STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: A SUPREME IMPROPRIETY? Dr. Strange scoring some "strange" seems so... strange

Earlier today, I read a 4 page preview of the new DEFENDERS (vol 4) # 1, by Matt Fraction and Terry/Rachel Dodson over at CBR [HERE], and I find myself becoming... disenchanted by the forthcoming new DEFENDERS series.

Let's go back a few months first, shall we?
When the release of a new DEFENDERS series was announced back in July of this year, I blogged favorably [HERE] about the promise of this new volume of the title. Sure, I wasn't won over 100%, but I was more than willing to give all benefit of the doubt to Matt Fraction to deliver something worthwhile.

However, after reading the 4 page preview, those doubts are now growing, and the benefit of my good nature is starting to wane.

Well, "starting" isn't all that accurate.

Even in that original announcement blog post, I showed some dislike over the looser art style that artist-team of Terry and Rachel Dodson were putting forth for the promo materials and initial cover art. I hoped it would be of better quality when it all came to press, but I did state that it didn't seem that was going to be so. (The jury is still out on that one.)

Also, readers of my Twitter feed will know that yesterday I tweeted about my disdain over Marvel's producing 5 covers (yes, that means 4 variant covers) for DEFENDERS # 1.
*UPDATE: There were 6 COVERS! (5 VARIANTS!!!) - GAH!

This multiple cover B.S. is getting to be worse than it ever was in the dreaded boom-and-bust 1990's.
At least THEN there was a thriving economy. Now, we are still mired in the worst economic environment since the Great Depression, and comics cost $4.00 cover price. No telling how much of a price gouging retailers will put on "rare" variants.
So, for Marvel (and any other publisher) to be trying to pull this kind of predatory practice smacks of all that is wrong with the "anything to get a buck" mentality of corporations. (Hey! Let's start the "Occupy Marvel" movement.)

Just for the sake of complete transparency, here's my tweet:

"SanctumBlog So. DEFENDERS # 1 will have 5 covers!? This is getting worse than the 1990's. But there was economic BOOM then. F#@% YOU, Marvel. Seriously."

Anyway, Marvel's greedy practices of nerd-fleecing are not the point of this particular post.
What IS the point of the matter is this brief, but totally uncharacteristic portrayal of Stephen Strange, wherein he is shown to have just bedded a young grad-student, taking advantage of the young lady, who had basically contacted him to help her with her thesis on occult something-or-other, out of her probable respect and fan-worship of his status as head mystic of the M.U.

Bad form, Stephen.

Is that his place or hers? And is she wearing CLEA leggings? Was there some role-playing going on?

OK. So she IS pretty hot.
Sexy, smart, nerdy girls just DO IT for me, okay?
And she's into magick (with a "k"), so she's also a little on the goth side of the street. I'd fall for her too.

A point could be made that she is of legal age, and as such, is not an improper sexual partner. Even for the far older Strange (seriously, according to Marvel's OFFICIAL bio of him, he was born in 1930). However, she came to him in his capacity as a role-model and more experienced scholar of mystic lore. Any kind of activity such as this scene shows is a serious breach of trust on his part.

As she also points out, in a morning-after accusation, that no matter how much he may be able to help her, Stephen Strange's taking advantage of this young, eager "groupie" has hurt her far more.

Oddly enough, Strange then allows himself to ruminate upon the dalliance as something both moreso and less-than anything more than just a night of sex.

"What he wanted most wasn't on the menu"

In one narrative breath, Stephen Strange admits to a deep longing for the girl, the admission that she was "just" a girl (and thus, a toss-away hook-up), and the admission that perhaps his indiscretion was due to the deep human fear of dying alone.

What-the-WHAT?!?

In what previous scenario has Stephen Strange ever shown an inclination for ANY of those three thoughts?!? With perhaps the exclusion of the "height-of-his-own-hubris", "pre-nerve-damaging-career-ending-accident" years as a surgeon, Stephen Strange has always been on the opposite end of the spectrum of each of those beliefs.

NONE of this makes any sense to anyone who has read the character for more than a few issues (of non-Bendis-era stories), and as of the time of this writing, this is taken from a 4-page preview of DEFENDERS vol4 # 1 and as such, I have no way of knowing what the explanation for such a poor piece of character assassination might be.

Either, this new Stephen Strange is a by-product of a new "laid-back" acceptance of his no longer being the Sorcerer Supreme, and his own willingness to try "living" like one of us regular folks, or it is a detrimental by-product of the ill-effect caused by the baddie of the story (NUL, the WorldBreaker - last seen possessing the HULK in Fear Itself) - OR - worse still... is a by-product of Marvel editorial and yet another Marvel writer just not understanding the character and/or history of Doctor Stephen Strange (and possibly trying to "Peter Parker" him a bit to appeal to the younger demographic).

I can only hope that my 2nd theory is the accurate one, and that the reality-twisting, despair-raising events being caused by Nul, that are being portrayed in the first two pages of the preview are indeed what has caused Strange to take leave of his senses and abuse his position as a respected and learned man in order to get some hot-college-girl action.

Am I a prude who is against seeing Doctor Strange get some "strange" (the slang term for sex with an otherwise unknown partner)? No.
I'm not offended by the sex. Nope. Give him Night Nurse or Clea, or Sister Nil or someone that makes SENSE... but this? It just seems "beneath" him (sorry, that is not meant to be a euphemism or double-entendre'. If I wanted to make one of those I'd have noted that having the much older Strange on top of the younger girl would make it an "Improper FRACTION" - and thus play up writer Matt Fraction's name).

In fact, I have posted a long list of every known instance of Stephen Strange's loves and hook-ups and it shows the character to have had a fairly consistent pattern of sexual growth and activity, against which that this particular liaison just fails to be justified.
Sadly, I have to add this incident to that list.
You can check out all of Strange's other loves, lusts and hook-ups there - [HERE].

Now, I will say that right after the panels that I have shown, in the same diner scene, Doctor Strange uses a little rudimentary divination spell to try to determine what kind of event is on the horizon. I appreciate the practical magick. Small, subtle uses of the craft can be excellent touches (it doesn't always have to be the Crimson Bands of Cytorrak, y'know). That was where the 4 page preview ended - and so I have no way of knowing - for sure - how this will all play out and if any of my theories will come into play and if my fear of Strange's being mishandled in the series has any merit, or if Matt Fraction will indeed pull off an interesting, odd and different Stephen Strange - for good or ill.

Go and check out the preview for yourself [HERE] (since the CBR preview was an exclusive for them, and as such, I do not wish to usurp their position by showing more than a brief portion of the pages).

Then come back and check out that thorough and complete history of all of Stephen Strange's assorted romances. Presented to you in order of their appearances IN HIS LIFE (not in publication history) - [HERE].

In the bleak mid-winter...

Many humble apologies for the utter lack of any presence here the past few weeks.

I've been on full job-hunt status as of late, and even though my THOUGHTS frequently drift to this blog and it's subject-matter, my time and fingers, sadly, cannot.

I WILL say that I hope to have the 2nd ANNUAL SANCTUM AWARDS up here before January is over.

I have also been meaning to blog a semi/quasi review of the new STRANGE and DOCTOR VOODOO (mini) series', but alas... no real time.

I'll probably wait until they're both wrapped up to do a complete overview of them.

However, I feel safe to say that while I have been truly digging the DOCTOR VOODOO series (and, I KNEW going into it that it would be truncated into a mini), I have been disliking the STRANGE mini-series almost in a 1:1 adverse manner.

