The TALKING COMICS Review Round-Up
Every week, the Talking Comics collective posts a mega-list of the comics they’re most excited to pull off the shelves that week. Check back here to see if the comics on the Pull List met the team’s expectations with reviews and quippy quotables!!! Click the links to go to full reviews and reflections!!!
This week’s contributors:
- Jesse Bowden (@JesseBowden)
- Huw Parry (@h_paz)
- Deanna Chapman (@deeechap)
- John Dubrawa (@thisjohnd)
- Bob Reyer (bobreyer@talkingcomicbooks.com)
- Steve Seigh (@dead_anchoress)
- Max Mallet (@globetrottermax)
- Nathan Ryan (@Clown_Prince52)
- Kelsey Hlavaty (@kelssamus)
- Vivek Kembaiyan (@just_Vivek)
- Hernan Guarderas (@hguarderas93)
- Lorna Maltman (maltmanlorna@gmail.com)
- Nate Mondschein (@33andMoonshine)
- Greg Brothers (@popculturegeek3)
- Matthew Iung (@iceo1000)
- Miguel Canales-Holler (@Beefsandwich28)
And lovingly edited by Joey Braccino (@joeybraccino)
New Comic Book Day – January 4th, 2017
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ACTION LAB
- Catch up or BUY. Look if there is there is one book to catch up on from 2016, this is that book – you need to read it. Tomboy is a supernatural crime thriller that has twists and turns, but Goodwin knows how to balance the dark with levity and how to write a satisfyingly slow reveal. Get if you like a good, slow burn of a comic. – Lorna
[Editor’s Note: For Lorna’s full review, click here!!!]
DC COMICS
Batgirl #6 – Hope Larson & Rafael Albuquerque
- Buy! Batgirl’s Rebirth has been a successful one so far and this issue is yet another example of why that is. Although this chapter isn’t a particularly necessary one, it is a joy to read and does set up the next story arc to come as Barbara heads back to Burnside. If you’re looking for a fun one-and-done issue you’ll want to pick this one up. – John D
[Editor’s Note: For John’s full review, click here!!!]
Batman #14 – Tom King & Mitch Gerads 
- Buy! If you jumped off of Batman when King took over jump back on as the book is really starting to find its stride again. The last arc, I am Suicide, was very enjoyable and Batman #14 continues the quality. Tom King is doing a nice job crafting the Dark Knight’s tales and Mitch Gerads art works perfectly with this issue and hopefully he has a return engagement booked for Batman as I would like to see his art grace Batman again. – John B
[Editor’s Note: For John’s full review, click here!!!]
Green Lanterns #14 (Arc Conclusion) – Sam Humphries & Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
- Give it a shot. This issue showcases why Humphries has made this series excel – good character work whilst building on Geoff Johns work, instead of just borrowing it. This would be a great time to jump onto the series as the next issue is a one shot and the next arc a team up with Batman. If you have never read a green lanterns book or love them, this issue is a great read. – Lorna
[Editor’s Note: For Lorna’s full review, click here!!!]
- Check it out. Overall, this is a solid issue. It’s probably not a must read unless you plan on checking out JLA: Rebirth. Steve Orlando brings us a new character to focus on with Ryan Choi being such a crucial part to this story. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. – Deanna
[Editor’s Note: For Deanna’s full review, click here!!!]
Midnighter And Apollo #4 – Steve Orlando & Fernando Blanco
- BUY Get caught up and read this issue! Orlando is using hell dimensions, demons, and guns to tell an amazing love story about two bad asses fighting their way back to each other. Again, I beg you to please check out this series. – Jesse
Nightwing #12 – Tim Seeley and Marcus To
- Buy I am thoroughly enjoying seeing Nightwing back in Bludhaven. It feels like, and is, a new world for Dick to explore and he is taking us on the ride with him. Also, after getting burned in the first arc with being too trusting, it’s fun to see how Dick balances that part of himself. The conflict itself hasn’t been amazing in this arc quite yet, but this is a must read for me regardless. Nathan
- Buy. This is a Superman comic that hits a lot of different notes. There are a few panels that belong in a horror comic. There’s silver age, corny dialogue. And in Tomasi/Gleason fashion, Kryptonian action meets tongue-in-cheek humor. This series continues to be fantastic. -Max
IMAGE COMICS
Nailbiter #28 – Joshua Willamson & Mike Henderson
- Buy the Trade. While I don’t think that Nailbiter is an especially complex story, I do think it benefits from being read in chunks. At this point in the run, the book continues to be explosive but I would like to see Williamson reveal more about the insidious forces in Buckaroo. – Jesse
MARVEL COMICS
- BUY!! With DC books mostly at $2.99, the $3.99 price tag is harder to swallow and recommend. However, it isn’t here. You get both classic Deadpool and Howard the Duck. Additionally you get Wolverine as Deadpool’s spirit animal and a rabid Rocket Raccoon. What more do you need? Nathan (Read Nathan’s full review here!!)
Unstoppable Wasp #1 – Jeremy Whitley & Elsa Charretier
- BUY. Full of charm and unapologetically feminist, this is a strong comic to kick off 2017. Charretier’s artwork displays a frequently beaming and constantly emotive Nadia Pym. If you’re looking to pick up just a couple of Marvel issues on your pull list, I implore you to consider this one. -Max
[Editor’s Note: For Max’s full review, click here!!!]
- BUY. Every young girl in the world needs a copy of this book. Jeremy Whitley has a gift for tackling major issues in a way that is still charming and fun. Nadia Pym is a tremendous addition to the Marvel Universe and I can’t wait to see where her next adventure takes us. – Jesse
- Buy! And Continue to Buy! Unworthy Thor has been a fantastic mini-series and issue three is another strong installment. It’s the necessary intermission between the second and third acts but with Aaron’s excellent plotting and story structure, this issue gives us a great balance of exposition, plot advancement, and action that leaves you angry that you have to wait another month to see how it ends. I can’t recommend this series enough to anyone who’s ever been enamored with Thor and his hammer and I urge you to grab all three issues. – Jay
[Editor’s Note: For Jay’s full review, click here!!!]
VALIANT COMICS
Divinity III: Stalinverse #1 – Matt Kindt & Trevor Hairsine
- Buy! Get in on the ground floor of the latest mini-series from Valiant. Kindt & Hairsine are crafting an excellent tale that is compelling and has more then enough mystery to leave me wanting more.If you’re a fan of alternate realities in comics this book is for you. If you love the Valiant universe then this book should be a lot of fun and if you are wondering what Valiant is all about the give this mini-series a try. – John B
[Editor’s Note: For John’s full review, click here!!!]
OTHER PUBLISHERS
- Give it a shot. This is a great sci fi coming of age comic that has both great action and emotion in its pages. This comic is worth checking out even in the flooded sci-fi comic market today. – Lorna
[Editor’s Note: For Lorna’s full advance review, click here!!!]
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And that’s our Pull List for this week!!! If you happen to pick up any of these books, please join the conversation here or on twitter and let us know what you think! As we update the site with reviews and verdicts on these comics, we’d love to include your input!
#READCOMICS