Uncanny X-Men, Vol.1 – “Revolution” (Marvel NOW)

A so-so ‘start’ to a new Uncanny X-Men series…

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Artist: Chris Bachalo (1-4), Frazier Irving (#5) | Inks: Jaime Mendoza, Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Victor Olazaba & Frazier Irving | Colours: Chris Bachalo & Frazier Irving

The true flagship X-Men series returns... NOW! In the wake of the Phoenix event, the world has changed and is torn on exactly what Cyclops and his team of outlaw X-Men are – visionary revolutionaries or dangerous terrorists? Whatever the truth, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magneto, and Magik are out in the world gathering new mutants and redefining the name Uncanny X-Men. But the challenges that they must overcome are fierce: once again, robotic Sentinels hunt the team and the mutants they protect... but when you find out who’s doing the hunting, your jaw will drop! And if that's not enough, there’s a mole on Cyclops’s team – but who is it?

Collects: Uncanny X-Men #1-5

This is not a bad start to one of the Marvel NOW re-launch titles. Nevertheless, I had some issues with it, but they are more related to the overall direction of the Marvel NOW titles than this series per se. So: some good, some middling.

Marvel Graphic Novel Catch-Up: Fearless Defenders, Avengers, and Thor

Three new Marvel NOW collections that I’ve read and enjoyed recently. I had my doubts about the new re-launch/re-boot, but I have actually rather enjoyed the stories themselves (despite, sometimes, only have movie knowledge to get me situated…).

Reviewed: Avengers, Fearless Defenders, Thor: God of Thunder

Graphic Novels Catch-Up: Hulk, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Superman

Four mini-reviews of graphic novels I have read over the last couple of weeks: Captain America: Road to Reborn and Reborn, Indestructible Hulk, Superman: Secret Identity, Wonder Woman (New 52).

Artwork: Guardians of the Galaxy #5, Variant Cover (Marvel)

Really liked this Vintage-style variant cover for Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (new ongoing series).

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis

Cover by: Paolo Rivera

Published: July 31st 2013

Synopsis: Spinning out of the dramatic conclusion of Age of Ultron, dimensions collide and Heaven’s most fearsome Angel pushes the Guardians back on their heels.

Disturbing New Marvel Cover Art…

There’s something wrong with this cover. Cyclops looks real bad-ass, sure, but part of me wants to make inappropriate jokes at “Daddy’s Home.” The other part of me thinks it’s a really sinister piece of art…

This is the cover of Cable & X-Force #7, which will be published April 17th 2013. The issue is written by Dennis Hopeless, with the cover and internal artwork by Salvador Larroca.

Marvel: THREE New Wolverine Titles…?

Last year, I had a chat with the President of a comics company in the US, and we joked about Marvel’s addiction to Wolverine and how he features in an ever-increasing number of their titles. With the roll-out of the Marvel NOW not-a-reboot-honest, readers will (of course) be offered some more titles that are all about Wolverine: Wolverine, Savage Wolverine and the soon-to-be-launched Ultimate Comics – Wolverine. Can there be too much of a great character? After all, he is a member of the Avengers, too…

Captain Marvel, Vol.1 – “In Pursuit of Flight” (Marvel)

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick | Artist: Dexter Soy (#1-4), Emma Rios (#5-6), w. Richard Elson, Karl Kesel, Al Barrionuevo | Colors: Wil Quintana, Javier Rodriguez, Jordie Bellare (#5-6) | Inks: Alvaro Lopez (#6)

The “Mightiest” of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is back!

Ace pilot. Legendary Avenger. One hundred percent pure bad-ass. Carol Danvers has a new name, a new mission – and all the power she needs to make her own life a living hell. As the new Captain Marvel, Carol is forging from a challenge from her past! It’s a firefight in the sky as the Banshee Squadron debut – but who are the Prowlers, and where has Carol seen them before? And how does secret NASA training program Mercury 13 fit in?

Witness Captain Marvel in blazing battlefield action that just may change the course of history! Avengers Time Travel Protocols: engage!

Collects: Captain Marvel #1-6

After spotting a preview of this series, I knew I had to read it. True, I still waited for the collected book, but the artwork for the first four chapters of this book are great. As it happens, the story is great as well. This was a very pleasant surprise, and the story exceeded my already high expectations.

