Marvel Noise Episode 23: David and D-Man!

Our host is back in the studio this week and as usual he’s running off the new releases, rambles on in SkrullWatch, and gladly takes the contributions from Mike Sims with the Mighty Marvel Movie Minute and Backwards Dave offering another Bring ’em Back. There’s also a question comin’ our way thanks to a voicemail and a blast from the past by way of Marvel Tales.

Titles mentioned include Captain America, X-Men: Legacy, Kick-Ass, Thor, and Black Panther.

Download it here.
Discuss this episode on the Marvel Noise forum.

Kryptographik: http://www.lordshaper.com/kryptographik/

George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal, Rumble Groove (http://www.georgefletcher.com/)

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Marvel titles on sale 2.27.08:

Comics

BLACK PANTHER ANNUAL #1
COVER BY: JUAN DOE
WRITER: REGINALD HUDLIN
PENCILS: LARRY STROMAN
INKS: KEN LASHLEY
“BLACK TO THE FUTURE”: A special double-sized issue to commemorate Black History Month.
It’s 2057 and the Watcher’s prediction came true: Wakanda is an Imperial Power steering the course for humanity’s future. As T’Challa prepares the next Black Panther for the great responsibility ahead, he must first reflect on the road traveled–a long and winding journey filled with surprises.
Rated T+…$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA #35
COVER BY: BUTCH GUICE
WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS: BUTCH GUICE
INKS: BUTCH GUICE and MIKE PERKINS
THE NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA FIGHTS FOR THE HEART OF HIS COUNTRY IN A CITY GONE INSANE! Last issue was just the tip of the iceberg, as the Red Skull’s master plan kicks into motion, and chaos begins to take hold of the US, with only one man to stand in its way, but is he up to the task? By Harvey and Eisner Award-Winning Best Writer Ed Brubaker with art by master storytellers Steve Epting and Butch Guice!
Rated T+…$2.99

CRIMINAL 2 #1
COVER BY: SEAN PHILLIPS
WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS: SEAN PHILLIPS
That’s right, the most acclaimed crime comic in the industry is giving readers and retailers a second chance to get onboard as we relaunch with a new format, featuring more pages, longer main stories, and an expanded magazine section! “Second Chance In Hell” begins the first of three standalone issues, this one focusing on Gnarly the bartenders and telling the story of the last days of his life as a boxer and revealing how the Undertow bar came into his hands. It’s a hard-hitting period-piece, set in the grimy early 70s, where crime, seduction and betrayal go hand-in-hand. And on top of this longer-than-usual length main story, CRIMINAL now features an expanded back-pages section, as well – with articles by Brubaker and other top crime writers, from novelists to screenwriters to comic writers. These noir articles have become a popular piece of the CRIMINAL package, and are something that can only be found in the comics, not in any collections. So please take this SECOND CHANCE IN HELL to find out what everyone’s been talking about!
Mature Content …$3.50

DAREDEVIL #105
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS: MICHAEL LARK
INKS: STEFANO GAUDIANO
Daredevil faces Mr. Fear in the shocking conclusion to “Without Fear” by award-winning creators Brubaker and Lark! How far will Matt Murdock go to save his wife? What is Milla’s fate? And what is Mr. Fear’s final secret? All the answers are here!
32 PGS./Rated T+…$2.99

House Of M Avengers #5 (of 5), $2.99

KICK-ASS #1
COVERS BY: JOHN ROMITA JR. and STEVE MCNIVEN
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: JOHN ROMITA JR.
The greatest super hero comic of all-time is finally here. WOLVERINE: ENEMY OF THE STATE’s team of MARK MILLAR (CIVIL WAR) and JOHN ROMITA JR. (WORLD WAR HULK) reunite for the best new book of the 21st century. Have you ever wanted to be a super hero? Dreamed of donning a mask and just heading outside to some kick-ass? Well, this is the book for you–the comic that starts where other super hero books draw the line. KICK-ASS is realistic super heroes taken to the next level. Miss out and you’re an idiot!
Explicit Content …$2.99

Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #33, $2.99
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #10, $2.99
Marvel Illustrated Picture Dorian Gray #3 (of 6), $2.99
Marvel Zombies 2 #5 (of 5), $2.99
New Exiles #0, $4.99
New Exiles #1 2nd Ptg Var, $2.99
New Warriors #9, $2.99
She-Hulk 2 #26, $2.99
Spider-Man With Great Power #2 (of 5), $3.99

THOR #6
COVERS BY: OLIVIER COIPEL and ART ADAMS
WRITER: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
PENCILS: OLIVIER COIPEL
INKS: MARK MORALES
Asgard stands once more. Thor has reclaimed his role as the God of Thunder, and key members of his Norse pantheon stand by his side. Now, the blockbuster first arc by fan-mega-favorites J. Michael Straczynski (SPIDER-MAN: ONE MORE DAY) and Olivier Coipel (HOUSE OF M) comes to an end. What will be the new status quo for the Odinson? Just be sure to get this one before it sells out like the rest!!
Rated T+ …$2.99

