The brand-new shiny New Year is here my friends and yes, as you expected there is a lot to share with you from the onset. As many of you diehard readers have witnessed, we have really ramped up the comic book content over the last couple of years. To be honest, the entire Pop Culture section has grown by leaps and bounds since tying numerous related items together. Let’s begin with our first comic book post for the year with the rundown of what first issues and special edition one-shots will be coming from Marvel Entertainment. Any images in the post along with the descriptive text come from their media provisions but the opening and closing editorial viewpoint is 100% us. Let’s go.

THOR #1: A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSTAR CREATIVE TEAM TAKES THE KING OF ASGARD TO NEW REALMS OF GLORY! The prince is now a king. All Asgard lies before Thor, the God of Thunder. And after many months of war, the Ten Realms are finally at peace. But the skies above the Realm Eternal are never clear for long. The Black Winter is coming. And the God of the Storm will be powerless before it.

DONNY CATES (W) • NIC KLEIN (A); Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL AUG199016

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1: Once, they were a team of misfits. Now they’re a family, and they’ve earned their peace. But the universe is not a peaceful place — and it’s only getting worse. The Great Empires are in turmoil. The rule of law is dead. And amidst the chaos, the Gods of Olympus have returned — harbingers of a new age of war, reborn to burn their mark on the stars themselves. Someone has to guard the galaxy – but who will accept the mission? And will they survive it? Al Ewing (IMMORTAL HULK) and Juann Cabal (FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN) bring you in on the ground floor of a whole Marvel Universe of action and suspense!

AL EWING (W) • JUANN CABAL (A/C)

IRON MAN 2020 #1 (OF 6): DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS GAGE (W) • PETE WOODS (A/C)
The future is now! Artificial Intelligences presents a clear and present danger to humanity and must be brought to heel! The Robot Rebellion battles for the establishment of robot rights!
And Arno Stark IS Iron Man! PLUS! Pete Woods’ main cover art will feature a 5th Color Flourescent Ink treatment!

THE RUINS OF RAVENCROFT: CARNAGE #1: CARNAGE, USA! In the aftermath of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, the Marvel Universe still needs a place to treat and rehabilitate the criminally insane, and efforts to reconstruct RAVENCROFT are well underway. But Ravencroft is no ordinary facility, and untold secrets may yet be waiting to be unearthed in the destruction Carnage left after his attack on the facility.

FRANK TIERI (W) • GUIU VILLANOVA (A); Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL

THE RUINS OF RAVENCROFT: SABRETOOTH #1
FRANK TIERI (W) • GUILLERMO SANNA (A)
Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL
The history of the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane has been shrouded in mystery for years. NO LONGER! In the wake of ABSOLUTE
CARNAGE, the facility’s past has started to unravel, and in doing so has revealed hidden chapters in the lives of some of the Marvel Universe’s most recognizable heroes and villains!

THE RUINS OF RAVENCROFT: DRACULA #1
FRANK TIERI (W) • STEFANO LANDINI (A)
Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL
To the men and women of the Marvel Universe, Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane appeared to be a hospital devoted to the rehabilitation of society’s most violent offenders. But appearances can be deceptive, and — as Captain America learned the hard way – some secrets have teeth.

RAVENCROFT #1 (OF 5)
FRANK TIERI (W) • ANGEL UNZUETA (A) • COVER BY KYLE HOTZ
RAVENCROFT REOPENED!
After the hellish horrors of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, the Ravencroft Institute has received a much-needed facelift and is open for business with a new staff, including JOHN JAMESON, looking to atone for the part he played in ABSOLUTE CARNAGE. But will Ravencroft return the mentally unstable villains of the Marvel Universe to upstanding citizens and give John the redemption he’s looking for, or will they fall prey to the hospital’s seemingly sinister nature?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

