Marvel Comics: Best to worst solicitations for January 2018

A stolen Earth, a retelling of Black Panther’s origins, and the return of several classic Marvel characters ring in the new year.

Number 1

"X-MEN GOLD ANNUAL #1MARC GUGGENHEIM & LEAH WILLIAMS (W) • ALITHA E. MARTINEZ (A)Cover by ALAN DAVISTWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EXCALIBUR REUNION!• A brand-new Braddock bundle of joy!• The return of a D’Bari hero!• Kitty’s Shadowcat costume!• ’Nuff said!40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99"

Commentary: There are three comics cherished by every X-Men fan: Uncanny X-Men, The New Mutants, and Excalibur. I would even go far as to say when Chris Claremont brought together Captain Britain, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Rachel Summers, and Meggan together as a team, he created a line-up more memorable than the original five X-Men. It’s great then seeing these characters together for an Excalibur reunion, not to mention seeing Captain Britian and Meggan having a kid, too.

Number 2

"RISE OF THE BLACK PANTHER #1 (of 6)EVAN NARCISSE & TA-NEHISI COATES (W) • PAUL RENAUD (A)COVER BY BRIAN STELFREEZEVARIANT COVER BY PAUL RENAUDVariant Cover by CHRIS SPROUSEAvengers Variant Cover by Tyler Kirkham & Arif PriantoBlank and Movie Variant Covers also availableSECRET ORIGIN OF THE BLACK PANTHER Part 1Just in time for the highly anticipated film, witness the early years of the man who will come to rule one of the most scientifically advanced countries in the world! Wakanda has always kept itself isolated from Western society, but that’s all about to change. Young T’Challa knows he is destined to become king, but when his father is brutally murdered by outsiders, he’ll find himself taking up a mantle he may not be ready for. Experience never-before-seen drama from the reign of T’Chaka, the king whose death changes a nation’s history forever. Learn about the mother T’Challa never knew. See how the world learns about this wondrous nation for the first time. Will the power of the Black Panther be enough to keep his country safe? Journalist Evan Narcisse makes his comics debut alongside acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates as they chronicle T’Challa’s rise to the throne – and to the Panther legacy that made him an Avenger.32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: For those of you who don’t know who Evan Narcisse is, he’s the senior writer at Gizmodo’s io9. Also, as he explained in an interview, this miniseries is essentially “Black Panther: Year One.” Though considering how it’s more than likely certain aspects will be retconned, it’s probably closer to being Black Panther: Birthright or Black Panther: Secret Origin. What will also be interesting is seeing how this will compare to the upcoming Black Panther movie. Even if this series does borrow elements from the film, both movie and this comic look pretty darn awesome.

Number 3

"ROGUE & GAMBIT #1 (of 5)KELLY THOMPSON (W) • PERE PEREZ (A)Cover by KRIS ANKAVariant Cover by Steve SkroceVariant Cover by ARTGERMLEGACY HEADSHOT VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONEAvengers Variant Cover by DANIEL ACUÑABlank Variant Cover also availableRing of Fire Part 1Everybody’s favorite X-couple is reunited! And boy, are they not happy about that… Kitty Pryde must send Rogue and Gambit on an undercover mission to find a group of kidnapped mutants. What they discover on this mission will shock them. But will it also bring them closer together…? It’s a high-stakes adventure caper that only the two hottest X-Men can deliver!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: This solicit isn’t kidding when it claims Rogue and Gambit are “everybody’s favorite X-couple.” If you read any X-Men comic circa 1992, or watched reruns of X-Men: The Animated Series, you’d know the Untouchable Southern Belle and the Ragin’ Cajun were the power romantic pairing of the franchise. It was a classic, and organic, “will they or won’t they” set-up combined with “good girl meets bad boy” scenario, and readers couldn’t get enough of it. Even if this is just one big tease, it’s about time Marvel brought them back together.

