1) Uncanny X-men #1

Marvel relaunches one of their biggest properties this week with writer Kieron Gillen and artist Carlos Pacheco.  Consisting of characters like Cyclops, Magneto, Emma Frost, Colossus, Storm, Namor, and Hope, this book looks to represent a thematic counterpoint to Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo’s school-based Wolverine and the X-men title.  With its roster of morally ambiguous characters, this title seems like it might be a book of mutants operating in gray areas.  It should be interesting to read both books together and see how Marvel aims to reshape the role of mutants within their universe.

2) Hellboy House of the Living Dead HC

Nothing says Halloween like an all new original Hellboy graphic novel!  Here Mike Mignola re-teams with Richard Corben to tell another story of Hellboy’s time in Mexico.  If you read their Hellboy in Mexico one shot from a year ago, you know how much fun this book should be.  In addition to HB’s inebriated encounters with luchadores, apparently he also has a wrestling match with a Frankenstein monster in this one!

3) Swamp Thing #3

It would be hard to write a Spotlight for the week of Halloween without mentioning Scott Snyder’s new Swamp Thing series.  Aside from continuing and broadening the history of DC’s muck monster, Snyder and artist Yanick Paquette (along with Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman on Animal Man) are bringing horror back to the mainstream DC universe, and producing entertaining stories in the process.

4) Avengers Origins Ant Man and Wasp #1

Our creative director Rico Renzi mentioned to me that I should check out work by this book’s artist Stephanie Hans, and I was admittedly impressed.  True, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle on seemingly endless Avengers titles, but this one is promising because Hans seems like a great fit for this book which documents the meeting of Ant Man and the Wasp, and how they went about becoming costumed heroes.  These Origins one shots are a great way to learn about some of Marvel’s classic characters if you’ve never read much about them before.

5) Batman Noel Deluxe HC

 While Lee Bermejo’s previous collaborations with writer Brian Azzarello Lex Luthor and Joker were critical and commercial successes, for this book Bermejo took up the writing reins to tell a story of several eras of Batman.  Aside from seeing Bermejo offer up interpretations of Batman and his villains through different parts of their history, this one was also inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Action Comics #3, Animal Man #3, Dark Shadows #1, Detective Comics #3, Fear Itself #7.1, Ganges #4, Joe the Barbarian HC Deluxe Edition, Six Guns #1, Roger Langridge’s Snarked #2.

1) Incredible Hulk #1

Marvel continues their wave of relaunches with this new title from Jason Aaron and Marc Silvestri.  Aside from offering an easy jumping on point for new readers, this new series should appeal to longtime Hulk fans because for the first time it features a story where Hulk and Banner are existing as separate beings.  With critically acclaimed work on characters like Wolverine and Ghost Rider, Aaron is a natural choice to write the Hulk.  Silvestri’s involvement is a bit surprising, but it could represent the artist’s desire to raise his profile like fellow Image founder Jim Lee is currently doing at DC.

2) Spaceman #1

There are lots of reasons to pick up this book: 1) It reunites the acclaimed creative team of 100 Bullets, writer Brian Azzarello, artist Eduardo Risso, and cover artist Dave Johnson. 2) Spaceman aims to turn science fiction on its ear the way 100 Bullets offered a new twist on crime fiction. 3) This is only a nine issue series, and this first issue is only $1.00! 4) If you’re not familiar with 100 Bullets, don’t worry! This series focuses on a genetically engineered protagonist, space pirates, and a post apocalyptic, intergalactic scenario, all of which should appeal to lots of sci fi fans.

3) Disney Mickey Mouse HC vol. 2: Treasure Island

Cheers to Fantagraphics for collecting these classic Floyd Gottfredson Mickey Mouse strips.  This second volume collects more of Gottfredson’s work from the thirties, and contains Mickey’s encounters with pirates, mad scientists, and exotic locales like jungles and creepy castles.  These strips also remind us that early Mickey stories were far removed from Disney’s later efforts to make Mickey a primarily youth oriented property.  Gottfredson’s strips are full of action, adventure, and even satire, and easily enjoyable to adults as well as kids.  Also available this week is a 2 volume box set containing both the first two Gottfredson Mickey books.

