Pull List Roundtable 9/16/2015 – Captain America: White #1, Tokyo Ghost #1, Secret Wars & More (Spoilers)

Columns, Features, Roundtables, Top Story

Mike Maillaro

  • CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #1 – After CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE TRUTH, this is a slightly awkward title. They probably should have gone with RED, WHITE, and BLUE. I really liked when Loeb and Sale used to do these series like DAREDEVIL: YELLOW and SPIDER-MAN: BLUE. The formula did get a little stale around HULK: GRAY, but it’s been long enough where I think they can get away with doing it again.
  • D4VE 2 #1 – D4VE was a series from Monkeybrain that featured a robot who had helped stopped an alien invasion, but had settled into a drudging middle class existence after the war. D4VE is thrilled when there is another alien attack, which helps him return to his glory days. IDW is bringing the series back, and if it is as good as the original, it will definitely be worth buying.
  • VOLTRON: FROM THE ASHES #1 – I was a huge VOLTRON fan as a kid, and I actually enjoyed VOLTRON FORCE when it aired a few years ago. There have been a few attempts to do a VOLTRON series over the years, but they never quite seem to work out all that well. I am not really sold on setting this series 200 years after the original show, but I like Cullen Bunn’s work a lot, so I am going to give it a fair shot. And Dynamite usually produces great comics, so that gives me hope that this will be good.
  • GREEN LANTERN: THE LOST ARMY #4 – This story about time lost Green Lanterns who find themselves encountering major threats BEFORE they became threats has been really well written. I was expecting something like LEGION LOST, but this has been far more creative.
  • GROO FRIENDS AND FOES #9 – I can’t believe it’s already been 9 issues. They really need to make GROO a permanent ongoing series again. It’s been so great to have GROO on a regular basis again. Brilliant satire and always a very fun read.
  • SECRET WARS – Looks like we’re finally starting to trickle down on the number of SECRET WARS books. Of this week’s books, I’m looking forward to AGE OF APOCALYPSE, HOUSE OF M, INFINITY GAUNTLET, SPIDER-ISLAND, and SPIDER-VERSE.
  • DOOMED #4 – Wonder Girl Vs Doomed!! I will admit, I don’t particularly like how Cassie has been written in New 52 (actually, I haven’t liked how Cassie has been written since YOUNG JUSTICE). But I still am a fan of the character and keep hoping to see a better showing for her.
  • INVINCIBLE #123 – The solicits for issue 125 have me real curious about where this series is heading. It seems like Mark might have the opportunity to go back in time and make some dramatic changes to the status quo. I can’t imagine that will work out all that well. Kirkman continues to write a very compelling series here which pulls no punches.
  • IVAR TIMEWALKER #9 – Gotta love time travel. Issue 8 ended pretty dramatically. Now it looks like the next arc will be spent unravelling all of that. I can’t help but think of Stephen Moffat’s DOCTOR WHO. IVAR, TIMEWALKER is one of Valiant’s best series!
  • BLACK CANARY #4 and SECRET SIX #6 – Not sure it makes a lot of sense to put these two books under one entry, but my thoughts were very similar. Both series are fresh takes on things we’ve seen before, and both have a lot of mystery to them. I also really enjoy both books, and would recommend them highly.
  • MEGA MAN #53 – I am still mourning that this series is ending. Though the most recent interview I saw is now calling it a hiatus, so that gives me some hope at least.
  • MICKEY MOUSE #4 – IDW is continuing their inexplicable policy of not releasing their Disney books digitally. I don’t know why they have done this, but it’s made it difficult to follow these series for me. Which is a shame, because I really enjoy them. For the most part, these are reprints or translations of older Disney stories, but I haven’t read most of them and I have enjoyed them quite a bit.
  • ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN #4 – This is another series that was far better than I was expecting. I really enjoyed BATMAN AND ROBIN, but the change of direction and creative team had me concerned. But this has been a great series dealing with Damien’s attempts to redeem himself from his past sins. I am curious when we will get to see him dealing with the changes Bruce Wayne has been going through in his own book.
  • PREZ #4 – I didn’t know this series got chopped down to 6 issues. I hope that isn’t going to change the pacing and flow of the book, because the first few issues have been a little slow, but I thought it was a great way to explore the world and characters. It is possible they will just keep on track, since it is now just 2 separate 6 issue minis, assuming both come out as planned.

