Comic-Con may be right around the corner, but Comic Book Day has no concept of space, time, or convention exclusives! So while it’s all well and good that there’s a slew of brand new series coming down the pipeline and Thor is now a woman and there’s a new Green Lantern/New Gods crossover event on the horizon, we’re more focused on the here and the now. Specifically, what’s coming to your local comic book store today. Fortunately, we’re here with the Pull List and we know exactly what you need.
Top Picks
Robin Rises: Omega #1 | DC Comics | Peter Tomasi, Andy Kubert, Jonathan Glapion
Review by Dan Casey
Damian Wayne was one of the more controversial characters in the DC canon when he was first introduced, but slowly and surely, the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul managed to win us over with his flippant attitude, icy demeanor, and genetic aptitude for ass-kicking. Then, in a tragic twist of fate, Grant Morrison, the man responsible for bringing Damian into the main Batman continuity, took him away in the shocking Batman Inc. #8, killed by Heretic, a servant of his mother who also happened to be his artificially aged clone. It was beyond messed up, but it lead to one of the greatest Batman issues to date, Batman and Robin #18. The completely silent issue from Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason is a masterwork, taking us through the often hard-to-watch grieving process of a father who is so used to saving the world on a daily basis yet was unable to save his own son. The point of all this exposition is that Damian Wayne, for better or for worse, has had a profound effect on DC’s most popular superhero and now there’s a glimmer of hope that he might be returning.
Robin Rises: Omega #1, a one-shot from Peter Tomasi and Andy Kubert, finds the Dark Knight at the end of his hunt for Robin — or at least his remains — and forced to put his ongoing feud with R’as al Ghul on hold in order to face an even bigger threat: Glorious Godfrey and a horde of Para-Demons straight from Apokolips. Why are Darkseid’s drones on Earth? There’s something hidden in Robin’s sarcophagus and they aren’t leaving without it. What results is one of the most action-packed, knockdown, drag-out slugfests I’ve seen in a while, brought to glorious life by Andy Kubert and Jonathan Glapion’s stellar artwork. Tomasi keeps the story moving at a steady clip, peppering in exposition and advancing the plot in between thundering blows. It’s rare that we see the Caped Crusader off of his game or frazzled, but Tomasi and Kubert capture that grief that still clouds his judgement so well. As a result, Robin Rises: Omega #1 is more than just the start of another cross-title event; it’s one of the best books of the week period.
Black Market #1 | BOOM! Studios | Frank J. Barbiere, Victor Santos, Adam Metcalfe
Review by Eric Diaz
Black Market is one of the more interesting high concept superhero books I’ve read in a while, and to be fair, even calling it a superhero book at all is slightly misleading. Black Market takes place in a wold where superheroes are real and an everyday fact of life, but this story isn’t about them, it’s about the regular folk who happen to live in that superhero universe. If this sounds like Brian Bendis’ Powers or maybe even Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross’ Marvels to you, well, there are indeed some obvious similarities, but if I had to compare this book to anything else out there, then really the first thing that comes to mind is Breaking Bad.
Black Market focuses on Raymond Willis, a nerdy and bespectacled medical examiner who works with the police force. His wife has MS, and together they are just barely keeping their heads above water due to all the medical bills. From the outset, Ray seems like a decent enough guy. But when his criminal brother shows up, he drags Ray into a life of crime, using his skills as a medical examiner to harvest the DNA out of superheroes, who in this universe, are simple referred to as “supers” (and their origins are unclear-are they aliens, mutants, what? One would think it’s sort of important, but it’s sort of glossed over.) Whether the superheroes being used are dead or alive seems to be neither here nor there to those that need their DNA. If supers are holding back their special DNA, which can maybe cure cancer and AIDS (and maybe MS?), don’t the average folk have a right to do whatever is necessary to get some of that DNA for themselves? Ray Willis is convincing himself that any reason is a good reason for what he’s doing.
