Beyond the Pull List

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This week, Clayton and Paul dive into the landmark Amazing Spider-Man #1000. Marvel promised an issue that would "change Peter Parker’s life forever," but did it actually deliver? 

We break down Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz's lead story, "Ravaged," featuring Aunt May's health crisis, the secret biological son Cormac Craine, and his turn as the new memory-weaponizing villain, Ravage. Plus, they share their thoughts on the rest of the stories in this milestone anthology and how they stacked up.

Then, Paul unleashes his final, unfiltered rant on the conclusion of Al Ewing’s Venom run and Queen in Black. You won't want to miss this!

To wrap things up, the guys break down the latest Star Wars news and tease what’s coming next for BTPL this month—including their upcoming Clayface movie review, coverage of Absolute Batman #25, Charles Soule’s Venom launch, and a massive announcement at the end of October!

In this episode:

Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Breakdown: Examining Joe Kelly's lead story, the debut of Ravage (Cormac Craine), Aunt May’s stroke, and whether Marvel fulfilled its milestone promises.

Al Ewing’s Venom Finale: Paul gives his ultimate take on the conclusion of Ewing's saga and Queen in Black.

Star Wars News: Reacting to the newest headlines across the galaxy far, far away.

October BTPL Preview: Clayface theater plans, upcoming pull list highlights, and October's mystery announcement!

This hilarious episode is one you won't want to miss!

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Has the Straw Man met his final harvest, or is Bruce Wayne trapped in his worst nightmare?

​This week on Beyond the Pull List, Paul and Clayton break down the explosive climax of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's "Straw Man" arc in Absolute Batman #24! Bruce Wayne takes the fight directly to Jonathan Crane in a brutal, fear-gas-fueled showdown that leaves Gotham shaken to its core. The guys unpack Batman’s vengeance, the grim fate of Absolute Scarecrow, and what this massive turning point means for the rest of the Absolute Universe.

We also break the Batman of Two Worlds. Which Batman is better - mainline or Absolute?

Then, the boys run through a massive stack of weekly pull reviews! Clayton breaks down Transformers #36, gives his thoughts on the newly released Optimus Prime: Awakening short film. He also dives into a very dark Absolute Superman #23. Meanwhile, Paul goes on another rant about the horrible state of Venom under Al Ewing as he reviews wQueen in Black #3 & #4, Venom #261, and Venom Unchained #2.

Finally, the guys close out the show analyzing the latest Marvel Cinematic rumors and encore scenes, dissecting what's next for Steve, Peggy, Loki, Bruce Banner and Hulk's abduction, TVA/X-Men incursions, and Doctor Doom’s terrifying new helmet!

Let us know what you think!

You asked for it, so grab your sodas, settle in, and buckle up for a mega-sized Q&A session!

This week on Beyond the Pull List, Paul and Clayton are building Blokees model kits while tackling an enormous stack of your questions. From deep comic book philosophy to Transformers lore and iconic cinema, we leave no stone unturned while snapping together their latest builds.

Along the way, the boys pause the Q&A to pay heartfelt tributes to three iconic legends: voice giant Peter Cullen, national treasure Dolly Parton, and the incomparable Tim Curry.

Whether you're looking for profound comic recommendations or just want to hear the guys debate the ultimate Optimus Prime, this giant mailbag episode has something for every fan.

Questions answered in this episode include:

• Faith & Perseverance: Essential comic book recommendations dealing with personal doubt, spiritual struggles, and pushing through the dark.
• Legacy Characters & HBO's Lanterns: As new episodes drop weekly, what actually makes a legacy mantle work, and who are Paul and Clayton’s absolute favorite legacy heroes?
• Transformers Video Games: Is there any hope for a revival of high-caliber Transformers games like Fall of Cybertron?
• The Prime Standard: Which version stands as the single best iteration of Optimus Prime across all media?
• Favorite Transformers Movie: The top live-action or animated film picks and the exact reasons why.
• The Anatomy of Venom: What core ingredients make a truly great Venom comic story tick?
• Indy's Comic Return: The guys give their thoughts on Marvel's new Indiana Jones series by Jason Aaron and reveal whether it will get the Beyond the Pull List coverage treatment.
• And much, much more!

Let us know what you think!

What is the single most important comic book in our friendship?

Welcome to the very first Beyond the Pull List Retro Review! Long ago, before podcasts, before life, before growing up, we were just two guys volunteering at our local comic shop. This week, we time travel back to 2018 to review the legendary "Go Down Swinging" arc - Amazing Spider-Man #797 through #800 by Dan Slott and Stuart Immonen.

From our initial jealousy to the utter chaos of release day, we break down why ASM #800 remains our absolute favorite Spider-Man story of all time. Plus, we breakdown the iconic introduction of the Red Goblin (Norman Osborn with the Carnage symbiote), Flash Thompson's Agent Anti-Venom heroic death, and why this specific era of Marvel comics defined their bond and Spider-Man. 

So, grab your Mountain Dew as we sit down for our first retro review!

