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March 2014 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review

Time to pay a visit to the pages of the latest Previews. We are looking at issue 306, the March 2014 issue which lists product to appear in stores starting in May 2014. First will be Marvel as they have impressed me more and more with the releases under the All-New initiative. I will highlight some of my favorites, and make suggestions on what you should be picking up.

           Before we dive into the regular monthlies we cannot fail to mention the start of the next crossover. As much as people complain about crossovers, they still sell and because of that we get Original Sin. This sees the death of the Watcher, a chronicler of all major events to hit the Marvel Earth, but his days of watching are now over. Part crime procedural, part superhero drama, this is an interesting idea, but will hopefully not drag out as some of these events at the big 2 do, and yes this is meant as a jab at the bloated and going on too long Forever Evil over at DC. After having the 0 issue in April, May brings the true start of the series in Original Sin #1 and 2 (of 8) penned by Jason Aaron with art by Mike Deodato. The premise is solid enough so I may check out the first issue out of curiosity.

What I will be passing on are the tie-ins. I have found that the majority of tie-ins are completely unimportant to the main series, and other than the titles I collect regularly I will pass on them, but for completionists be on the lookout for tie-ins in Avengers #29, #30, Mighty Avengers #10, and Deadpool #29, each one with the same solicitation text “What did he see?”

          With the return of Peter Parker and the Amazing Spider-Man title we are also getting a Dan Slott written, Ramon Perez drawn year one story that will give us a new take on the first 60 days of the wall-crawlers adventures. With his origin having been retold in two movies, a Season One graphic novel, and countless times in his own series, I am going to pass on this. This is being numbered using the numbering from the Amazing Spider-Man series but adding a .1 to it. While the quality of Marvel’s output has been incredibly enjoyable I wish they would stop with all of this point numbering system. It plays on a completionists urge to have a full run and in my eyes is taking advantage of the collector’s wallets.

          Now that my one Marvel rant is done, let’s look at books that you should be checking out. Moon Knight is a character I have found not to be as new reader friendly as he could be but that changed when I picked up the first issue of the new series written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Declan Shalvey. They aren’t shying away from playing with the title characters mental state, and even reference his past series but this take is extremely fresh, and you can go into it without any previous knowledge of the character.  His costume has changed into something sleeker and much more recognizable, no more hiding in the shadows for this guy. The first issue shows us a very dangerous and effective Marc Spector and the last page reveal is intriguing and makes me want to see more of this world that Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey are building for our anti-hero. Issue #3 is out in May and is worth picking up; get the first two issues while you’re at it.

          The character that Marvel is trying really hard to make us like is getting a four issues mini. Deadly Hands of Kung Fu features Shang Chi. Mike Benson writes and Tan Eng Huat draws. I may check this out on the stand but just the sheer fact that Marvel is pushing the character on us in the pages of Avengers World (really a 22 page fight sequence?) is making me leery of this series to begin with.

          Magneto by Cullen Bunn (W) and Gabriel Hernandez Walta (A) is an odd book. While I liked the first issue everything about his characterization struck me as off. He seems to be more of a What If watered down version of the once great Master of Magnetism. The art is interesting and if the leap in character development was a little more believable I would have been willing to go further with the book. Cullen Bunn is a very capable writer but he explains everything too hard in an attempt to make this new status quo acceptable, but unfortunately, he doesn’t quite capture the character the way other new launches from Marvel have.

          The first act of George Romero’s Empire of the Dead draws to a close with the fifth issue of the series. While I did not like the original announcement that vampires would be playing a role in the book as it seemed it would be similar to Max Brook’s Extinction Parade, I have grown to enjoy this series after having read the first two issues. The power plays between humans, vampires, and zombies are much more political in nature and the boardroom drama is just as intriguing, if not more when compared to Extinction Parade. It is also nice to see how the zombies evolved over time and with their increasing intelligence I am sure we will see this kind of idea play out in other zombie fiction. This is a must buy for Romero and horror fans alike.

          While I am sampling multiple Avengers titles at the moment as I pick and choose which ones will be on my pull list and one that grabbed me and reeled me back in was Uncanny Avengers by Rick Remember (W) and Daniel Acuna (A).  The most recent issue I read was a chapter in Ragnorak and boy talk about a cliffhanger, and even though I know full well the entire world was not destroyed, otherwise there wouldn’t be solicitations in May but the storytelling by the creative team pulls you in and with the upcoming Planet X storyline my appetite is back for this Avengers, X-Men mash up, plus Kang continues to play with the timeline, which is never a good thing but it is a fun thing to watch.

          Even though he doesn’t have his own series, Thanos is getting an annual by two people who know the titan quite well: Jim Starlin (W) and Ron Lim (A). My only complaint about this book is the hyperbole present in the solicitation: “…redefine the Marvel Universe in the near future.” How long before every solicitation reads this because it seems at least one comic book in each monthly Previews seems to make this claim. We get it Marvel, everything is changing but why not stop and tell stories in the newly changed universe before doing it again. This book does act as a prequel to Thanos: The Infinity Revelation, an OGN due for release soon.

          Loki: Agent of Asgard continues to impress and while the second issue wasn’t as strong as the first issue it is understandable as the Trickster from Asgard is still building his supporting cast. My disappointment lies in the missing follow up to the interesting cliffhanger from the first issue but I will stay with this title assuming that the issue one reveal will play in future issues. Al Ewing (W) and Lee Garbett (A) bring us back to the continuation of the story from the All-New Marvel Point One issue which saw Loki locate the sword of Sigurd and take it as his weapon. In issue 4 out in May, Sigurd wants that sword back.

          The first arc of Black Widow draws to a close with issue 6 in May when Natasha confronts the big bad who has been in her life for awhile, without her knowing. While the writing by Nathan Edmondson is strong, it really is Phil Noto on art that gives this book such an independent identity and a definitive look for Black Widow while fusing with Edmondson’s writing to make this a must have for fans of the toughest lady to be a part of the Avengers.

          Marvel is really doing well by its female characters because She Hulk by Charles Soule (W) and Javier Pulido (A) has carved out a permanent place on my pull list as long as the two creators are part of the book. In the first two issues we are treated to a Jennifer who is striking out on her own, starting her own law firm in Brooklyn, and getting an interesting supporting cast including Hellcat, and an assistant with a monkey, that is with her at all times. Throw in a case involving Doctor Doom being sued by his son and this is a quirky title that will give She Hulk an identity all her own in the Marvel Universe. This is another book that is a must have. Daredevil fans take not, Matt makes an appearance in issue 4 out in May.

          All-New X-Factor has issues #7 and #8 out in May and while Peter David (W) and Carmine Di Giandomenico (A) continue the slow build of the team it is incredibly captivating. Issue #3 brought Danger into the book as well as the knowledge that Quicksilver is reporting back to another character that has a strong interest in the current team, and Polaris especially. Cypher and Warlock will eventually join the team and with Cypher on a May issue cover that will surely be sooner rather than later.

That wraps up our look at Marvel for May. Good reading and don’t forget to head on down to Book Fair to pick up these and many other titles. If these books don’t interest you, there is a book out there for you, don’t be afraid to experiment.