MARVEL KNIGHTS APRIL WRAPUP

**MattBrady** · 01-23-2004, 10:35 AM

Wrapping up the revamped and realigned Marvel Knights imprint, along with Hulk, Wolverine and X-Statix will be moving to the imprint in April. Despite earlier concerns from readers, both Hulk and Wolverine will keep their $2.25 price.

As Marvel Knights editor Axel Alonso previously explained, the additions of X-Statix and Wolverine make sense, because, in the editor’s view, the titles already encompass the “Marvel Knights” feel.

“These books that we’re pulling over stand apart from the rest, and appeal to a Marvel Knights reader,” Alonso said. “We figure that the Marvel Knights reader is probably not somebody who lies awake in the middle of the night pondering who’s stronger, Hulk or Thor?

“All of the Marvel Knights titles we have are very different. While some may share a tone, ultimately, the writers themselves have a real worldview, and are more interested in addressing the world outside - they are asking themselves a different set of questions when they sit down to write than people who fall on the other side of the divide. There are people who start with, ‘What would Thor do if _____?’ as the operating question.

“I think the guys writing these titles are looking at different questions, something with a central question or tenet that is more relatable to adults and adult issues. It’s not that Marvel Knights is becoming adults only, if kids want to keep reading the books, great – we’d love to have them, it’s just that these are titles where the ‘superhero’ elements appear in a very different manner. It’s what makes Marvel Knights unique, and will, with these additions, continue to make these titles unique.”

As Alonso also said in the interview, all the titles moving to the Knight imprint will kick off new storylines which will feature rather super-hero centric elements: the Hulk vs. Iron Man, Sabretooth will appear in Wolverine seeking Logan’s help in a Weapon X-related arc, and X-Statix will take on the Avengers.

All three titles will double-ship in April as well.

As a quick tease, Alonso explained X-Statix writer Peter Milligan’s rationale for the “X-Statix vs. Avengers” five part arc.

“It’s modeled on the fan-favorite Avengers/Defenders War from way back,” Alonso said. “It’s a pure brawl, but not one where you throw them into one ring and let them scrap it all out. The long and short of it is that a cataclysmic event has the X-Statix and the Avengers traveling the globe to find key ingredients to stopping a worldwide disaster. So what you’re going to be seeing is one on one superhero brawls, two per issue, which will have the teams square off against one another. You’ll have the Orphan square off against Iron Man, you’ll have the Anarchist taking on America, and onwards from there. And then, we’ll also answer the oft-asked question, who’s the strongest one there is, Doop versus Thor?”

“Essentially, this is our attempt to chime in on the ‘who’s stronger’ question. It’s a lot of fun.”

Benjamin Ong · 01-23-2004, 10:45 AM

Makes me glad that I still read X-Statix! Will we see more X-Statix characters biting the dust? Will we see the Avengers losing to X-Statix? I wish April's already here!

Now, if we could only see the Hulk vs Doop project getting off the ground...!

Razak · 01-23-2004, 10:45 AM

Here we go again..

AForceOfOne · 01-23-2004, 10:48 AM

I haven't picked up X-Statix since issue one. I have the whole run of Allred and Milligan's X-Fore. Been looking for an excuse to pick it up again and I think I just found one. This is one for my own message board...All Allred All the Time.

Somniator · 01-23-2004, 10:56 AM

I've bought X-Statix since it started, but I stopped when the Diana-but-not-Diana arc began, as it didn't look all that hot, and for a couple of months up to that point it had seemed like it was waning a bit.

However, I'll almost certainly start picking it up again at some point soon. Was there anything vitally important to come out of that storyline that I've missed?

magellan · 01-23-2004, 11:03 AM

Seeing how Pete Milligan draws in a classic Silver-Age style, I like how he's drawing the Avengers in their old Silver-Age costumes. Anyone else notice that 'Phat' isn't on the cover? Does this mean that he's being killed off too?

I love the covers for the series. Especially how they are all old throwbacks to classic covers (especially 'Giant Sized X-Statix #1).

Definitely looking forward to this.

AForceOfOne · 01-23-2004, 11:05 AM

I'm sure 50 billion people are going to come scream telling you this but Milligan is writing and Allred is on art.

Check out Allred's Madman and pretty much The Atomics for the pinnacle of his work. He produced some amazing work in there. I'm not sure if it's his art or the fact somebody inks him now but he's lost alot of the heavy line work that really brought out his style. His recent work isn't bad at all...not in the least. I'm just a fan of a certain Allred period.

oh and the reason to buy it is right here:
"And then, we’ll also answer the oft-asked question, who’s the strongest one there is, Doop versus Thor?"

The Mirrorball Man · 01-23-2004, 11:06 AM

X-Statix is still great, but it's been a long time since we've had our Main Character Death fix. It's like a drug, really. The current mutants have been alive for so long now, I'm getting cold turkey. Let's hope they all get killed by the Wasp or something like that.

magellan · 01-23-2004, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AForceOfOne
I'm sure 50 billion people are going to come scream telling you this but Milligan is writing and Allred is on art.

Check out Allred's Madman and pretty much The Atomics for the pinnacle of his work. He produced some amazing work in there. I'm not sure if it's his art or the fact somebody inks him now but he's lost alot of the heavy line work that really brought out his style. His recent work isn't bad at all...not in the least. I'm just a fan of a certain Allred period.

Where is my mind? Not thinking straight this morning.

AForceOfOne · 01-23-2004, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by magellan
Where is my mind? Not thinking straight this morning.

No problem. It happens to everyone...just thought I'd mention it. Back to work for me.

Benjamin Ong · 01-23-2004, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mirrorball Man
Let's hope they all get killed by the Wasp or something like that.

