This February, the hunt is on as the Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men square off against hordes of cosmic foes in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #24 – chapter two of the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex crossover! Writer Brian Michael Bendis and All-New Young Gun artist Valerio Schiti bring you the next out-of-this-world chapter in the highly anticipated crossover event!

The Guardians have successfully recovered the Black Vortex – the ancient and powerful artifact able to imbue its users with untold cosmic power. But with Mr. Knife, Thane and Knife’s Slaughter Squad hot on their tail, their only option for gaining the upper hand may be to use the Black Vortex itself! But no power comes without a price – and the cost of the using the Black Vortex is steep.

Will the temptation of its power be too much for the Guardians and the X-Men to handle? Find out as the Black Vortex crossover continues in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #24!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #24 (DEC140823)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art & Cover by VALERIO SCHITI
Cosmically Enhanced Variant by ANDREA SORRENTINO (DEC140824)
Variant Cover by PHIL NOTO (DEC140825)
On-Sale – 02/11/15

In 1964, Marvel premiered one of its enduring and exciting super heroes, Daredevil. Whether in his secret identity as blind lawyer Matt Murdock or using his enhanced radar senses, DD stood out from the crowd as an unrelenting crusader for justice.

To celebrate 75 years of Marvel, 50 years of the Man Without Fear and the upcoming debut of “Marvel’s Daredevil” on Netflix in 2015, we look back on the hero of Hell’s Kitchen’s remarkable history!

It finally happened in 2002: Matt Murdock’s well-kept secret of his dual identity as Daredevil, Man Without Fear, outed for all the world’s consumption. What did he do? Kept on fighting the good fight, that’s what!

While our hero investigated a recent assassination attempt by the explosive criminal Nitro in DAREDEVIL #27, reporter Ben Urich received the monumental news of the Kingpin’s alleged death from a stabbing. Before DD could look into it, he held off another would-be killing, this time by Shotgun and Boomerang in DAREDEVIL #28.

Fortunately for him, Kingpin survived his attack in DAREDEVIL #29, one brought about by the machinations of one of his employees, Sammy, who also lurked behind the attempts on Matt Murdock’s life. Matt headed off to chit-chat with Urich in DAREDEVIL #30, while Kingpin’s wife Vanessa placed her ailing husband on a flight out of New York City, but stayed behind herself to take care of some “family business.”

The traitors in Kingpin’s employ, including his own son Richard, met their own demises in DAREDEVIL #31, courtesy of Vanessa. Meanwhile, Sammy, in a vindictive mood, trotted off to the FBI to clue them in on a little secret he held: Daredevil’s true identity as Matt Murdock. The feds opened up a file on the blind attorney, which somehow made its way to the Daily Globe, which in turn plastered the big news all across their front page in DAREDEVIL #32. Matt met with his law partner Foggy Nelson in DAREDEVIL #33 to ruminate over some damage control.

Though carrying a heavy burden, Daredevil gathered together with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in THE ORDER #5 to address the global crisis swirling around Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Hulk, and Sub-Mariner, a situation which came to a head in a sprawling battle in THE ORDER #6.

Peter Parker, secretly Spider-Man and a longtime friend of Matt’s, joined forces with Ben Urich in DAREDEVIL #34 to convince newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson that the Matt Murdock story could only be a hoax. Elsewhere, Foggy tried in vain to get Matt to give up his life as a super hero. Later, as Daredevil, Matt helped Spidey clobber Mr. Hyde, and then called a big press conference to address the identity issue in DAREDEVIL #35.

In front of a multitude of reporters and flashing cameras, Matt Murdock officially denied his other life as the Man Without Fear in DAREDEVIL #36. Following that, he received the news from the Kingpin’s wife that she’d sold her husband’s “business” to an undisclosed person. Elektra appeared in DAREDEVIL #37 to hear about the news from Matt’s own lips, but our hero’s attention focused on the Daily Globe’s insistence on moving ahead with their lawsuit against him.

Beleaguered and surrounded on all sides, DD tried to bury his troubles in a request from Power Man and Iron Fist in DAREDEVIL #38 to come to their friend the White Tiger’s defense in a trumped-up murder accusation.

Read more DAREDEVIL (1998) on Marvel Unlimited

Today in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #23, the team’s journey to the “Planet of the Symbiotes” comes to an impactful conclusion that leaves more than a lasting impression on Flash Thompson, aka Venom. In addition to a new look that combines aspects of the character’s classic incarnation with the most recent, the Symbiote Soldier has a more defined place in the Marvel Universe based on revelations regarding his living costume and its legacy.

