Too Much Awesome: Marvel comics in March

Fear Itself: Prologue

Marvel's "point one" issues

When DC announced it was scaling prices back to $2.99 across the line, Marvel's reaction was more or less, "Yeah, we're doing that, too!" As it turned out, that was a lie. Then there was something about "point one" issues being priced cheaper to invite new readers onto ongoing books.

What I thought this meant was that issues featuring a new creative team or starting a new story arc would be marked as such and sold for a dollar cheaper than regular issues. But it seems that's not at all what we're getting.

In the solicitations for March, there's a Captain America #615.1. This is a special issue sandwiched in between February's regular  #615 and March's #616 (which happens to be a special 70th Anniversary issue selling for an extra dollar, so, the dollar you'd be saving on #615.1 is basically cancelled out by the $4.99 price tag on the next issue).

What's not clear to me is whether this point one issue is essential for those who are already following the series, or if it's strictly geared toward new readers. Because if it's part of the main continuity of the series, then that means people have to buy an extra book every time one of these point one issues comes out. And I don't understand how that benefits anyone.

The case of Thor #620.1 is even more confusing. It's not even written or drawn by the current creative team and it's inserted smack in the middle of a storyline. In fact, the solicitation text for #621 starts with the word "FINALE!" in all-caps, suggesting this is the conclusion of the story that started in issue #615. (It also ends, rather confusingly, with the sentence: "Brought to you by two Matts, a John, and the marvelous Pasqual." I know who the first Matt is and the marvelous Pasqual - they're the writer and artist who are credited as the creative team - but who's the other Matt and the John? Beats me.)

So the "point one" issue isn't even part of the current story, it's written by a different writer and drawn by a different artist. How is that helping anybody? Why not just make it a one-shot? Don't pretend that it's an easy jump-on point to the regular series when it clearly isn't.

Meanwhile, the first issue of the new Venom ongoing and Fear Itself: Prologue - two series/events that I might be genuinely interested in checking out as a new reader - are both priced at $3.99. Well, guess what, Marvel? I won't be buying either of them.

Marvel Architects

By labeling certain writers as the architects of its universe and claiming that they are "telling the most exciting and impactful stories" every month, isn't Marvel implicitly saying that the rest of the books don't really matter? I mean, bother picking up anything else if it's not going to be "impactful." (Ugh! That's not a word!) They're basically encouraging the worst sin of comic fandom, which is to only pay attention to "the stories that matter," regardless of quality, while ignoring critically acclaimed gems like Thor: The Mighty Avenger until they get cancelled.

5 Ronin

5 Ronin

A story featuring five Marvel heroes, set in 17th Century Japan, written by Peter Milligan? Yeah, that looks pretty amazing. I'll buy it.

CrossGen reimagined by Marvel

I've never read any CrossGen stuff, so I'm not immediately interested by these two new mini-series (Sigil and Ruse). A lot of other people seem to be excited by this, so I might have a look. It'll probably depend on my budget more than anything else.

Avengers: The Children's Crusade - Young Avengers #1

What the hell is this? Avengers: The Children's Crusade, the 9-part limited that's getting stretched out over 18 very slow months, is getting interrupted for a one-shot? They call it a "stand-alone tale that's the perfect jumping-on point for a new readers," but I can't hardly make any sense of the solicitation blurb. I'm totally losing interest and considering just dropping the series. The only reason I won't is it features one of the only gay couples in the Marvel universe and that is relevant to my interests.

Five Captain America one-shots?

Because the 12 other books he appears in this month were not enough? Okay. I'll pass.

FF Issue One

I haven't been reading Jonathan Hickman's Fantastic Four, but I'll admit. I'm tempted by this. I don't know if it's the fact that we know pretty much nothing about where it's headed or what, but I'm considering it.

Too Much Awesome: Comics in January

Time to look at the January 2011 solicitations, as listed in Previews #266.

DARK HORSE

Hmm, there's not a single book from Dark Horse I'm interested in this month.

