You know it’s a good time to be a comic book reader when not only are big screen adaptations of your favorite titles dominating the multiplex, but also it’s been a minute since we’ve had a light week. Well, this week is no exception, as we’re introduced to Batman Beyond Universe, Sam Humphries’ excellent Sacrifice is collected in hardcover, and the Mighty Avengers defend Earth from both Thanos and the Plunderer! Not a bad way to celebrate making it exactly halfway through the work week, huh? So come one, come all because it’s Comic Book Day and the pull list is plentiful.

Top Picks

Sacrifice HC | Sam Humphries and Dalton Rose

In case you missed Sam Humphries and Dalton Rose’s seriously excellent saga of Aztec lore, religion, Joy Division and epilepsy, then kindly doff your cap to Dark Horse for releasing the six issue mini-series in hardcover form. Humphries, like protagonist Hector, suffers from epilepsy, making it an intensely personal narrative. In a previous interview, he explained the impetus behind its inclusion: “The only cool thing about epilepsy is that in certain cultures, it’s considered sacred. So I thought there should be a story where that actually comes in handy.” Indeed, it is through an epileptic seizure that our Mexican-American hero is transported back to the days of the Aztec Empire where he is reviled as a demon and revered for his ability to commune with the spirit world (a.k.a. his seizures). It’s an alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of an alienated teen who, emotionally crippled by his condition in modern times, finds a new lease on life through it in the Aztec era. Dalton Rose’s artwork is stunning, bringing a frantic energy to the bloody fight scenes and an otherworldly awe to encounters with deities like Quetzalcoatl. This is a coming of age book through the ages and its themes ring true even for those of us who aren’t afflicted by epilepsy or unintentional time travel. Whatever you do, don’t let this delightful collection pass you by.

Mighty Avengers #1 | Al Ewing and Greg Land

NOTE: This is an advance review. Mighty Avengers #1 drops on September 11th. 

After the epic scale of last week’s Infinity #1 – and the undeniable badassery of Black Bolt – you’d be forgiven for thinking that Al Ewing and Greg Land’s Mighty Avengers #1 seems a bit tame by comparison. With all of the Marvel Universe’s heavy hitters off in the far reaches of space trying to prevent an intergalactic catastrophe, the Earth is left unguarded, Avengerless, and subject to the mercy of Thanos’ increasingly creepy lieutenants, Proxima Midnight and Ebony Maw. Seemingly, the only fighting force left in New York is Luke Cage’s Heroes For Hire, a haphazard squad of B-listers (Cage, the new Power Man, Spectrum/Monica Rambeau, White Tiger, and confusingly, the Superior Spider-Man) that can’t seem to get on the same page. They’re powerful, but untested, untrained, and uncooperative. It’s to Ewing’s credit that he gets introductions out of the way quickly and keeps the action moving through some terrifically kinetic sequences, but these characters are all awfully unlikable despite their constant quipping. Yet, a balance of action, humor and discord from fresh faces may be exactly what the Marvel Universe needs right now. Hopefully future issues will see them toning down the jerk factor a tad and learning to work together, but Ewing and Land have the start of something cool on there hands, so it’s going to be exciting to see how they manage to keep Infinity grounded on planet Earth.

