Welcome to the Mardi Gras edition of This Week in Geek, where I’ll be sipping Hurricanes and writing this blog shirtless to celebrate. Hope you had a nice, light new comic pile last week because this week, in the spirit of the over-indulgent holiday, we’re getting a truckload of new comics dumped on us. There’s something for everyone coming out this week, so if you’re not at church getting your ash smear, feeling guilty for flashing your chest and praying you don’t end up on the Internet, then get yourself to your local comic shop and spend the rest of that booze money. It’s Lent, after all, and time to give up something, just not comics. That would be ridiculous. Let’s get to it.

Below you’ll find my pile of comics that I’ll be purchasing this Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009.
For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

The Astounding Wolf-Man #13
Avengers: The Initiative #22
Captain America #47
Conan The Cimmerian #8
Fantastic Four #564
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #4 of 5
Green Lantern #38
Guerillas #4 of 8
Hulk #10
Incredible Hercules #126
Justice Society Of America #24
Mighty Avengers #22
Nova #22
Superman #685
Thunderbolts #129
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #4 of 6
War Machine #3
Wonder Woman #29
X-Force #12

Truly a pile of comics to be reckoned with! Who needs to read this much stuff, right? I even looked at the list and thought to myself, “what could I cut out of here; what wouldn’t I miss?” The truth was there was nothing. All these comics are some of the highest-quality, best-written and drawn work I’ve seen in years, and I can’t wait to add them to my collection. Having trouble justifying your weekly comic bill? E-mail me at mattbaum@worthpoint.com, along with your list, and we’ll discuss. A little validation or scolding from a fellow nerd can go a long way.

And now, on to the Speculator Picks of the Week. These are books that, for one reason or another, may sell out quickly and become instant collectibles. If you don’t pay attention and get to your local comic shop in a timely fashion, you could be paying way too much for these comics very soon.

Green Lantern #38, DC
Solicitation: A “Faces of Evil” issue! The War of Light ignites as the first bizarre battle with the Red Lanterns comes to a blood-fueled conclusion. But what unexpected fate has befallen Atrocitus, the leader of the Red Lanterns, and what new Green Lantern law is unveiled?
Plus, the Guardians of the Orange Light reveal themselves!
32 PGS
$2.99 US
NOV080161
Written by Geoff Johns; Pencils by Ivan Reis; Inks by Oclair Albert; Cover by Shane Davis Variant Cover

Why it’ll go fast: Every GL issue leading up to the “Blackest Night” storyline has gone to a second printing, and for good reason. Geoff Johns is lining fans up for the biggest story in GL history. If you’re not on board already, you’re missing out. If you don’t like Johns’ GL, you’re probably a jerk and no one likes you anyway. DC can’t print these comics fast enough and the closer we get to “Blackest Night,” the faster they’re going to sell-out.

New Avengers #50, Marvel Comics
Solicitation: Celebrate this very special milestone issue as the new roster of New Avengers deal with the shocking news of the existence of the Dark Avengers the only way they can… by taking them head on. But what is waiting for them is the stuff the DARK REIGN is made of.
48 PGS
$4.99 US
DEC082317
Written by Brian Michael Bendis; Pencils by Billy Tan; Inks by Matt Banning; Cover by Billy Tan

Why it’s hot: Anniversary issues sell better than most historically. That is not to say that a title like New Avengers has had trouble selling; there has yet to be an issue that hasn’t sold in the top 10 comics sales each month, and almost every issue has gone to at least a second-printing. So the only thing that could make New Avengers sell any faster than normal would be an anniversary issue. Like say, issue #50. This issue also ships with an amazing variant cover by Andy Kubert. For a long time I harped on and on about how stupid variant covers were and how they were destroying the comic market. Which is still a valid argument, but not one I’ll get into now. My point is this; with New Avengers selling at the level it is, and collectors protecting their comics, there should be no shortage of these issues in the future, rendering them worthless in the long-run, unless interest levels in comics quadruples later on. Now, the Variants on the other hand, may be very hard to come by, especially as the economy continues to decline and readers/collectors are buying less and less each year. So what does it all mean? In the short term, your first printings of high-selling comics like New Avengers may go for more than cover price on eBay, but in the future, when collectors liquidate their comic collections and everyone has high quality condition copies, their value could collapse. The variants however, which presently aren’t selling very well and are printed anywhere from 1 for every 20 to 1 for every 100 copies of the regular cover, will always be harder to find.

