Pull List Roundtable – 12/24/2014 – Axis #9, Robin Rises Alpha #1, Gotham by Midnight #2, She-Hulk #11

Features, Roundtables, Top Story

Click here for a full list of this week’s new releases


Alexander Lucard

  • Gotham by Midnight #2
  • Justice League Dark #37
  • Unity #13

Two of the only three DC titles I’ll have left after the recent spree of cancellations (Gotham Academy is the other) and a Valiant title.


Mike “Skitch” Maillaro

  • Avengers And X-Men Axis #9 (Of 9)
  • Daredevil #11
  • All-New Invaders #13
  • She-Hulk #11
  • Batman Eternal #38
  • Arkham Manor #3
  • Gotham By Midnight #2
  • Grayson Annual #1
  • Robin Rises Alpha #1
  • Letter 44 #13

Axis comes to an end next week. I’m sure there are a lot of people happy by that. I’ve enjoyed this crossover quite a bit, but I have definitely heard some angry comic fans…though admittingly comic fans are pretty much always angry…

Arkham Manor and Gotham By Midnight are a great one-two punch spinning out of Batman Eternal. Sadly, they have already announced Arkham Manor is ending after it’s first arc, but both of these series are VERY different “Batman” comics. I was hoping for something similar from Gotham Academy, but I didn’t enjoy that one nearly as much as I like these two titles.

Grayson Annual…man, that book is always crazy, so I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us with extra pages to play with!

My list is really light on indy books this week. Letter 44 is an excellent Oni series from Charles Soule about politicial intrigue revolving around the discovery of an alien force seemingly invading our solar system. I don’t hear a lot of this series because it gets overshadowed by flashier books, but it’s definitely worth a look.

She-Hulk is also by Soule, but that one is coming to an end next month. BOO!!! The most recent Captain America arc featuring Daredevil vs She-Hulk in court was definitely my favorite story arc in 2014.


Joe Smith

  • Aquaman #37 – I can’t believe that I’m still reading this series and enjoying it. I expected to drop the series when the focus went underwater, but the story is really starting to pick up now.
  • Superman Wonder Woman 14 – I’ve read this book off and on, but with Tomasi and Mahnke on it I have to read it now.
  • Revival 26 – I haven’t really disliked an issue yet, but have definitely been frustrated by a few. Overall I’m invested enough to see where this series will go..

James Fulton

It’s another big week, as publishers try to get every last book out before the holidays hit. Here are my top five most anticipated books of the week.

  • The Massive #30 – I haven’t always loved this series as much as I did Brian Wood’s DMZ, but I’m looking forward to the conclusion issue, and I will miss this book.
  • They’re Not Like Us #1 – Eric Stephenson and Simon Gane are starting a new series about generational issues (at least, that’s what I think it’s about). I like Stephenson’s writing, and while I’d be happier with new issues of the Nowhere Men, I’m curious to see what he’s going to do with this
  • All-New X-Men Annual #1 – I really liked Andrea Sorrentino’s art on the first half of this story a couple of weeks ago in Uncanny X-Men Annual, so this should look great, even if Brian Michael Bendis’s writing frustrates me.
  • She-Hulk #11 – I’m not going to complain about this book being canceled any more. I’m just going to resolve to enjoy the hell out of every last page that’s left in in of my favourite Marvel series.
  • Gotham by Midnight #2 – The first issue of this series really surprised me with how good it was, so I’m on board (at least for as long as Ben Templesmith lasts on the art).

Paul Miranda

  • AQUAMAN #37
  • AVENGERS•X-MEN: AXIS #9 (of 9)
  • BATMAN ANNUAL #3
  • BATMAN ETERNAL #38 (of 52)
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA and the MIGHTY AVENGERS #3
  • DAREDEVIL #11
  • DEATHSTROKE #3
  • FATHOM SOURCEBOOK
  • FLASH #37
  • GOTHAM by MIDNIGHT #2
  • GRAYSON ANNUAL #1
  • HAWKEYE vs. DEADPOOL #3 (of 4)
  • IMAGE FIRSTS: NAILBITER #1
  • IMAGE FIRSTS: SOUTHERN BASTARDS #1
  • NEW AVENGERS #28
  • ROBIN RISES: ALPHA
  • SECRET ORIGINS #8
  • SHE-HULK #11
  • SPIDER-MAN 2099 #7
  • SUNSTONE OGN
  • TOMB RAIDER #11

DAREDEVIL #11
Solid from when Mr. Marvelous Waid launched almost 4 years ago. I’m sad to see his run is ending in the near future. Why can’t anything spectacular ever last?? This writer has crafted some of the most innovative, thought-provoking, senses-spinning issues for the Man Without Fear. Real world issues tackled with gloves off but dignity. I want to see how Matt deals with his on-going depression. Even though it’s been fun & frolic during most of Waid’s run, he finally ‘caved in’ by addressing this realistic topic.

