Here comes February 2018 and with it an anniversary, the fall of Bendis and more Venom than anyone ever asked for! Let’s dive right in!
AVENGERS #679
AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (1 of 4)
HULK VARIANT COVER BY RAMON PEREZ
NO SURRENDER Part 5
THE AVENGERS WEEKLY EPIC CONTINUES!
Who is the Challenger? What is at stake in his grudge match with the Grandmaster? And when the two of them clash, can the Earth survive the destruction they unleash?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
AVENGERS #680
AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (2 of 4)
NO SURRENDER Part 6
Wonder Man and Beast team up in a desperate attempt to save Jarvis, while the Avengers reel from the crushing loss of one of their own.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
AVENGERS #681
AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (3 of 4)
NO SURRENDER Part 7
Who is Voyager? Valerie Vector, the forgotten founding Avenger, tells all! And a fan-favorite Avenger returns to the fold as the stakes in the battle for Earth become clear!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
AVENGERS #682
AL EWING, JIM ZUB & MARK WAID (W) • KIM JACINTO (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY NICK BRADSHAW (4 of 4)
NO SURRENDER Part 8
One Avenger will gamble everything to save thousands — and the odds aren’t in his favor! The Challenger reveals his ace in the hole, and Jarvis awakens from a mysterious coma long enough to cry four chilling words: “It’s all a lie!”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: So much for no more events, huh? There is a fundamental flaw with this crossover, which is meant to be celebrating all the current incarnations of the Avengers – none of them are established enough for us to be invested! I’m still not sure where Mark Waid’s run is going due to the constant interruptions from events and splits and who knows what else. This needs to be the point where the Avengers series gets its act together.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #597
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI & ALEX MALEEV (A)
Cover by R.B. SILVA
HULK VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS STEVENS
THE SEARCH FOR TONY STARK Part 5
• Ironheart rises, Doom falls and Tony Stark emerges from the shadows!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: Tony Stark returns. We all expected it but will Doom and Riri survive? This seems a lot less likely with recent news of Bendis’ departure.
CHAMPIONS #17
MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
CHAMPION FOR A DAY Part 2
• Red Locust is back, and she’s brought some friends! Meanwhile, the Champions’ global influence is spreading — but is that a good thing?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: Now with Secret Empire and Worlds Collide out of the way, Champions needs to focus itself again. The series is pretty hit and miss but it has landed more hits than misses. So far.
PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #300
CHIP ZDARSKY (W) • ADAM KUBERT (A)
Cover by MARCOS MARTIN
Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Variant Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Remastered VARIANT COVER BY FRANK MILLER
Remastered Sketch Variant Cover by FRANK MILLER
Hulk VARIANT COVER BY David Nakayama
Blank Variant Cover also available
MOST WANTED Part 4
An oversized anniversary epic, told the only way your pre-eminent pals in the Spidey-Office know how — in the Mighty Marvel Manner! For weeks, the Tinkerer has been launching a campaign against his do-gooder brother, the Mason, and Spidey’s nearly met his maker more than once trying to stop their sibling rivalry! With a little help from a tech-heavy team of Marvel heroes, Spider-Man takes the fight directly to Tinkerer! But Tinkerer’s got tech of his own…and it’s out of this world!
56 PGS./Rated T …$5.99
Comments: Behold – the reason for Marvel Legacy’s renumbering! Overpriced anniversary issues! 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #795
DAN SLOTT (W) • MIKE HAWTHORNE (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Hulk Variant Cover by Dale Keown
THREAT LEVEL RED Part 2
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?!
• Spidey pays the Sanctum Sanctorum a visit looking for a consult from the Master of the Mystic arts, Doctor Stephen Strange…
• …but finds himself face-to-face with the Master of Mischief and new Sorcerer Supreme — LOKI LAUFEYSON!
• And he’s even MORE charming than in the movies! Don’t believe us? Read this one and find out for yourself!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #796
DAN SLOTT (W) • MIKE HAWTHORNE (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
THREAT LEVEL RED Part 3
• You’ve watched for months as Norman Osborn has scoured the globe for a cure to the genetic tampering that prevents him from becoming the Green Goblin.
• IN THIS ISSUE…HE FINDS IT!
