Ben Affleck may be the new Batman, but until someone turns the yet-to-be-made film into a comic book adaptation, then there’s nothing to fear, because you’ll always have the warm embrace of Comic Book Day to make you feel good about loving superheroes again. This week sees a bevy of brand new books hitting store shelves and the beginning of the end for DC’s “Infinity War”, which is emblematic of the summer coming to an end. But we’ll lament the inability to wantonly wear white next week; for now, let’s get to the pull list!

Top Picks

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #2 | Simon Oliver and Robbi Rodriguez

If you’re not reading Simon Oliver’s quantum crime procedural, now called FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics (formerly Collider), then you’re missing out on the start of something awesome. Only two issues in and Oliver has already established a wonderfully weird set of rules for the world of Collider. Following agents for the Federal Bureau of Physics, Oliver takes us on a time-and-space-bending trip through your typical crime story and inserts enough science-related weirdness to keep it feeling both grounded and impossible all at once. Issue two shows us just how far the rabbit hole goes, taking us to the Bubbleverse, a pocket universe that mirrors our own like a funhouse mirrors your actual physique, in order to rescue civilians from our world trapped inside. All of this, of course, is brought to life in some delightfully psychedelic artwork and dynamic layouts from Robbi Rodriguez. There’s still time to get on this train before it’s a bonafide runaway that only Denzel Washington can stop, so don’t sleep on it — head down to your local comic book shop and snag it ASAP.

Itty Bitty Hellboy #1 | Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani

All-ages comics are a tough proposition any way you slice it. Writing for kids is a skill unto itself, but writing for kids in such a way that you can let the adults in on the joke too? Well, that’s something worthy of celebration, and that’s exactly how I feel about Itty Bitty Hellboy #1 — and I’m not just saying that because we had the exclusive reveal back at C2E2. The Aw Yeah Comics! team could not have been a better choice for this family friendly fare, as they bring a tremendous amout of humor, heart and a genuine sense of play to the Hellboy universe. Issue #1 is packed to the brim with short, digestible gags that hearken back to cartoon strips like Peanuts or Foxtrot in how they flow narratively. The artwork pops off the page and does a bang-up job of brightening up Hellboy’s often dark world. Fans of Mike Mignola’s sprawling universe and Hellboy fans-in-training alike will find plenty to love about this series, so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. You’ll be smiling all the way through next Wednesday.

ADVANCE REVIEW: X-Men: Battle of the Atom #1 | Brian Michael Bendis and Frank Cho

Although the issue doesn’t hit stands until September 4th, Marvel was kind enough to let us review this bad boy early.

You knew that Marvel was cookin’ up something special to celebrate the 50th anniversary of everyone’s favorite band of mutant hellraisers, but Battle of the Atom looks like the start of something special, as Brian Michael Bendis begins to condense the X-Men franchise’s many titles into a single crossover event. The first few pages may seem a little overly introductory, like a tutorial level for X-Men comics, but it’s to Bendis’ credit that he slowly but surely introduces different facets of the multi-headed hydra that the franchise has become in a way that doesn’t feel forced. Very quickly, we’re introduced to all the characters we need to know, the rivalry between the two mutant schools and the fact that time travel is going to play a big part. You may find yourself missing characters unique to Brian Wood’s X-Men or Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men, but the beauty of Bendis’ streamlined approach is a very clean, relatively uncluttered kickoff to a major crossover event, even if it does feel a little too explanatory at times.

Frank Cho isn’t at his Savage Wolverine best here, but his art style suits the X-Men well and makes for a visually exciting, well laid out issue and some awesome effects shots. Fortunately, Stuart Immonen steps in to play clean-up with fill-in art for the issue’s darker, moodier character moments. It’s a powerful one-two combo, artistically speaking. Most of all, this is a rollicking, humorous issue that is clearly meant as a hopping-on point for readers old and new. If Bendis and Cho continue to build on the solid foundation they’ve laid in issue one, then X-Men fans will have plenty of reasons to celebrate this fall.

Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN130025 ANGEL & FAITH #25 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99
JUN130039 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #2 $2.99
APR130077 CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES HC VOL 05 $49.99
JUN130027 ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #1 $2.99
JUN130057 KING CONAN HOUR O/T DRAGON #4 $3.50
JUN138070 LAST OF US AMERICAN DREAMS #1 (3RD PTG) $3.99
JUN130010 MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION #2 $3.99
JUN130047 MASSIVE #15 $3.50
JUN130045 MIND MGMT #14 $3.99
APR130027 NUMBER 13 TP $15.99
APR130065 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 14 $19.99
JUN130019 STAR WARS LEGACY II #6 $2.99
JUN130035 STATION TO STATION ONE SHOT $2.99

