We looked into the Xavier Files scrying pool to let you know what we are most excited about coming in the far off world of 2021 as we dig into our favorite things in Marvel’s January 2021 Solicits.
Space Invaders
While we don’t have a book yet, we know the Xenomorphs will be invading the pages of Marvel as the publisher acquired the Alien license earlier this year. Some of their top artistic talent will be drawing variant covers featuring the heroes of the 616 battling the aliens from Aliens. Check out all these covers this January.
Latex Dragons From Outer Space
It’s never too early to tie into a line wide event as SWORD ties itself into King In Black by its second issue. While the X-Books may not have a great track record when it comes to crossing over with Venom (looking at you “Poison-X”), writer Al Ewing has an incredible hit rate when it comes to event tie-ins. Any title that promises latex dragons from outer space is sure to be worth checking out.
S.W.O.R.D. #2
AL EWING (W) • VALERIO SCHITI (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
WHAT IS PROTOCOL V?
The S.W.O.R.D. station is thrown in at the deep end of a planetary crisis as Krakoa battles the KING IN BLACK! While a cross-division team take on latex dragons from outer space, Abigail Brand prepares a deniable operation all her own. What is PROTOCOL V – and can the Earth survive it?
Black Knight
The announcement of this title nearly torn the Xavier Files Slack asunder. No accord could be found between those who think Dane Whitman is an exciting and enjoyable character and those who think he “huffs wet farts”. Regardless, any time there’s a new Si Spurrier comic, it is a time for celebration, especially one drawn by the underrated Jesus Saiz. For fans of the character, it promises to be a great spotlight for the holder of the Ebony Blade. For his haters, at least it’s only a one-shot.
KING IN BLACK: BLACK KNIGHT #1
SIMON SPURRIER (W) • JESUS SAIZ (A) • Cover by DAN MORA
THE BLACK KNIGHT DUELS THE KING IN BLACK!
KNULL’s ferocious assault upon earth has begun and Dane Whitman – Avenger, hero, and wielder of the mighty Ebony Blade as the BLACK KNIGHT – takes up sword and shield to defend against the unstoppable onslaught. Though the blade grants Dane incredible power so too does it consume him with a lust for violence and destruction. As the endless horde of symbiote dragons darken the skies of Shanghai, will the Black Knight overcome the growing evil within himself and join AERO and SWORD MASTER in saving the city?! And what secrets will the battle against Knull reveal about Dane’s past?
The High Republic
After some unfortunate COVID related delays, it’s time for Star Wars fans to travel 200 years before the “Skywalker Saga” [Ed. note: that’s 232 BBY] for Star Wars: The High Republic. It’s the height of the Jedi Order and promises to usher in a new era of lightsaber battles, dog fights, and unsatisfying reveals about secret parents. For a franchise that has gone through a WILD last few years, this fresh start may just be what fans need.
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC #1
CAVAN SCOTT (W) • ARIO ANINDITO (A)
Cover by PHIL NOTO
BEFORE THE SKYWALKER SAGA! THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE JEDI!
A new era of STAR WARS storytelling begins. It is centuries before the SKYWALKER SAGA. The JEDI are at their height, protecting the galaxy as REPUBLIC pioneers push out into new territories. As the Frontier prepares for the dedication of majestic STARLIGHT BEACON, PADAWAN KEEVE TRENNIS faces the ultimate choice — will she complete her Jedi Trials or rescue the innocent from disaster? New Jedi! New ships! New evils to fight!
Queen Elizabeth III
As the fall out from X Of Swords continues, we are promised that nothing will never be the same again. What does the future hold for Captain Britain? After the phenomenal Excalibur #13 this week, we can’t wait to find out.
EXCALIBUR #17
TINI HOWARD (W) • MARCUS TO (A)
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
QUEEN ELIZABETH III?!?
Opportunities and opportunists. Two heads-of-state seek to restore the state of things.
Enter The Iron Fist
Anytime industry legend Larry Hama is writing a comic, you need to shut up and pay attention. When the man who did GI Joe #21 promises a martial arts epic, you stand at full attention. It’s been a hot minute since we got an exciting Iron Fist story, this may be the salve fans of the fister need.
IRON FIST: HEART OF THE DRAGON #1 (OF 6)
LARRY HAMA (W) • DAVID WACHTER (A) • Cover by BILLY TAN
Variant Cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
MARVEL VS ALIEN VARIANT COVER BY KIM JACINTO
AN IRON FIST EPIC FROM LEGENDARY CREATOR LARRY HAMA!
