February! I don’t have anything witty to say about February. But I do have plenty of new comics to look at, and the continuation of many more stories from Marvel. So let’s skip the preamble and go to what you’re all here for: the top ten Marvel comics to keep an eye out for.
10. More X, Less Static
We’ve been seeing a lot of X-teams return or get re-formed with new members since the mutant population moved to Krakoa, but not all teams are accounted for. X-Statix hasn’t been seen much recently… but that’s about to change. We’re getting a new team of mutants aiming for the spotlight, and just going off the cover alone you know it’s going to be wild. Plus: there’s Doop, that alone is worth quite a few points. So let’s hope X-Cellent lives up to its name when it hits the shelves.
X-Cellent #1
Written by Peter Milligan
Illustrated by Michael Allred
Cover by Michael Allred
Variant covers by Mateus Manhanini, David Mack, and Skottie Young• IT’S FINALLY HERE!
• They were loved by their adoring fans. They were reviled by the harsh press. They lived, they loved, they fought and they died…a lot — all for the sake of fame. They were the X-Statix, a team of mutant celebrities fighting for a brighter world and an even brighter spotlight! But they’re old news now, because there’s a new mutant team that will live harder, love harder, fight harder and die a whole lot harder than those has-beens! Peter Milligan, Michael Allred and Laura Allred return to introduce the best new super hero team you didn’t know you needed! Meet…THE X-CELLENT!
9. There Will Be a Great Reckoning
Issue forty seems like a fitting moment for a new “Fantastic Four” event to begin, and the Reckoning War is quite an event for it. We’ve got a universal threat, the FF’s abilities going out of control, a ticking clock, and pretty much massive devastation at hand… so another Wednesday for Marvel’s first family, but plenty of excitement for us as readers. So let’s see how this new event kicks off.
Fantastic Four #40
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Rachael Stott
Cover by Carlos Pacheco
Variant covers by Phil Jimenez and R.B. Silva• THE RECKONING WAR!
• The opening shot of the Reckoning War has left the Earth in complete and utter chaos.
• And it turns out that we are not alone. The entire universe is on fire.
• The enemy has had eons to prepare for this attack – Reed Richards has had two hours to mount a defense. Johnny Storm has gone full supernova. Sue Storm has become completely invisible – even the Watchers can’t see her. And Colonel Ben Grimm, for the first time in a long time, is ready to go to war!
8. New Goblin Problems
Spider-Man sure has plenty of goblin-themed enemies. Green Goblin is the most iconic (no matter the Osborn), but he’s also faced plenty of Hobgobins, a Red Goblin, the Gray Goblin (in another storyline best forgotten) even a Proto-Goblin. Well, there’s also a Goblin Queen, and she’s after Ben Reilly. Will she be as iconic a villain to this Spider-Man as Norman Osborn is to Peter Parker? Look, antagonists introduced with the explicit intention of being iconic rivals rarely are, but it’s still looking to be an exciting new clash and dynamic as we see how Ben handles his own rogues gallery.
Amazing Spider-Man #88
Written by Zeb Wells
Illustrated by Michael Dowling
Beyond Board: Kelly Thompson, Patrick Gleason, Saladin Ahmed, Cody Ziglar, and Zeb Wells
Cover by Arthur Adams
Variant covers by Patrick Gleason and Francesco Manna• Who is QUEEN GOBLIN?!
• For almost sixty years, Spider-Man has been defined by Goblins, and Ben Reilly has a brand-new one all his own.
7. The More the Gwenier
Remember that time when ever comic got a Gwen variant cover? It’s how we got Gwenpool, even if the Gwenpool we know and love has no relation to Gwen Stacy. Well, clearly someone remembered, and liked the idea enough to make an entire miniseries out of it. We’re now getting Gwen versions of every iconic Marvel hero, no matter how little sense it makes at first glance, as Gwen Stacy moves away from the Spider-Verse and towards her own universe of Gwens. It’s an odd concept, to be certain, but that’s the sort of thing you can do in comics, and I’m okay with that.
