After a downbeat — okay, lackluster — week, comics spring back with some pretty solid releases. Ah, the resilience of funny books.

That creeping in-the-middle-of-things feeling I had last week is gone, as publishers unleash a handful of new series, ranging from a new BPRD at Dark Horse and a Black Adam miniseries at DC to Army of Darkness: From Ashes at Dynamite Entertainment and Andi Watson’s Glister #1 at Image.

And then there’s Vertigo’s new The Un-Men ongoing — essentially, a 25-year-old spin-off of a series that’s not currently being published.

Chris Mautner and I have tinkered a little with “Can’t Wait for Wednesday” this time around, pushing our picks of the week to the top. Other than that, it’s business as usual, with us highlighting what we think is worth mentioning, and you telling us your choices in the comments below.

Kevin Melrose’s pick of the week: THE LAST CALL, VOL. 1

Oni Press has been on a roll with me lately, thanks to books like Brandon Graham’s Multiple Warheads, the upcoming return of Ted Naifeh’s Courtney Crumrin, Rick Spears and Chuck BB’s Black Metal (more on that below), and my pick of the week, Vasilis Lolos‘ The Last Call. I’ve been a fan of Lolos’ art since I saw the first issue of the much-delayed Pirates of Coney Island, but I wasn’t sure what to expect of him as a writer.

However, judging from the 38-page preview on the Oni website, there’s nothing to worry about: Lolos’ story about two slacker friends who go for a late-night joy ride, only to be struck by the Ghost Train — an inter-dimensional carrier of souls — is quirky and funny, with likable characters and memorable, natural-sounding dialogue. F’n metal!

Chris Mautner’s pick of the week: NOTES FOR A WAR STORY

With the deserved acclaim that the Italian artist Gipi received for Garage Band, as well as the stunning books he’s done so far in the Ignatz series (They Found the Car and The Innocents, respectively), this book, about a trio of drifters caught up in a war in a “nameless Balkan country,” could very well be the title that puts him over the top. Early reviews have been very encouraging. Pick of the week, no question.

Other releases worth mentioning:

JUN070015 BPRD KILLING GROUND #1 (OF 5) $2.99

Kevin: These BPRD miniseries come out like clockwork now, don’t they? This one promises that it “will leave the Bureau and its members forever changed.” That pledge, and more artwork by Guy Davis, are certainly good enough for me!

MAR070078 CHUNCHU GENOCIDE FIEND VOL 1 TP $10.95

Kevin: I think I’m looking forward to the latest offering in Dark Horse’s manhwa line. I pre-ordered it, at least. The story elements are pretty familiar — ancient prophecy, twins pitted against each other, etc. — but I’m hoping Kim Sung-Jae and Kim Byung-Jin’s fantasy series will live up to its reputation.

APR070046 STAR WARS EPISODE I PHANTOM MENACE PHOTO COMIC TP $9.95

Chris: I wonder if this will be any different from the movie?

MAY070233 100 BULLETS VOL 11 ONCE UPON A CRIME TP (MR) $12.99

Kevin: I re-read Vol. 10 last night in preparation for — and anticipation of — the release of this latest trade paperback, which collects Issues 76-83 of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso’s wonderfully dark and complex series.

MAY070211 ALAN MOORE THE COMPLETE WILDCATS TP $29.99

Chris: OK, I was wrong. This is the book that collects Moore’s run on WildCats. My bad. Still, like I said the other week, I don’t think people really talk about this work too much when discussing the author’s oeuvre. Alan Moore die-hards like myself will no doubt pick it up regardless.

APR070162 BATMAN #667 $2.99

Kevin: Grant Morrison and J.H. Williams III resurrect the Batmen of All Nations, the 1950s group of global guardians who were inspired by the Caped Crusader to fight crime. So, yeah.

JUN070156 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070157 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE VAR ED #1 (OF 6) $2.99

Kevin: I’ve only flipped through this issue, so I can’t say much about the story itself — other than, if you’ve seen the cover, you know where it’s going.