4) All Star Western #2

Don’t let All Star Western get lost in the new DC 52 shuffle.  Not only does this new series continue the well executed Jonah Hex stories from Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, but it features some impressive artwork from Moritat.  The creators have also pushed the character into an interesting new direction by having him team up with Amadeus Arkham (of Arkham Asylum fame) to hunt down Gotham City’s first serial killer.  All Star Western is shaping up to be a book that consistently delivers good stories, solid artwork, and a direction that should appeal to fans of Westerns and DC’s tumultuous history.

5) Wolverine and the X-men #1

Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo kick off this new X title that features Wolverine taking several mutants back to the ruins of the old X mansion in Westchester to start up a new school.  Along with classic mutants like Beast, Kitty Pryde, and Iceman, Wolverine’s team also includes the likes of Quentin Quire, Toad, and several younger mutants.  What stands out to me about this new book is that it returns Wolverine to an essential part of his character.  Some might think it odd to see Logan in the role of school headmaster, but he always played the role of mentor to younger mutants like Kitty Pryde and Jubilee, so this seems like a natural progression and return for the character.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Aquaman #2, Avengers Solo #1, Daredevil #5, Flash #2, Justice League Dark #2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing #3, Ultimate Comics Ultimates #3, and Walking Dead #90.

1) Fear Itself #7

Marvel’s latest big event wraps up this weekend, as Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen resolve the heroes’ conflicts with the Serpent, Sin, and the Worthy.  The fallout from this series gets examined in Fear Itself: The Fearless, which also debuts this week.  Marvel is building up to their Shattered Heroes storylines with upcoming Fear Itself issues 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3, each focusing on Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man as they pick up the pieces from Fear Itself, and all of which see print next month.

2) Justice League #2

The book that kicked off DC’s 52 relaunch campaign sees its second issue released this week.  While issue one featured Batman’s first interactions with Green Lantern, this issue features an old fashioned hero battle between Superman and Batman.  Seeing as Jim Lee’s work on both Batman and Superman continues to be popular back issue items, I’m sure lots of people will enjoy his take on both characters in this issue.

3) Batman #2

As big a seller as Justice League #1 was, the first issue of the relaunched Batman actually sold more copies across the country.  A big part of this lies in DC’s wisdom to hire a top notch creative team in writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo.  Issue one seemed to suggest that the creators have lots of plans for their time on the book, and while some of the 52 relaunches have already undergone some changes in their creative teams, I think Snyder and Capullo could be around for a while, adding their own mark on the history of the Dark Knight.

4) Avengers #18

The significance of this issues is two-fold. This issue features the debut of new regular series artist Daniel Acuna, who has done some solid work for Marvel in recent years.  Writer Brian Bendis has alluded to the idea that these two have long been wanting to collaborate on a big book for a while, so it looks to be happening here.  The other reason to consider this book is that it features an all new Avengers lineup, which includes some familiar faces like Cap, Iron Man, Spider Woman, Hawkeye, and Wolverine, but also features the return of Black Panther and Vision to the fold, along with some other characters.  We all expect Marvel to have lots of Avengers books on the shelves for the buildup to next year’s movie, but this one looks to be a promising one.

5) Wonder Woman #2

Wonder Woman was widely regarded as one of the best of DC’s relaunched titles.  In writer Brian Azzarello DC found a competent scribe whose considerable range and lack of ties to previous Wonder Woman stories make him ideal to elevate the character to new heights.  Artist Cliff Chiang is one of those artists who always manages to deliver clean, stylistic work and strong visual storytelling on whatever project he happens to illustrate.  As one who has only occasionally read Wonder Woman in the past, I’m intrigued by the new book’s inclusion of some of the more horrific elements of these mythological characters. Let’s hope Azzarello and Chiang produce a long run on this book and make Wonder Woman a book guaranteed to be well written, drawn, and most of all, entertaining.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Sergio Aragones Funnies #4, the final issue (before the relaunch) of Uncanny X-men #544, Batman Odyssey vol. 2 #1, Superior #6, Nightwing #2,  and John Carter: A Princess of Mars #2.

