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Spider-Man by Jason. The lost Peter Bagge Incorrigible Hulk story. Iron Man by Tony Millionaire. Are such ideas just the fevered dreams of an overactive imagination as we go into MoCCA…or reality? Happily, it’s REAL, as Marvel has finally announced their “indie” anthology featuring the best cartoonists of the day working on Marvel’s icons. The book has been in the works for a few years under several editors, but bits and pieces have drifted out, such as a Dash Shaw-penned Dr., Strange tale. The book is finally on the schedule, and fittingly, it’s been given the name STRANGE TALES, a Marvel title that goes back to the Silver Age and hosted memorable work by Ditko, Kirby, and Steranko.

The three issue limited series will debut in September as part of the MAX line, with 48 pages of stories by in each issue. More PR below:

Paul Pope, Peter Bagge, Molly Crabapple &John Leavitt, Junko Mizuno, Dash Shaw, James Kochalka, Johnny Ryan, Michael Kupperman, Nick Bertozzi, Nicholas Gurewich, Jason and more unite for the all-new Strange Tales MAX!

Just what does Peter Bagge have planned in “The Incorrigible Hulk”, a story so incredible that we had to serialize it over all three issues? Will Spider-Man make it out alive of Jason’s thrilling story? This first issue comes wrapped in a marvel-ous cover by Paul Pope and Jose Villarubia!

“Flat out, this is the apex of human artistic achievement. This is it. The end. The crowning result of tens of millions of years of evolution, right here, in three packed-to-the-gills issues,” said Editor John Barber. “The philosophy of the book was to have these creators from ‘indy’ or ‘alternative’ or “literary” or ‘art’ comics come in and do what they do best. I think Marvel readers will really dig seeing radically different versions of their favorite characters, and the fans of these cartoonists will get to see the creators work in a milieu they never thought they’d get to see. It’s win-win. It’s really the best of both worlds.”

Editor Jody LeHeup added, “This book is a metric ton of solid gold awesome. The talent we’ve got lined up are without hyperbole some of the greatest creative minds working in comics today. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read a Spider-Man story by Jason? Or an Iron man story by Tony Millionaire? Or anything by any of the contributors we’ve got attached to the project? I’ve been reading independent comics my whole life and I’ve always wanted to see what those creators could do with Marvel characters if they were given free reign to tell their stories. Well, now that visions becoming a reality and I can’t tell you what an incredibly special thing it is to see the final result. If you’re a fan of comics of any school, do yourself a favor and pick this up.”

STRANGE TALES MAX #1 (of 3)

Written and Drawn by: PAUL POPE, PETER BAGGE, MOLLY CRABAPPLE &JOHN LEAVITT, JUNKO MIZUNO, DASH SHAW, JAMES KOCHALKA, JOHNNY RYAN, MICHAEL KUPPERMAN, NICK BERTOZZI, NICHOLAS GUREWICH, AND JASON

Cover by PAUL POPE

Explicit Content …$3.99

1 COMMENT

  3. Really? 48 pages for $3.99? For a “MAX” title?

    Maybe that means prices will be coming down in September? Not.

  4. Is it wrong that the next time Mrs. Tiki and I make love… I’ll be thinking of this comic instead of her?

    ;)

    I love the fact that this is 48 pages of STORY for $3.99 (not ads, but actual creative goodness!). Kudos to Marvel!

    the Tiki

  7. It’s about time that Peter Bagge Hulk story is seeing print. I’ve been waiting for 6 years to read it – ever since it was solicited and cancelled back in 2003.

  13. Isn’t this the same idea as what DC did with the “Bizarro” books? I think DC’s lineup was far superior. Is this all these two companies do, is steal ideas from each other? Does Marvel have any plan for their version of the “Wednesday Comics?” Maybe DC has something planned like the “Bromance” compilation. Actually, probably not…

  14. Yeah! And what’s with all these car companies making hybrid cars? We clearly only need one car company to make hybrids. Using somebody else’s good idea is just stupid.

  16. I am so getting this!!!!!
    I’d love to see this become popular enough to be an ongoing!
    The Bagge Hulk story at last!

    Blackeye, the Bizarro book was awesome, and this will be for the same reason! Why complain? We need more comics like this!

  18. Isn’t this the same idea as what DC did with the “Bizarro” books?

    Yeah, except that (Marvel being Marvel), within six months half of these stories will be retroactively proclaimed canonical and be given their own spin-off books.

  19. Hello, Comix Book 2009.

    “This is the apex of human artistic achievement.”

    If indy-flavored Paste Pot Pete comics are the pinnacle of humanity then just kill me now…

  21. If Joe Quesada ever decides to step away from Marvel one day, I would nominate Mike Allred as E-I-C and bring back Marvel Pop Art Productions-full steam ahead!

    I’m serious.

  22. I find the fact that “Dash Shaw” and “Doctor Strange” are being used in the same sentence incredibly awesome.

    Linking the hell out of this. I am so buying this comic book.

  23. It just makes no sense to release this as floppies first. Why does Marvel insist on publishing every damn thing in this format, even if it makes much more sense to just release a graphic novel?

  25. “It just makes no sense to release this as floppies first. Why does Marvel insist on publishing every damn thing in this format, even if it makes much more sense to just release a graphic novel? ”

    Because the sale in individual issues helps them recoup their money.