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Soliciting Multiversity: Marvel’s Top 10 in September 2015

By | June 25th, 2015
Posted in Columns | 2 Comments

The watchful, completely objective and correct gaze of Soliciting Multiversity now falls upon Marvel’s crop of titles for September 2015! Below are our ten most interesting titles for September 2015.

Take a look at our picks below and let us know what stuck out to you in the comments!

10. Obligatory “Secret Wars” Reminder

SECRET WARS #7 (OF 8)
JONATHAN HICKMAN (w) • ESAD RIBIC (a)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
CONNECTING VARIANT BY SIMONE BIANCHI
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY STACEY LEE
VARIANT COVER BY ESAD RIBIC
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY Paul Gulacy

THE GREATEST SACRIFICE!
56 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

If anyone ever tries and tell you “Civil War” is Marvel’s best crossover, remind them that “Civil War” focused on Captain America crying about George Bush politics while “Secret Wars” featured Doctor Doom turning into the Anti-Monitor.

9. A Dynamic I Didn’t Know We Needed

DEADPOOL VS. THANOS #1 & 2 (of 4)
TIM SEELEY (W) • ELMO BONDOC (A)
Covers by TRADD MOORE
ISSUE #1- ACTION FIGURE PHOTO VARIANT COVER BY AXEL ALONSO
ISSUE #1- VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
ISSUE #2- VARIANT BY RON LIM

• We all know Thanos—the man who single-handedly made bejeweled gloves into THE deadly weapon of choice for mass murder. But did you know he shares an ex with Deadpool? No, not Vanessa—I refer to the cosmic “lady” known as DEATH.
• And when everyone in the universe stops dying, both of her former beaus take an interest. Can the pair overcome one’s overwhelming hatred of and annoyance by the other? Or will Thanos finally let Deadpool die once and for all?
32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (each)

My initial reaction to most “Deadpool” mini-series is usually “please, no” but at least “Deadpool vs. Thanos” has something to go on. Both are eskimo brothers with the actual embodiment of death which is a sentence you can only write in superhero comics. Call me crazy, but I would actually like to see the two feuding over each other, knowing that if they were to kill the other they would just get closer to stealing their girl.

8. The Marvel Hardcover Prediction Corner

DAMAGE CONTROL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Penciled by ERNIE COLON, KYLE BAKER & SALVA ESPIN
Cover by ERNIE COLON
Galactus ate your apartment building? The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier crashed on your car? Aliens destroyed Manhattan…again? Call DAMAGE CONTROL! Meet the Marvel Universe’s No. 1 clean-up crew, the guys and gals with the bulldog badge who work tirelessly to put New York back together after every super-hero battle — from giant robots, to the devastation wreaked by ACTS OF VENGEANCE, to the coming of the cosmic clean-freak Edifice Rex! Not disastrous enough? How about their biggest challenges to date: Doctor Doom’s unpaid bill and the aftermath of WORLD WAR HULK! Collecting DAMAGE CONTROL (1989A) #1-4, DAMAGE CONTROL (1989B) #1-4, DAMAGE CONTROL (1991) #1-4 and WWH AFTERSMASH: DAMAGE CONTROL #1-3 — plus material from MARVEL AGE ANNUAL #4, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) #19 and IRON MAN ANNUAL #11.
392 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9790-4

As has been established in previous “Soliciting Multiversity” columns, you can kind of tell Marvel’s plans though their reprints. If they’re bringing back the Skull Kill Krew for a film they’re announcing in Agusut, you can expect a solicitation of the original series around then. Likewise, we have two unusual reprints, the first of which being Dwayne McDuffie’s excellent “Damage Control”. The series focused on the construction firm that cleaned up after Marvel’s heroes and villains and is great. This might not be a sign of Marvel’s plans because it’s just a good people-pleaser to always have in circulation, but I wouldn’t mind a mini-series to go along with the All-New All-Marvel stuff.

7. The More Obvious Marvel Prediction Hardcover Prediction Corner

MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN TPB
Written by GARY FRIEDRICH, DOUG MOENCH
& BILL MANTLO
Penciled by MIKE PLOOG, JOHN BUSCEMA,
BOB BROWN, VAL MAYERIK & DON PERLIN
Cover by JOHN ROMITA SR.