Thunderbolts International Incident, $2.99
Twelve #1 (of 12) 2nd Ptg Var, $2.99
Ultimate Fantastic Four #51, $2.99
Ultimate Spider-Man #119, $2.99
World War Hulk Aftersmash Damage Control #2 (of 3), $2.99
X-Men First Class Vol 2 #9, $2.99

X-MEN: LEGACY #208
COVER BY: DAVID FINCH
WRITER: MIKE CAREY
PENCILS: SCOT EATON and JOHN ROMITA JR.
INKS: JOHN DELL and KLAUS JANSON
“LEGACY”
The X-Men’s past becomes the present as Xavier fights the greatest battle of his life. With his mind hanging in the balance, one false move can cause irreversible damage. Help arrives from an unlikely source, but in the world post-Messiah Complex, sometimes your enemies are the only people you can trust.
Rated A…$2.99

YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #2
COVER BY: JIM CHEUNG
WRITER: BRIAN REED
PENCILS and INKS: HARVEY TALIBAO
Teddy Altman thought he was just an average teenager with super strength and the ability to shapeshift. Then he discovered he was the son of a Skrull Princess and the Kree’s most famed hero – Captain Marvel. Writer Brian Reed (CAPTAIN MARVEL, NEW AVENGERS: ILLUMINATI) and Harvey Tolibao (IRON MAN ANNUAL, STAR WARS) bring you the tale of the Hulkling’s first meeting with the father he never knew.
Rated T+…$2.99

Zombie Simon Garth #4 (of 4), $3.99

Collections

ALL-NEW OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z VOL. 1 PREMIERE
The most exciting and comprehensive Marvel handbook is finally here! Beginning a twelve-volume guide to the Marvel Universe with more than 100 huge entries in each tome! This issue – from 1602 to Blackwulf! Spotlighting people (Angel, Annihilus, Ant-Man, Apocalypse, Arachne, Ares, Aurora, Banshee, Baron Zemo, Beast, Beta Ray Bill, Bishop, Black Bolt, Black Knight, Black Panther, Black Widow), places (Atlantis), teams (AIM, Acolytes, Agents of Atlas, Alpha Flight, Avengers), species (Badoon), alternate realities (2020, 2099, the Age of Apocalypse) and more!
Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3028-4

FRANKLIN RICHARDS: COLLECTED CHAOS
COVER BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
WRITERS: MARC SUMERAK and CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
PENCILS: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
Move over, Mr. Fantastic – the progeny of Marvel’s First Family has a brand-new digest! Franklin Richards returns with this collection of four critically acclaimed FRANKLIN RICHARDS: SON OF A GENIUS one-shots! Join Franklin and his robot pal H.E.R.B.I.E. as they head into Reed’s lab for all kinds of fantastic fun, amazing adventures and more trouble than you can shake an Ultimate Nullifier at! This compilation is bound to bring out the kid in every reader! Collecting FRANKLIN RICHARDS: MARCH MADNESS, WORLD BE WARNED, MONSTER MASH and FALL FOOTBALL FIASCO.
All Ages …$8.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2787-1

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA HEROES VOL. 2 (and VARIANT EDITION VOLUME 92)
COVER BY: JOHN ROMITA
PENCILS: JOHN ROMITA, DICK AYERS, BILL EVERETT, MORT LAWRENCE, and BOB POWELL
The Atlas Era Hero Revival continues with the adventures of the comics’ most famous trio of Communist conquering heroes: Captain America, the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner! Beginning with the Big Three’s anthology adventures in Men’s Adventures, we then dive headlong into Captain America’s complete 1954 solo series. Illustrated by Bullpen legend John Romita in some of his very first super hero stories, you’ll see Cap and Bucky fight Fifth Columnists, Commie spies and even the Soviet Electro! Next up, it’s the Human Torch and Toro! Returned from his slumber by an atomic bomb, the Torch has rejoined his young sidekick in a battle to clean up threats as amazing and entertaining as vampires, killer robots and his 1950s nemesis, the Vulture. Their crime-fighting adventures even take on a global purchase, stretching all the way to the 38th Parallel and Communist Korea! And finally, for a quick taste of what’s to come in Atlas Era Heroes’ next volume, comes an assortment of Bill Everett’s lavishly drawn tales of the lord of the Atlantis, Namor the Sub-Mariner. Considered by many to be the definitive take on the character, Everett’s ’50s Sub-Mariner is nothing less than treasure from the deep! We’d be remiss to leave you without a bevy of historical bonuses, including a rare Human Torch tale that went unprinted for more than a decade, original artwork, Atlas Era house ads and an introduction by Hero Revival scholar extraordinaire Roy Thomas. Collecting MEN’S ADVENTURES #27-28, CAPTAIN AMERICA #76-78, HUMAN TORCH #36-38 and MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #16.
All Ages …$59.99