• And it spells the worst kind of trouble for your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Comments: Loki’s new status quo as Sorceror Supreme is one of the more intriguing threads to emerge in Marvel Legacy so I’m definitely picking up 795. As for Norman Osborn though, I couldn’t care less – over-saturation has really reduced his threat level and he’s in dire need of a post-Gwen Stacey’s death hiatus once more.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #42
DAN SLOTT & DAVID HEIN (W) • CORY SMITH (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE HAWTHORNE
• Searching for answers about a mysterious voicemail from her late husband, Ned Leeds, Betty Brant finds herself in the midst of a mafia conspiracy that stretches back decades!
• Convinced that Ned is alive and trying to help her solve the case, Betty enlists the help of the Amazing Spider-Man to get to the truth…
• …and the ENFORCERS want a word with both of ’em!
• Also includes a short Spidey story by Broadway playwright David Hein (Come From Away)!
56 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
Comments: That time of year again, when Marvel chuck out a half-baked concoction of B-stories wrapped in a nostalgic cover to dupe us into picking it up. I’m sorry if I seem cynical this month boys and girls but it seems like Marvel has reached a point where they need a major turn-around to get me even remotely interested in the main spider-books again.
SPIDER-MAN #237
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • OSCAR BAZALDUA (A)
Cover by PATRICK BROWN
SINISTER SIX REBORN Part 4
• SANDMAN doesn’t trust the leader of the new Sinister Six, and he’s ready to take matters into his own sands!
• Can SPIDER-MAN contain him AND fend off IRON SPIDER, who won’t ignore his vendetta against Miles and his family any longer?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Comments: To break the negativity, I love this book and the recent Iron Spider reveal has only got me more on board. Regardless of your view on Bendis, his work on Miles (and other smaller books) has always been exceptional. I’m sorry to see you go Brian, all the best at DC!
VENOM #161
MIKE COSTA (W)
TIGH WALKER (A)
Cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
Hulk Variant Cover by TBA
TANGLED WEBS Part 1
• Cured of the metabolic disorder affecting the symbiote’s mental state, Venom is back to acting like his old Lethally Protecting self.
• But battling your way through New York City doesn’t go unpunished, and Eddie and the symbiote are about to discover that the hard way…
• …when the wall-crawling super-sleuth SPIDER-WOMAN kicks in their door!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: The use of three basic colors in this cover is strikingly beautiful. Never mind how awesome Venom + Spider Woman is, that cover is to die for!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #16
JODY HOUSER (W)
NATHAN STOCKMAN (A)
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
FAST TIMES AT MIDTOWN HIGH Part 1
• A brand new school year, a brand new adventure!
• Annie is in high school, but is that her DAD she sees wandering the halls?
• Between homework, hallways, and hostile super villain battles after class…
• …Being a teen super hero is a lot more stressful than it used to be.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Comments: It’s good to have ‘Mayday’ back after all these years!
SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #28
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • CHRIS BACHALO (A)
Cover by SCOTT HEPBURN
AREA 14 Part 2
• A leopard won’t change its spots, and the Chameleon won’t change how he changes into other people and steals weapons!
• This is Spidey and Deadpool’s last chance to stop him (and Deadpool’s last chance to steal his stash out from under him) before something is unleashed that will haunt our heroes for years to come!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: An awesome cover by Scott Hepburn here – he actually manages to make the Chameleon look threatening!
SPIDER-GWEN #29
JASON LATOUR (W)
ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (A/C)
GWENOM PART 5
• Gwen Stacy has let herself get lost in the Venom, and it’s turning her against her allies — including Captain America!
• And when Cap comes calling to find out what’s gotten into Gwen, a friendly check-in turns into a no-holds-barred back-alley brawl!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Comments: This definitely gives the feel of a conclusion to Spider-Gwen’s story. If so, please leave her alone Marvel. I don’t want a sub-par team taking over from the legendary Latour and Rodriguez.
BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #14
PETER DAVID (W)
WILL SLINEY (A)
Cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
BAD TO THE BONE PART 1
• Ben Reilly’s ally and new benefactor, Cassandra Mercury, has deduced his secret identity as the Scarlet Spider!
