Welcome to The Forecast. Every Monday, Ninth Art's core team of comment writers, the Ninth Eight, will be your guides to the best, worst, weirdest and most noteworthy books on the shelves of your local comic shop.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: THE EXPATRIATE

B Clay Moore, like former Image boy Brian Michael Bendis, also uses his middle name to make him sound classier. However, luckily for him he also has the requisite class to back up this naming policy. Having pumped out some quality mini-series for the more-exciting-every-day imprint, such as HAWAIIAN DICK (not a cocktail, but a mystery series set in Hawaii) and BATTLE HYMN (unfortunately superheroic, but a great name nonetheless), Moore is now trying his hand at an ongoing series. Joined by Jason Latour, he's launching THE EXPATRIATE this week, and I can't wait.

Described as Robert Ludlum-esque (BOURNE IDENTITY), the series focuses on Jack Dexter, a man on the run from his homeland and it's law enforcement agencies. Hounded non-stop by two vicious CIA agents, Dexter knows he can't be caught whatever the cost, but he doesn't know why.

Moore has been suitably cagey in interviews, unwilling to lay all his cards on the table - an admirable if possibly dangerous plan. He promises crazy plot twists and the most unbelievable developments in a balls-out all-or-nothing ongoing rush.

His artistic collaborator, Latour, has a wonderful gritty painted ink style that reminds me of Kano's work on HERO or Michael Lark on GOTHAM CENTRAL, but with a flair of his own and bags of energy. Seeing as Moore's scripts are going to call on him to draw some off- the-wall action - like the extravagant violence that kicks off #1 - he should be a perfect fit. In the continuing tradition of "at least comics get something right", there are some gorgeous covers to look forward to as well. The promise of ongoing spy high-jinks to replace SLEEPER is one I can't pass up. [John Fellows]

HIDEBOUND

The great thing about the youth-oriented Marvel Next line is watching it try to branch out beyond Marvel's traditional "oh, I may have superpowers, but I just can't get a prom date!" attempts at girl-oriented storylines. For example, this week we have SPELLBINDERS, which is, "oh, I may have magic powers, but I just can't get a prom date!". See? Innovation!

The thing is, I really want this title to succeed. I want more girls to read comics, and I'm pleased to see books like this being published, but in some ways it seems futile. They're still hammering away at a format that young female readers have overwhelmingly rejected in favour of manga.

Yes, yes, I know the six-issue mini will be collected into a digest. But these are racked with the Marvel digests, with that same indistinguishable black Marvel spine as the WOLVERINE trades, and sold far away from the shoujo manga in every chain bookstore I've been in. The only thing that could really get a lot of girls to read SPELLBINDERS #1, in this format, is to cover-mount it on an issue of YM or SEVENTEEN. Sadly, that'll happen when pigs fly.

The frustrating thing is, I bet it's going to be a great series. If it was anyone but Mike Carey writing it, I'd have serious doubts - after all, 'girl goes to high school in Salem, Mass, finds out it's full of witches, high school drama ensues'? We're not really pushing the bounds of originality here. But Carey is hands down the best writer of dark fantasy in the comics market today, and he's strongest in a limited miniseries where he can't overcomplicate plots or lose sight of his main character. [Alex de Campi]

GUARDED OPTIMISM

Grant Morrison's second SEVEN SOLDIERS miniseries gets underway this week with the first issue of THE MANHATTAN GUARDIAN (DC).

GUARDIAN updates the classic Jack Kirby character, last seen in the Superman titles, replacing Jim Harper with Jake Jordan. Dismissed from the NYPD after accidentally shooting a child, Jordan gets a job as the eponymous mascot of The Manhattan Guardian newspaper, becoming a living embodiment of their motto: "We don't just report crime ... we fight crime!"

As the name suggests, GUARDIAN is set in Grant Morrison's reimagined New York City, but going by this interview, we won't be seeing much of the surface. Instead, it appears as if much of the action will be taking place underground, as Guardian cuts his superhero teeth against the terrifying Subway Pirates! These pirates, led by the alopecious No-Beard and the hirsute All-Beard, ride the trains and tunnels, shunning the world of the "light-lubbers", and searching for booty in the deep black.

Morrison is joined on GUARDIAN by the excellent Cameron Stewart. Last seen on Morrison's concussion-com SEAGUY, Stewart combines the rich character skills of Steve Dillon with the rambunctious energy of Steve Skroce. As is the trend, these days, Guardian's costume has been redesigned to have a sense of three-dimensionality and weight, resembling a cross between riot gear and lollipop-lady chic. One suspects that, of all the series in this cycle, MANHATTAN GUARDIAN will have the broadest appeal, enticing Morrison completists and neophobic DC fanboys alike. [Matthew Craig]

BRAAAAAAINS!

After WALKING DEAD, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, and hell, zombies even showing up in a GAMBIT miniseries, you may think there's not much original left to do with our lurching, decomposing friends. You would be incorrect.

Out this week from DC Humanoids is Stefano Raffaele's FRAGILE, the story of a dead man who meets the decomposing girl of his dreams. They have to evade the zombie hunters (some really terrifying creatures) and find an experimental serum to bring them both back to life before, well, before it all falls apart. I read most of it when it was serialised in METAL HURLANT and enjoyed it tremendously.

