It’s time to wrap up our week-long look at solicitations, my friends, as we come to our final destination: Marvel, the self-titled House of Ideas, home of all my favorite superheroes and maybe yours too. Does October continue the rich tradition of Marvel telling stories I want to read, or is something fishy going on in the land of Infinity? There’s only one way to find out.
For the full Marvel solicitations for October, head on over to CBR. In the meantime, take a look at my top ten picks and thoughts for October.
10. Infinity Watch
I used to do this thing during “AvX” where I’d count how much is tying into the series, and it was always a little bit ridiculous. I use that word lightly, too; ridiculous in superhero comics seems par for course.
Still, some of this is getting a bit unwieldy. Due to double shipping, “Infinity” itself will have two issues in October — probably to help time things for the next big event and “Inhumanity.” Not only that, but there will be 14 tie-ins to “Infinity” throughout the month, some of which will just appear in your regular reading and four of which will be found in two special mini tie-ins, not including the series that is launching knee-deep in “Infinity” lore.
And, I remind you: there is another event going on at the exact same time, with no tie-ins whatsoever.
I have opinions about how events should be handled. I’ve written about them before, and if you search through the site you’ll find them. I’m not one of the people who rally against events, who decry them and wish they didn’t exist; they’re almost a necessary evil at this point. Still, that necessity shouldn’t preclude emphasis on a good story, and while I honestly have the utmost of faith in Jonathan Hickman and the various artists tackling the main “Infinity” book… two issues in a month and 14 tie-ins? Pace yourselves, guys.
9. Hawkeye Takes a Breather
There is no “Hawkeye” in October. October is officially the worst month for Marvel.
Not to worry, mind you — the series obviously isn’t cancelled. As if. The book is apparently simply taking a “breather” month to catch up with itself. “Hawkeye” will be taking a new initiative going forth, splitting the artistic work between David Aja and Annie Wu (who did the interstitial pages in “Hawkeye” #8), with David taking the Hawkeye story and Annie taking the Hawkeye story. (See what I did there?) With Fraction now writing 4 Marvel ongoings and 3 creator-owned books at Image, plus the 4th volume of “Casanova” appearing at some point, perhaps a breather is needed.
Though — this is something we’ll come back to later in this column. So keep it in the back of your mind.
8. Cammi and Francesco Francavilla Get a Great Cover
I don’t have anything special to say about “Avengers Arena” that I haven’t already said recently. I just really like Cammi and this cover.
AVENGERS ARENA #16
DENNIS HOPELESS (W)
KARL MOLINE (A)
Cover BY FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
THOR BATTLE VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“BOSS LEVEL” PART 3:
THE FINAL BATTLES BEGIN!
• Up on Murder World Island, it’s the surviving contestants in an all-out battle royale!
• Down in Arcade’s lair, it’s two other contestants vs. Arcade!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
7. Marvel Heads To a Cataclysm Before DC Can
Faithful readers of this site may remember that long before “Trinity War” and “Forever Evil,” I had predicted that DC’s next event would be called Cataclysm, dealing with the “Flashpoint” fallout that had resulted in a new universe. Clearly I was wrong.
But, hey, look at that — Marvel now has an upcoming book called “Cataclysm!” And it deals with all of those theories I had before the end of “Age of Ultron” that “Age of Ultron” proved right! Kiss the Ultimate Universe as you know it goodbye.
1. any violent upheaval, especially one of a social or political nature.
Continued below
2. Physical Geography . a sudden and violent physical action producing changes in the earth’s surface.
3. an extensive flood; deluge.
Hunger #4 (of 4)
JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV (W)
LEONARD KIRK (A)
Cover by ADI GRANOV
THE BEGINNING OF THE END???
• Has RICK JONES failed to stop Earth from destruction?
• The death throes of a universe!
• A hero reborn? The road to CATACLYSM starts here!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99CATACLYSM #0.1
CLASSIFIED!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
6. Captain Marvel is YOUR Comic!
In a special issue this October, “Captain Marvel” is going all lovey dovey with its fanbase (who, I’m told, is the best fanbase) in a special post-crossover issue in which we are all summed up in the eyes of a young fan through whom Carol must rebuild her life. Featured on the cover is series writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, as well as guest appearances by Ming Doyle, Joe Quinones, Erica Henderson and more. Can you identify all of the Carol Corps?
