If it’s Tuesday afternoon, this must be another installment of “Can’t Wait for Wednesday.”

This week sees another issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Season 8,” the end of another Hellboy miniseries, the beginning of another Silver Surfer miniseries, the debut of the Heroes graphic novel, and yet another wave of “Naruto Nation.”

Oh, and Hannah Montana! Really.

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:

Nausicaa Watercolor Impressions

If you’re as big a Studio Ghibli fan as I am, then you’re no doubt drooling in anticipation of this coffee-table book, which collects Miyazaki’s original watercolor illustrations and sketches that were used for both the manga and the animated film. Chris Butcher says the book is beautiful and very, very big. Sounds like a winner to me.

Kevin’s pick of the week:

The Immortal Iron Fist #10

Surprise, right? I can’t say enough good things about this series — even when it boasts a dreaded zombie variant cover (although I like Kaare Andrews’ work, I won’t be buying that one on principle). In the third part of the Mortal Kombat-esque “The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven” story arc, Danny Rand returns to the tournament, a conspiracy takes shape, and — perhaps best of all — the creepy Bride of Nine Spiders faces Dog Brother #1. Lordy, I love this book.

Eden, Vol. 9: It’s an Endless World

Chris: My understanding is this is a series teetering on the brink of cancellation. So if you’ve been on the fence about picking up the series, here’s the latest volume.

The Art of Matt Wagner’s Grendel hardcover

Kevin: As a kid I bought a couple of issues of Grendel during its Comico run, but I never really got into the series. That’s probably due to the unreliability of newsstand distribution, because I can remember being fascinated by the comic’s mythology, even if I didn’t really get what was going on. For devotees of Grendel and Matt Wagner, this 200-page hardcover is likely a must-buy, as it includes never-before-seen work by Wagner, Tim Sale, Teddy Kristiansen and others, plus a pinup gallery featuring art by Frank Miller, Paul Pope, Dave Johnson and more.

Groo: Hell on Earth #1 (of 4)

Chris: Hey! New Groo series! One imagines it will be chock-full of quality and fun.

Cairo hardcover

Kevin: Although there’s been a quiet buzz for this Vertigo graphic novel for some time, I don’t really know much about it. What I do know is that it’s Cairo-based journalist G. Willow Wilson and artist M.K. Perker’s “magical-realism thriller” — I love magical realism! — about five disparate individuals on the hunt for a stolen artifact in modern Cairo. A hookah, I think. Plus, there’s a jinn, which is always a good thing (though not for the characters).

Heroes, Vol. 1, hardcover

Kevin: This 240-page hardcover collects the online comics based on NBC’s hit TV series, Heroes. If you haven’t already read these on the show’s website, you may want to set this book aside for a while — because, if the Writers Guild of America strike drags on, you won’t be getting any new Heroes content after a while. This graphic novel could help you through the lean times.

Supergirl #23

Kevin: Another new creative team comes on board for another “new direction” for the Maid of Might.

Scalped #11
The Vinyl Underground #2
Y: The Last Man #59

Kevin: It’s the penultimate issue of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s critically acclaimed series. Along with Fables, this book had served as the vanguard for the post-Sandman / post-Preacher / post-Lucifer Vertigo, so the end of Y has a lot of folks online wringing their hands over the future of the imprint. I don’t think there’s much to worry about (of course, I’m not sure how many of the hand-wringers are actually “worried”; some just seem eager to be the first to toll the death knell). Fables seems to be performing (relatively) well as a monthly and in collected format. DMZ and 100 Bullets appear to do well as trades. Scalped and Crossing Midnight, while not setting any sales records, are both intelligent and engaging series. And Hellblazer, under the new team of Andy Diggle and Leonardo Manco, is better than it’s been in years.

Sure, Y is ending, and American Virgin and Testament have been canceled. But Cairo (see above), The Vinyl Underground, whose second issue is released this week, and Northlanders, which debuts next month, are promising starts to Vertigo’s next chapter. So, no, I’m not worried.

Criminal #10
Omega: The Unknown #2 (of 10)
The Order #4

Chris: Three very good ongoing Marvel series make an entrance this week. Criminal is worth noting since it wraps up the current “Lawless” storyline. Also, I’ll be curious to see how the second issue of Omega builds upon the groundwork of the first (which, as many noted, drew heavily upon Gerber’s original work). The Order should be good as well.

