If you're looking for fun, light-hearted adventure, I'd go 'Metamorpho'...it walks that ultra-thin line between action and satire, and it walks it wonderfully. The group dynamic is insane, the characters are all great, the stories are a blast...really great stuff in a sort of 'Austin Powers' superhero vein.

For something a little more character-driven and less satirical, you can't go wrong with 'Elongated Man'. Ralph and Sue are such a great team, there's tons of chemistry, and the mysteries are great (although not fair-play mysteries, just to warn you.) Probably the best superhero stuff in the Showcase line.

If you wanna go dark, I'll recommend what a lot of other people did, Jonah Hex. Twisted, grim, but oh-so-very-cool Western.

I could actually recommend a whole lot more of these (the whole House of Mystery set, the Unknown Soldier, all three Superman volumes and the Superman Family book, the first five X-Men volumes, Iron Fist, Power Man, all four volumes of Tomb of Dracula)...but I'm guessing you don't want to buy a whole library on your birthday.

However, I think you should get ASB&R this week... it's so rare that it comes out and it's such a joy when it does.

Why do I love ASB&R? Because it's absolutely the worst comic ever produced, and it's so much fun to read MST3K-style. If you are able to take it lightly and enjoy it's pure shittiness, it's the funniest comic you'll read this month.

Whenever it comes out, I can't turn away. It's like Roger Corman or Ed Wood got ahold of the DC Universe.

For the Essential/Showcase, I would say the Essential Iron Fist book (classic martial arts action with lots of great Claremont/Byrne vintage material) or the Showcase Jonah Hex (THE very best western comic series created on the US).

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

Periodicals:
Try MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS or X-MEN FIRST CLASS. Jeff Parker's writing always brings a smile to my face. After Mark Waid's strictures, dare I say that these comics tend to be a lot of fun?

Showcase:
Either one of the HOUSE OF MYSTERY volumes for the Toth/Adams/Wrightson etc art, or TEEN TITANS for Bob Haney's off-the-wall take on 1960s pop culture. Nick Cardy's art can be sumptuous too, when he makes the effort (as on "Swingin' Christmas Carol").

Other big B/W reprints of vintage comics:
THE COMPLETE NEMESIS THE WARLOCK, Vol 1, Pat Mills' mad satire on religious and racial bigotry from 2000AD, with probably the most striking art Kevin O'Neill has ever produced (and some good stuff from Bryan Talbot too).

Happy Birthday.

Essential Tomb of Dracula & Howard the Duck collect 2 of the best comics series ever published, both drawn by Gene Colan at his peak. Check them out.

Ummm.... Jonah Hex. Trust me. Jonah Hex.

(I'm probably buying either Marvel Horror or the War that Time Forgot this week, since it's a super light week for me.)

For your birthday, I vote showcase and from one ofthe following:

Elongated Man - so far the only one I read without puttung down for a break
Flash (coming out this week)
Hawkman
Phantom Stranger
Challengers of the Unknown
Metamorpho
Legion of Superheroes
Brave and Bold
Justice League of America
Agauman
Green Lantern
Superman Family

Aside from that, I'm picking up Moon Knight, Batman, ASB&R and Death Jr. this week. I anticipate I'll probably end up enjoying MK and ASB&R the most. I don't know if you buy into ASB&R, and it's hard to recommend Death Jr. when it's the final issue of a 3 issue miniseries, so I'll stick with SSB for my recommendation.

Hero Squared!!! Funny! I love me some funnies!

Justice League of America #9 - I actually enjoyed the JSA portion of this arc. However, I wouldn't recommend picking this up if you didn't read the last issues of either title.

Mighty Avengers #3 - The title has actually been OKAY. Even if you haven't read either of the first two issues, I'd still recommend picking this title up.

Ultimate Spidey truly is the best Spider title in print. What does that say for the quality of Marvel editorial? Nothing good. However, it's still a consistently good title. Very much what a Spider title should be.

After the Cape #3? Really? You must not have read the first two issues then, because it's truly AWFUL.

I support your war on Millar.

Also, I do not recommend ice cream cake. never have. Never will.

That's how I know you're wrong. Eternally.

And the cover is a homage to Avengers #4 by Arthur Adams.

As for your birthday present? Metamorpho, man. Metamorpho.