#Octavius CLEARLY is going to want to go after peter not miles

[labwebs]

🕸i love the insom games so much but wow are parts of the fandom exhausting like no duh miles is the main spider-man in that universe now peter is taking a break what part of that doesn't get through your skull

[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Why (most of) the 2010s Marvel legacy characters didn’t work

For Marvel characters I think it comes off as profoundly undermining when they get legacies, at least in the specific way Marvel attempted this throughout the 2010s.

To explain this we need to actually first look at DC’s characters in order to compare and contrast why legacies for them tend to work out better than they do for Marvel.

Simply put back in the 1930s-1950s (if not even later) DC’s characters were almost always created as powers first, people second. Wish fulfilment fantasy figures over flawed mere mortals.

Consequently you could legacy Green Lantern and the Flash in the 1950s and then do so again in the 1980s-1990s because so so long as you had a guy with a ring and another guy with super speed you were retaining the essence of both characters, the fundamental point and appeal of them.

But the Marvel characters were the other way around and practically deliberately designed to be so. 

Thor was the story of the life and times of Thor Odinson. Spider-Man was the story of the life and times of Peter Parker. The Fantastic Four was never the story about a brainiac who stretched, a girl who could go invisible, a kid who could burst into flame and a guy who looked like a rock monster. 

It was about a stern scientist obsessed with his work. A nurturing young woman who loved him but was frustrated by his tendency to get lost in his work. Her younger brother interested in sports cars, girls, excitement and other typically hot headed teenage endeavours. And an average Joe who was tortured and depressed that he was no longer human. 

Ben Grimm could’ve looked like any kind of monster and the central point of his character would have been retained. The F4′s specific powers, complemented their personalities, but they were not the driving point unto themselves. 

In contrast let us consider Captain America, probably the Marvel character who’s done the ‘replacement legacy hero’ storyline the most (at least within 616 canon). How comes he  lends himself so much better to this type of story than the other Marvel characters? 

Simple, because unlike most of the big name Marvel characters you know of, he wasn’t created in the 1960s or beyond. Cap was the product of the 1940s and was a peer to those same early days super heroes from the Golden Age, including the original Green Lantern and Flash. Like them he began fundamentally more as a symbol and powerset than a person. 

But now flashing forward to the 21st century many (most in my view) Flash fans were upset (and continue to be so) Wally West’s ascension to the Flash mantle was undermined and ultimately undone for the sake of restoring Barry Allan to the spotlight. The reason for this upset when Wally himself had replaced Barry? Wally had proven himself a far more flawed, nuanced and complex character than Barry had ever been. 

He demonstrated a degree of characterisation in the Flash role that Barry never had. It wasn’t even that he simply had more of this than Barry, but that Barry, just like Jay Garrick preceding him, had little to speak of in the first place. Thus the contrast between Jay and Barry was mostly superficial but the contrast between Barry and Wally was as stark as comparing Spider-Man to 1950s Superman.*

But Wally West, and the entire DC Universe from Post-Crisis onwards in fact, were in that mould precisely because they were trying to be more like Marvel comics has been since the 1960s onwards. 

DC in effect began prioritising the people beneath the costumes over the powers.** But Marvel starting in the 1960s had pretty much always been like that with their heroes.

Consequently when legacies popped up and those new characters were pushed as being just as good, just as worthy, or (in some cases) lowkey pushed as being better  than their predecessors it naturally rubbed those fans with decades of emotional investment the wrong way. OBVIOUSLY  a woman or a POC can be just as worthy and just as capable as a man or a white person as a superhero. But series to series, character to character, it was almost like Marvel was taking away your beloved pet.

Imagine for a moment you had a pet named Rex that you’d known and loved for years. 

Then Marvel insisted on taking Rex away from you when there was nothing wrong with him. In his place they give you another clearly different pet with Rex’s collar, who gets Rex’s bowl, Rex’s food, Rex’s toys, Rex’s bed and even Rex’s name and asks you to treat them not as just a new dog but straight up the new Rex.

Except he isn’t Rex. Rex is Rex. The ‘new Rex’ playing with Rex’s toys, doing the same tricks as him or having his collar doesn’t change that.*** 

Because Rex was more than a collar, his toys or his tricks. He was an individual that you’d known and loved. And even if you know Rex is going to come back ‘eventually’ having Rex taken away from you at all, having the new Rex supplant them (especially if old Rex was screwed over for the sake of new Rex’s arrival) and having so many people insist new Rex is just as great or more great than old Rex (to the point where many people loudly proclaim they don’t even want the old Rex back and the old Rex was kinda lame and boring) is going to create a massive dissonance. Maybe you would’ve been chill with the new Rex is he was just another additional pet called Rover or even like RexY who was similar yet different to Rex, but not actually promoted AS Rex or as his replacement. 

Maybe you would’ve been okay with the new Rex if the old one got too old, died naturally or accidentally. But you aren’t okay with it because there was nothing wrong with Rex, you LOVED Rex and Rex had been with you and been around generally forever. So the new Rex felt like he was undermining him, especially undermining Rex’s individuality. 

That’s how I think most Marvel fans felt about practically EVERY legacy situation that’s ever cropped up from the 1960s onwards, not even the ones just from the 2010s. I remember  the outrage when Bucky was announced as the new Cap. I know there were people salty about Eric Masterson as Thor and the Spider-Man Clone Saga speaks for itself.

Compounding the situation is that more than a few media outlets (despite imo not representing the feeling’s of the majority at all) promoted (and in some cases still promote) the new characters as not just better than they are (see the dozen or so lists talking about how great Riri allegedly was) but along with many fans tear down the older characters whilst doing so. 

See every article ever talking about why Peter Parker in the movies (and sometimes in the comics) NEEDS to die for the sake of Miles becoming the new Spider-Man in spite of their rationales rarely making sense from a creative/financial POV and utilizing misrepresentations of both characters to varying degrees. Even fans that appreciate the social/political relevancy of the new characters are going to naturally be upset in response to that and angrily voice opposition when the character they love gets dragged through the mud like that. And that then gets exacerbated when they are labelled as bigots for feeling upset by the changes or reacting against the character they love being dragged through the mud.**** 

Especially considering they would’ve reacted the same way regardless of who was the replacement hero.  Again, fans at first didn’t take kindly to John Walker or Bucky as the new Captain Americas so the idea that backlash against Sam Wilson was entirely or primarily racist was itself profoundly ignorant. Especially when you consider black reviewers such as those on the Hooded Utalitarian were calling it out as bad storytelling and bad representation for black people. SpaceTwinks went issue by issue through Spencer’s Sam Wilson run and called it out as racist, ignorant and naive. NONE of which is me saying that there isn’t more than a little bigotry going around detractors of these new characters nor that there aren’t obviously bad actors.

But those people did not and do not represent the majority and framing the situation as though they do is disingenuous and highly unethical. In conclusion, the backlash against the 2010s Marvel legacy characters was entirely natural, understandable and for the vast majority came from a place of love for the original characters not a bigoted hatred for the new characters skin colour or sex. 

It was a testament to Marvel’s, and the wider media, misunderstanding the psychology of most comic book fans. 

P.S. In regards to that, though it isn’t exactly talking about what I’ve spoken about I’d highly recommend checking out this video which touches upon the disenchantment Star Wars fans felt over the Sequel Trilogy, which itself could be viewed as doing the same thing Marvel did with it’s replacement legacy characters.

P.P.S. The reason I think the likes of Miles Morales or Kamala Khan succeeded where others failed is chiefly due to their rise to the role of legacy replacements stemmed from their predecessors not  being sidelined for their rise to the spotlight. Miles never ever replaced the 616 version of Peter Parker, widely considered by most fans and Marvel internally as the true and legitimate version of the character. Kamala Khan meanwhile picked up the Ms. Marvel only when Carol Danvers discarded it and became Captain Marvel. She was still in the spotlight in her own right, Kamala simply got her own spotlight using Carol’s obsolete name. Which isn’t all that dissimilar to fan favourite Cassandra Cain’s rise to the Batgirl mantle now I think about it.

P.P.P.S. A possible counter argument to all I’ve said is the success of the Superior Spider-Man/Otto Octavius. After all why was he embraced when Sam Wilson and Jane Foster wasn’t? Was a double standard rooted in bigotry at play?

No, but the answer isn’t neat and simple.

I think Ock as the new Spider-Man was more embraced partially because Ock had been around essentially as long as Spidey himself. But more poignantly  pre-Superior Spider-Man was so atrocious that a sizzling and sexy idea like Superior (which generated tons of cheap novelty) felt utterly refreshing, even to people who had actually LIKED pre-Superior Spidey under Slott. It’s like how people praised the early Big Time stories despite their problems because compared to BND they were genuinely better.

Plus Superior, for all it’s god forsaken writing, didn’t exist to clearly workshop potential movie ideas or chiefly in aid of a social/political cause. Someone can agree that there should be more black or female superheroes but disagree that the older characters should be sidelined in the attempt to achieve that.

Especially when there were better alternative options such as introducing those newer characters within and alongside the established hero’s narrative or simply introduce them independently as has happened recently with the likes of Lunar Snow.

*This is also why I suspect Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman survived from the Golden Age into the Silver Age. Because they were the DC characters who (more than any of the other ones) had actual personalities/substance to them. **Of course this didn’t begin wholesale with the post-Crisis era. But noticeably the characters who had worked with this new shift in priorities prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths stayed generally the same thereafter (E.g. the Titans, Batman) whilst characters who had largely vacillated or struggled (e.g. Superman and Wonder Woman) were given fresh starts which proved critically and financially successful.  

***Not even if he does everything just as well as Rex did or does some stuff differently that’s still good (although the overwhelming majority of the time new Rex is clearly not as good as the old Rex).

****I’ve seen people be called racist and misogynists for calling out Riri Williams honestly ridiculous degree of competency as a hero/tech genius in spite of her age. This is not an invalid criticism, yet disliking the character because of those reasons is grounds to be labelled as something ugly by another (imo minor yet also vocal) contingent of fandom. 

Hell I was called a Trump supporting Breitbart reading bigot for calling out Marvel as two-faced due to never putting a black writer in charge of Sam Wilson as Captain America or a woman in charge of Jane Foster as Thor. It isn’t exclusive to comics either as I and other people have been accused of racism/misogyny for disliking the Last Jedi in spite of that film to my eyes being itself racist and sexist anyway.

[meggannn]

along with everything else that’s great about the alchemex heist scene, the background dialogue as Miles makes off with the computer is some of my favorite cause it keeps track of each characters’ priorities, juggles who knows what, and it also shows peter and miles’ relationship developing from ‘annoyed partners’ to mentor/mentee or protector/charge in a really organic way

[As Miles logs into the computer, Ock and Peter talk in the bg about her collider working/dimensional travel.] Octavius: (laughing) They said I was crazy, they said I was crazy! Peter: (nervous laughing, distracting her) You showed ‘em you’re not crazy!

Octavius: ...My enemies call me Doc Ock. Peter: I got this, run! (webs the handprint scanner for Miles to escape)

Octavius: Who are you talking to? [Script: Miles looks down the empty hallway but hesitates leaving Peter behind.]

[Ock slams Peter to the ground, breaking his chair.] Peter: (yelling at invisible Miles) I got it! Octavius: Oh, you got it, Peter?! [Script: Miles takes off down the hallway. Peter is repeatedly slammed into the glass walls as Miles runs by him.]

(We know Peter isn’t just yelling out randomly hoping Miles can hear him; he can see where Miles is by tracking the visible computer.)

Peter: I got it handled, buddy! Everything is FINE! [Ock throws him through the glass rooms.] Peter: Okay, this is a little bit bad. Octavius: Oh, you’re chatty! [Miles becomes visible running into Gwen, stays visible running down the hall.] Peter: ...And this is the moment that I’m losing the fight.

Ock throws Peter into the hallway at this point, at which point Ock notices visible Miles. at first I thought this was a little unrealistic cause wouldn’t she have noticed a walking computer before this point, and put two and two together? but considering her focus is centered entirely on Peter until now, Spiderman is known for chatting during fights, and Peter only really addresses Miles twice (“Run!” “I got it handled, buddy!”), she calls out the first one, and he says the “buddy” line with his face pressed up against the glass. The rest of it could believably pass as Peter talking to himself, especially since in this verse Spiderman doesn’t have a history of working with anyone.

anyway i like how immediately and naturally peter looks out for miles when the stakes get high. i think peter didn’t want miles tagging along for a few reasons, one because he’s a solo act and two cause he didn’t want to deal with a kid in general, but also i think he told miles to stay outside as lookout for his own safety. he changes his mind when miles stands his ground in the vent and peter realizes miles has a severe case of survivor’s guilt; if he wants to be a superhero, he has to learn the stakes, and it’s better he do it with an adult there as guidance. when ock is about to walk into the room, he gives miles the less dangerous job of hacking into the computer while he distracts her. as soon as ock reveals herself, he gets miles out of the room immediately. he spends the rest of the fight yelling out assurances that everything’s going to be fine, even though he’s just been told his molecules are decaying and he’s currently getting his ass whooped. that’s a far cry from the guy who was just complaining about a kid tagging along ten minutes ago.

on miles’s end, i love that he stops twice in ock’s lab: once when she says “i can’t wait to watch,” and he hesitates again after peter opens the door, not wanting to leave peter alone with her, but peter’s priority is miles’s safety and he insists miles run.

also when ock corners miles, miles yells “PETER!” and peter immediately gets him out of there. miles has already looked to peter for guidance before this moment but this is the first time he looks to him to save him in a fight, and peter (who has just been thrown down the hallway again and is still catching his breath) doesn’t let ock have barely three seconds with miles before he webs miles out of her grasp. these caps really show the distance between them but as soon as peter gets his bearings he thinks ‘get the kid to safety.’ you can see him pulling miles by the webbing and trying to avoid ock’s tentacles.

later, after Peter’s grabbed a bagel and the cafeteria scientists notice them:

[Peter trades Miles the bagel for the computer.] Peter: Okay, now we do a switchy-switchy.

i cannot think of another reason peter would trade miles for the computer other than to protect him. it’s the data the scientists will be after (and peter himself, of the two of them), so peter makes himself the sole target by taking the modem.

last thing, when miles is being chased by doc ock in the forest (and there is really no reason for her to do this other than to terrify miles tbh! miles doesn’t have the computer anymore, he’s clearly the less experienced spiderman -- ock sees him as an easier target since he’s slower, and she probably knows peter will come back for him). peter sees her closing in on miles and doubles back. miles is able to swing out of harm’s way but peter just like, slams into her anyway, for the fun of it? or probably to knock her off balance. but still

and the he yells “nice, miles!” because positive encouragement :)

[ominousflare]

It’s Been A While

So I haven’t been using tumblr for a long time (or used it that much to begin with), but since I’ve found myself some fellow Spider-Man fans here converse with, I feel I might as well become more active, or whatever.

