Hey everyone! Welcome back to The Pull List! Would you believe I started this article THREE WEEKS AGO?Judging by my track record with this article series, I'd imagine that yes, yes you would believe it. But whatever, I have some good stuff for you this week, including a few new editions to DC's New 52 experiment (New-New 52? Sounds like a line from Dr. Seuss). So let's read some comics!
Earth 2 #1 (Robinson, Scott, Scott)
Plot: Once upon a time, DC Comics introduced the idea of multiple universes (or multiverses) into continuity, mostly to explain why Superman and Batman fought in WWII, yet were still young and active in the 1960s. Over the years the Multiverse has come and gone, but now, because of the New 52 reboot, it looks like the Multiverse is here to stay... until it's not.
Anyway, Earth-2 was originally set up as "Golden Age" DC, where superheroes have been around since the 1930s, and many of the characters were allowed to age, and in Batman and Catwoman's case, retire from costumed antics, marry, and sire a new generation of heroes and villains. The new Earth 2 takes a similar approach, as it is clear that at least Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman has been active for longer than their "Main Earth" doppelgangers. Unfortunately, we don't see much of their exploits because they are *Spoilers* killed off 2/3 of the way through the book. We finish up with some nice teases for upcoming familiar faces (Green Lantern, Flash, and The Atom).
Opinion: Not a bad first outing, all things considered. I would've liked the "Big Three" heroes be portrayed a little older (Batman and his daughter look to have about a 10 year age difference), but all in all, I am very intrigued by this book, and can't wait for next month's installment.
Grade: Buy
The Defenders #6 (Fraction, Ibanez, Sotomayor)
Plot: A makeshift team comprised of Dr. Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer, Red She-Hulk, and the Immortal Iron Fist have discovered a number of strange, otherworldly machines that, for whatever reason, prohibit anyone who has seen it from describing them to anyone else.
Iron Fist plans to relax for an evening with the lovely robot-armed Misty Knight are trashed by the appearance of a near-death fellow hero Fat Cobra. Apparently, someone is killing off the Immortal Weapons (mystic kung-fu masters, including Iron Fist), and it's up to Fist and Silver Surfer to investigate, uncovering a secret that includes the previous Iron Fist, the strange machines, and even Captain Nemo.
Opinion: I like this book. A lot. The writing is crisp, and it includes Fat Cobra, one of my favorite Marvel characters . However, this issue is (I would imagine) smack in the middle of an already confusing arc, so I can't recommend this issue to anyone who isn't already invested in the story. Also, I wish the Dodsons were back on interior art duties, not because I dislike Victor Ibanez's art (I dig it quite a bit, in fact!), but because the Dodson's style is sooo amazing.
Grade: Skim (with an option to Buy)
Dial H #1 (Mieville, Santolouco)
Plot: One of the first round of replacement-New 52 books from DC. Originally, the alien "Hero Dial" had the power to turn a young boy named Robby Reed into a random adult superhero complete with costume, many times with odd or incredibly specific powers.
This time, the Dial has manifested as an old payphone dialer that, in a moment of danger, morbidly-obese sadsack Nelson Jent pounds on randomly until he becomes hero-tyes like Boy Chimney (a skeleton in a suit with the power of... smoke) and Captain Lachrymose (imagine Superman if her were WAY into The Cure and were fueled by tears).
Opinion: ...
... I don't know what to think of this book. It's clearly NOT a superhero tale, and I like how the Dial seems to be transforming the heron into completely different people with different agendas and personalities, but seriously... Boy Chimney is terrifying. They set up a vaguely mystical antagonist, but I'm not sure if fighting bad guys is going to be point of this comic.
Grade: Buy
X-Factor # 235 (David, Kirk, Milla)
Plot: Someone is killing off homemade superheroes (ala Phoenix Jones et al). After an argument between current team leader Jamie Maddrox (Multiple Man) and newly-appointed team leader and X-Men suckup Alex Summers (Havock), Maddrox decides to go undercover along with team member Shatterstar, and are ambushed by a guy who looks like he came straight out of a mid-90s comic, giant shoulderpads, pouches, the works.
Also, a member of the team might have been blinded or knocked into a coma. So it's got that going for it, I guess.
Opinion: Since the start of this iteration of X-Factor, this book has decent, but not spectacular, and this issue joins in that tradition. The art is good, the story is good, it was funny in the right places... I just put my finger on it. I dunno, on paper this SHOULD be one of my favorite comics, but it just... isn't.
Grade: Skim
Swamp Thing #9 (Snyder, Rudy, Paquette)
Plot: The finale of the first arc that pitted Alec Holland (and eventually Swamp Thing in full glory) against Sethe and agents of the Rot. Last issue saw longtime character Abigail Arcane become essentually a Swamp Thing of Death, and here she remains that way... for about 6 pages, when she is saved by a flashback about peaches (yes, peaches).
The last page sets up the major antagonist for the next arc, and it is pure old-school Swamp Thing awesomeness.
Opinion: I liked it. Big surprise. The resolution to the Sethe problem was a little... lackluster given the high quality of each issue before this one, but the return of THE definitive Swamp Thing villain is more than enough reason to pick this issue up.
Grade: Buy
Daredevil #12 (Waid, Samnee, Rodriguez)
Plot: The last handful of issues have dealt with Daredevil's continued run-ins with every sect of Megacrime in the Marvel Universe because of a flash drive in his possession that contains enough evidence to shut down all organized crime forever. This issue takes a break from that, where Matt Murdock finally gets to take his new ladyfriend on a date, as well as recount the tale of how he first met his law partner and best friend Foggy Nelson.
Opinion: There is ZERO Daredevil on this issue, and it really works. This series needed a break from the super-intense Megacrime story, and now that my palate has been sufficiently cleansed I'm ready for more action!
Grade: Buy
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