Pull List Roundtable 11/4/2015 – Uncanny X-Men #600, James Bond #1, Exodus: The Life After #1 & More (Spoilers)

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Mike Maillaro

  • UNCANNY X-MEN #600 – Wow…it’s finally here. Finally we can find out what happened to the X-Men before Secret Wars. This was supposed to come out way back in April. It’s shameful that it’s taken so long for this to come out. I was pretty curious about how Bendis was going to end his run on X-Men, but at this point, I am just not sure I even care all that much. I’m ready to move on, and this is like the ex finally returning your house keys. Closure…sure. But I already changed the locks months ago, so it’s more symbolic than anything else.
  • EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #1 – I am not 100% sold on the creative team for this book. Lemire can be a little hit or miss, and I only enjoy Ramos work in a very narrow frame. Not sure one of Marvel’s flagship titles is the right fit for him. BUT, I do love the characters who are here, and I’m definitely curious what the new direction of the X-Men will be.
  • JAMES BOND #1 – Ellis. Warren Ellis. I love Warren Ellis, and James Bond seems like a great platform for him. I am really looking forward to this one. Another great title from Dynamite!
  • SURVIVOR’S CLUB #2 – The first issue of this series was so creepy. Lauren Beukes was the perfect choice to write this story about horror survivors. Probably slipped under most people’s radars, but I really enjoyed this series.
  • HANGMAN #1 – Another Archie Dark Circle book. I actually am not 100% sure what this one is about, but I have enjoyed Fox, Shield, and Black Hood quite a bit, so I will definitely pick this one up.
  • CITIZEN JACK #1 – The solicit for this one immediately grabbed me “A HORROR-COMEDY FOR ANYONE WHO HATES POLITICS! Every presidential candidate has a skeleton in their closet-Jack Northworthy worships the devil! A scandal-plagued, small town politician, Jack should in no way be president. But he’s got a secret weapon: Marlinspike, a malevolent demon of high ambitions. Together, they’re running for president in an outrageous campaign that America will never forget!” This book sounds like a book for people who find Prez to be tame political satire. Image puts out a lot of real unique books.
  • VELVET #12 – Like Uncanny #600, this is a great series that is plagued with delays. In fact, this book was originally solicited for back in April or May too. Velvet is a spy thriller about a retired spy who has been forced back into action to clear her name. Great stuff by Brubaker and Epting, I just wish it came out a little more often.
  • SECRET WARS – NO SECRET WARS THIS WEEK!! There are still a few more Secret Wars issues to come, but none this week.
  • HOWARD THE DUCK #1 – I’m glad this series wasn’t gone all that long. Howard the Duck is one of my favorite Marvel titles. It’s been a very funny and clever story, and they have created a strange little corner of the Marvel universe. Can’t wait to see what the news series has in store for us (HOWARD GETS A NEW HAT!)
  • NOVA #1 – This new Nova has always been a tricky one for me. I know a lot of people hate the character. And I have a huge attachment to Richard Rider. He was in the first superhero comic I ever bough (Amazing Spider-Man #351). BUT, Sam Alexander has been a pretty good character in his own right. I liked his quest to find his father, and I like that he makes a lot of mistakes. He’s just a great character to me, and definitely underappreciated. Glad to see he’s getting some spotlight in the new Marvel.

John Babos

Possibly 11 books this week, but likely only 6 or 7 this week.

