October is, as we all know, the spookiest month of the year. Everyone is getting hyped for Halloween, and Marvel is no different, with multiple horror-themed comics and storylines. But beyond that, we’re still getting plenty of new stories and continuations of modern classics. So let’s see what tricks and treats await us this October…
10. Otto’s Return?
“Superior Spider-Man” caused quite a stir, when Doctor Octopus took over Peter’s body and became the new Spider-Man. But it became a well-regarded part of the “Spider-Man” story, including playing a key role in “Spider-Verse.” And while Otto is back in his old body (and personality), Dan Slott is giving us more time with the Superior Spider-man, complete with a team of artists to bring this anniversary issue to life. So if you enjoyed the “Superior” run, you’ll want to catch this issue.
Superior Spider-Man Returns #1
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Humberto Ramos, Mark Bagley, Ryan Stegman
Cover by Ryan Stegman
Variant covers by Ken Lashley, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe CamuncoliSUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN WEB-SLINGS AGAIN!
• The spider-team that redefined the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN returns to celebrate the TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the most monumental and shocking Spidey story in a generation! DAN SLOTT. RYAN STEGMAN. MARK BAGLEY. GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI. HUMBERTO RAMOS. Peter Parker. Doc Ock. Together again for a Spider-Man story SUPERIOR to all others!
9. It’s Dino Time
It was only a matter of time until Ryan “Dinosaur Comics Guy” North brought dinosaurs in to his run on “Fantastic Four,” and I am totally okay with this. It’s a concept that lets his dinosaur knowledge shine through, while also giving us dinosaur versions of Marvel’s best (even if it’s a concept slightly similar to the 1993 live action “Mario” movie), and carries on the excellent “Fantastic Four” run we’ve come to love. And even with the goofy but fun storyline, we’re still promised some emotional catharsis, so I, for one, can’t wait.
Fantastic Four #12
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Iban Coello
Cover by Alex Ross
Variant covers by Frank Miller and Corin Howell• What happens when a parallel world starts out different from our own but, through random chance and development, begins to resemble our Earth more and more closely? And what happens when those two universes begin to merge not just in style, but literally?
• It’s a fascinating scientific question that the Fantastic Four will have to consider as they swap places with their counterparts in this other world and find themselves battling for survival in the universe where everyone is a dinosaur, and not anthropomorphic ones, but literal full-scale dinosaurs with all their super-powers, wearing amazing super-hero costumes!
• Can Sue Storm defeat Brachiosaurus Iron Man? Can the Human Torch take down Lambeosaurus Captain Marvel, her head frill mimicking her human counterpart’s spiked hair? Can Reed Richards ever stop Quetzalcoatlus Black Widow, the deadly assassin of the skies?
• Beyond the dinosaurs and chaos and two universes merging, this issue also features emotional and heartfelt reunions with some missing members of the Fantastic Four family! So: Dinosaurs and catharsis, together at last.
• Plus: Sue Storm’s doctorate is finally revealed!
8. Blacker Widow
The solicitation tries to play it cool, but also spoils the reveal in the first sentence: the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, is about to become Venom. We’ve got a new symbiote and a new host, so how will a longtime hero (and occasional antihero) Black Widow fare with all the power and violence it brings? Whatever the answer, it’s going to be awesome. Torunn Grønbekk has been on a roll, so this is an opportunity for her to take Natasha for a spin with all the spycraft and Venom-driven violence that it entails.
Continued belowVenom #27
Written by Torunn Grønbekk
Illustrated by Julius Ohta
Cover by CAFU
Variant covers by CAFU and Ejikure• THE VENOM OF THE WIDOW!
• After the birth of an all-new symbiote, what familiar face will cross its path and become its first host?! And will that host be able to resist the symbiote’s corrupting and violent influence? Perhaps the bigger question: Will the symbiote be able to survive THEIRS?
7. More Than a Palette Swap
So what happens when Black Widow is off as the new Venom? Well, it looks like the White Widow is stepping up to take her place. Yelena Belova went from near obscurity to growing popularity after the Black Widow movie (plus a welcome appearance in Hawkeye), and with her announced role in the Thunderbolts movie, of course we’re getting more of her in the comics as well. So what new adventures will await Yelena? Let’s find out and enjoy the ride.