And Rich'll have proven that his rumour is true and we get Rob Liefeld back on X-Force

Or have the X-Statix trash the Avengers and pit the former against the original X-Force. C'mon, say you wanna see this slugfest!

tralfaz · 01-23-2004, 11:19 AM

eating crow about the price staying...

until they hike it up a few issues later... heheheheeh

magellan · 01-23-2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Or have the X-Statix trash the Avengers and pit the former against the original X-Force. C'mon, say you wanna see this slugfest!

They DID that slugfest way back when the title had just started (in the pages of X-Force). X-Statix demolished them (AND made Cannonball jokes!)

Benjamin Ong · 01-23-2004, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by magellan
They DID that slugfest way back when the title had just started (in the pages of X-Force). X-Statix demolished them (AND made Cannonball jokes!)

YOu call THAT a slugfest?! C'mon, I wanna see 'em fight it out for six issues! I mean it!

upstart · 01-23-2004, 11:28 AM

Dear Axel Alonso, or Joe Quesada, or anyone in the know,

If you're reading, please answer: has Marvel abandoned the idea of releasing X-Statix in HC? Because that's what's keeping me from buying the trades... I haven't read an issue yet.

I really really REALLY want the HC!!! PLEASE!

Ian · 01-23-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tralfaz
eating crow about the price staying...

until they hike it up a few issues later... heheheheeh

Well, it does beg the question...

If MK doesn't equal a price increase, how come all the other titles under the imprint are $2.99?

Are the stories $.74 better? Is a different stock paper used?

Adam G · 01-23-2004, 11:34 AM

I think I am happy with the news. No price hike, no re-starting at #1. Hulk was a title that was on my endangered species list but I think the Hulk vs. Iron Man by Deodato could be sweet. Also, X-Statics vs. Avengers is going to be good.
Is it me or is it that the Avengers are bitter? First Thunderbolts, and now X-Statics

JohnnyZemo · 01-23-2004, 11:39 AM

I thought this was a funny pair of quotes when taken together:

Quote:

“We figure that the Marvel Knights reader is probably not somebody who lies awake in the middle of the night pondering who’s stronger, Hulk or Thor?

“Essentially, this is our attempt to chime in on the ‘who’s stronger’ question. It’s a lot of fun.”

So... Marvel Knights readers don't care who is stronger but they'll want to read a story that addresses that issue?

saiyanspider · 01-23-2004, 11:48 AM

yes the Sabretooth I remember!!

Jeffbot · 01-23-2004, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
both Hulk and Wolverine will keep their $2.25 price.

That comes as a surprise. Not bad.

Cartoon Jay · 01-23-2004, 11:54 AM

Wait, I'm confused.

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady

“These books that we’re pulling over stand apart from the rest, and appeal to a Marvel Knights reader,” Alonso said. “We figure that the Marvel Knights reader is probably not somebody who lies awake in the middle of the night pondering who’s stronger, Hulk or Thor?

“I think the guys writing these titles are looking at different questions, something with a central question or tenet that is more relatable to adults and adult issues. "

But then we get:

As Alonso also said in the interview, all the titles moving to the Knight imprint will kick off new storylines which will feature rather super-hero centric elements: the Hulk vs. Iron Man, Sabretooth will appear in Wolverine seeking Logan’s help in a Weapon X-related arc, and X-Statix will take on the Avengers.

“It’s modeled on the fan-favorite Avengers/Defenders War from way back,” Alonso said. “It’s a pure brawl,...

Milligan's story and Alred's perfect-but-couldn't-be-more-comic-booky art sounds like, well, classic comic book fare. So what the hell's the point of the Marvel Knights imprint? Is it really doing anything different than any other superhero line?

Fer cryin' out loud! If it's got superheroes in it and they spend most of their time beating each other up and saving the world, why do they keep trying to spin it as thoughtfull, literate adult fare!

If you write superheroes, write superheroes. If you want to write about something that is "that is more relatable to adults and adult issues" you can certainly do it in comic book form...but not with a superhero comic. That's not what they're designed for.

mdhprime · 01-23-2004, 12:00 PM

Is it me, or does the X-Statix vs. Avengers story sound a lot like JLA vs. Avengers? Also, it is going to be a slugfest, even though Marvel Knights readers supposedly aren't into that? Once again, I do not think there is a distinction between Marvel Knights readers and people who are interested in the entire Marvel U. It does not make sense to make a distinction.

Also, I am glad to hear that some of the Marvel Knights titles will tie into what's going on in the rest of the Marvel U (such as Wolverine and Sabretooth having a connection to what is going on in Weapon X.) It makes the stories more interesting in my opinion.

blankpoint · 01-23-2004, 12:01 PM

X-Statix. The best title Marvel publishes.

And for all you who agree, go pick up Milligan's Human Target trades and ongoing. While you're at it, get the Shade trade, and perhaps Enigma. If you want to dig around in bins, The Extremist mini, The Eaters, Face, and Egypt are all good reads.

blankpoint · 01-23-2004, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Is it me, or does the X-Statix vs. Avengers story sound a lot like JLA vs. Avengers?

uh... have you ever read X-Statix? It seems to be about as much like JLA/Avengers as Black Kiss is like My Little Pony.

Also, why do all these people have a problem with Thor being beaten by Superman? Isn't that kind of obvious? I mean, even Steel could beat Thor.

JohnnyZemo · 01-23-2004, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cartoon Jay
Milligan's story and Allred's perfect-but-couldn't-be-more-comic-booky art sounds like, well, classic comic book fare. So what the hell's the point of the Marvel Knights imprint? Is it really doing anything different than any other superhero line?

Axel is trying to appeal to the comic book reader who likes superheroes but considers himself more sophisticated than all those dolts who read regular superhero comics.

It seems like the whole point of this X-Statix story is to diss longtime comic fans who like superheroes.