On the cusp of “Supergirl” summer and amid the sudden Absolute Universe boom, DC has seen a rapid boost in popularity. It seems like the impossible has finally come true: Comic books are back!
Hello and welcome to the Pull List, a weekly look into the world of DC Comics. Today, we’ll be discussing some of DC’s recent surprises, books to look out for and a beginner’s guide to start reading.
I’ve written about the Absolute Universe line before, but if you’ve somehow missed the memo, it’s time for you to pick up an issue or two. This branch of DC features a world with gritter, darker superheroes and even more terrifying villains. It also acts as an answer to some of DC’s biggest problems: readership.
Comics are difficult to get into. With nearly 100 years of superhero comic history, some days it can seem like there are simply too many books on the market, which can make it feel impossible to catch up. To make matters worse, specific comics can be rare and difficult to find, and it’s hard to catch up with a series that’s already begun.
If you’re hoping to grab any fresh issues this week, tomorrow is the time. Wednesday is the universal comic book day, so that’s the time to grab new releases. Unfortunately, Action Packed in Downtown Storrs doesn’t stock new comics, so it’s time to get creative.
Newbury Comics in Manchester is certainly an option — from my experience, most comic book fans will gravitate towards comic-specific stores, so an all-around retail location like Newbury Comics may be a good bet to snag a few books before they leave. From what I’ve seen, they stock diligently, and they don’t run out fast.
If you’re like me and are landlocked to the Storrs campus without a car, another option is to order online. For this semester, I’ve been ordering from the New York-based seller Midtown Comics. Unfortunately, it takes quite a while (at least a week, usually) for any orders to make it to UConn, so I don’t recommend it as a long-term solution.
On the plus side, Midtown Comics does bag and board every issue as a courtesy. Bagging and boarding is standard practice for anyone who wants to keep their comics in the best condition possible, so it’s a welcome addition to the shipping process and one I’m happy to be able to take advantage of.
Once you’ve figured out how to get your hands on some of the world’s best storytelling, it’s time to make that purchase. From my experience, I highly recommend following DC Comics on Instagram (@dccomics), which posts a list every Wednesday of the issues coming out that day.
This week has some new Absolute Universe entries in the form of “Absolute Batman #18” and “Absolute Green Lantern #12.” You can always pick up an issue in the middle of the story, but if you’re interested in reading from the beginning, you can find “Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo” and “Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 1: Without Fear” in stores and online.
One of my current reads, “Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes” will be releasing its fourth issue this week as well. This series is on the shorter and sillier side, so it’s certainly not for everyone, but it does focus on the beginning of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s relationship, which hasn’t seen much representation in comics. The clown queen herself is often viewed as just Joker’s girlfriend, so it’s nice to see a story focusing on just her and Ivy.
It’s definitely worth taking a look at last week’s comics as well if you can find them. DC Comics had a pretty big drop last week with the release of “Batman #7,” which has finally brought the Joker into the new Batman line. I’m hoping that the Joker will remain on the sidelines for now to let the new series evolve, so hopefully we won’t be seeing much from him.
On top of that, I’m a huge Cassandra Cain fan and she just received “Batgirl #17” last week as well, which started the next arc for the series, titled “The Curse of the Blood.” The arc is planned to only be three issues long, but DC looks to be taking the character in a new direct with the introduction of a power adjacent to “bloodbending.” Personally, I hope it’s a temporary change.
Additionally, this month kicks off the “DC Next Level” initiative, which will feature plenty of new stories. “Batwoman #1” will be releasing this Wednesday as a part of this package, which should be a great introduction to Kate Kane for new readers, and I’m personally looking forward to it.
March is shaping up to be a big month for DC, so make sure you start writing your shopping list!