Ah, Labor Day Weekend; the weekend when the only labor we find ourselves participating in is the kind that involves laziness. However, just because there’s an extended weekend, it doesn’t mean that we can’t look forward to the week ahead! Sure, comics will be out on Thursday this week instead of Wednesday, but that just gives us an extra day of anticipation!

I can’t honestly say I was too excited about last week’s comics. Sure, I had some picks and I was looking forward to what the week had, but I found myself mildly disappointed. Super Girl didn’t seem to be all as exciting as I was hoping. Actually, to be fair, that particular comic was the only thing I read that I was really disappointed with (that and Matt Fraction’s Iron Man, but anyone who follows me on twitter knows that story already). Hindsight is 20-20 I suppose. Now that I think about it, last week wasn’t too bad after all, but it wasn’t the best. You know what that means, right? That this week can only be better — and boy, can it!

Here are my top picks for the week:

1. Blackest Night: Batman #2 - So, to be perfectly honest with you, Blackest Night: Superman #1 blew its Batman counterpart out of the water. However, I am absolutely loving the Blackest Night story so far, and this mini-series is no exception. Dick Grayson is just starting to settle into the cowl as the new Batman, and it can’t be very comforting to have someone steal your mentor’s skull. Meanwhile, I’m not so sure that our beloved Red Robin Tim Drake is going to have a very joyful reunion with his previously deceased parents. Is there anyone who can escape the Black Lanterns?

2. Dead Space: Extraction – I loved the original Dead Space video game that came out in 2008. As a fan of horror and survival video games, it was absolutely ace. In anticipation of the prequel game for the Wii, Dead Space: Extraction, I’m definitely looking forward to reading this comic of the same name. Nicole Brennan probably thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime when she was assigned as Senior Medical Officer to the USG Ishimura — but that was before the necromorph infection!

3. Ender’s Game: Command School #1 – It’s time to make a confession. I am a huge sci-fi geek, and I absolutely adore Orson Scott Card and his writing. I’m looking forward to seeing this series, as I’ve been especially pleased with the Ender’s Game-related comics Marvel has released thus far. Ender Wiggin has 40 soliders under his command in a series of war games geared toward preparing humanity for an alien invasion. Did I mention that Ender is only nine years old — and may be the only hope that humanity has for survival?

4. Ultimate Comics Avengers #2 – I’m not ashamed to admit that I love Mark Millar’s Ultimates. Ultimates volumes 1 & 2 were some of my favorite “Avengers”-related stories. While I wasn’t really a fan of what Jeph Loeb did, I am quite happy to see Mark Millar writing the Ultimates again. After his encounter with Red Skull, Captain America’s decided to take matters in his own hands. This doesn’t bode well for those who get in his way! Meanwhile, Tony Stark’s flippant behavior as of late has caused Nick Fury to call in the big guns in the form of Gregory Stark — Tony’s older, richer and smarter brother! Is this the Ultimate!Marvel version of Tiberius Stone? I guess only time will tell. Definitely looking forward to reading this!

5. Marvel Zombies Return: Iron Man – To be perfectly honest, I sort of feel like the return of Marvel Zombies is just Marvel’s way of riding the surprising success of DC’s current Blackest Night story. Marvel, Blackest Night is what Marvel Zombies should have been. It’s not too late to redeem yourself, however. Maybe you can prove yourself by letting Monster Island author David Wellington write an awesome zombie story featuring Iron Man. Zombies are attacking Stark Industries and it’s up to Tony Stark and Jim Rhodes to fight off the hordes of flesh-eating undead. I have high hopes for this, David Wellington. High hopes indeed.

BONUS! Complete Dracula #3 – This 40-page comic is, in a word, fantastic. An absolutely amazing adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with amazingly macabre artwork. Includes script pages, annotations, and samplings of Stoker’s original text!

Once again, it looks to be a fantastic week for comics! Whether you’re a fan of one of the big comic companies or something more off the beaten path, there’s a little bit of something for everyone. Can’t find something that’s your cup of tea? Well, that’s the beauty of comics: there’s always next week!

Here’s a list of some more great comics coming out this week:

Adventure Comics #2
Amazing Spider-Man #604
Angel Only Human #2
Booster Gold #24
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men Exodus
Dark Reign Young Avengers #4
Dark Reign: The List – Avengers
DMZ #45
Freddy Jason Ash Nightmare Warriors #3
Green Lantern Corps #40
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #6
House Of Mystery #17
Kick Ass #7
Locke & Key Welcome To Lovecraft Spec Ed #1
Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #15
Marvel Super Hero Squad #1
Muppet Robin Hood #4
Nomad Girl Without A World #1
Punisher Frank Castle Max #74
Red Robin #4
Secret Six #13