JUN070195 GREEN LANTERN #22 $2.99
JUN078026 GREEN LANTERN 2ND PTG #21 $2.99
JUN078027 GREEN LANTERN CORPS 2ND PTG #14 $2.99

Kevin: The Sinestro Corps War, the summer crossover that’s outshining Countdown, continues. Although they’re not really my thing, I find it interesting that “medium-sized,” more manageable events like this and World War Hulk — the comic-book equivalents of the summer popcorn movie — seem to be striking a chord with superhero fans. I don’t know that I have a point, really, but I thought I’d throw that out there.

JUN071876 CASANOVA #8 (MR) $1.99

Chris: Matt Fraction gets back to biznezz (this time with Fabio Moon) as everyone’s favorite dimension-hopping spy with serious family issues returns to his regular series. This new storyline starts with a bang, as Casanova Quinn wakes up in the “Horror Hospital.” Should prove to be a good jumping on point for new readers. You’ve been warned.

JUN071888 GLISTER #1 $5.99

Kevin: A new Andi Watson book is always cause for celebration, but in the case of the 64-page Glister it’s doubly so, because it includes a new Skeleton Key backup story. It appears to be a good pairing, too, with Watson dabbling in the supernatural as young Glister attracts all kinds of weirdness, from sentient houses to a misplaced sphinx.

JUN072152 BLADE #12 $2.99

Kevin: Yet another Blade series bites the dust. Ah, well, I’ll miss Marko Djurdjevic’s lovely covers.

MAY072169 CRIMINAL #8 (MR) $2.99

Chris: Another really good series that I am reading in serialized form.

JUN072236 ESSENTIAL DAZZLER VOL 1 TP $16.99

Kevin: There’s an “oxymoron” joke to be made, I’m sure.

JUN073511 BERLIN #13 (MR) $3.95

Chris: Jason Lutes’ pre-WWII drama comes out so sporadically (and is so tough to find back issues of if you missed an issue) that I’ve decided to wait for the trade. But don’t let that dissuade you, dear reader, from picking this up. Just pretend I didn’t write that first sentence.

JUN073782 BLACK METAL VOL 1 GN (MR) $11.95

Kevin: If it weren’t for The Last Call, this would’ve been a prime candidate for my pick of the week. I’m not a devotee of “metal culture,” but there’s something really fun and charming about Rick Spears and Chuck BB’s epic tale of metal-loving, demon-fighting twin brothers.

JUN073591 EC ARCHIVES TWO-FISTED TALES VOL 2 HC $49.95

Chris: Quick! Somebody give me $50!

MAY073521 JUICY FRUITS GN (A) $19.95

Chris: This is exactly what you think it is.

Pervert.

MAY073112 VAULT OF MICHAEL ALLRED LTD ED HC $34.99

Chris: Michael Allred fans take note.

MAY073900 OTAKU USA MAGAZINE SEPT OCT 2007 $9.99

Chris: The second issue of the magazine that promises to be nowhere near as bad as Anime Insider or Newtype, which, really, isn’t that difficult. Heck, I’m not putting out any magazines and already I’m better than those two. It will be interesting to see if the editors managed to capitalize on the goodwill its engendered so far.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB070103 BETTIE PAGE STATUE $124.99
JUN070043 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #128 (MR) $2.99
JUN070015 BPRD KILLING GROUND #1 (OF 5) $2.99
MAR070078 CHUNCHU GENOCIDE FIEND VOL 1 TP $10.95
MAY070057 KOTOBUKIYA OBI WAN KENOBI EPISODE III VINYL KIT $99.99
DEC060049 LANKHMAR BOOK 2 SWORDS AGAINST DEATH NOVEL $12.95
MAR070117 REELART FRANK CHOS BABE & APE STATUE (MR) $225.00
APR070066 REELART TARZAN & THE GOLDEN LION STATUE $189.00
APR070046 STAR WARS EPISODE I PHANTOM MENACE PHOTO COMIC TP $9.95
JUN070054 STAR WARS LEGACY #15 $2.99
JUN070055 STAR WARS REBELLION #9 $2.99
JUN060014 STYLE SCHOOL VOL 1 TP $14.95