The Umbrella Academy; Dallas #4, Dark Horse
Solicitation: Number Five and The Rumor have accepted a terrible mission, and after enduring torture and a brush with nuclear Armageddon, the rest of the surviving Umbrella Academy have to put aside their infighting to try to find their brother and sister, racing through history to do so.
The Eisner and Harvey Award-winning series kicks into high gear as Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba tread into taboo territory in the surreal political thriller Dallas.
2008 Eisner Award winner-Best Limited Series, Best Colorist, and Best Cover Artist!
2008 Harvey Award winner-Best New Series!

“Way, B? Stewart, and Piekos have achieved something rare in comics.”

– IndiePulp.com

“Gerard Way is an innovative, vibrant new writer of comics who has created an exciting, original world. The Umbrella Academy feels like serialized 1930s pulp fiction, even as it reads like sci-fi.”

– PinkRaygun.com

32 PGS
$2.99 US
DEC080046
Written by Gerard Way; Pencils by Gabriel Ba; Cover by Gabriel Ba

Why it’s hot: I’ve been accused of hyperbole before, and it’s true, I tend to get excited about comics that I love. With that said, I’m telling you now with no bias, exaggeration, and under no duress that The Umbrella Academy is one of the best comic series I have ever read. I adore this comic and chances are, if you’re reading it, you do too. There is a reason UA is continually showered with awards and it’s not because it sucks. I understand that Wolverine and Spider Man are not in this title, but you need to give it a chance. Issue three of the latest series, Dallas, checked in at number 83 on the top 300 comic sales for January, which means the vast majority of you nerds are not reading it. PICK UP THIS COMIC! When the movie rights are acquired and everyone goes to the theater and falls in love with The Umbrella Academy, you will wish you had the back issues and they will be VERY EXPENSIVE.

The Indy Comic of the week will return next week!

The Nerdy Question of the Week:

How much is too much? Recently, Marvel and DC raised the price on several of their monthly comics to $3.99, and certain special issues to $4.99. How much are you willing to pay for your comics or is $4 already too much?

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below.

Welcome back nerds! It’s Wednesday and time for another edition of This Week in Geek. I’ve been receiving a lot of great feed-back and wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who wrote in over the past few months. The changes you see here, both editorial and formative, are because your suggestions. Keep them coming and again, thanks. I wouldn’t be the self-made-millionaire-comic-blogger I am today with out you guys. Now enough of the thank you’s and self misrepresentation, lets rap about comics.

Below you’ll find my pile of comics I’ll be purchasing this Wednesday, Jan. 28. As always, I’d love to hear your input on what I am or should be reading. For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #21
Batman #685
Captain America #46
Daredevil #115
Faces of Evil: Kobra
Fantastic Four #563
Final Crisis #7 of 7
Incredible Hercules #125
Justice Society Of America #23
New Avengers #49
Nova #21
Punisher: War Zone #6 of 6
Superman #684
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #3 of 6
Wonder Woman #28
X-Force #11

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Umbrella Academy: Dallas #3 of 6; Dark Horse; Written by Gerard Way; Art and cover by Gabriel Ba; 32 pages $2.99

Solicitation: As Clare Boothe Luce once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” The Seance, ego bloated from having saved the world a few months ago, finds himself strapped in for a most unpleasant ride while the team runs in four different directions—because only four of the seven Umbrella Brats are currently mobile.

Why it’ll go fast: Last week I declared Supergirl to be the best comic you weren’t reading and this week I’m here to say I was wrong. Checking in at the 102nd spot on the top 300 comics sold in December 2008 is the Umbrella Academy: Dallas #2, making the Umbrella Academy the best comic you are not reading. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is not a more unique and well-written superhero comic on the market than Way’s Umbrella Academy. If you’ve always wondered what the Incredibles would have been like had it been written and directed by Wes Anderson, then this comic is for you. Good luck finding issues #1 and #2, both of which are starting to see higher prices online as they sell out.

