After a couple of somewhat slow weeks, Marvel and DC return to their summer event comics with new issues of Secret Invasion and Final Crisis — plus a pair of tie-ins, of course.

They don’t stop there, though. DC’s Vertigo imprint rolls out collections of Northlanders and Y: The Last Man, and re-releases Paul Pope’s Heavy Liquid as a hardcover. Not to be outdone, Marvel brings out their dead, and undead, with omnibus editions of Frank Miller’s Elektra, and The Tomb of Dracula.

Elsewhere, Blank Slate Books debuts Trains Are Mint and We Can Still Be Friends, Rebellion revisits The Ace Trucking Co., Viz delivers the penultimate volume of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, and Del Rey and Dabel Bros. unleash The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle.

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.

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Comics retailer and future wrestling superstar James Sime dropped us a reminder about the deadline for entries for the Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics — entries are due on Oct. 24. Check out the complete press release after the jump.

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Metro Entertainment is proud to announce that acclaimed comics writer MATT FRACTION will be in Santa Barbara, CA for an in-store FREE autograph signing! One of the most popular writers in comics today, Matt Fraction is the man behind the pen of such popular Marvel hits as the Uncanny X-Men, the Invincible Iron Man, the Immortal Iron Fist, Punisher: War Journal, as well as the creator-owned properties Casanova and Five Fists of Science!  Join Metro Entertainment on October 18th at 12pm for this FREE autograph signing event!

Certainly, Matt Fraction needs no introduction here, but the store has been working hard to get the word out on one of Marvel’s hottest writers.  One lucky employee (who shall go nameless) sent in some questions to Mr. Fraction on behalf of the store; please see this exclusive Q&A here.

Metro Entertainment is a locally owned and operated Comic Book and Games Shop located in downtown Santa Barbara, CA.  For more information on this event, please see the store website at http://www.metro-entertainment.com or call (805) 963-2168.

• Westfield Comics in Madison, Wis., is using IDW’s Presidential Material to divine the outcome of the election. Well, sort of. The retailer is keeping a tally of which candidate biography sells more: John McCain’s or Barack Obama’s. Heck, it’s probably as accurate as some of the polls. [The Isthmus]

• The spotlight is on Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson today as he’s interviewed about donating copies of all of his company’s books to Portland State University, and about the state of the industry. [The Oregonian, ICv2.com]

• In her “All the Comics in the World” column, Shaenon K. Garrity ropes in a panel to decide which American cartoonists draw attractive men. Finder creator Carla Speed McNeil gets the most mentions. [ComiXology]

• Rapper Percy Carey, writer of the Vertigo graphic novel Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm, chats with comics blogger and analyst John Mayo. [Complex.com]

• A new graphic novel focuses on little-known Confederate general Patrick Cleburne. “He is the perfect vehicle to tell a story from the Confederate point of view,” says creator Justin Murphy. [Trumann, Ark., Democrat]

• Penny Arcade co-creator Mike Krahulik talks about the Penny Arcade Adventures video games. [GamePro Arcade]

Kat from Surabaya shares a short comic about 24 Hour Comics Day. The event is scheduled for this weekend; check out their official website to find a store near you that’s participating.

With slightly more than two weeks to go, publishers are ramping up their Halloween-themed releases, from superheroes battling the supernatural to a boy dreaming of becoming a vampire.

Shadowline kicks off its Silverline all-ages imprint with Dear Dracula just as The Hulk slugs it out with Frankenstein’s monster, and Superman and Batman team up to tackle vampires and werewolves. Plus, there’s a Hack/Slash special, and another installment of Ben Templesmith’s Welcome to Hoxford.

If pre-Halloween chills aren’t for you, there’s always the second issue of Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, Art Spiegelman’s Breakdowns, or the third issue of Jeff Smith’s Rasl.

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.

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As Americans brace themselves for tonight’s presidential debate, it’s fitting that tomorrow marks the release of IDW Publishing’s heavily promoted biographies of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama.

