Being a comic fan can be tough. With so many publishers printing more and more books, canceling titles and starting new ones, it can be daunting when you head to the comic book shop on a Wednesday to know exactly what’s coming out.
The current system of presenting and ordering comics three months ahead of their release as set forth by the sole comics distributor, Diamond Comics, doesn’t make it any easier either. We’re not a fan of that system, we think it’s slowly strangling comics to death, but we realize it’s a harsh reality of how the industry works and we definitely don’t want you to miss out on any of the cool comics being published.
And so, as opposed to regurgitating the list of comics solicited in Previews each month, we present to you some of the highlights of things you probably won’t want to miss out on.
SPOILER WARNING – in order to get people to order comics, the publishers have a funny habit of revealing what’s happening in the books. If you don’t want anything at all to be spoiled, then you’ll probably want to skip this post and take your chances with your pre-orders and/or your shopping.
Before we dive into the picks for Marvel Comics May releases, it probably is important to mention that last week, Marvel revealed a ton of information about many of May’s releases. Here’s a recap of what was announced last week:
- New Mutants & Journey Into Mystery cross over in EXILED
- Cullen Bunn joins Rick Remender as co-writer on Venom
- Jason Aaron & Steve Dillon keep the Hulk Angry!
- Sam Humphries joins Jonathan Hickman as co-writer of Ultimate Comics The Ultimates
- Uncanny X-Force goes to the Final Execution with Mike McKone on art
CHRIS SAMNEE ON DAREDEVIL!
Cover by Paolo Rivera
The comics internet blew up this past weekend as news leaked that Chris Samnee would be joining Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera as an artist on the rotating creative team of one of the most beloved titles at Marvel right now with Daredevil #12.
DAREDEVIL #12
Story by MARK WAID
Art by CHRIS SAMNEE
Cover by PAOLO RIVERA• It’s lawyers in love as Matt Murdock finally makes some time for assistant district attorney Kirsten McDuffie.
• The best reviewed comic of the year continues as Waid and Rivera welcome aboard new artist Chris Samnee (Ultimate Spider-Man).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
THERE’S MOVIE COMING, RIGHT?
Cover by Mark Bagley
As Marvel preps for what may be the biggest movie release since Iron Man with Marvel’s the Avengers, this is book designed to grab people who are curious about the Avengers. It teases the re-appearance of a team of characters we’ve been clamoring for. Could my crazy guess of Guardians of the Galaxy be this team?
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #3
Story by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art by MARK BAGLEY• Avengers versus the Zodiac! But who is behind the Zodiac?
• PLUS! The reappearance of a team of characters you’ve been clamoring for!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
SMASH IT UP
One of the fifth week events occurring in May is Hulk Smash, featuring tales of the Hulk throughout Marvel’s history. It doesn’t look like you’ll need to get them all (unless you’re a huge Hulk fan, like my buddy Gary), but you might want to be sure to check these two issues out.
Cover by Lee Weeks
Joe Casey and Max Fiumara of Four Eyes fame? Sign me up. 70’s era Avengers vs the Hulk? Sign me up again!
HULK SMASH AVENGERS #2 (OF 5)
Story by JOE CASEY
Art by MAX FIUMARA
Cover by LEE WEEKS• Hulk vs. the ‘70s-era Avengers: Iron Man, Wasp, Vision and the Beast!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99
Cover by Lee Weeks
Jim McCann brings back one of my favorite Hulks, Mr. Fixit and pits him against the 1990s West Coast Avengers? Now you’re talking…
HULK SMASH AVENGERS #4 (OF 5)
Story by JIM MCCANN
Art by AGUSTIN PADILLA
Cover by LEE WEEKS• Mr. Fixit Hulk vs. the ‘90s-era West Coast Avengers: Iron Man, Wonder Man, Mockingbird, Tigra and Hawkeye!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99
STILL NO SIGN OF JOE MAD
Cover by Stuart Immonen
While there’s still no sign of Joe Madureira on Avenging Spider-Man, but there’s no Greg Land either. And we bid adieu to Zeb Wells also but in return we get a Spider-Man team up with She-Hulk by Kathryn Immonen with art by Stuart Immonen. This switcharoo, I approve of.
