Gaze into the Future: 2009 MARCH

The JANUARY 2009 solicits are up
(for stuff shipping MARCH 2009)
so here we go again:

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"Greetings, my friends.
We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to
spend the rest of our lives..." *
... while reading comics.
Once again, "doctored" image from the cover to Strange Tales # 156
(original art by Marie Severin)
*yeah, I used it again. I was going to whip up something new, but the solicits came up faster than I could prep for. Batman, I am not.*

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Let's take a look at the items that DOCTOR STRANGE will appear in first, then well move onto the other "6-Dimensions".

We'll begin with the BIG SHOW:

NEW AVENGERS # 51



The Story: WHO IS THE NEW SORCERER SUPREME? Doctor Strange has failed as the Master of the Mystic Arts and all the other mystic characters are the heir apparent. Strange comes to the New Avengers for help as the mystic battle royale begins. Plus, how can the Avengers trust Spider-Man if he won't take his mask off?
Rated A …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 25, 2009

If you want to take some bets on the various players, you can check out my in-depth analysis of the major contestants - HERE.

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Doctor Strange should also appear in:

AVENGERS/INVADERS # 9
The Story: Picking up from the jaw-dropping events of Avengers/Invaders #8, our heroes find themselves back in time, with the fate of the very world on their shoulders. Disguised as the heroes of the golden past, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Ms. Marvel and Luke Cage now face Nazis, the power of the Cosmic Cube and the Red Skull… Avengers Assemble!
Rated T+ …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

Also available in a VARIANT edition.
(Doc's not on the regular cover, nor the variant as far as my research shows)

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Strange and the Illuminati are shown (reprinting their previous appearances) in:

SECRET INVASION CHRONICLES # 1



The Story: Experience SECRET INVASION — the premiere crossover event of 2008 that changed the Marvel Universe forever — presented for the first time in chronological order with all major tie-ins! The story begins in NEW AVENGERS: ILLUMINATI #1, when the veil is lifted on the superhuman world’s most secret organization. Then in NEW AVENGERS #44, watch as the group’s darkest secret begins to tear them apart. And in ILLUMINATI #5, the group gets together for the first time since Planet Hulk and the Civil War to deal with the shocking reveals in NEW and MIGHTY AVENGERS. But not everyone in the cabal is who they say they are. Its a throw-down drag-out that opens the door to SECRET INVASION.
Rated T+ …$5.99
In Stores: Mar 25, 2009

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"ULTIMATE" Dr. STRANGE appears (at least on the cover) :

ULTIMATUM # 4

The Story: The story that will change the Ultimate Universe forever continues! The unlikely pairing of Spider-Man and the Hulk take on Magneto's gathered forces as two more major heroes fall! And will Reed Richards, Doctor Doom and Zarda (Power Princess of the Squadron Supreme) manage to save the world…or just destroy what's left of it?! Eisner Award-winning writer Jeph Loeb and superstar artist David Finch rock the planet in this surprise-packed saga featuring the Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four and the Ultimates!
Rated T+ …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

Also available in a VARIANT edition AND a sketch-variant.
(Thaaat's gonna cost me.)

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"Ultimate" Strange is probably ALSO in:

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN # 132
The Story: ULTIMATUM HAS TAKEN OVER THE WORLD!! SPIDER-MAN IS MISSING!! Friends are enemies and enemies are friends as
tensions mount to insane proportions. And yes, your eyes do not deceive you: MJ versus Kitty... to the death!!! (well, they slap each other a little)
Rated A …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 25, 2009

ULT.DOC was in the previous two issues, so it's a fair bet he'll be in this one as well (maybe).

