Every month, there is a wealth of new comics and comics-related product that hits our local comic book shops. While some of us may be able to afford to buy everything we see, the rest of us need to be a little more careful with what we spend our money on - especially in the modern economy and with the price of comics rising seemingly month after month. That's why CraveOnline has the Monthly Comics Guide, to help our readers gauge just where their money might be headed in the coming month.
The Monthly Guide is meant to be a central hub for all your Crave comics needs. Expect to see constant updates, including links to preview art for our selections as it becomes available, interviews with creators, reviews, and more.
What is worth checking out? What will give you the most bang for your buck? We've compiled various different sections that should pander to whatever type of reader you may be. First and foremost, we've got individual issues for those that collect the floppies from week to week. We're also introducing sections on collected editions, original graphic novels, comics-related toys/collectibles, and comic/nerd-related DVDs. Hopefully there is something for everyone, and we encourage your feedback, so
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!
Please not that all entries are based on the month's issue of Previews, the comic retailer's order guide. It's possible that some books will be delayed - or even canceled - but we will do our best to stay up to date.
Single Issues
Milestone Forever #1 (DC)
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The Milestone characters are officially a part of the DC Universe, and this is the series that gets them there. Dwayne McDuffie delivers the tale of the merge of the Milestone Universe with the DC one, where the original artists from Milestone's long-gone launch titles finish the tales that started in those books so long ago. Static Shock, Icon, Hardware, Blood Syndicate and Shadow Cabinet all continue in this book. Milestone Forever #1 releases February 3.
Demo #1 (Vertigo)
Brian Wood's indie classic is returning in February via Vertigo, with six new issues of one issue stories. With art from Becky Cloonan, the first issue of Demo's second volume features a woman trying to track down a person through a series of brief images that she has visions of. Demo #1 comes out on February 3.
Joe the Barbarian #2 (Veritgo)
After Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy delivered an amazingly low-key first installment, Joe the Barbarian returns this month as Joe finds himself amidst his imaginary world of toys. If you read our review of Joe the Barbarian #1, you'll remember that I cited Morrison's ability to create an air of loneliness around this great character, so I can only hope that the alienation continues as we watch Joe on his adventure. Joe the Barbarian #2 is out February 17.
Fantastic Four #576 (Marvel)
I'll admit I was wary when Jonathan Hickman took over for Mark Millar, but I haven't been disappointed. I know a lot of you had gripes with Millar and Hitch's run, but it was they who got me back on track with Marvel's first family and Hickman is doing a hell of a job keeping me there. Fantastic Four #576 comes out February 24.
Blackest Night #7 (DC)
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This is it. The penultimate issue. After this, there's no going back. It'll be nearly two months since Blackest Night #6 came out, and after the way that one left off, we cannot wait to get our filthy little hands on issue #7. It's going to be epic, it's going to be brutal, and it's certainly going to bring some changes. Blackest Night #7 releases February 24.
Choker #1 (Image)
Ben Templesmith holds the rare power that only a select few artists have over me: the ability to put their name on something and have me subsequently purchase anything they put out. Choker from Image Comics is just such a case. Written by Ben McCool with art and a cover from Templesmith, Choker seems to be offering up some good ol' noir bitter cop storytelling, and I'm always down for that. Choker #1 comes out February 10.
Invincible Iron Man #23 (Marvel)
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As runner-up for our Best Ongoing Series of 2009, Fraction and Larroca's Invincible Iron Man deliverse consistently, issue after issue. And, since Marvel's Strange is such a shit show, the best place to get your fill of the beloved Dr. Strange is currently in the pages of Iron Man. Invincible Iron Man #23 will be out February 3.
Daredevil #505 (Marvel)
Initial trepidations of bringing Daredevil further in tune with the rest of the Marvel Universe assuaged, Andy Diggle begins his second arc as the writer of the man without fear. Bringing with him artist Marco Checchetto, Diggle is sending Matt Murdock off on a quest to unite the various regions of The Hand to garner complete control of the evil organization is trying to bring down from within. Daredevil #505 releases February 17.
Justice League: Cry for Justice #7 (DC)
I know it hasn't been the most warmly received series as of late, but James Robinson's Cry for Justice, for me, has been great. Aside from drooling over every page of Mauro Cascioli's work, Robinson has been able to bring some notably forgotten characters to the forefront while raising interesting questions about the nature of justice within the DCU. And, his text pieces in the back are a hoot. Justice League: Cry for Justice #7 comes out on February 24.
Batman & Robin #8 (DC)
Do I really need to explain my choice for this one? This is the continuation of what is, quite possibly, the best ongoing Batman book since... well, ever. Batman & Robin #8 releases February 10.
Collected Editions
Green Lantern: Secret Origin TPB (DC)
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Preacher Book 2 Hardcover (Vertigo)
Kick-Ass Premiere Hardcover (Marvel)
Finally being collected (just in time for a movie release...hmm...) is Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s wonderful Kick-Ass, following an everyday comic book nerd who decides to take action and become a masked hero. Collecting issues #1-8, this Premiere Hardcover from Marvel is a great way to hop aboard this train before the film debuts in April. The Kick-Ass Premiere Hardcover releases February 17.
Madame Xanadu Vol. 2: Exodus Noir TPB (Vertigo)
Original Graphic Novels
Hellblazer: Pandemonium
The original writer of Vertigo's Hellblazer, Jamie Delano, returns for a super team-up with the amazing Jock, for an original graphic novel featuring John Constantine. For a character that's always so engrained in the supernatural, it'll be interesting to see how Delano brings Constantine into the realm of modern terrorism. Of course, there will surely be some paranormal elements involved as well; it wouldn't be Hellblazer otherwise. Hellblazer: Pandemonium releases February 10.
Toys & Collectibles
Batman: Mad Love Collector's Set
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As you may know from reading our Wednesday Retrospective: Batman: Mad Love piece, we, well, love Mad Love. And of course, other than reading that lovely article, there is hardly a better way to celebrate that adoration than with a commemorative figure set from DC Direct. The figures are essentially re-releases in Mad Love packaging that don't resemble the Bruce Timm style... but so what?
Women of the DCU: Hippolyta as Wonder Woman Bust
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DVDs
Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vol. 3
The Brave and the Bold is goofy fun that strikes that chord between juvenile amusement and overtly adult entertainment. The show's interpretations of beloved DC characters is hilarious, and there's just no denying that innate charm of this show. Though WB is intent on releasing annoying volumes of their animated shows rather than complete seasons, anything is better than nothing. Batman: The Brave and the Bold Volume 3 is out February 2.
Essentially the complete opposite of Brave and the Bold, the Dwayne McDuffie-penned Crisis on Two Earths is the latest addition into DC's eclectic animated canon, approaching the material on the serious side of things as the JLA encounters a JLA from another world on the wrong side of the tracks. The voice cast is pretty interesting this time around, including Chris Noth as Lex Luthor, Mark Harmon as Superman, Billy Baldwin as Batman and none other than Nathan Drake himself, Nolan North, as Green Lantern. Oh, and James Woods as Owlman. Sweet. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths comes out February 23.
Planet Hulk
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Zombieland
