The list of the top 300 comics in sales for March came out this week and with it, I can breathe a little easier. After months of biting my fingernails and worrying about the future of comics like Guardians of the Galaxy (58th) and Nova (62nd), I was happy to see both titles moved up in sales, possibly fueled by sales of War of Kings #1, which checked in at the 14th spot on the chart—much higher than I expected. Other titles that saw big jumps were Deadpool #8 (26th) and Thunderbolts #130 (30th), which are currently in the midst of a crossover. The top two comics were once again Avengers titles—Dark Avengers #3 and New Avengers #51—and in the number-three spot was Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1. I was shocked to see Ultimate Wolverine Vs Hulk in the number-nine spot, with it being more than three years late. It just goes to show, as much as we complain about late comics and grossly missed shipping dates, we comic fans love the abuse. Besides, Marvel wouldn’t beat us if they didn’t love us, right? For the complete list, click here.

Speaking of Wolvie, as you know, the new “Wolverine Origins” movie premiers next week and Marvel has released a barrage of titles staring the Old Canuklehead in conjunction with the film. One of my favorite Wolverine stories has been reprinted and is hitting stores this week. Wolverine: Not Dead Yet, by Warren Ellis and Lenil Francis Yu, has been collected and is being released in a Premiere Hardcover format. The story deals with a mercenary from Wolvie’s past named the White Ghost who has seemingly returned from the dead. It’s a wonderful tale of espionage and superheroes as only Warren Ellis can tell. Not Dead Yet reprints Wolverine #119-#122 and retails for $19.99.

Lots of great new comics this week to talk about so let’s get to it. Below you’ll find the list of titles I’ll be picking up this Wednesday, April 22. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Astonishing X-Men #29
Avengers: The Initiative #23
Batman and the Outsiders #17
Daredevil #118
Dark Reign: Elektra #2 of 5
Detective Comics #853
Guardians Of The Galaxy #13
Hulk #11
Immortal Iron Fist #25
Incredible Hercules #128
Mighty Avengers #24
New Avengers #52
Supergirl #40
Thor #601
X-Force #14

There’re a few titles on my list this week that are on “last chance” status before they are dropped. Avengers Initiative isn’t bad, but since the end of Secret Invasion, has felt a little directionless. Also on the list is Hulk. I’m starting to wonder why I read this title. It’s not bad and a fun read usually, but is far from the Incredible Hulk title written by Greg Pak that it was spun-off from. We, the readers, still have no idea who the Red Hulk is, and after 11 issues, I’m not sure I even care anymore. Rounding out the list is Dan Slott’s Mighty Avengers. I want to love this title, I really do. I’m just not sure we, the readers (again), need this title. Presently, the New Avengers title is telling the story of the Avengers proper, while Dark Avengers is showing us the bad guys masquerading as Avengers while the Mighty Avengers has a cast of B-listers. Yes; as much as I love him, Hercules is a B-lister on some type of magic adventure on the trail of the Scarlet Witch. I just don’t know if I care, but, like I said, I’m giving each of these titles one more shot.

For those of you chasing the Wolverine Art Appreciation Variant covers, make sure you look out for the variants of Amazing Spidey #592, Hulk #11 and Daredevil #118.

Now, here’s my Speculator Picks for the Week. These are comics that, for one reason or another, I’m predicting will sell out very quickly only to resurface on the web for ridiculous prices.

New Avengers #52 Bachalo Variant: Marvel Comics

Solicitation: Who is the new Sorcerer Supreme? The entire Marvel Universe hangs in the balance as the Avengers race to help the fallen Doctor Strange battle the forces of the Dark Dimension as they make their earthly power play.

• 32 PGS
• $3.99 US
• FEB092493
Written by Brian Michael Bendis; Pencils by Billy Tan and Chris Bachalo; Cover by Billy Tan; 1:15 Variant cover by Chris Bachalo.

Why it’ll go fast: It’s simple math: If you look at last months sales numbers on New Avengers—95,340—and divide that number by 15, you end up with 6,356 variant covers. That’s a pretty rare comic. The trick is getting the variant for the right price. If you can grab a 1:15 variant cover of a comic like New Avengers for under $8, I would recommend doing so. If you can get it for cover price I want to know where you shop. These variants are already rare, there’s no question of that. The real question is will they hold their value? In the sense that a 1:15 variant will be worth thousands of dollars some day? Probably not. Will they be worth more than $8? Without a doubt.

