Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 12/12/12

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 12/12/12:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics. I have not included links to Dark Horse books because you cannot support us currently by buying them through our site.)

01. Ame-Comi Girls #3 featuring Duela Dent DC
02. Archer & Armstrong #5 Valiant
03. Batgirl #15 DC
04. Batman #15 DC
05. Batman and Robin #15 DC
06. Batman: Arkham Unhinged #9 DC
07. Bloodshot #6 Valiant
08. Clone #2 Image
09. Demon Knights #15 DC
10. Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E #15 DC
11. Green Lantern Corps #15 DC
12. Legion Lost #15 DC
13. Suicide Squad #15 DC
14. Team 7 #3 DC


Reading List:

Amazing Spider-Man #699.1 Marvel
Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #3 of 4 Before Watchmen: Rorschach #3 of 4 DC
Cable and X-Force #1 Marvel
Deathstroke #15 DC
Fantastic Four #2 Marvel
Grifter #15 DC
Superboy #15
Winter Soldier #13 Marvel


Another week has come and there is a fair amount of titles I need to talk about. As usual I'm going to start at the bottom of my pile with the best titles: Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E, Suicide Squad, Batman and Robin, Batgirl, and Batman. Death of the Family dominates the titles I'm looking forward to this week as it should. This cross-over event has been amazing and each title that it touches in its own way adds so much to the overall story. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out in the end. The one down note to it now is the fact that Gail Simone will be leaving Batgirl after issue #16. All I can say to this is that Batgirl will never be the same.
The last book to round out the titles I am looking forward to is Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E, because it has been an great title on its own, but it has gotten more interesting since it has ties to Rotworld. It is a shame that the book is ending with the next issue, but it had a solid go for over a year, and I'm happy with that.
And yes, if you hadn't noticed I am completely in love with the stuff Scott Snyder has his hand in. Rotworld and Death of the Family are solid examples of good cross-over events (Marvel take note here). I am saddened to see Snyder leave Swamp Thing, but he is trying to manage his writing schedule to give a 110% to every title under his belt. There is a positive to this; Snyder and Jim Lee on a Superman book next year. We know where that book will be in my stack.
Let's start with Team 7. I am still not sure if I really like this book, but it still holds my interest enough to keep reading. Maybe with the story arc The Black Diamond Probability it will pick up. I'm hopeful for this book, because it is the background title for many other books I enjoy.
Next up is my half ass attempt to enjoy manga. Ame-Comi Girls has been a fun read from Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. The spin they put on the characters is interesting and I like the art. It feel like a good combination of Manga and American style comics. I'm still not sold on getting the figurines, which for my wallet is a good thing.
Clone surprised me with issue one so it has jumped up from the reading list to the pull list. A fast paced book that throws you right into the action and drama. If you haven't given this book a try you should see if you can find a copy of number one at your local comic shop. Definitely something that a lot of people may have missed.
Legion Lost is still the better of the two Legion titles and yet it is going away after issue #16. Shame. I have enjoyed this mid-level book for over a year now, but trimming the fat has become a staple at DC. This is fine by me, but I am still a little let down this title and a few others are getting the axe. Hopefully, before the end this Legion will be found.
Batman: Arkham City fans, and in fact any Batman fan., should be reading this digital first title. The Batman world that has been created with the video games has some rich stories that come out in the pages of this title. That reminds me I still need to get the Harley Quinn pack. I wonder if it is one sale or free yet?
Old magic, during ancient times, and a cast of misfit heroes drives Demon Knights to success every issue. In this issue a Hell breaks loose, and I am ready to see how this story arc plays out.
Archer & Armstrong and Bloodshot are damn good titles that people need to check out. Both titles are shifting story arcs, and I can't wait to see where these books go. Valiant keeps putting out great books. You should really be reading them.
Guy Gardner is no longer a Green Lantern and with the Rise of the Third Army coming to a close what will happen to him, and the Corps? Peter Tomasi has been a solid choice for Green Lantern Corps for years, and in the New 52 there is no exception. This book almost made it to the bottom of my pile, but with the slight dragging of the Rise of the Third Army story arc I couldn't put it any lower in my pile. Still a worth while read.
Now it is time for my reading list breakdown. Before Watchmen hasn't been the same since the delay, and I'm still reading cause I have gotten this far so why stop now? Sanity?
Fantastic Four #2 will hopefully entice me enough to keep reading, but I have a feeling this title will fall off my list just as Iron Man did; with issue three.
Amazing Spider-Man #699.1 is to be honest, POINT-LESS. I don't know why I'm even bothering to read it. It breaks the slight momentum the last two issues have built just to get readers set up to buy the upcoming Morbius comic. They didn't even have the decency to list the creators on the cover.
Rob Liefeld is off Deathstroke and Grifter! I can enjoy reading these titles again. I have no clue what is going on in either book, but I'm so happy Liefeld is out I am going to at least give them a read again. Grifter though is done with issue #16, but at least I get to see where it goes before the end, but I may have to keep this issue of Grifter; the Suicide Squad makes an appearance in the issue.
Superboy crosses over with the H'El on Earth story, and so I must read it. I'm just glad I don't have to read The Ravagers or Teen Titans.
I get to enjoy some Ed Brubaker this week with Winter Soldier #13, and yes it has been a while. With all that double shipping prior to this I can honestly say that it is really noticeable that this book has been gone from the rotation for a little while. Oh well, standard operating procedure at Marvel.
And last on my reading list is the Marvel NOW! Cable and X-Force book. Not sure what to think of it yet, but I am hopeful it will be at least readable. The characters in this book are an interesting combination so like Thunderbolts, maybe this book will peak my reading interest.

Well there it is my breakdown of the comics I'm buying and reading this week. I hope you enjoyed it. Now get over to your local comic shop or click over to our digital storefront, and get your selection for the week.

Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront or you can still order comics from us directly by visiting the shop, giving us a call (408) 245-6275, or dropping Ryan an email at ryan@comicsconspiracy.biz.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

4 comments:

  1. how is rotworld and death of the family best crossovers when they dont even crossover? that shits wack just like stupid green lantern crossover. dc drops the ball hard on all crossovers since new 52

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    1. I didn't realize two separate cross-overs had to cross-over to be good. And I would have to agree that the Rise of the Third Army hasn't been totally amazing.

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    2. i didnt mean crossover with each other, i mean crossover at all... u cant call them crossover if its just stuff happening in separate books... u can read animal man or swamp thing and ignore the other, or just read batman and not read anything else and u dont miss any story. there needs to be a new word for what dc is doing but crossover doesn't fit, its more like a line wide event. it effects all books but they dont actually crossover. maybe aquaman and justice league event will actually be a crossover, justice league needs to get some of aquamans quality in it cause it's been kinda bad too.

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    3. A "line wide event" is what Marvel does every few months to boost sales (Age of Ultron, Marvel NOW!, AvX, Fear Itself, etc.) As for Death of the Family and Rotworld not crossing over, they have to a small degree, but what makes them great is what you pointed out, you don't have to read it all to get the whole story. The old style cross-over event where one book builds to the next and jumps from book to book is a style best left to the past. It breaks the flow of titles too much and when you go to read them in order you have to omit them or read a really choppy story, or read another trade in the middle of the one you are working on. I'm okay with the current way DC has their "family books" cross-over. As for the JL vs. Aquaman comment...that's all Johns.

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