Let’s pretend the holidays haven’t sapped us of all our extra money and we can actually afford to buy comics this week, okay?

Luckily, there aren’t a lot of major releases this week, as most publishers rushed to get the big-ticket items out in time for Christmas. Still, there are some noteworthy books, including the return of writer Jim Shooter after three decades or so to The Legion of Super-Heroes, the not-so-shocking conclusion to “One More Day” in Amazing Spider-Man, the penultimate volume of the apocalyptic Dragon Head, and more.

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.

Kevin’s pick of the week: The Legion of Super-Heroes #37

I’ve had a sometimes-inexplicable fondness for the Legion of Super-Heroes that dates back to elementary school, when I won a tattered, coverless copy of Issue 289 (July 1982) at the school carnival. After a few years I wandered away, only to be reintroduced to the title in college with the Bierbaum-Giffen reboot. I continued to occasionally check in on the super-teens from the future, most recently with the Mark Waid-helmed relaunch. Try as I might, I couldn’t get into that version; it started out promising, but then … sort of stalled.

So, I readily acknowledge that my interest in this issue, which promises the beginning of a “bold new era” for the series, is rooted firmly in nostalgia. It marks the return of Jim Shooter who, along with Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen, is probably the name most associated with the Legion. I don’t expect social commentary or unconvincing “youth revolution” undercurrents — just old-fashioned 30th-century adventure, with a pinch of soap opera for good measure. (Francis Manapul’s art doesn’t hurt, either.)

Chris’ pick of the week: ACME Novelty Library, Vol. 18, hardcover

What with the release of the Datebook and the special “18.5″ edition of Acme, this holiday season seems to be primo

Chris Ware time doesn’t it? This latest collection presses pause on the “Rusty Brown” storyline to focus instead on the “Building Stories” narrative. I’m sadly behind in my Ware reading but, if memory serves, I preferred the latter to the former. Whatever, I’ll be purchasing this regardless.

Teen Titans Go! #50

Kevin: The little Johnny DC series that could — it was supposed to be canceled in the recent shakeup before getting a reprieve — reaches its landmark 50th issue.

Invincible Presents: Atom Eve #1 (of 2)

Kevin: Robert Kirkman & Co. expand the Invincible universe with this two-issue spotlight on popular supporting character Atom Eve. Benito Cereno (Invincible back-up stories, Tales From the Bully Pulpit) writes and Nate Bellegarde (Invincible back-ups) illustrates.

Pax Romana #1 (of 4)

Kevin: Jonathan Hickman follows The Nightly News with this time-traveling miniseries about saving the world from destruction.

Amazing Spider-Man #545

Kevin: With this issue, the conclusion of the controversial “One More Day” storyline, the comics Internet officially breaks in half. Or possibly thirds. From what I’m told, the Big Thing that everyone thinks will happen does happen. But there are a few bonuses that may lessen the blow. In any case, if the Internet ceases to exist tomorrow, you’ll know why.

Daredevil By Frank Miller Omnibus Companion hardcover

Kevin: Despite the title, this hardcover collection includes work by Bill Mantlo, Denny O’Neil, Bill Sienkiewicz, David Mazzucchelli, John Romita Jr. and John Buscema: Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #27-28, Daredevil #219 and #226-233, Daredevil: Man Without Fear #1-5, and Daredevil: Love and War.

Iron Man #24

Kevin: I couldn’t tell you what’s going on in Iron Man if you paid me, but I really like Gerald Parel’s cover — even if there is a “Mom! Knock first!” feel to it.

Berlin #14

Chris: There are times when I feel as though poor Jason Lutes is missing out on the whole graphic novel revolution going on by continuing to serialize his “city on the cusp of fascism” series (for what, 12 years now)? The fact that, like most alt-pamphlet series, it comes out two to three times a year keeps him in the average indie fan’s line of sight, but it’s not exactly a series you can pick up in the middle of. Oh well, it’s still a good work and I’ll likely pick up this latest issue. But I’m looking more forward to the collection.

Blue Pills

Chris: Another memoir from Europe, this one by Frederik Peeters, about his love affair and relationship with an HIV-positive woman and her young son (also afflicted with HIV). It sounds like a dour, depressing book, but it’s actually quite hopeful and life-affirming. I don’t know that I’d put it on the same shelf as works like Maus and Persepolis, but if you enjoyed those books, you’ll probably want to check this out.