“Indestructible Hulk” & “Uncanny Avengers” (Marvel NOW)

Managed to get my hands on a couple more issues from Marvel’s latest re-launch/-boot/-branding: Mark Waid’s Indestructible Hulk and Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers. Two pretty noteworthy titles, one was excellent while the other has some way to go before I’m fully convinced.

Caution: If you haven’t read Avengers vs. X-Men and don’t want certain moments of that Event spoiled, I strongly advise that you do not read the review of Uncanny Avengers. Just sayin’.

Three Marvel NOW Titles: Avengers, Captain America & Thunderbolts

On a whim, I decided to try three of Marvel’s new re-boot issues: Avengers, Captain America and Thunderbolts.

My choice to read these wasn’t particularly scientific – it was purely down to whichever first issues the Barnes & Noble I was in at the time had in stock. These were the three (they had a couple of second issues, but I wasn’t prepared to go traipsing around Manhattan to find the first issues of those series*). Overall, I’m actually quite impressed with the three titles I tried. It bodes well.

* And by “traipsing”, I mean walk three blocks to Forbidden Planet…

Skottie Young’s Awesome Variant Art for these Issues

Upcoming: WOLVERINE (Marvel Now)

There are jokes about the sheer breadth of titles that feature Wolverine – he’s in a number of Avengers titles, and there are even multiple Wolverine-centric titles. In the re-booted Marvel NOW initiative, coming in the wake of the universe-spanning Avengers vs. X-Men event, there is of course a new Wolverine #1. The pre-AvX Wolverine was ably helmed by Jason Aaron.

Post-AvX, however, the title has become even more intriguing: it will be written by Paul Cornell.

Cornell is a masterful British writer, who has written in the Dr. Who universe and also, most recently and familiarly for me, DC’s New 52 Demon Knights and Stormwatch, as well as Saucer Country for Vertigo. (A review of the first collected edition of the latter to come very soon.)

Art duties for Wolverine will be handled by Alan Davies.

Here’s what Paul Cornell had to say about the series:

“This is the series that gets into what makes James Logan tick, that shows him being, as he puts it, ‘a regular guy’, interacting with civilian friends of his in New York City… The most amazing thing about James is that he’s been alive so long, gone through so many extraordinary things, is such a strange being, but holds on – very hard – to being a guy who likes to hang out in bars with good company, who can run a school, who’s a decent, civilized man. Most of the time. No vampire alienation and boredom for him. He’s a man of the people. I’m going to poke that and see what happens.”

Needless to say, I’m really looking forward to this. Wolverine #1 will be published some time in March 2013.

In semi-related Paul Cornell news: his latest novel, London Falling, will be published in December 2012 (UK) and April 2013 (US), by Tor Books in both territories.

Avengers – New, Old, Assembled, Secret, Dark, Mighty… I’m a little lost, here… (Marvel)

I recently read the first volume in Brian Michael Bendis’s first run on New Avengers. I have also read the first couple of issues in his new Avengers Assemble series. Nevertheless, I have no frikkin’ clue which to read next, or even if I should bother reading more of Bendis’s various Avengers-related series.

This is not a statement on their quality – I really enjoyed both New Avengers (the premise, writing and especially artwork are pretty great) and Avengers Assemble (a lot of fun and a really interesting lead-off story and villain). It’s just, well, I have no idea how I’m supposed to read them all. There are just so many, and they seem to be a bit of a mess for new readers…

New Avengers Volume 1 (2005) & Volume 1 (2011)

Upcoming: “Marvel NOW!”

So, right off the bat, I think that’s an awful title for a new comics initiative. Especially with the capitalised “NOW!”. Just wanted to get that out there. [If you are familiar with The Gutters online comic-commentary website, then you’ll see how this announcement almost writes its own humour…]

The most popular characters. The most acclaimed creators. The most ambitious stories. This is Marvel NOW!

Marvel doubles-down on the cringe-worthy PR-speak with:

“ushering in a new era for comics and the perfect jumping on point for new readers. The biggest creators bring you the biggest characters in the biggest stories… and it’s happening NOW!”

So, now that I’ve got some snark out of the way (there’s more to come), what is this actually all about? This Fall, Marvel comics are heading in an “exciting all-new direction”, as the publisher releases “all-new ongoing series, each beginning with issue #1!” I had to chuckle at the “each beginning with issue #1”, given that that is usually where new things start…

Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine and more will all see new Marvel NOW! series, apparently marking the “culmination of Marvel ReEvolution”, the “groundbreaking new initiative to evolve the comic book experience through innovation.”