On The Shelf This Week – 01.27.09

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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DARK AVENGERS #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Mike Deodato
With Dark Reign comes a brand new Avengers title – the line-up seems fairly obvious from the cover, but the “Iron Patriot” mystery looks to be the hook they are using to get people interested in the book. Is this title worth picking up? Perhaps. Definitely if you are enjoying the various Avengers books, and like the Dark Reign direction. Bendis and Deodato should be a fairly good match, and this title, at least at the beginning, will follow the Dark Reign story very closely. Still – Venom as an Avenger? Is nothing sacred?
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #1 (OF 6), $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Jeff Parker; Art and cover by Tom Fowler
Jeff Parker’s established himself a pretty solid reputation over at Marvel – so much so that seeing his name attached to a project is enough to give it a look. This series is described as “offbeat” – which suits Parker’s style fairly well. It follows a stage magician and his new assistant Delphi (seems the assistant will be the main focus of the story). Fowler’s art seems a good match for Parker’s story style – this series has the makings of a fun little title.
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #2 (OF 4), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky, Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Marvel puts books like this every now and again – strange variations of their top-tier characters in one period or another. Many readers just ignore them, rarely are they outstanding and they are always heavy on the gimmick. Strangely enough, this time around Marvel seems to have stumbled on something fairly decent. Both Spider-Man Noir and X-Men Noir have ended up being surprisingly good. So much so that it is worth looking around for last month’s #1 if you missed it and giving this title a try.
STORMWATCH PHD #18, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Ian Edginton and Christos Gage; Art by Leandro Fernández and Francisco Paronzini and Phil Noto
This series has had its ups and downs over its short history – it started off very strong, but soon began to flounder. Since the whole World End thing started up, though, things have definitely took a turn for the better on this book. Wildstorm certainly appeals to a select group, but if you are one of those who once read this title and dropped it in favor of WildCATs or something like that, it may be a good time to give the title another shot.
TINY TITANS #12, $2.50, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Art Baltazar and Franco; Art and cover by Art Baltazar
A fun take on the Faces of Evil concept, this issue is a “Faces of Mischief” issue (I suppose “evil” isn’t appropriate for a kids book), highlighting the faculty of their school, specifically Slade, Trigon, and Doctor Light. A nice little twist on the concept – not a bad idea.
X-FACTOR #39, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Peter David, Art by Valentine DeLandro, Jonathan Sibal, and Jeremy Cox
For those following this book (and mutant fans in general), this issue will feature the birth of Siren and Madrox’s child. No doubt the baby will be at the center of the title’s plot line – at least in the near future. Not sure what the art situation on this issue is – Valentine DeLandro is still solicited as the artist, but he was last month as well, and we ended up getting a fill-in team. So was DeLandro’s return a short-term one, or was last issue just a case of him needing to get up to speed? Won’t really know until the book comes out, I suppose.
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #2 (OF 4), $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Christopher Yost, Art by Dustin Weaver
This title should lead directly into the upcoming War of Kings, and so far it seems to be off to a pretty good start. It is nice to see Havok getting some good face-time again, and the expanding Marvel Cosmic Universe continues to be interesting. War of Kings seemed like an iffy concept in the wake of two successful Annihilation events, but as we get closer to that series beginning things look a little more promising. This series has started off strong, especially if you are a fan of some of the characters involved – if you are planning on checking out War of Kings and are unfamiliar with Vulcan, you should be checking it out.
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #9, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Bong Dazo, Rick Magyar, and Wil Quintana
Looks like this issue is going to be yet-another par-for-the-course issue. Of course, that means you really should be picking it up, this title is easily one of the most consistently fun titles in the Marvel line-up. The art shift is a bit of a concern – last month we saw Brad Walker taking on the pencil duties (he will be on next month as well), this month sees Bong Dazo taking on the art chores. Actually, he might not be too bad – he has some experience on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – that style will work very well here. Still, Paul Pelletier is gone it appears, and it doesn’t look like a new regular artist has been announced yet.
So the art is in flux, but the story remains awesome, so there is little to worry about. Beyond that – it is worth noting that though Editors seem to be the cause of many titles dwindling into mediocrity, there are a couple out there that are notable for their quality work. It may seem strange to recommend a book based on the Editor, but Bill Rosemann has a strange way of having his name attached to quality books. Kind of speaks volumes…
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #7 $2.99 Now: $2.69
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #37 PROPHET MOTIVE PART 2 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #2 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #1 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
STORMWATCH PHD #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TINY TITANS #12 $2.50 Now: $2.19
TRINITY #34 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #15 $2.99 Now: $2.59
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA GHOSTS #4 (OF 4) $4.99 Now: $4.39
ASTONISHING X-MEN #28 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DARK AVENGERS #1 BLANK COVER ED $4.99
DARK AVENGERS #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
DARK AVENGERS #1 DJURDJEVIC VAR $19.99
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #9 $2.99 Now: $2.59
NEW EXILES #17 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION TP HOME INVASION $14.99 Now: $11.99
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #2 (OF 4) $3.99 Now: $3.49
WEAPON X FIRST CLASS #3 (OF 3) $3.99 Now: $3.49
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #32 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FACTOR #39 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #2 (OF 4) $3.99 Now: $3.49
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
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January 6, 2009
On The Shelf In March 2009

DARK HORSE COMICS
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Page 40 – The Amazon #1, $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Steven T. Seagle, Art by Tim Sale and Matt Hollingsworth
Reprints of old titles don’t often sell great, and aren’t usually something to recommend. Something like this, however, is a different matter entirely. The Amazon was originally published in 1989 by the now defunct Comico company, and was created by Steven T. Seagle (American Virgin, It’s a Bird) and Tim Sale. This is being called a “remastered” edition, with new scans from the original art, and new coloring from Matt Hollingsworth – considering the general quality of books in the late 80s (especially indie books), this was a smart move on the part of Dark Horse. If you are a particular fan of either of these creators, and haven’t read The Amazon, this is a great chance to see some of their early efforts.
