Mother of Box, you guys! Can you believe the cavalcade of comic book-related news coming out this week? New details about Fox’s Gotham series, the Constantine pilot getting greenlit at NBC, Peter Parker returning to Amazing Spider-Man from beyond, Vertigo announcing its Vertigo Quarterly: CMYK anthology, Johnny Depp being eyed for Doctor Strange (or not), Batman vs. Superman and Justice League potentially filming back-to-back, Michael Douglas playing Hank Pym in Ant-Man, and Darklight coming from Archaia — and it’s only Wednesday?! Sounds like we all need a break from the swirling eddy of the 24-hour news cycle, and what better way to kick back and relax than with a heaping helping of brand new comic books? This week’s pull list will set you straight in no time, so take a moment to soak up the majesty of this week’s book bounty.

Top Picks

Curse #1 | BOOM! Studios | Michael Moreci, Tim Daniel, Riley Rossmo, Colin Lorimer

Holy shit, you guys. This book. Go out and read this book right away. There’s a ton of killer books out this week, but believe me when I tell you that Curse #1 is not to be trifled with. Michael Moreci and Tim Daniel have crafted a gruesome, gripping, gritty little series that reads like a blend of Fargo and Brotherhood of the Wolf in all the right ways. A horror story for the modern age, Curse puts us in the shoes of Laney Griffin, a former football star injured in his prime and desperately looking for options to finance his leukemia-stricken son’s increasingly expensive treatments. For weeks, an elusive murderer has been stalking the forests around his sleepy, rural, snowbound community leaving no clues apart from eviscerated corpses in its wake. With a bounty on the killer’s head, Laney takes matters into his own hands, but what he catches is more than he bargained for: a werewolf. With the clock ticking both until the lycan transforms again and on his son’s life, survival is paramount, and Laney must look inside himself to see just what he is willing (and able) to do.

Artistically, this book is a fever dream of murder, regret, and tension, thanks to the killer one-two punch of Riley Rossmo (Drumhellar) and Colin Lorimer (UXB). Moreci and Daniel’s script pulls you in, but its the artwork that gives the book its uniquely creepy, unsettling atmosphere and draws you deeper and deeper into this mysterious little patch of earth they’ve carved out. Smart, savvy, and horrific, Curse #1 is shaping up to be one of the must-read mini-series of 2014. Don’t get caught sleeping on this one, or you’ll find yourself howling at the moon in regret with nary a lycanthropic power to show for it.

Skyman #1 | Dark Horse | Joshua Hale Fialkov, Manuel Garcia, Bit, Marta Martínez, Nate Piekos

Emerging from the wake of Captain Midnight’s disappearance is Skyman, a brand new superhero series from the evil geniuses over at Dark Horse, who have tapped Joshua Hale Fialkov (The Bunker, Cataclysm) to pen a surprisingly prescient story that touches on topics like drone warefare, racial politics, and, of course, rocket-powered ass-kicking. Having recently had his ass handed to him by Captain Midnight, the previous Skyman spiraled into a vicious, racist, rage-and-alcohol-fueled outburst that left one innocent man dead, and the United States government with a veritable P.R. nightmare on their hands. They need a new candidate for their Skyman initiative, one that will inspire the people and dodge the allegations of racism brought on by the last Skyman. So, with that chip on their shoulder, they turn to US Air Force Sgt. Eric Reid, a wounded veteran who is struggling to reintegrate himself to civilian life.

The Skyman initative enlists capable, elite soldiers from across the country and equips the with high tech exo-suits that grant them the ability to fly, enhanced strength, and superior healing abilities. In short, they’re meant to be the ultimate weapon to protect the United States and its interests. With the ability to manually override the Skyman suits using a tablet computer, it’s difficult not to draw parallels with the current U.S. drone program that has dominated headlines over the past several months. As Skyman, Reid is a soldier and capable of making his own decisions based on his own set of morals, but as we see in the book, he can easily be taken over remotely and used for whatever purposes his handlers deem fit. On the one hand, it’s a fail-safe in case the pilot goes rogue or something goes wrong, but on the other hand, it’s also scary to think that Skyman is essentially a drone strapped to a person.

