Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada designed the Marvel NOW! cover that shows multiple new costumes and characters for its post “Avengers vs. X-Men” plan. (Image by Joe Quesada and property of Marvel Comics.)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Comic book fans were given another surprise following DC Comics’ major announcements. DC’s top competitor Marvel Comics released its post Avengers vs. X-Men plans.
The news first broke on Entertainment Weekly’s website and confirmed by Newsarama.com when a small drawing of the Silver Age incarnation of the long deceased Jean Grey appeared on the site. This lead to many people to assume that the former host of the Phoenix Force would be returning to the Marvel Universe after Avengers vs. X-Men was completed.
Slowly, the House of Ideas revealed a new editorial initiative called MARVEL NOW, which shows a massive relaunch of dozens of series that will take over during a period of five months. Here are some of the things that fans have learned from this announcement:
Remender + Cassidy=Uncanny Avengers: One of the new books that will launched immediately after Avengers vs. X-Men is Uncanny Avengers. Written by Rick Remender (Secret Avengers, Uncanny X-Force & Venom) and drawn by John Cassidy (Astonishing X-Men), Uncanny Avengers will focus on the adventures of Captain America, Havok, Rogue, Scarlet Witch, Thor and Wolverine. Uncanny Avengers debuts in October.
Jonathan Hickman tackles the Avengers: Superstar writer Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four & Secret Warriors) will tackle both the bi-weekly Avengers and the relaunched New Avengers series. Look for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ roster to expand to 18 or more heroes to represent the entire Marvel Universe in the bi-weekly book. However, the only detailed revealed about Hickman’s New Avengers book is that Steve Epting (Captain America & FF) has the art duties. Both books will begin in December.
Bendis and the X-Men: Longtime Avengers writer Brian Michael Bendis will be tackling the original five members of Marvel’s Merry Mutants travel to the present where they are disgusted with how mutants are treated in the present Marvel Universe. Bendis will be reunited with his Fear Itself and Ultimate Spider-Man collaborator Stuart Immonen, who will provide the art duties for the book, which debuts in November.
For more information about MARVEL NOW, visit the House of Ideas’ Website at: http://marvel.com/
