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Soliciting Multiversity: Marvel’s Top 10 for January 2019

By | October 25th, 2018
Posted in Columns | % Comments

New year, new comics! By which I mean there’s a seriously crazy amount of new #1 issues, including several old series being revived for Marvel’s 80th anniversary. That’s right, 80 years of Marvel, can you believe it? So let’s see what comics we’ll be starting off 2019 with.

10. Bad Kitty?

I knew this would be a popular issue the moment I saw clickbait articles claiming “Deadpool is the new Black Panther.” Of course he’s not. We’ll see what exactly Panther-Pool is all about, and I like the design, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Instead, let’s enjoy two characters with insanely popular movies duking it out over vibranium.

Black Panther vs Deadpool #4
Written by Daniel Kibblesmith
Illustrated by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz
Cover by Ryan Benjamin & Rain Beredo
Variant Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz

INTRODUCING…PANTHER-POOL! (YES, REALLY!)
• A classic Marvel team-up gone terribly wrong! Who could have predicted it?! Luckily, there’s an easy solution. All the Black Panther needs to do is give Deadpool a bullet-sized chunk of the world’s most precious resource and let him return to New York in one piece. Wait, you say that’s a terrible idea and that T’Challa would stop at nothing to keep Vibranium out of Deadpool’s homicidal hands? WELL, YOU’D BE RIGHT! But how do you get rid of an unkillable pest? Buckle up, True Believer, because the Black Panther’s about to do the unthinkable!
• 32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

9. Movie Marvel Madness

Captain Marvel is a character that’s still growing on me, in spite of Marvel putting her front-and-center in preparation for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Slowly but steadily, she’s been making up for starring in the mess that was “Civil War 2,” but more importantly, Kelly Thompson will be writing for her now. That alone makes me look forward to this significantly more.

Captain Marvel #1
Written by Kelly Thompson
Illustrated by Carmen Carnero
Cover by Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts
Variant Covers by Alex Ross, Lauren Tsai, Adam Hughes, and Joe Quesada

ALL THE STARS ALIGN AS KELLY THOMPSON AND CARMEN CARNERO TAKE ON MARVEL’S PREMIER FEMALE SUPER HERO!
• As Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers has spent months in space protecting Earth from alien threats big and small, but now it’s time for Earth’s mightiest hero to come home. New York City has never looked so good. But every re-entry comes with the unexpected, and Carol is about to hit a whole lot of unexpected. It’s a fresh start and an oversized, star-studded welcome home for a hero who’s been punching the glass ceiling since the 1970s — and just in time for the first female-led film from Marvel Studios! The next 50 years of Captain Marvel starts here!
• 40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

8. Bottoms Up!

“Demon in a Bottle” is one of the most iconic and powerful “Iron Man” story arcs. So what will a digital version of it entail? “Tony Stark: Iron Man” has been starting to explore Tony’s virtual world, and this new story arc will start to look at addiction, both physical and psychological. Aside from that, I just love this cover. The image of Iron Man trapped and drowning in a glass of booze is impressive and symbolic.

Tony Stark: Iron Man #8
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Valerio Schiti
Cover by Alexander Lozano
Varian Covers by Phil Noto and Valerio Schiti

• You’re not really wearing a jetpack, user. It’s a game.
• You’re not really shooting someone and stealing their car, user. It’s just a game.
• You’re not really taking that drink, Tony Stark…
• Do not miss this issue of Iron Man. “Digital Demon in a Bottle” is literally a game changer!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

7. You Maniacs!

Speaking of great covers, I love the “Planet of the Apes” homage in this cover, especially with the Skrull twist given to the Statue of Liberty. Great design right there. Aside from that, we get more from Squirrel Girl’s own “Secret Invasion” arc, and as always, more of the best writing and gags Marvel has to offer.

Continued below

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #40
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Derek Charm
Cover by Erica Henderson

• In the past few issues, Squirrel Girl has “died”! She’s fought “Iron Man”! And her world has been invaded by a non-zero number of SKRULLS!
• It’s been a crazy ride, but gosh, it sure would be nice to know WHY this is happening, WHO is behind it and WHAT machinations – sinister OR otherwise – that they’ve been working toward!
• Good news: This issue reveals all! Mysteries are laid bare! Secret origins are revealed! And your friend and mine Squirrel Girl is FINALLY brought back from the dead!
• If, like me, your tastes in serialized literature run toward words and pictures in deliberate sequence, then I’m proud to recommend to you THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #40!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

6. Stranger by the Day

400 issues of “Doctor Strange.” Now that’s impressive. There have been several arcs lately involving magic weakening or disappearing, and now’s the point where it all pays off. There’s a dream team of artists helping to tell this tale, where we’ll see Strange use all his wits and cunning while being able to use none of his magic. Consider me very interested in seeing where this takes us.

Doctor Strange #10
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Jesús Saiz, Chris Bachalo, Kevin Nowlan, and more
Cover by Jesús Saiz
Variant Covers by Joe Quesada and Frank Miller

DOCTOR STRANGE HITS HIS MILESTONE 400TH ISSUE!
• Creative team Mark Waid and Jesus Saiz are joined by some of the best DOCTOR STRANGE artists of all time to tell a monumentally strange tale! Someone has been working in the background since the first issue, chipping away at Doctor Strange and other magicians, undercutting and depleting their magic, and the other shoe finally drops. Does Strange stand a chance against someone who can take his magic away with the snap of their fingers?
• 48 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

5. Scar Wars

There are several great things that we’ve gotten out of the “Star Wars” comics, but the Scar Squadron is one of my favorites. A team of elite Storm Troopers, with distinct designs and weaponry? A Storm Trooper with a lightsaber? Now we’re starting to see what the Empire can do! So let’s see where this story goes and what Kieron Gillen has in store for us.

