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The Pull List 13/3/2013 : Weekly Comic Reviews 

Another week; another healthy helping of new comics:

Ultimate Comics: Wolverine #1

A then and now story that allows for our favorite canuck to make a comeback but the real draw is the mysterious mothervine and the implication of new characters/mutants emerging into what is quite literally a barren mutant landscape.

The pencil work by Messina is good but isn't breaking boundaries and the panel layouts seem to be in sync with those seen in the main UC X-Men book making this limited series a good complimentary title for fans.

Score: 6/10

Ultimate Comics: X-Men #24

The board just keeps getting bigger! Karen Grant, Psylocke and a disgruntled Washington all start to make their move.

Wood's run on UCX-Men has been great and this latest arc, Natural Resources, gleams with the potential of being the best yet. So much is going on, so many branches, but all are well paced and fluid creating an intriguing and satisfying issue. No character suffers from the scale of the plot and the dialogue is convincing and fluid.

It's great to see Asrar on this title, fits like a glove. His approach to the characters is fresh and the landscapes are full and vivid, combined with Bellaire's colors; the whole thing comes alive.

Score: 9/10

Thor; God of Thunder #6

The origin of Gorr the God Butcher! Aaron has been writing superbly on this title from the get-go and his talent doesn't falter here as he creates a compelling origin done in one issue. 

Combined with Aaron's writing is Butch Guice on pencils who has a tough act to follow after Ribic's work but Guices style is well placed; his line-work conveys all the desolation and harshness that is Gorr's life. Together artist and writer make you feel sadness and pity for the antagonist but all that is gone by the end as Gorr steeps himself into the vile darkness that we have come to associate him with.

You'll be disappointed if you're looking for Thor and (minor spoiler) maybe, like me, you'll be puzzled as to how a certain someone's child exists in the final pages of the issue.

Score: 7/10

Uncanny X-Men #3

Avengers vs. X-Men . . . again!? but this time they talk it out; thank god it's Bendis doing this cause he inserts his trademark wit into the dialogue making an entertaining albeit wordy issue. And the traitor reveals himself to the group!! we get deeper into the reasons behind the double dealing and it's all a bit predictable. It's 3 issues in and it's still all about build-up and hints of things to come. The last page has a nice irony and gives one hope that the next couple of issues pay up front rather than in the future.

No qualms with Bachalo's art, in fact if it wasn't for the guy I think some of the character designs would be boring or cringy.

Score 5/10

Batman #18

Harper Row returns and through her we get a better understanding of Batman's current emotional state. This issue is a long one and you do feel it especially with the artist change but the quality is there, the only problem is that I feel like Row's role in this issue has been done before and by none other than Robin (and not just Tim Drake but his example is the most obvious).
 The parallels between her ability to bring back Batman from the brink and the same ability usually found in the role of the boy wonder only lessen the significance of the latest incarnations recent demise. It is with Harper's exit and leaving behind a 'message' for Batman that the reader can fully appreciate the weight of Bruce's turmoil and his realization of the dangers his grief was putting him in. 
Harper best serves the argument that it is too soon for another Robin or sidekick. The aftereffects of Death of the Family have been blown into non-existence, lets hope the same doesn't happen to Damien's death.
Kubert is well suited for the intense action but it's Maleev's work in the final pages that brings the clear strength of emotion to the issue.
Score 7/10

Green Lantern Corps #18

This whole Wrath of the First Lantern thing is a bit bizarre and not in a good way. The first Lantern continues to feed and/or torture various corp members; this time it's John Stewart and Yrra of Xanshi. I don't know if all the stuff that we're shown from the past is actually changed or it's just an illusion? Also are all these corp members being kept in the same place and is this happening within a very short timeframe or simultaneously or not? Too many questions, too messy and unnecessarily violent (Okay we get it, violence is a part of Stewart's life). 
The art is solid but the convoluted plot drags down CHRISCROSS's visual storytelling.
Score: 4/10

Batman and Robin #18

This is a requiem of one man; Bruce Wayne; a dark knight and a father. A standing ovation to Tomasi and Gleason for getting ballsy and overturning the silent cliche and making a book that hits the reader at home. This book shows you how serious changes should be felt and not used as supplementary content to merely lead to the next big change or worse yet forgotten and retconned. Gleasons compositions and panels lead you through a house in mourning and a father broken.
Score 9/10

 Star Wars #3

Plenty to enjoy here as Wood keeps up with entertainment factor of the original big screen trilogy and on top of that he builds more; going beyond the quips and banter of Luke and Leia and Han and Co. to serve the reader a cast that have a lot more going on; a lot more pathos, delivering fuller nuanced characters. 

Even Vader is stewing with anger and brooding like an angry teen as he is served a dose of humility courtesy of his master.

You couldn't be blamed for just buying these books just for their covers but the interiors are a joy to go through too; playing up the grand scale of this space franchise for all it's worth with nice shots of a half finished death star and cool interceptors hanging in their docking bays.

Score 8/10