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My Latest Pull List – November 28th, 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.

Ten new books on my list this week, Uncanny Avengers and Planetoid are right at the top.

  • A+X #2 – Spider-Man and Beast versus zombies. There’s not really any way I can turn that down.
  • ALL NEW X-MEN #2 – I enjoyed the debut of this series a lot more than I expected, but I’m not sure why my expectations were low. The introduction of new mutants is still something I’m worried will get out of control, but so far so good.
  • AQUAMAN #14 – I was prepared to drop this title, but the upcoming crossover with Justice League is keeping me on board.
  • ASTONISHING X-MEN ANNUAL – Not sure about this one. It’s really only on my list to keep the series complete.
  • FF #1 – This is a Marvel Now title that I’m not totally sold on, but it’s worth a shot for Mike Allred.
  • NEW AVENGERS #34 – This title lost me over the last year or so with the exception of the Iron Fist / AvX tie-in story.
  • PLANETOID #4 – Really looking forward to the return of this book. The art is fantastic and the story took an interesting turn last tissue after a solid start.
  • SECRET AVENGERS #34 – The Descendants story is really interesting and I’m glad to see it’s getting a chance to wrap up before the Marvel Now relaunch.
  • UNCANNY AVENGERS #2 – Hated seeing this book delayed right out of the gate. I’m thrilled to see it back today, but if this is the flagship Marvel Now title I’d expect a creative change to keep it shipping monthly.
  • X-MEN LEGACY #2 – Legion’s story is off to a solid start. I was particularly happy to see a lot of the developments involving him from the previous volume of Legacy are still in play.

I’m also planning to take a look at Dynamtie’s MASKS #1 and Image’s NOWHERE MEN #1 while I’m at the store today.


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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Brown Thursday

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

As we pulled into the Best buy parking lot around 6pm last night, we saw stantions being lined up and port-a-potties in place. Their store will be opening at midnight tonight.

Best Buy is just one of many stores opening at a ridiculous time for Black Friday. Many stores are opening ON Thanksgiving. The King of Prussia Mall (largest shopping mall in the US) is opening at midnight as well. This means hundreds of stores don’t even get a choice in their opening time. The penalty the mall normally charges for not opening on a shopping day is far too high for most stores to bear, let alone what I imagine they would impose on the “biggest shopping day of the year”. I just can’t understand it. Who needs to shop at that point? Those of you shopping at Toys R Us at 8pm Thanksgiving night, where are the little loved ones you are shopping for? What are you teaching them by going out on a family holiday just in order to shop?

After working in retail for a number of years, Black Friday became entertainment for me. We would sometimes go out in the afternoon just to look around. No crowds, still some great prices. I never felt the need for “doorbuster” deals. Last year we bought a tv and some extras because it was an INCREDIBLE BLACK FRIDAY DEAL! I was in the store less than two weeks later getting our price adjusted down. A $300 price adjustment after the Black Friday deal.

What’s the point? Shoppers have created this mess. It’s on us to make it stop. Stop going out on what should be a time for family and spending money on things made by underpaid workers overseas. #rantover #happythanksgiving

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My Latest Pull List – November 21st, 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.

Two new Marvel Now titles and a couple of Image Comics debuts have my list up to eleven books for this week.

  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #698 – Managed to fall behind on this title again. #700 can’t come soon enough.
  • ASTONISHING X-MEN #56 – Another book I’ve fallen behind on, but the back issues are nearing the top of my reading pile.
  • AVENGERS #34 – Brian BendisAvengers finale promises controversy harkening back to where things started in *Avengers Disassembled*. I do not expect this issue to reach that level of controversy.
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 – John Romita Jr. has certainly fared better on solo titles than team books in recent years, so I’m hoping he makes a strong showing here with Captain America. It will take something really special to have me back for issue #2.
  • CAPTAIN MARVEL #7 – A confrontation with the Monica Rambeau “Captain Marvel” (now known as Photon) could be really interesting.
  • CLONE #1 – A new title from Robert Kirkman’s Skybound imprint and Image Comics. I’m not familiar with any members of the creative team (David Schulner, Juan Jose Ryp, and Felix Serrano) at first glance, but new sci-fi titles from Image have earned an automatic look. I’m also considering checking out this week’s Comeback #1.
  • INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #1 – Hulk as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is interesting, and I trust Mark Waid to tell a good story. Lenil Yu’s promotional art for this book is also a major attraction.
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #14 – I don’t get all this Cheetah business that started last issue, but I’ll continue to give this book a chance. The promise of something involving Pandora, Flashpoint, and the creation of the New 52 holds a lot of appeal for me.
  • UNCANNY X-FORCE #34 – The cover for this issue looks fantastic and while this title has had a few rough patches since #18, the conclusion to Rick Remender’s Apocalypse story has been great.
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #21 – Last I was really noticing how frequently this book is shipping and here it is again a week later.
  • X-FACTOR #247 – The preview for this issue has me intrigued and Peter David hasn’t disappointed on this title.