Go figure.

I'll go into it all (hopefully) when all is said and done, but here's my scorecard thus far:
The First issue of STRANGE = horrid tripe.
Second issue pulled it out of the fire. It wasn't bad at all.
Actually redeeming some of the bad points of the first issue.
The most recent (third) issue... I just dunno.
It looks like unless a total surprise turnaround is made on that story, that it might see itself as one of the "WORST OF" in the 3rd Annual Sanctum Awards.
(If we can get past the 2nd Annual Awards)

Each issue of the Doctor Voodoo book has been better and better.

And, of course, Doc's appearances in NEW AVENGERS have really left much to be desired.
Damned Bendis!

It's still too early to weigh in on Doc's appearances in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, since this recent issue ( # 22) has not presented itself with all that much one way or another.
Some good , some bad.

BUT... I can't get into it all now.
Wish me luck on the job front.
As soon as I know that I won't have to worry about foreclosing on my house any time soon, I'll be more inclined to care about the comical-books.

On the bright side, I have more than enough longboxes to erect a swell house just about anywhere. I can even sell stuff from my own "4-walls".
(Although, I'm not quite sure if that's what is meant by "brick and mortar" comic shoppe.)

The Search for, Nature and History of... the Sorcerer Supreme : - PRELUDE

For the past few weeks, I've been meaning to post a dissertation on the Search, Nature and History of the Sorcerer Supreme.

Much to my dismay, real life continually kept getting in the way. It still is. *

However, presently on the racks is New Avengers # 51 ; the start of Brian Michael Bendis' "Who shall be the next Sorcerer Supreme?" story arc, and I have thoughts on the issue.

Thoughts that will lead directly into my long postponed series about the mantle, it's meaning and those who have held it.

However, it feels "wrong" to post a review and images from a comic that hit the stands today.
So, expect the review tomorrow, with the rest of my dissertation to follow in the days after.






*
(Just trying to type this with the chaos around me and the mental blocks I'm experiencing seems as if it would be similar to what it would be like trying to cast a spell while being beset by disorientation spells and bolts of bedevilment. It's like trying to think through a mystic metal mental clamp (for the brain instead of the mouth like in Doc's origin). I need some magic aspirin.)

GAZE INTO THE FUTURE : 2009 JUNE

The APRIL 2009 solicits are up
(for stuff shipping JUNE 2009)
so what are we waiting for?
Let's journey forth...into... the FUTURE:

=============

"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.
"Official" graphic for this feature; "doctored" image from the cover to Strange Tales # 156
(original art by Marie Severin)

=============

First, let's take a look at the items where DOCTOR STRANGE will appear, then we'll move onto the other "6-Dimensions".

=============


Once again, we'll begin with the BIG SHOW:

Dr. Strange, Dormammu and the hunt for a new Sorcerer Supreme comes to a head in:

NEW AVENGERS #54


Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by BILLY TAN
Variant Cover by CHRIS BACHALO

A Sorcerer Supreme is chosen!
Be witness to a very important chapter in Avengers history and the lore of Marvel magic! Plus, the Avengers finally have a big showdown with the Hood and not everyone walks away from it unharmed!

32 PGS./Rated A ...$3.99
In Stores: Jun 24, 2009

---

Big Doc storyline, NO Doc on the cover.
Nice. Jackasses!

Maybe he'll fare better on the BACHALO VARIANT.



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--- Doctor Strange SHOULD be in ---

=============


AVENGERS/INVADERS #12 (of 12)


Written by JIM KRUEGER & ALEX ROSS
Penciled by STEVE SADOWSKI
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by DALE EAGLESHAM

DUTY NOW...FOR THE FUTURE!
The year long event concludes with a battle royale against a Cosmic Cube powered Red Skull that shakes history to its core. In an altered past and an unrecognizable present, three super-powered teams made up of Earth Mightiest Heroes and the Greatest Heroes of World War Two, find themselves at a crossroads that none of them...or us...may survive.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
In Stores: Jun 24, 2009

---

Incredible... 12 Alex Ross covers and not ONE had Doc on it.
Maybe Strange is on the Eaglesham variant cover.
Thanks for "NOTHING", Alex Ross!



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MAN-THING
& the "6-DIMENSIONS" characters
appear in these comics:

=============


MAN-THING (and Midnight Sons) will star in

MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #3


Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by KEV WALKER
Cover by GREG LAND
80s DECADE VARIANT BY TBA

You've heard of Dark Reign, right? Well here comes the Dark Rain--a toxic cloud that zombifies everything in its path! The Midnight Sons can't enter the deadly mist, so they call in a reserve member who can--the macabre Man-Thing! Can the muck-encrusted shambler of the swamps apprehend the undead before the Marvel Universe is totally infected? And will The Hood stop at anything in his mad goal to profit from the growing horror to his own gain? The acclaimed creative team of
Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker continue the madness that CBR.com says "takes the Marvel Zombies franchise in a brand new invigorating direction."

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99
In Stores: Jun 3, 2009

---

(2 covers. Including a "1980's variant")
Man-Thing to the rescue!
Dang...I loves me my muck-monster Man-Thing!
But, I HAVE to wonder... what's the deal with that "frankensteined" amalgam (Sandman, Klaw, etc...) villain wearing the Cloak of Levitation?

--------

CLEA (well... "Cleook") is in:

MARVEL APES: PRIME EIGHT SPECIAL


Written by KARL KESEL
Penciled by TODD NAUCK
Cover by JOHN WATSON

In the face of a fate worse than death, the Ape Universe's greatest minds and leaders must come together to save their world in a secret council known as - the PRIME EIGHT! BLACK BOLT, king of the Inhominids! The invincible IRON MANDRILL! Bruce Bananner, the incredible HULK! PROFESSOR XAPIER, leader of the X-Simians! CLEOOK, Sorceress Supreme! DR. DOOM, master of Latvookia! SILVERBACK SURFER, Simian of the Spaceways! NICK FURY 2099, time traveling secret agent! Monkhattan stands on the brink of disaster in a story we had to call...APE-OKOPLIS NOW!

48 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+ ...$3.99
In Stores: Jun 3, 2009

---

Damn... Why the heck did they kill off the Dr. Strange-ape before the whole Marvel Apes story even started.
Now, they're forced to jump through hoops in order to fill his shoes.
Oh, well... Clea needs some "screen time" too.

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Namor is in:

AGENTS OF ATLAS #6

Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by GABRIEL HARDMAN
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

Disturbing visions plucked from the malignant mind of Norman Osborn lead the intrepid Agents to the darkest depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where Namora must have words with her infamous cousin - The Sub-Mariner! What happens next shocks her team, who must prepare to say goodbye to their aquatic avenger!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
IN STORES: June 3, 2009



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Dracula, Blade & Black Knight (among others) in


CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 ANNUAL #1

Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by MICHAEL COLLINS
Cover by GREG LAND

Meggan is Captain Britain's wife, an X-Man in Hell. And she's going to fight her way home. Over years, bargains, battles, with only her love to guide her. Can she get back to Earth in time to help her husband turn back Dracula and his evil invasion? And is that a metal gauntlet offering a hand? Don't miss this key part of "Vampire State"! Plus: MI13 delves into the secrets behind British Magic.