MARVEL TALES: RAVENCROFT #1
Written by J.M. DeMATTEIS, TOM DeFALCO & DAN SLOTT
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA, RON LIM & STUART IMMONEN
Cover by INHYUK LEE
Things take a dark turn as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the House of Ideas with the era-spanning MARVEL TALES! This anthology series shines a spotlight on fan-favorite characters, features timeless stories and highlights some of our most impressive talent from the past eight decades. This time we’re focusing on the Ravencroft Asylum for the Criminally Insane — and some of its deadliest inmates! First, Spidey legends J.M. DeMatteis and Sal Buscema introduce Ravencroft founder Dr. Ashley Kafka in the psychological SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #178! The asylum’s most famous resident, Cletus “Carnage” Kasady, wreaks havoc in SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED (1993) #1 — the first chapter of the epic Maximum Carnage! And modern masters Dan Slott and Stuart Immonen take things to a whole new level of crazy in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2015) #798 — where Norman Osborn plus the Carnage symbiote equals…the Red Goblin!
80 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T …$7.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE END #1
ERIK LARSEN (W) • ERIK LARSEN (A) • Cover by RAHZZAH
THE FINAL CAPTAIN AMERICA STORY!
Steve Rogers fights for survival in a post-apocalyptic wasteland populated by hordes of Red Skulls! Legendary writer/artist Erik Larsen (SPIDER-MAN, WOLVERINE, NOVA) returns to Marvel for an oversized last tale of Simon & Kirby’s American Hero!
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

DEADPOOL: THE END #1
JOE KELLY (W) • MIKE HAWTHORNE (A) • Cover by RAHZZAH
THE FINAL DEADPOOL STORY!
Wade Wilson may seem like he is unkillable, but there is more than one way to put an end to him… but don’t take my word for it! Quintessential Deadpool scribe Joe Kelly and record-setting Deadpool artist Mike Hawthorne team-up to prove it to you! Deadpool is done for!
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

CAPTAIN MARVEL: THE END #1
KELLY THOMPSON (W) • CARMEN CARNERO (A) • Cover by RAHZZAH
THE FINAL CAPTAIN MARVEL STORY!
Fifty years ago, Carol Danvers went into the deepest reaches of the cosmos to spread peace and justice and she hasn’t seen a familiar face since!
Whatever happened to the planet she once called home? Reuniting CAPTAIN MARVEL superteam KELLY THOMPSON and CARMEN CARNERO!
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

MILES MORALES: THE END #1
SALADIN AHMED (W) • DAMION SCOTT (A) • Cover by RAHZZAH
THE FINAL MILES MORALES STORY!
Humanity makes its last stand in the only place strong enough to survive: BROOKLYN. Former Spider-Man, Miles Morales, leads the last bastion of civilization into the future! Penned by MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN author SALADIN AHMED!
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

VENOM: THE END #1
ADAM WARREN (W) • CHAMBA (A) • Cover by RAHZZAH
THE FINAL VENOM STORY!
The alien symbiote who bonded with Eddie Brock has been through a lot… but not nearly as much as he has coming. In a tale that literally spans over a trillion years, Venom travels the length of space and time as the last defender of life in the universe!
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

DOCTOR STRANGE: THE END #1
LEAH WILLIAMS (W) • FILIPE ANDRADE (A) • Cover by RAHZZAH
Variant cover by FILIPE ANDRADE
THE FINAL DOCTOR STRANGE STORY!
The Sorcerer Supreme makes his final journey through a cyberpunk sprawl that forgot about magic! Reteaming the critically-acclaimed creative team of LEAH WILLIAMS (GWENPOOL STRIKES BACK) and FILIPE ANDRADE (ABSOLUTE CARNAGE: IMMORTAL HULK)!
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

STAR #1 (OF 5)
KELLY THOMPSON (W) • JAVIER PINA (A)
Cover by CARMEN CARNERO
BORN OF THE REALITY STONE, THE BREAKOUT CHARACTER FROM CAPTAIN MARVEL FLIES SOLO!

Ambitious reporter Ripley Ryan rocked New York City when she became the hero STAR, adored by everyone. But in truth she was Dr. Minerva’s attempt at a Kree-human Super-Soldier. Desperate for the strength to control her own destiny, she tried to kill Captain Marvel — and failed. Ripley was left, defeated and powerless, in the Raft…or so she thought. The Reality Stone has found her, and now no prison can hold her. You thought you knew what the Infinity Stones were capable of. Think again.
32 PGS./Rated T+…$3.99

MARVELS X #1 (OF 6)
ALEX ROSS & JIM KRUEGER (W) • WELL-BEE (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
David has a problem. He lives in a world of monsters that would love to devour him. He’s the last boy on Earth. The last human being on Earth. And these creatures that see him only as prey, they’re his former neighbors. He has one hope: to get to New York. To get to where Captain America and the rest of the heroes are. Alex Ross and Jim Krueger combine their abilities with artist Well-Bee to tell a very uncanny prequel to the legendary EARTH X trilogy.
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

