Not Another Genre

HARDCOVER

1 BATMAN & ROBIN, VOL. 3, by Grant Morrison and others. (DC Comics, $24.99.) The Joker is back and, having murdered a Robin in the past, he is not against harming the new one.

2 BLACKEST NIGHT, by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. (DC Comics, $29.99.) This collected edition of the event mini-series features some surprising deaths and even more surprising rebirths. Green Lantern and the recently resurrected Flash are at the forefront.

3 THE INFLUENCING MACHINE: BROOKE GLADSTONE ON THE MEDIA, by Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld. (Norton & Co., $23.99.) Ms. Gladstone, an NPR personality, and her musings on the media are transformed into a graphic novel by Mr. Neufeld.

4 AMERICAN VAMPIRE, VOL. 2, by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquereque. (DC Comics, $24.99.) This series, about a new species of vampire that does not have the traditional weakness, shifts to Las Vegas in the 1930’s and a number of corpses that have turned up drained of blood.

5 BRIGHTEST DAY, VOL. 2, by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi. (DC Comics, $29.99.) The mystery of 12 resurrected heroes and villains deepens. In this installment: meet the new Aqualad!

6 BRIGHTEST DAY, VOL. 1, by Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi. (DC Comics, $29.99.) The mysterious return of 12 previously deceased heroes and villains is explored in this hardcover collecting the first eight installments of this 26-issue bi-weekly series.

7 BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, by Grant Morrison and various. (DC Comics, $29.99.) The caped crusader, lost in times past, makes his return to Gotham City.

8 SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis. (DC Comics, $19.99.) This original graphic novel, the first in a planned series, offers a different take on Clark Kent’s earliest days as Superman.

9 THE WALKING DEAD, BOOK 1, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. (Image Comics, $29.99.) This hardcover collection features the first 12 issues of the gripping series about the last human survivors in a world overrun by zombies.

10 GREEN LANTERN CORPS: REVOLT OF THE ALPHA LANTERNS, by Tony Bedard and others. (DC Comics, $22.99.) Find out what happens when the Alpha Lanterns, the elite of the Green Lantern Corps, turn against their own.

PAPERBACK

1 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON EIGHT, VOL. 8, by Joss Whedon, Georges Jeanty and others. (Dark Horse Comics, $16.99.) Buffy, Spike and Angel reunite in the season finale of this series. Will an onslaught of demons ruin the occasion? Maybe, but Season 9 will still begin in September.

2 SCOTT PILGRIM: PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) Meet Scott Pilgrim, twentysomething slacker, member of the band Sex Bob-Omb and would-be suitor of Ramona Flowers.

3 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) Scott Pilgrim faces off against the second of Ramona’s evil ex-boyfriends. What will Knives Chau think? Aren’t THEY dating?

4 THE WALKING DEAD, VOL. 1, by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. (Image Comics, $14.99.) The gripping story of the human survivors in a world overrun by zombies begins.

5 FABLES, VOL. 15, by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham. (DC Comics, $17.99.) The characters from folklore and fairy tales prepare for battle against the nefarious Mister Dark. Will Rose Red, the sister of Snow White, finally shake her malaise and assist?

6 GREEN LANTERN: SECRET ORIGIN, by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. (DC Comics, $14.99.) Learn how Hal Jordan, test pilot, became Green Lantern, high-flying hero, just in time for the summer action film starring Ryan Reynolds.

7 THE WALKING DEAD, VOL. 2, byRobert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. (Image Comics, $14.99.) The gripping story of the human survivors in a world overrun by zombies continues.

8 SCOTT PILGRIM: GETS IT TOGETHER, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) In this fourth volume of the series, Scott gets a job (Best. Dishwasher. Ever) and battles Roxie the ninja, another of Ramona’s evil exes.

9 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE UNIVERSE, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) Can Ramona’s twin ex-boyfriends be defeated? Sounds like a job for Scott Pilgrim.

10 SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.99.) Will Scott survive his final challenge? Can he defeat Gideon Graves, the last of Ramona’s evil exes?