IN THIS EDITION -- PACHECO Leave the X-MEN, MORE SPIDER-ACTIVITY, AVENGERS, AVENGERS, AVENGERS, DC's Next EVENT? And more....

BUT FIRST...

After agreeing in principle on a merger with our long time business associates, this past week, Newsarama Inc. moved our world headquarters into a modern, spacious new complex. But our phones and office supplies are still in boxes and the interns haven't found the new address yet, so there will be no new ASK NEWSARAMA column this week. Expect a bold return next week and in the meantime, you can keep those questions coming....

PACHECO EX-PENCILER

As reported earlier this week, Newsarama has learned that CARLOS PACHECO will be exiting as the adjectiveless X-MEN penciler for other work in the Marvel universe in the coming months. Marvel editorial has yet to confirm Pacheco's departure, but evidence supporting this report continues to mount.

Obviously, no replacement has yet been named, but various internet rumors have pointed to JASON PEARSON (BODY BAGS) as the new regular artist.

As to Pacheco, KURT BUSIEK has confirmed with the CBI-N that he will pencil 2 Busiek-written AVENGERS-related projects in 1998. First up for Busiek/Pacheco is the AVENGERS/SQUADRON SUPREME '98 annual due out "sometime around July", and then later in the year the 2 get together again for an Avengers mini-series, with the working title of AVENGERS: WORLD IN CHAINS.

WORLD IN CHAINS it too early in development to say when it will be released, or even its length, but the ever-busy Busiek more than made up for that with news of other Marvel projects he's smack dab in the middle of...

MOVING ON....

Busiek reports that a June "crossover event" will take place in IRON MAN #7, CAPTAIN AMERICA #8, QUICKSILVER #10 and AVENGERS #7. "It will involve the Supreme Intelligence, the Kree commandos led by Galen Kor who've got it in for the Avengers, the (former) Blue Area of the Moon and a strong focus on CAROL DANVERS (Binary/Ms. Marvel)...in fact, she'll be the only hero to appear in all four books," said Busiek.

"I've been calling the event BAD MOON RISING, but that's very, very much a working title. Tom (Brevoort) has threatened to call it "Kree-Venge," and we even called it "Live, Kree or Die" for about 2 and a 1/2 seconds. After we stopped laughing, though, we came to our senses."

And late this year, Busiek will write a IRON MAN special entitled IRON MAN: LOOK BACK IN ARMOR, which will feature the story the writer originally intended for an Iron Man Annual. No penciler has named, and Busiek was light on details, but he did confirm that the story will "pretty much" address the IRON BOY issue and get all things in world of Iron Man up-to-date.

"Look Back in Armor" will be released during November '98's AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS Month, which according to the writer will also feature a pivotal THUNDERBOLTS appearance in AVENGERS #12, Hercules in T-BOLTS #22, the previously announced CITIZEN V/CAPTAIN AMERICA '98 annual, the AVENGERS: SIEGE OF AVENGERS MANSION TPB reprinting the classic Stern/Buscema Masters of Evil epic, a Byron Preiss Avengers/T-Bolts novel by Pierce Askegren.

As to that Iron Man annual, MARK WAID will be handling that one as CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN '98 continues the dual-hero theme started with last year's DEADPOOL/DAREDEVIL '97 annual.

And speaking of al things AVENGERS-related, Waid has also confirmed he has written a RED SKULL bookshelf slated for May or June release. "It will be the definitive life story of the Skull, interwoven through flashbacks into the main story, which tells where the Skull has been since OPERATION: REBIRTH--in his own private Cosmic Cube created hell," said Waid.

MARVEL/EVENT UPDATE

Marvel and Event Comics continue to hammer out the details regarding a long-rumored joint publishing deal. According to Event co-head Jimmy Palmiotti, IF the current and progressing negotiations are successful, the deal will not only result in Event packaging 4 monthly Marvel titles, but also involves JOE QUESADA and Palmiotti relaunching their own titles under EVENT Comics, but distributed by Marvel and through Marvel's retail catalog.

