Following the events of the “Enter the Phoenix” storyline in the Jason Aaron-helmed Avengers ongoing series, the Phoenix Force has chosen a new human host in the form of Maya Lopez, the deaf hero known as Echo. Today the publisher announced the next steps in Echo and The Phoenix’s journey will come in a new series launching in October. Phoenix Song: Echo is a five-issue miniseries from the creative team of writer Rebecca Roanhorse and artist Luca Maresca. No colorist or letterer were named in the announcement for the series, the first issue of which will feature a cover by Cory Smith and colorist Alejandro Sánchez (not named in the announcement, although his signature is visible on the cover), and a variant cover by Leinil Francis Yu.
Here’s how Marvel describes Phoenix Song: Echo:
Echo is now the host of one of the most powerful entities in the Marvel Universe, and she has burning questions that demand answers. Still learning her new cosmic abilities—and struggling with the Phoenix’s overwhelming personality—Echo strikes out to return to her roots. But the reservation has even fewer answers. And where power goes, evil follows. Someone wants Echo to fail—and unleash a power only the greatest heroes in history have been able to control.
Phoenix Song: Echo marks a return to the character of Maya Lopez for Rebecca Roanhorse, who previously wrote a story starring the character for the Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices anthology one-shot. That story saw Echo transported to an alien world by Loki in order to save a pacifist village from a swamp god. Loki’s motivations for his manipulation of Echo were unrevealed, so it’ll be interesting to see if this new miniseries picks up on that at all.
In the statement announcing the new series, Roanhorse described her enthusiasm at continuing Echo’s story:
“I am excited to return to Echo in her first solo series and follow this thrilling new direction Jason Aaron has taken her,” said Roanhorse. “Readers will see some old favorites reimagined and some entirely new characters as Echo comes to terms with the incredible and dangerous powers of the Phoenix.”
Check out Yu’s variant cover for the first issue below. Phoenix Song: Echo #1 (of 5) is set to arrive in stores on Wednesday, October 6th.
