Funnybook Babylon

DC

Action Comics #850 $3.99
All of the regular Superman writers (Kurt Busiek, Geoff Johns, and on-hand fill-in expert Fabian Nicieza) get together for a vaguely defined anniversary issue that involves going to the future, and also maybe looking at Superman’s past, and Kara Zor-El, and the Legion, and Chris Kent, and I guess everything going on his life right now. Renato Guedes’s art should be beautiful as always, and everybody on this project has a very good understanding of where Superman is, who he is, and most importantly, where he’s going. If you’re interested in the Man of Steel, this is probably a must-have.

Amazons Attack #2 $2.99
Is ANYBODY excited about this event? Like, really? Wonder Woman isn’t doing very well and the first issue of this only moved 55k — are people actually really drawn into this story, or is that mostly just Countdown completism? And if it’s the latter, how far does DC want to keep pushing Countdown completists with more and more stuff that’s vaguely defined at the time of announcement? I mean, we still only have a vague idea of what’s a Countdown tie-in and what isn’t — hell, if the term even applies.

Blue Beetle Vol 6 #15 $2.99
Guest team of J. Torres & Freddie E. Williams II do a one-off about Jaime meeting Superman that supposedly fits in to the Reach plotline that’s currently running in the book. The hilarious real reason: Blue Beetle was so on time that it needed a fill-in so that the REST OF THE DC UNIVERSE could catch up. It’s almost poetic.

Countdown #48 $2.99
More of the continuing adventures of Bob and Solomon the Monitors. Also, Lightray dies on the cover. Could the New Gods be the new Justice League International?

Marvel

Silent War #5 $2.99
The penultimate issue of this disturbing miniseries, billed by many as “hard to read” and “depressing to watch”! The entire breakdown of Inhuman culture and nobody’s buying the book! Cue 5000 nerds posting on the Internet as soon as Silent War is followed up on asking, “When the hell did this happen?”

Wolverine Vol 3 #54 Regular Edition $2.99
What the @$&%?
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Small offering this week. List is after the jump, as always.

DC

Countdown #49 $2.99
Dan DiDio and editorialThe Monitors are here to clean up the Crisis’s cosmic mistakes! Mary Marvel acts like a completely unsympathetic nutjob! Mike Marts swears everything we think was a mistake was planned from the beginning and misuses the word “subtle” some more! COUNTDOWN!

Infinite Crisis Audio CDs Part 1 $19.99
You have to be fucking kidding me.
Editor’s Note: No we are not.

Justice League Of America Vol 2 #1 4th Ptg $3.99
See above. Isn’t the trade paperback out?

Spirit Vol 6 #6 $2.99
Darwyn Cooke wraps up his first six issues of what is easily the best monthly book DC is publishing. The medium of comics at the top of its game.

Supergirl And The Legion Of Super Heroes #30 $2.99
This should be interesting. Mark Waid and Barry Kitson wrap up their once-great Legion run six issues early while Barry Kitson runs screaming from DC to Marvel to pencil a book that’s already under legal attack because there’s already an RPG named “Champions”. The future of this book is in complete limbo — Tony Bedard was brought on to finish Waid’s storylines since he couldn’t bear to continue the book without Kitson, and my understanding is that the original plan was to put Jim Shooter on the book. But Jim Shooter left. And now this book has no future. And the pre-Crisis incarnation of the Legion is showing up in JLA/JSA and Countdown as we speak. Oh, but these guys are showing up in Brave and the Bold and Action Comics #850. What the hell is going on?!? Does DC even know?

Superman Batman #35 $2.99
The first post-52 appearance of the Metal Men, other than Justice League #1. Except that apparently in this book Superman and Batman don’t know who Will Magnus or the Metal Men are. Which makes no goddamned sense. Also, thrill to the art of Alex MilnePat Lee, who somehow keeps getting hired despite telling the artists he farms his pages off to things like “DC pays less than Top Cow.”

Wetworks Vol 2 #9 $2.99
Mike Carey’s last issue of Wetworks. J.M. DeMatteis & Joel Gomez come on with the next issue, but blog posts by Whilce Portacio indicate that after #13 or 14 or so the writing is definitely on the wall for this book. It hasn’t garnered strong reviews at all, so this is understandable, despite the fact that Carey tends to be loved by most reviewers. Yet another Worldstorm casualty, I guess.

Wonder Woman Vol 3 #9 $2.99
Jodi Picoult’s second-to-last issue, and Terry Dodson’s last. At this point we’ve gone straight from “lol fish out of water” antics to full-bore Amazons Attack tie-in. This book is desperately flagging and in need of help; we’ll see if, at least on a sales level, Gail Simone can provide that.

