For comics shipping 03.17.10 or The Kratos Brought The Pain. Every week I’ll check Diamond’s shipping list to see what you absolutely, positively need to spend all your hard earned cash on at the Local Comic Shop.

DC COMICS

American Vampire #1 - $3.99

Stephen King teams with Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque to tell the story of a re-imagined American history where vampires have seemingly been around forever, and looks at how different our nation would be through the ages. I’m in it for the art, but won’t be too surprised when the writing is just as strong. That said, I’m not typically one for vampire stories, but with the creative team on hand for this series, it’s awful hard to pass a book like this up.

Green Lantern Corps #46 - $2.99

It goes without saying that I’m picking this up, but that cover has me concerned for the well-being of one Guy Gardner. I mean, the man’s been through so much already during “Blackest Night” that taking on the Black Lantern version of his one and only love, Ice, may be too much. Though I guess getting a planet-sized enema not too long ago may still be worse.

MARVEL COMICS

Siege #3 - $3.99

We’re a mere three months away from the start of the Heroic Age, but this story has been so good that I’m not sure I ever want it to come. Olivier Coipel is just absolutely knocking the art on this book out of the park, and even though Bendis has his detractors, this story has been wildly entertaining. Don’t miss a moment of this series, or you’ll be left in the dust when the trumpets sound for a new age in Marvel comics.

Spider-Woman #7 - $3.99

And just like that it was over. Boy, talk about a whole lotta build up for nothing. This is already the final issue of this book, and it’s not for lack of sales. It’s because the iTunes motion comic took so much effort that Alex Maleev can’t continue on with this book. That’s a damn shame. I’m curious to see how it’s all going to end, but I still feel like we’ve been robbed of a potentially great cult comic.

Trade Paperback/Hardcover of the Week

Haunt, Volume 1 - $9.99

What you’re getting here are the first five issues of the comic that came about when Robert Kirkman challenged Todd McFarlane to do more comics. More specifically, to do more comics with him. Lucky for all of us, Haunt ended up being quite enjoyable, thanks in large part to Kirkman’s scripting, but also to Ryan Ottley’s pencils, Greg Capullo’s layouts, and Todd’s inking. The complete package is a sight to behold, and for the price, you can’t do much better. What’s the book about? Well… Haunt is about a priest whose brother is killed on a black ops mission, and is then subsequently haunted by said brother. The ghost brother can possess the priest brother, and combined the duo become a powerful hero, capable of doing… well, that’s what you’ve got to read to find out.

That’ll do nicely for this week. See you next time.