Marvel Comics Thread

[number8]

Since DC's relaunch has its own thread, it's only fair to create one for Marvel's too.

Here are the officially confirmed new series so far:

UNCANNY AVENGERS #1
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: John Cassaday

The Avengers and X-Men must join forces to overcome the greatest challenge either team has ever faced, one so devastating that neither can afford to do it alone! Can Captain America’s newly assembled team—including Thor, Scarlet Witch, Havok & Rogue-- find a way to peacefully co-exist while also dealing with the game-changing repercussions of Avengers VS X-Men?

http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/9/70/4ff7344c9a03d/detail.jpg

ALL-NEW X-MEN #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Stuart Immonen

In the wake of the events of Avengers Vs. X-Men, the mutant world is set to receive a big blast from the past, in the form of the original X-Men! How will the young, unsuspecting mutants from the past – including Jean Grey – react to the conflict and turmoil that has engulfed the world of their future?

A+X #1
Rotating creative team

Get ready for action-packed stories featuring team-ups from your favorite Marvel heroes every month! First, a story where Wolverine and Hulk come together, and then Captain America and Cable meet up! But will each partner’s combined strength be enough?

NEW AVENGERS #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Steve Epting

[Classified]

AVENGERS #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Penciller: Jerome Opena

It’s a new day and a new beginning for the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, with a brand new team that’s bigger and better than ever before! And they won’t just be ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’, either – when the galaxy is in danger, the Avengers will answer the call!

[number8]

And then here are the teases:

IRON MAN

http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/5/30/5016fc22a041c.jpg

THOR

http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/5/b0/5017f5c53c1a2.jpg

HULK

http://x.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/d/30/501964074193a.jpg

DEADPOOL

http://i.newsarama.com/images/marvelnow-chimichangas_02.jpg

[bac0n]

So, Avengers are now taking an epic, galactic direction? Interest: piqued.

[number8]

So, Avengers are now taking an epic, galactic direction? Interest: piqued.

http://x.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/0/04/4ff59dba7e18e/detail.jpg


Tom Brevoort: First off, it's important for you to know that, while we're not ready to tell you any more about it, Jonathan will also be writing NEW AVENGERS as well as AVENGERS.

I mention that because the second thing you need to know is that, like AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, AVENGERS is going to be shipping twice a month. So there'll be three Hickman-written Avengers comics coming out every 30 days—two issues of AVENGERS and one issue of NEW AVENGERS.

I can tell you that NEW AVENGERS will be an absolutely essential sister title to AVENGERS, intrinsically linked to what’s going on in that book. Together, the two will function as Black and White, Day and Night, Life and Death.

The main imperative for the Avengers coming out of AvX is a need to think bigger. Had the Avengers been better prepared, better manned, better equipped, the events of AvX might have been able to have been dealt with in a much shorter order. So we'll be fielding a very large core team comprised of 18 or so characters—spanning the key players in the “Marvel’s The Avengers” film, mainstays of the current team such as Captain Marvel—Carol Danvers—and Spider-Woman, classic Avengers of the past such as The Falcon, some established Marvel characters of note that have never been Avengers before, and a number of completely new, though familiar, characters as well. And we'll be keeping things in motion—not every hero will be featured in every issue and there'll be smaller groups tasked to deal with rising situations as they crop up.

[Skitch]

Chimichangas LMAO :lol:

[bac0n]

Okay, I don't see JRJR anywhere on those list of new titles. Thinking I'm gonna need to add back some Avengers titles to the ol' pull list...

EDIT: Rocket Raccoon? SOLD

[Sven]

Okay, I don't see JRJR anywhere on those list of new titles.

He'll be doing a Cap title with Remender.

Also, Fraction/Bagley/Allred on Fantastic Four/FF.

[number8]

Honestly, I think all the shake-ups sound pretty good, but I'm probably only going to get Hickman's 3 Avengers. I'm sure Aaron will have some crazy Viking-style action run on Thor, though.

[number8]

Anyway, like Sven said:

CAPTAIN AMERICA

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1344002104.jpg

FANTASTIC FOUR

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1343999249.jpg

Not sure what. I really don't think it's X-men Legacy. It's the least obvious teaser so far.

http://geek-news.mtv.com//wp-content/uploads/geek/2012/08/legacy-marvelnow-561.jpg

[Sven]

I can't believe that I'm gonna commit to four Avengers books. Sheesh.

[number8]

Four? Secret or Uncanny?

[dreamdead]

I remember wishing that Bagley would deepen his artistic bag back in the early 90s with Amazing Spider-man--and this is from someone whose very first purchased comic was a New Warriors issue that he illustrated. He's decent enough but I can't believe he's still so appreciated that he'd get a title like FF.

[Sven]

Four? Secret or Uncanny?

Both, sucka. Putting it at five issues a month.

[Dukefrukem]

What'st the relationship between Chimichangas and Deadpool?

[dreamdead]

What'st the relationship between Chimichangas and Deadpool?

It's just a non-sequitur undercutting the seriousness and pomp of the other announced titles. It's silly on its own, but funny enough when juxtaposed against the others.

Meantime, has Posehn written comics before or is this his first try?

[number8]

He likes them.

[number8]

Meantime, has Posehn written comics before or is this his first try?

He wrote a graphic novel called Last Christmas with Image years ago. Also co-written with Duggan. It's about Santa Claus emerging from the North Pole only to discover that the world has already been overrun by zombies.

[Sven]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1344344658.jpg


"I do flash back and show a young Thor in action, but he's actually just one of three Thors that I want to focus on, "Arron tells Newsarama. "This first story is an epic tale that plays out over the course of thousands of years. So we spend time with young Thor in the Viking age — the young, hotheaded god of the Vikings, who loves to come down to Midgard and get into trouble. In the present, we see Thor the Avenger on a journey that takes him to the far corners of space, interacting with all sorts of new space gods and wondrous new locations.

"And then we also see old King Thor, who's the last king of Asgard, thousands of years in the future, where something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

"Linking all these eras and Thors together is one villain, an all-new character [Gorr, the God Butcher], who is basically, at least initially, a serial killer of gods. He's a guy with a serious axe to grind against all immortal beings in the cosmos, and he's going around doing his best to kill them all off, one at a time, as brutally as possible. That villain's story unfolds over the course of all these different eras. He starts as a serial killer of gods, but by the end, he has become something even more frightening."

Okay, fine. I'll get this.

[number8]

Arghh. Aaron and his crazy ideas, always sucking me in.

[number8]

Seems like the Fantastic Four/FF dual title concept is being continued by Fraction. If this is for FF, then Mike Allred is a great choice for it.

http://i.newsarama.com/images/marvel-now-extended.jpg

[Ezee E]

I'll give a few of these a shot. What is avengers vs x-men all about anyway?

[number8]

I'll give a few of these a shot. What is avengers vs x-men all about anyway?

Bull vs Shit.

[Sven]

Bull vs Shit.

This. It's seriously not worth worrying about. All you need to know is that they're fighting and Marvel has already spoiled the end: they learn to work together. Story painful. Artwork has some moments.

[Ezee E]

This. It's seriously not worth worrying about. All you need to know is that they're fighting and Marvel has already spoiled the end: they learn to work together. Story painful. Artwork has some moments.
Figured as much. Haven't heard a thing about it until I browsed a comic book store, and saw the many many issues they all had. Didn't even seem to be running low on them.

[Acapelli]

i'm enjoying it a lot. a lot of it has to do with this being the big finale to the last 10 or so years of marvel, and someone who's enjoyed those stories a lot, for the most part

and they actually haven't spoiled the end yet, since none of the "phoenix five" (ugh) have shown up in any of the marvel now! materials (besides cyclops who only shows up on the poster)

[number8]

http://i.newsarama.com/images/indestructible-hulk-1.jpg

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40326


Again, take the concept back to center. Hulk is about what happens to us when we lose control -- or when we try to exercise too much control. The stories we'll be telling treat the Hulk less like a time bomb and more like a targeted WMD -- and he'll be moving throughout the Marvel Universe, exploring (on Banner's behalf, for reasons you'll see in issue #1) certain corners of the universe -- Jotunheim, The Negative Zone, Lemuria. Hulk and Banner have a mission -- and it will take them far and wide.


Maria Hill and Bruce Banner are the main players in the series, and their Byzantine relationship is both funny and dark and they're a blast to write as a quasi-partnership. And Banner will be in a lab again and will have a band of assistants who all have two things in common: they're all brilliant in their fields, and they have nothing to lose should they suddenly find they're sharing close quarters with an angry jade behemoth.

More or less like Mark Ruffalo's version then.

[number8]

http://assets1.ignimgs.com/2012/08/09/dpool2012001dc11jpg-9d7e99.jpg


Posehn: And then the voices in his head, you'll see, are a little more organic. There's a reason for them – not that there wasn't before, but in ours, he gets a head injury in the first book. Somebody talks to him, but it's not his voice. How should I say this? One of the founding fathers comes in to help him. We don't know in the beginning if he's hallucinating or if it's part of his break with sanity or if this guy is really with him.


