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My Latest Pull List – May 16th, 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 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.

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REVIEW: DC’s New 52 2012 FCBD Special

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Every year DC seems to position it’s Free Comic Book Day offering as a preview of one of their upcoming events. Previous FCBD comics have focused on series such as Blackest Night and War of the Supermen. This year DC presented the origin of the new character Pandora who first appeared in the final issue of Flashpoint and went on to appeared in the first issues of every title that was part of the New 52. While this tale was indeed an origin story, it proved to be a secret origin that raised more questions than it answered.

Extensive spoilers will follow in our discussion below.

 

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REVIEW: Justice League #6

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Justice League was the title that kicked off the New 52. With superstar DC executives Geoff Johns and Jim Lee behind the series, it was guaranteed to be a sales phenomenon. Amazingly, the series has shipped relatively on time. At least it shipped more consistently than we would have expected, though I believe it was the only series that was part of the New 52 to ship any late issues. Now six issues later, we’ve reached the end of the first arc detailing the origin of the New 52 Justice League and it’s time to assess whether the series delivered on the promise of its superstar creative team.

Spoilers for Justice League #6 will follow.

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REVIEW: Justice League #5

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Jim Lee and Geoff Johns’ record setting Justice League series returned to shelves and screens around the world last week. After months of assembling DC Comics’s most recognizable heroes, the fully formed Justice League of the New 52 universe is set to work together and their first opponent, the malevolent Darkseid. The ultra-powerful villain has arrived on Earth with as yet unknown evil intentions and that spells trouble for a team working together for the first time in DC’s rebooted timeline.

Spoilers for Justice League #5 will follow.

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REVIEW: Justice League #4

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The latest issue of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s “New 52″ Justice League series appeared on shelves and screens around the world yesterday and ratchets up the action for the team’s first adventure. Aquaman is featured on the cover this month and gets some great panel time within, but once again a fair amount of attention is given to Cyborg. The new team, their new threat and all of their interpersonal conflicts really start to come together here as two top creators look to take DC’s top heroes to new heights.

Spoilers for Justice League #4 will follow.

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