DC COMICS

MAY070233 100 BULLETS VOL 11 ONCE UPON A CRIME TP (MR) $12.99
MAY070211 ALAN MOORE THE COMPLETE WILDCATS TP $29.99
APR070162 BATMAN #667 $2.99
JUN070168 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #8 $2.99
JUN070224 BATMAN STRIKES #36 $2.25
JUN070156 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070157 BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE VAR ED #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070228 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #16 $2.25
JUN070142 COUNTDOWN 38 $2.99
MAY070235 DEADMAN #12 (MR) $2.99
MAY070202 DEVIL DOES EXIST VOL 11 $9.99
JUN070268 DMZ #22 (MR) $2.99
JUN070270 FABLES #64 (MR) $2.99
JUN070246 GEN 13 #11 $2.99
JUN070191 GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070195 GREEN LANTERN #22 $2.99
JUN078026 GREEN LANTERN 2ND PTG #21 $2.99
JUN078027 GREEN LANTERN CORPS 2ND PTG #14 $2.99
MAY070240 JACK OF FABLES #13 (MR) $2.99
JUN070204 JLA CLASSIFIED #41 $2.99
JAN070390 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SER 1 BLACK CANARY AF PI
JAN070389 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SER 1 BLACK LIGHTNING AF PI
JAN070392 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SER 1 RED ARROW AF PI
JAN070388 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SER 1 SUPERMAN AF PI
JAN070391 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SER 1 VIXEN AF PI
JUN070160 OUTSIDERS FIVE OF A KIND WEEK 2 KATANA SHAZAM $2.99
MAY070180 SHOWCASE PRESENTS ADAM STRANGE VOL 1 TP $16.99
JAN070409 STARDUST MOON STAR STATUE $195.00
JUN070245 STORMWATCH PHD #10 $2.99
MAY070150 SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL 3 TP $14.99
MAY070207 TENJHO TENGE VOL 15 $9.99
JUN070260 UN-MEN #1 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

MAY071866 BAD PLANET #2 (OF 6) (RES) (MR) $2.99
MAY071867 BAD PLANET NEW PTG #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
JUN071876 CASANOVA #8 (MR) $1.99
JUN071949 CONSUMED #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN071910 DYNAMO 5 #6 $3.50
JUN071948 GHOSTING #1 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN071888 GLISTER #1 $5.99
FEB071893 INVINCIBLE VOL 3 ULTIMATE COLL HC $34.99
MAY071898 MADAME MIRAGE POSTER PI

MARVEL COMICS

JUN072133 AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #11 $2.99
JUN072138 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST WRAITH #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072141 AVENGERS CLASSIC #3 $2.99
JUN072214 AVENGERS EARTHS MIGHTIEST HEROES 2 HC $24.99
JUN072152 BLADE #12 $2.99
JUN072121 CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES #2 $4.99
MAY072169 CRIMINAL #8 (MR) $2.99
MAY072111 DAREDEVIL #99 $2.99
MAY078224 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 2ND PTG ROMITA JR VAR #3 (OF 7) $3.99
MAY078223 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 3RD PTG LEE VAR #2 (OF 7) $3.99
MAY078222 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 3RD PTG LEE WRAPAROUND VAR #1 (OF $3.99
JUN072118 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGERS GUIDEBOOK $3.99
JUN072236 ESSENTIAL DAZZLER VOL 1 TP $16.99
JUN072194 EXILES #97 $2.99
JUN072147 FANTASTIC FIVE #3 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN072146 GHOST RIDER #14 $2.99
JUN072227 GHOST RIDER VOL 2 LIFE & DEATH OF JOHNNY BLAZE TP $13.99
JUN072204 HEDGE KNIGHT 2 SWORN SWORD #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072158 INCREDIBLE HULK #109 WWH $2.99
JUN072218 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 6 DIGEST TP $6.99
JUN072123 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED MAN IN THE IRON MASK #2 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072174 NEW AVENGERS #33 $2.99
JUN072175 NEW AVENGERS TRANSFORMERS #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072195 NEW EXCALIBUR #22 $2.99
JUN072139 NOVA #5 $2.99
JUN072178 OMEGA FLIGHT #5 (OF 5) CWI $2.99
DEC062362 POWERS #25 (MR) $3.95
JUN072180 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #10 CWI $2.99
MAY078119 SPIDER-MAN FEATURING THE SILVER SURFER MAGAZINE $5.99
JUN072128 ULTIMATE X-MEN #85 $2.99
JUN072238 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #16 MCGUINNESS POSTER $6.99
JUN072232 WOMEN OF MARVEL VOL 2 TP $24.99
JUN072160 WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072189 X-FACTOR #22 $2.99
MAY078278 X-MEN BACHALO 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR #200 $3.99
JUN072213 X-MEN SUPERNOVAS HC $34.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

