Marvel Now - Part 1

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is [split]387653[/split]

 

[roach]

Didn't see a thread on this yet:
For months, Marvel Comics executives have been promising a major shake-up for their stories in the wake of the current "Avengers Vs. X-Men" event, though they've also promised the moves won't be a reboot of the Marvel U's long-running stories a la DC's New 52 initiative. Today, the scope of Marvel's plans came into light with the announcement of October's "Marvel NOW" initiative via Entertainment Weekly's Comic-Con themed issue.

In what will surely be seen as the publisher's response to DC Comics' New 52 which set it sights on new and lapsed readers with issue #1 jumping on points, Marvel NOW is being promised as an easy entry point into the classic Marvel U. Throughout October, Marvel will launch a number of brand new series -- often more than one a week -- with additional new series and relaunches for some classic books rolling out through February of next year. These will include the following, announced in EW:

"Uncanny Avengers" by Rick Remender and John Cassaday starring a team composed of Captain America, Wolverine and others from the company's two powerhouse franchises battling the mutant-hating Red Skull.

"All New X-Men" by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen realigning the mutant team in the wake of "AvX" as the original five X-Men are mysteriously brought to the present day. This title will launch in November.

"Avengers" by Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena, which is light on specific details aside from a roster of 18 heroes in a bi-weekly comic that seems to be Hickman-esque rethinking of the Avengers core mission in the vein of the writer's "Fantastic Four" run.

Aside from the core creative changes, all books branded with the Marvel NOW banner will feature a full slate of digital bells and whistles as part of the "Marvel ReEvolution" products that have played a part in "AvX's" launch. For example, every Marvel NOW first issue will feature AR enhanced recaps embedded in their covers, and the books will all carry a code for a free digital download of the issue through the Marvel App.

In addition, the publisher is promising other creative shakeups outside the shuffling of their big name talent on their big name franchises. Marvel NOW books will feature new "cinematic" cover designs, and their characters will sport redesigned costumes, many shown off in a new piece by Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada.

"It's a bridge book...something that can delve into both worlds," Remender told the magazine of how "Uncanny Avengers" bridges the pre and post-AvX Marvel U.

Of "All-New X-Men," Bendis explained, "It's not a time-travel story like 'Back To The Future.' It's a time-travel story like 'Pleasantville,'" adding "Here's the big question that they original X-Men are gonna be faced with: 'We're gonna grow up, and this is what we're going to get? That is not acceptable.'"

 

[JewishHobbit]

Don't buy All New X-Men.

That's downright masochistic.

And that's downright ignorant. We haven't even seen previews to know its quality so we can't call it masochistic. And honestly, I enjoy Bendis' writing and Immonen is an amazing artist. I'm a 21 year-long X-Men fan... it'd be stupid for me NOT to pick the book up.

 

[CConn]

And that's downright ignorant. We haven't even seen previews to know its quality so we can't call it masochistic. And honestly, I enjoy Bendis' writing and Immonen is an amazing artist. I'm a 21 year-long X-Men fan... it'd be stupid for me NOT to pick the book up.

Dude, you're the one who does nothing but complain about how you haven't enjoyed a comic in like a decade every single bought/thought.

 

[runawayboulder]

 

[JewishHobbit]

Then you're just paying attention to the ones I think least of. I praise tons of books every month: New Avengers, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine & the X-Men, Uncanny X-Force, Batman, and Green Lantern are all titles that I praise consistently. Other books are hit and miss and there are very few that I honestly don't much enjoy, such as Defenders and X-Factor, and that's because either A) the potential is so great, or B) the title has previously be nothing short of amazing and has faultered.

My main complaints have always been with Marvel themselves and how they handle their buisness.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Oh, and for the sake of letting people know what the heck we're talking about:

Why arre folks complaining about double ship. I like that for story reasons. But I can see that price is a issue for some.

I have a fixed budget for comics and I typically buy up to that budget. Come November I will be buying 9 titles from Marvel. The problem is, they are double shipping 6 of those titles (5 of them $4). Also,they raised the price of X-Men Legacy (and double shipped it) and for one of the New Avengers issues so that's another $3 more a month. So that's suddenly an extra $23 that I can't afford to spend. So due to Marvel's double shipping I have to drop or skip $23 worth of titles from my monthly load. I don't want to drop a few books but now because of Marvel double shipping titles, I have to drop titles that I really enjoy. In essence, they're squeezing me off of titles I really want to read.

