Majority of comic industry news has been centered on DC Comics relaunching of their entire line in September. While Marvel Comics has been centering on a major status quo change in October following the final issue of Fear Itself. Marvel is positioning their characters to take advantage of their 2012 blockbuster movies Avengers and the Amazing Spider-Man by Marvel Studios.
Like DC Comics the Ultimate Comics Universe gets relaunched with three new titles and one limited series. Ultimate Comics Spider-Man begins following this summer’s Death of Spider-Man event. The solicitations are very secretive as we are introduced to this new Spider-Man during Ultimate Fallout in August. The new series continues under veteran Ultimate Spider-Man writer Brian Michael Bendis.
Nick Spencer (Jimmy Olsen, Morning Glories)and X-Men artist Paco Media kick off Ultimate Comics X-Men which begins as Jeph Loeb and Arthur Adams’ Ultimate X series concludes while picking up on the mutant cover-up revealed within Brian Michael Bendis’ Ultimate Origins.
Ultimate Comics Ultimates and the four-issue limited series Ultimate Comics Hawkeye are both written by FF scribe Jonathan Hickman. Hickman has proven himself as an establish writer taking on Secret Warriors, Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. He presents a grounded world views within all his titles by creating believable relationships within each character. Looking forward to both of these titles.
Fear Itself #6 is the penultimate chapter setting for another status quo change on the level of Dark Reign. Much of the other Fear Itself tie-in titles do not hold much weight since so much weighs on the final issue in October. The majority of spoilers are presented in the solicitations themselves as Daredevil joins the New Avengers and Tony Stark is finishing a secret weapon in Svartalfheim (A sword as revealed on the Fear Itself #5 cover).
Journey into Mystery #627 and #628 have peaked my interest as part of the story is drawn by Whilce Portacio and Kieron Gillen weaves a tale about Mephisto leaving Hell and entering a bar to influence the common man.
Dan Slott continues his run on Amazing Spider-Man who has shown his love of the character and passion for storytelling. Slott is writing two Spider-Man books per month and keeping the high quality on each book. He is truly a talented writer for the 21st century comic audience.
Looking over at the Avengers franchise of comics Brian Michael Bendis offers the New Avengers Annual #1 and New Avengers #16.1. The New Avengers annual offers art by Secret Wars painter Gabriele Dell’Otto reintroducing the Revengers into the Marvel Universe. The introductory Point One issue of New Avengers brings back Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R leading into the return of the Dark Avengers!
Ed Brubaker continues his new Captain America series introducing him to movie goers who are willing to go comic book stores to pick up the book. As Matt Fraction ends his story within the Mighty Thor which was also recently relaunched due to the Thor movie. Jeff Parker concludes his Omegex Saga within Hulk detailing the buildup of Red Hulk’s rogue gallery.
Marvel relaunched several new and existing series to establish classic characters. Jonathan Hickman continues his FF saga rocketing towards the twelve issue which will lead back to either Fantastic Four #600 or FF #600. Mark Waid continues his run on Daredevil giving it a breathe of fresh air. Former Daredevil writer Brian Michael Bendis continues with his Daredevil artist Alex Maleev on Moon Knight.
The Punisher is under the reigns of Greg Rucka (Whiteout) bringing the anti-hero aspect back within the book while his counterpart Jason Aaron gives us the unrated version of the Punisher with PunisherMax.
The X-Men franchise will undergo a major status quo as Jason Aaron wraps up his X-Men: Schism arc. Aaron is also continuing his Wolverine title following his last arc Wolverine’s Revenge. Wolverine is also in his own mini series Marvel Universe Vs. Wolverine written by Jonathan Maberry who gave us Marvel Universe Vs. The Punisher last year.
The adjectiveless X-Men title written by Victor Gischler presenting the team-up between FF and X-Men with both former villains Doctor Doom and Magneto now at their sides.
Uncanny X-Force is nearing the end of The Dark Angel Saga paying homage to the Dark Phoenix Saga back in the 1980s with writer Rick Remender (The Last Days of American Crime). Marvel Point One issue hits X-Factor as Peter David introduces to the new team which first consisted of the original X-Men under Professor X.
Not Interested…..Yet or Never
Never start a series with a tie-in as it doesn’t develop a firm foundation for the series. Ghost Rider does just that however may not be connected to Fear Itself at all however only serving as a marketing gimmick for collectors willing to collect the series along with Fear Itself.
Fear Itself: Hulk Vs. Dracula present a three issue battle between the two characters. The series seems to bring Razio Kodo to save the Vampire Nation as they take on the Hulk who is serving the Worthy.
Uncanny X-Men brings Colossus to transform himself into the Juggernaut to stop Marko Cain. Other mutant titles include Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force and Fear Itself: Wolverine These tie-ins has little effect on the X-Men line as Schism plays a major factor into next month’s final issue of Uncanny X-Men.
One of the lessons Marvel Comics needs to learn is not to bombard the reader with numerous tie-ins or else they will lose interest in the main title. The main titles are under ordered to make room for their tie-ins. Fear Itself has 20 tie-ins while Spider-Island has 8 tie-ins for a total of 28 books that are cannibalizing quality comics and taking up store space. Much like the Fear Itself tie-ins, the Spider-lsland tie-ins are written by various writers who have very little to do with the Spider-Man Universe. Unless the title is written by series writer Dan Slott,these titles are to be avoided to save money. Marvel Comics need to be sensitive to retailers instead of bombarding them with stuff they need to sell to raise quarterly earnings on the stock market.
SEPTEMBER 2011 PULL LIST
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2
Ultimate Comics X-Men #1
Ultimate Comics Ultimates #2
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #2
Fear Itself #6
Journey into Mystery #627
Journey into Mystery #628
Amazing Spider-Man #669
Amazing Spider-Man #670
New Avengers Annual #1
New Avengers #16.1
Captain America
The Mighty Thor #6 (The Galactus Seed Finale)
Hulk #40
Hulk #41
FF #9
Daredevil #3
Daredevil #4
Moon Knight #5
The Punisher #3
PunisherMax #17
Marvel Universe Vs. Wolverine #4 (Finale)
X-Men: Schism #4
X-Men #17
X-Men #18
Uncanny X-Force #15
Wolverine #15
Wolverine #16
X-Factor #224.1
S.H.I.E.L.D: Nick Fury Vs. S.H.I.E.L.D Premiere HC
Spider-Man:The Return of Anti-Venom Premiere HC
Ultimate Comics Avengers Vs. New Ultimates: Death of Spider-Man Premiere HC
X-Men: First to Last Premiere HC