DC

The DC solicitations start with a bunch of random one-shots, none of which look all that interesting to me. Depending on whether or not Krul's Teen Titans gone south by then, I might check out the Wonder Girl one-shot that ties into it, otherwise I think I'm going to pass on all of these.

The new anthology mini-series Weird Worlds features "a kind-hearted monster called Garbageman." I think that speaks for itself, but you can read more about that wonderful creation in this interview with Aaron Lopresti, who will be writing and drawing that story.

Batman: Europa is a new mini-series based on a story by Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali, with painted art by "many of the industry's top talents. This first issue is by Jim Lee, and if that cover is any indication, it's going to be really, really ugly. Not interested.

I'll probably be getting the new issues of Batman Inc, Batman and Robin, Knight and Squire, Red Robin, Birds of Prey, Action Comics, Superboy, The Flash, Adventure Comics, Legion of Super-Heroes and Teen Titans, all of which are on my regular pull list at the moment.

Superman/Batman #80 is the conclusion of a two-part story by Chris Roberson and Jesus Merino, taking place in the 853rd century, and I'm looking forward to that as well.

In the collected editions section, I noticed that the first collection of Paul Cornell's Action Comics run is going to be titled Superman: The Black Ring. Now why would they put "Superman" in the title when the character is not even featured in the story? I know, I know, the answer is probably just that his name sells better than Lex Luthor's, but that seems really disingenuous, even by DC's low standards. Is it possible that Superman does make an appearance at the end of the story Cornell has planned? I'm also confused by the fact that there's no "volume 1" attached to the title, since that collection only includes issues #890-895 and the story will not have concluded by then. Very weird.

Notice a bunch of Wildstorm titles at the end of the DC Comics section. Mostly these are mini-series that haven't yet concluded, but it's nice to see a seamless transition into DC's main imprint instead of a bunch of abrupt cancellations.

VERTIGO

Daytripper gets a trade paperback collection. I bought all the single issues, so I won't be getting this, but I highly recommend this beautiful story by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon.

I'm going to be picking up the new issues of Northlanders and Sweet Tooth. It seems like there are fewer and fewer Vertigo books of interest. I hope they're going to announce some new titles soon.

IDW

I'm not going to get sucked into this Infestation mega crossover event, featuring zombies across IDW's various licensed properties (Star Trek, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Ghostbusters), but I'll admit it's a pretty clever marketing stunt. Of course, it would maybe have a bit more impact if we hadn't seen major zombie crossover events at DC and Marvel recently. Coupled with the surge in popularity of Kirkman's Walking Dead due to the new TV series, I'd expect most people to be really sick of zombies by January. I'm pretty sure I will be.

I bought the first issue of Steve Niles and Kelley Jones' Edge of Doom mini-series this month and didn't think much of it, so I'm dropping this one.

There's a trade paperback of something called Off-Road, written and drawn by Sean Murphy. I'm assuming this was previously released as a mini-series, although the solicitation doesn't say. It's the first time I notice this title, but I'm probably going to look into it, since I really love Murphy's art.

IMAGE

I dropped Morning Glories after issue #3. I don't understand where all the positive reviews are coming from, as I found both the art and the writing to be mediocre.

And yet, here I am looking at Nick Spencer's new series, The Infinite Vacation, thinking it looks pretty cool. Art is by Christian Ward and it looks a lot more up my alley than Joe Eisma's work in Morning Glories. I'm intrigued, if not completely sold on this one.

And depending on how I like the first issues of Halcyon and Marineman (coming out in November and December, respectively), I may or may not continue reading them in January.

MARVEL

I will be getting the new issues of Avengers: Children's Crusade, Secret Avengers, and Thor. I think that's it. I dropped Avengers Academy because it hasn't been very good (and the last issue, to put it politely, sucked cock) and I'm not really tempted by anything else at the moment. Which is not a bad thing, considering my budget is already stretched thin as it is.

There's a Magneto one-shot written by Howard Chaykin and pencilled by "TBD." Awesome.

ICON

Casanova continues, with Fabio Moon taking over art duties from Gabriel Ba. They're both amazing artists, so that's cool.

I'll also be getting Mark Millar and Leinil Yu's Superior, unless something goes horribly wrong in issue #2 or #3.

