Marvel Comics: Best to worst solicitations for February 2018

With Marvel at winter’s end comes Annuals, Anniversaries, a new team of X-Men, and another crossover where Venom gives everybody a symbiote.

Number 1

"BLACK PANTHER ANNUAL #1DON McGREGOR, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST & REGGIE HUDLIN (W)DANIEL ACUñA, KEN LASHLEY & MORE (A)Cover by DANIEL ACUñAVariant Cover by BRIAN STELFREEZELEGENDARY PANTHER WRITERS RETURN!Three legendary BLACK PANTHER writers return to Wakanda! Don McGregor’s famous storyline “The Panther’s Rage” has become one of the most well-respected runs in comic book history. Now, the author who redefined Wakanda for a generation is back to expand the mythos! Bearing the heart-shaped herb that defines the Panther legacy, King T’Challa leaves his beloved country for a heart-wrenching mission in the streets of New York. Then: For half a decade, comics legend Christopher Priest made his mark on the Panther. The acclaimed writer returns with an all-new story – and with it, of course, U.S. State Department employee Everett K. Ross! And finally, no Panther history would be complete without Reggie Hudlin, author of more than 50 Black Panther stories, including the famed “Who Is The Black Panther?” Don’t miss the sequel to his “Black to the Future” story, featuring original artist Ken Lashley!40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99"

Commentary: This is how you pitch a comic book annual. Offer in-continuity stories set in different eras. Have those stories written by some of the best-known creators who have ever worked on the title. Reference notable stories they’ve written, which reinforce their how good they are while also making an appeal towards fans’ nostalgia. Finally, have the annual be released during the same month as a major theatrical release about this same superhero featured in the annual. In those regards, Black Panther Annual #1 has done everything right.

Number 2

"DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION #1 (OF 5)DONNY CATES & Nick Spencer (W) • ROD REIS (A/C)Variant Cover by RON LIMVariant Cover by TBACONNECTING VARIANT COVER by GREG SMALLWOODTrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERThe city of sin gets its biggest sinner yet. When Doctor Strange raises Las Vegas up from its destruction during SECRET EMPIRE, he inadvertently opens a big door for the embodiment of evil, MEPHISTO! The devilish villain takes the city for himself and sets his sights on the rest of the world. It’s going to take heroes from all over the Marvel Universe to defeat him, but there’s nothing simple about fighting the lord of Hell.40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99"

Commentary: You knew Las Vegas wasn’t going to stay destroyed in the Marvel Universe forever. Nevertheless, it does make for a nice set-up for this Doctor Strange centered event. Though the solicit also stresses the involvement of other titles. In fact, according to a Bleeding Cool article, Damnation will also involve Johnny Blaze: Ghost Rider, Iron Fist, and Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider. The cover also shows Blade and Moon Knight. Hmm … I wonder if Mephisto will tell Ben about what he did to Peter’s marriage?

Number 3

"PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #300CHIP ZDARSKY (W) • ADAM KUBERT (A)Cover by MARCOS MARTINVariant Cover by ADAM KUBERTVariant Cover by ALEX ROSSVariant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNGRemastered VARIANT COVER BY FRANK MILLERRemastered Sketch Variant Cover by FRANK MILLERHulk VARIANT COVER BY David NakayamaBlank Variant Cover also availableMOST WANTED Part 4An oversized anniversary epic, told the only way your pre-eminent pals in the Spidey-Office know how — in the Mighty Marvel Manner! For weeks, the Tinkerer has been launching a campaign against his do-gooder brother, the Mason, and Spidey’s nearly met his maker more than once trying to stop their sibling rivalry! With a little help from a tech-heavy team of Marvel heroes, Spider-Man takes the fight directly to Tinkerer! But Tinkerer’s got tech of his own…and it’s out of this world!56 PGS./Rated T …$5.99"

Commentary: Funny how this title has only been out less than a year and it already has an “anniversary issue.” Thanks, Marvel Legacy! Regardless of Marvel’s renumbering gimmick, it’s wise of Marvel having Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #300 be just over twice-the-length of a regular single issue. Not to mention Chip Zdarsky has really turned the quality of this title around after his rocky start with his first four to five issues. It’s also funny it will beat Amazing Spider-Man‘s “Anniversary issue” by several months.