  • Amazing Spider-Man #3 – I like the new series so far, but hate that it’s out twice a month. Perhaps that seems weird to you, but I don’t mind a quality monthly comic book. I’m not sure I’ll be with the series with this issue. I may be done; not because of creative team, but Marvel’s publishing plan. I’m a huge fan of Hobie Brown / Prowler, so this saddens me. My enjoyment of my fave Marvel team’s new book, Squadron Supreme, may also be over before it begins due to the same every two weeks publishing approach from Marvel.
  • Batman and Robin Eternal #5 – Batman’s (ex) Robins, Spoiler, Bluebird and Cassandra Cain; what’s not to like?
  • Extraordinary X-Men #1 – This team has Colossus and Nightcrawler on it, so I’ll at least check it out. Confused about Old Man Logan being in Marvel U proper, but curious when we’ll get Middle Aged Logan / Wolverine back.
  • Green Arrow #46 – The tone and core elements of CW’s Arrow are more and more recognizable in this series. Still iffy on continuing this literary journey with Ollie and friends.
  • Hangman #1 – I was intrigued by the character when DC Comics had the property as part of its Impact line in the 1990’s (not to be mistaken for the Black Hood). I don’t know much about the character beyond thinking the name and hood are cool. The creative team and tone of the book from the preview Archie / Dark Circle released seems promising. I may try this.
  • Hercules #1 – Another fave Marvel character gets his own book. Should be fun, I hope.
  • Justice League: Darkseid War: Superman #1 and The Flash #1 – Not sure about all these one-shots, but I have enjoyed the core Darkseid War arc in the pages of DC’s flagship title Justice League.
  • Lobo #12 – I remain a fan of most books written by Cullen Bunn. I haven’t read Lobo regularly though except for the recent Sinestro related arc. If that continues into this issue, I’ll pick it up as the book winds down towards confirmed cancellation.
  • Ninjak #9 – I believe Shadownman returns this week along with Punk Mambo. Ninjak wouldn’t have been the natural book for that, so I’m intrigued.
  • Uncanny X-Men #600 – Do milestone issues really matter at Marvel with them relaunching their ongoing books with a new #1 every 1.5 to 2 years!

James Fulton

  • Exodus: The Life After #1 – I really liked the weirdness of the first The Life After series by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Gabo. I hate that the book has to be relaunched to help it with sales, but at the same time, I’m pleased to see it continuing. This is a very strange comic about an insurrection in Heaven and Hell, that stars the second son of the Christian god, an ancient Mayan rabbit god, and Ernest Hemingway. How could that be bad?
  • Extraordinary X-Men #1 – None of the relaunched X-books have me excited. There are too many titles with underwhelming concepts, or creators whose work I don’t like (Bagley and Land). The only X-comic I’m going to be buying in the A-N A-D landscape is this one, and that’s only because Jeff Lemire has yet to let me down in comics. All of this stuff about the mutants leaving Earth because of the Terrigen cloud (if one believes Bleeding Cool) sounds stupid and uninteresting. This line-up doesn’t have me too excited either (I hate the whole Old Man Logan thing). I’ve always enjoyed Humberto Ramos’s art, but not enough to seek out a title simply because he’s drawing it. So, there is a lot weighing on Lemire’s track record, and my genuine desire to read a good X-Men comic, something that hasn’t really happened since Mike Carey left. I’ll let you know what I think.
  • Howard the Duck #1 – I loved the pre-Secret Wars Howard series, and the humour that Chip Zdarsky put into it. I was looking forward to this series too, but then I found out that Marvel is raising the price of the book to $5 and saddling it with a Gwen-Pool backup story every month (whatever the hell that is). I had already preordered this issue, so I’m going to pick it up, but this will be my last issue, no matter how good the lead story is. Bad planning Marvel.
  • Paper Girls #2 – The first issue of Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang was a fun read. I’m looking forward to seeing what this next issue will bring.
  • Vision #1 – Vision has been one of my favourite Avengers since I was a little kid. This new series is being written by Tom King, one half of the writing team that has made Grayson a favourite comic of mine. I don’t know how I feel about the domestic approach to this character, but I’m going to be happy to give this series one arc (although I can’t imagine it lasting more than two).

