It’s difficult to single out this week’s “big” release. Is it the final issue of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s frenetic initial Umbrella Academy miniseries? Or the debut of Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier and Mike Ploog on The Spirit?

Maybe it’s the premiere of the Red Hulk in Hulk #2, or the delayed release of Runaways #29 (Joss Whedon’s penultimate issue). Then how about Tony Millionaire’s Maakies with the Wrinkled Knees, or The Sinestro Corps War hardcover?

U-decide!

To see what 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: Maakies with the Wrinkled Knees hardcover

Few cartoonists — I’m actually having trouble thinking of any at the moment — are able to combine the poetic and the profane as eloquently as Tony Millionaire does. Maakies is always a rude, offensive, yet sweet and charming strip and I’m always happy when the latest collection comes out.

Kevin’s pick of the week: The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #6 (of 6)

With this miniseries I discovered a fine line separates “jam-packed with ideas” and “mania.” Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed the bacchanalian frenzy, but it was a little overwhelming: flashbacks, time travel, futuristic assassins, killer robots, deadly music, dysfunctional “siblings,” a dead alien father figure, a robotic mother figure, talking chimps, slightly creepy romance, global threats, violence, violence, violence. How I’ll miss it! The next miniseries can’t come soon enough.

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Vol. 6

Kevin: I’ve been a fan of Eiji Otsuka and Housui Yamazaki’s quirky horror series from the very start, and it’s been interesting to see them broaden the scope of the Kurosagi “world” in these past few volumes. In the newest one, the students discover they have competition for locating bodies and helping their souls move one: White Heron Corpse Cleaning Service. This volume also promises to reveal the identity of the ghost that’s been haunting Karatsu.

Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 1, hardcover

Kevin: One of DC’s few home-run hits of 2007, “The Sinestro Corps War” left the sluggish Countdown in the dust. That said, I wonder who the market is for a hardcover edition? Sure, it collects the storyline from Green Lantern #21-22, Green Lantern Corps #14-15, and Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1, but I get the sense that a majority of fans snatched up the single issues as they were released. And I don’t see this being a draw for “new readers” in the book market. Serious Green Lantern fans, I guess?

The Spirit #14

Chris: Finally, the team of Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier and Mike Ploog (with a cover by Jordi Bernet, no less) take the reins for this ongoing homage/revitalization project of Will Eisner’s best-known character. Will it be as warmly received as Darwyn Cooke’s interpretation? How should I know? What are you asking me for?

Godland #21

Chris: Hey, it’s been a while since we saw an issue of this, hasn’t it? Did Scioli and Casey go on another brief hiatus or something? I seem to remember them announcing something like that, although I’m probably thinking of someone else. At any rate, this will be on my Wednesday pull list.

Hulk #2

Kevin: Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness continue their “Who Is The Red Hulk?” storyline by … introducing the Red Hulk. I’ve never been a fan of the Hulk, or Loeb’s attempts at writing “mystery,” but reader response to the first issue seems to be positive.

The Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death #1

Kevin: As I’ve mentioned on countless occasions, I love — love! — this series. And I really like Orson Randall, the Golden Age Iron Fist. But! I’m beginning to worry for “The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven” storyline. Don’t get me wrong: The tournament, the new immortal weapons, the Hydra plot, the political intrigue — all fantastic. However, this is the second detour into side-/back-story territory within one arc (the annual was the first). Okay, now that that’s off my chest, I do look forward to reading more Randall adventures, and learning more about the Prince of Orphans. I just wish this issue didn’t feel like another speed bump, slowing down what should be a fast-paced storyline.

The Order #8
The Order, Vol. 1: Next Right Thing

Chris: So do you suppose if the first trade collection sells like hotcakes Marvel will decide to keep this series afloat? Nah, I didn’t think so either. More to the point, are they going to collect those final three issues in a second trade or just leave them to wither on the wire-rack vine?

Runaways #29

Kevin: Is it bad that I thought Joss Whedon’s run on the title had already wrapped up? Hey, I have an excuse: The previous issue came out in October. Anyway, this is only Part 5; there’s still another issue to go.

Alive, Vol. 3

Kevin: Tadashi Kawashima and Adachitoka creepy, but engaging, sci-fi mystery is one of my current-favorite series. When it comes to premises I generally dislike, “alien virus” is right behind “dystopian future.” But in Alive, it works, serving as an intriguing launching point.