Anyway, I might post my future Superior Spider-Man review here in the future once I get my lazy ass to finish it. I know, I know, it’s a five year old story. I’m incredibly late. Anyway, it’s also an incredibly long review, so I don’t know whether if I should post it here or just the link of it.

For now, I guess I’ll just post a past review of mine. Here’s a review of

ASM #698-700: Dying Wish

Well, it's finally happened. Peter Parker is dead. The bad guy wins. Happy 50th anniversary, Spider-fans! Hope you enjoyed watching your favorite hero kick the bucket on his special day! 

I'll be honest with you. I've been preparing for the worst. I was really uncomfortable with the idea of this arc just from reading about its details, that Doc Ock was going to swap brains with Spidey and assume his mantle. It sounded very gimmicky and contrived. Ever since "One More Day" happened, the Amazing Spider-Man comic seemed less like a character study of Peter Parker, with each story becoming a product the writers pitched as the next big thing to draw the readers of tomorrow and keep the book afloat for the next 10-20 years. Even Straczynski's run spent more time exploring the kind of person Peter was as a husband, adding new layers and depths to the hero, instead of turning each book into the blockbuster of the month. That being said... it's a good story. Not a great one, but certainly not the horrible nightmare some of us had hyperbolically generalized in a fit of panic. Somewhat disappointing, but not worth writing death threats about. And honestly, after reading an insightful article written by Cody Wilson of the ever-reliable Spiderfan.org, I realized that we were partially to blame for this "new direction" anyway. It's partly on us, the death of Spider-Man. We can gripe and complain about the writers, editors and Marvel's entire company all day long, but when it comes down to it, we have to face the facts: Spider-Man is a product, and business was booming in spite of all the supposedly "terrible" creative decisions they've made. And like any product, we the customers are a key source of how the business will be run. Over the years prior to ASM #700, Marvel had been selling us different ideas by introducing story elements that would later be used again in "Dying Wish," and our feedback to those elements in earlier stories was what ultimately led to the "Superior Spider-Man," the book that would replace "The Amazing Spider-Man" title for better or worse - at least for a year and 33 issues. Through this review, I hope to address these "elements" and analyze which of them worked for me and which merely raised my anxiety levels.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I CAN DO BETTER

This wasn't the first time a supervillain stole Peter Parker's identity. Back in ASM #602, Chameleon seemingly "killed" Peter in an acid pool and subsequently went about the rest of the day being him; even interacting with Peter's acquaintances and friends. Having the eccentric behavior of improving the lives of whomever he had disguised as, Chameleon did a few selfish things, including punching Mary-Jane's stalker (with the butt of a gun), calling Flash Thompson "Puny Flash" the way he called Peter years ago, and moving Harry's homeless butt into Peter's home. These "improvements" Chameleon made in Peter's life were well-received by readers, myself included, thereby providing Marvel the first piece of the puzzle they needed. I have to admit, Peter calling the ex-bully "Puny Flash" was a guilty pleasure on its own, giving payback to the football star after so long. On the other hand, he's a crippled war hero, so it was still a scummy thing to say. And while it could be fun to see someone carry out these naughty deeds in Peter's favor - doing and saying things some of us wish Peter would just have the guts to do - it could also lead to some really creepy scenes. Let's not forget, these were bad people taking over Peter's life, Octavius the sociopathic egomaniac included. In ASM #602, Chameleon made out with Peter's roommate, who wasn't aware who she was really kissing under that mask; this lack of consent was tantamount to an act of rape.

And then in #700, Otto (in Peter's body) was clearly thinking of having sex with MJ, a woman who would be unaware of the real person she's really sleeping with. This would eventually lead to some even more sleazy storyline in the "Superior Spider-Man," which I'll touch on in the future. Playing devil's advocate for a bit, one could argue that crippling a woman and stripping her naked to show how evil a villain is was in poor taste too, yet Killing Joke was held by millions as some gold standard of storytelling. What Dan Slott wrote seemed trivial by comparison.

KILL HIM TWICE, SHAME ON YOU

There's a reason why "Death of Spider-Man" worked in the Ultimate universe: Peter Parker died being known to his world as a hero, giving us a fitting finality. In the 616 universe, on the other hand? He died leaving a villain perving on his ex-girlfriend! What kind of finality was that?! What a way to shit all over our favorite hero! Of all the feedback Marvel took into consideration, this had to be the dumbest. It's like simple math to them: "People loved Ultimate Death of Spider-Man, therefore they must be okay with killing off 616 Peter Parker and replacing him with a murdering sociopath on his 50th birthday." Unfortunately, the best storytelling is anything but simple math. And unlike USM, the moments right before Peter's death here felt rushed. Ultimate Spider-Man had the benefit of "Ultimate Fallout", a mini series dedicated to addressing how everyone reacted to the death of such a great hero. Amazing Spider-Man didn't have that advantage and had to slap together several "closures" to end the book, including MJ finally confessing to Otto-Peter her love for him, Jonah Jameson finally approving of Spidey as a legit hero, and Peter experiencing a dream sequence where everyone he cared about who died came back to greet and thank him - all within a single issue. These "closures" should have been, in my opinion, focused on in an entirely separate issue of their own, not crammed together with the already crowded plot of #700. It ended up reading like a last minute homework assignment written hastily to beat the deadline.

There's also another thing that bothered me about Peter's final moments. Using the last remnant of his energy in Octavius' dying body, Peter was somehow able to channel the memories in his own body and forced Otto to experience all the guilt and pain he ever felt being Spider-Man. Afterwards, he almost seemed content to pass on the mantle to Doc Ock. Why was he so content with letting this potential killer take over his role as Spidey, and why would his dying wish be for Otto to take care of MJ and his loved ones? He's a selfish and self-centered jerk who only ever cared about himself! Why would he trust him?! No matter how sympathetic Otto came across, and no matter how desperate Peter was, it just didn't make sense. I wish there would have been at least a last desperate struggle on Peter's part to resist letting this psycho do whatever he wanted with his powers, not quietly accept his takeover. In fact, it would have made more sense if Peter had gone to the Avengers or the Fantastic Four instead, where he could have made it his last request to have them stop Doc Ock. Not to mention, they would have bought this "mind-swap" story a lot more than Carlie - who shot him multiple times when he tried to tell her the truth - did.

DRACO IN LEATHER PANTS

The third feedback Marvel collected was the sympathetic side of Octavius. There were a number of stories detailing this, depicting him as a frail young boy in the past who had aspired to be scientist (just like Peter Parker). And there's grounds for such sympathy too, for Otto never received the proper grooming Peter had, thereby being an ideal mirror of Spidey (much like the Joker and Batman). This ambiguous side of Octavius' morality was well-received, along with, of course, Spider-Man 2, where he was made into an even more sympathetic antagonist than his comic counterpart. Yet, the decision to place a murderer behind the mask of the webbed hero for a long period of time is strange and definitely inappropriate. Octavius is tied to at least three deaths, two of which were intentional: Bradley Miles in "Peter Parker: Spider-Man" Vol. 2 #40, James Warden in "Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Negative Exposure" #4, and the accidental death of George Stacy in ASM #90. Would that be appropriate for the kids reading this? Spidey's been a huge recognizable icon all over the world, and now kids are going to follow in the footsteps of this scum who thinks it's okay to break the other criminals' jaws or just straight up kill them (the latter of which we'll see in "Superior" later on)? With the recent "racial/sexual diversity" movement a more political Marvel was trying to gun for, I'm surprised they would risk such an idea in our SJW climate, not to mention the aforementioned sexual aggression towards MJ.

Again, there is potential for a good story here... if it's a tale of redemption, which would only work if Octavius turns himself in. Unfortunately, a move like that could possibly end the Spider-Man books for good (unless Peter returns), which is the exact opposite of why Marvel shook things up with this brain-swap in the first place (to keep the sales of Spider-Man books from dying). And even if the books continue with Otto being some kind of anti-hero vigilante hunted by the law, there's no way Spider-Man fans (and probably many parents) could approve of a murderer remaining as the new face of the inspiring hero for long. I think Marvel knew that. Marvel's not stupid. And we knew that Marvel's not stupid, so I'm sure lots of people have speculated Peter Parker's return long before he did. What I don't know is why Marvel even bothered to hide it. It's kinda an obvious eventuality. But when all is said and done, I admit that the idea of a Spider-Man who's not so morally clean does intrigue me, somewhat. Over the years, Spidey cutting loose and unleashing all the strength and powers in him can be cathartic. While it was his integrity that made him an amazing character we could look up to, there was also an underlying pleasure in seeing him punish those who deserve it; in seeing him get a little dirty to get things done. So to have "SpOck" (god that's an awful nickname) stay for a while before Peter eventually come back? I'm actually okay with that. I wouldn't mind seeing a "dark and gritty" chapter for Spider-Man. However, a key reason I would like this approach lies in a factor that applies to me: I haven't read the other darker Spider-Man spin-offs, which brings us to our final feedback and problem.

DARKNESS WITHOUT LIGHT BREEDS APATHY

There were two other Spider-Man spin-offs around the time this story arc was released. "Scarlet Spider" (Vol. 2) and Venom (Vol. 2), both of which received very favorable reviews (Venom, in particular), and were darker takes on the Spider-Man theme of power and responsibility (Scarlet Spider, in particular, since he's literally a clone of Peter Parker). If I want a darker story, I would read either of those. The only reason I didn't was because I only have enough time for Spidey alone. No time for the myriad amount of spin-offs out there. And now a third dark Spider-story is introduced, filled with murders and bloodshed - and believe me, there will be blood. I've mentioned before that I love dark stories. I live for them. They can touch on our basest emotions and provide us a form of catharsis the lighter and warmer tales couldn't. But this is another case of businessmen blindly relying on the numbers without considering the context. Too much darkness can ultimately lead to indifference in your audience, not to mention the fact that the "lighter" stories have their place in storytelling too, offering something dark stories couldn't either: hope, and moral inspiration.

Batman is an amazing character. His stories (often through his rogues' gallery) delve into a complex analysis of the human mind; of our darkest and most frightening emotions and personalities. But not everyone likes reading Batman, and even Batman fans probably don't want every superhero to be like Batman either! That would just dilute his unique quality. Besides, would you want all your heroes to be brooding or morally complex? Did you enjoy the dark and morose Superman in Batman v. Superman or even Man of Steel? Sometimes, we just want heroes to be heroes! Not straight up kill criminals without offering redemption like The Punisher and Wolverine! We already have those in the Marvel universe! Sigh. I'm merely playing devil's advocate here. As I've mentioned, 'Spotto Octavius' wasn't going to stay for the long-term, so it's fine. A temporary period of dark Spider-Man stories is fine. For me. But I do have to put my foot down and lay out what a darker Spider-Man means for the world, and why both writers and business executors alike must be careful not to push the scale too far. Balance. There must always be balance in all things. Take it from Thanos. 

WAS THIS STORY ANY GOOD?

I talked a lot about the aspects that came to piece together this Frankenstein monster. But was the story entertaining in its own right? The short answer is yes, especially #698. That first part of the story was truly like Doc Ock said, a magic trick. It began with an ordinary day in the life of Spidey. Nothing seemed unusual. But by the end of it, I was left slack-jawed and so utterly impressed by Slott that I had to read the ending twice to see if I had misread something. The second and third issues went a step further. Essentially, the entire story arc could be summed up with "Peter trying to get back into his own body." But after we knew Peter was running out of time, the pacing of the story started to pick up really, really quickly. The readers would be as concerned as Peter, and at that time, nobody knew what was really going to happen because there was an announcement around that time that "The Amazing Spider-Man" book would come to an end. It's a real page-turning thriller in spite of its simple premise. Most gut-wrenching of all, they made Peter plead for his life. On his birthday.

Talk about a punch to the gut. Brings back tearful memories ("I don't want to go, Mr. Octavius"). Humberto Ramos' art really didn't help things. His depiction of Peter trapped in a dying body was a horrifying sight to endure for me. You could see all the horrid details; his skin decaying, his eye-socket popping out, and blood spilling out everywhere. I could only imagine how painful Peter's final moments were. No wonder many fans were outraged. This wasn't an honorable death in the arms of his loved ones like Ultimate Spider-Man; it was pure torture. Does Dan Slott actually hate Peter Parker? Still, I have to give credit where it's due. It's an emotional story (albeit for the wrong reasons at times), and it's a really ballsy one too where the bad guy actually won. And it wasn't just any bad guy either - it was one of Spidey's biggest bads of all. Since Norman Osborn had already became an Avenger villain, it made sense for the next biggest Spider-Man villain in line, Doc Ock, to be the one who would finally do him in. Now onto the other question: do I like the overall story? No. I don't hate it as much as certain stories in the past (marriage and The Devil come to mind), but on principle, I can't accept this story. I know why they made this story. It's almost the same thing as One More Day. I'm guessing the sales for ASM must have been dropping. And even if it wasn't, even if I'm completely wrong about the comparisons to OMD, I still don't like how shoddily his death was treated. I don't mind a Spider-Man death - I LOVED "Death of Ultimate Spider-Man." It respected and really reminded us why Spidey was the hero we loved. This story felt like just another rushed effort by Dan Slott to clean up the book and move onto the thing he seemingly loved more, Spotto Octavius "The Superior Spider-Man," a book that he's written far better than his entire run in ASM. Are we sure Dan is a Spider-Man fan? Or did he just like Otto?

To clarify, I don't begrudge Dan. It's more of the corporate decisions of Marvel executives that I'm so infuriated about. It's always the executives at one point or another whenever we are talking about a creatively-skewed story. And while his work might have been sloppy throughout most of his run, I was reminded recently that it might be due to Marvel pushing him with agendas and deadlines, so again, not his fault. What's done is done. And I've already began reading "Superior", even as I'm writing this. It's not bad, and it's everything I expected: an extremist Spidey willing to cross the line to get things done. I like it, just not how we got there. I mean, give me a break, Peter was my hero. Is it too much that I wanted a death that wasn't as insulting? At the least, I wish that "dream sequence" I mentioned was more than just a dream, and everyone Peter cared about actually came to pat him on the back for doing a good job, that it was time for him to rest. The fact that it was only a dream felt like the final slap to his face. "Good job, hero. Now get the f*** out of here."

Final Rating: Two webs out of five

I was going to give this story three webs initially. I really did. But looking back now at how Peter's death was treated, I feel more infuriated than satisfied, and also annoyed that it was just another corporate decision that never stuck, since he would come back later anyway. It cheapened the already cheapened idea of the comic book death. Now, even one of the most iconic heroes of all time suffered from the tired cliche of meaningless death.

Next time, I shall finally witness the birth of this supposedly "Superior Spider-Man" and see if Otto could truly surpass our lovable Pete as the hero we deserve:

[aion-rsa]

Marvel Comics Solicitations for July 2017

Marvel Comics has provided CBR with covers and solicit information for product shipping July 2017. Discuss these solicitations here on CBR’s Marvel Comics forum, Spider-Man forum, or X-Books forum and share with fellow fans what titles spark your interest.

