BENDIS UPDATES NEW AVENGERS SCHEDULE, & MORE

**MattBrady** · 03-09-2005, 09:21 AM

At his messageboard, Brian Bendis has clarified the schedule of New Avengers, which has seen issues #4 and #5 slide from their originally scheduled dates, with Steve McNiven coming on board as the penciller starting with issue #7. Bendis posted, “It is not a permanent thing. one of the reasons Steve McNiven is already at work on the second arc is so David Finch can go right from issue #6 to issue #10.

”So yes, we are dragging a little bit now but its all about bringing you the highest quality. these scripts are a bitch to draw. lots of characters in each panel. but with Mcniven's fill ins we will be back on a normal schedule very, very soon.”

Bendis also added that the alternate covers for Steve McNiven’s arc (#7-#9) which focuses on The Sentry will be by Dave Cockrum (#7), John Romita Sr. (#8 – a wedding cover at character creator Paul Jenkins’ request), and Marie Severin (#9). As Bendis posted, “If you do not know these names, please go find out who they are. They are true greats.

”These special alt covers are not New Avengers covers, but ‘Startling Stories’ covers on New Avengers - that is the comic the Sentry appeared in that no one can find. I do not know what the ordering plan is. if you don't like alt covers, don't buy them.”

Continuing the Silver Age theme of the arc, issue #7 will contain a sequence by Sal Buscema, which Bendis said will be his last retro segment ever.

Bendis also added that the long-delayed Wha Huh?!? will ship in July. Additionally, the videogame Bendis has been working on for the past year and a half will be announced shortly, and will be featured on the cover of Playstation Magazine that ships the same week as E3 in May.

Finally, as to Brian K. Vaughan’s tease about an Ultimate project: “I know BKV has been hinting at some Ultimate project that I and Mark Millar are involved in. it is not as reported elsewhere a handbook or guide. All I will say for now is that BKV is a very generous bastard! And I like Mark Brooks.”

Oh, and there was this as well:

tralfaz · 03-09-2005, 09:30 AM

hubba bubba.. cool beans

Blind Assassin · 03-09-2005, 09:32 AM

Dang! Matt--

I posted the same thing about an hour before you did.

Maybe I should work for you guys so you don't get 'scooped'

I am so excited for this stuff.

Gurl Reader · 03-09-2005, 09:33 AM

That Wha huh? cover looks sweet. I can't wait for NA issue 4, I want it now.

NYCEvolution · 03-09-2005, 09:33 AM

SPEEDBALL!! w00t! w00t!

tralfaz · 03-09-2005, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blind Assassin
Dang! Matt--

I posted the same thing about an hour before you did.

Maybe I should work for you guys so you don't get 'scooped'

I am so excited for this stuff.

yeah, but he's got those purrtty covers

"IN A WORLD...."

Blind Assassin · 03-09-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tralfaz
yeah, but he's got those purrtty covers

"IN A WORLD...."

ha ha ha ha.

brazilgilliam · 03-09-2005, 09:35 AM

Allow me to be the first to exclaim in fanboyish rage: JULY?! Now I'm definitely not picking it up; I'll probably just let one of my friends who is still interested in it get it and borrow offa him. Bendis' run on Avengers so far hasn't exactly impressed me. If he's going to respond to this or if anyone will:
1) How is it possible for Tony to get the Avengers a new tower after he said that his funds were tight and that it wouldn't be like the old mansion.
2) Why does everyone care about Carnage so much? The only thing he's got going for him is that "He wants to eat your brains" and he's an equal opportunity brain eating machine.
3) Is it just me or does the first arc seem really just like a lot of a nothingburger of a plot stuffed to the gills with villains and heroes? (Maybe Bendis shouldn't answer this one because his answer will probably be filled with bile and vitriol)

tridon · 03-09-2005, 09:41 AM

This is all very sweet news. I'm hoping the cover ratio on the New Avengers variants aren't too insane.

March Haire · 03-09-2005, 10:03 AM

I want the alt. covers so bad after hearing who they are by...but the ratios are probably going to be crazy.

