Marvel Penguin Picks: January 2023
Above-the-Board Recommendation:
A.X.E.: Judgment Day & Companion
Kieron Gillen once said that he’d only return to the Marvel Universe if he was given the keys to take on a major storytelling role within it. Something comparable to what Jonathan Hickman was doing with the “X-Men” at the time. Marvel took the writer up on that and this is likely the biggest payoff we’ll get from that: Gillen writing a major linewide crossover between two of the titles he was writing, “Immortal X-Men” and “Eternals,” with the Avengers caught in between. The idea is that all of the changes mutantkind has undergone in recent years have caused them to be regarded as Deviants in the eyes of the Eternals. This is a fact that current Prime Eternal Druig is willing to run with in order to consolidate his power, and the results aren’t going to go well for anyone.
Aside from the basic premise, and that I’ve heard there’s a lot of Celestial-based judging going on later in the series, I haven’t been spoiled for this event series. I hope it stays that way because I’d like to see how Gillen masterminds one of these things. Particularly since he’s writing a large chunk of it. In addition to the six issues of the main series, he also wrote the prologue, the concluding “Omega” issue, the three-issue “Death to the Mutants” tie-in miniseries, the “X-Men,” “Avengers,” “Eternals,” and “Starfox” one-shots and the tie-in issues of “Immortal X-Men.” “Omega, “DttM,” and “Starfox” are also collected in the “Companion” volume, so that should be considered essential reading for this story as well. Particularly for anyone who was reading and enjoying Gillen’s “Eternals” series as those issues represent the actual finale for his run on that title.
Avengers: War Across Time #1 (of 5): Truth be told, there’s no one creator Marvel could snag from DC that would have the same impact as the time when DC got Stan Lee to reimagine their universe. That being said, Paul Levitz is about as close as they’re going to get. A longtime writer and editor at DC before he became its President and Publisher from 2002-2009, he worked exclusively at that company during his career in comics. Until now. “War Across Time” involves the original Avengers (Cap, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Ant-Man) taking on Kang in a, well… you know. I can’t say it’s the strongest hook for Levitz’s debut at Marvel, but it’s going to have art from Alan Davis, so that’s another reason to check this out.
Wasp #1 (of 4): Al Ewing writes about another Avenger, after Ant-Man, with artist Kasia Nie. Janet Van Dyne is in a good place right now, which means it shouldn’t surprise anyone that an old enemy has come out of the woodwork to threaten her and fellow Wasp, Nadia. The catch is that this villain looks to be doing this against their will. So it begs the question of who’s really pulling the strings in this particular adventure? It’s Ewing, so you should know I’m already onboard with this.
Joe Fixit #1 (of 5): The Peter David Hit Parade continues as the writer returns to one of his most distinctive Hulk characters. That would be the Gray Hulk who worked as a mobster in Vegas going by the name Joe Fixit. I’m under the impression that there’s a lot of room for untold tales involving the character after he first appeared. Which explains how he’ll be mixing it up with the Kingpin while that crimelord is in town while Spider-Man tries to keep the peace (and the city in one piece). I’m actually more familiar with Fixit from the time Al Ewing was writing him in “Immortal Hulk.” He was a fun character there, so I’m curious to see what his creator does with him in the present day. Which reminds me that I should eventually get around to reading David’s “Maestro” comics as they appeared to be another return to a character he created that came off pretty well.
Sins of Sinister #1: Kieron Gillen dives from one event into another as Mister Sinister finally gets what he’s always wanted: A universe remade in his image. I’m sure he’ll finally be happy here and not feel some compelling reason to undo what he’s done and revert things to their natural state. I mean, that can’t be what the solicitation text is referring to when Sinister finds out that he’s his own worst enemy, right? Gillen writing an event focused around a character that he redefined and has rightfully been accused of writing the definitive version of is another real SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY proposition. Even more so when you realize that Al Ewing and Simon Spurrier will be joining him next month as “X-Men: Red” and “Legion of X” transform into “Storm and the Brotherhood” and “Nightcrawlers.” What’s “Immortal X-Men” becoming in this brave new world? “Immoral X-Men,” of course.
X-Force #36: I haven’t been keeping up with this title, but it appears that Benjamin Percy’s run is reaching its climax. I’m saying this because the solicitation text advertises this issue as the first of the Xeno saga finale as Domino, Deadpool, and Omega Red fall into the clutches of The Man With the Peacock Tattoo. Which, uh… thirty-six issues in and they’re still calling him that? You’d think they’d have given him a proper name or revealed who he really is, but he’s still The Man With the Peacock Tattoo. Whatever you say, Ben. In the meantime I’ve got more issues of this to catch up on Marvel Unlimited, so I’ll see if this finale is something to get excited about (silly name or no).
Hulk #11: Ryan Ottley writes and illustrates this issue, which is part three of “Hulk Planet.” Huh… “Thor” is still in the middle of a fill-in arc in these solicitations as well. I hope that Donny Cates is doing all right and that he’ll be back next month on both titles. Or at least one. Or just to let us know that he’s doing all right.
The Variants: Gail Simone writes Jessica Jones. That sentence alone is enough to get me interested, but this miniseries also has Phil Noto illustrating it. Which is even better. Also great is that there’s a solid hook to this story: Jessica encountering different versions of herself from the multiverse while on a case. We all know that she’s not the easiest person to get along with at the best of times, but how do you think she’s going to manage when confronted with variants that show how her life could’ve been better… or worse. I’m so there for this.
Defenders: Beyond: We’re not done with Al Ewing in these solicitations yet! This is the follow-up to his “Defenders” miniseres (natch) with Javier Rodriguez returning to provide the art. They’re the most familiar part to return from the previous miniseries, along with Taaia – Mother of Galactus. That’s because there’s a whole new team of Defenders in town including America Chavez, the Blue Marvel, and Tigra, who are now led by Loki – and not just any Loki! We’re talking about the Loki who walked out of continuity at the end of Ewing’s “Agent of Asgard” series. What threat could possibly be big enough to get this random assortment of characters to work together? Well, the solicitation text tells us to expect the return of the Beyonder… and the Phoenix… So I hope the Prince of Lies – I mean, Stories, has one heck of a plan to deal with the both of those cosmic forces.