Bane of Kings runs down the top 20 comics that you should be looking out for today from multiple comic publishers.

It’s New Comic Book Day, and that can only mean one thing. We’ve got the Top 20 Comics That You Should Be Looking Out For On… feature back, with an excellent look at stuff that’s hitting shelves today. Jean Grey confronts The Mastermind in All New X-Men, Gail Simone’s Red Sonja debuts at Dynamite, Trinity War continues at DC with Justice League of America, and more fun is to be had with Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin. Here’s the comics that I’ve picked up today (apart from Red Sonja, which didn’t turn up at the local store), and you can find the full list of releases here. Feel free to list your pullist in the comments section below!

BOOM STUDIOS

Day Men #1

Story: Matt Gagon | Art: Brian Stelfreeze | Price: $3.99

For thousands of years, the world has been controlled by the “50 Families” — a secret network of vampire covens engaged in a timeless struggle for power. But when the sun rises, the vampires are forced to employ the services of a human who acts as their daytime fixer and protector. Trained for centuries to be the mortal soldiers of their vampire employers, the Day Men go forth at sunrise, alone into the world, to do the bidding of their sleeping benefactors.

Written by Matt Gagnon (FREELANCERS) & Michael Alan Nelson (DC’s SUPERGIRL, HEXED) and drawn by industry legend Brian Stelfreeze. DAY MEN is a sexy, action-packed epic that brings modern master Brian Stelfreeze back to drawing monthly comics for the first time since 2005! 

DARK HORSE COMICS

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #4 (of #5)

Story: Tim Siedell | Pencils: Stephen Thompson | Inks: Mark Irwin, Drew Geraci | Colours: Michael Atiyeh | Cover Artist: Ariel Olivetti | Price: $3.50

In the ruins of an ancient moon, Darth Vader encounters an evil people with a dark prophecy and a powerful weapon. They are a threat to the Empire and Vader will force them to serve-or crush them all! Meanwhile, the assassin hunting Vader still lurks . . .

* Tim Siedell (@badbanana) has one of Time’s 140 Best Twitter Feeds and over 600,000 followers!

DC COMICS

Animal Man #22

Story: Jeff Lemire | Art: Steve Pugh & Francis Portela | Colours: Lovern Kindzierski | Letters: Jared K. Fletcher | Cover by Jae Lee & June Chung | Price: $2.99

Animal Man is suddenly the most famous hero in the world, which is not helping matters in the Baker household—or stopping the horrifying debut of The Splinterfolk!

Batwoman #22

Story: J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman | Art: Trevor McCarthy | Colours: Guy Major | Letters: Todd Klein | Cover: J.H. Williams III | Price: $2.99

Batwoman discovers that the D.E.O. are bringing in Gotham City’s most dangerous villains for questioning. Their real target? Batman!

Plus, Hawkfire continues to plan a strike against the D.E.O.

Birds of Prey #22

Story: Christy Marx | Art: Romano Molenaar, Robson Rocha, Scott McDaniel, Jonathan Glapion, & Sandu Florea | Colours: Chris Sotomayor | Letters: Dezi Sienty | Cover: Scott McDaniel, Romano Molenaar, Jonathan Glapion, & Chris Sotomayor | Price: $2.99

Betrayed by one of their own and homeless, the last thing the Birds need is another shock. But what is Condor’s link to BASILISK?

Justice League of America #6

Story: Geoff Johns & Jeff Lemire | Art: Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, & Tom Nguyen | Colours: Gabe Eltaeb & Nathan Eyring
Letters: Rob Leigh | Cover: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Rod Reis, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, & Andrew Dalhouse | Price: $3.99

TRINITY WAR, CHAPTER 2!

The War of the Justice Leagues continues as one hero is arrested and another goes rogue. Who is responsible for the evil that has infected the League? And who is the true killer? Only the Question knows the answer…

Supergirl #22

Story: Michael Alan Nelson | Art: Diogenes Neves, Marc Deering, Oclair Albert, & Ruy Jose | Colours: Dave McCaig & Daniel Brown | Letters: Rob Leigh | Cover: Mahmud Asrar | Price: $2.99

Careful what you wish for! Kara may have found a home away from Earth, but it’s at a price that Superboy will have to pay to a major Superman foe!

Wonder Woman #22

Story: Brian Azzarello | Art: Cliff Chiang | Colours: Matthew Wilson | Letters: Jared K. Fletcher | Cover: Cliff Chiang | Price: $2.99

Welcome to New Genesis!

Wonder Woman makes her first visit to Orion’s homeworld and comes face to face with the Highfather…and sees the strange hold he has over his uncontrollable son!

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Red Sonja #1

Story: Gail Simone | Art: Walter Geovani | Cover: Nicola Scott | Price: $3.99

THIS IS IT. Red Sonja gets a fresh new attitude by the dream team of writer GAIL SIMONE (Batgirl, Birds of Prey) and artist WALTER GEOVANI (Prophecy, Witchblade), on the book they were born to create!

Sonja pays back a blood debt owed to the one man who has gained her respect, even if it means leading a doomed army to their certain deaths!

This thrilling new series features covers by the top female artists in the industry, including Nicola Scott, Colleen Doran, Jenny Frison, Fiona Staples, Amanda Conner and more.

