Marvel This Week
As always, there’s a bunch of new comics coming out from the House of Ideas on Wednesday (in America at least). Here’s a look at but some of them. The ones with the prettiest covers of course. For the full list of releases, see the link below.
Female Bucky Returns?
Another teaser image was released from Marvel yesterday. These images seem to be working, as fanboy tongues get wagging each time. To celebrate the release of Captain America #600 on June 17, this image lays hints as to what’s next. The issue is written by Ed Brubaker, Mark Waid, Roger Stern and Stan Lee. That’s some of the best writers Cap has had over the decades. The art will be supplied by a bunch of people too including Butch Guice, Luke Ross and Howard Chaykin. I knew the character in the promo looked familiar, before I picked it – the female Bucky from the controversial late 1990s Heroes Reborn saga. Perhaps the issue will be an anthology issue with looks at Captain America from different eras, like the current Hulk: Broken Worlds series. Either way, it appears that something big is stirring in Cap’s world, as also evidenced by the 5 issue series entitled Reborn (from Brubaker and Bryan Hitch) that hits in July. That’s all we know for now, as Marvel have only released the white word, “Reborn” on a black background as a teaser for that series. Maybe Steve Rogers will be reborn, or perhaps it an allusion to Heroes Reborn, with the female Bucky teaming up with James Barnes, the original Bucky and current Cap. Who knows?
Marvel’s Variety
If you need proof that there’s an abundance of different comics released every week, just check out the tiny assortment below, from what Marvel’s offering this week. Looks like there’s something for everyone, as usual.
And for the complete list of Marvel goodies being released this week, go here….
Read War of Kings For Free
I picked up War of Kings #1 when it was released a few weeks ago. I haven’t been up to date on all the Marvel happenings lately, but I’m glad I grabbed it. What a space epic! With a royal marriage, speeding spaceships and weird aliens, it was awesome. Now, you can read it for free, and if you like it, the second issue by the same creative team is due out on April Fool’s Day. (No kidding!) Press release below.
It’s winner take all as tensions mount and the cosmic powder keg prepares to blow in War of Kings #1 (of 6)! Wondering what War of Kings is all about? Well here’s your chance to get in on all the action for FREE courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited right here! After the Skrulls threatened his kingdom during Secret Invasion, Black Bolt’s quest to ensure Inhuman dominance in the galaxy begins! The acclaimed team of writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, along with fan favorite artist Paul Pelletier, place the Inhumans on a crash course with the Shi’ Ar Empire and their deadly leader-Vulcan! With appearances from The Imperial Guard, Starjammers, the Guardians of the Galaxy and more, this is one cosmic war you won’t want to miss!
War of Kings #2
David Mack-Collected
Creator David Mack is an innovative guy. His work looks like nothing else on the stands. He owns the page in his work like Daredevil and his own creation, Kabuki. Now you can grab Kabuki: The Alchemy which collects some of his best work. Official press release below, and check out more Mack art here.
Eisner-nominated superstar writer/artist David Mack presents a groundbreaking collection of his acclaimed work in Kabuki: The Alchemy HC. Collecting all nine issues of the critically-lauded, Eisner Award-nominated KABUKI: THE ALCHEMY series from Marvel’s creator-owned Icon imprint – for the first time ever!—this is an unprecedented look at Mack’s work! This hardcover is chock full of bonus material including original scripts, a “best of fan letters” section, never before seen art and new story pages, including updated versions of previously published scenes! If that’s not enough, acclaimed Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk provides a powerful introduction to one of comics’ most acclaimed series and a special afterword from Mack himself!
“I think The Alchemy represents the best and most evolved example of my work in comics as a writer and as an artist,” says David Mack.
Plus, don’t miss the Kabuki: The Alchemy Limited Edition HC, packaged with a signed and numbered original brush & ink sketch on parchment paper! Both Kabuki: The Alchemy HC and The Kabuki: Alchemy Limited Edition HC feature an embossed cover and spine; watermark design on the interior pages; and a special bookmark!
Spider-Girl Goes Digital
In our second issue of Extra Sequential (it’s only days away, and even more action packed than our first issue) we have an interview with Tom DeFalco, the writer behind Spider-Girl. In related news, Mayday Parker’s title has ended, but her adventures continue digitally. Official press release below.
At first, she was just SPIDER-GIRL. Then she became the AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL. Now, Mayday Parker, the future daughter of Spider-Man goes digital in the all-new THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-GIRL #1! Marvel is pleased to announce that Spider-Girl will return in an all new series, exclusive to the groundbreaking Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, beginning April 15th!
Written by co-creator, Tom DeFalco, drawn by co-creator, Ron Frenz, and inked by Sal Buscema, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-GIRL #1 debuts on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited as part of the subscription service’s exclusive digital comics program. The story will appear in print two weeks later in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #5 on sale Wednesday, April 29th.
Spider-Girl fans can gear up for THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-GIRL’s digital debut by reading FREE Spider-Girl digital comics right now.
