I initially considered writing a lengthy introduction presenting oh, I don’t know, Archie #583 as this week’s big release. But I hate April Fool’s Day, so let’s forget that lame idea and just get down to business.

As most every superhero-comic fan realizes, tomorrow sees the release of Secret Invasion #1, which kicks off Marvel’s much-publicized summer event. Many of you will run to your local comic store to discover who’s a Skrull and, more importantly, whether marvel b0y was yanking everybody’s chain. Get those score cards ready so you can compare his — or her – “spoilers” to those of the anonymous commenter. Who do you trust?

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: Gun Blaze West, Vol. 1

And so arrives another Wednesday in which my jones for a certain type of entertainment — in this case, mindless adventure liberally peppered with over-the-top gunplay — trumps my sense of “great comics.” This week Nobuhiro Watsuki’s Western action-comedy scratches that itch.

Watsuki’s follow-up to Rurouni Kenshin, the shonen manga centers on a young boy who dreams of journeying to Gun Blaze West, the legendary city where the greatest gunslingers test their skill. Okay, it sounds a bit like every other shonen adventure — a quest to be the best whatever, intensive training, larger-than-life villains/obstacles, etc. — but the genre is popular for a reason.

Chris’ pick of the week: Little Things: A Memoir in Slices

Yes, yes, I know. Autobiographical comics are full of boring, whiny stories about boring, whiny people, and nothing ever happens and there’s not even a decent explosion blah, blah, blah. And yes, Jeffrey Brown’s quotidian tales can ramble at times to the point of annoyance.

But I found this latest collection of stories — from big book publisher Touchstone, no less — to be quite charming. In his slice-of-life style Brown finds not only humor, but an awareness of how life can completely take you by surprise just when you think you’re in the midst of a six-foot-deep rut. I liked it.

Batman/Grendel trade paperback (new printing)

Kevin: Matt Wagner’s two crossover miniseries from 1993 and 1996 are collected in this new edition. In the first, the original Grendel, Hunter Rose, arrives in Gotham City and is, of course, pitted against the Dark Knight. In the second miniseries, Batman is confronted by the cyborg Grendel-Prime.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #13

Kevin: The “Wolves at the Gate” storyline continues as Buffy & Co. fight mysterious “uber-vampires” in Tokyo. Oh, like you care about that. You just want to see if Buffy gets it on with that other slayer again.

American Splendor Season Two #1 (of 4)

Chris: Harvey Pekar pulls up to the Vertigo bar for another round of “my stinkin’ life” stories. The neat thing for me about the first collection was seeing untraditional AS artists like Richard Corben and Gilbert Hernandez try their hand at translating Pekar’s autobiographical tales. This time around, we have folks like David Lapham and Chris Weston, in addition to the always reliable and ever present Dean Haspiel.

Countdown Special: Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth 80-page Giant

Kevin: In what may be the longest title of the month, DC collects stories from Jack Kirby’s Kamandi #1, #10 and #29, apparently because they’re connected to the last few issues of Countdown and the approaching Final Crisis. I love Ryan Sook, but I find it odd that DC had him draw the cover, instead of simply using one of Kirby’s old ones.

Shazam: The Greatest Stories Ever Told trade paperback

Kevin: This 224-page grab bag features Captain Marvel stories that span the decades, from the 1940s to the 1990s, by the likes of C.C. Beck, Gil Kane, Jack Kirby, Barry Kitson, Dennis O’Neil and others.

The Trials of Shazam! #12 (of 12)

Kevin: Is it just me, or did this miniseries seem as if it went on for years? I read the first few issues, but the whole thing was just so serious and … unnecessary. Or maybe unnecessarily serious.

Casanova #13
Omega: The Unknown #7 (of 10)
The Boys #17

Chris: Three of the best series out there pick up in the middle of some really fantastic runs. Casanova follows up the slam-bang violence of its last issue, The Boys continues to develop the surprisingly charming relationship between Hughie and Annie, and Omega … well, Omega just keeps being awesome. Better still, this issue features art by Gary Panter.

Amazing Spider-Man #555

Kevin: I’m not a fan of Spider-Man — no, it doesn’t have anything to do with “One More Day” or “Brand New Day” — but it’s difficult to pass up Chris Bachalo art.

