1) Fear Itself #4

I’ll save the spoilers for those who didn’t read last issue’s cliffhanger.  Suffice to say, Marvel is shaking up some of the foundations they’ve been building up over the past few years. See how Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen continue their tale of the Marvel heroes against the villainy of the Serpent and Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull.

2) Rodd Racer one shot

Creator Toby Cypress is the mind behind this awesome one shot from Image.  Toby was at this year’s HeroesCon, and the promo art he had at the show impressed lots of folks, from professionals to attendees.  The story focuses on a dangerous road race set against the backdrop of a dark, futuristic city.  It’s a beautiful book, so take time to enjoy it.

3) Vengeance #1

Marvel is billing this one as an exploration of evil and villainy in their universe.  Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta bring you this story which at least initially will include the likes of Magneto, the Brotherhood, the Young Masters of Evil, and the Red Skull, but will likely include even more villains as the series progresses.

4) Elric: the Balance Lost #1

Fans of science fiction great Michael Moorcock have reason to be excited this week as Boom! Studios offers up a new Elric comic.  This new ongoing series features creators Chris Roberson and Francesco Biagini, and promises to unite Elric with other Moorcock characters like Corum and Hawkmoon.

5) Flashpoint #3

As DC continues to unveil more details regarding their upcoming company-wide reboot, it’s becoming clear that characters and ideas introduced or brought back in Flashpoint will still be around following the series’ conclusion.  Keep reading to see which characters make the jump, and how DC will wind down their titles before relaunching them later this year.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Red Skull #1, 27 (Twenty Seven) TP, Batman and Robin #25, Cap and Thor Avengers #1, and Scarlet HC Book One.