Course of the Force may be in full effect and you may be furiously working on your Comic-Con dealer’s room checklist, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy this week’s bounty of brand new comics. From more of Brian Wood’s Star Wars to the start of “Trinity War” to Jonathan Hickman’s savage sci-fi western East of West and more, it’s Comic Book Day, so peep our top picks and revel in the splendor of this week’s pull list.

Top Picks

Star Wars #7 | Brian Wood, Ryan Kelly, Dan Parsons

It’s only fitting that Brian Wood’s excellent Star Wars ongoing series is our top pick the same week that Course of the Force launches, but we’ll chalk it up to serendipity rather than Jedi mind tricks. This issue sees Wood’s Local collaborator Ryan Kelly assuming art duties, and fans will not be disappointed. Wood’s narrative continues to lend a wonderful depth to these characters that many of us know only from the films. It gives a sense of context and growth to their journey that wasn’t missing from the films per se, but wasn’t as evident. One really gets the sense of the weight of the Rebellion’s fate resting on Leia’s shoulders, Luke’s desire to prove himself after fleeing Tatooine, and even Vader’s desire to regain his position as the Emperor’s right hand man – they all come to the forefront. This issue features an awful lot of table-setting, but it’s all in the service of advancing the plot. To put it in terms of Sum 41 album titles, it’s all killer, no filler.

Justice League #22 | Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado

The official kickoff to “Trinity War”, DC’s massive summer crossover event more than a year in the making, hits the ground running, pausing ever so briefly to drop breadcrumbs and set the table for events to come. One can tell that Geoff Johns meticulously went over this issue with a fine-toothed comb to wring the maximum amount of narrative out of each panel. Ivan Reis and Joe Prado’s artwork continues to dazzle, especially when it comes to the larger than life situations and personalities of Justice League. The exposition moves at a brisk pace and there’s more of the “war is coming” talk, but overall this is an auspicious start to an event that we can’t wait to see unfold.

East of West #4 | Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta

The powerhouse team of Hickman and Dragotta continue to weave a spellbinding sci-fi western narrative in East of West #4. Dragotta’s blend of classical western elements with eye-catching character design continues to dazzle, giving Hickman a wonderful canvas on which to play around in the apocalyptic waste. To his credit, Hickman continues to dial up the violence and heady philosophical questions in equal measure, making those shocking moments and intense panels feel truly earned. The story may seem a little difficult to get into so far, given its impressive density and complexity compared to its relatively small number of issues, but like some of Hickman’s best work, the longer you stick with it, the bigger the payoff. Don’t sleep on this truly excellent new(-ish) series.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 05 SEARCH PART 2 $10.99
BREATH OF BONES A TALE O/T GOLEM #2 $3.99
BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #23 NOTO CVR $2.99
EERIE COMICS #3 $3.99
SKY ART OF FINAL FANTASY SLIPCASE ED $89.99
STAR WARS #7 2013 ONGOING $2.99
STAR WARS PURGE TP $17.99
TOKYO BABYLON GN VOL 02 $19.99
TRUE LIVES O/T FABULOUS KILLJOYS #2 $3.99
X #3 (MR) $2.99

DC COMICS

ABSOLUTE BLACKEST NIGHT HC (RES) $125
ASTRO CITY #2 $3.99
BATGIRL #22 $2.99
BATMAN #22 $3.99
BATMAN #22 COMBO PACK $4.99
BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #16 $3.99
BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #4 $2.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN COMEDIAN RORSCHACH DLX HC (MR) $29.99
BEFORE WATCHMEN NITE OWL DR MANHATTAN DLX HC (MR) $29.99
DEMON KNIGHTS #22 $2.99
DIABLO SWORD OF JUSTICE TP $14.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #22 $2.99
GREEN LANTERN THE ANIMATED SERIES #14 $2.99
HARLAN ELLISONS 7 AGAINST CHAOS HC $24.99
HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE TP VOL 01 $14.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 (TRINITY) $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 COMBO PACK (TRINITY) $4.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK TP VOL 02 BOOKS OF MAGIC (N52) $16.99
KATANA #6 $2.99
NIGHTWING #22 $2.99
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 04 (MR) $19.99
SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #15 $3.99
SUICIDE SQUAD #22 $2.99
SUPERGIRL TP VOL 02 GIRL IN THE WORLD (N52) $14.99
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #2 $3.99
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #2 COMBO PACK $4.99
THRESHOLD #7 $3.99
WORLDS FINEST #14 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

DC COMICS COVER GIRLS PLATINUM STATUE $99.95
SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL STATUE BY JIM LEE $79.95

IDW PUBLISHING

BEST OF EC ARTIST ED HC

PI
GHOSTBUSTERS TP VOL 05 NEW GHOSTBUSTERS $17.99
GODZILLA ONGOING #13 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUDGE DREDD CLASSICS #1 $3.99
LOCKE & KEY TP VOL 05 CLOCKWORKS $19.99
MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #1 TWILIGHT SPARKLE COMICFOLIO

