ORSON SCOTT CARD TO WRITE ULTIMATE IRON MAN

[MattBrady]

Finally paying off on a hint dropped by Publisher Dan Buckley at WizardWorld Dallas, it was inadvertently announced by Time.com that novelist Orson Scott Card will be the writer on next year’s Ultimate Iron Man six issue miniseries, joining artist Andy Kubert. The first issue will reportedly have a foil cover by Bryan Hitch, whose artwork is seen here.

The tagline Marvel gave to Time.com reads: "If you thought The Ultimates told you everything you needed to know about Ultimate Iron Man, think again."

The move by Marvel makes Card the lastest in a series of novelists who have moved to comics for a project or an extended stay, a list which includes Greg Rucka, Brad Meltzer, Kevin Anderson, Michael Moorcock, Mat Johnson, Gary Phillips, Richard Morgan, and others.

Card is best known for his science fiction series of novels that began in 1986 with Ender’s Game. Both the original novel, and its sequel, Speaker for the Dead won Hugo and Nebula Awards, respectively, in 1986 and 1987. The series now spans seven novels, and Warner Brothers has signed Wolfgang Petersen to bring Ender’s Game to the screen.

The author’s works, however, span genre boundaries, as he has written ghost stories (Lost Boys), romance (Enchantment), alternate history (Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus), religious (“Women of Genesis”), and fantasy (The Tales of Alvin Maker). Card is also an accomplished playwright, with over a dozen plays produced; and an educator, teaching several courses on writing over the years in a variety of universities and colleges.

[Monsterx7]

Ultimate Iron Man is my fav character in the ultimate universeit will be good to see him shine.

[sixsh0t]

Andy Kubert is apparently Marvel's go-to guy on any miniseries involving a novelist, eh?

I'm intrigued though. Very intrigued.

[sketchykg]

Wow! Card is an awesome writer... I'm on board for this. But I guess putting Card on the book is really going to cost Marvel, if they are having a foil cover, since probably for justification to have a $4.00 cover price on a 32 page book. Just guessing.

[goofball814]

Originally posted by sixsh0t
Andy Kubert is apparently Marvel's go-to guy on any miniseries involving a novelist, eh?

It's because he can actually get a book out consistantly on time...

[Simon DelMonte]

Well, "Ender's Game" is a classic.

But Card has said enough stupid things in the past couple of years that I have little inclination to read anything new by him.

I suspect that at best that book will be the conservative version of Iron Man, balancing out Ellis' liberal version.

Neither really interests me these days.

[Johnny Smith]

Orson Scott Card and Andy Kubert on Ultimate Iron Man!!!

Sweet Christmas! This is going to be so purty!!

Reserve your copies now, boys and girls - it's going to be a fun ride!

Make Mine Marvel,

Johnny

[The Creeper]

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

"I love scoth! Scotchie, scotch, scotch!"

[perk9600]

I'm just glad it isn't an ongoing. ONe of the charms of the Ultimate Universe is that you can follow the whole thing. If they continue to add ongoings it just becomes like the regular MU.

I'm cool with mini's though. Good decision Marvel!

[Patrick_Wedge]

Originally posted by sketchykg
Wow! But I guess putting Card on the book is really going to cost Marvel, if they are having a foil cover, since probably for justification to have a $4.00 cover price on a 32 page book. Just guessing.

Where was it listed that there would be a $4 cover?

And I hope they give fans and retailers the option to purchase a non-foil cover so we don't have to remind ourselves of those old Image comics of the past.

[sketchykg]

Originally posted by Simon DelMonte
Well, "Ender's Game" is a classic.

But Card has said enough stupid things in the past couple of years that I have little inclination to read anything new by him.

I suspect that at best that book will be the conservative version of Iron Man, balancing out Ellis' liberal version.

Neither really interests me these days.

Oh, come on. It could be a mini-series where Tony Stark converts to Mormonism too.

[sketchykg]

Originally posted by Patrick_Wedge
Where was it listed that there would be a $4 cover?

No where. That's why I said "just guessing." But in light of Secret War and IC having a $4 price, albeit with higher page counts, it seems like a reasonable assumption if they are noting a "foil cover."

[Ryan Twombly]

Heh. OSC is our local curmudgeon here in Greensboro, NC. I actually e-mailed his assistant about contributing to Quixotica as basically a charity thing. But he is, ya know, kinda busy.

Maybe if he interacts with Bryan Hitch about the cover he could end up doing an episode of Doctor Who. Pascal, remember I called it!

[Ras Al Ghul]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Orson Scott Card will be the writer on next year’s Ultimate Iron Man six issue miniseries

Yes! My prairs have come true! Orson Scott Card! Finally! *sarcasm off*

The first issue will reportedly have a foil cover by Bryan Hitch.

Foil . . . cover . . . hahahahaha

[Ras Al Ghul]

Originally posted by goofball814
It's because [Andy Kubert] can actually get a book out consistantly on time...

That's funny. Where were you during the 3 month Origin #6 delay?

[grantg]

Originally posted by MattBrady
The first issue will reportedly have a foil cover by Bryan Hitch

Here we go again.

[Kerouac]

Originally posted by Ras Al Ghul
That's funny. Where were you during the 3 month Origin #6 delay?

Was there ever any confirmation about why that book was so late?

Mind you, I'm not saying it's NOT because of Kubert. I simply never heard a thing about it.

[malshnut]

wow, I loved Enders Game, Marvel's certainly trying some new things.

[Fazhoul]

I've read a TON of OSC's work but nothing in the past five years except for his "Tales of Alvin Maker" series. It was almost like, after reading 15-20 of his books I suddenly wasn't interested in his stuff anymore. This will be a wait and see series for me.

[Kepler]

This announcement strikes me as weird, but I'll definitely give it a shot. The Ultimate version of Iron Man seems to have lots of possibilities, and OSC has written some decent stuff in the past...even if it is not the recent past.

Have they announced who's taking over the regular Iron Man title when Ellis leaves yet?

[mavinga]

I've always seen Iron Man as Sci Fi, so why now have him written by the only man to win both the Hugo and Nebula awards for Science Fiction, in the same year, for Ender's game.

Infact most of Marvel's characters have a Science Fiction aspect to them that is never or rarely explored.

Go Marvel. I think this just may bring some readers in.

[VinnyPic]

Why in the blue hell would they ruin Hitch's Pencils with a foil cover? That said, ITS ULTIMATE TONY STARK! I'll be all up ons this. maybe TPB...I dunno. So torn. Hate Marvel. Love Their characters.

[AntClair]

Now if Marvel got him writting every Ultimate book that would be awesome and I'd actually buy everyone. As is i don't care for Millar or Bendis or the Ultimate line....but Orson Scott Card how can I not look into this.

[Longshot]

The only negative I can see here is the foil cover. Then again, it is IRON man, so maybe it is appropirate.

So long as they don't package it in a sealed bag with alternate trading cards inside.

[jccalhoun]

The last thing I read by Orson Scott Card is the last thing I'll ever read by Orson Scott Card. I think I'll be passing on this one.