The Boys, Vol. 2: Get Some

Chris: Collecting issues 7-14 of the series, in which the Boys solve the murder of a young gay man and then go to Russia. Not my favorite issues so far, but they do feature a superhero who can’t stop having sex with literally anything he sees, so, you know, there are pluses.

Drifting Classroom, Vol. 10
Golgo 13, Vol. 13
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Vol. 13
Uzumaki, Vol. 3

Chris: It’s Viz Signature week as the company decides to dump the latest volumes of just about every manga it’s serializing in its more adult, “literary” line this Wednesday. Golgo comes to an end with this release, as does Uzumaki, though it’s worth noting the latter places the uber-assassin in the midst of the 2000 election controversy (not that Junji Ito’s spiral-obsessed horror story doesn’t have it’s own share of benefits). Classroom, meanwhile, has about two more volumes to go before it wraps up. I think we’re only about halfway through Monster right now.

Fablewood, Vol. 1

Kevin: This fantasy anthology, which has been floating around for a while now, is finally released through Ape Entertainment. This first volume features work by Ryan Ottley (Invincible), J.P. Ahonen (Flight) and others. You can read more about it here.

Jenna Jameson’s Shadow Hunter #1

Chris: Any comment I make here risks tagging me with the “pornhound” label, but I’ll soldier on anyway. Firstly, hasn’t JJ’s 15 minutes of fame long eclipsed her by this point? I mean, does she still have the sort of cultural cache that would warrent her own comic book? Shouldn’t this have come out eight years ago? Even so, are fans of her work really going to shell out for a comic where she keeps her clothes on and doesn’t have sex with anyone? Plus, have you seen her lately? I’ve seen skeletons with more meat on them.

Locke & Key #1

Kevin: IDW Publishing unveils the new horror comic by Heart-Shaped Box author Joe Hill.

More Old Jewish Comedians hardcover
Shag: A to Z: A BLAB! Storybook hardcover

Chris: Like the title says, it’s another collection of caricatures of old Jewish comedians by Drew Friedman, the first one apparently having gone over really well. It’s got Larry Storch in it for all you Larry Storch fans. And if you’re one of those BLAB! book completists, or you just like Shag’s art, he’s got an ABC book out this week as well.

Paul Goes Fishing

Chris: I know, that title doesn’t exactly inspire thrills, does it? Nevertheless, I find Michel Rabagliati’s semi-autobiographical stories of young Paul’s maturation into manhood very compelling. He’s a gifted cartoonist and I enjoy the way he’s able to reveal the character’s inner lives through their dialogue. I imagine this fourth book in the series will go down as nicely as the first three.

The Collected Sam & Max: Surfin’ the Highway

Chris: Everything comes back to you in the end.

The Learners hardcover

Chris: Chip Kidd’s latest novel comes to comic book stores. The cover is by Charles Burns.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV070042 ALIENS OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 $24.95
DEC070045 CONAN #49 (MR) $2.99
OCT070012 FEAR AGENT TP LAST GOODBYE $13.95
DEC070064 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #4 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
DEC060050 JOHN LANDIS BIOGRAPHY NOVEL (RES) $29.95
OCT070058 KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE TP VOL 06 $10.95
JUN070049 PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOL 9 TP (MR) $9.95
DEC070044 REX MUNDI DH ED #10 $2.99
DEC070057 SCREAM #4 (OF 4) $2.99
OCT070068 STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL VOL 12 HC LEGACY $24.95
SEP070094 STAR WARS DARK TIMES #9 $2.99
DEC070132 STATIONERY SET APAK $4.99
DEC070063 UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY070042 VICIOUS INTENT HC $19.95