Watchmen Figure Assortment 1; DC Direct; $14.95-$19.95 ea

Solicitation: Based on the upcoming March 6, 2009, Warner Bros. movie WATCHMEN, DC DIRECT brings both long-time and new fans of WATCHMEN what they crave: collectible action figures, intricately clothed 1:6 scale deluxe collector figures, exquisitely sculpted busts, and straight-from-the-set prop replicas! All products feature movie accurate likenesses and costume detailing!

Why it’ll go fast: I know what you’re thinking. “Isn’t this supposed to be a new comic blog?” Yes it is. However, I have waited longer than I care to remember for Watchmen figures and they are finally here. Yes, they are based on the movie and not the comic but that is only due to image rights and intellectual property law. For a great article on the legal wranglings that deprived fans of Watchmen figures for years, click here. A lot of comic shops have scaled back on their toy orders, so don’t be surprised, and god help you, if you have to go eBay looking for individual figures. I’m terrified what will happen when the clear Dr. Manhattan variants start shipping. My name is Matt Baum and I am nerd.

Nova #21; Marvel Comics; Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; Art by Wellinton Alves; Cover by Guru-efx; 32 pages; $2.99

Solicitation: Richard Rider: Nova no more? With the new Nova Corps on Earth laying down the law, is there no longer a need for the Human Rocket? Plus: guest-stars Darkhawk and the original Quasar! Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Wellinton Alves hit you with the biggest twists yet in the latest jaw-dropping installment of what Wizard calls “the best outer space soap opera since “Star Wars!”

Why it’ll go fast: There seems to have been a steady decline in Nova orders in the past two months (from the 66th position in November to the 87th in December of 2008 on the top 300 ordered comics). This is a disturbing trend for Nova fans, myself included, and I’m telling you all right now, if the decline continues and Nova gets canceled all you nerds are in trouble. My momma never bragged about how good lookin’ I was, but she always told me I was one mean little cuss when it came to hurtin’ folks. Seriously though, Nova is the best Sci-Fi comic Marvel has published in years and everyone needs to be reading it. If it’s not on your pull-file/pre-order list, I’d add it right away as the lower the initial orders get on Nova the harder it’s going to be to find.

Indy Comic of the Week:

Capacity; Secret Acres; Theo Ellsworth; 336 pages; $15.00

Upon being inserted (gently) into Ellsworth’s intricately rendered imaginary world, a place in which Maurice Sendak or Dr. Seuss would feel right at home, the reader is gradually initiated into the artist’s hermetic headspace. We learn about his creative process (long walks spark countless interior “skits” he subsequently draws into existence) and about his personal life (living in his car and house sitting gradually gave way to his current domestic tranquility). After initially fearing that his demons would catch him, Ellsworth now relies on his own, self-created monsters to catch him when he falls.

—From a review at Villagevoice.com written by Richard Gehr

Ellsworth’s art is the kind of work that makes me wish I didn’t have tattoos. Not that I regret mine; I just wish I had room for some of his work. The cover of this book alone would be an awesome shoulder piece.

Nerdy Question of the Week???

What comic company do you feel packs the most quality (i.e., story-telling, art, paper stock, page-count, etc) into their comics? Yet another week of great responses to the Question of the Week! Keep them coming and thanks again, nerds! Until next week, keep the questions coming and, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss new and classic, yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Before we get started let’s talk housekeeping. I’ve received a few e-mails detailing some problems with finding older “This Week” blogs, problems with posting comments and even some problems with getting in contact with me. I assure you I’ve read all your emails and forwarded them to the proper geeks and have been reassured by those same geeks that problems are in the process of being solved. There’s a lot of changes coming down the WorthPoint-pipe real soon here (no I’m not being replaced, as far as I know anyway) and they are all for the benefit of you guys. Stick around and you’ll see.

With that out of the way let’s talk comics. The yearly comic sales numbers have been released and it seems, once again, Marvel stomped DC in comic sales while DC whupped Marvel in Trade-Paper-Back sales. All in all not very surprising as Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” seems to have been a rollicking sales and critical success. The fans spoke with their wallets and bought a lot more Marvel Comics than DC. The numbers don’t lie. However, does sales success translate to collectivity? The short answer is maybe. For more on this question check out my other blog, “The Comic Speculator” where I’ll be taking a look at Marvel’s last big crossover event, “Civil War,” to try and predict where prices on the “Secret Invasion” comics will sit after the dust settles. Look for that blog later this week.

