What may await from Marvel in May? We can see what comes after “Sins of Sinister,” the continuation of some excellent storylines, and… the foreshadowing of something called “Grootfall?” Let’s read on and see what to expect in the months ahead.
10. Venom in the Multiverse
The Venomverse is not exactly as popular as the Spider-verse, but it does give us some interesting what-if scenarios. Whether it’s alternate versions of Eddie Brock or other characters with their own Venom symbiotes, there’s a lot of story potential out there in the multiverse. So now the Venomverse is back, featuring new stories from some fan-favorite (and personal favorite) creators to give us different takes on Venom, celebrating his 35th anniversary. So that sounds like a great comic to kick this list off with.
Extreme Venomverse #1 (of 5)
Written by Ryan North, Leonardo Romero, and Mirka Andolfo
Illustrated by Paulo Siquiera, Nico Leon, and Leonardo Romero
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Variant covers by Rod Reis, Ken Lashley, Ryan Stegman, Skottie Young, Peach Momoko, and Leinil Francis Yu• RETURN TO THE VENOMVERSE!
• Face front, Venomaniacs – to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the creation of VENOM, the SUMMER OF SYMBIOTES IS UNDERWAY! And it all starts with EXTREME VENOMVERSE, a landmark series that’s going to take Mighty Marveldom to corners of the hive never seen before in three titanic tales!
• FIRST! Comics superstars RYAN NORTH AND PAULO SIQUEIRA put a fresh and exciting spin on a story you may be familiar with…starring Eddie Brock as…SPIDER-MAN?!
• THEN! Your new favorite comics writer, MIRKA ANDOLFO, shows you a side of the whole Brock family you NEVER thought you’d see!
• AND FINALLY! One of the best writer/artists in comics today, LEONARDO ROMERO, reimagines Venom as a SAMURAI!
• But whether all of your new favorite symbiotes will survive this summertime saga remains to be seen…
9. I Am Groot?
The recent solicitations and ads for the “Guardians of the Galaxy” comic tease the “Grootfall,” and the coming of “Grootspace.” So what does that mean for our favorite talking tree?
No idea, because this comic is about a young Groot teaming up with a young Mar-Vell. Given Groot’s own rise to fame, and writer Dan Abnett penning the comic, I don’t doubt that this is going to be a fun mini-series for any fans of the character.
Groot #1 (of 4)
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Damian Couceiro
Cover by Lee Garbett
Variant covers by Peach Momoko, Pete Woods, Benjamin Su, and Skottie Young• MONSTER, HERO, GUARDIAN…GROOT!
• Before he was a Guardian of the Galaxy…before the Grootfall…young Groot lived a life of tranquility on his serene home world. But when monstrous invaders attack his planet, Groot must accept his heroic destiny! Will this destiny lead him to come to blows with a young Kree soldier by the name of Mar-Vell? Join writer Dan Abnett (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) and artist Damian Couceiro (THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2099, X-FORCE) as they reveal never-before-seen moments of Groot’s origin and first adventure through the galaxy!
8. Smooth as Silk
Silk is one of those characters who pops up with a solo series every now and then before disappearing back into the crowd of supporting “Spider-Man” characters, but it’s always nice when she gets her own run. Now we’re getting a strange new take on Silk, with mysteries and, apparently, some mind-bending twists to look forward to. So let’s see what the next step in Cindy Moon’s heroic career will be.
Continued belowSilk #1
Written by Emily Kim
Illustrated by Ig Guara
Cover by Dave Johnson
Variant covers by Elena Casagrande, David Nakayama, Peach Momoko, Tom Reilly, and Derrick Chew• SILK SWINGS BACK INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE!
• There’s something rotten in Los Angeles, and ace detective Cindy Moon is on the case! Wait…that can’t be right.
• In this mind-bending new series, Cindy will face old foes and never-before-seen dangers that will take her to the breaking point!