ONSLAUGHT REBORN
COVER BY: ROB LIEFELD
WRITER: JEPH LOEB
PENCILS: ROB LIEFELD
Marvel’s greatest heroes sacrificed themselves to save the world from the deadliest threat they had ever faced: Onslaught! The lives of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers were saved only when Franklin Richards created a parallel universe, where we found those heroes, reborn! But this world has long since merged back into our own, and the evil Onslaught — forged from the most vile parts of Magneto’s and Professor X’s psyches — has been presumed long dead. But now, he, himself, is reborn — and he’s bringing fragments of the other universe with him! Join comics superstars Jeph Loeb and Rob Liefeld in this no-holds-barred, all-out action extravaganza — celebrating the 10th anniversary of the event that changed Marvel history — as Onslaught, the Marvel Universe and the Heroes Reborn Universe collide in this massive crossover! Collecting ONSLAUGHT REBORN #1-5.
Rated T+ …$19.99

ORSON SCOTT CARD’S WYRMS
COVER BY: ADRIANO BATISTA
WRITERS: ORSON SCOTT CARD and JAKE BLACK
PENCILS: ADRIANO BATISTA
Fusing high science fiction with the classical mythological archetype of the quest, New York Times best-selling author Orson Scott Card’s WYRMS is a must-read for any fan of science fiction and fantasy. Featuring a world settled by humans from a crashed starship who have built their own unique society, WYRMS is a story full of many themes and ideas, crafted by the writer responsible for such masterpieces as ENDER’S GAME and SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD. And with stunning artwork by Adriano Batista that brings these characters to life, WYRMS is a can’t miss event! Collecting WYRMS 1-6.
Parental Advisory …$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2661-4

PUNISHER MAX VOL. 4
COVER BY: TIM BRADSTREET
WRITER: GARTH ENNIS
PENCILS: LEANDRO FERNANDEZ and LAN MEDINA
This deluxe hardcover collects PUNISHER MAX VOL. 7: MAN OF STONE and PUNISHER MAX VOL. 8: WIDOWMAKER, plus extras. In MAN OF STONE, two new players arrive to work out a lethal grudge as British Special Forces and Taliban insurgents face off in the Afghan highlands. One is Frank Castle, the man they call the Punisher. The other is General Nikolai Alexandrovich Zakharov, Soviet war criminal, known as the Man of Stone. Neither will stop until the other is dead – and Zakharov has brought not only a platoon of elite shock troops, but CIA traitor Rawlins, blackest of black operators. Castle has allies of his own, but this is old, bad, bloody country. You go to war in Afghanistan…and everybody dies. And in WIDOWMAKER, five Mafia widows are going to try what so many of their menfolk failed at: They’re going to take the Punisher down. But they’re not the only ones out for revenge. You spend your life married to organized crime, you end up with things in your past you’d rather forget. And for these women, the past is coming back in the worst way possible. Armed. Deadly. And hungry for justice. Collecting PUNISHER #37-49.
Explicit Content …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2867-0

SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
COVER BY: KHARI EVANS
WRITERS: JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
PENCILS: KHARI EVANS
Shanna the She-Devil returns in an all-new series jam-packed with jungle action, Hong Kong gangsters, dinosaurs, diamonds and cavemen! Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti reunite with super-hot artist Khari Evans (DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON) to bring you the story of modern-day pirates shipwrecked on the Marvel Universe’s deadliest island, where only Shanna can protect them from hordes of man-eating monsters! Collecting SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #1-4.
96 PGS./Parental Advisory …$10.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2412-2

X-MEN: SUPERNOVAS
COVER BY: CHRIS BACHALO
WRITER: MIKE CAREY
PENCILS: CHRIS BACHALO, HUMBERTO RAMOS, CLAYTON HENRY, and MARK BROOKS
A new direction for the X-Men, or at least what’s left of them! As old threats are put to rest, more deadly threats emerge from the unlikeliest of places. Threats that spell doom for the X-Men. Plus: What could possibly strike terror into the heart of…Sabretooth?! And who are the Children of the Vault? This is the book you’ve been waiting for! A perfect starting point for any new reader! Collecting X-MEN #188-199 and ANNUAL #1.
Rated A …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2319-4

Marvel Previews March 2008, AR

Ultimates 3 #1 Sells Out Again!

It’s the ultimate comic book event of the season, as Marvel is proud to announce that Ultimates 3 #1 (of 5) Second Printing Variant has sold out at Diamond (though some copies may be available at the retail level). The red-hot series, from Eisner-winning, Emmy-nominated writer Jeph Loeb (Hulk, television’s Heroes) and the acclaimed art team of Joe Madureira & Christian Lichtner present the first chapter of the series that’ll leave you breathless!

Now’s your chance to experience Ultimates 3 #1 like never before in Ultimates 3 #1 (of 5) Black & White Variant! Featuring black & white interiors, this landmark issue features Madureira’s raw pencils with Loeb’s earth-shattering plot & dialogue! You’ve never seen the Ultimates quite like this before! This issue also features Madureira’s now classic wraparound covers in black & white, depicting the Ultimate Universe heroes heading towards a climactic battle with their enemies, the Brotherhood!

“Wasn’t Christmas a couple of months ago? Once again, this team is so grateful to the readers, fans, and retailers who continue to support the book as we MARCH ON ULTIMATUM!” said Loeb. “This chance to see Joe Mad’s amazing pencils for the first time is something for all of us to enjoy — including me!”

