What better way to celebrate my birthday (no, really) than with a heaping helping of brand new comic books? Christmas must have come early because this week offers up a King’s bounty of goodies for the pull list. From Ales Kot’s Zero – which could be my favorite new book, or at least my favorite new first issue – to the all-ages action of Captain Ultimate, there’s a little something for everyone this Comic Book Day, which is exactly how it should be. So, let’s cut to the chase and make with the comics, huh?

Top Picks

Zero #1 cover

Zero #1 | Ales Kot and Michael Walsh

Say hello to your favorite new series, because Ales Kot’s Zero offers much more than a sleek, cinematic tale of international espionage; beneath its blood-soaked, action-packed exterior is a thoughtful rumination on the nature of war, bio-weapons, identity and the purpose of conflict. The Czech-born writer manages to squeeze in an awful lot in twenty-something pages as we follow Edward Zero, an elite secret agent, as he looks back on one of his earliest missions, which sent him into the heart of Israel and Palestine only to wind up caught in the middle of a conflict between genetically enhanced super soldiers. Given the current geopolitical climate we find ourselves in and with issues of chemical and biological weapons looming on the horizon, Kot’s prose taps into something more powerful and compelling than your average, run-of-the-mill spy fiction. This isn’t just an exercise in escapism; it’s shining a light on what we’d rather brush under the rug. Each issue will have a different artist, but Michael Walsh’s stunning work in this first issue is enough to make me wish he was sticking around for the whole series. I could wax on about this book all day, but honestly, it’d be better if you just went out and picked up a copy for yourself. You’ll thank me later.

Swamp Thing #23.1 – Arcane | Charles Soule and Jesus Saiz

You’ve seen Swamp Thing fight agents of the Rot! You’ve seen him accidentally bloom all over Gotham City! And now, you can finally see him in glorious 3D! Well, on the cover at least, which we revealed yesterday as an exclusive. DC’s Villains Month continues its Million Maniac March across the DC Universe, and few issues have been better than Charles Soule’s examination of Swampy’s most persistent and pernicious nemesis, Anton Arcane. Banished to a verdant paradise (sounds pretty awful, huh?) for attempting to betray the Parliament of Rot, Arcane is visited by none other than his prodigal niece/Swamp Thing’s old lady, Abigail, now the Avatar of the Rot herself. Rather than a knock-down fight full of eldritch horrors and stygian beasts, we’re treated to a grisly, unsettling look into what made Anton into the misanthropic menace he is today and the truth behind Abby’s parentage. It’s a gripping, compelling read with some potentially horrific ramifications for the DCU. I know that it’s Villains Month, but right now Charles Soule and Jesus Saiz are my heroes.

Captain Ultimate #2 | Joey Esposito, Benjamin Bailey, Boy “Boykoesh” Akkerman, Ed Ryzowski, and Adam Pruett

Pulling off an indie comic is a Herculean task unto itself, but doing an all-ages indie comic? Well, that’s a job for Hercules AND the Defenders. Fortunately for writers Benjamin Bailey and Joey Esposito, both good friends of Nerdist, they are more than up to the task as Captain Ultimate #2 manages to capture the same kind of rollicking fun and adventure that made the first issue such a standout. After nearly getting killed by Captain Ultimate’s rogues gallery, Milo is dealing with his newfound celebrity status among his schoolmates. Unfortunately for him, his newfound association with the Nick Offerman-in-spandex lookalike makes him a target for Dr. Destruction, who, as his name might suggest, is a supervillain extraordinaire. While the book may seem lightweight compared to the other selections on this week’s list, there’s something to be said for a sense of prevailing fun, which is where Captain Ultimate excels. The book is doing a great job at finding its voice and is shaping up to be one of the better all-ages titles out there, so be a sport and help support independent creators by getting something you AND your kids can enjoy.