Number 4

"X-MEN RED #1TOM TAYLOR (W) • MAHMUD ASRAR (A)Cover by TRAVIS CHARESTVariant Cover by MAHMUD ASRARVariant Cover by ROB LIEFELDVariant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNGREMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY PHIL JIMENEZB&W REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY PHIL JIMENEZBLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLEMarvel Legacy Headshot Variant Cover by TRAVIS CHARESTTrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERThe Hate Machine Part 1THE FIRST SENSATIONAL ARC OF AN ALL-NEW TEAM OF X-MEN STARTS HERE!JEAN GREY is back! Returned to a world she doesn’t recognize, the First Lady of the X-MEN gathers an unlikely team — NIGHTCRAWLER, NAMOR and LAURA KINNEY (A.K.A. ALL-NEW WOLVERINE) — to face an evil that threatens to tear down XAVIER’s dream by any means necessary!40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99"

Commentary: Not only has the original Jean Grey returned, she’s replacing the time-displaced teenage Jean Grey’s solo series with her own team book. Highlighting top-tier characters like Nightcrawler, Namor, and the All-New Wolverine is also a smart move. That said, the rest of the roster isn’t a strong enough selling point, considering one of the members is a clone of Laura, making her another Wolverine clone. With four different X-Men teams now, I have a feeling this one will soon fall by the wayside.

Number 5

"X-MEN GOLD #21MARC GUGGENHEIM (W)DIEGO BERNARD (A)Cover by MIKE DEODATO JR.Hulk Variant Cover by TBAVariant Cover by DAN MORABROTHERHOOD Part 1• The BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS is back and more deadly than ever!• What is happening to RACHEL SUMMERS?• Plus: The GOLD team bids farewell to one of their own. Who will it be?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99X-MEN GOLD #22MARC GUGGENHEIM (W)DIEGO BERNARD (A)Cover by DAN MORABROTHERHOOD Part 2• The X-MEN face their deadliest foes…or do they?• The new…PRESTIGE?• And…the GOLD team faces its most devastating loss.32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Since X-Men Red #1 shows Nightcrawler a member of that team, it’s pretty easy to guess he’ll be the team member who leaves during issue #21. It also looks as though this story will have Rachel Summers turning evil. Either way, it’s setting the stage for a new roster. Considering the number of reserve X-Men available, it’s anyone’s guess who Guggenheim will put on the team. It will probably be someone from the student body, or perhaps Iceman.

Number 6

"INFINITY COUNTDOWN: ADAM WARLOCK #1GERRY DUGGAN (w) • AARON KUDER (a/C)VARIANT COVER BY MIKE ALLREDADAM WARLOCK IS BACK! Reborn from the realm of the dead, Adam has come seeking the Soul Stone…and the truth about what it did to Him! His guide through this Infinity Quest is none other than…Kang the Conqueror?!? Be there as Adam begins down the dark trail sure to lead him into the heart of the mystery of the Infinity Stones…40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99"

Commentary: If the cover and the solicit seem familiar, that’s because they were originally for Guardians of the Galaxy #151. Unfortunately, Guardians of the Galaxy will be cancelled with issue #150. However, since issue #151 was already solicited, and thus presumably ordered in advance, Marvel had to make up for this somehow. Hence their re-branding the issue as a one-shot with extra pages. Also, calling it Infinity Countdown sounds like Marvel setting the stage for another event to promote the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, too.

