Spotlight on CBR's Age of Marvels

[Captain Clarkie]

Hello, welcome to the first in hopefully a long line of interviews about CBR's highly lauded 'Age of Marvels'. We had a chance to talk to Strange Tales and Cosmic Marvel Editor Global Honored.

Hi There GH, what is the Age of Marvels?

The Age of Marvels is a re-imagining of the Marvel Universe and the characters we all love. It's new stories told from the imaginative minds of our very own CBR posters and there is a lot of creative juices flowing, that is for certain. One of our talented editors has labeled it "Your comics, your way" and I think that is a fairly accurate description. It's Marvel written by the fans and for the fans without a lot of the obstacles the actual company and creators would have to face.


We've seen a lot of differences from the mainstream MU, what makes Age of Marvels special?

It goes back to the limitations thing. We're fans and we have more free room to roam. We have set certain guidelines to keep the sandbox from flowing over but this universe can go wherever we want it to and so far we have seen some pretty wild things. This is the stuff our Age of Marvels fans and contributors want and who the Age of Marvels staff answers to. Our Sorcerer Supreme is Stabbity Jones. Doctor Strange works in a bar. Howard Stark is fighting for survival on some time displaced Mars. Blue Marvel is an Avenger. These things could only happen here in our AoM Universe, and they do. As crazy as some of it sounds, most of the time we are able to make it work.


There are a lot of popular lines in Age of Marvels, what are you hoping to bring to the average reader as an editor?

Just entertain. Pretend you're a good rock band and just have to give them what they want. We have a diverse range of titles to choose from. We have classic super-heroics like the Avengers and Fantastic Four to noirish styled capers such as Dakota North to villainous super teams such as the Doctor Doom led Cabal. We have pulp heroes and cosmic action that will take readers into other worlds and dare I say multiverses. We have Mutants, Magic, Monsters and Champions of Love and even our own super hero rock n' roll adventures. It isn't just one journey any month, it's an entirely new way to enjoy comics that can be anything you want them to be and all you have to do is get involved.


Which Age of Marvels title would you reccomend buying, and why?

That would depend on your tastes. The best part of Age of Marvels is the cost. It's free to pick up and check out any title, any given month and see which ones you like the best.


Age of Marvels is the future of CBR Marvel entertainment, what can we expect in the future?

We have a lot in store. Readers should expect their favorite lines to face some major challenges and drama in the coming months. The Age of Marvels universe will be besieged on several fronts with multiple crisis that our heroes will need to come together to overcome. A lot will change. We will see some new characters introduced and some familiar faces will be lost. Heading into 2012 the universe will also face it's first major event. I know "event" can be a taboo word in comics, but this time the "event" will be handled by the fans themselves and it will truly bring the Age of Marvels universe together or tear it apart trying. And for the obsessive compulsive types like myself who crave order and detail, well we'll have that too as we are putting together an Age of Marvels Handbook that will provide bios and more for all our AoM characters like the classic guides Marvel used to publish. So I am really looking forward to that.

[marvell2100]

I would have asked Global where was the Age of Marvels panel at Comicon.

[RolandJP]

I would have asked Global where was the Age of Marvels panel at Comicon.

Maybe next year.

[mcgaffer]

Good interview and a great advertisement for Age of Marvel's, everyone get involved.

[marvell2100]

I have questions for highwayguy.

1. You've recently become involved as an editor for AoM's Heroes Line. What is your impression of this new line of comics?

2. What will you bring to AoM as editor and as a plotter?

3.What is your favorite title/character in AoM and who would you like to see brought over from the "other" universe?

Thank you and I'll listen off the air.

[highwayguy]

I have questions for highwayguy.

1. You've recently become involved as an editor for AoM's Heroes Line. What is your impression of this new line of comics?

2. What will you bring to AoM as editor and as a plotter?

3.What is your favorite title/character in AoM and who would you like to see brought over from the "other" universe?

Thank you and I'll listen off the air.

Good lord! Questions? It wasn’t me, Officer!

1. You've recently become involved as an editor for AoM's Heroes Line. What is your impression of this new line of comics?

I wasn’t sure what to make of the Age of Marvels line at first. Everything was just so… different. And the team line-up of MI 13 didn’t impress me much either. But I’ve now fallen in love with the AoM concept. Marvel storylines plotted by Marvel fans in a brand new Marvel Universe is a great idea. Anyone, whether it’s an editor, plotter or just a curious fan, can send in a plot and have a say in their favourite comic titles. If only Brian Michael Bendis took note and followed the AoM example.

2. What will you bring to AoM as editor and as a plotter?

I will bring mindless tartan destruction to all who stand in my way!

But honestly, I think that I will bring big ideas with obscure characters to the table. Everyone has a story. And most of Marvel’s characters have been lost in limbo never to have their origins explored. That, in my opinion, is a crying shame and it needs to change. I have a strong imagination and have a good understanding of comics (as well as being mentored a former professional comic book writer/artist *boasts*) so coming up with original ideas is a fun and exciting challenge for me. And I’m sure I won’t let anyone down along the way.

I’m always dreaming up new storylines. In fact, I have my own characters and titles that I try to write in a similar fashion to AoM. This helps me to think outside the box and come up with all-new original plots. And who knows, in time I may introduce some of these titles into AoM. Either that or start up my own rival brand.

