Marvel Girl Power!!
One thing Marvel is well aware of, is the influence it has on the exponential growth of female readers in the industry. By leading the charge with innovative (and some other not-so-original) characters that the company spotlights to its young budding audience. The groundwork was already starting before Secret Wars in building the Marvel Female Universe. Long-time super heroes like She-Hulk, Spider-Woman and The Scarlet Witch were building their legends in the Marvel U for decades. Medusa of the Inhumans will have a major promotion as she will now be the leader of the Uncanny Inhumans and their vastly growing population. Storm is heading the Extraordinary X-Men and Carol Danvers is enjoying amazing success as Captain Marvel. The All-New, All-Different Avengers are having ladies pulling double duty on solo books and on the major team book. The new Mighty Thor (Jane Foster) and the very young but hugely popular Ms Marvel are going to be more than a bit busy. Kitty Pride will be the starring space girl as the new Star-Lady fighting alongside the new Guardians of the Galaxy.
But look out folks as the new young girls of the Marvel super hero verse are going to see a major increase in girl-power comic books. Jane Foster the new Mighty Thor is doing godly duties in place of the missing Thor, but can she survive her fight with deadly cancer when she is not being Thor? Spider-Gwen is back and badder then ever with some surprise guests to her universe. Spider-Gwen will be teaming up with Spider-Woman in the near future, and speaking of Spider-Woman, she will be having to deal with pregnancy and being a super hero Mom. Gwenpool will be making her feature comic book debut also in the All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe. The variant cover-girl now turned into the Marvel version of Harley Quinn is going to drive all the fem-fatals bonkers! MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR is looking to making a huge splash coming back to Marvel in an all new form for young girls to love. Heck, who doesn’t love any kid that has a big red dinosaur as a friend?!
First off let’s get into Marvel’s secret Blade the Hunter series.
BLADE THE HUNTER #1
There’s a new hunter in town….and she’s raising the STAKES!! Blade #1, written by Tim Seeley (Death of Wolverine: The Logan Legacy) with artwork by Logan Faerber (Secret Wars: Battleworld), promises a new kind of evil, including a cult of monster scientists as well as new kinds of demons, vampires and werewolves.
A tale of a 16-year-old girl named Fallon Grey, she’s the daughter of the original Blade, aka Eric Brooks, meaning that she carries his blood and his unique abilities.
At first, Fallon seems like a normal teen girl from rural Oregon: not only is she prom queen, but she’s also captain of the debate club and the most popular girl in school. However, something inside of her is dark and she starts noticing it after something evil rears its ugly head in her town.
“Blade’s daughter is 16-year-old Fallon Grey, She’s a sort of ‘anti-Peter Parker.’ She’s popular, she’s well-liked, and it seems like the world is her oyster. But, the expectations that come with being so damn perfect are starting to break her down, and that’s before she learns she’s the heir to a Daywalking-Monster-Stabbing-Empire.” says Tim Seeley
“The problem with vampires is that we all know the rules,” says Seeley. “And that’s inherently less scary. When Blade meets Black Genus, he — and the readers — will have no idea how to kill these things. And that’s where the scares and the fun comes from.”
Blade #1 debuts in October 2015.
MIGHTY THOR #1
When DR. JANE FOSTER lifts the mystic hammer Mjolnir, she is transformed into the Goddess of Thunder, THE MIGHTY THOR! Her enemies are many, as Asgard descends further into chaos and war threatens to spread throughout the Ten Realms. Yet her greatest battle will be against a far more personal foe: the cancer that is killing her mortal form.
(Writer) Jason Aaron (A/CA) Russell Dauterman
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #1
LAURA KINNEY EMBRACES HER DESTINY. HERE! COMES! WOLVERINE!
X-23 was created to be a weapon and for a time, that’s all she was. But with the help of her mentor, LOGAN-the original WOLVERINE-she escaped that dark past. Tragically, Logan has fallen, but Laura will continue in his footsteps as a hero. Recent events have her doing everything in her power to keep those around her alive, as violent forces are hell-bent on mutual destruction. If anyone can stop them, it’s Laura. She is the best there is at what she does. She is THE ALL-NEW WOLVERINE.