In a similar vein, Wednesday also will see After 9/11: America’s War on Terror, Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon’s follow-up to their celebrated adaptation of the 9/11 Report.

But if politics and war — and the politics of war — aren’t your bag, you’ll also find the first issue of the new Marvel Zombies miniseries, the third installment of Grady Klein’s The Lost Colony series, oversized editions of Hellboy and I Luv Halloween, and an Owly collection. Those are just for starters, though.

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.

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If you weren’t already anxious about the state of the U.S. economy, this news should do wonders for you: Some troubled stock-market investors reportedly are sinking their money into vintage comic books.

No, I’m serious.

If the early ’90s taught us anything, it’s that they’d probably be better off stuffing their cash in a mattress. However, The Wall Street Journal quotes a Kentucky retailer as saying “There’s kind of a buying frenzy” in Silver Age comics.

As evidence, The Journal points to the “Silver Age Comic Book Pricing Index” — I’m a reader, not a collector, but I didn’t realize there was such a thing — which seems to indicate that while Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index is down, the buying and selling of ’60s comics is up.

Likewise, according to Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com, the market for original comic-book art is booming — in Europe, at any rate. That’s thanks, in large part, to the weak American dollar.

Writer Joseph V. Tirella points out that a European collector can snag Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott’s cover art for Fantastic Four #171 from the website of New York dealer Albert Moy for €23,809 ($32,095). An American buyer would have to pay $35,000.

Related: Portfolio.com’s slideshow of original comic art

A Michigan judge on Friday ruled the Macomb County prosecutor’s office won’t be disqualified from the retrial of Michael George, the retailer and convention organizer convincted in March of killing his first wife  Barbara in 1990.

Circuit Court Judge James Biernat also issued a gag order to to prevent attorneys from discussing the case outside of the courtroom.

On Sept. 12 Biernat overturned George’s jury conviction, citing prosecutorial misconduct and the release of new evidence that could lead the jury to believe another person was responsible for the murder of Barbara George. The misconduct was related to the assistant prosecutor’s use of Michael George’s mug shot during closing arguments.

Defense attorneys had petitioned Biernat to disqualify Prosecutor Eric Smith and his office from the case.

Last week prosecutors filed a request for appeal of Biernat’s decision with the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Barbara George was shot in the head on July 13, 1990, in the Georges’ Clinton Township comic-book store. Prosecutors contended that Michael George staged the killing to look like a robbery so he could collect money from an insurance policy and a shared estate, and start over with another woman.

Michael George remains in Macomb County Jail awaiting his new trial, which had been set to begin on Dec. 2.

Yesterday Kevin linked to a story in the Examiner that listed what they considered the five best comic book shops in Los Angeles. Kevin wondered how they could overlook Secret Headquarters, one of the coolest shops anywhere.

As if on cue, The L.A. Weekly publishes a feature story on the best comic shops in L.A. — and while they only list three of them, guess what makes the list? That’s right; Secret Headquarters.

So, if you take the two lists and line them up side by side (or, you know, just take a look at one and then the other), one comic shop appears in both articles — Meltdown Comics and Collectibles. So my question to you, L.A. comic fans — is Meltdown the hottest, or is Secret Headquarters the best kept secret in L.A.? Or does some other shop put them both to shame?

• At UGO.com, Vito Delsante counts down the “Top 50 WTF Moments in Comics,” from the story of Bill Finger to the marriage of Aunt May and Dr. Octopus to the Batman back-breaking stunt. Don’t worry, there are some good WTF moments, too.

• The recently launched all-ages blog Good Comics for Kids has found a new home on the School Library Journal’s website. I’ll miss Dan Hess’ banner, but I love his chibi renditions of the blog’s contributors.

• Cartoonist Sergio Aragones talks about becoming one of Mad‘s legendary Usual Gang of Idiots: “I had just arrived [in New York] from Mexico in 1962. And every magazine I went to, everybody rejected me because I had been doing pantomime cartoons. Everybody said, “These things are crazy, you should go to Mad.” So I went to Mad. And they were right.”