IGN: Another conflict Deadpool has been dealing with these last couple years is this quest for legitimacy. He wants to be seen as a valid superhero alongside everyone else. Even though this is a fresh start, is that an element that will be continuing forward in this book?

Posehn: Oh, absolutely. We have several guest stars already in the first couple issues, and we have other guest stars planned. Basically, these guys are famous heroes that will be telling Deadpool, “We don't want your help. You are not part of us. You're on your own, friend.”

Duggan: “And leave my name out of it when you tell this story.”

Posehn: Yeah, yeah. “I'm helping you now, but this is not a team-up.” And there will be very famous Marvel guys saying that in different ways. One guy uses a lot of “ye's” and has a funny hat.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/09/relaunching-deadpool-whats-next-for-the-merc-with-a-mouth

[number8]

Hmmm, so Fraction's FF is going to be a radically different concept.

http://htmlimg2.scribdassets.com/4mw01n0aps1r18nz/images/1-b0f8857d4c.jpg


FF will get a new look and a new replacement Fantastic Four squad, with Ant-Man heading up Reed's Future Foundation and teaming with She-Hulk, the Inhumans' Medusa and Miss Thing, an all-new female character clad in a Thing suit of armor.


"This is the place to be wildly inventive, and I would like to put as many things down on the page as humanly possible and offer up another dose next issue."

The Big Bang happened in less than a second, though, so four minutes is an eternity for the big brain of Reed Richards. He makes it a point for them to choose the people they want to carry on their legacy just in case something goes awry since the Earth will still need protection.

Ant-Man and his group stand guard for the four minutes, but nothing happens. Three weeks later, a one-eyed, one-legged, long-haired, half-insane, bearded Johnny Storm walks through the time gateway, shuts it behind him and says, "We can never open this door again."

[number8]

http://htmlimg4.scribdassets.com/4mw01n0aps1r18nz/images/2-f8eeff5065.jpg

http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-08-09/Matt-Fraction-Fantastic-Four-comic-book-series/56911846/1


Reed builds a ship that will take his team and his children across time and space for an epic historical lesson, the writer says. "If they're studying ancient Rome, then by God let's go have lunch with Caesar on the Ides of March. If they're looking at the Big Bang, they're going to watch it from the front row."

They'll be gone for a year — which will only be four minutes in regular Earth time — and while there will be continuing plot threads, each issue will be a new adventure and new situation.


In doing so, Fraction aims for the title to be entertaining for all ages, from his kids to the older comic fan.

"I feel that one of the best Fantastic Four stories was The Incredibles, and I want to take that back. It's so arrogant to say but it should have been us. We should have done that," Fraction says, laughing.

"If this could be the Pixar version of the Fantastic Four, something that everyone can enjoy, not just our medium 30-year-old white-dude reader, I'd be happy."

GODDAMMIT TOO MANY BOOKS.

[Ezee E]

When are these all being released?

[number8]

The relaunch starts in November, I think. Avengers might be earlier.

[Ezee E]

The relaunch starts in November, I think. Avengers might be earlier.
Good to know. Some characters I'll check out regardless, Fraction Four is one that has my attention though.

[sevenarts]

Somehow every book that Mike Allred draws just sounds like it has to be a Mike Allred book, even if he had nothing to do with writing it. Can't wait for what sounds like a very bizarre, interesting new FF concept.

[number8]

http://cdn.ifanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CAPA2012001_DC11.jpg

http://ifanboy.com/articles/interview-rick-remender-on-captain-america-from-marvel-now/


Well, it is what I would like to do for sure. It’s the stuff that when I thought what character do I want, before I made a decision I was trying to figure out with each one of them, where I would fit and what I would do with it. I immediately had ideas. Tonally, it’s very different. It’s a hostile takeover. It’s a complete shift from what Ed was doing and I loved what Ed was doing, but if I were to try and emulate that or to continue that tone, it would be Ed light. It wouldn’t be the same thing. So I’m leaning in to what I like to do, which is high adventure, sci-fi, with spy fantasy, with a heavy focus on the man under the suit. It’s very character-focused conflict stuff.

At the end of the day, it was more frightening to do that, but I felt like it fit the Marvel NOW! What they’re looking for is something that very much is hostile takeovers of the books, and creative juices flowing, giant shifts. This is definitely going to be a big change from what Ed had been doing.

One of the mandates I have to myself is, I don’t want to touch the World War II stuff. I think that that has been done, now, and it’s been done perfectly. To go back and to keep focusing on Cap in World War II at this point, again, would be following too closely to what Ed has already done. What I’m doing is spending a lot of time in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 20s and 30s, showing Steve grow up. The first arc is 10 issues, and it’s called “Dimension Z.”

I don’t want to give away too much, but a big portion of it is Cap dealing with Arnim Zola in Dimension Z. I’m trying to take Zola and do with him, what we did with Apocalypse over in Uncanny X-Force. Where we take what’s there, re-imagine it, build a new mythology and really expand Zola, and try and build Zola into a very, very big and important character.

The other half of it is going to be a lot of flashbacks to a young Steve Rogers growing up in Depression-era Lower East Side, and getting to know his family and his friends, and how this 98-pound weakling became such a tenacious, strong person; focus on the fiber and the integrity of who he is, and really develop that for the first time.

[number8]

Variant cover for Deadpool by Chris Bachalo. It's no Geoff Darrow:

http://i.newsarama.com/images/marvelnow_deadpool_1_02.jpg

Mark Bagley's variant joining cover for Fantastic Four and FF:

http://i.newsarama.com/images/f4-ff-1-connecting.jpg

Bendis' time-traveling X-Men series gets a cover:

http://i.newsarama.com/images/All-New-X-Men_no1_02.jpg

[number8]

http://i.newsarama.com/images/marvelnowironman_02.jpg


"The story will focus on him questioning things about himself and trying to find out exactly how the universe ticks, what’s this all about and why he does this anyway. It’s going to be one of the major themes of the book going forward. For as long as I’m on the book it will be one of the two major themes I’m working on, like on Uncanny X-Men [with] the theme of power and the corruption thereof."

As for that second theme? It's all, or mostly, about the ladies.

"I’m going to explore Tony and his relationship with women. I’m interested in Tony’s selection of women in everything, from his mom, to Pepper, to the random people he’s sleeping with and everything that relates to them. He’s a complicated guy and he does bad things occasionally without thinking."

In contrast to the way he (mis)behaves with women, however, Gillen wants to send Tony Stark on a "Grail Knight" kind of arc. He'll be out in the world, and wearing the Iron Man armor quite a bit. In the first five issues of the relaunched title, in fact, Tony will be in different armor, and facing new villains in one-and-done stories connected more by motif than a strict multi-part storyline.

"Each issue will illuminate something about Tony and they’re all very different," said Gillen. "Issue two is a lot like the Bruce Lee Kung-Fu Island story; it’s like a joust, it’s all about the knight imagery, essentially going to a tournament. Issue three is like a ninja story, Tony Stark trying to be a full-on stealth master, issue four is a horror story and issue five is something a little more romantic and scientific but I’m going to keep that one under wraps."

[number8]

Here you go, all the new #1s in November:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40453

[Sven]

Uncanny Avengers #2 variant cover by... Milo Manara??

[Sven]

Haha. Gillen already has Tony in England by issue 2. I love that man.

[number8]

Uncanny Avengers #2 variant cover by... Milo Manara??

I didn't even notice that. Shit I wanna see it now.

[number8]

I'd also forgotten that he did an X-Men miniseries written by Claremont a couple of years ago. Never did check that one out.

[Sven]

I'd also forgotten that he did an X-Men miniseries written by Claremont a couple of years ago. Never did check that one out.

At the comic shop I used to work at, one of our customers is German and he brought in a big German hardcover of this one. Astounding.

[Grouchy]

I'd also forgotten that he did an X-Men miniseries written by Claremont a couple of years ago. Never did check that one out.
Oh yeah, I remember oggling that one at a comic book shop.

[ledfloyd]

avengers vs. x-men ruined wolverine & the x-men for me. which i assume is now going to be cancelled?

what about uncanny x-force?

[Sven]

avengers vs. x-men ruined wolverine & the x-men for me. which i assume is now going to be cancelled?

How was it ruined? Aaron says it's not going to be cancelled.


what about uncanny x-force?

Remender says it's continuing.

[Sven]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1345160842.jpg

Can't wait to see how it's going to be colored by White.

[ledfloyd]

How was it ruined? Aaron says it's not going to be cancelled.
i just lost interest because i couldn't care less about the crossover.

[Sven]

i just lost interest because i couldn't care less about the crossover.

Ah. Gotcha. Yeah, I dropped that title after Quint and Wolverine pulled off a space casino heist. It was fun, but a guy's gotta stop somewhere. Consistently some of my favorite artwork, though.

[Sven]

I didn't even notice that. Shit I wanna see it now.

http://i.newsarama.com/images/UNCAVEN2012002_02.jpg

[number8]

That's his art, all right.

[megladon8]

What's going on with Hickman's "New Avengers"? I haven't seen anything announced with that one yet. Is it coming later?

[Sven]

What's going on with Hickman's "New Avengers"? I haven't seen anything announced with that one yet. Is it coming later?