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"GENERAL ALL-AGES" DOC appears yet again in:

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES # 9


The Story: A PENNY SHORT IS A DAY SAVED: In a time long gone, the Ancient One fought a tremendous battle against the Dread Dormammu, ultimately banishing the ruler of the Dark Dimension back to his own reality by power of a mystically binding contract. Unfortunately for Dr. Strange, that mystical contract is hundreds of pages long, and the Dread One has now found himself one nasty lawyer, and a whole lot of loopholes. Dr. Strange is going to need all the mystical might he possesses, along with the legal prowess of one Mr. Foggy Nelson, Attorney At Law, in order to send Dormammu packing, or maybe just to stay alive!
All Ages …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 11, 2009

I gave a very good grade in my review of the PREVIOUS "All-Ages-Doc" appearance in this mag (read it if you wish, HERE).
All I can say is that the solicit for this new issue seems JUST as full of possibilities for FUN as the previous one. And it's by the same great creative team:
COVER BY: ROGER CRUZ
WRITER: PAUL TOBIN
PENCILS: JACOPO CAMAGNI
INKS: NORMAN LEE
COLORED BY: GURU-EFX
LETTERED BY: DAVE SHARPE

So... I have nothing but good feelings about this one.
Probably not something I'd want in a "canon" tale (Foggy Nelson; Interdimensional Lawyer? Really??), but for a fun romp... why not?

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As for THIS... well...MAYBE... Doc might be in it.
He was on the cover of # 1, so he might be floating throughout the arc.
It all depends on the general flow of the story.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS FINALS # 2
The Story: Why are threats from the X-Men's past coming back to haunt them, just as graduation looms? What kind of job could Cyclops hold out in the world? Why does Angel have to have costumes that his hair sticks out of nowadays? And does Professor Xavier even live here anymore? Come find more mysteries to ponder in the second part of FINALS!
Rated A …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

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OK. This one is A LONG SHOT.

WOLVERINE # 71
The Story: “OLD MAN LOGAN”
Now we know what happened fifty years ago, the day the super heroes were slaughtered. We know how Logan managed to survived. We know why WOLVERINE didn’t. But that’s nothing compared to what happens next, as Logan and Hawkeye reach New Babylon to deliver their mysterious cargo. But before they get there—they’ll have to face their toughest challenge to date: a Venom Tyrannosaurus Rex! MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN continue the career-defining epic that will have fans talking for years to come! Part 6 (of 8).
Parental Advisory …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 18, 2009

I mean, c'mon! They HAVE to show Doc SOMEWHERE in this tale.
If ALL of the "super heroes" are wiped out, then we should see Doc either; trying to save everyone, or being "Hal Jordaned" into unconsciousness, OR taking his leave of this dimensional plane.

If there isn't even a Cloak of Levitation-wearing Skeleton somewhere in this... well... then it's another. "Strange-Snub" TM.

---------6-DIMENSIONS Characters---------

HULK in:

HULK: BROKEN WORLDS # 1
The Story: Across the infinite stretches of the multiverse, countless worlds are forever changed by the monster known as the Hulk…
but must his tale always end in tragedy? Join us as we revisit fan favorite Marvel alternate worlds for new tales of the rampaging green goliath! In this ALL-NEW oversized special, we journey to the House of M, the Microverse, a Future Imperfect, and the year 2099!
Rated A …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

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Dr. DOOM in:

BLACK PANTHER # 2

The Story: “DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES," PART 2
Tie-in to “DARK REIGN”
The Black Panther is back…and she’s badder than ever. That’s right -- she! What happened to T’Challa? Who is the new Black Panther? And just where does Dr. Doom fit into all this? Find out the answers to all these questions…and why the female is the deadliest of the species.
Rated T+ …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

And not just ANY Dr. Doom... it's emaciated girlie-looking Dr. Doom!
Sorry, Scott Campbell fans. He needs to learn that not everyone has the same body-shape.
GAH!

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Werewolf By Night in:

DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT # 3
The Story: Jack Russell follows the bloody trail behind the senseless attack that turned his life upside-down…and you won’t believe where it leads him! Shocking secrets, stunning betrayals, and answers to questions Jack never even knew to ask! All in a brutal, gory, outrageous splatter-fest of horror and suspense, by Duane Swierczynski (IMMORTAL IRON FIST) and Mico Suayan (MOON KNIGHT)!
Explicit Content …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

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New Avengers (RONIN) and back from the dead Mockingbird (formerly of Mephisto's realm):

NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION # 1
The Story: In the wake of SECRET INVASION, Mockingbird is alive and has returned to Earth after being held captive by the Skrulls. Ronin, her estranged husband, volunteers to help her adjust to her new life as a member of the new Avengers, but some old wounds run too deep. And what deadly secret did she bring back with her that could tear them, and the world, apart once more? It's high-octane action and intrigue as the Mr. & Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe take on one of the biggest threats in the world...and each other!
Rated A …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

Maybe this tale will help shed light on how Mephisto took her to hell, but it wasn't really her, and maybe it was a skrull, but he didn't know - or he DID know and the hilarity of all the confusion and pain got him off...
We'll see.

