The Fourth of July is nearly upon us, you guys, and what better way to celebrate the United States of America than with one of the most truly American mediums there is: comic books! This week, there’s plenty of reasons to be proud to be a comic book fan because we’ve got brand new offerings from Marvel, the continued adventures of a Golden Key classic, a RoboCop reboot that we actually want, and much more. So, kick back, relax, and prepare yourselves for the unbridled awesomeness of this week’s Pull List.

Top Picks

Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult #2 | Dynamite Entertainment | Mark Waid, Neil Edwards, Jordan Boyd, Marshall Dillon

Review by Dan Casey

After the tremendously charming, fiendishly clever first issue of Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult, Waid and Edwards get heady with a mind-bender of a follow-up that leaps around the space-time continuum, threatening to rend reality as we know it asunder. While it doesn’t quite reach the exuberant heights of the series premiere, the ambition on display here is admirable and Waid manages to sink his narrative hooks even deeper into my brain by the time we reach the final panel’s thrilling reveal, leaving me hungry for more.

Still reeling after the otherworldly assault on the TV studio that claimed producer Lenny’s life, Adam Spektor and his assistant Abby are in full on crisis management mode. Sent out to acquire Devil’s Claw Root by the good Doctor, Abby gets more than she bargained for as she not only nearly dies at the hands of a pair of surly brothers specializing in the supernatural, and winds up in police custody, but she also opens a door and is greeted by none other than…herself. This is the beginning of a series of alternate timelines, temporal shifts, and generally headscratching moments that plays out over the course of the issue. Jumping from timeline to timeline can get a bit dizzying and acts as a sort of narrative speedbump for the issue’s pacing, but it’s all worth it thanks to some seriously droolworthy artwork from Neil Edwards, whose line work, attention to detail, and eye for the cinematic cements Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult as one of the must-read books each month.

Rocket Raccoon #1 | Marvel Comics | Skottie Young

Review by Charles Webb

Young’s new, very self-aware ongoing, which kicks off this month with “A Chasing Tale,” surrounds Rocket with a similarly absurd universe. And instead of diluting what makes Rocket and his buddy/muscle Groot, work, Young has made the cosmic side of Marvel even more inviting and exciting – a vast space where things can get silly, strange, and dangerous with a too-cocky rogue at the center.

We learn that when not saving the galaxy alongside his fellow Guardians, Rocket has a sideline saving princesses. Not for entirely selfless reasons, either: Rocket’s a serial princess dater, which has earned him a few powerful enemies. And then there’s the totally unrelated murder warrant out for his arrest – is there another Halfworld native out there icing fools wearing Rocket’s face?

Young embraces the idea that Rocket is kind of a jerk. A funny, sometimes charming one, but the kind of guy who’ll take a princess to his buddy’s wrestling match on a first date, or who will get arrested at the end of said first date. Abnett and Lanning played Rocket as the pint-sized badass with the acerbic wit during the Guardians of the Galaxy relaunch in the midst of <em>Annihilation</em> – Young smooths some of those edges out, making him less John Rambo and more Han Solo. A lot of the humor here comes from Rocket and the Guardians’ awareness that he’s kind of a furry little sociopath, and played just the wrong way, that could have been alienating. But Young plays it so broad that the approach works for the character and the book.

And now I feel remiss in spending a lot of words talking about the script without mentioning the other important piece: Young’s excellent art. The cartoony style is perfect for the story and makes me wish that there was a TV-MA Rocket Raccoon cartoon out in the wild. Young populates his backgrounds with all sorts of diverse and lumpy alien critters while his main character is a scrawny little ball of energy. Also: more of his hyper-exaggerated Drax – I love that all-bulk/tiny head design.

Rocket Raccoon is a book that can drop in an Overfiend joke (ask your parents, kids) in the middle of a story about how many corpses its main character has racked up. Here’s hoping Marvel can keep the book’s other star – its writer and artist – on board for as long as possible.

Robocop #1  | BOOM! Studios | Joshua Williamson, Carlos Magno

Review by Eric Diaz

If you’re a child of the 1980’s, then there is a special place in your heart for director Paul Verhoeven’s original 1987 Robocop movie. For a lot of us who were kids when we first saw it, it was the first really over-the-top violent action movie we ever saw, not to mention our first exposure to the concept of satire. The original Robocop was also almost shockingly accurate in its prediction of the future (minus the 80s punk aesthetic). Well, I guess that part came true depending on how close to either Silverlake or Williamsburg you live.) How accurate was Paul Verhoeven at predicting the future?  Well, much as in the film, today the city of Detroit is going bankrupt with portions largely abandoned, corporations are arguably the new government, and unemployment and poverty have created an ever growing gap between the rich and everyone else. Only Verhoeven’s Showgirls was more prescient in predicting how trashy our culture would be in the future. Paul Verhoeven was truly the 20th Century Nostradamus.

