This isn’t our typical type of showdown, as we aren’t actually debating anything. This week in Saturday Showdown we’re taking a look at what each of our writers most anticipated title, arc, or basically anything comic related of 2010 is. We really think 2010 is going to be a great year for comics, and each of our choices are what we think will make it a great start to the decade.
See those choices after the jump.
Matt’s Choice: The Beginning of The Heroic Age
Alright, I’ll be honest — I suppose this is a bit of a cop out. We don’t actually know what the Heroic Age will be legitimately. We don’t know what books will survive post-Siege and what books will be axed and/or consolidated. On top of that, Marvel has been dropping teaser images like crazy, really pumping us up for what is to come. It’s been 7 years since there was one definitive and powerful Avengers team, and when you think about it, it really IS a big team. The Avengers have always been a staple of the popular Marvel books, featuring Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor all on one team. Those aren’t just heavy hitters in the figurative sense — those are heavy freaking hitters! Quite literal staples in the Marvel U. And all three have not been together in quite some time, discounting the epic battle at the end of Secret Invasion.
So when I stop to think about what I’m anticipating, it’s that. I want the REAL Avengers back. I’m enjoying the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers, and heck, I’m even enjoying the Dark Avengers. But I’m ready for the status quo to be fixed. These have been some great stories, and are truly the things that my generation of comic readers will look back on fondly in twenty or thirty years when things are even crazier. But I’m ready for it’s ending. I’m ready to say, “Yeah, back when I was reading comics 24/7, we had the disassembling of the Avengers, the loss of 99% of the mutant population, a superhero civil war, a Skrull invasion, the Green Goblin ran the “world” for a bit, and then at the end of it ______” What will be contained in that space? I don’t know exactly. But if the teasers are any indication, it will certainly be something exciting.
Now, if I had to guess, I would say that it will be the unification of our heroes all under one happy roof. Or at least, that idea to some extent. The biggest teaser I’m thinking of right now is the “It’s Time To Save The World” teaser, featuring infinity gems and an image of Galactus. I obviously can’t tell what exactly this will entail when it happens in the future, but I’m going to go ahead and guess it’ll be a disaster so big that all of our heroes will need to unite in order to stop it. I mean, infinity gems? That’s a big freakin’ deal right there alone. Imagine what would happen if Galactus got his hands on the gauntlet somehow? Things this big definitely mean that our heroes are going to need to take a new direction, and with Osborn out of power (assumably), we’ll be able to get back one Avengers team, which is the most important thing of all.
Basically, it comes down to this — I love the new direction comics are taking to try and appeal to the broader audiences of today, but I’m ready for things to be normal again. Someone once commented on our site and said that they love that we don’t spend all our time writing about how comics used to be and enjoy what we have. While this is still true, it all comes down to one thing for me: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!
David’s Choice: Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy’s Joe the Barbarian
There are many who subscribe to the idea that Grant Morrison is a mad genius and in many ways the best writer in comics. I disagree with that theory vehemently. He is a mad genius, but best writer in comics? Not so much. My biggest beef with him is when he tries to infuse his superhero works with such madcap ideas that the whole thing crumbles around them. When he writes a comic that is all ideas and no structure, we’re stuck with dreadfully polarizing products like Final Crisis or Batman RIP.
However, I absolutely cannot deny the fact that when he is on; he operates on an almost entirely different wavelength than the rest of the comic industry. When he’s at his best he is like a fusion of the idea generation gifts of Warren Ellis and the grasp of continuity and pacing of Brian Michael Bendis — sure, its zany, but it’s also grounded and intensely powerful. When those two sides meet not in direct opposition but in concert, we’re given comics of a level that very few can touch (see: WE3, All-Star Superman, New X-Men).
That rarefied air he often touches is why my most anticipated book of 2010 is his new Vertigo mini-series Joe the Barbarian. When you combine the pure gold Vertigo produces with the quality of Morrison, it’s almost impossible to deny. Throw in a wondrously inviting premise — a young misfit, possibly driven mad by his insulin deprived ways (he’s Type 1 Diabetic) and his father’s death in Iraq, becomes the last hope for a fantasyland comprised of all of his toys with his only support coming from a samurai rodent sidekick. Early word and previews show that this is likely to be one of those times where style meets substance for Morrison, and when you throw in phenomenal art from rising star Sean Murphy…well, you can go ahead and say I’m excited as all hell.