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #7
Story by Kathryn Immonen
Art & Cover by Stuart Immonen• A night out with Spider-Man and She-Hulk!
• All the thwipping and quipping and none of the calories!
• Katherine and Stuart Immonen smash their way into the book so action packed it keeps flying off the shelves…32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
THEY’RE DOING WHAT?!! AGAIN?
Covers by Dave Johnson
I did a double take when I saw that the rumored Garth Ennis, reunited with Punisher Max artist Goran Parlov, Fury Max series was finally solicited. If this is anything like the last go around, this may be one to watch as Ennis goes to post World War II to give us more Nick Fury adventures!
FURY MAX #1 & 2
Story by GARTH ENNIS
Art by GORAN PARLOV
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON• Garth Ennis (Punisher MAX, Preacher) and Goran Parlov (Punisher MAX) reunite to bring you the life of Marvel’s hardest soldier like no one else could.
• In the wake of World War II, Fury is fast running out of battles to fight. But the world’s superpowers are gearing up for a new kind of war and they’ll need a man like Fury to win it.32 PGS./Explicit Content …$3.99 (EACH)
ONE FOR THE KIDDIES
Cover by Michael Avon Oeming
We enjoyed the first volume of Takio a ton. But more importantly, the little ones in our lives enjoyed it as well. Unfortunately it looks like the digest/graphic novel format has been jettisoned for a expanded comic book sized book, but who cares. I’ll take all the Takio we can get. Uhm, err, I mean I’ll take all the Takio I can get for my nieces….
TAKIO #1
Story by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art & Cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMINGBursting from the pages of last year’s best-selling graphic novel! From the Eisner Award-winning creators of POWERS comes this all-new, all-ages superhero adventure for a new generation! Taki and Olivia are sisters with superpowers! In fact, they are the only ones in the world with superpowers! So obviously, they have to become superheroes! But is the world ready for real-life superheroes? Are the girls ready for the challenge? And will the accident that made them who they are reveal secrets that will change their lives forever? The answers are no, no and yes. This is a brand-new all-ages adventure. A new book for comic-book fans of all ages. A book you can share with your kids or just enjoy for yourself. TAKIO is on the 2012 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens List!
40 PGS./All Ages …$3.95
© 2012 Jinxworld Inc.
NOW’S YOUR CHANCE
Cover by Frank Quitely
Missed out on the last printing of the Omnibus collecting the epic run of New X-Men by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely? Now’s your chance to pick up to run that redefined the mutants for the 21st century
NEW X-MEN OMNIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING)
Story by GRANT MORRISON
Art by FRANK QUITELY, ETHAN VAN SCIVER, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, IGOR KORDEY, JOHN PAUL LEON, PHIL JIMENEZ, KERON GRANT, CHRIS BACHALO & MARC SILVESTRI
Cover by FRANK QUITELYGrant Morrison’s wildly innovative X-Men saga returns!
The X-Men, re-imagined with a new look and a new mission, must face weird new threats including evil twins, organ harvesters, sentient bacteria, rebellious mutant youth, power-enhancing street drugs and living weapons! Joined by wicked telepath Emma Frost and mysterious powerhouse Xorn, the X-Men go public — expanding Xavier’s school to train a new generation of mutants including the insect-like Angel, the bird-boy Beak, the living sandstorm Dust and eerie telepathic quintuplets the Stepford Cuckoos.
And as secondary mutations alter familiar mutants, the team is tested when Emma Frost sets her seductive sights on Cyclops, the all-consuming Phoenix threatens to rise again, and shocking traitors plot the destruction of everything the X-Men have accomplished!
Featuring the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, the X-Corporation, Fantomex and more!
Collecting NEW X-MEN (2001) #114-154 and ANNUAL 2001.
1120 PGS./Rated T+ …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-6505-7
Trim size: oversized
WHO DOESN’T LOVE HANK PYM?