PI
MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #2 RAINBOW DASH COMICFOLIO

PI
MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #6 APPLEJACK [DIG/P+] $3.99
TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #1 $3.99
TMNT ULTIMATE COLLECTION HC VOL 02 RED LABEL ED

PI
X-FILES CLASSICS HC VOL 01 $29.99

IMAGE COMICS

68 JUNGLE JIM #4 CVR A ZORNOW & FOTOS (MR) [DIG] $3.99
68 JUNGLE JIM #4 CVR B JONES & FOTOS (MR) $3.99
AMERICAS GOT POWERS #6 [DIG] $2.99
CHEW #35 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
DARKNESS #114 (MR) [DIG] $4.99
DAWN SWORDMASTERS DAUGHTER [DIG] $3.99
EAST OF WEST #3 2ND PTG $3.5
EAST OF WEST #4 [DIG] $3.5
GHOSTED #1 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
GREAT PACIFIC #8 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
PETER PANZERFAUST #12 [DIG] $3.5
PROPHET TP VOL 02 BROTHERS [DIG] $14.99
SAVAGE DRAGON #189 [DIG] $3.99
SAVAGE DRAGON ON TRIAL TP [DIG] $16.99
SHELTERED #1 [DIG] $2.99
SKULLKICKERS TP VOL 04 EIGHTY EYES ON AN EVIL ISLAND [DIG] $16.99
STORM DOGS #6 (MR) [DIG] $3.5
WALKING DEAD #112 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

ASTONISHING X-MEN #64 $3.99
AVENGERS AI POSTER $8.99
AVENGERS ARENA #12 NOW $2.99
AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 02 LAST WHITE EVENT NOW $24.99
DAREDEVIL #28 $2.99
DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER TP WAY STATION $19.99
ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 07 $19.99
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #6 NOW $2.99
FF TP VOL 01 FANTASTIC FAUX NOW $15.99
GAMBIT TP VOL 02 TOMBSTONE BLUES $15.99
HAWKEYE #12 $2.99
HAWKEYE TP VOL 02 LITTLE HITS NOW $16.99
INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #10 NOW $3.99
INFINITY POSTER $8.99
MARVELS THOR DARK WORLD PRELUDE #2 $2.99
PSYLOCKE BY MANARA POSTER $8.99
SECRET AVENGERS #6 NOW $3.99
SUPERIOR CARNAGE POSTER $8.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #13 NOW $3.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TP SUPERIORITY COMPLEX $16.99
THOR GODS AND GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP $19.99
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #27 $3.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #8 NOW $3.99
WOLVERINE #6 NOW $3.99
YOUNG AVENGERS #7 NOW $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

