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 10 titles for your perusal. Did we miss something really great? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on Twitter @ItsThePull!
Age of X-Man: The Amazing Nightcrawler #2
Writer: Seanan McGuire
Artist: Juan Frigeri
Colorist: Dono Sánchez-Almara
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover Artists: Shane Davis, Michelle Delecki & Guru-eFX
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Ghost: You should be reading all the AOX titles. If you’re not, you’re missing out on a greater picture. I’m not Nightcrawler’s biggest fan, but this book is great even if just for the secondary cast. It’s also exploring one of the biggest missing things in AOX which is any mention of family and what it means to close yourself off from that. Please pick this up.
Samantha: Seanan McGuire’s debut issue of Age of X-Man: The Amazing Nightcrawler hit me in some good ways and some bad, but one thing’s for sure: it prompted a ton of intrigue into what’s happening on every level of this screwy dystopia. There’s sure to be a lot of fallout in this issue from what happened in issue #1. Plus, as the curtain over Nate Grey’s world is pulled back bit by bit, everything is going to fall to pieces. How that will affect Kurt, Meggan, the Cuckoo sisters and their film production company will surely be a fantastic and explosive story.
Age of X-Man: NextGen #2
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Marcus To
Colorist: Jason Keith
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Chris Bachalo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Ghost: It was first in the pages of NextGen that this world started to feel like it was weeping into literally every part of life. Issue #1 gave us a frankly terrifying look at the secret police of the world and juxtaposed Glob Herman against them. Against this entire place. From here it looks like Glob will have to convince his friends that this world isn’t what it seems. I cannot wait to go for this ride with him and the rest of the students as they rally against the wrong in the world. Just like teens should.
Samantha: More Glob Herman, please! I love that Age of X-Man: NextGen shows us how the teenagers are coping with this dystopia and how they are attempting to navigate a fascist regime while also looking out for each other and themselves. After the cliffhanger in issue #1, it seems clear that Glob will have some explaining to do regarding his weird behavior in the midst of everything, but whether or not he’ll be believed remains to be seen. I’m crossing my fingers that these kids come out of this experience unscathed, though I know that’s unlikely.
Captain Marvel #3
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Carmen Carnero
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artists: Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: I’m really digging this Captain Marvel series. Carmen Carnero’s art is flawless and Tamra Bonvillain’s colors are so vibrant, the contrast between worlds really establishing just how creepy Nuclear Man’s Misogyny Island is. I’m so here for these women working together to defeat him and I’m also eager to see how Jen joins the fight if her powers don’t work beyond the barrier… Also, what’s up with that?
Crowded, Vol. 1: Soft Apocalypse
Writer: Christopher Sebela
Artists: Ro Stein & Ted Brandt
Colorist: Tríona Farrell
Letterer: Cardinal Rae
Publisher: Image Comics
Samantha: Alex Lu named this as one of the best comics of 2018 and now that the trade is out, I’m stoked to dig into this comic and see why he loved it so much. If I recall correctly, this series also made its way onto several other “best of” lists, too. I’m really into the idea of a near-future society where crowdfunding is used for everything — even assassinations. Having just read Marjorie Lu’s Warcross duology, this is a topic that’s been on my mind a lot and I’m excited to read a new take on the idea.
Invisible Kingdom #1
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Christian Ward
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics/Berger Books
Samantha: G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward working on a women-led sci-fi series together is just an absolute dream. The series follows a religious acolyte and a freighter pilot uncover a conspiracy between the leader of their remote star system’s major religion and the dominant corporation that controls their society, Buy-N-Large style. Previews of the book and interviews with the creative team suggest that Invisible Kingdom is going to be incredible — but I wouldn’t expect anything less from either of these two creators.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #4
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artist: Javier Garrón
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Marco D’Alfonso
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: I love seeing slice-of-life conflicts for superheroes and the preview pages for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #4 suggest that this is exactly the kind of conflict we’ll see in this issue! After teaming up with Rhino and Captain America for a couple issues to save a bunch of kidnapped and brainwashed kids, it’ll be good to see Miles dealing with a different villain and also (hopefully?) getting some time to just be a teenager.
Nancy Drew Vol. 1: Palace of Wisdom
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Jenn St-Onge
Colorist: Tríona Farrell
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Samantha: I read the Nancy Drew single issues and fell in love. Now that the arc is collected in a trade, I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, but still high-stakes mystery story with a diverse cast of characters who all have incredibly distinct personalities and histories, not just with each other but with the case itself.
Spider-Man: Life Story #1
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: John Dell
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Chip Zdarsky
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: The concept for Spider-Man: Life Story is really cool; I’m looking forward to seeing how the creative team handles major historical events in conjunction with Peter Parker’s life. There are a handful I’m most interested in seeing explored, though I’m admittedly nervous to see whether or not Zdarsky and co. can really push the boundaries of such an established Marvel property. Still, I’m for sure picking this up!
Uncanny X-Men #14
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Colorist: Guru e-FX
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artists: Salvador Larroca & Rachelle Rosenberg
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Ghost: If you’re not picking up Uncanny X-Men at this point, I don’t know why not. Matthew Rosenberg is not only telling a story about what happens to the world when good people don’t stand up and speak up, but somehow taking us back to basics with these characters without feeling dated or soaked in nostalgia. I am on the edge of my seat with this one and you should be, too.
West Coast Avengers #9
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Gang Hyuk Lim
Colorist: Tríona Farrell
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Samantha: So, vampires??? This series keeps getting wilder and this team cannot catch a break. I don’t even know how to recommend this series. Just read it. Love it. Get a Jeff tattoo. Or don’t. I’m not your comics mom.