It’s that time again, folks! That’s right — Comic Book Day is upon us again and you’d better brace your wallets for impact because there is no shortage of amazing titles on which to blow your hard-earned cash. After what seems like an interminable wait, Saga makes its triumphant return! Axe Cop is back in action and this time he’s brought friends! Forever Evil finally comes to a satisfying and satisfyingly evil conclusion! Fourth exclamation! Seriously, there are so many reasons to be excited for this week’s pull list, but why not just read for yourself and find out.

Top Picks

Saga #19 | Image Comics | Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Although at times waiting for the next issue of Saga to drop can feel a bit like waiting for Godot, an interminable existential quandary, there is a palpable sense of euphoric relief when it finally appears on store shelves, and Saga #19 is no exception. Considering Saga #18 came out all the way back in January, it’s natural that we’ve been champing at the bit for more adventures with Alana, Marko, and their adorable little daughter as they dodge bounty hunters, government agents, and other intergalactic interlopers as they try to carve out their own slice of domestic bliss. And, by the end of issue #19, we get a sense that nothing will ever be the same again.

Picking up several years after the conclusion of our heroes’ stay on Quietus, Saga #19 takes us to a new planet where Alana, Marko, and company are in a slightly different place in their lives both figuratively and literally. Marko, who is supposed to be lying low, is struggling with battling cabin fever while trying to be a good stay-at-home dad for Hazel. Alana, on the other hand, is stepping into the limelight in some sort of holographic theater troupe that finds her playing a superheroic damsel in distress in schlocky soap operas. It’s an odd way to stay off the radar, especially for a couple of fugitives on the run, but it adds a nice tension to the series, which seems to be in a place of calm before an impending storm. Furthermore, Vaughan and Staples give us a sense of just how far across the galaxy the war has spread and the toll its taken on the civilian population. Landfall and Wreath’s neverending war has caused widespread unemployment, strained interspecies relations, and keeps the pressure on for our put-upon protagonists. Saga‘s nineteenth chapter is largely a lighthearted affair, but dark clouds are forming on the horizon, threatening to blot out the sunnier parts of Alana and Marko’s lives. And once you read that final page, you won’t have any doubt that there’s a storm a-comin’ and it’s going to be a big one.

Axe Cop: American Choppers #1 | Dark Horse | Ethan Nicolle and Malachai Nicolle

Just when I think I’m out, Axe Cop pulls me right back in with its brand of childlike wonderment, wanton violence, and off-the-wall insanity. It’s difficult to believe that Malachai Nicolle was but 5 years old when he created Axe Cop with the help of his brother Ethan; Malachi is 10 years old now, which means that he’s been co-writing this comic book series for 50% of his life. Doing anything for 50% of your life is insane, but the fact that he’s churned out such delightful work in such a short span is a testament to his unrestrained creativity. With American Choppers, we see Axe Cop relinquishing his title of President of the World in favor of the slightly less diplomatic President of Fighting. Yet, there’s an evil on the horizon and Axe Cop won’t be able to handle it alone. Enter the American Choppers, the Avengers of the Axe cop world. Imagine a perfect fighting force of axe-wielding maniacs hellbent on delivering justice, and then imagine that one of them happens to be a an axe-wielding goat named Axe Goat, and you have the essence of American Choppers. Now bask, bask in its glorious silliness and let both the good times and heads roll.

 

Forever Evil #7 | DC Comics | Geoff Johns, David Finch, Richard Friend, Sonia Oback, Rob Leigh

Wrapping up massive event series is rarely an easy task. People are always bound to be disappointed that one plot thread didn’t get tied up the way they wanted or another character’s arc took a turn they didn’t care for, but when it comes to Forever Evil #7, I left the table feeling satisfied. Yes, they had to neatly wrap up not just the Justice League being trapped inside Firestorm’s matrix or the Syndicate’s continued global takeover or the apparent death of Nightwing, but also the emergence of Alexander Luthor and his evident desire to destroy every living thing in a hundred mile radius. Still, with all those moving parts, Forever Evil #7 manages to keep a brisk pace and bring most, if not all, of its many throughlines to a satisfying conclusion. There’s betrayals, there’s heartwarming moments, and there’s even a few holy shit moments thrown in for good measure (Case in point: Lex Luthor and Atomica’s tête-à-tête.) Most importantly, Forever Evil gave us some character development for Lex Luthor, a man who has become almost monolithically megalomaniacal and evil in his actions. Issue #7 will, hopefully, make you see the bald baddie in a bit of a new light; he’s still got Machiavellian machinations up his sleeve, but he at least seems to have developed a bit of a conscience. As for what Forever Evil portends for the future of the New 52, it’s knocked over some interesting dominos. Will the rest fall over as we expect them to? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, you can enjoy the hell out of the final issue in what has been a largely enjoyable mini-series.