Joe the Barbarian is an 8 part mini-series that is starting January 20th. The first issue is only $1.00, so I have to go ahead and say you have no excuse as a comic fan to not at least try it out.
Gil’s Choice: Pak and Van Lente’s Plans for Hercules
Lord knows I love Hercules. It’s been well documented on this site, and I’ll continue to state that Hercules is probably the best superhero title that Marvel is putting out. When I found out that this story was going to culminate in the death of the Prince of Power, I was devastated! Were they really canceling my favorite title? First Dollhouse and now this! I didn’t know what I was going to do, but Van Lente stated that we would all be pleased with the results, and I breathed a sigh of relief. So while this current title may be going to way of Redheads in the X-Universe, perhaps it’ll also go the way of Redheads in the X-Universe and come back better than ever. But the only thing that could make it possibly better is art by Gary Frank.
What could it be? Could he be reborn somehow like Zeus? Might there be a PRICE OF POWER: REBORN similar to everyone’s favorite Word War II veteran? Who knows? I just know I want it…right…effing…NOW.
Brandon’s Choice: Brian Michael Bendis’ Post Siege New Avengers
Ever since Bendis took over the Avengers one thing has been certain. That thing being that whenever a big event goes down you know without a doubt that as soon as it’s over Bendis will have some awesome surprises in store for readers. Whether it be new members on the roster, new direction for the title, or even a new Avengers title it’s all good for us. So the title I’m most excited for in the upcoming year is Bendis’ New Avengers.
New Roster
After all the big events Bendis has tweaked the roster of this team. While I think that Thor, Steve Rogers and Iron Man will all end up on one team I don’t think that team will be New Avengers. I think they’ll go to a team that is more of a classic team. Maybe a Bendis run Mighty or something. So that means that Bendis can continue to put together New Avengers teams that make fans say, “WHAT?!”.
Continued belowMy personal hopes for the new team are that characters such as Luke Cage and Bucky Cap will remain on New Avengers. Bringing Iron Fist back in and keeping Spidey would great too. Keep this team a more ground level team that handles more of the nitty gritty work that other Avengers teams overlook. I’d also like to see Jessica Jones in costume and Spider-Woman to stick around. New additions of characters such as Brother Vodoo and Ant-Man from the current Thunderbolts run would be a very welcome addition.
Outside of that I’m just excited to see what Bendis will throw at us. Where will Wolverine go? Will he even be an Avenger anymore? Will cosmic characters come into the equation? Fantastic Four members joining? Haven’t seen that yet. It should be fun and Bendis has proven that he doesn’t care about sacred cows. It’s all in the service of something better and new.
New Direction
With Siege ending we are told Marvel will enter into the Heroic Age. We aren’t sure what that is yet but one can assume it means a more black and white ideal of heroes and villains. We can assume this means that the Avengers will have more of a classic feel. We could all be assuming wrong but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Assuming it is indeed a more Heroic age this would be a completely different environment for the New Avengers team to operate in. Since their inception there has been some sort of conspiracy in the background that eventually comes to the surface. While not a dark book per se New Avengers has always had a dark undertone where you weren’t sure who to trust and you weren’t always sure who was pulling the strings in the background.
So what will their mission statement be? Originally it was to reform the Avengers. Then it became about running from registration as well as to discover the skrulls plans. Finally it was about opposing Norman and his evil ways. Where will we go now? I can’t wait to see.
Where Does He go Now?
Overall, Bendis has redefined the Avengers for a new generation and a new era. Where will he go now and what will he do? For the simple fact that you just don’t know what Bendis will do I am stoked for this title in the new year. Should be a lot of fun and if the past is anything like the future for this title we have no clue what’s in store for us and I for one am fine with that. It’s sure worked out for Fandom in the past.
