Following our earlier compilation of Marvel teasers, Marvel finally confirms that Heroes for Hire are back, but it is quite the motley crew.
What was heard:
“It’s not a team, at least not in the traditional sense,” explains Lanning of the sprawling cast. “[There is] a structure that allows mission-specific teams to be ‘hired’ depending on the type of problem that’s got to be solved. So there will be some really fun and often unexpected guest star combos, depending on what the threat is. Characters often get ‘hired’ without realizing how or why they’re being used.”
“However, we don’t want the book to feel like a disjointed team-up title,” chimes in Abnett. “There is also a very strong, intriguing ongoing story driving the series along underneath the missions in each issue.”
Given that their GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY run helped elevate previously forgotten characters like Rocket Raccoon and Groot into unprecedented popularity, the writers have high hopes for the characters now coming into their care, and hope to vault several to forefront of the Marvel Universe.
“We’re only picking heroes on the basis we like them and we think it’s going to be really fun to play with them,” says Abnett. “So far, Moon Knight, Falcon and Ghost Rider have exceeded our expectations in fun-factor. So has Black Widow.”
“If anybody’s going to emerge from this as unexpectedly cool and more interesting than people realize, it’s Paladin,” forecasts Lanning. “We like to play with neglected or underappreciated characters from the Marvel Handbook. Paladin is about to break out and kick ass.”
However, if one player in the HEROES FOR HIRE set-up stands out immediately from among the pack, it has to be The Punisher, who always represents the most dangerous wildcard around. Abnett and Lanning have significant history with Frank Castle, who they first penned during 1992’s “Eurohit” storyline and revisited with artist Dale Eaglesham in the acclaimed PUNISHER: YEAR ONE limited series.
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