Case in point - my November buy list:

Total: $96

Marvel $4 – $49
Uncanny Avengers 2
All New X-Men 1
All New X-Men 2
X-Men Legacy 1
X-Men Legacy 2
New Avengers 33
New Avengers 34 ($5)
Wolverine & the X-Men 20
Wolverine & the X-Men 21
Uncanny X-Force 33
Uncanny X-Force 34
Defenders 12

Marvel $3 – $15
X-Factor 246
X-Factor 247
Hawkeye 4
Captain Marvel 7
Gambit 5

Marvel Minis & One-Shots – $0

DC – $32
Justice League 14 ($4)
Justice League Dark 14
Batman 14 ($4)
Batman Inc. 5
Talon 2
Nightwing 14
Phantom Stranger 2
Green Lantern 14
Batwoman 14
Batman & Robin 14

As of right now here is my planned buy list for November. I planned on trying out Hawkeye and Captain Marvel for a few more issues. I also wanted to try Indestructable Hulk and maybe Captain America. The problem is, my budget has lately shrunk and I try to keep it between $70 and $80 a month. So I am between $16 to $26 over budget, and that's not even including Hulk or Cap. So in order for me to afford my comics I have to drop the titles I'm testing entirely (Hawkeye, Gambit, and Captain Marvel). That's only $9. Now I have to start dropping titles that I actually care about, and since my upper titles are the ones Marvel is double shipping, it has to come from elsewhere. I've been on X-Factor since day one (hit and miss) but suddenly I can't afford it and I have to drop that book. That's $15. That hits the upper rank of what I can afford but I hate being at that point so I am also considering getting rid of Batwoman and Batman & Robin, though I've been trying to hold onto those two titles and I try to not ding DC when Marvel does stupid crap like this.

So all in all, because of Marvel's double shipping, I am dropping or potentially dropping:

X-Factor
Gambit
Hawkeye
Captain Marvel
Batwoman
Batman & Robin

And I actually WANT to buy those titles. And THAT'S why double shipping is stupid. Yeah, it's good for the title they're double shipping but these other books are getting the flack for it just so people with budgets can afford to continue with the books that are double shipped.

A surprising statistic there now that I'm looking over that list. I buy 1 more Marvel title than DC, and yet to get them all I'd have to spend exactly DOUBLE the price due to Marvel's price gouging and double shipping. And yet, as a result of that I will potentially be dropping 4 Marvel books to 2 of DC's (if I even drop those two DC's). So Marvel's price gouging and double shipping will that month put DC ahead of them in regards to the number of titles I buy for the first time in my 21 years of collecting.

Don't buy All New X-Men.

That's downright masochistic.

And that brings us up to date to the beginning of this thread. This update has been brought to you by Thread Manager sucks.

 

[Webhead2006]

Ah I can see as I said price is an issue. And I totally get budget deal. I am like that myself. But that is why I limit myself to certain books which is asm/avsm/ucsm/F4/na(and smallville from dc) currently. So on a given week usually 2 or 3 books, and ending with only like 6 or 7 books a month(including certain event things like spidermen). So with that I don't rreally blow a lot of money on things. And stuff have cash for bills/general stuff.

But I been to my local shop and see other guyss drroping 50 to 100+ on orders. And I am like dam. Which is why I limit myself. Plus books above are only marvel/dc books I am currently into.

 

[Spider-Nerd]

Dude, you cannot drop Batman and Robin. That's a solid book.

 

[CConn]

Seconded.

 

[El Bastardo]

Yeah. If you're going to drop stuff, why not drop the stuff making you drop other stuff? Then, not only might you not have to drop the other stuff, but you might be able to pick up more in the end.

 

[Pyro Man]

Dude, you cannot drop Batman and Robin. That's a solid book.

Arguable. I mean its better than Detective Comics and if this was during the first arc I'd be right there with you but its really dropped off over the last few issues. The current arc is a bit of mess. Really the whole Damian fighting the other Robins thing should have been a separate arc from all this Terminus business and shoving them in together just drags both stories down. I mean I'll keep reading it cause I'm a huge Batman fan and its not bad enough for me to drop it yet, plus its the only place you really get to read much about Damian anymore.

But for somebody whose more interested in the Marvel side of things and is only reading two Batman titles that aren't quite what I'd call core titles I'd say drop them if it means getting to read books you care more about.

As for me, I haven't done calculations but I get the feeling I'm going to be buying less of these Marvel NOW! books than I'd like to. The 3.99 double shippers really kick my wallet's ass and there's a few other titles that I'd probably try if they weren't 3.99 (I'd love a good team up book like A+X but I just don't think something like that is worth 3.99).

 

[Thwip!]

Just in reply to a comment from the last thread, i like Ramos' and Bachalo's work :/

 

[JewishHobbit]

Dude, you cannot drop Batman and Robin. That's a solid book.

The first arc of Batman & Robin was amazing and shoved it up to my top 3 books slot. But the next four issues after that really dropped. Like what was already stated, shoving the Robin plot with the Terminus plot really dragged both of those down. That is the absolute LAST drop that I will do if I even do it, and I'm not even convinced that I'm going to do it. I might hold on to it since Defenders and New Avengers are both ending that month, but that depends on what comes of New Avengers and if I'm interested in it. I'm hoping to keep that one.

Yeah. If you're going to drop stuff, why not drop the stuff making you drop other stuff? Then, not only might you not have to drop the other stuff, but you might be able to pick up more in the end.