Shanna the She-Devil: Survival of the Fittest #4

Kevin: The parade of big, icky animal tongues continues with … a sabretooth! No subtext to these covers, no siree!

Silver Surfer: In They Name #1 (of 4)

Kevin: I’ve never really cared for Silver Surfer — I’m not a big fan of sprawling cosmic stories — but the solicitation text for this Simon Spurrier-Tang Eng Huat miniseries certainly piques my interest: “The Silver Surfer delves alone into the furthest depths of the void; tangling with organ-stealing pirates, demonic beasts and a race of alien aristocrats.” Organ-stealing pirates!

Thor 1-3: Rebirth

Kevin: Marvel curiously repackages the first three “sold out” issues of J. Michael Straczynski and Oliver Coipel’s relaunched Thor series in one $4.99 package. I can’t decide whether this is a smart move on the publisher’s part — reprinting apparently tough-to-find issues for readers who might otherwise have to wait for the trade collection — or if Marvel is annoying those people who shelled out $9 or so for the three individual books.

Uncanny X-Men #492

Kevin: After kicking off in last week’s one-shot, the “Messiah Complex” now spreads out into the individual X-titles.

Acme Novelty Library, Vol. 18.5, PX Portfolio

Chris: Having blown out my monthly comics budget on that Sundays with Walt and Skeezix book (beautiful book, by the way), I don’t have the cash to pick up this D&Q monstrosity, but, man, do I wish I did. Collecting the six Thanksgiving New Yorker covers Ware did last year and reprinting them at poster size, this is obviously more for the hardcore Ware fan than the casual reader, but it’s still a lovely job of packaging and design.

Azumanga Daioh Omnibus, Vol. 1

Chris: From the creator of Yotsuba, a collection of gag strips about a wacky girls’ school or something like it. I dunno, I haven’t read it. I like Yotsuba though, so this might be well worth checking out.

Big Questions #10

Chris: Latest issue of Anders Nilsen’s excellent ongoing series about birds. Oh, and there’s a snake in here as well.

Camera, Camera, Camera, Vol. 1

Chris: Man, that’s a lot of cameras.

Everybody Cosplay, Vol. 1

Chris: Thank god, my prayers have been answered. Now, where’s my FFX Tidus outfit?

Hannah Montana Cinemanga, Vol. 3
Hannah Montana Cinemana, Vol. 4

Chris: Because everyone knows Hannah Montana fans love to hang around comic shops.

Naruto, Vol. 22
Naruto, Vol. 23
Naruto, Vol. 24

Chris: The “Naruto Nation” onslaught continues as blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. Three new volumes, all of which will likely hit the best-seller list by the end of the week.

I Am Blind and My Dog Is Dead hardcover

Chris: I believe this is a reprinting of a collection of Sam Gross’ classic gag cartoons, most of which he did for National Lampoon back when that magazine actually carried some cultural weight. Expect lots of hilarious, very sick jokes.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG078105 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 FINAL VER $2.99
AUG078106 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #2 FINAL VER $2.99
AUG078107 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #3 FINAL VER $2.99
AUG078108 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #4 FINAL VER $2.99
SEP070077 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #8 $2.99
JUL070056 EDEN VOL 9 ITS AN ENDLESS WORLD TP (MR) $12.95
AUG070127 EMILY THE STRANGE VOL 2 THE FAKE ISSUE #2 $3.50
APR070023 GRENDEL ART OF MATT WAGNERS GRENDEL HC $39.95
JUL070018 GROO HELL ON EARTH #1 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL070031 HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY070069 LISA PETRUCCIS KICK ASS KUTIES PENNY PIRATE VINYL $24.99
SEP070081 LOBSTER JOHNSON THE IRON PROMETHEUS #3 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP070093 STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC HANDBOOK $2.99
AUG070131 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #22 $2.99
AUG070132 STAR WARS LEGACY #17 $2.99

