The series, which launched April 2nd, revolves around a race of classic Marvel characters originally created by legendary creators Stan Lee and the late Jack Kirby: Skrulls, alien shapeshifters who have infiltrated the ranks of the Marvel superheroes and paved the way for an invasion of Earth. The first issue was released simultaneously with a trade paperback called Secret Invasion: The Infiltration, which reprinted the various stories leading up to the event.

Crossover events—epic storylines that involve virtually every series across a comics publisher’s universe of characters and titles—have become tremendously important in generating both media interest and sales for both Marvel and DC Comics, the Big Two of American comics publishing. Like its previous crossover event, Civil War, which earned considerable mainstream press in 2006, Marvel hopes that pitching the niche to media outlets like Entertainment Weekly, which previewed the first ten pages of the series online, will catch the attention of consumers outside mainstream superhero comics circles.

A native Quebecois artist, Rabagliati has chronicled a thinly veiled version of his artistic and interior life in his previous three books, and the present volume finds his stand-in, Paul, entering into adult responsibilities with his fiancé, Lucie, and thoughts of a child on the way. On a long summer break, Paul remembers his childhood vacations and his own upbringing and early love affair with Lucie. Meanwhile, Lucie has a very difficult time sustaining pregnancies. All of this is told in a matter-of-fact, somewhat flat manner. Rabagliati is an everyman chronicler in that way—telling the facts of a story with no artificial drama or hysterics. Unfortunately, this makes for a somewhat dull read. This slightly boring telling is redeemed by Rabagliati's wonderful skill with a pen. His cartooning is steeped in the clean-line style of Hergé and other Europeans, and he cleverly delineates characters and their environs in this simple, elegant and reductive style. It's a pleasure to look at, even with somewhat limited returns. Paul Goes Fishing is a fine graphic novel—not great, not bad, but firmly in the middle, with a sharp sense of craft and a warm heart guiding it. (Mar.)

Matthew Loux, the writer-artist of 2006's Sidescrollers, a video game-themed romp that was named one of the "10 Best Graphic Novels for Teens," returns to the scene with Salt Water Taffy, an all-ages series from Oni Press about two young brothers battling lobsters in Maine. The young cartoonist, who is currently at work on the second volume of Salt Water Taffy, talked with PW Comics Week about the new book.

• People's History of American Empire (MacMillian)
• Fallen Son: Death of Captain America (Marvel)
• Three Shadows (First Second)
• Aqua Leung Vol.1 (Image)
• Batman: Lovers and Madmen (DC)
• Kaput and Zosky (First Second)
• Yumekui Kenbun Nightmare Inspector Vol. 1 (Viz Media)
• Gosick Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
• Princess Resurrection Vol. 3 (Del Ray Manga)
• Dragon Sister Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
• Whatever (Alternative Comics)
• Tag Cursed (BOOM! Entertainment)
• Chickenhare Vol. 2: Fire in the Hole (Dark Horse)
• CVO: African Blood (IDW Publishing)

• Movie Previews at NYCC
  
• Toon Books Second Printing
  
• Bristol Comic Expo
  
• Desert Peach Online
  
• Jules Feiffer at the Strand
  
• Karasik and Newgarden Sign
  
• TwoMorrows' Podcasts
  
• New A.D. Chapters
  
• March Zuda Winner