DC COMICS

FEB130216 ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN BATMAN HC VOL 01 $99.99
JUN130249 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #4 $3.99
JUN130230 ALL STAR WESTERN #23 $3.99
JUN130292 AMERICAN VAMPIRE ANTHOLOGY #1 (MR) $7.99
JUN130163 AQUAMAN #23 $2.99
JUN130197 BATMAN INCORPORATED SPECIAL #1 $4.99
JUN130193 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3 $3.99
JUN130196 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUN130207 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23 $2.99
JUN130215 CATWOMAN #23 $2.99
APR130253 FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 07 (MR) $29.99
JUN130296 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #2 (MR) $2.99
JUN130169 FLASH #23 $2.99
JUN130232 GREEN TEAM TEEN TRILLIONAIRES #4 $2.99
MAY130258 HELLBLAZER TP VOL 06 (MR) $19.99
JUN130244 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #8 $3.99
MAY130232 JACK KIRBYS OMAC ONE MAN ARMY CORPS TP $19.99
JUN130154 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23 (TRINITY) $3.99
JUN130157 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23 COMBO PACK (TRINITY) $4.99
JUN130227 LARFLEEZE #3 $2.99
MAY130257 LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN OMNIBUS TP $29.99
MAY130223 LEGION LOST TP VOL 2 THE CULLING (N52) $16.99
JUN130283 MAD MAGAZINE #523 $5.99
JUN130225 RED LANTERNS #23 $2.99
APR130263 SANDMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 (MR) $150.00
JUN130189 SUPERMAN #23 $2.99
MAY130228 SWORD OF SORCERY TP VOL 01 AMETHYST (N52) $24.99
JUN130203 TALON #11 $2.99
MAY130217 TALON TP VOL 01 SCOURGE OF THE OWLS (N52) $16.99
JUN130240 TEEN TITANS #23 $2.99
JUN130297 TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL #2 $2.99
JUN130289 UNWRITTEN #52 (MR) $2.99
JUN130294 WAKE #1 DIRECTORS CUT (MR) $4.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

APR130283 BATMAN ARKHAM CITY NIGHTWING STATUE $124.95
APR130287 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY SEAN MURPHY $79.95
MAY130272 HUSH JOKER HARLEY STEALTH BATMAN AF 3 PACK $49.95

IDW PUBLISHING

JUN130375 100 PENNY PRESS TMNT #1 $1.00
JUN130363 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #8 $3.99
JUN130386 GI JOE #7 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130389 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #193 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130358 GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP120372 JERICHO SEASON 4 #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130338 JUDGE DREDD CLASSICS #2 $3.99
APR130393 KILL SHAKESPEARE TIDE OF BLOOD #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY130382 LOAC ESSENTIALS HC VOL 03 POLLY AND HER PALS 1933 $24.99
JUN130378 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #10 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130419 RIP KIRBY HC VOL 06 $49.99
JUN130411 SAM KIETH SAMPLINGS & DABBLINGS SC $19.99
FEB130373 STEVE DITKO MONSTERS HC VOL 02 KONGA $34.99
JUN130328 THUMBPRINT BY JOE HILL #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130368 TMNT ANIMATED TP VOL 02 NEVER SAY XEVER / GAUNTLET $7.99
JUN130370 TMNT ONGOING #25 $3.99
MAY130355 TRANSFORMERS CLASSICS TP VOL 05 $24.99
JUN130397 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #20 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130402 TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130403 TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS #4 SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
JUN130399 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #94 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130410 VISUAL FUNK JIM MAHFOOD ART HC $49.99

IMAGE COMICS

JUN138142 LAZARUS #2 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
JUN130548 LAZARUS #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
MAY130564 MIND THE GAP #13 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99
MAY130565 MIND THE GAP #13 CVR B MCDAID $2.99
JUN130554 MORNING GLORIES #30 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
APR130462 PROGENY TP VOL 01 [DIG] $16.99
JUN130457 SECRET #3 (RES) [DIG] $3.50
JUN130560 SEX #6 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130461 SKULLKICKERS #24 [DIG] $3.50
APR130472 SPAWN DARK AGES COMPLETE COLL HC $59.99
JUN130488 SPAWN ORIGINS HC VOL 09 $29.99
FEB130469 SUPER DINOSAUR #20 [DIG] $2.99
JUN130567 THINK TANK #9 [DIG] $3.99
MAY130517 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS XL $19.99
MAY130521 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S WOMENS LG $19.99
MAY130520 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S WOMENS MED $19.99
MAY130519 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S WOMENS SM $19.99
MAY130522 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S WOMENS XL $19.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

