It’s not every day we get to do something like this, but something interesting happened recently: while sitting down to create their hit column The MC2, David and Matt stumbled upon a tear in the walls of reality in which they were able to look through at a parallel world. On this Earth, most things were the same — grass was still green, the sky was a general blue and the Lego Movie was still the #1 hit at the box office. However, there was one prime difference: on what we’re dubbing Earth-MC, it actually turned out that David and Matt ran Marvel Comics.
You’re reading that correctly, folks: two stalwart internet comics journalists were in charge of one of the most profitable comic book publishers. And what they had put together was something rather extraordinary.
So today, we of the MC2 share our findings from this parallel Earth, or Earth-MC as we’ve taken to calling it. We will show you the books that were running on this parallel Earth (with no double shipping!), a line that we’re dubbing “the New 32,” and we’ll hopefully be able to explain to you why Earth-MC David and Earth-MC Matt thought these books would work. Some of the books may be familiar to those of you on this iteration of Earth, and other books might surprise you, but either way it was a fun mental exercise.
Read on, true believers.
The Avengers Line
“Avengers” by Jason Aaron and Dustin Weaver
Why the book makes our list: Jonathan Hickman’s “Avengers” stuff has been good, but you know what? There’s only one writer at Marvel who writes team books right now that is pretty much praised across the board — and that’s Jason Aaron. “Amazing X-Men, “Wolverine and the X-Men,” take your book: two teams, both amazing comics. And with the upcoming “Original Sin” event, I think it’s time we just put Jason Aaron and his beard of wisdom in charge of everything.
Plus, remember those couple issues of “Avengers” by Dustin Weaver? Because I do, and they’re some of my favorites. Dustin Weaver is an unequivocally talented voice at Marvel Universe, someone who I think can take a team book like “Avengers” and give it a truly epic visual scale. His work on “SHIELD” is some of the best I’ve seen at Marvel, incredibly classical and always truly grandiose in a wonderful way. If you want an “Avengers” book that is BIG just as much as it is fun, Dustin Weaver is the guy to do it. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Astonishing Avengers” by Tom Scioli and Becky Cloonan
Why the book makes our list: So, the team above is a bit of a misnomer, because here’s the pitch — “Astonishing Avengers” is actually an anthology book. It’s something that Marvel is playing with with “A+X”, but what I think “A+X” is lacking is any real reason to read it. The team-ups feel arbitrary, the creative teams feel forced and often times random; you pick it up just to see what Creator X does, but there’s no real reason to subscribe to the book.
So instead, based on “Astonishing Tales” but focusing on the Avengers because brand names will sell more than arbitrary ones and starting with Tom Scioli and Becky Cloonan, these two incredibly dynamic and distinctive voices are given ten pages each for six issues to do whatever they want with any line-up of Avengers they so choose. There’s no canon, there’s no need for adhering to continuity of any kind; it’s like “Strange Tales” if creators were given more than a couple pages.
As time goes on, “Astonishing Avengers” could be the anthology that Marvel has always dreamed of having, and the platform for magnificently talented creators to play in the biggest sandbox on their own terms. Can you just imagine what Scioli and Cloonan could do individually if given carte blanche and a wider room to breathe and allow stories to evolve? And imagine what happens if afterwards we bring in more creators like them to just do whatever they want? The possibilities are limitless, and I’d argue that this could be the first time in the current era of comics where an anthology book could work and be sustainable in the marketplace for older fans, hipster fans and new fans alike. -Matthew Meylikhov
Continued below“Captain America” by Joe Keatinge and Ross Campbell
Why the book makes our list: When Image relaunched the Extreme line, two books stood out: “Prophet” and “Glory.” And while “Prophet” is dialing down its run and coming to a close, “Glory” is a book that was definitely finalized too soon; it showed infinite potential for growth, and that I’m not currently still buying it seems really unfortunate.
So, hey, why not bring that team back and give them a new playing field? After all, “Glory” started in a place that was attempting to revitalize a former WWII hero. Certainly Ross Campbell and Joe Keatinge could make that work for the most famous of WWII heroes? Cap is one of those staple characters that will probably always have a new book, but the spectrum of what Brubaker did with the character and what Remender is doing are practically polar opposites; I’d like to imagine that Campbell and Keatinge could perhaps deliver something a bit more even-keeled, something that felt a bit more true to the character’s origins while also steadily ramping it upwards both in terms of the personal connection we feel and the action that takes place.
