Marvel News & Views 10.10.03
Posted by Jim Trabold on 11.10.2003
Epic reduction, Doc Ock (over?)exposure & comics that hit the 411
JLA/AVENGERS # 3 Cover
JLA/AVENGERS #3 - the cover ... in color!
'Nuff said!
It’s right here
JLA/AVENGERS #3 [SEP031564], co-published by Marvel & DC Comics, goes on sale 11/26 from Marvel. Retailers are reminded its Final Order Cut-off (FOC) date is Thursday, 11/6. Readers, ask your local comic book retailer to reserve your copy. Pretty impressive work from Perez as usual. He always does some marvelous covers. The goal was to have almost everyone that’s ever been an Avenger and Justice Leaguer. Of course more could be included knowing them. There are a few versions of some of the heroes on the cover. With alternate universe versions and replacements like Thunderstrike and more there should be. You can have atleast 4 Captain Marvels on the cover (three from Marvel). Two Ant-Men (Lang and Pym). Pym could even make the list four times in different uniforms. There’s more of course as well. So you never know what you could find on the cover or in the series. SPIDEY & DOC OCK
Doc Ock is one busy evil genius. He’s the villain in the next SPIDER-MAN movie. He’s currently staring in two limited series with the wall-crawler. He’s also the guy tormenting SPIDER-MAN in the “Countdown” arc currently running through SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN. And most villains think they get no respect! We caught up with the writer for one of the SPIDEY/DOC OCK limited series, Colin Mitchell. Mitchell’s scribing the five part SPIDER-MAN/DOC OCK: OUT OF REACH.
Read the rest at The Pulse You know they are giving Doc Ock a lot of spotlight already. With him being the next Spider-Foe in the movies it’s not like it’s a bad idea but can they be pushing him a little too far. Even Green Goblin didn’t get this much coverage in the comics before the first movie. He wasn’t used much because they had just used him a ton in the clone saga stuff. This will get Doc Ock the villain of the year honors even. Kidding. BOWEN DESIGNS
After losing the license following an extremely successful run with mini-statues and mini busts, BOWEN Designs announced this afternoon that it once again has reached an agreement with Marvel to produce new statuary products, effectively immediately
More at Newsarama Very cool to have these guys working with Marvel again. Of course statues are always cool collectibles. Some of the better ones also are made by Bowen. You can have them all over your room, or put them on your mantle. These statues are pretty good replicas as well. They do look like the characters they are made to resemble. So it’s good to have them back. EPIC ANTHOLOGY
Marvel Comics' Epic imprint is set to undergo another significant change this February. The four remaining Epic titles set to debut that month - PHANTOM JACK by Mike Sangiacomo and Mitchell Breitweiser, YOUNG ANCIENT ONE by Rob Worley and Andy Kuhn, STRANGE MAGIC by Jason Henderson and Greg Scott, and SLEEPWALKER by Robert Kirkman and Khary Randolph will now be combined into a single quarterly-shipping anthology series that will begin in February.
Full story at ComiX-Fan Now this was due to happen. With the Epic line falling apart in many ways I think it’s logical that they merged the books into one. Most of them might have failed anyway. I wonder though now that it’s under one book if all will fail at once. Of course the hiatus of CRIMSON DYNAMO as well might as well mean no more Epic. Although most fans where excited when the Epic line returned but now I think thanks to Jemas being gone and Marvel knowing that it may have been a big mistake with him behind it. Of course a lot of fans fell out of love with it as well when they never got a chance to really look at their work or publish any of it. This didn’t help Epic. So now will it fail or will the fans save it? We’ll find out. ESSENTIAL PUNISHER
January is a busy month for The PUNISHER. The new MAX series makes its debut, the Born hardcover comes out, The PUNISHER volume three hardcover comes out, and the first volume of The ESSENTIAL PUNISHERmakes its debut. Jeff Youngquist told THE PULSE what’s essential for this Essential.