Hickman's Avengers titles are the only new title about which there have been no summaries or art examples or announcements of any kind really.

[number8]

Hickman's Avengers titles are the only new title about which there have been no summaries or art examples or announcements of any kind really.

http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/6/00/504626bb60f3e.jpg

[Sven]

Dustin Weaver should be finishing SHIELD and not illustrating X-Men books and Avengers covers.

[dreamdead]

It's rather nice of those covers to orchestrate it so that no matter the cover, my eyeline goes right to Cap/Thor/Iron Man's crotch.

[Sven]

Hopeless/Larroca: Wanted
Hopeless/Walker: Survive

What do we think these are? I'm guessing at least a Cable-centric book for one of them...

Hopeless is a good writer, so this bodes well.

[number8]

Yep. The Bolts. Pretty lazy line-up.

http://www.abload.de/img/thunderbolts-01-coverylscr.jpg

[Sven]

I'm interested to see how Way writes the Punisher into this business...

[Sven]

You'll love this, 8:

http://i.newsarama.com/images/avengersarena_02.jpg

I don't know if you'll actually love it.

[number8]

I thought it was a fun cover homage at first. Then I read the synopsis.

They are literally taking Avengers Academy students to an arena and making them kill each other.

:|

[Sven]

I'll likely check out the trade, as Hopeless and Walker are good peeps. Plus, Hickman says that of all the NOW! pitches, this was the best. Hopefully there are some tricks up their sleeves.

[megladon8]

Does anyone else find many of the Marvel NOW! titles more creative and exciting than most all of last year's New 52?

I'm a DC guy through and through, but the NOW! stuff looks to potentially kick the New 52's butt.

[EyesWideOpen]

Does anyone else find many of the Marvel NOW! titles more creative and exciting than most all of last year's New 52?

I'm a DC guy through and through, but the NOW! stuff looks to potentially kick the New 52's butt.

No they both look equally generic to me.

[Sven]

I'll definitely concede that the cover art seems to be much more ambitious on a whole.

[Sven]

To make a point, good cover by Larroca. Not gonna read this book, and I'm sad it's replacing Uncanny X-Force, which has been a heckuva series.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1347566469.jpg

[Ezee E]

Gonna be some tough decisions for
me... They all look pretty good.

[megladon8]

No they both look equally generic to me.


Yeah but you put your nose up at all big 2 superhero stuff now, so your vote counts for half at best :P

[number8]

What the fuck, I though the BR-style round Avengers Arena logo is just for the BR parody cover, but that is the series' actual logo? Come on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/majingojira/aa2012002_dc21_02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/majingojira/1348775619.jpg

[Ezee E]

Decided to try out Uncanny Avengers, since it caught my eye.

[sevenarts]

Decided to try out Uncanny Avengers, since it caught my eye.

What'd you think? I thought it was pretty fun, just the right amount of over-the-top ridiculous superheroics. Remender is great at this kind of story, so I'm excited for the rest.

Not as much as I am for Hickman's Avengers, though. If that winds up being even a fraction as awesome as his FF, it'll really be something.

[ledfloyd]

when does hickman's avengers start?

[Ezee E]

What'd you think? I thought it was pretty fun, just the right amount of over-the-top ridiculous superheroics. Remender is great at this kind of story, so I'm excited for the rest.

Not as much as I am for Hickman's Avengers, though. If that winds up being even a fraction as awesome as his FF, it'll really be something.
Yeah, the final set of panels was a bit ridiculous, but I like it as a start.

[sevenarts]

Anybody read the Marvel Now Point One? The Fraction/Allred FF story was GREAT, and has me even more excited than ever for that series. The rest of the series previewed here - Secret Avengers, Young Avengers, Nova, Cable & X-Force, Guardians of the Galaxy - didn't do too much to excite me, at least in this short form. Only Nick Spencer's Secret Avengers/Fake Nick Fury stuff was actually bad, the rest just weren't series I was planning on reading, and they didn't really pique my interest much based on these snippets.

[Sven]

More than a little wary that D'Armata is coloring New Avengers. He destroyed Epting's work on Brub's Cap.

[number8]

The three Thors from Aaron's upcoming run.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1350934515.jpg

Apparently old Thor isn't just missing an eye like his dad. His arms have been replaced with a Destroyer's.

[number8]

Wolverine MAX is such a dumb idea.

[Ezee E]

Wolverine MAX is such a dumb idea.
Checked this out.... Pretty dumb issue.

[Acapelli]

Wolverine MAX is such a dumb idea.
my main reason for checking it out was that i thought connor willumsen was drawing the whole thing.

flipped through it at the shop. while willumsen's pages look excellent, most of the book is done by boschi which doesn't measure up. i passed

[Sven]

I love me some Boschi, but it looks like he's getting more conventional. My story is an echo of 'capelli's.

[Sven]

So, if I was a star-rating man these days, thus far my ratings'd go like this:

Uncanny Avengers: ***1/2
Iron Man: **** (huge surprise, terrific angle)
Deadpool: ***1/2

Quite impressed. Love the preview pages on most of the others, too.

[ledfloyd]

deadpool didn't do anything for me. i won't be picking up issue #2.

[number8]

This is potentially great.

http://i.newsarama.com/images/DEFEND2013001_DC11_02.jpg

[sevenarts]

Except that I have yet to read a good comic by Bunn, and his work on Brubaker's Captain America constitutes some of the worst comics I've read this year.

[number8]

I like The Sixth Gun.

[megladon8]

I LOVED "Iron Man" #1.

New, fresh approach to some popular ideas and what looks to be a great new storyline.

Shaving Tony was a hilarious little twist :lol:

[Ezee E]

Huh... Iron Man's premise seemed boring to me, so I skipped it.

For some reason I thought a few more NOWs were coming out. Deadpool didn't really interest me, but I got it anyway. I'll read tomorrow. Guess I'll pick up Iron Man too.

[sevenarts]

Can't say I was very impressed with Iron Man at all. Seems very generic and even Gillen's characteristic wit is fairly muted. Some charming moments but overall it's pretty bland, and of course Greg Land is so boring and slick. I'll probably keep reading for a bit to see if it picks up, but I'm looking forward to seeing what Gillen does with Young Avengers much more.

Didn't like Deadpool at all either, besides Tony Moore's art. Remender's handling of the character is just so much better in every way, and after reading his more nuanced take on Deadpool, it's hard to go back to the dumb jokey action version.

Uncanny Avengers was a good start though.

[ledfloyd]

i thought iron man seemed promising. i've never read gillen before and i'm interested in checking out more of his work now.

[sevenarts]

i thought iron man seemed promising. i've never read gillen before and i'm interested in checking out more of his work now.

The best stuff I've read from him is the second Phonogram miniseries (the first is a bit uneven but worth reading to be introduced to the concept) and some of his recent Journey Into Mystery run. JIM is pretty spotty as well (it seems like he's never had a real consistent run on anything) but it had quite a few standalone issues that were some of the best comics Marvel has published in the last couple of years.

I'll keep reading his Iron Man because he's definitely capable of moments of brilliance. I wish he had a different artist though.

[Sven]

some of his recent Journey Into Mystery run. JIM is pretty spotty as well (it seems like he's never had a real consistent run on anything) but it had quite a few standalone issues that were some of the best comics Marvel has published in the last couple of years.

What are some of your issues with JIM?

[sevenarts]

What are some of your issues with JIM?

I don't think that Gillen's nearly as good at long-form plotting as he is at dialogue, humor, characterization, and done-in-one short stories. His longer arcs tend to drag a bit. The New Mutants crossover I thought was pretty lousy, though that's not entirely his fault. And at times he tends to overdo the extravagantly written narration boxes, especially early on in his run when he was doing all those Fear Itself tie-ins. Those issues are really overwritten.

But again, he could come out with some amazing single issues, like the one where Volstagg tells his kids a story. And I love his characterization of Kid Loki throughout the run. I do mostly like his JIM, but like everything else I've read by him, not without qualification.

Looking at his bibliography, he actually hasn't written a ton of comics yet - I think he'll only get better and is definitely someone to watch, but he isn't quite there yet on a consistent basis.

[ledfloyd]

at times he tends to overdo the extravagantly written narration boxes
i definitely noticed this tendency in Iron Man. i assumed it was just because it was a #1.

[Sven]

I am not a stranger to this odd tendency among some comics readers to be averse to reading words. Do you guys dislike Golden- and Silver-age comics? Gillen's books are like See Spot Run compared to pretty much anything written in those eras.

[sevenarts]

I'm fine with lots of words in a comic if it's done well, but 9 times out of 10 a comic with lots and lots of text boxes is going to feel really clunky. Scott Snyder's another big offender among writers who I otherwise mostly like. If it's not done well, just throwing tons of wordy text boxes onto every page really messes with the pacing and the balance of words/images in a comic.

And yeah, I find a lot of older Marvel/DC comics REALLY tough going for exactly that reason.

[ledfloyd]

i'm pretty much in agreement. it CAN work, but more often than not it disrupts the flow of the comic.

[Ezee E]

Yeah, Deadpool #1... Pretty silly. Won't be moving on with that one.