• Brought to you by all-star writer Emily Kim (SILK, TIGER DIVISION) and Marvel veteran Ig Guara (GHOST-SPIDER, SPIDER-GWEN)!
7. Stand Strong, Sentinel
The “Captain America: Cold War” crossover continues on, and now Black Widow gets involved. It seems like Bucky is getting closer to the point of no return, so will Natasha be able to stop him? Whether you’ve been following either “Captain America” comic or both, this crossover is bringing everything together, and it’ll be exciting to see what’s next for all the characters, with their long and often bloody shared histories.
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #12
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Illustrated by Alina Erofeeva
Cover by Carmen Carnero
Variant cover by Carlos Gómez• CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR PART THREE!
• The Black Widow enters the fray! As Bucky Barnes and White Wolf team up to strike at the heart of the Outer Circle conspiracy, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson and their allies are caught in the crossfire! As the heroes fight their way across the war-torn Alaskan tundra to rescue Ian Rogers, Black Widow attempts to stop Bucky’s descent into villainy – at any cost!
6. Pride Cometh?
What comes after “Sins of Sinister?” It looks like we’re before a fall of some kind, but whether that means Krakoa or something else we have yet to see. In the meantime, the multiple conflicts built across the X-line continues with Orchis, Mother Righteous, and more all vying for control. If you’ve been following the story so far, you’ll know it’s hard to predict what Si Spurrier has planned next, but this issue is going to add new twists and turns that I can’t wait to see.
X-Men: Before the Fall – Sons of X #1
Written by Si Spurrier
Illustrated by Phil Noto
Cover by Phil Noto
Variant cover by Yanick Paquette• A BATTLE OF THE TITANS OF THE X-UNIVERSE!
• A man of innumerable personalities and powers vs. the most powerful artificial intelligence in this universe: Legion vs. Nimrod! With Nightcrawler in Orchis’ clutches, David Haller and his allies will have to confront the mastermind who destroyed Warlock and nearly took Krakoa with him. But Nightcrawler is not himself… and Legion’s allies aren’t all they seem to be either. Mutant monsters roam the Earth… Banshee, broken once again, dreams of lost vengeance… Mother Righteous, her role in SINS OF SINISTER unrevealed, takes another stab at universal control… Si Spurrier and Phil Noto usher in new status quos for some of your favorite X-Men in this can’t-miss one-shot!
5. Going Green
When Luke got a new lightsaber in the “Star Wars” comics, the fact that it wasn’t the familiar green blade from Return of the Jedi instantly meant that it wasn’t going to last. We knew he’d have to make his own lightsaber eventually, and that time is now, starting with a search for a kyber crystal to power it.
In most of the Star Wars shows and stories that involve finding a kyber crystal, the search requires both physical and spiritual challenges, so what will Luke have to go through to get his made? And with “Hidden Empire” impacting even the Force itself, things are certainly going to get unpredictable. But Charles Soule has done a great job on the “Star Wars” comics, so we can look forward to seeing what’s in store.
Star Wars #34
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Madibek Musabekov
Cover by Stephen Segovia
Variant covers by Phil Noto, Chris Sprouse, Leinil Francis Yu, and John Tyler Christopher• THE BROKEN SABER OF SKYWALKER!
• LUKE SKYWALKER searches for one of the rarest substances in the galaxy…KYBER – the living crystal that powers LIGHTSABERS!
• Does it hold the answer to the unpredictable thing the Force has become (see HIDDEN EMPIRE #5!)?
• What long-lost secret is he about to uncover?
4. Generational Fury
When Samuel L. Jackson made his debut as Nick Fury at the end of the first Iron Man movie, it was only a matter of time until the comics shifted to match. Out went the old Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D., and in came his long-lost son, who also happened to be a super spy S.H.I.E.L.D. agent named Nick Fury.
Continued belowNow this comic brings their stories together, with a new mystery and unknown organization in a story that spans decades. Al Ewing is a talented writer, and there’s a team of excellent artists providing the illustrations, so this is bound to be a thriller of a comic.
