SDCC 2012: Marvel Comics - The Next Big Thing Panel
The last Marvel panel of the day was their chance to talk about some of the plans for the bigger titles. Here's the panel description followed by the highlights:
4:30-5:30 Marvel: Next Big Thing - The Marvel Universe is where the biggest comic stories happen-so wouldn't you like to be the first to know what Marvel has planned? Get the latest news on Marvel's plan for their biggest heroes and villains, with some surprises along the way! Editor Sana Amanat, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, Marvel talent scout C. B. Cebulski, and others answer all your burning questions while giving you a sneak peek at the future of Marvel. Room 6DE
Arune Singh warmed up the crowd a bit. He jokingly said of Neal Adams that he was smiling because he knows he can draw better than all of them.
James Asmus was up first talking about his new Gambit series, which was a dream come true for him. "This is the perfect opportunity" Asmus said, "to welcome all of you, men and women, who have had crushes on Gambit since the 90s... so like 90% of you."
The series will take Gambit back into his thieving roots as he pinches his way across the Marvel Universe in more ways than one. Asmus said that page 1 is "a shower scene, but it makes sense for the character."
Marjorie Liu is up next talking about Astonishing X-Men #51 and the wedding between Northstar and Kyle, which met applause. Liu called the responses to the story "humbling" and said that "Marriage isn't the end all, be all, it's just a stepping stone in a relationship. They had problems before the wedding and those aren't going away. In fact, they might be exacerbated by issue #53." Asmus added jokingly that things would involve a shower scene with Gambit. There will be a honeymoon issue taking place in an Annual.
Arune Singh praised the upcoming Hawkeye series by Fraction and Aja as this year's equivalent to the relaunched Daredevil series by Waid.
Captain Marvel was up next as Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy were met with cheers. Fans were invited up to read the first issue.
"This is Ms. Marvel becoming Captain Marvel." said editor Sana Amanat. "She's transitioning into a new role, but she's as bad ass as ever. You see her passion for flight. You see a relationship from the past. She isn't the friendliest person on Earth, but she's good at what she does and she knows it. She's got passion, she's got flair and she's got style."
Daniel Way ends his Deadpool run with issue #53 in October.Way called it "the most fun I've ever had working on a series." Deadpool is not done, have no fear. And Way will be moving on to another project they wouldn't announce yet.
As the whole Marvel NOW! initiative approaches, one of the books on the chopping block is New Mutants, as it will end with issue #50. But the characters, of course, will continue on. They will be "showing up in some really cool and really surprising places." said Singh.
A young lady reading Gambit #1 at the panel said "It's really good and it's really hot."
Speaking of endings, X-Factor #245 is the last for that title... no, wait, that was a joke by Peter David, which almost apparently gave Jeanine Schaefer (editor) a heart attack. In an upcoming issue of the title, Layla Miller needs to get across town in a blackout in under 20 minutes. The story is called "Run, Layla, Run." David continued to say that he'll "be wrapping up pretty much every loose plot I've set up over the course of one five-issue arc." Leonard Kirk will be drawing all five issues called "Breaking Points." The team that emerges from #245 will not be the one that goes into #241.
Jeff Parker's Hulk title gets a name change as it becomes Red She-Hulk with #58. Parker will still write, and Carlo Pagulayan will do the art. Red She Hulk is on a mission from some mysterious organization that puts her at odds with the rest of the Marvel U. The character will have a major impact on Hulk in Marvel NOW!
Next up was Thanos: Son of Titan by Joe Keatinge and Rich Elson, which begins in October. The Marko Djurdjevic variant cover to issue #1 was shown at the panel, and Singh said fans of Thanos should be reading Avengers Assemble. Keatinge said he lost it when he saw The Avengers film. This prompted Neal Adams to tell a story of Christos Gage scaring him in the men's room.
Neal Adams then goes on to talk about First X-Men. "The first time we saw the X-Men, they were in costume and ready to go. How did they get that way? Did anybody ever try to get mutants together before? I proposed wouldn't it be interesting if there was a previous team of X-Men and they were led by an X-Man. Could it be that Wolverine's relationship with the X-Men runs deeper than we've ever known? First X-Men has Wolverine, it has Sabretooth, it has new X-Men and it has good stories. I am having the greatest ride of my life."
The panel was then opened for questions. Here are the highlights:
- No plans for any other Young Avengers to appear in Hawkeye right now, but Kate Bishop will be there.
- There are big plans for Young Avengers coming up, though.
- Nova and Rocket Raccoon were in the Marvel NOW! teaser for a reason - they're building something big with them.
- In the X-Factor arc "Breaking Points" a major question from Polaris' past will be answered, and no, it's not "Is Magneto her father?" He is. Read X-Factor #243 for those answers.
- They are taking a long, hard look at all the non-Earthbound characters, including Silver Surfer.
- On Doctor Strange, they need to figure out what Marvel magic means; what the rules are. They want to do it right when they do.
- Big plans for Nick Fury, which we may hate or love.
- Some of the characters of Runaways will have a major role in an upcoming new ongoing series, but it's not called Runaways. We'll learn more in September.
- Cloak & Dagger will be popping up more in Amazing Spider-Man.
- Speaking of Secret Warriors, Singh said "Remember that ongoing book not called Runaways with some Runaways? It will not be called Secret Warriors, but you will see some Secret Warriors there."
And that's a wrap.
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