The comic book world is abuzz with anticipation of next year’s battle royal between the Avengers and the X-Men. The event series kicks off with a prologue issue that sets up two of the most critical characters in the series, Hope Summers and The Scarlet Witch. The issue is written by Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron with art by Frank Cho, a veritable dream team of creators.

“This March, fans worldwide cannot miss the prologue to the biggest pop culture comic event of the year as Marvel is pleased to unveil the trade dress and cover to Avengers VS. X-Men #0! Just before the Avengers and the X-Men go head to head, superstar creators Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron & Frank Cho set up the crucial roles of the Scarlet Witch and Hope Summers in the coming storm.

With all eyes on Wanda and the Mutant Messiah, both sides have already made up their mind on where allegiances SHOULD lie …but what about those caught in the middle? The drums of war are beating and fans should be ready for the essential opening to the event that will change everything you know about the Marvel Universe in Avengers VS. X-Men #0!”

Check out the awesome full cover after the jump.

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There’s no doubt that comics featuring the X-Men are some of the most popular of all time. The characters, situations and stories have captured the imaginations of millions of fans worldwide.

Over the years as they’ve gained in popularity, the X-Men have been comprised of many great members. Arguably, the most popular and iconic is Wolverine. And now, thanks to the gang at Marvel, he’s headlining another new comic coming soon.

That’s right folks. Here’s the scoop directly from Marvel:

“A brand new crew of X-Men in the oversized debut of Wolverine & The X-Men #1! From Marvel Architect writer Jason Aaron and fan favorite artist Chris Bachalo, this new team will have their hands full as the Hellfire Club makes their next move. With covers by Bachalo – no fan can miss this bold new era of mutantkind as X-Men: Regenesis continues in Wolverine & The X-Men #1!”

Look for the new book to hit store shelves on October 26. Check out the covers (in the larger, easier to see size) for issues #1 and #2 after the break.

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That’s right comic book fans, it’s that time of the week again. New comics time!

New comics are out tomorrow from our friends at Marvel and, as always, we’ve got some we’re really interested in reading. Among the new ones coming out, we’re looking forward to Carnage #5, Deadpool #39, Wolverine #11, Iron Man 2.0 #6 and Secret Avengers #14.

As with most weeks, new comics out on Wednesday, so hit your nearest comic book store for best selection as many people may thing today is new comic book day this week.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:

BLACK PANTHER: THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #520
CAPTAIN AMERICA #619
CAPTAIN AMERICA #619 I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA VARIANT
CARNAGE #5
DEADPOOL #39
DEADPOOL #39 I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA VARIANT
DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS: CARS 2 #1
FANTASTIC FOUR: THE LAST STAND #1
FEAR ITSELF #2 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (FI)
INCREDIBLE HULKS #631
IRON MAN 2.0 #6 (FI)

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The X-Men are some of the most enduring and, let’s face it, cool characters in the entire Marvel Universe. With their diverse powers and great characters they are also some of the most popular creations in the Marvel Universe as well.

With yet another X-Men movie set to hit theaters soon, Marvel is also hard at work on more comic book incarnations and stories featuring these favored mutants. Case in point this time around is the upcoming comic X-Men: Schism from writer Jason Aaron and artists Carlos Pacheco and Frank Cho.

In this one, according to Marvel: For years Wolverine and Cyclops fought side by side, protecting the ideals of peaceful co-existence between human and mutantkind. But when a mutant-triggered international incident goes mainstream, their differences on the battlefield will prove to be too much and fans will bear witness to the fight they’ve all been waiting for – CYCLOPS VS. WOLVERINE!

X-Men: Schism will send shockwaves throughout and the entire Marvel Universe when a decision made by the X-Men leader jeopardizes the survival of all mutantkind. What lengths will some X-Men go to preserve the preservation of their species?

The new comic hits store shelves on July 13th. Until then, check out some preview pages for it after the jump.

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That’s right comic book fans, it’s that time of the week again. New comics are coming out from our friends at Marvel tomorrow and, as always, we’ve got some we’re really interested in reading.

Among the new ones coming out, we’re looking forward to Secret Warriors #27, Wolverine #9,  Secret Avengers #13, Deadpool #37 and FF #4.

As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday (that’s tomorrow!), so hit your nearest comics book store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #662
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #6
CAPTAIN AMERICA #618
CAPTAIN AMERICA #618 X-MEN EVOLUTIONS VARIANT
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #9.1
DEADPOOL #37
DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS: CARS
FEAR ITSELF: BOOK OF THE SKULL #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
FF #4
FF #4 DJURDJEVIC CHARACTER VARIANT
INCREDIBLE HULKS #629
IRON MAN 2.0 #5 (FI)
NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT #10
ONSLAUGHT UNLEASHED #4
ORSON SCOTT CARD’S SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD #5
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #5

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I don’t think anyone would dispute that the character of Wolverine is not only one of Marvel’s most popular but one of the most popular in all of comics. His look, powers, aggressivenenss and just plain bad atitude have won him fans acround the globe.

