Marvel has unveiled what is sure to be just the first in a line of teasers for the upcoming Avengers Academy series. Above is Veil the first member of the team.

Starting in May’s issue 144,  Luke Cage will lead the new team of Thunderbolts, villains looking to redeem themselves as heroes. They will be based out of the Raft super prison.

The announced team consists of Juggernaut, Crossbones, Ghost, Moonstone and  Man-Thing

Marvel has just released a new image for the upcoming Heroic Age, the follow up to Dark Reign and Siege. Here is the new image.

Marvel has released the solicits for their April Avengers books and it shows that every Avengers series is being cancelled. This means an obvious relaunch in May. Here are the solicits:

SIEGE #4 (of 4)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
Sketch Variant Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Sketch Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
THE MARVEL BLOCKBUSTER OF THE YEAR!!
This double-sized finale brings the Dark Reign to a shattering conclusion and brings with it the bombastic new HEROIC AGE. Every single page of this book is a shocker: Lives are changed. Heroes fall. Deaths. Revenge. Villain comeuppance. And when the dust settles, who will be in charge of the Marvel Universe??
You will find out here and only here. This is the one they will be talking about.
40 PGS./Cardstock Cover/Rated T+ …$3.99

SIEGE: EMBEDDED #4 (of 4)
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by CHRIS SAMNEE
Cover by ADI GRANOV
SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER TIE-IN!!
As the SIEGE of Asgard escalates to its final chaotic moments, one man must decide which is more important – living through the day, or getting the truth behind the
story of the century!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

(more…)

Here is a quick sneak peek at some of the pages from the upcoming Marvel event Siege #1

(more…)

Marvel’s next big event is called The Siege that will see the original Avengers Captain America, Thor and Iron Man reunite to take on Norma Osborne. He is the cover to issue 1 by Oliver Copiel:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 603

Spider-Man escapes from the chemical chamber burned and exhausted.

DAREDEVIL # 500

Matt Murdoch heads into the dungeon, to become the leader of the Hand.

(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man #595

In the perfect example of why this column was started, Harry Osborn decides to join up with the Dark Avengers after Menace reveals she is pregnant.

Avengers Initiative #24

Norman Osborn puts Taskmaster in charge of the Initiative

(more…)

WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: MIKE DEODATO
INKS: MIKE DEODATO
COLORED BY: RAINIER BEREDO
LETTERED BY: DAVE LANPHEAR

The arc of Dark Avengers versus Morganna La Fey wraps up here. We start back where we left off Doom and Iron Patriot are back in King Arthur’s time confronting one Morganna , while in present day the Dark Avengers are fighting Morganna and her demon hordes.

(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man #588

  Another not so great issue of the book, with really rushed looking artwork by the normally solid JR JR. This was the big pay off for all the plotlines since BND and it really fell flat. The only interesting part was the last page with Norman Osborne meeting Menace and welcoming her to the family. This book needs another reboot. 1 out of 5 Spider-Villains.

LEAVE IT ON THE RACK.

(more…)

COVER BY: BILLY TAN
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: BILLY TAN
INKS: MATT BANNING
LETTERED BY: COMICRAFT

Despite what the wraparound cover shows we do not get a "Dark" Avengers VS New Avengers showdown this issue. We start off with the New Avengers watching the introduction of the "Dark" Avengers. We then have a couple of pages of artwork where no one moves and they all continue to stare at the screen.

(more…)

COVER BY: MIKE DEODATO
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: MIKE DEODATO
INKS: MIKE DEODATO
COLORED BY: RAINIER BEREDO
LETTERED BY: DAVE LANPHEAR

We pick up issue 2 with a slight back story on how Morganna La Fey went back in time and was going to kill a younger Dr. Doom but decided not too. We then see Norman Osborne rallying the new troops of HAMMER with a pep talk about how they are the first members of the group. Back to Latveria as Morgana attacks Dr. Doom as he arrvies with HAMMER agents to reclaim his country.

(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man Extra #2

  Two stories that are much better than most of the recent regular run of the book. We get an Anti-Venom solo story and a fun Spidey-Wolverine Team-Up. Dark, but good art in both stories. 3 out of 5 Spider-Villains.

 Put It On The Stack.

(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man #584

  Cheesy dialogue between supervillains about the importance of voting, a dated 90’s Alannis Morrisette joke, and a lackluster reveal about Menace’s ID (Harry Osborne) and the ID of the Spider Tracer Killer. The book needs a serious revamp and a steady creative team. 1 out of 5 Spider-Villains. Leave it on the Rack.

(more…)

COVER BY: MIKE DEODATO
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: MIKE DEODATO
INKS: MIKE DEODATO
COLORED BY: RAINIER BEREDO
LETTERED BY: DAVE LANPHEAR

We start out this issue with a quick glimpse at Morgana La Fey as she is looking for Dr. Doom to settle a score with him. She sees Doom with Norman Osborne. We then cut to the group picture of the Avengers. We see

(more…)

From Issue 1 here is the splash page that reveals the entire team.

Marvel Boy, Sentry, Ms Marvel(Moonstone), Iron Patriot (Luke Cage?),  Ares, Wolverine (Daken), Hawkeye (Bullseye), and Spider-Man (Venom)

Avengers The Initiative #20 Dark Reign

  We find out that Tigra is pregnant and that Mutant Zero is secretly Typhoid Mary. Ok issue 2 out of 5 New Avengers.

(more…)

A little more in depth reviews of this past week’s books from Marvel, rather than the usual 2-3 line quick fire format:

Featured Book :

New Avengers #48

  The beginning of Dark Reign brings about another status quo change for the New Avengers as the team adds the new Captain America to their ranks, and Iron Fist takes a leave of absence. Bendis wrote a very intriguing tale this time around. Normally not much happens in this book as we are usually stuck with a bunch of talking heads, or flashbacks or side stories. This was a very enjoyable read with some nice artwork as well. Their is one other major story point and the is that Luke Cage is now ready to work for Norman Osborn in order to find his missing child. This could be a very intriguing storyline if played correctly. Overall this book earns 4 out of 5 New Avengers.

(more…)

Based on the picture from issues 1 and  2 we seem to have the following members:

Iron Patriot who will more than likely be Norman Osborn

Spider-Man (Black) obviously Venom from the Thunderbolts

Hawkeye more than likely Bullseye from the Thunderbolts

Ms Marvel looks to be Moonstone from the Thunderbolts

Ares is Ares from the Mighty Avengers

Marvel Boy is the alternate dimension one from Secret Invasion

Wolverine will be Daken Wolverine’s Son

These appear to be the best guesses at who the new team members are.

This issue starts us off with Emma Frost receiving a letter inviting her to Avengers Mansion for a meeting with Norman Osborn. Dr. Doom is already there once she arrives and then we have the obligatory solo entrance where  everyone has their own introduction. For a moment I thought I was watching the WWE. Osborn then comes in and monologues his way through

(more…)

In keeping with the new format I have split the Quick Fires into Marvel, DC, and Indie books.

Amazing Spider-Man #579

  Mark Waid finishes up the two part Shocker tale with a team-up, a betrayal, and the almost reunion of J. Jonah Jameson and his father. Much better artwork in this issue. 4 out of 5 Spider-Villains.

Cable #9

  Cable Versus the Cockroach Humans and Bishop takes out the X-Men. Nice pacing, very smooth artwork. 3 out of 5 X-Villains.

(more…)