JLA… Assemble!

The year was 2003, and comic industry icons Kurt Busiek and George Pérez were about to bring Marvel and DC back together for the mightiest crossover of all time. That happening, as you can see from the above, was JLA/Avengers. And for the first time, it brought Marvel’s Avengers and DC’s Justice League together in one book.

Well, technically it wasn’t just one book. The event was a four issue mini-series, but either way, it was one and done. Much to the consternation of fans, it was never to see publication again. Fast-forward a few decades though, and Marvel and DC have a fresh working relationship that makes the formerly impossible suddenly… not.

As a result, all four of those issues will be heading back to comic shops. They’ll be doing so in style too, as “Facsimile Editions with original trade tress and wraparound card stock covers”. Pretty cool. As you might imagine too, the re-presentation will be a joint effort, with Marvel publishing issues #1 and #3, and DC handling issues #2 and #4.

The classic returns

It’s the grandest Marvel and DC comics crossover of them all and an icon-packed event decades in the making! After years of anticipation, JLA/AVENGERS reunited acclaimed writer Kurt Busiek (Marvels) with his AVENGERS collaborator George Pérez – an artistic legend for both companies – to assemble every single member of Earth’s Mightiest and the World’s Greatest in one blockbuster book! Universes collide as the Justice League fights the towering Terminus and the Avengers face the awesome menace of Starro! Each team must undertake an epic quest on the other’s world, with the fate of both realities in the balance!

Preorder JLA/AVENGERS #1 FACSIMILE EDITION at your local comic shop today, and ask to add all four issues to your pull list!

Marvel press release

Comics shops should be taking pull list requests now for JLA/Avengers, which is set to debut in May. The first issue will round out that month, with the series culminating in issue #4’s August 26th arrival. This is turning out to be quite a year for Marvel and DC crossover fans.

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The Doc is back

As regular readers of Marvel’s comics know, this hasn’t been a great period of time for Doctor Strange. The master of the mystic arts was unseated as Sorcerer Supreme at the end of the Blood Hunt event, losing his mantle to Doctor Doom. And while that arch-villain took on the world, Strange was relegated to Asgard. But that exile won’t be lasting.

The only issue is that, Thor has since been killed and reborn as a mortal. And that means that the Norse realm’s connection to Earth has been severed. So what’s a Doc to do? Well, turns out, travel the remaining Nine Realms, while packing some serious Asgardian magic.

That does mean though, that he’s not going to be back as the mystical protector of Earth. Still, Doctor Strange will nonetheless be back in action, and fans can look for that to happen very soon. Marvel has revealed as much, by taking the wraps off of a brand new ongoing series headed up by the character, which will be launching this Holiday season.

Entitled Doctor Strange, the book will spin out of the creative team of writer Derek Landy and artist Ivan Fiorelli. As a very cool addition too, the title’s covers will “feature the breathtaking painted artwork of legendary fantasy illustrator Alex Horley”. As for the story it’ll contain, it’s definitely something new for Strange.

STEPHEN STRANGE, STRANDED!

After becoming Sorcerer Supreme of Asgard, Strange lost his chance at redemption—and revenge against Doom—when Loki murdered Thor, cutting Midgard off from the other nine realms. With no way home and few allies remaining in Asgard, Strange travels to Alfheim to investigate an emerging crisis. But in an unfamiliar land, can Strange prevent elves and angels from going to war over a mysterious coffin? Maybe, with some help from Heven’s own Angela!

“You might think that Stephen Strange is on firmer ground now that he’s become Sorcerer Supreme of Asgard, but he’s about to be shoved face first into dangerous new territory, and his only guide is the baddest Angel of them all — Angela!” Landy shared. “I’m beyond thrilled to be working with Ivan and Dono [Sánchez-Almara] on continuing Strange’s adventures away from Midgard, and the fact that we also get to delve a little deeper into Angelic society on Heven, and how it interacts with the rest of the Ten (now Nine!) Realms, is a huge and unexpected bonus. In a determined effort to stay true to the origins of the character, the story we’re telling is only going to get bigger, crazier, and more mind-bending — and we’re inviting all of you along for the ride.”

