Marvel Comics: Best to worst solicitations for December 2017

X-Men from the past, future, other realities, and the dead fill the spots on this look at the best and worst offerings from Marvel comics for the Holidays.

Number 1

"AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #14JODY HOUSER (W) • NICK ROCHE (A)Cover by RYAN STEGMANEight Years Later Part 2• It’s the annual Parker Family Fun Day on Coney Island!• But what is supposed to be a relaxing day at the beach quickly turns into a superhero spectacular!• Meanwhile, Peter and Mary Jane’s concerns surrounding Annie continue…32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Well considering how she had visions of the future at age eight, I’m guessing Annie’s powers have only gotten stronger, and that’s what’s worrying Peter and Mary Jane. Perhaps some other typical teenage rebellion type stuff, as well. Like “I’m sixteen, and way too old for Parker Family Fun Day.”

Number 2

"TALES OF SUSPENSE #100MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • TRAVEL FOREMAN (A)Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTOVariant Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINOLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONETrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERRED LEDGER Part 1 (OF 5)SPRINGING FROM THE PAGES OF SECRET EMPIRE!THE BLACK WIDOW is dead…but someone is killing her enemies. With a broken heart and a bloody trail to follow, HAWKEYE is looking for answers. And the only person alive who may have them is Natasha Romanoff’s OTHER ex-boyfriend, THE WINTER SOLDIER. Can they trust each other long enough to unravel the web of mysteries that Black Widow left behind?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: You just knew the folks at Marvel would follow-up on Black Widow’s death in Secret Empire somehow. Whether killing her off was a good idea or not is another matter. The more important thing about this, obviously, is how Hawkeye and Winter Soldier will work together. Also, if you’re wondering, Hawkeye and Black Widow did both debut in Tales of Suspense, as did Iron Man. It was the comic which first featured Captain America after Marvel brought him back during the 1960’s.

Number 3

"GENERATION X #85CHRISTINA STRAIN (W) • AMILCAR PINNA(A)Cover by TERRY DODSONVariant Cover by Afu ChanLH Variant Cover by HARVEY TOLIBAOLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONEOG Gen X Part 1You’ve been asking for it! You’ve been waiting for it! And now it’s here…the original Generation X is back! But this is no happy reunion for any of them. Their former teammate Monet is now bonded to her brother, the vampiric mutant called Emplate. Will Jubilee, Chamber, and Husk be able to save Monet? Or is she forever lost to her brother’s curse?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Well, maybe not all of the original Generation X. Synch, Skin, Mondo and Penance aren’t there. Emma Frost is back to her villainous ways. Banshee is still dead. I also find it funny how, considering Jubilee also has vampiric powers, her fighting Monet is a vampire vs. vampire fight.

Number 4

"X-MEN BLUE #17CULLEN BUNN (W) • R.B. SILVA (A)Cover by ARTHUR ADAMSCROSS-TIME CAPERS Part 2• Lost in time, JEAN GREY and her team of X-MEN must survive long enough to fix what is wrong with the timestream…• …which isn’t easy with the teens stranded in the not-too-far future. If only there were a similar group of mutant heroes to help them out.• Oh, wait! There totally is! GUEST-STARRING X-MEN 2099!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99X-MEN BLUE #18CULLEN BUNN (W) • R.B. SILVA (A)Cover by ARTHUR ADAMSCROSS-TIME CAPERS Part 3• Nothing that MARVEL GIRL, CYCLOPS, JIMMY HUDSON, ICEMAN, BLOODSTORM or BEAST have done has cured the timestream, causing bits and pieces of history to blink out of existence.• Luckily, the original GENERATION X crew is here to help! Or fight? Guess we’ll find out!• GUEST-STARRING CHAMBER, JUBILEE, HUSK, MONET, and so many others that we can’t fit them into one solicit!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Another solicit this month promising the original Generation X team? Considering this is a time-travel story, no doubt it will be the same line-up as the one from the original 1990s comics. There does, after seem like there’s a 90’s theme going on, what with them encountering the X-Men of 2099. Also, I guess Bloodstorm (the vampire Storm from Mutant X) is a part of the team now? Because I guess the X-Men: Blue team must all have alternate time-displaced doppelgängers of classic X-Men now.

