Milo, aka “Bane of Kings”, runs down the Top Marvel comics coming your way in October.

October looks set to be an interesting month for Marvel, with the second half of Battle of the Atom playing out across the various X-books alongside Infinity pressing onwards. Elsewhere, Hunger wraps up its mini-series, Hawkeye returns and Francesco Francavilla does Guardians of the Galaxy. What more could you want? You can treat this as my pull-list in regards to what Marvel books that I’m picking up this month, so there are a lot of books out there that I haven’t covered. All release dates are subject to ComicList however – so they may be subject to change.

2 OCTOBER 2013 

ALL NEW X-MEN #17

Story: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Stuart Immonen, Arthur Adams | Price: $3.99

X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 6!

Magik and Young Beast have a special mission!

The X-Men and Future X-Men have Jean Grey and Cyclops and are going to send them back in time with the rest of the Original X-Men.

But who is opposing them and why?

WHY? X-Men: Battle of the Atom is a lot of fun so far. Although it’s not a perfect event, it’s a damn sight better than Age of Ultron or Avengers vs. X-Men and I’m actually really looking forward to the next stream of titles from Battle of the Atom that makes a change from the point where multiple times throughout Age of Ultron I was considering dropping the event from my pull. However, it was only my collector’s mentality that kept me going. However, with Battle of the Atom - things are looking up, and I can’t wait to see how things unravel over the next set of issues that are thrown our way. Really looking forward to this one, and I’m glad we don’t have to wait multiple months for each new installment, when each new issue of this event comes out in the following week.

HUNGER #3 (of #4)

Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov | Art: Leonard Kirk, Adi Granov | Price: $3.99

THE UNIVERSE-SHATTERING SERIES CONTINUES

With his new heralds, GALACTUS is unstoppable!

CHITAURI EMPIRE: Destroyed!

KREE EMPIRE: Defeated!

CAPTAIN MARVEL: Lost in battle?

WHY? Hunger is my first exposure to the work of Joshua Hale Fialkov and I’ve loved the first two issues. This whole mini-series is something that I believe is the best thing to come out of Age of Ultron, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how Fialkov wraps up the third and final acts which both hit shelves this month after taking a month’s break. And did I mention how awesome the artwork is as well? Seriously, I would love the creative team on this book to do a Silver Surfer ongoing, as judging by what I’ve seen here, Fialkov really gets the character, and Kirk and Granov bring some superb artwork to the table.

9 OCTOBER 2013 

CAPTAIN AMERICA #12

Story: Rick Remender | Art: Carlos Pacheco | Price: $3.99

LOOSE NUKE PART 2

Nuke on a rampage!

The Weapon Minus program revealed!

Meet Dr. Mindbubble, the unbelievable Super Soldier created in the 1960s!

WHY? Captain America has rapidly risen to a title that’s become one of my favourite Marvel ongoings. I’m loving what Remender brings to this title each month, and now that we exited Dimension Z last issue that had drastic consequences for Steve Rogers and those that he cared about, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with the whole Loose Nuke arc as Nuke and Dr. Mindbubble are characters that I haven’t encountered before, and when you throw in Jet Black into the equasion as well, things are going to be set to be pretty interesting indeed.

INFINITY #4 (of #6)

Story: Jonathan Hickman | Art: Jerome Opena, Adam Kubert | Price: $3.99

Negotiating the fall of worlds.

The Illuminati versus Thanos.

Thor, God of War.

WHY? Infinity is probably the better of Marvel’s two ongoing event storylines at the moment and I’m loving what Hickman brings to the table with each issue. Whilst I’ve been lost more than once over the course of this series, I’m finding it a lot of fun and I believe that not only is Hickman making this book an enjoyable read, but Opena is contributing fantastically to this book as well with stunning artwork. Looking forward to see where this goes from here as we enter the second half of the event.

THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #14

Story: Jason Aaron | Art: Ron Garney | Price: $3.99

The Wild Hunt has begun! As Malekith the Accursed continues his bloody rampage across the Nine Realms, Thor finds new allies to aid him in the chase: A Dark Elf sorceress!

A gun-toting Light Elf! A gargantuan Mountain Giant! A dwarf who loves dynamite! and a particularly surly troll . . ?!

WHY? My third favourite Marvel series at the moment behind Hawkeye and Daredevil, Jason Aaron’s Thor kickstarted the new Malekith arc in an epic fashion and this next entry promises to be just as good. After all, who doesn’t love gun-toting Light Elfs, and dynamite-loving dwarfs?

X-MEN #6

Story: Brian Wood | Art: David Lopez, Arthur Adams | Price: $3.99

X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 7!

CHAOS AT THE JEAN GREY SCHOOL as the X-Men and Future X-Men are attacked!

Rachel Grey is the only X-Man qualified to defeat the mystery opponents!