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Is Scott Snyder's Absolute Batman officially BACK on track?

Paul is fresh off a full week of reading "Marvel slop," but Clayton is ready to balance out the scales with some exciting books! This week, the boys break down Absolute Batman #23, diving deep into a wild new introduction to Clayface, Alfred's cryptic family dynamics, and a shocking twist that forever changes Absolute Batman. Is Scarecrow pulling the strings, or is Bruce Wayne going insane?

Plus, Clayton gives a huge shoutout to listener Logan for the Blokees Optimus Prime figure (and his epic coffee cup art), while Paul sets up a hilarious undercover test.

 The guys also touch on Transformers #35, the endless flood of Venom books (Queen in Black, Venom #259–260, Venom Unchained), Paul's venture into indie Godzilla comics, and the news coming out from D23! 

Oh and let's not forget that Paul opens his Queen in Black blind bag!

There's a lot of side notes in this one ranging from Star Wars to Supergirl and everything in between. So grab your mountain Dew, crack it open and let's go Beyond the Pull List! 

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This week on Beyond the Pull List, Paul and Clayton dive deep into the latest MCU blockbuster, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

​Before jumping into full-on spoiler territory, we start off with a special (and very brief) guest appearance from Clayton’s wife, Gabryella, who is the ultimate Spider-Man "expert" who already knows how every superhero story ends.

But after she tells us how she predicted the movie, Paul and Clayton get down to business to break down everything that makes this film one of the absolute best Spider-Man movies ever made.

This is a HEAVY SPOILER episode, so be sure to go watch the film before you listen!

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SDCC 2026 Breakdown: Big Comic Wins, MCU Fatigue, & Ewing Leaves Venom!

​SDCC 2026 is officially wrapped, and we’re breaking down all the news. The MCU panel didn't do much for us (even with Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider and Black Panther 3), but the actual comic reveals were incredible across the board.

​DC is expanding the Absolute Universe with Black Canary, Cyborg, and Scott Snyder's Batman Beyond, plus we're getting Deniz Camp on Shadow of the Bat and Vixen's first solo series. We also dive into the Energon Universe updates. 

But the biggest news of all? Al Ewing is finally stepping off Venom with Charles Soule taking over (Paul has literally never been happier).

​We break down our top picks, what missed the mark, and where the industry is heading. Drop a comment and let us know what took the crown for you at SDCC this year!

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Today on Beyond the Pull List, Paul and Clayton talk about Absolute Batman #22 and.... is this book becoming predictable? We also do a quick review on Transformers and Venom. 

And bmbs will be dropping with our surprising "Hot Takes" on our favorite webhead! We also talk about some Spider-Man Brand New Day theories and finally a possible first look at Avengers Doomsday? 

Join us as we go Beyond the Pull List!

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We are back!

After a few weeks off (while Clayton was busy adjusting to life "being a dad"), the boys are finally back together! And holy cow, what a week it has been to make a return.

​Inside this episode:

• ​The Big Moment: "They Met!" Absolute Joker and Absolute Batman finally cross paths in Absolute Batman #21. It’s easily one of the most insane moments in the Absolute Universe so far. 
• ​The Weekly Pull: Also in this episode, we breakdown our weekly pulls. Clayton explores what happens in Transformers #33 and the aftermath of Optimus Prime losing the Matrix of Leadership. He also discusses the hilarious world of D'Orc. Then, Paul once again unleashes upon the frustrating events in Venom #238.
• ​Swamp Thing meets Jesus?: By request, we take look at Swamp Thing (1989) # 1. The comic features Swamp Thing encountering Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane and the Crucifixion, only to see Jesus as the one who holds the multiverse together. But is it a glorious masterpiece or just pure comic book heresy?
• ​Brand New Day: We finish things off with our reactions to the latest Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer. Does this have the potential to be the best Spider-Man movie yet?

​So, what are you waiting for? Pull up a chair (hopefully it doesn't break) and let’s go Beyond the Pull List!

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This week on Beyond the Pull List, we talk about how we actually met the legendary Scott Snyder! Not only did he record an exclusive intro for the show, but he also answered our burning question about the future of the Absolute Joker.

​Once we recover from the hype, we are diving deep into Absolute Batman #20. It’s a massive world-building issue setting the stage for total chaos, but the real drama is physical: Why is every single copy printed with a creased spine? Is DC doing this on purpose, and are un-crinkled copies seriously selling for $120 on eBay? (Paul also contemplates putting his Venom run in a 500-degree gas oven to fix pages. Please don't do this).

​Also in this episode:

Marvel managed to completely ruin Clayton’s anniversary by announcing the new Midnight series, and the guys are ready to rip it apart.

We review our monthly pulls like Transformers #32, and Death Spiral. But we also talk about the Free Comic Book day issues from Marvel and the Energon Universe. 

​Go check out the Comics Exchange podcast to hear a 5-second clip of us thanking Scott in the background! And don't forget to follow our Instagram at Comic_Nation1776