Marvel Solicitations – Last Six Months

Product shipping June 2017

Product shipping May 2017

Product shipping April 2017

Product shipping March 2017

Product shipping February 2017

Product shipping January 2017

SECRET EMPIRE #6 (of 9)

NICK SPENCER (W) • LEINIL FRANCIS YU (A)

Cover by MARK BROOKS

Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

Variant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

Hydra Hero Variant Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO

Villain Variant Cover by DAN MORA

Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

The unworthy, the untrusted, the unstable — this is their day! BEWARE THE SECRET EMPIRE!

40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SECRET EMPIRE #7 (of 9)

NICK SPENCER (W) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (A)

Cover by MARK BROOKS

Variant Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

Hydra Hero Variant Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO

Villain Variant Cover by DAN MORA

Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

It was foretold by Ulysses, it’s haunted Spider-Man’s nightmares for months, and now the moment has arrived: It’s time for Miles Morales to kill Captain America! Unless Natasha…

40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SECRET EMPIRE: BRAVE NEW WORLD #3 (of 5)

PAUL ALLOR, ETHAN SACKS, MAGDALENE VISAGGIO (W) • BRIAN LEVEL, SEAN IZAAKSE (A)

COVER BY PAULO SIQUEIRA

Estranged from the planet he’s duty bound to protect, Kevin Conner, A.K.A. STARBRAND wrestles with the weight of his destiny… Meanwhile on Earth, the citizens of New York City find themselves trapped and a traitor in Atlantis could bring an end to Namor’s truce with Hydra!

Starring J. JONAH JAMESON, STARBRAND and THE INVADERS.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SECRET EMPIRE: BRAVE NEW WORLD #4 (of 5)

PAUL ALLOR, KARLA PACHECO, AMY CHU (W) • Brian Level, Alex Arizmendi (A)

COVER BY PAULO SIQUEIRA

Misty Knight undertakes covert mission to protect the liberty’s of those HYDRA would see oppressed.–but has she taken on more than she can handle?

Take a behind-the-scenes look at life in the Mutant Homeland with a special tour from New Tian’s elite.

And below the surface, the fight for Atlantis takes a turn for the worse.

Starring MISTY KNIGHT, EMMA FROST and THE INVADERS.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #24

NICK SPENCER (W) • JOE BENNETT (A)

Cover by ELIZABETH TORQUE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

No more prevaricating! No more hesitation! Sam Wilson is back in harness as Captain America — to lead the fight against his ultimate foe!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #19

NICK SPENCER (W) • JesUs Saiz (A/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Steve Rogers has won over the hearts and minds of the people — save one! Unfortunately, that one is the person closest to him, the one he cares about the most. And so Sharon Carter has a fateful decision to make…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

AVENGERS #9

MARK WAID (W) • MIKE DEL MUNDO (A)

Cover by ALEX ROSS

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

The most loved Avenger of all has now shown his true colors — and the Avengers will have to put their allegiances to Steve Rogers aside and fight the good fight! But for one Avenger, that fight is very far away indeed! Trapped in a nameless land, a timeless time, can Thor find her way back to the here and now in order to return to the struggle?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SECRET WARRIORS #4

MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • JAVIER GARRON (A)

Cover by TRADD MOORE & MATTHEW WILSON

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

After narrowly surviving their battle with the X-Men, the Secret Warriors have to get back to New Attilan to use what they have learned in the fight against Hydra…but Hydra won’t make that easy. As the danger grows, so does the distrust among the Warriors. Karnak is clearly making plans of his own. But why? With Hydra breathing down their necks, the team is tearing itself apart, and the clock is ticking on their plans. But first Quake must be ready to lead the Secret Warriors into a confrontation with her father, the Hydra commander, MISTER HYDE!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

CHAMPIONS #10

MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

The Champions are put to the ultimate test. This is no small-town problem they’re facing — it’s up to them to help right an entire world turned upside down!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30

DAN SLOTT (W) • STUART IMMONEN (A)

Cover by ALEX ROSS

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Otto Octavius is back, but he’s not returning to his old ways… No, this time, he’s THE SUPERIOR OCTOPUS! And he’s allied himself with Steve Rogers and Hydra! What does Ock have planned for Peter and Parker Industries? Nothing good for Spider-Man, that’s for sure!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

DEADPOOL #33 & 34

GERRY DUGGAN (W) • MATTEO LOLLI (A)

CoverS by DAVID LOPEZ

Issue #33 – Secret Comics Variant Cover by SCOTT KOBLISH

Issue #33 – X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Issue #34 – Secret Comics Variant Cover by SCOTT KOBLISH

It’s not easy living under a Hydra government. Especially when you accidentally sided with them. Yeah — Deadpool messed up pretty badly this time.

PLUS: Deadpool vs. Agent Preston for the fate of Ellie!

32 PGS. (EACH)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (EACH)

DOCTOR STRANGE #23

DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • NIKO HENRICHON (A/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Strange, Fisk and company take the fight to the person running New York City…BARON MORDO!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

OCCUPY AVENGERS #9

DAVID F. WALKER (W) • GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTA (A/C)

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Walk tall. Shoot straight. Die with your boots on.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THE MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL #7

MARGARET STOHL (W) • MICHELE BANDINI (A)

Cover by ELIZABETH TORQUE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Captain Marvel makes her last stand against the Chitauri fleet’s onslaught! But with Alpha Flight all but out of commission, things look grim… Can Carol and her band of sisters TURN BACK THE CHITAURI?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

U.S.AVENGERS #8

AL EWING (W) • PACO MEDINA (A/C)

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Squirrel Girl and Enigma continue the fight against HYDRA’s forces in Europe! Meanwhile, in a deep, dark cell, Roberto Da Costa is dying by degrees as his M-Pox runs out of control. Can Dr. Toni Ho save them both…or will she follow her father’s legacy to the end?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

UNCANNY AVENGERS #25

JIM ZUB (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)

Cover by R.B. SILVA

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

Manhattan is under siege! In order to survive this endless night, the Avengers must face darkness without and darkness within.

40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

X-MEN BLUE #7

CULLEN BUNN (W) • CORY T. SMITH (A)

Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

VARIANT COVER BY DAVID LOPEZ

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

How will our intrepid heroes react to this new world order? Will MARVEL GIRL, CYCLOPS, ANGEL, ICEMAN and BEAST be overwhelmed by HYDRA? I really hope not!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

X-MEN BLUE #8

CULLEN BUNN (W) • CORY T. SMITH (A)

Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

EMMA FROST! She’s back…and badder than ever.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

X-MEN GOLD #7

MARC GUGGENHEIM (W) • KEN LASHLEY (A/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

When Manhattan is besieged, the X-Men open their doors and repurpose their school as a safe haven for any human or mutant in need of sanctuary. But little do they know that one of the humans they’ve welcomed in is the all-new X-CUTIONER! And he’s about to make the Xavier Institute the last place mutants want to be…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

X-MEN GOLD #8

MARC GUGGENHEIM (W) • KEN LASHLEY (A)

Cover by ARDIAN SYAF

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!

The Xavier Institute is on lockdown. But the X-Men haven’t succeeded in keeping danger out. Instead, they’ve just locked themselves inside with it. Can the X-Men stop the all-new X-CUTIONER before he claims any more of their number?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

GENERATIONS OVERSIZED VINYL POSTER BY ALEX ROSS

FOC 6/05/17, ON-SALE 7/05/2017

62×48…$39.99 • 5960605400-88711

RETAILERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE 1 FREE FOLDED 20×36 PAPER POSTER PER ACCOUNT!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #1

CHARLES SOULE (W) • JIM CHEUNG (A/C)

Variant Cover by ARTGERM

Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAY

Character Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON

Villain Variant Cover by DALE KEOWN

REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

ONLY THE X-MEN CAN SAVE US! An ancient evil is attacking the world’s most powerful minds. It will have them by the time you finish this sentence, and a moment later, it will have us all. A band of X-MEN discovers the truth behind the threat, but there is no time left. PSYLOCKE, OLD MAN LOGAN, BISHOP, ARCHANGEL, FANTOMEX, ROGUE and GAMBIT will attempt to save a world that hates and fears them. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE THE X-MEN.

From blockbuster writer CHARLES SOULE and joined by a roster of superstar artists beginning with JIM CHEUNG. ASTONISHING X-MEN. It’s the X-book you need.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

SPIDER-MEN II #1 (of 5)

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • SARA PICHELLI (A)

Cover by Sara Pichelli and Justin Ponsor

Variant Cover by Daniel Acuña

Connecting Variant Cover by Jesüs Saiz

VARIANT COVER BY KADIR NELSON

VARIANT COVER BY JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO

VARIANT COVER BY TBA

THIS IS IT, TRUE BELIEVERS! The moment five years in the making is finally here! The first time Peter Parker and Miles Morales met ended with a question — WHO IS THE MILES MORALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE?! Now that the Miles you know and love is with Peter in the Marvel Universe, you’re finally going to get that answer to who the OTHER Miles Morales is! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg as Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli bring you the next heart-stopping adventure for both Peter Parker and Miles Morales!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN #1 & 2 (of 5)

CULLEN BUNN (W) • DALIBOR TALAJIC (A)

Covers by DAVE JOHNSON

ISSUE #1 – Variant Cover by MICHAEL WALSH

ISSUE #1 – Variant Cover by PEPE LARRAZ

ISSUE #1 – VOLUME 1 VARIANT COVER BY TBA

ISSUE #2 – Variant Cover by SALVA ESPIN

Remember the time Deadpool went a little TOO crazy and killed the entire Marvel Universe? Well, this isn’t that. This is a DIFFERENT time. Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dalibor Talajic (A.K.A. the creators behind DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE) have reunited for ANOTHER tale of Deadpool taking out all of your faves in the most horrific ways possible! It’s gonna hurt him more than it hurts you…and you’re gonna love it!

32 PGS. (EACH)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (EACH)

MARVEL’S THOR: RAGNAROK PRELUDE #1 (of 4)

WILL CORONA PILGRIM (W) • J.L. GILES (A)

THE INCREDIBLE HULK’S MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE DEBUT!

BRUCE BANNER has been trying to put the past behind him as he learns to control the powerful beast inside him. But as GENERAL ROSS continues to hunt the fugitive Banner, it’s only a matter of time before the HULK will smash! Join us for part one of our lead-up to 2017’s cinematic event Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok with this brand-new comic adaptation of the smash hit The Incredible Hulk!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

MARVEL’S THOR: RAGNAROK PRELUDE #2 (of 4)

WILL CORONA PILGRIM (W) • J.L. GILES (A)

HULK VS. ABOMINATION! GENERAL ROSS’ obsession with the HULK will have dire consequences…including the emergence of a powerful villain that may prove too much for his forces…or the Hulk! It’s a showdown in New York City, and the next step on the road to Ragnarok!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

MIGHTY THOR #21

JASON AARON (W) • RUSSELL DAUTERMAN & VALERIO SCHITI (A)

Cover by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

THE ULTIMATE TEAM-UP! The Queen of Cinders sets the realms ablaze — and even the combined might of three Thunder Gods may not be enough to put out the flames! But the all-new Ultimate Thor has a shocking secret. Can Thor trust her newest ally to have her back as Malekith’s army grows and the War of the Realms reaches Asgard’s doorstep?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

HULK #8

MARIKO TAMAKI (W) • GEORGES DUARTE (A)

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

“LET THEM EAT CAKE” PART TWO! As Jen struggles to use her HULK persona in a constructive fashion, an innocent person must contend with an unlikely transformation of their own… Will their paths cross? Of course they will! It’s like you’ve never read a comic book before or something.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

ULTIMATES 2 #9

AL EWING (W) • TRAVEL FOREMAN (A)

Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD

The Eternity War ramps up — as the Maker and the High Evolutionary join forces! They have an ultimate plan for the Multiverse…but whose side are they on? Meanwhile, Galactus gathers his forces against the Dark Celestials…for the final battle!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #10

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • ALEX MALEEV (A)

As the impossible task of redeeming himself to the universe begins to overwhelm him, the truth about Doom’s reincarnated mother is revealed!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI (A)

COVER BY DANIEL ACUÑA

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Riri Williams strikes out on her own as her idealism is put to the test by a world she does not understand yet. How far is Ironheart prepared to go to do what she knows is right?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

ZOMBIES ASSEMBLE #0 (4 OF 4)

YUSAKU KOMIYAMA (W/A) • Adapted by JIM ZUB

Cover by KIICHI MIZUSHIMA

VARIANT COVER BY DAVID NAKAYAMA

VARIANT COVER BY NIC KLEIN

You’ve seen Earth’s Mightiest Heroes face off against a raging zombie virus — now, go back to the beginning in this special prelude issue of the epic manga adaptation! The Avengers risk their lives to make the world a safer place for all, oftentimes suffering severe injury and great loss. When Tony Stark faces a more personal threat — one leveled against Pepper Potts — the risk is too great to ignore, and he’s forced to act fast. What lengths will Tony go to in order to keep Pepper safe? Iron Man is an important part of his life, but can he figure out a way to replace the armor and step away from being an Avenger, if that’s what it takes? There are some things more menacing than monsters.

48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

SPIDER-MAN: MASTER PLAN #1

ROBBIE THOMPSON (w) • NATHAN STOCKMAN (a/C)

Variant Cover by RON LIM

Variant Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

CRIME DOES PAY! Everything’s going perfectly for PETER PARKER…he’s got some time off and landed tickets to the hottest Broadway show in town…which means there’s another shoe ready to drop somewhere…

Join everyone’s favorite web-slinger in an all-new story against his classic foe THE CRIME MASTER!

Also including a special reprinting of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #2, featuring the first appearance of THE VULTURE!

40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99

PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #2

CHIP ZDARSKY (w) • ADAM KUBERT (a/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Variant Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

A tech-crime ring is tightening around Spider-Man. If Ironheart will stop beating him up, she may be able to help him zero in on the source. And who is the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent showing up at Peter’s door with more info on Spidey than anyone should have?

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #2 (of 5)

CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (w) • IRENE STRYCHALSKI (a)

Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

Variant Cover by RON LIM

A PINK NIGHTMARE! The wall-breaking wunderkind we call Gwenpool gets ahold of the VENOM SYMBIOTE and turns into a sword-slinging, web-swinging master of disaster! But it won’t all be fun and games when Gwenpool comes across something huge… something that will directly lead to the Venom event of 2017!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #3 (of 5)

SIMON SPURRIER (w) • TIGH WALKER (a)

Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

Variant Cover by RON LIM

THE SYMBIOTIC SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE! Robbie Reyes was just an average, ordinary super hero with a flaming skull…right up until he found himself bonded with a dangerous extraterrestrial symbiote! Don’t miss the first daring drive of the HOST RIDER!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

VENOM #152

MIKE COSTA (W) • GERARDO SANDOVAL (A)

COVER BY Francisco Herrera

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

“THE LAND BEFORE CRIME” CONTINUES! Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote are reunited, but something’s wrong! The symbiote can’t contain itself within Eddie’s veins and has started seeping out of his pores as he sleeps. To make matters worse, Stegron is aiming to turn all of New York into dinosaurs by sunrise…and Venom is DINNER!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #5

PETER DAVID (w) • MARK BAGLEY (a/C)

Ben Reilly is back in the blue, and right on time for his big showdown with Cassandra Mercury and her strongman, Slate! But Mercury and her minions aren’t the only people who have it in for Ben. Kaine does, too, and he won’t stop until he brings Ben in…dead or alive!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #9

GERRY CONWAY & RYAN STEGMAN (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (a/C)

MJ’s Regent-tech suit has been acting up and sapping spidey-powers from Peter, so she went and got herself a biological upgrade. Something black and white and terrible all over… With MJ bonded to the Venom symbiote, will she give in to its villainous urges?

