Revising the Pull List – Looking at the June 2009 Issue of Previews
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Every month when a new copy of Previews comes out I like to sit down, flick through and see what new stuff is coming out. I then add stuff I am interested in to my pull list, trim off a few titles I’m not really enjoying, and shoot an email off to my comic shop to update my order.
I normally do this at the start of every month, when Previews comes out. I’ve been really lax this month though. We’ve had a bunch of bad stuff happening at home, such as my wife being laid off, so I haven’t gotten around to doing it till now. Also, I’ve had very little energy lately, and keep falling asleep all the time, and when I am awake I just feel drowsy and lethargic. I suspect that I have narcolepsy, so I have an appointment with my Doctor this week to try and sort it out. Hopefully I will be back to normal soon and will be posting more!
Below is a list of upcoming series and one-shots coming out in August that have me excited. It isn’t a full list of everything that I will be buying that month. For that, feel free to check out my full pull list!
This month seems to have a lot less than last month. Something my Wife will be very pleased about 
Dark Horse
Brian Talbot is an absolutely wonderful writer/artist, and his previous books, The Tale of One Bad Rat, and Alice in Sunderland are two of my favourite graphic novels of all time. His new book Granville is a high-concept, steam-punk, adventure book featuring anthropomorphic animals. Who am I to resist such an awesome sounding concept? I cannot wait to get this book!
Solicitation:
Two hundred years ago, Britain lost the Napoleonic War and fell under the thumb of French domination. Gaining independence after decades of civil disobedience and anarchist bombings, the Socialist Republic of Britain is now a small, unimportant backwater connected by a railway bridge, steam-powered dirigible, and mutual suspicion to France. When a British diplomat’s murder is made to look like suicide, ferocious Detective-Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard stalks a ruthless murder squad through the heart of a Belle Epoque Paris, the center of the greatest empire in a world of steam-driven hansom cabs, automatons, and flying machines. LeBrock’s relentless quest can lead only to death, truth . . . or war.
DC
This looks like it is going to be packed full of good old super hero fun. Something that Geoff Johns is ridiculously good at. This book also sees the return of Conner Kent to the DCU proper, after his recent reappearance in Legion of Three Worlds, and is packed to the rafters with lots of other great characters.
Solicitation:
It’s the return of one of DC Comics’ longest running books and one of its greatest modern-day heroes — Conner Kent! In our first heroic issue, Superboy can’t wait to jump back into his life — but which life will it be? With a clarity he’s never had before, Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth…Smallville?
Plus, in the wake of FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS, Starman heads off on an all-new mission in the present. And it’s one that will not only impact Superboy, but the future of the DC Universe itself. Fortunately, the off-kilter Legionnaire won’t be dong it alone! And in the upcoming months of ADVENTURE COMICS look for Lex Luthor! Brainiac! Lightning Lad! Superboy’s pal Simple Simon! Sun Boy and Polar Boy! Ultra, the Multi Alien! Wonder Girl! Black Lantern Alexander Luthor! And many, many more new and familiar faces!
To be honest, I am going to check out this first issue and play it from there. I wasn’t to impressed with Batman: Cacophony. The plot was cliched and the art was pretty meh. Maybe it was just a false start, hopefully this series will be better…
Solicitation:
The stakes are high as Batman encounters a new vigilante under his wing amidst what Smith describes as a “backdrop of romance, intrigue, and geek-bait guest stars galore.” Trust us when we say that it’s as awesome as it sounds. BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE is just the start of things for Kevin in the Bat-Universe so get on board now!
Ohhh, new Doom Patrol! Let’s face it, Grant Morrison wrote the Doom Patrol so well that it ruined it for everyone who came after him. Hopefully Keith Giffen will be able to do something decent with the characters… we’ll see though. To me the Doom Patrol are one of those ‘filler’ teams that have to have a REALLY good writer to make them any good. Grant Morrison basically made them his own, so I don’t know if this is going to be nearly as good.
Solicitation:
Come one, come all! The world’s strangest Super Heroes are back, and they brought those robot guys along with ‘em! Thrill to the strange adventures of the Doom Patrol, with script by Keith Giffen and art by Matthew Clark! Whether you think you know ‘em or you wouldn’t know ‘em if they bit you on the behind, this Doom Patrol’s for you! But that’s not all! Read all the way to the back cover for the all-new adventures of those elemental everymen, the Metal Men, featuring the triumphant return of the creative team that brought you JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL! That’s 40 full pages of comic-bookery for just under four American dollars. So why not try some Doom Patrol with a side order of Metal Men today?
