NCBD Pull or No Pull: October 31, 2018

Ice Cream Man #8 (Image)

The Ice Cream Man continues to host and star in some of the most interesting horror arcs currently being published today. W. Maxwell Prince has captured our imaginations, and Martin Morazzo does a great job of mixing the horror ideas with some clean, bright linework. Always worth picking up. 

Maneaters #2 (Image)

The fact that a second issue of MANEATERS exists can only mean that the script was turned in in-full and Image had already paid for the printing. After the last much-reviled issue, full of just as much non-sequitur storytelling as it was at attempts to shock. This Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk offering is not recommended for anyone.

Stranger Things #2 (Dark Horse)

Continuing the story that had begun last issue. We reviewed the last issue, where Will Byers was trapped in the Upside Down. Now as he uses lessons from his D&D games, he finds out he's not as alone there as he thought he was. And that's far from a good thing. This is reportedly based on Will's unseen journey during season 1 of the Netflix series.

Deathstroke / Yogi Bear #1 (DC)

One uses 90% of his brain. The other is smarter than the average bear. But when it's more than pic-a-nic baskets disappearing from Yellowstone Park, Ranger Smith calls in a famous big-game hunter: Slade Wilson, Deathstroke. Is Yogi about to meet his match? This story from Frank Tieri and Mark Texeira is one of the latest batch of DC/H-B crossovers that are worth exploring.

Heroes in Crisis #2 (DC)

It's a controversial bloodbath, but it's also a decent mystery story in the offing. At least that's how HEROES IN CRISIS started with its first issue. With Booster Gold and Harley Quinn both the prime suspects in the massacre at Sanctuary -- and both of them thinking the other did it -- the World's Greatest Detective is on the case. But what happens when The Batman becomes a suspect? Tom King and Clay Mann have the answers in the most talked-about storyline in comics this year. We can't wait until the local comics shop opens to get our copies.

Hex Wives #1 (DC/Vertigo)

The war of the sexes takes on a mystical bent. The architects (men) have been at war with the witches (women) for centuries. The problem for the architects is that the witches keep coming back, reincarnating. And now Isabella, living in the suburbs, has no recollection of her past life or of her lesbian soulmate, Nadiya. She'll have to remember everthing quick, because she's being tossed into a war.

Justice League / Aquaman: Drowned  Earth #1 (DC)

Aliens and sea-gods who have a mad-on against Aquaman and Wonder Woman have decided to flood the Earth and turn us all into aquatic monsters. Well, I guess that's better than being drowned. James Tynion IV and Howard Porter drive this story, but it seems derivative of other "flood the world" stories that have already been told, including DC's own "Sub Diego" story arcs of several years back. Simply not excited by this concept.

Avengers Halloween Special #1 (Marvel)

Not much reported on this one. It's basically an anthology of spooky tales featuring different Avengers, as well as some X-Men and Doctor Doom. Our advice is to thumb through it and make your own decision on this one.

X-Men Black; Emma Frost #1 (Marvel)

We're buying this one. We may even read it, but that Salvador Larroca cover of Emma Frost's pinup mugshot is worth the price. Leah Williams and Chris Bachalo guide the story behind the cover, which finds the White Queen on a quest to tear down the Hellfire Club to which she once belonged, and she wants the X-Men to help her.

Nancy Drew #5 (Dynamite)

Nancy Drew has gone through many incarnations in literature, including younger-reader books and, of course, the classic television series. But I don't recall ever having seen her pose with a gun. Kelly Thompson and Jen St-Onge bring this story arc to a conclusion. Might be worth picking up this arc, but we'll have to check the advance PDFs first.

Planet of the Apes: The Time of Man #1 (Boom! Studios)

We're not sure if this is a series or a one-shot. What we do know is that it's an anthology of stories that include the original films as well as the current ones. What woudl be really interesting would be to see someone adapt Pierre Bouille's original novel, which none of the films have ever done. It would be a unique addition to the PotA lore.

Archie Meets Batman 66 #4 (Archie Comics)

As the Gotham villains move their operations to the much easier life of Riverdale, Jughead Jones has discovered their presence. That pits him against the Joker -- and his hunger against the Joker's hamburgers. Meanwhile, the new substitute teacher has all the boys at Riverdale High agog. The bad news: it's Catwoman. With Batman having taken care of his Bookworm problem, will he make it to Riverdale in time to stop the adults from falling under the spell of Siren?

Midnight Mystery #1 (Alterna)

Alterna's economical approach to comics printing gives it an advantage over the competition, as its issues are much more affordable. MIDNIGHT MYSTERY is a new first-issue from the publisher, written and drawn by Bernie Gonzalez. In this debut issue, leading man Zeke King is on the case to find the lost son of a dead horror host. Sounds like the perfect kind of story for a Halloween release!