Marvel Comics September 2024 solicitations are here! With that are given a clear idea of how Marvel plans on ending their summer publishing schedule and how the fall will begin. Once again the Marvel Comics September 2024 solicitations are dominated by the Spider-Man and X-Men franchise along with the Venom War event. Though we get some Avengers plans that are snuck in between. Let’s take a look at the biggest takeaways from Marvel Comics September 2024 solicitations.
WOLVERINE BACK TO DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST
During the Krakoa Era one of the things Marvel seemed to do was consciously not have Wolverine appear everywhere. He still had a large presence in the X-Men franchise but nowhere near where it was in the three decades prior, especially in the 2000s and 2010s where he was everywhere. Now that rest period is over for Wolverine as he is in appearing in at least six titles as a lead or teaming up with other heroes. And those are the ones that he is one of the main characters on the main cover. He will likely also appear in cameo or supporting roles elsewhere.
What will be interesting about this is which of these Wolverine titles that will be the #1 series. Because September is the official debut of the new Wolverine ongoing series with the creative team of Saladin Ahmed and Martin Coccolo. That is a strong creative team with Ahmed proving himself with his Daredevil and Spider-Man work while Coccolo is one of Marvel’s best artists.
That said, the new Wolverine ongoing may not be the lead series for the character. That title may belong to the Jonathan Hickman and Greg Capullo led Wolverine: Revenge mini-series. While the mini-series will launch in August given the creative team involved combined with Wolverine’s popularity will sure to make it one of Marvel’s top titles. In their own way Marvel has created a competition for a few months of which Wolverine title can be considered #1. Which could be for the best to have this creative competition.
ZEB WELLS PREPARES AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RUN END
The two solicitations for Amazing Spider-Man in Marvel Comics September solicitations appears to indicate that Zeb Wells is preparing to end his run on the series. That is hinted at with Wells focusing on telling the finale for the Tombstone story he has been building since he started his Amazing Spider-Man run. It certainly feels like one those check the boxes stories that Wells needs to knock out before ending his Amazing Spider-Man run. There has been to much time dedicated to Tombstone.
Though given everything Wells has done during his Amazing Spider-Man run it should not be his final story arc. There are the unresolved elements with the alternate dimension MJ and Paul were stuck in. The way that story was resolved in Amazing Spider-Man #25 did not seem like the end of what Wells was looking to do. Though it has felt that way because MJ and Paul haven’t been a big part of Amazing Spider-Man in 20+ issues.
There is also wrapping up where things are going to end up between Peter and Norman Osborn. That is something that seems to be currently being addressed. Though with how much attention the relationship with Peter and Norman have gotten their status quo is what Wells will likely be how he ends his run. Wells could easily merge the plans with MJ and Paul with an endgame Green Goblin story to conclude his Amazing Spider-Man run. We will wait and see.
DONALD DUCK IS THE NEW MIGHTY THOR
2024 is the year where Marvel Comics has been further integrated into the Disney Family. For years they’ve been the new home for Star Wars comic books. Now we are seeing more Disney related comic books being published under the Marvel Comics banner. The latest comic book to be added to the Disney line-up is a brand new What If…? one-shot starring Donald Duck. Not only is it starring Donald Duck but it is going to be in a story where we see him wielding Mjölnir as the new Thor.
The What If Donal Duck Became Thor comic book appears to be the start of a new Marvel and Disney animated collaboration. There are plenty of other What If scenarios with Disney characters taking on Marvel character origins. It wouldn’t be surprising if we see Mickey Mouse as Captain America or Scrooge McDuck as Iron Man in a What If one-shot.
With this latest collaboration it does show that Disney is opening their vault for Marvel to explore in comic book format. They’ve been publishing Star Wars, Aliens, Predator, and other Disney owned property. It wouldn’t be surprising if we eventually see Pixar franchises publishing comic books under the Marvel brand. If that does happen maybe we can get a Fantastic Four and Incredibles crossover. Please!
MARVEL IS ALL IN ON VENOM WAR
There is a four-pillar strategy that Marvel follows with their publishing line-up. The two strongest pillars are Spider-Man and X-Men. The third is the Avengers for support. Then there is whatever big event is going on that month. For the end of Summer and going into the Fall that Marvel event is Venom War.
Venom War being one of Marvel’s pillars is seen by the slew of titles published under the big events banner. There are many Marvel characters involved in the tie-in series where they are the only place to find them. Though that is mixed up with Daredevil, Wolverine, and Spider-Man tie-ins so its not just minor characters in these tie-in side comic books.
Based on how things are set-up for Venom War, the big event will be involve Multiverse and time travel elements. The time travel elements is the most intriguing one to watch. If Marvel wants to make Venom War truly impactful to their universe whatever time travel there is should impact the present in some way for the long-term.
EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN ENTER THE SCENE
If it wasn’t clear before the last set of X-Men titles under the From The Ashes direction makes it clear the franchises focus is splintered. Unlike before where all the X-Men titles were united in one way or another under the Krakoa banner, the mutants are off doing their own thing. As we see with the last of the three pillars of the franchise, Exceptional X-Men, not every team or mutant is looking to return to their superhero roots. Though they will be leaning more into the traditional superhero side than they did during the Krakoa era.
This brings a spotlight to the debuting Exceptional X-Men series. While X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, X-Force, X-Factor, and NYX are working as superheroes in different corners that does not appear to be the case for Exceptional X-Men. Instead, Exceptional X-Men is going back to a young team of mutants trying to learn to be heroes under Emma Frost as the new mentor, at least eventually.
Coming out of Rise of the Powers of X and Fall of the House of X is where Kate Pryde’s character will go. It was a big deal that she returned to her ninja Shadowcat side during Fall of X. It certainly was the coolest version of Kate Pryde. Though it did take a toll on her as we saw that with Wolverine’s help she decided after the latest X-Men crossover that isn’t who she should be 100% of the time. Though hopefully as one of the leads of Exceptional X-Men we do see Kate bring out more of her ninja skills and continues to use the Shadowcat codename.
ULTIMATE UNIVERSE TITLES FIND THEIR OWN IDETITIES
One of the things that has made the new Ultimate Universe so special is how each title under its banner has its own identity and style. Its not simply that they are taking place in different corners of the universe or involving different characters. The creators involved have put a lot of effort to make the Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Black Panther, and Ultimates distinct from one another.
That is even more true in the September issues for each Ultimate Universe title. Each one will be tackling major stories that can impact the larger Ultimate Universe as a whole.
With Spider-Man we see that the Sinister Six will be debuting under The Maker’s Council’s control. Ultimate Black Panther will have both T’Challa and Storm take on The Maker’s Council members Moon Knight directly. Meanwhile the Ultimate X-Men series now will really be a team title with who appears to be Ultimate Psylocke as the senior mentor debuting. Then finally, Ultimate Reed Richards, aka Ultimate Doctor Doom, will becomes fixated on making the Fantastic Four a thing in the Ultimate Universe.
Each of these developments could have an impact on one another as we see the greater Ultimate Universe be explored. Ultimate Reed Richards trying to create the Fantastic Four could have the biggest impact. It could lead this version of Reed to go down the path of his Ultimate Universe predecessor that lead to The Maker’s creation. If that happens the 18-month timeline for The Maker’s return maybe accelerated.
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE NEW TEAM
The Avengers are getting a new team under their umbrella. That is coming thanks to the creative team of Steve Orland and Cory Smith. For this new team Steve Rogers’ Captain America is bringing together She-Hulk, Shang-Chi, Hawkeye, Spectrum, Hercules, and Wonder Man to tackle a new Red Skull-related threat.
Though, surprisingly Avengers Assemble is not an ongoing series. It will, as of now, be a limited five issue mini-series. Given the creative team involved that is surprising. Though the solicitation for Avengers Assemble does tease that this mini-series won’t be the last we see of this Steve Rogers-led team.
Given the solicitation it could be a case that due to how poorly the last few Avengers titles have done Marvel wants to see how well Avengers Assemble does as the second title for the franchise. If it sells well don’t be surprised if Avengers Assemble after two or three issues is announced as an ongoing series. This is a much better route than announcing a bunch of new ongoings only to cancel them after five issues. Going the mini-series route at least gives the narrative that the creative team was able to wrap up their idea and move on to another Avengers related story and team.
WHAT WILL INFINITY WATCH ENDING LEAD TO?
Infinity Watch is one of Marvel’s silent events that has been going on for months in various Annual one-shots. Finally we see in Marvel Comics September solicitations that we will be getting the conclusion of the Infinity Watch crossover. The event will certainly have a lot of room to tell a full story with how many Annual one-shots have been involved.
Now with the latest Infinity Stone event coming to an end the big question is what will be next? Its been a long time since the Infinity Stones have been an important part of the Marvel Universe. It does not look like Infinity Watch will be doing much to give the items more interest for the readers. It is a far cry from the importance the Infinity Stones once represented as universe changing items.
The lack of interest in Infinity Watch goes 1-and-1 with the interest with Thanos. While Thanos has had some solid comic books as the lead character none have been huge. Marvel needs to make it a point to make both Thanos and the Infinity Stones important once again. There is the lingering Black Winter prophecy that Thor was given involving Thanos at some point in the future gaining control of the Symbiote, Mjolnir, and the Infinity Stones. That should be a big Thor and Thanos led big event Marvel should build towards.
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