Page 56 – The Goon #32, $3.99, 48 Pages
By Eric Powell, Colors by Dave Stewart
It might seem strange that it would take ten years to release a mere 32 issues, but this series has seen two major hiatuses. The first occurred early on, and lasted until Powell took the title to Dark Horse in 2003 (unhappy with Avatar), and the second occurred after issue #18, and lasted until July of 2007. It has been fairly regular since then.
Despite the decidedly unprolific nature of this book, it is one of Dark Horse’s best books, and one of those that you just have to try at least once. A tenth anniversary issue seems to be a very good place to start. As with most anniversary books, this one is chock full of extras – featuring some sketches from some guest artists (including Mike Mignola), in addition to the full-size story. Goon fans are going to pick this up either way, but it is a title of note, and those of you who haven’t sampled this one yet should consider giving it a shot this month. It didn’t win an Eisner for no reason, after all…
DC COMICS
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Page 25 – Blackest Night #0, FREE, 32 Pages (Free Comic Book Day, May ‘09)
Written by Geoff Johns, Art by Ivan Reis and Ethan Van Sciver
I don’t often mention the Free Comic Book Day solicitations here, but this one is definitely worth mentioning. It is still five months out, but it is a brilliant move on the part of DC to release something like this on Free Comic Book Day. Marvel has been ahead of the curve the last couple days in their FCBD outings, making DC’s route reprints look a little more than silly. Finally DC has decided to take advantage of the outstanding marketing opportunity Free Comic Book Day presents, and will be putting out this issue to promote the upcoming Blackest Night event. Of course, there won’t be any real new material here – Marvel still has the edge on them there, but it will be an outstanding recap of the Sinestro Corps War and beyond, complete with some informative tidbits about each of the power colors and their role in the upcoming conflict. A “Saga”-style issue is far better than a reprint, and DC should be applauded for taking this step in the right direction.
Page 75 – Batman: The Battle For the Cowl #1, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Tony Daniel, Art by Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea
The near-future of Batman begins here, as the much touted “Battle for the Cowl” gets started in March. Perhaps this is looking too much into a simple cover, but it looks like DC is telegraphing that it will indeed be Dick Grayson, if anyone, who takes over for Batman. The list of possible “candidates” seems to grow and grow, but unless they want a fan revolt, it seems pretty clear that fans will only accept a former Robin as Batman, and that leaves 3. On this cover, Jason Todd is nowhere to be seen, Tim Drake is hiding in a corner looking like a tiny little kid, and Dick Grayson is standing tall, proud, and defiant – front and center. Sure, it could be a bait and switch, but way to kill the mystery early on, eh?
Not that Dick isn’t a good choice mind you. Most people don’t believe that Bruce Wayne is gone for good – especially with Warner’s interest in Batman’s marketability. Still, many have wondered what it would be like for one of Bruce’s heir-apparent to take up the mantle, and if anything this event is enormous fan service. And in a sense it is a great move. Assuming Bruce Wayne will eventually be back, it is a chance for readers to have their cake and eat it too. Should be fun.
Page 77 – Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Fabian Nicieza, Art by Various
As you might imagine, DC is going to throw a ton of this “Battle for the Cowl” stuff at us over the next couple months. Outside the completists who will pick up everything, most readers will have to pick and choose what is really worth it, and what is fluff. This one seems to be a good candidate for “something good.” Nicieza is an outstanding writer, and I doubt he would phone this one in. This issue is going to take a look at Gotham and some key people in Bruce Wayne’s life in the wake of his disappearance, and how they have been affected by his loss. It seems that there are “Various” artists assigned to this issue, which makes me think that we are going to get a series of shorts. That’s a good way to handle this subject matter. This should be a decent issue.
Page 79 – Oracle #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Kevin VanHook, Art by Don Kramer and Jay Leisten
There was talk of an Oracle series when Birds of Prey was first cancelled – it would seem that this is it. Instead of an ongoing, this one is a three issue mini – it is unlikely that we will see a new ongoing to replace any of the Bat-titles until the Battle for the Cowl wraps up. Hints of the plot of this mini were seen recently in Teen Titans, as Wendy’s father is revealed to be The Calculator, a recent antagonist of Barbara’s. This series will find him on the hunt for the remnants of the Anti-Life Equation, which he believes will help save his daughter’s life. It isn’t Gail Simone or Tony Bedard, but this should at the very least provide a fix until a new ongoing gets going.
Page 83 – Action Comics #875, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Greg Rucka, Art by Eddy Barrows and Ruy José
Hrm – both Batman and Superman missing. Add Wonder Woman to that mix, and you have a 52-type situation. Final Crisis hasn’t been anywhere near as good as Infinite Crisis is, but the aftermath has the potential to be far better than 52 ended up being. With Superman gone, Action Comics and Superman have shifted focus to a few allies – Superman featuring Mon-El and the Guardian, and this title, the new Nightwing and Flamebird. Of the two, this one likely has the most potential. The Guardian is a great character, but these two have attracted considerable interest from fans. New Krypton has been one heck of a story- it isn’t a stretch to suggest that this has been the best the Superman family titles have been in a long time. At least in terms of long-term consistency.
Page 84 – Superman: World of New Krypton #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Andrew Kreisberg, Art by Pete Woods
Unlike Batman, Superman will still be around, after a fashion. This 12 part series finds Superman in New Krypton. No idea if Superman will be missing from his regular titles for an entire year or not, but this will be one more series for Superman fans to pick up this year. Not sure how Kreisberg will handle a full blown Superman story – Robinson and Rucka’s credentials on the character are unquestioned at this point, but Kreisburg really only has a few television credits, Batman Confidential and Green Arrow/Black Canary to his name. This is certainly a huge step-up from that. Time will tell on this series.