[sevenarts]

A few more Marvel Now titles out this week. Here's my quick rundown of everything that's come out so far.

Uncanny Avengers - Pretty good balance of the big epic flagship title it's meant to be with some typically Remenderesque high-concept weirdness. Great final page that sets the tone for what's to come. ****

Deadpool - Really silly and pointless, and even Tony Moore's art can't save it. *

Iron Man - Could get better but so far it's pretty bland and feels like it's just regurgitating familiar ideas and characterizations for Tony Stark. **

All-New X-Men - Lots of promise here. The 1st issue is mostly all set-up since the premise - time-traveling original X-Men - is only introduced at the very end, but it's got me very excited for what comes next. A solid intro. ***1/2

Fantastic Four - Another one that's solid and promising rather than fully exciting yet. Some nice banter, a good feel for the characters right out the gate, and an interesting premise that suggests lots of opportunities for great stories and ideas. Bagley is as always competent but not exactly exciting, unfortunately. ***1/2

Thor: God of Thunder - The best Marvel Now 1st issue so far, it's just a great concept, perfectly executed. Three Thors from throughout history, gradually getting closer and closer to a powerful threat. Epic and intense, with some welcome flashes of humor and character to leaven the drama. ****1/2

X-Men Legacy - Wasn't expecting much out of this one but it's intriguingly off-kilter and quirky, very odd. Love all the bizarre scenes set inside Legion's mind. I'm not really familiar with Legion at all but this issue definitely has me interested in where this is going. ***

Avengers Assemble - I love DeConnick's Captain Marvel so I wish I could say this is another hit from her, but it's pretty lame honestly - second-rate Bendis with lots of goofy dialogue and countless stiff talking head panels. Still better than Deadpool I guess. *1/2

[ledfloyd]

i wasn't overly fond of the art in thor, but it's probably the best written of the books i've read to date. fantastic four suggests fraction has an idea in mind for the FF books, and i'll be sticking around because FF is drawn by allred, but it doesn't have its hooks in me yet. i'm not really interested in bendis's x-men.

[Sven]

I enjoy that White has adopted a softer palette for Thor, it being a nice complement to the coloring style Ribic uses on his covers.

[Sven]

Paul Cornell and Alan Davis on a new book should excite me. That it is a Wolverine book makes me so not excited.

[megladon8]

OoOoOo some great starts this week!

"All-New X-Men" was pretty neat. Easy to pick up and read regardless of my lack of knowledge of previous events. Seems like an interesting story unfolding. I've always been a big fan of Beast so having him be a central character is exciting in itself.

"Fantastic Four" was good but it's a title that I feel will be hard to judge until a few issues of both it and "FF" have come out. I do not imagine they will be able to compare to Hickman's runs on the titles, but this first issue seems to be off to a good start.

But the one that really took Jen and I by pleasant surprise was "Thor: God of Thunder" which was just bloody fantastic. Can't wait to see where this one is going, and the use of three different styles of artwork across the three timelines was beautifully done.

[Ezee E]

X-Men Legacy... Eek. Did not like this at all. I've always thought the character of X's son was pretty dumb.

All New X-Men - Also not sure about this. I'm kind of over time travel in the Marvel world.

Iron Man - This was a surprise. Picked it up after good reviews here and at the comic store. It is a fun one to go with, and I'll stick with it a few more issues.

Guess I should've tried out Thor. It was an expensive week for me.

[Sven]

Remender calling Captain America an "experiment in hypercompression". I am now probably going to buy this damn thing. l.floyd and s.arts, a bit apprehensive, no?...

[sevenarts]

Eh, Remender's never exactly a prime example of decompression. X-Force is pretty damn punchy and fast-moving, and I think a Cap with a similar sensibility could be a lot of fun. Can't be worse than Brubaker's long slide into not caring over the last year or two.

[Sven]

Hm? Punchy/fast-moving = decompression

Basically, hypercompression is the opposite: compressing a lot of story into a smaller space, necessitating much more crammed storytelling. More word balloons and narration.

[ledfloyd]

i don't know, i think fraction's hawkeye is a good example of a book packing a lot of content into one issue without it feeling overly wordy. not that i'm against all wordiness, in remender i trust.

[number8]

Warren Ellis is the king of one issue stories (of modern writers anyway).

I don't think that's the same as hypercompression, though. I'm thinking that's more about treating the sequentials like a montage, showing you just enough of a scene to get what's going on, and then moving on immediately to the next, without much in the way of transitions. Grant Morrison does this A LOT, obviously. It's the exact opposite of Alan Moore and Bendis' style.

[sevenarts]

I don't think that's the same as hypercompression, though. I'm thinking that's more about treating the sequentials like a montage, showing you just enough of a scene to get what's going on, and then moving on immediately to the next, without much in the way of transitions. Grant Morrison does this A LOT, obviously. It's the exact opposite of Alan Moore and Bendis' style.

Yeah, I think that's more the definition of hypercompression than just having lots of text and narration. Morrison's Batman is a prime example, as is Remender's X-Force at times. I think punchy and fast-moving describes that stuff just fine; there's so much happening on every page that it has a frenetic feeling.

Decompression on the other hand tends to feel slow-moving, with pages and pages devoted to not much happening, or stretching a conversation out across multiple pages.

[number8]

I wouldn't say slow moving, just stretched out. Decompression can be fast-paced issues you can burn through in a minute, with plenty of confrontations, fights, etc. It's just that it usually has a total of two actual plot points in 22 pages, so a bunch of stuff and banter happen that makes you think the issue is packed, but at the end of it, the overall story arc has barely moved forward and you gotta wait another month to have it inch forward to the conclusion.

It's interesting to compare the different styles of it. There's Bendis, who has a stage play sensibility to his decompression, in the way that he likes to show a conversation from beginning to end, complete with all the small talk and asides. One conversation topic that normally can all be said in one page, with Bendis' "wow"s and "I can't believe he would -- ugh!"s and "this is what I'm saying to you:"s and characters repeating each other, takes up about four.

Alan Moore, on the other hand, has a more cinematic sensibility where he likes pacing the build-ups, and will write three wordless 9-panel pages of someone walking into his house and pouring himself tea right before one splash page of something shocking.

[Sven]

Yeah, I think that's more the definition of hypercompression than just having lots of text and narration. Morrison's Batman is a prime example, as is Remender's X-Force at times. I think punchy and fast-moving describes that stuff just fine; there's so much happening on every page that it has a frenetic feeling.

Decompression on the other hand tends to feel slow-moving, with pages and pages devoted to not much happening, or stretching a conversation out across multiple pages.

I think I see what you're saying. We're talking about different things. You, the stories, me, the experience actually reading. Decompressed comics read very quickly. Lots of dramatic pauses, distended action, etc. Fewer panels with strong textual importance to tie up the reader. For me, it comes down to the idea that a fistfight in a decompressed comic can take up a whole page (or two), whereas in a compressed comic, a single panel (or two) suffices. So the decompressed fight is gonna feature more punches, which draws the story out, so it moves slower because it takes more pages (your slow-moving). But it doesn't take a lot of time to read them (my fast-moving).

Dialogue is different, and I don't think I'd describe a stretched conversation as "decompressed comics." Not readily, anyway. Decompression describes distension of action, so it's less about extending duration, which elongated dialogue most often affects.

Anyway, I was just ribbing you guys again about the whole words thing, which I can't seem to get over.

[sevenarts]

This is a good discussion.


So the decompressed fight is gonna feature more punches, which draws the story out, so it moves slower because it takes more pages (your slow-moving). But it doesn't take a lot of time to read them (my fast-moving).

Decompression doesn't necessarily mean it's a quick read, though; it depends on the reader, and on what exactly is being decompressed. While you can certainly speed through a decompressed comic that doesn't have many words, that's hardly the only way to read it. Just because a page doesn't have many (or any) words doesn't mean you can't linger over it and "read" its action at a more leisurely pace. In fact, I find that when I encounter a wordless page of the kind that number8 described above - the Alan Moore-style page of a man preparing tea across multiple panels - I tend to slow down, encouraged by the contemplative mood of these kinds of pages to take in the details more slowly and really let each panel sink in before moving on. On the other hand, as you say, decompressed action sequences tend to read really quickly - though again, you certainly could read these scenes more slowly as well. I'd argue that decompression, at least when it's done well, is more about mood and atmosphere than action, and consequently the mood it creates tends to dictate variations in pacing.

[number8]

I really hate how big Marvel prints the AR logos on their pages. Ruins the art. They should really find a better way to indicate the AR pages.

[Sven]

Decompression doesn't necessarily mean it's a quick read, though; it depends on the reader, and on what exactly is being decompressed.

Of course not necessarily. However, three textless pages of a guy making tea is likely always going to read quicker than three pages of a guy making tea, then discovering the body of his wife, lamenting, calling the police, fuming at their apathy, and vowing personal revenge, no matter how deliberately you pore over the details. It's not like non-decompressed pages are bereft of significant detail as well.


I'd argue that decompression, at least when it's done well, is more about mood and atmosphere than action, and consequently the mood it creates tends to dictate variations in pacing.

