Although things are fairly quiet on the single-issue front, it’s a strong week for collections, as we see everything from another volume in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer omnibus series and Mike Wieringo and Todd DeZago’s Tellos Colossal to an Amazing Fantasy omnibus and the Complete Peanuts 1963-1966 boxed set.

But that’s not to say there aren’t any monthly comics worth mentioning. There certainly are: The popular Sinestro Corps War continues in Green Lantern Corps #15. Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev kick off Halo: Uprising. And the second Mouse Guard miniseries debuts.

For a rundown of more titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth special mention, just keep reading.

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

Chris Mautner’s pick of the week: KRAZY & IGNATZ: THE KAT WHO WALKED IN BEAUTY

This isn’t the latest volume of Krazy Kat Sunday strips, as you might at first imagine, but more of a companion book of daily strips from the 1910s and 20s, most of which have never been published in book form before. The Fantagraphics PR on the book claims that they’re some of “the most graphic and brilliantly conceived daily strips ever created,” which sounds like PR crap until you realize this is Herriman’s Krazy Kat we’re talking about. The book also includes some of the very first Krazy strips and images from the Krazy Kat ballet, performed in 1922. I’m sold.

Kevin Melrose’s pick of the week: AKIRA CLUB

As my first exposure to manga, Katsuhiro Otomo’s epic Akira holds a special place in my heart. (Gatchaman/Battle of the Planets aside, the film was my first exposure to anime, too.) It’s not my favorite, by any stretch, but Otomo’s gripping futuristic drama certainly left a long-lasting impression. The 256-page Akira Club hardcover includes more than 100 title-page illustrations created for the original serialization, preliminary drawings, production sketches, posters and advertisements, plus commentary from Otomo.

MAY070031 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS VOL 2 TP $24.95

Kevin: The second volume of Dark Horse’s omnibus series collects Buffy stories by the likes of Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicienza, Christopher Golden, James Marsters, Dan Brereton, Andi Watson, Jeff Matsuda, Luke Ross. It also includes Ring of Fire, the graphic novel by TV series writer Doug Petrie and artist Ryan Sook.

MAY070134 BATMAN #668 $2.99

Chris: Perhaps it was the addition of JH Williams, but I found the last issue of Batman to be the best so far of Grant Morrison’s run. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story continues. And, hopefully, more glove-shaped panels.

JUN070162 OUTSIDERS FIVE OF A KIND WEEK 4 METAMORPHO AQUAMAN $2.99

Kevin: As I believe I’ve said before, I couldn’t care less who Batman chooses for his ’80s-flashback Outsiders lineup. However, I’m a big fan of Joshua Middleton’s art, so I’ve been counting the weeks until this issue of the Outsiders: Five of a Kind miniseries. His interior art here, as usual, is stunning.

JUN071873 BONDS #1 (OF 3) $3.99

Kevin: Here’s one of those instances where I know next to nothing about the creator (Durwin Talon) or the story, but I’m intrigued nonetheless. Bonds is a revenge tale that seems to involve a magic-using cellist. See? Intriguing.

JUN071887 SURREAL ADVENTURES OF EDGAR ALLAN POO GN $9.99

Kevin: Talk about high concept: “Edgar Allan Poe just lost everything. His dead wife is haunting him in his dreams, his latest book has bombed, and the imagination that fueled his stories has become a curse. His prayer to never dream again is answered one evening as he falls asleep in an outhouse. His discarded creativity takes the form of his dream child, Edgar Allan Poo, who must now undergo a strange odyssey through the poet’s troubled mind.” You can sample the book here.

MAR071826 TELLOS COLOSSAL HC $39.99
MAR071827 TELLOS COLOSSAL HC S&N $75.00

Kevin: It’s rather poignant that the week after Mike Wieringo’s death, the all-ages fantasy series he created with friend Todd DeZago is finally collected in this oversized hardcover.

JUN072212 AMAZING FANTASY OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC $75.00

Chris: From Tor to Fin Fang Foom, this hardcover omnibus collects all the “big monster” stories that Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and others did in the pages of Amazing Fantasy before hitting the big time with their Marvel line of superheroes. Because the Fantastic Four, et al,. are such iconic characters, and shifted the comics landscape so momentously, these earlier tales tend to get short shrift, which is really a shame. Hopefully, now they’ll be a little better appreciated.

