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THE PULL LIST – AQUAMAN #4, THE CAPE #3, CAPTAIN AMERICA #6 AND MORE!

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!

Aquaman #4 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis & Joe Pardo
Colors: Rod Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

Aquaman’s comeback is now complete and it’s nothing but aces as the conclusion to Geoff Johns first story arc brings everything a comic book fan can ask for.

Aquaman and Mera descend to the darkest regions of the bottom of the Atlantic and knock on the front door of the Trench. Johns did a great job of getting him over over as a bad ass through his actions in the book and Mera acts as Aquaman’s conscience during the last four issues.

I know some might scream “pansy” at a superhero finding solace in his wife’s counsel but it is done in a way reassuring the king of the sea that he made the right call. Besides, Superman did it for years.

The art is reminiscent of a creepy horror movie at times and the crème de le crème was a two page layout of the Trench creatures that will have you thinking about the scene in Aliens when Ripley sees the Alien Queen for the first time.

The end of the book treats us to a sneak peek at the big story arc set for 2012 which is the secrecy revolving around what caused Atlantis to fall into the ocean.


Grade: A-

The Cape #3
Writer: Joe Hill & Jason Ciaramella
Art: Zach Howard
Colors: Nelson Daniel
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99

If you have ever visited Boston then you know what the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge is.

Eric knows what it is too and so does the rest of the world after his despicable actions in the opening salvo that takes the life of his mother.

With only his brother remaining, Eric draws a line in the sand that, if crossed, neither one may come back from it. The progression of the character has evolved because he is no longer conflicted and is 100% focused on murdering the people who loved him. Most of the panels set a dark and almost damp tone and it’s almost as if the art is trying to reflect what Eric’s soul has become. Other panels have a little more color to them which I believe represents Eric marveling at his handy work.

The pace of the story is quick but thorough. It’s a shame this series is coming to a close soon. While it’s not the traditional superhero book, it’s something different and unique that follows a complete psycho.

Grade: B+

Secret Avengers # 20
Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Alex Maleev
Colors: Nick Filardi
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99

Time travel is the name of the game and the Black Widow is the next contestant as Warren Ellis produces another fantastic stand alone story.

This issue opens as several of the Avengers are killed in action and Widow goes back in time over an 18 week period in an attempt to prevent their death from happening. She gains some assistance from Beast in the process and learns to not change time. I tend to roll my eyes at issues involving time travel because it can be an easy out, but this panned out in a way that was sleek and smart.

Maleev’s art might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it was very appropriate for this book.  Both gritty and quietly paced, Maleev was the perfect storyteller to depict this issue’s stealth mission with Ellis delivering the best issue of the title to date. It will be sad to see Ellis leave the series as Venom writer Rick Remender takes over the series in February. I’m kind of a $3.99 price snob but bottom line…..BUY IT!

Grade: B+

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Michelangelo
Writer: Brian Lynch
Art: Chris Madden
Colors: David Peterson
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99

I have only one thing to say about this issue….

Cowabunga! 

Our story takes place on New Year’s Eve and Mikey just wants to have fun.

He finds a costume party where he can truly be himself and falls in group who end up being a total bummer and are up to no good. Michelangelo has to figure out how to crash the evil dudes party without putting an end to his night out on the town.

No complaints with the art that produces a couple of Kodak moments and I can’t wait to see what Donatello brings to the table next month.

Grade: B

Captain America #6
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer
Colors: Laura Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

Marvel double shipped Cap this week with issue #5 that ended the previous story arc and this issue that begins a news story that involved Queen Hydra and Baron Zemo infecting Cap’s mind to the point that he is having constant nightmares about losing his powers.

Hawkeye tries to help by suggesting a night out on the town to do the superhero thing. Things go from good to bad when his nightmare comes true and loses his super soldier powers while being too terrified to stop three below average villains.

This is a story arc that people can sink their teeth into and it poses a lot of questions because Captain America is a man out of time and now he may be forced to deal with the issues of modern-day America without his powers.

Alan Davis’ art was a big improvement from the last issues and his depiction of a skinny and scared Captain America was very well done!

Grade: B+

Superman #4 (Shelf-Listed: Disappointment of the Week)
Writer: George Perez
Art: Jesus Merino
Colors: Brett Smith & Brian Buccellato
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

This is George Perez’s fourth at bat with Superman and I’m still waiting for him to be super.

Too much talking, weak story and sub par action makes this one stinker of a book. The focus was primarily on the confusion of Clark Kent‘s whereabouts in the third issue where Heather Kelly mysteriously disappeared. Some people feel he is lying while other feels he may be responsible. He is clearly innocent which makes this issue even more mundane.

Put some mystery into it if you are going to play the guessing game.

Jesus Merino’s art is the only good thing about this issue and his work shines when he draws the Daily Planet and does a great job of getting it over as a media hub instead of just a newspaper.

Dan Jurgens takes the pen from Perez with #7 and it can’t come soon enough.

Grade: D

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