It’s Comic Book Day, everyone, and it’s looking like a week chock full of beginnings and goodbyes with hotly anticipated first issues from Brian Wood and Dan Slott, and farewells from pull list staples like Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth. After a relatively light post-holiday week, it’s nice to head back into the fray with a slew of sweet books to read. So, ’nuff said from me – let’s get to the list!

Top Picks

Star Wars #1 | Brian Wood & Carlos D’Anda

In case our preview pages for Star Wars #1 didn’t already have you chomping at the bit for Brian Wood’s Star Wars #1, rest easy in the knowledge that I’ve read it and it’s definitely the droid you’re looking for. Set immediately after the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Alliance is looking for a new base of operations and the Empire is hot on their trail. It feels both refreshing and familiar to be back with Luke, Leia and the gang and each character is given a chance to shine. Leia, in particular, proves herself to be a certified badass and so much more than a future barge bikini model when a recon mission to the Outer Rim goes awry. It’s not a perfect book, but it’s a damn good start, and Wood provides an interesting look into fleshing out the events of the war between the Alliance and the Empire that we didn’t see unfold on-screen.

Sweet Tooth #40 | Jeff Lemire

I’m still reeling from Sweet Tooth #40, the final issue of Jeff Lemire’s spectacular Mad Max-meets-Bambi series. From the opening pages to its beautiful final frame, Lemire deftly wraps up the events of the previous 39 issues and offers a genuine sense of closure to what has been a truly thrilling read. This is the end of Gus’ journey, but it’s not the end; it’s a beginning for him and for all of the Hybrids. This is the kind of book that fills you simultaneously with feelings of relief, sadness and happiness. It’s a tidy package, a terrific read, and one of the best post-apocalypse stories I’ve read in quite some time.

Superior Spider-Man #1 | Dan Slott & Ryan Stegman

Peter Parker is d-d-d-d-dead, you guys! Sorry if you haven’t read Amazing Spider-Man #700 yet, but it’s likely that you’ve heard that our favorite webhead is getting fired from that Daily Bugle in the sky by now. But, thanks to Doc Ock seeing Freaky Friday one too many times and the magic of bodyswapping technology, Otto Octavius now inhabits the body of the late Mr. Parker. Can he use his massive intellect to be a superior Spider-Man like the title purports? Judging by the first arc’s title, “Fired,” it looks like the “old Parker luck” doesn’t quit working just because someone else’s brain is in a Parker body.

Pull List

What’s in your pull list this week? Quemment below and let us know!