You do NOT want to miss this re-introduction the She-devil with a Sword!

The Shadow: Year One #4 (of #10)

Story: Matt Wagner | Art: Wilfredo Torres | Cover: Alex Ross | Price: $2.99

After confronting the mysterious man who is apparently posing as Lamont Cranston, Margo Lane finds herself drawn into a world of violent intrigue as an agent of The Shadow! Carnage escalates in the mob war begun by Big Gun Massaretti but secretly orchestrated by the grotesque figure known only as Dr. Zorn! Meanwhile, The Shadow begins to recruit what will become his famous network of operatives.

Eisner Award winning writer, Matt Wagner continues this pulp masterpiece that for the first time reveals the fledgling adventures of one of pop culture’s greatest iconic heroes!

IDW PUBLISHING

G.I. Joe Special Missions #5 

Story: Chuck Dixon | Art: Will Rosado | Cover: Paul Gulacy, James Biggie | Price: $3.99

The DREADNOKS return! When a COBRA satellite drops form spacer to crash in the Australian outback, Scarlett and the Special Missions team enter the race to retrieve it. They face not only the near-impossible challenge of finding the space debris in millions of square miles of barren and dangerous wastelands. The murderous, marauding, motorcycle maniacs who call themselves the Dreadnoks are in the neighborhood and led by Zartan!

The X-Files Season 10 #2

Story: Joe Harris, Chris Carter | Art: Michael Walsh | Colours: Jordie Bellaire | Letters: Shawn Lee | Cover: Carlos Valenzuela, Joe Corroney, Brian Miller, Dave Sim , Jordie Bellaire | Price: $3.99

“Believers,” Part 2 of 5. Dana Scully has survived abduction, cancer, motherhood by mysterious means, and surrendering her “miracle” baby. But she’s never encountered anything like these “Acolytes” before, or the mysterious “Deacon” who’s saved her from them. Plus, Mulder follows a lead to Arlington National Cemetery and the final resting place of the “Lone Gunmen.”

Bullet points:

• Agents Mulder and Scully are back!

• From Executive Producer Chris Carter!

• Continuing the story where the TV show and movies left off!

• Ask your retailer about the Joe Corroney variant cover!

IMAGE COMICS

Aphrodite IX #3 

Story: Matt Hawkins | Art: Stjepan Sejic | Price: $2.99

Aphrodite IX was created for a purpose, but she does not know what it is. Torn between two factions in a hostile, new world, she’s forced to choose sides in a war that she wants no part in.

Invincible #104

Story: Robert Kirkman | Art: Ryan Ottley & Cliff Rathburn | Colours: John Rauch | Cover: Ryan Ottley & John Rauch | Price: $2.99

The wrath of Angstrom Levy takes its toll.

Prophet #37

Story: Brandon Graham & Simon Roy | Art: Simon Roy & Giannis Milonogiannis | Cover: Fil Barlow | Price: $3.99

New father must finish the job that his lifebomb brother failed at (in Issue 31) and destroy the dismembered body city of Ixpoliniox.

MARVEL COMICS

All New X-Men #14 

Story: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Stuart Immonen | Cover: Stuart Immonen | Price: $3.99

• Jean Grey vs. Mastermind!

• Years ago, one run in with this famous Brotherhood of Evil Mutants member was the beginning of the end of Jean Grey.

• Will history repeat itself?

Avengers #16

Story: Jonathan Hickman & Nick Spencer | Art: Stefano Caselli | Cover: Leinil Yu & Daniel Acuna | Price: $3.99

• “THE TWO WORLDS SOLUTION”

• Prelude to INFINITY: Part Three.

• The battle between the Avengers and Mad Earth heats up.

• Whatever happened to Ex Nihilo and Abyss, and for that matter, Starbrand and Nightmask as well?

Thor: God of Thunder #10

Story: Jason Aaron | Art: Esad Ribic | Colors: Ive Svorcina | Letters: Joe Sabino | Cover: Esad Ribic | Price: $3.99

• The penultimate chapter in the saga of the God Butcher.

• Thus comes the final battle against Gorr, as three Thors lead an army of slave gods in the fight to save all of divinity.

• But will it all be for naught…as the massive Godbomb is triggered at last…?

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #25

Story: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: David Marquez | Colours: Justin Ponsor | Cover: David Marquez | Price: $3.99

• MILES MORALES CELEBRATES HIS 25th ISSUE!!!

• Will the surprising appearance of new heroes CLOAK AND DAGGER be enough to bring miles back into the super hero fold?

• More young heroes debut! Who will they be?

What if? Avx #2 (of #4)

Story: Jimmy Palmiotti | Art: Jorge Molina, Norman Lee, & Rick Magyar | Colours: Rachelle Rosenberg  | Letters: Clayton Cowles | Cover: Jorge Molina |  Price: $3.99

• The biggest event of 2012 is now the biggest miniseries of 2013!

• We all know what happened to the Avengers and the X-Men… but what if the story had gone differently?

• The one and only Jimmy Palmiotti brings his signature style to a mind-blowing reinterpretation of a key event in the history of the Marvel Universe.

• Featuring Magneto, Hope, and every Avenger and X-Man you can imagine!