Marvel

We're a little less than three weeks away from Comicon and there's a ton of speculation about Marvel's next move. Which is assuming there is a *formal* next move, granted. If you look at the May sales estimates, AVX is distracting from a sad state of affairs. Throw out the AVX minis, and no estimate breaks 70K. Throw out the Avengers and X-titles getting pumped up by the event (which are just under 70K and would likely be clustered about 60K without the bump). Selling in the 50Ks are three Spider-Man issues and Uncanny X-Force sneaks in. So the 40K band is pretty decent sales at Marvel these days. Throw out their most successful sales stunt in years and the rest of the line is as low as Marvel has been.

Marvel's variant cover for Avengers Vs X-Men #8 shows Cyclops and chums having a lovely time

As you may have noticed, Marvel's been releasing two issues of several titles each month. It's not always the same titles each month. Marvel also might not be as into $3.99 titles as you might expect. I took a look at the solicitations for July-through September, looked at the core Marvel titles (Marvel's equivalent of the "New 52," if you will). No mini's. No Max. No Ultimates. No ".1" specials. This is what I found:

Artist on multiple Marvel books including Amazing Spider-Man and the relaunch of Daredevil, Paolo Rivera has announced that he will be stepping away from his Marvel exclusive after 10 years of service.

THOR 2 filming begins in August.

The occasion of ASTONISHING X-MEN's same-sex wedding has also seen several parties and receptions at various comics shops across the nation, including Zeus Comics, which held a bachelor party last week. But Midtown Comics is going all the way by hosting two actual same sex weddings this Wednesday, with a reception taking place at the Eventi Hotel. Two couples—Scott Everhart and Jason Welker, and Khris Wilson and Chris Orme—will be tying the knot. Both events are private but people are being encouraged to take photos outside, as the shop will be opening late due to the nuptials.

The Beat salutes the secret superheroes, fathers!

Wow, two crotchgates in one day. It seems that Andrew Garfield, who will appear as Spider-Man in the new film which opens on July 3rd, had to learn the hard way that superhero costumes aren't that practical in real life. It turns out that obliging certain natural functions was not that easy in his Spidey suit.

Speak of the devil! Only hours ago we were making jokes about Chris Ware joining the Cirque du Soleil and now there is nows of an actual Cirque du Soleil comic! Sadly it is not from Ware—we can just imagine his version of Limber 12-year-old Chinese Acrobats Stories—instead, it's from Marvel, in a custom comic that ties in with the Vegas spectacle Kà which you will be able to get at this year's Comic-Con.

If you click the link, you will get to see Cyclops wearing a thong.

It's only gossip for now but we can but hope:

Yes yes, more side-news about the gay marriage between Northstar and KJ. But this time it also acts as a reflection on Marvel's current publishing policy.