WHY? Along with Hawkeye, Daredevil, Young Avengers and Thor: God of Thunder, Brian Wood’s X-Men series fits among the Top 5 of my favourite Marvel books and I’m loving what Wood brings to the table each issue. As this continues on from All New X-Men #17, I can’t wait to see where this event unfolds and hopefully Wood will make this issue an improvement on the last which felt like it was an unecessary tie-in, featuring only brief cameos from the female cast of X-characters that we’ve got to know over the previous issues. However, given Wood’s reputation and succesful start to the series, I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.

16 OCTOBER 2013 

AVENGERS #21

Story: Jonathan Hickman | Art: Leinil Francis Yu | Price: $3.99

INFINITY TIE-IN – “AVENGERS UNIVERSE: IV“

The final battle for the Marvel universe begins.

The fall of a Galactic empire.

The rise of a new one.

WHY? I’m following this series digitally as it ties into Infinity and it really helps me get a better understanding of whole event. Hickman is an incredibly strong writer and I’m looking forward to seeing where he takes this series!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7

Story: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Sara Pichelli | Price: $3.99

With the mysterious Angela now on the team and the massive effects of Infinity beginning to rise, the galaxy’s most mismatched heroes find themselves at a crossroads.

PLUS: All covers feature a special digital variant cover activated by the Marvel AR app.

WHY? Sara Pichelli’s artwork is awesome and Bendis is really doing a fantastic job with this series. I’m loving each issue and Guardians of the Galaxy is always a lot of fun to read.

HAWKEYE #13

Story: Matt Fraction | Art: David Aja | Price: $2.99

Fraction and Aja continue the surprise comic hit of the century!

After a lifetime of decisions both good and bad, Clint and Barney Barton have to realize they are brothers and ultimately, they’re the only ones who can save one another. I mean if they don’t kill each other first.

Good luck with that, Barton brothers.

WHY? About damn time. This is my favourite Marvel Now! book (tied with Mark Waid’s Daredevil), so I can’t wait to see what Fraction and Aja do with this book when it returns. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this issue, and October 16 can’t come fast enough.

HUNGER #4 (of #4)

Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov | Art: Leonard Kirk, Adi Granov | Price: $3.99

THE BEGINNING OF THE END???

Has RICK JONES failed to stop Earth from destruction?

The death throes of a universe!

A hero reborn? The road to CATACLYSM starts here!

WHY? Yay for double-shipping Hunger! This is a mini-series that a lot more people should be reading and I’m really looking forward to seeing where Fialkov can take the book from here. Certainly something that I’m looking forward to.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #19

Story: Dan Slott | Art: Ryan Stegman | Price: $3.99

Necessary Evil CONCLUDES!

The moment that changes world of Spider-Man–and the Marvel Universe for years to come.

Which Spider-Man is responsible for such a thing? Spider-Man 2099 or the Superior Spider-Man?

Major developments for both Spider-Man’s cast . . . and for the future.

WHY? Superior Spider-Man is one of the most fun Marvel books at the moment and I’m loving each issue. Dan Slott does a killer job with this series no matter what the haters say and I can’t wait to see how he wraps up the current arc and who is left standing at the end, be it Spider-Man 2099 or Superior Spidey. This arc so far has certainly got me interested in checking out more Spidey 2099 stuff though – has anyone got any suggestions?

UNCANNY X-MEN #13

Story: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Chris Bachalo, Arthur Adams | Price: $3.99

X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 8!

Wolverine, who just lost his healing factor, takes a mortal hit!And a surprise ending that changes everything in the X-Men Event of 2013!

WHY? Like Superior Spider-Man, Uncanny X-Men is one of the few double-shipping book that I’m following and although it doesn’t double-ship for Battle of the Atom, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how this plays out. Chris Bachalo is a pretty awesome artist and Arthur Adams has produced some amazing covers for Battle of the Atom so far so I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table. Looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.

23 OCTOBER 2013

DAREDEVIL #32

Story: Mark Waid | Art: Chris Samnee | Price: $2.99

The Man Without Fear–trapped in a nightmare situation!

Something final is building in Daredevil’s life–and building fast!

WHY? Another awesome series that’s my joint favourite Marvel ongoing at the moment, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are both delivering some incredible stuff with this title and each issue is just mind-blowing. I can already tell that this is going to be my pick of the week for this week judging on the strength of every issue that I’ve read since #26 (I still need to go back and read the previous #25 issues at some point) so I can’t wait for this one.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #20

Story: Dan Slott | Art: Ryan Stegman | Price: $3.99

From the fallout of NECESSARY EVIL, comes new beginnings and new twists that will be felt in the pages of Spider-Man for years to come! SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #20 is where it all starts! Do NOT miss this one!

It’s the first ever adventure for the Superior Spider-Man and the Black Cat. Felicia Hardy always cared for the Spider more than the man. But what happens when that man is Otto Octavius?

Plus: A day Otto has been waiting for is finally here. Is the world ready for “Dr. Peter Parker”. . . and what he plans to do next?

