If I didn’t know any better, I’d say we’re fast approaching summer movie season. “Iron Man” appears in the title of no fewer than a half-dozen items this week, from the Invincible Iron Man Omnibus to the Iron Man: Legacy of Doom miniseries to Andy Mangel’s comprehensive guide to the Golden Avenger.

Dark Horse and Digital Manga Publishing ease into the pool with the first Hellboy Library Edition and the Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go! box set, respectively.

Beyond that, this Wednesday is a little slow. So if your wallet’s still full you could always throw $80 at that signed limited-edition American Flagg! hardcover.

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: Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go! box set

Countless millions have watched the 1960s animated series, and millions more will watch the live-action movie, but few have probably read anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida’s original manga. This two-volume, hardcover collection, from Digital Manga Publishing, is a new English translation with “remastered” artwork — it took about a year to restore — and an introduction by the voice of Speed Racer, Peter Fernandez.

Seven hundred pages of Speed in a beautiful package for $39.95? I know what I’m buying myself for my birthday.

Chris’ pick of the week: Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels

The early 20th-century efforts of Lynd Ward, Frans Masereel and other woodcut artists are one of those fascinating side paths that largely get ignored by comic historians when relating the tale of “how comics came to be.” Hopefully this book will help to mitigate some of that ignorance. Author David A. Berona has written about the subject extensively in places like The Comics Journal, so there’s no question as to whether he knows his subject matter. It’s doubtful that most comic shops grabbed a copy of the book, but it’s undoubtedly a title worth tracking down.

Hellboy Library Edition, Vol. 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil hardcover

Kevin: Although I already have the individual trade paperbacks, I’d love to have this 288-page deluxe hardcover. This collects those first two Hellboy story arcs, and includes previously unreleased sketches and designs by Mike Mignola. Even with a $49.95 price tag, it’s tempting.

Pigeons from Hell #1 (of 4)

Kevin: Writer Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-Tep, The Nightrunners, Conan) and artist Nate Fox adapt Robert E. Howard’s classic horror story about a cursed house in Louisiana, and the scores of pigeons said to be the souls of the damned escaping from hell.

100 Bullets #90

Kevin: Tick, tick, tick. The countdown continues to the series finale. Oh, how I’ll miss you, 100 Bullets.

Green Arrow: Year One

Kevin: This 160-page hardcover collects the six-issue miniseries by The Losers team of Andy Diggle and Jock that retells the origin of Green Arrow.

Incredible Hercules #116

Kevin: I keep reading such good things about this series, but I’ve yet to pick it up. All the previews look funny and action-packed — and the recap page for this issue is probably the best, or at least most entertaining, I’ve ever seen.

Invincible Iron Man Omnibus, Vol. 1
Iron Man #28
Iron Man: Legacy of Doom #1 (of 4)
Iron Man: Beneath the Armor
Iron Man movie novelization

Kevin: Is there an Iron Man movie coming out or something?

The $100 omnibus edition won’t appeal to someone wandering into the comic store from the theater, it’ll undoubtedly lure the die-hard Iron Man fan. It collects Tales of Suspense #39-83 and Tales to Astonish #82 (with letters columns, unused covers, pinups and essays) — classic tales by the likes of Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby.

Speaking of classic, Legacy of Doom reunites legendary Iron Man creators David Michelinie and Bob Layton for the third and final chapter of their Camelot saga, which dates back to 1981. You can brush up on the two-decades-plus Iron Man-Doctor Doom story here.

And then there’s Iron Man: Beneath the Armor, which isn’t a comic at all, but an exhaustive guide from Del Rey and Marvel. The 224-page book, by Andy Mangels, features an extensive history of the character in comics, television and now film, character biographies, an armor gallery, and a solid selection of art. It’s pretty impressive, actually.

American Flagg! Limited Edition hardcover book set

Chris: Eighty bucks gets you the first nine issues of Howard Chaykin’s seminal First Comics series, with each book signed and numbered by Chaykin hisself. Apparently this is a limited-edition release, and not, I believe, to be confused with the big omnibus collection from Dynamic Forces that’s coming out later this year (supposedly).

The Comic Book Holocaust

Chris: Johnny Ryan’s very scatological, very, very funny piss-take on all things comic book-related gets another go-around on the Diamond express train. Do you dare to view Spider-Man’s tranny porn collection?

Council of Carnality Unlimited

Chris: Do they keep minutes? Is there a treasurer?