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Nick Fury, Hellfire & Druid (among others) in:

SECRET WARRIORS # 2
The Story: Exploding out of the pages of Secret Invasion and Mighty Avengers!!
Picking up from the earth-shattering conclusion to issue one... we find out who Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors' real enemies are, where they've been hiding, and why they chose now to make their existence known. Get ready, this is going to send shock-waves that will ripple throughout the Marvel Universe. Hail Hydra!
Rated T+ …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

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Namor in:

SUB-MARINER: THE DEPTHS # 5
The Story: Satan’s greatest trick? Convincing the world he didn’t exist. Here, at the bottom of the ocean, at the bottom of the earth, Dr. Randolph Stein is about to plumb the depths of his very soul, as he discovers that some things can’t be explained by facts, or science or reason. Some things do defy explanation. Something does live down here in the black water of the Marianes Trench, and it wants to show Stein its secret, whether he wants to see it or not.
Cardstock Cover/Parental Advisory …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

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Black Knight & Blade in:

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 # 11
The Story: “VAMPIRE STATE”
Dracula continues his plan to take the United Kingdom for vampires and monsters. Who is the traitor in the ranks of MI13? Can Spitfire possibly deny what she is? Can Captain Britain save his nation? Find out here!
Rated T+ …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 11, 2009

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Ghost Rider in:

GHOST RIDER # 33
The Story: “TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS,” PART 1
After the shocking events of last issue, the all-new Caretaker struggles to pick up the pieces of her life, but the mad dog man-mountain called The Deacon has other plans. Also, Caretaker gives us a special guided tour of the long sordid history of the Spirit of Vengeance in America, including glimpses of some previously unseen Ghost Riders of the past.
Parental Advisory …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 11, 2009

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Scarlet Witch is said to be a big part of:

MIGHTY AVENGERS # 23
The Story: "Earth's Mightiest Part 3 of 3"
"The Last Knight on Earth"
How can the Mighty Avengers save all of reality from one of their greatest foes... when they can't even stop fighting each other? To survive their first trial by fire, lines will be crossed, ideals will be compromised, and not every hero will make the cut.
You better read this issue of DARK REIGN, guys. Why? Because this one's going to change the Marvel landscape! Literally!
Rated A …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 11, 2009
Also available in a KING variant (I'm assuming that's "War of Kings")

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Silver Surfer continues a story-arc in:

SKAAR: SON OF HULK # 9
The Story: Where the Hulk smashed, the Son of Hulk slaughters. Where the Hulk found wisdom, the Son of Hulk knows only wrath. But can the shining sojourner known as the Silver Surfer reveal the father to the son and awaken the man within the monster? And can Skaar in turn thwart the Surfer from leading his master Galactus to feast upon Planet Sakaar and its ancient Old Power? Shocking revelations and terrifying twists await as Skaar and the Silver Surfer face off one last time -- with the fate of billions in the balance!
Parental Advisory …$2.99
In Stores: Mar 11, 2009

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Morgana Le Fey (and possibly Dr. Doom) manifest in the pages of:

DARK AVENGERS # 3


The Story: The phenom that is the Dark Avengers continues. BATTLEGROUND LATVERIA as Morgana Le Fey attacks with all the power
at her disposal. Meanwhile these new Avengers discover all the dirt and hidden secrets of their notorious pasts.
Rated T+ …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 18, 2009
(also available in a "Young Guns" variant)

-------------ITEMS of SPECIAL INTEREST-------------

Magik (Illyana Rasputin) is raising hell (or at least LIMBO) in:

X-INFERNUS # 4
The Story: The climactic conclusion to the winter X-Men event that everyone is talking about! The X-Men team that leaves to save Illyana from Limbo is not the same as the one that left. It’s X-Man vs. X-Man with all of their souls on the line.
Rated T+ …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 25, 2009
Also available with a variant.

