The Weekly Pull: Alien, Harley Quinn, Guardians of the Galaxy, and More
03/23/2021 04:33 pm EDT
Alien #1
- Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
- Art by Salvador Larroca
- Colors by Guru-eFX
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by Marvel Comics
When The Walt Disney Company purchased 20th Century Fox and its catalog of cinematic intellectual properties, it seemed only a matter of time before, like Star Wars before it, the Alien and Predator comics licenses jumped from Dark Horse to Marvel Comics. Alien #1 from Philip K. Johnson and Salvador Larroca is the first fruit of that transition. Johnson's name is on the rise in comics, having taken over the Superman titles with the most recent relaunch of DC's superhero line. Larroca is a Marvel mainstay who is best when drawing machines and monsters, like the dread Xenomorph. Given the highs and lows of the Alien franchise's film canon, there's any number of directions that Johnson and Larroca could take in this series. It should be exciting, especially for the franchise's longtime fans, to see what this new Marvel era brings. -- Jamie Lovett
Batman: White Knights Presents: Harley Quinn #6
- Written by Sean Murphy and Katana Collins
- Art by Matteo Scalera
- Colors by Dave Stewart
- Letters by Andworld Design
- Published by DC Comics
I will shout from the rooftops how good Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn has been, and it's all been leading to a powerful conclusion that will not only reveal some painful memories for Harley but also shape what comes next for the former villain turned hero and her family, so buckle in for one thrilling and emotional rollercoaster ride. Katana Collins, Matteo Scalera, and Dave Stewart are ready to go out with a bang, and it should not be missed. — Matthew Aguilar
Detective Comics #1034
- Written by Mariko Tamaki
- Art by Dan Mora
- Colors by Jordie Bellaire
- Letters by Aditya Bidikar
- Published by DC Comics
Mariko Tamaki's Future State: Dark Detective run was incredible, but it turns out that it was only a taste of what she has in store for Batman. Picking up roughly from the same narrative point in the Batman comic -- the post-Joker War Gotham with Bruce a bit more humbled than perhaps we've seen him before -- Tamaki's story dives right in with Bruce adapting to his new status quo and embarking on what might be the biggest mystery he's ever had to solve in terms of possible stakes for Gotham City. From the looks of things, it's raw and gritty, just like you'd expect from a Batman story, but with less flash and fury so that Batman can do what Batman does best: be the world's greatest detective. Also? The Robin backup story is great. - Nicole Drum
Firefly: Brand New 'Verse #1
- Written by Josh Lee Gordon
- Art by Fabiana Mascolo
- Colors by Lucia DiGiamarino
- Letters by Jim Campbell
- Published by BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios recently chose to push its ongoing Firefly series into the future by jumping its story forward in time to after Serenity's events. New series Firefly: Brand New 'Verse sees writer Josh Lee Gordon, artist Fabiana Mascolo, colorist Lucia DiGiamarino, and letterer Jim Campbell taking the story even further. Set years after Serenity, Brand New 'Verse follows a new Serenity crew, including Zoe and Wash's daughter Emma, as they try to make their way in a universe changed by their forebears' actions and yet increasingly hostile to those in their line of work. Past members of the Serenity crew are still around -- as the Qistina Khalidah's cover suggests, Zoe is still watching over her daughter -- but it's mainly exciting to see how the series can evolve the Firefly concept with some distance from the original show's story. -- Jamie Lovett
Getting It Together
- Written by Sina Grace and Omar Spahi
- Art by Jenny D. Fine
- Colors by Mx. Struble
- Lettering by Sean Konot
- Published by Image Comics
Slice-of-life storytelling has been part of comics almost since the medium initially began, but the genre has taken many opportunities to evolve in the decades since. Getting It Together, which made its debut from Image over the past year, brings the concept squarely into the 2020s with delightful and moving results. When the series opens, it follows a group of Bay Area friends whose status quo is turned upside down by a change in a relationship status. What devolves from there is a quintessentially millennial take on identity, love, sexuality, and creativity — one that doesn't always hit the mark, but tells its story in a way that is profoundly admirable and engrossing. — Jenna Anderson
Guardians of the Galaxy #12
- Written by Al Ewing
- Art by Juann Cabal
- Colors by Frederico Blee
- Letters by Cory Petit
- Published by Marvel Comics
