TITLE: Marvel Point One
AUTHORS: Ed Brubaker, Jeph Loeb, David Lapham, Chris Yost, Fred Van Lente, Matt Fraction, Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILLERS: Javier Pulido, Ed McGuinness, Roberto De La Torre, Ryan Stegman, Salvador Larroca, Terry Dodson, Bryan Hitch
PUBLIHER: Marvel
PRICE: $5.99
RELEASED: December 28, 2011

By Rob Siebert
Editor, Fanboy Wonder

Assuming you know what you’re getting into, Marvel Point One might be a worthwhile purchase. But even then, is it worth $5.99? Probably not.

Marvel Point One is a sample platter of what the company will be serving us in 2012, featuring previews of six high profile stories framed around two guys spying on The Watcher. We see a Nova face Terrax on Terrax’s home planet moments before it’s engulfed by the Phoenix Force. Next, we see the first appearance of a team called X-Terminated, who exist in a world where most of humanity has been wiped out (i.e. the Age of Apocalypse universe), leaving only mutants. Then, we get a glimpse of Kaine in his new role as The Scarlet Spider. After that we get the story of two superpowered twins separated at birth, and isolated all their lives, until they’re finally reunited with a common goal that will bring them directly into the path of The Avengers. Then, Doctor Strange makes a startling discovery that may have a detrimental impact on his future. Finally, we see Spider-Man and Hawkeye try and survive an attack from Ultron.

It’s certainly a lot to take in, but there’s not always a lot to grasp on to. For instance, the “Age of Ultron” segment by Brian Michael Bendis and Bryan Hitch is basically just Spidey and Hawkeye running from explosions. It looks nice, but it’s not much in terms of a preview. The same can be said for the Nova preview, though that one had a bit more substance to it. I don’t have a great deal of familiarity with the Kaine character, so I’m not necessarily blown away by what we saw of The Scarlet Spider. Still, the concept of a darker character taking on the role of spider-hero isn’t one I’m averse to at all. The Dr. Strange story I could take or leave, much like The Defenders.

The origin of the twins in the “Yin & Yang” bit by Fred Van Lente and Salvador Larroca was quite interesting, though I can’t be sure how that will play out once the actual story begins. For me, the highlight of this book, both in execution and intrigue, was “The Myth of Man” by David Lapham and Roberto De La Torre. The art has a nice gritty yet realistic tone to it, and is able to covey both the tenderness between a father and a son, as well as the savage brutality shown between two bitter rivals.

All in all, a solid choice for avid Marvel readers who are willing to put a decent chunk of change down for a look at what’s to come. For everyone else, not so much.

Front page image from bleedingcool.com. Interior image from marvel.wikia.com.