October 2012 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review

          WARNING – This article contains spoilers relating to the end of Avengers Vs. X-Men so if you do your best to avoid them, read Avengers Vs. X-Men #12 and then come back here.

          Hello comic book fans. It is Previews time again, and that means taking a peak through the pages and seeing what the different publishers have for us, as well as some possible gift ideas for fans of the fantastic or perhaps someone who has never picked up a comic book before. December, and the holidays, is a perfect time to indoctrinate someone new into this exciting and constantly evolving hobby.

          We are going to start this month with Marvel. With the conclusion of Avengers Vs. X-Men upon us the Marvel Universe is a very different place. There was a fair amount of bad reviews surrounding the storyline but it provided something that not many other cross-overs could, a sense of closure, real change, and renewal. House of M was the opening salvo that led the inhabitants of the 616 universe to where they are now. Unlike Dark Reign, which really didn’t create any permanent change and really was just a chance to re-brand, Avengers Vs. X-Men has created real change. Marvel has taken advantage of this by shaking up the creative teams, and launching new chapters for many, if not most, of Marvel’s most recognizable characters, and concepts.

          The first book listed is perhaps one of the most drastically changed, Thunderbolts. The team is completely different from any previous incarnation and features five characters who do not function well in a team environment, who now have to act as a team. Red Hulk has hand picked Elektra, Deadpool, Punisher, and Venom to make up the roster. With a team like that and a writer like Daniel Way you can be sure that the threats will be big, and the response by General “Thunderbolt” Ross and his team will be even bigger. Steve Dillon provides the art and if the preview pages are any indication he has the right kind of style to bring the over the top violence (with the above cast would you expect anything less?) to the page.

          Jonathan Hickman, one of Marvel’s best writer’s, and Jerome Opena, a powerhouse of a penciler are ushering in the next era for the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, with the first two issues of The Avengers. 18 team members have been announced including some surprises (Cannonball, and Sunspot), and those you would expect (the movie line up of the Avengers). Mr. Hickman has stated that the roster will actually expand to 22 members. With a line up that size it is a good thing this book will be shipping twice a month. The other aspect I am looking forward to is the done in one stories that Mr. Hickman has also mentioned in relation to this title. The Marvel Universe is a much different world after Avengers Vs. X-Men, and those changes have forced the Avengers to think globally, and the cast size showcases that. I am psyched for another spin on the current flagship franchise of Marvel Comics.

          The first two issues of the first of two promised X-Force titles, Cable and X-Force, are released in December. I am not sure why but this line up of characters speaks to me. Separately I like the characters, but they aren’t a draw for me, but Domino, Colossus, Dr. Nemesis, Forge, and the epitome of the 90’s, Cable, fill the pages of this book, and together, I am intrigued by the line up. From the looks of the early art previews I wonder if Pyotr is done with Cytorak? Dennis Hopeless isn’t a writer that has really wowed me but with Salvador Larroca providing the art I will definitely give this book a try. The team is wanted and on the run, and with Cable leading, and, from the solicitations, recruiting the team, this book might be the grittier of the two X-Force books. We will have to see what the other book has to offer when announced.

          The gritty award of the month might have to go to my Marvel Pick of the Month, and that is Avengers Arena. For months I had mentioned how Avengers Academy seemed to have lost its purpose and quickly derailed after the initial arc. This gives those kids a purpose, and that purpose is to survive. As a fan of Battle Royale I am anxious to see a similar premise applied to the teens of the Marvel Universe. We see the Avengers Academy kids, a couple of the Runaways, Darkhawk, and students of the Braddock Academy having to resort to methods they never imagined when Arcade pits them all against each other at a newly revamped Murder World. The creative team of Dennis Hopeless (again), and Kev Walker on art, have gone on record as saying that this book will have a body count, and no one is safe. Count me in!

          Uncanny Avengers #1 proved to be an amazing read, with Rick Remember proving, yet again, that the Avengers is right where he belongs. John Cassaday’s art is always a joy to look at, and even though when I see the likes of Captain America, and Thor on the same page it automatically feels like an Avengers book, the way Rick weaved the dialogue, creating a smooth interaction between Havok and Captain America, allowed it to feel natural. This is definitely a great way to start off the Marvel Now! Initiative, and a good way to weave the X-Universe in with the rest of the toys in the sandbox. Issue #3 of the series is out in December and I say pick it up! Go and get #1, and get #2 held for you because if the first issue was any indication, this is a ride you will not want to stop!

          Some of the biggest fallout is sure to come in the pages of the All-New X-Men #4 where the original 5 X-Men meet their counterparts. The meeting between the original Cyclops and the current one who just murdered their mentor in cold blood is sure to be intense, to say the least. The preceding issue, #3, shows us the status of the Phoenix 5 once the dust cleared. I cannot wait, and am a little nervous, about the status of Emma in the Marvel Now world, and with this book being the flagship X-Book I hope it can provide me those answers.

          Amazing Spider-Man #699.1 brings us the return of Morbius the Living Vampire, no doubt this will lay some of the groundwork for his own, upcoming solo series. That is the only reason I am picking up this book. I have normally found the .1 books to not deliver in terms of story, and I have yet to read one that actually felt important, but this is one .1 that seems to count. Although I have a feeling it also could have been the #0 issue for Morbius, but it helps having Spider-Man’s marquee appeal.

          An end of another era happens at Marvel in December. Amazing Spider-Man #700 is the final issue of that series. With the recent announcement that Peter Parker will not be slinging the webs in Superior Spider-Man #1, it makes one wonder what exactly is going to go down in these pages, and if Peter Parker will be bowing out of the 616 universe, much like his Ultimate counterpart did? I am sure Peter Parker will still be around, and considering that they never undid the whole Mephisto debacle, I believe Dan Slott when he says that this is going to break the internet in half.

          Writer extraordinaire Rick Remember, and uber artist Phil Noto brings us the conclusion of Final Extinction and this volume of Uncanny X-Force in issue #35. The recent revelations about the line up of Psylocke’s X-Force makes me curious about the end of this volume. Notably a female Fantomex?, Spiral?, Mohawk Storm? This must be one heck of a transition issue. With Wolverine off the team, (thankfully, no knocks against the scrappy Canuck but how many books can he appear in without the powers of DC’s Flash?) does Psylocke have the strength to carry on the teams mission? This final issue of Remember’s X-Force should hopefully provide closure to Wolverine’s team, and help set up the answers to the above question. Kudos to Marvel for putting Ororo back in the ‘hawk.

          That brings us to the end of our look at Marvel, up next will be DC Comics. Watch for it shortly.