(Writer) Tom Taylor (A) David Lopez, David Navarrot (CA) Bengal
MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #1
LUNELLA LAFAYETTE is a preteen super genius who wants to change the world-but learned the hard way that it takes MORE than just big brains. Fearful of the monstrous INHUMAN genes inside her, life is turned upside down when a savage, red-scaled tyrant is teleported from prehistoric past to a far-flung future we call TODAY. The pair are many things, and together the most amazing Marvel Team-Up. MARVEL PRESENTS… MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR!
(Writer) Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare (A) Natacha Bustos (CA) Amy Reeder
MS MARVEL #1
The internationally-beloved, butt-kicking, smack-talking, most adorable super hero makes her triumphant return. Look out world, Kamala Khan is back and officially an Avenger! Yup, the dream to end all dreams has happened for Kamala. She’s toe to toe with the best of the best, but will being one of Earth’s mightiest heros be everything she imagined? Is being a celebrity hero as wonderful as Kamala has hoped?
Plus: WHO IS THAT WITH BRUNO?? Welcome back, Kamala Korps. We missed you!
(Writer) G. Willow Wilson (A) Takeshi Miyagawa, Adrian Alphona (CA) Cliff Chiang
A-FORCE #1
A-FORCE, ASSEMBLE! From the ashes of Battleworld, Marvel’s newest hero SINGULARITY has risen and entered the Marvel Universe. But she didn’t make the journey alone. To combat the most fearsome threats from across the multiverse, Singularity will summon the world’s mightiest team of Avengers to her side: SHE-HULK. CAPTAIN MARVEL. DAZZLER. MEDUSA. NICO MINORU. Together, they are A FORCE to be reckoned with!
(Writer) G. Willow Wilson (A/CA) Jorge Molina
GWENPOOL SPECIAL #1
• AN ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL!
• She-Hulk throws a holiday party and invites the entire Marvel U!
• Deadpool teams up with both Hawkeyes – Kate and Clint – to…stop a pickpocket?!
• Ms. Marvel takes on her most dangerous threat yet: the holiday blues!
• And then there’s the reason for the season(al special): GWENPOOL!
• Yup, you read that right – Gwen. Pool. C’mon, you know you’re curious.
(W/A) Various (CA) Kris Anka
PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT #1
PATSY WALKER has managed to escape her past, her enemies and Hell itself (literally), but nothing compares to job hunting in New York City! Between trying to make rent and dodging (literal) bullets, Patsy barely has time to deal with her mother’s exploitative romance comics about her childhood resurfacing, much less how they start to interfere with her work and dating life. As she goes from living a double life to a triple, what the Hell is Patsy Walker supposed to do? Raise your (literal) claws for PATSY WALKER, AKA HELLCAT!
(Writer) Kate Leth (A/CA) Brittney Williams
SPIDER-GWEN #1
BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!
Gwen Stacy is back in the webs and has an all-new, all-different mystery to solve: the reappearance of The Lizard! Spider-Woman was convinced that the Lizard died in her arms along with Peter Parker. But when a similar monster goes on a reptilian rampage, she’s left with doubts not only about Peter’s life, but his death as well. And witness the debut of the Osborns of Earth-65! Fan-favorite creators Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez & Rico Renzi are back for more with a story that every Spider-Fan will be talking about!
Marvel Preview pages:
(Writer) Jason Latour (A/CA) Robbi Rodriguez
SCARLET WITCH #1
Witchcraft is broken – and the SCARLET WITCH is on a journey across the globe to fix it. From the back alleys of Manhattan, to the serene Greek Isles, to the bustling streets of Hong Kong, Wanda will have to face down her foes and find out who her true friends are. But as Wanda solves magical crimes and pieces witchcraft back together, the most important question remains: Who is the mastermind that broke it in the first place? Written by Eisner Award winner JAMES ROBINSON, with covers by Eisner Award winner DAVID AJA with the first issue drawn by fan-favorite VANESA DEL REY!
(Writer) James Robinson (A) Vanesa Del (CA) David Aja
SILK #1
SILK IS BACK AND BADDER THAN EVER!
• Cindy Moon has been working to find the missing members of her family since she escaped the bunker that was her home prior to the events of SPIDER-VERSE. But her quest has taken her down a darker path than she expected, and she’s now in cahoots with none other than the most ferocious feline in the Marvel Universe – BLACK CAT!
• What’s gotten under her skin, and is there any redeeming the SINISTER SILK? !
