Blogging would be heck of a lot easier if the pesky real world would stop getting in the way. Ah, well, better late than never, right? Right?

This week finds a veritable treasure trove of collections, from the fifth volume of DC’s 52, another edition of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Captain America and New Avengers hardcovers, Love and Rockets, Battlestar Galactica, the Complete Badger and — well, just trust me. There are a lot of collections. Just in time for the holidays!

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: Tintin and Alpha-Art

and Tintin in the Land of the Soviets

Originally I was going to go with the new Love and Rockets collections or Betsy and Me, but the Tintin fanatic in me just can’t let these books go by. Herge’s first and very last (indeed, unfinished) books about the plucky boy reporter and his dog Snowy see print in softcover editions. I don’t actually own the latter (indeed, I’m not sure apart from a Last Gasp release it’s ever been available in the US) so that’s a no-brainer purchase for me.

Now if only they’d put out a copy of Tintin in the Congo …

Kevin’s pick of the week:

Blade of the Immortal #131

Once upon a time, about a decade ago, manga entered the direct market not as 200-page digests but in the 32-page format more familiar to American readers. Although most publishers abandoned that approach and turned their attention to the book market, Dark Horse continued to release Hiroaki Samura’s hyper-violent samurai epic Blade of the Immortal as a monthly comic. Until now, anyway. With Issue 131, Dark Horse will stop publishing single issues of the series and move to a trade-only format. It’s the end of an era, really, as Blade of the Immortal is one of the few holdovers — maybe even the only one — from that earlier time.

The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #3 (of 6)

Kevin: I’ve been enjoying this miniseries so much that I’ll probably end up buying the trade collection, too. I probably use “quirky” too much, but it’s a near-perfect label for Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s pulpy superhero romp. Quirky. Yeah.

The Goon: Chinatown hardcover

Kevin: I feel like I’ve missed the boat on Eric Powell’s horror-comedy series. It’s critically acclaimed, has a devoted fan following, and the subject matter is right up my alley. But I’ve just never picked it up. I guess I should do something about that. This hardcover, Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker, is Powell’s first original graphic novel, and apparently deals with The Goon’s early years. I should probably work my way up to this one.

American Virgin, Vol. 3: Wet trade paperback

Kevin: I’m going to miss this series when it ends in January. Steven Seagle and Becky Cloonan’s tale of sex, religion, sexual identity, love, grief and more has been frequently challenging and occasionally aggravating. But it’s always been at the top of my reading pile. “Wet,” which follows the equally provocatively titled “Head” and “Going Down,” collects Issues 10-14.

Countdown Presents: The Search for Ray Palmer: Gotham By Gaslight

Kevin: A title that requires more than one colon is reason for pause, but I also hesitated because thrusting modern superheroes into the 19th-century setting of DC’s very first Elseworlds story could go wrong in so many ways. But then I saw that Brian Augustyn, who penned the original 1989 graphic novel, will be writing this one-shot. I’m still not sold on the idea, but at least DC called in the right guy for the job.

Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 3 hardcover

Chris: No offense meant to Jim Starlin, but rereading this series in these nice, fat hardcover volumes just make this whole Death of the New Gods seem even sadder and more pathetic than before. Perhaps if Kirby had been given the chance to wrap up the his magnum opus as planned we wouldn’t have to endure annoying pastiche crossovers like the current one.

Oh, who am I kidding?

MAD Archives, Vol. 1 hardcover
MAD Archives, Vol. 2 hardcover

Chris: Well, this is a nice surprise. The first volume came out … at least five years ago, if memory serves. Perhaps longer. Now we finally get the second volume, which collects issues 7-12 of the classic Harvey Kurtzman years (i.e. the only era that really counts).

The Programme #5 (of 12)
Godland #20
The Boys #12
Castle Waiting, Vol. II, #9

Chris: These are the only pamphlets I’ll be picking up this week. The one thing they have in common is that, at one point or another, I’ve considered dropping them, either to wait for the trade or due to a disinterest in the current storyline. I’ll leave it to you to suss out which goes with which. A fun game for all to play!