DC COMICS

NOV070256 APOTHECARIUS ARGENTUM VOL 04 $9.99
JUL070328 BATMAN ALL STAR POSTER $7.99
DEC070194 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #4 $2.99
NOV070191 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #13 $2.99
DEC070222 BIRDS OF PREY #115 $2.99
DEC070224 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #10 $2.99
DEC070268 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #22 $2.25
DEC070210 CATWOMAN #76 $2.99
NOV070235 CATWOMAN CATWOMANS DEAD TP $14.99
DEC070227 CHECKMATE #23 $2.99
DEC070185 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 10 $2.99
DEC070191 DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #6 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
DEC070277 EX MACHINA #34 (MR) $2.99
DEC070226 FLASH #237 $2.99
NOV070236 FLASH BLOOD WILL RUN TP NEW ED $17.99
NOV070269 GEN 13 TP VOL 02 ROAD TRIP $14.99
OCT070196 GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 01 THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR $24.99
DEC070230 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #18 $2.99
DEC070299 LOVELESS #22 (MR) $2.99
DEC070271 MAD KIDS #10 $4.99
DEC070270 MAD MAGAZINE #487 $4.99
JUL070330 NIGHTWING REFLECTIONS POSTER $7.99
NOV070260 PALETTE OF 12 SECRET COLORS VOL 02 $9.99
DEC070281 PROGRAMME #8 (OF 12) $2.99
DEC070208 ROBIN #171 $2.99
DEC070267 SCOOBY DOO #129 $2.25
DEC070240 SHADOWPACT #22 $2.99
NOV070218 SPIRIT #14 $2.99
DEC070218 SUPERMAN BATMAN #46 $2.99
DEC070220 SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #12 $2.99
DEC070306 UN-MEN #7 (MR) $2.99
DEC070275 WILDSTORM REVELATIONS #4 (OF 6) $2.99
DEC070241 WONDER GIRL #6 (OF 6) $2.99
DEC070288 WORLD OF WARCRAFT #4 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

DEC072089 GODLAND #21 $2.99
NOV072043 HAWAIIAN DICK #3 $2.99
NOV072083 HUNTER KILLER TP VOL 01 $24.99
SEP071998 INVINCIBLE #48 $2.99
DEC072078 INVINCIBLE DEAD CONVENTION PRINT $29.99
DEC072069 LIONS TIGERS & BEARS TP VOL 02 $14.99
DEC072055 LOADED BIBLE 3 COMMUNION (ONE SHOT) $4.99
SEP072031 MADAME MIRAGE #5 $2.99
DEC072048 PERHAPANAUTS ANNUAL #1 $3.50
JUL071957 PVP #38 $3.50
DEC072147 WITCHBLADE #111 WWTX VAR CVR $10.00
DEC072129 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #12 (MR) $3.99
AUG072057 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA WWPA VAR CVR #5 (NOTE PRICE) $10.00
DEC072107 YOUNGBLOOD #2 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

NOV072130 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #551 BND $2.99
DEC072173 AVENGERS CLASSIC #9 $2.99
DEC072228 CABLE DEADPOOL #50 $3.99
DEC072285 FANTASTIC FOUR BY ART ADAMS POSTER $7.99
DEC072187 HULK #2 $2.99
NOV078038 HULK #2 DJURDJEVIC VAR (PP #798) $2.99
DEC072185 IMMORTAL IRON FIST ORSON RANDALL GREEN MIST DEATH $3.99
DEC072186 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114 $2.99
NOV078137 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114 ACUNA VAR (PP #799) $2.99
DEC072190 IRON MAN #26 $2.99
DEC072279 IRON MAN TP MANY ARMORS OF IRON MAN NEW PTG $24.99
OCT072189 LONERS TP SECRET LIVES OF SUPER HEROES $14.99
DEC072195 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #21 $2.99
DEC072198 MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #8 $4.99
DEC072157 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ILIAD #3 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
DEC072205 MIGHTY AVENGERS #9 $2.99
DEC072243 MMW ANT-MAN GIANT MAN HC VOL 02 $54.99
DEC072244 MMW ANT-MAN GIANT MAN HC VOL 02 VAR ED VOL 91 $54.99
DEC072247 MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 02 2ND PTG $54.99
DEC072248 MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 02 VAR ED VOL 12 2ND PTG $54.99
NOV072205 MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 06 $54.99
NOV072206 MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 06 VAR ED 90 $54.99
DEC072210 ORDER #8 $2.99
DEC072271 ORDER TP VOL 01 NEXT RIGHT THING $12.99
OCT072123 RUNAWAYS #29 $2.99
OCT072154 TERROR INC #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
DEC072163 ULTIMATE HUMAN #2 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC072166 ULTIMATE X-MEN #91 $2.99
DEC072167 ULTIMATES 3 #3 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV078138 ULTIMATES 3 #3 (OF 5) CHO VAR (PP #799) $2.99
DEC072226 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #22 $2.99
DEC072189 WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH WARBOUND #3 (OF 5) $2.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

