Axel-In-Charge: Looking Ahead to Marvel's 2015, From "Star Wars" to "Secret Wars"

[Greengo]

"Alonso: OK, fans, do the math: Given his profile in all other mediums, which Marvel superhero should be the pre-eminent Marvel hero in comics? He will be."

I will say Hulk, he's only behind Spiderman for cartoons (currently in 2) and licensing, etc. Hence he says, do the math...so I think it will be Hulk. Some say Hulk stole the show in the Avengers movie and sounds like he is going to have a big role in Avengers 2.

[Dog]

They wouldn't use Iceman, they'd create some Inhuman with ice powers.

Blizzard is an Inhuman.

[KingsLeadHat]

"Alonso: OK, fans, do the math: Given his profile in all other mediums, which Marvel superhero should be the pre-eminent Marvel hero in comics? He will be."

I will say Hulk, he's only behind Spiderman for cartoons (currently in 2) and licensing, etc. Hence he says, do the math...so I think it will be Hulk. Some say Hulk stole the show in the Avengers movie and sounds like he is going to have a big role in Avengers 2.

The Hulk was clearly No.2 behind Spider-Man from the early 70's and probably into the early 90's.

[runguy]

It can't be Wolverine, his movie rights are owned by Fox and I don't see Marvel pushing an X-Men character too much even if it's Logan .

I would say Spidey hands down if it weren't for the fact that his movies aren't doing too well...then again, he does have a cartoon going on that from a Marvel standpoint has been a success. And his video games have, for the most part, done well.

The only other ones I could think of would be between Cap and Iron Man...but the latter is still inverted, and a lot different from MCU Tony, and I think the former would fit a lot more easily, especially with how well Winter Soldier did.

And I'm with Hyperstyle in wanting more Power Pack .

There is that but if the info about Marvel negotiating for the rights back for Spidey becomes reality it will have to be Spidey

[marvelprince]

I'm thinking its got to be Spidey as well. Still, an interesting tease. I'm not 100% sure if he means that this character will get to the level of popularity in the MU that they have in real life, or whether their real world status will finally reflect their comic popularity.

[bandoogiemanz]

Wouldn't secret wars be an easy way to bring back wolverine? There are presumably going to be so many alternate versions of him running around, it shouldn't be a problem to get one of them whatever universe ends up springing out of this. Thinking a huge profile for a marvel character is a good thing is a bit presumptuos imo.

[Maniacal]

I'm ok if Spider-man is the Victor of Secret Wars.

[ExcelsiorPrime]

"Alonso: OK, fans, do the math: Given his profile in all other mediums, which Marvel superhero should be the pre-eminent Marvel hero in comics? He will be."

The clue is the character is more popular in other media then in comic sales..So, Lets take a look at November 2014 sales.


