If this is your first time reading the $40 Pull List, I invite you to see how it works by reading the first edition. Therin you will find all the rules governing the list, and the selection of titles. It isn’t too complicated, though, so just dive right in if you don’t feel like reading back issues! In addition, this column contains Spoilers, so if you are waiting for the trade, read at your own risk!

An overall decent month – no real hard choices about what to keep and what to dump, though there was at least one surprise. The potential budget crisis was easily averted – so while we don’t’ need to worry about dropping a title to make way for a new book to sample, we are faced with the equally daunting task of filling up the list with a bunch of new books, and still maintaining some diversity.

Well, only one person last month seemed to know the answer to the Buffy trivia question, and has won the issue of his choice as a prize. Surprise to me – I expected that would be an easy one! Oh well, perhaps I will go with something a little easier the next time I opt to run a contest.

APRIL’S PICKS

Silent War #4, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 04/25/07. ON TIME Hmmm – this issue was definite padding. To give it credit for any more would be far too generous. It does seem possible that Hine is building towards a new status quo for the Inhumans, but that might be reading into things too much. In short, this was an off chapter, but it does still seem that there are bold things on the horizon. Hopefully things pick back up again next issue.

Status: SAFE

The Brave and the Bold #3, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 04/18/07. ON TIME Much more enjoyable this time around, even the Supergirl parts. A Supergirl/Lobo team-up next month is a little worrisome, but provided she isn’t throwing herself at him the whole issue like she was Hal Jordan, it might be tolerable. But as expected, the Blue Beetle/Batman team-up was an awesome one. I especially liked Batman’s interaction with La Dama, and though that was a very clever way to get her into the story. Things are starting to get a little confusing – this title could be quite well served by a recap page. Waid did an outstanding job portraying Jaime as a nervous kid afraid of messing up, and Waid played Batman perfectly: still in character as the frightening Dark Knight, but through that intimidation, someone who has a great deal of experience working with young, less-skilled partners. Batman the mentor came out here, and that dynamic would have been missed by most writers taking on this story. Issue #4 isn’t due out until June 20th, so a we will have a month off on this one.

Status: SAFE

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #2, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due out 04/04/07. ON TIME Am I the only one out there that winces whenever “Scooby Gang” is used in reference to Buffy’s circle? Don’t ask me why, that description always bugged the heck out of me. Anyway, the issue! Moreso than the first issue, the voices of the characters were really strong. You could see this being a script of the show, and imagine the actors saying the lines. That is one of the two key components that will make this series a success. So far the story does feel like a continuation of the show, and that is the biggest mark going for this title. In terms of negative – the story really isn’t all that interesting. We still haven’t got any “grand scheme” for this group, and the issue suffers as a result. Early in the show, it was one Slayer (and her friends to support her) who slayed vampires. But Buffy was alone – she didn’t have an army at her disposal, and she had to balance the Slayer with a normal life. That struggle gave the story focus. Maybe Whedon is building a new focus, and figures the show’s popularity (as well as his own) will keep the interest of the reader while he does that. It might work too – there is some excitement reading “The further adventures of,” and as long as Whedon realizes the existing status quo won’t work for very long, this book should be safe for the long term. If not – around issue #8, the luster is going to start to wear off. Still strong – but not inpenertrable.

Status: SAFE

Blade of the Immortal #123, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due out 03/14/07. ON TIME
Blade of the Immortal #124, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due out 04/11/07. ON TIME As it turns out, #123 was on time too. Neither LCS in my area have any idea why they didn’t get it last month, nor do they seem to know when they actually did get it. Strange. These two issues proved as difficult to read as #122 – and while it is clear that Samura does have something special here, it loses too much in the translation for the casual read. For a student of the genre – a powerful title. But especially for someone like me who just isn’t that into the manga in the first place it is just too much, despite the obvious skill that went into its creation. Perhaps I will try out a different Manga title again sometime in the future, but for now, this title is more trouble than it is worth.