Read GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #23 for the full story on the all-new Venom, but we’ve got exclusive commentary and sketches from artist Valerio Schiti on coming up with the characters reinvigorated appearance!

Marvel.com: Why a new look for Venom? What brings it on?

Valerio Schiti: I suppose that the main reason for this change is the new readers—at least that’s what [GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY writer] Brian Bendis said! The new generations of readers have a totally different idea of Venom; most of them don’t even know that once he was a bad guy. In this moment nobody perceives him like a monster, everybody knows that he’s a hero, a good guy with a super cool costume that can do amazing things so why don’t we concentrate on them? Brian noticed that new way of thinking about the character and imagined this totally different version. And everybody knows that if there’s someone with a great intuition for what is cool, that man is Brian Michael Bendis.

Marvel.com: What directions were you given in designing this?

Valerio Schiti: As I said he must be cool. They wanted a modern version of the character: he should be strong and sleek and powerful; a perfect version of the character, with a new set of super powers. Brian showed me a picture of the version of Venom [from “Disney Infinity”] and said: “Something like this. Cool. Sleek. Big.”

Marvel.com: Once you started, how did you make it your own?

Valerio Schiti: I wanted to do give him a brand-new look but somehow classic. My idea was that he should look more like he was in his first appearance. In effect I tried to make “my” Venom closer to the first Venom than to Agent Venom; ironically the new version should look like the oldest version. There are two reasons for this choice. The first reason is logical: I supposed that when we saw Venom for the first time, in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #299, the symbiote suit was still a bit functioning. So, if I had to do imagine a “healthy” version of the costume, why not use that first and powerful image as reference? The second reason is a sentimental one: I started reading Spider-Man more or less when they published that run here in Italy in 1992, so it was some kind of homage to what I used to love when I was a kid.

Marvel.com: Were there any big influences on your work here?

Valerio Schiti: The design of the first appearances of Venom, of course. I looked at the work of Mike Zeck and Todd McFarlane mostly for the size and the main idea: a big guy with a white spider on the chest. That was a perfect and powerful design indeed and I wanted to keep the final design as close as possible to that look.

I also added some details coming from sci-fi anime and movies like “Ghost in the Shell” or “Tron” because this time we wanted to show a “space Venom,”  a proper member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. But these are small details; the main thing is still the white spider.

There’s also a uniform for Flash Thompson. It should seem like the everyday look of the new Venom-armor; the details are mostly the same but this should look like a normal space suit. Oh, Flash will also have a new haircut, a crew cut actually. After all he’s still a military man!

Read GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #23 for your first glimpse of the all-new Venom!

Ready for more “Marvel: Contest of Champions” goodness? Kabam’s very own Creative Director, Cuz Parry, plus Lead Character Artist Gene Campbell and Game Designer Shane O’Connor dropped by to give us a sneak peak into their newest combatant, the ruler of Limbo, Illyana Rasputin, aka Magik!

Marvel.com: How did Magik, sword-wielding sorceress and merry mutant to boot, find herself in the Collector’s Contest of Champions?

Cuz Parry: Anybody that has had a taste of the Phoenix Force has got to be considered as a candidate to enter The Contest. Besides, and I know the debate this will trigger, we needed another Mystic to balance out the classes in The Contest. Mutant vs. Mystic debate commence.

Gene Campbell: I also think it’s important to us as fans to not only make all the big AAA heroes that everyone expects, but introduce some of the maybe lesser known Marvel characters like Magik, a personal favorite. Another great thing about the huge roster of characters Marvel has to pick from is that there are tons of super powerful, tough, and lasting female heroines. I think this makes a great opportunity for us to showcase an integral Marvel character like Magik in The Contest.

Marvel.com: Magik carries a big sword, but is she ready to throw down with some of the Earth’s mightiest heroes and maniacal villains?

Shane O’Connor: I’d ask if the others are ready to throw down with her! She’ll be bringing some terrifying new abilities to The Contest that have never been seen before.

Marvel.com: Tell us a little about her basic attacks and special moves. Obviously she’ll be doing some slicing and dicing, but what about her trademark teleportation?

Shane O’Connor: One of Magik’s latent abilities allows her to teleport not just through space, but through time. Imagine how that could turn the odds in her favor!

