As every publisher in the industry gears up for the busiest season in comics, the first month of Spring is usually just the warm up for what is to come. If that is the case, then your brave, valiant, and deluded creative team here at Graphic-Content might just be in over their collective heads. Why? Because if there is one way to describe this week’s Pull & Hold it is this: “Holy #@%*!”. So, that being said, inside you can check out the week’s collection of comics from all of your favorite publishers which includes over 2 dozen titles, and previews of some of the hottest series in horror/sci-fi such as “HACK/SLASH”, “FEAR ITSELF”, “MALIGNANT MAN”, “’68”, “MASS EFFECT: EVOLUTION”, and much, MUCH more! Read on for the skinny…

&zcMARVEL COMICS

“FEAR ITSELF: SIN’S PAST” (ONE-SHOT)

WRITTEN BY: Jim McCann, Mark Gruenwald
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Stefano Landini, Al Milgrom, Rich Buckler
COVERS BY: STEPHANIE HANS
MSRP: $4.99

“The Origin of Sin, daughter of the Red Skull – and some of the quirkiest Cap stories ever told! Captain America, regressed to a 98-pound weakling, vs. a teenage death cult and the Sisters of Sin! Battle Star and the Falcon, together against the Serpent Society! Featuring a special guest-appearance by the voluptuous Sersi! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA #355-356 and material from #357, fully remastered with modern coloring. Plus: an all-new framing sequence by Jim McCann (HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD) and Stefano Landini.”

“INVINCIBLE IRON MAN” ISSUE #503

WRITTEN BY: Matt Fraction
ILLUSTRATIONS/COVERS BY: Salvador Larroca
PRICE: $3.99

“FEAR ITSELF tie-in! Fear has spread across the land and has made its way to Broxton, Oklahoma. As the Broxton residents prepare for a major disaster, Iron Man and Stark Resilient head into action. On the eve of this cataclysmic event, the Armored Avenger will face many dangers, but the greatest danger of all will be facing Fear Itself in this tie-in to the biggest Marvel event ever!”

“SCARLET” ISSUE #5

WRITTEN BY: Brian Michael Bendis
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Alex Maleev
PRICE: $3.95

“The Story: (hide) Scarlet’s message of rebellion and revolution has gone global, and she comes face-to-face with her supporters and detractors. What will the world look like when someone stands up and says, “Enough”? How far will the authorities go to bring her down, and is it too late? Another startling chapter in the runaway-hit comic series from the Eisner Award-winning team that brought you DAREDEVIL and NEW AVENGERS!”

“THUNDERBOLTS” ISSUE #156

WRITTEN BY: Jeff Parker
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Kev Walker
COVERS BY: J.S. Rossbach
PRICE: $2.99

“Lines are drawn and secrets are revealed as the darkly PROVING GROUND sets off. The Raft is full of action as candidates vie for selection on the second squad of Thunderbolts, BETA TEAM! The main team isn’t too happy about Warden Walker’s initiative to expand their ranks, but even they are curious: out of the Marvel Universe vast pool of powerhouse criminals, who will make the cut? Many are called, but in this issue few are chosen!”

“VENOM” ISSUE #1 (REPRINTING, VARIANT COVER)

WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Tony Moore
COVERS BY: Joe Quesada
PRICE: $3.99

“America…meet your newest Hero! The lethal alien symbiote known as Venom is in the custody of the U.S. military…and with a familiar face from Spider-Man’s world inside the suit, the government’s own personal Spidey is going into action as one of the nation’s top covert agents in hostile territory!”

“WOLVERINE AND JUBILEE” ISSUE #4

WRITTEN BY: Kathryn Immonen
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Phil Noto
COVERS BY: Nimit Malavia
PRICE: $3.99

“When Jubilee finds herself in a lethal, gravitationally challenged badlands that make the Vatican vaults look like an exercise in simple living, she’s going to have to truly embrace her new abilities and her old allies to get out of there alive. Wolverine and Rockslide have got two tickets to this anti-paradise but before they can reunite with the kidnapped Jubilee, they’re going to have to get those tickets punched. Hard. They’re all about to come face to face with the master of the game but they won’t be playing by his rules… even if they knew what they were!”

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D.C COMICS/VERTIGO

“JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER” ISSUE #278

WRITTEN BY: PETER MILLIGAN
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI & STEFANO LANDINI
COVERS BY: SIMON BISLEY
PRICE: $2.99

“After welding the thumb of a nearly dead car crash victim onto the lonely stump on his hand, our morally ambiguous London mage finds his new appendage has a life of its own. Following where the stranger’s restless thumb takes him, John Constantine hears a name he’d rather not. Meanwhile, Constantine’s young bride, Epiphany, grapples with an old addiction and a bizarre former tutor, while John’s damaged niece Gemma continues her quest for vengeance…”
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IMAGE COMICS

“HACK/SLASH” ISSUE #3

WRITTEN BY: Tim Seeley
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Dan Leister
COVER BY: Tim Seeley
PRICE: $3.99

“The members of Hack/Slash, Inc., are left to defend Eminence, Indiana, against an onslaught of animal zombies without Cassie and Vlad! Cat Curio, Samhain, and Pooch will have to team with murderous traitor Sheriff Maggie in a brutal battle guaranteed to send undead fur flying!”

