As we make our way into May (the very merry month where people are known for strolling in the park, if old ditties are to be believed), Marvel is kicking off its “Blood Hunt” event in full-swing, while the latest “X-Men” storyline reaches its dramatic conclusion. But we’re also getting plenty of new mini-series, one-offs, and continuing storylines well worth checking out, so let’s see the top ten picks for May 2024 from the House of Ideas.
10. Let It Rip
I confess: at least part of this comic’s inclusion on the list is for its name alone. Some titles are just good enough that they deserve a read solely on that basis, but “Union Jack the Ripper” has more than that going for it. Union Jack is a character who’s frequently overlooked or forgotten, but every now and then makes an awesome comeback. Bringing him back to tie him into a vampire-filled crossover event sounds like just the thing to make a splash, and going by the title and solicitation, it’s going to be a bloody good time (and I mean that in multiple meanings of the word).
Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3)
Written by Cavan Scott
Illustrated by Kev Walker
Cover by Ryan Brown• UNION JACK PAINTS THE UK RED!
• As vampires inherit the Earth, one lone man has made it his mission to protect it.
• But what does Joey Chapman, UNION JACK have up his sleeves? And will it be enough?
• And WHO will Union Jack have to face to keep London from falling?
• CAVAN SCOTT and KEV WALKER bring you a UNION JACK story like you’ve never seen before!
9. Nick vs Frank
Garth Ennis has a reputation for writing a certain type of comic – typically gratuitously violent, irreverent, and cynical. However, he also has a reputation for writing some incredibly memorable stories, including “Preacher,” “The Boys,” and of course, “Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe.” So he’s just the writer for a story about Nick Fury and Frank Castle trying to kill each other in Vietnam. He’s no stranger to either of the characters, and when the two go to war with each other, you can expect high adrenaline and plenty of action. Throw in the art from Jacen Burrows and fans of the characters will have everything they need.
Get Fury #1 (of 5)
Written by Garth Ennis
Illustrated by Jacen Burrows
Cover by Dave Johnson
Variant covers by Jacen Burrows, Rogê Antônio, and Martin Coccolo• GARTH ENNIS RETURNS TO MARVEL – WITH NICK FURY AND FRANK CASTLE AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN!
• It’s 1971, there is a war raging in Vietnam, and Nick Fury has been captured by the Viet Cong. At this moment, they don’t quite understand that they have in their possession a man who knows enough secrets to damage the United States beyond comprehension. The C.I.A., however, DOES realize this and they can’t risk their enemy getting those secrets, so they dispatch the most deadly man in the U.S. Army – LT. FRANK CASTLE.
8. Even the FF Have to Hustle
Have we here at Multiversity heaped on enough praise for Ryan North’s “Fantastic Four” run? If there’s still a single visitor who hasn’t started reading it, then clearly it bears reiterating: this is a very good comic. How good? This issue involves Ben and Johnny working part-time jobs, and even that concept sounds like it’ll be amazing given the quality of the series so far. The writing and artwork are always top-notch, not to mention how this solicitation is foreshadowing that things are about to shift in a big way. So as always, “Fantastic Four” gets a spot on the list.
PS. For those who, like me, had to look up the word, “anagnorisis” is “the point in a play, novel, etc., in which a principal character recognizes or discovers another character’s true identity or the true nature of their own circumstances.” So make of that what you will.
Continued belowFantastic Four #20
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Carlos Gómez
Cover by Alex Ross
Variant covers by David Marquez, Greg and Tim Hildebrandt• Things are calm and normal, and definitely will be for a long while. Things are NOT about to explode in everyone’s faces, and this is NOT the last chance at normalcy that the FF will have for a very, very long time!
• With that being absolutely the case, Ben “The Thing” Grimm and Johnny “The Human Torch” Storm get part-time jobs to bring in some extra cash for the family – and end up getting the same job at the same location. But surely pairing a hotheaded fire guy with an exasperated rock guy is a recipe for peace, quiet and tranquility, right? And surely these two won’t bring their own drama with them when working side by side, yes?
