It’s almost the Fourth of July, and what could be more American than comic books? If you answered melted footballs drizzled lovingly over bald eagle steaks served on the Bill of Rights, then you are technically correct, but cut me some slack – I’m trying to get you excited for Comic Book Day. With “Trinity War” rapidly approaching (read our interview with Jeff Lemire and Geoff Johns for more), Axe Cop‘s upcoming leap to TV on Fox’s ADHD, and a heaping helping of new comic books, it’s a good time to be a comic book fan, so light up the grill, pop open a cold one, and settle in with this week’s pull list.

Top Picks

Satellite Sam #1 | Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin

“Sex, death and live television – all of which I’m fascinated by.” This is how Matt Fraction summed up his new ongoing creator-owned series for Image Comics he’s writing with industry legend Howard Chaykin handling artistic duties. Set in the 1950s during the golden age of television where shows like Captain Kangaroo and Howdy Doody reigned supreme, Satellite Sam takes us behind the scenes of the titular kids’ television show where the cast and crew are anything but kid friendly. Fraction and Chaykin give us a peek behind the curtain at the hard-drinking, foulmouthed, promiscuous, often depraved men and women who work on Satellite Sam, a popular live action kids show. When the star of the show is found dead in his apartment, the story takes a turn towards mystery-noir territory, especially once the deceased actor’s son finds boxes upon boxes of cheesecake pin-up photographs. Chaykin’s artwork provides a pleasant blend of sleaze and polish that sucks you into their world, and Fraction’s characters feel three-dimensional even when they’re intensely unlikable. This is just the beginning of what’s looking like a bawdy, salacious rabbit hole, and we want to see just how deep it goes.

Catalyst Comix #1 | Joe Casey and Dan McDaid, Ulises Farinas, and Paul Maybury

Are you ready to get weird? Joe Casey is and he’s bringing back the offbeat heroes of Comics’ Greatest World, the ’90s shared universe Dark Horse imprint that brought us spin-off titles like X and Ghost. This anthology-style series gives us short stories that follow the likes of Frank “Titan” Wells, Amazing Grace, and the Agents of Change and give the superhero genre a swift kick in the pants. These heroes still have that nineties reactionary vibe to them, a sense that they’re a different kind of superhero that are as likely to be seen doing battle with otherworldly beings as they are wrestling with their own personal demons. The first issue brings us to the brink of the apocalypse and identity crisis with Frank Wells, sends us on encounters with cosmic beings, and forces heroes to wonder what happens when they’re no longer needed. Catalyst Comix goes farther out than most other comics we’ve seen in a while, and it looks like it’s going to be one trip worth taking.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #10 | J.M. DeMatteis and Fernando Blanco

As we approach the all-out madness of “Trinity War,” DC is gearing up for the event across its New 52 titles. One of the more interesting titles in recent memory is J.M. DeMatteis’ The Phantom Stranger, which deals with heady issues like heading down into the depths of hell to rescue your family, matters of faith and delves into the emotional makeup of the man behind the cape. Issue #10 continues the terrific work done in #9, as the Stranger meets with God himself – in the guise of a vindictive Scottish terrier – and must deal with the encroaching threat of the Sin Eater, a being which threatens to destroy all of existence as we know it. And, most crushingly and poignantly, the Stranger must make a choice that no one should ever have to make. Well written, snappy dialogue, terrific artwork, and an engaging storyline make this a solid pick for anyone’s pull list.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

47 RONIN #5 $3.99
ABE SAPIEN #4 NEW RACE PT 1 MAX FIUMARA CVR $3.5
AXE COP TP VOL 04 PRESIDENT WORLD $12.99
BILLY THE KID OLD TIMEY ODDITIES TP VOL 03 ORM OF LOCH NESS $15.99
CATALYST COMIX #1 (MR) $2.99
CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 24 BLOOD DAWN & OTHER STORIES $18.99
EMILY & THE STRANGERS #3 MAIN CVR $3.99
GRENDEL OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 ORIONS REIGN $24.99
MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS VICTORIES #3 TRANSHUMAN (MR) $3.99
MISTER X EVICTION #3 $3.99
USAGI YOJIMBO LTD HC VOL 27 TOWN CALLED HELL $59.99

