EARTH PRIME TIME: WHAT’S NEW WITH MARVEL NOW!

Marvel NOW! is an exclamation, a reaction, and a well needed shot in the arm to the Marvel Comics properties this fall, 13 months after the reboot of the DC Universe known as DC New 52. The blockbuster movie summer is over and the company seems to be aligning the characters with the now familiar on-screen versions of our heroes. It’s not at all strange to see these announcements right after The Avengers Blu-ray hit the shelves. Here’s what we heard about and read about the Marvel NOW! books at New York Comic Con this weekend.

Shocker! The Amazing Spider-Man is 50 years old this month and is approaching issue #700!

What happens after such a long string of numbers? They decide to call it quits and start again at a new number one.

We were aghast to see this happen to Detective Comics and Action Comics last year but really we got over it, especially with Grant Morrison taking on Superman and NYCC celebrity all-stars Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo dropping Batman #13, reintroducing The Joker last week. The relaunched Spider-Man title will be The Superior Spider-Man, (January 2013) written by longtime Spidey-writer Dan Slott. Here’s the rub though—it ain’t Peter Parker behind that mask, and he’s making out with Mary Jane. No secrets about this hero revealed at the Con, but the new Spider-Man is someone we are familiar with in the 616.

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for June 13, 2012

COMICS

Celebrating 50 years of web slinging and self-doubt, the Spider-Man we know and love meets new Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales for the first time in Spider-Men #1 this week by Brian Michael Bendis and Miles’ designer Sara Pichelli. “This is one of the biggest stories in Marvel history,” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment. … International best selling crime author Jason Starr gets revenge on Frank Castle’s enemies with a new limited series Untold Tales of Punisher Max #1. Expect bloodshed. … Pantha, shapeshifting killer pal of Vampirella, burns white hot on the pages of her new #1 from Dynamite. … Comic books cooked and curated with care from LeaguePodcast.com.

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EARTH PRIME TIME: THANKS FOR GHOST RIDER, NOW PAY US $17K

On the eve of the release of Nicolas Cage reprising his role as demon hero Ghost Rider, we hear the unfortunate strategy of Marvel’s lawyers going after the character’s creator, Gary Friedrich. The debate and discussion in the comic market is lively on the matter of creative ownership this past week. Are Marvel and Disney lawyers being unreasonable with the creator of this top selling property, or are work-for-hire artists retroactively reviewing their original deals?

In 1967, Marvel published the star of my recurring nightmares (1978-present)—a gun wielding ghost on a spirit horse called The Ghost Rider. After the introduction of the flaming motorcycle-and-chains madman we are more familiar with in the 1970s, this character was changed to The Phantom Rider.

When not terrorizing my fever dreams, The Phantom Rider, with his stardust-infused cloak and Colt .44 shoots phantom bullets and rides his horse Banshee.

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for December 21, 2011

COMICS

Fables 112

The closest we’ll come to a holiday edition is making Fables #112 our marquee pick this week! Snow White’s sister Rose Red glimpses at the Christmas future of Fabletown, where legends try to assimilate with our society. … Geoff Johns finally reels his Aquaman character into the Justice League in issue #4. Fish stick jokes aside, the King of Atlantis is badass in the New 52, and the legend behind his trident has yet to be revealed! … Wolverine and the X-Men #3 is part of X-Men: Regenesis. Logan’s team is forced to rely on Quentin Quire to stand up to the Hellfire Club, but does that mean more trouble in Westchester for the new headmaster Wolvie? Picks this week from the holly jolly LeaguePodcast.com!

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for December 7, 2011

COMICS

The Defenders are back, as Architect Matt Fraction endeavors to write Marvel style with artist Terry Dodson (Harley Quinn, Uncanny X-Men). The 2011 lineup of Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Namor, Iron Fist, and Red She-Hulk is worth the price of admission any Wednesday! …Blair Butler, G4’s Mixed Martial Arts and Comic Book Correspondent (for real) has broken into the business combining her passions! Heart #2 is the origin of cage fighter Oren ‘Rooster’ Redmond. Preview the blood sport here. …Voltron #1 re-imagines the savage regime of King Zarkon, and the Voltron Force risks exposing a long forgotten secret of the Galaxy Alliance! Alex Ross Cover, For The Win. …Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.

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