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THE PULL LIST – GREEN LANTERN #4, AVENGERS: X-SANCTION #1, NEW AVENGERS #19 & 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!

Star Wars: Agent of the Empire – Iron Eclipse #1 of 5 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: John Ostrander
Art: Julien Hugonnard-Bert & Stephanie Roux
Colors: Wes Dzioba
Publisher: Dark Horse
Price: $3.50

One thing that is awesome about the Star Wars comic books is the ability to enjoy new adventures in the expanded universe.

Most of them have the same theme of Jedi vs. Sith and Empire vs. Rebellion.

Agent of the Empire is something I haven’t seem come down the pipe in a while. Worry not for those who fear change, you will absolutely scream “Now that was a Star Wars book!”

The story follows Imperial intelligence officer, Jahan Cross, who is hot on the trail of anyone who might deceive the Empire. No one is safe, not even Imperials. Cross is an evil James Bond who is as cunning and slick as he is dangerous. His back up plans have back up plans so he is always thinking multiple steps ahead. His accomplice is an assassin/protocol droid named IG-NA 44. Think IG-88 with breasts. I know it sounds weird, but Stephanie Roux depicts her in a way that doesn’t look ridiculous. There are memorable cameos by a couple of characters from the movies, but I’m not going to spoil that for you because you really should throw down your $3.50 for this book.

What good things can you say about John Ostrander that haven’t already been said? He’s written some of the most popular stories in the expanded universe such as Legacy, Tales and Republic. His Dawn of the Jedi series will debut in February and has already garnered a lot of hype and this series will surely be among some of his best work when it’s all said and done. The artwork in this book was a little different than we are used to seeing in Star Wars books. The colors were more vibrant than usual and the characters, buildings and planets were drawn with such pristine and spot-on detail. This was an excellent start to what appears to be a fantastically entertaining series that has the juice to remain interesting during its entire run.

Grade: A+

Superboy #4
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Art: R.B. Silva & Rob Lean
Cover: Shane Davis & Jonathan Glapion
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

The fourth story arc in the new Superboy saga turns into a truthful and painful lesson about who or perhaps what he really is. Lodbell has produced a refreshing take as the super powered adolescent with a chip on his shoulder is replaced with a living weapon who is looking for a place in the world.

His black and white view of right and wrong reflects how he feels the world should be and he is puzzled by our way of thinking. There is a page layout where Superboy observes the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and is perplexed as to why,  a “tree just can’t be a tree.” Decorating a tree in December is normal to us but he sees the natural beauty being compromised for selfish reasons. This may sound like an introduction to philosophy, but it is much more than that and the art does a fantastic job of getting across the gravity of the situation.

The first issue started strong and the last two issues kind of fell off point a little bit. This was a great step in the right direction with a mystery included that is going to haunt the boy of steel for the foreseeable future.

Grade: B+

The New Avengers #19
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mike Deodato
Colors: Rain Beredo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

Norman Osborn has selected his new “Dark Avengers” and plans are in motion to take out the real Avengers once and for all. I wondered what Norman’s end game was in re-creating the group since they failed the first time.

Rest assured, the answer lies in the selection of his cast. Daredevil is enlisted as the newest member of the new Avengers and he skips the frying pan and heads right into the fire and some don’t know if they can trust Victoria Hand as far as they can throw her.

I had no complaints with the artwork and the end of the book brings about the two teams heading for a collision course. This is one of the last issues that will be written by Bendis as he is leaving the franchise for another popular group (probably X-Men).  His run on the various Avengers books has gained strong opinions all across the board.

Grade: B-

Batman & Robin #4
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Patrick Gleason & Mick Gray
Colors: John Kalisz
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

Mutiny is the name of the game and Damian doesn’t give a damn anymore.

Bruce can’t find the balance between partner and son. You are supposed to be able to trust your partner with anything and everything.

Damian is sick of being on a need to know basis and wants to unleash his killer instinct as Bruce hasn’t shown him one good reason why he should control himself. Peter J. Tomasi’s writing in this book is heavy on father knows best not being totally wrong in Bruce’s case.

Nobody, the villain of the story, drives the point home for Damian by reminding him of how many times Batman has sent the Joker and the Riddler to Arkham Asylum and only for them to be released or escape over and over again. Damien sees this as the real crime and feels he has been lead astray. For some reason, I hear Riley from the Boondocks‘ voice whenever I read Damian’s word balloons with lines such as “ What, I’m taking the dog for a walk. Come here, dog.”

Gleason and Gray’s artwork was entertaining and does a great job of conveying the darkness of the situation. What makes this book really standout is that you never know what Damien is going to do. He is smarter than most adults but he is also more immature than most kids and he is a trained assassin with the urge to kill. You can throw logic out the window when trying to figure him out and that is the draw to this story.

Grade: A-

Avengers: X-Sanction #1
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Ed McGuinness
Colors: Morry Hollowell
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

This is a simple and fun read that we now know is the set up for the“Avengers vs. X-Men” event next year. Cable returns to the present from a desolate future where he discovers that Hope Summers could have prevented disaster if it hadn’t been for the Avengers.

He has no choice but to take out the Avengers and he starts with Captain America, using the Falcon as bait.

Overall, the book contained a lot of action and easy art and script to follow. Cable’s inner thoughts drive the story because there is more narration than dialog which is Jeph Loeb’s trademark. Nothing about Ed McGuinness’s work in this issue was new or epic. He did a nice job of following the tone of the story which is that time is of the essence. The ending makes you want to come back for more next month and there are some hints as to how the big event next year might pan out.

Grade B+

Green Lantern #4
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

The Hal Jordan/Sinestro dynamic is what’s been carrying this story since the re-launch.

The duo is captured and tortured. On Korugar, Sinestro finds himself face to face with the people of his home world who are furious at his actions and his inability to keep them safe.

Our purple friend’s narcissistic personality prevents him from showing compassion, however, he must show some in order to begin the process to make things right with his people. Mahnke and Alamy’s depiction of this moment was beautifully drawn and made you think Sinestro might now believe he has been wrong about quite a few things during his time as a ring bearer. His compassion backfires and turns into the most extreme worst case scenario he could imagine.

It will be interesting to see how this develops over future issues because it makes you wonder if Sinestro will be more ruthless than ever since this is how he was repaid during the one moment he showed compassion.

Grade: B+

Deathstroke #4 (Shelf-Listed: Disappointment of the Week)
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Art: Joe Bennett & Art Thibert
Colors: Jason Wright
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

This was a very predictable and familiar story from beginning to end.

Slade is imprisoned in a maximum security metahuman prison. He escapes with ease and the Blackhawks enter the fray as someone from Slade’s past has returned.

It is not the worst book in the world but there were a lot of great books that came out this. This is the basic nuts and bolts to a plot finality you saw coming on the first page is something you can pass on. If you’re a Deathstroke fan, I suggest reading it at the store and save your money for something else.

Grade: C-

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