I disagree, as decompression isn't even really a factor in things like Eerie and Creepy Comics, which are as moody and atmospheric at their core as comics can be. Decompression is a fine way to dictate pacing, as you say, by making more quantifiable manipulations of time, which in turn affects mood and atmosphere. Not the other way around.

[Sven]

I really hate how big Marvel prints the AR logos on their pages. Ruins the art. They should really find a better way to indicate the AR pages.

The first time I bought one of those AR issues, I thought it was a mistake. It is quite tacky.

[number8]

The first time I bought one of those AR issues, I thought it was a mistake. It is quite tacky.

I also wish there's more tiered pricing. I hate how Marvel basically forces people to buy digital copies for $1 more.

[Sven]

I also wish there's more tiered pricing. I hate how Marvel basically forces people to buy digital copies for $1 more.

Yeah. Bunk. Have you ever done the AR thing? Is it any cool?

[number8]

Yeah. Bunk. Have you ever done the AR thing? Is it any cool?

It can be. Sometimes you get the writer providing commentary, or the page will shift to the original pencils, then inks, etc. That's super cool. The panels that turn into motion comics, or have a miniature Axel Alonzo walk onto the page to pitch stuff at you... not so much.

[Sven]

Remender is now also saying on Twitter that it is going to be similar to Fear Agent in its pulpiness.

Does Fear Agent get better? I've read the first trade and was amused, but found it a rather empty experience. Mostly I couldn't get over the super excellent quality of the printing. Dark Horse's trades are terrific.

[Sven]

Desperate to hear reactions from this board's denizens re: Captain America and I. Hulk.

[number8]

I will not be checking out either, so don't wait for mine!

[ledfloyd]

I was kind of caught off-guard by the opening scene of Cap, and I'm still not sure what I think about it. After that, it was quite fun if, as you said regarding Fear Agent, a bit empty. He wasn't kidding about hypercompression though, it's almost disorienting how much story he tears through in this issue.

[sevenarts]

I thought Cap was great. Exactly as Remender promised, it's pulpy and fun and crazy, taking Cap in a totally different direction than the character's been in years. Very intense and fast-moving. Remender excels at this kind of material.

Hulk was ok. Can't say I'm too excited yet but it seems like a good concept that could be fun. The Hulk's not really a favorite though and it'd take more than this to really wow me with this character. Even if Aaron's run ultimately went nowhere much in its short span, this isn't as thrilling as the best "Stay Angry" issues.

[Sven]

I will not be checking out either, so don't wait for mine!

Genuinely not interested? Sticking it to the man?

[number8]

Genuinely not interested? Sticking it to the man?

Genuinely not interested in Waid's premise for Hulk. Sounds kinda boring, actually.

For Cap, I tend to be really burnt out on titles after a long, character-defining run. Same reason I opted out of Jason Aaron's Punisher despite liking him and hearing good things. Same reason I'm avoiding Fraction's FFs.

Can't be sticking it to the man if I'm buying Thor and three Avengers books!

[Sven]

Genuinely not interested in Waid's premise for Hulk. Sounds kinda boring, actually.

For Cap, I tend to be really burnt out on titles after a long, character-defining run. Same reason I opted out of Jason Aaron's Punisher despite liking him and hearing good things. Same reason I'm avoiding Fraction's FFs.

Can't be sticking it to the man if I'm buying Thor and three Avengers books!

Good call. The books you site are likely going to have just as much punch as collections down the road. And you're observation about Waid's premise is well put, though I do like the idea of Banner restoring his reputation as a super-scientist. Maybe he'll join the New Avengers down the line.

[Sven]

He wasn't kidding about hypercompression though, it's almost disorienting how much story he tears through in this issue.

I liked the book quite a bit, but I'm not sure anymore that I'm on the same page regarding what hypercompression exactly is. Maybe I've just been spoiled by Silver Age and Grant Morrison, but there are few story beats in this thing that don't gobble up an entire page or more. This whole issue would be ten pages in a Kirby comic.

[megladon8]

I liked both Hulk and Cap.

Iron Man issue 2 was...a little odd. Liked the concepts but the story itself felt kind of out of place.

[slqrick]

The new Hulk is a pretty interesting premise, and something I'm surprised wasn't written before. It also ties in somewhat well with how SHIELD in the movies views Banner. I didn't realize Coulson was now integrated in the comics as well, also a good idea.

Remender's Cap was entertaining, and I usually don't like Romita's art, but the action sequences were really sweet.

[megladon8]

Remender's Cap was entertaining, and I usually don't like Romita's art, but the action sequences were really sweet.


Yeah, that first sequence with the plane was jaw-dropping. Loved it to death.

[Ezee E]

Wow. Went through Cap, Hulk, Thor, and Iron Man 2, and really only likes Thor and part of Hulk. Cap was all over the place and Iron Man 2 just went in a horrible direction this issue.

Bad week all around as the only other issue I got was Catwoman, and can't say I remember a thing about it.

[Sven]

Iron Man 2 just went in a horrible direction this issue.

I'm curious why you think so.

[Ezee E]

I'm curious why you think so.
I think it was just too fast for its own good. Just a few panels for a small fight and done. But repeated 3-4 times? Got boring. And the narration by the villain seemed only effective at the beginning. She's not very scary to begin with either.

[Sven]

So I guess I've been in denial about Fantomex's death. (spoiler re: Uncanny X-Force) Humphries/Garney's new series preview shows a female Fantomex. Possibly (probably) Eva...?

[ledfloyd]

well, after 2 issues i think i'm in on aaron's thor for the long haul. i've actually never read a thor comic before, but this is just fantastic, meaningful comics.

FF is off to a good start. in both these issues i don't really like fraction's characterization of franklin, but otherwise things seem promising. allred's art is as gorgeous as you would expect. i'm just not sure how he intends to deal with the timelines.

[sevenarts]

I really like Thor too, definitely the best Now title so far (though I'm hoping/expecting that Hickman's Avengers will take that title away next week).

Uncanny Avengers continues to be a lot of fun, I like the pulpy tone that Remender is taking with this story.

I liked FF a lot more than Fantastic Four (which was good but not great). Allred's art can sell a lot, and I'd buy pretty much anything he draws, but I also liked the characterizations in this issue, especially of Scott Lang.

The second issue of All New X-Men delivered on the time travel premise and I'm starting to realize that I like the concept of this series enough that I'll follow Bendis quite a ways with it. The execution is a little clumsy and it's not great yet, but it's just so fascinating to see these characters from the past colliding with everything that's been set up in the X books in the last few decades.

Sven, like you I keep hoping about that character, but at least Remender's seeming insistence on letting consequences stand unaltered is good news for Daken haters. I remain unconvinced by Eva as a robot though, I think mainly because she just reminds me of the very similar (and very stupid) character from the Mass Effect video games.

[number8]

I just realized that All New X-Men's reinterpretation of Days of Future Past is basically going to be the same as the upcoming movie's.

[number8]

I also realized too slow that the covers of Thor #1 and #2 are connecting.

[ledfloyd]

i really have trouble mustering up the enthusiasm to start a new Bendis title these days, and uncanny avengers seemed a bit too steeped in AvX aftermath for me to get into it. at this point i think Thor and the Fraction FF books are the only ones i'm going to continue with, and the only ones ahead i'm really excited about are the Hickman Avengers books. still reading daredevil and hawkeye as well, of course.

[Sven]

Ho! What an unexpected pleasure X-Men Legacy was. Pretty soundly my favorite Now issue so far. Terrifically realized. Funny, scary, sad, creative. Love being caught off-guard.

Also found myself quite liking both Fraction FF issues, to my surprise. May drop Uncanny Avengers, though. Red Skull is the most boring of all major villains. And more cat fights and halfhearted monologues. Hrm.

[Sven]

Ho! What an unexpected pleasure X-Men Legacy was. Pretty soundly my favorite Now issue so far. Terrifically realized. Funny, scary, sad, creative. Love being caught off-guard.

Wow. CBR's reviews of these issues are dunce-like. No more CBR for me.

Got issue 2 today. Feel validated. Googling around, apparently a lot of people hate this Legion character. Being of the entirely uninitiated, bringing no preconceptions of the character to the book, I can only conclude that Spurrier has crafted a fascinating protagonist with an interesting set of foils, intriguingly established. And Huat's pencils finely complement the hip-flung feel of the story.

Nine stars!

[Ezee E]

Wow. CBR's reviews of these issues are dunce-like. No more CBR for me.

Got issue 2 today. Feel validated. Googling around, apparently a lot of people hate this Legion character. Being of the entirely uninitiated, bringing no preconceptions of the character to the book, I can only conclude that Spurrier has crafted a fascinating protagonist with an interesting set of foils, intriguingly established. And Huat's pencils finely complement the hip-flung feel of the story.

Nine stars!
Did you like #1 also?

[Sven]

Did you like #1 also?

Yessir. I was referring to #1 in my first post. I've read it over a few times now. I'm enamored of Huat's contorted figures and Spurrier's deft conceptualizing.

