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Every Tuesday, I’m here helping you figure out where all that moola you’ve got, and I know you’ve got it, gets spent at the local comic shop. Click on a picture to view it in Expand-O-Scope, brought to you by GAMERVISION.

DARK HORSE COMICS

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #12
This is a fantastic jumping on point for those of you not already reading Season 8. The interwebs are abuzz about anything associated with Drew Goddard (CLOVERFIELD, LOST). It also helps there are rumors circulating across various message boards that a certain lycanthropic character makes their return during this story-arc. There hasn’t been a single misfire this entire series, and there is absolutely no indication this will be one. If you haven’t already started reading this, do yourself a favor and start this week. A typical DVD collection of the Buffy show cost $60 for 22 episodes. That’s a little under three bucks a pop. Dark Horse is only asking $2.99 an issue here, and there’s going to be way more than 22 issues to this series. It’s only fair.

DC Comics

Green Lantern #28
It’s Green Lantern. That’s all I have to say. $2.99. Pick it up.

Justice League: New Frontier Special
Hey, remember that contest GAMERVISION is running where you could win the complete collection of NEW FRONTIER and the DVD of the newly released movie? No? Well, then go sign up. Shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes. After that, you can head on down to the comic shop to pick up this collection of new stories from Darwyn Cooke. In commemoration of the DVD release of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER, he managed to come up with some more behind the scenes materials as well. If you missed out on NEW FRONTIER, enter the contest, then spend $4.99 on this book to complete the adventure.

Northlanders #4
Damn last issue was good. Oh, you didn’t take my advice and pick it up. I see. Well, what was your excuse? Don’t like Vikings? Don’t like Nordic adventure? Don’t like hot, naked Icelandic women? Yeah, I can see why you wouldn’t. Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice have been weaving one hell of a tale here. Be a shame if you missed out on more greatness. Just scrounge up $2.99 from the bottom of the washing machine to pay for it. It’s there. Trust me.

Scalped #15
Dash Bad Horse deserves your full attention. His mom’s been murdered, and he can’t go after the guy who did it because he may be an FBI agent deep undercover. I will be gawdanged if this book ain’t one of the best on that there shelf at your local comic vendor. There were so many amazing plot developments over the last few issues (which I can guarantee there will be copies available at the shop if you missed ‘em) that Jason Aaron and RM Guerra have really elevated this book to darn near the top of my to read pile. This issue introduces Mr. Brass and his black bag of pain. A black bag of pain people. C’mon, take the $2.99 plunge. It’s cheaper and way more fulfilling than an actual trip to an Indian casino. And no black bags of pain. Unless you’re into that kinda thing.

IMAGE Comics

Scud #22
If you don’t know, Scud is a disposable assassin. Three angels blackmailed him into destroying the Earth in order to bring his dead girlfriend, Sussido, back to life. Last issue caught us up with what was happening in Scud’s world since he’s been gone. This issue solicits an epic battle between Scud and Voodoo Ben. Who’s Voodoo Ben? He’s Ben Franklin, if he learned up on satanic priesthood. Yeah, this book is like that. For no other reason than the girl is named after a great Phil Collins song, sacrifice $3.50 on the alter that is your local comic shop counter.

MARVEL Comics

Cable #1
Duane Swiercynski got a little work on a Punisher one shot a little bit back. It was pretty f’n good. Now, MARVEL is giving him a shot at Cable, everyone’s second favorite X-Man from 90’s (Wolverine is always the number one favorite, no matter what decade). Team him up with artist Ariel Olivetti, who by the way is pretty danged good (just take a look at that cover), and this is a package no person should resist. Take $2.99 out of you little brother’s piggy bank (he won’t miss it), stick it in your pocket, walk to the comic shop and be first in line for the big time premier of a Philly native’s big new series. As with any number one issue, this would be a great place to start reading if you were looking to start.

Clandestine #2
Alan Davis is one of the great masters of storytelling in the comic medium. If you guys missed out on CLANDESTINE #1 when I recommended it before, grab that issue when you get this one. It’s a nice little bit of setup for this issue which will be packed full of great story and amazing art. Davis’ art is something everyone should see so you can understand where so many of today’s artists get their inspiration. $2.99 isn’t really that high of an asking price to view one of the great master’s modern works.

Dark Tower: Long Road Home #1
I’ll be straight with you; I don’t know a whole lot about Steven King’s DARK TOWER series. I do know this is the second mini-series from Marvel that acts as a prequel to the Gunslinger’s tale. The first one was collected not too long ago if you missed out on it. It was one of the best selling comic series of last year. Marvel is only asking $2.99 to read this. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned the haunting work Jae Lee is doing on interior art. It can’t be described (even though I just described it as haunting). You really have to see it for yourself.

Logan #1
Eduardo Risso is probably my favorite artist you guys haven’t seen much work from yet. Since he’s been working so diligently on his and Brian Azzarello’s noir crime masterwork, 100 BULLETS. Here, Marvel gets their hands on him to team up with Brian K. Vaughn on a mini-series about everyone’s favorite X-Man (it’s Wolverine if you’ve been paying attention). They’re putting out two versions, one in full color the other in black and white (I'm getting this one). Risso’s ability to light a scene is one of the reasons the black and white version will be where I put my $3.99. Just flip through it while you’re at the shop. Then make the decision for yourself.

TRADE PAPERBACK/ HARDCOVER of the WEEK

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
This book truly deserves to be in your collection no matter if you read comics or not. Bill Willingham teamed with some of the industry’s greatest artists to provide for you a collection of tales focusing on the back stories of how all the Fables got from where our childhood stories left off, and to where Willingham took them in the regular series. The story is bookended with the tale of an Arabian sultan who captures Snow White. In exchange for another day of her life Snow gives the sultan another story. Wonderfully constructed, and truly not to be missed. For only $14.99, you can add another expertly crafted literary work. Amazon has a short preview (for some reason, the preview doesn't work on a Mac, just a heads up) of the book available on their site. Check it out. I’ll let the work speak for itself it’s that good.


See you next week.