Pandora's Longbox: A New 52 Podcast

Serendipity is a fine mistress, and she has seen fit to let us take on both N.O.W.H.E.R.E. books back to back, truly a treat for the ages. And so here we are with Caitlin Fairchild and the breakout stars of The Culling like Beast Boy, Terra and... Ridge, as they go around trying to figure out "what kind of X-Men book should our back-up Teen Titans book be" while fighting off new and traditional villains and trying to find their own Professor X - busy days indeed. See what our new metahumans are up to in Ravagers vol 1, The Kids From N.O.W.H.E.R.E. by Howard Mackie and Ian Churchill with additional writing by Tom DeFalco, additional pencils by Tom Raney, Daniel Sampere, Stefano Martino, Julius Gopez, Tyler Kirkham, Eduwardo Pansica, Daniel HDR and Geraldo Borges and colours by Alex Sollazzo, Hi-Fi, Peter Steigerwals, Gina Going-Raney and Tony Avina.Next week: a Gotham-based reprieve, as we go to Birds of Prey vol 2 for issues 8-12 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Its back to the boy from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. for another week in the teen line with Superboy. Coming fresh out of the Culling, he's ready to learn how to be a real boy with his new friends, and also ponder if he can ever be a real boy, especially with the crimes in his genetics or whatever the hell was going on with him. Come see him hang out with a girl and a lot of gay boys (no comment here on his chemistry with anyone in particular) on his journey of self-discovery in Superboy vol 2, Extraction by Scott Lobdell, Tom DeFalco, R. B. Silva and Sebastian Fiumara with additional pencils by Iban Coello, Brett Booth, Robson Rocha and Eduardo Pansica and colours by Richard & Tanya Horie, Hi-Fi, Andrew Dalhouse and Blond.Next week: huge news, Cullingheads, its Ravagers vol 1 for issues 1-7 of that fresh bookFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

