Disco Queen/Dazzler

 Dazzler was originally conceived as a multi-media concept with Casablanca  Records. Originally named Disco Queen, she was conceived as a black disco singer with a character design based on Grace Jones. Originally her power was to force others to tell the truth, similar to Wonder Woman's lasso. However, the proposed writer argued that would not make for interesting visuals, egro a change to light based powers. Marvel would release a comic featuring the character while Casablanca would release a record.  The two companies would co-operate on half hour animated special. Unfortunately, Casablanca ran into financial difficulties and pulled out of the project.

About that time, filmmaker John  Derek got interested in the character as a movie project featuring his wife Bo. The character was retooled as a white singer with facial features based on Bo Derek's and the project started moving forward, this time as a movie/comic project. Unfortunately, the Derek's previous project Tarzan the Ape Man flopped at the box office and they pulled out, leaving Dazzler as a comic only character, appearing first in Uncanny X-men #130

Wolverine

Here is a bit of interesting comic history.  Wolverine was originally planned to be a real wolverine.  No really. The character's original origin tied into the High Evolutionary, who was a common foe of many Marvel heroes, especially the Avengers, during the 1970s. the High Evolutionary was especially known for his evolutionary experiments on animals, making them bipedal and giving them human or near human intelligence. 

 

Under this version of his origin, the High Evolutionary would have experimented on a wolverine, giving him human intelligence and stature but keeping his aggressive nature. Wolverine would have escaped from Wundargore Mountain, unaware of his true nature and becoming an agent of the Canadian government and later an X-man. This version of his origin was, of course dumped, although some trace of it remained in early issues, especially when he was captured and scanned and the results indicated unusual readings indicating something odd about his mutant status.  After those first issues, the matter was never mentioned agin.

Facsimile comics

 Both Marvel and DC are reprinting a number of their classic comics, such as the first issue of a notable comic or the first apearance of a character, though why Marvel decided the first appearance of the Puma, a second tier Spider Man foe, deserves a reprint is beyond me. Currnetly, both companies are reprinting their first maxi-series:  DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths and Marvel its Secret Wars. One thing I have noticed is that Marvel reprints their books on the slick coated paper used by today's books while DC is using the news print on which comics were commonly printed during that era.

Ultimate Invasion

 Marvel is relaunching the Ultimate Universe, which the publisher originally created back in the 1990s as a grittier Marvel Universe that introduced Miles Morales as Spider Man and more violent versions of Marvel characters, best illustrated by a panel in Ultimatum in which, having killed her, X-men foe the Blob starts eating the Wasp. that scene still resonates with Marvel fans that followed the Universe. Eventually, Marvel wound it down and brought some of the most popular characters, such as Morales and a black Nick Fury, into a relaunched Marvel Universe.

Jonathan Hickman is a good writer, as he showed on is Fantastic Four run, but I am not sure where they are going with this. In a meeting to present the concept to retailers, it appears the writers and editors may not be sure either as most of the questions were met with a variation of "We really cannot discuss that". 

Anyhow, the first issue is on the shelf now if you want to pick up a copy.

Marvel Fortnite

 For those Fortnite fans out there,  Marvel has a Marvel/Fortnight crossover coming out early this Summer, much like last year's Batman/Fortnite crossover.   Here are a list of the in game items available when you purchase each issue of the comic

• FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR #1 – New Spider-Man Outfit - Exclusive to comic buyers for a limited time!
• FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR #2 – New Iron Man Wrap - Exclusive to comic buyers for a limited time!
• FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR #3 – New Wolverine Pickaxe - Exclusive to comic buyers for a limited time!
• FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR #4 – New FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR Spray - Exclusive to comic buyers!
• FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR #5 – New FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR Loading Screen - Exclusive to comic buyers!
• Plus any fan who redeems all five codes will receive a new bonus FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR Outfit!

