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The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 Delivers Laughs and a Nice Distraction from Reality

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The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1

TONIGHT’S VERY SPECIAL GUEST STARS – THE MARI/EL UNIVERSE! To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of THE MUPPET SHOW…we bring you a crossover no one saw coming! Join EISNER-winning writer and one of the world’s greatest Muppet fans CHIP ZDARSKY along with a cadre of Marvelously talented creators as they unleash The Muppets’ trademark chaos on the MARVEL UNIVERSE. ROWLF THE DOG kidnapped by MOJO? KERMIT THE FROG, MISS PIGGY, FOZZIE BEAR, SPIDER-MAN, BLACK PANTHER and EMMA FROST to the rescue? DR. BUNSEN HONEYDEW and BEAKER experimenting with GAMMA RAYS and PYM PARTICLES? What could go wrong? Find out in this epic tale told in the MIGHTY MARVEL MUPPET MANNER! The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 is a hell of a lot of fun that leaves us wanting more.

Growing up I appreciated the Muppets but wasn’t a die-hard fan. There were some aspects that I enjoyed and some I found irritating and outright cheesy. But, that’s the Muppets, right? The loveable bizarre characters have been around for 50 years and enjoyed by generations. Most importantly, they’ve delivered laughs and allowed individuals to escape the grind of life. The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 continues that while having the Muppets join some of Marvel’s characters to take on Mojo along with a series of shorts, and it works really well.

With the main story by Chip Zdarsky and Pete Woods the Muppets need the help of Marvel’s heroes to find Rowlf who has been dognapped by Mojo. When you think about it, it’s the perfect setup and concept and actually makes sense. With the story there’s a solid blend of action and humor, mixing the seriousness of Marvel’s heroes with the insanity of the Muppets. Zdarsky and Woods nail the concept with a balance that can be enjoyed by a wide range of individuals. It’s hard to not appreciate Fozzy Bear and Spider-Man going back and forth or Gonzo admitting that Deadpool was too crazy. And all of it weirdly just works, not feeling forced at all and a hell of a lot of fun. Woods’ art feels like it’s a nice in-between of what you’d expect in a Muppet comic and a superhero comic from Marvel, making the characters blend nicely and not feel out of place. The story delivers some solid laughs and moments and at the same time picks on and needles superhero tropes (the story involves the multiverse).

The rest of the comic is a series of shorts from writers Mackenzie Cadenhead, Ashley Allen, Chef Paul Carmichael, Kyle Starks, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Adam F. Goldberg and art by David Baldeon, Paco Medina, Mike Henderson, Athila Fabbio, and E.J. Su. All of these nail the assignment, each delivering good punchlines and most importantly will put a smile on the face of readers. Each story matches up Muppets with Marvel heroes in what feels like a series of skits you’d see on the Muppet show. And it leaves us wanting more. Animal + Wolverine = the ultimate team up. Each story has a little bit of a different style in the art and some go for heartfelt tales while others deliver laugh out loud moments.

The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1 is fun, a lot of fun. Not only could it get me to laugh a lot but it also delivered that childlike escape where I can just sit and not care about what’s going on around me. It’s a perfect mix of Muppets and Marvel and shows off a love of both. Most importantly, it left me wanting more. While this is a one-shot, hopefully it’s not a one and done and we can see more team-ups in the future.

Story: Chip Zdarsky, Mackenzie Cadenhead, Ashley Allen, Chef Paul Carmichael, Kyle Starks, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Adam F. Goldberg
Art: Pete Woods, David Baldeon, Paco Medina, Mike Henderson, Athila Fabbio, E.J. Su
Color: Yen Nitro, Mike Atiyeh Letters: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Exclusive Preview: The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1

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The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1

(W) Adam F. Goldberg, Ashley Allen, Chip Zdarsky, Kyle Starks, MacKenzie Cadenhead, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Chef Paul Carmichael
(A) Pete Woods, Áthila Fabbio, David Baldeón, Paco Medina, Mike Henderson, EJ. Su
(C) Yen Nitro, Mike Atiyeh (L) Joe Caramagna
(CA) Nick Bradshaw (VCA) Alex Ross, Humberto Ramos, Matteo Lolli, Skottie Young, Todd Nauck, Ron Lim

TONIGHT’S VERY SPECIAL GUEST STARS — THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of THE MUPPET SHOW… we bring you a crossover no one saw coming! Join EISNER-winning writer and one of the world”s greatest Muppet fans CHIP ZDARSKY along with a cadre of Marvelously talented creators as they unleash The Muppets’ trademark chaos on the MARVEL UNIVERSE. ROWLF THE DOG kidnapped by MOJO? KERMIT THE FROG, MISS PIGGY, FOZZIE BEAR, SPIDER-MAN, BLACK PANTHER and EMMA FROST to the rescue? DR. BUNSEN HONEYDEW and BEAKER experimenting with GAMMA RAYS and PYM PARTICLES? What could go wrong? Find out in this epic tale told in the MIGHTY MARVEL MUPPET MANNER!