• But with Ben’s psyche hanging the balance, will Cassandra use that knowledge against him?
• And if she does, will Ben be able to control how he responds?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: This series didn’t grab me with its first few issues but I’m thinking of giving it another go. What do you think?
DEFENDERS #10
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • DAVID MARQUEZ (A/C)
Hulk Variant Cover by TBA
KINGPINS OF NEW YORK Part 5
• Daredevil takes on the underworld single-handed as KINGPINS OF NEW YORK reaches a dramatic crescendo!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: As far as I’m aware, this is the end of Bendis on Defenders. Seeing as he redefined some of these characters, it’ll be sad to see his departure.
OLD MAN HAWKEYE #2 (OF 12)
ETHAN SACKS (W) • MARCO CHECCHETTO (A/C)
Hulk variant cover by Terry Dodson
AN EYE FOR AN EYE Part 2
• HAWKEYE makes his first move toward his final mission…
• But WHO is he after, and WHAT have they done to warrant such a hunt?
• Clint better be careful if he wants to stay one step ahead of the marshal on his tail—a FAN-FAVORITE villain you won’t want to miss in the Wastelands of OLD MAN HAWKEYE!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: That. Cover. Is. Beautiful.
GWENPOOL, THE UNBELIEVABLE #25
CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (W)
GURIHIRU (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY Kamome Shirahama
VARIANT COVER BY Jen Bartel
LOST IN THE PLOT PART 2
• Gwen’s future page count is running low…
• …but her thirst for super hero fun and adventure is as high as ever!
• What better time than the present to knock off “join the Avengers” from her bucket list?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: Can your brain deal with this much META?!?
LOCKJAW #1 (OF 4)
Daniel Kibblesmith (W) • Carlos Villa (A)
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by GUSTAVO DUARTE
Variant Cover by RON LIM
WHO’S A GOOD BOY? Part 1
At long last, the dog has his day! Lockjaw spends most of his time defending the Inhuman empire alongside Black Bolt and Medusa. But when he gets a message that his long-lost litter mates are in danger, he’ll spring into action to save them! But wait – Lockjaw has brothers and sisters? Can they teleport? Are they Inhuman? Can they possibly be as gosh-darned cute as their big brother? All the answers are here! Get ready for an adventure worth fetching for!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Comments: After the titanic disaster that was the Inhumans TV show, it’s remarkable Marvel are still shoving them down our throats. Maybe this is another corner of the MU that needs a lengthy hiatus.
X-MEN: BLUE #21
CULLEN BUNN (W)
JACOPO CAMAGNI (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
Poison X Variant Cover
by Stephanie Hans
Trading Card Variant Cover
by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
POISON X PART 2
• SYMBIOTE SPACE PIRATES!
• THE X-MEN and VENOM have been asking the wrong questions in the wrong seedy spaceport cantina!
• Vicious SPACE PIRATES are bad enough…but they’re even worse when they’re using ALIEN SYMBIOTES as weapons!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
VENOM #162
CULLEN BUNN (W) • WILL ROBSON (A/C)
Poison X Variant Cover by TBA
POISON X Part 3
• The first-ever Venom/X-Men crossover continues, as Venom and his new mutated friends hunt down an intergalactic symbiote trafficker!
• But the X-Men may have bitten off more than they can chew. After all, the trafficker isn’t the ONLY one interested in symbiotes…and Venom knows that better than anyone!
• Plus: A seemingly small revelation that will have lasting ramifications in VENOM in the months to come! Just you wait, True Believers!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
X-MEN: BLUE #22
CULLEN BUNN (W)
JACOPO CAMAGNI (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
Poison X Variant by David Nakayama
POISON X PART 4
• The X-MEN have given themselves a power boost – in the form of ALIEN SYMBIOTES!
• But their new powers have made them the targets of the symbiote-consuming POISONS!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Comments: Do we actually need ANOTHER Venom crossover? Like, one every couple of years would be fine. Not a trilogy in a couple of months!