• Also in this issue: anagnorisis!
7. Twilight Falls
Chip Zdarsky’s “Avengers Twilight” has been compared to DC’s “Kingdom Come,” and honestly, I see it. It’s a look at a dark future for our heroes as they grow older, one where they’re struggling to find a purpose in a world that no longer wants them, and it looks like this series will also end with a big explosion. So if you’ve been enjoying the art, storytelling, and tension of “Avengers Twilight” so far (as I have) you won’t want to miss how it ends.
Avengers Twilight #6 (of 6)
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Illustrated by Daniel Acuña
Cover by Alex Ross
Variant covers by Daniel Acuña, Marc ASpinall, Leinil Francis yu, and Declan Shalvey• The end has come! A horrific bomb has been dropped and its fallout can’t be contained! AVENGERS and DEFENDERS rise up to save the world, but death stalks them all! The senses-shattering series concludes here in an epic you have to see to believe!
6. The Comic Before the Movie
With the Deadpool and Wolverine movie now officially announced, of course we’re getting a comic by the same name. But this isn’t just a movie tie-in, as it also brings Joe Kelly back to write more Deadpool, and is upping the stakes to World War levels. Plus, we have Adam Kubert doing the artwork, so you know it’s going to look great as well. Whether or not you’re looking forward to the movie, this is going to be a great story for fans of either character.
Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 (of 3)
Written by Joe Kelly
Illustrated by Adam Kubert
Cover by Adam Kubert
Variant covers by Rob Liefeld, InHyuk Lee, Gabriele Dell’Otto, and Todd Nauck• WADE WILSON AND LOGAN AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH – AND EACH OTHER’S THROATS!
• The most intensely mismatched team-up in comics and pop culture – the best there is and the merc with the mouth – undergoes a radical change as we kick off a three-part, globe-spanning saga for the ages!
• The mysterious DELTA believes in change. Change is good. But as he sets his sights on DEADPOOL, and WOLVERINE is caught up in the plot, is the third time really the charm, or the curse?
• Get ready for WWIII to erupt on the scene with the wildest duo in comics from legends Joe Kelly (DEADPOOL, UNCANNY X-MEN) and Adam Kubert (WOLVERINE, UNCANNY X-MEN)!
5. Rise Up
It’s time for the Krakoan Age to end, with “Rise of the Powers of X,” “Fall of the House of X,” and “X-Men: Forever” all concluding their stories this month. So consider this one slot on the list occupied by all three of those comics, plus “X-Men” #34 (also out in May) to cover all the epic conclusions we’ll be seeing as the clash with Orchis comes to its end. What’s next for Marvel’s merry band of mutants? Only time will tell, but it’s time to see how the story ends.
Rise of the Powers of X #5 (of 5)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by R.B. Silva
Cover by R.B. Silva
Variant covers by Mahmud Asrar, David Nakayama, Joshua Swaby, and R.B. Silva• THE BATTLE FOR ALL TIME!
• The X-epic concludes in a battle between those who are outside time and that which is now and forever…and the result is being decided by whether someone can ultimately make the right choice. The end of the Krakoan Age barrels our way as the two series that are one conclude!
4. Assembling a New Lineup
There are a lot of “Blood Hunt” tie-ins this month, but of course we can’t leave out the Avengers. This gives us a new lineup of heroes, including classic characters like Hercules and Quicksilver, and Hazmat getting her chance to join the team. And of course, it’ll involve plenty of vampire fighting, which we’ve established is just plain fun. Jed MacKay has been on a roll, and this issue promises more of what we’ve come to love from his comics.
Continued belowAvengers #14
Written by Jed MacKay
Illustrated by C.F. Villa
Cover by Joshua Cassara
Variant covers by Chris Bachalo and InHyuk Lee• BLOOD HUNT TIE-IN! NEW TEAM LINEUP DEBUTS!