Writer Joshua Williamson’s first issue of Robocop is a much better sequel to the original film than either Robocop 2 or Robocop 3 (sorry, Frank Miller) and we’re just one issue in. Although the very first line of dialogue is a reference to one of the original movie’s signature lines, this new series isn’t bogged down by references to the film, but still evokes that movie’s spirit (at least so far, no one has said “Bitches, leave!”  yet, or words to that effect.) What it does do is honor the satirical nature of the original movie, and looks to today’s news headlines for inspiration, something the recent remake, which wasn’t actually wasn’t so bad, mostly failed to do.

The basic bad guy plot in this first issue is like a Tea Partier’s worst nightmare (or dream come true, depending on how one looks at it) as the city government enacts a law to confiscate all the citizen’s guns, which is of course orchestrated by criminals posing as “local community leaders” (I guess calling them “local community organizers” is just too on-the-nose. Might as well just called the bad guy “Barat Obana” at that point). All our heroes think such a plan is crazy, and don’t waste time saying so (Robocop himself even says that “this new law goes against his programming.”) I suppose the entire “everyone should carry firearms” angle could be sincere… but the whole thing feels very much in the satirical vein of the original movie.

The story opens sometime after the original movie, and Robocop himself is already legendary among the city’s criminal element. Old Detroit is still a violent cesspool, and the story opens as a SWAT Team is opening fire after a sting operation gone wrong. True to classic Robocop, we get a glorious scene of over the top violence as officer Murphy uses his metal hand to literally punch a thug’s face off.  This is where I have to mention the book’s strongest aspect-the art by Carlos Magno. I’ve never seen his art before, but it’s fairly stunning work. the panel where we see Robocop’s fist just demolish the thug’s face on contact and makes his eye come out of his socket almost hurt to look at. And that’s the highest compliment I can give it! Magno’s art is very reminiscent of legendary French comic artist Moebius. Every page is a thing of beauty, and I can’t wait to see more of his work. This guy deserves to be a star.

Really though, the best thing I can say is that this new Robocop series is fun, a bit gratuitous fun to be sure, but isn’t that what Robocop is supposed to be? Even though the recent remake wasn’t nearly as bad as we all thought it would be, the one thing it wasn’t was fun in the way the original movie was, so for those out there disappointed in that film, this new series from BOOM! might be the perfect antidote.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAY140039 1 FOR $1 AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER RIFT #1 $1.00
MAY140030 ANGEL AND FAITH SEASON 10 #4 MAIN CVR $3.50
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MAR140073 CONAN TP VOL 15 NIGHTMARE OF SHALLOWS $19.99
MAR140053 FEAR AGENT TP VOL 04 HATCHET JOB (NEW PTG) $16.99
FEB140012 FRANK MILLER ART OF SIN CITY TP $25.00
MAR140090 KISS ME SATAN TP $19.99
MAR140010 LONE WOLF & CUB OMNIBUS TP VOL 05 $19.99
MAY140067 MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS VICTORIES #13 (MR) $3.99
MAR140056 NEVER ENDING TP $9.99
MAR140032 ROBOCOP VS TERMINATOR GALLERY SERIES HC $125.00
MAR140028 ROBOCOP VS TERMINATOR HC $24.99
MAR140089 SECRET FILES OF DR DREW HC $29.99
MAR140017 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & CRY OF SHADOWS HC $24.99
MAR140087 STRAIN TP VOL 04 THE FALL $19.99
MAR140069 USAGI YOJIMBO TP VOL 28 RED SCORPION $17.99
FEB140108 VAMPIRE HUNTER D NOVEL VOL 21 BLOOD BATTLE (MR) $11.99
MAR140051 WHITE SUITS #4 $3.99

