Marvel's February 2014 solicits hit today and I bet some of my blog followers may have been expecting a new edition of my "Inhumanity Incoming!" series, which I share solicits for comics that act as jumping on points for some series. But honestly, I don't really see the point to anymore.
With the "All-New Marvel NOW!" initiative, along with launching new series, Marvel seemed to be making jumping on points for current series simpler by labeling ".NOW" at the end of issue numbers. For example, Avengers #24 would be known as Avengers #24.NOW, indicating that it acts as a #1 in the All-New Marvel NOW! era. During New York Comic Con in October, Marvel unveiled a slew of All-New Marvel NOW! books, new and old. But two of those titles included brand new #1's for Secret Avengers and Fantastic Four, books that were already relaunched during the first Marvel NOW! initiative. With Secret Avengers, I could understand giving that book getting another restart, since it isn't exactly a high seller. But when it comes to Fantastic Four, the news of that book's relaunch was greatly annoying because it's just the latest in a long line of Fantastic Four relaunches. The only reason for the book starting over again is that James Robinson was taking over the book from Matt Fraction. In a way, I can see why Marvel would relaunch the book. Robinson is popular and that could be enough to get people to grab a brand new Fantastic Four book. Still, I believe both books could have just been given .NOW issues like other original Marvel NOW! books.
Then this week came around, and it was announced that Wolverine's solo book, another book that was relaunched with Marvel NOW!, would be once again be going back to #1 as part of All-New Marvel NOW!. Just like Fantastic Four, it's another relaunch in a long line of them for Wolverine's book. Except this time, the same writer from the previous volume, Paul Cornell, would be staying on. The only creative change is that Ryan Stegman would be taking over art duties. I mean, seriously, they couldn't have just kept the current Wolverine series going with a .NOW issue with Stegman joining then? Oh, but Wolverine has a new costume too (as seen above)! That warrants a relaunch, right? Hopefully my sarcasm is coming through here.
I'm not saying Marvel shouldn't relaunch books. I mean, when Marvel NOW! first began, they were obviously doing their own version of DC's New 52 relaunch, and many series were bound to go back to #1. But when it comes to All-New Marvel NOW!, there should be at least a good reason story-wise. For example, the two current X-Force books, Uncanny X-Force and Cable and X-Force, are being cancelled with a new X-Force #1 launching combining members from both teams into one. That works. I guess this creates a whole debate over what qualifies to relaunch a book.
But it isn't just the way Marvel is constantly relaunching books, it's how they're ending them too. To put things into perspective, I had 8 Marvel books on my pulllist during the initial wave of Marvel NOW!: Uncanny Avengers, Avengers, New Avengers, Superior Spider-Man, Avenging Spider-Man, Scarlet Spider, Daredevil, and Wolverine and the X-Men. Only the first four books mentioned were launched or relaunched during Marvel NOW! and the last four I was still getting. But then, my Marvel pulllist began to dwindle. In July, Avenging Spider-Man was cancelled in place of Superior Spider-Man Team-Up, which I did not take on. In December, Scarlet Spider was announced to be ending; it was a mid-card book so while I was disappointed, it wasn't all that surprising. Sure enough though, Jonathan Hickman's Avengers World book was announced to take Scarlet Spider's spot on my pulllist. But then it was announced that Mark Waid's consistently entertaining Daredevil series would be ending in February with #36. Now Daredevil's been an ongoing at Marvel since the original volume started in the 60's, so it will probably be relaunched soon; that doesn't mean I won't miss Mark Waid though. Then the February solicits hit today, and I find out that Wolverine and the X-Men, the only X-book I've had on my pulllist since the end of Avengers vs. X-Men, was also ending that month at #42. That just came out of nowhere for me. I mean, maybe a new X-book will launch in its place. Until then, I don't know where I'll get my X-Men fix. I don't care for Cyclops' team books. I'd get Jason Aaron other Wolverine team book, Amazing X-Men, but I'd rather wait and see if All-New Marvel NOW! will give it a .NOW issue.
By February, I'll have only 5 Marvel books, 4 Avengers and 1 Spider-Man, on my pulllist. To put that in perspective, I currently have 14 DC books on my pulllist. Between 19 books, 74% are DC and 26% are Marvel. So while the New 52 has gotten me reading more DC than ever, Marvel NOW! keeps cancelling books I was already reading and enjoying. I may be getting ahead of myself though. With DC's Forever Evil event ending in March, some big changes will probably coming up to their line-up, meaning some of the books I'm getting will probably be cancelled; if I had to speculate though, Batman: The Dark Knight (stories are getting repetitive), Batman and... (losing focus since Damian died), Nightwing (given Dick's situation in Forever Evil, he probably ain't gonna make it out alive), and Talon (just a feeling). Now I'm not saying I support DC cancelling books, but there should at least be some reason. I mean, DC just relaunched their whole publishing line 2 years ago and the series that have remained since that launch haven't been relaunched again. I don't know exactly what the post-Forever Evil DC line-up will be like, but I can bet it'll be handled better than what some of Marvel is doing. I mean, they're already smarter event wise; Forever Evil is the first DC event in 2 years while Marvel's Infinity literally started 2 months after of Age of Ultron.
But still, between cancelling Daredevil and Wolverine and the X-Men, it makes me wonder if Marvel has some policy against letting series reach #50. It seems gone are the days of long running series, and even the tiniest change can lead to a relaunch, even after a previous relaunch not too long before. All this probably makes you wonder why I still read Marvel even with everything I've complained about? Well, even though their whole numbering system is practically a joke, I read for the stories. Even though I'd like their to be some consistency, I'm not abandoning the characters I've invested in. I know Daredevil will be back. I'm sure a new X-Men book will catch my attention. The Avengers books are where the big things happen. As for Spider-Man, despite all the shit his character has been put through, between the demonic divorce of One More Day and the brain swap with Doc Ock, I don't think I'll ever stop reading the wall-crawler I've loved since childhood. To quote Saint Walker, "all will be well."
Yes, I know I ended a primarily Marvel post with a DC quote. Sue me.
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