MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS FOR OCTOBER 2007

A monthly look at the solicits for DC/Marvel/Dark Horse/Indies. Today, DC:

THE VINYL UNDERGROUND #1
Written by Si Spencer
Art by Simon Gane & Cameron Stewart
Cover by Sean Phillips

Noted British television writer Si Spencer (Eastenders, Torchwood, Bad Girls) presents a sharp, unforgettable cadence in THE VINYL UNDERGROUND, a 21st century cross between THE INVISIBLES and CSI that brings rich social and political context to the dark, glittering cesspool that is London. Spencer is joined by indie creator/penciller Simon Gane (Paris, Punk Strips) and Eisner-nominated artist Cameron Stewart (the Other Side, SeaGuy) with bold, captivating covers by by Sean Phillips (The Invisibles, Criminal).
In this fast-paced, ultra-cool ongoing crime-noir series, an unlikely quartet of occult detectives secretly solve crimes — from DJ crack bars in Camden to the elegant, high-society ballrooms that make up modern London. The Vinyl Underground is led by Morrison Shepherd, a D-list celebrity darling, soul DJ, and son of an ex-footballer. Fresh out of prison and off a nasty coke habit, Morrison is joined by a fellow ex-con named Perv, whose seizures give him clues to crimes long before the cops, and Leah, a gorgeous morgue assistant who leads a double life online and represents the brawn of the team.
Morrison's ex-flame Abi is reluctantly forced to join the team when her father is implicated for murder. A young boy's head (with diamonds in the eye sockets) washes up on the edge of the Thames and seems to be connected to a series of ritual killings, a drug called Khat, and Muti magic. Can they get to the bottom of it?
On sale October 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS

I love Cameron Stewart's art, am a huge sucker for Sean Philips covers (thought he had the best Hellblazer covers since Glenn Fabry) and I have heard nothing but good things about Si Spencer's writing. Count me in.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1 TP
Written by John Ostrander, Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and others Art by Howard Chaykin, Karl Kesel, Luke McDonnell and others

From the 1980s comes this hard-hitting volume collecting the popular series in which captured super-villains got the chance to leave prison behind…for a price. Included are storied from Suicide Squad #1-18, Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special #1, SECRET ORIGINS #14 and Justice League International #13.
Advance-solicited; on sale November 14 • 528 pg, B&W, $16.99 US

Even though I have most of these issues, this is still a must-own, especially in the great Showcase format.

BATMAN #670
Written by Grant Morrison
Art and cover by Tony Daniel

The next chapter of Batman’s life starts here! The shadow of Batman’s archfoe Ra’s al Ghul still looms large over the head of the Dark Knight. Is Ra’s al Ghul destined to live again? Batman begins his quest for the truth in this special prelude to “The Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul,” guest-starring Talia al Ghul, Damian, the Sensei and I-Ching!
On sale October 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

While Batman's delays and lack of consistent Andy Kubert art have been a major dissappointment, each issue that comes out penned by Grant Morrison has been better than the last and some of the best Batman stories since the classic O'Neil/Adams run (and besides DKR and Year One). Plus, the return of my favorite villain, this is easily my most anticipated book of October and probably the year.

DC INFINITE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1
WRITTEN and illustrated by various Cover by Gene Ha

Don’t miss this collection of 13 stories of tricks and treats by some of comics’ top creators, including writers Steve Niles, Mark Waid, Steve Seagal, Dan DiDio, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Peter Johnson (TV’s Supernatural), David Arquette (Scream), Cliff Dorfman (Entourage) and many more with art by Ian Churchill, Dean Ormston, Dustin Nguyen , Bernard Chang and others! The inmates of Arkham horrify each other with terrifying tales involving Superman and zombies, Batman and vampires, Robin and werewolves, Aquaman and witches, Flash and the dead, and more! Plus, the return of Resurrection Man!
On sale October 31 • 80 pg, FC, $5.99 US

Love Halloween stories. Really liked Abnett and Lanning's Resurrection Man series. So nothing but good here.