Andy Diggle (The Losers, Adam Strange) and Whilce Portacio (Wetworks, X-Factor) kick off a new ongoing series examining the early days of the Dark Knight. When Lex Luthor makes a play for territory in Gotham, Batman takes on the megalomaniacal billionaire both on the streets and in the boardroom.

Justice Society of America #1
Geoff Johns (w), Dale Eaglesham (a)
48 pp.

The legacy of the DCU's first super-team continues as Green Lantern, the Flash and Wildcat search the globe for a new generation of heroes, in the double-sized debut of the relaunched Justice Society series from Geoff Johns and Dale Eaglesham.

Sandman Mystery Theater: Sleep of Reason #1 (of 5)
John Ney Rieber (w), Eric Nguyen (a)
32 pp.

A Vertigo classic returns in a new limited series from John Ney Rieber (Captain America, Books of Magic) and Eric Nguyen (Strange Girl). Veteran photojournalist Kieran Marshall travels to Afghanistan during the US invasion seeking a career-making interview with terrorist leader Masad, but his search for the scoop will uncover the dark secret of the final days of Wesley Dodds and his girlfriend Dian Belmont -- and to make it out of the warzone alive Marshall may have to take on the mantle of Wesley's crime-fighting alter ego the Sandman.

Sachs and Violens TP
Peter David (w), George Perez (a)
128 pp.

Juanita Jean Sachs is an exotic model turned vigilante crusader. Erne 'Violens' Schultz is a photojournalist and Vietnam vet with anger management issues tracing back to his time in the jungles. Together they battle lecherous pornographers, cold-blooded murders, racist slave-drivers and other evil-doers: not because it's right, or it pays well, but for the thrill. The controversial 1993 creator-owned series from fan-favourite writer Peter David (Incredible Hulk, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) and star artist George Perez (Infinite Crisis) is finally collected, with a new introduction by David and cover by Perez.

Albion TP
Leah Moore & John Reppion (w), Shane Oakley (a), Dave Gibbons (cover)
144 pp.

Writers Leah Moore and John Reppion (Wild Girl) mastermind a revival of forgotten British pulp heroes, supported by Watchmen creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, in the critically acclaimed limited series Albion. Britain never had shiny spandex-clad superheroes, but instead an odd assortment of vigilantes, monsters and other shadowy figures. Who were the Steel Claw, Captain Hurricane and the Spider, and where have they been for 25 years?

From Marvel Comics:

Ultimates 2 #13
Mark Millar (w), Bryan Hitch (a)
48 pp.

The decimated Ultimate Avengers rail against seemingly impossible odds to thwart a supervillian invasion of the United States, as the massively acclaimed tenure of writer Mark Millar (Civil War, Wolverine, Wanted) and artist Bryan Hitch (The Authority) reaches its conclusion in a double-sized all-action spectacular season finale issue.

Spider-Man: Reign #1 (of 4)
Kaare Andrews (w/a)
48 pp.

Award-winning artist Kaare Andrews (Doctor Octopus: Year One, Incredible Hulk) returns with a gritty future vision of Spider-Man. Superheroes are no longer welcome in New York City, and it has been many years since Peter Parker pulled on the costume of his wall-crawling alter ego -- but when a figure from the past appears at his door Parker remembers that great power, even when hidden, comes with great responsibility.

Ghost Rider #6
Daniel Way (w), Richard Corben (a)
32 pp.

Legendary horror artist Richard Corben illustrates the opening of a two-issue story chronicling Johnny Blaze's descent into Hell, as the Faustian bargain he made to save the life of his best friend and mentor sees the Ghost Rider's soul damned for eternity.

Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War one-shot
Christos Gage (w), Jeremy Haun (a), Jim Cheung (covers)
48 pp.

As their opposing factions square off on the brink of an all-out superpowered Civil War former allies Captain America and Iron Man meet in secret for a last-ditch attempt to stop a conflict that could permanently divide the superhero community, in a one-shot special from writer Christos Gage (Union Jack, Stormwatch PHD) and artist Jeremy Haun (Leading Man, Battle Hymn) with covers by Young Avengers' Jim Cheung.

New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (of 5)
Brian Michael Bendis & Brian Reed (w), Jim Cheung (a)
32 pp.

The Illuminati: Reed Richards, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Namor, Charles Xavier, Tony Stark. For years these six powerful men have worked in secret to guide and manipulate the superhero community and the world around it, the scope of their actions and agenda known to no one -- until now. The secret history of the Marvel Universe is revealed in a five-part limited series from Spider-Woman: Origin writers Brian Michael Bendis and Brian Reed with Young Avengers artist Jim Cheung.

Newuniversal #1
Warren Ellis (w), Salvador Larroca (a)
32 pp.

Earth is a small blue-green planet populated by six billion largely undistinguished individuals living generally unremarkable lives -- until a unexplained celestial event sees a select number awake to find themselves possessing impossible new abilities. A new universe is born and a classic Marvel concept reinvented for the new millennium by acclaimed writer Warren Ellis (Planetary, Ultimate Fantastic Four) and fan-favourite artist Salvador Larroca (X-Men).