Drifting Classroom, Vol. 11
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Vol. 14

Chris: Two of the best manga out there right now return in new volumes, reminding me once again how far behind I am on these series. One of these days I shall catch up, I am sure.

In the Small

Chris: An odd fantasy graphic novel by illustrator and children’s book author Michael Hague about a mysterious event that shrinks all of humanity to mouse-like size. Could be interesting.

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG070172 CLASSIC COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS #9 CUTTER $49.95
DEC070056 FEAR AGENT #20 HATCHET JOB (PT 4 OF 5) $2.99
FEB080078 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #6 ( OF 8 ) $3.50
DEC070029 HELLBOY LIBRARY ED HC VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION & WAKE THE $49.95
FEB080148 MINDSTYLE BROM STICKMEN SERIES 1 SET A GIRL & ALIEN $99.99
FEB080147 MINDSTYLE FRANK CHO JEN VINYL FIG RED VER $129.99
FEB080145 MINDSTYLE HENSON DARK CRYSTAL LANDSTRIDER STATUE $149.99
FEB080144 MINDSTYLE JIM HENSONS DARK CRYSTAL URAC STATUE $79.99
FEB080146 MINDSTYLE LIBERTY MEADOWS FIG KEYCHAIN 12 PC $95.88
FEB080074 PIGEONS FROM HELL #1 $2.99
FEB080117 REX MUNDI DH ED #11 $2.99

DC COMICS

FEB080292 100 BULLETS #90 (MR) $2.99
SEP070291 AME COMI POWER GIRL VINYL FIGURE $45.00
SEP070292 AME COMI SUPERGIRL VINYL FIGURE $45.00
FEB080195 BAT LASH #5 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB080192 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #6 $2.99
FEB080261 BATMAN STRIKES #44 $2.25
FEB080219 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #12 $2.99
FEB080209 CATWOMAN #78 $2.99
JAN080264 CIPHER VOL 11 $9.99
FEB080179 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 2 $2.99
FEB080184 DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR #1 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB080294 DMZ #30 (MR) $2.99
DEC070292 FAKER TP (MR) $14.99
FEB080221 FLASH #239 $2.99
FEB080196 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #7 (OF 9) $2.99
DEC070244 GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE HC $24.99
FEB080303 HELLBLAZER #243 (MR) $2.99
FEB080263 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #13 $2.25
FEB080269 MAD MAGAZINE #489 $4.99
FEB080279 PROGRAMME #10 (OF 12) $2.99
FEB080208 ROBIN #173 $2.99
FEB080194 SALVATION RUN #6 (OF 7) $2.99
JAN080208 SHOWCASE PRESENTS LEGION OF SUPER HEROES TP VOL 02 $16.99
FEB080198 SUICIDE SQUAD RAISE THE FLAG #8 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
FEB080201 SUPERMAN #675 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
FEB080181 TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #2 (OF 12) $2.99
JAN080256 UN-MEN TP VOL 01 GET YOUR FREAK ON (MR) $9.99
JAN080263 VARIANTE VOL 03 (MR) $12.99
JAN080236 WILDSTORM ARMAGEDDON TP $17.99
FEB080288 WORLD OF WARCRAFT #6 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

JAN082064 76 #3 ( OF 8 ) (MR) $2.99
FEB082125 AMORY WARS TP 01 SECOND STAGE TURBINE BLADE (MR) $14.99
AUG071998 BAD PLANET #5 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99
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DEC072091 INFINITE HORIZON #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JAN082057 NIXONS PALS GN (MR) $12.99
JAN082050 NOBLE CAUSES #32 $3.50
NOV072027 NOBLE CAUSES ARCHIVES TP VOL 01 $19.99
FEB082114 PERHAPANAUTS #1 $3.50
FEB088116 SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN #21 2ND PTG $3.50
NOV072029 STRANGE GIRL TP VOL 04 GOLDEN LIGHTS (MR) $13.99
JAN082058 STUPID COMICS PHOENIX ED GN (MR) $9.99
FEB082166 SWORD #7 (MR) $2.99
FEB082139 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S LG $17.99
FEB082138 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S MED $17.99
FEB082137 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S SM $17.99
FEB082140 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S XL $23.99
FEB082141 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S XXL $23.99
AUG072036 WONDERLOST #2 $5.99

