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!
Detective Comics #23 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Jason Fabok
Colorist: Blond
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Detective Comics became the main Batman title when Scott Snyder’s Zero Year arc began.
John Layman’s writing in this series provides an entertaining experience for the entire 32 pages. Wraith is killing Gotham City police officers and Batman is determined to stop him. E.D. Caldwell is looking to acquire Wayne Industries to gain access to the Bat-tech.
Bruce believes Caldwell is Wraith so he uses the offer as a way to investigate the matter. Jason Fabok’s artwork is reminiscent of the cinematic Dark Knight Trilogy and his character work is the best of the week.
There is an awesome sequence when Caldwell’s assistant is about to shoot Bruce in the back and the next panel doesn’t show how she was disarmed, but simply shows her laid out on the floor while Bruce climbs into the Bat-Wing.
While there is nothing innovative going on, this is the first Detective issue in a few months that feels like a true Batman book.
Grade: A
Superior Spider-Man #15
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Spider-Man is making major waves with his new spider tech and no villain is safe, not even the Hobgoblin.
Doc Ock’s secret inches closer to discovery as Carlie and Mary Jane have taken notice of “Peter Parker’s” behavior. What makes this deal interesting is how New York feels Spider-Man is becoming a better hero, which is what “Parker” set out to do, but his main concern is finding out who is jamming his frequency in locating the Hobgoblin.
Humberto Ramos’ art is always money when it comes to the Wall Crawler and this issue is no exception.
“Run, Goblin, Run” is a very appropriate title for this issue because there is a lot of focus on Phil Urich (Hobgoblin) and the ending will make it hard for him to run anywhere as Spidey’s character goes into uncharted territory.
Grade: B+
Fatale #16
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Colorist: Elizabeth Breitweiser
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.50
Sixteen issues in and the message is loud and clear: Josephine is the most irresistible woman in the history of creation. Men from all walks of life, and spanning many decades, just devote their lives to her at the first sign of her hypnotic smile or the first glance of her intoxicating beauty.
If we keep getting hit with the same message, over and over again, why do we stick around?
It’s because Ed Brubaker keeps the reader completely captivated as the mystery surrounding the femme fatale gets deeper and deeper.
This time, Josephine has blended in with the grunge crowd in 1990’s Seattle and she has no memory of her past life. What made this really intriguing is that some of the people she surrounded herself with were able to resist her charms for a short time until they gave in. Maybe her memory loss has something do with it, or maybe it’s the amount of drugs her new friends are on.
Sean Phillips’ artwork makes an indelible impression on the story with shadowy imagery and creepy character work that enhances the general tone of the plot. Dave Stewart has been the colorist on this series for a while, but Elizabeth Breitweiser’s coloring has done a great job of holding up her end of the bargain by bringing this eerie domain to life.
The slow burn nature of Fatale gives us little bits at a time without making the reader feel that they are not getting enough. If anything, Fatale makes the bread crumbs feel like a feast that ultimately keeps us satisfied until the next time dinner is served.
Grade: A-
RoboCop: Last Stand #1
Writer: Frank Miller & Steven Grant
Artist: Korkut Oztekin
Colorist: Michael Garland
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Price: $3.99
Once again Steven Grant takes an unproduced Frank Miller RoboCop screenplay and adapts it to comics. This time Boom! Studios has present his unaltered vision of RoboCop III in all its gritty glory.
The title Last Stand suggests the direction the story is headed as RoboCop is a fugitive of the law. The device of OCP removing people from their homes in order to build the crime free and drug free Liberty Towers remains intact.
There are more personal stakes involved which drive the story on an emotional level.
In the movie, OCP looked at RoboCop’s interference as nothing more than a fly that needed to be swatted. In Miller’s vision, the high powered suits are appalled that Alex Murphy would bite the hand that fed him, especially after everything they’ve done for him. RoboCop is not acting in the name of the law, but on a righteous call of duty to rid Detroit of its oppressors once and for all. Korkut Oztekin’s visual presentation displays how much of a cesspool the city has become from both a structural and a human perspective.
His RoboCop looks like he’s been to hell and back with bullet punctures in his chest plate and dents and scratches all over. The coloring of Michael Garland boosts the futuristic tone set by the depictions with deep purples mixed with blue and silver tones. This was a fun book to read and look at and at the end of the day, that’s really what you want from a comic book. Your prime directive should be to check this out!
Grade: B
All New X-Men # 15
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David LaFuente
Colorist: Jim Campbell
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
All-New X-Men has been the definitive X-Book since this series debuted with Brian Michael Bendis at the helm.
With the“Battle for the Atom” crossover hitting the shelves in September, this issue presents the softer side of life at the Jean Grey Academy of Higher Learning.
Cyclops and Iceman need to blow off some steam and Jean’s powers are developing early. The cover of this issue is exactly as advertised. Beast has the hots for Jean and the discovery of this fact was brilliant. David LaFuente’s artwork brought a cartoony approach to the book.
His style is not my cup of tea, but it worked wonderfully for the tone of this issue and shined in many instances, such as Wolverine being pissed off that his motorcycle was disassembled just as he was about to go for a ride.
Overall, this is a very solid issue that provides an entertaining experience that will put a smile on your face.
Grade: B+
