Posts Tagged ‘ Solicits ’

The December Marvel solicits (which are up on Super Pouvoir) includes a benefit book for Marvel cover artist Ed Hannigan (one can only assume his bwork won’t be included).

Hannigan designed the great Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe covers -

- not to mention a lot of Spider-Man covers over the years. His work on Spectacular Spider-Man in the 1970s and 1980s was especially eye-catching and innovative, often throwing logos and lettering up at different angles, such as in this personal favorite of mine:

He also worked on Amazing Spider-Man; again, this is a personal favorite:

The solicit for Ed’s book reads:

ED HANNIGAN: COVERED
Master artist Ed Hannigan did many of Marvel’s cover layouts of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Over that time, Ed created some of the most innovative cover designs ever. His covers for The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man still stand today as some of the finest of all time!

Today, Ed is 58 years old and has multiple sclerosis. Through special arrangement with the Hero Initiative, Marvel is offering Ed Hannigan: Covered, a massive 48-page collection of Ed’s covers, designs he created for other artists, and even rare glimpses at licensing and merchandising art Ed did. Best of all, proceeds benefit Ed Hannigan directly!

This volume also features a new cover by Ed, and new tribute pieces from Mark Millar, Michael Avon Oeming, Jim Valentino, Herb Trimpe, and more!

NOTE: There will be ONLY ONE PRINTING OF THIS BOOK EVER! Get it now so you don’t blow your chance!

48 pages…$5.99

I know I’ll be picking this up – and you can find Ed Hannigan’s website here.

The new solicits for DC (and an IGN interview with Geoff Johns last week) identify the villain behind Blackest Night to be D-list Green Lantern villain, Nekron.

“Who?” I hear you say?

Nekron’s a lord of the unliving who was exiled a while back by the Guardians. You have to ask yourself how these nearly omniscient beings keep on screwing up.

Embodiment of fear?

Lock it in the lantern.

Worst rogue Lantern ever?

Throw him in the lantern.

Lord of the dead?

Dimensional rift. That’ll show him.

Anyway, the thing is that Nekron historically been a bit of a lightweight. He created a Corps of undead GLs at one point when the Corps itself didn’t exist, and got repelled by Kyle Rayner who – and I can’t blame him here – couldn’t take ol’ Skull face seriously.

Later, he was accidentally summoned as part of Witchfire’s magic act.

Witchfire.

I mean, I love me some Power Company, but that’s a bit of a come down, isn’t it? It’s one thing to be summoned by Dr Fate or the Phantom Stranger, but Witchfire?

In all fairness, Witchfire had some help from Wonder Woman when she kicked Nekron’s ass back into his void, but it’s a bit of a comedown for the self-proclaimed lord of the unliving.

It’s interesting when you look at the cover of Blackest Night #5 and consider who seem to be the focus of Nekron’s interest – Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, Ice, Kid Flash, Superboy, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Arrow – because all of these characters have come back from the dead in recent (or I guess not so recent) years. I wonder if them coming back somehow left the door open for Nekron to get a toe hold.

The funny thing is, in spite of Nekron being a bit of a loser as demigods go (he’s not even a Mephisto, really) I thought that he would be behind Blackest Night – to the extent that I got a post ready to go about a month ago but didn’t get round to posting it. I do wonder though – is there someone behind Nekron?

I mean, revealing him to be the main villain at this stage is akin to saying Extant is behind Zero Hour in the solicits – and then you have Parallax behind the curtain waiting to say ‘boo’.

So stop throwing spotlights and mini series starring him at us. Use the issues on some other character. Preferably one that doesn’t stink of a Vision knock-off.**

That is all.

*Except possibly Peter David and Brad Meltzer.

**Yes, I know Tornado preceded the Vision by like 3 months, but it seems (to me at least) that the Vision has had way more face time than Tornado so it feels like he’s been around longer. And he’s not that interesting either.

…or whatever your name is…

…I think you’re barking up the wrong tree there!

Bat-artist Tony Daniel has the solicits for Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 over on his blog.

The three issues will have three interlocking covers which will have different characters. Of interest here – no Tim Drake (I’m guessing he’ll be front and center of #2 or #3), Batman’s trainer Wildcat shows up, and Batbrat Damian (or is it Damien?) is still in his own Robin outfit, adding fuel to speculation that he’ll be Robin when all’s said and done.