James Fulton

  • Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier #11 – Ales Kot’s story has lost me completely, but Marco Rudy’s art on this book has been phenomenal. This is the last issue, and from the sounds of things, Rudy doesn’t have a book to go to next yet. I’m really going to miss getting regular doses of his work.
  • Island #3 – I can’t say enough about how much I love this new anthology series. This issue starts new serials, none of which are by Brandon Graham, but I’m still very excited for it.
  • Southern Cross #5 – It’s been delayed a bit, but Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger have been doing some very cool things with this science fiction adventure set on one of the best-designed space ships in comics.
  • Star Wars #9 – I really do want to know more about Han Solo’s wife.
  • Tokyo Ghost #1 – Rick Remender, in addition to being a very skilled writer in general, is one of the best writers in the industry at crafting a first issue that will hook readers. I’m very excited about his new series with the exceptional Sean Murphy. Both of these men are idea machines, and it should be great to see them working together.

John Babos

  • Bloodshot: Reborn #6 – Loving the new quirky yet still gritty take on ‘Shot.
  • Green Lantern: The Lost Army #4 – Great story and great art. This is fun series seemingly set elsewhen and elsewhere.
  • Ivar: Timewalker #9 – What is not to like about a time travelling immortal?
  • Secret Six #6 – This is also a quirky and action-packed series. Difficult to pigeon-hole or get ahead of the story. A welcomed read.
  • Superman / Wonder Woman #21 – Still waiting to the relationship’s dissolution, but remain loving the work of the creative team.
  • Wonder Woman #44 – Great art and good story. With Titans Hunt set to debut, I may go elsewhere for my Donna Troy fix starting next month.

Phil Allen

  • Captain America: White #1 – It would be a bit of an understatement if I said the comic world has been waiting for this one for a while. What has to be one of the longest gaps between issues in recent history (7 years!) is finally continuing on. I’ve been a big fan of Loeb/Sale since I read Batman: The Long Halloween (the first graphic I read when I started collecting in 2008 and still one of my favorite Batman stories to this day) and when issue #0 came out in September of ‘08, I picked it up right off the shelf. What I didn’t know at the time was that this was part of a series Loeb/Sale did with Marvel, along with Daredevil: Yellow, Spiderman: Blue, and Hulk: Gray, all fan-favorites in their own respect. Understandably, Loeb has been a bit busy running Marvel Television (you know, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Daredevil and the other Netflix shows) since 2010, but 7 years is long enough! If you haven’t read issue #0, it will be included with #1 so no need to go back-issue hunting. This is one you won’t want to miss, True Believers.
  • Black Canary #4 – I mostly excited for this one for guest artist Pia Guerra of Y: The Last Man!
  • Secret Identities #7 – I don’t believe I’ve mentioned this one before, but I was surprised how much I liked this series. I picked it up for Jay Faerber, since his Copperhead was another favorite of mine last year, and was not disappointed. A new look at a team superheroes living with their alter-egos, this is one you’ll want to check out. However, this is not a great jumping on point, as it is the series finale! TPB coming October 7th.
  • The Black Beetle: Necrologue #1 – Speaking of long waits, the continuation of Francesco Francavilla’s hit 2012 Black Beetle series is here! The original was great, and Francavilla hasn’t disappointed since (Afterlife with Archie, plus countless beautiful covers) so this is one you’ll to get. I don’t believe previous reading will be necessary for this issue, but why not check it out anyway? Black Beetle: No Way Out is available now.
  • Tokyo Ghost #1 – One of the most anticipated new series from Image is finally here! If you follow Sean Gordon Murphy on Twitter, you will have seen several works-in-progress posted, so you know this is going to be a beautiful book. Plus, along with Rick Remender and Matt Hollingsworth, this is a dream team of story-telling. Better get in on it now before they’re all gone.
  • Other issues I’m looking forward to:
  • All-New Hawkeye #5
  • D4VE2 #1
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us, Year Four #10
  • Island #3
  • Martian Manhunter #4
  • Rat Queens #12
  • Robin: Son of Batman #4
  • Sex Criminals #12 (regular cover and Kate Leth XXX Cover)
  • Shutter #15
  • Star Wars #9
  • The Fade Out #9

