OTF's Blue Publication June 2011
Summer Blockbuster Season
The summer is generally known for being the blockbuster season for movies (even though you should be spending time outside (well, not if there isn’t nice weather…)). What a lot of people don’t know is that it’s also the blockbuster season for comics! The “Big Two” companies, Marvel Comics and DC Comics, both have various events going on in order to entertain you and get more money out of your wallets. What kind of stories can you expect this summer?
Marvel’s big summer event is called “Fear Itself.” It has its own 8-issue mini-series, with many tie-ins, both in ongoing series and various mini-series. In this event, the Asgardians leave Earth to go back to their home dimension of Asgard because Odin fears the coming of an ancient and evil force. When that enemy is freed from its prison, it will unleash a wave of fear and destruction. The combined might of the Avengers and Earth’s other heroes might not be enough to stop it. The main “Fear Itself” mini-series is written by Matt Fraction, with art by Stuart Immonen. The first two issues have already been released, with issue three being released on Wednesday, June 1.
Over at DC Comics, they’re running an event called “Flashpoint.” As one could probably tell, this event involves the Flash, as he is the only one who remembers what the world should be like in a universe that has been changed. The Flash must gain the help from different versions of heroes that he used to know if he hopes to restore the timeline. The first issue has already hit shelves, with four more issues on the way. Geoff Johns wrote “Flashpoint” and Andy Kubert does the art. Like Marvel’s “Fear Itself”, there are many tie-in mini-series, showing the changed world. There are rumors that “Flashpoint” might end up changing the DC Universe (again).
Like things on a smaller scale? Both companies have smaller events, either already started or coming out later in the summer.
“War of the Green Lanterns”: Running through the three Green Lantern titles (“Green Lantern”, “Green Lantern Corps”, and “Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors”), the many members of the Green Lantern Corps fight amongst themselves, divided about whether they should side with the Guardians of the Universe or the Earth-based Green Lanterns. This event ends in June.
“Spider Island”: Many inhabitants of Manhattan are somehow given the powers of spiders. This isn’t exactly good because while some of those granted powers are civilians or super heroes, many others are super villains. How does Spider-Man deal with a city that shares the same powers that he does? This event begins in Amazing Spider-Man #666, out in August, with some tie-in mini-series and a tie-in in the new “Venom” ongoing series.
“Schism”: For several years now, Cyclops has been leading the severely diminished mutant population, and Wolverine has been a fairly loyal follower of his. Now, however, events will cause the two to fight against each other, with the members of the X-Men divided between the two. Jason Aaron writes the five issue mini-series, with each issue being drawn by a different artist: Carlos Pacheco, Frank Cho, Daniel Acuna, Alan Davis and Adam Kubert. “Schism” begins in July.
Of course, there are many other series, storylines, genres, and companies, so there’s always something for every type of reader!
Majin Kaze aka Mike Hviid is a contributing writer for the Blue Report and also author’s a blog “Capes over Coruscant” which can be read here.