Every month the Marvel Reporters assemble to share our solicitation commentary on what Marvel has coming out. This month we are discussing the July 2018 Marvel Solicitations courtesy of our friends at Comic Frontline. This month we get the Death of The Inhumans, the Infinity Countdown comes to an end and more!
So check out the full solicitations, read what we have to say, then join the commentary and leave a comment with your thoughts!
Commentators: Jay, Josh, Kat, Louis, Tatiana
Editor: Jay
CAPTAIN AMERICA #1
Jay: I am not a fan of revisiting Hydra Cap. If this was right after that mess, then ok, but it has been too long. I have one word for you Marvel LetItGo (yes it is one word the way I say).
Josh: Ta-Nehisi Coates has really taken a deep dive into comic writing and his latest venture is the Man Out of Time, Captain America. I have been reading everything Coates has put out thus far and Captain America will get a go from me.
Louis: It’s good that Captain America is finally addressing Cap’s public reception post-Secret Empire. This felt like they skipped over it during Mark Waid’s run.
Tatiana: I’ve very much enjoyed Coates’ run on Black Panther, so I look forward to seeing how he handles Captain America. It’s not a title I keep up with regularly, but I do want to know how they handle the Secret Empire fallout.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 & #2
Jay: Not sure how I feel about Spider-Man with space stuff he is the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man for a reason. I am also not sure how I like them messing with his past either.
Kat: I’m excited to see a new take on one of my favorite superheroes!
Louis: Not sure about the tease for Spidey going back to basics. I hope it doesn’t negate the progress Peter made during Dan Slott’s run. Also Nick Spencer revealing a secret from Spidey’s past feels like something he did on another Marvel title. However I am excited for Ryan Ottley’s artwork. I loved his work on Invincible and can’t wait to see his take on the wall-crawler.
Tatiana: I won’t be reading, I just wanted to be annoying and say that “back to basics” doesn’t make sense without Mary Jane. And “new love interests” does not give me hope that she will be back in any real capacity.
THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 (of 5)
Jay: This is a great book to have out to prep people for who Captain Marvel is.
Josh: Margaret Stohl is a treasure and Carol Danvers is a legend. This five-part series dives into the origins of Carol Danvers and I am here for it. If Stohl is writing and Danvers’ origin is the subject, it would take an army to keep me from buying this series.
Kat: I’m really excited to see Carol go back home and tackle these untapped feelings.
Louis: I’m glad Carol is getting a “Year One” type story because this will help get fans hyped for her movie. Also for readers who are eager to start reading Captain Marvel this feels like a good place to start.
Tatiana: I love Margaret Stohl, and I think a definitive origin story would be great for Carol seeing as she’s rebooted so often. I just hope it’s not another ‘version’ that gathers dust and just get changed up in two years anyway.
COSMIC GHOST RIDER #1 (of 5)
Jay: Do we need this?
Josh: I have a policy about purchasing anything involving Frank Castle. Having already read the Thanos series in its entirety, I couldn’t get enough of the Cosmic Ghost Rider and I wasn’t alone. One Donny Cates’ afterthoughts in the Thanos series has become a fan-favorite. What happens when the ultimate killing machine is given control of the Rider? We find out with Cosmic Ghost Rider.
X-23 #1 & #2
Jay: This sound like it is going to be about what I want from it, Laura claiming her name and taking it from a weapon, to a hero.
Kat: I’m glad Gabby and Jonathan will still be part of the cast, knowing Tamaki’s writing I’m sure this is going to be a character driven roller coaster.
Tatiana: Loved what Mariko Tamaki did with She-Hulk, so I’m totally onboard with her taking on Laura. She and Gabby are two of my favorite Marvel characters at the moment, and it’s nice having something with very specific motivations to root for.
DEATH OF THE INHUMANS #1 (of 5)
Jay: “Now that we have the X-Men movie rights screw you Inhumans (until we need you again).” The Inhumans need to be fixed not slaughtered.