48 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
In Stores: June 3, 2009

- and -

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #14


Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK
Cover by MICO SUAYAN

"VAMPIRE STATE"
The pieces are all in motion. Dracula, Lilith and Captain Fate are heading for Earth with their invasion force, as the Vampire Lord's deal with Dr. Doom and master plan all come together. MI13 has been taken apart and the world is ripe for the
taking. Part 5 (of 6)

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
In Stores: Jun 10, 2009

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Nekra is a part of

DARK REIGN: LETHAL LEGION #1 (of 3)


Written by FRANK TIERI
Penciled by MATEUS SANTOLOUCO
Cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDS

When Norman Osborn takes over, what happens to the villains who don't make his short list of acceptable allies? Grim Reaper, Mr. Hyde, Absorbing Man, Nekra, and Man-Ape are about to find out when their cooperative of crime lands on the wrong side of Norman's law - but they're not going down without a fight.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
In Stores: June 3, 2009


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Scarlet Witch seems to be a member of:

MIGHTY AVENGERS #26


Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

DARK REIGN
The Avengers/Fantastic Four slobberknocker continues!
This one's got it all true believers: from MR. FANTASTIC and HANK PYM'S battle of the brains to HERCULES and THE THING'S battle o' the brawn! When it's over, expect BIG changes for Earth's Mightiest Heroes-- including the team's all-new headquarters and a very disturbing DARK REIGN alliance.

32 PGS./Rated A ...$2.99
In Stores: Jun 17, 2009

---

Look at that cover!
Now THAT's a cool looking AVENGERS line-up!

---------


(alternate universe) Scarlet Witch is a member of

EXILES #3


Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by SALVADOR ESPIN & CASEY JONES
Cover by DAVE BULLOCK

Maybe a new untested team isn't what you want to throw against an island of united X-Men and Brotherhood mutants, all looking to protect Magneto. Then again, maybe it's the perfect solution! And maybe it wouldn't be so bad to stay on this world longer, given what the NEXT one has waiting.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$2.99
IN STORES: June 3, 2009

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Scarlet Witch is also in:

FANTASTIC FORCE #3

Written by JOE AHEARNE
Penciled by STEVE KURTH
Cover by BRYAN HITCH

Alex Ultron is in pieces and Banner Jr. has been turned against his teammates. It's a bad time for the Fantastic Force to face three of the most powerful women in the universe: Dark Phoenix, the Scarlet Witch and Polaris! The Hysteries, wrenched from their timeline at their maximum moment of betrayal and insanity, have been summoned to destroy Nu-World and the Fantastic Force are the only super heroes on this brave new planet to stand in their way...if they can even stand!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
IN STORES: June 3, 2009

---------


Nick Fury, Hellfire and Druid are all:

SECRET WARRIORS #5

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by STEFANO CASELLI
Cover by JIM CHEUNG

The smashing first arc of Marvel's best new series comes to a climax as the battle between H.A.M.M.E.R., HYDRA, rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and the Howling Commandos begins!
This is the first shot in a war that will result in the establishment of a new global power structure...and who's caught in the middle? You guessed it: Nick Fury and his team of Caterpillars.

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
IN STORES: June 3, 2009


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Valinor (the Black Knight's bat-winged steed) and more are in:


MARVEL PETS HANDBOOK


Written by MICHAEL HOSKIN, MADISON CARTER, SEAN MCQUAID, STUART VANDAL, GABRIEL SHECHTER, DAVID WILTFONG, RONALD BYRD, ERIC J. MOREELS, JACOB ROUGEMONT, MARKUS ETTLINGER, JEFF CHRISTIANSEN, MARK O'ENGLISH, MIKE O'SULLIVAN, CHRIS BIGGS & ROB LONDON
Cover by KARL KERSCHL

Rein yourself in for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe you thought you'd never see! A marvelous menagerie of mirthful mammals and more materialize! From the high-flying Falcon's pet Redwing to the ever-familiar Ebony to Speedball's cat Niels to Kitty's dragon Lockheed to Daredevil's dog Deuce to the Mole Man's monsters to Devil Dinosaur and all manner of Asgardian beasts! Cosmo says: "Buy one for me, comrade! Is good!" Lockjaw says: "Woof!" Can you say no to those puppy-dog eyes?

48 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

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The HOOD is running things in:

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #25

Written by CHRISTOS N. GAGE
Pencils & Cover by
HUMBERTO RAMOS

"THE INITIATIVE: DISASSEMBLED" reaches its shocking conclusion! The full effects of Dark Reign take hold as Norman Osborn reshapes the Initiative into a place to train the Dark Avengers of tomorrow! And wait until you see who's running things now...(Hint: they're on the cover!) But what will happen to the Gauntlet, Tigra, Trauma and the other heroes who've made the Initiative what it is? Oh, Norman has plans for them as well... DON'T MISS THE ISSUE THAT CHANGES THE INITIATIVE FOREVER!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
In Stores: Jun 24, 2009

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The HOOD stars with Dr. Doom and the Cabal guesting in:

DARK REIGN: THE HOOD #2 (of 5)


Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by KYLE HOTZ
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

From the pages of NEW AVENGERS, The Hood leaps into the spotlight! Meeting with Dr. Doom, bossing around his own crime family - anyway you want to cut it, Parker Robbins is getting big. His territory is growing like a wildfire, and you can't keep any of his boys in jail. But there's always someone bigger than you. Calling shots in New York is one thing...but calling them in Latveria, the Atlantic Ocean, and Asgard is another! Worse still, even some of the small fries are trying to edge out Parker, but there's a reason only one of these people is wearing The Hood!

32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
In Stores: Jun 24, 2009

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DR DOOM is raising hell in:

FANTASTIC FOUR #568

Written by MARK MILLAR & JOE AHEARNE
Pencils & Cover by BRYAN HITCH

The penultimate chapter of THE MASTER OF DOOM, as Reed Richards is offered a Solomon's choice by the triumphant
Marquis of Death!

32 PGS./Rated A ...$2.99
In Stores: Jun 24, 2009


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COLLECTED EDITIONS
HARDCOVERS & TPB's

=============


Doc is in nearly every issue within:

SENTRY: THE AGE OF THE SENTRY TPB (DM ONLY)

Written by JEFF PARKER & PAUL TOBIN
Penciled by NICK DRAGOTTA, RAMON ROSANAS, BILL GALVAN, MICHAEL CHO & COLLEEN COOVER
Cover by DAVE BULLOCK & MICHAEL CHO

"Classic" tales of the Sentry at the birth of the Marvel Age! Discover the previously unexplored history of the Golden Guardian of Good as he battles the Mad Thinker; Ursus the Ultra Bear; Mountain Man; and Cranio, the Man with the Tri-Level Mind -- all leading up to a final showdown with his arch nemesis, the Void! Featuring guest-stars galore, including Millie the Model and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Plus: a special story guest-starring one of the greatest -- but sadly forgotten -- British Invasion bands, the Crick-Hits! More than ten tales of old-school super-hero action!
Collecting THE AGE OF THE SENTRY #1-6.

152 PGS./Rated A ...$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3520-3

In Stores: Jun 3, 2009



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VALKYRIE and the Lady Liberators star in:

SHE-HULK VOL. 9: LADY LIBERATORS TPB

Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VINCENZO CUCCA, PASQUALE QUALANO & STEVE SCOTT
Cover by MIKE DEODATO JR.

From the pages of HULK, the Lady Liberators burst on the scene! She-Hulk has been capturing the bad-guys as a bounty hunter...but is that enough for our conflicted hero? Time to kick things up a notch- and that means calling in Valkyrie, Thundra and the Invisible Woman to dispense some hard justice as the Lady Liberators!
Collecting SHE-HULK #34-38.

