Pull List Roundtable 4/20/2016 – Black-Eyed Kids #1, Dept. H #1, Divinity II #1, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #1, Joyride #1, & More (Spoilers)

Columns, Features, Roundtables, Top Story

Mike Maillaro

  • BLACK-EYED KIDS #1 – Another new AfterShock series launching with a $2 price point. At this point, I will pretty much try anything AfterShock puts out. Every series I’ve tried I have enjoyed, and it’s hard to beat a first issue for $2. This one is about the creepy urban legend, and is supposed to be a survival horror comic. I love a good horror comic!
  • JOYRIDE #1 – I am not really sure what this new series from Boom is all about, but the cover really caught my eye, so I decided to give it a shot. Basically in the future, Earth sucks, so a bunch of kids steal a spaceship to get out of that dump. I keep hearing comparisons to Young Avengers and Runaways…and that may just be marketing, but I loved those series, so I figured why not check out the first issue.
  • ACTION COMICS #51 – Superman #51 got Super-League off to a huge start. It’s been a long time since I was this excited about Superman. It’s looking like Superman will be a big part of DC Rebirth, and if the quality stays as good as it’s been the last few months, you can definitely count me in as a customer.
  • THE DRESDEN FILES: WILD CARD #1 – I was a big fan of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, though the last few books have gotten a little too grim and depressing for me. But Dynamite has done a great job with their comic series set in between the books. They are a little more light-hearted and feel more like The Dresden Files I always enjoyed. I am sure I will eventually get caught up on the books, but for now, I will stick to the comics.
  • STAR TREK: MANIFEST DESTINY #1/STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY #5 – I am happy that IDW’s been so successful with their comics set in the “new” Star Trek universe. They have done a great job telling new stories in this sandbox, and they seem to be continuing to expand the range. I keep hoping we get stories set in the future of this time line. I want to see their take on Picard and company.
  • HYPERION #2 – I was sort of inclined to pass up on this one, but I did enjoy the New Avengers issue that led into this series. I am still not quite sold on this one, but I did enjoy the first issue enough to give it another shot. But there are a lot of comics out there, so this series is going to have to do something dramatic quick to keep my interest.
  • DIVINITY II #1 – Divinity got off to a strong start, but I did think it started to drag a bit towards the end. I do like the ideas set up in the book, and Divinity’s later appearances in Imperium. I do think there is a lot of potential here, and hopefully the execution will feel a little stronger in the second series. I did like the second Doctor Mirage mini-series far more than the first, so that makes me inclined to think Valiant learns from their mistakes.
  • NEW AVENGERS #10 – AMERICAN KOIJU! With all the muscle Marvel has put behind crappy ideas like Spider-Gwen and Gwen Pool, I really hope they put some of that energy behind my new favorite Marvel character. Todd Ziller is such a crazy idea, and I am looking forward to seeing him continue to fight the Avengers’ giant robot. This is just about the most insane thing I have seen in comics in a long time, and I want more!
  • ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #6 – I know a lot of people loved Fraction’s Hawkeye run, but I actually wasn’t a huge fan. I think Jeff Lemire has done a far better job helping readers see what’s unique about Clint Barton and Kate Bishop. All-New Hawkeye has done a lot with different time periods, and it’s made for a real compelling comic story. Definitely a very underrated series. Lemire can be hit or miss (just look at Extraordinary X-Men which also comes out this week), but when he’s on, he does put out some terrific comic stories.
  • ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #7, TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #5 & NOVA #6 – I am lumping these series together because I do actually enjoy them all, but I also think that they are both dragging on a little. Marvel seems incapable of telling a fast paced story these days. It really feels like every mystery has to be dragged out, with Marvel giving us literal a small piece each issue to the point that I lose interest by the time they get to the reveal. This has also been a problem with Extraordinary X-Men’s teases about what happened to Cyclops. I don’t mind a slow reveal, but there needs to be enough compelling stuff in the comic to keep me interested in waiting for the answers.