As March On Ultimatum kicks into high gear, don’t miss the issue that turned the Ultimate Universe on its head! Just who are the Ultimates now? Who — or what — is Venom after? What happens that changes the Ultimate Universe forever? Find out in Ultimates 3 #1 Black & White Variant!

ULTIMATES 3 #1 (of 5) BLACK & WHITE 50/50 VARIANT GATEFOLD COVERS (DEC078168)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Pencils & Gatefold Covers by JOE MADUREIRA
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—2/28/08, On-Sale—3/19/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Stan Lee Reveals the Origin of Skrulls In Latest Marvel Podcast

The latest installment of the Mighty Marvel Podcast has been posted and this week’s guest is none-other-than the legendary Stan Lee! The man who created Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Incredible Hulk talks to Marvel Podcast host and Senior Art Director Jeff Suter as well as Assistant Manager of Sales Communication Jim McCann about the origins of the insidious villains taking center stage in this summer’s blockbuster event Secret Invasion – the Skrulls! The podcast is live right now so treat yourself to an earful of Mighty Marvel goodness, download and listen to the Mighty Marvel Podcast right here: http://www.marvel.com/rss/podcasts/Stan_on_Skrulls.mp3.

Listen to The Man recount how he created the Skrulls to battle the Fantastic Four all the way back in 1962’s Fantastic Four #2 and how he was able to create villains that have lasted over 40 years. Plus, find out what Stan Lee thinks of one of today’s greatest comic writers, Brian Michael Bendis. And watch Stan play What If? as he reveals who he would make a Skrull if he was the one writing Secret Invasion.

With the Skrulls, Stan Lee asks “who do you trust?” And that is the very same question the heroes of the Marvel Universe will be asking as Secret Invasion kicks off this April by the superstar creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu.

Don’t miss this very special edition of the Mighty Marvel podcast featuring the most iconic creator in comic history – Stan Lee!

Also, be on the look out for future podcasts on Marvel.com:
http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.1622.Marvel_Podcast_Central, or subscribe to the Mighty Marvel Podcast on iTunes (that way you never miss any of the action packed installments)!

SECRET INVASION #1 (of 8) (FEB082240)
SECRET INVASION #1 MCNIVEN VARIANT (FEB082241)
SECRET INVASION #1 MCNIVEN SKETCH VARIANT (DEC078205)
SECRET INVASION #1 YU VARIANT (DEC078206)
SECRET INVASION #1 BLACK COVER CONVENTION VARIANT (FEB082242)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
Variant Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
Sketch Variant Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
Variant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 3/13, On-Sale – 4/2/2008

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Preview: New Avengers #39

Echo and the Infiltration in New Avengers #39

Taking refuge in Avengers Penthouse, the New Avengers continue to elude Stark’s Mighty Avengers and continue their hunt to weed out Skrull imposters. New Avengers #39 follows Echo as a skeptical Maya Lopez, along with Wolverine riding shotgun, widens her eyes in a shocking revelation about the Skrull infiltration!

Superstar Brian Michael Bendis and award-winning artist David Mack (the man who created Echo) give us the next chapter in the events leading up to the highly anticipated Secret Invasion event! And they bring in a very special guest appearance by a character near and dear to both Bendis and Mack’s hearts!

The New Avengers stand on the precipice of Secret Invasion and their ranks, as well as those of the entire superhero community, are about to be shaken to their very core!

How deep have the Skrulls infiltrated the New Avengers? Could Echo and Wolverine provide more insight to the invasion? All this and an exciting Avenger hookup in New Avengers #39!

NEW AVENGERS #39 (JAN082166)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art and Cover by DAVID MACK
Rated A …$2.99
FOC – 2/21, On-Sale – 3/12/2008

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Terry Dodson Covers Captain Marvel #4 & Ms. Marvel #25

Marvel is pleased to announce that acclaimed artist Terry Dodson will be providing all-new, interconnecting variant covers to two of the most hotly anticipated Secret Invasion: The Infiltration tie-ins — Captain Marvel #4 (of 5) and the extra-sized Ms. Marvel #25! These covers present two different versions of the titular heroes, as fans all over the world are asking the same questions: are Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel really Skrulls? And just who do you trust?

“We’re excited to offer fans these gorgeous variants by Terry Dodson to highlight two important Secret Invasion tie-ins,” said David Gabriel, Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation. “These are the moments fans have been waiting for as Secret Invasion kicks into high gear and takes over 2008.”

Retailers, please check the Marvel Mailer for special order incentives related to Captain Marvel #3 Second Printing Variant and Captain Marvel #4. Marvel also urges retailers to check their orders on all upcoming issues of Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, and all other Secret Invasion tie-ins, as they continue to sell-out quickly.

Just how do Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel figure into the Skrulls’ plans? Find out in Captain Marvel #4 and Ms. Marvel #25, now featuring new variants by Terry Dodson!

CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 (of 5) (DEC072178)
CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 (of 5) DODSON VARIANT (DEC078127)
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by LEE WEEKS
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON & LAURA MARTIN
Rated A…$2.99
FOC—2/28/08, On-Sale—3/19/08

MS. MARVEL #25 (JAN082167)
MS. MARVEL #25 DODSON VARIANT (DEC078128)
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by ADRIANA MELO
Cover by GREG HORN
Variant by TERRY DODSON & LAURA MARTIN
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—3/6/08, On-Sale—3/26/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

The Twelve #2 Returns With A New Printing!

