Looking At Marvel’s July 2011 Releases Part Two

Features

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ALPHA FLIGHT #2
Written by FRED VAN LENTE & GREG PAK
Penciled by DALE EAGLESHAM
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Variant Cover by DALE EAGLESHAM
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN!

Alpha Flight… traitors??? After saving their country from the hammer-wielding XXXXX, The Flight are captured by the newly risen Unity Party and branded as traitors. Now they must escape from the bowels of the top-secret facility, Department H, they once called home. In doing so they must confront the shocking betrayal of one of their core members — and discover an imprisoned hero readers have clamored to see since this series was announced! The red-hot writing team of Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and artistic legend Dale Eaglesham continue their highly-anticipated resurrection of one of Marvel’s most beloved super hero teams in a story that absolutely cannot be missed!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

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GREY SCHERL: I love Alpha Flight, I love this creative team, but the fact that it was openly created to go with Fear Itself is keeping me waiting for trade

AARON GLAZER:
Love the creative team, but am bored by the real team. Thanks, but no thanks.

imageAVENGERS ACADEMY #16
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by TOM RANEY
Cover by BILLY TAN
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

The Academy teachers must battle not one, but two hammer-wielders at the same time! Meanwhile, the horrors of war take their toll on the students, as one of them is pushed ever further towards a life-changing decision! Don’t miss the shocking events that will rock the book that IGN.com calls “the under-appreciated gem of the Avengers franchise."
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

AARON GLAZER:
So, sell me this book.

GREY SCHERL:
You’ve got a cast of interesting characters with a unique status quo, a group of teens that could become villains as easily as super heroes, and then you look at their teachers…it’s hard to really explain this book, but it’s a lot of fun
I love Finesse, the potential daughter of Taskmaster

AARON GLAZER:
How does it seem they’re heading? Heroes or villains?

GREY SCHERL:
A few of the characters are definitely pushing hard to be heroes, but there are two that could easily go the other one; one has a cold detached apathy, and the other is a self-serving egomaniac

AARON GLAZER:
Sounds interesting. Marvel needs a way to market this, no?

GREY SCHERL:
Then you’ve got characters like Hazmat and Mettle who you get the feeling are good people, but who are in situations where they’re never going to be normal again thanks to Norman, so it makes them tragic despite the optimism Gage tries to write them with
They really do, this is the best book with the Avengers title

AARON GLAZER:
Until Ellis turns up, anyway.

GREY SCHERL:
Fair enough

imageHERC #5
Written by FRED VAN LENTE & GREG PAK
Penciled by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by GREG HORN
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

As the world descends into chaos around him, Herc and his unlikely myth-villain allies fight to save his new home of Brooklyn from being consumed by the fear being sown by the witchcraft of Hecate. Will Herc keep his wits and save the day, or will his newly depowered nature make him all the more susceptible to Hecate’s terrifying powers? It’s magic and mayhem of unprecedented levels in this thrilling new issue from Marvel "Foremen" Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GREY SCHERL:
This one is all you

AARON GLAZER:
This has been my favorite Fear Itself book. It’s human Herc with cool weapons in a bad situation, but he’s still a great warrior even as he learns to deal with his new limitations. Very good stuff, even though it isn’t on the same level as Incredible Hercules.

GREY SCHERL:
I never read Incredible Hercules, one of these days I’ll scope it

AARON GLAZER:
You really should trade it. Top 5 Marvel Comic since Quesada took over.

imageUNCANNY X-MEN #540 & 541
Written by KIERON GILLEN
Pencils and Covers by GREG LAND
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN!

The X-Men are used to being feared. When FEAR ITSELF finally reaches the west coast, they’re going to become well acquainted with the emotion first hand. The unstoppable power of an old foe renewed is heading their way, and they have all the time in the world to realize how little they can do to stop him. And even more time to think about exactly how he’s going to destroy San Francisco and everything it stands for. Parts 1 and 2 (of 4)
32 PGS.(each)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (each)

GREY SCHERL:X-Men vs Worthy Juggernaut, Juggy Colossus, Gillen writing X-Men…I like this book, and it could probably make for one of the better FI tie ins

AARON GLAZER:
If it weren’t Gillen, I wouldn’t bother. Look, Juggernaut’s unstoppable now! HEY! WAIT A MINUTE!!!!

