This week on the Pull List, the Caped Crusader goes weekly, as Batman Eternal launches, giving us a look into the future of Batman – and no, he hasn’t made up with Jezebel Jet and settled down to have kids. Jezebel Jet: look her up, kids, she’s the worst. But Batman and Commissioner Gordon are the best, right? That’s why the major seismic shift on the horizon for Gotham’s two defenders is going to hurt so bad. But if that’s too grim for you, over in Archer & Armstrong, you can get a field guide to running a cult and doing Kung-fu and adaptive psionic fighting in your sleep.

Top Picks

Batman Eternal #1 | DC Comics | Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Jason Fabok 

Review by Dan Casey

Welcome to the first of fifty-two weekly issues of grizzled, unrelenting Gotham glory, you guys. Batman Eternal #1 marks the start of a brand new weekly Batman series and boasts a droolworthy creative team, including Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, John Layman, Tim Seeley, Jason Fabok, Dustin Nguyen, and many more. Much like Ramsay Snow said in Game of Thrones, “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.” To wit, the book starts 52 weeks in the future in the catastrophic endgame with Bats lashed to a cross while Gotham burns in the background. How the hell do we get to that point? Only time will tell, but this first issue gives us an idea as to how it all starts.

The two pillars of justice in Gotham have always been Batman and Commissioner Jim Gordon; they’re technically on opposite sides of the law, and they have different approaches to keeping the peace, but they have an understanding of one another and, more importantly, a deep and abiding respect for each other. Batman Eternal is looking to take these pillars out at the knees, and it seems hellbent on dismantling Gotham piece by piece. What seems like a routine supervillain bust turns deadly serious in a heartbeat, and you will likely need assistance picking your jaw up off the floor when all’s said and done. Thank your lucky stars that you only have to wait 7 days until the next issue, because Batman Eternal is something you’ll want to last forever.

Archer & Armstrong #19 | Valiant | Fred Van Lente, Pere Perez, and David Baron

Review by Charles Webb

Fred Van Lente really knows how to find the humor in sprawling, cultish murder conspiracies, and prisons for super folks. Seriously! There’s a bit of parallel action going on in this issue, as Armstrong, now in charge of the sect that has been trying to kill him, is coordinating a rescue of Archer from Project Rising Spirit in the third part of this crossover with Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps. But the immortal Armstrong might not need to worry quite so much about Archer, given his buddy’s skill at learning new fighting skills and abilities – apparently, as we see here, while he’s unconscious. Meanwhile, Bloodshot’s got his own agenda that’s going to put him on a collision course with Armstrong.

One of Van Lente’s strongest skills is mixing tones in what feels like an organic way. The silliness of Armstrong trying to manage the disparate cults of the sect bleeds effortlessly into an all-out brawl in the Project Rising Spirit bunker, which escalates into something more tense as one of the H.A.R.D. Corps members is seriously wounded, allowing the story a chance to breathe and Van Lente an opportunity to show us how much Archer has grown as a character over the last couple of years. The crossover between these two books concludes in Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #20, but I’m kind of wishing we had a bit more time with this mini-conflict in this corner of the Valiant U.

Ghost, vol. 4 #3 | Dark Horse Comics | Kelly Sue DeConnick & Chris Sebela, Gerlado Borges

Review by Charles Webb

DeConnick and Sebela have a lot of threads to bring together in this issue, as Ghost meets (and fights) someone from her past while the White City Butcher gets close to Tommy and Sloane and Doctor October increasingly seems to be getting the upper hand on everyone. Largely, it’s a lot of demons getting got without too many new clues as to our heroine’s past; however, this issue is more about setting up a new status quo in its final pages.

While a little crowded (two stories reach their climax here, neither of them really pushing Elise’s story forward), this issue does let the secret war between the demonic faction (well, would-be factions) and Elise spill over into the streets. This is largely an opportunity for artist Geraldo Borges to show his stuff with some inventive creature designs (no two look alive, each one a fleshy amalgam of insect and beast), while Dan Jackson’s colors make them feel like a collection of horrors pieced together from smaller horrors.

