Stephanie Phillips + Alessandro Miracolo send ‘Phoenix’ into space this summer

Jean Grey once again wields the power of the Phoenix in the new ‘From the Ashes’ series.

Jean Grey will once again soar the spaceways as Phoenix in a new series coming later this year by Stephanie Phillips (Grim) and Alessandro Miracolo (White Widow).

Part of the “From the Ashes” publishing initiative that follows the end of the current Krakoa era in the X-Men titles, the new series will spin directly out of the final Krakoa issues we’re seeing hit stores between now and the summer, in particular X-Men Forever and Rise of the Powers of X. While Marvel’s a little coy on what exactly happens to bring Jean Grey and the Phoenix back together, the new series has them working in apparent harmony.

“Jean is one of the most powerful characters I’ve ever written,” Phillips said. “The beauty and challenge to Jean is that she is imbued with a cosmic force alongside the morals, shortcomings, and empathy of a human being. The dichotomy between those two is something incredibly special about Jean, and means that she is constantly doing a dance between humanity and absolute power.”

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Marvel announces ‘Blood Hunt’ one-shots for Magik, Psylocke, Jubilee + Wolverine

The X-Men will enter the vampire apocalypse, just not all together.

Four of Marvel’s mutants are getting one-shot tie-ins to this summer’s big Blood Hunt crossover event, including Psylocke, Magik, Jubilee and Wolverine — no, not him, the other Wolverine, Laura Kinney.

According to Marvel.com, the reason for the solo one-shots is story driven –“This bloodbath of terror couldn’t come at a more dire time for mutantkind. Currently scattered after the fall of Krakoa, the X-Men won’t be able to strike from a united front.”

So instead, four of them will go solo — one who is a former vampire, and three who are really good at stabbing things. But all of this is happening after Fall of the House of X and, it sounds like, before the launch of the Tom Brevoort-edited X-Men: From the Ashes, which we don’t really know anything about except that it’ll be previewed on Free Comic Book Day.

Anyway, here’s a rundown of the four one-shots, which leaves us with two as-yet-unrevealed one-shot tie-ins that’ll be announced tomorrow.

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Spider-Gwen swings back into the Marvel Universe next year

Stephanie Phillips and Chris Campana bring the Ghost Spider back to the 616.

After a few recent miniseries detailed what life is like for Spider-Gwen in her own universe, the Spiderverse-hopping hero will once again land in the 616 in a new title coming next year.

Writer Stephanie Phillips (Kicking Ice, Grim) and artist Chris Campana (Red Goblin, The Adventures of Parker Reef) will bring Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider to New York, home of many Marvel heroes and, of course, the home of the deceased 616 Gwen Stacey. Mark Brooks will provide covers.

“Right after I started working on this new Spider-Gwen ongoing, I saw a little girl on Halloween dressed as Gwen and hitting some cool Spidey poses,” Phillips said. “It was kind of a surreal moment to realize that I get to be a part of Gwen’s next big chapter, bringing her into the 616 and giving readers stories that make us rethink who Gwen is and what her role is within this new universe. I’m also working on this story with the incredible Chris Campana, a great collaborator and friend, and I truly believe this is one of the most special books I’ve been a part of.”

Campana echoed Phillips’ comments about working together on the series.

“Stephanie’s writing allows for a ton of artistic freedom, while providing a great framework to work inside of,” Campana said. “I was onboard the moment I heard she was attached.”

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Black Widow + Hawkeye team up in a miniseries from Marvel

The first issue by Stephanie Phillips and Paolo Villanelli arrives in March of next year.

Hawkeye and Black Widow both turn 60 next year, having both debuted in the pages of Tales of Suspense back in 1964. To celebrate the duo, Marvel will release Black Widow and Hawkeye next year, a four-issue miniseries by Stephanie Phillips and Paolo Villanelli.

“I love getting the chance to dig deep with Natasha Romanov and Clint Barton to tell a fast-paced spy story that celebrates their 60th anniversary,” Phillips said. “Nothing is as it seems, and I’m having a ton of fun writing these characters. Not to mention they both look great for 60.”

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Xenomorphs are out for the red stuff in ‘Alien: Black, White & Blood’

The anthology miniseries featuring three-color stories kicks off in February.

Having laid havoc on the Marvel and Star Wars universes, the Black, White & Blood anthology makes a detour into the Alien universe. Marvel announces Alien: Black, White & Blood, a four-issue, three-color miniseries that begins in February.

Here’s what you’ll find in the first issue:

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Slugfest | Soule + Alburquerque continue ‘The Shrouded College’ storyline in a new miniseries

Plus: News and announcements about Star Wars, Sea Serpent’s Heir, Richard Corben, Kingdom Come, Stranger Things and more.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. Hit the links for more information.

