The Weekly Pull: The Terrifics, Wanda & Vision, The Seeds, and More
It is nearly a new comic book day once again. New releases are on the way and will hit comic book [...]
Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader Deluxe Edition
- Written by Neil Gaiman
- Art by Andy Kubert
- Published by DC Comics
One of the arguably most iconic and definitive batman stories, Neil Gaiman's "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader" is getting a new deluxe hardcover treatment. Originally published in Batman #868 and Detective Comics #853 in 2009, the story offers up a "last" Batman story which sees the hero die, be reborn, and everything in between. It's a little unconventional, but endlessly moving and helps put the character and his endless iterations and evolutions into perspective. It's a must-read in any form, but this latest offering is a gorgeous one. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextBatman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #3
- Written by Katana Collins
- Art by Matteo Scalera
- Published by DC Comics
The mystery of who is killing members of an elite celebrity club continues in Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #3, and the case only continues to get more complicated thanks to the Gray Ghost and Hector Quimby. Watching Harley balance being a single parent to two children and two hyenas with her new investigator gig makes for some amazing moments, and is part of the reason this series deserves to be on your pull list month in and month out. -- Matthew Aguilar
prevnextBlack Adam: Endless Winter Special #1
- Written by Ron Marz and Andy Lanning
- Art by Brandon Peterson and Marco Santucci
- Published by DC Comics
This sort of thing isn't normally my bag—I don't go in for crossover events, but "Endless Winter" has managed to present that superhero storytelling concept's ideal form and this penultimate chapter is eagerly anticipated even by this cynic. While the individual chapters of the story have varied in quality, the story itself is easy to grasp. As a reader, it's not difficult to find one or two new chapters each week and every installment is neatly labeled and organized. More importantly, "Endless Winter" has provided a worthwhile contrast to the infinite sprawl of Death Metal. Its stakes are clear and the characters recognizable, which serves to invite readers into this narrative of every DC superhero staving off a single catastrophe. The dual narratives of past and present have made for an effective framing device and ensured a constant source of rising tension. Much of that tension is centered on Black Adam who is centered in each timeline now and set to become a much more significant figure in DC Comics' immediate future. Seeing him take centerstage for the penultimate chapter of "Endless Winter" has me feeling like a high schooler uncovering relatively self-contained superhero events again, and it's a great feeling of nostalgia. There's something to be said for telling stories directly and well—no additional artifice needed here. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextGideon Falls #27
- Written by Jeff Lemire
- Art by Andrea Sorrentino
- Published by Image Comics
It's not very often that readers receive a definitive conclusion to any Image Comics' many creator-owned series, but that's exactly what fans of Gideon Falls will find in their stockings this holiday season. An oversized 80-page finale will draw together all of the threads of this conspiracy-laden, multiversal enigma. However Lemire and Sorrentino choose to end the story, their track record (both together and apart) suggest a satisfying finale filled with surprises. Gideon Falls has been a consistent favorite amongst comics fans since it began—reflecting appreciation for both the complex narrative and impressive craft used in telling it. Now even the most reluctant holdouts can dive in knowing that there's a final destination awaiting them at the end of a long and impressive road. Congratulations are due to the creative team for fulfilling all of the promise that was apparent in Gideon Falls #1. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextMarvel-Verse Wanda & Vision
- Written by Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, and Bill Mantlo
- Art by Bob McLeod, Sal Buscema, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Frank Miller
- Published by Marvel Comics
With the WandaVision television series hitting Disney+ on January 15th, now is the perfect time to dig into the comics that center around one of Marvel's greatest couples, Scarlet Witch and Vision. The book collects Avengers Origins: Vision #1 (2011), Giant-Size Avengers #4 (1974), and Marvel Team-Up #129-130 (1972) offering readers some of the biggest adventures for the pair -- including their wedding! While we can't promise there are any clues to the plot of the upcoming Disney+ series in the book, it presents a perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with these beloved characters with some stand-out stories. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextNew Mutants Omnibus Vol. 1
- Written by Chris Claremont
- Art by Bob McLeod, Sal Buscema, Bill Sienkiewicz
- Published by Marvel Comics
The New Mutants was more than just the first ongoing spinoff of Chris Claremont's legendary run writing X-Men. It introduced a new generation of beloved mutant characters to the Marvel universe, and it introduced a whole new mode of telling their stories. This hardcover omnibus collection includes McLeod's stellar, formative issues that laid the foundation for the series, as well as Bill Sienkiewicz's more experimental and expressive work on classic tales like "The Demon Bear Saga." It's a collection well worth a spot on any X-Men's fan's shelf. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextThe Seeds
- Written by Ann Nocenti
- Art by David Aja
- Published by Berger Books/Dark Horse Comics
In 2018, legendary comics editor Karen Berger launched her new Berger Books imprint at Dark Horse Comics. Among the first wave of titles from Berger Books was The Seeds, a stark dystopian sci-fi tale from two more comics legends, writer Ann Nocenti and artist David Aja. After publishing the first two issues of the four-issue series, The Seeds went on hiatus. Finally, it reemerges this week as a complete story in graphic novel form. The Seeds is an unsettling look at humanity's relationship with technology and the natural world, love, and truth, and it's all rendered with elegant simplicity by Aja's hand. If you read those first two issues of The Seeds, then you'll be happy to know your wait for the conclusion is finally over. If you missed out then, don't miss out now. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextSpider-Woman #7
- Written by Karla Pacheco
- Art by Pere Perez
- Published by Marvel Comics
Spider-Woman is still trying to find a cure for her current condition, and it seems the person who can help her obtain it is someone she really doesn't like. Octavia Vermis offers Jessica a cure for a price, and while the rest of the world is dealing with the events of King in Black, Jess has to navigate the world of crazed symbioses and space dragons while also fighting for very survival by stealing some things for Vermis, though not everything is as it seems. King in Black sets the stage for the next exciting chapter in Jessica's journey, and we cannot wait. — Matthew Aguilar
prevnextSuper Friends Saturday Morning Cartoon Vol 2.
- Written by Various
- Art by Various
- Published by DC Comics
For an entire generation of superhero fans, their introduction to DC's roster of superheroes came courtesy of Hanna-Barbera's Super Friends cartoon, which aired from 1973 to 1985. The beloved animated series also spawned its own tie-in comic, which featured the team engaging in adventures that were just as cartoony and weird. This new collection, which offers over twenty issues of the run, is one of the best ways to dive into that run, which offers stories that are equally timeless and endearingly timely. Even if it's been years since you've watched Super Friends, this collection provides a charming and incredibly accessible part of history that you're going to want to dive into. -- Jenna Anderson
prevnextThe Terrifics Vol 4.: The Tomorrow War
- Written by Gene Luen Yang
- Art by Various
- Published by DC Comics
I will continue to sing the praises of The Terrifics at any possible opportunity, and the release of its final (for now) trade paperback collection is as good of an occasion as any. This final stretch of issues encompasses some significant moments in the eclectic team's storyline, such as their surprisingly-emotional time-traveling fight against Bizarro and their fight to save Gateway City. It also includes the series' twenty-fifth issue, a "Choose Your Own Adventure" installment that remains one of the most stellar pieces of comic storytelling I've ever read. The Terrifics is one of those titles that is unbelievably inventive and incredibly satisfying to read, and this volume absolutely deserves a place on your bookshelf. -- Jenna Anderson
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