During a livechat event this afternoon (see here), Marvel announced a new series called Vengeance, which will be written by Joe Casey with artwork by Nick Dragotta. The series will debut in July, and will be a six issue mini.
Editor, Tom Brennan says the series is an “exploration of villainy through the eyes of the next generation.”, and goes on to say that they wanted to do a series that focused on the villains, “and naturally when it comes to pure evil Joe Casey comes to mind.” they’re exploring the nature of evil in the Marvel Universe, which has always been more complex than you might see in other comics. Marvel villains have strong motivations.
Joe Casey says that they wanted to tell a really epic story. Since Fear Itself is running concurrently with this series, with everyone’s eyes on that series Joe will be doing his own thing on this series. They’re going to push things, and it will be a Marvel comic that’s unlike anything out there right now. He also said that the wide range of characters is meant to show the epic scope of the story. There are young villains, young heroes, older villains, other dimensions of the Marvel U that get involved.
The chat mostly went to Q&A after that, so after these character teasers, you can find the entire chat, if you are interested.
Joe’s speaking about the characters he chose now. They wanted to tell a really epic story. Since Fear Itself is running concurrently with this series, with everyone’s eyes on that series Joe will be doing his own thing on this series. They’re going to push things, and it will be a Marvel comic that’s unlike anything out there right now.
3:11
[Comment From HereBeGeeks]
Ah, so basically they’re the EEEEVILLLL~ counterparts to the Young Avengers and the Young Allies. But where does Avengers Academy tie into all this?
3:11
Strommy:
The wide range of characters is meant to show the epic scope of this thing. There are young villains, young heroes, older villains, other dimensions of the Marvel U that get involved.
3:11
UltimateKidNova:
@HereBeGeeks Not quite that simple…
3:11
[Comment From RavinRay]
The In-Betweener wannabe had people really speculating.
3:12
Strommy:
Nick is describing this as a trip through the Marvel Universe.
3:12
[Comment From themusicman113]
Sounds pretty legit! I’m down for some new Marvel blood.
3:12
[Comment From Eddie Newsome]
I love the nighthawk looking character!
3:12
Strommy:
In the first eight pages, they go to Hitler’s Germany, the most insane nightclub, the Nine dimensions, and a homeless shelter.
3:13
UltimateKidNova:
Got a few questions on hold right now: Why are there characters with Cap-looking costumes? Is that Stacy X and where has she been? Are those character heroes or villains?
3:13
UltimateKidNova:
Which of those should I ask?
3:13
Strommy:
There are pretty big, classic villains showing up on the covers-what type of role do they play in the story?
3:13
UltimateKidNova:
Or would you guys rather know about the Nighthawk character? The In-Betweener character?
3:14
UltimateKidNova:
Ok, Stacy X up first
3:14
Strommy:
The classic Marvel villains they’re using and where they’re at at the moment provides a throughline and a backdrop for the story. They reflect how fluid the Marvel Universe is, and how it evolves. The reaction of the young characters to the villains is the driving force.
3:15
Strommy:
For instance, if a young villain who idolizes Magneto finds out he’s a hero now, he’s going to be confused.
3:15
UltimateKidNova:
Similarly, Loki is a kid.
3:16
Strommy:
Characters like Thor and Loki have already had a huge impact on the world, though, even if they’re now “good guys.”
3:16
UltimateKidNova:
I think you meant, Magneto, not Thor, Strommy
3:17
Strommy:
Yes, Magneto.
3:17
Strommy:
Clearly, my head is too far in “Thor” space right now.
3:17
UltimateKidNova:
Tom and Joe spoke a lot about how even though a guy like Magneto may be “on the side of angels,” his legacy of bad stuff lives on
3:18
UltimateKidNova:
Just asked about Stacy. Strommy will give you guys Joe’s answer.
3:18
[Comment From Dallas Strimple]
Stacy X seems to have her Mutant look again, will there be an explanation of how this happened and where she has been since Civil War New Warriors?
3:18
Strommy:
As for whether or not that’s Stacy X, it looks like her, but you’ll have to read the first issue for me. There will be other characters Joe’s written in the past in this one, though.
3:19
UltimateKidNova:
“If you’re familiar with my work at Marvel over my career, this will have a lot of Easter eggs for you.” -Joe Casey
3:19
Strommy:
The bulk of the story takes place in the modern Marvel universe, there are just a lot of tangents they go on. Some of it takes place in the past in WWII. There are a lot of places to explore in the Marvel U, and hopefully they’ll hit on a lot of them.
