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!
The Flash #6 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
The combined efforts of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato are paying huge dividends for comic book fans.
You can tell they are having a ball putting this series together. Things get interesting in Central City as problems with the Speed Force causes Flash to limit his powers while the new and improved Captain Cold is more than a force to be reckoned with.
The layers of this story suck you right in as vendettas and personal choices outline the core of the plot.
The art is truly a sight to be seen and more than accomplishes it’s objective with carefully crafted detail.
In many ways the art is just as fun as the story and it gets my vote for artwork of the week.
Incorruptible #27
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Marcio Takara
Colors: Nolan Woodard
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Price: $3.99
I’m going to put my hand out there for all you to slap because this was the first issue of Incorruptible I have read.
Yeah, I skimmed through an issue here and there but never really sat down to read and enjoy the chronicles of Max Damage until now.
I liked it so much that I went back and read all of the previous issues and I’m hooked. The world is corrupt in nature and even a law faring person such as Lieutenant Armsdale has to turn a blind eye and participate in illicit activity in order to accomplish some good in an impure world.
Because of what he has to indulge in, he feels like a failure more and more.
Marcio Takara’s art brings a lot of energy to the table. He depicts the action so well that you often don’t need word balloons.
Overall, this is an entertaining book with an ending that makes you wonder if the world is worth saving.
Grade: B
Batman: The Dark Knight #6
Writer: David Finch & Paul Jenkins
Art: Joe Harris
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Judging a book by its cover was the right choice in this case.
Batman is down but not out as The White Rabbit is leading him on a terrorizing journey that he might not come back from. Everything from super sized Jokers to a horny Poison Ivy.
When all else fails, you throw out the ace in the hole: Bane!
Finch and Jenkins produced a fun plot and the art work did it’s job well.
In my opinion, this series is the weakest of the four Batman books currently in circulation. This issue was a great step in the right direction as it appears to be finding its own identity.
Grade: B
Superman #6
Writer: George Perez
Art: Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott
Colors: Brent Smith
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
FINALLY, Superman is kicking ass and taking names in George Perez’s swan song to the title.
The series has been lagging since its inception due to more focus with the goings on of the Planet Global Network rather than the Man of Steel.
That changes as Superman takes on the onslaught on Metropolis while trying to clear his name in the process. There are certain panels in this book that are spectacular.
Dan Jurgens and Keith Giffen take over the writing duties next month as the ending of this issue opens the door to some interesting possibilities.
Grade: B
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Chris Samnee
Colors:
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Brian Michael Bendis has done a masterful job of providing comic book fans with a feel good story that follows a character you love to cheer for.
The book opens up with some good humor that involves one of those “Get out of room, Mom” moments while experimenting with his powers. It’s done in a lighthearted way that makes you laugh rather than roll your eyes.
During the story Miles wonders while how Peter Parker ever pulled off being Spider-Man.
It’s fascinating because to a certain extent, its going to be harder for Miles because he is younger and comes from a tougher walk of life than Peter. Chris Sannee helms the art again and I felt it was appropriate for this issue as it ventures deeper into a cartoon depiction.
I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it a million more. If you haven’t been reading this series yet, please start asap.
Grade: A-
Aquaman #6
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis & Joe Pardo
Colors: Rod Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
The guy at my local comic book store, random message boards rants and a couple of friends have all trashed this issue and to be honest, I understand their resentment.
They paid for Aquaman and got Mera.
However, I want you to look at the larger picture. Mera has been in every issue so why not learn more about her?
Arthur will have eleven other issues this year. Mera can have one and Geoff Johns pulls it off nicely.
He digs into her back story via flashbacks and switches to the present where she goes into town to buy dog food which she has never done before. She is perplexed by the selection because all she wants to do is feed her dog.
This quickly transitions into a series of altercations that makes her question what Aquaman sees in people. The art and script went hand-in-hand on presenting Mera as a badass who is not to be trifled with.
Grade: B+
The Sixth Gun #19
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Brian Hurtt & Keith Wood
Colors: Bill Crabtree
Publisher: Oni Press
Price: $3.99
One of the things that drew me to this book is that it’s a story that you would enjoy even if you don’t like Westerns.
Becky Monticrief possesses the gun and a cult called the Knights of Solomon want it badly. Drake Sinclair use to be a member of the Knights and is now with Becky. They are in a town called Penance where the local sheriff could be leading Becky into a trap while Drake is being held captive by Gabriel, a members of the Knights.
Different languages and dialects are common in comics but most times a word or two is jammed into a word balloon for the sake of authenticity or consistency when it often sounds contrived.
Cullen Bunn has produced a dialog that has a genuine southern western tongue that is beautifully written and doesn’t make you scratch your head while reading it. The art work does a fantastic job of making every panel pivotal to the story as everything comes back to one fact.
Everyone wants the Sixth Gun and so will you.
Grade: A-
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7
Writer: Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz
Art: Dan Duncan
Colors: Ronda Pattison
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99
Lucky number seven is simply a good comic book.
We meet Michaelangelo’s BFF (hint: it involves Pizza), mousers give the Turtles more than they can handle and General Krang has a cool looking android body that hides his true form any makes him look like M. Bison from Street Fighter II.
The strength in Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz’s issue is that they consistently provide a little something for everyone.
The tone of the script transitions smoothly from Mikey telling Raphael about “A day that will live in pizza-chompin infamy!” to Krang threatening the life of Baxter Stockman. Dan Duncan’s art is always solid and his work in this issue is no exception.
This book is consistently entertaining with each issue and there is no end in sight for how far this series can go.
Grade: B+
Green Lantern New Guardians #6 (Shelf Listed: Disappointment of the Week)
Writer: Tony Bedard
Art: Tyler Kirkham & Batt
Colors: Nei Ruffino
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Kyle Rayner’s heroic trek into a hostile solar system is done sloppily and is heavy on nonsensical action.
The art and writing are deprived of any sentiment that would make you care about the danger the other Lanterns face.
I equate this book to a bottle of your favorite soda where the taste is just flat.