Since it launched, this volume of Guardians of the Galaxy has been building towards great things, laying the groundwork for an expansive team of space-bound heroes confronting impossible challenges (like genocidal Greek pantheons). Guardians of the Galaxy #12 represents a transition for the series as it concludes the team's battle against Hercules' kin and prepares for a triumphant relaunch of 3 distinct teams in the pages of Guardians of the Galaxy #13. Whatever the future may bring, the past year of cosmic Marvel comics has provided readers with every confidence that the future for this eclectic crew of heroes is bright indeed. Issue #12 provides both an ending and a beginning with increasing ambition preparing for a relaunch that can honestly be described as "out of this world." However, readers shouldn't miss what led to this moment either in one of the most engaging, exciting, and imaginative runs on Guardians of the Galaxy ever published by Marvel Comics. -- Chase Magnett
Harley Quinn #1
- Written by Stephanie Phillips
- Art by Riley Rossmo
- Colors by Ivan Plascencia
- Letters by Deron Bennett
- Published by DC Comics
If you were sad to see the previous Harley Quinn solo series come to an end and were equally as excited by Harley's Future State adventures, then this week's Harley Quinn #1 is a book you absolutely cannot miss. With a new creative team in Stephanie Phillips and Riley Rossmo, the new series takes the fan-favorite character back to Gotham to deal with her past sins. In classic Harley style, her timing couldn't be worse with the city dealing with the aftermath of The Joker War. Watching Harley be, well, Harley, as she takes on her apology tour feels like a strong return to the core of the character that harkens back to her Batman: The Animated Series debut. The bottom line is if you love Harley, you can't miss this, and if you haven't fallen in love with Harley just yet, here's your chance. -- Nicole Drum
Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey: The Hunt For Harley
- Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner
- Art by Amanda Conner
- Colors by Paul Mounts
- Letters by John J. Hill
- Published by DC Comics
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) made its debut over a year ago, bringing about a new take on some of the DC universe's coolest and most beloved female characters. Prior to the film's release, that specific roster of characters hadn't traditionally teamed up in the comics until Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner's Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey miniseries. The four-issue run collected in this week's hardcover reprint takes the candy-colored gonzo energy of Palmiotti and Conner's Harley Quinn series and weaves in the rest of the Birds in some delightful ways. Fans of the film — or just of genuinely fun storytelling — won't want to miss this. — Jenna Anderson
Mutts Go Green
- Written and art by Patrick McDonnell
- Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Patrick McDonnell's Mutts has provided fans of comic strips more than 25 years of excellence. Collections of the series have provided adults and children alike a delightful refuge in suburban New Jersey to spend time with the many animals who populate American neighborhoods, including the likes of Earl the dog and Mooch the cat. McDonnell has also used the series characters and popularity to draw readers' attention to important humanitarian issues in the past, specifically the benefits of rescuing animals and supporting shelters. So it's no surprise to see this special collection of Mutts comics with lessons on protecting the environment in the face of an ever-worsening climate crisis. It's not an easy or light subject to address with young people, but it is certainly a necessary one, and McDonnell's work provides a friendly invitation to engage and assist in efforts to protect all living things on our planet. I, for one, can't wait to read more green-adventures with these iconic comics characters and then share them with my own students in our classroom library. Long live Mutts! -- Chase Magnett
Stray Dogs #2
- Written by Tony Fleecs
- Art by Trish Forstner
- Colors by: Brad Simpson
- Layouts by Tone Rodriguez
- Published by Image Comics
Stray Dogs delivered one killer debut, and Stray Dogs #2 has a chance to keep that momentum rolling. The pups seem to have it made, as long as they don't go near the door at the end of the hallway. If you do, you're punished, but Sophie managed to get some of the other dogs curious about the mystery, and that could very well blow up everything they thought about their so-called paradise. Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstner, Brad Simpson, and Tone Rodriguez have something truly special on their hands, and we cannot wait to see what's next. — Matthew Aguilar
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