“Secret Empire” is finally over, and we can – wait, “Secret Empire Omega?” Let’s put that aside and never come back to it, then, because there’s so much more worth looking forward to. We have multiple issues focusing on legacies and the character that carry them on, we have a return of an old favorite team, and we have epic story arcs continuing. So let’s look at all the good that has yet to come with September’s solicits!
10. People Try to Put Us Down
So far, “Generation X” has been a mixed bag; it’s given me the look at young mutants I’ve been hoping for, though the art has some peculiar moments. But it’s been building momentum, and a night on the town with Quentin Quire and his fellow mutants sounds like a good time to me. And a promised tangle with some of the deadliest foes Marvel has to offer sounds pretty entertaining too.
Generation X #6
Written by Christina Strain
Illustrated by Erica Koda
Cover by Terry Dodson• With a mutant-killing monster loose beneath New York City, the X-Men impose a curfew for the students of the Xavier Institute. But QUENTIN QUIRE’s never much been one to follow rules… When Quentin convinces his classmates to join him for a night out, they’re in for something a LOT more fearsome than a mutant-killing monster…They might just find themselves at an auction populated by some of the Marvel Universe’s deadliest villains!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
9. O Captain My Captain
The road to The Last Jedi begins! It starts with a look at Captain Phasma, a character that got a lot of hype in the lead-up to The Force Awakens, but ended up doing not all that much. Fortunately, that’s where the expanded universe comes in! What has her chrome-armored self been up to since the last movie? What’s in store for her in the future? We’ll find out soon.
Unless the entire comic is 32 pages of falling into a trash compactor and then exploding, but what are the odds of that?
Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma #1
Written by Kelly Thompson
Illustrated by Marco Checchetto
Cover by Paul Renaud
Variant Covers by Mark Brooks, Diego Olortegui, Todd Nauck, Paulina Ganucheau, and Scottie Young• As the excitement ramps up for this December’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, come back with us to the final moments of The Force Awakens and the destruction of Starkiller Base to learn the fate of Captain Phasma! Captured by the Resistance and thrown into a garbage masher, we follow the chrome-adorned warrior from the site of the First Order’s biggest defeat to the doorstep of this holiday season’s biggest blockbuster! Written by Kelly Thompson (HAWKEYE, STAR WARS ANNUAL 2016) and drawn by Marco Checchetto (STAR WARS: SHATTERED EMPIRE, STAR WARS: SCREAMING CITADEL), Captain Phasma will recondition you to love Star Wars again!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
8. To the Surprise of No One
Of course Squirrel Girl has a spot on this list, she always does, and this time she’s taking on Ultron! Not just any Ultron, but the bizarre Hank Pym/Ultron fusion that contributed to the weirdest chapter of “Secret Empire” yet! Throw in dinosaurs and Kraven, and it’s a promising blend of awesome insanity that is bound to remind us what makes this comic so unbeatable.
Continued belowThe Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #24
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Erica Henderson• Squirrel Girl, Nancy and Tippy are trapped in the Savage Land! Good thing there’re only regular dinosaurs there and not, for example, a giant metal killer-dinosaur version of Ultron instead!! Sorry, I’m just getting word that there is, in fact, a giant metal killer-dinosaur version of Ultron here, and Squirrel Girl needs to stop him before he takes over the world — a task that has regularly bested many other super heroes, including the Avengers themselves! But don’t worry, because SQUIRREL GIRL IS NOT ALONE: She’s got Nancy (a regular human with no powers) and Tippy (a regular squirrel with no powers) on her side to help her out against the rage of Ultron! And it’s not just any Ultron, but a new and improved Ultron with an extremely dangerous (and, we must admit, extremely awesome) Tyrannosaurus rex bod! Oh, also Kraven the Hunter is in this issue too, so if you love dinosaurs, robots AND men in lion vests, boy howdy have we got a comic book for you!
• 32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
7. A Taste of Venom
So now we have the Venomverse – apparently an alternate world where everyone has a Venom symbiote. It’s up to our Venom to save all the other Venoms, thus proving that he is the Venomyist of them all! It’ll in all likeliness be violent and filled with interesting designs of Venomized heroes, which is all I’m hoping for from a comic like this, so we can sit back and enjoy the bloodshed.
Venomverse #1
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Iban Coello
Cover by Nick Bradshaw
Variant covers by Gustavo Duarte, Elizabeth Torque, Clayton Crain, Todd McFarlane, and Nick Bradshaw• THE VENOM EPIC OF THE FALL STARTS HERE! During a routine battle with the villainous Jack O’Lantern, Venom finds himself transported to a far-off world and learns a terrible truth – a deadly new species called the Poisons has emerged from the vastness of space, and to make matters worse, they’re hunting Venoms! Trapped on the planet’s surface with a ragtag band of Venomized heroes, Eddie has no choice but to mount a counteroffensive and hope to find a way home!
• 40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
6. Alright, Let’s Wrap This Up
In spite of the occasional issues that have struck this comic (particularly in the form of dialogue), “Infamous Iron Man” has still been an interesting read. It looks like things are coming to a big finish, and there’s a lot to wrap up, so it’ll be nice to see how Bendis ties everything together. It seems like most of the comic has been Victor going “I was Doctor Doom, now I’m not, but I’m still just as tough” and then everyone else explores what it means; now it all comes to a close, and hopefully it’ll be a satisfying conclusion.