Number 5

"MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #1CHIP ZDARSKY (W) • JIM CHEUNG (A/C)Variant Cover by ALEX ROSSVARIANT COVER BY ARTHUR ADAMSLEGACY HEADSHOT VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONEREMASTERED VARIANT BY JOHN BYRNELH Variant Cover by JON MALIN1965 T-Shirt Variant by JACK KIRBYKirby 100th Anniversary Variant Cover by JACK KIRBYTrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERThe Fate of the Four Part 1THE FOUR ARE NO MORE, SO TWO MUST DO! Something is very wrong with THE HUMAN TORCH and only THE THING can help him! It’s the Marvel Universe reunion you’ve all been waiting for (well, HALF of it, at least!). Plus: What monumental secret has DOOM been hiding since the end of SECRET WARS, and how will it completely change the lives of Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm? PLUS: Includes 3 bonus MARVEL PRIMER PAGES!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: At least will have somewhat of a Fantastic Four comic again with Human Torch and the Thing as it’s protagonists. The fact that Doom makes an appearance further cements this idea. It also has an excellent artist, as well. Chip Zdarsky as the writer, though? Given the mixed reception from fans towards Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, this might not prove a strong enough selling point.

Number 6

"PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #298CHIP ZDARSKY (w) • ADAM KUBERT (A/C)Most Wanted Part 2• As if the police being after Peter and his sister Teresa weren’t enough, BLACK PANTHER IS ON THEIR TRAIL!• Is he out to secure the Twilight Protocol information or just secure it for himself?• Either way, Spider-Man’s not giving up his sister without a fight!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Oh, so perhaps Peter gets in trouble with the law because he harbored a wanted fugitive. Maybe “Good Punisher” should have worn a mask for her costume? Though yes, it looks like the return of Theresa Parker from Family Business subplot will be coming to a head for Peter Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man #300. Given how your’s truly hasn’t been much of a fan of the current book thus far, will the journey be worth it?

Number 7

"AVENGERS #674MARK WAID (W) • JESUS SAIZ (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSPhoenix Variant Cover by BRENT SCHOONOVERWORLDS COLLIDE Part 5• As Earth and Counter-Earth begin to approach one another, the Avengers/Champions team must find some way to avert dual global catastrophes!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99CHAMPIONS #15MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)PHOENIX VARIANT by ELIZABETH TORQUEThe conclusion of WORLDS COLLIDE!WORLDS COLLIDE Part 6• The Champions/Avengers team faces its first real casualty in their ongoing struggle to prevent two planets from colliding – and that fatality changes the game!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: You pretty much forget anybody who has a comic book series already getting themselves killed. This means Sam Wilson/Falcon, Jane Foster/Thor, both Spider-Men, Ms. Marvel, Teen Cyclops, and Amadeus Cho/Hulk will be just fine. Hercules is showing up in The Mighty Thor during this month, so he’s safe, too. Also, in an interview with Newsarama, Mark Waid said the Champions will “not have the same roster by story’s end.” So I’m guessing either Sam Alexander/Nova or Vision’s daughter, Viv, will die. My money is on Viv.

Number 8

"UNCANNY AVENGERS #30JIM ZUB (W) • SEAN IZAAKSE (A)COVER BY TERRY DODSONSTARS AND GARTERS Part 3• Love, loss, and the road ahead. Where does the Unity Squad go from here?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: From the looks of things, a romance between Scarlet Witch and Brother Voodoo? Well, they’re both magic-users so it makes some degree of sense. At least she’s isn’t being paired up with Wonder Man again, though I’m sure the story will have him behaving like a jealous ex. I also wonder if, in keeping with Marvel Legacy’s nostalgia invocations, whether the Unity Squad will move their base of operations out to California becoming a new West Coast Avengers?

Number 9

"INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #595BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W)STEFANO CASELLI & ALEX MALEEV (A)COVER BY R.B. SILVATHE SEARCH FOR TONY STARK Part 3• Riri Williams and Victor Von Doom TEAM UP to solve the mystery of Tony Stark’s fate.• Guest-starring the entire armored Marvel Universe as one of Tony’s biggest storylines ever heads toward a big issue #600 whopper!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Of course Riri and Doom would team-up after fighting each other. That’s what happens during team-ups: two characters fight first over a misunderstanding, finally talk it out after going a few rounds, and then work together. Though I wonder how much lip Doom will take from Riri over him being a ruthless dictator of Latveria, while she was Latverian’s self-appointed queen for a day.

Number 10

"X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN #1 (of 2)ED PISKOR (W) • ED PISKOR (A/C)CORNER BOX Variant Cover by ED PISKORCharacter Variant Cover by ED PISKORFrom Eisner award-winning creator Ed Piskor (Hip-Hop Family Tree) comes a thrilling new series chronicling all of X-Men history! X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN stitches together the most important moments in mutant history, creating a comprehensive narrative celebrating the X-Men’s past, present, and future. The first in a trilogy, GRAND DESIGN returns to Charles Xavier’s assembly of Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel, and Beast! A must for fans looking to brush up on their X-Men lore or as jumping-on point for Marvel’s merry mutants.48 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99"

Commentary: If this is the first of a trilogy, then why does this solicit list this as “#1 (of2)?” I guess some credit is due with regards towards this miniseries. The X-Men do have a rather convoluted history, so there will be those who will welcome this “Cliff Notes” version from Marvel. Even so, I imagine there will be those who would rather read the original stories collected in trade instead of some stylized condensed version.

