As its done in the past with other big screen adaptations of its comics, Marvel has gone ahead and put together a comic book prelude for The Avengers for fans to enjoy. This one, called “Fury’s Big Week,” will be eight issues with the first released for free on Marvel’s comics app this Sunday.

Yes, you read that right. It’s going to be free. That’s nice. Too bad the rest of the issues won’t be. Oh well.

Here’s the scoop from the official press release:

“We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Marvel Studios to create an exciting story set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sets the stage perfectly for the most anticipated film of the summer,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor in Chief. “Now, for the first time. you’ll find out just what happened to some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the road to Marvel’s The Avengers.”

What is the Avengers Initiative? And what are the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury? The answers arrive in Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week and the first issue is free this Sunday only on the Marvel Comics app!

Check out some preview pages for the comic after the break.

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This weekly round-up has become somewhat of an ongoing series, because, well frankly because Marvel keeps releasing so many great free comics, I can barely read them all. So if free is a cost you can endure, and if you have an iPhone or iPad, let’s take a look at what’s free in the Marvel store this week, shall we?

Deadpool #1 (2008): “ONE OF US,” Part 1.

The Merc with a Mouth is back, even deadlier and more deranged than before! The planet has been invaded by Skrulls, everything’s gone topsy-turvy, but in Deadpool’s world, that just means it’s Monday! Crazy times call for crazy men, but c’mon, this guy’s insane. Like it or not, Deadpool may be the only person on the planet who can save us, but who’s to say he wants to? Be here for the explosive debut of the new ongoing series by writer, Daniel Way (Wolverine: Origins, Ghost Rider, Bullseye: Greatest Hits) and fan-favorite artist Paco Medina (New Warriors, New X-Men). Deadpool: His madness is his method! You won’t want to miss it.

The Invincible Iron Man #83 (1996).

Iron Man faces off against one of his most lethal enemies, the armored evil-doer known as The Titanium Man!
Written by: John J. Miller
Penciled by: Jorge Lucas
Inked by: Jorge Lucas
Cover by: Adi Granov

Ultimate Spider-Man #14 (2007): “DOUBLE TROUBLE,” Part 1.

He’s been in a coma for months thanks to the accident that gave birth to the Green Goblin. BUt now, possessing monstrous mechanical arms and plenty of attitude, Dr. Otto Octavius lives! You saw a sketch of him in Wizard, now get ready for the real deal! Plus: The first appearance of another major character! Written by Brian Michael Bendis, penciled by Mark Bagley, inked by Art Thibert and the cover by Mark Bagley.

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As we’ve been reporting, Marvel has been steadily releasing free comics for their native iPad app. Mostly, these releases have been one-shots or first issues, designed to lure you into buying the next issues in the series for $1.99 a pop. But still, in this economy, free is good.

Having compared Marvel’s freebies with the ones DC is offering up via their new iPad app, I can tell you, Marvel definitely has the better content. And yet, the DC app is brand new and recently-released, so it remains to be seen whether they will step up their game or not.

Without further ado, let’s check out the new free content for this week, shall we?

X-Men: Curse of the Mutants Saga As the X-Men recover from the stunning conclusion of Second Coming and prepare to enter the Heroic Age, they’ll first have to survive The Curse of the Mutants!
Ultimate Iron Man (2005) #1 Brace yourself for the most imaginative, groundbreaking comic of 2005. International bestseller, four-time Hugo award, two-time Nebula award and World Fantasy Award winner Orson Scott Card (author of Ender’s Game, Speaker for the Dead, Shadow Puppets) comes to the Ultimate Universe. He’s joined by industry legend Andy Kubert (Ultimate X-Men, 1602, Origin) to show the shocking beginning of Ultimate Iron Man! If you thought The Ultimates told you everything you needed to know about Ultimate Iron Man, think again. It all starts here!
Amazing Spider Man (1999) #552 ‘Brand New Day’ continues with two new web-slingin’ creators: Oscar-nominated screenwriter Bob (Back to the Future) Gale and artist extraordinaire Phil (New X-Men, Infinite Crisis) Jimenez! What starts as a petty theft from a local soup kitchen, turns into a chase that results in the birth of a brand-freaking-new Spidey villain; and we mean “Freak” literally!
Gravity (2005) #1 You’ve made your way through high school and moved out of your parents’ house. You’re finally ready to get a job, pick a major, and meet the girl of your dreams. You’ve got it all figured out… right? Right?!Meet freshman Greg Willis, NYC newbie from the rural Midwest hoping to realize his dream of becoming a big-city super hero. But will the realities of city life, college and saving the day prove to be too much for him? Let Sean McKeever and Mike Norton, the creative team responsible for the acclaimed indie drama, The Waiting Place, introduce to you the next great Marvel hero!
Captain America (2004) #31 The winter soldier held prisoner by the Red Skull! While Sharon and the Falcon race to his rescue, about to cross paths with the Mighty Avenger that Tony Stark has sent hunting our rogue hero, The Black Widow!Will the Red Skull kill both Cap and Bucky? It’s anyone’s guess, as the second arc of the epic ‘Death of Captain America’ storyline opens with a bang!

And there you have it. To grab these and other previously-released freebies, simply launch the Marvel app, tap ‘Store’ and then tap ‘Free.’

In this economy, it’s tough to beat free. Were you aware that Marvel releases a batch of new free comics every week via their popular iPad app? Did I mention that the app is free too? It doesn’t get much better than free comics, folks.

What titles did Marvel make available this week? I’m glad you asked. Let’s check out what sort of comic-goodness we can score for free, shall we?

Runaways (2003) #1: Six couples meet up every year for a party and each year each couple brings their child. This year, the children decide to find out what is so special about this annual party, only to find the parents are committing murder!

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #20: The title of this issue is simply “I, Lucifer!” ’nuff said! Also featuring: The untold story of how Professor X lost the use of his legs!

Fantastic Four (1997) #547: The Wizard has come all the way to Saturn’s moon, Titan, to get revenge on his greatest enemy, but Reed Richards is more concerned with the message encoded in a strange artifact from 700 light years away.

X-Men (2004) #182: When his people need him the most, he shall return! Lord Apocalypse is here to lead mutant-kind into the future of the earth and only the strongest can survive! Plus, just wait until you see his new Horsemen! Even we were surprised!

So what’re you waiting for? Go get ‘em! ’nuff said!

The Iron Man 2 hype machine is in full effect leading up to Friday’s release of this summer’s most anticipated comic book property to hit the big screen in 2010. This week alone, we’ve brought you news of the ‘Iron Man Central’ app hitting iTunes, as well as some of the ‘Iron Man 2′ easter eggs to keep an eye for while you’re watching the flick, and now Marvel Digital has released 4 new free digital comics for their free Marvel Comics App available in the iTunes App Store.

While the app is free to download, comics generally cost around $1.99/each, with Marvel releasing a batch of new freebies each week. This week, with all eyes on Iron Man 2, the free choices revolve around this popular franchise.

Two issues go into the way-back machine, all the way to 1968 for some classic silver-age Iron Man action with issues #225 and #280. The third issue is a bit more up-to-date with The Invincible Iron Man #1 which details some of the events of the first flick. And finally the fourth free issue from Marvel Digital this week, Black Widow Saga #1, gives readers an insight to this mysterious character from the second film.

So what are you waiting for? Fire up your iPhone or iPad and let’s get primed for all things Tony Stark! After the jump, take a closer look at these free issues. Free is good, right?

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