Marvel’s presence at New York Comic Con was in full swing on Friday with the “Amazing-Spider-Man Gang War” panel to discuss the upcoming crossover event. Marvel editor Nick Lowe moderated the Marvel Gang War panel which included Amazing Spider-Man writer Zeb Wells as well as Erica Schultz and Greg Pak, the respective writers of the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu and Daredevil “Gang War” tie-in limited series. Also on the panel were Associate Editor Tom Groneman and Executive Director, Audio Content and Story, Digital Media and Editor Ellie Pyle plus Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski.
Before the panel began in earnest, Cebulski couldn’t resist mentioning that Iron Man #10 which featured wedding of Tony Stark and Emma Frost as proof that Marvel has nothing against marriage, a not so subtle reference to the infamous “One More Day” storyline controversy. Lowe kicked things off debuting a trailer for the Marvel Gang War event.
This story has been building since the first issue of the relaunched Amazing Spider-Man when Wells introduced various superpowered gangs of NYC. Before “Gang War” ensues, readers can look forward to the return of the symbiote enhanced Limbo demon Rek-Rap returning in Amazing Spider-man #37 and #38 next month as he and Spidey face off against a new character named Repossessor a.k.a Repo who seeks to retrieve demons back to Limbo including Rek-Rap.
The storyline begins with Gang War: First Strike a prelude issue that lights the fuse. Fans can expect a reunion between Peter and Miles Morales who is currently in the midst of his own adventure with Blade in his solo book.
A new ongoing Spider-Woman from Steve Foxe and Carola Borelli debuts next month. Editor Ellie Pyle praised Foxe’s scripts that will see Jessica Drew on a personal mission to retrieve her missing son. Her search will see Jessicafighting Diamondback backed by Hydra.
For those not up on current Marvel continuity. The former Hero for Hire is now mayor of NYC. The upcoming Luke Cage: Gang War limited series by by Rodney Barnes and Ramon F. Bachswill see Cage back to his roots to combat the Gang War along with some familiar friends including Jessica Jones, Danny Rand, and Cloak & Dagger. Pyle also teased Luke will be going undercover in the series and donning a new costume. Also hinted the return of a villain known for employing Spider-Slayers. If you’re a diehard fan, it shouldn’t be difficult to figure out who that is.
The panel showed off some John Romita Jr. interior art from ASM #39. Romita Jr. has told Wells that he has to drink more wine in order to draw all the action that Wells is writing. Pak recalled Romita Jr. being too fond of drawing helicopters in the World War Hulk miniseries from 2007.
The panel revealed covers for ASM #41 and #42 that revealed the reunion between Kingpin and Typhoid which apparently Romita Jr. requested when he came back to drawing the ASM title. The covers also revealed a creepy new suit for the villain The Beetle.
If you haven’t been keeping up with Marvel continuity, Elektra has taken on the Daredevil mantle and promised not to kill. Schultz teased a foe will test Elektra’s ability to keep that vow in the Gang War tie-in miniseries.
Pak mentioned new status of Shang-Chi as the head of his father’s Five Weapons Society with his Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War tie-in miniseries full of shades of grey. Shang-Chi has pledged to turn the Five Weapons Society into a weapon for good. During this course of this attempt, the book feature lessons from his father that he’s resisted such as, The key to war is deception.
Announced at the Marvel Gang War panel was a one-shot of Mary-Jane Watson in her new superhero persona Jackpot by writer Celeste Bronfman and artist Joey Vazquez. In addition, breakout charcter Spidey Boy is getting his own Gang War Marvel Unlmimited comic from writer Preeti Chhibber and artist E.J. Su.
Among the Marvel Gang War Q&A highlights:
-A Ben Reilly fan inquired about the villainous trajectory for everyone’s favorite Spidey clone. Lowe is hard-pressed to define Reilly as completely a villain with Wells teasing there’s more to come with Ben Reilly’s story this year.
-It wouldn’t be a Spidey panel without someone feeling that fans were taunted about Peter and MJ getting back together romantically. Lowe and Cebulski pointed out part of the appeal of ASM is the soap opera nature of the book that has showcased different girlfrinds for Peter Parker. Cebulski asked the audience to name Clark Kent’s romantic interests aside from Lois Lane, Lana Lang and Lori Lemaris.
-Don’t expect Big Wheel to appear.
-There are plans afoot for the other Spidey clone Kaine Parker.
-Erica Schulz and Nick Lowe really wanted Moon Knight to appear in Gang War but unfortunately he was unavailable.
Check out the Marvel Gang War solicits below
Amazing Spider-Man #41
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale January 3, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Zeb Wells
- Art and Cover by John Romita Jr.
- GANG WAR CONTINUES! With all of New York’s super underworld fighting for dominance, you didn’t think Wilson Fisk, the former Kingpin of Crime, would sit it out, did you?
Amazing Spider-Man #42
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale January 17, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Zeb Wells
- Art and Cover by John Romita Jr.
- GANG WAR CONTINUES! The Beetle has stepped up in her father’s absence, and she’s become a very different Janice Lincoln. She’s smart, dangerous and ready to take the big chair. With Spider-Man and others distracted by Kingpin, she just might do it.
Amazing Spider-Man #43
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale February 14, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Zeb Wells
- Art and Cover by John Romita Jr.
