Comic book releases (North America): Dark Wolverine discovers superheroics aren't easy

US comic book releases for the week of October 21 include
Dark Wolverine #79, featuring Dakar (son of the Hollywood-familiar Wolverine) dealing with inner conflicts related to choosing life as a superhero over life as a super-villain.

MARVEL COMICS
Dark Wolverine #79
Price: $2.99
The unimaginable has happened: both Dark Wolverine and Norman Osborn's plans have backfired. Now the victim of his own manipulations (beat almost to death by a gang of second-rate villains), Dark Wolverine is forced to make an almost impossible admission: this "hero" thing is harder than it looks. But will digging himself out of the hole he's put himself in restore his pride, or ruin him forever?

Incredible Hulk #603
Price: $3.99
Smash meets slash as Banner and Skaar finally come fist-to-claw with Logan and Dark Wolverine. But will the battle royale come down to Wolverines vs. Hulks, or fathers vs. sons? Anything seems possible as the Marvel Universe's most insane father/son duos throw down. Plus, in the She-Hulk backup story, Lyra continues the search for She-Hulk alter-ego Jennifer Walters.

Mighty Avengers #30
Price: $2.99
While an epic battle with The Unspoken threatens the Earth, the team-up readers have been waiting for finally takes place: members of the Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Young Avengers, and the Avengers Initiative unite to fight a foe that no single hero could withstand. All that, plus a special appearance by the Dark Avengers.

Thor: Tales of Asgard #6
Price: $3.99
Never has Thor been more sensational than during his early 1960s tales, crafted by Marvel Comics' great writer/artist team, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Relive classic Norse mythology as well as stories of the Norse Gods and Thor before he came to Earth as Don Blake. Read these stories as never before with all-new, modern coloring and six extraordinary interlocking covers by current Thor artist Olivier Coipel. Thor: Tales of Asgard #6 collects the "Tales of Asgard" backup stories from Thor #137-145.

Wolverine: Origins #41
Price: $2.99
The events of the previous issues have made it clear to Wolverine, in excruciatingly painful detail, that it's time for a change in tactics. Romulus knows Wolverine too well; any plan that Wolverine could come up with, Romulus would anticipate. The solution? Use someone else's plan, a plan that requires the participation of several different and very unlikely characters plucked from all corners of the Marvel Universe. But some of these characters (The Hulk, for example) aren't exactly willing to participate.

DC COMICS
Azrael #1
Price: $2.99
Following the events of "The Eighth Deadly Sin" storyline from recent Batman and Detective Comics annuals, this new monthly series starring "Death's Dark Knight" begins. Michael Lane is a man in search of redemption... but does serving the Order of Purity as God's Angel of Justice bring him closer to achieving his goal, or just further down a road paved with good intentions? When a hired killer comes to Gotham City seeking revenge for crimes committed decades in the past, Azrael faces an impossible conflict: what if God's justice forces the hero to claim one of God's servants?

Batman: Unseen #2
Price: $2.99
Horrible and unexplained murders have Gotham City held captive. Bizarre deaths have been occurring throughout the city, but the perpetrator is unknown. Even when the crimes have been committed in view of witnesses, all that is seen is a glimpse of a weird, skinless "meat-man" who seems to fade away after the crimes. Gotham's only hope is their Dark Knight detective, but how can Batman find and fight an Invisible Man?

Justice League of America #38
Price: $2.99
A new era begins as a one-time member of the JLA falls before he can warn the team of looming peril, while what's left of the JLA journeys to the heart of their past to decide if the team has any future at all. That means it's the best time for a savage villain from the team's past to attack the demoralized heroes. The JLA will have to muster enough will to win not only today, but in the harrowing months to come.

Supergirl #46
Price: $2.99
It's the final showdown between Flamebird, Supergirl and the man who killed their father. And for the Daughters of Zor-El, that means it's payback time. Will Reactron make it out alive? Or is Nightwing the only one who can save them all?

Superman/Batman #65
Price: $2.99
What scares Batman and Superman? Even worse, what scares their greatest foes, The Joker and Lex Luthor? Horror comes alive in this very special Halloween tale from writer Peter Johnson (Supernatural) and artist Matt Cherniss (Sub-Mariner)!

Sites: Marvel.com, DCComics.com