This isn’t a comic, it’s actually a novel set in the Fables universe. I’m a huge fan of Fables, and Bill Willingham’s writing in general, so I’m really looking forward to this!
Solicitation:
Set in the imaginative realm of the award-winning comic book series FABLES, PETER & MAX is a stand-alone prose novel — the first ever published starring FABLES characters!
Long ago, in the deepest dark of The Black Forest, two brothers — Peter Piper and his older brother Max – encountered ominous forces that changed them both irreparably. Thus begins an epic tale of sibling rivalry, magic, music and revenge that spans medieval times to the present day, when their deadly conflict surfaces in the placid calm of modern day Fabletown.
PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL features the deft prose of award-winning comic book writer Bill Willingham and lush ink spot illustrations from FABLES artist Steve Leialoha. The novel also reveals secrets of some of the regular FABLES series cast members including Bigby Wolf, Frau Totenkinder and Bo Peep. Included as well is an 8-page bonus sequential comic story by Willingham and Leialoha that serves as a bridge to the FABLES graphic novel collections.
Dynamite
It’s another Project Superpowers spin-off series. Some of the previous minis were decent, and a couple were just mediocre. I’m willing to give this one a try though as I’m quite enjoying the overall story of Project Superpowers.
Solicitation:
A special series plotted by Alex Ross and scripted by Joe Casey debut here as Dynamite invites you to “Meet the Bad Guys!”
As the heroes return, the villains rise and this debut issue – illustrated by the next Dynamite artistic sensation Chasen Grieshop – features the Green Lama and the debut of Blood Lust! What’s this powerful new villain’s connection to the Green Lama? Find out in this special!
Fantagraphics
- Love &Rockets: New Stories #2
I have been reading Love & Rockets for years. I have all the comics, and the softcovers and the hardcovers and… you get the picture. New Stories #1 was a wonderful pieces of work, and I can’t wait to see what the brother have in store for us this time!
Solicitation:
This volume gets off to a flying start with “Hypnotwist,” Gilbert’s epic story of a beautiful, leggy redhead’s surreal journey into a night filled with mysterious shady characters, dreamlike violence, and sparkling retro spike heels. Then, in the concluding 50-page chapter of Jaime’s outrageous, acclaimed, superhero mash-up “Ti-Girls Adventures,” our protagonist, rookie do-gooder Boot Angel, learns more hard lessons about becoming a superheroine.
Eventually, just about the entire cast gets together for a reunion that unexpectedly takes place in Maggie’s tiny bedroom apartment. Finally, Beto gets top heavy with “Sad Girl,” and introduces Killer! the sweetest teen startlet of the solar system! Forget Watchemen, Love and Rockets is the big one!
- Usagi Yojimbo: Special Edition
I’ve been thinking of re buying all the old Usagi books, and now Fantagraphics have solved this problem for me by issuing this massive anthology of the firth seven books in a deluxe slipcase edition. WIN
Solicitation:
Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo is a perennial favorite amongst children, especially boys, and adult fans. Usagi Yojimbo chronicles the action-packed wanderings of a funny-anima; ronin in feudal Japan. In honor of his 25th anniversary, Fantagraphics is releasing a deluxe slipcase set collecting the seven first Usagi books, including the earliest stories; the origin story, “Samurai”; a full graphic novel; and literally dozens more. This is the complete, definitive Special Edition (our third in a line of repacking our most beloved classics). It will also have extra material, some from the long-out-of-print hardcover editions and some brand new: a complete full-color gallery of the more than 50 Usagi covers from that period (never-before-collected); many preparatory sketches; two “non-canon” Usagi stories by Sakai co-starring the TMNT (with whom Usagi also shared screen time in the TMNTs’ TV series); and a long career-spanning interview with Sakai.
IDW
- Star Trek: Nero #1
Star Trek: Countdown was a really good lead-in to the Star Trek Movie, and added loads of extra depth to the story. This second mini is told during the time between when Nero appeared in the past and before Spock arrived. If this is as good as the prequel comic it is set to be an amazing read!
Solicitation:
From Star Trek writer/producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and the creative team behind the prequel comic Star Trek: Countdown comes an all-new story set within the events of the film! Not an adaptation, this exclusive story follows the villainous Nero as he seeks to destroy the Federation. An essential chapter in the rebirth of Star Trek!
- Doctor Who: Cold-Blooded War
Another stand-alone Doctor Who tale. IDW have done a lot of them recently, and they have all been really good. This one is written by Richard Starkings, writer of Elephantmen and letterer supreme, so I’m definitely going to grab a copy.
