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.
NOTE: Last week we debuted the X-Men family of books that would be coming out from Marvel in November, so this post does not include any X-Men books. That doesn’t mean we don’t recommend them, in fact we very much do (especially Uncanny X-Force). So if you’re looking for X-Men, go check that previous post.
EVERYTHING CHANGES! IT ALL STARTS HERE!
Listen people, 2012 is going to be BIG, so big in fact that Marvel has put together this preview issue, coming in at 64 pages (for $5.99 no less) to give you a glimpse of what to expect next year. Promising SEVEN all new stories that kick 2012 off from some of their top talent. If you’re a Marvel Zombie, you know you’ll want to get this.
POINT ONE
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, JEPH LOEB, ED BRUBAKER, MATT FRACTION, DAVID LAPHAM, FRED VAN LENTE, CHRISTOPHER YOST & MORE!Art by ED MCGUINNESS, BRYAN HITCH, TERRY DODSON, ROBERTO DE LA TORRE, RYAN STEGMAN, JAVIER PULIDO & MORE
Here are SEVEN all -new stories that set the stage for everything coming your way in 2012 from the biggest names in the comics industry.You CANNOT miss this. Catch a tease of the biggest change to the Marvel Universe in over 35 years !
64 PGS./ Rated T+ …5.99
CREATIVE TEAMS WORTH NOTING
Every now and then, a creative team becomes something worth getting excited about and in November, Marvel has alot of great teams to brag about. With Avengers #19, Daniel Acuna comes on as the regular artist to join Brian Michael Bendis for the premiere Marvel team. In Secret Avengers #19 we get Warren Ellis along with Michael Lark, which a top creative team. And finally we get Nick Spencer and Becky Cloonan on the mini-series Victor Von Doom #1, the title that I never knew I wanted until they announced it, and now I can’t wait
AVENGERS #19
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by DANIEL ACUÑANorman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. return! Witness the new Avengers line-up in action!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
SECRET AVENGERS #19
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Pencils by MICHAEL LARK
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant by LARRY STROMANRUN THE MISSION. DON’T GET SEEN. SAVE THE WORLD.
In the decadent and crumbling city of ANIANA, in the Eastern European country of SYMKARIA, a local drug lord is planning to sell something mysterious to the Shadow Council. The Secret Avengers cannot risk that, or an interception after the fact — they must get to the drug lord before the handover, and take whatever the goods are. Their covert mission uncovers something utterly unexpected, ancient and terrible and a threat to the entire world…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
VICTOR VON DOOM #1
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art & Cover by BECKY CLOONANThe teenaged Victor Von Doom defends his life…in Hell. The undergrad who’ll grow to become Dr. Doom is an abrasive young genius surrounded by collegiate buffoons, wastrels, and dilettantes – like that insufferable Richards. But Doom knows he’s destined for greater things, and from his dorm he journeys fearlessly to Hell to save the spirit of his mom…and his struggle to get there, the trials he faces, and his subsequent failure will make him the man he’s to become. Nick Spencer and Becky Cloonan pull back the cloak to reveal the youthful, angsty, exuberant side of Victor Von Doom!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
YOU ONLY TURN 600 ONCE
Come on, admit it, I bet you thought they were going to move FF back to Fantastic Four proper for the 600th issue, right? Me too. But I was shocked to see that not only would there be a Fantastic Four #600 in November, but also FF #12. Will there be a Fantastic Four #601? We’ll find out in December I guess, but for now I’ve gotta decide what cover to get, The Gabrielle Dell’Otto one or the Joe Quesada or The John Romita Jr. (we all know it’s Romita Jr.). But the MOST important thing about Fantastic Four #600? Artist Farel Dalrymple!
FANTASTIC FOUR #600
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by STEVE EPTING, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO,LEINIL YU, & FAREL DALRYMPLECover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
Variant Covers by JOE QUESADA, JOHN ROMITA JR. & ART ADAMS
Sketch Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA“FOREVER” Part One
THIS IS IT! The 50th anniversary issue of the Fantastic Four! This month we begin the 5-part conclusion to the story that began over 30 issues ago. Joins us for the epic celebration of Marvel’s First Family with 96 pages of all-new content written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Steve Epting, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Leinil Yu and Farel Dalrymple.
104 PGS./All-New Material/No Reprints/Rated T …$7.99
THE BEST BOOK YOU’RE NOT READING
One of the biggest surprises for 2011 for me has been how much I’ve been enjoying Black Panther. First I thought it was weird/lame that they replaced Daredevil with Black Panther, but David Liss has written some fantastic tales of Black Panther in New York City, and just look at that cover by Francesco Francavilla! How can you not want to check that comic out after seeing that cover?
