JUSTIN’S PICK :: SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE BY WELLS AND MADUREIRA HC: I’m just gonna come out with it: in comics, Joe Madureira is to the 90s what Michael Golden was to the 80s; that is, Mad’s relatively modest body of work is comparatively massive in its influence. Traces of his kinetic, amped-up brand of storytelling are all over the stands today. With his stint on Uncanny X-Men, Mad conquered the comic book world. And while I am a bit disappointed he’s forgone proper inkers on his past few projects, the results have still been pretty great. This volume collects Mad’s yarns with scribe Zeb Wells, originally aired in the pages of Avenging Spider-Man (which I blabbed about here) and Savage Wolverine. A lot of these issues sold out at Heroes, and with a line-up consisting of Spidey, Wolvie, Red Hulk, Elektra, Mole Man, the Kingpin, and more, it’s not hard to see why. These stories are solid reminders of the joy and wonder that initially drew us – one and all – to comics.

SETH’S PICK :: BLACK SCIENCE #1:  If you missed Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera’s run on Secret Avengers, you should treat yourself go back and read it.  It was full of imaginative comic craft, and  felt unique among the other Marvel comic it stood beside.  As memorable as that run was, I wondered what kind of comic these guys would create if they had complete control over it.  That question is finally answered this week in the form of their new series Black Science.  Conceptually, it’s a sprawling science fiction epic featuring rogue anarchist scientists who break the barriers of reality and find themselves amid an endless amount of alien worlds.  This is the kind of big concept Remender seems to relish, but is made all the more interesting by the bombastic art of Scalera.  It’s been a while since there was so much early buzz surrounding a new creator owned sci fi series.  This book seems primed to not only live up to its hype, but very likely surpass it. 

RICO’S PICK :: THE FIFTH BEATLE: THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STORY: This is a book that has been in the making for quite some time and I can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands. It’s written by Vivek J. Tiwary with the majority of the art handled by Andrew Robinson and a small sequence by Kyle Baker. Honestly, Andrew Robinson’s artwork is the draw for me on this project. From what I’ve seen in previews he has unloaded his entire bag of tricks on this project, from stylized cartooned likenesses of people everyone is bound to recognize to fully painted realism to trippy psychedelia and much more, it’s all here on display in the Fifth Beatle. For anyone who has ever dipped a brush in watercolor paint, you understand the reflection of Epstein in the panel below is pure witchcraft.

Fair warning, this isn’t a light-hearted bio comic, Epstein was dealing with some heavy stuff and it’s addressed here. This is his story after all.  We’ll have 2 versions of this book, both hardcover. The collector’s edition features a unique, textured cover and a section of bonus materials including unique Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia, artist sketches, and alternate covers.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: THE MYSTERIOUS UNDERGROUND MEN HC: Like most of my generation, I went through a manga/anime phase. I call it a phase not in derision; it was just a passing interest. There are a few exceptions, however: Kenichi Sonoda’s Gunsmith Cats, the animated Ninja Scroll (clips of which I witnessed at one of my very first Heroes Con attendances) and the work of Osamu Tezuka. Famed as the creator of Astro Boy and likened to Walt Disney, Tezuka’s work deserves every accolade it garners for its charm, impact and timelessness. Picturebox presents this first-time English translation of one of the man’s earlier works. This volume is also notable for appearing in its original format, in full color. It boasts a synopsis and range of reference points that is absolutely intriguing. From the solicitation: The Mysterious Underground Men tells the story of Mimio the talking rabbit as he struggles to prove his humanity while helping his friends save earth from an invasion of angry humanoid termites. Sign me up, Mimio!

KARLA’S PICK :: IMAGINE AGENTS #2: I had quite the ensemble of beloved imaginary cohorts as I child, which is why when my fellow Heroes staffer (and Store Manager extraordinaire) Justin recommended Imagine Agents to me last month, I picked it up and devoured it! (Don’t be silly…I didn’t actually EAT the book, I’m not Tony Chu!) Imagine Agents is a new book from BOOM! Studios written by Brian Jones and illustrated by Bachan. It’s an intriguing concept about an organization of “Men In Black” style agents who’s job it is to wrangle up imaginary friends after the children they befriended have outgrown them(tragic!! Right??!!). Some of those imaginary counterparts are the best friends and confidants to the children they belong to, and others are chaotic terrors who reek havoc and mayhem wherever they go, leaving their pre-adolescent benefactors to take the blame. I truly enjoyed the heck out of issue #1 (which we still have in stock!) and can’t wait to see what happens next in this 4 part series!