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #19

JOSHUA CORIN (w) • WILL ROBSON (a/C)

The adventures of your favorite duo in comic books continue, and this time Spider-Man and Deadpool have decided NOT TO BE FUNNY ANYMORE?! What could have possibly driven our two heroes to take the funny outta their own funny book? And just what the heck has SLAPSTICK got to do with it?!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SPIDER-GWEN #22

JASON LATOUR (W) • ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (A/C)

“Predators” Part 4! Gwen’s relationship with Matt Murder-dock is coming to its natural end…but is that end also Gwen’s not-natural death?

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

SPIDER-MAN #18

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (w) • OSCAR BAZALDUA (a)

Cover by PATRICK BROWN

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Spider-Man finds out that Hammerhead isn’t so funny after all. The NYC crime-land gang war is heating up, and Miles is getting a little too involved. This won’t end well.

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #25

PETER DAVID (w) • WILL SLINEY (a)

Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

Spidey and his allies have pinpointed the precise date and time of the event that stranded Miguel O’Hara in the past — and left 2099 in shambles! Once THE FIST is defeated, the timeline will be set right. But is this new Spider-Man here to help or do harm? Miguel’s fight for the fate of the future comes to a climactic end!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

ROYALS #5

AL EWING (W) • JONBOY MEYERS (A)

COVER BY KRIS ANKA

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Deep in the ruins of the Kree homeworld Hala, THE SECRET is revealed! Who — or what — are THE PROGENITORS? What is their connection to the Terrigen Mists? And how much does Marvel Boy know…?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

MS. MARVEL #20

G. WILLOW WILSON (W) • Marco Failla (A)

Cover by VALERIO SCHITI

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Kamala Khan’s older brother is in danger and she’s determined to help him at all costs — but to rescue him she’ll need help. But who can she trust when Jersey City is more divided than ever? It’s becoming clear that this unrest in J.C. might be more personal than Kamala ever considered…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

BLACK BOLT #3

SALADIN AHMED (W) • CHRISTIAN WARD (A/C)

VARIANT COVER BY BILL SIENKIEWICZ

PRISON BREAK! The prisoners revolt! But are Black Bolt and his unlikely allies simply pawns in a bigger game? Plus: Death’s Head! Is he there to help…or hunt? And who — or what — is the warden of this strange place? Whatever it is, the Jailer knows only penance and fear. And soon, so will the Silent King!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #21

BRANDON MONTCLARE (W) • NATACHA BUSTOS (A/C)

GOOD GIRL GONE BAD! The Omni-Wave Projector (the very device that bent time and space to bring Devil Dinosaur to the present) is on the fritz, so when Lunella and Devil return home, things are not quite as they remember… Why is everyone afraid of them? What happened to Yancy Street? And who exactly are DEVIL GIRL AND MOON DINOSAUR?!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

DEFENDERS #3

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • DAVID MARQUEZ (A/C)

VARIANT COVER BY W. SCOTT FORBES

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

The Punisher strikes! With the mean streets of Marvel more dangerous than ever what could possibly make Frank Castle turn on his fellow vigilantes? Don’t they all want the same thing? Another dangerous chapter of the hottest new team in all of comics. Brought to you by the same people that gave you Miles Morales and Invincible Iron Man!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

DAREDEVIL #23

CHARLES SOULE (W) • ALEC MORGAN (A)

COVER BY DAVID LOPEZ

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

JEN WALTERS ENTERS THE SCENE AS “SUPREME” CONTINUES!

MATT MURDOCK’S risky move is garnering attention……and not everyone sees it in a positive light… It’s a battle on two fronts as Matt defends his new legislation and DAREDEVIL comes under attack!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

DAREDEVIL #24

CHARLES SOULE (W) • ALEC MORGAN (A)

COVER BY DAVID LOPEZ

KINGPIN TRIES TO CRUSH MURDOCK’S “SUPREME” MOVE!

It’s the fight of MATT MURDOCK’S life! KINGPIN and LEGAL on one side, the jury on the other, and DAREDEVIL caught between it all! And if the Daredevil survives the letter of the law, he’ll still have to deal with…TOMBSTONE! The penultimate issue of “SUPREME”!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

IRON FIST #5

ED BRISSON (W) • MIKE PERKINS (A)

Cover by JEFF DEKAL

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

THE EPIC CONCLUSION OF THE TRIAL OF THE SEVEN MASTERS!

Danny has reached the end of the gauntlet, but is this also the end of the Iron Fist? It’s Danny versus Liu-Shi’s most deadly master…THE WOLF!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

JESSICA JONES #10

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • MICHAEL GAYDOS (A)

Cover by DAVID MACK

Variant Cover by Martin Simmonds

The mysteries of Maria Hill. Ousted by the world peacekeeping task force she dedicated her life to, Maria Hill has no choice but to turn to Jessica Jones to help her find…the last secrets.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

THE PUNISHER #14

BECKY CLOONAN (W) • MATT HORAK (A)

Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

LIGHTS OUT! A blackout hits New York City…but this is no ordinary blackout. Character is what you are in the dark! And we’ve got some baaaad characters! No lights! No camera! All action!

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

LUKE CAGE #3

DAVID F. WALKER (W) • NELSON BLAKE (A)

Cover by RAHZZAH

Variant Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO

BIG TROUBLE IN THE BIG EASY! Why is everybody trying to kill Luke Cage??? And where did they get the weapons to do so?! With supplies of “the cure” running low, Burstein’s former subjects are growing dangerously unstable!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME #10

ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • NATHAN STOCKMAN (A)

Cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZ

The Sorcerers go to the future to try to save Wiccan’s life!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

AMERICA #5

GABBY RIVERA & KELLY THOMPSON (W) • RAMON VILLALOBOS (A)

COVER BY JEN BARTEL

Variant Cover by KEVIN WADA

ALL THEY WANNA GET IS… A LITTLE BIT CLOSER! Reunited at last! Former Young Avengers Hawkeye and America team up to take on a new threat! When a case spins out of control, semi-legal 100% legit private investigator Kate Bishop calls the one person she knows will have her back. But is this one too big to punch her way out of?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW #4

TA-NEHISI COATES (W) • BUTCH GUICE (A)

Cover by JOHN CASSADAY

LUKE UNCAGED! In the wake of the death of his close friend and mentor, community pillar Ezra Miller, Luke Cage sets out to stop the siege on the streets of Harlem. And he’s not the only one — Black Panther, Misty Knight and Storm all have a stake in the fight for Harlem’s future. But in order to save that future, they’ll have to uncover the dark truth of Ezra’s past…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

BLACK PANTHER #16

TA-NEHISI COATES (W) • CHRIS SPROUSE (A)

Cover by Jay Anacleto

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY JAMIE MCKELVIE

Kirby 100th Anniversary Variant Cover by JACK KIRBY

FULL COVER CHARGE! Club Fenris is the most exclusive nightspot in New York City…even a king has trouble getting in! T’Challa needs to get into VIP no matter what Piledriver and Thunderball say about the guest list… Still, without the Wakandan gods looking over his shoulder, there’s no telling what trouble T’Challa will get into…

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

GWENPOOL, THE UNBELIEVABLE #18

CHRIS HASTINGS (W) • GURIHIRU (A/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Gwenpool is no stranger to trouble in the Marvel Universe. But now, it seems the Marvel Universe is after her. Whose secret identity did she blurt out this time?!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

MONSTERS UNLEASHED #4

CULLEN BUNN (W) • DAVID BALDEON (A)

Cover by R.B. SILVA

THE NEW INTELLIGENCIA : REVEALED! What if you were an 11-year-old boy who suddenly had the powers to bring giant monsters to life simply by drawing them? And what if you brought five brand-new monsters to life as instant friends and teammates for a new super hero team? And what if someone ELSE wanted those monsters for themselves? What if it was a whole group of people? Bad people, even?

Find out what KID KAIJU and his amazing team of monsters — AEGIS, MEKARA, SLIZZIK, HI-VO and SCRAGG — will do when the NEW INTELLIGENCIA comes calling!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

HAWKEYE #8

KELLY THOMPSON (W) • LEONARDO ROMERO (A)

Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO

Hawkeye’s investigation takes a dark and surprising turn as a face from her past resurfaces… And Kate can’t help but wonder: Does this case go back further than she knows? Back to the beginning? One thing’s for certain, solving this mystery could unravel everything Kate holds dear…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

NICK FURY #4

JAMES ROBINSON (W) • ACO (A/C)

DEEP BLUE SEA! NICK FURY goes undercover and under the sea to uncover a HYDRA spy in ATLANTIS! With a limited air supply and time running out, it’s a quick dive-and-surface mission… That is, if he can evade ATTUMA’S wrath! Take a deep breath, and submerge yourself in THE DEEP BLUE SEA CAPER!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SILVER SURFER #13

DAN SLOTT (W) • MICHAEL ALLRED (A/C)

Once upon a time, a strange device scanned the Silver Surfer and found him the one being who was his “most important person in the universe,” Dawn Greenwood. And, it turned out, he was her “most important person in the universe” too. This is the story of a love that ended before it started, and began after it ended. But is it a love that can outlast the universe? Because the universe is about to go away. For real.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #22

RYAN NORTH (W) • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)

When Doreen Green and Nancy Whitehead enter a mysterious programming competition, they don’t suspect that the prize for winners will be…an all-expenses-paid trip to the SAVAGE LAND! Yes: THE SAVAGE LAND! Also known as “a mysterious tropical region of Antarctica that we discovered is actually populated by DINOSAURS”! In the Marvel Universe, I mean. In OUR universe, the only thing ever discovered in that region was a note from Robert Scott’s doomed expedition to the South Pole (he arrived there weeks after his competition, Roald Amundsen, got there first), which read in part, “This is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have labored to it without the reward of priority”! The story of those Antarctic expeditions is fascinating, but OURS IS PRETTY FASCINATING TOO, plus it has Squirrel Girl AND dinosaurs in it!! So maybe read up on the other ones but definitely check out our comic right away.

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

VISION: DIRECTOR’S CUT #2 (of 6)

TOM KING (W) • GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTA (A)

Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO

A bonus-packed encore presentation of one of the decade’s most celebrated Marvel titles! The Vision created his family to be normal — but this isn’t normal! A house attacked. A daughter dying. An old, dead friend screaming out in pain. And that’s just the beginning! It’s the Android Avenger as you’ve never seen him before.

Collecting VISION (2015) #3-4, plus extras.

80 PGS./Rated T+ …$6.99

THE UNSTOPPABLE WASP #7

JEREMY WHITLEY (W) • VERONICA FISH (A)

Cover by Elsa Charretier

In the fallout from the attack on G.I.R.L. by the Red Room, lives and the future of the lab hang in the balance. Nadia is lost, drifting and unsure how to move forward. Now, there’s only one heroine who can save the day and that is… THE WASP! Janet Van Dyne is on the scene to save the day. But the Red Room is not done yet. Can Janet take on the superhuman bounty hunters who have been contracted to retrieve Nadia and Ying?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

ALL-NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5

GERRY DUGGAN (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A)

Cover by AARON KUDER

Variant Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE

Star-Lord has been sailing the radio waves of the galaxy for years, keeping up with the one piece of Earth he could never quite leave behind. Guest artist Chris Samnee joins writer Gerry Duggan to check into Peter Quill’s sonic conquests!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

ALL-NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #6

GERRY DUGGAN (W) • AARON KUDER (A/C)

As if the Guardians didn’t have enough trouble keeping off the radar of the Nova Corps, they’ve now run afoul of the Fraternity of Raptors! Can’t a space hero get a break?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THANOS #9

JEFF LEMIRE (W) • GERMAN PERALTA (A)

Cover by MIKE DEODATO JR.

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

The God Quarry. None who enter have ever returned. Now, it’s Thanos’ turn.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: THE TELLTALE SERIES #1 (OF 5)

FRED VAN LENTE (W) • Salva Espin (A)

Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA

VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM

GAME VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE

An all-new prequel to the interactive episodic game Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series! A group of cultists have taken over the planet Titan, turning it into a proverbial hive of scum and villainy, all worshipping its most infamous native son, the cosmic tyrant Thanos! Luckily for the Guardians of the Galaxy, it’s also the target of their newest heist! Hired by a mysterious buyer, our band or ragtag misfits will have to get in and get out without being sliced and diced by a planet full of crazies. Easier said than done! Join Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket and Groot on an action-packed, laugh-filled adventure that’s not only being created in conjunction with Telltale, but also leads directly to the new smash hit game!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I AM GROOT #3

CHRIS HASTINGS (W) • FLAVIANO (A)

Cover by MARCO D’ALFONSO

Groot and his new friends go off on a quest to get home! But will Groot realize there’s a traitor in his midst? And how will he react when he meets some very familiar-looking strangers?

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

ROCKET #3

AL EWING (W) • ADAM GORHAM (A)

Cover by MIKE MAYHEW

Variant Cover by ADAM GORHAM

Rocket in the hoosegow! He’s doing bird in the toughest stir in the sector — the brutal space prison they call…the Colon! It’s a living hell with no exits and a tailor-made punishment for every inmate — and if Rocket can’t break out in one night…he’ll get broken out? Wait, what? How does that work?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

WEAPON X #5

GREG PAK (W) • MARC BORSTELMANN (A)

COVER BY SKAN

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

“WEAPONS OF MUTANT DESTRUCTION” PART THREE! The mysterious new director of the reformed Weapon X program has assessed the data from their latest Adamantium cyborg attack and the results look good… They are ready for the next stage of their plan to eradicate all of mutantkind! Warpath and Domino follow leads into a remote part of the Midwest…but what vicious secrets will they find hidden in a sleepy gated community?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THE TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #21

GREG PAK (W) • ROBERT GILL (A)

Cover by STONEHOUSE

“WEAPONS OF MUTANT DESTRUCTION” PART FOUR! With deadly Adamantium cyborgs on the loose picking off seemingly unconnected targets, Amadeus must keep his wits about him to uncover the mystery behind the new Weapon X program. But how can he maintain his cool against the most savage threats he’s ever faced? Meanwhile, Weapon X scientists are closer than ever to perfecting BATCH H… Guest-starring OLD MAN LOGAN, SABRETOOTH, WARPATH, DOMINO and LADY DEATHSTRIKE!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

WEAPON X #6

GREG PAK (W) • MARC BORSTELMANN (A)

Cover by SKAN

“WEAPONS OF MUTANT DESTRUCTION” PART FIVE! BATCH H is finally ready for a test drive… Its targets? Old Man Logan, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Domino, Warpath and the Hulk! With a genetic cocktail of the most powerful enhanced beings on the planet coursing through its veins, how can anyone stand a chance?!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

OLD MAN LOGAN #26

ED BRISSON (W) • MIKE DEODATO JR. (A/C)

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

LOGAN IS ON THE HUNT! Determined not to let history repeat itself, LOGAN takes matters into his own hands and hunts down the HULK GANG! But he’ll need the help of an OLD FRIEND if he wants to stay on their trail… And will a miscalculation on MAESTRO’S team give Logan the advantage he needs…or seal his fate?