JAN083279 ASPEN SPLASH 2007 WWC EXC SGN TURNER CVR CGC 9.8 PI
JAN083276 THOR #1 SDCC COIPEL SKETCH CVR CGC 9.8 PI
DEC073290 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER XXXHOLIC CVR #54 $4.99
JAN083275 WIZARD EXC SW ANH LIGHT UP SPIRIT OBI WAN MINI BUST PI

OTHER PUBLISHERS

DEC073862 ABYSS #3 (OF 4) $2.95
NOV073484 ALIVE GN VOL 03 (MR) $10.95
DEC073719 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #4 $3.99
DEC073400 ARCHIE #582 $2.25
DEC073402 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #186 $3.69
DEC073418 ASPEN SHOWCASE GRACE #1 $2.99
NOV073492 ATHEIST TP VOL 01 $15.99
NOV073767 ATLANTIS RISING #4 $3.95
AUG073505 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON APOCALYPSE TP $14.99
NOV073465 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #3 $3.50
OCT073403 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TP VOL 03 PHOTO CVR $14.99
OCT073402 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TP VOL 03 SEGOVIA CVR $14.99
DEC073692 BEST OF CLUB STRIPES SC VOL 01 PRIVATE EXHIBITION (A) $24.95
DEC073441 BLACK SUMMER AUXILIARY #3 (OF 7) (MR) $2.99
OCT073701 BONEYARD COLOR ED TP VOL 03 $12.95
DEC073541 BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME (MR) $19.99
SEP073554 CHERUBS PARADISE LOST GN $14.99
NOV073438 CLASSIC ILLUS JR #505 SLEEPING BEAUTY $5.99
NOV073439 CLASSIC ILLUS JR #506 THREE LITTLE PIGS $5.99
NOV073440 CLASSIC ILLUS JR #507 JACK & THE BEANSTALK $5.99
NOV073441 CLASSIC ILLUS JR #510 LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD $5.99
NOV073625 CLASSIC TRANSFORMERS VOL 1 TP $19.99
NOV073445 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED FRANKENSTEIN $9.99
NOV073443 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED GULLIVERS TRAVELS $9.99
NOV073762 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED HC VOL 01 GREAT EXPECTATIONS $9.95
NOV073444 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED HUCKLEBERRY FINN $9.99
NOV073442 CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED TALE OF TWO CITIES $9.99
JAN083602 COMPLETE OMAHA THE CAT DANCER VOL 1 TP (O/A) (A) $12.95
JAN083603 COMPLETE OMAHA THE CAT DANCER VOL 2 TP (O/A) (A) $12.95
JAN083604 COMPLETE OMAHA THE CAT DANCER VOL 3 TP (O/A) (A) $12.95
JAN083605 COMPLETE OMAHA THE CAT DANCER VOL 4 TP (O/A) (A) $12.95
JAN083606 COMPLETE OMAHA THE CAT DANCER VOL 5 TP (O/A) (A) $12.95
JAN083609 CONVENT OF HELL (O/A) (A) $12.95
OCT073414 DARK XENA TP $14.99
DEC073619 DF GRIMM FAIRY TALES #2 ALT CVR PI
NOV073504 DRAFTED #5 $3.50
SEP073938 DREW HAYES & MISFORTUNES – PSYCHO GO GO CD (MR) $17.00
NOV073931 DRIFTING CLASSROOM TP VOL 10 (MR) $9.99
DEC073365 EIKEN VOL 8 GN (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $10.99
NOV073515 EVERLASTING LOVE GN (MR) $12.95
NOV073306 FABLEWOOD GN VOL 01 $19.95
DEC073586 FORGOTTEN REALMS THE LEGACY #1 (OF 3) SEELEY CVR A $5.50
DEC073587 FORGOTTEN REALMS THE LEGACY #1 (OF 3) WALPOLE CVR B $9.50
DEC074182 GARFIELD LARGE & IN CHARGE TP VOL 45 $12.00
OCT073735 GHOSTING #5 $3.99
DEC073367 GOLD DIGGER #93 $2.99
