September 2017 Spider-Solicitations with JH Commentary

Here comes September 2017 and with it a rebirth (no, a ‘legacy’), time travelling Spiders and an entire Venomverse! Let’s dive right in.  

MARVEL LEGACY #1
JASON AARON (W) • ESAD RIBIC (A)
DOUBLE GATEFOLD COVER BY JOE QUESADA
Wraparound Variant Cover by MARK BROOKS
Variant Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by GREG LAND TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
BLACK AND WHITE VARIANT COVER BY JOE QUESADA
BLACK AND WHITE VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSS
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
VARIANT COVER BY AMY REEDER
EVERYTHING STARTS HERE!
It begins at the dawn of the human race, and ends with a child’s prayer! In between, empires fall, mysteries brew, secrets are revealed, quests are undertaken and legends are forged! All leading up to the dramatic return you’ve been waiting for — and one you’ve been dreading!
Jason Aaron (MIGHTY THOR) and Esad Ribic (SECRET WARS) usher in a new dawn — one whose rays will touch every corner of the Marvel Universe in the days to come!
MARVEL LEGACY: It’s everything you’ve been longing for — and more!
64 PGS./ON-SHOT/Rated T+ …$5.99

Comments: It’s obvious here that Marvel are trying to replicate the success of last year’s DC Rebirth and whilst it may be easy to take shots at them for this, I don’t think they could have picked a better creative team for it – Aaron’s work of Thor and Doctor Strange has been great, stripping back the characters to take a good look at what makes them tick. Combine that with the beautifully ethereal art of Esad Ribic and Marvel might be onto a winner here.

GENERATIONS: MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN & PETER PARKER SPIDER-MAN #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • RAMON PEREZ (A/C)
Variant Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Variant Cover by TBA
• When it comes to problems, Peter Parker’s got it all! Bullies at school, ailing aunt, a doppelganger, crushing responsibility, and –
wait, a doppelganger?!
• Can’t Peter ever catch a break? And what does all this craziness have to do with Miles Morales?
40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

Comments: This is a pretty cool concept. By having Miles meet with a Peter of the same age, we will be able to see the similarities and differences between the two Spiders. Also, Bendis has most certainly proved he can write a young Peter with the long-running Ultimate Spider-Man series. My only gripe is the $4.99 price, which is sadly becoming an all too frequent aspect of modern Marvel comics.

CHAMPIONS #12
MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
VENOMIZED ULTRON VARIANT COVER BY DAVID NAKAYAMA
SECRET EMPIRE AFTERMATH!
• The Champions team was born from a fracture inside the Avengers. Now the events of SECRET EMPIRE have divided the Champions — and which ones are still with the team may surprise you!
32 PGS./RATED T+ …$3.99

Comments: A team shake-up this early on – the sales must be dropping! Joking aside, I feel this is a bit too early to break up the team unless it is only a temporary plot point. On the plus side, it might allow for other teen heroes such as Wasp or Falcon to join our heroes.

AVENGERS #11
MARK WAID (W) • MIKE DEL MUNDO (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VENOMIZED LOKI VARIANT COVER BY TYLER KIRKHAM
SECRET EMPIRE AFTERMATH!
• Not every Avenger came out of the Secret Empire’s regime the same as going in.
• One of Earth’s Mightiest, in particular, will either step up to lead the team — or retire altogether!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: There really is no middle ground with these Avengers, is there?

VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN (W) • IBAN COELLO (A)
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
VARIANT COVER BY GUSTAVO DUARTE
POISON VARIANT COVER BY ELIZABETH TORQUE
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY CLAYTON CRAIN
REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY TODD MCFARLANE
BLACK & WHITE REMASTERED VARAINT COVER BY TODD MCFARLANE
VIRGIN ART VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
THE VENOM EPIC OF THE FALL STARTS HERE!
During a routine battle with the villainous Jack O’Lantern, Venom finds himself transported to a far-off world and learns a terrible truth – a deadly new species called the Poisons has emerged from the vastness of space, and to make matters worse, they’re hunting Venoms! Trapped on the planet’s surface with a ragtag band of Venomized heroes, Eddie has no choice but to mount a counteroffensive and hope to find a way home!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

VENOMVERSE #2 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN (w) • IBAN COELLO (a)
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
POISON VARIANT COVER BY ELIZABETH TORQUE
VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY CLAYTON CRAIN
• The Poisons’ relentless campaign against the Venoms continues, and Spider-Man is among the first to fall!
• VENOM VS. POISON SPIDER-MAN: NO HOLDS BARRED!
• Meanwhile, Deadpool’s cooked up an idea of how to stop the Poisons, but it ain’t exactly sane!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