They're mostly my top books sadly. X-Factor is a part of the problem as it's frequently double shipped and my dropping it will be a big help. New Avengers is ending and if it changes from the street level team that I enjoy I'll likely drop that as well... still waiting on announcements on what to expect from it. Defenders has been double shipping here and there so that ending is also a help. But really, everything by Marvel double ships hit and miss. Dropping $4 double ship titles is the best scenerio, and that's why I'm not bothering with Hickman's Avengers or Amazing Spider-Man, but when it comes to my X-Books, I have to stick with my favorite ones: Uncanny (now New), Legacy, Uncanny X-Force, and W&tXM.

 

[runawayboulder]

I don't know why you're getting Legacy, it's totally changing creative teams and character focus. You're save some $ right off the bat by not getting it.

 

[Fives]

MTV Geek has the exclusive for John Cassaday's redesigns for Rogue, Scarlet Witch, and Havok:http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/08/16...arlet-witch-and-havok-tom-brevoort-interview/

Also put Tom Brevoort's quotes about each redesigned suit below each pic.

"The Scarlet Witch has always had one of the least practical costumes for a super hero, so having come out the other side of 'AvX' and 'Children's Crusade,' that was something we were looking to address," Brevoort said of the character's fairly dramatic overhaul. "I didn't really have anything specific in mind other than, 'More practical' and 'Keep the tiara...' That Tiara is the most easily identifiable aspect of any Scarlet Witch outfit. It was John who came back with the more covered-up civilian style, which we liked and made sense. Wanda is in a different place right now, she doesn't feel like a super hero any more and she's looking for a way to atone for her past actions and to move forward as a person, so this look underlines that change in her outlook."

TB: In terms of Rogue’s look, I think everybody involved really liked her original Michael Golden outfit, the one with the hood—so this represents a modernization of that approach to the character. As you say, it’s really not all that different from the kinds of things she’s been wearing recently. A little bit less scarf, maybe.

TB: In essence, Rick and I wanted to go back to something approximating his original cool Neal Adams design—the black highlight-less bodysuit with the concentric circle power effect. That was always his most distinctive look in my opinion, and nothing he’s worn since that has really been all that memorable. So John took his cues from that design, tweaked it a little bit, pulled that strange antennae-thing he had on his head down onto his cowl, and off we went. I seem to recall that John initially had him with a full belt, and I had to talk him into compromising with the sort of side belt things.

 

[Donnie Darko]

So I am confused. I thought A+X was basically going to be a new Marvel Team-Up type book, but from what I read on Newsarama earlier, it's looking like it is an ongoing Vs title. I'm so confused.

 

[Fives]

Newsarama has the full color A Plus X Now poster:http://www.newsarama.com/comics/First-Look-A-PLUS-X-NOW-Poster.html

Also here's the solicit for A + X #2:
Spider-Man and Beast fight zombies in a story by Kaare Andrews (AVX: VERSUS)!
• Iron Man, Kitty Pryde and Lockheed fight the Brood in a story by Peter David and your favorite artist!

So I don't know if they're going to be fighting each other. The solicit doesn't make it seem like it.

Also here's Daniel Acuna's variant for Thor: God of Thunder:

 

[Lord]

MTV Geek has the exclusive for John Cassaday's redesigns for Rogue, Scarlet Witch, and Havok:http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/08/16...arlet-witch-and-havok-tom-brevoort-interview/

Also put Tom Brevoort's quotes about each redesigned suit below each pic.

"The Scarlet Witch has always had one of the least practical costumes for a super hero, so having come out the other side of 'AvX' and 'Children's Crusade,' that was something we were looking to address," Brevoort said of the character's fairly dramatic overhaul. "I didn't really have anything specific in mind other than, 'More practical' and 'Keep the tiara...' That Tiara is the most easily identifiable aspect of any Scarlet Witch outfit. It was John who came back with the more covered-up civilian style, which we liked and made sense. Wanda is in a different place right now, she doesn't feel like a super hero any more and she's looking for a way to atone for her past actions and to move forward as a person, so this look underlines that change in her outlook."

TB: In terms of Rogue’s look, I think everybody involved really liked her original Michael Golden outfit, the one with the hood—so this represents a modernization of that approach to the character. As you say, it’s really not all that different from the kinds of things she’s been wearing recently. A little bit less scarf, maybe.

TB: In essence, Rick and I wanted to go back to something approximating his original cool Neal Adams design—the black highlight-less bodysuit with the concentric circle power effect. That was always his most distinctive look in my opinion, and nothing he’s worn since that has really been all that memorable. So John took his cues from that design, tweaked it a little bit, pulled that strange antennae-thing he had on his head down onto his cowl, and off we went. I seem to recall that John initially had him with a full belt, and I had to talk him into compromising with the sort of side belt things.

They could allways adopt Ultimate Scarlet Witch's costume

 

[runawayboulder]

I don't like Cassaday's costume for Wanda.

She's a gypsy not Trinity from the Matrix.

 

[Havok83]

I like it. Its a good modern take. She looks good

Why is Alex so skinny? He's not his "Slim" brother. Not liking that he's also back to a skullcap

 

[roach]

How is that a modern take?
They just put a coat over her.

 

[CConn]

It's a nice coat.

 

[jonathancrane]

Good reference.

 

[THANOSRULES]

he was drawn skinny when he wore that old costume...