Pull List: Comics Coming Out 1/16/13

A reasonably busy pull list arrives today, albeit a bit light from the indie publishers, along with reviews of books from DC and Valiant.

  • DC wraps up Grifter and Legion Lost, launches Threshold, which we review below, and also has more Batman, which you need to buy this week. Just… trust us. We’ve got a short review of that below as well.
  • Marvel launches Savage Wolverine, has more New Avengers and Indestructible Hulk, and continues the quite-good Punisher: Nightmare, meaning Marvel has two Punisher minis going on right now that are actually worth reading.
  • Image launches Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth, which could either be transgressively hilarious or tiresomely “outrageous”, and has more Saga, Comeback, and Creator-Owned Heroes.
  • Dark Horse debuts Black Beetle: No Way Out, which we’re heartily looking forward to.
  • IDW continues their insane and hilarious Mars Attacks! crossovers with Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters, debuts John Bryne’s High Ways, and has more Crow: Skinning The Wolves.
  • And Boom! wraps up Extermination.

And now, some reviews!

Threshhold #1

There is a lot that’s ’90s DC about this book, and that’s meant in a positive way. Massive cluttered alien crap-hole planet, courtesy Tom Rainey? Check. Tyrannical alien government? Check. Ridiculous “hunting people for sport” plotline with less-than-subtle undertones of social satire? Check.

But we’ve got Keith Giffen behind the wheel of this one, so it’s a romp and often funny. Perhaps a romp made largely of stock parts, but while it may not be the deepest book on the stands today, is it ever a lot of fun.

Death of The Family
Batman #16
Batgirl #16
Batman And Robin #16

This needs to be spoiler-light, because Batman #16 is such a great issue. Batman continues its amazing and disturbing run of the Joker ruining Bruce’s life, and it’s backed quite strongly by the other two books, each explaining how members of the Bat-Family get to… whatever the hell the Joker is doing. Gail Simone’s work in particular stands out, illustrating why her ten-second firing from Batgirl was such a bad idea.

I wouldn’t argue that Batgirl and Batman and Robin are absolutely necessary. But they do flesh out some backstory. But if you don’t pick up Batman, you are seriously missing out.

Superboy #16

Part of the H’El On Earth crossover, and while reading Tom DeFalco writing Superman comics is always fun, it’s still more of a story issue than a book that stands alone. If you’ve been following the crossover, it’s worth reading, we will say. But beyond that, there’s no compelling reason to pick this up if you’re not a Superbook fan.

Insurgent #1

This is an odd duck for DC. It’s a non-continuity miniseries, from a co-writer, F.J. DeSanto, who has largely worked on The Spirit and documentaries about comics, and Todd Farmer. And it’s not under the Vertigo label.

The basic idea is this: In the near-future, the government has developed nanotechnology that lets it build and deploy sleeper agents out of ordinary citizens. In the way of all ideas that are pretty bad on paper, it gets worse when the rubber meets the road. The program is scrapped… at least until the Insurgents start coming back.

It’s a bit Hollywood to some degree. There’s a retired bounty hunter conflicted about his job and forcibly removed from retirement, the terrorists are not what they seem, and so on. But it is nice to see DC experimenting, and if nothing else, Federico Dallocchio’s art is quite pretty, although he leans on his coloring to create depth and shadow where he really should instead do a bit more ink work.

Batwoman Vol. 2

DC’s usual gorgeous hardback contains some pretty solid comics. Collecting issues #6-#11, Batwoman has focused on a mix of superhero theatrics and X-Files-style intrigue that’s very fun to read. If you haven’t been following the book, this is a good place to start.

Bloodshot #7

One of Valiant’s stronger books, this issue tells the story about a superhuman being used, lied to, and tricked… from the perspective of the guy reluctantly doing it, and why, precisely, he quits. Duane Swierczynski hits the right notes, and it’s an engaging book, leading into what looks like an interesting crossover. Matthew Clark’s art is solid superhero work, nothing earth-shaking but it serves the story well. All in all, a book worth picking up.