[Sven]

Hickman did a Q&A thread about the Avengers on the CBR message boards (I know, I know, I said no more CBR, but it was too tempting. His answers are, as expected, pithy and entertaining. I love that man.

[Ezee E]

All New X-Men is on a roll now that the premise is rolled out. Loved the heck out of that.

Thor was also pretty solid, if a bit heavy on Thor's narration. Curious what they are doing with that. Much improved.

Didn't care for FF at all. Just annoyed me in all ways. Not my thing.

Uncanny Avengers was pretty fun, even if it seemed too easy for Rogue to come across Xavier.

[Ezee E]

We're already at All New X-Men 3. What the heck?

Marvel's releases are strange. Iron Man #3 too, but I passed for now.

[bac0n]

Dug the new Avengers. A lot. I like the new concept, the art, the story, everything. All around a solid comic.

[Sven]

Read the Superior Spider-Man spoilers. Huh.

[Ezee E]

Read the Superior Spider-Man spoilers. Huh.
I checked out Uncanny X-Force... Blegh there. Marvel now has a lot of bad titles.

Avengers Arena, however, I'm looking forward to, even if it's Marvel's Hunger Games/Battle Royale.

[number8]

Haha yessss. Hawkguy 6 preview.

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/2655/hawkeyew.jpg

[Sven]

Well newuniversal was terrific. Dispiriting that Ellis has called it dead. Hickman was coy when asked about it being tied to his Avengers. Interesting.

[sevenarts]

God I'm gonna miss Uncanny X-Force. A fine, emotional end to the series. And Remender writes in the end-of-issue essay that this story will be continued in some way starting in Uncanny Avengers #5, which sounds awesome.

[ledfloyd]

Thor continues to stun me. Even with strong issues of Avengers and FF it remains the gem of Marvel NOW.

[number8]

The recruitment montage from Avengers 2 made me joyous.

[Ezee E]

The recruitment montage from Avengers 2 made me joyous.
Awesome issue. Loved it.

[Ezee E]

All New X-Men is hitting on all levels for me. Really digging it.

[slqrick]

Yeah New X-Men has kicked all kinds of ass. Really enjoyed the vintage X-Men art in the mind scenes.

New Avengers was interesting. Not sure what Hickman intends to do with the villain, but I'm guessing this series will be even more interesting than his Avengers stuff, if he gets to focus issues on single characters like he did with Black Panther.

[number8]

Now this intrigues me. Brian Wood is launching a new X-Men book with Oliver Copiel.

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/07/xx_teaser-4_3_r560.jpg?f061b7ce9937c38b7 02e6f308816ac2a14e2a4ec

[slqrick]

^ Ultimate X-Men has been pretty terrific. He has a good handle on those characters.

[number8]

I feel stupid for not getting it immediately, but apparently the teaser says "XX" because it will be an all-female X-team.

Duh.

[number8]

No idea what this is gonna be.

http://x.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/9/c0/50ed9de91282e.jpg

[Sven]

Irving on Uncanny after Bachalo.

[number8]

I feel stupid for not getting it immediately, but apparently the teaser says "XX" because it will be an all-female X-team.

Duh.

Voila:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/12a17c49900a9fc32381e6d8bb1325 96/tumblr_mgmgpaTxY41r9u466o1_500 .jpg

Excellent fucking line-up. I have more interest in these mutants than the ones on the other X-books.

Despite her placement on the cover, Jubilee is apparently the main character.

[slqrick]

That's cool. I didn't realize Jubilee was still a character in this decade. Looks like she's still got the same getup from the 90's.

[Ezee E]

This thread has really calmed down.

Anyone read Savage Wolverine? Seems like the first story will be worth following at least.

[sevenarts]

I've been really impressed with Marvel Now so far. Hickman's Avengers/New Avengers has been amazing, as expected. Aaron's Thor is nearly as great. All-New X-Men has been really fun and far better than I ever expected. I'm also enjoying Captain America, X-Men Legacy, and Uncanny Avengers. Fraction's Fantastic Four/FF has been OK, though I'm mostly enjoying Mike Allred's art on FF.

Everyone should check out Gillen's Young Avengers, the first issue was *fantastic* and has me really psyched for more. Gillen's a writer I've enjoyed here and there before but never fully committed to, and here he seems to have totally nailed his voice.

I'm on the fence about Avengers Arena, Uncanny X-Force, and Indestructible Hulk but they've been OK and promising so far. Same thing with Savage Wolverine - the 1st issue was fun enough and the art of course is great.

Marvel's done a good job of pairing its creative talents with projects well-suited to their various strengths, I think.

[slqrick]

Yeah, I'm enjoying both of Hickman's Avengers. Fraction's FF has been surprisingly great as well in his absence.

I'm really liking what Bendis is doing with All New X-Men...the young Cyclops/Wolverine role reversal has been entertaining. There are a lot of strong titles out right now.

[number8]

This is a nice parallel. Well played, Bendis.

http://i.imgur.com/pswGdTs.jpg

[slqrick]

Hawkguy 7 was awesome. Matt Fraction is just really damn good at writing these kinds of characters. I miss his Iron Fist stuff.

[number8]

The fact that they shuffled issues around despite the editorial headache it caused to get the Sandy issue out as soon as possible is commendable.

[Ezee E]

Thanks for getting me into Hawkeye guys. That was fun.

[number8]

This recap is hilarious and depressingly accurate to that mini.

http://i.imgur.com/zKfnj.jpg

[slqrick]

Uncanny X-Men was a pretty good start. I'm enjoying this new direction for Cyclops.

[number8]

Rumor is that Marvel wants to finally put the Ultimate universe to bed (good!) by making their summer event next year Avengers vs Ultimates (baaad!).

[slqrick]

Thor: God of Thunder - definitely a good read so far. I'm glad it's pretty much a given now that there's no Donald Blake character, never liked that aspect of the character.

Hickman's Avenger book has slowed down a bit after the first arc ended. I miss the Opena art mostly, although I do like that he's trying to establish a lot of the lesser known characters.

[Ezee E]

Yeah, after the first arc was over, it's definitely halted a little. I didn't get the last issue. I'm enjoying Uncanny Avengers a lot more

[Sven]

Uncanny Avengers 4 lost me on the final page reveal mostly because I've never read a single comic having to do with Onslaught and so have no idea what it means. Up to then, though, the last two issues have featured some terrific writing, selling me on keeping the title.

Another recent verdict: Aaron/Ribic's Thor really is stupendous. Issues 4 and 5 had my jaw all the way down.

[number8]

Yeah, I wasn't even gonna get Thor at first, but it's now my favorite Marvel book behind Hawkeye (whose issue 8 was killer, by the way).

[Sven]

Yeah, I wasn't even gonna get Thor at first, but it's now my favorite Marvel book behind Hawkeye (whose issue 8 was killer, by the way).

Still X-Men: Legacy for me. The way Spurrier maneuvers Legion through the high concept is the most impressive NOW! character work. It's also funny and colorful. Definitely an ideal comic.

[number8]

I was gonna get on the Young Avengers bandwagon too, but forgot. I think I missed 2 issues?

[Sven]

Yeah. It's a'ight. Kinda just about teen bodies moping around rooms right now. And heresy alert: I think McKelvie is overrated. (Good! but overrated... frankly prefer Larroca for figure linework for his ability to differentiate.)

[slqrick]

Allred's art on FF is blowing my mind, and the book is a lot of fun in general. Fraction's killing it, and Hawkeye is just a given at this point. Love how that's starting to get more serialized too.

Guardians of the Galaxy 0.1 had great McNiven art and I've never had much of a stake in those characters, so I enjoyed the Bendis reboot. Definitely feels like a movie ready franchise though, adding Iron Man onto the team...I wonder if we'll get a glimpse/reference in IM3.

[ledfloyd]

Another recent verdict: Aaron/Ribic's Thor really is stupendous. Issues 4 and 5 had my jaw all the way down.
Yeah, by far my favorite title that resulted from Marvel NOW! Given that it's on a character I had never read before or had much interest in and it is outdoing Hickman's Avengers, that is no small compliment.

[sevenarts]

I was gonna get on the Young Avengers bandwagon too, but forgot. I think I missed 2 issues?

Yeah, 2nd issue just came out. It's lots of fun, don't listen to Sven - especially since he prefers Larocca (ugh) to the totally awesome McKelvie. Loved the formal hijinks in the second issue, and Gillen's humor is at its sharpest.

Marvel ranked:

Thor
Avengers/New Avengers
Hawkeye
Young Avengers
X-Men Legacy
Fury MAX
FF
All-New X-Men/Uncanny X-Men
Captain Marvel
Uncanny Avengers
Captain America
Wolverine and the X-Men

[Sven]

don't listen to Sven - especially since he prefers Larocca (ugh) to the totally awesome McKelvie

Sometimes comics groupthink is much more flagrant than that of films.

[number8]

I really don't know what you like about Larocca, though. He's like a slightly more adequate Greg Land.

[ledfloyd]

No Daredevil 7?

[sevenarts]

number8 nailed larocca. at his best he's just fine. i don't get comparing him to mckelvie at all. they could not be more different, mckelvie's art has personality and style galore, both qualities sorely lacking in larocca's stiff, static compositions.

and i knew i forgot something. slot daredevil in between Hawkeye and YA at the moment. i could easily see YA moving up once it has a few more issues under its belt, too.