BLACK PANTHER: THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE #525
Written by DAVID LISS
Penciled by SHAWN MARTINBROUGH
Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLATHE PANTHER VS. THE KINGPIN…THE BATTLE BEGINS! With Daredevil out of Hell’s Kitchen, The Hand’s new leader makes his move for ultimate power. But why is Wilson Fisk targeting Wakandan citizens…and can T’Challa save the one woman who holds the key to unlocking the Kingpin’s plans from the deadly aim of Lady Bullseye and Typhoid Mary? Ever since T’Challa agreed to take over for DD, you knew this war was coming…here it is!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
DOES THIS MEAN IT’S A TREND?
For the past year we’ve raved over The Sixth Gun over at Oni Press. Marvel must have heard the buzz and wanted to get in on the action. Similarity in name aside, it looks like this modern “Western” tale set in South America could be one to check out, if you’re into that sort of thing. Two-Gun Kid! Modern Makeover!
SIX GUNS #1 & #2
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by DAVIDE GIANFELICE
Covers by BUTCH GUICE“Don’t set them up if you can’t take them down!”
Times may have changed since the days of the Old West, but in the war-torn South American state of San Diablo, the law of the gun still holds sway. When former hero-for-hire Maria Vasquez, alias Tarantula, finds herself wanted for murder south of the border, Texas Rangers Division lawman “Tex” Dawson is assigned to bring her in. But they’re on a collision course with the outlaw Black Riders biker gang, who plan to make sure she never makes it to trial alive…
Classic Marvel gunslingers Tarantula, Tex Dawson, Black Rider, Matt Slade and the Two-Gun Kid are given a modern-day makeover in this hard-bitten tale of blood and bullets by the DAREDEVIL: REBORN team of Andy Diggle and Davide Gianfelice. Five heroes, six guns…against six hundred!
32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory …$2.99 (each)
I MAY HAVE THE ISSUES, BUT I WANT THE OMNIBUS
I can’t believe it’s been like 15 years since X-Men: Age of Apocalypse came out, I remember it like it was yesterday. But in that time, it’s become one of those events that we talk about that many of you never got to read. It was one of the most ballsy events Marvel ever did (canceling ALL the X-Men titles and launching new titles that ran for 4 months) and was one of the most fun I’ve ever read. Now that all changes as for the first time ever, X-Men: Age of Apocalypse gets collected in Omnibus edition style. If you’re reading Uncanny X-Force and have no idea what’s gong on, then you’ll want to pick this one up.
X-MEN: AGE OF APOCALYPSE OMNIBUS
Written by VARIOUS
Penciled by VARIOUS
Covers by BILLY TAN & JOE MADUREIRACharles Xavier is dead — killed twenty years in the past during a freak time-travel accident — and the world that has arisen in his absence is dark and dangerous indeed. The Darwinian conqueror Apocalypse rules with an iron fist, ruthlessly enforcing his dictum that only the strong shall survive — and in Apocalypse’s long shadow, hidden among a downtrodden humankind, are a group of ragtag freedom fighters led by Xavier’s oldest friend, Magneto: the Amazing X-Men! When Bishop, last survivor of the true Marvel Universe, locates the X-Men and explains how the world went wrong, these embittered mutants and their tenuous allies must risk everything — and undertake a dangerous and multi-pronged quest — to put things right! The comics event of 1995 is collected in one deluxe oversized hardcover! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1963) #320-321, X-MEN (1991) #40-41, CABLE (1993) #20, X-MEN ALPHA, AMAZING X-MEN #1-4, ASTONISHING X-MEN (1995) #1-4, FACTOR X #1-4, GAMBIT & THE X-TERNALS #1-4, GENERATION NEXT #1-4, WEAPON X (1995) #1-4, X-CALIBRE #1-4, X-MAN #1-4, X-MEN OMEGA, AGE OF APOCALYPSE: THE CHOSEN and X-MEN ASHCAN #2.
1072 PGS./Rated T …$125.00
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5982-7
STORIES YOU MISSED
In case you missed them in issues, now you can pick up the trades for two of the best stories to come out of Marvel in 2011. First up is PunisherMax Vol. 2: Bullseye, one of the greatest and most fun Punisher stories I’ve ever read. So many reasons to pick this up: Steve Dillon’s amazing art, the stunning cover(s) by Dave Johnson, and Jason Aaron’s fucked up take on Bullseye. And a series that I missed in issues that I’ll be picking up in trade, 5 Ronin, the tale of X-Men characters in Japan as samurai, by Peter Milligan, was one of the sleeper hits of 2011.