Those two should be working on something new together, at the very least. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Captain Marvel/Spider-Woman” by Kelly Sue DeConnick and JG Jones
Why the book makes our list: This is a bit of a weird one, but honestly, if there are two characters who I think Kelly Sue writes incredibly well, it’s Carol and Jess. Kelly has used the both of them together and separate across two books now, and I’d really like to see what she could do if they were a regular team-up. After all, we have plenty of male team-up titles — why not have one with two kick-ass ladies from a writer that has proven she has a great handle on both?
But what I think can really put this book on the map is JG Jones illustrating with Kelly Sue. I mean, JG Jones is one of my favorite artists, but he barely does any work anymore — but if you look at the stuff he’s done? “Final Crisis” and “Wonder Woman” in particular? Man. Can you even imagine what he could do with a Captain Marvel/Spider-Woman team-up title? It’d be incredible.
So this is, like, the epitome of a dreamcast title, but I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be just the tops in every possible way. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Hawkeye” by Matt Fraction, Dave Aja and Annie Wu
Why the book sticks around: I could spend a couple paragraphs explaining why this book should stick around, but come on, it’s Hawkeye. I think we would need to be committed if we didn’t include it. -David Harper
“Iron Man” by Ales Kot and Piotr Kowalski
Why the book makes our list: Iron Man titles are ones that need to be equally about the hero and Tony Stark, the flawed, futurist of a man. More than any in recent memory, Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca’s run on that title captured that blend.
So when I was thinking about who would be the captains of Team Iron Man in the New 32, two names stood out immediately in Ales Kot and Piotr Kowalski.
Kowalski’s an obvious choice, in my mind, and I find it hard to imagine that anyone who has read “Sex” from Image Comics would disagree. That’s a book that features a Tony Stark like lead dealing with worlds both corporate and superheroic, with a little bit of depravity thrown in the mix. He’s an artist who has both a keen eye for composition and storytelling, and whether dealing with board room business dealings or fights with the copious Iron Man rogues that exist, Kowalski would be a pitch perfect fit tonally.
Kot is my choice for writer because this is a man who, to paraphrase Rust Cohle, time in comics is a flat circle, and there are few writers who can better incorporate the actions through varying points of a character’s life into a driving narrative than Kot. Plus, he’s a man who has a penchant for futurist thinking, and someone who excels with characters at the highest heights and the lowest lows.
Continued belowThis wouldn’t be your fathers “Iron Man” book. This would be Tony Stark for the next generation, and I would read the ever loving hell out of it. -David Harper
“Thor, God of Thunder” by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic
Why the book sticks around: When these two team up, magic happens. Literally. Well, literally and figuratively. Either way, when a team is this good, and so tapped into the fiber of the character they are telling stories about, how could we break up such a thing up?
In our minds, Aaron and Ribic should work on this book forever. That would be great for everyone, although perhaps less so for the two of them as that means life as Highlanders, and that might get a little boring. But hey, this is our Marvel universe, so learn to love it Team Thor! -David Harper
The X-Men Line
“X-Men” by Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry
Why the book makes our list: Full disclosure: I’m a total fanboy of these two guys. But that’s okay, because I’m one of the guys running this show.
For me, the “X-Men” side of the Marvel universe is one that succeeds the most when it is character driven rather than plot-driven. Sure, it’s neat when various villains have nefarious plans and all, but when you look back on your favorite moments of the line, they’re typically tied to the characters and the exceptional job the creators do in making them resonate with us readers.
To me, there are few creators who do such likable work with characters today than Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry, and pairing them together on a book oriented around the newly reunited two sides of the X-Men running the Jean Grey Academy would make for an exciting, entertaining and adventurous yarn. Henry even has history on the line (from the Chuck Austen years, sadly), and we know him to be someone who works well with the characters and their world. Meanwhile, Van Lente is a genius at fusing character and plot into something magical, and if the two of them were given carte blanche to tell the X-Book that they want to tell, then I think they’d unleash a run that has something for everyone. -David Harper
Amazing X-Men by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness
Why the book sticks around: With “Wolverine and the X-Men” ending this week, this title is undoubtedly the one that all remaining titles in the X-Line are measured by. And why not? Aaron and McGuinness are clearly having an absolute ball on this book, as the fun and energy pours off the pages as you read this title. If “X-Men” is the center part of the Venn diagram between the adventure and the school, then this book is is the pure adventure side.
