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My Latest Pull List – September 26th, 2012

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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.

This week seems overwhelming with ten eleven* new titles including another entry in DC Comics’ Zero Month and a new Image Comics’ mini-series from Grant Morrison. (* See note below.)

  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #674 – After falling epically far behind on this series I jumped back in with the 50th anniversary issue #672. I’ve clearly missed a lot, but I won’t be missing this Alpha character once he’s out of the picture. It’s clearly how writer Dan Slott wants me to feel.
  • AQUAMAN #0 – In the midst of a very successful New 52 relaunch, Aquaman is a character that could really benefit from a Zero Month flashback story. I’m wavering on my commitment to this series and this is really a make or break issue.
  • ASTONISHING X-MEN #54 – Now that this is shipping regularly, I simply can’t keep up. Big announcements of new creative teams that stay on the title for one arc have also proven counter-motivational, though I hear Marjorie Liu is doing great things here.
  • CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 – I want this title to be great but even though I enjoyed the first issue something’s not clicking for me yet. I don’t know if it’s the name change from Ms. Marvel or the timing of the series starting just four months ahead of the line-wide Marvel Now relaunch, but I’m not fully invested yet.
  • HAPPY #1 – I’m excited to read a new series from the always intriguing Grant Morrison, but also genuinely nervous about what I’ll find in the pages of a book from him that doesn’t have X-Men or Batman on the cover.
  • SECRET AVENGERS #31 – This series is starting to hit its stride again after getting tripped up by AvX but I’m afraid it may be too late to recapture its the mystique this Shadow Council story had at the outset.
  • WOLVERINE #313 – I can’t believe I’m giving Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi’s return of Sabretooth story a shot. Their death of Sabretooth story was painful and the first three issues here have brought back all the badness. I guess I still have hope it could read as nicely as it looks.
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #17 – The epic silliness of this series is set to continue with a Mike Allred story focusing on Doop.
  • X-MEN #36 – I’ve skipped about as many issues of this series as Astonishing X-Men. On one hand I like that this book hasn’t tied directly into Avengers versus X-Men, but seeing Storm severing ties with from Cyclops just seems so meaningless with everything happening in Marvel’s summer blockbuster series.
  • X-MEN LEGACY #274 – I’m still missing Mike Carey terribly, but Christos Gage’s stories that are wrapping up this series have been decent. I’m very curious to see where things go with Rogue and Magneto as she prepares to step into Marvel Now’s marquee Uncanny Avengers title. Mark Brooks’ cover art for the last few issues has also been fantastic.
EDIT (9/26/2012 4PM EST): I called an audible at the store and decided to add DC’s Talon #0 to my list making it go to eleven. Talon is a spin off from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s excellent Batman series and I thought it deserved a look given how much I’m enjoying Snyder’s other work.

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.

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My Latest Pull List – September 19th, 2012

Posted by under *dislike, Comics | Leave a Comment |

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 five this week and I’m caught up on nearly all of them.

  • AVENGERS #30 – Aside from the Walt Simonson art, I really haven’t enjoyed the AvX tie-in issues for this book. What bothers me most is the lack of coordination with other books that are part of the event. It’s a shame as the stories could have added some real depth if they felt like they had an impact outside of this title.
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #0 – I’m not sure how I’m feeling about DC Comics’ “Zero Month” but I’ve been following this series. Last week’s Batman #0 took an interesting approach to the flashback gimmick by telling an early story of Bruce Wayne’s costumed career that will have a direct connection to issue #13 when the New 52 returns to the present. Unfortunately, Justice League #0‘a Shazam story isn’t a sure thing for me. Gary Frank artwork should help with that as well as the Shazam back up features that have been running in the book recently. 
  • NEW MUTANTS #49 – I’m several issues behind in my reading for this series, but the cover has me intrigued. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s move from the Marvel Cosmos to this book could pay huge dividends as they tell the latest tale of the Technarchy.
  • SPIDER-MEN #5 – I’m liking this meeting of Spider-Men, but a lot hangs on how it wraps up. One of the best aspects of this story is the way Brian Bendis has taken this monumental collision of the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe and kept it very personal.
  • X-FACTOR #244 – The Breaking Points arc running in X-Factor right now is great and Peter David is really putting the team through the wringer. Last issue’s Polaris story is going to be tough to beat for me, but every issue has delivered on the “five days that will change X-Factor forever” promise.

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.

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Monday Night Raw Warm Up for September 17th, 2012

Posted by under *like, Television | Join The Discussion |

Controversy surrounded the finish to WWE’s Night of Champions main event between WWE Champion C.M. Punk and hometown favorite John Cena. Expect a rematch announcement as part of the action tonight.

A lot has happened in the WWE Universe since last Monday, not the least of which was Jerry “the King” Lawler’s on air collapse that has since been confirmed as a heart attack. Our thoughts are with the King as he recovers, and we’re hopeful for a speedy recovery. The show has gone on in Lawler’s absence culminating in Sunday’s Night of Champions pay-per-view. We’ll get into where things stand coming out of the event and what to expect tonight on Raw after the break.

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My Latest Pull List – September 12th, 2012

Posted by under *like, Comics | Leave a Comment |

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.

It’s a big week this time around with nine new books on my list.

  • AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #11 – I actually found myself missing this book with four weeks since the last issue after months of biweekly shipping. It’s not perfect but I am enjoying it. The last two issues could make or break it but Olivier Coipel back as the artist for this issue is a big plus.
  • BATMAN #0 – My first foray into DC’s “Zero Month.” Snyder and Capullo’s Batman is unquestionably my favorite series of the New 52 and I’m curious to see what they do with this flashback issue.
  • THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #6 – More crazy science, technology, and magic. Can’t get enough.
  • NEW AVENGERS #30 – Despite the excellent prison break and Iron Fist stories in this title, I’ve been going into each AvX tie-in issue with low expectations. Hopefully this book will continue to be a pleasant surprise.
  • UNCANNY X-FORCE #31 – Still loving this title even though last issue saw a major drop in art quality. Phil Noto on this one should be great.
  • UNCANNY X-MEN #18 – I’ve lauded Kieron Gilllen for working his ongoing plot points from this series into the fabric of AvX, but it seems this issue fits right into the main series. I’m curious to see what else he’s able to incorporate here.
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #16 – Last issue was excellent and renewed my faith in this title. The return of Chris Bachalo on art is more good news. Unfortunately this issue seems to go in a different direction entirely as a Phoenix powered Cyclops sets his sights on the new Hellfire Club kids.
  • X-MEN #35 – Way behind on this series. I like the cover although it’s a stylistic shift from the last few issues.
  • X-MEN LEGACY #273 – This book has seen a dramatic change of scenery after the AvX tie ins but I’m loving it. It’s still wholly focused on Rogue which is fitting as the series wraps with issue #275.

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.

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REVIEW: Bob Mould’s Silver Age

Posted by under *like, Music | Leave a Comment |

Bob Mould, former frontman of Hüsker Dü and Sugar and all-around punk rock renaissance man released a new album called Silver Age this past week. With this entry into his oeuvre Mould enters his fifth decade as a recording artist. For longtime fans of his work, this album will surely draw you back in as it stands with some of his former bands’ best efforts.

 

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