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 18 titles for your perusal. Did we miss something really great? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on Twitter @ItsThePull!
Are You Listening?
Cartoonist: Tillie Walden
Publisher: First Second Books
Samantha: Tillie Walden’s work is so deeply moving; just the description of Are You Listening? has me eager to get my hands on the book. I really love road trip narratives, too, so this has extra appeal.
Black Cat #4
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Travel Foreman
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Ferran Delgado
Cover Artists: J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: Felicia and her crew target #4 Yancy Street in this issue, which is sure to be a wild ride from start to finish — especially given how out of control their heist at the Sanctum Sanctorum got! I’m loving this series so, so much and I hope it continues for a very long time.
Canto #4
Writer: David M. Booher
Artist: Drew Zucker
Colorist: Vittorio Astone
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Samantha: Sweet Canto. This series is at the halfway mark and he’s so close to finishing his journey — but of course, there’s still plenty standing in his way. This series really pulls at my heartstrings; if you want a fantasy read that’s incredibly tender, look no further.
Captain Marvel #10
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Carmen Carnero
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Mark Brooks
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: There is a Dark!Carol storyline coming and this Star stuff seems to be directly preceding it… Thompson/Carnero/Bonvillain/Cowles are a team not to be trifled with and this run is excellent all around. If you haven’t been keeping up, why not dive in right now? No time like the present!
Chastity #1
Writer: Leah Williams
Artist: Daniel Mainé
Cover Artist: Clayton Crain
Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Samantha: I read the extended preview of Chastity #1 and I’m already obsessed.
Daredevil #11
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Julian Totino Tedesco
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: ELEKTRA IS BACK! Matt has been making some truly messy choices, which I can only imagine will continue to be the trend in this new arc… I love Chip Zdarsky’s handle on Matt’s voice and I’m excited to see what Elektra brings to the table. Plus, Marco Checchetto’s art is perfect and I’m so glad to see him back.
Ghosted In L.A. #3
Writer: Sina Grace
Artists: Siobhan Keenan & Sina Grace
Colorist: Cathy Le
Letterer: DC Hopkins
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Samantha: This issue is absolutely delightful, but the cliffhanger is a doozy! I love how Sina Grace and Siobhan Keenan are handling the various ghosts in this cast of characters, and how Daphne and Ronnie are written. It’s sweet. You can check out a preview of this issue right here!
Gryffen: Galaxy’s Most Wanted #7
Writer: Ben Kahn
Artist: Bruno Hidalgo
Colorists: Bruno Hidalgo & James Peñafiel
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Publisher: SBI Press
Samantha: Ben Kahn and Bruno Hidalgo were just nominated for an Ignatz for Heavenly Blues, which subsequently got a digital release (!!!). That’s an excellent heist story. Gryffen is…something different. I interviewed Kahn for The Beat about this punchy, weird, super queer space odyssey, which just gets weirder with every issue. Read it!
Gwenpool Strikes Back #2
Writer: Leah Williams
Artist: David Baldeón
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Ghost: Leah Williams continues to redefine Gwen’s roll in the Marvel Universe like her life depends on it. (Gwen’s kinda does.) I am loving the frenetic pace, the amazing David Balderon art and stunning character work no one but Leah Williams can do. Loved the Looney Tunes quality of the first issue and can’t wait to read #2.
Samantha: I keep describing this series as “going full trash goblin” and the preview for this issue is so horny that I can’t even deal. Also, what’s up, Deadpool? Somehow it seems like this mini is about to get even wilder…
Hardcore Anxiety: A Graphic Guide to Punk Rock and Mental Health
Cartoonist: Reid Chancellor
Publisher: Microcosm Publishing
Samantha: There have been so many excellent comics about mental health and music this year, and I’m eager to get my hands on Reid Chancellor’s new book because these themes are so prevalent in my own life and seeing so many interpretations and stories collected in anthologies and graphic novels has been incredible. I missed the Kickstarter for this, but you bet your butt I’m ordering a copy from Microcosm this week!
Ironheart #10
Writer: Eve L. Ewing
Artist: Luciano Vecchio
Layouts: Geoffo
Color Artist: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artists: Stefano Caselli & Matt Milla
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: G u h, I am loving Riri in Wakanda. Her interactions with Shuri in issue #9 are incredible and I’m so ready for them to keep working together as they search for the Wellspring of Power.
Livewire #10
Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Tana Ford
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Cover Artist: Stacey Lee
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Samantha: I think it’s safe to say that the entirety of this Livewire arc has been inherently political, but the current “Hero” arc is even more blatant — and it’s so damn good. As Amanda tries to sway public opinion about psiots, politicians keep talking about her as if she’s inhuman — which is the whole problem with these “debates,” isn’t it?
Livewire, Vol. 2: Guardian TP
Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Kano
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Cover Artist: Kenneth Rocafort
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Samantha: If you haven’t been following Livewire, I highly encourage you to grab the trades and catch up! This volume collects issues #5-8, which is the second arc of Vita Ayala’s absolutely stunning run.
Miles Morales Spider-Man #10
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artist: Javier Garrón
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Artists: Mahmud Asrar & Dave Stewart
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: This 250th anniversary issue celebrates Miles’ birthday, which will hopefully be a nice break from his horrifying ordeal with the Assessor! This poor kid is trying his damndest and the super villains just won’t let him catch a break, even when there’s good news for his family. Here’s hoping a new arc means better times?
Powers Of X #4
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artists: R.B. Silva & Adriano Di Benedetto
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Designer: Tom Muller
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Ghost: At this point I’m not sure where we’re headed. Jonathan Hickman has turned the X Universe upside down so many times that I’m not sure I’m even standing anymore. I’m going to try and stay upright for the next handful of issues as we push to the conclusion.
Samantha: Home stretch! Major players are dead (supposedly) and all the teasers point toward Mister Sinister making his grand entrance in Powers of X #4 — which means shit is probably about to hit the fan. Again. (And again.)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch #5
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artists: Veronica & Andy Fish
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Publisher: Archie Comics
Samantha: The end is nigh! This is the last issue in this absolutely phenomenal mini-series and I’m sure it will end with a bang. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this creative team back in action with Sabrina: Something Wicked next spring — it’s a direct sequel that’s “darker and more dangerous, the stakes even higher,” which sounds like absolute perfection. I’M READY.
Stargazing
Cartoonist: Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second Books
Samantha: Jen Wang won a ton of awards for The Prince and the Dressmaker, which was delightful, and early buzz about Stargazing suggests that it’s equally fantastic. I love the previews I’ve seen and I’m very, very excited to dig right in — but I’m also going to have tissues ready, because this book is bound to make me cry.
Unstoppable Wasp: Unlimited, Vol. 2: G.I.R.L. vs A.I.M. TP
Writer: Jeremy Whitley
Artists: Gurihiru & Alti Firmansyah
Colorist: Espen Grundetjern
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Stacey Lee
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: It was so sad to see this series end, but Nadia will live on in a YA novel from Sam Maggs next year and (for now) she’s still in Champions (which is also ending… boo!!!). If you missed this absolutely stunning, 10-issue arc exploring Nadia’s mental health, friendships, family, and more, grab the trades, hunker down, and immerse yourself. This is some of the best character work Marvel has published, period. (Also, I’m quoted on the cover of this trade!)