Comic book cover featuring The Muppets characters dressed as various Marvel superheroes, with a colorful background and the text 'The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe!'
A promotional poster for 'The Muppets Take The Marvel Universe', featuring a list of contributors such as writers, artists, and editors with a playful Muppet-themed design.
A colorful cartoon scene featuring Muppet characters in a laboratory setting. A scientist in a lab coat explains the concept of an interdimensional portal while various Muppets, including Kermit and Beaker, listen with curiosity. The background shows scientific equipment and a glowing portal.
A colorful comic panel featuring various Muppet characters, including Kermit the Frog and Beaker, discussing a crisis involving a character named Rowlf. The scene is lively, with Beaker expressing excitement and the group strategizing about a superhero to help them. The background depicts a laboratory setting with humorous sound effects.
A comic panel featuring Muppet characters, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, discussing a potential investigation while surrounded by various anthropomorphic animals.
A comic-style scene featuring several characters in a lab setting, including Doctor Honeydew, Beaker, and two scientists, one wearing glasses and a lab coat. They are discussing a scientific endeavor with excitement and humor.
A comic panel featuring anthropomorphic characters including a raccoon with a gun, a pig in a space suit, and other alien-like beings discussing a spaceship alarm and potential alien encounters.
A colorful comic page featuring a vintage Volkswagen van decorated with patterns, music notes floating around. The first panel shows a character with a plaid shirt looking at the van, followed by a Muppet character holding a poster. Subsequent panels depict a lively scene inside the van with various Muppets playing instruments and enjoying music.
A comic book scene set in the Sanctum Sanctorum, featuring two characters: a woman in pajamas sneezing and a man in a mystical outfit discussing a cold remedy. The room is cozy with a lamp, bed, and tea set present.
An illustrated comic panel depicting Avengers gathered in their headquarters. Iron Man addresses the team, which includes Captain America, Black Widow, and Thor, about an emergency involving Doctor Doom. Dialogue balloons convey their discussion about recruiting new members to replace missing heroes.

Preview: Queen in Black #4

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Queen in Black #4

(W) Al Ewing (A) Paco Medina

VENOM ASCENDING! As the war between Hela and Knull gets personal, Tyr unleashes his final weapon on the beleaguered Avengers! Meanwhile, in the Baxter Building, Reed Richards investigates Codex’s half-symbiote power… with cataclysmic consequences! Will the end of Venom’s golden era coincide with the end of Planet Earth?

Cover of Marvel's 'Queen in Black' issue 4, featuring a dark, menacing character with tentacle-like appendages standing over a wounded figure, both splattered with blood, set against a cosmic background.
Cover page for the comic 'Queen in Black' featuring bold red and black typography, depicting a cosmic battle with references to characters like Knull, Hela, Iron Man, and others involved in a conflict of light and darkness.
A comic book page featuring multiple superheroes in action. The scene takes place in England, with characters discussing their situation while engaging in battle. One character uses a powerful blast, while others are in tactical positions. Dialogue bubbles convey humor and camaraderie among the superheroes.
Comic book page featuring characters Wolverine, Storm, and others discussing reality changes in various locations including Japan, Italy, and Egypt.
A dynamic comic book scene featuring characters in a battle setting, including a figure in a black suit resembling Venom, superheroes using advanced weapons, and dramatic action phrases like 'CHoom!' and 'No!' being depicted. Various characters are engaged in conversation, strategizing amidst the chaos.
A dramatic comic book scene featuring a villain with ice-themed powers confronting multiple characters in battle, while dialogue reveals urgency and tension. Characters express concern and strategize amidst a backdrop of chaos.

Avengers: Time Runs Out gets a Marvel Premier Collection and collects the lead up to Secret Wars

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One by one, the realities of the Multiverse have collided and been destroyed, leaving the Marvel Universe as one of the last standing. Now the final Incursion is drawing near — and in the wake of the desperate, world-shattering actions taken by the shadowy group of heroes known as the Illuminati, the Avengers are fragmented. While one group seeks to confront their former Illuminati allies, another takes the fight to a dark new threat! But what has become of Tony Stark and Doctor Strange? Will all the battles they’ve endured — and the sacrifices they’ve made — prepare the Avengers for the inevitable? Time runs out as the stage is set for SECRET WARS!