JUN131930 TMP MLB BUSTER POSEY AF PI
JUN131931 TMP MLB JOSH HAMILTON AF PI
MAY131860 TMP NFL SMALL PROS MINI FIG SER 1 PI
MAY131841 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 32 AF PI
MAY131847 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 32 ARIAN FOSTER AF PI
MAY131849 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 32 PEYTON MANNING AF PI
MAY131843 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 32 RGIII AF PI
MAY131846 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 32 VERNON DAVIS AF PI
APR130582 WALKING DEAD COMIC SER 2 GLENN AF PI
APR130581 WALKING DEAD COMIC SER 2 GOVERNOR AF PI
APR130583 WALKING DEAD COMIC SER 2 MICHONNE PET AF PI
APR130584 WALKING DEAD COMIC SER 2 PENNY AF PI
APR130580 WALKING DEAD COMIC SERIES 2 AF PI

MARVEL COMICS

JUN130595 A PLUS X #11 $3.99
JUN138087 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 5TH PTG RAMOS VAR $7.99
APR130742 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 NEW PTG $99.99
JUN130664 ASTONISHING X-MEN #66 $3.99
JUN130597 AVENGERS ARENA #14 $2.99
JUN130632 CAPTAIN AMERICA #10 $3.99
JUN130590 CAPTAIN MARVEL #15 INF $2.99
JUN130690 DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 04 $16.99
JUN130657 DEADPOOL #15 $2.99
JUN130631 FF #11 $2.99
JUN130698 FURY MAX TP VOL 02 MY WAR GONE BY (MR) $19.99
JUN130659 GAMBIT #16 $2.99
MAY130717 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY PREM HC VOL 01 COSMIC AVENGERS NOW $24.99
JUN130624 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #655 $2.99
MAR130730 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR HC VOL 15 $69.99
JUN130670 MMW INCREDIBLE HULK TP VOL 03 $24.99
JUN130589 NEW AVENGERS #9 INF $3.99
JUN130618 ROCKET RACCOON TP TALES FROM HALF WORLD $7.99
JUN130610 SCARLET SPIDER #21 $2.99
JUN130594 SECRET AVENGERS #8 $3.99
JUN130683 SECRET AVENGERS TP VOL 01 REVERIE TP NOW $17.99
JUN130592 THANOS RISING #5 INF $3.99
JUN130623 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #12 $3.99
JUN130603 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #26 $3.99
JUN130593 UNCANNY AVENGERS #11 $3.99
JUN130644 UNCANNY X-MEN #11 $3.99
JUN130649 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #35 $3.99
JUN130665 WOLVERINE MAX #10 (MR) $3.99
MAY130722 X-MEN LEGACY TP VOL 02 INVASIVE EXOTICS $15.99
JUN130695 X-MEN MAGIK TP STORM AND ILLYANA $16.99
JUN130599 YOUNG AVENGERS #9 NOW $2.99
JUN130682 YOUNG AVENGERS TP VOL 01 STYLE SUBSTANCE NOW $15.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR130956 ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #1 EMERALD CITY COMIC CON $9.99
JUN130790 ALL NEW FATHOM #2 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
JUN130789 ALL NEW FATHOM #2 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
JUL131419 ANGEL FALLING GN (MR) $9.99
JUN130722 ARCANE SECRETS #1 $3.99
JUN130780 ASYLUM OF HORRORS #1 (MR) [DIG] $4.95
APR131219 ATOMIC ROBO REAL SCIENCE ADV #10 $2.75
JUN131367 BTOOOM GN VOL 03 (MR) $11.99
JUN131368 BUNNY DROP GN VOL 09 $13.99
APR130796 BUTCHER STREET GN $19.95
JUN131184 CAGE OF EDEN GN VOL 11 $10.99
MAR138285 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC BOX SET 1963-1966 $49.95
JUN131143 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC BOX SET 1963-1966 $49.95
JUL130857 CROSSED ANNUAL 2013 #1 CHEERFUL CVR (MR) $5.99
JUN131056 DAMSELS GIANT KILLER ONE SHOT $4.99
SEP121067 DF ALL NEW X-MEN #1 LEE SGN ED $399.99
JAN131137 DF DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED #1 BUNN SGN ED $19.91
NOV121158 DF FANTASTIC FOUR #1 FRACTION SGN ED $19.61
DEC121081 DF FF #1 ALLRED SGN ED $19.61
SEP121071 DF IRON MAN #1 MARQUEE LEE SGN ED $399.99
NOV121160 DF VENOM #28 BUNN SGN ED $19.88
APR131098 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #28 EXC RISQUE RED CVR $19.99