VENOMVERSE #3 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN (w) • IBAN COELLO (a)
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
VARIANT COVER BY GERARDO SANDOVAL
POISON VARIANT COVER by ELIZABETH TORQUE
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER by CLAYTON CRAIN
• One by one, the Poisons have consumed the Venomized platoon of Marvel Heroes.
• With no other choice, Venom thinks up a longshot plan to stop their endless assault…and it’ll either be a miracle or an absolute bloodbath!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

VENOMVERSE #4 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN (w) • IBAN COELLO (a)
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY
POISON VARIANT COVER by ELIZABETH TORQUE
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER by CLAYTON CRAIN
• [CLASSIFIED] may be on their side, but the Venoms’ battle against the Poisons is far from over.
• Luckily, the Venoms have a plan.
• Unluckily, it’s a suicide mission into the heart of Poison territory!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Well that’s a lot of Venom. Whilst this series will by no means by good, I am hoping it’s so ridiculously over the top that I can’t help but crack a smile. Also Bradshaw’s covers are absolutely gorgeous!

VENOMVERSE: WAR STORIES #1
CULLEN BUNN, DECLAN SHALVEY, MAGDALENE VISAGGIO AND MORE! (w)
ANNAPAOLA MARTELLO, DECLAN SHALVEY, TANA FORD AND MORE! (a/C)
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
• Sure, you know about some of the adventures All-New Wolverine, Gwenpool, Ghost Rider, Old Man Logan and Deadpool went on with their symbiotes, but what about the rest?!
• Featuring a star-studded lineup of creators and characters, including…
• …a VENOMIZED PUNISHER story written and drawn by Declan Shalvey!
• And the awesome adventures of VENOMIZED ROCKET RACCOON by Magdalene Visaggio!
40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

Comments: So much Venom! I imagine this will be a pretty throw-away issue, but if I enjoy the main series I might check this one out. Still has the dreaded $4.99 sign though…

VENOM #154

MICHAEL COSTA (w) • PAULO SIQUEIRA (a)
Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL
A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND TALE TOLD IN THE MIGHTY MARVEL MANNER!!
• You’ve seen things from Eddie Brock’s perspective; now see how things look from the other side – in this, a whole issue from the perspective of the Venom Symbiote!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: With all these Venom comics, why don’t you just go and make a movie about him?! This one is from the perspective of the symbiote itself, which is a pretty interesting concept. Whether it works in execution has yet to be seen.

SPIDER-MEN II #3 (of 5)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • SARA PICHELLI (a/C)
Connecting Variant Cover C by JESUS SAIZ
• Meeting the Miles Morales who was already in the Marvel Universe sets OUR Miles OFF!
• As if he weren’t struggling with interior conflicts that were tougher than the external conflicts, this revelation hits Miles hard.
• Luckily, Peter Parker, an expert on personal tragedy and dark spots, is by his side!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Oooh, I’m looking forward to this one. I’m thinking 616 Miles will be some sort of murderer, forcing him to confront his own doubts about the darkness within.

PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #4
CHIP ZDARSKY (w) • ADAM KUBERT (a/C)
VENOMIZED AUNT MAY VARIANT COVER BY JULIAN TOTINO
• A classic villain has reinvented himself, and it does not bode well for Spider-Man!
• And what is J. JONAH JAMESON up to NOW?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: I think for most of us, the first issue of Spectacular wasn’t what we were expecting – for better or for worse. But I did enjoy the new characters introduced and do still have hope for this series. Now, what villain do we think we will have reinvented himself? I’m thinking either the Rhino, due it the cover being slightly reminiscent of his ASM2 appearance or (potential SPOILERS for SMM#1) the Tinkerer, due the introduction of his brother in Spectacular’s first issue.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #32
DAN SLOTT (w) • GREG SMALLWOOD (a)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VENOMIZED GREEN GOBLIN VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO MATTINA
• Norman Osborn’s goblin-free battle with Spidey didn’t go the way he had hoped…
• Now, Osborn needs to find an edge and get the Goblin back, and neither you nor Spidey are ready for the edge he’s going to find!
• Guest artist Greg Smallwood (MOON KNIGHT) joins Dan Slott for this special issue that sets off the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN event of 2018!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: I’ve all but given in on this series guys, sorry. From now on I think I’ll just catch up on Marvel Unlimited. Let me know what you guys think about the recent Norman Osborn arc.

BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #7
PETER DAVID (w)
Will Sliney (a)
Cover by MARK BAGLEY
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY DAMION SCOTT
KAINE…DEAD?!
• After the shocking events of BEN REILLY: THE SCARLET SPIDER #6, Ben has no choice but to try to save his bruiser of a brother’s life!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #8
PETER DAVID (w)
Will Sliney (a)
Cover by DAN MORA
• When a mysterious new Hornet armor appears in Vegas, THE SLINGERS roll into town to try and track it down!
• But whoever’s pulling the Hornet’s strings would like to remain anonymous, triggering an all-out war…and Ben’s caught in the middle!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Good to see Will Sliney keeping busy post-2099. Definitely a weird choice to have the Slingers back, but I’ll see how it plays out.

