The Pull List: Must Read Comics of 8/22/2012

Archie #636

By: Tania Del Rio and Gisele Lagace

Publisher: Archie Comics

Estimated Price: $2.99

The Lowdown: I did not know for the longest time that Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, of television fame was also a long running Archie title. In this particular Archie arc, Sabrina just so happens to be walking through Riverdale with her cat, Salem. When they over hear the Riverdale gang talking about who has it worst: boys or girls, Salem decides to swap everyone’s gender. It is very twisted Manga-ish for something they I always looked at as so wholesome and safe, but if you look at everything else in the comic industry, this is still pretty friggin’ tame.

Batman The Dark Knight #12

By: Gregg Hurwitz and David Finch

Publisher: DC Comics

Estimated Price: $2.99

The Lowdown: Here’s the thing, I have pretty much been completely ignoring Batman The Dark Knight title. It has been adequate at best, but they have been using Scarecrow since last September. This issue they are soliciting big revelations for Scarecrow. If they can even scratch the surface of what they have done with Mr. Freeze, than Scarecrow should be pretty interesting.

The Flash #12

By: Francis Manapul

Publisher: DC Comics

Estimated Price: $2.99

The Lowdown: The Flash has been pretty light and fluffy, and I think it was a mistake to not open up the series with the Rogues and their relationship with the Flash. Instead, they opened up with a brand new character who happened to be underwhelming. Now, they are parading the Rogues out one by one, and while it isn’t anything groundbreaking, it’s fun. This one brings back a long dead or comatose character Glider, formerly known as Golden Glider. It’ll be nice to see her get a legit modern run.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13

By: Tom Waltz, Andy Kuhn, and Kevin Eastman

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Estimated Price: $3.99

The Lowdown: This new Ninja Turtles book has been so well paced. One part exciting, one part funny and charming. It is everything I want out of a Ninja Turtle book, and now that the first major plotline has made it to a closure point of sorts, they are free to continue on to one of their most recognizable supporting players, Casey Jones. In this version, Casey is a teenager, or at least a young 20-something. On top of that, he has quite the abusive homelife which takes center stage when Raph is sick of Mr. Jones actions.

Amazing Spider-Man #692

By: Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Estimated Price: $5.99

The Lowdown: Whoa, that price took a jump, but it is a special over-sized issue. In fact, it is the 50th Anniversary of the Amazing Spider-Man. This is pretty much where the solicitation stops. I have absolutely no idea what the story is actually about, but I am sure Slott has something fun up his sleeve.

Deadpool Kills Marvel Universe #4 (of 4)

By: Cullen Bunn, Dalibor Talajic, and Kaare Andrews

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Estimated Price: $2.99

The Lowdown: The finale to the craziest Deadpool story ever. Deadpool is taking his whole breaking the fourth wall schtick to eleven!! He is sick of being a fictious character and has decided to take everyone the FUCK out. No one in the Marvel U is going to be slave to some hack writer on ‘Pool’s watch. He’s like the ultimate pissed off fanboy.

Punisher #14

By: Greg Rucka and Mico Suayan

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Estimated Price: $2.99

The Lowdown: If you haven’t been reading Punisher, first of all you are missing out. Second, Frank Castle has taken on an apprentice, an ex-military who was wounder during her own wedding and watched her fiance and all her loved ones slaughtered in front of her. She has become a she-Punisher, but now Castle may or may not be rethinking this whole sidekick thing.