Dark Reign: Elektra #2 of 5: Marvel Comics

Solicitation: Even for a lethal ninja assassin who’s been to the far side of death and back, Elektra faces the fight of her life! Freed from her torment at the hands of mad Skrull scientists, and delivered straight into the grabby hands of Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R., Elektra’s been imprisoned, tortured, vivisected, and even replaced with a genetic double. But the deadliest woman in the world still managed to free herself, and now, hobbling and wounded, she struggles to clear her name for her impostor’s crimes even as she fights to stay alive!

• 32 PGS
• $3.99 US
• FEB092501

Why it’ll go fast: I picked up issue one on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. Issue #1 checked in at the 41st spot on the sales chart for last month. Most retailers tend to order higher on issue #1 of a mini-series than of #2, for obvious reasons. It’s always easier to sell a first issue. Look for issue #2 of this Elektra mini to sell out pretty quickly, especially with the buzz going around on how good the first issue was.

Azrael: Death’s Dark Knight #2 of 3: DC

Solicitation: The Suit of Sorrows worn by Azrael grants the power of wrathful vengeance. It magnifies the wearer’s sins of imperfection. It is a death sentence waiting to be exacted. So then why do so many people want it? And why does Azrael, the new soldier for the Order of Purity, refuse to give it up even when he knows it will eventually kill him? With Gotham City torn apart by BATTLE FOR THE COWL, the new Azrael seeks to fill the void left by Batman’s absence and redeem his tainted legacy, but the League of Assassins wants the suit for Talia and her own heir to The Dark Knight’s mantle. And through it all, someone watches, waiting to snatch the prize from the winner…

• 32 PGS
• $2.99 US
• FEB090160
Written by Fabian Nicieza; Pencils by Frazer Irving; Cover by Guillem March.

Why it’ll go fast: Mark another hash in the “pleasant surprise” category for Azreal. Issue one was a great read and left me wanting more. Azrael #1 checked in at #36 on last month’s sales chart, but like Elektra, I would expect most retailers to decrease their order on #2. Keep in mind that when retailers are ordering their monthly comics, they do so two months ahead of time. It’s not uncommon for a title like Azraeal, which sold well with issue #1 and was well received by fans to sell even better with issue #2, but be even harder to find due to unforeseen demand. Don’t be surprised to have trouble finding issue #2 if you don’t get to your local comic shop early.

Indy Comic of the Week:

The Beats a Graphic History: Hill and Wang

Solicitation: From Publishers Weekly: “Well researched and earnest, this book might work best as a superficial Cliffs Notes on the beats, but in no way does it inspire or open the mind as the works of the authors covered do. Much of this volume feels like leftovers from coauthor Pekar’s American Splendor, and one wonders if that magazine’s ‘drab and normal’ style of illustration is appropriate for the more adventurous/experimental/flamboyant beats. Nor does it help that the art used on the best-known authors (Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs) feels rushed, with little detail and little variation. Because Joyce Brabner’s script about ‘Beatnik Chicks’ takes a genuinely critical eye to an aspect of the beats others prefer to ignore—their rampant sexism— it’s probably the best and most passionate writing in the collection, with Jerome Neukirch’s art for the bio of proto-beat Slim Brundage being the artistic standout illustrations. Lance Tooks, Peter Kuper and Nick Thorkelson also make strong contributions, while Jeffrey Lewis’s story on poet/musician Tuli Kupferberg is a wonderful puzzle piece to work through; it’s the most ambitious entry and may be the truest to the artistic vision of the beats themselves.

Why you should care: If you haven’t read Kerouac’s On the Road, now is your chance to see why so many clove-cigarette-smoking hipsters are crazy about him and the other Beat writers. I went through a phase shortly after high school where I had to read every poem, essay and dirty limerick written by these guys. Not for the faint of heart but the Beats will certainly be an interesting read.

Nerdy Question of the Week:

Last week the rumor that Geoff Johns and Jim Lee would be taking over JLA spread like wild fire. The rumor got me to thinking. When was the last time JLA was great? Even though the title sells in the top 10 every month it’s hasn’t been great for a while. What was the last JLA story you loved or do you love the current storyline? Discuss.

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 below in the “Leave a Reply” section below. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your comics 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.

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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.

