5. JLA WEDDING SPECIAL
Written by Dwayne McDuffie; Art by Mike McKone and Andy Lanning
DC Comics
48 pgs | $3.99

It took me 3 years to propose to my wife. That seems like nothing now, knowing that it's taken something like 40 years for Justice Leaguers Green Arrow and the Black Canary to get around to getting married. This is the very special wedding issue and like any wedding that has ever occurred in any superhero comic, there's always some villains lurking around ready to crash the reception. All nuptials aside, this one-shot issue marks the beginning of writer Dwayne McDuffie's run on the regular Justice League of America comic, following up on novelist Brad Meltzer's 12-issue run.

Readers of Brad Meltzer's run on the JLA will appreciate the homage (parody?) of his team-building scene in this preview.

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4. PARADE (WITH FIREWORKS) #1 (of 2)
by Michael Cavallaro
Image Comics
32 pgs | $3.50

Based on a true story, this new two-issue mini-series tells the story of a young man who has to choose between his family and the pull of the local Fascist Party, newly on the rise in pre-WWII Italy. Michael Cavallaro draws from his own family history to tell this story. And speaking of drawing, his art, reminiscent of the work of Seth, pops off the page (or the screen in these examples).

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3. POTTER'S FIELD #1 (of 3)
Written by Mark Waid, art by Paul Azaceta
Boom! Studios

Potter's Field in Hart's Island, NY is where the unnamed dead are buried. John Doe has taken it upon himself to name them and to solve their mysteries. Working the underground of New York City he uses a group of operatives who have no connection to each other to help him work these cases.

This new mini-series from the fairly new comics publisher Boom! Studios is written by Mark Waid, popular writer of such DC titles as Legion of Superheroes, 52, and The Flash. Gritty New York crime dramas are not what you expect from Waid but he generally never disappoints in anything he does.

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2. GROO 25th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Written by Mark Evanier; art by Sergio Aragones
Dark Horse
56 pgs | $5.95

A Groo revival is afoot as this anniversary special marks the return of not only the world's stupidest barbarian, but also of the guys who have been responsible for making him so stupid all these years: Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier. This book includes an all new story called "The Plague", a primer on the Groo cast, and a behind the scenes story featuring Evanier and Aragones about how this comic came to be.

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1. THE ARRIVAL
by Shaun Tan
Scholastic

Published by Scholastic and in a format maybe more reminiscent of a children's book than a graphic novel or comic, it might be easy to overlook this book and leave it off a list like this, but if Eddie Campbell says it's a graphic novel then that's good enough for me.

Told wordlessly, with just beautiful photorealstic illustrations reminiscent of antique photos from Ellis Island, this is the story of an immigrant in a new land. But this strange new country he finds himself alienated in is inhabited by strange aliens.

There's an extensive preview here where you can marvel at Shaun Tan's images.