12 REASONS TO DIE #2 $3.5
A1 #2 $3.99
ADVENTURE TIME CANDY CAPERS #1 $3.99
ALDEBARAN TP VOL 03 CREATURE $19.95
AMAZING ENLIGHTENING TRUE ADV KATHERINE WHALEY HC $29.99
ANIMALS WITH SHARPIES HC (MR) $16.95
ANTARES TP VOL 02 EPISODE 2 $11.95
ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #29 [DIG/P+] $3.99
ARCHIE MEETS GLEE TP [DIG] $12.99
ARSENIC LULLABY BIG STALL ONE SHOT $11.99
ARTEMIS FOWL GN VOL 03 ETERNITY CODE $9.99
ARTEMIS FOWL HC GN VOL 03 ETERNITY CODE $19.99
BALLISTIC #1 $3.5
BIONIC MAN #21 $3.99
BLACK BAT #3 CVR A LEE $3.99
BLACK BAT #3 CVR B BENITEZ $3.99
BLACK BAT #3 CVR C SYAF $3.99
BLACK BAT #3 CVR D TAN $3.99
BLAKE & MORTIMER GN VOL 14 CURSE OF 30 PIECES OF SILVER PT 2 $15.95
BONEYARD ONE SHOT BIGGENING $3.99
BRAVEST WARRIORS TP VOL 01 $14.99
BUBBLEGUN #2 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
BUBBLEGUN #2 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
BUCK ROGERS IN 25TH CENTURY WESTERN PUB YEARS HC VOL 01 $49.99
CASE CLOSED GN VOL 47 $9.99
CHRONOS COMMANDOS DAWN PATROL #1 $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #32 (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #32 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #32 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
DARK SHADOWS #18 $3.99
DEAD MANS RUN #6 [DIG] $3.5
DEATH OF HAGGARD WEST ONE SHOT $2.99
EYE O/T MAJESTIC CREATURE GN VOL 02 $19.99
FALSE MEMORIES TP VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
FATHOM ELITE SAGA #4 CVR A MARION [DIG] $3.99
FATHOM ELITE SAGA #4 CVR B CALDWELL $3.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3IN1 ED TP VOL 05 $14.99
GARFIELD SHOW GN VOL 01 UNFAIR WEATHER $7.99
GARFIELD SHOW HC VOL 01 UNFAIR WEATHER $11.99
GENIUS GN $17.99
GEORGE RR MARTIN SKIN TRADE #1 (MR) $3.99
GEORGE RR MARTIN SKIN TRADE #1 GRISLY CVR (MR) $3.99
GEORGE RR MARTIN SKIN TRADE #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
GFT DEMONS UNSEEN #2 A CVR TOLIBOA $3.99
GFT DEMONS UNSEEN #2 B CVR CAFARO $3.99
GFT DEMONS UNSEEN #2 C CVR ORTIZ $3.99
GFT JUNGLE BOOK LAST O/T SPECIES #5 A CVR SALGADO (MR $3.99
GFT JUNGLE BOOK LAST O/T SPECIES #5 B CVR PANTALENA $3.99
GFT ZOMBIES CURSED #1 A CVR SPAY $3.99
GFT ZOMBIES CURSED #1 B CVR QUALANO $3.99
GRIMM #3 $3.99
HELHEIM #5 (MR) $3.99
HIDE AND SEEK TP VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
HIDEYUKI KIKUCHIS VAMPIRE HUNTER D GN VOL 07 $13.95
IN CROWD #1 $3.5
INFERNAL FYRE DRAGON GN $17.99
JASON LOST CAT HC $24.99
JENNIFER BLOOD #29 (MR) $3.99
JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES FOOL MOON PART 2 HC $24.99
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #194 [DIG/P+] $3.99
LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #9 $3.5
LOVE AND ROCKETS COMPANION 30 YEARS SC (RES) $29.99
LOVELESS 2-IN-1 ED TP VOL 04 $14.99
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 33 ONE ARMED BANDIT $11.95
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 34 DALTONS ALWAYS ON THE RUN $11.95
MEGA MAN #27 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
MEN OF MYSTERY #90 $29.95
MISS FURY #4 CVR A TAN $3.99
MISS FURY #4 CVR B BENITEZ $3.99
MISS FURY #4 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
MISS FURY #4 CVR D CHEN $3.99
MOUSE GUARD HC VOL 03 BLACK AXE $24.95
MYLO XYLOTO #6 $3.99
NIGHT OF THE 80S UNDEAD #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
PATHFINDER #8 $3.99
PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #10 CVR A ALEX ROSS $3.99
PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #10 CVR B JONATHAN LAU $3.99
PLANET O/T APES CATACLYSM #11 [DIG] $3.99
PRINCELESS TALES O/T FAMILY ASHE ONE SHOT [DIG] $3.99
QUANTUM & WOODY #1 PULLBOX MARTIN $3.99
QUANTUM & WOODY #1 REG SOOK $3.99
RACHEL RISING #18 $3.99
RED SONJA #79 $3.99
RIN-NE GN VOL 12 $9.99
SHADOW GREEN HORNET DARK NIGHTS #1 CASSADAY CVR $3.99
SHADOW GREEN HORNET DARK NIGHTS #1 EXC SUBSCRIPTION $3.99
SHADOW GREEN HORNET DARK NIGHTS #1 ROSS CVR $3.99
SILVER SIX GN $10.99
SILVER SIX HC GN $22.99
SIX GUN GORILLA #2 [DIG] $3.99
SOLID STATE TANK GIRL #2 $3.99
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 21 [DIG] $7.99
SPONGEBOB COMICS #22 $2.99
STANDARD #3 $3.99
SUPURBIA ONGOING #9 [DIG] $3.99
TALES OF DISCORD GN $17.99
TEMPLAR GN $39.99
THE LONE RANGER #16 $3.99
THORGAL GN VOL 09 GUARDIAN OF THE KEYS $11.95
TIGER & BUNNY GN VOL 02 $9.99
UNFORGIVABLE EXPERIMENT 1134 #1 $2.99
VALERIAN GN VOL 03 LAND WITHOUT STARS $11.95
VICTORIAN SECRETS SUMMER SPECIAL #1 [DIG] $3.95
WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #27 (MR) $3.99
WESTWOOD WITCHES #2 (MR) $3.99
WOLFSMUND GN VOL 01 $12.95
WORKBURGER GN (MR) $20
XENOGLYPHS #4 $3.99
XIII CINEBOOK ED GN VOL 18 LAST ROUND $11.95
X-O MANOWAR (VU) #15 PULLBOX CRAIN $3.99
X-O MANOWAR (VU) #15 REG HAIRSINE $3.99
YOURS IN MUSIC AUTOBIO RAVI SHANKAR GN $19.95
ZENESCOPE LTD EXCL CVR 4 PACK (MR) $84.99
ZOMBIELLENIUM HC VOL 01 GRETCHEN $14.99
ZOMBIES VS CHEERLEADERS VOL 2 #2 (MR) $3.99

—

What are you picking up this week? Let us know in the comments below!