1) Daniel Clowes’ Death-Ray HC

Clowes originally published this story in his fabled Eightball #23.  This week Drawn and Quarterly offers up a re-release of that classic story, but newly expanded and produced in a larger hardcover format.  The Death-Ray features Clowes’ take on the superhero genre and costumed vigilantes in a way only he could.  Where else might you see a hero’s origin tied to his first puff of a cigarette?  Aside from the incredible cartooning you always get with Clowes, this book also features some of Clowes smartest writing to date.

2) The Shade #1

Last week fans might’ve noticed a few new miniseries from DC starting up.  In addition to their 52 new ongoing titles they will continue to be produced shorter series, and one of their most anticipated ones hits this week, with this first of twelve issues.  James Robinson is bringing back his popular character from the pages of Starman, and a who’s who list of artists will be on hand to illustrate this story that spreads over several centuries.  Artist Cully Hamner handles the first several issues, with artists like Darwyn Cooke, Jill Thompson, and Gene Ha working on future issues.  For those of us who enjoyed Starman, we’re hoping that The Shade will recapture some of the goodness of that series and also feature Robinson’s return to form.

3) The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists HC

If The Death-Ray wasn’t enough for indie fans, this week also sees the newest book from Canadian cartoonist genius, Seth!  The creator behind Palookaville, George Sprott, It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, and Clyde Fans examines the fictions and facts behind Canda’s comics history.  Seth’s work is so effective largely because the lines between reality and fiction are so blurred.  It’s Seth’s deft use of humor and an authentic writing voice that makes his work so beloved amongst fans of great comics.  This new book should be another great addition to his already impressive catalog.

4) X-men: Regenesis #1

Picking up from the threads of X-men: Schism, Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan deal with the ramification of the rift between Cyclops and Wolverine, and go about setting up the relaunches of the new Uncanny X-men and Wolverine and the X-men.  This one shot should also expand on Schism by delineating where other X-teams like X-factor, New Mutants, Generation Hope, and Uncanny X-force end up in this new direction.

5) Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #2

With Animal Man, writer Jeff Lemire is elevating his status as one of DC’s top writers.  While that book owes much to the horror genre, Frankenstein reads more like a love letter to classic monster movies.  Featuring new twists on the myths of Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and other monster archetypes, this book seems quite accessible among DC’s new 52 titles.  I should also mention the art of Alberto Ponticelli, whose work on Unknown Soldier might seem vastly different from his work on a monster book.  That’s one of the real draws of the book for me, though, as it seems to represent the artist’s range and ability to work in very different aspects of the horror genre.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Batgirl #2, 100 Bullets HC Book One, Batwoman #2, Drew Struzan: Oeuvre HC, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #2, Green Lantern #2, Orchid #1, Pope Hats #2, and Uncanny X-force #16.

1) Roger Langridge’s Snarked #1 and The Show Must Go On TP

It’s a great week for new comics if you’re a fan of cartoonist Roger Langridge.  Snarked #1 features Langridge’s take on the Walrus and Carpenter characters from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass.  This is one of the best all ages comics to hit stands this year, and its humor and fine cartooning should appeal to adults as well.  The Show Must Go On is a collection featuring over 200 pages of Langridge strips over the years, including some of his most popular characters like Mugwhump the Great, Kabuki Kid, and several Frankenstein Meets Shirley Temple strips.  Stay tuned to the Heroes Blog for my upcoming interview with Langridge.

2) Animal Man #2

The first issue of this new DC relaunch surprised a lot of people.  In addition to reading like the book Jeff Lemire has really been wanting to write, there were several truly scary moments.  Lemire and artist Travel Foreman seem like they’re already making a mark on this character, and finding a way to tell a story about a family that also manages to work as a horror story.  I should also use this space to remind you that several second prints of DC first issues are also being released this week.  Check out our full listing of new releases HERE to see what you might’ve missed the first time around.