As for the Marvel titles will package, Palmiotti confirmed they are currently negotiating for the BLACK PANTHER, and DAREDEVIL.

DD would be written by filmmaker KEVIN SMITH (who has committed with Event to write the title for 1 year) and illustrated by Quesada and Palmiotti. According to Palmiotti, the title will be relaunced with a new #1, probably sometime later this summer.

Palmiotti could not confirm the other 2 titles, but rumors point to the PUNISHER, and a 4th "title" that will be made up a monthly series of one and two-shots starring a variety of Marvel characters.

As for Event (who will move into the 13th penthouse floor of Marvel's Park Avenue NYC headquarters), Palmiotti describes their relationship with Marvel as "working partners", and they will retain total editorial control over their characters, properties, and titles, but take advantage of Marvel superior distribution system. Event is considering and hopes to lower the price of their titles from $2.95 to $2.50 (while retaining the same quality), once the deal is in place and their title relaunch

Plans are in the works for new ASH, PAINKILLER JANE, and 22 BRIDES ongoing titles, some unrevealed "creator-owned" projects, and some crossovers with Marvel characters (but "not for a long while" according to Palmiotti). But among the 1st titles that would be distributed and cataloged by Marvel include the long-awaited 5-issue JAMES ROBINSON/Quesada/Palmiotti ASH mini-series, and the completion of GEORGE PEREZ's CRIMSON PLAGUE mini...

Event also has plans for a series of PAINKILLER JANE crossovers. Following May's Waid/Augustyn/Leonardi VAMPIRELLA/PAINKILLER JANE one-shot with Harris, Event currently has deals with one large comic publisher, one smaller one, and are negotiating with another for crossovers in June, July and August, leading into the new PK ongoing series later this year.

Newsarama will have more details on all these stories as negotiations progress...

SPIDER-MAN UPDATE

Newsarama checked in with Spider-verse editor Ralph Macchio this week for the latest in the ever changing world that is SPIDER-MAN. Here's the up-to-the-minute 411...

-- MARK BUCKINGHAM has decided to remain at DC and will not be joining Marvel as the new AMAZING SPIDER-MAN penciler. Macchio is currently searching for a permanent artist for the title and in the meantime, MIKE DEODATO Jr. will handle the pencils for 1 or 2 upcoming issues.

-- As reported in the latest issue of Wizard, the Spider-titles will be refocused in 1998, with AMAZING and PETER PARKER becoming the only 2 "in-continuity" monthly titles. The creative teams are expect to remain the same.

-- SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN will be revamped into what Macchio describes as a LEGENDS-style "art book", to give top flight comic illustrators the chance to do Spider-Man story arcs. First in line for the revamped title is a MYSTERIO story arc penciled by MICHAEL ZULLI and written by J.M. DEMATTEIS. Macchio promises other big name artists to follow.

However, this arc will actually signal a return to Spider-Man for DeMatteis as he has announced (via a public post on AOL) that he is leaving the regular writing chores of the SPECTACULAR title after issue #258. A new writer(s) will take on the title until its relaunch later this year (more on that in a mo'...). DeMatteis said there was a possibility he'll write another LEGENDS-style arc "along the way, but, other than that, I am DONE with Spider-Man and moving on to other things".

-- As for the SENSATIONAL, the current plan is to cancel that title...and the creative team of TODD DEZAGO and MIKE WIERINGO are reportedly working on a proposal for a new series that is "related to the Spider-verse". According to DeZago. "Mike and I were told that we could make SENSATIONAL into whatever we want, but, based on the upcoming reshuffling in the Spider-books, we're not sure where we fit in…It'll be something, and we'll be together, that's about all we know."

-- When will all this happen?? The current tentative plan is for the Spider-titles to "go black" after the September books, in October John Byrne's YEAR ONE project will launch and be the only title published that month, and then the revamped Spider-line will kick off in November.