Check it out at The Pulse Now of course this is a great idea. With the movie coming out and the new MAX series it’s one of the best ways to give fans a look at the past as well. Punisher (even though my co-Marvel news guy Paul doesn’t think so) is one of the best of the best. He’s a character that has always intrigued the fans. We know a good amount of his past but not every adventure. I understand Punisher had three series in the 90s (WAR JOURNAL and WAR ZONE joined the PUNISHER series) but he was able to hold them all for a good amount of time. Of course when they decided to give him a fresh start for a new series it was time to do it with some bad stories and not great use of Frank at the time. Killing him (well electrifying him in the electric chair and bringing him back for the Edge line was needed. In the end the series ended for the MARVEL KNIGHTS line. Of course now the Marvel Knights line loses PUNISHER to MAX because PUNISHER has to get some more spotlight before his movie and also because he will be able to be his true violent self. Christina Weir & Nunzio DeFilippis Interview
In July of 2003 two creators by the names of Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir were chosen to bring some of Xavier's first NEW MUTANTS back to the Mansion to train Xavier's new class of mutants. These two writers have joined the X-Franchise in a time when tremendous change has rocked the world of our favorite mutants and they are facing that change head on.
It’s at UXN Someone sent me a link to this one. I would expect many NEW MUTANTS fans will enjoy reading this one and finding out where it’s going. Thanks to whoever sent me the link through my email. 411 Comics
This little feature is just for sport. Not many Marvel titles reached 411. Most went on to gain a second series. Of course those that did where nice series. They last long enough. Of course not all the stories where big or anything but they where something that would be fun to cover here. I won’t worry about renumbering the books to figure out what Avengers # 411 was or Iron Man # 411. This will be ones that read volume 1 # 411. Uncanny X-Men # 411: Part of the HOPE storyline. The X-Men start out fighting Juggernaut because of a misunderstanding. We find Juggernaut had asked the X-Men for help. Black Tom attacks the group including Juggernaut. Black Tom of course is a big plant like creature because his powers are out of control. The team begins it’s battle with Black Tom here. Also in this issue Nurse Annie Ghazikhanian first contacts Cyclops to tell him Havok is alive. Amazing Spider-Man # 411: Part of the Blood Brothers story. Ben learns that all of his funds have been frozen by the IRS and other problems show up at his apartment and at the Daily Grind where his boss finds out about his past. Peter and Mary Jane are attacked by a group of cybernetically enhanced thugs. Pete without his powers is beaten with in an inch of his life. Spider-Ben hurries to the Daily Grind to make sure whoever is behind the plot doesn’t hurt his friends but he‘s to late as he shows up the place is on fire. Captain America # 411: Captain America must battle the Skull Crew. In disguise as Crossbones Cap battles such foes as Beetle, Jack O’ Lantern II, and many others. An all around interesting fight. As well in the issue the former Serpent Society females Asp, Black Mamba and Impala continue the search for Diamondback. Incredible Hulk # 411: Nick Fury guest in this issue where the Hulk and Pantheon help free Susan Jacobson from false imprisonment. Also Marlo accepts Rick’s engagement. Mighty Thor # 411: Part of the Acts of Vengeance. Loki frees the Juggernaut from prison and sets him loose in New York City. The Juggernaut's rampage draws Thor attention. Thor battles Juggernaut and is defeated. Before the Juggernaut can kill Thor the New Warriors make their first appearance and join the battle. Fantastic Four # 411: Black Bolt Berserk. The Fantastic Four are called in the by the Inhumans to help stop Black Bolt who has gone berserk.
That's it for the day everyone. I hope you enjoyed this weeks special and of course the ones that are coming in the following weeks. Of corse some interesting news as well this weekend. I'll see everyone on Wednesday and keep those emails coming. Reporting from the Marvel Universe this is Jim Trabold. Have a great week.
STAY CURRENT