DC COMICS

SEP070191 ALL NEW ATOM #17 $2.99
JUL070245 BATMAN ARCHIVES VOL 7 HC $49.99
APR070274 BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE STATUE JIM LEE $59.99
JUL070292 CAIRO HARDCOVER (MR) $24.99
SEP070149 COUNTDOWN SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER RED RAIN #1 $2.99
SEP070188 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL JIMMY OLSEN 80 PAGE GIANT $4.99
SEP070142 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 25 $2.99
SEP070271 EXTERMINATORS #23 (MR) $2.99
SEP070264 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH ASH COVER #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP070263 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH FREDDY COVER #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP070265 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH JASON COVER #1 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG070272 GREEN ARROW ROAD TO JERICHO TP $17.99
AUG070273 GREEN LANTERN CORPS A DARKER SHADE OF GREEN TP $12.99
JUL078014 HEROES HC ALEX ROSS COVER $29.99
SEP070246 HEROES HC ALEX ROSS COVER (O/A) $29.99
JUL078015 HEROES HC JIM LEE COVER $29.99
SEP070245 HEROES HC JIM LEE COVER (O/A) $29.99
SEP070165 INFINITY INC #3 $2.99
MAR070295 JLA COVER TO COVER STATUE WONDER WOMAN $59.99
SEP070201 JONAH HEX #25 $2.99
SEP070228 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #39 $2.25
AUG070301 KING OF CARDS VOL 2 $9.99
SEP070233 LOONEY TUNES #156 $2.25
SEP070202 METAL MEN #4 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
SEP070166 METAMORPHO YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070257 MIDNIGHTER #13 $2.99
SEP070174 ROBIN #168 (GHUL) $2.99
AUG070278 ROBIN TEENAGE WASTELAND TP $17.99
SEP070175 ROBIN VAR ED #168 (GHUL) $2.99
SEP070279 SCALPED #11 (MR) $2.99
AUG070304 SEIMADEN VOL 10 $9.99
SEP070189 SUPERGIRL #23 $2.99
SEP070190 SUPERGIRL VAR ED #23 $2.99
SEP070182 SUPERMAN #670 $3.99
SEP070248 TRANQUILITY ARMAGEDDON #1 $2.99
SEP070281 VINYL UNDERGROUND #2 (MR) $2.99
SEP070252 WILDSTORM FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT THE AUTHORITY $3.50
SEP070282 Y THE LAST MAN #59 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

JUN071891 ART OF GREG CAPULLO SC $24.99
SEP072026 DARKNESS FIRST LOOK $0.99
SEP071951 FEARLESS #1 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP071996 FRANK FRAZETTAS DEATH DEALER B&W SP ED #1 (MR) $2.99
SEP072001 LUCHA LIBRE #2 $5.99
MAY071876 PVP #36 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
SEP072002 RED DEMON VINYL FIGURE $50.00
MAY071880 SPAWN #172 $2.95
AUG072032 STEVE NILES STRANGE CASES #2 $2.50
JUL071963 STRANGE EMBRACE #5 ( OF 8 ) (MR) $2.99
JUN071937 WITCHBLADE #111 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

