After what was a fairly big week for releases, we shift back into low-key mode this Wednesday.

Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, this week brings another issue of All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (the seventh issue since July 2005!). It also sees the first full and official issues of Dwayne McDuffie and Sean McKeever’s tenures on Justice League of America and Teen Titans, a hardcover collection for Archaia Studios Press’ edition of The Killer, and a couple of annuals from Marvel.

To see what other titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth mentioning, just keep reading. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

Chris’ pick of the week: The Best American Comics

The second volume of Houghton Mifflin’s annual “best of” anthology features Chris Ware in the editor’s hot seat, which should give you a pretty good idea as to what you’ll find inside.

The focus here is on the literary and artistic, with samples from acclaimed work by Alison Bechdel (Fun Home), Kim Deitch (Alias the Cat), Kevin Huizenga (Ganges), Adrian Tomine (Shortcomings), Charles Burns (Black Hole), PaperRad (Kramers Ergot) and many, many more critically acclaimed artists. If you’re a fan of these artists, chances are you’ve read much of what’s contained in this book before. If you’re unfamiliar with them though, then this is a pretty good sampler of some really excellent work.

Kevin’s picks of the week: The Immortal Iron Fist #9

and The Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1

It’s a little odd that both of these issues are shipping in the same week, but who am I to complain? I’m happy to get as much of The Immortal Iron Fist as often as I can. It’s, hands down, my favorite superhero series of the past year. Oh, sure, Issue 7 delivered an abrupt change in direction as we were given a tale of one of the previous Iron Fists. And Issue 8, the first part of “The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven” arc, was a little quiet, in comparison to previous months. But we were introduced to characters like Fat Cobra, the Bride of Nine Spiders and Dog Brother #1, so there’s a trade-off.

With Issue 9, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and David Aja draw us deeper into the dimension-spanning kung fu championship. And in the annual, Brubaker and Fraction are joined by artists Dan Brereton and Howard Chaykin for a tale of Orson Randall, the Golden Age Iron Fist. Both issues are bound to be good — really good.

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #7
Batman #669

Chris: Goddamn Batman goes up against sleuthy Batman and his many multicultural friends. Who shall be victorious? Who cares? I just want to know who the Black Glove is.

Justice League of America #13

Kevin: Although readers got a sampling two weeks ago with the JLA Wedding Special, this issue sees the official, and much-anticipated, debut of Dwayne McDuffie on Justice League of America. Those who moaned about Brad Meltzer’s 12-issue run are likely celebrating the changing of the guard … at least until it comes time to pick apart McDuffie’s lineup choices.

Showcase Presents: Metal Men, Vol. 1

Kevin: Really, how can you not like the zaniness of Robert Kanigher? It seems as if either he or Bob Haney had a hand in the creation of some of my favorite Silver Age concepts: Doom Patrol, The War That Time Forgot, Teen Titans, Sea Devils, The Haunted Tank. The list goes on. In this collection, we get to see Kanigher in top form, with Ross Andru and Mike Esposito, with Doc Magnus’ team of element-themed robotic superheroes.

Teen Titans #51

Kevin: I wasn’t a big fan of the “Titans of Tomorrow” storyline the first time around, but I’m still looking forward to this as Sean McKeever and Ale Garza’s first full issue of what I hope will be a long and entertaining run. I became bored with the “new” Teen Titans some time ago, but McKeever has drawn me back.

Wonder Woman Annual #1

Kevin: At this point the relaunched Wonder Woman is such an easy and obvious target that I probably shouldn’t say anything unkind. One of five “One Year Later” relaunches, the series started out promising, but quickly derailed, with Allan Heinberg’s opening arc left unfinished as others stepped in to take his place. Now, some eight months or so later, Heinberg finally reteams with Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson to wrap up that first chapter — just in time for Gail Simone to start her tenture on the title.

Criminal #9
The Order #3

Chris: The only two Marvel comics I’ll be buying this week.

Franklin Richards: Monster Mash #1

Kevin: Marc Sumerak and Chris Eliopoulos’ stories about Franklin Richards and his robot H.E.R.B.I.E. are fun, funny and not to be missed.

