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DC Fifty-Too/Marvel Universe Too becomes RELAUNCHED this weekend!

The big DC FIFTY-TOO / MARVEL UNIVERSE TOO announcement!

I've mentioned - on this blog and on Twitter - that a 'big announcement' was coming for DC FIFTY-TOO/MARVEL UNIVERSE TOO, so here it is: Beginning January 1, 2012, we're opening the door to everyone!

The response and reaction to the DC FIFTY-TOO and MARVEL UNIVERSE TOO:WHAT IF projects has been immense - thousands of folks have found the site, blogged about it, discussed it in their message boards. More than anything else, the blog has attracted dozens and dozens of artists who have expressed interest in submitting their own new covers and story concepts.

Well, they need not wait any longer - beginning in 2012, the DC FIFTY-TOO blog will change its name to RELAUNCHED and will become OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS. You do not need to wrangle an invite or wait for the next themed event, nor do you have to limit yourself to Marvel or DC - you can simply create your own cover and series concept whenever you'd like for whatever property you'd like, and send it directly to us.

(Not that we'll be abandoning our theme months - stay tuned for some announced events coming down the pike!)

We won't necessarily be publishing everything which gets submitted - Artists and project contributors Benjamin Birdie and Ryan Cody will be helping to curate the submissions so that only the best make it to the blog. 

In the meantime, we're a little more than four weeks away from the new site debut, so don't delay! Check out our submission guidelines and see you in January!

DEVIL DINOSAUR #1 by Jake Ekiss

Jake Ekiss is a founding member of Space-Gun Studios and a graduate of the University of North Texas Drawing and Painting Program. Jake has gone on to work for companies such as The Gamers' Conglomerate, Study Island, Titan Comics, and Digital Webbing. He is currently producing his own webcomic Solomon Azua, which was nominated for a Glyph Award in 2011.


Jake says: On a world whole realities away from our own, Moon Boy rescues a dying lizard from the molten flames of a scorched landscape. Eight years later the beast has grown in size and hunger. It has become more than beast. It has become a devil. And the tribe of Small Folk now worship it as a god. Moon Boy must now defend his family from the very creature he once sought to save. But how can he triumph against the most deadly monster his world has ever seen. The devil is strong. The devil is ready. It is the Valley God, the Lacertilian King. It is Devil Dinosaur: Imperious Rex.

--
http://jakeekiss.blogspot.com/
http://jakeekiss.deviantart.com/

ARNIM ZOLA #1 by Robert Goodin

Another bonus Marvel Universe Too:

Robert says: Arnim Zola tries his best to have a romance comic, but his evil Nazi past (and present) keeps coming back to haunt him."

Robert's website is www.robertgoodin.com and he also runs www.coveredblog.blogspot.com

WOLVERINE #1 by Nathan Fox

Another bonus Marvel Universe Too:

Nathan Fox's website is 

http://www.foxnathan.com

CLOAK AND DAGGER #1 by Kat Roberts

Contributor Kat Roberts got her piece in a little after deadline, but it's too good not to post. So enjoy this Bonus Marvel Universe Too!

Kat Roberts works as artist and designer in Brooklyn, NY. Her more recent works can been seen on Act-I-Vate, Image's Twisted Savage Dragon Funnies and Cousin Corinne's Reminder. The first issue of her self published comic, You Are Always On My Mind, is available here. 

Cloak and Dagger were created by writer Bill Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.

The End - but what next?

And that wraps up MARVEL UNIVERSE TOO: WHAT IF, the followup to DC FIFTY-TOO. The question is, though - is that the end of this blog?

Not yet it isn't! Stay tuned for details about a big change to come!

SECRET SECRET WARS #1 by Matthew Allison

From Wikipedia:

Plot summary

Plot setup

A cosmic entity called the Beyonder observes the mainstream Marvel universe. Fascinated by the presence of superheroes on Earth and their potential, this entity chooses a group of both heroes and supervillains and teleports characters against their will to "Battleworld", a planet created by the Beyonder in a distant galaxy. This world has also been stocked with alien weapons and technology. The Beyonder then declares: "I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!"

