What a time to be a comic book fan! The Guardians of the Galaxy cast list gets crazier and crazier as Benicio del Toro signs on, Man of Steel comes out next week, DC launches its Villains Month and now it’s Comic Book Day! Today’s pull list is chock full of juicy books that you’re not going to want to sleep on. With new offerings from Mark Millar, the return of Astro City, and the beginning of the end for Locke and Key, you can bet your bottom dollar that this is one mother of a pull list.

Top Picks

Kick-Ass 3 #1 | Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.

Released today is the first issue of the final installment in Millar’s violent, iconic, and strangely relatable story of one teenager’s journey from skinny, comic-adoring melvin to a beefed up, comic adoring hero with a purpose. The plot picks up right where volume #2 left off, as Kick-Ass attempts to lead his ragtag team of youths and adults contributing to the Justice Forever cause without the now-imprisoned Hit Girl’s helping hand. Though the resilient young femme has left behind detailed instructions on how her compadres can bust her out of the big house, Lizewski is struggling to rally the real life supes to actually pull off the jailbreak. To add to their troubles, since superheroes have been criminalized, Kick-Ass and his team are now attempting to avoid cops as well as criminals, and in Millar’s universe, punishments are about as realistic on the body, life, and mind as they can get. (No takesies-backsies.) Most of all, we love that even through the genuinely heavy settings, the dialogue remains clever, funny, and true to nature of teenagers under pressure. Fans of Romita’s art won’t be disappointed, either– if book #1 is any indication of what he has in store, it’s more of the gritty, stylized violence and rich palettes that we loved from the first books. We’ve already donned our purple wigs and squeaky green wetsuits in anticipation for the rest of the series. — WM

Astro City #1 | Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson and Alex Ross

The classic series makes its triumphant return to Vertigo as Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson and co. bring The Samaritan and Honor Guard back into our lives in a new, ongoing series. The original series, which ran from 1995-1998, held the superhero genre up to the looking glass, offering a ponderous, thoughtful examination of the role of superpowered individuals and their positions within society. It was as much about the citizens of Astro City as its metahuman protectors, and it made for some compelling stuff. Now, the original creative team has reunited – including two covers from the inimitable Alex Ross – and they’ve still got it. Astro City #1 is a great hopping on point for newcomers to the franchise and a terrific return to form for longtime fans. It’s been a minute since we’ve been to Astro City and, I’ve got to say, it’s damn good to be back. — DC

Locke and Key: Omega #5 | Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

In case you’ve been living under a comic book-shaped rock, you should know that Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s Locke and Key is one of the best comics on the market. Unfortunately, it’s nearly at its end, which is the fate of all good things if idioms are to be believed. Omega, the latest L&K arc, was supposed to run for seven issues, but according to Rodriguez’s Twitter, issue #5 will be its last. Fortunately, it’s not the end of the series, but still – I just love this book so damn much.  In any event, this issue takes us back to the Drowning Cave where, at long last, the black door is open. The kids trapped in the cave have a simple choice: resist and die or enter the door and be lost forever, which seems awfully similar to dying. Living shadows continue to run riot and there’s a palpable sense that Locke & Key’s doomsday clock is uncomfortably close to midnight. In any event, it’s an epic finish to a terrific arc and, per usual, leaves us hungry for more. — DC

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

ABE SAPIEN DARK & TERRIBLE #3 $3.5
BLOOD C GN VOL 02 $12.99
BTVS SPIKE TP VOL 01 DARK PLACE $17.99
EMPOWERED SPECIAL #4 ANIMAL STYLE (MR) $3.99
EVERYBODY WRONG DAVID CHELSEAS 24 HR HC VOL 01 $19.99
FORBIDDEN WORLDS ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 $49.99
GARY BASEMAN COASTER SET $9.99
GARY BASEMAN MAGNET SET $8.99
HELLBOY LIBRARY HC VOL 06 STORM FURY BRIDE HELL $49.99
MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS VICTORIES #2 TRANSHUMAN (MR) $3.99
MISTER X EVICTION #2 $3.99
MISTY CIRCUS HC $14.99
STAR WARS DARK TIMES FIRE CARRIER #5 $2.99
STAR WARS LEGACY HC VOL 01 $34.99
STRAIN TP VOL 02 $19.99

