Comic Book News Wrap – Issue 3

Marvel Universe Online MMO brings John Layman Aboard

Game developer, Cryptic Studios has brought in John Layman, currently writing Tek Jansen for Oni Press, as a design writer for the upcoming Marvel Universe Online MMO. I enjoyed Layman’s work on the House of M: Fantastic Four book. That book and the Hulk were the only two offshoots of the House of M series that I bought and read in addition to the main limited series. Layman has the knowledge and background to be a good addition to the team putting this online world together. I’m still scratching my head on how this MMO is going to work. I’m guessing its not like City of Heroes where you can create any hero you want, but you’ll play as a Marvel hero… since that where the fun would be. However are we going to have situations were there are 450 Wolverines and 600 Hulks running around at any one time?? I guess I’ll have to wait for this thing to come out to see. I dig playing Ultimate Alliance on my Xbox 360. I’m droracle on Xbox Live, look for me online.

Read the full source article and press release:
Comic Book Vet Joins Cryptic - Kotaku.com
Marvel MMO developer hires comic book veteran – Xboxer

Marvel Postage Stamps! Woot!

DC had some excellent stamps last year and we’ve had some cool Star Wars stamps earlier this year. Now it’s Marvel’s turn. Makes me wish I sent more mail. Spider-Man, The Hulk, Capt. America, The Ever Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing, Spider-Woman, Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer, Electra, Iron Man, and Wolverine. I’m not crazy about all the selection choices, but I’m still happy about a Thing and a Hulk stamp. I can’t believe we lost out on a She-Hulk or Ms. Marvel stamp so that we could make room for Electra??? WTF?

They’ll be unveiled at the San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 26. Which I’ll be going to… in case you didn’t read that in my other entries. YAH!

Marvel Heroes Get Their Own Stamps - David A. Kent, Courant.com

Marvel Solicitations October 2007 Highlights:

In what’s looking to be an all Marvel News Wrap, here are a few of the books I’m looking forward to:

The Annihilation: Conquest series will be tying up with the October releases. From what I’ve read of the first issues coming out these are the ones I’ll be buying.

ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST — STAR-LORD #4 (of 4)
Written by KEITH GIFFEN
Penciled by TIMOTHY GREEN II
Cover by NIC KLEIN
Will Peter Quill and his ragtag squad succeed in their adventure – or is it truly a suicide mission? Hordes of the Phalanx close in on Star-Lord, Bug, Captain Universe, Deathcry, Groot, Mantis and Rocket Raccoon-and one may make the supreme sacrifice! You loved him in the ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST PROLOGUE-now find out Star-Lord’s last act before ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #1!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST — WRAITH #4 (of 4)
Written by JAVIER GRILLO-MARXUACH
Penciled by KYLE HOTZ
Cover by CLINT LANGLEY
Wraith and Ronan — the collision course ends here! Okay, Annihilation fans, if an appearance of the Accuser isn’t enough for you, how about the Super-Skrull? What, you thought the Avengers cornered the market on the Skrulls? Also, which ANNIHILATION character is pulling the strings of Marvel’s gothic gunslinger? Find out in this creepy conclusion that takes you right into ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #1!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

NOVA #7
Written by ANDY LANNING & DAN ABNETT
Penciled by SEAN CHEN & BRIAN DENHAM
Cover by ADI GRANOV
The next phase in the NOVA series is set up in this conquest chapter! What has Gamora-now a special Select agent of the Phalanx-done to Rich Rider? Has the Worldmind fallen into the hands of the tyrannical tech race? And which ANNIHILATION character returns to alter Nova’s role in ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Elsewhere in the Marvel U. we still have World War Hulk raging on another other developments. I think I’ve gotta move some of the choices around so I can start buying Capt. America again. And I’m glad the Fantastic Four will be back together sooner then later. Not that I’m not enjoying the Black Panter & Storm substitutions, its just not the same. Call me a purist, I like the original line-up.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #31
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Cover by STEVE EPTING
THE WINTER SOLDIER HELD PRISONER BY THE RED SKULL! While Sharon and the Falcon race to his rescue, about to cross paths with the Mighty Avenger that Tony Stark has sent hunting our rogue hero – THE BLACK WIDOW!
Will the Red Skull kill both Cap and Bucky? It’s anyone’s guess, as the second arc of the epic “DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA” storyline opens with a bang!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #551
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
The original Fantastic Four is together again, just in time to cross paths with a hero who has traveled twenty years into the past in a desperate attempt to save his future from Reed Richards, the madman who is about to change the face of the planet. Oh, and the hero who has come back to save the world? His name is Doctor Doom.
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