JUN131215 DISNEY FAIRIES GN VOL 12 LOST TREASURE $7.99
MAY131141 END O/T F$$$ING WORLD GN (MR) $19.99
JUN130706 ENVY ONE SHOT (MR) $2.49
JUN130804 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #14 CVR A HANSON [DIG] $3.99
JUN130805 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #14 CVR B TORQUE $3.99
MAY130886 EXTINCTION PARADE #2 (MR) $3.99
MAY130888 EXTINCTION PARADE #2 END OF SPECIES CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY130887 EXTINCTION PARADE #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JUN130894 FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #17 [DIG] $3.99
JUN130879 FUTURAMA COMICS #68 $2.99
JUN131384 GFT 2013 SPECIAL ED (UNLEASHED PT5) A CVR KING $5.99
JUN131385 GFT 2013 SPECIAL ED (UNLEASHED PT5) B CVR LAISO $5.99
JUN131386 GFT 2013 SPECIAL ED (UNLEASHED PT5) C CVR CAFARO $5.99
JUN131387 GFT 2013 SPECIAL ED (UNLEASHED PT5) D CVR KLAUBA $5.99
JUN131397 GFT NO TOMORROW #1 A CVR KROME $2.99
JUN131398 GFT NO TOMORROW #1 B CVR SEJIC $2.99
JUN131399 GFT NO TOMORROW #1 C CVR TOLIBAO $2.99
JUN131400 GFT NO TOMORROW #1 D CVR QUALANO $2.99
JUN131407 GFT ROBYN HOOD WANTED #4 A CVR SIQUEIRA $2.99
JUN131408 GFT ROBYN HOOD WANTED #4 B CVR REYES $2.99
JUN130728 GOLD DIGGER GINA VS PENNY ONE SHOT $3.99
JUN131345 HELTER SKELTER FASHION UNFRIENDLY GN $16.95
JUL131197 HENRY AND GLENN FOREVER AND EVER #1 (MR) $5.00
FEB130870 HIGHER EARTH TP VOL 02 $14.99
MAY131144 IN CASE WE DIE HC NOVEL $26.99
MAY131074 JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #6 $3.99
JUN131369 JUDGE GN VOL 01 $12.99
JUN131378 KINGDOM HEARTS II TP VOL 02 $19.00
MAR130787 LAST ZOMBIE #4 THE END [DIG] $3.99
MAY130780 LAST ZOMBIE TP VOL 04 BEFORE THE AFTER $14.95
MAR138283 LOCAL HC NEW PTG $39.99
JUN131002 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #5 $3.99
JUN130982 MASKS TP VOL 01 $24.99
APR131167 MEOW MEOW HC $20.95
JUN131015 MISS FURY #5 CVR A TAN $3.99
JUN131016 MISS FURY #5 CVR B BENITEZ $3.99
JUN131017 MISS FURY #5 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
JUN131018 MISS FURY #5 CVR D CHEN $3.99
JUN131878 MR TOAST COMICS #5 SUBTERRA THE WORLD BELOW $3.00
JUN131229 MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS #3 $3.99
MAY130921 OCCUPY COMICS #3 $3.50
JUN130783 OVERTAKEN #1 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $1.00
JUN130782 OVERTAKEN #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $1.00
JUN131370 PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 17 $11.99
JUN130912 PEANUTS VOL 2 #11 [DIG] $3.99
JUN131371 PUELLA MAGI KAZUMI MAGICA GN VOL 02 INNOCENT MALICE $11.99
JUN138340 QUANTUM & WOODY #1 3RD PTG $3.99
JUN130919 REGULAR SHOW #1 PHOENIX COMIC CON EX CVR $9.99
APR130957 REGULAR SHOW #3 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
JUN130767 SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH MAGIC WITHIN TP VOL 03 $10.99
MAY131196 SCIENCE A DISCOVERY IN COMICS HC $19.99
JUN131211 SMURFS GN VOL 16 AEROSMURF $5.99
JUN131212 SMURFS HC VOL 16 AEROSMURF $10.99
MAY130949 STEED AND MRS PEEL ONGOING #11 [DIG] $3.99
JUN130904 SUICIDE RISK #1 PHOENIX COMIC CON EX CVR $9.99
APR130980 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE TP VOL 11 PX ED (MR) $34.99
JUN131217 THEA STILTON HC VOL 02 LIZARD CLUB $9.99
MAY131276 TOMORROWLAND #2 $3.99
JUL130851 UBER #0 ENHANCED BREAKDOWN ED (MR) $5.99
JUL130852 UBER #2 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR) $5.99
JUN131373 UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 04 TURN GOLDEN WITCH PT 2 $20.99
JUN131028 UNCANNY #3 $3.99
JUN130968 VAMPIRELLA #33 NEVES CVR $3.99
JUN130969 VAMPIRELLA #33 PARRILLO CVR $3.99
JUN131230 WASTELAND #47 (MR) $3.99
JUN131291 WESTWARD #5 $3.50
APR131168 YOUNG LOVECRAFT GN VOL 03 (MR) $19.95