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #22

TOM TAYLOR (W) • LEONARD KIRK (A)

Cover by Leinil Francis Yu

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

WOLVERINE IN SPACE! Following the events of “IMMUNE,” WOLVERINE teams up with the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY to hunt for answers about the devastating events that unfolded on Roosevelt Island. How did that alien child know who LAURA KINNEY was? Where did she come from? Wolverine has no idea what she’s gotten into…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

CABLE #3

JAMES ROBINSON (W) • CARLOS PACHECO (A)

Cover by DALE KEOWN

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Variant Cover by CHRIS STEVENS

A DANCE WITH DEATH! CABLE finds himself in ancient Mayan civilization facing down a futuristic death trap! But who will rear their head as an unlikely ally? Ancient history and future tech clash as the mystery behind CONQUEST’S deadly plan is at last revealed!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

GENERATION X #4

CHRISTINA STRAIN (W) • AMILCAR PINNA (A)

Cover by TERRY DODSON

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

Taking it upon themselves to catch the assailant who’s been attacking mutants in Central Park, the Xavier Institute’s “Lovable Losers” go on the hunt for the culprit. But they aren’t prepared when the trail leads them right to Generation X’s most formidable foe… EMPLATE returns! Only she isn’t the same monster they once knew…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

ICEMAN #3

SINA GRACE (W) • ALESSANDRO VITTI (A)

Cover by KEVIN WADA

Iceman heads home to visit his folks! But they aren’t too pleased with their son’s latest news… And to make matters worse, a gang of revenge-seeking Purifiers comes calling! Will Iceman survive this family dinner? Or the throwdown with militant mutant-haters that follows?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

JEAN GREY #4

DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • HARVEY TOLIBAO (A)

Cover by DAVID YARDIN

VARIANT COVER BY JUNE BRIGMAN

X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

After an adventure with Namor, the Sub-Mariner, Jean Grey is more determined than ever to escape her predecessor’s fate and when the Phoenix comes for her, she will BEAT THAT BIRD DOWN. And to learn how to go toe-to-toe with a god, she’ll seek out training from a god… Enter: ODINSON!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VS. THE SINISTER SIX #11

Adapted by Joe Caramagna

THE NEW SINISTER SIX – PART TWO! SPIDER-MAN must protect those dearest to him from DOC OCK and his new SINISTER SIX when they attempt to retrieve the dreaded HYDRA ISLAND!!

32 PGS./All Ages …$2.99

MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #20

Adapted by Joe Caramagna

SPARTAX WAR – PART TWO! THANOS has come to SPARTAX and now the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY must unite with THOR and his all-star guard in order to save PETER QUILL!

32 PGS./All Ages …$2.99

STAR WARS #33 *

JASON AARON (W) • SALVADOR LARROCA (A)

Cover by MIKE MAYHEW

Star Wars 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by David Lopez

Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

The Hero of the Rebellion & the Princess of the Revolution! Luke and Leia finally get some time alone. Unfortunately, it’s stranded on a desert island.

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

DARTH VADER #3 *

Charles Soule (W) • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)

Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL

Variant Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli

Vader sets his sights on a Jedi who’s avoided Order 66…a Jedi Master who’s long lived in seclusion…a Jedi more powerful than any Vader has faced before…

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA #9 & 10 *

KIERON GILLEN (W) • Kev Walker (A)

CoverS by KAMOME KAMIYAMA

Issue #9 – Star Wars 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by Reilly Brown

Issue #10 – Star Wars 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by TBA

Aphra’s back with a brand-new plan that’s guaranteed to pay! There’s just one teensy problem… It involves surrounding herself by some of the galaxy’s biggest baddies. And they don’t like Aphra’s tricks!

32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T …$3.99 (EACH)

STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE ADAPTATION #4 (of 6) *

JODY HOUSER (W) • EMILIO LAISO (A)

Cover by PHIL NOTO

Jyn Erso brings the news of the Death Star plans to the Rebellion… It seems her father built a way for the superweapon to be destroyed! But when the Rebellion refuses to help, Jyn is left only with a small crew of soldiers to fight. The Star Wars story continues!

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

STAR WARS: POE DAMERON #17 *

Charles Soule (W) • ANGEL UNZUETA (A)

Cover by PHIL NOTO

Star Wars 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by Paulina Ganucheau

Black Squadron is back in action! And this time they’re on the lookout for some new recruits for the Resistance! Poe Dameron’s first encounter? Turns out to be a mysterious person from Jess Pava’s past…

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

SPIDER-MAN: CLONE SAGA OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC

Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS, TODD DEZAGO, DAVID MICHELINIE, TERRY KAVANAGH, MIKE LACKEY, HOWARD MACKIE, TOM DEFALCO, EVAN SKOLNICK, TOM LYLE, TOM PEYER, MARK WAID & MORE

Penciled by MARK BAGLEY, DARICK ROBERTSON, ANGEL MEDINA, DAVE HOOVER, PHIL GOSIER, TOM LYLE, PAT BRODERICK, GIL KANE, JOE ST. PIERRE, TOD SMITH, SAL BUSCEMA, CLAUDE ST. AUBIN, STEVEN BUTLER, ROY BURDINE, STEVE LIGHTLE, ROGER ROBINSON, KYLE HOTZ, KEVIN WEST, PATRICK ZIRCHER, RON LIM, SHAWN MCMANUS, KEN LASHLEY, JOHN ROMITA JR. & MORE

Cover by SAL BUSCEMA

Spider-Man, the Scarlet Spider and Kaine hurtle toward the truth! As Peter Parker goes on trial, both Spider-Men are shaken to the core by revelations about their identities. And when the Jackal’s plans unfurl, the New Warriors are drawn into the fray. But will an invasion by Venom’s race put everyone’s agenda on permanent hold? Ben’s lost years and history with Kaine are revealed, Peter makes a dramatic decision, and Spider-Man’s world changes — for good!

Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #402-406 and SUPER SPECIAL, SPIDER-MAN (1990) #59-63 and SUPER SPECIAL, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #225-229 and SUPER SPECIAL, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #126-129 and SUPER SPECIAL, VENOM SUPER SPECIAL, NEW WARRIORS (1990) #61-66, SPIDER-MAN: THE JACKAL FILES, SPIDER-MAN: MAXIMUM CLONAGE ALPHA and OMEGA, SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED (1993) #10, SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP #1, SPIDER-MAN: THE LOST YEARS #1-3, and SPIDER-MAN: THE PARKER YEARS.

1,288 PGS./Rated T …$125.00

DEADPOOL & X-FORCE OMNIBUS HC

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA & MARK WAID

Penciled by GREG CAPULLO, MAT BROOME, TONY DANIEL, ART THIBERT, DARICK ROBERTSON, DWAYNE TURNER, ARON WIESENFELD, JOE MADUREIRA, IAN CHURCHILL, KEN LASHLEY, RICK MAYS & MORE

Cover by GREG CAPULLO, IAN CHURCHILL & KEN LASHLEY

The Merc With a Mouth and the Mutants on a Mission! With Cable thought dead and Xavier’s pacifist dream behind them, the young members of X-Force carve out their own aggressive destiny, taking on threats like S.H.I.E.L.D., War Machine and Magneto! But Cable’s bombshell return reveals the answers to long-standing mysteries — and draws Deadpool into the fray! What is Cable’s true identity? Is Stryfe really dead? Who was Deadpool’s former boss Tolliver, and what is the secret prize in his will? Can Deadpool defeat Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy to claim it? Plus: An all-new Mutant Liberation Front rises! Romance blossoms between Deadpool and Siryn! Arcade strikes! Moonstar returns! And who is X-Treme?!

Collecting X-FORCE (1991) #19-31 and ANNUAL #2, CABLE (1993) #1-8, DEADPOOL: THE CIRCLE CHASE #1-4, DEADPOOL (1994) #1-4, NEW WARRIORS (1990) #31 and NOMAD (1992) #20.

872 PGS./Rated T …$100.00

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INCREDIBLE HULK VOL. 11 HC

Written by LEN WEIN

Penciled by HERB TRIMPE & SAL BUSCEMA

Cover by GIL KANE

Hulk is the strongest! Why? Because it’s hard not to be when you go from strength to strength with artists Herb Trimpe and Sal Buscema! Trimpe defined the Incredible Hulk in an artistic tenure stretching from 1968 to 1975. When Sal Buscema took over the reins, not only did the series gain a great talent, but one that, unbelievably, would have a tenure longer than even Trimpe’s! Add to that Len Wein writing some of his greatest Hulk stories, and you’ve got a bona fide Marvel Masterworks! The adventures include Hulk smashing his way through the Mole Man, the Gremlin, the Shaper of Worlds, Doc Samson, the Abomination…and, of course, the never-ending military machinations of Gen. Thunderbolt Ross!

Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #184-196 and material from GIANT-SIZE HULK (1975) #1 and MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #5.

272 PGS./Rated T …$75.00

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INCREDIBLE HULK VOL. 11 HC — VARIANT EDITION VOL. 252 (DM ONLY)

272 PGS./Rated T …$75.00

UNCANNY INHUMANS VOL. 2 HC

Written by CHARLES SOULE

Penciled by CARLOS PACHECO, KIM JACINTO, R.B. SILVA, ARIO ANINDITO & KEV WALKER

Cover by RYAN STEGMAN

War is hell for the Uncanny Inhumans! First, CIVIL WAR II rocks the Marvel Universe, and the Inhumans are central to the conflict! As one of their own is blessed — or cursed — with the ability to predict the future, disastrous events are set in motion, and tensions between Inhumans and humankind reach a boiling point. Meanwhile, Maximus the Mad seizes the moment to make matters worse! Then, fresh from that conflict, the Inhumans go to war with the X-Men — in a battle that only one side can survive! And in the depths of Black Bolt’s Quiet Room, a plan is hatched that will decide Inhumanity’s future…and shadowy forces move against Queen Medusa in the wake of her battle against Tony Stark. Big changes are coming for the Inhumans!

Collecting UNCANNY INHUMANS #11-20 and ANNUAL #1.

264 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99

BLACK PANTHER: WHO IS THE BLACK PANTHER? PROSE NOVEL

Written by JESSE HOLLAND

Cover by TODD NAUCK

During the last 10 centuries, as European colonial powers spread throughout the continent, the African nation Wakanda stood alone — an unconquerable land inhabited by undefeatable warriors and filled with incredible technology. T’Challa — latest in a lineage of warrior-kings — is Wakanda’s Black Panther, endowed with enhanced speed, strength and agility, and a suit made of indestructible Vibranium, the metal that secured his country’s future. Now, outsiders have returned to plunder Wakanda’s riches, including its store of the rare metal. Leading the assault is Klaw, an assassin with T’Challa’s father’s blood on his hands. Klaw brings an army of super-powered mercenaries, hell-bent on raining death and destruction on this pristine land. Even with Wakanda’s might and his own superhuman skills, can T’Challa prevail against this massive invasion? An all-new Black Panther novel based on Reginald Hudlin and John Romita Jr.’s groundbreaking tale!

304 PGS./No Rating …$24.99

MARVEL Graphic Comic Boxes – GENERATIONS

Welcome to the Marvel Age of Comic Boxes! Store your treasured collection in sturdy surroundings every bit as exciting as the issues inside! Featuring action-packed illustrations on all sides from some of comics’ finest artists, Marvel’s Graphic Comic Boxes will star all your Marvel Universe favorites – continuing with Secret Empire! Preserve your comic collection with Marvel Graphic Comic Boxes!

Inside dimensions – 15-1/2” x 7-5/8” x 10-7/8”…$9.00

X-MEN GOLD VOL. 1: BACK TO BASICS TPB

Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM

Penciled by KEN LASHLEY, ARDIAN SYAF & R.B. SILVA

Cover by ARDIAN SYAF

SPECIALLY PRICED FIRST VOLUME!

In the wake of war with the Inhumans, the X-Men are at a crossroads. Where do they go from here? Luckily, one beloved X-Man has the answer! Xavier’s dream comes full circle as Kitty Pryde returns to lead the team into a golden future! Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Rachel Grey and Old Man Logan renew their mission to protect a world that hates and fears them as the next chapter in the saga of the X-Men begins! But a revamped Brotherhood of Evil Mutants isn’t far behind — and when their rampage through New York City begins, some surprisingly familiar faces will be among their ranks! Who has turned their backs on the X-Men…and why?

Collecting X-MEN GOLD (2017) #1-6.

144 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

X-MEN BLUE VOL. 1: STRANGEST TPB

Written by CULLEN BUNN

Penciled by JORGE MOLINA, MATTEO BUFFAGNI & JULIAN LOPEZ

Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

SPECIALLY PRICED FIRST VOLUME!

Like a bolt from the blue, the original five X-Men reunite — like never before! And this time, Jean Grey is in charge! Cyclops, Iceman, Angel and Beast follow her into action, bringing mutant criminals to justice and restoring a heroic sheen to their team. But how well can they do that when their new mentor is their one-time archenemy? That’s right — Magneto has joined the original X-Men! And not everyone can put old rivalries aside. The X-Men encounter the new Marauders, Mister Sinister and the delights of Madripoor — but with tensions rising, can the team come together to be a cohesive force for good? Or will ulterior motives and personal quests derail the entire enterprise? At the end of the day, who can be trusted?

Collecting X-MEN BLUE #1-6.

144 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

WEAPON X VOL. 1: WEAPONS OF MUTANT DESTRUCTION PRELUDE TPB

Written by GREG PAK

Penciled by GREG LAND & MAHMUD ASRAR

Cover by GREG LAND

For years, the Weapon X program engineered the deadliest mutant killers on the planet. Now it’s back, under the control of a shadowy new director — and it’s out to eradicate Homo superior, not recruit them! Weapon X has unleashed an army of cyborg killers, and among its targets are Old Man Logan, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Domino and Warpath! But the key to achieving the Program’s master plan could be none other than Amadeus Cho, the Totally Awesome Hulk! What is the sinister secret of the mysterious new “Batch-H” experiment? The worlds of Weapon X and the Totally Awesome Hulk collide — and the results will be explosive! The stage is set for an incendiary epic that could only be called “Weapons of Mutant Destruction”!