 

Marvel RPG

 Marvel has announced the Marvel Multiverse RPG for release in 2022 . Not suprisingly, there will be three differnt covers. I am just suprised there are  not 7 or more and that one is a 1:25 variant copy.

By my count this is at least the third Marvel RPG that has released.  TSR did one back in the 1980s. Wizard Publications put one out about 10 years ago and  Margaret Weiss Productions released one about 5 or so years ago. There may have been one or two others  but if there are, I do not remember them.

The MCU and super heroes in general, have always been hard to replicate in RPG form On one hand, you have characters with power off the charts like Superman and Thanos and on the other hand you have "street level" heroes like Elektra and Robin. How do you make a balanced system that allows players to create both types of characters?  I still think Champions was one of the best RPG systems for accomplihing this and even it would not easly let you make a Hulk-type character.

More Marvel Comics Going Digital

Here are 4 more print Marvel titles that will finish their runs in a digital format. The complete runs will appear in trade paperback collections later

Wednesday, June 3:

• Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #5
• 2020 Force Works #3
• Scream: Curse of Carnage #6

Wednesday, June 17:

• Valkyrie, Jane Foster #10

Comics Moving to Digital

Here is the current list, as far as we know, of Marvel and DC series and mini series moving from print to digital. Most of them will have a print trade paper back collection later this year:

2020 IRONHEART #1+

MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN: THE BLACK CAT STRIKES #4+

HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #5+

STAR #4+

ANT-MAN #4+

AVENGERS OF THE WASTELANDS #4+

GHOST-SPIDER #9+

RAVENCROFT #4+

AMAZING MARY JANE #7+

SCREAM CURSE OF CARNAGE #6+

2020 FORCE WORKS #3

REVENGE OF THE COSMIC GHOST RIDER #5

TERRIFICS #29+

SUPERGIRL #41+

Marvel to Start Releasing Comics Again

From the press release

As Diamond continues its efforts to reopen distribution for the retail community, Marvel will be gradually releasing print comics and trade collections on an alternating weekly schedule starting May 27 (see release and FOC schedules below). This balanced short-term schedule will allow everyone — industry partners, comic shops, Marvel, and our fans — to work through an incredible amount of change at every level while providing new product to purchase and giving retailers a clear plan to adjust their weekly FOC orders. Marvel comics going on sale May 27 will be Re-FOC’d by May 4.

* Starting July 15, Marvel will resume weekly releases for new comic titles and trade collections not previously FOC’d in the most thoughtful way we can, taking in all factors throughout the industry. Marvel will release more information on these titles at a later date.

o These new comics will be FOC’d for the first time on June 15; new trades will be FOC’d for the first time on June 1 (for on-sale July 22).

Marvel Comics Release Schedule (dates subject to change):

All variant covers directly related to the regular covers below will also be released.

Wednesday, 5/27 (5/4/20 FOC):

* AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 43 (FEB200924)

* AVENGERS 33 (FEB200982)

* MARAUDERS 10 (FEB200894)

* STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA 1 (FEB201023)

* VENOM 25 (FEB200939)

Wednesday, 6/3 (5/11/20 FOC):

* ASTONISHING X-MEN BY JOSS WHEDON & JOHN CASSADAY OMNIBUS HC (OCT191092)

* GHOST RIDER VOL. 1 TPB (JAN201057)

* MEPHISTO: [CLASSIC] TPB (JAN201070)

* SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC (OCT191099)

* SPIDER-MAN & VENOM: DOUBLE TROUBLE GN-TPB (JAN201078)

* SW DARTH VADER POSTER BOOK (NOV190977)

* THE AMAZING MARY JANE VOL. 1: DOWN IN FLAMES, UP IN SMOKE TPB (JAN201059)

* X-MEN VOL. 1 TPB (JAN201051)

Wednesday, 6/10 (5/18/20 FOC):

* BLACK CAT 11 (FEB200950)

* DAREDEVIL 20 (FEB201010)

* DEADPOOL 5 (JAN200984)