There's a lot of things you might think a superhero team needs, but one that most people forget about is that every single team needs a vibe. And here's the Justice League of America's Vibe, all in his own solo comic and everything. Cisco Ramon is now the centre of the multiverse, and everyone else is trying to make him figure it out so he can become a border cop for the city of Detroit, and other such obvious features of a comic by one of these writers, so without further ado, shake yourself down with Justice League of America's Vibe vol 1, Breach by Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg, Sterling Gates, Pete Woods, Andres Guinaldo and Derlis Santacruz with additional pencils by Fabiano Neves and Manuel Garcia and colours by Brad Anderson, Hi-Fi and Brett Smith.Next week: back in the teens again for Superboy vol 2, covering 8-12, 0 (and a little bonus 13 for crossover prep)Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Its a bumper episode this time folks, because the content of the trades (and a desire to just hurry up and hit the critically acclaimed part of the run) have given us the bounty crop of TWO Green Arrow trades. We get to see the Emerald Archer get involved with triplets, wage war on a Chinese billionaire, meet up with Hawkman and try to teach a poor dog-fighting kid about archery to escape poverty, and all because we made ourselves read so much! Come along and see if we hit the bullseye with Green Arrow vol 2 Triple Threat and vol 3 Harrow by Ann Nocenti, Judd Winick, Harvey Tolibao, Steve Kurth and Freddie Williams II with colours by Richard & Tanya Horie, Mike Atiyeh and Allen PassalaquaNext week: its him, its really him, its Justice League of America's Vibe, and his whole book from issue 1 to issue 10Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Another return to Gotham this week, ready to see what's going on in the life of Barbara Gordon, Batgirl. There's Killing Joke callbacks, a new villain, Killing Joke callbacks, a new vigilante group led by a rich woman up to no good, and some more Killing Joke callbacks for the road - plus a little personal life too, if you can believe they squeezed it in. Come on then and take a dive with us into Batgirl vol 2: Knightfall Descends by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, Ed Benes and Alitha Martinez with additional pencils by Vicente Cifenutes and colours by Ulises Arreola.Next week: its a bumper one for special episode 33, as we read Green Arrow vol 2 and 3 covering issues 7-16! (and 0 too!)Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We have had things too good for too long and so now we have to pay our penance by being dragged down into the depths with the Firestorm boys again. Now here's a book - what if the title characters were split the whole time until they finally got back together in a gay way, what if there was constant talk about terrorism from a Nazi co-writer, what if we had to wrap up a book at speed but it didn't end. All these questions and more shown in Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men v2, The Firestorm Paradox by Joe Harris, Ethan Van Sciver and Yildiray Cinar with additional pencils by Daniel HDR and colours by Hi-FiNext time: back to the Night of the Owls again, this time with Batgirl v2, covering issues 7-13 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Just in time for the film coming out on digital (because you know we have no control and lady luck is only partly on our side), its the return of Kara Zor-El, otherwise known as Supergirl if you can believe the press. This time around, she's getting into magic shenanigans with a new Irish friend, dealing with some more corpo baddies and starting to figure out more of her mysterious past with the help of her own fortress - all that and not a lot more depth besides this week as we read Supergirl vol 2: Girl in the World by Michael Green, Mike Johnson, Mahmud Asrar, George Perez and Sami Basri with colours by Dave McCaig and Paul MountsNext week: the hits keep on rolling as we return to Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men v2, covering issues 7-12 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We just spent an hour gassing up Palmiotti and Gray last week, so lo and behold, its time to get back to gassing them up right away as we return to Jonah Hex. All that just means its time to continue on our cowboy time as we go to New Orleans and then walk right back into a time-displaced Night of Owls tie-in that does far more than any other book likely will, before capping it all off with some more fun world-building backups. Without further ado, lets mosey on down to All Star Western vol 2: The War of Lords and Owls by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Moritat with backup art by Patrick Scherberger, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Scott Kolins and colours by Gabriel Bautista, Mike Atiyeh and Patricia Mulvihill.Next time: its the slightly-off-timely return of Supergirl for vol 2, covering issues 8-13 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Its been a hot minute since we had Men of War, so we're about due for a return to DC's odd attempts to make war anthology books work again, this time for G.I. Combat. Here we've got a war against dinosaurs in North Korea, the return of everyone's favourite Confederate general powered-tank and a reinvention of Unknown Soldier that's so bold it made us record our longest episode yet. Lets not beat around any more bushes though, run off to war with G.I. Combat vol 1: The War That Time Forgot by J.T. Krul, Ariel Olivetti, Peter Tomasi, Howard Chaykin, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Dan Panosian and Staz Johnson with colours by Rob Schwager and Jesus AburtovNext time: going even further back in time to All-Star Western v2, for issues 7-12 with Jonah HexFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Once again, we are back with Justice League Dark, speeding our way straight to a third volume. This time around, we get to find out where Zatanna and Tim Hunter disappeared off to last time and get hugely disappointed by the reveal of answers to that mystery, as well as finding out if its okay or not to leave your son because he has bad vibes. For two big arcs, we've got another big bumper trade on our hands so without further ado, lets unleash Justice League Dark vol 3: The Death of Magic by Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes and Mikel Janin with additional pencils by Graham Nolan and Victor Drujiniu and colours by Jeremy CoxNext week: gee, its good to be back in the army for GI Combat v1, covering issues 1-7 and 0 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We're halfway through the year, which means its the ideal time to get back to everyone's favourite cool 90s bandana man, Grifter. After such a bad first volume, surely a fresh creative team can only work out for the best, especially when its tying into the big picture for our boy Helspont. And yet... when you have the creative team of this book, maybe not so much - you'll just have to see what happens with Grifter vol 2: Newfound Power by Rob Liefeld, Frank Tieri, Scott Clark and Marat Mychaels with colours by Andrew DalhouseNext week: back at it again in the House of Mystery for Justice League Dark v3, covering issues 14-21Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Frankenstein Fever is back and its sweeping the nation as we return to everyone's favourite Agent of S.H.A.D.E. doing his pulpy work right down to the end. This time his personal life is changing as he's confronting his relationships, he's confronting his organisation, he's confronting his dad, he's doing all the confronting you could imagine, and in big spy style to boot. There's a lot to talk about with this many issues, so just get on mission with Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. vol 2: Secrets of the Dead by Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt and Alberto Ponticelli with colours by José Villarubia and John KaliszNext week: we're becoming true podcasters and committing to the grift in Grifter v2, covering issues 9-16 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

