As I was scrolling back through Marvel Comics’ Marvel Now 2016 announcement, I was struck by some of Marvel EIC Axel Alonso’s comments. That included this one:
- “Fans say they want new characters, so we are giving them one [referring to brand new character Mosiac].”
So, the Marvel EIC acknowledges that fans say they want new books and new character; so Marvel is delivering. It’s up to fans to support the books like Mosaic if they like them, and really want “new”, to allow Marvel to continue experimenting. So its on us readers to put our money where our mouth is; support “new” Marvel ideas.
Other Alonso comments are below.
- What Marvel Now 2016 Is All About.
“This is not an event. It’s the status quo of the Marvel Universe in the aftermath of the war. It’s a glimpse as to whom we can point to in the coming year, with just enough ‘What the heck’s going on there’ spots to get people speculating. ‘There’s no Tony Stark in that picture, but who’s that guy holding the helmet? Is that Doctor Doom?’ ‘The young girl in the gray armor looks a lot like the new War Machine . . .’”
Why These Diverse, But Lower-Tier Or New Characters In Iconic Roles?
“They’re all there because they matter. They’ll either be in a solo series, or they’ll be a key member of a team, or they’ll do something that you will be talking about in a Marvel book that will bring them into a position of prominence. They’re there for a reason. Including that big, big, big what appears to be a Godzilla foot.”
Marvel Acknowledges Marvel Now 2016 Is Not Led By A- or even B-list Marvel Characters!
“Our catalog rolls deep. We have an incredible catalog of characters. I think that some of our C-, D-, and F-list characters are the coolest, for very different reasons than the guys who you see up on the silver screen.”
How Did Marvel Decide On These Particular Characters?
“Part of it is individual writers who have an obsession with a character, and convince us that they’ve got the right angle. Part of it is a cameo that provided a nice springboard for us to go all-in on them as we’ve found that people really like them, and we need to be able to do more with them. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all strategy—part of it is just that we roll the dice and put our best foot forward in the presentation of the characters.”
Proud Of Marvel Now 2016’s Diversity.
“We’re all about creating books that connect with readers of all types. This has been a natural and organic process for us, and there’s been an evolution on it for us over the last few years. Looking at the teaser now, I’m noticing for the first time that you’ve got five caucasian characters in the mix, five African-American characters, a Korean-American Hulk—it’s more diverse than I ever would have imagined, and I think that’s a good thing.“
What do you think of Marvel EIC’s take on the characters of Marvel Now 2016?
