July 2018 Spider-Solicitations with JH Commentary

Here comes July 2018 and with it an all-new all-different Spider-Man (don’t worry, not that one), the end of eras for Latour and Zdarsky and a blue Spider-Clone? Haven’t we seen that before…

Let’s dive right in!  

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 & #2
NICK SPENCER (W) • RYAN OTTLEY (A/C)
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY JIM CHEUNG
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY JEROME OPENA
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY SHANE DAVIS
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY JOHN ROMITA SR
ISSUE #1 – VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY RYAN OTTLEY
ISSUE #1 – REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY TBA
ISSUE #1 – B&W REMASTERED VARIANT COVER BY TBA
ISSUE #1 – BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
ISSUE #2 – VARIANT COVER BY TBA
An alien invasion hits New York City and the only one who can stop it is…Spider-Man?! But that’s far from all you’ll find here – a revelation from the past puts Peter Parker’s job, relationships, and whole life in jeopardy! And if even that’s not enough, you’ll see a new roommate, new love interests – and a new villain! Spider-Man goes back to basics courtesy of Nick Spencer (SECRET EMPIRE, SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN) and the Marvel debut of RYAN OTTLEY (Invincible)!
ISSUE #1 – 356 PGS. /Rated T …$5.99
ISSUE #2 – 32 PGS. /Rated T …$3.99

Comments: For the first time in a long time, a completely new creative team piloting ASM! We’ve heard the ‘back-to-basics’ rhetoric enough times for it not to mean anything, and ‘new love interests’ is hardly an exciting prospect. Also its a bit of poor editorial work that this alien invasion story kicks off the same month Spectacular’s ends. But putting those little qualms aside, Spencer’s  Superior Foes is an all-time classic and the *spoilers* addition of Boomerang to the main cast will hopefully allow him to recapture some of its charm. I have faith that this will be an invigorating new age for Spider-Man and I look forward to seeing where Spencer takes us. 

INFINITY COUNTDOWN: CHAMPIONS #2 (OF 2)
JIM ZUB (W) • EMILIO LAISO (A)
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
CHAMPIONS…OF THE CHITAURI?
Nova and the Champions fighting for Thanos? Strange allies abound and sacrifices will be made…One of these young heroes is about to lose everything.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

CHAMPIONS #22
JIM ZUB (W) • KEVIN LIBRANDA (A)
COVER BY STEFANO CASELLI
Guest-starring the macabre Man-Thing!
The Champions’ mission in space (in INFINITY COUNTDOWN!) has left its mark, and the team tries to move on. A chance to bring life back to a desolate village might be just what they need – or push them even farther apart…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: It irks me that the Infinity tie-in will have a huge impact on the team, even though it happens in a miniseries and not the main book. It mainly irks me because I will be picking up both of these and my wallet ain’t happy about it. 

HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #3 (of 4)
TOM TAYLOR (W) • R.B. SILVA (A)
COVER BY GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
Variant Cover by R.B. SILVA
HAS SINISTER UNLOCKED THE SECRETS OF LOGAN’S GENES?
• The hunt for Wolverine has led his New Avengers teammates into the mysteries of the genetic codes of the heroes of the Marvel Universe… And where there’s super-powered genes, you KNOW Mister Sinister is involved!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Comments: 4 miniseries = overkill.

PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #307
CHIP ZDARSKY (W) • ADAM KUBERT & JUAN FRIGERI (A)
Cover by ADAM KUBERT
• The Vedomi invaded Earth back in #300, leading Spider-Man on a journey through the past and future to try and defeat them.
• Did it work? FIND OUT HERE in the stunning conclusion to the first year of Chip Zdarsky and Adam Kubert’s run on PP:SSM!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Inconsistent but worth it in the end. Zdarsky has really won me over with Spectacular, even if it hasn’t always hit the mark (I’m looking at you, comedy club  scene!). I can only presume, and hope, Kubert and he are staying on for Year Two.

BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #21
PETER DAVID (W) • WILL SLINEY (A)
Cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
• For months, an occult group called The Diogenes Initiative has been resurrecting heroes and letting them run amok in Ben Reilly’s town. As the Scarlet Spider, he may have a thing or two to say about that.
• IN THIS ISSUE: Ben gets one step closer to a miracle cure for young Abigail Mercury…
• …and with it, one step closer to a fight to the death with his “brother” Kaine!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: Is Kaine alive again? I honestly can’t keep up.

SPIDER-GWEN #34
JASON LATOUR (W)
ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (A/C)
THE TRIAL OF SPIDER-WOMAN CONCLUDES!
• For months, Gwen Stacy has been fighting the world as Spider-Woman…
• Now her mask is off, and she’s got to face the music as Gwen Stacy.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: What a run! I’ll miss Spider-Gwen, it has been one of Marvel’s strongest outings for three years now. But a word of warning for Marvel, do not, I repeat, do not bring Gwenback with a different creative team! That is an order!