* EXCALIBUR 10 (FEB200891)

* MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN 17 (FEB200810)

* NEW MUTANTS 10 (FEB200892)

Wednesday, 6/17 (5/25/20 FOC):

* CONAN: THE BOOK OF THOTH TPB (JAN201065)

* DAREDEVIL BY CHIP ZDARSKY VOL. 3 TPB (JAN201061)

* DAWN OF X VOL. 5 TPB (JAN201049)

* IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 17 TPB (JAN201069)

* MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AVENGERS VOL. 20 HC (OCT191105)

* SILVER SURFER OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (NEW PRINTING) (OCT191090)

* STAR WARS: AGE OF REBELLION HC (OCT191126)

* THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL: BIG SQUIRRELS DON’T CRY GN-TPB (JAN201080)

Wednesday, 6/24 (6/1/20 FOC):

* 2020 RESCUE 2 (FEB200910)

* CAPTAIN AMERICA: MARVELS SNAPSHOTS 1 (FEB200899)

* EMPYRE 0 AVENGERS (FEB200772)

* IMMORTAL HULK 34 (FEB200979)

* IRON MAN 2020 4 FLUORESCENT (FEB200905)

* SPIDER-HAM 5 (FEB200998)

* STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS 3 (FEB201029)

* THOR 5 (FEB200961)

* AMAZING FANTASY OMNIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING) (NOV190945)

* FANTASTIC FOUR EPIC COLLECTION: NAME IS DOOM TPB (FEB201069)

* IRON MAN: THE ULTRON AGENDA TPB (JAN201062)

* MARVEL-VERSE: BLACK WIDOW GN-TPB (JAN201075)

* MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE OMNIBUS HC (NOV190952)

* YONDU TPB (JAN201055)

Wednesday, 7/1 (6/8/20 FOC):

* DAWN OF X VOL. 6 TPB (JAN201050)

* EXCALIBUR TPB (JAN201053)

* INFINITY GAUNTLET MARVEL SELECT HC (DEC190973)

* MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 HC (NOV190949)

* MARVEL'S BLACK WIDOW PRELUDE TPB (JAN201074)

* TIMELY'S GREATEST: THE GOLDEN AGE SUB-MARINER BY BILL EVERETT - THE POST-WAR YEARS OMNIBUS HC (OCT191094)

* WHAT IF? CLASSIC: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 4 TPB (FEB201068)

* X-MEN MILESTONES: MESSIAH WAR TPB (FEB201064)

* YOUNG AVENGERS BY GILLEN & MCKELVIE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB (FEB201067)

Wednesday, 7/8 (6/15/20 FOC):

* BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA 8 (FEB200985)

* DR. STRANGE 5 (FEB200965)

* EMPYRE 0 FANTASTIC FOUR (FEB200776)

* GHOST RIDER 7 (FEB200994)

* MARVELS X 4 (FEB200895)

* STRANGE ACADEMY 2 (FEB200849)

* X-FORCE 10 (FEB200893)

* X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT 1 (FEB200885)

* AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY NICK SPENCER VOL. 7 TPB (JAN201056)

* IMMORTAL HULK VOL 2 HC (NOV190959)

* MARAUDERS VOL. 1 TPB (JAN201052)

* MARVEL MONOGRAPH: THE ART OF FRANK CHO TPB (JAN201071)

* MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN POSTER BOOK TPB (JAN201064)

* MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN (NEW PRINTING) (DEC190974)

* SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC (NOV190954)

* STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION: LEGACY VOL. 3 (JAN201076)

Interview with Matthew Rosenberg, Author of Hawkeye: Freefall

The Hawkeye Freefall series from Marvel releases January 1st. The store reached out to the writer, Matthew Rosenberg for some information about the series.

