As I mentioned earlier this week, Kevin Melrose is out on vacation, leaving me to help Chris Mautner with this week’s Can’t Wait for Wednesday. Per the Diamond website, those of us in the United States won’t see new books until Thursday, Nov. 29 … so I guess technically this is a Can’t Wait for Thursday.

The week after Thanksgiving brings a couple of Christmas-themed stories, including Dark Horse’s It Ate Billy on Christmas storybook and Image’s Archibald Saves Christmas #1. Also on the new issue front are a new Fear Agent mini-series, Virgin’s Dan Dare and Dock Walloper series, Marvel Atlas #1 and Zombie Simon Garth #1, both from Marvel, SLG’s Gargoyles: Bad Guys spin-off and Wildstorm’s Gen13 Armageddon #1, which of course is a tie-in to the big event going on in their neck of the woods.

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 Mautner’s Pick of the Week: Age of Bronze Vol. 3: Betrayal

I’m not sure people realize just how good Eric Shanower’s take on the Trojan War is. It might very well be the best thing Image is publishing right now, and keep in mind, they’re also publishing Casanova. Shanower shows great skill and insight in adapting the series, keeping the emotional and psychological elements up front and the more mythic elements in the background. It’s a smart, gripping series and I wish more people who attempted to adapt “classic literature” into comics took a page or two from these comics.

JK Parkin’s Pick of the Week: Popgun Vol. 1 GN

I was hesitant to call this out as my pick of the week because of the hefty $30 price tag … but it’s also 400 pages of comics, which isn’t a bad deal. I like the description of this anthology as the “ultimate graphic mixtape,” as it features a long, varied list of creative folks — Mike Allred, Jamie Rich, Jonathan Hickman, Erik Larsen, Chuck BB, Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix, just to name a few. While most of the stories are new, it will also feature a few classics — including a color version of the very first B&W Frank Einstein story by Mike Allred. You can check out previews of some of the stories over at the Popgun website.

MPD Psycho Vol. 3 TP

Chris: More blood and guts, plants in brains and barcodes on eyeballs.

Speak of the Devil #3

Chris: This series hasn’t generated a lot of love online, apart from Frank Santoro’s unabashed mash note. I don’t think most readers are aware it’s supposed to read like a B-Movie, awkward dialogue and all. I like it.

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #8

Chris: You know, I’m actually kind of impressed with how regularly this series is coming out now. Just thought I’d get that out there.

JK: I was going to say something about that, too. Looks like the next one is scheduled for February.

Midnighter Vol. 1 Killing Machine TP
Dan Dare #1

JK: I always wonder if it’s brilliant marketing or dumb luck when a company puts out a trade of a creator’s material the same week another company launches a new title by said creator. In any event, it’s a great week for Garth Ennis fans, as only do you have the new Dan Dare comic from Virgin, but also a collection of Ennis’ recent Midnighter tales. You can find some preview pages from Dan Dare over on the main site along with Tim Janson’s review (which called Gary Erskine’s artwork “a little flat and ordinary,” something I completely disagree with).

Casanova #11

Chris: Speaking of mister spy guy, here’s the latest issue of his comic. Always cause for celebration.

Civil War Script Book TP

JK: Now I know what to get Graeme for Christmas …

Complete Dick Tracy HC Vol. 3

Chris: We’re still not into classic Gould era yet, but I’m enjoying the ride so far. Expect more blood and bullets, though probably no barcodes on eyeballs.

Doc Frankenstein #6

JK: I really dug the early issues of this, but the scheduling has unfortunately killed any interest I have in it.

Ice Wanderer GN
Times of Botchan Vol. 2 GN

Chris: I’m really grateful that Fanfare/Ponent Mon is publishing books like these on these shores, considering how little they probably make off of these books. Their latest is a Jiro Taniguchi (The Walking Man) book of short stories about men “confronted by savage nature” according to the Chris Butcher. If that’s not enough Taniguchi for you, there’s also the second volume of Botchan, a literary look at Japan Meiji era, when it was attempting to become more Westernized.