MARVEL COMICS

FEB082208 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #557 $2.99
FEB082213 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #6 (OF 6) $3.99
FEB082215 AVENGERS CLASSIC #11 $2.99
JAN082138 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #11 $2.99
FEB082219 CAPTAIN AMERICA #37 $2.99
JAN082140 CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 (OF 5) SII $2.99
FEB082225 GHOST RIDER #22 $2.99
FEB082306 HOWARD THE DUCK TP MEDIA DUCKLING $11.99
FEB082226 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #116 $2.99
NOV072198 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $99.99
NOV072199 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 GRANOV VAR $99.99
NOV072200 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 MOVIE VAR $99.99
FEB082228 IRON MAN #28 $3.99
FEB082230 IRON MAN LEGACY OF DOOM #1 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB082236 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #23 $2.99
FEB082295 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS TP VOL 05 DIGEST $7.99
FEB082237 MARVEL ADVENTURES TWO-IN-ONE #10 $4.99
FEB082197 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ILIAD #5 ( OF 8 ) $2.99
FEB082281 MMW CAPTAIN MARVEL HC VOL 03 $54.99
FEB082282 MMW CAPTAIN MARVEL HC VOL 03 VAR ED 95 $54.99
DEC072233 POWERS ANNUAL 2008 (MR) $4.95
FEB082290 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL PREM HC VOL 03 HUNTER HUNTED $19.99
FEB082315 SPIDER-MAN BRAND NEW DAY BIANCHI POSTER $7.99
FEB082210 SPIDER-MAN IRON MAN HULK MAGAZINE $6.99
FEB082278 WAR IS HELL FIRST FLIGHT PHANTOM EAGLE MAX #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
FEB082271 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #24 $2.99
FEB082258 WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH WARBOUND #5 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB082263 X-FACTOR #30 DWS $2.99
FEB082260 X-MEN DIVIDED WE STAND #1 (OF 2) DWS $3.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

OCT073187 SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #1 TURNER SGN CVR CGC 9.8 PI
NOV073228 THOR #1 3RD PTG TURNER SKETCH CVR CGC 9.8 PI
FEB083378 TOYFARE #130 INDIANA JONES CVR $4.99
OCT073183 ULT SPIDER-MAN #111 WWC VAR QUESADA SGN CVR PI
NOV073227 ULT SPIDER-MAN #111 WWC VAR QUESADA SGN CVR CGC 9.8 PI
FEB083379 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER #56 DEATH NOTE CVR $4.99

