Welcome to Comics To Feast On! There are more exciting new series launching this week, and so far, it’s shaping up to be an incredible summer. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been reading comics for your entire life or if you just started this year, there’s something for everyone these days. This week brings on the collected edition of the highly acclaimed series, Severed, the beginning of Alabaster: Wolves, the second chapter in the Vietnam War/zombie book 68: Scars, and a whole bunch more!

With the ever-increasing number of books coming out between the tie-ins, the crossovers, and the new series, we’ve all got to limit our reading lists somehow. We present you with our ten most anticipated books of the week. So feast your eyes on these! Whether you’ve been into comics since you were a young’un, or you’re new to the game, we’re here to help you decide which books to pick up. If we’ve missed something you’re stoked about, let us know in the comments.

Severed Hardcover
WRITTEN BY: Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft
ART BY: Attila Futaki
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $29.99

The Low Down: “Eisner Award winner SCOTT SNYDER (Batman, Swamp Thing, American Vampire), Scott Tuft & NYT Best-Selling-Artist Attila Futaki (The Lightning Thief) bring you the complete collected hardcover of the scariest horror comic of the year, SEVERED. 1916. A man haunts the roads; a man with sharp teeth and a hunger for flesh. When 12 year-old Jack Garron runs away from home, he’ll see how quickly the American Dream becomes a nightmare. Collecting all 7 issues of the critically acclaimed series, and featuring never-before-seen bonus material, this hardcover deluxe version is sure to be a classic.”

The Feast: Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft’s Severed was among the very best horror series of the past year with countless cringe-worty on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments. Snyder and Tuft play with the reader’s mind and drag them along for an insane ride back to the early 20th century for a tale about the terror of running away from home. This series, collected this week for the first time, sets the bar for all horror stories to come after it, and if you skipped out on it the first time around, this is your chance to behold Scott Snyder’s genius.

Saucer Country #2
WRITTEN BY: Paul Cornell
ART BY: Ryan Kelly
PUBLISHER: Vertigo
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “Arcadia Alvarado is the Governor of New Mexico, she’s running for President, and she just released a bombshell: She was abducted by aliens. As her campaign tries to deal with this startling new information, they must seek help from a disgraced Harvard UFO-ologist who might not be completely sane. The West Wing meets The X-Files in an adventure through the strange and fascinating world of UFO mythology.”

The Feast: With the exception of a few books, there has been a severe lack of alien conspiracy comics in recent years. Thankfully, Saucer Country is here to fill that void. While comparisons to The X-Files are inevitable, the series stands strong on its own, and is worthy of praise without comparisons. Of the batch of new books from Vertigo Comics last month, this one ranks at the top of the list. This is only the second issue, so if you feel that you are missing a good alien story in your life, jump on board.

Hellraiser Annual #1
WRITTEN BY: Clive Barker and Mark Miller
ART BY: Janusz Ordon
PUBLISHER: BOOM!
PRICE: $4.99

The Low Down: “The secrets of the Cenobite War revealed! The first year of Clive Barker’s long-awaited return to Hellraiser has been full of jaw-dropping events and new characters, forever changing the landscape of the classic horror universe. Now, only in this annual, learn the shocking secrets behind those seismic shocks to the Cenobites, the Cottons, and the hierarchy of Hell! This all new story will give clues to future storylines, so no Hellraiser fan can miss it!”

The Feast: Clive Barker finally made his triumphant return to the Hellraiser series this past year with his ongoing series from BOOM! Studios. However, I do not believe anyone thought it would be as good as it is. Issue after issue, Barker and the gang continue to blow us away. “Hellraiser” is adding so much to the Cenobite mythology, while paving the way for future horror stories. BOOM! is celebrating the success of the series with this special Annual issue, and it’s a perfect place to jump on and see what the rage is all about.

Alabaster: Wolves #1
WRITTEN BY: Caitlin R. Kiernan
ART BY: Steve Lieber
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.50

The Low Down: “International Horror Guild Award-winning author Caitlin R. Kiernan brings one of her most enduring and popular creations to comics! For nearly as long as she can remember, Dancy Flammarion has fought monsters, cutting a bloody swath through the demons and dark things of the world, aimed like a weapon by forces beyond her control or questioning. But now, for the first time, Dancy finds herself alone-and the wolves are closing in.”

The Feast: Caitlin R. Kiernan is well known for her dark fantasy fiction, but now she is venturing into the world of graphic storytelling, bringing one of her most beloved characters with her. Alabaster: Wolves centers around an albino teenage girl, Dancy Flammarion, who battles against all sorts of monsters and demons. The story is apocalyptic, comical, beautiful, and horrific all at once, without compromise. Don’t expect a typical Young Adult monster story from Kiernan, think of it as a big f*ck you to those teenybopper tales. Get ready for werewolves to be cool again.

Lord Of The Jungle #3
WRITTEN BY: Arvid Nelson
ART BY: Roberto Castro
PUBLISHER: Dynamite
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “Panthers, crocodiles, snakes, pirates… Jane Porter and her fellow castaways have been through a lot since they were stranded in the African jungle. But now they face an even greater threat – the vicious troop of apes who killed Lord Greystoke over twenty years ago. All the while, ‘White Skin’, a mysterious wild man, lurks just out of sight. Whether he is a friend or an enemy remains to be seen. And what is his connection to the seaside cabin Jane and her companions have come to call home? Find out in Lord of the Jungle #3: The Call of the Primitive!”