And now the TPBs you can pick up in Feb…
COLOR YOUR OWN AVENGERS
Penciled by VARIOUS
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
ON SALE MARCH 2018
And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest heroes and heroines found themselves uncolored, without their common palette! On that day, the Avengers were adorned — with all the hues no single super hero could withstand! Through these pages, their roster prospers, changing many times, but their glory will never be denied! Heed the call, then — for now, you Artists Assemble! Yes, your big moment is here. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hulk, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Falcon and more take action in beautiful black-and-white illustrations by some of Marvel’s finest talents from across the eras! They’re just waiting for you to enter the fray — so grab your full lineup of markers, pencils or crayons…and unleash an Avengers world of color!
120 PGS./All Ages …$9.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90893-5
VENOMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE, CARL POTTS, D.G. CHICHESTER, LEN KAMINSKI, DANNY FINGEROTH, ANN NOCENTI, BRUCE JONES, PETER DAVID, TERRY KAVANAGH, HOWARD MACKIE, MIKE LACKEY, LARRY HAMA & GREGORY WRIGHT
Penciled by MARK BAGLEY, RON LIM, TOM LYLE, SCOTT MCDANIEL, KEVIN HOPGOOD, TODD SMITH, KELLEY JONES, BOB MCLEOD, JIM CRAIG, LIAM SHARP, MARK TENNEY, ANDREW WILDMAN, STEVEN BUTLER & RON RANDALL
Cover by
Spider-Man’s symbiotic sparring partner goes solo as he heads to San Francisco — but is he a deadly villain or lethal protector? Find out, along with the Punisher, Daredevil, Iron Man, Hulk, Darkhawk, Juggernaut, Spidey and more! Venom faces madness, vengeance and a bad case of separation anxiety — plus the ultimate symbiote showdown with the psychopathic Carnage! It’s a Brock-buster volume that could only be called a Venomnibus! Collecting VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR #1-6, VENOM: FUNERAL PYRE #1-3, DAREDEVIL (1964) #323, IRON MAN (1968) #302, DARKHAWK #35-37, VENOM: THE MADNESS #1-3, VENOM: THE ENEMY WITHIN #1-3, INCREDIBLE HULK VS. VENOM #1, VENOM: THE MACE #1-3, NIGHTWATCH #5-6, VENOM: NIGHTS OF VENGEANCE #1-4, SPIDER-MAN: THE ARACHNIS PROJECT #6, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #118-119, SPIDER-MAN (1990) #52-53, VENOM: SEPARATION ANXIETY #1-4, VENOM: CARNAGE UNLEASHED #1-4 and material from SILVER SABLE & THE WILD PACK #18-19, plus Venom subplot pages.
1096 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-9124-4
SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES VOL. 4 TPB
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by OSCAR BAZALDUA
Cover by PATRICK BROWN
The Sinister Six reborn! Miles Morales’ world has been shaken up lately, but nothing compares to what the mysterious Iron Spider and his new group of super villains are about to do. Sandman, Hobgoblin, the Spot, Electro and Bombshell (?!) have united — to make Miles’ life a living hell! And unfortunately for those closest to our hero, it’s not just his life that’s going to get obliterated. Miles’ friend Lana has been through so much and grown into a hero. But with Bombshell on the Sinister Six, things look set to blow up for her — in a bad way! Can Spider-Man possibly save the day, or are the odds against him? Be there as Miles Morales faces his greatest challenge yet! Collecting SPIDER-MAN (2016) #234-238.
112 PGS./Rated T …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90598-9
SPIDER-MEN II TPB
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by SARA PICHELLI
Cover by SARA PICHELLI
The sequel five years in the making! The first time the Amazing Peter Parker and the Ultimate Miles Morales met, things ended with a question: Who is the Miles Morales of the Marvel Universe?! Now that the Miles you know and love shares a world with Peter in the mainstream MU, you’re finally going to get the answer — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! As the mystery deepens, the wall-crawling wonders will find themselves targeted by the Taskmaster! Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli bring you the next heart-stopping adventure for both Spider-Men! Collecting SPIDER-MEN II #1-5.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90883-6
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Correct ISBN: 978-1-302-9124-44
@JH I’m sorry but that’s not really making use of the character then. That could work with any given character and also doesn’t touch upon his mother’s heritage.