3) Hark! A Vagrant HC

If industry buzz and the lines at her SPX booth are any indication, this newest collection from cartoonist Kate Beaton is going to be huge.  This 160 page book features Beaton’s distinctive cartooning and humor as she examines history, literature, and even Romance Comics as they might’ve been in the 15th century!  This book is bound to end up on numerous ‘best of the year’ lists, and is well worth a look from you in your comic travels this week.

4) Action Comics #2

It’s not a surprise that the first issue of Grant Morrison and Rags Morales Action Comics met wth lots of acclaim.  The idea that their Superman starts out as a brash, overconfident, naive hero suggests to me that their story will feature the humbling of the character over time.  This isn’t necessarily an original idea, but most people think of Superman as a character who was always fundamentally good from the start.  The thought of a Superman who has to grow into his role, abilities, and status is certainly an interesting one, and might provide opportunity for numerous new stories in the process.

5) X-men Schism #5

I’ve been talking about the merits of writer Jason Aaron for a while now on the spotlight, and if you’re curious to check out his upcoming Wolverine and the X-men series, you owe it to yourself to check out the issues of X-men Schism.  Not only does Schism build up to the philosophical rift between Cyclops and Wolverine, but it lays the groundwork for the upcoming revamped X titles.  This issue also features art from Adam Kubert, who did some solid work with Aaron on last year’s Astonishing Spider-man and Wolverine miniseries.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Swamp Thing #2, Superior #5, The Huntress #1, Avengers: 1959 #1, FF 1234 HC, American Vampire vol. 1 TP, Casanova: Avaritia #2, Detective Comics #2, and Best American Comics 2011 anthology.

1) Holy Terror HC

This new book from Frank Miller is also the debut publication from Legendary Comics, the new imprint from Miller’s longtime editor Bob Schreck.  Holy Terror was inspired by the 9/11 tragedies, and was originally meant to be a Batman tale.  As the story unfolded and increased in violent content, it became clear that this would have to be an original story.  This one’s been in the works for a decade, and if you’re a Frank Miller fan, this is one you’ll want to remember this week.

2) Aquaman #1

Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis attempt to do for Aquaman what they did for Green Lantern in this new series.  Johns has long been a supporter of DC’s undersea King, and aims to increase his relevance by not only bringing him back to the Justice League, but by introducing new villains like the Trench in the pages of this book.  This is the only other non-Justice League book that Johns is writing, so if you’re a fan of his work, you’ll want to make sure to read this title.

3) Cover Story HC: DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland

One complaint of the recent Brian Bolland art book was that it focused very little on his acclaimed work for DC Comics.  This volume should make up for that, as it features not only some of his classic work on characters like Batman, the Flash, and Wonder Woman, but also includes examples of his Vertigo work on titles like the Invisibles and Animal Man.  Plus, the book includes unreleased art and Bolland’s own analysis of some of the works.

4) Brilliant #1

Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley have garnered lots of fans for their work on Ultimate Spider-man.  Brilliant is their first creator owned effort, and focuses on a group of genius friends who try to understand and unlock the concepts of superhuman abilities.  Bendis is known for his work on atypical superhero stories, like Powers or Alias, but I’m curious to see how Bagley uses his largely superhero style on a more human book.

5) All-Star Western #1

With Jonah Hex, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray proved that DC Western characters could produce solid stories and maintain an audience.  On this new title, Palmiotti and Gray are joined by artist Moritat, who provided some great work on the most recent Spirit series.  While Jonah Hex will remain the new series’ star, other older Western characters like El Diablo will be appearing.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Ultimate Comics Spider-man #2, The Flash #1, Ultimate Comics Ultimates #2, Justice League Dark #1, James Jean Rebus HC, Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest #1, Superman #1, Love and Rockets New Stories vol. 4, Habibi GN, Batman: The Dark Knight #1, and Marvel’s newest Oz title Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #1.

