MY PULL LIST

by David Grouix

     Hey comic book fans. Each month when Previews is released I will be going over it with a fine tooth comb looking for anything that might be a hidden surprise, buried deep in the back half of the catalogue, or something that is a key issue, for either a character, a storyline, or a creator. Since this is my first article I will only be focusing on new series, or new story lines, and will not normally touch on things that are already running, unless they are incredibly noteworthy.

     Let's start with the Previews dated April 2012, with most product shipping June 2012, unless otherwise noted. For the sake of the order of the products I will not be discussing the product featured in the opening pages and will dive right into the first section starting on page 30, Dark Horse Comics. The first book I am going to mention is 'The Massive'. This is a book by the creator of DMZ, Brian Wood, and is his first creator owned work since that series came to underwhelming close. As much as I am not a fan of how the series came to an end, there is no denying he can build an amazing world, and one that is “post-crash, post-disaster, post-everything”, seems to be right up his alley. With beautiful clean artwork this looks like a survival story unlike anything out there, this will be added to my pull list.

     Page 32 highlights a new take on the zombie genre by Gilbert Hernandez, co-creator of of indie hit 'Love and Rockets'. 'Fatima: The Blood Spinners' is an ongoing series that combines zombies, drug lords, and over the top violence, with a storyline that envisions a new take on the white hot Zombie genre. This is one I will be checking out.

     On page 35 is 'Dark Horse Presents' #13, and the anthology continues it's tradition of premiering new characters, creating hidden gems, or re-envisioning existing characters, and this issue is no different with a reboot of Ghost. Elisa Cameron, the supernatural crime fighter is back. With a new mini-series recently announced to follow this story, this is one to get if you are a fan of this long missing character. Plus, you will get a new Aliens story by John Layman, and that is always a good thing.

     I have personally grown a little tired of Buffy, don't get me wrong, I love the television series, and most of the comic books have been average to above average, but sometimes the toys need to be put away so that they seem new when brought back out, but page 36 grabbed my attention with a new five issue mini-series called, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Drusilla'. The subject matter made me take notice as Drusilla is one of my favorite characters in the Buffyverse, but the true excitement about this mini-series is the writer, Juliet Landau, the actress who played the crazy vampire, is writing this herself. Who knows the psyche of the twisted vampire better?. Centering on a hunt for Drusilla, this story will take a documentary filmmaker into the past, present, and future, as he hunts for his dark obsession. This promises to be a thrill ride highlighting more of the barely explored dark past of a fan favorite character from one of the most beloved franchises in pop culture history.

     Page 74 begins the DC Comics section, and probably the most divisive comics coming out, Before Watchmen. I admit to being a person that does think the story has been told with these characters but two of the mini-series will be making their way onto my pull list, both of them written by Darwyn Cooke. Before Watchmen: Minutemen is a six issue mini-series written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke, and Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre is a four issue mini-series written by Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner, with Amanda providing artwork. Both of these series remind me of Justice League: New Frontier, and based on that I will be picking up both of these Before Watchmen books. These will be the ones to watch.

     Earth Two #2 brings Mr. Terrific into the fold, and introduces the Jay Garrick Flash to the world. While I am not a fan of the costume design for the character I am excited to see new takes on such loved characters.

     If Liefeld wasn't involved I would be picking up Deathstroke #10 for The Hunt for Lobo, but I am not a fan of him as a creator, but for Lobo diehards, this would be worth checking out.