Check out what I checked out this week.
Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.
Welcome to The Pull List.
And, as always…Spoilers ahead!
Justice League #5 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Jim Lee & Scott Williams
Colors Gabe Eltaeb & Tony Avina
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Now, this is what I’m talking about!
The Justice League has finally found their groove and it’s time to kick ass and chew bubble gum.
Darkseid’s invasion of Earth forces the crew to cognize the gravity of the situation. Everyone is on point and Green Lantern has difficulty putting his ego in check until Batman has the mother of all heart to heart chats with him that brings about a startling development. Flash has a couple of key moments while Cyborg is just kind of there but he is ready to throw down alongside our heroes.
Geoff Johns produces a script that was simple yet strong as there is a lot going on but it’s not all over the place. Lee and Williams’ artwork was grand and really took the cake when we got our very first look at Apokolips.
The book shipped a week late but don’t let that mess you up. The DC reboot did a lot of good things, but it did leave some things to be desired among fans. With Marvel producing four different Avengers books, it’s fun and exciting to see the other super team find its wings. This was the best book since the first issue and everyone needs to come back in February.
Grade: A
Aquaman #5
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis, Joe Pardo & Eber Ferreira
Colors: Rod Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Number five gives us the ultimate fish out of water story as King of Atlantis is stranded in desert with no help in sight. 24 hours prior, a group of mercenaries attacked a research facility and stole an old Atlantean artifact that is identical to the insignia on Aquaman’s belt.
Aquaman fights to retrieve the artifact and stop the mercenaries and just as he discovers their origin, Boom…
He lands in the one place that is most detrimental to his health.
The strength of the story lies in Aquaman’s struggle to fight his hallucinations and in the mystery surrounding the artifact and what it really means in the grand scheme of things.
The vibrant nature of Reis, Pardo and Ferreira’s artwork provides a grand sense of adventure with excellent detail to boot. Anyone who says Aquaman is lame can zip their trap because those days are officially over.
Grade: A-
Secret Avengers #21.1
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Patrick Zircher
Colors: Andy Troy
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Out with the old and in with the new as Rick Remender wastes no time in shaking things up. Captain America and Hawkeye are on a covert mission in Bagalia.
Hawkeye thinks it’s another run of the mill job but Cap has an ulterior motive. He is looking for someone to take over his post as leader of the Secret Avengers. Clint is at the top of his list but he has serious reservations about his top candidate.
Overall, the writing was spot on and reached its climax when Hawkeye learns of Cap’s intentions and an argument ensues that tests the strength of their friendship.
I have no complaints with the artwork and the cover displaying cards, dice and casino chips is brilliant as it represents the gamble Captain America is taking with Hawkeye.
It’s a new day for this series with what I’m sure to be some great adventures on the horizon.
Grade: B+
Flash #5
Writer: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Flash must juggle stopping the chaos in Central City while saving his friend Manuel Lago before Mob Rule finds a permanent solution to their multiplicity.
The writing month after month makes you want to cheer for the Flash like you were watching a big game. Manapul’s beautiful art and page layouts are on par with previous issues and Buccellato’s coloring is applied with great detail and care.
This series, to me, is similar to Ultimate Spider-Man where you can tell that the creative team is in sync as one feature completely complements the other.
With this story arc wrapped up, The Rogues are right around the corner and will no doubt turn up the volume to an already loud and exciting series.
Grade: B
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
Writer: Tom Waltz
Art: Dan Duncan
Colors: Ronda Pattinson
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
“My French is not as good as my HTML but I think he said ‘War is coming’” – Donatello.
This is just one of the great character moments that this book is jam-packed with that makes this one of the premier books in comics today.
The storytelling is crafted with such detail that first timers, casual and hardcore fans will surely enjoy. The artwork has a dark metropolitan look. The Foot Clan has re-emerged, meanwhile Casey Jones and April O’Neil are showing signs of a blossoming romance and Baxter Stockman is not a man to be trifled with.
Don’t believe me?
Try it and you will be introduced to an armada of Mousers.
Grade: B
X-Men Legacy #261
Writer: Christos Gage
Art: David Baldeon & Jordi Tarragona
Colors: Sonia Oback
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
In my opinion, X-Men Legacy has been hit or miss in recent months but I’m happy to report that this issue knocks it right out of the park.
Rogue takes center stage in this story as she is based at Westchester. She is torn between her feelings for Gambit and Magneto, and Rachel Grey offers her some advice.
Our sitcom ends when Exodus crashes the party and attempts to force the X-Men to see the error of their ways. The battle ensues as Exodus, even with some of his powers being zapped by Rogue, appears to be too much for this mixture of Wolverine and Cyclops team members. I enjoyed the story because it marks the first time members of both X-Men teams are together since Schism.
The writing shined most when the story focused on Rogue and the panels were filled with action.
No X-Men book is complete without the mention of Hope Summers being the messiah of the mutant race and this prompts Exodus to turn his attention West.
The ending of this book is classic when one minute the X-Men believe they dodged a bullet and the next minute Rogue says “Did we just get Cyclops killed?”
Grade: B+
The Walking Dead #93
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Art: Charlie Adlard
Colors: Cliff Rathburn
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99
Over the last several months, Robert Kirkman’s slow burn of a story has brought us to a pivotal point for Rick and his gang.
They come across another survivor that promises groups of peaceful people who are willing to trade and help each other get along. Rick shook the survivors hand with ease and agreed to work with him.
My first thought was, “How can you be so trusting after everything that has happened?”
I was fooled hook line and sinker when Rick dropped him like a bad habit, tied him up and held him for questioning.
This whole new world story arc has a ton of potential because it could be the deserved peace of mind Rick and company have been waiting for or it could be another terrifying voyage where lives are lost and others are changed forever. This time, the crew will not go into this blinded by hope.
The last two pages wonderfully depicts a town over the horizon that could provide endless possibilities and or danger.
Grade: B
Superman #5 (Shelf-Listed: Disappointment of the Week)
Writer: George Perez
Art: Nicola Scott
Colors: Trevor Scott
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
I equate this series to a car stuck in the mud and no matter how hard George Perez tries; he just can’t find any traction.
The last three issues were epic failures but at least this issue put forth a great effort.
Still, the execution of it all was non existent. The fire and ice monsters from the previous issues bond with Superman and the result may force him cross a line he never crossed in the original universe.
The script is still too wordy and not enough action. I’m not sure if it’s inadvertent but most of the focus is on the PGN (Planet Global Network).
I don’t want to read a comic book about a newspaper. I want to a comic book about a larger than life superhero. My advice, skip this and next months issue and come back in March when the man himself, Dan Jurgens, rejuvenates the series.
Grade: D
