October 2013 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review
I am getting more and more confused by Marvel these days, and the December solicits continue that confusion. The follow up to Infinity is the aptly named Inhumanity. What confuses me is whether this is a crossover or a re-branding a la Dark Reign? Either way this “event” kicks off with a launch of a new monthly titled Inhumanity by Matt Fraction (W) and Olivier Coipel (A) which focuses on the Inhuman family and specifically Karnak in the first issue. I enjoy the artwork of Olivier Coipel and hope he stays on the title for awhile before Marvel moves him over to the next event comic.
Now we get to the part that confuses me, the numbering. Several stories are tied into Inhumanity and so people know exactly which we get a .INH at the end of each tie in issue. I would just like to point out that INH is not a number. Putting a banner on the top of the cover makes sense to me, the numbering is just silly. The .INH numbering is added onto Mighty Avengers #4, New Avengers #13, Indestructible Hulk #17, Avengers Assemble #22, Uncanny X-Men #15, and Avengers A.I. #7. Surprisingly only one tie in mini is solicited but being Marvel, I am sure more are on the way. Inhumanity: The Awakening #1 (of 2) continues to showcase the younger generation of Marvel’s heroes. Infinity: The Hunt has done an amazing job of introducing us to some of the younger super powered students that reside in the Marvel Universe (why wasn’t there a Department H run school from Canada?) and if you haven’t tried it, pick it up, along with the Heist mini tied into the event, and here we go further with them and see them stuck in between the new Inhumans and those that want to destroy them. This is brought to you by Matt Kindt (W) and Paul Davidson (A).
Well acetate covers are making a return and Origin II #1 (of 5) by Kieron Gillen (W) and Adam Kubert (A) bring it to us. My interest in Wolverine is small and while this series will not grace my collection, fans of the canucklehead will undoubtedly pick up this series. This is a strong creative team and hopefully they can add something interesting to a slightly over exposed character.
Further odd numbering is happening in Avengers when Avengers #24.NOW (again letters are not numbers) by Jonathan Hickman (W) and Esad Ribic (A) hits the shelves in December. While I do enjoy the Avengers and will be picking this up out of curiosity, is it really necessary to change the team again? One of the reasons I ended up shying away from Marvel is because of all the sales inflating stunts they do. They don’t seem to have faith in their own product and instead want to attach all the books to an event, a relaunch, or any other ploy. Let them stand on their own. The Avengers is a great team and it would be nice to see a long-term plan that lets the team gel, grow, and not be bogged down by everything else. There is such a thing as too big. Either way I will be picking up this issue out of curiosity.
Fans of Peter Parker get to see him in the red and blue again as we get Amazing Spider-Man #700.1, .2, .3, and .4 by a slew of creators including David Morrell (W), Joe Casey (W), Jen Van Meter (W), Clay Chapman (W), Klaus Janson (A), Tim Green (A), Emma Rios (A), and Javier Rodriguez (A). With all of the recent hints at upcoming Marvel Now Wave 2 story lines, and new series, I can’t help but wonder if this heralds the return of Peter and the end of Superior. It would almost be a shame because what I have read of Spider-Man since Doc Ock took over has interested me more than when Peter resided in his own body. It is a testament to the talent of Dan Slott to make something so oddball work as well as it does.
Scarlet Spider #25 by Chris Yost (W) and David Baldeon (A) brings an end to that series. Sad to see this go but comic book buyers obviously want to see only the headline characters who appear in multiple series instead of giving a shot to something without an X or Avengers in the title. Maybe they will relaunch this as the Superior Scarlet Spider? Probably not, but it would be nice to see Kaine appear in another title. His character has been developed to the point where he shouldn’t be buried in the back of the character closet.
Having been unjustly removed from Justice League 3000 over at the distinguished competition Kevin Maguire pops over to Marvel for a guest spot drawing the Brian Michael Bendis written Guardians of the Galaxy #10. I will be picking this up just to see Maguires art as he is the master of facial expressions in my opinion, and a tale focusing on Angela and Gamora seems like a perfect fit for Maguire’s style.
It’s interesting how the X-Men of the past have not been on the covers of any of the books since the end of X-Men: Battle of the Atom and issue of All-New X-Men #20 looks to continue that as the cover features X-23, returned from her stint in Avengers Arena, and she is lip locked with a mysterious man who has been blacked out on the cover. If the original X-Men stuck around I would love to see the blacked out figure as Cyclops. Imagine Wolverine’s reaction if she hooked up with past Scott? Soap opera to the extreme!
Judging from the solicitation art for X-Men #8 by Brian Wood (W) and Terry Dodson (A) it looks like M is joining the book, which would make sense since X-Factor recently ended. I could be wrong since the solicitation text mentions Frenzy, but I am hoping for M.
It is kind of scary that Wolverine & the X-Men #39 is the highest numbered book put out by Marvel. Probably means it will relaunch soon since it is almost halfway to triple digits and Marvel seems afraid to let books get that high in numbering.
The last two issues of Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe comes out in December and features Hulkvengers, Kraven the Phoenix, and many, many more. Christopher Hastings (W) and Jacopo Camagni (A) look to be bringing the fun in a mini-series that I am so excited to read. These will be coming home with me and I hope they bring the enjoyment the solicitations lead me to believe will fill the pages.
A couple of collections are solicited that are of note. As someone who recently switched to collections over monthlies I am anxious for X-Men: Battle of the Atom HC which collects all 8 parts of the epic X-Men crossover is handled by the creative teams of all of the books involved. X-Men from the past, present, future, and even more future make this a time travel story I am excited to read. I did pick up the first issue of the crossover and while it is tough to not pick up the other single issues I can bide my time knowing that they will all be mine under one cover in January. My only dislike is the price point, $49.99 seems a little steep for a 224 page book.
Uncanny X-Force under the guiding hands of Rick Remender was one of my favourite recent runs at Marvel. While I have several of the single issues I won’t be picking this up but urge anyone who hasn’t experienced the X-Men kill squad to grab the 928 page Uncanny X-Force Omnibus HC by Rick Remender. It collects issues #1-35, #5.1, and #19.1, and material from Wolverine Road to Hell #1 in one volume. I hope they do the same with the Secret Avengers, Vol. 1 another stellar Remender book.
Well that’s my look at the somewhat confusing landscape of Marvel. Some interesting books are coming out I just wish they would make things a little easier to follow.