Light week? Not a chance. With a barrage of brand new issue #1’s, installments of old favorites, and a cavalcade of collected works, there’s plenty of reasons to be excited this Comic Book Day. Topping this week’s list: Erik Lehnsherr as a serial killer, Archie Andrews in mortal peril, and the beginning of the end for the Crime Syndicate. What in the world could we be talking about? Well, you’ll just have to read this week’s Pull List and find out!

Top Picks

Magneto #1 | Marvel Comics | Cullen Bunn, Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Excerpted from Eric Diaz’s full review:

It seems kind of shocking that it has taken this long for Marvel to give Magneto his own ongoing series. In this series, is a serial killer. Sure, he kills people who deserve it, but as the barista at Starbucks says in the prologue for the issue, “you can see it in his eyes… killing for this guy is like autopilot.” Magneto kills the right people, but much like Dexter, he does it to quench an anger in himself that goes back to the concentration camps of World War II and everything he suffered there. He needs to kill, he needs to make people pay for crimes committed on him by people long gone. And while his actions are evil… well, these people he is killing are monsters, aren’t they? Humans who have contributed to the slaughter of innocent mutants: We, as readers, can only feel so bad for them. And we also can’t help but like and root for Magneto. And also like Dexter Morgan, Magneto knows just what he is… he has come to terms with the monster inside and accepts it. He knows one day he will have to pay for those crimes, but until that day comes, Magneto has work to do. Other people need to pay for their crimes first.

Writer Cullen Bunn has been making waves at Marvel these past couple of years, with series like Captain America and Bucky, Wolverine, and Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe. This is my first exposure to Bunn’s work, though, and I can see what the fuss is about. This issue was tight, disturbing and even managed to be funny at times. It does a great job setting up who Magneto is at this point in time, and just what his mission is. The art by Spanish artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta is also pretty great, extremely evocative of artist Tim Sale’s work, although probably less exaggerated and cartoony than his work sometimes can be.

Of all the classic super villains in the Marvel and DC universes, Magneto is the easiest sell as an ongoing series, simply because on some level we all sympathize with him. You couldn’t really do a Dr. Doom series, or a Joker series (both have been tried, both didn’t really work), and have it connect with an audience in the same way, but Magneto is an entirely different animal. So far, Marvel seems to be off an great start with this one, and this is definitely a book worth checking out.

Afterlife with Archie #4 | Archie Comics | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla, and Jack Morelli

Warning: if you have a dog, this issue is going to hit you hard. Hell, even if you don’t have a dog, this is a real barnburner of an issue. When we last left our scarlet-haired hero Archie, he was face to face with the zombiefied remains of Jughead’s pooch Hot Dog. What’s our hero to do? Well, first he’ll see his life flash before his eyes, as Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa takes us on a journey through Archie’s past, back to the halcyon days of his youth when he first got his dog Vegas. Through thick and thin, Archie and Vegas shared a lifetime of memories together, brought to life by Francavilla’s deft hand. Of course, all of this is punctuated by Vegas bursting through a window to square off against the undead Hot Dog, all in order to protect his master. It’s a powerful, deeply affecting vignette of friendship, love, and loss amplified by Aguirre-Sacasa’s decision to include the dog’s fractured inner monologue in caption form. Though the plot may not advance by leaps and bounds this issue, it’s a trial by fire for Archie, a horrendous pitstop on his hero’s journey. With innovative panel design, breathtaking artwork, and a genuinely compelling storyline, Afterlife with Archie continues to be one of the most exciting books on store shelves and the highlight of each month.

Forever Evil #6 | DC Comics | Geoff Johns, Richard Friend, David Finch

Excerpted from Eric Diaz’s full review:

The best thing so far about this series is how Lex Luthor-centric it is; in a world without a Justice League, Luthor ends up being what he’s always wanted to be, the world’s most important man and its savior, without an alien Superman hogging all the glory. Leading a “league” of his own, featuring some of DC’s best villains-Captain Cold, Catwoman, Black Adam, Bizarro, Black Manta, Sinestro, and Deathstroke- Lex in this issue shows the Crime Syndicate just how great he really is,and why he is not someone to be underestimated. This issue also gives us a great Batman/Lex confrontation that will change their dynamic forever. Well, as long as “forever” lasts in comics these days.

