It may be Doctor Who Week here at Nerdist, but that doesn’t mean that we’re resting on our laurels when it comes to Comic Book Day! The Pull List waits for no man! Well, technically, it waits for me to write it, but I digress. This week’s pull list has a whole lot of fourth wall breaking, lovely ladies, and terrifying otherworldly creatures. I mean, really, what else could you want in a comic?

Top Picks

Harley Quinn #0 | Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Charlie Adlard, Art Baltazar, Becky Cloonan, Darwyn Cooke, Tony S. Daniel, Sam Kieth, Bruce Timm, Jim Lee, Stephane Roux, Tradd Moore, Chad Hardin, Adam Hughes, Dave Johnson, Dan Panosian, Jeremy Roberts, and Walter Simonson

Seventeen artists in one book? Usually that’s the kind of stunt reserved for setting Guinness World Records at Comic-Con, but apparently it’s also exactly what the doctor ordered for Harley Quinn #0, a primer for the forthcoming Harley Quinn ongoing series from the husband-and-wife dynamic duo of Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. Issue #0 is raucously fun and breaks the fourth wall enough to give Deadpool a run for his money, but manages to do so in a deft, entertaining way that never feels forced.

There’s definitely some inside baseball and industry ribbing going on in this issue, which finds Harley wondering what her very own comic book would be like, then cycling through the various artistic options while bantering back and forth with her omniscient writers. Light, quippy, and a killer showcase for some of DC’s top artistic talent, the book is a quick, enjoyable read and gives us a good idea of what sort of tone we can expect from the Harley Quinn series going forward. Straddling the line between Gotham’s standard doom-and-gloom and the more freewheeling fun inherent to any Harley Quinn adventure, the series is definitely going to be one to watch, and issue #0 makes one hell of an appetizer course for Harley-hungry fans. Conner, Palmiotti and their Justice League of Artists have put out twenty-two pages of pure, unadulterated fun, so make it a top priority on your lists this week.

Sex Criminals #3 | Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

Some of the comics coming out of Image right now are batshit crazy in the most wonderful ways imaginable. Case in point, the libido-laden, crime caper of a love story from Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, Sex Criminals. Gifted – or cursed – with the ability to temporarily stop time after they orgasm, Suzie and John have found kindred spirits in one another, and are now using their shared abilities and subsequent refractory periods to steal from the rich in order to give to the poor. There’s only one problem: three mysterious beings who inhabit Cumworld/The Quiet/whatever you want to call it are hot on their trail and seemingly unaffected by the chronal distortion.

Zdarsky’s artwork continues to pop off the page with bright, poppy colors and woozy, gauzy effects shots that give it a distinct and supremely eye-catching style. Fraction is clearly having a blast with this book, nimbly dancing between breaking the fourth wall and addressing the viewer and delivering heartfelt, honest character moments in equal measure. One of the small pleasures of the book is just how many little Simpsons-esque throwaway jokes and sight gags he packs in to each issue. Whether it’s the porn parody Hard-On Fink or the Obamacore section of the sex shop (“socialist/medical-themed”), there’s plenty to be gleaned from each page, encouraging you to slow your roll and ogle the scenery. Like morning wood, Sex Criminals is one of those things you just can’t ignore, so why not give in to your curiosity and enjoy yourself already?

The Strain: The Fall #5 | David Lapham, Mike Huddleston, and Dan Jackson

It’s only fitting that a new issue of The Strain would grace comic book store shelves this week in light of the news that FX has ordered 13 episodes of the series inspired by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s trilogy of novels. No slouch itself, the graphic novel adaptation has been a tense, thrilling, and creepily compelling series in its own right. I’ve been hooked on the book ever since I spoke to Guillermo del Toro about it at Wondercon.

Mike Huddleston’s moody, atmospheric artwork is so perfect for this book it’s unnerving (and many of his scenes are unnerving). With so many fast-moving, intertwining plot threads to manage, Lapham weaves them together beautifully, doling out just enough exposition and action to keep things informative and exciting. With Eph attempting to assassinate Eldritch Palmer, Fet and Setrakian trying to get their hands on the Occido Lumen in order to defeat the Master, and those horrific barb-tongued vampires lurking around every corner, issue #5 is another can’t-miss issue in what is proving itself to be one of the best horror comics on the market. Get in on the ground floor, people, because this one’s gonna be big.

Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS

SEP130062 1 FOR $1 STAR WARS LEGACY #1 $1.00
JUL130040 BALTIMORE HC VOL 03 PASSING STRANGER & STORIES $24.99
JUL130092 BERSERK TP VOL 37 $14.99
SEP130052 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #113 $3.50
SEP130027 BRAIN BOY #3 $2.99
SEP130028 BUZZKILL #3 $3.99
SEP130070 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #22 $3.50
SEP130035 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #30 (MR) $7.99
JUL130017 FIFTH BEATLE THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STORY COLLECTORS ED HC $49.99
JUL130016 FIFTH BEATLE THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STORY HC $19.99
JUL130018 FIFTH BEATLE THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STORY LTD ED HC $99.99
JUL130102 GAME OF THRONES WHITE WALKER BUST $124.99
SEP130055 KISS ME SATAN #3 $3.99
JUL130079 LAST MAN STANDING KILLBOOK BOUNTY HUNTER HC $59.99
JUL130082 MAGNUS ARCHIVES TP VOL 02 $19.99
JUL130091 OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 45 $12.99
JUL130045 SO I SURVIVED ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE & ALL I GOT WAS PODCAST TP $9.99
JUL130013 STAR WARS DARTH VADER NINTH ASSASSIN HC $24.99
SEP130060 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE WAR #1 $3.50
JUL130015 STAR WARS LEGACY II TP VOL 01 PRISONER O/T FLOATING WORLD $19.99
SEP130054 STRAIN THE FALL #5 $3.99
JUL130033 VIOLENT CASES HC $19.99

DC COMICS

SEP130304 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO #6 (MR) $2.99
SEP130250 ANIMAL MAN #25 $2.99
SEP130258 BATMAN 66 #5 $3.99
SEP130230 BATMAN AND TWO FACE #25 $2.99
SEP130257 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #4 $3.99
JUL130232 BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 03 EMPEROR PENGUIN (N52) $24.99
AUG130290 BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS TP VOL 02 SCARE TACTICS (N52) $16.99
SEP130238 BATWOMAN #25 $3.99
SEP130151 BIRDS OF PREY #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130308 FABLES #135 (MR) $2.99
JUL130257 FAIREST IN ALL THE LAND HC (MR) $22.99
SEP130182 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #2 $2.99
SEP130244 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #25 $2.99
SEP130227 HARLEY QUINN #0 $2.99
SEP130266 HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #8 $2.99
AUG138237 MAD PRESENTS SPY VS SPY FIGHT TO THE FINISH TP $9.99
SEP130163 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130295 SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #1 $2.99
SEP130220 SUPERGIRL #25 $2.99
SEP130197 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #5 $2.99
SEP130288 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS FABLES #1 (MR) $1.00
AUG130347 WAKE #5 (MR) $3.99
SEP130198 WONDER WOMAN #25 $2.99
AUG130302 WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 02 HUNT AND BE HUNTED (N52) $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAY130281 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE BATMAN STATUE BY GREG CAPULLO $79.95
JUL130281 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS DEATHSTROKE AF $24.95
JUN130321 DC NEW 52 SUPER HEROES VS SUPER VILLAINS AF 7 PACK $99.95
JUN130312 JOKER PATINA MINI STATUE $94.95

IDW PUBLISHING

SEP130363 BEN 10 #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP130366 BEN 10 CLASSICS TP VOL 01 BEN HERE BEFORE [DIG] $17.99
SEP130398 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS TP VOL 09 $19.99
SEP130396 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #12 $3.99
AUG130498 JINNRISE #8 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG138264 MAGIC THE GATHERING THEROS #1 2ND PTG $4.99
SEP130442 MARS ATTACKS THE HUMAN CONDITION TP [DIG] $17.99
SEP130410 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #13 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT132318 MY LITTLE PONY MICRO FUN PACK DSP $2.99
JUN138207 MY LITTLE PONY PINKIE PIE LITHOGRAPH SIGNED ED PI
JUN138209 MY LITTLE PONY RAINBOW DASH LITHOGRAPH SIGNED ED PI
SEP130360 SAMURAI JACK #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP130380 TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #5 $3.99
SEP130334 TRANSFORMERS DARK CYBERTRON #1 DLX ED [P+] $7.99
SEP130337 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #23 DARK CYBERTRON PART 2 [DIG] $3.99
SEP130469 TRUE BLOOD TP VOL 02 TAINTED LOVE $14.99