Again, this issue doesn’t move a lot of pieces forward on the board, but the moves that are made are interesting. And I’m wondering what Doctor October’s next move will be.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS
FEB140077 CREEPY COMICS #16 $3.99
OCT130081 GAME OF THRONES MAP & MARKER SET $199.99
DEC130140 MEGATOKYO OMNIBUS TP $19.99
FEB140061 STAR WARS #16 2013 ONGOING $2.99
FEB140021 X #12 (MR) $2.99

DC COMICS
JAN140371 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO TP (MR) $16.99
FEB140283 ASTRO CITY #11 $3.99
JAN140374 ASTRO CITY SHINING STARS TP $16.99
DEC130338 ASTRO CITY THROUGH OPEN DOORS HC $24.99
FEB140213 BATGIRL #30 $2.99
FEB140140 BATMAN ETERNAL #1 $2.99
FEB140284 COFFIN HILL #7 (MR) $2.99
FEB140168 CONSTANTINE #13 $2.99
DEC130299 EARTH 2 HC VOL 03 BATTLE CRY (N52) $22.99
JAN140344 EARTH 2 TP VOL 02 THE TOWER OF FATE (N52) $16.99
FEB140290 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #9 (MR) $2.99
FEB140223 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30 $2.99
JAN140383 JONAH HEX SHADOWS WEST TP (MR) $24.99
FEB140169 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #5 $2.99
FEB140294 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #3 (MR) $2.99
FEB140274 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #44 $2.99
FEB140193 SUPERBOY #30 $2.99
FEB140186 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 (DOOMED) $3.99
FEB140188 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 COMBO PACK (DOOMED) $4.99
FEB140177 WORLDS FINEST #22 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
SEP130324 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS POWER RING AF $24.95
SEP130323 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS SUPERWOMAN AF $24.95
SEP130325 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ULTRAMAN AF $24.95

IDW PUBLISHING
FEB140457 DEADWORLD RESTORATION #5 $3.99
FEB140342 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE DISAVOWED TP VOL 03 $19.99
FEB140353 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #14 $3.99
FEB140466 INDESTRUCTIBLE #5 $3.99
FEB140426 JUDGE DREDD #18 $3.99
FEB140432 MAXX MAXXIMIZED #6 $3.99
FEB140408 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER #4 $3.99
FEB140389 POWERPUFF GIRLS #8 $3.99
FEB140399 ROCKY & BULLWINKLE #2 $3.99
FEB140392 SAMURAI JACK #7 $3.99
FEB140381 TMNT COLOR CLASSICS SERIES 2 #6 $3.99
JAN140434 TRIPLE HELIX TP $17.99

IMAGE COMICS
JAN140585 EAST OF WEST #11 $3.50
DEC130494 EAST OF WEST TP VOL 02 WE ARE ALL ONE $14.99
JAN140592 GREAT PACIFIC #14 CVR A MORAZZO (MR) $2.99
JAN140593 GREAT PACIFIC #14 CVR B POLLINA (MR) $2.99
FEB140545 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD LG MEN $19.99
FEB140544 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD MED MEN $19.99
FEB140549 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD MED WOMEN $19.99
FEB140543 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD SM MEN $19.99
FEB140548 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD SM WOMEN $19.99
FEB140546 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD XL MEN $19.99
FEB140547 IMAGE I T/S LTD ED GOLD XXL MEN $22.99
JAN140594 INVINCIBLE #110 $2.99
JAN148384 MANIFEST DESTINY #5 2ND PTG $2.99
FEB140609 MANIFEST DESTINY #6 $2.99
JAN140608 PETER PANZERFAUST #18 $3.50
SEP130636 SAVAGE DRAGON #194 (MR) $3.99
FEB140516 SHOTGUN WEDDING #2 (MR) $3.99
FEB140488 SHUTTER #1 CVR A DEL DUCA (MR) $3.50
FEB140489 SHUTTER #1 CVR B WEAVER (MR) $3.50
FEB140490 SHUTTER #1 CVR C GRAHAM (MR) $3.50
FEB140491 SHUTTER #1 CVR D RIOS (MR) $3.50
FEB140631 SPAWN #242 $2.99
FEB140534 THREE TP (MR) $14.99
FEB140644 WALKING DEAD #125 (MR) $2.99
JAN140563 WALKING DEAD ABRAHAMS ARMY T/S LG MEN $19.99