The White Widow #1 (of 4)
Written by Sarah Gailey
Illustrated by Alessandro Miracolo
Cover by David Marquez
Variant covers by Adam Hughes, Leirix, and Stanley “Artgerm” Lau• Yelena Belova returns!
• Superspy. Rogue agent. Shadow of the Black Widow. Yelena Belova has been many things, but striking out as a hero in her own right is new to her. Now that she’s finally free to choose her own path, who will she become? Sarah Gailey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eat the Rich) joins forces with Alessandro Miracolo (Obi-Wan, Yoda) for a groundbreaking new chapter in the life of one of Marvel’s most enigmatic antiheroes.
6. Oh Boy…
We’ve been getting bits and pieces of Spider-Boy’s story, ever since he was “re-introduced” in the conclusion of “The End of Spider-Verse,” and now we’re getting a closer look at him, his history, and his role in Spider-Man’s forgotten history. (Maybe we’ll even learn what convinced Peter to take a preteen on as a sidekick, especially considering the lack of luck he’s had with sidekicks in the past.) And yes, this is the second Spider-Man-adjacent comic by Dan Slott to make this list, because we need some great Spidey comics to enjoy rather than… everything going on in the “Amazing” title right now.
Spider-Boy #1
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Paco Medina
Cover by Humberto Ramos
Variant covers by John Tyler Christopher, Skottie Young, Chris Campana, Humberto Ramos, and David Aja• SECRETS OF SPIDER-BOY REVEALED!
• Spinning out of the pages of DAN SLOTT and MARK BAGLEY’s monumental SPIDER-MAN run — here comes the spectacular SPIDER-BOY! After the events of THE END OF THE SPIDER-VERSE, Spider-Boy’s secret history as Spider-Man’s sidekick was nearly forgotten forever. But now those mysteries will be revealed while they embark on exciting new adventures…TOGETHER!
5. New Run, New Look, Still Marvelous
You know who else has a new movie coming out in November? Captain Marvel (and all the other Marvels, of course). So naturally, now’s a good time to ride the Marvel wave with a new run with a new team, including a new look for Carol. There’s a lot of changes coming for Captain Marvel, but it’s always great to see a new series for a beloved character take off, and by all means, this new run sounds like an exciting time. So what new threats and friends alike await? Let’s find out, and see if it builds the hype for The Marvels.
Captain Marvel #1
Written by Alyssa Wong
Illustrated by Jan Bazaldua
Cover by Stephen Segovia
Variant covers by Jon Tyler Christopher, Paco Medina, Jen Bartel, Rickie Yagawa, David Nakayama, and Todd NauckHIGHEST, FURTHEST, FASTEST!
• The Captain gets a permanent glow-up designed by superstar artist Jen Bartel! And that’s not all that’s changed. Brand-new look — brand-new creative team — and a brand-new status quo. Carol Danvers is one of the powerhouses of the Marvel Universe, a woman capable of harnessing the energy of the sun. So if you’re coming for Earth? She’s the first one you take off the board. Someone’s figured just how to do just that. Introducing a new supporting cast and villains both beloved and dangerously fresh, Alyssa Wong and Jan Bazaldua’s exhilarating series kicks off here!
4. Thank You, Marvel, You Know What We Want
I know it’s a bit of a running gag about how much all of us at Multiversity love Jeff the Land Shark, but… it’s Jeff the Land Shark! Just look at him!
Continued belowBut it’s not just because of the memes, or the cuteness of the character design. The Jeff comics are honestly endearing, lighthearted, and just plain fun (but yes, the little land shark is also adorable). It’s a comic that you can just read and smile, made all the better by Gurihiru’s fantastic artwork that blends comic and manga styles into something all its own. So yes, I will absolutely be buying more comics with Jeff the Land Shark, and I recommend everyone else does too.
It’s Jeff: The Jeff-Verse #1
Written by Kelly Thompson
Illustrated by Gurihiru
Cover by Gurihiru
Variant covers by Matteo Lolli and Chrissie ZulloTHE DANGEROUSLY ADORABLE JEFF THE LAND SHARK RETURNS!