WEAPON PLUS: WORLD WAR IV #1
Benjamin Percy (W) • Georges Jeanty (A) • Cover by Kyle Hotz
Variant by SKAN
WHATEVER KNOWS FEAR!
Biochemist Ted Sallis was developing a serum for military application, but was tragically killed in a freak accident before he could perfect it. Still, the data behind his formula remains property of the United States government and the Weapon IV Program to this day–Mutants aren’t the only ones to have weaponized flora!
Marvel Comics proudly presents a sensational new hero ready to fight back against the new world order! No longer just a man…not a thing…he’s All-American soil and he’s reporting for duty… Benjamin Percy (WOLVERINE, X-FORCE) and GEORGES JEANTY (WEAPON X) introduce…MAN-SLAUGHTER!
40 PGS./PARENTAL ADVISORY …$4.99

INCREDIBLE HULK #180 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by LEN WEIN
Penciled by HERB TRIMPE
Cover by HERB TRIMPE
FIRST APPEARANCE OF WOLVERINE!
You loved the INCREDIBLE HULK #181 FACSIMILE EDITION, celebrating the collector’s-item first clash between the Green Goliath and Wolverine. Now pick up this facsimile of the previous issue, where the two-part saga began — and where readers got their first glimpse of the Canadian hero destined to become the most popular X-Man of all! When the Hulk heads to the Great White North, a great white beast awaits: the Wendigo! It’s a monster mash of epic proportions — and just when things couldn’t get any wilder, the mysterious Weapon X is unleashed…and the Hulk and the Wendigo must try their luck against the Wolverine! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #180.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #6 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
FRANKLIN RICHARDS MUTANT BORN!
From the brilliant minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby comes another unforgettable villain to plague the Fantastic Four: Annihilus, the living death that walks! The cosmic radiation in the Invisible Girl’s blood is endangering her pregnancy — and the one thing that can save her and the baby lies in the deadly Negative Zone! Mister Fantastic, the Thing and the Human Torch once again venture through the distortion area into the terrifying realm of antimatter — but there waits Annihilus! Can Reed, Ben and Johnny triumph over Annihilus’ forces, seize the item they need — his cosmic control rod — and get it home to Sue in time for the birth of Franklin Richards? It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #6.
64 PGS./All Ages …$4.99

WOLVERINE VS SABRETOOTH 3D #1
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT • Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA
Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
A classic tale of Wolverine from the powerhouse creative team of Chris Claremont, John Buscema and Bill Sienkiewicz — now in sensational 3D! It’s Logan’s birthday in Madripoor — and as he does every year, he’s reflecting on an earlier birthday and a crucial chapter in his long and bloody rivalry with Sabretooth! Prepare for an early and iconic journey into Wolverine’s savage past, from a time when his memories were gone and his history was shrouded in mystery — and featuring one of the most tense and personal Wolverine vs. Sabretooth fights you’ve ever seen! Only now, Logan and Creed will leap from the pages before your eyes — just watch out for their claws! Polybagged with a pair of 3D glasses! Reprinting WOLVERINE (1988) #10.
32 PGS./Rated T …$7.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: DAILY BUGLE #1 (of 5)
MAT JOHNSON (W) MACK CHATER (A) • Cover by Mark Bagley
SPINNING OUT OF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN!
The journalist must speak truth to power—whether or not it’s wielded responsibly. Helmed by Peter Parker’s mentor, Robbie Robertson, the Daily Bugle staff is at last chasing stories that matter. And in a city under Mayor Wilson Fisk, keeping the public informed is as essential as it is dangerous. Weaving between events in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and DAREDEVIL, Mat Johnson (Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnite, Incognegro, Loving Day) and Mack Chater (BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW, Briggs Land) are following a lead into Kingpin and Spider-Man’s past that will change the way you look at the webslinger now, and as his story continues.
32 pgs./Rated T…$3.99

TAROT #1 (of 4)
ALAN DAVIS (W) • PAUL RENAUD (A/C) AUG199011
An all-new epic adventure teaming the classic Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with Marvel’s premiere Non-Team by Alan Davis and Paul Renaud!
A strange and impossible lost memory from his days in World War II draws Namor the Sub-Mariner to his one-time compatriot Captain America—but the two heroes and their respective allies find themselves pulled into a labyrinth of pain, destruction and madness courtesy of the Infernal Ichor of Ish’lzog!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