Archer and Armstrong #6

Archer and Armstrong did not have a great first issue; the ham-fisted satire weighed down Fred Van Lente’s writing. It’s still there, and still a bit ham-fisted, but Van Lente’s political commentary is officially goofy enough that it makes the book funny, at least.

And now, the official list!

DC COMICS
Ame-Comi Girls #4 (Of 5)(Featuring Power Girl), $3.99
Batgirl #16, $2.99
Batman #16 (Alex Garner Variant Cover), AR
Batman #16 (Combo Pack Edition), $4.99
Batman #16 (Greg Capullo Black & White Variant Cover), AR
Batman #16 (Greg Capullo Regular Cover), $3.99
Batman And Robin #16, $2.99
Batman Arkham Unhinged #10, $2.99
Batwoman Volume 1 Hydrology TP, $14.99
Deathstroke #16, $2.99
Demon Knights #16, $2.99
Fables Volume 18 Cubs In Toyland TP, $16.99
Frankenstein Agent Of S.H.A.D.E. #16 (Final Issue), $2.99
Green Lantern The Animated Series #10, $2.99
Grifter #16 (Final Issue), $2.99
Insurgent #1 (Of 6), $2.99
Legion Lost #16 (Final Issue), $2.99
Ravagers #8, $2.99
Suicide Squad #16, $2.99
Superboy #16, $2.99
Team 7 #4 (Tyler Kirkham & Batt Black & White Variant Cover), AR
Team 7 #4 (Tyler Kirkham & Batt Regular Cover), $2.99
Threshold #1 (Howard Porter & John Dell Regular Cover), $3.99
Threshold #1 (Kenneth Rocafort Variant Cover), AR

MARVEL COMICS
All-New X-Men #2 (Stuart Immonen 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
All-New X-Men #6 (Chris Bachalo X-Men 50th Anniversary Variant Cover), AR
All-New X-Men #6 (Stuart Immonen Regular Cover), $3.99
Alpha Big Time #0.1, $2.99
Avengers Academy Final Exams HC (Premiere Edition), $24.99
Avengers Assemble #11 (Mico Suayan Regular Cover), $3.99
Avengers Assemble #11 (Stephane Perger Variant Cover), AR
Avengers Assemble By Brian Michael Bendis HC, $34.99
Avengers Assemble By Brian Michael Bendis HC (Direct Market Movie Cover), $34.99
Avenging Spider-Man #16, $3.99
Captain America #1 (John Romita Jr. 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Captain America #3 (Alex Maleev Variant Cover), AR
Captain America #3 (John Romita Jr. Regular Cover), $3.99
Captain America By Ed Brubaker Volume 4 HC (Premiere Edition), $24.99
Captain Marvel #9, $2.99
Daredevil #22, $2.99
Dark Avengers #185, $2.99
Dark Tower The Gunslinger The Little Sisters Of Eluria TP, $19.99
Disney Junior Magazine #11 (Disney Publishing Worldwide), $4.99
Fear Itself The Fearless TP, $29.99
Generation X Classic Volume 2 TP, $24.99
Hawkeye #4 (David Aja 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $2.99
Indestructible Hulk #3 (Aby Simone Bianchi Variant Cover), AR
Indestructible Hulk #3 (Leinil Francis Yu Regular Cover), $3.99
Marvel Universe The End TP (New Printing), $19.99
Marvel’s Thor Adaptation #1 (Of 2), $2.99
Mighty Thor Journey Into Mystery Everything Burns HC (Premiere Edition), $29.99
New Avengers #2 (Jock Regular Cover), $3.99
New Avengers #2 (Simone Bianchi Variant Cover), AR
Nova Postcard (Promotional Item)(not verified by Diamond), AR
Punisher Nightmare #3 (Of 5), $3.99
Savage Wolverine #1 (Blank Variant Cover), AR
Savage Wolverine #1 (Frank Cho Regular Cover), $3.99
Savage Wolverine #1 (Frank Cho Variant Cover), AR
Savage Wolverine #1 (Joe Quesada Sketch Variant Cover), AR
Savage Wolverine #1 (Joe Quesada Variant Cover), AR
Savage Wolverine #1 (Skottie Young Baby Variant Cover), AR
Thor God Of Thunder #1 (Esad Ribic 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Thor God Of Thunder #2 (Esad Ribic 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Ultimate Comics Iron Man #4 (Of 4), $3.99
Venom #30, $2.99
Wolverine MAX #3, $3.99
X-Factor #250 (Clay Mann X-Men 50th Anniversary Variant Cover), AR
X-Factor #250 (David Yardin Regular Cover), $2.99
X-Men #40, $3.99

