The Superior Spider-Man #6AU (mini review)

(w) Christos Gage     (a) Dexter Soy

As an explanation as to why Spider-Man reads like Peter Parker in Age of Ultron instead of like Otto Octavius, The Superior Spider-Man #6AU is pretty unsatisfying. As a tie-in to "Age of Ultron", the issue is an interesting look at how the Superior Spider-Man would process the oppression of Earth by someone other than he.

Truthfully, I feel like The Superior Spider-Man has stalled. The first two issues showcased Dan Slott's ability to bring a fresh new perspective on a very old character. Since then, the series has been going through the motions, unable to find sure footing for the fledgling new anti-hero. With The Superior Spider-Man #6AU, writer Christos Gage utilizes the apocalyptic nightmare of Ultron's victory to give Otto the ultimate feeling of inferiority.

Putting aside how ridiculous it is that Otto would go through to the trouble of "acting" like Peter to satisfy anyone's comfort, Spider-Man takes it upon himself to destroy Ultron simply because he's got a bit more experience with robots than anyone still living. But it's not about his plan or it's success or failure. It's about Otto's hubris and how it exceeds even the end of the world. This is what the Superior Spider-Man needs to be. This is what Otto's journey needs to represent because that's the kind of man he is, the kind that needs to be better than everyone else.

GRADE

9/10

The Week in Revue (Mar 27-Apr 2, 2013)

------- Spotlight

Guardians of the Galaxy #1
(w) Brian Michael Bendis     (a) Steve McNiven
THE GUARDIANS RETURN TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!

------- DC Reviews

Batman Incorporated #9

(w) Grant Morrison     (a) Chris Burnham

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MOMENTS AFTER THE DEATH OF DAMIAN WAYNE?

The Flash #18

(w) Brian Buccellato     (a) Marcio Takara

THE TRICKSTER ACCUSED OF MURDER? AND A SPECIAL CROSSOVER WITH...DIAL H!

Justice League Dark #18

(w) Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes     (a) Mikel Janin

THE CONCLUSION TO "THE DEATH OF MAGIC!"


---------- mini reviews
Aquaman #18

(w) Geoff Johns     (a) Paul Pelletier

"DEATH OF A KING" BEGINS HERE! A NEW ARC IN THIS ACCLAIMED SERIES!

Superman #18

(w) Scott Lobdell     (a) Kenneth Rocafort

H.I.V.E. MAKES IT'S NEW 52 DEBUT AS THEY TRY TO TAKE OVER METROPOLIS!

Teen Titans #18

(w) Scott Lobdell     (a) Eddy Barrows

FALLOUT FROM "DEATH OF THE FAMILY" AND THE DEATH OF DAMIAN WAYNE! GUEST STARRING THE SUICIDE SQUAD!

------- Marvel Reviews

Age of Ultron #3 of 10

(w) Brian Michael Bendis     (a) Bryan Hitch

MARVEL'S POST-APOCALYPTIC EVENT CONTINUES!

Uncanny Avengers #5

(w) Rick Remender     (a) Olivier Coipel
WONDER MAN, WASP, AND SUNFIRE JOIN THE UNCANNY AVENGERS!

Young Avengers #3

(w) Kieron Gillen     (a) Jaime McKelvie

MORE AMAZINGNESS FROM GILLEN AND MCKELVIE ON THE LANDMARK SERIES!

---------- mini reviews

Fantastic Four #5AU

(w) Matt Fraction     (a) Andre Araujo

AN "AGE OF ULTRON" TIE-IN ISSUE!

The Superior Spider-Man #6AU

(w) Christos Gage     (a) Dexter Soy

AN "AGE OF ULTRON" TIE-IN ISSUE!

The Week in Revue (Mar 6-12, 2013)

------- Spotlight

Age of Ultron #1 of 10
(w) Brian Michael Bendis     (a) Bryan Hitch

------- DC Reviews

Earth 2 #10

(w) James Robinson     (a) Nicola Scott

Green Lantern #18

(w) Geoff Johns     (a) Doug Mahnke

---------- mini DC reviews

Green Arrow #18

(w) Jeff Lemire     (a) Andrea Sorrentino

Stormwatch #18

(w) Peter Milligan     (a) Will Conrad

Superman #17
(w) Scott Lobdell     (a) Kenneth Rocafort

------- Marvel Reviews
All-New X-Men #8
(w) Brian Michael Bendis     (a) David Marquez

Avengers #7

(w) Jonathan Hickman     (a) Dustin Weaver

---------- mini Marvel Reviews

Iron Man #7

(w) Kieron Gillen     (a) Greg Land

The Superior Spider-Man #5

(w) Dan Slott     (a) Giuseppe Camuncoli

mini Reviews (Feb 20-26, 2013)

---------- mini DC reviews

Green Lantern Corps #17

(w) Peter J. Tomasi     (a) Fernando Pasarin


"Wrath of the First Lantern" continues in Green Lantern Corps #17 with Volthoom (the eponymous First Lantern) seeking out various colored Lanterns from which to leech emotional energy. Already, this follow-up to "Rise of the Third Army" feels long in the tooth -- a person who has the potential to literally reshape the entire fabric of the universe is spending his time poking around the lives of mere mortals? "Wrath of the First Lantern" needs to be about more than just exposing our protagonists' emotional frailty because that's basically all "Rise of the Third Army" was about, and that turned out pretty unsatisfactory. It's unfortunate that, even with a new crossover to pump it up, Green Lantern Corps #17 is simply forgettable.

GRADE: 6/10

Green Lantern: New Guardians #17

(w) Tony Bedard     (a) Aaron Kuder


Green Lantern: New Guardians #17 is the third and final GL family title this week to step up to the plate and attempt to make "Wrath of the First Lantern" interesting, and it's also the third to fail. Volthoom, at this point, isn't a very menacing villain because all he does is toy with peoples emotions to gain strength -- and GL:NG #17 proves that he's not even very good at that. Kyle Rayner has mastered all the emotional spectrum and his now a White Lantern, which gives him an edge when Volthoom flips reality at a whim, but there's no sense of high stakes. Much like "Rise of the Third Army", it's frustrating to see so much going on with so little explanation, and being forced to wait for a payoff again with "Wrath of the First Lantern" is already annoying.

GRADE: 6/10

---------- mini Marvel reviews

Avengers #6

(w) Jonathan Hickman     (a) Adam Kubert


Again, Jonathan Hickman surprises and astonishes with Avengers #6, which finally answers the question, "Who is Captain Universe?" The 'deus ex machina' of Hickman's first arc, "Avengers World", was a normal human who somehow became the living embodiment of the entire universe who was able to stop the misguided Ex Nihilo and Abyss from wrongly destroying earth -- with no real explanation until now. Hickman promised a huge, epic, grand narrative that would interweave with New Avengers, and the advent of Captain Universe brings those plans one step closer to fruition. If you're not reading Avengers, you should be; simple as that.

GRADE: 9/10

The Superior Spider-Man #4

(w) Dan Slott     (a) Giuseppe Camuncoli

The Superior Spider-Man continues to be one of Marvel's best series due in no small part to Dan Slott's impecable grasp on Otto Octavius -- the more we see of Otto as Spider-Man, the more we get to know the real motives and thoughts of a man who has been a villain for 50 years. The biggest complaint about SSM so far has been the use of 'Ghost Jedi Peter' -- Peter Parker's phantom consciousness still tied to his body -- and The Superior Spider-Man #4 answers those concerns by dialing back Ghost Peter's appearances allowing Otto to be himself. Though, Peter's emotional bias against Otto (as well as Otto doing anything differently than Peter did as Spider-Man) is starting to make him sound like a twat for constantly getting grossly upset over Otto's way of doing things. And while it's all been relative fun and games for Otto so far, the return of the cold-hearted Massacre promises a challenge that not even the Superior Spider-Man is prepared to face.

GRADE: 8/10

The Week (Feb 6-12, 2013)

------- Featured Review
Avengers Assemble Annual #1

------- DC Reviews

• Earth 2 #9 PREVIEW
• The Phantom Stranger #5 PREVIEW
• Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special

---------- mini DC reviews

• Animal Man #17 - Rotworld: Conclusion, Part 1
• Swamp Thing #17 - Rotworld: Conclusion, Part 2

------- Marvel Reviews

• All-New X-Men #7 PREVIEW
• Avengers #5
• The Superior Spider-Man #3 

---------- mini Marvel reviews

• Iron Man #6
• New Avengers #3

REVIEW: THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2

(w) Dan Slott (a) Ryan Stegman

**CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1-2**

With The Superior Spider-Man, Dan Slott is exploring uncharted territory with the character: critical thinking. Peter Parker has always been a smart person. Incredibly smart, in fact. Unfortunately, that genius was usually squandered by Peter's one-track mind when it came to being Spider-Man -- the mask always took precedent, no matter the cost. And when we take an unbiased look at Peter Parker's entire career as a vigilante superhero, we can see that many of the tragedies and heartaches in his life were a result of unpreparedness or simple miscommunication. This may sound harsh, but it's one of the many truths the ghost of Peter Parker is forced to learn as he watches his own life being lived by someone else. The Superior Spider-Man #2 builds upon the events of the first issue without the storyline feeling like a Brian Michael Bendis super-decompression. Octavius isn't as righteous or 'good' as readers want him to be in Peter's body, but the switch has proved to be a fantastic source for new types of Spider-Man storytelling, and that's the best thing to happen to the character in years.

"He's saying super villain stuff! How can no one see through this?" ponders the Ghost of Peter Passed as he watches everyone in his life fall for Octavius' deception. I was worried Ghost Peter would only be popping up every once in a while when Otto needed a good kick in the pants to do the right thing, like a guardian angel with some alternative agenda. Having Peter float around aimlessly only to be unseen, unheard, and unknown to the world is fun because it lets Dan Slott convey the difference between the Amazing and Superior Spider-Men. Otto is doing things with the concept of being Spider-Man that Peter wouldn't have thought of in years. Like actively figuring out ways to balance an actual social life against crime-fighting, or being smarter about patrolling the city by employing spider-bots that connect with a tablet app to relay information about various incidents that require Spider-Man's attention. He makes nice with J. Jonah Jameson so the press isn't constantly on Spider-Man's case, and he actually dates Mary Jane Watson (or "the Watson woman"), something that hasn't happened in a great many years. Of course, it's not really Peter doing these things.

Ghost Peter isn't too fond of Otto's new ways, but just because Peter doesn't understand something doesn't make it bad. It happens a lot (in movies, at least) -- one scientist discovering the final solution to the chagrin and over-analysis of the other scientists out of jealousy and a feeling of failure. In the case of The Superior Spider-Man #2, ghost Peter mentions, on more than one occasion, that Otto isn't doing things like Spider-Man would do, and Mary Jane makes the same observation. This sequence feels like the first of many that will put Otto Parker's identity and reputation up to the test with Peter's personal relationships. Otto explains that he's trying to be "a smarter Spider-Man" by evolving the way he looks at being a superhero and a man in general. The most interesting part about Otto's drive to be better is that -- at least in this issue -- it's primarily fueled by his desire for Mary Jane. Otto takes MJ on multiple dates with little more payoff than pecks on the cheek and the cold shoulder one particular night. It's in the frustration of not even getting to first base that causes Otto to have his greatest revelation about Spider-Man as Spider-Man so far: Mary Jane and Peter's relationship is dependent on the Spider-Man aspect to keep it alive and healthy -- without the mask, there is no spark and no deep connection.

It could be argued that Slott has effectively cheapened decades of history between these characters by implying that their love was little more than some weird superhero/damsel-in-distress relationship that was only good when the world was going bad, or vice versa. Really, it's an astute observation on the nature of a super hero being in love with someone who isn't. In the beginning, Peter and Mary Jane had a relationship built upon a mutual respect and love for one another, but as time went on and Spider-Man's life began to affect Peter's, Mary Jane was often caught in the crossfire as the one who needed saving, with all the whirlwind emotions that come with being held hostage by a mutated thug or international crime syndicate. Otto's decision to break things off with MJ is one that merits significance because it's a decision that shocks ghost Peter because it's something he could never do, no matter how much sense it made. Otto understands how Peter and Mary Jane's relationship became dysfunctional and he puts a stop to it before it can even start back up.

The Superior Spider-Man #2 continues Dan Slott's fantastic look at a villain turned hero. Otto Octavius has a chance to change his life completely (and for the better) without sacrificing who he is at the core, which is something many of us wish we could have done at some point in our lives. The addition of ghost Peter into the mix is risky, and the jury is still out on how that element of the storytelling will play out, but for now, it's enjoyable and provides the Peter Parker presence fans really want. Giving Otto the chance to make Spider-Man into a better hero was a stroke of genius for Slott because it allows Otto to transfer his mad scientist ideas into competent tech with practical uses. I mentioned it in my review of the first issue and I'll say it again here: for me, The Superior Spider-Man is a whole lot more fun and interesting than Spider-Man has been in a while.

GRADE

8.5/10

THE WEEK (JAN 30 - FEB 5, 2013)

Featured Review

Green Lantern Corps Annual #1
(w) Peter J. Tomasi
(a) ChrisCross

"Rise of the Third Army" finished up with this oversized annual issue! Now that the Guardian's new army has ravaged the universe, how will the Green Lantern Corps stop them? Find out here! Plus, GLC Annual #1 also leads into the next Green Lantern Family crossover, "Wrath of the First Lantern"!

Reviews

Aquaman #16
(w) Geoff Johns
(a) Paul Pelletier

"Throne of Atlantis" continues this week as Orm the Ocean Master declares all-out war on the surface world! Plus, remember how the monsters from "The Trench" got out a few issues back? Well here they come to eat your face off!

Batman and Robin Annual #1

Batman and Robin Annual #1
(w) Peter J. Tomasi
(a) Adrian Syaf

Hawkeye #7
(w) Matt Fraction
(a) Steve Lieber

The hurricane issue. All of Matt Fraction's royalties from this issue's sales are going directly to Hurricane Sandy relief. So, make sure to drop by your LCS and maybe pick up more than one copy if you've got the money to spare this week!

Justice League Dark #16
(w) Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes
(a) Mikel Janin

The Superior Spider-Man #2
(w) Dan Slott
(a) Ryan Stegman

Dan Slott promised he would address the issue of rape between Peter and Mary Jane now that Peter is actually Doc Ock. I was very impressed with the first issue, so hopefully Slott can keep the momentum rolling!

Teen Titans #16
(w) Scott Lobdell
(a) Brett Booth

Extra! Extra!

Avengers #4
(w) Jonathan Hickman
(a) Adam Kubert

Batman, Incorporated #7
(w) Grant Morrison
(a) Chris Burnham

The Flash #16
(w) Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
(a) Francis Manapul

Superman #16
(w) Scott Lobdell
(a) Kenneth Rocafort

X-Men Legacy #5
(w) Simon Spurrier
(a) 

FEATURED REVIEW: THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1

(w) Dan Slott
(a) Ryan Stegman

The Superior Spider-Man #1 is better than I ever could have expected.

After generally being unimpressed with The Amazing Spider-Man #700, I was worried that Dan Slott's opus to Doctor Octopus would be a drag. Instead, what I got was an insanely good issue that delivered on all fronts. We get to see how Otto deals with real super villains and how being on the winning end feels for a change. Even though there's a lot to know going into this series, the story has so little pretense that any new reader could pick it up and be completely satisfied with the status quo.

Dan Slott had to go through a lot to get to this point, but it's been worth it, apparently. Otto as Spider-Man is a treat to read. His 'holier than thou' attitude toward pretty much everyone else is making Spider-Man more interesting than he's been in years. Peter Parker had a way of doing things, he had a process and a mindset for how to act as a superhero. Much of that mentality was based on "with great power comes great responsibility", but beyond that, Peter's personality was meek, shy, and nervous. He used humor and wit as a facade with which to hide these flaws, and it worked for him. But how many times did the villain have the upper hand? 

Otto is inarguably smarter than Peter Parker, which means he's got a whole different way of interpreting his role as Spider-Man. He listens to police bandwidths on a bluetooth headset instead of random patrols, he gains "a tactical advantage" by using nanotechnology to discover the whereabouts and plans of the new Sinister Six, and he pushes the boundaries at Horizon Labs to develop revolutionary technology with materials that could potentially be used for "high yield explosives, lethal biological agents, terrifying instruments of--". Dr. Max Modell is cut off by the charismatic, sophisticated "Peter" who insists that he's only doing good.

In a very real sense, Otto Octavius is a superior Spider-Man than Peter Parker. Of course, I don't mean in the hearts and minds of generations of fans, but in a logistical way, Otto has improved nearly every aspect of Peter Parker's life. It might be hard to hear, but Peter stumbled through most of his career as the Sensational Spider-Man. He often made the wrong decisions and regularly made mistakes that resulted in deaths. While all superheroes have their faults and their failures, Peter's always seemed exacerbated by the fact that he was always so down on himself. Otto, on the other hand, has confidence coming out of his butt despite the fact that his only real victory ever was cheating death by transferring his consciousness into Peter Parker's body. He has to be the Superior Spider-Man because that's all he's got left.

I've always enjoyed Ryan Stegman's art on Scarlet Spider, but for some reason, his work for The Superior Spider-Man seems more over-the-top than usual, almost as if he's emulating Humberto Ramos, the former regular artist for The Amazing Spider-Man. It's not bad, per se, it's just a bit more exaggerated than I'm used to seeing from Stegman.

The Superior Spider-Man #1 is a complete success. Even without the big twist at the end, Dan Slott has secured by readership for this book by delivering an awesome opening chapter to a series that shows a lot of promise for interesting, complex storytelling based on real human emotions and relatable feelings. It's a real shame that everyone already knows that Peter Parker will be back in the future. In the world of comic books, major players don't stay dead, so it's only a matter of time (or a matter of a new movie) before Peter gets back into his own head. And really, that's going to be disappointing when it does happen because we've read the same old song and dance for the last fifty years with Peter, and already I'm more invested in Otto Octavius' journey than I've been in Peter's for quite a while. Long live the Superior Spider-Man.

GRADE

10/10

THE WEEK (JAN 9-15, 2013) 1

FEATURED REVIEW
The Superior Spider-Man #1

Reviews
Action Comics #16

Earth 2 #8

Fantastic Four #3

Green Lantern: New Guardians Annual #1

Extra! Extra!
Animal Man #16

Stormwatch #16

Swamp Thing #16

Thor: God of Thunder #4

REVIEW: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700

(w) Dan Slott
(a) Humberto Ramos

*MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!*

*SERIOUSLY. READ THE ISSUE FIRST!*

"Spider-Man is Doctor Octopus now."

"What does that mean?"

"Doc Ock switched his mind with Peter Parker's, Doc Ock's body was about to shut down, and Peter had no way to escape. Now Peter Parker is dead and Doctor Octopus is running around in Spider-Man's body."

"So, Spider-Man's going to be a villain now?"

"No. Doc Ock's psychic 'mind meld' of sorts with Peter made him truly understand that with great power comes great responsibility. Since he's Spider-Man now, Doc Ock wants to be a better Spider-Man than Peter ever was."

"Sounds like Marvel's kind of running out of ideas."

This was the conversation I had with a friend of mine who doesn't read comic books. Yes, when the news was leaked about the big twist of The Amazing Spider-Man #700, I read it. As a journalist (and of course, this is not true for all writers), I find that a 'big reveal' in and of itself isn't the big news--everyone gets the same issue and sees the same twist happen. No, the most interesting part about a big twist in comic books is how much it affects the readers. I told my friend what was happening in The Amazing Spider-Man because whether you read comic books or not, you more than likely know who Spider-Man is and that he has an enemy named Doctor Octopus. Obviously, a non-reader is going to be bored by a plot summary of Siege or Blackest Night. But Spider-Man? It's a character--and, quite frankly, a franchise--that enough people are familiar with, that a change in the title's status quo actually gets mainstream media coverage. This doesn't happen very often, but it's always for something that changes the way we see classic characters that have been around for 40, 50, or 60 years.

In the case of The Amazing Spider-Man #700, that change comes with the apparent death of Peter Parker. My favorite glossed-over detail is that Brian Michael Bendis did this over a year ago in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. The timing of this is important for a number of reasons. The first is that Marvel very much hyped up Peter Parker's death in 2011, making a huge spectacle of it by spreading it's influence across most of the Ultimate comics at the time. The second is that, in a very real way, many Ultimate Spider-Man fans felt a personal connection to the loss of a character they followed for ten years as Marvel established and cultivated a brand new comic book universe. The third is that Bendis had a concrete plan for what was to come after Peter's death. These reasons, and more, formed one of the most poignant and emotional deaths in Marvel's history. Dan Slott has been writing The Amazing Spider-Man for a long time, and over the course of his run, he's built up the relationship between Spidey and Doc Ock to a point where something like a brain switch between the two characters could be more likely than a number of other ways Peter Parker could meet his apparent demise. But this is precisely what makes The Amazing Spider-Man #700 such a failure as a Spider-Man comic book.

Metafiction is great when it's applied correctly. In the case of NBC's low-rated yet critically lauded Community, pop culture aficionado Abed Nadir acts as a bridge between our world and the kooky, slightly-warped universe of Greendale Community College. Here, the metafiction makes sense because Abed is obsessed with TV, movies, video games, social media, and pretty much everything else in our modern lives. His obsession contextualizes how often the show brushes up against surreality. 

The concept of Doc Ock as the new Spider-Man is, in and of itself, a huge act of metafiction simply for metafiction's sake. Spider-Man's crux, for most of his 50-year history, is that Peter Parker is a wonderful, caring, kind, thoughtful, brave individual that the world population regards with skepticism and distrust. The readers always knew Peter was a true hero, while the rest of the world saw him as a menace. Though, in recent years, being a member of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four (for a short time during Johnny Storm's death) has done wonders for his reputation, meaning that slowly, the population of the Marvel universe has come to know and believe in New York's wall-crawler as the hero he's strived to be since his Uncle Ben was murdered. Now, the tables are literally turned. We the readers know that the menace known as Doctor Octopus is inhabiting Peter's body, while the Marvel universe at-large still believes it's business as usual under Spidey's webbed mask.

As my friend so eloquently put it: Marvel is running out of ideas. Dan Slott, Joe Quesada, and Axel Alonso (along with whoever else at Marvel will talk about it) will go on record more than once to defend this massive change in status quo--Thou dost protest too much, methinks. Fans and critics will identify the 'comic book cliche' and insist that this change won't be permanent. This is just background noise. What does it matter if it's not permanent? What matters is how this comic book was written, why it was written so, how the issue pays homage/honors the past 50 years of Spider-Man comics, and how it affects readers. In all of these instances, Slott has come up short with The Amazing Spider-Man #700. Instead of feeling like the grandiose, epic issue this should have been, we got Doc Ock running around in Peter Parker's body, a small cadre of C-list Spidey villains, and a half-hearted attempt to shake things up. 

This brain switch story should have been simply that: a story. In Slott's hands, the idea grew from what could have easily and interestingly been a good mini-series or run on ASM, to a media stunt designed to sell books without thought to the consequences. And yes, I know that Marvel's creative types probably had dozens of hours of meetings to discuss this whole situation, and I'm sure they went over it as many times as they could before agreeing it would work. Unfortunately, Stockholm syndrome is not a viable excuse for needlessly and meaninglessly get rid of one of the most popular comic book characters of all time.

All that being said, I'm excited for The Superior Spider-Man. After some frustrating hours after reading The Amazing Spider-Man #700, I eventually came to accept that this is what's happening--Doc Ock is Spider-Man and that's not going to change for the foreseeable future. So, in the spirit of diminished expectations, I read Avenging Spider-Man #15.1, an issue that's almost necessary to see how Otto Octavius truly morphs into a superior Spider-Man. Then I realized that I shouldn't need to have read Avenging Spider-Man to get the whole story, I shouldn't be required to purchase yet another book that, arguably, has some of the most important sequences from this sprawling narrative. In the end, it became glaringly apparent that Dan Slott's The Amazing Spider-Man #700 was a huge letdown. Slott's literal words aren't terrible, and the dialogue is usually organic and natural for whatever situation Spidey gets into. It's the bigger picture that Slott misses, and it's painfully obvious throughout the entire issue.

The forest is burning and Slott is only focused on one tree at a time.

GRADE

6/10

MARVEL NOW: A RUNDOWN

'Marvel NOW!' is here! Last week, Uncanny Avengers and Red She-Hulk kicked things off for a five-month period of all-new series from Marvel that tie into the post-AvX world. I've already reviewed UA, and this coming week, Marvel NOW! Point One is the only new release, but November through February promise a ton of new stuff for you (and me) to read!

OCTOBER

Marvel NOW! Point One
(Various Creative Teams)
Last year's Marvel Point One was a cool first attempt at bringing readers an anthology format with which to preview the upcoming years storylines and series. With prelude stories to FF, Young Avengers, and Nova to name a few, Marvel NOW! Point One promises to be a roller coaster ride as we rocket into 'Marvel NOW!' 

A+X

(Various Creative Teams)

With the success of AvX: VS, Marvel saw great potential in that series' format of ten-page stories featuring one Avenger and one X-Man. This time around, they'll be teaming up instead of kicking the pants off each other.

NOVEMBER

All-New X-Men
(w) Brian Michael Bendis
(p) Stuart Immonen
After eight years at the helm of the Avengers, BMB is moving over to the X-Men world with All-New X-Men featuring the time-displaced original five X-Men transported to the present day. I can't imagine how Marvel and Bendis plan on making this an ongoing, but I have faith, and the concept is cool enough to read whatever the outcome.

Deadpool

(w) Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan

(p) Tony Moore

It's about time Marvel put an honest-to-god comedian on one of their most comedic characters, Deadpool. Brian Posehn is one of the funniest comics in the stand-up industry, and he's likely bringing his distinct sense of humor to the Merc with a Mouth. The first arc is about Deadpool assassinating the reanimated corpses of America's past Presidents.

Iron Man
(w) Kieron Gillen
(p) Greg Land
I've never been a fan of Iron Man - I'll read tie-ins and the such, but on a regular basis, Tony Stark's solo adventures don't interest me that much. That being said, this is 'Marvel NOW!', the perfect time to dive into a character never explored much, and the fact that Kieron Gillen is writing is enough to make me interested.

Avengers Assemble #9

(w) Kelly Sue DeConnick

(p) Stefano Caselli

Though it's not renumbering, Avengers Assemble is getting an all-new creative team and narrative focus. Going forward, Kelly Sue DeConnick will be penning "shot glass Avengers" stories only two to three issues in length focusing on character growth. It's a fantastic move on Marvel's part, seeing as DeConnick has been cleaning up with Captain Marvel.

Fantastic Four

(w) Matt Fraction
(p) Mark Bagley
Again, I never got into the Fantastic Four, and my experience with Ultimate Fantastic Four was less than impressive. Though, Matt Fraction's recent take on Hawkeye has been impeccable, so I'm willing to see what he's got planned for Marvel's First Family. The first arc apparently takes them away from Earth for a full year of their lives, but which only amounts to four minutes in Earth time. Interesting? Wait until you see how it ties into FF.

Journey Into Mystery #646

(w) Kathryn Immonen

(p) Valerio Schiti

Just like Avengers Assemble, Journey Into Mystery isn't getting renumbered, but instead brings in Kathryn Immonen and Valerio Schiti to change the narrative direction and focus on the Lady Sif instead of Kid Loki. This promises to be an epic arc, as Sif is set to return to Asgard and raise all sorts of hell.

Thor: God of Thunder
(w) Jason Aaron
(p) Esad Ribic
Jason Aaron is going in an interesting direction with Thor: God of Thunder, taking readers through three distinct eras of Thor's life - his younger years, the current day, and his elder years as King of Asgard. Knowing Aaron, this structural decision will make for some amazing building grounds for future stories.

X-Men Legacy

(w) Si Spurrier

(p) Tan Eng Huat

It's a series about Legion. Oh, Legion - son of Xavier with no real personality because you've been used as a plot pawn for so, so many years. It's about time David Haller was treated right and given a series to help him work out his inner demons. In the aftermath of Avengers vs. X-Men, Legion seems like he's going to be meeting a lot of new mutants who need help understanding what's happened to them.

Captain America
(w) Rick Remender
(p) John Romita Jr.
Uncanny Avengers is amazing, and I'm now certain that Rick Remender is going to turn Captain America from the country's boy scout into something darker and more relatable. Being transported to and stuck in Dimension Z with Arnim Zola's son is a good start to making Cap a more well-rounded character.

Indestructible Hulk

(w) Mark Waid

(p) Lenil Yu

Mark Waid did Daredevil a huge favor by yanking Matt Murdock out of the proverbial alley and into the sunlight. Bruce Banner has been tossed around for years, and it's time that someone like Waid gives the green giant a fresh coat of paint for a new age. In recent interviews, Waid said that his interpretation of Hulk/Banner resembles Mark Ruffalo's movie Hulk, though the similarities were completely unintentional.

FF
(w) Matt Fraction
(p) Mike Allred
While the Fantastic Four are off in another dimension, Reed Richards recruits a new FF team to protect the world in their absence...of four minutes. It's a wonky concept, but one I'm positive Matt Fraction can pull off. The new FF team includes Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and Ms. Thing (a new character). Mike Allred is an amazing artist and I cannot wait to see how his pulpy style will affect the stories.


DECEMBER

Avengers
(w) Jonathan Hickman
(p) Jeremy Opena
Jonathan Hickman is stepping off his long-term runs on Fantastic Four and FF to turn his sights on Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In interviews, Hickman has stated that Avengers will be big-ticket stories about a large cast of characters, leaving more character-driven stuff for the sister series he's also writing, New Avengers.

Thunderbolts

(w) Daniel Way

(p) Steve Dillon

This one just looks plain cool. It's General "Thunderbolt" Ross, a.k.a. Red Hulk, leading a team of killers including Elektra, Venom, Deadpool, and the Punisher. Some fans are already upset that Frank Castle is going to be on a team, but I have high hopes for this series that's bringing together some of the best anti-heroes Marvel has to offer.

Cable and X-Force
(w) Dennis Hopeless
(p) Salvador Larroca
Now that Avengers vs. X-Men has made criminals out of a number of X-Men, they have to go on the run. Cable leads new X-Force team (that includes Colossus, btw) on the run from the Uncanny Avengers!

New Avengers

(w) Jonathan Hickman

(p) Steve Epting

While Avengers tackles the big picture stuff, New Avengers will see Jonathan Hickman bringing readers the exploits of the Illuminati, the group of intellects that have shaped the Marvel U over the past seven years or so. This title will be more character-driven, with a lot of Avengers crossovers.

Avengers Arena
(w) Dennis Hopeless
(p) Kev Walker
While this series is a total ripoff of Battle Royale (and by extension, The Hunger Games), Avengers Arena is probably going to be very cool. It's throwing a bunch of teenaged characters together, from Avengers Academy to the perennially ignored Runaways. 

JANUARY

Uncanny X-Force
(w) Sam Humphries
(p) Ron Garney
Even though there's already going to be Cable and X-Force, Marvel liked Rick Remender's run on Uncanny X-Force to give the series a relaunch of it's own. This time around, Storm is leading the team (sporting a blatantly retro mohawk) that includes Psylocke amongst other, low-tier mutants.

Savage Wolverine

(w/p) Frank Cho

They finally gave Frank Cho a Wolverine series. Cho has promised that this iteration of Logan's tale will be, obviously, a lot more savage and violent. The first arc takes Wolvy to the jungle, so there's going to be a lot of survivalism, I'm sure.

Young Avengers
(w) Kieron Gillen
(p) Jamie McElvie
This is the series I've been waiting six years to happen. I absolutely loved the original run of Young Avengers and continued to keep up with the characters even as they got tossed around creative teams like an unwanted sandwich. Now, Marvel is giving the title to Kieron Gillen and Jamie McElvie, the creative team behind the magnificent Phonogram series. This new team features old favorites Wiccan, Hulkling, and Hawkeye II, while introducing to the team Kid Loki, Miss America Chavez, and Marvel Boy (from Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways).

The Superior Spider-Man

(w) Dan Slott

(p) Ryan Stegman

This is the series I'm least excited about. There's no creative team change here, just a renumbering and an apparent new man under the Spider-Man mask. Oh, and the Spidey suit now has black where there was blue. I thought the whole point of 'Marvel NOW!' was to shake up creative teams, and in this case, Marvel just dropped the ball.

FEBRUARY

Secret Avengers
(w) Nick Spencer
(p) Luke Ross
I always thought the premise of Secret Avengers was too loose. Sure, it's an Avengers team that's secret, but how cliche is that? This new premise from Nick Spencer tells that S.H.I.E.L.D. wants an Avengers team of their own, but the current big names are too unpredictable and uncontrollable, so they activate embedded codes within select operatives around the world, task them to go on missions, then wipe their memory when the mission is complete. This smorgasbord of operatives include Black Widow, Mockingbird, Hawkeye, Hulk, and a new Iron Patriot. The team works with (the new) Nick Fury and Agent Phil Coulson.

Guardians of the Galaxy

(w) Brian Michael Bendis

(p) Steve McNiven

As part of Marvel's ongoing effort to expand it's cosmic branch of characters, Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven will be reviving Guardians of the Galaxy with a new directive in mind: keep Earth alien-free. Apparently, Earth has been meddled with too much, and it's time to let the humans evolve on their own. Expect big things from this title which is set to include Iron Man.

Nova
(w) Jeph Loeb
(p) Ed McGuinness
Last year, Marvel Point One teased a the new Nova, Sam Alexander, as he fought off Terrax and escaped to warn Earth's heroes about the coming of the Phoenix. It felt like a bit of a letdown when no new Nova series came about, but now, we've got one starting in February! Loeb has promised that this series will explain how Sam became the newest member of the Nova Corps, and what his purpose is going forward.