Secret Invasion #1 ( of 8 )

Chris: Hmmmm, I wonder what the best-selling comic of the week will be? Perhaps this little number, featuring something about Skrulls pretending to be superheroes.
I was lucky enough to get a gander at the first issue (no, I am not Marvel Boy), and it’s about what you’d expect — full of sturm and drang and explosions and “oh my gee willikers” revelations. It’s certainly entertaining enough, though your mileage is definitely going to vary depending on how devout a Marvel (and Bendis) fan you are.

X-Men: First Class: Mutant Mayhem trade paperback

Kevin: Jeff Parker & Co.’s wonderful all-ages X-Men series, starring Xavier’s original students, gets its first trade paperback. The Colleen Coover-drawn backup stories alone make this worth the cover price.

Young Avengers Presents #3

Kevin: I miss Young Avengers. The “real,” Allan Heinberg-penned characters, not the ones who appear in scattered cameos across Marvel titles, or in these spotlight comics. Still, the preview for this issue, which centers on twin brothers Wiccan and Speed — the children of the Scarlet Witch — looks, well, kind of sweet.

Young X-Men #1

Kevin: I have no idea how the “Messiah Complex” crossover ended, but apparently there are no X-Men? So you’ll understand why I’m perplexed by the debut of a new X-Men series. (Yeah, yeah. I know the Marvel Universe is still lousy with X-folk. Still, I’m a little confused.)

Anna Mercury #1 (of 5)

Kevin: Warren Ellis and Facundo Percio’s new Avatar miniseries debuts, starring the mysterious leather-clad protector of a retro-future city of New Ataraxia.

Awkward & Definition

Chris: Ariel Schrag was just a wee thing in high school when she self-published these two autobiographical comics. Now Pocket Books has joined them together in one oversized softcover trade for your reading pleasure.

Dragon Head, Vol. 10

Chris: Mochizuki Minetaro’s apocalyptic “survival” horror manga comes to a close with this volume. Now maybe I have a chance of catching up on it.

Everybody’s Dead #2

Chris: They are? Well, crap.

Hotel Africa, Vol. 1 (of 4)

Chris: From Korean artist Hee Jung Park, whom Tokyopop introduced everyone to last month with the highly acclaimed Fever. This is, I believe, Park’s first major work. At least I hope it is, because I read this over the weekend and if Park hasn’t overcome her predilection for soppy sentimentality, I don’t think I’m going to enjoy Fever much.

Jenny Finn: Doom Messiah trade paperback

Kevin: This trade paperback collects Mike Mignola, Troy Nixey and Farel Dalrymple’s Lovecraftian tales of Victorian England that previously appeared as Jenny Finn: Doom and Jenny Finn: Messiah. You can see a preview here.

Many Happy Returns

Chris: From About Comics. An anthology mostly featuring publisher Nat Gertler’s Licensable Bear character, but mainly notable for the first Journey story by William Messner-Loebs in a real, real long while.

Tonoharu: Part One

Chris: A new graphic novel by Lars Martinson about an English teacher living abroad in Japan and having difficulty acclimating to the culture. It won a Xeric. You can learn more here.

Comic Foundry Magazine Spring 2008

Chris: The little magazine that could finally sees its second issue roll out the gate, in full color no less! Laura Hudson and Tim Leong present to you 64 pages of comics-related news, interviews and marginalia, featuring an interview with Matt Fraction and a look at Dan DiDio’s office. Jog has the early review.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB080104 ABE SAPIEN THE DROWNING #3 (OF 5) $2.99
AUG070128 BATMAN GRENDEL NEW PTG TP $19.95
FEB080101 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #13 $2.99
OCT070060 OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 08 $10.95
AUG070155 PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOL 10 TP (MR) $9.95

