Hot on the heels of DC’s New 52, Marvel Comics reinvents their entire lineup with Marvel NOW! A mad mix-up of creative teams that are sure to raise eyebrows and some new situations using some of the most popular characters in comics… Marvel may be about to once again live up to the moniker of the ‘House of Ideas.’
Superior Spider-Man
By Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman
This January, the Web-Head embraces a new chapter in his life in Superior Spider-Man #1, kicking off the all-new ongoing series from the amazing creative team of writer Dan Slott and artist Ryan Stegman! As part of Marvel NOW!, Superior Spider-Man joins a number of titles that will take the Marvel Universe in an exciting all-new direction, as the industry’s top creators join the top Super Heroes to deliver all-new ongoing series, great for new and lapsed readers alike!Peter Parker has spent a lifetime living up to the responsibilities his powers foisted upon him but his Amazing story finally ends dramatically in the historic Spider-Man #700. NOW! the new Spider-Man has arrived and he is better in every single way. Smarter, stronger… superior.
Avengers
By Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena
“What people have seen so far are the biggest and most iconic characters that everyone knows or has some familiarity with,” Hickman continues. “As we reach #7 and #8, the book is populated with new or revised versions of established characters.” There will be about 24 characters on the team in total. “By the time we get to 22 characters on the book, 12 are either female or minority, and we feel like we’ve accomplished what we’ve set out to do, which is a book that looks like the world.”Hickman says he wants to take the Avengers books in a “completely different direction,” with a much bigger scale, while staying true to the core concepts. “Take something from an A game to an A+ game.”
Captain America
By Rick Remender and John Romita, Jr.
“One of the mandates I have to myself is, I don’t want to touch the World War II stuff,” Remender told iFanboy of his plans for the title’s first major story arc. “I think that that has been done, now, and it’s been done perfectly. To go back and to keep focusing on Cap in World War II at this point, again, would be following too closely to what Ed has already done. What I’m doing is spending a lot of time in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 20s and 30s, showing Steve grow up. The first arc is 10 issues, and it’s called ‘Dimension Z.’
“I don’t want to give away too much, but a big portion of it is Cap dealing with Arnim Zola in Dimension Z. I’m trying to take Zola and do with him, what we did with Apocalypse over in Uncanny X-Force. Where we take what’s there, re-imagine it, build a new mythology and really expand Zola, and try and build Zola into a very, very big and important character.
“The other half of it is going to be a lot of flashbacks to a young Steve Rogers growing up in Depression-era Lower East Side, and getting to know his family and his friends, and how this 98-pound weakling became such a tenacious, strong person; focus on the fiber and the integrity of who he is, and really develop that for the first time.”
The Indestructible Hulk
By Mark Waid and Lenil Francis Yu
Mark Waid: Jason [Aaron] wraps things up, elegantly and brilliantly. (I’m forever jealous of the ideas he based his whole run around.) “Indestructible Hulk” #1 picks up a few weeks after the events of “Avengers vs. X-Men.” No one’s seen Banner or the Hulk for a while, and that makes the whole world very nervous.
There’s a very good reason we chose the word “Indestructible,” it’s actually a subtle story point. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that it ties in with Banner’s whole new attitude.
Maria Hill and Bruce Banner are the main players in the series, and their Byzantine relationship is both funny and dark and they’re a blast to write as a quasi-partnership. And Banner will be in a lab again and will have a band of assistants who all have two things in common: they’re all brilliant in their fields, and they have nothing to lose should they suddenly find they’re sharing close quarters with an angry jade behemoth. (via ComicBookResources)
Iron Man
By Kieron Gillen and Greg Land
“When his greatest invention becomes his greatest mistake, Iron Man bursts into action to protect it from destroying the Marvel Universe! From the red-hot team of Kieron Gillen and Greg Land, Iron Man must act fast and build faster in order to stop the lethal techno virus – Extremis – from landing in the hands of the highest bidder! This November in Iron Man #2, Tony’s hunt for the rogue units takes him to the island of New Camelot! A mysterious high-tech brotherhood of mech-knights called The Circle, has put their best up against the Armored Avenger, and Stark’s suit may not be ready for action.”
The Uncanny Avengers
By Rick Remender and John Cassaday
“From the ashes of Avengers Vs. X-Men an all-new, all-different Avengers assemble – enter the Uncanny Avengers! From the creative team of Rick Remender and John Cassaday, Captain America and Wolverine begin a quest to create a sanctioned Avengers unit cast from the ranks of the Avengers and the X-Men. This November in UNCANNY AVENGERS #2, The Red Skull makes a move that transforms him into the most powerful man on Earth! And with anti-mutant sentiment at an all-time high, it will be up to Captain America, Wolverine, Havok, Thor, Rogue, and The Scarlet Witch to take down the Skull and his S-Men!”
X-Men
By Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen
Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen are set to bring the original X-Men into the present day as permanent members of the current squad, and if Bendis’s teases in our exclusive interview were any indication, it will be nothing short of an event all its own.
Thor: God of Thunder
By Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic
“Someone is murdering the gods of the Marvel Universe and with his own life at stake, Thor must step in to put an end to the mysterious God Butcher! From the blockbuster team of Jason Aaron & Esad Ribic, the Mighty Avenger will not only have to stop this destructive force in his own time, but in the past and future as well! This November in Thor: God Of Thunder #2, the Odinson – with the help of his younger and older self – follow a trail of blood to save these ravaged worlds.Fantastic Four/FF
Fantastic Four by Matt Fraction and Mark Bagley and FF with Mike Allred
With the Fantastic Four embarking on an epic journey, and an all-new FF ready to take their place – Marvel is proud to unveil superstar artist Mark Bagley’s connecting variant covers to Fantastic Four #1 and FF #1!” said Marvel in a press release. “…Marvel’s First Family redefine what it means to be fantastic. This November in Fantastic Four #1 and FF #1, prepare for action and adventure on a cosmic level!“An all-new direction! All-new threats! All-new teams! This is Fantastic Four and FF NOW!”
The Daily P.O.P. 