Dragon Head, Vol. 9

Chris: The apocalypse starts to wind down as the penultimate volume of this superb horror manga is released.

Gene Simmons’ Zipper #2

Chris: What, the dominatrix wasn’t enough?

Midnight Sun trade paperback

Kevin: Eisner-nominated cartoonist Ben Towle (Farewell, Georgia, Strange Eggs) tells the story of the search for an Italian airship that disappears en route to the North Pole.

Milk Teeth

Chris: This is part of Drawn and Quarterly’s Petit Livres series of pocket-sized art books, this one focusing on the work of Vancouver-based Julie Morsted. This might actually be my favorite in the series so far, as Morsted’s work is so haunting and evocative (she did the cover of Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood if you need a reference). I’d really like to see her try her hand at a sustained narrative. Particularly something having to do with fairy tales.

Out of Picture, Vol. 1, softcover

Kevin: In the vein of Flight, this beautiful coffee table-sized anthology brings together stories by the animators behind such movies as Ice Age and Robots.

Snaked #1 (of 5)

Chris: A supernatural/political conspiracy/horror comic by Clifford Meth and Rufus Dayglo about a evil political operative with supernatural powers. The first issue suggests promise.

Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow hardcover

Chris: With books like The Golem’s Mighty Swing and The Revival, James Sturm has proven himself more than capable of handling historical material in a fictionalized setting. He’s been pretty busy setting up his school lately, and not doing much in the way of comics, which makes this new biography of the baseball legend all the more enticing.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT070028 CONAN #47 (MR) $2.99
SEP060039 DOMINION TP 4TH ED (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $14.95
SEP070124 JOURNAL JOE LEDBETTER $9.99
SEP070097 STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL VOL 11 HC UNION $19.95
OCT070067 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #24 $2.99
OCT070072 UMBRELLA ACADEMY PATCH KRAKENS LOGO $3.99
OCT070073 UMBRELLA ACADEMY PATCH RUMORS EMBLEM $4.99
OCT070074 UMBRELLA ACADEMY PATCH UMBRELLA LOGO $4.99
OCT070040 USAGI YOJIMBO #108 $2.99
JUN070042 YOSHITAKA AMANO COLL ART OF VAMPIRE HUNTER D SLIPCASED $29.95

DC COMICS

OCT070147 52 AFTERMATH THE FOUR HORSEMEN #5 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT070157 ACTION COMICS #860 $2.99
OCT070232 AUTHORITY PRIME #3 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT070152 BATMAN #672 $2.99
OCT070164 BLUE BEETLE #22 $2.99
OCT070166 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #9 $2.99
OCT070215 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #40 $2.25
OCT070124 COUNTDOWN ARENA #4 $3.99
OCT070127 COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #5 ( OF 8 ) $3.99
OCT070117 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 18 $2.99
OCT070138 CRIME BIBLE THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #3 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT070246 CROSSING MIDNIGHT #14 (MR) $2.99
OCT070140 DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #4 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
SEP070238 EMPTY EMPIRE VOL 6 $9.99
OCT070169 FLASH #235 $2.99
SEP070218 FLASH FASTEST MAN ALIVE FULL THROTTLE TP $12.99
OCT070238 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH #3 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT070139 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #3 (OF 9) $2.99
OCT070171 GREEN LANTERN #26 $2.99
OCT070173 GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SECRET FILES #1 $4.99
OCT070255 HELLBLAZER #239 (MR) $2.99
OCT070249 JACK OF FABLES #18 (MR) $2.99
OCT070178 JLA CLASSIFIED #49 $2.99
OCT070179 JSA CLASSIFIED #33 $2.99
OCT070183 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES CVR A #37 $2.99
OCT070184 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES CVR B #37 $2.99
OCT078350 LOEG BLACK DOSSIER HC 2ND PTG $29.99
JUN070288 POWER GIRL 13 INCH DELUXE FIGURE $69.99
OCT070206 SHOWCASE PRESENTS BRAVE BOLD BATMAN TEAM UPS TP VOL 02 $16.99
AUG070269 TALES OF THE BATMAN TIM SALE HC $29.99
OCT070186 TEEN TITANS #54 $2.99
OCT070213 TEEN TITANS GO #50 $2.25
SEP070243 TOWER OF THE FUTURE VOL 9 $9.99
OCT070148 UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #4 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
OCT070230 WILDCATS ARMAGEDDON #1 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

