Ah, the four day workweek. Is there anything sweeter in all the land? Perhaps not, but Comic Book Day during a four day work week comes pretty darn close. This week, we’ve got plenty of reasons to be excited, including but not limited to the return of the Metal Men, a grisly lycanthropic murder mystery, and a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse set in WWII-era France. So, go ahead, and celebrate because the week is almost over and the Pull List is here to get you over that hump.

Top Picks

Justice League #28 | DC Comics | Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Scott Hanna, Rod Reis, Dezi Sienty

If it seems like I’ve been writing a lot about Justice League and Forever Evil lately, well, you’re right – I have been. Most big-time events leave me with the taste of disappointment in my mouth, but for some reason the “Forever Evil” arc has captivated me as a reader in a way that other books simply haven’t. The way that this arc is subtly shifting the status quo of the DC Universe has been a joy to watch unfold, and there’s a definite sense of stakes to the whole event.

The last issue of Justice League was an unexpectedly heartfelt issue that took us into Cyborg’s past and examined his strained relationship with his father, slowly but surely advancing the plot and leaving us at the doorstep of one Dr. Will Magnus, who you may know as the creator of the Metal Men. Growing up, I spent countless hours in the basement poring over my father’s vast comics collection, and I always had a soft spot for the Metal Men whether they were making a guest appearance in The Brave and the Bold or in their constantly morphing solo series. There’s just something about them that’s near and dear to my heart, so you can imagine my excitement when Justice League #28 featured them prominently on the cover.

Finally, it seems that Justice League is entering the “Forever Evil” endgame, and the Metal Men are going to factor prominently into it. The bulk of the issue is told from Will Magnus’ perspective as a series of flashbacks about his development of the Metal Men, their creation, and their complicated, tragic history. Geoff Johns clearly has a deep-seated passion for these characters and it shows through his writing: the Metal Man are immediately charismatic, each with their own distinct personalities, and don’t come off as an annoyance or trifle, which can be the case when you’re forced to meet a brand new group all at once. Ivan Reis’ artwork as well is used to spectacular effect, giving him a chance to flex his artistic muscle on various fight sequences and quieter, more introspective moments that show off the characters’ personalities.

A page-turner from start to finish, Justice League #28 is one of those issues that will leave you pumping your fist in excitement…and champing at the bit for issue #29. So go ahead and feed your appetite for awesome with a heaping helping of the Metal Men.

Curse #2 | BOOM! Studios | Michael Moreci, Tim Daniel, Riley Rossmo, Colin Lorimer, Jim Campbell, and Tamra Bonvillain

Have you already picked up your copy of Curse #2? No? I’ll wait.

Seriously. Go open comiXology or go to your local comic book store. I’ll wait.

In all seriousness, Curse is one of my favorite new books to hit shelves, blending suspenseful, clever horror with a well-defined sense of lore and a slow-burn mystery that leaves you wanting to know more about every last, blood-soaked detail. You know how much you’re digging True Detective on HBO right now? That’s how I feel about Curse; it’s just managed to suck me in and, much like Laney Griffin, count down the days until the next bout of lycanthropic madness unfolds.

When we last left our hero, former football star Laney Griffin, he was struggling to pay for his son’s rising cancer treatment costs, coping with the loss of his wife and intense scorn of his sister-in-law Sheriff Nora Hughes, and keeping a murderous French werewolf chained up in his basement. You know, the usual. Issue #2 does a bang-up job of building off of the first issue’s groundwork and keeps the plot moving at a steady clip, heightening the emotional stakes, and setting multiple characters on a collision course that will almost definitely end in a bloodbath. (My money is on either Laney or his son getting turned into a werewolf, but that’s a story for another article.) Nora is continuing to connect the dots on these mysterious murders despite her inept, conniving deputy and the antagonizing town drunk getting in her way, and we also get some major insight into Laney’s past as we learn how his wife met her untimely end. Of course, misery loves company and Laney’s son’s condition continues to worsen, giving the book a sense of tension and urgency that’s approaching its boiling point.

I don’t want to get into too much detail here because I want you to experience this exquisite emotional roller coaster ride from Hell for yourself, but trust me when I say that from the breathtaking, atmospheric artwork to the rock-solid writing, Curse #2 is proving to be the silver bullet you most definitely want in your arsenal.