CAPTAIN MARVEL #17
KELLY SUE DECONNICK (W) • FILIPE ANDRADE (A/C)
THOR BATTLE VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
THE CAROL CORPS ISSUE!
• THE special oversized issue to end all oversized issues!
• In the aftermath of Enemy Within, Carol Danvers must rebuild her memories through the eyes of her biggest fan.
• Find out why this is such a fan-beloved series!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
5. Doc Ock… Returns?
So, this is strange: a series of specials written by Mike Costa will be released in October … in which Doctor Octopus comes back.
“But wait!” you say, getting your fanboy tools in order for rage. “Doctor Octopus is in the mind of Peter Parker, only his physical body remains. The personality that died in his body is that of Peter, and we know Peter to be erased from existence in a recent issue of “Superior Spider-Man!” This doesn’t make sense! Harumph! HARUMPH!”
I know, right?
Still: Mike Costa is good. Kris Anka, Jake Wyatt and Michael Dialynas are good as well. I’m not sure this is required reading for fans of any of these books and it reminds me of those annuals Marvel put out not too long ago that interconnected and told out-of-continuity in-continuity stories. Could be interesting reading.
ALL-NEW X-MEN SPECIAL #1
MICHAEL COSTA (W) • KRIS ANKA (A)
Cover by ALEXANDER LOZANO
Interlocking Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
PART ONE OF “THE ARMS OF THE OCTOPUS!”
• The All-New X-Men cross over with the Indestructible Hulk and Superior Spider-Man!
• What does Doctor Octopus want with the All-New X-Men and HOW IS HE ALIVE?!
• This gets the immediate attention of Superior Spider-Man, but what does it have to do with the Hulk?
40 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T …$4.99INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK SPECIAL #1
MICHAEL COSTA (W) • JAKE WYATT (A)
Cover by ALEXANDER LOZANO
Interlocking Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
PART TWO OF “THE ARMS OF THE OCTOPUS!”
• Banner helps The All-New X-Men and Superior Spider-Man get to the mystery of Doc Ock!
• But before they solve anything they’re shocked by the return of the believed-dead ABOMINATION!
40 PGS./ One-Shot/Rated T …$4.99SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP SPECIAL #1
MICHAEL COSTA (W) • MICHAEL DIALYNAS (A)
Cover by ALEXANDER LOZANO
Interlocking Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
PART THREE OF “THE ARMS OF THE OCTOPUS!”
• Who is in league with Doc Ock and the Abomination and how can our heroes defeat them?
• Can the Superior Spider-Man (who we all know is the mind of Otto Octavius in the body of Spider-Man) hold onto his sanity while facing his doppelganger?
40 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+ …$4.99
4. Astonishing Captain America is Back — Albeit Less “Astonishing”
A while ago (and I do mean a while ago, Marvel announced “Astonishing Captain America” by Andy Diggle and Adi Granov as part of their attempt to grow an Astonishing line (with only X-Men ever surviving). The book disappeared into the unknown, like some often do, and admittedly we’d all kind of forgotten about it.
Continued belowBut, lo and behold, that cover image is back and with a new title: “Captain America: Living Legend!” But don’t kid yourselves — it’s “Astonishing Captain America.”
Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you! Just something to be aware of. Granov’s art is fantastic, Diggle is a great writer — it’s still a book from the junked Astonishing line, though. I would wager the delay in the book has nothing to do with the series being junked, just the line, so have at it.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: LIVING LEGEND #1 (of 4)
ANDY DIGGLE (W) • ADI GRANOV (A/C)
Variant COVER by Neal Adams
VINTAGE VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
• When a top-secret orbital research station is dragged from the sky by an unknown alien force, army-of-one Steve Rogers finds himself caught between two global superpowers on the brink of war!
• But how does it involve Volkov – a decorated Russian officer he last crossed paths with during the closing days of World War II, who disappeared on an ill-fated lunar mission over forty years ago?
