Marvel May Solicit Revue

It's that time again! 10 things that caught my eye in Marvel's May solicits. Astonishingly, Marvel doesn't seem to hate me in May.

(But don't think that gets you off the hook for October thru April, Quesada.)

Also, is it me or were Marvel's solicits even more verbose than usual this month?


MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: LAST OF THE MOHICANS #1 (of 6)
Based on the Novel by JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
Adapted by ROY THOMAS
Pencils by STEVEN KURTH & DENIS MEDRI
Cover by JO CHEN
Don’t miss the debut of MARVEL ILLUSTRATED, The House of Ideas’ new foray into classic literature, featuring an adaptation of James Fennimore Cooper’s renowned novel! Adapted by writer Roy Thomas, who’s a Marvel classic himself (AVENGERS, X-MEN, CONAN) with stunning art by Marvel newcomer Steve Kurth. Last of the Mohicans tells the seminal story of a race on the brink of disappearance due to the inexorable push of civilization into the wilderness of the New World. It’s a tale that will touch readers of every age with both its timeless realization of an important historical period—and with its powerful action and adventure! This isn’t your father’s classic comics! Plus—delve into the history of the man known as Hawkeye in a special bonus story!

Yeah, I think this probably needs to be supported, so I'll try it out. Plus: what's the over under on how many people order this thinking that they'll get a Clint Barton origin story in the back?

CIVIL WAR: FALLEN SON – IRON MAN
Written by JEPH LOEB
Pencils and Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Alternate Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
Can the Marvel Universe accept the death of a true hero? In the wake of a tragedy, we’ve visited the top heroes of the Marvel Universe, and now it all comes down this. The rockstar team of Jeph Loeb and John Cassaday (ASTONISHING X-MEN) bring it all home in the story that will have True Believers debating – and maybe even shedding a tear.

Excuse me for a moment while I freak the hell out.

*JOHN CASSADAY DRAWS IRON MAN****JOHN CASSADAY DRAWS IRON MAN****JOHN CASSADAY DRAWS IRON MAN*

Ahem. Sorry about that.

I don't care that Loeb's writing it.

(Well, I care, but not enough to keep me from plunking down 3 bucks for SWEET SWEET CASSADAY IRON MAN ACTION.)

BLACK PANTHER #28
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN
Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
"Part 1 of 4"
It’s slobberin’ time! The New Fantastic Four just made a wrong turn on the inter-dimensional super highway -- and they’ve landed in the middle of Zombie-verse! That’s right, True Believer, if the Black Panther, Storm, the Human Torch and the Thing can’t come up with the perfect escape plan, they’re going to be the next hors d'ouvres for Zombie Galacti intent on eating the entire universe! Spinning from the pages of the mega-hit MARVEL ZOMBIES!

So the new FF is Johnny, Ben, T'Challa and Ororo? Eh. Seems a tad underpowered to me, but I'm not crying too hard, since I wasn't reading FF or BP anyway. Also, I'm betting this lasts till... oh, when does the new movie come out? OK. Put me down for July.

WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE: WORLD BREAKER
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VARIOUS
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR
Hulk is coming and no power on Earth can stop him from getting revenge on the Illuminati! What events have led up to the super-human battle-to-end-all-battles? As Hulk’s great stone ship approaches the planet, he prepares for the war on the horizon by reliving past conflicts with Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange and the Inhumans. This is the perfect jumping-on point for this summer’s super hero-smashing, city-leveling, bone-crushing, Marvel history-making event!

I can't remember being this giddy over what's essentially a reprint comic! Three things in its favor:

A) Peter David.
B) Civil War has filled me with such loathing for most of the Marvel heroes that I cannot wait to see the Hulk punch them all in the neck.
C) If you're going to do a Hulk reprint comic, you damn well better make sure that it's a bunch of fight scenes.

Well done, Marvel.

IRON MAN #18
Written by DANIEL KNAUF AND CHARLES KNAUF
Penciled by ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
Cover by GERALD PAREL
Tony Stark and Maya Hansen are friends and colleagues. But tensions develop – professional and otherwise – when their views on Maya’s research begin to clash. While Maya weighs a tempting offer from a suspicious source, Tony must wrestle with his conscience as a global threat develops. Here's a hint: Ten Rings of Power

I must say, that Tony wrestling with his conscience now rather than, say, before all this Civil War hoo-ha seems like a case of missed opportunity. Bonus points for bringing back the Mandarin (who's supposed to be dead), or his son (who I think we left at the bottom of the ocean last time he appeared). You don't think there's a movie coming out, do you?


NEW AVENGERS #30
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils and Cover by LEINIL YU
The New Avengers versus the Hand!! AND the New Avengers versus the Mighty Avengers!! AND the identity of the new Ronin revealed!! Who is the new mystery player in the New Avengers? Find out here!! Guest-starring the Mighty Avengers and... wait for it... BROTHER VOODOO!!

Wow!! More Avengers v. Ninja action!! Who would have guessed!! And more Ronin teasing!! It's like nothing's changed in 20 issues!! Why can't I stop using exclamation points!!

(Sometimes you have to sacrifice good punctuation to make a point.)

OMEGA FLIGHT #2 (of 5)
Written by MICHAEL OEMING
Pencils and Cover by SCOTT KOLINS
As super-villains flood the Canadian border, Omega Flight begins to cement its team of heroes. A new character is added to the ranks as U.S. Agent saves Toronto from the powerful and beautiful (well, powerful anyway…) Daisy!

The phrase "U.S. Agent saves Toronto from Daisy" is precisely why anyone looking forward to this series won't admit it in public.

Alpha Flight fans, I am so, so sorry that your team got whacked off-screen in a crappy New Avengers comic last year. Really. Even y'all deserve better.

MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #1
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by JAMES CORDEIRO
Cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN
The Armored Avenger blasts into the newest title in the critically-acclaimed, best-selling Marvel Adventures line! Who is IRON MAN, the world-renowned symbol of mega-conglomerate Stark International? And what terrible secret from his past forces billionaire inventor TONY STARK to become the Golden Guardian? Find out here!

Fred "Action Philosophers" Van Lente + Iron Man + All Ages Comic = You're Goddamn Right I'm Pre-Ordering This.

And so should you.

SPIDER-MAN FAIRY TALES #1
Written by C.B. Cebulski & David Sexton
Art and cover by Ricardo Tercio
In the tradition of X-Men Fairy Tales, Marvel makes its move on melding more modern myths, starting with Spider-Man! Our friendly neighborhood becomes a quaint village and Mary Jane fills the shoes of another famous red-head in this premiere issue as the tale of Little Red Riding Hood is retold with superhero sensibilities! Will Spider-Man be able to save her on her way to Aunt May's house? And just who is our Big Bad Wolf? Find out just how fun fairy tales can be... Marvel style!

OK... I just don't get the whole "Fairy Tales meet Marvel" conceit. I mean, is it just another series of "What-If"s? I mean, and I'm actually asking this without snark, are these any good? Entertaining? Add new perspective? For the kids? I'm baffled.


ANNIHILATION SAGA
Written by MICHAEL HOSKIN
Cover by ANDREA DI VITO
Journey in the wake of the Annihilation Wave as the history of the entire Annihilation event is recounted! From the arrival of Annihilus' forces, to the fall of Galactus, to the war's fallout, see how the story unfolded and where the universe rests by the finish! Featuring an all-new cover by Andrea DiVito!

Don't buy this. Go buy Annihilation instead. Really. I promise, even if you don't love it, you'll like it. But you'll probably love it. I bet.