For Comics Shipping 03.19.08 or The week you finally cave in to all my Lee Weeks hype.
Every week I’ll check Diamond’s shipping list to see what you absolutely, positively, no doubt about it need to spend all your hard earned moola on at the Local Comic Shop. Click on a picture to view it in Expand-O-Scope, brought to you by GAMERVISION.com.

DC COMICS

The Flash #238

A brand new story-arc begins here, as Tom Peyer takes on writing duties for the Scarlet Speedster. Freddie Williams has been strong on art here month in and month out since he came aboard as the artist. If you weren’t interested before, now is the perfect time to give the Flash a chance. With a new writer, and a jumping on point issue, there’s really no excuse to not spend $2.99 on this Wednesday.

Justice League of America #19

The conclusion of “Salvation” is finally here. The JLA gets to the bottom of the villain disappearances. I can’t imagine a group of superheroes landing on a planet full of superbaddies ending in any other way than a slugfest. Will the JLA have what it takes to escape from the prison planet? Give the nerd at the counter $2.99, grab some popcorn, and behold 22 pages of Ed Benes drawn action to find out.

Fables #71

In Fabletown, Cinderella is sort of a secret agent. One of her previous missions: to go undercover and expose Ichabod Crane as an informant. That’s just Bill Willingham for you. Dude can write. End of story. Anyway, this is part one of a Cinderella starring two parter. I certainly don’t want to miss it. Do you? Look at that gorgeous cover from James Jean and tell me you wouldn’t spend $2.99 on that picture alone. The best part is, that single picture comes bundled with 22 more pages of awesome. Do us all a favor and pick up this issue.

MARVEL COMICS

Captain America #36

Can you believe it’s been one year since Captain America died? Me either. Well Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting bring us the conclusion to the second act of “The Death of Captain America.” If you haven’t been reading this book (and why exactly is that? this book is the shiznizzle. are you living in a cave? go buy this book for crying out loud), now is the time to start. Every last page of this book has delivered, and if what they’ve been setting up as the third act actually comes to fruition… look out, your mind will be blown. $2.99. Do it.

Captain Marvel #4

Lee Weeks is flat-out the man. Brian Reed is a good writer, but what really makes this book is Weeks’ pencils. I don’t know how much more I can do to convince you guys to get this book. Even if you don’t like Captain Marvel, $2.99 is a small price for such great work. The guy leaves nothing off the page. Every last panel Weeks draws makes you wish he was working on a monthly book. I’ll take whatever I can get when it comes to Lee Weeks art. Oh, and something relating to Secret Invasion happens here.

Thor #7

Thor is one of the best books on the shelf right now. Take this opportunity to jump on with this issue written by series writer J. Michael Straczynski and fill-in artist Marco Djurdjevic. Marco’s art has been all over Marvel covers, and it’s about danged time we’re going to get 22 more phenomenally painted pages for just $2.99. Plus, it’s Thor. Sweet!

TRADE PAPERBACK/HARDCOVER of the WEEK

Batman: The Killing Joke HC

This story is the definitive take on the origin of the Joker. Alan Moore and Brian Bolland really do some amazing work in a short space. But Alan Moore could probably put more layer and theme into a one panel story than just about any other writer working today. Witness how the Joker came to be the crazed psychopath he is today. Find out how why Barbara Gordon had to quit being Batgirl. Delve deep into madness for only $17.99. This special hardcover comes chocked full of extra goodies, including the story “An Innocent Guy,” previously only found in the Black and White anthology series.