Oddly, as unsatisfying as RIP was, I’m actually really looking forward to this…

I don’t know about you, but when I see a cover like that, and a solicit that simply reads “The unthinkable”, I know what I think.

Zombie Carl, that’s what I think.

Just when you thought Rick’s life couldn’t possibly get any crappier…

It’s going to be a long wait till the trade on this one.

I…er…I…

Fashion Week is always a hectic time for models, and this year is no exception. Between escaped wolves, robbery attempts, and overly friendly police officers, Mary Jane Watson, Patsy Walker, Jill Jerold, Chili Storm and Millicent (Millie the Model) Collins are testing the limits of their endurance. But when a brilliant young set designer is found murdered with three bullet holes in his back, and Millie proves to be the prime suspect, the models are forced to play detective in order to save one of their own!

I…there…no words…

But in a good way.

Well I was expecting L.E.G.I.O.N. but I’ll take this – and is that Validus?

What the hell?!?

Owlman?

OWLMAN?

What the hell?

Newsarama has the full October solicits from Marvel up – and amongst them is the Secret Wars Omnibus!

Marvel’s turn – and in answer to some questions I’ve had here and there just because I list it doesn’t mean I’m going to buy it…honest! I mean, this would be a huge month if I did…

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #567-569

So we start off with a brand new villain who’s a new version of an old one (Kraven, anyone?) and then head into New Ways to Die? Sounds good to me!

VENOM: DARK ORIGIN #1 (of 5)

Didn’t the movie this should have been released to tie into come out last year? Because I’m not really sure anyone needs this…

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #1

The change of name makes sense – still full of reprint goodness!

SPIDER-MAN SUMMER SPECIAL

This just sounds like fun!

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #1 (of 5)

I don’t follow this but I’m glad to see it back on the shelves and that’s a pretty nice cover. Too bad its only back as a mini.

AVENGERS/INVADERS #4 (of 12)

First issue was pretty good so I’m sticking around.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #41

Great book. Nuff said.

FANTASTIC FOUR #560

Millar and Hitch have been thoroughly underwhelming on this book, surprisingly. But Doom is always worth a look…unless he’s written by Bendis.

THE LAST DEFENDERS #6 (of 6)

Fun mini but utterly inconsequential.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #4

First issue was good enough to make me stick around for the first arc at least.

SECRET INVASION #5 (of

That’s a place holder cover, right? There’s going to be a big reveal, right?

MIGHTY AVENGERS #17

No cover? BOOOO!!! Getting it anyway.

NEW AVENGERS #44

This cover makes no sense to me if it’s linking into the Illuminati as the solicit suggests. Wonder what it means…

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #16

Skrull Kill Krew? Yeah!

SECRET INVASION: INHUMANS #1 (of 4)

I like the Inhumans so I’ll probably check this out. Nice cover, too.

SECRET INVASION: THOR #1 (of 3)

Probably not checking this out if only because I’m not getting the regular series and there a lot of minis to go round this month.

SECRET INVASION: X-MEN #1 (of 4)

See what I mean? At least this has a pretty good creative team behind it. I wonder…if they’re all Skrulls on the cover what does it say about Emma and Nightcrawler? I guess the Emma off the ship’s a Skrull but…

SECRET INVASION: SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #1 (of 3)

An almost Spidey-less book about the Spidey cast tackling a Skrull invasion? Sounds like fun to me!

SECRET INVASION: RUNAWAYS/YOUNG AVENGERS #3 (of 3)

I’ll be picking this up…

SECRET INVASION: FRONT LINE #2 (of 5)

…but not this.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #4

First issue was great – and tying it into the Skrulls makes sense…just so long as you leave Rocket and Cosmo alone!

NOVA #16

Great book, Super Skrull as a guest star…what more do I need?

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #120

Stupid amounts of fun!

MS. MARVEL #30

What? I’m sticking around for the duration of the invasion then I’m out. Honest.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI:13 #4

First issue was great. Why does Captain Britain look like a cross between Firestorm and his old Britannic identity on that cover? Nobody likes Britannic…

THUNDERBOLTS #123

An Atlas-Skrull? Does he do anything else other than get big?

