By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 6/28/2016
Last month’s Captain America :Steve Rogers #1 caused an uproar when it purported to reveal that Cap is actually a Hydra agent and has been since his mom was recruited into the racist organization back in the WWII day. While the transience of comic book storylines and shocking character changes is so common is to […]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/30/2015
As great as Secret Wars has been over the past couple of issues, the story isn’t going to be the end of the Marvel Universe as we know it — the series will also not serve as the last event ever told by the publisher. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso confirmed the existence of a new […]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 8/4/2015
Yesterday, Ray Sonne at Loser City levied hefty accusations at Marvel staff. In an interview with CBR, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso angered fans when he crushed longstanding implications that the Greek mythological-inspired character Hercules is bi-sexual. From CBR: Also, a lot of fans have been curious if the character’s sexuality — it’s been strongly suggested Hercules is bisexual, and […]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/24/2015
Marvel’s buffet of Secret Wars tie-ins just got weird. That’s really saying something when you consider the already announced titles that will be revisiting the publisher’s history or spotlighting obscure characters. Today over on EW, Marvel announced a new series that sounds like it came from Axel Alonso playing with his action figures, Age of Ultron vs Marvel Zombies.
The series, debuting this June, is by the recent All-New Invaders team of James Robinson and Steve Pugh, and will feature one of that book’s stars, Jimm Hammond, the original Human Torch. Taking place on the No Man’s Land part of the patchwork Battleworld planet, Ultron vs Zombies will see how the area becomes a prison of sorts for misfit continuities and battle rule breakers. Robinson described the off-the-wall premise of the story as, “Ultron sees his world as the epitome of perfection and the Zombies are the antithesis of that, so no they don’t get along at all,” says Robinson. “They war for whatever humanity they can find, with Ultron wishing to either control it or kill it and the zombies wanting to eat it. They’re definitely at war.”
It’s shaping up as though Battleworld will be a place with severe consequences for the losers. Age of Ultron vs Marvel Zombies could potentially be the most fun Secret Wars tie-in to read. Readers will get a book that feels like it has weight in the event while seeing repercussions that may get overlooked in the main line. The series is set to debut on June 3 and was announced as an ongoing title. Although as of late in the Marvel Universe, ongoing just means it’ll get more than six issues.
In addition to the cover, a three page preview was also shown and you can see it all below.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/20/2015
It’s been the super secret plan of the Marvel staff for more than five years. It’s been a glimmer in Jonathan Hickman’s eye for even longer. But now, Marvel is joining the “big battle changes fictional universe forever*” trend with Secret Wars, which launches in May leaving carnage in its wake.
As announced at a press conference with Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and E-i-C Axel Alonso at Midtown Comics downtown location, as part of the eight issue Secret Wars event Secret Wars #1 and Secret Wars #2 by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic, the Ultimate universe is folding into the 616 Marvel universe and “There will be only Battleworld,” promised Tom Brevoort. Issue #2 will be a huge extra sized reference staking out the new world, which ties in to the teasers marvel released last fall. Various universes form popular mini series of the past from Civil War to Marvel Zombies will return.
“We’ve never done anything like this ever, said Brevoort during the presser, which was live streamed until it crashed in the second half. What we will do to top it I don’t know. Hopefully that will be someone’ else problem. But I’ll still be employed and working.”
According to Alonso, it’s the most coordinated event they’ve ever done, with all Marvel comics division on board as well as partners Hasbro, Diamond Select, Mighty Fine, Mad Engine, Funko and Hot Wheels with Marvel Interactive working on all kinds of new elements. Secret elements.
The story kicks off in Secret Wars #0, a FCBD offering that kicks off the end of everything we know, or at least everything we suspect, as two world go in and one or no worlds come out of the “Incursion” event.
During the event the Marvel U. will be turned into the Battleworld which will also be turned into an interactive map where you can purchase products based on the worlds, which go back to the teasers released prior to NY Comic-Con back in the fall. The first to go will bt eh Ultimate Universe, which is being blended with the 616 universe. “It’s like two pizzas being stacked on top of one another,” said Alonso, showing a keen ear for phrases which bloggers will quote.
As the event unfolds, Marvel’s regular line will launch several new books and new mini series that tie in with this new combo world. “All the bits and pieces all the little sections of earths within incursions zones, all pieces that have remained, will be fused into a gigantic organism which will be Battleworld,” said Brevoort. “And this will set up all the building blocks of the New Marvel Universe. Every world we’re going to introduce you to, every piece is a building block for the MU moving forward. None of these are elseworlds or what ifs, they are not set in the past or future, and not in alternate reality. This is the reality of the Marvel Universe.”
“If we resurrect Gwen Stacy this would be the place to do it,” Brevoort went on to tease, also showing a keen ear for pull quotes. “Or it could be four Gwen Stacys!”
“This puts an endcap to decades of stories and starts a new era. When you see the scope of the event and what we’re willing to do [you’ll be amazed][.
According to Alonso this isn’t necessarily part of anything to do with the MCU, which is developing its own continuity. “It all starts on the page. We tell our own stories, this is exactly what we’re doing here. You’ll be shocked for this.”
In questioning after the live stream ended, the two explained that creative teams had known for a while that they needed to wrap things up. “Get your business done because we’re going into Secret Wars,” said Brevoort. “Everything is going to change and shift as we go.”
The size of the Marvel line will remain stable with perhaps a slight contraction, said Alonso. “You’ll see new books coming out, but we expect a lot of them to do well.”
Asked directly is this was a straight ahead reboot, Alonso was cagey. “Read and find out. Our history isn’t broken and it isn’t something we need to fix. If anything it’s something we’re building on and seeing how it comes together.”
Or as Marvel’s PR man Chris D’Lando put it, “The Marvel Universe and the ultimate Universe may be ending, but we are just getting started.”
So whew! Is it a full on reboot or not? We don’t know, but perhaps Beat ex-pat Steve Morris had the clearest take:
Basically they're moving Miles Morales into the Marvel Universe after eight issues of alt-reality filler
— Steve Morris (@stevewmorris) January 20, 2015
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 12/4/2014
‘Ant-Man’ #3 cover by Mark Brooks
Today, Marvel resumed their semi-regular “Next Big Thing” conference calls with comics press, focusing this iteration on the upcoming Ant-Man launch in January. The soon to be Marvel movie featured Scott Lang is the star of this new series written by Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Superior Foes of Spider-Man) joined by artist Ramon Rosanas (Night of the Living Deadpool)
Joined by Marvel Editor-In-Chief Alex Alonso and series editor Wil Moss, the team came swinging out the gates with the news that Cassie Lang, Scott’s long departed daughter who was murdered by Doctor Doom in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, would be returning to life. Spencer elaborated:
The darkness around Scott’s life is starting to lift. Cassie Lang is going to be coming back…if you want some details on that story, you can find [them] in Avengers World #16, which is going to be out next week. Scott is going to get a new shot at being a dad.
Spencer also stated how important the character of Cassie is to his run, going so far as to say that the concept of a “superhero single dad” was an integral part of his initial series pitch to Marvel.
Moss, speaking to Spencer’s assignment on the series, stressed that his “strong and unique voice” allows the book to stand out and give the book its own identity. Alonso chimed in that the goal for the series was to create a book that is “big and bold and very widescreen” but insisted that humor and poignant character moments will be present and Alonso cited the breadth of Spencer’s work from Superior Foes of Spider-Man to his broader dramatic titles underlines just why he was the top choice of the series.
But the praise wasn’t just reserved for Spencer, as Moss and Alonso had many a kind word for series artist Rosanas, highlighting his versatility and page density. Alonso added:
He really makes you feel like you’re in a lab, the everglades. He moves the camera very well. When Nick suggested the change of venue for Ant-Man, I knew this was exactly the kind of detail that Ramon could handle.