Will Eisner’s The Spirit Archives, Vol. 23 hardcover

Chris: It’s a good week for archival projects, as the latest edition of this collection rolls out as well. Who has the dough to cough up for all of these $50 books? Someone somewhere seems to have the cash to spare.

Hawaiian Dick #1

Kevin: B. Clay Moore and Steven Griffin’s “tropical noir” detective comic returns as a monthly series, with artist Scott Chantler in tow. I’m really looking forward to this.

Captain America #32
Captain America, Vol. 1: The Death of Captain America premiere hardcover

Kevin: Remember when Marvel killed off Steve Rogers, and everyone was scrambling to get a copy of Captain America #25? Although it seems like ages ago, it’s been just a little over six months. If you missed out on the shot heard ’round the world — or at least those parts that have CNN or Internet access — this hardcover details the assassination on the courthouse steps and the immediate aftermath, in Issues 25-30.

Meanwhile, in Captain America #32, life goes on as The Falcon and Black Widow team up to try to prevent Winter Soldier from becoming a deadly pawn of the Red Skull again.

Franklin Richards: Fall Football Fiasco #1

Kevin: You know it’s going to be a pretty good week when there’s an installment of Mark Sumerak and Chris Eliopoulos’ Franklin Richards series. How can you not smile at a dinosaur wearing a football jersey?

Betsy and Me

Chris: By all rights, Jack Cole’s venture into comic strip land should have earned him the big-time success and recognition he longed for. Sadly, he committed suicide before the work even had a chance to take off, producing only two and a half months’ worth. The bulk of that strip is collected for the very first time here in this softcover edition from Fantagraphics. Jog has a very nice review of it here.

Beyond Palomar, Vol. 3
Perla La Loca, Vol. 3
New Tales of Old Palomar #3

A good week for Love and Rockets fans, as the penultimate “manga-style” volumes of the series arrive (just one more book to go). Perla collects “Wigwam Bam” and “Chester Square” while “Beyond” collects “Poison River” and “X.” So yeah, it’s some of the best stories Jaime and Gilbert have ever done and if you don’t own it yet you need to buy these tout suite.

New Tales, meanwhile, continues Gilbert’s ongoing Ignatz series. Since it’s going to be several months before the next L&R ships, I’d recommend snatching whatever new work you can at this point. Gonna be a long winter.

Complete Badger, Vol. 1

Chris: I’ve never read this series, but I know a number of fans from the old days of Capital Comics dig it, so the new collection is probably worth noting.

Reptilia

Chris: IDW’s initial foray into manga hits stores tomorrow, centering around a vicious snake woman from the king of horror manga Kazuo Umezu. I can’t get enough of his Drifting Classroom, so I’ll in all likelihood be picking this up as well.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

SEP070085 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #131 (MR) $2.99
SEP070027 CONAN #46 (MR) $2.99
AUG070185 DISNEY PIXAR FIGURE COLL SER 2 GACHA PI
APR078041 DISNEY PRINCESS FIGURES SER 7 GACHA CAPSULE PI
AUG070184 DISNEY PRINCESS HEART TINS GACHA CAPSULE PI
JUL070033 GOON CHINATOWN HC $19.95
SEP070011 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #1 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
AUG070125 GROO HELL ON EARTH #2 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG070182 MICKEY AND FRIENDS TOPPER GACHA CAPSULE PI
AUG070186 NINTENDO ANIMAL CROSSING CHARM FIGURE SER 2 GACHA CAPSULE PI
SEP070036 SCREAM #1 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG070133 STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL VOL 10 HC CRIMSON EMPIRE $24.95
APR078045 TOMICA CARS SER 13 GACHA CAPSULE) (PP PI
SEP070034 UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
APR078042 WTP PEEK A POOH SER 12 GARDEN EDT GACHA PI
AUG070177 WTP PEEK A POOH SER 13 CIRCUS EDT GACHA PI
AUG070183 WTP PEEK A POOH SER 14 GACHA CAPSULE SUMMER PI
SEP070035 ZERO KILLER #3 (OF 6) $2.99

