Comics on sale 10/21/09

The middle week of October has a wild assortment of offerings: An array of horror comics such as Frankenstein Mobster and House of Secrets arrive as well as a few sci-fi tie-ins for Star Wars, Star Trek and even Halo (think my son is old enough for Mega Bloks?). The long-awaited Red Dwarf reunion is finally available in the US and if you are a fan of the series, you need to see it (click here for me review).

The Marvel Comics Dark Reign event continues to develop as Skaar, son of Hulk battles Wolverine in Origins, Norman Osborn makes his list against the Hulk and leads his new black ops team of Thunderbolts into a covert op on board Airforce One in the ‘Burning Down the House’ collection. Perhaps the only worthwhile Final Crisis tie-in, Legion of Three Worlds, is collected and worth a look. The latest Jonah Hex collection hits the stands. The fantastic Detectives Inc. is finally collected in a hardcover edition.

Click on the images below for 7 page previews of select issues on ComicBookResources.com.

All in all, a wild and wooly week for the chilly days of autumn.

This week’s selections can be purchased in specialty shops, online or at your local comic shop. Unsure of where to find one? Just visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/

For the full list of this week’s comics, please click here.

Star Trek The Wrath of Khan Phaser
Prepare for your next away mission to the Genesis Planet with this all-new phaser pistol, which is based on one of the best Star Trek films of all time: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan! Created using detailed production blueprints and featuring voice and sound effects from the iconic movie, this replica features the never-before-seen removable Type 1 Phaser–making this a must-have for Trekkies everywhere!

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth DVD

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth (2009)
It was a long time coming, but finally the crew of the Red Dwarf were reunited for what could be the last time with Back to Earth. And it proved to be a bit of a mixed blessing, with all three parts throwing up moments of absolute genius, alongside parts where you couldn’t help believing that its best days are far behind it. The idea behind the show is quite ingenious. Back to Earth takes place after the supposed season 10 of Red Dwarf, and the crew find themselves thrown through a portal, at which time they realize that they’re all just characters from a TV show. Furthermore, they’re characters from a TV show who are going to all buy it in the final episode. The only solution? To track down both the actors that play them (including a trip to the set!), and the creators of Red Dwarf itself. This opens the door for plenty of postmodern gags and situations, but arguably it’s only when things get back into more familiar territory that they start to gel a little more. And when they work, you can’t help but enjoy the fact that the crew are back together. Will this be the last voyage for Red Dwarf? Quite possibly, and there’s little doubt that it’s far from the show’s peak. But it’s still a fun and entertaining send-off.

Mighty Avengers #30

Mighty Avengers #30
By: Dan  Slott, Christos N. Gage, Sean Chen, Marko Djurdjevic
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! As the epic battle with The Unspoken threatens all of Earth, the team-up you’ve been waiting for finally happens as members of the Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Young Avengers, and the Avengers Initiative unite to fight a foe that no single hero could withstand!

How can we fit so many Avengers in one issue? Against the most powerful Inhuman of all, with the greatest weapon in history, do they have a choice? All that plus a special appearance by the Dark Avengers.

Legion of Three Worlds Hardcover

Final Crisis Legion Of Three Worlds
By: Geoff Johns, George Perez
Superstar writer Geoff Johns and legendary artist George Pérez deliver the Crisis of the 31st century as the Legion of Super-Heroes reaches out for help against a powerful foe they can’t beat alone.

From the moment Superman landed on Earth until the end of time, the Time Trapper has sought to erase Superman’s impact on the universe. But the Legion of Super-Heroes have always been there to stop the relentless villain.

Now, one Legion isn’t enough as the Time Trapper taps a twisted mirror image of The Boy of Steel from a parallel Earth long dead: Superboy-Prime!

Who will answer the Legion’s call for help? With ties to INFINITE CRISIS, FINAL CRISIS and the history of the DCU, this tremendous hardcover collects the entire 5-issue miniseries and is not to be missed!

Jonah Hex: Lead Poisoning

Jonah Hex Lead Poisoning
By: Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Grey, Jordi Bernet
Jonah Hex returns, six-guns blazing, in this new collection of issues #37-42 of his acclaimed series. This time, Hex runs afoul of a trio of beautiful female bounty hunters and almost becomes the victim of a doctor’s grisly practice.

House of Secrets Volume 2

Showcase Presents House Of Secrets TPB Vol. 02
By: Bernie Wrightson
Nearly 500 black-and-white pages of HOUSE OF SECRETS horror stories in one value-priced volume collecting issues #99-119. These stories features work by horror master Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta, Alex Niño, Sergio Aragonés and many others.

This title collects
House of Secrets #99-119

Halo Wars Mega Bloks set

Mega Bloks Halo Wars Battle Pack Assortment
Based on the hit video game! Bring the battles of Halo Wars from your video game console to your construction-block collection with the Mega Bloks Halo Wars Battle Packs. Each set will allow fans to construct the weapons used by the Marines and the Covenant in the best-selling video game. Instructions included.

