And so we come to this, our last Soliciting article of the week. Today we will be looking at Marvel Comics, who are going to throw a whole bunch of #1s in your face and expect you to know what to do with them on your own.
Don’t worry. We’re here for you. I’m here for you.
For the full solicitations, check out the Resource of Comic Books.
10. The Missing Solicit, aka the Return of the Ultimate Marvel Universe
So, it made a quiet kerfuffle, but there was a missing solicit from the solicitations — one for a book called “Survive!”, which was later revealed to be by Brian Bendis and Joe Quinones. The instant thought process people had was that it would be about the Ultimate Universe post-“Cataclysm”, as there are no other Ultimate solicits around anymore.
Well, all the theorizers are right, as Joe Quinones essentially confirmed by posting the above picture on his tumblr with Miles Morales Spider-Man visible.
There’s going to be a much bigger article about the Ultimate Universe on MC this time tomorrow, but I’ll say this: I really hope nothing actually survives and this is just an epilogue, because I think the Ultimate Universe needs to simply end. But, hey, we’ll get to the opinions in the opinionated article.
Now, the solicits.
9. Rob Guillory Comes to Marvel
“Uncanny Avengers” has stirred up a recent bit of controversy lately with its bloodbath issues, and March’s 18th issue will see the beginning of a new arc and a new direction. But to me, what stands out the most is that Rob Guillory has done a cover for Marvel — his first ever cover for Marvel, and my favorite cover this month because it is hilarious.
So that’s what I’m spotlighting here. Rob the Art Warrior.
Uncanny Avengers #18.NOW!
RICK REMENDER (W) • DANIEL ACUÑA (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY IN-HYUK LEE
DEADPOOL VARIANT BY ROB GUILLORY
ANIMAL VARIANT BY KATIE COOK
CAPTAIN AMERICA VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“AVENGE THE EARTH” Part One
Welcome to Planet X, the new mutant homeworld, where everything is great—presuming that you possess the mutant gene! Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp, is the last human being alive, relentlessly pursued by Magneto and his All-New X-Force and their “No More Humans” campaign, and protected by her husband, Havok! Witness the fate of the Uncanny Avengers–who survived the Apocalypse Twins’ plot, and how?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
8. Class is again in session
Relaunching in March, “Wolverine and the X-Men” is coming back with a brand new creative team and the same good ol’ cast. There’s a lot to be excited about here, as Latour and Aaron work closely together and Asrar is a fantastic artist. There will be a certain “magic” gone without Aaron’s care-free writing in the book, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the relaunch sees another great and entertaining run with these kids.
WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #1 & 2
Jason Latour (W) • Mahmud Asrar (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY MARK BROOKS
ANIMAL VARIANT BY Jenny Parks
Issue #2 – ARTIST VARIANT BY TBA
WELCOME TO THE JEAN GREY SCHOOL OF HIGHER LEARNING! The ALL NEW MARVEL NOW smash hit series schools with Jason Latour (WINTER SOLDIER) and Mahmud Asrar (X-MEN) leading the charge with drama, action and homework(?)! World-famous X-Men Wolverine, Storm, and a star-studded faculty must educate the next generation all-powerful, but inexperienced mutants! But with their own lives steeped in deadly enemies and personal crises, how can the X-Men guide and educate—let alone defend—the school? At the Jean Grey School, you never know who will enroll…or who will lead the class! And what mysterious organization waits in the shadows to destroy Wolverine’s mutant sanctuary? These questions and more are answered in the All-New Marvel Now sure-to-be-smash, WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #1!
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)
7. The return of everyone’s favorite title to hate and my favorite title to love!
I wrote oodles and noodles about why I enjoyed “Avengers Arena,” much to the chagrin of everyone who loves to hate the series and a whole thread on 4chan that I participated in because I like seeing myself type. I found the book charming in its own right and rather unapologetic in its mission statement, and I’m very excited to see what Hopeless and Walker bring to what is essentially Season Two of their storyline. This is definitely a title to look forward to, without a doubt.
Continued belowAVENGERS UNDERCOVER #1
DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • KEV WALKER (A)
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
VARIANT cover by Mark Brooks
WHEN TEEN HEROES INFILTRATE THE MASTERS OF EVIL, WHO WILL BREAK BAD?