Fialkov has crafted a compelling first issue that is a marked departure in tone from Captain Midnight, but a welcome one nonetheless. Eric Reid is the most physically intimidating, musclebound guy on crutches I’ve ever seen, but Garcia’s pencil work makes it work tonally. Bit’s inks and Martínez’s colors also go a long way towards smoothing out any of the roid-rage roughness of the artwork, and soon you’ll be too busy immersing yourself in the world of Skyman to pick any lingering nits. This is a terrific first issue, and a well-paced, exciting read full of quieter introspection, political intrigue, and soaring action sequences that will leave you thrilled, chilled, and thoroughly satisfied.

Velvet #3 | Image Comics | Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Chris Eliopoulos

Classic misdirection: It’s a hallmark of any good espionage story and, frankly, something I should have expected from Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting’s Velvet, yet somehow didn’t see coming until it was too late. As Velvet Templeton continues to retrace Agent X-14’s steps and track down his most recent asset, Brubaker takes us on a winding, careening thrill ride through Austria and Yugoslavia that leaves plenty of bodies in its wake. From breaking in to Yugoslavian prisons to infiltrating a high society soiree to comb for information, Velvet is a consummate agent, but also one who seems to be struggling with what being an agent means. Without spoiling anything, the issue reads like one is running at breakneck pace through a labyrinth only to round a final corner and run smack into the Minotaur. If you’re anything like me, you’ll hungrily devour this issue, then find yourself sadly wishing it was next month because you’re all out of pages to read.

Per usual, Steve Epting’s art is a thing of beauty. Whether it’s Velvet casing the room at a party, trekking through sewer access tunnels, or roundhouse-kicking a guard in the face, there’s a certain cinematic quality to the book that makes it a visual tour-de-force. Further adding to the aesthetic awesomeness is Elzabeth Breitweiser’s colors, which blend moody shadows with a simultaenously subdued and vibrant palette that manages to evoke the feeling of thumbing through photographs. If you’re not already on board the Velvet Express, do yourself a favor and catch up lickety-split, because after three short issues, I am hopelessly hooked and eagerly awaiting the capers to come.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS
NOV130012 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #115 $3.50
NOV130021 CLOWN FATALE #3 (MR) $3.99
SEP130091 GAME OF THRONES DAENERYS FIGURE $24.99
SEP130090 GAME OF THRONES JON SNOW FIGURE $24.99
JUL130094 GRIMM 2.75 IN KEY REPLICA PIN $14.99
JUL130093 GRIMM COIN REPLICA PIN $12.99
JUL130096 GRIMM PINT GLASS $9.99
NOV130020 KISS ME SATAN #5 $3.99
SEP130056 MONSTERS AND OTHER STORIES TP $12.99
NOV130053 SHOOT FIRST #4 $3.99
NOV130045 SKYMAN #1 $2.99
NOV130029 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & CRY OF SHADOWS #2 $3.50
NOV130030 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE WAR #3 $3.50
NOV130022 STRAIN THE FALL #7 $3.99
NOV130050 X #9 (MR) $2.99
SEP130033 X TP VOL 01 BIG BAD (MR) $14.99

DC COMICS

NOV130265 ASTRO CITY #8 $3.99
NOV130180 BATGIRL #27 (GOTHTOPIA) $2.99
SEP130269 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT HC VOL 03 MAD (N52) $24.99
NOV130254 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #10 $2.99
NOV130266 COFFIN HILL #4 (MR) $2.99
NOV130131 CONSTANTINE #10 (EVIL) $2.99
SEP130281 CREATURE COMMANDOS TP $19.99
SEP130265 DC VS MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4 $2.99
NOV130139 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #4 $2.99
NOV130199 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #27 $2.99
NOV130213 INJUSTICE YEAR TWO #1 $2.99
NOV130147 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #2 $2.99
NOV130126 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11 (EVIL) $3.99
NOV130129 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
NOV130187 NIGHTWING #27 $2.99
NOV130258 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #41 $2.99
NOV130141 SUICIDE SQUAD #27 (EVIL) $2.99
NOV130162 SUPERBOY #27 $2.99
NOV130155 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #4 $3.99
NOV130157 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #4 COMBO PACK $4.99
NOV130153 WORLDS FINEST #19 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

AUG130366 DC COMICS SUPER HEROES BATMAN BUST $49.95
SEP130328 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS CAPTAIN BOOMERANG AF $24.95
SEP130326 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS DEADSHOT AF $24.95
SEP130327 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS HARLEY QUINN AF $24.95

