Riding on the success and awesomeness of X-Men: First Class, Marvel has decided to continue in the trend of “retro heroes” as they go all the way back to the end of the second World War with Avengers 1959.

The series will give us some great moments that we remember fondly in history with that special Marvel twist and some great heroic moments with our favorites like Nick Fury, Punisher, Sabertooth, and more. Here’s the press release:

Spinning out from the pages of New Avengers, Marvel is pleased to announce Avengers 1959 #1 (of 5), a brand new mini-series from comics legend Howard Chaykin, this fall! An unique team of super powered individuals of the post-World War II era including,  Sabretooth, Kraven the Hunter and Namora, must combat threats in New York, Madripoor, and everywhere in between!

“I’m grabbing what feels like a brass ring here, with the opportunity to do an untold story of the lost years of the Marvel Universe,” explained Chaykin. “In a follow up to the sensational stuff laid out by Brian Bendis in NEW AVENGERS, we’ll follow Nick Fury and his Avengers around the world as they track down and take down super powered survivors of the Third Reich–as their ever effort is countermanded by a mysterious agency with a dark agenda of its own.”

A pretty action packed series, you can expect to catch the first of five issues hit shelves and comic book stores everywhere this October.

No matter what happens in the world we can usually count on at least one good thing to happen during the week: new comics. This week is no exception as our friends at Marvel drop some new books on us for our reading pleasure.

Of the ones coming out this week we’re most interested in reading New Avengers #7, I am an Avenger #4, Thor #618 and Widowmaker #1. As with most weeks comics hit store shelves on Wednesday so hurry into your nearest comics book store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic shop is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Check out the list of comics you can get below.

CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE KORVAC SAGA #1
CHAOS WAR: ARES #1 (CW)
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA #1
I AM AN AVENGER #4
INCREDIBLE HULKS #618
INCREDIBLE HULKS #618 TRON VARIANT
INVADERS NOW! #4
INVADERS NOW! #4 CHAYKIN VARIANT
NEW AVENGERS #7
NEW AVENGERS #7 TRON VARIANT
SHADOWLAND: AFTER THE FALL #1 (SHL)
SUPER HERO SQUAD #12

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Fortunately, even with all the things seemingly going wrong in the world, we still get to enjoy one great thing (Or things) each and every week: new comics. This week brings more new titles from our friends at Marvel.

Some of the ones were excited about this week include I Am An Avenger #3, New Avengers #6, Avengers Prime #4, Invaders Now # 3 and the debut of She-Hulks #1. As they usually do, comics hit stores on Wednesday this week. So, head over early to your favorite comics shop for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic shop is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Check out the list of comics you can get below.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 BLANK COVER VARIANT (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 CAMPBELL SKETCH VARIANT (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 CASELLI VARIANT (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 MARTIN WRAPAROUND VARIANT (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 SPIDER-GIRL VARIANT (BIG)
ANT-MAN & WASP #1
AVENGERS PRIME #4
AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES #1
AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE #3
AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE #3 ADAMS VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA: FOREVER ALLIES #4
CHAOS WAR: THOR #1 (CW)
I AM AN AVENGER #3
INCREDIBLE HULKS #616
INVADERS NOW! #3

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Back in 1982, a movie called TRON about a programmer that is thrown into his own video game universe took the nerd world by storm. For decades, guys and girls alike were hot gluing LED ropes to black leggings so that they can look like their favorite science fiction hero. Now, those fans are getting the opportunity to live it all over again as TRON: Legacy hits theaters this December.

With that amount of fan hype involved, it’s almost understandable that a publishing company as big as Marvel would want to jump on into pimping the film with some awesome crosspromotion. Not to mention the fact that Disney and Marvel are one in the same now.

Starting next month, 10 different popular titles will get special TRON-ized variant covers by artists like Mark Brooks (Avengers: The Initiative) and Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men).

The books you need to look for are as follows:

Amazing Spider-Man #651, Avengers #7, Avengers Academy #7, Captain America #612, Incredible Hulks #618, Invincible Iron Man #33, New Avengers #7, Secret Avengers #7, Thor #617, and Wolverine #4.

Before they even hit shelves next month, be sure to check out each of these variant covers after the jump, and get your TRON on December 17th!

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Comics, comics, comics. This week brings new ones from our friends at Marvel. Among the ones dropping this week that we are particularly excited about are I am and Avenger #2, New Avengers #5, X-Men #4 and Shadowland #4.