The Geoff Johns world tour continues this week with the mandated return to Aquaman, and now introducing his global friends The Others. Will we balk at another collection of new Johnsian spins at a team, or will we fall for his delightful new creations in spite of the nothingness of their team name? Only time, and listening to this week's episode, will tell as we dive into Aquaman vol 2: The Others by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis with colours by Rod Reis.Next week: call us Mary Shelley the way we're finishing off Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. with issues 8-16 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

This week, we're returning to Metropolis with a new team on Superman for a minute. They've got secrets (how babygirl Helspont is) and they've got lies (not telling you how they stop making Helspont babygirl by the end of the trade) and a bunch of other little two-issue things in between. Come find out more as we read the good news of Superman vol 2, Secrets and Lies by Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen, Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, Jesus Merino and Pascal Alixe with additional pencils by Marco Rudy and Tom Raney and colours by Tanya & Richard Horie, Hi-Fi and Blond.Next week: the mogger-in-chief is back, its Aquaman v2, covering issues 7-13Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Back into the teen mines for another check on what's happening after The Culling, this time with the Teen Titans. There's gonna be sexy dinosaurs, ancient Cambodian temples and a return to the character idea for Penance, so its a busy busy affair. Come and see the next steps for teenkind with us in Teen Titans vol 2, The Culling by Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, Ig Guara, Brett Booth, Jorge Jimenez and Alé Garza with additional writing by Tom DeFalco and colours by Andrew Dalhousie, Guy Major, Brad Anderson, Lee Loughridge and Blond.Next week: its off to Metropolis and beyond for Superman v2, covering issues 7-12 and annual 1 Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

This week, we're going back to our earliest days and the place where it all began, Justice League. Its time to finally reassess an old friend and see if it gets any better when its in the present day and building up a new villain and Jim Lee's scheduling is bringing in an infinite number of inkers, colourists and fill-in pencillers for pages at a time. But maybe it won't, and maybe it'll be a chance to fix its placement on the rankings. Either way, its Justice League vol 2, The Villain's Journey by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee and Gene Ha with additional pencils by Carlos D'Anda, Ivan Reis, David Finch and Ethan Van Sciver and colours by Alex Sinclair, Art Lyon, Gabe Eltaeb, Pete Pantazis, Hi-Fi, Sonia Oback and Tony Avina.Next week: back at it with the cool kids for Teen Titans v2, covering issues 8-14 and DC Universe Presents 12Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Remember how last time we sat through all that build up about how Dick Grayson was fated to be a Talon for the Court of Owls, who were now gonna go wild on Gotham for an event? Well, don't worry too much about that, its time for his undead great grandpa's origin story while he lectures Nightwing. And also Nightwing is facing social revolutionaries who don't have any politics and getting a new worse origin story. Its all another day in the mines of Nightwing vol 2, Night of the Owls by Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows and Andres Guinaldo with additional writing by Tom DeFalco, additional pencils by Geraldo Borges and colours by Rod Reis and Peter Pantazis.Next week: we're taking it all the way back to the start for Justice League v2, covering issues 7-12Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

You know the thing Batman comics were missing up until now? That's right, villains going "we're not so different, you and I". Well, technically this one doesn't fulfill that because its a narrative conceit for the reader / something in Batman's head, but that doesn't matter really because the key thing is its time to ponder generational trauma with Scarecrow. Come lie down on our chaise lounge for Batman: The Dark Knight vol 2, Cycle of Violence by Gregg Hurwitz and David Finch with additional pencils by Mico Suayan and Juan Jose Ryp and colours by Sonia Oback.Next week: you know the wheel by now, of course its Nightwing vol 2, covering issues 8-12 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Enjoyed hearing about the Culling but thought "boy, I sure wish I knew what was going to happen after this event immediately"? Well, that's perfect because its exactly what fate has given you, as we're back to the fridge to finish Legion Lost. Come for the depressing spiralling down of every member of the team coping with their dismal fates, stay for half of the cast of the Culling returning for an empty final arc to tie up the book. Its another farewell as we read Legion Lost vol 2, The Culling by Tom DeFalco, Pete Woods, Aaron Kuder and Andres Guinaldo with additional pencils by Ronan Cliquet and colours by Brad Anderson and Brett Smith.Next week: back to Gotham for Batman: The Dark Knight vol 2, covering issues 10-15 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