- The Final Fight of GANG WAR starts here! The biggest and most brutal battle in Spider-Man history starts now, so batten your hatches!!! If you thought you knew what Madame Masque or Hobgoblin or Beetle or Diamondback was capable of, THINK AGAIN!
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War #2 (of 3)
- New Issue of limited series, on sale January 31, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Greg Pak
- Art by Caio Majado
- Cover by David Aja
- GANG WAR is here! Shang-Chi’s greatest weapons are lost to him! And Chinatown will burn if the Master of Kung Fu doesn’t win the war! Can Shang-Chi defeat his rivals and protect Chinatown without sacrificing his principles? Or will SPIDER-MAN and his allies bring him down first?!
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War #3 (of 3)
- New Issue of limited series, on sale February 14, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Greg Pak
- Art by Caio Majado
- Cover by David Aja
- The pieces are all assembled, and Shang-Chi is surrounded on all sides! Can the Master of Kung Fu fend off attacks from New York’s strongest crime families and Earth’s mightiest heroes at once? And, even if he can, will Chinatown survive?
Luke Cage: Gang War #3 (of 4)
- New Issue of limited series, on sale January 10, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Rodney Barnes
- Art by Ramon F. Bachs
- Cover by Caanan White
- THE FIGHT FOR NEW YORK IS ON! SPIDER-SLAYERS are back and bigger than ever! Luke Cage, Danny Rand, Jessica Jones, Cloak and Dagger face a GIANT threat as they battle for the soul of New York!
Luke Cage: Gang War #4 (of 4)
- New Issue of limited series, on sale February 21, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Rodney Barnes
- Art by Ramon F. Bachs
- Cover by Caanan White
- Unmasked and faced with giant Spider-Slayers, Luke Cage suits up as he never has before! New York City may survive this Gang War, but after breaking the anti-vigilante law, how can Luke still be mayor at the end? Will he even want to be?
Daredevil: Gang War #2 (of 4)
- New Issue of limited series, on sale January 10, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Erica Schultz
- Art and Cover by Sergio Davila
- AS GANG WAR RAGES ON, A NEW PLAYER EMERGES! New York City’s criminal element stands poised to tear itself and the entire island to pieces with only Elektra standing between them and the citizens of Hell’s Kitchen! Fighting against foes first seen in Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder’s first explosive chapter of DAREDEVIL, Elektra has her hands full to begin with – but a dangerous new player with powerful and lethal abilities and skills to match Elektra’s own explodes into the fray!
Spider-Woman #3
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale January 24, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Steve Foxe
- Art by Carola Borelli
- Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
- GANG WAR RAGES ON! Spider-Woman tried to take down Diamondback’s operation from the top…and barely escaped with her life. Now she’s angrier than ever and ready to hit him – and Hydra – where it hurts. Jessica Drew goes street level as GANG WAR nears its brutal conclusion!
- Assets: Cover, Gang War Trailer
Spider-Woman #4
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale February 21, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Steve Foxe
- Art by Carola Borelli
- Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
- GANG WAR RAGES ON! Jessica Drew finds the answers she’s been looking for, but her reunion with her son propels her into a new paradigm. But first, there’s a GANG WAR to finish! And Jess won’t be fighting alone. Not when her best friend is Captain Marvel!
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale January 10, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Cody Ziglar
- Art and Cover by Federico Vicentini
- MARVEL CHARGES INTO GANG WAR! MILES MORALES is losing his battle to save Brooklyn – can MS. MARVEL turn the tide?! HOBGOBLIN is out for revenge against SPIDER-MAN – but he’s not the only classic Spidey villain who wants a piece of Miles…
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16
- New Issue of ongoing series, on sale February 14, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Cody Ziglar
- Art and Cover by Federico Vicentini
- MILES MAKES HIS FINAL STAND IN THE GANG WAR! Miles vs. Hobgoblin. Only one can win the Gang War raging across Brooklyn. • But Hobgoblin’s master stroke is about to fall, and if it does, he’ll be the most powerful super villain in all of New York City. A traitor is in their midst – and this single betrayal could define the rest of Spider-Man’s life!
Jackpot #1
- New One-Shot on sale January 17, Gang War Tie-In
- Written by Celeste Bronfman
- Art by Joey Vazquez
- Cover by Pablo Villalobos
- ALWAYS BET ON RED! A GANG WAR TIE-IN! Mary Jane Watson, A.K.A. JACKPOT, gets her first solo super story since her debut in ASM #31! New York City is in chaos as the super-powered criminal gangs are at war, and it’s all hands on deck! It’s a baptism by fire, but, come on, this is Mary Jane. What CAN’T she handle?!
Spider-Man Unlimited #19, Marvel Unlimited Infinity Comic
- Gang-War Tie-In Infinity Comic, Coming to Marvel Unlimited in January
- Written by Preeti Chhibber
- Art by E.J. Su
- Spider-Boy leaps into the action in a new arc of SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED! Kicking off this January in SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #19, the new saga will be written by written by Preeti Chhibber (Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma) and drawn by E.J. Su (Ultraman: The Mystery of Ultraseven). The Marvel Unlimited Infinity comic will bring Marvel’s breakout young hero into Gang War as Spidey’s long-lost sidekick embarks on his own solo mission!
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