-- As for DeMatteis, he will continue with the SILVER SURFER and "my current favorite of favorites" MAN-THING, continue to focus energies on this screenwriting (he reports the DAREDEVIL project he is writing is on hold), and expects to be busy with an unnamed VERTIGO project sometime this year. He is also developing a children's series at Marvel.

"Michael Zulli and I are also talking to Marvel about developing a children's comic book. When I say children's comic, I don't mean Richie Rich/Casper-style kids' comics. I mean a comic book that has the poetry and richness of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, L. Frank Baum. An attempt to do classic children's fantasy in comic book form (think MOONSHADOW minus the adult content). But this is VERY vague at the moment, so it doesn't pay to go into it in detail."

As always, keep it tuned to Newsarama for developments...

BYTES & PIECES

-- Following the current 4-issue stint of upcoming SUPERBOY artist TOM GRUMMETT, JON J. MUTH will pencil "at least 3 issues" of the SILVER SURFER, begging with issue #140. This according to series writer J.M. DeMatteis.

-- And speaking of Superboy, TODD DEZAGO gave us a brief look into the upcoming membership of his JLA Jr. ongoing series...."So far it's just The BOYS (Superboy, Robin, Impulse) for the 1st 4 or 5 issues. New member in issue #5, another in around # 8 or 9, with guest stars showing up throughout. INFERNO guests in, I think, issue #7 or 8."

-- JAE LEE contacted us again this week with another HELLSHOCK update and one rather unpleasant analogy...."Just wanted to let you all know that HELLSHOCK #3 is at the printers. From here on in, it'll be as regular as a Metamucil induced bowel movement," said Lee.

-- This week TOP COW confirmed published rumors that JOE BENITEZ (WEAPON ZERO) will take over as penciler for THE DARKNESS following the departure of MARC SILVESTRI. "Marc will continue to be involved in The Darkness and in other Top Cow books and specials but Joe is an amazingly talented artist and this is his chance to shine!" said a spokesperson for Top Cow.

-- PHIL JIMENEZ is tentatively scheduled to pencil an unnamed X-MEN mini-series for the fall.

-- ACCLAIM has announced that the second QUANTUM & WOODY trade paperback will be offered in the February PREVIEWS. Like its predecessor, this compilation will have extra pages added and feature a "user-friendly price of $7.95."

-- Tom Brevoort told GHOST RIDER fans on AOL that because orders on that title's final issue were so low, Marvel has decided not to even print it. "It now lies, semi-completed, in a drawer in my office, until we can find a venue to print it at some point," posted the editor.

-- April's ZEN INTERGALACTIC NINJA will feature a crossover of mammary proportions. Shane and Sia, otherwise known to the world as the clothes-shedding Barbi Twins, meet Zen in the "The Roswell Incident." This story will be the f1st comic book appearance by the twins (or their breasts) since Topps' 1995 "Barbi Twins Adventures."

-- DEVIN GRAYSON continues her rise as up-and-coming DC Comics star. Grayson has a six issue mini-series in the works featuring an all-original teen-team of her own invention. More details as they become available.

-- STEVEN D. GRANT has announced that KEN LASHLEY will be the next regular penciler for WETWORKS, following the current run of issues by Mike Ryan.

-- GIL KANE will pencil a 3-issue MIGHTY MAN series, written by ERIK LARSEN (who will also ink) and GARY CARLSON in 1998.

-- CHRIS CLAREMONT explained to fans on COMPUSERVE the exact nature of his participation in upcoming issues of FANTASTIC FOUR. "Actually, my first script is FF #4. Issue #5 is my script over a joint plotting effort by Scott (Lobdell) and his editor, Mark Powers. #6 is wholly mine".

Claremont will continue as ongoing writer from that point on.

-- BEN RAAB confirmed he is writing a 10-page story for this year's GREEN LANTERN Annual.