IDW PUBLISHING

NOV130350 BEN 10 #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130311 BLACK DYNAMITE #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130390 GATE WAY #1 (FORMERLY PURGATORY) $3.99
NOV130356 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #198 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130363 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #11 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130359 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS TP VOL 02 $19.99
NOV130388 ILLEGITIMATES #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130391 INDESTRUCTIBLE #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130395 KISS KIDS TP $17.99
OCT130422 MAGIC THE GATHERING THEROS #3 [DIG/P+] $4.99
NOV130329 MAXX MAXXIMIZED #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130337 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #15 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130396 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #18 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130348 POWERPUFF GIRLS #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130405 RIO COMPLETE COLLECTION TP $29.99
SEP130462 TIM BRADSTREET SKETCHBOOK TP VOL 01 $9.99
OCT130409 TMNT ANNUAL DLX HC $39.99
NOV130311 TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #7 $3.99
NOV130406 TORPEDO TP VOL 05 [DIG] $17.99
NOV130365 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #25 DARK CYBERTRON PART 6 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130384 TRIPLE HELIX #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130331 WRAITH WELCOME TO CHRISTMASLAND #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130294 X-FILES CONSPIRACY #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
NOV130303 X-FILES SEASON 10 #1 DIRECTORS CUT $4.99

IMAGE COMICS

NOV130531 A VOICE IN THE DARK #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV130489 ALEX + ADA #3 [DIG] $2.99
NOV130494 CARBON GREY VOL 3 #2 CVR A NGUYEN & LOH [DIG] $4.99
NOV130495 CARBON GREY VOL 3 #2 CVR B NGUYEN & LOH $4.99
NOV130415 EGOS #1 [DIG] $2.99
NOV130504 GHOSTED #6 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130440 I LOVE TROUBLE TP (MR) $16.99
NOV130430 PETER PANZERFAUST #16 [DIG] $3.50
AUG130706 PROPHET #42 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130514 PROTECTORS INC #3 CVR A PURCELL & ATIYEH (MR) [DIG] $2.99
NOV130515 PROTECTORS INC #3 CVR B ANDRASOFZKY (MR) $2.99
OCT130614 RAT QUEENS #4 CVR A (MR) [DIG] $3.50
OCT130615 RAT QUEENS #4 CVR B (MR) $3.50
OCT100478 SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES TP VOL 03 $19.99
SEP130560 TEN GRAND TP VOL 01 $12.99
OCT130631 VELVET #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