Star Wars #59
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Angel Unzuea
Cover by Jamal Campbell
Variant Covers by John Tyler Christopher and Leinil Francis Yu

“THE ESCAPE” PART THREE!
• LUKE, LEIA and HAN remain stranded on the isolated moon of Hubin and out of the fight against the Empire.
• Who says they even WANT to leave?
• But their hideaway may not be so secret…especially for old foes hot on the rebels’ trail.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

4. The Roster Grows

Jim Zub has done some great work with the Champions so far, and while I question the need to start with a new issue 1, I’m still all for seeing where it goes now. A global team of Champions? Okay, I’m interested. And while I hope Sam gets his Nova helmet back soon (seriously, we need more Nova) I’m glad that he’s still considered a cover-worthy part of the team even without his powers.

Champions #1
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Steven Cummings
Cover by Kim Jacinto
Variant Covers by Michael Cho, Lee Garbett, Phil Noto, and Skottie Young

THE WORLD STILL NEEDS HEROES – AND THERE ARE HEROES ALL OVER THE WORLD!
• The Champions have gone global! The team has seen explosive growth under Ms. Marvel’s leadership, with super-powered members ready to answer the call in a dozen different countries. They’re saving people and improving lives across the planet while they inspire the next generation… but something sinister lurks beneath the surface of their expanded mission. It’s a dark secret that could destroy the team and everything they stand for!
• Jim Zub (AVENGERS: NO SURRENDER, UNCANNY AVENGERS) and Steven Cummings (Wayward, Legends of the Dark Knight) ignite a new era of CHAMPIONS, filled to the brim with action, adventure and drama in the Mighty Marvel Manner!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Continued below

3. Not Exactly the B-Team

We rarely think about all the people that must have to work behind the scenes to keep Avengers teams up and running. Jarvis is great, but even he can only do so much. So Black Panther has brought on a support staff including Wasp, Ka-Zar, and… is that Odin? Whatever’s going on here, I want to see how it goes down.

Avengers #12
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Ed McGuinness
Cover by Alan Davis
Variant Cover by Phil Noto

THE ALL-NEW SECRET AVENGERS!
• It’s hard to run the Avengers without a support staff. And for a team as wild, weird and insanely powerful as this new Avengers squad, just one Jarvis would never do. Luckily, Black Panther has assembled the wildest and weirdest support staff you’ve ever seen. Meet Gorilla Man, Ka-Zar and the rest of the Agents of Wakanda.
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

2. Thissa Gonna be Goodsa

Mace Windu, Asajj Ventress, Captain Rex, and Jar Jar Binks. Not the most central characters to the “Star Wars” universe, but important characters nonetheless (no matter what you may think of Jar Jar). There are some great writers and artists creating these stories, which should stand as a great standalone and the centerpiece to the “Age of Republic” comics that Marvel is pumping out this month. Plus, it’s nice to see characters from the animated “Star Wars” shows make their way into the comics.

Star Wars: Age of Republic Special #1
Written by Ethan Sacks, Jody Houser, Marc Guggenheim, and Chip Zdarsky
Illustrated by Carlos Gomez, Paolo Villanelli, Caspar Wijngaard, and more
Cover by Rod Reis
Variant Covers by Khoi Pham, Mike Deodato, and Mike McKone

THE GREATEST HEROES OF THE REPUBLIC, THE DEADLIEST VILLAINS – AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN!
Four creative teams! Four stories featuring your favorite Star Wars characters!
• The baddest Jedi in the galaxy has a score to settle — MACE WINDU returns in an action-packed adventure from OLD MAN HAWKEYE’S Ethan Sacks!
• You can run, but can you hide from the twin lightsabers of Sith assassin ASAJJ VENTRESS? Feel her fury in a tale expertly woven by veteran STAR WARS comic scribe Jody Houser (THRAWN, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS).
• And is JAR JAR BINKS’ role in the Star Wars story over? NOT BY A LONG SHOT! Because Chip Zdarsky (PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE) has a rancor bone to pick with the galaxy’s most notorious Gungan.
• You can take the clone out of the war but you can never take the war out of the clone — CAPTAIN REX dusts off his blaster and enters the fray in a story by X-MEN: GOLD author Marc Guggenheim.
40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T …$4.99

1. … Ooga-chaka?

Did you think that the “Guardians of the Galaxy” team would only mirror the movie from here on out? Marvel hasn’t forgotten the wide array of cosmic characters that once composed the team, and neither should you. We’re getting some old members returning, along with some new faces… and Cosmic Ghost Rider, because why not? I’m ready to get hooked on this feeling.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1
Written by Donny Cates
Illustrated by Geoff Shaw
Cover by David Marquez
Variant Covers by Geoff Shaw, Ron Lim, Gerald Parel, Steve Skroce, Skottie Young, Barnie Wrightson, and David Marquez

WHO WILL STAND
• The universe is on fire. Hundreds of worlds are at war. Never has there been such hatred and division across the cosmos. And in spite of all this, Thanos of Titan is still dead…or is he? Now, more than ever, the cosmos need the Guardians of the Galaxy…but in the aftermath of the Infinity Wars, who is left to answer the call? Featuring every cosmic super hero in the known universe by the THANOS WINS creative team of Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw!
• 40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.


//TAGS | Soliciting Multiversity

Robbie Pleasant

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