Number 4

"LEGION #1 (of 5)PETER MILLIGAN (W) • WILFREDO TORRES (A)Cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZVariant Cover by Niko HenrichonVARIANT COVER BY BILL SIENKIEWICZTV Variant Cover also availableTrauma Part 1A mind-bending X-Men tale from the brains of Peter Milligan (X-Statix, Shade the Changing Man) and Wilfredo Torres (Moon Knight, Black Panther)! David Haller, the son of Professor Charles Xavier, has always had trouble containing the multiple personalities in his mind. And with each personality, comes a wild and dangerous mutant power. But now, a terrifying new personality is threatening to absorb these powers and take over David’s mind and body. In a desperate attempt to save himself, David seeks out the help of renowned young psychotherapist Hannah Jones to delve into his fractured mind and fight back this dark personality. But unknown to Legion….Dr Jones brings her own demons with her…32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: What I really want to know is how David Haller brought himself back to life after literally erasing himself from existence. It’s how the last Legion comic book series ended, after all. Maybe he came back to life while inside Blindfold’s subconscious? Who knows. How Legion is back in real life is likely far more mundane. The first season of FX’s Legion had lots of critical acclaim and enough viewers to earn it a second season. Why shouldn’t Marvel try to capitalize on that television show’s success?

Number 5

"VENOM #160MIKE COSTA (W) • GERARDO SANDOVAL (A/C)Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMANAvengers Variant Cover by INHYUK LEEVENOM INC. Part 5• Spider-Man and Venom continue their uneasy alliance as they work to stop Maniac from taking over New York’s criminal underworld!• It’s outright mayhem as the heroes mount a counteroffensive and take the fight to Maniac! But with an unleashed symbiote and an army at his command, will it be enough?!• (Hint: Probably not, True Believer!)32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: VENOM INC. OMEGA #1DAN SLOTT & MIKE COSTA (W) • RYAN STEGMAN & GERARDO SANDOVAL (A)Cover by RYAN STEGMANVariant Cover by Gabriele DELL’OTTOVENOM INC. Part 6• The symbiotic super villain called Maniac has seized control of all of New York’s major crime families, and he’s now got his sights set on the entire city!• To make matters worse, he’s also got a cadre of super villains under his symbiotic spell, and Spider-Man, Venom and their allies are the only things standing in their way!• The final chapter of VENOM INC!48 PGS./Rated T …$4.99"

Commentary: What I find hysterical about these pair of solicits is how Venom #160’s cover reveals Flash Thompson as the new Anti-Venom, while the Venom Inc. Omega cover blocks him out. As if this was any big secret anyway. It also looks like Black Cat will be on Spidey’s side again (finally!) and hopefully put an end to her awful “Queenpin of Crime” stint. It also looks as though Dan Slott finally got his wish of having a team-up with Spider-Man, Flash, and Black Cat, which he reportedly wanted for “Ends of the Earth.”

Number 6

"GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #150 & 151ISSUE #150 – GERRY DUGGAN (W) • MARCUS TO & AARON KUDER (A)OCT170816 ISSUE #150 – LENTICULAR COVER BY ALEX ROSSOCT170817 ISSUE #150 – TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHEROCT170818 ISSUE #150 – VARIANT COVER BY AARON KUDEROCT170819 ISSUE #150 – VARIANT COVER BY Mike AllredOCT170820 ISSUE #150 – AVENGERS VARIANT COVER BY MAHMUD ASRAROCT170821 ISSUE #150 – YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNGOCT170822 ISSUE #150 – REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY RON LIMOCT170823 ISSUE #150 – B&W REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY RON LIMISSUE #151 – GERRY DUGGAN (W) • Mike Allred (A)ISSUE #151 – Cover by AARON KUDERTHE RETURN OF ADAM WARLOCK Parts 1 & 2Issue #150 – That’s right – as more and more parties take an interest in the Infinity Stones, a man with serious Infinity experience joins the fray! Plus: Nova Rocket leads the charge against the Raptors!40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99Issue #151 – Adam Warlock is back! But how? And why? Has he come as a savior? Or is he here to take the Infinity Stones for himself? Find out as the galactic tale of the Infinity Stones’ return enters the next exciting phase!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Why is Adam Warlock back? Perhaps it’s because he could be a surprise character for either the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? After all, he was hinted in one of the post-credit stingers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, so you know he’ll be introduced at some point. One can’t do a story about the Infinity Stones without him, seeing as how one them gets embedded in his head.

