Marvel Noise

Marvel is proud to announce that New Mutants #1 has sold out at Diamond (though copies may still be available at a retail level) and will return with the release of New Mutants #1 Second Printing Variant! Acclaimed writer Zeb Wells and artist Diogenes Neves reunite the original New Mutants and the team is ready for action! Karma and Moonstar are missing and Legion returns. Can this superstar team stand against one of the most feared X-Villans? New Mutants #1 Second Printing Variant features breathtaking interior art by Diogenes Neves on a new cover!

Fans and critics are raving about New Mutants #1:

“Zeb Wells and Diogenes Neves have given me back a little piece of my childhood and taken a book that I had little to no interest in and made me very interested. Very interested indeed.” Chad Derdowski, www.Mania.com

“[Zeb Wells] has done a number of things in the past couple years to earn my respect and NM #1 doesn’t break that streak.” Bryan Joel, Comics.IGN.com

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on New Mutants as the first issue sold out immediately and continues to generate buzz! Great for old X-fans new and old, don’t miss New Mutants #1 Second Printing Variant!

NEW MUTANTS #1 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (MAR098161)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Penciled by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by DIOGENES NEVES
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—5/21/09, On-Sale—6/10/09

NEW MUTANTS #2 (APR090536)
NEW MUTANTS #2 BENJAMIN VARIANT (APR090537)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Penciled by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Variant Cover by BENJAMIN
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC—5/14/09, On-Sale—6/3/09

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[singlepic id=14 w=138 h=211 float=left]DARK REIGN Falls As Elektra Returns

She’s been broken, beaten, and tortured by aliens…now she returns for vengeance in Dark Reign: Elektra #1 (of 5)! From red-hot writer Zeb Wells and acclaimed artist Clay Mann comes the Elektra [singlepic id=13 w=138 h=211 float=right]story everyone’s been waiting to see since the shocking revelations of New Avengers #31 in which it was revealed that she was replaced by a Skrull! In the aftermath of Secret Invasion, Elektra has found freedom, but along with it she’s also found trouble. As the deadliest assassin in the world attempts to clear her name, a lot of people want her head!

Elektra’s in store for the fight of her life and has never been in worse shape! She’s been to the far side of death and back, but will Dark Reign get the best of her? You can only find out when you pick up your copy of Dark Reign: Elektra #1 (of 5)!

DARK REIGN: ELEKTRA #1 (of 5) (JAN092471)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Pencils by CLAY MANN
50/50 Cover by LEE BERMEJO
50/50 Variant Cover by CLAY MANN
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 3/5, On-Sale – 3/25/09

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BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT! To meet the continuing, unprecedented demand, Marvel is going back to press with Amazing Spider-Man #583 Fifth Printing Variant. After numerous sold out printings, Marvel is going back to press with a record fifth printing arriving in stores February 18th. Now’s your chance to experience the story uniting Barack Obama with the character that, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he named his favorite super hero!

Marvel urges retailers to place their orders by THURSDAY, FEBURARY 5th using Diamond Code DEC088074. Continuing the tradition of the previous printings, this cover will feature a new background along with the same iconic images of Spider-Man and new United States President Barack Obama.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 FIFTH PRINTING OBAMA VARIANT (DEC088074)
Written by MARK WAID & ZEB WELLS
Pencils by BARRY KITSON & TODD NAUCK
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Rated A …$3.99
FOC—2/5/09, ON-SALE—2/18/09

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news amazing spider-man, barack obama, todd nauck, variant, zeb wells

It’s the story you’ve seen everywhere from CNN to the New York Times to Fox News — Spider-Man and United States President-Elect Barack Obama meet for the first time — and to meet the unprecedented demand, Marvel is going back to press with Amazing Spider-Man #583 Third Printing Obama Variant.

The first two printings sold out immediately and Marvel urges retailers to place their orders by Monday, January 19th, using Diamond Code NOV088141.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 THIRD PRINTING OBAMA VARIANT (NOV088141)
Written by MARK WAID & ZEB WELLS
Pencils by BARRY KITSON & TODD NAUCK
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
40 PGS./Rated A …$3.99
FOC—1/19/09, ON-SALE—1/28/09

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

news amazing spider-man, barack obama, todd nauck, variant, zeb wells

MARVEL PRESENTS SPECIAL SPIDER-MAN STORY TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORIC INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA

All-new 5-page story to be featured in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583, on sale January 14, 2009

Features an exclusive commemorative variant cover of Spider-Man and President-Elect Obama

NEW YORK – To celebrate the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, Marvel is proud to present an all-new story teaming up one of the world’s most recognizable political figures with the world’s greatest super-hero as President-Elect Obama joins Spider-Man in Spidey Meets the President!

