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Comic List Highlights (5/8/2013)

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May 042013

There’s been whining about Avengers Arena out there, about how it’s just Hunger Games or Battle Royale, about how it’s all just a gimmick to kill characters, waah, waah, waah! We’ll we’re here to tell those people to shut up. Avengers Arena is easily one of the best books to come out of the Marvel NOW line of relaunch comics. And that is for the same reason that all the above complaints mean nothing: characters. Dennis Hopeless excels at many aspects of the narrative process, but primary among them is his ability to write layered, rounded, fascinating characters. With characters you care about it doesn’t matter what plot structure you apply (because let’s be honest, they’re all just repeats of Shakespeare), the story is always compelling. So, place your bets, because sixteen teenage superheroes have entered into a deadly game of cat-and-laser-shooting-adolescent. And only one will leave.

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Shaw is on the run. He’s been running for hundreds of years. ’Cause he’s immortal. And pissed off. Now he’s in Chicago, surrounded by gangsters, police, and other mystical creatures who want him dead. But that’s okay, because he’s got a closet full of Tommyguns and a pack full of smokes. This is Chin Music. Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Tony Harris (Starman, Ex Machina) have combined their mighty horror powers to produce a moody ongoing series of sci-fi scares and supernatural action. If you loved this week’s Ten Grand, you’ll dig Chin Music.

Thanks to this next trade paperback, I just jumped backwards in time and change the course of the day so that Free Comic Book Day occurred on May the 4th. That’s right, time travel. Comeback is a political thriller basted in a thick coding of time travel mayhem. Two agents for a prestigious time traveling firm (who you hire to go back in time and stop you from dying) get stuck in the past, chased by the FBI, and their own bosses, who’ve come back to “wipe out the evidence”. Think Criminal meets Back to the Future.

Finally, because it was FCBD (meaning it was a madhouse), we’ll end tonight on a simply mathematical picture of the Jake figure from the Adventure Time Pop Vinyl figures coming in this Wednesday (also including Finn and Marceline).

Comic List Highlights (4/17/2013)

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Apr 132013

The mind can be a prison.

That’s the premise of Marvel NOW‘s X-Men Legacy series. Written by the psychedelic pen of Si Spurrier (Gutsville, X-Club), X-Men Legacy follows in the footsteps of other C-List character-centric books like Immortal Iron Fist, Hawkeye, and Fearless Defenders by focusing on Charles Xavier’s son, Legion. Formerly a schizophrenic super-villain, Legion has now found his inner peace by entrapping his numerous vile personalities in a brain prison. Yes, brain prison. This out-of-the-ordinary series is one of the most unusual, pleasing reads at Marvel right now, primarily because Spurrier is unafraid to venture into the weird realms of the X-Men universe. The volume one trade paperback features the first six issues as well as a mound of mental distress.

Science = bad.

That’s the prime equation for Jonathan Hickman’s Manhattan Projects. If you picked up the first collection of this psychotic series, you’re well aware of Hickman’s brilliance and the utter depravity of the scientists involved therein. If you didn’t, the basic premise is that the Manhattan Project was a mere cover for what was actually occurring, i.e. time travel, alien encounters, robots, cybernetics, and vast A.I. computer systems. From there Hickman throws in a slew of mentally unstable geniuses like Einstein, Oppenheimer, and Fenyman, each of which are hiding a dark secret, and you’ve got the madhouse pot boiler that is this series. Now, volume two is being unleashed upon the unsuspecting public, this time with more alien disemboweling, evil FDR, and Russian cosmonaut dogs with machine guns. Science = bad, Manhattan Projects = good.

Think bigger.

That’s Jonathan Hickman’s mandate for his recent relaunch of The Avengers. Not has crazy as Manhattan Projects, Hickman’s Avengers has been all about expansion. Spinning out of the Marvel NOW relaunch, this first volume of Avengers collects issues one through six, wherein Captain America puts out the call for new members in order to fight back a godly force on Mars. All of this is building up to figuring out the original recipe for the universe. This version of the Avengers moves far, far away from the Bendis era, with grand, epic adventures and huge comic book imagery! Given that Jerome Opena (Uncanny X-Force) lends his fluid pencils to the affair, this is THE Avengers book to read if you loved the movie!

While the Avengers are fighting baddies on Mars, they are not, in fact, fighting the aliens from Mars Attacks! However, nearly everyone else is!