NOV130685 ALL NEW X-MEN #21 $3.99
NOV130683 AMAZING X-MEN #3 $3.99
OCT130764 AVENGERS ARENA TP VOL 03 BOSS LEVEL $15.99
OCT130752 AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 04 INFINITY $24.99
NOV130655 CATACLYSM ULTIMATES #3 $3.99
NOV130677 DAREDEVIL #35 $2.99
OCT130750 DEXTER PREM HC $24.99
NOV130638 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #1 $3.99
NOV130641 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #1 CROSBY IMAGINEER $3.99
NOV130671 FANTASTIC FOUR #16 $3.99
OCT130771 FANTASTIC FOUR EPIC COLLECTION TP ALL IN FAMILY $34.99
NOV130621 INHUMANITY SPIDER-MAN #1 $3.99
NOV130668 MARVEL KNIGHTS HULK #2 $3.99
NOV130622 MIRACLEMAN #1 $5.99
AUG130866 MMW SUB MARINER HC VOL 05 $69.99
NOV130696 NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL #1 $3.99
NOV130678 NOVA #12 $3.99
NOV130644 REVOLUTIONARY WAR DARK ANGEL #1 $3.99
NOV130652 SECRET AVENGERS #14 $3.99
NOV130660 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #25 $4.99
OCT130759 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 04 NECESSARY EVIL $17.99
NOV130669 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #17 $3.99
OCT130763 THOR GOD OF THUNDER TP VOL 01 GOD BUTCHER $19.99
NOV130595 THUNDERBOLTS #20.NOW ANMN $2.99
OCT138239 UNCANNY AVENGERS #14 2ND PTG MCNIVEN VAR $3.99
NOV130686 UNCANNY X-FORCE #16 XFV $3.99
NOV130692 UNCANNY X-MEN #16 $3.99
NOV130698 WOLVERINE MAX #15 (MR) $3.99
NOV130690 X-MEN LEGACY #22 $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV131306 07 GHOST GN VOL 08 $9.99
NOV130873 3 GUNS #6 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130913 ADVENTURE TIME #24 MAIN CVRS $3.99
NOV130912 ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 03 $34.99
OCT131277 ANNOYING ORANGE GN VOL 04 TALES FROM CRISPER $7.99
OCT131278 ANNOYING ORANGE HC VOL 04 TALES FROM CRISPER $11.99
NOV131290 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #17 REG HENRY $3.99
OCT130865 BETTY & VERONICA #269 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
NOV131304 CASE CLOSED GN VOL 49 $9.99
SEP130995 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV130863 CURSE #1 [DIG] $3.99
NOV138111 DAY MEN #2 (2ND PTG) $3.99
NOV131223 DEPARTMENT OF MONSTEROLOGY #4 $3.99
JUN131103 DF SUPERIOR CARNAGE #1 SHINICK SGN ED $16.99
NOV131305 EXCEL SAGA TP VOL 27 $9.99
OCT131239 FAIRY TALES OF OSCAR WILDE SC VOL 03 $8.99
NOV130917 GARFIELD TP VOL 03 $13.99
NOV131323 GFT DARK QUEEN A CVR SEJIC (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
NOV131324 GFT DARK QUEEN B CVR QUALANO (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
NOV131325 GFT DARK QUEEN C CVR EHNOT (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
NOV131326 GFT DARK QUEEN D CVR EHNOT BIKINI (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
OCT131430 GFT NO TOMORROW #5 A CVR TOLIBAO (MR) $2.99
OCT131431 GFT NO TOMORROW #5 B CVR ERIC J (MR) $2.99
OCT131432 GFT NO TOMORROW #5 C CVR MASSAFERA (MR) $2.99
NOV130843 GOD IS DEAD #5 (MR) $3.99
NOV130844 GOD IS DEAD #5 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV130845 GOD IS DEAD #5 ICONIC CVR (MR) $4.99
OCT130791 GOLDEN AGE GREATS SPOTLIGHT VOL 14 $29.95
NOV130814 GRAVEL COMBAT MAGICIAN #0 (MR) $4.99
NOV130816 GRAVEL COMBAT MAGICIAN #0 HORROR CVR (MR) $4.99
NOV130815 GRAVEL COMBAT MAGICIAN #0 WRAP CVR (MR) $4.99
NOV131000 GRIMM #9 $3.99
NOV131277 HARBINGER #20 PULLBOX MONTOYA $3.99
NOV131276 HARBINGER #20 REG HENRY $3.99
NOV131243 HEARTS TOON BOOKS YR HC GN $12.95
NOV130876 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #12 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
NOV131235 HIS FAVORITE GN VOL 06 (MR) $12.99
NOV130878 HYPERNATURALS TP VOL 03 $16.99
NOV130867 IMAGINE AGENTS #4 [DIG] $3.99
NOV131024 JENNIFER BLOOD #35 (MR) $3.99
OCT130869 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #199 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP131322 LENORE VOLUME II #9 $3.99
NOV130959 LIL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 $3.99
NOV130960 LIL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
OCT130872 MEGA MAN #33 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
SEP131093 MISS FURY #8 CVR A TAN $3.99
SEP131094 MISS FURY #8 CVR B SYAF $3.99
SEP131095 MISS FURY #8 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
SEP131096 MISS FURY #8 CVR D EVELY $3.99
NOV131279 MUST READ VALIANT GREATEST HITS #1 $5.99
NOV131236 NIGHTS GN (MR) $12.99
NOV130993 NOIR #3 $3.99
OCT130795 PRINCELESS ENCORE ED #2 $2.99
SEP131015 REGULAR SHOW #8 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
NOV130827 ROVER RED CHARLIE #2 (MR) $3.99
NOV130828 ROVER RED CHARLIE #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT131291 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS CLASSIC PHANTOM LADY TP VOL 03 $24.99
SEP131284 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS PLANET COMICS SLIPCASE ED VOL 02 $64.99
NOV130979 SHADOW NOW #4 $3.99
NOV130858 SIMPSONS COMICS #208 $2.99
NOV131169 SIXTH GUN #37 $3.99
OCT130874 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #256 REG CVR [P+] $2.99
OCT130923 STITCHED #18 (MR) $3.99
OCT130925 STITCHED #18 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT130924 STITCHED #18 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
NOV131284 UNITY #3 ORDERALL JG JONES $3.99
NOV131283 UNITY #3 REG BRAITHWAITE $3.99
MAY131059 WARLORD OF MARS #32 (MR) $3.99

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