Matt Graham

  • Dept. H #1 – I spent my school years reading sci-fi and learning everything I could about the ocean. I always found it strange we focused so much on what’s outside of our planet when we still haven’t cracked the mysteries of Earth. The ocean is a mysterious and terrifying thing to me, full of glimpsed shapes lurking beneath the surface and unseen horrors always just beneath your legs in the open blue. Michael Crichton’s Sphere was one of my favourite books in middle school. A few years ago I was blessed with The Wake. Now at the close of MGMT, Matt Kindt and Sharlene Kind offers Dept. H, a sci fi underwater murder mystery.

I’ll quote Paste Magazine on this one: “Like a cross between sci-fi Jack London, The Abyss and the criss-cross espionage of Kindt’s previous material, there is no element of this new project we’re not ecstatically awaiting.”-PASTE MAGAZINE

  • Harley’s Little Black Book #3 – I’ve enjoyed this Team-Up themed series. Perfect palette cleanser for a break from Dept. H and Deadly Class.
  • Aloha Hawaiian Dick #1 (Of 4) – I broke the spine of the first trade of this B. Clay Moore 50’s noir. The two sequels have kept the pace on this sunlit supernatural Raymond Chandler homage, and this shouldn’t disappoint.
  • Cry Havoc #4 – As a veteran, a comic with an Afghanistan veteran has me curious. The fact she’s a werewolf mercenary musician grabs me by the throat and mangles me. I love Ryan Kelly’s woodcut art approach and the use of colour.
  • Tokyo Ghost #6 – It’s been a long enough hiatus. I need Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth illustrated cyber punk. Rick Remender doesn’t seem to be able to do wrong with his independent titles.
  • Power Man and Iron Fist #3 and AN Hawkeye #6 will round it out.

James Fulton

  • 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #1 – I’ve been pretty impressed with a lot of Black Mask’s output, and this looks to be a stylish and exciting series. Definitely worth checking out.
  • Aloha Hawaiian Dick #1 – I think B. Clay Moore is one of the most underrated writers in the comics game. I’ve yet to read a book by him that I didn’t like. The earlier Hawaiian Dick minis were excellent, and while I’m going to miss the original artist, this still looks very cool.
  • Criminal 10th Anniversary Special Edition – I can’t imagine a time when I’m not going to get excited about a new comic by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, but seeing them return to one of their finest titles is always going to be a standout moment.
  • The Sixth Gun #48 – It’s been ages since an issue of The Sixth Gun has come out, so I feel we are way overdue. There are only three issues left in Cullen Bunn’s career-making fantasy Western series.
  • Turncoat #2 – The first issue of this series, drawn by the incredible Artyom Trakhanov, was a very pleasant surprise. This is an odd series about the world which is recovering from an alien occupation, and the police detective who managed to anger everyone on both sides of the battle for independence. It has a very dense story, and a ton of ideas on every page.

John Babos

8 books this week.

  • Action Comics #51 – This is the best Superman has been in some time. So glad Peter Tomasi is writing Superman in Rebirth. This arc that crosses all New 52 Superman family titles will see the New Super-Man and Superwoman debut and the first meeting of the New 52 Superman and the pre-Flashpoint version who replaces him in DC Rebirth.
  • Aquaman #51, Flash #50 & Wonder Woman #51 – The end of the New 52 is nigh.
  • Bloodshot Reborn #12 – Loving this series!
  • Superman: Lois and Clark #7 & Titans Hunt #7 – Two amazing mini-series that tie Convergence, the New 52 and DC Rebirth together. Great reads establishing DC’s missing legacy.
  • X-O Manowar #46 – The final part of the cross-over with Ninjak! Fun stuff.

Phil Allen

Just a few I want to talk about his week, but many others I’ll be getting.

  • All-New Hawkeye #6 – Big things happening in Team Hawkeye lately. At first I felt this run was trying to be what the Fraction/Aja run was but now it’s starting to make it’s own way.
  • East of West #25 – The beginning of the end (of Year Two) is here! I spoke with Nick Dragotta at Emerald City ComiCon last weekend and he said he was very excited for what’s coming up. If this is the end, I’ll be sad to see the series go but it’s been a helluva ride. Hopefully Hickman and Dragotta will work together more in the future, they’ve got great team chemistry.
  • Lazarus: Sourcebook #1 – Rucka and Lark make a great team, and this series is maybe the best example of that (see also Gotham Central).
  • The Twilight Zone: The Shadow #1 – I haven’t read a solo Shadow book since I read Howard Chaykin’s “Blood and Judgment” a year or so ago, but I enjoyed Justice Inc. and Matt Wagner’s Shadow/Grendel crossover in 2014. The Twilight Zone series from the same year was also very good, so this should be a treat.
  • Other issues I’m looking forward to:
  • Captain Marvel #4
  • Doctor Fate #11
  • Howard the Duck #6
  • Huck #6
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us, Year Five #8
  • James Bond #6
  • Legends of Tomorrow #2
  • Martian Manhunter #11
  • Robin: Son of Batman #11
  • Spider-Man / Deadpool #4
  • Tokyo Ghost #6