• With the current Avengers tied up and under siege during BLOOD HUNT, Captain Marvel calls for aid – and who better to assemble a new team of Avengers than Steve Rogers?
• Captain America gathers the forces of Quicksilver, Hawkeye, Hercules and Hazmat to take on the hordes of vampires attacking all over the world.
• And when they encounter an organized army of vampires in uniform led by a surprise villain, it gets personal!
3. Metal and Iron
Throughout the Fall of X and the end of the Krakoan Age, Iron Man has played more of a role in supporting the X-Men in their fight against Orchis than anyone would have anticipated (including his marriage to Emma Frost). Now that Magneto is back from the dead, the two are working together to tear down some Stark Sentinels. It’s the team up no one saw coming, but Gerry Duggan’s work on both the Iron Man and X-Men sides of the event have been excellent, so this will be another exciting entry in the tale of Tony Stark and the ongoing X-Men events.
Invincible Iron Man #18
Written by Gerry Duggan
Illustrated by Patch Zircher
Cover by Kael Ngu
Variant covers by Pepe Larraz and Pete Woods• SIDE BY SIDE WITH…MAGNETO!
• For years, the Master of Magnetism was Iron Man’s greatest fear.
• But to take down Orchis, will Tony have to work with the X-Men’s former adversary?
• And will a fight against every Sentinel on Earth be too much for even these two powerhouses?
2. Sing the Doom Song
Jonathan Hickman is the type of writer who will upend the entire Marvel Universe on a whim, then change its trajectory in ways we can’t even begin to predict. Now he’s got one issue with Doctor Doom, and that’s enough to do a whole lot. Can Doom save the universe? Of course he can. Will he? Should he? Those are other questions altogether. But is the comic going to be an epic showcase of one of Marvel’s most iconic antagonists, with an incredibly skilled team behind it? Absolutely.
Doom #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman & Sanford Greene
Illustrated by Sanford Greene
Cover by Sanford Greene
Variant covers by Adi Granov, George Pérez, Greg & Tim Hildebrandt, and Maria Wolf• IN THE NEAR FUTURE…DOOM ALONE MUST SAVE THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!
• Legendary creators Jonathan Hickman (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, G.O.D.S.) and Sanford Greene (Bitter Root) send Doctor Doom on a journey unlike any he has undertaken before! With Valeria Richards at his side, Doom goes on a quest to harness more power than any human has ever wielded before in order to try to stop Galactus from bringing about the death of the universe!
1. Bells Are Ringing
One of the most important Mystique moments in recent years came from her declaration “I want my wife back!” when demanding Destiny’s revival. Yes, the long-lived power couple have married at some point, but now we get the story behind it. For longtime fans of the characters, this is both welcome and long overdue.
This comic also doubles as a “Marvel’s Voices” comic, showcasing some of Marvel’s characters across the LGBTA+ spectrum (including the A, as Gwenpool came out as Asexual in “Love Unlimited”), and the “Voices” comics have always earned a place on this list as well. So that’s even more reasons to pick it up.
Marvel’s Voices: Pride, X-Men: The Wedding Special #1
Written by Yoon Ha Lee, M. Louis, and more!
Illustrator to be announced
Cover by Jan Bazaldua
Variant covers by Russel Dauterman and TBA• WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA!
• Mystique and Destiny are one of the most beloved – and longest running – gay couples in history. Somewhere in their 100+ years together, the pair married, but we’ve never seen the event on the page. This year, Marvel’s Voices: Pride makes history with Marvel’s first woman-to-woman wedding! And with a couple as complex as these two, you know there’s a lot more to the story. We promise party crashing! Villainy! Romance! In the classic tradition of Fantastic Four Annual #3 and X-Men #30, this anthology will be a must-read for every comics fan. Featuring the Marvel debuts of award-winning writers Yoon Ha Lee (Ninefox Gambit, Machineries of Empire) and M. Louis (Agents of the Realm), and much more talent to be announced!
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