Happy New Year, nerds, and happy anniversary to me! It’s been one year since I started writing This Week in Geek and, as of today, I still have a job. I just want to take a minute to thank my WorthPoint overlords for giving me a chance and a place to write about my passion, comics both old and new. Thanks to you, as well, for reading this blog and keeping me busy with valuations, questions, and even the occasional insults and threats. Thank you all and stay tuned, because there are huge changes coming to WorthPoint very soon. Over the past year I’ve received a lot of e-mails detailing a ton of criticisms of the site and the good news is, they’ve listened! I can’t reveal details yet, mainly because I don’t have them, but there are big changes on the way. You’re going to love it.

Now, let’s talk new comics. With X-mas and New Year’s Day giving the good people of UPS two days off in one shipping week nerds will find themselves waiting until Friday to get their comic fix. Also because of the holidays you can expect a light comic week. Everyone is broke, not just due to crappy 2008 economic year, and the comic gods know it. The holidays are gone and the first real New Comic Wednesday of 2009 is just five days away.

Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Friday, Jan. 2, 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! For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Avengers: The Initiative #20
Batman #684
Batman: Cacophony #2 of 3
Captain America #45
Green Lantern #36
Guardians of the Galaxy #8
Incognito #1
Incredible Hercules #124
Justice Society of America #22
Punisher War Journal #26
Punisher: War Zone #4 of 6
Superman #683
War Machine #1
Wolverine #70
X-Force #10

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.

Green Lantern #36

Green Lantern; DC; Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy; Cover by Shane Davi; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: “Blackest Night” prelude. The Green Lantern story you’ve been waiting for since the “Sinestro Corps War,” “Blackest Night,” begins here! Writer Geoff Johns has been building up to this story since “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” which brought Hal Jordan back to the DCU. I would guess retailers are going to order lightly on this one as GL #36 is just a prelude to “Blackest Nigh.” After it sells out instantly the GL #36 re-order madness begins and you can bet eBay will light up with ridiculous prices on this issue. “Blackest Night” sees the birth of the final Lantern Corps, the Black Lanterns, which represents Death. Is there anything cooler than an army of Zombie Black Lantern soldiers? Oh, and Johns promises we’ll see some of our favorite dead DC characters making re-appearances. I can’t stop giggling just thinking about this one.

Punisher War Journal #26

Punisher War Journal #26; Marvel Comics; Written by Matt Fraction and Rick Reminder; Art by Macdonald; Cover by Dave Wilkins; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: PWJ is being canceled. Not because of poor sales or fan backlash, quite the contrary, I would argue this Punisher series has been the most enjoyable romp I’ve had with the character for years. (I loved the Ennis Punisher stuff but longed to see Frank in the mainstream Marvel U.) Marvel is retitling the series The Punisher and starting over with a new issue #1 this month. The new series will pick up where War Journal ended showing us the adventures of Frank Castle as he deals with the Dark Reign event. I adored this series and will be sad to see Fraction go, however, I’m excited to see what Reminder can do with his first major Marvel book. Being this is the last issue look for it to be under-ordered at most shops (There were two copies left at my shop when I got there.). PWJ 26 marks the end of an excellent Punisher run by one of my favorite new writers. Here’s to more quality Punisher stories in 2009.

War Machine#1

War Machine#1; Marvel Comics; Written by Greg Pak; Art and cover by Leonardo Manco; 1:10 variant cover by Mike Deodato; $2.99.

Why it’ll go fast: What sells out faster than final issues? First issues, of course. War Machine #1 follows the adventures of Iron Man’s Brother in Arms Jim Rhodes in the post-Invasion-Dark Reign Marvel Universe. For those of you who read and loved Warren Ellis’ Authority (if you haven’t, you should), Greg Pak seems to be taking War Machine in a similar direction tackling real-world problems with super-heroics. In the preview War Machine confronted a corrupt Oil-pipeline-developer and will later take on the likes of African Warlords, corrupt genocidal regimes and other menaces overlooked by the world for too long. This is going to be a hot book much in the vein of Pak’s Incredible Hercules which you may recall retailers had a heck of time keeping in stock. Like Hercules, War Machine is not an A-list character but has a lot of potential. This seems to be where writer Pak works best, fleshing out a secondary character and making them infinity more interesting. Pair Pak’s writing with artist Leonardo Manco, who was already legendary but seems to have hit his stride here, and you have a runaway hit that comic fans will be clamoring for in the upcoming months.

Indy comic of the Week
Why I Killed Peter; NBM/Comics List; Written and Drawn by Alfred and Oliver Ka; $18.95 (mature readers).