Peter Panzerfaust #17 | Image Comics | Kurtis J. Wiebe, Tyler Jenkins, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Ed Brisson

There have been plenty of Peter Pan adaptations and riffs on the classic J.M. Barrie story over the years, but few are as electrifying and inventive as Kurtis J. Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins’ phenomenal Peter Panzerfaust. In case you’re new to the title, it reimagines the classic Pan mythos set against the backdrop of World War II. Peter is a bold young American boy who, alongside a group of French orphans, gets caught up in the French Resistance in Paris. That’s the gist of it and, frankly, it’s one hell of a conceit.

Issue #17 marks part 2 of “The Hunt”, the fourth major story arc so far. The assault on The Sticks has come and gone, leaving the team fractured and Lily’s father dead. Naturally, Lily isn’t going to take this lying down, so alongside Julien, she embarks on a blood quest for revenge. What I love so much about this issue is there’s a real sense of stakes and a well-defined arc to the action. From a particularly tense encounter with a guard at a German checkpoint to an adrenaline-fueled action chase sequence that finds our heroes being stalked by an expert sniper in the woods, Peter Panzerfaust #17 grabs you by the haunches and doesn’t let go until it reaches its thrilling conclusion.

Between his work on Rat Queens and this book, Kurtis Wiebe has been pretty unassailable as a storyteller, and his work is elevated from good to great by the gritty, stylized artwork of Tyler Jenkins. Case in point: the last page of this issue, which I guarantee will leave your mouth agape. Consistently excellent, constantly innovative, and criminally underrated, Peter Panzerfaust is quite simply required reading and issue #17 is no exception.

Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT130079 BLOOD BLOCKADE BATTLEFRONT TP VOL 05 $12.99
OCT130080 BLOOD C GN VOL 03 $12.99
DEC130113 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #116 [DIG] $3.50
JUL130103 CLASSIC MARVEL CHARACTERS X-MEN #5 ICEMAN $49.95
DEC130126 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25 [DIG] $3.50
DEC130103 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #33 (MR) [DIG] $7.99
DEC130092 SKYMAN #2 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130074 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & CRY OF SHADOWS #3 $3.50
DEC130075 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE WAR #4 $3.50
DEC130120 STRAIN THE FALL #8 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130064 TERMINATOR ENEMY OF MY ENEMY #1 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130110 WHITE SUITS #1 [DIG] $3.99

DC COMICS

DEC130280 ANIMAL MAN #28 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130292 BATMAN 66 #8 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130261 BATMAN AND TWO FACE #28 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130291 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #7 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130255 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM TP VOL 01 [DIG] $12.99
DEC130263 BATWOMAN #28 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130257 BIRDS OF PREY #28 (GOTHTOPIA) [DIG] $2.99
DEC130342 FABLES #138 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130274 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS TP VOL 01 (MR) [DIG] $9.99
DEC130276 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #28 [DIG] $2.99
OCT130240 GREEN LANTERN WRATH OF THE FIRST LANTERN HC (N52) [DIG] $29.99
DEC130269 HARLEY QUINN #3 [DIG] $2.99
NOV130223 HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #10 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130202 JUSTICE LEAGUE #28 (EVIL) [DIG] $3.99
DEC130204 JUSTICE LEAGUE #28 COMBO PACK (EVIL) [DIG] $4.99
NOV130245 MARTIAN MANHUNTER SON OF MARS TP [DIG] $19.99
DEC130270 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #28 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130290 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #2 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130249 SUPERGIRL #28 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130322 TEEN TITANS GO #2 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130216 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #8 (EVIL) [DIG] $2.99
DEC130349 UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV130270 WE3 TP NEW ED (MR) [DIG] $14.99
DEC130227 WONDER WOMAN #28 [DIG] $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

SEP130318 DC COMICS ICONS BATMAN 1/6 SCALE STATUE [DIG] $99.95
SEP130330 VIOLET LANTERN 1:1 SCALE POWER BATTERY PROP W RING [DIG] $199.95

IDW PUBLISHING

DEC130451 BEN 10 #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC130484 CROW MIDNIGHT LEGENDS TP VOL 06 TOUCH OF EVIL [DIG] $19.99
DEC130479 DINOSAURS ATTACK TP [DIG] $19.99
DEC130409 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #199 [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC130413 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #12 [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC130420 GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #9 [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC120454 JERICHO SEASON 4 #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC130372 X-FILES CONSPIRACY TMNT #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