-- Actress (and Will Smith's new wife) JADA PINKETT (SCREAM 2, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR) will create and write a new comic book series for AWESOME ENTERTAINMENT.

MENACE, which debuts in April, is a "gothic tale encompassing themes of life and death, Menace deals with the consequences of one's actions in this life and their effects in the hereafter. The series namesake is a female protagonist living in a world mired with sex, drugs and violence who is transformed into a powerful warrior caught in the eternal battle between Heaven and Hell."

The series will be penciled by DAN FRAGA.

"Hopefully the comic book world will embrace a taste of edgy urban activity," said Pinkett.

"The characters and situations in Menace are perfectly suited for other entertainment venues such as television, movies, video games and toys, "said Awesome President, CEO and founder Rob Liefeld.

-- CABLE writer JOE CASEY contracted us this week to fill us in on his upcoming plans with CALIBER. Casey will write a creator-owned mini-series set to debut in April. "It's called THE HARVEST KING, written by me and drawn by Xeric award-winning artist Mike Macropoulos."

"The series tells the story of Michael Dean, a 19-year-old small-time crook with delusions of criminal grandeur. He's about to be offered the sweetest deal imaginable -- unlimited power in exchange for his soul. An old story, to be sure, but this one has a slight difference: The only thing stopping Michael from taking that deal is none other than Michael Dean, or rather, a future version of himself, traveled 30 years back in time to prevent "himself" from making the biggest mistake of his life. Convincing young Michael to turn down the offer is one thing, but dealing with the archangel Paul -- the one who's offering this deal -- is another matter entirely, one that could cost both their lives."

-- ARROW's ongoing WONDERLAND series (March), a spin-off of Arrow's upcoming DARK OZ mini-series (itself a continuation of the OZ series formerly from Caliber) has been made into a bi-monthly series instead of a monthly as originally intended, this according to series penciler Danny Wall. "I'm very excited about this series, and the character designs are fresh and unique, what I describe as 'neo-Victorian' and others as the tradition of 'steampunk,' said Wall.

-- Twist And Shout Comics Online (http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com) will debut their first online comic this month. FLIES IN BLACK, is approved by MEN IN BLACK creator Lowell Cunningham, written and drawn by Rich Johnston, edited, colored, and published by Mike Meyer

THE GRAPELINE (a.k.a. The Rumor Mill)

DC's next "5th week" event (ala TANGENT and NEW YEAR's EVIL) is rumored to be a week of one-shot books focusing on prominent FEMALE characters of DC universe. Reportedly to ship in the last week of April, titles the CBI-N have received reports on include...

-- LOIS LANE, a "James Bond"-type adventure by BARBARA KESEL, AMANDA CONNER, AND JIMMY PALMIOTTI

-- DONNA TROY, by PHIL JIMENEZ,

-- and TODD DEZAGO's tentatively titled JLAJr: THE SECRET, the "sneaky" first official JLAJr. story, featuring the debut of a future team member.

-- HARRIS Comics has been hinting at an upcoming project featuring Billy Tucci's SHI in the Harris Universe. The CBI-N has learned that SHI MAY be dropping by the pages of Grant Morrison's and Mark Millar's VAMPIRELLA monthly title in a story arc encompassing issue's #7-9. According to the rumor, Harris' PANTHA would also play a part in the storyline.

THE CSN CRYSTAL BALL (from upcoming COMIC SHOP NEWS CSNsiders)

-- DAN BRERETON TOLD CSN that he and HOWARD CHAYKIN would like to continue telling more THRILLKILLER Elseworld's universe stories, following the release of the upcoming THRILLKILLER '62 one-shot. "I know we'd both like to do more stories", said Brereton. "Howard's left it open for more stories, definitely. The new characters introduced in Thrillkiller '62 could conceivably crop up in a future installment. It's my secret desire to see DC publish a monthly series set in this universe. I think the idea of taking away the superpowers and supplanting them with a more retro/crime noir feel has more potential than a handful of mini-series could ever cover."