OCT071999 BOMB QUEEN IV #4 (OF (MR) $3.50
OCT072001 BRAWL #3 (OF 3) (MR) $2.99
OCT071963 DRAWING FROM LIFE #2 (MR) $3.50
OCT072063 FRESHMEN SAN DIEGO COMIC CON EXC T/S 2XL $19.99
OCT072064 FRESHMEN SAN DIEGO COMIC CON EXC T/S 3XL $19.99
OCT072061 FRESHMEN SAN DIEGO COMIC CON EXC T/S LG $17.99
OCT072060 FRESHMEN SAN DIEGO COMIC CON EXC T/S MD $17.99
OCT072062 FRESHMEN SAN DIEGO COMIC CON EXC T/S XL $17.99
OCT071978 HAWAIIAN DICK TP VOL 01 BYRD OF PARADISE (NEW PTG) $14.99
OCT071987 INVINCIBLE CAST POSTER $6.99
OCT071990 INVINCIBLE CAST T/S LG $17.99
OCT071989 INVINCIBLE CAST T/S MD $17.99
OCT071988 INVINCIBLE CAST T/S SM $17.99
OCT071991 INVINCIBLE CAST T/S XL $23.99
OCT071992 INVINCIBLE CAST T/S XXL $23.99
OCT071965 INVINCIBLE PRESENTS ATOM EVE #1 (OF 2) $2.99
SEP071955 PAX ROMANA #1 $3.50
OCT072017 PROOF #3 (MR) $2.99
AUG072022 REPO #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
AUG071996 SPAWN NEW FLESH TP $14.95
OCT071995 WALKING DEAD MICHONNE T/S LG $17.99
OCT071994 WALKING DEAD MICHONNE T/S MD $17.99
OCT071993 WALKING DEAD MICHONNE T/S SM $17.99
OCT071996 WALKING DEAD MICHONNE T/S XL $23.99
OCT072058 WITCHBLADE #109 GRAHAM CRACKERS EX VAR CVR $10.00
AUG072051 WITCHBLADE #112 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

SEP072177 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #545 OMD $3.99
OCT072087 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #8 $2.99
OCT072088 BLACK PANTHER #33 $2.99
OCT072089 CAPTAIN AMERICA #33 $2.99
OCT072091 CAPTAIN MARVEL #2 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT072092 DAREDEVIL #103 $2.99
SEP072255 DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER OMNIBUS COMPANION HC $59.99
SEP072256 DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER OMNIBUS COMPANION HC VAR $59.99
OCT072190 DAREDEVIL TP BATTLIN JACK MURDOCK $12.99
OCT072188 FANTASTIC FIVE TP FINAL DOOM $13.99
OCT072093 FANTASTIC FOUR ISLA DE LA MUERTE ONE SHOT $3.99
AUG078482 FANTASTIC FOUR ISLA DE LA MUERTE ONE SHOT SPANISH ED (PP#791) $3.99
OCT072094 GIANT SIZE AVENGERS SPECIAL #1 $4.99
OCT072097 HOUSE OF M AVENGERS #3 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT072095 HULK VS FIN FANG FOOM ONE SHOT $3.99
OCT072104 IRON MAN #24 $2.99
OCT072109 MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #8 $2.99
SEP072168 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED PICTURE DORIAN GRAY #1 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP072178 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT ONE MORE DAY BRAND NEW DAY $2.99
OCT072141 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX MC $2.99
OCT072116 MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #3 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT072167 MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 05 $54.99
OCT072168 MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 05 VAR ED 22 $54.99
OCT072169 MMW GOLDEN AGE HUMAN TORCH HC VOL 02 $59.99
OCT072170 MMW GOLDEN AGE HUMAN TORCH HC VOL 02 VAR 88 $59.99
OCT072119 NEW WARRIORS #7 $2.99
OCT072153 PUNISHER #53 (MR) $2.99
JUL072211 RED PROPHET TALES OF ALVIN MAKER #11 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP072230 THOR #5 $2.99
OCT072069 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #49 $2.99
AUG072199 ULTIMATE POWER #9 (OF 9) $2.99
OCT072072 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #117 $2.99
OCT072182 UNCANNY X-MEN TP EXTREMISTS $13.99
OCT072139 X-MEN #206 MC $2.99
OCT072149 X-MEN EMPEROR VULCAN #4 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT072151 X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #7 $2.99
OCT072198 X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX DJURDJEVIC POSTER MC $7.99
OCT072142 X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX MUTANT FILES MC $3.99
OCT072155 ZOMBIE SIMON GARTH #2 (MR) $3.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

