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.

Weekly comic books are a big part of my life and this is a fairly big week. 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.

Another week with eight new books for me and most of them are X-Men titles in some way shape or form. I’m considering picking up Earth 2 #1 and Dial H #1 that are shipping as part of Wave Two of DC Comics’ New 52 (on 5/2 no less). I’ll also be checking out Image Comics’ Epic Kill #1 and Mind the Gap #1 and reviews will be posted Wednesday morning. 

• AGE OF APOCALYPSE #3 – There was a time when an Age of Apocalypse ongoing title would have automatically gone to the top of my list of favorite books. Even though this doesn’t bear much resemblance to the original AoA, the twist of having some of the greatest mutant haters of all time fighting for a world that fears and hates them is wild.
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #685 – Doctor Octopus has gotten some major villain upgrades in recent years and he’s set to make his move as The Ends of the Earth continues. Unfortunately, I’m way behind on my reading for this series.
• AVENGERS ACADEMY #29 – I don’t normally read this title, but it’s an AvX tie-in this month. The cover reveals that some of the younger X-Men are being held captive at Camp Hammond and I’m glad this story is only happening in one title now that Generation Hope has been cancelled.
• AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #3 – Marvel’s event of the year continues. I’m still not completely sold on what’s happening here as Captain America seems to be making a lot of unexpected decisions and John Romita Jr.’s artwork is hit or miss for me.
• EXILED #1 – Who says AvX is Marvel’s event of the year? Amidst all the hero punching comes a crossover between the New Mutants and the Asgardians of Journey Into Mystery. Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Kieron Gillen are the minds behind this series and that’s a combination I’d read just about anything from.
• WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN: ALPHA AND OMEGA #5 – After reading the first issue, I normally save reading mini-series until they wrap up. Brian Wood’s series featuring Wolverine, Armor and Kid Omega is one I’m really looking forward to.
• X-FACTOR #235 – Peter David’s superhuman detective agency is something I look forward to every month. Adding artist Leonard Kirk, Havok and Polaris into the mix makes it even better.
• X-MEN #28 – This book was meant to be a showcase for the X-Men interacting with the rest of the Marvel Universe, but lately it seems like it couldn’t be more out of touch.

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.

The final series in Marvel’s X-Men line to reach the Regenesis rebranding might be the most difficult one for me to review. I’m an unapologetic fan of Peter David, X-Factor, and Havok so  I had high expectations going in. I can honestly say that X-Factor #230 took me a bit by surprise with its approach and I should never have doubted how David would handle his book being a little more connected to the rest of the X-titles after several years of making its own way.

Spoilers for X-Factor #230 will follow.

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For the past two weeks, Marvel Comics has been releasing a set of their trademark silhouetted teaser images, this time focusing on the X-Men line. With the promise of big changes to the X-Men’s status quo following the current Schism series by Jason Aaron, these teasers suggest a very different landscape for Marvel’s mutants beyond Cyclops simply being at odds with Wolverine. It appears that Regenesis will be a line wide revamp similar in nature to 2004’s X-Men: ReLoad and 2000’s X-Men: Revolution/Counter-X.

The initial promotional image for November’s X-Men: Regenesis focused on the division between characters that would be part of the new Wolverine and the X-Men title and the relaunching Uncanny X-Men. As these latest teasers have rolled out, we now see that no less than eight ongoing X-titles will be part of Regenesis.

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Alex Summers, also known as Havok, is arguably my favorite character from Marvel’s X-Men comic books. Unfortunately, his publication history is defined by long stretches of time off panel dating back to his earliest appearances. The most recent of these absences finally concludes today in the pages of X-Men: Legacy #254, the first chapter of a story called “Five Miles South of the Universe.” In commemoration of his return, we’ve even created a sub-site dedicated to Havok here at MLD as a resource for fellow fans.

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