Gothic horror in the macabre Marvel manner! One of the most terrifying figures in all of fiction lurches into his own 1970s comic-book series, collected in color for the first time. Witness a dramatic retelling of Mary Shelley’s literary classic, then follow the Monster in his quest for the last living descendant of his creator, Victor Frankenstein. It’s an odyssey that will lead him into confrontation with Marvel’s other groovy ghoulies, Dracula and Werewolf by Night! Plus: the full rage of the Monster is unleashed in lavishly illustrated, but rarely seen, tales from the heyday of Marvel magazines. It’s enough to bring the dead back to life! Collecting FRANKENSTEIN (1973) #1-18, GIANT-SIZE WEREWOLF #2 and MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #36-37 — plus material from MONSTERS UNLEASHED #2 and #4-10, and LEGION OF MONSTERS (1975) #1.
536 PGS./Rated T+ …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9906-9

Continued below

But while “Damage Control” is just a general crowdpleaser that doesn’t need a reason to be in print, I can’t imagine why Marvel is doing multiple monster reprints (it’s this, “Man-Thing”, and “Greenberg the Vampire” which is a monster even I haven’t heard of.) With “Squadron Supreme” coming back after its “Secret Wars” tie-in, expect something similar from the creators of “Ms. Deadpool and Her Howling Commandoes”. If that’s not announced by the end of the day, I will eat my shoes.

6. E Is For Ewwwwww

E IS FOR EXTINCTION #4
Chris Burnham & Dennis Culver (w) • RAMON VILLALOBOS (a)
Cover by IAN BERTRAM

• CYCLOPS and his OLD – ahem, CLASSIC – X-MEN continue to resist the idea that they are outclassed in every way by MAGNETO and his newer, younger, and more attractive team of X-MEN.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

Couple points about “E Is For Extinction”: it’s a comic that uses nostalgia right, is incredibly fun, and has the creepiest cover in this month’s solicits. Get the heck out, Cassandra.

No but really, I’m only going to feature on “Secret Wars” tie-in this month and I recommend this one. Look out for our micro review of the first issue tomorrow in Secret Warriors.

5. Happy Birthday Peggy

AGENT CARTER: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1
KATHRYN IMMONEN (W) • RICH ELLIS (A)
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

• Agent Carter is back in an all-new adventure that reveals her secret history with S.H.I.E.L.D.!
• When Dum Dum Dugan attempts to recruit her to S.H.I.E.L.D., will Peggy join up or go her own way?
• Operation S.I.N.’s crackerjack team of Kathryn Immonen and Rich Ellis return to the world of Peggy Carter!
32 PGS./One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99

As part of SHIELD’s fiftieth birthday, Marvel is releasing anniversary comics featuring its most beloved characters. Like Peggy Carter! And New Nick Fury! And Not Dum Dum Duggan.

Not to be crochety old millenial and everything, but isn’t it kind of fucked up that SHIELD’s fiftieth anniversary isn’t really celebrating the works of Jack Kirby or Jim Steranko but celebrating the okay ABC television series? The television series that was alright with letting Stan Lee take credit for characters he didn’t take and didn’t acknowledge Jack Kirby until enough people complain? When my dad turned fifty we actually invited him to his birthday party.

4. ‘Til We Dare To Meet Again

DAREDEVIL #18
MARK WAID (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)

• The final chapter in the Autobiography of Matt Murdock is written by someone who may surprise you.
• Not everyone survives this phase in Daredevil’s life.
• Find out who lives, who dies…and who is changed forever.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

On one hand, Mark Waid’s run on “Daredevil” has been one of the most important Marvel comics of the past couple years. It more or less defined Marvel’s style since 2011 and has also had the pleasure of being very good. It’s been around since I started reading comics and I can’t imagine a world where Matt Murdock isn’t written by Waid.

On the other hand, if you’re going to end the series just end it. I feel like we’ve been writing thought pieces about the end of Waid’s “Daredevil” since 2013. I’m glad “Daredevil” has lasted so long with Waid and then Samnee but “Deadpool” is forty issues in and doesn’t threaten to leave in every solicit.

3. This Is Happening

MIRACLEMAN BY GAIMAN & BUCKINGHAM #1 & 2
NEIL GAIMAN (W) • MARK BUCKINGHAM (A/C)
ISSUE #1 – Variant cover by JOE QUESADA
Variant cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
VARIANT JAM COVER BY JOHN TOTLEBEN, GARRY LEACH, ALAN DAVIS & RICK VEITCH
ISSUE #1
• Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham’s Age of Miracles begins!
• Two years have passed since the decimation of London. Miracleman presides over mankind’s Golden Age from atop Olympus. Pilgrims climb its miles-high peak to petition their new god. Each carries hopes that are pure. The motives they conceal, however…
Continued below



