Buffy’s got a brand new bag, Superman makes his pitch for “World’s Greatest Detective” and the Sentry gets to the heart of the matter in this latest edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #32
Dark Horse Comics – $2.99 US
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Score: 9/10

While the ongoing war against Twilight hits a lull, Buffy and Xander take the break to examine the Slayer’s new power set, much to Dawn’s chagrin. Meanwhile, Giles – along with Faith and Andrew – find themselves in Twilight’s grip and Willow makes a horrifying discovery.

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer – no stranger to comics – kicks off the “Twilight” story arc with this issue in a round-about way. Twilight himself doesn’t factor into the story much, but Meltzer took the “maximum fun” approach in setting up the pieces via tiny revelations sprinkled throughout the issue while focusing on Buffy’s new powers. The result is an incredibly enjoyable read that’s sure to please virtually any fan of comics or comics-related media.

Artist Georges Jeanty continues to pump out the work that has become the glue that holds everything together for this series, and this latest issue is no different. The scenes involving Buffy and Xander, especially, were a hoot, and how could you not love Buffy hovering in mid-air while asking the General to step outside? If this issue doesn’t symbolize having fun while making a comic, I don’t know what will.

Other issues came close – it was a really good week for comics – but this issue took home the Pull of the Week title thanks to an offering that was part major story arc launch and part open love letter to comics; it’s been quite some time that a comic has made me smile this much.

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Happy February and with a new month comes even more new comics. This week, Marvel is releasing a bunch of new titles, as they usually do, and we’ve got your complete list so you know what to expect. Among the titles we’re interested in this week are the latest Cable, a new installment of Siege, the latest issue of The Torch and the debut of Wolverine: Savage.

Of course, all of these, and much more, can be found at your local comic shop so head on down and buy some comics. If you don’t know where your local comic shop is, use this handy guide to find it. Also, be sure to click through to check out cover art for some of these upcoming titles. Enjoy!

Comics On-Sale:

CABLE #23
CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #4
DAFFODIL #2
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #896
GHOST RIDERS: HEAVEN’S ON FIRE #6
INDOMITABLE IRON MAN (B&W) #1
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #23
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #23 DEADPOOL VARIANT
IRON MAN MAGAZINE SPECIAL EDITION
MARVEL HEARTBREAKERS #1 (MDCU)
NOVA #34
NOVA #34 DEADPOOL VARIANT
REALM OF KINGS SON OF HULK #1
REALM OF KINGS SON OF HULK #1 GOLDEN VARIANT
SIEGE #2

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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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With the success of Siege#1 last week (it sold out) Marvel is dropping all new books this week to try and continue the momentum they’ve started in January. This week, we’re particularly excited to read Psylocke #3, Strange #3, S.W.O.R.D. #3 and the latest Invincible Iron Man.

And, as we always say, be sure to click through for some cover art from some of these new books. The overs are pretty cool. See you at the comic’s shop on Wednesday.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 SOMETHING IS COMING VARIANT (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 RHINO IS COMING VARIANT (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 VILLAIN VARIANT (GNTLT)
ANITA BLAKE, THE LAUGHING CORPSE – EXECUTIONER #3
BLACK PANTHER #12
BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #3
DARK X-MEN #3
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #22 ZIRCHER COVER
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #19
NATION X #2
PSYLOCKE #3
PUNISHERMAX #3
REALM OF KINGS IMPERIAL GUARD #3
S.W.O.R.D. #3

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Welcome to The Pull List Comic Reviews! It was a great week for comics as every issue got a really good score, including a surprising (for me, anyway) Pull of the Week. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Sugarshock – Dark Horse Comics – $3.50 US
Writer: Joss Whedon Artist: Fábio Moon
Score: 9.5

Being the lead singer and guitarist of a band can require quite the juggling act, but what if one of those tasks involved saving the Earth? Luckily for us Earthlings, Dandelion has it all under control… somewhat. You see, her band, Sugarshock, has been requested in a battle of the bands, except there are no bands, and they’ll be battling to the death with the planet’s future on the line. Will they save the day or fall between the cracks into obscurity, or worse?

This isn’t your ordinary band, however. The drummer goes by Wade, who also happens to be an alien princess who looks human and can’t say “no” to groupies. Her “mystically enhanced bodyguard,” L’lihdra, doubles as the band’s other guitarist and the bassist is Robot Phil, which pretty much says it all. If there ever was a more rag-tag team of misfits, I’ve yet to see it.

I don’t know where to even begin with this issue. Originally appearing on MySpace’s Dark Horse Presents anthology in 2007, the three-part story is collected here along with Fábio Moon’s sketchbook and Editor Scott Allie’s notations, making for a nice, complete package. In other words, this is as close to perfect as I’ve seen since I started writing the Pull List Comic Reviews. Joss Whedon, who has always had a firm grip on female leads, inflects his usual witty banter but ups it to a whole new level. His characters are, in some cases, out of this world, and you can’t help but fall in love with every single one of them.

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Like some other Marvel characters recently (and characters from across the aisle), is Tony Stark dead? Judging from the cover of Marvel’s upcoming comic Invincible Iron Man #20, it kinda looks that way. Although, he could just be sleeping. . . or passed out drunk, so who knows.

Still, Thor looks positively grief stricken and forlorn, so you never know. Sure, the God of Thunder can be a bit morose and angry at times, but he’s not exactly known for his sensitive side, so the fact that he’s in attendance at Tony Stark’s bedside means that some serious stuff might be happening. I’m sure I’m probably reading a lot into this brand new Patrick Zircher cover but still, its fun to try and guess the storyline given only this clue.

Good news or bad, we’ll find out soon enough when this comic, written by Matt Fraction with art by Salvador Larroca, hits store shelves in November. Until then, let the guessing games continue.

Be sure to click through for a must bigger look at this great cover after the break.

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