DEC130603 A VOICE IN THE DARK #4 (MR) [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC130557 ALEX + ADA #4 [DIG/P+] $2.99
DEC130573 GHOSTED #7 (MR) [DIG/P+] $2.99
DEC130577 KRAMPUS #3 [DIG/P+] $2.99
NOV130511 MORNING GLORIES #37 (MR) [DIG/P+] $3.50
DEC130585 PETER PANZERFAUST #17 [DIG/P+] $3.50
DEC130587 PROTECTORS INC #4 CVR A PURCELL & ATIYEH (MR) [DIG/P+] $2.99
DEC130588 PROTECTORS INC #4 CVR B CAFARO & ATIYEH (MR) [DIG] $2.99
DEC130527 REVIVAL TP VOL 03 A FARAWAY PLACE (MR) [DIG/P+] $14.99
AUG130585 SAVAGE DRAGON #193 (MR) [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC138205 SEX CRIMINALS #4 2ND PTG (MR) [DIG] $3.50
DEC130534 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 20 [DIG] $14.99
DEC130486 UNDERTOW #1 (MR) [DIG/P+] $2.99
OCT138321 UNDERTOW #1 CVR B ROY (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130468 WALKING DEAD ADHESIVE BANDAGE TIN $9.99
OCT130588 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S LG [DIG] $24.99
OCT130587 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S MED [DIG] $24.99
OCT130589 WALKING DEAD CAST T/S XL [DIG] $27.99
DEC130554 ZERO TP VOL 01 AN EMERGENCY [DIG] $9.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

NOV131973 TMP SPORTS NFL JOE NAMATH AF PI

MARVEL COMICS

DEC130722 A PLUS X #17 [DIG] $3.99
DEC138035 ALL NEW MARVEL NOW POINT ONE #1 2ND PTG LARROCA VAR $5.99
DEC138036 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #1 2ND PTG ANKA VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130745 AMAZING X-MEN #4 [DIG] $3.99
DEC138037 AVENGERS WORLD #1 2ND PTG CASSADAY VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130688 AVENGERS WORLD #3 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC138038 BLACK WIDOW #1 2ND PTG NOTO VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130646 CAPTAIN AMERICA #17 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
NOV130729 CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION TP DAWNS EARLY LIGHT TP [DIG] $34.99
DEC130738 DAREDEVIL #36 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130710 DEXTER DOWN UNDER #1 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130703 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #2 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130705 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #2 CROSBY IMAGINEER [DIG] $3.99
SEP130781 GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA OMNI HC VOL 01 WEEKS CVR [DIG] $125.00
DEC130739 IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 [DIG] $4.99
NOV130730 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY BY GILLEN TP VOL 01 COMPLETE COLL [DIG] $34.99
DEC130731 MARVEL KNIGHTS HULK #3 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130655 NEW WARRIORS #1 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130750 NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL #3 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130660 NOVA #13.NOW ANMN [DIG] $3.99
NOV130723 NOVA TP VOL 01 ORIGIN NOW [DIG] $19.99
DEC130632 PUNISHER #2 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130701 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #15 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130735 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #10 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130724 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 03 [DIG] $17.99
DEC130747 UNCANNY X-MEN #17 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130674 X-MEN #11 ANMN [DIG] $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