IMMORTAL IRON FIST #10
Written by MATT FRACTION & ED BRUBAKER
Pencils by DAVID AJA
Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
The kung fu tournament to end all tournaments continues in this, the third part of THE SEVEN CAPITAL CITIES OF HEAVEN. Davos and Crane Mother’s conspiracy to crush K’un-Lun and the Iron Fist legacy once and for all springs to life. The Heroes for Hire continue tracking the rogue Hydra cell across the snow-swept Himalayas. The wicked Bride of Nine Spiders spins her terrible web. America continues to fall in love with Fat Cobra. And Danny Rand returns to the fight, armed now with the long-lost life story of Orson Randall, the Last Iron Fist. Will he be too late?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

HOWARD THE DUCK #1 (of 4)
Written by TY TEMPLETON
Pencils & Cover by JUAN BOBILLO
Grab your guns and camcorders and start shooting, it’s DUCK SEASON! Marvel’s favorite furious fowl, Howard, and his faithful friend with benefits, Beverly, begin their journey to destroy the internet, radio and television, in this all new mini-series by Ty (She-Hulk) Templeton and Juan (She-Hulk) Bobillo. SEE Howard face mighty hunters with mighty guns on MeTube! SEE Beverly in nothing but fig leaves! SEE grown men dressed as bunnies! And who is that giant headed guy taking A.I.M. at our heroes? HINT: It starts with “MODO—” Just when you thought it was safe to read comics again…and Marvel has to do THIS?!?
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
WHOA! A new Howard the Duck mini-series. Unfortunately Steve Gerber isn’t writing this, but that comes as no surprise. Ty Templeton might be a good choice to write the Duck whose Trapped In A World He Never Made. Sorry folks, I’m a big fan of Howard. And yes that movie sucked, but the comic books are classics. Buy them from a quarter bin near you.

WORLD WAR HULK #5 (of 5)
Written by GREG PAK
Pencils by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
The millennium’s most massive Marvel smashfest careens towards its cataclysmic conclusion! Four so-called Marvel “heroes” shot the Hulk into space. Their exploding shuttle destroyed his people and pregnant queen. And the Hulk has taught them what their arrogance has wrought. But now the Hulk faces the puny humans’ greatest champion. And as the terrible battle rages, who will stand revealed as the hero – and who will be proved the monster? Who knows the difference between vengeance and justice? And who will pay the terrible price of anger?
48 PGS./CARDSTOCK COVER/Rated T+ …$3.99

INCREDIBLE HULK #111
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by KHOI PHAM
Cover by ART ADAMS
CLASSIFIED!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

MIGHTY AVENGERS #6
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by FRANK CHO
The shocking conclusion to the Ultron terror as the Avengers reassemble and go on the offensive. It’s now or never for an Ultron butt-kicking. How on Earth will Tony Stark survive this??? And how does this connect to the startling Skrull infestation that may have taken over the Marvel Universe? The next big clue to the truth is HERE!!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

NEW AVENGERS #35
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
The Hood makes his play for the big time by gathering the most ruthless rogues gallery of evil the Marvel Universe has ever seen. What does a guy who wants to be the “Kingpin of all super-villains” do to make his point? You have to see it to believe it.
Guest-Starring Tigra. Poor Tigra. Poor, poor Tigra.
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

SHE-HULK #22
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by SHAWN MOLL
Cover by MIKE DEODATO
“JADED”
It’s a new direction for the lean, green fighting machine as longtime Hulk writer Peter David takes the helm as the world’s most dangerous lawyer takes on the world’s most dangerous job. Be here now…or She-Hulk Smash!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

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