Josh: Donny Cates is tackling a five-part series involving Inhumans and tons of death. The Kree are sending a message to the Inhumans and Black Bolt must figure out a way to end the bloodshed. Count me in on this series. Cates is a rising star at Marvel and his work has become a must-read for me.
X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN – SECOND GENESIS #1 (of 2)
Jay: Like with the initial one, be prepared for an enclopedia-level read here.
Josh: Having read the first act of this comic, I very much look forward to seeing what they do with it in the second act. Origin stories are my jam.
Louis: I was surprised by how well the first series captured the original era of the X-Men. I’m excited to see this take on the next team that made the X-Men a household name.
WAKANDA FOREVER: X-MEN #1
Jay: Black Panther blew up the box office and the line “Wakanda Forever” became common vernacular so I am not suprised about this at all. The book itself sounds interesting.
Josh: I’m pretty much all in on the Black Panther. Nakia is back at her troublesome best and has plans to kill Storm. Can’t wait to see how this unfold given the fact that the rest of the Dora Milaje are hot on her heels.
Tatiana: I know it’s not the same character, but it makes me giggle reading about Nakia’s obsessive clutches after we just got an amazing Nakia in the Black Panther film. Although now that Okoye is included too, maybe they really are trying to draw a parallel? Guess I’ll have to wait and see. Regardless, I do love Storm and T’Challa in the comics even if I’m Team Nakia in the film universe.
INFINITY COUNTDOWN #5 (of 5)
Jay: Okay, what event does this lead into again?
Josh: Infinity Countdown: Champions #2, Infinity Countdown Darkhawk #4: I have collected the entire Infinity Countdown saga and these books help bring that story to a close.
INFINITY COUNTDOWN: CHAMPIONS #2 (OF 2)
Jay: I am looking forward to this, it sounds good. I like it when the Champions are heroes.
INFINITY COUNTDOWN: DARKHAWK #4 (of 4)
Jay: I love Darkhawk and so excited that he is getting some love here.
INFINITY WARS PRIME #1
Jay: Miking an event with more one-shots
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #3 (of 4)
Jay: I trust Taylor so I am grabbing this one for him.
Kat: You had me at Kitty Pryde.
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: CLAWS OF A KILLER #3 (of 4)
Jay: I love Mariko Tamaki’s work so grabbing this one for her.
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: MYSTERY IN MADRIPOOR #3 (of 4)
Jay: I love it when Kitty gets to show she is badass.
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: Weapon Lost #3 (of 4)
Jay: Still not crazy on the cast here.
AVENGERS #4 & AVENGERS #5
Jay: I see this as either a love it or a hate it. I don’t see many in the middle.
Louis: I wasn’t excited for Avengers 1000000 B.C. when it was announced and I’m still not. Really hope this arc isn’t just hype for this other Avengers team.
CHAMPIONS #22
Jay: This issue sound interesting honestly.
THOR #3
Jay: Thor is the brother who will marry Hela and Jane will stop it? I don’t know and honestly I am not sure if I care, the last issue sounded better.
IMMORTAL HULK #2 & IMMORTAL HULK #3
Jay: This feels like classic Hulk which I really loved hope this really brings Hulk back to the forefront of the Marvel Universe.
TONY STARK: IRON MAN #2
Jay: Please bring back Rhodey we need him in the comics! I like the sound of this issue.
Louis: Wait Rhodey’s dead, oh wait I forgot comics. Really interested to see Tony’s new rival, Sunset Bain.
QUICKSILVER: NO SURRENDER #3 (of 5)
Jay: I am glad that the story they have been building for Quicksilver in Avengers: No Surrender isn’t for nothing.
Tatiana: I enjoy getting an in-depth look at certain relationships in limited runs, and I’m sure the Maximoff twins will be no different. The stakes sound pretty high, and Saladin Ahmed has done great things with characters I normally wouldn’t care about (*cough* Black Bolt).
PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #307
Jay: Spectacular Spider-Man has not been living up to its name for me to be honest.
BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #21
Jay: I just want Kane and Ben to just stop the fighting already it is old.
SPIDER-GWEN #34
Jay: This should be a great wrap up to a great run.
Kat: Really sad to see this series go, but I’m glad the creative team will have a concrete ending for the character.
Tatiana: The trial of Gwen Stacy still sounds like something you should sign me up for. I’ve been waiting for a change of pace in her story, and this might be just the ticket.
VENOM #4
Jay: Marvel knows how to beat a dead horse. I think we had so much Venom lately that man I am just suffering from Venom fatigue and the movie isn’t even out yet.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #21
Jay: Wait I thought Annie was a clone of Mayday? I know they are different but come on, they are trying to make her Mayday and now they are redoing May’s Clone as well? I wonder if her name will be May or April? Mayday had a clone named April who was also Mayhem, and this looks just like her. I know there is the saying “there are no original stories” but come on BE ORIGINAL!
Kat: My biggest problem with this series is that it still doesn’t feel like it has found its own voice. Clone Saga has obviously been done many times in the spider mythos. Here’s hoping Renew Your Vows can be original.
Sidenote: The clone looks a lot like Mayhem from the MC2, a universe the series has taken a lot of ideas from.
Louis: NO GOD! PLEASE GOD NO CLONES! NOOOOOOOOOO!
Tatiana: Annie getting her own clone saga? Do I even want to see that? Either way, I love Peter and Mary-Jane working together to help their daughter!
MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #8
Jay: If you’re not reading this book: A.) What is wrong with you? and B.) Read it now! This is a Fantastic (pun intended) book!
Louis: Kind of odd that this issue teases Ben and Johnny in a depressed state before the FF’s return next month. Although this could mean Johnny finds out Ben was lying to him at the start of this series.
DAREDEVIL #605
Jay: This sounds interesting!
Louis: Probably going to drop Daredevil after this issue. ‘Nuff said.
SENTRY #2
Jay: I like the sound of this. I look forward to seeing what they do with Sentry this time around though.
BLACK PANTHER #3
Josh: I can’t get enough of this series under Ta-Nehisi Coates.
MOON KNIGHT #197
Louis: Well looks like Moon Knight’s gonna fight some possible cannibals. Face it we knew this was coming.
OLD MAN HAWKEYE #7 (of 12)
Jay: This series has been a surprise enjoyment for me and this issue sounds like it will continue to be!
DOCTOR STRANGE #3
Jay: Not sure how to feel about taking Doctor Strange into space to be honest.
Louis: Of all the infinity stones, it makes sense that Doctor Strange would find the time stone. Also it would be really cool if he found someway to combine it’s powers with his Eye of Agamotto similar to the MCU version.
THE PUNISHER #227 & THE PUNISHER #228
Jay: I still can’t believe no one has taken this from him yet!
Josh: It’s Frank Castle so my policy is in effect.
RUNAWAYS #11
Jay: I am loving this series and it is because of the way Rainbow Rowell writes the characters and puts that as the priority of the book, it is such a character driven book and I love it! This issue seems to be more greatness, but seriously when can we get Molly & Gabby together?
Kat: I’m a sucker for self-identity stories!
Tatiana: I’m loving how internal the issues in this run are, and how it feels like every Runaway is getting their turn to shine. Definitely looking forward to Get and the saga of the purple hair!
THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #34
Tatiana: Really excited for She-Hulk to be here, but why isn’t Erica Henderson doing the art? Excuse me while I have a mini-heart attack because Squirrel Girl can’t go changing on me now.
ANT-MAN & THE WASP #3 (OF 5)
Jay: This doesn’t seem to grab me, which sucks because I really like Ant-Man.
MS. MARVEL #32
Jay: I missed this relationship, I think it was one of the strongest parts of the book and I am glad to see it returning.
Josh: I can’t stop reading this series either. G. Willow Wilson is absolutely splendid. Her Ms. Marvel is without a doubt one of Marvel’s best characters.
