Previews HYPE: May '10

Diligently wading through the phone book that is Previews Catalogue so you don't have to...here are ten choice books shipping to comic shops in May that I think may get overlooked or that I'm just plain excited about...

1. Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #1 (of 4) - This is a new anthology series that allows some great talent to explore David Petersen's Mouse Guard universe, including Ted Naifeh, Alex Sheikman and Mark Smylie.

2. Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo (Volume 1) HC - Collecting Archie stories from the 50's through the early 70's, this contains some of DeCarlo's best stuff from his legendary run.  A really exciting project.

3. Sky Doll: Space Ship #1 (of 3) - A new Sky Doll mini-series!  I loved the first mini-series, so I'm happy to see Marvel pushing forward with more Soleil offerings.

4. Brightest Day #1-2 - Hot on the heels of the mega-crossover event Blackest Night comes Brightest Day, which is sure to explore the consequences of Blackest Night and steer the universe into an age of more light-hearted stories, as DC can hardly go darker than their last crossover.  Also spinning out of this event is a new ongoing Birds of Prey series, which sees fan favorite writer Gail Simone return to the series, which must have some people geeking out.

5. Atlas #1 - A new ongoing series featuring the Agents of Atlas by series creator Jeff Parker.  This rides the wave of a few mini-series that pit the team against popular teams like the New Avengers and the X-Men, and appearances in books like Thunderbolts, as well as a back-up in Incredible Hercules that followed the first ongoing incarnation's cancellation.  Hopefully the exposure was enough to boost this book's sales.  The first issue boasts a new direction for the team.

6. Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #1-2 - Grant Morrison brings Bruce Wayne back to the DC Universe, but first follow Batman's adventures through time in this six-issue mini-series.

7. Avengers #1 - In wake of Siege and the conclusion of all of Marvel's Avengers titles comes a new wave of Avengers books with The Heroic Age.  First up is a new Avengers ongoing simply entitled Avengers (from Bendis and Romita Jr), and Secret Avengers from Brubaker and Deodato.  New Avengers is also going be relaunched, but that seems to be at least another month out.

8. The Thanos Impreative: Ignition #1 - From the minds behind Annihilation and Guardians of the Galaxy comes a new cosmic epic tale that begins with this one-shot and the return of Thanos to the Marvel Universe.

9. Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950's - From Fantagraphics comes this collection of 50's horror comics by the likes of Steve Ditko, Jack Cole, Alex Toth, Frank Frazetta and Basil Wolverton.  Could be a lot of fun.  Also from Fantagraphics this month, a return of the Ignatz line of comics, including concluding chapters of Grotesque and Interiorae, as well as a new issue of Tales Designed To Thrizzle.

10. Galacta: Daughter of Galactus #1 - This one-shot by Adam Warren and Hector Sevilla Lujan looks like a really cute manga-influenced superhero comic, and I guess enough people liked the digital comic to see its release in print.