As we careen toward Christmas, much of the comics industry is slowing down, or shutting down completely — well, at least the parts responsible for generating halfway interesting news and announcements.

However, those segments that crank out the big-ticket books and merchandise are still humming along. This week, Dark Horse brings out Criminal Macabre and Umbrella Academy T-shirts and an Aliens omnibus edition, Marvel unshelves the second Marvel Masterworks: Rawhide Kid ($55!), and SLG Publishing unveils the hardcover Haunted Mansion, Vol. 1.

Amid all of that you’ll find a new issue of The Umbrella Academy, the final issue of Exiles, Sean McKeever’s debut issue of Birds of Prey, the first issue of IDW’s Classic Doctor Who, and the first volume of the X-Men-esque Gakuen Alice.

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: Special Forces #2

Kyle Baker’s Iraq satire treds an at-times uneasy line between genuine pathos and slapstick parody. I like that tension, though. I think it’s one of the things that made the first issue work and it suggest to me that he’s aiming for something a bit grander than a simplistic “war = bad” statement. Plus, the guy does the best smackdown of Frank Miller’s oeuvre I’ve ever seen. I’m genuinely excited to read the next issue.

Kevin’s pick of the week:

The Umbrella Academy #4

I don’t know what more I can say about this miniseries, other than I really, really enjoy it. Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba have managed to craft an entertaining story that updates the concept of the superhero comic while maintaining roots in those zany, over-the-top pulp adventures. It feels fresh and familiar at the same time. It’s just … fun.

Birds of Prey #113

Kevin: New series writer Sean McKeever kicks off his tenure with … a guest appearance by Superman? Normally, that would put me off a comic, but I have faith in McKeever. I’m looking forward to his take on the series.

The Cryptics #3

Kevin: I dearly love Steve Niles and Ben Roman’s occasional and too-cute-for-words series about young suburban monsters — namely, Drac, Seaboy, Wolfy and Hyde.

Exiles #100

Kevin: And with this landmark 100th issue, the series comes to an end … only to be resurrected next month as New Exiles. Because nothing improves a title like slapping on an adjective. Look for “Mighty Exiles” in 2009.

The Immortal Iron Fist #11

Kevin: Have I talked up this series enough? No? Well, then, with this issue all the thread from “The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven” storyline seem to come together. On a side note, should I be concerned that there’s no issue solicited for March?

Mighty Avengers #6

Kevin: Speaking of “Mighty,” the big transgender Ultron story comes to a conclusion in the sixth issue of Mighty Avengers.

365 Days: A Diary by Julie Doucet hardcover

Chris: Julie Doucet’s latest comics/not comics project excerpts her journal from November 2002 to 2003. This is no American Elf-type project, however. Doucet crams the pages with text and art (and sometimes collage) to work and relationship to the arts community around her. Just thumbing through my review copy I’m impressed by the endless variation of design and way she manage to cram a good deal of information in a small space without making it seem overwhelming. Previews can be found here.

Action Philosophers, Vol. 3: Giant-Sized Thing

Chris: Collecting issues 7-9 of Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey’s humorous look at philosophy, Vol. 3 covers such folks as John Stuart Mill, the Pre-Socratics, Kant and more. A really fun, light-hearted series. Previews can be found here.

Classic Dan Dare, Vols. 1, 3-7 hardcovers

Kevin: For some strange reason, I have Vol. 6 — “Operation Saturn,” Part 2 — but nothing else. Being from the United States, I don’t have the nostalgia for the character that so many UK readers have. However, these well-produced Titan Books hardcovers seem like good gifts, for the new reader — perhaps introduced to Dan Dare through Garth Ennis’ new Virgin comic — or for the longtime fan.

Death Note: Lethally Fun Facts

Chris: I can’t believe Kevin missed this. Fans should note this is the magical Vol. 13 “encyclopedia” but rather a fan book that offers trivia and attempts to explain inconsistencies in the series. This would be a “Hmmm maybe” purchase for me depending upon how attractive and informative a book it is.

Kevin: Cut me some slack, I’ve been having Internet-connection problems.

Doctor Who Classics #1

Kevin: IDW Publishing kicks off its franchise with a “classic” tale starring Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor. I prefer Baker’s Little Britain narrator to his Doctor, but what do I know?

Doonesbury: Welcome to the Nerd Farm

Chris: For a long time I couldn’t stand to read Doonesbury in the paper anymore. It was trying so hard to be hip and relevant it was hurting my eyes. So I suppose if nothing else we can thank George Bush for kick-starting Trudeau into making his strip not just worth reading again, but one of the best strips going today. His continuing stories on returning war vet BD are moving, insightful as well as funny. There’s a good deal of them included in this new collection.

