Comics/Graphic Novels

What’s On Your Pull List? December 23, 2015

Jon Erik Christianson

Staff Writer

In alternate timelines, Jon Erik Christianson is a beloved children's cartoon, a homme fatale supervillain for the Justice League, a professional krumper, an ambassador from Planet [REDACTED], and a sentient carnival balloon. In this timeline, he is a blogger and ghost(writer) who divides his free time between watching YouTubers play Five Nights at Freddy's and staring longingly at his bachelor's degrees in journalism and international relations. He writes for Book Riot Comics and his blog, Honestly Comics, where he most often discusses comic books, feminism, and queer representation. Feel free to talk to him about Buffy the Vampire Slayer; never bring up Glee. Blog: Honestly Comics Twitter: @HonestlyJon

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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, Jon Erik tells us whats on his pull list.

Angela: Queen of Hel #3
by Marguerite Bennett, Kim Jacinto, and Stephanie Hans

ANGELA2015003_Cover

Pretty, mysterious, popular on Tumblr—Angela: Queen of Hel is the comic equivalent of Natalie Dormer or Rami Malek.

Bennett writes one of the best (romantic) duos in comics today in Angela and Sera; they’re wonderful, fascinating, and funny foils for one another. I’ve also always been intrigued by Asgardian mythology, and this series sure isn’t short on it.

Venus #1
by Rick Loverd and Huang Danlan

BOOM_Venus_001_Main

I’ve been pushing myself to read more indie comics and Venus—published by BOOM! Studios, which has earned a ton of goodwill from me recently—looks to fit my interests. In 2150, Americans have decided to colonize Venus since Earth is out of recently; unfortunately for this crew (which appears to have multiple ladies on the team), the colonization begins with a crash landing.

Adventure Time: Marcline Gone Adrift
by Meredith Gran, Carey Pietsch, and Reime Yee

KABOOM_AT_MarcelineGoneAdrift_TP

I mean:

  1. Adventure Time!
  2. Marceline the Vampire Queen
  3. Princess Bubblegum
  4. Bubbleline?
  5. History of rad comics
  6. CAREY PIETSCH ON ART

What more could anyone want?

Kaptara Vol. 1: Fear Not, Tiny Alien
by Chip Zdarsky and Kagan McLeod

kaptara-trade-jpg

In my very first edition of “What’s On Your Pull List?” my top pick was Kaptara’s debut issue. To plagiarize myself:

“The series bills itself as a comedy/sci-fi/romance epic that mashes together the spirit of every popular ’80s cartoon into one universe.”

Zdarsky has also introduced it as “gay Saga,” tauting its gay male lead; something I was super elated about.

I enjoyed the series’ great humor and epic worldbuilding, but, amidst the jokes and between months, the emotional stakes and character work got lost for me. They were there, but they’d get pretty crowded out over the course of an issue. I’m hoping that reading it in a collected format will make for a more affecting experience.

Best of all, it’s cheaper than your usual Image Comics trade! Instead of $9.99, it’s $9.98! Even more of a steal.

What’s on your pull list this week?