DC COMICS

JAN080169 ACTION COMICS #863 $2.99
FEB080216 ALL NEW ATOM #22 $2.99
FEB080291 AMERICAN SPLENDOR SEASON TWO #1 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
FEB080230 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL KAMANDI 80 PAGE GIANT $4.99
FEB080177 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 4 $2.99
FEB080190 DC SPECIAL RAVEN #2 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB080206 DETECTIVE COMICS #843 $2.99
SEP070284 GREEN ARROW 13 INCH DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE $79.99
FEB080226 INFINITY INC #8 $2.99
FEB080225 JONAH HEX #30 $2.99
FEB080262 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #44 $2.25
DEC070308 LEADERS HIGH VOL 01 $9.99
FEB080267 LOONEY TUNES #161 $2.25
FEB080231 METAL MEN #7 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
FEB080278 MIDNIGHTER #18 $2.99
FEB080283 NEW DYNAMIX #2 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB080207 NIGHTWING #143 $2.99
FEB080304 SCALPED #16 (MR) $2.99
DEC070251 SHAZAM THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP $24.99
DEC070284 STORMWATCH PHD TP VOL 02 $17.99
FEB080214 SUPERGIRL #28 $2.99
DEC070255 SUPERMAN 3 2 1 ACTION TP $14.99
DEC070315 TOWER OF THE FUTURE VOL 10 $9.99
JAN080191 TRIALS OF SHAZAM #12 (OF 12) $3.50
FEB080307 VINYL UNDERGROUND #7 (MR) $2.99
SEP070311 WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE SERIES 2 CHEETAH BUST $49.99

IMAGE COMICS

FEB082123 ARCHIBALD SAVES EASTER (ONE SHOT) $3.50
OCT072002 BRIT #5 $2.99
DEC072083 CASANOVA #13 (MR) $1.99
JAN082072 CEMETERY BLUES #3 $3.50
JAN082106 DARKNESS BUTCHER (ONE SHOT) $3.99
FEB082150 DEAD SPACE #2 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB082115 FRANK FRAZETTAS DARK KINGDOM ONE-SHOT (MR) $3.99
JAN082078 JACK STAFF #15 $3.50
JAN082081 NEW WORLD ORDER #3 $3.50
FEB082159 OVERMAN #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
DEC072106 WALKING DEAD #48 (MR) $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

FEB082205 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #555 $2.99
FEB082198 ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #10 (OF 12) $2.99
FEB082267 CABLE #2 DWS $2.99
FEB082220 CLANDESTINE #3 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB082192 DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #2 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB082312 ESSENTIAL IRON MAN TP VOL 03 $16.99
FEB082298 HULK TP PLANET HULK $34.99
FEB082313 IRON MAN JOE QUESADA POSTER $7.99
JAN088276 KICK ASS #1 2ND PTG ROMITA JR VAR (MR) $2.99
JAN082198 KICK ASS #2 (MR) $2.99
FEB082269 LOGAN #2 $3.99
DEC078148 LOGAN #2 BLACK AND WHITE VAR (PP #80 $3.99
FEB082199 LORDS OF AVALON SOD #3 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB082235 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #38 $2.99
FEB082231 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT IRON MAN MOVIE $2.99
FEB082238 MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #10 $4.99
FEB082247 MOON KNIGHT #17 $2.99
JAN082211 NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 02 $29.99
JAN082212 NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 02 DM ED $29.99
FEB082274 NEW EXILES #4 $2.99
FEB082249 OMEGA UNKNOWN #7 (OF 10) $2.99
FEB082253 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #18 $2.99
FEB082240 SECRET INVASION #1 ( OF 8 ) $3.99
FEB082242 SECRET INVASION #1 ( OF 8 ) BLANK CON COVER VAR $3.99
DEC078205 SECRET INVASION #1 ( OF 8 ) MCNIVEN SKETCH VAR $3.99
DEC078206 SECRET INVASION #1 ( OF 8 ) YU VAR $3.99
FEB082297 SECRET INVASION TP INFILTRATION $19.99
FEB082209 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #8 $4.99
FEB082256 TWELVE #4 (OF 12) $2.99
JAN088277 ULTIMATES 3 #3 (OF 5) 2ND PTG WRAPAROUND VAR $2.99
JAN088278 X-FORCE #2 2ND PTG CRAIN VAR $2.99
FEB082307 X-MEN FIRST CLASS TP MUTANT MAYHEM $15.99
FEB082314 X-MEN GREG LAND POSTER $7.99
JAN082180 YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB082264 YOUNG X-MEN #1 DWS $2.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