NEW WARRIORS #15

No thanks – but good to see Justice and Rage together in any book – especially in one with this title…

RUNAWAYS #1

Remember when this was an ongoing monthly and Joss Whedon stepped in for six issues…about 14 months ago? Yeah, me too.

NYX: NO WAY HOME #1 (of 6)

Wow. Is anyone asking for this?

PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT #2 (of 5)

Could say the same about this…except for the fact that Hellcat at least has a great costume!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #26

One: Bet it doesn’t come out monthly. Two: Wolverine has really hairy armpits on this cover…

UNCANNY X-MEN #501

I swear if they run ‘Welcome to the X-Men, Pixie…Hope you Survive!’ blurb on this cover I’ll do the Snoopy dance!

X-MEN: LEGACY #215

Ugly cover – but the book’s finally got me hooked.

CABLE #6

Laughably small baby, still – but a family reunion looks to the be on the cards.

YOUNG X-MEN #5

This is pretty good fun…even if everyone has the same idea as to how this first arc is going to turn out.

X-FORCE #6

Better than it has a right to be – and even Clayton Crain’s art is growing on me. Like this cover a lot!

X-MEN ORIGINS: JEAN GREY

Ditto for this cover, although I won’t be picking it up. I suspect these one-shots will all end up in a trade at some point.

…a Geo Force figure? It’s like all my Christmases at once!

They’re up here…

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #564-566 + BRAND NEW DAY EXTRA!!!

So I guess that’s the moratorium on old villains over, as Hammerhead is showing up in the Extra issue? And I also guess that’s how skip weeks are going to be handled?

AVENGERS/INVADERS #3 (of 12)

Okay, I’m probably getting it. Who can resist Namor vs Namor, even if neither can land a punch on the other’s fishy hide?

CAPTAIN AMERICA #40

…and its Cap vs Cap. I still don’t think Skull’s Cap is the real real Cap – but I do wonder what happened when he used Doom’s time platform…

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #0

The only thing that I’ll buy by Jeph Loeb these days is anything he does with Tim Sale. I was kind of hoping for an Iron Man: Gold book, but I’ll take this.

FANTASTIC FOUR #559

Psionic’s family members look familiar, huh? And one of them – presumably the big green guy – is called Doc Banner? Interesting…

THE LAST DEFENDERS #5 (of 6)

Surprisingly fun mini – although I don’t much fancy Nighthawk’s chances of making it out alive.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #3

First the shield, now Staehawk? Looks like there’s more in common with the new team’s namesakes than we thought…

NOVA #15

Consistently good – looks like this may be the end of a 3 parter with Surfer and Galactus.

PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT, AGENT OF THE INITIATIVE #1 (of 5)

Not sure about this – Hellcat’s a character that I like for no real reason, in spite of her long history. Even so, that first issue of MCP wasn’t too good so I’m not sure that this will be to my taste. We’ll see.

SECRET INVASION #4 (of

Nice to see Fury back, and nicer still to see the Young Avengers front and center. Anyone know which cover this one homages? It’s really familiar but I can’t place it.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #16

Okay, this one I know is a homage to an issue where the Avengers go to an alternate world where they were guided by Kang or Immortus into becoming a dictatorship – but I will be damned if I can remember which issue it is. Oh, and the issue sounds good too.

NEW AVENGERS #43

Finally! This one I know! Hoping the real Elektra isn’t dead and that dancing Elektra was a Skrull!

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #15

I don’t think it counts as a homage if the original cover was only 14 issues ago…This book is back on the list full time thanks to the recent arc; I really think that adding Christos Gage has lifted the book’s quality a notch or two.

SECRET INVASION: FRONT LINE #1 (of 5) I passed on the WWH Frontline series but I may take a quick look at this to see if its interesting.

SECRET INVASION: RUNAWAYS/YOUNG AVENGERS #2 (of 3)

Like I said last month, logical team-up choice – and that’s a nice cover.

SECRET INVASION: FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (of 3)

Fantastic (if you’ll pardon the pun) cover!

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #3

Uh oh. Looks like Spitfire has a little of her son’s (Baron) Blood in her. That’s not good…

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #119

Most enjoyable book that Marvel puts out, for my money. Cap may be the better book, but it doesn’t make me laugh.

MS. MARVEL #29

Hate that cover. May pick up the book in spite of it. Maybe.