For a first issue, writer Frank J. Barbiere has done a good job of creating a world and creating a relatable lead in Ray Willis, who is put in an almost impossible situation. I do wish Ray was a little more fleshed out however; in Breaking Bad, they really made us understand why someone like Walter White would embrace criminality as his only option to help his family, but they don’t do as good a job here of creating quite the exact same moral dilemma for Ray. He seems to jump into doing criminal activity a little bit too easily if you ask me….but then, they only have four issues to tell this story, so I’ll cut Frank J. Barbiere a break. The art by Victor Santos is especially good, and very reminiscent of Darwyn Cooke and maybe a little bit of Bruce Timm-a retro cartoony-ness that is a striking contrast to the ugly proceedings that take place in the story. If you like superheroes, but enjoy fiction with morally ambiguous leads like Breaking Bad and Dexter, then Black Market might be the perfect comic for you.
Harbinger #25 | Valiant | Joshua Dysart, Lewis LaRosa, Romula Fajardo, and various
When we talked about some of the ramifications for the book following the Renegades’ attack on the Harbinger Foundation, series writer Dysart promised a kind of “reset” for the Valiant U – and it’s easy to see how that might come into play. With this issue, Harada is effectively a power unto himself – dangerous, angry, and pretty sure he’s the smartest person in (any) room.
The standout scene this issue involves Harada confronting some of the U.S. power brokers in a secret bunker in order to discuss how they might clandestinely work with the now notorious psiot even as the population of the world is starting to realize that he’s been bending the arc of the last century to his own designs. It tells you everything you need to know about the character: he’s affable, he’s determined, and he’s possibly insane. This is a man who’s decided to go to war against the world because he doesn’t have the patience or the time to deal with humans and their “rights” or “free will.”
About the time thing: by the end of this issue, it’s clear that Harada’s up against his own clock, explaining how he’s been able to look like a dapper 50-something for over 30 years.
It’s not wall-to-wall Harada, though – the character is just the axis around which most of the events of this issue occur. There are the Generation Zero Harbingers on the loose now that his empire’s been blown wide open, the Renegades on the run now that they’ve wounded the most dangerous man on Earth and Peter MIA after seeing one of his teammates die and using his brain powers against his worst enemy.
There’s a thread about Kris wanting to leave the group now that Peter is gone, but it’s really more about how Zephyr has grown as a character than anything else. Likewise, Harada becoming a full-on supervillain offers us some insight into the ultra-loyal Stronghold, who finds his role will change now that his boss is probably thinking about bases under volcanoes and toppling world leaders just because.
Dysart is responsible for some very smart writing here, showing us the divide between Peter’s people (a mismatched family that loves each other in its own messed up way) and Harada’s who fear and worship him and might be the only thing keeping him from destroying himself and the world.
Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS
MAY140025 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #121 $3.50
MAY140064 BRAIN BOY MEN FROM GESTALT #3 $2.99
MAR140080 BTVS SPIKE INTO LIGHT HC $14.99
MAY140097 EYE OF NEWT #2 $3.99
MAY140062 GHOST #6 $2.99
MAR140093 GRINDHOUSE MIDNIGHT TP VOL 01 $17.99