COLLECTING: Material from Avengers (2012) #35-44; New Avengers (2013) #24-33

Story: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Jim Cheung, Paco Medina, Nick Bradshaw, Dustin Weaver, Mike Deodato Jr., Mike Perkins, Valerio Schiti, Szymon Kudranski, Dalibor Talajic, Stefano Casselli, Kev Walker, Mike Mayhew
Ink: Mark Morales, Guillermo Ortego, Juan Vlasco, Nick Bradshaw, Dustin Weaver, Rick Magyar
Color: Frank Martin, David Curiel, Dono Sanchez-Almara
Letterer: Cory Petit, Joe Caramagna

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Bookshop
Amazon

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Marvel returns to Secret Wars with Incursions One-Shots

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This November, return to when TIME RAN OUT! Five multiverse-shattering Incursions one-shots will harken back to the advent of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić’s Secret Wars, revealing the untold battles from the Marvel multiverse’s final days.

The series kicks off with X-Men: Incursions #1 by Alex Paknadel and Jim Towe, pitting two iconic mutant realities—Days of Future Past and House of M—against each other. The series continues with Spider-Man: Incursions #1 by Christos Gage and more; Fantastic Four: Incursions #1 by Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, and Paco Medina; X-Men ’92: Incursions #1 by Chris Yost, Craig Kyle and more; and Avengers: Incursions #1 by Al Ewing and Fran Mariscal Mancilla. In each one-shot, worlds from Marvel history collide, with only one left standing. Fans will journey across a wide range of universes from Marvel storytelling, including classic eras, alternate timelines and beloved media adaptations. 

It was the catastrophe that led to the end of both the Ultimate and Marvel Universes and birthed the conflict known as Secret Wars, but not every story of those dark days has been told!

In X-Men: Incursions #1, witness what happens when the universe of the mutant-ascendent House of M intersects with that of the Days of Future Past! In eight hours, only one can survive, or both will collide and be utterly annihilated! This devastating choice is left in the hands of Kate Pryde!

Kicking off the series, writer Alex Paknadel said “As someone who sincerely relishes the challenge of dancing between the raindrops of continuity, this project was all my Christmases come at once. I got to tell a story about what really matters, and I got to do it against the backdrop of three (!) of the biggest Marvel events of all time. I really love my job sometimes.”

Check out covers for X-Men: Incursions #1, featuring pieces by Gleb Melnikov and Secret Wars artist Esad Ribić, along with a promotional cover for the entire series by Bryan Hitch. Plus, check out an Incursions checklist and stay tuned for information on the other one-shots in the months ahead.

Preview: Queen in Black #3

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Queen in Black #3

(W) Al Ewing (A) Paco Medina, Iban Coello

THE CODEX IS THE KEY! Hela wants him as her secret weapon — Knull just wants him dead! Dylan Brock’s survival might be the one thing Venom and Eddie Brock agree about — but even at the end of the world, can they work together? All this and the rollicking return of the Fantastic Five!

Queen in Black #3

Exclusive Preview: Jeff the Land Shark: Superstar #2

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Jeff the Land Shark: Superstar #2

(W) Kelly Thompson (A) Tokitokoro
(C) Jim Campbell (L) Joe Caramagna
(CA) Gurihiru (VCA) David Baldeón and Jesus Aburtov, Paco Medina and Federico Blee, Peach Momoko, Simone Di Meo, Tokitokoro, Matteo Lolli and Rain Beredo

MEET THE JEFF COAST AVENGERS! Jeff the Land Shark’s NEW FAMILY takes center stage as Mojo tries to create a HIT SHOW starring Jeff, DazzleStorm , MagikHot and… an attack by a group of angry man-sharks?! How will Jeff get out of this one?! And will his friends back home be able to rescue him?!

Jeff the Land Shark: Superstar #2

Queen in Black #2 delivers summer blockbuster action

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Queen in Black #2

A Cataclysm of Light & Darkness! Tony Stark races against time, assembling powerful twin teams- Defenders of Light and Defenders of Dark – to battle Hela and Knull amidst the cosmic void. As their clash shakes the stars, Hela unleashes her devastating assault on Earth, forcing the AVENGERS OF EARTH into action for humanity’s survival. But chaos doesn’t end there: the monstrous SYMBIOTE INTELLIGENCE descends upon New York City, igniting a fierce confrontation as Venom and the Fantastic Four leap into battle! Will heroes unite and overcome the tide of darkness threatening the universe? Queen in Black #2 continues the bombastic action as heroes defend Earth while others plan how to take the battle to Hela and Knull.