VENOM #4
DONNY CATES (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A/C)
• An ancient Klyntar has awakened on Earth, and with it, something has stirred in Eddie Brock’s symbiote.
• And while Venom would never do anything to hurt Eddie or an innocent person, the ancient symbiote has no such qualms…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I’d like to request that, from here on out, Stegman draws EVERYTHING. If it’s not too much to ask.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #21
JODY HOUSER (W) • SCOTT KOBLISH (A)
Cover by EDUARD PETROVICH
WEIRD SCIENCE CONTINUES!
• Is this the start of Annie Parker’s own clone saga?
• Can Peter and Mary Jane save her from herself?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Blue Spider-Clone? Never seen that before!

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #35 & #36
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • MATT HORAK (A)
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
• The Master Matrix has been unearthed as well as all the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s LMD program…
• At the heart of this program were MARY AND RICHARD PARKER, A.K.A., The Amazing Spider-Parents.
• Just when you thought you could trust that two people were without blemish, Deadpool somehow ruins them, too.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Comments: I know SM/D is a joke comic, but I’d rather it steered away from the Parker Parents. As Human Torch once said…

 

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #34
RYAN NORTH (W)
DEREK CHARM (A)
COVER BY ERICA HENDERSON
• Squirrel Girl and Kraven have had a nice day out as civilians, instead of their usual costumed identities! It was really straightforward and uneventful…
• …is what we’d be saying if this was a way more boring comic, WHICH IT ISN’T! Instead we can say that Squirrel Girl and Kraven battled Mojo’s evil clone and saved the city from his deadly machinations. Then they all got arrested!
• When Doreen Green and Sergei Kravenoff end up BEHIND BARS, can they be saved? Will they even make it to trial? And who will be their lawyer?
• We can answer that last one: It’s obviously going to be none other than JENNIFER WALTERS, the incredible SHE-HULK!
• Doreen behind bars! Kraven on the stand! And a conclusion to the trial that nobody will see coming! It’s all this and more in this particular Marvel comic!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Comments: Squirrel Girl and Kraven need their own team-up book.

VENOM: ALONG CAME A SPIDER… TPB
Written by LARRY HAMA, EVAN SKOLNICK, LEN KAMINSKI & ERIC FEIN
Penciled by JOE ST. PIERRE, TOM GRINDBERG, PATCH ZIRCHER, DUNCAN ROULEAU, JIM CALAFIORE, TED HALSTED & MORE
Cover by JOE ST. PIERRE
It’s Venom vs. Spider-Man once again…for the first time! Eddie Brock takes on a very different web-slinger: Ben Reilly! With Venom a wanted man and Eddie’s ex-wife Anne Weying caught in the middle, a deadly rivalry is reborn! And when the symbiote-hunting alien Xenophage targets Venom, this time it’s Eddie’s brain in danger of being eaten! Meanwhile, four imprisoned symbiotes join together to become Hybrid — but how will this unstable new hero be judged by the Jury? And as Venom’s hunger threatens to overwhelm him, can Eddie keep his “other” in check — or will everyone’s favorite symbiote become a crazed cannibal killer? Either way, Venom’s in for a world of hurt — courtesy of Dr. Paine! Collecting VENOM: ALONG CAME A SPIDER #1-4, VENOM: THE HUNTED #1-3, VENOM: THE HUNGER #1-4 and material from SPIDER-MAN HOLIDAY SPECIAL 1995.
392 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91362-5

VENOMIZED TPB
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Penciled by IBAN COELLO & KEVIN LIBRANDA
Cover by NICHOLAS BRADSHAW
The story that began in VENOMVERSE reaches its epic conclusion! The Poisons, a species that hungers for super-powered symbiotes and their hosts, have picked their next target: the Marvel Universe itself! Their first objective? Put every superhuman in a Klyntar symbiote — and then consume them! And with Venom and the X-Men still missing after the events of “Poison-X,” Earth stands defenseless! By the time they make it back home, Venom and the X-Men find dozens of heroes and villains unwillingly bonded with symbiotes. And when the Poisons consume one of their strongest allies, the champions of Earth must rally — and stand against one of their own! But what do the Poisons have planned for Cletus Kasady, A.K.A. Carnage? And can anything in the galaxy stand in the way of…Poison Thanos?! Collecting VENOMIZED #1-5.
136 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91169-0

