Marvel Previews for January

Lee: Marvel has always been a favorite of mine and even though I get fewer and fewer books I love looking at their previews.

Jim: Well January/February is usually a slow time in the retail game, so I'm not expecting much with these solicitations.

ULTIMATE HUMAN #1 (of 4)
Written by WARREN ELLIS, Pencils & Cover by CARY NORD
It's the Ultimate war between the Hulk and Iron Man! Desperate for a cure to his dark disease, scientist Bruce Banner begs Tony Stark for a release from the curse of the Hulk! Stark agrees, but in the midst of the experimentation, something goes horribly wrong. And you know what happens next: man and monster collide! 32 PGS./ …$2.99

Lee: This actually looks pretty good. Looking back at the Ultimate Galactus Saga as a whole, it was pretty good. If Marvel does the same with this, then we could all be in for a treat. One of the few Ultimate series I am looking forward to.

Jim: Are you telling me this is a multiple part series broken up into three or four mini-series? If that is the case I'm not buying this series. I love a lot of what Ellis writes and Cary Nord is a very good artist, but I want a mini-series to be a complete story.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #118
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, Pencils & Cover by STUART IMMONEN
It begins here…"Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends!" Things are changing in the young life of Peter Parker: Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four is now his buddy---and the hot–headed super hero has taken a liking to Peter's classmate, Liz Allen! But something is horribly wrong with Liz—something that will soon affect the life of every student at Midtown High—including Peter's ex-girlfriend, Kitty Pryde! 32 PGS./ …$2.99

Lee: Now this is interesting. Spidey & his Amazing Friends is one of my fondly remembered Saturday morning cartoons. I couldn't tell you if it was any good but I remember liking it. But, it seems an odd concept to resurrect. It was never really in continuity. It wasn't much more than a cartoon. But, if anyone can make it work, then Bendis can.

Jim: Trust in Bendis? Not I, still this is the one book by Bendis that I always look forward to and it is a decent read every month. Still I think Bendis is repeating himself with doing something to Liz. Hasn't Bendis already killed Gwen Stacy and made Mary Jane into a monster in this book. Plus we are 118 issues in and Peter is still 16. The weight of too much history is already starting to bear down on this book and is demanding Peter grow up. Not allowing growth and change ultimately (no pun intended) kills characters.

SPIDER-MAN: WITH GREAT POWER... #1 (of 5)
Written by David Lapham Pencils & Cover by Tony Harris
After the spider-bite…before the great responsibility! Meet Peter Parker, "Midtown High's only professional wallflower," a hapless young nerd suddenly gifted with great power…no strings attached! Happy at home with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, but plagued by the bullies and mean girls of high school, see what Peter does when the bite of a radioactive spider gives him the strength to take the things he wants. Fame? Money? Fast cars? Girls? This dweeb's up to his pencilneck in 'em! Surely things can't suddenly be this easy…
32 PGS./Cardstock Cover/ …$3.99

Lee: Ummmm and who ordered this book? This is all we need, more backstory to an already overcrowded back story. Sheesh.

Jim: Yet with David Lapham and Tony Harris on this book I can see it being an interesting look at this unexplored first few weeks.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #34
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & 50/50 Cover by STEVE EPTING
50/50 Cover by ALEX ROSS
Is this the NEW Captain America?!
32 PGS./ …$2.99

Lee: Fine, I'll say it. The new uniform sucks. AND since when does Captain America carry a gun???? Doesn't that go against everything absolutely EVERYTHING he has ever stood for?

Jim: It's Bucky and then the gun can make sense and I also believe this is just another arc in the overall story the Brubaker is telling. I get the feeling the whole Brubaker run on Captain America is the biggest Captain America versus Red Skull story ever told. It would be ironic if the Red Skull kills Bucky when Steve Rogers comes back and defeats the Red Skull.

CAPTAIN MARVEL #3 (of 5)
Written by BRIAN REED, Penciled by LEE WEEKS
The mystery of Captain Marvel's presence in our world deepens as the first signs of a Secret Invasion are revealed! Brian Reed (New Avengers: Illuminati) and Lee Weeks (Daredevil) continue the winter's most surprising mini-series.
32 PGS./ …$2.99

Lee: So, I mention this for two reasons. One, why is Cap'n Marvel falling? I hate to be a continuity geek but the nega bands (which he is clearly wearing) allow him to fly. And two, "the first signs of the Invasion are revealed." Stock up on this one now because it's going to reveal something and no one is going to buy this book. Good marketing to get a spike in sales though.

Jim: Well the Kree hate the Skrulls and we have the "Who Do You Trust" bullsh*t coming down the pipe so, this make a comic book kind of sense.