Marvel’s new hit series is four-for-four, as The Twelve #2 (of 12) has sold out at Diamond (though copies may be available at the retail level) and will return with a new printing to meet the overwhelming demand! The Twelve #2 (of 12) Second Printing Variant features the powerful interior art of Chris Weston on the cover, as the collaboration between red-hot scribe JMS (Thor) and Weston continues. As these mystery men and women from WW2 seek to find their new place in the modern world, someone is hunting them — but who? And why?

Critics and fans agree — The Twelve is one of 2008 best books! Earning an Editor’s Choice Award from IGN.Com, with reviewer Bryan Joel deeming it, “one of the best things I’ve read in a while… The Twelve has begun sinking its hooks in me and I’m thoroughly intrigued to see where it’s heading.”

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on all issues of The Twelve, as the series continues to sell out quickly and draw rave reviews from all corners. Just what awaits these displaced heroes? And can the Twelve survive being targeted by a mystery enemy? Don’t miss out on this year’s hottest new comic book epic — The Twelve!

THE TWELVE #2 (of 12) SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (JAN088034)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Penciled by CHRIS WESTON
Cover by CHRIS WESTON
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—2/28/08, On-Sale—3/19/08

THE TWELVE #3 (of 12) (DEC072215)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Penciled by CHRIS WESTON
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—3/5/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Preview: The Last Defenders #1

The Last Defenders Are Back in Action!

The newest Initiative team has been deployed to….. New Jersey! The Last Defenders #1 (of 6), written by the sensational Joe Casey with lush pencils by Jim Muniz, starts us off with seasoned Defender veteran Nighthawk in action taking down some Serpent goons. After scoring a meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D director, Tony Stark, Nighthawk has got his super powered team consisting of his old friend Blazing Skull (who’s just looking to beat baddies up), She Hulk (who wants to get back at Tony Stark) and the former X-Man, Colossus (who has no place left to go). In their first mission, the team takes down the Sons of Serpents while awaking the feared Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. There’s no telling how they will get themselves out of this one!

The Last Defenders is the Marvel series I’ve been waiting my entire career to write,” said Casey. “Every issue is jam-packed with superhero teambook goodness. Jim’s art is phenomenal, and industry legend Keith Giffen pitched in with his classic storytelling chops. For me as a writer, this one’s really got it all.”

The Last Defenders is rip-roaring adventure and sure to make a Defenders fan out of anyone new and old! How will Nighthawk fare as a team leader? Can he control this team of quarrelsome hotheads? Also, there is trouble brewing in the sea beneath them and in the skies above! Find out who’s planning to make this team work for their paycheck in The Last Defenders #1 (of 6).

THE LAST DEFENDERS #1 (of 6) (JAN082155)
Written by JOE CASEY
Breakdowns by KEITH GIFFEN
Pencils by JIM MUNIZ
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN, DEXTER VINES, & MORRY HOLLOWELL
Rated T+…$2.99
FOC—2/21/08, On Sale–3/12/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Preview: X-Force #2

X-Force To Finish Off The Purifiers

The all-new X-Force has another reason to rip apart the Purifiers after Matthew Risman’s shocking actions! X-Force #2 starts with the newly re-formed X-Force team surrounded by the Purifiers and one of the X-Men’s most feared foes — Bastion! A Divided We Stand tie-in, X-Force #2 comes straight from the phenomenal writing duo of Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle (New X-Men) and includes absolutely stunning art by rising star artist Clayton Crain. This issue, in addition to X-Force #3-4, is also available with a bloody variant cover so intense we can’t even preview it!

Early reviews are in and everyone is raving about X-Force! Francis Davis of FractalMatter.com says, “X-Force is a compelling must read.” and Kevin Powers of Comicsbulletin.com says, “Anyone who likes mutants, military operations, Wolverine-esque violence and pure bad-assery is sure to love this title, because you get all of that rolled into one.”

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on X-Force and all X-Men: Divided We Stand tie-ins, as the future of mutants in the Marvel universe is revealed and as critics continue to hail the current direction of the X-titles! Now that Risman has resorted to killing humans, there’s no telling how far he’ll go to destroy mutantkind and how does Bastion play into his plan to wipe out mutants? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the high-octane, action packed X-Force #2… along with the return of one of the X-Men’s deadliest foes!

X-FORCE #2 (JAN082186)
X-FORCE #2 BLOODY VARIANT (JAN088013)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Pencils & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—2/14/08, On-Sale—3/5/08

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Noise Episode 21: Lo, There Shall Come A Rosenberger!

Our host is back to feeling like himself, more or less, this week. After the new release list we have some great segments in the way of Bring ’em Back, the Mighty Marvel Movie Minute, Marvel Tales, and Current Events. Also, a review by Bruce Rosenberger of KomicsKast and Indie Comic Book Noise. And a call from – you guessed it – Carlos that kicks off a short SkrullWatch!