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #21 $3.99
ACTION COMICS #21 COMBO PACK $4.99
AME COMI GIRLS #4 $3.99
ASTRO CITY #1 COVER A $3.99
ASTRO CITY #1 COVER B $3.99
BATMAN ARKHAM CITY THE JOKER STATUE $124.95
BATWING #21 $2.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #21 $3.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #21 COMBO PACK $4.99
DIAL H #13 $2.99
DJANGO UNCHAINED #4 (RES) (MR) $4.99
EARTH 2 #13 $2.99
FAIREST #16 (MR) $2.99
GREEN ARROW #21 $2.99
GREEN LANTERN #21 $2.99
GREEN LANTERN #21 COMBO PACK $3.99
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #9 $3.99
LOONEY TUNES #213 $2.99
MOVEMENT #2 $2.99
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #34 $2.99
SOLO DELUXE ED HC $49.99
STORMWATCH #21 $2.99
SWAMP THING #21 $2.99
TRINITY OF SIN THE PHANTOM STRANGER #9 $2.99

IDW PUBLISHING

COLONIZED #3 [DIG] $3.99
CROW SKINNING THE WOLVES TP $17.99
HAUNTED HORROR #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
HOLLOWS HC $21.99
JOHN K PRESENTS SPUMCO COMIC BOOK HC $34.99
LOCKE & KEY OMEGA #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
STAR TREK LEGION OF SUPERHEROES TP $19.99
TARZAN RUSS MANNING NEWSPAPER STRIPS HC VOL 01 1967-1970 $49.99
TMNT CLASSICS TP VOL 05 $19.99
TMNT COLOR CLASSICS #11 $3.99
TRANSFORMERS MOVIE COLLECTION TP VOL 01 $29.99
TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #18 [DIG/P+] $3.99
WOMANTHOLOGY SPACE HC $24.99

IMAGE COMICS

68 JUNGLE JIM #3 CVR A ZORNOW & FOTOS (MR) [DIG] $3.99
68 JUNGLE JIM #3 CVR B JONES & FOTOS (MR) $3.99
ALL NEW SECRET SKULLKICKERS #1 CVR A HUANG & CAMPBELL [DIG] $3.5
ALL NEW SECRET SKULLKICKERS #1 CVR B OH $3.5
BEDLAM #7 (MR) [DIG] $3.5
BLACKACRE #7 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
DARKNESS #113 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
EAST OF WEST #1 4TH PTG $3.5
EAST OF WEST #3 [DIG] $3.5
HACK SLASH OMNIBUS TP VOL 05 $34.99
INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #3 [DIG] $2.99
JUPITERS LEGACY #1 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #3 CVR A OEMING [DIG] $2.99
MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #3 CVR B SANTOS & FREE $2.99
PERHAPANAUTS DANGER DOWN UNDER #5 CVR A ROUSSEAU [DIG] $3.5
PERHAPANAUTS DANGER DOWN UNDER #5 CVR B SIMONSON $3.5
PERHAPANAUTS DANGER DOWN UNDER #5 CVR C GOLDEN $3.5
SAVAGE DRAGON #188 [DIG] $3.99
SON OF MERLIN #5 [DIG] $2.99
SPAWN #232 [DIG] $2.99
TEN GRAND #1 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
TEN GRAND #2 CVR A TEMPLESMITH (MR) [DIG] $2.99
TEN GRAND #2 CVR B SIENKIEWICZ (MR) $2.99
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 18 WHAT COMES AFTER $14.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