Page 93 – Solomon Grundy #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
By Scott Kolins
Of course, he has worked with some outstanding writers of late, but Scott Kolins is generally more well known for his art than his story skills. Both will be on display in this seven issue series about the Monday-born Solomon Grundy. Each of the seven issues are supposed to represent a day of the week, and will loosely follow the old nursery rhyme. I suppose that means this issue will feature his “birth.” The character hasn’t really hotten this kind of treatment in a very long time – most of his appearances have just been that of the typical brutish antagonist and nothing more than a generic villain. It will be nice to finally see some of his real back story come into play.
Page 94 – Strange Adventures #1, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Jim Starlin, Art by Manuel Garcia and Al Milgrom
Any time Jim Starlin pens a far-flung cosmic superhero adventure, it is work checking out. There are few writers that handle that kind of story as well as he does. This series will be an 8 issue mini, and will feature Adam Strange (of course), Comet, Bizarro, and several other interesting characters. Recent similar minis have been hit or miss, but Starlin deserves a chance here. Handled properly, this could be a fun diversion from the upcoming summer events.
IMAGE COMICS
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Page 154 – Invincible #60, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Robert Kirkman, Art by Ryan Ottley and FCO Plascencia
OK, this one is a giant issue – a 60th issue crossover spectacular, I suppose, featuring a bunch of Image mainstays inclusing PITT, Dragon, Shadowhawk, Witchblade, and even Ultra (it will be nice to see her once again – the Lunas really need to do a sequel). Should be a lot of fun – still a solid book, and a mega fight like this should be exciting.
The first issue of 2009 is set to come out in just under a week – The Walking Dead #57. Let the vigil begin in earnest!
Solicited Robert Kirkman Issues for 2009
The Walking Dead #57, January 7th
Invincible #58, January 14th
The Astounding Wolf-Man #12, January 21st
Brit #12, January 28th
The Walking Dead #58, February 11th
Invincible #59, February 18th
The Astounding Wolf-Man #13, February 25th
The Walking Dead #59, March 11th
Invincible #60, March 18th
The Astounding Wolf-Man #14, March 25th
Page 180 – Black Vault #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by B. Clay Moore, Art by Nelson Blake II
Space has become so boring these days – at least in terms of pop culture. The romance has left, and so has the horror. Just one big reason a title like this makes me smile – a space story that doesn’t have to do with an alien invasion of Earth necessarily – just a story of helpless astronauts in the void of space, with so little to work with, having to deal with a threat – any threat. It’s a kind of sci-fi you don’t see too much of anymore. If course, given the somewhat realistic description, it might not really be actual sci-fi (being in space alone doesn’t make something sci-fi, just space fiction), but that is really beside the point. It looks like an interesting series, and a full color, full-size book from Image at $2.99 is an even bigger reason to check it out.
MARVEL COMICS
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Page M26 – Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Jonathan Hickman, Art by Sean Chen
One of many “Dark Reign” minis, this one a five parter that finds the Baxter Building under assault by Norman Osborne’s HAMMER Agents. Yeah – I kind of fear that card being played a little too often. Naturally the point is to see how bad things could be if a villain gained control like this, but for the sake of believability, you would think they would have to have him show at least a little restraint. Of course, there is probably more to this story than the solicit would make it seem. Outside Osborne, it appears that this series will have a lot of Fantastic Four mainstays – could turn out to be a solid run-of-the-mill first family story.
Page M27 – New Avengers: The Reunion #1, $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Jim McCann, Art by David Lopez
It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise if we didn’t start seeing many of these type of titles in the near future – this four issue mini focuses on the return of Mockingbird, one of the many who were captured and replaced by Skrulls over the course of the last couple events. Hawkeye (well, Ronin) is supposed to serve a fairly major role in this mini as well, so that should be some added appeal for those of you who are fans of that character. The Marvel universe is a little messy after Secret Invasion, but that does sometimes lend itself to some good stories. This could be one of them.
Page M28 – Deadpool #8, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Daniel Way, Art by Paco Medina
This issue starts a four issue crossover with Thunderbolts, in which Wade decides he is going to take out Norman Osborne all on his own. You know, this could be interesting. There was a time that many thought Deadpool would be a good addition to the Thunderbolts team (back when he was without his own ongoing), and this crossover should provide some interesting interaction. While Way is doing a passable job on this title, this very crossover introduces a very interesting possibility – an Andy Diggle penned Deadpool. He is writing the Thunderbolts portions of this event – I wonder how he will handle Wade? Definitely an intriguing idea…
Page M38 – Avengers: The Initiative Featuring Reptil #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Christos N. Gage, Art by Steve Uy
Well then, this is a little odd, but Gage deserves the benefit of the doubt here. This title is outstanding, and there is little reason to believe that it won’t continue to be that way. Seems like this might be a one-shot, but we will see. Anything that gets Prodigy a little more face time has to be good, doesn’t it? No idea who this Reptil is supposed to be – or if he will even be around after this issue, but with this title you can never really tell. This title is too good to die, so hopefully they aren’t trying anything too wacky here…
Page M39 – Amazing Spider-Girl #30, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Tom DeFalco, Art by Ron Frenz
Final issue! No, really this time! It actually looks like it is going to end this time. Rumor has it that Spider-Girl will instead become a regular feature in the new Amazing Spider-Man Family title – really not a terrible marketing move, Spider-Girl has a built in very loyal fanbase that will help that title succeed – so she really isn’t going anywhere. Sure, it is sad to see her own ongoing finally come to an end, but it has gotten to the point where it would be tough to get rid of MC2 all together – anytime a character lasts ten years in publication, it is safe to assume that she won’t be slipping into obscurity anytime soon. Of course, the cancellation of the longest running Marvel book (if you count Spider-Girl and Amazing Spider-Girl as one title, as they should be) featuring a female lead makes this issue a little more important, but that isn’t something that gets talked about too often.