BKV, Millar, and Bendis on one project with Mark Brooks (if that hinting is true) would be awesome.

And as long as New Avengers ships...I don't care how late/early it is...just as long as it remains an awesome read.

bcondray · 03-09-2005, 10:08 AM

about a Variant Cover...but those 3 I really want. Cool.

Oh...and please Mr. BMB...bring Wanda back to sanity and heroic status..

House of M looks great.

RDuarte · 03-09-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
Oh, and there was this as well:

Someone please turn this into wallpaper!

Alfonso · 03-09-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
Bendis also added that the alternate covers for Steve McNiven’s arc (#7-#9) which focuses on The Sentry will be by Dave Cockrum (#7), John Romita Sr. (#8 – a wedding cover at character creator Paul Jenkins’ request), and Marie Severin (#9).

And I was just thinking to myself, "You know, New Avengers needs even more variant covers. The whole goddamn industry does! I wish SOMEONE would start crapping out even more of them!"

Quote:

Bendis also added that the long-delayed Wha Huh?!? will ship in July.

Oh, only seven months late then?

Blind Assassin · 03-09-2005, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alfonso
Oh, only seven months late then?

The 'lateness' was due to legal issues regarding some of the artwork. We have known about this for some time. Parts had to be re-drawn, I assume.

jediortiz · 03-09-2005, 10:24 AM

Have to say the art is looking Killer! Finch and Miki are pretty darn good with that pencil and quil! With Bendis's track record I am sure this new run of Avengers is KICKIN! I have to make time to read it! Also looking forward to the McNiven run, good artist.
www.dragonskeep.com

bob_at_york · 03-09-2005, 10:35 AM

I am getting even more excited about House of M. I am still sticking with my theory about who the "Mastermind" is behind everything.

shifty · 03-09-2005, 10:38 AM

I'm excited about McNiven's arc. Anything they can do to get the book back on track is tops. And I like McNiven more than Finch anyway. Finch is good, but everyone seems squinty.

House of M hype machine I am in your thrall. So helpless against it all.

Michael P · 03-09-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
”So yes, we are dragging a little bit now but its all about bringing you the highest quality. these scripts are a bitch to draw. lots of characters in each panel.

Funny, Jack Kirby, George Perez, John Buscema, et. al. never seemed to have that problem.

majorjoe23 · 03-09-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brazilgilliam
Why does everyone care about Carnage so much? The only thing he's got going for him is that "He wants to eat your brains" and he's an equal opportunity brain eating machine.

Carnage didn't want to eat our brains, Venom did, as he stated with his early 90's action figure. Caranage wanted to let us know that laws were nothing but _______ and justice is just a _______, as he stated over and over again.

Rich Johnston · 03-09-2005, 10:49 AM

From past Lying In The Gutters..

The House Of M is a new makeover show in which Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen gives Astroid M a Victorian theme.

Is does not go down well.

Goodman · 03-09-2005, 11:20 AM

It looked like Wonder Man in that House of M pic. What do you want to bet they'll kill him off? Again.

algertman · 03-09-2005, 11:26 AM

House of M: More panels of people standing around looking grim than you can shake a stick at!

bob_at_york · 03-09-2005, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Goodman
It looked like Wonder Man in that House of M pic. What do you want to bet they'll kill him off? Again.

I heard that one last week. He could even be the mystery Avenger in some new containment suit.

Is that the Wasp in the pic too?

**MattBrady** · 03-09-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alfonso
And I was just thinking to myself, "You know, New Avengers needs even more variant covers. The whole goddamn industry does! I wish SOMEONE would start crapping out even more of them!"

That's a weird thing to be thinking to yourself, but hey! you got your wish!

Btw - I liked in the VU thread where you mocked someone for being predictable. Are you like employed by the dictionary companies to give real world examples of irony?

MattB

algertman · 03-09-2005, 11:40 AM

i go no beef with them "thinning the herd" on mutants. Just don't be stupid about it. Death Squads would be cool, I love Death Squads in comics, they always rock