In Which I Talk A Bit About Marvel's Solicitations for July, 2007 And Mention A Few Periodicals
HALO: UPRISING #1 (of 4)First of all, can I just say how much I love phrases like This comic book is based on a Mature-rated video game? I love them. A lot. Combined with a copyright notice that pads the wording by around 50%, this looks to be an example of beautiful corporate synergy.
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils and Cover by ALEX MALEEV
The Eisner Award-winning team of superscribe Brian Michael Bendis and artist extraordinaire Alex Maleev unleash an epic story of mankind's struggle against the alien threat of the Covenant. Picking up from the conclusion of blockbuster video game Halo 2, the must-read issue reveals how the Master Chief, while onboard a hostile ship headed towards Earth, is battling against Covenant forces! Intertwined with Master Chief's interstellar one-man-war is the saga of a great American city's rebellion and downfall, two disparate lives' collision and shared fate, and the Convenant's hunt for an ancient relic of untold power and value. With hope dwindling and the fate of humanity hanging by a thread, is there any chance for a future? Read this debut issue to start the journey into the Halo universe!
40 PGS./17 and Up/$3.99
This comic book is based on a Mature-rated video game.
Microsoft, Bungie, the Bungie logo, Halo, the Halo logos, the Microsoft Game Studios logo, Xbox 360, the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and are used under license from owner. © 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Second of all: what a friggin' waste of talent.
GIANT-SIZE MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #1I...words...don't express. Beautiful. That's the word, beautiful. Thank you, Marvel for giving me exactly what I want, even if you seem determined to do the exact opposite 95% of the time.
Written by Jeff Parker
Pencils and Cover by Leonard Kirk
Remember your history–The Avengers didn't thaw out Captain America, and Kang the Conqueror became Master of the World throughout all time. To make a brighter future, our heroes have to go to the 1950's and enlist the help of The Agents of ATLAS! Plus extras!
48 PGS./All Ages /$3.99
SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP/M.O.D.O.K.'S 11 #1 (OF 5)
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by ERIC POWELL
While the heroes are away fighting World War Hulk, the villains can play...M.O.D.O.K., sick of being hunted and hounded by A.I.M., gathers together an eclectic team of Marvel's Most Wanted to pull off one last, big score. But news travels fast along the grapevine of villainy -- and pretty soon every bad guy in the Marvel Universe is gunning for the Big-Headed One's unspeakably powerful prize. Executing their heist may be the easy part, because getting away with their loot alive is going to be the real challenge for M.O.D.O.K.'s 11!
32 PGS./Rated A /$2.99
PUNISHER #49This may be my favorite solicitation ever. Somewhere, Chris Sims is weeping joyous tears.
Written by GARTH ENNIS
Penciled by LAN MEDINA
Cover by TIM BRADSTREET
SWF seeks SWM to assist in massive bloodletting and carnage. Must be handy w/ guns & munitions. Bottomless reservoir of pain a plus.
32 PGS./Explicit Content /$2.99
DEVIL DINOSAUR BY JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS HCWhile trying to explain why I love Devil Dinosaur to someone, I stumbled across the perfect descriptor: it's Kirby having gleeful, stupid fun. There's nothing at all intelligent about Devil Dinosaur and any attempt at analysis will befuddle even the most enthusiastic Kirby scholar. I'm convinced that if this were reprinted at some point in a kid-friendly digest size and distributed at the sorts of places where kids buy things, it'd do well by Marvel.
Written by JACK KIRBY
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
No gods from outer space could beat THIS Devil! Jack Kirby crossed into a new cosmos with this crimson carnivore and his faithful sidekick Moonboy! Now, for the first time, Marvel collects the King's saga of Devil Dinosaur in his prehistoric prime! Collecting DEVIL DINOSAUR #1-9.
176 PGS./All Ages /$29.99
IMMORTAL IRON FIST VOL. 1:I read the first issue, liked it, and said "I'll get the collection" when it comes out. Considering the $20 price point is very competitive when compared to the individual issues and I don't have to pull anything out of a longbox to read it, I'm quite happy going this route.
THE LAST IRON FIST STORY PREMIERE HC
Written by ED BRUBAKER & MATT FRACTION
Penciled by DAVID AJA & TRAVEL FOREMAN
Cover by DAVID AJA
Many years ago, in the mystical city of Kun' Lun, young Danny Rand stared at a suit behind glass -- the garb of the "Immortal Iron Fist" -- and knew that he was destined to wear it. But where did this costume come from? Why did it wait for Danny all those years like a shadow of his future? The answer to those questions will stun both him and his readers, as Danny Rand leaps from the pages of his breakout appearance in DAREDEVIL to his own history-spanning kung-fu epic that will shatter every perception of what it means to be the Immortal Iron Fist! Brought to you by top-ten writer Ed Brubaker and breakout talent Matt Fraction (PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL), with action-packed art by David Aja (DAREDEVIL, GIANT-SIZE WOLVERINE). Collecting IMMORTAL IRON FIST #1-6 and the Iron Fist story from CIVIL WAR: CHOOSING SIDES.