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GREY SCHERL:
You know what would make this issue better? Not having Greg Land trace it

AARON GLAZER:
Or just letting Gillen get on with his damn story, which is awesome, mind you, and giving this its own two issue mini that I could ignore.

GREY SCHERL:
Gillen gets 4 issues of this, then the book ends in October for someone elses storyline, Marvel is really not making this easy

AARON GLAZER:
I know. Wait, Gillen isn’t writing Schism?

GREY SCHERL:
Jason Aaron is, which actually makes me wonder who the primary X-Men writer coming out of it will be

AARON GLAZER:
There will be two X-Books, one for Logan’s folks, one for Scott’s. Let Aaron handle the Wolverine Team.
Send Gischler packing.

GREY SCHERL:
But we already have a Wolverine team, we have X-Force, it’s great, this whole thing just seems ridiculously unnecessary

imageFEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #2 (of 4)
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Pencis & Cover by LEE GARBETT
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

The Sub-Mariner’s kingdom has fallen! Namor and his allies–Dr. Strange, the Silver Surfer, the Savage She-Hulk, and Loa–must invade New Atlantis and wrest control from the sinister forces that have claimed the city. With Namor still shaken by the crushing defeat he has suffered, our heroes may be no match for the frightening opposition they’re set to encounter as the Worthy’s lieutenants summon dark forces that spill into the oceans…and one team member may be forever changed as fear takes over.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GREY SCHERL: I like the creative team but could not begin to care less about this

AARON GLAZER:
Jimmy cracked corn and I didn’t care. I loved Namor too, but Marvel have made a mess of him.

imageTHUNDERBOLTS #160
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by DECLAN SHALVEY
Cover by Jean-Sébastien Rossbach
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

The Raft prison has been destroyed. Hundreds of the most powerful criminals in the world are on the loose. But their threat is nothing compared to that of the one man who was already unstoppable and now wields godlike power. XXXXX XXXXXX is tearing a path across the United States, obliterating everything before him– and now the Thunderbolts are going to stand in his way.Can XXXXX XXXXXX’s team stop him? Can anything…?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GREY SCHERL: Why are they trying to not spoil Juggernaut? That’s like, the first guy they spoiled when they announced the series. I’ll read this because I’m reading and enjoying T-Bolts, but I wish it wasn’t getting roped in this hard to the event. Especially since I can’t imagine Juggernaut comes out halfway decent

AARON GLAZER:
I have no idea. Why does Juggernaut get two stories? I don’t need two Juggernaut stories of him being bad and mind controlled. Hell, I don’t need one.
It’s in two books I otherwise like, so I’m picking it up, but not pleased.

GREY SCHERL:
My sentiments exactly

imageFEAR ITSELF: WOLVERINE #1 (of 3)
Written by SETH PECK
Penciled by Roland Boschi
Cover by DANIEL ACUÑA
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN!

Amidst the unstoppable force of FEAR ITSELF tearing through New York City, Wolverine and his girlfriend, Melita Garner, find themselves having to make hard decisions in order to do what they do best. The British intelligence turned mercenary black ops group STRIKE has taken advantage of the chaos and activated sleeper agents for one final, deadly mission. It’s up to Wolverine to stop them, but in leaving Melita to report from the ground, will his choice prove fatal?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99

GREY SCHERL:Who is Seth Peck? The guy not selling this book to me!

AARON GLAZER:
Skizzip.

imageFEAR ITSELF: FEARSOME FOUR #2 (of 4)
Written by BRANDON MONTCLARE
Penciled by RYAN BODENHEIM & SIMON BISLEY
Cover by MICHAEL KALUTA
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN!

Fear makes us do terrible things—but it will also make the Fearsome Four BECOME terrible things! Twisted by their own terror as well as the reality-warping powers of a fear-drunk Man-Thing, Marvel’s Strangest Heroes transform into horrendous versions of themselves. Howard the Duck, Nighthawk, Frankenstein, and She-Hulk mutate from hero to monster freaks—and instead of saving the city the foursome just might end it. It’s a mad tale told by Brandon Montclare, Ryan Bodenheim, with
covers by living legend Michael Wm Kaluta. And joining the ghastly crew of creators and characters, the one and only Simon Bisley illustrates a special in-story Spotlight!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

AARON GLAZER:
I accidentally bought issue one of this. I won’t be back… and I forgot Marvel had a Frankenstein!

GREY SCHERL:
Marvel has a Frankenstein?

