Superior Spider-Man #4 preview art by Giuseppe Camuncoli

By Ben Morse

In the first three issues of SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, artist Ryan Stegman makes his mark defining the mind of Otto Octavius in the body of Peter Parker in his bold visual style. Beginning with issue #4 in February, a pair of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN veterans step in to try their hand at visualizing the new status quo.

Giuseppe Camuncoli join writer Dan Slott on SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #4-5 in February and March before Humberto Ramos makes his return on April’s issue #6. Both artists will assist in expanding the new Spidey’s exploration of a world both familiar and new to readers.

“[We will see] more of Otto coming to terms with his psychological situation and the return of a villain from early in Slott’s run,” previews editor Steve Wacker of the story that brings Camuncoli back. “We’ll see more of ‘SpOck’ at Horizon which means more ‘scientist Pete.’ Plus Aunt May is in the picture and given her past with Otto, that’s bound to up the creepy factor by about 1000%.”

“He’s more menacing, sinister and dangerous now,” says Camuncoli of his approach to Superior Spidey. “Despite being more ‘angle-y and rigid’ now, I imagine him possibly even faster, and deadlier. Unpredictable, also, like he could snap and do something Spidey-unexpected [at] any moment.”

Superior Spider-Man #7 cover by Humberto Ramos

As for Ramos’ arc, while the involvement of the Avengers and possibility that somebody will be getting fired has been teased, details remain scarce. But for the veteran webslinger draftsman, while some details have changed, he’s had no problem keeping his artistic groove.

“The outfit is different, [but] drawing Spidey is a religion to me,” Ramos notes. “I know how the character moves—at least the one I know. I do need of course to take a different approach [here]. I can say I was a bit scared to draw Spider-Man doing some things I’m not used to.”

Camuncoli has taken the opportunity to portray an evolution through smaller visual changes in the character.

“To me, it’s mostly body language and expressions—and attitude,” the artist explains. “The only thing I made slightly different in Peter [is] his hair, now mostly combed-back. I think Otto is someone so meticulous and precise that he would take care of his hair in a way that Peter wouldn’t. Remember his classic bow cut? Not a single hair was misplaced there.”

Stegman, Camuncoli and Ramos will continue to rotate on SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN as the series progresses. While that news has to excite fans, it also makes Wacker’s day:

“I think the competition for favorite Superior Spidey artist is off to a huge start.”

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2 will be available January 30

Have you taken the next step in your comics reading experience by experiencing Augmented Reality via the Marvel AR App for iOS and Android devices? If not, you’re missing out! Here’s Marvel Content Producer & Manager of the AR App Judy Stephens to give you the overview:

“The Marvel AR App brings new, exciting and free content to your print comics by using an iOS or Android device. To access any of the content, all you need is your phone/tablet, the app and an internet connection. Hold your device over the panel with the AR icon and watch the future unfold! With Marvel NOW!, we're kicking off a schedule of even more Marvel goodness for your eyes and ears! Each week stay tuned for bonus content including videos from the creators, original sketches & pencils, art evolutions, surprise celebrity appearances and more! 

Got an idea for a Marvel AR video or bonus content? Let us know on twitter @Marvel!”

Have you got your Marvel AR App downloaded and your iOS and Android ready to go? Then check out the exciting AR content available this week!

A+X #4

Dive into the coolest team-ups of Avengers and X-Men with a special recap then a tale of Spider-Man partnering with Beast by Kaare Andrews and Quentin Quire’s first mission with Captain America as told by Jason Latour and David Lopez!

AVENGERS #3

It’s the momentous conclusion to Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena’s first arc with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Colorist Dean White steps into the AR spotlight as he discusses working within the creative team on the writing and art ends.

DEADPOOL #4

Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn and Tony Moore bring you the grudge match of the century as Wade Wilson slugs it out with Abraham Lincoln! Hear Deadpool’s very own voicemail message plus editor Jordan White’s pal Scabie telling the history of President Lincoln.

FF #3

Can the new FF prevent the disastrous future the Human Torch has traveled back to warn them about? Only Matt Fraction and Mike Allred have the answers! Fraction breaks down the issue while Allred walks through his designs for the aged Johnny Storm.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #3

Rick Remender and John Cassaday lead the Red Skull on a rampage into New York City as his new psychic powers could make him unstoppable! Get an Art Evolution on Cassaday as well as a breakdown of Captain America from Remender.

UNCANNY X-FORCE #1

Sam Humphries and Ron Garney bring together a bizarre group of mutants for a different kind of X-Men series! Humphries provides an introduction to the book while editor Nick Lowe gives his patented Lowe-Down on the returning Bishop.

*NOTE: The first and last pages of art trigger these executions

YOUNG AVENGERS #1

It’s time for the Avengers of tomorrow to grow up, courtesy of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie! Editor Lauren Sankovitch demonstrates how she keeps editors in line, Gillen shares a “Tale of Mischief” and Loki gets his own bio.

