I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, but now it’s time to get back to weekly comics without having to think about gifts for others. It’s time to treat yourself. This week brings new issues of I, VAMPIRE, MONOCYTE, WITCH DOCTOR, and more. Read on for the skinny…

With the ever-increasing number of books coming out between the tie-ins, the crossovers, and the new series, we’ve got to limit our lists for the week somehow. Rather than cramming so many previews down your throat that you barely breathe, 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.

WRITTEN BY: Kurtis J. Wiebe
ILLUSTRATED BY: Riley Rossmo
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.59

The Low Down: “’LOST CHILDREN,’ Part Three After the horrific murder of one of Green Wake’s most elusive citizens, a new organization emerges in open rebellion against the followers of Micah. While the opposing sides clash, murders continue to surface with no suspect in sight.”

The Feast: Just do yourself a favor and read this book if you’re not already. From the story to the artwork, everything is top notch.

American Vampire Issue 22 Exclusive Preview

WRITTEN BY: Scott Snyder
ILLUSTRATED BY: Rafael Albuquerque
PUBLISHER: Vertigo
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “Get ready – it’s hot rods, poodle skirts and rock ‘n’ roll as AMERICAN VAMPIRE goes screaming into the 1950s! Who is Travis Kidd? What do the mysterious Vassals want with him? And what does it all have to do with Skinner Sweet? Find out in “Death Race” part 1!”

The Feast: Snyder has been talking about this Elvis rockabilly vampire for quite some time now, and we finally get to see what all the excitement is about. Snyder has a certain affinity for old rock and roll music, and tying it into his vampire universe will, as always, should be a tasty treat.

WRITTEN BY: Brandon Seifert
ILLUSTRATED BY: Lukas Ketner
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “You wake up in a bathtub of ice with a surgical incision on your side… but the hospital says you’ve still got two kidneys! Where do you go for a second opinion? Where else but Dr. Vincent Morrow, the Witch Doctor! Summer’s medical horror smash hit returns with a tale of black magic and organ-swapping.”

The Feast: Thankfully, our fears have been quelled, and we haven’t seen the last of Witch Doctor! This is a tremendously ambitious piece of horror storytelling, and any fan of horror, whether new or old will love it. This is a perfect place to hop on board and see what the fuss is all about.

WRITTEN BY: Joshua Fialkov
ILLUSTRATED BY: Andrea Sorrentino
PUBLISHER: DC Comics
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “Straight from the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK comes John Constantine! Problem is, rather than help Andrew in his war against the Queen of Blood, Constantine figures it would make more sense to just wipe out all of the vampires, including Andrew!”

The Feast: The last week of the month is quickly becoming my favorite week for comics, and it is much in part due to Fialkov’s I, Vampire. Last month Fialkov finally hinted at how this series will tie into the rest of the DCnU, with a big bat-tastic finale. This month Andrew will finally run into some of the other “Dark” heroes, and this will be a seminal issue in the series.

WRITTEN BY: Peter Milligan
ILLUSTRATED BY: Mikel Janin
PUBLISHER: DC Comics
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “Madame Xanadu’s plan is working! Zatanna, John Constantine, Shade the Changing Man, Mindwarp and Deadman are all being brought together. But will Xanadu’s manipulations blow up in her face when she learns that Enchantress has grown too powerful to be controlled?”

The Feast: The JLD team is coming together slowly but surely, one piece at a time. While Milligan could have easily jumped right into it, setting out the formation of the team will prove to be instrumental as the series continues. This issue should finally bring the team together under the guidance of Xanadu, and seeing Deadman speak with Constantine is something I’ve been waiting to see for a long time.

WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ILLUSTRATED BY: Sam Keith
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “Fright-master Steve Niles continues his all-new 30 DAYS OF NIGHT ongoing series, with warped genius Sam Kieth (creator of The Maxx) joining in the bloodletting! Our curious heroine is granted her greatest wish, but will it also be her last? Features an all-new cast of characters being introduced to the world of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT for the first time!”

The Feast: The series may be getting off to a slow start, but leave it to Steve Niles to bring this one to life. If you haven’t been reading this and you’re a fan of the original series, you’ll want to check it out.

WRITTEN BY: Kasra Ghanbari and Menton3
ILLUSTRATED BY: Menton3
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “Monocyte begins his death march towards the Olignostic city, fending off relentless attacks on his journey to destroy their immortality machinery. Meanwhile, a powerless Olignostic seizes on Monocyte’s appearance to acquire power. This issue features an incentive cover by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz, and side stories by Eisner Award-winner George Pratt and Chris Newman.”

The Feast: I jumped the gun on this one last week, probably because I was so excited. Anything with Menton3’s name on it is worth picking up for the artwork alone. Without any of the usual horror creatures (zombies and vamps) this book is genuinely frightening and displays the hopeless fate of mankind’s bleak future. This is going to kick horror fans right in the balls.

WRITTEN BY: Warren Ellis
ILLUSTRATED BY: Alex Maleev
PUBLISHER: Marvel
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “The Secret Avengers are all dead save for the Black Widow. The world’s greatest secret agent finds herself one year in the past, on the most secret mission of all: saving her team, and saving the world, without letting anyone see her… especially her team.”

The Feast: Anything with Ellis’ name on it doesn’t really need to be promoted. This is the best Avengers title available right now, and it’s not caught up in all the fray of the rest of the Marvel U. These little one and done issues are a great intro to the series and really display Ellis’ mastery of the medium.

WRITTEN BY: Geoff Johns
ILLUSTRATED BY: Ivan Reis
PUBLISHER: DC Comics
PRICE: $2.99

The Low Down: “There are parts of the ocean even Aquaman should not enter. Now Aquaman and Mera must descend into uncharted territory: the smoky black crevice at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, home of the cannibalistic creatures known only as the Trench. One last secret behind these loathsome creatures will be revealed as “The Trench” thunders toward its bloodcurdling conclusion!”

The Feast: What dwells deep down in the ocean has become a fear of humanity ever since Lovecraft introduced the Cthulhu mythos to the literary world. While Johns does not seem to be directly influenced by Loveraft’s work, he is venturing into the realm of the horrors that lie in the unknown deep. As the concluding issue of the first Aquaman arc, this isn’t a book anyone should miss.

WRITTEN BY: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti
ILLUSTRATED BY: Moritat
PUBLISHER: DC Comics
PRICE: $3.99

The Low Down: “The trail of a missing child from a wealthy family leads Jonah Hex and Amadeus Arkham into the watery catacombs of Gotham City’s still-under-construction sewer system — but will they survive the many dangers that lurk in those twisty depths? Also: introducing the Barbary Ghost, a fireworks wielding mistress of vengeance, stalking San Francisco’s criminal underworld.”

The Feast: All Star Western has been riveting week after week combining great story, gritty action, and wonderful characters. I fear that this book will go largely unnoticed by the masses, which would be a damn shame. Don’t let the word “western” turn you off, this book is far beyond any single genre.