Paul Miranda

  • EX MORTIS #1 (of 6)
    451 Media Group keeps the match lit!! This is now title number four. It should have shipped last week. Perhaps it got lost in the shuffle. Etiher way, for such an infant company, the first three titles are extremely hard to get at cover price. One has to resort to higher prices online. Will the consumer experience the same with this title?
  • MEN’S FEELINGS #2
    Revival House is an alternative comics publishing issue. I curiously checked out the first issue back in May and thought it was a real hoot!! Let’s see what this second one has to offer.
  • BATMAN and ROBIN ETERNAL #5 (of 26)
  • BAT-MITE #6 (of 6)
  • DETECTIVE COMICS #46

 

  • JUSTICE LEAGUE: DARKSEID WAR – FLASH
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE: DARKSEID WAR – SUPERMAN
    Last week’s BATMAN one-shot was intense!! It seems like Flash has embraced being the Apokaliptan incarnation of Death!! Plus, Superman has literally nothing nor anyone holding him back. All those Elseworlds scenarios have come true!
  • SENSATION COMICS feat. WONDER WOMAN #16
  • SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #13
    It’s unfortunate this book ships one week after Halloween given it’s supernatural theme. Deadman, Phantom Stranger, and the Spectre! This title is super-scarce at my local shop given that the owner only orders two copies at most.
  • 18 DAYS #5 Grant Morrison has extensive insight into the Mahabharata and such an out-there approach.
  • MONSTRESS #1
    Marjorie Lu’s hiatus is over!! Her first creator-owned work is finally here along with her collaborator Sana Takeda. There are many pluses: (a) it’s an Image title, (b) it’s triple-sized at 64 pages for $5 and no ads, (3) it’s a cross between steampunk and kaiju, (d) it’s Marjorie Lu’s triumphant return!
  • PAPER GIRLS #2
  • WE STAND ON GUARD #5 (of 6)
    Double dose of BKV this week. Woot!! The fact that one focuses on Canada is an added bonus.
  • DEADPOOL {4th Series} #1
  • DRAX #1
  • EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #1
  • HERCULES #1
  • HOWARD the DUCK {3rd Series} #1
  • NOVA {5th Series} #1
  • VISION #1
    No Secret Wars tie-ins this week? Surpising :0 Truly!! There are very few left aside from the remaining three issues of the maxi-series (UGH!). ANADM has barely got its feet on the ground. Here are seven more of sixty-something. I lost count wink emoticon I’m appreciative of the fact that Marvel is taking a few chances by focusing a former minor character like Drax who has gained more exposure in the public eye as well as the Android Avenger who always had enough of a fanbase in his long comic book history. The cinematic blockbuster that featured his live-action counterpart doesn’t hurt in terms of recognition. Technically, this is Vizh’s official on-going since he had a couple of minis.
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3
  • INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #3
    The top two characters are neck-in-neck!! Are both books going to be bi-weekly on the regular?
  • UNCANNY X-MEN #600
    Just because it’s an anniversary issue. However, Beast being on trial by all his team-mates is eyebrow raising.
  • STAR WARS #11
  • JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES for a HALLOWEEN NIGHT
    Once again, this is the week after the special day. Too bad. I’m still gonna check it out!
  • NIOBE: SHE is LIFE
    This is a much-anticipated indie release! Words escape me, but the artwork is simply gorgeous!! The story is gripping!
  • NINJAK #9

Phil Allen

Only a handful for me this week!

  • Deadpool #1 – I read a bit of Deadpool in his last regular series, but dropped it when I thought it was getting a bit stale. I tend to like his mini-series or event tie-ins more. Now, with Gerry Duggan writing, who also wrote Arkham Manor which I enjoyed, I think I’m gonna hop back on the train.
  • Howard the Duck #1 – How can you not be excited for Howard’s new hat?
  • James Bond #1 – Not a franchise I thought I’d see in comics these days, but with Warren Ellis behind the pen, it’s definitely one I’m looking forward to.
  • Woods #17 – New story arc! I’m a few issues behind but this series has been consistent since day one. James Tynion IV is one of my favorite writers right now, and he shows no signs of slowing down. I recommend any of his other series, from UFOlogy to Batman & Robin: Eternal – all out this week!
  • Paper Girls #2 – I haven’t read #1 yet, but I’ve yet to read a Brian K. Vaughan story I don’t like, same with Cliff Chiang art. I’ve been excited for this one since it’s initial announcement.
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.