The way to fix Norman or any character written by Slott s to just give them to a competent writer who gets it. In the late 1990s and early 2000s Venom essentially went straight from his terrible 90s mini-series that’d been running throughout the decade into being a recurring villain in Mackie’s run on Spider-Man. And despite Mackie’s poor track record in most other aspects, he actually wrote Venom very well and restored him to what he was supposed to be.
When a character has appeared a lot and been mishandled killing them off or putting them on hiatus isn’t the way to fix them. If it was then the same logic should apply to Mary Jane, Spider-Man himself or the Punisher after he got done being an agent of Heaven (yes that really happened). But after Mackie left they just gave Peter to JMS who knew what he was doing and they gave Punisher to Garth Ennis who just handwaved what happened and wrote Frank properly again.
Same deal here. Just write Norman properly and all will be well.
@Al I think the inner conflict Miles has about the path his father and Aaron is Bendis’ way of representing the fears of being a poc, especially in such a partisan place as New York can be.
As for Norman, I was just putting forward a suggestion as to how to fix this character. I mostly enjoyed the stuff with the Avengers but I think Slott’s direction with the character since Superior has seemed pretty aimless and untrue to his character. Ock and Venom are also quite over saturated and I do want to see a bit less of them both but I’m enjoying their recent stuff more than I am Norman’s.
I could be wrong though and we could see a brilliant story with Norman soon. Only time will tell. Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂
So Bagley is ALREADY off Venom?
Is anyone else sad that for Spectacular Spider-Man #100 we got Peter and Black Cat’s break up, for Spec #200 we got Harry Osborn’s death and now for Spec #300 we’re getting….Spider-Man teams up with tech heroes…to fight Tinkerer…
Regarding Bendis work on Miles…I really have to disagree. Miles is bland, overpowered and doesn’t even use the inherent premise to it’s fullest potential (I’m talking before cosmically fucking up his character via making him come to 616). A poc kid in NYC acting as Spider-Man? Does he view crime differently? Does he question not just himself but his idol in regards to how he maybe didn’t get involved in social aspects of crime fighting? Does he feel an especial kind of estrangement due to his cultural heritage being different to the environment he grew up in? How does being African American AND Latinex make him feel, how does he reconcile those two aspects of his heritage?I mean Christ…SUPERMAN addresses that stuff more than I’ve seen Miles Morales do it. It’s not even that much of an ask for the character or writer. Bendis is Jewish so could on some level tap into that estrangement, the core premise of the character is built upon him being a poc character and he’s literally all about the legacy? Why not expand that more into his cultural legacy too rather than do stories about how he’s immortal and can electrocute pretty much anyone whilst having endless team ups?
Wasted potential could also sum up most of Spider-Hipster/Gwen
As for Norman Osborn…I’m sorry dude but….no.
I’m sorry but the ‘over saturation’ argument against Norman is really royally unfair when you consider that VENOM and DOC OCK aren’t regarded the same way. Nobody is saying either of those characters should be killed off or rested for 20 years ala Norman after Gwen died.
Nobody. Even people sick of them aren’t suggesting something THAT extreme.
Shit has Norman even been AS overexposed as either of those characters? He was the leader of a team book like 7 years ago and the big bad of the Marvel universe around that time…but again…7 years ago….
He wasn’t even the Norman Osborn we know and love from Spider-Man he was ripping off Iron Man and Lex Luthor as opposed to playing in the same ball park he used to when he was a Spider-Man villain. He barely even did that in Superior and hasn’t done so at all since volume 4 started.
It’s hardly oversaturation when your villain hasn’t been in your series and when he has he hasn’t even acted like said villain. Meanwhile the OTHER big Bads of Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery, Doc Ock, Venom, Carnage AND Kingpin, all had ongoing series FAR more recently. One of them was even the LEAD of the entire series replacing the main character and the other has very recently wrapped up an entire event about derivative versions of himself. Hell Venom isn’t even AS deep of a character as Norman but he gets to be the lead of his own series…multiple times.
So…why are we only asking for NORMAN to be put on hiatus?
Is it because Marvel had the audacity of bringing him back to life? That thing that was not only necessary at the time but led to MULTIPLE great stories and built him up as Spider-Man’s greatest villain (no seriously he absolutely is).
Not mayday.
Why does Lockjaw have a moustache?