Okay, more comics we can get behind. Marvel’s Season One graphic novels — unlike the Point One periodical initiation or Point One, their done-in-one event kickoff — appear to be standalone books that will serve to introduce readers to core Marvel characters. Although a target market has never been announced, they would seem to be very bookstore, and Target-friendly. Previously announced books:

• FANTASTIC FOUR: SEASON ONE by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and David Marquez, on-sale in February 2012
• X-MEN: SEASON ONE by Dennis Hopeless and Jamie McKelvie, on-sale in March 2012
• DAREDEVIL: SEASON ONE by Antony Johnston and Wellinton Alves, on-sale in April 2012
• SPIDER-MAN: SEASON ONE by Cullen Bunn and Neil Edwards, on-sale in May 2012

To this they have just added three more:

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·         Ant-Man: Season One by Tom DeFalco (Spider-Girl) and Horacio Domingues (INCORRUPTIBLE), on-sale in July 2012

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·         Hulk: Season One by Fred Van Lente (ALPHA FLIGHT, Herc) and Tom Fowler (VENOM), on sale in August 2012

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·         Doctor Strange: Season One by Greg Pak (ASTONISHING X-MEN, RED SKULL: INCARNATE) and Emma Rios (Osborn, SPIDER ISLAND: CLOAK & DAGGER), on sale in September 2012

These all-new complete stories offer fans a chance to immerse themselves in the Marvel Universe like never before. Journey into the unknown with Ant-Man, learn about the mystic arts with Doctor Strange and find out how Hulk balances humanity and monstrosity as each of these graphic novels offer new revelations for long-time fans and give new readers a fresh introduction to the character. With modern retellings of the world’s greatest super heroes seminal origins by some of the most critically acclaimed creators in the business, no fan can miss this! Each of these graphic novels also include a code to download each book for free, via the Marvel Comics app, making them must haves for every fan.
 
“As a result of the great response from fans and retailers, we realized we couldn’t just stop with one wave of titles” said David Gabriel, Marvel SVP of Sales. “We’re showing our continued support for this line by insuring that fans have a reason to come back into comic shops month after month to get the next volumes in the Season One line of original graphic novels.”
 


A couple of observations: the creators on these new books are higher profile than the last batch — in particular, a Fred Ven Lente/Tom Fowler Hulk? HOLY CRAP WE ARE THERE. Ditto Greg Pak and Emma Rios!

Also…ANT-MAN? Hm. Isn’t there an Ant-Man movie said to be in active development? Edgar Wright has been on board for this for years and although it doesn’t sound like it’s been a smooth ride, it does sound like they haven’t given up.

The same goes for Dr. Strange — sounds like it is ripe for media development.

The cover artist’s name doesn’t seem to have been included in the promo.

1 COMMENT

  1. Apart from Hulk, these seem like weird choices. I would’ve expected Avengers, Wolverine, Captain America, Thor or Iron Man. Their A game characters.

  2. James, they might seem weird, unless you consider that both characters have been in strong consideration for a while by Marvel Studios as movie material. In that light, it makes sense that they would like to promote them via bookstore-friendly, non-continuity origin stories.

  3. when i first saw the fantastic four “season one” previews, i gave it a pass. how many times can one read the same (tho’ updated) origin story over and over again, but given the weird choices above (ant-man, doc strange, daredevi… i agree with james, the choices he gave would would seem the logical way for marvel to go), i just might have to give these books a look/see when they’re released.

  4. These all-new complete stories offer fans a chance to immerse themselves in the Marvel Universe like never before. Journey into the unknown with Ant-Man, learn about the mystic arts with Doctor Strange and find out how Hulk balances humanity and monstrosity as each of these graphic novels offer new revelations for long-time fans and give new readers a fresh introduction to the character. With modern retellings of the world’s greatest super heroes seminal origins by some of the most critically acclaimed creators in the business, no fan can miss this! Each of these graphic novels also include a code to download each book for free, via the Marvel Comics app, making them must haves for every fan.

    “As a result of the great response from fans and retailers, we realized we couldn’t just stop with one wave of titles” said David Gabriel, Marvel SVP of Sales. “We’re showing our continued support for this line by insuring that fans have a reason to come back into comic shops month after month to get the next volumes in the Season One line of original graphic novels.”

    this quote seems more directed to already established fans than the unintiated readers.
    thye shoul have just released these without the season one subtitle, it makes it feel like a half hearted endeavor to get more readers plus how many time do they have to tell an origin story to realize maybe my middle aged mom, 20 something sister, and non nerdy people in general just dont like superheroes.
    Marvel has yet to make the effort to create work outside their comfort zone and seem more content with making Illustrated movie scripts than expanding readership.

  5. Can’t they just recap a character’s origin in a brief, one-page flasback sequence? It’s the time-honored tradition of pulps and mens adventure series. You get the standard three-paragraph origin recap that longtime readers easily skip over.