This is it: the last of the Soliciting Multiversity columns from the supposed House of Ideas! What will Marvel bring us in August? Besides the end of everything as we know it again!
10. That “Hunger” Thing We Talked About
This may have been higher on the list if I hadn’t gone ahead and wrote a separate post about it, to which a good deal of you threw your thoughts down into, but it bears worth repeating: I have a theory that Marvel is bringing together the Ultimate and 616 Universe some good ol’ fashioned in-house cleaning, and they’re making Fialkov do it.
For more details, see the post I made that breaks it all down. In the meantime, I’d wager that for Ultimate fans this will be one of those *important book* things we’re always told about (like when “Battle Scars” introduced Nick Fury Jr, that sort of thing).
HUNGER #2 (of 4)
JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV (W) • LEONARD KIRK (A)
Cover by ADI GRANOV
• The fallout from AGE OF ULTRON rips open a dangerous rift in the universe!
• Prepare for a hunger so strong, that no universe is safe.
• Is this the beginning of the end?
• All the details will be revealed when Age of Ultron #10 hits stands everywhere!
• PREVIOUSLY SOLICITED UNDER THE CLASSIFIED NAME OF AGE OF ULTRON #10 UC
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
9. Lopez Joins Wood on “X-Men”
Are you as excited as everyone else for Brian Wood’s upcoming adjectiveless “X-Men” comic? His work with David Lopez on the previous “X-Men” book may not have made waves (though it was great) and his “Ultimate X-Men” is surprisingly not talked about too much (which is also great), but everyone is excited for his “X-Men.” As they should be! Wood, Coipel and all female team spells awesome.
Except that, despite delays, Olivier Coipel will not be on the book with its fourth issue, as former partner David Lopez will be hopping on as well as the Dodson’s on cover duty. It’s billed not as a permanent change but a rotating deal, and that’s all fine and dandy — but I can think of a few people who will be disappointed that Coipel isn’t a mainstay on the book, especially with it already hitting a delay from its initial release.
Not that I’m complaining, mind you. David Lopez is great, and perfect for the book. It’ll be a great read regardless.
X-MEN #4
BRIAN WOOD (W) • DAVID LOPEZ (A)
Cover by Terry Dodson
VARIANT Cover by TBA
• After the game-changing events of PRIMER, the women of the X-Men must contemplate the future of their makeshift team.
• Are the X-women ready for the BATTLE OF THE ATOM that’s right around the corner?
• Meanwhile: Jubilee may still look like a kid, but she finds herself burdened with some very adult responsibilities. What kind of plans can a mutant vampire teen mom make for her own future?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
8. Deadpool Pimp Slaps Yo Face (Or Something)
Last time we did this column I noted that “Deadpool” #13 sounded fantastic, featuring Deadpool, Power Man and Iron Fist in the 70s. Now, with #14, it looks like that story gets continued in the “modern day”, and it promises more hilarity than issue #13.
I am not a regular Deadpool reader as of right now. I won’t lie to you, though: I think I may have to change that when these issues come out, because I can’t resist a good Blaxploitation riff. “Deadpool” #13 seems like it is being played like Black Dynamite, and if issue #14 follows it up, this could be very funny.
Or, you know, horrifically racist and insensitive. But I have faith in Posehn and Duggan, generally speaking.
Continued belowDEADPOOL #14
BRIAN POSEHN & GERRY DUGGAN (W)
SCOTT KOBLISH (A)
Cover by KRIS ANKA
• Deadpool re-teams-up with Iron Fist & Luke Cage 40 years after last issue!
• The threat the Trio-For-Hire faced in the 70’s resurfaces…wanting VENGEANCE!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99
7. Those “Fearless Defenders” Covers Are Always So Intriguing
I actually don’t read “Fearless Defenders”, if only because I don’t have time to read as many comics as I used to, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to buy the comic on the covers alone. They’re always so creative and, even if it doesn’t necessarily reflect what is inside (see: the toy cover, the fighter game cover, the street art plaster cover) they’re very eye-grabbing. This one is no different.
“Fearless Defenders” is one of those books that I quietly hope to myself is really good. I hope it is, if only so Mark Brooks can keep making these awesome covers. (And, you know, Bunn and Sliney can keep telling the stories they want to tell and the fans of the series don’t lose it. But I have to be selfish in my own way sometimes.)