MAR140100 PICTURES THAT TICK LTD ED HC VOL 02 $100.00
MAR140099 PICTURES THAT TICK TP VOL 02 $29.99
MAY140086 STAR WARS DARTH MAUL SON OF DATHOMIR #3 $3.50
MAR140070 USAGI YOJIMBO LTD HC VOL 28 RED SCORPION $59.99
MAY140078 WITCHER #5 $3.99
MAY140029 WITCHFINDER MYSTERIES OF UNLAND #2 $3.50
DC COMICS
APR140254 BATMAN A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
MAY140227 BATMAN ETERNAL #15 $2.99
MAY140251 BATWOMAN #33 $2.99
APR140259 BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 04 THE CRUELEST CUT (N52) $16.99
MAR140252 DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN DELUXE ED HC (N52) $24.99
APR140295 DJANGO UNCHAINED TP (MR) $16.99
MAY140401 FABLES #142 (MR) $2.99
MAY140263 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #33 $2.99
MAY140248 HARLEY QUINN INVADES COMIC CON INTL SAN DIEGO #1 $4.99
MAY140350 INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #1 $3.99
APR140255 JOKER A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
MAY140183 NEW 52 FUTURES END #11 (WEEKLY) $2.99
MAY140256 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #33 $2.99
MAY140160 ROBIN RISES OMEGA #1 $4.99
MAY140359 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #7 $2.99
MAY140224 SUPERGIRL #33 $2.99
APR140273 SUPERGIRL TP VOL 04 OUT OF THE PAST (N52) $14.99
MAR140263 TALES OF THE BATMAN JH WILLIAMS III HC $49.99
MAY140164 TEEN TITANS #1 $2.99
APR140262 TEEN TITANS TP VOL 04 LIGHT AND DARK (N52) $14.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JAN140403 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ARMORED LEX LUTHOR DLX AF $49.95
DEC130369 SUPERMAN BLACK POOL CUE $199.95
DEC130370 SUPERMAN ICONIC POOL CUE $199.95
IDW PUBLISHING
MAY140523 24 #4 $3.99
MAY140536 BORDERLANDS FALL OF FYRESTONE #1 $3.99
APR148315 CARTOON NETWORK SUPER SECRET CRISIS WAR #1 2ND PTG (P $3.99
MAY140556 DOBERMAN #1 $3.99
MAY140558 GATE WAY NEW WORLD TP $17.99
MAY140519 JUDGE DREDD #21 $3.99
MAY140496 LITTLEST PET SHOP #3 $3.99
APR140449 LUST TP $19.99
MAY140487 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #21 $3.99
MAY140486 POWERPUFF GIRLS CLASSICS TP VOL 04 PICTURE PERFECT $19.99
MAY140453 SQUIDDER #1 $3.99
MAY140511 STAR TREK SPECIAL FLESH & STONE #1 $3.99
FEB140330 STERANKO NICK FURY AGENT OF SHIELD ARTIST ED HC PI
APR140441 TARZAN RUSS MANNING NEWSPAPER STRIPS HC VOL 03 1971-1974 $49.99
MAY140551 THE LAST FALL #1 $3.99
APR140370 TMNT ANIMATED TP VOL 04 MUTAGEN MAYHEM $7.99
MAY140505 TMNT ONGOING #36 $3.99
APR148444 V-WARS #2 2ND PTG $3.99
APR140417 X-FILES CLASSICS HC VOL 04 $29.99
MAY140528 X-FILES YEAR ZERO #1 $3.99
IMAGE COMICS
MAY140618 ALEX + ADA TP VOL 01 $12.99
MAY140582 APHRODITE IX CYBER FORCE #1 CVR A SEJIC $5.99
MAY140583 APHRODITE IX CYBER FORCE #1 CVR B SEJIC $5.99
MAY140584 APHRODITE IX CYBER FORCE #1 CVR C SILVESTRI $5.99
FEB140519 APHRODITE IX REBIRTH TP VOL 02 $17.99
MAY140620 BAD DOG TP VOL 01 IN THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY (MR) $19.99
MAY140697 BURN THE ORPHANAGE REIGN OF TERROR #3 CVR A GRACE & S $3.50
MAY140698 BURN THE ORPHANAGE REIGN OF TERROR #3 CVR B WARD & SH $3.50
MAY140606 CAP’N DINOSAUR ONE SHOT $3.99
MAY140622 CHEW OMNIVORE ED HC VOL 04 (MR) $34.99
MAY140574 DARK ENGINE #1 (MR) $3.50
MAY140626 DEADLY CLASS TP VOL 01 REAGAN YOUTH (MR) $9.99
MAY140712 MANIFEST DESTINY #8 $2.99
APR140585 RAT QUEENS #7 (MR) $3.50
MAY148087 SHUTTER #2 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
MAY148088 SHUTTER #3 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
MAY140734 STRAY BULLETS THE KILLERS #5 (MR) $3.50
MAY140740 UMBRAL #7 (MR) $3.50
MAY140745 WICKED & DIVINE #2 (MR) $3.50
MAY148075 WICKED & DIVINE #2 CVR B ZDARSKY $3.50
MAY140746 WILDFIRE #2 CVR A LINDA SEJIC $3.99
