When I first started writing these columns, I knew that one day we’d have a month where every issue on the list was a #1. Well, we’re not there yet, but we’ve got a lot of #1 issues and one-shots filling this list, and everything that isn’t a first issue still has a 1 in its digits, so I’m calling it close enough for now. So without further ado, let’s see what new series, mini-series, and ongoing series make the top picks from Marvel this August:
10. Pet Avengers, Assemble!
Marvel has some of the best animal heroes, and this is not up for debate. Between Lockjaw, Lucky, and Bats, there are some very good dogs, everyone loves Throg (AKA Frog Thor), and of course, Chewie was the runaway star of Captain Marvel. So what happens when some of the best pets team up to rescue their companions? Sheer awesomeness.
There’s only one thing that this solicitation is missing to keep it from topping the list: Jeff the Land Shark. But there are four issues of the best pets in comics to follow, so there’s still time for the goodest of sharks.
Marvel Unleashed #1 (of 4)
Written by Kyle Starks
Illustrated by Jesús Hervás
Cover by David Baldeón
Variant covers by Adam Kubert, Bernard Chang, Chrissie Zullo, and Ron LimKRAVEN UNLEASHES THE BEASTS!
• When Kraven abducts Lockjaw at the same time a local scientist mixed up with A.I.M. goes missing, it’s up to Throg the Frog of Thunder, Redwing the Falcon, Chewie the Cat Flerken, Lucky the Pizza Dog, Bats the Ghost Dog and their scrappy new ally D-Dog to save the day. But there’s more to this case than meets the eye, and something infernal lurks in the shadows. Can feathers, fangs and claws stand against one of the deadliest foes in the Marvel Universe?
9 Moon Knight’s Gonna Fight
This month, we’re getting multiple Annual issues for multiple heroes, pitting them all in fights against each other. So which one gets picked for this list? None other than Jed MacKay’s “Moon Knight,” in which the Fist of Khonshu goes up against Taegukgi of the Tiger Division. If you’ve been reading either (and you should) then youll want to see how this throwdown goes down.
Moon Knight Annual #1
Written by Jed MacKay
Illustrated by Creees Lee
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Variant covers TBAMOON KNIGHT VS. TAEGUKGI!
The forces of chaos compel Earth’s heroes to go head-to-head with each other! When the champion of a god battles a godlike champion, who will win? The Fist of Khonshu faces off against Tiger Division’s fearless leader: It’s MOON KNIGHT vs. TAEGUKGI in a power-packed showdown!
8. Spider-Boy, Spider-Boy, Does Whatever a Spider… Coy?
The latest Spider-Verse-centric storyline ended with the reveal of a new spider-themed hero: Spider-Boy. But while this was a new introduction to us, the canonical explanation is that he existed before and was erased not only from memory, but from continuity. So this new character takes the stage already with memories of his own exploits in the Marvel universe, and we get to see where he comes from and how everything fits in. Let’s see how this Spider-Boy does (and hope it goes a whole lot better than the last time Spider-Man got a sidekick).
Spider-Man #11
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Luciano Vecchio
Cover by Mark Bagley
Variant covers by Luciano Vecchio and TBA artists• (RE)INTRODUCING…SPIDER-BOY!
• The battle to save the Spider-Verse may be over, but spinning out of the restored Web of Life and Destiny returns the spectacular SPIDER-BOY, Peter Parker’s stupendous sidekick! Wait, that can’t be right – who IS this Spider-Boy, and what is his connection to the Amazing Spider-Man?!
7. A Bad Awakening
The “Fantastic Four” is many things, but a horror comic? It certainly can be! Ryan North has proven he can do horror in “Darkhold: Iron Man,” and now he’s bringing that back with what looks to be the creepiest “Fantastic Four” story in a long time, set on a dead ship trapped in space. What happened here, what are the Fantastic Four doing, and what’s the story behind it all? It’ll be exciting to find out.
Continued belowFantastic Four #10
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Leandro Fernández
Cover by Alex Ross
Variant covers by Mahmud Asrar, Taurin Clarke, and Giuseppe CamuncoliThousands of years ago, a desperate alien race built a colossal sleeper ship – an ark – to escape their dying sun, setting a course toward a new and distant world. A single volunteer was to be awakened from stasis every hundred years to serve as their protector and caretaker, before finally training the next one.
• But something has gone horribly wrong. The ship’s engines have failed, and the ark is trapped in a dark void – infinite, silent and deadly – where even the light of stars can’t enter.
• The newest caretaker awakens to an empty ship. His predecessor’s body lies decaying against a bulkhead, beneath monstrous images of impossible beings drawn in blood. And the horrifying vision of an alien on fire hovers outside the ship, as the bang of rocky fists on the hull echoes throughout darkened hallways…
• PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman – WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.?
6. A Less Heroic X
Things are about to go incredibly wrong for the X-Men after the next Hellfire Gala and the “Fall of X.” And while we don’t know what, or how, the solicitations now let us know about some of the fallout. Madelyne Pryor is making her own team of X-Men, including some of the bloodiest and least moral mutants to ever appear. And also a few more heroic ones for good measure. So let’s see what this new team can do, and who can survive the experience.
Dark X-Men #1 (of 5)
Written by Steve Foxe
Illustrated by Jonas Scharf
Cover by Stephen Segovia
Variant covers by Alex Ross and Adam HughesWELCOME TO THE DARK X-MEN…
• HOPE THE WORLD SURVIVES THE EXPERIENCE!
