5.JENNA JAMESON's SHADOW HUNTER #0
Written by Christina Z; art by Mukesh Singh; cover by Greg Horn
Virgin Comics
32 pgs | $0.25

Ok maybe I'm not starting off this new year so well because this is not normally a book that I would point out. A comic about a superheroine fighting the demons of hell based on a popular porn actress but featuring no nudity whatsoever doesn't really have a lot going for it. But then again it's only 25 cents and Jenna Jameson is so popular that she's now referred to as a "media entrepeneur" instead of "porn star". Plus you have to admit that a comic about a porn start published by a company called Virgin is too funny to let go.

Anyway, between Jenna's fanbase and the popularity of airbrushed cheesecake cover artist Greg Horn this is sure to get some people reaching into their pants for a quarter.

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4. HULK #1
Written by Jeph Loeb; art by Ed McGuiness
Marvel Comics
32 pgs | $2.99

World War Hulk ended 2007 with a new direction for the Hulk so naturally it's time to start over with a new #1 issue right? Though it hints at being 100% less "Incredible" than the previous series The Incredible Hulk, the new series, Hulk, starts out with a creative team of fan favorites like Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness and a murder mystery in which the victim is a long-time Hulk supporting character and the suspect is...The Hulk!

Not sure why the Hulk is red on the cover but I'm sure that means something. It's weird that with everyone going Green these days the Hulk would buck the trend and go Red.

Read a longer preview here.

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3. TEEN TITANS: THE LOST ANNUAL
Written by Bob Haney; Art by Jay Stephens & Mike Allred; Cover by Nick Cardy
DC Comics
64 pgs. | $4.99

Remember back in the '80's when they released those "Lost Episodes" of The Honeymooners? This is sort of like that, I guess. About 5 years ago DC planned an Elseworlds Special featuring the original Teen Titans and written by their original writer, Bob Haney. Being part of the Elseworlds imprint the story took place outside of DC continuity and was set in the '60's. Before it could be released though, DC decided it wasn't doing Elseworlds stories anymore.

There's been a small clamoring to see this story over the years especially since it features artwork by Mike Allred and a story about the Titans rescuing JFK from outer space. There's also the rumor that DC editorial found the story to be " too weird" to publish. Whenever I hear about anything being "too weird" to be published as a superhero comic always makes my ears perk up.

Now it's finally being released as an annual, most likely since DC has recently reinstated it's multiple earth policy which would allow for stories like this that don't fit in with the regular going-ons of plain old Earth 1.

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2. MANGA SUTRA Vol. 1
By Katsu Aki
TokyoPop
385 pgs | $19.99

Okay here's one you're probably not going to find in you local bookstore or comic shop but it's definitely available on Amazon. Originally published in Japan with the title Futari H (which is a play on the Japanese word for masturbation) this multi-volume series is part love story/ part illustrated sex guide. Don't get me wrong, this is not your typical Japanese "Hentai", it's actually a mature and realistic book about a married couple who are both 26 years old and virgins. As they learn how to have sex the book itself gives the reader tips on how to deal themselves with various bedroom situations faced by the characters. There's charts and factual statistics but there's also a story behind it all.

Here's some more info about the original manga publication. Sorry I couldn't find any preview images though.

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1. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546
Written by Dan Slott; art by Steve McNiven
Marvel Comics
64 pgs | $3.99

In case you've missed all the news there's been some big changes in Spider-man's world lately. In an attempt to get him back to his more classic trappings, Marvel editorial just finished up a storyline called "One More Day" in which Peter Parker makes a deal with the devil (Mephisto) to save his Aunt May's life. In exchange he gives up his marriage to Mary Jane and thereby resets a lot of the more questionable developments in recent Spider-man continuity (remember his public unmasking a few months back in Civil War that garnered all that press? Well it sort of didn't happen the way we remember now.)

Now it's a Brand New Day, as the title says. Marvel is now supposedly free to write more classic Spidey stories in which he is no longer shackled to the ol' ball and chain. Hence the opening page below in which Pete is sucking face with some random chick. I know, it's a sad day in comics when the solution to making a character better is to get rid of his pesky wife and move him back home with his 70 year old Aunt.

Amazing will now ship 3 times a month with revolving creative teams featuring big name talents like Steve McNiven (Civil War), Dan Slott (She-Hulk), Chris Bachalo (X-Men) and more. You can't say that McNiven's art doesn't look great in this preview.

Check out an 8 page preview here.