MAY140747 WILDFIRE #2 CVR B STJEPAN SEJIC $3.99
MARVEL COMICS
MAY140815 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 X-MEN $3.99
MAY140910 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #11 $3.99
MAY140828 AVENGERS WORLD #9 $3.99
APR148506 BLACK WIDOW #4 2ND PTG NOTO VAR $3.99
APR148507 BLACK WIDOW #5 2ND PTG NOTO VAR $3.99
APR148508 BLACK WIDOW #6 2ND PTG NOTO VAR $3.99
APR140771 BLACK WIDOW TP VOL 01 FINELY WOVEN THREAD $17.99
MAY140950 CAPTAIN AMERICA #22 75TH ANNIV BY ROSS POSTER $8.99
MAY140890 DEADPOOL DRACULAS GAUNTLET #2 $3.99
MAY140854 ELEKTRA #4 $3.99
APR148509 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #15 2ND PTG BRADSHAW VAR $3.99
APR148516 INHUMAN #1 2ND PTG MADUREIRA VAR ANMN $3.99
MAY140953 LEGENDARY STAR LORD #1 POSTER $8.99
APR148510 LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #4 2ND PTG FRISON VAR $2.99
APR148511 LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #5 2ND PTG FRISON VAR $2.99
APR148514 MAGNETO #1 3RD PTG RIVERA VAR ANMN $3.99
APR148515 MAGNETO #2 3RD PTG SAMNEE VAR ANMN $3.99
APR148517 MAGNETO #4 2ND PTG SHALVEY VAR ANMN $3.99
MAY140904 MAGNETO #7 $3.99
APR148512 MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2 2ND PTG MARQUEZ VAR $3.99
FEB140825 MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 14 $69.99
APR148513 MOON KNIGHT #4 2ND PTG SHALVEY VAR $3.99
MAY140864 MS MARVEL #6 $2.99
MAY140791 NOVA #19 SIN $3.99
APR140642 ORIGINAL SIN #3.2 $3.99
MAY140768 ORIGINAL SIN #6 $3.99
MAY140951 ROCKET RACCOON #1 POSTER $8.99
MAY140867 SAVAGE HULK #2 $3.99
MAY140908 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #21 $3.99
MAY140823 SECRET AVENGERS #5 $3.99
APR148518 SHE-HULK #4 2ND PTG WADA VAR $2.99
MAY140869 SHE-HULK #6 $2.99
APR140694 SILVER SURFER #4 $3.99
MAY140952 SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1 POSTER $8.99
MAY140863 THUNDERBOLTS #28 $2.99
MAY140832 ULTIMATE FF #4 $3.99
MAY140792 UNCANNY X-MEN #23 SIN $3.99
MAY140897 X-MEN #16 $3.99
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
FEB141405 ACG COLL WORKS FORBIDDEN WORLDS SLIPCASE ED VOL 06 $64.99
MAY141187 ADVENTURE TIME #30 $3.99
FEB140958 ALL NEW SOULFIRE #6 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $3.99
FEB140959 ALL NEW SOULFIRE #6 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
APR141054 ALONE GN VOL 01 $13.95
MAR141208 ANOMAL GN $9.95
APR140852 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #252 $4.99
MAY141640 ARMOR HUNTERS #2 MASK CVR (AH) $3.99
MAY141271 ARMY OF DARKNESS HITCHED #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $3.99
MAY141266 ARMY OF DARKNESS HITCHED #1 CVR A PARRILLO $3.99
MAY141267 ARMY OF DARKNESS HITCHED #1 CVR B FRANCAVILLA $3.99
MAY141268 ARMY OF DARKNESS HITCHED #1 CVR C BRADSHAW $3.99
MAY141269 ARMY OF DARKNESS HITCHED #1 CVR D SUYDAM $3.99
MAY141265 ARMY OF DARKNESS HITCHED #1 MAIN CVR LEE $3.99
MAY141564 ATOMIC ROBO KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CIRCLE #3 $3.50
MAY141498 AUTEUR #5 (MR) $3.99
MAY141135 BLACK MARKET #1 $3.99
APR140949 BRYAN LEE O MALLEY SECONDS GN $25.00
APR141128 CAPT ACTION CAT #3 $3.99
MAR140809 CAVEWOMAN JOURNEY #2 CVR B DURHAM PI
JAN140996 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #11 (MR) $3.99
APR141168 CODENAME ACTION TP VOL 01 $19.99
MAY141090 CROSSED BADLANDS #57 (MR) $3.99
MAY141093 CROSSED BADLANDS #57 FATAL FANTASY CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141092 CROSSED BADLANDS #57 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141091 CROSSED BADLANDS #57 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141167 CURSE #1 ECCC EXC $9.99
MAR141144 DF AMAZING SPIDER MAN #1 GOLD ELITE LEE SGN $699.99
