December 2016 Spider-Solicitations

Sorry this is so late, but here comes November 2016 and with it comes Carnage’s final battle, holiday specials and even more clones!

THE CLONE CONSPIRACY #3 (of 5)
DAN SLOTT (W) • JIM CHEUNG (A)
Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY ALEXANDER LOZANO
XCI Variant Cover by TBA
THE CLONE CONSPIRACY CONTINUES!
• SPIDER-MAN is on the run from his resurrected rogues!
• The Jackal’s master plan is further revealed. Just how deep does it run?
• And why is Doctor Octopus playing second fiddle to the Jackal?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I am really not too sure how to feel about the Clone Conspiracy. The ‘Before Dead No More’ tie-ins have been interesting but the silliness of the concept and the future introduction of resurrected Gwen has me quite scared. With Slott having the tendency to be inconsistent with these events, here’s hoping this one will go down in his win column.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #22
DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS GAGE (W) • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
XCI Variant Cover by TBA
Variant Cover by TBA
CLONE CONSPIRACY TIE-IN!
• Miles Warren, a.k.a. the Jackal, has been a thorn in Peter Parker’s side since college.
• What spurred his latest rebranding and master plan? FIND OUT HERE!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: I know the Jackal has had his fair share of duds with his stories, but he is genuinely one of my favorite Spidey villains. The first Spidey story I ever read was the Original Clone Saga so I’ve always had a connection with the character. So whether the Clone Conspiracy sucks or not, it’ll be interesting to see more of the Joker-knock-off that we know and love.

SILK #15
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • IRENE STRYCHALSKI (A)
Cover by HELEN CHEN
THE CLONE CONSPIRACY TIE-IN!
• In the midst of DEAD NO MORE: THE CLONE CONSPIRACY, SILK faces off against a SPIDER-WOMAN!
• NEW U has given J. Jonah Jameson his life back. First, his wife Marla was brought back from the dead, and now his adopted daughter, Mattie Franklin, a.k.a. SPIDER-WOMAN, is alive again as well!
• It should be a time for celebration, but Cindy Moon, a.k.a. SILK, is feeling anything but festive, especially since her boss’ entire family has been resurrected and is setting off her spider-sense!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: It seems to be the tie-ins for this event are just going to be a bunch of people coming back from the dead. I wonder if they’ll stick around or if they’ll find a way to get rid of them like the Ben Reilly of Spider-Verse.

PROWLER #3
SEAN RYAN (W)
JAMAL CAMPBELL (A)
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
Variant Cover by TBA
THE CLONE CONSPIRACY TIE-IN!
• Prowler continues to wrestle not only with the meaning of his existence, but also the underground army of unruly super villains the Jackal has created!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I’m oddly excited for this one, even though I’m not entirely sure how it’ll sustain itself post-Clone Conspiracy. Also, does having an army of super villains confirm that the Jackal is definitely a bad guy, not an anti-hero.

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #3
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • ALEX MALEEV (A/C)
Variant Cover by STEVE EPTING
• Some people from Tony Stark’s past have a VERY big problem with Victor Von Doom taking the mantle of Iron Man.
• One of those people is Pepper Potts, a.k.a. Rescue!
• She is back and she is pissed! Where has she been?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #2
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI (A/C)
Variant Cover by ANTHONY PIPER
Teaser Variant Cover by MIKE DEODATO
XCI Variant Cover by TBA
• Riri Williams has new armor technology that just might change the face of the Marvel Universe forever… if she survives the experience. The biggest story in comics starts to unfold right here.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I think these Iron Man stories are the ones Bendis wanted to tell all along but he had to get Tony out of the way first. Bendis has a hit-or-miss track record when it comes to juggling two books in a franchise, so fingers crossed that these ones are invincible and not infamous (see what I did there?).