Paul Miranda

  • BLACK-EYED KIDS #1
    AfterShock shows no signs of slowing down!! This is the third newest title that should be priced at $1.99. Wait and see. Either way, the premise is downright bone-chilling!! This goes much farther than Children of the Corn.
  • 4 KIDS WALK into a BANK #1
    Black Mask’s transgressive works make them fan faves and instant sell-outs. On top of that, the low print runs make these comics frustratingly hard to get. If the title doesn’t grab your attention, you’re dumber than a bag of rocks.
  • JOYRIDE #1 (of 4)
    BOOM! keeps dropping their own bombs. Youth in space rebelling against galactic establishment. Canadian Marcus To (how’s it going, eh?) is doing the interiors.
  • ALL-NEW CLASSIC CAPTAIN CANUCK #1
  • CHAPTERHOUSE ARCHIVES: CAPTAIN CANUCK #1
  • FOURTH PLANET #1
    Speaking of my home and native land, three freshly laid out titles from the almost year-old publisher. I pre-reviewed FOURTH PLANET by a local radio DJ as well as Teletoon host and his collaborator artist. I finally face-to-faced them at Toronto ComiCon. Sci-fi with sophistication.
  • PITIFUL HUMAN-LIZARD #7
  • SPIRIT LEAVES #2
    These next two books are by two more Canadians. These young talents are truly creators doing all the tasks: Jason Loo on LIZARD and Rossi Gifford on LEAVES.
  • DEPT. H #1
    It’s not exactly a Canadian invasion but Jeff Lemire illustrated the variant cover. Super-clever play-on-words for the book’s name. I didn’t notice it at first when flipping through PREVIEWS.
  • DC COMICS ESSENTIALS: JLA #1
    Another dirt cheap but high quality reprint of a modern classic. Grant Morrison truly made the JLA the Magnificent Seven of DC’s pantheon.
  • WONDER WOMAN #51
  • SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN #6 (of 7)
  • ROBIN, SON of BATMAN #11
  • POISON IVY: CYCLE of LIFE and DEATH #4 (of 6)
  • MARTIAN MANHUNTER #11
  • SHIKARI FORCE: HUNTERS #3 (of 4]
  • JEM and the HOLOGRAMS #14
  • MAD BALLS #1 (of 4]
    Lion Forge is making its presence felt with yet another new series. I was completely unaware of this 80’s craze but to have it as a comic has got me going.
  • ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #7
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #8
  • DEADPOOL #10
  • KARNAK #3
  • POWER MAN & IRON FIST #3
  • SILK #7
  • SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #4
  • MARVEL FIRSTS: the 1990’s vol. 1
    As rare as it is for me to mention trades, there are gems unto themselves. I only collect these with regards to books that are under my radar due to their lesser-known status or too expensive to collect individually. This came out as an omnibus over a year ago but I prefer the softcover format.
  • DAUGHTERS of the DARK ORACLE: ORGY of the VAMPIRES #2
  • ELASTICATOR #2 (of 8]
  • JOHNNY the HOMICIDAL MANIAC #2-7 [new printing]
    I vividly recall the first printings of this series but my DC/Marvel mind could not accept something so indie and bizarre. If I knew then, what I know now…Jhonen Vasquez has created an endearing lovable boy who just happens to be a murderer!!
  • DUSU: PATH of the ANCIENT #3
  • BLOODSHOT REBORN #12
  • DIVINITY II #1 (of 4]
    Curses for not being the original series last year especially since #1 went to five printings!! I ended up getting the entire mini last summer but could not get my hands on the first printing of the first issue. I’m slapping myself silly. Valiant continues to raise the bar.
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.