144 PGS./Rated T+ ...$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4114-3



In Stores: Jun 3, 2009

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Black Knight and more are in:

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 VOL. 2:
HELL COMES TO BIRMINGHAM TPB

Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK
Cover by BRYAN HITCH

As the team is rocked by confusion in their ranks, they're called into battle on their first official mission. All hell has broken loose in Birmingham and MI 13 agent Captain Midlands in the middle of it. It's super heroes vs. the supernatural, full on. What has Dr. Plokta offered the residents in return for their immortal souls? And why are the Mindless Ones starting their assualt from Birmingham? The team lost one member in their first adventure... can they all survive this?
Collecting CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #5-9.

120 PGS./Rated T+ ...$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3345-2


In Stores: Jun 10, 2009

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The tales of Adam Warlock are in:


MARVEL MASTERWORKS: WARLOCK

The Story: The MARVEL MASTERWORKS line is proud to present one of comics’ most mind-blowingly cosmic sagas. At ’70s Marvel there was no who quite mastered the startling scope and high-concept complexity of truly cosmic adventure like writer/artist and overall Renaissance man, Jim Starlin. His first effort with Captain Marvel redefined a character. His second with Adam Warlock set the tone for star-spanning spectacle that is considered a high-water mark to this day. Taking the legacy laid out by Lee, Kirby, Thomas and Kane, Jim Starlin evolved Warlock to the next level, imbuing the character with the furies and inner demons of a man-god on the brink of insanity. Forced to confront the Magus, an evil version of himself, and the nihilistic menace, Thanos, Warlock’s conflicts weren’t just knuckle-grinding throw-downs, they were epic, existential struggles for the very soul. Culminating in the first-ever assembling of the Infinity Gems, and featuring the first appearances of such cosmic Marvel mainstays as Gamorra and Pip the Troll—not to mention an all-out struggle to save the universe joined by the Avengers, Captain Marvel and Spider-Man—this MASTERWORKs edition is definitive Marvel. So reserve that copy today, True Believer!
Collecting STRANGE TALES #178-181, WARLOCK #9-15, MARVEL TEAM-UP #55, AVENGERS ANNUAL #7 and MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL #2.

All Ages …$54.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3511-1

In Stores: Jun 17, 2009


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Hellcat scratches your fan-bone in:

PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT TPB (DM ONLY)

Written by KATHYRN & STUART IMMONEN
Penciled by DAVID LAFUENTE & STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STUART IMMONEN

Patsy Walker, S.H.I.E.L.D. wants YOU to join the Initiative...and protect the frozen north. You heard me right, sister.
The Klondike. Seward's Folly. Alaska. So pack some long johns and prepare for trouble. Plus, we all know Patsy Walker is Hellcat, so who's the other Hellcat? Find out in this four-part series, from the pages of Marvel Comics Presents. Collecting PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT #1-5 and material from MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #1-4.

152 PGS./Rated A ...$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3379-7

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Magik returns from Limbo in:

X-INFERNUS HC

Written by C.B. CEBULSKI
Penciled by GIUSEPPI CAMUNCOLI
Cover by DAVID FINCH

When last we saw Darkchylde, she had claimed the throne of Limbo as her own. And now she's determined to get her soul back, even if she has to conquer Earth in the process. Can the combined forces of the X-Men stop her rampage? They'll have to fight through every demon in Limbo to try. Plus, get the whole story of Magik's exciting return to the Marvel Universe with X-MEN: RETURN OF MAGIK and the X-INFERNUS SAGA!
Collecting X-INFERNUS #1-4, X-INFERNUS SAGA and X-MEN: RETURN OF MAGIK MUST HAVE.

152 PGS./Rated T+ ...$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3947-8
Trim size: oversized



In Stores: Jun 17, 2009

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Doctor Strange and the New Avengers make appearances in:

FALLEN SON: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA HC

Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by JOHN CASSADAY, DAVID FINCH, ED MCGUINNESS,
JOHN ROMITA JR. & LEINIL FRANCIS YU
All New Cover by ED MCGUINESS

Where were you when Captain America died? Perhaps you were listening to the radio or reading the morning paper. Maybe you were surfing the web or on the phone with a friend. You were probably shocked, most likely thinking, "How could this happen to Cap?" And for a moment, you perhaps thought about all the ways the super soldier meant something to you. Something very real, very abiding. Fallen Son: Death of Captain America follows the reaction of the legendary heroes' best friends and closest comrades as they struggle to work through the emotions stirred by the loss of their ally, and the stages of grief that make them confront the part they may have played in that loss. This is their story. This is Cap's story. This is our story. The story of a Fallen Son and the world he helped make a better place. Plus, this edition also includes tons of never-before-seen extras!
Collecting FALLEN SON: WOLVERINE, AVENGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA, SPIDER-MAN and IRON MAN; and CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 plus extras from MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: CAPTAIN AMERICA REMEMBERED and the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.

224 PGS./Rated T+...$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4128-0
Trim size: oversized

In Stores: Jun 24, 2009

---------

DOCTOR STRANGE is the Master of the Mystic Arts in:


ESSENTIAL DOCTOR STRANGE VOL. 4 TPB



Written by ROGER STERN, DON MCGREGOR, RALPH MACCHIO, CHRIS CLAREMONT, BILL KUNKEL, DAVID MICHELINIE, J.M DEMATTEIS & GARDNER FOX
Penciled by TOM SUTTON, RICARDO VILLAMONTE, ALAN KUPPERBERG, RUBY NEBRES, P. CRAIG RUSSELL, GENE COLAN, DAN GREEN, WALT SIMONSON, AL MILGROM, WENDY PINI, FRANK GIACOIA, JOE RUBINSTEIN, BOB WIACEK, TOM PALMER, KERRY GAMMILL, MICHAEL GOLDEN, MARSHALL ROGERS, TERRY AUSTIN, PAUL SMITH, BRENT ANDERSON, HOWARD CHAYKIN & DON PERLIN
Cover by PAUL SMITH

Dormammu, Ikonn, Tiboro, Ningal, the Dweller in Darkness, names to conjure with...literally! Yet they're only a few of the occult enemies who confront Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, challenged by Baron Mordo, the Eye Killers, and sorcerers from across the world and throughout the dimensions! Weirdness awaits in the Realm of the Shadowqueen and an unfallen Roman Empire, but with Nightmare and D'Spayre around, the human psyche may be the deadliest battleground of all! Plus the mystery of Murdoch Adams, Monster Hunter! With the Man-Thing, Brother Voodoo, and Namor the Sub-Mariner, plus the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the Howling Commandos! Featuring rare horror work by genre legend Howard Chaykin!
Collecting DOCTOR STRANGE #30-56; CHAMBER OF CHILLS #4 and MAN-THING #4.

564 PGS./All Ages ...$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3062-8




In Stores: Jun 24, 2009

---------

=============

Whew!
That seems to be it for this month.
If you see anything that interests you, be sure to pick it up when it ships.

If you like any of the Collected Editions, a kindness of ordering through my Amazon links would be greatly appreciated.
Heck, check them out for anything you might be looking for.

-------------

Feel free to discuss these solicits in the comments section.

(all new comic cover images yoinked from Marvel.com)

-------------

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

ROM : Spaceknight - The Legacy Is ROM one step closer to a RETURN?

While flipping through some comics a week or so ago, I was checking out the contents of this "comic":

*click to make more eeevil*

Dark Reign Files : Know Your Foes

It's your basic database style reference comic; in this case showing the various baddies that are currently active in the Marvel Universe.