Frankenstein Mobster trade paperback

Frankenstein Mobster TPB Vol. 01
By: Mark Wheatley
When policeman Terry Todd died, he became a monster with a body patched together from three ruthless mobsters. Now he fights for inner control against their evil souls in a conflict that could take this corrupt, haunted city and dump it deeper into hell. Unless his cop daughter stops him first.

This massive tome includes additional art and comics, new story pages, and detailed behind-the-scenes information, as well as deviant art by Adam Hughes, Mike Wieringo, George Freeman, Mike Oeming, Scott Morse, Angelo Torres, Alex Nino, and Bernie Wrightson.

Detectives Inc. Hardcover

Detectives Inc HC
By: Don McGregor, Marshall Rogers, Gene Colan
Detectives Inc. is the groundbreaking story of two New York private detectives, Ted Denning and Bob Rainier. It is as provocative and relevant today as when it was first released nearly 30 years ago.

Detectives Inc. was one of the first graphic novels to deal realistically with homosexuality, bisexuality, abortion, race relations, and domestic violence. Featuring stunning art by comic greats Marshall Rogers and Gene Colan.

Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth #4

Deadpool Merc With A Mouth #4
By: Victor Gischler, Bong Dazo, Arthur Suydam
‘HEAD TRIP,’ PART 4-

Things just keep getting more savage in the Savage Land for poor old Wade. Not only does a crack squad of Hydra shock troops want to put the smackdown on our boy Deadpool, but the cavemen want back their god (i.e. the severed-but-still annoying head of the Marvel Zombies Deadpool) and have turned out the troops, spears ready to fly.

Even with Ka-Zar’s help, it’s going to be a close one. To make matters worse, ‘Severed Headpool’ can’t keep his teeth to himself. One hungry bite can bring a world of hurt down on top of Deadpool and the luscious Dr. Betty.

Dark Reign: The Hulk

Dark Reign List Hulk One Shot
By: Greg Pak, Ben Oliver
Norman Osborn thought he had a plan for keeping the Green Goliath from mussing his wavy coif — but he forgot about the Hulk’s most dangerous incarnation. Now the H.A.M.M.E.R. comes down as Banner and Skaar face Osborn’s deadliest femme fatales in a monumental battle of brawn and brains.

Plus a reprinting of Amazing Spider-Man #14, the first appearance of the Green Goblin & guest-starring The Hulk.

Captain America: Road to Rebirth

Captain America Road To Reborn
By: Ed Brubaker, Luke Ross, Alex Ross
Where were you when Captain America died? It’s the anniversary of the day Steve Rogers was killed, a day of reflection and mourning in the Marvel U…a time to look back on the things Steve did and what he stood for… or is this actually the beginning of the most wicked plot twist since issue 25?

Yeah, actually it’s both. Plus, Sharon Carter’s dreams are forcing her to relive the death of Steve Rogers — and her time under the control of Dr. Faustus. But will these dreams also reveal hidden secrets about what she saw and did on the day Steve died?

Also, Bucky Barnes is the new Captain America now…but today he’s trapped in the past, because today is Bucky Barnes’ birthday. See Bucky’s favorite and least favorite birthdays – from the cold winters of the Depression on military bases, to the front lines of WW2, to his new mission as Cap.

Plus, a double-sized story by the legendary Gene Colan about Cap and Bucky’s days in WWII.

Thunderbolts: Burning Down the House

Thunderbolts: Burning Down the House
By: Andy Diggle, Francesco Mattina
Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign has begun – and the only people who stand in the way of his mad power grab are the very super-villains he trained! In the wake of the Thunderbolts’ help repelling the alien Skrull invasion, Osborn was promoted to head the new security initiative replacing the badly wounded S.H.I.E.L.D. And while his team is comprised of super-villains, some lack Osborn’s unique killer instinct.

And in Osborn’s eyes, that means they have no place in his new world order. Now, Penance, Swordsman, Radioactive Man and Songbird find themselves locked in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. But how can they hope to survive when Osborn has unleashed the deadly duo of Venom and Bullseye to hunt them down?
Collects #126-129, 132

Star Wars: Death Troopers

Star Wars Death Troopers
By: Joe Schreiber
When the Imperial prison barge Purge breaks down in a distant, uninhabited part of space, its only hope seems to lie with a Star Destroyer found drifting, derelict and abandoned. But when a boarding party is sent to scavenge for parts, only half of them come back – bringing with them a horrific disease so lethal that within hours, nearly all aboard the Purge will die. Nothing can prepare them for what awaits them aboard the Star Destroyer, amid its vast, creaking emptiness that isn’t really empty at all. For the dead are rising, soulless, unstoppable, and unspeakably hungry!

B.P.R.D. Vol. 11: The Black Goddess

B.P.R.D. Vol. 11: The Black Goddess
By: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Dave Stewart
With Liz gone and their most powerful enemies banding together for a final, catastrophic attack, Abe, Kate, and Johann must determine the price of their souls as they decide where their loyalties lie — and whether the life of a friend is more valuable than the fate of the world.

B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess collects the second arc of the Scorched Earth trilogy, pulling together threads from the beginning of the series, with a twist that will shake the worlds of B.P.R.D. agents and readers alike.

* Collects B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess issues #1-#5.