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

Among the new ones coming out, we’re looking forward to Alpha Flight #0.1, Astonishing X-Men #38,  Deadpool Max #8, Uncanny X-Force #10 and X-23 #10.

As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday (that’s today!), 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:

ALPHA FLIGHT #0.1
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #661
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #661 X-MEN EVOLUTIONS VARIANT
ASTONISHING X-MEN #38
AVENGERS #13 (FI)
AVENGERS #13 X-MEN EVOLUTIONS VARIANT (FI)
AVENGERS ACADEMY #14
CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST VENGEANCE #2
DEADPOOL MAX #8
FEAR ITSELF #1 2ND PRINTING WRAPAROUND VARIANT
GENERATION HOPE #7
GENERATION HOPE #7 THOR HOLLYWOOD VARIANT
HAWKEYE: BLINDSPOT #4
HERC #3 (FI)
HERC #3 X-MEN EVOLUTIONS VARIANT (FI)

Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! This week, the Blackest Night event takes center stage, Bendis and Oeming make a triumphant comeback and Archie gets married (again). As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Blackest Night #5 [of 8]
DC Comics – $3.99 US
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis
Score: 9.0

The mastermind behind the dead rising stands revealed as the Blackest Night prophecy inches towards becoming true, but will the unified heroes of the world have enough to stop it? Not if a late dinner guest bearing gifts has anything to say about it.

Geoff Johns welcomes you all to hell. How could he not? In the thirty plus years that I’ve been reading comics, I can’t remember a time when things looked so grim in a story thanks to this issue. The big guns of the Justice League arrive in time to assist the Flashes – Barry Allen and Wally West – in confronting Nekron as the Black Lanterns’ power battery reaches full charge. Fast forward to the end of the issue and only two heroes remain standing while the rest are chomping at the bit, dying to feast on some good, old fashioned heart muscle. And this is only the fifth issue in an eight-issue series?!? Wow.

Johns, along with artist Ivan Reis, are obviously toying with us and giggling madly along the way. The re-emergence of “Bruce Wayne” – his name was in quotations in the issue as well – signaled that the next phase was about to begin, but what he did to heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, etc I don’t think anyone saw coming, characters and readers alike. The sixth issue cannot get here fast enough, if you ask me.

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.

Are you a Spider-Man fan? Of course you are. Are you disappointed that you didn’t get a chance to pick up Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem #1 and feel there’s now something missing in your life? Of course you do.

But don’t worry, Marvel knows your pain and is doing something about it.

Here’s all the info from the official Marvel press release:

Marvel is pleased to announce that Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem #1 has sold out at Diamond (though copies may be available at the retail level) and will return with Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem #1 Second Printing Variant! The end of the Ultimate Universe is upon us! Spider-Man has vanished, presumed dead amongst the wreckage of Dr. Strange’s home. How will his closest of kin deal with his disappearance?

The Ultimate Spider-Man All Stars of award-winners Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley and Stuart Immonen deliver a powerful story of a city mourning its friendly neighborhood protector. Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem #1 Second Printing Variant features the interior art of Immonen on a new wraparound cover!