Waited for the full solicts to give some full thoughts, so everything is organized. Plus, work keeps me busy.
- It seems that INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE are dependent on how SECRET INVASION #8 ends. I am curious if this means a possible "rescue" of the real Hank Pym (or Wasp) happens in A:TI. After all, Slott & Gage have used Yellowjacket more often than Bendis was in Mighty Avengers before SI started. What I find bemusing is that these solicts are kept "top secret" due to not wanting to spoil endings, but there are other solicts of other comics that all but spoil some current story lines. Um, hooray?
- Completely not interested in NOIR. It seems like a pathetic attempt to capitalize on THE SPIRIT in the theaters (or SIN CITY's upcoming sequel and continued popularity). What, thought us Marvel Zombies were too dumb to notice? Well, some likely will be.
- That cover of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #129 reminds me of all the reasons I fled from that property. Good lord. Considering USM is the only Ultimate book that sells near the Top 30, if ULTIMATUM doesn't work, will the line be finished? It has outlived it's usefulness to Marvel.
- Roger Stern returning to ASM is an interesting idea, but not enough to give BND a try. Every time I flip through an issue at random, it loses me.
- I might get the BND YEARBOOK because I'm a Handbook junkie.
- ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL has some interest because I, unlike some people, still kind of like Grevioux's NEW WARRIORS. Still, it does basically reek of an "African American Sentry". I understand that the Silver Age comics were very Lilly White in terms of superheroes, but I am not sure that retcons are always the best option. And Anti-Man is almost slang for homosexual, isn't it? Still, I may give it a try. Unlike SENTRY, Marvel isn't lying and claiming this Blue Marvel is a sketch from Stan Lee's desk or something.
- I am giving BIG HERO 6 a try, but it seems out of 6 issues, they spend most of them in NEW YORK CITY/AMERICA. Now, I ask, what is the bloody point of a book about a team of Japanese superheroes based in Tokyo if the majority of the action takes place in friggin' New York City? Yeah, such a rare location for Marvel superhero stories.
In my review of BH6 #1, I also said something to the effect of asking Claremont to PLEASE refrain from using mind-control stories, which he has done to death over a 30+ year career.
"Now, their adversaries have taken control of some of their own team mates and allies, with every intention of letting the team, their friends, and their family members tear each other apart!" 
C'mon, dude, SERIOUSLY!? What the **** is the point of doing new stories if you're just to reuse everything you have ever done!? Is Social Security that bad!? Mind Control has been done to death by Claremont almost as often as "Storm = Queen" or "Storm = Fetish" stories. I may still give the rest of the mini a shot, but knowing this is coming has sucked a lot out of BH6 to me.
If it turns out they are fighting Shadow King, I am SO gone.
- CAPTAIN AMERICA #45 looks good, and I don't mind Batroc's design on the cover. Reuniting the Invaders sounds fine; I wouldn't mind a version that didn't suck, even if the name is outdated. As for the idea of reviving Toro, it actually came up once before; an old man used to "mentor" the Power Pack way back in the 80's, and he had the same last name as the original Toro. Nothing was ever made of this besides some speculation in the GOLDEN AGE handbook, though.
Still, we have Union Jack and Spitfire busy in
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND MI-13, which may make continuity an issue. After all, only Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Storm, Hulk, Cyclops, Punisher, Ghost Rider, or Captain America can appear in multiple books simultaneously and have readers accept it. Maybe it will get Blazing Skull back into comics after the tease that was THE LAST DEFENDERS. That'd be cool.
- For those who complain that Captain America only has "one book", I should note that for the past year or so, there have been various side mini's and one shots, so in terms of the actual shelves, it is like Cap has two comics.
- GHOST RIDER #30 looks interesting. Unlike some, I'm not too perturbed about some of the mangling of Ketch and feel Aaron is onto a role, picking up where Way left off. I am glad it seems to be writing an end-game of sorts to the storyline, since I doubt GR will remain in the Top 100 eventually. Even in slow months, it barely hangs onto the Top 80. Launched in the ride-up to the 2007 film, it may have just run it's course. Still, Aaron's on a roll here for me. Not a fan of Huat's art, but I am getting used to it, and it appears he is the new "regular" artist on the book. I'm not bothering with the Ketch side-mini, though.
- So, I see HULK #9, and I wonder, how long has Red Hulk been going by "Rulk"? I hate that about modern society as it is; any new word can come from merging two words. It seems uncreative and lazy. It's uncrazy. See how easy and stupid it is? It's steasy.
- I wonder if Hulk really sells enough to warrant a HULK FAMILY SPECIAL. I mean, Spidey books still are Top 10-15 sellers and SPIDER-MAN FAMILY/SPECIAL has been a bottom feeder for years. HULK may be selling well, but SHE-HULK has taken a dive since Slott left, and that book always hovered towards the Top 70 or so. There's SKAAR, where I am not sure there is a lot of interest. It seems odd.
- IMMORTAL IRON FIST #21 offers a switch for the obligatory filler story about another IF; rather than the past, they offer a look at a future one, circa 3099. Seems...a little pandering, to be honest. Sales for August did take a sharp dive since Fraction & Brubaker left, though, so I wonder where things will stand in August. The first arc with the new team hasn't been bad at all, thus far.
- CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI-13 is touted as "horror". Hmm, interesting. It is good that Kirk will be returning to the series eventually; too many artists launch a series and then flee as fast as they can. As always, any issue of this looks good to me.
- MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 without Robert Kirkman, when every version and sequel has seen steadily diminishing sales? Dead horse, time for a beating.
- Is MOON KNIGHT really selling well to warrant a one-shot? By December it may be out of the Top 100. Again, I seriously wonder why Marvel publishes things that almost seem destined for the quarter bin at con's.
- MARVEL: EYES TO THE CAMERA from Busiek sounds interesting, although they could KEEP their "sequel to MARVELS" if they could get Busiek on MIGHTY AVENGERS when Bendis leaves.
- NOVA #20 sounds very interesting; new Nova Corps AND an appearance from Counter-Force (presumably)? I'm there. The cover seems to make Nova's shoulderpads look ridiculously 90's, though. They're not that bad, are they? As always, this is one of my favorite titles, and it appears Nova is spending some time on Earth after his SI tie in ends. It makes sense I guess, although I do like his space adventures a lot.
- I love how a special about Skurge the Executioner has to be called THOR by obligation (sarcasm). It's like a story about the X-Mansion's janitor must be called something like X-MEN: WIPE YOUR FEET or something. Still, it looks interesting and Fraction's proven fine with Thor in past material.
- Amazed that NEW WARRIORS #19 is still being solicted, and it totally gives away what Night-Thrasher has been planning all this time. Oh, well.
- HELLCAT'S quirky adventure comes to a close, and since it debuted at a measly 19.5k, by December it might be selling near INVINCIBLE at about 14k or so. Not for everyone's tastes, but at least Hellcat is fun and not generic here.
- I no longer am buying PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL.
- Shame that Dr. Doom image with the Infinity Gauntlet was a WHAT IF cover. I mean, heaven forfend the #1 villain in the MU ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING VILLAINOUS, eh?
- The "Newer" Fantastic Four with Iron Man may as well be called, THE MARVEL MOVIE TEAM. They summon each other with wrist-watches that bleep out a KA-CHING!
- That cover to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 looks bad-ass.
- I have no idea why both WOLVERINE and WEAPON X need a First Class.
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