1 Amazing Spider-Man 9 $4.99 Marvel 135,280
2 All New Captain America 1 $3.99 Marvel 120,500
3 Batman 36 $3.99 DC 115,183
4 Amazing Spider-Man 10 $3.99 Marvel 100,899
5 Spider-Woman 1 $3.99 Marvel 93,723
6 Thor 2 $3.99 Marvel 89,131
7 Superior Iron Man 1 $3.99 Marvel 83,994
8 Avengers and X-Men Axis 4 $3.99 Marvel 79,068
9 Avengers and X-Men Axis 5 $3.99 Marvel 74,928
10 Justice League 36 $3.99 DC 74,796
11 Avengers and X-Men Axis 6 $3.99 Marvel 73,824
12 Harley Quinn 12 $2.99 DC 71,245
13 Spider-Verse 1 $4.99 Marvel 71,232
14 Walking Dead 134 $2.99 Image 68,093
15 Superman Unchained 9 $4.99 DC 65,478
16 Guardians of Galaxy 21 $3.99 Marvel 62,387
17 Captain America and Mighty Avengers 1 $3.99 Marvel 60,206
18 Wonder Woman 36 $2.99 DC 58,965
19 Wytches 2* $2.99 Image 58,345
20 Detective Comics 36 $3.99 DC 58,171
21 Uncanny X-Men 28 $3.99 Marvel 55,939
22 Batman and Robin 36 $2.99 DC 55,289
23 Avengers 38 $3.99 Marvel 54,368
24 Rocket Raccoon 5 $3.99 Marvel 52,979
25 Superman 36 $3.99 DC 52,272
26 Deadpool 37 $3.99 Marvel 51,579
27 Multiversity Pax Americana 1 $4.99 DC 51,490
28 Batman Eternal 31 $2.99 DC 51,133
29 Inhuman 8 $3.99 Marvel 50,766
30 Batman Eternal 32 $2.99 DC 50,709
31 Batgirl 36 $2.99 DC 50,247
32 Batman Eternal 33 $2.99 DC 50,230
33 Batman Eternal 34 $2.99 DC 49,748
34 Batman Superman 16 $3.99 DC 48,581
35 Grayson 4 $2.99 DC 47,590
36 ODYC 1* $3.99 Image 47,414
37 New Avengers 26 $3.99 Marvel 46,318
38 Green Lantern 36 $2.99 DC 46,157
39 Death of Wolverine Weapon X Program 1 $3.99 Marvel 44,612
40 Superman Wonder Woman 13 $3.99 DC 44,013
41 Death of Wolverine Life After Logan 1 $4.99 Marvel 43,404
42 Superior Iron Man 2 $3.99 Marvel 42,621
43 Death of Wolverine Logan Legacy 4 $3.99 Marvel 42,114
44 Action Comics 36 $3.99 DC 41,835
45 Tooth & Claw 1 $2.99 Image 41,181
46 New Avengers 27 $3.99 Marvel 40,408
47 Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta 5 $2.99 Image 39,967
48 Death of Wolverine Logan Legacy 5 $3.99 Marvel 39,367
49 Spider-Man 2099 6 $3.99 Marvel 38,634
50 Gotham By Midnight 1 $2.99 DC 38,436
51 Flash 36 $2.99 DC 38,145
52 Hawkeye Vs Deadpool 2 $3.99 Marvel 38,120
53 Legendary Star Lord 5 $3.99 Marvel 36,905
54 Deadpools Art of War 2 $3.99 Marvel 36,707
55 Teen Titans 4 $2.99 DC 36,364
56 Deathstroke 2 $2.99 DC 36,356
57 Amazing X-Men 13 $3.99 Marvel 36,338
58 Scarlet Spiders 1 $3.99 Marvel 36,281
59 Spider-Verse Team Up 1 $3.99 Marvel 35,449
60 New Suicide Squad 4 $2.99 DC 34,920
61 New 52 Futures End 27 $2.99 DC 34,692
62 Justice League United 6 $3.99 DC 34,610
63 New 52 Futures End 28 $2.99 DC 34,601
64 Hulk 8 $3.99 Marvel 34,483
65 Guardians 3000 2 $3.99 Marvel 34,467
66 Captain America and Mighty Avengers 2 $3.99 Marvel 34,428
67 New 52 Futures End 29 $2.99 DC 34,202
68 Green Lantern Corps 36 $2.99 DC 34,109
69 New 52 Futures End 30 $2.99 DC 33,942
70 Death of Wolverine Weapon X Program 2 $3.99 Marvel 33,143
71 Earth 2 Worlds End 5* $2.99 DC 33,086
72 Aquaman 36 $2.99 DC 32,838
73 Daredevil 10 $3.99 Marvel 32,438
74 Bucky Barnes Winter Soldier 2 $3.99 Marvel 32,409
75 Axis Carnage 2 $3.99 Marvel 32,015
76 Earth 2 28 $2.99 DC 31,722
77 Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-Man 7 $3.99 Marvel 31,607
78 X-Men 21 $3.99 Marvel 31,468
79 Gotham Academy 2 $2.99 DC 31,110
80 Arkham Manor 2 $2.99 DC 30,907
81 Magneto 12 $3.99 Marvel 30,107
82 Moon Knight 9 $3.99 Marvel 28,739
83 Wolverine and X-Men 12 $3.99 Marvel 28,457
84 Earth 2 Worlds End 6* $2.99 DC 28,407
85 Supergirl 36 $2.99 DC 28,373
86 Axis Revolutions 2 $3.99 Marvel 27,775
87 Earth 2 Worlds End 7* $2.99 DC 27,616
88 Avengers World 15 $3.99 Marvel 27,139
89 Earth 2 Worlds End 8* $2.99 DC 26,942
90 My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic 25 $3.99 IDW 26,619
91 Catwoman 36 $2.99 DC 26,237
92 Axis Hobgoblin 2 $3.99 Marvel 26,066
93 Lobo 2 $2.99 DC 25,881
94 Silver Surfer 7 $3.99 Marvel 25,759
95 Green Lantern New Guardians 36 $2.99 DC 25,681
96 Red Lanterns 36 $2.99 DC 25,654
97 Fantastic Four 13 $3.99 Marvel 25,432
98 Fade Out 3* $3.50 Image 24,584
99 Justice League Dark 36 $3.99 DC 24,495
100 Loki Agent of Asgard 8 $3.99 Marvel 23,333
101 Black Widow 12 $3.99 Marvel 22,971

My pick would have been BLACK WIDOW...but Alonso said he--Can't be Spiderman he has 3 books in the top 15. Iron-man top 10/ Perhaps it is THE HULK

[DT Winslow]

You guys should call out Marvel on these so called Disney Kingdom so-called "comics"...they are just ads for Disney and for rides...maybe a little more of a hardball question?..the few fans that bought that last book were pretty disappointed.. . it was a Christmas Story "ovaltine decoder" ring kinda moment.