Soon realizing that the nobody he's chosen is going to slay diddly dunkus the Beyonder gathers a second group of heroes and villains who quite frankly have much less to lose. These C-listers are dropped 

on the opposite side of "Battleworld" where they are given massive amounts of recreational drugs and alcohol and are told: "I am from beyond! Slay anybody and I will give you a thousand dollars...and more 

drugs!"

Plot conflict

The heroes include Puck, Man-Thing, Karnak, Rom, Whizzer, The Thunderiders, aka Team America (Cowboy, Honcho, R.U. Ready, Wolf, and Wrench), Captain Ultra, and Son of Satan. Turner D Century is featured as a hero but immediately becomes non-aligned when everyone questions his presence. Everyone.

The villains include Blastaar, Doctor Demonicus, Plantman, Orca, Flag Smasher, Man-Ape, Armadillo, Moonstone, Black Talon, Texas Twister, and Karkas. The microcosmic entity Psycho-Man also appears as a villain who immediately becomes a non-aligned entity as he soon begins to mess with everyone's emotions via his control box. At one point in the series he forces all of the combatants to "hug it out".

The first hero to die is Honcho in issue 6. The Beyonder becomes increasingly frustrated as the heroes and villains begin to bond rather than destroy each other and so he cuts off their cocaine supply and refuses to give it back until someone is dead. As a sacrifice Honcho is strangled by his partner Wolf, much to the shock and dismay of his counterparts. However, Psycho-Man emotionally manipulates the rest of the team into having a kegger in Honcho's honor. In issue 7 Captain Ultra dies when he slips down a canyon face while peeing. 

LEGION OF MONSTERS #1 by John Bishop

John says: Legion of Monsters featuring-

Dr Michael Morbius- Still searching for a cure to his bloodlust, but not in too much of a hurry.

Man-Thing- The shambling muck monster is still obsessed with Satana, and she will manipulate him in any way she can.

Rintrah- Doctor Strange's old apprentice, now charged with guarding the Book of the Vishanti.

Omen- Charles Blackwater, murdered lawyer, now resurrected and dedicated to battle Occult threats.
Satana- The leader of this motley crew of misfits, just what is her real agenda?

MISTER SENSITIVE #1 by Chris Haley

Chris says: Guy Smith, afraid of a world that both loves and misses him, can FEEL the cries of all the souls he's loved and lost because even beyond the grave, the ultra-sensitive sensation can still feel everything! Fighting his way back from the after-life in pulse-pounding fashion, he must answer action's call, because GUY SMITH FEELS IT ALL!

Bio:
Chris Haley is best known for being partially responsible for the mildly successful webcomic about comics, Let's Be Friends Again, and a number of tear-filled, internet tirades about how great Superman is. He also shares co-responsibility for all of the LBFA Presents features at ComicsAlliance and is known to Tumbl.

SISTERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS #1 by Jesse Hamm

MARVEL TWO IN ONE #1 by Evan Shaner

The Thing is without a doubt my favorite Marvel character, and Marvel Two-in-One is one of my favorite runs in Marvel's history. I changed some very minute design aspects, but otherwise I just want an excuse to draw Ben Grimm and some of my other favorite Marvel characters. I'm a big fan of the various recent Agents of Atlas series, so I'd absolutely team him up with Gorilla-Man for the first issue. Of course I'd drop Ben and Ken right in the middle of a Doombot-infested Savage Land, because there are few things I like more in comics than monsters, gorillas, robots, and dinosaurs.
I know exactly who I'd throw in the following issues too: Beast, Luke Cage, Kitty Pryde, The Warriors Three, Giant-Man, Lockjaw, The Muppets, Scrooge McDuck, and Popeye.


Evan Shaner's website is here.

THE DESTROYER #1 by Paul Milligan

Paul says: Following up on the mini-series by Robert Kirkman and Corey Walker, Keene Marlow, the original Destroyer, is retired. His son-in-law (and one-time sidekick), Darius is the new Destroyer and is, by all accounts, stronger and more unstoppable than even Keene in his prime. Keene, somewhat restless in retirement, lives vicariously through the young hero, listening to stories of his adventures and offering occasional advice. But then Darius is captured by the crime-scientists of the evil organization, The Horde and brainwashed into becoming their number one agent of destruction. As the only person capable of going head-to-head with Darius, Keene is forced to come out of retirement and become the Destroyer once again.