Drifting Classroom, Vol. 9
Golgo 13, Vol. 12
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Vol. 12

Chris: If it weren’t December these three titles would pretty much be my entire comics shopping for the week.

Gakuen Alice, Vol. 1

Chris: Tokyopop has high hopes for this new shojo series, which isn’t terribly surprising considering it’s sold several million copies in Japan. It’s about a girl who follows her best friend to a secret, exclusive school only to discover (gasp) it’s full of people with paranormal abilities!

So yeah, there’s big X-Men overtones (not to mention Harry Potter) but the book’s more about the main character’s attempts to fit in and make friends than beat up any bad guys. The first volume feels a little bit cluttered and overly busy, but I liked it and imagine it will appeal to it’s target audience rather easily.

The Other Side of the Mirror, Vol. 1

Kevin: I love Jo Chen’s cover art (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Runaways), but it’s rare that we see her sequential work in the United States. Thankfully, Tokyopop remedies that with The Other Side of the Mirror, Chen’s heart-wrenching romance about a beautiful prostitute who meets an aimless college student.

Uzumaki, Vol. 2

Chris: Ahh. More deliciously macabre tales about people twisting into spirals and being melted by white-hot lighthouses with spiral staircases, and kids that turn into snails, and gruesome pregnant vampire ladies. Now that’s a book to get you in the holiday mood, for sure.

Otaku USA, Vol. 3

Chris: I’m not surprised that Naruto’s gracing the cover of this (actually rather well-done) mag. What surprises me is they were able to hold off for so long.

Rock Iconz: Rob Halford statue

Chris: I should get this for my wife.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG070126 ALIENS OMNIBUS VOL 2 TP $24.95
SEP070125 BLACK CAT CLUB EMBROIDERED PATCH $5.99
NOV070089 CITY OF OTHERS LOGO T/S MENS LG $29.99
NOV070090 CITY OF OTHERS LOGO T/S MENS XL $29.99
NOV070082 CRIMINAL MACABRE LOGO T/S MENS LG $29.99
NOV070081 CRIMINAL MACABRE LOGO T/S MENS MED $29.99
NOV070083 CRIMINAL MACABRE LOGO T/S MENS XL $29.99
NOV070084 CRIMINAL MACABRE LOGO T/S MENS XXL $29.99
NOV070080 CRIMINAL MACABRE LOGO T/S WOMENS XL $29.99
OCT070036 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #2 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
JUL070057 GUNSMITH CATS OMNIBUS VOL 4 TP $16.95
JUN070047 OH MY GODDESS VOL 7 RTL TP $10.95
MAY060028 PLASTICLAND HC $29.95
OCT070034 REX MUNDI DH ED #9 $2.99
OCT070026 ROBERT E HOWARDS CONAN FROST GIANTS DAUGHTER ONE SHOT $3.50
OCT070047 SCREAM #2 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP070096 STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 10 TP $6.95
JUL070047 STAR WARS DARK TIMES #7 $2.99
SEP070123 STATIONERY SET JOE LEDBETTER $4.99
OCT070048 UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV070068 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S MENS LG $29.99
NOV070067 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S MENS MED $29.99
NOV070069 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S MENS XL $29.99
NOV070070 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S MENS XXL $29.99
NOV070065 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S WOMENS LG $29.99
NOV070064 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S WOMENS MED $29.99
NOV070066 UMBRELLA ACADEMY LOGO T/S WOMENS XL $29.99

DC COMICS

OCT070245 ARMY @ LOVE #10 (MR) $2.99
OCT070137 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #3 $2.99
OCT070165 BIRDS OF PREY #113 $2.99
OCT070155 CATWOMAN #74 $2.99
OCT070170 CHECKMATE #21 $2.99
OCT070122 COUNTDOWN ARENA #3 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT070129 COUNTDOWN RAY PALMER SUPERWOMAN BATWOMAN #1 $2.99
OCT070168 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL THE ATOM 80 PAGE GIANT #2 (OF 2) $4.99
OCT070116 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 19 $2.99
OCT070151 DETECTIVE COMICS #839 (GHUL) $2.99
OCT070231 EX MACHINA #33 (MR) $2.99
SEP070276 HELLBLAZER BLOODLINES TP (MR) $19.99
OCT070176 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #16 $2.99
SEP070220 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES AN EYE FOR AN EYE TP $17.99
OCT070212 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #9 $2.25
OCT070144 METAMORPHO YEAR ONE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070241 MOON CHILD VOL 9 $9.99
OCT070233 PROGRAMME #6 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT070217 SCOOBY DOO #127 $2.25
OCT070182 SHADOWPACT #20 $2.99
SEP070221 SPECTRE TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED TP $14.99
OCT070159 SUPERMAN #671 $2.99
OCT070160 SUPERMAN BATMAN #44 $2.99
SEP070215 TALES OF THE MULTIVERSE BATMAN VAMPIRE TP $19.99
OCT070240 WORLD OF WARCRAFT #2 $2.99
SEP070244 YOUNG MAGICIAN VOL 10 $9.99