Seems like Hank Pym is everywhere this month. From last week’s hot debate over the character, and now this. For those curious about the rise and fall of Hank Pym, this looks like the collection for you
AVENGERS: THE MANY FACES OF HENRY PYM TPB
Story by STAN LEE, LARRY LIEBER, ROY THOMAS, STEVE ENGLEHART, KURT BUSIEK & DAN SLOTT
Art by JACK KIRBY, DON HECK, JOHN BUSCEMA, AL MILGROM, IVAN REIS & KHOI PHAM
Cover by JOHN BUSCEMADr. Henry Pym, the Avengers’ resident scientist, has had many heroic guises — and this Giant-Man-sized collection spotlights them all!
From his pre-Avenging days to his various turns as Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket and even the Wasp, Dr. Pym has been a nearly constant presence on the Avengers’ roster since the team’s inception. Relive the excitement, the horror and the heartache!
Collecting TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #27, #35 and #49; AVENGERS (1963) #28 and #59-60; WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) #21; AVENGERS ANNUAL 2001; and SECRET INVASION: REQUIEM.
184 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-6206-3
SWITCHAROO
And finally, from time to time, it’s clear that fill in artists are sometimes needed, Lately, it seems as if Marvel’s been handling this challenge with rotating creative teams. Personally, I think nothing stunts the momentum of a series more than changing the artist and it especially stings when it’s an artist who seems to be doing really great work and is in sync with the writer. After reviewing the May solicitations from Marvel, I was shocked with the number of artist changes that were occurring across numerous titles. To put it in perspective, here’s a rundown of several single issues coming out in May. Series that previously featured a “hot” artist who received critical and fan priase, and the artist replacing them:
Secret Avengers #27 – you loved Gabe Hardman on this book that JUST relaunched with a new creative team, so HERE’S RENATO GUEDES!
Ultimate Spider-Man #10 – you loved Sara Pichelli and her new take on Ultimate Spider-Man, so HERE’S DAVID MARQUEZ!
Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #10 and #11 – Esad Ribic blew your minds with the opening chapters of Hickman’s run, so HERE’S LUKE ROSS!
Scarlet Spider #5 – you loved Ryan Stegman after he launched this title, so HERE’S NEIL EDWARDS!
Fantastic Four #605.1 – you loved Steve Epting, so HERE’S MIKE CHOI (Speaks for itself after last week’s Green Lantern #6 atrocity)!
Defenders #6 – you loved Terry Dodson, so HERE’S VICTOR IBANEZ!
Daredevil #12 – you loved Paolo Rivera SO HERE’S CHRIS SAMNEE – oh wait, this is a good one…
EXCEPT, next issue…
Daredevil #13 – you loved Paolo Rivera and Chris Samnee, so HERE’S KHOI PHAM!
Don’t mind me, my head’s too busy spinning.
For the full list of Marvel Solicitations for May, 2012, head over to Comic Book Resources
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Guedes on Secret Avengers? Ugh.
Hope that’s not permanent…
No it’s not – it’s just for the AVX crossover
This page would seem to indicte that he’d be a pretty good choice for SA.
http://lambiek.net/artists/g/guedes_renato.htm
I checked out that link player1 posted for Guedes on Secret Avengers, he’s good but really like Gabriel Hardman for this title.
Guedes used to be amazing, check out his OMAC series for DC, it was like Darrow with crazier camera angles.
http://renatoguedes.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2f4rxw
I was so looking forward to and then supremely disappointed by his Wolverine run, looked like a totally different artist for the worse.
I missed the news about Samnee on Daredevil. That’s a great choice. Khoi Pham isn’t quite as exciting but I think he’ll do a good job.
With double shipping being Marvel’s MO now, the switcharoo has become a fact of life. It’s well known that most modern artists struggle to put out quality work once a month. Twice a month and forget about it. It’s safe to always assume a new arc means a new artist. Unless the book is drawn by Mark Bagley.
Agreed on Samnee.