The real star of this book is Geoff Johns, and I’m gonna go out on a limb and say this is Geoff Johns’ best work since the New 52 began. By using the Crime Syndicate and re-inventing them, and getting the chance to put the spotlight on fan-favorite villains in new roles as heroes, I sense him having more fun behind the keyboard than he has in a long time. There is almost no one who writes Sinestro and Captain Cold better than Johns, and adding Lex Luthor to the mix has provided him with truly fun toys to play with. This is a reinvigorated Geoff Johns, and it’s kind of great to see him so enthused again.

There is a lot of work left to be done before this series is over; the rest of the Justice League has to come back, and the Syndicate needs to be defeated, and that feels like a lot is going to be crammed into the upcoming final issue. Nevertheless, issue six was a blast to read, and that final page sure was a doozy.

Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV130064 AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 07 RIFT PART 1 $10.99
JAN140140 BAD BLOOD #3 $3.99
NOV130023 BTVS SEASON 9 TP VOL 05 THE CORE $17.99
NOV130068 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 SAVES THE WORLD $49.99
JAN140139 CATALYST COMIX #9 (MR) $2.99
NOV130062 DREAM THIEF TP VOL 01 $17.99
NOV130036 EVE SOURCE HC $39.99
NOV130067 GASOLINE ALLEY HC VOL 01 COMPLETE SUNDAYS 1920-1922 $75.00
SEP130089 GRIMM NICK BURKHARDT BUST $79.99
JAN140132 GRINDHOUSE DOORS OPEN AT MIDNIGHT #6 $3.99
JAN140151 JUICE SQUEEZERS #3 $3.99
JAN140130 LOBSTER JOHNSON GET LOBSTER #2 $3.99
JAN140148 MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS VICTORIES #10 (MR) $3.99
JAN140174 TERMINATOR SALVATION FINAL BATTLE #4 $3.99
JAN140091 VEIL #1 (MR) $3.50

DC COMICS

JAN140284 ACTION COMICS #29 $3.99
DEC130298 ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 04 SPLINTER SPECIES (N52) $14.99
NOV130167 BATMAN SUPERMAN ANNUAL #1 $5.99
JAN140305 BATWING #29 $2.99
JAN140293 DETECTIVE COMICS #29 (GOTHTOPIA) $3.99
JAN140295 DETECTIVE COMICS #29 COMBO PACK $4.99
JAN140274 EARTH 2 #21 $2.99
JAN140378 FAIREST #24 (MR) $2.99
DEC130197 FOREVER EVIL #6 $3.99
DEC130201 FOREVER EVIL #6 COMBO PACK $4.99
JAN140251 FOREVER EVIL ARKHAM WAR #6 $2.99
JAN140266 GREEN ARROW #29 $2.99
JAN140311 GREEN LANTERN #29 $2.99
JAN140313 GREEN LANTERN #29 COMBO PACK $3.99
DEC130313 HARLEY QUINN WELCOME TO METROPOLIS TP $19.99
NOV130240 HAWKWORLD TP NEW ED $14.99
DEC130344 HELLBLAZER SHOOT TP (MR) $14.99
JAN140380 HINTERKIND #6 (MR) $2.99
DEC130327 MAD MAGAZINE #526 $5.99
JAN140321 MOVEMENT #10 $2.99
DEC130304 PHANTOM STRANGER TP VOL 02 BREACH OF FAITH (N52) $14.99
JAN140365 SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #3 $2.99
JAN140322 STORMWATCH #29 $2.99
JAN140325 SWAMP THING #29 $2.99
JAN140385 TRILLIUM #7 (MR) $2.99
JAN140255 TRINITY OF SIN THE PHANTOM STRANGER #17 (EVIL) $2.99
JAN140336 VAMPIRE DIARIES #3 $3.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