SEP072181 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #1 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG072207 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST STAR LORD #4 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072192 ASTONISHING X-MEN #23 $2.99
AUG072277 CRIMINAL #10 (MR) $2.99
SEP072167 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREM HC $24.99
AUG072216 FANTASTIC FOUR #551 $2.99
AUG078110 FANTASTIC FOUR #551 ART ADAMS VAR $2.99
SEP072188 FANTASTIC FOUR SILVER SURFER POSTER BOOK $5.99
SEP072195 HOWARD THE DUCK #2 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG072221 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #10 $2.99
AUG078022 IMMORTAL IRON FIST ZOMBIE VAR #10 $2.99
SEP072198 IRON MAN ENTER MANDARIN #3 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP072207 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #33 $2.99
SEP072284 MARVEL LEGACY 1960S TO 1990S HANDBOOK TP $19.99
SEP072208 MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #5 $4.99
SEP072214 MS MARVEL #21 $2.99
JUL072182 MYSTIC ARCANA SISTER GRIMM $2.99
SEP072217 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI #5 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP072277 NEW AVENGERS VOL 6 REVOLUTION TP $14.99
SEP072279 OMEGA FLIGHT ALPHA TO OMEGA TP $13.99
SEP072219 OMEGA UNKNOWN #2 (OF 10) $2.99
SEP072223 SHANNA SHE-DEVIL SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #4 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072226 SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #1 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072263 SPIDER-MAN PETER PARKER BACK IN BLACK HC $34.99
SEP072224 SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #5 (OF 5) $2.99
AUG072255 THE ORDER #4 CWI $2.99
AUG078142 THOR 1-3 REBIRTH $4.99
SEP072264 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 4 HC $29.99
SEP072232 UNCANNY X-MEN #492 MC $2.99
SEP072233 UNCANNY X-MEN SILVESTRI VAR #492 MC $2.99
AUG072229 WORLD WAR HULK GAMMA CORPS #4 (OF 4) WWH $2.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS
AUG073935 2000 AD #1559 $4.10
AUG073936 2000 AD #1560 $4.10
MAY073242 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL #1 (MR) $3.99
MAY073246 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL ENGLUND SIGNED ED #1 (MR) $24.99
MAY073243 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL GORE CVR #1 (MR) $3.99
MAY073244 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL PHOTO CVR #1 (MR) $3.99
MAY073245 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL WRAP CVR #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP073771 30 DAYS OF NIGHT EBEN & STELLA TP $17.99
AUG073719 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #69 (A) PI
SEP073598 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY VOL 18.5 PX PORTFOLIO (MR) $32.00
SEP073475 ALEX RAYMONDS FLASH GORDON VOL 1-7 HC SET $139.65
SEP074081 ALICE ON DEADLINES VOL 1 TP $10.99
AUG073383 ARCHIE DIGEST #239 $2.49
AUG074002 ARK ANGELS VOL 3 GN (OF 3) $9.99
AUG073922 ATLANTIS RISING #1 $0.25
SEP073289 AZUMANGA DAIOH OMNIBUS VOL 1 GN $24.99
AUG074075 BABY & ME VOL 5 GN $8.99
JUL073276 BANZAI GIRLS #3 $3.95
AUG073386 BETTY & VERONICA #231 $2.25
SEP073599 BIG QUESTIONS #10 (MR) $6.50
AUG074061 BLACK CAT VOL 11 TP $7.99
AUG074003 BLAME VOL 10 GN (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
JUL074117 BONES OFFICIAL COMPANION SEASONS 1 & 2 SC $14.95
JUL073967 BOOTLEG #18 (A) $8.95
AUG074000 BOYS BE VOL 15 GN (OF 20) (MR) $9.99
AUG074021 BRATZ BABYZ CINEMANGA GN $3.99
SEP073578 CAMERA CAMERA CAMERA VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
SEP073579 CANT WIN WITH YOU VOL 2 GN (MR) $12.95
JUN073852 CHARLEYS WAR VOL 4 BLUES STORY HC $19.95
SEP073758 CORY DOCTOROWS FUTURISTIC TALES HERE AND NOW #2 (OF 6) $3.99
AUG074069 D GRAY MAN VOL 7 GN $7.99
SEP073872 DAN BRERETONS NOCTURNALS VOL 1 PX ED HC (RES) $39.99
SEP073871 DAN BRERETONS NOCTURNALS VOL 1 REG ED HC (RES) $29.99
APR073669 DF ACTION COMICS #851 SGN $29.99
SEP073476 DICK TRACY THE COLLINS CASEFILES VOL 1-3 TP SET $53.85
SEP073820 DONT EAT THE ELECTRIC SHEEP #5 (MR) $3.95
SEP074025 DOROTHY OF OZ VOL 1 GN $11.95