BLACK PANTHER #34
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN, Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
It's clobberin' time—in the arena and in the streets, between the Gangsters and Panthers, and between the Fantastic Four and the elusive, malicious Golden Frogs!
32 PGS./ …$2.99

Lee: Embarrassed to be a fanboy cover!!!! And bad Black Thunderpanthers signal in the rear!

Jim: Storm as Misty Knight or at least Pam Grier from all those Blaxploitation films. Hudlin gets away with some ridiculous crap.

Lee: AND, the really sad part, I think the Golden Frogs on from the Kirby run on Black Panther. And Hudlin thinks it's a good idea to bring them back why????

HULK #1
Written by JEPH LOEB, Pencils & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Superstars JEPH LOEB and ED MCGUINNESS will change the way you see THE HULK! In this startling origin epic, the breathtaking events that ended World War Hulk rocket into this brand-new Hulk title. When one of The Hulk's oldest cast members is murdered, everyone turns to the team of IRON MAN, SHE-HULK and LEONARD SAMSON to solve the grizzly case. All the evidence points to the Hulk as the killer—but {CLASSIFIED}! Join us for a brand--new story and a brand-new team who loves the Hulk as much as you do!
32 PGS./ …$2.99

Lee: Yet another Hulk relaunch. And, why is he red now? Wasn't there enough story wiggle room with the multiple personality issue? I have no idea if this will be any good or not.

Jim: I avoid Loeb's stuff and I'm not an Ed McGuiness fan, but it seems like this is being launched as a second Hulk title. Curiosity will make me pick up issue #1 at least. Coming in with low expectations.

INCREDIBLE XXXX #113 (Note: Not Actual Title)
Written by Greg Pak & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by Khoi Pham
Cover by Art Adams
CLASSIFIED
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
Lee: Soooooo, we relauch the Hulk so we can have this title??? So, if I look back, the Hulk hasn' t been in his own title since the start of WW Hulk? This is stupid.

Jim: This will probably be the Incredible Hulk also and I think this will be the green Hulk, Who knows and also I feel like who cares. You cannot just "event" a book forever, eventually you need to just have a direction and tell stories (someone look up Peter David's years on this book for the way to keep it fresh).

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #35
Cover by PATRICK SCHERBERGER

Lee: Maybe someone should mention the cover artist Patrick that venom has a tongue and not a scarf that is longer than Dr. Who's (Tom Baker Dr. Who not current hack)

Jim: Dr. Who references are lost on me.

NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2
Lee: Once more, is this the worst Avengers team EVER or is it me. This is worse than vol 1 issue 16's collection of Cap, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver by a mile.

Jim: That Cap team was the weakest group ever put together, but still had some great stories, this group just sucks and proves that Bendis has no handle on these characters and should be banned from writing group books.

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1
Written by STAN LEE, LARRY LIEBER, ROY THOMAS,
ROBERT BERNSTEIN, DON RICO & AL HARTLEY
Penciled by DON HECK, GENE COLAN, JACK KIRBY & STEVE DITKO
Cover by JACK KIRBY
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
Variant Cover FEATURING IRON MAN MOVIE IMAGE
Collecting TALES OF SUSPENSE #39-83 & TALES TO ASTONISH #82
720 PGS./All Ages …$99.99
Lee: Once again, a book for the real diehards. The original Iron Man issues were ok but not great. BUT, three variant covers????? One of which is the Iron Man movie image???? Oh yes, oh yes, what the world needs now is more variant covers!!!
Jim: This is one of the easiest passes of a nice hard cover collection ever. I have the Masterworks and the early Iron Man artwork does not need to be any bigger. Strictly being done for the movie.

