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ANOTHER WEEK

ANOTHER LACK OF NEWS

X3 COMES OUT ON FRIDAY

YOU GOIN?

YOU SHOULD….

AND THEN DO THE POPCORN TRICK TO YOUR GIRLFRIEND….

THEY LOVE THAT

Once again welcome everyone to Marvel News & Views – I’m your host the good Reverend James The Voice Hatton and I’m bringing you the most fun one can actually have without using a screwdriver and a welding iron.

So let’s get to the news – or at least the solicits and rumor mongering that exists all over this fine place we refer to as the ‘INTERNET’… shall we?

We shall.

WHAT IS MARVEL IN AUGUST?

Time for solicits – the most column buildingist thing that I can find to put in here. That’s really what putting solicitations is in my book – it has nothing to do with previewing books. I actually really don’t like doing that, as it sometimes spoils things, but it is a necessary evil when you are the News & Views guy.

So what is it for? Making this column appear long and luxurious. Fancy even.

Let’s get to learning!

ULTIMATES ANNUAL #2
The return of Arnim Zola and an action story with Cap and Falcon. Cool. Here’s my gripe no matter how minor it is. I understand that the Ultimates isn’t a story geared towards children. It’s a more adult story, for a teenager to get, and someone a bit older to be able to recognize as a political allegory.

My problem is:
48 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

It makes it sound like a MAX title – and if the Ultimate universe is ANYTHING – it should NOT be a MAX type title – and even Marvel Knights is treading too close to ‘adult’ for my tastes in that line. Especially when Ultimate Spidey is so kids friendly.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #98 & 99
Clone Saga kids…
“Spidey is reeling from the exposure of the Scorpion’s unbelievable identity”

I’m guessing either Ben Reilly or … Peter Parker. It is called Clone Saga, right? Plus this all leads up to something earth shattering. Let’s start making predictions now – are we thinking Aunt May dead? Maybe Peter revealed as Spidey?

Hmm – lots of ways Bendis could run this one.

SPIDER-MAN FAMILY: AMAZING FRIENDS
As a 25th Anniversary to the old cartoon – a young Peter has to deal with Firestar and Iceman? Not to mention that it’s written by Sean McKeever, so it’s bound to at least be fun.

This is just such a neat idea – I’m glad somebody took note of that awesome little footnote in Spidey history. Plus – I mark out for Sean McKeever.

AGENTS OF ATLAS #1
“THE SPY, THE SPACEMAN. THE GODDESS. THE ROBOT. THE GORILLA.”

How classic is that? All fairly obvious representatives of the Golden Age of comics – and they are going to be reappearing in present day Marvel? Neat!

I can’t say I know anything about this book but what I just read, but I will say that it might have the ring of a sleeper hit. It’s just a fun concept – and given THIS INTERVIEW That’s found over at CBR – you can keep up with what’s being revealed about the story.

Now I’m actually kind of excited to see it.

CLAWS #1 (of 3)
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY
Pencils & Cover by JOSEPH MICHAEL LINSNER

First off – Palmiotti and Gray are doing a book about Wolverine and The Black Cat. Fun. Next off Joe ‘Dawn’ Linsner is doing the art? Not a bad book to expect big things out of.

Also, not a bad book to not expect a regular schedule for.

Now the storyline seems to be the standard ‘BIG GAME HUNTER’ type thing, but all in all, with Palmiotti/Gray at the helm, I can’t help but think it might be pretty good.

DAREDEVIL #88
In this issue we’re going to get a background expose’ on Foggy Nelson. Apparently he might have had some under the cuff dealings. Now what could Brubaker be concocting in Foggy’s life story? Having no idea what so ever, I will just have to wait with baited breath.

We already know that he’s got a mad-on for wedging hate inspiring things into people’s back stories (I’m looking at YOU Charles Xavier) – maybe Foggy used to be a big stoner in college.. Or saw a hooker murdered during a bachelor party… Or maybe.. just maybe.. he’s directing Iron Man?

Nah… that’s craziness.

SHE-HULK #11
Just as a note – isn’t it awesome how Slott idly makes fun of Marvel in everything he does? She-Hulk now married to Man-Wolf? This of course happening right around where Cage marries Jones and Panther marries Storm?

He’s genius. Plus – Awesome Andy!

CIVIL WAR (Ad Nausium)
The Civil War solicits are so vague, that even commenting on them seems kind of silly. If you are into the whole Civil War thing – you are buying them, right?

EXILES #85
I generally don’t like to reprint solicits whole cloth … but occasionally one strikes me as awesome.

