Marvel: Kirkman Teams-Up

[Local Hero]

Posted 30/07/04
Source Newsarama
by Ryan McLelland

One of Marvel’s big announcements during the San Diego Comic Con was the relaunch of the classic series Marvel Team-Up, written by Robert Kirkman with art by Scot Kolins. While the original series featured Spider-Man teaming up with someone else for all one hundred and fifty issues, expect some difference with the new Marvel Team-Up right from the gate.

“Spider-Man will be making an appearance in the first two issues, and often after that, but it's not going to be "Spider-Man and..." every month,” said writer Robert Kirkman. “I like to think of it like a one stop shop for the Marvel Universe. I'll also be using it as a platform to use characters that Marvel might not think are strong enough to carry their own book, but are still cool enough to pop in from time to time. I'll be using damn near everyone in the Marvel U by the end of issue #25.

”Scot Kolins and I are trying lots of new things here,” Kirkman continued. “Scot and I are spring boarding on most of this stuff, and his input is invaluable. Between him, [editor] Tom Brevoort and I we're coming up with lots of cool stuff to do here. I'm trying to create some new villains with this series, so keep your eyes peeled with that. I don't think Marvel's had a good reoccurring villain come on the scene since the early eighties. I really want to put some more toys in the sandbox, new villains, new characters... I'm giving this book my all. Also, nothing is going to be contrived.

“We're doing big arcs, using large corners of the Marvel U, so each arc is going to seem like a massive Marvel event. I'm also going to be having subplots and layers upon layers of side stories going on in the book. So readers can buy issue 1 and follow along from month to month and get a rich, detailed tapestry of Marvel goodness month after month. I don't want people skipping issues when Speedball shows up. No matter who is in any given issue, if you've liked the book so far... you'll enjoy every issue. There's going to be a lot of stuff going on. Needless to say, I'm having a blast.”

So who can readers expect to appear in the comic and will it ever feature Sleepwalker, the character Kirkman resurrected for Epic only to have one single issue launch? “I'd love to use Sleepwalker eventually,” Kirkman said. “But I'm going to have to wait until the book finds its legs. People will have to love this book before I'll be able to get away with using him. That said, the characters lined up for the first batch of issues on no particular order are: Spider-Man, Wolverine, Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Iron Man, X-23, Captain America, Black Widow, Nick Fury, Punisher, Blade, Damage Control, Hawkeye. I'll leave some surprises for later.”

While Spider-Man might not be around for each and every issue, readers can still expect the webhead to swing on by often, “Spidey will be in this book a lot and I'm sure we'll eventually see some of his villains. I love writing Spider-Man, so I'll be using him as much as they'll let me, within reason.”

When asked about how long he’ll be on the series Kirkman replies, “I think as time goes on readers will find that I'm one of those writers that latches on and holds onto a book for dear life. I'll be on Team-Up for as long as they let me.”

Marvel Team-Up #1 and #2 are scheduled to ship in November. The series will be monthly thereafter.

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