JUSTIN’S PICK :: THE MALEVOLENT MR. BURNS: For any kid born in the eighties, and coming of age in the early nineties, the Simpsons likely hold a special place in your hearts. Watching the show ebb and flow to varying levels of quality over the years has been a pleasure (or in some instances, displeasure) other generations may have missed. Now, Bongo rolls out a one-shot devoted entirely to the villainous Montgomery Burns. Burns’ character evolved drastically over the early seasons, from the steely, imposing boss, to bona fide baddie, and onward to bumbling comic relief. Also, Burns comes standard with his sycophantic Smithers, adding a component of creepiness as unnerving as it is entertaining. Hopefully, The Malevolent Mr. Burns issue will touch on all of these elements of the character. Only one way to find out.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: REGULAR SHOW #1: When the Adventure Time comic materialized, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where’s my Regular Show comic?” Little did I know, my future self answered, “Right here, you crybaby!” Much like its aforementioned Cartoon Network cohort, Regular Show boasts a wildly colorful cast of characters sure to attract the best talent comics has to offer. Worth the price of admission just for the inevitable Rigby/Mordecai trash talk. OOOOOOOOOH!

JUSTIN’S PICK :: SAVAGE DRAGON #186: Savage Dragon is my favorite long-running super hero comic. Perpetrator Erik Larsen just gets the mechanics of the ongoing format (which is fast becoming a lost art nowadays, with reboots, re-numberings, ret cons and so on), and every year or so the book cycles back to a point of accessibility. The current arc, Savage Dragon on Trial, is one of those, addressing a deadly identity crisis the titular hero endured a while back. It’s an easy way for readers to get caught up on current continuity. It can be intimidating to pick up a book with such a long and rich history, but that’s legion for comics. Part of the fun is filling in the blanks as you go. And the driving concept of the book – its real time storytelling – keeps the cast fresh and vital.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: SEX #1: Joe Casey is an author with a flair for both compelling high-concept and creative characterization. He also takes great care to pair his unique projects with artists that absolutely suit them, and his new Image title, Sex, is no exception. Newcomer Piotr Kowalski employs a bold, open style reminiscent of talents such as Tonci Zonjic or Ben Stenbeck, offset by a bright and punchy color palette. As the unfeasibility of the superhero lifestyle becomes more and more apparent in today’s staggering, event-driven market, Sex asks the question: what would a hero do without all that great responsibility?

JUSTIN’S PICK :: PROFESSOR FRINK FANTASTIC SCIENCE FICTIONS #1 : Bongo Comics’ Simpsons line of comics are always a treasure trove of talent, offering maximum entertainment value, with multiple stories in each issue. Choicest pickings are one shots like these, focusing on specific characters from the extensive supporting cast. Professor Frink is a perfect lead for this kind of treatment. I’ve immensely enjoyed this current run of one shots, and I’d recommend any of them to any fan of the show.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: NOVA #1 : There was a time when Nova was heir apparent to Spider-Man. Peter Parker had graduated high school and was moving on to more adult concerns, and Marvel positioned Richard Rider to take the premiere teen superhero role. The character never set the world alight, however, and has gone through a few different iterations over the years. Regardless, Nova remains a cult favorite for many Marvelites (myself included), an icon in his own right. Now, super scribe Jeph Loeb teams up with the inimitable Ed McGuinness to breathe new life into the Human Rocket. Join them for the ride, won’t you?

JUSTIN’S PICK :: TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE HC VOL 2: Michael Kupperman is the finest wit working in comics today, offering razor sharp absurdism that addresses contemporary audiences with an archaic sensibility. If you can read Great Men of History: Bertrand Copillion AKA “The Scythe” without sniggering at least twice, you are certifiably dead inside.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: SILVER SURFER BY STAN LEE AND MOEBIUS #01: Out of all the icons co-created by Stan Lee, the Surfer is clearly a mouthpiece. Rescued from throwaway background status, Mr. Lee used the character to voice his own personal concerns and philosophies, acutely so in the story collected here. Illustrated by the late and esteemed cartoonist Moebius, this is an affordable alternative to the costlier (and soon out-of-print, I’d expect) hardcover collection, Parable. And let’s be honest…who doesn’t love a good, old fashioned reprint book?

Honorable mention: Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill. ‘Cause Steve Rude drew it.