Marvel Preview Review for December Part 2 of 2

Continued....

DARK X-MEN #2 (of 5)
Written by PAUL CORNELL Penciled by LEONARD KIRK Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
X-MAN, A.K.A. NATE GRAY IS BACK! Sadly, the X-Men that he first encounters are Norman Osborn’s X-Men and they don’t like the idea of an Omega-level mutant that won’t tow the company line. Do they have a chance of defeating X-Man? And if they don’t, what does that mean to Osborn’s agenda?32 PGS…$3.99
Lee: YAHOOOO, Nate Gray the original Cable, not to be confused with the current Cable is back. Oh thank goodness he’s back because I was demanding his return. AND, I wanted to know what happened between panels during Marvel Super Hero Secret Wars. If only they would mine that wonderful mini-series for more stories. OH WAIT! They did! This is just an awesome month. It’s so awesome in it’s awesomeness that you can’t quantify the awesome.
Jim: So Nate Gray is Cyclop's future son, but is not Cable who is Cyclop's future son because Nate Gray is from an alternative future, but the Cable future is real? Are these sons that he had with Madelyne Pryor, the clone of Jean Grey who became the Goblin Queen or did Jean have these children with Scott in another future as she is currently dead - is that right?

BLACK PANTHER #11
Written by JONATHAN MABERRY Penciled by KEN LASHLEY Cover by PAUL RENAUD
T'Challa prepares his Dora Milaje army to fight an unwinnable war, Storm battles an unstoppable and unnatural destructive force, and the new Black Panther wages war against an unbeatable foe: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner! Guest-starring the Fantastic Four! 32 PGS…$2.99
Jim: I don’t follow this book, but looking at the cover if T’Challa is now an Iron Man clone, doesn’t he lose what makes him unique?
Lee: In case you didn’t notice, this particular Black Panther has certain ‘attributes’ that doesn’t make him a him anymore. If you’re gonna change, change all the way and be an Iron Panther while you’re at it.

Jim: Shouldn't that be a Pantherette then?

X-FACTOR #200
Written by Peter David Penciled by Bing Cansino Cover by Esad Ribic
X-Factor has relocated back to New York, and their first client is a keeper: Franklin Richards, whose mom has disappeared and who figures that the premiere detective agency in the Marvel Universe has the best chance of finding her. Except Reed Richards doesn't seem especially cooperative in helping them locate his missing wife. What is he hiding, and does it have anything to do with the coming Darkness? Meanwhile, Val Cooper has some bad news for Monet: Her ambassador father has been taken prisoner by terrorists, and she has less than 24 hours to find him before he winds up getting his head cut off on video. 104 PGS./New & Reprint/ …$4.99
Jim: I love phony numbering from Marvel. Let’s have an anniversary issue to punch up sales. God forbid you are an old style collector or casual fan trying to follow a series because it would never happen with Marvel. Wolverine jumps out of his own book and finishes a story in a giant size special and becomes Dark Wolverine, Captain America ends and jumps to a mini-series, Moon Knight ends and jumps to a mini-series, Ghost Rider same thing, X-Factor jumps into new numbering making the casual fan wonder what happened to issue #50 or whatever. Daredevil jumps to number 500, then into The List and then back to #501 as casual fan still waits issue #111 (or whatever)..
Lee: I couldn’t agree with you more. Unfortunately, you identified the problem without meaning too. We’re old style collectors with the emphasis on old. I don’t think Marvel cares about us anymore.

ED HANNIGAN: COVERED
Master artist Ed Hannigan did many of Marvel’s cover layouts of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Over that time, Ed created some of the most innovative cover designs ever. His covers for The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man still stand today as some of the finest of all time! Today, Ed is 58 years old and has multiple sclerosis. Through special arrangement with the Hero Initiative, Marvel is offering Ed Hannigan: Covered, a massive 48-page collection of Ed’s covers, designs he created for other artists, and even rare glimpses at licensing and merchandising art Ed did. Best of all, proceeds benefit Ed Hannigan directly!This volume also features a new cover by Ed, and new tribute pieces from Mark Millar, Michael Avon Oeming, Jim Valentino, Herb Trimpe, and more! NOTE: There will be ONLY ONE PRINTING OF THIS BOOK EVER! Get it now so you don’t blow your chance! 48 pages…$5.99
Lee: I’m always glad to see when the comic book industry tries to take care of it’s over. This is a great cause and well worth your investment. And, to be clichéd, it’s a chance to give back to those you gave so much to us. I’ll be getting a copy.
Jim: I actually just prefer to give straight to the charity, but I agree with Lee this is a good thing to do. Of course since Disney is paying $4 billion for the company, maybe they could set up a health care co-op for the artist and writers.