Little Sammy Sneeze Comp Color Sundays 1904-1905 HC

Chris: The phenomenal size and scope of Sunday Press’ Walt and Skeezix book has drawn attention away from this, their other big project for 2007. Sammy collects every strip of Winsor McCay’s one-joke strip about a boy whose nasal problems induce chaos in the general populace. It’s a cute strip and certainly a must-have for serious McCay fans. And hey, they even have a Sammy Sneeze tissue box available on their Web site!

Treasury Victorian Murder Vol. 9 The Bloody Benders SC

Chris: The softcover edition of Rick Geary’s latest (and possibly best) tale of death and psychosis in the 19th century. This one deals with a savage family out on the Kansas prairie and Geary really makes the most of it. If you don’t have the hardcover version you should check this out.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL070054 BERSERK VOL 20 TP (MR) $13.95
SEP070127 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S MENS LG $24.99
SEP070126 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S MENS MED $24.99
SEP070128 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S MENS XL $24.99
SEP070129 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S MENS XXL $24.99
SEP070132 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S WOMENS LG $29.99
SEP070131 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S WOMENS MED $29.99
SEP070133 BLACK CAT CLUB T/S WOMENS XL $29.99
SEP070074 CRIMINAL MACABRE MY DEMON BABY #3 (OF 4) $2.99
OCT070023 CUT $9.95
SEP070024 FEAR AGENT HATCHET JOB #1 (OF 4) $2.99
APR078151 HELLO KITTY CHARM #2 RETRO GACHA PI
AUG070180 HELLO KITTY CHARM #2 RETRO GACHA PI
APR078044 HELLO KITTY CHARM FIGURE #1 GACHA PI
JUL070076 HELLO KITTY CHARM FIGURE #1 GACHA PI
OCT070035 IT ATE BILLY ON CHRISTMAS HC $12.95
AUG070157 MPD PSYCHO VOL 3 TP (MR) $10.95
AUG070174 QEE JOURNAL WITH MINI QEE $14.99
JUL070069 SHAMAN WARRIOR VOL 5 TP $12.95
SEP070033 SPEAK O/T DEVIL #3 (OF 6) $3.50
SEP070098 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #23 $2.99
AUG070175 STATIONERY SET QEE $4.99
SEP070038 USAGI YOJIMBO #107 $2.99

DC COMICS

SEP070170 52 AFTERMATH THE FOUR HORSEMEN #4 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070172 ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #8 $2.99
SEP070268 AMERICAN VIRGIN #21 (MR) $2.99
SEP070251 AUTHORITY PRIME #2 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070178 BATMAN #671 (GHUL) $2.99
SEP070151 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #2 $2.99
JUL070243 BATMAN RULES OF ENGAGEMENT HC $24.99
SEP070192 BLUE BEETLE #21 $2.99
SEP070232 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #39 $2.25
SEP070150 COUNTDOWN LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #2 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070147 COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #4 (OF $3.99
SEP070145 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 22 $2.99
SEP070158 CRIME BIBLE THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #2 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP070270 CROSSING MIDNIGHT #13 (MR) $2.99
SEP070157 DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #3 (OF $3.50
SEP070256 DEATHBLOW #8 $2.99
AUG070295 ELFQUEST ARCHIVES VOL 4 HC $59.99
SEP070272 FAKER #5 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP070266 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH #2 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070250 GEN13 ARMAGEDDON #1 $2.99
SEP070159 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #2 (OF 9) $2.99
SEP070163 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 $2.99
AUG070275 HAWKGIRL HAWKMAN RETURNS TP $17.99
SEP070275 JACK OF FABLES #17 (MR) $2.99
SEP070198 JLA CLASSIFIED #47 $2.99
SEP070199 JSA CLASSIFIED #32 $2.99
AUG070300 KEY TO THE KINGDOM VOL 2 $9.99
AUG070313 MIDNIGHTER VOL 1 KILLING MACHINE TP $14.99
AUG070297 ORFINA VOL 1 (MR) $12.99
APR070306 SHAZAM SER 1 BILLY BATSON HOPPY 2 PACK PI
APR070305 SHAZAM SER 1 DR SIVANA MR MIND AF PI
APR070304 SHAZAM SER 1 JUNIOR AF PI
APR070303 SHAZAM SER 1 MARY AF PI
APR070302 SHAZAM SER 1 SHAZAM AF PI
JUL078178 SHOWCASE PRESENTS TP SUPERGIRL VOL 01 $16.99
SEP070205 SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #36 $2.99
SEP070183 SUPERMAN ANNUAL #13 $3.99
SEP070186 SUPERMAN BATMAN #43 $2.99
SEP070204 TEEN TITANS #53 $2.99
SEP070230 TEEN TITANS GO #49 $2.25
AUG070305 TENJHO TENGE VOL 16 (MR) $9.99
AUG070339 TESTAMENT VOL 3 BABEL TP (MR) $12.99
SEP070210 TRIALS OF SHAZAM #10 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP070171 UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #3 (OF $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