Number 7

"THE RETURN OF JEAN GREY Parts 2-5A light in the darkness is not always welcome.Kitty Pryde, Old Man Logan and Cyclops are leading teams of X-Men all across the globe, chasing events connected to the Phoenix. But with teammates disappearing and familiar enemies returning, the X-Men are fighting a losing battle. Beast doesn’t know how or what shape it will take, but he knows they are running out of time before the Phoenix makes its true presence known.Meanwhile, a young woman named Jean is starting to go insane in her peaceful, suburban life. Nightmares and daydreams are spilling over into the world and revealing cracks in her reality. Jean’s life and everything in it may just be a facade, but made by who? And why?Jean needs to escape. The X-Men need to stop the cycle of death the Phoenix brings. Their worlds will violently collide as Jean searches for an opening and the X-Men fight for closure. But when they are brought together, will the X-Men be reunited with their long-lost teammate – or something darker?PHOENIX RESURRECTION #2 (OF 5)MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • CARLOS PACHECO (A)Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (2 OF 5) BY VICTOR HUGOVariant Cover by Marcos MartinJean Grey Variant Cover by InHyuk LeeTHE RETURN OF JEAN GREY Part 232 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99PHOENIX RESURRECTION #3 (OF 5)MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • JOE BENNETT (A)Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (3 OF 5) BY VICTOR HUGOVariant Cover by Stephanie HansJean Grey Variant Cover by InHyuk LeeTHE RETURN OF JEAN GREY Part 332 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99PHOENIX RESURRECTION #4 (OF 5)MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • RAMON ROSANAS (A)Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (4 OF 5) BY VICTOR HUGOVariant Cover by Mukesh SinghJean Grey Variant Cover by InHyuk LeeTHE RETURN OF JEAN GREY Part 432 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99PHOENIX RESURRECTION #5 (OF 5)MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • Khoi Pham(A)Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (5 OF 5) BY VICTOR HUGOJean Grey Variant Cover by InHyuk LeeVariant Cover by TBATHE RETURN OF JEAN GREY Part 532 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Okay…so the adult Jean Grey is already back from the dead, and apparently has been for some time, but has amnesia? She then starts remembering everything the closer the Phoenix Force gets to Earth? Is that’s what’s going on here? Also, you got to love how the X-Men, who were once in favor of the Phoenix Force coming to Earth to jump-start the mutant population, but now are like, “No, the Phoenix is too dangerous! We have to stop it!” How times have changed.

Number 8

"CHAMPIONS #16MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)CHAMPION FOR A DAY Part 1Following their staggering loss in their adventure with the Avengers, the Champions decide to double down on their mission to make the world a better place – but they know now they can’t do it alone! That’s right – it’s time for a membership drive!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Looks like Viv is one who died during the Avengers/Champions crossover. With her passing also goes the last vestige of Tom King’s Eisner Award winning Vision series. I find this notion far sadder than Viv’s apparent death. As to her replacement, my guess is it will end up being one of the temporary members during Secret Empire, with Ironheart as the top contender. Although both Patriot and the Joaquin Torres Falcon are highly likely, too. Wasp, I’m guessing, will still be an Avenger from the looks of things.