And what an adventure it is. -David Harper
“eXcalibur” by Paul Cornell and Art Adams
Why the book makes our list: As my friends will know, I tend to be a bit of an anglophile. I’m not sure when it started, but if it’s British and involves one of the many nerd-y things I like, then chances are I will dig it. As such, I’ve always been a fan of Marvel’s UK teams (as we’ll see in a few of my picks), and I particularly like “Excalibur” when it is being done right (so, uh, not that “Excalibur” book from a year ago where Chris Claremont endeavored to just undo Grant Morrison’s X-Stuff).
So who do I want on the team? I want Paul Cornell, British writer extraordinaire who wrote the ever-loving heck out of the criminally underrated “Captain Britain and MI-13,” and I want Art Adams on the book under the fictional premise that he can do a monthly comic again. Adams was a definitive voice with Claremont back in the day on “Excalibur,” and I think Cornell’s more fresh take on a team like this could give us a modern classic to be reckoned with for sure. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Generation X” by James Asmus and Joe Quinones
Why the book makes our list: “Generation X” from yesteryear is one of the forgotten great titles from the X-Line, and the younger generation of X-Characters is one that consistently gets the short end of the stick. Not in the New 32.
Continued belowNope, “Generation X” is coming back, this time with the remaining old students – Paige, Chamber, Jubilee and M – will become the teachers of the new generation, including members previously from New X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men. Starring characters like Quentin Quire, Rockslide, Broo and more, you’d read this book to learn all about the next generation of X-Men, and with James Asmus writing and Joe Quinones on art, why hell wouldn’t you read it?
Asmus has X-History, and young X-History at that, as he previously wrote “Generation Hope”. He’s growing leaps and bounds as a writer, and he’s someone who can effortlessly blend humor and brilliant character work, and with him onboard, it’d be hard not to fall in love with these characters all over again. Especially with Quinones on art, as he’s shown in the past on books like “FF” that he has the energy and vibrancy in his art to make any moment more than it would be with others. This book would be awkward and funny and dark and brooding, and everything being young is supposed to be about.
School is back in session. You’re not going to want to miss this. -David Harper
“Wolverine” by Rick Remender and James Harren
Why the book makes our list: Rick Remender. I love you. You’re a great guy, and you’d be a phenomenal fit on a solo Wolverine book, as we know you excel with the character.
But let’s be honest: the star of this book would be James Harren.
If you’re unfamiliar with Harren’s work, he’s one of the most brilliant artists in comics, and someone with a penchant for violence and for small character moments. Can you imagine Harren depicting Wolverine fighting 200 charging members of the Hand? Or Wolverine versus Sabretooth?
Remender would build an amazing, overarching story tied to the past, present and future of Logan, and with Harren being the best there is at what he does, this would be your new favorite Wolverine book. -David Harper
The Young Marvel Line
“Runaways” by Jen Wang and Valerio Schiti
Why the book makes our list: How could we have a Marvel line without the “Runaways”? We’d bring the full gang back together, as Nico, Chase, Molly and the rest would be back on the run and continuing to grow from what we’ve seen in the past.
Jen Wang isn’t someone many of you are familiar with, but her work on “Koko Be Good” captures the confusing, exciting nature of youth about as well as anything I’ve read in recent memory. Being young is a hell of a thing, and Wang is someone who can get into the mindset for those characters. With Schiti by her side, she has a partner that is a wonderful storyteller, and someone who really infuses characters with a spark and vitality that few others can match.
Of course, it’s tough for artists to keep up with a monthly schedule, but that’s why Wang – who is also an exceptional artist – will step in for one-shot issues in-between arcs so Schiti could have time to catch up. This would be a beautiful book that would finally bring the “Runaways” back to Marvel, like they always should be. -David Harper
“Young Avengers” by Dennis Hopeless and Sara Pichelli
Why the book makes our list: Following up on Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie is a daunting task, and surely an intimidating one for any creative team. But with Hopeless writing and Pichelli on art? This would be a character driven thing of beauty.
Hopeless has obviously proved himself as someone who can write young characters well with “Avengers Arena”, and with a group of characters who already have an incredible bond and established relationships, I think he’d do a brilliant job. He has such a feel for character and interpersonal dynamics that he’d be able to build the book in new and exciting ways from the creators who preceded them on the book.
And Pichelli? We know already that she’s someone who works incredibly well with younger characters, as we’ve seen on “Ultimate Comics Spider-Man”, and she’d bring the energy and personality to this book that it would need to work.