Charles Soule and Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque will present the second of seven interconnected miniseries in “The Shrouded College” saga that started with Soule and Will Sliney’s Hell to Pay.

The Bloody Dozen will run for six issues and kicks off in December.

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Oni announces a third ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ graphic novel

Stephanie Phillips and Dani Bolinho bring ‘Forecast from Stonehenge’ to comics.

Oni Press will release a third Choose Your Own Adventure adaptation next year by Grim writer Stephanie Phillips and Dani Bolinho, who drew the first CYOA adaptation.

Forecast from Stonehenge, based on the prose novel by R. A. Montgomery, follows Journey Under the Sea and Eighth Grade Witch. And like the other novels and graphic novels in the series, it gives the reader the opportunity to choose what happens next at certain points in the story.

“I was excited to help bring a choose your own adventure story to comics and expand the audience of readers who get to experience this fun and unique format,” Phillips said. “As a kid, I loved CYOA stories because they allowed me to take an active role in the story being told, and thanks to Dani Bolinho’s art I think readers will absolutely feel like they are being pulled into the world of Forecast from Stonehenge.” 

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Chaos reigns in Marvel’s annuals this summer

Scarlet Witch, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel and more will be drawn into a plot by Agatha Harkness in ‘Contest of Chaos.’

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned summer annual crossover, nor is there anything like a good old-fashioned superhero tournament. And Marvel has both going on this summer.

In the spirit of Atlantis Attacks and Contest of Champions, this summer will bring Contest of Chaos, which will run through several Marvel annuals and features a rejuvenated Agatha Harkness using her chaos magic to cause “Let’s you and him fight” confrontations between different Marvel characters.

Stephanie Phillips is spearheading the event, which will kick off with a prelude issue in Scarlet Witch Annual #1 by Steve Orlando and Carlos Nieto. It’ll then run through eight other Marvel annuals, including the big finale in Avengers Annual #1 in September.

Here’s a rundown of who is fighting who, and when and where …

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Marvel’s ‘What If?’ returns this summer

Walt Simonson, Gerry Conway, Stephanie Phillips, Scott Eaton and more create new stories set in alternate universes.

Marvel has announced the return of What If?, their classic alternate history comic, for the summer, with four one-shots planned under the title What If? Dark.

I chuckled a bit when I saw that they added “Dark” to the title. If you ever read any of the original What If? run, you know that more times than not, the stories would take a dark turn. For instance, “What If Phoenix Had Lived?” ended with the death of pretty much everything else.

In any event, What If? helped introduce Marvel’s version of the multiverse, and this year will introduce four new universe where things took a different turn. The one-shots also mark the return of two classic Marvel creators, Walt Simonson and Gerry Conway, as they revisit stories they’ve become synonymous with.

Here’s the rundown:

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Two Comixology vets return to comics with DSTLRY

The new publisher will offer creators an ownership stake in the company.

If you’ve been wondering what comiXology co-founder David Steinberger and former comiXology Originals head Chip Mosher have been doing lately, wonder no more. Today the duo have launched DSTLRY [pronounced “distillery”], a “next-generation comics publisher that redefines creator-owned comic books and collectibles.”

The new company will offer “limited physical and digital item drops, available online or in-store at local comic shops, while providing creators with fairer deals alongside company ownership.” There’s a lot to unpack from their press release, so let’s jump in … but first, here’s an image of DSTLRY’s founders drawn by Tula Lotay:

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Agatha Harkness takes the stage in ‘Contest of Chaos’ this summer

Heroes fueled by chaos magic will battle in Marvel’s annuals this summer.

Last week’s teaser showing several Marvel characters involved in a battle royal might have made you wonder who or what could cause your favorites to throw down like that. Well … it turns out it was Agatha all along.

Marvel has revealed more details on Contest of Chaos, a new storyline involving the now younger, rejuvenated Agatha Harkness that’ll run through the publisher’s annuals this summer. Stephanie Phillips is spearheading the event, which will kick off with a prelude issue in Scarlet Witch Annual #1 by Steve Orlando and Carlos Nieto.

Contest of Chaos is the kind of story I would absolutely sprint to the comic store to buy as a reader,” Phillips said. “There’s action, mystery, magic and my favorite characters from all over the Marvel Universe. To be spearheading the storyline is just incredibly cool for me as a creator. It’s going to be big with ramifications for the larger universe …”

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Slugfest | Harley Quinn, San Starros and more from NYCC

Check out a round-up of recent announcements about ‘Batman,’ Jonathan Hickman, ‘West of Sundown’ and more.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you from comics creators, publishers and more. Some of these are from this weekend’s New York Comic Con, while some are from before. Hit the links for more information.

DC held a panel focused on the Batman titles yesterday during New York Comic Con, revealing some new artwork and one new project — Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU. It’s by Frank Tieri and Logan Faerber, both of whom have worked on the character before.

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