Pull List Roundtable 4/27/2016 – Avengers Standoff, Micronauts & More (Spoilers)

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John Babos

11 books this week.

  • Avengers Standoff: Assault on Please Hill Omega #1 – Now that Steve Rogers is de-aged, it looks like Avengers Standoff sets up 2 new series: Thunderbolts and Captain America: Steve Rogers. Not pleased with the $5 price point.
  • Batman #51 – I think we get a fill-in creative team as the series winds down for DC Rebirth.
  • Deathstroke #17 – Enjoying this series, but am more stoked for DC Rebirth iteration, new ‘Stroke costume, Wintergreen and more!
  • Justice League #49 – I am enjoying Darkseid War, but it’s been going on a bit long with this issue seemingly 3 months behind. Curious what happens next as JL march into DC Rebirth.
  • Omega Men #11 – Curious about how fate of Kyle Rayner will be resolved leading up to DC Rebirth.
  • Sinestro #22 – This book has been one of DC’s best over the last 2 years. Sad to see it end and to see Sinestro playing a background role in DC Rebirth’s Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps series. For folks who have loved Sinestro artist Brad Walker’s work, check him out on DC Rebirth’s Aquaman series!
  • Squadron Supreme #6 – Loving this series. A pure joy despite blood soaked opening issue and fate of Namor. Great action, drama and art.
  • Suicide Squad Most Wanted/ Deadshot & Katana #4 – Curious how this leads into DC Rebirth’s Suicide Squad series and Katana’s entry onto team so comic book aligns, characters-wise anyway, with the August 2016 Suicide Squad film.
  • Superman / Wonder Woman #28 – Really enjoying writer Peter J. Tomasi’ New 52 swan song arc across the Superman Family series for the New 52 Superman. Bodes well for Tomasi’s DC Rebirth Superman series featuring the pre-Flashpoint Supes, his wife Lois Lane, and super-powered Super Son Jonathan, DC’s new Superboy.
  • Teen Titans #19 – The end is nigh; DC Rebirth needed.
  • Valiant Universe Handbook 2016 Edition #1 – Thought this was usually a FCBD issue, but will be picking it up.

Mike Maillaro

This actually is kind of a depressing week of comics for me. So many of my favorite DC books that aren’t coming back after DC Rebirth came out this week. BLACK CANARY, GRAYSON, JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001, SINESTRO, SECRET SIX, and WE ARE ROBIN all come out this week. Not to mention CYBORG. I know Cyborg is still coming out after DC Rebirth, but without David F. Walker writing it, I am not sure I care all that much.

  • X-FILES #1 – To be honest, I was never a huge X-Files fan. My sister is, and I would catch some episodes with her, but it was never must-see-TV for me. That said, I really did enjoy the six-episode mini-series Fox did this year (even if it ended on a real frustrating cliffhanger). I don’t know if I will be sticking with this series all that long, but I will give it a fair shot to win me over.
  • AVENGERS STANDOFF ASSAULT ON PLEASANT HILL OMEGA #1 – Anyone who has been following Matt, Grey, and my comments in our Front Lines column know that AVENGERS STANDOFF has been all over the map in terms of quality. I did think the issues written by Nick Spencer were all real good, so I have strong hopes that he will bring this all together in a satisfying manner. It really just feels like Marvel is biding time until Civil War II…and I am not particularly that hyped up about Civil War II either.
  • DOCTOR STRANGE #7 and DOCTOR STRANGE: LAST DAYS OF MAGIC – Jason Aaron’s run on Doctor Strange has been really strong. There is a powerful enemy traveling across the various dimensions looking to wipe out magic once and for all. Doctor Strange has been pretty much hopeless against this new enemy, and I am really curious where this arc is going from here.
  • UNCLE GRANDPA 2016 GOOD MORNING SPECIAL #1 – Uncle Grandpa is a pretty ridiculous show on Cartoon Network, and it’s one of my kids’ favorites. It’s one of my guilty pleasure shows, and the comics pretty much always capture the insanity of the show, so I will likely pick this up.
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #49 – Darkseid War only has 2 issues to go now. I’ve enjoyed this story, but it feels like it’s been going on forever. The delays in the main series, in addition to the tie-in specials that didn’t really add much to the story have not helped. I also worry that everything will basically just be status quo at the end of this story, though I guess it is possible that this will tie in to DC Rebirth. I really hope so, because if I have been reading a story arc this long, I would hate if it had no lasting impact.
  • OLD MAN LOGAN #5 and ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #7 – I enjoyed the first story arcs for each of these series. I wasn’t all that sure about either book, but both of them really impressed me. Can’t wait to see where these series go from here.
  • VELVET #14 – It’s always exciting when we get a new issue of Velvet, Brubaker and Epting’s terrific spy story. This series seem to always take forever to come out. But even with the delays, I still enjoy Velvet quite a bit.
  • BATMAN #51 – I know DC has a strange attachment to the number 52 these days, but I actually think they should have ended their series with issue 50. Most of the issue 50’s were double sized and seemed like great places to lead into DC Rebirth. At this point, I just feel like Batman 51 and 52 are just kind of placeholders waiting for the new creative teams to take over. Batman and Robin Eternal and Batman #50 seemed like far better places to wrap things up.