Damaged by their experience in Murder World, five conflicted young superhumans go rogue and infiltrate the Masters of Evil, planning to bring the Avengers’ rivals down from within. But the longer the teens spend undercover, the more they descend into darkness, and as they start to build relationships with these multi-layered criminals, the line between good and evil blurs. What will happen first…joining the Masters for real, or getting exposed and killed? If you thought Murder World was dangerous, just wait until “Most Promising New Talent” Harvey award-winner Dennis Hopeless and acclaimed artist Kev Walker surround you with Evil!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
(Tie) 5. Secret Avengers Meet Zero
From the people who brought you “Zero” and the guy who is making you fall in love with MODOK again in this week’s issue of “Secret Avengers,” it’s a re-launch of “Secret Avengers,” starring Ales Kot and Michael Walsh and MODOK! I am excited. I am so excited, even, that I’ve already begun drawing hearts on pictures of Michael Walsh and e-mailing them to him (well, tweeting, but still).
But seriously. Kot and Walsh are a great team, and I think that this is the book where everyone who was excited about Kot’s “Suicide Squad” before his run was prematurely cancelled will get to see what he can really do when set loose in a for-hire world. That’s the vibe I get from him, anyway, and that’s what I’m rooting for.
SECRET AVENGERS #1
ALES KOT (W)
MICHAEL WALSH (A)
Cover by TRADD MOORE
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
ANIMAL VARIANT BY Katie Cook
SAVE THE EMPIRE, Part One
The all-new Secret Avengers are ready to get started. Are they going to be the world’s most effective secret squad? Or will their personal issues tear them apart? U-DECIDE! Three missions kick off at the same time: one in the space, one on the ground…and one in the air. And no one’s ready. Except for the attackers. Russian spa. Helicarrier. Space station. Falling satellites. A hired hitman with nothing to lose. The Fury. WAIT. Yes. THE FURY. Why is Hawkeye still around? And why are these people chasing him? Why are Black Widow and Spider Woman in a Russian spa? Do questions in teasers excite you? RUN THE MISSION, DON’T GET SEEN, SAVE THE WORLD. NOW!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
(Tie) 5. The Secret Avengers Spin-off Book
Tied in fifth place for my affection is the “Secret Avengers” spin-off series “Iron Patriot,” again written by Kot and illustrated by the wonderfully talented Garry Brown, starring Jim Rhodes. This book ostensibly seems like it will be less humorous than its counter-part, but I think that Kot writing two books that intertwine like this will make for a very interesting read and dynamic for his time at Marvel. I’m crossing my fingers for the best and pre-ordering.
IRON PATRIOT #1
ALES KOT (W) GARRY BROWN (A)
Cover by Garry Brown
VARIANT by Mike Perkins
“UNBREAKABLE” PART 1
Jim Rhodes has quit the SECRET AVENGERS!!! As the IRON PATRIOT, he’s bringing his fight against the bad guys to the home front. But a new villain emerges with a brutal plan that could turn Iron Patriot into America’s most wanted!!!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
4. This is the End — Maybe, possibly, I don’t know, we’ll see
As ‘Goblin Nation’ reaches its penultimate issues in March, it looks like all good things are coming to an end and that Slott is planning another big mindfrak for the readers. “Superior Spider-Man” is arguably the biggest success of Slott’s career, earning excess derision (including from myself, I won’t cop-out) at the announcement of the concept and then quickly earning a favoring place in many reader’s hearts (including from myself, I won’t cop-out). I’m terribly excited to see what Slott is going to do to us now.
Continued belowThere’s also a rumor that this is actually the last issue of “Superior,” but who knows? Besides the April solicits and whoever gets the exclusive announcement, I mean. And Dan Slott. Slott assumedly knows.
I have a guess. Other MC members know it. Perhaps there is an article waiting to happen?
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #30
DAN SLOTT (W) • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A/C)
“Goblin Nation” – Part 4 of 5
• Since the start of DYING WISH, it has ALL been building to this.
• One of the most important moments of the ENTIRE Superior Spider-Man Saga!
• Once this happens, it CANNOT be undone!
• DO NOT MISS THIS ISSUE!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
3. Slott’s Next Big Thing
Slott’s first new Marvel title in quite a while (I can’t off the top of my head remember if he has written anything but Spidey books since post-“Siege” and the end of “Mighty Avengers”), March sees Dan Slott team-up with Mike Allred for what I can only assume is the ginchiest, most groovy space romp this side of Neptune. In fact, in reading the solicits and looking at preview artwork, I get the impression this is Slott letting loose with thanks to Allred and the two just having a ball in space, like Doctor Who if the Doctor was more happy-go-lucky and not always running into doom.
I don’t know, but I’m very excited. Like, very excited. Very very, even. Just let me be excited, dammit.
