Growler on Superhero Fiction!

INDEX

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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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 Marvel Comics' Black Panther!

Click here to check out Ultimates By Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics)  

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!

Click here to check out Astonishing X-Men By Joss Whedon & John Cassaday Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics)  

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!

Click here to check out The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1 HC Ross Cover (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby  

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!

Click here to check out Acts Of Vengeance Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics) by Various Artists  

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!

Click here to check out Secret Wars Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics) by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck  

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!

Click here to check out Captain Britain By Alan Moore & Alan Davis Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics)  

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!

Click here to check out Immortal Iron Fist By Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker & David Aja Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics)  

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...

Click here to check out The Incredible Hulk Omnibus Volume 1 HC (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby  

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!

Click here to check out the Captain America Omnibus HC Volume 1 (Marvel Comics) by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting  

Click here to check out Captain America: The Death Of Captain America Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics) by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting  

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