Pull List
DARK HORSE COMICS

MAY130049 ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 04 DEATH & CONSEQUENCES $17.99
JUL130041 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #111 $3.50
JUL130069 BUZZKILL #1 $3.99
MAY130067 CONAN PHENOMENON TP $19.99
JUL130031 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #20 $3.50
JUL130065 DREAM THIEF #5 $3.99
JUL130037 KISS ME SATAN #1 MAIN CVR $3.99
MAY130023 SMOKE ASHES LTD HC $59.99
MAY130022 SMOKE ASHES TP $29.99
JUL130012 STAR WARS DARK TIMES SPARK REMAINS #3 $3.50
MAY130059 STAR WARS DARK TIMES TP VOL 06 FIRE CARRIER $18.99
MAY130061 STAR WARS TP VOL 01 IN THE SHADOW OF YAVIN $19.99
JUL130044 STRAIN THE FALL #3 $3.99

DC COMICS

JUL130267 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO #4 (MR) $2.99
JUL130178 ACTION COMICS #23.3 LEX LUTHOR $3.99
JUL138008 ACTION COMICS #23.3 LEX LUTHOR STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130215 ARROW #11 $3.99
JUN130265 ARROW TP VOL 01 $16.99
JUL130187 BATMAN #23.3 PENGUIN $3.99
JUL138014 BATMAN #23.3 PENGUIN STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130212 BATMAN 66 #3 $3.99
JUL130191 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.3 RAS AL GHUL $3.99
JUL138018 BATMAN AND ROBIN #23.3 RAS AL GHUL STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130217 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #2 $3.99
JUL130195 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.3 CLAYFACE $3.99
JUL138020 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.3 CLAYFACE STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130225 BATWOMAN HC VOL 03 WORLDS FINEST (N52) $22.99
JUN130269 BATWOMAN TP VOL 02 TO DROWN THE WORLD (N52) $14.99
JUL130199 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.3 SCARECROW $3.99
JUL138025 DETECTIVE COMICS #23.3 SCARECROW STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130259 FABLES #133 (MR) $2.99
JUL130172 FLASH #23.3 ROGUES $3.99
JUL138028 FLASH #23.3 ROGUES STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130203 GREEN LANTERN #23.3 BLACK HAND $3.99
JUL138029 GREEN LANTERN #23.3 BLACK HAND STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130158 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.3 DIAL E $3.99
JUL138032 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.3 DIAL E STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138228 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #22 2ND PTG (TRINITY) (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
JUL130165 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.2 ECLIPSO $3.99
JUL138035 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23.2 ECLIPSO STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL138227 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 2ND PTG (TRINITY) $3.99
JUL130162 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.3 SHADOW THIEF $3.99
JUL138038 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7.3 SHADOW THIEF STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130272 SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS TP VOL 01 $19.99
JUN130273 STORMWATCH TP VOL 03 BETRAYAL (N52) $16.99
JUL130182 SUPERMAN #23.3 HEL $3.99
JUL138040 SUPERMAN #23.3 HEL STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130205 SWAMP THING #23.1 ARCANE $3.99
JUL138042 SWAMP THING #23.1 ARCANE STANDARD ED $2.99
JUL130207 TEEN TITANS #23.2 DEATHSTROKE $3.99
JUL138043 TEEN TITANS #23.2 DEATHSTROKE STANDARD ED $2.99
MAY130251 UNWRITTEN HC TOMMY TAYLOR & THE SHIP THAT SANK TWICE (MR) $22.99
JUL130174 WONDER WOMAN #23.1 CHEETAH $3.99
JUL138045 WONDER WOMAN #23.1 CHEETAH STANDARD ED $2.99
JUN130284 WORLD OF WARCRAFT PEARL OF PANDARIA TP $16.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAY130286 HUSH SCARECROW NIGHTWING POISON IVY AF 3 PACK $49.95

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL130341 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #4 $3.99
JUL130336 DOCTOR WHO VOL 3 #13 $3.99
JUN130360 GHOSTBUSTERS #7 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130369 HALF PAST DANGER #5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
MAY130334 JOE HILL THE CAPE HC DELUXE ED $39.99
APR130362 POPEYE CLASSICS HC VOL 02 $29.99
JUL130309 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #14 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130408 STAR TREK BEST OF KLINGONS TP $24.99
JUL130345 STAR TREK NEWSPAPER STRIP HC VOL 02 $49.99
JUL130350 THUNDER AGENTS #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130369 TMNT CLASSICS TP VOL 06 $19.99
JUL130382 TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #3 $3.99
JUL130354 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #0 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL130361 TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE TP VOL 04 $19.99
JUL130328 X-FILES SEASON 10 #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