1. What Is Hawkeye Free fall about? Hawkeye Freefall is about Clint Barton getting in over his head while his world starts to spin out of control. A run in with The Hood that goes bad triggers an obsession in him to take down a villain who is, frankly, a bit out of his weight class. Meanwhile a new Ronin is carving a bloody path across New York and giving Clint a bad name. 2. Who will Hawkeye Freefall appeal to? I hope everyone. It's got big superhero action, a fun character driven story, a gripping mystery, lots of humor and heart, gorgeous art, and all of the other things that people like. So basically, if you like anything, you should like Hawkeye. 3. Are all the issues ready to go? No, that's not really how Marvel (or most publishers) work. I'm writing issue #4 now, Otto is drawing issue #3. And, if I can say this without sounding egotistical, each issue is better than the previous, which is a very fun feeling. 4. Is this a stand alone or do readers need to have a good knowledge of the Marvel Universe? While we nod to a lot of past Hakweye stories and have a ton of fun guest appearances, we made this specifically so first time readers could pick it up. We never want to talk down to the long time Marvel fan or do retreads for them, but we want to make sure anyone who wants to read it gets a full story. It's a tricky balance but I'm very proud of how we handled it here. 5. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? What is your background? What other books have you worked on? I'm a comic writer, born and raised in New York City. Before I wrote comics I used to tour with bands, run a record label, work in a comic shop, and all sorts of other odd jobs. Thankfully I wrote a book called We Can Never Go Home a few years ago and it got a lot of attention. From there it's been a whirlwind. I've written another indie book called 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, a bunch of Archie comics, 1 DC comic, co-written an LP with a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, and I've spent most of the last 2 years writing a ton of stuff for Marvel including Uncanny X-Men, The Punisher, New Mutants, Astonishing X-Men, Multiple Man, Kingpin, Rocket Raccoon, Secret Warriors, and Tales Of Suspense featuring Hawkeye! I currently write Annihilation Scourge, Hawkeye Freefall, and a bunch of stuff I can't talk about.

Power of X Timeframe

According to this interview with Cullun Bunn, plans for House of X and Power of X date back to the end of 2015. Jonathan Hickman has said he was actively working on plotting the two series during the summer of 2017. This should give you some idea of how long in advance the comic industry starts plotting current comic storylines 

Plannning Ahead

I like to think we plan ahead at the store.  We have events scheduled from now until the end of 2014, which I think is pretty good, considering that many large companies only plan  for the next three to six months.

Then I hear that Marvel has its movie schedule planned out (roughly) until 2028 and I can only shake my head in awe.

Pre-orders

I've talked about the importance of pre-orders before but wanted to revisit the subject.

Pre-orders help us judge how many of a particular comic book, card set or game to bring in.  We have records that we look at in order to judge how well an individual new release will sell but "past performance is no guarantee of future behavior".  We have dozens of new games releasing every month and over a thousand new comics. We simple have neither the space, nor the funds to bring all of them into the store.

Generally with comics, we will bring in all the regular series of Marvel and DC, though if a title release several issues in a row that just sit on the shelve, we will likely drop it.  Mini-series we really look askance at, unless they have a track record such as Kick Ass or Watchmen.

Since we have very little interest from customers on the various Image and Dark Horse line, as indicated by subscriptions, we generally skip lines from those publishers, as well as most of the smaller publishers.  If there is a title you want, please fill out a subscription form so that we know there is interest. More often than not, when we gamble on a new title, it sits there so "once burnt, twice shy".

Same thing goes with games.  Expansions for currently popular games, sure, we will bring in the next in the line.  past experience shows it will probably sell.  However a new release from Mayfair Games that isn't Catan or a train game may not make it to the shelf. We have a couple of dozen Mayfair Games that have never sold a single copy in the store.  Same thing with Castles & Crusades from Troll Lord Games.  I like this game but people don't purchase it so we will give a very hairy eyeball at new releases unless we get pre-orders for them.

Pre-orders help us help you find new games and help us buy from the game companies, which keeps them in business.  The more pre-orders we get, the better is is for all three of us.