Undertow HC
By Ellen Lindner
Soaring Penguin

Camila says: It’s always great to see good self-published titles being recognised and picked up by publishers, and very exciting to see Ellen Lindner’s first graphic novel now available on Soaring Penguin. It had been a little while since I first read Undertow, and what joy it was to pick it up again, now as a handsome hardcover, and let myself be taken into the life of Rhonda, a young girl in Brooklyn in the 1960s. Think Romance Comics with a bit of actual real life thrown in, and you have this cleverly written, sharply drawn novel.

Conan the Barbarian #1
By Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan
Dark Horse

Tom says: Comics publishers of North America, this is how you do it. So I had read a few Robert E Howard Conan stories but had no interest in reading comic adaptations of them. Wood and Cloonan nail it, it’s simple and beautiful, well paced and a great introduction to the character. The back matter wins on repeat as well. A short text piece telling us about Conan’s history at Dark Horse and the comics relationship with the Howard prose and an introduction to the creative team, plus a short and sweet strip about the Robert E Howard himself. It’s fun and slick, another reason DC were mad to let this guy get away and Cloonan is on fine form as ever. We sold out and had to order in more. Only a few copies left on the shelf. GET THEM FOR CROMS SAKE!

Wolverine and the X-men #5
By Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw
Marvel

Liz says: It may be just five issues in, but by now it must be acceptable to say that Wolverine and the X-men is the best book with an X- in the title since Joss Whedon finished writing Astonishing X-men in 2008. Drawing deep from the mind-bogglingly brilliant Grant Morrison era, with nods to classic stories across the board, this is a new direction that feels both homey and fresh at the same time. Bright, bonkers and fast-paced, the elements of danger and doom are offset by hysterically funny dialogue and great character interaction. Jason Aaron is clearly in love with writing this story and these characters, and when Jason Aaron is on point, he’s a force beyond reckoning. X-men fans, take note: this is what you should be reading.

Richie Rich: Valentine’s Day Special 2012 One Shot
By Sid Jacobson, Ernie Colo, Warren Kremer and Dustin Evans
Ape Entertainment

Chris says: Words can’t express how overjoyed I am to see Richie Rich back in print! Even more than The Phantom, Richie is the reason I’m into comics today. My Dad used to take me to the newsagent to buy a stack of Richie Rich comics every time I went to see him and I would often draw my own versions of Richie’s adventures. This week’s Valentines Special features a mix of new and classic material, and suddenly I’m that kid again – my love for comics is renewed and I’m transported to a simpler time … It’s nice to remember the innocence and purity of early comics fandom. Of course, it’s not the best book this week (that honour goes to Conan #1), but you should feel proud picking up these two comics together – I know I am!

Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC
By Michael Allred
Image Comics

Camila says: I had been counting the days to the release of this book. It is finally here now and it didn’t disappoint one bit. With a brand new Madman story by the Allreds, over 20 one-page stories by guest artists and almost every single Madman pin-up ever drawn, it’s the hell of a tribute to one of the best comic characters ever.

And they called it ‘Monster’ for a reason, with each of its beautiful beautiful pages printed in the gigantic 11×17″ format (same as the Wednesday Comics HC), it’s the kind of book you can sit down with and savour each little detail for hours.

Wolverine & The X-Men #3 (2nd print)
By Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo
Marvel

Taylor says: This was “the week”. You know, that week every month where every great book seems to ship? So with Animal Man, Rachel Rising, Uncanny X-Force, and then you add in a new issue of The Twelve, Invincible getting great again, Venom activating pursuit mode under Remender’s supervision . . How to pick just one?

Wolverine and the X-Men number 1 was a major disappointment to me, I didn’t like Bachalo’s Wolvie, I didn’t like the kiddy Hellfires, I didn’t believe the intrusion of realism into the premise through the school board visit. So I dropped it. Everyone said I was a tit, but I was looking for a title to drop and this was it. This week, slightly bored, I picked up this reprint, and it is hilarious, full of great character moments, and adds another layer to the Kid Omega/Wolverine dynamic. It looks HOT, too. So they were right, I am a tit. Don’t be a tit like me. Buy Wolverine and the X-Men.

Amazing Spider-Man #679
By Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos
Marvel

Liz says: Some of my favourite stories are the quiet ones that get lost in the hailstorm of a big event. This happens a lot with “Amazing Spider-man”. During the Gauntlet storyline a while back, in which villains were lobbed relentlessly at Spidey for several months straight, it was the two sad, lovely Rhino issues that stood out a mile. So, too, did the dark, excellent culmination of said Gauntlet, the four-issue Grim Hunt storyline. Those are stories that will probably be remembered vaguely as part of an event book that could best be described as ‘okay’, which is unfortunate because they were very, very good. This latest’s two-issue mini-arc, the second instalment of which is out this week, is one of those little gems that stands out bright, despite the fact that it’s technically filler before Ends of the Earth begins. Short, funny, and sweet. Here’s hoping the big event is as good as this.

The Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred #1
By David Hine and Shaky Kane
Image Comics

Tom says: Reclusive and wired, the paranormal Shaky Kane bursts forth from his nest of Kirby Krackle to once again re-unite with the talented, well bred and refined author of many a story-narrative, Sir David Hine, to bring us the best comic of 2012, before the first month has even crawled out from underneath us, whimpering and muttering! In this first episode we are back in the casket-verse for another brain shaking tale that strip mines American popular and esoteric culture in order to bring us a steaming slice of hardboiled superhero psych-noir. The origin of The Shield of Justice will bring meaning to your wasteful and empty life! Get it before it gets you, you dirty earthmen. Burn down your own Notion Cabin and seal the Psychic Escape Batch behind you….bzzzzzzzzt…. bzzzzzzzzt………..tik……..bzzzt..0001001001…0101..00…1..0.

Deadpool #49.1
By Daniel Way and John McRea
Marvel

Liz says: I haven’t read an issue of Deadpool in a while. For perhaps the first twenty issues of the series it was one of my top-of-the-heap books, guaranteed to make me laugh myself silly. But then I stopped. Why? You know why. Deadpool mini-series, Deadpool cameos, Deadpool variant covers, etc. Sort of like eating chocolate for every meal until it doesn’t taste so delicious anymore. But I’ve had some time away and I’m getting a sweet tooth for the Merc with the Mouth again, and what better way than a catch-up issue in the form of… a musical? I don’t know how but it works. Set to popular tunes such as “O.P.P”, “Hit Me, Baby (One More Time)” and “Chocolate Rain”, Deadpool sums up all that’s happened so far and gets new readers ready for the big ‘Dead’ issue next month. And apparently you can listen to Marvel editor Jordan White perform it with bongos and a ukulele online. In summary: A satisfying treat.

Secret Six : The Darkest House
By Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore
DC Comics

Taylor says: Calafiore’s art reminds me of good ‘Exiles’, so colour me biased, but the real reason to pick this up is that it’s a slice of the good old DCU, pre-New 52. This bunch of villains has more humanity and depth, both in their individual characters and their relationships with each other, than many a title that survived the Flashpoint watershed. Simone also did some of her best work when she knew the end was coming, as did writers on several other titles (cough. . . Batgirl. . . cough), so pick this up for a slice of DC nostalgia that’ll warm your heart.

Prophet #21
By Brandon Graham and Simon Roy
Image Comics

Tom says: The hype is deserved. It’s Brian Aldiss and Michael Moorcock channelled through Dan O’Bannon and Heavy Metal. Graham flexes his fun and simple narrative techniques over a collection of well-trod tropes and sci fi conventions, which coupled with Simon Roy’s art makes for an enormously satisfying read.

Morning Glories #15
By Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma
Image Comics

Simon says: Every time I think I’ve lost interest in this comic it draws me back in. Still no closer to knowing what’s going on at the Morning Glories Academy, it’s the interactions between the characters that keep this comic going and this issue showcases some of Spencer’s better dialogue. Could do with tying up some loose ends sooner rather than later though.

Amazing Spider-man #678
By Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos
Marvel Comics

Camila says: For quite some time now, ‘Amazing Spider-man’ has been making justice to its superlative, and has been amazing indeed. With Peter working as a super scientist at Horizon Labs, there’s been a good deal of crazy technology and good sci-fi in the comic, and this issue has a LOT of it. Clever, fun, entertaining and action-packed, this is what all superhero comics should be like: amaaaazing!

Memorial #2
By Chris Roberson, Rich Ellis and Michael WM Kaluta
IDW

Chris says: It’d be easy to file this away as yet another Sandman or Fables derivative, but Memorial shares more in common with The Neverending Story than anything else. Chris Roberson has cleverly constructed a world that is at once engaging and recognisable. He’s definitely one of the more under-appreciated writers working in comics today, despite consistently great work on books like iZombie and Cinderella. If you’re looking for a fun new series that will actually take you somewhere then here it is … All that and a talking cat as well – what’s not to love?!

TMNT Micro Series #1 Raphael Global Conquest Ed
By Brian Lynch and Franco Urru
IDW

Clair says: This is a good introduction to my favourite Turtle’s origin and the first of four stand-alone mini-series centering on each Turtle. There’s nothing particularly interesting about the story, but the sentiment is there. Due to licensing issues, TMNT titles had been delayed outside the US and all the 5 first issues of the ongoing series out this week as well, so a good change to read them all.

Batmann #5
By Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion
DC Comics

Taylor says: Snyder and Capullo showed promise early, and are stylistically exactly what Batman needed following the complexity of Morrison’s tenure, and the Jim Lee-lite approach of Tony Daniel. The Court of Owls seemed goofy at first, but has gotten progressively more creepy and disturbing. This issue increases the creep, and shows us a Batman rapidly fragmenting within the Owls’ maze, driven insane by sleep deprivation, hunger, probably hallucinogens, and the unforeseen power of just how unknown Gotham is to Bruce.
This picks up on the great work Snyder did with Dick Grayson’s Batman, in imbuing Gotham with a sick, twisted personality all of itself, and trapping Batman within “his” city is a great use of this development.
I haven’t even mentioned Capullo’s art yet, or the playing around with page perspectives (the single most innovative technique in a big two book this century? Not that that says huge amounts. . .), so please, discover all the other good stuff for yourself. This book is a great read.