Forgive the tardy appearance, but today we’re posting on PST time so set your watches accordingly … FOR THE FUTURE!
It’s solicit time again and Marvel has given us the goods for the month of August with all sorts of interesting tricks and twists to delight and amaze. The one thing it didn’t give us was a Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #21. Both the artist and the EIC has both said that they have every intention of continuing the series, but the lack of an issue this month makes me worry that I was right and the magic words of Sean McKeever are going to be that hard to replace. So, if you would, take a moment with me and think fondly of the little book that could, one of the most honest Spider-Titles out there and hope that another issue or two are in our future.
On to the books!
Best Art Studio – Ever get those comics where you feel a little guilty that someone put staples in the middle of it because really, these should be hung up above a mantelpiece so that you can bask in the art full time? Yeah, so best art gallery… SPIDER-MAN: ONE MORE DAY SKETCHBOOK Joe Quesada started out as one my favorite artists from back in the day and any chance get to see the man really strut his stuff on paper reminds me a little of how the guy got his EIC position in the first place. There’s something here about how ‘One More Day’ is going to be hot and controversial, but what’s knocking my socks off is that Joe Quesada is actually offering a ‘master class’ on penciling comics and is going to share his sketchbook at talk about stylistic changes he’s made in his artwork. Spider-Man, pretty exciting. Joey Q, as one of the more influential men in comics showing us how his artwork gets set to paper and giving up tips? We’ve just hit the awesome mark. +++ Runner Up: ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST – WRAITH #2 (of 4) Character design can make or break a new hero of villain and I just wanted to remind everyone that Bill Rosemann, the overseeing editor on the Annihilation: Conquest work has got a fantastic eye for bringing in artists and showing off what they can do. I have no idea who Wraith is, but man am I buying what he’s selling.Best Appeal to a Higher Power – There are no atheists in foxholes as I said last week and even heroes can look to the heavens and wonder ‘WTF?’ Now, unlike you or me, some of them can turn to a teammate and ask these hard questions because they just so happen to have a living god on their team. But leave it to the everyman of Marvel to do it the old fashioned way…
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #40 I wasn’t a big fan of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa when he worked on Marvel Knights: 4 or even the start of his Sensational Spider-Man run but I feel its safe in saying that ever since Civil War, the man has unearthed some pretty interesting stories that talk a lot about Peter as a person and less as the troubled emo kid we know today. Every Spider-Title should have it’s niche if it doesn’t already so that when you pick up the book off the stands, you know what kind of story you’re in for instead of just adding another tale of the web-head to your stack. As much as PAD may have a ‘Friendly Neighborhood’, it’s starting to look like Peter Parker is becoming a little less sensational and a little more human. From the solicit: Above all else, Peter Parker is a decent man. With a good heart. Who has given his life over to the service of others. And in exchange…what has he gotten? Tragedy after tragedy after tragedy…His Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, the list goes on and on…And why? In his darkest hour, Peter demands answers. And the only person who can give them to him is…God?Best Star Studded Gala – There’s always something to celebrate at the House of Ideas and August is no exception…
DAREDEVIL #100 What with Marvel issue numbering being what it has been in these latter years, you take your anniversaries where you can get them. Sometimes, these anniversaries can herald a change back to the old numbering to show how far the book has come (and to give people who file back issues for a living a giant headache) but not Daredevil, since this is the #100th issue from his ‘reboot’ with Kevin Smith; considering the book’s been pretty solid and has garnered a whole new respect with a lot of fans, a super-sized issue is a fantastic idea. From the solicits: Don’t miss the first chapter of the groundbreaking third arc by the award-winning team of Brubaker and Lark–”Without Fear” begins with a bang! Featuring guest artists John Romita Sr., Gene Colan, Lee Bermejo, Alex Maleev, Marko Djurdjevic and more!! Best Forward into the Past – I’ll admit to really liking that phrase, but some days it’ll just very apt.