Paul's site is www.stumblebumstudios.com

X-WOMEN #1 Jamie Fay

Jamie says: My idea was What If....X-MEN:Schizm. In the book X-MEN: Regenesis, Cyclops comes to Storm and asks for to be on his side. She states that he only wants her for her power. In the book, he states that isn't the case, but what if it were true. He only wanted her for her power. My book idea spins out of that. Storm sees that Cyclops doesn't ask her opinion much anymore. He now has come to rely on Magneto, Namor, and Wolverine, to name a few. All men. Emma Frost is the only female that is in his inner circle. 

Storm sees how the powerful women on the X-MEN are used as soliders, cannon fodder. Not leaders. Not people to rely on. So, she bans together the X-WOMEN and goes back to Australia Outback and leads a team of strong powerful women. Her inner circle consists of Emma Frost, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, with Domino as for tracker and search and rescue leader, and Danger as her technology expert.

The team consists of all women, some veteran, some with experience and some new to Xavier's dream. The team on the cover consists of women from every X-Book and shows the range of experience.

For the coloring, I once again called on Danielle Alexis St. Pierre. I had to! For one, she is amazing! Secondly, I had to empower a woman to color my lines and make them shine. Danielle did that and then some! Thanks, Danielle.

Jamie Fay is a artist/inker living in New York, NY. He's the co-creator of the new comicbook series, NeverMinds, from Drumfish Productions. Jamie's work has also appeared in the Sentinels Anthology, and many other indie titles. To check out more of Jamie's art, visit http://windriderx23.deviantart.com. To find out more about NeverMinds and other Drumfish Productions series, visit http://drumfishproductions.blogspot.com

This piece was colored by NeverMinds colorist, Danielle Alexis St. Pierre. To check out Danielle's work, please go to http://witchysaint.deviantart.com

GIANT-SIZE MAN-THING #1 by Brendan Tobin

Brendan says:

Info: Brendan Tobin is an illustrator who worked in the NY animation industry for several years and currently freelances from Newport, RI.  He often posts his nonsensical artwork at his blog, http://brendantobin.blogspot.com/.

Man-Thing was created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 (May 1971)

MARROW #1 by Faith Erin Hicks

Faith says:

Here's my pitch:

I picked Marrow to draw because I very briefly read X-Men in the late 90s, then stopped reading when I realized the stories would never come to a proper conclusion (it's important to me that stories have a beginning/middle/end). Marrow was a new member of the X-Men, and I liked her defiance to the rest of the team, as well as her strange look: the jutting bones and short hair (I always thought her green/blue costume was kinda ugly) was very different looking from the typical female X-Men, and as an awkward teenager who didn't feel terribly attractive, I identified with her.

I'm passionate about doing comics for younger readers, and I think superhero comics have really dropped the ball on that. I do outreach to schools and libraries, and I always find kids/teens who are really interested in comics, wildly enthusiastic about Bone, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bleach or Smile. I meet maybe one kid in 30 who reads a superhero comic. So my Marrow story would be for teens and maybe a little younger, with action and bravery, but also about a young mutant with alienation issues, someone who doesn't really fit into "normal" society.  My Marrow story (one with a beginning/middle/end), would start with her Morlock origins: she'd be a kid growing up in the sewer with a surrogate mutant family, knowing that she was very different from the world above. She'd chafe at being forced to stay in the sewer, where it was safer and she could be protected from the scorn of "normal" humans. But she'd start to explore the world above and, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, would fight crime in the shadows. And then she'd probably run into some of the X-Men, and there'd be fun conflict between the groups. 

Bio: Faith Erin Hicks writes and, draws a lot of comics. Her work includes Demonology 101, Ice, Zombies Calling, The War at Ellsmere, Brain Camp (art only), The Adventures of Superhero Girl and Friends With Boys, which is currently being serialized online at http://www.friendswithboys.com

She can also be found at http://www.faitherinhicks.com and is always very, very sleepy.

