Jim: The Dark Reign thing has really taken over Marvel. On one hand I’m sick and tired of all the tie-ins, on the other hand Marvel has been signing up a bunch of writers that I like with Jason Aaron, Andy Diggle and now Rick Remender. So I just pick and choose what I want to read and if the book I reading just pulled into some event, more often then not I may drop the book.
SPIDER-MAN: ELECTION DAY PREMIERE HC
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM, MARK WAID, ZEB WELLS, & MATT FRACTION
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR., BARRY KITSON, TODD NAUCK, PAT OLIFFE, FABRIZIO FIORENTINO, MARCOS MARTIN & PAOLO RIVERA
Covers by PHIL JIMENEZ & JOHN ROMITA JR.
Plus: The world's greatest super hero teams up with the 44th president of the United States in "Spider-Man Meets the President." This is your chance to own the groundbreaking story that had fans lining up and attracted unprecedented media attention! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583-588; material from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: EXTRA #2-3; and "Gettysburg Distress," a Captain America/Spider-Man/Abraham Lincoln team-up previously available only online! 216 PGS./ $29.99
Lee: So, let me understand, I could have paid $50 on ebay for the Spiderman/President cover or I could pay $30 and get the same thing here. Gosh darn do I love speculators!!! But, I have to admit the Cap-Spidey-Ab Lincoln team up reminds me of some incredibly awful silverage teamups.
Jim: Well if the pointless Obama story wasn;t enough of a draw Cap-Spidey-Ab sure is. This is one of those ideas that is going to be a miss in my opinion as the Obama comic was lighting in a bottle and the hard cover will be a reprint and not garner any attention. Plus these hardcovers being put out by Marvel and DC for these short arc are using slapped on covers with a glued binding and are not the high quality product hard covers.
OFFICIAL INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #6
Written by VARIOUS
Continuing the chronicle of the Marvel Universe, starting with Spider-Man (from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #18 on), Iron Man (from IRON MAN #183 on) and the X-Men (from UNCANNY X-MEN #253 on). Follow the history of the Marvel universe as it unfolds month by month with the All-New Official Index to the Marvel Universe. Each issue provides synopses for dozens of individual comics, including back-up strips, introducing you to the characters, teams, places and equipment that appeared within, providing vital information about first appearances, where they last showed up and where they appeared next! 64 PGS./$3.99
Lee: While I’m not getting this in single issue format, I’m hoping Marvel collects this as a hardcover. I love looking at the old covers and getting the “cliff notes” version of the plot. If you still collect back issues, then this is an invaluable research tool.
Jim: Get the Marvel Chronicle instead, it is a nice hardcover that gives a year by year synopsis of the most important events up till 2007 and it is only $30 from Amazon and you can get free shipping.
GOLDEN AGE MARVEL COMICS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by JOHN COMPTON, RAY GIILL, STOCKBRIDGE WINSLOW & MORE
Penciled by CARL BURGOS, BILL EVERETT, PAUL GUSTAVSON, BEN THOMPSON, STEVE DAHLMAN, BOB OKSNER, AL ANDERS, IRWIN HASEN, PAUL LAURETTA & MORE
Featuring an extensive essay on Marvel's pulp magazine pre-history, publisher Martin Goodman and the birth of Marvel Comics by noted historian Will Murray, and topped off with special bonus features including original artwork and items never seen since 1939. Collecting MARVEL COMICS #1 & MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #2-12, 832 PGS/$125.00
Jim: This is a blatant screw your customer deal. They are charging $125 for three volumes of Masterwork material but would not republish the first Masterwork volume even after everyone agrees the reproduction was screwed up. No way I’m buying this. THANKS MARVEL, at least they could send us a kiss.
Lee: Yeah… but… but it’s got an essay! Doesn’t the essay make it special????
DAREDEVIL NOIR #3 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
WOLVERINE NOIR #3 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
Lee: I just figured it out. The Ultimate Universe has been replaced with the Noir Universe.
Jim: Well after they let Jeph Loeb ruin the Ultimate Universe, they needed something to replace it with.
DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: UTOPIA - 48 PGS./$3.99
DARK AVENGERS #6 - 32 PGS./$3.99
NEW AVENGERS #54 - 32 PGS./$3.99
MIGHTY AVENGERS #26 - 32 PGS./$2.99
DARK WOLVERINE #75 - 40 PGS./$3.99
ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #3 (of 4) - 40 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: LETHAL LEGION #1 (of 3) - 32 PGS./$3.99
Lee: I just want to mention that Dark Reign appears to be an even bigger crossover than Secret Invasion was. This is incredible. Look at this, there are 7 books this month related to Dark Reign. Absolutely ridiculous! At least it didn’t cross over into non-Avengers series.
Jim: Okay so Civil War was big, but then Secret Invasion was bigger and now Dark Reign is making that look like it was a drop in the bucket. What scares me is what the f*** Marvel will be doing next and how many damn books will they sh*t out for that event.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #596 & #597
Written by JOE KELLY
Pencils by PHIL JIMENEZ & PAULO SIQUEIRA
AMERICAN SON continues. Spider-Man goes up against Venom and Bullseye as he prepares to infiltrate the Dark Avengers headquarters. Meanwhile Harry's life takes a dramatic turn now that he's reunited with Lily and wedding plans continue for two lucky Parker pals.
32 PGS.(each)/$2.99 (each)
Lee: HERE’S A SHOCK! Dark Reign did cross over into other series. Spiderman is now sucked into Dark Reign. I am soooooo glad that Spidey joined the Avengers because since he joined the team, it has guaranteed that his titles are always affected by every crossover. Dark Reign count increased to 9 books this month.
Jim: Spider-Man is dead to me. I need at least three or more years before I can even consider reading Spider-Man after that ridiculous re-set they did with One Crappy A** Day.
WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #37
Written by DANIEL WAY
Pencils by SCOT EATON
Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
"ROMULUS," Part 1 For over a century, he's been hiding in the darkest shadows of Wolverine's life, controlling the beast and destroying the man. But now, finally, the tide is turning...and Wolverine's vengeance is within reach! Introducing: ROMULUS! 32 PGS./$2.99
Lee: Oh cut me a friggin’ break already! “For over a century, he's been hiding in the darkest shadows of Wolverine's life”. Seriously, for over 100 years? What’s the matter, is it too hard to develop a new villain that hates Wolverine since last Tuesday? Here’s an idea, Wolverine ran Romulus’s mother over with a bus. LOOK AT THAT! A whole new motivation for a villain to hate Wolverine and it didn’t require screwing with his already convoluted history. What a friggin’ novel concept.
Jim: Oh no this is so cool Lee. The ultimate stalker movie, I mean 100 years come on how cool is that, I mean this just makes everything so much cooler. Remember when this series was launched and it was suppose to lay out Logan’s life and make it a more coherent story. When someone does that, pleas call me.
DARK REIGN: YOUNG AVENGERS #2 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: THE HOOD #2 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: THE SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #1 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: MISTER NEGATIVE #1 (of 3) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #3 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: ELEKTRA #4 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: ZODIAC #1 (of 3) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #4 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$2.99
THUNDERBOLTS #133 - 32 PGS./$2.99
Lee: Holy double crapper Batman! Marvel, in it’s infinite sneakiness, slip in one book so I forget about Dark Reign, then adds a bunch titles when I’m not looking. That one book inbetween the long list of Dark Reign books made me think we were done. We’re now up to 18 Dark Reign primary and tie in titles. This has got to be the end.
Jim: Also look at the lame-ass project being thrown out there. You have Mister Negative, Lethal Legion (prior pick), Zodiac, Sinister Spider-Man, the Hood and more and almost every one is a $4 22 page comics (32 pages = 22 pages of story and art). I feel sorry for anyone who actually wants to follow all of this.
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM, MARK WAID, ZEB WELLS, & MATT FRACTION
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR., BARRY KITSON, TODD NAUCK, PAT OLIFFE, FABRIZIO FIORENTINO, MARCOS MARTIN & PAOLO RIVERA
Covers by PHIL JIMENEZ & JOHN ROMITA JR.
