Marvel Preview Review for November Part 2 of 2

As Promised Part 2

STRANGE TALES #3 (of 3) Written by PETER BAGGE, MAXCANNON, CHRIS CHUA, BECKY CLOONAN, NICHOLAS GUREWITCH, PAUL HORNSCHEMEIER, JONATHAN JAY LEE, COREY LEWIS, STAN SAKAI, JAY STEPEHENS & MORE!Art by PETER BAGGE, MAX CANNON, CHRIS CHUA, BECKY CLOONAN, NICHOLAS GUREWITCH,PAUL HORNSCHEMEIER, JONATHAN JAY LEE, COREY LEWIS, STAN SAKAI, JAY STEPEHENS & MORE!Cover by STAN SAKAI

You won't believe your senses!!! Marvel is proud to present the final issue of this hotly anticipated three issue anthology showcasing Marvel's greatest characters re-imagined by the best and brightest talents working in independent comics today. Don't miss what's sure to be one of the most exciting collections of comics short stories ever produced!!! Every issue stars a stunning array of the best, most exciting cartoonists on the planet--showcasing the Marvel Heroes as you've never seen them before! Featuring the long-awaited Peter Bagge "Incorrigible Hulk" serialized over all three issues!48 PGS./Explicit Content ...$4.99
Lee: Love Stan Sakai covers! Love Stan “Usagi Yojimbo” Sakai doing main stream books. A rare kudos to Marvel for trying something different.
Jim: It was different and Lee and I disagreed about whether it was good or not, but projects like these are always welcome. If no one is willing to dare anything, then comics would be dull and predictable (even more then they are now).

STRANGE #1 (of 4) Written by MARK WAID Penciled by EMMA RIOS Cover by TOMM COKER

No longer Sorcerer Supreme of the Marvel Universe, Stephen Strange must discover a new path to fulfillment and enlightenment. Unfortunately, that path leads through a bizarre, terrifying gauntlet of magical menaces--and if the former Master of the Mystic Arts is going to survive the journey, he'll need some assistance--in the form of a brand-new student!32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
Lee: If anyone can re-vamp Dr. Strange it’s Mark Waid. Is it me or is that man everywhere (between DC, this and Boom!) these days.

Jim: Mark Waid is one busy guy lately. Emma Rios is also the artist who did the BOOM book Hexed and her artwork is perfect for this type of story. This is almost a BOOM studios book being packaged for Marvel like Dynamite Entertainment does.

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #7 Written by JASON AARON Penciled by YANICK PAQUETTE Cover by ADAM KUBERT

The weirdest Wolverine story in recent memory continues, as Logan learns more about his current residence, the Dunwich Sanitorium, and the bizarre man in charge, Dr. Algernon J. Rottwell. The good Dr. Rot seems to enjoy removing people's brains and... doing things with them. And now he has his eyes on Wolverine's noggin. If only Logan could remember how he got here. Or who he is. Or how these claws of his work...32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99
Lee: My bad for picking earlier wimpy ‘Gore and Blood’ covers. This one where the mad doctor takes the brain out tops them all. Actually, it’s not offensive so much as funny. Strike that, it would have been humorous in a Dr. Frankenstein kinda way if it weren’t for the dripping blood and blood splatters on the villains face.
Jim: The cover is almost humorous in being so over the top. I was hoping for more from this series, but the $4 price tag and generic first arc made this book an easy choice to drop even with Jason Aaron as the writer.

DARK WOLVERINE #80 Written by MARJORIE LIU & DANIEL WAY Penciled by STEPHEN SEGOVIA Cover by GREG LAND

"My Hero," Part 4 (of 4)Norman Osborn's plan to improve Daken's public image has gone horribly wrong, resulting in the deaths of dozens of innocent people. Meanwhile, Daken's plan is moving along quite nicely...32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99
Lee: Another new low, baby burning to death and hero not helping. Nothing screams buy me more than burning babies. Oh yeah, can’t wait to read this one to the kids.
Jim: The covers are getting harsh at times. Just shows that comics are no longer being sold to kids, but trying to appeal to the brutal slasher in all of us.

X-BABIES #2 (of 4) Written by GREGG SCHIGIEL Penciled by JACOB CHABOT Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG

Where were you when the Stars returned? Planet Terry! Wally Wizard! Royal Roy! All in this issue. Plus: X-Babies in space and X-Babies versus...The Alpha-Bot!! Punching, Clawing, Blasting, Bamfing, Dancing, Magic and more...ALL in 32 fun-filled pages!32 PGS./Rated A ...$3.99

STAR COMICS: ALL-STAR COLLECTION VOL. 1 GN-TPBWritten by LENNIE HERMAN, BOB BOLLING, SID JACOBSON & STAN KAYPenciled by WARREN KREMER, BOB BOLLING & HOWARD POSTCover by WARREN KREMER, BOB BOLLING & HOWARD POST

This collection for kids of all ages not only gets four stars, it has Four Stars: Planet Terry! Wally the Wizard! Royal Roy! Top Dog! Space opera, Arthurian-era fantasy, sovereign secrets and canine crimefighting -- collected for the first time! Aliens, demons, ghosts, spies and more! Collecting PLANET TERRY #1-2, TOP DOG #1-3, WALLY THE WIZARD #1-2 and ROYAL ROY #1-2. 216 PGS./All Ages ...$19.99

Lee: The idea of a cross over between X-Babies and Marvel’s original kiddie comics is ingenious! I can’t imagine that many people remember Marvel’s short lived Star Comics line so luckily they are releasing a tpb to coincide with this issue. I can’t imagine there’s any demand for the Star Comics trade but I still think it’s a neat idea.