FORTUNE AND GLORY: A TRUE HOLLYWOOD COMIC BOOK STORY DELUXE HC ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Written, Penciled, Cover by Brian Michael Bendis

Before Ultimate Spider-Man, before New Avengers, before Secret Invasion...Brian Bendis was an award-winning cartoonist, and this scathing Hollywood tell-all was one of his best! Entertainment Weekly gave him an A, Hollywood insiders fell all over themselves to praise him, and fans everywhere gave him a thumbs-up for hilarity. Now, for its tenth anniversary, Bendis releases his sold-out miniseries FORTUNE & GLORY in color for the first time — featuring colors by Matt Wilson (Phonogram). Marvel once again at the stupidity of Hollywood producers, and the enthralling mood swings and ego nosedives of a little indie comic-book creator caught up in the maelstrom of the motion picture industry. This deluxe collection features brand-new text pieces by Bendis, and pages and scenes left on the cutting-room floor. 144 PGS...$19.99
Lee: This was written long before Bendis became the mega-star he is today so I’m betting it’s very, very good. In fact, I’ve never heard a bad thing about it. With all the “new & improved” features, I guess it’s time to hope on board and see what all the hub-bub is about.
Jim: Again I agree. I loved Torso by Bendis and that was in the same time frame.

IRON MAN: IRON MONGER PREMIERE HC

Written by Denny O'neil Penciled by Luke Mcdonnell, Rich Buckler, Sal Buscema, Herb Trimpe & Mark BrightCovers by John Byrne & Mark Bright

He's lost his armor and his fortune, but not his nerve! Tony Stark's back on his feet after everything Obadiah Stane has thrown at him, but now the bilious billionaire is taking away Stark's friends...one of them forever! The enmity spanning more than thirty issues ends in a steel-plated slugfest from which only one can walk away! Plus: vision quests and extradimensional intrigue! Madame Masque and Thundersword! And the debut of the Scourge of the Underworld! Guest-starring the West Coast Avengers! Collecting IRON MAN (1968) #193-200. 208 PGS…$29.99
Lee: Yeah, I know the only reason we’re getting this reprint is because of the movie but that’s ok. Unfortunately, I can’t remember if this particular story arc was any good. I do remember this was during the new color separation process and the pages made your eyes bleed if you looked at them too long. I wonder if they fixed that problem?
Jim: Marvel is not ususally married to do the same coloring process and has recently been remastering classics with the new color process and giving us some great looking books. So maybe they will clean this up.

BLACK WIDOW: WEB OF INTRIGUE PREMIERE HC

Written by George Pérez, Ralph Macchio & Gerry Conway Penciled by George Pérez, Bob Layton, Paul Gulacy & George Freeman

It’s been a long lively life for Natasha Romanova – in the Avengers, the Champions, S.H.I.E.L.D. and elsewhere – but could it end with her surrounded by international assassins? Old enemies and new are using her instructor, her mentor and her ex-husband against her – or so it seems – but who and what can be trusted in a spy’s landscape of lies? Guest-starring Nick Fury, Jimmy Woo and other espionage experts! Collecting MARVEL FANFARE (1983) #10-13; BIZARRE ADVENTURES #25 and BLACK WIDOW: THE COLDEST WAR GN. 176 PGS …$24.99
Lee: I really like the premiere collections. It’s allowing me to replace my comic book collection with a comic hc collection. Oh well, this is a fun collection of stories even if it’s a little pricey.
Jim: My recollection is this material was not worthy of getting a place in my bookcase.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE X-MEN VOL. 8 HC

Written by Steve Englehart, Len Wein, Chris Claremont, Bill Mantlo, Roy Thomas & Tony Isabella Penciled by Sal Buscema, Don Heck, Herb Trimpe, Gil Kane & John Buscema Cover by Gil Kane

Collecting AVENGERS #110-111, INCREDIBLE HULK #172, 180 & 181, CAPTAIN AMERICA #172-175, MARVEL TEAM-UP #23 & 38, DEFENDERS #15-16 and GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #4, plus the rare covers to X-MEN #81-93. 304 PGS …$54.99
Lee: I love Masterworks more than most people I know. I have all but three of them. I have multiples of some. But even I think this is a complete waste of paper. This is only for the serious collector and I’m not even sure it’s good enough for that guy/gal!
Jim: This is the first modern era Masterworks that I'm passing on. This is so far from being needed to be reprinted and is really only for the total completist. Now of course one day I may buy it if I can get it cheap, but not for $55.