Someone is killing the ancient dragons that power the HEAVENLY CITIES, and only IRON FIST and the DEADLY WEAPONS can stop them…if they can discover who they are in time! Zombie armies, mystical portals, dragon hearts, some of the Marvel Universe’s deadliest fighters all converge in one action-packed extravaganza, and the fate of all worlds hangs in the balance! LARRY HAMA and DAVID WACHTER are building a story that hits as hard as the Iron Fist itself!
Dec Smash
Declan Shalvey already established his #ArtCred with titles like Moon Knight and Injection but he’s been quietly putting together an impressive writing portfolio with his work on Bog Bodies and Deadpool Vs. Old Man Logan. This January, the Irish sensation will flex his muscles writing, drawing, and coloring The Immortal Hulk: Flatline, a standalone one-shot that promises to get to the heart of the Hulk. We rarely get a single artistic vision in a Marvel title and it’s always worth a look.
IMMORTAL HULK: FLATLINE #1
DECLAN SHALVEY (W) • DECLAN SHALVEY (A/C)
ONE CREATOR – ONE HULK – ONE SUPERSTAR STORY!
Declan Shalvey writes and draws an IMMORTAL HULK tale that gets to the heart of gamma! Every morning, Bruce Banner wakes up in a new place. The Hulk is trying to tell him something — but Bruce has had enough of his green-veined alters. When a new gamma-powered villain shows up in a small New Mexico town, Bruce is forced to confront the source of his anger…and it’s not what you expect. Don’t miss an extraordinary tale from one of the industry’s top talents!
Vita Is For The Children
It’s taken far too long to happen but 2021 is the year of Ayala. Vita has been an Xavier Files favorite for a while now and it is thrilling to see them taking charge of the Krakoan youth. With Bernard Chang and Rod Reis on Children Of The Atom and New Mutants respectively, these titles promise to be a feast for the eyes, the mind, and the heart. If that’s not enough, the solicits have dropped the word that will make every mutant hold their breath.
Crucible.
CHILDREN OF THE ATOM #1
VITA AYALA (W) • BERNARD CHANG (A) • Cover by R.B. SILVA
WHEN DID THE X–MEN GET SIDEKICKS?!
Now! Don’t miss the debut of the greatest teenage super hero team of all time! They’ve learned from the best, now they’re ready to be put to the test! But who the heck are these kids, and where do they come from? Guest-starring the X–Men!
NEW MUTANTS #15
VITA AYALA (W) • ROD REIS (A/C)
ONCE MORE INTO THE CRUCIBLE!
As KARMA and DANI delve deeper into their nightmares, a spider sets his eyes on the most vulnerable of the NEW MUTANTS…Meanwhile, in the Wild Hunt, children play at being adults and prepare for the fight of their lives.
Making Of A Marine
War may be hell but according to our writers, Warhammer is a hell of a lot of fun! Gillen and Burrows continue their quest to make Marneus Calgar into the massive marine we know and love. Fans of tabletop adventures can’t miss this one.
WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR #4 (OF 5)
KIERON GILLEN (W) • JACEN BURROWS (A) • Cover by JAMES STOKOE
Variant Cover by LUKE ROSS
THE MAKING OF A SPACE MARINE!
• Young MARNEUS CALGAR has passed his Space Marine Aspirant testing…but that means the real trial is only just beginning!
• As Marneus undergoes the rigorous training, excruciating organ implantation and strenuous physical augmentation, he will have to prove that, against all odds, he has what it takes!
• And in the 41st Millennium, the assault on CALGAR ESTATES reaches a deadly climax!
War and Romance
It’s The Man and The King as you have never seen them before. Comics weren’t always flights and tights, and before they took on the Fantastic Four, Stan and Jack made a living telling tales that were set just a little closer to Earth. This is a collection that’s sure to keep any Omnibus fan busy while they wait for the Captain Britain Omni to get reprinted.
THE COMPLETE KIRBY WAR AND ROMANCE
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
King of the comics art form, Jack Kirby needs no introduction. He was an architect of the Marvel Universe, but his contributions extended far beyond just super heroes. Now, highlighting two sides of the human condition, Kirby’s war and romance work finally gets its due! A combat veteran during World War II, Kirby brings hard-earned realism to BATTLEGROUND and BATTLE — while Kirby and Stan Lee bring the war genre into the Marvel Age with SGT. FURY! On the other end of the spectrum are tales from vintage romance titles — many restored directly from Kirby’s original art — that prove that love is war! Collecting material from BATTLE #64-70; BATTLEGROUND #14; SGT. FURY #1-8, #10-20 and #25; LOVE ROMANCES #83-85, #87-88 and #96-106; MY OWN ROMANCE #71-76 and TEEN-AGE ROMANCE #84-86.
Zachary Jenkins co-hosts the podcast Battle of the Atom and is the former editor-in-chief of ComicsXF. Shocking everyone, he has a full and vibrant life outside all this.