Spider-Girl has definitely had her ups and downs over the years, but one thing is indisputable – DeFalco and Frenz really managed to capture an old-school Spider-Man feel with this book that was missing for a very long time, and made this book at several points during its run the best “Spider-Man”-type title on the shelves. Ultimate Spider-Man really got Peter Parker back to his roots, but in a more modern way – somehow DeFalco did a better job of capturing the old-feel that Spider-Man used to have, and I really appreciated that. Even at its worst this title was fun and something I looked forward to reading, and that is something very few titles can say – especially over this long period of time. Spider-Girl was just launching soon after I got back into comics again, and seeing it finally die is sad on a lot of levels. Hopefully she has a nice long run in Amazing Spider-Man Family, because Marvel just wouldn’t be the same without Mayday Parker in print somewhere.
Page M52 – Marvel Apes: Speedball Special, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Karl Kesel, Art by Ramon Bachs
Well, Marvel did promise that Speedball would be returning to the Marvel Universe, but in simian form – looks like that promise has been kept. This one-shot follows up on the Marvel Apes series, and explores what happens with this alternate Speedball now that he has crossed over to the regular Marvel Universe. It really is nearly impossible to find a reason to be excited about this – sure, having some kind of Speedball is nice, but Marvel Apes really didn’t have much lasting appeal, and bringing a beloved character back as a monkey isn’t going to make Speedball fans all that happy, especially with Penance still running around. It will be tough to really sell this story – hopefully Kesel is up to the task.
Page M58 – War of Kings #1, $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Paul Pelletier
The latest cosmic Marvel event begins in earnest this month, with the first of 6 issues. War of Kings might end up being an example of going to the well too many times – on the surface it doesn’t have the same appeal as either Annihilation event, but DnA hasn’t had a dud yet, so this series more than deserves a chance. The different character mix should liven things up a big, and the inclusion of Darkhawk and the Shi’ar will attract a few more fans. Marvel’s cosmic universe has remained consistently excellent since Abnett & Lanning turned things around – it seems a safe bet that this will be a good read as well.
Page M66 – Deadpool: Games of Death. $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Mike Benson, Art by Sean Crystal
Wow – an actual Deadpool one-shot? In addition to the ongoing? They are releasing a bunch of Deadpool stuff this month, including a hardcover and several scattershot appearances. Of course, the reason for this almost certainly has to do with Deadpool’s role in the upcoming Wolverine movie. This has got to be an exciting time for Deadpool fans (and myself as well, being the biggest Deadpool fanboy I know) – it wasn’t that long ago that the idea of a Deadpool movie was little more than a dream, and a major role in a Wolverine film is close enough for most. Fantastic to see Wade getting this kind of exposure – these are good times indeed for Wade Wilson fans. Hopefully it keeps coming throughout the summer.
INDEPENDENT COMICS
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Page 239 – Incredibles #1, $2.99, 24 Pages, BOOM! Studios
Written by Mark Waid, Art by Marcio Takara
OK – this kind of thing would normally scare me. But Mark Waid writing it – and it is completely new story – and only $2.99 to boot? Sure, it is only 24 pages, but of anything to nitpick about, that is relatively minor. If ever there was a Disney property that demanded a comic book, it is The Incredibles. It is only a shame that it took this long to get there. Heck, this even has an “incentive cover” by Mike Mignola. Generally multiple covers are a bad thing, but that just seems cool. Seems like all the elements are in place for a really fun comic. Pray that Boom! Pulls this one off!
Page 241 – Farscape: Strange Detractors #1, $3.99, 24 Pages, BOOM! Studios
Written by Rockne S. O’Bannon, and Keith R.A. DeCandido, Art by Will Sliney
Boy – Boom! is really on the ball with this Farscape series. The first issue just came out, and in March’s solicits the hardcover for the first 4 issue mini is listed, as well as this issue, the first of the second mini. On the whole, I have to say that the first issue of the current series was very good. The characters sounded as they should in my head, the dynamic was spot on – and the art wasn’t terrible. Not a bad start at all. The only downer is the price point – $4 for only 24 pages. However, with a smaller publisher, sometimes that is a necessary evil. Better a good 24 pages for a little more than a horrible 32 for a little less. It’s worth the cost, especially if you are a Farscape fan.
Craig’s Top Five of the Month
#5 – Deadpool #8, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel – Lot’s of interesting possibilities in this crossover – a great time for Deadpool fans.
#4 – Incredibles #1, $2.99, 24 Pages, BOOM! Studios – This comic should have come out years ago.
#3 – Batman: The Battle For the Cowl #1, $3.99, 40 Pages, DC Comics – DC’s been building this one for a long while. Curious to see how it turns out.
#2 – War of Kings #1, $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel – Another cosmic event from Abnett and Lanning – should be excellent.
#1 – Amazing Spider-Girl #30, $3.99, 40 Pages, Marvel – Might seem strange to put this at 31, but the honest-to-goodness end of Spider-Girl is very much worth commemorating.
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
Post your comments in the Forum!
January 5, 2009
The $40 Pull List – January 2009
THE ARCHIVES
2007 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12
2008 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12
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Welcome to another installment of comiXtreme’s The $40 Pull List! Or should it be the New $40 Pull List? It was suggested last month, and it isn’t entirely inaccurate.
In the past I have started every column with an invitation to check out the very first installment of this column, which debuted back in January of 2007, there I set forth the rules that this column follows, and the list began in earnest. This being the second anniversary column, I figured this would be an ideal time to revisit those rules, and explain once again how this column works. In light of a pretty major change I will be making this month, it seems like a good time to do that.
For those that don’t know, the $40 Pull List is something of an experiment. What comics would you buy if you only had $40 to spend each and every month? Many avid comic readers would find this restriction nearly impossible – it is so easy for a comic fan to find their list in a constant state of growth. It is so easy to add books, and so hard to remove them. And in this era of late books and constant crossovers and major events, that makes the prospect all the more daunting. You only have $40 to spend, so you can’t just buy every crossover issue every month of a major event – and you want to spend every dime you can, so late books are nothing short of frustrating.