The Dark Harvest is here, its time for teens to be pitted against teens to see who can be a Ravager and who can't help make the future - its The Culling. Watch as teens from Superboy, Legion Lost and Teen Titans all get drafted into some sort of "battle royale" for the grand schemes of a villain we've barely met but that we'll get to know very well over the course of his aura farming and mystery-posing through all of this. Come see our surprise at the quality of all of that here in The Culling by Tom DeFalco, Scott Lobdell, Aaron Kuder, Ig Guara, Brett Booth, R.B. Silva and Pete Woods with additional pencils by Iban Coello and colours by Brad Anderson, Richard & Tanya Horie, Hi-Fi, Andrew Dalhouse and Lee Loughridge.Next week: the irony of the wheel continues as we go straight to reading the rest of Legion Lost with vol 2, covering issues 8-16 and 0Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

The wheel has given in its own divine way this week as we've already come back round to Wonder Woman, giving us the top hitting books back to back. This time, we're meeting more children of Zeus, moving our old gods around the board and meeting a New God properly to boot, rich in melodrama and beautiful art and everything you're already coming to expect from this Wonder Woman run. So without further ado, lets get into Wonder Woman vol 3, Iron by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins with additional pencils by Goran Sudzuka and Amilcar Pinna and colours by Matthew Wilson and Nick FilardiNext week: its finally crossover season as we read The Culling, covering Superboy 8-9, Legion Lost 8-9 and Teen Titans 8-9 and annual 1!Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We're free from the bad and back to the peak with Batwoman, and a return to her child-rescuing mission and her complicated trauma-processing happy-lesbian life. There's some new artists in for a rest arc, but we're still on the wild layouts, and now cutting between characters and timeframes to show off the writing skills instead. Dive with us into Batwoman vol 2, To Drown The World by JH Williams III, W Haden Blackman, Amy Reeder and Trevor McCarthy with colours by Guy MajorNext week: top 10 girlboss hours continue as we return to Wonder Woman for vol 3, covering 0 and 13-18Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