IMAGE COMICS
Comeback #3 (Of 5), $3.50
Creator Owned Heroes #8 (Cover A Scott Morse), $4.99
Creator Owned Heroes #8 (Cover B Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts), $4.99
Darkness #101 (Cover B signed by Marc Silvestri & Jeremy Haun), $20.00
Elephantmen #45, $3.99
Hoax Hunters #6, $2.99
Invincible Volume 17 What’s Happening TP, $16.99
Li’l Depressed Boy #15, $3.99
One Trick Rip-Off Deep-Cuts HC, $29.99
Saga #7 (2nd Printing Variant Cover), $2.99
Saga #9, $2.99
Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth #1 (Of 4), $2.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
B.P.R.D. 1948 #4 (Of 5), $3.50
Billy The Kid’s Old Timey Oddities And The Orm Of Loch Ness #4 (Of 4), $3.50
Black Beetle No Way Out #1 (Of 4), $3.99
Conan The Barbarian #12, $3.50
Conan Volume 12 Throne Of Aquilonia TP, $19.99
Ex Sanguine #4 (Of 5), $3.99
Good Luck Trolls Mystery Box Assortment Series 2, AR

IDW PUBLISHING
Al Capp’s Li’l Abner Volume 5 1943-1944 HC, $49.99
Chasing The Dead #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Dietrich Smith), $3.99
Crow Skinning The Wolves #2 (Of 3)(Cover A Jim Terry), $3.99
Crow Skinning The Wolves #2 (Of 3)(Cover RI James O’Barr), AR
G.I. JOE #21 (Cover A Kenneth Loh), $3.99
G.I. JOE #21 (Cover RI Robert Atkins), AR
High Ways #1 (Of 4)(Cover A John Byrne), $3.99
Magic The Gathering Path Of Vengeance #2 (Cover A Ryan Pancoast), $4.99
Magic The Gathering Path Of Vengeance #2 (Cover RI Martin Coccolo), AR
Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters (One Shot)(Cover A Ray Dillon), $3.99
Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters (One Shot)(Cover RI-A Rob Guillory), AR
Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters (One Shot)(Cover RI-B Mike Allred), AR
Transformers Spotlight Thundercracker #1 (Cover A Chee), $3.99
Transformers Spotlight Thundercracker #1 (Cover B Livio Ramondelli), $3.99
Transformers Spotlight Thundercracker #1 (Cover RI Clayton Crain), AR

BOOM! STUDIOS
Adventure Time Marceline And The Scream Queens #6 (Of 6)(Dynamic Forces Exclusive Cover)(not verified by Diamond), $19.99
Extermination #8 (Cover A Tom Derenick)(Final Issue), $3.99
Extermination #8 (Cover B Antonio Fuso)(Final Issue), $3.99
Extermination #8 (Cover C Tom Derenick)(Final Issue), AR
Fanboys Vs Zombies #10 (Cover A Jerry Gaylord), $3.99
Fanboys Vs Zombies #10 (Cover B Dominike ‘Domo’ Stanton), $3.99
Fanboys Vs Zombies #10 (Cover C Dominike ‘Domo’ Stanton), AR
Freelancers #3 (Cover A Felipe Smith), $3.99
Freelancers #3 (Cover B Khary Randolph), $3.99
Freelancers #3 (Cover C Khary Randolph), AR
Freelancers #3 (Cover D Felipe Smith), AR
Freelancers #3 (Cover E Stephanie Roux), AR