SPIDER-MAN #20
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (w) • OSCAR BAZALDUA (a)
Cover by PATRICK BROWN
VENOMIZED BLACK CAT VARIANT COVER BY MING DOYLE
• Miles Morales, you’re under arrest!
• If Miles’ parents weren’t already freaking out about their son, they are now!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Good to see Bendis continuing the racial realism he has more recently injected into this run. But if it’s Miles under arrest, why is it it Spidey on the cover?

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #11
RYAN STEGMAN (w)
BRIAN LEVEL (a)
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
• The Green Goblin returns!
• Normie Osborn has been plotting behind the scenes for the past year…now his plans are finally ready.
• Will the Spider-Family be prepared for what he has in store for them?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Hmm, this looks interesting. Seeing a Goblin throw down with the Spider-family is definitely going to be thrilling, but what avenue are they going to go down? Will it be Normie in the suit? Will Norman come back? I think the most likely option is that the Goblin on the cover is a robot operated by Normie from afar. Definitely looking forward to this one though!

SPIDER-GWEN #24
JASON LATOUR (W)
ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (A)
Cover by KRIS ANKA
VENOMIZED VULTURE VARIANT
COVER BY PAOLO SIQUIERA
• The aftermath of the PREDATORS storyline leaves Gwen in a VERY different place.
• Matt Murdock’s plans all come home to roost, and when you plan like our good friend Murderdock does, you know that ain’t pretty.
• WHAT IS THE NEXT EVOLUTIONARY STEP FOR SPIDER-GWEN?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: About time! Gwenom has been teased for ages and it was starting to feel like we’d never see it. I’m hoping this wraps up a lot of plot points from the series, most notably Matt Murdock, who is on the cusp of becoming tired and overused. 

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #21
ELLIOT KALAN (W) • Todd Nauck (A)
COVER BY WILL ROBSON
VENOMIZED ITSY BITSY VARIANT COVER BY ED MCGUINNESS
• When the villainous ARCADE decides to build a second, even deadlier Murderworld in Madripoor, he kidnaps Spider-Man and forces him to be the park’s first guest!
• Deadpool, meanwhile, has a bone to pick with Arcade… Namely that his terrifying theme parks are besmirching murder and its good name!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I think the jokes about Arcade being rubbish at murder don’t really have much claim since Avengers Arena, seeing the amount of children he BRUTALLY MURDERED in that series (I still haven’t fully dealt with Mettle’s death, he is always in my heart…). 

INHUMANS: ONCE AND FUTURE KINGS #2 (OF 5)
CHRISTOPHER PRIEST & RYAN NORTH (W) • PHIL NOTO & GUSTAVO DUARTE (A)
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
CHARACTER VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
ROCK-N-ROLL VARIANT COVER BY DAMION SCOTT
VENOMIZED MAXIMUS THE MAD VARIANT COVER BY DJIBRIL MORISSETTE
Variant Cover by Brian Stelfreeze
THE ROYALS TAKE NEW YORK!
• On the run from the king of Attilan, Black Bolt, Medusa and Maximus are transported to an alien world: New York City!
• But someone is pulling the Royals’ strings. Just what does the rebel Elisha want?
• If they’re gonna find out, they’ll first have to answer to…the Wizard!
• Plus: The continuing adventures of Lockjaw, as told by UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL writer Ryan North and artist Gustavo Duarte!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: This is on the list due to Spidey’s cover appearance. I don’t really care too much about the Inhumans – they represent Marvel’s current stance of shoving the IP’s they can use in the MCU down our throats until we finally give in and accept them. That has yet to happen with the Inhumans.  

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #11
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI (A)
COVER BY JESUS SAIZ
VENOMIZED DR DOOM VARIANT COVER BY ADI GRANOV
• Riri Williams accidentally causes an international incident that may throw the entire world into chaos!
• So, you know, no big deal.
• The prologue to one of the biggest Iron Man stories in modern history!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: MJ on the cover? Yes! A former Spider-artist? Yes! Biggest Iron Man story in modern history! Doubtful.

 GWENPOOL, THE UNBELIEVABLE #20
CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (W) • GURIHIRU (A/C)
• Gwen Poole mysteriously escaped from our universe to join the Marvel Universe!
• And her knowledge of comics has allowed her manipulate the very panels she walks in!
• But as everyone knows, “With great power…” yadda, yadda, yadda…
• Er…who’s that evil-looking version of Gwen, anyway?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Seeing as every superhero has an evil doppleganger, it’s only fair Gwen gets her chance. Also, how the hell did this reach 20 issues? I’m impressed.