For now let’s take a look at this week’s new comics. Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article, it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! (No rhyme intended) For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics #873
B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #1 of 5
Captain Britain and MI: 13 #9
DMZ #38
Faces of Evil: Prometheus
Final Crisis #6 of 7
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #2 of 2
Green Lantern Corps #32
Nightwing #152
Punisher: War Zone #5 of 6
X-Infernus #2 of 4

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Amazing Spiderman #583, Obama Variant

Amazing Spiderman #583, Obama Variant; Marvel Comics; Written by Mark Waid; Art by Barry Kitson, Back up story Written by Zeb Wells; Art by Todd Nauck; 32 pages $3.99.

Solicitation: YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT! PETER PARKER ON A DATE! After the revelations of “Mind on Fire,” love is in the air for more than one member of the cast, and Pete finally gets some time out with the ladies (and who better to bring it to you than two men who both had dates as recently as 1987!?!). Amidst the romance, though, forces are gathering that will spell trouble for Peter in the months to come. And, to celebrate the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, Marvel is proud to present an all-new story teaming up one of the world’s most recognizable political figures with the world’s greatest super hero, as President-Elect Obama joins Spider-Man in “Spidey Meets the President!”

Why it’ll go fast: As you may recall, a few months ago Batman may or may not have died in the pages of Batman as part of the “RIP” storyline. This issue prompted me to predict a huge sellout on the basis that DC would drop a press release to media sources everywhere, hoping the news papers and networks would pick up on the story and send people everywhere to their nearest comic shop to see how Batman dies. Well it didn’t happen. Whether DC dropped the ball on this one or no one cared, we may never know. Marvel on the other hand seems to have their PR dept in marching order and already this week CNN, NPR, and USA TODAY have run stories about Spidey meeting Obama in the pages of Amazing Spidey #583. Already pre-sales for the issue on eBay are going for $30-$50 and with the announcement of a second printing of the Variant cover it would seem the entire first print-run is spoken for before hitting the stands. Retailers had to order more of the regular cover of #583 than they did of Amazing Spidey #575 to be eligible to order the Obama variant. If they surpassed their order of #575, then the sky’s the limit; order as many Obama Variant as you want, although there’s no guarantee you’ll receive them all. The distribution of the variants seems to be a mystery, and the rumor of a10,000- to 20,000-print-run will make this comic extremely hot and hard to find. I wonder how a Sarah Palin variant would sell?

Faces of Evil: Prometheus

Faces of Evil: Prometheus; DC; Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Federico Dallocchio; Cover by Mauro Cascioli; 32 pages; $2.99.

Solicitation: It’s an all-new prelude to the upcoming, all-new JUSTICE LEAGUE #1! Prometheus once defeated the Justice League single-handedly, and with his latest lethal crime spree, he’s moved to the top of the heroes’ Most Wanted list. But what grave crimes has he committed, and what will he do to prevent capture? Learn the real face of evil that is Prometheus!

Why it’ll go fast: I love the current Faces of Evil event, but sadly, am still awaiting last week’s FOE: Grundy issue due to a shipping error at Diamond Comics. I’m still trying to get a solid answer on who was affected by this shipping error and will let you know as soon as I do. That aside, FOE takes a look at the villains that will be making problems fot the DC heroes in the coming year and Prometheus is one of my favorites. Writer Sterling Gates has been doing great work on the current Supergirl run and I’m excited to see how he brings Prometheus back to the DC villains “A-list.” While the numbers for orders on the first FOE issue aren’t available yet, I’m guessing this issue will be ordered much lower than the Geoff Johns Grundy issue based on the fact that, though he’s great, Sterling Gates isn’t a huge name yet.

X-Infernus #2 of 4

X-Infernus #2 of 4; Marvel Comics; Written by C.B. Cebulski; Art by Giuseppe Camuncol; Cover by David Finch; 32 pages; $3.99.

Solicitation: Darkchilde comes calling to the X-Men’s doorstep—and she’s not leaving without her Soulsword. The next pulse-pounding issue by C.B. Cebulski (LONERS, Drain) and Giuseppe Cammuncoli (MS. MARVEL, Intimates) is here and it’s shaking up the X-Men in a big way.