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #22 $3.99
ACTION COMICS #22 COMBO PACK $4.99
AME COMI GIRLS #5 $3.99
BATMAN INCORPORATED #12 $2.99
BATMAN INCORPORATED #12 COMBO PACK $3.99
BATWING #22 $2.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #22 $3.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #22 COMBO PACK $4.99
DIAL H #14 $2.99
EARTH 2 #14 $2.99
FAIREST #17 (MR) $2.99
GREEN ARROW #22 $2.99
GREEN LANTERN #22 $2.99
GREEN LANTERN #22 COMBO PACK $3.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS HC VOL 02 ALPHA WAR (N52) $24.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS TP VOL 01 FEARSOME (N52) $14.99
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #10 $3.99
MOVEMENT #3 $2.99
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #35 $2.99
STORMWATCH #22 $2.99
SWAMP THING #22 $2.99
TEAM 7 TP VOL 01 FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE (N52) $16.99
TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #1 $2.99
TRINITY OF SIN THE PHANTOM STRANGER #10 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

DC THE NEW 52 FLASH VS VIBE AF 2 PACK $39.95
DC THE NEW 52 MARTIAN MANHUNTER AF $24.95

IDW PUBLISHING

CROW MIDNIGHT LEGENDS TP VOL 04 WAKING NIGHTMARES $17.99
DOCTOR WHO 3 TP VOL 02 EYE OF ASHAYA $17.99
GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
HIGH WAYS TP $17.99
STAR TREK ONGOING TP VOL 05 $17.99
TRANSFORMERS MONSTROSITY #2 $3.99
TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #19 [DIG/P+] $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

AGE OF BRONZE #33 [DIG] $3.5
BLACKACRE #8 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
DARK SKULLKICKERS DARK #1 CVR A HUANG & ZUB [DIG] $3.5
DARK SKULLKICKERS DARK #1 CVR B OH $3.5
FIVE WEAPONS #5 [DIG] $3.5
INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #4 [DIG] $2.99
MASKS & MOBSTERS HC VOL 01 (MR) [DIG] $19.99
MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #4 CVR A OEMING [DIG] $2.99
MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #4 CVR B SANTOS & FREE $2.99
SATELLITE SAM #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.5
SPAWN #233 [DIG] $2.99
TEN GRAND #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
THIEF OF THIEVES #15 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

AVENGERS #15 INF $3.99
AVENGERS AI #1 $2.99
DAREDEVIL DARK NIGHTS #2 $2.99
DAREDEVIL HC END OF DAYS $39.99
DARK AVENGERS TP MASTERS OF EVIL $14.99
DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL #1 $2.99
DEXTER #1 (RES) $3.99
EMERALD CITY OF OZ #1 $3.99
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TOMORROWS AVENGERS #1 $4.99
IRON MAN #12 NOW $3.99
MARVEL NOW OMNIBUS HC $99.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #16 $2.99
NEW AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 01 EVERYTHING DIES NOW $24.99
RED SHE-HULK #67 NOW $2.99
SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #1 NOW $2.99
THUNDERBOLTS #12 NOW $2.99
UNCANNY X-MEN PREM HC VOL 01 REVOLUTION $24.99
VENOM #37 $2.99
VENOM TP ENEMY WITHIN $24.99
WHAT IF AVX #1 $3.99
WOLVERINE BY MARK MILLAR OMNIBUS HC $75
X-FACTOR TP VOL 20 HELL ON EARTH WAR $15.99
X-MEN LEGACY #13 NOW $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