TIMELY 70th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION HC

Written by Marc Guggenheim, Karl Kesel, Steve Ellis, Tom Defalco, James Robinson, David Lapham, Roger Stern, Jen Van Meter, Roy Thomas, Scott Snyder & David LissPenciled by Javier Pulido, Steve Uy, Steve Ellis, Chris Burnham, Marcos Martin, David Lapham, Paolo Rivera, Andy Macdonald, Mitch Breitweiser, Scott Wegener & Jason Armstrong Cover by Daniel Acuña

Collecting all the 70th anniversary specials! ALL SELECT COMICS #1, ALL WINNERS COMICS #1, USA COMICS #1 MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #1, CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1, MYSTIC COMICS #1, YOUNG ALLIES COMICS #1, MISS AMERICA COMICS #1, SUB-MARINER COMICS #1, HUMAN TORCH COMICS #1 and DARING MYSTERY COMICS #1. 280 PGS./Rated A …$39.99 Trim size: oversized
Lee: This is a really tough call. The one shots were very well done and I really enjoyed them but the art was very uneven. Having it oversized is really cool. But $40 is kinda pricey. I just don’t know.
Jim: I know, this is a must have. It had a lot of great work in it and while they were not all instant classics, it was terrific material and may never see the light of day again.

THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY COIPEL COVER HC

Written by Stan Lee Penciled by Jack KirbyCover by Olivier Coipel

The legend has come true! By the will of the gods, I am alive! I am invincible! I am — THOR!!! And so began the very first epic tale of Marvel’s most revered hero, the mighty Thor, whose legend would grow alongside the success of Marvel comics, making him the most exciting super hero of all time! Never has Thor been more sensational than during these early tales, crafted by Marvel’s greatest, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Re-live classic Norse mythology in the mighty Marvel manner as well as Stan and Jack’s stories of the Norse Gods and Thor before he came to Earth as Don Blake. Witness as these masters breathe life into the thunder god and some of Marvel’s most enduring characters: Helmdall, Balder, Loki, Odin and Hela. Read these stories as never before with all-new, modern coloring and a cover by current THOR artist Olivier Coipel. Collecting THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY #1-6. 256 PGS…$29.99 Trim size: oversized
Lee: Normally I might pass since I already have this material but the oversized book is really tempting. I love Kirby’s Thor and the stories are some of the best. Too late, I already talked myself into it.
Jim: This is is in your Thor Masterworks already. Not recolored, but still you already own this material as a hard cover. Pass for me.
Lee: I know I already own it. But, this is oversized. It's like a book that goes to 11. I may have it elsewhere but this goes to 11.

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS: 10 YEARS AT MARVEL TPB Written by Brian Michael Bendis Penciled by Mark Bagley, Mark Brooks, Alex Maleev, Mike Deodato, Michael Gaydos, Leinil Francis Yu, David Finch, Frank Cho & Jim Mahfood

Celebrating Brian Michael Bendis' 10th anniversary at Mighty Marvel! Writing as many as five Marvel titles simultaneously, Bendis has become one of the company's most prolific creators during the past decade; his multiple Eisner Awards testify to quality that rivals such quantity. In 2000, the crime-noir veteran re-created Marvel's most vital character for modern audiences in Ultimate Spider-Man, harbinger of the growing Ultimate universe and still thriving as it eclipses 100 issues. Collecting ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #13, NEW AVENGERS #22, ALIAS #10, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1, CIVIL WAR: THE CONFESSION, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL, ULTIMATE X-MEN #41, DAREDEVIL #65, NEW AVENGERS #15, ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP #9, DARK AVENGERS #9 and material from STAN LEE PRESENTS. 360 PGS…$34.99
Lee: Wow, has it been 10 years at Marvel already???? My how time flies when you don’t care! On one hand Marvel’s been a unifed Universe for the entire time and you really have to give Bendis credit for that. At the same time, it’s alienated me so I’m less that thrilled. My personal feelings aside I think this collection sucks just because the material is so all over the map. There isn’t a unified theme other than author. And in this case, that isn’t enough to sell me.
Jim: It's a nice little guesture and I'm sure pays some extra coin to Bendis, but a collection that no one needs.

Jim: Marvel has been pissing me off lately as they keep pulling all the side characters deeper into the core universe and it is making me have to decide if I want to bother with any of the current Marvel stuff anymore.
Lee: Unfortunately, I have to agree with Jim. The more integrated the books become the less involved I am. What really scares me is I think DC is going the same direction. Soon, you won't be able to buy a single book and get a single story.