The Shadow Lords really favoured us once again when they said "you should read the whole book that goes with that crossover from last week", and I say that in a very value neutral way. We're robbing Peter and Paul's writing to ponder the recreation of 90s and 00s comics and the Wildstorm ethos in the DC Universe, because sometimes you have to find things to talk about when the books go really fast, so lets just look down at the Earth and judge Stormwatch vol 2: Enemies of Earth by Paul Jenkins, Peter Milligan, Ignacio Calero, Miguel Sepulveda and Will Conrad with additional pencils by Daniel HDR and Eduardo Pansica and colours by Pete Pantazis, Alex Sinclair, Guy Major, Rain Beredo and Nathan Eyring.Next week: the drought is over, we're going right back to the top, its Batwoman vol 2, covering issues 6-11Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Let noone say we have good luck because we've gone straight from Green Lantern right on back to bottom-of-the-barrel Red Lanterns, and its misleading title that gets everyone excited. Come for the promise of the Red Lanterns dying, stay for the marginally better treatment of characters and a pointless Stormwatch crossover. Get angry with us by reading Red Lanterns vol 2: Death of the Red Lanterns by Peter Milligan, Tomas Giorello, Miguel Sepulveda and Ardian Syaf with additional pencils by Andreas Guinaldo and Jorge Jimenez and colours by Pete Pantazis and Rain Beredo.Next week: call it divine providence, its Stormwatch vol 2, covering issues 7-12 and Red Lanterns 10Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Green Lantern season is back again already with the head honcho Geoff Johns here to do his last real story arc before we get to his last run of crossovers, also starting from here. Its a time for reflection, reflection and spending a lot of time pondering Doug Mahnke's ability to draw the latent homoeroticism of Hal Jordan and Sinestro. Join our gay lantern corps' discussion of Green Lantern vol 2: Revenge of the Black Hand by Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke and Ethan Van Sciver with additional art by Renato Guedes and Jim Calafiore and colours by Alex Sinclair, Tony Avina and Hi-Fi Design.Next week: space Rotworld continues as we jump straight over to the Red (Lanterns), covering issues 8-12, 0 and Stormwatch 9Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We've not seen a change of creators really save a book yet, but maybe there's a first time for everything as we see the torch pass from a 90s Vertigo writer to a 90s Vertigo fanboy, and we see that fanboy pull in Neil Gaiman stories in a way that just feels weird in 2026 and live out his Constantine-writing dreams. Also there's an I, Vampire crossover to get through, lets not talk about all that. Either way, lets crack open a tome for Justice League Dark vol 2: The Books of Magic by Peter Milligan, Jeff Lemire, Daniel Sampere and Mikel Janin with additional writing by Joshua Hale Fialkov, additional pencils by Admira Wijaya, Andrea Sorrentino and Lee Garbett and colours by Ulises Arreola, Admira Wijaya, Pete Pantazis and Kyle Ritter.Next week: Geoff Johns' Grand Saga returns with Green Lantern vol 2, covering issues 7-12, 0 and annual 1Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

New 52 Jaime Reyes really did not make a good impression on us in his first trade and has only been souring more and more over the past year, so it'll be interesting to see quite how a second volume is going to land as he goes to New York, tries to find a superhero mentor while pretending to be Spider-Man and ends up in space somehow for some sort of conclusion. A lot to ponder in a lot of issues so without further ado, lets do Blue Beetle vol 2: Blue Diamond by Tony Bedard, Ig Guara and Marcia Takara with additional writing by Keith Giffen, additional pencils by Scott McDaniel and colours by Pete Pantazis.Next week: sticking with the early low-ranked books with the return of Justice League Dark, covering issues 7-13, 0, annual 1 of the 2011 series (and a little bonus I Vampire 7 & 8 for the road)Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Feeling like there's a rot at the core of America and her institutions? Maybe its real and we have to work as activists to fight it, or maybe we just need Baron Winters and his ragtag squad of unwilling helpers. Night Force have been updated for a new millennium, and truly, what a difference 15 years makes between creation and reading. Come see what we mean in Night Force by Marv Wolfman and Tom Mandrake with colours by Wes Hartman.Next week: another bad book wrap-up with Blue Beetle vol 2, covering issues 7-16 and 0 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We're back around with Wonder Woman so quickly, and now we get to see if the book can get even better than last time as Diana goes from the depths of Hell all the way to the heights of Mount Olympus and everyone in between with two pistols and a will to win. Come hang out with even more of your favourite gods and your favourite podcasters (we hope) as we read Wonder Woman vol 2: Guts by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins with additional art by Kano and colours by Matthew Wilson.Next week: its Halloween come very early with Night Force!Find our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

What could be a greater adventure than this, reading a book noone knows anything about featuring two characters noone has ever heard of nestled away in the dark caves of the New 52? We're out here to do the lords work and preach the majesty of nanobot Robotman, Gotham's own Garbageman and galactic troublemaker Tanga and you better be ready to sit down and learn, with My Greatest Adventure by Matt Kindt, Scott Kolins, Aaron Lopresti and Kevin Maguire with colours by Mike Atiyeh, John Salisz and Rosemary Cheetham.Next week: another win with Wonder Woman vol 2, covering issues 7-12 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Going back to the swamp for some more Swamp Thing, sure hope the Thing tastes better this time and its a bit less Swampy. Its certainly doing more Rotworld set up from big Scott Snyder, and maybe its even doing more actual plot momentum, who could say? Maybe pigs will even fly after we wade in on Swamp Thing vol 2: Family Tree by Scott Snyder, Yanick Paquette, Marco Rudy, Francesco Francavilla, Kano and Becky Cloonan with additional writing by Scott Tuft, additional pencils by Andrew Belanger and colours by Nathan Fairbairn, Val Staples, Matthew Wilson and Tony Avina.Next week: off on My Greatest Adventure, covering all 6 issues of the 2011 miniFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