Batman Beyond Universe #1 | Kyle Higgins, Christos Gage and Thony Silas

I’ll admit that although I watched Batman Beyond in my youth, I was never as into the series as much as I was Batman: The Animated Series, so I’ve always been a bit hesitant to delve into DC’s comic book adaptations of the Beyond stories. That being said, Kyle Higgins and Thony Silas’ Batman Beyond Universe #1 might just be my favorite thing I’ve read all week. It has a crackling, animated quality and Higgins, who has been positively crushing it on Nightwing, creates a Gotham that’s both familiar and wildly new. The series kicks off with the untimely, mysterious death of Mayor Dusk, and once we’re dropped into Terry McGinnis’ decidedly Peter Parker-ian shoes, we hit the ground running. It’s a wild ride full of familiar faces and new baddies galore just waiting to be discovered.  In the backup story – and this is where the Universe part comes in – we get a Christos Gage-penned story of Batman’s exploits with the futuristic iteration of the Justice League. Again, it’s nice to see familiar faces paired with not-so-familiar ones in familiar costumes. This one is more Superman-centric and feels a little less focused than Higgins’ story, but it comes around towards the end to be surprisingly poignant. What Batman Beyond Universe represents above all else is a sense of potential as its set far enough in the future from the current Batman books that it doesn’t feel beholden to the past so much as it is enhance by it. For anyone looking for a breath of fresh, futuristic air, you should breathe deep of Batman Beyond Universe‘s heady blend of action, heart and humor.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN130054 BLOOD BROTHERS #2 $3.99
JUN130030 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #110 $3.50
APR130053 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER WILLOW WONDERLAND TP $17.99
JUN130056 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #19 $3.50
JUN130032 CREEPY COMICS #13 $4.99
JUN130044 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #27 (MR) $7.99
APR130073 DRAGON AGE HC VOL 03 UNTIL WE SLEEP $14.99
JUN130042 DREAM THIEF #4 $3.99
JUN138071 LAST OF US AMERICAN DREAMS #2 (2ND PTG) $3.99
JUN138072 LAST OF US AMERICAN DREAMS #3 (2ND PTG) $3.99
JUN130029 LOBSTER JOHNSON SCENT OF LOTUS #2 $3.50
APR130028 NEXUS OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 $24.99
APR130015 SACRIFICE HC (RES) $19.99
JUN130018 STAR WARS DARK TIMES SPARK REMAINS #2 $3.50
JUN130015 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & NINTH ASSASSIN #5 $3.50
APR130062 STAR WARS OMNIBUS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC TP VOL 01 $24.99
JUN130036 STRAIN THE FALL #2 $3.99

DC COMICS

JUN130291 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO #3 (MR) $2.99
JUN130231 ANIMAL MAN #23 $2.99
JUN130247 ARROW #10 $3.99
JUN130245 BATMAN 66 #2 $3.99
JUN130209 BATMAN AND NIGHTWING #23 $2.99
JUN130252 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #1 $3.99
JUN130212 BATWOMAN #23 $2.99
JUN130211 BIRDS OF PREY #23 $2.99
MAY130222 CAPTAIN ATOM TP VOL 02 GENESIS (N52) $14.99
MAY130227 DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS TP VOL 02 VANDAL SAVAGE (N52) $14.99
JUN130287 FABLES #132 (MR) $2.99
JUN130223 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #23 $2.99
MAY130231 GREEN LANTERN SECTOR 2814 TP VOL 02 $16.99
JUN130282 HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #5 $2.99
JUN138078 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #5 2ND PTG $3.99
JUN130151 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23 (TRINITY) (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
JUN130168 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #7 $2.99
JUN130158 JUSTICE LEAGUE TRINITY WAR DIRECTORS CUT #1 $5.99
JUN130236 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #23 $2.99
JUN130217 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #23 $2.99
JUN130192 SUPERGIRL #23 $2.99
JUN130176 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3 $3.99
JUN130178 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUN130159 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #3 (TRINITY) $2.99
JUN130171 WONDER WOMAN #23 $2.99
APR130241 WORLD OF WARCRAFT BLOODSWORN HC $24.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

OCT128234 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM ARMORED BATMAN AF $24.95
OCT128235 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM HARLEY QUINN AF $24.95
OCT128236 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM JOKER WITH SCARFACE AF $24.95
OCT128237 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM POISON IVY AF $24.95
OCT128238 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM SCARECROW AF $24.95
MAY130278 DC NATION AARDMAN AF 5 PACK $74.95

IDW PUBLISHING

APR130412 BERKELEYWORKS BREATHED BLOOM COUNTY & BEYOND HC $59.99
MAR138384 DANGER GIRL GI JOE HC RED LABEL ED PI
JUN130345 DINOSAURS ATTACK #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
FEB138544 GI JOE COMPLETE COLL HC VOL 01 RED LABEL ED PI
MAY138413 HALF PAST DANGER #2 2ND PTG $3.99
JUN130336 JUDGE DREDD #10 [DIG/P+] $3.99
APR138248 JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE CARLOS EZQUERRA HC VOL 01 RED LABEL ED PI
JUN130355 KISS KIDS #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130380 MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #7 CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130352 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #13 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130366 TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #2 $3.99
JUN130373 TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #5 KARAI $3.99
MAY138068 TRANSFORMERS LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS HC RED LABEL ED PI
MAY138414 WILD BLUE YONDER #2 2ND PTG $3.99
MAY138225 X-FILES SEASON 10 #2 2ND PTG $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

