Marvel Comics General

You know what'd be really interesting to see? A Thor writer whose background is in a completely different mythological tradition. I'd love to see some non-Western pantheons, presented by someone who grew up on stories of one of those pantheons. Like, what would someone raised on stories about Anansi do with the character in a superhero context? That would fascinate me far more than a new take on the Asgardian pantheon, or a deep dive into obscure Thor continuity, or anything like that. Like, Thor thinks he knows how to deal with tricksters, but would he really know how to deal with Coyote?

That's what I'd like to see next. Aaron's doing a great classic Thor story, touching on a lot of major Thor beats, and I'm not sure someone like Ewing would actually bring anything that different to the book. So, go with someone who would bring something wildly different to the book.

On a totally unrelated topic: I just finished the Jenkins/Lee Sentry series. It was, uh, interesting. Really good. Jae Lee is fucking phenomenal, of course, so the book looks gorgeous. But I also really dig how the book builds. It's really effective. It builds a sense of mystery, a sense of awe, and a sense of doom, and does them all well. The first time you see Bob Reynolds rise into the air is a hell of a moment, one the book earns. And the big reveal of Sentry and the Void being the same person is a really cool twist.

I know a lot of people ended up hating Sentry because of what Bendis did with him, but that Jenkins/Lee mini is great.

Edit: I also read Marvel: The Lost Generation. It was pretty good. Stern as co-writer meant a lot of continuity nods. Byrne's art was already showing signs of him being past his prime there - it's not up to the standard of his '80s and '90s work. The First Line characters themselves ranged from cool to derivative. There's a few I think it would've been cool to see show up again, though most of them, meh, no big loss. On the whole, it was OK.

Edited by Tiamatty on Feb 16th 2019 at 10:18:54 AM

The Jenkins/Lee Sentry mini-series is pretty amazing and I heard the follow-up (Age of the Sentry) is good, too. The problem, however, is that the Sentry was never meant to actually be a part of the Marvel Universe. He was always supposed to be the "What if?" character that is confined to a single mini-series...but then Bendis brought him back to do, basically, nothing with him. A whole bunch of stuff happens with him that doesn't make any sense and ends up not being resolved at any point (like the Sentry's wife who is dead...but not really, but then she is killed, but the Sentry brings her back to life somehow, blah blah blah).

I heard The Lost Generation was good, but I haven't been able to find a copy. For me, I really want Marvel to bring back Night Raven.

Yeah, Night Raven seems like a no-brainer for a new legacy hero.

I also really, really want the Golden Age Black Widow to get a comeback. A woman who kills criminals before they can repent, so Satan can collect their souls? That's a pretty freaking metal concept.

She was part of the Twelve, I believe.

The problem was that rather than portraying her as she originally was, they tore out her backstory and gave her a new one, essentially making her a different character. Before she had been forced and brainwashed by Satan against her will into becoming his servant, but now she was just some satantic hitwoman.

Edited by kkhohoho on Feb 16th 2019 at 11:25:25 AM

Her name was Claire Voyant? Seriously?

I know, I just feel she deserves her own solo. Either a mini or a maxi.

Honestly? "Satanic hitwoman" might actually be cooler. But yeah, I just like the idea of a woman kills criminals for Satan, not out of any sense of justice or vengeance or anything like that, but because that was the job she agreed to do. I mean, she agreed in order to get vengeance on someone, but she's kept the job because, you know, she just honestly doesn't mind it. Not even enjoying it, just not caring, because she's been at it for so long that any early reluctance or thrill has long since faded, but it's a job she's good at, and Satan's going to have someone doing it, so it might as well be her.

Was reading Rainbow Rowell's Runaways's YMMV and The Chris Carter Effect came up about the title's lack of main villain or arc and do you guys feel this way? Honestly? It never crossed my mind and quite frankly, I think it's refreshing. There's just a lot of great character work in this and I'm sorta glad the Runaways are kept away from the larger 616, for right now at least.

That's not even what The Chris Carter Effect means. The Chris Carter Effect means that none of the main mysteries are answered or, if they are answered, it's only to be replaced with another mystery. Think the Myth Arc of The X-Files and Lost. From what I've read Runaways doesn't count in any regard.

That's what I thought, it sounds like it's just one person's opinion (which is why I feel like YMMV should be done away entirely, even as it's a "containment" space). Honestly, I like that the series is mostly self-contained and character-driven. Makes me long for the days where there wasn't an event happening and I think more of the teen titles can benefit by keep things small, like Ms. Marvel. Ironheart is definitely benefiting from it now.

I haven't been keeping up with Runaways but I'm curious: is Clara back yet?

From what I've heard the team visited her and found out she was happily adopted.

So she's been Put on a Bus? Well, I suppose that's better than killing her off.

Maybe she'll rejoin her friends, someday...

Klara was Put on a Bus to Heaven. Rowell obviously didn't want to deal with her, but she gave Klara a pretty happy ending which I'm glad for.

Marvel Comics solicitations for May 2019.

Lots of crossovers for War of the Realms, although that crossover certainly looks a lot more interesting than the previous one. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is apparently introducing a new Spider-character called "Spider-Bite," which sounds cute. And Marvel Team-Up looks hilarious, with this description:

She’s dead?

No, she was Happily Adopted.

...so is that the full list of solicitations?

I was unfamiliar with put on a bus to heaven so it seemed a euphemism

For some reason the second page isn't showing for me, so I can't see any of the solicits for Conan or Star Wars, or the trades.

Edited by Eldritcho on Feb 20th 2019 at 6:33:41 AM

Ever since the Maker made it into 616, I’ve been disappointed they haven’t used him more. I mean, that guy was the biggest villain in the Ultimate Universe for a while, and I feel like he’d have better things to do than just mess with Venom.

He messed with the New Avengers

Or really more vice versa

Roberto punked him bad

You gotta admit, though, it is fun to watch him fuck with Eddie.

It is, it just feels like small potatoes for a guy who made the Ultimates quake in their boots.