Marvel.com: Any chance she’ll be calling upon any of her Limbo minions in combat? Limions... Limbnions... Limboions?

Gene Campbell: I don’t know if The Collector will let her bring help—I also don’t think she needs it.

Cuz Parry: Yeah, I think the Adaptoids and Super Adaptoids have The Contest covered on the minion front...for now?

Marvel.com: How fun was it designing Illyana’s digital self? What parts of her were absolutely essential to creating the Magik that we all know and love?

Gene Campbell: Well the “Soul Sword” was a given; who’s Magik without the power of her giant fiery Soul Sword? Aside from that, working on the Eldritch armor was a lot of fun. As an artist, it’s always cool to get to play around with different materials and textures until you find just the right look and feel, a look that says “Demonic Bad-Ass”.

Cuz Parry: And, to nip a purist dispute in the bud, Magik’s Soul Sword is effective against all opponents in The Contest, not just demonic or magical ones. The Collector figures why have a weapon if you can only use it against a few of the combatants foolish enough to take you on.

Marvel.com: When do we get a chance to harness Magik's power for ourselves?

Cuz Parry:  Get your team of Champions ready to rumble, because Magik becomes a prize hero in an Arena Event starting January 21.  Look for her to become available in various other ways sometime after the event ends.

Keep your eyes peeled for more incredible “Marvel Contest of Champions” news right here at Marvel.com!

It's time to face facts, true believers – the '90s were awesome. The pouches were plentiful, the costumes were impractical, and Marvel Universe dentists made a fortune correcting damages caused by perpetually gritted teeth. Thanks to the power of nostalgia, though, what would once be considered extremely embarrassing can now be called extremely awesome!

With that in mind, we've pulled a Marvel comic from the not-so-modern era and broken it down, one righteous fact at a time! This week we're singling out AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #355 by Al Milgrom, Mark Bagley, and Randy Emberlin. Here's "Total Eclipse of the Moon… Knight!" by the numbers!

16 Secret Empire goons surrounding Moon Knight and pals
 

6 Secret Empire henchmen punched out by Moon Knight and Night Thrasher in 2 panels
 

6 crescent moons on Moon Knight’s costume
 

5 instances of Moon Knight using the nickname Frenchie
 

4 heroes on the cover: Moon Knight, Spider-Man, Night Thrasher and Punisher
 

3 armored super villains with monosyllabic names: Chain, Sonic and Grasp
 

1 rocket-powered water tower
 

Before Earth’s Mightiest Heroes do battle against Ultron in Marvel’s "Avengers: Age of Ultron" on May 1 2015, don’t miss your chance to own a piece of the action with these epic Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Variants in April.

Originally debuting at Comic-Con International 2014, these epic pieces of theatrical concept art by Ryan Meinerding, Charlie Wen, and Andy Park combine to form one stunning image of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes locked in combat against Ultron’s massive army. Coming to eight Marvel comics in the month of April, these covers are just like the Avengers – better when assembled!

Don’t miss a single variant when they come to these exciting Marvel comics in April!

• AVENGERS: ULTRON FOREVER #1 Variant Cover A
• AVENGERS: ULTRON FOREVER #1 Variant Cover B
• NEW AVENGERS: ULTRON FOREVER #1 Variant Cover A
• NEW AVENGERS: ULTRON FOREVER #1 Variant Cover B
• AVENGERS #44
• UNCANNY AVENGERS: ULTRON FOREVER #1 Variant Cover A
• UNCANNY AVENGERS: ULTRON FOREVER #1 Variant Cover B
• NEW AVENGERS #33

 
“These epic posters were really the hit of last year’s San Diego Comic-Con,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “We’re glad that fans who attended the convention were able to get their hands on them but we’re even more excited to bring thousands of fans who may have missed this stunning image.”

Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on these hotly anticipated variant covers as they hit comic shelves through the month of April. No fan will want to miss the chance to own this stunning, epic image when the Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Variants hit comic shops this coming April!

What can you get for a dollar? How about the Marvel Universe? Today, Marvel is proud to present TRUE BELIEVERS – a new line of comics debuting exclusively in comic shops this April. Printing the first chapter of popular series for the suggested retail price of $1 – TRUE BELIEVERS is the perfect way for readers interested in trying out some of Marvel’s most popular titles in history without breaking the bank.

