Best to worst Marvel Comics solicitations for November 2017

What do the Sinister Six, Captain America, and Spider-Man going to jail have in common? They’re all highlights from Marvel’s November comic samplings.

Number 1

"DAREDEVIL #595CHARLES SOULE (W) • STEFANO LANDINI (A)Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZVariant Cover by GREG HILDEBRANDTLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by ELIZABETH TORQUELegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONE1965 T-SHIRT VARIANT COVER BY JACK KIRBY VARIANT COVER BY TBABLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLEMAYOR FISK Part 1New York City has fallen to Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin – Daredevil’s greatest and deadliest adversary. Matt Murdock has the law and he has his superhuman abilities – but Fisk has an entire city on his side. What can one man do? If he’s Daredevil, he can FIGHT. PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: The idea of Wilson Fisk becoming the Mayor of New York City has huge (no pun intended) implications not just for Daredevil, but also for the rest of the Marvel Universe. It just underscores the idea of the Kingpin being a bad guy whose power and influence make him untouchable by the law. Considering how I think he should have been in charge of S.H.I.E.LD. during Dark Reign instead of Norman Osborn, this is a scenario long overdue. Though I do wonder how he pulled this off given his criminal record.

Number 2

"DARKHAWK #51CHAD BOWERS & CHRIS SIMS (W) • KEV WALKER (A)Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMAVariant Cover by DAN MORAThe RETURN Part 1 (OF 1)Trading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERYears ago, Chris Powell discovered a mysterious amulet that allowed him to transform into the spacefaring gladiator known as DARKHAWK. With his newfound edge against crime, he stood against some of the most extreme threats the Marvel Universe has to offer! Now, when two members of the Fraternity of Raptors descend on New York with designs on stealing the amulet and returning it to the stars, it’s not Darkhawk who has to rise to the challenge…it’s Chris Powell!32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99NOT BRAND ECHH #14NICK SPENCER, CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS, JAY FOSGITT AND MORE! (W)JAY FOSGITT, GURIHIRU AND MORE! (A)Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMAVARIANT Cover by TBATRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERFORBUSH MAN RETURNS Part 1 (OF 1)Get ready to break the internet, folks, because FORBUSH MAN IS BACK – and he’s ready to take over the comics industry! Meanwhile, Captain America, Gwenpool, and more are…not quite themselves these days. Featuring stories by NICK SPENCER (SECRET EMPIRE, CAPTAIN AMERICA) CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (GWENPOOL, VOTE LOKI) JAY FOSGITT (My Little Pony, Bodie Troll) and many, many more!32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99POWER PACK #63DEVIN GRAYSON (W) • MARIKA CRESTA (A)Cover by MIKE MCKONEVariant Cover by JUNE BRIGMANTRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERWHERE IS POWER PACK? Part 1 (OF 1)In a twist of fate, four children gained incredible powers. And in a universe full of war-hungry aliens and terrorizing gangsters, they would need them. Thus Power Pack was born! But when an enemy from the past rears its head again, the youngest Power finds herself in a body-snatching nightmare! Big brother Alex better come around — or Katie is toast!A never-before-told adventure comes to light as Katie Power revisits family history!32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99MASTER OF KUNG FU #126CM Punk (W) • Dalibor Talajic (A)Cover by MIKE MAYHEWTRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERVariant Cover by Sana TakedaShang-Chi’s Day Off Part 1 (OF 1)The Marvel Universe is full of fighters: brawlers, scrappers, weapons experts, mystical kung fu virtuosi. But there’s only one martial artist skilled enough to be called the greatest. SHANG-CHI has been a pinch hitter for a long time, stepping in for Avengers missions when no one else would do, but when no one can match your speed or skill, sometimes it’s best to work alone. To see what you’ve been missing if you don’t know Shang-Chi, don’t miss MASTER OF KUNG FU!32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99SILVER SABLE AND THE WILD PACK #36CHRISTA FAUST (W) • PAULO SIQUEIRA (A)Cover by MAHMUD ASRARVARIANT COVER BY TBATRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERSILVER AND BOLD Part 1 (OF 1)After faking her own death, SILVER SABLE is back in the mercenary game, and this time she REALLY might not survive! In the wake of Norman Osborn’s control of the Symkarian government, one of Sable’s operations goes south, and she finds herself and a small group of hostages trapped in the clutches of a dangerous group of terrorists! With no equipment and no back up Sable has to make sure that she and the innocents trapped with her find their way out alive. Piece of cake.32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: One of the problems with series like Prowler, Solo, Foolkiller, etc. is, as low-tier characters, they didn’t have the audience to justify an ongoing series. These one-shots, on the other hand, are characters and/or series which, while not top-tier, did garner cult followings. My guess is Marvel is testing the waters to see which of these one-shots sells best enough to get a full series in the future. If so, all five of these look like decent candidates.