This all new story written by Zeb Wells and art by Todd Nauck and Frank D’Armata takes place in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day and finds one of Spider-Man’s oldest foes attempting to thwart the swearing in ceremony of the 44th President of the United States. The story will be featured as a bonus story in Marvel Comic’s Amazing Spider-Man #583, available in comic book shops nation-wide on January 14th, 2009. A special variant cover by artist Phil Jimenez featuring the President-Elect and Spider-Man will be available for this issue.

“When we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics’ Marvel Universe,” says Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world. A Spider-Man fan moving into the Oval Office is an event that must be commemorated in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man.”

For fans of Spider-Man and those wanting to own a part of this historic moment in American history, visit your local comic book retailer on January 14, 2009 to purchase the issue. To find a comic book retailer near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/ or call 888-COMICBOOK. . For more information, please visit www.marvel.com.

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies. With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel’s operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR ARTWORK PLEASE CONTACT:

For Marvel:
Jeffrey Klein, Ann Hinshaw
DAN KLORES COMMUNICATIONS
212-685-4300
jeff_klein@dkcnews.com or ann_hinshaw@dkcnews.com

MARVEL and all related Marvel characters are © and trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc., and are used with permission. Copyright © 2009 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. www.marvel.com.

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Yeah, okay, where to start? I guess, as Eddie Brock would want, with the truth. I hadn’t intended to read this series. I’m not a fan of Venom. Now I’ve enjoyed his appearances over the years in Spider-Man, but have never picked up any of the series focusing on him. This was going to be no different, to my mind. Of all the titles coming out on August 6th, I’m not even sure why I decided to read this one first, but I did and I’m glad of it. This first issue is not dedicated to the origin of Venom, but rather focuses solely on Eddie Brock. Let me just say this, by the second page I had decided that Brock was waaaayyy more messed up then I ever imagined. I always saw him as a guy who made some bad choices and that his erratic/psychotic behavior was a result of his bond with the symbiote. Evidently this is not even remotely the case. This issue shows Brock’s life from elementary age up to college. We only see little snippets, but they are very telling. Within the first few pages, pages that are previewed here for you, there is an implication that Eddie Brock may have shown some early indications that he was a serial killer in the making. Or perhaps a spree killer.

Zeb Wells does an excellent job of creating interest in a character you thought you already knew. Usually, when reading a comic, or any bit of fiction really, there is the hope for some surprise twist in the story, something you didn’t see coming. The interesting thing about this story is I didn’t see the tone or direction of this story coming. Perhaps I should have, though, because it makes perfect sense. Eddie Brock becomes a much more interesting and compelling character. The question this all raises in my mind concerns the morality that played a fairly important role in Venom’s attitude toward protecting innocents. As I’ve said I’m no Venom scholar, and my recollection is vague, but I always thought his goal was to kill Spider-Man and protect the innocents. Wells may be intending to change things up a bit. I’m very interested to see where he goes from here.

The art on the book was excellent. I’ve always associated Angel Medina with Spawn, a character created by Todd McFarlane, so it seems a natural fit for him to be working on Venom, another McFarlane creation. Well, partially created by McFarlane. Anyway, the art matches the tone of the story wonderfully. It is a very detailed, but strongly cartoon based style with great use of cross-hatching, contrast, angles and perspective. The inker for Medina is Scott Hanna and colorist is Matt Milla. These three work seamlessly together. I would love to see the work at each stage to really get a feel for what each artist added to each page.

Venom: Dark Origin #1 was an interesting read, adding a great deal to a character who’s been around for quite awhile. The great thing about it is you don’t have to be a fan of Venom or Eddie Brock, you don’t have to be reading Spider-Man, or even have any knowledge of either character, really, to enjoy this book. It’s really an excellent introduction to the character. For long time fans, this starts at the beginning before Eddie Brock was Venom, so I think it’s safe to say, you’ll want to read this, too.

Surprisingly, recommended for any fan of Marvel comics.

COVER BY: ANGEL MEDINA
WRITER: ZEB WELLS
PENCILS: ANGEL MEDINA
INKS: SCOTT HANNA
COLORS: MATT MILLA
LETTERS: JOE CARAMAGNA
EDITOR: ALEJANDRO ARBONA

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