THE LAST FANTASTIC FOUR STORY 64 pages of what looks like a one shot with Stan “The Man” Lee at the helm of the final FF story. Now, as cool as this is I’m a little confused as to how this book is coming out. After all, didn’t we just do an epic sized ‘The End – Fantastic Four’ mini and aren’t those supposed to be the last stories of their respective characters? Or is this simply the Last Stan Lee story that the Fantastic Four will get? Shouldn’t this be coming out around now considering the movie is due in theaters in June? The solicit gives us little clue: Legendary writer and Fantastic Four co-creator Stan Lee unites with artist John Romita Jr. to tell his final story of the team that started the Marvel age! Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to it, it just seems a little odd.Best Cheeky Cover – Because sometimes that’s what the cover is there for: to judge the book
BLADE #12 As the ill-fated series by Guggenheim and Chaykin wraps up the last of its plot points, the covers continue to have just the right touch by Marko Djurdjevic:
Best Way to Get Me Buying a Book – Everyone looks comics differently, but I like to think there are some universal truths on getting your point across to your audience that get them pulling out the wallet.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #9 Stan Lee, oh back in the day, created a dialogue with his audience that made you the reader feel like an unofficial member of the Bullpen. He always seemed excited about what was going on in the lives of his characters (and still does) and had this utterly friendly vibe and inclusive manner that made comics sound as fantastically fun to write as they were to read. There is just something about that Marvel style that’s been coming across in the solicits for the Immortal Iron Fist; each one has been exciting, dramatic and has delivered on promises of pirate kung-fu chicks. From the solicit: Daniel Rand is the Immortal Weapon of the mystical city of K’un-Lun…the legendary kung fu hero Iron Fist. And after the stunning conclusion of THE LAST IRON FIST STORY, Danny has found himself forced to take part in a reality-spanning kung fu championship that matches the seven — Really! Seven! — Immortal Weapons like himself against one another. The prize is glory, but for Danny, the penalty of losing will be death–this contest is rigged, and there’s no hope of escaping alive. Who has the best kung fu? Find out the hard way in THE SEVEN CAPITAL CITIES OF HEAVEN part 2! By Ed “I Killed Captain America” Brubaker and Matt “I Know Ed Brubaker” Fraction and David “Who Shot J.R.?” Aja.Best Change of Subject – Not giving away the gods? A red herring to throw us off the trail? Or just a 180 from last issue? U DECIDE!
IRON MAN #21 I only really noticed this because #20 sounded (and looked cover-wise) so cool. Iron Man had gone missing in action from World War Hulk and SHIELD and Dum Dum had to decide whether or not to go on without him. The situation looked dire, he cover looked intense and I was wondering how much of a beating Iron Man was going to take at the hands of the Hulk. Now, this issue comes out right in the middle of World War Hulk mini and some other tie-ins, making me pretty sure that the War’s still going on. But this isn’t Shellhead’s top priority; from the solicit: Tony Stark’s duties with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Initiative take him to Omaha, Nebraska, where Iron Man encounters an old hero with a grudge, and two all-new superhumans! Huh? The Initiative is still fighting the Hulk and his space pals over in #5 with a Black Ops team. Does Iron Man get a reprieve from Hulk Busting? Is this Nebraska thing really that important as to take time off from the frontlines of a War? Looks like we’re just going to have to read and find out, folks.Best Friend on Earth? – World War Hulk has a lot going for it in action and comraderie amongst the Warbound, but there are those special few for whom a notable Hulk absence would leave them kind of lonely…
WORLD WAR HULK #3 (of 5) I’m going to come right out and say it: the Hulk’s best friend on Earth couldn’t be anyone else but Rick Jones. Sure, it’s not the most healthy of friendships and certainly forged out of some real bonehead moves, but Rick has always been there for Bruce and his alter-ego… except for when he was shot into space. In fact, Rick Jones has been kind of absent from recent events since Captain Marvel got canceled; if you pick up a copy of Captain America #26 today, you may get a reminder that this guy was a professional sidekick to a lot of big names. So, where has Rick been these days? In Greenland, reading? Hopefully, he’ll be in this issue to talk some sense into people who just consider the Hulk a monster first before a man. From the solicit: But can he survive a merciless assault by one of his oldest and most implacable opponents? What defense can he muster when Dr. Strange unleashes the full power of the Sorcerer Supreme? And who will survive when the Hulk’s best friend on Earth clashes with the Hulk’s first ally from Sakaar?Best Use of Humor – War maybe Hell, but sometimes it’s funny too.
