Wow, Marvel, just when I think you’ve finally had enough #1 issues, you let this happen. “Infinity Wars” kicks off a series of amalgamation character comics, Spider-geddon has all is spinoffs, we get plenty of “What If” comics, and a few regular new series just for kicks.
So let’s look at what Halloween goodies the house of ideas has in store for us this October…
10. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Nadia is one of those characters who’s starting to grow on me, but just needs a little more before I can really like her as a character. The last Wasp series was a good start, but I think this series will give it the push it needs. Especially with Gurihiru on the art, providing an anime-esque but endearing quality to the illustrations.
The Unstoppable Wasp 1
Written by Jeremy Whitley
Illustrated by Gurihiru
Cover by Gurihiru
Variant Covers by Ben Caldwell, yasmine Putri, and Skottie Young• BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
• Nadia Van Dyne, A.K.A. the UNSTOPPABLE WASP, and her team of girl scientists are back! With the backing of the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, there’s no problem the Agents of G.I.R.L. can’t solve!
• But they’re not the only acronym-toting science organization out there, and when A.I.M. strikes, Nadia and the ladies of Genius In action Research Labs answer the call.
• But who is A.I.M.’s new super-powered lieutenant, and how do they know Nadia? And what does A.I.M.’s plan have to do with Nadia’s father, Hank Pym?
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
9. Battle of the Box Offices
Look, there are a lot of series where Deadpool fights another Marvel character. Punisher, Gambit, Old Man Logan, Hawkeye, you name it! But you know what? They’re fun. It’s non-stop action with the occasional actual bit of character work. And you can’t go wrong with more Black Panther, so why not?
Black Panther vs Deadpool #1
Written by Daniel Kibblesmith
Illustrated by Ricardo López Ortiz
Cover by Ryan Benjamin
Variant Covers by Cully Hammer and Adi Granov• VIBRANIUM BULLETS AND REGROWING LIMBS – EVERYTHING YOU WANT FROM A COMIC IS HERE!
• Deadpool’s teamed up with, taken down or taken a beating from just about every hero in the Marvel Universe. And no way is the Black Panther going to miss out on his turn. From Late Show writer Daniel Kibblesmith comes a hilarious romp through Wakanda as Deadpool goes on the hunt for the world’s most valuable resource: Vibranium! When a beloved figure of the Marvel Universe becomes collateral damage in a fight between Deadpool and the Wrecker, the heroic Deadpool sets out to obtain a fragment of Vibranium that could save the victim’s life. But his unconventional methods — ranging from poaching to dismemberment — don’t sit well with the King of Wakanda, and Deadpool’s about to learn that you don’t bring a sword to a claw fight!
• 32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
8. Hexcuse Me?
Can I put a title on this list just for the pun in the title alone? I can’t? Okay, well it’s a good thing I find this interesting anyways. So in the wake of “Infinity Wars,” it appears reality will be warping in such a way that a few characters get merged, including X-23 and Scarlet Witch. So we’re getting a combination of two characters with their own luggage and backstories, blending Wanda’s magic with Laura’s claws and extreme violence.
More importantly: does this mean we’ll get to see Honey Badger with super speed? If so, this comic deserves a higher spot on the list.
Continued belowInfinity Wars: Weapon Hex #1
Written by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker
Illustrated by Gerardo Sandoval
Cover by Humberto Ramos
Variant Covers by Humberto Ramos and Adam Kubert• In a dark weapons program breeding subjects specifically for magic use, the 23rd attempt, now called Wanda, was finally able to connect to violent magics – making her one of the deadliest people on the planet!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
7.Spider-Verse 2: Arachnid Boogaloo
“Spider-Verse” was an entertaining and massive crossover, uniting literally every Spider-Man ever – newspaper comics, movies, alternate universes, and more. So now they’re doing it again with Spider-geddon… which is cool, I guess. I mean, we’ve already had the big epic team-up, but sure, another one is fine. I guess we’ve got the Tom Holland Spider-Man to include now, and…
Is that a Spider-Man tsum-tsum on the cover?
Okay, let’s see where they go with this.
Spider-Geddon #1
Written by Christos Gage with Dan Slott
Illustrated by Jorge Molina
Cover by Jorge Moline
Variant Covers by Julian Totino Tedesco, In-Hyuk Lee, and BA• REVENGE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE!
• Back in 2014, SPIDER-VERSE brought every Spider-Man ever together. This event spinning out of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 has Christos Gage and Dan Slott teaming up to destroy them all. The Inheritors have somehow gotten out of their radioactive prison planet and made their way to the Marvel Universe. It’s going to take a whole Spider-Army to keep them from TAKING IT ALL! Starring Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, Spider-Gwen, Miles Morales, Spider-Woman, the Spider-Man from the anticipated video game and, well, every Spider-Man and Spider-Woman ever, including some brand-new ones! With Jorge Molina on art, the END OF ALL SPIDERS never looked so good!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
6. But Can She Beat Death?
Every month. Every single freaking month this comic gives me something worthwhile to justify putting it on the list. This time, however, it’s a trope comics are very well known for: the death of a main character.
Theoretically. Or so they claim. Is anyone buying it? No? Didn’t think so. Not even the solicit expects us to believe it, and that kind of self-awareness is one of the reasons why I love this series.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #37
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Derek Charm
Cover by Erica Henderson• It’s the latest issue of the all-ages smash hit, THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL! She’s defeated Galactus! She’s defeated Doctor Doom! Who KNOWS what fun adventures she’ll get up to THIS month!
• Well, we do. And you may want to brace yourselves for this, because this issue begins an all-new story arc called…”THE DEATH OF SQUIRREL GIRL”!