DEC073368 GOLD DIGGER SOURCEBOOK #14 $3.95
NOV073932 GOLGO 13 GN VOL 13 (MR) $9.99
JAN083818 GOOD & EVIL #1 PART 1 THE BEGINNING $2.99
DEC073941 GREASE MONKEY GN $19.95
SEP074086 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #21 (MR) $2.99
SEP074085 GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN TO WONDERLAND #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP074084 GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN WONDERLAND FOLD CVR #6 (OF 6) (MR) $4.99
DEC073588 HACK SLASH SERIES #9 SEELEY CVR A (MR) $3.50
DEC073589 HACK SLASH SERIES #9 STONE CVR B (MR) $3.50
DEC073579 HALLOWEEN NIGHTDANCE #1 GLOW DARK JACK O LANTERN PX CVR D $9.99
NOV073910 HANA KIMI GN VOL 22 $9.99
NOV073763 HARDY BOYS GN VOL 12 DUDE RANCH O DEATH $7.95
NOV073764 HARDY BOYS HC VOL 12 DUDE RANCH O DEATH $12.95
AUG073371 HORRORWOOD VOL 1 DIRECTORS CUT ED $24.95
DEC073789 INCUBUS GN VOL 01 (A) $10.99
DEC073843 INCURSION #4 $3.99
NOV073924 INUBAKA CRAZY FOR DOGS TP VOL 07 $9.99
NOV073880 JENNA JAMESONS SHADOW HUNTER #1 $2.99
NOV073926 KEKKAISHI GN VOL 12 $9.99
DEC073786 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #136 $4.99
JAN083422 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP MOONLIGHT WRAP CVR $5.99
JAN083419 LADY DEATH BLACKLANDS COMPLETE SET $18.99
JAN083421 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS #0 (OF 2) ROYAL BLUE CVR $75.00
NOV073564 LAIKA SC (O/A) $17.95
DEC073701 LOCKE & KEY #1 $3.99
SEP073902 LOU FINE READER TP VOL 02 $25.00
JAN083783 LOVE AND CAPES PACK $15.95
DEC073693 LOVE CAN BE DIFFERENT #1 (OF 3) (A) $4.95
NOV073558 MAAKIES WITH WRINKLED KNEES HC $19.95
DEC073643 MORE OLD JEWISH COMEDIANS HC $16.99
NOV073933 NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER TP VOL 13 $9.99
NOV073734 NASCAR HEROES #3 $3.95
MAY073314 NEGATION VOL 3 HOUNDED TP $17.95
APR073832 NOW VOL 3 GN $10.95
JAN083584 PAUL GOES FISHING GN (MR) $19.95
DEC073373 PIRATES VS NINJAS II UP THE ANTE #8 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
NOV073314 PRIMORDIA #3 (OF 3) (MR) $3.95
AUG073499 RAISE THE DEAD HC $19.99
NOV073455 RED SONJA #30 $2.99
DEC073374 ROD ESPINOSA PRINCE OF HEROES #2 (OF 3) $3.50
SEP073953 SAM & MAX SURFIN HIGHWAY TP $19.99
AUG073927 SCARLETTS CURSE #5 (OF 7) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
OCT073505 SHAG A TO Z BLAB STORYBOOK HC $14.95
NOV073891 SHOJO BEAT MAR 08 $5.99
JUL073399 SIGIL VOL 6 PLANETARY UNION TP $17.95
DEC073483 SIMPSONS COMICS #139 $2.99
AUG073477 SOJOURN VOL 6 A BERSERKERS TALE TP $17.95
DEC073704 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT ARCEE $3.99
DEC073706 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT TP VOL 02 $19.99
NOV073934 UZUMAKI (2ND EDITION) GN VOL 03 (MR) $9.99
JAN083999 VAGABOND TP VOL 25 (MR) $9.95
JAN084000 VAGABOND TP VOL 26 (MR) $9.95
DEC073414 VERONICA #187 $2.25
SEP073687 WALT DISNEY TREASURES TP VOL 02 UNCLE SCROOGE $16.99
NOV073944 WILLOW CREEK #0 (OF 5) (MR) $0.75
NOV073489 YAGYU NINJA SCROLLS GN VOL 02 $13.95
DEC073535 ZORRO #1 $3.50

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