Just in time for 2015’s SECRET WARS, catch up on some of the most celebrated stories in Marvel history before their appearance in the biggest comic event of 2015! Enter the world of CIVIL WAR, AGE OF APOCALYPSE, OLD MAN LOGAN, PLANET HULK, the critically-acclaimed ICON series POWERS and many more with the first chapters of these top-selling collections – each for the suggested retail price of $1!

“These are some of the most popular stories in recent memory,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “We’re proud to bring them to fans in a new format that will allow them to sample some of Marvel’s best and brightest gems. Each of these issues are the perfect place to start for fans curious about Miles Morales, the Age of Apocalypse, Civil War and everything in between.”

Your window into the biggest stories in Marvel history costs a buck! Don’t miss these exciting TRUE BELEIVERS issues, on sale throughout the month of April in comic shops!

TRUE BELIEVERS: INFINITY GAUNTLET #1
Reprinting material from INFINITY GAUNTLET #1.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: MARVEL ZOMBIES #1
Reprinting MARVEL ZOMBIES #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1
Reprinting material from X-MEN ALPHA.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: CIVIL WAR #1
Reprinting material from CIVIL WAR #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: PLANET HULK #1
Reprinting INCREDIBLE HULK (2000) #92.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: HOUSE OF M #1
Reprinting HOUSE OF M #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: OLD MAN LOGAN #1
Reprinting WOLVERINE (2003) #66.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: ARMOR WARS #1
Reprinting material from IRON MAN (1968) #225.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: MILES MORALES #1
Reprinting ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN (2011) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP

TRUE BELIEVERS: AGE OF ULTRON #1
Reprinting AGE OF ULTRON #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP

POWERS FIRSTS #1
Reprinting POWERS #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00 MSRP

In 1964, Marvel premiered one of its enduring and exciting super heroes, Daredevil. Whether in his secret identity as blind lawyer Matt Murdock or using his enhanced radar senses, DD stood out from the crowd as an unrelenting crusader for justice.

To celebrate 75 years of Marvel, 50 years of the Man Without Fear and the upcoming debut of “Marvel’s Daredevil” on Netflix in 2015, we look back on the hero of Hell’s Kitchen’s remarkable history!

The new millennium continued to deliver the beat down to Daredevil as 2003 brought him an unexpected new love, but also a clutch of old foes all itching for revenge on the Man Without Fear.

DAREDEVIL #39 illustrated one of Nelson & Murdock’s greatest legal challenges, defending the White Tiger from a trumped-up murder charge. Despite their best efforts, Foggy and Matt heard the dreaded verdict of guilty in DAREDEVIL #40 and stood helpless as the Tiger lost his life in a desperate attempt at escape from authorities.

When Matt saved Milla Donovan, a young blind woman, from an oncoming truck in DAREDEVIL #41, he never expected to receive an invitation to a date from it. With the Owl’s rise to power in the vacuum left by the Kingpin’s prison sentence weighing heavily on him, he reluctantly accepted the intriguing invitation in DAREDEVIL #42, though his friends thought it questionable in DAREDEVIL #43. As these things normally transpired for our hero, the police interrupted his night out with Milla in DAREDEVIL #44 to question Matt concerning the strange death of the owner of the newspaper he’d sued over the public outing of his secret identity as Daredevil.

The Owl got knocked off his perch the hard way in DAREDEVIL #45, but before the Man Without Fear could take a relieved breath, the Kingpin blew back in town and, in DAREDEVIL #46, brought Typhoid Mary out of her humdrum life to send her to interrupt another date of Matt’s and Milla’s. In DAREDEVIL #47, the former crime lord began in earnest to rebuild his empire in the city.

DD accepted aide from Luke Cage and Jessica Jones in DAREDEVIL #48 to take down Typhoid Mary, while across town Bullseye approached his old boss the Kingpin about new assignments. In DAREDEVIL #49, the master assassin tried to add Milla to his bloody list of murdering Matt Murdock’s girlfriends, but suffered not only a fresh, new defeat at the hero’s hands, but the indignity of a crosshair carved into his forehead.

Fully frustrated and beyond anger at the shambles of his life, Daredevil took his righteous indignation to the Kingpin in DAREDEVIL #50, and after the mother of all thrashings on the whale of a man, declared himself the new Kingpin.

Maya Lopez, the deaf woman known as Echo, returned in DAREDEVIL #51 to retrace her history and in DAREDEVIL #52 to confront Matt over their past relationship. Rebuffed by Murdock, Echo sought out Kingpin in his new prison cell for some closure, but when she found none, took on a vision quest in DAREDEVIL #53 from a family friend called simply the Chief.