“Jumping into Doctor Strange’s world has been pure artistic joy,” Fiorelli said. “It’s so different from anything I’ve worked on before, and it lets me go wild with the weird, magical elements that make his stories so unique. On top of that, getting to design new characters from scratch is an incredible honor, knowing they’ll join the Marvel Universe forever. Paired with Derek’s thrilling story and Dono’s jaw-dropping colors, this is an adventure fans won’t want to miss!”

Check out the debut issue’s cover along with variant covers by Luciano Vecchio and Fanyang, the latter of which will also be available as a virgin variant cover. Preorder DOCTOR STRANGE #1 at your local comic shop today and stay tuned for more information about the series in the months ahead. For more information, visit Marvel.com.

Marvel Comics press release

The Doctor will be in this December 3rd, when Doctor Strange #1 hits stores.

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I can’t breathe in this thing

Anyone over a certain age will remember the kids costumes of old. You know the ones, the ones with uncomfortable masks and logos in places they definitely shouldn’t be. Well, whatever ones you might remember from the last few decades, if you go back to the 1960s, it’d be a like another world.

No matter how ill-fitting they might’ve been at the time though, there’s no denying the incredible sense of nostalgia these bad boys still evoke. Licensed Halloween costumes from that decade (and a few after) featured lightweight plastic masks and usually a plastic bag-like outfit that loosely resembled what they were based on. Now Marvel Comics is delving back into that particular yesteryear for a fresh slate of variant covers.

The fifteen RETRO HALLOWEEN MASK VARIANT COVERS will adorn books this October, to coincide with All Hallows Eve. Each one will feature a classically-styled image of a mask, complete with “cut here” directions. Though, while “they’re touted as “cut out mask” is printed on the front, we’re pretty sure collectors are going to want to keep these intact.

Just in time for Halloween, new RETRO HALLOWEEN MASK VARIANT COVERS will be featured on various upcoming Marvel titles this September! Drawn by artist James Kerigan, this exciting variant cover program depicts cut-out masks of Marvel characters, inspired by classic Halloween masks of the 1960s. For decades, comic book fans around the world have dressed up as their favorite Marvel super heroes for Halloween. Now, Marvel Comics celebrates this legacy by taking it back to where it all began with these fun illustrations! 

“Working on this cover series was a blast because it brought together two things I love deeply: Marvel and Halloween,” Kerigan said. “There’s a nostalgic charm to the Halloween decorations of the 70’s, especially those vacu-form costume masks, which served as inspiration for this project. It was a joy to bring that retro, slightly spooky charm to life in a way that celebrates both the season and the art!”

Check out all 15 RETRO HALLOWEEN MASK VARIANT COVERS and preorder them at your local comic shop today!

Marvel Comics press release

That Thor mask is just so darned perfect. If you’d like to add it, or the rest, to your collection, then keep scrolling for the full publishing calendar. The RETRO HALLOWEEN MASK VARIANT COVERS will kick off on September 3rd, and run through releases scheduled for September 24th.

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Lightning strikes

Like most other heroes in comics, Thor’s been believe dead a few times before. But even though its ilk has been seen before, what Marvel Comics is cooking up seems as though it might result in an interesting change for the hero. That will come by way of the his leap from the current Immortal Thor series, and into the upcoming book, simply titled Thor.

In that new series, writer Al Ewing and artist Pasqual Ferry will craft a continuation that finds the thunder god trapped somewhere between worlds. There’s more though, as it seems as though a ‘secret identity’ factor might be being worked back in for the first time in ages.

If you like classic Marvel, and classic super-heroics in general, it might be worth keeping an eye on.

THE LEGEND BEGINS!

The Norse Myths tell of Gods who walked the Earth, doing great deeds for the mortals who believed in them. But Asgard isn’t real, and never was. The Gods never soared in our skies, never stood with our heroes, never fought for kindness or justice. It was all just a story. Nobody’s coming to help us. But somewhere in the city… a man is waking up.