SPIDER-MAN #1 by Marc Palm

Marc says:
Marc J Palm (AKA Swellzombie) lives and works as a cartoonist/illustrator in Seattle. Marc has been drawing for 20+ years where comics and film have always been the biggest influences. Marc's comics are at http://swellzombie.blogspot.com and his illustrations http://marcpalm.carbonmade.com

As far as this concept goes... The radioactive spider that bit Peter ends up mutating him into this human sized spider. He tries his hardest to maintain a normal teenage human appearance by using his special make-up effects hobby to mold masks of his old face and hands. He's also learned to manipulate the 8 limbs in order to look like 4 within the limits of long sleeves and pants.
In this story, there's no choice whether or not he's Spider-man. Peter has to decide how much he wants to keep up a human facade. He's torn between his deep human connections with friends/family and then the freedom of fighting crime as a wild "mut-animal".

SPIDER-MAN 2012 #1 by Paul Lavallée and Ander Zarate

Paul says:
Paul Lavallée is an illustrator and self-publisher from western Canada. He publishes an indy anthology named Induced, as well as a few web-comics in production.
http://www.lav2k.ca/
http://lav2k.deviantart.com/.

My name is Ander Zarate, im from Mexico and i color comic books;)
I consider my self a versatile colorist, i think that's my strongest prop as colorist, i luv trying different things and i try to adapt my crayons to the wide variety of line arts that i get to work with!
http://zaratus.deviantart.com/

crayonaut.blogspot.com/

MARVEL BOY #1 by Dean Trippe

Dean says: If I could pick any Marvel property to build a new series around, it'd be a young new version of Marvel Boy, likely from another alternate dimension or something. He'd be optimistic, powerful, and driven to save the world with his super-liberal agenda. Kind of like The Authority meets Butterfly. And he'd have a hyperboard (think hoverboard plus.)


Dean Trippe's website is here.

SQUIRREL GIRL #1 by Katie Cook

Katie's website is http://KatieCanDraw.com

WOLFPACK #1 by Evan Keeling

Evan says: I picked WolfPack because it just popped into my head like a flash of memory from my child hood and it is such a crazy concept.

A bunch of urban teens are trained by Mr. Mack who was trained by a lady ninja to fight a team of ninjas dedicated to destroying the 10 honest men of hebrew legend. So many concepts crammed into one book/ mini series.

For my cover I played off of how the characters in the original comic were very dated to the 80s. So I tried to put together some more modern dated outfits. My design for Mr Mack was basically if Devastatin' Dave and Terminator X had a baby. With Mr Mack I was also playing with the idea that he is one of the original pack (Slag) grown up and has taken over the mantel of Mr. Mack.

I had other concepts swimming in my head but the ideas just got to big and I had to let them go.

Here are some reviews of the original WolfPack

http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2010/07/13/wolfpack-a-marvel-graphic-novel/

http://thewayofthegame.net/?p=721

my Bio

Evan Keeling is a born and raised Washington DC comic artist and writer. He is a founding member of the DC Conspiracy, a collective of Washington, DC area comic book artists and writers and has been self-publishing comic books for print and for the web over the last five years. Evan has also been one of the principle organizers for the DC Conspiracy’s yearly counter culture Festival for the last four years. He has worked with numerous DC area bands, producing posters, CD covers, videos and t-shirt designs. He contributed art to the Eisner nominated anthology Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. Currently he is coloring Matt Dembicki's great white shark epic XOC coming out in 2012 from Oni Press. As well as working on CrumbSnatchers, an all-ages comic written by Stephanie Butto and Nancy boy a teen-crime tale written by Jason Griffenhagen. His website is http://www.etkeeling.com

HOWARD THE DUCK #1 by Bruce McCorkindale

Bruce says: This one's a riff on the classic issue #100 of Amazing Spider-Man.  It was a particularly bizarro issue for Spidey at the time, so I thought that bizarrity might lend itself well to Howard.  Also, it gave me an excuse to draw all my favorite Howard characters on one cover!

 

Bruce McCorkindale is a freelance artist in the comics, editorial and animation field.  His most recent comics work was inking Phil Hester on IDW's Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters (*PLUG ALERT* The trade paperback collecting our Godzilla run is on sale now!!)