IMAGE COMICS

OCT072003 CIRCLE #2 $2.99
OCT071960 CRYPTICS #3 $3.50
OCT072009 GLISTER #3 $5.99
OCT072065 KISS 4K KISSMAS SP $4.99
APR071900 MADAME MIRAGE #1 ROCAFORT CVR CGC GRADED 9.8 $69.99
JUL071979 MADAME MIRAGE #4 $2.99
JUL071962 SPECIAL FORCES #2 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP071971 WALKING DEAD VOL 3 HC (MR) $29.99

MARVEL COMICS

OCT072085 AVENGERS CLASSIC #7 $2.99
OCT072150 CABLE DEADPOOL #48 $2.99
OCT072090 CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #5 (OF 6) $3.99
OCT078037 CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG (PP #793) $2.99
OCT072199 DAILY BUGLE JANUARY PI
OCT072146 EXILES #100 $3.99
OCT072152 FOOLKILLER #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
SEP072197 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #11 $2.99
SEP072201 INCREDIBLE HULK #112 $2.99
OCT072106 IRON MAN ENTER MANDARIN #4 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT072111 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #19 $2.99
OCT072107 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #31 $2.99
OCT072112 MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #6 $4.99
OCT072114 MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL $3.99
OCT072066 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ILIAD #1 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
SEP078139 MARVEL ZOMBIES HC 6TH PTG IRON MAN (PP #792) $19.99
AUG072243 MIGHTY AVENGERS #6 CWI $2.99
OCT072171 MMW RAWHIDE KID HC VOL 02 $54.99
OCT072172 MMW RAWHIDE KID HC VOL 02 VAR ED 87 $54.99
OCT078075 NEW X-MEN #44 2ND PTG RAMOS VAR $2.99
OCT072137 NEW X-MEN #45 MC $2.99
OCT072124 SHE-HULK 2 #24 $2.99
SEP072247 TERROR INC #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
OCT072126 THE ORDER #6 $2.99
OCT078047 THOR #4 2ND PTG VAR $2.99
OCT072180 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 09 SILVER SURFER $13.99
SEP072270 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VENOM PREM HC $19.99
OCT072073 ULTIMATE X-MEN #89 $2.99
OCT072129 WHAT IF CIVIL WAR $3.99
OCT072130 WHAT IF CIVIL WAR WRAPAROUND $3.99
OCT078048 WHAT IF CIVIL WAR WRAPAROUND SKETCH VAR $3.99
OCT072145 WOLVERINE FIREBREAK ONE SHOT $3.99
OCT072144 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #20 $2.99
OCT072103 WORLD WAR HULK WARBOUND #1 (OF 5) WWH $2.99
OCT072176 X-FACTOR PREM HC HEART OF ICE $19.99
SEP078165 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #6 $2.99
OCT072183 X-MEN TP BLINDED BY THE LIGHT $14.99
OCT072191 X-MEN TP VOL 01 COMPLETE ONSLAUGHT EPIC $29.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

NOV073230 QUESADA SGN MILESTONE 3 PACK PI
SEP073269 STAR WARS 3 D MOVIE POSTER SCULPTURE SET PI
NOV073226 TOYFARE EXC SOUTH PARK BEEFCAKE CARTMAN AF PI
OCT073180 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER 2008 PREVIEW CVR #52 $4.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