Now, as Marvel is doing with other titles like the X-Men, they are starting a brand new Wolverine comic with Wolverine #1. Fortunately, we are able to bring you a preview of that book right here today. From writer Jason Aaron and artist Renato Guedes this new story sees Wolverine’s soul getting sent straight to hell.

However, while Wolverine’s soul is in Hell, his body is terrorizing all that are close to him. This new comic promises to show Logan doing what he does best, in true Wolverine fashion. And what he does best is not very nice.

Check out the previews for the new comic after the jump. Wolverine #1 hits stores in September.

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As potential comic book character team-ups go the combination of Spider-Man and Wolverine has to be at, or near, the top of any fan’s wish list. I mean come on, these characters are undoubtedly two of the the most popular in the entire Marvel Universe, so it only stands to reason what an epic book it would be if they ever joined forces.

Well folks, prepare to have your minds blow as that time has come with the pending release of Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine #1. According to Marvel, here’s the scoop on the new series:

Marvel is proud to unveil your first look at the hotly-anticipated Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine #1, from two of today’s most acclaimed talents—Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert. Spider-Man and Wolverine come together in their first major series ever, as they journey to the edges of a Marvel Universe in a new series that will dramatically affect both characters.

The new series hits store shelves in May. In the meantime, check out several preview pages for the comic right after the jump.

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Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! Superboy’s Adventure comes to an end, Daytripper continues to be trippy and the Rhino gets a happy ending that may actually stick. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Adventure Comics #6
DC Comics – $3.99 US
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Score: 9/10

Superboy has been trying to “find himself” and determine if he’s more Superman than Lex Luthor, since his genetic make-up is made from both of them. Unfortunately, it’s Luthor who finds him first and serves notice that for all his intellect and power, Luthor still has that nasty little streak in him.

Honestly, this has been a fun, engaging run by superstar writer Geoff Johns. Equal parts adventure (which works great with the title) and drama, all revolved around Superboy’s own identity crisis, this arc hit all the right buttons without coming across as preachy or whiny; a testament to the writer’s considerable talent of making relevant topics matter in the pages of a comic book.

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Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! We’ve got a lot off good issues to get through, so let’s get to it. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

S.W.O.R.D. #1 – Marvel Comics – $3.99 US
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Steven Sanders, Jamie McKelvie
Score: 9.0

Spinning out of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s seminal Astonishing X-Men run, S.W.O.R.D. is the new title focusing on the organization entrusted to ensure that alien invasions are kept to a minimum. The Sentient World Observation and Response Department’s co-commander, Abigail Brand, has enough on her plate as it is, but having Henry Peter Gyrich – yes, THAT guy – as your co-commander simply can’t be a good thing.

After making a name for himself with the critically acclaimed Phonogram series, Marvel thought that writer Kieron Gillen would be able to handle the launch of a new, ongoing series that has a lot of ties to it, and boy were they right. The juggling parallels between what Agent Brand must endure and the various plot threads that Gillen must keep going wasn’t lost on me; in fact, I’d say it only added to the story’s flow. Imagine Men In Black done up right.

So new that he could be considered a rookie, artist Steven Sanders is anything but. Sharp, clean pencils fill this issue from cover to cover, and while his interpretation of how Beast looks takes a little getting used to, ultimately it’s nit picking on an otherwise near-perfect comic. His rendition of Gyrich, especially, should be noted, as the character has never looked more dick-ish.

About as entertaining as an issue can be, this first issue manages to draw you in with quirky moments – Beast’s lovesick commentary, Lockheed’s binge drinking – and stunning revelations – hello, Kitty! – made this an incredibly easy selection for our Pull of the Week.

OTHER PULLS:

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Welcome to The Pull List Comic Reviews! Get comfy as a few titles elected to go with short stories this week, meaning we’ve got a lot to cover. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Deadpool #900 – Marvel Comics – $4.99 US
Writers: Jason Aaron, Fred Van Lente, Mike Benson, Joe Kelly, Duane Swierczynski, Victor Gischler, Charlie Huston Artists: Chris Staggs, Dalibor Talajic, Damion Scott, Rob Liefeld, Shawn Crystal, Sanford Greene, Kyle Baker
Score: 9.0

Has there been a hotter commodity in recent times than Deadpool? Hard to argue, but looking back you’ll find that the first issue of this title was launched last year amid much fanfare. Fast-forward twelve months and the character has starred in a one-shot (Deadpool: Games of Death), a mini-series (Deadpool: Suicide Kings), a second ongoing series (Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth) and an upcoming third ongoing (Deadpool Team-Up). What better way to hammer home his arrival in the spotlight – yeah, there was a Marvel Spotlight issue, too – than to give him a #900 issue, a first for comics?

