Looking Forward - Marvel's January Solicitations

Oh mighty crystal ball. Tell us what the House of Ideas will bring forth in the dead of winter's heart.

ULTIMATE CIVIL WAR SPIDER-HAM CRISIS (FEATURING WOLVER-HAM) #1
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Penciled by MIKE WIERINGO, MIKE ALLRED, JOHN SEVERIN, NICK DRAGOTTA, ARIEL OLIVETTI and JIM MAHFOOD
Cover by MIKE WIERINGO
You asked for it, you got it! Quite possibly the most important comic ever! A life-changing event that will change the way you look at yourself and the world around you! Spinning out of the page of CIVIL WAR -- and every other top-selling comic crossover event you can think of - it's ULTIMATE CIVIL WAR SPIDER-HAM FRISIS (FEATURING WOLVER-HAM)!!! He's little, he's pink, he knows how to bring home the bacon. He's Spider-Ham - and he's about to embark a kaleidoscopic, time-spanning, universe-shifting journey that will prove just how big a pig he really is. Guest-starring: Iron Ham, Deviled Ham, Fantastic Ham, Green Ham, Ant-Ham, Ultimate Captain Ham, Hambit, Hamneto, and everyone's favorite Sorcerer Supreme -- whathisface? You know, the guy with the blue tights and red cape…Mustache…Man-servant named Wong? -- anyway, you know who I'm talking about. He's in it, too. And Wolver-Ham - did I mention him?

I probably won't buy this, but it's still a great idea. I'm glad that Marvel can poke fun at itself.

NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E. #12
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Pencils and Cover by STUART IMMONEN
To all those who HAVEN'T been buying NEXTWAVE-
Thanks a lot, jerks! This is the last issue! To all those who HAVE been buying NEXTWAVE- YOU RULE!! Do not miss this pulse-pounding conclusion to the greatest work of western literature EVER! Hamlet? Horrible. War and Peace? What-a-joke! The Great Gatsby? The Great Lame-by, maybe. Those works are going to be moved to the Bad Section of your local bookstores after this issue comes out. Don't miss this or you won't know what your children's children are reading in school.

While I knew that Ellis probably wouldn't keep this book going for long, I'll be sad to see it go. It was a great, fun read.

NEW AVENGERS: ILLUMINATI #2 (of 5)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & BRIAN REED
Pencils & Cover by JIM CHEUNG
The Infinity Gems offer their users complete mastery of the universe -- if any one of the Gems fell into the wrong hands, it would be catastrophic. So, when the Illuminati discover the Infinity Gems are scattered across the cosmos, completely unguarded, the race is on to collect them before anyone else learns the truth. The fate of the Marvel Universe hangs in the balance as Brian Michael Bendis (New Avengers) and Brian Reed (Ms. Marvel) team up with Jim Cheung (Young Avengers) to tell another chapter in the tale of the Illuminati!

I'm a sucker for the Infinity Gems

SQUADRON SUPREME: HYPERION VS. NIGHTHAWK #1 (of 4)
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM
Pencils and Cover by PAUL GULACY
It had to happen: The ultimate throw-down between the two stars of the smash hits "Supreme Power" and "Squadron Supreme:" Hyperion and Nighthawk.
But what could draw these two heroes into the biggest of all smackdowns? Nothing less than genocide. In this ripped from the headlines story, Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine, Blade) and comic book legend Paul Gulacy (Master of Kung Fu) explore the real-world tragedy that is going on right now in Darfur, Africa. The most thought-provoking and action-packed book you'll read all year!

Please stop with the Squadron Supreme minis.


CIVIL WAR: THE RETURN
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Penciled by TOM RANEY
As the Civil War rages, two of the universe's greatest heroes are confronted with pasts they can't leave behind in two heart-rendering tales. On Earth, the Sentry confronts his inner demons as the shadows of past and future battles tear him apart. Within The Negative Zone, the walls of 42, are pulled back to reveal the return of one of the Marveldom's greatest heroes…now face-to-face with a Universe they no longer recognize.

Captain Marvel was one of the great deaths in comic history. Why not let him stay dead?

WOLVERINE #50
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by SIMONE BIANCHI & ED MCGUINNESS
Wraparound cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
"EVOLUTION," PART 1
A DOUBLE-SIZED SPECIAL 50TH ISSUE! WITH SPECTACLAR WRAPAROUND COVER BY BIANCHI!
Superstar Jeph Loeb (Batman: Hush) is joined by future superstar Simone Bianchi for the biggest, best and, quite possibly, last battle between Wolverine and Sabretooth! These sworn foes have been locked in an endless grudge match that goes back longer than either can remember -- or even imagine. The key to victory is eons old, and it's certain to rock their world. Think you've seen Marvel's fiercest go toe-to-toe before? Those were just warm-ups. Also featuring a 12-page backup story "PUNY LITTLE MAN," by Loeb and superstar Ed McGuinness (Superman/Batman): He's big, he's green, he's mean, and he just got his mitts on Logan. Now THIS is gonna hurt.

While I'm not the biggest Jeph Loeb fan I'm really looking forward to this story.




X-MEN: PHOENIX - WARSONG #5 (of 5)
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by TYLER KIRKHAM
Cover by MARC SILVESTRI

Wasn't this the end of Neon Genesis Evangelion

No solicits for Astonishing X-Men, or Civil War #7. I am shocked. SHOCKED.