MAY072118 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #8 $2.99

Kevin: Yes, I’m going to mention this series every month. I love it. Lots.

JUN072181 THE ORDER #2 CWI $2.99

Chris: I was a little disappointed with the first issue of this series. It seemed so … pedestrian compared to what I’m used to from Matt Fraction. Hopefully, things will pick up considerably with this second issue.

JUN072233 THOR VISIONARIES WALT SIMONSON VOL 4 TP $24.99

Kevin: Walt Simonson’s tenure on the series in the 1980s casts a long shadow over Marvel’s Thor books. Talking frogs, horse-faced aliens, the end of the word — Simson’s nearly four-year run had it all. This volume collects Thor #371-374, and the Balder the Brave miniseries.

APR073929 AMELIA RULES #18 $2.95

Chris: Amelia’s friend is forced to deal with the trauma of being a soldier’s daughter when her dad is shipped off to Iraq in the latest issue of this all-ages series. It will be interesting to see what, if any, reaction this gets from those with actual family members in the military. For those interested parties, Gownley lives nearby me, and I interviewed him for my local paper here.

JUN073547 COMPLETE PEANUTS VOL 8 1965-1966 HC $28.95
MAY073541 COMPLETE TERRY & THE PIRATES VOL 1 1934 1936 HC $49.99

Chris: As if the release of that huge Krazy Kat book wasn’t enough, here are two compilations by whom many consider to be the most important comic strips artists of the 20th century. The first really needs no introduction. It’s the latest Peanuts collection courtesy of Fantagraphics. I’ll only note that they’ve done a bang-up job on compiling the series so far and that, if my memory is correct, this volume sees some of the best strips Schulz ever did.

The second volume begins a collection of an artist many are probably not well aware of today. I certainly am nowhere near as acquainted with Milton Caniff’s work as I ought to be. Those who do know his work seem to revere it, so I look forward to using this book (and RC Harvey’s new biography of Caniff) as an opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.

MAY073855 DRIFTING CLASSROOM VOL 7 TP (MR) $9.99
MAY073856 GOLGO 13 VOL 10 GN (MR) $9.99
MAY073857 NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER VOL 10 TP $9.99

Chris: And bang, just like that, I’m once again behind on three series I thought I was getting caught up on. Cue the sound of me screaming “Nooooo” into the sky all Anakin Skywalker-like.

MAY073845 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 14 TP $9.99

Kevin: Although the latest volume of Hiromu Arakawa’s complex and engrossing fantasy series already has been released in the book market — it debuted last week at No. 148 on USA Today’s Top 150 Books list — it only now makes its way into comic shops. If there are such things as “gateway manga,” this is one of them.

JUN073514 LUCKY VOL 2 #1 (MR) $3.95

Chris: I think Gabrielle Bell is one of those cartoonists whom folks like A. David Lewis are thinking when they rail about “whiny autobiographical comics,” even though she mostly does fiction. Her art style is very simple and even flat at times. Her stories tend to be more character- than plot-driven, and her stories don’t always have big reveals or pat endings.

She is, however, one of the most interesting young cartoonists working in the medium today and has shown considerable growth in a short amount of time, as her contribution to the recent Stuck In the Middle anthology attests. Which is why I’m very much looking forward to this new autobiographical series from her.

MAY073192 MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #1 (OF 6) $3.50

Kevin: David Petersen’s surprise-hit fantasy returns in this second miniseries, Winter 1152, which finds the members of the Mouse Guard struggling against harsh weather and a shortage of food and supplies. You can see a preview of the first issue here.

JUL073560 RAISIN PIE #5 (RES) (MR) $3.50

Chris: Both Ariel Bordeaux and Rick Altergott’s main stories are concluded in their shared comic, which, apparently, will be shared no more as the PR info says Bordeaux is leaving the book with this issue. She did just have a baby, though, so that might have something to do with it.

JUL073987 COMIC FOUNDRY MAGAZINE VOL 1 #1 $5.98

Kevin: As we reported yesterday, the comics magazine that Diamond almost didn’t carry finally hits shelves this week. The premiere issue features contributions by Brigid Alverson, Ian Brill, Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, Graeme McMillan, JK Parkin and me, among others.

