Comics/Graphic Novels

What’s On Your Pull List?: December 24, 2014

Dave Accampo

Staff Writer

Dave Accampo is a writer, producer and designer living in Portland, Oregon. He co-created the Wormwood: A Serialized Mystery audio drama, the Sparrow & Crowe comics series, and the digital comics series, Lost Angels. Follow him on Twitter: @daccampo.

Every week, a different Panelteer will give you a rundown of the comics they’re most looking forward to for the week. Floppies, trades and omniboo are all fair game here. This week, Dave tells us what’s on his pull list.

Comics on Christmas Eve? I’ll be on an airplane, so you’ll know I’ll be loading up the digital comics this week. I thought: “the 24th? Oh, it’s going to be a small week.”

Not so much. My stocking is chock full o’ goodies.

Arkham Manor #3

Arkham Manor #3 (DC Comics) 

OK, so word has gotten out that this title has already been cancelled… possibly to make way for whatever happens at DC post-Convergence, but that’s not going to stop me from reading the book. I’m on board for Gerry Duggan’s unique little tale about Batman hunting a serial killer in an insane asylum that… used to be his house. The conceit might seem a little bit convoluted, but the story itself, two issues in, is pretty focused.

Black Science #11

Black Science #11 (Image Comics)

According to the solicits, this issue brings to a close the second arc of Rick Remender and Mateo Scalera’s dimension-hopping series. I’ll be honest — if pressed, I’m not even sure I can tell you where all the players are at this point. BUT… whenever I sit down to read the book, I always enjoy it. And it always looks SO good.

Big Trouble in Little China #7

Big Trouble in Little China #7 (Boom! Studios) 

“Lords of Death. Street gang. Punks from Chinatown. What are they doing here?”

And I just quoted that from memory, so… you know I’m buying this book. I think I may be the only one, but so be it. I think Eric Powell has nailed the dialogue and spirit of one of my all-time favorite movies, so all I can say is: “China is here, Mr. Burton.”

Daredevil #11

Daredevil #11 (Marvel Comics)

With the chilling “Purple Children” arc wrapped up, this issue promises that “a mystery that’s been building since issue one starts to pay off big!” I’m on board, but I’m frankly most interested in the ramifications of Matt Murdock’s recent purple haze, which seems to have left him in a pretty fragile emotional state. Ever since Mark Waid took on Daredevil, I’ve loved the fact that he didn’t just bring back the “fun” side of Daredevil, he made it clear that Matt’s devil-may-care attitude was masking deeper traumas, and I suspect that’s going to factor largely into upcoming issues.

Gotham By Midnight #2

Gotham by Midnight #2 (DC Comics)

With only a first issue under its belt, Gotham by Midnight faces that time-honored comics reader litmus test: will I buy the second issue, based on the first? Well, it’s on the pull list, so I guess you know my answer. I wasn’t blown away by the first issue of the spooky Gotham squad, but there was enough there… I could see enough of the potential, that I’m giving this one another shot. And Ben Templesmith’s moody, expressive art doesn’t hurt. I want more books from the Big Two that are unafraid to NOT look like a traditional capes & tights book.

Letter 44 #13

Letter 44 #13 (Oni Press)

I love the multiple fronts of this book. You’ve got a story about a new president in office, who has learned that his predecessor’s controversial agenda has all been in service of a secret mission — we’re sending a space ship to check out an alien life form deep in space! In the hands of a lesser writer, I think the secret mission would have been the jumping off point, but Soule has maintained the story on Earth, following the political intrigue, while weaving in the parallel story of the crew in space, as they make contact with a life form we’ve never encountered before. I have NO idea when, if, or how the two storyline will merge, but I’m in for the ride.

Memetic #3

Memetic #3 (Boom! Studios)

I recently wrote about Memetic in my Big, Weird Mystery post, so… I’m obviously in for the finale of this series by James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan. Issue #2 ended with a pretty big cliffhanger, but with one one issue to go… will we find out who is behind the weird JPEG image of the hypnotic sloth that’s driving the world insane…?

Rasputin #3

Rasputin #3 (Image Comics)

We’re only two issues into this True-ish story of young Rasputin, and I’m intrigued for the third. The first two issues might feel like quick reads, but I’ve been impressed. The story feels big, like it’s got room to breathe; and that’s a quality that only comes with utmost confidence in visual storytelling. I feel like this is often the province of the single writer/artist, so the fact that writer Alex Grecian and artist Riley Rossmo can come together and work like this is a testament to their collaboration.

(Also this issue looks to be a bit sexy time, and that never hurts.)

Revival #26

Revival #26 (Image Comics)

I love this book. I have NO idea where it’s going. Every time I think I’m getting a handle on it, they spin off in a different direction. Like this one, in the solicits for this issue: “Blaine Abel. Demonologist. All around evil scumbag. But now he’s on the side of the angels, offering his expertise with the supernatural. ” OK, I’m in. Well, I was already in. But I’m… more in?

(True story: when I was about 10 or 11, I told my parents I wanted to be a demonologist when I grew up. It just seemed… cool. They still joke about it.)

She-Hulk #11

She-Hulk #11 (Marvel Comics) 

The penultimate issue of a book that has unexpectedly become one of my favorite reads. Well, I don’t know why I say “unexpectedly.” I’ve always loved Javier Pulido’s artwork, and Charles Soule has been wowing me with Letter 44, but… I guess I just wasn’t sure what to expect from a book about She-Hulk being, y’know, a lawyer. But Soule has done a great job of mashing up super-heroics and legal drama in a compelling way, and I’m incredibly sad that we’re losing this book, but… NOT BEFORE I FIND OUT ABOUT THE BLUE FILE, PEOPLE!!!

They're Not Like Us #1

They’re Not Like Us (Image Comics)

Here’s the thing: I didn’t always love the actual story of Stephenson’s last effort, Nowhere Men, but I loved the concept and I love the way the man puts together a book. Right from the cover, They’re Not Like Us has me hooked. I’m intrigued. The solicits are mysterious and a liiiiittle bit vague for my tastes, but… Stephenson and artist Simon Gane have my attention for the first issue. I’m definitely gonna check this out.

HOLIDAY BONUS:

Darwyn Cooke Variant Covers (Various, DC Comics)

I can’t honestly put these on my pull list because back in that bygone era of 3D hologram chrome covers, I shouted to the sky, fists curled and neck veins a’poppin’, “I will never buy a book for its cover!” And I’ve stuck to that.*

But damn if these Darwyn Cooke covers don’t tempt me…

JL_Dark Aquaman Flash Superman Wonder Woman Harley Quinn Sinestro He-man: The Eternity War #1 Green Lantern Corp #37 Superman #37

 

(From Justice League Dark #37, Flash #37, Aquaman #37, Superman Wonder Woman #14, Harley Quinn #13, Sinestro #8, He-man: The Eternity War #1, Green Lantern Corps #37,  and Superman #37)

Questions! 

1) What books are you pulling?

2) Did you have a weird career dream when you were a kid?

3) Do you buy books with variant covers if you reaaallllly like the art?

I wanna know!

* OK, I might’ve double-dipped and bought a Darwyn Cooke ghost variant of an issue of Fatale. But just that ONCE.