JUL130514 APHRODITE IX #5 [DIG] $2.99
JUN130463 BOMB QUEEN DLX ED HC VOL 03 (MR) [DIG] $24.99
JUL130519 BOUNCE #5 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130441 CENTURY WEST OGN (MR) [DIG] $7.99
MAY130409 CYBER FORCE #6 CVR A SILVESTRI [DIG] $2.99
MAY130410 CYBER FORCE #6 CVR B SEJIC $2.99
MAY130411 CYBER FORCE #6 CVR C CHRISTOPHER $2.99
APR130533 DARKNESS #115 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
JUL130450 FIVE GHOSTS TP VOL 01 HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY $9.99
JUL138232 GHOSTED #2 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
JUL130525 GREAT PACIFIC #10 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130457 LOST VEGAS TP $14.99
JUL130530 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #7 CVR A OEMING [DIG] $2.99
JUL130531 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #7 CVR B SANTOS $2.99
JUN130551 MIND THE GAP #14 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99
JUN130552 MIND THE GAP #14 CVR B MCDAID $2.99
JUL130428 MORNING GLORIES #31 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUL130461 MORNING GLORIES DLX HC VOL 02 $39.99
JUL130535 PETER PANZERFAUST #14 [DIG] $3.50
JUN130559 SAVAGE DRAGON #191 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
JUL130488 WALKING DEAD SPANISH LANGUAGE ED TP VOL 01 (MR) $14.99
JUL130415 ZERO #1 CVR A WALSH & MULLER (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130416 ZERO #1 CVR B CLOONAN (MR) $2.99
JUL130417 ZERO #1 CVR C BURNHAM (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