JUN074111 READING COMICS AND WHAT THEY MEAN HC $22.95

Chris: Douglas Wolk’s new book, which has been out in actual bookstores for a while, arrives in comic shops this week, courtesy of Diamond. It’s more of a collection of essays than an actual book with one singular theme, but they’re extremely well-written essays all the same. I interviewed Wolk about the book last week for this site.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV060041 AKIRA CLUB HC $29.95
MAY070031 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS VOL 2 TP $24.95
JUN070074 JINGLE BELLE NOTECARD SET $12.99
MAY070043 STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL VOL 7 HC DARKLIGHTER $19.95
MAY070044 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #19 $2.99
APR070037 VAMPIRE HUNTER D VOL 8 NOVEL SC (MR) $8.95

DC COMICS

MAY070134 BATMAN #668 $2.99
JAN070383 BATMAN 1/4 SCALE MUSEUM QUALITY STATUE $295.00
JUN070166 BATMAN LOBO DEADLY SERIOUS #1 (OF 2) $5.99
JUN070182 BIRDS OF PREY #109 $2.99
JUN070184 BLUE BEETLE #18 $2.99
JUN070144 COUNTDOWN 36 $2.99
JUN070264 CROSSING MIDNIGHT #10 (MR) $2.99
JUN070192 GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE #4 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN070196 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #15 $2.99
JUN070205 JSA CLASSIFIED #29 $2.99
JUN070233 MAD CLASSICS #17 $4.99
JUN070162 OUTSIDERS FIVE OF A KIND WEEK 4 METAMORPHO AQUAMAN $2.99
MAY070206 OYAYUBIHIME INFINITY VOL 6 $9.99
JUN070231 SCOOBY DOO #123 $2.25
MAY070181 SHOWCASE PRESENTS WONDER WOMAN VOL 1 TP $16.99
JUN070214 SPIRIT #9 $2.99
JUN070209 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #33 $2.99
JUN070174 SUPERMAN #666 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
JUN070257 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE BY HIMSELF #1 (OF 2) (MR) $2.99
MAY070208 YOUNG MAGICIAN VOL 9 (MR) $9.99

IMAGE COMICS

APR071864 BOMB QUEEN III #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
JUN071873 BONDS #1 (OF 3) $3.99
JUN071915 HIDING IN TIME #2 (OF 4) $3.50
JUN071881 IN HER DARKEST HOUR ONE SHOT $3.50
MAY071873 INVINCIBLE #45 $2.99
JUL071992 JOHNNY DELGADO IS DEAD #1 (OF 2) $3.99
JUN071900 PX VOL 1 A GIRL AND HER PANDA GN $16.99
JUN071918 REPO #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
MAY071855 SCRAP METTLE HC $39.99
MAY071879 STRANGE EMBRACE #3 ( OF 8 ) (MR) $2.99
JUN071887 SURREAL ADVENTURES OF EDGAR ALLAN POO GN $9.99
MAR071826 TELLOS COLOSSAL HC $39.99
MAR071827 TELLOS COLOSSAL HC S&N $75.00
APR071884 WALKING DEAD #40 (MR) $2.99
JUN071950 WEAPON #3 (OF 4) $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

JUN072212 AMAZING FANTASY OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC $75.00
APR078153 AMAZING FANTASY OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC VAR $75.00
MAY072095 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #543 $2.99
JUN072137 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST STAR LORD #2 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB072155 ASTONISHING X-MEN #22 $2.99
JUN072193 CABLE DEADPOOL #44 $2.99
JUN072114 DAILY BUGLE SEPTEMBER PI
JUN072148 FANTASTIC FIVE #4 (OF 5) $2.99
JUN072237 FANTASTIC FOUR BY JOHN ROMITA JR POSTER $6.99
MAY072085 HALO UPRISING #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JUN072205 HEDGE KNIGHT TP $14.99
JUN072229 HEROES FOR HIRE VOL 2 AHEAD OF THE CURVE TP $13.99
MAY072118 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #8 $2.99
JUN072155 IRON MAN #21 $2.99
JUN072168 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #15 $2.99
JUN072166 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #27 $2.99
JUN072164 MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #4 $2.99
JUN072122 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #4 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN072211 MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE SUB MARINER VOL 2 HC VAR $59.99
JUN072210 MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE SUB MARINER VOL 2 NEW ED HC $59.99
JUN072173 MYSTIC ARCANA SCARLET WITCH $2.99
JUN072231 PARADISE X VOL 2 TP NEW PTG $29.99
JUN072131 SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #40 $2.99
JUN072219 SPIDER-GIRL PRESENTS THE BUZZ & DARKDEVIL DIGEST TP $7.99
JUN072181 THE ORDER #2 CWI $2.99
JUN072233 THOR VISIONARIES WALT SIMONSON VOL 4 TP $24.99
JUN072187 THUNDERBOLTS #116 $2.99
JUN072125 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #45 $2.99
JUN072222 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 17 CLONE SAGA TP $24.99
JUN072197 WOLVERINE #56 $3.99
MAY072124 WORLD WAR HULK GAMMA CORPS #2 (OF 4) WWH $2.99
JUN072159 WORLD WAR HULK GAMMA FILES $3.99
JUN072225 X-23 TARGET TP $15.99
JUN072191 X-MEN #202 $2.99
JUN072196 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #3 $2.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

