The Pull List: (2-13-08): Seriously, Barry?!

Whoops! Where does the time go? A busy day means a quick-and dirty pull list this week, but if you see anything you'd like to talk about, why not drop me a line in the comments? There is some fun stuff coming out today, and manga makes a particularly strong showing, as well as a certain German World War I fighter pilot.

And to make up for the leaner list, please enjoy the double entendre stylings of Ted Kord:


To the list!


This week ...

Atomic Robo #5

Booster Gold #0 (preview!)

Jack Staff #14

Wonder Woman #17


Maybe ...

Beowulf Vol. 1 (another preview!)

Dark Metro Vol. 1 (even more preview!)


Trading Up ...
(Titles I either am, or will be, picking up in trade)

100 Bullets #88

B.P.R.D.: 1946 #2


Recommended ...

Crossing Midnight Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight

Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace Vol. 1

Uzumaki Vol. 3

The Pull List: 9-26-07

I'm schizophrenic when it comes to Wednesdays. On one hand, it's the day of my weekly department meeting at work. On the other, it's also the day new comics come out. I'm no math guy, but I'm pretty sure it works out like this:

meeting = no fun

comics = big fun

Therefore, comics are mathematically superior to meetings. Hmm. I'm not sure we needed science to figure that one out, actually. Still, this week looks like it's packed with especially fun titles, so - to the list!

Uncle Sam and The Freedom Fighters #1 (of 8): This is the second mini-series starring the revamped Freedom Fighters, and I think it's the perfect way to keep this current version going. Tight, self-contained story-arcs which, hopefully, aren't too reliant on new readers having deep knowledge of what's gone before will help maintain interest better than an ongoing series featuring what many consider fringe characters. And believe me, it kills me to say that, but I actually had someone outright mock my love of the original Freedom Fighters (I never forget, Lisa - never). Maybe someone in the DC offices had the same problem, because these Fighters - with the exception of grandfatherly ass-kicker Uncle Sam - are definitely more grim-and-gritty than the originals. Returning writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti do a good job of giving the angst well-weighted context, though, as well as infusing each character with a distinct personality and motivation. The work of new artist Renato Arlem looks as if it will be a good fit, and look at that cover by Dave Johnson! The first mini-series certainly had some clunky spots, but all in all I'm looking forward to this.


The rest ...

Annihilation Conquest: Star-Lord #3

Blue Beetle #19

Crossing Midnight #11

Immortal Iron Fist #9

Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1

The Spirit #10


Maybe ...

I Killed Adolf Hitler (trade paperback): Contract killers, time-travel and waiting decades to catch up with a wiley Adolf Hitler puts this slim trade (48 pages) on the short-list. Also, it's supposed to be funny, so I'll be giving it a close look.

Justice League of America #13: The recent Wedding Special was OK, and I hear there are high-hopes that the JLA will be worth reading about again - we'll see. Can anyone give me a solid recommendation for this? Speaking of which ...


Recommended ...

Daredevil: Hell to Pay Vol. 1: It's Ed Brubaker, it's some of the best Daredevil writing in a long time, and if you haven't been reading it monthly you really should be getting this trade.

Madman Vol. 1 (Image edition): A caveat! If you've been reading the latest Madman series, or have read it in the past, and been amused, interested or intrigued - pick this up. If it only frustrated you with what can honestly be described as superhero navel-gazing and sometimes meandering plotting, then take a pass.

Showcase Presents: Metal Men Vol. 1: With another caveat that you must have a high-tolerance for comics that are so packed with awesome that there's no room left for logic. Bob Kanigher, who brought us The War That Time Forgot, was on a roll when he came up with these stories.

The Pull List: 7-25-07

That thing called "work" keeps conspiring to keep me from posting as regularly as I plan, so this time around the pull list is what I actually picked up and is now sitting next to me, as expectant and goofily sweet as a puppy. Stop making those eyes at me, comics!

Awwww ... you know I can't say no to you!

Now, I've been following the main Annihilation: Conquest title, but not the various tie-ins (it's an experiment, I'll let you know how it goes). There is an exception though, and that exception is called Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord #1. Apparently I'm a whore for even half-way decent marketing, because I was hooked when the cover art was released months ago. I mean, look at it - that's bad-ass!

But then I realized Keith Giffen was writing it, and the hooks dug a little deeper. And then I saw the art from Timothy Green II and thought, "Well, that's perfect."