Jim: If I had young kids or I guess grand children (yikes) this might have some appeal, but still good to see Marvel doing this type of stuff.

STARR THE SLAYER #3 (of 4) Written by DANIEL WAY Pencils & Cover byRICHARD CORBEN

Starr the Slayer wasn't the only fictional character that writer Len Carson created back in the day -- he also created Starr's opposite number, the deceptive and demonic sorcerer Trull. When Trull, using his black magic, captures Carson and brings him to the Realm of Zardath with the intention of finally killing his nemesis he'll have his work cut out for him! Because even with Starr's creator in his back pocket, Trull must contend with a Starr who grows stronger by the day, hardening both his body and his mind in the fierce and bloody Zardathian gladiatorial arena!32 PGS./Explicit Content ...$3.99
Lee: OH OH OH I’d almost forgotten about the famous “arrow through the head” cover. That’s like a classic throw back cover to 2005! Of course, someone should mention to Corben that the arrow went in the wrong side so it looks like our hero (with arrow to thigh) shot him accidentally.
Jim: Maybe Starr the Slayer was tired of that guy and he decided enough is enough and shot him. If reviews are good on this I will get the trade as Corben art is always enjoyable.

POWERS #1 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Art & Cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMING

Because you asked for it, you got it... POWERS IS BACK!! MONTHLY!! From the writer of your favorite blockbuster Marvel comics (Dark Avengers, New Avengers, Secret Invasion, Ultimate Spider-Man) Brian Michael Bendis and award-winning artist Michael Oeming (Mice Templar) comes a brand new chapter in one of the most successful creator-owned comics of the decade! Homicide Detectives Christian Walker and Enki Sunrise investigate murders specific to super hero cases... powers. Where super hero and crime comics explode into each other! This new number one is the PERFECT jumping on point for new readers and a glorious return to form for long time fans. And yes, this book will be shipping monthly. And yes, our horrible letter column is back!!40 PGS./Mature Content...$3.95
Lee: Monthly… yeah right. Because the last Powers re-launch was monthly. Sorry, but I don’t believe them.

Jim: I enjoyed Powers for a long time and then fell off of the book, if they can make this monthly I would be interested in jumping back on.

PUNISHERMAX #1 Written by JASON AARON Penciled by STEVE DILLON Cover by DAVE JOHNSON

An all-new ongoing series from the acclaimed team of Jason Aaron (WOLVERINE: WEAPON X) and Steve Dillon (PUNISHER: WELCOME BACK FRANK), two guys who were born to tell the exploits of Marvel's most brutal vigilante.Wilson Fisk is a bodyguard for mob boss Don Rigoletto, but he has his eyes on a much bigger prize, and he's gonna use Frank Castle to help him realize his dreams. The biggest story in MAX history begins here, as we witness the birth of the greatest villain the Punisher has ever faced. 32 PGS./Explicit Content ...$3.99
Jim: I know this was Lee ranting for the most part, but this is a new Marvel title I’m looking forward too. I think this could be a great fit for what Jason Aaron does best and I love how we are sort of doing an origin for the Kingpin.
Lee: I don't know how Marvel has gotten the Punisher Max line right, but they have. It's hard to fill Ennis's shoes but the writers after him have done a very, very good job.

Lee: Enough ranting… let’s look at some good books!

AVENGERS: THE KORVAC SAGA PREMIERE HC Written by JIM SHOOTER, DAVID MICHELINIE & BILL MANTLOPenciled by GEORGE PEREZ, SAL BUSCEMA, DAVID WENZEL & TOM MORGAN Covers by JOHN ROMITA JR. & GEORGE PEREZ

Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #167-168 & #170-177.200 PGS./Rated A ...$29.99

FANTASTIC FOUR: IN SEARCH OF GALACTUS PREMIERE HC Written by MARV WOLFMAN Penciled by KEITH POLLARD, JOE SINNOTT, SAL BUSCEMA & JOHN BYRNECovers by AL MILGROM & KEITH POLLARD

Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR #204-214.208 PGS./Rated A ...$29.99

Lee: Here’s something different, straight superhero adventure without blood, guts, and nudie shots. It’s almost not worth the effort to read. Actually, these two runs are classic Bronze age superheroes. There’s a quick plot, lots and lots of action, and amazing artwork by Byrne and Perez. Try either one and you won’t be disappointed.

Jim: I agree.

THE 'NAM VOL. 1 TPB Written by DOUG MURRAY Penciled by MIKE GOLDEN & WAYNE VANSANT Cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN Collecting THE 'NAM #1-10.248 PGS./Rated T+ ...$29.99

Lee: The first 5-6 issues are full of beautiful Michael Golden art. The remainder is good but Golden’s art is the best. I’ve started skipping lots and lots of trades but I’m gonna have to get this one. One of the better modern war story comics.

Jim: Worth it for the Golden art alone.

Lee: I know I got long winded again but the covers are just getting ridiculous. Seriously… burning babies???? Who cares if the stories are any good when I’m offended by the cover.

Jim: Which is the exact opposite of what a cover is supposed to do. A cover is suppose to make you want to buy the book, not avoid it. It is marketing 101 and shows you that the target audience in the publishers mind is not us.