Collecting WEAPON X (2017) #1-4 and THE TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #19.

112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN VOL. 4: IVX TPB

Written by JEFF LEMIRE with MARC GUGGENHEIM, GREG PAK & CULLEN BUNN

PENCILED BY ERIC KODA, VICTOR IBANEZ & ANDREA SORRENTINO WITH WITH KEN LASHLEY, IBRAIM ROBERSON, LEONARD KIRK & GUILLERMO ORTEGO

COVER BY DAVID YARDIN

Extraordinary X-Men versus Uncanny Inhumans! The X-Men have learned that the Terrigen Mist — the source of the Inhumans’ powers, but lethal to mutants — has reached an irreversible saturation point. Earth is on the verge of being rendered uninhabitable to mutantkind. And now the X-Men see no other option than to strike against the Inhumans to ensure their own survival. But one X-Man doesn’t take the decision lightly. Storm has literally led her teammates through hell and back, but will she command them in battle against their longtime friends and allies? What will war mean for Forge, Old Man Logan, Magik and Jean Grey? And if the X-Men come out the other side, what will be the cost? One Extraordinary era ends as another begins!

Collecting EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #17-20 and X-MEN PRIME.

128 PGS./Rated T+ …$16.99

UNCANNY X-MEN: SUPERIOR VOL. 4 — IVX TPB

Written by CULLEN BUNN & ANTHONY PIPER

Penciled by EDGAR SALAZAR, KEN LASHLEY & ANTHONY PIPER

Cover by KEN LASHLEY

The X-Men confront the Inhumans in the most uncanny conflict of all! Since the discovery that the Terrigen Mist — the key to unlocking an Inhuman’s hidden potential and powers — is lethal to mutants, the X-Men and Inhumans have been locked in a cold war. But now things are heating up, and about to boil over, as the X-Men are forced into drastic steps to ensure the future of their species! But when Magneto goes too far, what will be the repercussions of his dramatic actions when the battle ends? When she left his team, Psylocke vowed that if Magneto stepped out of line, she would end him. Is she about to make good on that promise? Plus: A dead X-Man returns, and so does Domino!

Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (2016) #16-19 and ANNUAL #1.

128 PGS./Rated T+ …$16.99

ALL-NEW X-MEN: INEVITABLE VOL. 4 — IVX TPB

Written by DENNIS HOPELESS, SINA GRACE & REX OGLE with MARC GUGGENHEIM, GREG PAK & CULLEN BUNN

PENCILED BY MARK BAGLEY, PACO DIAZ, CORY SMITH & ANDREA BROCCARDO WITH KEN LASHLEY, IBRAIM ROBERSON, LEONARD KIRK & GUILLERMO ORTEGO

Cover by MARK BAGLEY

Since the discovery that the Terrigen Mist — the key to unlocking an Inhuman’s hidden potential and powers — is lethal to mutants, the X-Men and Inhumans have been locked in a cold war. But as the Terrigen seeps into the earth and reaches an irreversible tipping point, the X-Men are spurred into action to ensure the future of their species! For Jean Grey, that means taking out the Inhumans’ deadliest weapon: Karnak! But when Cyclops learns the truth behind his adult counterpart’s quest to destroy the Inhumans, there’ll be hell to pay! As the dust settles on the war, the original five X-Men will be reunited once more — but will they walk into their all-new future together or apart? Plus: Date night for Idie, and Dani Moonstar returns!

Collecting ALL-NEW X-MEN (2015) #17-19 and ANNUAL #1 and X-MEN PRIME.

136 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99

MAN-THING BY R.L. STINE TPB

Written by R.L. STINE

Penciled by GERMAN PERALTA, DANIEL JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER MITTEN, KATE NIEMCZYK & MORE

Cover by TYLER CROOK

Marvel’s melancholy muck-monster as you’ve never seen him before — courtesy of beloved author R.L. Stine (Goosebumps, Fear Street)! After so many years of somber silence, Man-Thing has found his voice — and taken Hollywood by storm! But when an ancient evil threatens his old swamp stomping ground, Man-Thing will have to choose between his new life and celebrity, and the world he used to call home. An old ally pays a visit, but everything else is out to get Man-Thing — including crocodiles, bats and mosquitos, oh my! Can the balance of the swamp be restored, or will the cause of this calamity be beyond Man-Thing’s control? Plus: Bone-chilling bonus horror tales from the master himself, R.L. Stine! Reading this will give you goosebumps…but beware — for whoever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing’s touch!

Collecting MAN-THING (2017) #1-5.

112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

STAR WARS: DARTH MAUL TPB *

Written by CULLEN BUNN & CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

Penciled by LUKE ROSS & CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

Cover by ROD REIS

Raised on hate, fear and anger — steeped in the ways of darkness — and trained to kill! Darth Maul’s time as apprentice to Darth Sidious has long been cloaked in shadows; now, at last, his tale of revenge is revealed! It’s a story of rage unleashed as Darth Maul prepares for his first encounter with the hated Jedi. But when a Jedi Padawan is captured by sinister forces, why is Maul so determined to find her? And what’s the role of the band of bounty hunters that includes Cad Bane and Aurra Sing? Get to know the galaxy’s deadliest Zabrak like never before!

Collecting DARTH MAUL #1-5.

112 PGS./Rated T …$16.99

NOVA VOL. 1: RESURRECTION TPB

Written by JEFF LOVENESS & RAMON PEREZ

Penciled by RAMON PEREZ

Cover by RAMON PEREZ

Richard Rider is back! And when he makes his roaring return to the Marvel Universe, it changes everything for Sam Alexander! How will the young Nova cope with his predecessor’s unfathomable homecoming? Is Earth big enough for two Nova-helmet-wearing protectors? Strap in, True Believer, you’ve never seen a Nova book like this before! Action meets romance as Sam goes on a date with the new girl in school, while Rich reconnects with an old flame: the Guardian of the Galaxy called Gamora! But all the while, the truth of Rich’s time in the Cancerverse is festering in the background — and it is dangerous! It’s the comeback you’ve all been waiting for — but will it be a happy ending, or a terrifying new beginning?

Collecting NOVA (2016) #1-7.

160 PGS./Rated T …$19.99

THE UNSTOPPABLE WASP VOL. 1: UNSTOPPABLE! TPB

Written by JEREMY WHITLEY

Penciled by ELSA CHARRETIER

Cover by ELSA CHARRETIER

SPECIALLY PRICED FIRST VOLUME!

Nadia spent the entire first half of her life a captive of the Red Room, but now this teenage super scientist is spreading her wings! Hank Pym’s daughter has a lot of time to make up for, and she’s determined to change the world. With Jarvis at her side, she’s on a mission to bring together the brightest girl geniuses of the Marvel Universe — starting with Lunella Lafayette, the miraculous Moon Girl! But Nadia didn’t count on evil scientists, man-eating giant rats or Devil Dinosaur — or the lethal lady wrestlers known as the Grapplers! And even as Nadia’s recruiting drive continues, the Red Room is on her trail — and they’ll pull out all the stops to get her back! Can the geniuses of G.I.R.L. find a way to save Nadia from being dragged back to the bunker?

Collecting THE UNSTOPPABLE WASP #1-4 and ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #14.

120 PGS./Rated T+ …$12.99

THE MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL VOL. 1: ALIEN NATION TPB

Written by MARGARET STOHL

Penciled by RAMON ROSANAS & EMILIO LAISO

Cover by ELIZABETH TORQUE

Behold the mightiest, fightiest super hero around! Carol Danvers has been to the depths of outer space and back, but that still hasn’t prepared her for her newfound status as the greatest there is. She returns to her helm as Alpha Flight commander with the world cheering her on — but has Captain Marvel become someone she no longer recognizes? She’d rather focus on the job, so when her crew discovers that a shady character is hunting for alien-refugee children, Carol jumps on the case. But an elusive enemy draws closer to destroying everything she and her Alpha Flight teammates have sworn to protect! Oh, how the mighty will fall! New York Times-best-selling author Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures, Black Widow: Forever Red) makes her comics-series debut with a blockbuster Marvel story!

Collecting MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL #0-4.

112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

SLAPSTICK VOL. 1: THAT’S NOT FUNNY TPB

Written by REILLY BROWN & FRED VAN LENTE

Penciled by DIEGO OLORTEGUI & REILLY BROWN

Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA

Steve Harmon was an average teenager with an average job as your average clown, living in average New Jersey. But after being zapped by weird and mysterious extradimensional energy, Steve became Slapstick — a living, breathing cartoon character! Now, after joining — and then quitting — Deadpool’s Mercs for Money, Slapstick is striking out on his own! Sure, he’s gotta move back in with his parents, but he gets to team up with the Amazing Spider-Man and meet adorable (but deadly) little minotaurs, so there’s that! And when he embarks on a very personal mission, Slapstick will have to work with far stranger allies — like the War D.O.G.S., America’s Best Friends! But can these patriotic pups help Steve get to Dimension Ecch, where a throne of games awaits him?

Collecting SLAPSTICK (2016) #1-6.

136 PGS./Parental Advisory …$17.99

BULLSEYE: THE COLOMBIAN CONNECTION TPB

Written by ED BRISSON & MARV WOLFMAN

Penciled by GUILLERMO SANNA & ALEC MORGAN

Cover by DAVE JOHNSON

He’s a ruthless hitman who never misses, a deadly foe who can turn any object into a lethal weapon! So why is the Marvel Universe’s most dangerous assassin heading to Colombia to take aim at a drug cartel? Find out as Bullseye takes charge! But as the body count rises, the bull’s-eye falls on…Bullseye! Teodor and the Black Knife Cartel flip the script, ensnaring the lethal assassin in a no-win situation — and Joy wants the joy of killing Bullseye all to herself! If he doesn’t find a way out of Colombia, this will be his last job! But when S.H.I.E.L.D. comes a-callin’, will that increase Bullseye’s odds of survival — or finish him completely?

Collecting BULLSEYE #1-5.

120 PGS./Parental Advisory …$15.99

DEADPOOL: WORLD’S GREATEST VOL. 8 — ’TIL DEATH DO US… TPB

Written by GERRY DUGGAN, CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS & JOSHUA CORIN

Penciled by SALVA ESPIN, IBAN COELLO & SCOTT KOBLISH

Cover by REILLY BROWN & JIM CHARALAMPIDIS

You’ve never seen marital problems like this! It was a whirlwind romance — Deadpool traveled across the world with Shiklah, fighting all sorts of threats at her side and finally married her as a way to thwart the evil vampire lord Dracula! But the honeymoon is over, and reality has set in. Wade’s bride is a demon succubus, the queen of a monstrous kingdom hidden beneath Manhattan. So when this monster metropolis declares war on the surface world, Deadpool’s loyalties are divided between his husbandly duties and the role he’s crafted for himself as a hero. Can Spidey and the Mercs for Money help him decide whose side he’s on? Brace yourself for a domestic dispute that’s really going to break some things up!

Collecting DEADPOOL (2015) #28-29, DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY (2016B) #9-10 and SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #15-16.

136 PGS./Parental Advisory …$17.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON VOL. 5 — END OF THE LINE TPB

Written by NICK SPENCER with LARRY HAMA

Penciled by DANIEL ACUNA & ANGEL UNZUETA with PAUL RYAN

Cover by DANIEL ACUNA

When Steve Rogers could no longer wield the shield, Sam Wilson stepped up as an all-new, all-different and very much all-his-own Captain America. The public was divided. And when a reinvigorated Steve returned to share the mantle, the protests grew louder. Sam just kept fighting on, the only way he knew how. But is the world big enough for two Caps? And as Sam is pulled into the shocking events of Marvel’s next big event, will he — and the world — have to choose? At the end of the line, there’s no way out! Plus: The classic first appearance of Sam’s controversial pal, Rage!

Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #18-21 and AVENGERS (1963) #326.

112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS VOL. 3 — EMPIRE BUILDING TPB

Written by NICK SPENCER

Penciled by JAVIER PINA, JESUS SAIZ & MORE

Cover by DANIEL ACUNA

He’s a hero. An Avenger. A living legend. The Sentinel of Liberty. Mankind’s greatest threat? It’s the story that shocked the world — and you won’t believe where it’s going next. In the aftermath of war, Tony Stark and Carol Danvers turn to the one person they can trust: Steve Rogers, Captain America. Uh-oh! And when Zemo returns, can the new Masters of Evil be far behind? The secret story of Cap in World War II is told! The full extent of Madame Hydra’s string-pulling is revealed! But only one man can lead Hydra into a new age of dominance and superiority — and the Red Skull believes he is that man! But Captain America has other ideas — ideas that will change the landscape of the Marvel Universe!

Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #12-16 and CIVIL WAR II: THE OATH #1.

152 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99

SILK VOL. 3: THE CLONE CONSPIRACY TPB

Written by ROBBIE THOMPSON

Penciled by IRENE STRYCHALSKI & TANA FORD

Cover by HELEN CHEN

Silk is drawn into THE CLONE CONSPIRACY! And with a variety of folks mysteriously dead no more, she’s about to face a Spider-Woman who’s come back from the grave! New U has made J. Jonah Jameson’s dreams come true. First his late wife, Marla, was returned to him, and now his adopted daughter, Mattie Franklin, is alive again as well! It should be a time for celebration, but Cindy Moon is feeling anything but festive — especially since her boss’ entire resurrected family is setting off her spider-sense! And since Mattie used to be Spider-Woman, what will she make of Silk? The situation seems destined to bring heartbreak — but if Cindy Moon can survive that, then Bobbi Morse, a.k.a. Mockingbird, may have an interesting proposition for her. Is the world ready for…Silk, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.?!

Collecting SILK (2015B) #14-19.

136 PGS./Rated T …$17.99

MIGHTY THOR VOL. 2: LORDS OF MIDGARD TPB

Written by JASON AARON

Penciled by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN, RAFA GARRES & FRAZER IRVING

Cover by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN

The legend continues with Thors new and old! Loki spins a special ages-old tale of a young Odinson in action against a hulking great enemy. You wouldn’t like this Viking when he’s angry! But what incredible impact will this yarn from the past have on the present? Prepare for corporate espionage, Marvel-style, as some of the world’s most powerful and evil conglomerates go to war — with Thor caught in the middle! And as if Roxxon and the rest aren’t enough trouble, Jane Foster must contend with a new enemy: S.H.I.E.L.D.! Whose side is Agent Roz Solomon on? Worse still, millions of lives will depend on the God of Thunder saving Roxxon’s evil executive, Dario Agger! All this and…Exterminatrix and Silver Samurai?!

Collecting MIGHTY THOR (2015) #6-12.