Don’t forget to join us at Heroes this Saturday at 1 p.m. as the Heroes Discussion Group tackles Dan Clowes’ Ghost World.  Our fearless leader Andy Mansell has lots of interesting points to bring up about the book that will inevitably lead to lively discussion.  If you haven’t checked out our ever evolving Discussion Group and are a fan of Clowes’ work, this is a great chance to come see what an enlightening and enjoyable part of Heroes this has become.  Hope to see you Saturday!

1) Batman #1

On paper this new Batman title should be among the best of the DC reboots.  Scott Snyder has proven his comic writing skills on books like American Vampire, and shown his capability of working with Gotham City characters wit memorable runs on Detective Comics and the recent Batman: Gates of Gotham mini series.  Artist Greg Capullo is probably best known for his many years working on Spawn, but hasn’t worked much with superheroes in recent years.  Batman should be a great outlet for Capullo’s naturally dark style, and should give Snyder yet another opportunity to cement himself as one of our industry’s best writers.

2) X-men: Schism #4

The Schism storyline is turning out to be one of those big, status-changing events that is more than living up to its hype.  With each new issue writer Jason Aaron continues to build up to the inevitable rift suggested by the title in ways that seem appropriately dramatic and subdued as needed.  In this issue he teams with legendary artist Alan Davis to continue to ramp up the action toward next issue’s finale.

3) Wonder Woman #1

The most interesting thing about this new book has to be the creative team.  Brian Azzarello isn’t a writer you’d think of as being a natural fit for a Wonder Woman book, but he’s more than proven his skills on crime books like 100 Bullets.  Artist Cliff Chiang is known for his slick, identifiable art style, and this seems like a book he should enjoy. Azzarello and Chiang collaborated on the quirky DC title Doctor 13, which makes me think they’ll bring some originality to this title.  There are already rumors that the duo are bringing some darker horror elements to some of the character’s mythological surroundings and supporting cast.  This one should be well worth a look and a read.

4) Ultimate X-men #1

Marvel’s last of their four new Ultimate relaunches also hits shelves this week.  Nick Spencer is the relative newcomer writing this new title, but he has lots of fans of his work on titles like Morning Glories, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and the acclaimed Jimmy Olsen back up stories in Action Comics.  He’s teaming up artist Paco Medina for this relaunch.  Medina’s probably best known for his work on Deadpool and the recent adjective-less X-men title.  Along with X-men regulars like Wolverine, Iceman, and Rogue, promo art suggest other non mutant characters like the Human Torch might be along for the relaunch.

5) Daredevil #4

Arguably one of Marvel’s most entertaining new series, this book continues its return to the character’s swashbuckling roots.  While Paolo Rivera did an excellent job illustrating the first storyline’s fight between Daredevil and the sound villain Klaw, everyone should keep an eye open for artist Marcos Martin’s work on the book starting this issue.  Mark Waid is also doing solid work on the writing side of this title that is appealing to old and new fans.  If you’re a fan of Marvel stories from the sixties and seventies, you owe it to yourself to check out this entertaining title.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Catwoman #1, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2, Birds of Prey #1, B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth – Russia #1, Nightwing #1, Chew TP vol. 4, The Guild: Clara oneshot, Game of Thrones #1, Hellboy TP. vol. 11, and Michael Kupperman’s Mark Twain’s Autobiography: 1910-2010.

As part of our recent trip to this year’s Small Press Expo in Maryland, I had an opportunity to pick up an advanced copy of Craig Thompson’s eight years in the making new book, Habibi.  Thompson has had something of a meteoric rise to fame, with an acclaimed first book Goodbye, Chunky Rice, and his next book Blankets becoming a nationwide phenomenon and Eisner Award winner.  Blankets was a rare comic, a 500+ page original graphic novel memoir that went on to sell thousands of copies and inadvertently become a gateway comic for countless new readers.  Thompson followed Blankets with Carnet De Voyage, a much shorter work that was more travel journal than distinct narrative.  It has been known that Thompson’s newest book Habibi was being worked on for the better part of a decade.  Fans and critics alike have been curious about what kind of book Habibi will be, and whether or not it could live up to the subsequent hype created by the success of Blankets.  Once we got back from Maryland I took it upon myself to read Habibi and post some thoughts about it here on the Heroes blog in hopes of giving you all some idea about what you might expect from this massive book.

