December, 2005

Exiles #74

Exiles #73

1) Continuing the three part 'World Tour' segment featuring the New Universe (after a fashion), the Exiles comic saw issue 73 released on the first day of the month - and it's basically a roller coaster of action; not all that much pausing to collect one's breath here.

While I had read the New Universe bit in Exiles was a two-part story, it appears the timeline is actually appearing in three - so that's one extra issue of New U goodness for your reading pleasure. Of course, I find myself hesitating to actually 'spoil' the details for you if you haven't already read the thing, so I'm not going to talk about it all that much, other than to tell you that hey, it's in stores now!

And if you knew that, I assume you've got the book already...

2) Though that's not all. I just discovered a few new plans for the New Universe - bizarre plans at that (though not necessarily bad-bizarre). I guess this Mark Hazzard thing is just a piece of some large 'event' going down in March, a sort of 'Untold tales of the New Universe' motif that's going to run in backup stories and standalone issues through the month of March... or something.

The really odd thing though is that this is just a lead-up for the 'big show' in the summertime.

From what I read, Warren Ellis of all people apparently showed interest in rebuilding 'a' New Universe, a sort of reinterpretation of all the old stuff. The new project, sort of titled 'newuniversal', sounds like it could be interesting - but then I'm generally amused by the man's antics. I've still got all my Transmetropolitans sitting around here waiting for a re-read, so there's that. But hey, don't take my rambling word(s) for it, for you can find the full story here or here - enjoy and stuff!

3) Continuing the three part 'World Tour' segment featuring the New Universe (after a fashion), the Exiles comic saw issue 74 released on the last day of the month - well, the last day of the month is when I found it; distribution being wonky at years' end.

Of course, I have the same problem talking about this issue as I did the one that came out at the first of the month, since it would involve ruining the story if you haven't read it yet (you get a week before someone does that for you I imagine). The moral of the story is that the Exiles' trip to this particular version of the New Universe ends with this issue - the end seeing everybody careening off to a brand new dead Marvel timeline. Or again, a variant version therein. Check it out!

4) Also, keep an eye out for a special 'marvel milestones' release in March, which reprints both Star Brand #1 AND Quasar #1 - crazy, eh? And yeah, that was FOUR news items for December. Four! I'd actually have more, but some other sites had the scoop on some interviews and such first. Heh.

November, 2005

Amazing Fantasy #18

Exiles #72

1) Jumpin' Jehosiphat, the New Universe news just keeps on coming. Was poking around various newsgroups and a cascade of random link-clicking brought me news of the February, 2006 issue of Amazing Fantasy (issue 18), which features Death's Head 3.0 and... Mark Hazzard! It looks something like this:

It's only an eight page 'bonus' story of course, but the completely bizarre thing is that... it's Mark Hazzard! Even though he died in his own comic back in the Day ©, he got himself another story to be printed early next year. On top of that, the solicitation for this book mentions a 'New Universe Event' to occur in the month after this, perhaps as some sort of 20th anniversary thingus.

What's this all about, you ask? Hope to find more soon (and I'll let you know if/when I do).

2) Of course, this isn't all - that's right, two news tidbits for the price of one this month. In addition to this little bit about Hazzard, I figured I'd remind you that the first 'New Universe' issue of the Exiles came out this month, and it's a fun read. Now as it turns out, this is indeed a variant version of the New Universe, not the original timeline featured in the comics.

The New Universe stuff published in the 80s and 90s was designated timeline 148611, while the one showcased in the Exiles is timeline 15731 - and is at the year 1987 in its current state. So perhaps a quasi-time travel thing is going on. But still, with the current state of the New U, I figure that's to be expected here. You have your copy already, right?

September, 2005

TOHOTMU: Alternate Universes 2005

Heh. Hot on the heels of last month's announced trip to something resembling the New Universe, it looks like Marvel put out a sort of 'official handbook' that details a large portion of their variant earths, including our very own New Universe. This is one of many of the 'theme' Handbooks these folks do, all of which are pretty cool - and this one is no exception.

It looks something like this:

Basically the New Universe is represented in a three page spread, and given one of those 'earth numbers'; while earth 616 is the 'mainline' marvel universe, for example, the timeline of the New Universe is listed as earth 148611 (quite a mouthful compared to the rest, but then it's 'way out there'). It even includes art by Ron Frenz depicting all the New Universe heroes as they first appeared in their comics. Nifty, eh?

I'd thought the art was a new piece that was produced for this book, but apparently I was mistaken (and was corrected by an eagle-eyed reader). It's still cool regardless, though, as one of those nostalgia things if nothing else. I'm good at nostalgia...

August, 2005

Not just the Star Brand again!