Well, in many respects, this experiment has been a success. After a long period of chaotic list changes, things finally settled down into an almost mundane routine. Most books are almost automatically SAFE, and it has become incredibly easy to declare a title DROPPED before becoming too invested in it. Unfortunately this success has made the column a little stagnant. After all, how many times can I say the same thing about Jonah Hex (which, as it happens, remains the only title that has been on the List since the very first installment), or say how awesome Nova is? Something must be done to liven things up here, add a different perspective, introduce a little… contention to this concept.
With that in mind, I’d like to introduce my new co-columnist. You know him well, especially if you have been following his outstanding comic strip Lost Toast, or read any of his work here at comiXtreme over the years, the esteemed Brandon Schatz. Welcome Brandon!
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Esteemed? I will not have you besmirching my character with you terms of flattery.
Oh, uh… is this keyboard on? Oh hey! It’s great to be here. I’ve been reading the $40 Pull List since Craig started the beast two years ago, and have often called him names for being very wrong about his opinions. Now, if I can just come up with some better arguments than “nu-uh”, this’ll go great.
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Now by way of explanation – to indicate who is saying what, there are two icons. The Still on the Shelf logo, which will appear in front of my words, and the Buttered Toast icon, which will precede Brandon’s comments. Easy enough, yes?
With that out of the way, let’s do a quick rules recap – updated to account for Brandon’s involvement in the project.
#1 – Craig Reade shall actually purchase the issues on the Pull-List each and every month. Of course, Brandon managing a comic shop means he will have easy access to most titles, but to keep some integrity to the list, I will continue to purchase each and every issue. If I am not willing to spend my own money on these titles, how can I expect anyone else to? This rule is to preclude any offers of free issues or other bribes to include a title on the list.
#2 – The monthly budget shall be $40.00 (USD). Of course, the “USD” figure becomes important here, as Brandon is Canadian, but I am sure we can work with that. Since so many of our readers are from there, perhaps we will work out some kind of conversion in future months.
#3 – A tax rate of 7.75% will be added to every cover price. Most people have to pay sales tax when they purchase comics. That rate varies from state to state, but for the purposes of this column, we will use the rate I have to pay when I purchase a comic from my LCS.
#4 – Bags and boards for each comic will be included at no extra cost. OK, so this comic shop owner is super nice. In all seriousness, though we all probably buy them if we have to, they aren’t a required to actually read a comic. So we aren’t going to include them.
#5 – Unspent monies may be saved for a later purchase. This is where it may get complicated. If only $38.45 is spent in a given month, that gives us $1.55 that is left over. That amount will be added to a “bank” that can be used to cover overages in later months. Every now and again a comic will cost an extra dollar due (double-sized, or something), or ship twice in a month. This rule will add some flexibility to the list so that a title doesn’t have to be cut each and every time this happens.
#6 – At least one new comic must be sampled every month. If this list remains the same each month, how is that interesting to the reader? If the comic sampled is good, something else has to be cut to make room for it. This rule has kept the list from becoming too stale, and has lead to more than a couple interesting discoveries. The addition of Brandon’s input to the list should make this aspect of the column a good deal more interesting.
#7 – Monies from unreleased books will go into the reserve balance. Makes sense really – if a book doesn’t come out, you can hardly buy it, can you? However, while our budget may be limited, we will want to actually be spending it on comics. As such -
#8 – If a comic is not released within two months of the solicited date, it will automatically be dropped from the pull-list. Maybe a harsh rule, but a necessary one. A comic doesn’t have to be monthly, but it does need to be released when promised. If a comic is going to be more than 2 months late, there isn’t really any point in budgeting for it any longer, is there?
Those are the rules – Brandon’s on board – on to December’s issues!
DECEMBER’S ISSUES
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #1, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 12/03/08 ON TIME
In all, not a bad start. This makes reference to some things that happened in past Hellboy minis, most specifically Darkness Calls from last year. This issue was a slow-starter, but I think it did a decent job getting a lot of exposition out of the way, and set up a nice cliffhanger to get us pumped for issue #2.
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Now that I have this high paying and incredibly sexy gig, I should probably let you know that I’ve read very little Hellboy before jumping into this issue. As in… I’ve only read the first trade. So… I was a little behind when the references were whipped out near the beginning, but there ’s just something about a giant red guy punching crap with a big red hand of doom that all that go away. I’m ready for more.
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Jonah Hex #38, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/03/08 ON TIME
A passable issue. None of the rape that you really have come to love about this book, B, but it wasn’t exactly the usual formula. Though there were some bits from a previous story, and the usual twist-ending where Hex’s victory suddenly becomes all the more complete, I did think that they handled the flashbacks a little better than they usually do. Art could have been a bit better though.
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I’ll see your lack of rape in this issue, and raise you an “almost rape.” I’m sure if you gathered all of the issues of Jonah Hex that contain some kind of rape, where it be almost, regular, or male, you would have a stack big enough to kill a hooker.
That said, the whole constant sexual violence of this book is very offputting to me – it’s almost like a crutch the creators go to in lieu of needing a reason to get Jonah Hex all righteous and fisty (sic) for the side of decency. Not a huge fan.
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I kind of look at it as coming with the territory really. Hex kills bad people in the Old West- and bad people in the Old West liked to abuse women. Sure, twists on the rape theme like Jonah Hex’s near-rape a few issues back kind of make me wonder if you might have a point, but in general I look at it no different than any clichés you find in superhero comics these days. The resurgence of Western books is still at a relatively early stage, but I do think it is getting close to time to start incorporating some more sophisticated storytelling in this title, instead of the same old tricks.
Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion #2 (of 6) , $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/03/08 ON TIME
Yeah, I admit a soft spot for Sgt. Rock comics, but I really think that Billy Tucci is doing a fantastic job with this series. Lots of action this issue – Easy is pinned down on Hill 679 and face “impossible odds” as the Nazis move in on their position, and they attempt to break out. Par for the course in a Sgt. Rock series.
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Gah. Okay, let me start off by saying that this issue was very well done. It’s clear that Billy Tucci knows the subject material, and has brought that knowledge into his script and art. When all is said and done, it’s a well executed comic – but it’s not one I enjoyed, and for two reasons. One, I’m not a huge fan of the genre, and a lot of this story was pretty dry. And two? I have this thing with Americans in WW II. I know, the whole “atom bomb” thing was nice of you guys and all, but before Pearl Harbor, the American government was all about helping as little as possible. Not entirely a legitimate reason for not liking this particular comic… but still something that tweaks in my brain.
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Without getting too deep in the history of World War II, I will say that I think you have a pretty narrow view of the US’s involvement (fightin’ words!). But a discussion for another time. Despite your distaste for war comics with American protagonists, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t stories to tell – and that this isn’t a damned good war comic. Which it is. A damned good war comic. I was really prepared to be underwhelmed by it, but this is the best Sgt. Rock I have read in years.
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Oh, I’m not saying it’s a bad read – there’s clearly craft involved, and for a person without the brain quirks that I have, it would be a great read. But for what I admit are somewhat irrational reasons, I definitely find myself fighting against this book while I read it.
X-Men/Spider-Man #2, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/10/08 ON TIME
This is turning out to be a fun little mini, but the art really brings out the flaws in some of those horrid 80s costumes. Part of the gimmick, though, as it looks like each issue is going to treat us to different versions of Spider-Man, and the different X-Men teams over the years. Personally, I am looking forward to next issue’s Ben Reilly appearance…
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Ben Reilly was my Spider-Man. The first comic book I bought was Sensational Spider-Man #1 – the first with Ben Reilly being Spidey – new costume and all. Those were the days.
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Oh, this issue? Very good. Christos Gage is doing bang-up job of finding the tone of each era and nailing all the stylistic quirks. And the art by Mario Alberti is still amazing. Definitely more European in feel – which appeals to me.
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Agreed – it is a good mesh here. Normally I find myself disappointed when any mini comes out with some hot-shot import artist (Secret War being a recent example), but Alberti’s doing a great job. And as per usual, Christos Gage doesn’t provide much of anything to complain about.
Green Lantern Corps #31, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/10/08 ON TIME
I have to say that as action-packed as this issue was, it seemed a little messy. I expected a more immediate backlash from the institution of The Third Law, and I did find it a little strange that with willpower being the primary weapon of the Lantern Corps that so many could so easily be subverted by Kryb. The fetus construct was pretty cool though, and I did like what was happening on Zamaron…
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Never thought of that “willpower” thing when I was reading this issue, but now that you mention it, it does make sense. It’s probably going to be part of the resolution to this arc. But are you getting the sneaking suspicion that Tomasi and Johns are setting up Guy Gardner for death during The Blackest Night? I suspect the hand of “The Whedon Syndrome” at work… where lovers have a hard time getting together, only to get happiness snatched right out of there hands by SHOCKING DEATH.
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That is my greatest feat about Blackest Night – senseless deaths just to promote a story. I think there are far better ways to introduce some conflict between Guy Gardner and Ice than to off Guy – making Ice a Violet or a Blue Lantern seems a much better way to go.
Frankly, it seems like every time DC gets really excited about something at a high editorial level these days, it turns out to be a disaster. Batman R.I.P., Final Crisis – recent examples of DC’s marketed events really show weakness at the top. I become more and more wary whenever I read about Johns and Didio casually joking about offing characters just to make them Black Lanterns. This title has been fantastic for a long time – perhaps this skepticism is a good thing though. If I fear something will be ruined, it makes it difficult to overhype it…
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Someone else suggested that Ice will become one of the other lanterns when I mentioned my fear of Gardner’s death – and while it’s a great idea (that *will* probably happen), I’m still getting the death vibe. I really hope I’m wrong, because Guy Gardner is one of the best characters in comics, but somebody is going to die by the end of Blackest Night, and they’ve set that guy up for a fall.
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/10/08 ON TIME
Honestly, this finale fizzled a little bit from me. It started to go downhill last issue, but I really expected things to bounce a bit more here. This series isn’t really one that lends itself well to climactic endings, but issue 5 gave us a fairly ordinary Mary Jane issue, and nothing more. Kind of made the ending a little bit of a downer if you ask me.
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Definitely did not enjoy this as much as I did with McKeever’s run – in that McKeever could, and did construct high stakes endings. Or… as high stakes as high school can get. Buuuut, it’s over now – maybe even for good, which is sad. While I didn’t enjoy this mini as much as the old series, I would definitely read more – and this book seems like a pretty ripe ground to bring in one of those “legitimate” book writers for teens. And by teens, I mean girls… because dudes don’t read anymore.
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All the tension in this series seemed to get slapped on to the end there. Out of the blue the whole website thing comes up – out of the blue Harry is an issue, then she finds out who did it, forgives her, and all is happy as if it never mattered in the first place? Considering that entire issue was the main conflict of the series, it was a surprise that it got almost no attention. It felt like one of those background issues we see pop up in Spider-Girl – those nuisance, high school drama points that May has to skip to do worry about something actually important. They get almost no page time and always work themselves out. Since something like this is Mary Jane’s entire world, you would think that Moore would spend some more time developing that angle.
Maybe Moore just needs a little more practice writing a mini as opposed to a long-term ongoing? A real possibility.
Avengers: The Initiative #19, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 11/26/08 RELEASED 12/17/08
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So was this one late because they were waiting for Secret Invasion to finally come out? Seems a likely explanation. Either way, it was fantastic. 3D Man and Crusader had some great moments, the battles were quite epic, and I have to say that through and through, I enjoyed this arc far more than Secret Invasion itself. And the brief Great Lakes Initiative moment was outstanding.
