AudioShocker

Here’s my actual comic book haul from Wednesday.

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #16 $2.99
BLACK PANTHER #40       $2.99
MVL ADV AVENGERS #27    $2.99
MVL ADV SUPER HEROES #2 $2.99
X-MEN LEGACY #215       $2.99
*** Pull List ***      $11.96

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #569 $2.99
WOLVERINE #68           $2.99
MVL ADV FANTASTIC 4 #39 $2.99
SHE-HULK 2 #32          $2.99
NEW AVENGERS #44        $2.99
FC SUPERMAN BEYOND #1   $4.50
FREEDOM FORMULA #1       FREE
HERCULES #1              FREE
MARVEL YOUR UNIVERSE     FREE
ZOT! BOOK 1              LOAN
*** Extras ***          $8.97

*** Estimated $$$ ***  $23.92
*** Actual $$$ ***     $20.93

Looking at my pull list, Marvel Adventures Avengers #27 was either listed incorrectly by Diamond or they shorted my store’s order. As for the extras, I was almost 100% sure that I was going to buy Amazing Spider-Man #569 based off the strength of last issue. I expected to purchase Wolverine #68 because I’ve enjoyed Old Man Logan, but something about this issue just didn’t draw me in.

I was surprised to find that Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #39 was a “silent issue” where all the word balloons are filled with images instead. This clever storytelling device by Chris Eliopoulos hooked me. I love the art of GG Studio, so I assumed I would pick up She-Hulk 2 #32. After a flip thru, New Avengers #44 and Superman Beyond #1 didn’t do it for me so I passed.

Overall, this was a good day at the comic shop for me because most of my favorite titles came out. To top it off, I ended up leaving with far more content than I expected — three free comics and one loaned trade paperback. The employees tossed me free copies of Freedom Formula and Hercules, while Marvel had one of their free “saga” books (the Secret Invasion Saga was excellent so I look forward to this one). I’m also borrowing the collected edition of Zot! issues #1-10 from a friend.

My estimated total was $23.92, which accounted for my entire pull list plus three more books. Since Marvel Adventures Avengers never made it to the store, I only bought $20.93 worth of comics. I enjoyed taking a look at my expected purchases versus my actual purchases, so I’ll do this exercise again next week.