Top 50 Modern Comic Artists - 50 More! - John Tyler Christopher

Ryley’s Pull List 4/4/12 - Marvel Comics

• Amazing Spider-Man #683 - With Doc Ock’s “devious” plan revealed in the last issue, this month we’ll see Spidey suit up with all he’s got and take the Avengers with him to make sure that Ock and his Sinister Six are stopped before they enact their plot against (or for) the world. One of the main points in Slott’s run has been pushing forth Peter’s scientific mind, and having him constantly inventing things with no worries on supplies or cost because of his work at Horizon Labs, but now the lab is in danger of being shut down after an incident with John Jameson, and Spidey’s going to be utilizing everything he’s invented in the time he’s worked there, bringing his scientific genius to the forefront of his actions as a super hero. 
• Daredevil #10.1 - Two issues of Daredevil in two week? Man, this must be paradise! This week’s .1 issue is the perfect jumping on point for anyone who hasn’t been keeping up with the series just yet. It should bring us a nice single issue story while also catching new readers up on what’s been happening with Matt Murdock thus far before we head into the three-way crossover with Punisher and Avenging Spider-Man; The Omega Effect.
• Thunderbolts #172 - The final stage of the T-bolt’s trip through time is here, and it has the current team going head to head with the original team. Some of the same members are there so it’s definitely going to be an event that has some repercussions for the team when they get back to the present in issue #175, which will see the book retitled as “Dark Avengers”.
• Venom #15 - Captain America has enlisted Flash Thompson into the Secret Avengers, but is it really the best place for him to be? This issue should offer a look into the character’s psyche as he’s being accepted into the superhero community even though he bears the name of a former A-list villain, and even though he has several issues of his own to deal with.
• Wolverine and the X-Men #8 - It’s Beast against Sabretooth in a feral fight to the finish! Meanwhile Angel, who hasn’t quite been himself, attempts to help a broken feeling Wolverine. That’s what friends are for, right? This issue marks the last before we head into the Avengers Vs. X-Men tie-ins for the next few months, and it also marks the return of Chris Bachalo to the art, which is something I’m rather happy about. 

Top 50 Modern Comic Artists - 50 More! - Mike Deodato Jr.

Ryley’s Pull List 3/7/12 - Marvel Comics

• Amazing Spider-Man #681 - What they thought was a simple search and rescue mission turned out to be much more when Peter and Johnny got to the space station. Doc Ock’s Octobots had turned everyone into zombies! But seriously, last issue started this story on a hilarious and awesome foot, and this weeks issue is sure to end it that way before we head into the big “Ends of the Earth” event. 
• Uncanny X-Men #8 - Things aren’t looking too great for the X-Men in this arc as they’re caught amidst a civil war between the dominant species in Tabula Rasa. Before we head into Avengers Vs. X-Men we’ll see how our heroes solve this problem and exactly how the world is going to deal with this strange new ecosystem, Tabula Rasa.
• Venom #14 - The conclusion of Circle of Four is here, and after the end of last months issue it’s sure to be a bloody fun ride. Remender is channeling 90’s comics into this arc with no reservations, and it’s completely awesome for that. If you haven’t been reading along, next issue should be a great jumping on point!
• Winter Soldier #3 - Bucky’s current mission has lead him straight to the clutches of Doctor Doom. While I could question how Bucky will make it out of this one, I’m more curious as to how everyone will react to another major player in the Marvel Universe knowing the fact that Bucky Barnes is still alive. Did I mention that this series is fantastic in every way?
• Wolverine #302 - Everything is coming to a head in Jason Aaron’s final story on Wolverine. Ninja, samurai, and all other crazy baddies are in place, and now some snikt’s are going to be happening and some blood will definitely be shed. We’ve got a triumvirate of Logan’s greatest villains right here with Silver Samurai, Sabretooth, and Mystique… so how’s he going to deal with them?