IDW continues its annual tradition of crossover miniseries where some evil force ventures into the various property universes the company owns. Previously, its been zombies and Cthulhu fighting the likes of GI Joe, Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Transformers (Infestion v.1-2; check’em out!), but this time around it’s the Mars Attacks! martians versus the IDW universe! Mars Attacks IDW includes each of the one-shot volumes released, featuring KISS, Transformers, Ghostbusters, Zombies vs. Robots, and, the best of the bunch, Popeye! Each issue is drawn and written in a style appropriate to the character so, for instance, the Popeye issue looks like a 40s era golden age book being invaded by twisted, murderous aliens. And the only thing standing in their way is a can of spinach and one pissed off sailor! If you never thought you’d see such insane crossovers, your mind will melt when you lay eyes on this trade paperback volume!

Comic List Highlights (3/6/2013)

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Mar 022013

Welcome to the bad old days.

The world is a pit of despair, Ultron is in charge, and there’s no hope for survival…except for a rag-tag bunch of heroes with a plan. Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Invisible Woman, Taskmaster, Beast, She-Hulk, and Moon Knight are the last ditch effort for the Marvel Universe to continue existing, but something tell’s me they may have a chance. This dystopian future tale is THE EVENT for the Marvel Universe this year, with three issues coming out a month for the next three months. And don’t worry about crossovers with other series, because they’ve been kept to a minimum and left as non-essential; read’em if you want, don’t if not. With the mad puppeteer of Marvel, Brian Michael Bendis (All-New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Scarlet), having worked on establishing the implications of this tale over the last four years, Age of Ultron is going to leave its mark. And for a series that epic in scope you need an artist that can match the tone. Luckily, Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates, America’s Got Powers) was able to lend his deft talent at cinematic realism to the book! Don’t get left behind like so many did with Avengers vs. X-Men, pick up issue one of Age of Ultron, or one of its many variants, this Wednesday!

Cullen Bunn has managed to blend sci-fi, horror, and western genres in the long lived Sixth Gun series with ease. Now Bunn is applying the same strategy to a tale of viking carnage! Helheim begins with a brutal siege on a tiny, seaside village by forces of evil. But standing between them and the meaty townsfolk is Rikard and his horde of viking warriors. Though you might think you know where this story goes from there, you’d be surprised. This is only the beginning. Bunn just rocked Marvel NOW! with his first issue of Fearless Defenders (you know we’ve been talking it up at the store!), an issue which also featured some viking fisticuffs, and aims to do the same to Oni Press with the start of this new ongoing series. When you blend gothic horror, witchcraft, and zombies, you get Helheim!

Searching for images of Joe Casey’s Sex #1 resulted in some awkward moments at the store. Yeah….

One of this month’s Image Comics releases, advertises itself as “a good reason to come into the comic store – to buy SEX!” Though it may be crass, it’s true. Joe Casey has written everyone from Wolverine to Batman to The Avengers to Spider-Man, but he’s never written anything as chock full of debauchery. A former superhero is forced to give up his vigilante lifestyle only to take to the streets for some much needed R&R. However in a town like Saturn City, R&R can get rather S&M. Follow Simon Cooke on his dark, dirty journey through the recesses of a town gone wrong in a post-modern superhero tale unlike any other in comics today.

And finally tonight, another twist on a classic tale.

No Place Like Home was one of my favorite miniseries from Image Comics last year thanks to its intelligent, inventive reworking of the classic L. Frank Baum fable, The Wizard of Oz. Dee is a rocker from the city, but a rural kid at heart who must return home to Kansas after the grisly murder of her parents during a tornado. After getting home and rekindling friendships with old acquaintances, Dee stumbles into a decades old mystery that ties together her parents, the two sheriff, a local drunk, and…a flying monkey? Comic newcomers Angelo Tirotto and Richard Jordan dropkick Judy Garland and replace her with a twisted slasher film sprinkle with famous imagery and characters from the classic tale. Oh, Tirotto claims this is only the beginning of an epic arc that’ll take Dee all the way over the rainbow.

Comic List Highlights (1/2/2012)

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Dec 292012

Anything Finn can do, Fionna can do better. And in knee socks.

The highly successful Adventure Time comic series gains another tie-in miniseries this Wednesday! Written by co-creator and storyboard artist from the television show, Natasha Allegri, Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake brings the girl power! Spinning out of a stand-alone episode where the regular protagonists, Finn and Jake, where gender bent into women, this miniseries gives them the spotlight for six whole issues! As the previous Adventure Time series have sold out as fast as the Ice Queen sliding down a snowy slope, if you want a copy be sure to put your name on the pull before Wednesday or be at the store early!

Vampires have been the new hotness for quite some time now, but they’ve never been Marvel NOW! Uh, until now.