THUNDERBOLTS #122

Looks like maybe Captain Marvel was a Skrull after all…I guess we’ll find out this week anyway, huh?

NEW WARRIORS #14

I picked up the first trade (unimpressive) and wasn’t going to get this but…the possibility of a Skrull Thrasher has me intrigued. And Justice and Rage show up with a terribly named team, Counter Force (note who’s not there is probably a spoiler for this week’s Initiative…)

X-FACTOR #33 & SHE-HULK #31

I’d dropped one for trades and the other for good, but I may dip back in to see how this crossover pans out. Also, liking the Madrox Skrulls.

ASTONISHING X-MEN #25

Looking forward to Ellis’ X-Men, even if I have no doubt the shipping schedule will be spotty.

UNCANNY X-MEN #500

Milestone issue! Land and Ross covers! Fraction co-writing! Back in San Francisco as a base…are they going to set up on Alcatraz again? I always liked that.

X-MEN: LEGACY #214

Still not 100% sold on this…but once again a familiar cover.

X-FORCE #5

Confession: a couple of weekends ago I picked up the first two issues of X-Force and Cable on whim, even though I hadn’t heard great things. And…I really enjoyed both of them too my surprise. I’m sticking with both through the first arc. And look! Metal winged Archangel! How’d that happen?

CABLE #5

Sigh. One thing that I do think is ridiculous in this book is the size of the baby. And now there;’s mini-baby armor!

YOUNG X-MEN #4

First issue was good, the old New Mutants are showing up…what’s not to like?

X-MEN: ODD MEN OUT ONE-SHOT

And speaking of New Mutants – Rictor, Boom Boom, Cannonball, Rusty, Skids, Sunspot and Wolvesbane in an unreleased Dave Cockrum story? Sold!

MINI MARVELS: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS DIGEST

Seven shades of awesome.

THOR BY J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI VOL. 1 TPB

Is it worth picking up?

Another month flies by….

I’ll have my run down of the DC solicits tomorrow but…a G’Nort figure!!

G’NORT!

I don’t often run through the Dark Horse solicits but there were a few things that caught my eye so I figured why not?

I ran the Jo Chen cover a while ago (the one with the not so surprise guest star) but this is the first time I’ve seen the Georges Jeanty cover – who are these guys on the left? Am I supposed to know? Nice to see Karl Moline back for the not so surprise guest star, too…

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER “CONVERSATIONS WITH DEAD PEOPLE” BOARD

I love this solicit: “Game board for entertainment purposes only.” And the crazy people protest starts in 3…2…1…

CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #1 I’ve been a Conan follower since the new series began 4 or 5 years ago – and this is the perfect jumping off point for me. My only issue with following the trades from now on is that often with Dark Horse, the trades are more expensive than the single issues. I don’t quite understand that.

This is a book that I have heard a lot of good things about but have yet to pick up. If anyone has any advice yay or nay, let me know!

Another book that I’ve heard good stuff about but never picked up. Is it worth it? Trades or singles? Is there a good jumping on point?

Humor comics have never quite worked for me but again I’ve heard so many good things about it – maybe I should take a look?

Good grief, this is one of those posts that just begs for a beating. I admit it – I’ve never read Hellboy in any form. I did kind of like the first movie, and I’ll probably watch the second but…is the comic any good? Is there a good jumping on point?

Dark Horse really seems to do well with their licensed stuff, don’t they? Haven’t seen a new Indy comic in what, ten years? Chances are I’ll at the very least take a look at it.

Lots of great creators contributing to this – but we already saw this free on MySpace, right? Now we’re supposed to pay for it? I’ll be interested to see how much this sells – should be interesting to see how it affects the Zuda model too.

So…Yankee Girl is some kind of cross between Wonder Woman and Miss America? Only with her boobs falling out?

Like I said, I’m a Conan fan – these Essential style reprints any good?

Here’s the thing – I said I was going to switch to trades for the Star Wars books, but they’re actually slightly more expensive than the single issues. What’s the deal with that??!

One of the more enjoyable SW books right now – John Ostrander really is knocking this out of the park.

Vector hits the original trilogy era – and apparently Han and Chewie may finally show up in the book!

So…this is the Dark Horse comic adaptation of the Capcom game of the Acclaim property of the old Valiant comic, huh?