VENOM: DARK ORIGIN TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Penciled by ANGEL MEDINA
Cover by ANGEL MEDINA
On the unlikely day when an embittered, washed-up journalist met a spurned symbiotic organism from an alien planet, a force of evil and vengeance like no other in the Marvel Universe was born: Venom! But was his origin as simple as that? From the saga of the Sin-Eater to the super-hero Secret Wars, discover the events that brought Eddie Brock together with his symbiotic “other” — and the twin corruptions doomed to bring together this wreck of a man and jealous monster to form Spider-Man’s deadliest foe! Learn the never-before-seen truth about Venom’s past and the symbiote’s home planet! And witness the moment when the entity blackens Brock’s heart, tars his soul and sets him on the fateful path of brutal revenge against his hated enemy! Collecting VENOM: DARK ORIGIN #1-5.
120 PGS./Rated T+ …$14.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91280-2

CHAMPIONS VOL. 3 TPB
Written by MARK WAID & JEREMY WHITLEY
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS, TED BRANDT & RO STEIN
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Following the staggering loss suffered in their adventure with the Avengers, the Champions decide to double down on their mission to make the world a better place — and that means it’s time for a membership drive! Some of the best and brightest young superhumans in the Marvel Universe — including Red Locust — turn up to be Champions for a day! But who will make the grade as the new order changeth? And how long will they last when — following a series of tragic setbacks and shakeups — the disillusioned Champions begin to consider giving up the fight after all? Plus: As monsters are unleashed on Earth, a peaceful protest in an endangered habitat leads the team into a showdown with the Freelancers — not to mention giant Leviathons falling from the sky! Collecting CHAMPIONS (2016) #16-18 and #1.MU.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90620-7

PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 – AMAZING FANTASY TPB
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY
Penciled by JOE QUINONES & ADAM KUBERT
Cover by JOE QUINONES
Join Peter Parker, his sister (?) Teresa and J. Jonah Jameson in a time-travel spectacular! Faced with a problem so huge that the only solution lies in the past, the unlikely trio will attempt to save tomorrow…by taking the fight to yesterday! But their high-risk gamble may just alter the course of history for the worse! Because when Spidey & Co, head back to the present day, they’ll find an Earth they never expected — where stopping one threat has unleashed something far worse! For in a world without Spider-Man, Norman Osborn reigns supreme! Can Peter trust one of mankind’s greatest villains to set things right? And who, or what, are the Vedomi — and what is their problem with the continued existence of human life? Collecting PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (2017) #301-303 and ANNUAL #1.
112 PGS./Rated T …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91118-8

MARVEL LEGACY TPB
Written by JASON AARON & ROBBIE THOMPSON
Penciled by ESAD RIBIC, STEVE MCNIVEN, RUSSELL DAUTERMAN, CHRIS SAMNEE, ALEX MALEEV, STUART IMMONEN, PEPE LARRAZ, JIM CHEUNG, DANIEL ACUNA, GREG LAND, ED MCGUINNESS, MARK BAGLEY & MORE
Cover by JOE QUESADA
Celebrate the Marvel Legacy as we enter a brave new era! It begins at the dawn of the human race and ends with a child’s prayer! In between, empires fall, mysteries brew, secrets are revealed, quests are undertaken and legends are forged! And it all leads up to a dramatic return you’ve been waiting for — and one you’ve been dreading! Jason Aaron, Esad Ribic and a host of superstar artists deliver an epic story that will touch every corner of the Marvel Universe. It’s everything you’ve been longing for — and more! Plus: A complete collection of the Marvel Legacy Primer Pages — short stories that reveal everything you need to know about the Marvel Universe’s greatest heroes! And the return of Marvel’s beloved fan magazine, FOOM! Collecting MARVEL LEGACY #1, FOOM! MAGAZINE (2017) #1 and the MARVEL LEGACY Primer Pages.
264 PGS./Rated T+ …$29.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91102-7

SPIDER-GIRL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 1 TPB
Written by TOM DEFALCO & RON FRENZ
Penciled by RON FRENZ, PAT OLLIFFE & PAUL RYAN
Cover by PAT OLLIFFE
What if Peter Parker and Mary Jane had a daughter? The ever-amazing answer is she’d be May “Mayday” Parker — A.K.A. Spider-Girl! Spinning out of the pages of WHAT IF? into her very own universe, the teenage Mayday inherits spider-powers and dons her retired father’s red-and-blues! Now follow her adventures from the beginning as Mayday learns about Spider-Man’s legacy and wrestles with whether to follow in his footsteps! She’ll face threats old and new — from the Venom symbiote and Kaine to Crazy Eight and the Dragon King — and meet incredible faces from the future Marvel Universe including Darkdevil, Wild Thing, the Fantastic Five and the newest roster of the mighty Avengers! Discover a friendly neighborhood hero for a new generation! Collecting WHAT IF? (1989) #105; and SPIDER-GIRL (1998) #1-15, #1/2 and ANNUAL ’99.
456 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91248-2

MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE EPIC COLLECTION: CRY MONSTER TPB
Volume #1 in the Marvel Two-In-One Epic Collections
Written by STEVE GERBER & BILL MANTLO with LEN WEIN, MIKE FRIEDRICH, CHRIS CLAREMONT, ROGER SLIFER, MARV WOLFMAN, SCOTT EDELMAN & TONY ISABELLA
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA & RON WILSON with JIM STARLIN, GIL KANE, GEORGE TUSKA, HERB TRIMPE, BOB BROWN & ARVELL JONES
Cover by JOHN ROMITA SR.
Watch out, Yancy Street! Benjamin Grimm, A.K.A. the Fantastic Four’s ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing, is stomping his way into his own series — guest-starring the greatest heroes in the Marvel Universe! In this inaugural MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE Epic Collection, the Thing battles the Incredible Hulk, the minions of Thanos and the giant monster Braggadoom — and even brings the Guardians of the Galaxy back into the firmament of Marvel stars! He also joins forces with icons like Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Daredevil and Luke Cage to battle all manner of fearsome foes! And to top it all off, the Thing travels to the pages of MARVEL TEAM-UP to join the amazing Spider-Man in a MTIO/MTU crossover classic! Collecting MARVEL FEATURE (1971) #11-12, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE (1974) #1-19 and MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #47.AL #1.
432 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91332-8

 THE HUMAN TORCH & THE THING: STRANGE TALES — THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB
Written by STAN LEE & LARRY LIEBER with
JERRY SIEGEL, ROBERT BERNSTEIN, ERNIE HART & LARRY IVIE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY & DICK AYERS with
BOB POWELL & CARL BURGOS
Cover by JACK KIRBY
ON SALE AUGUST 2018
After the Fantastic Four’s groundbreaking debut, readers couldn’t get enough of Marvel’s innovative new heroes — especially the Human Torch! So Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave the fiery teen sensation his own series in the pages of STRANGE TALES! After a hot streak of solo stories, the Torch was joined by the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing, and the two teammates tackled some of the wildest ne’er-do-wells of the Silver Age: the Wizard, the Sandman, the Rabble Rouser, Plantman and the one and only Paste-Pot Pete! Also featuring Marvel’s first fire-and-ice battle between the Torch and the X-Men’s Iceman — and guest stars Spider-Man, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman! Collecting STRANGE TALES ANNUAL #2 and material from STRANGE TALES (1951) #101-134.
520 PGS./All Ages …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91334-2

CLOAK AND DAGGER: PREDATOR AND PREY TPB
Written by BILL MANTLO, PETER B. GILLIS & TERRY AUSTIN
Penciled by BRET BLEVINS, LARRY ALEXANDER, DAN LAWLIS, JUNE BRIGMAN, LARRY STROMAN, SAL VELLUTO, MIKE VOSBURG & MORE
Cover by LARRY STROMAN
The lives of Cloak and Dagger take a dark turn! Nightmare seeks to use Cloak to destroy his old foe, Doctor Strange — and if Dagger can’t unravel the plot fast, Cloak will die! And while Black Cat crosses Dagger’s path, the horrific Mr. Jip makes his debut! Why have he and his minions Day and Night targeted the light-and-darkness duo? In other action, Cloak and Dagger encounter the Punisher, Power Pack and the menace of Mayhem — and when Dagger’s soul is corrupted, it’s X-Factor to the rescue! But can the shattered duo survive Inferno? Plus: C&D face the threat of…Jack the Ripper?! Collecting STRANGE TALES (1987) #3-6 (A STORIES), #7 and #8-19 (A STORIES); MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: CLOAK AND DAGGER — PREDATOR AND PREY; CLOAK AND DAGGER/POWER PACK: SHELTER FROM THE STORM and MUTANT MISADVENTURES OF CLOAK AND DAGGER #1-4.
456 PGS./Rated T+ …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91389-2

MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOX – THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN GRAPHIC COMIC BOX
Welcome to the Marvel Age of Comic Boxes! Store your treasured collection in sturdy surroundings every bit as exciting as the issues inside! Featuring action-packed illustrations on all sides from some of comics’ finest artists, Marvel’s Graphic Comic Boxes will star all your Marvel Universe favorites – continuing with THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! Preserve your comic collection with Marvel Graphic Comic Boxes!
FOC 6/4/18, On-Sale 7/25/18
Inside dimensions – 15-1/2” x 7-5/8” x 10-7/8”…$9.00