THE TWELVE #1 (of 12)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Penciled by CHRIS WESTON
Yesterday's Men of Tomorrow—Today! Thought lost to the pages of time, a dozen Mystery Men from the "greatest generation" of World War Two find themselves thrust into the morally-gray world of the 21st century! Now, Captain Wonder, Dynamic Man, Mastermind Excello, Mister E, the Laughing Mask, the Witness, the Black Widow, the Phantom Reporter, the Fiery Mask, Rockman, the Blue Blade and Electro the Marvel of the Age must seek a place for themselves in the modern Marvel Universe—while a silent killer seeks to eliminate them, one by one!
32 PGS./ …$2.99
Lee: Marvel has hyped this sooooo much, the only way you haven't heard about this is if you don't have a computer. And, what a great idea, let's bring back characters that were bad by Golden Age standards and revive them. WHEEE FUN! Has Marvel run out of all the ideas that they need to bring these characters back????
Jim: Yeah, I'm skipping this like the plague and then may buy the trade or hard cover if the reviews are any good. Chris Weston is a good artist and JMS can tell a story, it just takes 8 issues to make a point.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: GOLDEN AGE DARING MYSTERY VOL. 1 HC
Written & Illustrated by JOE SIMON, WILL HARR, MAURICE GUTWIRTH, MIKE ROBARD, SAM COOPER, DEAN CARR, BEN THOMPSON,
LARRY ANTONETTE, RAY GILL, BOB WOOD, CHARLES PEARSON,
JOE CAL CAGNO, FRED SCHWARZ, GREGORY SYKES,
RUSSELL A. BANKSON & PHIL STURM
Cover by ALEX SCHOMBURG
280 PGS./Rated A …$59.99
Lee: The best part about this is the Schomburg cover. The only reason this got green lighted was to support Straczynski's Chosen book.. This will be the first Masterworks that I miss. What utter crap.
Jim: First Masterworks I'm skipping also. If Lee and I are not buying this book (and we are both die hards on Masterworks) who is going to order it. Retailers beware demand a deposit before ordering and do not order any extras – unless you want to sell them at $20 in six months.

X-FACTOR #27
MESSIAH COMPLEX PART 11
Lee: So, if I read X-factor in HC, I will get this SINGLE part of a 13 part crossover. Oh yeah. This outta read real well in the trade. WTF?????

Jim: LOL, I forgot about the idea of how the trades work when they do this type of cross-over crap. I'm sure it will be just fine or maybe they will add all those chapters in the trade and make those 4 issues of X-Factor into 3 trades.

FOOLKILLER #4 (of 5)
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Pencils & Cover by LAN MEDINA
Lee: What an awesome cover. Subtle and gruesome. Don't know if the story is any good but the cover is cool.

Jim: True.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 6
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, DAVE COCKRUM & BRENT ANDERSON
Collecting X-MEN #141 and UNCANNY X-MEN #142-150
256 PGS./ …$54.99
Lee: I started my X-men collection with issue 146 so I can't wait to see this. And, this is still classic X-men. Great stuff and I can't wait to get it home.

Jim: I have been waiting for the end of the Claremont/Byrne run and I will be ordering this Masterwork.

X-FACTOR: MADROX – MULTIPLE CHOICE PREMIERE HC
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by PABLO RAIMONDI
120 PGS./Rated T+….$19.99
Lee: Interesting choice of HC. The series has long been gone. The story itself was "ok". Oh well, it will look nice next to the other X-Factor HC's.
Jim: Good story and well done, not a hard cover book to me.

HULK: THE END PREMIERE HC
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by DALE KEOWN & GEORGE PÉREZ
Chronicling the final days of the Green Goliath! Peter David and Dale Keown, creative team on some of the Hulk's most memorable tales, reunite to produce this searing vision of the future in which Bruce Banner, the Incredible Hulk, is the last man on Earth. It's the Hulk's final battle, as "The Last Titan" wrestles his inner-demons in order to discover his place in a dying world – if only he can survive! Plus: The testing of the first Gamma Bomb thrust upon Robert Bruce Banner led to what he would come to believe would be his greatest nightmare: his unwilling transformation into the Incredible Hulk. He believed wrong. Now, having been dragged into the future – into a post-holocaust, dystopian world – Bruce Banner discovers that his nightmare has a whole new name: the Maestro. This is a nightmare that only Hulk can end; for he knows that he himself is responsible for the presence of the evil Maestro. The future, our future, and the Incredible Hulk will never quite be the same. And neither will you. Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK: THE END and INCREDIBLE HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT #1-2.
152 PGS./Rated T+….$19.99
Lee: These were great Hulk issues and I look forward to this HC too. Now, if they would only HC the start of Peter Davids hulk run.

Jim: Dream on, I want a hard cover of Fables and that apparently is not happening.

ONSLAUGHT REBORN TPB
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by ROB LIEFELD
Collecting ONSLAUGHT REBORN #1-5.
120 PGS…$13.99
Lee: Enough people bought this to warrant a trade???? I'm shocked. Seriously, I am shocked.

Jim: The series is not even over yet and I'm guessing the "fans" of this will buy it at the book stores as they would be embarrassed to order at their comic book store.

Lee: Well, it turns out I don't really care about the single issues anymore because of the endless crossovers but I really like the HC's!

Jim: And it looks like I was right. Nothing that is exciting me right now with Marvel. Seems like Marvel has some really great series like Nova, Iron Fist, Captain America and a couple others, but everything else is event driven.