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 Bunker #7
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Joe Infurnari
Publisher: Oni Press
Price: $3.99
That day at the bunker, Grady, Natasha, Daniel, all received letters from their future selves, telling them of successes and failures to come.
Heidi’s letter, however, was different. It was a plea to right a very serious wrong in the form of her abusive uncle.
Although Heidi was the other woman in Daniel and Natasha’s bed, which caused the couple to break up, the narrative has kind of put her on the sidelines until now. She is the focal point of this issue.
Joe Infurnari made going back and forth between now and later a trippy experience because there were a lot of parallels involved in what Heidi was going through.
Joshua Hale Fialkov piles on the anguish in a ruthless manner which heavily suggests that there is no way the cataclysmic events of the future will be changed. Then, out of nowhere, we get a glimmer of hope that perhaps it’s not too late. This all occurs in such a fashion that keeps you engrossed with the story while enamored with such flawed characters.
Fans of The Bunker have enjoyed everything Fialkov and Infurnari have delivered thus far because it’s a time-traveling story that is simplistic yet rich in depth and scope. I can’t remember the last time I was on the edge of my seat reading a comic book.
The ending could mean one thousand possibilities which represents this series as a whole. If you haven’t been reading The Bunker, shame on you and what are you waiting for?!?!?!
Score: 4 out of 5
The Death of Wolverine: Deadpool and Captain America #1
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Scott Kolins
Colorist: Veronica Gandini
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
In the wake of Wolverine’s passing, Captain America and Deadpool take on the task of eliminating their compatriot’s DNA so no razor-clawed clones can be created.
Deadpool writer Gerry Duggan was the perfect choice to helm this story. His team-up issues are pure fun, not only because of his expertise with the loud mouth mutant, but also because of his understanding of other characters and how they interact with such an…interesting personality.
The mission served as a backdrop to Cap and Deadpool reminiscing about Wolverine with war stories and bar-soaked tales.
Duggan made the threat serious enough where it wasn’t a complete joke, but that didn’t matter. It was these two people on the opposite of the spectrum trying to do right by a friend. Deadpool had an affinity for Wolverine, and Steve Rogers, even in his elderly and depowered state, was the best person he could have asked to help him in this endeavor.
Duggan captures this extremely well with great dialog that augments their chemistry. Scott Kolins’ artwork is just super fun to look at. There are many panels that will make you smile, while others will have you saying to yourself, “Of course that would be there.”
Cloning Wolverine would be disastrous in the wrong hands, while others may have the best of intentions in mind. No matter how you slice it, this is a topic that could be debated with a list of pros and cons a mile long. It’s fascinating how these types of comics find a way to be highly entertaining even though it’s a foregone conclusion that Logan will be back someday.
Forecasting aside, this is a fun book that doesn’t disappoint.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Aliens: Fire and Stone #2
Writer: Chris Roberson
Artist: Patric Reynolds
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
Dark Horse’s Fire and Stone series has done a great job of capturing the essence of what fans love about the Alien and Predator franchise.
There are certain elements throughout the various stories that screams horror and Roberson lets it shine in this particular issue.
The crew is stranded on LV233 and are being hunted by Xenomorphs. After the humans find shelter, they discuss their two options: kill the Xenomorphs or find a location to build a defensive perimeter. Their deliberation was almost in vain because the joke is on them if they think they can go out and kill their acid-filled adversaries while holding their ground.
The artwork really wasn’t my cup of tea. There nothing wrong it, there was just nothing that impressed me, caught my eye, or enhanced the narrative. It almost seems like the imagery was there for requisite’s sake and nothing more.
Overall, this isn’t the strongest issue in the series, but it does enough to maintain the level of excitement this series had produced thus far.
Score: 3 out of 5
Mega Man #42
Writer: Ian Flynn
Art: Gary Martin, John Workman
Cover: Patrick Spaziante
Publisher: Archie Comics
Price: $3.99
This issue serves as the second installment of a story arc based on the Mega Man 3 video game where we hear the story from the perspective of the villainous robot masters.
Two of Dr. Wiley’s finest have been defeated and now it’s Shadow Man and Gemini’s turn to tell their tale of woe as they look to take out the blue bomber. While Mega Man is the bomb diggity, learning about the robot masters brings a personality to them that wasn’t explored in the video games.
Yet, Ian Flynn brings a certain reverence to the source material that totally fits into the 8-bit world, which will make this a worthwhile experience for Nintendo fans.
I usually refrain from critiquing the imagery in a series like this because it’s meant to be patterned after the animated series so you know what to expect. Still, the character work and coloring is tremendous and has a commanding presence on every page.
While I don’t read every issue of Mega Man, this is an arc that is super fun, easily garners your attention and will make the child in you smile all day whether you blew into your video game cartridge or not.
Score: 5 out of 5
Justice League United Annual #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Neil Edwards, Jay Leisten
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99
Justice League United is a series that has been difficult to get a read on.
The team roster and creators assigned to this title screams brilliance but the story sometimes falls a little bit short.
There is nothing bad about it by any means. It’s just that the slow burn approach doesn’t suit this series well. We are still learning about this team and so it takes time, especially when the rhyme or reason for their union is still up in the air to a degree.
The Legion of Superheroes inclusion is a nice touch to this issue and Neil Edwards is always a plus.
However, it seems that the story sets out to do one thing and either ends up accomplishing something else to meets it’s mark but doesn’t obtaining the desired result. One of the villains, Byth, seems to have some of the answers we are looking for but there isn’t a solid reason as to why he would even have.
A new bad guy that was introduced named Infinitus, poses a ginormous threat to the DC universe but it’s common song with no rhythm.
I want to like this series, I really do, but with so much going on it’s difficult to enjoy it all.
Score: 2 out of 5