Alan Moore’s Yuggoth Cultures trade paperback

Chris: From Avatar Press, this trade paperback collects the three-issue miniseries that in turn collected a number of Moore’s horror stories, many of which hadn’t seen the light of day for decades.

Elfworld, Vol. 1

Chris: An anthology from Top Shelf, edited by Jeffrey Brown, but dealing exclusively with the fantasy/swords and sorcery genre. Contributors include Brown, Martin Cendreda, Kazimir Strzepek, K. Thor Jensen, Ron Regé, Jr., “and many more.”

Dark Hunger

Chris: Yet another entry in the seemingly endless series of “notable prose author dabbles in/allows license to be made into” comics. This combines goth vampires AND manga-style artwork (done by Zid of Imaginary Friends Studio), so I think it’s safe to say they know their target audience pretty well.

The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam

Chris: If I was over at The Comics Reporter, I would file this under “Off the Beaten Path.” It’s a biography (of sorts) about the vaudevillian Long Tack Sam written and drawn by his great-granddaughter and using a variety of media, including photos. Based on a quick flip-through, it looks like it could be a sleeper hit.

Remembrance of Things Past, Part One: Combray

Chris: Interesting that NBM is offering this series again, as I can’t imagine there’s a whole slew of comics fans hungering for some Proust (or vice versa). I found this series to be far too literal-minded for my tastes, but if you’ve always been curious but leary about reading La Recherche de Temps Perdu, this seems like a reasonable alternative.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAY070051 BERSERK VOL 19 TP (MR) $13.95
MAR070092 HELLBOY ANIMATED MINI BUST KATE CORRIGAN $39.99
JUL070019 SPEAK O/T DEVIL #2 (OF 6) $3.50
JUL070017 USAGI YOJIMBO #106 $2.99
MAR070087 WETA GOLIATHON 83 INFINITY BEAM PROJECTOR $690.00

DC COMICS

JUL070207 52 AFTERMATH THE FOUR HORSEMEN #2 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL070212 ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #7 $2.99
JUL070213 ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN VAR ED #7 $2.99
JUL070296 AMERICAN VIRGIN #19 (MR) $2.99
JUL070276 ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK TWO #4 $2.99
JUL070214 BATMAN #669 $2.99
JUN070171 BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE VOL 1 TP NEW EDITION $19.99
JUL070227 BLUE BEETLE #19 $2.99
JUL070261 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #37 $2.25
JUL070183 COUNTDOWN 31 $2.99
JUL070185 COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #2 ( OF 8 ) $3.99
JUL070297 CROSSING MIDNIGHT #11 (MR) $2.99
JUL070278 DEATHBLOW #7 $2.99
JUN070255 FRIDAY THE 13TH TP (MR) $14.99
JUL070192 GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE #5 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL070234 JLA CLASSIFIED #43 $2.99
JUL070235 JSA CLASSIFIED #30 $2.99
JUL070196 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13 CVR A $2.99
JUL070197 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13 CVR B $2.99
FEB070364 SANDMAN ABSOLUTE STATUE $175.00
JUN070275 SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE SLEEP OF REASON TP (MR) $14.99
JUL070211 SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAL MEN VOL 1 TP $16.99
JUL070240 SPIRIT #10 $2.99
JUL070241 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #34 $2.99
MAY070148 SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #6 $2.99
MAR070282 SUPERMAN VS DOOMSDAY BALANCED INNER CASE PI
MAR070281 SUPERMAN VS DOOMSDAY BALANCED MASTER CASE PI
MAR070284 SUPERMAN VS DOOMSDAY WEIGHTED INNER CASE PI
MAR070283 SUPERMAN VS DOOMSDAY WEIGHTED MASTER CASE PI
JUL070291 SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #5 $2.99
JUN070240 SWAN VOL 11 $9.99
JUL070242 TEEN TITANS #51 $2.99
JUL070259 TEEN TITANS GO #47 $2.25
JUN070221 TEEN TITANS VOL 7 TITANS EAST TP $14.99
JUN070241 TOWER OF THE FUTURE VOL 8 $9.99
JUL070206 UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #1 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
JUL070286 WETWORKS #13 $2.99
JUL070199 WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1 $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