• Miracleman explores Infraspace in the opening chapter of “Retrieval,” but just what, or who, is he looking for?
• Including material originally presented in MIRACLEMAN (1985) #17, plus bonus content.
48 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99
ISSUE #2
• John Gallaway rejected Miracleman’s new world, rejected companionship, rejected love — until the night Miraclewoman visited him…
• The schoolyard rebels strut their stuff and debate the teenage idol of The Golden Age, Johnny Bates, in “Trends.”
• Miracleman explores deeper into Infra-Space in “Retrieval.”
• Including material originally presented in MIRACLEMAN (1985) #18, plus bonus content.
48 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

To be frank, Marvel’s handling of the Miracleman copyright has been nothing less than tragic. Mainly because it was handled by the one dude in the world who thought people were clamoring for pre-Moore Marvelman, spent years reprinting those stories, and then stuffed Moore’s issues with even more Silver Age hack in order to extend its run. Instead of, you know, putting out an omnibus and dominating The New York Times Bestsellers list for three months straight.

Still, we’ve reached the point where we can actually reprint Gaiman and Buckingham’s run on “Miracleman” which is exciting since that’s been harder to find than the Moore stuff. Again, we’re not totally onto the new stuff with Gaiman and Buckingham (I think?) but we’re closer than ever. Can’t wait to read the culmination of this storyline in 2021.

2. True SJWs

TRUE BELIEVERS
The Women of Marvel are taking over in September! That’s right, Marvel’s blockbuster female-led titles are returning to comic shops this month for ten new TRUE BELIEVERS titles. Specially priced at $1, these can’t miss introductory issues provide the perfect window into some of Marvel’s critically acclaimed female-led titles! From the high stakes espionage action of Black Widow to the out of this world adventure of Princess Leia. From the larger than life Ms. Marvel to the irresistible charm of Spider-Gwen – these fan-favorite premiere issues offer perfect entry points into the Marvel Universe. Hang on tight and see what you’ve been missing with these exciting TRUE BELIEVERS titles coming to comic shops in September!

In terms of smart moves, the True Believers line might be Marvel’s smartest move of the month. They’re one dollar #1’s that focus on the female side of Marvel. What’s interesting is that it doesn’t even seem like pandering because these titles (“Black Widow”, “Spider-Gwen”, “Ms. Marvel”, etc.) are some of the more critically acclaimed and vital parts of the Marvel Universe. It’s not so much a reflection of Marvel pandering to female audiences as it is them showing that their universe now relies a lot of female characters. That’s kind of cool. That’s not to say they’re flawless (more female and POC creators would be cool) but I can see this bringing in new readers who wanted to give Marvel a shot. Good on them.

1. Red, White, and Who?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #1 & 2 (of 5)
JEPH LOEB (w) • TIM SALE (A/C)
ISSUE #1 – Variant cover by TIM SALE
INHUMAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT BY TBA
Variant Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
ISSUE #2 – Variant Cover by TBA

THE SUPERSTAR CREATIVE TEAM OF SPIDER-MAN: BLUE, HULK: GRAY, AND DAREDEVIL: YELLOW BRING THEIR MAGIC TO AMERICA’S #1 HERO

ISSUE #1 –
• From his re-awakening in the present day to his days on the battlefield during World War II, follow CAPTAIN AMERICA as he recalls a special mission during THE BIG ONE!
• It’s 1941 and the HOWLING COMMANDOS are just looking to kick back and relax….
• But CAP and BUCKY are about to make their night a whole lot worse!
• The EISNER AWARD-WINNING team of JEPH LOEB and TIM SALE reunite to tell a shocking story of CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY!
• Extra-sized issue featuring CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #0
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

ISSUE #2 –
BULLETS! BOMBS! EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS!
• CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY are ready to lead the HOWLING COMMANDOS, but are the HOWLING COMMANDOS ready to follow?
• Things go from bad to worse and only Bucky can save the day!
• Will a shocking appearance from an old ally turn the tide of battle?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I’m young enough that I completely missed out on everything going on with Loeb and Sales’s “color” runs on different Marvel heroes. And while I’ve heard good things about “Daredevil: Yellow” and “Spider-Man: I’m Blue Bah De Bee Dah Ba Bye”, I’m so unsure on “Captain America: White”. Part of that is because of the Duke Nukem Theory of Delays. If your product was built for a certain year and is coming out a long time after that year, it likely won’t be relevant. I like Sale and I’m willing to forgive Loeb for everything he put me through during Boomb Tube but I’m just concerned that another Captain America origin might fall through the cracks in All-New All-Different Marvel.

That’s all for our look at Marvel’s line-up for September. Check out the full list of solicitations from CBR and let us know what you’re looking forward to in September 2015.


//TAGS | Soliciting Multiversity

James Johnston

James Johnston is a grizzled post-millenial. Follow him on Twitter to challenge him to a fight.

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