JUN073166 MARVEL WIZARD WORLD EXC CGC 4 PACK PI
JUN073146 TOYFARE 10TH ANNIVERSARY ED CVR #122 $4.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

JUN073692 24 NIGHTFALL TP $19.99
MAY073221 ALAN MOORE HYPOTHETICAL LIZARD HC (MR) $24.99
FEB073155 AMERICAN WASTELAND BLOOD & DIESEL #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.95
JUN073388 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES #1 $3.50
JUN073511 BERLIN #13 (MR) $3.95
APR073288 BEST OF THE WEST #62 $6.95
JUN073253 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #177 $2.49
MAY073794 BLACK ANGEL REPRINT (O/A) $9.95
JUN073782 BLACK METAL VOL 1 GN (MR) $11.95
MAY073752 BLADE OF HEAVEN VOL 10 GN (OF 15) $9.99
MAY073755 BLAME VOL 9 GN (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
JUN073396 BOYS #9 (RES) (MR) $2.99
MAY073761 BOYS BE VOL 14 GN (OF 20) (MR) $9.99
JUN073541 BUMP #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JUN073478 CANT WIN WITH YOU VOL 1 GN $12.95
JUN073691 CLIVE BARKERS GREAT & SECRET SHOW VOL 2 TP $19.99
APR073802 COMPLETE JON SABLE FREELANCE VOL 7 TP $24.99
APR073492 COVER GIRL #4 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY073839 CRIMSON HERO VOL 6 TP $8.99
MAR073419 DF CIVIL WAR FALLEN SON SPIDER-MAN SGN $49.99
MAY073436 DF WOLVERINE ORIGINS ANNUAL #1 SGN $69.99
JUN073628 DOME HC (MR) $19.95
APR074041 DUMMYS GUIDE TO DANGER VOL 1 TP (MR) $11.95
JUN073591 EC ARCHIVES TWO-FISTED TALES VOL 2 HC $49.95
JUN073479 ENCHANTER VOL 5 GN $12.95
MAY073830 EYESHIELD 21 VOL 15 TP $7.99
APR073919 FURRLOUGH #173 $3.50
MAY073762 GENJU NO SEIZA VOL 4 GN (OF 13) (MR) $9.99
FEB073698 GENUS #83 (A) $3.50
JUN073465 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #26 $3.50
MAY073759 GRENADIER VOL 4 GN (OF 7) (MR) $9.99
MAY073217 HATE TO LOVE YOU VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
JUN073952 INDIA AUTHENTIC UMA #4 $2.99
JUN073257 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #133 $3.69
MAY073521 JUICY FRUITS GN (A) $19.95
MAY073760 KAMIYADORI VOL 3 GN (OF 5) (MR) $9.99
MAY073272 LAST BLOOD #1 SECOND STAB (MR) $2.99
APR073883 LAST CALL VOL 1 GN (MR) $11.95
MAY073273 LEGEND OF ISIS #1 $3.50
MAY073744 LITTLE QUEEN VOL 3 GN ( OF 8 ) $9.99
MAY073219 LORI LOVECRAFT VOL 2 MY BLACK PAGES TP (MR) $14.95
JUN073367 LOST IN SPACE VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SOUL TP (O/A) PI
APR073968 ME2 VOL 1 GN (OF 3) (MR) $9.99
JUN073531 MY PARANOID NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR GN (A) $15.95
JUN073185 NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ANGELIC DAYS VOL 6 TP $9.99
JUN073949 NICOLAS CAGES VOODOO CHILD HYRAPIET COVER #2 (MR) $2.99
JUN073950 NICOLAS CAGES VOODOO CHILD TEMPLESMITH COVER #2 (MR) $2.99
