Marvel has offered a new glimpse of their post-Civil War II comic book lineup today, announcing a new status quo called “Divided We Stand.” When the dust from Civil War II settles and the new Marvel NOW relaunch begins, it seems that Marvel’s superhero community will still be divided down the middle.
FastCoCreate broke the news this morning, debuting a new teaser image drawn by Mike Deodato, Jr. along with the announcement. Check it out below:
This image features many of the characters who have been spotlighted in the recent Marvel NOW teasers, along with a handful of new inclusions like the Amadeus Cho Hulk, Kate Bishop Hawkeye, Gwenpool, Doctor Strange, Gamora and Elektra. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso told FastCoCreate that this teaser features those characters that will be playing prominent roles during the upcoming Marvel NOW relaunch. “They’re all there because they matter,” Alonso said. “They’ll either be in a solo series, or they’ll be a key member of a team, or they’ll do something that you will be talking about in a Marvel book that will bring them into a position of prominence. They’re there for a reason. Including that big, big, big what appears to be a Godzilla foot.”
Alonso also noted how proud he was of the diversity in this superhero lineup. “We’re all about creating books that connect with readers of all types. This has been a natural and organic process for us, and there’s been an evolution on it for us over the last few years. Looking at the teaser now, I’m noticing for the first time that you’ve got five Caucasian characters in the mix, five African-American characters, a Korean-American Hulk—it’s more diverse than I ever would have imagined, and I think that’s a good thing.”
The teaser is almost more interesting because of those characters that are missing rather than those present. Tony Stark is conspicuously absent, even as his new BFF Victor Von Doom and the apparent heir to the War Machine mantle, Riri Williams, are both prominently featured. The Sam Wilson Captain America, Peter Parker Spider-Man and Jane Foster Thor are all missing. And while there are several Inhumans included in the lineup (Ms. Marvel, Mosaic and Lunella Lafayette) we notice that none of the Royal Family like Medusa, Karnak or Black Bolt are present.
It’s also hard to ignore the fact that only one X-Man is included in the image. Is this a bad sign given that Marvel is prepping the ominously titled “Death of X” storyline? Similarly, the absence of any Fantastic Four characters doesn’t inspire much hope that that team will be returning anytime soon.
Look for Marvel to reveal more about “Divided We Stand” and the makeup of their post-Civil War II universe in the weeks ahead. Yesterday’s All-New, All-Different Avengers teaser hints at a big breakup coming for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, with the promise of more to be revealed on July 5.
Big Step by Marvel. Avengers are ever changing. Be great to check out this new direction.