DC COMICS

AUG070263 52 VOL 4 TP $19.99
SEP070184 ACTION COMICS #859 $2.99
JUL078219 ACTION COMICS VAR ED #859 $2.99
AUG070326 AMERICAN VIRGIN VOL 3 WET TP (MR) $12.99
AUG070302 APOTHECARIUS ARGENTUM VOL 3 $9.99
SEP070269 ARMY @ LOVE #9 (MR) $2.99
APR070280 BATGIRL 13 INCH COLLECTOR FIGURE $69.99
APR070281 BATGIRL 13 INCH COLLECTOR VAR FIGURE $69.99
APR070279 BATMAN CLASSIC 13 INCH COLLECTOR FIGURE $69.99
SEP070179 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #11 $2.99
AUG070270 BATMAN DEATH IN THE CITY TP $14.99
SEP070193 BIRDS OF PREY #112 $2.99
SEP070194 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #8 $2.99
SEP070180 CATWOMAN #73 $2.99
SEP070200 CHECKMATE #20 $2.99
SEP070148 COUNTDOWN SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT #1 $2.99
SEP070144 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 23 $2.99
SEP070146 COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #3 ( OF 8 ) $3.99
SEP070177 DETECTIVE COMICS #838 (GHUL) $2.99
SEP070253 EX MACHINA #32 (MR) $2.99
SEP070195 FLASH #234 $2.99
SEP070277 HELLBLAZER #238 (MR) $2.99
JUL070248 JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS VOL 3 HC $49.99
SEP070229 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #8 $2.25
JUL070267 MAD ARCHIVES VOL 1 HC NEW PTG $49.99
JUL070266 MAD ARCHIVES VOL 2 HC $49.99
SEP070167 METAMORPHO YEAR ONE #4 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG070299 PALETTE OF 12 SECRET COLORS VOL 1 $9.99
SEP070259 PROGRAMME #5 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP070234 SCOOBY DOO #126 $2.25
SEP070203 SHADOWPACT #19 $2.99
AUG070258 SPIRIT #11 $2.99
AUG070279 SUPERGIRL IDENTITY TP $19.99
SEP070280 TESTAMENT #21 (MR) $2.99
SEP070260 WETWORKS #15 $2.99
SEP070249 WETWORKS ARMAGEDDON #1 $2.99
AUG070280 WILL EISNERS SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL 23 HC $49.99
AUG070264 WORLD WAR III TP $17.99

IMAGE COMICS

OCT072045 DARK SECTOR #0 (RES) $2.99
SEP071956 FLINK GN $13.99
APR071868 GODLAND #20 $2.99
SEP071997 GRAVESLINGER #2 (OF 4) $3.50
SEP071953 HAWAIIAN DICK #1 $2.99
JUN071916 INVINCIBLE #46 $2.99
AUG071993 MADMAN VOL 2 TP $17.99
AUG072033 STRANGE EMBRACE #6 ( OF 8 ) (MR) $2.99
AUG072035 WALKING DEAD #44 (MR) $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

SEP072280 ANNIHILATION BOOK 3 TP $24.99
SEP072182 AVENGERS CLASSIC #6 $2.99
SEP072186 CAPTAIN AMERICA #32 $2.99
SEP072185 CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #4 (OF 6) $3.99
SEP072261 CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 1 DEATH CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC $19.99
SEP072292 DAILY BUGLE DECEMBER PI
SEP072189 FRANKLIN RICHARDS FALL FOOTBALL FIASCO $2.99
JUN072119 HALO UPRISING #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
AUG072231 HEROES FOR HIRE #15 $2.99
AUG072227 INCREDIBLE HULK #111 WWH $2.99
JUL078255 INCREDIBLE HULK ZOMBIE VAR #111 $2.99
SEP072200 IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD ANNUAL #1 $3.99
JUL072191 LONERS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP072205 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #18 $2.99
SEP072203 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #30 $2.99
SEP072209 MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #5 $4.99
AUG072195 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP072170 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TREASURE ISLAND #6 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP072259 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 7 HC $54.99
SEP072260 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 7 HC VAR ED 34 $54.99
SEP072266 NEW AVENGERS VOL 1 HC $29.99
SEP072267 NEW AVENGERS VOL 1 HC VAR $29.99
SEP072236 NEW X-MEN #44 MC $2.99
SEP072237 NEW X-MEN CAMPBELL VAR #44 MC $2.99
SEP072220 PENANCE RELENTLESS #3 (OF 5) $2.99
APR072350 POWERS #27 (MR) $3.95
SEP072225 SHE-HULK 2 #23 $2.99
SEP072276 SPIDER-GIRL PRESENTS WILD THING CRASH COURSE DIGEST TP $7.99
SEP072229 THUNDERBOLTS BREAKING POINT $2.99
AUG078017 ULTIMATE MARVEL SAMPLER PI
FEB072106 ULTIMATE VISION #5 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP072231 WHAT IF ANNIHILATION $2.99
SEP072241 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #19 $2.99
SEP072243 X-MEN EMPEROR VULCAN #3 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP072286 X-MEN FIRST CLASS TOMORROWS BRIGHTEST TP $19.99
SEP072274 X-MEN GOD LOVES MAN KILLS PREM HC DM VAR ED 7 $19.99
SEP072273 X-MEN GOD LOVES MAN KILLS PREMIERE HC $19.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