ANDY’S PICK :: SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #1: As a young’un way-back-when before our creaky old country passed its 200th Birthday, we’d all huddle around the old TV set and watch the NEW Scooby Doo Movies! Not only were these episodes an  hour long and even more old coots would have gotten away with it without those meddling kids, each week we were treated to an animated guest star as well. And here is the roster of  A-Listers Hanna Barbera invited along: Cass Eliot! Sandy Duncan! Jerry Reed! Phyllis Diller, The 3 Stooges (yay!) featuring Joe DeRita (boooo!) The Harlem Globetrotters! and best of all Batman and Robin.  Well now the good folks at DC/WB/TW are reseeding this once fertile ground with Scooby Doo Team Ups #1 featuring our slobbering Great Dane with the dynamic duo. And the first villain is Man-Bat!   Who is it behind the mask? (And I just mean which Robin will they use?)  And more importantly–what other characters will team up with Scoob?  The Powerpuff Girls?  Billy and Mandy? The Corinthian?  The mind reels as the wallet opens!

RICO’S PICK :: SUPER GRAPHIC: Our store rarely carries a book that isn’t a true comic or art book. When you see Super Graphic by Tim Leong you’ll understand why we made an exception. It’s filled with beautifully executed infographics that will often illicit a chuckle or a belly laugh from the most jaded superhero comics fan to a person with even a casual awareness of comic book culture. Super Graphic is a fun visual guide to the comic book universe that no coffee table should be without.

SETH’S PICK :: HIP HOP FAMILY TREE GN: Astute readers of the Heroes Blog will remember that I interviewed cartoonist Ed Piskor about this very book back in May.  If you missed it the first time, you can find that HERE.  As I noted in that interview, I’m not a huge fan of Hip Hop, nor do I have a great deal knowledge of its rich history.  I am, however, a fan of great cartooning, and of the possibilities that exist when combining the seemingly disparate arts of comics and music.  Having finally seen the book in person, I can tell you that I haven’t encountered another musical chronicle quite like it in the realm of comics.  The strength of the book isn’t merely represented by Piskor’s authoritative knowledge of the music’s history, but in how his art puts you right in the middle of the lives of the artists who were breaking new musical ground.   Whether you’re a fan of Hip Hop or just curious about its varied history, this first of a several volume series from Piskor is a comic deserving of your time, money, and enthusiasm.  This is honestly one of the most significant new graphic novels I’ve seen this year.  Give it a look and I’m sure you’ll agree with me.  

JUSTIN’S PICK :: SABERTOOTH SWORDSMAN HC : Maybe I belabor the point a bit too much, but comics’ real strength as a medium is that it can embrace concepts that other mediums simply can’t. This is evident in the fact that filmic special effects took thirty years to catch up with what Jack Kirby was laying down with a piece of graphite in the 1960s. But that, now, makes for some stiff competition. So, books like Dark Horse’s Sabertooth Swordsman are vital and welcome entries into any library. Morphing and bending genre conventions into a mutant whole, this is a dash of Avatar the Last Airbender, a little Chronicles of Narnia, undercut with the tried and true sidescroller formula. A humble farmer is called upon to rescue his wife and his village from the machinations of the malevolent Mastodon Mathematician. By the power of the Cloud God of Sasquatch Mountain, the farmer is imbued with the power of the Sabertooth Swordsman, and embarks on his sacred quest. Aaron Conley’s art is dynamic and stylized, tastefully shaded, with clear storytelling. Conceptually, writer Damon Gentry has conjured a premise that is at once original and familiar, and I look forward to experiencing the pair’s effort. Along with Tobin & Coover’s Bandette, this is a good week for artful action/adventure.

ANDY’S PICK :: THOR WARRIORS THREE TP COMPLETE COLLECTION: Superman has his robots, Batman had his Batman of All Nations, Green Lantern has an entire alien police force. All are descendants of Captain Marvel and his three Lieutenant Marvels.  Speaking of Marvel, the FF has the er…. the FF, a newly-thawed Captain America had Rick Jones and the Jones boy had his Teen Brigade who in turn practically invented the internet by way of ham radios. Iron Man has Tony Stark’s Entourage (even the Stark PR director had his own spotlight issue!).  My favorite of all the fill-in/substitute-teacher type hero groups is without a doubt Thor’s reliably violent chorus-The warriors 3!! Fandral the well groomed, Hogun the Grouchy and Volstagg the Menu that Walks like a Man.  These three Asgardian stalwarts always make for  solidly sustained sub-plots which in turn makes for really fun comics.  This new TP collects all the Warriors 3 most important adventures and is sure to be a hoot for everyone except for Hogun, who is–alas– rather Grim.

Collecting : THOR ANNUAL #2, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #102, MARVEL SPOTLIGHT (1971) #30, MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #34-35, JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (1952) #-1, WARRIORS THREE #1-4 – and material from TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) #101; MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #13 and #36-37; THOR (1966) #400, #410 and #415-416; MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) #66; THOR ANNUAL #17; and MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (1990) #15.