160 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99

UNCANNY AVENGERS: UNITY VOL. 4 — RED SKULL TPB

Written by GERRY DUGGAN

Penciled by KEVIN LIBRANDA, PEPE LARRAZ & RODRIGO ZAYAS

Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN

The Avengers’ Unity squad is on the verge of collapse after debilitating wars with Ultron and the Hand. Exactly the wrong moment for the Red Skull to strike! When the Skull springs his trap, Avengers Mansion will become a house of horrors! As the Avengers are tortured by their own worst fears and past failures, what sacrifices will they be forced to make to break free of the Red Skull’s diabolical deathtrap? Rogue attempts a bold gambit! Deadpool gets help from a few pals! And it’s lights out for one team member! Not everyone will finish on their feet as the final fate of Charles Xavier’s telepathic brain is revealed! But which classic Avenger will return?

Collecting UNCANNY AVENGERS (2015B) #18-23.

136 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99

DOCTOR STRANGE/PUNISHER: MAGIC BULLETS TPB

Written by JOHN BARBER

Penciled by ANDREA BROCCARDO, DOMo STANTON & Jason Muhr

Cover by MICHAEL WALSH

The Master of the Mystic Arts and the One-Man War on Crime unite their unique talents! When mafia demons strike, it’ll take the combined skills of Doctor Strange and the Punisher to stop them! But does this mean Stephen Strange will adopt Frank Castle’s lethal ways? Or will the Punisher learn some new tricks? The Sorcerer Supreme works on being a little more grounded, while Frank expands his worldview in surprising new directions. But with monstrous mobsters on the rampage, this mismatched pair have their work cut out for them! The very different worlds of two of Marvel’s most unique characters collide, and the fate of New York is at stake!

Collecting DOCTOR STRANGE/PUNISHER: MAGIC BULLETS #1-4.

128 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99

DEADPOOL VS. THE PUNISHER TPB

Written by FRED VAN LENTE

Penciled by PERE PEREZ

Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY

Frank Castle has an unstoppable will — a powerful drive to punish those who do wrong, rooted in the tragic killing of his family. Wade Wilson has an unstoppable mouth — an unthinking knack for annoying everyone around him, rooted in thinking he’s funny. Both men, however, are among the deadliest on the planet. And when they find themselves in disagreement over the criminal known as the Bank, they’re in for one of the most brutal fights of their lives! Can Frank kill Wade over and over without dying once himself? Or will Wade bug Frank until he welcomes death? When the shells all hit the ground, will anyone truly win? (Besides the ammunition manufacturers, that is?) It’s the Merc With a Mouth against the Gunman With a Grimace!

Collecting DEADPOOL VS. THE PUNISHER #1-5.

112 PGS./Parental Advisory …$15.99

INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN TPB

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by ALEX MALEEV

Cover by ALEX MALEEV

The award-winning creative team that turned Daredevil’s life upside down sets its sights on Iron Man! But who is Tony Stark? Since learning he was adopted, this question has cast a shadow over his life. Now, it’s time to uncover his true legacy — a journey that will carry Tony into new directions as both a man and an armored adventurer. Alongside unlikely quasi-ally Doctor Doom, Iron Man will discover answers to questions he never knew existed! But as a new international crime boss beats him at every turn, can Tony unravel the mystery of his past before deadly history repeats itself? Revelations will send him reeling — and even if Iron Man makes it out alive, his new standing in the Marvel Universe might be the death of him!

Collecting INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1-7.

160 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: MOTHER ENTROPY TPB

Written by JIM STARLIN

Penciled by ALAN DAVIS

Cover by ALAN DAVIS

Two celebrated talents take on the Guardians of the Galaxy! The Guardians owe everyone on Knowhere money, so they’re forced to do a job for the local police. But that causes them to run afoul of Pip the Troll and a mysterious entity known only as Mother Entropy — and that’s when the fun begins! Mother Entropy puts Pip and the Guardians to the test, to determine which of them will rule on her behalf in this plane of reality! But where does everyone’s favorite Titan, Thanos, come in? And how about Gladiator and the Shi’ar? The final test will involve — what else — a no-holds-barred brawl at Starlin’s Bar! Who will be the last Guardian standing to face a monstrous villain all on their lonesome?

Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: MOTHER ENTROPY #1-5.

136 PGS./Rated T …$17.99

ROCKET RACCOON: GROUNDED TPB

Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG

Penciled by JORGE COELHO

Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA

Rocket is grounded…literally! Along with his fellow Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket has found himself stuck in the last place he’d ever want to be: the backwards, no-class pit of a planet called Earth! It doesn’t matter how…it doesn’t matter who or what gets in his way…he’s just gotta get off this mudball! Right now! But that’s easier said than done, as Earth is a world filled with distractions — like Kraven the Hunter! Investigating poor, defenseless creatures being slaughtered in New York City, Rocket goes on the hunt — and finds a hunter! Will Rocket end up stuffed and mounted? Or locked up in a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison? Will his quest to escape Earth be sidetracked for good? Find out as the growling Guardian becomes Earth’s bitiest hero!

Collecting ROCKET RACCOON (2016) #1-5.

112 PGS./Rated T …$15.99

THE UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL VOL. 3: TOTALLY IN CONTINUITY TPB

Written by CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS

Penciled by MYISHA HAYNES & GURIHIRU

Cover by GISELE LAGACE

Gwen Poole continues to make friends and influence people across the Marvel Universe! But what will Marvel’s heroes and villains make of Gwen and her bizarre perspective on the world they live in? First up, Gwen gets hired to save a small town from a vampire! It’s high stakes, but all is not as it seems. Then, her gaming skills are put to the test when she’s captured by Arcade, and thrown into…a world of fantasy roleplaying?! After that, Gwen will need a vacation. We hear L.A. is nice! Gwen heads to Hollywood, where she encounters Kate Bishop (the real Hawkeye), Ghost Rider and…dwarves?! Plus: Things get festive back home — but something’s wrong with Christmas, and only Gwenpool knows it! Prepare for an unbelievably merry mix-up!

Collecting UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL #11-15 and material from GWENPOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL: MERRY MIX-UP.

160 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99

SPIDER-MAN 2099 VOL. 6: APOCALYPSE SOON TPB

Written by PETER DAVID

Penciled by WILL SLINEY

Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

Spider-Man 2099 has learned the location of the Fist — the extremist anti-government offshoot of the Hand that put his fiancée in a coma — and he’s ready to mount his attack! But it turns out he’s not the only one investigating the radical group. Elektra Natchios, Marvel’s deadliest assassin, has her own reasons for hunting these terrorists. Can Miguel trust this mysterious newcomer, or is she yet another obstacle in his quest for vengeance? And even if Spidey and Elektra team up, the Fist has upped the ante — calling in an ancient evil to help them bring about the end of the entire world! If that weren’t bad enough, how about Electro 2099? Or Man Mountain Marko? How can the future Spider-Man prevent certain doom when Armageddon is written in the cards?

Collecting SPIDER-MAN 2099 (2015) #17-21.

112 PGS./Rated T …$15.99

DEADPOOL 2099 TPB

Written by GERRY DUGGAN

Penciled by SCOTT KOBLISH

Cover by SCOTT KOBLISH

Nothing can prepare you for the Deadpool of the year 2099! Leap decades into the future to discover the legacy of the regenerating degenerate. There’s a new Merc, with a new Mouth — but who is she? What could make her want to inherit a codename from Wade Wilson? And are there still chimichangas in 2099? Some or all of these questions may be answered — and new ones will be posed! Find out if there’s a Zenpool 2099, catch up with one of Wade’s old teammates and choose your side in a battle for the right to be Deadpool in this collection of sci-fi shenanigans from the world of tomorrow!

Collecting DEADPOOL (2015) #6, #12, #19 and #25.

112 PGS./Parental Advisory …$14.99

SPIDER-MAN: REVENGE OF THE GREEN GOBLIN TPB (NEW PRINTING)

Written by HOWARD MACKIE, ROGER STERN & PAUL JENKINS

Penciled by ERIK LARSEN, JOHN ROMITA JR., JOE BENNETT, LEE WEEKS, RON FRENZ, MARK BUCKINGHAM & CHARLIE ADLARD

Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

The Green Goblin takes to the skies once more! As the mentally addled Norman Osborn battles to strengthen his fragile grip on reality, he summons the will to once again plague the life of Peter Parker in one of the greatest Green Goblin stories of all time! And Osborn has more on his mind than revenge: He wants Parker as his heir! The timing couldn’t be worse for Spider-Man, who’s grieving the loss of a loved one. Plus: Spidey must survive a showdown with the Spider-Slayer, a squabble with the Squid and an encounter with the Enforcers! But whatever happened to Mary Jane?

Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #20-29 and ANNUAL 2001, SPIDER-MAN: REVENGE OF THE GREEN GOBLIN #1-3 and PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN (1999) #25 and #29.

440 PGS./Rated T …$39.99

SPIDER-MAN: THE COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC BOOK 5 TPB (NEW PRINTING)

Written by EVAN SKOLNICK, TOM DEFALCO, TODD DEZAGO, J.M. DEMATTEIS, HOWARD MACKIE, MIKE LACKEY, TOM PEYER, MARK WAID & TERRY KAVANAGH

Penciled by PATRICK ZIRCHER, STEVEN BUTLER, DARICK ROBERTSON, ANGEL MEDINA, PAT BRODERICK, GIL KANE, ROY BURDINE, SHAWN MCMANUS, SAL BUSCEMA, KEN LASHLEY, PHIL GOSIER, TODD SMITH, KEVIN WEST, CLAUDE ST. AUBIN & ROGER ROBINSON

Cover by SAL BUSCEMA

The saga of Peter Parker and Ben Reilly takes a dramatic turn! Venom’s true origins are revealed as his entire race of Symbiotes invades the planet! And as Mary Jane enters the final stages of her pregnancy, will Peter decide to retire his red-and-blue threads once and for all? Plus: Will Ben Reilly join the New Warriors? Guest-starring the X-Men and Black Cat, and featuring the threats of the Hellfire Club, the new female Doctor Octopus, Venom, Carnage, Lizard, D’Spayre and the young Vulture!

Collecting NEW WARRIORS (1990) #62-64, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #128-129, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #405-406, SPIDER-MAN (1990) #62-63, SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED (1993) #10, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #228-229 and SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP #1; and material from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL, SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL, VENOM SUPER SPECIAL, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL and WEB OF SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL.

488 PGS./Rated T …$39.99

SIF: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY — THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB

Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK & KATHRYN IMMONEN

Penciled by RYAN STEGMAN, VALERIO SCHITI & PEPE LARRAZ

Cover by JEFF DEKAL

One of Asgard’s greatest champions fights her way to true warrior’s glory! When her gleaming homeland comes under attack, the sword-wielding Sif leads the battle charge — but her no-holds-barred zeal may be the very thing that brings its walls crashing down! Are the Nine Realms ready for Sif…the Berserker?! When Sif finds herself on an unsuspecting Earth, with no patience for peace, she starts putting out fires with gasoline! Just ask the Superior Spider-Man! Controlling her rages won’t be easy — particularly when a certain hammer-wielding, space-faring ex shows up! Can Sif and Beta Ray Bill get beyond their fiery past and rekindle the flame? Or will a cosmic crisis snuff it out forever? Get to know Sif like never before!

Collecting SIF #1 and JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (2011) #646-655.

248 PGS./Rated T+ …$29.99

CAPTAIN MARVEL: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HERO VOL. 4 TPB

Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK, WARREN ELLIS & KELLY THOMPSON

Penciled by DAVID LOPEZ, LAURA BRAGA & PAOLO PANTALENA

Cover by DAVID LOPEZ

Stellar combat and Secret Wars! Captain Marvel’s time as an astronomical Avenger has seen her face off against some of the worst the galaxy has to offer, not least the Haffensye Consortium! They’ve been tracking Carol and Tic for weeks — and now they’ve finally caught up! Carol Danvers barely survived the last time she squared off against the Haffensye — is there any chance she could be so lucky again? Then, when the Multiverse ends, there is only Battleworld. And in the domain of Hala Field, the elite Carol Corps are the best of the best, who will take down anyone and everyone who threatens their Captain! Riding with them takes guts, guile and a whole lot of grit — so get ready to aim high, fly, fight and win!

Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL (2014) #12-15 and CAPTAIN MARVEL & THE CAROL CORPS #1-4.

184 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99

RUNAWAYS VOL. 5: ESCAPE TO NEW YORK TPB (NEW PRINTING)

Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN

Penciled by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA, ADRIAN ALPHONA & SKOTTIE YOUNG

Cover by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA

The team’s lineup changes forever! When a dangerous alien invades Los Angeles, the Runaways’ own Karolina Dean may be the only hero in the Marvel Universe who can stop him — but at what cost? Plus: The Runaways embark on a coast-to-coast adventure, guest-starring Cloak and Dagger and the New Avengers! When Cloak is accused by his fellow heroes of a crime he didn’t commit, the vigilante is forced to turn to the teenage Runaways for help. This story will take our teens to a place they’ve never been: New York City!

Collecting RUNAWAYS (2005) #7-12 and FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2006.

168 PGS./Rated T+ …$14.99

S.H.I.E.L.D.: HYDRA REBORN TPB

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, ELIOT R. BROWN, BOB SHARP, GREGORY WRIGHT & BARRY DUTTER

Penciled by M.C. WYMAN, GERALD DECAIRE, DON HUDSON, PAUL ABRAMS & JOHN HEEBINK

Cover by JIM CHEUNG & PAUL RENAUD

Director no more, Nick Fury is a plain ol’ Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. — but that won’t stop him from calling the shots! And there are plenty to be fired, because Baron Strucker has a new vision for Hydra…and S.H.I.E.L.D. As Strucker strikes and Fury faces treachery and betrayal from within his own ranks, he reunites with the Howling Commandos and Captain America — as well as a few faces he never thought he’d see again! And it all builds to a cataclysmic confrontation with Hydra that will usher in a whole new era for S.H.I.E.L.D. — and reveal the group’s definitive secret origin! Plus: Nick crosses paths with Luke Cage, investigates a murder and flashes back to the Cold War. But how does a decades-old adventure affect the here and now?

Collecting NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (1989) #36-47 and FURY (1994) #1.

352 PGS./Rated T …$34.99

HEROES FOR HIRE BY ABNETT & LANNING: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB

Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING

Penciled by BRAD WALKER, ROBERT ATKINS, TIM SEELEY, KYLE HOTZ & RENATO ARLEM

Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE

“Hello hero, are you for hire?” With those words, Misty Knight enlists streetwise vigilantes to tackle the jobs no other super-team will. When she calls, people listen — including Falcon, Black Widow, Ghost Rider, Silver Sable, Moon Knight and Paladin! But while Misty takes control, the Puppet Master might be pulling strings of his own. Can Iron Fist and Punisher help her uncover the truth? The events of Fear Itself and Spider-Island call for some serious street-level do-gooding; luckily, Misty’s little black book is crammed full of costumed contractors like Spider-Man, Black Panther, Satana, Shroud and Daimon Hellstrom! But when the manipulative Purple Man unleashes his Villains for Hire, she’ll need a whole new recruitment policy: fight fire with fire!

Collecting HEROES FOR HIRE (2011) #1-12, SPIDER-ISLAND: HEROES FOR HIRE and VILLAINS FOR HIRE #0.1 and #1-4.

416 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99

WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 2

Written by DANIEL WAY & JEPH LOEB

Penciled by STEVE DILLON, KAARE ANDREWS, SIMONE BIANCHI & JON PROCTOR

Cover by JOE QUESADA

Continuing Daniel Way’s blistering run — with a blockbuster assist by Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi! Completely shattered by recent revelations, Wolverine must now ask himself some hard questions: Can he continue on his quest? Should he? Logan finally remembers who he was, but who — and what — is he now? The answers involve Madripoor, Jubilee, old foes Cyber and Omega Red, and the deadly debut of Daken — the son that Wolverine never knew he had! Learn Wolverine’s secret history with Black Widow, and gasp as a savage showdown with Sabretooth draws the manipulative mastermind Romulus out of the shadows! Plus: Ask “what if?” tragedy had turned Logan away from the path of the Wolverine — and on to that of an even more punishing vigilante!

Collecting WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #6-15 and ANNUAL #1, WOLVERINE (2003) #50-55 and WHAT IF: WOLVERINE.

480 PGS./Parental Advisory …$34.99

PUNISHER: SUICIDE RUN TPB

Written by STEVEN GRANT, CHUCK DIXON, LARRY HAMA & MORE

Penciled by HUGH HAYNES, GARY KWAPISZ, JOHN BUSCEMA, VAL MAYERIK & MORE

Cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN

Frank Castle stars in an explosive epic so big it took three titles to contain it! When the Punisher undertakes his most extravagant hit of all — collapsing an entire skyscraper on a group of crime bosses — he ends up dead himself! Or does he? With a vigilante vacuum on the streets, a host of psychopathic killers lays claim to the Punisher’s crown — and iconic chest symbol! Take your pick from the skull-masked Hitman, jaded cop Lynn Michaels, postal worker Desmond Kline, media-savvy author Dean Swaybrick or British Frank-ophile Outlaw! Bullets fly as the pretenders take on criminals and each other, learning the hard way that to step into Castle’s shoes is virtual suicide. But amid all the chaos, will the one, true Punisher make his return?

Collecting PUNISHER (1987) #85-88, PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL (1987) #61-64 and PUNISHER WAR ZONE (1992) #23-25.

344 PGS./Rated T …$34.99

PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 6 TPB

Written by JASON AARON, JONATHAN MABERRY, ROB WILLIAMS, VALERIE D’ORAZIO, PETER MILLIGAN, CHARLIE HUSTON, DAVID LAPHAM, JASON STARR, JASON LATOUR, MEGAN ABBOTT, NATHAN EDMONDSON & SKOTTIE YOUNG

Penciled by ROLAND BOSCHI, LAURENCE CAMPBELL, JUAN JOSE RYP, SHAWN MARTINBROUGH, DALIBOR TALAJIC, CONNOR WILLUMSEN, MATTEO BUFFAGNI, FERNANDO BLANCO & MIRKO COLAK

Cover by ESAD RIBIC

Frank Castle’s relentless war on crime continues! It’s Christmas, and the Punisher is checking off names on his naughty list! Frank gets creative to snuff some snuff filmmakers! In the United Kingdom, he takes on Earth’s hardest soldiers, the SAS, and unleashes his war wagon against a biker gang! But when a hitwoman releases a lurid tell-all, will the Punisher be her salvation, temptation…or damnation? Plus: Stories from the murky world that exists in the Punisher’s shadow, starring an opportunistic psycho, a frantic father, a mild-mannered accountant and the young son of one of Frank’s victims. When the Punisher is involved, there are rarely any happy endings.

Collecting PUNISHER MAX X-MAS SPECIAL, PUNISHER: NAKED KILL, PUNISHER: GET CASTLE, PUNISHER: BUTTERFLY, PUNISHER: HAPPY ENDING, PUNISHER: HOT RODS OF DEATH, PUNISHER: TINY UGLY WORLD and UNTOLD TALES OF PUNISHER MAX #1-5.

376 PGS./Explicit Content …$39.99

NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 7 TPB

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by NEAL ADAMS, MIKE DEODATO JR., WILL CONRAD, MICHAEL GAYDOS, CARLOS PACHECO, MICHAEL AVON OEMING & MORE

Cover by MIKE DEODATO JR.

Brian Michael Bendis concludes the epic saga of his New Avengers — and they go out fighting! First, the return of Norman Osborn pits the team against an even deadlier and more dangerous team of Dark Avengers! But even that can’t prepare them for a world-rocking war with the X-Men! Will Luke Cage join the battle, or choose to stay with his wife and child? As the situation goes from bad to worse, Iron Fist must seek the secrets of the Phoenix! Three of Earth’s Mightiest will be taken captive, but no jail can hold them for long — or can it? And when all looks dark, can the Illuminati succeed where the Avengers failed? Anyone who gets out alive will face an era-ending mystical force too big for even Doctor Strange to handle!

Collecting NEW AVENGERS (2010) #16.1 and #17-34.

440 PGS./Rated T+ …$39.99

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE — THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 2 TPB

Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & DAN SLOTT

Penciled by STEVEN KURTH, HUMBERTO RAMOS, RAFA SANDOVAL, JORGE MOLINA, MAHMUD ASRAR & STEVE UY

Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

In the wake of the Skrull Invasion, the public has lost faith in the Initiative! What a time for Reptil to make his mark on the Marvel Universe! As storm clouds gather, the members of the black-ops Shadow Initiative must abduct one of their own — who has defected to Hydra! But Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign changes everything. Where Camp Hammond once trained future Avengers, Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. now trains tomorrow’s Dark Avengers! The new principals are Taskmaster and the Hood, and they’re registering villains as heroes and spreading Norman’s empire across the nation. But those who once made up the Initiative aren’t about to let this happen. Hunted by the law, hidden from sight, a Resistance has formed — and its members are out to stop H.A.M.M.E.R. by any means necessary!

Collecting AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #20-35, AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE SPECIAL and AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE FEATURING REPTIL.

456 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99

AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION: OPERATION GALACTIC STORM TPB

Volume #22 in the Avengers Epic Collections

Written by BOB HARRAS, ROY THOMAS, DANN THOMAS, MARK GRUENWALD, GERARD JONES, LEN KAMINSKI & TOM DEFALCO

Penciled by STEVE EPTING, DAVE ROSS, GREG CAPULLO, RURIK TYLER, JEFF JOHNSON, STEPHEN JONES, PAUL RYAN, PAT OLLIFFE & RICHARD LEVINS

Cover by STEVE EPTING

The Kree/Shi’ar War! When two of the galaxy’s most ancient and powerful races clash, it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to play cosmic peacekeeper! With Earth in the crossfire, the Avengers are drawn into the conflict — and end up as alien invaders on war-torn worlds of wonder! Assemblers East and West are embroiled in an epic too big for even two Avengers titles — one that will shake the team to its very foundations! Super heroes from three galaxies clash in a war filled with incredible action — including Thor vs. Gladiator of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard — and the Avengers will face repercussions that will haunt them for years!

Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #345-347, AVENGERS WEST COAST #80-82, QUASAR #32-34, WONDER MAN (1991) #7-9, IRON MAN (1968) #278-279, THOR (1966) #445-446, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #401 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #398-400.

488 PGS./Rated T …$39.99

THOR EPIC COLLECTION: IN MORTAL FLESH TPB

Volume #17 in the Thor Epic Collections

Written by RANDALL FRENZ, TOM DEFALCO, RON FRENZ, ROY THOMAS & MORE

Penciled by RICH YANIZESKY, RON FRENZ, GARY HARTLE, TONY DEZUNIGA, MIKE MIGNOLA, RON LIM, HERB TRIMPE, AL MILGROM & MORE

Cover by RON FRENZ

To spare a life, Thor makes the ultimate sacrifice! With the fate of his friend Eric Masterson in the balance, Thor steps in — and finds himself once again bonded to a mortal form! But which deadly foe will bring about such dire straits? Could it be Quicksand? The maniacal Mongoose? A new Executioner? Or as an untethered Asgard drifts into the Negative Zone, Annihilus? As a new era begins for Thor, another legendary hero returns: Zounds, it’s Hercules! It will take the combined might of these godly friends, plus She-Hulk, to face not one but two Dooms! In another heavyweight bout, Thor takes on the Juggernaut — with the New Warriors lending a hand! Plus: The High Evolutionary! Doctor Strange! The Thing! Tales of Asgard! Beta Ray Bill! And Ulik joins the Wrecking Crew!

Collecting THOR (1966) #401-418 and ANNUAL #14.

488 PGS./Rated T …$39.99

DEFENDERS EPIC COLLECTION: ASHES, ASHES… TPB

Volume #7 in the Defenders Epic Collections

Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS with DON PERLIN & STEVEN GRANT

Penciled by DON PERLIN with SAL BUSCEMA & AL MILGROM

Cover by BRENT ANDERSON

The Defenders face threats Satanic, Seussian and everything in between! Marvel’s greatest non-team will take you on adventures made with their own special brand of action and interpersonal drama, topped by a heaping helping of the absurd! In this Epic Collection, the Defenders battle the cosmic Over-Mind, the alternate-Earth Squadron Supreme, the fan-favorite Elf with a Gun, the Avengers, and even themselves! Patsy Walker’s relationship with Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, will flower, while classic Defenders — Hulk, Namor and the Silver Surfer — will return! Out of it all, the New Defenders — featuring Iceman, Angel, Beast and Moondragon — will rise, and nothing will be the same. Same as it ever was!

Collecting DEFENDERS (1972) #110-125 and AVENGERS ANNUAL #11.

440 PGS./All Ages …$39.99

AVENGERS #9 BY ROSS POSTER

FOC 6/12/17, ON-SALE 7/052017

24×36…$8.99

*Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd.

The post Marvel Comics Solicitations for July 2017 appeared first on CBR.

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[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Spider-Geddon #2 Thoughts

Something of a clusterfuck

 There is the nugget of a fun story here. Seeing the Spider Heroes rally, recruit and use team work offers some opportunities for a fun action adventure yarn.

But this is blown by the innate blandness of the Inheritors (the most relatively interesting of which, Morlun, isn’t even present sans a quick cameo) and the blandness with which almost all the protagonists are written.

What do I mean by this?

I mean that pretty much every protagonist in this story has basically the same personality, the ONLY exceptions being

a)      Spider-Punk who’s rendered slightly more unique because he sides with Otto’s ‘kill them’ stance

b)      Octavia because she too sides with Otto’s stance and there seems to be a kinship between them. Which is more interesting in concept than it is actually explored in the story

c)       And...Otto

Fucking. Otto. Octavius.

Yeah so Superior Spider-Rapist is clearly not only Slott’s pet character but also Gage’s; makes sense I guess since Gage was Slott’s understudy writer.

Otto has by far the most personality and in spite of how much I hate Superior Spider-Douche I found myself more engaged by his character in this issue because of that. Not that I don’t find his pompousness, his villainy and his obnoxious catch phrase ‘the die is cast’ insufferable. It all just further makes you question why Peter let’s him run around.

What’s so fucked up about that is that this story exists to promote a movie about Miles and in which Miles was allegedly going to play a major role. But so far, much like Peter in Spider-Verse, he’s the Beta to Ock’s Alpha. He’s even used to establish a splinter group of non-murdery Spider-Heroes like Peter in Spider-Verse.

I feel like maybe the issue was trying to give a little more flair to Mayday because she’s rearing to fight the Inheritors in one or two lines of dialogue...but it’s just one or two lines. And I’m not even sure rearing to fight them because of her Dad’s death is all that in character for her after Spider-Verse and the Secret Wars Spider-Island story and Web Warriors issues she was in.*

I’m not saying Ock is the main character per se but he’s clearing the ‘first among the ensemble’ if you get me.

Equally getting more attention than most other characters is Spider-Gwen.

Yes apparently even though her solo book’s sales were in the toilet when this story was published (and still are) much like Web Warriors the story seems to insist on hyping her. Granted its less egregious than in Web Warriors and it does make a certain amount of sense. She has a symbiote thus her scoring some of the better hits in and fending off the Inheritors is more logical since she has a power advantage. But its just the fact it continues a pattern of hyping her up that’s a problem, not helped when she seemingly dies and the Spider-Heroes take a noticeable moment to mourn her, much moreso than Noir or UK ever got.

What’s so baffling about this story decision is that we know Gwen is definitely not dead because she’s too popular to die and the pretense doesn’t even last beyond the issue, the make it clear she’s alive on the last page. Alive and stranded which...didn’t this happen already in Web Warriors if memory serves?

 One more thing before I dive into the biggest issue with this story, Kaine and Otto interact in this story and their dynamic is soooooo unbelievable.

In keeping with the Spider-Heroes being written blandly and so similar to one another Kaine’s personality seems to be ‘a little more willing to kill’ than most everyone else. And this happens in a scene where Superior Spider-Man, whom Kaine KNOWS is Doctor Octopus last I checked, shows up to recruit him and he calls Ock ‘buddy’.

What. The. Fuck.

Surely if Ock had to recruit the guy who fucking killed him  and Kaine was being recruited by the guy who stole his brother’s body for a year (the brother he tried to protect by killing Otto in the first place) there’d be tensions. Instead it’s all civil.

Much like Spider-Verse this story seems to just piss away the potential drama you could milk from actually having these characters interact. I guess it’s at least consistent as a sequel then.

Now the single biggest problem with this issue though is how it relates to the tie-ins.

Between the dialogue and caption boxes it’s made clear to us that in this issue the Spider Heroes go off and recruit other Spider-Heroes.

This is just baffling because it means the events of Edge of Spider-Geddon #1-4 AND Spider-Geddon #0  actually happen during and after issue #2!

What kind of asinine planning is that? At that point it doesn’t even make sense to call those comics Edge of Spider-Geddon or Spider-Geddon #0.

They aren’t on the edge of the story they’re in the middle and issue #0 is actually issue #2.5. It’s not even like they were just released out of order Marvel GAVE us a reading order and it’s incorrect. It creates confusion even within Edge of Spider-Geddon issue #1 because THAT issue happens before Spider-Geddon but every issue after is during it?

What a mess, my God.

Oh and the issue also spoils stuff from Spec #312 as Miles is shown helping Peter fight off the Morlun. Great job there editorial

Yuck.

I’m soldiering through the main book so that now at least I can get to what I actually wanted to read, the tie-ins.

P.S. Mayday refers to Anya as Arana. The Marvel wiki still labels her as Spider-Girl, but could this be Marvel changing her name back? I hope so.

P.P.S. According to this issue a building blowing up should kill an Inheritor...what?

In older stories the Inheritors were shown to clearly be way more durable than that!

*Sidenote the art gets her costume wrong. It’s clearly red and black instead of navy blue and her chest symbol has ‘teeth’ on it which normally isn’t the case. Artistic licence I suppose and I like the look well enough but still the artists didn’t care to keep her on model apparently.