Fury #1
Written by Al Ewing
Illustrated by Scott Eaton, Tom Reilly, Adam Kubert, and Ramon Rosanas
Cover by Adam Kubert
Variant covers by Chris Samnee and Mike Del Mundo• WHO IS S.C.O.R.P.I.O.?
• A glamorous rogue agent with a deadly secret lures NICK FURY into the action-thriller of a lifetime…HIS FATHER’S!
• Following the trail opens NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FURY FILES from the Howlin’ ’40s…the Swingin’ ’60s…and today!
• But it takes more than ONE Nick Fury to unlock a mystery decades in the making – and to answer the question…WHO IS S.C.O.R.P.I.O.?
3. Celebrating 700 Issues
Even if this comic wasn’t the 700th issue of “Fantastic Four,” it would still deserve a place on this list. But it is, which means there’s even more to be excited about.
Ryan North and Iban Coello have been crafting an exciting and engaging new entry into the lives of Marvel’s first family, and this issue celebrates a huge milestone for the team. There are new threats and challenges ahead, but they’re also going all-out with an oversized issue, so we’ll get even more of the writing and artwork that makes this series a must-read. And, best of all, perhaps Doctor Doom himself, to remind us what makes him one of Marvel’s best villains.
Fantastic Four #7
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Iban Coello
Cover by Alex Ross
Variant covers by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Greg Land, Rob Liefeld, Jack Kirby, and Scott Koblish• COLOSSAL ISSUE #700!
• FANTASTIC FOUR #7 is also FANTASTIC FOUR #700, which means we’re ABSOLUTELY going huge.
• It’s an over-sized spectacular as the Fantastic Four reach their new home – not knowing that a mysterious threat has made it there first!
• As their knowledge of LANGUAGE ITSELF begins to melt from their minds, the Four are in disarray as their existence hangs in the balance…
• …and the greatest villain of all time finally seals their DOOM.
2. Miracle Fight!
Neil Gaimin and Mark Buckingham have created a new status quo for “Miracleman” that’s unlike any we’ve ever seen. It’s just as alien to us as it is to Young Miracleman, so we’re learning about this new super-powered world as we go, but it’s clearly not as utopic as Miracleman would hope. So conflict is inevitable, as MIracleman and Young Miracleman finally have a classic super-powered brawl, mentor vs mentee, and the only thing we know is that we have no idea what’s going to happen. And given the team behind it, that’s just the way it’s meant to be.
Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham: The Silver Age #7
Written by Neil Gaiman & Mark Buckingham
Illustrated by Mark Buckingham
Cover by Mark Buckingham
Variant covers by TBA• MIRACLEMAN VS. YOUNG MIRACLEMAN!
• The cataclysmic showdown is finally here!
1. A New Assembly
After an epic, universe-shaking, multiverse-spanning “Avengers” run by Jason Aaron, it’s time for Jed MacKay to take over, and I can’t think of anyone better to kick off the next team of Avengers. Already we’re looking at a team with a nice mix of current and past Avengers, most notably with Wanda and Vision returning to the team. So what awaits these new Avengers? I can’t wait to find out, but given the team behind it, it’s bound to be great.
Avengers #1
Written by Jed MacKay
Illustrated by C.F. Villa
Cover by Stuart Immonen
Variant covers by Mark Brooks, Kael Ngu, Daniel Acuña, Marco Checchetto, Paul Smith, Skottie Young, Derrick Chew, and John Tyler Christopher• ASSEMBLE!
• JED MACKAY AND STORMBREAKER C.F. VILLA TAKE THE REINS OF EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES!
• The Star. The Icon. The Witch. The Construct. The God. The Engineer. The King.
• The world is ever in peril, and a new team of Avengers mobilizes to meet any dangers that dare threaten the planet. But when TERMINUS attacks, a new and insidious danger rears its head: one that the Avengers know all too well, and one that comes to them in the most dangerous of guises – that of a friend.
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