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 – November 14th, 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.

I’m not sure that I’ll be sampling all of the new titles launching as part of Marvel Now, but the five titles shipping this week made the list for one reason or another. Unfortunately, that causes this week’s total to balloon to eleven books along with a fair share of non-Marvel reading.

  • ALL NEW X-MEN #1 – I’m a huge fan of the “Original Five” and while displacing them in time wasn’t immediately appealing, I can’t wait to see it.
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #697 – Counting up to #700, where I will likely end my Spidey collecting.
  • BATMAN #14 – Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman is undeniably great, but running a solid Joker story is even better. I really appreciate the way “Death of the Family” is being published in that reading other titles doesn’t feel like a requirement, but I always fear I’m missing something.
  • FANTASTIC FOUR #1 – The solicit promises “a journey through all of infinite time and space.” How could I not be on board for that? With Matt Fraction and Mark Bagley as the creative team, this might even be a title I keep up with.
  • FIRST X-MEN #4 – Not sure that I got around to reading #3 yet, so this one will probably wait until the whole series has shipped at this point.
  • THE MASSIVE #6 – I need to catch up on this book having jumped on at issue #4. Anything involving Antarctica automatically gets my attention.
  • NEW AVENGERS #33 – Despite Mike Deodato’s art, this book is doing nothing for me as it wraps up. Since the “Heroic Age” relaunch of this title, it ran hot or cold from arc to arc and this one isn’t for me.
  • SAGA #7 – Really happy to see this series return and an advance look at this issue shows it hasn’t suffered at all in its absence.
  • THOR, GOD OF THUNDER #1 – Esad Ribic is the reason I’m trying this book. Jason Aaron is hit or miss for me, and Thor is a tough sell.
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #20 – My interest in this book is wavering and double shipping each month does not help at all. 
  • X-MEN: LEGACY #1 – Si Spurrier really caught my attention with his X-Club work and seeing him get his hands on Legion is intriguing. I just hope the series builds from what Mike Carey established with the character during his tenure on the previous volume of Legacy. Mike Del Mundo’s cover art is a big plus for this book.

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 – November 7th, 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.

This week’s Pull List comes a bit delayed post due to a massive Halo 4 binge after the game’s midnight release. I like to think the universe was a little safer on Tuesday.

  • AVENGERS #43 – I’m really enjoying Brian Bendis’ End Times story in this title (not so much in his New Avengers title). As the writer transitions from the Avengers franchise to my beloved X-Men, I’m glad to see a big story featuring classic Avengers wrap things up.
  • AvX CONSEQUENCES #5 – This follow up to Avengers vs. X-Men was a home run and really puts a cap on Kieron Gillen’s Uncanny X-Men. It could have easily been published as the last few issues of Uncanny Vol 2. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Gillen’s time on the book, and this sets what’s left of the “Extinction Team” onto their new course as part of Marvel Now. I’m particularly happy with where Hope is headed, and I was afraid  Marvel might have her disappear after AvX.
  • DEADPOOL #1Marvel Now began in earnest this week with this new series and Iron Man #1, and just gets bigger next Wednesday with five series debuting. The “refresh” of the Marvel publishing line might have lost some momentum after the big debut of Uncanny Avengers #1 a month ago, but these are the titles to focus on given the growing delays that book is seeing. Comedian/writer Brian Posehn is a real draw here, but I also picked up a Chris Bachalo variant cover of the first issue featuring some of my favorite dead Presidents.
  • IRON MAN #1 – It’s admittedly odd picking up the first issue of a book with near absolute certainty I won’t be back for issue two. Iron Man not one of my favorites and Greg Land isn’t a draw for me, but writer Kieron Gillen is. I have to at least see what he has in mind for this series.
  • THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #7 – This one has been away for a while and I’m thrilled to see it back. It has lost a spot at the top of my reading list while it was delayed, but I expect a full recovery.
  • NEW AVENGERS #32 – A strong sign that I’m just not into this book is that I find myself with essentially nothing to say about it. I’ll see it through to the finish with only three issues to go.
  • UNCANNY X-FORCE #33 – My interest in this series has been all over the place in recent months, but this will be among the first books I read in a big week of releases.
  • X-FACTOR #246 – The preview promises a palette cleansing stand alone focused on Pip the Troll following the tremendous Breaking Points arc. I’m not terribly invested in Pip, but I trust Peter David to show me why I should be. I’m also looking forward the build to issue #250.
  • X-MEN #38 – I’m hopelessly far behind on this title. I’m not sure what its fate will be in Marvel Now but I dont see myself catching up any time soon.

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.