A man with a hammer.

“Since the very first issue of IMMORTAL THOR, Thor’s been facing the end of his tale… but that was only the end of Act One,” Ewing explained. “As the next chapter begins, Thor must face threats he’s never faced, from a place he’s never been… until now. Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he immortal… or much, much more? You’ll have to join us to find out.”

Marvel Comics press release

Look for Thor #1 on the racks this August the 27th.

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New wrinkles

When was the last time we saw the Infinity “Stones” appear in Marvel Comics? It honestly hasn’t been all that long, though give Marvel credit, because the publisher somehow held off on reintroducing them for a few years now. That fallow period will be coming to end rapidly though, as this summer will see their return, alongside both arch-villain Thanos and the Infinity Watch.

While none of those elements and characters are new, there is a twist to the latter. Namely that this time around the Infinity Watch will actually be bonded to their individual stones. Star, Overtime, Prince of Power, Quantum, and Multitude (none of whom we’ve ever heard of) will be those bearers, along with a mystery sixth member that’s yet to be announced.

While that last member is a mystery though, we do know how this tale will be brought to fans. Surprisingly, it will be via a selection of annual issues, instead of one overarching mini-series or set of crossovers. That will begin with Thanos Annual #1 on June 26th, before Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 picks up the action on July 3rd, which then rolls into the Immortal Thor Annual #1 on July 17th.

Obviously, that’s only three parts and we’re talking about six stones, so stay tuned for a few more Annual announcements in the weeks to come. Want some more details? Scroll down.

THANOS ANNUAL #1

• Written by DEREK LANDY
• Art by SALVADOR LARROCA & SARA PICHELLI
• “INFINITY WATCH” PART ONE!
• Welcome to INFINITY WATCH! Thanos goes off to find the INFINITY STONES, but he’s in for a shock when he discovers that the Infinity Stones have been incorporated into actual people like Star, Quantum, Overtime, Prince of Power and Multitude! Wait, there are six Infinity Stones but only five people listed?! You don’t want to miss the start of this Marvel Universe-shaking saga!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1

• Written by DEREK LANDY
• Art by RON LIM & SARAH PICHELLI
• “INFINITY WATCH” PART TWO!
• The Time Stone Bearer, a.k.a. Overtime, takes on Spider-man! It’s tme travel vs. Spider-Sense as the Infinity Watch grows and the universe lands in deep deep trouble… PLUS, The Death Stone Bearer arrives as Derek Landy and Sara Pichelli’s Annual-Linking story marches on with more surprises than you can handle!

IMMORTAL THOR ANNUAL #1

• Written by AL EWING
• Art by DAVID BALDEÓN & SARA PICHELLI
• “INFINITY WATCH” PART THREE!
• Faced with the menace of Utgard and a prophecy of his own doom, the son of Odin sought out the legendary Power Stone to aid his fight. Only two things were in his way. Firstly, the mighty Champion of the Universe – with strength to match Thor’s own – was also questing for the stone. Secondly, the Stone is now inside a person – the Prince of Power! PLUS, Derek Landy and Sara Pichelli continue the journey of the Death Stone Bearer and the scar it will leave on the universe!

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Fighting evil in a modern time

Given his run on X-Men, which is still very much ongoing with numerous tie-ins and events, it’s probably safe to say that writer Jonathan Hickman isn’t afraid to change the status quo. That’s something that’ll once again become apparent in G.O.D.S., coming up from Marvel Comics.

G.O.D.S. will, according to the publisher, usher in a new age for the cosmic-level of its superhero universe. That’s not to say that characters like Galactus and The Watcher will be going anywhere, but instead a new series of players will be introduced. And in the tradition of many a comic before it, it sounds like it’ll be by way of the mighty retcon machine.

