A sampling from the most recent Previews catalog of what looks like a winner in the month of January! All books are available for pre-order at your local shop (that’s us)!

Darth Vader & the Lost Command #1 (of 5) – I had to resist my urge to pick Hellboy stuff this month.  It’s great, but it’s not the only thing Dark Horse publishes.  This jumped out at me for the simple reason that Darth Vader is awesome and a whole mini-series starring Darth Vader on a secret mission must be awesome by multiples and should be enjoyed by all. Pg. 22

The Comics: An Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art – Comics legend Jerry Robinson’s comprehensive history of Comic Strips was first published in 1974 and has become a classic in the study of the medium.  Now he has returned to update the text, adding hundreds of fascinating new pages and is a must-have for burgeoning history buffs and casual fans of the medium alike. Pg. 48

Supergirl #60 – You know who won New York Comic Con this year?  Nick Spencer, that’s who.  He announced new books at Marvel, Image, and of course DC which brings us here.  Spencer has also been heading up the Jimmy Olsen back-up strip in Action Comics which has been loads of clever fun in the classic Superman vein and so it’s logical to think he’ll bring that energy to this title too. A great jumping-on point from a promising new talent and reliable artist Bernard Chang.  Pg. 82

Daytripper TP – The honest-to-god best comic of this year. All 12 issues here in one very inexpensive ($19.99, cheap!) volume.  Get it.  Love it. Pg. 118

The Walking Dead Weekly #1-4 – It’s been many, many years since something like this has been done.   It’s exactly as the title suggests, a weekly issue-by-issue reprinting of The Walking Dead for an entire year from the beginning.  The Walking Dead is already available in numerous formats but I must credit Image for allowing a new opportunity for fans, potential and brand new, to experience the book in its original serial format but without that pesky month long wait that gnaws at you while waiting to get the next installment. Pg. 174-175