Howdy folks (Month 1 and I'm already running out of ways of saying hello on newsletters, so howdy it is.)
The big J is upon us, and no, I'm not having a Harley Quinn induced fantasy dream. I mean the BIG JULY is almost here. And so are Superman and Fantastic Four. This really feels like a make or break time to this post-superhero franzy reality we're all living in (where awesome things like Thunderbolts flame out almost instantly).
Well, caution is advised on that front but that's not stopping us at Walt's of preparing some cool stuff coming your way. While we wait for the judgment day, let's look at what's on FOC this week. I have a lot I want to talk about!!
The Ultimates #14
It's not a world of spies anymore, not even a world of heroes, this is the age of miracles, doctor. And there's nothing more horrifying than a miracle.
Soon we will meet the twins!!!
Well, if you catch that reference congrats you're also too far gone to function like me. But yes, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are coming to the Ultimate universe and they are doing it by way of Deniz Camp. If you're a Marvel fan and you didn't give this series a chance yet, might be time to hope in before the whole circus catches fire at the (now year long) promise of the Maker's return.
Camp has chosen to remodel the heroes in how they deal with the imperfections of a failed destiny. And this is a brilliant frame to put a modern Marvel book through. It's a slow build up (like good super heroes stories can be) but also a magnificent exercise in narrative control. The mission was to update the marvel universe yet again, they did it with the finesse of indie creator-centered work and it's a wonderful surprise. And I can't wait to see what Deniz does with our favorite dad issue on the verge of psychosis at all times twins.
→ Pre-order now
G.O.D.S.: One World Under Doom #1
Hickman is Marvel god-maker but even he gets his fair share of underrated little gems. When he released G.O.D.S. it sounded like a new franchise would open up for the publisher and that was.. not that. Maybe It was the high expectations or the high price but It didn't reach the level of hype his other work usually does.
Well, the whole ordeal felt like a creator-owned story thrown in the 616 universe and I wish every author had the Hickman status to do that. But the best thing that comes with having a share of this universe is the idea that It's an ever-building coalition of ideas that other authors can pick up and do their own things with. And I love that even more. That's how we got most things we like today!
Ryan North, who has been killing it as Marvel's event stirrer this summer and now writes this one-shot bringing Hickman's character into the fold. And lowkey the event has been a good way to have a lot of franchises back (my beloved Runaways, Tiger Division, Strange Academy) and I can't see what North has cooking up for Wyn and this side of the universe - that I felt Marvel would leave it abandoned otherwise.
It's a Spurrier Summer! My favorite kind of summer.
The Voice Said Kill #
Simon Spurrier is the unsung hero of the tail-end of the Krakoa X-Men era, meaning that every indie book this guy puts out is definitely getting my attention. And this one looks bonkers. The synopsis reads like this. I've highlighted every single word that made me think this is probably the coolest stuff ever.
The wet heat of the Louisiana bayou. Alligator poachers prowl the mudbug mire. A park ranger, heavily pregnant, raises a hateful mug of moonshine with a criminal matriarch. And one deadly sonuvabitch, out of his mind on shrooms and retribution, loads his rifle for the Human Hunt and screams down the stars.
I have been waiting with my Nightcrawler Marvel Legends in-hand for Walt to drop a early copy of this on my mailbox but It didn't happen (maybe nightcrawler didn't pray enough for that), but c'mon look at the choice of words in this and you can see we're in for a trip.
→ Pre-order now
And, not written by Spurrier but spinning off of his Flash run is The Flash: Bad Moon Rising Special #1
If you're not reading this run yet, rush for this arc because It's some of the most character exploration challenges I have seen Wally West being thrown in a while. It's a moon-war against Eclipso and a god-like version of the Rogues (that this issue seems to be focusing on) against infinite Flash-clones, all obsessed with the idea of heroism and sacrifice. Except maybe of course, for that little Wally rebellious-string that might catch a fire. Really good stuff happening over there.
→ Pre-order now
Ok. I'm writing this in the late hours of the evening so I got go to sleep now (I'll probably binge Ironheart).
Remember, our Pre-Orders run until Saturday at 4pm and no amount of clones (even severely pregnant ones) can guarantee a copy after that time. So get over at Manage Comics and get your stuff. If you have any doubts or questions, send Heiko an email and he will calm all your Eclipso-infused doubts.
Howdy,
Math.
