July is an important month, historically speaking. Independence Day? No, it’s Judgment Day, at least in Marvel Comics, as the X-Men and Eternals kick off their fight, with the Avengers caught in the middle. Plus, a trip back to the past (way, way back) to meet the world’s first Avengers, and so much more. So let’s see what awaits in the months to come…
10. Get to the choppah… to read this comic
Marvel’s “Alien” comics have been chugging along for about a year now, which means it’s time for the next sci-fi movie property to enter their comics with “Predator.” (And yes, this means it’s only a matter of time before we get an “Alien vs Predator” comic, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.) Like the “Alien” comics, this is a new story set in the same universe, showing us another tale of characters battling against the deadly extraterrestrial hunters, so let’s see what Ed Brisson has planned.
Predator #1
Written by Ed Brisson
Illustrated by Kev Walker
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Variant covers by Ryan Browne, David Finch, InHyuk Lee, Peach Momoko, Rahzzah, Ron Lim, Philip Tan, and Skottie Young• HUNT. KILL. REPEAT.
• In the near future, a young girl sees her family slaughtered by the deadliest and most feared hunter in the universe: a PREDATOR. Years later, though her ship is barely holding together and food is running short, Theta won’t stop stalking the spaceways until the Yautja monster who killed her family is dead…or she is. Ed Brisson (IRON FIST, GHOST RIDER) and Kev Walker (DR. STRANGE, DOCTOR APHRA) forge a violent, heartbreaking and unforgettable new chapter in the PREDATOR saga not to be missed!
9. War Never Changes
Charles Soule’s “Star Wars” comics continue on with new twists in the Crimson Dawn story. Things are getting crazier across the galaxy, as we continue to bridge the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The Rebel Alliance is still going strong, but Crimson Dawn keeps adding new, unexpected twists and turns, so let’s look forward to seeing what’s next.
Star Wars #26
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Andres Genolet
Cover by E.M. Gist
Variant covers by John Tyler Christopher and Chris Sprouse• THE PATH TO VICTORY!
• The Rebel Fleet is reunited at last, and Leia Organa, Mon Mothma and the other Alliance leaders send a strong message to the galaxy that the resistance to Palpatine’s rule remains as strong as ever.
• Meanwhile, Lady Qi’ra of Crimson Dawn has activated her sleeper agents across the galaxy, instructing them to cause chaos for the Empire by any means necessary!
8. Ghost Rider: Samurai Style
When Jason Aaron writes “The Avengers,” he doesn’t just write for the team – he writes for Marvel’s whole history. Now we’re going to Edo Period Japan, with a samurai Ghost Rider (okay, technically he’s a ronin, but that’s beside the point). And honestly? That alone is just plain awesome, so I’m sold on the concept. Let’s see what kind of vengeance he can wreak with flaming katanas, I’m down for whatever comic book madness ensues.
Avengers #58
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Javier Garrón
Cover by Javier Garrón
Variant covers by Rob Liefeld and E.M. Gist• THE AVENGERS’ QUEST THROUGH TIME CONTINUES!
• Japan, the Edo Period. They say he walks by night, wielding a blade forged by hellfire. And where he wanders, the penance flows, like fountains of blood. He is the fabled Ghost Ronin, the Samurai of Vengeance. And alongside the Avengers, he will make his final stand against the lightning swords of the devil himself.
7. Welcome Back, Wade
Despite not technically being a mutant himself, Deadpool is still tied closely to the X-series comics, including a major role in 2010’s “Uncanny X-Force” by Rick Remender. And it was awesome. Now Benjamin Percy is bringing him back to the team, as they take on popular “Spider-Man” villain Kraven the Hunter. Plus, it sounds like the Hellfire Gala threw in some new twists, not to mention the ongoing X-Men vs Eternals conflict. In short, there’s a lot of awesomeness to look forward to.
Continued belowX-Force #30
Written by Benjamin Percy
Illustrated by Robert Gill
Cover by Joshua Cassara
Variant cover by Carlos Magno• DEADPOOL JOINS, AND
• KRAVEN’S HUNT BEGINS!
• X-FORCE has taken some lumps, but a new era begins as old-school X-Forcer WADE WILSON makes his grand return! Well, grand for him, necessary for the team, as X-Force needs all the help it can get in the fallout from the Hellfire Gala and the revelations of A.X.E.! Plus: Find out why KRAVEN THE HUNTER is involved in the start of a landmark storyline!
6. Clash of Kings
Donny Cates wrote an epic run on “Venom” that reshaped the character of Eddie Brock and his place in the Marvel universe. Now he’s writing for Thor. In this issue, he brings them together. The two are an unlikely team with little in common (give or take how their stories were more or less shoved together for the tangled mash-up that was “King in Black”), but one of the best parts about comics is seeing how different heroes work together when the chips are down. So sure, I’ll take this team-up, let’s see what Donny has planned.
Thor #27
Written by Donny Cates
Illustrated by Salvador Larroca
Cover by Nic Klein
Variant covers by Patch Zircher and Rahzzah• Donny Cates writes Venom once again, alongside guest artist Salvador Larroca! In this team-up of kings, Thor, King of Asgard, and Eddie Brock, King in Black, must set aside their personal differences to save the one thing they both love: Earth!
5. Fly Me to the Moon, Girl
Devil Dinosaur has gone missing, and Lunella is going on a team-up trip to find him. This issue has her teaming up with the Avengers, and honestly, that’s all I need. But wait, it also involves a trip to Wakanda AND the moon. Also: more dinosaurs. There is nothing about that I don’t like.
Avengers & Moon Girl #1
Written by Mohale Mashigo
Illustrated by Diogenes Neves
Cover by Alitha E. Martinez
Variant covers by Khary Randolph and Jahnoy Lindsay• Even after a team-up with Miles Morales to scout Brooklyn for her missing T-Rex, Moon Girl is still missing Devil Dinosaur. And now she has a wonky D D clone to try and stabilize for fear of explosive repercussions. But the Avengers have found some rogue dinosaur activity and need her to come with them right away to fix it – from Wakanda to the moon!
4. Wolverine’s Mentorship Program
Wolverine, for all his blood-soaked history and willingness to snikt anyone who deserves it, has mentored a lot of young heroines. And while Ms. Marvel has been in the game for a while, there’s always time for a team-up. So we’re getting a little crossover as the two work together, and it looks like Kamala will be working alongside even more heroes in the issues to follow, all of which is good news.
Ms. Marvel & Wolverine #1
Written by Jody Houser
Illustrated by Zé Carlos
Cover by Sara Pichelli
Variant covers by Mahmud Asrar, Peach Momoko, and Humberto Ramos• A DIRE THREAT. A DANGEROUS MYSTERY.
• AND ONLY THE TOUGHEST HEROES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE CAN SAVE THE DAY!
• When a mysterious threat lands in New York City, MS. MARVEL takes matters into her own embiggened hands! But with Krakoan security/tech compromised, you can bet WOLVERINE and the X-MEN won’t be far behind! The best there is at what he does teams up with one of the Marvel Universe’s most lauded heroes in an oversized action-packed adventure for the ages!
• Be here for the start of the saga, and follow through August and September as MOON KNIGHT and VENOM join Kamala Khan for the super hero spectacle of the summer!
3. If You Liked it Then You Should Have Put Ten Rings on it
Have you been reading Gene Luen Yang’s “Shang-Chi” comics? Because you should. They’re good. Really good. And the story isn’t over yet, with a new arc featuring the Ten Rings (yes, he has them now because of the movie, but that’s okay). So we’ve got Shang-Chi and his family fighting against bad guys from across Marvel, all drawn with Marcus To’s excellent style – that means this is one you won’t want to miss.
Continued belowShang-Chi and the Ten Rings #1
Written by Gene Luen Yang
Illustrated by Marcus To
Cover by Dike Ruan
Variant covers by Jim Cheung, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Chris Bachalo, and Leinil Francis yu• A BOLD NEW ERA STARTS HERE!
• Shang-Chi has gained possession of the powerful Ten Rings. But so much concentrated energy has not gone unnoticed. Now, every bounty hunter, assassin and evil syndicate in the Marvel Universe is coming to take the Rings from him! But will the responsibility and the truth of the Rings be too much to bear for the Master of Kung Fu? Find out as the true origin of the Ten Rings starts here from Gene Luen Yang (SHANG-CHI) and Marcus To (EXCALIBUR)!
2. Blast to the Past
We’ve seen the prehistoric Avengers pop up more than a little during Jason Aaron’s run on the main title, but now they’re getting their own comic so we can get to know them more. So at last, we’re getting the full history of them, as well as continuing the story of Thor’s true mother being the Phoenix.
Yeah, that last part is still weird, but hey, it’s comics, let’s see how it plays out.
Avengers: 1,000,000 B.C. #1
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Kev Walker
Cover by Ed McGuinness
Variant covers by Alex Horley, Ryan Stegman, and Skottie Young• THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THOR – REVEALED!
• They are the defenders of the dawn of time. Marvel’s first and mightiest legacy heroes. But their greatest secrets have never been revealed. Until now. Witness the dark events that shatter their ranks. See how their lives come to shape the entire future of the Marvel Universe. And be there for the monumental event that reunites them one last time: the true story of Thor’s birth.
1. Judgment is at Hand
They’ve fought the Avengers. They’ve fought the Inhumans. Now the X-Men are going to fight the Eternals. This event has been building up for a while, and ties together the ongoing stories of three teams, all with Kieron Gillen at the helm. With every X-adjacent comic featuring the “Judgment Day” logo, let’s see if the fate of mutantkind gets reshaped again, or if the Eternals will be able to resist their programming that labels mutants as “excessive deviations.”
A.X.E.: Judgment Day #1 (of 6)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Valerio Schiti
Cover by Mark Brooks
Variant covers by Mark Brooks, Lucas Werneck, Peach Momoko, Patrick Gleason, Ron Lim, and Jack Kirby• IN THE LAND OF THE RIGHTEOUS…
• The X-Men claim they’re the planets’ new gods. The Eternals know that position is already filled. The Avengers are about to realize exactly how many secrets their so-called friends have kept from them. Years of tension lead to a volcanic eruption as two worlds burn. Who has leaked the X-Men’s secrets to their latest foes? Why is Tony Stark abducting an old friend? And who stands in judgment over the whole world? Judgment Day from Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti is the apocalyptic emotional event to define the summer.
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