Pull List

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR140040 1 FOR $1 DRAGON AGE SILENT GROVE #1 $1.00
MAR140098 AXE COP AMERICAN CHOPPERS #1 $3.99
MAR140081 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #119 $3.50
MAR140044 BRAIN BOY MEN FROM GESTALT #1 $2.99
MAR140076 BTVS SEASON 10 #3 MAIN CVR $3.50
MAR140047 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #36 (MR) $7.99
JAN140156 MIND MGMT HC VOL 03 HOME MAKER $19.99
JAN140195 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 16 $19.99
MAR140018 STAR WARS DARTH MAUL SON OF DATHOMIR #1 $3.50
JAN140182 STAR WARS LEGACY II TP VOL 02 OUTCASTS BROKEN RING $19.99
MAR140039 WITCHER #3 $3.99
DC COMICS

MAR140281 AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #3 (MR) $2.99
JAN140355 BATGIRL HC VOL 04 WANTED (N52) $24.99
FEB140247 BATGIRL TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) $16.99
MAR140244 BATMAN 66 #11 $3.99
MAR140218 BATMAN AND FRANKENSTEIN #31 $2.99
MAR140243 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #10 $3.99
FEB140258 BATMAN DEATHBLOW AFTER THE FIRE TP $14.99
MAR140210 BATMAN ETERNAL #7 $2.99
MAR140205 BATMAN SUPERMAN #11 $3.99
MAR140207 BATMAN SUPERMAN #11 COMBO PACK $4.99
MAR140220 BATWOMAN #31 $2.99
MAR140226 BIRDS OF PREY #31 $2.99
JAN140326 BLACK CANARY AND ZATANNA BLOODSPELL HC $22.99
FEB140292 EX MACHINA TP BOOK 02 (MR) $19.99
JAN140237 FOREVER EVIL #7 $4.99
JAN140242 FOREVER EVIL #7 COMBO PACK $5.99
MAR140236 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #31 $2.99
MAR140224 HARLEY QUINN #6 $2.99
FEB140149 JUSTICE LEAGUE #30 (EVIL) $3.99
FEB140151 JUSTICE LEAGUE #30 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
FEB140152 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 (EVIL) $3.99
FEB140154 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
FEB140255 MOVEMENT TP VOL 01 CLASS WARFARE (N52) $14.99
MAR140167 NEW 52 FUTURES END #3 (WEEKLY) $2.99
MAR140229 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #31 $2.99
MAR140248 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #5 $2.99
FEB140262 SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPER FRIENDS TP VOL 01 $19.99
MAR140230 SINESTRO #2 $2.99
MAR140204 SUPERGIRL #31 $2.99
MAR140189 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #11 $2.99
MAR140294 UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #5 (MR) $3.99
MAR140194 WONDER WOMAN #31 $2.99

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR140453 7TH SWORD #2 $3.99
MAR140450 DANGER GIRL MAYDAY #2 $3.99
MAR140387 DEXTERS LABORATORY #2 $3.99
FEB140355 GENIUS ANIMATED CARTOON ART OF ALEX TOTH HC VOL 03 $49.99
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MAR140396 LITTLEST PET SHOP #1 $3.99
MAR140400 MONSTER & MADMAN #3 $3.99
MAR140390 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER #5 $3.99
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MAR140427 ROGUE TROOPER #4 $3.99
MAR140452 STAR MAGE #2 $3.99
MAR140438 STAR SLAMMERS REMASTERED #3 $3.99
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FEB140447 THUNDER AGENTS #8 $3.99
MAR140341 TMNT 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL $7.99
MAR140426 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE TP VOL 01 NEW PTG $19.99
MAR140425 TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE TP VOL 01 NEW PTG $19.99
MAR140421 TRANSFORMERS WINDBLADE #2 DAWN O/T AUTOBOTS $3.99
MAR140402 V-WARS #2 $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

