Today’s Profound New Status Quo Is Prologue To Tomorrow’s Profound Newer Status Quo

Today’s Profound New Status Quo Is Prologue To Tomorrow’s Profound Newer Status Quo:
Over at CBR’s new weekly Axel Alonso interview spot, Marvel’s editor-in-chief confirms that we should pretty much expect an ongoing event mentality for the foreseeable future:

“Shattered Heroes” is both an epilogue to “Fear Itself” and a prelude to where the Marvel Universe is headed in 2012. Ditto for the new X-Men books, “Uncanny X-Men” #1 and “Wolverine And The X-Men” #1. Both are epilogs to “Schism” that introduce a profound new status quo to the X-Men Universe and a prelude to where it’s headed in the future. I’ve long wanted to see the X-Men more integrated into the Marvel Universe, to see them bumping shoulders with heroes like the Avengers, and this is our shot. When you see a bomb explode in “Avengers,” you can see the mushroom cloud in “Uncanny X-Men.” That’s what we’re building toward in 2012 — an event that encompasses all the Marvel heroes, where they all have an equal role and stake in the outcome… In this current market, readers are looking — first and foremost — for connectivity. They want their reading experience to fit into a larger puzzle. We see evidence of it in feedback and the ordering patterns. That’s not to say we can’t launch a new series that completely stands on its own two legs — we do so all the time — but it’s a lot harder.

It’s funny; we always talk about “event fatigue,” and then events sell through the roof – Marvel is essentially keeping Fear Itself going for at least another six months after it ends by adding it to the title of the Fearless mini, so it’s clearly working out for them – but I can’t help and wonder what happens long term when the branded aftermath of one event is there purely as prologue to the next one. Doesn’t this kind of thing just completely devalue the idea of events as… well, events?

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'Fear Itself' #6 Preview: Is This The End of Thor?

'Fear Itself' #6 Preview: Is This The End of Thor?: "
September is around the corner, and that means the grand finale to Marvel's 'Fear Itself' storyline. Can't wait that long? If not, then feast your eyes on the preview to the sixth issue of 'Fear Itself' due to hit stores on September 14th, 2011.

The culmination of Fear Itself may leave Thor more than a little bit sore. The question is, will he, like Bucky, become a casualty of the 'Fear Itself' fight? Things are not looking good for Thor. In addition to this peek at the sixth issue of Marvel's highly successful series are previews to Journey Into Mystery #626, where Asgard prepares to go into war, The New Avengers #15 where New York City is seen burning, and Hulk's comeback to Earth in the Fear Itself: Hulk vs. Dracula #1 tie in. It looks like we will be seeing more big changes in the Marvel Universe, so will everyone come out in one piece?
Check out the two page preview below and let us know what you think the finale of Fear Itself holds for our heroes. Do you think they will all survive?
Source: Marvel

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Remember When Characters Sounded Like Themselves?

Remember When Characters Sounded Like Themselves?: "
So, here’s a page from next week’s Fear Itself #5 (Spoilers, so it’s under the jump):



(Image via CBR’s preview of the issue, in case you’re wondering.)

Am I the only person who read that and thought “There’s no way Thor would ever say anything like ‘You were always a giant pain in the ass‘”? It’s perhaps a fannish concern, the whole idea of consistent “voices” for characters – especially as even superhero comics become more and more creator-led, and series become remembered for specific creators’ runs as opposed to individual stories or the like – but… “Giant pain in the ass”? From Thor? Really?

I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess; one of the drawbacks of writers with strong individual voices like Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar and now Matt Fraction is that their characters tend to have very similar dialogue; re-read something like Civil War and it’s easy to imagine Cap and Iron Man’s dialogue swapped out without too much difficulty (It’s all the “sweetheart”s), for example. But what gets lost in that stylized dialogue (which can be a lot of fun) is the idea that these characters have particular personalities that set them apart from each other – For me, Iron Man would call someone a pain in the ass, and maybe even Cap, but Thor would be the one who would just do either a monologue about what evil this particular creature is, or do a “Have at thee” and hit them. The idea that Asgardians use “ass” in general seems off, and somehow… beneath them, if that doesn’t sound too weird for a fictional character and fictional race.