With this week’s Morbius, the Living Vampire #1, another of Spidey‘s villains gets an empathetic make over. After breaking out of The Raft prison in Spider-Man #699.1, Michael Morbius is attempting to find his inner good guy and satisfy his natural hunger. Written by Joe Keatinge, up-and-coming author of Hell Yeah and Glory for Image Comic, the first issue showcases his unique blend of stylistic indy paneling and catchy, quick dialog as well as moody horror. As is often the case, C-list characters commonly make for the best reads at the big two comic companies (for evidence, see Swamp Thing and Hawkeye), given that the writers have a leeway to put the characters through their paces in ways that the A-list characters can’t be. Trust me, it won’t suck. Except, you know, in the ways that a vampire book should.

The other Marvel NOW! release for this next week is Johnathon Hickman’s Avengers companion book, New Avengers #1. Like FF to Fantastic Four, this series will share characters with the main title, as well as some plot elements, making them a shared story, of sorts. And if you’ve read Hickman’s first issue of Avengers or any of his Manhattan Projects series, you know he’s capable of giant sci-fi craziness and incredible plot twists, both qualities which he will bring to characters of New Avengers. Starring The Illuminati, the secretive, behind-the-scenes puppet masters of the Marvel Universe, the series will feature Black Panther, Iron Man, Reed Richards, Namor, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, and Beast desperately struggling to halt the collision of two universes. And fans of the New Universe concept of yesteryear should take note, as it’s rumored to return in this book.

Thanks to a little timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly stuff, the third series of Doctor Who Character Builder Miniatures materializes in the store this Wednesday! Yes, we know series two hasn’t arrived yet, but, you know, time travel. Anyway, it really doesn’t matter as each set features different characters or key characters in unique costumes. Set three includes the Doctor in his fancy green longcoat (circa season five), Amy with Silence marks on her face, an alternate universe Rory, River Song, an Ood, and many more (check them all out to the right). Each figure is compatible with Lego’s, if you wish to build your own Doctor Who adventure set, or feel free to pick up one of Doctor Who Character Builder playsets currently at the store.

Comic List Highlights (12/19/2012)

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Dec 152012

Before we get into the pimping of cool merchandise, everyone at Pulp just wants to give a special thank you to everybody who came out last Wednesday and made Dennis Hopless’ signing a HUGE, HUGE success. We’re all very proud of Dennis and watching him rise to prominence as a Marvel writer, so it’s nice to see so many of our customers are ready to support him.

Now with the mushy stuff out of the way, let’s talk about another kind of mushy stuff. I mean seriously, was anyone not shocked speechless after Avengers Arena #1?!! Well, luckily, you don’t have to wait that long to see which hero bites the dust next and what the fallout will be regarding the first major death of the series, because issue #2 drops this Wednesday. That’s right, only a week after issue #1, you get to have another helping of violent, grisly teen drama served to you on a platter.

And, not surprise here, Cable & X-Force #2 also ships this Wednesday, providing answers for the Phalanx infection that seems to be encroaching on the pleasant beach at the end issue #1. Plus more firing of absurdly giant guns.

Comic readers have spoken and Marvel has listened. Because of the outcry for more female creators and characters in comics, Marvel has begun to publish a number of series either written or drawn by women, as well as many featuring the superheroines of the universe. First among them is the most recent ongoing Captain Marvel series. Written by the quirky Kelly Sue DeConnick, Captain Marvel brings Carol Danvers back to prominence by bringing her name and costume out of the dark ages of comic sexism and into the modern era. The first issue of the collection will bring any new reader up-to-date while the second storyline sends Carol back in time to team-up with one of her airwomen idols of World War II. Certainly a great gift for a daughter or niece looking to get into comics.

Remember, the D is silent.

Read the story before seeing the film with the first issue of Django Unchained. Usually film-to-comic adaptations are weak sauce, but a there’s a couple special aspects of this series that set it apart from the others. Foremost, R.M. Gueara, the artist of Jason Aaron’s gritty, legendary crime epic Scalped, lends his chalky, scratchy pencils to Tarantino’s vision, grounding the book in a moody atmosphere. Also, given that Gueara did little other work while working on Scalped, Django Unchained offers another rare chance to see his skill at work. Along with the artwork, the book’s plot and dialog is lifted directly from Tarantino’s screenplay, including scenes that didn’t make it to the theatrical cut of the movie.

With the cold weather encroaching this winter, there’s only one acceptable way of warming yourself up: wrapping a schizophrenic, murdering superhero around your shivering body. And if that’s your plan, there’s only one of those around, and that’s Deadpool, baby! So, grab yourself a merry little Deadpool Hoodie this season, whether it’s in medium, large, extra large, or double XL.

No one will question why you’re talking to yourself in public ever again.

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Comic List Highlights (5/8/2013)

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