Pull List Roundtable 7/5/2017 – Bloodshot’s Day Off, Green Arrow: Hard Traveling Hero, Unholy Grail #1 & More

Columns, Features, Roundtables, Top Story

John Babos

4 new books this week.

  • Bloodshot’s Day Off #1 – Glad to see that Bloodshot remains a priority for Valiant. The series of mini-series seems to work of the character and I’m curious how this one-shot will fit into the current over-arching narrative.
  • Deathstroke #21 – I’m intrigued by a repentant Deathstroke forming his super teen team. The book is now monthly from bi-monthly, but still is an engaging read. I’m curious if this new direction post Lazarus Contract will generate new readers
  • Green Arrow #26 – The emerald archer continues a gritty journey as Hard Traveling Hero part 1 hit stands. Interesting times.
  • Green Lanterns #26 – The best GL series on shelves, if not best super-hero and best sci-fi comics too. Love this book and the duo being trapped in the past training the first ten GLs is compelling stuff.

Matt Graham

  • Babyteeth #2 – I’m a sucker for Biblical and weird horror, and Babyteeth’s first issue was enough to keep me hooked. The tale of a teenaged Texan girl giving birth to the Antichrist is high-concept as you can get, yet it moved a little too fast and felt like the first act of a pilot episode rather than a first issue of a comic book. While I’m not a fan of that pacing technique, as it often feels like the book is a proof of concept to secure a pitch, Donny Cates’ mood setting and labor pain set piece (buy it just for that sequence) paired with Garry Brown’s re-read worthy art means this is a book I’m settling in for, if only because I don’t want to wait for trade.
  • There’s Nothing There #3 – Matthew Rosenberg and Patrick Kindlon’s We Can Never Go Home was one of the best comics I read in 2015, and my first Black Mask title. A powerfully realized and gut punching take on teens with superpowers, We Can Never Go Home is my favourite New Mutants story Marvel would never publish. Patrick Kindlon has returned with a horror tale that pulls from my more recent comic interests, reminding me of Snotgirl and Glitterbomb. Like Snotgirl, the protagonist is a pretentious narcissist socialite that manages to win you over just enough to feel for her when things go wrong. Like Glitterbomb, this book takes the pristine Italian marble and golden trim of our perception of high society and peels it up to reveal the things skittering in the damp rot just below. Maria Llovet is a masterclass in staging shots and telling story through body language.
  • Vampirella # 4 – The solicit speaks of karma and existential inquries via Vampirella, but if I’m honest my main concern this issue is how cool that cover with all the black cats is. I’m digging what Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton have been laying down so far, and I’m glad that this book and Red Sonja (Amy Chu and Carlos Gomez) are keeping their creative teams to continue past issue #6, unlike last year’s offerings.
  • Snotgirl #6 – Speak of the Devil, Snotgirl is back after a haitus. Lottie might have murdered Coolgirl. She might not have. The first arc touched on this, but like Lottie, it did everything it could to distract from that incident, even with Coolgirl up and about and a detective who may be her stalker investigating said murder. This is a hard title to pin down as it isn’t my usual tastes, but it always finds itself at the top of my stack – it may be because every issue has nailed serial pacing with a last page guaranteed to pull you into the next issue.
  • All New Wolverine #22 – Wolverine teams up with the Guardians of the Galaxy. I could be more interested, but the early Weapon X/Hulk crossover along with Secret Empire and all the DC Metal lead ups have me worn on crossovers already. I don’t think I need to buy any other books for this one, though, so that’s a plus.
  • Daredevil #23 – Daredevil only gets better every issue under Charles Soule. The latest arc, Supreme, has Matt Murdock pushing for vigilantes like Daredevil and Spider-Man to take the stand as witness to close criminal cases. It works, but the last page of last issue featured a very irate Wilson Fisk. I admit I was not a fan of the how and why of Matt’s latest secret identity reset, but everything outside of that has been some of the best Daredevil I’ve read since the early and mid 2000s, so I’ll take whatever was needed to restore the status quo to give me stories like this.
  • Hawkeye #8 – Kate found her father faster than I anticipated. A welcome narrative swing just as the book finds its footing.
  • X-Men Gold #7 – Secret Empire tie-in, blah. X-Cutioner returns, hell yes.

James Fulton

  • Deathstroke #21 – Deathstroke, who has been born again, after a fashion, puts together his own superhero team in this issue, featuring his kids, Kid Flash, Power Girl, and Terra! How can this not be good, especially since Priest is on the book.
  • Jupiter’s Legacy #5 – This title finally comes to an end, which means new Frank Quitely artwork!
  • Redline #5 – I think this is the last issue of this excellent Oni Press comic, but I hope that’s not true. I’ve really enjoyed this Mars-based police procedural book.
  • Unholy Grail #1 – I haven’t been too invested in Aftershock comics, but this new historical book written by Cullen Bunn sounds like it will be good.
  • Unsound #2 – Speaking of Bunn, the first issue of this series, at Boom! this time (guy gets around), was a very impressive look at a very creepy mental institute. I love Jack T. Cole’s art, so I’m very down for this book.

Mike Maillaro

Pretty light week this week.

  • UNHOLY GRAIL #1 – Aftershock’s newest series by Cullen Bunn tells a story of “What if King Arthur and Merlin were evil?” Sounds like a pretty bizarre idea, and real curious what Cullen Bunn can do with this one. Definitely worth a look.
  • SABRINA #7 – About time this book actually came out. In this issue we find out Sabrina’s dad’s backstory. And then we will probably have to wait another 6 months or so before we get another issue. That is just how Archie Horror rolls.
  • GREEN ARROW #26 – Hard Traveling Hero Part 1! With the Ninth Circle looking to expand its influence across the country, Ollie sets off on a quest to stop them. This issue he catches up with the Flash.
  • BLOODSHOT’S DAY OFF #1 – Tank Man and Viet Man head to New York City for some long deserved R+R. With sexy results? I really enjoyed seeing the earlier versions of BLOODSHOT in recent months, so its cool to see them get their own focus issue. Hopefully more like this to come.
  • NICK FURY #4 – Still not a fan of Nick Fury Jr, but this series has been a lot of fun. Each issue is pretty stand alone spy story, with bright flashy art and clever twists and turns. I only bought the first issue because I have really enjoyed James Robinson’s work for Marvel, and I am glad I did.
  • Babyteeth #2
  • Skybourne #4 (Of 5)
  • Bane Conquest #3 (Of 12)
  • Batman #26
  • Green Lanterns #26
  • Nightwing #24
  • Superman #26
  • G.I. JOE #7
  • All-New Guardians Of The Galaxy #5
  • All-New Wolverine #22
  • Avengers #9
  • Champions #10
  • Daredevil #23
  • Hawkeye #8
  • Jessica Jones #10
  • Secret Empire Brave New World #3 (Of 5)
  • Spider-Man #18
  • Star Wars #33
  • Unstoppable Wasp #7
  • X-Men Gold #7
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.