Continued belowSpider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1 (of 5)
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Jodi Nishijima
Cover by David Nakayama
Variant covers by Leonardo Romero, Greg Land, Todd Nauck, Peach Momoko, and Natacha Bustos• NOT ENOUGH GWENS!
• When Gwen Stacy was bitten by a radioactive spider, she gained arachnid-like super-powers and started a crimefighting career as Spider-Woman (or as she’s affectionately known to her peers, Ghost-Spider)! But what would have happened if instead she had picked up the enchanted hammer, Mjolnir? Or if she received the Super-Soldier Serum? Or built a high-tech suit of armor? Or…you get the idea! Find out in this new five-issue miniseries by Tim Seeley (HEROES REBORN: MARVEL DOUBLE ACTION) and Jodi Nishijima (UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA) as Ghost-Spider tumbles through time and comes face-to-face with herselves!
6. Hammer This
Thor’s battle against the God of Hammers continues, and it looks like this is a battle he can’t do on his own. Enter the rest of the Marvel Universe. That’s right, we’re getting a team-up: Thor and everyone else versus this God of Hammers. That means plenty of action, plenty of butts getting kicked, and plenty of cameos. Sometimes a hero facing down a villain on his own can be epic, and sometimes there’s nothing like a big ol’ team-up from as many heroes as can fit. Either way, you’re in for a good time.
Thor #22
Written by Donny Cates
Illustrated by Nic Klein
Cover by Nic Klein
Variant cover by David Talaska• “GOD OF HAMMERS” PART 4 of 5!
• To stop the deadly path of the Mjolnir-wielding God of Hammers, all of the Marvel Universe must come together! The final battle is here, but will Thor’s allies survive the hammer’s blows? Thor turns to an unexpected source to help ensure victory!
5. Never Dying, Occasionally Forgotten
Kieron Gillen’s run on “Eternals” keeps going to new and interesting places. Now that Thanos is the Prime Eternal, things are about to get shaken up, but he’s promising a look at a past ruler who’s even worse. How bad are we talking? I don’t know, but if he’s the originator of all evil amongst the Eternals, that’s got to be pretty bad. So it’ll be fun to see what Kieron has planned for us.
Also, just look at that cover!
Eternals: The Undying #1
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Ryan Bodenheim
Cover by Andrea Sorrentino
Variant cover by Phil Noto• Thanos is now ruler of the Eternals! But believe it or not…he’s actually not the worst leader that the Eternals’ society has ever seen. No, that honor belongs to someone even more horrific. Thanos is evil, yes, but who was the original evil from whom all Eternal evils descend? Meet Uranos, the Undying. And may the Celestials have mercy on your souls.
4. The Legacy Continues
Of course I have to include this. Every “Marvel’s Voices” comic is a fantastic showcase of writers and artists bringing us new stories with the characters that represent their cultures. Now we’re celebrating Black History Month with Black heroes and the legacies they represent, and just in time for Luke Cage’s 50th anniversary. That’s certainly worth celebrating, and makes for a comic worth reading.
Continued belowMarvel’s Voices: Legacy #1
Written by Cody Ziglar, Natacha Bustos, Victor Lavalle, J. Holtham Maria Frölich, and more
Illustrated by Natacha Bustos, Maria Frölich, and more
Cover by Chriscross
Variant covers by Taurin Clarke, Ejiwa “Edge” Ebenebe, Olivier Coipel, and Natacha Bustos• WE’VE DONE IT AGAIN! ANOTHER STAR-PACKED VOICES SPECIAL
• GRACES THE STANDS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
• Stormbreaker Natacha Bustos makes her writing debut with a gorgeous tale of Wakanda! Superstar novelist Victor LaValle writes Moon Girl like you’ve never seen her before! Jessica Jones and Cloak & Dagger TV writer J. Holtham explores the legacy of Sam Wilson, Captain America! Amazing Spider-Man scribe Cody Ziglar visits Marvel’s black heroes through the ages in a celebration highlighting Luke Cage’s 50th Anniversary! And there’s so much more to come, including an incredible lineup of new and established artists. Marvel’s Voices is the program for every fan – don’t let this one pass you by!