Status: DROPPED

Wyrms #3, $2.99, Marvel/Dabel Brothers. Due out 04/18/07. Released: 04/18/07 You know what is missing from this? A few page sequence where we are given a graphic interpretation of what Patience feels when the Cranning Call comes over her. That is the real weakness in this title – a lack of boldness with the adaptation. In comics, you don’t get pages and pages of color. In the Wyrms novel, Card spent a great deal of time explaining exactly what Patience was going through when she felt the call. That kind of description doesn’t work of your adaptation deals mostly with the dialogue. Bolder steps are needed for something like that, even if it means you need to create a sequence based on Card’s description that really drives the point home to the reader. That alone would take this series from something that fans of the book would enjoy to something everyone would have to read. As it is, I am a fan of the book, so I am enjoying the heck out of it. So it stays!

Status: SAFE

Hellblazer #231, $2.99, DC Comics/Vertigo. Due out 04/18/07. ON TIME What a great start. As with the last issue, the only real drawback to this issue was the dodgy flashback style. That problem would have been compounded for a new reader picking up THIS issue for the first time – if you didn’t know what they were flashing back too, you would have no idea what was going on. Beyond that, no too packed, but not too padded, easy to follow and generally enjoyable. Diggle seems to be a really good fit for this title – I can’t wait to see what he has lined up next.

Status: SAFE

Noble Causes #29, $3.50, Image Comics. Due out 04/18/07. NOT YET RELEASED Grumble. Well, it is Image, and tardiness is something you just have to expect. #29 is now set to be released this Wednesday, with #30 slated for release on May 16th. Expect #30 to be pushed back as well – hopefully they don’t fall too far behind.

Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #17, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 04/11/07. ON TIME You know, after a few months, it is really easy to see how this book can become a guilty pleasure. Like any good soap opera, it is corny at times, all about who is hooking up with who (or trying to steal who), and all the drama that comes as a result, but you can’t pull yourself away. Of course, McKeever’s time is rapidly coming to a close on this title, which makes it difficult to get too emotionally invested in it – what will happen once he says goodbye? Will Marvel cancel the title? Hand it over to Warren Ellis and David Finch? Chuck Austen and Rob Liefeld? Well, best to cross that bridge when we get to it. For now (and as far as this list is concerned), I am going to stick with it until then.

Status: SAFE

Jonah Hex #18, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 04/04/07. ON TIME Yikes! Talk about a story. Jonah got played hard here, and despite his brain telling him that he should mind his own business, his heart won out and it cost him. This just isn’t a quandary normal super-heroes ever have – when Jonah Hex jumps in a fight, people die. And if he picks the wrong side – well, that is a lot of weight for one soul to carry. Kind of explains why Jonah is so hesitant to help the people he comes across who seem to be in real need to the reader, who knows the rest of the story. Enjoyable as always.

Status: SAFE

All Star Superman #7, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 04/11/07. ON TIME I guess you could call it on time. It was supposed to come out in March, but once there was finally a solid date attached to it, it was pushed back another month. It was an enjoyable read, but in the end it wasn’t worth the wait. It was a little confusing, especially for those who hadn’t read the previous issues and didn’t understand what things like the Underverse were. Morrison has developed a great classic feel here, and as a monthly, this would be a tremendous title. Unfortunately, the extreme wait between issues really amplify its flaws. It is really more trouble than it is worth to have to keep your ear to the ground and watch for the next issue, whenever it comes out. It seems to make more sense to drop this on in favor of another Superman book that actually comes out once a month.