Continued belowAnd work it would. This team wouldn’t make everyone forget about Gillen and McKelvie’s work, but build off its legacy in fully satisfying and exciting ways. -David Harper
“Anti-Young Avengers” by Joe Casey and Nate Fox
Why the book makes our list: You know what’s better than the Young Avengers? The punk Young Avengers who kick the Young Avengers butts and steal their milk money.
You may not remember, but there are three books that I think are equally lost gems: “Dark Young Avengers,” “Vengeance” and “Dark Reign: Zodiac.” Feature younger and new characters, these three books are all the types of books I have always wanted to see more of from Marvel, yet I never get quite enough. So what I propose is to take the duo behind “Zodiac” and let them loose with a whole ongoing featuring Marvel’s greatest and youngest degenerates, both as a follow-up to “Vengeance” and as a new series all of its own accord.
I mean, we all liked “Young Avengers,” right? And that was from a team that had proven they work well together, with McKelvie and Gillen. So what if we gave the exact opposite of them the same opportunity? Can you imagine the chaos magic already being brewed off on the horizon? It is something that would be truly epic. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Ms. Marvel” by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona
Why the book sticks around: Something that nearly didn’t make the cut in the MC2 universe, I’m glad it did. Even though there has been only one issue, this is a book that is very representative of the best Marvel has to offer. If G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona can keep the magic of this book going, we’ll have one of the very best examples of a new, young hero in a very long time in Kamala Khan. -David Harper
The Cosmic Line
“Guardians of the Galaxy” by Keith Giffen and Tom Fowler
Why the book makes our list: “Guardians of the Galaxy” has been one of my favorite books in the past, and Giffen was a big part of laying the foundation of that with his “Star Lord” mini from “Annihilation Conquest”. He’s a writer who has a perfect sensibility for the book, combining high stakes with humor to create the perfect environment for this book to thrive.
Giffen is someone who excels at character work as well, and Tom Fowler is an artist who would be a perfect partner for him. He has a lot of the strengths that Giffen’s frequent partner Kevin Maguire has, but with some unique strengths of his own. I love the way he tells a story, and I think the two of them would work together phenomenally.
In this book, Giffen and Fowler would keep these Guardians focused on galactic threats, as they’re not the Avengers, but something more – the unlikely band of heroes that are saving the universe on the regular. These are the Guardians I’d want to see. -David Harper
“Nova Corps” by Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opeña
Why the book makes our list: Incredibly, this is the only Hickman book we have in our list, but as he proved in “Infinity”, Hickman is a guy who can write the living hell out of a cosmic story. In this story, the Nova Corps will have reformed, and led by Richard Rider, they’ll actually become the intergalactic police force that they are meant to be.
And with Opeña drawing? Sheesh. Imagine those space battles! A bevy of Nova’s versus an annihilation wave! Rich head-to-head against Silver Surfer for the fate of a planet! Better yet, can you imagine the freaking on-screen displays we’d get from Hickman and Opeña while we’re getting a view from inside a Nova corpsman’s helmet? Epic!
This would be the flagship of our cosmic line, and it would take the Nova Corps to the next level. -David Harper
“ROM” by Brian Bendis and Kevin Maguire
Why the book makes our list: To put it bluntly, Bendis’ current run on “Guardians of the Galaxy” is not a good comic.
However, with surprise to no one, Maguire’s one issue of “Guardians of the Galaxy” was amazing, and a complete turn-around for the series.