Marvel titles talked about this week consist of Captain Marvel, Fantastic Four: The Lost Adventure, New Avengers, Punisher: Force of Nature, Wolverine, X-Factor, X-Force, Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Volume 6, and Wolverine: Origins Volume 4.

Download it here.
Discuss this episode on the Marvel Noise forum.

KomicsKast: http://komicskast.libsyn.com/
Around Comics: http://aroundcomics.com/

liveloop, Coffee (http://www.liveloop.blogspot.com/)

Voicemail: (206) 312-5239
Email: marvelnoise@comicbooknoise.com
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Comics

Amazing Spider-Girl #17, $2.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 550
COVER BY: SALVADOR LARROCA
WRITER: MARC GUGGENHEIM
PENCILS and INKS: SALVADOR LARROCA
Jackpot! Spidey vs. the Police! Menace! Triumphs, twists, turns and tragedy pack these two issues by Marc Guggenheim and Salvador Larrocca. And would you believe…Spider-Man sued? (Hey, that’s what we get for having a former lawyer write these things…)
Rated A …$2.99

Black Panther #34, $2.99

CAPTAIN MARVEL # 3
COVER BY: ED MCGUINNESS
WRITER: BRIAN REED
PENCILS: LEE WEEKS
INKS: STEFANO GAUDIANO
The mystery of Captain Marvel’s presence in our world deepens as the first signs of a Secret Invasion are revealed! Brian Reed (New Avengers: Illuminati) and Lee Weeks (Daredevil) continue the winter’s most surprising mini-series.
Rated A …$2.99

Civil War Chronicles #8, $4.99
Dead Of Night Featuring Man Thing #1 (of 4), $3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR # 554 (and VARIANTS)
COVERS BY: BRYAN HITCH, SIMONE BIANCHI, and ARTHUR SUYDAM
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: BRYAN HITCH
INKS: PAUL NEARY
MARK MILLAR! BRYAN HITCH! Need we say more? All right, we will! Who is Mrs. Fantastic? And how will her return into Reed’s life rock comicdom’s First Family? Also, get ready to meet the Invisible Woman’s brand NEW super-team! This issue kicks off a year-long storyline that will make FANTASTIC FOUR “The World’s ULTIMATEST Comic Magazine!” Promise!
Rated A…$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR: THE LOST ADVENTURE # 1
WRITER: STAN LEE
PENCILS: JACK KIRBY and JOHN BUSCEMA (with RON FRENZ)
INKS: JOE SINNOTT
IT’S THE COMIC BOOK EQUIVALENT OF A LOST BEATLES TRACK! Together, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby produced 102 consecutive issues of FANTASTIC FOUR. But there was a 103rd story they’d begun in 1970, but never finished—until now! Working from copies of Jack’s penciled pages, Stan Lee and Joe Sinnott have reunited, to complete the work they started almost four decades ago! Plus, this super-sized issue includes reproductions of Kirby’s unlinked penciled pages, with border notes and analysis by John Morrow, and a complete reprint of FANTASTIC FOUR #108 by Stan Lee and John Buscema, which incorporated some of the material from the lost story as a flashback.
Rated A …$4.99

Ghost Rider #20, $2.99
Iron Man Enter Mandarin #5 (of 6), $2.99
Iron Man Power Pack #4 (of 4), $2.99
Marvel Adventures Hulk #8, $2.99
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #36, $2.99
Marvel Comics Presents #6, $3.99

NEW AVENGERS # 38
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
ART: MICHAEL GAYDOS
The break up! CONSPIRACY, PARANOIA, BETRAYAL may have taken their toll on the Avengers newlyweds Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. After the shocking turn of events at the end of last month’s NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL, has Jessica Jones turned her back on THE AVENGERS? Who better to help tell this story than Alias artist Michael Gaydos returning to Marvel for this special issue. Guest-Starring the Mighty Avengers. WHO DO YOU TRUST?
Rated A…$2.99

New Exiles #2, $2.99
Nova Annual #1, $3.99

PUNISHER: FORCE OF NATURE # 1
COVER BY: MIKE DEODATO
WRITER: DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
ART: MICHEL LACOMBE
Hot crime author Duane Swierczynski (The Blonde) and artist Michel Lacombe (Star Wars) unleash a “Force of Nature.”
There’s nothing like chillin’ with your closest buds on a weekend fishing trip, especially when you’re about to launch the biggest criminal deal of your careers. Out here on the high seas, life is sweet. That is, until your engine explodes. And your boat sinks. And there’s no food or water. And the puking starts. And the backstabbing begins. And the only life preserver is in the hands of a man who wears a black shirt with a skull on it!
Explicit Content…$4.99

Punisher War Journal #16, $2.99
Spider-Man Family #7, $4.99
Ultimate Iron Man II #3 (of 4), $2.99

WOLVERINE # 62
COVER BY: RON GARNEY
WRITER: JASON AARON
PENCILS and INKS: RON GARNEY
“GET MYSTIQUE” PART 1
Writer Jason Aaron (Scalped) and artist Ron Garney (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) bring you a searing 4-part epilog to the biggest X-Men Event in a decade. In the searing aftermath of “Messiah CompleX,” Wolverine has just one thing on his mind: revenge. But who is the focus of his rage, and what dark secret does he share with them? And how far over the edge is Wolverine willing to go to get what he wants?
Parental Advisory…$2.99