MARVEL COMICS
FEB140700 ALL NEW DOOP #1 ANMN $3.99
FEB140867 ALL NEW DOOP #1 BY ALLRED POSTER $8.99
FEB140751 ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #2 ANMN $3.99
FEB140776 ALL NEW ULTIMATES #1 $3.99
FEB140816 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #6 $3.99
FEB140817 ALL NEW X-MEN #25 $4.99
FEB140866 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 75TH ANNIV BY ROSS POSTER $8.99
FEB140865 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 BY RAMOS POSTER $8.99
JAN140806 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 PRELUDE TP $14.99
FEB140789 AVENGERS AI #11 $2.99
JAN140797 AVENGERS TP VOL 02 LAST WHITE EVENT $19.99
FEB140712 AVENGERS UNDERCOVER #2 ANMN $2.99
JAN140787 CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC VOL 03 LOOSE NUKE $24.99
FEB140725 CAPTAIN MARVEL #2 ANMN $3.99
FEB140702 DAREDEVIL #1.50 $4.99
JAN140810 DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 05 $16.99
JAN140809 DAREDEVIL EPIC COLLECTION TP FALL FROM GRACE $44.99
FEB140735 DEADPOOL #27 ANMN $9.99
NOV130709 INFINITY COMPANION HC $99.99
FEB140673 IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #1 ANMN $3.99
FEB140709 IRON MAN #24 ANMN $3.99
NOV130702 KICK-ASS 3 #7 (MR) $3.99
FEB140864 MARVEL 75TH ANNIV BY DEODATO OVERSIZED POSTER $34.99
FEB140804 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #7 SYU $2.99
DEC130767 MARVEL UNIVERSE HULK AGENTS OF SMASH DIGEST TP $9.99
FEB140782 MIGHTY AVENGERS #9 $3.99
FEB140691 NIGHTCRAWLER #1 $3.99
FEB140718 SECRET AVENGERS #2 ANMN $3.99
JAN140765 SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #11 $3.99
FEB140800 THUNDERBOLTS #24 $2.99
FEB140761 WHAT IF AGE OF ULTRON #2 $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
JAN141294 ACG CLASSICS COLL PACK FORBIDDEN WORLDS SGN SLIPCASE ED $169.99
JAN148416 AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #4 2ND PTG $2.99
JAN141308 ALICE I/T COUNTRY CLOVER NIGHTMARE GN (MR) $13.99
FEB141377 ANNOYING ORANGE GN VOL 05 TRANSFARMERS $7.99
NOV130775 ARCHIE COMIC SUPER SPECIAL #5 $9.99
JAN140869 ARCHIE DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #250 $5.99
JAN148308 BAD ASS #2 HAESER MUTIE HOMAGE CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB141163 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ANNUAL 2014 $4.99
JAN140844 BIG NATE GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE TP $9.99
FEB141477 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #21 PULLBOX MOLINA $3.99
FEB141476 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #21 REG LAROSA $3.99
FEB140965 CALIBAN #1 DARK MATTER CVR (MR) $9.99
FEB141519 CASE CLOSED GN VOL 50 $9.99
OCT131006 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #8 (MR) $3.99
FEB141278 COSPLAYERS #1 $4.99
JAN140959 CRITTER TP VOL 04 $14.99
FEB141522 DAWN OF THE ARCANA GN VOL 12 $9.99
FEB141528 DEADMAN WONDERLAND GN VOL 02 $9.99
JAN140998 DECEIVERS #4 $3.99
FEB141252 DF CRYPTOZOIC MAN #4 DYNAMIC JET PACK LTD ED CVR $14.99
AUG131288 DF MIGHTY AVENGERS #1 GREG LAND SIGN ED $29.99
DEC131140 DF SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #27 NOW #1 ROMITA SR SGN PI
