Marvel Preview Review For October Part 1 of 2

Lee: I’ll warn ya now I was in a bad mood when I was picking. I was in a worse mood when I was attempting to say nice things. It didn’t work so well. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

Jim: Sometimes it is more fun to do this review when at least one of us is wound up.

ENDER'S GAME: FIRST SERIES #1 (of 5) Written by CHRISTOPHER YOSTPencils & Cover by PASQUAL FERRYThere’s a war coming. The same aliens who almost destroyed Earth once are coming back to get the whole job done this time. But we aren’t going to just sit and die. The international military is taking our best and brightest to mold them into the finest military minds ever--and they’re taking them young. 8-year-old Ender Wiggin is the best they’ve ever found. Can he save the Earth? Can he survive Battle School and the game that they will force him to play? The legendary sci-fi epic by New York Times Bestseller Orson Scott Card comes to comics! 32 PGS./Cardstock Cover/Parental Advisory …$3.99

Lee: Starting on a positive note, Marvel really is expanding it’s offerings. Ender’s is supposed to be a really good series and based on Marvel’s success with King’s Dark Tower, I have high hopes for this. Not to mention I love Ferry’s art.

Jim: I enjoy Pascul Ferry’s art also and I never read Ender’s Game, so it looks to be a good book to try out.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #127 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDISPencils & Cover by STUART IMMONENCarnage versus Venom for all the marbles! It's the big conclusion to the War of the Symbiotes as Eddie Brock returns to Midtown High after months away. He seeks out Peter Parker and demands that Peter either help him find the Venom symbiote that once was grafted to him or Peter's secret identity will be revealed. Who should show up at his doorstep but a very much alive blast from Peter's past! 32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Lee: Talk about repeating the sins of the past. Way back in the day, Marvel introduced Venom and then flooded the market with him. Then along came Carnage which is a waste of a character. Now, the same silliness has invaded the Ultimate Spidey universe. Doesn’t anyone learn from the mistakes of the past?

Jim: Of course not, Bendis is going to redo every Spider-Man story he can. This is my only Spider-Man book, but bit by bit, I’m starting to fall off this title.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #3 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDISPenciled by DAVID LAFUENTE Cover by MARK BROOKS & RICHARD ISANOVE The relationship between Peter Parker and Mary Jane is one of the most iconic and popular romances in all of comics -- and in this very special issue that relationship delves into an area never before seen in any Spider-Man comic! Destined to be one of the most controversial issues of the year! 48 PGS./Rated A …$3.99

Lee: According to the hype, “in this very special issue that relationship (PP/MJ) delves into an area never before seen in any Spider-Man comic.” And, what exact area of the PP/MJ relationship hasn’t been discussed before? Seriously, they’ve been around for 35+ years. The hype reads like a bad after school special. I can see it now, Petey’s gonna take a toke, Jimmy Hendrix is going to start playing in the background while the camera turns upside down until MJ comes in to save him. BLUCK!

Jim: Oh yeah, we get to see Peter and Mary Jane doing it with webbing all over the place. Not sure this was a good idea. The execution on this will be a tough one to pull off.

ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #1 Written by JEPH LOEB Penciled by JOHN ROMITA, JR.Cover by BRANDON PETERSONWho is the Black Panther? If you think you know, you haven't spent enough time in the Ultimate U! What secrets from his past cross into Captain America's origin? What deal did they make that will throw Cap's loyalty to the Ultimates into question? 48 PGS./Rated A …$3.99

Lee: We so need to have a discussion someday about art. When I look at this cover I see 2 pencil/ ink figures and a whole lot of special effects. And to make it worse, it looks like bad special effects that were cut/pasted onto the cover. In fact I think I recognize one of the Boston 4th of July fireworks explosions on Cap’s shield.

Jim: Add to that it is based on an old Mike Zeck cover and what did the artist really do here.