Why it’ll go fast: X-Men mini-series haven’t had the best reputation for sales or quality for quite a while now, however, X-Infernus seems to be the exception to the rule. Issue one was GREAT! I love the character of Magik, Illyana Rasputin (Colossus’ little sister), and can’t wait for her to return to the Marvel U (sans goat legs). I’m not the only nerd that loved this story, fans bought issue #1 by the fistful causing an instant sell-out at the printer and a second and third printing. If you can find issue X-Infernus #1 pick it up along with issue #2. It’s good fun for fans of both the now classic New Mutants, and the more recent New X Men Academy X.

The Indy book of the Week pick will return next week. For this week, I’m introducing yet another new section to stir up some discussion. It’s called the The Nerdy Question of the Week, where I’ll pose a question to you the reader and hopefully you’ll respond. Responses can come via email or using the “comments” section at below. This weeks question comes from a discussion a friend of mine and I had this past weekend.

If you had to reduce your pile to one comic a month (just one title) what comic would it be?

Post you answers below or feel free to e-mail them to me.

Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss new and classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here.

Welcome to a very special X-mas Eve/3rd day of Hanuka edition of This Week in Geek. I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a happy holiday of your choice and remind you that with the end of the year upon us it’s time to start discussing the best and worse of 2008. Also, as of January, this blog is officially 1-year-old. Please email me your birthday wishes or feel free to respond to the blog below in the new “add a comment section.” I’ve been begging for this feature for about a year now and finally the WorthPoint programming overlords have listened. So use it, nerds! Tell me what you think, what you’re reading, how stupid I am or how smart you are. All feedback is appreciated.

Before we get into this week’s comics, I should mention that I will be available for most of the day tomorrow if you need any last minute gift ideas for your nerd. My email will be forwarded to my phone until about 4:00 pm Central Time and you can contact me here.

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Dec. 24. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article, it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Batman #683
Daredevil #114
Guerillas #3 of 8
Hulk #9
Immortal Iron Fist #21
Mister X: Condemned #1 of 4
New Avengers #48
Nova #20
Punisher: War Zone #3 of 6
Thor #12
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #2 of 6
Vigilante #1
Wonder Woman #27

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this part of This Week in Geek is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

BATMAN #683; DC Comics; Written By Grant Morrison; Art by Lee Garbet; Covers by Alex Ross and Tony Daniel (1:25 variant).$2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: THIS IS THE ISSUE WHEN WE WILL FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED IN BATMAN RIP. I think. I do know that this is Grant Morrison’s final issue on Batman until after the upcoming “Battle for the Cowl” storyline. In true Morrison fashion the whole patchwork of his Batman story should (let me stress the word “should”) come together to form a large and involved quilt that will answer all our questions. Namely questions like, “So is he dead?”, “Was this all in Bat’s head?”, “Am I too stupid to understand a Batman comic?” All should be answered. If not, then you can come throw rocks through my windows and tell me to go live in Scotland with my drunk boyfriend Grant Morrison. I talking to you specifically, Ryan.

HULK #9 Santa Hulk Variants; Marvel Comics; Written by Jeph Loeb; Art by Arthur Adams and Frank Cho, Covers by Adams and Cho (50:50 variant) Santa Variants and Santa wraparound variant (1:100) by Ed Mcguinnes; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: I don’t know what the deal is but it seems when Marvel puts a character on the cover in a Santa-Suit comic collectors eat it up. How will you find the Hulk Santa Variants? Well it could be difficult. Retailers needed to exceed their orders on Hulk #4 with their orders of #Hulk #9 to be eligible to order the Santa-Hulk-variants. So say your local shop ordered 50 copies of Hulk #4. If they order 51 copies of Hulk #9 they can then order all the Hulk-Santa variants they want. However, it’s unclear if the variants, there’s two of them (a red Hulk and a green Hulk cover), will ship at a 50:50 ratio or not. What happens if a store only orders one? We’ll find out for certain tomorrow. What does this mean? Some shops will have stacks of the variants while others will have none. Start calling your local shops now if you’re interested. The Black and White wraparound Santa-Hulk variant is a 1:100 incentive cover, meaning retailers will receive one Santa-Hulk-Wraparound cover for every 100 of the regular comics ordered. I have no idea if the regular, color Santa-Hulk-variants count toward the 100 order mark or not. Could this be anymore complicated? I’ll bet covering international money markets isn’t this confusing.