BOOM!

By January, all three of Stan Lee's new series will have launched: Soldier Zero, Starborn and The Traveler. I read the first issue of Soldier Zero this week and I'm currently working on a review of it. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to continue reading it or check out those other two books when they launch, but for now I'll just say these are worth keeping an eye on.

RED 5

I have Atomic Robo and the Deadly Art of Science #3 on my pull  list.

12 GAUGE

I'm picking up the first issue of Magus in December. Depending on whether or not that's any good, I may or may not pick up the second issue in January. The premise is interesting.

And that's all for January, folks.

October solicitations (Previews #263) – part two

Continuing my look at the stuff featured in the August issue of Previews.

WILDSTORM

I kind of wish I had followed the DV8: Gods & Monsters mini-series, because I read a few really good comments about it. This is the penultimate issue, so hopefully there's a trade coming soon. (October 20)

I'm going to get Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave #4 (October 13) and Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom #5 (October 6), but I don't really have anything to say about them right now.

I'm not sure why the trade paperback for Two-Step is included here, since it only comes out November 17. I don't know much about this, but the art by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti is alluring.

VERTIGO

John Constantine: Hellblazer – City of Demons is a new 5-issue mini-series written by Si Spencer and illustrated by Sean Murphy, whose art in Joe the Barbarian is absolutely stunning. I've never read any John Constantine comics, so this might be a good reason to start. The first two issues come out October 13 and 17.

The "Metal" story concludes in Northlanders #33 (October 13) and the brilliant Sweet Tooth continues with issue #14 (October 6).

Unknown Soldier has been cancelled and #25 is the last issue (October 27). I've read a lot of good reviews and many people are sad to see this series end, so I would like to check out the trades eventually.

MARVEL

Carnage #1 of 5. Is this going to be any good? I don't know who Zeb Wells is, but the write-up calls him a "superstar creator."

Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis #5. Okay, the cover for this features the X-Men versus a flying army of mutant babies. It might be the best thing I've ever seen in my life. Since I missed the boat on this mini-series (this is the last issue), I will have to wait for the trade. But I definitely want to read this now.

Halo: Fall of Reach – Boot Camp #2. I think this mini-series is a prequel to a spinoff to a video game. So it can't really be any good can it? I'm just a sucker for this kind of hardcore coming-of-age story where young boys get bullied by sadistic adults in a military organization. I don't know why this appeals to me, but it does.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15. Interesting how the famous gay kiss on the cover is conveniently cropped out of the preview here.

Secret Avengers #6. A new story arc begins with this issue. Unless the conclusion of the first arc really blows my socks off, I will most likely be dropping this title after #5.

Avengers Academy #5. I wish I'd picked up this series instead of Secret Avengers. It's a dollar cheaper and it looks like a better title. I might actually hunt down the back issues and jump on board.

Chaos War. I guess this is going to be a big cosmic event. Is this going to suck?

Of all the Thor-related titles coming up, the Loki mini-series looks like the most interesting to me. I love his insane grin on the cover of the first issue. I might check this out.

The Tomb of Terror one-shot looks like it could be good. It says it's only 32 pages, but that seems kind of short for an anthology book featuring different characters and creative teams. Man-Thing is involved.

Strange Tales vol. II #1. The list of creators involved is so long and full of awesome that I don't even know how to handle this! Rafael Grampa, Kate Beaton, Jeff Lemire, etc. Can't miss this one.

Casanova #4. Goddamn, this looks amazing! I'm so pissed that I didn't buy the first issue and now it's sold out. I looked at the second issue at the store yesterday, but why bother if I can't get it from the first issue? I guess it's wait-for-trade for me on this one.

Superior #1. Mark Millar's new mini-series. I'm not really a fan of his, but this looks like it could be good. Leinil Francis Yu's art looks really good.

I'm definitely getting the Thor and the Warriors Four Digest. I saw a lot of scans from the mini-series and it was some of the cutest art I've ever seen.

I'll finish this tomorrow with part three and a look at IDW, Image, Top Cow and whatever else is left in the catalogue.