AARON GLAZER:
So it seems.

imageFEAR ITSELF: DEADPOOL #2 (of 3)
Written by CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS
Penciled by BONG DAZO
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN!

Deadpool learned well that when the world is shaken with fear, there’s only one thing to do—CASH IN BIGTIME. Frightened people will pay through the nose for some security…but why should he risk his neck fighting The Worthy when he can create his own, easily-beatable hammer-wielder? Enter: THE WALRUS! A foe Deadpool can defeat with both hands tied behind his back….or can he?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99

GREY SCHERL: I hopped off Deadpool a few months back, and if I won’t read the main series, why would I read this?

AARON GLAZER:
Want to look up who that is or should I? Doesn’t matter, unless it has a killer team, I don’t deal with Deadpool. Way ruined him for me.

GREY SCHERL:
Way started off so well and then the book just fell into pointless mediocrity for the sake of it

imageHULK #37
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by ELENA CASAGRANDE
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
FEAR ITSELF tie-in

As the hammer-wielders continue their campaign of fear and terror, Red Hulk takes up arms against the newly deified XXX XXXXX! It’s bruiser versus bruiser as two of the world’s strongest battle it out in an all-out brawl that will shake the world! And no one is watching this closer than M.O.D.O.K.!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GREY SCHERL:Remember yesterday when you asked me if you should read Hulk? Well, tell me something, do you want to read this?

AARON GLAZER:
MODOK… so…. sort of. I just hate the stupid effing Fear Itself stuff. Parker’s regularly great.

GREY SCHERL:
I’m not a Hulk guy

imageFEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #3 (of 6)
Written by SEAN McKEEVER
Penciled by MIKE NORTON
Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

The world has plunged into an abyss of terror and despair, and few places are worse right now than in Las Vegas, where the hammer-wielding XXXX XXXXX is passing though — in his own unstoppable way! Luckily, HARDBALL and his HEAVY HITTERS are here to save the day! Um, right, Hardball and the Heavy
Hitters? Right…?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GREY SCHERL:The first issue of this was actually really entertaining

AARON GLAZER:
I’m a MODOK and Parker guy. I missed it and, well, don’t really care for this team. It’s probably fun enough, but, hey, another Juggernaut!
SPOILER – he makes it to X-Men so he gets passed the T-bolts and Hardball’s team.

GREY SCHERL:
I like how they censor the name for spoilers but then show him off on the cover

GREY SCHERL:
The book has an Initiative feel to it with a lot of Initiative characters, that’s why it sells to me

AARON GLAZER:
Enjoy – without Gage, who cares?

GREY SCHERL:
I do like McKeever

imageFEAR ITSELF: THE HOME FRONT #4 (of 7)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE, PETER MILLIGAN, HOWARD CHAYKIN & KEVIN GREVIOUX
Penciled by MIKE MAYHEW, ELIA BONETTI, HOWARD CHAYKIN & MC WYMAN
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

Speedball desperately races across the world, trying to unite pockets of resistance against the Serpent…but as the Serpent’s forces strike back, and innocent lives are lost, is he only bringing about his own greatest fear? PLUS: Jimmy Woo’s world unravels as he pieces together a puzzle he didn’t even know he was part of! Is ultimate knowledge worth the price of his sanity? And can the Blue Marvel fight what the Serpent has wrought in the trenches?
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

GREY SCHERL: I’m sick of Marvel putting out the forced companion minis with all of their events. Like, I read the first issue of this and wanted my four bucks back

AARON GLAZER:
Hey this is your Avengers Academy folks… and, Jimmy Woo would have made me buy this, if not for Blue Marvel. And $4? Puh-leez

GREY SCHERL:
Hahahahaha

imageFORMIC WARS: BURNING EARTH #7 (of 7)
Written by AARON JOHNSTON
Penciled by GIANCARLO CARACUZZO
Cover by BILLY TAN

The tide of war has turned. Wit O’Toole and Mazer Rackham have scored a major victory against the alien invaders. But hold your applause, citizens–the formics are just getting started…and they’re about to unleash their most deadly weapon yet. It’s one step forward and three steps back in the fight to save the human race. The first round of the shocking prequel to Ender’s Game comes to its exciting conclusion! From bestselling author and science-fiction master Orson Scott Card.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

GREY SCHERL:Do you care? I don’t care.

