The new year gets off to a wobbly start as the first New Comics Day of 2008 falls on a Friday. On top of that, there aren’t that many major releases.

Oh, that’s not to say there’s no reason to head to the comics shop. This week sees the first issue of Teen Titans: Year One, a bevy of noteworthy manga (including Aria, Vol. 1), the conclusion of AiT/Planet Lar’s Black Diamond and the beginning of Warren Ellis’ Gravel.

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: Teen Titans: Year One #1

I’ve written before about my love for superhero sidekicks, and the classic Titans in particular, so it’s probably no surprise that the first issue of this miniseries is my pick of the week. Written by Amy Wolfram (Teen Titans animated series) and drawn by Karl Kerschl, the six-parter reimagines the original Titans — Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl and Aqualad — in their early days, updated to a very recent time period. I’ve seen grumblings about the appearance in the previews of apparent anachronisms, like an iPod and instant messaging. But you know what? I don’t care. In a comic-book universe in which the adult superheroes don’t age but their sidekicks do, I have no problem accepting a “Year One” retelling that fudges the calendar a little. Particularly if it’s drawn by Karl Kerschl.

Chris’ pick of the week: Omega: The Unknown #4

I agree pretty strongly with Tim Hodler that this series picked up steam considerably with the last issue. The first two issues involved too much set-up, and Dalrymple’s art, though distinctive, didn’t seem to fit the text. It was difficult to find a tone. Last issue, however, seemed to firmly cement the book’s themes and intentions in place and now I’m looking forward to see where the story goes.

Countdown Presents: Lord Havok and the Extremists #3 (of 6)

Chris: I just wanted to note that Lord Havok and the Extremists is a great name for a band. I’m sure that joke’s been made before, but still …

Northlanders #2

Kevin: I enjoyed the debut issue of Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice’s much-publicized Viking adventure, and this installment is just as good.

Presents, Vol. 2

Chris: Creepy girl introduces stories of selfish children receiving a gruesome comeuppance, usually via some gift-oriented motif. As horror manga goes, it’s about average, but EC fans should check it out.

Pride of Baghdad softcover

Chris: Brian Vaughan and Niko Henrichson’s critically acclaimed graphic novel about lions on the loose in Iraq gets the softcover treatment.

Lucha Libre #3

Kevin: This series is taller and wider than the average comic, and extra-long (48 pages). But it pretty much has to be. The dimensions of the original albums aside, this book is bursting with beautiful art, fun ideas — luchadore “superheroes,” motorcycle-riding werewolves, a beret-wearing gang — and lots and lots of content (numerous short stories, one-page strips, character biographies and the like). Each issue is $5.99, but you feel like you get your money’s worth.

Avengers West Coast: Darker Than Scarlet trade paperback

Kevin: Collecting Avengers West Coast #51-57 and #60-62, this trade paperback chronicles one of the Scarlet Witch’s infamous breaks with reality. Marvel should lose the pretense and just release Still Crazy: The Worst of Wanda Maximoff, with some of these issues, The Avengers #187, the “Avengers Dissassembled” storyline, and maybe House of M.

Essential Power Man and Iron Fist, Vol. 1

Kevin: For those who’ve only recently become fans of Luke Cage and Daniel Rand through The Mighty Avengers, Daredevil or The Immortal Iron Fist, this collection is — excuse the expression — essential reading. It’s classic late’70s/early ’80s action from Power Man and Iron Fist #50-72 and #74-75 by the likes of Chris Claremont, Jo Duffy, Steven Grant, Bob Layton, John Byrne, Mike Zeck, Sal Buscema and Trevor Von Eeden.

Aria, Vol. 1

Chris: Kozue Amano’s contemplative manga, a prequel to her Aria series, has garnered a number of accolades from people like Dirk Deppey and Shaenon Garrity. Their praise is enough to at least encourage me to thumb through this new Tokyopop edition in the store.