Plus: The world's greatest super hero teams up with the 44th president of the United States in "Spider-Man Meets the President." This is your chance to own the groundbreaking story that had fans lining up and attracted unprecedented media attention! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583-588; material from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: EXTRA #2-3; and "Gettysburg Distress," a Captain America/Spider-Man/Abraham Lincoln team-up previously available only online! 216 PGS./ $29.99
Lee: So, let me understand, I could have paid $50 on ebay for the Spiderman/President cover or I could pay $30 and get the same thing here. Gosh darn do I love speculators!!! But, I have to admit the Cap-Spidey-Ab Lincoln team up reminds me of some incredibly awful silverage teamups.
Jim: Well if the pointless Obama story wasn;t enough of a draw Cap-Spidey-Ab sure is. This is one of those ideas that is going to be a miss in my opinion as the Obama comic was lighting in a bottle and the hard cover will be a reprint and not garner any attention. Plus these hardcovers being put out by Marvel and DC for these short arc are using slapped on covers with a glued binding and are not the high quality product hard covers.
OFFICIAL INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #6Written by VARIOUS
Continuing the chronicle of the Marvel Universe, starting with Spider-Man (from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #18 on), Iron Man (from IRON MAN #183 on) and the X-Men (from UNCANNY X-MEN #253 on). Follow the history of the Marvel universe as it unfolds month by month with the All-New Official Index to the Marvel Universe. Each issue provides synopses for dozens of individual comics, including back-up strips, introducing you to the characters, teams, places and equipment that appeared within, providing vital information about first appearances, where they last showed up and where they appeared next! 64 PGS./$3.99
Lee: While I’m not getting this in single issue format, I’m hoping Marvel collects this as a hardcover. I love looking at the old covers and getting the “cliff notes” version of the plot. If you still collect back issues, then this is an invaluable research tool.
Jim: Get the Marvel Chronicle instead, it is a nice hardcover that gives a year by year synopsis of the most important events up till 2007 and it is only $30 from Amazon and you can get free shipping.
GOLDEN AGE MARVEL COMICS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HCWritten by JOHN COMPTON, RAY GIILL, STOCKBRIDGE WINSLOW & MORE
Penciled by CARL BURGOS, BILL EVERETT, PAUL GUSTAVSON, BEN THOMPSON, STEVE DAHLMAN, BOB OKSNER, AL ANDERS, IRWIN HASEN, PAUL LAURETTA & MORE
Featuring an extensive essay on Marvel's pulp magazine pre-history, publisher Martin Goodman and the birth of Marvel Comics by noted historian Will Murray, and topped off with special bonus features including original artwork and items never seen since 1939. Collecting MARVEL COMICS #1 & MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #2-12, 832 PGS/$125.00
Jim: This is a blatant screw your customer deal. They are charging $125 for three volumes of Masterwork material but would not republish the first Masterwork volume even after everyone agrees the reproduction was screwed up. No way I’m buying this. THANKS MARVEL, at least they could send us a kiss.
Lee: Yeah… but… but it’s got an essay! Doesn’t the essay make it special????
DAREDEVIL NOIR #3 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
WOLVERINE NOIR #3 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
Lee: I just figured it out. The Ultimate Universe has been replaced with the Noir Universe.
Jim: Well after they let Jeph Loeb ruin the Ultimate Universe, they needed something to replace it with.
DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: UTOPIA - 48 PGS./$3.99DARK AVENGERS #6 - 32 PGS./$3.99
NEW AVENGERS #54 - 32 PGS./$3.99
MIGHTY AVENGERS #26 - 32 PGS./$2.99
DARK WOLVERINE #75 - 40 PGS./$3.99
ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #3 (of 4) - 40 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: LETHAL LEGION #1 (of 3) - 32 PGS./$3.99
Lee: I just want to mention that Dark Reign appears to be an even bigger crossover than Secret Invasion was. This is incredible. Look at this, there are 7 books this month related to Dark Reign. Absolutely ridiculous! At least it didn’t cross over into non-Avengers series.
Jim: Okay so Civil War was big, but then Secret Invasion was bigger and now Dark Reign is making that look like it was a drop in the bucket. What scares me is what the f*** Marvel will be doing next and how many damn books will they sh*t out for that event.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #596 & #597
Written by JOE KELLY
Pencils by PHIL JIMENEZ & PAULO SIQUEIRA
AMERICAN SON continues. Spider-Man goes up against Venom and Bullseye as he prepares to infiltrate the Dark Avengers headquarters. Meanwhile Harry's life takes a dramatic turn now that he's reunited with Lily and wedding plans continue for two lucky Parker pals.