Speaking of unsubstantiated rumors, there’s a rumor going around that Slott is leaving Spider-Man to write Silver Surfer! I don’t know if that’s true, but with Mike Allred on art I know I wouldn’t dare miss it.
SILVER SURFER #1
DAN SLOTT (W)
MICHAEL ALLRED (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
ANIMAL VARIANT BY CHRIS SAMNEE
YOUNG VARIANT BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
“NEW DAWN”
The universe is big. Bigger than you could ever imagine. And the SILVER SURFER, the lone sentinel of the skyways, is about to discover that the best way to see it… is with someone else.
Meet the Earth Girl who’s challenged the Surfer to go beyond the boundaries of the known Marvel U– into the strange, the new, and the utterly fantastic!
Anywhere and Everywhere… Hang On! THE SILVER SURFER
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
2. Hooray for Captain Marvel, the Outer-Space Explorer!
One of my faaaaaaavorite Marvel books of the current generation, I am beyond excited to see that “Captain Marvel” is coming back for a second round/season/volume whatever with a brand new direction and a new sense of life. Carol Danvers has long been one of my favorite characters in Marvel (particularly because of the tremendous Brian Reed run that spun out of “New Avengers”), and Kelly Sue has given her a life and attitude that’s so unique within the spectrum of Marvel titles. That David Lopez, who is a fantastic artist who brings a tremendous amount of energy to his work, is going to illustrate Carol! In! Spaaaaccceee! is all the more reason to throw your pre-orders all over this book.
CAPTAIN MARVEL #1
KELLY SUE DECONNICK (W)
DAVID LOPEZ (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY JOHN CASSADAY
ANIMAL VARIANT BY DAVID LOPEZ
YOUNG VARIANT BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIGHER, FURTHER, FASTER, MORE begins!
Hero! Pilot! Avenger! Captain Marvel, Earth’s Mightiest Hero with death-defying powers and an attitude to match, is back and launching headfirst into an all-new ongoing series! As Captain Marvel, a.k.a. Carol Danvers, comes to a crossroads with a new life and new romance, she makes a dramatic decision that will alter the course of her life and the entire Marvel Universe in the months to come. It’s time to go HIGHER, FURTHER, FASTER and more in the most super-powered comic around!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
And props to the five of you who got the Marx brothers reference there. Less props to those who got the obvious Muppet reference, but I was on a roll.
1. My most highly anticipated Marvel title of the New Year for all the wrong reasons
Continued belowTo most people, you say “Warren Ellis writing, Declan Shalvey illustrating” and that’s the end of the discussion. That’s enough to excite anyone. Throw in a little Jordie Bellaire colors and you get a million instant pre-orders (I assume). But not me.
No, for me, it takes a lot less to get me excited. All you have to say is “Moon Knight is getting his own book again,” but you had me at “Moon Knight.” In fact, I stopped listening at that point and just started screaming internally.
I unabashedly love Moon Knight. In terms of this site, I’m his biggest (perhaps only) fan; in terms of the larger sphere of comics, Moon Knight fans are definitely in the minority.
But, seriously — the past couple runs of Moon Knight have all been entertaining on completely different grounds as they explore completely different aspects of a rather insane character. From his original creation by Moench and Perlin to the Sienkiewicz storiesto the rebirth by Huston/Finch to Benson/Texeira’s run and eventually Hurwitz and Opena going back to tie-off loose ends before Bendis/Maleev tossed Moon Knight in a whole new ball park, everyone does something different because no one can agree what the definitive Moon Knight is — and that makes for a lot of freedom.
So while a small part of me is all “Wait, don’t you have to do X, Y and Z?”, looking at the previews for the book and this Cosmopolis take on Marc Spector, I can’t help but just be excited for all the new ideas that Ellis and Shalvey will bring to the table, no matter how long the run lasts. I’ll buy it all.
MOON KNIGHT #1
WARREN ELLIS (W)
DECLAN SHALVEY (A/C)
VARIANT cover by Adi Granov
VARIANT cover by Bill Sienkienwicz
ANIMAL VARIANT BY KATIE COOK
YOUNG VARIANT BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
Marc Spector is Moon Knight!…Or is he? It’s hard to tell these days, especially when New York’s wildest vigilante protects the street with two-fisted justice and three—that’s right, count ‘em—different personalities! But even with the mystical force of Khonshu fueling his crusade, how does the night’s greatest detective save a city that’s as twisted as he is? The road to victory is going to hurt. A lot. Marvel’s most mind-bending adventure begins NOW as Moon Knight sleuths his way to the rotten core of New York’s most bizarre mysteries!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
