Aug 2012 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review
The October solicits are upon us and I finally did something I had been doing a little of but sat down and seriously looked at my pull list. I wanted to decrease my monthly single issues allowing me more room to purchase trade paperbacks and original graphic novels, and after a couple of hours (not joking) I have completed my task. Some of my choices might surprise people, at the end of the day this will allow me to focus on the characters and franchises that I have grown to love.
I want to start with Marvel Comics this month for two reasons: 1) The Marvel Now initiative is launching, and 2) Marvel was affected most by my pull list downsizing.
Marvel Now! Point One #1 is an introduction into the new status quo and features a who’s who of Marvels creative pool. Little is known of the actual stories in this issue but I am assuming it was similar to the peeks we saw in the first Marvel Point One issue, a mixture of genres, and style that brought to light some slightly faded characters, and threw them into the spotlight.
My Marvel Pick of the Month is going to the new Rick Remember penned Uncanny Avengers #1. John Cassady (one of my favorite artists) is handling the art chores for this team that combines the world of the X-Men with that of the Avengers. The starting roster of Thor, Scarlet Witch, Captain America, Rogue, Wolverine and team leader Havoc is intriguing and I actually tried to dislike the idea of this title but as it moves closer to it’s launch date I find myself increasingly excited at the story potential for such a mixture of characters and personality types. It is a powerhouse of a team, but also one that is riddled with emotional scarring from their collective pasts. I have the distinct feeling that this book will become the corner stone of the new Marvel Universe post Avengers Vs. X-Men and I want to be in on the ground floor.
A+X looks to be an anthology title that will feature two stories each month, pairing an X-Men related character with an Avengers related character. Looks promising enough and with an introductory creative team including the likes of Jeph Loeb, Warren Ellis, and Dale Keown, it could tell some good stories. I tried the Vs. title of the Avengers Vs. X-Men event and it wasn’t my cup of tea so I will probably pass this title up, but for fans of both franchises I am sure this is going to make them happy.
AVX: Consequences is a mini-series that has its purpose in its title. This intrigues me and I find myself hoping that this is a little more of a personal series then just a tour of the post Avengers Vs. X-Men landscape. Kieron Gillen has been proven to be an excellent writer, and Tom Raney provides the art. I think this might be the hidden gem of this entire storyline, one can hope anyway.
Just a quick thought, with all of the AVX spin offs and mini-series, one was noticeably missing, a Front Line mini-series. This would have been the perfect storyline to really explore the storyline from a regular persons view, and see who supports who.
With my recent pull list purge I am happy to say Avengers is staying. I went back and forth with this title but with the knowledge that Bendis is leaving the title I am going to hang tough while the guard changes. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy Bendis but there has been so much for so long that I need a Bendis break. This final arc seems to be heading to quite a climax, ensuring that Bendis’s playground will be ready for the new creative team!
My favorite Avengers title has been Secret Avengers for some time. This book highlights characters that normally don’t get the chance to shine in other books, but Remember seems to have a firm grasp of the characters and their interactions seem genuine. The only character that is throwing me off is Captain Britain, his personality seems a bit off from what I am used to from him. That is, in my eyes, the only flaw of this book. Remember pays tribute to what has happened before, while telling its own story. Even the chapters that were part of the Avengers Vs. X-Men debacle worked within the larger tapestry of it’s own story. The beautiful covers by Arthur Adams is a definite plus.
The adults get poker, and the kids get flag football. Avengers Academy #38 brings us the much requested match between Avengers Academy and the Jean Grey School. I was relieved to see this title still being solicited, all of the Marvel Now! Information has me worried about a couple of the titles I do collect. While I did have this one removed from my pull list I am still watching the solicits and hope to come back to it when the concept speaks to me a little more.
Allot of titles are ending in October, no doubt to make way for Marvel Now! Relaunches at some point. Those titles ending their runs include: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, FF, New Mutants, and X-Men: Legacy. I am not sad in the slightest to see most of these runs end. Even after relaunch I am sure most of these books will get another new #1.
Hulk becomes Red She-Hulk with issue #58. I understand how I haven’t read the book with any regularity and my knowledge of the Red She-Hulk is limited, but I don’t understand this change. I will check this out on the stand, and while I do like the idea of a female led Marvel comic book, it needs to feel a little more fluid.
Daredevil fans take note, Bendis, Mack, Janson, and Sienkiewicz, some of the most celebrated creators attached to the man without fear, bring us his final story – Daredevil: End of Days #1 . Ben Urich has a writing assignment that is full of mystery, what was Matt Murdock’s final secret?
Marvel always has a reason for dipping into their backlist, and Spaceknights #1 (of 3) is intriguing. This collects the 2000 Spaceknights mini-series by Jim Starlin and Chris Batista. I have three guesses, this is being developed as an animated series for Disney, with storytelling similar to Power Rangers, they will be major players in the cosmic Marvel arena, or perhaps, and I realize this could be a stretch, the Spaceknights are getting their own series as part of the Marvel Now! Initiative. I am expecting an announcement either way in the next couple of months.
Dexter fans can get a fix of their favorite crime fighting serial killer with this new five issue mini-series which pits him against the Skid Row Slasher, Miami’s newest serial killer, all during his high school reunion. New York Times Bestselling Author, Jeff Lindsay adds more layers to one of the most popular TV shows of this generation.
As you can tell I made several changes, it is always tough to slim down a pull list but every once in awhile you have to sit back and look at what you do collect, and decide if you are collecting out of a weird feeling of obligation or if you have a genuine love for the characters, or creators. The answers may surprise you.
MY MARVEL PULL LIST
Avengers
AVX: Consequences
Hawkeye
Secret Avengers
Space Punisher
Uncanny Avengers
X-Treme X-Men
SPECIAL ORDER
Fear Itself: Journey Into Mystery Premiere HC
Marvel Now! Point One #1
Oz: The Marvelous Land of Oz TPB
DROPPED AS OF OCTOBER
Captain Marvel
Gambit
Uncanny X-Force
Uncanny X-Men
Wolverine & the X-Men
X-Factor