The Hedge Knight Premiere HC
George RR Martin & Ben Avery (w), Mike Miller (a)
164 pp.

George RR Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, a prequel to his bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire epic fantasy series, is adapted for comics by Ben Avery and Mike Miller (Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker).

Runaways volume 2 HC
Brian K Vaughan (w), Takeshi Miyazawa, Adrian Alphona & Skottie Young (a)
312 pp.

The adventures of Marvel's underground teen superhero team continue in the Harvey award-winning series from writer Brian K Vaughan (Y the Last Man, Ultimate X-Men), as the Runaways gain a new team member, thwart an alien invasion of Los Angeles and travel to New York for a showdown with the New Avengers. Collecting Runaways volume 2 #1-12 plus the Runaways/X-Men Free Comic Book Day special.

Supreme Power volume 2 HC
J Michael Straczynski (w), Gary Frank & Dan Jurgens (a)
264 pp.

J Michael Straczynski's gritty superhero deconstruction Supreme Power concludes in the second deluxe oversized hardcover collection. As Hyperion forms an uneasy alliance with Nighthawk and the Blur to take down a superpowered serial killer the US government seeks to regain control over its wayward superweapon by any means necessary, assembling a new team of superpowered operatives to bring Hyperion back into the fold. Collecting Supreme Power #13-18 and Supreme Power: Hyperion #1-5.

The groundbreaking 1982 Wolverine solo series from X-Men master scribe Chris Claremont and Daredevil visionary Frank Miller explores the character's complex sense of personal honour, conflicted and contradictory personal history, and doomed romance with Yakuza heir Lady Mariko Yashida. Collecting Wolverine #1-4 and Uncanny X-Men #172-3 in a new prestige format hardcover edition.

Spawn/Batman: Inner Demons one-shot
Todd McFarlane (w), McFarlane & Greg Capullo (a)
56 pp.

Over a decade since their first meeting, the Dark Knight and the Hellspawn face each other's respective foes in the long-awaited return of master Spawn artists Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo.

Wonderlost #1 (of 3)
CB Cebulski (w), Paul Azaceta, Jonathan Luna et al (a), Leinil Francis Yu (cover)
64 pp., B&W

One comics fan's awkwardly nerdy teenage years are exposed in the opening chapter of a warts-and-all autobiography from fanboy turned Marvel editor CB Cebulski featuring art from Paul Azaceta (Talent), Jonathan Luna (Girls) and others, with a cover by Leinil Francis Yu (Superman: Birthright).

Master swordsman Milo has pursued a selfish path for years, but when 1000 demons rise to destroy the world can a troubled warrior put aside self-interest to become the hero to which he aspires? Collecting The Portent #1-4.

Mike Carey's One-Sided Bargains one-shot
Mike Carey (w), Mike Perkins, PJ Holden (a), Michael Gaydos (cover)
64 pp., B&W

Two brand new tales of dread, doom, deals with the devil and gothic horror from rising star writer Mike Carey (Hellblazer, Ultimate Fantastic Four) with artists Mike Perkins (Captain America) and PJ Holden (2000AD).

Criminal Macabre: Two Red Eyes #1 (of 4)
Steve Niles (w), Kyle Hotz (a)
32 pp.

Hard-drinking, hard-living occult private eye Cal McDonald is back in a new limited series from Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Kyle Hotz (The Agency). With his best (mortal) friend dead, his newly ex-girlfriend moving to another city and an altercation with the DA having landed him in hospital, Cal wakes up in intensive care to find things have grown even worse.

From the smaller publishers:

Scarface: Scarred for Life #1 (of 5)
John Layman (w), Dave Crosland (a)
32 pp.

Tony Montana is back from the brink of death in a five-issue miniseries picking up where the movie's blood-soaked climax left off, as the foul-mouthed gangster must work his way back to the top of the Florida underworld.

Transformers Evolutions: Hearts of Steel TP
Chuck Dixon (w), Guido Guidi (a)
120 pp.

Veteran writer Chuck Dixon (Detective Comics, Nightwing, Birds of Prey) kicks off the Transformers Evolution line with a bold steampunk recontextualisation of the heroic Autobots and malevolent Decepticons into the early days of the Industrial Revolution.

30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease #1
Dan Wickline (w), Alex Sanchez (a)
32 pp.

The 30 Days of Night saga continues in a new limited series from writer Dan Wickline (30 Days of Night: Dead Space) and artist Alex Sanchez (Doomed). Federal Agent Michael Henson had undisputable evidence that would prove to an unbelieving world that vampires really exist -- until a shadowy government conspiracy took it away. Now, with the help of a mysterious 'friend' who may be not entirely human, Henson must follow a trail of blood to discover where and how the undead truly walk among us.

Mouse Guard #6 (of 6)
David Peterson (w/a)
24 pp.

Midnight's army has arrived at Lockhaven's Gates, but will the return of the Black Axe be enough for the Guardsmice to prevent a full-scale invasion? The surprise indie buzz book of 2006 reaches its epic conclusion.