SEP073909 2000 AD #1565 $4.10
OCT073747 2000 AD #1566 $4.50
AUG073597 365 DAYS A DIARY BY JULIE DOUCET HC $29.95
JUL073603 A I REVOLUTION VOL 1 GN (MR) $10.99
SEP073622 ACTION PHILOSOPHERS VOL 3 GIANT SIZED THING TP $8.95
OCT073581 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #2 $3.99
OCT073268 ARCHIE DIGEST #240 $2.49
SEP073531 ARMY OF DARKNESS FROM ASHES SUYDAM FOIL CVR #4 PI
OCT073258 AWAKENING #3 (OF 10) (MR) $3.50
NOV073464 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA HC VOL 02 $19.99
OCT073269 BETTY & VERONICA #232 $2.25
OCT073474 CATEGORY FREAKS TP VOL 01-03 OMNIBUS (MR) $23.95
SEP073591 CHINESE HERO VOL 4 TALES O/T BLOOD SWORD SC $19.95
SEP073986 CLAMP NO KISEKI VOL 9 MAGAZINE COLLECTABLE (OF 12) $19.99
OCT073784 CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 01 VOYAGE TO VENUS PART 1 (O/A) $19.95
OCT073786 CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 03 RED MOON MYSTERY (O/A) $19.95
OCT073787 CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 04 MAROONED ON MERCURY (O/A) $19.95
OCT073788 CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 05 OPERATION SATURN PART 1 HC (O/A) $19.95
OCT073789 CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 06 OPERATION SATURN PART 2 HC (O/A) $19.95
OCT073790 CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 07 PRISONERS OF SPACE (O/A) $24.95
OCT073598 COMPLETE CLIVE BARKERS GREAT AND SECRET SHOW HC $55.00
OCT073597 COMPLETE CLIVE BARKERS GREAT AND SECRET SHOW TP $35.00
SEP073983 DEMON ORORON ULTIMATE ED GN $19.99
JUL073605 DEVIL WITHIN VOL 2 GN (MR) $10.99
AUG073610 DF BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS SGN #1 $19.99
SEP073608 DF DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREMIERE HC SGN $69.99
OCT073579 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #1 $3.99
NOV073363 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #2 COLOR WRAP CVR (MR) $5.99
NOV073364 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #3 COLOR WRAP CVR (MR) $5.99
AUG074289 DOONESBURY WELCOME TO THE NERD FARM TP $18.95
OCT073339 DRAGON CROSS #2 (MR) $3.25
SEP073987 DREAMING VOL 3 GN (OF 3) $9.99
SEP074071 DRIFTING CLASSROOM VOL 9 TP (MR) $9.99
OCT073750 DROID LIFE GN $16.99
OCT073457 DUETTO GN $12.95
AUG074019 ENCHANTED CINEMANGA GN $7.99
OCT073255 EVE VAMPIRE DIVA #1 (OF 4) $3.95
APR073414 FATHOM KIANI #4 $3.99
SEP074065 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 15 TP $9.99
OCT073803 GAKUEN ALICE GN VOL 01 $9.99
OCT073444 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #30 $5.50
SEP073285 GOLDEN AGE GREATS SPOTLIGHT VOL 1 (O/A) $22.95
SEP074072 GOLGO 13 VOL 12 GN (MR) $9.99
SEP074057 HANA KIMI VOL 21 GN $9.99
AUG073312 HAUNTED MANSION VOL 1 WELCOME FOOLISH MORTAL HC $49.95
OCT073736 HERO BY NIGHT ONGOING #1 $3.99
OCT073475 HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TP VOL 01 (NEW PTG) (MR) $9.95
OCT073476 HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TP VOL 03 (NEW PTG) (MR) $9.95
OCT073684 HOPE FALLS #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
SEP074066 INUBAKA CRAZY FOR DOGS VOL 6 TP $9.99
OCT073459 INVISIBLE BOY VOL 2 GN $12.95
JUL073607 KANNA VOL 2 GN $10.99
SEP074010 KILALA PRINCESS VOL 4 GN (OF 4) $5.99
NOV073375 LADY DEATH MASTERWORKS ROYAL BLUE ED $75.00
NOV073372 LADY DEATH VS PANDORA #1 FETISH ED $5.99
