Pull List Roundtable 11/23/2016 – AD After Death #1, Civil War II #7, Super Powers #1, Ultimates 2 #1, Empress #7 & More!

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John Babos

10 new books this week.

  • Action Comics #968 – This is probably my fave Superman book on stands. Seems to focus on Superman and Lois Lane which I like.
  • Bloodshot USA #2 – Bloodshots? Yes, please.
  • Deathstroke #7 – Enjoying this series. Now that Jericho and Rose are around, things have gotten complicated.
  • Detective Comics #945 – The Victims Syndicate is such a great idea I’m surprised it hasn’t been done yet. Well done!
  • Flash #11 – Opal City comes to DC Rebirth. Will Starman follow Shade?
  • Ninjak #21 – Techno assassin goodness.
  • Prowler #2 – Not sure about this one, but I’m intrigued by issue #1 enough to pick up issue #2.
  • Teen Titans #2 – Damian Wayne as leader? Hijinks ensue.
  • Titans #5 – One of my fave books on stands. Loving classic Wally West being back and a deluded Kadabra. Will we see Doctor Manhattan soon?
  • Vigilante Southland #2 – A different take on Vigilante, but a compelling one nonetheless.

James Fulton

  • AD After Death #1 – The preview in the first issue of Image+ of Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire’s new miniseries caught my attention. Both Lemire and Snyder are at their best when working on creator-owned work, and I suspect that this comic is going to be huge.
  • Chew #60 – Chew has been a favourite of mine for the last few years, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all ends. John Layman and Rob Guillory should be intensely proud of the work they’ve done on this title.
  • Goddamned #5 – Well it’s about goddamned time…
  • Han Solo #5 – I’ve had a lot of fun with this book, and am looking forward to seeing how it all ends. Mark Brooks has been incredible on this book.
  • Ultimates 2 #1 – Here’s hoping that this is the iteration of Al Ewing’s work with these characters that finally sticks. I loved the last Ultimates book, until it was drawn too tightly into the Civil War machine. Ewing works with some very cool ideas in his titles, including the new role for Galactus in the MCU, and I’d like to see him have time to play with these concepts a bit more before the next inevitable cancellation and relaunch.

Mike Maillaro

  • AD AFTER DEATH #1 – After Death is a 3 issue prestige mini-series where humanity has managed to conquer death. And what a hell of a creative team: Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Jeff Lemire. This one has been on my radar for a while. Image launches a lot of terrific books, but this one should be outstanding.
  • SUPER POWERS #1 – One of the highlights of every week for me is sitting down with my kids to read them the newest issue of DC SUPERHERO GIRLS. SUPER POWERS is very much in the same vain. A mini series of all-ages superhero stories featuring DC characters. This book is by Franco and Art Baltazar who also did TINY TITANS and SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES, so definitely worth a look for the longer comic readers in your life.
  • CIVIL WAR II #7 & DEATH OF X #4 – These two events series are still going on. At least DEATH OF X ends with issue 4; we still have another issue of CIVIL WAR II to look forward to. Someone please tell me when the hurting stops. I am really looking forward to the new X status quo, but it’s felt like hell to get there. And most Marvel books are already set post-CIVIL WAR so don’t expect too much to happen here.
  • VENOM #1 – I’m glad that they got rid of the ridiculous Venom in space story. I really enjoyed the last series of VENOM (before he became VENOM SPACEKNIGHT) and now that he’s back on Earth, I can’t wait to get right back to the adventures of Flash Thompson. Marvel needs to stop trying to tie everything to Guardians of the Galaxy. As much as I love the movie, the comics have been pretty dull the last year or so.
  • ULTIMATES 2 #1 – Not really sure this needed a relaunch, but I loved Al Ewing’s new take on a superhero team more proactively solving the problems of the universe. Hoping this picks up where the last series left off because it has been one of my favorite Marvel books over the last few months.
  • CAPTAIN MARVEL #10 – CAPTAIN MARVEL has been some of the best CIVIL WAR II Tie-ins, showing a lot more depth to Carol Danvers’ concerns. This issue is supposed to feature a massive battle between Carol and Stark’s forces. Hopefully it will be similar in tone to the last few issues because CIVIL WAR II desperately needed that depth and we only got it in crossoves like CAPTAIN MARVEL and CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS.
  • PROWLER #2 – At some point, almost off panel, CLONE CONSPIRACY took a real sharp departure. It went from “Jackal bringing people back from the dead” to “all across the universe, Peter Parker and the Jackal team up and accidentally unleash Carrion zombies, wiping out many worlds.” Honestly, it’s still been pretty good, just not quite what I expected. I don’t know if this crossover will be dealing with the bigger picture, but I did enjoy the first issue of this series.
  • X-MEN ’92 #9 – As much as I hated the digital series during SECRET WARS, the ongoing series has been a huge improvement, really capturing the feel of the original X-Men cartoon. It felt much more like an homage than an outright parody. So of course, the ongoing series gets cancelled before it even reaches issue 10. Definitely a shame. Marvel should do some kind of WHAT IF line for books like X-MEN ’92 and RENEW YOUR VOWS.
  • Black-Eyed Kids #8
  • Groo Fray Of The Gods #3
  • Action Comics #968
  • Batgirl #5
  • Batman Beyond #2
  • Blue Beetle #3
  • Detective Comics #945
  • Flash #11
  • Future Quest #7
  • Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #9
  • Teen Titans #2
  • Titans #5
  • Wonder Woman #11
  • Donald Quest #1 (Of 5)
  • G.I. JOE A Real American Hero #234
  • Mickey Mouse #14
  • All-New X-Men Annual #1
  • Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
  • Doctor Strange And The Sorcerers Supreme #2
  • Empress #7 (Of 7)
  • Mighty Thor #13
  • Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur #13
  • Prowler #2
  • Star Wars #25
  • Star Wars Han Solo #5 (Of 5)
  • Bloodshot U.S.A. #2 (Of 4)
  • Ninjak #21