Number 9

"ASTONISHING X-MEN #7CHARLES SOULE (W) • PHIL NOTO (A)Cover by Mike Deodato Jr.Variant Cover by PHIL NOTOVariant Cover by CHRIS STEVENSAvengers Variant Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTOLH Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAYLegacy Headshot Variant Cover by MIKE MCKONETrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERA MAN CALLED X Part 1CHARLES XAVIER has a plan. He’s going to save the world…whether you want it or not. Act II of the ASTONISHING X-MEN saga begins here, as a long-lost mutant returns to the world of the X-Men, Fantomex offers a kiss and Bishop discovers the Mindkiller.32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: First Marvel brings back the original Wolverine. Then they bring back the original Jean Grey. Now, it’s Professor X’s turn–all within three months, give or take a few weeks. It’s almost as though Marvel is thinking, “Gee, we really alienated a sizable number of the X-Men fanbase because of our Inhumans push. Maybe we ought to bring some high profile characters back from the dead to curry their favor?”

Number 10

"OLD MAN HAWKEYE #1 (of 12)ETHAN SACKS (W) • MARCO CHECCHETTO (A/C)Variant Cover by RON LIMVariant Cover by Steve McNivenSKETCH VARIANT COVER BY STEVE MCNIVENVariant Cover by Greg LandAvengers Variant Cover by BARRY KITSONBlank Variant Cover also availableAN EYE FOR AN EYE Part 1The super heroes have fallen. The country has been divided into territories controlled by super villains. Among the wastelands lives CLINT BARTON – one of the few Avengers to survive. But it’s been 45 years, and he’s no Avenger. Trying to eke out a living anyway he can, the former HAWKEYE is confronted with a startling discovery: the sharpshooter is going blind. With time running short, Clint realizes there’s one last thing he wants to see: revenge for his fallen comrades-in-arms.Rising-star writer ETHAN SACKS and superstar artist MARCO CHECCHETTO take you back to the Wastelands in a story set five years before the original classic OLD MAN LOGAN.32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: I realize “Old Man Logan” is one of the most popular Wolverine stories in recent years. I also know, and agree, that Logan is far and away the best Wolverine movie ever made, and just a good film in general. But why oh why do we need an “Old Man Logan” prequel? A prequel, I might add, that’s even longer than Mark Millar’s original story, and all about how the Clint Barton of this post-apocalyptic future lost his sight? This doesn’t exactly sound like something which was in real high demand, in my opinion.

Number 11

"X-MEN BLUE ANNUAL #1CULLEN BUNN (W) • EDGAR SALAZAR (A)Cover by NICK BRADSHAWVariant Cover by Pasqual FerryVenomized Variant Cover by TBAPoison X Variant Cover by TBATHE CROSSOVER BETWEEN VENOM AND X-MEN BLUE STARTS HERE!Spinning out of the events of Venomverse, the Children of the Atom and the Lethal Protector team up to take down an extradimensional threat! This is it, folks, the team-up you’ve been asking for: X-MEN BLUE and VENOM must band together in the cold reaches of space to protect our universe from a threat more diabolical than you can imagine. But will EDDIE BROCK, his faithful SYMBIOTE, MARVEL GIRL, CYCLOPS, ICEMAN, BEAST and ANGEL be enough to save this universe? I really, really hope so.40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99"

Commentary: No offense, whoever wrote this solicit, but I never asked for this team-up. This isn’t exactly peanut butter and jelly. The only reason this seems to be even happening is to boost the sales for Venom and X-Men: Blue. Besides, as we see in these solicits, Venom just got through with having a crossover with Spider-Man. Before that, he had an entire event dedicated to him dubbed “Venomverse.” It’s way too soon for him having yet another crossover, much less the third one in a row.