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Loved seeing the Great Lakes Initiative again. All in all, very well put together. Most of this series seems to contain pretty harsh gut shots for the characters it follows… Cloud 9, who started off so innocent ended up becoming pretty cold. Hardball and Komodo just got slapped pretty hard a few months back. And the end of this issue? Harsh. But war is war, and things happen. I look forward to seeing if the Initiative survive the upcoming Dark Reign. I really hope so, but things aren’t looking to peachy just now.
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It was good to see how they managed to capture the essence of the Great Lakes _____ in half a page – Grasshopper dying, Squirrel Girl’s unhealthy relationship with her sidekicks, Flatman recruiting – even Tippy-Toe in the corner. They need to make more guest appearances like that one.
But enough about the GL_ – you are right about one thing. This title has done a brilliant job of elevating virtually unknown characters, and making them something worth caring about. It’s nice to see that there appears to be no sign as of yet that this title is going anywhere, but I wouldn’t rule out a title change sometime in the near future…
Invincible Iron Man #8, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/17/08 ON TIME
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This really is the first issue that has tied into the events in the mainstream continuity so closely. Overall, it wasn’t handled half bad. Stark’s meeting with Osborne seems to be setting up a pretty interesting confrontation in the near future, with the registration database being at the very center of it.
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You know what always stopped me from reading Iron Man before this series started? Tony Stark. I never really cared for the character and how he acted. And then… Matt Fraction began to write him – first, to great effect in The Order – and now as the ongoing writer of this book. Little things like tossing Pepper Potts a term of longing endearment that he clearly thought was harmless – and the weird love/hate thing he has going with Maria Hill really make this character work well. And the revelation of where he’s hid the superhuman database? Priceless. Just the right touch of conceited showman ship mixed into a heap of class. This is a Tony Stark I can get behind.
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Really, that’s an excellent point. As long as I have been reading comics, I have never cared about Iron Man. I was laughing when Marvel started playing Iron Man up as a legitimate A-List character on the level of Spider-Man in terms of iconic appeal during the movie promotion. Then suddenly, Fraction got his hands on Tony Stark, and it was real. Something clicked, and Iron Man was instantly interesting. Amazing what a good writer can accomplish.
Supergirl #36, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/17/08 ON TIME
This one definitely ties right into the action of the New Krypton story – which is kind of a downer for those who are just reading the Supergirl portion. Though it really isn’t at all difficult to figure out what is going on here. Supergirl’s father is killed at the very beginning, and so long as you ignore the why’s and the who’s of that scenario, the rest isn’t difficult to follow at all.
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There are huge chunks of this issue that make little sense if you haven’t been following New Krypton, but the book is still a good read. I have to say, I was a little scared as to what would happen to this book – Sterling Gates was the guy who wrote those two Green Lantern Corps fill ins, and his only other claim to fame (comic-wise) was being Geoff Johns’ bud. But I have to admit, the guy has impressed. I can’t wait to see him let loose next issue with his first big storyline. Here’s hoping for big things.
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Naturally the issue makes a lot more sense if you are reading New Krypton, but as it goes, I think the parts that relate to the ongoing story were easy to grasp or simply ignore. It was well done.
I didn’t have as much apprehension about Sterling Gates – Supergirl has been a disaster since she was first reintroduced, and I am not even sure Chuck Austen could have made things worse for her (we did, after all, get to see some creepy inappropriate flirtation between her and Hal Jordan in The Brave and the Bold). A fresh start – from anyone – was exactly what the doctor ordered. This new Superwoman angle is interesting – I can’t shake the notion that this is somehow her mother gone crazy, or some other kind of twist, but it is interesting enough to make me want to read the next issue.
As far as Gates’ story on Green Lantern Corps – ug, don’t remind me…
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Snnnnnnnzzzzz… snnnnnnzzzz…
Oh what? Sorry. Mentioning that fill in more than once makes me sleepy. It’s like that game, where you say Bloody Mary into the mirror a bunch of times, only instead of Bloody Mary coming out to kill you, I just get sleepy. Let’s continue.
Wonder Woman #27, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/24/08 ON TIME
This is much, much better. Until last issue, I was really beginning to have my doubts about Simone’s run on this title, but she has stepped things up with this arc. I remain skeptical, because I have felt that things were improving before, but this might well be the real deal here.
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I have to admit, this book is growing on me. Diana really seems like a hard character to nail, but things seem to be percolating for big, crazy plots in the future.
Nova #20, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/24/08 ON TIME
Ha ha – Ego as a Centurion? I know the Nova Corps is pretty well a Green Lantern Corps rip-off, but this is a little obvious! Nonetheless, this was a fun issue, as usual, and it was nice to see a couple more original New Warriors popping up.
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Solicitations are pointing towards some craziness involving Worldmind in the next few issues… and involving Ego is making this all the more interesting. I have to admit, the only thing I’ve read with Ego in it was an issue of Marvel Adventures Avengers, where Ego came looking for a bootie call with earth. I highly doubt the outcome will be as hilarious as that was, but still. Very interested.
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I haven’t caught the future solicits yet, but I have been getting the sense that there is something wrong with Worldmind – it makes sense considering how it got to where it is now, but there was almost no mention of that this issue. Richard really seemed to think that his concern over Worldmind were his own issues and nothing more. Of course, DnA have done a great job of letting issues develop in the background, and there was little reason to advance that plot very much this issue, with the New Warriors reunion at the forefront.
Avengers: The Initiative #20, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 12/24/08 RELEASED 12/31/08
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Disarray is the best word I can think of to describe this issue – and that really is as it should be.
