Howdy, Wednesday Warriors! It’s that time of the week again; time to storm the gates and bring home a fresh stack of new comics. Before you head to the shop, arm yourself with a few recommendations, and for you big spenders out there, we also have a complete list of this week’s releases. This week sees the release of a new volume of Punisher, which is something to be very, very excited about. Plus, we get Hellboy and a new epic Valiant series? Truly, we live in blessed times.

THE PUNISHER #1

The Punisher #1 from Marvel Comics

Written By: Becky Cloonan
Art By: Steve Dillon
Colors By: Frank Martin
Letters By: VC’s Cory Petit

Becky Cloonan and Steve Dillon nail it. They absolutely destroy it on everyday page. This is the Punisher we know and love; this is grade A, premium cut, top shelf comic booking. Cloonan writes Frank’s world with the craft and ugliness of a black metal band. It’s like a song by Converge: intense, brutal, and beautiful. Cloonan gets it, folks. There’s no sunshine on this landscape, no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The rainbow leads to violence, brutality, and punishment. Her companion on this journey is long time Punisher artist Steve Dillon, delivering some of the best work he’s done in years. He doesn’t repeat the look of his legendary run with Garth Ennis, instead delivering a more detailed and grounded look. Frank Martin’s colors are smooth and daring to flare out when the guns blaze and the blood flows. The Punisher #1 is better than a 10 out of 10. This one goes to 11.

HELLBOY IN HELL #9

Hellboy in Hell #9 from Dark Horse Comics

The era of Mike Mignola Hellboy is coming to an end. There’s not much left. Sure, the world Mignola created, the vast universe of horror and action that spun from Hellboy will likely continue (we hope it will, at least), but this Hellboy story is winding up. The prophecies are coming to pass, the threads all coming together. It’s a thing of true beauty, really. When it comes down to it, Mike Mignola creating, writing, and drawing the character feels like one of the most important things to ever happen to the medium. Hellboy in Hell #9 is another link in a gorgeously constructed chain. It’s epic, perfectly paced, and profoundly dark. Hellboy is comics. It’s what the medium is all about.

Written By: Mike Mignola
Art By: Mike Mignola
Colors By: Dave Stewart
Letters By: Clem Robins

4001 A.D. #1

4001 A.D. #1 from Valiant Entertainment

Written By: Matt Kindt
Art By: Clayton Crain and David Mack
Letters By: Dave Lanphear

Whether you are a regular Valiant reader or not (read Valiant!), you need to pick up 4001 A.D. #1. This is mind-boggling science fiction that is like a trip your mind takes when mix sleep meds and strong drink. Matt Kindt’s story along with Clayton Crain’s unparalleled art takes you places, man. It’s the story of the of world, and those who would fight to keep it together. There’s plenty in these pages to keep long time Valiant fans happy but new readers will be sucked in to this insane orbit all the same. Give this one a shot, you’ll be thankful you did.

3 Floyds: Alpha King #1

3 Floyds: Alpha King #1 from Image Comics

Written By: Brian Azzarello and Nick Floyd
Art By: Simon Bisley
Colors By: Ryan Brown
Letters By: Jared K. Fletcher

This comic really shouldn’t work. It’s a comic brought to life by a beer company that is, in a round about way, about beer. One would expect the quality of those superhero comics that come for free in boxes of cereal. You would not expect this to be amazing, but guess what? It is. It doesn’t hurt to have Brian Azzarello and Simon freaking Bisley on-board either. It’s a crazy story with monsters, witches, demons, mirco-brewing, cat murder, and other madness. It’s like a prog from 2000 AD, which is a compliment of the highest order. Plus, nobody in the biz draws like Simon Bisley, so if you get a chance to buy a comic full of his art, you buy it. Even if it’s a beer comic. Well, maybe beer comics are your thing, I don’t know. If that’s the case, consider this the best comic ever made.

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THE COMPLETE LIST

(via PreviewsWorld.com)