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #8
CULLEN BUNN (W)
WILLIAM SLINEY (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
• New costume! New arc! New status quo I still won’t tell you about!
• Misty kicked ass in Valkyrie’s world, now it’s time to see how Valkyrie fairs in Misty’s.
• Guest staring Elsa Bloodstone!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
6. But Kris Anka Wins For Best Cover
Honestly. “Uncanny X-Force” is another book I don’t read, making three books in a row in this column that aren’t in my regular pull, but this cover is just magnificent. I love Psylocke and Fantomex as concepts and characters, even if I cut off my relationship with them post-Remender run, and this cover just fascinates and intrigues me. Everything about it is eye-grabbing, and it becomes even more intriguing when you check out Anka’s process for designing and illustrating the cover.
I don’t read this book, but damn do I like the way it looks.
UNCANNY X-FORCE #10
SAM HUMPHRIES (W) • DEXTER SOY (A)
Cover by KRIS ANKA
• The skies of Madripoor run red as Uncanny X-Force face off against Fantomex…Fantomex…and Fantomex!
• We know what Psylocke did last summer, and it’s a doozy! Find out in this edition of Uncanny X-Force True Hollywood Story.
• Storm has no tolerance for your drama. She is a mutant, a goddess, and a headmistress. She’s got enough going on. Stop with the five-paragraph texts. Do not email her. No voicemail.
• What happens in Paris, stays in Paris…unless Puck finds out, in which case it’s probably all over Twitter!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
I’ll also pause and note that, here’s the thing about Marvel: I may not read all the books they offer for any number of reasons, but in doing this column I always find something intriguing about a book I’m not reading, based on covers alone. The solicits are always esoteric and hit-or-miss, but Marvel has some amazing talent designing really snazzy covers for them, which is something I can’t say I necessarily see at their Distinguished Competition. You won’t find any of the covers like the last three I’ve shown off over there, which is why I find a lot of those books easier to pass by — but everything I’ve shown off so far has done the job it is supposed to do: create an advertisement for the material that catches my eyes and makes me want to look inside.
Regardless of the actual quality of content, there is something to be said for that and the magnificent talent that Marvel brings to the table. Kris Anka and Mark Brooks can just draw all the things, as far as I’m concerned.
5. Jason Aaron and Paul Cornell Threaten Your Wolverine
Marvel has big things in store for Wolverine, and they all revolve around ruining his life. Don’t believe me? Just look at the solicit for upcoming issues of “Wolverine and the X-Men”:
Continued belowWOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #34 & 35
JASON AARON (W) • NICK BRADSHAW (A/C)
THE HELLFIRE SAGA CONCLUDES!
• Wolverine and the X-Men face Mystique, Sabretooth and the Hellfire Club!
• What fate awaits the Jean Grey School students who joined the New Hellions?
• The WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN landscape is redefined!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Sabretooth is back to beat up Wolverine some more and the ‘Hellfire Saga’ ends with landscape redefined. Cornell’s “Killable” arc also begins in August, solidifying that big changes are coming for the ol’ Canucklehead, most likely resulting in his death*. Aaron has been at the helm for Wolverine’s life for a good long while now and it’ll be interesting to see how he deals with these changes, especially writing a book with the word Wolverine in the title, but I think it’s fair to say that everything is not coming up Milhouse for Logan.
(*For a few months.)
4. Get Your Spy Groove On
In a bit of exciting news, Marvel will be collecting “S.H.I.E.L.D.” by the magnificently talented Jim Steranko into one volume for you to love and cherish, collecting a bit more than the “Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” trade you amy already have does. Steranko is a fantastic artist, though, and the book is pure late 60’s pop art gold. If you are even the tiniest bit of a fan of Nick Fury the character, there is no way you can legally pass up picking up this collection.
S.H.I.E.L.D. BY STERANKO: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB
Written by STERANKO with STAN LEE & ROY THOMAS
Penciled by STERANKO with JACK KIRBY
Cover by STERANKO
Rarely before and rarely since has comics seen a talent as innovative as Steranko. Blending together influences from Pop art to Salvador Dali and Will Eisner to Wally Wood, Steranko’s boundary-breaking style is an incomparable visual language that continues to influence and inspire storytellers decades later. Now, for the first time ever, Marvel is proud to offer the complete Steranko NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. in one volume! Collecting NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (1968) #1-3 and #5, and material from STRANGE TALES (1951) #151-168.