I shouldn’t be bothered by it, of course; it’s a gag line – Not Thor’s first, in Fear Itself; #4 opened with one, as well – that’s essentially throwaway and there purely to make Thor seem even more badass than he would otherwise. But I’m not sure if it’s not a gag at the cost of the character. Am I just being ridiculously old-fashioned here?
"

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Fear Itself #5: Iron Man Forges An Asgardian Sword?

Fear Itself #5: Iron Man Forges An Asgardian Sword?: "
It's hard to believe that only a week ago Marvel fans picked up issue #4 of Fear Itself and already they are getting a peek at what to expect from the fifth issue which is set to hit stores on August 8th, 2011. If you still haven't read the issue (I don't know why you wouldn't have) and don't want it spoiled for you, then I suggest you stop reading.

Last issue we saw a very exhausted (and slightly drunk) Iron Man come face to face with Odin. One look at the preview and you may notice the continuation of that very scene below. Now, the really cool thing about artist Stuart Immonen is he's so good that you can practically guess what is being said in that panel based on the expression on Tony Stark's face. You have to wonder, is Tony going to be given some special Asgardian powers? Will he be forging his own Asgardian weapon and will he have to use it? And will Tony be the only one forging these weapons, or does this have something to do with the teaser of The Mighty that Marvel revealed last week?
We will also be seeing Steve Rogers face off against Sin in the next issue, and we can only hope that he will successfully avenge Bucky's knock out. Also, Thor vs. Thing and Hulk at the same time? That's the kind of stuff you would only dream of seeing in a battle thread on Comic Vine. What do you think of Fear Itself and are you looking forward to the fifth issue?
Source: Marvel

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COMICS: Shocking Status Quo Change For Iron Man In Fear Itself #4!

COMICS: Shocking Status Quo Change For Iron Man In Fear Itself #4!: "WARNING: Major Spoilers Ahead!

In the latest issue of Invincible Iron Man, we saw Tony Stark face a horrifying fight in Paris against the Grey Gargoyle, one of the Serpent's 'Worthy'. Afterwards, taking a bottle of alcohol with him tauntingly given as a gift by the widow and daughter of Justin Hammer, the future for Iron Man seemed bleak. Well, in Fear Itself #4, things get a lot worse as he takes a drink from a wine bottle labelled 'Demon Dans Une Bouteille' and breaks his sobriety.



Many thanks to Bleeding Cool for the following scan.

As many of you know, Stark took the decision to become sober in the classic 1979 Demon in a Bottle storyline by David Michelinie and John Romita Jr. What do you think of this decision by Marvel and writer Matt Fraction? be sure to share your thoughts in the usual place!"

READ MORE - COMICS: Shocking Status Quo Change For Iron Man In Fear Itself #4!

It All Depends On Your Definition Of “First Time,” Apparently

It All Depends On Your Definition Of “First Time,” Apparently: "
Matt Fraction on why Fear Itself #4 will be special:

The scene next month plays out kind of odd, because it’s that moment where everybody comes together to pay their respects, but it’s also kind of the band getting back together, because it’s the first time that Iron Man and Steve Rogers and Thor have been in the same room in the series.

From Fear Itself #1:



Wait. Who’s that standing right next to each other in the large panel?



In Fraction’s defense, they’re not actually in a room.

The three actually appear together in two other scenes in that issue – one of which is actually in a room, if you want to be incredibly semantic – but, you know, how can we expect Fraction to know this? He only wrote it.
"

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FEAR ITSELF Q&A w/ Fraction & Brevoort: A Call for Questions

FEAR ITSELF Q&A w/ Fraction & Brevoort: A Call for Questions: "FEAR ITSELF #1 is in stores now, and you can join us in a Q&A on the issue with writer Matt Fraction and editor Tom Brevoort"

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TRAILER: Marvel's FEAR ITSELF #1

TRAILER: Marvel's FEAR ITSELF #1: "Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen deliver the most anticipated event of 2011, as Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man and the rest of Earth's mightiest heroes find themselves embroiled in a war against the God of Fear.
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Matt Fraction Talks Fear Itself @ C2E2 2011

Matt Fraction Talks Fear Itself @ C2E2 2011: "Matt Fraction talks Fear Itself on the Newsarama stage at C2E2 2011.
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