The Marvel Universe changes pretty often. In fact, I've complained in the past that the big events and changes come so fast that a person can't even really appreciate the changes that have come. Dark Reign is the best example of this, where the villains ruled the MU for all of about a year. Given how decompressed the stories are, that gave about two villain-centric stories in each Marvel title, when so much more could have been done with the concept. Nevertheless, one of the biggest potential points of change is building in Marvel's current Secret Wars storyline, which promises to mash several elements of their multiverse into the 616, possibly forever. Elements of the Ultimate Comics line, with its cool concepts and long-flagging sales, will be saved, for example.
Coming out of that change, following a build-up of two or three years from Hickman's FF and New Avengers, and into Soule's Inhuman series is a tremendous event revolving around the Inhumans. We still aren't sure exactly what the change or event is, though Franklin Richards warned Black Bolt about it at the climax of FF, and Lineage claims its something old and tremendous, and will require every Inhuman to defeat. Black Bolt found it necessary to give up his throne on Hala and release the Terrigen bomb on Earth in order to defeat it, so whatever this impending climax is, its gotta be big.
Whatever the outcome, in the aftermath we gain two new Inhuman titles, alongside the continuing wonderful adventures of the wonderful (and also renumbered) Ms. Marvel. Uncanny Inhumans finally returns with a new #1, months after its 0 issue preview, replacing the previous Inhuman book. And for the first time Karnak appears in his own solo title! In fact... is he the first member of the Royal Family to ever get his own book (Kamala Khan would be the first Inhuman)?
We don't know much about the new Karnak title, but we can see its being helmed by Warren Ellis and Gerardo Zaffino. If you're not familiar with Zaffino's work, its worth checking out. Angular, dark, brooding, is this Karnak going to be a horror title? Check out Winter World from IDW for a sample of his work.
Aside from this creative team, we can only guess what this title could be about. Prior to the Secret Wars destruction, Karnak had a moment of spiritual enlightenment, a bout with madness, committed suicide, and then pulled himself back out of the afterlife. This could leave us with a very different, soul-searching Monk, perhaps still concerned with the events of the Terrigen bomb and the Inhuman apocalypse. Only time will tell.
For this title, we at least have a press release blurb from the Marvel offices:
Eight months have passed. From her throne on New Attilan, Queen Medusa and her new paramour Johnny Storm seek to bolster Human and Inhuman relations with the world’s eyes upon them. Yet in the shadows, the Midnight King has other plans. Black Bolt now runs covert operations in service of a larger, more mysterious goal. What is he up to? Meanwhile, what could have happened between Inhumans and Mutants to make Beast join up with the Inhumans? Did we mention Kang the Conqueror, the most dangerous villain throughout Marvel’s history seeks to exploit the Inhumans for his own gain?
The additions of Human Torch and Beast are a bit strange. Much like with Thing going to Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel seems to be struggling to find a home for the disbanded Fantastic Four characters, or perhaps is hoping that the addition of other mainstream team characters could buff the interest of the Inhuman title. But I have faith in the creative team here, so hopefully the addition will seem like an organic choice.
Also, can't help but be a bit weirded out by Johnny Storm hooking up with Medusa, after he was with her sister Crystal, and the two of them were always shown to be significantly younger than Medusa. Medusa is now our first Inhuman cougar, is definitely slumming it, and doesn't mind picking up her little sister's scraps. Either way, I can only hope that one day we get to see BB come back and toss Johnny to the curb. Also, I have to hope that Beast's holier-than-thou experiments with time are all done (see All-New X-Men), as that guy's been on my shit list for a couple years now. Maybe some time with the Inhumans will set him straight.
We'll find out in October!
What's your favorite inhumans storyline?
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