JESSICA JONES #1 & #2 (OF 6)
Kelly Thompson (W) • Mattia De Iulis (A)
Cover by Valerio Giangiordano
BLINDSPOT – Parts 1 & 2
ISSUE #1 –
Jessica Jones was once the costumed super hero known as Jewel. She sucked at it. Now she’s a private investigator at her own firm, Alias Investigations. She sucks less at that. With the Purple Man gone, her relationship with her husband, Luke Cage, and their daughter, Danielle, is better than ever. But her past always comes knocking, and when a woman whose case she fumbled winds up dead on her office floor, Jessica goes from private investigator to prime suspect. Can she find the real killer and clear her name?
The critically acclaimed Marvel Digital Original series by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis, released for the first time as a print miniseries!

HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #1 & #2 (OF 5)
MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • OTTO SCHMIDT (A)
CoverS by KIM JACINTO ISSUE #1 AUG198987
RONIN RETURNS…BUT WHO’S BEHIND THE MASK?
ISSUE #1 – When a mysterious and ruthless new Ronin starts tearing a destructive path through the city, suspicion immediately falls on Hawkeye, but Clint has more to worry about than who’s wearing his old costume. After a clash with the Hood ends badly, Hawkeye gives himself a new mission that will place him in the crosshairs of one of New York’s most dangerous villains. Hawkeye’s mission and Ronin’s secret plans will set them on a collision course that only one of them will walk away from. Fan favorite Clint Barton returns in a brand new series from Matthew Rosenberg (UNCANNY X-MEN, THE PUNISHER) and Otto Schmidt (Green Arrow).

ATLANTIS ATTACKS #1 (of 5)
GREG PAK (W) • ARIO ANINDITO (A) • Cover by ROCK-HE KIM
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
VARIANT COVER BY JEEHYUNG LEE
HIDDEN GEM VARIANT COVER BY TBA
WAR WITH THE WATER KINGDOM!
The armies of ATLANTIS face ATLAS in a showdown destined to shake allegiances and break hearts! AMADEUS CHO, SILK, WAVE, SHANG-CHI, and all the heroes of the Atlas have bonded with each other after the challenges of WAR OF THE REALMS. But when a terrible secret incurs the wrath of KING NAMOR, who’s the true friend — and who’s the true enemy? A titanic tale of love and betrayal, heroes and monsters, gods and underdogs — plus the shocking return of JIMMY WOO and the original AGENTS OF ATLAS!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

IMMORTAL HULK: GREAT POWER #1
TOM TAYLOR (W) • JORGE MOLINA (A/C)
Variant cover by MAX FIUMARA
THE HULK FINDS A NEW HOST: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN!
When Bruce Banner wakes up in the middle of the night without the Hulk, he thinks he’s finally free. But the Hulk is immortal — and the night’s not over yet. If you thought he was dangerous in the body of mild-mannered Bruce Banner, wait till you see him now. Peter Parker is a man with the proportional strength and agility of a spider, capable of lifting trains on his bad days. And he’s about to get a big, green power-up — with a temper to match.

MARVEL’S BLACK WIDOW PRELUDE #1 (of 2)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by CARLOS VILLA
TRACE THE BLACK WIDOW’S HISTORY IN THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE!
From spy to Avenger, the enigmatic BLACK WIDOW has lived many secret lives. But how do these disparate episodes add up to the life of the heroic Avenger, and what is the thread that connects her past to her future?
Get ready for MARVEL STUDIOS’ BLACK WIDOW solo film with this glimpse into the storied history of NATASHA ROMANOFF in this tale set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #347 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE
Penciled by ERIK LARSEN
Cover by ERIK LARSEN
Alas, poor Spider-Man! Peter Parker wakes up marooned on a tropical island — with his greatest enemy, Venom! Eddie Brock has hatched a master plan to finally kill his hated adversary with no interruptions. And he just might do it! Now, the abandoned island’s jungles and forests provide the ultimate battleground for one of the most epic Spider-Man vs. Venom showdowns of all time, illustrated in action-packed fashion by superstar Erik Larsen! Can Spidey possibly survive Venom’s wrath — or will Eddie find peace at last by claiming lethal vengeance? It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #347.