Man, I miss Acclaim. Although I realize that there are only a few of us out there…

Its a bit late, but I promise that I will try to be a little more positive this time…

Amazing Spider-Man #561-563 – I’m enjoying the reboot and love the look of the cover for #561. Don’t know about you but that face looks awfully familiar…

Spider-Man Family #9 – Hulk! Mr and Mrs Spider-Man written by Tom DeFalco – get yer marriage fix here, folks!

Avengers/Invaders #2 – Still unsure if I’m getting this.

Captain America #39 – Two Caps! Click here for my off-the-wall theory!

Fantastic Four #558 – Not overly keen on Mark Millar’s take on the team, to be honest, but I’m a thick-or-thin FF follower…

Guardians of the Galaxy #2 – That cover…that shield…I have a theory, it doesn’t involve Cap and it does involve someone else who bore the shield and appears in another book at the moment, kind of.

Hulk: Raging Thunder – A Hulk/Thundra book? Wow, that must have been one that nobody demanded…

Skaar: Son of Hulk #1 – Okay. I’m not picking up Hulk right now but I am going to take a look at this; it sounds like Conan meets Hulk so that pretty much sold me right there!

Nova #14 – Surfer and Galactus? Sounds like Rich might be punching out of his league here.

Secret Invasion #3 – Looking forward to this more than Final Crisis. Hope it hangs together.

Mighty Avengers #15 & New Avengers #42 – Tie-ins galore! Who could have been replaced circa Disassembled, exactly? Wasp would be my bet. Maybe Wonder Man…

DC’s solicits for June 2008 are out – so its time to see what’s cooking. I’ll try not to be too negative but no promises…

Trinity #1-4 – Despite liking the creative team on this, I’m not sure that I want to commit to another weekly after being burned by Countdown. I’ll definitely check the first issue but after that, who knows?

May’s Marvel solicits are out and here’s what I might be getting-

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #558-560 – I thin I’m on board with the relaunch in spite of myself. In spite of Spidey being a whiner.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #13 – No Slott? Seems like Chris Gage is taking over this issue – maybe full time? – and I think the last few issues since he came on board have been a definite improvement.

AVENGERS/INVADERS #1 (of 12) – I’m torn on whether to get this or wait for the trade. Anyone help?

CAPTAIN AMERICA #38 – I’m like a stuck record. Its good, damn good.

FANTASTIC FOUR #557 – Sigh. So I liked the first issue more than I thought. And one of a team (maybe the FF, maybe Sue’s new group, maybe the Nu Earth team) is not who they seem. Seems like I’m stuck.

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: NOT-SO-SECRET INVASION – I probably won’t be actually picking the thing up but how good is that cover?

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 – That’s a pretty interesting cast judging from the cover – though I’m afraid Rocket Raccoon and the talking dog may be too much of a good thing…

MARVEL 1985 #1 (of 6) – This has me intrigued. I’ll certainly take a look at the issue even if I don’t pick it up.

SECRET INVASION #2 (of -The Skrull thing is in full swing.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #13 &14 – A new Howling Commando team led by Fury? Sold.

NEW AVENGERS #41 – Always love some Savage Land action.

SECRET INVASION: FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (of 3) – So the FF get their own mini for this? First of many no doubt….

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI: 13 #1 – Okay, I like the sound of this. It actually reminds me of something I cobbled together a first issue for years ago when the Epic thing was open, although this may have 100% less naked Micromax.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #117 – I’m enjoying this book an inordinate amount and don’t miss ol’ Jade jaws at all.

MS. MARVEL #27 – I want to like the book and its all tying into the Skrull craziness so maybe I’ll come back to the book…although I wish that they’d stop trying to give Marvel a bold new direction every six issues or so.

NOVA #13 – Glad to see the book still going on even though Guardians of the Galaxy is up and running.

THUNDERBOLTS: REASON IN MADNESS – At some point, I’m sure Ellis’ second arc on the regular title will be finished.

THE LAST DEFENDERS #3 (of 6) – Liking the sound of this more the more of it I see. Still probably a trade though.

YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #5 (of 6) – Hoping its an improvement on #1, but Cassie’s always been a favorite so fingers crossed.

UNCANNY X-MEN #498 – Still heading towards the inevitable return of the team in #500.

X-MEN: LEGACY #211 & 212 – Don’t like Professor X, do like Mike Carey. What to do, what to do?