Wizard World’s Philadelphia Comic Con 2012 kicks off this evening with a special preview night and runs though Sunday, June 3rd at the Philadelphia Convention Center. While the show still is still heavy on celebrity appearances ranging from science fiction television and professional wrestling superstars to Deal or No Deal suitcase models, the organizers continue to raise the bar for comic book creators in attendance. The biggest comics name for 2012 is easily Stan Lee who will joins the likes of Marvel Studios’ Thor, Chris Hemsworth, WWE Champion C.M. Punk and Star Trek’s “Five Captains” in Philadelphia this weekend.

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Weekly comic books are a big part of my life and below is a list of what I’ll be picking up this Wednesday along with cover artwork and previews courtesy of Comixology’s Pull List app.

A short list of only four new books this week. I’m still on the fence about Batman Annual #1. I’m only reading the Batman issues of the Night of the Owls event and can’t tell if this is one to skip or not.

• NEW MUTANTS #43 – The Exiled crossover with the Asgardians of Journey Into Mystery continues. Unfortunately, I haven’t read enough of it to say more yet.
• WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #11 – Another AvX tie-in and one of many that have the Red Hulk on the cover. I’m not sure that’s a welcome sight. Seeing that Nick Bradshaw is drawing the issue in place of Chris Bachalo was also a bit disappointing, but that has more to do with my appreciation of Bachalo than anything negative about Bradshaw.
• X-MEN #29 – It’s hard to place this series in X-Men continuity with AvX in full swing and this issue featuring Skrulls which may have been more suitable in 2008 than 2012. I believe Victor Gischler’s run on the book is wrapping up and the cover suggests he’s bringing many of his previous stories together here.
• X-MEN LEGACY #267 – AvX continues to impact this title as the students at the Jean Grey school are under house arrest and Rogue’s team goes head-to-head with the Avengers’ Iron Man, She Hulk, and Moon Knight. Ms. Marvel really needs to be in this fight even though she’s busy trying intercept the Phoenix Force in the pages of Secret Avengers.

Check back every week to see what’s on My Latest Pull List and please share your thoughts on these titles and everything you’re reading this week in the comments.

Weekly comic books are a big part of my life and below is a list of what I’ll be picking up this Wednesday along with cover artwork and previews courtesy of Comixology’s Pull List app.

Only six new books this week after a string of longer lists. The theme this time seems to be books I’ve fallen behind on.

• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #686 – The Ends of the Earth storyline continues as Doctor Octopus threatens to destroy the world. I’m almost too embarrassed to tell you the last issue I’ve read of this series, yet I continue to buy it.
• AQUAMAN #9 – I’ve been less interested in this title after the first arc, but I’m sticking with it to see where Geoff Johns takes the secret history of Atlantis.
• ASTONISHING X-MEN #50 – This book is getting some mainstream attention with the announcement of Northstar’s wedding. I’m not sure if that will make it more difficult to find, but I know I have to read about eight issues to get caught up.
• JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #638 – Another chapter in the Exiled crossover with New Mutants. The weekly shipping schedule has taken me by surprise and there’s some catching up to do here as well.
• SECRET AVENGERS #27 – Captain Marvel returns! Again… I enjoyed the first part of this AvX tie-in, but I wasn’t crazy that the story spilled into Avengers #26 last week. I’m interested in what writer Rick Remender is doing with the title, so I won’t be going anywhere. Plus, this looks to be the story that will lead into Ms. Marvel‘s new series and that certainly has my interest.
• ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #12 – I don’t normally read this title (or any of Marvel’s Ultimate line), but is that Havok on the cover?

Check back every week to see what’s on My Latest Pull List and please share your thoughts on these titles and everything you’re reading this week in the comments.

Last night at the Over the Limit pay-per-view, WWE Champion C.M. Punk defended his title against Daniel Bryan. The controversial finish promises that we'll see more tension between two of the best on the roster tonight on Raw.

Monday Night Raw rolls into Richmond, Virginia tonight on the heels of last night’s Over the Limit pay-per-view and a lot of build up from last Monday. Friday’s edition of Smackdown also drove forward the rivalries between C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship as well as a burgeoning feud between Sheamus and Randy Orton for the World Championship. Both of those titles along with the Tag Team and Divas Championships were successfully defended last night, but we’re sure to see more from the principals involved tonight. It’s also a safe bet that we’ll see more of new Intercontinental Champion Christian and former champ Cody Rhodes.

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With this weekend’s premiere of Marvel Studio’s The Avengers (and as part of our month long Standard Deviations series dedicated to the team), we’re taking a look at some past sets of variants shipped to coincide with the premieres of the solo movies featuring the Avengers’ “Big Three:” Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. In this edition, we spotlight June 2011’s “I Am Captain America” variants that featured that employed a theme of celebrating the everyday hero.

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