OCT130310 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY GARY FRANK $79.95
SEP130317 WONDER WOMAN ART OF WAR STATUE BY JIM LEE $79.95

IDW PUBLISHING

JAN140501 GATE WAY #3 (FORMERLY PURGATORY) $3.99
JAN140425 GI JOE COBRA FILES TP VOL 02 $19.99
JUN130424 MICHAEL RECYCLE MEETS BOOTLEG PEG HC $17.99
JAN140459 POWERPUFF GIRLS CLASSICS TP VOL 03 $19.99
DEC130388 ROGUE TROOPER #1 $3.99
JAN140487 SINISTER DEXTER #4 $3.99
JAN140466 TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES TP VOL 02 $17.99
AUG130453 WILD BLUE YONDER #4 $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

JAN140574 APOCALYPSE AL #2 CVR A KOTIAN & FARMER (MR) $2.99
JAN140575 APOCALYPSE AL #2 CVR B OLIVETTI (MR) $2.99
NOV130436 BEDLAM TP VOL 02 $14.99
DEC138449 BLACK SCIENCE #3 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
JAN140578 BURN THE ORPHANAGE BORN TO LOSE #3 CVR A GRACE (MR) $4.99
JAN140579 BURN THE ORPHANAGE BORN TO LOSE #3 CVR B COKER (MR) $4.99
DEC130564 CLONE #15 $2.99
JAN140543 DARKNESS VICIOUS TRADITIONS #1 $3.99
DEC138465 DEAD BODY ROAD #2 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
JAN140584 DRUMHELLAR #5 (MR) $3.50
JAN140552 FATALE DLX ED HC VOL 01 (MR) $39.99
JAN140595 INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #11 $2.99
AUG130699 JUPITERS LEGACY #4 CVR A QUITELY (MR) $2.99
AUG130700 JUPITERS LEGACY #4 CVR B HITCH (MR) $2.99
OCT138154 JUPITERS LEGACY #4 CVR C MCQUE (MR) $2.99
DEC138467 MANIFEST DESTINY #1 4TH PTG $2.99
DEC130561 PROGENY VALUE PACK $10.00
DEC130589 REVIVAL #18 (MR) $2.99
NOV130453 SATELLITE SAM TP VOL 01 (MR) $9.99
DEC130593 SAVIORS #3 (MR) $2.99
SEP130637 SECRET #6 $3.50
JAN140531 STARLIGHT #1 CVR A CASSADAY (MR) $2.99
JAN140532 STARLIGHT #1 CVR B PARLOV (MR) $2.99
JAN140539 TALES OF HONOR #1 CVR A YOON $2.99
JAN140540 TALES OF HONOR #1 CVR B SEJIC $2.99
JAN140541 TALES OF HONOR #1 CVR C EKEDAL $2.99
JAN140542 TALES OF HONOR #1 CVR D TATAPOLOUS $2.99
NOV130530 VELVET #4 (MR) $2.99
JAN140559 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 20 ALL OUT WAR PT 1 (MR) $14.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

NOV130541 WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 5 CHARRED WALKER AF PI
NOV130537 WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 5 GLENN AF PI
NOV130539 WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 5 MAGGIE AF PI
NOV130540 WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 5 MERLE WALKER AF PI
NOV130538 WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 5 TYREESE AF PI