ABC WARRIORS VOLGAN WAR GN VOL 01 (MR) $21.99
ABC WARRIORS VOLGAN WAR GN VOL 02 (MR) $21.99
ABSOLUTION RUBICON #1 (MR) $3.99
ABSOLUTION RUBICON #1 FINAL JUSTICE CVR (MR) $3.99
ABSOLUTION RUBICON #1 HAPPY KITTY PREMIUM CVR (MR) $9.99
ABSOLUTION RUBICON #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #6 MAIN CVRS $3.99
ALIENS VS PARKER #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
ARCHIE #645 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $3.99
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #241 [DIG/P+] $3.99
BIG PLANS GN (MR) $18
BIONIC WOMAN #10 $3.99
BLEACH TP VOL 57 $9.99
BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 10 $9.99
CHARISMAGIC VOL 2 #3 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
CHARISMAGIC VOL 2 #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
CLASSICS ILLUS HC VOL 17 SECRET AGENT $9.99
CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
D GRAY MAN 3IN1 ED TP VOL 01 $14.99
DEATHMATCH #7 MAIN COVERS [DIG] $3.99
DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #26 RISQUE EXC CVR $19.99
DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE COLOR SUNDAYS HC VOL 01 CALL WILD $29.99
FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 27 $10.99
FATHOM ELITE SAGA #3 CVR A MARION [DIG] $3.99
FATHOM ELITE SAGA #3 CVR B CALDWELL $3.99
FINAL PLAGUE #1 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
GARFIELD #15 [DIG] $3.99
GETTYSBURG ADDRESS GRAPHIC ADAPTATION TP $15.99
GFT OZ #1 A CVR CAMPBELL WRAPAROUND $2.99
GFT OZ #1 B CVR ARTGERM $2.99
GFT OZ #1 C CVR BASALDUA WITCH $2.99
GFT OZ #1 D CVR BASALDUA DOROTHY $2.99
GFT OZ #1 E CVR GARZA $2.99
GFT WEREWOLVES HUNGER #2 A CVR LASHLEY (MR) $3.99
GFT WEREWOLVES HUNGER #2 B CVR KIRKHAM (MR) $3.99
GFT WEREWOLVES HUNGER #2 C CVR MYCHAELS (MR) $3.99
GRAPHIC CANON TP VOL 03 HEART OF DARKNESS TO INFINITE JEST $44.95
GREEN EGGS AND MAAKIES HC (MR) $19.99
HANA KIMI 3IN1 ED TP VOL 05 $14.99
HARVEY HORRORS WITCHES TALES SLIPCASE ED VOL 04 $119.99
HUMAN #1 $5.99
JENNIFER BLOOD FIRST BLOOD #6 (MR) $3.99
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #5 $3.99
JIU JIU GN VOL 05 $9.99
JOHN STANLEY LIBRARY NANCY HC VOL 04 $29.95
KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 39 $14.99
LEGACY O/T CRUSADERS TP [DIG] $16.99
LEGEND O/T SHADOWCLAN #5 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
LEGEND O/T SHADOWCLAN #5 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #3 $3.99
MERCY SPARX #1 (MR) $3.99
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ORIGIN GN VOL 02 GARMA $29.95
NATSUMES BOOK OF FRIENDS TP VOL 14 $9.99
NEGIMA OMNIBUS GN VOL 07 (MR) $19.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #9 (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #9 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #9 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99
ORESAMA TEACHER GN VOL 14 $9.99
OWL #1 $3.99
PAUL JOINS THE SCOUTS GN $20
PERCY JACKSON & OLYMPIANS HC VOL 02 SEA OF MONSTERS $19.99
PERCY JACKSON & OLYMPIANS SC VOL 02 SEA OF MONSTERS $12.99
PERSIA BLUES SC VOL 01 $12.99
POKEMON ADV BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 01 $9.99
POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 17 $9.99
POLARITY #4 [DIG] $3.99
PRINCELESS VOL 2 #4 [DIG] $3.99
PSYREN GN VOL 11 $9.99
RED SONJA #78 $3.99
SCIENCE FICTION GN (MR) $18
SCREWED #2 A CVR KIRKHAM (MR) $2.99
SCREWED #2 B CVR MILLER (MR) $2.99
SECRET HISTORY OF DB COOPER HC $29.99
SHADOW #15 $3.99
SHADOWMAN (VU) #8 REG ZIRCHER $3.99
SKIP BEAT 3IN1 ED TP VOL 05 $14.99
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #250 REG CVR [P+] $3.99
STEAM ENGINES OF OZ #1 $3.99
STROBE EDGE GN VOL 05 $9.99
SUBCULTURE OMNIBUS SC $24.99
SUICIDE RISK #3 [DIG] $3.99
TALES OF HOT ROD HORROR TP VOL 02 (MR) $10
UBER #3 (MR) $3.99
UBER #3 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99
UBER #3 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
UGLYDOLLS GOING PLACES GN $7.99
UNPROFESSIONALS SOCIOPATHIC BROMANCE #1 $5.99
WASTELAND TP VOL 08 LOST I/T OZONE $14.99
XENOGLYPHS #3 $3.99

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