X-Factor #28 DWS, $2.99

X-FORCE # 1 (and VARIANTS)
COVERS BY: CLAYTON CRAIN and BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: CHRISTOPHER YOST and CRAIG KYLE
PENCILS and INKS: CLAYTON CRAIN
“ANGELS AND DEMONS” Part 1 (of 6)
There are lines that the X-Men have sworn never to cross. But after the shocking events of “Messiah Complex,” Cyclops realizes that some enemies need to be dealt with permanently… and the X-Men can never know about it. Enter WOLVERINE, WARPATH, X-23 and WOLFSBANE…X-FORCE.
Parental Advisory …$2.99

Collections

CLANDESTINE CLASSIC PREMIERE HC
COVER BY: ALAN DAVIS
WRITER: ALAN DAVIS
PENCILS: ALAN DAVIS
For centuries they have lived among us – mysterious, elusive, unknowable…so what are they doing with brightly colored costumes and codenames?! Teenagers Rory and Pandora want to pull Alan Davis’s family of extra-normal outsiders into the world of heroes and villains, little knowing that M.O.D.O.K. and A.I.M. are waiting for them! Centuries-old patriarch Adam Destine knows the disastrous duo has a lot to learn about power and responsibility…and we all know who’s the web-spinning specialist on that, don’t we? Plus Adam and his super-powered scions join the X-Men in a demonic debacle against the sinister Synraith! Also guest-starring Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer and the Invaders! Collecting CLANDESTINE #1-8, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #158 and X-MEN & CLANDESTINE #1-2.
Rated T+ …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2742-0

EXILES VOL. 16: STARTING OVER
COVER BY: TOMM COKER
WRITERS: CHRIS CLAREMONT and MIKE RAICHT
PENCILS: CLAYTON HENRY, STEVE SCOTT, TOM GRUMMETT, ARNOLD PANDER, ZACH HOWARD, WAYNE NICHOLS, MARIO GULLY, and RONAN CLIQUETTE
The team comes back from a mission that couldn’t have turned out more bizarre, but this time Heather’s missing and the Crystal Palace is void of any signs of life. Where did the Exiles’ trusted arm-chair general disappear to? Why is the Palace empty? What new doom awaits them in the next dysfunctional dimension? Welcome new penciler Clayton (UNCANNY X-MEN) Henry and cover artist Tomm (AGENTS OF ATLAS) Coker as they join X-MEN legend Chris Claremont on a story that will change the team forever. Plus: The team may have finally found the perfect world: An Earth with no crime, hate or fear—ruled by one the most diabolical villains of the Marvel universe: Victor Von Doom! Is this some twisted façade or have the Exiles finally stumbled on to utopia? Find out in “The Dream of Two Good Men.” And finally, it’s adios, Exiles! They’ve left their footprints across the multiverse for a hundred issues, but what threat will make Blink and Co. close up shop for good? It’s not what you expect! Collecting EXILES #95-100 & EXILES: Days of Then and Now.
Rated A …$14.99

LAURELL K. HAMILTON’S ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE FIRST DEATH (and DM Cover) COVERS BY: BRETT BOOTH
WRITER: LAURELL K. HAMILTON and JONATHON GREEN
PENCILS: WELLINTON ALVES
Her fans have been asking for it; now, Laurell K. Hamilton delivers a look into Anita Blake’s past. Written by Laurell K. Hamilton herself, along with Jonathon Green, THE FIRST DEATH takes place almost a year before the events being chronicled in GUILTY PLEASURES. Witness the first meeting of Anita and Jean-Claude, Anita’s first time inside Guilty Pleasures, her first serial-killer case, and an early encounter with Edward. Prepare to be thrilled by this original story produced especially for comics! Collecting LAURELL K. HAMILTON’S ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE FIRST DEATH #1-2, plus the ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: GUILTY PLEASURES HANDBOOK.
Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2941-7

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 6 HC (and DM Cover)
COVER BY: DAVE COCKRUM
WRITER: CHRIS CLAREMONT
PENCILS: BRENT ANDERSON, JOHN BYRNE, and DAVE COCKRUM
The X-Men return for another milestone Marvel Masterworks of beginnings, endings and maybe even the beginning of the end! Chris Claremont and John Byrne raised a rag-tag group of mutants from a burning ember to an all-out firestorm that topped the world of comics. And they’ll ride out that flame with one of the most influential X-Men stories of all — “Days of Future Past!” Feared, hated and now on the road to extinction, Marvel’s Children of the Atom face a bleak future of mutant concentration camps and a world where heroes are a thing of days gone past. Only by leaping back through time can Kitty Pryde’s future self hope to stop the events that created this dystopian nightmare!
Claremont and Byrne close out their classic run together with a fan-favorite Kitty Pryde holiday tale, but things only pick up from there with the return of the man who first delineated the all-new, all-different X-Men — Dave Cockrum!
Cockrum and Claremont put their team in a slow-pressure cooker with Arcade, Dr. Doom, Garokk and then blows its top with the return of Magneto in a double-sized anniversary extravaganza! Featuring guest-appearances by Spider-Woman, Dazzler, not to mention the debut of Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, there’s no question this one’s for the ages! Collecting X-MEN #141 and UNCANNY X-MEN #142-150.
Rated A…$54.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3014-7