The pretense is that it is Norman Osborne's reference logistics about each of these villains, and what the powers/ threat level / allegiances / expendability for each may be.

Among the list is THIS entry:

DIRE WRAITHS!

Notice the direct name-check of ROM in the text!
Prior to this minor notation, the closest there has been within the past decade to an actual admission that ROM even existed in the Marvel Universe was by referring to him as some alternate title like; "Greatest of the Spaceknights", but almost never directly by name.

Now, perhaps it's just a thorough researcher / editorial assistant / editor who decided that a mere mention of these baddies and their chief enemy wouldn't violate any legal rights / copyright rigamarole...

OR

Perhaps, it's somehow ties in with the fairly recent development that HASBRO has filed for more permanent rights renewals to a certain silver Spaceknight
(the details of which previously blogged about HERE)...

AND

The fact that Hasbro is kissing cousins with Marvel, since they are producing most of Marvel's toys and action figures...

AND

that even some rare / obscure / long-lost-to-the-mists-of-time characters are being made into 3D plastic idols of joy... to the point that some of the action figure releases have been precursors to complete revivals of certain long-unused characters...

SO

Could it be that a return of ROM is on the horizon?
With the successes of Marvel's space and cosmic heroes again, the stars may have aligned themselves to bring about the right time for...

...the RETURN of...

ROM : SPACEKNIGHT!

GAZE INTO THE FUTURE - MAY 2009

The MARCH 2009 solicits are up

(for stuff shipping MAY 2009)
so what are we waiting for?
Let's journey forth...into... the FUTURE:

=============

"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.

"Official" graphic for this feature; "doctored" image from the cover to Strange Tales # 156
(original art by Marie Severin)

=============

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

=============


As usual, we'll begin with the BIG SHOW:


Doctor Strange continues the
"biggest mystical story-arc in Marvel history"
(some hyperbole may be present in that statement) in:

NEW AVENGERS #53

COVER BY: BILLY TAN
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: CHRIS BACHALO
BILLY TAN
INKS: TIM TOWNSEND
COLORED BY: JUSTIN PONSOR
LETTERED BY: COMICRAFT

Variant cover too!

THE STORY:
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT SORCERER SUPREME? And will he or she survive the initiation? The Avengers fight a battle that they know will shape the future of the Marvel Universe for years to come!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 27, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED A

---

Lackluster cover art by Billy Tan gives me trepidation about this (aside from the stomach-churning I'm going through thinking about what Bendis has in mind).
However, Chris Bachalo is helping to ease my fears a little.

Nothing to do but wait and see.

-------------

Doctor Strange and the Defenders
still battle against
Baron Mordo and the Offenders in:

HULK # 12

COVER BY: ED MCGUINNESS
WRITER: JEPH LOEB
PENCILS: ED MCGUINNESS
INKS: DEXTER VINES
COLORED BY: GURU-EFX
LETTERED BY: COMICRAFT

Two 50/50 covers AND a variant!

THE STORY:
After the senses shattering unexpected cliffhanger from last issue, The Defenders/Offenders War comes to an explosive end in this issue by the superstar-team of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness! The Hulk, Namor, Doc Strange and Silver Surfer have one last chance to save the women they love and the Red Hulk, Tiger Shark, Mordo and Terrax aren't about to let that happen. Can the Defenders triumph without the Hulk to lead them? All of this and a twist ending that you will never see coming!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 20, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED A

---

Like the previous two issues, there's another 50/50 cover, but it wasn't available at the time this went to bed.
I'll be sure to add it here when and if it's available to the public.
There's ALSO another variant (Art Adams, most likely).

WHY, Marvel...WHY?!?
Haven't I given you ENOUGH?
Why must you suck the very marrow from my bones?
How about we cut a deal; I leave everything to Marvel in my Last Will and Testament, and you guys just send me all the damned variants so I don't have to hunt for them!

Variants may be a reason Marvel won't go into the digital-only arena.
Having shoppes order quantities they might not ordinarily, just to get some variants to resell at huge mark-ups, drive up sales figures.

gah.

But... what this with the line " to save the WOMEN THEY LOVE"...?
Is CLEA going to be in this?
Oh, Marvel... you got me again.

---------

Doctor Strange and the Illuminati are in:

DARK REIGN : FANTASTIC FOUR # 3

COVER BY: PASQUAL FERRY
WRITER: JONATHAN HICKMAN
PENCILS: SEAN CHEN
INKS: LORENZO RUGGIERO
COLORED BY: JOHN RAUCH
LETTERED BY: VC - RUS WOOTON

THE STORY:
Forced to fight their way through time, Sue, Ben and Johnny have to defend the Holy Land in the Crusades, Conquer the Wild West and beat back the Nazis while Franklin and Val are busy back in the Baxter Building preparing for the arrival of Norman Osborn.
All that, and the return of the Illuminati!

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 20, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED A

=============

Doctor Strange SHOULD be in the following list of comics:

=============


AVENGERS / INVADERS # 11 of 12

COVER BY: ALEX ROSS
WRITER: JIM KRUEGER
ALEX ROSS
PENCILS: STEVE SADOWSKI
COLORED BY: INLIGHT
LETTERED BY: TODD KLEIN

THE STORY:
On the other side of history, chaos reigns. Evil has won and the Fourth Reich now rules the world. Only the combined might of the Avengers, The Invaders and the mysterious new heroes Electro, The Challenger, The Silver Scorpion, The Black Widow, the Black Avenger and Captain Terror have a hope of setting the world right.

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---

Damn. 11 issues in and Doc is STILL not on a single COVER!
What the hell?

---------

If he's not already DEAD in this series, Ultimate Dr Strange should be in:

ULTIMATUM # 5

COVER BY: DAVID FINCH
WRITER: JEPH LOEB
PENCILS: DAVID FINCH
INKS: DANNY MIKI
COLORED BY: STEVE FIRCHOW
LETTERED BY: COMICRAFT

VARIANT COVERS out the wazoo!
Including a "Fallen Heroes" variant
(if Doc IS dead, he may be on this cover)

THE STORY:
Is this what the end of the world looks like? You better believe it!!
As only Emmy & Eisner award-winning writer Jeph Loeb and superstar artist David Finch can deliver, it’s an apocalyptic conclusion where every, and we mean EVERY, score is settled! The Ultimate heroes have faced their final judgment…and when the dust settles will they be found wanting? If you can handle the growing body count, stick around as ALL is answered in this explosive series finale that will shock fans for years to come!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: ULTIMATE UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+


=============

Doctor Strange MAY be in the following list of comics:

=============


Either Doc himself and/or "Strange 2099" might be in this:

TIMESTORM 2009/2099 # 2

COVER BY: SALVADOR LARROCA
WRITER: BRIAN REED
PENCILS: ERIC BATTLE
INKS: ANDREW HENNESSY
THE STORY:
It’s the heroes and villains of 2099—as you’ve never seen them before! Washington, D.C. overrun by Hulks! New York City controlled by massive corporations that know your every thought and desire! A man from 2099 in the present day, killing our heroes! Brian Reed (SECRET INVASION: CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Eric Battle (Batman) bring you the world of tomorrow as it collides with the world of today!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

Doc and the Illuminati may be in:

PLANET SKAAR PROLOGUE # 1

COVER BY: ALEX GARNER
WRITER: GREG PAK
PENCILS: DAN PANOSIAN
INKS: DAN PANOSIAN
THE STORY:
Reed Richards just found out that the Hulk has a son. A great, big barbarian son named Skaar who's known nothing but
blood and rage after being abandoned by his father to be born on fire on a war-torn alien planet. And now Skaar's coming to Earth, where a showdown with his father could literally split the globe in two. So with just twenty four hours to spare, Mr. Fantastic must determine how to face the advent of... PLANET SKAAR! Don't miss the perfect jumping on point for a brand new epic in which the Son of Hulk finally slashes straight into the heart of the Marvel Universe!
PLUS, 8 pages of Director's Cut style extras!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: PARENTAL ADVISORY

---------

Slight chance of a Doc (or at least "Sanctum") sighting in:

SPIDER-MAN: THE SHORT HALLOWEEN # 1

COVER BY: KEVIN MAGUIRE
WRITER: BILL HADER
SETH MEYERS
PENCILS: KEVIN MAGUIRE
INKS: KEVIN MAGUIRE
COLORED BY: DEAN WHITE
THE STORY:
Two stars of Saturday Night Live make their Marvel debut with an all-new story set right on the bustling, hot dog juice covered streets of New York City. Halloween is coming early this year as Spidey is knocked out during the Greenwich
Village costume parade and an intoxicated reveler in a Spidey costume takes his place. Really, we don’t want to say more than that. Trust us, with comic book legend Kevin Maguire (JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL) along for the ride, this’ll be more exciting than putting a president on a comic book cover!
One-Shot

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

Slim chance for Doc to still be somewhere in this mini:

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS FINALS # 4

COVER BY: ROGER CRUZ
WRITER: JEFF PARKER
PENCILS: ROGER CRUZ
AMILCAR PINNA
COLLEEN COOVER
INKS: ROGER CRUZ
COLORED BY: VAL STAPLES
LETTERED BY: NATE PIEKOS

THE STORY:
Before they can face the world, the X-Men must face the dark secrets that lie inside Marvel Girl. Is it true what they say about red-heads? YES. It's all true.

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009


FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED A


=============

The "6-DIMENSIONS" characters appear in these comics:

=============



Man-Thing,
the Midnight Sons
(Morbius, Werewolf by Night, Son of Satan & Jennifer Kale)
and the HOOD shamble around in:

MARVEL ZOMBIES4 # 2

COVER BY: GREG LAND
WRITER: FRED VAN LENTE
PENCILS: KEV WALKER
INKS: KEV WALKER
COLORED BY: JEAN-FRANCOIS BEAULIEU
LETTERED BY: VC - RUS WOOTON

THE STORY:
Straight from the Dark Reign comes…The Hood! What the cloaked criminal wants, he gets—and he's after the zombie virus to wipe out the heroes once and for all! But standing in his way are the Midnight Sons—and they're not heroes…they're monsters! For the first time in many years, The Hood and his super-villain syndicate know fear...but where Parker Robinson goes, can the dread Dormammu be far behind? The awful answers are supplied by Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker, the team that CBR.com praised for, “taking the MARVEL ZOMBIES franchise in a brand new, invigorating direction!”

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: PARENTAL ADVISORY


---------


Black Knight and other goodness awaits within the pages of:

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 # 13

COVER BY: STUART IMMONEN
WRITER: PAUL CORNELL
PENCILS: LEONARD KIRK
INKS: JAY LEISTEN
COLORED BY: BRIAN REBER
THE STORY:
Betrayal runs rampant! Spitfire is offered a high rank in the vampire state—will she take it? Does she have a chance? A traitor is discovered in the ranks of British Intelligence. But what are the chances that he’s the only one. Pete Wisdom’s main concern is keeping his people alive, but with his track record and who they’re up against, it’s not looking good.

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 13, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

An alternate universe version of the Scarlet Witch is in:

EXILES # 2

COVER BY: DAVE BULLOCK
WRITER: JEFF PARKER
PENCILS: SALVADOR ESPIN
INKS: SALVADOR ESPIN
COLORED BY: TONY WASHINGTON
LETTERED BY: NATE PIEKOS

THE STORY:
It appears that affecting the course of history on another world is HARD. Especially when all the mutants of this world work together...against you! How can a new untested team take on The X-Men, The Brotherhood, and everybody in between? Join the Exiles as they tumble head first into the answer as the relaunch of this fan-favorite series continues!
Parental Advisory …$2.99


PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: PARENTAL ADVISORY

---------

Scarlet Witch (is on the COVER shakin' her ass with Jean Grey/Phoenix and Polaris) and the future-alt-Earth Defenders are in:

FANTASTIC FORCE # 2

COVER BY: BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: JOE AHEARNE
PENCILS: STEVE KURTH
THE STORY:
He’s a descendant of the Hulk and the stepson of Wolverine—but now, Banner’s mother the Harpy has appeared from nowhere and is out to destroy the Fantastic Force! Alex Ultron, the 16th generation, has a shock when he realizes his brand new paradise is run on android slaves and telepath Natalie X finds out what's really on Logan's mind. Taking down the Harpy costs half of the Fantastic Force just as they face three of the most powerful women in history who are here to destroy Nu-World…and the new heroes who defend it!

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

Hulk stars in:

HULK: BROKEN WORLDS BOOK #2

COVER BY: PAUL PELLETIER
WRITER: ADAM WARREN
MARC SUMERAK
JASON HENDERSON
PENCILS: STEVE SCOTT
JONBOY MEYERS
KELSEY SHANNON
JUAN SANTACRUZ
INKS: VICENTE CIFUENTES
LETTERED BY: VC - JOE CARAMAGNA

THE STORY:
Throughout the unending vastness of the multiverse echo the cries of the monster inside mister Bruce Banner… the
unstoppable force known as the Hulk. Join us as we continue our quest to chronicle the catalogue of crosstime Hulk, asking not “What If…” but “What is?” This ALL-NEW oversized special revisits the worlds of the Age of Apocalypse, the Days of Future Past, the Marvel Mangaverse, and the year 1602!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED A

---------

Nick Fury, Druid & Hellfire are in:

SECRET WARRIORS # 4

COVER BY: JIM CHEUNG
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
JONATHAN HICKMAN
PENCILS: STEFANO CASELLI
INKS: STEFANO CASELLI
COLORED BY: DANIELE RUDONI
LETTERED BY: DAVE LANPHEAR

THE STORY:
The most talked about new Marvel series rolls on as we find out the answer to the question: What happened to all the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Plus, Daisy Johnson recruits a new member to replace a fallen comrade, the kids spy on Nick Fury and we follow the Colonel as he starts his one man war against the endless hordes of HYDRA.

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 6, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

Dr. Doom brings death within the pages of:

FANTASTIC FOUR #567

COVER BY: BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: BRYAN HITCH
INKS: ANDREW CURRIE
COLORED BY: PAUL MOUNTS
LETTERED BY: VC - RUS WOOTON

THE STORY:
THE MASTERS OF DOOM Part Two
The Marquis of Death has returned to Earth after a genocidal sojourn of two decades! And his first target is his once-pupil,
Victor Von Doom!