OTHER PUBLISHERSJAN083851 2000 AD #1579 $4.50
FEB083980 2000 AD #1580 $4.50
FEB084009 99 #7 $2.99
FEB084408 AMERICAN FLAGG LTD ED HC BOOK SET (MR) $79.00
DEC073369 AP HOW TO DRAW MANGA PKT MANGA TP VOL 03 $12.95
FEB083483 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #118 $2.25
FEB083484 ARCHIE DIGEST #243 $2.49
JAN083515 ARMY OF DARKNESS #8 LONG ROAD HOME $3.50
JAN088148 ATOMIC ROBO #1 (OF 6) 3RD PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088149 ATOMIC ROBO #2 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088150 ATOMIC ROBO #3 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088151 ATOMIC ROBO #4 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088152 ATOMIC ROBO #5 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN083385 ATOMIC ROCKET GROUP 66 #1 (MR) $4.95
FEB083827 BADGER SAVES THE WORLD #5 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB083649 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TP VOL 02 PHOTO CVR (RES) $14.99
FEB083648 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TP VOL 02 SEJIC PX CVR (RES) $14.99
JAN083298 BEST OF THE WEST #66 $6.95
JAN083318 BLOOD & ROSES CON SPECIAL $9.99
JAN083316 BLOOD & ROSES IN THE DARK #1 $2.99
FEB083388 BOY WHO MADE SILENCE #2 $3.50
FEB083901 CAPTAIN ACTION #0 GULACY CVR $1.99
FEB083902 CAPTAIN ACTION #0 SPARACIO CVR $1.99
FEB083604 COMIC BOOK HOLOCAUST GN (O/A) (MR) $9.95
FEB083798 COUNCIL OF CARNALITY UNLIMITED GN (O/A) (A) $19.95
JAN083452 CTHULHU TALES #1 CVR A $3.99
JAN083453 CTHULHU TALES #1 CVR B $3.99
JAN083820 DAMNED PRODIGAL SONS #1 (OF 3) $3.50
FEB083416 DANGERS DOZEN INTERLUDE ONE-SHOT $2.99
DEC073785 DANY INTERESTED HC (A) $19.95
JAN083505 DARKNESS VS EVA #1 FOIL CVR (MR) PI
JUL073474 DEADWORLD FROZEN OVER #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JAN083590 DF CAPT AMERICA #34 ALEX ROSS PAINTED CVR SGN $29.99
JAN083705 DOCTOR WHO #3 $3.99
JAN083997 DRIFTING CLASSROOM TP VOL 11 (MR) $9.99
FEB084104 ECONAUTS ONE SHOT $6.99
DEC073306 FEMFORCE #143 $6.95
JAN083354 GOBLIN CHRONICLES #2 (OF 3) CVR A $3.50
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FEB084163 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #26 (MR) $2.99
JAN083981 HANA KIMI GN VOL 23 $9.99
FEB083967 HERO BY NIGHT ONGOING #3 $3.99
JAN083461 HUNTERS MOON TP $14.99
JAN083780 IN THE SMALL SC $12.99
JAN083990 INUBAKA CRAZY FOR DOGS TP VOL 08 $9.99
JAN083495 IZNOGOUD GN VOL 01 WICKED WILES OF IZNOGOUD $11.95
FEB083657 JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES #1 (OF 4) WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE $3.99
JAN084005 KAZE NO HANA TP VOL 01 $10.99
JAN084007 KIELI TP VOL 01 $10.99
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FEB084256 MAGENTA COLOR OF SEX GN (A) $12.95
JAN083942 MAGICAL JXR GN VOL 02 $11.95
DEC074023 MANGA GREAT FIGURES IN HISTORY GN LEONARDO DA VINCI $14.95
DEC074024 MANGA GREAT FIGURES IN HISTORY GN MOTHER TERESA $14.95
DEC074025 MANGA GREAT FIGURES IN HISTORY GN NELSON MANDELA $14.95
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NOV073939 MANGA LITERARY CLASSICS GN PRINCE & PAUPER $14.95
FEB083389 MIDNIGHT KISS COLL ED TP (O/A) (MR) $16.95
DEC073380 MISADVENTURES OF CLARK & JEFFERSON #4 (OF 4) $3.50
JAN083998 NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER TP VOL 14 $9.99
JAN083539 NECESSARY EVIL #5 $3.99
JAN083499 PATH GN COMX ED $12.95
JAN083538 PIGSTY O/T CARIBBEAN #1 $4.95
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JAN083576 PS238 TP VOL 05 EXTRATERRESTRIAL CREDIT $15.99
JAN083474 PX TAROT 8TH ANNIV SGN PHOTO CVR $15.00
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FEB084114 SADHU TP VOL 02 SILENT ONES (RES) (MR) $14.99
JAN083497 SCARED TO DEATH GN VOL 01 VAMPIRE FROM THE MARSHES $11.95
JAN083536 SCHOOL RUMBLE GN VOL 09 (MR) $10.95
JAN083968 SHOJO BEAT MAY 08 $5.99
FEB083566 SIMPSONS COMICS #141 $2.99
DEC073596 SPEED RACER MACH GO GO GO BOX SET $39.95
JAN084006 SPIRAL BONDS OF REASONING TP VOL 03 $10.99
FEB084007 SRG PRESENTS GNOME ONE SHOT $6.99
FEB083809 STAR TREK YEAR FOUR ENTERPRISE EXPERIMENT #1 $3.99
FEB083390 STARSHIP TROOPERS #8 $3.50
DEC073951 STREET FIGHTER III MANGA TP VOL 02 RYU FINAL $12.95
DEC073523 SUPREME SET RETURN & STORY O/T YEAR PX LEATHER ED $150.00
JAN083476 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #49 DLX ED (MR) $19.99
FEB084257 TEACH ME XXX GN (O/A) (A) $12.95
FEB083759 TEENS AT PLAY GIRLS WILL BE BOYS GN (A) $9.95
NOV073569 UNCLE SCROOGE #374 $7.99
JAN083657 WALDOS HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY GN $19.95
JAN083537 WALLFLOWER GN VOL 15 (MR) $10.95
NOV073570 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #689 $7.99
DEC073502 WARHAMMER TP FORGE OF WAR $14.99
NOV073945 WILLOW CREEK #1 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
DEC073585 WORLDS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #1 ROBERTS CVR B $9.50
DEC073584 WORLDS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #1 SEELEY CVR A $5.50

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