Lee: I was all prepared to kill Marvel over the supposed price reduction. But then I did some counting and Marvel actually didn’t do so bad. In a totally non-scientific manner, I counted all the books listed in previews (87) and counted the number of books priced at $2.99 (29) and Marvel dropped prices on about a 1/3 of it’s line. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still not great but it’s a start. Now if only they would reduce the total number of books then life would be grand.
Greg: Why would Marvel reduce the total number of books. If it says Marvel I want to buy it even if I have to sell my body to the night to get the money. I love Marvel.
AGE OF X: ALPHA #1
Written by Mike Carey
Pencils by TBD
Cover by Chris Bachalo
Variant Cover by Olivier Coipel
Mutantkind’s final war starts here. If you don’t know which side you’re on, check your DNA.32 PGS./ $3.99
Lee: I believe this is the third of fourth final war between mutantkind and humankind. Sheesh, can’t they think of some new threat already?
Greg: I think this is some alternate reality storyline in Mike Carey's run about world without the X-Men. I generally like Carey, so I'll probably give it a shot.
ULTIMATE COMICS CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 (of 4)
Written by Jason AaronPencils & Cover by Ron GarneyVillian Variant Cover by ED Mcguinness
Captain America meets his ultimate nemesis the Captain America of the Vietnam War! As new enemies face off, old secrets from the super soldier project are revealed. From the superstar Wolverine: Weapon X creative team of Jason Aaron and Ron Garney, get ready for a hard hitting story of one man’s quest to serve his country and the sacrifices he must make.32 PGS./ $3.99
Lee: Probably well done but I’m not sure that I need another Cap story in which he has to sell a piece of his soul because of his beliefs. This is going to make me sound old but I miss the days when Cap was good and fought on the side of Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
Greg: I'm just glad Jeph Loeb isn't writing this.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #1 (of 5)
Written by Jonathan Maberry
Penciled by Sergio CarielloCover by Adi Granov
From the dark days of World War II to the Heroic Age, witness the brutal battle between Captain America and the immortal evil known as Hydra! How far back has the gruesome group been killing its way to capture the secrets of eternal life? What can Steve Rogers do to halt its sinister spread “when the horrific hordes of the undead rise to stop him? Find out as award-winning horror novelist Jonathan Maberry (Doomwar) teams with five different artists to capture five different time periods “including Sergio Cariello (Lone Ranger), Tom Scioli (Godland), Phil Winslade (Wonder Woman), Kyle Hotz (Conquest: Wraith) and Harvey Talibao (Psylocke) “ and guest-starring The Falcon, Black Panther, Nomad, Nick Fury and The Avengers! 32 PGS./ $2.99
Lee: The idea behind this series sounds fine but I’m more interested in seeing all the different artist renditions of Cap. Hotz! Scioli! Can’t wait to see it. This should be an excellent series… art wise at least.
Greg: Ah, another miniseries making a pitstop at comic stores before its a trade at Barnes and Noble in time for the movie.
THUNDERSTRIKE #3 (of 5)
Written by Tom Defalco
Pencils & Cover by Ron Frenz
And The Demigod Declares Death! Nobody ever said being a super-hero would be easy, but the new Thunderstrike just can’t catch a break. With Gruenhilda the Valkyrie criticizing his every move, the man who would be Thunderstrike begins a quest to recover his stolen mace. Along the way, he adopts a daring different persona, uncovers a plot to invade Olympus and soon finds himself in a fight for his life against a super-powered demigod who is on a mission of vengeance! 32 PGS./ $3.99
Lee: And this cover represents everything that I don’t miss about the 90’s. A lighting shaped mohawk? Seriously? Then again, I have picked this title every month it’s been released because the covers have been so bad. At least it stands out in a crowd.
Greg: BECAUSE MATTHEW DEMANDED IT!!!
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500
Written by Matt FractionArt & 50/50 Covers by Salvador LarrocaVariant Covers by Marko Djurdjevic, Joe Quesada & John Romita Jr.