AARON GLAZER:
Orson Scott Card is a disgusting human being. Let’s move on.

imageHALO: FALL OF REACH – COVENANT #4 (of 4)
Written by BRIAN REED
Art & Cover by FELIX RUIZ

The Covenant have invaded a human colony — but what are they searching for? Master Chief and his Spartans must discover the truth behind the Covenant’s actions before the planet and everyone on it is turned to glass! The HALO saga continues as Brian Reed (SPIDER-MAN: AMERICAN SON) & Felix Ruiz (MARVEL BOY: THE URANIAN) continue to adapt the best selling novel HALO: THE FALL OF REACH by Eric Nylund.
32 PGS./17 & Up …$3.99
© 2011 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Microsoft, 343 Industries, the 343 Industries logo, Halo, the Halo logo, Xbox, Xbox 360, and the Xbox logos, are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

GREY SCHERL:
I’ve been over Halo since Halo 2, so yeah, I feel like I’m wasting time just talking about this

AARON GLAZER:
First person shooters… ugh. I’ve heard good of the comic, but, really, I don’t like the property so it isn’t for me. If you like Halo, dear reader, go with our blessings.

imageOZMA OF OZ #8 (of 8)
Written by ERIC SHANOWER
Art & Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG

The savage battle with the Nome King and his endless army continues. But even if Dorothy and her friends can escape the underground Nome Kingdom, they’ll have to leave their friend the Tin Woodman behind. Not even the Nome King’s magic can find the enchanted Tin Woodman. And without her silver shoes will Dorothy ever be able to return to Uncle Henry?
32 PGS./Rated A …$3.99

AARON GLAZER:
What in the blue hell is that?

GREY SCHERL:
Why do I keep listing off these non superhero books that I forget Marvel publishes?

AARON GLAZER:
Hey, eventually we’ll get to one I really want to talk about!

GREY SCHERL:
Actually, I do hear great things about this, but I also don’t care, sorry Skottie

imageEMMA #5 (of 5)
Written by Nancy Butler
Art & Cover by Janet Lee

New York Times best-selling author Nancy Butler and
critically acclaimed artist Janet Lee tell the story of Emma, Jane Austen’s loveable heroine! With her matchmaking career at a standstill, Emma’s at a loss when it comes to everyone’s love lives. But how will she fare when it comes to her own?

32 PGS./Rated A …$3.99

GREY SCHERL:Next

AARON GLAZER:
I’ve read the novel. I don’t need the comic. Not all books need pictures.

imageDARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE BATTLE OF TULL #2 (of 5)
Written by PETER DAVID
Pencils & Cover by MICHAEL LARK

In the desert town called Tull, gunslinger Roland Deschain finally encounters one of the men present at the years-ago death of his first love Susan Delgado. But he may have little time for revenge as his strange quarry, the Man in Black has also come to Tull. He has come to perform wonders—dark and deadly wonders. The first of which is the horrifying resurrection of town drunk Nort through a mystic ritual not meant for human eyes. Why the resurrection of this man and why now is a burning question whose answer could mean certain doom for Roland, last member of the House of Eld.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

GREY SCHERL: I don’t get the whole Dark Tower thing and why everyone is so into it

AARON GLAZER:
It’s a long-running series that has some good books, and some atrociously messy books. King fans are really, really rabid, so it’ll sell. I just wish they weren’t wasting David on it.

imageDISNEY • MUPPETS PRESENTS: MEET THE MUPPETS
Written and Penciled by ROGER LANGRIDGE
Cover by ROGER LANGRIDGE

The Muppet Show is out to corrupt a new medium as all your favorite Muppets return in this giant comic! Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, Gonzo and the gang revive their variety show and bring back favorite sketches like “Pigs in Space” and “Veterinarian’s Hospital!” Kermit misses the swamp, and the gang tries to cheer him up. Fozzy revamps his standup act, but everything he tries gets the same boos as his original routine. Scooter attempts to figure out once and for all what species Gonzo belongs to. And a psychic tells Miss Piggy she’s going to lose something green.
96 PGS./All Ages …$5.99

GREY SCHERL:This is your book, right?

AARON GLAZER:
This is the one I want, yep. Langridge is fucking made of pure golden shiny winningness. Muppets are awesome if you’re older than say, 25… this is one I’ve been looking forward to for a long, long time.

A lifelong reader and self proclaimed continuity guru, Grey is the Editor in Chief of Comics Nexus. Known for his love of Booster Gold, Spider-Girl (the real one), Stephanie Brown, and The Boys. Don't miss The Gold Standard.