Pull List for 2 Jan 2009

I didn’t get into the shop Christmas week, and had company for New Year’s weekend, so this is double-sized and late.

1. Batman #683–684
2. Captain America #45
3. Captain America Theater of War: America First! #1 (one-shot)
4. Incognito #1
5. Fantastic Four #562 §
6. Final Crisis: Secret Files #1 (one-shot)
7. The Incredible Hercules #124
8. Kick-Ass #5
9. Northlanders #13
10. Red Sonja #40
11. Reign in Hell #6 (of 8 )
12. She-Hulk #36
13. Thor #12
14. Unknown Soldier #3 *
15. Wolverine #70
16. Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #3 (of 4)
17. Wolverine: Origins #31
18. X-Force #10

* — Denotes those wavering at the edge of the Culling List.
§ — Denotes my last issue of this misbegotten series.

Too much here to go into any real detail.

I hadn’t been enjoying FF that much, but wanted to see the aftermath of the last story.  We’ll see if that  turns out to be a mistake or not.

Unknown Soldier, while certainly not bad, may not be something I want to read on a monthly basis.  If this doesn’t grab me, I may just get this in TPBs from now on.

She-Hulk I’m just going to finish until the series ends.

Quick Reviews for 19 Nov 2008

1. Ambush Bug: Year None #4 — This frustrates me.  It can be extremely hilarious one month, and the next, be so random, it’s nearly incomprehensible. This month, it’s the latter.  C
2. Conan the Cimmerian #5 — Conan continues dealing with his first love.  Darn women are always trouble.  A
3. Deadpool #4 — I think I figured out what Way’s problem is: Instead of writing Deadpool as an idiot savant, he writes him as an idiot with good luck (i.e. Get Smart or Inspector Gadget). As I’ve said all along, the plots aren’t bad, it’s that Deadpool just feels “off”.  I’ll finish this arc, but I don’t know if I’ll continue buying it from that point on.  B
4. Fantastic Four #561 — This is another book that frustrates me.  Millar does good plot twists, but the actual plot is about as deep as a shot glass.  Did anyone else not see the ending to this last issue?  At least Hitch’s artwork, especially his Dr. Doom, is pretty to look at.  B
5. The Flash #246 — Linda’s life hangs on the line, and Flash looks back at their past.  Albeit sappy, it is a nice tale.  B
6. Ghost Rider #29 — Yeah, I don’t think I’m buying any more of this.  D
7. Red Sonja #39 — Sonja finds her old armor and sword. A typical Red Sonja tale, so at least you know what you’re getting now.  B
8. Savage Tales #10 — As always, some hits and misses here. “Red Sonja” and “Battle for Atlantis” feel uninspired.  “Hercules” was a bit of fun.  “Valaka” had a nice twist.  B
9. The Spirit #23 — The story was pretty consistent with Aragonés and Evanier’s run.  I didn’t care much for Amancio’s art, though, as it seemed like he was trying too hard to ape the style of the previous artists on the series.  B
10. The Spirit Special #1 — I don’t know how many more of these I’ll get if it is an ongoing or limited series, but this is definitely worth looking at if you don’t own any of the other Spirit reprints.  The stories in this issue introduce us to the Octopus and Sand Saref.  A

Pull List for 19 Nov 2008

1. Ambush Bug: Year None #4 (of 6)
2. Conan the Cimmerian #5
3. Deadpool #4 *
4. Fantastic Four #561 *
5. The Flash #246
6. Ghost Rider #29 *
7. Red Sonja #39
8. Savage Tales #10
9. The Spirit #23
10. The Spirit Special #1

* — Denotes those wavering at the edge of the Culling List.
§ — Denotes my last issue of this misbegotten series.

Wow… Three on the watchlist this week.  Deadpool has just been “off”, and I’m not sure Way’s going to get the hang of writing him any time soon.  Fantastic Four has been hit-and-miss.  Ghost Rider has been pissing me off more and more.  I’m curious to hear the Danny Ketch story (without buying another miniseries), but I’m not sure I care any more.

The Spirit Special didn’t indicate if it was a one-shot, ongoing, or limited series.  I’m hoping it’s just a one-shot, since I have some of the older Spirit TPBs already.

Red Sonja I’ve taken off the watchlist since it seemed to be headed back towards standard Red Sonja fare.

Quick Reviews for 24 Sep 2008

1. Ambush Bug: Year None #3 — Things are a little more disjointed this issue, as Ambush Bug tries to get his marriage annulled. This is turning into more of a collection of random jokes than a satire. B
2. Captain America #42 — At the risk of sounding like an Internet fanboy, OMFG!!! WTF?!?1? The last page alone is worth the price.  LOVED IT!  A
3. Deadpool #2 — This story probably would’ve worked better as a double-sized #1 instead of a lackluster #1 and an okay #2.  I’m going to give this another issue or two to decide, but I’m not convinced Way is the best fit for Deadpool. B
4. Fantastic Four #560 — So we get the origins of the New Defenders, or whatever the hell they’re calling themselves.  Yea… more environmental propaganda. I’m going to let this arc finish, and then I’m done with this.  Too predictible and preachy, in my opinion.  At least the pictures are pretty, though. C
5. Hellboy: The Crooked Man #3 — Very cool final battle with the Crooked Man.  A
6. Ms. Marvel #31 — See, this is what I’m talking about.  Once we get away from the crossover, Reed turns out a great personal piece.  The art could’ve been a bit stronger in conveying the emotion, but otherwise a good read.  B
7. The New Avengers #45 — For some reason, we do a flashback (?) to the “House of M” storyline, the result of which make the Skrull’s invasion easier. I thought they did this in the HoM tie-in, so why did Bendis feel the need to repeat it here? C
8. Northlanders #10 — Edwin sees his revenge exacted and gets a shot at joining with the Vikings. Great stuff. A
9. Project Superpowers #6 — The penultimate issue in the first story arc.  This has had it’s good moments as well as its not-so-good.  This was somewhere in between. B
10. She-Hulk #33 — Nice development with Jazinda and Super-Skrull. David really excels on complex characterization.  A
11. Wolverine: Origins #28 — So this is the prologue to a crossover with X-Men.  Why?  C
12. X-Force #7 — I’m probably going to get some flak here, but I actually thought this issue was a great improvement over the first storyline.  There were some good character moments, and some definite tension between the various members.  B

Pull List for 24 Sep 2008

1. Ambush Bug: Year None #3 (of 6)
2. Captain America #42
3. Deadpool #2 *
4. Fantastic Four #560 *
5. Hellboy: The Crooked Man #3 (of 3)
6. Ms. Marvel #31 *
7. The New Avengers #45
8. Northlanders #10
9. Project Superpowers #6
10. She-Hulk #33
11. Wolverine: Origins #28
12. X-Force #7 *

* — Denotes those wavering at the edge of the Culling List.
§ — Denotes my last issue of this misbegotten series.

Cap is the obvious pick of the week, as this concludes the “Death of Captain America” storyline, which has been a wild ride thus far.

Several wavering near the Culling List this week: Deadpool #1 didn’t really impress.  We’ll see if Way comes up with a real story this issue. I haven’t been especially impressed with FF, either.  While there seems to be some good ideas at work, I’m not happy with the execution.  Ms. Marvel is finally out of “Secret Invasion” tie-ins, so hopefully the story will improve. The first X-Force arc was pretty so-so as a whole.  There were some good ideas, but the series seems like it’s confused on what kind of tone it wants to set.