ANDREWS MCMEEL PUBLISHING
Agent Gates And The Secret Adventures Of Devonton Abbey GN, $14.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Crawling Sky #1 (Of 5), $3.99

APE ENTERTAINMENT
Dreamworks Adventure Magazine #1, $4.99
Dreamworks Adventure Magazine #2, $4.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Betty And Veronica Friends Double Digest #231, $3.99
World Of Archie Double Digest #25, $3.99

ASPEN COMICS
Executive Assistant Assassins #7 (Cover A Jordan Gunderson), $3.99
Executive Assistant Assassins #7 (Cover B Emilio Laiso), $3.99
Executive Assistant Assassins #7 (Cover C Elizabeth Torque), AR

AVATAR PRESS
Caligula Heart Of Rome #2 (Of 6)(German Noble Gore Cover), $3.99
Caligula Heart Of Rome #2 (Of 6)(German Noble Imperial Incentive Cover), AR
Caligula Heart Of Rome #2 (Of 6)(German Noble Regular Cover), $3.99
Caligula Heart Of Rome #2 (Of 6)(German Noble Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #21 (Gianluca Pagliarani Red Crossed Incentive Cover), AR
Crossed Badlands #21 (Gianluca Pagliarani Torture Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #21 (Gianluca Pagliarani Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #21 (Miguel Garrido Regular Cover), $3.99
Fashion Beast #5 (Facundo Percio Haute Couture Incentive Cover), AR
Fashion Beast #5 (Facundo Percio Regular Cover), $3.99
Fashion Beast #5 (Facundo Percio Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Fashion Beast #5 (Paul Duffield Tarot Incentive Cover), AR
Ferals #12 (Gabriel Andrade Gore Cover), $3.99
Ferals #12 (Gabriel Andrade Regular Cover), $3.99
Ferals #12 (Gabriel Andrade Slashed Incentive Cover), AR
Ferals #12 (Gabriel Andrade Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Stitched #11 (Fernando Furukawa Ancient Evil Incentive Cover), AR
Stitched #11 (Fernando Furukawa Gore Cover), $3.99
Stitched #11 (Fernando Furukawa Regular Cover), $3.99
Stitched #11 (Fernando Furukawa Wraparound Cover), $3.99

BLACK LIBRARY
Warhammer 40K Ravenwing MMPB (Legacy Of Caliban Trilogy), $11.99

BLEEDING COOL
Bleeding Cool Magazine #2, $4.99

BLUE LINE ART
Sketch Magazine #41, $6.95

BONGO COMICS
Simpsons Comics #198, $2.99

CAPSTONE PRESS
DC Super Heroes Batman My Frozen Valentine TP (Young Readers Novel)(not verified by Diamond), $4.95
DC Super Heroes Superman Meteor Of Doom TP (Young Readers Novel)(not verified by Diamond), $4.95
DC Super Heroes Superman Under The Red Sun TP (Young Readers Novel)(not verified by Diamond), $4.95