152 PGS./Rated T+ /$19.99
NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E. VOL. 2 - I KICK YOUR FACE PREMIERE HCI Kick Your Face? Warren Ellis, I don't know you, but I love you a little bit right now.
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Penciled by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STUART IMMONEN
What? You haven't been reading NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E.? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? Here's a quick rundown of what you missed: SuperheroesfightingexplosionsexAvengersF inFangFoomgiantflyingsubmarinemonstrosit iesformerX-ForcebabeexplosionskickingMachineManpunc hinggiantevilcoprobotshotEnglishchicksec retterroristorganizationsEXPLOSIONS! Whew! And that's only the beginning! But don't worry! It's never too late to join the party! First up, the Nextwave Squad faces an army of Mindless Ones!!! Yes, insanely powerful stone men without faces! You cannot miss it! Collecting NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E. #7-12.
144 PGS./Parental Advisory /$19.99
THE HOOD PREMIERE HCHey, is this any good? I've heard various people say nice things about it, but I'm usually kind of cool towards Brian K. Vaughn's work. (Exception: Runaways, which I love.)
Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHN
Penciled by KYLE HOTZ
Cover by KYLE HOTZ
With great power ...comes great opportunity.
Nineteen-year-old Parker Robbins couldn't afford college, but he was able to buy a ski mask and a Lorcin .380 handgun. After dropping out of high school, he hoped to follow in the footsteps of his late father, a soldier in the Kingpin's vast criminal empire — but life in the mob isn't always as glamorous as the movies make it seem. With a pregnant girlfriend, a demanding mistress and an institutionalized mother to care for, Parker can barely make ends meet. So when the small-time crook finds mystical apparel that grants him strange powers, he elects to forgo organized crime ... for the more prestigious and financially rewarding world of costumed villainy. Collecting THE HOOD #1-6.
144 PGS./Explicit Content /$19.99
INVADERS CLASSIC VOL. 1 TPBI wanted a goddamn Essential, goddammit, not a $25...hey, there's a actually fair amount of stuff in this.
Written by ROY THOMAS
Penciled by FRANK ROBBINS, RICH BUCKLER, DICK AYERS & DON HECK
Cover by FRANK ROBBINS
The Big Three of Marvel's Golden Age -- Captain America, the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner -- entered their first alliance when the U.S. entered World War II! But the Axis had more than bombs to throw at them, as they soon learned in a battle with the Star-Gods! The Red Skull wants the Invaders themselves as Hitler's top hitmen, and only a second gathering of Golden Age greats can stop him! Featuring the first appearances of Spitfire, Union Jack and more! COLLECTING INVADERS #1-9, GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1 and MARVEL PREMIERE #29-30.
240 PGS./Rated A /$24.99
Still. I wanted an Essential volume.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: WAR & REMEMBRANCE TPB (NEW PRINTING)Oh, yes. I rate this among my favorite Captain America stories. Stern's scripts are a heck of a lot of fun and Byrne's art is spot on. I am a bit annoyed that this costs the same as the previously-mentioned Invaders collection and has 50 fewer pages, but I've been looking for a reasonably-priced copy of the out-of-print 80s/90s version of this for-ev-er. I'll bite this particular bullet.
Written by ROGER STERN, JOHN BYRNE, DON PERLIN & ROGER MCKENZIE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE & JOE RUBINSTEIN
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
Captain America's endless war on crime and tyranny sets him against new enemies and old, from an army of robot replicas to the black deeds of Baron Blood! Plus: Cap for president? Guest-starring the Avengers; S.H.I.E.L.D.; and the late, great Union Jack! Featuring Cobra, Mister Hyde and Batroc the Leaper! The complete Stern/Byrne run, culminating with the standard-setting version of Cap's awe-inspiring origin! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA #247-255.
192 PGS./Rated A /$24.99
ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS VOL. 3 TPBBoy, this book couldn't hold down a creative team, could it?
Written by LEN WEIN, CHRIS CLAREMONT, STEVE GERBER, BILL MANTLO, MARY SKRENES, TONY ISABELLA, JIM STARLIN, DON MCGREGOR, ROGER SLIFER, GERRY CONWAY & SCOTT EDELMAN
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA, KLAUS JANSON, VINCE COLLETTA,MIKE ESPOSITO, FRANK GIACOIA, JOHN TARTAGLIONE, SAM GRAINGER, JIM MOONEY, GIL KANE, JIM STARLIN, DAN ADKINS, DON NEWTON & DON HECK
Cover by ED HANNIGAN
There's nothing the non-team can't handle when mutants, gods, demons and miscreants of the 1950s all get their crack at the sensational super heroes of the seventies! With Luke Cage! The Guardians of the Galaxy! The Son of Satan vs. the Sons of the Serpent! Brain transplants, foreign intrigue and the tumultuous terror of Tapping Tommy! Daredevil, Yellowjacket, Bambi! And introducing...an Elf!? Featuring the first appearance of the ever-reliable Wrecking Crew! Collecting31-60, and Annual 1
592 PGS./Rated A /$16.99
You may note that I am not talking about Straczynski's Thor launch or World War Hulk. I'm holding off until the Twelfth of Never for the former, and for the inevitable collection featuring the latter.