Continued belowIt’s clear that Bendis and Maguire can work well together, and it’s also clear that a cosmic book is much needed in the Marvel U. Bendis has stated in the past a fondness for ROM, and if the issue of “Guardians” by Bendis and Maguire is any indication, then the two of them could obviously do some amazing comics together. So if we’re going to bring back ROM — and, believe you me, it’s something that will inevitably happen in our lifetime — then we should bring him back with a creative team that can a) make magic together and b) has a fondness for the character enough to want to bring that character back anyway. If you put Bendis and Maguire on a new ROM title, you won’t get the old ROM back — but I’d wager we’d get something equally exciting. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Silver Surfer” by Dan Slott and Mike Allred
Why the book sticks around: While we haven’t read it yet, can you really do better than Slott and Allred on a Silver Surfer book that, according to Matt, is “Doctor Who” like? No! You cannot. Why try to surpass perfection. You can’t. That’s why it is perfection. -David Harper
The Spider-Line
“Amazing Spider-Man” by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos
Why the book sticks around: If there is one thing that has been made clear over the past few years that Slott has had at Marvel Comics, it’s that he absolutely adores Spider-Man. Everything about the character — every tiny minute, every overt aspect, all the things that you think you love about Spider-Man is something that Dan Slott adores about the character. And frequent collaborator Humberto Ramos and Slott have now done so much together on the series that to split them up when there are clearly so many stories left to tell seems just a shame; at the very least it seems almost criminal. There are many people who COULD write and illustrate Spider-Man, but all things considered, there is only one creative team that actually should. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Miles Morales, Ultimate Spider-Man” by Brian Bendis and David Marquez
Why the book sticks around: Through Miles Morales’ continuing adventures, the Ultimate universe gets to stay alive. In my mind, this book is better on its own, as it allows Bendis and Marquez to just do their own thing, building up Miles’ world without having to get roped into events and other shenanigans that throw a book off its course. With these two involved, I am in for the long haul. Make mine, Miles Morales. -David Harper
The Marvel UK Line
“Bloodstone” by Kathryn Immonen and Stuart Immonen
Why the book makes our list: Between “Nextwave” and “Avengers Arena”, the family Bloodstone has seen a boost in their Q rating over the past decade, and I think many, many people would love to see an expansion of their role in the Marvel universe. And how amazing would an ongoing series about Elsa and Cullan getting into their family business be? The duo would, based out of their family manor, go on monster hunts, taking us into different, dark corners of the Marvel universe, and with two brilliant creators in Kathryn and Stuart Immonen taking us there.
The best part? With such a diverse cast of monsters with different signature looks in the Marvel U, it would allow Stuart to dial in his chameleonic styles to whatever works best for each arc. Frankenstein is the monster? Let’s go dark and gothic. Twilight style vampires? Let’s see some manga style art. Whatever is the line of best fit, Stuart could find it, all the while Kathryn provides the exceptional character work and strong interpersonal skills we’ve long known her for.
This book would maybe be my favorite book of the line, and would immediately become a cult hit. -David Harper
“Captain Britain and the Captain Britain Corps” by Al Ewing and Stephanie Hans
Why the book makes our list: The second of my anglophile paradise on Marvel’s Earth, I think an Otherworld title is more than necessary. Lets be real: there should be a Captain Britain book just as often as there is a Captain America book, and Captain Britain arguably has a more rich environment to utilize — Otherworld, the Braddock Academy, MI-13 etc. There’s a lot out there that is just being left in a corner untouched for who knows what reason, but if comics have anything going for them it’s that if you team-up the right creators for a project you can create a smash hit.
Continued belowSo, lets put noted “2000 AD” storyteller and genuine British Person Al Ewing on the writer side, and then Magnificent Artist and often Heartbreakingly Good Talent Stephanie Hans on as well. Just take Hans’ issue of “Journey into Mystery” or “The Fearless Defenders,” that gorgeous fantasy landscape with rich, emotive characters, and then take Ewing’s excellent voice that has been developing in spades within “Mighty Avengers.” There is real potential here to make Captain Britain as relevant as he needs to be. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Knights of Pendragon” by Rob Williams and Paul Grist
Why the book makes our list: If you’ve been following the Revolutionary War at Marvel, then you may have already read the “Knights of Pendragon” one-shot. If you haven’t I’d recommend going and picking it up, because — and I’m being hyperbolic but not mincing my words here — it’s the best issue of the event so far, and it will likely remain so. In reality, Knights of Pendragon feels like a fancy way of making an MI-13 book, but there’s still a lot of potential here; get Pete Wisdom to run a team with different, rotating members like Union Jack and Sir Gawain and Black Knight and more and you’ve got another great British showcase series.
So with that in mind, we’re going with the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mentality and keeping Rob Williams aboard to write, particularly because the fact that he’s no longer writing Marvel ongoings (he was once writing two!) is a shame. However, because he’s one of comics most underrated talents (partially because, well, scheduling is not his best friend), let’s get Paul Grist on the book to give it a “Jack Staff” vibe. Grist and Williams are two fantastic and under-represented talents in comics, two people whose voices and comic libraries showcase great and wonderful ideas that we need to have more of in comics. I have no doubts that “Knights of Pendragon” could become the next “Daredevil” under their helm. -Matthew Meylikhov
Everything Else
“Defenders” by Matt Fraction and Jamie McKelvie
Why the book makes our list: You’ll see the term get tossed around a lot, but sometimes books get unfairly cancelled. I say unfairly because, while the market may justify the death of a book, it won’t necessarily be able to justify its initial goals; fair is a relative term, after all. But with the case of “Defenders,” this book’s cancellation was definitely unfair — it had incredibly lofty goals, a very longform plan in place, and one that had to be truncated to about two issues as Jamie left the book to do more fruitful projects and Matt was forced to condense his big epic idea about storytelling in the Marvel Universe into a page. It was such a shame.