It would be great if they would substitute Samnee or Francavilla as the replacement for Marcos Martin as the “other” artist on this title, alternating arcs with Paolo Rivera.
They could double-ship that a couple-few times a year and I wouldn’t complain.
It seemed like the recent Spidey/DD crossover by Waid was kind of a tryout for the two artists involved, as they each did one issue.
Agreed on Khoi Pham as well. I don’t see any reason to think he won’t do a good job.
The Immonens + She-hulk? I think I’m definitely in on this issue of Avenging Spider-man.
Yeah, at the price Avenging is really issue-by-issue for me, but I’m always interested in anything done by either Kathryn or Stuart Immonen. She-Hulk and Spider-Man? Sounds like fun, which is what I expected Avenging to be. At that price-point, I really expect the talent to be top-flight. I don’t mind the arcs being done-in-ones, two-issue, three-issue, whatever, I just expect the talent to be worthy of the investment. I trust the Immonens not to disappoint.
These “Marvel Comics Preview” articles should be re-named to “Marvel Titles You Will Drop Soon”. Seriously almost EVERYTHING in this I hate to see happen except maybe the Avengers Assemble thing but even that’s because it’s more of unknown optimism. Anybody remember the days of the same writer and artist working together for a year or two producing great stories…..yeah I miss that.
Check out Invincible Iron Man. Fraction and Larroca, still going strong.
Also, a question on the New X-Men omnibus. I’m a fan of both the X-Men and Grant Morrison. I’ve never read New X-Men and have long meant to rectify that. That book must be HUGE. I kind of want it. But to people that already own it, would you recommend the trades to a first time reader? Is the omnibus a chore to read?
Amazon says 1120 pages!
I sometimes find my omnibuses a chore to read. I was always curious about Morrison’s X-Men because both his work and the X-Men themselves have always been hit or miss for me. I went and got these trades:
http://www.amazon.com/New-X-Men-Grant-Morrison-Marvel/dp/0785155031/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1329873457&sr=8-5
They’re small and compact, and much easier to read. And, hey, if you don’t like the first one, then you’ve only spent $10 instead of $80. (Just rounding the Amazon prices.) But, if you think you’ll end of up liking Morrison’s run, then the omnibus is cheaper than buying all 8 trades.
The silent issue that Quitely gets to go all out is one of the ones I would want in full size but a lot of the art in between Quitely on New X-Men is frankly TERRIBLE. So I would go with the digest sizes if you want to read it anytime and not lug an omnibus around.
Ennis on Fury Max? Count me in… at least until the first instance of sex exploitation.
Sexploitation in and of itself isn’t a bad thing if done with some form of wit and something to say.
Edwards after Stegman is the definition of a BUMMER. You best be coming back, Stegman!
I like Chris Yost, but Ryan Stegman was definitely a selling point for me on this title.
That said, I wonder if they’ll beat Moon Knight’s recent run with this title.
If it goes a year and doesn’t suck by the end I’ll be happy.
Also, I thought Edwards did a fine job on Fantastic Four, so I wouldn’t exactly call it a bummer. His style nicely bridged the Epting and Eaglesham runs, so maybe he’s capable of following Stegman without the transition being too jarring. Depends on the inking and coloring choices.
I’m trusting Wacker to work it out.
In fairness towards Marvel, if you look up Terry Dodson’s record, he’s never drawn more than 7 consecutive issues.
Yeah the Dodsons are rarely on a book for an extended period.
That was pretty much expected.
Great post. Really looking forward to the Fury MAX title, if it is anything like Ennis’s Punisher MAX run, it could completely redefine the character going forward.
Crap, there’s a .1 for Fantastic Four? I hadn’t bought a .1 anything yet, but FF is the only Marvel ongoing I’m getting, so it looks like I’m screwed.
That Hulk Smash miniseries looks fun. I might dig into that.
Max Fury, I still have the oringinal 4 parted that Ennis did. It was fun and very over the top, there’s a panel were Fury is strangling the main bad guy with his own intestine but other then that not really looking forwrd to anything else Marvel is offering.