GOTHAM by MIDNIGHT #2
My interest in the supernatural is passive at best, or almost non-existent. I like how the Bat books now have unique flavours. I bought the ‘obligatory’ first issue and read it through. I’m intrigue by the new take on Jim Corrigan. After his brief time in BATMAN: ETERNAL and eventual emergence as The Wrath of God, I’m on pins and needles with how/when he will come out full force. It doesn’t hurt that the Dark Knight will at least make a cameo each issue. I’m interested to see the flushing of the other main players.

IMAGE FIRSTS: NAILBITER #1
IMAGE FIRSTS: SOUTHERN BASTARDS #1
This is my chance to catch up/see how it all began. The first printings of these books are already going for a good chunk of dollars. Kudos to Image for always producing stalwart, unorthodox, mind-bending concepts. After 30+ years of collecting standard super-hero fare, I’ve opened my mind to the appeal of “the other stuff”. My first nod/mention to Image, BTW.

SHE-HULK #11
Another Marvel pick. File this under “gone too soon”. It was very misleading of Marvel to label this as an on-going. Even if Charles Soule admitted to having a full year planned all along, the higher-ups at Marvel should have called this a maxi-series. That way, it’d soften the blow for all us who would learn of the eventual end. Tis always better to go out in a blaze of glory. For the last two issues, Mr. Soule dives into the super-heroics head first by having Shulkie go fist-to-fist with her arch-enemy Titania!! Plus, I need to know what else lies within the Blue File! Will Jen be absolved of all her past transgressions/aggressions?


Grey Scherl

  • Batman Annual #3
  • Batman Eternal #38
  • Earth 2 Worlds End #12
  • Flash #37
  • New 52 Future’s End #34
  • Robin Rises Alpha #1
  • Superman #37
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #14
  • All-New X-Men Annual #1
  • Avengers/X-Men: Axis #9
  • Cyclops #8
  • Superior Iron Man #3
  • Uncanny X-Men #29
  • TMNT/Ghostbusters #3

And so continues the vague five dollar Annual’s that I’m buying because why not. At least I’m not a reader of any of the other DC books dropping one this week. The Batman Annual is going to probably be good, but given that it’s Tynion writing a tie-in to Endgame, it could easily be just the vaguest of ties. All-New X-Men’s Annual, though, is going to be amazing. Why? BECAUSE IT’S EVA!

Robin Rises is going to be the book of the week, just like Batman and Robin was last week, and there’s a good chance for the newly Tomasi’d Superman/Wonder Woman to get on that list too.

Superior Iron Man has been off to a strong start, and I fully expect that to continue. Tom Taylor is a rising star that has managed to fly under the radar by writing DC’s digital first Injustice: Gods Among Us title, but it’s going to be hard to stay under the radar while writing Iron Man. Tom’s a great writer, and a great guy, and he totally deserves this.

DC’s weeklies keep on trucking, and two out of three have been great (World’s End has been relatively disjointed, not bad, but it’s pretty jumpy). Marvel will be joining the list in a few weeks, but unfortunately, Marvel loves to gouge their readers, so they’ll be doing a weekly book at four bucks instead of three.

Flash is awesome, I love Evil Future Barry, I like the dynamic between either Barry and New Wally, and I really can’t wait to see where things go next.

It seems like TMNT/Ghostbusters might be my only non-big two book this week, but knowing me I’ll sift through Comixology and find a few more things. Such is the way of my buying, and that’s why I’ve found so many books outside of the big two that I enjoy.

You know what would be really nice, though? New Masks and Mobsters, because I never heard it was canned, but it’s been forever since I read a new issue.

Mike Maillaro is a lifelong Jersey Boy and geek. Mike has been a comic fan for about 30 years from when his mom used to buy him Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Adventures at our local newsstand. Thanks, Mom!! Mike's goal is to bring more positivity to the discussion of comics and pop culture.