Number 3

"PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #6CHIP ZDARSKY (W)MICHAEL WALSH (A)Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRA• J. Jonah Jameson’s got the scoop of the century — a once-in-a-lifetime interview with the menace of Manhattan…SPIDER-MAN!• PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, MY DINNER WITH JAMESON is one tale you won’t want to miss!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #297CHIP ZDARSKY (W) • ADAM KUBERT (A/C)Cover by Adam KubertLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRALegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEVariant Cover by JAMES HARRENMOST WANTED Part 1Peter Parker is back in the friendly neighborhood, but he’s persona non grata as far as the NYPD is concerned! It’s the ol’ switcheroo as we here at the House of Ideas ask that classic question – PETER PARKER: THREAT OR MENACE?!PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Looks like thanks to Legacy, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man is coming out twice during the month of November. Though I will say the solicit for Spectacular #6 sounds more intriguing than Spectacular #297. Spider-Man and Jonah have had some of the best verbal sparring matches in comics, so hopefully this will rise to the occasion. I say “hopefully” because, if you’ve read my reviews for Spectacular, you know how I believe Chip Zdarsky’s humor tends to feel very forced.

Number 4

"MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #25BRANDON MONTCLARE (W) • NATACHA BUSTOS (A/C)Lenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by FELIPE SMITHLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEMORPHING Variant Cover by RAHZZAHTRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERFANTASTIC THREE Part 1When THE SILVER SURFER comes to Manhattan with a warning about an ancient cosmic menace on a collision course with Earth, you better listen up! But without the First Family of the Marvel Universe around to answer the call, who’s going to step up and solve the impossible? Lunella Lafayette, that’s who! Without Devil Dinosaur by her side, Lunella must join forces with some new friends who are missing their pals, too: THE HUMAN TORCH! THE EVER-LOVIN’ BLUE-EYED THING! DON’T MISS THE RETURN OF THE FANTASTIC THREE! PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: On the one hand, it’s great that one-half of the Fantastic Four (and the two best characters of the team) are back together again. It also potentially helps boost Moon Girl’s profile among classic Marvel fans, while also making Moon Girl’s readers develop an appreciation for the FF. Still, this didn’t need making a sequel/rehash of one of the Fantastic Four’s most famous stories.

Number 5

"SPIDER-MAN #234BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • OSCAR BAZALDUA (A)Cover by PATRICK BROWNLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by MARK BAGLEYLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEVariant Cover by SANFORD GREENESINISTER SIX REBORN Part 1Miles’ world has been shaken a lot lately, but nothing will compare to what the mysterious Iron-Spider and his brand new SINISTER SIX will do. Sandman, Hobgoblin, The Spot, Electro and Bombshell (?!) join this mystery villain to make Miles’ life a living hell.PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Really odd seeing a so-bad-he’s-good villain like The Spot on the same team as A-listers like Sandman and Hobgoblin. Not crazy about seeing “She-lectro” from Clone Conspiracy either. Also, if it turns out Bombshell joined because Miles didn’t reciprocate her feelings, that will be almost as bad as Black Cat’s heel turn from Superior Spider-Man. Speaking of which, how much do you want to bet the new Iron Spider is Doctor Octopus in disguise?