Who are the G.O.D.S.? This fall, readers will find out in a revolutionary series by Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti.Announced back in March, G.O.D.S. will see two of the industry’s greatest modern visionaries dramatically redefine Marvel’s pantheon of cosmic beings and masterfully deconstruct the forces behind reality. The breathtaking new saga will introduce a host of new characters—all players in a secret conflict at the crossroads of science and magic!

Marvel Comics press release

But enough talk, here are the covers

So with the above in mind, it certainly seems as though G.O.D.S. is going to be a big time comic book event. And you know what that means. Yep, variant covers aplenty. As we’ll get to however, this won’t be your typical spread of illustrations.

Nevertheless, the series of variants will kick off in Marvel’s line this August. It’ll spotlight the core-cast of G.O.D.S., pairing them with existing heroes and villains. Some of those we already know are related, as Doctor Strange and Wyn will meet in the first G.O.D.S. story arc, but others are more of a mystery.

As you’ll see, one even includes Doctor Doom and the G.O.D.S. main heavy, known as Cubisk Core. Some interesting possibilities there. But be that as it may, the covers that you’re about to check out are not the full slate. Just keep in mind that there will be more to come.

Featured G.O.D.S. include:

• Wyn, a powerful magic expert who’s operated in secret for thousands of years and is now forced to come out of the shadows.
• Aiko Maki, a high-ranking agent brutally loyal to the ways of science and willing to do anything to keep the building blocks of creation in balance.
• Dmitri the Science Boy, Wyn’s reckless partner who has a secret mission of his own to discover the dark truth of his past.
• Mia the Magic Girl, a young sorcerer struggling to achieve her full potential.
• Cubisk Core, a mysterious being of pure corruption seeking to shatter the existing systems.
• And more!

And finally, as mentioned, this isn’t just your standard variant cover onslaught. Each variant issue (there’ll be nine total) will also include a bonus page, written by Hickman and showing interactions between the G.O.D.S. and some of Marvel’s most famous characters.

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Hel-bound

Thanos isn’t all that great of a guy, I think most people can agree on that, and this time the villain is back with an especially diabolical plan. December’s Thor #29 sees Thanos take aim at both Thor and his young sister.

Called “The Legacy of Thanos”, the new arc that kicks off in the book will introduce some interesting new developments to Marvel’s cosmic mythos. Namely, a link between the Mad Titan and Asgard in the distant past.

When a universally loathed foe kidnaps Thor’s baby sister Laussa and drags her so deep beyond Hel that not even Sif’s All-Sight can see her, the God of Thunder must call upon the one ally who has traveled so far into the unknown before: Rúna. But what dark secrets of Asgard’s bloody past lay beneath the frozen waters?

“There is something incredibly inventive and bold about Donny and Nic’s Thor, and it’s been an absolute delight to guest-write a story for this run,” Grønbekk said. “It’s turning out to be just the kind of thing I love – big swings, solid character moments and deeply human solutions. Also, Nic is impossibly good. There is a special kind of joy to see his pages come together. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun making comics!”

Marvel Comics press release

From Torunn Grønbekk, and with art and cover illustration by Nic Klein, the quest into past Hel itself begins in Thor #29. Look for in stores this December 7th.

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Thunder crashes

The wake of the “God of Hammers” story-arc will be the setting for Thor #24. That is the official number of what will be the overall 750th issue of the thunder god’s continuing adventures in the Marvel Universe. And it’s gonna be one packed book.

After the close of God of Hammers, Thor’s world is in turmoil. For one thing, his trusty uru mallet Mjolnir is gone, shattered. And for another, his father Odin, lord of Asgard, is dead. Well… maybe. Maybe not.

As things go, Odin’s spirit has been bonded to a newly reforged hammer. though in Thor #24, no one actually knows that. Yes, it’s a tale with some mystery, which is fitting for the title hero.

But while echos from Thor’s past will still be heard loudly as the book moves forward, so to will echos of creative teams past. Marvel says that a number of Thor-alumni will feature in issue #24, Dan Jurgens and the great Walt Simonson.

