Growler on Superhero Fiction!

Superhero fiction is one of the hottest storytelling genres out there. Here's where I comment on everything you need to know!

See also, Essential Comic Book Links and Growler on Superhero Comic Books.

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Not everyone has had the pleasure of enjoying this dynamic mode of storytelling.

Until now!

You can learn about superhero fiction as told through comic books,

and,

you can also get behind the scenes of this fantastic industry!

Ok, who doesn't know this character?

The Incredible Hulk has been around for a long time now and has found success in both comic books and TV series. The recent movie wasn't well recieved but I quite liked it aside from the weak ending. A sequel is planned for a 2008 release which will star Ed Norton as Dr Bruce Banner, the scientist who turns into the Hulk when enraged. The comic book has had some highs and lows but is currently enjoying a huge wave of popularity on the back of two concurrent storylines. The Planet Hulk story opened up with several of the Marvel Universe's 'elite' heroes deciding to exile the Hulk into deep space to stop any more collateral damage to people and buildings caused by his transformations and rampages.

He lands on an unknown planet and lets just say his experiences are 'gladiatorial'.

He eventually returns back to earth seeking a little revenge on those responsible for his temporary exile. Setting the stage for the epic World War Hulk.

Both these storylines are written by Greg Pak featuring various quality artists including John Romita Jr, Gary Frank and Aaron Lopresti.

I'm eagerly awaiting reading the graphic novels of these stories.

Get up to date with the incredible history of the Hulk!

Wonder Woman is back!

This is a character who has always had potential but never quite lived up to it. Arguably, her greatest popularity was in the 1970s TV series starring Lynda Carter. Created in the same era as other DC Comics icons such as Superman and Batman their comic book title sales have soared leaving Wonder Woman in their wake. Until now. After several failed relaunches the title has been taken over by writer Gail Simone. She has had incredible success in titles such as Birds of Prey and great things are expected. I've never really followed the character much in the past but this is a run I'm looking forward to reading.

Simone's enthusiasm is infectious as can be seen from this recent interview.

Keep an eye out for this title and future graphic novels.

Learn more about the history of Wonder Woman.

Thor is back!

After a long time in limbo, one of Marvel Comics premier characters is returning after a long time out of the limelight. Based on the ancient Norse god of thunder, this series has successfully mixed myth, fantasy and science fiction effortlessly, producing some great reading material in the process. The new comic book series is being written by J M Strazynski and illustrated by Olivier Coipel. The character, often called The Mighty Thor, is a founding member of The Avengers and wields the mystic hammer known as Mjolnir. He has a excellent back story filled with quality tales written by Stan Lee, Walt Simonson, Dan Jurgens, and Mike Oeming to name but a few.

I've always enjoyed good stories featuring Thor so I'm looking forward to the next chapter in the history of this cool character.

Read more about the upcoming relaunch of Thor.

And a bit more, here.

Learn more about the mighty history of the character.

Reginald Hudlin's Marvel Comics title, the Black Panther, is going from strength to strength.

Now leader of the Fantastic Four together with his wife Storm the title will explore more of the Marvel Universe and also get more cosmic. I've loved the relaunch and higher profile of the title since the beginning and its the perfect continuation of Christopher Priest's earlier run on the title. The stories respect the history of the character but at the same time carve new legends to be enjoyed. The Marvel Universe grows ever richer as a result. The Fantastic Four founder members, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman left the group due to a strain on their marriage from the fall out of the Civil War event. Taking up the role as the parent/leader figures of the team gives Black Panther and Storm scope for even more character growth and drama. Not forgetting the spectacular team up of the Wakandan, X-Men and Fantastic Four respective universes! It really doesn't get much better than this.

If you're not reading this title there are trades (graphic novels) aplenty available.

Dive in and enjoy!

Learn more about upcoming Black Panther stories by Hudlin, here.

Read this amazing, extensive history of the Black Panther!

Check out this advanced look at some of Marvel Comics latest titles!

Home of Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four and the Hulk!!

See why they call it the House of Ideas!

Marvel Comics have announced plans to build a theme park based around their library of super hero characters to be completed in 2011.

The project will cost in the region of half a billion pounds.

To be based in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this is a move reminscient of Disney moving from animation to another growth area.

What could be the first of many, this will bring Marvel's characters to a new worldwide audience.

Marvel is a true, visionary company that is aiming to be built to last.

Very inspiring.

Read the full details here!

DC Comics have just released an advanced look at their upcoming titles.