Number 6

"BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #10PETER DAVID (W) • WILL SLINEY (A)Cover by Khary RandolphVariant Cover by Brent SchoonoverLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by DAN MORALegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONETHE SLINGERS RETURN Part 1Ben Reilly, A.K.A. The Scarlet Spider, is a perfect clone of The Amazing Spider-Man… but with none of the responsibility! And now, someone’s encroaching on his turf in Vegas – the new Hornet! But who is he working for, and what will his former Slingers teammates – Dusk, Prodigy, and Ricochet – have to say about it?! PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Wait, I thought Secret Empire destroyed Las Vegas? In any case, for those who don’t know who the Slingers are, they’re a quartet of young heroes who adopted the former costumed identities of Peter Parker. The reason Peter had four separate identities is because Norman Osborn framed Spider-Man for murder, and having four different personas was the only way he could still be a superhero. Interestingly enough, it was a story which came out right after the Clone Saga. This comic definitely sounds like a 1990s nostalgia trip.

Number 7

"GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #146 & 147GERRY DUGGAN (W) • MARCUS TO (A)Covers by AARON KUDERIssue #146 – Lenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by RON LIMIssue #146 – Legacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEIssue #146 – Variant Cover by ADI GRANOVTHE INFINITY QUEST PartS 1 & 2THE GUARDIANS’ HUNT FOR THE INFINITY STONES BEGINS! Their first stop? Joining up with the Nova Corps, of course! Join the Guardians as they all take up golden helmets in the quest to keep the universe safe! Nuff said! PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)THANOS #13DONNY CATES (W) • GEOFF SHAW (A/C)Lenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by JACEN BURROWSLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONETrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERVARIANT COVER BY TBATHANOS WINS Part 1Ask the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe how they fear the universe will end, and in their most honest moment, they will answer with two words… THANOS WINS. Now… see what happens when he does.PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99"

Commentary: Gee, I wonder if these particular narratives are happening because Avengers: Infinity War is coming out next year? Of course, neither of these comics will be at all similar to the movie, or the Infinity Gauntlet story on which the movie was based. Also having all the Guardians of the Galaxy become members of the Nova Corp does seem a little excessive.

Number 8

"DOCTOR STRANGE #381DONNY CATES (W) • GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTA (A)Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDOLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by MIKE DEODATO JR.Legacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEVariant Cover by GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTATRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER1965 T-SHIRT VARIANT COVER BY STEVE DITKOLOKI: SORCERER SUPREME Part 1Evil is everywhere and the world needs the Sorcerer Supreme more than ever. But is the world ready for LOKI: SORCERER SUPREME? He has the cloak, the spells — he’s even got Zelma Stanton as his assistant (and possibly more?) — but is this the chance he needed to become a hero, or is the god of lies dangerously close to unlimited power? And what happened to STEPHEN STRANGE? PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Um … I thought only mortals could become the Sorcerer Supreme? So unless the comic explains how the Norse god of mischief obtained this title, I’m calling shenanigans. In any case, this looks like a revival of Loki being less of a villain and more of an trickster antihero. Not to mention it’s another downgrading of Doctor Strange, which, given how powerful he typically is, always seems to happen with him.

Number 9

"AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #13JODY HOUSER (W) • NICK ROCHE (A)Cover by RYAN STEGMANLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by KHARY RANDOLPHLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEVARIANT COVER BY MICHAEL WALSHTRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHEREIGHT YEARS LATER Part 1Jump eight years into the future with the web-slinging and wall-crawling Spider-Man family! Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s super-powered daughter, Annie, is now in high school. But when this teen isn’t in class, she’s swinging through the streets with her parents. After all, keeping New York safe from super villains is a family affair! But what new threat has emerged to menace the wall-crawlers? PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: The ongoing adventures of Peter, Mary Jane, and their daughter, Annie, has been a real delight, and one of the best Spider-Man comic book series in recent years. So then why is the new creative team doing an eight-year time skip, thereby changing Annie into a sixteen year-old teenager? All this accomplishes is take what was once a comic about Spider-Man raising a kid into a blatant rehash of Spider-Girl. I’m sure the Mayday Parker fans will be really happy over this — as in not at all.