Wolverine Art Appreciation Month
Logan will bask in Marvel’s love and respect in April when Wolverine celebrates his 35th anniversary with classic paintings re-imagined by top comic artists of today. This is a great idea I reckon. Press release below.
Marvel is proud to announce that in honor of Wolverine’s 35th anniversary, numerous Marvel titles will feature Wolverine Art Appreciation Variant Covers in April, as part of Wolverine Art Appreciation Month. In the tradition of Marvel’s previous variant cover programs, featuring everything from villains to zombies to monkeys, select Marvel titles will feature variant covers spotlighting the most popular X-Man through a unique lens! Inspired by some of the world’s greatest artists, these variant covers depict Wolverine like you’ve never seen him before, in styles reminiscent of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and more!
Captain Britain and MII3 #2 Edward Gory Style
“This is a huge year for Wolverine as he proves why he’s arguably one of the most popular characters in the world,” explained Joe Quesada, Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief. “He’s not just popular with fans but also with artists, as evidenced by how many of today’s top comic artists jockey for a chance to draw him. This got us thinking: what if Wolverine had been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years? What great, classic artists would want a crack at drawing a Wolverine cover?”
Keep checking back with http://www.marvel.com for a complete listing of titles featuring the Wolverine Art Appreciation Variant Covers and a first look at these landmark covers!
Amazing Spider-Man #590 C.M Coolidge Style
The Gallery: Exiles #1
Those alternate universe travellers are back in a new series of The Exiles. The first issue is out on April 8 and is written by Jeff Parker, with art by Salvador Espin. Blink returns as the leader of this new team, which includes The Beast, The Witch, Panther, Forge and Polaris.
They’ve been pulled away from their unique worlds and have been given a new mission.
At the link below are a few text-free preview pages, and right here you can see the free Exiles Sketchbook.
New Avengers and New Dr. Strange
On March 25, New Avengers #51 will be released which shows the New Avengers as they attempt to take down Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers duplicates, while helping Dr. Strange regain his title as Sorcerer Supreme. The issue is written by Brian MIchael Bendis, with art by Billy Tan and Chris Bachalo. Preview art below.
The Gallery-X-Force/Cable: Messiah War Prologue
X-Force and Cable are the two bad boys of the X-Men flood of books as of late. Now they’re teaming up as part of the Messiah War cross-over, which is the sequel to Messiah CompleX. The first new mutant birth since the house of M (whereby the mad Scarlet Witch’s “No more mutants” dream became a reality) things have been crazy. Cable’s stuck in the future, Bishop’s tracking him down and Cyclops is attempting to protect the future of the mutant race from those that want her for their own ends. So the X-Men’s leader orders something drastic and sends X-Force on a time-travelling adventure after Cable and the youngen.
The prologue is written by Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle with art by Mike Choi and goes on sale on March 25. Then it’s onto Part 2 in Cable #13 on sale on April 1, followed by Part 3 in April 22′s X-Force #14 by Yost, Kyle and artist Clayton Crain. At the link below, there’s a few text-free preview pages of the Prologue. They look gorgeous.
Web Swinging & Singing
This has been in the works for a while now, due in no small part to the mega-success of the films of Marvel’s most famous character. Fanboys are already up in arms about what they see as a travesty, but I think it’s a good idea. What is that idea? Spider-Man on Broadway. It’s happening. Tickets go on sale in June. It sounds like a more faithful adaptation than the dodgy Superman musical from three decades ago, and it has some stellar talent involved, namely half of U2! If I was a U.S resident, my curiosity would drive me to see it for myself. It’s a bold move and will hopefully bring in new fans to the comic book medium, or at least get fanboys out of the house – as long as they don’t picket the theatre. I can hear it now – “Spidey’s a swinger, not a singer!” Press release below.
Webheads, get ready to experience the exploits of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in an entirely new, exciting way when “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” opens on Broadway!
Mark your calendars now, thwippers, “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” opens on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Broadway’s Hilton Theatre, 213 West 42nd Street. And some lucky Broadway goers will get to see the show when preview performances begin Saturday, January 16, 2010.
Stay tuned to Marvel.com to find out about your chance to purchase tickets to “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” before they go on sale to the general public!
Of course a show starring Spider-Man deserves all-star talent and “Turn Off the Dark” has it in spades! Tony® Award-winner Julie Taymor (“The Lion King,” “Across The Universe”) is not only directing the musical, but she shares writing credits with Glen Berger. Oh, but there’s more! Bono and The Edge, 22-time Grammy® Award-winning members of the legendary band U2 are creating new music and lyrics for the show!
The principal creative and design team for “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” includes Daniel Ezralow, Choreographer (“Across the Universe,” “The Green Bird”); George Tsypin, Sets (“The Magic Flute,” “The Little Mermaid”); Eiko Ishioka, Costumes (Academy Award® for “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” Tony Award® nomination for “M. Butterfly,” the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics); Donald Holder, Lighting (Tony® Awards for “The Lion King,” “South Pacific”); Jonathan Deans, Sound (“Fosse,” The Beatles “LOVE” by Cirque du Soleil, “Young Frankenstein,” “Ragtime”); and Teese Gohl, Musical Supervisor (“Across the Universe,” “Frida”). Additional members of the “Spider-Man” creative team will be announced at a later date.