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 27, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

Dr. Doom and The Hood kick it in:

DARK AVENGERS # 5

COVER BY: MIKE DEODATO
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: MIKE DEODATO
INKS: MIKE DEODATO
COLORED BY: RAINIER BEREDO
LETTERED BY: VC - CORY PETIT

THE STORY:
When the public is reminded of Norman's terrible past, Norman's wheeling and dealing becomes a public concern. Plus, some of the Avengers are getting frisky with each other, and that can't be good. Plus the return of...the Cabal!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 20, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

The Hood gets his ass capped in:

PUNISHER # 5

COVER BY: MIKE MCKONE
WRITER: RICK REMENDER
PENCILS: JEROME OPENA
THE STORY:
“LIVING IN DARKNESS: CONCLUSION”
Frank Castle will kill the Hood or die trying. With his city under siege, a high bounty on his head and nothing left to lose, The Punisher dives in for a direct confrontation with New York's new kingpin of crime -- and what he discovers within The Hood’s secret base will shock the Marvel Universe to its core. Who is The Hood’s mysterious new lieutenant? What is The Hood truly capable of? And exactly how far will he go to take down the biggest threat to his brutal underworld reign?

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 20, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: PARENTAL ADVISORY

---------

However, he STARS in his own mini-series:

DARK REIGN: THE HOOD # 1

COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: JEFF PARKER
PENCILS: KYLE HOTZ
INKS: KYLE HOTZ
COLORED BY: FRANK MARTIN
THE STORY:
Straight from the pages of NEW AVENGERS and DARK REIGN: THE CABAL—go deep into the cutthroat world of The Hood! You may know him as the tough-talking crime boss who’s organizing the villains of NYC while wheeling and dealing with the likes of Loki and Dr. Doom. But what about his pregnant girlfriend, addict cousin and institutionalized mother that we met back in his debut mini? And what price is he paying for his rapid climb up the ranks of crime and power? Writer Jeff Parker (AGENTS OF ATLAS) and Kyle Hotz (THE HOOD: BLOOD FROM STONES) invite you to spend a week in the life of Parker Robinson, one of the key characters in Dark Reign, as he struggles to keep his professional and personal lives from destroying each other!

PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: May 27, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---------

Ghost Rider doesn't give up the ghost in:

GHOST RIDER # 35

COVER BY: ARTHUR SUYDAM
WRITER: JASON AARON
PENCILS: TONY MOORE
INKS: TONY MOORE
LETTERED BY: VC - JOE CARAMAGNA

THE STORY:
"TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS," PART 3
Johnny Blaze has come to a monastery in Japan, just wanting to be left alone as he waits patiently for the end of the world. But when a local biker gang begins terrorizing the town, Blaze realizes that his work as Ghost Rider isn't quite done yet.

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 27, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: PARENTAL ADVISORY

---------

New Avengers (sans Doc) guest in:

AGENTS OF ATLAS # 5

COVER BY: BILLY TAN
WRITER: JEFF PARKER
PENCILS: CARLO PAGULAYAN
INKS: JASON PAZ
COLORED BY: JANA SCHIRMER
LETTERED BY: NATE PIEKOS

THE STORY:
Issue #5 brings the throwdown to end all throwdowns! The Agents of Atlas face off with the NEW AVENGERS!!! What a perfect time for M-11 to take one of his unpredictable courses of decisive action. Rated V for VIOLENT.

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 20, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE (What's this?)
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

-------------

Unrelated, but still awesome reprinted classics are in:

THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY # 1

The Story: The legend has come true! By the will of the gods, I am alive! I am invincible! I am — THOR!!! And so began the very first epic tale of Marvel’s most revered hero, the mighty Thor, whose legend would grow alongside the success of Marvel comics, making him the most exciting super hero of all time! Never has Thor been more sensational than during these early tales, crafted by Marvel’s greatest, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Re-live classic Norse mythology in the mighty Marvel manner as well as Stan and Jack’s stories of the Norse Gods and Thor before he came to Earth as Don Blake. Witness as these masters breathe life into the thunder god and some of Marvel’s most enduring characters: Helmdall, Balder, Loki, Odin and Hela. Read these stories as never before with all-new, modern coloring and six extraordinary interlocking covers by current THOR artist Olivier Coipel. Collecting the “Tales of Asgard” backup stories from JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #97-104
Remastered Reprints/All Ages …$3.99


In Stores: May 13, 2009

---------

and...
presented here because... well... I'll explain it at the end:

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #129

COVER BY: DAVID WILLIAMS
WRITER: GREG PAK
PENCILS: RYAN STEGMAN
INKS: TERRY PALLOT
COLORED BY: RAUL TREVINO
LETTERED BY: VC - JOE CARAMAGNA

THE STORY:
In this issue: HERCULES AND AMADEUS CHO DIE!!! We heard that cheap death sells comics, and we're more than happy to oblige. Though seriously, if you had to plunge into the UNDERWORLD and bring back Hercules' slain father ZEUS to counter Hera's power, could you think of a better plan? And come to think of it, have you ever noticed how... impermanent death is in the Marvel Universe? Well, while hobnobbing among the most famous Marvel deceased over the last few years, Herc and Cho learn the terrible secret why -- and why PLUTO, Lord of the Dead, is fighting-mad about it!

PRICE: 2.99
IN STORES: May 27, 2009

IMPRINT: MARVEL UNIVERSE
FORMAT: COMIC
RATING: RATED T+

---

So. Wasn't that the premise behind X-StatiX Presents: Dead Girl (and Dr. Strange) mini a few years back?
Of course, that was a silly bit of fun (and hopefully not in continuity).
So, I guess Hercules is about to discover the REAL reason people keep coming back from the dead.
OK? OK.


=============

COLLECTED EDITIONS
-------------HARDCOVERS & TPB's-------------

=============


Just because it's awesome:

CAPTAIN BRITAIN BY ALAN MOORE & ALAN DAVIS OMNIBUS HC

The Story: One of the Marvel Universe's most staggering sagas from two of Britain's most remarkable writers, reprinted in total for the first time! Captain Britain fights to save a universe...and fails! But a single reality is small change in the game Merlyn’s playing against Mad Jim Jaspers, who's rewriting reality so he's the center of the universe! Worlds collide, heroes and villains die, and Captain Britain's beside himself — except when he's fighting himself...to the death! Featuring the first appearances of the metamorphic Meggan, Opal Luna Saturnyne, the Captain Britain Corps, and more! Plus: Psylocke joins the X-Men, and the X-Men join Captain Britain on a cosmic quest into the secrets of life and death! The fiendish Fury, the horrific Horde and the malevolent Mojo are only a few of the adversaries who await within! Also guest-starring the New Mutants and Captain America! Collecting MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (UK) #377-388, THE DAREDEVILS (UK) #1-11, CAPTAIN AMERICA #305-306, MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL (UK) #7-16, CAPTAIN BRITAIN (UK) #1-14, NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL #2 and UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #11.
Rated T+ …$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3771-9

In Stores: May 6, 2009




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Golden Age Black Knight in:

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA
BLACK KNIGHT/YELLOW CLAW VOL. 1 HC