Giant-Sized Anniversary Issue! Three generations of Starks face their ultimate foe, seventy-some years in the future while, in the present, Spider-Man joins Iron Man as he tries to fill in the blanks of his missing memory. What if amnesia was a weapon? What if the smartest man in the land had ten nightmares that all came true? Who is the son of Tony Stark? What's inside of the rings? The future starts now, for the Marvel Universe's favorite futurist. The Eisner-award-winning series makes a four-hundred-something-issue leap and raises a glass of non-alcoholic champale in salute to Ol' Shell-head! By Matt Fraction (Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Casanova) and Salvador Larroca (Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four), with special guests Howard X, Y and Z! 104 PGS./ $4.99
Lee: WTH just happened??? Last month this was Invincible Iron Man #33, this month it’s #500? What anniversary are we celebrating now? At least DC was smart enough to jump 1 million issues into the future.
Greg: Bah, they shouldn't have been renumbered in the first place. The important thing here is its more of Fraction on Iron Man. Stop your bitching.
SPIDER-GIRL #3
Written by Paul Tobin Penciled by Clayton Henry
Cover by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
Spinning From The Amazing Spider-Man!The greatest secret Spider-Girl has is her secret identity. Her secret protects both her and the lives of her friends and loved ones. Anya Corazon makes a fateful decision to share that secret with someone but what are the consequences, and why has the Red Hulk come for a rematch against Spider-Girl? 32 PGS./ $2.99
Lee: SWIPE ALERT! Well, it might not be a perfect swipe of Attack of the 50’ Woman but I can’t help but feel this is a swipe from somewhere. Maybe it was this picture!
Greg: BECAUSE, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT MATTHEW DEMANDED IT!!!
Greg: Why would Marvel reduce the total number of books. If it says Marvel I want to buy it even if I have to sell my body to the night to get the money. I love Marvel.
AGE OF X: ALPHA #1Written by Mike Carey
Pencils by TBD
Cover by Chris Bachalo
Variant Cover by Olivier Coipel
Mutantkind’s final war starts here. If you don’t know which side you’re on, check your DNA.32 PGS./ $3.99
Lee: I believe this is the third of fourth final war between mutantkind and humankind. Sheesh, can’t they think of some new threat already?
Greg: I think this is some alternate reality storyline in Mike Carey's run about world without the X-Men. I generally like Carey, so I'll probably give it a shot.
ULTIMATE COMICS CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 (of 4)Written by Jason AaronPencils & Cover by Ron GarneyVillian Variant Cover by ED Mcguinness
Captain America meets his ultimate nemesis the Captain America of the Vietnam War! As new enemies face off, old secrets from the super soldier project are revealed. From the superstar Wolverine: Weapon X creative team of Jason Aaron and Ron Garney, get ready for a hard hitting story of one man’s quest to serve his country and the sacrifices he must make.32 PGS./ $3.99
Lee: Probably well done but I’m not sure that I need another Cap story in which he has to sell a piece of his soul because of his beliefs. This is going to make me sound old but I miss the days when Cap was good and fought on the side of Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
Greg: I'm just glad Jeph Loeb isn't writing this.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #1 (of 5)Written by Jonathan Maberry
Penciled by Sergio CarielloCover by Adi Granov
From the dark days of World War II to the Heroic Age, witness the brutal battle between Captain America and the immortal evil known as Hydra! How far back has the gruesome group been killing its way to capture the secrets of eternal life? What can Steve Rogers do to halt its sinister spread “when the horrific hordes of the undead rise to stop him? Find out as award-winning horror novelist Jonathan Maberry (Doomwar) teams with five different artists to capture five different time periods “including Sergio Cariello (Lone Ranger), Tom Scioli (Godland), Phil Winslade (Wonder Woman), Kyle Hotz (Conquest: Wraith) and Harvey Talibao (Psylocke) “ and guest-starring The Falcon, Black Panther, Nomad, Nick Fury and The Avengers! 32 PGS./ $2.99
Lee: The idea behind this series sounds fine but I’m more interested in seeing all the different artist renditions of Cap. Hotz! Scioli! Can’t wait to see it. This should be an excellent series… art wise at least.