“’68” ISSUE #1

WRITTEN BY: Mark Kidwell
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Nat Jones and Jay Fotos
PRICE: $3.99

“On February 13, 1968, during the darkest days of the Vietnam conflict, the gates of hell opened wide, unleashing new and hungry life into the countless war-torn dead.

Welcome to 1968… and the end of the world.”

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BOOM! STUDIOS

“28 DAYS LATER” ISSUE #22

WRITTEN BY: Michael Alan Nelson
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Pablo Peppino
COVERS BY: Sean Phillips
PRICE: $3.99

“Why would Selena enter the hell she escaped more than a year ago? We finally learn the reason Selena agreed to go back to London. But as she searches for closure and Clint is about to finish his story, they both realize their survival depends on one another!”

“MALIGNANT MAN” ISSUE #1

WRITTEN BY: James Wan, Michael Alan Nelson
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Piotr Kowalski
PRICE: $3.99

“Alan Gates, a cancer patient with a terminal diagnosis, is resigned to his fate…until he discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite! Granted a second lease on life and incredible, otherworldly powers, Alan must fight against an evil army buried beneath society’s skin, all the while unlocking the secrets of his forgotten past. Dark, twisted, and unlike anything else on the stands, MALIGNANT MAN is a sci-fi thriller that can’t be missed!”

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DARK HORSE COMICS

“MASS EFFECT: EVOLUTION” ISSUE #4

WRITTEN BY: Mac Walters, John Jackson Miller
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Omar Francia
COLORS BY: Michael Atiyeh
COVERS BY: Joe Quinones
PRICE: $3.50

“Mass Effect 2 lead writer Mac Walters brings the origin of the Illusive Man to its explosive conclusion! The fate of mankind may come down to this moment, as the newly enlightened Illusive Man launches a movement that will upset the balance of power across the galaxy. But will he prove to be the universe’s savior-or its destroyer? This story will have a long-lasting impact on the Mass Effect saga, and is essential reading for fans of sci-fi action and intrigue!”

“DARK HORSE PRESENTS” ISSUE #1

WRITTEN BY: Frank Miller, Harlan Ellison, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, Richard Corben, Carla Speed McNeil, Michael T. Gilbert, Randy Stradley, Paul Chadwick, David Chelsea, Patrick Alexander, and others
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Frank Miller, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, Richard Corben, Carla Speed McNeil, Michael T. Gilbert, Paul Chadwick, Patrick Alexander, and others
COVERS BY: Paul Chadwick
PRICE: $7.99

“The legendary, premiere anthology is back! The 80-page spectacular, Dark Horse Presents returns with all-new stories by Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, and Richard Corben; a new Concrete story by Paul Chadwick, a new Crimson Empire story from the Star Wars universe, and an exclusive sneak peek of Frank Miller’s highly-anticipated prequel to 300, Xerxes!

The celebration continues with a brand-new, all-color Finder story by Carla Speed McNeil, a prose piece from science fiction legend Harlan Ellison, the return of Michael T. Gilbert’s Mr. Monster, and much, much more!”

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DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

“PATRICIA BRIGGS’ MERCY THOMPSON: MOON CALLED” ISSUE #5

WRITTEN BY: Patricia Briggs and David Lawrence
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Amelia Woo
COVERS BY: Tyler Walpole
PRICE: $3.99

“Mercy Thompson is a walker, a last-of-her-kind being who transforms magically into a coyote. Living between the dark world of werewolves, vampires, and fae and the daylight world of humans, she walks her own solitary path, seeking only peace. But now everything she loves is under attack by a baffling conspiracy. Friends have been kidnapped, captured, and killed. Out-numbered, out-muscled and out of time, there is just one thing Mercy knows for certain. She is going to stop them.”

“THE LAST PHANTOM” ISSUE #6

COVERS BY: Alex Ross (main), Joe Prado (1-in-10), Fabiano Neves (1-in-15)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Beatty
ILLUSTRATIONS AND INKS BY: Eduardo Ferigato
PRICE: $3.99

“Ghost Walk” reaches its dynamic conclusion! The Phantom takes the fight right to the villain who ordered the murders of his family and friends. For The Ghost Who Walks, that means a one-man assault on the concrete and glass skyscraper housing The Walkabout Foundation, Kit Walker’s philanthropic organization! Unfortunately, Kit won’t find any charity from the private army tasked with hunting him floor-to-floor and making him truly The LAST Phantom! A hero’s end could also mean the end of a heroic dynasty!”

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