HELLCAT #1 by Adam Watson

Adam Watson is a Seattle-based cartoonist, illustrator, and amateur entomologist. He's a founding member of the Bureau of Drawers (link) and is hard at work on comics, paintings, and also probably a thing with dinosaurs in it. You can find more of his work at his blog: themightyadam.blogspot.com

He sez: Hellcat has always been a favorite of mine, and it's mostly because of the blue-on-yellow costume. I also love the (current, I think?) version of her powers that allow her to sense magic, but not actually perform any.  As I sketched this out, I became kind of enamored of the idea of Patsy in space, fighting magical creatures with advanced technology. I had some fun making it a little more spacey, and tried something new with the gloves. The Gatchaman-type cat-helmet just sort of seemed to fit.

BETA RAY BILL #1 by Michel Fiffe and George O'Connor

Michel says: Michel Fiffe creator & self-publisher of the comic Zegas and is the editor of Twisted Savage Dragon Funnies. George O'Connor draws comics in Brooklyn; his works include Journey into Mohawk Country, Ball-Peen Hammer and the Olympians Series. Together they made Bill the universe weary, monolithic horse faced warrior-of-the-people he was destined to be. 

Beta Ray Bill created by Walt Simonson.

CURSE OF THE WENDIGO #1 by Daniel Schneider

Daniel says: Daniel Schneider, is the world's only cowboy comic artist, who grew up on a purebred Black and Red Angus cattle ranch with his family. Finding his true calling in the wonderful world of comics he has never looked back. Having had some small success with company's such as Zenescope and About Comics, Daniel took a 2 year break after a steel pipe decided to split open his skull. Now he's again doing what he loves best and ready to jump head first back into comics. Just recently Daniel became the Artist in Residency for Happy Harbor comics in Edmonton

If you'd like to check out more of Daniel's stuff check out his website at www.smashedheadstudios.com

The Curse of Wendigo (featuring Talisman)
With the DC Fifty-Too event I was really happy with my pick and picture art wise. But looking at everyone else and there amazing jobs at truly re-imagining the characters I realize I didn't really re-imagine Bat Lash, I like him just the way he is. So this time I decided to do a character I really loved but also one that I would do differently than it's ever been done before. I'd want this to be a limited horror series. Wendigo is the star of the book but just like the first Alien you'd rarely see him but be completely terrified of him. In both Mythology and in Marvel the Wendigo is a truly terrifying monster so I wanted his look to reflect that and how powerful it is. And of course it wouldn't be much of a horror comic without someone to cheer for so in the tradition of strong female leads I choose Talisman to be our hero

Thanks again to Jon and everyone else who got this started and turned it in to such an exciting project

BLACK PANTHER #1 by Sean Dove

Sean says: Sean Dove is a freelance illustrator/designer based in Chicago, IL. He makes lots of stupid stuff like screen prints, comics and other junk. He spent several years working as the art director at Devil's Due Publishing. Last year he self published his comic "Fried Rice". He is currently part of 4 Star Studios (www.fourstarstudios.com), along with Mike Norton, Tim Seeley and Josh Emmons. They also make stupid stuff you should read (doublefeaturecomics.com). 

Find him at www.andthankyouforflying.com

Follow him on twitter @andthankyou

I just always really liked Black Panther. He just looks super cool, kinda like a Bat-man variant. Anyway what better thing for T'Challa to fight then a bunch of raciest robots!

IRON FIST #1 by Dan Christensen

Dan Christensen was born in California, grew up in Arizona, then moved to France. Since then he has written and drawn several graphic novels and comic books, including Red Hands and Paranormal. He is currently working with Jamie S. Rich on a graphic novel for Oni Press, and is writing and drawing a noir fencing story for French publisher Scutella Editions.
Dan says: I've been an Iron Fist fan since I was a little kid, so he was my first pick when I found out about the new Marvel Universe Too - What If? project (close runners-up were The Black Panther and The Inhumans). If you care to see some more Iron Fist sketches, first-draft color versions of the cover and other background info, feel free to take a look at my blog: http://dcdrawings.blogspot.com/ "

THE INHUMANS #1 by Jason Millet

Jason says:  I'm an illustrator who has freelanced in the Chicago area since 1997. I have colored and occasionally penciled (when someone lets me) comics for DC, Dark Horse, IDW, Devil's Due, Archie and Scholastic Books; created storyboards and comps for Absolut, Tropicana, Disney and many other advertising clients and illustrated fifteen educational children's books.