• Jeff the Land Shark embarks on another series of madcap adventures with guest spots from some of your favorite heroes! Whether he’s orchestrating a pet shop takeover, or solving a high-stakes mystery like “what’s the best street-food snack” (the answer will SHOCK you, True Believer), Jeff is flipping his fantastic fins all over the Marvel Universe! Stealing hearts and cookies with equal impunity! Collecting issues #13-24 of the hit Infinity Comics series from the Marvel Unlimited app, this one-shot features a brand-new cover and never-before-seen story from beloved creators Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru!
3. Trick or Treat!
Of course we needed a little something to celebrate Halloween here, and what better than a collection of short stories to tingle the spine and spook the soul? We’ve got a great assortment of writers and artists here, giving us stories for a nice array of characters, all with a frightening twist for the season. So if you’re looking for a nice Halloween-themed comic to enjoy when the spooky season is upon us, this will likely be one worth reading.
Crypt of Shadows #1
Written by Al Ewing, Sarah Gailey, Steve Orlando, Cavan Scott, and Declan Shalvey
Illustrated by Paul Azaceta, Alex Lins, Eder Messias, Devmalya Pramanik, and more
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Variant covers by Björn Barends and Paul Azaceta• REOPENING THE CRYPT!
• Once more, as All Hallows’ Eve draws nigh, the dust-covered slab that seals shut the crypt, blocking out the sun and casting it forever in shadow, has creaked open to let the darkness loose to prey on the Marvel Universe! Be they mercenary or mage, guided by law or by rage, our heroes will face their terror, and they’d best pray their spines are sturdy enough for the job…or the crypt they find may well be their own!
2. The Ultimate Universe Returns
Yes, while the Ultimate universe was destroyed, nothing stays dead in comics. In this case, we’ve got an entire universe coming back, following the events of “Ultimate Invasion.” The Ultimate Marvel universe was a place where characters could receive a modern update and retelling, with new takes to explore and stakes that (we were told) wouldn’t be retconned away instantly. And while it had a lot of ups and downs, it still had some huge impacts on Marvel as a whole, including the introduction of Miles Morales as well as The Maker. So now that it’s coming back, what can we expect? Well, this is Jonathan Hickman we’re talking about, so the only thing we can be sure of is that we won’t see it coming.
Ultimate Universe #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Stefano Caselli
Cover by Bryan Hitch
Variant covers by Leinil Francis Yu, Ben Harvey, and Stefano Caselli• THE SPOILS OF VICTORY!
• After the worlds-shaking conclusion of ULTIMATE INVASION, a new team of heroes bands together to save the future! From mastermind Jonathan Hickman and superstar artist Stefano Caselli, don’t miss out on this foundational issue for the new line of Ultimate Comics!
1. Meet Your Makers
Speaking of Jonathan Hickman, he’s also writing the top comic on this list. We’ve been given some hints about the upcoming “G.O.D.S.” series, focusing on powers and beings far beyond our mortal ken that we can only begin to comprehend their entirety. There are plenty of gods in Marvel, whether we’re talking about mythological beings or universe-shaping divinity, but what kind of beings are the G.O.D.S.? It will be exciting to find out, and we’ll have to see how this reshapes everything we know about the Marvel mythology.
Continued belowG.O.D.S. #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Valerio Schiti
Cover by Mateus Manhanini
Variant covers by Skottie Young, Peach Momoko, Mahmud Asrar, and EjikureJONATHAN HICKMAN RE-INVENTS THE COSMOLOGY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!
• WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE-POWERS-THAT-BE MEET THE-NATURAL-ORDER-OF-THINGS?
• The infinite détente between THE-NATURAL-ORDER-OF-THINGS and THE-POWERS-THAT-BE nears an end. Old acquaintances are reunited during a Babylon Event. The Lion of Wolves throws the worst parties. Don’t look under the table. There’s a John Wilkes Booth penny on the ground.
• This ENORMOUS EXTRA-SIZED first issue features DOCTOR STRANGE, who, while not boring at all, is easily the most boring person in the book.
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
