Beasts of Burden
This is currently only a mini series, but I think that there are plans for future minis or an ongoing depending on the sales of this one. I could be wrong. This is about a group of dogs and cats that use magic to hunt ghosts and spooky things like this. There are also 4 more short stories featuring these characters in the Dark Horse Book of... series.
King City
While not technically "new" in '09, this is a new size and new rerelease of this previously unfinished series. It will now finally get an ending too. So far it's only 3 issues in, but it's wonderfully drawn and full of unique story ideas and characters and world building stuff. Check it out.
Em and Gwen in: Magic Spell
This is a 2-part story that would take a little bit of leg work to get and read. Part 1 is free on the MySpace Dark Horse site, or in the MDHP Volume 4 which collects a lot of the MySpace content. Part 2 is printed in Bird Hurdler which costs $0.01 plus shipping. New Farel stuff. Magic in a real world setting. Talking birds. That's all you need.
Mouse Guard: Winter 1152
Technically only 2 issues of this series came out in '09, but the collected edition was also released, so I think that counts. Mouse Guard is a world where mice have little tiny swords and axes and go on adventures where they battle snakes, owls, and the weather itself. The world they live in is very interesting and I can't wait for more.
The Eternal Smile
I loved Same Difference and Other Stories. I loved American Born Chinese. Take the artist from one and the writer from the other, and you get this. Another great comic. Sorry I don't have a lot to say about all of these, but I loved them, and would tell everyone to check them out. This one contains a story that features swords. There might be a theme going in this list.
Wonton Soup Vol. 2: Hyper Wonton Soup 2 TwoTon Soup: The Quickening 2…Soup
The insane-o title for this one can barely prepare you for the insane-o story and art inside. The writer/artist on this one, James Stokoe, has a new Image series starting soon that features...you guessed it – Swords. And Orcs. Can't wait.
Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka
Pluto is a re-imagining/re-telling/re-whatever of an Astro Boy story, The Greatest Robot in the World. They have translated/released 6 volumes so far this year, with 2 or 3 more coming in 2010. It's about robots that think they are human, or learn to feel like humans feel. It's about emotions and if robots are people or not. Kind of like BSG, but prettier and with a way better story. 100% less spaceships tho. Oh well.
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Of the things I have read this year, those are my favorites. Here on my desk I still have a couple I have yet to finish that I think could be added to this list. Beast, The Marquis: Inferno, and The Mourning Star volume 2. I'll just edit them into the list if needed. If so, this'll be 10 comics... So, get reading.