WHY? Having not encountered the Black Cat before I’ll be interested to see how this plays out. Also, the prospect of Peter Parker being Doctor Peter Parker certainly looks interesting. Looking forward to this one, and I love that it double-ships.

WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #37

Story: Jason Aaron | Art: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Arthur Adams | Price: $3.99

X-MEN:BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 9!

All of the X-Men (present & future) and their adversaries are reeling from the events of Part 8!

With the adversaries’ Plan A squashed, they turn to their far more sinister Plan B on the grounds of the X-Men’s first adventure!

WHY? Really looking forward to this one. Jason Aaron’s delivered one of the best Battle of the Atom storylines so far and I can’t wait to see what he does here. Certainly picking this one up, especially as it’s the penultimate part.

 

YOUNG AVENGERS #11

Story: Kieron Gillen | Art: Jamie McKelvie | Price: $2.99

They say you can never go home. For the Young Avengers, it’s not true. They can go home. It’s just that if they do, the universe may end. Better not go home then, eh?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOUNG AVENGERS? YOU’VE DECIDED TO GO HOME? GAHHKKH! YOU GUYS!

Is Kate Bishop an enemy in waiting? Is this the last we see of the loveable/strangle-able Kid Loki?

Are rhetorical questions a cheap device when writing solicits? All answers revealed, except the last one, which you’ll have to work out by yourselves.

WHY? Young Avengers sits in the Top 5 of my favourite Marvel books at the moment and I can’t wait for this issue. Loving this series so far, and I’m actually hoping that this isn’t the last we see of Kid Loki, who’s actually incredible awesome and steals pretty much every single scene that he’s in. Count me excited for this one regardless, though.

30 OCTOBER 2013 

AVENGERS #22

Story: Jonathan Hickman | Art: Leinil Francis Yu | Price: $3.99

INFINITY TIE-IN – “AVENGERS UNIVERSE: V“

The Avengers return to our Solar System.

The battle for Earth starts in the heavens.

The Black Order makes their move.

WHY? See the previous comments on the Avengers issue for my thoughts on this series so far.

CATACLYSM #0.1 

Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov | Art: Mico Suayan, Leonard Kirk, Mirco Piefederici | Price: $3.99

CLASSIFIED!

WHY? The end of the Ultimate Universe! (or is it?) Cataclysm seems to be the next step on from Hunger and possibly the third stage in a ‘trilogy’ that started out with Age of Ultron? The Ultimate Universe is something that I really need to catch up on regardless though – as I’ve been hearing good things for Fialkov’s work in this universe so I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out even if the solicit is classified.  And more Fialkov is always good.

GUARDANS OF THE GALAXY #8

Story: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Sara Pichelli, Francesco Francavilla | Price: $3.99

INFINITY TIE-IN

What will it take for Peter Quill to betray the entire Marvel Universe?

And if you don’t know Eisner award winning artist Francesco Francavilla yet, you will after this comic!

WHY? Double-shipping Guardians of the Galaxy for this month is awesome, especially when Francesco Francvilla is doing at least the cover for this series (not sure if he’s doing the whole issue as well). Can’t wait for this.

HAWKEYE #14

Story: Matt Fraction | Art: David Aja | Price: $2.99

THAT THING THAT HAPPENED TO KATE IN THE ANNUAL IS TOTALLY FOLLOWED UP ON!

This one has it all! Characters! Plot! Story! Dialogue! Theme! Meaning! Message! Action! A little exposition! Fire! Arrows! Criminals! Neighbors! Large bodies of water! Clients! Cops who don’t care! A system that victimizes the victims! The dog!

In a broken town where cynicism and apathy has its claws around the throat of the good and decent, LADY HAWKEYE is the only hero you can trust!

WHY? Not only is it double shipping Guardians of the Galaxy, but also double-shipping Hawkeye month! Yay! Focus on Kate Bishop is always good and whilst I’m unsure whether it’s Aja or Francavilla doing this issue I can’t wait to see how it plays out. Certainly looking forward to it and hopefully the return of my joint-favourite Marvel series can really hit the ground running.

INFINITY #5 (of #6)

Story: Jonathan Hickman | Art: Jerome Opena,  Adam Kubert | Price: $3.99

The Avengers Universe.

The Heroes of Earth rally to defeat Thanos.

The war for Earth begins.

WHY? The penultimate part in the Infinity event is something that I’m really looking forward to, especially as things are gearing up for a massive-scale battle for Earth. Things can’t get more awesome than this.

X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM #2 (OF #2)

Story: Brian Michael Bendis |Art: Frank Cho, Arthur Adams | Price: $3.99

X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM, PART 10!

The biggest battle in X-Men history will melt your face off.

All of the X-Men find their footing in the world much changed.

The X-Men event of 2013 concludes and sets up the major X-Men stories for 2014!

WHY? The second part of this mini-series sees the conclusion of this event and I can’t wait to see how Bendis wraps it up. Really looking forward to this one.