You may know Raffaele's name from his and Fabien Nicieza's HAWKEYE miniseries, but don't hold that against him. Raffaele has a fantastic style, with a European elegance but a slight American edge to it that keeps it from getting to the fussiness of a Boucq or a Moebius-on-BLUEBERRY. FRAGILE is a treat for horror and zombie fans alike. [Alex de Campi]

THE SHIPPING LIST FOR MARCH 23rd 2005:

Shipping details come courtesy of Diamond. Visit the Diamond website for the latest information, as the list is subject to change.

DARK HORSE

JAN050052D CONAN #14 $2.99
DEC040049V HELLSING VOL 6 TP $13.95
DEC040021D THE INCREDIBLES #4 (OF 4) $2.99

DC COMICS

JAN050348D AUTHORITY REVOLUTION #6 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99
JAN050265D BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #63 $2.50
JAN050369D BOOKS OF MAGICK LIFE DURING WARTIME #9 (MR) $2.50
JAN050329D CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #7 $2.25
JAN050345D FRAGILE TP (MR) $19.99
JAN050304D HAWKMAN #38 $2.50
JAN050370D HELLBLAZER #206 (MR) $2.75
JAN050307D JLA CLASSIFIED #5 $2.99
JAN050338D JUDGE DREDD DREDD VS DEATH TP $12.99
JAN050349D LEGEND #2 (OF 4) (MR) $5.99
JAN050279D NIGHTWING #106 $2.25
JAN050317D SEVEN SOLDIERS GUARDIAN #1 (OF 4) $2.99
JAN050357D SLEEPER SEASON TWO #10 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99
JAN050379D TRIGGER #4 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE

DEC041526D EXPATRIATE #1 $2.95
JAN051611D PIGTALE #2 $2.95
JAN051635D SPAWN #144 (RES) $2.50
NOV041599D TOMB RAIDER SGN #50 $19.99

MARVEL

JAN051816D AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #518 $2.25
JAN051815D ARANA HEART OF THE SPIDER #3 $2.99
JAN051825D DAREDEVIL #71 $2.99
JAN051863D EXCALIBUR #11 $2.99
JAN051834D LIVEWIRES #2 (OF 6) $2.99
JAN051884D MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 1 HC VAR D $54.99
JAN051883D MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 1 NEW ED H $49.99
DEC041771D NEW AVENGERS #4 $2.25 SEP048063D NEW AVENGERS #4 CHEUNG VARIANT $2.25
JAN051842D NEW INVADERS #8 $2.99
JAN051859D NEW X-MEN #11 $2.99
JAN051807D OFFICIAL HANDBOOK MARVEL UNIVERSE X-MEN AGE APOCALYPSE 2005 $3.99
JAN051858D ROGUE #9 $2.99
JAN051836D RUNAWAYS #2 (OF 12) $2.99
JAN051799D SPELLBINDERS #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JAN051820D SPIDER MAN HUMAN TORCH #3 (OF 5) $2.99
JAN051875D ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 12 SUPERSTARS TP $12.99
JUL042042D ULTIMATE X-MEN VOL 9 THE TEMPEST TP $10.99
JAN051877D WOLVERINE CLASSIC VOL 1 TP $12.99
JAN051854D WOLVERINE SOULTAKER #2 (OF 5) $2.99
JAN051861D X-MEN #168 $2.25
JAN051805D X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE #4 (OF 6) $2.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

JAN053104E ANGEL SANCTUARY VOL 7 GN $9.99
JAN052477E ARCHIE & FRIENDS #90 $2.19
JAN052478E ARCHIE DIGEST #215 $2.39
JAN053109E BANANA FISH VOL 7 2ND ED TP $9.95
JAN053114E BASARA VOL 11 TP $9.99
JAN053080E BASTARD VOL 7 TP (MR) $9.99
JAN053081E BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER VOL 5 GN $9.95
JAN053115E BOYS OVER FLOWERS VOL 11 TP $9.99
JAN052707I DFE ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD RED FOIL CVR #2 $14.99
JAN052575F ELVIRA #143 $2.50
JAN052418E FILLER BUNNY #3 $2.95
JAN053116E FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 14 GN $9.95
JAN053117E FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 6 2ND ED TP $9.95
JAN052555E FUTURAMA SIMPSONS CROSSOVER CRISIS PART 2 #2 (OF 2) $2.99
JAN053085E INU YASHA VOL 21 TP $8.95
JAN052422E LITTLE SCROWLIE #9 $2.95
JAN053099E MAISON IKKOKU VOL 10 2ND ED TP $9.95
DEC042724F PHANTOM #5 $3.50
JAN053087E PROJECT ARMS VOL 8 TP $9.99
JAN052486E SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #147 $2.19
OCT042424E SOULFIRE #4 $2.99
DEC042335E SUGAR BUZZ VOL 1 YOUR TICKET TO HAPPINESS TP $12.95
JAN053092E TUXEDO GIN VOL 11 GN $9.99
SEP042591E UDON CANNON BUSTERS CVR A #1 $2.95
SEP042592E UDON CANNON BUSTERS CVR B #1 $2.95
JAN052785E UNCLE SCROOGE #340 $6.95
JAN053093E VIDEO GIRL AI VOL 11 TP $9.99
JAN053097E VIDEO GIRL AI VOL 7 2ND ED TP $9.99
JAN052786E WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #655 $6.95

The Ninth Eight are Matthew Craig, John Fellows, Kieron Gillen, Alistair Kennedy, Zack Smith, Andrew Wheeler, Ben Wooller and Bulent Yusuf.

This article is Ideological Freeware. The author grants permission for its reproduction and redistribution by private individuals on condition that the author and source of the article are clearly shown, no charge is made, and the whole article is reproduced intact, including this notice.