Number 10

"SPIDER-MEN II #5 (OF 5)BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W)SARA PICHELLI (A/C)Connecting Variant by JESUS SAIZ• The pulse-racing final issue!• Peter and Miles are faced with their toughest challenge yet, and it’s one that challenges far more than their super hero skills.• If you thought the end of the first SPIDER-MEN series was huge, brace yourself.32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Well, after the first two issues of this miniseries, I’m not holding my breath in anticipation. After all, this is a series which treats “Miles Morales” not listed on a Google search as a cause for conspiracy. However, if I was to take a wild guess at what the “huge” ending for Spider-Men II will be, it could be all the original cast from Ultimate Spider-Man — including Peter, MJ, Aunt May, Gwen, Kong, Kitty, Jessica etc. — survived and brought to the 616 too.

Number 11

"CAPTAIN AMERICA #695MARK WAID (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)Lenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by ALEX ROSSLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEVARIANT COVER BY ADI GRANOVVARIANT COVER BY JIM STERANKOTRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERBLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLEHOME OF THE BRAVE Part 1HOME OF THE BRAVE begins – and Steve Rogers is back in action in the red-white-and-blue! Steve begins a journey across America to restore his tarnished reputation – and the dangers he encounters along the way are unlike any he’s faced before! PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: It’s no secret Mark Waid is a huge Superman fan. His Kingdom Come is essentially a Superman story, and he wrote one of the better versions of the origin with Superman: Birthright. Even Irredeemable was a basically “What if Superman turned evil?” Now it seems he’s writing another quasi-Superman story, specifically J. Michael Straczynski’s infamous “Coming Home,” where Supes walks across America to reconnect with the average person. Very unsubtle on multiple levels.

Number 12

"AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #791DAN SLOTT (W) • STUART IMMONEN (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSTHE FALL OF PARKER Part 3• SPIDER-MAN & MOCKINGBIRD, flying in the air, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!• The romance is blooming, but the Fall of Parker is at hand!• Can down on his luck Peter Parker escape this latest conflict with his new relationship in one piece?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Spider-Man has had romances with fellow costumed characters before. Some have worked out extremely well, such as his steamy relationship with the Black Cat. Others made you wonder what the writers were thinking, like the creepy make out sessions between Spidey and Silk. But Peter Parker dating Hawkeye’s ex-wife? It’s an odd forced pairing with no genuine chemistry to speak of. Not to mention, as this solicit hints, is predictably doomed to fail … just like all of Spider-Man’s romances during the last decade.

Number 13

"THE PUNISHER #218MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • GUIU VILANOVA (A)Cover by CLAYTON CRAINLenticular Homage (LH) Variant Cover by TIM BRADSTREETLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEVariant Cover by GREG SMALLWOODFRANK CASTLE: WAR MACHINE Part 1For years, Frank Castle has been fighting a one-man war against criminals who endanger the innocent, but when a certain one-eyed operative offers him the tools to take his fight global…how could he say no? Find out how Frank found his way into the WAR MACHINE Armor! PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: So after killing off James “Rhodey” Rhodes as War Machine, the folks at Marvel decide to replace him with The Punisher. Did no one realize just how bad the optics look for this? It also continues previous misguided attempts in fixing what was never broken about the Punisher. First it was Frank Castle, avenging angel, then Punisher as Captain America, then Franken-Castle, now this. Though at least this isn’t as offensive as his “plastic surgery” from the 1990s.

Next: Best to worst Marvel Comics solicitations for October 2017

Do you agree with these rankings, or do you think I’m being too harsh? Which Marvel Legacy issue are you looking forward to reading? Are you glad to see Steve Rogers back in his original Captain America uniform, or do you think Sam Wilson should have held the mantle and shield for a while longer? Finally, which of those Marvel Legacy one shots do you think could make a good ongoing series? Feel free to let me have it in the comments.

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