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This is very much one of those “in between” issues – where all the causes and problems of the last big arc create a new status to go from. Hank Pym’s talking with his dead wife, Ant Man is off to bigger and… better things? And The Skrull Kill Krew are off to fight another day! All in all, the playing field is ready for more awesomeness as writer Christos Gage gives the book a go on his own next month.
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Yes indeed, it should be good. It was kind of tough to say much about this issue in particular – things are so messy for the characters involved that any kind of coherent plot is neigh impossible. Picking up the pieces is going to be fun to watch. I do have to say that I had some issue with the art this month. Tigra, mostly, really stuck out as bad, and from there I started to nitpick. Steve Kurth’s Tigra is frankly horrible, and that really left a black stain on an otherwise great issue.
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I didn’t mind the Tigra. That said, I’ve seen very little of her. All I know is that she’s a tiger, and once hit on Jarvis, so, you know… good for Jarvis.
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She looked like a puddle of mud wearing bad lingerie man… Dunno if it was just his pencils or a bad color job from Matt Milla, but it didn’t look right. I did like the interaction between Hellcat and Tigra though, they do have something of a common history, but that doesn’t change that artistic eyesore…
Teen Titans #66, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 12/31/08 ON TIME
I thought this was not a terrible issue – granted, not much happened outside a lot of banter, but there hasn’t been much chance for that of late. It did seem like there was a disappointing lack of actual new members. I like the addition of Misfit, in the past, some of the most interesting Teen Titans have been those with tense parental relationships. Traci 13 could be a decent addition as well. Outside those two, there really isn’t much of a rounded team. Robin’s departure was logical, though it will leave a huge gap in the team dynamic. I know you aren’t terribly keen on McKeever’s Titans run, but it is still better than it was for a long time.
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Oy, with the poodles already.
Seriously, Misfit was the only glimmer of hope in this issue. Sean McKeever clearly has a fondness for the character, and you can hear it as her voice rings out loud and clear, something completely her own. But the rest? Well…
I want to start this mini rant by saying… I love me some Sean McKeever. The Waiting Place, Sentinel, Gravity, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane… these are just a few examples of the awesome work this writer is capable of. With Teen Titans though… I’m really not feeling it. To be completely honest, I think that a part of it is the art. The odd expressions of emotion on the characters faces aren’t quite matching with the words coming out of their mouths. And the hugs. Holy wow, I’ve never known a hug to twist bodies up like that.
Anyway, the book is on very thin ice with me… and an impending crossover story isn’t going to help its status on this list.
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Yeah, I really can’t argue too much on the art. Anytime teenage girls are made to look like lanky supermodels it really is bothersome. Still, I think the story is strong enough to make-up for it. We shall see next month though.
THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Well, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane comes to an end this month, which will give us the opening we need in the budget to add a new title. As far as the other issues go, it wasn’t the best month across the board, but I am not sure I feel strongly enough about any of them to actually cut. What do you think Brandon?
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Well, I have some concerns with a few titles on this list… Jonah Hex, Teen Titans and Sgt. Rock. But if I’m not mistaken, Jonah Hex will be gearing up for its first epic for the summer… a six parter. And Sgt. Rock… it’s not a bad comic. Just one I don’t really enjoy. But Teen Titans…
Eh. This month, I’ll be good. I still have an unhealthy love for McKeever – and that gives him a lot of leeway. So let’s keep that one going for a little bit longer. Next month’s issue best better be awesome.
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Lot’s of room for debate on Teen Titans and Jonah Hex, but you will have to pry Sgt. Rock from my cold, dead hands.
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I could make that happen. All I’d need is a time machine, Jonah Hex, and to trick you into raping his horse. That one hasn’t been done yet, right?
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Issue #25.
TITLES FOR JANUARY
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #2, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 01/07/09
Jonah Hex #39, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/07/09
Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion #3 (of 6), $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/07/09
Invincible Iron Man #9, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/07/09
X-Men/Spider-Man #3, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/14/09
Green Lantern Corps #32, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/14/09
Supergirl #37, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/21/09
Wonder Woman #28, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01//09
Nova #21, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/28/09
Avengers: The Initiative #21, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 01/28/09
Teen Titans #67, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 01/28/09
NEW TITLES
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Well, based on what we have so far, we are at $36.52. December left us with $.41 in the bank, which means we are still $3.89 under budget, which is more than enough room for a regular $2.99 issue, or any book under $3.50.
This being your first month on the Pull List, Brandon, I figured I would allow you to pick the new addition for the month. In the future we will have to come to an accord, but since I know there are books on the list already that wouldn’t be your first choice (and it will likely be some time before it is truly balanced between us), I think that a good was to start us off would be to give you this month’s choice uncontested. So, what’ll it be for January?
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Already, Craig, are you ready to have your mind rocked? This book comes to us from Image… and has yet to miss a ship date since it started. A couple of those issues even contained 32 pages of pure comic.
I’m talking about Proof. The book is about a bigfoot and his partner, and an agency dedicated to tracking and taking care of Cryptids that may cause harm to “normal” society – or just need a place to stay. The only down side? Each month is going to cost us $3.50 a pop – kinda’ “soon-to-be-standard” price point for independent books anymore.
Proof #16, $3.50, Image. Due Out 01/28/09
THE MATH
JANUARY TOTAL: $37.39
Budget = $40.00 + $.41 (Bank) = $40.41
$40.41 (Budget) – $37.39 (January issues) – $2.90 (tax) = $0.12 banked for December
That about wraps it up for this month. I want to thank everyone who has read this column over the past two years – it certainly has been fun. I also want to thank Brandon for agreeing to help out from here on out, I really think this concept is going to work a lot better if there is some kind of struggle for accord. We have similar tastes, but it should be easy to see from this month’s column that we already have our differences on some of these books. I am looking forward to seeing how that plays out in coming months.
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Next month, I’m getting totally getting sauced and bringing the pain. Hlllllet’s get ready to rummmmmmmblllllllllllllle!
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Thanks for reading- we’ll see you in February!
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