COMIC SHOP NEWS
Comic Shop News #1334, AR
Comic Shop News #1335, AR

DENNIS DRUKTENIS PUBLISHING
Scary Monsters Magazine #85 (January 2013), $8.95

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Ardian Syaf Pencil Art Variant Cover), AR
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Ardian Syaf Regular Cover), $3.99
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Chris Eliopoulos Variant Cover), AR
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Jack Herbert Regular Cover), $3.99
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Jonathan Lau Regular Cover), $3.99
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Sean Chen Black & White Variant Cover), AR
Bionic Man Vs The Bionic Woman #1 (Sean Chen Regular Cover), $3.99
Dark Shadows #12 (Francesco Francavilla Regular Cover), $3.99
Garth Ennis’ Jennifer Blood #21 (Mike Mayhew Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet Year One Special #1 (Sean Chen Regular Cover), $4.99
Kevin Smith’s The Bionic Man #15 (Alex Ross Regular Cover), $3.99
Kevin Smith’s The Bionic Man #15 (Alex Ross Virgin Variant Cover), AR
Kevin Smith’s The Bionic Man #15 (Ed Tadeo Variant Cover), AR
Lord Of The Jungle #11 (Lucio Parrillo Regular Cover), $3.99
Pathfinder #4 (Erik Jones Regular Cover), $3.99
Pathfinder #4 (Lucio Parillo Regular Cover), $3.99
Pathfinder #4 (Matteo Scalera Black & White Variant Cover), AR
Pathfinder #4 (Matteo Scalera Regular Cover), $3.99
Pathfinder #4 (Matteo Scalera Virgin Variant Cover), AR
Pathfinder #4 (Tyler Walpole Regular Cover), $3.99
Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #5 (Alex Ross Regular Cover), $3.99
Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #5 (Alex Ross Virgin Variant Cover), AR
Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #5 (Stephen Segovia Regular Cover), $3.99
Vampirella #25 (Dynamic Forces Risque Red Cover), $19.99
Warlord Of Mars Dejah Thoris #21 (Fabiano Neves Regular Cover), $3.99
Warlord Of Mars Dejah Thoris #21 (Paul Renaud Regular Cover), $3.99
Warlord Of Mars Dejah Thoris #21 (Risque Variant Cover), AR

EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS
Classic Marvel Figurine Collection Magazine #190 (Vance Astro), $14.00
Classic Marvel Figurine Collection Magazine #191 (Constrictor), $14.00
Classic Marvel Figurine Collection Magazine Special #30 (Giant Man), $28.00
DC Superhero Chess Figurine Collection Magazine #22 (Red Hood Black Pawn), $16.00
DC Superhero Chess Figurine Collection Magazine #23 (Batwing White Pawn), $16.00

HAFFNER PRESS
Complete John Thunstone HC, $40.00

HARPER COLLINS
Chu’s Day HC (by Neil Gaiman), $17.99

HIGH SPEED PRODUCTIONS
Juxtapoz #145 (February 2013), $5.99

HYPERION BOOKS
Blue Bloods Volume 1 HC, $19.99

KODANSHA COMICS
Missions Of Love Volume 2 GN, $10.99

KRAUSE PUBLICATIONS
Toy Confidential The Secret Life Of Snarky Toys SC, $12.99

MARRS MEDIA
Rue Morgue Magazine #130 (January/February 2013), $9.95

MARVEL PRESS
Amazing Spider-Man An Origin Story HC (2nd Edition), $8.99
Mighty Avengers An Origin Story HC (2nd Edition), $8.99
Unstoppable Wolverine An Origin Story HC, $8.99

PAPERCUTZ
Garfield And Co Volume 8 Secret Agent X HC, $7.99

TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Back Issue #62, $8.95

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT
Archer And Armstrong #6 (Emanuela Lupacchino Regular Cover), $3.99
Archer And Armstrong #6 (Patrick Zircher Variant Cover), AR
Bloodshot #7 (Kalman Andrasofszky Regular Cover), $3.99
Bloodshot #7 (Trevor Hairsine Variant Cover), AR

VIZ MEDIA
Afterschool Charisma Volume 7 TP, $12.99
Dogs Volume 7 TP, $12.99
Jormungand Volume 10 GN, $12.99

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Fly Volume II #4 (of 5)(Cover A Mike DeBalfo), $2.99
Fly Volume II #4 (of 5)(Cover B Eric J), $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales #81 (Cover A Giuseppe Cafaro), $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales #81 (Cover B Marat Mychaels), $2.99

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