Why I Killed Peter is one of the reasons I love independent comics. Alfred and Oliver Ka tell the true story of Oliver’s relationship with a pedophile priest and examines how he dealt with experiences and what happens when he confronts the Priest later on in his life. It’s hard to imagine a movie being made that could deal with such controversial topic in such matter-of-fact words directly from the person affected. The short distance from creator to reader without the interference of large publishing houses or entertainment companies is one of the best things about Indy comics. It’s not going to be a happy story, but Why I killed Peter is near the top of my “to-read” pile.

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. Thanks for sticking with me for a year and here’s to a happy and healthy 2009. 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.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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Wednesday is here again but unfortunately it’s not new comic day for everyone. The flooding in the midwest has screwed up shipping schedules, pushed books back, and in some extreme cases has wiped out whole comic shops altogether. If your head is above water then count yourself lucky. I’ll be keeping tabs on the flooding and relief efforts for comic shop owners that have suffered from the rising waters. Keep your eyes on this space for info on how you can help. In other news, the DC editorial offices have taken a beating this past week from some of their top writers and, according to Diamond comics estimated sales for May, have lost even more of the comic market share to Marvel. If heads aren’t rolling out of that office soon we’re going to have to form a mob and do this ourselves. Good old fashioned vigilante justice folks, that’s what we need. We’ll get us a riled-up group of surly nerds with pitch forks and torches and march on the DC offices. Who’s with me…

OK, we’ll try this again next week.

Lets look at some new comics you’ve gotta pick up before they disappear and remember you can click on the links for previews and other information.

”Charlatan Ball”, Image Comics, Written by Joe Casey with art by Andy Suriano
If you haven’t been reading Joe Casey’s other Image book,Godland, you should be. It’s excellent and all the other kids are making fun of you behind your back. With Godland and his latest offering Charlatan Ball Casey has established himself as the “wildman” of modern comics. These are stories that couldn’t be told at Marvel or DC. Casey’s psychedelic science fiction hearkens back to the genius of creators like Jack Kirby while keeping a decided modern and twisted sense of humor. I can’t recommend his Image books enough. Charlatan Ball has been referred to as graphic fiction on shrooms and nothing could be closer to the truth. Paired with the amazingly original art of Andy Suriano, who has worked on The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, and the animated Star Wars Clone Wars, Casey weaves a magically weird tale that you don’t want to miss. However, don’t be surprised to see retailers turn up their nose and order this one at lower numbers than Casey’s Godland which checked in at #295 on the 300 most ordered comics list for April shipping a whopping 3072 copies nationwide.

”The Incredible Hercules”Written by Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak with art by Rafa Sandoval
Again I find myself screaming. WHY AREN’T YOU READING THIS BOOK? Last Thursday I threatened to beat a guy over the head with an Issue of The Incredible Hercules, thereby destroying it’s condition, unless he read it. Sure enough the guy loved it and bought the entire run. This is just an example of one of the lives that I have touched with my geek knowledge but that’s not the point. The point is Herc continues to sell out every month and is not going to reprints. These issues are going to be hot and I don’t mean until the Secret Invasion storyline ends. I’m talking about hot for the foreseeable future. It certainly doesn’t hurt that this issue is a Secret Invasion tie-in, a fact that will make this issue sell out even quicker. If you haven’t been reading the Incredible Herc and can’t find the issues you’re in luck. This week Marvel Comics released a Hardcover edition titled ”The Incredible Hercules: Against the World” that collects Herc’s saga so far. Issue #118 pits Herc and a rag tag group of earthly gods against the Skrull’s pantheon of gods. If there’s a better superhero comic on the new self this week I’ll eat it.

”Willaim Katt’s Sparks #1”, Catastrophic Comics, Written by Christopher Folino with art by J.M. Ringuet
Now if you are like me then right now your saying “who is William Katt”. I’m ashamed to admit I forgot him but William Katt was the guy with the curly-blond-afro that starred in The Greatest American Hero. A show that I more than loved as a child in 1981… I just dated the heck outta myself didn’t I. Anyway, William can sleep well tonight knowing that putting his name on a comic book (not writing mind you, Will just came up with the idea) is enough to make Matt Baum subjugate his own morals and pick said comic to be hot that week. That and the fact that I’m betting 90% of the comic retailers out there either had no idea who William Katt was or didn’t take the time to dig through the independent section of their Diamond Comics catalog long enough to even look at the modest Catastrophic Comics section. I’m not saying this one is going to be worth millions someday, just that it’ll be hard to find this week. By the way, my retailer not only knew who Katt was but also ordered his book. Nice job Jase.

