Pull List Roundtable 9/6/2017 – Venomverse #1, Star Wars: Captain Phasma #1, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #5 & More

4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #5 – This Black Mask series is one of the funniest and most endearing comics I’ve read in years. I have loved every page of it, as we’ve watched a young girl try to figure out how she can stop her father form committing a crime he doesn’t want to commit, while also dealing with school bullying, and some pretty typical friend drama. Tyler Boss’s art on this book is great.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 – I don’t read Iron Man currently, and don’t much care about whatever Brian Michael Bendis has going on there, but most of this issue is drawn or painted by Marco Rudy, who is an absolute favourite, buy-on-sight, artist of mine. I am always happy to support a book he’s worked on.

Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma #1 – When Phasma, who looks like a cross between an old school Cylon and a Storm Trooper, with a touch of original Dazzler tossed in for good measure, showed up in The Force Awakens, I actually laughed in the theatre. She was a bit of a pointless throwaway character in that movie, but now she gets her own miniseries. Weirdly, that is what draws me to it. I hope it’s ridiculous.

Motor City #6 – I continue to have some problems with the story, and how certain elements just don’t work for me, but Babs Tarr’s art is wonderful, and the creative team just has so much enthusiasm for the comic that it becomes infectious.

STAR WARS ADVENTURES #1 – Odd to see a Star Wars series not by Marvel. This one is geared towards younger readers and being put out by IDW. I suspect it will be similar in tone to Forces of Destiny. Personally, I think the Star Wars comics are already pretty all-ages friendly, but I am not against more Star Wars comics as long as they are good.

VENOMVERSE #1 and VENOMVERSE WAR STORIES #1 – My friend Matt is a terrible influence on me. Too often he suggests books that I would not normally read, and really end up enjoying them, adding to my already absurdly long pull list. Worst friend ever! EDGE OF VENOMVERSE was a lot of fun, and I find myself looking forward to these books. Damn you, Matt.

JOURNEY TO STAR WARS THE LAST JEDI CAPTAIN PHASMA #1 – Man, I’ve been doing this column a lot time, I remember talking about JOURNEY TO STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS. Here we are two years later heading towards THE LAST JEDI. Phasma is also getting a tie-in novel this weekend (actually by the time you are reading this, it was last weekend). Hopefully she will actually do something in THE LAST JEDI because she basically just looked cool in THE FORCE AWAKENS and didn’t do anything.

DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #1 – Glad they are continuing to grow the Hanna-Barbera line, though I still would have preferred them keeping FLINTSTONES, which was often the best comic on the shelves. I have no real love for either of these characters, but DC has done an amazing job with this line, so I will certainly give it a look.

ASTRO CITY #47 – G-Dog! Half man, half dog! This sounds like a particularly odd issue of ASTRO CITY, but Busiek and company always put out a great book.

GREEN LANTERNS #30 – This time travel story telling about the first ever Green Lanterns has been great. Baz and Jessica have quickly become favorite characters, and this book continues to be one of my favorite DC titles every month.

DAREDEVIL #26 – The Supreme Court story and Tombstone betraying Kingpin last issue was pretty cool. Soule has done some great work with DAREDEVIL. The next arc seems to focus on Blindspot, which is not a bad thing at all.

5 books this week.

4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #5 – I think I started this book 2 years ago. Issue #5 is here!

Doom Patrol #8 – It was a long wind up, but Doom Patrol #7 showed that Gerard Way has a long term plan and can do concise done in one satisfying issues. I hope for more of that as this series continues. Good series, but unweildy to readers not up on all the Old Doom Patrol. I thought it would be a fresher start.

Batman #30 – Kite-Man pt 2! Another break in what has been a less-than-stellar arc. I don’t think it’s bad, it’s just that previous arcs (like the Bane and Catwoman stories) were better. Also taking these breaks upsets the pace a bit, but we’ll see where it goes.

Bombshells United #1 – I enjoyed the previous series, especially the creativity put into placing the characters into their respective locations, their backgrounds, and who has and has not made appearances already. This next arc takes Wonder Woman stateside, and I’m interested to see who we’ll meet from here.

Black Beetle: Kora Bocek – I passed on this when it was originally printed in Dark Horse Presents, so I’m glad it’s being collected separately. The first series was great, and I’m always a fan of Francesco’s work.

Elsewhere #2 – The first issue was very good, and left me wondering who all we might meet in this world. I haven’t read a lot of Jay Faerber’s work before, but I have read I really like: You can add this to that list.

Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma #1 – I’m glad to see Phasma getting her moment in the spotlight, I felt like she didn’t get much in The Force Awakens. She obviously plays an important role in The First Order and in Hux’s command, so it was surprising that we didn’t get her more of background and such.

Savage Things #7 – I don’t usually enjoy these kinds of stories (assassins/mercs leaving piles of bodies to settle their vendetta) but this one is really working for me. I guess I’ll be checking out more Justin Jordan soon. I also liked his Green Lantern/Planet of the Apes series, and Ibrahim Moustafa’s art on Dr. Fate was fantastic.

Woods #35 – The penultimate issue! This has been a good series, even though I felt a little lost around the middle. I was worried this would end up going too long but it seems like things are wrapping up nicely. Well, as nice as they can when trying to mass-transport people between dimensions during a war.

World Reader #6 – Arc finale! This series didn’t quite take the direction I was expecting but I’m still enjoying it and am interested to see where it goes from here..

Other issues I’m looking forward to: