This month's round of solicitations include repeated references to a "I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA Variant" for several of their titles. What exactly is an I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA Variant? Well, here are the only ones they had examples of...
Apparently they're something along the lines of Everyday People Are Superheroes kind of thing, which seems awfully...precious to me, but what the, hell, I'm not the audience for these things. AVENGERS #14
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by ALAN DAVIS
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
As the Avengers are stretched to the breaking point by the events of FEAR ITSELF, prepare for a SURPRISE EVENT too SHOCKING to be revealed here--presaging a change in the ranks! And we can guarantee you the biggest shake-up in the Avengers roster since AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED!
32 PGS./Rated A ...$3.99
“A change in the ranks” and “The biggest shake-up in the Avengers roster,” huh? But this series is only been going for 14 issues so far. That’s like one issue of a comic book series written by someone other than Brian Michael Bendis!
CAPTAIN AMERICA CORPS #1 (of 5)Written by ROGER STERN
Penciled by PHILIPPE BRIONES
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
A mysterious Cosmic Entity has recruited five brave patriots for the ultimate commando mission. Their names are legend: The U.S. Agent, American Dream, Commander A, Captain America, and ... Captain America?! But what threat is so grave that two Captain Americas are needed? Who will lead the team? Can even these mighty heroes save our nation -- and the world -- in time? And what is the AmeriCommand? New York Times best-selling author Roger Stern (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) joins forces with artist Phillipe Briones (AMERICAN SON) to provide the answers!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
Deadpool Corps, Thor Corps and now Captain America Corps? I guess everyone’s getting their own Corps these days.
The concept could be pretty funny, but when I think of light-hearted and zany, Roger Stern’s name doesn’t usually come to mind, so I imagine this will be a relatively straight superhero comic book adventure.
I’m still curious about it though.
FEAR ITSELF #3 (of 7)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Variant Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
The blockbuster Marvel event of the year continues!
Sin leads the most audacious attack on American soil the world has ever seen as global panic sets in and we fall sway to the power of fear itself. On Asgard, Loki hatches the scheme to end all schemes. And everywhere, the Serpent's presence is felt...never moreso than when a major Marvel hero falls at his hands. The shock ending to end all shock endings...as the cycle of evil stretching millennia is at last completed.
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
A major Marvel hero is going to fall at the hands of the Serpent, huh? Just one problem—serpents don’t have hands!
FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #1 (of 4)Written by CULLEN BUNN
Pencils & Cover by LEE GARBETT
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
Namor is targeted for death by one of the hammer-wielding Worthy and this is a battle no one hero can survive! With the X-Men under siege from a shocking foe and all hope seemingly lost, the Sub Mariner finds an ally in his old friend Dr. Strange. Can Strange recruit a team powerful enough to keep the seas safe from the spread of fear and chaos gripping the world? If he can’t, there may just not be any hope for the rest of the Marvel Universe!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
Well that's two of the Big Four Defenders. If the Silver Surfer and a Hulk—there are about eight different Hulks of various genders and colors to choose from now, right?—are in, then so am I. Presuming Fear Itself tie-ins can be read, understood and enjoyed even if you're not reading the main series.
FEAR ITSELF: FEARSOME FOUR #1 (of 4)Written by BRANDON MONTCLARE
Pencils by MICHAEL KALUTA & RYAN BODENHEIM
Cover by MICHAEL KALUTA
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
FOUR MARVEL HEROES SUCCUMB TO FEAR ITSELF!
Do you fear... your protectors turning on you? Man-Thing has gone mad as fear consumes the world, and Manhattan will burn. The only heroes that seek to stop him have given into fear themselves, and no one is safe! Ryan Bodenheim illustrates the dark side of the Marvel universe as a team of monstrously talented artists spotlight Fear Itself, each through the eyes of a fallen hero. Eisner Hall of Famer Michael Kaluta leads the charge, transforming Nighthawk into the most frightening vigilante you’ve ever seen!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
Man-Thing! With She-Hulk! And Howard The Duck! And The Defenders’ lame-ass Nighthawk! Awesome! And art by Kaluta? And a $3 price tag? Huzzah!
Only one problem: I have no idea if I’ll actually be able to read this or not, if I don’t also read Fear Itself, which I wasn’t planning on doing until maybe somewhere down the road in trade format.
GHOST RIDER #0.1Written by Rob Williams
Artist by Matthew Clark
Cover by Arturo Lozzi
Special POINT ONE Issue.
HELL’S OWN ANGEL RETURNS IN ALL NEW POINT ISSUE THAT LEASDS STRAIGHT TO THE NEW GHOST RIDER ONGOING SERIES! with the events of FEAR ITSELF tearing the Earth apart a mysterious and powerful figure offers Blaze a faustian pact and a chance for peace. Can Blaze actually allow himself to 'Give Up The Ghost'? And, if so, who will the Ghost Rider pass onto next? The souls of Johnny Blaze and everyone within the Marvel Universe depend on this decision. Vengeance rides in a new direction with Rob Williams (Throwbacks, Daken) and Matthew Clark (Superman, Doom Patrol). Grab your leather, metal and hellfire because it’s the end of an era for Ghost Rider and the beginning of a new life for Johnny Blaze. It’s gonna get loud! FIRE!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99
Yes. A “Point One” issue for a series that hasn’t even begun yet! This then is a story that takes place between the non-existent Ghost Rider #0 and yet-to-be-published Ghost Rider #1. So why isn’t it just Ghost Rider #1 or Ghost Rider #0? Because that would be stupid enough!
God I love you, Comics!
HERC #4
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by MICHAEL KALUTA
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
As FEAR ITSELF continues to rage across the Marvel Universe, escaped super villains make their way to Brooklyn where they are faced only by...not Herc? A villain not seen since the days of "Dark Reign" and accidentally resurrected by Herc during "Chaos War" has arisen to challenge Herc's role as the borough's protector -- but what sinister purpose lies behind his so-called heroism? Swords and sorcery clash in the heart of modern-day New York City!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
Not seen since “Dark Reign,” huh? All the way back in 2010? Is that really a selling point? A villain not seen in over 12 entire months?
MYSTERY MEN #1 & 2 (of 5)Written by DAVID LISS
Pencils & Covers by PATRICK ZIRCHER
CLASSIFIED!
32 PGS.(each)/Parental Advisory ...$2.99 (each)
How mysterious are these mystery men? So mysterious that Marvel can’t tell us anything about the comic. That’s actually kind of funny in this case.
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #159Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art & Cover by Mark Bagley
Variant cover by Frank Cho
Spider-Man has been horribly wounded and hangs to life by the thinnest of threads. And when the Sinister Six come for the young hero in his hometown, Spider-Man will truly be in for the fight of his life! Prepare for a rumble in Queens like you’ve never seen before. Prepare for the end!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
Jeez, it sure is taking Ultimate Spider-Man forever to die, isn’t it?
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #160
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Mark Bagley
Cover by MARK BAGLEY (Polybagged)
Variant Cover by Mike Kaluta (Pollybagged)
Spoiler Varaint Cover by MARK BAGLEY
Blank Cover Also Available
CLASSIFIED
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
Oh, this must be the one where he dies, seeing as how it is both polybagged and pollybagged and the contents are classified.
Ghost Rider #0.1 is actually the second 0.1 since Alpha Flight has one that is coming out in May but wasn't in the solicits.
ReplyDeleteDeadpool Corps, Thor Corps and now Captain America Corps? I guess everyone’s getting their own Corps these days.
ReplyDeleteThe concept could be pretty funny, but when I think of light-hearted and zany, Roger Stern’s name doesn’t usually come to mind, so I imagine this will be a relatively straight superhero comic book adventure.
I’m still curious about it though.
Is Thor Corps still around? I thought that was something from the 90s. This actually makes sense, especially considering the recent role Steve Rogers, kind of a coach like role.
Well that's two of the Big Four Defenders. If the Silver Surfer and a Hulk—there are about eight different Hulks of various genders and colors to choose from now, right?—are in, then so am I. Presuming Fear Itself tie-ins can be read, understood and enjoyed even if you're not reading the main series.
Not sure about Surfer, but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that She-Hulk is in this. Too lazy to search for it, though. Sorry.
On the fence about Mystery Men. I'm sure I'll get it, but I can't decide whether I want to get the floppies or wait for a trade. There's a risk in waiting for something like this. Don't see anything on Amazon yet.
Caleb,
ReplyDeleteDue to the service you provide to all of us, thanks to this blog, I will go out of my way to explain what's going on in Fear Itself for you if it becomes a problem when you're trying to read those minis.
No charge and within 100 words or left.
Waiting for Mystery Men in trade is a risk?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it's not another "The Twelve" in sheep's clothing.
If they finish it, they'll make a trade of it, I'm sure.
Waiting for Mystery Men in trade is a risk?
ReplyDeleteSadly, yes. Marvel isn't as trade happy as they used to be and little minis like this that aren't tied to an event or popular character sometimes get ignored if they aren't decent sellers in floppy format.
I'd be genuinely shocked--well, surprised--if Mystery Men isn't collected, no matter how low the sales are.
ReplyDeleteWriter David Liss is a fairly successful prose writer who seems to be past the dabbling in comics phase and going into the breaking-into phase of his comics-writing career (He wrote the Phantom Reporter story from that sweet series of one-shots Marvel did a year or two or three back), and I have to imagine Marvel will want to get a graphic novel by a guy who already sells books in bookstores to non-comics readers in that market.
Thanks for the info on Alpha Flight #0.1 (Twice! They did it twice?!) and various Defenders' whereabouts—I'm fine with Shulkie, even if I prefer dumb, green Hulk over all others.
Not only is it pollybagged and polybagged, but Bagley's drawing a varaint.
ReplyDelete(But not a varmint.)