32 PGS.(each)/$2.99 (each)
Lee: HERE’S A SHOCK! Dark Reign did cross over into other series. Spiderman is now sucked into Dark Reign. I am soooooo glad that Spidey joined the Avengers because since he joined the team, it has guaranteed that his titles are always affected by every crossover. Dark Reign count increased to 9 books this month.
Jim: Spider-Man is dead to me. I need at least three or more years before I can even consider reading Spider-Man after that ridiculous re-set they did with One Crappy A** Day.
WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #37Written by DANIEL WAY
Pencils by SCOT EATON
Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
"ROMULUS," Part 1 For over a century, he's been hiding in the darkest shadows of Wolverine's life, controlling the beast and destroying the man. But now, finally, the tide is turning...and Wolverine's vengeance is within reach! Introducing: ROMULUS! 32 PGS./$2.99
Lee: Oh cut me a friggin’ break already! “For over a century, he's been hiding in the darkest shadows of Wolverine's life”. Seriously, for over 100 years? What’s the matter, is it too hard to develop a new villain that hates Wolverine since last Tuesday? Here’s an idea, Wolverine ran Romulus’s mother over with a bus. LOOK AT THAT! A whole new motivation for a villain to hate Wolverine and it didn’t require screwing with his already convoluted history. What a friggin’ novel concept.
Jim: Oh no this is so cool Lee. The ultimate stalker movie, I mean 100 years come on how cool is that, I mean this just makes everything so much cooler. Remember when this series was launched and it was suppose to lay out Logan’s life and make it a more coherent story. When someone does that, pleas call me.
DARK REIGN: YOUNG AVENGERS #2 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99DARK REIGN: THE HOOD #2 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: THE SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #1 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: MISTER NEGATIVE #1 (of 3) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #3 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: ELEKTRA #4 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: ZODIAC #1 (of 3) - 32 PGS./$3.99
DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #4 (of 5) - 32 PGS./$2.99
THUNDERBOLTS #133 - 32 PGS./$2.99
Lee: Holy double crapper Batman! Marvel, in it’s infinite sneakiness, slip in one book so I forget about Dark Reign, then adds a bunch titles when I’m not looking. That one book inbetween the long list of Dark Reign books made me think we were done. We’re now up to 18 Dark Reign primary and tie in titles. This has got to be the end.
Jim: Also look at the lame-ass project being thrown out there. You have Mister Negative, Lethal Legion (prior pick), Zodiac, Sinister Spider-Man, the Hood and more and almost every one is a $4 22 page comics (32 pages = 22 pages of story and art). I feel sorry for anyone who actually wants to follow all of this.
SECRET WARRIORS #5Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN, Penciled by STEFANO CASELLI
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
The smashing first arc of Marvel's best new series comes to a climax as the battle between H.A.M.M.E.R., HYDRA, rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and the Howling Commandos begins!
This is the first shot in a war that will result in the establishment of a new global power structure...and who's caught in the middle? You guessed it: Nick Fury and his team of Caterpillars. 32 PGS.$2.99
Lee: Wrong again. There is no end to the pain that is Dark Reign. While this doesn’t sport Dark Reign on the cover, it’s close enough. We’ll count this as ½ a Dark Reign book. The running total 18.5 books this month. And, for the record, if I was Nick Fury I’m not sure I would call my team a bunch of Caterpillars. It’s doesn’t exactly strike fear in the heart of the enemy if you know what I mean.
Jim: I like Lee’s point, the Caterpillars does not strike fear into anyone’s heart. Speaking of picking and choosing, I have been getting this book as I like Jonathan Hickman and Nick Fury is a character I usually enjoy and at least I know why he is still alive as he has an Infinity Formula that he takes (or did back in the day).
SKRULL KILL KREW #3 (of 5)Written by ADAM FELBER Penciled by MARK ROBINSON
Cover by MARIO ALBERTI Cow Variant Cover by TOP COW STUDIOS
Evil Skrull scions! Massively malevolent cow meat! And a guy with a gun arm! This over-the-top follow-up to last year's Secret Invasion continues with the return of more members of the Krew...including a white-supremacist who hasn't read the paper in about a year.