NOV073219 WIZARD MAGAZINE #196 IRON MAN MOVIE CVR $5.99
NOV073218 WIZARD MAGAZINE #196 SECRET INVASION CVR $5.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

SEP073397 10TH MUSE GOD OF WAR VOL 1 TP $17.95
SEP073737 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #72 (A) $4.99
SEP073597 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY VOL 18 HC (MR) $17.95
AUG073928 AL WILLIAMSON READER VOL 1 TP $25.00
OCT073822 ARCANA GN VOL 07 (OF 9) $9.99
OCT073267 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #115 $2.25
OCT073600 BADGER SAVES THE WORLD #1 (OF 5) $3.99
OCT073351 BART SIMPSON COMICS #39 $2.99
OCT073481 BERLIN #14 (MR) $3.95
OCT073271 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #157 $3.69
NOV073348 BLACK SUMMER ALPHA (MR) $2.99
NOV073350 BLACK SUMMER ALPHA POSTER ED (MR) $5.99
OCT073573 BLUE PILLS GN $18.95
NOV073468 BOYS #7 2ND PTG (O/A) (MR) $2.99
JUL073727 BUCKAROO BANZAI VOL 1 RETURN OF THE SCREW TP $16.95
OCT073820 CHERRY JUICE GN VOL 02 $9.99
SEP073592 CHINESE HERO VOL 4 TALES O/T BLOOD SWORD COLL ED HC $26.95
OCT073823 CHRONICLES OF THE CURSED SWORD GN VOL 20 (OF 27) $9.99
AUG073551 CHUCKY VOL 1 TP $18.99
OCT073378 CLIVE BARKER SET $94.80
OCT073864 DAN DARE #2 (OF 7) $2.99
OCT073824 DAZZLE GN VOL 07 (OF 9) (MR) $9.99
OCT073810 DEJA VU SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER GN $9.99
SEP074037 DEVI #16 $2.99
OCT073877 DEVI TP VOL 03 $14.99
JUN073517 DF ACTION COMICS SGN #855 $19.99
AUG073618 DF SIMON DARK SGN #1 $19.99
NOV073537 DF SPIDER MAN/ RED SONJA #2 LTD ED MICHAEL TURNER CVR $15.00
NOV073362 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #1 COLOR WRAP CVR (MR) $5.99
OCT073451 DRAFTED #4 $3.50
OCT073421 DRAGON EYE GN VOL 03 $10.95
OCT073827 DRAGON HEAD GN VOL 09 (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
OCT073442 DRAGONLANCE THE LEGEND OF HUMA TP VOL 01 (RES) $18.99
SEP073574 FORGOTTEN REALMS VOL 5 STREAMS SILVER HC $29.99
OCT073829 GATCHA GACHA GN VOL 06 (OF 7) $9.99
OCT073624 GENE SIMMONS DOMINATRIX #5 $3.99
OCT073622 GENE SIMMONS ZIPPER #2 $3.99
JUL073488 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE VOL 4 TRUTH & CONSEQUENCES TP $18.99
SEP073573 GI JOE STORM SHADOW #7 $3.50
SEP073459 GIANT MONSTER TP $14.99
OCT073830 GOOD LUCK GN VOL 04 (OF 5) $9.99
OCT073811 GOTHIC SPORTS GN VOL 03 (OF 3) $9.99
SEP078074 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #1 2ND PTG (MR) (RES) (PP #790) $2.99
SEP078075 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #2 2ND PTG (MR) (RES) (PP #790) $2.99
