Marvel Infinity: Reading Guide and Teaser Art

August marks the beginning of the next, not next next, Marvel event Infinity. I found a handy reading guide on the Bleeding Cool site, originally posted by Jonathan Hickman himself explaining that he didn't feel orders were high enough for his immediate tie in issues. These are the tie in issues of Avengers and New Avengers scribed by himself.

See a copy of the guide to your left. Fortunately for me I already collect both of these titles so don't need to worry about adding them to my budget. I for one, being a big fan of Hickman's work on Secret Warriors, S.H.I.E.L.D. and East of West, believe that this could be one of Marvel's standout events, even though we already know there is another event to spin out of this one, a bit like the previous 'Dark Reign' event, 'Inhumanity'.

We are two weeks away from the first issue of Infinity illustrated by Jim Cheung, with both Jerome Opena and Dustin Weaver sharing art duties with him depending on the area of the event the issue is covering. Marvel have released some preview artwork by Cheung for the first issue, and for more information on the guide and preview art check out the links below;

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/30/jonathan-hickmans-infinity-speculator-corner/

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/31/another-look-at-infinity-an-inhuman-world-to-come/

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=17481

SDCC '13 Marvel Studios

Thor: The Dark World

Captain America: Winter Soldier

The New Cap Costume

SDCC '13 Marvel X-Men

The big news to come out of the X-Men panel on the final day of SDCC was the incoming X-Title in November 'Amazing X-Men' which teases the return of Nightcrawler to the Marvel Universe but also a new home for Northstar and the arrival of Sunfire to the ranks of the X-Men. The team will consist of Storm, Wolverine, Beast and Ice Man plus the two mentioned earlier.

The title will be written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Ed McGuinness. McGuinness recently finished his arc on Nova with frequent collaborator Jeph Loeb, and I really enjoyed his art on this and look forward to his work for this new X-Men title. Aaron is currently writing Thor: God of Thunder and also has an X-Book to his name already with Wolverine and the X-Men. Its safe to say with the team announced, both creative and in the book, I will be picking this up.

Other X-Related news that came up was a little more on Battle of the Atom, but obviously not much was said as they don't want to give much away, but the battle between 3 X-Teams from 3 different time streams gives me good reason to think this book should be exciting if nothing else. Bendis thanked the fans for his warm welcome to the X-Universe, I for one think he has done a great job and he is half the reason I have finally been given the chance to step into the X-Books, especially with the talent on the artwork on his titles from Stuart Immonen, Chris Bachalo, David Marquez and Frazer Irving.

For more of the news from this panel check out the link below;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46814

SDCC '13 IDW: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I found out about this little tid bit of news through the artist himself's Tumblr.

Having not really read the TMNT comics even though being a fan of the programme as a child and owning all actions figures I have a chance to jump on to the title in November, and also a very good reason to.

Ross Campbell will be joining the title for an arc called Northampton. Ross Campbell came to my attention after being recommended to read Glory by listening to the Orbital Comics Podcast and Popculturehound Podcast. There's some comics I will buy just for the art, but it is also a fortunate coincidence that this is on a comic that containing characters I loved as a child. I think this arc will be hitting shelves in November and we should find out this for sure come the start of August when the November Solicitations start rolling in.

SDCC '13 Warner Bros/ DC Entertainment: Superman/ Batman

 So the announcement that gripped all SDCC attendees this year was the announcement of the Man of Steel sequel teased with the image to the left. While a quote from The Dark Knight Returns was read to the audience.

After long thoughts about Man of Steel and deciding that it wasn't quite the Superman film I was hoping for and also that I don't think Cavill was given the chance to really portray his Superman/ Clark Kent within all the alien confusion and building destruction. Many people are joking that this is Batman arriving to take down Superman due to this wanton destruction of Metropolis. Although I felt it did a good job of Superman's origin during the first half of the film.

But this mash up of Superman/ Batman really does get me excited and gives me hope, and is a very clever move by WB/DC to try and get its superhero franchises back in the limelight after Marvel Studios really dominating the market and with Christopher Nolan back and several of his Batman team for this sequel I can only hope this will save what began as a great return for the Man of Steel.

Below is a fan created high res logo for the image teased at Comic Con.

For more check out the link below;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46829

Image Expo 2013

So Image Expo had there second Convention this year and well with this came some huge announcements. A few I'm not to interested in, but Image to me are fast becoming one publisher I am buying more and more titles from, partnering great creative teams, and the three titles that really caught my eye are as follows;

Black Science  from Rick Remender, Matteo Scalera and Dean White. Well if that creative team doesn't get you interested you must be mad, or just a completely different taste in comics. Matteo Scalera has become familiar to me from his most recent work on Indestructible Hulk with Mark Waid, drawing great comics, and possibly one of the best panels of the year with the Hulk/ Daredevil team up everyone had been waiting for from Waid, but thats off topic. From what I've seen of Scalera's work it really seems to me it will suit this obvious Sc-Fi story well. Remender has teased this as being the of sorts successor to his Fear Agent title, I'm currently still ploughing through the first Library edition and waiting on the arrival of the 2nd. But I for one can not wait to get this comic in my hands, and with covers coming from a variety of artists, the stand out for me being Rafael Alberquerque this will be a comic that will stand out on the shelves and hopefully jump into your hands.