• Andy Diggle and Adi Granov send living legend Captain America on a one-man mission into the heart of darkness—in search of another!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
3. Is Fraction’s First Fantastic Story Wrapping Up?
Remember earlier, when I said I had more to say about Fraction’s workload? Here it is.
So: Fraction has four ongoing titles at Marvel, one that’s lying dormant waiting to come back and three books at Image. That’s a lot of work. It’s not unheard of for a creator to be working on 8 titles, not at all, but it’s perhaps more than we’ve ever seen Fraction working on at any given time previously in his career. It does seem a bit… much.
So when you start thinking about that and then you read the solicits for “Fantastic Four” and “FF,” it does seem like it’s coming to an end. After all, the concept was always sort of limited, wasn’t it? The Fantastic Four would have to come back from vacation at some point, and that was always the case from the beginning of the story — it just seems like that may be coming now, with the Fantastic Four “literally” ending up where they started and “FF” coming with the line “is this the beginning of the end of everything?”
I hope not.
FANTASTIC FOUR #13
MATT FRACTION (W) • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
Lego VARIANT cover BY Leonel Castellani
• The Fantastic Four end up where we started — literally!
• Trapped in an entire UNIVERSE controlled by DR. DOOM!
• Has Old John Storm been right all along?
• And Reed and Sue make a fateful decision that will change the lives of the whole Richards family!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99FF #13
MATT FRACTION (W) • MICHAEL ALLRED (A/C)
• Doom the Annihilating Conqueror ascends! Is this the beginning of the end of everything?
• Who Watches the Wee Watcher?
• What is the horrible secret of UNDERSPACE?
• And two students transfer in at the best worst moment imaginable. FINALLY! MORE KIDS!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99
2. Wolverine Dies… and Gets Another Son?
The prevalent theory right now amongst X-Fans (and Bleeding Cool readers) is that in celebration of his upcoming film and nearly 40 years of existence, Marvel is going to kill their most profitable character: Wolverine. It’s a strange theory granted his monetary worth, but not one without credence obviously.
The solicits don’t help either, with the line “Wolverine, who just lost his healing factor, takes a mortal hit” from the solicit “Uncanny X-Men” #13, and the following issue in the story mentioning that characters are “reeling” from the events of the previous issue.
Not only that, but it appears there is another Wolverine in the mix, one of blue skin, titled “Wolverine Jr” for now. Not too much is known about him, but the cover that features him is from “Wolverine and the X-Men” written by Jason Aaron, and correct me if I’m wrong but Aaron did have a story in which Wolverine and Mystique get intimate, right?
Continued belowHmm. One Wolverine dies, another rises to take his place.
ALL-NEW X-MEN #17
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STUART IMMONEN (A)
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Lego VARIANT BY Leonel Castellani
X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 6!
• Magik and Young Beast have a special mission!
• The X-Men and Future X-Men have Jean Grey and Cyclops and are going to send them back in time with the rest of the Original X-Men.
• But who is opposing them and why?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99X-MEN #6
BRIAN WOOD (W) • DAVID LOPEZ (A)
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON
X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 7!
• CHAOS AT THE JEAN GREY SCHOOL as the X-Men and Future X-Men are attacked!
• Rachel Grey is the only X-Man qualified to defeat the mystery opponents!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99UNCANNY X-MEN #13
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • CHRISTOPHER BACHALO (A)
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 8!
• Wolverine, who just lost his healing factor, takes a mortal hit!
• And a surprise ending that changes everything in the X-Men Event of 2013!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #37
JASON AARON (W) • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by KRIS ANKA
X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 9!
• All of the X-Men (present & future) and their adversaries are reeling from the events of Part 8!
• With the adversaries’ Plan A squashed, they turn to their far more sinister Plan B on the grounds of the X-Men’s first adventure!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM #2 (of 2)
JASON AARON (W) • ESAD RIBIC (A)
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by ESAD RIBIC
X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 10!
• The biggest battle in X-Men history will melt your face off.
• All of the X-Men find their footing in the world much changed.
