Soliciting Multiversity: Marvel’s August 2012

We’ve looked at DC, we’ve looked at Dark Horse, and now its time to take a look at the other member of the Big Two: Marvel Comics!

For the full solicits from Marvel, point your browser this way. For our best of and commentary, take a look below.

AvX Tie-In Count: 9

It gets smaller and smaller every month, but this month only features 9 tie-ins, and those happen to be a collection of two main books, an issue of “Vs”, and tie-ins to “Avengers”, “New Avengers”, “Uncanny X-Men” and “Wolverine and the X-Men” — i.e., all the titles you would expect would be tied into this event.

I’ve been avoiding actually reading the solicits since they’re basically just spoiler-laden teases, but from what I can tell from the covers things don’t look like they’re going well.

But on the plus side, it looks like Kieron Gillen is really doing something with “Uncanny X-Men” #17 here (pictured). Will it really tie-in to “AvX”? Only time will tell.

But wait, you say. That’s only 7, you say! Right. Let’s get to the other two:

The End of Avengers Academy?

This month’s “Avengers Academy” solicitation announces two books for August as part of a two-part arc entitled “Final Exam.” In it, the solicitation reads “Avengers Academy is closed… indefinitely!” and “Years of plot threads explode…”

So, it looks like “Avengers Academy” is coming to end without being necessarily cancelled? (Or it is being cancelled, and this is just a nicer way of ending it.)

Either way, don’t be surprised if there is no “Avengers Academy” #36 — or if there is an announcement of a replacement title soon.

The Return of the Guardians of the Galaxy

We covered this more in a news post, but it bears repeating: the Guardians of the Galaxy are showing up to kick some ass in “Avengers Assemble,” a book that follows up with the movie and brings Thanos back into the Marvel U.

For those too lazy to click what I linked to, here’s the synopsis: Marvel wants to do something cosmic, assumedly both in the comics and in their movies. I believe that by putting the Guardians in “AA”, we’re getting the segue into Bendis doing a cosmic book and Marvel Studios announcing their Guardians movie.

Am I right? Only time will tell, true believers.

Kelly Sue Is Destroying My Home Town!

Recently on the Hour Cosmic, we chatted with Kelly Sue DeConnick about comic books. It was a wonderful chat. I tried not to insult her.

Clearly I did, though, because in “Avenging Spider-Man” she’s destroying Boston with “a 50-foot tall red-headed madwoman.” In turn, I will issue a public apology:

Dear Kelly Sue, I’m not quite sure what I did to make you want to destroy Boston, but at the very least don’t have the 50-foot tall red-headed madwoman step on my favorite Dunkin Donuts? They just remodeled, and its in a wicked convenient location for me. It’s the one in Allston across the street from New England Comics on Harvard Ave. Thanks, and all the best! –MM

Oh, speaking of “Avenging Spider-Man”…

Zeb Wells Avengers Some More!

Recently I wrote a whole little essay (read: rant) about how much I love “Avenging Spider-Man” and Zeb Wells writing in it. However, it seemed like Wells had moved on to bigger and better things (or, more specifically, a rumored Spidey/Elektra team-up book that was just “too big” for “Avenging”).

It looks like #11 is bringing him back, and it features a team-up story with the greatest hero of all: May Parker. I’m in.

You know, as a side note, I’ve always liked Aunt May. She’s a character some writers don’t know what to do with, but I remember my mom buying me the issue of Spider-Man in which she dies (#400) and being really moved by it despite being only 8. It’s one of my favorite issues. Sure, she came back and it was weird, but I’m intrigued to see what Wells has planned for the one-and-done.

SO MUCH SPIDER-MAN

So, in addition to two issues of “Avenging,” there will also be “Spider-Men” #4 by Bendis and Pichelli, “Scarlet Spider” #8 by Yost and PHam, “Amazing Spider-Man” #691 by Slott and Camuncoli, “Amazing Spider-Man” by #692 by Slott and Ramos (which looks to be somewhat tied in, at least conceptually, to the Amazing Spider-Man movie even more so than an arc of Spider-Man fighting the Lizard already was) and — get this — “Peter Parker, Spider-Man” #156.1 by Roger Stern and Rob De LaTorre, “Sensational Spider-Man” #33.1 and #33.2 by Tom Defalco and Carlo Barberi, and “Web of Spider-Man” #129.1 and #129.2!

