This volume of I Don’t Even Like Marvel will be far shorter than the previous volumes because basically… I don’t even really like Marvel all that much and Heroics is a terrible line of toys in which to invest so much time and energy. Especially considering we’ve put almost no energy into discussing truly great lines like Funko Pop! or Mattel’s Action League. Having said all of that, I recently stumbled over a third set of Heroics figures at a local Toys ‘R Us.

This time the line was based on Disney’s Avengers major motion picture. I was tempted to buy the entire set just for the purposes of writing this article and because the figures looked pretty great in the artwork on the box. Luckily I came to my senses and realized that there was no real glory in continuing this mad pursuit of becoming the world’s foremost authority on the intentionally lowest quality line of comic book toys ever created. (I would have given that honor to DC’s Blammoids, but that line definitely wasn’t intended to be so low quality). Another reason I bailed on picking up more Avengers Heroics was that these were 20 percent more expensive than the previous lines. In the end, I decided to just pick up Hulk and Captain America which you may remember were the two characters I was so desperate to find back in Volume 1.

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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.

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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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.

Ten new books on my list this week and a fair number actually aren’t part of the Marvel Universe. The ones that are fall almost entirely under the Avengers vs. X-Men banner.

• AVENGERS #26 – Of all the AvX tie-ins I’m reading, Brian Bendis’ Avengers one is possibly the weakest. It’s not a bad book, but it has some strong competition including Bendis’ New Avengers which is tremendously enjoyable. I have faith that things will pick up here and having Walt Simonson drawing the book makes it a must read.
• AVENGERS ACADEMY #30 – The first AvX issue of this title did little for me until the final pages. Sebastian Shaw has been a ticking time bomb since returning in Generation Hope and it looks like time’s up.
• AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #4 – I’m enjoying this event title well enough, but there have been moments where characters just haven’t seemed like themselves (particularly Cyclops and Captain America). This is clearly a series that I’ll follow to the end, but I’m looking for more of Hope Summers and the Scarlet Witch. Hopefully it’s coming soon.
• AVX VS. #2 – This book delivered exactly what it promised: nothing but fights that spill out of the main AvX series. My chief complaint from the first issue was declaring a winner from each match up when no one really “won.” It’s hard to believe we’re headed for anything but double count-out finish for the whole series.
• JUSTICE LEAGUE #9 – Jim Lee returns to continue the story of the JLA in the current New 52 universe. Admittedly, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the two issues Lee was away for, and I’m hoping this starts immediately moving toward the events of DC’s Free Comic Book Day issue and Trinity War.
• THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #3 – Image Comics is publishing a host of great new series as they celebrate their 20th anniversary, and Jonathan Hickman’s The Manhattan Projects is right up my alley with its alternate history, supernatural stuff, and science(!).
• NEW MUTANTS #42 – Part three of the Exiled crossover with Journey Into Mystery. It’s nice to see that not every book is getting pulled into AvX, but it’s been tough keeping up with this crossover as it seems like it’s shipping every week.
• SAGA #3 – Another Image series that’s captured my attention. It’s no surprise given Saga‘s creative team of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, and so far this has delivered something remarkable with each issue.
• UNCANNY X-MEN #12 – I really like the way Kieron Gillen is working AvX into his ongoing story. This issue looks to be heavy on the fighting, and unfortunately there’s a lot of that going around this week. Plus it’s another issue featuring Greg Land art.
• X-FACTOR #236 – There’s a lot happening in this book right now with Havok and Madrox’s power struggle, the return of the Isolationist, and a new villain stalking the would-be-heroes of Seattle. All this along with some strong hints that the connection between Longshot and Shatterstar may soon be revealed. My money’s still on Shatterstar as the child of Longshot and Spiral.

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.