JUN073157 FATHOM KIANI ECONOMY COMICS VAR TURNER SGN CGC 9.8 PI
JUN073154 MIGHTY AVENGERS #1 NEW PTG NEW CHO CVR CGC 9.8 PI
JUN073159 NEW AVENGERS #31 CGC 9.8 PI
JUN073158 SUB MARINER #1 TURNER SGN CGC 9.8 PI
JUN073162 WITCHBLADE MANGA #1 NYCC SILVESTRI SGN VAR SKETCH CVR PI

OTHER PUBLISHERS
JUN073674 30 DAYS OF NIGHT DARK DAYS TP NEW PTG (MR) $19.99
MAY073523 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #64 (A) $4.99
APR073929 AMELIA RULES #18 $2.95
JUL073454 ARMY OF DARKNESS VOL 4 OLD SCHOOL TP (FEB068257) $14.99
JUN073331 BART SIMPSON COMICS #37 $2.99
JUN073512 BERLIN BOOK 1 TP (O/A) (STAR15170) (MR) $19.95
JUN073255 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #154 $3.69
JUN073254 BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #79 $2.25
FEB073135 BIOWULF PKT MANGA TP $14.95
JUL073312 BLACK SUMMER #2 (OF 7) (MR) $2.99
JUL073313 BLACK SUMMER WRAP CVR #2 (OF 7) (MR) $2.99
JUN073799 BUSHI TALES #1 $3.95
MAY073637 CASA HOWHARD VOL 4 SC (A) $10.95
MAR073244 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS BOOK 5 (MR) $3.50
MAR073245 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS BOOK 5 NUDE ED (A) $3.50
APR073471 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS BOOK 5 SP ED (MR) PI
APR073472 CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS BOOK 5 SP ED NUDE ED (A) PI
JUN073637 CHAMPIONS #39 $2.99
JUN073548 COMPLETE PEANUTS 1963-1966 BOXED SET $49.95
JUN073547 COMPLETE PEANUTS VOL 8 1965-1966 HC $28.95
MAY073541 COMPLETE TERRY & THE PIRATES VOL 1 1934 1936 HC $49.99
APR074010 DEATH BY CHOCOLATE REDUX GN $14.95
JUL073394 DEMIS PIN UP DIARY ALT CVR GN (A) $15.95
MAY073306 DEMIS PIN UP DIARY REG CVR GN (A) $15.95
JUN073951 DEVI #13 $2.99
JUN073520 DF DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN SGN #7 $29.99
FEB073445 DF THE LONERS SGN #1 $19.99
JUN073558 DRAWING SEXY WOMEN HC (MR) $19.95
MAY073855 DRIFTING CLASSROOM VOL 7 TP (MR) $9.99
JUN073941 EXPENDABLE ONE VOL 1 GN (O/A) (MR) $11.95
JUN073235 FINAL GIRL #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
JUN073277 FLOCK OF ANGELS VOL 1 GN $10.95
MAY073845 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 14 TP $9.99
MAY073804 GAMEKEEPER JOHN CASSADAY COVER #4 (MR) $2.99
MAY073805 GAMEKEEPER MUKESH SINGH COVER #4 (MR) $2.99
JUN073226 GD SOURCEBOOK OFF HANDBOOK TO THE GD UNIVERSE #8 $3.95
MAY073856 GOLGO 13 VOL 10 GN (MR) $9.99
JUL073205 GUNSLINGER GIRL VOL 5 $9.99
MAY073837 HANA KIMI VOL 19 GN $9.99
JUN073614 HARD BULLIED COMICS VOL 1 BACK IN BLACKMAIL TP (MR) $13.95
MAY073341 HIGHLANDER #10 $2.99
JUN074151 I HEART TV ULT COMPANION TO 100 ESSENTIAL SHOWS SC -2 $18.95
MAY073848 INUBAKA CRAZY FOR DOGS VOL 4 TP $9.99
JUN073550 KAT WHO WALKED IN BEAUTY PANORAMIC DAILIES OF 1920 HC $29.95
MAY073850 KEKKAISHI VOL 10 GN $9.99
JUN073553 KID FIRECHIEF GN (MAR042565) $12.95
JUN073760 KOLCHAK TALES FRANKENSTEIN AGENDA #3 (OF 3) (O/A) $3.50
MAY073515 LIBERTY GIRL VOL 1 THE RETURN TP $9.95
JUN073514 LUCKY VOL 2 #1 (MR) $3.95