I wasn’t expecting Epting to pencil every issue, and I don’t buy Green Lantern, so I’m not seeing the problem with Mike Choi. Anyone wanna post an example?
http://www.chicagocomicvault.com/wp-content/gallery/green-lantern-6/gl-6.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn42/PlantPage55/gl61.jpg
re: Switcharoo – Some of these artists might not the household names that the people they’re replacing are, but who knew Chris Samnee enough two or three years ago to be excited he was going to be on Daredevil? I probably would’ve have to Google his name and look for images. Sure I had to Google most of these replacements, but they seem to be veteran comic book artists whose names I probably should recognize. Seems like business as usual, as the artists who are household names move on to the next new title, relaunch or revival an existing title, or even possibly a creator-owned project or work for another publisher.
Another comic book internet kerfuffle that really amounts to very little. Yawn.
On another note, thanks for bringing it up, as I now know a few more artists by name than I knew before.
8)
In other news:
CHRIS SAMNEE ON DAREDEVIL!
Yay!
THERE’S MOVIE COMING, RIGHT?
Movie: Yay. Comic book: I’ll be reading (and watching A: EMH). And waiting for the Bendis Cosmic Era.
SMASH IT UP
Joe Casey: Yay. Lee Weeks: Yay! (Only covers? Aww.) Max Fiumara? *googles* Yay?
Jim McCann: Yay. Lee Weeks: Yay. (Only covers? Bah.) Agustin Padilla *googles* Yay?
STILL NO SIGN OF JOE MAD
In Wacker we trust?
THEY’RE DOING WHAT?!! AGAIN?
I didn’t read the earlier stuff, but this would be an era of Nick Fury’s life I would probably have more interest in.
ONE FOR THE KIDDIES
More Takio? Yay! Who says Marvel doesn’t publish All-Ages material by their top talent?
NOW’S YOUR CHANCE
Now is my chance, indeed. Thanks for the heads-up.
WHO DOESN’T LOVE HANK PYM?
This is worth reading, if only to counter the Anti-Pym meme with juicy tidbits about Hank’s tortured existence as Marvel’s Most-Derided “Good” Guy.
“Did you know that Hank even invented a Giant-Man helmet? I’ll bet MODOK tried to steal it! ‘Finally, a protective helm worthy of my mighty designed-only-for-killing cranium!'”
that daredevil cover is straight up sexy
AMAZING Daredevil cover. Classy and sexy, looking forward to that issue.
noooo Stegman was great on scarlet spider. Why change to Neil Edwards he’s nowhere near as good.
I think I’m going to check out that Hulk vs Avengers series. I always love a good Hulk vs Avengers brawl
I love the sarcasm on the tail end of this article. It’s just dripping as Ron list a seemingly endless parade of fill in artists, especially those who are kinda low grade compared to who they’re replacing.
(Although Khoi Pham is a pretty damn good artist and if anything I’d rather have him for two issues then Samnee. Samnee is a great artist but, like in Ult. Spider-Man it seems, his style is probably not going to mesh with Rivera’s or even Martin’s.)
But if you want to see desperation in a company then look no further then this crop of Marvel solicts! Nearly every title has two issues coming out and there are even special issues, events, or tie-ins for movies that start this month. If Marvel wants to be #1 again in sales then look no further. Clearly it’s quantity then quality with this company lately.
I hardly feel trying to put content that appeals to people who are going to see your major motion picture is an act of “desperation.” I think it seems more like an act of “smart business strategy.”
I’ve got to say, I thought these artists would be sticking around longer on some of the fresher/newer titles. Ultimate Spiderman has already had a guest artist once and now she’s being removed altogether? Daredevil is changing up right when it’s everyone’s favorite?
I’m going to hope this isn’t a bad thing but when the art style changes too drastically from title to title I just feel like the story suffers for it. If that turns out to be the case I’ll have to find some titles that are a little more reliable.