MS MARVEL #34; Marvel Comics; Written by Brian Reed; Art by Paulo Siqueira; Cover by David Yardin; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: The “Dark Reign” sellouts start here. For the most part it seems that Marvel fans are excited for the new “Dark Reign” storyline. No doubt this week’s New Avengers #48 will be one of the top selling comics for December but I expect DR tie-ins like Ms Marvel to move back up in sales from 84th on the top selling comics for November to the lower 50’s as it did during the “Secret Invasion” storyline. Series artist Siqueira reminds me of a young Tony Harris with his heavy-lined-realism and interesting point-of-view. Pair the excellent artwork with the writing talent of Brian Reed setting up the first stages of “Dark Reign,” along with retailers cutting back their orders after “Secret Invasion,” and you have a sellout at the comic stands.

Indy Comic of the Week:I

MISTER X: CONDEMDED #1; Dark Horse Comics; Written and Drawn by Dean Motter; $3.50.

I’ve been a fan of Motter’s since I first read his work on the DC/Vertigo series Terminal City. Motter’s Mr. X character first appeared in the 1980’s and became a cult sensation. Mr. X is a radical architect living in Radiant City, a city of the future inspired by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. The original Mr. X series is still considered to be one of the most influential comics of the 80’s along side Watchmen and the Dark Knight Returns. I highly recommend checking out Motter’s latest offering. Here’s the solicitation from Dark Horse.com

“Twenty-five years ago, Mister X debuted with a concept so clever and a character so captivating that it influenced an entire generation of comics fans and creators. Today, Motter reclaims the reins and sets out to inspire a whole new generation with Mister X: Condemned, a completely fresh introduction to the elusive Mister X and his dystopian home—Somnopolis, the City of Nightmares.

With influences from Film Noir to German Expressionism, this story of a city gone mad and the never-sleeping man who’s obsessed with saving it will amaze anyone interested in masterpiece storytelling born from the vision of a single iconoclastic creator.

One of the most iconic characters of alternative comics—Mister X—is reborn in a new four-part series by his original creator, legendary designer Dean Motter!

“Perhaps the first legitimate combination of science fiction and German Expressionism seen in comics.” —Frank Miller

“A sharp mixture of Raymond Chandler, Blade Runner, Peyton Place, and a post-punk Dante’s Inferno.” —Blitz magazine

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have passed on otherwise. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Also, the end of the year is almost upon us and I want to know your favorite comic of 2008. It can be a single issue, new series, or one-shot. Email me and let me know. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Speaking of great gifts for nerds-and I hope you’re reading this, mom-Marvel has collected the complete Secret Wars event of the 1980’s in one giant omnibus edition, assembling Secret Wars #1-12 plus Thor #383, She Hulk (2004) #10, and What If? (1989) #4 and #114. The Secret Wars was the first major crossover event that made me branch out from my X-Men comics and set the standard for future crossovers. Nothing better defines Marvel Comics in the 1980s.

Can’t find that perfect gift for the filthy-mouthed, overly-sarcastic, dark-humor-craving-comic- nerd in your life? Search no more; the new Definitive Edition of Garth Ennis’ The Boys collects the meanest, nastiest, most controversial and perversely-funny superhero comics ever written. Ennis is famous for work on DC’s Preacher and Hellblazer and Marvel’s Punisher, but has never been allowed complete free reign with his stories until now. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, The Boys examines the absurdly dark side of superheroes with deep character flaws. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Dec. 17. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you, click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #19

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #20

Conan The Cimmerian #6

Dark Reign: New Nation

DCU Holiday Special: 2008

Ghost Rider #30

The Invincible Iron Man #8

Madman Atomic Comics! #12

Mighty Avengers #20

Punisher: War Zone #2 of 6

Robin #181

Supergirl #36

Thor: God-Sized

Thunderbolts #127

Uncanny X-Men #505

X-Factor #38

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1 of 4: Kingbreaker

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this part of This Week in Geek is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Supergirl #36; DC; Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Jamal Igle; Cover by Josh Middelton, variant by Chris Sprouse; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: In October, Supergirl #34 came in at 75 on the top 300 selling comics for that month. November’s Supergirl #35 jumped to number 34. What does this huge spike in sales mean? Fans are sold on the new creative team of Gates and Igle, and tying Supergirl’s story directly into the “New Krypton” storyline running through the Superman books was a great idea. I, myself, have never cared about Supergirl as a character before but now find myself calling issue #36 my pick of the week at my local comic shop. Yeah, I’m pretty important. If you’re thinking of jumping on to the “New Krypton” storyline issues of Supergirl, #34 and #35 are still available but going fast.

