Foraging For Comics: The June Marvel Solicits

“You solicited New Avengers twice.” “I like New Avengers.”

SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #27
Written by ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA
Penciled by ANGEL MEDINA
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
“FERAL” builds to its b lood-pounding conclusion! With the very laws of evolution breaking down around him, Spidey faces the man responsible for turning all of his foes into more prehistoric versions of themselves. But is this man...really a man? And will the combined efforts of the Iron Spider, the Black Cat, and the Puma be enough to shatter...the so-called “rock of life”? Part 5 (of 5).

Wow. They actually used it in the solicits.

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #7
Written by SEAN MCKEEVER
Pencils & Cover by
TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
The Origin Thing, part 2 (of 2).
The “Dark MJ Saga” continues in this special two-part look at Spider-Man’s origin through the eyes of Mary Jane Watson! She’s turned wallowing in sorrow into an artform. But now MJ has found a kindred spirit, and his name is Spider-Man! Could this fleeting crush be the origin of a profound change for Mary Jane’s personality?

Bwa-hahahahahahahahaha!

BLACK PANTHER #17
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN
Penciled by SCOT EATON
Cover by JOSEPH MICHAEL LINSNER
“BRIDE OF THE PANTHER”
With a super hero Civil War ready to explode in the U.S. and snakes in the Wakandan court preparing to strike, the road to the altar could not be more complicated for T’Challa and Storm. For one thing, they must plan who is coming, and you won’t believe who’s invited! Part 4 (of 5).

But will the snakes… be on a plane?

GIANT-SIZE HULK #1
Written by PETER DAVID & GREG PAK
Penciled by JUAN SANTA CRUZ & AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by RYAN SOOK
What is the untold story of the battle between one of the strangest superhero teams in the Marvel Universe and the engine of destruction known as the Incredible Hulk? See ol’ Purple Pants go toe-to-toe with Angel, Ice-Man, Ghost Rider, The Black Widow and Hercules in a story that holds a key to Post-PLANET HULK events! By legendary Hulk scribe Peter David and Juan Santacruz.
PLUS! A PLANET HULK INTERLUDE! Bruce Banner makes his first appearance on Planet Sakaar — and battles the Hulk for his body and soul! What secret is the Hulk hiding? What terrible truth does Banner reveal? And who will triumph in this ultimate showdown? By Greg Pak and Aaron Lopresti.
Also: Re-presenting the outstanding INCREDIBLE HULK: THE END by Peter David and Dale Keown.

Don’t care about the Champions, but I’ll buy it just for “The End.”

MARVEL TEAM-UP #21
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Penciled by ANDY KUHN
Cover by PHIL HESTER
“FREEDOM RING”
Mild mannered Curtis Doyle has come to possess a reality-altering ring crafted from a fragment of the cosmic cube. He’s taken it upon himself to become the newest hero in the Marvel Universe--FREEDOM RING. Now he finds himself face to face with Spider-Man, or at least, someone who CLAIMS to be Spider-Man. Part 2 (of 6)

Pick a new name, Curtis.

MS. MARVEL #4
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by ROB DE LA TORRE
Cover by FRANK CHO
GUEST STARRING DR. STRANGE!
HOUSE OF M SPIN-OFF VILLAIN RETURNS!
Carol Danvers is having one heck of a day. Half the planet’s media outlets are camped out in front of her building, a TV crew is in her living room, and the half-crazed time traveling former Sorcerer Supreme known as Warren Traveler has landed in her bedroom! Guest star Doctor Strange does his best to help Ms. Marvel in the latest pulse pounding issue!
And check out that cover by Frank Cho!

Please tell me this guy is not in any way related to Judas Traveller.

THE THING #8
Written by DAN SLOTT
Penciled by KIERON DWYER
Cover by ANDREA DI VITO
Pull up a chair, true believer, you’ve just been invited to the biggest super hero poker game EVER! Everyone’s coming-- from Goliath to Tigra, from the Torch to Ms. Marvel, and many more (even camera-shy fellas like Cap, Spidey, and Wolverine!). So sit in while we play a few hands and swap some tall tales about the Idol of Millions!
And if THAT doesn’t hook ya, what if we told you that this poker party is celebrating a MAJOR MARVEL MILESTONE! An event that’s taken over a decade (in Marvel time) for the Thing to reach... if he can go through with it. We’re not kidding! This’s SO big, even AUNT PETUNIA’S showing up for this one!

Please, for the love of God, let it not be his bris.

YOUNG AVENGERS #12
Written by ALLAN HEINBERG
Pencils & Cover by JIM CHEUNG
“FAMILY MATTERS”
As Earth once again becomes embroiled in the Kree-Skrull War, one Young Avenger is mortally wounded – while another must sacrifice his future to keep the planet from being consumed in the conflict. Not even the combined forces of the YOUNG AVENGERS and the NEW AVENGERS can stem the tide of destruction. And in the battle’s bloody aftermath, the YOUNG AVENGERS -- and their relationship to their would-be mentors -- are forever altered. The team’s new status quo begins here! (Part 4 of 4)

And ends, apparently.