• Following the explosive events of the Hellfire Gala, MADELYNE PRYOR realizes the world needs the X-Men now more than ever. HAVOK and GAMBIT have served on the team before…but never one that looks like this! And how does GIMMICK, breakout star of MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE, fall under the Goblin Queen’s sway? Find out in the most horrific installment of the X-Men saga yet!
5. Take Flight
Alpha Flight is back, but also following the “Fall of X,” which makes things tough for its mutant members. In fact, it looks like said mutants are now the top target for Alpha Flight, so we get a good old fashioned broken team story where friend fights friend. What split Canada’s top team in two? And what will happen when they clash? We’ll find out as this mini-series begins.
Alpha Flight #1 (of 5)
Written by Ed Brisson
Illustrated by Scott Godlewski
Cover by Leonard Kirk
Variant covers by Dan Jurgens, Javier Garrón, Ron Lim, and Arthur Adams• SAVING CANADA…FROM THE MUTANT MENACE?!
• GUARDIAN, PUCK, SNOWBIRD and SHAMAN return, as a terrestrial ALPHA FLIGHT bursts onto the scene! But what schism will pit these heroes against their former teammates AURORA, NORTHSTAR and NEMESIS, as well as Aurora’s beau, FANG? The FALL OF X has changed the game, and will Alpha Flight soar to new heights…or be crushed under the weight of an impossible mission?
4. The Circle Breaks
“Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty” has been a fantastic story that delves into Captain America both as a hero, a symbol, and a man out of time. The “Cold War” crossover with “Symbol of Truth” has been packed full of action, but it’s time to end it here with the end of the Outer Circle. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing have made a memorable storyline that lets both Captains America shine, and the ending will undoubtedly be just as exciting.
Continued belowCaptain America Finale #1
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Illustrated by Carmen Carnero
Cover by Carmen Carnero
Variant covers by Greg Land• CAP’S FINAL STAND!
• Captain America takes his final stand against the Outer Circle! Using information gathered from friends on the inside, Steve Rogers sets his sights on releasing the world from the Outer Circle’s influence and ending the Century Game for good. The explosive conclusion to the groundbreaking story of SENTINEL OF LIBERTY is here – and you won’t want to miss it!
3. Can a God Die?
Al Ewing reshaped the way we see Hulk in “Immortal Hulk,” creating a dark, creepy, but incredibly gripping comic. Now he’s coming for Thor. After all, the God of Thunder has outlived most of human history. He’s seen eras come and go. He’s even died more than once and come back. So what is life to a practically immortal being? And what does Al Ewing have planned as he explores this character, his life, and what he sacrifices for those around him? Whatever the answers may be, this will undoubtedly be a run worth reading.
Immortal Thor #1
Written by Al Ewing
Illustrated by Martín Cóccolo
Cover by George Pérez
Variant covers by george Pérex, Stonehouse, Francis Manapul, Peach Momoko, and Bryan HitchAL EWING, MARTÍN CÓCCOLO & ALEX ROSS GIVE THE GOD OF THUNDER THE “IMMORTAL” TREATMENT!
• In Norse myths, they called him Thunderer. Vuer has he been called, and Hloriddi. The Gods know him as Asgard’s King, keeper of Mjolnir, hero of the tales.
• When injustice grips the Earth and ancient powers bring down the sky, he fights for those who cannot – and when the tale is done, we will know what that cost him.
• This is the story of THE IMMORTAL THOR.
• PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman – WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.?
2. The Dare and Deed are Done
Chip Zdarsky’s run on “Daredevil” (both pre- and post-“Devil’s Reign”) have been nothing short of outstanding. But all good things must come to an end, and judging by this solicitation, this is the end for his run. And that’s actually a good thing, because it means the story will have a proper ending that concludes everything, whether it’s better or worse for Matt Murdock and those around him. A great story deserves a great ending, and in August, we’ll get to see what it brings.
Daredevil #14
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Illustrated by Marco Checchetto
Cover by Marco Checchetto
Variant covers by Leinil Francis Yu, Chip Zdarsky, Windowshades, and Dave Wachter• THE ENDD!
• But of what? A life? A love? A marriage? Matt Murdock’s time as Daredevil?
• Or the latest and greatest run in one of Marvel’s most celebrated sagas?
• …All of the above?
1. A+X
The fallout from the Hellfire Gala and “Fall of X” continues with the return of a team that’s equal parts Avengers and X-Men! Things are getting worse for mutantkind, especially in the PR department, so the Unity Squad returns to bring mutant and non-mutant heroes together on an Avengers team. Well, the only non-mutants on the team are Captain America and technically Deadpool (as his own honorary mutant status is iffy at best), but it also includes returning mutant Avengers and some new members of the roster. Gerry Duggan’s run on “X-Men” has been a blast, and now he returns to the “Uncanny Avengers,” so fans of any of the above won’t want to miss this.
Uncanny Avengers #1 (of 5)
Written by Gerry Duggan
Illustrated by Javier Garrón
Cover by Javier Garrón
Variant covers by Alex Ross, Elena Casagrande, George Pérez, Greg Land, and Jen BartelThe FALL OF X calls for the return of the Avengers’ Unity Squad!
• Innocent people and world leaders are dead after simultaneous attacks on the U.S. and Krakoan governments, and that means one thing: It’s time for a new squad of Avengers. False-flag attacks meant to whip up anti-mutant hysteria are unfolding, and hey, some of Steve Rogers’ best friends are mutants. Your new unity squad is: Captain America, Rogue, Deadpool, Quicksilver, Psylocke and Monet. They must solve the mystery of who the new, murderous Captain Krakoa is – and stop his team of killers from igniting the fires of a new world war.
• PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman – WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.?
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