Number 7

"AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #795DAN SLOTT (W) • MIKE HAWTHORNE (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSHulk Variant Cover by Dale KeownTHREAT LEVEL RED Part 2IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?!• Spidey pays the Sanctum Sanctorum a visit looking for a consult from the Master of the Mystic arts, Doctor Stephen Strange…• …but finds himself face-to-face with the Master of Mischief and new Sorcerer Supreme — LOKI LAUFEYSON!• And he’s even MORE charming than in the movies! Don’t believe us? Read this one and find out for yourself!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #796DAN SLOTT (W) • MIKE HAWTHORNE (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSTHREAT LEVEL RED Part 3• You’ve watched for months as Norman Osborn has scoured the globe for a cure to the genetic tampering that prevents him from becoming the Green Goblin.• IN THIS ISSUE…HE FINDS IT!• And it spells the worst kind of trouble for your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #42DAN SLOTT & DAVID HEIN (W) • CORY SMITH (A)Cover by ALEX ROSSVARIANT COVER BY MIKE HAWTHORNE• Searching for answers about a mysterious voicemail from her late husband, Ned Leeds, Betty Brant finds herself in the midst of a mafia conspiracy that stretches back decades!• Convinced that Ned is alive and trying to help her solve the case, Betty enlists the help of the Amazing Spider-Man to get to the truth…• …and the ENFORCERS want a word with both of ’em!• Also includes a short Spidey story by Broadway playwright David Hein (Come From Away)!56 PGS./Rated T …$4.99"

Commentary: Looks as though Norman Osborn turning into a magic-based Green Goblin will culminate in Amazing Spider-Man #800. What I wonder is if Slott, by having a Loki guest-appearance, will refer back to Loki’s favor from J. Michael Straczynski’s run on Amazing Spider-Man. Though making a call-out to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Loki seems a bit forced. As for the Annual, the voice mail did come from Ned Leeds, or rather his clone, as seen in the Dead No More: Clone Conspiracy tie-ins. Figures this would come back to bite Peter eventually.

Number 8

"CAPTAIN AMERICA #698MARK WAID (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)Hulk VARIANT COVER BY Bilquis EvelyOUT OF TIME Part 1THE STORYLINE LEADING TO THE MASSIVE ISSUE #700 KICKS OFF!Steve Rogers awakens to find himself in a strange new future — and it’s his worst nightmare! Can he assemble a new band of Howling Commandos to help him battle for freedom?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: In other words, Steve Rogers is frozen again and winds up in winds up in a fascistic dystopia. Look, I get it; since this is all about redeeming Captain America after Secret Empire, it makes sense for Waid to reestablish Cap having timeless values despite his belonging to another time. Yet while this is certainly fitting for a Captain America story, it’s not exactly original, either. Nor is this an interesting enough hook for the lead-up towards an “Anniversary” issue.

Number 9

"CHAMPIONS #17MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)CHAMPION FOR A DAY Part 2• Red Locust is back, and she’s brought some friends! Meanwhile, the Champions’ global influence is spreading — but is that a good thing?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Makes sense an original character created by Mark Waid would wind up becoming more involved with the team. However, the premise behind Champions wasn’t just this was a team of teenage superheroes — it was a team composed of Marvel’s most notable teenage superheroes. If Red Locust becomes Viv Vision’s permanent replacement, then that’s very ho-hum levels of disappointment.

Number 10

"AVENGERS #679AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (1 of 4)HULK VARIANT COVER BY RAMON PEREZNO SURRENDER Part 5THE AVENGERS WEEKLY EPIC CONTINUES!Who is the Challenger? What is at stake in his grudge match with the Grandmaster? And when the two of them clash, can the Earth survive the destruction they unleash?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99AVENGERS #680AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (2 of 4)NO SURRENDER Part 6Wonder Man and Beast team up in a desperate attempt to save Jarvis, while the Avengers reel from the crushing loss of one of their own.32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99AVENGERS #681AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (3 of 4)NO SURRENDER Part 7Who is Voyager? Valerie Vector, the forgotten founding Avenger, tells all! And a fan-favorite Avenger returns to the fold as the stakes in the battle for Earth become clear!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99AVENGERS #682AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)Cover by MARK BROOKSCONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (4 of 4)NO SURRENDER Part 8One Avenger will gamble everything to save thousands — and the odds aren’t in his favor! The Challenger reveals his ace in the hole, and Jarvis awakens from a mysterious coma long enough to cry four chilling words: “It’s all a lie!”32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Let me guess? The “fan-favorite Avenger” who returns is the original Hulk, Bruce Banner. Why else would Marvel have a bunch of Hulk variants during the month of February otherwise? Not to mention Marvel has already teased Hulk’s return for this event. As for Voyager, can we just call her “She-Sentry?” After all, it sounds as if she has the same gimmick of being a “forgotten hero” erased from the memories of the Marvel Universe just like The Sentry.

