1) Joe the Barbarian #8

This week’s ‘better late than never’ pick has to be this final issue from Grant Morrison and Sean Gordon Murphy.  While everybody hates when books ship late, I know there are lots of you out there who enjoyed this miniseries, so don’t pass up the chance to see how the acclaimed comic wraps up.  If you need another reason to purchase this one, yesterday artist Sean Murphy was just announced as a guest at HeroesCon ’11!  Read all about that announcement here!

2) 5 Ronin #1

As far as I can tell, this book focuses on Wolverine, Punisher, Deadpool, Psylocke, and Hulk in 17th century Japan.  Peter Milligan and Tomm Coker are the creators on this miniseries, and while I’m not sure either one of those names might be ones you’d typically associate with ninja stories, the previews look promising.   Who wouldn’t want to read a Wolverine in feudal Japan story?

3) Oz Primer

This handy primer of Marvel’s excellent Oz adaptations acts not only as a great introduction to their interpretations of the classic Frank Baum characters, but also catches readers up on some of the lesser known characters from the recent Marvelous Lands of Oz and Ozma of Oz miniseries.’  Also worth noting is that this primer contains interviews with Oz writer Eric Shanower and artist Skottie Young.

4) Batman Beyond #3

This series from Adam Beechen and Ryan Benjamin continues to impress fans of the animated series as well as readers looking for a Batman story that doesn’t heavily rely on modern continuity.  Issue three continues last issue’s appearance of the future Justice League, and also features the villainous Matter Master.  For fans of this series, don’t forget to check out my recent interview with artist Ryan Benjamin here!  Also this week is the release of the series’ first trade paperback.

5) Emma #1

Marvel has done a respectable job of adapting classics from literature for fans of funny books.  This adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s most famous works is adapted by the writer of the Sense and Sensibility comic, Nancy Butler, and illustratedby Janet Lee, an artist most of you should be familiar with for her recent book Return of the Dapper Men.  Both Sense and Sensibility and Return of the Dapper Men sold very quickly, with many non-comic readers taking interest.  If you’re a fan of Austen or either of these creators, make sure you pick up this one, as it’s likely to sell out.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Annihilators #1 (Marvel’s latest cosmic miniseries), Popeye HC vol. 5, Secret Six #31, Captain America and Falcon #1, Green Lantern #63 (a prelude to the War of the Green Lanterns story), and Takio, the latest offering from Bendis and Oeming.

1) Astonishing X-men #36

Marvel’s line of comics not tied to specific continuities offers up another interesting variation with this week’s Astonishing X-men issue.  This issue is also the first of an arc from the new creative team of Daniel Way, Jason Pearson, and Karl Story.  The fact that they are  helming a story focusing on Monster Island should be well worth a look, as Pearson and Story will undoubtedly do a great job illustrating giant monsters.

2) X-men Legacy #245/New Mutants #22

It’s a two-for-one spotlight selection as parts one and two of the Age of X storyline both see print this week.  Mike Carey writes both chapters of this alternate X-men tale, along with the rest of the chapters.  The X-men Legacy issue features art from recent HeroesCon guest addition Clay Mann, while Steve Kurth handles the art duties on the New Mutants chapter.

3) American Vampire #12

This book hasn’t made an appearance on the Spotlight in recent months, but is still worth another mention.  This week’s issue is a stand alone tale featuring vampire Skinner Sweet in the early ’20’s trying to find a place for himself in a modern world.  In addition to writer Scott Snyder, this issue features art from illustrator Danijel Zezelj, an artist who has worked on some of Vertigo’s best books in recent years, including Scalped, Hellblazer, DMZ, and the original graphic novel Luna Park.

4) Iron Man 2.0 #1

Continuing this week’s trend of new arcs orjumping on points, here’s Marvel’s latest attempt at making War Machine a successful solo act.  Strange then that they instead call it Iron Man 2.0.  The creative team of Nick Spencer and Barry Kitson usher in a new era for Jim Rhodes in this new ongoing series that looks to make the character more relevant in the Marvel universe, and move beyond the massive-firearm-toting persona he’s always had.

5) Detective Comics #874

Here’s a final stand alone issue for your reading pleasure this week.  This issue features art from regular series writer Scott Snyder and is illustrated by the regular artist of the back up stories, Francesco Francavilla, who some of you are familiar with for his current work on the Black Panther: Man Without Fear series.  The story follows Jim Gordon as he revisits an old unsolved case involving ‘The Peter Pan Killer.’  Snyder and Francavilla telling a one off crime story should be really hard to pass up.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Fantastic Four #588, Muppet Sherlock Holmes TP, Captain America #615, Who is Jake Ellis? #2, Turf #4, and Metalocalypse/Dethklok #3.

