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 - 01/08

Well, last month, there was a bit of an oops -Ultimate Iron Man II #2 was left off the list. Of course, picking that up would have put us over budget - but since neither Rex Libris nor Fear Agent #19 came out, we had the room. So we got lucky there! Sorry for the confusion to anyone who might have missed that issue.

There is a lot to talk about with this month’s issues, so let’s get right to it!

JANUARY’S PICKS

Superman #672, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 01/09/08 ON TIME

Eh - this issue was enjoyable, but there were little things that bothered me. Specifically, the way Lois handled Chris.

OK - you are taking care of a Kryptonian child, and he gets sick. Superman can’t be found. What to do? Stick him with a baby-sitter and run away? That is what it seemed like Busiek had Lois doing. Granted, she doesn’t have the same access that she did prior to Infinite Crisis, but there were a load of resources available to her to at least try. Call Martha Kent. Try to get a hold of Kara. Something.

If what was going on with Chris was really minor, she wouldn’t be so worried. Wouldn’t be out pleading with the air hoping Clark could hear her. Wouldn’t be saying things like “I’m out of my depth here” and “I really need help.” Which meant she should be trying to get some help (instead of leaving him with a stranger), and if that failed - taking the watch off so Chris’s immune system can get stronger and fight the disease. Then when Clark got back, she could work out what to do next time Chris got sick. And at that point, she would have known what was wrong!

Overall a decent issue, but Lois was portrayed horribly there. Seemed like a lot of needless drama stretched out over an issue, when 2 pages would have done the job. Still looking forward to the next issue - but I am not entirely sold on Busiek’s characterizations here…

Status: SAFE

Jonah Hex #27, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/02/08 ON TIME

Best issue of Jonah Hex in a while, and largely because Hex was just along for the ride. Palmiotti and Gray still went back to the flashback formula here, which was annoying, but the rest of the story bucked the usual Jonah Hex formula that it was easy to dismiss. Star Man was an interesting character, and his relationship with Jonah Hex was really quite good. Especially considering he really got the best of Hex in every confrontation - that isn’t something you see too often.

The art was a step down from previous issues. Jordi Bernet work was kind of muddy and confusing. There are actually a couple of panels where someone else is confused for Hex - and if it is even possible to make that mistake, there is a problem with the art. Thankfully it is only a fill-in, which makes it easier to bear. And the story being the strongest in a while really balanced things out.

Still going strong - looking forward to next month.

Status: SAFE

Nova #10, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/09/08 ON TIME

I have no idea why I ever doubt Abnett and Lanning. It is almost like they deliberately choose to include things in Nova that are meant to tense up disgruntled Marvel readers who have been burned one too many times. When I first saw that this arc was going to feature Gamora - Nova’s “heat of battle” lover, I thought that was another chance for the title to fail.

As the story unfolded, it became clear that Gamora wanted to kill Nova because she was Select - and he rejected that. This made sense - but it also would have glossed over the relationship they had during Annihilation. Boy do I feel like a sap. Not only did it touch on their relationship, and explain why they weren’t together, it added a tension to it that opens the door wide for the whole thing to be revisited! Seriously - Gamora, conflicted because she lacks Richard’s integrity? Who saw that coming?

Historically, this is about where a Nova series withers and gets canned. As a long time fan of old buckethead, I can’t even begin to describe how great it is to see Nova not only safe, but quite possibly the best Marvel book on the market right now.

Status: SAFE

Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #2 (#18), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 12/26/07 RELEASED 01/16/08

A pretty good delay on this one, which has be worried. But boy was the issue worth the wait. One thing is certain about Fear Agent - you never have cause to complain about padding and empty issues. You all know the type of book - a title with a two issue story arc that gets stretched to six to make a better trade, or any title that champions “Decompressed storytelling” - Fear Agent is the opposite of that. In this issue we get a good background on Mara (her character acquires some real depth), SHOCKING SWERVES from Heath’s rival Keith, and a bizarre, unexpected, cliffhanger ending. You really can’t heap enough praise on this title. Can’t wait for #19.

Status: SAFE

Marvel Comics Presents #5, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/16/08 ON TIME

Overall, another decent issue, but still plagued by the same old problems. Namely - it seems like Marvel forgot what a good anthology looks like. There are some highlights, but it is really the creators themselves that make that happen. This title’s biggest weakness is in the editorial - John Barber really needs to be shown what a good anthology looks like, and how it is made, so that he can do a better job planning out this title.

In Vanguard, the fifth installment, we are finally introduced to the “title” team? See, this is the problem with a 12 part story in an anthology, you have to have an excellent understanding of serial storytelling, and a rigid outline. Vanguard is a good story, when read all at once. But Guggenheim just doesn’t have that skill. Again - not saying he is a bad writer, but in all art, you can’t just jump forms and expect to have the same level of skill. A great painter isn’t necessarily a good sketch artist. The basics may be good, but to transition forms like that does require practice and discipline. In this case, it seems like Guggenheim just wrote a long story and arbitrarily divided it into parts. It is frustrating, because Vanguard is a good story, but it is wrong for this title, and the divisions are damaging the story. And thus damaging the anthology itself - at a time when the industry really needs this book to succeed.