Written by STAN LEE, AL FELDSTEIN & VARIOUS
Penciled by JOE MANEELY, JACK KIRBY, JOHN SEVERIN,
FRED KIDA & VARIOUS
Cover by JOE MANEELY
From the heroic times of King Arthur to the dangers of the Cold War, the Atlas Era brings you the greatest adventure stories from the 1950s. Presenting the original series of two legendary characters that have bridged the decades - all the way from the Atlas Era to the Avengers and Agents of Atlas - Black Knight and Yellow Claw are must-haves for every Marvel maniac! Sir Percy of Scandia may appear to be a foppish weakling, too timid to fight and the scorn of Camelot, but only Merlin knows the truth: Sir Percy is the gallant Black Knight! Come to drive Modred de Monfort from King Arthur's court, he wields the ebony blade against Norman invaders, dragons, imposters and usurpers to the throne. With the pencil of Atlas great, Joe Maneely, delineating the action,Black Knight is a sure-fire classic! Then comes Cold War tales of mystery, espionage and world domination from the pages of Yellow Claw! Illustrated by the incomparable trio of Joe Maneely, John Severin and --in a rare mid-50s Atlas appearance-- Jack Kirby, F.B.I. Agent Jimmy Woo's mission to capture the century-old mystic from the root of the Himalayas is packed with gritty crime and unimaginable adversaries, from mind-bending mutants and UFO the Lightning Man to Temujai the Golden Goliath and the Living Shadows! Collecting BLACK KNIGHT #1-5 & YELLOW CLAW #1-4.
256 PGS./All Ages ...$59.99

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Doc is featured in:

ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN VOL. 9 TPB # 1

The Story: J. Jonah Jameson's spent years making Spider-Man's life difficult — but payback's a switch when he gets shackled to Spidey, who has to rescue the irascible editor from not one but TWO mad scientists! Plus: the introductions of the Fly and Jigsaw! Electro, Mysterio, Calypso and Mesmero! And a Dr. Octopus saga so big it took two annuals to cover it! The death of a forgotten Golden Age hero and the fate of the burglar who started Spidey's career in the first place! Features first appearances by the Black Cat and Madame Web! Guest-starring Captain America, Dazzler, Dr. Strange, the Punisher and Spider-Woman! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #186-210, ANNUAL #13-14 and PETER PARKER, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1.
All Ages …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3074-1


In Stores: May 6, 2009





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Nightmare is the baddie in:

FANTASTIC FOUR: TRUE STORY TPB # 1

The Story: A threat to the minds of the whole human race sends the FF somewhere they've never been before: into the realm of fiction itself! Where Ben finds himself clobbering a demonic army to save the cast of Sense and Sensibility. No, really. And it gets weirder from there. Dante! Willie Lumpkin! Behold, the Fictocraft! And it's actually kind of smart and serious too. Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR: TRUE STORY #1-4.
Rated A …$10.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2833-5

In Stores: May 6, 2009




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Ultimate Scarlet Witch dies in:

ULTIMATES 3: WHO KILLED THE SCARLET WITCH? TPB # 1

The Story: The countdown to Ultimatum begins here — and when it's over, the Ultimate Universe will never be the same! And when we say that in the Ultimate Universe, you know we ain't fooling around! A year later, who are the Ultimates? After going through the tumultuous events of the past two volumes, the Ultimates find themselves operating out of Tony Stark's mansion in New York where, no longer working for S.H.I.E.L.D., they have to make it on their own. But a terrible secret is about to tear them apart and bring about a murder at the mansion! One of Earth's greatest heroes will die, and there'll be plenty of suspects! New Members! New Adventures! And New Secrets! All this and Ultimate Venom, too! Join Eisner winner and Emmy-nominated writer Jeph Loeb (TV's Heroes, Fallen Son) and the superstar team of Joe Madureira & Christian Lichtner (Uncanny X-Men, Battle Chasers) as they take the Ultimates on their wildest ride yet! Collecting ULTIMATES 3 #1-5.
Parental Advisory … $19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2269-2


In Stores: May 6, 2009




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Dr. Strange and the Illuminati in:

HULK: WORLD WAR HULK HC # 1

The Story: An epic story of anger unbound! Exiled by a group of Marvel "heroes" to the savage alien planet of Sakaar, the Hulk raged, bled and conquered – rising from slave to gladiator to king. Now, the Hulk returns to Earth to wreak his terrible vengeance on Iron Man, Reed Richards, Doctor Strange and Black Bolt — and anyone else who gets in the way. Stronger than ever, accompanied by his monstrous Warbound gladiator allies and possessed by the fiercest and purest rage imaginable, the Hulk may just tear this stupid planet in half! Then in AFTERSMASH, heroes and monsters rise and fall as the events of "World War Hulk" reverberate through the blasted ruins of New York City with goliath impact. It’s a massive story featuring the Warbound, the Renegades, Heroes for Hire, Iron Man, Tom Foster, and Damage Control. Collecting WORLD WAR HULK #1-5, WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH, MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: WORLD WAR HULK and PLANET HULK SAGA.
Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2670-6
Trim size: oversized


In Stores: May 13, 2009




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A newly imagined Devil-Slayer stars in:

DEAD OF NIGHT: DEVIL-SLAYER TPB # 1

The Story: Abandoned by his fiancée, his family, his church, and his government, Sergeant Dan Sylva returns to Iraq for a third tour of duty -- and a descent into Hell itself. If the demon Belathauzer and the mysterious mercenary group known as Bloodstone have their way, Iraq, the place where civilization began, may also be where civilization ends. The reinvented Devil-Slayer takes Marvel’s DEAD OF NIGHT to terrifying new heights, from award-winning horror novelist Brian Keene (The Rising, Dark Hollow) and artist Chris Samnee (DAREDEVIL: BLOOD OF THE TARANTULA)! Collecting DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING DEVIL-SLAYER #1-4
Explicit Content …$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3281-3

In Stores: May 27, 2009




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The Danny Ketch Ghost Rider has some serious issues in:

GHOST RIDER: DANNY KETCH - ADDICT TPB # 1

The Story: You’ve heard the news by now. He’s been away, he’s been down to rock bottom; but he’s back. Dan Ketch reborn: a stranger, darker figure. So what happened, Dannyboy? Where did it all go wrong? Tying-into Jason Aaron’s stunning take on the Ghost Rider mythos, artist Javier Saltares and writer Simon Spurrier present a tormented fall into the deepest pits of the soul. Join us – via Technomancer babes, talking carrion-birds, battering-rams on bikes and the inescapable hunger for Vengeance – for a dark tale of Addiction. Plus, the final fate of Dan Ketch is revealed in GHOST RIDER FINALE! With Blackheart deposed, the Ghost Rider is now lord of the Nether Realm. What does he intend to do with his power? And will the other Dark Lords – like Belasco, Pluto and Hela – allow him to keep it? Collecting GHOST RIDER: DANNY KETCH #1-5 and GHOST RIDER FINALE.
Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3286-8


In Stores: May 27, 2009




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Awesome Dr. Strange goodness
(in a story that won my "2008 Sanctum Award" for best Dr. Strange story/appearance):

MARVEL ADVENTURES - FEATURING: THOR, DR. STRANGE, ANT-MAN AND CAPTAIN AMERICA DIGEST # 1

The Story: All adventure, all action, for all ages! Join Thor, Captain America, Dr. Strange and Ant-Man as they go up against the fiercest obstacles they’ve ever encountered. First, see how the God of Thunder came to our world, and what awesome adversities shaped him into a champion of man! Then, the Master of the Mystic Arts encounters a cosmically powered creature that has been allowing its newborn babies to feed on the very fabric of reality. And who is Ant-Man? How did he get both the ability to shrink to less than an inch tall and speak directly to ants? All these stories plus two action-packed tales featuring Captain America! Collecting MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #5-8.
All Ages …$9.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3321-6

In Stores: May 27, 2009




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Whew!
That seems to be it for this month.
If you see anything that interestes you, be sure to pick it up when it ships.

If you like any of the Collected Editions, a kindness of ordering through my Amazon links would be appreciated.
Heck, check them out for anything you might be looking for.

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Feel free to discuss these solicits in the comments section.

(all new comic cover images yoinked from Marvel.com)

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