5. SCREAMLAND #1
story HAROLD SIPE, art & cover HECTOR CASANOVA
Image Comics
#2.99 | 32 pgs

Ever wonder what happened to Frankenstein and the Wolf-man and all those classic horror movie creatures? Well, they're out of work according to this new book that imagines them as down and out actors who can't seem to get work in this modern age of CGI monsters. Frankenstein's monster, as the story begins, has lost everything in a failed dot-com scheme and in the past has resorted to making monster porno with Ed Wood. When an opportunity arises to start in a new monster movie based on a Japanese manga book he jumps at the chance to get back in the game.

The art is by newcomer Hector Casanova, whose watercolor infused style gives this book a fun, cartoony look. His Frankenstein is not so much scary looking as he is tired and utterly burnt out. It's a Frankenstein for a new era.

Check out a longer preview here.

__________________________________________________

4. JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL
Written by Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis; Art by Kevin Maguire, Terry Austin and Al Gordon; Cover by Maguire & Austin
DC Comics
$24.99 | 192 pgs

If you enjoyed DC Comics in the mid-80's than you probably have fond memories of catch-phrases like "BWA-HAA-HA" and "One punch!" Those are just some of the memorable lines from the successful but odd (when you think about it) comedy version of the Justice League. The brainchild of writing team J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen, this re-launch of the JLA replaced the "A" with an "I", turning the team into an international organization run by a businessman named Max Lord. But they also turned one of the oldest super team book into a sitcom with slapstick humor that would rise from the personality conflicts within the team. Led by Batman, the eternal straight man, the team welcomed goofballs like Blue Beetle and Booster Gold (the Joey and Chandler of the superhero set) and arrogant blowhard Guy Gardner.

It was all a lot of fun and the first 6 issues are now collected in this new hardcover which should be a great way to enjoy the artwork of Keving Maguire, whose mastery of comic facial expressions really made this book work.

____________________________________________________________________________

3. THE LAST DEFENDERS #1
Written by Joe Casey; art by Jim Muniz and Cam Smith
Marvel Comics
$2.99 | 32 pgs

The Defenders is a team book that Marvel tries every few years and for some reason it never seems to stick despite being a fun concept that makes good use of B- and C- list characters. The original Defenders, back in the 1970's were billed as a "non-team" because none of the members (which originally included the hodge-podge lineup of The Hulk, Dr. Strange and The Su-Mariner) really wanted to be part of a team and couldn't get along long enough to keep the team going. Over the years there have been numerous lineups and in this latest iteration we get only one past member (Nighthawk) teaming with She-Hulk, Blazing Skull and the unusual inclusion of Colossus from the X-men.

Writer Joe Casey has a knack for interesting takes on old concepts. His evolution of the '90's super team WildC.A.T.S. into a book about corporate espionage a few years back helped put him on the map and he's now been messing around in Marvel's playground. Hopefully he can make this team work once and for all.

____________________________________________________________

2. COMIC BOOK COMICS #1
Written by Fred Van Lente; art by Ryan Dunlavey
Evil Twin Comics
$3.95

Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey are the creative team behind the surprise, self-published hit Action Philosophers, which takes a very comic-style approach to explaining the lives and theories of the world's great philosophers. Their new book takes a similar approach to a subject that is a little closer to home: comic book creators. Moving chronologically through the golden age, we see the rise of such important names like Jack Kirby and Superman creators Siegel and Shuster as they learn their trade and face many trials and tribulations. There's a lot of info packed into each page and it's all told with fun, whimsical black and white drawings that make the whole thing appropriately "comic-booky".

_________________________________________________________________________

1. GUMBY VOL. 1
Written by Bob Burden; art by Rick Geary
Wild Card ink
$12.95

Gumby is a weirdly enduring character from the golden age of TV who every once in a while makes a big splash in the comics scene. Back in the '80's, he first appeared in a now classic one-shot drawn by the great Art Adams and written by Flaming Carrot creator Bob Burden. He's shown up a few times since then but recently Burden (who knows exactly how to hone in on the out-there kiddie-show vibe the character needs) returned with a new series, the first 3 issues of which are now collected in this volume. Artist Rick Geary makes Gumby's candy-colored world pop off the page and Burden tells fun, heartfelt stories about joining the cirucs, riding around with hoboes and falling in "like" with a girl.