TMP MLB SERIES 31 FELIX HERNANDEZ AF PI
TMP MLB SERIES 31 MIKE TROUT AF PI

MARVEL COMICS

AGE OF ULTRON #9 $3.99
ALL NEW X-MEN #12 NOW $3.99
AVENGERS #13 NOW $3.99
AVENGERS ARENA #10 NOW $2.99
CABLE AND X-FORCE #9 NOW $3.99
DAREDEVIL DARK NIGHTS #1 $2.99
DAREDEVIL END OF DAYS #8 $3.99
DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER EVIL GROUND #2 $3.99
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #5 NOW $2.99
IRON MAN #11 NOW $3.99
KICK-ASS 3 #1 (MR) $2.99
MARVELS THOR DARK WORLD PRELUDE #1 $2.99
PACIFIC RIM PREM HC TALES FROM YEAR ZERO $24.99
RED SHE-HULK #66 NOW $2.99
SPIDER-MAN DANGER ZONE TP $19.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #11 NOW $3.99
THANOS RISING #3 NOW $3.99
THUNDERBOLTS #10 NOW $2.99
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #25 $3.99
WINTER SOLDIER #19 $2.99
WOLVERINE COMIC READER TP #1 $3.99
WOLVERINE SEASON ONE PREM HC $24.99
X-FACTOR #257 $2.99
X-MEN TP GHOSTS $34.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (VU) #10 PULLBOX DOE $3.99
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (VU) #10 REG HENRY $3.99
ARIOL SC VOL 02 THUNDER HORSE $12.99
ASPEN SPLASH 2013 SWIMSUIT SPECTACULAR ANNIVERSARY ED $3.99
BLACK BAT #2 CVR A LEE $3.99
BLACK BAT #2 CVR B BENITEZ $3.99
BLACK BAT #2 CVR C SYAF $3.99
BLACK BAT #2 CVR D TAN $3.99
CALIGULA HEART OF ROME #5 (MR) $3.99
CALIGULA HEART OF ROME #5 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
CALIGULA HEART OF ROME #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
CAVEWOMAN OASIS #2 (MR) $3.75
CAVEWOMAN OASIS #2 DEVON MASSEY SP ED (MR) PI
CAVEWOMAN OASIS #2 ROOT SP ED (MR) PI
CHARISMAGIC VOL 2 #2 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
CHARISMAGIC VOL 2 #2 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
CRITTER TP VOL 02 $14.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #30 (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #30 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
CROSSED BADLANDS #30 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
DARK SHADOWS #17 $3.99
DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #4 (MR) $3.99
DF WARLORD OF MARS #24 RISQUE RED EXC (MR) $14.99
DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #25 RISQUE RED EXC $19.99
DILBERT TP YOUR NEW JOB TITLE IS ACCOMPLICE $12.99
DOCTOR ATLANTIS GN VOL 02 $9.99
DRAGON BALL 3IN1 ED TP VOL 01 $14.99
DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #3 MONTOS CVR (MR) $2.99
DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #3 ROBERTSON CVR (MR) $2.99
FASHION BEAST #10 (MR) $3.99
FASHION BEAST #10 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
GARFIELD #14 [DIG] $3.99
GARTH ENNIS RED TEAM #3 (MR) $3.99
GFT DEMONS UNSEEN #1 A CVR SPAY (MR) $2.99
GFT DEMONS UNSEEN #1 B CVR TOLIBOA (MR) $2.99
GFT JUNGLE BOOK LAST O/T SPECIES #4 A CVR SALGADO (MR $3.99
GFT JUNGLE BOOK LAST O/T SPECIES #4 B CVR NUNES (MR) $3.99
GRIMM FAIRY TALES OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $59.99
GRIMM UNIVERSE TP VOL 01 $15.99
HARBINGER (VU) TP VOL 02 RENEGADES $14.99
HEROBEAR AND THE KID SPECIAL #1 [DIG] $3.99
HYPERNATURALS #12 [DIG] $3.99
INDIE COMICS HORROR #2 (MR) $6.49
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #193 [DIG/P+] $3.99
KEVIN KELLER #9 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
KIRBY GENESIS DRAGONSBANE #4 $3.99
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #198 $5.99
LEGEND OF OZ SCARECROW #2 $3.5
LEGEND OF OZ WICKED WEST TP VOL 01 $17.99
MACABRE ONE SHOT (MR) $3.5
MISS FURY #3 CVR A BENITEZ $3.99
MISS FURY #3 CVR B RENAUD $3.99
MISS FURY #3 CVR C TAN $3.99
MISS FURY #3 CVR D REIS $3.99
MISSIONS OF LOVE GN VOL 03 $10.99
OXYMORON HC (MR) $24.99
PLANET O/T APES CATACLYSM #10 [DIG] $3.99
POKEMON BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 10 $4.99
POLARITY #3 [DIG] $3.99
RACHEL RISING #17 $3.99
ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD TP VOL 01 $15.99
ROGUES #2 (MR) $3.99
SACRED BLACKSMITH GN VOL 01 (MR) $13.99
SCREWED #1 A CVR KIRKHAM (MR) $2.99
SCREWED #1 B CVR MILLER (MR) $2.99
SHADOWMAN (VU) #7 REG ZIRCHER $3.99
SHRUGGED VOL 2 #3 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
SHRUGGED VOL 2 #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
SILENCE & CO GN $9.99
SMURFS ANTHOLOGY HC VOL 01 $19.99
STAR WARS CLONE WARS EPISODE GUIDE HC $16.99
SUICIDE RISK #2 [DIG] $3.99
SUPERMAG GN $9.95
SYBIL THE BACKPACK FAIRY HC VOL 04 $10.99
THE LONE RANGER #15 $3.99
THE SPIDER #12 $3.99
TRINITY GRAPHIC HISTORY OF FIRST ATOMIC BOMB TP $14.95
UBER #2 (MR) $3.99
UBER #2 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99
UBER #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
URSA MINOR #5 (MR) $3.5
USERS GUIDE TO NEGLECTFUL PARENTING GN (MR) $12.95
VALIANT MASTERS SHADOWMAN HC VOL 01 SPIRITS WITHIN $24.99

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Additional reporting by Whitney Moore.