Wednesday Comics (DC) Throughout the 30s, 40s, and 50s, adventure strips dominated the Sunday newspaper comics pages. Oversized, full color pages featured the thrilling tales of Prince Valiant, Tarzan, Flash Gordon, and countless others. Under the guidance of DC art director Mark Chiarello, Wednesday Comics successfully re-captured this lost era with a series of oversized weeklies à la the Sunday funnies (dubbed Wednesday rather than Sunday in honor of the day new comics arrive in stores). This beautiful 11"x17" 200-page hardcover volume collects all the tales from the incredible 12-week run. While each featured A-list talent, some stories work better than others. Jack Kirby's creation Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth (expertly rendered by writer Dave Gibbons and artist Ryan Sook); Paul Pope's unique take on Adam Strange; and especially Hawkman as delightfully envisioned by Kyle Baker lovingly embrace the format and lessons of their antecedents. Other excellent tales include writer Brian Azzarello's and artist Eduardo Risso's noir-infused Batman; the charming Silver Age style science fiction adventure of the Green Lantern (Kurt Busiek, writer and Joe Quiñones, art); the Karl Kerschi/Brenden Fletcher unique time travel take on The Flash; and an unusual team-up of The Demon and Catwoman (imagined by writer Walt Simonson and artist Brian Stelfreeze). Regardless of the story, one mood permeates the entire volume: fun. Combine all this with previously unpublished strips starring Plastic Man and Creeper, original sketches, and Chiarello's impressive book design, and Wednesday Comics quickly emerges as must-experience for all classic comic book fans. The Schizophrenic #1 Written by Josh Frankel Art by T. Cypress (Zip Comics) As the title suggests, Frankel and Cypress explore the world of a schizophrenic in this offbeat comic book. Fast food employee Sam C. Howe suffers from hallucinations. Sometimes, a little green man talks to him; other times, he experiences a complete different reality. In the first issue, Howe assumes the identity of Zachary Arthur aka Űberman, "the paramour of humanity." In this heroic guise, menial worker Arthur relies on his own moral code while challenging the "institutions that restrict great people like him." He fights the 7 Virtues: Chastity, Kindness, Charity, Temperance, Diligence, Patience, and Humility. Far more than just elaborate illusions, these visions bleed over into Howe's real world. Future tales will emulate various other comic books genres such as romance, horror, and science fiction. Frankel's writing successfully tackles the overblown superhero stylings. While Cypress' highly individualist art effectively captures the world view of a schizophrenic, he falters a bit with the superhero components. This intriguing first issue tantalizes with the prospect of a unique series. Underground Written by Jeff Parker Art by Steve Lieber (Image) Underground tackles unusual topics for comic books. In Marion, KY, investors want to develop the federally-protected Stillwater Cave into a tourist trap. After park rangers Wesley Fischer -- caver and ardent protector of the Stillwater site -- and Seth Ridge confront locals blasting the cave, events quickly spiral into a deadly chase deep under the Kentucky mountains. Believable and likable characters propel this fast moving tale. Parker presents the separate viewpoints of the factions in an informed manner while successfully maintaining Fischer as the sympathetic protagonist. Lieber's excellent storytelling and vibrant art really shines, especially in the tense underground chase scenes, where he expertly combines peril with wonder.

The Amazon Written by Steve T. Seagle Art by Tim Sale (Dark Horse) Originally published in 1989 as a three issue mini-series, Seagle and Sale created The Amazon, which helped to establish both of their nascent careers, in response to the realization that humans were destroying a Rhode Island-sized chunk of the Amazon rain forest every year. The tale follows reporter Malcolm Hilliard as he travels to Brazil to investigate accidents at an American-owned timber mining site. Quickly immersing himself within the culture of the indigenous peoples, he uncovers the Spirit of the Amazon. By using Hilliard's published article and his accompanying notes as a framework, Seagle creates a well-rounded vision of public half-truths and dark secrets. Sale's organic style perfectly compliments the script and brings the lush jungles to life. For the 20th anniversary of The Amazon, Matt Hollingsworth recolored the Dark Horse reprint of the three-issue series. This volume collects the seminal work along with creator remembrances and rare art. In their afterward, Seagle and Sale point out that the pace of Amazonian rain forest destruction has doubled to a Rhode Island-sized chunk every six months. Acts of Violence: An Anthology of Crime Comics (Caper Away/Caruso Comics/Critical Comics/New Reliable Press) Co-published by four Canadian small presses and featuring primarily Canadian contributors (with two South Americans and a Californian tossed in for fun), Acts of Violence collects four short crime-centric tales from relatively new talents. "The Three Princes" (written by Chad Boludreau with art by Manuel Magalhães) recounts the mob-impacted lives of three childhood friends in Prohibition America in perhaps the weakest of the stories. Writer Dino Caruso and artist Marvin Mann offer the book's best tale with "Six O'Clock Noose," a small town tale of revenge. Entering the disturbing world of drug addiction, writers Todd Ireland and Kevin Leeson combine talents with Toren Atkinson to create the unsettling "Reggie-town." The finale, "The Orchard" (written by Ed Brisson and art by Damien Couceiro), powerfully relates the story of a cop who enacts his own justice. In this admittedly flawed but enjoyable anthology, Acts of Violence introduces a selection of talented creators. A God Somewhere Written by John Arcudi Art by Peter Snejbjerg (Wildstorm) Exploring the real world consequences of super powers, Arcudi and Snejbjerg expertly reveal the story of super-being Eric Forster through the perspectives of his family and best friend. After a freak accident gives Eric extraordinary powers, he saves the lives of countless people, but quickly morphs into something far more menacing and destructive. Veteran comics scribe Arcudi deftly toys with the characters, slowly uncovering their pasts through a series of nested flashbacks. Snejbjerg's delicate art and brilliant storytelling enhances the script, bringing a vital emotional buoyancy to the tale. The duo successfully re-focuses superhero mythos squarely on the consequences of the decisions propagated by those in power. A God Somewhere ranks among the finest and perhaps the most powerful works of their respective careers so far.