Daredevil teamed with Spider-Man and Wolverine to take down Frank Castle once and for all in THE PUNISHER #33. Stubborn and single-minded, Frank fooled the titanic trio into squabbling among themselves while he continued his mission against the mob in THE PUNISHER #34.

Read more DAREDEVIL (1998) on Marvel Unlimited

Fresh off his galactic crusading, Star-Lord joins the ever-growing roster of incredible combatants in “Marvel Puzzle Quest”!

D3Publisher Producer Joe Fletcher is here to give us the lowdown on the incorrigible cosmic cowboy and all the tricks he’s bringing to battle, plus Sam Humphries, writer extraordinaire of LEGENDARY STAR-LORD, drops by to talk about piloting the hero through digital space!

Marvel.com: Sam, as somebody who has both written Star-Lord and worked in the realm of Marvel Games yourself, what’s the key to translating Peter Quill to this medium?

Sam Humphries: When porting Peter Quill to another medium, the key is to lead with his humor. A good sense of humor translates well in any medium, from comics, to video games, to bad first dates.

Marvel.com: What’s it like to see a character like Peter blow up not just in the comics and in the movies, but now in multiple Marvel games?

Sam Humphries: It’s incredible watching Star-Lord Fever spread so rapidly across the globe. It really is astonishing. If you experience symptoms of Star-Lord Fever, please quarantine yourself immediately with comics, video games, and movies. If you see something, say something. Everyone is at risk.

Marvel.com: And Joe, you’re one of the guys helping Peter blow up! Why has he decided to grace “Puzzle Quest” terra firma with his presence?

Joe Fletcher: I could say to mostly to pick up some new jams for another mix tape.  He’s heard rumors around the galaxy about a song that is supposed to have unintelligible lyrics about a “casbah” and he wants to track it down.  Besides, Rocket just came back from a recent vacation there and said that the pizza was great, so Peter wants to check it out too.  Groot also said “I Am Groot,” but he’s not quite so sure that information is reliable. All the fun scenarios put aside, in short, nothing nefarious, just Peter stopping in for a bit before jetting off to face the next galaxy—or universe—wide crisis.

Marvel.com: How legendary is Star-Lord in the “Puzzle Quest” Universe? Is he relatively unknown, or does everyone know his name?

Joe Fletcher: After the recent debacle in Latveria and Madripoor when Rocket and Groot came to visit—See: MPQ’s Meet Rocket & Groot Event—everyone’s done a bit of reading on the Guardians of the Galaxy. So those not “in the know” like Bullseye may only know that Star-Lord exists as some dude in space, but people like Doom are well versed in his escapades.  Especially after Quill’s friends just trashed Doom’s castle.

Marvel.com: Quill might have missed out on all the Doombot destroying fun, but now he’s here looking for a fight. What can the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy do?

Joe Fletcher: Star-Lord is a leader, but not your normal one. He doesn’t lead from the front, nor does he play Armchair General from behind the lines. Instead, he sort of entices his team into doing what needs to be done and does his part in whatever plan is enacted—which usually involves a bit of stealthy thievery, suicidal charges, and outright deviousness as the case may be. Given the puzzle board feel of “Marvel Puzzle Quest,” outright deviousness works like a treat for Peter.

Quill is a 4* (Legendary) Purple/Yellow/Red character and has the moves to go along with it. His first ability, Sleight of Hand, exemplifies his talent for messing with his opponent in some potentially lethal ways. Here Peter replaces a tile on the board with an explosive surprise that goes off in a few turns. This deals an unhealthy amount of damage to the target when it goes off as the unwitting dupe gets in the way of the booby trap.  At higher levels, Star-Lord can even replace Countdown tiles with this, allowing for a good amount of board control ability at a respectable 10 Purple AP per use.

His Yellow ability shows off Peter’s unique style of leadership with Everyone With Me. Here, Peter puts together the bare minimum of a plan, enabling his team to enact their own flourishes a bit more easily. What this accomplishes in game terms is he places a Countdown tile on the board that reduces the AP cost of ability uses in certain colors while it’s out. Raising the level of this ability gives Peter’s plans a bit more polish, increasing both the colors it affects and the amount of AP it reduces. At max level, it reduces the AP cost of all friendly abilities except Black—Quill’s not into helping out the vindictive side of his friends—which can have a noticeable effect on the battle.