-- Peter Laird, co-creator (with Jim Lawson) of PLANET RACERS, the hefty sf/motorcycle racing graphic novel published by ZEROMAYO STUDIOS, reports that a sequel to Planet Racers is already in the works. The 140+ page sequel should be in stores this summer.

-- Greg Hyland is taking LETHARGIC LAD To a new home at DESTINATION ENTERTAINMENT after a successful run at Crusade. The series will be published on a bi-monthly basis by DE. The 3rd issue (DE's first) will continue the Martian invasion storyline that began in Lethargic Lad Adventures #1 from Crusade Comics...

AND ONE FINAL THOUGHT ON SM: YEAR ONE

This week, in response to comments made by JOHN BYRNE on AOL (and reprinted here last week) regarding the controversial SPIDER-MAN: YEAR ONE project, KURT BUSIEK sent us the following statement. It will be immediately preceded by Byrne's original statements.

JOHN BYRNE (compiled from AOL) wrote:

"Before this goes any further, let me remind people that I am not 'repairing' Spider-Man with YEAR ONE. I used the expression 'detailing', and that is the best term for what I am doing... taking an existing work and tightening, tweaking and touching up. The end result will look pretty much like the original material, only more easily accessible (especially financially) to a new reader."

"Interestingly enough, if Kurt was doing this he would be confronted with the same problem which faces me...a finite number of pages in which to fit a comprehensive retelling of what we have arbitrarily decided is Spider-Man's 1st year. Confronted with this, I wonder, would Kurt dump LEE/DITKO material in order to fit his own UNTOLD addendums, or, like me, would he find himself wanting to preserve as much of the original material as humanly possible?"

BUSIEK replies:

"Just to respond, since John asks a question about what I'd do... I'd preserve as much of the original material as humanly possible, of course. I haven't been stumping for John to ignore Lee/Ditko stuff in order to represent stuff I wrote...if John does YEAR ONE and never so much as alludes to a line of what I added to Spidey's early history, or what Roger Stern, Gerry Conway or other writers have, it won't bother me a bit. My only disappointment was John's announced intention to retcon out the events of the AMAZING FANTASY mini-series. Not simply to ignore them, but to directly contradict them, to make them "not have happened." That's the only reason I've expressed any disappointment with the project, and even so, I figure it's up to Marvel, John and his editor to choose which approach is best. I can be disappointed, just as I am with Hal Jordan no longer being Green Lantern, while at the same time knowing that the creators involved are doing what they think is best, even if it's not what I would do myself."

"The closest I've come to doing this sort of 're-telling' is in MARVELS, and I was often confronted with space limitations. What I always tried to do was present what was most germane to the story I was telling, while leaving room for all the other stuff to happen off-stage...not showing everything, but not contradicting anything. If that's the kind of "detailing" that'll be happening with YEAR ONE, I couldn't be happier. Either way, though, I'm still looking forward to the finished work, since I'm a fan both of John's work and of Spider-Man."

"I hope this isn't turning into any sort of feud. It was a polite discussion on AOL when it started -- John announced the project, I asked if any of the stuff I added would be turning up, and upon learning the timeframe of AMAZING FANTASY #16-18, John said he was going to 'MAN OF STEEL' it away. My reaction was essentially, "Gee, I wish you weren't going to do that." I hardly think that's a stinging indictment...if everyone made the same creative decisions all the time, the world would be a boring place."

The Comic Book Internet Newsarama compiles news gathered directly from comics publishers and professionals. Any fan or pro with news, rumors, suggestions, or complaints, can address them to editor Michael Doran at our email address. Publishers may address all press releases and/or promotional material to --

michael doran 190 Millburn Avenue, Apt. I-2 Millburn NJ, 07041

We encourage all feedback. "Goodnight Mr. Walters" "Uhhh eehhh"

(c) 1998 Newsarama

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