Thunderbolts #127; Marvel Comics; Written by Andy Diggle; Art by Roberto De La Torre, Cover by Francisco Mattina; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: Another book spiking in sales, moving from 64 in October to 57 in November on the top 300 actual comic sales list, is Andy Diggle’s Thunderbolts. After the events of Secret Invasion #8, Thunderbolts leader, Norman Osborne, is a national hero. For those of you who didn’t know, Norman Osborne is Spider-Man’s nemesis the Green Goblin and a millionaire business owner who’s spun his tech-business, Oscorp, into a full fledged political career. Osborne is now not only running the Thunderbolts, a group of “reformed” super villains working for the US government, but has been offered a promotion after being branded the hero of the failed Skrull Invasion. Tony Stark, Iron Man, is out and Norman Osborne is running things now. Just one problem, he’s still evil and totally insane. The new “Dark Reign” storyline looks like it’s going to be just as much fun as “Secret Invasion” and it starts here in Thunderbolts #127.

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1; Marvel Comics; Written by Christopher Yost; Art by Dustin Weaver; Cover by Brandon Peterson; $3.99.

Why it’ll go fast: Fans of the Marvel “Annihilation” story-lines, which reinvigorated the Marvel space heroes and reinvented Marvel Sci-Fi, are excited for the third installment in the series “War of Kings”. Well, it all begins here in Kingbreaker #1. Scott Summers’ Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, power mad brother, Vulcan has seized power of the alien Shiar Empire and plans to make war on the entire universe. While “Dark Reign” is happening on Earth, the “War of Kings” is beginning in outer space. I’m guessing that retailers will order lighter on this series based on the disappointing sales of the previous X-Men: Emperor Vulcan mini-series that established Vulcan as a universal threat. Kingbreaker looks to tie the story in with the rest of the Marvel Universe, is written by fan-favorite Chris Yost (X-force, New X-Men: Mutant Academy) and leads directly into War of Kings. All of which adds up to a quick sellout of issue #1.

Indy Comic of the Week:

Beanworld Holiday Special; Dark Horse, Written and drawn by Larry Marder; $3.50.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never read Beanworld, but as I’m a sucker for holiday comic specials, and most that I’ve picked up so far this year don’t look too promising, I’ll be picking up the Beanworld Holiday special to see what the buzz is all about. Here’s the solicitation:

“The first new Beanworld story in print in over a decade, the Beanworld Holiday Special is the perfect introduction to Larry Marder’s inimitable creation!

As enjoyable for children as it is enlightening for adults, Beanworld is a grand adventure that explores social dynamics, culture creation, and ecological networks-all in great fun! Take a tour of this magical world, from Proffy’s Fix-It Shop to a Fabulous Look-See Show, in this issue that introduces toys to the baby Cuties and plunges readers into one of the most original and brilliant comic-book universes ever created!

You’ve never seen anything like it–unless you’re a longtime fan of Marder’s, in which case you’ll be thrilled by the return of this wonderful and peculiar comic-book experience!”

“Larry Marder’s Beanworld is a vegetarian update on Krazy Kat with a world and lingo unto itself.”
-Smithsonian Studies of American Art

“One doesn’t read Beanworld at all, one lives it. Beanworld draws you into its world and plays out in your mind. This is a rare feat in any medium, and a treasure in comics.”
-Feature Magazine

That’s all for this week true believers. I truly hope this blog has inspired you to pick up at least one comic book you may have passed on otherwise. If not, email me and tell me what I’m doing wrong. I love criticism, both creative and purely insulting. Also, the end of the year is almost upon us and I want to know your favorite comic of 2008. It can be a single issue, new series, or one-shot. Email me and let me know. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.