• Examiner.com spotlights the best comic shops in Los Angeles, but somehow overlooks Secret Headquarters.

• Hellboy creator Mike Mignola explains to Williamette Week why he left Portland, Ore., for New York City: “My wife hated it! She hated almost every second of living there. I loved it. It is a little rainy and dreary.”

As we skid into October, I find myself having a bit of an off week, at least comics-wise. I just don’t see much that catches my eye.

Chris Mautner, on the other hand, has spied a veritable treasure trove, from a Baby Huey collection to Batman #680 a Complete Peanuts box set.

So, maybe it’s just me.

Wednesday also sees the Dark Tower: The Long Road Home hardcover, the debut of Steve Niles’ future-noir City of Dust, and a one-shot dedicated Bruce Campbell’s My Name Is Bruce movie.

To see what other titles Chris and I think are worth mentioning, just keep reading. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

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DC Comics has confirmed a report that it will shut down its Minx imprint of graphic novels aimed at teen girls in January.

“Minx was an experimental imprint for DC Comics and we are extremely proud of the books we published and the stories we told during the past two years,” the publisher said in a statement released this morning. “We thank all of the writers and artists who lent their talents to our endeavor and especially thank readers who came along for the ride. DC Comics remains committed to publishing diverse material for diverse audiences as we continue to welcome new readers.”

According to Comic Book Resources, some solicited and otherwise approved books will be published, while others won’t — at least not as part of the imprint.

Announced in November 2007 and launched the following spring with much fanfare and an impressive — by comic-book standards, at least — marketing budget, Minx targeted the growing young-adult demographic in the book market.

Headed by Vertigo’s Shelly Bond and Karen Berger, the line debuted with The PLAIN Janes, by popular YA novelist Cecil Castellucci and Street Angel artist Jim Rugg. They also recruited the likes of Andi Watson, Derek Kirk Kim, Rebecca Donner, Brian Wood, Aaron Alexovich, Alisa Kwitney, Ross Campbell and Mike Carey.

Despite the $250,000 marketing budget, assistance from Alloy Marketing + Media — the company that promoted The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl – mainstream-media coverage, and a mix of talent familiar to readers in both the comics and the YA book markets, Minx didn’t seem to find its audience. (That, of course, is a familiar refrain.) CBR reports that Random House, DC’s book-trade distributor, apparently hasn’t been able to place the Minx books in the YA sections of chain stores, which would seem essential when marketing a graphic novels written by the authors of The Queen of Cool and Boy Proof and Flirting in Cars.

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On Friday, Isotope in San Francisco will play host to a release party for the fourth issue of Hard to Swallow, the gay erotic comics anthology, featuring creators Justin Hall and Dave Davenport.

The event, held from 7 to 11 p.m., also helps to kick off the Folsom Street Fair weekend. DJ Bearzbub of The Eagle & The Cinch Saloon will provide the music for the 21-and-over party.

Isotope is located at 326 Fell St. (at Gough).

The official press release can be found after the break.

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A judge in Macomb County, Mich., has denied bond for convicted killer Michael George while he awaits a new trial in December.

The retailer and convention organizer was convicted in March of the 1990 killing of his first wife Barbara and sentenced to life in prison. However, on Sept. 12 Circuit Judge James Biernat Sr. overturned the jury verdict, citing prosecutorial misconduct and new evidence that could lead the jury to believe another person was responsible for the murder.

In his decision on Tuesday, Biernat said George poses a flight risk, and should remain in the Macomb County Jail. The new trial is set to begin on Dec. 2.

Barbara George was shot in the head on July 13, 1990, in the Georges’ Clinton Township comic-book store. Prosecutors contended that Michael George staged the killing to look like a robbery so he could collect money from an insurance policy and a shared estate, and start over with another woman.

It’s a good week for fans of classic comics as publishers roll out collections ranging from Nemesis Archives, Vol. 1, and Showcase Presents: Metal Men, Vol. 2, to Walt Disney’s Donald Duck: The Barks/Rosa Collection, Vol. 3, and The Complete Terry and the Pirates, Vol. 4.

