The slogan of this site is “by people who love comics for people who love comics,” and we take that pretty seriously. We are fans, just like anyone with a pull list or is on a first name basis with the clerk at their local store. And so, when the details of “Marvel NOW!” began to emerge, we had all sorts of thoughts and opinions in our emails back and forth, and decided to share one hope and one fear from various members of our staff for this new initiative.
Matthew Meylikov, Editor in Chief:
Hope: I have only one hope — that Jeff Parker is still writing a Rulk-related book. No more, no less.
Fear: Generally, my concern about relaunches of this nature is just a lack of consistency. In fact, the prime reason why — at this moment — I’m largely considering jumping ship on the Avengers and X-Men franchises is because we’re at the point where a new announcement like this is met inherently by cynical remarks (because really, who didn’t see something like this coming?). These comics are exciting in that I’m a fan of the creative teams, but in terms of the content the only thing that perks my ears up is the fact that Rocket Raccoon is going to be a major figure somehow. For someone who would define himself as a “Life-Long Marvel Fan,” that’s a pretty big red flag.
I’m not old enough to be a cranky old fan, but the only thing I look for in Marvel and DC comics these days are creative teams that are exciting to me, and while I’m not old enough to be excessively nostalgic, I do remember when writers and artists would work together for prolonged periods of time. How many people bought “Daredevil #1” by Martin, Rivera and Waid because of the artistic duo handling the title? I know I did, and look where that’s gotten me (no offense to Chris Samnee or Khoi Pham intended). I don’t mind the guest artist here and there due to Marvel’s love of double shipping to regain market share, but if I decide that yes, I want to read “Uncanny Avengers,” how long will it be until that book is something different? How long until John Cassaday is no longer the artist, or the book hits a delay, or an event comes along that makes an ongoing into a 12-issue maxiseries? I loved “Dark Avengers” post-“Secret Invasion,” but it wasn’t too long before that just wasn’t a book that needed to exist anymore because a new event negated its purpose (until recently, I guess).
If I thought for a minute that Marvel would forever have the “Uncanny Avengers” as a flagship team in their shared universe, I would say no more. However, “the Heroic Age” and all that it brought was only two years ago. I’d give whatever this is another six-twelve months tops before it’s redefined by someone/something else. If that’s what it means to be a fan of these franchises in 2012, then I’ll just wait for the various creators attached to put out a creator-owned title and buy that instead, maybe grab the “Uncanny Avengers” in trade and stick with the Marvel books that are more consistent, like Rucka/Checcetto’s “Punisher” and Jeff Parker’s “Thundarker Avengbolters” with Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey.
David Harper, Associate Editor:
Hope: I feel like this is an extreme long shot…and that makes me sad…but I really want Peter David’s X-Factor to continue forever. I mentioned this on 4 Color News and Brews recently, but X-Factor is the most continuity proof yet best manager of continuity in Marvel, and it makes it a very easy to jump into read as well as a great one. I really don’t even care who draws it (as some of the artists over the years have proven), I just want Peter David with X-Factor forever. Is that so much to ask?
Fear: That somehow All-New X-Men could possibly not be the most ill-advised launch title of this endeavor. I can’t even express how much I dislike this concept, but I’ll try. I love Bendis. I love Immonen. Displacing the most wholesome band of mutants to the future and getting Bendis to write ratatat dialogue for them and having them interact with today, and theoretically they have to go back to the past at some point, is just dumb beyond words. Not only that, but it seems so completely unnecessary. But who knows, maybe it will end up being the best of the relaunch. What the hell do I know?
Continued belowWalter Richardson, Associate Editor:
Hope: To be honest, my only hope is that my fear is proven wrong, but I would bet good money that it won’t be.
Fear: I fear that Marvel is not going to make this one count. Even more so than DC, Marvel is known for releasing “all new #1s,” only to renumber them with a giant-sized centennial issue a couple of years later or less. What makes this relaunch any different? While I don’t necessarily think that Marvel needs a reboot, as opposed to a relaunch, I do feel that not having a reboot makes these #1s seem just like any other new series. Unlike a good many of comic fans who will make a huff and puff but ultimately cave in, I can honestly say that I am not buying any of these new series because Marvel has not proven to me that these all-star teams and massive changes will stick. Need proof? Just look at the Ultimate franchise: less than a year later, and two thirds of the star writers originally hyped up as part of the relaunch are gone, while the visual department has been undergoing constant shifts. Not only that, but neither Nick Spencer or Jonathan Hickman finished their own stories; Sam Humphries shoddily strung together a finale for Hickman’s Evil Reed arc, and Brian Wood has completely abandoned Spencer’s plans. I am willing to bet that a year from now, or maybe even sooner, only one of these writers will still be in place, none of the artists will, and the shadows of “Avengers vs X-Men” and the subsequent “Marvel NOW” will be as present as the shadow of “Fear Itself” is in this month’s comics.
Brandon Burpee, Podcaster:
Hope: I can think of numerous things i’d like to see from the new Marvel relaunch. You know, like seeing Maggott appear regularly or a Doop/Bishop buddy cop book. Are these things likey to happen? Sadly, no. So for my hope I am going with a relaunched X-Statix! Easily one of my favorite X-Titles of all time. I would love to have Allred and Milligan return to a title that I have read more times than I can count. What I would not want from this relaunched title is a return of the old cast. Outside of Doop who survived and Dead Girl who is a walking corpse anyway, the rest should stay dead so Milligan and Allred can launch new team of characters with the same unpredictable life expectancy as the previous iteration.
This is an easy relaunch to make happen. Hell, we’ve already hear rumors that we might see som X-Statix from these guys over the last year or so. Why not here? Why not Marvel Now! (See what I did there!)
Fear: Still no Maggott.
Brian Salvatore, Staff Writer:
Hope: People buying comics is a good thing for everyone. Would I rather people buy good comics versus bad comics? Of course, I would. But people going into comic shops are still people going into comic shops. Hopefully, some of these creative teams will produce quality books that people can easily pick up and enjoy. And hopefully that will drive them deeper into other comics, and who knows? If Hickman’s “Avengers” is a big hit, maybe more people will seek out Hickman’s “Manhattan Projects” or “Pax Romana.” So, my hope is that this gets people into their local shops.
Fear: I already don’t read a ton of Marvel books (for a variety of reasons), but the few that I read I enjoy because of how unique they are: “FF” and “Journey Into Mystery,” specifically stand out as books that have tones completely their own. My fear is that, in hopes to bring in new readers, we’re going to see those types of books go bye bye in favor of more 5-year old dream books (“Secret X-Men!” “The Spectacular Captain America!”). I was just saying the other night how I feel that Marvel has a pretty good mission statement going for it right now, and with this relaunch I fear that mission statement is going to get muddled. Especially since the entire line isn’t being relaunched, I fear that many of the non-relaunched books will limp along for a few months before being silently euthanized. Diversity in comics, not just in the racial/sexual/age sense, but on the shelves of your store, is very important, and by “streamlining” their product, I fear the books about science, magic, mythology and, sadly, female characters, will fade. And when all that is left are Avengers and X-books, I’ll most likely be completely done buying Marvel comics.
What do you guys think? In the comments, let us know how you feel about this new initiative from the House of Ideas.