So you know what? Lets bring it back. The first story is done and out of the way, so now we there is a chance to maybe focus a bit more, tell something a bit more direct and allow Matt and Jamie to fucking kill it with a Doctor Strange and friends series. I have no doubts that it can be as exciting and fun as the original “Defenders” was, in all its underrated glory. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Fantastic Four” by Faith Erin Hicks
Why the book makes our list: I’ll be honest and say that, all things considered, I’ve liked the past few runs of “Fantastic Four” comics. They’re all different, but they come from prominent and talented creators who have really strong ideas of what they want to do, and they take the books to interesting new sci-fi highs (and, I guess, on occasion lows as well).
But one thing that I think defines the FF that isn’t always utilized to the fullest outside of some choice moments is the family aspect. I think it’s something that is always there and usually good, but it never quite hits all the right spots. I think what we need is a fresh voice, someone who has proven they have a great way of establishing depth and heart at the core of their stories, and someone who has always managed to infuse a very personal connection into their work — and that, to me, is Faith Erin Hicks. From “Superhero Girl” to “Friends with Boys” and beyond, Hicks is someoen who has been able to tell extremely outlandish stories with great personal investment, and looking at that new Fantastic Four film line-up, I think Hicks is the exact right person to tell the kind of stories I’d want to see in a film with those actors. -Matthew Meylikhov
Continued below“Heroes for Hire” by Christopher Priest and Mark Bright
Why the book makes our list: The answer to this is sort of “Because Quantum & Woody, duh.”
But if that’s too dismissive of a response for you, then I’ll elaborate: because Priest and Bright’s “Quantum & Woody” is the perfect template for what we should want to see in a “Heroes for Hire” book — a diverse cast, great recurring gags, reluctant heroes and more. “Quantum & Woody” is the definition of a lost gem (though it is available now on Comixology!), and if that magic could be recaptured like lightning in a bottle and unleashed on a reinvention of the adventures of Luke Cage and Danny Rand, I can’t even imagine the epic, amazing and ground-breaking work these two could once again create in Marvel’s sandbox. -Matthew Meylikhov
“Iron Fist: the Living Weapon ” by Kaare Andrews
Why the book sticks around: Umm…have you seen the preview? Kaare Andrews is going to blow people’s minds when this book drops, and whatever parallel universe we travel into, this book is certain to exist. -David Harper
“Marvel Team-Up” by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Evan “Doc” Shaner and Ramon Perez
Why the book makes our list: Many will question the lack of “Daredevil” on this list, but in the MC2, we’re taking the team of that book to the next level. This book would be written by Mark Waid, with a rotating art team of Chris Samnee, Doc Shaner and Ramon Perez (all from Comic Twart!) alternating arcs with Javier Rodriguez coloring them. It would find them pairing up characters and teams from the Marvel universe into shorter, two or three issue arcs that are like old school blasts of continuity-free fun.
The MC2 universe will build together, but sometimes, you need to cut a little slice out for a bit more fun and adventure. With this, you’ll see anyone from A-list to the very bottom of the B-list featured, and with Waid and that cadre of artists involved, it will be of the highest of quality. -David Harper
“Moon Knight” by Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey
Why the book sticks around: When we were brainstorming who we would want on a “Moon Knight” title, we immediately thought about how amazing a team of Warren Ellis, Declan Shaley and Jordie Bellaire would be. They are the perfect team for the book, so we’d make sure that in our universe, they’re who we’d get.
Oh wait, they are ACTUALLY the team on the book in the real Marvel universe. Well, in that case, great job Marvel. We see eye-to-eye here. -David Harper
“She-Hulk” by Charles Soule and Javier Pulido
Why the book sticks around: The first issue of this book was a complete delight, and with Soule writing a truly original She-Hulk story and Pulido delivering some of the best visuals in comics today (with Muntsa Vicente colors!), this is a book that we just can’t make better than it already is. The last book of the MC2 line is one that it shares with the real Marvel universe, as it should be. -David Harper