3. What is your favourite title/character in AoM and who would you like to see brought over from the "other" universe?

I’m extraordinarily lucky to be the editor of my two favourite titles, MI 13 and Union Jack, and dream up the storylines that I’ve always wanted to read. So check out the upcoming August Solicitations (shameless promoting) to see the new direction of both titles.

As for characters I would like to see added to AoM, there are just so many to choose from. I’ve always been a big fan of the British side of Marvel so Black Axe, Slaymaster, Jamie Braddock, the Warheads and the Knights of Pendragon are characters I would like to see. Supervillains like Crossfire, Constrictor, Bengal, Madman and the irritatingly loveable Death-Throws are in my mind too. And I can’t forget about fantastic alternate reality characters like Blur, Doctor Spectrum and Amphibian from the Supreme Power universe. There is an entire multiverse to choose from.

Also, I want to try and introduce as many Scottish characters as I possibly can. Let the tartan invasion begin!

[highwayguy]

As we've just started this thread, here's an advanced preview to September's issue of Union Jack. It's still a little rough.

http://thumbhard.deviantart.com/#/d429980

I'm not a member of an image sharing website. This'll have to do. Sorry.

[Global Honored]

As we've just started this thread, here's an advanced preview to September's issue of Union Jack. It's still a little rough.

http://thumbhard.deviantart.com/#/d429980

I'm not a member of an image sharing website. This'll have to do. Sorry.

Looks awesome! Be sure to post that in the August promo thread starting in a day or two.

[marvell2100]

That piece for Union Jack looks great highwayguy! Really scary!


Here are a few questions for Brother Justin Crowe and/or mcgaffer:

1. You guys are editors for perhaps Age of Marvel's "quirkiest" titles. Is this something that you had originally intended or was it something that evolved?

2. Would you say that the Strange Tales line has a Vertigo feel or is that not a fair comparison?

3. Are there any plot ideas that you turned down because they were just too far out there?

4. What Strange Tale title(s) do you think would translate into a great movie?

5.What would you be doing if you weren't doing this interview?

[Personamanx]

I take offense at my Line not being considered the quirkiest.

[SuperCooper]

Whatever happened to Onyxx? I've lost track of which book he's currently in. I didn't start into the Age of Marvels until after his solo series was dropped, but it seemed like an interesting concept!

[marvell2100]

I take offense at my Line not being considered the quirkiest.

Your quirkiness is more of a subdued quirky. It has depth.

[Personamanx]

Your quirkiness is more of a subdued quirky. It has depth.

I try my best dammit!

[mcgaffer]

1. You guys are editors for perhaps Age of Marvel's "quirkiest" titles. Is this something that you had originally intended or was it something that evolved?

I think it's a bit of both. I can only speak for the Cabal and Midnight Sons at the moment but the initial layout said from the start that these weren't your ordinary teams.
The Cabal, a team of primarily mystical villains led by Dr. Doom and so far they've spent more time defending the world then trying to take it over. I like to think that the team is another case of Doom thinking ahead, the other villains of the world aren't going to stop being villains if he rules so he has to maintain order. Another matter is that perhaps the Cabal are actually earth's best champions, they are not restricted by morality, if a mystical or alien force threatens earth and they can kill it they will, there's no second chances against this team. The Cabal started life as something different and there now intent on changing life for everything else.
The Midnight Sons, a team of feared, dangerous outcasts (sound familiar). Fighting the good fight for themselves as much as the rest of us. This team started off on a familiar path that we've all read before but then the characters took over. How many times do you see the Son of Satan teaming up with the Pope? Or the city of Madrid sinking into the bowels of hell as the hero's look on helplessly? The madness is only just starting and it's going to grow fast, with this team there are no limits as to what can happen, evolution has never been as Strange.

2. Would you say that the Strange Tales line has a Vertigo feel or is that not a fair comparison?


I think our titles naturally lean towards an older audience by virtue of the characters and the general theme running through them. I like to think that the Midnight Sons is accessible to all ages but it can be a fine line to tread when dealing with horror. Quite often a concept that earns an 18's rating in a film is not looked at in the same manner in a comic, Marvel Zombies for example.
The Cabal to me is more adult in nature, we're talking about villains winning and the methods they use to win. This can lead to situations and questions more appreciated by an older audience especially when we let loose with what these characters can really do. I mean we have a vampire seductress, a goddess of Hell, perhaps the most powerful and evil witch in existence and Doom himself, in a way not slapping an 18's rating on this comic is a sign we're holding these guys back too much.

3. Are there any plot ideas that you turned down because they were just too far out there?

Lol, it's me that quite often needs reining in. The great thing about these characters though is that it's practically impossible to paint them into a corner. The crazier the situation the more it deserves to be in these pages.

4. What Strange Tale title(s) do you think would translate into a great movie?

Stabbitty Jones would be an amazing film. Fantastic character, great visualisation and the theme guarantees a winner.

5.What would you be doing if you weren't doing this interview?

Drinking more.

[goneandromeda]

Whatever happened to Onyxx? I've lost track of which book he's currently in. I didn't start into the Age of Marvels until after his solo series was dropped, but it seemed like an interesting concept!

Onyxx got cancelled after issue 1, which I hear is quite valuable these days if you happen to own a copy. It's kind of sad too, as I had some really way out there plans for him. He's also been starring as a member of the X-Men, with some major changes heading his way next month. I still have some longterm plans for him too, but those are mostly derailed. Sometime, someday, somewhere, we at the X-Office will find the time/space to tell the story of Sydney Green properly.