WORLD WAR HULK: FRONT LINE #3 & 4 (of 6) During the Civil War: Frontline series, the back up stories in each issue mostly were historical reflections on what was happening in the Marvel universe and what had happened in years past. Some of the were cool, but on the whole they leant an air of seriousness that I thought Civil War really didn’t need. Spider-Man joining the pro-Registration heroes is nothing like Japanese-Americans having to go to an internment camp and to have that story back up in issue #1 of that series just set a bad tone; again, this may be just me, so your mileage may vary. But with the World War Hulk: Frontline series, it looks like we’re getting two-page humor features instead. A fine idea.Best Name Game – Marvel, Marvel, bo-barvel, banana-fanna-fo-farvel…
WORLD WAR HULK: GAMMA CORPS #2 (of 4) Last month, these guys went by the names of +++ Runner Up: TERROR, INC. #1 (of 5) Causing us to dive back into the handbooks and back issues, David Lapham is bringing back the Marvel horror title with Patrick Zircher, the current artist on Iron Man. Marvel has been doing some really interesting stuff with its horror line and while it may be just a mini-series, we may have an ongoing look at what goes bump in the night from the House of Ideas soon enough. Also interesting to note the name of the cover artist: Jelena Djurdjevic. Popular last name?Best Robot that Needs Beer – Lick his blinky diodes; he’s back in the mainstream
MS. MARVEL #18 In a strange turn of events, Ms. Marvel is ‘recruiting’ Sleepwalker and Machine Man for her solo series’s latest adventure. Strange because she should have the full roster of the Mighty Avengers at her disposal, not to mention SHIELD, but when we last saw him, Aaron Stack was having way too much fun in Nextwave. Now, while Joe Quesada said that Nextwave: Agents of HATE exists in a “universe separate from the main Marvel continuity”, we have seen the ol’ gang together on a few promotional posters for the Initiative. Clever seating arrangement or are the kicks and explosions not too far behind? On top of this, this issue apparently is going to bring us a last page reveal that will, and I quote, “have fans of female heroes buzzing!” Fans of specifically female heroes?Best Backup – Stories that don’t slip through the cracks and don’t interrupt the middle of our books, but just hang out in the back, waiting…
X-Men: ENDANGERED SPECIES I can see no clear reason why this isn’t a mini-series. Are X-Books so hit and miss with sales that putting such an important (and rather interesting sounding) storyline is going to help? Are we going to get a recap trade before the big event touches down in the Fall? Or do they think the idea of a book starring the Beast and scientific exploration won’t get the audience they need? I guess this is what separates me from the big boys over at Marvel marketing, because in order to read about Hank McCoy trying to reverse the effects of M Day, crawling through some of the more nefarious genetic facilities for clues and what sounds like a decent back into his Age of Apocalypse self, you’ll need the following books: UNCANNY X-MEN #489, X-FACTOR #22, NEW X-MEN #41, X-MEN #202Best Brought Back Book – A second volume I never thought I’d see!
WOMEN OF MARVEL VOL. 2 TPB Personally, I love these kinds of things for a variety of reasons. The first volume was picked up on a dare and showed me such distinctive story changes for the female superhero through ages that it really needs to be read as a whole, rather than the selective story approach. Marvel’s heroines have been challengers, activists, business mavens, everyman heroes (everywoman?), fashion plates and goddesses and as the book came chronologically, it was neat to see where the character camera was set, so to speak, and how they caught each side. The next volume promises to have Kitty Pryde, Black Cat, Dagger, Spider-Woman, Tigra, Jubilee plus more, so keep an eye out for it. It’s rather educational.Best Gift for Me – The issue that made me wonder if Marvel had a direct line to my brain…
MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #2 Do I have to mention how much I enjoy the Marvel Adventures line? Or does the inclusion of two of my personal favorite characters in wacky hijinks say enough? From the solicit: On the run from authorities and trying to figure out a way to cure his gamma-irradiated curse, Bruce Banner enlists the help of Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. But things get out of hand when a lab accident creates another Hulk…and another…and another. Some days, the less seriously you take your stories, the more you can get away with…The full list of August Solicitations for Marvel is this way. Excelsior!
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
As I understand it, the Stan Lee FF story is a “The End” that has been in the works for quite some time. Then Alan Davis was looking for a project, was interested in doing FF: The End too, and they figured since these are out of continuity, why not have both?
May 24th, 2007 at 5:34 am
Er, Carla, I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but could you please learn how to make paragraphs ? It is very painful to try and read the section titles when they’re jumbled through the end of the preceding paragraph…