Spider-Gwen is joining the main Marvel Universe, permanently, in a new series. DC’s Primer seems to be a stealth hit, with big sales and new printings. A sequel to Minor Threats is coming from Dark Horse. All on Comic Book Club News for December 21, 2023.
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Episode Transcript:
Spider-Gwen joining the main Marvel U.
DC’s Primer paints the town red.
Minor Threats sequel coming from Dark Horse.
This is Comic Book Club News for December 21, 2023.
Spider-Gwen Joins The Main Marvel Universe In New Series:
Spider-Gwen is one of the most popular “new” characters of the past decade. And since her inception, she’s bopped back and forth between her own universe, Earth-65, and the main Marvel Universe, Earth-616. Now, in a new ongoing series, she’ll join the 616, permanently.
Or at least, as permanent as anything is in comics. But the new title, Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider, written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Chris Campana, will find her trapped in the Marvel U for mysterious reasons.
Said Phillips via press release: “Right after I started working on this new Spider-Gwen ongoing, I saw a little girl on Halloween dressed as Gwen and hitting some cool spidey poses. It was kind of a surreal moment to realize that I get to be a part of Gwen’s next big chapter, bringing her into the 616 and giving readers stories that make us rethink who Gwen is and what her role is within this new universe. I’m also working on this story with the incredible Chris Campana, a great collaborator and friend, and I truly believe this is one of the most special books I’ve been a part of.”
The release also raises some weird questions about Gwen’s status quo going into the new book. “Welcome to New York! Gwen truly becomes a Ghost-Spider when she moves full time to the universe where Gwen Stacy died years ago. But why did she leave Earth-65? Why aren’t the other spiders supposed to know she’s here? Why isn’t she supposed to suit up? And who will get hurt when she does?”
Whatever that all means, you can check out the new title when it hits stores on April 10, 2024.
DC’s Primer Sells Big, Gets New Printing:
Primer, written by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski, with art by Gretel Lusky, seems to be a stealth hit for DC Comics. The all-ages series introduces a new hero whose powers involve body paint. And according to Popverse, the book has already sold out seven times for DC, making it the best-selling comic for kids and young adults since its original publication in 2020.
Not only that, but ICv2 reports that DC is taking the unique step of breaking the original graphic novel up into single, 40-page-long issues. The first will hit stores on March 26, 2024, in advance of the release of the final volume of the series, Primer: Clashing Colors. That should hit stores next Summer or Fall, though Amazon has the book listed as being released on January 2, 2079, which is probably incorrect? But I don’t know, comics take a long time to make sometimes.
It will be interesting to see what happens next with Primer as this is a character that interacts with mainstream DC heroes like the Teen Titans. Will Primer make her way to the DCU proper? Is she the DC equivalent of Spider-Gwen? Is it all coming together??? We’ll find out in 2079.
Minor Threats Sequel Coming From Dark Horse:
Dark Horse is getting ready to release a sequel to the hit, critically acclaimed supervillain series Minor Threats.
Written by Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum, with art by Scott Hepburn, Minor Threats II: The Fastest Way Down, will pick up right after the original series. Frankie Follis, aka Playtime, has taken over the supervillain underworld in her city, but is finding out ruling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Said Blum via press release: “We’re thrilled to get the chance to return to Twilight City and continue Frankie’s story. It’s important to us that every chapter has its own unique crime-fiction flavor. If volume one was our ‘survive the night’ thriller then volume two is our ‘Godfather part 2’ sprawling epic. It’s one thing to name yourself the Queenpin of super-crime, it’s another to defend it. Playtime will learn that with great power… comes rival Holiday-themed gangs, vengeful teen sidekicks, haunting superhero ghosts and unearthed secrets that will threaten everything she’s built.”
Added Oswalt: “The higher you climb in the world of crime, the harder people want to see you plummet. Frankie learns this lesson in real time — but can she find a way to avoid the fall?”
With this sequel, and spinoff series The Alternates, Minor Threats is quickly proving to be a major treat for comic book fans! I don’t know if that worked, but whatever, no time to go backwards!
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And wild to think in 2079, I’ll be 72 years old. Because I’m 16 now. I’m a cool teen.
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