FEB141259 DF ELEKTRA #1 SGN HADEN BLACKMAN $29.99
NOV131060 DF INHUMANITY #1 FRACTION SGN $29.99
JAN131138 DF UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 HUMPHRIES SGN ED $19.99
MAY141077 DICKS END OF TIME #2 (MR) $3.99
MAY141078 DICKS END OF TIME #2 OFFENSIVE CVR (MR) $3.99
APR141204 DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE HC VOL 05 PHANTOM BLOT $34.99
MAY141236 DOC FRANKENSTEIN TP VOL 01 MESSIAH OF SCIENCE RESURRECTED $16.99
MAY141306 DOODLE JUMP #2 $3.99
MAY141722 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 A CVR ADAMS (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141723 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 B CVR SPAY (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141724 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 C CVR FRANCHESCO (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141725 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 D CVR CHEN (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141726 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 E CVR MILLER (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141727 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 F CVR TOLIBAO (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141728 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #100 G CVR CHATZOUDIS (AOFD) (MR) $5.99
MAY141080 GOD IS DEAD #16 (MR) $3.99
MAY141081 GOD IS DEAD #16 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141082 GOD IS DEAD #16 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141083 GOD IS DEAD #16 ICONIC CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141168 HACKTIVIST HC (MR) $24.99
MAY148125 HARBINGER #23 2ND PTG $3.99
MAY141659 HARBINGER #25 CVR A SUAYAN $4.99
MAY141660 HARBINGER #25 CVR B FRISON $4.99
MAR141014 IZNOGOUD GN VOL 08 ROCKETS TO STARDOM $11.95
APR141055 IZNOGOUD GN VOL 10 RELENTLESS $11.95
JAN141231 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #209 $5.99
MAY141274 LADY ZORRO #1 $3.99
APR141056 LARGO WINCH GN VOL 14 RED HOT WRATH $11.95
MAY141170 LAST BROADCAST #3 (MR) $3.99
MAR141096 LEGENDERRY A STEAMPUNK ADV #5 $3.99
MAY141014 LIFE WITH ARCHIE COMIC #36 ADAM HUGHES CVR $4.99
MAY141016 LIFE WITH ARCHIE COMIC #36 FIONA STAPLES CVR $4.99
MAY141013 LIFE WITH ARCHIE COMIC #36 FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA CVR $4.99
MAY141012 LIFE WITH ARCHIE COMIC #36 MIKE ALLRED CVR $4.99
MAY141015 LIFE WITH ARCHIE COMIC #36 RAMON PEREZ CVR $4.99
MAY141475 LILY RENEE ESCAPE ARTIST GN $7.95
APR141057 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 46 PONY EXPRESS $11.95
MAY141033 MEGA MAN #39 REG CVR $2.99
APR141270 MONSTER HIGH HOPES & SCREAMS GN $10.00
APR141243 ONE IS ENOUGH GN (MR) $9.95
APR141206 PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 09 1953-1954 $35.00
MAY141500 PRINCESS UGG #2 $3.99
MAY141457 SANCTUM HC (MR) $29.95
MAY141127 SIMPSONS COMICS #213 $2.99
NOV130790 SONIC SAGA TP VOL 05 ENERJAK REBORN $11.99
APR140869 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #262 REG CVR $2.99
JAN140886 SONIC UNIVERSE TP VOL 07 $11.99
MAY141158 SONS OF ANARCHY #11 (MR) $3.99
MAY141046 SOULFIRE ANNUAL #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $5.99
MAY141366 SPIDER TP VOL 03 CITY OF CRIME $19.99
APR141404 STREET FIGHTER IV HC VOL 01 WAGES OF SIN $34.99
MAY141255 THE DEVILERS #1 $2.99
MAY141280 THE SHADOW #0 $3.99
MAY141162 TRANSLUCID #4 $3.99
MAY141651 UNITY #9 REG SUAYAN (AH) $3.99
MAR141295 WWE SUPERSTARS ONGOING #6 $3.99
MAY140980 YOUTH IS WASTED GN $14.95
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What will you be picking up this week? Let us know in the comments below or tell me on Twitter.
