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!
Fatale #2
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Sean Phillips
Colors: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.50
The mystery surrounding Josephine gets a deeper as she is looking for a particular item inside the home of Walter Booker.
Booker spent this issue beating down a cult member who told him that someone will see him later on when he’s alone. Hank Raines, godson of Nicolas Lash, meets up with Josephine and formulate a plan to bring down Booker.
Fate intervenes as the mystery man the cult member mentioned meets Booker and makes him an offer that is beyond wrong.
I read Criminal to get more familiar with Brubaker’s independent titles and I have a much better appreciation for his work. He’s a natural storyteller who’s clever plot devices are a thing of beauty. Sean Phillips’ art is perfect for this stunning, tense, on the edge of your seat thriller that is the definition of cool. Brubaker has struck gold twice this week with Winter Soldier and Fatale!
Grade: A-
Red Lanterns #6
Writer: Peter Milligan
Art: Ed Benes, Diego Bernard & Rebecca Buchmann
Colors: Nathan Eyring
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
British professor Jack Moore has dealt with a lifetime of torment and ridicule.
He buried his anger thinking he could keep his feelings in line. Things change for Mr. Moore as the instrument of rage selects him and begins an extremely painful transformation of the mind, body and perhaps, soul. Moore tries his best to fight it as a tidal wave of awful memories flood his mind.
Reminders of the past begin to chip away at his consciousness until Jack realizes he can no longer control himself as he’s encountered the one thing that can make him the monster he hid from everyone: A Red Lantern ring.
Meanwhile, Atrocitus and Bleez fight each other for leadership of the Red Lanterns as many of the Lanterns watch on, rooting for one over the other.
The crux of the story is Moore’s emotional struggle as the power ring plays the role of the devil on the shoulder telling him to embrace the hate.
There was nothing special or bad about the artwork as it did a great job orchestrating Milligan’s script. It is detrimental to our mental health to keep things bottled inside because eventually, you will snap.
The red ring was drawn to Moore like a moth to a flame and the end result produces the first human Red Lantern.
Grade: A-
Detective Comics #6
Writer: Tony S. Daniel
Art: Tony S. Daniel
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Crime is running amuck in Gotham (when is it not?) and the Penguin’s brand new Iceberg Casino is the talk of the town.
What looks like the land of lost riches is really a palace of ill gotten gains.
Batman’s investigation brings Bruce Wayne to the casino but things take a turn for the worse as his love interest, Charlotte, has been taken prisoner.
It’s a good stand alone book but the dialog has trouble finding his voice. There were a few record scratch moments with the narrative as Batman sounded more like a spy on a secret mission than primo badass and detective.
I have no complaints about the art as it maintained it’s charisma. The story is not as captivating as the last five issues, but it worth a gander because it some key components to the current story arc.
Grade: C+
Venom #13
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Tony Moore
Colors: Val Staples
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $3.99
Venom, Ghost Rider, Red Hulk and X-23 coincidentally come together in Las Vegas in order to prevent Hell on Earth in part one of the “Circle of Four” story arc.
This is a brilliant combination of superheroes that have their own baggage but also do the right thing when the time comes. Flash Thompson’s father died and it hit him harder than he thought. The panels of him finding solace in the bottle reminds me a little bit of the classic “Demon in a Bottle” story arc in Iron Man.
There is a lot going on as far as the artwork is concerned. Most times, less is more, but not in this case. The chaos that one could expect to ensue with creatures from Hell coming topside was depicted effectively.
The last two pages display the four good guys and its pretty bad ass and makes you want to see the coming battle. A one dollar price increase for a bigger story was well worth the trade.
Oh, did I forget to mention the laundry list of characters that appear who all add to the story?
Grade: B
Usagi Yojimbo #143
Writer: Stan Sakai
Art: Stan Sakai
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
Usagi stumbles upon a rock throwing game where failure means bad luck for the participant.
Usagi is unsuccessful and bad luck finds him in spades as he arrives in a small village.
Usagi stops some ruffians from burning down a soy sauce brewery and reports his findings to the local authorities. They dismiss Usagi’s statement as a tale of deceit and corruption paints the soy sauce trade in a whole new light.
This is the first issue of a two part storyline that is an great jumping on point. The thing I love about the magic of Stan Sakai’s storytelling is it simple yet rich with style, culture and information.
It’s a shame that most comic book shops only order 3 or 4 copies and some don’t put it on their shelves at all.
There are zero ads so your escape is never interrupted by a celebrity telling you to buy milk.
I know I need to drink milk, unless my name is Superdude.
Grade: B