3. Don’t Get Ghosted
Ghost Rider has been through a lot, to put it lightly. Just recently he was the king of Hell, and that didn’t go too well. Now we’ve still got Robbie Reyes as a Ghost Rider on the Avengers, but Johnny Blaze just can’t seem to get a break. In fact, it looks like the only break he’s getting is going to get wrecked in this very issue of his new run, so get ready for a lot of hellfire, a lot of high-octane action, and so much vengeance. But that’s exactly what we read “Ghost Rider” for, so it’s all good.
Ghost Rider #1
Written by Benjamin Percy
Illustrated by Cory Smith
Cover by Kael Ngu
Variant covers by Todd Nauck, Skottie Young, Taurin Clarke, Inhyu Lee, Peach Momoko, Benjamin Su, Adam Kubert, Ryan Stegman, and Jorge Fornes• JOHNNY BLAZE!!
• Johnny Blaze has the perfect life: a wife and two kids, a job at an auto repair shop and a small-town community that supports him… But Johnny isn’t doing well. He has nightmares of monsters when he sleeps. And he sees bloody visions when he’s awake. This life is beginning to feel like a prison. And there’s a spirit in him that’s begging to break out! Benjamin Percy (WOLVERINE, X-FORCE) and Cory Smith (CONAN THE BARBARIAN, CAPTAIN MARVEL) are going back to basics with the Spirit of Vengeance in this extra-sized first issue!
2. The Secret is Out
When Marvel gave us the opportunity to vote for the final member of the new X-Men team, there were some great options. And while only one made the cut (sorry Boom-Boom, I still voted for you), it looks like those who didn’t make it are still getting something. Now we’ve got the mutants who weren’t selected teaming up to protect the Shi’ar Empire, and what a collection of mutants it is – each of them brings something new and fun to the table, so seeing them work together and bounce off each other is bound to be exciting and entertaining. Let’s do this, and see who survives the experience.
Secret X-Men #1
Written by Tini Howard
Illustrated by Francesco Mobili
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Variant cover by Tony Daniel• SSHHH – IT’S THE X-MEN!
• When the Shi’ar Empire faces an unexpected threat, they must call upon the X-Men. Team co-captains Sunspot and Cannonball must lead Marrow, Tempo, Forge, Banshee, Strong Guy, Armor, and Boom-Boom on a secret mission to save Empress Xandra.
• Wait, those aren’t the X-Men. Aren’t those the mutants who lost the election?
1. Enter the (Iron) Fist
That’s right, we’ve got a new Iron Fist coming at us. Now, I could joke that Netflix’s Iron Fist was so bad that Marvel had to retire Danny Rand, but since the Iron Fist has always been a power passed on to new wielders, there’s nothing wrong with someone new picking up the mantle. They’re keeping this new Iron Fist’s identity under wraps, so we can look forward to enjoying the mystery while enjoying the martial arts ride leading up to it. This is a highly anticipated comic, so let’s wait and see what they’ve got planned.
Iron Fist #1 (of 5)
Written by Alyssa Wong
Illustrated by Michael-Yg
Cover by Jim Cheung
Variant covers by Nick Dragotta, Todd Nauck, Gunji, and Leinil Francis Yu• WHO IS THE NEW IRON FIST?!
• After giving up his power to save the world, DANNY RAND believes he’s seen the last of the IRON FIST…
• …But when DEMONS begin to attack cities around the world, a MYSTERIOUS NEWCOMER in a FAMILIAR MASK appears, hands blazing with the CHI OF SHOU-LAO THE UNDYING!
• Who is this NEW IRON FIST? And does his power really come from the DRAGON OF K’UN-LUN… Or from something far more sinister?
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