JUN130530 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR A SEJIC [DIG] $2.99
JUN130531 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR B FINCH $2.99
JUN130532 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR C BASALDUA $2.99
JUN130533 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR D HAIRSINE $2.99
JUN130536 BOUNCE #4 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130436 CHEW TP VOL 07 BAD APPLES (MR) [DIG] $12.99
MAR130560 CHIN MUSIC #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
MAR130571 I LOVE TROUBLE #6 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130549 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #6 CVR A YOUNG [DIG] $2.99
JUN130550 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #6 CVR B SANTOS $2.99
JUN130557 REVIVAL #13 [DIG] $2.99
MAY130434 SAVAGE DRAGON #190 LTD ED DIGEST (MR) $3.99
MAY130575 THIEF OF THIEVES #16 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
MAY130516 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS LG $19.99
MAY130515 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS MED $19.99
MAY130514 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS SM $19.99
MAY130518 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS XXL $22.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

MAY130580 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 AF PI
MAY130581 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 CONNOR AF PI
MAY130583 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 EDWARD KENWAY AF PI
MAY130582 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 HAYTHEM KENWAY AF PI

MARVEL COMICS

JUN130586 AVENGERS #18 INF $3.99
JUN130588 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #18 INF $3.99
MAY130740 AVENGERS COMPLETE COLL BY GEOFF JOHNS TP VOL 02 $29.99
JUN130654 CABLE AND X-FORCE #13 $3.99
JUN130628 DAREDEVIL #30 $2.99
MAY130727 DEADPOOL TP VOL 02 SOUL HUNTER NOW $15.99
JUN130640 DEXTER #2 (RES) $3.99
MAY130726 FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 02 ROAD TRIP NOW $15.99
JUN130626 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #12 $3.99
MAY138168 KICK-ASS 3 #1 2ND PTG JRJR VAR (MR) $2.99
MAR130733 MARVEL 1602 HC 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION $29.99
MAR130720 MIGHTY THOR OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $99.99
JUN130616 MORBIUS LIVING VAMPIRE #8 $2.99
MAY130732 NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP VOL 05 $19.99
JUN130617 NOVA #7 $3.99
MAY130723 SPIDER-MAN TP DYING WISH $19.99
JUN130607 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #16 $3.99
MAY130724 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 02 TROUBLED MIND NOW $17.99
JUN130591 THUNDERBOLTS #14 INF $2.99
JUN130605 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #29 $3.99
JUN130615 VENOM #39 $2.99
JUN130662 X-FACTOR #261 $2.99
JUN130645 X-MEN #4 $3.99
JUN130660 X-MEN LEGACY #15 $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN130920 ADVENTURE TIME #19 MAIN CVR $3.99
MAY131078 ANNA AND FROGA I DUNNO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO HC $14.95
JUN130781 ASYLUM OF HORRORS #2 (MR) [DIG] $4.95
JUN131183 BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER OMNIBUS VOL 02 $19.99
MAY131189 BELA LUGOSI TALES FROM GRAVE #4 $3.99
JUN130763 BETTY & VERONICA #267 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
JUN131168 BIG NATE HERE GOES NOTHING TP $9.99
JUN131318 BLOODSHOT #0 PULLBOX KINDT $3.99
JUN131317 BLOODSHOT #0 REG BULLOCK $3.99
JUN131176 BLUESY LUCY EXISTENTIAL CHRONICLES HC (MR) $24.95
JUN130932 BONE TALL TALES TP NEW PTG $12.99
JUN130909 BRAVEST WARRIORS #11 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
DEC121112 CHILDREN OF PALOMAR HC $22.99