JUL071941 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #3 $2.99
JUL071944 BRIT #2 $2.99
JUL071955 KILLING GIRL #2 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
JUL078262 KILLING GIRL 2ND PTG #1 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
APR071915 KISS 4K LTD ED PREVIEW BOOK $10.00
JUN071892 MADMAN VOL 1 TP $24.99
NOV061882 SAVAGE DRAGON #132 (NOTE PRICE) $6.99
JUL071937 WALKING DEAD VOL 7 THE CALM BEFORE TP (MR) $12.99

MARVEL COMICS

JUL072144 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST STAR LORD #3 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL072227 AVENGERS DEFENDERS WAR PREMIERE DM ED HC $19.99
JUL072226 AVENGERS DEFENDERS WAR PREMIERE HC $19.99
JUL072148 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #6 CWI $2.99
JUL072200 CABLE DEADPOOL #45 $2.99
JUL072151 CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #2 (OF 6) $3.99
JUL072239 CAPTAIN AMERICA RED WHITE & BLUE TP $19.99
JUN072199 CRIMINAL #9 (MR) $2.99
JUL072231 DAREDEVIL DEVIL HELL TO PAY VOL 1 TP $14.99
JUL072158 FRANKLIN RICHARDS MONSTER MASH $2.99
JUL072225 GHOST RIDER TRAIL OF TEARS PREMIERE HC $19.99
JUL078095 HALO UPRISING 2ND PTG SKETCH VAR #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JUN072154 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #9 $2.99
JUL072166 IMMORTAL IRON FIST ANNUAL #1 $3.99
JUL072168 IRON MAN #22 $2.99
JUL072235 IRON MAN HYPERVELOCITY TP $14.99
JUL072240 LOKI TP $12.99
JUL072174 MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #5 $2.99
JUL072131 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #5 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL072212 MARVEL MASTERWORKS FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 5 2ND ED HC $54.99
JUL072193 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT THOR $2.99
JUL072178 MARVEL ZOMBIES BOOK ANGELS DEMONS & MONSTROSITIES $3.99
JUL072206 PUNISHER MAX ANNUAL #1 (MR) $3.99
JUL072243 PUNISHER PRESENTS BARRACUDA MAX TP (MR) $17.99
JUL072188 SUB-MARINER #4 (OF 6) CWI $2.99
JUL072189 THE ORDER #3 CWI $2.99
JUL078099 THOR 3RD PTG SKETCH VAR #1 $2.99
JUL072134 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #46 $2.99
JUL072137 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #114 $2.99
JUL072238 WHITE TIGER HEROES COMPULSION TP $14.99
JUL072198 X-MEN #203 $2.99
JUL072201 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #4 $2.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

AUG073257 WIZARD MAGAZINE BATMAN DARK KNIGHT PHOTO CVR #193 $5.99
AUG073258 WIZARD MAGAZINE X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX CVR #193 $5.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