1) Uncanny X-force #5

I’ve only read a few issues of this new series, but customers and co-workers alike swear it’s one of Marvel’s best.  The creative team of Rick Remender and Jerome Opena seem to be well-matched for this particular black ops title.  Storylines featuring a kid Apocalypse and killer Deathloks also add to the increasing appeal of this left of center X book.

2) Hawkeye: Blindspot #1

Writer Jim McCann did an admirable job of interpreting the character in both the Hawkeye and Mockingbird series and the recently completed Widowmaker miniseries.  This new miniseries features the legendary marksman facing his biggest threat to date: blindness.  That’s not a good thing for anyone to face, especially if you’re a very human Avenger known for your extraordinary eyesight.  Artist Paco Diaz is also on hand to bring this story to you.

3) Noche Roja HC

It’s no secret that we at Heroes enjoy supporting our local comics community.  This week we finally get to promote Noche Roja, the latest in Vertigo’s line of original crime graphic novels.  This one, written by Simon Oliver, features 180+ pages of art from local creator Jason Latour.  While he’s had a busy year with projects ranging from Wolverine and Daredevil, to Scalped and an upcoming Captain America story, Latour spent a solid year or more working on Noche Roja, and that work ethic is evident in the finished project.  Make sure to pick up a copy, not only to enjoy a solid crime book, but to support a great local talent who will undoubtedly be continuing his work on high profile jobs in the years to come.

4) Silver Surfer #1

Cosmic fans should take note of this first of five issues in a miniseries from Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia.  The famed herald of Galactus deals with the threat of the High Evolutionary in this new story, and it’s probably a safe bet that a few other cosmic characters might appear as well.

5) Uptight #4

On their blog, Fantagraphics describes this excellent series by Jordan Crane as a pairing of  “adult melancholia and all-ages adventure.”  Melancholy is indeed a large part of Crane’s cartooning, but the fact that the second half of this book features characters from his acclaimed all-ages book The Clouds Above should add some welcomed levity to the proceedings.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Wonder Woman #607, Venom/Deadpool #1, DC Universe Online Legends #2, Darkwing Duck #9, Green Lantern #62, and SHIELD #6.

If you’ve been a comic reader at any time in the past decade, you’ve undoubtedly come across the art of Ryan Benjamin at one point or another.  With work ranging from DC and Wildstorm to Marvel and advertising illustration, Benjamin is a fine example of an artist who has persevered and progressed through his work.  Recently we’ve been spotlighting HeroesCon guests on our blog, but today we’re happy to feature a talented artist whose work deserves some added attention.

Ryan Benjamin: I stay busy, busy ,busy… (more…)

The number one question we get at Heroes or when we set up at cons these days is: “What’s the deal with this Savannah Collection we keep hearing about?”  If you’d like to learn all about this once in a lifetime collection, here’s your chance to hear about it in detail from the man himself!  Our good friend Adam Daughhetee of the Dollar Bin Podcast recently sat down with Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find owner Shelton Drum to discuss comic collecting, the significance of the Savannah collection, what it actually takes to earn the rare CGC Pedigree status, and the upcoming Heritage Auctions.  It’s an informative talk and we’d like to thank Adam for helping out with the interview.  You can hear this interesting interview by clicking over to the Dollar Bin’s website here.  And while listening,  take a look at the books by clicking the image below of the. . .

HeroesCon staple and recent Charlotte MiniCon guest Sanford Greene always has many diverse projects in the works.  One of the most interesting is a Gallery exhibit of his art coming up later this month.  If you’re in or around the Columbia, SC area, make it a point to stop by and check out some of Sanford’s energetic originals.  The event takes place on Thursday, February 24 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Ponder Art Gallery at Benedict College in Columbia, SC.  In addition to seeing Sanford’s art, the event will also feature music from DayClean (www.daycleanduo.com) and soul singer Fayth Hope (www.faythhope.com).  The event is being hosted by Preach Jacobs (www.mobettasoul.com).  For more information about the event, check out Sanford’s website (www.sanfordgreene.com).  Don’t  miss this opportunity to support a  talented artist and longtime friend of Heroes.