MAR140613 A VOICE IN THE DARK #7 (MR) $3.99
MAR140563 ARTIFACTS #37 $3.99
FEB140598 EAST OF WEST #12 $3.50
MAR140575 GHOSTED #10 (MR) $2.99
FEB140476 INVINCIBLE #111 (MR) $2.99
FEB140529 MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 04 FOUR DISCIPLINES $14.99
MAR140579 MERCENARY SEA #4 $2.99
NOV130509 MIND THE GAP #17 CVR A ESQUEJO $2.99
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OCT130611 PROPHET #44 $3.99
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MAR140517 SAGA #19 (MR) $2.99
MAR140611 UNDERTOW #4 CVR A TRAKHANOV (MR) $2.99
MAR140612 UNDERTOW #4 CVR B WYATT (MR) $2.99
DEC130602 VELVET #5 (MR) $2.99
MAR140614 ZERO #8 (MR) $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

FEB140847 A PLUS X TP VOL 03 EQUALS OUTSTANDING $17.99
MAR140671 ALL NEW DOOP #2 ANMN $3.99
MAR148148 ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #2 2ND PTG MOORE VAR $3.99
MAR140732 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #8 $3.99
FEB140846 ALL NEW X-MEN TP VOL 03 OUT OF THEIR DEPTH $19.99
MAR140641 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #2 ANMN $3.99
FEB140863 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP GHOSTS OF PAST $34.99
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MAR140687 AVENGERS WORLD #6 $3.99
MAR140652 DAREDEVIL #3 ANMN $3.99
MAR140744 DEADPOOL ANNUAL #2 $4.99
FEB140851 DEADPOOL TP VOL 04 DEADPOOL VS SHIELD $15.99
MAR140658 ELEKTRA #2 ANMN $3.99
MAR140656 HULK #3 ANMN $3.99
FEB140858 IMMORTAL IRON FIST COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02 $39.99
FEB140855 LONGSHOT SAVES MARVEL UNIVERSE TP $14.99
MAR140666 MAGNETO #4 ANMN $3.99
FEB140853 MARVEL KNIGHTS HULK TP TRANSFORME $14.99
MAR140680 MIRACLEMAN #6 $4.99
MAR140721 NOVA #17 $3.99
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MAR140627 ORIGINAL SIN #2 $3.99
OCT130740 POWERS BUREAU #10 (MR) $3.95
MAR140740 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #19 $3.99
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MAR140741 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #4 $3.99
FEB140859 X-FACTOR BY PETER DAVID TP VOL 02 COMPLETE COLLECTION $34.99
MAR140729 X-MEN #14 $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR140988 ADVENTURE TIME #28 MAIN CVRS $3.99
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JAN141263 AMY DEVLIN MYSTERY HC VOL 03 LOST AND FOUND $19.99
FEB140927 ARCHIE FUNHOUSE DOUBLE DIGEST #5 $3.99
JAN141146 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #11 $3.99
MAR141279 BENNY BREAKIRON HC VOL 04 UNCLE PLACID $11.99
FEB141346 BUCKAROO BANZAI TP VOL 01 RETURN OF THE SCREW NEW PTG $15.95
FEB141347 BUCKAROO BANZAI TP VOL 02 NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO $16.95
MAR141298 BUNKER #4 $3.99
MAR140954 CLIVE BARKERS NEXT TESTAMENT TP VOL 01 (MR) $14.99
FEB141417 DEVLIN WAUGH SWIMMING IN BLOOD TP (UK ED) (MR) $33.99
APR141188 DF AMAZING SPIDER MAN #1 ULTRA RARE DODSON $19.62
JAN141331 FIRST KINGDOM HC VOL 04 (MR) $24.99
MAR148182 FLASH GORDON #1 2ND PTG $3.99
MAR141070 FLASH GORDON #2 $3.99
MAR141071 FLASH GORDON #2 80TH ANNV CASTRO CVR $3.99
MAR141454 GANGSTA GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99
MAR141536 GFT ASCENSION #4 A CVR PANTALENA $3.99
MAR141537 GFT ASCENSION #4 B CVR MYCHAELS $3.99
MAR141538 GFT ASCENSION #4 C CVR GARZA $3.99
MAR141520 GFT GODSTORM HERCULES PAYNE #2 A CVR SEJIC $3.99
MAR141521 GFT GODSTORM HERCULES PAYNE #2 B CVR LAISO $3.99
MAR141522 GFT GODSTORM HERCULES PAYNE #2 C CVR CUCCA $3.99
MAR141517 GFT HELSING #2 A CVR MILLER $3.99
MAR141518 GFT HELSING #2 B CVR ORTIZ $3.99
MAR141519 GFT HELSING #2 C CVR QUALANO $3.99
MAR141500 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #1 A CVR FINCH $2.99
MAR141501 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #1 B CVR CALDWELL $2.99