Paul Miranda

  • TRUE BELIEVERS: THOR #1
    The fabulously low-priced reprints are an ingenious way to reel in new readers and have the diehard fans re-read these ladies’ exploits. I keep saying this: guard these in pristine condition because their value may increase exponentially and they are considered variants!!
  • TRUE BELIEVERS: SHE-HULK #1
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #1 (of 5)
    Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale — you’ve kept us waiting far too long. Looks like the bad luck spell has finally dissipated! I’m itching to see an extensive take on Bucky’s background and untold story.
  • TOKYO GHOST #1
    Rick Remender’s creative output is endless!! Yet another offering for Image. This new series has Sean Murphy as his conspirator. Think of AKIRA meets MAD MAX!!
  • SPRING #1
  • SOUL #1
  • SLAB #1
  • RISE #1
  • REMOTE #1
  • MEDIC #1
  • HONOR #1
  • HOME #1
  • DEDICATION #1
  • Z-MEN #1
    Double Take is the latest and greatest comic book publisher. These ten inaugural issues are an extension of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead mythos. This is an unprecedented success from the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. Bill Jemas, former CEO of Marvel Comics, puts an “ultimate spin” on these titles.

 

  • BIZARRO #4 (of 6)
  • BLACK CANARY #4
  • DR. FATE #4
  • GREEN LANTERN: LOST ARMY #4
  • MARTIAN MANHUNTER #4
  • ROBIN: SON of BATMAN #4
  • SECRET SIX #6
  • SENSATION COMICS feat. WONDER WOMAN #14
  • SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #21
  • WONDER WOMAN #44
    It’s always a wonderful week for me when I get a triple treat of my number one Amazon. Gail Simone increases the shock value. The other books are all solid!
  • AUTEUR: SISTER BAMBI #4 (of 5)
  • ISLAND #3
  • JEM and the HOLOGRAMS #7
  • MISTRY, P.I. #3 (of 5)
  • RAI #10
    Hip hip hooray for the indies and the other two of the Top Five! Oni Press, Image, IDW, Graphic India, Valiant!
  • AGENT CARTER: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY
  • ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #5
  • STAR WARS #9
  • STAR WARS: LANDO #4 (of 5)

 

  • AGE of APOCALYPSE #4
  • ARMOR WARS #5
  • GUARDIANS of KNOWHERE #4
  • HOUSE of M #3
  • INFINITY GAUNTLET #4
  • SECRET WARS JOURNAL #5 (of 5)
  • SPIDER-ISLAND #4 (of 5)
  • SPIDER-VERSE #5
    Five of the eight kiss their existence goodbye! At least there’s a finality to these series, unlike the main SECRET WARS mini-series. *groan*
  • EVIL DEAD 2: BEYOND DEAD by DAWN #1 (of 3)
  • MIXTAPE #1 (of 5)
    Space Goat Productions (notice the clever ‘misspelling’?) have been around for nine years :0 However, it’s only really recently that they have launched some comics. In fact, it’s only been a few weeks that they’ve started producing full force. I’m all for the little guys. There is a movie franchise to garner more interest.
  • BOOK of DEATH: FALL of BLOODSHOT
    This storyline is enthralling!! Each of the one-shots may be a bit of a fake-out in terms of the heroes’ final days but how they deal is what makes each story fascinating.
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.