God's something-est soldier, the Phantom Stranger, is now here in the New 52 and ready to stun with his fashion sense, and we are so excited to see him. DC's editor-in-chief is working on his Judas Iscariot fanfic ideas, and every single one of them is gold - you won't need to know more than that up front. Fall to your knees, raise your hands in the air and come pray with Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger vol 1: A Stranger Among Us by Dan DiDio and Brent Anderson with additional scripting by JM DeMatteis and colours by Ulises Arreola and Jeremy Cox.Next week: back into the rot with Swamp Thing vol 2, covering issues 8-12, 0 and annual 1 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Buddy Baker's back at it and we're in the girlrot lifestyle right with him, its the return of Animal Man! The family's on a roadtrip, the grandma's giving out bad vibes, the Justice League Dark are here to make gentle suggestions - so much* is happening here. So much* is happening that I wouldn't even want to tell you more before the episode, so just strap in for Animal Man vol 2: Animal Vs Man by Jeff Lemire, Steve Pugh, Travel Foreman, Timothy Green II and Alberto Ponticelli with colours by Lovern Kindzierski.Next week: fresh book alert! Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger vol 1, covering issues 0-5 of the 2012 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We are not going through a very lucky period still right now, so its time for another Rob Liefeld tome, but this time its with him on art as well for Deathstroke. Slade Wilson is 90s-maxxing with Lobo, he's sharing family time and hanging out with Hawkman to talk about nth metal, he's going on a world tour of ill-advised stereotypes, its all right here. Come listen to us having done the work noone else could with Deathstroke vol 2: Lobo Hunt by Rob Liefeld, Joshua Williamson, Justin Jordan, Tony Bedard, Eduardo Pansica and Edgar Salazar with additional art by Amilcar Pinna and Scot Eaton and colours by Andy Troy and Juan Fernandez.Next week: we're free and back to peak, its Animal Man vol 2, covering issues 7-11, 0 and Annual 1 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

And lo and behold, it took a whopping two weeks but we hit the longest trade we have on the block for a long time and its a Rob Liefeld special as well - we hit Savage Hawkman. We've got to go through several attempts to change up what's going on with Hawkman, a whole miserable crossover and then a brief gaze into the light with Tom DeFalco at the end. Lets all just get this over with in Savage Hawkman vol 2: Wanted by Rob Liefeld, Mark Poulton, Frank Tieri, Tom DeFalco, Joe Bennett and Jack Jadson with additional writing by Ann Nocenti and Joshua Williamson, additional pencils by Freddie E Williams II, Eduardo Pansica and Fabrizio Florentino and colours by Jason Wright, Guy Major, David Baron, Wes Dzioba, Richard and Tanya Horie and Juan Fernandez.Next week: the suffering continues with Deathstroke vol 2, covering issues 9-20 and 0 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at ⁠http://pandoraslongbox.club/

We got lucky this week to start our second year with an old friend, Mitch Shelley, the Resurrection Man - its just a question of if the book can stay as good when it has so many artists that the book's cover only lists its writers and its wrapping towards an early cancellation. Lets see if all the mysteries can get to satisfying closes, the Body Doubles can get their moments to shine and if the Suicide Squad crossover was really necessary, as we read Resurrection Man vol 2: A Matter of Death and Life by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Fernando Dagnino, Jesus Saiz, Javier Pina, Andres Guinaldo and Ramon Bachs with additional writing by Adam Glass and colours by Jeremy Cox, John Kalisz and Matt Yackey.Next week: Savage Hawkman vol 2, covering issues 9-20, 0, Green Arrow 14 and Deathstroke 14 of the 2011 seriesFind our ongoing rankings and more at http://pandoraslongbox.club/