Each Marvel NOW! comic with Marvel AR also features a special look at what’s led up to the issue and what to expect within that you can access just by aiming your device at the cover. And don’t forget to pick up the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN hardcover collection, on sale now with over 100 AR Executions!

Enjoy this week’s AR, and we’ll see you next week for another round!

Sif designs by Valerio Schiti

By Tim O’Shea

From the opening pages of writer Kathryn Immonen and artist Valerio Schiti’s Marvel NOW! take on JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, none could doubt the raw power, conviction and confidence of Sif, the Asgardian warrior.

But before drawing those first pages, Schiti embarked on a series of designs to make sure he captured all the might and nuance that Immonen’s script grants upon the book’s lead character. In the first installment of a two-part series detailing his designs for JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, Schiti explains what it took to capture the core of Sif in his art.

To see more of Schiti’s Sif in action, purchase JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #648 on sale next Wednesday, January 30.

“My first concern was about Sif herself: what does she looks like? When I read Kathryn Immonen’s script I started thinking about Sif more like an athlete than a top model. She’s a fighter, she’s almost [six foot eight inches] tall. She struggled for a long time since she’s immortal so I thought that I must show some muscles. Not too much, of course. Larger shoulders, smaller breasts but still beautiful—or at least I hope so!

Sif designs by Valerio Schiti

“The costume is a reinterpretation of Sif’s previous outfits. My purpose was to make it all as realistic as possible so I thought to transform the usual two-dimensional decorations into actual objects like the belts, the body armor, the new boots—there’re many versions, with little differences. Kathryn’s script was the starting point of those ideas: Sif travels a lot, she uses a flashlight, she carries a book; how could she do such things without proper equipment to carry them? Anyhow Kathryn and my editor, Lauren Sankovitch, asked me to change the first version of the costume because it was too thin for the winter climate and because I did the biggest mistake: the boots! A warrior shouldn’t wear heels! The wedge was a good compromise; obviously it’s still uncomfortable in battle but is more believable by sight.

Sif design by Valerio Schiti

“I submitted three designs: a battle one, a “casual” one and the one Sif wears on Niffleheim. The casual outfit basically is the battle one but without the armor, we can still see the ‘hot pants’ under the skirt. So many great artists like [Jack] Kirby, [Walter] Simonson [and Olivier] Coipel used this kind of design before me; I think it’s very cool and also easily recognizable. The Niffleheim one is just the battle design with a skinned yeti on it. I decided to use the head of the beast as a hood since we need to hide Sif’s face for a sequence. The skinned creature was a Kathryn’s idea and I think it’s correct: if outside is cold even a goddess needs some kind of ‘fur coat’ and if she’s also a warrior she will find out how to get it from an enemy!

“There’s another important thing: the weapon. Usually this kind of character has a single weapon, a typical one, an object that characterizes them. The classic Thor has his Mjolnir, Fandral has a light sword, Hogun a mace; Sif’s weapon is a sword of course but a big one, a two handed one that sometimes she uses with a single hand! So how strong is she? It was my ‘silent’ way to say: you better not mess with this girl!”

Later this week, Valerio shares his design work on the rest of the JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY cast!

By Tim Stevens

The clients, Blackagar and Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon, are married and attending couples therapy sessions. They are self identified members and royalty of a human-like—but evidently more physically advanced—race known as the Inhumans. They have also acted in the role of costumed heroes several times and are better known as Black Bolt and Medusa then their given birth names.

Mr. and Mrs. Boltagon—from here out referred to as Black Bolt and Medusa to prevent confusion as they share the same last name—were referred and encouraged to come to the practice by Reed and Sue Richards who evidently believed we could prove helpful to them.

As a couple, they present a unique challenge. Our practice has access to several translators for languages like American Sign Language, Spanish, Mandarin, and French. Additionally, we have on-hand an electronic device developed and donated by the Richards family for those languages which we do not have easy access to human translators for or for those clients who would prefer to not have another person in the room during session. However, Black Bolt is a voluntary mute—his voice evidently is powerful enough to destroy on a massive scale—who employs no discernible language to communicate. Apparently, only his wife, Medusa, possesses the ability to understand him and is therefore the only one capable of sharing what he cannot with this writer.

This is problematic as it places Medusa in a role that requires her to convey both her own thoughts and those of her husband in the therapy setting. She therefore is always switching between explaining her own perspectives, thoughts, and feelings, and then her husband’s. She thus, understandably, has difficulties advocating for herself or being in the moment during session.

Complicating communication further is that recently she has misinterpreted Black Bolt, something she heretofore had not done. Therefore, there exists the possibility that she may be unable to explain her husband’s feelings or thoughts accurately to this writer. At this time, however, there does not appear to be a better solution.