FEB083932 100 PERCENT PERFECT GIRL GN VOL 05 (OF 4) $9.99
JAN083849 2000 AD #1577 $4.50
JAN083850 2000 AD #1578 $4.50
FEB083598 3 LITTLE KITTENS BONUS 3-PACK $30.00
JAN083671 A WISH OF MY SISTER GN (A) $19.95
JAN088161 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #4 2ND PTG (PP #807) $3.99
FEB083847 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #6 $3.99
FEB083512 ANNA MERCURY #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
FEB083513 ANNA MERCURY #1 (OF 5) PAINTED CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB083514 ANNA MERCURY #1 (OF 5) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JAN083908 ARCANA GN VOL 08 (OF 9) $9.99
JAN083369 ARCHIE #583 $2.25
FEB084076 AWKWARD & DEFINITION GN (MR) $15.00
JAN083983 BABY & ME GN VOL 07 $8.99
JAN083373 BETTY #173 $2.25
FEB083517 BLACK SUMMER AUXILIARY #5 (MR) $2.99
JAN083910 BLAZIN BARRELS GN VOL 10 ( OF 18 ) $9.99
FEB083632 BOYS #17 (MR) $2.99
JAN083564 CANT WIN WITH YOU GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.95
FEB083933 CLICK GN VOL 07 ( OF 8 ) $9.99
JAN083568 COLOR OF LOVE GN (MR) $12.95
JAN083905 DAZZLE GN VOL 08 (OF 9) (MR) $9.99
JAN083544 DEMONWARS VOL 02 DEMON SPIRIT #1 BEAR CVR B $9.50
JAN083543 DEMONWARS VOL 02 DEMON SPIRIT #1 SEELEY CVR A $5.50
FEB083516 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS AUXILIARY #3 (MR) $3.99
JAN083970 DRAGON DRIVE TP VOL 07 $7.99
JAN083911 DRAGON HEAD GN VOL 10 (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
SEP073575 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 3 ROBERTS CVR A #9 (OF 12) $3.50
SEP073576 DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 3 WALPOLE CVR B #9 (OF 12) $5.50
JAN083892 EV GN $9.99
JAN083358 EVE VAMPIRE DIVA #4 (OF 4) $3.95
FEB083821 EVERYBODYS DEAD #2 $3.99
JAN083974 EYESHIELD 21 TP VOL 19 $7.99
FEB083707 FIRST STAGE OF LOVE GN (MR) $12.95
JAN083913 GENJU NO SEIZA GN VOL 06 (OF 1 (MR) $9.99
FEB083682 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #34 $3.50
JAN083566 GREAT PLACE HIGH SCHOOL GN $12.95
JAN083914 GRENADIER GN VOL 06 (OF 7) (MR) $9.99
JAN083976 GUN BLAZE WEST GN VOL 01 $7.99
JAN083984 HARUKA BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME GN VOL 01 $8.99
JAN083915 HEAVEN GN VOL 03 (OF $9.99
DEC073552 HIGHLANDER WAY O/T SWORD #4 $3.50
JAN083322 HOLMES GN $12.95
JAN083971 HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 06 $7.99
FEB083701 HOT STEAMY GLASSES GN (MR) $12.95
JAN083893 HOTEL AFRICA GN VOL 01 (OF 4) $12.99
JAN083894 I DOLL GN VOL 01 (OF 4) $9.99
DEC078197 IN THE STARLIGHT VOL 03 GN (RES) (PP #804) $9.99
JAN083498 INITIATION #1 HIGHER SEX EDUCATION (A) $9.00
JAN083440 INSANE JANE #1 (MR) $3.99
JAN083985 ION GN $8.99
DEC073492 JENNY FINN TP DOOM MESSIAH $14.99
JAN083975 JOJOS BIZARRE ADVENTURE TP VOL 10 $7.99
JAN083853 JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE AMERICA GN $26.99
JAN083986 LA CORDA DORO TP VOL 07 $8.99
FEB083627 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP PLAYFUL ED $5.99
FEB083535 LADY DEATH 2007 SWIMSUIT SP SERPENTS ED $5.99
FEB083536 LADY DEATH PINUPS BAG SET $22.99