[Sven]

I really don't know what you like about Larocca, though. He's like a slightly more adequate Greg Land.

I don't see it. I will further engage this discussion if anyone wants to mount a more detailed critique of Larroca. Until then, I'mma put it out there that most cannot see Larroca for D'armata. Check out Sal's black and whites. His figure rendering is just a few hairs away from McKelvie's in technique. However he's defter at bestowing expression, being as his characters are frequently engaged in some sort of straining conflict, while McKelvie specializes mostly in similarly-faced doe-eyed chatty young people.

Which is fine. McKelvie: realist linework and nice flat colors. Larroca: realist linework with design and elasticity and shitty colors. Also, better at layouts and definition than Land.

[Sven]

number8 nailed larocca. at his best he's just fine. i don't get comparing him to mckelvie at all. they could not be more different, mckelvie's art has personality and style galore, both qualities sorely lacking in larocca's stiff, static compositions.

Did you read Invincible Iron Man? That thing moves and has style in buckets. It's maybe less hip, though, I'll concede that point.

[sevenarts]

Did you read Invincible Iron Man? That thing moves and has style in buckets. It's maybe less hip, though, I'll concede that point.

I'll give you style, though it's not a style I like. But his stuff always looks so stiffed and posed, there's no real convincing sense of motion even when Iron Man's supposed to be rocketing around in battle. That and the distracting photo-referenced faces are my main beefs with him.

But I'll probably be re-reading IIM soon as part of a big 2000s Marvel read/re-read, so we'll see if I come around at all. I just recently read Ellis' NewUniversal, though, and it's great in many ways, but Larocca's art had all its usual problems there, too.

[slqrick]

Hmm, not sure about Age of Ultron #1. On one hand, the dystopian future crap has been done so much...but Hitch's post apocalyptic landscape is pretty sweet. I'm not the biggest fan of his, but I thought the bleakness of the setting was well done. What I did like about the first issue is that it doesn't have that "EVENT" feel to it, which is nice.

[number8]

Free digital #1 Marvel issues of over 700 titles on Comixology if you can get their server to not crash.

[number8]

Steve McNiven's Guardians of the Galaxy redesigns suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

[slqrick]

Bendis has been doing a surprisingly great job with Cyclops on Uncanny X-Men. It was nice seeing him take Cap down a peg in the last issue. The book would be really great if it had a different art direction...Bachalo's action is well done, but really suffers during Bendis' talky scenes. Not a fan of the character designs either, really. All the blondes look the same, and the costumes look weird.

http://www.comicsblend.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/uncannyxmen3-magneto.jpg

[sevenarts]

I do keep confusing Magik and Emma, but I like that Bachalo is giving that book its own distinct look with the flat color palette and blocky costume designs. Helps set it apart and drive home that if All New X-Men is about the past, this book is about the future.

Bendis is doing great stuff on the X books, both of his titles are really fun.

[Sven]

New Avengers is so metal.

[sevenarts]

New Avengers is so metal.

Yeah, and really good. I love how moody and depressing it is. Epting is killing it.

[number8]

What the hell? Angela (from Spawn) is now a Marvel character, with permission from Gaiman. Her first appearance in the Marvel U will be the last issue of Age of Ultron in June.

Here's Quesada talking about it:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/marvels-age-of-ultron-features-controversial-angel/

[EyesWideOpen]

Gaiman is also co-writing Guardians of the Galaxy with Bendis.

[Sven]

Gaiman is also co-writing Guardians of the Galaxy with Bendis.

This is interesting, even if Gaiman utterly marred the cosmic angle in his Eternals mini.

[slqrick]

Yeah, and really good. I love how moody and depressing it is. Epting is killing it.

New Avengers >>> Avengers. I appreciate what Hickman is going for with the universal level threat, but I just don't find the newer characters that compelling yet. I'll stick around but I find myself looking forward to NA much more every month, especially for Epting's work.

[slqrick]

If anything else, Bendis isn't budging from the deliberate pacing in Age of Ultron, which is nice to see in an event, but so far it's hard to care too much about what's going on.

FF continues to be lots of fun.

[number8]

Oh ho ho. Warren Ellis' new Avengers graphic novel Endless Wartime preview is up. Looks super fun.


http://i.imgur.com/mVLW8yhh.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1jIbnqv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/l6Dtoqr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fdPA7Fk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/roLIgFZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Zsb5ibW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZDtZxBI.jpg

[Sven]

Waddup with Spencer co-writing all the upcoming Avengers issues?

[sevenarts]

Waddup with Spencer co-writing all the upcoming Avengers issues?

Wost news. He's on for about 6 issues, presumably to free Hickman up to write Infinity.

[number8]

Winter Soldier cancelled.

$50 says a new #1 after the movie comes out.

[Sven]

Now, it could be the Vicodin talking, but the last two issues of Cap have been a fine unguent for Morrison's recent Inc stuff. Heavy and bizarre, but careering with an infectious wish to explore (with novelty, given its time/space-displaced plot) the troublesome facets of power, family, and altruism. Was waffling; am sold.

[slqrick]

Daredevil continues to be my favorite Marvel book (just barely over Hawkeye). Waid's story is truly culminating into something special...this past issue brought the goods.

[ledfloyd]

Daredevil continues to be my favorite Marvel book (just barely over Hawkeye). Waid's story is truly culminating into something special...this past issue brought the goods.
The first NOW! issue was stunning. The way it started out seeming like a trite recap of a character and morphed into that. The current Foggy storyline is really elevating the book.

[slqrick]

FF is just so damn good. Also, New Avengers.

[Sven]

Yet another enthusiastic plug for X-Men Legacy. The best book explicitly about What It Means To Be A Mutant. Nails the hip wit that Gillen attempts and only occasionally lands in Young Avengers, great work from rotating artists that actually complement each other (as well as MdM doing the best covers currently on the rack), and deftly juggles tone, the silliest moments surprising with depth and vice versa. Spurrier outclasses any of the conventional responses to the "best young comics writer" query, so here's hoping he stays.

[sevenarts]

Legacy is definitely the big surprise of Marvel Now, it's really great and just keeps getting better. It's funny and heartfelt and the romance/rivalry with Blindfold is surprisingly complex and sweet. I love Huat on this book, and Molina was good, not crazy about Davidson so far, especially this recent issue with him and Huat cobbling it together.

Young Avengers is still really good too, along with The Singles Club it's one of Gillen's best and most consistent books.

[Acapelli]

Legacy is definitely the big surprise of Marvel Now, it's really great and just keeps getting better. It's funny and heartfelt and the romance/rivalry with Blindfold is surprisingly complex and sweet. I love Huat on this book, and Molina was good, not crazy about Davidson so far, especially this recent issue with him and Huat cobbling it together.

Young Avengers is still really good too, along with The Singles Club it's one of Gillen's best and most consistent books.
i honestly think paul davidson is the worst artist getting work currently at marvel

almost dropped x-factor again after he did a couple issues, luckily he's generally just used a fill-in artist, although i don't know how marvel can't do better

[slqrick]

Legacy rocks.

Daredevil is fucking amazing right now, though. I don't have much more constructive stuff to say other than that.

[ledfloyd]

Legacy rocks.

Daredevil is fucking amazing right now, though. I don't have much more constructive stuff to say other than that.
It really is. I lamented the departure of Martin and Rivera, but the book has really taken off since Samnee's came in. And it seems even better since they folded it into Marvel NOW.

[number8]

Just picked up last week's comics.

Fury Max #12 is absolutely phenomenal. Such bullshit that this is not an ongoing.

Brian Wood's X-Men is the first X-Men comic I've added to my pull list in... Gosh, I don't even know how long. All I know is that the first issue feels like the kind of X-Men book I want.

[number8]

Bendis wrote a pretty great rebuttal to Remender.

http://i.imgur.com/n8HIjPN.jpg

[Sven]

I don't think Havoc's speech was a soapbox for Remender. It was a moment developing the ideological tear that Marvel established with the opposing teams (an extension of Prof. X - Magneto's age-old fight). If one reads his work, it's easy to see that Remender is very much not a PC player.

[number8]

I don't think Havoc's speech was a soapbox for Remender. It was a moment developing the ideological tear that Marvel established with the opposing teams (an extension of Prof. X - Magneto's age-old fight). If one reads his work, it's easy to see that Remender is very much not a PC player.

I'm pretty sure he actually believes it. He spent an entire issue afterward clarifying what the speech was supposed to mean. It was a really awkward scene.

Also:


Heads up– If Havok’s position in UA #5 really upset you, it’s time to drown yourself hobo piss. Seriously, do it. It’s the only solution.

[number8]

Ah, here it is. This thing went on for pages, and Bendis shut it down in just one. That's why I thought it was a nice, concise rebuttal.

http://abload.de/img/uncannyavengers009-01hnqep.jpg

[Sven]

It's possible, though he spent a lot of time clarifying his hobo piss comments too, and I definitely recall him on Twitter talking about the speech being Havoc's position, not his.

