The $40 Pull List - January 2008
If this is your first time reading the $40 Pull List, I invite you to see how it works by checking out some of the previous month’s editions (listed below). Those will give you a good idea of how the column works, and what you can expect month after month. If you are interested in the “rules” for the Pull-List, check out the very first column, the 01/07 edition. 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!
01/07 - 02/07 - 03/07 - 04/07 - 05/07 - 06/07 - 07/07 - 08/07 - 09/07 - 10/07 - 11/07 - 12/07
Welcome to the first installment of the $40 Pull List of 2008! Well, maybe it isn’t quite 2008 for another day, but this that is just a technicality!
Even more special (at least to me) is that this installment represents the one-year anniversary of the column. When I first started The $40 Pull List, it was my hope to emulate the problems the average comic reader on a budget might face when shopping week after week in this turbulent world of crossovers, late and double-shipped titles, and mega-events. Over the last year we have had our share of all of them, and I have had the distinct pleasure of banging my head against my desk time and time again when I just couldn’t make the numbers work for what I wanted to buy that month.
Since this is an anniversary column, I figures it was a good idea to do something special. Well, since day one, this column has been very number driven. Sure quality mattered, but at the end of the day it was the pure numbers that one out. With that in mind, I decided that a little stat-based recap of the year was in order.
Since the first column, 35 titles have appeared on the list (of which, 13 are still standing as of the December 2007 list) costing a grand total of $479.09. For some fun, those 35 titles (in order from shortest stint on the list to the longest) are:
Doctor Fate 04/07 (1 day), #1 (Cancelled before released)
Who Wants to be a Superhero? Feedback 01/07 (1 month), #1 (dropped from the list before released)
Exiles 01/07 (1 month), #90 (1 issue)
Dynamo 5 03/07 (1 month), #1 (1 month)
Runaways 04/07 (1 month), #25 (1 month)
Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham 01/07 (1 month), #1 (one shot)
Deadpool/GLI: Summer Fun 07/07 (1 month), #1 (one-shot)
The Twelve 12/07-ONGOING (1+ month), #0 (1+ issues)
Ultimate Iron Man II 12/07-ONGOING (1+ months), #1 (1+ issues)
Wolverine 01/07-02/07 (2 months) , #50-51 (2 issues)
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash 11/07-ONGOING (2+ months), #1-3 (3+ issues)
Blade of the Immortal 02/07-04/07 (3 months) , #122-124 (3 issues)
Sam Noir: Ronin Holiday 02/07-03/07 (2 months) , #1-3 (3 issues)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 03/07-05/07 (3 months), #1-3 (3 issues)
The Helmet of Fate (various) 01/07-03/07 (3 months) , Detective Chimp, Ibis The Invincible, Sargon The Sorcerer, Black Alice, & Zauriel (5 issues)
All-Star Superman 01/07-04/07 (4 months), #6-7 (2 issues)
The Order 07/07-10/07 (4 months), #1-3 (3 issues)
Teen Titans 09/07-ONGOING (4+ months), #51-52, 55+ (2+ issues)
Green Arrow/Black Canary 09/07-ONGOING (4+ months), #0 (Wedding Special)-3 (4+ issues)
Marvel Comics Presents 09/07-ONGOING (4+ months), #1-4 (4+ issues)
Bomb Queen 08/07-12/07 (5 months), V4#1-4 (4 issues)
Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord 07/07-11/07 (5 months), #1-4 (4 issues)
World War Hulk 06/07-11/07 (6 months), #1-5 (5 issues)
The Brave and the Bold 02/07-07/07 (6 months) , #1-5 (5 issues)
Silent War 01/07-06/07 (6 months) , #1-6 (6 issues)
The Exterminators 05/07-10/07 (6 months), #17-22 (6 issues)
Noble Causes 01/07-07/07 (7 months) , #26-30 (5 issues)
Fear Agent (Dark Horse) 06/07-ONGOING (7+ months), #1(12)-#2(18) (7+ issues)
Superman 05/07-ONGOING (8+ months), #662-671 (10+ issues)
Wyrms 02/07-10/07 (9 months), #1-5 (5 issues)
Hellblazer 02/07-10/07 (9 months) , #229-237 (9 issues)
Nova 04/07-ONGOING (9+ months) , #1-9 (9+ issues)
Rex Libris 02/07-ONGOING (11+ months) , #7-9 (3+ issues)
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane 01/07-ONGOING (12+ months), #14-20 (7+ issues)
Jonah Hex 01/07-ONGOING(12+ months), #15-26 (12+ issues)
Not including Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane (which is kind of in limbo at the moment), the only title that has survived since month one is Jonah Hex. Doctor Fate, the cancelled-before-it-ever-began title, has the honor of the shortest stint on the list, with the Who Wants to be a Superhero issue getting an honorable mention for not actually lasting on the list long enough for the issue to come out.