The Feast: Think you know Tarzan? You better think again. Tarzan wasn’t always thought of as some androgynous dude with a loin cloth surfing on tree branches, and Nelson is turning that image around with his new Lord Of The Jungle series. Nelson and Castro bring the brutality back to the Tarzan world, where you can expect to see smashed ape skulls and kidnapped women. Don’t believe me? You can pick up the first issue for just $1.00 and see for yourself.

’68: Scars #1
WRITTEN BY: Mark Kidwell
ART BY: Nat Jones and Jay Fotos
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “Saigon is in flames. Private Kuen Yam is alone and screaming. A handful of human survivors maintains a weakening hold on the only gateway to the skies and escape from Vietnam and the muddy waters of the Mekong Delta churn like a hellish river Styx as the bloated dead rise from the depths. Few will survive the nightmares of 1968 and those who do will bear its mark. Join creators MARK KIDWELL, NAT JONES and JAY FOTOS as they return to a world of military/zombie horror in this second part of the ongoing ’68 series. ’68: SCARS!”

The Feast: In 2011 readers could not stop raving about the original ’68 storyline that brought zombies and the Vietnam War together. The series won countless horror comic awards last year, and this week kicks off a new chapter, “’68: Scars”. Sure, there are a lot of zombie stories going around right now, and a lot of you are probably still catching up on “The Walking Dead”, but this is not a book to miss out on. The collected first chapter came out last month, so why not pick it up along with the first issue of “Scars”.

Saga #2
WRITTEN BY: Brian K. Vaughan
ART BY: Fiona Staples
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “The ongoing epic continues! After deserting their galactic armies, former soldiers Marko and Alana must now protect their newborn girl from the lethal killers dispatched to destroy their family.”

The Feast: For those of you not familiar with the work of Brian K. Vaughan, he is the mind behind “Y: The Last Man”, “Ex Machina”, Episodes of Lost, and more. His newest series, not surprisingly, began with an incredible depiction of a vast sci-fi world on the brink of destruction. The first issue offered only a small glimpse of what Vaughan has in his mind, and we can’t wait to see it unfolf before our eyes. Another plus is that Staples’ artwork is second to none. If you follow only one series this year, it should be Saga.

Secret #1
WRITTEN BY: Jonathan Hickman
ART BY: Ryan Bodenheim
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50

The Low Down: “’TEETH, WITH WHICH TO EAT’ A man gets shot in London, a law firm gets broken into in Washington, an accountant gives away the password to his computer, and something put to sleep 20 years ago awakens. What is the unsavory relationship all these things share, and how could it bring down two of the largest governments in the history of the world? It’s SECRET, a brand new, ongoing, monthly comic from the creators of A RED MASS FOR MARS. Brought to you by award-winning writer JONATHAN HICKMAN and break-out talent, RYAN BODENHEIM, SECRET is an espionage thriller that takes a deep look into the shadow world existing between the government and private security firms.”

The Feast: I’m not sure what they are feeding Jonathan Hickman over at Image Comics, but it sure as hell is keeping his mind healthy. Hickman is becoming an unstoppable force, with new series coming out all the time, and they are damn good to boot. Secret delves into the world of a private security agency that uncovers, well…secrets! Based on the past few books Hickman has put out, you won’t want to miss this.

Crossed: Badlands #3
WRITTEN BY: Garth Ennis
ART BY: Jacen Burrows
PUBLISHER: Avatar
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “Garth Ennis’ grueling horror survival spreads the infection to comic shops everywhere as Badlands continues to expand the violent and twisted world of the Crossed. Now horror fans who want to experience the most jaw-dropping insanity and unyieldingly violent stories being told in comics today can indulge themselves with a new issue BI-WEEKLY at your local comic shop. The original sadistic vision of Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows is depicted in a violent kaleidoscope of blood, gore, and punishment as the blizzard and cold take their toll on both Crossed and humans alike. Can they hold out and survive one final wave of maniacs? There is no hope. There is no escape. There is only the Crossed.”

The Feast: If there is one book I recommend for horror fans who do not normally read comics, it is Garth Ennis’ Crossed. This book is mental, brutal, violent, gory, and visually jarring. But it’s not just about the eye candy, “Crossed” actually has a great plotline and wonderfully developed characters. The series is on a bi-weekly release schedule, with a webcomic that comes out every week as well to ensure that you never go hungry while awaiting the next bloodbath.

Secret Service #1
WRITTEN BY: Mark Millar
ART BY: Dave Gibson
PUBLISHER: Marvel
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “From the writer of Kick-Ass and the artist of Watchmen comes a collaboration decades in the making. Says Millar: “Secret Service is the ramifications of how America is struggling on the world state, funding is being seriously undercut to balance the books and some people are trying their best to take advantage of the fragile global situation. The hero and the sidekick guys who lead the book are, I think, the best characters I’ve written””

The Feast: Most people only know Mark Millar from seeing the film adaptation of “Kick-Ass”, or from his falling out with Grant Morrison, but he actually puts out decent, albeit controversial, comics once in a while. Now he teams up with the legendary Dave Gibson to explore the American Secret Service.