Welcome to September! I don’t have anything witty to say leading in to it, but I do have a nice list of comics worth checking out, including new events and mini-series that will shake up what we know about beloved characters. So let’s not waste any more time and check out what awaits from Marvel.
10. The Web Closes
There’s a lot to be said about Nick Spencer’s run on “Amazing Spider-Man,” most of which has been said in our reviews, Wrapping Wednesday mini reviews, “Saturday Morning Panels” snark, and general online rantings. But it’s certainly been an eventful run, and it all comes to an end here. We’re getting an extra large issue (with plenty of variant covers to choose from) that brings it all together. So let’s see where this run of “Amazing Spider-Man” goes and what the future will hold for the cast.
Amazing Spider-Man #74
Written by Nick Spencer
Illustrated by Patrick Gleason, Mark Bagley, and Marcelo Ferreira
Cover by Patrick Gleason
Variant covers by Patrick Gleason, Mark Bagley, Marcelo Ferreira, Sara Pichelli, Federico Vicentini, Peach Momoko, Marco Checchetto, Leinil Francis yu, Ron Frenz, Alex Maleev, Carlos Gómez, and Michael Downling• It’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #875, and the whole ASM team is coming together to bring you a massive issue that is the culmination of three years of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN!
• It’s all lead to this… “Hunted,” “Sins Rising,” “Last Remains,” “King’s Ransom,” “Chameleon Conspiracy,” “Sinister War”…and so much more all led to this climax and conclusion to Nick Spencer’s landmark run on the best comic book in the world.
• What will happen with Peter and MJ, Mysterio, J. Jonah Jameson, Norman Osborn, Aunt May and Kindred?! FIND OUT HERE!
9. Knowledge is (Forbidden, Ancient, Evil) Power
The Darkhold has gotten a few cameos recently, first in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and again in WandaVision, so clearly Marvel has plans for it. That means it’s time for it to play a larger role in the comics, with a new Darkhold-themed story. Magical heroes gather, elder gods rise, and it’s all about to get a little Lovecraftian (minus Lovecraft’s racism, of course). Whatever Steve Orlando has planned, it’s gonna be fun.
The Darkhold Alpha #1
Written by Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Cian Tormey
Cover by Greg Smallwood
Variant covers by Superlog, Greg Smallwood, Cian Tormey, and Juann Cabal• ENTER THE PAGES OF THE DARKHOLD — AND LOSE YOUR MIND IN MIGHTY MARVEL FASHION!
• Critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando joins forces with extraordinary artist Cian Tormey for a story that will delight and terrify! For hundreds of years, scholars and heroes alike have searched for the complete text of the Darkhold — a.k.a. the Book of the Damned, written by the elder god Chthon. Now one of the greatest sorcerers in the Multiverse has found it — and Chthon has found him. To save them all, the Scarlet Witch must gather the world’s greatest heroes…and unleash their inner darkness. Witness the Marvel Universe’s descent into chaos!
8. Not a Hero Reborn
When “Way of X” started, who knew it was going to lead to the return of Onslaught? Yes, not too long after the end of “Heroes Reborn,” we get the return of the being responsible for the original “Heroes Reborn” series, and the kind-of psychic child of Professor X and Magneto. So this is a high-danger foe showing up on Krakoa, and a horrifying party name that seems to relate to Krakoa’s “crucible” ceremony. But more importantly: it’s Nightcrawler-centric, and he’s a longtime favorite for many (myself included).
And yet, Onslaught is only the second deadliest threat Krakoa will be facing this month. More on that in a bit…
Continued belowX-Men: The Onslaught Revelation #1
Written by Si Spurrier
Illustrated by Bob Quinn
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
Variant cover by Federico Vicentini• YOU HAVE STRAYED FROM THE WAY OF X. THE ONSLAUGHT IS UPON YOU!
• The X-Men’s greatest foe, mutantkind’s primal evil, slithers in the minds of its most senior leaders…
• The kids whisper of the CRUCI-BALL: a party to end all parties. A party to end everything.
• The seals are broken, the trumpets have sounded; only a small band of eccentric mutants can hope to break the fall…
• Can Nightcrawler light the spark that will drive out the shadows… or will Krakoa slip into the abyss…?