Phil Allen

Wow, big week for me! Sorry, wallet.

  • A.D.: After Death Book 1 – This is one creative team I never saw coming, but am excited for. The premise sounds interesting enough, but it really is the team that got my attention.
  • American Monster Vol. 1 – I missed the first issues when they came out, so I’ve been waiting for this one for awhile. I’m a big Azzarello fan, and Aftershock has been all the buzz lately.
  • Batman Beyond #2 – This series is off to a much better start than the previous, it’s good to have Terry back in the suit!
  • Cage #2 – This was definitely not something I was expecting, but given that it’s Genndy Tartakovsky I had to give it a shot. Lots of old school fun with great art.
  • Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1954: Unreasoning Beast #1 – The next of Hellboy’s first days! These short series have been great and I hope they don’t end any time soon.
  • Star Wars: Han Solo #5 – Another cool Star Wars series concludes! I can’t help but wonder who will get a mini-series next!
  • Super Powers #1 – I always enjoy a fun all ages book, especially from Baltazar & Franco.
  • Other issues I’m looking forward to:
  • Batgirl #5
  • The Black Monday Murders #4
  • Blue Beetle #3
  • The Flash #11
  • Frostbite #3
  • Hal Jordan and The Green Lantern Corps #9
  • Hellblazer #4
  • The October Faction: Deadly Season #2
  • Star Wars #25
  • Teen Titans #2
  • Wayward #18

Matt Graham

  • AD After Death #1 – This is a three parter, so that’s an easy commitment. With a script by Scott Snyder and art by Jeff Lemire, this book should be outstanding, as they’re at their best on their creator-owned work.
  • Dept. H #8 – Matt Kindt’s underwater murder mystery might read better in trade, but he throws in behind the scenes extras for the issue buyers and that’s what’s keeping me on the line for now.
  • Snotgirl #4 – The fashion blogger chronicle keeps me hooked with its twists and turns. Leslie Hung’s art is also a refreshing standout on the shelves. I’m not sure where the book is going, but I like the offbeat tone and social satire.
  • Empress #7 – Mark Millar and Stuart Immonen’s sci-fi family drama wraps its first volume. This fast paced space opera is one of my favourite titles this year.
  • Cap Marvel #10 – I’m following this book to the end of the volume for completion’s sake. I don’t think I’ll be back for the relaunch in the winter, movie hype or otherwise. I’ve been a fan of Carol since I first saw her in Avengers as a kid, but I feel like Marvel doesn’t have faith in the character no matter how much they push her. This solo series (plus Alpha Flight!) had a promising start before changing creative teams and derailing into a Civil War II supplement. Now the next volume is to springboard out of her limelight?

That’s what this book should have been doing.

Yet another creative team (which should be good) and the third soft relaunch in under a year? For a character who wears the company’s name, Captain Marvel sure seems like she rides the backseat to everyone else. I feel burned trying to keep up with this volume in the first place thanks to Civil War II and Carol’s personality swings going into and coming out of it. For that, the next volume hasn’t earned my money or attention.

 

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.