Ryley’s Pull List - 2/29/12 - Marvel

• Amazing Spider-Man #680 -  Before heading to the Ends of the Earth, Spidey goes on one more mission with the FF… in space! His mission is to rescue John Jameson from Doc Ock, and I’m sure it won’t go as smoothly as he wants it to.
• Moon Knight #10 - We’re heading into the last quarter of this great series now, and everything is really coming together. Now it’s Moon Knight struggling as one of his multiple personalities has taken over, and not in a very nice way.
• Venom #14.1  - Circle of Four continues as Hell is now on Earth and it’s up to Venom, Ghost Rider, Red Hulk, and X-23 to stop Blackheart and Mephisto and to turn it all back to normal. The mini-event has been awesome so far, and I’m sure that with Remender back on writing the final two parts it’ll be even better. 

Ryley’s Pull List 2/22/12 - Marvel Comics

• Fantastic Four #603 - Forever continues, and it’s not looking very good for anyone, really. Galactus is back and he’s ready to duke it out with the Celestials. Meanwhile the Future Foundation is making a return to the pages of Fantastic Four!
• Secret Avengers #23 - After the Secret Avengers started their new mission (and the book started it’s new direction) in the last issue, this issue we see the inclusion of a new member; Flash Thompson. This is surely an aftereffect of the Circle of Four arc happening in Venom at the moment, but in the meantime we can just enjoy the inclusion of an awesome character into an awesome book. Check out the previous issue on the book to see Rick Remender work his magic on yet another Marvel title!
• Uncanny X-Force #22 - The trial of Fantomex continues… and there are dragons! Fantomex is incapacitated and Psylock is attempting to rescue him from the deleted by the Captain Britain Corps. Meanwhile the rest of the X-Force has enough to deal with as they’re stuck in the middle of a war in the Otherworld! 
• Venom #13.3 - Part four of Circle of Four has Jeff Parker stopping in to write an issue of the book with focus on the Red Hulk. How will Hulk, Ghost Rider, X-23, and Venom stop Hell from spreading across the earth and how will they defeat their own Antitheses? 
• Wolverine and the X-Men #6 - Kitty Pryde’s been infected by a miniature Brood swarm and Wolverine isn’t there to help her! Why? Because Intergalactic Gambling is apparently the best way to pay for the costs to run the Jean Grey School! This series has been more than great since it’s debut and there’s never a bad time to jump on, so read it now!

Top 5 Current Ongoing Marvel Series:

• Daredevil
• Journey into Mystery
• Uncanny X-Force
• Venom
• Wolverine and the X-Men

Very Honorable Mentions (since both runs just started):

• Secret Avengers
• Winter Soldier

Ryley’s Pull List 2/15/12 - Marvel Comics

• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #679.1 - Another Point One issue of Spidey marks a starting point for new readers, but really I think you could jump on at any new arc and be fine… anyway, this one gives some focus to Morbius, the living vampire, as his roles at Horizon Labs and in Spider Island are revealed to Peter. Should be a nice little issue, especially for anyone who’s a fan of the ol’ bloodsucker. 
• DAREDEVIL #9 - A new arc begins here! Hot off the tails of the ASM/Daredevil crossover we have Hon-head heading down to Subterranea. Aside from being sure this will be a great issue as always, and also that it’ll look beautiful as always, this should be interesting as we head into the crossover with Punisher and Spider-Man in April. But until then we’ll just have to see what DD’s doing underground.
• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #513 - In a story not unlike the old Armor Wars we now have Tony being attacked by a number of armored villains. This time, though, they’re all under the influence of The Mandarin, even Tony’s first villain from this series; Ezekiel Stane. This arc really does look like it’s bringing all the pieces of Fractions run into place, and it’s sure to have serious consequences on Iron Man. 
• THUNDERBOLTS #170 - The ‘Bolts are in Medieval times now! With the gang still lost in time we continue their adventures with the Black Knight and company in what I’m sure will be another exciting and fun issue. However, as always, I’m really just anticipating the upcoming battle between T-Bolts of old, and the current team. 
• UNCANNY X-MEN #7 - Tabula Rasa continues as the X-Men have been revealed to more of what this place is and what it is they’re actually dealing with. Of course with the continuing ties to Uncanny X-Force, this means I’m seriously loving what’s happening here, and if you read that series I have to recommend it as well. 
• VENOM #13.1 - The Circle of Four trudges on with another issue written by Rob Williams, this time with focus on X-23. The fan favorite character, as well as the other three starring in this mini-event, are stuck in a miniature hell fighting their Antitheses. Meanwhile Johnny Blaze, Doctor Strange, and Daimon Hellstrom are working from the outside to contain this Hell on Earth and I’m sitting here enjoying every page of it. 
• WINTER SOLDIER #2 - Last issue was a great debut for Bucky’s new series, and knowing Brubaker with this character it’s not about to let up. Not to mention that we’ve got gorillas with machine guns. If you can grab the first issue I highly recommend it as I’m sure this series is going to be one of the top at Marvel this year. 
• WOLVERINE #301 - Sabretooth is back, there’s a new Silver Samurai, and of course Wolverine is in the middle of it. Jason Aaron’s finale arc on Wolverine is sure to be packed with awesome action, and I really can’t wait to see what he pulls out for his ending. 