JUL131904 TMP 2013 BALTIMORE RAVENS CHAMP 3PK AF SET PI

MARVEL COMICS

JUN130678 ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 03 OUT OF THEIR DEPTH NOW $24.99
JUL130688 CABLE AND X-FORCE #14 $3.99
JUL130600 CAPTAIN MARVEL #16 INF $2.99
JUL130644 DAREDEVIL #31 $2.99
JUL138068 INFINITY #1 2ND PTG CHEUNG VAR $4.99
JUL130570 INFINITY #3 $3.99
JUN130693 INHUMANS TP ORIGIN OF INHUMANS $39.99
JUN130697 IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP ENEMY WITHIN $39.99
APR130708 MMW DAREDEVIL HC VOL 07 $69.99
JUL130626 MORBIUS LIVING VAMPIRE #9 $2.99
JUL130577 NEW AVENGERS #10 INF $3.99
JUN130666 POWERS BUREAU #7 (MR) $3.95
JUN130685 RED SHE-HULK TP VOL 02 ROUTE 616 NOW $15.99
JUN130647 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #8 $3.99
JUL130610 SECRET AVENGERS #9 $3.99
JUL130622 SUPERIOR CARNAGE #3 $3.99
JUL130621 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #18 $3.99
JUL130628 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #13 $3.99
JUL130595 THUNDERBOLTS #15 INF $2.99
JUN130681 THUNDERBOLTS TP VOL 02 RED SCARE NOW $15.99
JUL130614 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #31 $3.99
JUL130670 UNCANNY X-MEN #12 $3.99
JUL130624 VENOM #41 $2.99
JUL130692 WOLVERINE MAX #11 (MR) $3.99
JUN130694 WOLVERINE TP RETURN OF WEAPON X $44.99
JUL130690 X-MEN LEGACY #17 $2.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUL130898 ACCELERATORS #3 $3.99
JUL130958 ADVENTURE TIME #20 MAIN CVRS $3.99
JUL130820 ALL NEW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS #1 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $1.00
JUL130819 ALL NEW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $1.00
JUN131214 ANNOYING ORANGE HC VOL 03 PULPED FICTION $11.99
JUN130757 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #31 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUN130759 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #243 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL131179 ARISA GN VOL 11 $10.99
APR131231 BETTIE PAGE IN DANGER #9 (MR) $9.95
JUL131288 BIG WET BALLOON HC $12.95
JUL131310 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #14 REG JONES $3.99
JUL130947 BRAVEST WARRIORS #12 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
JUN130794 BUBBLEGUN #3 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
JUN130793 BUBBLEGUN #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
MAY130773 CAVEWOMAN MANY FACES OF MERIEM COOPER ROOT SP ED (MR) PI
JUL131092 COMIX RETROSPECTIVE SPIEGELMAN HC (MR) $39.95
JUL130853 CROSSED SPECIAL 2013 (MR) $5.99
JUL130855 CROSSED SPECIAL 2013 TORTURE CVR (MR) $5.99
JUL130854 CROSSED SPECIAL 2013 WRAP CVR (MR) $5.99
JUL131089 DAMSELS MERMAIDS #5 $3.99
JUN131024 DARK SHADOWS #20 $3.99
JUN131083 DF X-MEN #1 EXC BROOKS CVR $12.99
JUL131236 DNA FAILURE GN (MR) $14.00
APR131129 EVERYBODY IS STUPID EXCEPT FOR ME HC EXPANDED ED $24.99
MAY130778 EVIL DIVA GN VOL 02 $12.99
JUL131434 FASTNER & LARSON BEAUTIES & BEASTS $19.95
JUL130756 GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOR REVUE #8 $3.99
MAY130779 GOLD DIGGER #203 $3.99
JUL131319 HARBINGER #16 REG KITSON $3.99
JUL131325 HARBINGER WARS TP $14.99
JUL130918 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #8 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
MAY131192 HONEY WEST TP GIRL FOR HIRE $22.95
JUN130715 HOODLUM GN VOL 01 UNDER THE THUMB $9.99
JUL131370 INFERNAL DEVICES GN VOL 02 CLOCKWORK PRINCE $13.00
JUL131065 JENNIFER BLOOD #31 (MR) $3.99
JUN130766 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DOUBLE DIGEST #196 (NOTE PRICE) [DIG/P+] $5.99
JUL131174 MADWOMAN O/T SACRED HEART HC (MR) $29.95
JUN130717 MAGIC WHISTLE #13 (MR) $3.99
JUN130769 MEGA MAN #29 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99
MAY131275 NUMBERCRUNCHER #3 $3.99
JUL131228 PAPERCUTZ SLICES GN VOL 05 FARTING DEAD $7.99
JUL131238 POMPEII GN (MR) $19.95
JUN130718 RED EYE BLACK EYE GN (MR) $19.95
JUL131095 REGGIE 12 HC $21.95
JUL130956 REGULAR SHOW #1 CALGARY EXCLUSIVE $9.99
JUL130967 ROMEO AND JULIET CANDLEWICK HC ED $21.99
JUL130966 ROMEO AND JULIET CANDLEWICK SC ED $12.99
JUN131247 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS THE HEAP SLIPCASE ED VOL 03 $119.99
JUL131184 SAILOR MOON SHORT STORIES VOL 01 $10.99
JUL131239 SCHOOL SPIRITS HC (MR) $19.95
JUL131027 SHADOW ANNUAL 2013 $4.99
JUL131430 SHOW ME A STORY WHY PICTURE BOOKS MATTER SC $15.99
JUL130939 SIX GUN GORILLA #4 [DIG] $3.99
JUL131215 SIXTH GUN #34 $3.99
MAY131217 SIXTH GUN TP VOL 05 (MR) $19.99
JUL130968 SMASH GN VOL 01 TRIAL BY FIRE $18.99
JUL130815 SONIC UNIVERSE #56 REG CVR [P+] $2.99
APR131239 STUFF OF LEGEND TP VOL 04 TOY COLLECTOR $16.95
MAY131214 STUMPTOWN HC VOL 02 (MR) $29.99
JUL130945 SUPURBIA ONGOING #11 [DIG] $3.99
MAY130777 SWIPE GN (MR) $12.99
JUN131177 TECHNOPRIESTS SUPREME COLLECTION HC (MR) $49.95
APR131077 THE LONE RANGER #18 $3.99
JUL131047 VAMPIRELLA #34 NEVES CVR $3.99
JUL131048 VAMPIRELLA #34 PARRILLO CVR $3.99
JUL130808 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #32 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUL131321 X-O MANOWAR #17 REG CONRAD $3.99

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