BOOK OF THE MONTH:
The Bakers Meet Jingle Belle (Dark Horse).

With the recent announcement that Kyle Baker’s moving to Image to not only finish Nat Turner but to launch some more new material as well, he stands poised to finally receive as much commercial success as he does critical success. There’s a lot to like about the Bakers books. From an artist’s perspective, it’s a primer in basic storytelling skills that everyone can learn a few things from (including a few Big Two artists); from a reader’s perspective, it’s a worthy heir to the legacy of all-ages entertainment from the likes of Bill Waterson, Chuck Jones, and Carl Barks, among others. This holiday crossover with Paul Dini’s Jingle Belle character should act as the perfect appetizer before the main course next February.

Other notables:
Scarface: Point of No Return novel (Dark Horse), Scarface: Scarred for Life #1 (IDW). LA Banks, creator of the Vampire Huntress series of novels, continues her exploration of Al Pacino’s cinematic gangster character, while Dave Crosland illustrates a Scarface comics mini-series.
Occult Crimes Taskforce TP (Image). Rosario Dawson’s supernatural crime mini-series gets the TP treatment, with a potential film adaptation down the road.
Genesis Five #1, Joe and Max #1, Code #1 (Guardian Line). Milestone co-founder Michael Davis begins his new line of Christian superhero comics with these three debuts.
The Red Line #1 (Ludovico Technique). Sci-fi novelist Geoffrey Thorne, author of the next Star Trek: Titan novel (due next summer), launches his new comic.

The list:
Perhapanauts: Second Chances #3 (of 4) (DH)
Firestorm the Nuclear Man #32. Pencils by Jamal Igle, cover by Brian Stelfreeze (who also does the covers to both Fallen Angel TPs, offered again this month by DC).
Justice V2 HC, Justice #9 (of 12). Pencils by Doug Braithwaite.
Tales of the Unexpected #3 (of 8). Lead story pencils by Eric Battle.
Gen13 #3, Fathom: Dawn of War TP. Pencils by Talent Caldwell.
Stormwatch: PHD #2
Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two #3 (of 4)
Spawn/Batman: Inner Demons, Spawn #165. The former is another crossover between Spawny and Bats; in this one they switch foes. Todd McFarlane writes and draws it, so expect it to come out sometime in 2009.
Bomb Queen II #3 (of 4). Story and art by Jimmie Robinson.
Emissary #7 (Image)
Beyond #6 (of 6) (Marvel). Final issue. Written by Dwayne McDuffie.
Blade #4 (Marvel)
Black Panther #23 (Marvel). Written by Reggie Hudlin. Civil War tie-in.
Heroes for Hire #5 (Marvel)
Nextwave #11 (of 12)
Captain America/Falcon: Nomad TP (Marvel)
Yenny #10 (Alias)
Public Enemy #2 (AME)
Gold Digger #80, Gold Digger Sourcebook, Gold Digger Ultimate Collection 2-disc DVD-Rom V1 (Antarctic). Story and art by Fred Perry.
The Omen Negative Issue (Digital Noixe). Spin-off of Delete. Story and art by Robert Walker.
Brodie’s Law #10 (Markosia). Story and art by David Bircham & Daley Osiyemi.
The 3 Geeks: Jim’s Jerky (3 Finger Publications). The free piece of beef jerky is the best thing about this 3 Geeks one-shot featuring Jim (the one who loves the ultraviolent comics).