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