May Solicitations with JH Commentary

Here comes May 2017 and with it goblin armies, stupid costumes and a not-so-secret empire!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #7
GERRY CONWAY (w) • RYAN STEGMAN (a/C)
• Magneto strikes!
• The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants has defeated the X-Men…
• …and now it’s up to the Spider-Family to stop them!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Not only is it cool to see RYV Spidey  and family teaming up with classic X-Men, it’ll be so cool to see them throw down with classic Magneto. It’s been so long since we’ve seen the Master of Magnetism in a traditionally evil role, so it’ll be good to see this return to form. Also there’s something about a ripped spider-costume that just gets me hyped for some kick-ass fights. 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #27
DAN SLOTT (w) • STUART IMMONEN (a)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
“THE OSBORN IDENTITY” PART 3!
• Norman Osborn has slowly worked his way to a position of power in the Eastern European nation of Symkaria, and now has a goblin-ized army behind him.
• With Symkarian hero Silver Sable at his side, Spider-Man has all the forces and weaponry that Parker Industries can gather to take the battle to Norman.
• SPIDER-ARMY VS. GOBLIN ARMY!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: I’m fast losing faith in Slott’s work. This solicit seems to sum up all the problems with his run – over the top premise, ludicrous, out-of-character plot twists and too many spider-vehicles. What could have been a fantastic run on ASM is now sullied with this parody of my favourite hero.

SECRET EMPIRE #1 (of 9)
NICK SPENCER (W) • STEVE MCNIVEN (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Hydra Hero VARIANT Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
Young Variant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Villain Variant Cover by DAN MORA
PARTY VARIANT COVER BY TODD NAUCK
PARTY SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY TODD NAUCK
PREMIERE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
It’s been building for months, across a bevy of titles! But now, the moment has arrived for Steve Rogers to step into the light and declare his allegiance to Hydra! How can the heroes of the Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted figure among them? And what will this mean for the world? The map of the Marvel Universe changes in ways nobody will expect — TRUST THE SECRET EMPIRE!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

SECRET EMPIRE #2 (of 9)
NICK SPENCER (W) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Villain Variant Cover by Dan Mora
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Hydra Hero VARIANT Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
Enshrouded in darkness, plagued by the minions of Baron Mordo and cut off from all assistance, The Defenders and Doctor Strange struggle to save the lives of the innocent people consigned to this hell on Earth. Will Dagger prove to be the key to stopping this nightmare? Meanwhile, will the appearance of a new hero provide Iron Man with the key to Captain America’s startling change? THE SECRET EMPIRE WILL DEFEND YOU!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

SECRET EMPIRE #3 (of 9)
NICK SPENCER (W) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Villain Variant Cover by DAN MORA
Hydra Hero VARIANT Cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Under constant attack from wave after wave of invading Chitauri aliens, Captain Marvel and the deep space task force under her command is waging a war of attrition — one they may not be able to survive! And back on Earth, things aren’t looking too rosy for Hawkeye and his band of renegade heroes, either! But don’t worry —THE SECRET EMPIRE WILL AVENGE YOU!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I’ve recently decided to foray into the controversial Steve Rogers: Captain America series and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Spencer’s story has been a twisted parody of both an iconic hero and the world we live in today, with astute observations about society and edge-of-your-seat tension that kept me coming back for me. So the idea of this cultivating in an event that pit hero against villain once more gets me quite excited. I trust in Spencer. I just hope he delivers.

CHAMPIONS #8
MARK WAID (W)
HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
• The fallout from the team’s encounter with the Freelancers continues! The Champions realize they have to reframe their purpose – but does that mean undertaking even riskier missions?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: This series has been very good so far and I am looking forward to the beginning of the Freelancers arc. This cover suggests our team’s first confrontation with their older counterparts, something that could cause further divisions in the superhero community. 

AVENGERS #7
MARK WAID (W) • MIKE DEL MUNDO (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
• The Infamous Iron Man joins the Avengers – or, to hear him tell it, they’re joining HIM.
• How will Earth’s Mightiest Heroes react to a reformed villain like Doctor Doom?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Nice! As much as I haven’t been a huge fan of this run so far (and it’s beyond poor characterization of Spidey), the idea of newly-reformed Doom having to work with our heroes is just too delightful to pass up.

VENOM #150
MIKE COSTA, ROBBIE THOMPSON & DAVID MICHELINIE (W)
TRADD MOORE, GERARDO SANDOVAL & RON LIM (A)
Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL
Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Young Variant by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Variant Cover by JAMES STOKOE
VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY
VARIANT COVER BY GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
REUNITED, AND IT FEELS SO GOOD!
Or, feels so bad? However it feels, Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote have been reunited, and they’re web-slinging their way around New York again. Featuring a host (hah!) of Venom creators from the character’s near 30-year history, this monstrous anniversary spectacular welcomes guest artist TRADD MOORE for an oversized and brutal main story AND a lethal story featuring fan-favorite creators David Michelinie and Ron Lim, reunited! With questions still lingering about how the symbiote was separated from Flash Thompson, and what lies in its future now that it’s reunited with Eddie Brock, this is one issue you can’t afford to miss!
56 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

Comments: It looks like Marvel are going full out with this issue; I’m really quite impressed. Anything to bump the price up to $6 I suppose. 

BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #2
PETER DAVID (w) • MARK BAGLEY (a/C)
Variant Cover by PATRICK BROWN
• The Scarlet Spider is back and madder than ever!
• Ben Reilly, after his plan to take over the world was foiled, is trying something new.
• You won’t believe what you read here!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Okay, I know the suit looked stupid on the first cover, but it can’t be any worse with #2, can it. Oh wait, it really really can! Just look at that mouth! Haha! Brilliant!

SPIDER-GWEN #20
JASON LATOUR (W)
ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (A/C)
• WHO IS THE EARTH-65 WOLVERINE???
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Good to see an even further expansion of Earth-65! Now we just have to wait and see who the new hero is.

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #23
PETER DAVID (W) • WILL SLINEY (A)
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
• The future looks bleak as Spidey uncovers the truth about those responsible for destroying his home time period of 2099.
• But with Miguel’s fiancée Tempest caught in the crossfire, taking down the terrorists might prove impossible.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: It looks like this story is heading for a conclusion to it’s currently story line, which does get me kind of excited. I hope this doesn’t mark the end of the series though, as it’s just getting good and to cancel it would be a bit of a waste.

SPIDER-MAN #16
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (w) • OSCAR BAZALDUA (a)
Cover by PATRICK BROWN
• Spider-Man needs a win. After an insane universe-jumping crossover with SPIDER-GWEN and his tumultuous home life, Miles needs an honest-to-god Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Adventure.
• He’s got his sights set on the unfinished business with Black Cat!
• We never said Miles makes the best choices.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Yay! More evil Black Cat! Said no one. Ever. 

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #17
JOE KELLY (w) • ED MCGUINNESS (a/C)
• Patient Zero and Itsy Bitsy have been killing in Spider-Man and Deadpool’s names.
• This has sent Spider-Man into a tailspin.
• Deadpool’s only hope is to get to Spidey before the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man does something very un-friendly.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: What’s this about Spidey being ‘un-friendly’? Could we see our hero take a darker turn? Not gonna lie, this has me intrigued…

KINGPIN #4
MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • BEN TORRES (A)
Cover by JEFF DEKAL
FISK TAKES CONTROL OF THE NARRATIVE!
• WILSON FISK’s biographer SARAH DEWEY is in over her head…
• …and a gang war is about to erupt in the streets!
• But is Fisk really pulling the strings, or is the KINGPIN as clean as he claims?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Once again, Dekal delivers a great cover. Had to mention it here, because another cover beat it this month. 

MOSAIC #8
GEOFFREY THORNE (W) • KHARY RANDOLPH (A/C)
• Mosaic must choose… Does he fight for himself? Or does he become a hero?
• The Brand Corporation has made its move — now what will Mosaic do?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: I’ve kind of forgotten about this series, but it what I’ve read was pretty good and I’d probably recommend checking it out. 

GWENPOOL, THE UNBELIEVABLE #15
CHRIS HASTINGS (W) • MYISHA HAYNES (A)
Cover by PAULINA GANUCHEAU
• Part 2 of Gwen’s L.A. adventure is here!
• As it turns out, Gwen & Kate Bishop (the REAL Hawkeye) make a pretty great team!
• The mission to save Cecil (who is currently trapped in a crystal locked in Ghost Rider’s car) continues!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

GWENPOOL, THE UNBELIEVABLE #16
CHRIS HASTINGS (W) • GURIHIRU (A/C)
“BEYOND THE FOURTH WALL” STARTS HERE!
• Gwen Poole is everyone’s favorite character from the “real” world!
• Her super-secret super-power? Why, knowledge of super-secret comic facts, of course!
• But the longer she’s in the Marvel Universe, the more her powers run out…
• …or do they?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: What is it with the guest-stars in these lesser-known books? Everywhere I turn there’s a guest Ghost Rider, Hulk or Silk! Not like I’m complaining – these characters are pretty kick-ass. 

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #7
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI (A/C)
• The whole world loves Riri Williams, Ironheart! Well, that is, except for those people who have a bone to pick with how she’s doing the job. Oh, and the new villain who’d like to take a piece out of her.
• You know, come to think of it, a whole lot of people aren’t that fond of Riri Williams at the moment. What’s a girl to do?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Always good to see an underdog hero who the public hate. It’s weird that we see so little of it here at Spider-Solicitations…

COVER OF THE MONTH: MOSAIC #8. The iconic image of a hero with their back to the audience, the fragmented panels, the plethora of heroes. This one truly has it all. Also, who doesn’t love the idea of Mosaic in Howard the Duck’s body? Make it happen Marvel!