Marvel Digital Comics - Free Mondays (3/15/2010)

Welcome to FREE Mondays! Each week we focus on all of the newly digitized books you can read for FREE inside the greatest collection of Marvel comics available online: Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited! Plus, we’ll let you know what’s coming up next week for FREE, too! With each book, not only are you getting a free peek inside Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, but each free Digital Comic either gives you a look at a book featured in a recent collection or a comic that’s in stores now.

How would you like to have five free digital comics to help get you through the school and work week? Here ya go!

SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER CLAN #1
SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER CLAN #2
SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER CLAN #3
SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER CLAN #4
SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER CLAN #5

Find out what next week’s five free digital comics will be below!

ULTIMATE X-MEN #63
ULTIMATE X-MEN #67
ULTIMATE X-MEN #68
ULTIMATE X-MEN #69
ULTIMATE X-MEN #70

‘Amazing Spider-Man’ Releases Issue #600

“The Amazing Spider-Man” hit another milestone this week-the publication of its 600th issue.

As a celebration, the issue features the return of Doctor Octopus, a guest spot by Daredevil, a wedding and the return of Mary Jane Watson.   In addition, there are several short stories by some of the iconic writers for everyone’s favorite web-slinger, including a new story by Stan Lee.

This milestone in the making will feature four different covers by father and son artists John Romita Sr, John Romita Jr, master painter Alex Ross and Marvel Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada.

The issue weighs in at 104 pages and is currently available at a comic store near you.

Diablo Creator To Lead Marvel MMO Development

We’re not ones to assume that past performance is a definitive indicator of future output, especially in the games industry (Voltition goes from Saint’s Row to the radical Red Faction: Guerrilla? Who saw that coming?). But we can’t help but be encouraged by the news that former Blizzard North boss and Diablo creator David Brevik has joined Gazillion to lead development on the Marvel Universe MMO.

We’re more excited about the hire because we hope it indicates the title’s gameplay direction. A more action-influenced MMO take on the world of Marvel sounds like it’s been bitten by radioactive awesome.

Source

Spider-Woman ‘Motion Comic’ Trailer Debuts

Spider-Woman is a bit of a complex character.  It also seems people either like her or don’t.  The same can be said about the Motion Comics.  I understand as much as anyone that having a hard physical comic is a tradition that would be hard to give up.  But I do like the idea of motion comics.  I’m not advocating for the medium to switch over (although with the rising cost of paper, it could be a cheaper solution).

I see motion comics as another way to enjoy something we all love.  It’s basically an enhanced version of a comic book.  What I like about them is you can often see the time and effort that is put into the production of them.

For example, check out this trailer for the Spider-Woman Motion Comic.  If I remember correctly, it will be available in printed form eventually.  The only way to see it for now will be in motion form.  It’s by Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev.  The first episode is set to premiere at San Diego Comic-Con.

Read more

Marvel Comics Brings Back Foil Covers

In a blast from the 90s, Marvel will release variant editions of its new Ultimate Comics titles with “Foilogram” covers, combining foil and holograms. According to Marvel SVP-Sales and Circulation David Gabriel, the move was made in response to fans “who’ve been demanding this kind of variant.” He said use of the Foilogram covers would be limited to “very special occasions.”

The covers will appear on variant editions of three titles shipping in August and September: Ultimate Comics Avengers #1, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1, and Ultimate Comics Armor Wars #1.

Foil cover editions were pioneered by Valiant Comics in the early 90s, and for a time they stimulated sales, but later fell into disrepute from over-use.

Source

Stan Lee’s ‘Iron Man 2′ Cameo Revealed

There have been a few interesting casting choices for Iron Man 2. Forget about the three-headed hydra of villainy comprised of Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, and Scarlett Johansson, and for the moment, don’t even consider the decision to dump Terrence Howard as Rhodey and replace him with Don Cheadle.

