Chicago Comic-Con Part 2 – Mondo Marvel Panel
By John Gustafson
At Marvel Comics’ first of two programs on Saturday, the Mondo Marvel Panel featured Jim McCann as moderator for editor Mark Paniccia, Lauren Sakovitch, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Dan Slott, Jason Aaron and Sean McKeever.
McCann began by announcing a Mysterio arc in Amazing Spider-Man written by Slott with accompanying art by Marcus Martin. There will also be a new miniseries in December 2009 titled Spider-Man and the Secret Wars. Special note by McCann that this series will not be an “Adventures” book, rather a part of historic continuity from Spider-Man’s viewpoint.
Jeff Parker will be taking over the Thunderbolts book beginning with issue 138. Look for Songbird and the original Thunderbolts to rally against Norman Osborn and the current squad.
A new story arc for Incredible Hercules will begin in November with The Agents of Atlas crossing over.
For those following Invincible Iron Man, they will be surprised to know that Matt Fraction’s initial pitch for the series included up to the new arc “Stark Disassembled.”
“This will literally change the course of this character forever,” McCann said, noting the strong wording as “for real.”
The “War of Kings” event in the cosmic universe will lead into “Realm of Kings,” this November, preceded by the one-shot “Who Will Rule?” Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning will continue to write the core story as well as the tie-in books.
Slott and the rest of the Amazing writing cast are working on “The Gauntlet,” which will feature the return of Spidey’s classic villains after “Brand New Day.” This will not be another version of the Sinister Six or its numerous variations, but a new approach. Slott then commented that fans know who should take down Norman Osborn (Spider-Man) and the crew is working on just that premise.
Slott then plugged his work on Mighty Avengers, teasing the audience to issue #30, page 10, claiming it will either be stupid, or the greatest Hank Pym scene ever.
X-Men Forever #5 will spin the typical understanding of what it means to be a mutant on its head – but only in its alternate universe. McCann mentioned that “a lot of what is coming out was not originally planned” by Chris Claremont. A side story for the sentinels and the funeral for Wolverine are next on the list.
The panel then switched to audience questions, so here is some of the most interesting or important bits…
*Marvelman (Miracleman) was acquired by Marvel, but nothing can be publicly said at this time as to how he will fit into future books.
*Look for Thor to enter the fray in Mighty Avengers “Dark Reign.”
*World War Hulks – all the Hulks/She-Hulks will fight. There will be changes for two of the three She-Hulks, and there could be a Red She-Hulk.
*No confirmation on whether Bucky will continue to wear the Captain America costume if Steve Rogers returns proper.
*A member from the New X-Men title will appear in X-Force during “Necrosha,” more on that in the X-Men panel wrap-up.
*There will be a re-launch of Agents of Atlas after their Incredible Hercules arc.