Here are the what’s and who’s of Thor 750

• Writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Oliver Coipel reunite for a story set during their redefining Thor saga
• Legendary comics creator Dan Jurgens writes and draws an incredible Thor and Balder teamup
• Comics icon Walter Simonson makes his grand return to Thor, writing and drawing an all-new adventure that explores the origin of his beloved creation, Beta Ray Bill
• Al Ewing and Lee Garbett collaborate for the first time since LOKI: AGENT OF ASGARD to bring you an all-new chapter for the god of mischief that leads directly into Ewing’s upcoming DEFENDERS BEYOND series
• And prepare for a revelatory tale about Odin that only writer Jason Aaron and artist Das Pastoras can deliver!

Thor #24 hits the stands on April 27th.

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Fight!

Banner of War hasn’t even started yet, but Marvel Comics is already talking about its finale. That’s to be expected though, as the publisher is whipping up a monster amount of fervor for the storyline.

In it, Hulk and Thor will cross paths and come to blows, with the result being… well probably not great for one of them. According to Marvel, the story will crossover into both character’s solo books, and have quite the “shocking” end.

If you like classic tussles between ridiculously-powered characters, this one sounds like it’s for you.

In THOR #26, Odin forces Thor to realize the gravity of Banner’s situation — and its connection to that mysterious, violent incident in El Paso. But when Iron Man’s interference causes more harm than good, our two rivals face shocking changes that change the stakes of the battle…for good.

Then the time for victory comes at last in HULK #8. Marvel’s two heaviest hitters expend their rage on one final, brutal brawl that will answer once and for all which of these heroes is the strongest. But in a fight between gods, monsters and men, what becomes of the victor? The loser? And who really has the authority to decide?

Marvel Comics press release

Ready to brawl? Banner of War kicks off in April’s Hulk Vs. Thor: Banner of War Alpha #1, and concludes in June’s Hulk #8.

Here’s the checklist:

On Sale 4/27

• HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR ALPHA #1
  • Written by DONNY CATES
  • Art by MARTIN COCCOLO
  • Cover by GARY FRANK

On Sale 5/11

• THOR #25 – “Banner of War” Part Two
  • Written by DONNY CATES
  • Art by MARTIN COCCOLO
  • Cover A by GARY FRANK
  • Cover B by JOHN ROMITA JR.

On Sale 5/25

• HULK #7 – “Banner of War” Part Three
  • Written by DONNY CATES
  • Art by MARTIN COCCOLO
  • Cover by GARY FRANK

On Sale 6/8

• THOR #26 – “Banner of War” Part Four
  • Written by DONNY CATES
  • Art by MARTIN COCCOLO
  • Cover by GARY FRANK

On Sale 6/22

• HULK #8 – “Banner of War” Part Five
  • Written by DONNY CATES
  • Art by MARTIN COCCOLO 
  • Cover by GARY FRANK

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He’s rolling thunder

As Marvel Comics heroes go, Thor is a legend. Not only is the hero the actual Norse god of thunder, but he’s also done more feats of daring do in the Marvel universe than you can shake a Frost Giant at.

Speaking of, both Thor and a gigantic Jotunheim-ian figure into the newest piece from Sideshow. The new Thor Premium Format Figure looms large, and poses the thunder-god over the prone form of a Giant.

The piece is a massive 22″ tall, and over a foot wide, so it should make quite the impression in your Marvel collection. And maybe one of the coolest parts too, is that the cape is wired. So you can add a little customization to the pose.

Thor is set to ship out in the 4th quarter of this year. He’s priced at $635 USD, and up for pre-order now.

Verily, the Thor Premium Format Figure stands an impressive 22” tall and 19” wide, and depicts the son of Odin standing victorious atop a felled Frost Giant foe. The icy expanse of Jotunheim is no match for an Asgardian, and Thor swings his mystical mallet Mjolnir in anticipation of yet another glorious battle. The hammer is etched with its iconic enchantment, proving the prince worthy of its incredible power.

Sideshow press release

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