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #2 (of 5) Written by CHRISTOS N. GAGEPenciled by ANDREA DI VITOCover by MIKE PERKINSThe untold story of Magneto's rise to power continues! The mutant army grows with the additions of Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch, Polaris...and Charles Xavier?! Together, this amazingly powerful team sets their sights on the liberation of Genosha. But Magneto and Xavier have very different philosophies on human/mutant relations. Will they become enemies, as they did in our world...or will their alliance make them unstoppable? Perhaps the most important " but never before seen " chapter in the House of M saga!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Lee: This is how I envision the meeting that originated this series… in Nameless Editors’ basement, puff puff.. “Dude. How about we cross Civil War AND House of M.” Puff puff “Dude, that’s the mostest aweseomest idea ever” puff puff. How else can you explain this series.

Jim: This is all about trade sales. The book stores are generating decent sales off trades with Civil War and House of M in the titles, so they commission these mini-series and sell it to waiting Marvel Zombies in comic stores to underwrite the project and then make the money on the back end with trade sales.

ULTIMATE HULK ANNUAL #1 Written by JEPH LOEBPencils by MARKO DJURDJEVIC & ED MCGUINNESSCover by BRANDON PETERSONIt's the Ultimate Road Trip of the Year! The HULK and Zarda " a.k.a. Power Princess from the Squadron Supreme " team-up for the most wild cross-country smash-and-grab you can imagine! Guest-starring Captain America! 48 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Lee: And, Power princess left the Supreme Powers universe why? So she could go to the Ultimates universe which is going to be canceled? Maybe she can join Earth-616 and with the Sentry to be direct rip offs of Superman & Wonder Woman.

Jim: I’m just happy that I have sworn off any Jeph Loeb written project. I may borrow these from the comic store so I can comment on them during a Cosmic Conversation, but otherwise all this looks like crap.

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: ULTIMATUM Written by JOHN RHETT THOMASSpingboarding from the pages of ULTIMATES 3 and ULTIMATE POWER, Jeph Loeb and David Finch's ULTIMATUM is a six-part series that will change the Ultimate Universe in ways as definitively as the Marvel Universe's CIVIL WAR or the X-Men's MESSIAH COMPLEX. MARVEL SPOTLIGHT checks in with the series' principal creators and takes readers inside the universe that changed the rules for comics in the 21st century -- and figures out how those rules are going to be rewritten! 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Lee: This is just a preemptive complaint. Jeph Loeb who’s written that wonderful book Ultimates 3 is going to write a mega crossover in the Ultimates Universe. Here’s a question, where do old creators go to die? The Ulimtate Universe! Except for Claremont who gets every single alternate universe as his playground (Exiles!)

Jim: Well my complaint is who wants to spend $3 for the back matter that will be in the inevitable trade.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #574 Written by MARC GUGGENHEIMPencils & Cover by BARRY KITSONWHATEVER HAPPENED TO FLASH THOMPSON? A powerful story taking Peter Parker’s former nemesis and Spider-Man’s biggest fan from the avenues of New York to the war torn Middle East along with his fellow brothers in the US Army.32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Lee: I’ve been very critical so far so how about a compliment. I think this is a good idea. Flash Thompson went to Vietnam. In terms of Marvel time line that doesn’t work anymore so they’re updating it to Iraq. And, in actuality, this is a good idea. I hope they do a good story with it.

Jim: This just sucks in my opinion. This all comes from the sliding time line theory Marvel has, that all there characters started ten years ago and then they make up continuity as they go along. This only works if you readership constantly turns over. Oh wait, that’s why Joe did that horrible One More Day crap to clean out all the older readers of ASM. Good job Joe.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #1 Written by DAN SLOTTPencils & Cover by STEVE MCNIVENGet on the BRAND NEW DAY bandwagon with the new ongoing series, reprinting the thrice-monthly AMAZING SPIDER-MAN in chronological order! Prepare for what promises to be the most pulse-pounding piece of four-color fiction to be delivered unto the Mighty Marvel Minions in decades! You asked for more Spidey! You demanded it! And, by Buckley, you're gonna get it! After the devastatingly heartwarming events of ONE MORE DAY, Peter Parker puts the past behind him and sets forth on a BRAND NEW DAY! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546-547.56 PGS./Rated A …$4.99

Lee: I don’t understand the flood-the-market mentality. This collects two issues of Spiderman that were printed less than a year ago? Marvel couldn’t think of anything better to publish? AND it’s a new on going series so there won’t be a week without Spiderman on the shelf.

