The Weekly Pull: Green Lantern, Warhammer 40,000, Beasts of Burden, and More
It's almost new comic book day, which means new releases hitting stores and digital platforms. [...]
America Chavez: Made in the USA #2
- Written by Kalinda Vazquez
- Art by Carlos Gomez
- Colors by Jesus Burtov
- Letters by Travis Lanham
- Published by Marvel Comics
I'm probably going to start sounding like a broken record when it comes to America Chavez: Made in the USA, but at just this second issue in, it's a gem of a series. This issue gives readers a lot more about who America is in terms of her life after coming to this world, and it does so much to help inform the reader -- and to an extent, the character herself -- of just who America is. The issue also dives deeper into the family aspect of America's story, even while deepening the mystery that propels the whole storyline. America Chavez: Made in the USA #2 is just a beautiful book that needs to be on your pull -- Nicole Drum
prevnextBeasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #1
- Written by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer
- Art by Benjamin Dewey
- Colors by Benjamin Dewey
- Letters by Nate Piekos
- Published by Dark Horse Comics
I often encounter casual comics readers who are looking for more things "like Hellboy." What that means are stories that allow for readers to easily dip into whatever volume they hold and expect to discover an exciting story filled with colorful characters told in magnificent style by talented artists (with a fantastical and sometimes terrifying bent). If you enjoy this style of comics storytelling, then my top recommendation will always be Beasts of Burden. This tale of neighborhood dogs (and a few other animals) battling dark forces which seek to prey on their town has never missed. One-shots and miniseries alike provide inviting new adventures that build upon one another without ever requiring readers to perform any homework. Instead, the storytelling skill sets of the series' co-creator Evan Dorkin and current artist Benjamin Dewey ensure new eyes have all they need as the stakes rise and the pack gathers. I could not be more excited for the debut of a new Beasts of Burden story, and I hope you'll join me in (re)discovering one of the best franchises in all of comics this Wednesday. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextDear DC Super-Villains
- Written by Michael Northrop
- Art by Gustavo Duarte
- Colors by Cris Peter
- Letters by Wes Abbott
- Published by DC Comics
DC's young readers' line has evolved significantly over the past few years, but 2019's Dear Justice League arguably remains one of the most charming entries. This week brings the long-awaited sequel with Dear DC Super-Villains, a graphic novel that ponders some of the questions you didn't think to ask about the publisher's various baddies. I've always been amazed by the fact that DC's villains are so well-executed that they can largely stand on their own from a storytelling perspective, and that aspect seems to be on full display in Dear DC Super-Villains. It's the kind of story that is sure to be charming and accessible for young readers — as well as those who are young at heart. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextFar Sector #11
- Written by N.K. Jemisin
- Art by Jamal Campbell
- Published by DC Comics (Young Animal)
Far Sector makes me sad, but not because I don't enjoy it, as it happens to be one of my favorite Green Lantern series...well, ever. No, the reason I'm sad is that the ride is almost over, and while things could be going better for Jo on the City Enduring, the chaos is setting up for an epic finale. Jo has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, but her ring is losing power rapidly, and that's not so great when you're facing an army attempting to take the city from within. The odds are stacked against her, but you'll never catch me betting against Jo finding a way to win or Far Sector knocking the penultimate issue out of the park. -- Matthew Aguilar
prevnextGreen Lantern #1
- Written by Geoffrey Thorne
- Art by Dexter Soy and Marco Santucci
- Colors by Alex Sinclair
- Letters by Rob Leigh
- Published by DC Comics
Future State injected the Green Lantern world with fresh new ideas and concepts, and while things are a bit back to normal in Green Lantern #1, there's still a promising new energy to this first step into the post-Future State world. Writer Geoffrey Thorne brings John Stewart back into the forefront with Keli Quintela, and they pack a mighty punch. This dynamic will be key moving forward, and the good news is the duo is already magic in the scenes they share. Artists Dexter Soy and Marco Santucci and colorist Alex Sinclair bring the ring slingers to life with style as well, and it all makes for a stellar beginning to a promising new era. -- Matthew Aguilar
prevnextNocterra #2
- Written by Scott Snyder
- Art by Tony S. Daniel