I know expecting writer/artist to be there forever is asking a lot but at least have the same artist/writer through 2 story arcs from crying out loud!
Sadly it’s the age we live in man. There are very few artists who:
A) Wants to stick around on one title
B) Works on a title to warrant suck a long run
C) Artists in general can’t keep up a monthly schedule.
It’s the third excuse that bugs the shit out of me.
Also, using the word ‘suck’ instead of ‘such’ bugs the shit out of me too. (I’m gonna go now…)
The artists aren’t to blame here. These are professional comic artists, who are trained at turning in work on a regular monthly basis. However, with Marvel ramping up the double shipping on all of these titles, it’s understandably tough for the artists to keep up.
@comicbookchris: Even if they are on a regular schedule artists can’t keep it up. But that’s for another topic all together.
@TheNextChampion: Points well made and true but while mostly true in point C, comicBOOKchris is right in some cases. As we all/most know, its the artist slacking sometimes. Everyone’s favorite example of this: Jim Lee. Also, does anyone know if Ben Templesmith and Ben McCool finished the last issue to complete CHOKER for the trade release? It says sux issues in the tpb on Amazon but don’t know how many there were supposed to be and know it just didn’t get finished in issue form.
@JSAkid: I honestly don’t know. There was a series from Avatar that had the same issue with the ‘Electric Pirates’ and something or other by Warren Ellis and Raulo Caceres. It was a gorgeous book but the forth and final issue never came out….or if it did it was snuck by because my LCS NEVER got a copy. So when I went to a Barnes and Noble and saw the trade for it I’m like: “Oh….I guess this DID get finished’.
If anything Marvel is showing the other half of what you and chris are talking about. Because they have to keep their sales steady (and now having to catch up to DC) they gotta double ship everything now. It’s killing my interest in a lot of books because money is tight enough as it is. But it’s probably killing artists more because they can’t keep up and we’re forced to see this issues that, while sometimes do have good fill in artists, it hurts the magic of the issues that came before it.
It’s why I am absolutely refusing to buy Daredevil and Journey Into Mystery once their crossovers start. I’m sick of this shit, I really am. I don’t want to read Punisher or Avenging Spider-Man to get more into a Daredevil story. But because Mark Waid is writing the entire crossover I’m sure it’s going to be integral to read them all. It’s annoying as hell and it’s clearly hampering Rivera’s time frame because he has now disappeared from the book even into the issues past that event. Plus it saddens me to say I won’t be picking up JIM because I know Kieron Gillen is going to read this post (and maybe provide graphs on his sadness to me). But I’m sorry but I can’t take these unnecessary and downright useless crossovers/event tie-ins anymore with this title. Doug Braithwaite should have been with Gillen for every single fucking issue since this series started and he’s no where to be found now. Granted Marvel has done a good job finding replacements, but the magic of this book has been slightly gone without the original artist on the book. I am totally surprised this series isn’t tied into ‘AVX’ yet but I have no doubt because Thor is an Avenger that Gillen will be forced to rope that into the title somehow, someday.
Having said all of that though…..it really boils down to that artists today are trained to not be monthly artists anymore. It doesn’t take away from their talents but if Jack Kirby was alive today he’d be calling all of these guys (and gals) pussies. Kirby could somehow draw 9 titles in one month and STILL make them all unique and gorgeous to look at. But if Joe Madureira gets his hands on an ongoing then god forbid he can keep it up for more then three months. At least DC knew this was going to be an issue with most of the recent and got their heads together quite quickly on who should replace who. But if they knew that going in then that’s a problem with the industry if a company can’t trust artists to stick around for more then an arc or two. I am amazed Greg Capullo is still around in Batman after the amazing work he’s done for six months now. If he can dish out these pages at an enormous rate (he constantly says on twitter he is months ahead) then what the hell is wrong with the majority of artists today?
A lot of books double ship nowadays, and require rotating artists on story arcs. Stefano Caselli and Gabriel Hardman can do one issue a month, but when its coming out biweekly, that’s pretty hard to keep up with and keep the same level of quality.