Jim: Wow this is amazing (pun intended). One issue at $3, combine 2 issues at a time at $5 and then do what six issue trades for $15 and six issue hardcover at $20. I’m sure some idiots will by all the formats, but who is this format targeted for? As for flodding the market it is an old tactic used by many companies. Look how many different types of orange juices Tropicana has in the super market.

ETERNALS #5 Zombie Variant by ERIC NGUYEN

DAREDEVIL #112 Zombie Variant by TRAVEL FOREMAN

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #122 Zombie Variant by TBA

SKAAR: SON OF HULK #4 Zombie Variant by CARLO PAGULAYAN

WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #29 Zombie Variant by MIKE DEODATO

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #18 Zombie Variant by TBA

Lee: Because we don’t have enough skrull variant covers Marvel has decided to publish a couple more zombie covers. GREAT IDEA!

Jim: Don’t forget about all the Ape variants. I have never understood how the variant cover market got going again and it seems to be doing well. To me it is just more of draining the last dollar out of the same market. If you collect variant covers are you hoping for big bucks on the resale market or are you just hiding them in a long white cardboard box? Note no images of the variants were found at the time of this publishing.

MARVEL 1985 #6 (of 6) Written by MARK MILLARPencils & Cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDSAt last--the heroes are here! The biggest, most powerful Marvel Super Heroes throw down in final conflict against the cruelest, most evil Marvel Super-Villains, with the fate of the real world in their hands. For young Toby Goodman, will this be a chance to see his comic book dreams come true? Or will he arrive too late to save his father? And--who is Clyde Wyncham…and more importantly, who does he become, and what role will he come to play in the Marvel Universe of today? 32 PGS./Cardstock Cover/Rated T+ …$3.99

Lee: So, if I read this correctly, this miniseries, which is really an elseworld is going to introduce Clyde Wyncham. Who may or may not have an impact upon the main Marvel U. I think my head is going to explode from all the incredible stupid ideas from Marvel this month.

Jim: Well that’s what you get when you let Mark Millar run amok in your house. Let me tell you about the time he house sat for us.....

MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #41 Written by PAUL TOBINArt by DAVID HAHNCover by CLAYTON HENRYVolunteering for some heavy-duty landscaping at the city zoo, the Thing and the Human Torch run across the zoo's top secret new exhibit: Devil Dinosaur! But the Fantastic Four soon find out that it isn't all fun and games to find a dinosaur at a zoo, and between the mystery of the zoo's recent plague of nighttime break-ins, and having the cosmically powered Collector show up to claim the dinosaur he won on an interstellar auction website, the price of admission to THIS particular zoo is a world of hurt. 32 PGS./All Ages …$2.99

Lee: Well, time for another positive comment. I love Devil Dinosaur. I am so getting this and reading it with the kids. It’s got a giant fire engine red dinosaur in it. What’s not to like.

Jim: I’m glad to see the Marvel Adventure and Johnny DC lines seem to be doing okay. Glad to know the entry point for younger readers exists. Johnny DC seems to be for the youngest, Marvel Adventures is the next rung up the ladder.

MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 #1 (of 4) Written by FRED VAN LENTE Penciled by KEV WALKERCover by GREG LANDBoard up Avengers Tower! Lock down the Baxter Building! The ravenous hordes of Marvel Zombies are invading ... the Marvel Universe! That's right, the next chapter of the MZ saga is a non-stop in-continuity gorefest with major implications for at least one Marvel hero! When the super-undead stumble into the MU from the Man-Thing's Nexus of All Realities, all of Florida is quarantined against the zombie plague. Time is quickly running out for a cure, so the Initiative sends a most unlikely group of heroes into the Zombieverse on a desperate mission to find the one item they need before the whole MU is consumed! 32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Lee: So Kirkman is at Image but Marvel Zombies continues on. I wish this would go away. I really, really do. But it won’t and now the Zombieverse is crossing into the main Marvel U. Just a fantastic idea. Really it is.

Jim: I agree. This is the type of thinking that has made my Marvel list shrink and shrink. I have quite a few weeks where I will only get 3 or 4 Marvel titles.