NOV073447 LADY DEATH VS PANDORA #1 QUITE A PAIR ED $5.99
OCT073733 LOCH THREATS FROM ABOVE SOFTCOVER WITH DVD $13.95
JUL073445 LONE RANGER FOIL CVR #10 PI
OCT073257 LONG COUNT #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50
JUL073608 LOVE MASTER A VOL 1 GN (MR) $10.99
NOV073376 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH SET $24.99
AUG073582 MEGAMI DX VOL 1 GN (MR) $19.95
AUG073487 MERCENARIES FOIL CVR #1 PI
SEP073733 MIDARA GN NEW PTG (A) $14.95
SEP073973 MISSING KAMIKAKUSHI NO MONOGATARI VOL 2 GN (OF 3) $9.99
SEP073964 MODESTY BLAISE VOL 1 GABRIEL SET UP TP NEW PTG (NOTE PRICE) $19.95
SEP073764 MUNDENS BAR VOL 1 TP $19.99
SEP073934 MYSTERY MANOR HAUNTED THEATRE #2 $2.95
SEP074073 NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER VOL 12 TP $9.99
OCT073868 NICOLAS CAGES VOODOO CHILD HYRAPIET COVER #6 (MR) $2.99
OCT073867 NICOLAS CAGES VOODOO CHILD TEMPLESMITH COVER #6 (MR) $2.99
SEP073975 NOISE GN (MR) $9.99
OCT073461 ORDINARY CRUSH VOL 2 GN $12.95
SEP073970 OTHER SIDE O/T MIRROR VOL 1 GN (MR) $9.99
SEP073515 PAINKILLER JANE #4 $3.50
SEP073999 PEACH FUZZ VOL 3 GN (OF 3) $9.99
OCT073691 PHANTOM CVR B #17 (O/A) $4.50
SEP074000 PICK O/T LITTER VOL 2 GN (OF 5) $9.99
OCT073515 PIN-UP ART OF BILL WENZEL (MAY052754) (MR) $18.95
SEP073358 PRIMORDIA #2 (OF 3) (MR) $3.95
NOV073461 RED SONJA #25 LTD MOROTO CVR $2.99
AUG073510 RED SONJA #28 $2.99
JUL073419 RED SONJA ADRIAN FOIL CVR #27 PI
AUG073502 RED SONJA VOL 3 RISE OF GATH HC $24.99
JUN073397 RED SONJA VOL 3 RISE OF GATH TP $19.99
JUL073753 ROADKILL ZOO #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.50
OCT073263 ROBOTIKA FOR A FEW RUBLES MORE #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.95
SEP073526 SAVAGE TALES #5 $4.99
OCT073926 SE7EN HC (MR) $34.95
SEP073984 SGT FROG VOL 1-3 GN BOX SET $12.99
SEP074043 SHOJO BEAT JAN 08 #801 $5.99
OCT073352 SIMPSONS COMICS #137 $2.99
AUG074048 SLEEPY TRUTH VOL 1 GN $9.95
OCT073265 SOME NEW KIND OF SLAUGHTER #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.95
OCT073275 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #183 $2.25
SEP074004 ST LUNATIC HIGH SCHOOL VOL 2 GN (OF 2) $9.99
OCT073617 STAR TREK ALIENS SPOTLIGHT ORIONS $3.99
SEP073775 STAR TREK YEAR FOUR #5 $3.99
SEP074012 TAKUMI KUN VOL 2 BAREFOOT WALTZ GN (A) $9.99
OCT073251 TEDDY SCARES VOL 1 KILLER COMBO $16.95
OCT073341 TEMPEST #2 $3.25
AUG073518 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY CYBERDYNE FOIL CVR #5 PI
OCT073534 THICKER THAN BLOOD #1 (OF 3) (RES) (MR) $3.95
SEP073617 TRANCEPTOR BOOK TWO IRON GAUGE PART 1 GN (A) $9.95
OCT073792 TRANSFORMERS BREAKDOWN PX HC (O/A) $24.95
OCT073799 TRANSFORMERS GN DINOBOT HUNT (O/A) $19.95
OCT073800 TRANSFORMERS GN PREY (O/A) $19.95
OCT073797 TRANSFORMERS PX HC DARK STAR (O/A) $24.95
OCT073793 TRANSFORMERS PX HC LAST STAND (O/A) $24.95
OCT073794 TRANSFORMERS PX HC MAXIMUM FORCE (O/A) $24.95
OCT073795 TRANSFORMERS PX HC TREASON (O/A) $24.95
OCT073796 TRANSFORMERS PX HC TRIAL BY FIRE (O/A) $24.95
SEP074074 UZUMAKI VOL 2 (2ND EDITION) GN (MR) $9.99
JUL073442 WITCHBLADE SHADES OF GRAY FOIL CVR #4 (OF 4) (RES) PI
OCT073462 WORDS OF DEVOTION VOL 2 GN $12.95
SEP074008 YUBISAKI MILK TEA VOL 6 GN (OF 7) (MR) $9.99

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Can't Wait for Wednesday, Version 1.0 Blog@. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.