And lets not act like fill-in artists after 4 or 5 issues isn’t a pretty standard trend dating back to the 1970s. Lets go down each of these artists rotations, shall we?
-Gabe Hardman can do a book a month. The problem is he’s on a biweekly book, so he can only do the first four issues before a rotation. Pretty understandable.
-Same thing with Sara Pichelli. She drew five issues of a biweekly book, I don’t see how you can wag your finger at that.
-Esad Ribic drew four issues, drew parts of the next two(who double shipped), and is completely drawing the next three.
-Steve Epting is just slow, can’t really get around that one.
-Dodson drew five issues, then a fill-in artist. Pretty standard.
-Chris Samnee just came off a stint on Ultimate Spider-Man, which was also just from a stint on Captain America and Bucky, that he not only draws but inks as well. He can do one issue a month, and he’s been doing that for nine straight issues. It looks worse because of his journeyman status from series to series.
-Paolo Rivera is just slow, but he is on a double shipping book so that doesn’t help matters.
So we got two guys are slower then usual, and everything else seems pretty standard. There’s always gonna be exception to the rules, the workhorses who could deliver monthly books every month, like Ryan Ottley on Invincible, or Larroca on Invincible Iron Man. Yeah, they are slower high-in-demand artists like Joe Mad who’s super highly detailed art can’t be done on a monthly basis, but again, not a new thing. Some of the best comic artists of all-time can’t do monthlies either because of their detailed artwork(Art Adams, Geoff Darrow, Frank Quitely, etc). And honestly, I’d take one Frank Quitely issue over a 100 Mark Bagley issues, I don’t care that he gets it out every month if it still looks like Mark Bagley.
I’m honestly not seeing too big of a problem here or “This is what’s wrong with the comic industry today!”. You’re basically yelling at artists for not going above and beyond the standard rate of pages drawn(often on double-shipped books) and then demanding the same amount of quality in storytelling and detail.
Jeremy Carrier: Well said.
Too often many are willing to decry the state of the entire industry, instead of simply examining and attempting to understand the realities of the situation.
Marvel has of course responded to DC’s per-issue sales lead with a total-dollars marketing approach, attempting to squeeze the Distinguished Competition out of Merry Marchers wallets completely.
In my case, they’ve succeeded. I was planning on canceling all DC last fall, and only the reboot kept me around for another six to nine months.
Marvel’s “Scorched Earth Shelf Saturation Program” makes it wholly untenable.
And their price-point means that I’m subscribing directly to them for a still-increasing number of titles – to enjoy the greater discount – while only begrudgingly visiting my LCS for an ever-decreasing number of trial balloons, four-in-a-month crossovers, sister-title crossovers, minis, maxi, limiteds and self-canceling pre-destined-to-be-just-one-of-several-volumes “continuing” titles.
By next year I’ll only be going to the store once a month, with comic books in my mailbox every day.
As it is, Winter Soldier, Daredevil and Thunderbolts are the main reason I drive their at all anymore.
8)
excuse the *sp & grammar mistakes
obligatory LoEF complaint
😉
@ TheNextChampion : “magic of the title” nuff said.
“Magic of the issues”……..but also good point on them crossing titles that make them integral to one your reading, that’s just manipulative marketing, smart but I’m not buying 6 issues I don’t read to keep up with what’s going on in the one I love. Kirby was a machine, didn’t earn the nickname the King for nothing.
I think a Mr. Fixit vs. the 90’s West Coast Avengers would be great to read, but Wonder Man better mop the floor with the Hulk. Given their power levels at the time, Wonder Man alone should be able to get the job done.
While Wonder Man was much stronger than the Fixit Hulk, Wonder Man was a reluctant hero who’s heart wasn’t really in it at that time. Also, he relied purely on his power. As the Fixit Hulk showed, his cunning and nastiness more than made up for his lack of power, as was perfectly shown when he kicked the living shit out of a MUCH more powerful Thing in Hulk #350, one of my all-time favorite slugfest issues. Although Wonder Man had that rad red jacket and wacky sunglasses, so maybe he SHOULD win 🙂
Looking through the full solicitations:
– I’m feeling pretty down on AvX. I was already going to avoid the main series but I may avoid the three books I’m currently reading that are tying in as well.