Concept-- I first encountered the Inhumans in John Byrne's FF and Neal Adams's Avengers (and his Amazing Adventures run a short bit later) and found the concept both complex and intriguing. I was a DC kid and it took me getting to a certain age to appreciate the cool depth and weirdness of any and all Kirby creations and I usually initially had to do it through the slicked up art of an Adams or a Byrne.
I was originally going to adapt a cool old Rich Buckler cover, but then decided that the heart of those old stories had to do with brotherly conflict. In the scenario here, I envision the start of a battle royale between Maximus the Mad and Blackbolt just as their fellow Inhumans teleport on the scene. Why do they look aghast? What upper hand does Maximus have on Black Bolt?

What was it with all the sibling rivalry in old Marvel books anyway ?... it makes me wonder about the health of Stan and Larry's relationship. Maybe there'll be a tell-all book some day (if there isn't already).

MARVEL DISCO TEAM-UP #1 by Benjamin Marra

QUICKSILVER #1 by Tony Esteves

Tony Esteves is a Canadian cartoonist hailing from the frozen wilderness of Edmonton, Alberta. From 1998 to 2008, he drew the webcomic Cigarro & Cerveja, a comic strip about a cigarette-smoking rabbit and a beer-drinking goose. Earlier this year, he launched Legendary Woodsman, an action adventure comic for all-ages. Tony does an impeccable Jean Luc Picard impersonation.

Tony says: Quicksilver is the arrogant son of Magneto, master of magnetism. He used to hang around a pretty rough crowd back in the day. The Brotherhood is recruiting again and Pietro thinks he's too good for them. The Brotherhood is gonna do some arm twisting... if they can catch him first.

Quicksilver, Juggernaut and Blob were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

SGT FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 by Scott Kowalchuk

Scott says: Yeah, it has Hitler.  And he has the Satan Claw!  I would really like to work on a 'super hero' series thrown back in time.  Not in like a time machine, or anything (unless it was Rip Hunter), but just set them in days of past.  I think there is a wealth of untapped potential there.

Scott Kowalchuk found early success upon graduating with a BDes in 2009 with published in Calgary's weekly alternative paper FFWD, and storyboard work for RBC and Gillette. In 2010 Scott set his sights on breaking into the comic book industry, and achieved this with the launch of his first series from Image Comics called 'THE INTREPIDS'. His next project is soon to be announced series from Oni Press. 


www.scottkowalchuk.com 

INFINITY GAUNTLET #1 by John "Dadicus" West

Drawn by DADICUS (John Derrick West) Who is currently the new regular artist on Tin Star Tex. A comic created and written by Benjamin Glendenning you can read about it here http://skulljammer.com/tst/
He also is a regular contributor to the Comic Improv, http://comicimprov.blogspot.com/

Digitally painted by Andy Poole, An England based professional who is constantly working on various projects for hire. http://www.creativepoole.biz and he's vary modest he wanted me to write this as his bio:
"UK based comic book colourist"?

He made this picture what it is and if you like it it's because of him he literally did 90% of what you're looking at My hat goes off to him for saving this piece! He also did all the Logo work here.

Alternate cover colored by Ryan Cody http://super75comics.wordpress.com/

THE ALTERNATE COVER or I like to think of it as the collected edition cover!! Ryan Cody is one of my favorite comic artists and it was a rare treat for me to be able to have something colored by him I hope you all love it as much as I do!

The Logo for the Alternate cover was done by Jonathan Coffey

John says: In the 1950's, Middle America was torn about a new sound crashing their air waves. It was ROCK' N' ROLL, and the people who enjoyed this music were seen as part of the evil under culture in America. What if a youth from that culture was bestowed the most powerful gift in the universe, what would he do with the POWER COSMIC? Would he use it to destroy the very fabric of our Great American culture? Or would he with his new powers chose to help in defending it from Harm from threats near and far........AND SPACE!!!!!???

That is what young Jack Kirblewski, is faced with. After crashing his Hot Rod in the Nevada Desert he awoke to find a Metal Gauntlet with Six Glowing Gems had been placed on his left arm and he couldn't remove it. He had no idea where it had come from or who had mysteriously placed it there. He shortly found out that the Gauntlet was more than a metal glove.

