I’m back in action — to some degree — so that means I’m here with another edition of The Pull, as I highlight my buys, recommendations, and curiosities from a rather appealing slate of comics.

Comic of the Week: Sleep #1

I’ve already read the first two issues of this new Image Comics series from cartoonist Zander Cannon, and let me tell you this so you understand how good I think it is: It’s so well done I never once thought about Kaijumax while reading it. As you may know, that’s one of my favorite comics ever, and it was also Cannon’s last major project. But Sleep stands alone, telling a haunting tale about a haunted man with a really unique hook to it. Pair that with Cannon’s exceptional visual storytelling and his exceptional color choices and you have a book that stands out in all the best ways. If you like horror comics, or just comics that are exceptionally well told character studies, Sleep is a can’t miss. It’s a killer.

Trade/Graphic Novel of the Week: Criminal Vol. 6 – The Last Of The Innocent TP

Trying to pick the “best” collaboration between Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips is an impossible task. How does one differentiate between varying examples of greatness? It’s a good question, and while we each have our own preferences — I lean towards their first longer collaboration in Sleeper and the upcoming The Knives as my personal favorites — my bet is the consensus would land on the Criminal story called The Last of the Innocent as the winner. It’s an incredible work, one that feels extremely Criminal while adding some fascinating wrinkles and some wonderful stylistic choices by Phillips into it. This new volume collects this story into one beautiful volume, and if you’ve never read it before, now’s a good time to pick it up and see if you truly think it’s the best.