DC COMICS

JAN140348 ABSOLUTE BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER HC $99.99
MAY140220 ACTION COMICS #33 (DOOMED) $3.99
MAY140188 AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS #4 $2.99
MAY140352 BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #2 $2.99
MAY140225 BATMAN ETERNAL #13 $2.99
APR140201 BATMAN SUPERMAN #12 $3.99
APR140204 BATMAN SUPERMAN #12 COMBO PACK $4.99
MAY140255 BATWING #33 $2.99
APR140271 CINDER & ASHE TP $14.99
MAY140204 EARTH 2 #25 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
MAY140402 FAIREST #27 (MR) $2.99
MAY140192 GREEN ARROW #33 $2.99
MAY140258 GREEN LANTERN #33 (UPRISING) $2.99
MAY140260 GREEN LANTERN #33 COMBO PACK (UPRISING) $3.99
APR140263 GREEN LANTERN CORPS TP VOL 04 REBUILD (N52) $16.99
APR140264 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS TP VOL 03 LOVE & DEATH (N52) $16.99
APR140244 HARLAN ELLISONS 7 AGAINST CHAOS TP $16.99
APR148370 HARLEY QUINN #2 4TH PTG $2.99
MAY140405 HINTERKIND #9 (MR) $2.99
MAY140193 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #8 $2.99
MAY140181 NEW 52 FUTURES END #9 (WEEKLY) $2.99
MAY140389 SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #5 $2.99
APR140274 SUPERBOY TP VOL 04 BLOOD AND STEEL (N52) $16.99
APR148371 SUPERMAN #31 2ND PTG (DOOMED) $2.99
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DEC130242 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #7 COMBO PACK $4.99
MAY140267 SWAMP THING #33 $2.99
MAY140391 TINY TITANS RETURN TO THE TREEHOUSE #2 $2.99
MAY140199 TRINITY OF SIN PHANTOM STRANGER #21 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAR140312 ARKHAM ASYLUM JOKER HARLEY BATMAN SCARECROW AF 4 PK $59.95
JAN140396 DC COMICS NEW 52 EARTH 2 WONDER WOMAN AF $24.95

IDW PUBLISHING

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MAY140557 INDESTRUCTIBLE #7 $3.99
APR140457 INDESTRUCTIBLE TP VOL 01 $14.99
MAR140464 LOAC ESSENTIALS HC VOL 05 BUNGLE FAMILY 1930 $24.99
MAY140548 LOCKE & KEY CROWN OF SHADOWS 100 PENNY PRESS ED #1 $1.00
MAR140355 MAXX MAXXIMIZED HC VOL 01 $21.99
MAY140521 ROGUE TROOPER CLASSICS #3 $3.99
MAY140545 STAR MAGE #4 $3.99
APR140444 THUNDER AGENTS ONGOING TP VOL 02 $17.99
MAR140364 TRIBES DOG YEARS SPECIAL ED HC $39.99
APR148243 WEIRD LOVE #1 2ND PTG $3.99
MAY140541 WEIRD LOVE #2 $3.99
MAR140407 X-FILES CONSPIRACY HC $24.99

IMAGE COMICS

APR140534 A VOICE IN THE DARK TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99
MAY140601 BLACK KISS XXXMAS IN JULY SPECIAL ONE SHOT (MR) $5.99
MAY140699 CLONE #18 (MR) $2.99
APR140567 EAST OF WEST #13 $3.50
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APR140616 WITCHBLADE #176 CVR A BRAGA $3.99
APR140617 WITCHBLADE #176 CVR B CHRISTOPHER $3.99
APR140539 WITCHBLADE BORN AGAIN TP VOL 01 $14.99

MARVEL COMICS

MAY140819 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 FANTASTIC FOUR $3.99
MAY140909 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #10 $3.99
APR148272 AVENGERS #29 2ND PTG YU VAR SIN $4.99
APR148314 AVENGERS #30 2ND PTG YU VAR SIN $3.99
MAY140843 BLACK WIDOW #8 $3.99
MAY140840 CAPTAIN AMERICA #22 $3.99
MAY140846 DAREDEVIL #0.1 $4.99
FEB140836 DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID HC VOL 03 $39.99
APR148275 DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE #3 2ND PTG FABRY VAR $3.99
MAY140886 DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE #1 $3.99
MAY140796 FIGMENT #2 $3.99
MAY140848 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY GALAXYS MOST WANTED #1 $3.99
FEB140829 INFINITY GAUNTLET OMNIBUS HC PEREZ CVR $125.00
MAY140857 IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #4 $3.99
MAY140804 LEGENDARY STAR LORD #1 ANMN $3.99
APR148273 MAGNETO #3 2ND PTG SHALVEY VAR ANMN $3.99
MAY140902 MAGNETO #6 $3.99
MAR140774 MARVELS GUARDIANS OF GALAXY PRELUDE TP $14.99
MAY140830 MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #3 $3.99
MAY140875 MIRACLEMAN #8 $4.99
MAY140862 MOON KNIGHT #5 $3.99
APR148274 MS MARVEL #3 2ND PTG MCKELVIE VAR ANMN $2.99
MAY140866 NEW WARRIORS #7 $3.99
MAY140764 ORIGINAL SIN #5 $3.99
APR140743 POWERS HC VOL 06 DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (MR) $34.99
MAY140872 PUNISHER #8 $3.99
MAY140797 ROCKET RACCOON #1 ANMN $3.99
MAR140758 SAVAGE WOLVERINE PREM HC VOL 03 WRATH $24.99
FEB140838 THANOS RISING HC $24.99
MAY140873 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #24 $3.99
APR140778 UNCANNY X-MEN TP VOL 02 BROKEN $19.99