– The crossover I WILL be getting is Exiled.
– Tucked away in there is Defenders #6, a title I’ve been digging the hell out of so far, in which Matt Fraction revisits The Immortal Weapons. Sweet.
Luke Ross is not a top-tier artist, but he’s not bad either. He just comes onto books after said top-tier artists. See: Captain America
I’m all over FuryMAX.
Not trying to start another Pym debate, but shouldn’t that say Tales to Astonish and not Tales of Suspense? Ant Man/Giant Man was in Astonish and Iron Man and Cap were in Suspense.
I’d wager that the 2001 X-Men Annual is a paaaaain to read as part of that Omnibus. I have all the issues and wasn’t interested in the omnibus…until it sold out and I couldn’t get it if I wanted it! Now that it is out again I have a decision to make.
FURY MAX!!! LOVE IT!!! And those 1st two covers are Steranko w Max twist. Also Hulk smash sounds like a mini I would completely ignore but Mr Fix-It and vs 70’s & West Coast Avengers, count me in, not to mention the collaboration of talent involved. NEW X-MEN OMNIBUS, already pre- ordered a month ago. I haven’t been reading Avenging Spidey but Joe Mads art is what made it appeal to me and DD shouldn’t lose Rivera, Samnee is a good replacement but why so quick to a guy no ones heard of? Hope he’s good. And last but not least (for me anyway), love the timing on this Many Faces of Henry Pym book, it collects what I assume are some key moments in his history in each costume and being one of the Hank Pym fans, I hope I like it, read Secret Invasion but not the Requiem issue.
Love to get a copy of Garth Ennis’ Punisher Omnibus, its pricey now but I’ll get around to it before its outta my personal price can. FURY MAX!!!
-price cap-
Oh yeah also, love Chris Yost too but Stegman makes this book pop, he does the McFarlane webbing perfectly and his art makes this character look great, the teaser image of the 1st cover had me sold, and I just read it two nights ago, liked it a lot. As for all the other changes its stuff I don’t read anyway so hope they’re good for those who do enjoy those titles and the sake of comix sales, and more kid friendly titles the better, then hopefully they keep reading as they grow. Cheers to the future of comix, they’re history and legacy!!! (My 5yr old daughter watches Superhero Squad & Star Wars Clone Wars, that’s daddy’s little girl).Love it, Jeff Smith’s Bone vol 1 is just waiting on my shelf to be a gateway comic for her any day now.
Checked out Khoi Pham’s art on X-Factor and looks like he could suit Scarlet Spider well, may not be a big name but gotta make one somehow, I take back what I said about DD changing to someone no ones heard of, but like the article was more less comparing bigger names with not so big names and hey, we’ve heard of him now.
Marvel’s shipping system sure leads to a lot of artist substitutions and switches. No one can possible keep up.
Marvel has been bugging me with the double/tripple shipping. Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Unless you’re only reading one or two books, it’s overwhelming. And now it’s causing crazy inconsistent art teams? Even worse. But I guess the same is happening over at DC with constantly changing creative teams. And they aren’t double shipping. And people wonder why Image and independent books are on the upswing.
the double shipping bothers me because it stops me from getting other books. I have a very limited budget, and sometimes I would like to try a new title, but I can’t, because I know Marvel is going to double ship a book ‘m really enjoying and I need to get both issues.
Artist changes just bug the crap out of me. I understand that very one needs a break now and then, but dammit why can’t there just be a clone of that artist.
@ blkassassin106 & JohnVFeringo : I feel ya both, hate when I’m really enjoying a titles art then it quickly changes for only 5 issues in and dbl shipping is annoying cause its TOO MUCH MARVEL, I love me some Marvel but there’s so many different comix out there I don’t wanna worry about over spending, missing out on others or reading that many in time I don’t have.