Marvel January Solicit Revue

Trying something new --- each month I'll gander over the solicits for DC and Marvel, and pick out ten things of interest (or non-interest, as the case may be).

Today Marvel, tomorrow DC, Thursday reviews (I've only got two comics this week, Checkmate and X-Factor, so I'll catch up on some comics from the past couple of weeks as well).

MARVEL JANUARY SOLICITS

1) IRON MAN: HYPERVELOCITY #1 (of 6)
Written by ADAM WARREN
Penciled by BRIAN DENHAM
Cover by ADAM WARREN

A single, grueling night of high-speed, mechanized mayhem finds Tony Stark and a new, uniquely improved version of the Iron Man armor caught in the crossfire between the bleeding-edge technology of an insurgent mecha subculture and the massed hardware of an elite "cape-killing" paramilitary force. Besieged by ballistic missiles, supersonic jihadi LMDs, seductive viral avatars and cyberdrug-addled roboravers, Iron Man must push himself far beyond his technological and biological limits to survive the onslaught of ultra-tech war machinery...Writer Adam Warren (Livewires) delivers the fast-paced, tech-laced narrative, and artist Brian Denham renders the action in high-contrast "technoir" realism, with Guru eFX adding vibrant colors to the mix.32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Can I be honest? I have absolutely no idea what that solicit says, and I read it six times. I'm not familiar with Adam Warren's work. The narration in the three preview pages here don't exactly make me aglow with anticipation, either, but I find myself fascinated by the lovely art --- I really like the less angular take on the armor. What the hell is a "seductive viral avatar"? Or "cyberdrug-addled roboravers"? Is Warren Ellis off his meds again?

2) GHOST RIDER FINALE
Written by IVAN VELEZ
Art by JAVIER SALTARES & MARK TEXEIRA
Cover by JAVIER SALTARES

The original creative team unites to complete an issue eight years in the making! In early 1998, GHOST RIDER #93 ended with a shocking cliffhanger: the death of Dan Ketch, the Ghost Rider's human host! But the book was canceled prematurely, prior to the release of the series finale in GHOST RIDER #94 - which had already been written and was almost entirely penciled. Now, the final fate of Dan Ketch is revealed at last! 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? This special edition also includes GHOST RIDER #93 and other bonus material!72 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Interesting, as the script's been available on the internet for some time now. I wonder if they changed anything for the release (and, quite frankly, kudos to Marvel for finally doing this, even if it is in service to the impending film).

3) ONSLAUGHT REBORN #3 (of 5)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Pencils and Cover by ROB LIEFELD
50/50 Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS

It's Thor versus Hulk for the throw-down of the millennium! But how can this be!?! How can Hulk and Thor be face-to-face!?! What sort of inter-dimensional havoc has the return of Onslaught wreaked? And why don't Reed Richards and Sue Storm know their own son? The mysteries deepen as the action never lets up!

Good God, they weren't bluffing, were they? This is actually happening. Sweet Christmas.

4) SQUADRON SUPREME: HYPERION VS. NIGHTHAWK #1 (of 4)
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM
Pencils and Cover by PAUL GULACY

It had to happen: The ultimate throw-down between the two stars of the smash hits "Supreme Power" and "Squadron Supreme:" Hyperion and Nighthawk. But what could draw these two heroes into the biggest of all smackdowns? Nothing less than genocide. In this ripped from the headlines story, Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine, Blade) and comic book legend Paul Gulacy (Master of Kung Fu) explore the real-world tragedy that is going on right now in Darfur, Africa. The most thought-provoking and action-packed book you'll read all year!

Because I can think of no better mediators for the real-world genocide in Darfur than Fake Superman and Fake Batman. This seems tacky beyond belief. Which is a shame, because I generally like Paul Gulacy's work.

5) This right here is why I now buy Marvel Adventures: The Avengers.

6) WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #10
Written by DANIEL WAY
Penciled by STEVE DILLON
Cover by JOE QUESADA
50/50 Variant by ARTHUR SUYDAM

It all ends-and it all begins-in this issue, featuring both the death of a beloved Marvel character and the debut appearance of a new one: the son of Wolverine!32 PGS./PARENTAL ADVISORY ...$2.99

Crappy comic alert! Crappy comic alert! Just a hunch.

7) PUNISHER #43 & #44
Written by GARTH ENNIS
Penciled by AVALON'S LAN MEDINA
Cover by TIM BRADSTREET
NEW STORY ARC"WIDOWMAKER," PART 1 AND 2 (of 7)

Five women, linked by tragedy…and obsession. The Punisher killed their husbands -- put them down like gods -- and shattered their lives. Now they want payback…and they've hatched the perfect plan to get it. To bring the wolf to their door, all they need is bait.

"Put them down like gods"? I tihnk soemone ta Mravel is tpying too fsat.

8) XIII TPB
Written by WILLIAM VANCE
Adapted by BEN AVERY
Pencils and Cover by JEAN VAN HAMME
144 PGS./EXPLICIT CONTENT…$14.99

I thought there were, like five or six full OGNS of this comic. They're printing 144 pages in a TPB and talking about the stunning conclusion? Help me out --- I just want to know if we're getting a raw deal here. And is it any good? I've heard good things about it, but I can't get "the basis of a video game starring David Duchovny" out of my head long enough to muster up a purchase.

9) IRON MAN: ARMOR WARS TPB
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE & BOB LAYTON
Penciled by MARK BRIGHT & BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH
Cover by MARK BRIGHT
Collecting IRON MAN #225-232.208 PGS./Rated A …$24.99

Probably the second-most famous Iron Man story arc after the "Demon in a Bottle" (and infinitely more action-y), Armor Wars I is sweet, sweet Mark Bright and Barry Windsor-Smith art and writing from the Michelinie/Layton team, who wrote most of the best Iron Man stories ever. Anyway, this is a cracking good story, and Iron Man in what Dave Campbell refers to as "The Christmas Armor".

10) ANNIHILATION #6 (of 6)
Written by KEITH GIFFEN
Penciled by ANDREA DI VITO
Cover by GABRIELE DELL'OTTO

Nova and Annihilus face off in a fight to the finish with the fates of two, count 'em, two, universes at stake. You think that's bad? Wait until you see what happens when Galactus decides to go to war. All this and Quasar! Need we add that after this issue, Marvel's cosmic landscape will never be the same?32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

Galactus gets pissed and takes it out on the universe? God bless you, Keith Giffen. God bless.