JUL073212 MABURAHO MANGA VOL 1 TP (FEB052458) $9.99
MAY073192 MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #1 (OF 6) $3.50
MAY073857 NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER VOL 10 TP $9.99
MAY073333 NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #1 $2.99
MAY073694 NEXUS #99 SPACE OPERA ACT 1 S&N ED PI
MAY073460 NIGER #1 (O/A) $7.95
MAY078397 ORDER OF THE STICK VOL -1 START OF DARKNESS TP $16.95
JUN073234 PIRATES VS NINJAS II UP THE ANTE #2 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
JUN073347 PLANETARY BRIGADE VOL 1 TP $14.99
APR073663 POOR BASTARD SC NEW PTG (MR) $16.95
JUL073560 RAISIN PIE #5 (RES) (MR) $3.50
APR074047 RAMAYAN 3392 AD RELOADED #1 $2.99
MAY073274 RAY HARRYHAUSEN PRESENTS 20 MILLION MILES MORE #2 $3.50
JUN073485 RETURN OF THE SUPER PIMPS #3 (OF 6) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
JUN073543 ROBERT KURTZMANS BENEATH THE VALLEY O/T RAGE #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JUN074098 RYAN HESHKAS ABC SPOOKSHOW HC $12.95
MAY073343 SAVAGE TALES #3 $4.99
APR073916 SCARLETTS CURSE #3 (OF 7) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
MAY073819 SHOJO BEAT SEP 07 VOL 3 #9 $5.99
JUN073186 SIRE REVELATIONS #2 & RAZOR SHARP #1 FLIPBOOK $3.50
JUN073222 SKY SHARKS #1 (OF 5) $3.50
JUN073223 SKY SHARKS SIGNED ED #1 (OF 5) $5.99
JUN073224 SKY SHARKS SKETCH ED #1 (OF 5) PI
JUN073693 SPARROW SHANE GLINES HC (NOV068398) $11.99
JUN073278 SPRING FEVER GN (MR) $12.95
MAY073715 STORMBRINGERS #1 (OF 4) $5.00
MAY073116 STRANGERS IN PARADISE VOL 19 EVER AFTER TP $15.95
MAY073784 STREET FIGHTER SAKURA GANBARU VOL 1 GN $12.95
MAY073187 SUBCULTURE #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
MAY073550 TANK GIRL THE GIFTING #3 $3.99
MAY073296 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE DLX ED #45 (MR) $19.99
JUN073361 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE SGN #41 (MR) $10.00
MAY073346 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY #2 $3.50
JUN073767 THE EXPERTS #3 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $3.49
JUN073739 TOUPYDOOPS #6 (RES) (MR) $3.50
JUN073666 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT TARGET 2006 #5 $3.99
JUN073484 TRINITY OF EVE ONE SHOT (A) $3.95
JUL073615 ULTIMATE SPIDER MAN 100 PROJECT TP $10.00
JUN073585 UNCLE SCROOGE #369 $7.99
MAY073154 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SUMMER 2007 CVR A $4.95
MAY073156 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SUMMER 2007 CVR B $4.95
MAY073155 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SUMMER 2007 LTD B&W CVR A $19.95
MAY073157 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY SUMMER 2007 LTD B&W CVR B $19.95
JUN073586 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #684 $7.99
MAY073188 WHITE PICKET FENCES #3 (OF 3) $3.50
MAY073547 ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS HC (OCT068201) $19.99

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