Buy These Flippin Comics!!! (11.20.13) – Pull List Wasteland

So apparently I caused a commotion on Spaceship OL this morning.  Caff would have you believe I ruined two deck levels, and that a third will need at the very least a scrubdown and new paint job.  Pluto claims I ate his Great American Novel.  The Dude says the munitions locker was ejected into space.  I remember none of this, but I KNOW that I woke up, sobbing, karate chopping two of the ship’s Oxygen Garden Bots, while the crewmembers looked on in horror.

“WHAT – THE – SHIT – MAN?!?!”  Caffeine asked, not politely, if I may say.  The answer came to mind quickly, it was the ONLY thing on my mind.

“The pull list this week.  It’s got hardly anything for me.  I don’t know what to do!”   I received a wall of blank stares, and after a moments hesitation, Caff offered his advice.

“Are you kidding me, bro?  Just look in the archives for some stuff you might have missed.  And get this shit cleaned up.”

That Caff-Pow is a lifesaver.  Hit the jump to see what I found, and for god sakes, if you have any recommendations, please let us know.  I think my sanity depends on it.

All this week’s releases can be found HERE.

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Bandette Volume 1: Presto! – Dark Horse Comics

Released originally as a series of digital issues by MonkeyBrain, Bandette gets the in-print treatment courtesy of Dark Horse, and kudos to them, because this series deserves it.  Word of the day is FUN for this book.  The story of a French thief and her teenage cohorts, writer Paul Tobin and artist Colleen Coover never take things too seriously, and the tone is refreshingly light.  This is an almost-all ages book, but doesn’t feel like a kid’s book. Released 11.13.2013

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Old City Blues Volume 2 – Archaia Entertainment

Fans of Prophet should take the opportunity to give this book a shot, as frequent Prophet artist Giannis Milogiannis (maybe the coolest name in the world) is the writer/artist/creator of this series – though maybe start with Volume 1.  The plot?  Follow the Special Police force of New Athens in the year 2048 as they work both New Athens and the ruins of the old Athens to take down criminals of all stripes.  A great series with fantastic art.  Released 11.13.2013

[Caff note: Check out our interview with Milonogiannis HERE.]

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Sabretooth Swordsman HC – Dark Horse Books

Perhaps easier read digitally, this super-detailed, frenetically paced series is a must own for fans of comic books, video games, and acid trips.  Alright, you might not have to be a fan of those, but Aaron Conley’s (also of Prophet fame) art and Damon Gentry’s story is weird enough to feel like a bit of a hallucination.  I think it’s much cheaper to buy digitally, too, so if you’re interested in the story of a man-turned-tiger wielding a sword and hacking through bad-guys and boss levels, grab the Dark Horse app and download it.  Released 11.13.2013

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Batman #25 ZERO YEAR – DC Comics

I typically only buy this book in trade format, but as it is the kick-off of another important storyline in the first year of Batman (as told by Scott Snyder), I thought it was worth mentioning.  Snyder continues to impress with his version of Bruce Wayne and Co., and his Riddler is so much fun and conniving.  I’m quite sure Snyder’s work will never top Miller/Mazzuchelli’s seminal origin story, but that doesn’t mean he’s not making interesting stories and putting his own stamp on the character.  Released 11.13.2013

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Avengers #23 (Infinity Tie-In) – Marvel NOW

I think the Infinity event is a certifiable hit, right?  My comic shop buddies say the sales are going well (but not as well as Battle of the Atom), and the reviews have been positive.  We’re on the home stretch of the series, and this issue sees the Avengers back home on Earth, ready to take on Thanos’ own band of acolytes, the “Black Hand.”  Something tells me things aren’t going to go well for these guys.

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Afterlife With Archie #2 – Archie Comics

“OH NO HE DI’INT!  Hotsauce did NOT just recommend an Archie book to me.  I’m a grown-ass adult!”  This is what I assume is going through your brains (BRAAAAAAAINS) right now, but hear me out.  My trusted LCS owners placed the first issue of this book into my hands, and I gotta say, it wasn’t bad!  While the typical Riverdale High gang tropes are all there, this is NOT a kid’s book, per se – it IS a fun an entertaining look at a trope that has been mined ad exaspera, and still manages to not feel tired.  This is owed in particular part to the artwork by Francisco Francavilla, who does a marvelous job of updating the look of the Riverdale teens AND providing creepy imagery reminiscent of old EC Horror comics.  I would never steer you wrong dear readers – this book is the real deal.

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Sex Criminals #3 – Image Comics

After the debacle with issue two and Apple (it’s worth noting that the d-bags at Apple felt it necessary to ban the book from the Comixology app, and yet still provide it in their own Apple Books store), hopefully the series’ readership doesn’t take too much of a hit, as I think – sci-fi conceit aside, it is an intimate look at sex, self-discovery, and relationships…basically the kind of story that comics as a whole could use more of, and a top-tier writer bringing it to the masses.

Aside from a new issue of The Wake (not reviewed because I’m still a couple issues behind – no fault of the story, just life!), and a new issue of Adjectiveless X-Men (but maybe that adjective should be “Dull”?), that’s it for my week, or last coupla weeks anyways.  Since this week is so dry, I’m gonna need ya’lls help!  Hit us up with your pulls and let’s chat about what I’m missing out on!

Thanks for reading!