So that’s it for now kiddies. Get out there and get your funny books. I’m sending good vibes to all you nerds underwater at the moment. Like I said as soon as I hear of a relief effort for flooded comic shops you can count me in. If any of you guys are above water but cut off from your local comic shop drop me a line and I’ll hook you up with some quality retailers that will get you your issues by mail. Until next week feel free to post to the forum topics in the comic books community and tell me what you’re reading/collecting. 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.

This week new comics day comes on the eve of the premiere of the new Hulk movie and the and man-oh-man the fanboys are rumbling. There seems to be two schools of thought on Hulk; “I’m excited” or “I’m scarred”. Count me in the second school. What worries me is that Marvel has already leaked every cool moment of the film in the multiple trailers. They went as far as to leak the footage of Tony Stark’s appearance in the latest trailer which seems like a desperate bid to attract moviegoers at best. Although I thought we had seen everything that Iron Man had to offer in the multiple trailers. Obviously I was wrong and Iron Man turned out to be arguably the best superhero film to date. So I guess I’ll go into the Hulk cautiously excited. After all, it can’t be any worse than the first Hulk movie.

I see we have a few new subscribers. Welcome aboard y’all. Make sure to introduce yourselves in the comic books forums so’s I can get to know you’s. If you’re a seasoned loyal reader feel free to skip to the next section…
OK, I think they’re gone. So here’s the poop on this blog for all you newbs. Each week I pick a few books from that week’s new comics that are going to sell like hot cakes. This does not necessarily mean that these comics will be worth millions some day but in the near future they could be hard to find and see some ridiculous price tags before the smoke clears. You can click on any of the Hyperlinks for more info on any of comics I discuss. My info is gathered using Diamond comics shipping numbers, Comic Book Resources sales ranks, historical price guide data and good old fashioned magcik. I toss some chicken bones into a mystical circle in my back yard and then, provided my pugs don’t get them before I do, I can divine the future of said weeks comics. Pretty cool right? So that’s what happens here. Now buckle up bonehead cause were going for a ride.
This weeks hot seller picks are GO!

Eternals #1, Marvel Comics, Written by Charles and Daniel Knauf with art by Daniel Acuna and 50/50 variant cover by Oliver Copiel. 1/25 White Acuna variant cover
Long story short. After seeing his ”Fourth World” idea canceled at DC comics, Jack Kirby took his cosmic ideas to Marvel and gave readers the ”Eternals. The Eternals made their debut in 1976 and would be canceled 19 issues later. For more on Kirby’s Eternals check out this weeks Comic Speculator. Flash forward past several mini-series and guest appearances and now the Eternals are back in what promises to be psychedelic-cosmos-spanning tale in true Kriby fashion. Daniel Acuna’s art is gorgeous and I expect it to compliment the Knauf’s intelligent writing style perfectly. The Knaufs are fresh off their run on Iron Man: Director of Shield and I’m excited to read more of their work. After the sky high orders and less than stellar sales of the last Eternals series by ” Gaiman” and ”Romita Jr” it wouldn’t surprise me to see this latest series sell out from stores quickly due to lighter orders. The previous Eternals series is only currently booking at slightly above cover price mainly due to the fact that retailers still have piles of the issues. Without big names like Gaiman and Romita Jr on the book I’d expect initial orders on issue #1 of Eternals to be pretty conservative.

Skaar: Son of Hulk, Marvel Comics, Written by Greg Pak with art by Ron Garney. 50/50 Variant Cover by Carlo Pagulayan. 1/25 Variant Cover by Julie Bell
Skaar picks up where last year’s ”Planet Hulk” storyline left off, sort of… As fate would have it, or perhaps the promise of cashing in on Planet Hulk one more time, Hulk Jr survived the nuclear blast that leveled Planet Hulk, even though he wasn’t born yet… Only in comic books folks. Any way, Skaar looks like good Conan-in-space fun and if it’s more quality writing from Greg Pak then count me in. Skaar has one major strike against it. There’s no big name characters in the book. No Hulk, no Thor, no Wolvie, just Skaar and a bunch of aliens, for now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for Skaar and planning on picking it up but retailers may be skiddish when ordering a comic that only has Hulk in the title especially after disappointing sales on Hulk: Warbound (the tale of Hulk’s alien buddies that came back to Earth with him). Warbound #5 checked in at #91 on CBR’s estimated sales figures for April selling a paltry 24,529 copies nationwide. Mark my words, Skaar is going to be hot and by the time issue #3 hits #1 will be long gone. Watch for the Julie Bell Variant cover of issue #1 to heat up as well.

