The Forty Dollar Pull List – New Comics June 6th, 2012

The Forty Dollar Pull List – New Comics June 6th, 2012

Jun 14

Originally published at cxPulp.com on June 13th, 2012. To comment, click here!

I’ve got a trio of issues to cover this week. First a pair of issues from DC Comics: Dial H #2 and Earth 2 #2. The first new title of the month hit the stands as well last week: Journey Into Mystery #639.

Little time for preamble this week, so I will just jump right into it. Be sure to check out the end of the column if you are interested in checking out the updated list of issues I am giving away this week!

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NEW COMICS – JUNE 6th, 2012

Dial H #2, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/06/2012 ON TIME
Written by China Mieville, Art by Mateus Santolouco, Color by Tanya & Richard Horie

Nelson experiments a bit with the HERO-dialer before going to visit his friend Daren in the hospital. He learns that Darren was wrapped up in a gang that was breaking into the homes of coma victims, but they keep getting broken up by a superhero. Nelson uses the dialer and becomes Control-Alt-Delete and goes to investigate the home his friend was supposed to rob. He is attacked by a woman in the home, and barely survives the encounter. He doesn’t have much time to ponder what to do next – Darren is killed by an unknown enemy, and Nelson leaps into action as the Iron Snail to try and rescue him. He fares well in the battle, but his powers start to wear off, forcing him to retreat. He makes is way back to the dial, and finds a possible ally.

 

The story is good here, but the overall execution could be better. I love the big picture, but there were a few confusing pages in the middle there. Part of that I must blame on the art – while the art team has done a great job of bringing Nelson’s various identities to life, the scenes with the strange antagonists have been very, very confusing. The color especially is difficult in those scenes. Overall things look pretty good throughout the issue, but those few pages were just tough to look at.

Mieville is doing a good job with the concept, and I am enjoying the random heroes he has come up with. Of course I wanted to see more of these characters, but that is a sign of a writer who has a good grasp on the Dial H concept. If I want to see more, he’s doing it right.

I still can’t tell if this title is going to last, or if it will suddenly come to an end like so many of the previous attempts. This isn’t the best Dial H I have ever read, which may not bode well, but time will tell. It is still an enjoyable title, so I will continue to look forward to reading this one.

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Earth 2 #2, $3.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/06/2012 ON TIME
Written by James Robinson, Pencils by Nicola Scott, Color by Alex Sinclair and Pete Pantazis, Ink by Trevor Scott

The DCnU’s Mister Terrific finds himself on Earth 2, face to face with Terry Sloan – the smartest man on Earth. Meanwhile in Michigan, Mercury falls to Earth after escaping from an unnamed captor. He is found by Jay Garrick, to whom he explains that he is dying, and that a new age of heroes must begin to protect humanity. His last act is to grant Jay “The Speed of a God.” Garrick gives his new abilities a trial run, and he ends up saving a couple from a mischief of apokorats. As he gets more comfortable, he pushes his speed farther and farther, until he finds himself in Poland where he is met by Hawkgirl. Meanwhile, Alan Scott proposes to his boyfriend – moments before the train they are riding on explodes.

 

The media made a huge deal about this issue, because it revealed for the first time that this version of Alan Scott is gay. I feel it is important to treat that revelation with the importance that it deserves. So instead of talking about it, I am actually going to move on to the things that matter in the plot.

I really enjoyed the way that The Flash was introduced. The costume update is really slick, and Jay’s attitude about his own heroism was very humble. If you didn’t know what was going to happen the first time Jay’s name was mentioned last issue, you had to see it the moment Mercury first appeared on panel. His new origin has a very Hal Jordan flavor, mixed with the attitude of Peter Parker. I like it.

I also love that they are using Terry Sloane as something of a villain – at least, that is the way it seems so far. I am looking forward to seeing that plot line develop as well. Still not a lot on the Alan Scott front – his story is progressing very slowly, and his brief appearance in this issue was only a tease for what I assume will be his ultimate origin in the next issue.

In a way, Earth 2 is being handled the way I wish the entire DCnU was – a fresh start. They have eliminated the Trinity, as those characters are just too iconic to mess around with, and found a way to start over with some very old characters. I can understand why they were unable to go all the way with a Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman reboot, but reading Earth 2 has made me wish that this new universe was the dominant one in the current DC landscape, with the continuing story of the Trinity being isolated to their own universe.

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Journey Into Mystery #639, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/06/2012 ON TIME
Written by Kieron Gillen, Art by Richard Elson, Color by Ifansyah Noor

Otherworld is assaulted by the rise of cities, and the Celtic gods beg Asgard for help. They decline, citing the noninterference pact between the pantheons, but Loki and Leah are sent to Earth as “private citizens” to see if there is anything they can do. They travel to London, and then to Otherworld via Stonehenge. Loki witnesses a great battle against the Manchester gods, and tries to come up with a better way to bring the conflict to an end.

 

This wasn’t a bad issue to jump into at all – I had no problem following what was going on. Off the bat, I have to comment about the art. This is a fantastic looking comic – Elson and Noor have a lot to be proud of here.

The tone of the story is a little strange to me. It has the right feel – but I think the humor is laid on a little too thick. Sometimes it works and sometimes it is a distraction – but only a small one.

Loki as a Kid is definitely interesting. I don’t think I can examine the character any better than those who have already done so. You know what he was, but that is now only his potential. I don’t know if “evil me” has popped up before elsewhere, but there is a lot of potential there for an evil conscious of sorts, and I like it.

We’ve got another issue this month of Journey Into Mystery – I don’t think I’ll have to wait long to learn more about this Loki.

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RELEASED SO FAR

Dial H #2, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/06/2012 ON TIME
Earth 2 #2, $3.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/06/2012 ON TIME
Journey Into Mystery #639, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/06/2012 ON TIME

STILL TO COME

CASHING IN THE TRADE BANK: Daytripper TP, $19.99, DC Comics. Released 02/01/2012
Batgirl #10, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 06/13/2012
The Sixth Gun #23, $3.99, Oni Press. Due Out 06/13/2012
Deadpool #56, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/13/2012
Blue Beetle #10, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/20/2012
Nightwing #10, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/20/2012
Daredevil #14, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/20/2012
Journey Into Mystery #640, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/20/2012
John Carter: Gods of Mars #4 (of 5), $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 06/27/2012

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FREE COMICS

I still have a bunch of Free Comics to give away. This week’s passkey is KidLoki!

I am starting to get a few more requests for comics, and I am happy to continue to give them away without any restrictions for the time being. However, do remember that this is first-come, first serve. For now! If you have enjoyed any of the issues, why not say thank you by making a donation to cxPulp? You can send any amount to payments@cxpulp.com via Paypal, or contact me for other donation options.

Thanks again for reading, and I will see you next week!

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