JUL078238 100 BOOK GEMSTONE DISNEY COMICS PI
JUL078239 50 BOOK GEMSTONE DISNEY TPS PI
APR073946 AKIKO FLIGHTS OF FANCY HIGH FLYING EXPD ED TP $24.95
SEP063098 ALAN MOORES YUGGOTH CULTURES TP (MR) (RES) $29.99
JUL073285 ARCHIE DIGEST #238 $2.49
JUL073413 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES #2 $3.50
AUG073626 BANANA GAMES VOL 1 (O/A) (A) $10.95
JUL073367 BART SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #13 $4.99
AUG073717 BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2007 $22.00
JUL073287 BETTY & VERONICA #230 $2.25
MAY073509 BONE SHARPS/CHARLES R KNIGHT COMBO SPECIAL $22.95
JUL073734 BONEYARD #26 $2.95
AUG073870 BONEYARD VOL 1 COLOR ED TP (O/A) $10.95
MAY073511 BRODIES LAW ROAD TO REDEMPTION GN (MR) $14.95
JUN073202 BYRON GN $10.95
JUN073496 CHINESE HERO VOL 3 TALES O/T BLOOD SWORD SC $19.95
JUL073356 DARK HUNGER GN $10.00
JUL073582 DONALD DUCK CASE OF THE MISSING MUMMY TP $8.99
JUL073878 ELFWORLD VOL 1 TP (MR) $12.95
MAY073284 FALL OF CTHULHU MAVILLAIN CVR A #6 $3.99
MAY073285 FALL OF CTHULHU WALPOLE CVR B #6 $3.99
JUL073495 FREEFALL ROMANCE GN $12.95
MAY073277 FUTURAMA VOL 4 CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE TP $14.95
APR073918 GENUS #84 (A) $3.50
MAY073135 GIRL GENIUS VOL 6 HC $39.95
JUL073266 GOLD DIGGER TANGENT #3 $2.99
JUN073416 HIGHLANDER #11 $2.99
JUL073904 INDIA AUTHENTIC SHIVA #5 $2.99
JUN073639 INNOCENCE GN 2ND ED (A) $14.95
AUG074087 INUBAKA CRAZY FOR DOGS VOL 1 TP (O/A) $9.99
AUG074088 INUBAKA CRAZY FOR DOGS VOL 2 TP (O/A) $9.99
JUL073496 INVISIBLE BOY VOL 1 GN $12.95
APR073388 KILLER VOL 1 HC (MR) $19.95
AUG073432 LADY DEATH SHI VICTORIOUS CVR #0 (OF 2) $5.99
AUG073482 LADY DEATH VS PANDORA BIKINI FUN CVR #1 $5.99
JUN073835 LAST SIN OF MARK GRIMM #4 (OF 4) (RES) $2.95
MAY073288 LEFT ON MISSION #4 (OF 5) $3.99
JUN073998 LILY AND THE ROSE VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
AUG073947 MAGICAL LIFE OF LONG TACK SAM TP $14.00
JUL073497 MANIC LOVE GN $12.95
JUL073502 MELTED LOVE GN $12.95
AUG073443 MONSTER UNIVERSITY CHEERBOOK (RES) $2.95
AUG073520 NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #1 BLANK CVR PI
AUG073599 NEW YORK DIARY SC (O/A) (MAY042594) (MR) $15.95
JUN073535 PALACE OF A THOUSAND PLEASURES GN (A) $10.95
JUN073756 PHANTOM CVR A #19 $3.50
JUN073757 PHANTOM CVR B #19 $4.50
JUL073718 RALPH SNART ADVENTURES COMIC COLLECTION #1 $14.95
AUG073519 RED SONJA #25 BLANK CVR PI
JUN078278 RED SONJA ESTEBAN MAROTO VAR CVR #25 $2.99
JUN073424 RED SONJA VACANT SHELL FOIL CVR PI
AUG073865 REMEMBRANCE THINGS PAST PT 1 COMBRAY SC (O/A) $13.95
MAY073193 REVERE REVOLUTION IN SILVER HC (MR) $19.95
MAY073266 SAVAGE PLANET SECRETS O/T EMPIRE $3.50
AUG073876 SILK ROAD TO RUIN HC (O/A) $22.95
JUL073296 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #180 $2.25
JUL073504 STAR GN $12.95
JUN073794 TALES FROM THE CRYPT VOL 1 GHOULS GONE WILD COLL ED HC $12.95
AUG073913 TALES FROM THE CRYPT VOL 1 GHOULS GONE WILD COLL ED HC (O/A) $12.95
AUG073912 TALES FROM THE CRYPT VOL 1 GHOULS GONE WILD GN $7.95
JUL073384 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #46 (MR) $2.95
JUN073418 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY #3 $3.50
AUG073877 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 3 BORDEN TRAGEDY SC (O/A) $8.95
JUL073583 UNCLE SCROOGE #370 $7.99
JUL073584 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #685 $7.99
MAY073389 XOMBIE FARR CVR B #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
MAY073388 XOMBIE SEELEY CVR A #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
APR074089 ZESTY VOL 2 GN $12.95

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