JUN131142 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 08 1965-1966 (NEW PTG) $29.99
JUN130821 CROSSED BADLANDS #35 (MR) $3.99
JUN130823 CROSSED BADLANDS #35 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130822 CROSSED BADLANDS #35 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN131023 DARK SHADOWS YEAR ONE #5 $3.99
JUN131063 DEVILS PANTIES GN VOL 01 (MR) $20.00
JUN131064 DEVILS PANTIES GN VOL 02 (MR) $20.00
MAY131142 EC AL FELDSTEIN CHILD OF TOMORROW HC $28.99
MAR131164 EC JOHNNY CRAIG FALL GUY FOR MURDER HC $28.99
MAY130911 FEARLESS DAWN IN OUTER SPACE ONE SHOT (MR) $3.99
MAY131140 GAHAN WILSON SUNDAY COMICS HC (RES) $29.99
JUN131405 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #88 A CVR CAFARO $2.99
JUN131406 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #88 B CVR NUNES $2.99
JUN131380 GFT OZ #2 A CVR LASHLEY $2.99
JUN131381 GFT OZ #2 B CVR SPAY $2.99
JUN131382 GFT OZ #2 C CVR ORTIZ $2.99
JUN131383 GFT OZ #2 D CVR GARZA $2.99
JUN131401 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 A CVR SPAY TEAM $2.99
JUN131402 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 B CVR MYCHAELS $2.99
JUN131403 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 C CVR SPAY BLACK CLOAK $2.99
JUN131404 GFT REALM KNIGHTS #1 D CVR REYES $2.99
JUN131007 GREEN HORNET LEGACY #40 $3.99
JUN130893 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
MAY131339 IKIGAMI ULTIMATE LIMIT GN VOL 09 (MR) $12.99
JUN131053 JENNIFER BLOOD #30 (MR) $3.99
JUN131253 JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP (S&S ED) VOL 06 $19.99
APR131166 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #200 SP ANNIVERSARY ED $8.99
JUN130979 LIVING CORPSE HAUNTED ONE SHOT $4.99
JUN131022 MISS FURY DIGITAL FIRST #1 $3.99
JUN131293 MO AND JO TP FIGHTING TOGETHER FOREVER $4.99
JUN130859 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #10 (MR) $3.99
JUN130861 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #10 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130860 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #10 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN131186 NO 6 GN VOL 02 $10.99
APR131248 NUMBERCRUNCHER #2 $3.99
JUN130716 OUTLIERS #1 $5.00
JUN130869 PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL DEATH #1 (MR) $3.50
MAY131332 POKEMON ADV HEARTGOLD & SOULSILVER GN VOL 01 $9.99
MAY131205 POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE GN VOL 03 PANIC PARADE $7.99
MAY131206 POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE HC VOL 03 PANIC PARADE $11.99
APR131131 PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 07 1949-1950 $35.00
JUN138088 QUANTUM & WOODY #1 2ND PTG $3.99
APR131062 RED SONJA #80 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
JUN130963 RED SONJA UNCHAINED #4 $3.99
JUN130880 SERGIO ARAGONES FUNNIES #9 (RES) $3.50
JUN130877 SIMPSONS COMICS #205 $2.99
JUN131226 SIXTH GUN #33 $3.99
APR131250 SOLID STATE TANK GIRL #3 $3.99
JUN130771 SONIC SUPER DIGEST #4 [P+] $3.99
JUN130775 SONIC UNIVERSE #55 REG CVR [P+] $2.99
JAN130882 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #6 CVR A DEBALFO [DIG] $3.99
JAN130883 SOULFIRE VOL 4 #6 CVR B RUFFINO $3.99
APR130755 STRANGERS IN PARADISE OMNIBUS PX SC ED $100.00
MAR131100 THE LONE RANGER #17 $3.99
MAY131033 VAMPIRELLA #32 NEVES CVR $3.99
MAY131034 VAMPIRELLA #32 PARRILLO CVR $3.99
JUN138074 WATSON AND HOLMES #1 2ND PTG $2.99
JUN130768 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #31 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN131323 X-O MANOWAR #16 REG ZIRCHER $3.99
JUN131325 X-O MANOWAR TP VOL 03 PLANET DEATH $14.99
JUN131296 ZIG AND WIKKI TP SOMETHING ATE MY HOMEWORK $4.99

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