But it got better. It got this:


Here's what else I picked up:

Blue Beetle #17

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #5

Crossing Midnight #9

Grendel: Behold the Devil #0

Immortal Iron Fist #7

Elephantmen #10

The Pull-list: 6-27-07

There aren't really any surprises in this week's pull-list, so this will feel shorter than usual. But I think you'll still be able to feel the love, and isn't that what's important? So let's see what's on this week's pull-list ... together.

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1: The regular Green Lantern monthly has been a consistently fun read (even if I'm not completely sold on the recent change in art style), and I really like the way the GL backstory has been expanding and gaining depth. The concept of a Green Lantern Corps particularly feels more like what it's supposed to be - an universe-wide law enforcement and rescue organization, rather than a gang of cowboys run by a bunch of floating Smurfs. So set up the ultra-evil Sinestro and his own army of scary sumbitches as the opposite numbers to the GL Corps and I'm sold. Not to mention I get a kick out of the fact Sinestro looks like an evil butler. Specifically, an evil Alfred with a power ring, which is a concept that blows my mind.

Marvel Adventures Avengers #14: I've heard a lot of good things about the Marvel Adventures line, mostly along the lines of the titles being where all the fun is hiding. And while I've been interested, I was content to wait for the collections instead of picking up any monthly titles. Jeff Parker swatted that idea away with two things; 1. He's Jeff Parker, and, 2. he wrote an Avengers story featuring the Agents of Atlas! Agents of Atlas was one of the best mini-series of the past 12 months (if you haven't already, go get it), and since then Parker has been shoe-horning the team into any title he can. This is a good thing. I don't know if I'll be picking this up on a monthly basis, but I will absolutely pick it up this month.

EDIT: So, I pick up this title, and guess what? No Agents of Atlas. Instead, judging from a quick flip through the comic, it looks to be a story set in medieval times (no, not the restaurant, though I'd buy that in a second). Apparently Marvel lies, which I suppose shouldn't be a shocker. Still, it's Jeff Parker so I'll forgive ... this time.

The Usual ...

Blue Beetle #16

Criminal #7

Crossing Midnight #8

Daredevil #98


Maybe ...

Subculture #1: Meta-humor!


Recommended ...

Conan Vol. 4: Hall of The Dead & Other Stories

Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' Stardust (hardcover)

The Pull-list: 5-31-07

This week's comics are a day late thanks to the federal holiday seemingly set aside for department store sales and low, low prices, so I'm a day late, too. OK, I'm two days late, but meh! Let's go shopping!

Blue Beetle #15: I'm just going to go ahead and say it: Pound for pound, this is my favorite superhero comic. The writing has been top-notch since the beginning, and gets noticeably better with almost every issue (particularly the diaglogue). The art is unique and always solid, and helps give Blue Beetle its own vibe while putting it smack-dab in the middle of the DC universe. And that leads to one of the things I like most about this title: Through Jaime Reyes, a new character thrown into an entirely new environment, readers get to experience everything as if it's new to us, too. It's fun, it's smart and it should be on your list.

Crossing Midnight #7: Vertigo has been winning back my interest with some of its new titles lately, and Crossing Midnight has had a lot to do with it. It features interesting characters, a familiar-but-different culture as a background, and a plot that makes me wonder what's going to happen next; in other words, some of the things a good comic is supposed to have. And that stuff that happened with the mom? Creepy.

Justice Society of America #6: Soooooo much better than JSA Classified! Seriously, it reminds me of what made me dig the JSA books in the first place. The ongoing story of a powerful, yet entirely human, team that ultimately functions as an extended family touches me in just the right spot (y'know ... the cockles), and this title manages it without being shmaltzy. The team producing it could stand to ease off on the whole "setting an example to the next generation" bit, but I've got to admit I like the way they handle the interaction between the older and younger heroes. And the way "guest stars" like Superman, Batman and that jerk Geo-Force have been used has been perfect.


The Usual ...

Green Lantern #20

Daredevil #97


Maybe ...

Ray Harryhausen Presents Wrath of the Titans #1: I loved the movie. I still love the movie. Shut up. (I just hope I don't hear that stupid owl in my head.)


Recommended ...

Fun Home (trade paperback): This memoir about growing up in the family funeral home, questions of sexuality and the complicated relationship between child and parent has been earning glowing reviews, and now it's been released in a softcover format selling for less than 15 bucks. Seriously, what are you waiting for?