FEB083537 LADY DEATH SHI CVR #0 (OF 2) ROYAL BLUE $75.00
JAN083919 LAGOON ENGINE GN VOL 05 (OF 7) $9.99
FEB083936 LET DAI GN VOL 12 (OF 15) (MR) $9.99
JAN083917 LIGHTS OUT GN VOL 08 (OF 9) $9.99
JAN083918 LILING PO GN VOL 08 (OF 9) $9.99
JAN088121 LOCKE & KEY #1 2ND PTG (PP #806) $3.99
FEB083703 LOVE LESSON GN (MR) $12.95
JAN083890 MAMOTTE SHUGOGETTEN GN VOL 01 (OF 10) $12.99
FEB083400 MANY HAPPY RETURNS $3.99
NOV073784 MEGA CITY UNDERCOVER VOL 01 $28.00
JAN083782 MIGHTY TWELVE SUPERHEROES OF GREEK MYTH HC $16.99
JAN083904 MISSING KAMIKAKUSHI NO MONOGATARI GN VOL 03 $9.99
JAN083920 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ECOLE DU CIEL GN VOL 08 (OF 9) $9.99
SEP073969 MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 06 HELL MAKERS NEW PTG (NOTE PRICE) $19.95
JAN083972 MUHYO ROJIS BUREAU SUPER INVEST TP VOL 04 $7.99
FEB083892 NAGARYA GN VOL 02 LOST CONTINENT (O/A) (A) $14.95
FEB083704 NECRATOHOLIC GN (MR) $12.95
DEC073575 NEGATIVE BURN #18 (MR) $5.99
FEB083527 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD BAG SET (MR) $19.99
JAN083460 NORTH WIND #4 (OF 5) (RES) $3.99
JAN083921 NOSATSU JUNKIE GN VOL 05 (OF 7) $9.99
JAN083378 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #120 $3.69
JAN083906 PHANTOM GN VOL 05 (OF 5) $9.99
JAN083922 PICK O/T LITTER GN VOL 03 (OF 4) $9.99
JAN083923 PLANET BLOOD GN VOL 08 (OF 11) $9.99
JAN083989 POKEMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE GN VOL 01 $7.99
JAN083977 PRETTY FACE TP VOL 05 $7.99
DEC073538 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #2 (OF 6) $2.99
DEC073601 PS238 #30 $2.99
JAN083978 REBORN GN VOL 07 $7.99
JAN083924 SAVER GN VOL 06 ( OF 8 ) $9.99
JAN083567 SELFISH MR MERMAID GN VOL 01 (OF 2) (MR) $12.95
JAN083766 SHAKESPEARES HAMLET GN MANGA ED $9.99
JAN083767 SHAKESPEARES JULIUS CAESAR GN MANGA ED $9.99
JAN083768 SHAKESPEARES MACBETH GN MANGA ED $9.99
JAN083769 SHAKESPEARES ROMEO & JULIET GN MANGA ED $9.99
JAN083969 SHONEN JUMP MAY 08 $4.99
FEB083448 SKY SHARKS TP VOL 01 $14.95
FEB083497 SONIC X #1 (O/A) $2.25
FEB083500 SONIC X #4 (O/A) $2.25
JAN083907 SORCERER HUNTERS GN VOL 10 (MR) $9.99
JAN083713 SPEED RACER TP VOL 04 $19.99
JAN083463 STARDUST KID LTD ED HC $29.99
JAN083979 STRAWBERRY 100 % TP VOL 04 $7.99
FEB083531 STREETS OF GLORY #2 (OF 6) AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99
FEB084010 STUDENTS OF THE UNUSUAL GIANT SIZE MUSIC SPECIAL (MR) $2.95
FEB083706 SUGAR MILK GN (MR) $12.95
JAN083987 TAIL OF THE MOON TP VOL 10 $8.99
NOV078194 TAKUMI KUN GN VOL 03 TALES OUT OF SEASON (A) $12.99
FEB083963 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #3 (O/A) $3.95
OCT073247 TEDDY SCARES GN VOL 3 $6.95
FEB083894 THAMARA & JUDA GN (O/A) (A) $14.95
FEB084070 TONOHARU GN PART ONE $19.95
FEB083939 TOTALLY CAPTIVATED GN VOL 02 (MR) $9.99
FEB083805 TRANSFORMERS BEST OF UK DINOBOTS #6 $3.99
JAN083903 TSUKUYOMI MOON PHASE GN VOL 10 (MR) $9.99
JAN083988 VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 04 $8.99
JAN083722 ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS VS AMAZONS HC $19.99
JAN083510 ZORRO #2 $3.50

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