Always a favorite, due to the hand:

From Baby, you’re really something!, a 1990 Fantagraphics-published collection of adult paperback illustrations by Frank Frazetta (1928-2010).

Biomega Vol. 2 (of 6): This is a weird, uninhibited, super-derivative, kind of awesome 2004-09 sci-fi/action manga by Tsutomu Nihei, an architecture-trained specialist in still, posed characters caught with the bullets just leaving their weapons. So, pretty much exactly 180 degrees away from everything I attributed to ‘manga’ art yesterday, and, sure enough, Nihei has some X-Men and Halo under his belt (specifically the 2003 Marvel miniseries Wolverine: Snikt! and a segment in 2006’s The Halo Graphic Novel) along with his signature transhuman gunshot opus Blame!

I’d say Biomega (published by Viz) is more straightforward, being the adventure of a synthetic human tough guy in black leather navigating a city of zombies to save a dazed and possibly invincible heroine from Hellblazer-like villains that want to destroy humanity. At one point someone shoots a castle until it explodes and later the hero foils the villains’ intercontinental ballistic missile launch by pulling out a laser gun twice his size. The supporting cast includes a bear and a motorcycle, both of which can talk, but Nihei already had the talking bear ride the talking motorcycle in vol. 1, because teasing that for too long would have been cheap. This is the kind of stolidly rendered action comic where multiple characters in one panel barely seem to be occupying the same reality, but the plot’s sheer momentum strives mightily to compensate; $12.99.

Kobato. Vols. 1 & 2: A helpful counterpoint to Biomega, this is a new-to-English ongoing series by the four-person superstar manga group CLAMP, a super-frilly scenario (currently serialized in the anime otaku megazine Newtype) about a girl on a quest to fill her magical bottle with the backwash of soured hearts so her secret wish can come true, although some controversy exists as to whether the artists are entirely on the level with all this. These are two separate Yen Press-published volumes, released simultaneously by Diamond, and yes, the title has a period at the end; $11.99 (each).

Solomon’s Thieves Vol. 1 (of 3): Not quite a movie tie-in, but still – the first comic entirely written by Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner, a 144-page First Second production with artists LeUyen Pham & Alex Puvilland of the publisher’s uneven, ambitious 2008 Prince of Persia graphic novel (written by A.B. Sina, not Mechner). A swashbuckling tone of derring-do is promised, which seems in line with Mechner’s most recent gaming design credit, 2003’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, although this story is set among outlawed knights in 14th century France plotting a heist in the twilight of the Knights Templar. I think Mechner is also still attached as screenwriter to a movie adaptation of the late Michael Turner’s Fathom, if you’d like another comics connection. Preview; $12.99.

Cavemen in Space: A new self-published, AdHouse-distributed, 248-page b&w funnybook in which prehistoric folk are whisked beyond the stars and encounter a sinister alien corporation. Artist Joey Weiser funded the project with donations solicited online, an avenue I’m betting more artist-publishers will explore in the future. Preview; $14.95.

The Invincible Gene Colan: Being a 128-page Clifford Meth-edited hardcover benefit project from The Hero Initiative and Marvel, collecting choice samples from across Colan’s career with commentaries by Stan Lee, Neil Gaiman, Roy Thomas, Tom Spurgeon, John Romita, Sr., Walter Simonson and Tom Palmer; $19.99.

Little Lulu Vol. 23: Bogey Snowman and Other Stories: John Stanley, Irving Tripp. Covering issues #112-117 (1957-58) of the Dell run, in case you were keeping a checklist. I don’t blame you, checklists are great. Preview; $14.99.

The Muppet Show Comic Book Vol. 3: On the Road: As for modern licensed kid appeal, you may not have been aware there’s already three small collections out of Roger Langridge’s well-regarded Muppets work (Tom Spurgeon just reviewed vol. 2 a few hours ago). This one covers the early issues (#0-3) of the current ongoing series (as opposed to two preceding miniseries), including a chapter of guest art by Shelli Paroline; $9.99.

Savage Dragon #160: I’m told this issue begins a new feature for this venerable Image superhero series – Twisted Savage Dragon Funnies, at least a year’s worth of oddball short stories included on the flip side of every issue. Project editor/originator Michel Fiffe (of various ACT-I-VATE projects) handles the debut installment. And, obviously, Image co-founder and recently-minted McSweeney’s contributor Erik Larsen is present for the main story, which appears to be the final chapter of a longish storyline. I’ll confess to skipping around a lot with this series, but it’s good, emphatic genre work from an artist that’s honed his style to its most directly engaging elements. Samples; $3.50.

The Sword #24: In comparison, I haven’t read any of this newest Image project by Joshua & Jonathan Luna (Ultra, Girls), two brothers who’ve quietly become popular mainstays in contemporary creator-owned longform fantasy-type comic book series, not otherwise a huge growth area of recent years. A purportedly weird, gory girl-with-a-sword revenge drama, the series has attracted some good word, and here reaches its extra-sized 40-page conclusion; $4.99.

Starstruck #9 (of 13): Always good to see this renewed creation of Elaine Lee & Michael Wm. Kaluta. From IDW; $3.99.

B.P.R.D.: King of Fear #5 (of 5): In which one aspect of the Hellboy universe long game reaches a conclusion of sorts. Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Dave Stewart. Next up are Abe Sapien: The Abyssal Plain, a character-specific miniseries drawn by the often under-appreciated Peter Snejbjerg, and Hellboy: The Storm, a new run of Mignola/Duncan Fegredo issues that promise yet more universal wrap-up. Preview; $3.50.

Greek Street #11: In which writer Peter Milligan’s current original ongoing series drawn by Davide Gianfelice) concludes its second storyline, no doubt anticipating a collected edition in the near-future; $2.99.

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1 (of 6): In which Bruce Wayne returns. Writer Grant Morrison should excel with a modular, high-concept series like this, each issue covering Batman’s exploits in a different time period – shades of the segmented Seven Soldiers, many of the artists of which will be on hand to tackle different chapters. But first: a 48-page escape from prehistory (cavemen again?) with the Tom Strong team of Chris Sprouse & Karl Story. Preview; $3.99.

Labels: Frank Frazetta, This Week in Comics