We're not going to go into every book this week (or any week from here on out), but rather just pick the top few from our pile. Let's face it, not all comics are good and even the ones that are good are sometimes crap on an issue-to-issue level. It can't all be gold.

Dark Horse

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #4 - Here we are at the end of the first story arc for Buffy Season 8, and it ended (like many many comics these days) with a bit of a whimper. I feel like they are building to something, but I'm a little afraid that what they are building to is X-Men. Buffy goes into a little feminism rant there at the end that comes out of nowhere, but it's still a good book. I'm not crazy about Georges Jeanty's art, but it doesn't bother me enough to take away from the enjoyment. There aren't any pages I want poster-sized, though. Whedon's writing is staying inside the feeling of the show while also branching out into a bigger world. That's what will keep me buying, at least for now.

DC

Batman: Detective Comics #833 - It's nice to read Batman comics that still have that police procedural feeling to them. Paul Dini's stand-alone DETECTIVE COMICS issues are well-written, solid Batman stories that steer clear of the world-ending "crises" that threaten the DC universe on a weekly basis. This issue has a "to be continued" at the end, and I'm not sure how many parts the story is in, but so far it's a good start. What begins as a fairly standard Batman murder case involving a magician and Zatanna turns into something much more sinister (read "better") at the end. I also like the nod to the events of IDENTITY CRISIS when Zatanna turned on Batman. That kind of thing should stain a relationship, and bitterness and hard feelings should come up from time to time.

Marvel

Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #5 - I've said this before and I'm going to keep saying it: I can't get enough of Clayton Crain's art. His work on the Ghost Rider mini-series from a few years ago was outstanding, but it was also very busy at times. It was difficult to see everything that was going on in a panel. The art in TRAIL OF TEARS is cleaner, but that may also have to do with there being fewer tentacles and exposed spines. The art's amazing, but Garth Ennis's story is a perfect mix of western characters and gothic horror elements. You don't have to be a Ghost Rider fan to enjoy this book, and it will probably help if you aren't. A rider is present, but doesn't appear much through the early portions of the story. He's mostly cloaks and shadows when seen, but there are rare occassions where he's all skull-and-flames. If you're not already buying this you might wait for a trade at this point (the next issue is the end). It's a great example of stunning art and fantastic storytelling outside the typical Marvel superhero world.

Also in the pull this week are:

DC
Countdown #47 - That's a fantastic cover.

Image
Spawn #168 - Spawn fights the Violator. I feel like it's 1992 all over again.

Marvel
Avengers Initiative #3 - Not all bad and with a Spider-Man cameo to boot.

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #5 - Someone tell Peter David that "Wizard and Glass" has been out for a long time. It's all rehash aside from the mythology at the end of the issue (that is written in prose).

Iron Man #18 - I guess he isn't "Invincible" anymore if the book is just called IRON MAN now. Give me more Mandarin and less whatever was happening this issue.

Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness #4 - Ash talks trash to Dr. Doom.

Omega Flight - Horse-faced Thor fights the Wrecking Crew. Interest...fading...