SEP078076 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #3 2ND PTG (MR) (RES) (PP #790) $2.99
JUN073273 IRON & THE MAIDEN FRANCIS MANAPUL SIGNED ED #1 $19.99
JUL073303 IRON & THE MAIDEN FRANCIS MANAPUL SIGNED ED #2 $19.99
AUG073405 IRON & THE MAIDEN FRANCIS MANAPUL SIGNED ED #3 $19.99
SEP073380 IRON & THE MAIDEN FRANCIS MANAPUL SIGNED ED #4 $19.99
JUL073304 IRON & THE MAIDEN MICHAEL TURNER SIGNED ED #2 $29.99
AUG073406 IRON & THE MAIDEN MICHAEL TURNER SIGNED ED #3 $29.99
SEP073381 IRON & THE MAIDEN MICHAEL TURNER SIGNED ED #4 $29.99
OCT073384 JFH JUSTICE FOR HIRE CVR A #1 (OF 12) $3.99
OCT073385 JFH JUSTICE FOR HIRE CVR B #1 (OF 12) $3.99
OCT073831 JUDAS GN VOL 05 (OF 5) (MR) $9.99
OCT073807 KNOCKOUT MAKERS GN VOL 01 (OF 03) (RES) $9.99
NOV073374 LADY DEATH PIRATE QUEEN PRISM FOIL ED $12.99
NOV073373 LADY DEATH SACRILEGE #2 (OF 2) GHOSTLY ED $5.99
OCT073832 LAGOON ENGINE GN VOL 04 (OF 0 (RES) $9.99
OCT073423 LE CHEVALIER DEON GN VOL 03 (MR) $10.95
OCT073487 MARVEL ZOMBIES VS AOD DE EX LTD ED CVR #1 $19.99
OCT073222 MIDNIGHT SUN TP $14.95
OCT073483 MILK TEETH GN (MR) $12.95
OCT073809 MONOCHROME FACTOR GN VOL 01 (OF 02) (RES) $9.99
SEP073864 MUSEUM VAULTS EXCERPTS FROM JOURNAL OF AN EXPERT SC $14.95
SEP073882 MY INNER BIMBO #3 (OF 5) (RES) (MR) $2.99
OCT073858 OUT OF PICTURE SC VOL 01 VILLARD ED $19.95
SEP073615 PALBOT COME TO AMERICA VOL 1 $10.95
OCT073821 PHANTOM GN VOL 04 (OF 5) $9.99
OCT073468 PUNKS THE COMIC CHRISTACULAR SP $4.99
SEP073874 QUEEN & COUNTRY DEFINITIVE ED VOL 1 TP (MR) $19.95
OCT073834 REBIRTH GN VOL 21 (OF 21) $9.99
SEP073399 REDBALL 6 #1 $2.99
OCT073819 RIDING SHOTGUN GN VOL 02 (MR) $9.99
SEP073732 SATCHEL PAIGE STRIKING OUT JIM CROW HC $16.99
SEP073731 SATCHEL PAIGE STRIKING OUT JIM CROW SC $9.99
OCT073479 SHIRTLIFTER #1 (A) $3.95
OCT073480 SHIRTLIFTER #2 (A) $8.95
OCT073808 SHORT SUNZEN GN VOL 01 (OF 5) (MR) $9.99
DEC063326 SHRUGGED #7 $2.99
OCT073607 SNAKED #1 (OF 5) $3.99
OCT074080 STAR WARS ALLEGIANCE MMPB $7.99
AUG073915 TALES FROM THE CRYPT VOL 2 CAN YOU FEAR ME NOW COLL ED HC $12.95
AUG073914 TALES FROM THE CRYPT VOL 2 CAN YOU FEAR ME NOW TP $7.95
OCT073837 ULTRA CUTE GN VOL 09 (OF 9) $9.99
OCT073237 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 B&W MEDINA ED $19.95
SEP073325 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 LTD MEDINA ED $19.95
SEP073590 VISIONS OF BLOODRAYNE $6.99
OCT073719 WASTELAND TP BOOK 02 SHADES OF GOD (MR) $13.95

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