OCT073185 FANTASTIC FOUR #546 WWP TURNER SKETCH CVR CGC 9.8 PI
OCT073184 SHRUGGED #6 WWC VIP TURNER SGN ED PI
OCT073186 THOR #1 SUYDAM SGN VAR CVR CGC 9.8 PI
OCT073182 TOYFARE EXC FRANK CHO MONKEY BOY NEON GREEN VINYL FIG PI
OCT073181 TOYFARE EXC FUTURAMA DR ZOLDBERG PARABOX VAR AF PI
SEP073259 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER WALLFLOWER CVR #51 $4.99
OCT073176 WIZARD MAGAZINE BEST OF 2007 CVR #195 $5.99
OCT073177 WIZARD MAGAZINE MARVELS GREATEST YEAR EVER CVR #195 $5.99
JUN073164 WORLD WAR HULK #1 ROMITA JR SGN ED PI

OTHER PUBLISHERS

SEP073739 (USE SEP078061) ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #1 $3.99
OCT073565 ALEX ROSS SDCC 2007 EXCL PREVIEW $14.99
AUG073509 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES SUYDAM FOIL CVR #3 PI
JUN073627 ART OF ALBERTO RUIZ SC (MR) $19.95
SEP073899 ATLANTIS RISING #2 $2.99
MAR073695 AVALON HIGH CORONATION VOL 1 MERLIN PROPHECY GN (OF 3) $7.99
OCT073416 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ZAREK TP VOL 01 PHOTO ED (RES) $14.99
OCT073415 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ZAREK TP VOL 01 PX ED (RES) $14.99
AUG073639 BETSY AND ME GN (NOTE PRICE) $14.95
SEP073627 BEYOND PALOMAR PALOMAR VOL 3 TP $16.95
SEP073506 BOYS #12 (MR) $2.99
AUG073652 CASTLE WAITING VOL II #9 $3.95
MAY073265 CAVEWOMAN PANGAEAN SEA #10 $3.50
MAR073338 CLASSIC BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VOL 1 PX ED TP $14.99
MAR073337 CLASSIC BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VOL 1 REG ED TP $14.99
SEP073763 COMPLETE BADGER VOL 1 TP $24.99
MAR073355 DARKMAN VS ARMY OF DARKNESS PX ED TP $14.99
MAR073354 DARKMAN VS ARMY OF DARKNESS REG ED TP $14.99
AUG073613 DF DEATH OF THE NEW GODS SGN #1 $29.99
AUG073615 DF GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY SGN #1 $19.99
MAY073437 DF WORLD WAR HULK GAMMA CORPS #1 SGN $19.99
SEP073564 DRAFTED #3 $3.50
JUL073378 FALL OF CTHULHU CVR A #8 $3.99
JUL073379 FALL OF CTHULHU CVR B #8 $3.99
SEP073333 GD SOURCEBOOK OFF HANDBOOK TO THE GD UNIVERSE #11 $3.95
SEP073570 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #29 $3.50
SEP073332 GOLD DIGGER #90 $2.99
JUL073264 GOLD DIGGER II POCKET MANGA VOL 2 (MAR078374) $14.95
SEP073826 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE BEOWULF HC $26.60
SEP073830 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE HERCULES TWELVE LABORS SC $8.95
SEP073831 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE ISIS & OSIRIS TO ENDS OF EARTH SC $8.95
SEP073832 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE KING ARTHUR EXCALIBUR UNSHEATHED SC $8.95