MOON KNIGHT #23 Written by MIKE BENSON Penciled by MARK TEXEIRA Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM “THE DEATH OF MARC SPECTOR,” PART 3Norman Osborn and the Thunderbolts have been tapped to bring in the fugitive Moon Knight -- by all means necessary -- and so far they’ve been left empty-handed. But Norman’s got a foolproof plan to flush out his prey. He’s got the numbers and the element of surprise, but what he doesn’t know is that Moon Knight is not alone.32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99

Lee: Worst cover of the month! Does Suydam know how to draw a head AND a mouth? The editor that accepted this should take a vacation because this is bad.

Jim: It’s called artistic license. It is actually pretty funny.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #18 Written by DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS N. GAGEPenciled by STEFANO CASELLICover by MARK BROOKSZombie Variant by TBA Now that the KILL KREW knows Skrullowjacket's master plan, can they stop the TRUE purpose of the Fifty State Initiative? Plus: It's THOR GIRL vs. ULTRA GIRL! 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Lee: OOOHHH, an early contestant for the “Embarrassed to be a Fanboy’ cover. A human Thor Girl with “floaters” and a skrull Thor Girl with even bigger “floaters”. It’s two-fer-one in this short lived series.

Jim: My problem is that I could care less about these characters. I don’t know what it is with Marvel, but I really don’t care about their characters anymore. Plus why would I want to spend $3 on this instead of Sparks, Proof, Echo or some other really well done indie book.

SHE-HULK #34 Written by PETER DAVIDPenciled by GG STUDIO’SVINCENZO CUCCACover by MIKE DEODATO JR.From the pages of HULK, the Lady Liberators arrive to launch a new story arc! She-Hulk has been capturing the bad-guys as a bounty hunter…but is that enough for our conflicted hero? Time to kick things up a notch" and that means calling in Valkyrie, Thundra and the Invisible Woman to dispense some hard justice as the Lady Liberators! The red-hot team of Peter David and GG Studio’s Vincenzo Cucca continue to shake things up in a major way for everyone’s favorite green glamazon " and her next big journey starts here!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Lee: It started out as such a good cover and then you notice that Invisible Woman is pointing her toe like a super model. So all the other ladies can stand their, flexing, looking like the powerful women they are while IW gets to “tee-hee” strike a pose. Deodato is so much better than this.

Jim: I just like that Peter David and an artist I never heard off are a “red hot” team.

UNCANNY X-MEN #503 Written by MATT FRACTION Pencils & Cover by GREG LANDWho will save the X-Men from the Hellfire Cult? It’s not Wolverine. It’s not Cyclops. But it better be someone because they’re a minute from death. And who is that mysterious red-head?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Lee: And our final contest for EtbF award is the X-men STACKED deck cover. The others are bad but this I think wins.

Jim: My problem is that Greg Land is almost a parody of an artist. I used to enjoy his work years ago, but now that I realize he apparently just traces half of everything and strikes the same poses all over the place he bores me. Plus I know many readers like Fraction, but I have not really enjoyed his work. It is pretty incredible that he is writing Uncanny on his own already.

SKRULLS VS. POWER PACK #4 (of 4) Written by FRED VAN LENTE Penciled by CORY HAMSCHERCover by GURIHIRU Power Pack is after it! Franklin Richards, H.E.R.B.I.E., and Smartship Friday are after it! The Skrull agents impersonating the Power kids are after it! Intergalactic bounty hunters Ambercombie and Finch are after it! And no one wants it worse than the fierce Skrull Warpriest Kho'ja, who possesses all the Pack's powers! What is it? Well, we're not going to tell you. This is just a solicitation. But it's the prize that lies at the heart of the PUZZLE PLANET!32 PGS./All Ages …$2.99

Lee: And, this is a great cover. A skrull tied to the hood of a pink Cadillac is just awesome. This cover tells me everything I need to know about this book. It tells me that skrulls are involved and that I will have fun while reading it. I like it.

Jim: Wow Lee liked something, there is a shocker.

The fun continues in Part 2. Yes this month it is a 2 part post as Lee continues to pick apart as well as just continue to pick and pick more books!