Yeah - kind of a dry recap, but a rather fun exercise nonetheless. With that out of the way, on to last month’s issues!
Superman #671, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 12/12/07 ON TIME
Seems like a placeholder issue - but I would think that Busiek could have done more with it. It was generic - which really isn’t all that bad per se. Sometimes you just have to do the Superman fights the monster story. But with all that has happened, and considering all that is promised to happen, I kind of expected a little more here. I’ll just chalk this one up as an off issue.
Status: SAFE
Jonah Hex #26, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/05/07 ON TIME
Another great issue that started to drift back to the old formula, but wasn’t muddied up by an overly complex story. As a reader, you know how Hex works- his motivations are as plain as day. The strength of the story replies not on how surprised you are the Hex does the same thing month in and month out, but rather how the different characters in each story deal with the force of nature that is Jonah Hex. This month you had no question that those women would get what was coming to you, and you sure knew that Hex was going to get his bounty on their victims in the end (mercy? From Jonah Hex? Are you kidding?), but it was the journey that was important. Once again, another stellar issue.
Status: SAFE
Nova #9, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/12/07 ON TIME
Cosmo had better be back at some point. Seriously - the character really adds a little flavor of the down-to-Earth that has made the Human Rocket such a great character in the past. The series is still outstanding, but Nova was always a character that had a certain boyishness about him. Sure, a battle-hardened Richard Rider is a fact right now, but something to soften that a little bit from time to time would do a great deal for the long-term health of this book. What better than a dog? Well, a good natured dog who can hold his own in a high-powered fight is a good step.
Nova is an outstanding title that is only going to get better once Paul Pelletier comes aboard. This one should be safe for a long time.
Status: SAFE
Bomb Queen IV #4 (of 4), $3.50, Image Comics. Due Out 12/26/07 ON TIME
This one wrapped up pretty strong - we got a nice plot resolution, and they managed to do so in a way that preserved Bomb Queen’s character integrity. Nicely done.
I really am not at all sure if there is another volume of Bomb Queen in the works. I am sure there is - but I am having a heck of a time finding a solicit for it. This is probably for the best, it does seem like a good time to give this title a rest. We will revisit it once there is a new issue announced (or I finally see the existing announcement).
Status: MINI-SERIES ENDED
Marvel Comics Presents #4, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/12/07 ON TIME
A real solid issue this month. It lacked a strong marquee character story to sell it, but there were some solid highs. The one-shot stole the show - the Outlaw Kid story was worth the cover price alone. For a moment it was sad to see that it was only a 1 parter, but stretching that story out might have hurt it overall. So for now it is best to just hope that he makes another appearance soon! The Hellcat story came to an end, which was a real plus - the last part was about as average as the rest. The Vanguard story had a big twist, but sadly I think it was the least interesting installment so far. Every long story is going to have its ups and downs, and we have a long way to go with that one. The Guardian story? It is just confusing, and it feels like they are just treading water there. That has been a consistent low point to the series thus-far, so it is really no surprise there.
Despite the lows, this month’s issue was still an enjoyable read. Looking forward to two new starts next month!
Status: SAFE
Green Arrow/Black Canary #3, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/12/07 ON TIME
You know, I might be one of the few people out there that are really enjoying this title. I will admit that there are a lot of holes in the plot - a lot. But on the whole, it has been fairly fun.
But to end the story with another cliffhanger death like that? What in the world? Maybe it is a feint, like Ollie’s “death” was. Maybe they just killed him off, only to bring him back after Final Crisis. Whatever the reason, it was a bad call. If this month was as tight as previous months, the way that was pulled off might be enough to get me to drop this one. As it stands - I am willing to give one more issue for them to explain themselves.
Status: SAFE
Annihilation: Conquest #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 12/05/07 ON TIME
I am really enjoying how the status-quo following the last Annihilation is really a factor here. Instead of just rehashing the exact formula of the last event, this story seems like a logical continuation. The same players are active, plus several more, and the events that are unfolding seem like a normal shift in the balance of power, with one group seeking to fill the void left in the wake of the Wave. The danger is real, but everything is way more confusing and chaotic than the clear-cut battle-lines of the first Annihilation. I like it.
This event continues to be great - one of the shining jewels of the Marvel crown.