We’d like to make a brief mention of this week’s Casanova: Gula #2. Not only will you get a story from the always entertaining team of Matt Fraction and Fabio Moon, but there’s a six page interview in the back of the book between Fraction and series letterer Dustin Harbin.  Most of you probably remember that both Fraction and Harbin spent time working for Heroes, and both made great contributions to the store and HeroesCon.  The interview kind of reads like a behind the scenes of our store, and is very typical of the way Matt and Dharb behaved in their Heroes days.  Be forewarned, we promote this interview with an expletive advisory, as the conversation is uncensored.  If you don’t mind salty language, check out this interview with two of our favorite alums!  Here’s a brief excerpt from our old friend Dharbin, in which he sheds some light on the life of comics retailing:

DH: If there’s anything working in a comics shop– and one of the great shops of North America at that– has taught me, it’s that you have to be bananas to run a comics shop.  Shelton (Drum) certainly is– I’ve worked with that dude through some highs and lows, whoa Nellie, and he is nothing if not slavishly devoted to comics.  I think most people who run comics shops, good or bad, have that hell-or-high-water approach to things.  In Shelton’s case, it makes his shop one of the best in the country, and HeroesCon one of the best-regarded comics conventions around.

1) Bone: Quest for the Spark HC/SC

While this is actually a novel, the mere fact that it’s the first in a trilogy of new Bone stories should be enough to make fans of all ages take note.  And though creator Jeff Smith only contributes art to a few single page illustrations, even that should be enough to warrant a look.  Smith and writer Tom Sniegoski take Bone into a new era with new characters in this highly anticipated book.  Don’t miss a chance to read the next chapter in this always exciting epic.

2) Cinderella: Fables are Forever #1

The last miniseries, Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love, was one of the most popular Fables spinoffs to date, and the creative team of Chris Roberson and Shawn McManus return to tell yet another tale of Fabletown’s supreme secret agent.  Also returning is cover artist Chrissie Zullo, another talented local creator who has been making a name for herself in recent years with her unique contributions to books like Fables and Madame Xanadu.

3) Charismagic #0

Aspen takes advantage of the popularity of magic-based stories in this new miniseries from writer Vince Hernandez and artist Khary Randolph.  I’ve seen an advanced copy of the book, and it should appeal to longtime fans of Aspen books, as well as folks who enjoy magic stories.  If the recent Lady Mechanika is any indication, this book has the potential to move quickly.  Also worth noting, Khary Randolph was just announced as a guest at this year’s HeroesCon, and our own Rico Renzi interviewed him for a piece that appeared on our blog here!

4) Wolverine #5.1

Here on the Spotlight I’ve long discussed my respect for Jason Aaron’s writing.  That’s largely due to the fact that he makes me actually care about overly used and poorly used characters like Ghost Rider and Wolverine.  If you can get past the fact that there are still a few too many Wolverine titles, do yourself a favor and pick up this new offering from Marvel’s .1 initiative.  For those unaware of what the .1 books are, that essentially means you can pick up this issue without reading any other Wolverine books and have a good self-contained jumping on point.  Also worth noting is the contribution of artist Jefte Palo, most recently of the Doctor Voodoo and Taskmaster series.

5) Flash #9

Outside of teasers, there’s little DC has released regarding their upcoming Flashpoint storyline.  Anyone interested in finding out more about it might want to pick up this issue of Flash, as it’s apparently a prelude to the upcoming events.  If you’re a DC fan interested in their crossovers, this is your book to buy this week.  Flashpoint architect Geoff Johns writes this one that features art from regular series artist Francis Manapul.

> Bonus picks of the week: Power Man and Iron Fist #1, DC Universe Legacies #9, Onslaught Unleashed #1, Walking Dead #81, and Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates #1

It’s an especially interesting week of new comics for folks whose reading habits extend beyond the heroic realm.  Here are a few noteworthy selections to consider in your comic book travels.

1) Daytripper TP

One of the highlights of 2010 finally gets collected in a nice trade paperback from Vertigo.  Twin creators Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba crafted a poetic book that garnered acclaim from a wide range of other comic pros and fans alike.  In addition to including the entire 10 issue series, this collection contains a one page illustrated intro from Blankets creator Craig Thompson, as well as a bonus section of sketches and afterthoughts from the creators.  Pick this up and see why so many of us continue to herald this book as one of last year’s best.

