The Pull List (3-12-08): If you ain't got the Guts ...

Dooby dooby-dooo ... ya-ta-ta-tyaaaaa taa, mmm-mm, dooby doo — whoops!

Er ... on to the list!

Gutsville #3: I'm not sure what it is about this comic, but damn if it isn't a title that makes me squeal in delight whenever it actually comes out. (Yes, squeal. Shut up.) The art is unique, but also perfectly suited to the story it helps tell, a neat trick considering it's a story about a group of people who have lived for generations in the belly of some sort of sea monster. The art style and coloring give a combined sense of bioluminescence and a slightly unsettling mushroom trip, lending a feeling of the kind of claustrophobia you'd expect from living in a giant fish. The story itself seems well-thought out, and you can tell there's a lot of unrevealed back-story to build on. The dialogue, a blend of 19th century English and digestive tract slang, is also a highlight and the kind of detail that immerses you in the increasingly weird plot.

My only problem with Gutsville is how long it takes to get from issue to issue. This mini-series began in 2007 (May, I think) and is barely getting out issue #3? Annoying. Still, while I usually can't stand books that are this far off from anything that looks like a regular schedule, Gutsville is one of those books that seems to always be worth waiting for. Check out the (also infrequently updated) Gutsville site, where you can see some preview pages, too.


The rest ...

Atomic Robo #6

Booster Gold #7

Wonder Woman #18


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

Annihilation Conquest #5

Conan Vol. 5: Rogues in the House and Other Stories

Wormwood, Gentleman Corpse Vol. 2: It Only Hurts When I Pee


Maybe ...

Arab in America (trade paperback): This could be an interesting look at the kind of bigotry that's still alive and well in the U.S., especially given the current political climate.

Metro Survive Vol. 1: Manga that combines a subtle sense of Japanese horror with the "What would I do?" kind of question by putting a spineless man in charge of a group's survival after an earthquake strands them in the underground metro tunnels.

Serenity: Better Days #1: Aw crap. I love Firefly, but hated the last Serenity mini-series. Unless the writing gets better, this looks to continue the less-than-impressive history of Serenity comic books; check out the preview and judge for yourself.

Recommended ...

Comic Book Comics #1: Funny stuff by the guys who brought us Action Philosophers; if you consider yourself a comic book fan, pick it up. And look — a preview!

FLCL Vol. 1: I have an unhealthy love for the anime based on this manga, and the book might be even stranger than the nearly nonsensical cartoon that mashes together a coming-of-age story with an underlying sexual tension and giant robots. I'm not entirely sure this is a reprint of the original story, but if it is I'd say it's worth picking up. Wear a helmet, though, because your mind will be blown.

The Pull List: 8-1-07

It might look like a heavy week for the superhero camp, but if you've got a little extra cash you've been wondering what to do with, you can either send it to me, or you could get yourself a nice little mix of comics. Ah hell, go ahead - get the comics (I'll just take an IOU).

To the list!

Metal Men #1 (of 8): I'm going to say something that'll probably earn scorn from fellow comic nerds, but I was never really that into the Metal Men until they showed up in 52. In that title, the Metal Men (and their creator, Doc Magnus) provided a lot of the wacky fun and Silver Age-style concepts that kept me interested week after week. Hopefully that will carry over in this mini-series, because I love the idea of a group of sentient robots being led by a bipolar inventor in a fight against science-crime. Jeez, it almost sells itself! And the crazy, almost Deco-style art gives me hope that the writing will be in the same spirit. Check it out in this preview.

Thor #2: A lot of people complained that the first issue of Thor was too slow, apparently being too short of "thees," "thines" and flying Mjolnirs to satisfy. For my part, though, I thought the issue did was it was supposed to, namely reintroduce a well-known character who was supposed to be dead. Believe me, that's the kind of thing I want comic creators to take their time with. Besides, it did a nice job of setting the stage for issue #2, which I'm betting will crank up the Thunder God aspects a little more. I'm looking forward to seeing how the return of Thor plays out, and I appreciate the avoidance of oh-so-convenient shortcuts. Too slow? I say thee nay!

The Rest ...

Justice Society of America #8

World War Hulk #3

Conan and The Midnight God #5


Maybe ...

Killing Pickman #1: Tortured cop with plans to kill a literally monstrous child-murderer? Man, I love this small revival of horror comics that seems to be happening.

Alive Vol. 1: An unknown virus is making people commit suicide, becoming a pandemic in less than a week and leaving a handful of Tokyo teens wondering why everyone else died, and why they survived. Japan, you scare me - but in a good way.


Recommended ...

Elephantmen Vol. 1: Wounded Animals (hard cover): Beautiful art, solid sci-fi storytelling.

Gutsville #1 (new printing): Be sure to pick this inventive little title if you missed it the first time; now, where the hell is issue #2 already?

Whiteout: Definitive Edition: A perfect crime-noir tale in a unique setting and with a strong female as the lead character (always nice to see). This is what made me a die-hard Greg Rucka fan, and I honestly think it's a book everyone should read. You can even start with a preview!