The Weekly Pull: Justice League, X-Men, One-Punch Man, and More

New comic book day is here again. New releases will be hitting comic book stores and digital [...]

By Jamie Lovett - July 7, 2020 11:28 am EDT

New comic book day is here again. New releases will be hitting comic book stores and digital comics platforms. Each week in The Weekly Pull, ComicBook.com's team spotlights some of those releases we're most excited about that will be hitting stores. It might be a release from the big two or from a smaller publisher, a new monthly issue, original graphic novels, or trade paperback collection. It can be superhero fare or any other genre. Whatever it is, if it has us excited and is going on sale this week, then it's fair game, and we're going to let you know about it.

This week, the X-Men make a splash with three picks: One brand new release, one collection, and one revisiting of a classic. DC Comics is represented plenty as well, with a new Justice League story and the sequel to DCeased. Manga fans should look towards the latest One-Punch Man release, and those looking for a new original graphic novel to cozy up with should look towards the latest from BOOM! Studios.

What new comics are you most looking forward to this week? Let us know which books have you the most excited that you're looking forward to reading in the comments section, and leave some of your own suggestions, and be sure to check back tomorrow for our weekly review roundup.

Batman #94

Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Rafael Albuquerque, Guillem March
Published by DC Comics

We're not quite to "The Joker War" just yet, but we're close. We're so close with Joker getting his hands on Bruce Wayne's entire fortune last issue, and it's that surprising turn that makes Batman #94 a book you must check out this week. While Tynion's run on the title has had its weaknesses, it's undeniable that the story he's trying to tell is a thrilling one. Consider Batman #94 one last big gulp of air before jumping into the deep end of what comes next. I'm not going to tell you anything about the issue other than it's one that you definitely need to check out this week if you have any interest in Batman right now, full stop. -- Nicole Drum

DCeased: Dead Planet #1

Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Trevor Hairsine
Published by DC Comics

DCeased was one of the most pleasant of surprises when it hit the scene, and now the team is back with the much-anticipated sequel. Writer Tom Taylor doesn't just want to meet the high bar from the original, and that's clear from the first issue, which doesn't pull any punches and sets the stage for what should be an epic and at times brutal sequel. Artist Trevor Hairsine and colorist Rain Beredo are up for the challenge too, reminding you in some grizzly ways that no one, and we mean no one, is safe. If you missed out the last time around, don't make that mistake this time. — Matthew Aguilar

Eat, and Love Yourself

Writing and art by Sweeney Boo
Published by BOOM! Studios

One of the best things about comics has been its ability to articulate and humanize indescribable feelings — and it seems like Eat, and Love Yourself will be no exception. The graphic novel follows Mindy, a young woman with an eating disorder who struggles with her self-worth. After discovering a magic chocolate bar that allows her to travel into the past, Mindy sets forth on an unpredictable journey to find self-love — and a way back to the present day. The art for Eat, and Love Yourself looks absolutely gorgeous, and the inventive body-positive narrative feels groundbreaking in the landscape of comics today. This is a graphic novel that definitely deserves your attention. — Jenna Anderson

Justice League #48

Written by Si Spurrier
Art by Aaron Lopresti
Published by DC Comics

Si Spurrier has long been an underappreciated writer. His runs on Marvel's X-Men: Legacy and X-Force were some of the most exciting X-Men stories published in the years between Grant Morrison and Jonathan Hickman's eras on the title. He's been cranking out stellar creator-owned work with books like The Spire and Coda garnering awards attention. He's hot off a brilliant run writing The Dreaming for DC's Sandman Universe and is in the midst of what may be an even better run on Hellblazer. With a track record like this, is it any wonder that we're excited about his three-part arc writing DC's most popular superheroes in Justice League. He's teaming with veteran artist Aaron Lopresti for a story he's described as smart sci-fi with added punching. What else do you need to know? -- Jamie Lovett

Marauders by Gerry Duggan Vol. 1

Written by Gerry Duggan
Art by Michele Bandini, Matteo Lolli, Lucas Werneck
Published by Marvel Comics