MAY071857 AGE OF BRONZE VOL 3 BETRAYAL HC $27.99
MAY071856 AGE OF BRONZE VOL 3 BETRAYAL TP $17.99
SEP071950 ARCHIBALD SAVES CHRISTMAS #1 (MR) $3.50
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SEP071981 CASANOVA #11 (MR) $1.99
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JUN071911 FRANK FRAZETTAS DEATH DEALER #5 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JUL071956 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #5 $2.99
SEP071958 POPGUN VOL 1 GN $29.99
SEP072004 PROOF #2 (MR) $2.99
FEB071914 SAVAGE DRAGON #134 $2.99
JUN071906 TECH JACKET VOL 1 BOY FROM EARTH TP $14.99
AUG072061 UNIQUE TP $12.99
OCT072044 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #10 (MR) $3.99

MARVEL COMICS

SEP072268 AVENGERS INITIATIVE BASIC TRAINING VOL 1 PREM HC $19.99
SEP072184 BLACK PANTHER #32 $2.99
SEP072244 CABLE DEADPOOL #47 $2.99
SEP078033 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 DM ED $74.99
SEP072290 CAPTAIN MARVEL MCGUINNESS POSTER $6.99
SEP072281 CIVIL WAR SCRIPT BOOK TP $24.99
SEP072191 DAREDEVIL #102 $2.99
SEP072287 ESSENTIAL X-MEN VOL 8 TP $16.99
SEP072249 FOOLKILLER #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
AUG072278 JACK KIRBYS GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS HC $24.99
JUL072210 MAGICIAN APPRENTICE #11 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP072204 MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #7 $2.99
SEP072211 MARVEL ATLAS #1 (OF 2) $3.99
SEP072212 MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #2 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP072213 MOON KNIGHT ANNUAL #1 $3.99
AUG072202 SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #41 OMD $3.99
SEP072283 SPIDER-MAN FAIRY TALES TP $10.99
SEP072227 SUB-MARINER #6 (OF 6) CWI $2.99
SEP072174 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #116 $2.99
AUG072228 WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #6 (OF 6) WWH $2.99
SEP072238 X-MEN #205 MC $2.99
SEP072245 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #6 $2.99
SEP078124 X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX ONE SHOT 2ND PRINTING (MC) $3.99
SEP072248 ZOMBIE SIMON GARTH #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