7. Less Stabbing, More Shocking
Meanwhile, the X-comics have been expanding past Krakoa and all the way up to space. There was quite a big reveal during the Hellfire Gala, quite literally changing the X-Men’s place in the Marvel universe. Now we get to see how that plays out in “S.W.O.R.D.,” with Storm taking a well-deserved place as our solar system’s representative to the galaxy at large. Things are getting grander and crazier for the X-Men and mutantkind as a whole, and this issue will show just how much bigger things have gotten. I can’t wait to see what Al Ewing has planned.
S.W.O.R.D. #8
Written by Al Ewing
Illustrated by Guiu Vilanova
Cover by Stefano Caselli
Variant covers by Russell Dauterman• LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
• By the time you’re reading this, you know. You know who sits in the central seat of Arakko. You know who speaks for Sol. Storm rules. But when you have to prove to your people who you are, every single day without fail…What becomes of who you were?
6. “I am… inevitable.”
Kieron Gillen is one of those writers whose work I will always read and recommend, and so far, “Eternals” has not been an exception. While Thanos’ appearance in the comic was a welcome surprise, now Kieron gets an issue focusing on Thanos and his rise. So we get a top-tier writer adding to the story of one of Marvel’s most iconic villains – there’s no reason why this comic wouldn’t make the list.
Eternals: Thanos Rises #1
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Dustin Weaver
Cover by Esad Ribić
Variant covers by Ron Lim, Dustin Weaver, Iban Coello, and Todd Nauck• Eternals are created, not born. They have families, but their families make no new children.
• It’s simply not what Eternals do.
• Some of them thought they could find a way to change that and believed it would be for the best.
• They were terribly, terribly wrong.
5. Happy Anniversary, Miles!
Has it really been ten years? It feels like only yesterday that the media was having a frenzy over Peter Parker getting killed off and replaced, and utterly ignoring the fact that it was the Ultimate universe Spider-Man that was dying. Well, in the years since then, Miles has become a central part of the Marvel universe and the Spider-Man mythos, so this anniversary issue is well-deserved. We’ve got a new suit, new stories, and a plethora of amazing writers and artists coming together to help celebrate. This will be an issue any Miles fan will want to get.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30
Written by Saladin Ahmed, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Kemp Powers, and more
Illustrated by Carmen Carnero, Sara Pichelli, and more
Cover by Sara Pichelli
Variant covers by Chase Conley, Sara Pichelli, and Javier Garron• HAPPY 10th ANNIVERSARY, MILES MORALES! This is it, ten years as Spider-Man and his future has never looked brighter. A who’s who of Miles Morales Spider-Creators has been webbed together to make this the best Anniversary Special of all time!
• MMSM TEAM-SUPREME Saladin Ahmed and Carmen Carnero show off Miles’ new suit (designed by Chase Conley) and kick off his eleventh year (AND BIGGEST ONE YET)!
• And the creative minds behind the Miles movies PHIL LORD, CHRISTOPHER MILLER and two-time Oscar nominee KEMP POWERS celebrate Miles’ birthday in style with Miles Co-Creator SARA PICHELLI!
• And that’s not even all the candles we’re putting on Miles’ cake! Don’t miss this Anniversary Special!
4. Physician, Heal Thyself. Oh, Too Late…
Doctor Strange is dead. Or at least, he will be. What does that mean for the Marvel universe, and how did he die? “Death of Doctor Strange” will explore that as the mystery unfolds. Now, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all expecting him to come back sooner or later. Maybe it’ll be at the end of this mini-series, or maybe it will be a few years down the line. But rather than worrying about the inevitable return to the status quo, let’s enjoy the ride and see where this experiment in shaking up the mystical side of Marvel goes.
Continued belowDeath Of Doctor Strange #1
Written by Jed Mackay
Illustrated by Lee Garbett
Cover by Kaare Andrews
Variant covers by Peach Momoko, Stephanie Hans, Mike Del Mundo, Gene Colan, Skottie Young, and Natacha Bustos• DEATH COMES FOR THE SORCERER SUPREME!