WEB OF VENOM: THE GOOD SON #1
ZAC THOMPSON (W) • DIOGENES NEVES (A) • COVER BY PHILIP TAN
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
WHILE VENOM’S AWAY, THE CHILDREN WILL PLAY!
Dylan Brock and Normie Osborn have survived the trials of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, but what’s next for the Goblin Childe and the Son of Venom?

MARVEL’S AVENGERS: THOR #1
JIM ZUB (W) • ROBERT GILL (A) • Cover by STONEHOUSE
THOR’S MIGHTY PREQUEL TO THE UPCOMING VIDEO GAME, MARVEL’S AVENGERS!
The adventure leading to MARVEL’S AVENGERS continues, with an all-new story leading directly into the events of the highly anticipated video game! When the GOD OF THUNDER uses his mighty Mjolnir to aid TONY STARK, a.k.a. IRON MAN, with his latest experiment, why does this lead to an unexpected Asgardian encounter…and a one-on-one battle between THOR and the green gamma goliath known as THE HULK?! Is all as it seems, or is an ancient enemy planting seeds of distrust that will bloom into the disassembling of the AVENGERS?!

MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: THE BLACK CAT STRIKES #1 (OF 5)
DENNIS “HOPELESS” HALLUM • LUCA MARESCA (A) • Cover by SANA TAKEDA
As if the events of MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: VELOCITY and CITY AT WAR weren’t harrowing enough, Spider-Man finds himself in the middle of a gang war in New York City. But as he butts heads with the likes of HAMMERHEAD and the MAGGIA, the unexpected reappearance of old flame FELICIA HARDY, also known as the BLACK CAT, sets Spider-Man’s world on fire!
Black Cat’s heroic days are behind her, but what is the secret behind the treasures she’s thieving? And why would Spider-Man let her go?! Delve into previously untold tales of Spider-Man and Black Cat’s relationship, and a shock ending that will make your webs spin! Don’t miss the excitement as your favorite wall-crawler returns in the next GAMERVERSE series!

MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL #11
SALADIN AHMED (W) • MINKYU JUNG (A) • Cover by EDUARD PETROVICH
As a monster of Ms. Marvel’s own making wreaks havoc across New Jersey, Kamala’s father clings desperately to life in the hospital. When Kamala is forced to choose between her heroic duties and her heart, which will win out?

STAR WARS #1 & 2
CHARLES SOULE (W) • JESUS SAIZ (A) • CoverS by R.B. SILVA AUG199000

“No…I am your father.”
In the wake of the events following The Empire Strikes Back, it is a dark time for the heroes of the Rebellion. The Rebel fleet…scattered following a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Hoth. Han Solo…lost to the bounty hunter, Boba Fett, after being frozen in carbonite. And after being lured into a trap on Cloud City and bested in a vicious lightsaber duel against the evil Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker…learned the horrible truth about his past. Vader did not kill Luke’s father Anakin–Vader is Luke’s father! Now, after narrowly escaping the dark lord’s clutches, and wounded and reeling from the revelation, Luke, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, the Wookiee Chewbacca and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 must fight their way back to the Rebel Alliance—for the fate of the entire galaxy is at stake! After so many losses is victory still possible? But, what Leia, Luke and their ragtag band of freedom fighters do not realize is that they have only traded one Imperial trap for another! Enter the cunning and vengeful Imperial Commander Zahra, at the helm of the Tarkin’s Will!
Writer Charles Soule (DARTH VADER) and artist Jesus Saiz (DOCTOR STRANGE) are taking us all to the galaxy far, far away next year! With covers by RB Silva (POWERS OF X)!
THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME BEGINS THIS JANUARY!

RAVENCROFT TRUE BELIEVERS MONTH

In January there will be “10” brand-new “True Believers” titles to add to your collection. Marked as “True Believers: The Criminally Insane”, each will span 32 PGS and will run you a single $1. These were overviewed back in December on the website.

*** end of list ***

PiercingMetal Thoughts: So there you have it. There are so many good things coming out this month its not funny. I’d suggest sticking around the job a little longer each day for a few weeks to have the extra scratch so you can snag as many of these as possible. Looking over the list I wonder which of them appeal to you readers the most. Kindly chime in down below in the comments section as all on-topic submission will move to the head of the line. Next up in the batch of everything else on our plate will be the DC Comics rundown so stay tuned for that. See you next time.

Official Website: http://www.marvel.com