Number 11

"INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #597BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI & ALEX MALEEV (A)Cover by R.B. SILVAHULK VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS STEVENSTHE SEARCH FOR TONY STARK Part 5• Ironheart rises, Doom falls and Tony Stark emerges from the shadows!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Oh, look! Tony Stark woke up from his coma and will retake the mantle of Iron Man … as if there was any doubt about this? And, of course, he’ll fully be Iron Man again in Invincible Iron Man #600. The real question is how Marvel will deal with this afterward, seeing how this will likely be Bendis’ last story with Marvel in light of his jumping ship to DC.

Number 12

"X-MEN: BLUE #21CULLEN BUNN (W)JACOPO CAMAGNI (A)Cover by ARTHUR ADAMSPoison X Variant Coverby Stephanie HansTrading Card Variant Coverby JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERPOISON X PART 2• SYMBIOTE SPACE PIRATES!• THE X-MEN and VENOM have been asking the wrong questions in the wrong seedy spaceport cantina!• Vicious SPACE PIRATES are bad enough…but they’re even worse when they’re using ALIEN SYMBIOTES as weapons!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99X-MEN: BLUE #22CULLEN BUNN (W)JACOPO CAMAGNI (A)Cover by ARTHUR ADAMSPoison X Variant by David NakayamaPOISON X PART 4• The X-MEN have given themselves a power boost – in the form of ALIEN SYMBIOTES!• But their new powers have made them the targets of the symbiote-consuming POISONS!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Really, Marvel? Another Venom crossover where the plot centers around “everybody gets a symbiote” after you’ve already done two of them in a row? I guess both Venom and X-Men: Blue must be in really sad shape if you’re forced to resort towards using the same gimmick within months of each other like this. Speaking of Venom crossovers …

Number 13

"VENOM #161MIKE COSTA (W)TIGH WALKER (A)Cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZHulk Variant Cover by TBATANGLED WEBS Part 1• Cured of the metabolic disorder affecting the symbiote’s mental state, Venom is back to acting like his old Lethally Protecting self.• But battling your way through New York City doesn’t go unpunished, and Eddie and the symbiote are about to discover that the hard way…• …when the wall-crawling super-sleuth SPIDER-WOMAN kicks in their door!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99VENOM #162CULLEN BUNN (W) • WILL ROBSON (A/C)Poison X Variant Cover by TBAPOISON X Part 3• The first-ever Venom/X-Men crossover continues, as Venom and his new mutated friends hunt down an intergalactic symbiote trafficker!• But the X-Men may have bitten off more than they can chew. After all, the trafficker isn’t the ONLY one interested in symbiotes…and Venom knows that better than anyone!• Plus: A seemingly small revelation that will have lasting ramifications in VENOM in the months to come! Just you wait, True Believers!32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99"

Commentary: Shouldn’t these solicits be the other way around? If not, then starting another Venom story in the middle of his crossover before it finishes is a major screw-up. After all, that other story might just spoil what the “small revelation” from the crossover is … like the Venom symbiote no longer having aggressive tendencies and thus forced to rely on a serum from Alchemax. Come to think of it, doesn’t this spoil “Venom Inc.,” too?

Next: Marvel Comics: Best to worst solicitations for January 2018

That’s all the Marvel solicits for this coming February. Do you agree with these placements? Are you more inclined towards Black Panther Annual #1, or The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42? What about X-Men Red? Do you think this is too many X-Men teams? And are you getting sick and tired of Venom symbiote-related events?

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