Status: SAFE
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #3, $2.99, DC/Wildstorm. Due out 12/26/07 ON TIME
As I feared, this one is starting to get old fast. The dialogue kills it - there is so much that is visual about slasher movies that a comic can’t quite capture, especially with these characters. And so much of what makes Ash great is Bruce Campbell, and lacking him - well, the punch is gone. It is still passable and I am still curious to see how this one ends, but I am not quite as excited about it as I once was.
Status: SAFE
The Twelve: Preview, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/05/07 ON TIME
Honestly, this one was a little tough to get through. It was the Golden Age, though, so unless you are really used to reading obscure stories from that period, you might not have gotten as much enjoyment out of it. Actually, to some it might seem like homework. The industry has evolved a lot since those bygone days and by today’s standards some of these were just plain shoddy, no matter how imaginative the characters are. Rockman is a weird underground version of Namor, but for all of his unoriginality, he actually seems to have the most potential of the three that have been introduced this far. The Phantom Reporter? Well, he is just bad. Outside the overdone look, the writing on his one and only appearance was simply terrible. Though he might have a future as well - a little bit of fine tuning and he would be a perfect fit with the Great Lakes… Initiative. Or whatever they are called these days. The Laughing Mask could go either way. He is a character in dire need of a complete remake, but they can only do so much here - they still have to retain the look and feel of the original.
Not as excited as I was before I read the preview, but I am still looking forward to the first issue.
Status: SAFE
Ultimate Iron Man II, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/12/07 ON TIME
This one picks right up where the last one left off, and once again Card is off to a great start. The story is deep and interesting, and the threads of the Ultimate Universe as we know it are beginning to show themselves. That “Previously” page was a bit thick - but well worth it if you haven’t followed the story until now (otherwise - it is safe to skip it). Card once again proved my faith in him as a writer - we got a really tight story in which things actually happened - all wrapping up with a nice ending that makes you want to pick up the next issue. A lot of comic scribes today should take lessons from this issue. Well done - can’t wait to see where this story takes us.
Status: SAFE
LATE AND UNRELEASED ISSUES
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #2 (#18), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 12/26/07 DELAYED
You know, I am really not sure what happened here. There is some problems at my local comic shop of choice of late, and they may not have gotten this one in - on the other hand, I can’t find a copy, nor have I found mention of it anywhere. And since it was dropped for the shipping lists - well, who knows. Hopefully it will be out soon. I will continue to keep an eye out for it.
Teen Titans #55, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/23/08.
Rex Libris #10, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 01/30/08
-=JANUARY 2008 PULL LIST=-
Titles Carrying Over
Superman #672, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 01/09/08
Jonah Hex #27, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/02/08
Nova #10, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/09/08
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #2 (#18), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 12/26/07 DELAYED
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #3 (#19), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 01/30/08
Marvel Comics Presents #5, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/16/08
Green Arrow/Black Canary #4, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/09/08
Annihilation: Conquest #3, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 01/02/08
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #4, $2.99, DC/Wildstorm. Due out 01/23/08
Rex Libris #10, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 01/30/08
Teen Titans #55, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/23/08
The Twelve #1, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/09/08
New Titles
Young Avengers Presents #1 (of 6), $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/23/08
This month’s “new” book was a tough choice. On the top of the list was Rick Remenders End League. In the end I had to decide against that though, mostly because Fear Agent is such a mainstay on the list. With such a tight budget, you really have to spread things out a bit, you know? The first Young Avengers series was a fantastic one, and though we are getting different writers here, I think it will be good to see these characters back in action. I have high hopes for this series.
TOTAL: $39.83
Budget = $40.00 + $3.22 (Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #2) + $.91 (Bank) = $44.13
$44.13 (Budget) - $39.83 (January issues) - $3.09 (tax) = $1.21 banked for February
The title to watch next month is going to have to be the new Teen Titans. That issue is the start of a new arc, and the arc in which McKeever promised that the “good stuff” will be starting. Hopefully the man is good for his word! Green Arrow/Black Canary is suddenly teetering on the brink - it will take a very strong issue to secure a spot on the February list. And Superman? In retrospect, it does seem like that title has had more than its share of “off” issues for its short time on the list. It really needs a strong start next month to assure safety.
It has been a great first year, and I want to thank all of you for your continued interest in this little experiment. With luck, you will stick around for many more! Thanks for reading!
Here is this month’s Pull-List to print out and bring with you to the store: Here you go! Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the file, as always. If you don’t have it, you can download the latest version for free at Adobe.com.
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