The home of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Take a look at today's DC Universe!

A new X-Event and Marvel is looking hot.

Long considered the flagship of Marvel Comics, The X-Men's star has been been recently outshone by the Avengers.

But, not to be outdone, the comeback has started behind the scenes and the franchise is slowly picking up steam.

It started in the House of M story where most of the global mutants lost their powers save for a few, about 200.

This decimation has re-established a danger and fear among the remaining mutants which, to be honest, is when they at their best.

Fighting persecution and saving those who hate them.

A new story, called Endangered species, will run through the mutant titles and will start soon.

This will lead to the X-Event.

Masterminded by writer Mike Carey, the story focuses on the fact that no new mutants can be born as the x-gene has been wiped out.

It will detail the impact this will have on the remaining mutant population.

Read more in this recent interview with writer Mike Carey and editor Andy Schimdt.

Read an extensive X-Men history, here!

The new flagship Marvel franchise.

Long time readers of Growlersworld.com know that The Avengers is my favourite Marvel Comics title and the news that more quality Avengers titles are being released is great news. Currently we have The New Avengers, a covert street level team, The Mighty Avengers, for those major high level threats and Avengers Initiative, which will have a revolving team focusing on training new recruits. For those of you who haven't experienced The Avengers from the beginning, the latest title added to this list is Avengers Classic. This will reprint, in colour, the series from the beginning when it was started by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The icing on the cake however is that there will be new back stories included by some of todays hottest talent. These will be set in the same era and will serve to expand the reprinted story and go into more character depth.

The first issue back story is written by Dwayne McDuffie and drawn by Mike Oeming.

Basically, it's perfect for newcomers who want to know more.

Now, at some point, these backstories will be reprinted. That will be what I'll be getting as I've read the originals and have them in some form or another.

So keep an eye out for this series.

Read an extensive history of The Avengers!

With the Fantastic Four movie fast approaching, Marvel, have introduced a brand new team in the comic books.

Coming directly out of Civil War, long standing members Reed Richards and the Invisible Woman are no longer in the team they helped to found!

However, this husband and wife dynamic has been replaced in a stunning move that has made history!

The Black Panther and Storm are their replacements. Black Panther was actually introduced in the Fantastic Four title under Stan Lee and Jack Kirby many moons ago. So he has a solid link with the team.

Storm however has no real history with the team and such, will have a potential for many great stories and character interactions.

It's a brilliant, fresh direction.

The new team will be written by Dwayne McDuffie, whose return to Marvel Comics is producing some of the best work of his career, including his recent mini-series, Beyond.

Of course, Black Panther's own title will now feature the fantastic four as supporting characters, further entrenching the character among Marvel's A-list.

This will continue to be written by the inspired Reginald Hudlin.

Read more on the new Fantastic Four, here!

Learn about writer Dwayne McDuffie!

This column is now known as Growler on Superhero Fiction.

It was previously called Growler's Comic Book Snippets. I changed the title because this more accurately reflects the content. Comic books are a medium for carrying superhero fiction, as are graphic novels, films, TV series (live action and animated) and webcomics. The list grows ever longer. Mediums change over time. Just as vinyl, tape cassettes, CD's and MP3's are mediums for carrying music. Focusing exclusively on comic books would be at the expense of the content. And that content, superhero fiction, is what I love. I haven't bought single issue comic books for a good two years now.

I now get graphic novels, exclusively.

But the comic books I still do have contain great stories.

And that's what it's all about...

So. Marvel Comics massive event, Civil War, has finished.

And the aftermath will be felt for years to come.

One result of this has been the death of a long standing character.

Captain America.

Shown in issue 25 of his own title, this news has had global publicity to die for (excuse the pun). Marvel really scored big here. Major newspapers and TV stations have reported the news.

Here's how the UK's The Guardian reported it;

and here's Marvel's Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada's take on the whole thing.

The title itself has had some good runs in the recent past, including the Mark Waid and Ron Garney runs (Captain America volume 1, issues 444 to 454 and volume 3, issues 1 to 25).

Also, the current Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting run (volume 5, issues 1 and onwards) is gaining rave reviews.

The Ed Brubaker run is collected in trades at present and the previous Mark Waid runs will hopefully be brought out for people to enjoy.

The legacy will live on though as the character has a history and a wealth of stories behind him and the mantle will be passed on in some form or another.

Just as how the DC Comics universe needs a Superman, Marvel Comics need a Captain America.

Learn more about the character, here!

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