As they usually do, comics hit stores on Wednesday this week even though Monday was a holiday for some. So, head over early tomorrow to your favorite comics shop for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Check out the list of comics you can get below.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #645
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #645 SPIDEY VS. WRAPAROUND VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: BLACK CAT #4
CASANOVA #4
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #2
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #2 VAMPIRE VARIANT
DEADPOOL CORPS #7
I AM AN AVENGER #2
INCREDIBLE HULKS #614

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Comics? Marvel haz them. This week we’re looking forward to getting our hands on some New Avengers #4, X-Men #3, Thor #614 and Invaders Now! #1.

Usually, as you know, comics hit stores on Wednesday. Not this week. Due to the holiday, head to your favorite comic book store on Thursday for your all-new comic’s selections.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one. Also, be sure to check out covers for some of these books after the break.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #641 (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #641 QUESADA SKETCH VARIANT (OMT))
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #641 QUESADA VARIANT (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #641 WOMEN OF MARVEL FRAME VARIANT (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #642
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #642 SPIDEY VS. VARIANT
ANITA BLAKE: CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED – THE CHARMER #4
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #1 DIRECTOR’S CUT
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #1
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #1 DELL’OTTO VARIANT
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT
DAREDEVIL #510 (SHL)
DAREDEVIL #510 SHS VARIANT (SHL)
DEADPOOL CORPS #6
HEROIC AGE: ONE MONTH TO LIVE #2
INVADERS NOW! #1

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This week Marvel has more comics for you to enjoy. What, did you think they wouldn’t? Of the ones coming out we’re most interested in are Secret Avengers #4, Deadpool #26, New Avengers #3 and Avengers Academy #3.

Like most weeks, comics are on sale Wednesday this week so head on over to your favorite comics shop early for best selection. Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one. Also, be sure to check out covers for some of these books after the break.

Comics On-Sale:

AGE OF HEROES 4
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #636 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #637 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #640 (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #640 QUESADA VARIANT (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #640 QUESADA SKETCH VARIANT (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #640 WOMEN OF MARVEL VARIANT (OMT)
ATLAS #4
AVENGERS & THE INFINITY GAUNTLET #1
AVENGERS ACADEMY #2 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
AVENGERS ACADEMY #3
AVENGERS ACADEMY #3 MCKONE VARIANT
AVENGERS ACADEMY #3 WOMEN OF MARVEL FRAME VARIANT
DAREDEVIL #508 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (SHL)
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE JOURNEY BEGINS #4
DEADPOOL #26

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After many years of happily reading John Romita Jr.’s work on Wolverine’s “Enemy of the State” Arc, Spider-Man and Kick-Ass, I was thrilled to be able to interview John Romita, Jr. (or JR. Jr.) for Marvel’s return to a bright, new day with the “Heroic Age.”

I caught up with the delightful John while he was working hard on the Avengers.  It seems this is one man who can draw and answer in-depth questions at the same time.

As always he was humorous, insightful, and well…in need of a nap.  Read on, true believers, and enjoy the latest from the desk of the modest legend himself.

The Flickcast: Marvel takes the entire Avengers line of titles into “The Heroic Age.” You’ve been paired up with Brian Michael Bendis on the core “Avengers” title; is your opening run contained to the first arc or two, or do you plan on being involved for the foreseeable future?

John Romita, Jr: In the first year I’m doing it [Avengers] for a minimum of 2 arcs and I’m enjoying myself.  If the book is still doing well, I’ll do it for a second year.  It’s so difficult, though, that I may not survive the first year— it’s intense work.

I have to finish 25 pages in the next 17 days.  So, after doing Avengers, I may want to sleep for a year.  But doing the Avengers with Bendis is an amazing experience.  If I get through the year and I’m still healthy enough, I will do another one.

TF: What are the benefits and challenges of drawing iconic characters like Thor, Spidey, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Captain America vs. drawing characters you create?

JR: Oh, that’s on a strictly selfish scale, it’s much more fun to do a character you create because you create them and there’s a lot of gratification for that, but working on iconic characters is like driving your father’s classic car, it’s spectacular and fantastic, but it’s better off when it’s your own.

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Another week and more comics. Fortunately, it never seems to end and we keep getting fun stuff to read. This week, we’re interested in a few titles including the latest Marvel Zombies, Avengers: The Origin and the premier of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1.