352 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8536-9
3. Marvel Reprints Greatest Daredevil Run Of All Time’s Omnibus
Because you aren’t yet spending enough money on collections, Marvel is reprinting the nearly all-encompassing “Daredevil” omnibus featuring Miller and Janson’s run of the book. You don’t get everything (‘Born Again,’ ‘Love and War’ and ‘Man Without Fear’) but you’ll get nearly all the famous and memorable stories that modern writers are still seeing influence from. This is the definitive run on “Daredevil,” let alone in Marvel in general, and passing up on this if you don’t already have it would be like … like, just hating yourself. Hating yourself wicked hard.
Don’t hate yourself.
DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER & KLAUS JANSON OMNIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by ROGER MCKENZIE, FRANK MILLER & DAVID MICHELINIE
Penciled by FRANK MILLER & KLAUS JANSON
Cover by FRANK MILLER
Frank Miller’s spellbinding scripts and pulse-pounding pencils herald one of Daredevil’s greatest eras, just in time for the Kingpin and Bullseye’s efforts to rob the Man Without Fear of everything he holds dear! Featuring the first appearances of Elektra, Stick and the Hand! The daring discovery that drew Ben Urich into Daredevil’s domain of darkness! And such forgotten-yet-formidable foes as Death-Stalker and the Gladiator! Guest-starring the Hulk, the Avengers, and Power Man and Iron Fist! Collecting DAREDEVIL (1964) #158-161 and #163-191, and material from WHAT IF? (1977) #28.
840 PGS./Rated T …$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8568-0
Trim size: oversized
2. Kieron and Jamie Love Tormenting Their Fans (aka WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US?!)
Kieron and Jamie have this thing they like to do where they exploit the feels of their fans. Exploit them viciously and relentlessly, so that we cry out “save us!” and they look back and whisper “lol.” For they are cruel gods that do these things to your emotions, and they feel no mercy.
I hope they don’t kill Billy.
Continued belowYOUNG AVENGERS #9
KIERON GILLEN (W)
JAMIE MCKELVIE (A/C)
• We wanted to just write “Screaming! Screaming! Screaming!” for this solicit, but we’re told we need boring old facts. 🙁
• Anyway! The Young Avengers road trip across the multiverse goes proper crazy as it reaches it’s destination. It’s destination is mainly EXCITEMENT and HEARTBREAK.
• Several Young Avengers decide what to do next. The question is, whether what they do next is to be Young Avengers…
• Honestly, screaming.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
1. “Infinity” Begins
So, here’s the thing — regular readers of the site will know that “Infinity” has come up, seemingly in a disparaging fashion as it gets compared or referenced to a hundred different things. But I’m actually quite excited! The Hickman issues of “Avengers vs X-Men” were the best issues, and I generally like all of Hickman’s work. I don’t know why this would be any different, especially when it takes place in the best corner of the Marvel U.
“Infinity” launches in August, and while part of me generally groans at the idea of forced events and all that hooplah, I can’t lie and say I won’t buy it. Because I will. I’ll buy anything Hickman likes, and I’ll sit and read it and consider it and mull it over and smile and give it a thumbs up. That’s what I always do, regardless of what it is. I don’t see why that’ll be any different now.
INFINITY #1 (of 6)
JONATHAN HICKMAN (W) • JIM CHEUNG (A)
Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Blank Variant Also Available
Design Variant by JEROME OPEÑA
Generals Variant by IN-HYUK LEE
Hero Variant by ARTHUR ADAMS
Hero Sketch Variant by ARTHUR ADAMS
Variant by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant by SKOTTIE YOUNG
The oversized kickoff to the year’s most anticipate Blockbuster summer event, changing the way you view the Marvel Universe!
• The outbreak of war on two fronts: Earth and Space, with our heroes torn between them.
• The world-shattering return of Thanos!
• Includes material from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: INFINITY
56 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
Retailers: Check the Marvel Mailer for news on Infinity Launch Parties!
Well, that’s all the time we have for this month. For the full Marvel solicits full of lots of stuff I didn’t talk about, head on over to the Resources of Comic Books, CBR.
Until next month.