Southern Bastards, from the creative team up of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, having most recently, to my knowledge, worked on the Wolverine Infinite comic they have now teamed up for the own creator owned title. And after reading Sledgehammer '44 I will quite happily say yes to more Jason Latour art. Jason Aaron is currently writing one of the most consistent titles of Marvel NOW in Thor: God of Thunder. I haven't had the opportunity to read up muc on what the comic will actually be about. But the team in its own right has peaked my interest, and unless I find something out about the storyline for this title that I really don't like, then I will most certainly be picking this up and in turn adding it to my pull list.

Finally we have Deadly Class from, yet again, Rick Remender, where he finds the time for all this with Uncanny Avengers and Captain America titles for Marvel I'm not sure. But working with up and coming artist Wes Craig, who correct me if I am wrong just completed an issue for Adventures of Superman for DC's digital first title and upcoming work on Batman Annual #2 with Scott Snyder, Craig is certainly getting to work with some of the best in the business early on. From a brief read on the title I believe it is based on a school for kids of world famous assassins and crime families. But once again I will read up more on this before the its released, but this will most certainly be joining my pick list also.









Finally it was teased that none other than Mark Millar of Civil War, Ultimates and Kick-Ass fame will be bringing a super hero line to Image to rival that of Marvel's or even be the 21st Century version of Marvel heroes. To be honest with you the only reason I am currently reading Jupiters Legacy is solely for Frank Quitely's art which is also the only reason I don't get irritated with its release only being once every 2 months. This announcement doesn't really excite me much, but come the new year when more will be announced I could well be saying something completely different.

For more check out the link below;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46416

SDCC '13 Marvel Studios: Guardians of the Galaxy

One of my highlights to come out of San Diego, was the prop photos and teases for Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians of the Galaxy was always a title I wanted to read but when I got into comics it was always hard to find a place to jump on, and at that time Civil War had just finished and the only titles I was really following were Mighty Avengers and Avengers Initiative.

But with Marvel NOW came my opportunity with Brian Bendis' and Steve McNiven's revival of the title and I am loving it. Although we still have Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: Winter Soldier to be released, Guardians is the next film to come from Marvel Studios that I just can not wait for, and after the Cast announcements and the promotional prop set ups at San Diego I will be counting down the next 12 months eagerly or at least till that first trailer is released, and with filming having started the Monday after SDCC we may get our first trailer before Thor or more likely Captain America. Check out some concept art below; I'll attach a link for a higher resolution copy, take note that this is a Nova Corps "Mug Shot" of sorts.

And have no fear Star Lord will have his helmet, we got a array of props and weapons for the film and also our first look at members of the Nova Corps who have been confirmed to have a role in this film. Could this spark yet another outlet for Sam Alexander, with his Marvel NOW Nova title and first appearing in the Disney Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man animated TV series. For looks at the props and other pics check them out below;

For more info check out the links below;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46802

Marvel Studios Panel;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46795

Star Lords Gear

Nova Corps

SDCC '13 Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

So all those lucky people that managed to get themselves into the Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were treated to a screening of the Pilot episode which will debut on Tuesday 24/09/2013 for those of us who could not be there.

I've managed to avoid spoilers so far on the episode, other than some announcements that have since been made, Maria Hill does make an appearance in the pilot, whether she is a full time character in the series has not been made clear just yet. But from the incredible non-spoiler feedback all over twitter of those who saw the pilot this is going to be a programme to look out for and enjoy if your a Marvel fan, comic fan or Marvel Movie Universe fan.

Coulson Lives!

For more on the panel check the link below;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46758

SDCC '13: Marvel Superior Spider-Man

There weren't really any big announcements to come out the Superior Spider-Man panel, just really an update on where the character is at, and also a few more details on other street level titles from Daredevil, Venom to the other new Superior titles.

Oh and of course the Spidey team are still adamant that Peter Parker is dead. And with the November storyline confirmed it looks like Superior Spider-Man will still  be Doc Ock through to issue 25 at least.

And for me this was the biggest announcement. With a team of Dan Slott and Christos Gage writing the arc and the incredible Humberto Ramos, see the Venom cover to the left, on art I am sure this is going to be one killa' story. Its been made quite clear to us that there is a reason why Venom has not yet bumped into Superior Spider-Man until now and I can not wait for these two characters to finally confront one another.


For more on this new story arc for Superior Spider-Man check out the link below;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46717

And for more on the panel;

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46732

Back to the blog...

Its been a busy few weeks and about a month since I have really kept the blog up to date. And also with it now being a week since San Diego Comic Con 2013 theres plenty to catch up on. I may not have been on the blog but I have certainly been catching up on some great comics and graphic novels and hopefully I will be doing some short write ups on my favourites.

Theres a bit of a back log for my picks of the week, so I'll try and spotlight the ones that really stood out for me over the past few weeks along with news from San Diego and from Image Con. My highlights from the announcements so theres plenty to read up on and look out for.

So hopefully I can keep the blog up to date a bit more. There will be a few changes to what I hope to cover, but its time to try and get back on track with the Comic news and Entertainment news highlights.

This Weeks Stack 24/07/2013