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 four new books on my list for the fifth and final Wednesday of January 2013. I’m hoping the small week will give me a chance to catch up on some series where I’ve gotten a few issues behind.

• AQUAMAN #16 – I fell behind on Aquaman a few months ago and my unwillingness to jump right into the current issues is keeping me from reading the Throne of Atlantis crossover with Justice League.
• AVENGERS #4 – Jonathan Hickman‘s Avengers got off to an intriguing start, but the second issue didn’t thrill me like the first one did. Last week’s issue #3 got me back on board with the series, but the hellacious Marvel Now shipping schedule is enough to cause me to question how invested I am in any title. Back-to-back weeks at $3.99 an issue is a tough sell.
• DOCTOR WHO: PRISONERS OF TIME #1 – Multi-Doctor team-up? I’m there. I don’t often venture into other media when it comes to Doctor Who and I’ll have a review of the first issue of this 12-part series published later today.
• X-MEN: LEGACY #5 – I’m behind on this series as well, and it’s surprising since I really liked the way it started. The Mike Del Mundo covers continue to be a highlight.

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.

C.M. Punk’s historic WWE Championship reign came to an end at last night’s Royal Rumble in Phoenix, AZ.

WWE’s annual Royal Rumble normally makes for an interesting night serving as the first step on the road to WrestleMania. Someone emerges from the Rumble match with a guaranteed title shot and championships often change hands. Last night both happened but instead of going with any remotely interesting outcomes, the night came off as simply boring and predictable with two time Rumble winner John Cena now set to face new WWE Champion, The Rock, at WrestleMania 29. Not even Raw Roulette tonight from Las Vegas can turn the fortunes of the that rematch.

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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.

My initial list for this week went up to eleven new books, but some changes to the shipping schedule have it down to eight.

• A+X #4 – I’m not sure how much longer I can commit to this series. It delivers on what it promises, Avengers plus X-Men, but I just don’t know that it’s for me every time out, and I may be more selective about who’s appearing going forward.
• ASTONISHING X-MEN #58 – I’ve fallen terribly far behind on this series. All I can say is that the cover (along with this week’s Young Avengers #1) is very eye-catching.
• AVENGERS #3 – Jonathan Hickman‘s Avengers is off to a great start even through issue #2 didn’t pack the same punch as #1. With that in mind, Hickman’s New Avengers is surprisingly in the lead for my attention between the two titles..
• JUSTICE LEAGUE #16 – Being behind on Aquaman is keeping me from being current on this as Geoff Johns‘ Throne of Atlantis crossover ties the two books together. A weekend will happen where I catch up on all of this soon. It will…
• UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 – I almost won’t believe this is out until I see it on the shelves with my own eyes. Havok is the big draw here for me and with this book’s absence he may as well still be in outer space. It’s a shame since what Rick Remender and John Cassaday have done so far with this title has been decent.
• UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 – This could be great. I’m still not crazy about two X-Force titles shipping at the same time, but this one should be very different from Dennis Hopeless’ Cable and X-Force. I’m particularly interested in what role Bishop has to play and the way his involvement may put the two books on a collision course.
• WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #24 – There seem to be a lot of covers with Storm kissing various people lately. A romantic relationship with Wolverine could be interesting, but I’ve soured a bit on this title.
• YOUNG AVENGERS #1 – I genuinely enjoyed Kieron Gillen‘s Uncanny X-Men and Generation Hope and I’m very interested in seeing him handle this mix of characters. I read that he and artist Jamie McKelvie have said this will be very close to their Phonogram series, but I’ve never read it.

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.

Punk, Rock will square off this Sunday for the WWE Championship.

Last Monday WWE celebrated 20 years and 4,096 hours of Raw. It feels like most of those hours have come since the show went to three hours last Fall. For perspective, Raw’s 20th Anniversary ran against new episodes of four of CBS’ half-hour comedies, Hawaii 50, and half of the 11 o’clock news. While excessive in length, the show benefitted from the approach of focusing on the current product rather than bringing in a parade of former superstars as we head into the annual Royal Rumble featuring the Rock versus C.M. Punk for the WWE Championship.

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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.

Eight new books again this week along with a couple of variant editions I’m likely to seek out.

• ALL NEW X-MEN #6 – David Marquez from Ultimate Comics Spider-Man takes over on art for three issues after the sprint start to this series. I’m not terribly familiar with Marquez’s work, but we still get a great Stuart Immonen cover. I’m also getting the X-Men 50th Anniversary variant featuring Chris Bachalo’s Generation X. If having creators return to draw characters they’re most associated with is the theme for this year long set of variants I’ll be very happy.
• BATMAN #16 – One of the side effects to Marvel Now’s ridiculous shipping schedule is that it makes it seem like years pass between issues of books that are shipping monthly. Even though it feels like it’s been forever since the last Batman it just adds to my anticipation of seeing what’s next.
• CAPTAIN MARVEL #9 – This issue is solicited as a great jumping on point for the series, but I need to jump backwards and catch up on a lot of issues before reading it.
• NEW AVENGERS #2 – The first issue of this series sold me on it almost instantly. A mysterious cosmic threat, the Illuminati, and Jonathan Hickman is a recipe for success.
• SAGA #9 – I read an advance copy of this book, and it’s another solid issue focusing on the new face that showed up last issue and The Will.
• SAVAGE WOLVERINE #1 – Despite Frank Cho and Shanna the She Devil, I think this will be another Marvel Now one-and-done for me. Skottie Young’s baby variant for this book may be one of the best of the set.
• X-FACTOR #250 – It’s difficult not to think of Peter David’s recent health problems when considering this book and I wish him all the best. I’ve been around since issue one and seeing that it’s kept its numbering for this milestone is nice with all these new books shipping around it. Clay Mann’s variant cover for this issue will definitely be one I track down. I really like how it recaps the title’s history even if some of the costumes aren’t quite right. That’s the power of nostalgia right there.
• X-Men #40 – End of an era… I guess. I wasn’t really a big proponent of this series and had serious misgivings from day one. In sharp contrast I am interested to see Brian Wood and Olivier Coipel’s Marvel Now relaunch of this book featuring Storm, Psylocke, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, and Rachel Summers.

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.