Astonishing X-Men #9 is the only recommendation from this week's list coming into the store on March 31. This despite the fact that there's at least three issues between what's on the stands and what's been read from the collection at home. But it's still a solid take on the X-Men. Even if it is looking to take its time coming out.

On the other hand, there is also MK Spider-Man #12. The perfect jumping-off point for those who fell into the trap of reading this series. Not to say that it was all bad, gritty and like a mouthful of gravel it was. Thing is, was it really even the Spider-Man that Spider-Man is? Or were any of the characters really acting rationally and in character? For the fans of Reggie "Kiss my butt Wakanda" Hudlin, #13 is where the line starts.

On the cheap-enough-for-a-look range is that DC Countdown to Infinite Crisis 80 page whopper. The start of another one of the company-wide earthquaking events. It's like the timing was planned just around the Indonesians. Class act.

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When you've stuck yourself into a warp hole of time and space, you can't find the other end without first losing the middle. Make this promise to yourself often enough and the realities of failure will make their commitment ever lasting. These are the picks for comics expected to hit the store on March 24.

Amazing Spider-Man #518 falls back further and further as the last read issue vanishes close into that void of a six month period. This can only mean one thing about the filing system, it needs to exist. That, or just can the book outright and read what's left of the Spider-Man issues before reconsidering picking it back up again. Which might be a good deal healthier a prospect overall.

Can't quite remember asking for Ed The Happy Clown #1 to make an appearance in the box. We'll see what it's like when it takes a leap frog in the reading queue over the other comics. And that seems to happen quite a lot. If anything, it could only serve as a taste test for that trade expected further in the year.

If Shaolin Cowboy #2 is a reorder, what happened in the second issue anyway? Got to check to see if this one's already been bought. Pretty expensive for a double shot.

Futurama Simpsons Crossover Crisis Part 2 #2 will most definitely be the first read of this week's pile. Gots to see how this one is wrapped up from the cliffhanger of the first part.

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Another Thursday falls this month, and for March 17, these are the goods getting picked on:

Clearly there must be something wrong when starting a mini-series on its second issue. Unless of course that reason is due to having missed out on even remembering that the first issue was even released. And so it will be on reading Lions, Tigers and Bears #2, a four issue mini-series from Image about a kid and his toys. Calvin and Hobbes comes to mind, as does a really hard edged sword for no particular reason.

Hark! Another from the Mike S. Miller churn school, Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker #1 hits this week with hints of Fables all around it. Still, with the cover image looking a little strange, it's a pick on the basis that its only one issue of a four-parter that isn't tied down in some heavy continuity.

Not saying that Ultimate Spider-Man #74 is, but sometimes you want to test the waters out there. Along with teen Parker is Ex Machina #9 and a vague recollection that perhaps a tax write-off could be in order for a few of these issues. If only there was a receipt. Alas.

Fear not a rambling end, Freedom Force #3 should continue the rollicking fast-paced action of this limited series from Image/Irrational Games. And boy, what a pace, where's the room to breathe? This comic is nuts with all out action and a shaky plot that bounces too fast for it to even keep up. Really moved the video game in with a synch.

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Near to the point of toppling over, the last haul of comics should see hardly any reason to pick something new up. But, as always, there is ever the glint lining the new shipping crying out for some eyeball lovin' on March 10.

Crack heads, self-mutilation and killing sprees get a mention in the Armor X #1 write up on the Across the Pond site. Sounds intriguing enough. Not overtly crash hot on reading another "guy in a suit" comic, but if the rest holds, it could be a goer.

Spider-Girl #84 sees May Day in a fight against Venom. Might pick it up. It's an easy series to just jump in on every now and then. Short stories done mostly within a comic while still holding a few threads for issues later on. Previous tests were good, so it's hopeful.

A god killing gods sounds like the premise for Atomika #1 out of Speakeasy Comics. The cover image is nothing if not rippling with muscles. Most likely a tentative pick.

Having read the first two Stan Lee's Riftworld novels, Stan Lee's Alexa is remarkably similarly intoned. Real life superheroes with comics under license and the celebrity of it all. Sounds a bit like listening to Vince McMahon deliver the intros on that History of Wrestlemania DVD.

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Sunday is supposedly the quietest day of the week in the store. That and Monday. But since Monday is when the doors are closed, Sunday takes the roost by default. Given this stated notion, there certainly were a lot of people in the store yesterday. Just about ten minutes after the doors open and the place is seeing a churn rate of at least two people who are not regulars float around the store. This low buzz of movement and people goes on for over 90 minutes and probably close to two hours -- can't remember exactly, memories wash away every day.

Pulling out the standing order, the initial stack for the week hits eight titles -- A Bag of Anteaters #1, Amazing Spider-Man #517, Astonishing X-Men #8, Bride of the Freakshow, Captain America and The Falcon #13, Captain Gravity and the Power of the Vril #3, Tomb Raider #50, Ultimate Spider-Man #73 -- add to that Freedom Force #2, Futurama #1 and Trigger #3 off the shelves and it's a damaging blow of eleven in one go. This is what happens when the box isn't cleared every week for a couple of weeks. Others have it worse.

Running a cursory sum of the total haul, watching as the numbers get ever closer to and over $50, the summing up pauses on the sight of Spider-Man: India #4 in the mix.

Delvac, who was in the store taking a few photos of some items, cracks up laughing at the register. Stepping out for less than five seconds, picking up those three extra comics and in that time he manages to slip in a copy of India... what happened?

Even though there were more people than expected for a Sunday morning, it wasn't enough to cause that much of distraction.

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Quite a sight to see in the window of the shop. A blow up Spider-Man doll the likes of which have only ever been seen hanging from the ceiling.

For a long time, kids -- or more to the fact, their parents -- would come in and ask about buying the one that dangles from above. No can do, the only one there and it's not for sale. They stopped making them. They did. Then.

Now some company (can't remember the name right now) is putting them out. Hulk, Spidey and Batman get the blow up treatment. Big and small.

The pose in which both the Hulk and Spidey fronts is a little weird. There in a squat position with a posture not unlike that of a sumo wrestler. Think David Barlow of the Sydney Kings and his little logo photo for Barlow's World.

So what's the deal?

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