C'mon guys.

Come on yourself.

1. Companies do these things. Its a cross promotional tool that not only tells a story that may entertain children, but also employs members of the comic book community.

2. I'm sure you interviewed everyone who read the book.

[Prof. Warren]

Come on yourself.

1. Companies do these things. Its a cross promotional tool that not only tells a story that may entertain children, but also employs members of the comic book community.

2. I'm sure you interviewed everyone who read the book.

As for the character Alonso's talking about, Spidey's already at the top of the heap in comics so that would seem to rule him out. I'd say Iron Man is the best guess - it must be at least a slight annoyance to Marvel that a character who's so huge in films isn't nearly as big in comics. I'm not sure what they can do to change that, though, outside of nailing the right creative team. Gillen's run was ok but never more than that. Superior Iron Man is much better so far and I'm really loving it but I think Tony would have to become uninverted for the character to be "the pre-eminent Marvel hero in comics."

[THANOSRULES]

Come on yourself.

1. Companies do these things. Its a cross promotional tool that not only tells a story that may entertain children, but also employs members of the comic book community.

2. I'm sure you interviewed everyone who read the book.

My belief is that CBR should ask some more questions that outline to fans what those books and the series are. From my experience, many ( i never said all) fans were disappointed how that last figment series ended and felt the thing was little more than a promo for a disney product. This is a totally fair concern.

I'm actually fine if marvel wants to sell these things. But I think CBR needs to be a bit more than just a facilitator here, and also has some requirement to be a journalist. They are not just another book in marvel's line akin to Hawkeye or Ms. Marvel.IMO there was a clear attempt to mask the notion these batch of Disney items are , in fact , promotional...specifically for rides at disney theme parks. I don't see the lack of maturity in wanting to enlighten readers about that notion or ask a few questions on a more specific level.

[Desperad07]

Disney Kingdoms is hardly being used as a promotional tool for theme parks. The first series was about about an unbuilt attraction. And the second was about characters that have largely been marginalized (or eliminated) at EPCOT. The third is for an attraction that is significantly more popular as it stands than what a comic book could do. Big Thunder doesn't need a comic book to fill its lines. If you read about the creative team behind the line and each series, you could see they were intrigued by where they could take the concepts. If Marvel is guilty of using comic books as promotion tools, then it's for their movie-popular superheroes way more than Disney concepts. Disney can reach a much larger audience through so many other means than modestly selling comic books.

[MarvelMaster616]

I'm all for Star Wars and Ultron being the big stories of 2015, but I can do without Uncanny Avengers at this point. After reading AXIS, I think it's stated purpose and its actual impact is too different. Marvel has said repeatedly that they're not trying to denigrate the X-men over the movie rights. But after retconning the entire history of the Maximoff Twins, I'm not so sure anymore. Uncanny Avengers started off really promising. Now it's a team that has only Sabretooth and Rogue in it as X-men. How is that a bridge? I'm sorry, but I think that's insufficient. If Marvel is serious about bridging the gap between Avengers and X-men, I hope they do a better job in Secret War because their efforts thus far leave much to be desired.

[THANOSRULES]

Disney Kingdoms is hardly being used as a promotional tool for theme parks. The first series was about about an unbuilt attraction. And the second was about characters that have largely been marginalized (or eliminated) at EPCOT. The third is for an attraction that is significantly more popular as it stands than what a comic book could do. Big Thunder doesn't need a comic book to fill its lines. If you read about the creative team behind the line and each series, you could see they were intrigued by where they could take the concepts. If Marvel is guilty of using comic books as promotion tools, then it's for their movie-popular superheroes way more than Disney concepts. Disney can reach a much larger audience through so many other means than modestly selling comic books.

I'm not sure I agree with any of this.

First post? Welcome to CBR!

I think your thoughts validate some of my concerns, frankly.

[DebkoX]

Sounds like a good year lined up from Marvel.