The Colonel's Picks For January 23rd, 2013

What's poppin' its way to the top of the Colonel's pile this week? Goodies from the Big Two and the Smaller Two! These four-color flights of fancy are available at a comic book retailer near you. You can also purchase these for your iPad or other mobile device, if you're some kind of nancy.

-Young Avengers #1 (Marvel)

Journey Into Mystery by Kieron Gillen was once one of Marvel's best monthly offerings. The story of Young Loki continues in this series as he recruits a team of young heroes to combat evil and such. the new Miss America from Joe Casey's Vengeance series will have a starring role as well. Young Avengers is brought to you by Gillen, with art by the vastly underrated Jamie McKelvie. Don't count on getting the Bryan Lee O'Malley variant cover though, that thing is ebay-bound.

-The Answer #1 (Dark Horse)

Mike Norton alert! The creator of Battlepug teams with current Marvel rising star Dennis Hopeless to bring us the Answer, a masked crime fighter who adorns his face with punctuation. To be honest, this old Colonel doesn't know much else, but the cover did tickle my comic book fancy.

-Justice League #16 (DC)

The Throne of Atlantis storyline crossover thing continues! Aquaman is pitted against his teammates in the Justice League while Atlantis and America stand on the brink of war. DC's strongest collaborative duo Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis promise to get you wet. The Shazam! back-up feature has been starting to pick up steam as well, so the $3.99 cover price is earned with this package.

-FF #3 (Marvel)

This series has been a real delight so far and the high point in the Marvel Now relaunch so far. I consider it a true Marvel Pop Art Production in the Lee/Kirby tradition. The pace has been a little slow thus far, but with Marvel's first family finally out in space this title can get on with its own shananigans. Matt Fraction writes the words and Mike Allred draws the pictures. Also, She-Hulk happens.

-It Girl & The Atomics #6 (Image)

Speaking of Allred, a new issue of It Girl & The Atomics hits today. If you're unfamiliar, these characters originally appeared in Allred's Madman Comics series. Jamie S. Rich, Chynna Clugston Flores, and Laura Allred bring us a solo Mr. Gum story. Fans of Blue Monday should note the change in art duties this issue.

And those are the picks of the litter this week, dear reader. Come back next week and I'll have a Paula Deen update. My agents are this close to uncovering her subterranean lair.

Cheers.