COMICS

MAR141330 ACG COLL WORKS ADV INTO UNKNOWN SLIPCASE ED VOL 07 $64.99
DEC131246 ACG COLL WORKS FORBIDDEN WORLDS HC VOL 06 $47.99
JAN141019 ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 02 SDCC EXC $49.99
FEB141356 ARCHER COE GN VOL 01 THOUSAND NATURAL SHOCKS $19.99
FEB140929 BETTY & VERONICA #271 REG CVR $2.99
MAY141146 BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA #2 MAIN CVRS $3.99
MAR141117 BLACK BAT #12 JAE LEE $3.99
MAR141118 BLACK BAT #12 TAN EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
MAY141072 CALIBAN #4 (MR) $3.99
MAY141074 CALIBAN #4 TERROR CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141073 CALIBAN #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141287 CHAOS #3 CVR A SEELEY $3.99
MAY141288 CHAOS #3 CVR B RUFFINO $3.99
MAY141286 CHAOS #3 MAIN CVR LUPACCHINO $3.99
MAY141407 COSPLAYERS #2 $5.00
FEB141258 DF AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #25 SGN KELLY SUE DECONNICK PI
MAY141402 DKW DITKO KIRBY WOOD ONE SHOT $4.99
APR141116 DOCTOR SPEKTOR #2 $3.99
APR141399 ENORMOUS #1 CVR A CHEGGOUR $3.99
APR141400 ENORMOUS #1 CVR B ROSSMO $3.99
MAY141064 EXTINCTION PARADE WAR #1 (MR) $4.99
MAY141066 EXTINCTION PARADE WAR #1 END OF SPECIES CVR (MR) $4.99
MAY141065 EXTINCTION PARADE WAR #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $4.99
APR140948 FEARLESS DAWN HARD TIMES ONE SHOT $3.99
JAN140864 FOX TP VOL 01 FREAK MAGNET $14.99
MAY141202 GARFIELD #27 $3.99
MAR141292 GARFIELD & CO HC BOXED SET #5-8 $29.99
MAY141198 GARFIELD TP VOL 04 $13.99
APR141490 GFT OZ AGE OF DARKNESS A CVR CAMPBELL (AOFD) $5.99
APR141491 GFT OZ AGE OF DARKNESS B CVR LASHLEY (AOFD) $5.99
APR141492 GFT OZ AGE OF DARKNESS C CVR ATKINS (AOFD) $5.99
APR141493 GFT OZ AGE OF DARKNESS D CVR KROME (AOFD) $5.99
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APR140799 JACK HAMMER #4 MAIN CVR $2.99
MAR141124 JENNIFER BLOOD TP VOL 05 BLOOD LEGACY (MR) $29.99
MAY141310 JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES WAR CRY #2 $3.99
MAY141527 LA PERDIDA TP NEW PTG $18.00
MAY141405 LUBA AND HER FAMILY GN $18.99
MAR141285 MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS GN VOL 01 RITA REPULSA $7.99
MAY141283 NEW VAMPIRELLA #2 CVR A FRISON $3.99
MAY141282 NEW VAMPIRELLA #2 MAIN DODSON $3.99
MAR141334 PRE CODE CLASSIC STRANGE WORLDS SLIPCASE ED HC VOL 01 $64.99
MAY141666 QUANTUM & WOODY #12 FOWLER CVR $3.99
MAY141131 ROBOCOP 2014 #1 (MR) $3.99
APR140804 SCUM O/T EARTH #1 MAIN CVR (MR) $3.99
APR141137 SHADOW MIDNIGHT MOSCOW #2 $3.99
APR141133 SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SEASON 6 #4 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
APR141131 SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SEASON 6 #4 ROSS CVR $3.99
MAR141294 SMURFS GN BOX SET VOL 13-15 $17.99
MAR148157 SNOWPIERCER GN $14.99
APR140871 SONIC UNIVERSE #65 REG CVR $2.99
MAY141164 SUICIDE RISK #15 $3.99
MAY141264 TOM CLANCY SPLINTER CELL ECHOES #1 $3.99
APR141208 TWELVE GEMS TP $19.99
APR141160 TWILIGHT ZONE #6 $3.99
MAY141100 UBER #15 (MR) $3.99
MAY141102 UBER #15 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141103 UBER #15 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141101 UBER #15 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
MAY141571 UNTERZAKHN GN $24.95
MAR141296 WONTON SOUP TP COLLECTED ED $19.99
MAY141148 WOODS #3 $3.99
APR140860 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #41 $6.99

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What’s on your pull list this week? Let us know in the comments below!