It’s an especially big week for new comics if you’re a fan of DC heroes, but there are plenty of other titles to choose from as well.  Here are just a few of the new releases that caught my eye leading up to Wednesday.

1) Strange Tales 2 #1

This is Marvel’s sequel to last year’s anthology, which, like the first volume features art from some of the industry’s top Indie writers and artists.  Included in this new three issue miniseries are contributions from the likes of Jeff Lemire, Frank Santoro, Kevin Huizenga, Kate Beaton, Nicholas Gurewitch, Jeffrey Brown, and Dash Shaw among others.  And check out that awesome cover to issue one from Rafael Grampa!  The first volume was a lot of fun, and with the aforementioned talent on board, this new series should be equally enjoyable.

2) Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne #5, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one shots

There are lots of Batman family books this week, so let’s get right to it.  This week’s issue of the Return of Bruce Wayne miniseries is worth picking up if for no other reason than to have another chance to enjoy the art from Ryan Sook.  DC did a great job of tapping Sook to illustrate this particular Grant Morrison-penned issue, as it features a noir version of Bruce Wayne as a private investigator.  Also this week are four Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one shots, including Batgirl, Batman and Robin, Outsiders, and Red Robin.  These single issues focus on how these specific characters deal with the impending return of their mentor.

3) Knight and Squire #1

This new six issue miniseries capitalizes on the recent popularity of these characters.  Grant Morrison is largely responsible for bringing these British allies of Batman and Robin back to the attention of readers, but it’s recent Action Comics scribe Paul Cornell who brings this series to life alongside artist Jimmy Broxton.  If you’ve followed any of Cornell’s DC work you know he’s got a knack for writing these particular characters, so this will likely be a series worth reading.  In the ever expanding Batman universe it’s nice to see some of the non-American characters getting their share of the spotlight.

4) Superior #1

This year we’ve seen writer Mark Millar offer up his twist on the Batman archetype with his Marvel book Nemesis.  Now, in collaboration with artist Leinil Yu we see what looks to be his take on the Superman archetype in this new Marvel series.  If you’re a fan of Millar’s violent work on Kick-Ass, Ultimates, or Nemesis, this is definitely the book for you this week.  It should also be interesting to see Yu’s take on a creator owned property, his first such work in several years.

5) Untold Tales of Blackest Night

You really thought Blackest Night was over?  Well, technically it is, but this week DC brings us a one shot of untold tales.  Including work from Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi, Ethan Van Sciver, and Ivan Reis, this issue focuses on characters whose stories might not have been told in the initial Blackest Night series.  Wonder what Ragman, Scarecrow, Donna Troy, and Animal Man were up to when they weren’t on panel during the Black Lantern fiasco?  Pick this one up and find out for yourself.  In a week so heavy with Batman titles, don’t forget about this one if you’re a big fan of the Lantern stories.

> Bonus picks of the week: Dark Horse brings back Scary Godmother in a hardcover collection which collects four previous books along with early character designs.  It’s long overdue to have these books collected, and it happens just in time for Halloween!  Also this week be on the look out for Shadowland #4, New Avengers #5, the popular and kid-friendly Johnny Boo HC vol. 4, and Star Wars: Knight Errant #1.  As always I’ll remind you all to take a look at our New Releases page to ensure you don’t accidentally miss out on something worth reading.