Scarlet Spider #1
Written by Christopher Yost
Pencils by Ryan Stegman
Inks by Michael Babinski
Colors by Marte Gracia
Letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna
Covers by Ryan Stegman, Mark Bagley, and PAC MAN
Marvel Comics
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

You remember those big splash balloons in Marvel Comics that used to shout “BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!”? Well, I was the one who demanded a brand new Scarlet Spider #1, and you’re all going to thank me for it when you finish reading it.

Hot off the heels of last summers Spider-Event, Spider-Island, a brand new Scarlet Spider is introduced into the Marvel universe. OK, he’s not a new character, but he’s new to being the Scarlet Spider.

A new Scarlet Spider story is set up in Marvel’s Point One one-shot on newsstands now. In that one-shot Kane is leaving New York City after saving it from becoming a giant spider nest in Spider Island. Things are not going well for Kane, the Scarlet Spider, but he is disappearing until in Texas he finds himself in a situation that he can only resolve violently. That’s where Scarlet Spider #1 begins when it’s released in January.

The new series comes from creative team of Chris Yost and Ryan Stegman and hits shelves in January. Check out these images here below from the upcoming issue #1!

Hulk vs. Dracula announced this weekend at WonderCon 2011 features Dracula and his vampire army facing off against the big green guy.

This one sounds amusing at the very least. The story is supposed be an action-packed tie-in to the big Marvel event Fear Itself. This 3-issue miniseries brings the vampire story from the X-Men, the Death of Dracula story, and the upcoming Tomb of Dracula Presents: Throne of Blood together in one epic conclusion. The miniseries is written by Victor Gischler and illustrated by Ryan Stegman. Look for the first issue in comic book shops this September.

Gischler has previously worked on comics such as Punisher Max, Deadpool, X-Men, and Death of Dracula. He’s also written an eclectic mix of novels including Go-Go-Girls of the Apocalypse, and a crime novel called Pistol Monkeys among others. Ryan Stegman’s previous work can be seen in X-23, She-Hulks, and the Incredible Hercules.

Sif
Written by: Kelly Sue Deconnick
Cover by: Travel Foreman
Art by: Ryan Stegman
Colors by: Juan Doe
Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 21, 2010

So have you been missing a strong stoic female presence in the Marvel universe? Well Marvel has answered your call with its Sif one-shot. This is the closest to a threat to Wonder Woman that Marvel has ever had. I know that I definitely want more and hope that there is at least a mini-series in the works. I really enjoyed this one-shot and really hope everyone checks it out. Plus it has another one of my favorite characters in it, Beta Ray Bill.

Basically what happens in this issue is that Beta Ray Bill comes to Earth in search of Thor in order to help him with a rather difficult predicament. He and his love cannot get their ship back because it has locked them out in order to preserve their lives, but only an Asgardian can defeat the foe. Well being that Thor is rather busy at the moment dealing with other things, Sif offers her service to Bill. While this is a very simple and predictable story with an easily formulaic story structure, it is still a ton of fun and very well done. I am extremely impressed by Kelly Sue Deconnick‘s grasp on the characters and their voices.