Savage Land was the first of two new features this month, this one the first of three parts. This was the highlight of the issue by far. I had a big smile on my face reading this story because it dripped with old-fashioned flavor. The lines were awesome - Ka-Zar’s bit about giving them Vinranium freely was one of the best. The posturing, the clear divisions of good and evil, the reckless villain brute force - I love it. And speaking of serial storytelling, this is one that got it right. This one part was a complete story, and while the story will obviously continue, you could walk away after reading it and be perfectly satisfied. Gage truly is the man.

The second new story was a Wrecking Crew one-shot, which just details their escape from prison. Maybe this will tie into the Weapon Omega story down the road, but having two Omega Flight stories in the same issue seemed a little lopsided. It was decent, but nothing to write home about.

Finally the fifth part of the Weapon Omega story - and like Vanguard, it too suffers from the serial format. Unlike Vanguard, it doesn’t have the quality to make it worth the effort. I mean, it isn’t terrible, but it seems like the same thing month after month. Five months of Pointer is Crazy doesn’t really give you reason to keep coming back.

The Savage Land story was worth the cover price alone. As long as there continues to be gems in each issue, it will continue to be safe.

Status: SAFE

Green Arrow/Black Canary #4, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/09/08 ON TIME

This title has become one of the most amazingly frustrating comics on the market to read. On the one hand, the mood has been fantastic. Winick is writing this title with fluff and humor, which is great. You don’t get enough of that in comics these days. Trouble is - the whole story he has written so far centers on death. Ollie’s “death,” Connor’s “death.” Winick seems to be going for an old-school mood, but he is forgetting to tell an old-school story.

Then there are the characterizations. The way he handled Wonder Woman and Batman in this issue were perfect. He “got” Batman, and has got him since the Wedding Special. Batman’s appearance in the issue was a high point. But Superman? All Ollie has to do is scream “Clark!” and he comes running? Because Superman hears everything in the world, and you just have to get his attention? What kind of monster does that make Superman, who can hear every murder and rape in the world, but chooses to do nothing about it? It was dues ex machina at its worst, especially since having a JLA Communicator would have been more logical, and more believable.

I just don’t get what Winick is trying to do here. How can he be this outstanding and this terrible each and every issue? It pains me, but it might be time for this title to go.

Status: DROPPED

Annihilation: Conquest #3, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 01/02/08 ON TIME

I think the difference between Conquest and the original Annihilation event was that this one seems so much more personal. The original had epic battles, this one has epic personal confrontations. The deaths in this issue were shocking - one extremely surprising - and the issue ended with one heck of a cliffhanger. Something tells me Star-Lord is going to live through it, but this doesn’t mean #4 isn’t going to have a really brutal start.

Nova is outshining this in terms of pure quality, but the event itself is still quite enjoyable. Glad to have found a place for it on the list.

Status: SAFE

Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #4, $2.99, DC/Wildstorm. Due out 01/23/08

This issue really bounced back strong, mostly because we finally get to see Freddy and Ash tangle. It is still a little lacking, missing the performances Campbell and Englund would bring to the table, but what is happening on the page is cool enough that you wished you could see it on the screen. And ends up being enough.

This isn’t a title that is going to break new ground in the horror genre, but it is proving good for an entertaining couple issues. Should be safe through the rest of its run.

Status: SAFE

Ultimate Iron Man II #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/23/08 ON TIME

This is a dense story - it is no surprise that some people seem to be having a hard time with it. We really don’t see good character builds like this in comics very often, and it is tough to get used to. Tony is flawed but slowly learning, making mistakes in his dealings with Obadiah, who has the makings of a great villain. Confrontations are tense, but not as decisive as they normally are in a comic - every little conflict is just one little push in a larger war - so it is all about build.

Another great chapter from Card. This one is building nicely.

Status: SAFE

Teen Titans #55, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/23/08 ON TIME

Now this is more like it. A lot of reviewers have been harsh on McKeever’s run, myself included, but I have come to discover that it all seems to be for different reasons. I read some reviews of this issue by people who were complaining that it was more of the same. Everyone still moping about Connor’s death, even though McKeever supposedly promised that would stop. I am not sure what those reviewers were reading - but this issue read more like a pronouncement that they were all finally going to move on. What, you aren’t allowed to have your characters come to a realization like that?

The flaws in McKeever’s early issues weren’t the death of Connor- they were the tone. McKeever is a great pick for this title, but not a great pick to take over the dark and “serious” mood the title has carried for the past several years. Truth is - McKeever is good at writing teens. But this title was so wrapped up in a direction that “teens” would not take that it was impossible to just shift gears. You can’t tie up the plot threads like the ones this title had dangling with teenage characters when they were written for adults.

McKeever was right - this issue was far and away better than his previous few. Not because of the death of Connor, or Kara leaving the team, but because the team finally has the right voice. Looks like waiting for #55 was the right choice after all.

