CATWOMAN -- Published by DC Comics. Writer Ed Brubaker has, in a few short months, taken an offensive soft-core porn book for uptight fanboys and turned it into a joyous exploration of heroism and adventure on the dark, mean streets of Gotham. A trade paperback collecting the fantastic first four issues drawn by Darwyn Cooke is being solicited in the next Previews, but damn, I want those issues in a deluxe hardcover. I really, really do.
FUSED -- Published by Image Comics. Having only seen the first issue, I can tell you that Fused quickly became one of my favorites. Writer Steve Niles and artist Paul Lee deliver a post-ironic take on the armoured superhero that recalls for me the excitement and fun I found in Iron Man when I was a child. Amazing that they are capable of bringing up the same willing suspension of disbelief in me in my mid-30s. Lee's cinematic art is gorgeous and not quite like anything else on the stands, and Niles deserves a great deal of credit for such a strong start to this series. I'm really looking forward to the future of Fused.
LOVE AND ROCKETS -- Published by Fantagraphics Books. Los Bros. Hernandez have spent over two decades proving themselves to be among the most gifted cartoonists in history, and we're extraordinarily lucky to have them offering new work on a regular basis. Their library of L&R trade paperbacks are a must for any serious comics reader, but if you want to test the waters first, their quarterly title is a great place to start.
LUCIFER -- Published by DC/Vertigo. It's almost unfair how good writer Mike Carey makes this book. I mean, he has thousands of years of human mythology to fall back on, and the story of the first fallen angel resonates so strongly in large part because it recalls so powerfully the myths of Christianity. Over and above that, though, Carey's tale is filled with intrigue and irony, skillfully turning an ancient myth into a fascinating character study. The artwork is always appealing and tells the story well, but when sometimes-artist Dean Ormston stops in to illustrate an issue, Lucifer is one of the best-looking comics around, too.
POWERS -- Published by Image Comics. Powers is everything you've heard, and more. Writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Avon Oeming work so well together that you'd swear this is the work of one brilliant creator at the very top of their game. One of the few comics that quite literally has gotten better with every passing issue. And the first issue, introducing detective and former superhero Christian Walker and his new partner Deena Pilgrim, was pretty damned good to begin with.
PROMETHEA -- Published by America's Best Comics. Alan Moore's groundbreaking exploration of Magick, Crowley Style pushes the limits of what comics can be and has already pushed more than one ill-prepared comics reviewer past the breaking point. Meanwhile, for those willing to listen, Moore says more in any given issue of this title than most comics companies have said over entire decades of their existence.
QUEEN AND COUNTRY -- Published by Oni Press. Greg Rucka writes the best, most human female protagonists in comics today. This (now-monthly) title features Tara Chace, one of his best characters, a British spy who has suffered some real traumas in the past few months. Her life and the stories about it have been riveting, and while the most recent issue's art was not as appealing as earlier issues, this remains one of my favourite regular titles.
RUSE -- Published by CrossGen Comics. Complex and funny, gorgeous and vastly entertaining. If you'd asked me a couple of years ago, I would have told you Empire was the book Mark Waid was born to write. When and if that title returns, I may re-evaluate my opinion. As it stands, though, I'm enjoying this Victorian detective piece immensely and look forward to each new issue with eager anticipation.
SEQUENTIAL/FORLORN FUNNIES -- Published by I Don't Get It Graphics (Sequential) and Absence of Ink Comic Press (Forlorn Funnies). It's been less than two weeks since I discovered the work of Paul Hornschemeier, and I can tell you that I am a fan for life. His experimental comics push the boundaries without ever becoming tedious or vague. Brilliant and totally unique, you've never read anything quite like Hornschemeier's work, and once you have, you'll never forget it.
TOM STRONG/TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES -- Published by America's Best Comics. The core title is the better of the two, but both of these present the joy of Silver Age comics with a wink and eye-poppingly good artwork from the likes of Chris Sprouse and Arthur Adams. The main appeal, of course, is the brilliant mind of Alan Moore, whose imagination could power a world if only it could be harnessed properly. Until that day, we have it here in regular installments, and if you're missing out, well, you're missing out.
I hope I've made the case that despite the landfills full of unreadable junk that descend upon comics shops month after month, there are also some real gems to be found among the regularly-appearing titles. Take a look at some of these and let me know what you think on the Galaxy Forum.