• Doctor Stephen Strange is the world’s greatest neurosurgeon and Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. He defends our planet from the supernatural and interdimensional threats no other hero is equipped to handle. But what would happen if he unexpectedly died? Who would protect Earth and keep the mystical evils at bay? And most importantly…who killed Stephen Strange?! The final chapter in the life of Doctor Strange starts here by Jed MacKay (Moon Knight, Black Cat) and Lee Garbett (Captain Marvel)!
3. Retcon Time?
When Kamala Khan was introduced to the comics, it was in the middle of a huge shakeup for the Inhumans status quo, so of course she was introduced as a new Inhuman. Now that she’s coming to Disney+, and the live action Inhumans are… an issue I’d rather not relive, that might be changing. “Beyond The Limit” promises to be an exciting Ms. Marvel adventure that may shake up what we know about her, but before anything else: we get a Bollywood issue. I don’t know how a musical will work in comic book form, but I can’t wait to find out.
Ms. Marvel: Beyond The Limit #1
Written by Samira Ahmed
Illustrated by Andrés Genolet
Cover by Mashal Ahmed
Variant covers by Peach Momoko, Terry Dodston, Natacha Bustos, and Skottie Young• MS. MARVEL RETURNS IN A NEW STORY FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR SAMIRA AHMED!
• While on a break visiting her cousin in Chicago, Kamala Khan stumbles upon a robbery at a university physics lab… and maybe sets off an explosion of interdimensional proportions in the process. Still, nothing she can’t handle. Or so she thinks, until she gets home and finds her whole world turned upside down… and into a Bollywood set?! Why is everyone she knows singing, and how can she make it stop?
2. Not the 90’s Again!
Yep, it’s time for a new event! Tom Taylor kicks off “Dark Ages” (not to be mistaken for the dark age of comics) with a new threat that none of the super-teams will be able to handle. Darkness falls, and things are about to get really interesting. We’ve been seeing some promotional images, including a massive, Celestial-like threat, so it’s safe to say that this is going to be big, and things are going to get dark. Really dark.
Which may not be your cup of tea, but for those who enjoy it, you’ll want to keep an eye out for this.
Dark Ages #1
Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Iban Coello
Cover by Iban Coello
Variant covers by Francis Manapul, Ryan Stegman, Patrick Gleason, and Skottie Young• This is what the Watcher has been watching for!
• A danger older than the Earth threatens everything. For once, the heroes who have saved the planet so many times are almost powerless in the face of it.
• X-Men and Avengers assemble. Spider-People and Fantastic Four come together. Heroes for Hire fight alongside Champions.
• None of it will be enough.
• The lights are about to go out.
• The world outside our window…is about to end.
• An all-new saga of the Marvel Universe as you’ve never seen it before from Tom Taylor and Iban Coello!
1. Let It Burn
Mystique just wants her wife back. We’ve known for a while now that Professor X and Magneto had no intention of ever reviving Destiny, but they still told Mystique that they would… eventually. Well, after dragging her around for several issues, time is up, and Mystique has had enough. Is this where Krakoa ends? It certainly won’t end well for everyone, but considering what we’ve seen of how Mystique has been used and the promise of reviving Destiny was never intended to be kept… it might not be the worst thing to let it burn.
Continued belowThis is something Jonathan Hickman has had planned from the get-go, and it all begins in September, so let’s see how it plays out.
Inferno #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Valerio Schiti
Cover by Jerome Opeña
Variant covers by Artgerm, Carmen Carnero, Mark Brooks, Jeff Dekal, Oskar Vega, Peach Momoko, R.B. Silva, and Greg Capullo• THE CULMINATION OF JONATHAN HICKMAN’S X-MEN BEGINS HERE!
• “There will be an island—not the first, but the last…” Promises were made and broken. The rulers of Krakoa have been playing a dangerous game with a dangerous woman, and they are about to see how badly that can burn them. Mastermind of the X-Men JONATHAN HICKMAN brings his plans to a head, joined by an incredible lineup of artists beginning with VALERIO SCHITI… as one woman follows through on her promise to burn the nation of Krakoa to the ground.
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