AUG074004 DRAGON HUNTER VOL 17 GN ( OF 18 ) $9.99
SEP073585 ENCHANTER VOL 6 GN (MR) $12.95
SEP073298 EVERYBODY COSPLAY VOL 1 GN $19.99
SEP073780 FALLEN ANGEL IDW #21 (MR) $3.99
AUG073923 GHOSTING #3 $2.99
AUG073558 GI JOE DATA DESK HANDBOOK COLL A-M $5.50
AUG074070 GIN TAMA VOL 3 TP $7.99
AUG074076 GODCHILD VOL 7 TP $8.99
JUL073973 GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN TO WONDERLAND #4 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
AUG073553 HACK SLASH VOL 3 FRIDAY THE 31ST TP $18.99
AUG073993 HANDS OFF VOL 1 DONT CALL US ANGELS GN (OF 2) $9.99
AUG074022 HANNAH MONTANA CINEMANGA VOL 3 GN (OF 4) $7.99
AUG074023 HANNAH MONTANA CINEMANGA VOL 4 GN (OF 4) $7.99
JUL073912 HERC BROWN #1 $2.99
AUG073581 HEROES ARE EXTINCT VOL 2 GN $12.95
JUL073446 HIGHLANDER #12 $2.99
AUG074071 HUNTER X HUNTER VOL 17 TP $7.99
AUG073992 INITIAL D VOL 28 GN (OF 35) $9.99
AUG074024 INNOCENT BIRD VOL 3 GN (OF 3) (A) $9.99
SEP073379 IRON & THE MAIDEN #4 $3.99
AUG073939 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #264 $7.50
AUG074077 KAZE HIKARU VOL 7 GN $8.99
AUG074005 KINDAICHI CASE FILES VOL 16 GN MAGICAL EXPRESS (OF 27) (MR) $9.99
AUG073811 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #132 $4.99
AUG074072 KUROHIME VOL 2 TP $7.99
AUG074007 LITTLE QUEEN VOL 4 GN ( OF 8 ) $9.99
AUG074078 LOVE COM VOL 3 TP $8.99
AUG074025 LOVE MODE VOL 7 GN (OF 11) (A) $9.99
SEP074014 LOWER REGIONS GN $6.95
MAY073661 MAINTENANCE #6 (MR) $3.50
AUG073469 MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW MANGA 2ND ED (MR) $15.95
JUL073327 MARK MILLAR UNFUNNIES FIRST FOLLIES (MR) $4.99
MAY073802 MIDDLEMAN VOL 3 TP $9.95
SEP073477 MILTON CANIFFS STEVE CANYON 1947-1954 TP SET $143.90
AUG073979 MODESTY BLAISE VOL 12 DEATH TRAP TP $19.95
SEP073642 MYSTIC FUNNIES #2 (NEW PTG) $4.95
AUG074063 NARUTO VOL 22 TP $7.95
AUG074064 NARUTO VOL 23 TP $7.95
AUG074065 NARUTO VOL 24 TP $7.95
AUG074094 NAUSICAA WATERCOLOR IMPRESSIONS HC $34.99
AUG074010 NECK AND NECK VOL 8 GN ( OF 8 ) $9.99
AUG074009 NEVER GIVE UP VOL 6 GN (OF 13) $9.99
JUL073434 NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #3 $2.99
AUG073448 ODYSSEY PRESENTS VENUS (BLUEWATER) #1 $3.50
AUG074062 ONE PIECE VOL 16 TP $7.95
AUG074011 ONE VOL 10 GN (OF 11) $9.99
AUG074012 PLANET BLOOD VOL 7 GN (OF 11) $9.99
AUG073578 PRINCE CHARMING VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
AUG074067 PRINCE OF TENNIS VOL 22 GN $7.95
SEP073586 PRINCESS PRINCESS VOL 5 GN (MR) $12.95
AUG074014 QUEENS VOL 4 GN (OF 5) (MR) $9.99
AUG074015 RECAST VOL 4 GN (OF 6) (MR) $9.99
AUG074081 SA VOL 1 GN $8.99
AUG074016 SAKURA TAISEN VOL 6 GN (OF 6) $9.99
AUG074017 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED VOL 5 GN (OF 9) $9.99
AUG073772 SCARFACE DEVIL IN DISGUISE #4 (MR) $3.99
JUL073974 SE7EN WRATH #7 (OF 7) (RES) (MR) $3.99
AUG074082 SKIP BEAT VOL 9 TP $8.99
AUG073397 SONIC X #26 $2.25
AUG074038 STAR PROJECT CHIRO VOL 1 TP $11.95
AUG073759 STAR TREK ALIENS SPOTLIGHT VULCANS $3.99
AUG074020 SUITE LIFE OF ZACH AND CODY CINEMANGA GN $7.99
AUG073911 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #3 $3.95
SEP073853 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #40 $3.25
SEP073785 TANK GIRL THE GIFTING TP $17.99
JUL073448 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY #4 $3.50
SEP073753 TRANSFORMERS BEST OF UK DINOBOTS #3 $3.99
SEP073745 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT RAMJET $3.99
AUG073454 TWO GUNS CVR A #3 (OF 4) (RES) $3.99
AUG073455 TWO GUNS CVR B #3 (OF 4) (RES) $3.99
AUG074073 ULTIMATE MUSCLE VOL 18 GN $7.95
SEP073905 UNBEATABLE GN (MR) $14.95
AUG073343 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO REG ED #2 $5.95
AUG073347 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO VIRGIN ED #2 $19.95
AUG073345 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 SCOTT B&W ED #2 $19.95
AUG073344 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 SCOTT REG ED #2 $5.95
AUG073974 WEIRDLING GN $15.95
SEP073478 WINSOR MCCAY EARLY WORKS VOL 1-9 TP SET $179.55
SEP074082 WORLD OF QUEST VOL 1 TP $9.99
AUG073590 ZOMBIE HIGHWAY BACK IN BLUE $3.99

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