNIVEN CVR SGN CGC 9.8 PI
APR073260 CIVIL WAR #2 3RD PTG MCNIVEN CGC 9.8 SGN CVR PI
APR073273 CIVIL WAR #5 MCNIVEN CGC 9.8 CVR PI
APR073274 CIVIL WAR #6 MCNIVEN CGC 9.8 CVR PI
APR073261 CW FRONT LINE #1 TURNER SGN WWC SKETCH CVR CGC 9.8 PI
APR073277 HOUSE OF M #3 CASSADAY SGN VAR CVR PI
APR073255 INQUEST GAMER SUMMER PREVIEW CVR #147 $1.99
MAR073045 ST KLINGONS BLOOD WILL TELL #1 KLINGON VAR CGC 9.8 CVR PI
APR073279 TOYFARE EXC AF SUPER HERO 5 PACK PI
APR073271 ULT POWER #1 WWT LONE STAR LAND SGN 9.8 VAR SKETCH CVR PI
APR073259 ULTIMATE X-MEN #75 TURNER SGN CVR CGC 9.8 ED PI
APR073267 WITCHBLADE #100 FANTASTIC REALM TURNER GOLD CVR CGC 9.8 (NET) PI
APR073275 WOLVERINE END #1 WWTX VAR CVR CGC 9.8 PI
APR073268 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #5 QUESADA PHX SAMURAI CGC 9.8 VAR SKETCH PI
APR073276 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #7 QUESADA SGN SKETCH CVR PI
APR073272 X-FACTOR #13 QUESADA SGN PI