****Snikt, to the sixth power! With the Exiles fired, it’s time for a new group of dimension jumping heroes. Wolverine has always been known as the best there is at what he does, so six Wolverines must be really really REALLY good at what they do! Can the Exiles get their jobs back from these scene-stealing Canucks? Don’t bet on it!****

Now the idea of six Wolverines, assumedly from different eras, or different general make-ups could be one of the funniest meta-story ever done. Add in a Mecha Wolverine or a Wolvo-Tron that forms when all the Wolvies shape into a giant robot – and I think you have yourself a comic that will outsell the Death of Superman.

X-MEN #190
This solicit reveals quite a bit – Northstar and Aurora are together again. They are hanging in the mansion and going after Sabretooth – sooo… SABRETOOTH is in the mansion too. Why? Who knows, I’m sure it’s because ‘Tooth didn’t properly pronounce something in French.

Just from Carey’s solicits, I’m intrigued to see what he is going to be doing with my favorite Marvel team. As long as it’s well written – it’ll beat the hell out of Milligan and Morrison.

NEXTWAVE – AGENTS OF HATE – HARDCOVER
In the Marvel Premier format – the first volume of Nextwave. If you haven’t been reading this, then this is the perfect time to get it. Possibly the funniest book that Marvel’s put out in years, definately the one with the most Indy Sheik.

Sadly, no real great Essential books are coming out either. Ah well. That’s Marvel Solicits for August.

OL BALDY GIVES US SOME TALKING POINTS
(Courtesy of Newsarama)

Newsarama talked with Patrick Stewart and discussed some X3-ness. Let’s just pull all the goodness from this one..

** There is a flashback scene with Xavier & Magneto

Apparently they use some kind of technology that allows them to look younger – and Stewart & McKellen were doing their best to act like they were twenty years younger… that should be neat.

** Xavier takes a more center role

Seems that they wanted to kill Xavier, but Brett Ratner saved him? Intriguing.

** This is it for the franchise

…Until Halle Berry throws a hissy fit.

** Transmet movie is dead

That makes me sad – it’s not Marvel related, but it does make me insanely sad.

All in all – it’s a fine interview, and Patrick Stewart comes across like a champ. Even subtly saying that he recognized the last two Star Trek movies were a touch bunkish – and addressing some of my concerns about Brett Ratner as whole.

Maybe X3 isn’t going to be the suckfest I thought it was – current previews and reviews state no, it’s actually fun in a popcorny kinda way.

SALES FIGURES – MOON KNIGHT RULES?

Sales figures for April are out – and a couple of the bits in there are a touch shocking. So first off Marvel took Marketshare – which isn’t a huge deal… let’s look at the top 10 breakdown though and what Marvel got:
#1 INFINITE CRISIS #6 (Of 7)
#2 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #1 – #2… Really? Was it any good?
#3 NEW AVENGERS #18 – Expected, really..
#4 ASTONISHING X-MEN #14 – Again, no shock here.
#5 JUSTICE #5
#6 MOON KNIGHT #1* – Here’s the shocker!
#7 NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 – A wedding makes this huge…
#8 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #531 – I’m sure this involved a new suit or something…
#9 TEEN TITANS #34*
#10 OMAC PROJECT INFINITE CRISIS SP

Now as you see most of the winners in the top ten are obvious choices – but both Wolverine and Moon Knight are a bit of a shock. I know that yes, it’s Wolverine – and I would have expected a top twenty position out of it, but #2???

I’ve yet to hear someone even TALK about this book, let alone tell me how fantastic it is, and it gets the 2nd spot. Sure.

Then though, the big shock is sitting pretty at #6 is Moon Knight! A book that I’ve heard nothing but good things about, and I went out of my way to go and read the ESSENTIAL MOON KNIGHT just so I could understand what all the hype is when I grab the TPB later this year.

So good work Marvel for the hype machine working it’s magic.

Now we need to get Runaways higher than #86

And get Spidey Loves Mary Jane onto the list!

WHAT’S ALL THIS PRICING ABOOT?
(Courtesy of Newsarama)

Joe Quesada, Marvel Mastermind, just announced that Canadian Pricing of comics is going to reflect the Canadian dollar’s growth.

When? We’ll see… but this is good news for all you Canuckleheads as you’ll be able to buy more crack from your comic crack dealers.

THE END?

And again – I leave you with what seems like a sadly short column – and I am dead honest when I tell you that recently I’ve been looking into other sites for news.

NO MORE will I be labeled just the NEWSARAMA RIPPER… I’ve also been trying to hit ComicBookResources and SilverBullet – but both are a touch barren except for the standard stuff.

So why don’t you all send me a question or two about me or this column or comics – and we can bulk it all up together? HMmmmmMMMMmm?

Til next time – I’m Hatton – and yall should be excelsior to one another.