SPIDER-MAN: BACK IN BLACK
COVER BY: ANGEL MEDINA
WRITER: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI and PETER DAVID
PENCILS: RON GARNEY and TODD NAUCK
The Civil War has ended: One side has won, another has lost, and all the rules have changed. With Spider-Man’s identity revealed to the world, he has exposed himself to the treachery of his oldest enemies. Peter Parker’s life has been turned upside down – and along with it, the lives of his dearest friends and family members. As this nightmare spins a treacherous web from which he cannot escape, Spider-Man embraces the darkness and finds he must make a stand – maybe his LAST stand – against some of his fiercest foes, including the Sandman, the mysterious “Other” and the deadly Kingpin. Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #539-543, and FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #17-23 and ANNUAL #1.
Rated A …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2996-7

SUB-MARINER: REVOLUTION
COVER BY: MICHAEL TURNER
WRITER: MATT CHERNISS and PETER JOHNSON
PENCILS: PHIL BRIONES
The King has returned! Fresh off of his key appearances in CIVIL WAR and WOLVERINE, Marvel’s first mutant returns in his own series that will forever change the way we look at Namor and Atlantis. A horrendous terrorist attack has struck the U.S., and all clues point to an Atlantean sleeper cell’s involvement. Now, Namor and Atlantis find themselves in the crosshairs of S.H.I.E.L.D. But is Namor to blame for the attack? Or is this just the first strike in a dark coup orchestrated by those within Atlantis who would see Namor stripped of his title and his kingdom? The half-human, half-Atlantean son of two worlds must now race between the sea and the surface to track down those responsible for the attack before Tony Stark, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. – a.k.a. Iron Man – takes him down! Written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson (POWERLESS) with art by the internationally acclaimed Phil Briones (WHITE TIGER)! Collecting SUB-MARINER #1-6.
Rated T+ …$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2747-5

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL. 9 HC
COVER BY: MARK BAGLEY
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: MARK BAGLEY
This deluxe hardcover collects ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL. 17: CLONE SAGA and ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL. 18: ULTIMATE KNIGHTS, plus extras. In CLONE SAGA, Spider-Man comes face-to-face with the most unexpected foe of all: Peter Parker! But Peter Parker is Spider-Man…isn’t he? Who’s who becomes a dangerous guessing game as a sinister series of clones turns Peter’s life upside-down and forces Spider-Man into a devastating confrontation with one of his oldest foes. Guest-starring the Fantastic Four, Nick Fury, the Ultimates, the X-Men and the all-new, all-different Spider-Woman! And in ULTIMATE KNIGHTS, Daredevil attempts to enlist Spider-Man in a crusade to bring down the Kingpin – permanently. But with his Aunt’s life hanging by a thread, and his serious girl problems with MJ and Kitty Pryde, crimebusting may be the last thing on young Mr. Parker’s mind. Collecting ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #97-111.
Rated A …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3081-9

WOLVERINE: ORIGINS VOL. 4 – OUR WAR PREMIERE HC
COVER BY: ED MCGUINNESS
WRITER: DANIEL WAY
PENCILS: STEVE DILLON and KAARE ANDREWS
Wolverine’s history with Captain America revealed! In the early days of WWII, before America’s “official” involvement in the war, Captain America, still wet behind the ears, embarked on a clandestine mission to the island nation of Madripoor. Guess who he met there? And guess what? It wasn’t a coincidence. Collecting WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #16-20 and ANNUAL #1.
Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2638-6

Preview: Amazing Spider-Man #552

Just Blame Spider-Man?

Spider-Man’s been put through the ringer by Menace, named public enemy #1 by the DB, but now it’s time for another new villain to stick it to ol’ webhead—his name is Freak! Amazing Spider-Man #552, from Oscar-nominated writer Bob Gale (Back To The Future) and superstar artist Phil Jimenez (New X-Men), kicks off a brand new arc of the thrice monthly Spider-Man series that has everyone’s Spider Senses tingling! A petty theft from at a local soup kitchen quickly turns into something deadlier than Spidey could ever imagine — and he’s about to face the results! Meanwhile, the DB’s new Editor-In-Chief launches an all-out smear campaign against the Wall-Crawler — and it may just work! Plus, the mayoral race heats up and Harry’s caught up in it!

As Brand New Day continues, Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on all issues of Amazing Spider-Man, as the series continues to garner acclaim from all corners! Just what is the shocking origin of Freak? And can Spider-Man prove he’s not a murderer? Tune into Amazing Spider-Man #552 for answers, True Believer!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552 (JAN082128)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552 GRANOV VARIANT (JAN082129)
Written by BOB GALE
Pencils & Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
Rated A …$2.99
FOC—2/14/08, On-Sale—3/5/08

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