5. THUNDERBOLTS VOL 1
Written by Warren Ellis, Paul Jenkins, Marc Guggenheim; art by Mike Deodato, Steve Leiber, Marc Silvestri, Leinil Yu
Marvel
$19.99

The Thunderbolts is one of those books that have managed to kick around for a while because of the strength of it's original concept (a group of super villains masquerading as a team of heroes) though it's had trouble finding any sort of success in recent years and has struggled through a number of relaunches.

Enter: Warren Ellis and Civil War.

Ellis stepped in recently and picked up the new team of Thunderbolts that were introduced in last year's Civil War mini-series - a team of imprisoned super villains who are sent out on dangerous missions by the US Government and led by Spider-man villain Norman Osborn (really not much different in concept than DC's Suicide Squad). This new team is a perfect vehicle for Ellis' trademark cynicism towards the capes and tights crowd and allows him to do some nasty things with some nasty characters like Venom, Bullseye and others.

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4. '76 #1 (of 8)
story B. CLAY MOORE & SETH PECK, art ED TADEM & TIGH WALKER, cover ED TADEM
Image Comics
32 pgs | $2.99

You know, I remember 1976 but from my experience there wasn't as many bounty hunters, strippers, karate masters and dwarves running around as there are in this new book about "Bicentennial street justice". Of course I was only 3 years old then so I guess I should just chalk it up to my parents being overprotective and shielding me from the harsh realities of the street.

'76 is an 8 issue series that features two separate continuing stories about funky street fighting. Fans of writer B. Clay Moore's Hawaiian Dick which also has a new issue out this week will be interested in checking out his contribution to the series.

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3. LUST: KINKY ONLINE PERSONAL ADS
By Ellen Forney
Fantagraphics
168 pgs | $19.95

Ellen Forney is the illustrator for Seattle's The Stranger, a weekly alt-publication. For several years now she has been bringing personal ads to life in the "Lustlab" classifieds column. Lust: Kinky Online Personal Ads collects the best of her many clever and yes, kinky, cartoon adaptaions.

Ellen's blog contains a good taste of what you would find in the book, though since these are the more recent ads I'd assume they aren't actually in the collection.

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2. FELL # 9
Written by Warren Ellis; art by Ben Templesmith
Image Comics
24 pgs | $1.99

I don't mean it to be Warren Ellis week here but I can't help it if he has two books out this week that are worth noting. Also, I normally do not recommend the 9th issue of anything because it's usually not a good place for a new reader to start but with Fell, each issue is a stand alone story so you can feel free to jump in at any time. Plus the "slimline" format that Ellis originated here gives you 24 pages of dense story for only $1.99 (plus some "backmatter" material which usually includes some behind the scenes stuff).

Assigned to Snowtown, a dark, dangerous and nearly beyond redemption inner city, Richard Fell is a homicide detective and each issue works on a case that Ellis has usually adapted from some strange true story he's come across on the web. In this issue, Fell talks his way into a hostage negotiation. See a longer preview here.

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1. THE LAST MUSKETEER
By Jason
Fantagraphics
48 pgs | $12.95

It seems like just yesterday I read the excellent time travel thriller I Killed Adolf Hitler, the most recent release from proflific Norwegian cartoonist, Jason. Well, I'm not going to complain about seeing something new from him so soon.

His latest book features Athos, one of the great Musketeers, who is improbably still alive in present day but down on his luck due to a lack of need for his type of heroics. That is until Martians attack the earth and Athos is able to step in and save the day.

Everything Jason does is highly acclaimed and his unique anthropomorphic style is a pleasure to read no matter if he's applying his style to stories about zombies, time travel, existentialism or musketeerism.