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Holy Spider-Overload, Marvel. Throw in two issues of “Venom” and it is too much for even this hardcore Spidey-fan(attic) to take. I mean, I get it — there’s a movie, make the most of it — but holy wow.

Here’s the solicitation for all those Point Ones:

Celebrating 50 Years of the Great Responsibility of his Great powers, The Spider-Man 50th Anniversary Series collects the Webbed Wonder’s greatest heretofore secret history! Spanning from his earliest days as a hero to the heyday of the heralded Big Time era and everything in between, a collection of Marvel Legends, venerated comic creators and awe-inspiring artists shine the spotlight on everything that makes Spider-Man the World’s Greatest Superhero!

Obligatory “Hey, Read Hulk!” Moment

August sees two issues of “Hulk” by Jeff Parker and Dale Eaglesham, #56 and #57, ending the ‘Mayan Rule’ arc. Oh, just get it!

EVERYTHING BURNS!

August brings with it “Mighty Thor” #18 by Fraction and Davis and “Journey Into Mystery” #642 by Gillen, Fraction and Davis. It’s the culmination of a lot of the stories Gillen has been seeding into “JiM”, particularly the return of Surtur, and it is arguably the thing I am most excited for in Mainstream Superhero Comicbook Land.

With Fraction (a master of mythology) and Gillen (a master of awesome) together in what seems like an epic clashing of epic epicness and oh bother I can’t think of anything interesting to write anymore I’d just like to read the book now please and thank you.

I Really Can’t Wait To See What Jamie McKelvie Is Going To Do In Defenders

This isn’t an insightful comment. I just wanted to point out that Jamie McKelvie’s second issue of “Defenders”, #9, comes out in August, and I am really looking forward to reading it.

Two Issues of Kelly Sue’s Captain Marvel (But Really Three!)

August will see “Captain Marvel” #2 and #3 out (with the wonderful McGuiness cover for #3 pictured here), and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve got my pre-order in for #1 already, but I would like to take this moment to remind you that this is going to undoubtedly be a strong debut from a strong creative team starring one of my favorite underused characters in the Marvel Universe. Remember Brian Reed’s “Ms. Marvel”? You don’t? Well, it was awesome. I can only imagine this will be too.

But wait, why is it really three? Oh right. “Avenging Spider-Man,” in which Kelly Sue destroys my hometown and also writes Ms. Marvel some more. Get excited.

Could Hawkeye Be Marvel’s Best Debut Of The Year?

Matt Fraction. David Aja. Hawkeye. Kate Bishop. A reference somewhere in an interview in which Fraction relates their relationship to Steed and Mrs. Peel. Oh, shut up and take my money!

As Fraction said on Twitter (and I’m paraphrasing here), pre-order it now and get in on the ground floor so you don’t miss out on this like you did with “Immortal Iron Fist” (even though you tell everyone otherwise).

… What! He said it! Somewhere.

Cable Joins X-Force?

Remender confirmed on Twitter that this is indeed Cable in the above, so the question mark isn’t to show confusion over the character. Instead, the question mark is to show confusion over the direction.

Look: the “Uncanny X-Force” reads about how this is the ‘Final Execution’ arc entering its last act, so there’s a certain sense of finality to it, and yet Remender is making some pretty big changes to the book’s status quo here by bringing in an X-Force founder to the team. What exactly is going on here? And what does it all have to do with this:

There Sure Are A Lot Of X-Men Comics And … Everything’s Changing?

There really are. I couldn’t think of anything insightful to say, though, so I figure I can just throw a few quick blurbs in here to make note of a few things:

1. We’re getting “First X-Men” by Christos Gage and Neal Adams which throws in some revisionist history into the true origin of the mutant team.
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2. X-Factor and New Mutants both have solicits that read “change ____ forever/as you know them.”
3. Wolverine’s book features some revisionist history of its own (probably, maybe).
4. At least 3 books are taking place in alternate realities — perhaps out of necessity?

Oh, and isn’t there that whole “AvX” thing messing things up for the universe and whatnot? Something about the X-Men taking over the world? And remember earlier when we discussed “Uncanny”, and how that brings a close to Gillen’s current storyline with Sinister that has been seeded since issue #1?

Seismic shift in the X-Men universe coming. Be prepared.

Doctor Strange: Season One

I love Doc Strange. I truly do. There should be more Doc Strange comics beyond just his appearance in “Defenders.” And hey, Greg Pak and Emma Rios are the creative team? Sold.