Marvel

Captain America Vol 5 #26 $2.99
FINALLY. This issue was delayed a month because they wanted to leave room for Jeph Loeb’s Fallen Son project, except that that book then got so late that it went past this issue. At least they didn’t re-delay Cap 26 in response. This book is riding a crescendo of attention and praise and isn’t likely to slow down, so if you’re not on board so far preorder the Captain America Omnibus coming out in September and get on board for the most controversial and consistently excellent book in superhero comics. This is Brubaker’s starmaker.

Doctor Strange Oath TP $13.99
This was the best superhero miniseries of last year. If you missed this the first time around, grab it now — Brian K. Vaughan’s street cred should carry the measly $14 purchase. Even if you don’t give a shit about Dr. Strange, this book is practically guaranteed to make a believer out of you. I grinned like an idiot throughout every issue of this miniseries.

Fantastic Four Vol 3 #546 $2.99
Galactus, Devourer of Worlds versus one black dude with a bunch of gadgets. Galactus is fucked.

Heroes For Hire Vol 2 #10 $2.99
This book remains on life support until it gets what has to be its last chance with the World War Hulk tie-ins (five issues’ worth, I believe). I don’t think this is going to last much longer.

Irredeemable Ant-Man #8 $2.99
This is also selling abysmally, although it’s not such a bad book. I’m not a huge fan of Kirkman’s writing — it tends to push fanboy buttons a little too much for my taste — but he definitely has his fans, and this is an interesting and different book that I have to admit enjoying. I’d be sad to see this one go, even if it isn’t totally my thing.

X-Men Vol 2 #199 $2.99
All-out war in Cable’s island nation of Providence, as well as the wrap-up to Carey’s first year on X-Men and the lead-in to the supposedly ballbusting X-Men #200 and X-Men: Endangered Species one-shot. Marvel’s been teasing a major X-event for a while, and the buildup is mostly in this book.

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This is a fill-in edition of Pull List Analysis just like most of DC’s Top Books. This week Jamaal and I will have a couple choice looks and try out a different format. The full list is after the jump.

DC

Batman Black And White Vol 3 HC $24.99
– A quick Google search tells me that this appears to be a collection of the remaining Gotham Knights backups that were in the book before it switched to being Hush Monthly that were not reprinted in the second trade. I am in love with the first two trades . It’s what pointed me towards discovering the work of Paul Pope. Considering that Cooke has a backup yet to be printed, this is worth a look.

Batman Chronicles Vol 3 TP $14.99
– This is the worst idea I have ever seen and heard. Let’s print all batman stories in chronological order in tiny trades. This will sell like gangbusters! I also like that this has priority over all the other trade projects DC could be investing their time into.

Countdown #50 $2.99
-The continuity porn continues! The ripples coming from the death of Duela affect everything! Darkseid may continue his chess game! More obscure characters may die!

Hellblazer The Devil You Know TP $19.99
-A (re-released?) collection of some early Hellblazer, done by Jamie Delano. The writing is excellent, especially if you’re familiar with Thatcher’s Britain.

Justice League Of America Vol 2 #9 $2.99
-The search for the lost Legionnaires from a twenty year old continuity will continue. Michael Turner will submit another anatomically incorrect cover.

Plain Janes GN $9.99
– Cecil Castellucci’s well received Minx book is finally coming out. Will girls rush out to buy it? Will fanboys pass it by? I hear if this goes well, Cecil may be on her way to some superhero books. Rugg’s art is pretty decent too.

Marvel

Cable Deadpool #40 $2.99
-Alien soul vampires! Socialist utopian island paradises! The premise of this issue sounds ridiculous, but this series has been criminally underrated.

Fallen Son Death Of Captain America Captain America $2.99
– Jeph Loeb’s first issue was pretty good considering his recent output, but the second issue fell flat even with some great art by Ed McGuiness. I really have a fear of what Loeb will do with an issue that revolves around a bunch of people trying to be Cap. Sigh, it even has fucking Klaus Janson inks? I hate when I buy something just because its pretty.

Runaways Vol 3 HC $24.99
– The last of the Vaughan issues in my preferred format. There really isn’t someone you can’t recommend this book to. This is also in a larger readable version than those digest books and 5 dollars cheaper than most oversized hardcovers. This is a solid enough deal for me to do go ahead and do in person.

Ultimates 2 #13 $3.99
– Yes Virginia, This is getting printed. What a wonderful week. Enjoy that 8 page gatefold that was soooo needed.

Uncanny X-Men #486 $2.99
– After 12 issues of hit and misses, Brubaker’s first arc on his most lackluster title comes to an end. I been reading this and it’s been mildly okay but no where as strong as his other books. Deadly Genesis was the same way, maybe Brubaker shouldn’t be on X books.

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Work blitz is over. Back to business as usual.

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