http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090120-marvel-april-2009-solicitations.html
Now that the full solcits for April 2009 are up, I can give more thoughts. I'll try not to repeat myself.
- Despite all the griping I and others do, it is cool to see Marvel proudly celebrate 70 years of comics and I may give some of those anniversay specials a look, depending on the week they ship. Since, well, $10 for that last one is steep.
- At the very least, after a 3-4 year wait between issues, Marvel at least isn't so greedy as to charge $3.99 for the rest of the ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK mini, as their new policy is "$3.99 for any and all mini's" now. I won't be touching it. Now how about DAREDEVIL: TARGET #2...
- I am strongly tempted to get ASM just for Slott's Spidey/Johnny story.
- DARK REIGN: THE CABAL; so, that is what they're calling Norman's team now? Normally I wouldn't bother, but as this is other writers left to execute something Bendis usually can't, it may actually be decent. It may end up being more evidence to the pile of, "Why Bendis would be a better editor than monthly writer".
- The idea of Hood becoming the Sorcerer Supreme is one of many reasons I am glad I left NEW AVENGERS.
- Yay for Gage exploring the leftovers of NEW WARRIORS in AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE, building on things written by Slott as well as Grevioux on NW. While not officially connected, A:TI and NW often had some references with each other and with NW's being canceled, A:TI can pick up some of the pieces. Nay for Ramos artwork, which is always ill suited for most mainstream superhero comics. I look forward to seeing what happens with Rage and especially Justice.
- MIGHTY AVENGERS #24 looks and sounds fantastic. Khoi Pham has also managed to make a costume for Quicksilver that I don't completely hate; which is a rarity. I've usually hated just about every costume Pietro has ever had. Plus, we have more Young Avengers and Pym confronting Mr. Fantastic! I wonder if rehabbing Wanda involves having her meet her "children" and clearing the air with that subplot once and for all. If so, I commend Slott for going for it so soon. Looks like this will be a great debut arc for what hopes to be a great run.
- I'm not getting DARK AVENGERS, but is that Iron Patriot beating up Dr. Doom? Sheesh, and the bad times continue for the monarch!
- AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 still looks cool.
- More SPIDER-WOMAN from Bendis, eh? I guess SECRET INVASION now allows him to cover some of the same themes with her twice.
- Marvel is giving a monthly anthology series another go, trading the MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS name for the more old school ASTONISHING TALES. Honestly, this almost seems like insanity; they have put out some form of anthology series for years now, whether around the X-Men, Spidey, or Marvel in general, and the sales always tank within a year or less. Yet here we go again. I may give it a chance. But if it isn't promoted or is viewed as "not being important", it will sink just as fast as MCP did last year.
- I can't believe Mark Millar's "New Defenders" from the future are getting their own series as FANTASTIC FORCE, another 90's throwback I doubt anyone demanded.
- The evil version of the Defenders are...the Offenders in HULK? Oh, Loeb...how far thee hast fallen.
- I am curious about the MARVEL ASSISTANT-SIZED SPECTACULAR. I wonder if the market will support seemingly aimless "fun" filler like that, but I may give it a shot. Again, with more and more Marvel comics being $3.99, it may all depend on how light or heavy a week it is when these ship.
- "Marvel Triple Action" sounds dirty to me, and I don't know why.
- A 4th Marvel Zombies? Just make it an ongoing or quit while you're ahead, guys!
- Remember all that talk about how "close" Lilandra and Gladiator seemed in the X-MEN: KINGBREAKER #2 preview? Well, seems the honeymoon's over according to the cover of WAR OF KINGS #2. As usual, it looks like another space epic is upon us from Abnett & Lanning, who will be busy bees in April.
- GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13, again from Abnett & Lanning, seems to imply that Star-Lord may find a way back from the Negative Zone just in time to see Black Bolt running the Kree now, although he may not too friendly towards Quill, either! Have they ever actually met before? The series gets another artist in Brad Walker, and I hope he delivers good stuff.
- NOVA #24 - only 75% through "DnA" month! The new Nova Corps seem to be caught up in the whole warring king thing, and Richard may not be alongside them. Plus, Andrea DiVito is finally going back to a space book that counts! I hope it is a permanent assignment, because seeing a great artist like DiVito toil on some of the Marvel Adventures stuff seemed like a waste for him. I can't wait to see where the duo take Richard Rider's story next.
- The last title in the "DnA April A Go-Go" is a 4 part WAR OF KINGS: ASCENSION, which basically seems to be four more issues of the two part DARKHAWK mini. Powell is definitely wearing his second armor, although I am curious why they didn't just give him a 6 issue mini rather than breaking it up into two. It also seems that Annihilus' forces are regathering in the Negative Zone, which was implied by how Giffen ended the original ANNIHILATION. I am curious as to where Darkhawk is going and if this ties into his own origins, which still are vague. They were basically; evil alien gathers scientists from around the galaxy, including one Earthman, to create suits of living machine for him that can be stored in another dimension and can host someone's consciousness, allowing them to fight without harm to their bodies. Scientists rebel, but evil alien gets his hands on one armor, and Chris Powell stumbles upon the whole thing. Insert 90's career and here we are. It certainly gives Abnett & Lanning at least as much room to add stuff as Fraction & Brubaker had with their launch of IMMORTAL IRON FIST. Heck, the way they are running the space opera, how about we stick Colossus back on Breakworld just so he might get to kick ass, too?
). I've been wondering why any of these people would ally themselves at all, in spite of their colossal egos. Bendis has left it to other writers to explain, as usual, and they're all good writers, so it should be interesting.