Ryley’s Pull List 2/8/12 - Marvel Comics

• CAPTAIN AMERICA #8 - Something’s wrong with Cap and he’s being left powerless, so will he be able to survive against an oncoming onslaught of villainy and whatnot? Probably. But the point is, how is he going to get out of this, and how’s he going to solve this whole “I keep getting tiny and losing my powers” problem? 
• INCREDIBLE HULK #5 - Hulk VS Banner! It seems like it’d be the obvious victory, but Banner’s done some wacky stuff while he’s been away on his Gamma Experiment Island. But there’s plenty going against Banner as well… and that means more than just the Hulk being after him, so we’ll see what happens. 
• JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #634 - Post-Fear Itself, some pretty crazy stuff is going down for little Loki. His brother is gone and nobody but he remembers him, and now all of the Fear Gods are getting together and causing a huge amount of mess for our little God of Mischief. Loki teams with Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, to bring down all this mess. 
• SECRET AVENGERS #22 - After last months intro issue Rick Remender’s run on Secret Avengers officially begins here. I’m not going to say much more… but Christ is it going to be awesome. Also; Gabriel Hardman on art. OH MAN I’m excited about that!
• VENOM #13.1 - Last week began the months Venom event, and this week we continue with part two, written by Rob Williams. I’ll guess this issue lends focus to Ghost Rider, who’s playing a pretty big role in this seeing as the villains are tied more so to her than the other characters involved. Anyway, if last weeks issue was any indication, it’ll be awesome, and it’s well worth the read. 
• WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #5 - Kitty Pryde’s suddenly pregnant and according to that cover it might have something to do with the Brood? Well, that can’t be good… Jason Aaron’s awesome X-Men series continues here, and if you haven’t gotten into it yet I suggest you jump on at any point you can. So that means now. 

Also, the final issues of Black Panther and PunisherMAX are shipping this week. 

Ryley’s Pull List 2/1/12 - Marvel Comics

• Amazing Spider-Man #689 - Part two of the current two part arc, whose name I can’t remember.
• Punisher #8 - Punisher has one eye and he’s about to kick some asses. Not much to say but it’s going to be awesome as hell. 
• Uncanny X-Force #21 - Part two of Otherworld/The Trial of Fantomex
• Uncanny X-Men #6 - Part two of Tabula Rasa
• Venom #13 - Here begins the month long Venom event! We’ve been leading up to the events of this story through the first year of Venom, and now we’re here! All month long we’ll be getting issues of Venom tying into this event in which he has to team up with Red Hulk, X-23, and Ghost Rider to take down an enemy that’s too much for them to defeat one on one. Plus, it’s likely to tie into why Flash gets a place on Secret Avengers, and also what’s up with him having to acquire the Toxin symbiote in the last issue. 
• Winter Soldier #1 - Also a huge release this week, the start of Bucky’s new solo title! After Fear Itself lead readers to believe Bucky was dead, an aftermath issue showed us that he’s actually still kicking, and that he’s now working once again as Winter Soldier, a secret agent that only few know even exists. If you, like me, loved Bucky’s run as Cap then you need to grab this series as Brubaker and Guice are sure to work the same magic once again.

Favorite Comic Book Characters - Mac Gargan: Scorpion, Venom

Favorite Comic Book Characters - Eddie Brock, Venom/Anti-Venom (and six feet under in that one image)

Favorite Comic Book Characters - Flash Thompson, Venom