SEP073827 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE ODYSSEUS HC $26.60
SEP073828 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE SINBAD HC $26.60
SEP073829 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE THESEUS HC $26.60
SEP073833 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE THOR & LOKI IN LAND OF GIANTS SC $8.95
SEP073834 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE TROJAN HORSE FALL OF TROY SC $8.95
JUN074002 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #18 (MR) $2.99
JUL073380 HUNTERS MOON #4 (OF 5) $3.99
SEP073900 INCURSION #1 $2.99
SEP074039 INDIA AUTHENTIC YAMA LORD OF DEATH #7 $2.99
OCT073561 JAPAN AI TALL GIRLS ADVENTURES IN JAPAN GN $16.99
SEP073467 KAMUI VOL 9 GN $9.99
JUL073898 KARMA INCORPORATED VOL 1 POOR MR WILSON GN $11.95
AUG073623 KRISTINA QUEEN OF VAMPIRES VOL 2 GN (A) $10.95
JUN073341 LEFT ON MISSION #5 (OF 5) $3.99
SEP074087 LIVING CORPSE #0 $1.50
JUL073443 LONE RANGER #10 $2.99
SEP073844 LOVE AND CAPES #6 $3.95
SEP073915 MIDKNIGHT #1 $2.95
JUN073366 MY DEAREST DEVIL PRINCESS VOL 1 GN (MR) $9.99
SEP073634 NEW TALES OF OLD PALOMAR #3 $7.95
SEP073344 NHS PKT MANGA VOL 8 TP (O/A) $9.99
JUL073269 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL HAWAII POCKET MANGA VOL 5 $14.95
SEP073631 PERLA LA LOCA LOCAS VOL 3 TP $16.95
SEP073334 PIRATES VS NINJAS II UP THE ANTE #5 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
JUL073511 PS238 #27 $2.99
AUG073594 PURI PURI VOL 3 GN $9.95
JUL073417 RED SONJA #27 $2.99
AUG073758 REPTILIA SC $14.99
SEP073311 REX LIBRIS #9 $2.95
JUL073905 SADHU THE SILENT ONES #3 (MR) $2.99
SEP073449 SIMPSONS COMICS #136 $2.99
SEP073335 SKY SHARKS #4 (OF 5) $3.50
JUL073526 SLEEPWALK AND OTHER STORIES TP NEW PTG $17.95
AUG074050 SNAKEWOMAN VOL 2 TALE OF THE SNAKE CHARMER #5 (MR) $2.99
AUG073595 SNK VS CAPCOM VOL 7 SVC CHAOS TP $13.95
SEP073367 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #182 $2.25
SEP073772 STAR TREK ALIENS SPOTLIGHT ANDORIANS $3.99
SEP073777 STAR TREK KLINGONS BLOOD WILL TELL TP $24.99
AUG073596 STRAY LITTLE DEVIL VOL 5 GN $9.95
JUN073931 STREET FIGHTER VOL 4 BONUS STAGE TP $12.95
SEP073525 SWORD OF RED SONJA DOOM O/T GODS FOIL CVR #2 PI
SEP073369 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #25 $2.49
JUN073738 TINTIN AND ALPH ART SC $10.99
JUN073737 TINTIN IN THE LAND OF THE SOVIETS SC $10.99
SEP073370 VERONICA #185 $2.25
JUL073362 VSS NEMESIS RISING #5 (OF 5) $3.50
JUL073440 WITCHBLADE SHADES OF GRAY #4 (OF 4) (RES) $3.50
SEP073536 XENA VOL 1 CONTEST OF PANTHEONS TP (RES) $14.99

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