Queen in Black #2 cements this event as summer popcorn entertainment. It’s the movie you see for the spectacle of it all with the plot being secondary. You want the explosions, the battles, the action, and the quippy one-liners. The issue delivers all of that while it teases what’s to come.

Written by Al Ewing, Queen in Black #2 is fun entertainment, a big event that feels like a throwback in some ways. The issue does a good job of keeping things focused with Spider-Man and his team fighting to defend New York City while keeping Dylan Brock safe, Iron Man and Cable making plans, and Hela delivering her villain lines with cheese. It’s that last part that makes the comic feel like a bit of a throwback. Hela lays out what her vision for Earth is and it feels like that over-the-top idea from yesteryear. That’s not a bad thing at all and overall is kind of fun due to that.

Ewing does a great job of narrowing down the issue where the previous took us around the world to give us the scope of the matter. But, even with that focus, he does spend some time having fun with Wolverine and Storm as they protect Japan and we get a really entertaining sequence and resolution to that particular fight.

The art by Iban Coello and Paco Medina adds to the enjoyment. With color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Clayton Cowles, the characters look good and the action is delivered with a certain splash to it. There’s something visually where it feels a bit over the top but not obnoxiously so. The designs of the villains look great with their Venomized takes and Iron Man’s new suit is kind of cool. Where the art shines is its opening sequence which has reality being warped as Wolverine goes into battle with a great two-page spread that really stands out.

Queen in Black #2 is a fun read that keeps things packed with action but rather light at the same time. It does a good job of setting up what’s to come and focusing on the battles raging. It’s not the deepest event, but it’s a fun one that delivers exactly what it needs to.

Story: Al Ewing Art: Iban Coello, Paco Medina
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Queen in Black #2

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Queen in Black #2

(W) Al Ewing (A) Paco Medina, Iban Coello

A Cataclysm of Light & Darkness! Tony Stark races against time, assembling powerful twin teams– Defenders of Light and Defenders of Dark — to battle Hela and Knull amidst the cosmic void. As their clash shakes the stars, Hela unleashes her devastating assault on Earth, forcing the AVENGERS OF EARTH into action for humanity’s survival. But chaos doesn’t end there: the monstrous SYMBIOTE INTELLIGENCE descends upon New York City, igniting a fierce confrontation as Venom and the Fantastic Four leap into battle! Will heroes unite and overcome the tide of darkness threatening the universe?

Queen in Black #2

The Muppets team with Marvel’s Heroes in Variant Covers this September and October

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To mark the 50th anniversary of “The Muppet Show,” the Muppets are crashing the Marvel Universe for the very first time this September! In addition to Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1, a one-shot with all-new stories from a superstar lineup of creators including Chip Zdarsky, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Pete Woods, Ashley Allen, MacKenzie Cadenhead, Kyle Starks, David Baldeon, Mike Henderson, and more, the gang will also team up with Marvel heroes in an all-new collection of Muppet Variant Covers!

Featured on select issues throughout September, these fun-filled covers pair Kermit, Miss Piggy, Rizzo and more with legendary Marvel heroes in unforgettable, unexpected team-ups. Whether they’re helping save the day or creating chaos, the Muppets bring their iconic humor to the Marvel mythos, delivering a pop culture crossover fans have waited decades to see!

Check out the first three covers and preorder all ten at your local comic shop today.

  • CAPTAIN AMERICA #15 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY NICOLETTA BALDARI – 75960621146301531
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY PACO MEDINA – 75960621001503634
  • DAREDEVIL #7 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY TBD – 75960621282800741
  • JEFF THE LAND SHARK: SUPERSTAR #3 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY MATTEO LOLLI – 75960621629100331
  • MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #2 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY TAURIN CLARKE – 75960621462400221
  • WOLVERINE #28 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY TERRY DODSON – 75960620841802821
  • FANTASTIC FOUR #17 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI – 75960621122701731
  • UNCANNY X-MEN #36 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY BEN SU – 75960620917003631
  • X-MEN UNITED #7 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY ANNIE WU – 75960621443300731
  • DOOMQUEST #5 MUPPETS VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO – 75960621590400531
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