By Ben Morse
Last week here at the TGIF clubhouse, we had some of your favorite Marvel editors and creators working off their post-holiday hangovers (shh) by reminiscing about 2007, the year that was.
Now this week, we've got even more of those creative types working off their post-New Year's hangovers (SHH) by opening up on what's coming out of the House of Ideas in the next 12 months has them most jazzed for 2008!
It's Friday, so kick back, relax and enjoy.
NICK LOWE (Marvel editor): Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch on FANTASTIC FOUR.
I cannot wait for that book!!! ULTIMATES and ULTIMATES 2 was the best comic run in decades. So the thought of the two of them on FF gets me going.
CHRISTOS GAGE (writer of HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS): I'm looking forward to co-writing AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE with Dan Slott—we have some
huge stuff coming up—plus finishing up my reunion tour with Mike Perkins on HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS, my second Thunderbolts special—Arnim Zola!—and hopefully many more fun projects. As a reader, I am looking forward to seeing more Fat Cobra in the pages of IMMORTAL IRON FIST, and seeing a fellow Greek get the top billing he deserves in THE INCREDIBLE HERCULES!
HUMBERTO RAMOS (artist of X-MEN): Working with Terry [Moore] on the upcoming new, revamped RUNAWAYS!
C.B. CEBULSKI (upcoming writer of WOLVERINE): I'd be lying if I didn't answer that my WOLVERINE run with David Finch is what I'm most looking forward to. As for non-personal projects, I'd have to go with what will be happening in the X-Men Universe as a whole. "Messiah CompleX" shakes things up a lot and the Marvel Universe is going to be a different place for mutants in 2008. As a huge X-fan, I'm pretty psyched about what's on the horizon...like UNCANNY X-MEN #500!!
STEVE SCOTT (artist of MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK): This next year will prove to be very exciting for me as it will begin with my collaboration with writer Paul Benjamin on a four-issue run of MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK. This is the character I've wanted to draw since childhood. Hopefully, 2008 will mark the first of many years for me to be penciling the Jade Giant.
CHRIS YOST (writer of X-MEN: EMPEROR VULCAN): One word: Skrulls! I've loved the slow build over the last few years, and the true feeling that anyone, anywhere could be a shape shifting invader. Especially Luke and Jessica's baby! Never trust a baby.
ROBERT KIRKMAN (writer of ULTIMATE X-MEN): Millar and Hitch on FANTASTIC FOUR! I'm so friggin' stoked to see more from these guys. ULTIMATES is indisputably a modern masterpiece, so these guys have earned my money on anything that bears their names.
MARK BAGLEY (artist of MIGHTY AVENGERS): Really curious about how [AMAZING SPIDER-MAN is] gonna look after the "One More Day" storyline.
ZEB WELLS (upcoming writer of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN): I can't wait to see the rest of Chris Bachalo's art for our AMAZING SPIDER-MAN arc [in issues #555-557], and I'm super excited to see the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN run we've been working so hard on [hit] the shelf.
RALPH MACCHIO (Marvel Executive Editor): I'm most looking forward to the continued success and expansion of the Marvel Illustrated line. These visual adaptations of literary classics have become a favorite of mine and I'm devoting all the time and effort I can to see they get better and better in 2008.
STEVE MCNIVEN (artist of CIVIL WAR): SECRET INVASION! Skrull on Skrull action!!
ED BRUBAKER (writer of CAPTAIN AMERICA): Either Warren Ellis on ASTONISHING X-MEN, or Millar and Hitch on FF...or Secret Invasion, but then I would [look forward to that] because I'm a Skrull.
REGGIE HUDLIN (writer of BLACK PANTHER): The Black Panther is having his first Annual
ever next year, and the art by Larry Stroman and Ken Lashley is incredible.
AUBREY SITTERSION (Marvel editor): The thing I'm most looking forward to from Marvel in '08 comes just in time for Valentine's Day: GHOST RIDER #20. With the book's new team of hot new writer, Jason Aaron and the amazing Roland Boschi [on art], I think fans are in for a big treat. The new run will be picking up on elements from issues #1-#19, but taking things in very different and unexpected directions.
TOM GRUMMETT (artist of NEW EXILES): I'm really looking forward to NEW EXILES #1, of course! Oh, and the return of CLANDESTINE by Alan Davis...more terrific stuff from [Brian] Bendis and [Stuart] Immonen on ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN...FANTASTIC FOUR by Millar and Hitch...CAPTAIN AMERICA, wherever it's headed...more Dark Tower...but I guess my fondest wish for '08 would have to be: AGENTS OF ATLAS! The Sequel! Get on it, guys!
ROB LIEFELD (artist of ONSLAUGHT REBORN): KILLRAVEN by me and Robert Kirkman. I've loved Killraven since I was a wee lad growing up in the '70s. I love the work Robert and I have done in returning this character to the spotlight.
TODD NAUCK (artist of FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN): I'm looking forward to finding out more about this Skrull infiltration. I just don't trust those Power Pack kids anymore.