Kat: Glad to see that Bruno and Kamala is working at reconnected as friends again.
Tatiana: Kamala and Bruno becoming friends again is what I live for. It hurts that I’ve had to wait this long to see it, but I’m grateful that it’s finally happening.
MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #33
Jay: I enjoy the book but WE GET IT SHE IS THE SMARTEST PERSON ON EARTH MOVE ON!
MARVEL RISING: SQUIRREL GIRL/MS. MARVEL #1
Jay: This sounds like all kinds of fun!
Tatiana: Two of my favorite heroines in one issue, and with a cover by Gurihiru to boot? This is literally a dream come true and I need it in my hands yesterday. Plus, Ember sounds like a fun character.
MULTIPLE MAN #2 (of 5)
Jay: When is Cyclops returning?
X CLASSIFIED #1
Jay: Hmmmm Classified? So when is the announcement and when will Marvel spoil it just before it is released?
Louis: My guess is this will be a new Uncanny X-Men title.
EXILES #5
Jay: This issue sounds fun and more in tune with the original Exiles so I hope the series fixes the problems that were in the first issue.
X-MEN GOLD #31 & X-MEN GOLD #32
Jay: Not Rachel!!!! I love Rachel stop screwing with her! What is it with the Grey women that Marvel seems to enjoy torturing them?
Kat: They’ve been building up to this for awhile.
ASTONISHING X-MEN #13
Jay: I a, glad to see that Marvel is FINALLY fixing Havok and making him a hero again!
Kat: DAZZLER!! I’m in.
Louis: If this book kept Professor Xavier as X then I’d be more excited for it.
CABLE #159
Jay: I love the Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix so to see this time revisited is going to be great!
NEW MUTANTS: DEAD SOULS #5 (of 6)
Jay: This is an odd mini-series it feels like a series of one-shots and not a true minni-series.
X-MEN BLUE #31 & X-MEN #32
Jay: Magneto Vs Emma! I’m in!
WEAPON X #20
Jay: This one sounds interesting, you have my attention!
WEAPON H #5
Jay: Wasn’t feeling the Roxxon stuff in the first part of the solicitation but they they hooked me with Clay’s wife Sonia.
X-MEN RED #6
Jay: I love Tom Taylor and love Jean Grey so I am loving this series and can not wait for more!
DOMINO #4
Jay: I like bringing in Shang Chi, never enough of him!
DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2
Louis: This solicit should’ve just said “Darth Vader finds out about the Death Star”.
DARTH VADER #18
Louis: As much as I enjoy the one-upsman contest between Vader and Tarkin, it looks like you’d have to read the annual before reading this issue.
MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES: MS. MARVEL AND THE TELEPORTING DOG #1
Jay: I like that Marvel is doing more all-ages stuff and this sounds fun!
FANTASTIC FOUR TRUE BELIEVERS MONTH!
Jay: ABOUT DAMN TIME! YES! The Fantastic Four deserve so much love and finally we are getting some and a perfect time for the True Believers since the new series by Dan Slott launches in August!
Louis: Every now and then I sometimes buy a few of Marvel’s True Believers reprints. However this time I’ll probably buy them all.
SPIDER-GIRL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 1 TPB
Jay: Finally! About time! But why now? Can we have some Spider-Girl things coming up Marvel?
Kat: My favorite series ever, finally they are collecting it all.
Louis: Finally, I can start a Spider-Girl collection.
FANTASTIC FOUR EPIS COLLECTION: THE COMING OF GALACTUS
Louis: The Galactus trilogy is probably the best story Stan Lee and Jack Kirby ever wrote together. If you don’t own this arc now’s a good opportunity to get it.
HEROES REBORN: FANTASTIC FOUR TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Jay: YES!!!! I LOVED The Heroes Reborn Fantastic Four! HINT: MARVEL WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE A FANTASTIC FOUR MOVIE READ THIS FIRST!!!!