The first and most obvious aspect of Habibi is that it represents Thompson’s continued interest in creating long form graphic novels as opposed to serializing longer stories in the same way that creators like Adrian Tomine or Chris Ware typically might.  Thompson admits that there are positives and negatives to this publishing ideology, but the fact that he now has two 500+ page original graphic novels in his catalog is indeed an impressive feat, especially when you remember he’s only in his mid thirties.  These hefty works demand a great investment from readers, but if you see that a creator has put so much time and energy into a work, the book seems to offer a substantial potential for gravity, depth, and hopefully a high degree of entertainment.

While large comics do signify the creator’s dedication to story and craft, they don’t necessarily mean they are always good, entertaining comics.  How does Habibi stand on its own merit?  Habibi is quite an accomplishment because, if anything, it clearly shows how much Thompson wanted to grow and progress in his art after Blankets.  It might’ve been tempting to churn out a follow up to that story and tell another autobiographical story, but Thompson went to an entirely different well for Habibi.  It’s a Middle Eastern story that owes as much to Islamic history, poetry, art, and symbology as Blankets did to Thompson’s own Christian upbringing. Thompson isn’t Muslim, and didn’t necessarily grow up with an understanding or appreciation for cultures outside of his own, but his attention to detail is beyond meticulous.  Every pattern and example of calligraphy, though based on existing examples of Islamic art and history, was painstakingly reproduced by Thompson’s brush.  The fine adornments, chapter fronts, and panel frames weren’t cut and pasted from a computer, but drawn by hand.  To me this exemplifies that Thompson not only wanted to push himself as a cartoonist, but wanted to be very respectful to the traditions and forms that inspired this book.

Beyond Thompson’s clear motivation to make Habibi an accurate and appropriate Middle Eastern tale, it’s worth noting that there are several entertaining chase scenes and action sequences in the book.  I’ve heard from some who didn’t like Blankets that they thought it was too emotional, and not necessarily a story that demanded a visual interpretation.  Habibi reminds us that Thompson is acutely aware that comics are a visual medium, and that he understands and enjoys crafting pages filled not just with fine adornment, but with fluid movement.  The characters of Zam and Dodola are often in life-threatening situations, and that sense of danger is clearly evident, especially in the way Thompson depicts their faces and body language.  While Blankets was very much about individuals growing up in a strict fundamentalist environment, Habibi deals with characters maturing and changing amid a place of relegated status where their lives are often threatened.  For that reason the stakes seem dramatically higher in Habibi, and thus considerably more heavy in their global sense of relevance.

Somehow amid all the danger, Thompson maintains the thread of Habibi’s love story.  Blankets also had a love story, but while its focus was on young people still discovering their identities, Habibi’s love story exists between two very scarred individuals who allow themselves to know love in spite of their tremendous personal struggles.  While we see the characters age from young children to adulthood and witness their individual tragedies, we see them come to terms with their respective scars and still accept love in spite of their pasts.  The characters truly seem to need each other in order to fully realize their own true selves, and that necessity doesn’t come across as contrived or forced.  This feels like a story that could have already or may yet happen.

Habibi gives us plenty of evidence that Thompson has matured in his storytelling and his cartooning.  There is perhaps no better example of that than by simply noting that Habibi is a comic of layers, where symbolism and parallels exist amid the characters and scenes, but are also made more resonant by their reflection of Middle Eastern numerology, spirituality, and philosophy.  Blankets was in part about Thompson’s struggle to accept his fundamentalist upbringing and find his own voice amid that belief system.  Habibi is set in an equally fundamentalist culture, but here faith and the hope it brings act as a buoy for the characters.  Faith is something that the characters have even when everything else is against them.  The characters’ understanding and use of their faith is exemplified by the numerous inclusions of Islamic symbology, and while they give us a better sense of the characters’ identities, they are also a smart method Thompson uses to incorporate themes and symbology he wanted to illustrate in this story.