Number 12

"AVENGERS #675MARK WAID, AL EWING & JIM ZUB (W) • PEPE LARRAZ (A)OCT170809 WRAPAROUND COVER BY MARK BROOKSOCT170810 TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHEROCT170811 CONNECTING VARIANT COVER (1 OF 4) BY JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCOOCT170812 VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSSOCT170813 SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSSOCT170814 AVENGERS VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONEOCT170815 YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNGOCT170807 PARTY VARIANT VARIANT BY DANIEL ACUÑAOCT170808 SKETCH PARTY VARIANT BY DANIEL ACUÑANO SURRENDER Part 1AVENGERS goes WEEKLY for the stunning sixteen-part saga that will write the end of an era!The Earth has been STOLEN! The sky burns while mysterious cosmic objects crash down from above, wreaking havoc across the world! The Avengers are the last line of defense between Earth and the mysterious forces threatening to tear it apart. It’s time to ASSEMBLE! The teams you know and love from AVENGERS, UNCANNY AVENGERS, U.S.AVENGERS and OCCUPY AVENGERS come together to face a threat beyond any they’ve faced before in a weekly epic adventure that will define the future of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99AVENGERS #676MARK WAID, AL EWING & JIM ZUB (W) • PEPE LARRAZ (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (2 OF 4) BY JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCOAvengers Variant Cover by ALAN DAVISNO SURRENDER Part 2NOW ON SALE WEEKLY!The Black Order. The Lethal Legion. Two teams of powerful villains bent on destroying each other have arrived on Earth, and they don’t care who gets caught in the crossfire. But who’s pulling their strings? And what is the secret of the lost Avenger?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99AVENGERS #677MARK WAID, AL EWING & JIM ZUB (W) • PEPE LARRAZ (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (3 OF 4) BY JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCOAvengers Variant Cover by ESAD RIBICNO SURRENDER Part 3NOW ON SALE WEEKLY!Quicksilver flamed out of the Avengers, leaving devastation in his wake. But now that it’s all hands on deck, is this his chance at redemption? Or will his hunger to prove himself be his downfall?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99AVENGERS #678MARK WAID, AL EWING & JIM ZUB (W) • PEPE LARRAZ (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER (4 OF 4) BY JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCOAvengers Variant Cover by Mike Del MundoNO SURRENDER Part 4NOW ON SALE WEEKLY!The Avengers are caught in a game of cosmic proportions, but they don’t know the rules – and one of them is about to pay the ultimate price! THE FIRST AVENGER FALLS!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: You know what the real “ultimate price” is, Marvel? Paying an average $4.00 a week for sixteen weeks for a grand total of $65.00 plus tax. Either that, or wait for the inevitable Avengers: No Surrender trades and paying possibly half the price. I have a sneaking suspicion the retailer orders for these Avengers issue will plummet real fast. At least until after Avengers #675’s multiple variants and the “launch parties.” I guess this also means Marvel has stealth cancelled Uncanny Avengers, U.S.Avengers, and Occupy Avengers.

Number 13

"AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #794DAN SLOTT (W) • STUART IMMONEN (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSAVENGERS VARIANT COVER BY TODD NAUCKTHREAT LEVEL RED Part 1• NEARLY ONE YEAR AGO Spider-Man hurled the dangerous madman called Zodiac a full year into the future.• IN THIS ISSUE Spidey catches up to him, and Zodiac’s had a whole year to prepare for their rematch!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99"

Commentary: I got news for you Marvel: nobody cares about Scorpio. He and the Zodiac were the biggest bunch of overrated nothings who served only to drag Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 down even deeper into the morass. Also, Zodiac is the name of the organization, not the villain. If you don’t care enough about getting the name right, why should we care about Scorpio at all? As if this solicit wasn’t bad enough, how exactly does Scorpio have “a year to prepare” when he’s been sent “a full year into the future?”

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

There you have it, the best to worst thirteen solicitations for January 2018. Do agree with this list, or is there a comic–preferably not an event–you think should be on here? Is there an even better or worst solicit? Don’t neglect voicing your thoughts and feelings about Avengers: No Surrender or any other upcoming stories Marvel is offering.

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