‘Ant-Man’ #1 variant by Skottie Young
To that point, one of the big changes set for the series is that Scott is relocating to the Marvel Universe version of Miami, which Spencer called “a great setting for a comic” and that its bright colors make it look just like a comic book city. The writer went so far as to visit Miami for series research. When asked by a member of the press what the Marvel U version of Miami looks like, he spoke at length:
I’ve got a million ideas for what the Marvel Universe version of Miami looks like, and the kind of stories that can bring out. It’s just like Marvel Universe New York…you take true elements of a city, and blow it up. It’ll be a Miami that people recognize, but just blown up 10 times. It struck me as the perfect place to set a book. When you’re in the city, there are all these primary colors and the neon… you can just see how fun it is of an environment for your stories. And it’s a port city, obviously, it’s a very international city. For me, I did a lot of this on ‘Avengers World,’ on a global scale. I’m always interested in getting out of New York. As much as I love Marvel New York, I get excited when Venom goes to Philadelphia, things like that. For me, it’s interesting to see the other cities and I know it’s fun for fans in the cities, as well.
As has been reported previously, Tony Stark will be playing a role in Ant-Man, to which the newly christened Superior Iron Man will precipitate Scott’s move to Miami. Spencer wanted to give a nod to his protagonist’s former recurring role in the Iron Man, and says that the dynamic between the two of them in the first issue is a lot of fun.
The team then discussed the series’ aim to build up Ant-Man’s rogues gallery, which was described as “meager at best”. One of the first attempts to enhance it will be with the third issue’s inclusion of Taskmaster, of whom Spencer proclaimed that he “will look for any excuse to write” and that he’s appeared in his last three Marvel titles in some varying form or another. He went on to say that the villain is the “closest thing Scott has to an arch-enemy…the two have faced off a number of times” and that beyond Taskmaster there would be a number of new and old villains that will play a role in the series.
Spencer also spoke to the tone of Ant-Man, relaying that while it won’t have the outright comedic tone of Superior Foes, it will contain many moments that will make readers laugh and cringe (initiated by Scott). But he maintained that the “hero’s journey” is key to the story being told, specifically citing Mark Waid’s Daredevil and Ultimate Spider-Man as key influences.
Other questions raised by members of the press included…
Will Darla Deering (Scott’s semi-love interest in Matt Fraction and Mike Allred’s FF) make an appearance?
Spencer said we will be seeing Darla briefly in Issue #1; he also stated, in response to another question on the topic of Scott’s FF tenure, that this history will be touched upon but his primary goal is to make Ant-Man a great solo book.
Will Hank Pym play a role?
Spencer had to provide a no-comment answer here, but he emphasized Pym’s role in the Ant-Man legacy. On a similar note, another question was raised regarding the third Ant-Man, Eric O’Grady, and if he might appear. Spencer said that “it would be fun” and that “their relationship is interesting, as they are part of the same legacy but have never met”. O’Grady’s tenure in the costume will have ramifications for Issue #2 as well, according to Moss.
Will the series carry a Marvel Studios tone to line up with the upcoming film?
Spencer said he was a big fan of Paul Rudd, and that he’s very excited for the movie, but that the series is “the book they would have done, whether there was a movie or not”. Alonso chimed in that the key is to “write a really great Ant-Man story and make it accessible” and that readers don’t have to be Ant-Man fans to understand who Spencer’s version of the character is.
On the subject of accessibility, we asked about the structure of the series and whether it would be composed of “done in one” stories ala Hawkeye and She-Hulk or more multi-part arcs?
Spencer replied that it would be a bit of a mix, that the first two issues are self-contained stories, while the next few past that are more connected and there definitely be some multi-issue stories going forward.
