Marvel Now! Wave 2

 Recently, Marvel has released a second wave of 4 teasers for MarvelNow! #1's, followed about two weeks later with what the teasers were for new titles.  I posted earlier about what I expected the teasers might mean, so I figured I'd comment on the information released and also comment on what I think is yet to come with MarvelNow!

First off is a new Thunderbolts title.  The most recent Thunderbolts was government sponsored team of villains being used on dangerous missions.  The idea is to use these villains in situations that could be fatal in exchange for time off their sentence and in hopes of rehabilitation.  That title has morphed into Dark Avengers, and with MarvelNow! the team will be lead by USAgent and be comprised by former villains masquerading as heroes who were brought together by Norman Osborn.  This title, will feature a team of anti-heroes who seem not to be working in the shadows.  Red Hulk (General Ross), the Punisher, Venom (Flash Thompson), Elektra and Deadpool are the openeing roster and more have been promised. Written by Way, and art by Dillon, this an interesting enough concept.  I also think that Red Hulk and Venom have been Avengers, but their lethal activities which we would presume in this book, would seem to see a departure from both on being Avengers.

The next book is Avengers Arena, which seems to have a large amount of teenage heroes who have been kidnapped and will be fighting for survival.  This will star heroes from Runaways, Avengers Academy and other teenage heroes and might work well as a mini-series that sets up a book about the teenage heroes.  However, as an ongoing, to me it seems to have no real direction and frankly, I'm not very interested.


The third book is Cable and X-Force.  It seems that Cable wakes up after Avengers vs. X-Men and gathers a team.  However, this team is caught at a site where people with anti-mutant feelings are massacred.  I'm interesting to pick up the first issue based on the team and what the hook might be.  It seems that the team will be opposed by the Uncanny Avengers as well.  Also, there is a rumors of a second X-Force book too.

Just announced today is Uncanny X-Force which was teased with the word Killers.  The first line-up is said to Psylocke, Puck, Sprial and Storm.  Why or how Storm is on a team that kills seems to be very unlike who she is as character.  Weird.  I'd like to hear more before I figure out if to pick up the first issue.


My one grip with the books other than Avengers Arena just seeming dumb, is that for both Thunderbolts and Cable & X-Force, the starting roster is not very diverse, which can only hope, will change.  I also believe we will see a third round of teasers, most likely before the MarvelNOW! Point 1, and will tease what seems to be Bendis on Guardians of the Galaxy, Loeb on Nova, Gillen and McKelvie on a New Young Avengers book and Nick Spencer, I'm betting, will be writing a Secret Avengers book with Nick Fury Jr (the new African-American Nick Fury) on the team .  Thought I'm hoping it might be Bendis on Secret Avengers and Spencer on Guardians....?