Understanding Comics' McCloud spent the first six years of his career on this lesser-known Astro Boy-inspired comic. This mammoth volume collects issues 11-36, along with lots of commentary from McCloud. The series stars Zot, a teenager from an alternate Earth where rocket-powered boots and laser guns are commonplace, and Jenny, a girl from our Earth who just wants to escape her humdrum high school existence. The zippy, pulpy stories feature Zot facing off against a multitude of villains, from robots run amok to thwarted, steampunk-style inventors. Looking through the comics peers through a window at the development of a comic writer's talents; as the art morphs slowly into McCloud's recognizable style, the stories take on more sophisticated subject matter-one later issue features Zot and Jenny discussing sex, like a scene from a soapy teen drama. McCloud's love of classic superhero comics is clear, even as he consciously contrasts it with the problems of the real world. The collection only suffers from the absence of the first 10 issues, leaving new readers confused at some unexplained plot twists, but it is sure to be a treasure trove for McCloud fans or lovers of intelligent retro comics action. (July)

This year's Comic-Con International was another impressive showing. Sold out a week before its opening with huge crowds of fans and a seemingly endless number of comics and Hollywood celebrities, Comic-Con has entered a golden age and the show attracts more mainstream media coverage than ever before. It often seems as though the biggest problem facing the show is its own dizzying success. After the show PWCW talked to Comic-Con director of marketing and public relations David Glanzer about some of the challenges the show faces.

• Me and the Devil Blues Vol. 1: The Unreal Life of Robert Johnson (Del Rey Manga)
• Popgun Vol. 2 (Image)
• Captain Marvel: Secret Invasion (Marvel)
• Batman: Going Sane (DC)
• Aoi House Omnibus (Seven Seas Entertainment)
• Jade of Bango Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
• Sola Vol. 1 (Broccoli International)
• Tokyo Zombie (Last Gasp)
• Hotel Africa Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
• Babysitter (Amaze Ink/ Slave Labor)
• Knights Vol. 1 (Digital Manga Publishing)

• SDCC08:
• Broccoli Books
  
• Yaoi Works for DMP
• Big Ambitions at Netcomics
• Spore
• ClickWheel
• Uclick
• The Black Panel
• B.E.T. Animation
• Rutu Modan
• Marvel
• Barbara Vey at Comic-Con