JUL073743 10 20 & 30 VOL 2 GN (MR) $9.99
AUG073881 100 PERCENT PERFECT GIRL VOL 4 GN (MR) $9.99
AUG073937 2000 AD #1561 $4.10
SEP073906 2000 AD #1562 $4.10
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OCT073454 AFTER I WIN GN $12.95
JUN073829 AMAZING AGENT LUNA VOL 4 GN $10.99
SEP073360 ARCHIE #580 $2.25
OCT073279 ARCHIE COMICS FUN 3 PACK $3.59
SEP073362 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #184 $3.69
OCT073345 ARCHITECT GN (O/A) (MR) $9.95
SEP073530 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES #4 $3.50
SEP073537 AVENTURA VOL 1 GN $10.95
AUG073846 BEOWULF GN $8.95
FEB073466 BJ BETTY #2 (A) $3.95
SEP073665 BLOWJOB #22 (A) $3.95
OCT073702 BONEYARD VOL 1 COLOR ED TP (O/A) $10.95
AUG074083 CASE CLOSED VOL 20 GN $9.99
JUN073316 CAVEWOMAN PANGAEAN SEA SP ED #10 PI
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SEP073868 CLICK VOL 5 GN $9.99
AUG073764 COMPLETE DICK TRACY HC VOL 03 $29.99
SEP073901 COMPLETE JACK KIRBY VOL 1 TP $25.00
AUG073465 COYOTE RAGTIME SHOW VOL 2 GN (MR) $9.99
OCT073456 CUTE BEAST GN $12.95
SEP074035 DAN DARE #1 (OF 7) $2.99
AUG073375 DARK HORRORS ANTHOLOGY VOL 2 GN (MR) $9.95
SEP073580 DASH GN (MR) $12.95
MAY073702 DESTINYS HAND VOL 2 GN $10.99
JUN073518 DF BOOSTER GOLD SGN #1 $29.99
MAY073432 DF DEATH AND RETURN OF SUPERMAN SGN HC $199.99
AUG074288 DILBERT CUBES AND PUNISHMENT TP $16.95
OCT073376 DJUSTINE TALES OF THE TWISTED WEST ALT CVR #4 (A) $5.95
SEP073469 DOC FRANKENSTEIN CVR A #6 $3.50
SEP073470 DOC FRANKENSTEIN CVR B #6 $3.50
SEP074034 DOCK WALLOPER #1 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
AUG073906 DOCTOR WHO VOL 1 VOYAGER TP $31.95
OCT073485 DRAWN & QUARTERLY SHOWCASE VOL 3 TP (O/A) (MR) $14.95
SEP073538 ES VOL 7 GN (MR) $10.95
AUG073845 FLYING FRIAR COLOR ED SC $8.95
SEP073582 FROM UP ABOVE GN (MR) $12.95
SEP073450 FUTURAMA COMICS #34 $2.99
SEP073539 GACHA GACHA NEXT REVOLUTION VOL 5 GN (MR) $12.95
SEP074041 GAMEKEEPER VOL 1 TOOTH & CLAW LIMITED HC (MR) $29.99
AUG073316 GARGOYLES BAD GUYS #1 $2.95
SEP073768 GENE SIMMONS DOMINATRIX #4 $3.99
SEP073540 GENSHIKEN VOL 9 GN (MR) $10.95
OCT073314 GEORGE ROMERO NOTLD HUNGER BURROWS SKETCH CVR (MR) $24.99
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OCT073458 GLASS SKY GN $12.95
SEP073616 GRAPHIC CLASSICS VOL 8 MARK TWAIN NEW PTG $11.95
OCT073198 GUNSLINGER GIRL MANGA TP VOL 06 $9.99
SEP073563 HACK SLASH SERIES CAMPBELL CVR B #6 (MR) $3.50
SEP073562 HACK SLASH SERIES SEELEY CVR A #6 (MR) $3.50
SEP073521 HIGHLANDER THE COLDEST WAR TP $19.99
JUL073719 HILL TP $14.95
SEP073850 HOPE FALLS #1 (OF 5) $3.50
JUL073549 ICE WANDERER GN (RES) $21.99
SEP073613 IM NOT YOUR STEPPING STONE GN (A) $15.95
SEP073583 INVISIBLE LOVE GN (MR) $12.95
SEP078042 JUNGLE GIRL #3 PX ED $2.99
AUG078087 JUNGLE GIRL PX ED #3 PI
AUG073575 KA SHIN FU GN (MR) $12.95
AUG074089 KEKKAISHI VOL 11 GN $9.99
SEP073817 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #133 $4.99
SEP073614 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER THE WORLD ASKEW #3 (OF 4) $2.95
SEP073818 KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL 23 TP $11.99
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JUL073697 KYOHAKU DOGS VOL 1 GN (MR) $10.95
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AUG073577 LOVE BUS STOP GN (MR) $12.95
AUG073479 LUCKY LUKE CALAMITY JANE TP $11.95
SEP073541 MAMOTTE LOLLIPOP VOL 4 GN $10.95
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AUG074053 MASKED MAGICIAN ONE SHOT $4.99
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