CIVIL WAR: FRONT LINE #1 & 2 (OF 10)
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Penciled by RAMON BACHS & STEVE LIEBER
Cover by JOHN WATSON
“Embedded” There’s a truth buried deep in the heart of every war, and reporters Sally Floyd and Ben Urich will be there, uncovering that truth in the midst of the biggest conflagration in the Marvel Universe! In the wake of the Stamford Disaster, the public cries out for Super Hero Registration. Are the costumed heroes of the Marvel Universe protectors or ticking time bombs? Find out here when Spider-Man has his say. And you won’t want to miss as one hero makes public a painful secret.
“Accused” The lone survivor of the team that caused the Stamford Tragedy has been found. But living through one of the worst superhuman disasters in history may be the worst thing that could happen, as this vilified hero is placed under arrest for the deaths of an entire town. Unfortunately, the trouble’s just beginning... Also, with the lives of Marvel’s heroes in turmoil what opportunities lie for their nemeses? Norman Osborn has a few ideas...
And, in “Civil War Correspondence,” see stories inspired by tales of war correspondence throughout history!

“Lone survivor?” Oh, the Warriors fans will be livid…

EXILES #83
Written by TONY BEDARD
Pencils & Cover CASEY JONES
“IT’S YOUR FUNERAL” Standalone issue!
Saying good-bye is never easy. After the madness of the World Tour, the Exiles finally have some down time. But that means having to bury some of their own. In Tony Bedard’s final issue of Exiles, the team says good-bye to those that have fallen in the past and must make some very difficult choices about the future.

And my final issue as well.

UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #1
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by CLAY HENRY
Cover by LEINIL YU
This X-Men special features Storm as she faces the most important crossroads of her life! How does she react to T’Challa’s proposal of marriage? How will it affect her role with the X-Men? Will she be able to lead two different lives at the same time. This leads into next month’s BLACK PANTHER / STORM WEDDING!

Well, I guess that clears up *that* question.

X-MEN FAIRY TALES #2 (OF 4)
Written by C. B. CEBULSKI
Pencils & Cover by KYLE BAKER
A re-imagining of the tragic origin of Professor Xavier and Magneto! In the ancient African tale, “The Friendship of the Tortoise and the Eagle,” dangerous circumstances cause two pals to take violently different life paths. This tale of friendship and fate is masterfully illustrated by Eisner Award-winning comics legend Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn, Captain America: The Truth, Plastic Man)!

Ooooh… this should be *good*.

HAUNT OF HORROR: EDGAR ALLAN POE #2 (OF 3)
Written by Richard Corben & RICH MARGOPOULOS
Pencils & Cover by Richard Corben
What scares you? Serial killers? Vampires? Earthquakes? Extreme sports? The dentist? Horror comics legend Richard Corben (Creepy, Eerie) and long-time collaborator Rich Margopoulos leave no gravestone unturned in this 3-issue limited series that offers wicked spins on the classic poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Each issue features three adaptations -- lovingly rendered in B&W with gray tones as only Corben can do it -- along with the full text of Poe’s poem for comparison. In issue #2: “Tell-Tale Heart”... “Spirits of the Dead”...”Eulalie”...and “The Lake.”

“The TellTale Heart” is a short story, not a poem. Great horror, though.

CHAMPIONS CLASSIC VOL. 1 TPB
Written by TONY ISABELLA, BILL MANTLO & CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by DON HECK, GEORGE TUSKA, VINCE COLLETTA, BOB HALL & JOHN BYRNE
Cover by GIL KANE
Okay, a god, a demon, a spy and two mutants walk into... resulting in some of the strangest scenarios of the ‘70s! It’s gods vs. heroes in the City of Angels! With mad scientists, Russian super-spies, and guest-stars from Marvel’s western and horror eras! Plus: the secrets of the Black Widow! Featuring Hawkeye! Collects CHAMPIONS #1-11.
208 PGS./ Rated A ...$19.99

Good price for that much material, but I wouldn’t call anything having to do with the Champions “classic.”

ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 5 TPB
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY, JOHN ROMITA, JOHN BUSCEMA
Cover by JACK KIRBY
Lee and Kirby spin the classics with characters and concepts that remain among Marvel’s mainstays today! After being lorded over in Latveria by Doctor Doom, the FF face a new level of grudge match when the Thing is tapped for the fighting arena of gangster Skrulls! Featuring the enigmatic Inhumans, the Frightful Four, the Mad Thinker and other enduring opponents! Guest-starring Magneto and the Sub-Mariner! Plus: classic invasions from under the earth and under the sea!

Let it be noted that this is the end of any FF that is actually “essential” for a good long while.

That’s all this month. Full solicits are here. Happy Hunting.