MOLLY LAZER (Marvel editor): For 2008, I'm looking forward to working on and reading THE TWELVE, by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston. The series is really well-written, has beautiful art and really tugs at the heartstrings.
MARC GUGGENHEIM (writer of WOLVERINE): I'm really looking forward to the X-titles in 2008. I know what's in store, particularly for the flagship, and it's completely awesome.
MIKE CAREY (writer of X-MEN): Millar and Hitch on FANTASTIC FOUR! Umm...does that even need a qualifying sentence, or is it self-explanatory?
MATT CHERNISS (writer of SUB-MARINER): Seeing what kind of partnership develops between Doom and Namor following the events in SUB-MARINER #6. How will the hero and villain co-exist? [Also] reading 12 more issues of Ed Brubaker's DAREDEVIL [and] discovering that Howard the Duck is actually a Skrull!!!
PETER JOHNSON (writer of SUB-MARINER): Seeing what Namor will be cooking up with Dr. Doom out in Latveria. Having kinda sorta just killed his own son and then blowing up all of Atlantis, Namor's sure to be in a mood.
GREG HORN (MS. MARVEL cover artist): For 2008 I'm most looking forward to the SECRET INVASION event, and of course the big "Iron Man" movie in May!
TOM DEFALCO (writer of AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL): I am really looking forward to introducing some exciting new super villains in AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL and bring back some old favorites.
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (writer of NEW AVENGERS, MIGHTY AVENGERS): Obviously I am so excited about SECRET INVASION and the tie-in AVENGERS books. It's the biggest thing I'll ever do. But I happen to know Matt Fraction got himself a new gig recently and I'm so excited to see it birth.
ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA (upcoming writer of DEAD OF THE NIGHT: MAN-THING): From my keyboard, what I'm most looking forward to in 2008 is ANGEL: REVELATIONS. Adam Pollina's art is drop-dead gorgeous and the whole project came together in a way that, I think, exceeded everyone's expectations--including my own. Also, I think DEAD OF THE NIGHT: MAN-THING is gonna be a lot of fun and surprise people. From Marvel-at-Large, I can't wait for Millar's 1985—I don't know all that much about it, but what I've heard sounds twisted and amazing—and Millar's run on FANTASTIC FOUR with
Hitch. I mean, will there be a better book on the stands from anyone?
JEPH LOEB (writer of ULTIMATES 3): Ed McGuiness on HULK. Joe [Madureira's] pencils on ULTIMATES 3. Dave Finch on "Ultimatum." Announcing what Michael Turner has been up to—ah! That was a terrible Skrully thing to add in there at the end…happy New Year, ya Skrulls!
TOM BREVOORT (Marvel Executive Editor): The same as everybody else: Millar and Hitch's FANTASTIC FOUR.
But wait—there's more!
Just before the holidays hit, we asked some of the editors and other staffers here at Marvel to share some of their favorite memories of Marvel comics fitting the festive season.
Of course most blew us off for last minute shopping, but we present the few, the proud responses we received in this very special TGIF Extra!
RYAN PENAGOS (Marvel.com editor): As a kid, I loved the MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL issues, circa '91 or so. One or two of them had typically badass Arthur Adams wraparound covers, featuring Santa and a gaggle of Marvel heroes. Check and mate. But other
than that, the holidays don't touch me. Mine heart is made of stone.
DANIEL KETCHUM (Marvel assistant editor): UNCANNY X-MEN #365! I was about 15 years old when my folks gave me a subscription to UNCANNY X-MEN for Christmas. This might have been the first issue to arrive in the mail. I remember really enjoying this issue…it was a nice, self-contained story, featuring one of my favorite X-Men—Colossus—and drawn by one of my favorite artists—Chris Bachalo. And even though it was a Christmas issue, it wasn't
just about holiday cheer, which I really appreciated.
JORDAN WHITE (Marvel assistant editor): For some reason, the Christmas comic that is foremost in my mind right now is WHAT THE?! #10. It featured a
Christmas tale in which the crime fighting duo of Milk & Cookies fought a giant killer robot Santa Claus—years before "Futurama"! The pair only manage to defeat the 'bot by Milk shooting a lactic blast in his eye, and Cookies forcing his hand to his face. This makes him wink and touch his nose, which shoots him back up the chimney, saving the day. Milk and Cookies were also on the cover of this "X-Mas Special" issue, drawn by John Byrne. What a fun series that was!
TOM BREVOORT (Marvel Executive Editor): The opening of [X-MEN v1 #98], with the new X-Men ice-skating in Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve was really the first time the series had slowed
down enough since the new team had been introduced to make these guys into characters rather than just costumes and powers and shticks. So while they'd been floating around for a couple issues by this point, this was really where we met Peter and Kurt and Ororo and Logan—though we didn't know his name yet—and began to know and like them. And we got to learn that Wolverine's claws were a part of him, which was pretty cool.
Stoked to read some comics? You better be! Head over to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited and get to it!
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