Remember, comics go on sale this Wednesday so get to your favorite comics store early for best selection. Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:

AVENGERS: THE ORIGIN #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA/BLACK PANTHER: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS #1
DEADPOOL & CABLE #25
DEADPOOL & CABLE #25 LIEFELD VARIANT
DEADPOOL CORPS #1
DEADPOOL CORPS #1 LIEFELD 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DEADPOOL CORPS #1 SKETCH VARIANT
ELECTRIC ANT #1
ELECTRIC ANT #1 MACK VARIANT
IRON MAN MAGAZINE #1
IRON MAN POSTER BOOK
MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #1

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As we saw last month, big things are coming for the Avengers brand after the events of Siege. First was the Avengers title which was quickly followed up with the Secret Avengers marketing blitz. In addition to the upcoming Avengers Academy, it now looks like New Avengers will be relaunching as well. So far, Marvel has only announced three members of this team.

First up comes Spider-Man. Always reluctant to be a part of a larger team as he has seen what it has done to his personal life in the past and the sheer volume of his own personal rogue’s gallery, Spidey has been one of the most entertaining pieces of the current New Avengers lineup. With the upcoming film reboot, it isn’t much surprise that Marvel would like to try to get everyone’s favorite wall crawler as much exposure as possible.

The next member was a little more of a surprise though as Luke Cage’s mug showed up in the second New Avengers marketing piece. It looks like Luke will be pulling double duty as both a New Avenger and the leader of the upcoming Thunderbolts team. Though the premise of the Thunderbolts has been former villains looking for redemption, there is a real stretch to believe Luke would be a part of that team.

The combination of Ghost who has tried to kill Tony Stark, Crossbones who shot Steve Rogers and Moonstone who has tried to kill any Avengers she could, it seems very unrealistic to believe Luke Cage would actually opt to lead this band of misfits. The further combination of the Juggernaut and Man-Thing to the mix just adds further conclusion.

Hopefully Luke will be able to get out of there quick before all the time Bendis has spent building him up turns out to be for naught.

This morning, Marvel announced a third member to the lineup with the addition of Wolverine. It is starting to make sense why this team’s lineup has been the last to be announced as it so far hasn’t changed from the current New Avengers title. The dynamic of these non-original team members is already set up and, let’s face it, works great already. Seeing Wolverine continue his triple duty as a member of the X-Men, X-Force and an Avengers squad hasn’t run the character dry after years of doing it already and if it continues the macho big brother, geeky little brother relationship that Logan shares with Spider-Man then we are all for it.

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Another week, another batch of great comics from the fine filks at Marvel. This week sees the release of several books we’re looking forward to including a new X-Force, Captain America: Reborn #6, Kick-Ass #8, Secret Warriors #12 and the latest New Avengers.

As always, be sure to check out the previews of some covers for these comics after the jump. New comics go on sale this Wednesday at a comic shop near you. To locate your nearest comic shop that carrier your favorite titles, use this handy guide.

Comics On-Sale:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 (GNTLT)
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 (S)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #6 CASSADAY VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #6 GATEFOLD COVER
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #6 QUESADA VARIANT
DAREDEVIL #504
DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #5 (DR)
FALL OF THE HULKS: GAMMA 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK #1
FANTASTIC FOUR #575
FANTASTIC FOUR #575 SEVEN DECADES VARIANT
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #22
HALO: BLOOD LINE #2

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Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! Since the hectic holiday schedule and copious amounts of eggnog have affected my time and brain cells, respectively, this week’s reviews are more of the quickie variety. While short and sweet – well, as short and sweet as I’m going to get – there’s enough yuletide cheer to make even Gotham warm over. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Avengers: The Initiative #31
Marvel Comics – $2.99 US
Writer: Christos N Gage
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Score: 8.5/10

The music’s pumping, the booze is flowing and the girls are dancing. Seems like Taskmaster’s right where he wants to be, until Norman Osborn decides to come to Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. for an inspection. Nobody said pimpin’ was easy, especially since Taskmaster has to get his place running on all cylinders before the boss arrives, bearing “gifts.”

Incredibly solid issue by writer Gage. Throughout the entire string of storylines, like “Civil War,” “Secret Invasion” and “Dark Reign,” select characters from both sides of the fight have begun to question whether or not they’re on the right side. Makes for some good reading and interesting dynamics as “Siege” starts to pick up steam. Artist Sandoval continues to be consistently good, especially where Taskmaster is included in the scene.

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