Dr. Slump, Vol. 14
Hikaru No Go, Vol. 11
Nana, Vol. 8
Path of the Assassin, Vol. 8
Prince of Tennis, Vol. 23
Sgt. Frog, Vol. 14

Chris: There may be a paucity of notable Western comics out this week, but it’s a good week for manga, as a number of old series with strong fan bases churn out their latest volumes this week. My top pick would probably be Dr. Slump, as I love Toriyama’s anarchic, childish sense of humor, but that’s probably only because I haven’t read Nana yet, which everyone under the sun seems to be recommending these days.

Harukaze Bitter Bop, Vol. 1
V.B. Rose, Vol. 1

Kevin: Along with Aria, these two constitute Tokyopop’s new series for the week. I started reading Court Betten’s Harukaze Bitter Bop just last night, but already it’s turning out to be an enjoyable comedy — one about a high school troublemaker who falls in with a mysterious muscle man with amnesia and ditzy girl who fancies herself a detective. On my ever-growing read pile is V.B. Rose, the romance by Banri Hidaka (I Hate You More Than Anyone).

Okko: Cycle of Water hardcover

Kevin: I’m glad this collection is out this week, because I came to the single issues a little late. (Starting a series with Issue 3 isn’t advised.) Hub’s gorgeously illustrated fantasy, set in a world reminiscent of feudal Japan, is probably better suited for this format, anyway.

A Treasury of Victorian Murder, Vol. 4: The Fatal Bullet (new printing)

Chris: A new printing of Rick Geary’s tale of how President Garfield was assassinated. I haven’t actually read this volume in the series, but every one I have perused has been top-notch and I see no reason why this one wouldn’t be as well.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV070019 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #10 $2.99
JUL070016 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF THE ATOM VOL 4 HC $49.95
OCT070010 END LEAGUE #1 $2.99
APR070038 FUTURA ART OF R BLACK HC $19.95
NOV070017 LOBSTER JOHNSON IRON PROMETHEUS #5 (OF 5) $2.99
APR070054 PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOL 8 TP (MR) $9.95
SEP070095 STAR WARS LEGACY #18 $2.99

DC COMICS

NOV070201 ALL NEW ATOM #19 $2.99
OCT078502 BATMAN #671 2ND PTG (GHUL) $2.99
JUN070304 BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE STATUE ANDY KUBERT $65.00
OCT070131 COUNTDOWN LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #3 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV070164 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 17 $2.99
OCT070126 COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #4 ( OF 8 ) $3.99
OCT078339 DETECTIVE COMICS #838 2ND PTG (GHUL) $2.99
NOV070188 DETECTIVE COMICS #840 $2.99
OCT078349 HEROES HC 2ND PTG $29.99
OCT070193 JLA KID AMAZO TP $12.99
NOV070212 JONAH HEX #27 $2.99
NOV070246 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #41 $2.25
NOV070251 LOONEY TUNES #158 $2.25
NOV070216 METAL MEN #5 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
NOV070266 MIDNIGHTER #15 $2.99
OCT078340 NIGHTWING #138 2ND PTG (GHUL) $2.99
NOV070294 NORTHLANDERS #2 (MR) $2.99
OCT070228 PRESENTS VOL 02 (MR) $12.99
OCT070256 PRIDE OF BAGHDAD SC (MR) $12.99
OCT070204 SHADOWPACT TP VOL 02 CURSED $14.99
OCT078509 SIMON DARK #1 2ND PTG $2.99
NOV070198 SUPERGIRL #25 $2.99
OCT070201 SUPERMAN REDEMPTION TP $12.99
OCT070221 TEARS OF A LAMB VOL 01 $9.99
NOV070169 TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV070303 VINYL UNDERGROUND #4 (MR) $2.99
NOV070263 WILDSTORM REVELATIONS #1 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY070269 WORLD OF WARCRAFT ILLIDAN COLLECTOR FIGURE PI