AVENGERS #2
MARK WAID (W) • MIKE DEL MUNDO (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY SIMONE BIANCHI
XCI Variant Cover by TBA
• KANG WAR TWO! The Vision is hell-bent on revenge against Kang and if the Avengers can’t hold the synthezoid back, all of history is in jeopardy!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Waid’s real strength so far has obviously been with the younger members of the Avengers, but he has also managed to craft an interesting arc with the Vision (although nowhere near as good as the one in Tom King’s mind-blowing series). Because of this it’ll be interesting to see the Synthezoid’s anger towards his former controller develop as ‘Kang War Two’ unfolds.

CHAMPIONS #3
MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A)
COVER BY HUMBERTO RAMOS
VARIANT COVER BY ART ADAMS
Classic Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Marvel NOW! Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
XCI Variant Cover by TBA
• What began as an idea and an ideal has now become a movement! But the problem with movements is that not even the Hulk can control them!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: As I mentioned earlier, Waid’s real strength has been with the younger members of the Avengers – Miles, Sam and Kamala. I hope to see him carry on this tradition with the other heroes he’s bringing into the Champions. I can see this series going down a similar route to what Occupy Avengers is proposing, where the heroes are fighting ideals and beliefs rather than super villains. It remains to be seen whether Ramos’ kinetic art is grounded enough to represent a story like this.

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #12
PAUL SCHEER & NICK GIOVANNETTI (w) • TODD NAUCK (a)
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
• A special guest-issue while Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness prime the grand climax of their first uber-arc!
• It’s the holidays and both our heroes are alone…
• …which means they’re the only ones who can SAVE CHRISTMAS!
• That’s right, the holiday is under attack…from the least likely of places!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Jeez, how many guest issues can a series have?

SPIDER-MAN #11
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • SARA PICHELLI (A/C)
• The untold history of MILES MORALES’ FATHER!
• What was life like for Jefferson Davis before his son was born…
• …When he was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Didn’t we have this story a few years ago? I’ve definitely seen the secret origin of Jefferson Davis before. Ah well, here we go again!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #2
GERRY CONWAY (w) • RYAN STEGMAN (a/C)
VARIANT COVER BY J. Scott Campbell
• The Mole Man attacks NYC and only the Spider-Family can stop him!
• Mary Jane Watson Parker gets her first real test as a full-fledged super hero!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Whilst I’m not a huge lover of MJ’s costume, who among us isn’t excited for this series? Seriously?

SPIDER-WOMAN #14
DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • VERONICA FISH (A)
Cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
SCARE TACTICS CONTINUES!
• Jessica Drew is in the fight of her life against THE HOBGOBLIN!
• Jessica is pushed to the absolute brink physically, mentally and emotionally, as Hobgoblin does the unthinkable…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Spider-Woman has been a surprise hit since Spider-Verse wrapped up and it’s always good to see a Hobgoblin in action. So essentially, I’m looking forward to this one.

VENOM #2
MIKE COSTA (w) • GERARDO SANDOVAL (a/C)
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Venom was doing so well as a cosmic hero…
• …but now he’s back on Earth in the gutter.
• Who has taken possession of the symbiote and turned him back into the slathering, fanged monster?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Costa, Sandoval and Venom can all be hit-or-miss for me, so who knows which way this one will sway!

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #18
PETER DAVID (W) • WILL SLINEY (A)
Cover by FRANCESCO Mattina
• With Elektra’s help, Spidey has made some headway in tracking down THE FIST, an extremist anti-government off-shoot of THE HAND, responsible for placing Miguel’s girlfriend in a coma.
• But little do they know, that the Hand has upped the ante, calling in an ANCIENT evil to help them bring about the end of the entire world!
• How can Spidey save the world from certain doom when Armageddon is in written in the cards?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I did not like the first volume of this, mainly due to the mid-series detour for Spider-Verse, but ever since catching up with this series I’ve been totally on board. Also for an issue to reach #18 in this day and age is quite an achievement.

CARNAGE #15
GERRY CONWAY (W) • MIKE PERKINS (A)
Cover by MICHAEL WALSH
• It’s all been leading to this…Chthon rises!!
• Carnage’s odyssey has finally taken him to the mother of all dark gods. Will he survive long enough to meet the maker of the Darkhold?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Yeah, this series has gone well under my radar and I don’t really have much intention of catching up – let me know in the comments if it’s worth a read.

