Previews: October '09

Here are the highlights of books shipping to comic shops in October!

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Archaia

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The Devil's Handshake One-Shot - A 48-page comic that follows treasure hunters on an epic quest, co-written by the mind behind G.I. Joe, Larry Hama.

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The God Machine Preview Book - This looks like a pretty, haunting story. The graphic novel by Chandra Free is coming out soon - this is just a little tease.

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Robotika (Volume 2): For a Few Rubles More HC - The second story in Alex Sheikman's fun action series following three yojimbos.

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Ardden Entertainment

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Casper and the Spectrals #1 - A new series featuring the friendly ghost arrives in time for his 60th anniversary!

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Boom! Studios

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The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck (Volume 1) HC - Don Rosa's classic comics are collected here - glad to see Boom! taking advantage of the new partnership in just two short months.

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Dark Horse

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Casper the Friendly Ghost 60th Anniversary HC - Well, it is October, so it's time to bring out the monster and ghoul comics. Casper is a no-brainer, and this collection has two rare stories, complete and in full color.

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The Chronicles of Kull (Volume 1) TP - The latest offering from Dark Horse's classic comic reprint line.

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Sugarshock One-Shot - It may have been a short work, but Dark Horse is making the most of this story by Joss Whedon, releasing it in a single issue with loads of extra to make it a 40-page spectacular.

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DC Comics

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DC Comics Classics Library: Shazam! - The Monster Society of Evil HC - I'm sure a lot of people have been waiting for this - the classic Captain Marvel story is finally seeing print.

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Planetary #27 - The final 40-page issue of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's beloved comic series.

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Winter Men TP - A lot of people really dug this mini-series, and now the five issues are collected, along with the special.

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World's Finest #1 (of 4) - Red Robin teams up with the new Nightwing to rescue Firebird in what's sure to be a fun mini-series.

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Drawn & Quarterly

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The Book About Moomin, Nymble and Little My HC - Tove Jansson's kid-friendly book returns to print.

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The Box Man HC - Imiri Sakabashira's work sounds intriguing and just bursting with creativity.

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Fantagraphics Books

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Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons - Comes in a three-volume set, featuring over 1000 pages!

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Pim & Francie: "In the Golden Bear Days" HC - New Al Columbia

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Prison Pit SC - I've heard very good things about Johnny Ryan's new book.

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Harper Collins

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Illustrated Classic Books - Not one, but three classic Christmas tales are going to be fully illustrated by great artists in the field: Hans Christian Anderson's The Fir Tree GN by Lilli Carre, O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi GN by Joel Priddy, and L. Frank Baum's A Kidnapped Santa Claus GN by Alex Robinson!

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IDW Publishing

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Angel vs. Frankenstein - John Byrne returns to Angel, following a surprisingly very good stint on Angel: Blood and Trenches. This time he takes on Angelus...and a classic monster. Also from John Byrne this month, a collection of his great Star Trek: Crew mini-series.

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Bloom Country: The Complete Library (Volume 1) HC - And they just keep coming from IDW...

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Image Comics

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Haunt #1 - A new ongoing series, this spawns out from a collaboration between Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane.

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Marvel Comics

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Astonishing X-Men #31 - I've been underwhelmed by Warren Ellis' run on the flagship X-Title, but in October, Phil Jimenez jumps on board as artist.

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Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1 - They had to throw that whole subtitle about the Avengers in so they would move more than two copies of the book...but seriously, I liked the whole search for the new sorcerer supreme in New Avengers, so I might give this a look.

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Marvel Zombies: Evil Evolution One-Shot - Enough with the zombies! This is a "Special Halloween Edition" comic.

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Oz: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz HC - The excellent adaptation from Baum's classic children's story is brought to us by Oz expert (and creator of the stunning Adventures In Oz GN) Eric Shanower, and illustrated in a stupendous, appropriate cartoony style by Skottie Young. If you missed the floppies, get the collection - a sequel's already on the way!

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Pride & Prejudice HC - Jane Austen's classic gets the Marvel treatment...no, not with zombies - that was already done. Illustrated in graphic novel format by Hugo Petrus, adapted by Nancy Butler, with gorgeous covers by Sonny Liew.

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Web of Spider-Man #1 - A new ongoing Spidey title...because five weren't enough.

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X-Babies #1 (of 4) - Mojo's little stars are back.

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X-Force/New Mutants: Necrosha One-Shot - One of my favorite villains, Selene the Black Queen, takes center stage in a new crossover event that begins with this one-shot and will see the dead rise.

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X-Men vs. Agents of Atlas #1 (0f 2) - A desperate bid to keep the Agents alive? Who cares! It's Jeff Parker pitting two super-teams against one another!

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McSweeney's

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Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary HC - Justin Green's classic underground comic is finally back in print!

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Oni Press

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Stumptown #1 - A new creator-owned Greg Rucka book!

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Sterling Publishing

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Constance and Tiny GN - This looks like a cute kid-friendly graphic novel about a mischievous girl and her enormous cat.

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Viz Media

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GoGo Monster GN - A new manga from Taiyo Matsumoto, creator of Tekkon Kinkreet.