• The X-Men event of 2013 concludes and sets up the major X-Men stories for 2014!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
1. One of the Best Runs of All Time Gets an Omnibus — I’m Too Excited
Finally, the thing that I’m most excited about. I wrote about this on my tumblr which some of you may follow, so forgive the copy/paste — but all my positive thoughts rang true again and I felt I had to just re-share them rather than try and say anything new.
If you like Deadpool even a tiny bit because of any number of myriad appearances he’s had over the last five years and you don’t already own this run, this book is officially required reading. One of my all-time favorite runs in comics ever. Hands down, no questions asked, kept in a special longbox in my home all to itself for easy access (no joke).
Lets get a little bit personal:
I can honestly remember my mom driving me to the comic store after piano class one evening. It’s a weird memory to have, but I sort of associate my piano classes with getting comics because that was the trade-off. So we went into this little shop in Lexington, MA that’s not there anymore, and since I didn’t know what I could or could not have she would usually pick stuff up based on what I liked (and what I liked was Spider-Man).
I mean, ok, I read other stuff too, but it was sporadic. An X-Men book here, some other thing there. I preferred completed stories towards serialized tales because, y’know, I was really young and didn’t really *get* the idea of waiting. Unless I was waiting for Spider-Man! Then it was ok.
I can remember her taking “DEADPOOL” #1 off the shelf and giving it to me to ask if I’d be interested in collecting it. I knew nothing about Deadpool whatsoever and I guess he sort of looks like Ninja Spider-Man, right? But the shiny new #1 and the notion that my mom would allow me another comic on my two-comic pull list was a magical idea.
Continued belowWas this the best comic for a 10-year-old? Mm… probably not. But it was my favorite book at the time, and it remains one of my favorite books to this day. I’ll still buy anything Joe Kelly ever writes ever because of this — not “I Kill Giants” or “Action Comics” #775 or whatever. Because of “Deadpool.”
Come to think of it, I think… like, all of my modern comic reading habits stem out of this book and that one tiny chance my mom took on me and I took on some costumed dude I’d never heard of.
I hope other kids have the same experience that I did with comics today. Sometimes I am scared that they will not. But then when I look at comics today and don’t see a lot of all-ages books, I remember that my mom gave me a book like this at the age of 10 and I figure, hey, parents will figure it out.
I will probably be inspired to do some big retrospective piece here at Multiversity Comics soon to show how much I love this run, but in the meantime you need to own this run and I just can’t help but hide my excitement that this omnibus is a thing that is going to happen.
DEADPOOL BY JOE KELLY OMNIBUS HC (All New Cover!)
Written by JOE KELLY, JAMES FELDER & STAN LEE
Penciled by ED MCGUINNESS, AARON LOPRESTI, BERNARD CHANG, SHANNON DENTON, PETE WOODS, WALTER MCDANIEL, STEVE HARRIS, ANTHONY WILLIAMS, DAVID BREWER, JOHN ROMITA SR., ERIC CANETE, ROB LIEFELD & MORE
Covers by ED MCGUINNESS
Wade Wilson is a self-loathing killer for hire — but he dreams of being a hero. So when an interdimensional organization reveals his destiny to save the world, is it the chance for redemption Deadpool has longed for — or is it too good to be true? Either way, with reluctant allies like Siryn, Monty, Weasel and the elderly prisoner Blind Al, and formidable foes like Taskmaster, Typhoid Mary and T-Ray — who carries a soul-shattering secret that could destroy Deadpool — the odds are stacked against the Merc with a Mouth! Joe Kelly’s hilarious, brutal, twisted and definitive take on Deadpool is presented in one oversized hardcover! Collecting DEADPOOL (1997) #1-33, #-1 and #0, DAREDEVIL/DEADPOOL ANNUAL ’97, DEADPOOL/DEATH ANNUAL ’98, BABY’S FIRST DEADPOOL BOOK, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #47 and #611, and material from DEADPOOL (2008) #900.
1160 PGS./Parental Advisory …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8559-8
Trim size: oversized
DEADPOOL BY JOE KELLY OMNIBUS HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
1160 PGS./Parental Advisory …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8560-4