PUNISHERMAX: BULLSEYE
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by STEVE DILLON
Cover by DAVE JOHNSONEx-Marine Frank Castle will do whatever it takes to eliminate criminals. Using the memory of his family’s murder to fuel his hatred, Castle is a virtual killing machine. While his methods are brutal, he has always adhered to a strict code, never allowing innocents or the police to end up in his crosshairs. With the cops working for the Kingpin of Crime, Frank finds himself with a choice. Can he kill a cop, albeit a dirty one? How far is he willing to go to bring down the Kingpin and his rabid dog Bullseye? One trigger pull and the life of the Punisher will never be the same! Collecting PUNISHERMAX (2010) #6-11.
144 PGS./Explicit Content …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4756-55 RONIN
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Penciled by TOMM COKER, DALIBOR TALAJIC, LAURENCE CAMPBELL, GORAN PARLOV & LEANDRO FERNANDEX
Covers by JOHN CASSADAY & DAVID AJAIn the age of samurai, death is their only master. Wolverine — the undying killer. Hulk — the barely contained monster. Punisher — the soldier without a war. Psylocke — the beauty who can look within you. Deadpool — the world’s most dangerous fool. In feudal Japan, the spirits of these five heroes live on as you’ve never seen them before. These aren’t super heroes. They are disgraced warriors, masterless samurai. They are 5 Ronin. Collecting 5 RONIN #1-5.
136 PGS./Parental Advisory …$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5101-2
SOME BOOKS SHOULD NEVER BE OUT OF PRINT
Seriously, how Marvel could let these books not be in print all the time is beyond me. If you don’t have these books, then fix that come November! Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco’s Avengers Forever is one of my all time favorite Avengers stories. Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz are two of the all time comics greats and Elektra: Assassin is one of the best books to come out of Marvel in the 1980s. It’s great to see it finally back in print.
AVENGERS FOREVER
Written by KURT BUSIEK & ROGER STERN
Penciled by CARLOS PACHECO
Cover by CARLOS PACHECOThrough the years, the Avengers have always found a way to reach victory — no matter the odds, no matter the sacrifice. But now, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes face a different kind of menace. A menace so great, it has made allies out of sworn enemies. This seemingly unconquerable enemy is…the future! Seven time-lost Avengers — plucked from the past, present and future — must protect their longtime ally Rick Jones from death at the hands of Immortus, the Master of Time. To learn why Rick has been targeted for elimination, the Avengers join forces with Kang the Conqueror — one of the team’s deadliest, most implacable foes — in a cosmic battle that stretches from the Old West to the End of Time. And in so doing, they discover they’re fighting not just for one life, but for the very destiny of mankind — against a greater foe than they could have possibly imagined. Collecting AVENGERS FOREVER #1-12.
328 PGS./Rated T …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3752-8ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN
Written by FRANK MILLER
Penciled by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Covers by BILL SIENKIEWICZGood ninjas never die, let alone the baddest one of all! Fan favorite Frank Miller ushers his awesome assassin through good and evil and life and death and rebirth and more! Who is the otherworldly entity in pursuit of the presidency? When has Elektra met her greatest triumphs and tragedies? Why did she die, and how did she return? Collecting ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN #1-8.
272 PGS./Explicit Content …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-6354-1
For more, check out the full list of Marvel Comics in November 2011 here.
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Things i’m excited about
1. Acuna on Avengers! No offense to JRJR he’s a great artist but his style did not go well with the avengers at all IMO.
2. Warren Ellis on Secret Avengers. I have never liked this book but getting warren ellis to write it has me interested.
3. if it says hickman in the solicitation then i’m excited about it end of story.
4. I may have to save up for the that AoA omnibus I never got to read it before.
So on board for Avengers. Love Acuna so much! Ellis is teaming up with some good artists for Secret Avengers so I might get that too.
Age of Apocalypse Omnibus? So there, but I’m going to need to start working out now to carry that mother home. Stoken for Elektra: Assassin to be back in print too. It’s one of the classics I’ve never had a chance to read, since it’s been OoP forever.
I’d love to have the AoA Omnibus but I have all the issues (Yes, even the 10 year anniversary mini) and the “super cool, ultra 90s” Gold foil cover TPBs.
It looks like it is a safe bet the Fantastic Four will be continuing because the solicitation says #600 is “part #1”
Ooo, I do like that Avengers line-up. Hope they just focus on those characters rather than every Avenger who walks by the tower.
“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”
+1
+1
there is a very good reason why no other retail industry has copied the Diamond/Direct Market model.
I know im beating a dead horse here but this statement is incorrect. The books ANNOUNCE three months early, initial orders are due two months ahead, and the final order cutoff is only three weeks before shipping. If you go to your retailer today you can order Marvel, DC Image and Dark horse books that are shipping next month. And the dates are NOT set by the sole distibutor, they are set by the publisher. Any publisher can use the final order cutoff if they wish.
