While many of my colleagues are nursing hangovers and food comas from ingesting their body weight’s worth of beer and barbecue at SXSW, the rest of us must soldier on, because the work week waits for no one, especially if you’re not in Austin. With a slew of new releases this Comic Book Day, what’s a discerning fan to do? How shall you ever spend your hard-earned sawbucks? Well, with an inner war between Oppenheimers, Mike Mignola’s twist on a World War II-era Iron Man and a brand new Wolverine series for you to sink your fangs into, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate, even if your co-worker didn’t bring you back a pulled pork sandwich.

Top Picks

Manhattan Projects #10 | Jonathan Hickman and Ryan Browne

If there was any doubt in your mind over whether or not you should be reading Manhattan Projects, issue #10 should shatter that misconception. This may just be the best book you’re not reading (and if you are, well, you’ve got great taste). In this one-shot, we find Oppenheimer facing his greatest enemy yet: himself. As the two halves of his persona – Evil Oppenheimer and Good Oppenheimer – do battle, we’re transported to a visceral mindscape to follow the first decade of Oppenheimer’s inner war, brought to life by Smoke and Mirrors artist Ryan Browne temporarily taking over art duties. While mindscapes are by no means a new comic convention, it’s always refreshing to see them done right, which is exactly what Hickman and Browne have managed in this stellar issue.

Sledgehammer 44 #1 | Mike Mignola and John Arcudi & Jason Latour and Dave Stewart

Frequent collaborators Mike Mignola and John Arcudi come out swinging with their new series that answers the burning, albeit reductive question of, “What would Mike Mignola’s Iron Man be like?” Set during World War II, Sledgehammer, the titular mechanized behemoth, is worlds away from the glib, one liner-spouting Tony Stark we know and love today. He’s a scrappy, tough sonofabitch who’s going to get down and dirty on the frontlines, taking out Nazi machine gun nests with some sort of electrical discharge. And so we enter into the mystery of Sledgehammer 44: is our hero human or homunculus? We’re never quite sure, but when the art is this well done and the atmosphere is so palpably created, we’re just eager to read more about how this jerry-rigged battlebot will beat Jerry back.

Wolverine #1 | Paul Cornell and Alan Davis

Marvel may be a several months deep into their Marvel NOW! initiative, and their SXSW announcements might have you thinking they’re turning their attention to the digital space, but Paul Cornell (Demon Knights) has returned to the House of Ideas with a brand new ongoing monthly series featuring everyone’s favorite hard drinkin’, hard smokin’, adamantium-laden Canadian, Wolverine. With art from industry icon Alan Davis, this book hits the ground running and leaves a trail of broken bones and singed flesh in its wake. The second Wolverine-centric title in Marvel’s lineup, Wolverine is off to a promising start and should make for a promising addition to the NOW! lineup, especially for those fans who needed a little more berserker rage in their lives.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

BLACK BEETLE #1 NO WAY OUT (2ND PTG) $3.99
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 26
BLIZZARD (MR) $19.99
BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 04 $29.99
BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #19 NOTO CVR $2.99
BUDDY COPS ONE SHOT $2.99
CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 23 WELL OF SOULS $18.99
CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES HC VOL 04 $49.99
DOMO QEE SERIES 5 PI EMILY & THE STRANGERS #2 MAIN CVR $3.99
GHOST #4 $2.99
RIPD CITY O/T DAMNED #4 $3.50
SLEDGEHAMMER 44 #1 $3.50
STAR WARS #3 $2.99
STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP DEFENDERS LOST TEMPLE $7.99
TOKYO BABYLON GN VOL 01 $19.99

DC COMICS

ALL NEW BATMAN BRAVE AND BOLD SMALL MIRACLES TP $12.99
BATGIRL #18 $2.99
BATMAN #18 $3.99
BATMAN #18 COMBO PACK $4.99
BATMAN AND ROBIN #18 $2.99
BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #12 $3.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #6 (MR) $3.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #6 COMBO PACK (MR) $4.99
DEATHSTROKE #18 $2.99
DEMON KNIGHTS #18 $2.99
EARTH 2 HC VOL 01 THE GATHERING (N52) $22.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 (WRATH) $2.99
GREEN LANTERN THE ANIMATED SERIES #12 $2.99
I VAMPIRE TP VOL 02 RISE OF THE VAMPIRES (N52) $16.99
INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #1 2ND PTG $3.99
KATANA #2 $2.99 RAVAGERS #10 $2.99
SAUCER COUNTRY #13 (MR) $2.99
SUICIDE SQUAD #18 $2.99
SUPERBOY #18 $2.99 TEAM 7 #6 $2.99
THRESHOLD #3 $3.99

IDW PUBLISHING

CROW DEATH AND REBIRTH HC $24.99
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #1 $3.99
FEVER RIDGE MACARTHUR JUNGLE WAR #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
GHOSTBUSTERS #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
GHOSTBUSTERS ONGOING TP VOL 04 WHO YA GONNA CALL $17.99
GI JOE DISAVOWED TP VOL 07 $19.99
HIGH WAYS #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MARS ATTACKS #8 [DIG/P+] $3.99
POUND TP VOL 02 GHOULS NIGHT OUT $19.99
ROCKETEER HOLLYWOOD HORROR #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
STAR TREK ONGOING TP VOL 04 $17.99
TMNT COLOR CLASSICS MICRO SERIES DONATELLO $3.99
TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #89 [DIG/P+] $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

