Friday, February 18, 2011

Highlights from Marvel Solicitations for May 2011

The new solicitations are up and these are the things that caught my eyes:

First on the list - the David Michelinie/Todd McFarlane Spidey Omnibus! This is a no-brainer. It was the comicbook that defined the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bonus - it even comes with a variant cover featuring the black costume! For you kids out there, this is the first appearance of VENOM!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY DAVID MICHELINIE & TODD MCFARLANE OMNIBUS HC

Written by DAVID MICHELINIE
Penciled by TODD MCFARLANE, ALEX SAVIUK, ERIK LARSEN & COLLEEN DORAN
Covers by TODD MCFARLANE
Whether clad in blue and red or black, or possessing spider-powers or cosmic ones, Spider-Man stands ready to face any threat! And the threats have never been greater! From his own foes — Venom, Mysterio, the Scorpion and more — to newcomers to his friendly neighborhood like Sabretooth, the Taskmaster, Magneto and the Sentinels, Spidey sure has his hands full! Good thing he’s got Mary Jane, Captain America, the Black Cat and the Hulk around to lend a hand! Featuring the pulse-pounding prose of longtime IRON MAN scribe David Michelinie and the groundbreaking artistry of the legendary Todd McFarlane! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #296-329 and material from SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #10.
848 PGS./Rated A …$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5729-8
Trim size: oversized

Other things that caught my interest included the first Captain Britain HC featuring early tales by Chris Claremont and others. This, I believe, is the first part that was also reprinted in the Captain Britain omnibus a little while ago. Matt Fraction's first Thor storyarc also gets the HC treatment along with the classic "X-Tinction Agenda" crossover. However, I'm possibly most excited about the "Mighty Avengers: Dark Reign" hardcover that collects the entire Dan Slott run. This was my favourite monthly comic from the past 5 years. Slott and gang managed to capture all the fun and idiosyncracies of the Avengers that I grew up with - particularly Steve Englehart's "West Coast Avengers".

MIGHTY AVENGERS: DARK REIGN HC

Written by DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by KHOI PHAM, RAFA SANDOVAL, STEPHEN SEGOVIA, SEAN CHEN & NEIL EDWARDS
Covers by KHOI PHAM
When darkness reigns, founding Avenger Hank Pym decides the world once again needs Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Quicksilver, USAgent, Vision, Stature, Jocasta, Hercules and Amadeus Cho answer Pym’s call — but with an oddly sinister Scarlet Witch alerting the squad to new missions, and Pym’s fixation on his deceased ex-wife drawing concern from his new teammates, can this fledgling group of Avengers overcome threats such as the chaotic Chthon, Norman Osborn’s Cabal and the deposed Inhuman monarch known only as the Unspoken? Plus: The Mighty Avengers find themselves embroiled in a grudge match against the Fantastic Four and a savage showdown with the Dark Avengers, and Pym is named the universe’s Scientist Supreme! But when Loki’s schemes come to fruition, and the Mighty Avengers must contend with the Siege of Asgard, can the team survive without its leader — and can Pym survive a confrontation with his sinister cybernetic “son,” Ultron? Collecting MIGHTY AVENGERS #21-36 and material from SECRET INVASION: REQUIEM
424 PGS./Rated T+ …$44.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5669-7
Trim size: oversized