Overall, communication does seem to be the biggest current dilemma for the couple. Recent significant upheavals—including Black Bolt’s seeming demise, conflicts between the Inhumans and humanity and Medusa’s acceptance of a role with the Future Foundation—have caused as much strife in the past year or so as had previously occurred in the whole of their relationship. Additionally, Black Bolt’s silence creates problems of alienation for Medusa. Even though she “understands” him more often than not, she still finds herself unsure of his desires, his hopes, and his goals. Finally, as royalty, both often feel compelled to place their people above themselves, leaving them little time to connect or to rebuild aspects of their relationship.

In an attempt to address these concerns, Blackagar and Medusalith Boltagon have agreed to couples retreat with Doctors Matt Fraction and Mark Bagley on January 23 and Doctors Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting on February 6. Details of the retreat can be found in FF #3 and NEW AVENGERS #3 respectively.

Psy D. Candidate Tim Stevens, MA is a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Consultant and Practicum Trainee who currently provides therapy and outreach at a state university.

Captain Marvel preview inks by Filipe Andrade

By Jim Beard

Checking in with writer Kelly Sue DeConnick to glean information on her Marvel titles, CAPTAIN MARVEL and AVENGERS ASSEMBLE, means experiencing her unique wit first hand and her unfortunate reluctance to let slip with spoilers. We tried anyway, in an effort to learn more about the near future of the two books and the heroes who star in them.

DeConnick drops a few hints about Carol Danver’s immediate challenges, as well as the Black Widow’s past colliding with her present and more.

Marvel.com: Kelly Sue, when Carol got back home in CAPTAIN MARVEL #9, what did that mean to her?

Kelly Sue DeConnick: Oh, like, returning to New York from her time travel adventure? Is that a big deal? She was only gone four days and was presumably back in New York when Monica called and asked her to make the trip to New Orleans. So, for Carol it's just another day. For us as readers I think it's exciting to get to see what her day to day life is like. But then, I guess that makes me sound like someone who's excited by trips to the grocery store, doesn't it? 

"Excited," isn't quite right. "Unduly challenged," might be accurate, however.

Marvel.com: There's a situation in that issue that affects Carol's power of flight; without that, who or what is Captain Marvel?

Kelly Sue DeConnick: That's the question we're looking to answer.  It's a big part of who she is, so what is she without it? What's at Carol's core?  We aim to find out. 

Marvel.com: You’ll also be introducing a new Deathbird in the months to come—what are her ties to the original Deathbird, if any?

Captain Marvel preview inks by Filipe Andrade

Kelly Sue DeConnick: She's very closely tied to the original Deathbird. Very. Closely. As for how she will challenge Captain Marvel the most—tough to fight a bird if you can't fly, huh?

Marvel.com: That’s in CAPTAIN MARVEL #11 this March. What's coming up next, after that?

Kelly Sue DeConnick: #12!

The real answer is I can’t tell you! How annoying is that?

Let's see if I can come up with an oblique hint…

Here's one:

Repercussions. 

Here's another:

Avengers.

Marvel.com: That leads us into AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! How do characters like the Black Widow and Hawkeye strive to be heroes with so many sins in their past?

Kelly Sue DeConnick: Diligently. “The Widow's Ledger” [story arc] is expressly about how the Widow has chosen to atone for her sins. 

Marvel.com: Looks like some Lizard juice makes the scene in #13; what about the Lizard intrigues you the most? What about that legacy or legend made for a perfect plot point in your story?

Kelly Sue DeConnick: Lizards again, right? It's almost as though the first and second story arcs might prove to be connected as some point, huh? 

Avengers Assemble #10 cover by Nic Klein

It actually started with my reading about the Krokodil—desomorphine—epidemic in Siberia and being so gutted by it. I knew I wanted to write about it on some level; I actually first pitched it as a Blade storyline a few years ago, believe it or not. So the “Widow's Ledger” arc was conceived of first, but Science Bros really had the tone most appropriate to the new team's launch. 

Marvel.com: Has any character in AVENGERS ASSEMBLE truly surprised or challenged you as a writer?

Kelly Sue DeConnick: All of them, on some level. I had a harder time finding Thor's voice than any of the rest, which surprised me. Sif came easily and I was wrong to assume Thor would follow suit. Hawkeye's been tough too. 

Tony surprised me by being more fun than I anticipated. He's probably the easiest for me to write. Similarly, I and no idea I'd have such an affection for Spider-Woman or that she would be so funny. Her dynamic with Hulk wasn't something I saw coming, but it retrospect it makes a lot of sense. A lot. 

Carol and Steve were a pleasure; no surprise there, though. Oh, Wolverine and Spider-Man tickled me; Logan and the microwave popcorn. I actually bet he's a great cook.