Greg: Ah, another miniseries making a pitstop at comic stores before its a trade at Barnes and Noble in time for the movie.
THUNDERSTRIKE #3 (of 5)Written by Tom Defalco
Pencils & Cover by Ron Frenz
And The Demigod Declares Death! Nobody ever said being a super-hero would be easy, but the new Thunderstrike just can’t catch a break. With Gruenhilda the Valkyrie criticizing his every move, the man who would be Thunderstrike begins a quest to recover his stolen mace. Along the way, he adopts a daring different persona, uncovers a plot to invade Olympus and soon finds himself in a fight for his life against a super-powered demigod who is on a mission of vengeance! 32 PGS./ $3.99
Lee: And this cover represents everything that I don’t miss about the 90’s. A lighting shaped mohawk? Seriously? Then again, I have picked this title every month it’s been released because the covers have been so bad. At least it stands out in a crowd.
Greg: BECAUSE MATTHEW DEMANDED IT!!!
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500Written by Matt FractionArt & 50/50 Covers by Salvador LarrocaVariant Covers by Marko Djurdjevic, Joe Quesada & John Romita Jr.
Giant-Sized Anniversary Issue! Three generations of Starks face their ultimate foe, seventy-some years in the future while, in the present, Spider-Man joins Iron Man as he tries to fill in the blanks of his missing memory. What if amnesia was a weapon? What if the smartest man in the land had ten nightmares that all came true? Who is the son of Tony Stark? What's inside of the rings? The future starts now, for the Marvel Universe's favorite futurist. The Eisner-award-winning series makes a four-hundred-something-issue leap and raises a glass of non-alcoholic champale in salute to Ol' Shell-head! By Matt Fraction (Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Casanova) and Salvador Larroca (Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four), with special guests Howard X, Y and Z! 104 PGS./ $4.99
Lee: WTH just happened??? Last month this was Invincible Iron Man #33, this month it’s #500? What anniversary are we celebrating now? At least DC was smart enough to jump 1 million issues into the future.
Greg: Bah, they shouldn't have been renumbered in the first place. The important thing here is its more of Fraction on Iron Man. Stop your bitching.
SPIDER-GIRL #3Written by Paul Tobin Penciled by Clayton Henry
Cover by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
Spinning From The Amazing Spider-Man!The greatest secret Spider-Girl has is her secret identity. Her secret protects both her and the lives of her friends and loved ones. Anya Corazon makes a fateful decision to share that secret with someone but what are the consequences, and why has the Red Hulk come for a rematch against Spider-Girl? 32 PGS./ $2.99
Lee: SWIPE ALERT! Well, it might not be a perfect swipe of Attack of the 50’ Woman but I can’t help but feel this is a swipe from somewhere. Maybe it was this picture!
Greg: BECAUSE, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT MATTHEW DEMANDED IT!!!
We'll find out today if the new Thunderstrike has the charm of the old. Mohawks are in these days (just look around the school yard -- seriously), but that does look awful. Before I clicked on the picture, I thought he had a lightning bolt stuck inside his head like Radioactive Man.
ReplyDeleteHey Jim, did you see those dark clouds on the cover of Spider-Girl #3? AND she's standing in a cemetery. Looks like it's getting "edgier" already.
Her father better not be dead though! It is a poorer cover with that stance -- (I can say that because Clayton DID NOT draw it).
Lee, is the 50-foot woman wearing a skirt or shorts? It might explain why people are wrecking their cars.
Great job guys, you actually made me read the comic descriptions this time. Normally, I just look at the thumbnail picture and read the commentary.
The Iron Man cover looks great, but it'll probably be an expen$ive variant.
Looks like Lee is editing my initial comments. Run out of Cannibal Corpse albums to amuse yourself with?
ReplyDeleteI believe it was faux Greg who typed the initial comment...
ReplyDelete... and that wasn't me.