JAN073573 NIGHTWOLF THE PRICE #5 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN073801 NIHILIST MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 $3.50
MAY073746 NOSATSU JUNKIE VOL 3 GN (OF 7) $9.99
JUN073575 NOTES FOR A WAR STORY GN $16.95
MAY073626 PHANTOM CVR A #18 $3.50
MAY073627 PHANTOM CVR B #18 $4.50
MAY073797 PHANTOM LADY (O/A) $9.95
JUN074096 PIN-UP ART OF ARCHIE DICKENS VOL 2 (O/A) (MR) $14.95
MAY073166 PIRATES VS NINJAS POCKET MANGA VOL 1 (NOV068439) $14.95
JUN073482 POP JAPAN TRAVEL ESSENTIAL OTAKU GUIDE GN $9.95
MAY073832 PRETTY FACE VOL 1 TP $7.99
JUN073480 PRINCESS PRINCESS VOL 4 GN $12.95
MAY073153 PUBLIC ENEMY #4 $2.99
MAY073751 QUEENS KNIGHT VOL 9 GN (OF 17) $9.99
APR073485 RAY HARRYHAUSEN PRESENTS WRATH OF THE TITANS #2 (OF 4) $3.50
MAY073330 RED SONJA #25 $2.99
JUN073574 ROBOT DREAMS GN $16.95
JUN073258 SABRINA VOL 2 #87 $2.25
APR074048 SADHU THE SILENT ONES #1 (MR) $2.99
MAY073747 SAVER VOL 4 GN ( OF 8 ) $9.99
APR073939 SHANDA THE PANDA #46 (RES) (MR) $4.99
MAY073820 SHONEN JUMP SEP 07 #57 $4.99
MAY073768 SHOUT OUT LOUD VOL 5 GN (OF 5) (A) $9.99
JUN073334 SIMPSONS COMICS VOL 12 BELLY BUSTER TP (DEC032228) $14.95
JUN073333 SIMPSONS VOL 2 BIG BAD BOOK OF BART SIMPSON TP (STAR18818) $12.95
MAY073748 SOMEDAYS DREAMERS SPELLBOUND VOL 3 GN (OF 5) $9.99
MAR073750 STREET FIGHTER ALPHA VOL 2 GN (OF 2) $12.95
MAY073743 TACTICS VOL 2 GN ( OF 8 ) $9.99
MAY073842 TAIL OF THE MOON VOL 6 TP $8.99
JUN073754 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #37 $3.25
APR073372 TEDDY SCARES VOL 2 $6.95
MAY073757 THREADS OF TIME VOL 10 GN (OF 11) $9.99
MAY073650 TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS #1 HAND SKETCHED ED $49.99
MAY073479 UNCLE SCROOGE #368 $7.99
MAY073754 UTOPIAS AVENGER VOL 3 GN (OF 4) $9.99
MAY073112 VAULT OF MICHAEL ALLRED LTD ED HC $34.99
MAY073276 VSS NEMESIS RISING #3 (OF 5) $3.50
MAY073480 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #683 $7.99
APR073862 WILD BOYS #4 (OF 4) (MR) $2.95
DEC063953 WIZARD KING TRILOGY BOOK 2 DLX HC ODKIN SON OF ODKIN (MR) $39.95
DEC063952 WIZARD KING TRILOGY BOOK 2 HC ODKIN SON OF ODKIN (MR) $24.95
JUN073483 WORDS OF DEVOTION VOL 1 GN $12.95
JUN073944 YOULL HAVE THAT ONE SHOT $3.25
MAY073590 ZOMBIE PROJECT #1 $2.99
APR073520 ZOMBIE TALES VOL 1 TP $14.99

MAGAZINES

MAY073926 ASIAN CULT CINEMA #55 (MR) $6.00
APR074124 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 8 $12.95
MAY073930 FANGORIA SEPT 07 #266 $8.99
JUN074051 FEMME FATALES SEPT 2007 VOL 16 #4 $9.99
MAY073512 HEAVY METAL SEPTEMBER 2007 #112 (MR) $5.99
MAY073900 OTAKU USA MAGAZINE SEPT OCT 2007 $9.99
FEB073959 VIDEO WATCHDOG #133 $7.95
JUN074047 WHITE DWARF #331 $6.00

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