SPIDER-GWEN #15
JASON LATOUR (W) • ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (A/C)
ICX VARIANT BY TBA
• It’s time for Gwen Stacy to stop running from Matt Murdock.
• After all, Earth-65’s Kingpin of Crime might have a thing or two to teach the budding Spider-Woman…
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: More Evil Matt Murdock? Count me in!

PATSY WALKER, A.K.A. HELLCAT! #13 
• Hellcat’s had enough bad luck with Black Cat crossing her path, but now that Felicia’s got a whole girl gang in her claws, how can Patsy possibly win this cat fight?!

• Especially with her best friend on the fence, and distracted by an old flame…

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #11
DAVID F. WALKER (W) • SANFORD GREENE (A/C)
THE FUNKY DRUMS OF WAR!
• Luke and Danny make headway in healing the civilian wounds of CIVIL WAR II.
• But war is coming to Harlem, and there may not be anything our heroes can do to stop it!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: These might have Black Cat in. That’s the only reason they’re here.

GWENPOOL, THE UNBELIEVABLE #9
CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (W) • GURIHIRU (A)
Cover by David Lopez
• Gwen has found herself in serious trouble with M.O.D.O.K.’s mysterious client.
• But not just that, the authorities are after her, too!
• And what’s this about a flashback to the early days of the Marvel Universe?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-up
CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS, RYAN NORTH, NICK KOCHER, KARLA PACHECO, CHYNNA CLUGSTON-FLORES (W)
CHYNNA CLUGSTON-FLORES, Myisha Haynes, Nathan Stockman & More (A)
Cover by SALVA ESPIN
Variant Cover by Ron Lim
Variant cover by Chip Zdarsky
Variant by Erica Henderson
It’s the holidays yet again, and that means it’s time to join EVERYONE’S FAVORITE GWEN (take that, Stacy!) and celebrate good times, come on! Only problem is…somehow this year’s festive traditions seem to be a little…off…and Gwen’s the only one who notices. FEATURING: Gwenpool (duh), Spider-Man, Red Skull, Punisher and even Deadpool! This is one present you know you gotta buy yourself!
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

Comments: Woah, we are getting more Gwenpool than anybody asked for!

DEADPOOL: BACK IN BLACK #5 (of 5)
CULLEN BUNN (W) • SALVADOR ESPIN (A/C)
Variant Cover by RON LIM
• Deadpool’s adventures in the Venom symbiote conclude!
• Guest-starring…black costume Spider-Man?!
• That’s right – we’ve got everyone’s favorite symbiotic relationship…
• …and the symbiote is there, too!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Comments: Too. Much. Deadpool.

 

 

SOLO #3• Solo’s caught in the middle of a civil war!

• No, not THAT civil war… but it’s a fight to the death between two rival biker gangs, and if Solo doesn’t get his act together, they might turn their attention toward him!

SLAPSTICK #1
REILLY BROWN & FRED VAN LENTE (W) • DIEGO OLORTEGUI (A)
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Variant Cover by RON LIM
Variant Cover by ROB LIEFELD
Sketch Variant Cover by ROB LIEFELD
ICX VARIANT COVER BY Pasqual Ferry
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by TBA
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
Steve Harmon was an average teenager who had an average job as your average clown, living in average New Jersey. But after being zapped by weird and mysterious extradimensional energy, Steve became Slapstick, a living, breathing cartoon! Now, after joining, and then quitting, Deadpool’s Mercs for Money, Slapstick is striking it out on his own terms! Sure he’s gotta move back in with his parents, but these new business ventures take time. And anyways, he gets to team-up with the Amazing Spider-Man in his first issue. That seems like he’s doing pretty well to me!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Comments: I’m calling it now –  both of these series will get cancelled by #11. Anyone willing to take the bet?

COVER OF THE MONTH: The Clone Conspiracy #3! Gabriele Dell’otto really knocks it out of the park with this one. It’s contrast of the distinct and the faded makes for a really striking visual. So kudos Dell’otto, you win…nothing… but I hope it makes you feel good! And at the end of the day, that’s what us at the Crawlspace are all about…