MAR141502 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #1 C CVR LASHLEY $2.99
MAR141503 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #1 D CVR GOH $2.99
MAR141504 GFT WARLORD OF OZ #1 E CVR ORTIZ $2.99
MAR141227 GHOST IN SHELL STAND ALONE COMPLEX GN VOL 05 (MR) $10.99
JAN140851 GOLD DIGGER #210 $3.99
MAR141347 HENCHMEN $4.99
MAR141127 ITAZURA NA KISS GN VOL 10 $16.95
FEB140880 ITTY BITTY BUNNIES IN RAINBOW PIXIE CANDY LAND #1 MAIN CVR $3.99
MAR140924 JONATHAN KELLERMAN ALEX DELAWARE GN BOOK 02 WEB $24.00
MAR140976 LAST BROADCAST #1 (MR) $3.99
MAR140864 LOLA XOXO #2 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $3.99
MAR140865 LOLA XOXO #2 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
MAR141058 MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #3 $3.99
JAN141122 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #12 $3.99
MAR141287 NINJAGO GN VOL 10 PHANTOM NINJA $6.99
MAR141288 NINJAGO HC VOL 10 PHANTOM NINJA $10.99
FEB141439 ORDINARY #1 $3.99
MAR141087 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $4.99
MAR141085 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #1 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $4.99
MAR141083 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #1 GENZOMAN CVR $4.99
MAR141084 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #1 GOMEZ CVR $4.99
MAR141086 PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #1 ULTRA LTD CUMMINGS CVR $19.99
DEC130952 PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL DEATH #7 (MR) $3.50
MAR140965 PLANET OF THE APES TP VOL 05 $14.99
MAR141181 PRIVATE TEACHER GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.95
JAN148417 REAL GN VOL 12 $12.99
MAR141198 RETURN OF ZITA THE SPACEGIRL GN $12.99
MAR141199 RETURN OF ZITA THE SPACEGIRL HC $18.99
MAR141037 SHADOW MIDNIGHT MOSCOW #1 $3.99
MAR141038 SHADOW MIDNIGHT MOSCOW #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $3.99
FEB141205 SHADOW YEAR ONE #9 CVR A WAGNER $3.99
FEB141206 SHADOW YEAR ONE #9 CVR B ROSS $3.99
FEB141207 SHADOW YEAR ONE #9 CVR C SAMNEE $3.99
FEB141208 SHADOW YEAR ONE #9 CVR D CHAYKIN $3.99
MAR140937 SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #8 $4.99
MAR141102 SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SEASON 6 #3 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
MAR141101 SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SEASON 6 #3 HAESER CVR $3.99
MAR141100 SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SEASON 6 #3 ROSS CVR $3.99
NOV130737 SKYWARD #7 $2.99
MAR141064 SOLAR MAN O/T ATOM #2 $3.99
JAN140880 SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #11 $9.99
FEB140942 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #260 REG CVR $2.99
MAR141125 TAKASUGI SANS OBENTO GN VOL 02 $12.95
MAR141289 TOTO TROUBLE GN VOL 01 BACK TO CRASS $7.99
MAR141290 TOTO TROUBLE HC VOL 01 BACK TO CRASS $12.99
MAR140959 TRANSLUCID #2 $3.99
MAR141411 UNITY #7 CVR A HAIRSINE $3.99
MAR141412 UNITY #7 CVR B ALLEN $3.99
JAN140968 URSA MINOR ONGOING #4 (MR) $3.50
FEB141483 VALIANT MASTERS HARD CORPS HC VOL 01 $39.99
MAR141424 WHAT DID YOU EAT YESTERDAY GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.95
MAR148158 X-O MANOWAR #24 2ND PTG (AH) $3.99
MAR141400 X-O MANOWAR #25 CVR A KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (AH) $4.99
MAR141401 X-O MANOWAR #25 CVR B HITCH (AH) $4.99
FEB140882 ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL 2 #4 MAIN COVER (MR) $2.99
FEB140883 ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL 2 #4 RISQUE COVER (MR) $3.99
MAR140802 ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL 2 TP (MR) $11.99

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What’s on your pull list this week? Sound off in the comments below.