Kicked off summer vacation with a folk-rockin’ concert–Richard Thompson in NYC–and an empanada-fueled stroll into infinity along the naturban High Line.  Spent a schizophrenic Sunday in Davis Park; and for two pain-in-the-grass days, I fought the lawn–and the lawn won.  Quite a ride thus far.  Vacation really doesn’t start, however, until noon on Wednesday.

• Neverboy #5 (Dark Horse)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #47 (IDW)
• Airboy #2 (Image): I&N Demand Re: #1: James Robinson rocks as comicdom’s version of Hank Moody in a masturbatory exercise that makes Robinson required reading again!  As cocky as a book can get–though not quite as cocky as most of Danzig’s Verotik line from the mid-’90s, but plenty cocky in it’s own right, thanks to Greg Hinkle, whose pen is large and in charge!  Cover your eyes!  When Airboy finally showed up, I sighed with concern, fearful that his appearance would let the air out of the book–one that I’m super excited about.  Gosh, I hope this thing takes off…

• No Mercy #4 (Image)
• Satellite Sam #15 (Image): I&N Demand The story–Fraction’s brilliant black and Michael White-focused arc–ends here.  Big time bummer!  Each issue is an epic battle between class and crass.  Few books are as consistently great as Satellite Sam.  Sad to see it sign off–even if only for an extended hiatus.

• We Stand On Guard #1 (Image): For thee: We Stand On Guard didn’t make the I&N Demand cut and has been trumped by The Spire for our one Just I&N designation; but, c’mon: it’s Brian K. Vaughan!  He’s fixing to make some magic north of the border!  Oh, I can hear the chatter already: It’s not as good as Saga, man; or: Man, this is so much better than Saga!  For worse or better, that’s what this book’s up against.  I’m hoping for the latter, especially since Saga‘s lost some its soul of late.
• The Wicked + The Divine #12 (Image): I&N Demand Wow.  #11 delivered one of those unforgettable Didn’t see it comin’ moments.  Similar to Satellite Sam, this is a book that kills it month after month: Gillen, McKelvie, and Wilson are as in sync as creators can be, dropping perfect pop songs twenty-two pages at a time.

• Zero #18 (Image): I&N Demand Our early favorite for book of the year–from an early favorite for writer of the year, Ales Kot–ends here, leaving us, appropriately, with an empty space that may never be filled.  Sure, Kot’s exploring similar themes in The Surface and Material; but this is clearly his baby–one that’s grown up way too fast.  Damn.

• Broken World #2 (BOOM!)
• The Bunker #12 (Oni)
• Grant Morrison’s 18 Days #1 (Graphic India)
• The Spire #1 (BOOM!): Just I&N The fellas behind one of our favorite books of 2013–the high-caliber Six-Gun Gorilla–are back!  Spurrier and Stokely laid down some serious–and not-so serious–layers in their meta-fiction miracle mini; I’ve been practicing my pinching skills ever since, and, boy, am I ready to do some peeling!

• Über #26 (Avatar)
• War Stories #10 (Avatar): I&N Demand What are Ennis and Aira going to do to follow up the high-risk and near-perfect “The Last German Winter”?  They’re sticking with WWII and sending a band of Irish boys–who have a lot of fight in ’em–to Germany.  It’s Guinness vs. Beck’s in a long-pour showdown that’s bound to satisfy ’til the last drop–of Nazi blood!

• X-O Manowar #38 (Valiant)

Avery’s Picks of the Week

• Scooby-Doo Team-Up #11 (DC)
• Mickey Mouse #1 (IDW): No doubt about it: Avery loves Mickey!

• My Little Pony: Friends Forever #18 (IDW)

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott