After missing December the monthly comics round-up returns with a bumper New Year edition!
Forthcoming titles:
Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night promises to bring back memories of Marvel’s horror heyday in the '70s. Not only do we get a new story featuring Jack Russel, the furry beast of the title but also a new Monster of Frankenstein tale as well. Werewolf by Night is by Mike (X-Men) Carey and Greg (Ultimate Power) Land while Big Frankie is written and drawn by Skottie Young. Out February with more Legion of Monsters one-shot titles to follow. Anticipation factor: 9
Amazing Spider-Man 539 starts a thread that runs through all the Spider-Man titles – “Back in Black”. If you don’t get the significance of that title then you’re either not a Spidey fan or you’ve been trapped in a block of ice in the Arctic for the last few decades. The return of the black costume is obviously designed to tie-in with the release of Spider-Man 3 next summer. Here’s hoping the regular Amazing team of Straczynski and Garney will provide something more than just an empty cash in on the new movie. The fun starts at the end of February. Anticipation factor: 8
Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness sees Evil Dead’s Ash travel to the Marvel Zombies universe just as the zombie outbreak kicks off. Written by John Layman with art from Fabiano Neves and June Chung and wickedly amusing tributes to classic Marvel covers from Arthur Suydam. On sale early March. Anticipation factor: 7
Half Dead was originally to have come from Speakeasy but after the demise of that company it moved to Dabel and will now be published as a Marvel/Dabel title in early March 2007. This sounds like Luc Besson’s La Femme Nikita with added vampires. Our heroine, Romany first gets turned into a vamp and then recruited into PASA (the Bureau of ParaHuman and Supernatural Affairs) and their war on vampire terrorists. From the creative team of Barb Lien-Cooper, Park Cooper (writers) and Jimmy Bott (pencils). Anticipation factor: 7
City of Others teams Steve Niles with Bernie Wrightson (yes BERNIE WRIGHTSON!) in the tale of Stosh Bludowski a remorseless killer who may not even be human. The prolific Niles seems to have about ten books out every month but what makes this one special is the presence of one of the most influential comic artists ever, particularly in the horror genre, Bernie Wrightson. This four issue limited series starts on the 28th February 2007. Anticipation factor: 8
Brave and the Bold, DC’s team-up title, returns with George Pérez and Bod Wiacek illustrating Mark Waid’s tale of Batman and Green Lantern that takes the heroes to the planet of Ventura in search of possibly the most powerful weapon in the DC Universe. In stores February 2007. Anticipation factor: 7
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
Gotta admit I'm looking forward to Whedon's comic book continuation of the Buffy saga . . .
2 - Joy
Awesome!! I love comic books! And it's really great to read something from someone who knows so much about them!!! =)
3 - Rohan Venkat
Was surprised to see that your forthcoming list doesn't include Civil War #6, just recently out on the east coast, an issue I'm really looking forward to.
I remember discussing about the fact that Civil War was leaning very much to the anti-registration side, and probably wouldn't change anyone's mind past the first few issues. I now feel that I was wrong, because from this last month's glut of (often filler issues to replace the late Civil War ones) Civil War tie-in issues, I'm quite surprised to say that I'm on the pro-registration side now.
That is to say, I'm on the leave America, but if you stay in the country then register side, because, for one, I don't see Congress ever repealing the law, and also, I have complete confidence in Tony Stark's belief that if the superheroes don't do this now, then the American Government would have done something much worse (a sky full of sentinels watching our every move) to them.
So while I don't agree with the pro's ideology, if the heroes choose to continue staying in the States, then I'd suggest they register. And this change in my ideas comes right after my favorite character switches from pro to anti.
Of course, if I were American I might not have the same belief, since I'd want to stay in my home country, and then I'd be anti.
Sorry for the excessively long comment.
4 - Ian Woolstencroft
Bill,
I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high for the Buffy mini series but it will definitely be interesting to see where Joss takes the story now that there is more than just one slayer (well there was already more than one but now there’s a LOT more than one).
Joy,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and I hope you’ll come back next month. :)
Rohan,
Glad you’re still enjoying Civil War, I am too. It wasn’t included in the forthcoming titles section only because I use that section to spotlight new series and major events in regular titles (like Spider-Man this month). If it was a list of the regular titles coming out each month that I'm most looking forward to Civil War would be right at the top (with Desolation Jones).
I agree that in recent months we’ve seen the viewpoint of the opposing sides from a more even perspective. Cap’s side could almost be viewed as terrorists, although the only time they’ve attacked anyone has been either defending themselves or trying to free captured comrades.
From your comment I’d say you'd be off to France with Mr Grimm. ;)
5 - manfred
I have read that JMS will quit Spiderman after this summer leaving only a final story of Mary Jane and Peter Parker , penciled by the big man himself; Joe Quesada. Too bad he has had a magnificent run.
Great review by the way overall , as usual.
By the way will you review: Spiderman: Reign 1 and X-23: Target X ?
6 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks Manfred,
I hadn't heard that JMS was to quit Spidey. I seem to remember a few years ago there was a rumour he was to leave, with Kevin Smith set to take over, but that never happened (Smith did a Spidey/Black Cat Limited Series instead) and I hope this turns out to be false as well. I know he is going to be doing the Thor relaunch and he's gone on record as saying that was his reason for leaving the FF.
As for Spider-Man: Reign and X-23: Target X both will be reviewed at some point, although it may be the first few issues or even the complete series. I'm tending to read new titles a few issues at a time in order to get a truer "taste" of what they have to offer.
Next month currently looks likely to include: Justice League of America 0-5, Gen 13 1-3, Immortal Iron Fist 1-2, Impaler 1-2 and Justice Society of America 1-2 plus a few others.
It's nice to know I've got a couple of regular readers in you and Rohan.
7 - manfred
I could accept Kevin Smith as a worthy successor for JMS. I read the Evil men do limited series.
If the rumours are true then Marvel will have a hard time finding a decent replacement for him I think.I just hope it wont be Brian Micheal Bendis, no offense but we get so much of that guy already.
And thank you for writing the reviews :)
-manfred