Number 11

"AMAZING SPIDER-MAN/VENOM: VENOM INC. ALPHA #1DAN SLOTT & MIKE COSTA (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A/C)Variant Cover A by Adi GranovVariant Cover B by TBAVENOM INC. Part 1Peter Parker, Eddie Brock and Flash Thompson have one major thing in common – the Venom symbiote changed all of their lives. The inky black alien life-form is doubling down on our heroes – and they’re not the only ones about to be put through the ringer. VENOM INC. kicks off here and rolls into AMAZING SPIDER-MAN & VENOM as a familiar face rises to new levels of villainy!40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T …$4.99AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #792DAN SLOTT (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSVariant Cover by RYAN STEGMANPhoenix Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMANVENOM INC. Part 2• Spider-Man finds himself between Eddie and a mysterious new figure!• And Black Cat and her gang find themselves face-to-face with an amped-up villain named Maniac that might just rip those faces right off.32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99VENOM #159MIKE COSTA (W) • GERARDO SANDOVAL (A/C)Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMANPhoenix Variant Cover by TYLER CROOKVENOM INC. Part 3• Venom Inc. is weaving its tendrils through New York’s criminal underworld, and Maniac’s got himself a cadre of symbiotically subdued, super-powered lieutenants–and they’re all bearing down on Spider-Man!• But Venom is in no shape to provide an assist for his unlikely ally…32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #793DAN SLOTT (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSVariant Cover by RYAN STEGMANVENOM INC. Part 4• Spider-Man has been compromised by Maniac and it looks like his only hope…• …is Eddie Brock? Peter Parker isn’t going to like that!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Despite having a well-publicized Venom-centered event called “Venomverse,” it looks we’re getting yet another one, which also doubles as a crossover with Spider-Man, no less. Also, thanks to some early promotion, we already know Maniac is actually Lee Price having regained Venom-like powers after stealing Mania’s symbiote. Considering how Lee wasn’t a popular host for Venom (and I believe this was intentional), having him back as the main villain isn’t exactly a strong selling point. At least Ryan Stegman is illustrating.

Number 12

"INCREDIBLE HULK #711GREG PAK (W) • GREG LAND (A/C)VARIANT COVER BY MARCO CHECCHETTOPhoenix Variant Cover by DAN MORARETURN TO PLANET HULK Part 3On the savage planet of Sakaar, the last remaining tribes of a dead society fight for dwindling resources… A sequence of ancient trials known as the Gauntlet is the only way to survive! A champion is called to battle: AMADEUS CHO, THE TOTALLY AWESOME HULK! His opponent is a familiar one… WITNESS THE THUNDERING BARBARIAN!!! The ODINSON!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: Of course, this has to emulate Thor: Ragnarok. It would be even more of a blatant self-promotion if this issue also came out during the same month as the new Thor movie debuted in theaters. Between this and that it’s Greg Pak’s sequel to his own Planet Hulk, this solicit just reeks of desperation.

Number 13

"PHOENIX RESURRECTION: THE RETURN OF (ADULT) JEAN GREY #1MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • Leinil Yu (A/C)VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERMVARIANT COVER BY ARTHUR ADAMSTRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERJEAN GREY VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO MATTINAREMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY John ByrneB&W REMATERED VARIANT COVER BY John ByrneVARIANT COVER BY TBAYOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNGGREEN COSTUME VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL YUTHE RETURN OF JEAN GREY Part 1She will return, like a Phoenix from the ashes.Years ago, Jean Grey died and the X-Men mourned her. Since then, the world has changed, her teammates have lived without her and died without her. And now, when strange events start happening all over the world, those teammates can only come to one conclusion – the one true Jean Grey is back!40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99"

Commentary: Big, big mistake, Marvel. Of all the deceased superheroes you could resurrect, you don’t bring back the one character whose death actually matters. Yes, I appreciate your attempt at revitalizing the X-Men franchise (again) after neglecting them in favor of the Inhumans. I know there’s a new X-Men movie adapting “The Dark Phoenix Saga” set to come next year. But bringing back the original Jean isn’t going fix the problems you have with your merry mutants. Not to mention it kind of undermines your already existing Jean Grey comic.

Next: Marvel Comics: Best to worst solicitations for November 2017

Do agree with my assessments, especially for The Return of (Adult) Jean Grey? What is your first impressions of the upcoming Legacy titles? Is there a particular comic you feel isn’t getting the attention it deserves, on you think should be included on the next countdown? Feel free to let me know in the comments.

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