Hello and welcome to The Pull! Each week, we (Ghost, Reed & Samantha) put together a definitive list of comics we’re most looking forward to reading. Then we send it off to you, to pick and choose from our pull list as you please.
This week, we have 7 titles for your perusal. Did we miss something really great? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on Twitter @ItsThePull!
P.S. We’re sorry we were gone so long! Our week-long hiatus quickly became a month-long one, but now we’re back and better than ever! Special shout-out to Mikey for our beautiful new logo, e-mail banner and Twitter header! We’re super official now, thanks to him.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO: COMICS!
Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #5
Writer: Leah Williams
Penciler: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Roberto Poggi
Colorist: Jim Charalampidis
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Rahzzah
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: It’s time for Jubilee to set shit on fire! AOX is very close to wrapping up, with just a few issues left before Hickman relaunches the entire X-Men line, and I’ve been most looking forward to seeing how X-Tremists comes together, especially after the leaps that occurred at the end of issue #4. Everyone knows Nate has been lying to and manipulating them — so how do they come back from that?
Ghost: In the huge event known as Age of X-Man, Leah Williams has constructed such a tightly woven, character driven narrative in X-Tremists that I don’t want this series to end. Issue #4 was such a melancholy reflection on gay male friendship that we never get, ending with the call for a riot. Well, the riot has begun and Jubilee remembers. I’m ready for her and the rest of the cast to just burn it all down. I can’t wait to see them all rise from the ashes.
Reed: I’m real excited to see how last month’s deus ex Jubilee both came about and how it’ll end for our ragtag group of X-Tremists. Leah Williams has poured her heart out into this stubborn little book. I’m excited to see what will come next for the X-line, but I’m sad to see Williams’ time at the X-office come to a close (for the time being, at least).
Bttm Fdrs
Writer: Ezra Claytan Daniels
Artist: Ben Passmore
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Samantha: I’ve been watching buzz grow around Bttm Fdrs for a while now and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. This sci-fi/horror OGN examines the damage and the danger of gentrification and cultural appropriation through the lens of horrid creatures lurking in the dark — and it does so with a surprising amount of humor. Per reviews, if you’re enjoying the new Twilight Zone reboot, you’ll definitely want to pick this up.
Canto #1
Writer: David M. Booher
Artist: Drew Zucker
Colorist: Vittorio Astone
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Samantha: The preview art for Canto assures me of two things: 1) this steampunk-esque fantasy series is going to be really fun and 2) it’s going to make me cry like a baby. Anthropomorphized tin people with clocks instead of hearts, rising up against their enslavers? Bring. It. On. (And please send me tissues!!)
Dark Red #4
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Corin Howell
Letterer: Marshall Dillon
Cover Artist: Aaron Campbell
Publisher: Aftershock Comics
Ghost: I really wasn’t sure about Tim Seeley’s Dark Red when I picked up the first issue. It was equal parts vampire horror and an exploration of the horrors we are all experiencing in America on a daily basis. I wasn’t sure how these elements were going to play into each other or if I’d like the final product. I am happy to report that three issues in, I am hooked. Not only is this series a modern horror story about vampires, it’s a modern horror story about the times we live in. It’s messy and violent and has a good share of Nazi killing. I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Gryffen: Galaxy’s Most Wanted #4
Writer: Ben Kahn
Artist: Bruno Hidalgo
Colorists: Bruno Hidalgo & James Peñafiel
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Publisher: SBI Press
Samantha: I love a jokey fight book, especially when it’s in space and especially when it’s utterly, aggressively queer. Ben Kahn’s dialogue in Gryffen: Galaxy’s Most Wanted is enough to keep me coming back all on its own, but add in Bruno Hidalgo’s art and there’s just no way I’d miss an issue of this series. It’s available digitally on ComiXology and trust me — you want to read this comic.
Magnificent Ms. Marvel #4
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artists: Minkyu Jung & Juan Velasco
Color Artist: Ian Herring
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Eduard Petrovich
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: This Ms. Marvel run plays with space, time, reincarnation and mythology in really cool ways and I love seeing Kamala’s parents more involved, even if it isn’t ideal that they’re literally on another planet with her. Rather than trying to predict where this is going, I’ve just been enjoying the ride, which has been so worth it.
Marvel Rising #4
Writer: Nilah Magruder
Artists: Roberto Di Salvo & Georges Duarte
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Audrey Mok
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: I missed a few issues of Marvel Rising in the midst of our move, so I need to catch up, but this cover art has me excited for whatever campy shenanigans are going down with this team as they face off against Morgana.