All brought to you by a writer for National Public Radio.
Man, one of these things just ain't like the other.
32 PGS./$3.99
Lee: On thank goodness, a break from everything Dark Reign! For something completely different we have a cross over to… SECRET INVASION???!!!! Are you kidding me? Great, Dark Reign 18.5 books. Secret Invasion 1.
Jim: Okay we have a lame concept (Skrull Kill Krew) – check, unknown writer (Adam Felber) - check and an unknown pencil artist (Mark Robinson) - check and it ties into a horrible “event” – check and you are selling it for $4 an issue for a regular size comic – check. All a perfect list of reasons why this book would never come home with me.
Lee: And, someone explain to me a cow variant cover? Are you kidding me?
MS. MARVEL #40 - 32 PGS./$2.99
The Dark Reign continues!
NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION #4 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #25 - 32 PGS./$2.99
The full effects of Dark Reign take hold as Norman Osborn reshapes the Initiative into a place to train the Dark Avengers of tomorrow!
Lee: This is sad because I can’t get away from Dark Reign now. Ever time I think it’s over there are more books. Sadly, I long for the days of tightly controlled crossovers like Secret Invasion (still at *1* by the way). Dark Reign now stands at 21.5 books for the month.
Jim: I believe that Marvel has every Dark Avenger (except Iron Patriot) in their own series. Of course since Norman Osborne is the Iron Patriot and he appears in every damn Dark Reign book, a series featuring him would be redundant.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #14
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Variant Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
It's the perfect jumping-on point, as the second half of WORLD'S MOST WANTED begins here! Don't miss out on this critically acclaimed blockbuster! Tony's failing health makes the Iron Man too complicated to pilot. Hill hunts the world's most un-huntable man. Pepper defies Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. itself. And all of Iron Man's rogues' gallery is after him and the billion-dollar bounty on his head...starting with the murderous Madame Masque! But believe it or not, there'll soon come a time when everyone looks back on these as the good old days... 32 PGS./$2.99
Lee: Let’s see, it mention Norman Osborn. It mentions Hammer. It pretty much stinks of Dark Reign. We’ll call this the other half of The Furious Caterpillars and run our Dark Reign total to 22 books.
Jim: This has been an okay book and it is totally a Dark Reign book, but the actual story is rather interesting as Matt Fraction is having Tony lobotomize himself and I wonder where this will leave Tony after the arc is over.
MS. MARVEL #40 - 32 PGS./$2.99
The Dark Reign continues!
NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION #4 (of 4) - 32 PGS./$3.99
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #25 - 32 PGS./$2.99
The full effects of Dark Reign take hold as Norman Osborn reshapes the Initiative into a place to train the Dark Avengers of tomorrow!
Lee: This is sad because I can’t get away from Dark Reign now. Ever time I think it’s over there are more books. Sadly, I long for the days of tightly controlled crossovers like Secret Invasion (still at *1* by the way). Dark Reign now stands at 21.5 books for the month.
Jim: I believe that Marvel has every Dark Avenger (except Iron Patriot) in their own series. Of course since Norman Osborne is the Iron Patriot and he appears in every damn Dark Reign book, a series featuring him would be redundant.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #14Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Variant Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
It's the perfect jumping-on point, as the second half of WORLD'S MOST WANTED begins here! Don't miss out on this critically acclaimed blockbuster! Tony's failing health makes the Iron Man too complicated to pilot. Hill hunts the world's most un-huntable man. Pepper defies Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. itself. And all of Iron Man's rogues' gallery is after him and the billion-dollar bounty on his head...starting with the murderous Madame Masque! But believe it or not, there'll soon come a time when everyone looks back on these as the good old days... 32 PGS./$2.99
Lee: Let’s see, it mention Norman Osborn. It mentions Hammer. It pretty much stinks of Dark Reign. We’ll call this the other half of The Furious Caterpillars and run our Dark Reign total to 22 books.
Jim: This has been an okay book and it is totally a Dark Reign book, but the actual story is rather interesting as Matt Fraction is having Tony lobotomize himself and I wonder where this will leave Tony after the arc is over.
Lee: This month made me so mad that I actually didn't make it to the X- books. I'll spew venom at them tomorrow.
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