IMAGE COMICS

SEP130501 A VOICE IN THE DARK #1 [DIG] $3.99
SEP130616 CLONE #12 [DIG] $2.99
SEP138114 GHOSTED #4 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
SEP130533 LAST CHRISTMAS HC $24.99
SEP130535 MICE TEMPLAR HC VOL 04 .1 LEGEND $29.99
MAY130486 NOWHERE MEN TP VOL 01 FATES WORSE THAN DEATH $9.99
JUL130430 SAVAGE DRAGON #192 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
SEP130638 SEX CRIMINALS #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
SEP130639 SHELTERED #5 [DIG] $2.99
SEP130645 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #7 [DIG] $2.99
SEP138207 VELVET #1 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
AUG130551 WALKING DEAD HILLTOP T/S WOMENS LG $19.99
SEP130651 ZERO #3 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

SEP130681 A PLUS X #14 $3.99
AUG130880 A PLUS X TP VOL 02 EQUALS AMAZING $17.99
AUG130895 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLL TP COSMIC ADVENTURES $39.99
SEP130667 AVENGERS #23 INF $3.99
SEP130682 AVENGERS AI #6 $2.99
SEP130768 CABLE AND X-FORCE #16 $3.99
SEP130822 CAPTAIN AMERICA LIVING LEGEND BY ALLRED POSTER $8.99
SEP130691 CATACLYSM ULTIMATES #1 $3.99
SEP130728 DAREDEVIL #33 $2.99
SEP130736 DEXTER #5 $3.99
SEP130729 FANTASTIC FOUR #14 $2.99
SEP130714 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #15 $3.99
SEP130821 INHUMANITY BY COIPEL POSTER $8.99
SEP130739 LONGSHOT SAVES MARVEL UNIVERSE #2 $2.99
SEP130675 SECRET AVENGERS #11 INF $3.99
AUG130890 SECRET AVENGERS BY RICK REMENDER TP VOL 03 $19.99
SEP130820 SPIDER-MAN VS VENOM BY CAMPBELL POSTER $8.99
SEP130695 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 $4.99
SEP130700 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #6 NOW $3.99
FEB130606 TAKIO 2 GN HC $16.99
SEP130674 THUNDERBOLTS #18 INF $2.99
AUG130884 UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 02 TORN AND FRAYED $17.99
SEP130756 UNCANNY X-MEN #14 $3.99
SEP130770 WOLVERINE MAX #13 (MR) $3.99
SEP130819 WOLVERINE ORIGIN II BY KUBERT POSTER $8.99
SEP130747 X-MEN #7 $3.99
SEP130764 X-MEN LEGACY #20 $2.99
AUG130899 X-MEN TP SKINNING OF SOULS $29.99
AUG130885 X-MEN TP VOL 01 PRIMER $17.99
SEP130684 YOUNG AVENGERS #12 $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAY131271 A1 ANNUAL GN VOL 01 REG ED $22.99
SEP130981 ACCELERATORS #4 $3.99
SEP131143 ACME NOVELTY DATEBOOK HC VOL 01 10TH ANNIV PTG (MR) $44.95
SEP131006 ADVENTURE TIME #22 MAIN CVRS $3.99
AUG130985 AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #2 REG FRANCAVILLA CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
AUG131436 ALICE I/T COUNTRY CLOVER CHESHIRE CAT WALTZ GN VOL 07 (MR) $13.99
AUG130989 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #33 (NOTE PRICE) [DIG/P+] $5.99
SEP131316 ASSASSINS CREED HAWK GN VOL 01 $9.99
AUG131404 ASTERIX OMNIBUS HC VOL 08 $27.95
JUN131258 ATOMIC ROBO REAL SCIENCE ADV #12 $2.75
JUL131263 ATOMIC ROBO SAVAGE SWORD OF DR DINOSAUR #3 $3.50
SEP131065 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA STARBUCK #1 $3.99
SEP130871 BILLY TUCCI A CHILD IS BORN ONE SHOT $5.99
SEP131367 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #16 REG ZIRCHER $3.99
SEP131021 BRAVEST WARRIORS #14 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
AUG131369 BRIONY HATCH GN $19.95
SEP131225 CAGE OF EDEN GN VOL 12 $10.99
SEP131208 CITY OF LIGHT CITY OF DARK GN $10.99
SEP131209 CITY OF LIGHT CITY OF DARK HC GN $19.99
JUL130885 CRITTER (ONGOING) #16 $3.50