Drawing from over 40 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen.
The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down-literally-when he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek-suddenly endowed with astonishing powers-soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character.
Spider-Man’s battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected-yielding new characters as well as familiar faces-until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero’s journey.
Casting for “Spider-Man” will be announced soon.
Group tickets now on sale. Single tickets will go on sale June, 2009. For more information about group tickets, visit the “Spider-Man” website at www.SpidermanOnBroadway.com or by calling 1-800-Broadway.
Wolverine: Worst Day Ever
Now this sounds like an interesting way to breath new life into Wolverine. That guy has more series every month than you can poke an adamantium prong at, but a new venture coming in April looks set to present him in an intriguing manner. Official press release below.
Marvel is proud to reveal that acclaimed YA novelist Barry Lyga (The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Hero-Type) will make his Marvel Comics debut with Wolverine: Worst Day Ever, a new illustrated young adults novel . Featuring new cover art by Todd Nauck (Amazing Spider-Man Obama Story), this original illustrated hardcover features a look at Wolverine like you’ve never seen before! “The book is told as a series of blog entries by a new student at Xavier’s School,” Lyga explained, “with illustrations culled from Wolverine and X-Men comics going back as far as Giant-Size X-Men #1. “The difficulty in writing a character like Wolverine is that so many people have had so many things to say about him already. It was my job to introduce the character to a new kind of reader, so I sort of gleefully plunged in and tried to distill Logan down to the basics and then look at him through the very warped eye of a kid who doesn’t have any kind of automatic respect for Wolverine or the X-Men or anyone else, for that matter. Honestly, I’m kinda surprised Marvel let me get away with it.” That’s right, Bub, Wolverine: Worst Day Ever is an all-new illustrated young adults novel examining Wolverine’s life and times as one of Marvel’s deadliest heroes. In stores this April, experience the most unique look ever inside the mind of everyone’s favorite X-Man in Wolverine: Worst Day Ever!
The Gallery: War of Kings #1
On sale on March 4, War of Kings #1 is the first issue of a 6 issue mini-series from Marvel. Written by frequent writing partners Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with art by Paul Pelletier the series is an unashamed space epic. The mute leader of the Inhumans, Black Bolt launches headlong into a war with the Shi’Ar Empire, and its leader (and X-Men baddie) Vulcan. Click the link below for some text-free preview pages, and covers by Brandon Peterson and Ron Lim.
The Gallery: Hulk Vs Concept Art
Like Hulk? What about Thor? How do you feel about Wolverine? If you’re fond of those three Marvel superheroes, then the Hulk Vs DVD is for you. Being released on January 27, the animated film is made up of two features, where Bruce Banner’s alter ego battles the norse god Thor and the popular X-Man Wolverine. Marvel has just released some great concept sketches of the film, including some from Jeff Matsuda, art director on the recent The Batman cartoon. For more info on the DVD and it’s new-fan friendly features, go here, and for more art click below, or go here.
Fantastic Force Script Preview
As revealed on the latest post at MySpace/comicbooks from Marvel head honcho Joe Quesada is this little gem – the first script for the Fantatstic Four spin-off, Fantastic Force #1, which features the Fantastic Four of the future. It’s written by comics newbie Joe Ahearne who comes from working on Doctor Who at the BBC. You can read the full script at the link below. I’d recommend this for wannabe comic scribes, as you’ll get a feel for the proper formatting, as well as an idea of the kind of time it takes from script to publication (see date below.) If you want more of Quesada’s entertaining tales and peeks at Marvel’s future, go here.
Fantastic Force Issue 1
“Shock of the Nu”
Script By Joe Ahearne
Revised 7th January 2008
Page One
1/ A devastated future Earth. Multiple rays of ultraviolet light with figures inside streak out into the sky and out of the panel.
CAPTION : They traveled 500 years from the future to escape a dying Earth.
2/ The rays land on the other side of the split panel in one of the recreated cities of Nu-World – contemporary Manhattan.
CAPTION : This is Nu-World. A facsimile of present Earth.
Designed for today’s elite.
3/ The ultraviolet light fades to reveal a crowd of people looking around at Times Square, awed at their new surroundings.
CAPTION : Now home to eight billion refugees.
And the last six heroes in history.
Read Black Panther For Free
Our friends at Marvel have created a handy guide to the Black Panther, one of comics earliest African American superheroes. The new series launches on February 4, by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist Ken Lashley. However, this isn’t the same Black Panther we all know and love. This time it’s a different person under the mask -and it’s a woman!
Black Panther is (or was) T’Challa, the King of Wakanda but he’s fallen in battle, so it’s time for a new warrior to take his place. You can read all about T’Challa’s history as an Avenger, his marriage to the X-Men’s Storm and more right here for free at Marvel’s Digital Comics Unlimited service.