Holy podcasters, Batman! We made it through a whole year, we read every initial release of the New 52, and we all still like it each other enough to record an extra episode for you at the end of it without yelling at each other the whole time. Come join us as we revisit the highlights, the lowlights and the general idea of the whole New 52 and what the hell we're doing with it, and find out what's coming up next!Next week: Second Base begins with Resurrection Man vol 2, covering issues 8-12, 0 and Suicide Squad 9Final rankings for the year:BatwomanAll-Star WesternLegion LostOMACAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchAction ComicsVoodooCaptain AtomDemon KnightsSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlI, VampireSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterStatic ShockThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

We finally made it to the 52nd book, and of course, it had to be the grand tribute to the King himself, OMAC. Its time to discuss all the parts of the Kirby cosmos that noone else will use or get into and round out the bases to celebrate this home run of a book. Get on board on our satellite and OMACTIVATE your ears with us for OMAC vol 1: OMACTIVATE! by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen with additional art by Scott Kolins and colours by Hi-Fi.Next week: the 52 First Dates wrap up episode!Current rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternLegion LostAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchAction ComicsVoodooCaptain AtomDemon KnightsSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlI, VampireSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterStatic ShockThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Its a book where the main character is a vampire, so when he talks about himself, he is the titular I, Vampire. Also he has a girlfriend / vampire progeny who is his ultimate enemy for some toxic relationship drama, as vampire stories are wont to do. And then there's like another heap of vampire-story referencing and emulating in here too, so without further ado, come down into our tomb of I, Vampire vol 1: Tainted Love by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino with colours by Marcelo Maiolo.Next week: O.M.A.C. v1, covering all eight issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternLegion LostAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchAction ComicsVoodooCaptain AtomDemon KnightsSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterStatic ShockThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Even a superhero has to start somewhere in their blue t-shirt and jeans, and this week, we're talking about Superman's opening story in Action Comics. Its a Grant Morrison comic though, so it won't be that easy, with everything else coming along besides too, and far too much of it to write in here, so just tune in as we tune out with Action Comics vol 1: Superman and the Men of Steel by Grant Morrison, Rags Morales and Andy Kubert with additional art by Brent Anderson, Gene Ha and Brad Walker and colours by Brad Anderson, Art Lyon and David Curiel.Next week: I, Vampire v1, covering the first seven issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternLegion LostAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomDemon KnightsSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterStatic ShockThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

You've seen Wildstorm 2011, but have you considered if there was Wildstorm 1011? Merlin is watching storms, Etrigan is in a throuple, Shining Knight is getting misgendered - its all happening here in Demon Knights. Or maybe it isn't, who could say what's going on with the pacing here. Either way, boldly quest with us and Demon Knights vol 1: Seven Against The Dark by Paul Cornell and Diogenes Neves with additional art by Michael Choi and Robson Rocha and colours by Marcelo Maiolo.Next week: Action Comics v1, covering the first eight issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternLegion LostAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterStatic ShockThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Its finally time for our single Milestone book of the entire New 52 (and years after with DC), Static Shock. We discuss the spirit of Milestone's original vision, and also how this book is a wildly flawed non-attempt to recapture them while also being just so confusing and question-raising that we couldn't help the run time, we swear. Come ride the lightning with us and Static Shock vol 1: Supercharged by Scott McDaniel, John Rozum and Marc Bernardin with colours by Guy Major.Next week: Demon Knights v1, covering the first seven issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternLegion LostAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