• Has the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl been BEATEN? Is this TRULY the end of Doreen Green? We haven’t canceled the comic so it doesn’t seem likely, but can you REALLY be sure? What if this issue installment actually IS the one Squirrel Girl dies in and you miss out because you didn’t buy it?
• So I guess what we’re saying here is everyone should definitely buy this comic.
• PLUS: This issue also has Wolverine in it for LITERALLY several pages!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
5. Trick or Treat!
Look, it’s October, we all want something a little spooky for Halloween. So a Halloween special is both welcome and appropriate. Several shorts based around beloved characters? Sure, that’ll be fun. If nothing else, it’ll be a good bit of Halloween entertainment to read between the trick-or-treaters. Be sure to check out any Halloween events at your local comic book store while you’re picking it up!
Avengers Halloween Special #1
Written by Gerry Duggan, The Soska Sisters, Jay Baruchel, Robbie Thompson, and Rob Fee
Illustrated by Juanan Ramirex, Jonas Scharf, Eoin Marron, and Bob Quinn
Cover by Geoff Shaw
Variant Cover by Gerardo Zaffino• TRICK OR TREAT, TRUE BELIEVERS!
• PLUS! Spooky stories starring the X-Men & Doctor Doom!
• Epic thrills and ghastly horror awaits in these all-new twisted tales! Spanning the breadth of the Marvel Universe, through the macabre lens of a murderer’s row of writers and artists assembled here, see your favorite heroes and villains as you’ve never seen them before!
• Also including the Marvel Comics writing debut of Jay Baruchel (This is the End; Goon)!
• 40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
4. Supaidaman, Sugoi!
There’s such a wide variety of Spider-Men being brought in to Spider-geddon, it’s nice to be able to focus on one or two of them. Particularly the tokusatsu Spider-Man, AKA Supaidaman. I’ll admit it, his presence is the only reason this comic ranks so highly on the list, but I’m a sucker for giant robots and cheesy Japanese live-action superheroes. You are too, don’t deny it.
Continued belowVault of Spiders #1
Written by Cullen Bunn, Jed Mackay, and more
Illustrated by Javier Pulido, Sheldon Vella, and more
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
Variant Cover by Marcos Martin• A SPIDER-GEDDON TIE IN!
• Only a Spider-Army can stop the end of the Multiverse!
• Meet Web-Slinger, the Spider-Man from the Wild West, in an unforgettable story by CULLEN BUNN (X-MEN BLUE) and JAVIER PULIDO (SHE-HULK).
• He is the Emissary from Hell, he is SUPAIDAMAN! The Spider-Man from the live-action SPIDER-MAN show that aired in Japan in the 1970s is back in comics form in an insane story by JED MACKAY (EDGE OF SPIDER-GEDDON) and SHELDON VELLA (DEADPOOL, SPIDER-VERSE).
• And that’s just a glimpse into the VAULT OF SPIDERS!
• 40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
3. Gonna Get a Little Weird, Gonna Get a Little Wild
Have I ever mentioned how much I like it when Jim Zub writes a high fantasy story? From “Pathfinder” to “Dungeons & Dragons,” he brings a lot of joy, energy, and epicness to these kinds of stories. So having him take the Champions into such a world, well, this arc aligns nicely with my interests. Yes please, give me that sword and sorcery, and if the Champions just happen to meet characters similar to Minsc or Valeros, well, no one will complain about that.
Champions #25
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Sean Izaakse and Max Dunbar
Cover by Sean Izaakse
Variant Cover by Keunwoo Lee• OVERSIZED 25TH ISSUE!
• Celebrate 25 issues of Champions with the start of a brand-new story and a perfect jumping-on point! Swords and sorcery beckon as our heroes travel to Weirdworld, a place where dreams can come true, but nightmares are never far away! A quest begins and sacrifices will be made…
• 40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
2. Smash it With a Hammer!
Yes, another “Infinity Wars” tie-in makes the list. Iron Man and Thor combine into Iron Hammer, giving us sleek Asgardian designs on an Iron Man suit and an awesome glowing hammer. What more can we ask for? Maybe an amalgamation of some of their villains? Yes, that will work too.
Infinity Wars: Iron Hammer #2
Written by Al Ewing
Illustrated by Ramon Rosanas
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli• THE RAGNARMOROK WARS!
• Stark Odinson may have forged his own astonishing armor and become Iron Hammer…but is even that enough when Madame Hela, masked queen of Hel, comes for him?
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
1. Hail to the Queen
Everyone loved Shuri in the “Black Panther” movie, right? Yes, there are jokes about her being “the best Disney princess,” but seriously, she was a well-written and amusing character that fans want more of. Well, let it never be said that Marvel doesn’t deliver, because we’re getting just that.
Will this Shuri be more like her movie counterpart than the comic version? No doubt. Is that a bad thing? No, no it’s not. The comic universe often adjusts itself to match the movies, and if it gives us more Shuri, that’s just fine.
Shuri #1
Written by Nnedi Okorafor
Illustrated by Leonardo Romero
Cover by Sam Spra
Variant Covers by Jamal Campbell, Travis Charest, John Tyler Christopher, Terry Dodson, and Skottie Young• FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE BLACK PANTHER!
• The world fell in love with her in the movie. Now, the Black Panther’s techno-genius sister launches her own adventures — written by best-selling Afrofuturist author Nnedi Okorafor and drawn by Eisner-nominated artist Leonardo Romero!
• The Black Panther has disappeared, lost on a mission in space. And in his absence, everyone’s looking at the next in line for the throne. But Shuri is happiest in a lab, surrounded by gadgets of her own creation. She’d rather be testing gauntlets than throwing them. But a nation without a leader is a vulnerable one — and Shuri may have to choose between Wakanda’s welfare and her own.
• 32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