FEB141383 DISNEY FAIRIES GN VOL 14 TINKER BELL & BLAZE $7.99
FEB141384 DISNEY FAIRIES HC VOL 14 TINKER BELL & BLAZE $11.99
DEC138479 DREDD UNDERBELLY MOVIE SEQUEL ONE SHOT 2ND PTG (MR) $3.99
JAN148324 EVIL EMPIRE #1 (2ND PTG) (MR) $3.99
FEB141154 FLASH GORDON #1 80TH ANNIVERSARY CVR $3.99
FEB141155 FLASH GORDON #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $3.99
FEB141149 FLASH GORDON #1 CVR A HARDMAN $3.99
FEB141150 FLASH GORDON #1 CVR B CASE $3.99
FEB141151 FLASH GORDON #1 CVR C SHALVEY $3.99
FEB141152 FLASH GORDON #1 CVR D LAMING $3.99
FEB141385 GARFIELD SHOW GN VOL 03 LONG LOST LYMAN $7.99
FEB141386 GARFIELD SHOW HC VOL 03 LONG LOST LYMAN $11.99
FEB141576 GFT ASCENSION #3 A CVR ORTIZ $3.99
FEB141577 GFT ASCENSION #3 B CVR ERIC J $3.99
FEB141578 GFT ASCENSION #3 C CVR CAFARO $3.99
FEB141579 GFT ROBYN HOOD LEGEND #2 A CVR LAISO $2.99
FEB141580 GFT ROBYN HOOD LEGEND #2 B CVR SEJIC $2.99
FEB141581 GFT ROBYN HOOD LEGEND #2 C CVR NUNES $2.99
FEB141103 GRAPHIC LIBRARY GN JACKIE ROBINSON $7.95
FEB141104 GRAPHIC LIBRARY GN MARTIN LUTHER KING JR $7.95
FEB141105 GRAPHIC LIBRARY GN ROSA PARKS MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT $7.95
JAN141297 HARVEY HORRORS COLL PACK WITCHES TALES SGN SLIPCASE ED $279.99
FEB141520 ITSUWARIBITO GN VOL 11 $9.99
NOV131234 JOHN CARPENTERS ASYLUM #5 (MR) $3.99
NOV130995 KINGS WATCH #5 $3.99
FEB141494 KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA GN VOL 08 $12.95
DEC130948 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #17 $3.50
DEC130949 LEGEND OF OZ WICKED WEST TP VOL 04 $17.99
JAN140975 LIBERATOR TP (MR) $14.99
FEB140885 LILITH DARK & THE BEASTIE TREE GN $14.99
FEB140951 LOLA XOXO #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $3.99
FEB140952 LOLA XOXO #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
FEB141071 LUMBERJANES #1 $3.99
FEB140893 LUNITA #2 (MR) $3.99
FEB141521 MAGI GN VOL 05 $9.99
FEB141143 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #2 $3.99
FEB142550 MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG REDSTONE HANDBOOK $7.99
FEB141101 NELSON MANDELA CAMPFIRE ED $12.99
AUG131431 NEOZOIC TRADERS GAMBIT #3 $3.50
FEB141075 REGULAR SHOW SKIPS #6 MAIN CVRS $3.99
FEB141045 RETURNING #2 $3.99
JAN141276 RIO GN VOL 01 SNAKES ALIVE $7.99
JAN141277 RIO HC VOL 01 SNAKES ALIVE $11.99
FEB140892 ROGUES #1 COLD SHIP (MR) $3.99
JAN141299 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS COLL PACK HEAP $89.99
JAN141300 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS COLL PACK HEAP SGN SLIPCASE ED $216.99
NOV130791 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 09 GAMES $11.99
FEB141057 SONS OF ANARCHY #8 (MR) $3.99
FEB141034 SPONGEBOB COMICS #31 $2.99
DEC131189 STONE COLLECTOR GN VOL 02 $14.95
FEB141374 THANIEL #1 (MR) $3.99
NOV131029 THE LONE RANGER #23 $3.99
FEB141192 TWILIGHT ZONE #4 $3.99
FEB141464 UNITY #6 ORDERALL ALLEN $3.99
FEB141463 UNITY #6 REG CRAIN $3.99
DEC131274 WAYWARD SONS TP VOL 03 $19.95
FEB141495 WHAT DID YOU EAT YESTERDAY GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95
FEB141472 X-O MANOWAR TP VOL 05 AT WAR WITH UNITY $14.99

What’s on your pull list this week? Let us know in the comments below.