Deep in the mountains of Afghanistan a dozen-strong Russian special forces squad races against its British counterpart to uncover a secret that could shift the balance of world power -- but the Russian leader, a battle-hardened veteran who has known no life other than conflict, will find something more personally changing and embark on a journey no sane man would dare attempt.

Fathom: The Definitive Edition volume 1 SC & HC
Michael Turner et al (w/a)
432 pp.

The new definitive collected edition of Aspen's flagship title Fathom compiles the rare Fathom Preview, the previously uncollected Fathom #0 and #1/2, Fathom #1-11, excerpts from Fathom #12-14, both Fathom Swimsuit Specials, a massive cover gallery, and more.

Do you experience missing time? Are there gaps in your memory? Can you predict the dreams of total strangers? Do you sometimes see tentacled creatures attached to people who seem oblivious? What's going on? The answer may surprise you, in the new Virgin Comics project from Eisner-winning colourist Dave Stewart (DC: The New Frontier).

When intrepid teenage sleuth Nancy Drew investigates hushed-up problems at the opening of an experimental biodome facility funded by an environmentalist billionaire she becomes trapped in the Arctic zone -- and faces off against an abominable snowman on the loose.

The first Phantom Annual from Moonstone Books features five brand new stories spanning five generations of the Ghost Who Walks, from writers including Ron Marz (Green Lantern) and Chuck Dixon (Detective Comics) with artists Graham Nolan, Joe Prado (Birds of Prey), Juan Ferreyra (Emissary, Small Gods) and others.

The first Jane's World omnibus compiles the first three volumes of the cult comic strip into one handy edition and an affordable introduction to Jane's increasingly complex world of alien abductions, vegan Amazons, Elvis impersonators and more.

Reprinting in a deluxe oversized full colour format the first six issues of EC's seminal horror anthology Tales from the Crypt, the inspiration for the cult television series, comprising 24 stories from Bill Gaines, Wally Wood, Harvey Kurtzman and many more.

Action Philosophers Giant-Sized Thing volume 2 TP
Fred van Lente (w), Ryan Dunlavey (a)
96 pp., B&W

Xeric-winning, Ignatz-nominated indie sensation Action Philosophers presents the life and ideas of the great thinkers of modern and classical philosophy in action-packed comic form, with the second collected edition including Marx, Sartre, Derrida, Descartes, Machiavelli and more. Collecting Action Philosophers #4-6.

The Wallflower Vol 10
Tomoko Hayakawa (w/a)
192pp.

Kyohei seems to be cursed, but not by any of the "usual" culprits (not even by Sunako, as surprising as that might be). In fact, poor Kyohei is cursed by his own good looks. When Sunako rejects him for being "too good-looking", he runs away, and only the guilt-wracked girl knows the truth about his whereabouts. Can Sunako emerge from the Gothic shadows and become a "creature of the light" in time to bring him home?

Little Butterfly Vol 3
Hinako Takanaga (w/a)
184pp.

Kojima hates spending so much time away from Nakahara. When he visits his home, Nakahara finally makes the decision Kojima has been waiting for, and the two of them share an unforgettable night. In the conclusion to this popular series, find out where Kojima and Nakahara's young love is headed...!

Kare Kano Vol 21
Masami Tsuda (w/a)
192pp.

In the conclusion to this stunningly popular manga series, the gang's high school years are coming to an end; graduation is creeping up and the friends find that their hopes, dreams and ambitions are bound to lead them on separate paths. Where will the future lead them...?

One Piece Vol 13
Eiichiro Oda (w/a)
192pp.

Luffy and the crew finally escape the bounty hunters of Whisky Peak, but then
they find themselves the target of a sinister criminal outfit known as Baroque Works. But the Straw Hat Pirates have just agreed to protect a very important person (in return for scores and scores of riches, of course), and this looks to present even bigger problems!

Death Note Vol 9
Tsugumi Ohba (w), Takeshi Obata (a)
200pp.

Light finds himself struggling under the clever manuevering of L's proteges, who are proving to be more of a challenge than he expected. The net around Kira is growing tighter and tighter, and the stress on Light, as well as the trouble of maintaining three separate personalities, is threatening to end him. Could it be the beginning of the end for Light and Kira?

Ouran High School Host Club Vol 8
Bisco Hatori (w/a)
184pp.

The first years in class 1-A are competing in a test of courage, where the loser will be henceforth known as "Best of Cowards". Class president and outright fraidy-cat Kazukiho Souga finds himself on a team with calm Haruhi. He's relieved at first... but will he be able to handle the insane antics of his other team-mates, twins Hikaru and Kaoru?

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 11
Hiromu Arakawa (w/a)
192pp.

When Ed and Al return to Resemboul, Ed's feelings of resentment towards his father Hohenheim remain even though his father is happy to see him. However, Al and Ed soon discover a new fact about the human transmutation ritual they attempted years before: what they thought was a partial resurrection of their mother was in fact something else entirely. It's a revelation that threatens to change their destiny forever... what is it? Find out in the latest volume of popular manga title Fullmetal Alchemist!