Status: DROPPED

Doctor Fate #1, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 04/18/07. DELAYED DROPPED As you may recall, Doctor Fate was pushed back by DC, necessitating a new title to take its place this month. A poll was posted, and the winner of that poll turned out to be:

Runaways #25, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 4/04/07. ON TIME A lot of goods and bads with this issue. The negative aspects might be something that works itself out with time, but it is tough to tell. Firstly, Molly’s dialogue was annoying. I know she is a little kid, but Whedon had her talking way too much like a baby. He needs to turn that down a notch. There was a bit of confusion brought on by the plot as compared to where the last issue left of – but that brings up the obvious “SHEILD is having them set up Fisk” plot twist, which we will no doubt see. The appearance of the Punisher at the end of the issue sure opened the door to an exciting part II. Plus the story wasn’t padded at all, despite expectations. Not excellent – but a solid good. Sadly, not quite good enough to keep my interest. With the Buffy book, we already have one Whedon title – as we learned with Dynamo 5 and Noble Causes, with a limited budget, it is better to spread the wealth around.

Status: DROPPED

Nova #1, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 04/11/07. ON TIME Ah, old Buckethead is back. And as good as we could have possibly have expected. After Annhihilation came to an end, a logical problem remained – what of the Nova Corps? This issue features Richard Rider trying his best to take on the duties of the entire Nova Corps, but ultimately finding it is too difficult a task for one man. This issue was all about Nova at the breaking point, but still trying to push on despite the fact that what he is trying to do is impossible. It is hard enough to protect a single planet, but to be hero to an entire galaxy? This issue really established Nova’s heroic spirit, something that was never in short supply, but it also demonstrated the fact that this isn’t the pushover Nova of old. Something Iron Man will no doubt find out when they come bucket to helmet next issue. Can’t wait. Not a shred of doubt on this one.

Status: SAFE

—

LATE OR UNRELEASED PULL LIST ISSUES

Rex Libris #8, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due out 05/09/07.
Noble Causes #29, $3.50, Image Comics. Due out 05/02/07.

-=MAY PULL LIST:=-
Titles carrying over:

Silent War #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 05/30/07.
The Brave and the Bold #4, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/20/07.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #3, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due out 05/02/07.
Wyrms #4, $2.99, Marvel/Dabel Brothers. Due out 05/16/07.
Hellblazer #232, $2.99, DC Comics/Vertigo. Due out 05/23/07.
Noble Causes #29, $3.50, Image Comics. Due out 05/02/07.
Noble Causes #30, $3.50, Image Comics. Due out 05/16/07.
Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #18, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/02/07
Jonah Hex #19, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/02/07.
Nova #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/09/07.
Rex Libris #8, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due out 05/09/07.

New Titles:

Superman #662, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 05/02/07. Despite the general annoyance at having to wait three months between issues (The scheduled 2 plus the extra month for lateness), it was kind of nice having Superman on the list. So it seemed to make sense to give at least one of them a shot this month. With all the weirdness going on at Action Comics due to the delays, it seemed better to give this title a shot. The fact that a new story arc seems to be starting up made the timing all the better.

The Exterminators #17, $2.99, DC Comics/Vertigo. Due out 05/07/07. This title gets nothing but raves, so perhaps it is time we give it a shot. Expect disturbing – when you have bugs as the antagonists, you have to expect creepy and crawly. I am not sure if this qualifies as horror, but it is as close as we have really come to filling that particular niche in this list. Hopefully it fits the bill.

TOTAL: $39.85

Budget = $40.00 + $1.45 (Banked) + $3.77 (LATE books) = $45.22

$45.22 (Budget) – $39.85 (May issues) – $3.09 (tax) = $2.28 banked for May

This coming weekend is a special time for all comic fans – especially those on a budget – Free Comic Book Day! So Saturday, May 5th, grab a friend and get down to your local comic shop, and see what the various publishers have to offer. Should be a good one! Also, be on the lookout for my annual Free Comic Book Day Rundown column, which should be up sometime this weekend (or Monday), depending on how big a stack it is.

As always, I have made a list to print out a list to take with you to the store: Here you go! Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the file – I am sure most of you have that though. If not, you can download the latest version for free at Adobe.com.

Thanks for reading – see you next month!

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