This is not different than other products where you have to get in orders to set and schedule manufacturing runs, and have time tpack and ship product. This is not a flaw in the direct market, every “real” book you buy outside the direct market has the same problem. i work in home entertainment and right now im lookiing at a DVD release schedule where titles are announcing last week to retailers that wont be out until end of november.
I have NEVER heard anyone complain about this system with books and movies or cds. Only comics, and that because the shops have shifted the responsibility of ordering product to the consumer. Books, CDs and DVDs dont have that problem because retailers can order large quantities with minimal risk because the product is returnable, so the risk is on the manufacturer. The manufacturer is more willing to do this because those returns can be stored and used to fill future reorders, because books, DVDs and CDs have a shelf life that monthly periodicals do not. so if Publishers get returns, they are pretty much just a rather sizeable loss. When comics were returnable spiderman was selling in the 300,000 copy range, but they were often printing and shipping 500,000 copies. thats 200,000 copies the publishers were eating.
TPB and digital do not have this problem, TPB has a shelf life, digital has no unsold copies. But they have other problems, as TPBs that are not sold can sit on a shelf for years, and that storage is paid for. Digital seems like a great solution but it wasnt last night when my app crashed and had to be deleted and reinstalled and all my comics redownloaded, or a month a go when my power was out for 2 days and that 45% charge on my ipad had to last as it was my only connection to the internet. It’s better but not perfect, and i still dont think anyone has nailed the interface yet.
The issues at play here are actually pretty complex (even my lengthy explanation is an oversimplification) and i feel thats the problem. rather than looking at a complex situation and figuring out a complex solution, comics (and by that i mean publishers, distributors, retailers, fans, websites and podcasts) would rather focus on pieces of the problem, and make broad but inaccurate statements that can fire folks up, and sound really good, but in the end it dont actually do anything to fix the situation.
i know this isnt quite on topic but when you start a piece like that as far as im concerened you are asking for it.
much the same way our country in general deals with its problems.
I have been waiting for that Elektra trade for a long, long time. Cannot wait to finally read it! Very interested in Secret Avengers too; Ellis caught my attention but when I read that Lark was doing the art I knew I’d be getting it.
Hey look! It’s movie Hawkeye on the Avengers!
You didn’t hear? The Avengers movie sequel is already slated to be a crossover between the 616, Ultimate and Marvel Movie universes. Clearly, Bendis’ “Hammer War” and the new Ultimate line relaunch are the precursors to the aforementioned crossover and movie sequel. You’ll have to buy the event, both Avengers tie-ins, the entire new Ultimate line, and watch the movie to get the full story. I read that supposedly the movie Hawkeye will be with the 616 Avengers, Ultimate dick Hawkeye will be in the movie sequel, and our Hawkeye will be in the Ultimates for a couple arcs (I hear he thinks they’re dicks though, so it’s a finite exchange).
Geez Marvel. Really bettin’ on a bangin’ 2014 ain’tcha?
Haha, Wow. The difference between my stoned and not-so-stoned comments is staggering.
For the first time in almost 30 years of reading comics, I am more excited for DC comics than I am for Marvel. I am truly sick of the “everything changes!” advertisement for every story that comes out. Constant change is making me very tired of Marvel comics. I’m all for big, sweeping changes, but can we have more than 1 year of the new status quo?
I will probably be checking out Six Guns. That sounds like something I would enjoy. The “modern western” is a genre with some great potential for kick ass stories.
The first thought that came to mind when I saw these previews is that:
“I wonder if Oni Press has some good lawyers?”
Not much really excited me for Marvel in November (surprise surprise). But Michael Lark on an Ellis book? *smacks lips* Beautiful! Thunderbolts might be getting a drastic change in November…..hence the double shipping which is bugging the shit out of me.
I want Secret Avengers to get really good, griity, black ops type stuff w the edge of Uncanny X-Force, is that too much to ask? I don’t think so. 5 Ronin sounds cool and was interested but thought it would make a better tpb as i’m an Elseworlds/stand alone story fan. Also is Vision back in the Avengers books or one of them seeing how he’s on that cover up there with some nice artwork I must say. I was Avengers everything from Secret Invasion through Siege(let down) and into the 1st 12 issues or so of each Avengers title aside from Avengers Academy(lame/ugly) and then just dropped em all one day cause there were much better stories being told elsewhere. Punisher Bullseye looks like another HC or tpb i’ll scoop too. Bout to read a few for the 1st time in 3 weeks, nice to wind down.