January 2014 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review
With DC out of the way we turn our focus onto Marvel for product shipping starting in March 2014. I still find it strange that I have switched my love from DC to Marvel. When DC launched the New 52 I loved so many of the books, the chances they were taking, the way the creators were sharing their visions of the iconic characters, but now more than two years in and the corporate control of the characters has become painfully clear and Marvel has clearly shown more trust in their creators and that has payed off with an amazing roster of creator driven books that blend the creators voice with wonderful, rich characters. Marvel is taking what has made Hawkeye a critical and fan favorite and applying it to other characters, including an amazing string of female centric titles. “Hawkeyization” is the word bandied about to describe what Marvel is doing, and it fits.
Let’s dive into what they have coming up. The All-New Marvel Now initiative is still rolling out and while they seemed to be playing it safer with the first round, this new initiative is grabbing the independent bull by the horns and crafting truly creative books that combine some of the best creators in the industry and truly letting their voices shine through. One of the biggest critical and fan favorites that didn’t get an All-New banner the first go around joins the party. Daredevil #1 takes the Man Without Fear and moves him from the mean streets of Hell’s Kitchen and transplants the hyper sensed lawyer to San Francisco. The creative team that made the previous volume a hit are back. Mark Waid writes and Chris Samnee provides the art for what is sure to be another smash.
Not that long ago Moon Knight had a Bendis written series that came and went without much fanfare. They are giving the character another go. This time the writer is one of my favorites, and one sure to bring allot of focus onto the character, namely Warren Ellis. Declan Shalvey is nothing to sneeze at when it comes to an artistic vision. The combination of Ellis and Shalvey will bring a completely new take on the multi personality defender of New York, and one that you should check out.
Silver Surfer has long been absent in the Marvel Universe, making sparse appearances here and there, but nothing devoted to him only, until now. Dan Slott, the man who made Doc Ock as Spidey work, writes the stories of the herald of Galactus, and Michael Allred, the creator who made us love the quirkiest X-Force lineup ever, draws the adventures of the bearer of the power cosmic. The preview in All-New Marvel Now Point One made me laugh and excited to try the first issue of Norrin Radds new series Silver Surfer #1.
One of the most radically redesigned characters to appear in this series of launches is in the pages of All-New Ghost Rider #1. Felipe Smith (W) and Tradd Moore (A) have replaced the motorcycle with a sports car and the slight horror appeal with a manga sensibility. I don’t know allot about this series but the redesign is enough to pique my curiosity, and the East LA based hero will be in my reading pile for at least the first issue.
Carol Danvers is a busy lady, working with the Avengers, joining up with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and soon she can add her own comic book to the list. Kelly Sue DeConnick is back as writer and with her is David Lopez on art. The book had a very vocal, but small, fan base the first time around, and with strong hints at her appearance in the Marvel movie-verse in the future this series may just stick. The only thing that kind of threw me off in the solicitation is the mention of a new romance. I’m not saying that romance isn’t needed in comics, it absolutely is, but it should never be at the forefront of a solicitation. Comic books are sadly still a boys club. There are female readers but the bulk of the readers, especially of superheroes, are male. Men will not buy a comic book to see the blossoming relationship of a hero but want to see a character who grows, kicks butt, and takes names. Hopefully that will be seen in Captain Marvel #1. The first issue will be joining my reading pile and if it embodies a feeling like the first issue of Black Widow it may just find itself on my pull list.
Poor James Rhodes, he hasn’t got much love in his War Machine persona but Ales Kot (W) and Garry Brown (A) are going to give it another go, this time though in his Secret Avengers persona of Iron Patriot. After breaking off from the Secret Avengers he brings the war on the bad guys to the home front, while a new villain makes his presence known. This will be worth a look at on the shelf and if the writing is as strong as the art looks it may just make it home with me.
Magneto has long been a vital part of the Marvel Universe and Cullen Bunn (W) and Gabriel Hernandez Walta (A) break Magneto away from Cyclops and his group of X-Men and takes him on a more proactive journey and one that Wolverine’s kill squad (X-Force) once went on. A journey that sees him take down threats, new and old, to mutant kind. Magneto has shined as a leader of the darker side of mutantdom and he has lost allot of that recently. Don’t get me wrong he is still pretty bad ass but it will be a nice change to see him return to a darker Magneto. The first issue of this book will be worth checking out.
Ales Kot is writing Iron Patriot and fittingly he is also the writer of the 3rd relaunch of the Secret Avengers. I was a huge fan of the first Secret Avengers but the recent volume did little to excite but with any luck this volume will rekindle the love I once had for this title. The lineup is similar to the last go around so I am not getting my hopes up. Either way I will try out this first issue out of loyalty, and hopefully the magic that has been created in the pages of Hawkeye and Black Widow is magic that Ales and Michael can bring to this once great title.
I did not like the wholesale slaughter that littered the pages of Avengers Arena, but Dennis Hopeless (W) and Kev Walker (A) may redeem themselves in my eyes with an intriguing concept that may not have been possible had it not been for Avengers Arena, and that is Avengers Undercover. Anachronism, Deathlocket, Bloodstone, and Hazmat are broken from their experience and them turning to the dark side is believable. They hope the Masters of Evil think so too. In a bid to take down some of the deadliest Avengers enemies they decide to play evil themselves. How long before their pretend evil begins to become reality and the urge to take down the Masters of Evil becomes an urge to fully join their ranks? I look forward to seeing how Dennis Hopeless explores what could be the darkest chapter of these characters lives in Avengers Undercover #1.
Fans of Doc Ock Spidey take note, Peter is returning. With the very close, inevitable relaunch of Amazing Spider-Man with Peter in the drivers seat, it gives limited time to enjoy the tale that Slott has been crafting. I will be sad to see Peter return but look forward to a hopeful future omnibus collecting Dan Slott’s amazing story.
A new series that I will be hyping as long as the quality is retained from the first issue is Black Widow. The fourth issue of this recent go at the Widow’s tale hooked me with Phil Noto’s beautiful art and Nathan Edmondson’s guiding words. Even with only the first issue out it is clear that this is the team that can make this book a hit, and I can’t imagine anyone else on the book, even this early in its run. Black Widow’s solo titles have always dealt with retribution for a dark past and this one continues that tradition but in a way that is fresh and new. If it wasn’t for Hawkeye’s recent success we wouldn’t have this addictive take on one of the deadliest women in all of comics.
Another title I cannot rave about enough is the Peter David written and Carmine Di Giandomenico drawn All-New X-Factor. A corporate sponsored team is nothing new but the way Peter David keeps the true nature of Serval Industries covered by a thin veil of mystery is going to keep me coming back for more. Like Black Widow this book will be on my pull list for the foreseeable future. The series double ships in March with issues #4 and #5 bringing Danger to the team.
Well that concludes our look at Marvel for the March shipping issues and already has me excited for what the April solicitations might bring.