House of X and Powers of X set a high bar for the X-Men, and somehow Marauders met that bar and soared right past it. Writer Gerry Duggan and artists Michele Bandini, Matteo Lolli, and Lucas Werneck put together a delightful concoction of pirate adventure and political intrigue while also lifting characters like Kate Pryde, Pyro, White Queen, Bishop, and more to the heights they should've been at all along. This is a must-read X-Men series, and now is the time to jump on. -- Matthew Aguilar

Money Shot #6

Written by Tim Seeley and Sarah Beattie
Art by Rebekah Isaacs
Published by Vault Comics

Money Shot is a truly one-of-a-kind series, and I mean that in the best possible way. After a great first arc, the series returns with this week's sixth issue, which is already being dubbed "a great jumping on point for new readers". The story will see the XXX-plorers journeying into a new alien world, which may or may not resemble actual Hell. From Tim Seeley and Sarah Beattie's narrative to Rebekah Isaacs's art, Money Shot brings a well-executed, truly chaotic energy that all of us could use in our lives right now. — Jenna Anderson

One-Punch Man Vol. 20

Written by ONE
Art by Yusuke Murata
Published by Viz Media

What more is there to say about One-Punch Man? I'm recommending its twentieth volume as a top pick, not because it's a great entry point, but because the series offers such a consistent quality of action, humor, and design that the twentieth installment is every bit as exciting as the first. In spite of its eponymous gag, ONE and Murata have managed to develop compelling characters, a visceral sense of tension, and a surprising critique on meritocracy. It's the sort of manga that offers many entry points, allowing fans to simply enjoy astounding artwork while still offering a more complex narrative that riffs on flaws in our own society without beating metaphors like a dead horse. One-Punch Man remains one of the most consistent manga series in quality and that makes each new volume one of the easiest recommendations this critic can deliver. -- Chase Magnett

Supergirl: Being Super: 2020 Edition

Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Joelle Jones
Published by DC Comics

Supergirl: Being Super isn't a new release, but the graphic novel by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones is getting a re-release this week in an updated version, resized to be right at home with DC's young adult graphic novel size, but even if you've already got this absolute joy of a book on your shelf there's an excellent reason to check out this new and improved version as well: fresh new colors by Jeremy Lawson. If by some chance you haven't already read Supergirl: Being Super, however, the book is an outstanding one that appeals to readers of all ages. It's beautiful, moving, fun, and inspiring in a way that makes it accessible to new readers and utterly charming for those familiar with Supergirl already. You absolutely do not want to miss this. -- Nicole Drum

X-Force #10

Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Joshua Cassara
Published by Marvel Comics

It's odd living in a world with so many quality X-comics, especially after decades of misstarts and incomplete ideas. One of the many spinoffs from the core title stands head and shoulders above the rest, however, and that's X-Force, which makes its return this week following a three-month hiatus very exciting. The series has managed to tap into almost every element readers might want from a superhero team title: compelling characters developed with longterm arcs, compelling and inventive action sequences, and a clear thesis that finds new ground. The foreign intelligence aspect of this iteration has been especially intriguing given the gruesome consequences displayed in each issue and writer Benjamin Percy's readiness to delve into the morally gray (and simply immoral) territory that makes the CIA a controversial organization to put it kindly. Welcome back X-Force, nobody knows who will survive this experience. -- Chase Magnett

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Exended Cut #1

X-Men God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut #1 — (Photo: Marvel Comics)

Written by Chris Claremont
Art by Brent Anderson
Published by Marvel Comics

In 1982, Marvel Comics published the X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills as the fifth entry in its line of original graphic novels. Free of the demands of monthly superhero comics, X-Men writer Chris Claremont and artist Brent Anderson used the format to hone in on the issues of discrimination and prejudice that underly most tales about Marvel's mutants. Almost 40 years later, God Love, Man Kills is often cited as one of the best X-Men comics of all time and is thought of as a pinpoint crystalization of the themes of the franchise into a single story. With the X-Men franchises booming again, Marvel's releasing the God Loves, Man Kills as a two-part extended cut featuring new pages from Claremont and Anderson, presenting an opportunity to revisit and reevaluate this story and its place in X-Men canon. -- Jamie Lovett