2) DC Universe Online Legends #1

I wasn’t planning on writing about this one because initially I thought it might only be an effort from DC to drum up more buzz for their video game of the same name.  However, customers have really been talking about it, so it’s worth reminding everyone about it here.  Adding to the buildup is the creative team consisting of pros like Marv Wolfman, Tony Bedard, Howard Porter, and Adriana Melo.

3) Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever #1

It’s true that Mike Mignola’s comic universe has been growing at an exponential rate in recent years.  Some argue that perhaps it’s growing too much, and something is lost when Mignola himself doesn’t illustrate his fascinating creations.  This first issue of the new Witchfinder mini series reminds us that even when he doesn’t draw his creations, Mignola always gets top notch creators to help out.  In the case of this series, legendary comic artist John Severin steps in to guide the Witchfinder as he ventures to the American West.  So you not only get another chapter in the life of an interesting character via writers Mignola and John Arcudi, but you have a supernatural western tale illustrated by Severin.  Do you really need any more cajoling to consider picking this one up?

4)  Cursed Pirate Girl TP

Some of you might’ve heard about this unique work from creator Jeremy Bastian.  A seafaring tale that blends the tiniest of detailed line work with elements of classic children’s literature, Bastian’s work is both hard to find and widely acclaimed.  This trade collects the first three issues along with a new epilogue.  Check it out to see some great textural art from a great up-and-coming comic creator.

5) Scenes from an Impending Marriage

A new book from Adrian Tomine is well worth a mention on the spotlight.  If you’ve followed Tomine’s work in books like Optic Nerve and Shortcomings, you know Tomine’s already solidified his spot among literary minded cartoonists like Daniel Clowes and Chris Ware.  While his cartooning is always clean and worth a look, this new book intrigues me because it seems to lack some of the pathos that one might typically associate with his work.  Originally used as a gift for guests at his wedding, Scenes of an Impending Marriage looks to be one of Tomine’s lightest and most humorous offerings to date.  Enjoy a sneak peak from the book below!

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Doctor Strange: From the Marvel Vault #1, Batman Beyond #2, Ultimate Comics Thor #4, Batman: Odyssey #6, Captain America: Patriot TP, and an Obama/Palin appearance in Archie #617.

1) Fantastic Four #587

The book most likely to move quickly this week is probably this anticipated issue featuring the death of one of the members of FF.  There’s been healthy speculation in recent months about which character will meet their end.  While the media has already leaked that information, the issue is still guaranteed to sell out, so make sure you pick up a copy.  Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting have been building their entire run up to this moment, and are planning a relaunch for March that is simply called FF.  Come see how they end this incarnation of Marvel’s flagship title.

2) Shazam #1

Fans of the Big Red Cheese rejoice!  This is only a one shot, but for Captain Marvel fans any new issue is worth appreciating.  Eric Wallace and Cliff Richards offer up this issue which has the added bonus of featuring a great cover by Cliff Chiang.  I’d be remiss not to mention that we still have several copies of Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear‘s excellent pictorial history of the character, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal.

3) Age of X: Alpha

This new X crossover seems to me like it will be a strong seller for Marvel.  Like the popular Age of Apocalypse of years past, Age of X features an alternate take on the X universe, with the last remaining mutants trying to survive on the fringes.  The draw of this series is the curiosity it raises around how certain characters will be portrayed.  Mike Carey, Paul Davidson, and others are the creators behind this series, which Marvel is touting as another universe-changing event.

4) Detective Comics #873

Scott Snyder and Jock wrap up their acclaimed “Black Mirror” storyline with this week’s issue.  Readers seem to be excited to see Jock doing interiors for this arc, as lately he’s become a go to cover artist for Marvel and DC.  Snyder has capitalized on his American Vampire success by doing a respectable job following Greg Rucka‘s popular Batwoman issues of Detective.

5) X-men #7

The inclusion of vampires into the X universe probably kept a few of you away from this newest ongoing X-men book.  If you’re among that lot, consider picking up this issues, as the X-men team up with Spider-man in a story set in New York.  Regular writer Victor Gischler is joined by artist Chris Bachalo, who is no stranger to illustrating Spidey or the X-men.  His Lizard story arc in Amazing Spider-man still gets plenty of talk around Heroes from staffers and customers alike.

>Bonus picks of the week: Uncanny X-force #4, Question: Pipeline TP, Magneto #1, Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1, and a slew of Avengers titles, including Avengers #9, New Avengers #8, and Secret Avengers #9.