How Comic Pull Lists Work (And Why So Many Readers Use Them)
If you're following a comic month by month, sooner or later you may run into an annoying problem: you stop by for the newest issue and it's already sold out. Now you've got to track down a copy before you can keep reading.
That's exactly the problem a pull list is meant to solve.
A comic pull list is simply a list of the series you want to follow. When new issues of those series come into the shop, we pull your requested copies and set them aside for you.
If there's a series you already know you want to read every month, it's one of the easiest ways to keep up with it.
Do You Actually Need a Pull List?
Not necessarily.
If you mostly read graphic novels and trades, or you like coming into the shop and browsing until something catches your eye, you may never need one.
But once you find a monthly series you know you want to follow, that's when a pull list starts making a lot of sense. Instead of remembering when every issue comes out and hoping there's still a copy on the shelf when you get here, you've already told us what you're looking for.
It's also useful if you're collecting a complete run or following a longer storyline where missing one issue leaves a pretty inconvenient hole in the middle.
And you don't need to be following a dozen comics to have one. If there's one monthly series you really don't want to miss, that's reason enough.
What Happens When a Comic Is on Your Pull List?
At Final Boss, we manage our pull lists through League of Comic Geeks, a free comic-tracking service that lets you keep track of what you're reading and tell us which upcoming comics you want us to pull.
Each week, when the new comics arrive, we check our pull lists and set aside the requested issues for pickup.
That's really all there is to it.
You don't have to keep checking release dates or remember which Wednesday the next issue comes out. Keep your League of Comic Geeks list updated with the series you're following, and we'll take care of pulling your requested books as they come in.
Pull Lists Help Us Know What You're Reading, Too
There's another side to pull lists that isn't always obvious if you're new to comics.
Comic shops order books ahead of release, and we have to make decisions about how many copies of each title to bring in. We don't simply get an unlimited stack of every new comic that comes out.
Knowing what our readers are actually following helps us make better ordering decisions.
If several people have a series on their pull lists, that's a pretty good sign we need copies for those readers. It can be especially helpful with smaller titles where we may not otherwise know how much interest there is.
That's also why it's a good idea to add something you're interested in to your pull list sooner rather than later. We'll always do our best to fill requests, but adding a comic at the last minute doesn't necessarily mean we'll have an extra copy available if our order has already been placed.
Your Pull List Isn't Set in Stone
You can change what you're following whenever your reading habits change.
If you discover a new series you want to keep up with, add it to your League of Comic Geeks list. If you decide you're done with something, take it off. If you're interested in a six-issue limited series, you can follow that without committing to a bunch of other books.
You control what goes on your list. We use that list to know what you'd like us to set aside.
It can be as small or as big as you want it to be.
How to Start a Pull List at Final Boss
Getting started only takes a few steps:
Create a free account with League of Comic Geeks.
Connect your pull list to Final Boss.
Add the comic series you want to follow.
That's it.
From there, keep your list updated as you find new comics you want to read, and we'll use it each week to pull and set aside your requested issues for pickup.
If you've never used League of Comic Geeks before or aren't sure how to get everything connected, just ask us the next time you're in the shop. We'll help you get started.
Once you've found a comic you want to follow every month, keeping up with it should be the easy part.