MARVEL COMICS

JAN140737 AVENGERS AI #10 $2.99
DEC130765 AVENGERS FALCON TP $24.99
JAN140712 CAPTAIN AMERICA #18 ANMN $3.99
DEC130764 CAPTAIN AMERICA HC DEATH CAPTAIN AMERICA PROSE NOVEL $24.99
JAN140767 IRON MAN #22 $3.99
JAN140705 LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #2 ANMN $2.99
JAN140675 MAGNETO #1 ANMN $3.99
JAN140638 MOON KNIGHT #1 ANMN $3.99
OCT130745 MUPPETS OMNIBUS HC LANGRIDGE CVR $59.99
JAN140699 NEW WARRIORS #2 ANMN $3.99
JAN140778 NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL #4 $3.99
JAN140701 NOVA #14 ANMN $3.99
DEC130783 NOVA TP VOL 02 ROOKIE SEASON $16.99
DEC130768 OZ HC EMERALD CITY OF OZ $24.99
JAN140694 PUNISHER #3 ANMN $3.99
JAN140723 SHE-HULK #2 ANMN $2.99
OCT130748 UNCANNY X-FORCE BY RICK REMENDER OMNIBUS HC $99.99
JAN140774 UNCANNY X-MEN #18 $3.99
DEC130777 UNCANNY X-MEN TP VOL 01 REVOLUTION $19.99
JAN140682 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #1 ANMN $3.99
OCT130749 X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST HC $39.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN141409 07 GHOST GN VOL 09 $9.99
DEC131017 ADVENTURE TIME #18 SDCC EXC $9.99
DEC131016 ADVENTURE TIME CANDY CAPERS #1 SDCC EXC $9.99
DEC131018 ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #6 SDCC EXC $9.99
JAN141021 ADVENTURE TIME FLIP SIDE #3 MAIN CVRS $3.99
JAN141027 ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 03 SEEING RED $11.99
NOV130771 AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #4 REG FRANCAVILLA CVR $2.99
JAN141367 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #18 PULLBOX MOLINA $3.99
JAN141366 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #18 REG LAROSA $3.99
DEC130857 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #249 $3.99
JAN141257 AUTEUR #1 (MR) $3.99
JAN141402 BLACK BIRD GN VOL 18 $9.99
SEP130866 BLACK COAT GN BLACKEST DYE $12.99
OCT131188 BLIGHTED EYE HC (MR) $100.00
JAN141386 BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 11 $9.99
JAN141410 D GRAY MAN 3IN1 TP VOL 03 $14.99
DEC130989 DAY MEN #1 NYCC EX CVR $9.99
JUL130927 DAY MEN #3 $3.99
NOV138222 DEATH SENTENCE #3 2ND PTG $3.99
OCT131160 DF REMARKABLE STAN LEE HOLIDAY TREAT $499.99
JAN131136 DF WOLVERINE #1 ROMITA SR SGN ED $69.99
JAN141405 DRAGONBALL 3IN1 TP VOL 04 $14.99
DEC131190 DUMBEST IDEA EVER GN $11.99
JAN140984 EVIL EMPIRE #1 (MR) $3.99
OCT130944 EXTINCTION PARADE #5 LEATHER CVR (MR) $14.99
JAN140850 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE HC ITS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER $22.99
JAN141381 FROM THE NEW WORLD GN VOL 03 $10.95
JAN141403 FUSHIGI YUGI GENBU KAIDEN GN VOL 12 $9.99
JAN141038 GARFIELD #23 $3.99
JAN141434 GFT CODE RED #4 A CVR TOLIBAO (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
JAN141435 GFT CODE RED #4 B CVR GARZA (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
JAN141436 GFT CODE RED #4 C CVR ERRICO (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
JAN141431 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #95 A CVR SIQUEIRA (AOFD) $2.99
JAN141432 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #95 B CVR MYCHAELS (AOFD) $2.99
