Gint's 12-2-15 Pull-List Review

Small week this week rounding out the Big Three: DC, Image and Marvel.

Third Place:

Prez #6

The most amusing part of this issue was President Beth Ross having to deal with a virus-rights group believing all life to be sacred... including viruses. Evidence of Mark Russell and Ben Caldwell really taking the mickey out of the insane culture we live in.

This book is nothing like I thought it would be. That doesn't mean its not the most inventive and interesting book on the shelves. I dare anyone to show me a book that's concepts are so unique and outrageous with a purpose, not just to be outrageous.

The first arc ends this issue with Beth getting one up on the bad guys -- big business. If you didn't want to get invested in a monthly book, I'm sure the trade paperback will be available soon. Do yourselves a favor and read something completely different.

Second Place:

Nailbiter #18

Slowly, Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson are revealing what each of the Buckaroo Butchers have done. We heard a bunch of names like the Good Samaritan, but through the series we've gotten glimpses of their M.O.'s via flashbacks. This issue it IS the Good Samaritan. Like most of the Butchers, it all ties back into our current story.

The issues with Agent Barker continue and I wish Williamson and Henderson would wrap them up. They're fucking nerve wracking for me because I really like the character and don't want her to completely lose her shit. But how interesting of a story are we going to get if he doesn't lose her shit?

Edward (The Nailbiter) Warren has been absent from some issues lately, but seems to be back in a bit of a cliffhanger at this issue's end. We've strayed away from the team-up of Agent Finch and Shannon Crane, but I'd like to see everything start dovetailing back to that pairing in Buckaroo.

First Place:

Star Wars #13

Part 3 of our Vader Down crossover takes us on a completely wacky adventure that almost brings my entire suspension of disbelief crashing down on this whole Marvel Star Wars business. That sounds pretty negative, so why is this issue finishing first this week? Well, because for all its silliness, it was a lot of fun.

Since Kieron Gillen introduced them in Darth Vader, Triple-Zero and BeeTee (Vader's evil homicidal versions of Threepio and Artoo), have really been walking a fine line of fictional realism. But there's been something about both characters that's likable enough that I haven't shut the door on them yet. And if Artoo can do silly shit like his Three Stooges routine in the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, then Triple-Zero and BeeTee can have a bit of a silly allowance.

Aside from that, Jason Aaron really seems to have a grip on how to write the Original Trilogy cast. Its a huge part of why these books have been so enjoyable.

Panel of the Week:

For as goofy as the concept of a homicidal C-3PO sounds, the design of a black-plated, red-eyed protocol droid is pretty cool. And Mike Deodato does a great job making him super creepy in this panel right here.

-Gint