Lastly, Star-Lord uses the “Oldest Trick in the Book” to keep his enemies on their toes.  While distracted, enemies have a harder time getting their abilities to work and giving Star-Lord and his team a bit of breathing space. In a flip on Everyone With Me, Oldest Trick increases the AP cost of enemy abilities while the Countdown tile is on the board.  In addition, when the Countdown tile finally goes off, Peter gently taps the poor victim on the shoulder before belting them in the face—assuming they have one—with a smashing right hook. Damage and AP increases in one Countdown tile! At higher levels, the tile increases all but Purple abilities, as he has a hard time hindering other sneaky type attacks with his own sneakiness.

Marvel.com: Obviously you built Star-Lord to work well in a variety of team compositions, but was any special consideration given to how he would work teamed with the other Guardians?

Joe Fletcher: Definitely. Everyone With Me works extremely well with Gamora’s Razor’s Edge, allowing her to slice up the competition extremely quickly. It also reduces the cost on Rocket’s I Got A Plan, allowing for those strong Strike tiles to be placed more quickly. Meanwhile, his Sleight of Hand can be used to change an adjacent tile to Purple, quite possibly preventing a match on that Plan Countdown tile or one of Gamora’s Yellow Bad Reputation tiles. 

While Peter’s abilities will generally help everyone else too—who doesn't want a Captain America shield throw that gains AP?—we specifically thought about how his abilities would help his allies in their pursuit of their goals.

Marvel.com: And how do you see him working with non-cosmic contenders?

Joe Fletcher: With his ability to get people to do what he needs them to do while making them think it was their own idea, Star-Lord can even get stubborn heroes like Thor and Hulk moving in the right direction. They benefit the same from the AP reduction, but their skills weren’t designed to take advantage of the change like Gamora’s is. Still, a single Countdown tile on the board enabling Ragnarok to Thunderclap at only 4 AP can create some pretty insane cascades!

Marvel.com: When do we get to play Star-Lord? And did I hear a little something about a Double Iso-8 event happening in the near future?

Joe Fletcher: Star-Lord will be the reward for the next run of Thick As Thieves, which is actually running right now! So people interested in putting Peter Quill into their party should check out the game and push their way up the leader boards. Naturally, he’ll also be available as high-ranking prizes for Versus matches in the future and be included in Comic Packs down the road. 

As for Double Iso-8, that's also live as we speak with the Coversquirrel Versus tourney, which uses some wonderful custom art by the talented Erica Henderson. The upcoming Blade and Modern Thor Versus tourneys will also be running a Double Iso-8 bonus, so for anyone needing a little more scratch to level their characters, get into the arena!

Stay tuned to Marvel.com for more awesome “Marvel Puzzle Quest” news and interviews.

Magneto might be the Master of Magnetism, but Secret Wars threatens to prove that even those immense powers mean nothing when faced with oblivion. The very real threat of personal and planet-wide extinction hits home in MAGNETO #18, by series regulars writer Cullen Bunn and artist Javi Fernandez.

With annihilation on the table, the question becomes whether Magneto will passively watch the world flicker away into nothing or fight like hell to save the day. Bunn explains that there’s not much of a choice for his protagonist.

“Magneto most certainly will not sit idly by while the world ends,” the writer insists. “As is in his nature, he believes he can save the world even when everyone else in the world has failed. But Magneto’s nature also dictates that he'll resort to some of the most ruthless acts imaginable to accomplish his goals.”

Given Magneto's relationships with groups both good and evil, it seems only natural that he would reach out for assistance in his plans to save the world.

“While Magneto is the kind of guy who relies only on himself, he’s facing a challenge that requires him to seek out the assistance of others,” Bunn concurs. “This assistance, though, might not always be given willingly.”

Facing the very real possibility that Magneto, who has been a Marvel mainstay for decades, might cease to be at the end of his story, Bunn reflects on how the character wants to be remembered and whether others might agree with that assessment.

“The legacy he might leave behind weighs heavily on Magneto,” he says. “Now, at the end of the world, the weight of his past decisions and actions is becoming even more terrible. I think I’d like him to be remembered as a man who did bad things for the right reasons, who took steps no one else was capable or willing to take for the betterment of his people—and maybe even for all of humanity.

“He’s a villain, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t try to be the hero at least every now and then.”

Follow the latest updates on Secret Wars daily on Marvel.com and via our social channels!

Secret Wars will spare no one—not even the gods. Come May, with LOKI: AGENT OF ASGARD #14, the Last Days arrive.