JOIN YOUNG JACK AS HE SOLVES THE MYSTERY OF "THE INFINITY GAUNTLET!"
(This is how I imagined the development team "Man of Action" would relaunch this book for MARVEL)

CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 by Mike Hawthorne

Logo by Jon Morris. Mike Hawthorne's website is here.

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1 by Paul Maybury

Paul Maybury's website is here.

MARVEL TALES #1 by Joel Priddy

Joel says:


Bio: 

Joel Priddy teaches comics and illustration at the Memphis College of Art and once had dinner with Will Eisner. His website is www.joelpriddy.com

Concept:
Nothing but the original Human Torch and Sub-Mariner punching each other out in the skies over Thirties New York. For 64 pages. Bi-Weekly.

PETER PORKER THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-HAM #1 by Jay Fosgitt

Colors by Evan Shaner.

DEFENDERS #2 by Anthony Vukojevich

THE PURPLE REIGN SAGA continues with issue #2.

The Purple Man is has revealed his own team: THE PROSECUTORS 

Their continuing mission:  Kill Mandrill and the Defenders and capture Nighthawk.

       The team is going to split up and take on the Defenders "Avengers/Defenders War"-style.

IKON vs. Hellcat's sister-in-law SATANA (Who has Son of Satan's Trident).

VALKYRIE vs. ILLYANA in a sword fight.

HELLCAT vs. TIGRA ('Nuff Said).

NAMORA takes on SPITFIRE (water vs. fire).

NIGHTHAWK battles BUCKY.

DOC SAMSON deals with KID DEATHLOK (a new character).

CLEA menaces MYSTIQUE.

SHE-HULK fights FIRESTAR.

This cover is a tribute to a certain iconic team…can you guess which?

Anthony Vukojevich draws on Phineas and Ferb.  

His blog is right here: 

http://vukojevich.blogspot.com/

His comic-book REPANELED blog is here:

http://repaneled.blogspot.com/

DEFENDERS #1 by Anthony Vukojevich

Anthony says: 1st Story-THE PURPLE REIGN SAGA (9 issues long):

What if Nighthawk somehow held the key to a mysterious multi-dimensional power? 

What if The Purple Man wanted that power for himself?

The Mandrill is caught up in a war with the Purple Man….and if he can't have the prize, then Nighthawk must die.  

Our first issue finds a mix of new and old Defenders all trying to capture or kill Nighthawk.  

Can Doc Samson save him from the Mandrill-enthralled women?  Can he save himself?  

Even if he succeeds, The Purple Man is assembling his own team: THE PROSECUTORS (we'll see them is issue #2).

Their continuing mission:  Kill Mandrill and the Defenders and capture Nighthawk.

       Clea (replacing Doc Strange) is now the Mistress of the Mystic Arts.

       Namora (replacing Subby),  Doc Samson (replacing Hulk), and Ikon the Spaceknight (replacing Silver Surfer) have also joined the team.

      The Giant-Sized first issue guest stars the Savage She-Hulk (who may or may not join the team).

Warning:  By the end of the first story arc, you might just be rooting for the Mandrill.

Anthony Vukojevich draws on Phineas and Ferb.  

His blog is right here: 

http://vukojevich.blogspot.com/

His comic-book REPANELED blog is here:

http://repaneled.blogspot.com/

TOWER OF SHADOWS #1 by Dieter Van der Ougstraete

Dieter says: I love wacky horror and creepy stuff. Don't know much about the "Tower of Shadows"-series, but I kinda like the title. I would pack that book with freaks!"

SHE-HULK #1 by Paul Salvi

Paul says: When I was an impressionable youngster my dad somehow acquired a few boxes of comics that included just about everything John Byrne had done up to that point, including his hilarious/brilliant/sexy run on She-Hulk.  Since then, "Shulkie" has been one of my favorite Marvel characters.