- Colors by Tomeu Morey
- Letters by Andworld Design
- Published by Image Comics
The first issue of Scott Snyder and Tony Daniel's Nocterra was a strong debut to an inventive series taking place entirely in a darkened world, and this week, the second issue of the series is one you don't want to miss either, especially if post-apocalyptic tales with a bit of mystery are your thing. What really makes Nocterra -- thus far -- so fascinating is that there's a great deal of humanity something that Nocterra #2, in particular, is full of. The book is also just beautiful visually, so it's definitely worth your time, even with the issue ending on a little bit of a cliffhanger of sorts. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextProject Patron #1
- Written by Steve Orlando
- Art by Patrick Piazzalunga
- Colors by Carlos Lopez
- Letters by Thomas Mauer
- Published by Aftershock Comics
For years, Steve Orlando has been one of the most exciting voices in superhero comics, dating back to his work on Midnighter for DC Comics. Since then, he's launched superhero and superhero-adjacent original projects like the high-concept Commanders in Crisis and the action-packed, dystopian tale The Pull, as well jumping to Marvel for the publisher's Curse of the Man-Thing event. Now he's launching Project Patron with artist Patrick Piazzalunga at AfterShock Comics, a series that asks what happens after the world's greatest superhero dies, only for the United Nations to create a replica guided by an entire team of pilots. It's a post-modern reexamination of iconic superhero storylines like The Death and Return of Superman, and those looking for thoughtful superhero tales shouldn't miss it. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextThe Silver Coin #1
- Written by Chip Zdarsky
- Art by Michael Walsh
- Published by Image Comics
This week, Image Comics is launching its new horror anthology, The Silver Coin, drawn by Michael Walsh. A different writer writes each issue, and each story occurs in a different decade. Kelly Thompson, Ed Brisson, and Jeff Lemire are waiting in the wings, but Chip Zdarsky, who produces one stellar hit comic after another in recent years, is scripting the opening issue. The story, set in the 1970s, follows a band on its last leg whose fortunes change after they find the silver coin, but they soon discover that nothing comes for free. I'm not usually a big horror fan, but it's hard to ignore a creator lineup with this much talent and a concept this cool. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextSuperman's Greatest Team-Ups
- Written by Various
- Art by Various
- Published by DC Comics
Superman is easily one of the crown jewels in DC Comics' arsenal of characters — but to an extent, he really shines when surrounded by other heroes and villains. This week's Superman's Greatest Team-Ups — a collection of various DC Comics Presents issues from the 70s and 80s — puts that mentality on full display, and the end result is genuinely delightful to behold. In addition to the novelty of getting high-quality reprints of some of these lesser-known stories, there's also the genuine fun of the team-ups themselves, which feature everyone from Black Canary to Mister Miracle to Santa Claus. These team-ups represent some of the most underrated and well-executed aspects of DC's pre-Crisis era, and that alone is well worth the price of admission. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextWarhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar
- Written by Kieron Gillen
- Art by Jacen Burrows with Guillermo Ortego
- Colors by Java Tartaglia
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by Marvel Comics
When I began reading Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar, I knew almost nothing about the property, having never played the game or read any of the sprawling lore around it. I was skeptical when I opened the first issue and one hundred percent on board when I turned the last page. Gillen and Burrows have accomplished something outstanding with Marvel Comics' first entry into the world of Warhammer 40,000, capably introducing new readers to a far-flung (and absurdly cruel) future while also telling a story that's easily enjoyed by sci-fi readers and literary fiends seeking a more gore-y take on the modern military-industrial complex. The story is neatly told and avoids the pitfalls of a standard origin while capably delivering an introduction. Burrows' work is unimpeachable with richly detailed characters and battle sequences; both monsters and men alike carry their history of battle in their forms, and it's easy to see in his artwork. If you don't mind seeing some carnage in your comics and are interested in the nihilistic vision promised by Warhammer 40,000, there is no better place to begin than the pages of Marneus Calgar. -- Chase Magnett
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