Marvel NOW!

[Navarre]

Forgive me for any ignorance below but I haven't kept up with any given title for several years. I was reading the Wikipedia entry for Marvel NOW! and had a couple of questions.

1) Are the new titles listed going to be the only ones Marvel publishes? For example, I don't see any Spider-Man titles listed and I can't believe Marvel would stop publishing those.

2) What happens to the characters contained in current titles? For example, both Kitty Pryde and Magik are on current X-Men teams; what happens to them?

I have more questions but I will start there.

[Alisha Mynx]

I think it just means Spidey isn't being relaunched, but will continue with the numbers they have already? 

[Gaumer]

1) No. They are just being canceled or launched/relaunched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_NOW!#Titles

This list is what is leaving and what is coming. No other titles are being impacted.

2) Teams within both the X-Men and the Avengers are being revamped post-AvX. Kitty will be staying AFAIK, with Wolverine and the X-Men as Headmistress at the Jean Grey school. I am not sure where Magik will end up, if anywhere, but since she is such a large part of AvX I am sure she will have a role.

Marvel has never needed an excuse to put any character anywhere Marvel chooses, so take all of the revampings and how long they will last with a grain of slat.

[Navarre]

One of my friends has never started reading Marvel comics because everything seemed to tie into everything else and he felt overwhelmed. Is there any sign these new titles will change that?

[Gaumer]

One of my friends has never started reading Marvel comics because everything seemed to tie into everything else and he felt overwhelmed. Is there any sign these new titles will change that?

No. None at all

These will be brand new jumping on points for ANY reader who has even been interested in a character or team, but Marvel isn't changing how they publish books, and books dripping into each other in the vat that IS the Marvel universe will continue to happen. As it should, since it is one of the calling cards of EVERYTHING that is Marvel.

And this trend can be seen over at DC recently as well, with their 'mini-events' running through 'families' of books. The Culling; Night of the Owls; War of the 3rd Army; Death of the Family.

[Navarre]

I guess I will suggest my friend pass on all this then. I suppose I will as well.

I haven't bought a new comic in years. I was looking forward to being able to enjoy the Marvel Universe again without buying several titles and keeping up with constant events.

Looks like I should learn to live with disappointment.

[Gaumer]

I was looking forward to being able to enjoy the Marvel Universe again without buying several titles and keeping up with constant events.

You do not have to do either to enjoy a single comic book title.

Even throughout events, a good comic books remains a good comic book. There are bad issues and bad arcs from time to time outside the context of an event. Slapping the name of the event on the title simply lets you know which ones are probably not as good as others. The UXM arc currently running along side AvX has been very good all on its own, for example.

[Navarre]

Last I remember an event carrying through multiple titles though, I would read one issue then come back to read the next only to find out days worth of action had happened in other titles between issues. Feeling like I'm only reading a fifth of a story is no fun.

[Gibralter]

So with Marvel Now they are relaunching Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova. My question is, How are they alive? Anyone know? Anyone? Matthew?

[Gaumer]

So with Marvel Now they are relaunching Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova. My question is, How are they alive? Anyone know? Anyone? Matthew?

I think a better question is "when has something as arbitrary as death ever stopped a comic book character before?"

Nova has been in Avengers for awhile and was a big part of stopping Dark Phoenix Cyclops.

[Marvel2099]

I think it just means Spidey isn't being relaunched, but will continue with the numbers they have already? 

After Amazing Spider-Man #700 the series is canceled and Superior Spider-Man takes over.  Heres what was on the Marvel website

In January of 2013, writer Dan Slott and writer Ryan Stegman launch SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, featuring a brand new Spidey immersing themselves in the world of the world’s greatest super hero. What’s his—or her—agenda? How will they treat Peter Parker’s supporting cast? What villains will rise up to seek their day in the sun?

Also I thought I would add my thoughts on Uncanny Avengers, of course being issue #1 it was all setup and the team trying to get together.  The Red Skull was an interesting choice of villian for the team to fight and Professor Xavier has been dead 5 seconds and already his brain has been stolen.

[Rob, no not that one.]

I don't know about the Guardians but I think the current Nova is a new character.

[Patrick]

Yup, Nova is a new character (Sam Alexander).

Liked Uncanny Avengers with Cassidy art...after "Planetary" everything he draws makes me think there is a conspiracy going on I haven't uncovered.

23 skidoo!

[Navarre]

Uncanny Avengers got off to a decent start. I think it holds a lot of promise, largely because of its creative team. I look forward to reading more.

[Patrick]

Yeah, actually I was wondering about Avengers Assemble...anyone like that? Is that canon or some alternate stories?