SEP130875 JOYNERS IN 3D HC (MR) $29.95
OCT130852 10TH MUSE TP VOL 04 CROSSOVERS [DIG/P+] $14.95
DEC130999 ADVENTURE TIME #25 MAIN CVRS $4.99
DEC138150 AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #3 2ND PTG FRANCAVILLA CVR $2.99
DEC131096 ASH & THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #4 [DIG] $3.99
DEC131110 BAD ASS #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC131108 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA STARBUCK #4 [DIG] $3.99
DEC131356 BLOOD LAD OMNIBUS GN VOL 04 $20.00
DEC131322 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #19 ORDERALL SEARS [DIG] $3.99
DEC131321 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #19 REG CRAIN [DIG] $3.99
DEC131357 BTOOOM GN VOL 05 (MR) $11.99
DEC131205 CAGE OF EDEN GN VOL 13 $10.99
OCT130814 CAVEWOMAN KILLING DINOS 101 [DIG] $3.75
NOV130754 CAVEWOMAN KILLING DINOS 101 BUD ROOT SP ED [DIG] PI
OCT130815 CAVEWOMAN KILLING DINOS 101 SP ED [DIG] PI
DEC130956 CONNECTICUT YANKEE KING ARTHURS COURT GN $22.00
DEC130976 CURSE #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY121119 DF SPIDER-MEN #1 LEE SGN $196.20
JUL131105 DF WARLORD OF MARS #33 RISQUE CVR $19.99
OCT131255 DIESEL SWEETIES GN VOL 02 BACON VEGETABLE [DIG] $19.99
DEC131358 DISAPPEARANCE OF NAGATO YUKI CHAN GN VOL 05 $13.00
OCT131259 DOWN SET FIGHT GN [DIG] $19.99
OCT130941 EXTINCTION PARADE #5 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
OCT130943 EXTINCTION PARADE #5 END OF SPECIES CVR (MR) [DIG] $3.99
OCT130942 EXTINCTION PARADE #5 WRAP CVR (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC131377 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #94 A CVR REI (AOFD) [DIG] $2.99
DEC131378 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #94 B CVR CUMMINGS (AOFD) [DIG] $2.99
DEC131379 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #94 C CVR CUCCA (AOFD) [DIG] $2.99
DEC131394 GFT TALES FROM OZ #2 COWARDLY LION A CVR MYCHAELS [DIG] $3.99
DEC131395 GFT TALES FROM OZ #2 COWARDLY LION B CVR SEJIC [DIG] $3.99
DEC131396 GFT TALES FROM OZ #2 COWARDLY LION C CVR TOLIBAO [DIG] $3.99
DEC131384 GFT WONDERLAND ASYLUM #2 A CVR CALDWELL (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC131385 GFT WONDERLAND ASYLUM #2 B CVR LILLY (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC131386 GFT WONDERLAND ASYLUM #2 C CVR GARZA (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC131401 GFT WONDERLAND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS TP [DIG] $15.99
DEC130899 GOD IS DEAD #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC130900 GOD IS DEAD #7 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC130901 GOD IS DEAD #7 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) [DIG] $3.99
DEC130902 GOD IS DEAD #7 ICONIC CVR (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV131315 IM NOT POPULAR GN VOL 02 $11.99
DEC131359 IS THIS A ZOMBIE GN VOL 07 (MR) $13.00
DEC131360 JACK FROST TP VOL 09 $13.00
DEC131361 JUDGE GN VOL 03 $12.99
OCT131075 KINGS WATCH #4 [DIG] $3.99
DEC131022 LADY S GN VOL 04 MOLE IN DC $11.95
DEC130966 LOKI RAGNAROK & ROLL #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC131023 LONG JOHN SILVER GN VOL 04 GUIANA CAPAC $15.95
DEC131024 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 44 LUCKY LUKE VS PAT POKER $11.95
NOV131077 MAGIC WIND GN VOL 03 [DIG] $12.99
NOV138232 MIDAS FLESH #1 (2ND PTG) $3.99
DEC130990 MIDAS FLESH #3 MAIN CVRS [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC130818 NANCY DRAGON IN HELL ONE SHOT (MR) $3.99
DEC131207 NO 6 GN VOL 05 $10.99
NOV131049 ON LOVING WOMEN GN (MR) $16.95
DEC131362 PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 20 $13.00
OCT131191 PERFECT NONSENSE GEORGE CARLSON HC $49.99
DEC131363 PUELLA MAGI KAZUMI MAGICA GN VOL 04 INNOCENT MALICE $11.99
DEC131337 QUANTUM & WOODY #8 ORDERALL DOYLE [DIG] $3.99
DEC131336 QUANTUM & WOODY #8 REG FOWLER [DIG] $3.99
NOV130952 RED SONJA #7 FRISON CVR [DIG] $3.99
NOV130953 RED SONJA #7 REEDER CVR [DIG] $3.99
DEC131052 RED SONJA TP VOL 01 QUEEN OF PLAGUES $19.99
DEC130973 ROBOCOP MEMENTO MORI ONE SHOT [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC131025 SCORPION GN VOL 05 IN NAME OF FATHER (MR) $11.95
DEC131078 SHADOW MASTER SERIES TP VOL 01 (MR) $24.99
DEC130961 SIMPSONS COMICS #209 [DIG] $2.99
NOV131229 STRIKE WITCHES MAIDENS I/T SKY GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
NOV131230 TORADORA GN VOL 06 $11.99
DEC131324 UNITY #4 ORDERALL ROSSMO [DIG] $3.99
DEC131323 UNITY #4 REG CRAIN [DIG] $3.99
DEC131095 VAMPIRELLA THE ESSENTIAL WARREN YEARS TP (MR) $24.99
OCT130821 VICTORIAN SECRET WINTER WONDER CATALOG ONE SHOT [DIG/P+] $3.99
DEC131115 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #36 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV131231 WORLD WAR BLUE GN VOL 04 $12.99
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What’s on your pull list this week? Let us know in the comments below or tell me on Twitter!