CHANGE #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
CHEW OMNIVORE ED HC VOL 03 (MR) $34.99
DARKNESS #111 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
END TIMES OF BRAM & BEN #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
HOAX HUNTERS #8 [DIG] $2.99
MANHATTAN PROJECTS #10 [DIG] $3.5
MIND THE GAP #8 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99
MIND THE GAP #8 CVR B OBACK $2.99
NOWHERE MEN #2 3RD PTG $2.99
NOWHERE MEN #4 [DIG] $2.99
PETER PANZERFAUST #10 [DIG] $3.50
PETER PANZERFAUST #9 2ND PTG $3.50
SNAPSHOT #1 2ND PTG $2.99
SPAWN #229 $2.99
TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #3 [DIG] $2.99
TRIGGERGIRL 6 #1 [DIG] $5.99
WALKING DEAD #108 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
WHERE IS JAKE ELLIS #3 [DIG] $3.5

MARVEL COMICS

AGE OF ULTRON #2 $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #2 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #3 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #4 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #5 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #7 2ND PTG MARQUEZ VAR NOW $3.99
ALPHA BIG TIME #2 $2.99
AVENGERS #4 2ND PTG KUBERT VAR NOW2 $3.99
AVENGERS ARENA #6 NOW $2.99
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #13 NOW2 $3.99
AVENGERS SEASON ONE PREM HC $24.99
AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP AVENGERS ACADEMY $24.99
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #18 $3.99
ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 02 $19.99
FANTASTIC FOUR #5 NOW $2.99
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2 NOW $2.99
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 02 TOMORROWS AVENGERS $39.99
HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW $16.99
MARVEL NOW X-MEN POSTER $8.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #12 $2.99
NEW AVENGERS #2 2ND PTG JOCK VAR NOW $3.99
NEW AVENGERS #3 2ND PTG JOCK VAR NOW $3.99
SECRET AVENGERS #2 NOW $3.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1 3RD PTG STEGMAN VAR NOW $3.99
THOR GOD OF THUNDER #6 NOW2 $3.99
THUNDERBOLTS #6 NOW $2.99
ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #1 $3.99
ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #24 $3.99
UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 2ND PTG CASSADAY VAR NOW $3.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #3 NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 DAVIS SKETCH NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #1 NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #26 $3.99
WOLVERINE ROT TP $19.99
X-FACTOR TP VOL 19 SHORT STORIES $15.99
X-MEN LEGACY #7 NOW2 $2.99
X-TERMINATION BY LARROCA POSTER $8.99
X-TREME X-MEN #12 XT $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

07 GHOST GN VOL 03 $9.99
ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 01 $34.99
ALIENS VS PARKER #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
ARATA THE LEGEND TP VOL 13 $9.99
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #8 REG LUPACCHINO CVR $3.99
ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #25 [DIG/P+] $3.99
BAD KIDS GO TO HELL VOL 2 #1 $5.99
BIONIC MAN ANNUAL #1 $4.99
BLOODSHOT (ONGOING) #9 REG HENRY CVR $3.99
BRAVEST WARRIORS #6 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 BURN BABY BURN CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 CHOPPER CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 DIE CUT CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 FOXY CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 LIP SNIP CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #25 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #2 (MR) $3.99
DF ADVENTURE TIME #12 EXC CVR $19.99
DF DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN #1 RISQUE ANACLETO CVR $19.99
DF MY LITTLE PONY #2 EXC CVR PI
DF MY LITTLE PONY #3 EXC CVR PI
DF SHADOW YEAR ONE #1 EXC B&W CVR $50
DF WARLORD OF MARS #23 EXC RISQUE CVR $14.99
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 3 #3 CVR A LEI [DIG] $3.99
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 3 #3 CVR B QUALANO $3.99
FEMFORCE #162 30TH ANNIV SPECIAL $9.95
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 04 $14.99
GAME OF THRONES #13 (MR) $3.99
GARFIELD #11 [DIG] $3.99
GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD TP VOL 03 (MR) $19.99
GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOR REVUE #6 $3.99
GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS TP VOL 05 $19.99
GFT ST PATRICKS DAY SPEC A CVR CAFARO (MR) $5.99
GFT ST PATRICKS DAY SPEC B CVR SEJIC (MR) $5.99
GRAPHIC CLASSICS GN VOL 24 NATIVE AMER CLASSICS $17.95
GRIMM UNIVERSE #4 A CVR SPAY (MR) $3.99
GRIMM UNIVERSE #4 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR) $3.99
GRIMM UNIVERSE #4 C CVR RUFFINO (MR) $3.99
HAIRSHIRT HC GN (MR) $24.95
HAND DRYING IN AMERICA HC $29.95
HIS FAVORITE GN VOL 03 $12.99
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #3 $3.99
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #190 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MEGA MAN #23 [DIG/P+] $2.99
MICKEY SPILLANE FROM FILES OF MIKE HAMMER VOL 01 $49.99
MOON GIRL TP $14.95
MYLO XYLOTO #2 $3.99
NAOKI URASAWA 21ST CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 02 $12.99
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 02 $19.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
PARADISE KISS TP VERTICAL INC ED VOL 03 $19.95
PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #7 $3.99
RIN-NE GN VOL 11 $9.99
ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #33 $3.99
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH MAGIC WITHIN TP VOL 01 $10.99
SHADOW #10 $3.99
SHRUGGED VOL 2 #1 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $1
SHRUGGED VOL 2 #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR $1
SPONGEBOB COMICS #18 $2.99
SUPURBIA ONGOING #5 [DIG] $3.99
VOLTRON YEAR ONE TP $19.99