James Fulton

  • Aliens: Defiance #1 – There is so much potential in the Aliens universe, although it’s not always been tapped in comics. Brian Wood is writing this, so I have hope that this is the Aliens that I’ve always been looking for.
  • Micronauts #1 – I have always been a huge fan of the original Micronauts comic, from the brilliant Michael Golden art at the beginning, through the high adventure and epic storytelling by Butch Guice that rounded out the first volume. My hope is that with a writer like Cullen Bunn attached, this is going to be much more than a nostalgia trip (like Josh Blaylock’s attempt at reviving the property was). Looking forward to this more than you can imagine, even with the knowledge that some of the great characters from the Marvel run, like Bug, aren’t going to be in it.
  • Omega Men #11 – There is nothing in the DC Rebirth lineup that looks like it’s going to be as good as this series has been. Putting Tom King on a high profile book like Batman is great for him, and makes a lot of sense, but allowing truly gifted and unique writers do whatever they want with minor characters is way more appealing for me.

This is a good week for comics we haven’t seen in a while, with new issues of Sex, Sex Criminals, and Velvet. There’s also a new issue of Strange Fruit, but I’m kind of hoping that my comic store forgets that I preordered it, because it’s not very good.

Matt Graham: After Bunn’s Uncanny X-Men, I have hopes Micronauts will be a nostalgia trip that still moves things forward.

James: Bunn is great – I was so happy to see Sixth Gun back this week, and I’m digging his other Oni books like Hellbreak and Blood Feud. I more or less liked his Magneto too.

Matt: He’s got Conan this summer.


Paul Miranda

  • ARHIAN: HEAD MISTRESS #1 (of 5)
  • ASTRIA #1 (of 5)
  • BATGIRL #51
  • BATMAN #51
  • BATMAN ’66 MEETS the MAN from U.N.C.L.E. #5 (of 6)
  • BLACK CANARY #11
  • CYBORG #10
  • DKIII: MASTER RACE #4
  • DEATHSTROKE #16
  • GRAYSON #19
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #49
  • SECRET SIX #13
  • STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE #1
  • IMAGE+ #1
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11
  • AVENGERS STANDOFF – ASSAULT ON PLEASANT HILL: OMEGA
  • DAREDEVIL #6
  • INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #2
  • OLD MAN LOGAN #5
  • SPIDER-WOMAN #6
  • SPIDEY #5
  • STAR WARS #18
  • SABRETOOTH DAN #1 (of 3)

Phil Allen

A relatively small week for me as we draw ever closer to Rebirth…

  • Batman #51 – Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s legendary run comes to an end. I’m amazed they were able to see it this far through, but I was shocked to learn they wouldn’t be doing the final issue. I’m still confused on that (it’s one more issue!) but they’ve had a good run. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Cheers, boys.
  • Hellboy & B.P.R.D. 1953: Beyond the Fences #3 – I’ve been reading a lot more Hellboy lately, and these “early year” series have been great for new and old readers. Highly recommended.
  • Ms. Marvel #6 – I’m a couple issues behind but I’m so glad to see this series is continuing on with the same strength as before Secret Wars. I know many series have the same creative teams but sometimes events throw a monkey wrench into the creative works and can mess things up, continuity-wise. Definitely not the case here.
  • Saga #36 – Because it’s Saga. This is the final issue before another hiatus, where we’ll get to breathe again for a few months.
  • Star Wars #18 – The Vader Down event was great, and I’m looking forward to what else these series’ can offer.
  • Other issues I’m looking forward to:
  • Batman ’66 Meets The Man from U.N.C.L.E. #5
  • Dark Knight III: The Master Race #4
  • Injection #9
  • Outcast #18
  • Sex Criminals #15
  • The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #7
  • Velvet #14
  • We Are Robin #11

Matt Graham

  • Dark Knight III #4 – I waited for trade on Strikes Back, and the library proved my gut correct. I’m enjoying Master Race as it comes out, though. The timeline feels off since DKR was clearly the 80s, DKSB felt very 2000s, and now Master Race is nestled comfortably in 2014 concerns. The story works despite that, and it feels like a return to what DKR wanted to say about the times and heroes, while DKSB was just lavish worldbuilding.
  • Micronauts #1 – Cullen Bunn crafts some excellent stories with whatever tools he has.
  • Wynonna Earp #3 – I am blessed with many supernatural Westerns these days.
  • Daredevil #6 – With Ten Fingers dealt with and the first arc closed, I’m very curious to see where Blindspot and the Hand take it.
  • Spider-Woman #6 – First issue I am not jazzed about, given Spider-Women.
  • All-New Wolverine #6 – I’m three issues behind on this book because I’m saving it as a reward.
  • Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #5 – This is one of the more unique books Marvel puts out, and I’d like Marvel to know Kate Leth and Brittney Williams are appreciated in between issues of X-Men and Avengers.
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.