OTHER PUBLISHERS

MAR073666 2000 AD #1535 $4.10
MAR073667 2000 AD #1536 $4.10
MAR073668 2000 AD #1537 $4.10
MAR073669 2000 AD #1538 $4.10
MAR073500 30 DAYS OF NIGHT BLOODSUCKERS TALES VOL 1 TP NEW PTG (JUN053 $24.99
APR073799 30 DAYS OF NIGHT EBEN & STELLA #2 $3.99
MAR073484 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #59 (A) $4.99
APR073304 AFTERDEAD COLLECTION COLOR ED VOL 1 TP (MR) $29.95
MAR073795 ANGEL SANCTUARY VOL 20 GN $9.99
MAR073756 ARANZI MACHINE GUN VOL 1 TP $9.95
MAR073151 ARCHIES CAMP TALES VOL 1 TP $7.49
APR073377 ART OF REBOOT HC $23.99
FEB073328 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #10 $2.99
MAR073335 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON APOCALYPSE #4 $3.50
MAR073886 BECKETTS BASEBALL CARD PLUS JUNE JULY 2007 #30 $9.99
MAR073158 BETTY & VERONICA #227 $2.25
MAR073160 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #175 $2.49
APR073708 BLACK DIAMOND DETECTIVE AGENCY SC $16.95
APR073421 BLACK SUMMER #0 (OF 7) (MR) $0.99
APR073422 BLACK SUMMER WRAP CVR #0 (OF 7) (MR) $0.99
MAR073796 BOYS OVER FLOWERS VOL 24 TP $9.99
MAR073586 BREATHE CVR A #2 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR073587 BREATHE CVR B #2 (OF 4) $2.99
APR073542 CAMILI-CAT DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY (A) $6.00
MAR073528 COMPLETELY DOOMED TP $19.99
APR073500 CTHULHU TALES RISING ONE SHOT (O/A) $6.99
FEB073304 DEADBEATS VOL 3 GOTHIC TOWERS TP $12.95
MAR073678 DEATH AND THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT DIE #1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR073647 DOCTOR WHO THE FLOOD TP $26.50
APR073607 DRAFTED PREVIEW $0.99
FEB073250 EUREKA SEVEN VOL 5 GN $9.99
MAR073413 EXIT WOUNDS HC (MR) $19.95
APR073498 FALL OF CTHULHU IRON ORC SP ED #0 $6.99
DEC063613 FLARE ADVENTURES COVER A #19 (NOTE PRICE) $4.50
DEC063615 FLARE ADVENTURES COVER B #19 (NOTE PRICE) $4.50
MAR073428 FUN NEVER STOPS ANTHOLOGY OF COMIC ART 1991-2006 SC $16.95
APR073608 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #24 $3.50
FEB073502 HARD BULLIED COMICS #4 (MR) $2.95
FEB073356 HELIOS UNDER THE GUN #4 (OF 4) $2.99
APR073502 HERO SQUARED ONGOING HEROES CON SP ED #2 $6.99
APR073954 HONOR BRIGADE #3 (OF 6) $2.95
APR073694 HOUSE GN $12.95
APR073704 HOUSEWIVES AT PLAY FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS TP (A) $9.95
MAR073437 I SHALL DESTROY ALL THE CIVILIZED PLANETS SC $19.95
MAR073822 INU YASHA ANI MANGA VOL 21 GN $11.99
FEB073707 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #258 $7.50
MAR073164 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #131 $3.69
APR073749 KEEPERS OF THE MASER VOL 7 YOUNG QUEEN HC (MR) $14.95
MAR073209 LADY DEATH ART OF JUAN JOSE RYP $4.99
MAR073309 LADY DEATH ART OF JUAN JOSE RYP GOLD FOIL CVR $5.99
MAR073213 LADY DEATH ART OF JUAN JOSE RYP LEATHER CVR $24.99
MAR073212 LADY DEATH ART OF JUAN JOSE RYP PREMIUM CVR $9.99
MAR073210 LADY DEATH ART OF JUAN JOSE RYP SULTRY CVR $4.99
MAR073211 LADY DEATH ART OF JUAN JOSE RYP WRAPAROUND CVR $4.99
FEB073208 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD $2.99
FEB073209 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD BATTLE BABES CVR $2.99
FEB073307 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD GOLD FOIL CVR $5.99
FEB073210 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD LOPEZ CVR $2.99
FEB073211 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD MARTIN CVR $2.99
FEB073213 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD PREMIUM CVR $9.99
FEB073212 LADY DEATH QUEEN O/T DEAD WRAP CVR $2.99
MAR073823 LAW OF UEKI VOL 6 TP $9.99
MAR073593 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE SGN PACK #2 $10.00
DEC063487 LONE RANGER #6 $2.99
MAR073303 LUCKY LUKE MA DALTON TP $9.99
FEB078058 MODESTY BLAISE VOL 3 TOP TRAITOR TP NEW PTG $19.95
DEC063285 NHS HAWAII PKT MANGA VOL 3 TP $12.95
MAR073824 O PARTS HUNTER VOL 4 TP $9.99
APR073543 PORNOMICON (A) $9.00
MAR073401 PS238 #23 $2.99
FEB073298 QUEEN MARGOT VOL 2 BLOODY WEDDING GN $13.95
MAR073343 RAISE THE DEAD #3 $3.50
APR073544 RAPTURE #2 (A) $9.00
MAR073167 SABRINA VOL 2 #85 $2.25
FEB073837 SADHU #8 $2.99
APR073744 SEEKERS #1 (O/A) $2.99
FEB073614 SHINY BEASTS GN (MR) $16.95
MAR073775 SHONEN JUMP JULY 07 #55 $4.99
MAR073252 SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #1 $4.99
MAR073591 STARSHIP TROOPERS #0 EXPO EXCLUSIVE ED $5.00
MAR073592 STARSHIP TROOPERS #0 EXPO EXCLUSIVE REMARKED ED $29.95
DEC063757 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE BROXTON CVR C #4 (OF 4) (M $3.50
DEC063755 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE ENJETI CVR A #4 (OF 4) (MR $3.50
DEC063758 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE LTD SKETCH COVER #4 (OF 4) $9.95
DEC063756 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE REYES CVR B #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
FEB073634 STARSHIP TROOPERS ONGOING CVR A #1 $3.50
FEB073635 STARSHIP TROOPERS ONGOING CVR B #1 $3.50
FEB073637 STARSHIP TROOPERS ONGOING LTD SKETCH CVR #1 $9.95
APR074038 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE 17 COMICS FROM AN UNPLEASANT AGE TP $18.99
APR073292 SUPERIOR SHOWCASE #2 (MR) $2.95
FEB073148 TEDDY SCARES KILLER COMBO $16.95
FEB073638 TEMPLAR CHRONICLES THE HERETIC #2 (OF 6) $3.50
APR073701 THREE PARADOXES GN (RES) $14.95
MAR073506 TRANSFORMERS GRTST BATTLES OPTIMUS PRIME MEGATRON TP $19.99
APR073767 TRANSFORMERS MOVIE ADAPTATION #1 (OF 4) $3.99
MAR073119 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SPR 07 VIRGIN FLEMING S&N #1 $29.95
FEB073134 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SPR 07 VIRGIN JUSKO S&N #1 $29.95
MAR073688 WALLACE AND GROMIT PLOTS IN SPACE SC $12.95
APR073515 WARHAMMER 40K DAMNATION CRUSADE PX VAR CVR #2 $2.99
MAR073838 WINTER DEMON VOL 2 GN (MR) $12.95
APR073915 YOUNG BOTTOMS IN LOVE GN (MR) $22.00
MAR073825 ZATCH BELL VOL 13 GN $9.99

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