IMAGE COMICS

OCT078336 CRAWL SPACE XXXOMBIES #2 2ND PTG (PP #798) $2.99
OCT072006 DYNAMO 5 #10 $2.99
NOV072041 FEARLESS #3 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV072046 LUCHA LIBRE #3 $5.99
NOV072050 OVERMAN #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
NOV072021 SHARK-MAN #1 $3.50
AUG072027 SORROW #3 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072007 STRANGE EMBRACE #7 ( OF 8 ) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
OCT071997 WALKING DEAD MICHONNE T/S XXL $23.99
NOV072081 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #11 (MR) $3.99

MARVEL COMICS

JUL072208 ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #7 (OF 12) $2.99
NOV072135 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #3 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV072230 AVENGERS WEST COST TP DARKER THAN SCARLET $24.99
OCT072195 ESSENTIAL POWER MAN AND IRON FIST TP VOL 01 $16.99
NOV072192 EXILES DAYS OF THEN & NOW $3.99
JUL072209 HEDGE KNIGHT 2 SWORN SWORD #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV072144 HOWARD THE DUCK #4 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG072281 MAGICIAN APPRENTICE #12 (OF 12) $2.99
NOV072216 MARVEL ADV SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 08 FORCES OF NATURE DIGEST $7.99
NOV072160 MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #7 $4.99
NOV072163 MOON KNIGHT #14 $2.99
SEP072269 MOON KNIGHT VOL 2 MIDNIGHT SUN PREM HC $19.99
NOV072164 MS MARVEL #23 $2.99
NOV072229 MS MARVEL VOL 3 TP $16.99
NOV072170 OMEGA UNKNOWN #4 (OF 10) $2.99
MAR072133 POWERS VOL 11 SECRET IDENTITY TP $19.95
NOV072174 SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #3 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV072218 STORM TP $14.99
AUG072257 THUNDERBOLTS #118 $2.99
NOV072119 ULTIMATE HUMAN #1 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV072179 UNCANNY X-MEN #494 MC $2.99
NOV072224 X-MEN TP PHOENIX WARSONG $14.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

