In relaunching Birds of Prey, writers Julie Benson and Shawna Benson and artists Claire Roe and Roge Antonio have accomplished something rather elusive: honoring the characters’ past incarnations while moving them forward, all against the backdrop of whatever line-wide continuity changes have been enacted from on high.

Max Andersson’s The Excavation is a warped, dark, pseudo-nightmare unlike anything in recent memory. A man brings his girlfriend home to meet his family, only to find that his home is not where he remembers it.

The daughter of poor Southern sharecroppers, Zora Neale Hurston emerged as one of the preeminent African American writers and anthropologists of the early 20th Century.

Fans of fantasy adventure comics should rejoice as Andrew MacLean’s Head Lopper has returned. The story follows Norgal, the titular ‘lopper and his mouthy trophy-head, Agatha Blue Witch.

Any book with such a niche subject must be a true labor of love for its author. And while much of the graphic novel California Dreamin’ focuses on the pre-fame life of singer Cass Elliot, better known as Mama Cass of ‘60s pop hitmakers The Mamas & the Papas, the narrative’s breadth encompasses more than Elliott’s formative days may suggest.

Decelerate Blue is the new graphic novel from playwright/novelist Adam Rapp and animator Mike Cavallaro. The comic imagines a future sped up, where efficiency has replaced decency as society’s crowning virtue.

There is a lot to like in Greg Rucka’s return to pop culture’s most famous Amazon. Liam Sharp’s pencils are beautiful. Appropriately epic, even.

From Thomas Bulfinch to Edith Hamilton to the d’Aulaires, there have been many successful endeavors over the last century or so to bring ancient Greek mythology out from the stuffy realm of academia and into the layperson’s hands.

Drew Friedman brings us another nearly four-score illustrations of comic creators from the past, with bios to accompany them.