New York Comic Con is currently underway at the Javits Center in the Big Apple and it’s a show you can hardly accuse of being a passive convention experience – there are updates and breaking stories coming out of every corner of the building, with Marvel Comics being the publisher with the most news to trumpet at a host of their Next Big Thing panels throughout the Friday.
First up, Al Ewing was announced as being the latest creative to take the helm of that most infamous set of intergalactic rapscallions, the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, as he plans to bring the same scope and epic nature to the team as he has done on his IMMORTAL HULK run…
THE GUARDIANS BLAST OFF INTO A DARK NEW ERA IN GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1
“Once, they were a team of misfits. Now the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY are a family, and they’ve earned their peace. But the universe is not a peaceful place — and it’s only getting worse. The Great Empires are in turmoil. The rule of law is dead. And amidst the chaos, the Gods of Olympus have returned — harbingers of a new age of war, reborn to burn their mark on the stars themselves. Someone has to guard the galaxy – but who will accept the mission? And will they survive it? Al Ewing (IMMORTAL HULK) and Juann Cabal (FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN) bring you in on the ground floor of a whole Marvel Universe of action and suspense!
Just announced at the Marvel’s Next Big Thing Panel at New York Comic-Con, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY will be launching in January under the new creative team of Ewing and Cabal. Ewing’s spin on Marvel’s flagship cosmic title is sure to be intense, putting the Guardians in the center of a new intergalactic war and going up against the latest threats facing the galaxy, including the reborn Dark Gods of Olympus.
“GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is a high-octane spy-fi action-adventure set against an evolving backdrop of interstellar politics, intrigue and suspense,” says Al Ewing. “War is coming – and if the Guardians can’t stop it, they’re going to be right in the middle…”
The Guardians of the Galaxy are a family as much as they are adventurers and Juann Cabal is the perfect artist to balance those two tones. Known for his dynamic work on books like X-23 and FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, the Guardian’s latest mission will look as beautiful as it does dangerous.
More details on the upcoming title will be released at a later date but you can bet that everyone’s favorite spacefaring heroes are about to experience the brand of chaos that only Ewing can deliver!
Next up came an exciting update re: THOR, a character that has been served incredibly well in recent years with Jason Aaron’s epic tale of the God Of Thunder. However, if there’s one man who can also bring the ‘epic’ to his storytelling and will serve the Asgardian true, it’s Donny Cates who, with superstar artist Nic Klein, will be taking the reins of the book from January…
DONNY CATES TAKES THOR TO GLORIOUS NEW HEIGHTS – THOR #1 FROM CATES AND KLEIN LAUNCHES IN JANUARY
“A mighty creative team will be taking over the reins of Thor next year! Just announced at Marvel’s Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con, Donny Cates and Nic Klein will be ushering the God of Thunder into his next era starting in January. The quest Thor is on will be the stuff of legend, filled with thunderous adventure as well as mystery as the character finds himself in unexpected new territory and facing off against an ancient threat known as The Black Winter.
Nic Klein brings his artistic talents to Thor’s new journey, starting with a brand-new look worthy of the King of Asgard. Get your first look at Nic Klein’s design below and prepare yourself for the story behind Thor’s eye-catching new look is as surprising as it is epic! “I’m incredibly excited and honored to be working on this with Donny,” says Nic Klein. “THOR is one of my favorite comic book characters so I really tried to up my game to do Thor and all of Asgard justice.”
Donny Cates has already tackled some of Marvel’s most legendary characters to wild success and THOR will be no exception! “In all my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined a world in which I was worthy of writing THOR,” says Donny Cates. “From Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, all the way to the legendary run I am so foolishly following by the great Jason Aaron, it is beyond an honor to enter the golden halls of Asgard, and to pave the path (Far beyond the fields we know…) for the Thunder God himself. Know that you will have my best, true believers. For all of you. For Asgard. Forever.”
Last but by no means least, a new event series was announced from the superstar roster of Dan Slott, Christos Gage and Pete Woods, fulfilling the promise that was created all the back in 1984 when IRON MAN 2020 first appeared in the pages of MACHINE MAN 2020 #2, brought to fans by Tom DeFalco and Herb Trimpe. That iteration of the Iron Man armour was worn by Arno Stark, Tony’s first cousin once removed – and in this new version, it appears little has changed in that regard. With a couple of required changes, of course…
IRON MAN 2020 DESCENDS ON THE MARVEL UNIVERSE – A NEW IRON MAN EVENT FROM DAN SLOTT, CHRISTOS GAGE, AND PETE WOODS LAUNCHES IN JANUARY
“In 1984, the Iron Man of 2020 visited from the future in MACHINE MAN #2. Now, decades later, that future has arrived! Just announced at the Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing Panel at New York Comic-Con, IRON MAN 2020 kicks off in January and begins an event that will redefine one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes!
Recent teasers have hinted at the tragic fate of Tony Stark, and now readers will see his long-lost brother, Arno Stark, take over as Iron Man. How he tackles the responsibilities that come with being the armored Avenger will have monumental effects on the Marvel Universe. Dan Slott and Christos Gage, a superstar duo of longtime Marvel writers, have crafted an Iron Man saga for the ages, and with art by the incomparable Pete Woods, this is an event that was worth waiting decades for!
“Like the inexorable turning of pages on a calendar, we’ve been building up to the arrival of 2020 and the advent of Arno Stark as Iron Man ever since this latest run began,” says Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. “Here, all of the larger themes we’ve been playing with will come to the fore in a big, sweeping, epic action movie that anyone can enjoy!”
This 6-issue series will also continue to raise thought-provoking questions about what it means to be an artificial intelligence. As the story unfolds, expect to see your favorite Marvel robotic characters from Vision and Jocasta to Albert and Elsie-Dee in what’s shaping up to be a true “Robot Revolution.” Also keep an eye out for upcoming announcements about the exciting tie-ins that will accompany this epic event featuring some of your favorite armored characters!