While those are all worthy of the many headlines they’ve received, consider, for a moment, the smaller roles: Garry Shandling as a senator, the hot-as-blazes geek girl Olivia Munn as a player to be named later, and now Stan Lee.

Yes, Stan the Man is a common sight in these Marvel movies; he appeared as Hugh Hefner in the first movie. But now he’s throwing on the suspenders and portraying Larry King.

Source

Is J. Michael Straczynski leaving Thor?

By the beard of Odin! Can this be true?!

Comixtreme has reported that Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski will be concluding his epic run of Thor in September, with Thor: Defining Moments Giant-Size #1.

This book was not in last week’s previews, but Comixtreme says that this new solicit — which will be in July’s issue of Previews — declares that Defining Moments will be Straczynski’s bow from the series.

This may signal a shift for Straczynski, who ended his exclusive contract with Marvel in February of 2008 to pursue some writing opportunities with DC Comics. Thor, while critically acclaimed by many, has also been a perennially late title, so a creative shift may put the book on a more frequent schedule.

Source

Captain America Coverage - Mainstream Media

After the New York Daily News broke the Return of Captain America story yesterday morning other media outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, and CNN quickly picked up on the coverage.

Although the original Daily News story did not mention the tie-in between the Captain America: Reborn mini-series and Captain America #600, which went on sale on Monday, both the New York Times story (by George Gene Gustines) and the CNN Report (by Chris Kokenes) did mention Captain America #600.

Conan O’Brien on The Tonight Show added an economic perspective to the story, quipping: “It’s been reported that Marvel Comics is getting set to bring back Captain America. They’re going to do this as soon as they get a loan from Captain China.”

Here’s a list of other media outlets that have picked up the story:

Read more

Marvel Brings Back Original ‘Human Torch’ In New Series

On the “Fresh Ink” portion of G4’s Attack of the Show, Blair Butler announced that as part of the celebration of its 70th Anniversary, Marvel Comics is resurrecting the original, non-Fantastic Four Human Torch, who debuted in 1939 in Marvel Comics #1, which was published by Marvel precursor Timely Comics. Golden Age maven Alex Ross is supplying the covers and the concept, while Mike Carey (X-Men Legacy, Ultimate Fantastic Four) is writing the new Torch mini-series, which Marvel claims will restore the original Torch to a place of prominence in the Marvel Universe.

The Original Human Torch was one of a triumvirate of popular heroes at Timely Comics that also included Namor the Sub-Mariner and Captain America. The original Torch, who is unrelated to the Johnny Storm character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for the Fantastic Four, was actually an android fashioned by the scientist Phineas T. Horton. When first exposed to oxygen at his press conference/unveiling, the Torch burst into flame, rebelled against his creator and became something of a science fiction monster before learning to control his power to surround himself with flames and vowing to use it for the benefit of humanity.

Source

Marvel Launches Halo Uprising Site & Free Digital Comic

Marvel is proud to announce the launch of the official HALO ® UPRISING landing page at Marvel.Com, spotlighting the acclaimed limited series one week before the hardcover collection hits stores. Bridging the blockbuster “Halo 2″ and “Halo 3″ video games, the Eisner-winning team of writer Brian Bendis and artist Alex Maleev join forces for the action-packed landmark collection that has everyone talking—HALO UPRISING PREMIERE HC. Click over to marvel.com/halouprising to learn more about the hardcover, find a comic shop near you and read HALO UPRISING #1 for free, courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited!

Plus, don’t miss the HALO spotlight on www.xbox.com, as HALO UPRISING and other adaptations of the popular video game series get the spotlight!

What’re you waiting for? Click over to marvel.com/halouprising and get an in-depth look at the HALO UPRISING HC and find out how to secure your copy today!

HALO: UPRISING HC (MAR092489)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by ALEX MALEEV
Cover by ALEX MALEEV
17 & Up …$24.99
ON-SALE 6/3/09!

Source

Next Page »