The Weekly Pull: New Mutants, Shadow War Zone, I Hate This Place, and More
Fables #151
- Written by Bill Willingham
- Art by Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha
- Published by DC Comics
As someone who was absolutely obsessed with Fables the first time around, it was a no-brainer for me to choose Fables #151 as one of my recommendations for this week. The first Fables story in seven years, this new issue picks up where #150 left off and will give readers of the first run a brand-new story to fall into with "The Black Forest" arc, but also offers an easy entry point for new readers as well as you don't necessarily have to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the story to now for it to work. If you're a fan of fairy tales and urban fantasy, Fables, in general, is a must-read, but you definitely do not want to miss this return. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextThe Fox: Family Values #1
- Written by Dean Haspiel, Vito Delsante, Alex Toth
- Art by Richard Ortiz, Alex Toth
- Published by Archie Comics
The Fox is one of those classic comic characters that we sadly don't get to see a ton of so The Fox: Family Values #1 is an automatic "must read" for me this week. The issue is an anthology one-shot that will follow the life of the superheroic Patton family who are all "freak magnets" and have to save the day even if they don't always want to. What I'm most excited about, outside of there being new stories for the Patton family, is that the issue also reprints a classic Fox story by Toth. This one is a title I've been looking forward to since it was announced so I'm pumped it's finally here. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextI Hate This Place #1
- Written by Kyle Starks
- Art by Artyom Topilin
- Colors by Lee Loughridge
- Letters by Pat Brosseau
- Published by Image Comics
It's difficult to describe the raw, uncut fun of discovering a Kyle Starks comic to someone who's never read one. Whether you're looking at his own cartooning efforts on comics like Sexcastle and Old Head or collaborations like Assassin Nation with Erica Henderson, these comics pack more ideas on a page than many issues try for on their standard monthly outing. The idiosyncratic, laugh-out-loud humor, shockingly violent action, and deft ability to bound between genres and cultural touchstones have become hallmarks of Starks' touch. All of which is to say, it's a thrill to see him announce a new horror series at Image Comics and team up with the very talented artist Artyom Topilin for I Hate This Place (mature-readers title available elsewhere). The series serves up a haunted farmhouse filled with monsters and recently inherited by the young couple Gabby and Trudy. Topilin's twisty linework and indulgent inks are bound to fill this rural site with terrors in every shadow. I Hate This Place #1 is a comic coming from one can't-miss creator and a quickly rising star; don't miss out on what's sure to be one of Image's most talked-about new comics this year. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextMarvel Masterworks: Dazzler Vol. 3
- Written by Various
- Art by Various
- Published by Marvel Comics
I'm always a sucker for Marvel Masterworks reprints of lesser-known Marvel titles, but this week's new edition of Dazzler is especially intriguing to me. This string of issues places Alison Blaire into a wide array of wild scenarios, including being wanted for murder, teaming up with the Inhumans, crossing paths with the X-Men once again, and even teaming up with romance comic mainstays Millie and Chili. Honestly, any collection that offers all of that, plus the Dazzler: The Movie graphic novel, is absolutely going to catch my eye — and it should catch yours as well. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextNew Mutants #25
- Written by Vita Ayala
- Art by Rod Reis, Jan Duursema
- Colors by Ruth Redmond
- Letters by Travis Lanham
- Published by Marvel Comics
Vita Ayala and Rod Reis were doing excellent work on New Mutants before the Reign of X to Destiny of X transitional hiatus put the series on pause. Why shouldn't I be excited about its return? Ayala has been dutifully and joyfully unpacking the complicated relationships, and traumas between these characters, including turning a sympathetic eye towards characters typically cast as villains. Meanwhile, Rod Reis has made practically every page sing with style reminiscent of acclaimed New Mutants artist Bill Sienkiewicz but still distinctly Reis. I couldn't think of a better creative time to write Madelyne Pryor's next chapter, especially when that involves returning to Limbo. All the pieces are in place for an all-time great New Mutants story. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextSavage Avengers #1
- Written by David Pepose
- Art by Carlo Magno
- Colors by Espen Grundetjern
- Letters by Travis Lanham
- Published by Marvel Comics
Conan's second tenure at Marvel Comics is soon coming to an end. But before that, Marvel is giving us one more volume of the unexpectedly delightful Savage Avengers, which brings Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero into the modern-day Marvel Universe to team up with Marvel's biggest heroes. Rising star David Pepose of Spencer & Locke fame writes the new series with artist Carlo Magno and assembles a whole new team around Conan, including fan-favorite characters like Elektra, Black Knight, Deathlok, and Cloak & Dagger. We don't know what the future holds for Conan, but that's no reason not to enjoy the action-packed present. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextShadow War Zone #1
- Written by Joshua Williamson, Nadia Shammas, Ed Brisson, and Stephanie Phillips
- Art by Otto Schmidt, Sweeney Boo, Mike Bowden, Mark Morales, Antonio Fabela, and Ann Maulina
- Published by DC Comics
The Shadow War event is beginning to make its mark across the DC universe, with Deathstroke's decision to kill Ra's al Ghul having some pretty deadly ramifications. This week's Shadow War Zone one-shot provides a look at some of those ramifications, chronicling stories involving Black Canary, Luke Fox, Talia al Ghul, and more. Following Black Canary's recent death in Justice League #75, the idea of flashing back to her fight in the event — and versus her former protege, the new antagonist dubbed Angel Breaker — is particularly intriguing to me. But beyond that, there's so much from this issue, both in terms of the stories and of the creative teams that tell them, that is sure to delight DC fans. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextShaolin Cowboy: Cruel to Be Kin #1
- Written by Geof Darrow
- Art by Geof Darrow
- Colors by Dave Stewart
- Letters by Nate Piekos
- Published by Dark Horse Comics
Geof Darrow draws comics like no one else can. The level of detail in each panel he puts down begs to be studied, and the collection of such intricate linework reveals portraits of wanton violence, dada hilarity, and delightful stupidity perfectly suited to comics. It's a delight to receive any new comics work from Darrow, but fans will know that Shaolin Cowboy promises sprawling spreads and detailed action sequences unlikely to be matched in 2022. This is a comic book where familiar readers will know exactly what to expect and still be thrilled, shocked, and titillated in the reading. If at this point, you're still unsure if Shaolin Cowboy and the masterful work of Geof Darrow is for you, then simply run an image search for his name and know there's still more to be discovered in the pages of Shaolin Cowboy: Cruel to Be Kin #1 tomorrow. -- Chase Magnett
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