After half a decade, it looks like something is actually occuring with some of the folks from the New Universe - or at least a variant reality version of these folks... you never know. For a hint of what I speak, here's something that might give you a idea what I talk of. This glimpse into the New Universe (or fascimile therein) looks a little bit like that image there that's hanging out over there to your left.

In this particular instance, it looks like the cast of the current 'Exiles' series has some sort of adventure that brings them to the timeline that contains the New Universe, and the cover shot I saw indicates that at least three folks from the old books will be represented in this tale. For those of you looking to get your New Universe fix, not to mention indicate you'd like even more, I'd go pick up both of these books.

Yeah, both. I guess it's a three-part tale running through Exiles 72, 73 and 74. So that's eight or nine or so dollars you can pull out of your wallet to vote with. I imagine if ENOUGH people buy this it might come across as a hint, either to feature the 'real' versions of these folks or to at least 'reintroduce' them in the standard marvel timeline. And with that House of M crap, you never know what's 'real' these days...

December, 2000

It looks like a year worth of good feeling was dashed in an instant after all. You see, shortly before he was supposedly going to have Psi-Force show up in the Gambit series (give or take a plot or two), writer extraordinare Fabian Nicieza was pulled from the series. Which is unfortunate, really, because that was one heck of a series while he was on it - and it died almost immediately after. Feh bah.

It's really rather unfortunate, when you get down to it, because this may have been the last, best chance to see any New Universe characters in print - at least, until the next trademark-preserving hack work manifests itself, ala Starblast. While that may be relatively soon, especially with that utter rip-off 'Mark of Power' series by Liefeld a theoretical possibility, who knows when such a thing may show up.

Nonetheless, stubborn folk like me will still carry the New U torch, so maybe some creator will discover this body of work and be encouraged to resolve those bizarre leftover issues relevant to both the New Universe and Marvel Universe someday. And I'm not just talking fan fiction or weak rip-offs, I mean real, meat 'n potatoes Marvel comic books. I suppose I can dream, huh?

June, 2000

Hey, it's the Star Brand again!

Well, things have generally been quiet in the New Universe sphere of influence since last December, but one interesting little thing happened this month. Namely, Ken Connell made the briefest of cameos in June's issue of Gambit. It looks something like this:

Basically, the gist of this appearance is that the New Son, some Gambit villain, is using the mutant powers of one Quiet Bill to peer into alternate times and spaces for some unknown (to me, at least) reason. In this image, he's spying the New U at some point, as well as several potential futures (the MC-2-verse and 2099-verse). The kicker in this regard, though, is the writer's comments in December.

Keeping those in mind, it's quite possible that we're seeing that little hint slowly coming to fruition in the pages of Gambit. Assuming the overall plot of the title doesn't change between now and, say, the end of the year, we may very well be seeing everybody's favorite psionic youths in action sometime soon. It's rather nice to see things slowly come together, isn't it...?

December, 1999

Hey, it's the Star Brand!

1) Interestingly, two curious developments occurred in regards to the New Universe this month. Primarily, the Star Brand made a minor cameo appearance in the final issue of Avengers Forever, on the first titanic, double-page spread in the book (on page three).

It looks something like this:

This makes for an interesting implication for the future. You see, the battle depicted in this tale featured every member of the Avengers, either those who went good from bad, from every single timeline. So, in some corner of the Marvel Universe, the Star Brand has surfaced as an Avenger - whether this is a good thing or a bad thing has yet to be revealed, however, so stay tuned to the Avengers!

2) While this is incredibly cool in and of itself, that's not all that happened on the eve of the year 2000. You see, Fabian Nicieza, the writer of the great Gambit series, was questioned about the future of his New Universe project, Psi-Force, on the rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks newsgroup, and had this little choice tidbit to say in regards to everybody's favorite paramilitary paranormals:

Subject: Re: March Solicitations at Newsarama!
Date: 18 Dec 1999 02:39:49 GMT
From: fabnic@aol.com (FabNic)

* Seriously, any chance of seeing what happened with those characters again?

* Your PSI-FORCE run was awesome, and I've always wanted to see more!

Well, between you and me and no one else, if you promise to keep reading the Gambit monthly for approximately another 18 issues or so, you might get a pleasant surprise...

--fabian

That pretty much speaks for itself, now, doesn't it? So, your mission is now to purchase every last issue of the Gambit series that you can get your hands on - period. After all, if you're wanting to see New Universe characters in print, you must support the people willing to write about 'em, no? So pick up Gambit and the Avengers, if you don't already, if only because they're good books, by good creators.

Besides, for even the chance of seeing Psi-Force in print again, I'd shell out a decent chunk of change...

Got News?

You heard me. If you've uncovered any choice tidbits that may point to any New Universe folks showing up in new comics, or even find any keen sites or other resources for people who actually likes these stories (like myself), feel free to send 'em my way, and I'll definitely get them listed up here somewhere. After all, us New U fans have to stick together - nobody else likes us...

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