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Nightcrawler has been featured as a big part of some upcoming mystical storyline that is to explode within the M.U. in the next few years (read his last solo series if you want the 411).
This, tying into X-INFERNUS seems like the continuation of the journey down that road:

X-MEN: QUITTING TIME # 1
Rating: RATED T+ X-MEN: QUITTING TIME # 1
The Story: Since the move to San Francisco and after the events of X-Infernus, Nightcrawler realizes a hard truth—he has to quit the X-Men. Kurt has realized that the X-Men just don’t need him anymore. He hasn’t been operating at his highest levels and even the biggest strength he has—teleportation—has been made redundant by Pixie who can do it better and more efficiently. Don’t miss the departure of one of the most important characters in X-Men history.
One-Shot/Rated T+ …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

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and... (non-Skrull) Elektra in:

DARK REIGN: ELEKTRA # 1

The Story: She’s the deadliest woman in the world…and she’s never been in worse shape. Broken, beaten, and tortured by alien scientists, Elektra stumbles to freedom in the aftermath of the Skrull invasion. Now she struggles and fights to stay barely alive, and to clear her name for atrocities committed by an impostor. A LOT of people want Elektra killed…and in her state, that shouldn’t be too difficult…By Zeb Wells (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and Clay Mann (DAREDEVIL)!
Rated T+ …$3.99
In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

I don't know if I care one way or another about this one, but I just HAD to show this cover.
Oh, man... c'mon! I had a hard time sneaking comics into my house back in the 1970's because my parents were uptight. What if I was growing up NOW? How the hell would THIS get in the door? Why is this kind of cheap cheesecake in a comic book? On the COVER, no less?
Damn. I don't know whether to laugh or cry about it.
*sigh*



----------HARDCOVERS & TPB's--------------

MAN-THING (and Magik, Mephisto, Morbius, Morgan Le Fey and more) IN:

OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z VOL. 7 PREMIERE # 1
The Story: Marvelous mutants (Maggott, Magik, Magma, Magneto, Marauders, Marrow, Marvel Girl, Mastermind, Maverick, Meggan, Mercury, Layla Miller, Mimic, Mr. Sinister, Moonstar, Morlocks, Morph, Multiple Man, MLF, Mystique)! Mighty Avengers (Mantis, Masters of Evil, Mockingbird, Moon Knight, Moondragon, Namor)! Fantastic friends and foes (Alicia Masters, Medusa, Mr. Fantastic, Mole Man, Molecule Man)! Spider-foes (Molten Man, Mysterio)! History's greatest fiends (Maestro, Mandarin, Master Khan, Mephisto, MODOK, Morgan Le Fay)! Monsters (Man-Thing, Morbius)! The world of MC2! Heroes old (Miss America) and young (Victor Mancha)! Mille the Model? It can only be the latest volume of the most comprehensive Handbook of the Marvel Universe ever assembled!
Rated T+ …$24.99
In Stores: Mar 25, 2009

-----------POSTERS------------

DOC & the DEFENDERS! in


HULK: DEFENDERS VS. OFFENDERS # 1
Rating: NO RATING HULK: DEFENDERS VS. OFFENDERS # 1
The Story: 24x36…$8.99

Is this just the first half of the DEFENDERS / OFFENDERS covers from HULK # 10?
(shown below together)

If so... WHY did they have to split this image into TWO POSTERS?!?
Oh...GREED? Gotcha.

In Stores: Mar 4, 2009

***EDIT UPDATE***
It seems that this poster is NOT going to be split up into two images.
Thankfully, it'll be all in ONE glorious image - as it should be.
I'm getting one. (but that goes without saying) How about YOU?
***END EDIT UPDATE***
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(all images yoinked from Marvel.com)


So, once again, my friends... I'll see you... in the future...