Initially the plan here was to have her fighting actual real-world terrorists, but in the end I decided to go lighter, hence the staggeringly awesome original creations you see here.  I call them the F.U.N. Squad (Fundamentalist Underground Network) and they are super cool and terrifying!

http://paulsalvi.blogspot.com

http://www.thelinecomic.com

X-FACTOR #1 by Steve Harrison

Steve Harrison has been drawing and self-publishing comics for (does the math) over 20 years. He recently completed his cyberpunk series, "Fabricari," and has started work on a new semi-autobiographical/sci-fi/fantasy book, "Parity." Fabricari is available, in its entirety, at Lulu (http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/fabricari). And all other work by Steve can be read in web-comic form at Studio Fabricari (http://www.fabricari.com).


Steve says: I went with "X-Factor" out of sheer nostalgia. Most of what I read now is small press stuff, but I fondly remember my collections of Marvel titles stacked up in my long boxes.The first comic I really ever collected was "X-Factor." I was really attached to the idea of these  gestapo hunters tracking down mutant kids to protect the public from their menace only to later find out that the hunters were, themselves, mutants seeking to teach these kids how to deal with their powers. It was definitely geek fantasy fulfillment, like Ender's Game. Of course, the comic later spun away from its initial theme and inevitably centered around that whole Jean Grey/Scott Summers thing - boring. The cover emphasizes the theme instead of the super hero costumes.

GHOST RIDER #1 by Alexis Ziritt

NFL SUPERPRO #1 by Ryan Browne

Ryan Browne is the Chicago based writer/ artist of the famously infamous print and webcomic, "God Hates Astronauts" and the stream of consciousness fun fest that is "Blast Furnace". God Hates Astronauts is the story of a bunch of inconsiderate, self centered, horrible super people who are hired by NASA to stop all farmers from launching themselves into outer orbit via homemade rocket ships. Currently it is updating every Tuesday over at http://www.godhatesastronauts.com

Also while working on GHA he is currently doing a long form stream of consciousness comic called "Blast Furance" which updates every weekday for an entire year. You can check it out at http://www.blastfurnacecomic.com"

NFL SuperPro was created by Fabian Nicieza. Read more...

DOCTOR STRANGE #1 by Robert Wilson IV

Robert Wilson IV is a comic artist and illustrator who currently lives in Dallas, TX with his wife Tiffany. He co-created and self published Knuckleheads, a super powered buddy comedy, along with writer Brian Winkeler. See more of Robert's work at http://robertwilsoniv.com/.

WAR IS HELL #1 by Neal von Flue

Neal Von Flue is an artist whose day-job consists of teaching art, painting murals, drawing pictures, and accomplishing a wide array of art services. By night, he plays banjo and musical saw in the band Hang Dog Expression. His recent book collecting comic adaptations of old folk songs just came out, you can learn more at http://www.laborandlovecomic.com

Neal says: The original War is Hell series ran for 15 issues from 1973-1975. As the cover shows, my goal is to bring it back to it's incarnation as an anthology book. It would include 2 or 3 short war stories per issue, made by a unique and diverse team of creators. Death would be the narrator and guide through these stories, and the focus would be widened to include any kind of war and conflict throughout history (and possibly the future!)

PUCK #1 by Jon Morris

Jon Morris is a Washington-based cartoonist and the founder of DC Fifty-Too, which has morphed into this project. He couldn't resist giving Puck his first-ever solo series, because he's been wanting the little guy to have his own series since 1983. Don't believe me? Read on ...

Jon says: I've always loved the offbeat superheroes, so I was bazonkers for Alpha Flight when it debuted as its own series in 1983 - Sasquatch and Puck were immediately my favorites (somewhere around here I have both of them drawn as the Captain America and Bucky of Canada), but Puck more than anyone because he had depth. 

I like the direction that's been taken with Eugene Judd in the most recent Alpha Flight miniseries - trapped in Hell for the last several years and finally brought back to life, he's become deranged and exuberant. I picture any ongoing series as bar fights and scuffles with rogue demons from the underworld who - like he did himself - escaped into the living world. Any excuse for a fight!

I enjoyed Puck's original backstory in Alpha Flight up to the point where he once was a normal-sized dude who was magically shrunk to dwarf-size. Everything up to that is golden - Eugene Judd, the world traveler and adventurer and hunter of rare and often mystical artifacts. I see no reason not to go back to that. Marvel has their fair share of world-travelling guns-and-fists adventurers, but none of them would be half as much fun to see in action as Puck.

Puck was created by John Byrne.  Read more...