JUL130886 CRITTER TP VOL 03 $14.99
SEP131198 CUTE GIRL NETWORK GN $17.99
SEP138036 DEATH SENTENCE #1 2ND PTG $3.99
JUL131067 DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #8 (MR) $3.99
SEP131394 DOGS TP VOL 08 (MR) $12.99
SEP131365 ETERNAL WARRIOR #3 REG JG JONES $3.99
AUG131352 FIFTH ESSENCE HC PT 01 DREAMING GALAXY (MR) $79.95
AUG130972 FRAGGLE ROCK CLASSICS TP VOL 02 $9.95
SEP131406 FROM THE NEW WORLD GN VOL 01 $10.95
SEP131450 GFT WONDERLAND #17 A CVR ORTIZ $2.99
SEP131451 GFT WONDERLAND #17 B CVR QUALANO $2.99
SEP131452 GFT WONDERLAND #17 C CVR RUFFINO $2.99
SEP131103 GRIMM #7 $3.99
SEP130996 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #10 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
AUG130970 HOPELESS MAINE HC VOL 02 INHERITANCE $19.95
SEP138034 IMAGINE AGENTS #1 (2ND PTG) $3.99
SEP130987 IMAGINE AGENTS #2 [DIG] $3.99
SEP131122 JENNIFER BLOOD #33 (MR) $3.99
OCT131064 JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN HC $24.99
AUG131427 JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE CASE FILES TP VOL 21 (MR) $31.99
AUG130997 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #197 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG131355 KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 42 $14.99
AUG131093 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #13 $3.50
AUG131094 LEGEND OF OZ WICKED WEST TP VOL 03 $17.99
JUL131283 MARADA SHE WOLF HC (MR) $24.99
SEP131318 MAX PAYNE 3 COLLECTED ED HC $9.99
AUG130999 MEGA MAN #31 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
SEP131252 MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS #6 $3.99
SEP131276 MYSTERIOUS UNDERGROUND MEN HC $24.95
SEP130963 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #12 (MR) $3.99
SEP130965 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #12 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
SEP130964 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #12 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
SEP131127 PATHFINDER SPECIAL #1 $4.99
SEP131001 PLANET OF THE APES CATACLYSM TP VOL 02 $14.99
SEP130825 RACHEL RISING #21 $3.99
SEP131074 RED SONJA #5 CLOONAN CVR $3.99
SEP131073 RED SONJA #5 FRISON CVR $3.99
JUL130953 REGULAR SHOW #6 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
AUG131351 RING OF THE SEVEN WORLDS HC (MR) $29.95
JUL131289 SCENE BUT NOT HEARD HC $14.95
JUN130872 SERUSIS #3 $3.50
AUG131180 SHADOW #19 ALEXANDER CVR $3.99
AUG131181 SHADOW #19 CALERO SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
AUG131179 SHADOW #19 ROSS CVR $3.99
SEP130983 SIMPSONS WINTER WINGDING #8 $4.99
SEP131512 STAR WARS VERY VADER VALENTINES DAY SC $6.99
SEP130999 STEED & MRS PEEL TP VOL 02 SECRET HISTORY OF SPACE $14.99
AUG131071 STITCHED #17 (MR) $3.99
AUG131073 STITCHED #17 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99
AUG131072 STITCHED #17 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
SEP131391 SUNNY HC VOL 02 $22.99
SEP131199 TUNE GN VOL 02 STILL LIFE $16.99
SEP131218 UNFORGOTTEN HC $19.95
SEP131048 VALERIAN GN VOL 05 BIRDS OF MASTER $11.95
SEP131403 WALLY WOOD EERIE TALES OF CRIME & HORROR DLX SLIPCASED NEW PRINTING $69.95
JAN131068 WARLORD OF MARS #29 (MR) $3.99
SEP131253 WASTELAND #50 (MR) $3.99
MAY130770 WESTWOOD WITCHES #3 $3.99
SEP131357 X-O MANOWAR #19 PULLBOX SEPULVEDA $3.99
SEP131356 X-O MANOWAR #19 REG CRAIN $3.99

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