Red Mass for Mars #1, Image Comics, Written by Johnathan Hickman with art by Ryan Bodenheim
Here’s a challenge for you. Go out and try and find a number #1 issue of any of Hickman’s other comic series. Nightly News, Pax Romana, Transhuman, any of them. You can’t. Why you ask? The answer is two-fold. One, Hickman is an underground phenom that writes great comics and two, retailers don’t know he’s hot yet because they are content to order five issues and let his books sell out. Close minded “good riddance” ordering is exactly what is going to make this comic, like his other number ones, impossible to find in the near future. Do yourself a favor and check out Red Mass for Mars while you can still find it. Hickman very much reminds me of a young Bendis, not in writing style but in the sense that he has been putting out high quality books under the radar for a couple of years now and when he does break into the mainstream, much like Bendis’ Jinx and Torso series, Hickman’s early works will be impossible to find.

That’s all for now kids. I’m sure I’ll see you all at the theater this wearing your official Hulk hands. I’ve been wearing mine all week to prepare which can be hard to explain to my girlfriend at bed time. She’s been very understanding so far. Until next week feel free to post to the forum topics in the comic books community and tell me what you’re reading/collecting. 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.

New Comic Wednesday came with a sunny, warm feeling this week as winter has finally melted from the prairie and spring seems to be here. Baseball spring training is in full swing (no pun intended) and the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament begins.

With March Madness comes brackets and gambling, but in the Baum household the stakes are much higher than money. This year, I put my masculinity on the table and bet my lovely girlfriend that I could pick more March Madness games correctly. We signed up for the Yahoo.com tourney challenge and almost instantly I was struck with the fear that maybe, just maybe, by shooting from the hip with the aid of her bizarre female intuition, my girlfriend might prove that I know nothing about college basketball and thereby render me effectively neutered.

While picking my teams, I thought of all times she left me humiliated after Wii bowling and the times she murdered me in Tekken just by mashing the buttons on my PS2 controller like a bloodthirsty infant. This may be the last stand of my manliness. Let me know if you would like to monitor our progress and I’ll post the daily results of our battle of the sexes.

Enough of this talk of spring and farewell to my machismo. Let’s talk new comics!

Robin #172, DC, written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by David Baldeon:
Dixon’s return to Robin has brought this troubled title back to greatness and the last page of this issue sees the return of a beloved Bat family member. That’s all you’re getting from me. I’m not here to spoil your comics. Robin has been a relatively under-ordered Bat-book for some time now, mainly due to slumping sales. So don’t be surprised when the news of a certain character’s return causes this issue to sell out.

Thor #7, Marvel, written by J. Mike Straczynski and drawn by Marko Djurdjevic:
Thor continues to sell out every month and for good reason. It’s a great read. Asgard, the Warriors Three (Baldar, Loki, Heimdall) – they’re all back and living in Kansas. Technically speaking, they are living 10 feet above Kansas where the city of Asgard is currently floating while Thor scours the planet looking for his Norse allies. The return of Odin is right around the corner and if things continue the way they’re going for the thunder god, you know it’s going to be huge.

The Incredible Hercules #115, Marvel, written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and drawn by Khoi Pham:
When I first heard that the Hulk would be leaving the pages of his book to make way for Hercules I thought the idea might last six issues before being canceled and I would be the only one who loved it. (I’ve had a secret man-crush on Herc for years.) Man, was I wrong! Everybody loves this book and rightfully so because the Incredible Hercules is awesome. I love Greg Pak, and Fred Van Lente seems to be the next hot, up-and-coming writer. The Arthur Adams cover on this issue just sealed the deal for me. Nobody knew the Incredible Herc would be as hot as this series turning out to be. Pick up the back issues now because they won’t be around for much longer.

Until next time, I’ll be clutching my March Madness bracket and screaming at the TV while Kacie giggles. Meanwhile, feel free to post to the forum topics in the comic books community and tell me what you’re reading/collecting. 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.

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