This week: Criminal! Kick-Ass! Rasl! Nana! Too many exclamation points!

Hey, how about them Coen brothers? They got their Oscar, for an excellent movie. Good times. Here's my usual weekly preview, and I should also point out my contribution to Comics Bulletin's Sunday Slugfest of The Megas, a new series from Virgin Comics created by director Jonathan Mostow. It's not bad, but not great either. Yet. Anyway:

New comics this week (Wednesday, 2/27/08):

Army @ Love #12

Hey, looks like there's enough of this series for a second trade now. So DC, hurry up and put this out so I can read it already!

Criminal 2 #1

All right, the new volume of the awesome series is out, in a new, bigger format. It looks cool. Can't wait to read it.

Dan Dare #4

I've been so-so on this series so far, but I saw some preview art for this issue, and it looks really sweet. But even at its worst, it's still some cool Garth Ennis comics.

Gravel #1

I bought the zero issue of this series, and it seemed interesting enough, but for the sake of funds, I think I might skip out on the series. I've just never been too into the Strange Kiss comics, so I think I'll pass. But I'm enough of a Warren Ellis follower that I'll probably regret it.

Jack of Fables #20

I'm forgetting what was happening in this story. I think Jack and company are still searching for treasure in the land of American fables. Maybe they'll find it. I bet it will be fun, no matter what.

Kick-Ass #1

Ah, Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s new "ultra-realistic" superhero comic. I've read a preview PDF, and I should have a review up on Comics Bulletin tomorrow, so tune in then to see what I think. I'll say this though: if you didn't like Millar's nihilistic tendencies in comics like Wanted, you probably shouldn't read this. (EDIT: here's the review)

Megas #1

Here's the aforementioned Virgin series "created by" Jonathan Mostow, director of Breakdown, U-571, and Terminator 3. It's got an interesting hook, positing an alternate history in which the United States was founded as a monarchy rather than a democracy, but not a lot happens in the first issue. It could turn into something interesting, but it's kind of dull right now. We'll see. Feel free to read my review for more details.

Mouse Guard Winter 1152 #3

Is there an actual schedule for this book, or does it just come out whenever? I forget when the last issue was. Maybe November? I'm trying to recall what was going on, but I'm sure I'll get caught up. It's a beautifully-illustrated series, so I'm sure I'll still dig it.

Narcopolis #2

I didn't write anything about the first issue of this miniseries, but it was kind of cool. I liked the speech patterns the characters used, and I do enjoy some nice, splatterific gore. Keep it up, Delano!

Rasl #1

New Jeff Smith! This isn't seeing much fanfare, but it seemed like a big deal when it debuted at San Diego last year. I believe it has to do with a dimension-hopping thief or something, but Smith's name is all I need to hear to get me on board.

Rex Libris #10

Ooh, this is also always fun. More adventures of everyone's favorite wordy, hard-boiled librarian (if he's not your favorite, he should be!).

Donald Duck Adventures Barks Rosa Collection Vol 2 Donalds Atom Bomb TP

Sweet. I love the Carl Barks and Don Rosa duck comics, so it's always cool to see them being collected into nice volumes like this. If I had more money, I'd buy as many of them as I could.

Franklin Richards Collected Chaos Digest

I've kind of quit buying these Franklin Richards comics, but they are quite fun, so I do recommend them if you like cute kiddy comics that ostensibly tie in to Fantastic Four.

Grease Monkey TP

I'm not familiar with this comic, but it does look nice. It appears to be about a talking gorilla mechanic who fixes spaceships. Hey, why not? Here's the official site, which has lots of information and previews and whatnot.

Hieronymus B GN

New from Top Shelf, it's a book by German artist Ulf K., about "a lovable and humble clerk". It's always good to get some European comics published over here, so I might try to check this out. Here, have a preview.

Krash Bastards GN

A new graphic novel from Joe Casey and Alex#13. I'm not sure what it's about (crazy, manga-style action, as far as I can tell), but I dig Casey's writing, so I'll try to score a copy. For more information, here's an interview with the creators that contains some preview art.

Maakies With Wrinkled Knees HC

I thought this came out last week, but it's on my shop's list for this week, so maybe it was delayed. Not that I'm going to be able to afford it, but I figured I would point it out again, since Tony Millionaire is awesome.

Mixtape Art of Jim Mahfood vol. 1 HC

Also awesome: Jim Mahfood. That guy has a wild, fun aesthetic that I really like. I don't know if this is comics or just art, but it will be worth checking out (but not buying, for me, because it's too expensive. Sorry, Jim!).

Punisher Max HC vol. 4

Damn, I just keep getting farther and farther behind on these. Someday I will read these. Someday. Really!

Beauty Pop Vol 7 TP

I hear this is a good shojo series, so I suppose I could read it someday. Probably not anytime soon though.

Crayon Shinchan vol. 1

I should really check this out. I like the TV show on Adult Swim. It's like a weird collection of Japanese neuroses, in which no characters have any internal monologue; they just spit out whatever horrible thoughts they are thinking. Ah, misanthropy!

Gin Tama Vol 5 TP

Another series I hear is quite enjoyable, about samurai and aliens, or something. Maybe I'll get to it someday.

Honey and Clover Vol 1 TP

But this one shouldn't wait. It's really, really good. I already read it every month in Shojo Beat (here, read my reviews!), but I recommend everybody check it out. It deserves to be super-successful. Let's make it the next Naruto, people! Okay, that's not going to happen. How about the next Fruits Basket or Hikaru No Go? Eh, I'd settle for Yotsuba&!.

Monkey High Vol 1 TP

This was previewed in Shojo Beat a couple months ago, and it doesn't look too bad. If only the title was literal, I would be all over it...

NANA Vol 9 TP

Oh, crap! I'm gonna have to rush out and get this one. What will happen next in the tumultuous saga of the Nanas and their pals? I can't wait to find out. Here's my look at volume 8, if anyone missed it.

Wild Ones Vol 2 TP

And here's another shojo series that I could get into, given the chance. It's the one about a girl and her yakuza bodyguards, for anyone who doesn't remember. I think it might be one of the few series that got previewed in Shojo Beat that I feel like I might want to buy. Like I always say, maybe someday.
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And I think that's everything. Not a huge week for pamphlets, but there are plenty of manga and graphic novels to get. I guess I'll be busy. Okay, come back later for more content!