Also, I think Bendis's rebuttal is way more awkward. 90% cliched anecdote, 10% perspective-shifting conclusion.

But, this isn't a contest and I think both positions have merit. I imagine the two writers would agree.

[number8]

But, this isn't a contest and I think both positions have merit. I imagine the two writers would agree.

I don't agree with people suggesting that they've thrown down the gauntlet or anything. I think both of them probably agree it would make for better stories, and probably talked about it also.

Mostly, I think it's important to show that this is a common real-world divide among minority groups, and to show that Havok's speech should not be taken as some kind of enlightened dogma. So I'm glad that Bendis put in a reaction to it. I think it's an important enough incident for other X-Men writers to comment on, if they can.

[Sven]

Ennis/Parlov's last Fury issue. Daaamn, damn. Very good, though it felt truncated (as expected). Lowe's letter at the end suggests that the two are developing another project, which is nice news. Best writer/artist collaborative team working today...? Who's better?

Maybe Hine/Kane...

[number8]

Out of all the collaborations Ennis has formed, Pavlov and Dillon are the two people who "gets" his style the most and draw to its advantage. Darick Robertson and John McCrea were pretty good fits, but always felt a little too dynamic and loose for him. Pavlov and Dillon do the perfect amount of balance between static and action.

[sevenarts]

The way Ennis traced the relationship between Fury and Shirley over the course of this series is just devastating. When they come face to face, all old and worn and tired, in the penultimate issue, and their former sexual repartee has just turned to bitter sniping and total disconnection, it's really heart-rending. Those early issues were full of sexy, fun scenes between those two, packed with patter right out of an old Hollywood noir, and now look where it led them. Ennis masterfully uses that love affair as a metaphor for the series' examination of war's destructive effect. It's some of the better characterization he's ever done, I think.

As I've written here before, I'm not always sold on Ennis, especially the Ennis of recent years, but he really hit this one out of the park.

[number8]

Yeah, last month's encounter at the bar...

"Is it the weight? The lines? The saggy tits? Or is it because you know you can get tighter --"
"Knock it off."

[number8]

But to answer Sven's question... Your love for their output may vary but Brubaker and Phillips' style are absolutely made for each other. I can't think of another combo that just compliments each other so well. They actually almost suffer in quality when they're not working together, like something's sorely missing.

[Sven]

I'll concede that. I do like Phillips a lot, whom nobody does noir like. They both delivered a doozy on Sleeper, that's for sure.

I'm also thinking Morrison and Cameron Stewart. Seaguy is one of the most perfectly realized fantasies I've read, and his Batman issues are some of the best ones (Batgirl Inc issue FTW).

[number8]

*tsssssssssssssst* maybe. Quitely, tho.

[sevenarts]

By the same token, Frazer Irving. Basically, Morrison + good artist.

[slqrick]

lol the adventures of Pizza Dog.

[sevenarts]

Just finished that myself. So good. Who knew Chris Ware did Marvel books?

[number8]

Hawkeye 11 is issue of the year.

[slqrick]

Hawkeye 11 is issue of the year.

This and Daredevil have been so consistently brilliant. The X-books have been all around fantastic, too. Definitely a fan of Legacy and Uncanny X-Men more than the rest though.

[number8]

Thor 12: Breathtaking.

[Sven]

Thor 12: Breathtaking.

Really? Hm. Seemed a little phony to me. I guess I have a hard time with issues that do the poignant vignettes thing, not a style that feels very honest to me. And all the Jane stuff was indigestible... reprocessed cliches.

Definitely a whimper of emotion compared to last week's issue of Legacy. That one hurt.

Kelly Sue's Infinity tie-ins are bad comics. New Avengers has been height of event so far.

[Sven]

i honestly think paul davidson is the worst artist getting work currently at marvel

I recently read X-Club, and this post just wouldn't leave my mind. Davidson's pencils on that book are virtuosic, he practically invented a new visual syntax for communicating motion and energy. Thus I now am able to take issue with this sentiment, and would submit the name Greg Land as the more obvious and accurate candidate for the title.

[Acapelli]

maybe it was just the x-factor issues he filled in on, but what i saw made me think he's an incredibly poor draftsman. everyone's faces looked like they'd been warped by a malfunctioning copy machine

[Sven]

maybe it was just the x-factor issues he filled in on, but what i saw made me think he's an incredibly poor draftsman. everyone's faces looked like they'd been warped by a malfunctioning copy machine

His faces are definitely skewed, no doubt. However, having just read the new Legacy issue (conflict with the UXM that he illustrates), I feel validated in my assessment of his skills. Great complement to Spurrier's strangeness. Book is mad.

Caught up with the Young Avengers, which was one of the lamer ideas I've had recently. Comfortable dropping it for good.

[slqrick]

After 2 chapters, cautiously optimistic Battle of the Atom won't completely suck. At least the art will be nice, and it can't be worse than Age of Ultron.

[Sven]

I'm feeling similarly comfortable with Infinity, the second issue of which was pretty terrific. It's nice to have this big story thoroughly steeped in Marvel lore without being bogged down by so much Marvel lore.

[sevenarts]

Both Marvel events going right now are really good. Infinity has especially been excellent, in part because it's so self-contained and driven more or less exclusively by a single creative vision: it's Hickman's show, arising organically out of things he's been doing in Avengers/New Avengers, and basically only tying in with those 2 books, at least in any remotely important way. It's typically dense and complex Hickman stuff, but it's also not so convoluted that it's offputting, and he's done a great job of laying out everything in a very deliberate way without coming across like he's talking down to the readers. The chapter breaks, the pacing, the way he takes care to introduce everyone in the huge cast, it all adds up to a really well-done package. He's working with fantastic artists, too, so it all looks gorgeous, this grand space opera packed with action. Really fun stuff.

It's harder to tell where Battle of the Atom is going yet, but I liked the first 2 chapters. I just hope it doesn't degenerate into a mess the way Age of Ultron did. But again, it helps that this is so focused on a few books and mostly Bendis' show, with Aaron and Wood doing a chapter or two. They built both of these events on franchises that were strong to begin with, and allowed the events to emerge from stories that were already in motion, and that really helps, rather than having these big events where the "event" is forced onto all these books from out of nowhere.

[slqrick]

Both Marvel events going right now are really good. Infinity has especially been excellent, in part because it's so self-contained and driven more or less exclusively by a single creative vision: it's Hickman's show, arising organically out of things he's been doing in Avengers/New Avengers, and basically only tying in with those 2 books, at least in any remotely important way. It's typically dense and complex Hickman stuff, but it's also not so convoluted that it's offputting, and he's done a great job of laying out everything in a very deliberate way without coming across like he's talking down to the readers. The chapter breaks, the pacing, the way he takes care to introduce everyone in the huge cast, it all adds up to a really well-done package. He's working with fantastic artists, too, so it all looks gorgeous, this grand space opera packed with action. Really fun stuff.

It's harder to tell where Battle of the Atom is going yet, but I liked the first 2 chapters. I just hope it doesn't degenerate into a mess the way Age of Ultron did. But again, it helps that this is so focused on a few books and mostly Bendis' show, with Aaron and Wood doing a chapter or two. They built both of these events on franchises that were strong to begin with, and allowed the events to emerge from stories that were already in motion, and that really helps, rather than having these big events where the "event" is forced onto all these books from out of nowhere.

Agreed on all accounts. I'd say that Infinity #2 was surprisingly easy to follow along with for the most part. I'm really glad Hickman is getting to do an event, although I'm kind of sad that he's not getting to write much of the Fantastic Four since they're off doing their own thing in the Fraction books (minus Reed).

I finally read the Infinity Gauntlet in full last weekend, and it holds up pretty incredibly. The usual lack of stakes are there because of the adherence to status quo, but it's a thrilling read, and has some fantastic art. Should be fun when Thanos rocks the gauntlet at some point in the movies.

[Sven]

So this is lame. An "All-New Marvel NOW" initiative, renumbering Avengers, .NOW issues. Ugh.

However, Invaders series by James Robinson and Steve Pugh. Cool.

[number8]

They're not renumbering Avengers. It's just one "#24.NOW" issue similar to their ".1" issues a couple of years back. It's just to tell people that it's a good jumping on point. It'll continue on as #25 and so on after that.

The craziest thing about the announcements to me is that the .NOW issues will include a digital code to read all the preceding issues for free. That's one hell of a push.

[number8]

Infinity gets better and better. Maybe I'm biased, but I'm always really satisfied seeing superpowered gods winning only because they listen to Cap's orders.

[Sven]

Endless Wartime was a huge disappointment. Plodding narrative, flubby art, a scarcity of thematic resonance. Thankfully my shop let me bring it back. Got Mind MGMT instead.

[slqrick]

Superior foes of spider-man is so great.

Infinity could end up being the best event they've done in a while. I have been reading both Avengers books too, though.

[number8]

With all the praise of diversity about the new Ms. Marvel yesterday I failed to notice that the writer is going to be G. Willow Wilson, whose Air I loved, but hasn't had an ongoing since. Finalllly.

[ledfloyd]

Ooh. Air was great.