The Pull List! Week of March 25, 2009

Looks like a pretty solid format has been nailed for the pull list! I’ll be highlighting at least 3 comics from each publisher each week, but I’ll be featuring as an aside other books. I won’t tell you everything, but I’ll tell you what’s coming out that I enjoy and that I think you should check out…not that you shouldn’t check out what’s not in the list!

Yes, I know, I usually have thumbnails of the covers up, but as I’m writing this, my head is exploding with pain. I’ll get them up soon-ish.

SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM DC COMICS

For more information, visit this publisher at http://www.dccomics.com/

Batman: Battle for the Cowl Commissioner Gordon

Why You Should Read It: As “Battle For The Cowl” heats up, its time to take a look at another side of Gotham: that of the Dark Knight’s staunchest ally, Commissioner James Gordon. The two have been a part of each other’s lives for years, but with his greatest fear having come true, how does Gordon react? And how can he preserve a world of chaos without its Dark Knight?

Official Solicitation: “Gotham City is in a state of emergency. Crime runs rampant, commerce is at a standstill, and gang warfare is on the rise. Through its darkest hours, one man has stood firm against the criminal element in Gotham – Police Commissioner James Gordon. Now, in the aftermath of “Batman: R.I.P.,” Gordon and the GCPD will have to reclaim Gotham and take down Mister Freeze without the assistance of Batman. But with evil on the rise, will this be the beginning of the end of law enforcement in Gotham City? The battle has just begun in this all-new one-shot.”

Justice League of America #31

Why You Should Read It: The Final Crisis has struck the word. With Batman dead and the world in shambles, the Justice League is facing their greatest challenge yet. The League is at its breaking point, but will the League persevere, or is this the end?

Official Solicitation: “Death, destruction and betrayal! The fallout from FINAL CRISIS leaves the Justice League of America on the brink of dissolution. Black Canary faces her greatest test as she tries to hold her devastated team together. Will those who remain be enough to save the world?”

Superman #686

Why You Should Read It: Superman is gone, and in his place…Mon-El!! After years in the Phantom Zone, Mon-El is cured of his lead poisoning and free again. Asked by Superman to take his place as guardian of Metropolis. Elsewhere, the Metropolis Science Police have a new hero of their own: The Guardian is back!!

Official Solicitation: “Following the startling events of “New Krypton” and the shocking occurrence in the Phantom Zone, Earth finds itself without its greatest protector! Luckily, Metropolis still has a few heroes, like Mon-El and the Guardian. But after years of knowing nothing but the solitude of the Phantom Zone, how will Mon-El acclimate himself to society? And the recently returned Guardian has his hands full with his new position in the Science Police. How can they fill Superman’s shoes? They’d better figure it out fast, because dangerous mysteries abound which will carry all the way into 2010!

The highly acclaimed writer-artist team of James Robinson and Renato Guedes continue their run on SUPERMAN with or without The Man of Steel!”

Also shipping this week from DC Comics…

Oracle: The Cure #1 (Of 3) The Calculator seeks the Anti-Life Equation! Can Oracle stop him??

Wonder Woman #30 “Rise of the Olympian” continues!!

SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM MARVEL COMICS

For more information, visit this publisher at http://www.marvel.com/

Dark Reign: Elektra #1

Why You Should Read It: Elektra is freed from the Skrull empire, badly wounded and held responsible for the Skrull invasion. The deadliest assassin alive is wanted dead, but can even she escape in her current condition? Its the dramatic return of one of Marvel’s greatest characters to the Marvel Universe!!

Official Solicitation: “She’s the deadliest woman in the world…and she’s never been in worse shape. Broken, beaten, and tortured by alien scientists, Elektra stumbles to freedom in the aftermath of the Skrull invasion. Now she struggles and fights to stay barely alive, and to clear her name for atrocities committed by an impostor. A LOT of people want Elektra killed…and in her state, that shouldn’t be too difficult…By Zeb Wells (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and Clay Mann (DAREDEVIL)!”

New Avengers #51

Why You Should Read It: The new Sorcerer Supreme must be chosen!! As Marvel’s magical based characters gather together, a fierce war amidst the magical realms is being prepared. Will the role fall in to the hands of a darker Sorceror, or can the New Avengers ensure the title falls into safe hands?

Official Solicitation: “WHO IS THE NEW SORCERER SUPREME? Doctor Strange has failed as the Master of the Mystic Arts and all the other mystic characters are the heir apparent. Strange comes to the New Avengers for help as the mystic battle royale begins. Plus, how can the Avengers trust Spider-Man if he won’t take his mask off?”

X-Force/Cable: Messiah War Prologue #1

Why You Should Read It: Who is the new menace Bishop has recruited to defeat Cable? Can Cable and Hope survive in the distant, desolate future? Will X-Force be able to save them in time? All these questions and more…will not be answered in this issue. But it will set up what is looking to be a pretty slick cross-over between Cable and X-Force.

Official Solicitation: “The birth of a single mutant child forever changed the landscape of the X-Universe. Some see the baby as the last hope for mutankind’s survival; others see it as the bringer of the Apocalypse… No one knows which side is right because Cyclops handed the newborn over to Cable, believing his son could save both the child and mutantkind. But Cable never came back. Now, months later, Cyclops has found his son hiding in the FUTURE… and he’s sending in the one team that will do what needs to be done in order to ensure the survival of their species… X-FORCE. The X-Men event of the decade, “MESSIAH COMPLEX,” continues here as the past, present and future converge in the pages of X-FORCE and CABLE. Continues next month in the pages of CABLE #13 and X-FORCE #14!”

Also shipping this week from Marvel Comics…

Amazing Spider-Man #589 “Character Assassination” has come to a close, and now Spider-Man must stop the all-new, all-deadly…SPOT!?

Captain America #48 Captain America’s secret mission to free the Human Torch continues!! Can he save the world, or will he need help from Black Widow and the Sub-Mariner!?

Immortal Iron Fist #24 The current Immortal Weapon must defeat the very first Immortal Weapon

Mighty Avengers #23 Earth’s Mightiest, Conclusion!! Who will lead the new team of Mighty Avengers?

Nova #23 Richard Ryder is Nova no more!! Given a death prognosis after his time with the Nova force, what will Ryder do?

Thunderbolts #130 Was mistakenly solicited last week. Check out last week’s Pull List for more information!!

X-Infernus #4 The end of X-Infernus!! Will the X-Men be able to rescue Illyana?