3:19
UltimateKidNova:
Next question?
3:20
UltimateKidNova:
Cap costume themes on deck
3:20
Strommy:
How much involvement will the villains have? They’re there, every issue. It’s not like they came up and sit around a table together, but you can look at each cover as a corner of the Marvel Universe that will be explored and looked in on. In the issue with the Doc Ock cover, you’ll be in the Spider-Man/street level milieu, for instance.
3:21
Strommy:
The issue with the Red Skull cover will deal with the WWII heroes/villains, and reveal a secret from the past that hasn’t been seen.
3:21
Strommy:
Is there any tie between the six characters we’ve seen in teasers and the six villains on the covers? No, they just wanted to put out the six character designs that they thought would get people talking.
3:22
Strommy:
There’s a character there called the Ultimate Nullifier who Joe says is “the coolest thing,” and a new Miss America.
3:23
[Comment From RavinRay]
MORE secrets from WWII and the Invaders era? Wow!
3:23
UltimateKidNova:
It was a long war, @RavinRay
3:23
[Comment From themusicman113]
WHOA. The Ultimate Nullifier is now a person? Or do they just share a name?
3:23
UltimateKidNova:
@themusicman113 Stay tuned…
3:23
Strommy:
Question about the structure of the book: It’s a big, sprawling epic, where each issue will have sort of special guest stars. It’s not an anthology or a series of one-shots. The characters that carry through the whole stories, each in their different ways, deal with the villains in their own ways.
3:23
[Comment From HereBeGeeks]
The new Miss America is… a villain? Naise.
3:23
UltimateKidNova:
@HereBeGeeks Is she?
3:24
UltimateKidNova:
Lady Bullseye will be appearing in the Bullseye issue
3:24
Strommy:
In the Bullseye issue, Bullseye’s dead. What does it mean that one of the most deadly villains in the Marvel U is dead? What does it mean that Lady Bullseye is out there? Is she a true successor?
3:24
[Comment From Eddie Newsome]
let’s hear about the nighthawk character
3:25
UltimateKidNova:
@Eddie Newsome Remember that Joe said this would be a “tour” of his Marvel work, and he has worked on Nighthawk before…
3:25
[Comment From alex_mmorales]
so every issue will focus on a perspective from the A-list villains?
3:25
UltimateKidNova:
@alex_mmorales An A-list villain will play a role in each issue, not necessarily directly. The six in question are the six listed in our poll.
3:27
UltimateKidNova:
Just asked about the Cap costumes
3:27
UltimateKidNova:
Strommy will give you Joe’s answer
3:27
[Comment From Eddie Newsome]
yet another reason to “make mine marvel”!
3:27
Strommy:
Joe is joking that Captain America is “too low on the pay scale for this book.” The two characters with Cap-like designs aren’t tied to Cap, though.
3:27
UltimateKidNova:
However, at least one is a “Cap fan”
3:28
Strommy:
While they’re exploring villainy in the book, you’ll also see how the young characters perceive the heroes
3:28
[Comment From Tina Carroll]
I have a potential thought: could the main characters want to build on villains like the Red Skull’s flaws? Like that white haired Cap-person could want to build off of the Red Skull/dislike him as a villain?
3:28
UltimateKidNova:
@Tina Caroll Interesting thought for sure
3:28
Strommy:
Since the public in the Marvel U doesn’t always have the same perspective on events as the reader does, how do they perceive the heroes’ actions?
3:29
UltimateKidNova:
Two dog race between Magneto and Doctor Doom for your favorite A-list Marvel villain…can Doom surge from behind?
3:29
[Comment From Levi Tompkins]
or is this more of an anthology
3:29
UltimateKidNova:
@Levi Tompkins Joe did say earlier it would not be an anthology
3:29
Strommy:
Question about the series title-they’re dealing so much with what these villains have done and the legacy they’ve left behind. There is no “moment of vengeance” or anything like that, but the legacy the villains have left behind involves a lot of anger.
3:30
[Comment From Levi Tompkins]
oh sorry, i got in late
3:30
UltimateKidNova:
@Levi Tompkins Don’t worry about it, I’m not sure we actually mentioned he said that
3:30
[Comment From themusicman113]
Kind of the antithesis of the concept of “Avengers.” Just straight up vengeance.