(Writer) Robbie Thompson (A) Stacey Lee (CA) Helen Chen
SPIDER-WOMAN #1
Jessica Drew is a private investigator, a super hero and… a mom to be? Since we last saw her, Spider-Woman’s got a whole NEW responsibility — she’s super heroing for two now, after all! Ben Urich and Porcupine are still along for the adventure, too, and aren’t making Jess’ life any easier – half the time they won’t even let her leave the car! How’s a gal supposed to save innocent people and keep herself out of harm’s way? See how in the mother of all Spider-Stories!
(Writer) Dennis Hopeless (A/CA) Javier Rodriguez
THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1
Galactus. Thanos. M.O.D.O.K. With her unique combination of wit, empathy, and totally kick-butt squirrel powers, Doreen Green — aka The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl — has taken ALL these chumps down! Alongside her friends Tippy-Toe (a squirrel) and Nancy (a regular human with no powers whatsoever — they checked), Squirrel Girl is all that stands between the Earth and total destruction! Sometimes. Other times there’s no threats and she’s just a regular computer science student. That’s an adventure too though!
Marvel Preview pages:
ANGELA: QUEEN OF HEL #1
Stolen from ASGARD, exiled from HEVEN, and robbed of SERA, her greatest companion – ANGLEA plunges into the depth of blackest HEL to save her friend….and once there, the lost princess of Asgard will carve out a realm of her very own.
Marvel Preview pages:
All hail ANGELA, THE NEW QUEEN OF HEL!
Mockingbird #1
Creative Team: Chelsea Cain
Release Date: TBA
We know that Bobbi Morse will be getting her first solo series in 2016 with Mockingbird, but details on an artist and story line have not been revealed yet.
Captain Marvel
Rises!
Carol Danvers has a new Marvel movie coming out in 2016 so that means Captain Marvel will be a key figure in the coming months. The surprise character that started off the Marvel girl-power movement is going to lead the charge once again as the a major member in all future Avengers stories.
Black Widow
The secret agent Avenger with even bigger secrets will be back in her first solo series. Black Widow and S.H.I.E.L.D. have some catching up to do.
The new Black Widow series launching in early 2016, from writer Mark Waid, artist Chris Samnee.
Waid and Samnee say the new Black Widow will not be a direct continuation of Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto’s recently concluded run, but will grow out of that series and all of Natasha Romanov’s history.
ALL NEW ALL DIFFERENT AVENGERS #1 PopcultHQ’s Spotlight Article
The Avengers are dead–long live the Avengers! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes–Captain America, Thor, Vision, and Iron Man–are living separate lives, not tied to any team–but when a threat from beyond the stars targets our world, fate draws them together once more, alongside Nova, Ms. Marvel, and Miles Morales a.k.a. Spider-Man!
(Writer) Mark Waid (A) Adam Kubert, Mahmud A. Asrar (CA) Alex Ross (Variant cover by: Mahmud A. Asrar)
EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #1 PopcultHQ’s Spotlight Article
The fate of mutantkind is decided here! Staring down the threat of extinction once more, veteran X-Man Storm pulls together the team she’ll need to ensure her race’s survival. Together, these EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN will struggle with the familiar burden of being hated and feared, while facing threats the likes of which they’ve never seen. Here’s hoping they survive the experience!
Marvel Preview pages:
UNCANNY INHUMANS #1 PopcultHQ’s Spotlight Article
Meet the Uncanny Inhumans. MEDUSA! BLACK BOLT! TRITON! READER! HUMAN TORCH?! BEAST?! It’s eight months later and everything is different for the Inhumans. Medusa and Johnny Storm are an item. Black Bolt is running covert missions of his own. And something so big happened between the Inhumans and the X-Men that Beast is now on the side of the Inhumans. And if that’s not enough, the most dangerous villain throughout Marvel’s history is against them-KANG THE CONQUEROR. Don’t miss what the epic team behind DEATH OF WOLVERINE (Charles Soule and Steve McNiven) have in store for you. All this plus a bonus story by Charles and Brandon Peterson (UNCANNY X-MEN).
(Writer) Charles Soule (A) Steve McNiven, Brandon Peterson (CA) Steve McNiven (Baby Variant cover) Skottie Young
All artwork, characters and official synopsis are all property of Marvel Entertainment. Courtesy of Previews.