They're members of the Legion of Super Heroes and they're Lost - its Legion Lost. A book noone has ever talked about in the 14 years since it started, which means you know this has to be a bumper episode as we dig in on whether or not this might actually be a good book, to everyone's surprise. We're zooming back in time with Legion Lost vol 1: Run from Tomorrow by Fabian Nicieza, Tom DeFalco and Pete Woods with colours by Brad Anderson.Next week: Static Shock v1, covering all eight issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternAquamanBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Call us squaddies because we're going into the trenches with Arthur Curry, Aquaman. There's a lot for us to learn from a guy who aura farms this hard and deals with this many rude jokes about fish, and maybe we'll even manage it here and come out more rizzed up for the effort. Lets dive straight on into Aquaman vol 1: The Trench by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis with colours by Rod Reis.Next week: Legion Lost v1, covering the first seven issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalCatwomanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

We've finally come to our final Gotham book, and we're going out in style with everyone's favourite animal-themed thief, Catwoman. She's got her bra out, she's got her toes out, she's got her childhood trauma out, its all here. Get on the job with us this week in Catwoman vol 1: The Game by Judd Winick and Guillem March with colours by Tomeu Morey.Next week: Aquaman v1, covering the first six issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanJustice League InternationalTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

We're taking it back to the 2010s taking it back to the 80s this week with the return of the Justice League International, all in new hands this go around. What if we switched up the team and the tone, but still tried to maintain the somewhat questionable association with the UN and the somewhat more questionable global cast straight out of Street Fighter. Take a round-the-world tour with us in Justice League International vol 1: The Signal Masters by Dan Jurgens, Aaron Lopresti and Marco Castiello with colours by Hi-Fi.Next week: Catwoman v1, covering the first six issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesGreen ArrowDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

His name is Green Arrow. After 42 weeks in hell, we have come home with only one goal... to see if this book is any good. Now everyone has joined the crusade. And this crusade is the only reason why anyone would be needing to go back to this book, so its a perfect alignment of targets for everyone. Lets see how the shot landed as we read Green Arrow vol 1: The Midas Touch by Dan Jurgens, J.T. Krul, Keith Giffen and Ignacio Calero with colours by Tanya & Richard Horie and David Baron.Next week: Justice League International v1, covering the first six issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesDeathstrokeMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Its the week for Serious Deadpool, the aura farmer in chief, The Terminator (not James Cameron's) - Deathstroke. Will he win every fight? (Of course) Will he get paid? (Maybe) Will he learn how to be a good dad? (Absolutely not) These questions and many more are all to be answered in Deathstroke vol 1: Legacy by Kyle Higgins, Joe Bennett and Eduardo Pansica with colours by Jason Wright.Next week: Green Arrow v1, covering the first six issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashWonder WomanBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Its taken this long but we finally got to one of the most-talked about books of the New 52, Wonder Woman, and we're all very happy for the break with another good book. There's reinventions all round for Diana Prince here, but best of all, there's lots of room for us to get into discussing Greek mythology, where our real enthusiasm sits. Join us going on our own odyssey as we read Wonder Woman vol 1: Blood by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins with colours by Matthew Wilson.Next week: Deathstroke v1, covering the first eight issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueDetective ComicsNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific

Somehow we are finally closing off our Batman-led books with the OG and the company namesake, Detective Comics. Now we can wonder no longer as to how it would be if Joker took inspiration from his second favourite Hollywood John Woo flick, and see exactly how he could take his face... off. Also all the rest of the things in the other six issues of the comics. This week we're reading Detective Comics vol 1: Faces of Death by Tony S Daniel with additional art by Szymon Kudranski and colours by Tomeu Morey.Next week: Wonder Woman v1, covering the first six issues of the 2011 seriesCurrent rankings:BatwomanAll-Star WesternAnimal ManThe FlashBatman and RobinResurrection ManBatwingFrankenstein: Agent of SHADEBlackhawksStormwatchVoodooCaptain AtomSuperboyThe Savage HawkmanBirds of PreySupermanTeen TitansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansSupergirlSwamp ThingDC Universe PresentsGreen LanternBatmanBatman: The Dark KnightBatgirlJustice LeagueNightwingRed Hood and the OutlawsLegion of Super-HeroesMen of WarHawk and DoveBlue BeetleJustice League DarkGreen Lantern CorpsGrifterThe Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear MenSuicide SquadRed LanternsMister Terrific