This past July, Marvel announced that they’ll be launching “Avengers NOW” in the fall, another revamp of their comic book universe. More dramatically, Marvel has unveiled key details of this initiative, including the reveal of Thor becoming a woman (but not Lady Thor), Sam Wilson upgrading from Falcon to Captain America, and Iron Man donning a new suit in a series titled “Superior Iron Man.” It’s a continued, largely successful effort on Marvel’s end to inject new life into their comics since Marvel NOW!, but as you’d expect the major character transformations are met with both praise and abject hate, cheering and cries of political correctness gone wrong. Personally, I’m a big fan of new stories and Marvel taking chances with their characters. Don’t buy it? Here’s a whole bunch of suggested reading from the past where Marvel dramatically changed established heroes along with the end result: [Read more…] about Suggested Reading: The History of Marvel Comics Dramatically Transforming Key Characters
Marvel NOW: Iron Man Vol 1 “Believe” Review and Walkthrough
Marvel events of the modern era have a tendency to beat the living daylights out of the decade’s surprise comic book movie savior, Iron Man. Civil War positions ol’ shellhead against his best friend and fellow Avenger, Captain America, Secret Invasion corrupted everything from Stark industries to Tony Stark’s own biology, Dark Reign completely unmade the man, and Fear Itself got so dire we saw the return of a certain demon in a bottle. By contrast, Avengers vs. X-Men, the Marvel event that leads into Marvel NOW! was a walk in the park. Tony spends most of his time tinkering on devices to solve the situation, and although he only succeeds to varying degrees, it’s a comparatively peaceful conclusion to a 60+ issue, four year run on the character from Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca. [Read more…] about Marvel NOW: Iron Man Vol 1 “Believe” Review and Walkthrough
Thanos: The Infinity Revelation Review! Jim Starlin Returns to Marvel’s Mad Titan
There are a handful of no-brainer purchases in the comic book world. Warren Ellis is writing a new ongoing comic? Ok, gotta check that out. Los Bros Hernandez are writing more Love & Rockets? Ok, gotta check that out. Jim Starlin is returning to Thanos, the Marvel villain he created in 1973, for the first time in 10 years?
Will you accept cash, credit, or just all my money? [Read more…] about Thanos: The Infinity Revelation Review! Jim Starlin Returns to Marvel’s Mad Titan
Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Review! The Best Marvel Movie Yet?
I had impossibly high expectations for Guardians of the Galaxy. Honestly, I don’t remember ever expecting a movie from Marvel Studios to be so good. With Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man I generally just hope the movie is great, and then I’m thrilled when it exceeds expectations (see: Iron Man 3, Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier), and not altogether depressed when it flounders (see: Iron Man 2). With Guardians, though? I just knew it would be great. This is a surefire way to assure you leave a movie theater disappointed, but amazingly Guardians actually exceeded my high expectations. Even with surprising characterization changes, and a wasted Thanos appearance, Guardians of the Galaxy is the funniest Marvel movie of all, and in my top three favorites. [Read more…] about Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Review! The Best Marvel Movie Yet?
Cosmic Catch-Up: The Beginner’s Guide to Marvel Comics in Space
So you want to get to know Marvel Cosmic, the branch of Marvel comics that expands to the spaceways and includes characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thanos, and Pip the Troll (primarily Pip the Troll). Marvel Studios has made a big deal of introducing the cosmic extension of their universe in this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but there’s plenty of excellent reading you can do to familiarize yourself before the film. Yes, I have a comprehensive modern Marvel cosmic reading guide, and I’ve already covered the essential Guardians of the Galaxy reading, so this guide will focus on larger, more all-encompassing cosmic events. [Read more…] about Cosmic Catch-Up: The Beginner’s Guide to Marvel Comics in Space