Status: SAFE

The Twelve #1, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/09/08 ON TIME

For starters, I really dug the presentation of this book. The aged and classic look worked well.

The issue really ended up being little more than an introduction to the characters, and I do have to say that JMS did very well with that. The strengths of each character were highlighted, right next to their character flaws. Even the Phantom Reporter, who was basically a powerless nothing, continued to be just that. But he made a great narrator - he was very observant, and he was the closest to the reader in normalcy, so seeing things through his eyes was a very easy thing to do. JMS did a great job of flushing out these characters for the modern era by shining a light on the cheese and the weaknesses that wouldn’t fly today, and making them the core parts of the character.

The patriotism angle was a good one too - and I really hope that JMS doesn’t make a 180 on that. Patriotism is a great thing - and while you aren’t supposed to blindly obey, that isn’t the same thing as giving everything you can for your country. People these days have used the right to dissent as an excuse for selfishness, and this one issue really highlighted the difference between that generation and this one.

Now if later on down the road, these Twelve see the “errors of their ways” and become like the modern heroes in that ideal, I am going to be very disappointed. A great start - can’t wait to read issue #2.

Status: SAFE

Young Avengers Presents #1 (of 6), $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/23/08 ON TIME

Wow - this issue made me really, really, really annoyed. I didn’t peg Brubaker for a soap-boxer, but the first three pages were totally disgusting- Chaykinesque even. He plays the race card by having the black hero in school doing a report on the Tuskegee Experiments (because, of course, his skin color is what defines him, not his heroism). He has all the white kids in the class taunting him, telling him that if he doesn’t like this country, he should move to Russia, and screaming about 9-11 (because all whites are warmongering, intolerant rednecks). That was particularly interesting, because every white, male student in the room was attacking him, while every other student was a minority female. Curious.

The final straw? The “leader” of the white students attacking poor Eli was named Tancredo. An OBVIOUS allusion to Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who ran for president on the immigration issue. Because of COURSE wanting to secure the border is racist - I mean, everyone who wants to prevent people from coming into the country illegally, cutting in line in front of the hard working people who came here the proper way, and potentially exposing the country to unwanted hostile elements from a terrorist group are really just saying “We hate Mexicans too!”

I was so mortified and disgusted by how offensive the first three pages were that it was hard to continue. But I pressed on. Really, the issue was kind of empty past that though - sadly. It did a tiny bit by invoking Jeff Mace, but it was really too little, too late. The issue ended up being 99% about how terrible “whitey” is, and 1% spent actually tying the Patriot and Captain America mantles together, and showing that in a way, Eli does carry some of Steve’s legacy, just like Bucky does.

A real bad issue for Brubaker. It would have been one thing if he just told a dull story, but he missed the point of the character completely, spent way too much proselytizing, and injecting insane politics into what should have been a nice story that helped define Patriot’s character.

In my opinion, this is one of the reasons that black heroes have such a hard time establishing themselves: it always becomes about the color of their skin. Even here, where there is such a great chance to tie Patriot into a real heroic legacy, Brubaker spends the entire issue talking about how racist America is. Not only was this issue a failure for him, but it also really diminished his luster in my eyes. I can’t possibly look at another issue of Captain America by him the same way.

You really lost a lot of respect from me in this issue, Ed.

As to the series itself - I still like the Young Avengers, and next issue will be written by a new team - so perhaps one more chance is in order.

Status: SAFE

LATE AND UNRELEASED ISSUES

Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #19 (#3), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 01/30/08 DELAYED UNTIL 02/27/08
Rex Libris #10, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 01/30/08 DELAYED

Titles Carrying Over

Superman #673, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 02/13/08
Jonah Hex #28, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 02/06/08
Nova Annual #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 02/13/08
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #3 (#19), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 01/30/08 DELAYED UNTIL 02/27/08
Marvel Comics Presents #6, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 02/13/08
Annihilation: Conquest #4, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 02/13/08
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #5, $2.99, DC/Wildstorm. Due out 02/27/08
Rex Libris #10, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 01/30/08 DELAYED
Teen Titans #56, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 02/27/08
The Twelve #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 02/06/08
Ultimate Iron Man II #3, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 02/13/08
Young Avengers Presents #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 02/27/08

New Titles

Green Lantern Corps #21, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 02/13/08

Both this title and Green Lantern have been on fire for some time now. The List is a little sci-fi heavy right now, but across the board, the sci-fi titles are the cream of the crop. When you only have $40 to spend, you have to buy what is good! This issue is the first issue of this title’s Alpha Lanterns arc - seems like a good time to jump aboard.

TOTAL: $40.83

Budget = $40.00 + $3.22 (Fear Agent #19) + $3.18 (Rex Libris #10) - $3.22 (Ultimate Iron Man II #3) + $1.21 (Bank) = $44.39

$44.39 (Budget) - $40.83 (February issues) - $3.16 (tax) = $.40 banked for February

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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