“This is the Last Days of the Marvel Universe and King Loki is right there watching it all happen,” promises LOKI writer Al Ewing

Unfortunately for all, “watching” hardly summarizes what the elder Loki has planned.

“King Loki’s immediate reaction to the end of the world is to try and turn it to his advantage—whether that's to try to escape, to get a last revenge on everyone he hates, or both at once,” Ewing reveals. “He's stirring up trouble any way he can.”

The Asgardians, as a whole, have no plan to take the end of everything passively either.

“All of the Asgardians know something’s wrong; being creatures of myth and story, they've got a special affinity with the end of the tale,” the writer explains. “They didn’t even notice the other incursions, but this one they can feel coming. And while Ragnarok is just the end of one story, this is the end of every story, everywhere.

“The other Asgardians are rising to the challenge for one last, blazing, apocalyptic war against the forces of—everyone else,” he continues. “It’s cosmic conflagration the way you like it! And how!”

Additionally, Asgard and Midgard do not stand alone in noticing that the end approaches.

“All 10 realms are feeling this in the wind, and the natural response is to start settling all the old scores,” Ewing confirms. “Which is where King Loki comes in.”

But why all this talk of King Loki, fans may very well wonder.

“[It] kind of begs the question...where’s the other Loki in all this?” the writer questions. “The one we’ve been following since issue #1? Hmmmmmmm.

“Watch this space, True Deceivers.”

Follow the latest updates on Secret Wars daily on Marvel.com and via our social channels!

Few groups in the Marvel Universe have experienced the upheaval the Inhumans have, but not even their ever-evolving way of life will prepare them for Battleworld.

When Secret Wars hits this May, INHUMAN writer Charles Soule teams up with artist John Timms for INHUMANS: ATTILAN RISING, a tale of romance and intrigue that runs through the heart of the event. The characters we’ve come to know get spun on their collective head, their relationships with the world—and each other—undergoing drastic alterations.

“One of the ideas behind ATTILAN RISING from the start was to put Medusa, Black Bolt, Reader, Iso, and other characters from INHUMAN into a new context,” shares Soule. “That’s part of the fun of an event like Secret Wars. Things don’t have to be the way we’re used to seeing them.

“My initial concept was ‘life during wartime,’ looking at the Inhumans from almost a World War 2 French Resistance type of angle. The relationships we’re used to seeing will be different in this story. Huge drama, spies, glamour, action, betrayal, sabotage; my hope is that it won’t feel like anything else out there.”

The relationship between Black Bolt and Medusa takes center stage in ATTILAN RISING. From mute king and devoted queen to uneasy co-rulers, the royal couple has seen their story undergo some bumps as of late, hurdles Soule promises will not abate in the confines of Battleworld.

“Medusa and Black Bolt are the core of the story,” he confirms. “I’ve been having a great time developing their relationship in INHUMAN, but it’s been fun to shake things up and think about them in a different way for ATTILAN RISING.

“In my opinion, Medusa and Black Bolt are one of the fundamental couples of the Marvel Universe—but they’re unique too. They aren’t Spider-Man and MJ, or Reed Richards and Sue Storm—they’re royal. So, the shadow of duty and noble obligation hangs constantly over their life and their relationship. They’re as much a symbol of their nation as they are a loving couple.”

While the regal pairing makes up a large part of ATTILAN RISING, they won’t be alone. INHUMAN regulars like Gorgon, Inferno, Flint, Naja, and Frank McGee to be featured, in addition to characters not traditionally associated with the Inhumans. It will fall to artist John Timms to depict the cast and the exotic setting in a unique fashion.

“At this point, we’re just getting started, but there are a lot of really cool characters and locations to draw, especially this sweet 1930’s-style bar that will play a huge role in the story,” says Soule. “Out of all the neat stuff in ATTILAN RISING, that’s the one spot I’m dying to see realized. As I always say about all my Marvel projects, even if I tank the words, I know it will look gorgeous.”

But what will Soule reveal about the intriguing title of the series itself? Not much…

“If something’s going to rise it needs to start low, or at least lower than where it ends up,” he teases. “What Attilan actually is in this story, and why and how it ‘rises’ are a big part of the book. I’m looking forward to talking more about it though; the hook for this story is really cool, and it fits into the overall Secret Wars landscape in a very satisfying way.

“ATTILAN RISING is a sweeping war epic, filled with high drama, action, and emotion. It’s the sort of story you don’t get to tell very often, and I’m lucky to have the opportunity to do it.”