JAN141433 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #95 C CVR CUMMINGS (AOFD) $2.99
NOV131340 GFT OZ HC $24.99
JAN141457 GFT TALES FROM OZ #3 SCARECROW A CVR REI $3.99
JAN141458 GFT TALES FROM OZ #3 SCARECROW B CVR MYCHAELS $3.99
JAN141459 GFT TALES FROM OZ #3 SCARECROW C CVR QUALANO $3.99
JAN140946 GOD IS DEAD #8 (MR) $3.99
JAN140947 GOD IS DEAD #8 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JAN140948 GOD IS DEAD #8 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
JAN140949 GOD IS DEAD #8 ICONIC CVR (MR) $3.99
JAN141202 HENRY SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF TP $24.99
NOV131351 HIT LIST #5 A CVR CUCCA (MR) $4.99
NOV131352 HIT LIST #5 B CVR JOHNSON (MR) $4.99
NOV131353 HIT LIST #5 C CVR TOLLIBAO (MR) $4.99
SEP131123 LADY RAWHIDE #4 $3.99
JAN141150 LORDS OF MARS TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99
NOV130981 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #10 $3.99
DEC130864 MEGA MAN #34 REG CVR $2.99
NOV131039 MERCY SPARX TP VOL 01 (MR) $17.99
JAN141404 MIDNIGHT SECRETARY GN VOL 04 (MR) $9.99
OCT131093 MISS FURY #9 CVR A TAN $3.99
OCT131094 MISS FURY #9 CVR B SYAF $3.99
OCT131095 MISS FURY #9 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
OCT131096 MISS FURY #9 CVR D CALERO $3.99
DEC131161 NIJIGAHARA HOLOGRAPH HC (MR) $29.99
JAN141384 NISEKOI FALSE LOVE GN VOL 02 $9.99
JAN141124 NOIR #5 $3.99
JAN141385 ONE PIECE GN VOL 70 $9.99
JAN141406 ORESAMA TEACHER GN VOL 16 $9.99
JAN141401 PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE GN VOL 01 $10.99
JAN141288 POKEMON ADV BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 03 $9.99
JAN141285 POKEMON ADVENTURES GN VOL 21 RUBY SAPPHIRE $9.99
JAN141289 POKEMON BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 14 $4.99
JAN141397 PSYREN GN VOL 15 $9.99
JAN141363 QUANTUM & WOODY GOAT #0 PULLBOX WAITE $3.99
JAN141362 QUANTUM & WOODY GOAT #0 REG FOWLER $3.99
JAN141365 QUANTUM & WOODY TP VOL 02 IN SECURITY $14.99
JAN141398 RIN-NE GN VOL 14 $9.99
JAN140942 ROVER RED CHARLIE #4 (MR) $3.99
JAN140943 ROVER RED CHARLIE #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
DEC130992 RUBICON TP (MR) $14.99
JAN141121 SHADOW GREEN HORNET TP VOL 01 DARK NIGHTS $19.99
JAN141119 SHADOW NOW #5 $3.99
DEC131287 SIMON & KIRBY HC LIBRARY HORROR $49.95
JAN141407 SKIP BEAT 3IN1 TP VOL 07 $14.99
NOV130784 SONIC MEGA MAN WORLDS COLLIDE TP VOL 02 $11.99
DEC130867 SONIC SUPER SIZED SUPER DIGEST #6 $6.99
DEC138047 SOULLESS MANGA GN VOL 02 NEW PTG $13.00
JAN141408 STROBE EDGE GN VOL 09 $9.99
JAN140999 SUICIDE RISK #11 $3.99
JAN141411 TEGAMI BACHI GN VOL 16 $9.99
DEC131364 THERMAE ROMAE HC VOL 03 (MR) $40.00
JAN141078 TUROK DINOSAUR HUNTER #2 $3.99
JAN141101 TWILIGHT ZONE #3 $3.99
JUN131174 WALT KELLY POGO COMP DELL COMICS HC VOL 01 $49.99
SEP131118 WARLORD OF MARS #34 (MR) $3.99
OCT138292 WESTWARD #6 $3.50
JAN141154 WHITE CUBE HC (MR) $22.95
JAN141416 WILL EISNERS MINOR MIRACLES TP WW NORTON ED (MR) $17.95
DEC130863 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #37 $3.99

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