We also asked about any new characters that Spencer is introducing that he may be excited about:
“There are characters that are new to Scott that I’m excited about, including a couple that are new to Scott, but regulars in the Marvel Universe.” Spencer also said there would be some continuity nuggets there for longtime Ant-Man fans, especially given that the character grew up in Coral Gables.
How will Scott’s criminal past affect the character going forward?
Scott hasn’t always had the greatest moral compass…Even in FF, he starts out with wanting to end Doom, and everybody needs to walk him back from that, and say that’s not really the heroic thing to do. That’s always been a part of Scott’s character. He wants to be a hero, if only to inspire his daughter and be a good dad …he wants to do the right thing, but he’s not always entirely sure of what that is.
Circling back to the topic of Miami, is part of the fun of setting the book in Miami establishing the character’s identity away from the other heroes of the Marvel Universe?
Yeah, definitely…it’s a less crowded space. But also it’s fun in a city like that…what does the costumed community in a city look like? Miami is a city that you see in a lot of crime fiction, because it’s a port city. It’s fun to say, how does that play out in a series like this? That was definitely part of the fun, to take those things and build them out. When Scott moves to a place like Miami, he thinks he’s going to be the only show in town, and that may not end up being true, which is part of the fun.
Spencer also said, in response to another question regarding Scott potentially roaming the area beyond Miami’s downtown, that the creative team will be making the most of the new location. And in a query regarding any potential inventive uses of Scott’s powers, Spencer emphasized that it was important that they found new and novel ways to utilize his power-set, including the way he communicates with ants. Issue #3 was singled out as an upcoming example of that effort.
Ant-Man #1 will be available January 7, 2015; Marvel has graciously provided us with the following preview images for your perusal.
By: Maryann Yin,
on 10/14/2014
Rumors have been circulating that Marvel plans to end the Fantastic Four comic series. During a New York Comic Con panel, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso and Fantastic Four writer James Robinson revealed that this will take place next year.
According to Entertainment Weekly, “the final issue is scheduled to release in June of 2015, which will close the book temporarily on the group, only a few months before the Fantastic Four film reboot is set to debut on Aug. 7.” Fans can look forward to the triple-sized issue, #645, which will feature a story arc entitled “The End is Fourever.”
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It’s true. I still hate Marvel.
Is there some way to see the white text on a mobile version of the site? There’s no ‘mousing over’ for that.
It says this…”Captain America: Steve Rogers #2, from the creative team of writer Nick Spencer and artist Jesus Saiz, reveals that Steve’s memories of indoctrination were implanted by Kobik, the sentient Cosmic Cube who became a girl. Not only that, but Kobik has been under the influence of Steve Rogers’ most fearsome archenemies, the Red Skull, for months.”
Marvel has just gone from “The House of Ideas” to “The Casa of Crap”…
Copy the text and then paste it elsewhere – in a note, or draft of a comment…
Thanks!
Well, I expected as much which is why I never got the reaction to it. I hate being all “these people didn’t read the comic/don’t read comics” but it’s such an obvious issue #1 and Marvel cliffhanger play that of course it’d be revealed if not in issue 2 at least 4 what’s really going on. All of that makes me think it’s now even more in poor tase mainly because Spencer and Co. did such a bad job convincingly lying about it.
Maybe the problem is not the creators or the editors but the legion of “fans” and “journalists” that overanalyze and ruin everything on the internet. You know what’s kinda fun? Just reading comics. With no one else’s commentary. The internet appears to be full of those three annoying guys at the comic shop that I hated so much as a kid. They had opinions on everything, ruined everything, and never fucking left.
I hope that was worth all the trivializing of Jewish people for.
If this is the best story they could come up with, it’s no wonder comic sales are awful.
Oop, you got a sentence ending in a preposition there.
I hope that trivializing of Jewish people was for all the worth.
There we go. Err, wait- … Worth all of which- No… Cause it’s the Jewish’s worth…
Well, the content of the spoiler was exactly the theory that some fans had already posited. It doesn’t come as a surprise, really.