Follow the latest updates on Secret Wars daily on Marvel.com and via our social channels!

This February, straight from the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and Spider-Verse comes a brand new ongoing series starring the newest heroine of the Marvel Universe. Marvel is proud to present SILK #1, kicking off a new series by writer Robbie Thompson and artist Stacey Lee!

Cindy Moon exploded out of her bunker and into the Marvel Universe in the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and she never looked back. Bit by the same radioactive spider that gave Peter Parker his powers on that fateful day, she’s spent her years locked away in a bunker, safe from the threat of Morlun and the Inheritors. Since then, she’s saved Peter Parker’s life (more than once), fought alongside Spider-Woman, braved the Spider-Verse and more!

“Cindy fascinates me,” says series writer Robbie Thompson, in an interview with Marvel.com. “She gave up 10 years of her life and the world moved on without her. What does that do to a person?”

Now, Cindy is back in New York City, patrolling it’s rooftops as SILK! And she’s going to make up for lost time. Searching for her past, defining her own future, and webbing wrong-doers along the way. Now is your chance to hop on board one of the slickest new launches of 2015 as SILK #1 swings in to comic shops this February!

SILK #1 (DEC140837)
Written by ROBBIE THOMPSON
Art by STACEY LEE
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Variant Covers by STACEY LEE (DEC140838)
And SKOTTIE YOUNG (DEC140839)
On Sale – 02/18/15

The highly anticipated blockbuster sequel, Marvel’s 'Avengers: Age of Ultron,' will be hitting the theaters worldwide in just a few months and Marvelites everywhere are eager to see Earth’s mightiest heroes come together again to defend the world from the maniacal Ultron!

But to hold you over until then, Hot Toys is excited to continue the 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' series and officially present the new 1/6^th scale Captain America Collectible Figure! The movie-accurate Captain America collectible figure is specially crafted based on the image of Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers as seen in the film. The collectible features newly-painted Steve Rogers and helmeted head sculpts, an extremely detailed and finely tailored all-new Captain America suit, a specially designed figure stand and a magnetic metal Captain America shield with retractable handles... because who is Captain America without his infamous shield?

Pre-order this famed super-soldier and expand your Marvel's 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' collection today! For more from Hot Toys, visit their website.

This March, Marvel is celebrating Women’s History Month by gathering some of the best and brightest female artists to tackle some of Marvel’s most iconic characters for a very special variant cover theme. Today, Marvel is pleased to present your new look at a selection of March’s Women of Marvel Variant Covers!

“2014 was a huge year for Women of Marvel, both in our comics and behind the scenes,” says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso. “Marvel now has more titles starring female leads than ever before, the Women of Marvel panel is one of the most highly attended at conventions, and the weekly Women of Marvel podcast continues to grow.  In 2015, we intend to continue that tradition, and March’s Women of Marvel variant covers — featuring 20 of the best female artists in the industry – is just the beginning.”

From the biggest names in the industry today to the superstars of tomorrow, you won’t want to miss a single one of these jaw-dropping variant covers coming to these exciting March titles:

• ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 by TBD
• ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #1 by SHO MURASE
• ALL-NEW X-MEN #39 by FAITH ERIN HICKS
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16 by MING DOYLE
• ANT-MAN #3 by KATIE COOK
• AVENGERS #42 by TBD
• BLACK WIDOW #16 by VANESA DEL REY
• CAPTAIN MARVEL #13 by AUFA RICHARDSON
• DEADPOOL #43 by TBD
• GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #25 by ERICA HENDERSON
• INHUMAN #13 by JILL THOMPSON
• LEGENDARY STAR-LORD #10 by SANA TAKEDA
• MS. MARVEL #13 by TBD
• NEW AVENGERS #31 by SARA PICHELLI
• ROCKET RACCOON #9 by JANET LEE
• S.H.I.E.L.D. #4 by COLLEEN DORAN
• SUPERIOR IRON MAN #6 by TBD
• THOR #6 by STEPHANIE HANS
• UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #3 by GURIHIRU
• UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 by AMANDA CONNER
• UNCANNY X-MEN #33 by STACEY LEE

“Jeanine Schaefer and I have had the pleasure of collaborating with some of the best female artists in the industry to show-off their take on Marvel’s biggest characters and teams,” says Marvel Editor Emily Shaw. “It’s been an incredible experience to bring so many awesome women together for this project. And the results have been pretty awesome!”