NOV073654 30 DAYS OF NIGHT TP VOL 08 RED SNOW (MR) $17.99
OCT073805 ARIA GN VOL 01 (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
OCT073890 BLACK CAT TP VOL 12 $7.99
OCT073207 BLACK DIAMOND #6 (OF 6) $2.95
AUG073889 CHAMBER OF MYSTERY WITCHCRAFT VOL 1 SC (O/A) $13.99
JUN073868 CHOBITS ART BOOK YOUR EYES ONLY GN $17.99
OCT073355 COVER GIRL TP $14.99
OCT073825 DEMON FLOWERS GN VOL 02 (OF 4) (MR) $9.99
NOV073616 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #2 $3.99
OCT073826 DOGBY WALKS ALONE GN VOL 02 (OF 3) $9.99
AUG073427 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #4 (MR) $3.99
AUG073428 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS WRAP CVR #4 (MR) $3.99
OCT073891 DR SLUMP TP VOL 14 $7.99
JUN073475 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 3 GOPEZ CVR A #6 (OF 12) $3.50
JUN073476 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 3 WALPOLE CVR B #6 (OF 12) $5.50
OCT073816 ELEMENTAL GELADE GN VOL 06 (OF 11) $9.99
OCT073902 FALL IN LOVE LIKE A COMIC TP VOL 02 $8.99
OCT073828 FANTAMIR GN VOL 02 (OF 3) $9.99
OCT073447 FORGOTTEN REALMS HALFLINGS GEM SEELEY CVR A #3 $5.50
OCT073448 FORGOTTEN REALMS HALFLINGS GEM WALPOLE CVR B #3 $9.50
OCT073814 GET BACKERS GN VOL 22 (OF 37) (MR) $9.99
OCT073896 GIN TAMA TP VOL 04 $7.99
OCT073239 GOLD DIGGER #91 $2.99
OCT073240 GOLD DIGGER SOURCEBOOK #12 $3.95
NOV073345 GRAVEL #0 (MR) $1.99
NOV073346 GRAVEL #0 WRAP CVR (MR) $1.99
OCT073453 HACK SLASH SERIES PICHELLI CVR B #7 (MR) $3.50
OCT073452 HACK SLASH SERIES SEELEY CVR A #7 (MR) $3.50
SEP073890 HARDY BOYS VOL 11 ABRACADEATH GN $7.95
SEP073891 HARDY BOYS VOL 11 ABRACADEATH HC $12.95
OCT073806 HARUKAZE BITTER BOP GN VOL 01 (OF 3) $9.99
OCT073903 HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT GN VOL 01 $8.99
OCT073892 HIKARU NO GO TP VOL 11 $7.95
OCT073897 HUNTER X HUNTER TP VOL 18 $7.99
OCT073663 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #134 $4.99
OCT073898 KUROHIME TP VOL 03 $7.99
OCT073905 LA CORDA DORO TP VOL 06 $8.99
OCT073316 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP $2.99
OCT073319 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP PREMIUM CVR $9.99
OCT073318 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP SEELEY CVR $2.99
NOV073446 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP TAKE A BITE ED $5.99
OCT073317 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP WRAP CVR $2.99
OCT073906 LOVE COM TP VOL 04 $8.99
SEP073346 MISADVENTURES OF CLARK & JEFFERSON #1 (OF 4) $3.50
OCT073496 MISS DD GN VOL 05 (A) $9.95
NOV073726 MY BRAIN HURTS TP VOL 01 (MR) $6.00
OCT073817 MY HIME GN VOL 05 (OF 5) (MR) $9.99
OCT073907 NANA TP VOL 08 $8.99
OCT073359 NORTH WIND #1 (OF 4) (RES) $3.99
JUN073248 OKKO CYCLE OF WATER HC (MR) $19.95
FEB073382 PATRICK THE WOLF BOY VOL 4 PKT TP $12.99
OCT073833 PEARL PINK GN VOL 04 (OF 4) $9.99
OCT073244 PIRATES VS NINJAS II UP THE ANTE #6 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
SEP073936 POISON ELVES LIMITED EDITION #80 (MR) $19.95
OCT073893 PRINCE OF TENNIS GN VOL 23 $7.95
OCT073899 REBORN GN VOL 06 $7.99
OCT073667 RETURN TO SCANDALOUS SEIRYO UNIVERSITY GN (A) $10.99
OCT073818 ROZEN MAIDEN GN VOL 07 (OF 7) (MR) $9.99
OCT073908 SA GN VOL 02 $8.99
OCT073815 SAMURAI DEEPER KYO GN VOL 26 (OF 38) (MR) $9.99
OCT073909 SAND CHRONICLES GN VOL 01 $8.99
NOV073657 SCARFACE DEVIL IN DISGUISE TP $17.99
OCT073813 SGT FROG GN VOL 14 (OF 14) $9.99
OCT073894 SHAMAN KING TP VOL 14 $7.95
OCT073353 SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #6 $2.99
OCT073910 SKIP BEAT TP VOL 10 $8.99
OCT073245 SKY SHARKS #5 (OF 5) $3.50
OCT073276 SONIC X #28 $2.25
NOV073936 SPIRAL BONDS OF REASONING TP VOL 02 $10.99
OCT073900 STRAWBERRY 100 % TP VOL 03 $7.99
NOV073937 SUNDOME GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
OCT073277 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #26 $2.49
OCT073727 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #4 $3.95
OCT073589 TRANSFORMERS BEAST WARS SOURCEBOOK #3 (OF 3) $6.99
SEP073865 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 4 FATAL BULLET NEW PTG $9.95
OCT073856 VALKYRIE GOLDEN AGE COLLECTION TP VOL 01 $14.95
OCT073804 VB ROSE GN VOL 01 $9.99
OCT073278 VERONICA #186 $2.25
OCT073895 WHISTLE TP VOL 18 $7.99
OCT073923 Y SQUARE TP VOL 01 $10.99
SEP074063 YURARA VOL 3 TP $8.99

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