Infamous Iron Man #12
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Alex Maleev• The epic climax to one of the most critically acclaimed stories of the year! With enemies on all sides, how can Victor Von Doom continue to carry on the legacy of Iron Man…especially when the legacy of Doctor Doom still haunts him at every turn?
• Don’t miss this very special issue, as its events will have massive repercussions for the rest of the Marvel Universe!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
5. Unfortunate Aftermath
One of the best parts of Gerry Duggan’s run on “Deadpool” has been his exploration of Deadpool as a character, and every aspect therein. He’s created some heartbreaking moments for the merc with a mouth, and the events of “Secret Empire” included some very bad decisions from Deadpool, even if he made them for what he thought were good reasons. Now it comes to a close, and everything is about to catch up with him. I know this issue is going to break my heart, but I’m absolutely looking forward to it.
Deadpool #36
Written by Gerry Duggan
Illustrated by Mike Hawthorne
Cover by David Lopez
Variant Cover by Scott Koblish• SECRET EMPIRE AFTERMATH! Everything works out great and Deadpool gets a happy ending! Wait…are we allowed to lie in solicits? We are, right?
• 32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
4. Mostly Marvelous
Another comic that’s been consistently great is G. Willow Wilson’s “Ms. Marvel.” Things have been tough for Kamala, and foes from past events are catching up with her. Still, these kinds of struggles are just what heroes are made of, and while Kamala’s victories will not be easily won, it’ll undoubtedly be worth cheering for her every step of the way.
Continued belowMs. Marvel #22
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Illustrated by Marco Failla
Cover by Valerio Schiti• Something sinister has turned every citizen of Jersey City against Ms. Marvel. Worse still, Becky St. Jude a.k.a. Lockdown, has made it her personal mission to take end J.C.’s great defender. With Becky’s new sidekick’s intimate knowledge of Ms. Marvel’s moves, it’s Kamala Khan’s life that hangs in the balance…
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
3. More Marvelous
That’s right, there’s even more “Ms. Marvel” goodness to look forward to! In addition to the main comic, it’s her time to shine in the “Generations” title. Actually, Captain Marvel herself gets two “Generations” issues as well, when she has her own crossover with Captain Mar-Vell, and while this is something of a missed opportunity for having all three Marvels appear at once, I’ll still take it. Today’s Ms. Marvel teaming up with Carol before she was promoted to Captain? Bound to be worthwhile.
Generations: Captain Marvel & Ms. Marvel #1
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Illustrated by Paolo Villanelle
Cover by Nelson Blake II
Variant Cover by Olivier Coipel• Ms. Marvel’s falling out with her idol Carol Danvers, a.k.a. the Mighty Captain Marvel, just took a BIZARRE turn! Kamala suddenly finds herself as an intern at Woman Magazine – Carol’s former place of employment! Between cozying up to her boss, filing back issues, and her usual super-heroing, how will Kamala find time to figure out what got her here in the first place?
• 40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99
2. Respect Your Legacy
There’s so much to unpack just from these covers alone, but boy are they beautiful covers to look at! Jason Aaron is a remarkable writer, and whatever he’s got in store for us with “Marvel Legacy,” we have every reason to look forward to it. Long-lasting impacts, dramatic returns, and more await, making for a promising September.
Marvel Legacy #1
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Esad Ribic
Double Gatefold Cover by Joe Quesada
Variant Covers by Mark Brooks, Alex Ross, Greg Land, John Tyler Christopher, Joe Quesada, Scottie Young, and Amy Reeder• EVERYTHING STARTS HERE! It begins at the dawn of the human race, and ends with a child’s prayer! In between, empires fall, mysteries brew, secrets are revealed, quests are undertaken and legends are forged! All leading up to the dramatic return you’ve been waiting for — and one you’ve been dreading!
• Jason Aaron (MIGHTY THOR) and Esad Ribic (SECRET WARS) usher in a new dawn — one whose rays will touch every corner of the Marvel Universe in the days to come!
• MARVEL LEGACY: It’s everything you’ve been longing for — and more!
• 64 PGS./ON-SHOT/Rated T+ …$5.99
1. The Kids Are Back!
Things have been rough for the “Runaways.” There have been deaths and betrayals, fond farewells and civil wars; some of them have been sent to “Battle Royale”-inspired murder islands, while others (well, one other) got hooked on vibranium and was then murdered by a Vision. But the band is back together, and I cannot wait to see some of my favorite young heroes reunite, a little bit older and maybe even a little bit wiser.
Runaways #1
Written by Rainbow Rowell
Illustrated by Kris Anka
Variant Covers by Ron Lim, Kevin Wada, and Scottie Young• GET READY TO RUN! The “IT” book of the early 2000s with the original cast is back – Nico! Karolina! Molly! Chase! Old Lace! And, could it be? GERT?! The heart of the Runaways died years ago, but you won’t believe how she returns!
• Superstar author Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park, Carry On) makes her Marvel debut with fan-favorite artist Kris Anka (ALL-NEW X-MEN, CAPTAIN MARVEL) in the series that will shock you and break your heart!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