Looking for something a little more recent? Then try the Absolute edition of Frank Miller’s Ronin, the premiere hardcover of Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones’ Marvel Boy miniseries, or the special edition of Dan Clowes’ Ghost World.

But if single issues are more your thing, there’s a new Solomon Kane series, the end of The Ultimates 3, the introduction of Lady Bullseye in Daredevil, and the finale of the Atlas story arc in Superman.

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.

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The owner of Sarge’s Comics in New London, Conn., was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of probation for making and selling pirated DVDs.

Robert P. Miller, who pleaded guilty in August 2007 to one count of copyright infringement, also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,575 to the Motion Picture Association of America and other parties, and perform 100 hours of community service.

When agents raided Miller’s store in June 2005, they reportedly recovered 778 DVDs and CDs containing pirated works, as well as a CD/DVD burner. He admitted to making copies of movies and television shows to sell to his customers.

Although All-Star Batman & Robin #10 received the lion’s share of the attention last week, it wasn’t the only title that DC Comics recalled.

The “terrible and glorious” production error that led to the (supposed) pulping of the Frank Miller-Jim Lee comic has been widely documented. But what about Action Comics #829 and DCU: Decisions #1? Surely, they didn’t include no-no words.

Well, no.

On Monday, Rich Johnston reported the offenders were the bottles that Clark and Pa Kent are holding on the cover of Action, and a Condeleezza Rice lookalike in Decisions.

Johnston followed up yesterday with a closer look at that Action Comics cover which, as originally solicited and printed, shows the Kent men shooting the breeze while holding bottles of “Crow [Illegible] Beer.” It looks as if the obscured word is “Root,” which is a wholesome enough drink.

But just in case anyone thought that the well-over-21 Jonathan and Clark were sharing a beer, the reprinted cover replaces the bottle labels with the generic “Soda Pop.” (The image on the DC Comics website has been updated, too.)

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– Build your own square-headed Scott Pilgrim.

– Charles Brownstein with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund passes on a message about Echo creator Terry Moore and his wife Robyn, who live in Houston and were affected by Hurricane Ike:

As you may be aware, the Abstract Studios team, Terry & Robyn Moore, live in Houston where they are set back slightly by Hurricane Ike. They personally are fine, but don’t have any utilities, including electricity and other business necessities. They’re only able to be online for about 10 minutes a day because of very nice neighbors. They want people to know that they’re going to be out of touch for about a week, and ask that you please be patient while they get back up to speed. Please join me in keeping them in your thoughts.

– Congrats to the cartoonist Kaz, who won an Emmy for his story on an episode of Camp Lazlo!

– PWCW previews the New York Anime Festival.

– Bid adieu to The Holy Consumption.

– Dave Sim reviews Blake Bell’s book about Steve Ditko.

– Frank Santoro writes about Frank Franzetta.

– Here’s a profile of mangaka Shigeru Mizuki.

– Stephanie Mangold looks at Antarctic Press’ future plans.

– Hey, Chester Brown is running for office!

– Evie Nagy reports on Oni’s plan to publish “definitive editions” of Queen and Country.

– Van Jensen writes about the popularity of Image’s PopGun anthology.

– The Southern California comics retailer Brave New World Comics is hosting a party this Friday to celebrate their Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award.

– Eight reasons why the G.I. Joe comic was better than the cartoon.

Compiled by JK and Chris.

This week, we say good-bye to Morrison and Quitely’s All-Star Superman, give a passing nod to another installment of Secret Invasion, and take a second look at a handful of popular manga, conveniently repackaged for our enjoyment.

Wednesday also sees the return of Linda Medley’s Castle Waiting, the second issue of Millar and Harris’ destined-to-be-a-movie War Heroes, a hefty hardcover collection for Wood and Kelly’s Local, and an outsider’s view of Burma in the form of Guy Delisle’s new graphic novel.

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.

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