The line-up of creators that contributed to this issue is ridiculous, so it’s no surprise that these seven short stories completely shine in their own right. Not a single dud in the mix. How could there be? He fights mimes in one short while staging a Vegas CSI scene in another, both with cataclysmic results. He gets abducted by aliens (poor aliens!) and spends quality time with his shrink (poor shrink!). He even puts the blinders on as he aims to collect on a childhood bet! Obviously, there’s no limits where ‘Pool is concerned.

Fourth walls be damned, in one memorable short he has a philosophical debate with his other inner-voices to determine which came first, the chicken or the egg. Accompanied by Kyle Baker’s visually trippy art, said short doesn’t end well for one reader, and bodes nothing but ill tidings to the rest of the readers out there, yourself included. But fear not as Deadpool embarks on a vacation cruise, systematically infuriating the entire crew and guests, and ultimately settling his differences with a fierce battle against Doc Ock… in ping pong.

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With a lot of you heading to Comic-Con, it would be good form for those of us not going to recommend some books you should be looking out for on the Con floor this week.

The biggest one of the week simply has to be Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s novel The Hunter. I got the chance to read this a couple of weeks ago, and to say the very least if you’re expecting something along the lines of Cooke’s The Spirit run or The New Frontier you’re going to be in for a shock. This is absolutely nothing at all like those books in design, color scheme or story. But nonetheless, it is my top pick of the week.

My second recommendation is the double-sized issue of Amazing Spider-Man #600. Truth be told, Marvel is putting out a number of great books this week. I’m a sucker for all things Deadpool, for a reason I still don’t understand, I just enjoy them. The many mini-series featuring the character seems to be leveling off at the ridiculous. However, with each and every spin-off I can’t stop going back for every new issue for only one reason: they are books full of pure fun.

The other Marvel book out this week includes Immortal Weapons #1. This book focuses on the other immortal weapons introduced in Immortal Iron Fist. Written by Jason Aaron and Duane Swierczynski and an all star cast of virtually every artist I love working at Marvel, this is a must have in my book. More stuff spinning out of the Iron Fist corner is a good thing in my mind.

As always, if you didn’t like the picks we have for you this time around, check out Midtown Comics for a great selection of everything that comes out on Wednesday.  And if you’re going to Comic-Con, be sure to keep it locked here for some great coverage from the Con floor.

Happy Reading!

I can safely say that this week, I am looking forward to ONE really big release. And because I care about what comics you read, and so does everyone else here, you simply must buy this book:

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s Batman and Robin #1. The team that brought you the stellar and perfect All-Star Superman is now ushering in the new age of Batman and Robin.  With Bruce Wayne now “dead,” Dick Grayson has taken over as the Caped Crusader with Bruce’s murderous son Damian as Robin.

In a recent interview with IGN, Morrison described the book this way:

It was taking that aspect of the Batman TV show and then trying it in with David Lynch and Twin Peaks. [laughs] And creepy European cartoons and marionettes and stuff like that. That bad dreamlike feeling of a Marilyn Manson video in the ’90s, or like Chris Cunningham’s video for ‘Windowlicker’. [laughs] Again, it was about trying to fuse those two things together into a bad trip, Lewis Carroll kind of world. I realize I give a massive, long answer every time we speak, Dan. But that was kind of what obsessed me about Batman and Robin going into it – to take these weird elements and marry them together to see what we could get.

I don’t know about you, but I think that sounds like the sh*t. Morrison is a very good salesman but, to say the least, when he is teamed with Quitely, they pretty much always deliver great stuff.

My second recommendation is something quite different than superhero, its Jason Aaron’s  Scalped #29.  Drawn by R.M. Guera, this Vertigo title is near perfect. It follows an undercover FBI agent on an Indian Reservation. Part Sopranos and the natural successor to 100 Bullets, Scalped, like a firmly executed noir, tickles a bone that is really only rivaled by Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips’ Criminal series for Marvel/Icon.

Other than that, there isn’t much else going on this week. As always. feel free to head over to Midtown Comics to check out what else is coming out this week. And be sure to leave us a comment telling us what you liked, and didn’t like,  from this week’s comics.