As with any creator who has a huge commercial and critical success, all their subsequent works will inevitably be measured against that previous work.  It wasn’t hard for me to read Habibi as its own story, but it is hard for me to talk about it now that I’ve read it without noting that this was made by the same guy who created Blankets.  While the stories have some similarities between them, Habibi stands out as a much denser, detailed, adult story reflective of an older, wiser cartoonist at work.  There certainly are some darker, more mature elements to Habibi, but they aren’t included gratuitously.  Thompson carefully researched Middle Eastern history, art, literature, and spirituality, and with Habibi adds his own mark to those centuries old stories.  Regardless of how you react to Habibi, I doubt anyone who reads this book can experience it without at least respecting the continually refining craftsmanship of Craig Thompson as a writer, cartoonist, and storyteller.

As was the case with last week’s spotlight, I want to remind all of you to check our full listing of new releases HERE to remind yourselves of what new titles you might be interested in checking out.  DC has another 13 brand new #1 issues to choose from, but they’re also lots of other great picks for the week.  Here are just a few to consider:

1) Ultimate Comics Spider-man #1

Brian Bendis and Sara Pichelli kick off what is likely the most widely anticipated new Ultimate title.  Peter Parker is gone, and there’s a new young Spider-man for a new generation.  How will the creators use the new alter ego of Miles Morales to add their own resonance to the Spider-man mythology?  Old and new Spidey fans will surely want to find out, and here’s the best place to start looking for that answer.

2) Green Lantern #1

As I said, there are lots of new DC books to choose from this week, but this is one that a lot of you are probably excited to pick up.  To change things up for the new DC 52, Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke have returned the villain Sinestro to the role of Earth’s Green Lantern.  What does this mean for Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps?  I’m sure Johns and Reis have an interesting plan in the works.

3) Optic Nerve #12

Not only a big day for DC and Marvel fans, any time there’s a new issue of Adrian Tomine’s Optic Nerve, readers of literary and indie comics can be excited.  This is Tomine’s first book following this year’s excellent Scenes From an Impending Marriage, and like all of his comics, this one should be full of humor, pathos, and the fine cartooning you can always expect from his work.

4) John Carter: A Princess of Mars #1

Marvel is publishing this book that aims to build upon the initial buzz built by the trailer to the upcoming John Carter live action film.  This isn’t a film adaption, but an adaption of the first John Carter novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  What’s more exciting than that, though, is the creative team working on this book.  Roger Langridge of Fred the Clown, The Muppet Show, Thor: the Mighty Avenger, and Snarked! fame is joined by artist Filipe Andrade and cover artist Skottie Young.  I’m anxious to see how the typically humorous Langridge tackles a classic fantasy story, and intrigued by the style of relative newcomer Andrade, who most recently worked on the Onslaught Unleashed series for Marvel.

5) The Complete Major Bummer Super Slacktacular TP

John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke’s acclaimed super hero satire is finally released in a complete collection.  Dark Horse is responsible for bringing this cult DC title back to print, and all 15 issues are included in this trade along with an introduction and the original series proposal from Arcudi and a Mahnke sketchbook section.  Also worth noting this week is the rerelease of another fine Arcudi story, A God Somewhere.

>Bonus Picks of the Week: Fear Itself #6, Amulet SC vol. 4, Batman and Robin #1, Korgi GN vol. 3, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1, Legion Lost #1, Dollhouse: Epitaphs #3, Suicide Squad #1, and Deathstroke #1.

Don’t forget that we still have lots of great mini comics and graphic novels that we brought back from SPX.  Take a few minutes to check some of these new items out during your visit to the shop this week.  You can check out our SPX blog HERE to see what we picked up for the store.