End of the month on August 31 and still feeling a little whacked out and walking on corked muscles after the massive sale weekend celebrating the reopening. Something like a flurry, but not of the McDonald's kind where they throw in Crunchies and M&Ms.

Now, if the first issue was anything to go by, then Boys #2 should be up there with the brutal and roughness. Superheroes get no free run here and the scenes are just hog wild. Cork damn it's a fun read.

On another tangent and another stream is Kabuki #7. Where, if it does hit the shelf, continues on the weird trip through building a new life and telling that story in a variety of paints. Most of which aren't paint.

Another comic that would be only ever on the shelves rarely and less some is Doc Frankenstein #5. Can't remember a lick of the trick, but the pencils are Steve Skroce, and anything this guy does, bang it on the counter and wrap it up!

 

And here the madness starts for another year. Hopefully this shipment expected for January 5 will hit when it's expected. Not like the last two batches from last year. Crazy times weeding through two week's worth of comics and merchandise without more than a day to breathe.

Forget that though, it's time for some cracking Doc Frankenstein #4. The Wachowskis were a little delayed what with their V For Vendetta adaptation, but hey, a great comic's a great comic, and with the delay, it means the burning of money isn't as frequent.

Then there's The Exterminators #1. From the solicit, following the lives of pest hitmen seems intriguing, and almost interesting enough for a buy.

Astonishing X-Men Saga #1 looks like there wasn't a reason to buy the first twelve issues on Whedon and Cassaday's run. So then, what's the point?

On the edge, Marlene #1. Why in the hell did they all happen to look like number ones outside the freak with the bolts in his neck and stitches in his scalp?

 

Just off the top of the head...

Amazing Spider-Man #518-522
Astonishing X-Men #11
Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #8-9
Battle Pope #1
Captain Gravity and the Power of the Vril #4-5
Doc Frankenstein #2-3
Emo Boy #2
Ex Machina #10-12
Freshmen #1
Futurama #20
Kabuki: The Alchemy #2-4
Kabuki: Reflections: Book 5
Nat Turner #1
PVP #0
Shaolin Cowboy #2-3
Small Gods special
Radioactive Man
Ultimate Spider-Man #76-81
Ultimate Spider-Man Annual

All awaiting time to be read. The longer the wait, the more it feels like a chore. Unbelievable.

 

For those around Sydney CBD, Manly, Bondi and the Inner West, the newest LAST issue is out. Check on page 18 and you'll sort yourself out for the pick of the crop harvested across the spectrum of 2004. Ten comics all up, but if you're really counting, just over half are still around.

She-Hulk, Mitchell Hundred, Bone and Cerebus make the list. There's also Plastic Man and Conan. A tough call to make, their values judging themselves. Blew the brains out trying to make this one, the task far harder than first considered. Wow, the work involved. It pains.

Sydney based writer, Jason Rand is there for the Australian connection -- there's that Small Gods comic from Image Comics he's got under his pen.

Rest of the magazine is into that Valentine skin. Check it out. It's free, though you might not believe that entirely. You have six days left.

(This week's picks for February 10 are already holding space on the standing order. Doc Frankenstein and Captain America and the Falcon aren't that similar. But they sure do pack in some fun and intriguing schematics.)