Solicitation:
In this standalone tale, the Doctor and Donna attempt to broker a peace plan between two very hierarchical and pompous alien races, the Draconians and Ice Warriors. But their best efforts are derailed by someone who stands to gain from the continued conflict.
SLG
- Ubu Bubu collection
Ubu Bubu was one of the most peculiar and most hilarious comics of the last year. If you missed the series in single form be sure to pick this collected edition up. I was asked for a cover quote for the book, so fingers crossed that I make it 
Solicitation:
When an innocent cat is possessed by a brutal malevolent daemon, they become Ubu Bubu, reaper of human souls and destroyer of innocents! Turning an ordinary home into Hell and imprisoning the terrified kids who lived there, Ubu Bubu begins his horrific rampage of slaughter and destruction under the command of mysterious ringmaster Stig. This book collects the 4-issue mini-series by Bear creator Jamie Smart.
Image
- The Gear: Left of Center of the Universe CD
Not actually a comic, but a CD recorded by Mike Allred’s band to tie into the Red Rocket 7/Madman finale spectacular!
Solicitation:
This album takes off through hyperspace from where the previous album from The Gear left off!
Imagine Pink Floyd and Alice Cooper melding with The Beatles and Bowie after gorging on blackberry cobbler then taking a time machine into the year 2010 and you might get some idea of what to expect from these sonic gems.
Includes the modern classic ‘Nasty Snack’ with special guest-star Courtney Taylor of The Dandy Warhols sitting in.
This special limited edition CD includes special die-cut packaging with rotating artwork.
Marvel
Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting telling the story of the birth of the Marvel Universe! It’s a story that may have been told one or two times before, but this is Ed Brubaker, so it HAS to be good! ‘Nuff said!
Solicitation:
The centerpiece of Marvel’s 70th Anniversary celebration! Who is the mysterious old man who lies on his deathbed in a hospital in 1939, and how does his passing mark the beginning of the first heroic age of the Marvel Universe — and signal the rise of the superhumans? Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting unveil the defining story of the origin of the Marvel Universe, revealing the hidden connections that unite the earliest costumed champions, and whose reverberations are felt dramatically into the present day! It’s a world on the brink of war, and the race is on to create the world’s first super-soldier! Witness the first days of the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and many more– how they shaped the world to come, and how the future they would create in turn shaped them!
Confusingly Marvel canceled Ghost-Rider and started this six issue miniseries as a concussion to Jason Aaron’s epic storyline. Why this couldn’t just have been done in the regular Ghost-Rider book I have no idea. Oh well, I’m going to buy it because I want to know how this story ends.
Solicitation:
The acclaimed GHOST RIDER run of writer Jason Aaron reaches its fever-pitched conclusion with six more issues of insanity, all jam-packed with new villains, old allies and the same old grindhouse action that Flamehead fans have come to know and love. The renegade angel Zadkiel is out to thwart Biblical prophecy by assassinating a young boy bred by Satanists to rule the world, so if Ghost Riders Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch are going to save the world, they’ll first have to save the Anti-Christ. Guest-starring Hellstorm, the Son of Satan.
I haven’t been following the Ultimate Universe so I have no idea why it has been relaunched, all I know is that Mark Millar is back writing Ultimate (comics) Avengers, and that is all there is to it. Jeff who???
Solicitation:
Guess who’s back!! That’s right, kids, MARK MILLAR (THE ULTIMATES, WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN) and superstar artist CARLOS PACHECO (AVENGERS FOREVER, X-MEN) blast into the Ultimate Universe for a mind-blowing, heart-pounding and gut-wrenching event of epic proportions! When a highly-classified secret threatens Captain America, only the newly-returned Nick Fury has the tools to bring ‘em in! As the first of a series of blockbuster arcs begins: PROJECT AVENGERS is a go!
Roddenbury Productions
- Days Missing #1
The solicitation is kind of unclear, but I think this is based on an unused Gene Rodenburry idea. I could be wrong though. It’s written by Phil Hester, with art work from the legendary Frazer Irving. If I says Irving on it, I always buy it. If the story is shit at least it will have very pretty artwork!
Solicitation:
Since the dawn of time, a being has existed whose interaction and interference with mankind has shaped human history. His powers of time and intellect have allowed him to secretly remove certain critical days from the historical record. Their stories have never been told. Their details have never been documented. Their existence is not remembered. But the occurrences of these days have forever changed the course of humanity’s evolution. These are the days missing from our existence, and they are about to be revealed! Available with two covers, a regular edition by Dale Keown (The Darkness), and a limited edition cover by creator Frazer Irving, limited to 2,500 copies.
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