3:31
UltimateKidNova:
Not sure if we mentioned this either, but this series will introduce a new Teen Brigade
3:31
UltimateKidNova:
“You might be able to change the world, and these kids are going after that idea with a vengeance.” -Nick Dragotta
3:31
UltimateKidNova:
That’s how this series views “Vengeance,” not as revenge
3:32
[Comment From Eddie Newsome]
I have to applaud the guts to introduce new heroes and villains and not sticking with the status quo
3:32
[Comment From Marlon Ricardo]
I would appreciate more an anti-hero profile than a villain one!
3:32
UltimateKidNova:
@Marlon Ricardo It sounds like you might get that here
3:32
Strommy:
If Vengeance is successful, would they like to explore more of what the characters think of the heroes? Nick and Tom both say that they’d like to see more of these characters, and Joe’s descriptions for each character were almost like pitches for solo series unto themselves.
3:33
Strommy:
Is the title Vengeance at all a nod to “Acts of Vengeance?” “Yes” is all Tom Brennan will say.
3:34
UltimateKidNova:
There was also a lot of laughter from Joe Casey and Brennan yelling “Next question!”
3:34
[Comment From Levi Tompkins]
oh wow…i hadnt even thought of Acts of Vengeance…brilliant
3:34
[Comment From captaingeeek]
any cover art teasers?
3:34
UltimateKidNova:
@captaingeeek We’ll have all six covers up on Marvel.com immediately following this chat
3:35
Strommy:
What’s the main approach Marvel has to legacy characters? Brennan says that they deal with legacy characters “very selectively” at Marvel. The names are important, so that when a new legacy comes up they want it to be a story point, something that comes up organically. Don’t just put someone in a costume and call them the legacy name-they need a motivation.
3:35
[Comment From captaingeeek]
as soon as this is done i’ll put it up as featured on PoP!
3:36
UltimateKidNova:
There’s your cheap plug @captaingeeek
3:36
[Comment From Julian Caballero]
Creating a whole world intertwined keeps everything fresh. Always going after the same foe gets tired…
3:37
UltimateKidNova:
Haha, look at the comment board lighting up with plugs!
3:37
Strommy:
Will we see significant changes in the new characters over the course of the six issues, since this series deals so much with the evolution of characters? Absolutely. by the end, they’ll all be in different places. “Not only that, but some of them are going to die!” Casey chimes in.
3:38
UltimateKidNova:
Ok, the call just wrapped, but Strommy and myself will stick around here a bit longer to answer any questions we can, so fire away
3:39
[Comment From Tina Carroll]
Will these six characters in the teasers be the main ones? Sorry if this was answered already.
3:39
UltimateKidNova:
@Tina Caroll They will be the main cast, but not the only characters involved.
3:39
[Comment From captaingeeek]
Do we have names for all these characters in the teasers yet?
3:39
UltimateKidNova:
@captaingeeek We know one is The Ultimate Nullifier and another is Miss America, but that’s it so far
3:39
[Comment From Levi Tompkins]
like will any current marvel titles seed plot elements for this series?
3:40
[Comment From Tina Carroll]
Could you say which is the Ultimate Nullifier? Is he/she related to the device, perhaps?
3:40
UltimateKidNova:
@Levi Tompkins Vengeance will react to some larger Marvel events like Fear Itself, but will be more or less standalone. You don’t need to read anything else to be ready for the series.
3:41
Strommy:
@Tina You’ll have to read to find out! They did not mention which design was the Ultimate Nullfier on the call.
3:43
[Comment From Levi Tompkins]
any idea who the colorist is
3:43
UltimateKidNova:
@Levi Tompkins Brad Simpson, Nick Dragotta’s regular colorist, and that’s straight from Tom Brennan, who is hovering over my shoulder
3:46
[Comment From Julian Caballero]
Hey, Tom… I know that not all villians are truely bad, but then again, will there at least be one who is just plain bad to the bone. One whom others see as way too out there, like Gary Busey,
3:46
UltimateKidNova:
@Julian Tom says you will like the Doc Ock issue
3:47
UltimateKidNova:
Ok folks, we’re cutting out. But check Marvel.com in moments for all six covers for Vengeance!
3:47
UltimateKidNova:
Thanks to Joe Casey, Nick Dragotta & Tom Brennan for joining us, to “Playboy” James Viscardi for setting up the call, and for all of you for being here!
