Age of Ultron #1 SXSW Gaming Expo Variant Comic Book

Marvel just finished up their South By Southwest (SXSW) presentation where they announced a bevy of new digital initiatives.

The big treat for comic collectors wasn't the news about the Marvel Gamma adaptive audio or the 700 free digital comics available for download, but rather the free copy of Age of Ultron #1 variant to commemorate the SXSW event.

Age of Ultron features a fairly sizeable Spider-Man appearance, and this variant promises to be one of the rarest released.

The Marvel team for the panel included Axel Alonso (Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment) and Peter Phillips (SVP & GM, Marvel Digital Media Group) among others.  They both seemed genuinely happy and a bit surprised at the turnout for the presentation.  By my count, there were a couple hundred folks there to hear the news Marvel had so deftly teased the weeks prior.

The crowd was easily double, if not triple, the size from the previous year's presentation -- Marvel's first visit to SXSW.

Axel let everyone know up front that the Age of Ultron #1 variant would be given away one per person after the speech for free as long as copies remained available.  And they meant it.  They announced they had a very small print run of around 200 copies, and that many of the team at Marvel headquarters wouldn't even be able to get a copy.

As Axel started unpacking the single box of variants comics, it was clear they were right and it was not going to come close to satisfying the hungry crowd of hundreds standing in line both inside and outside the exhibit hall.

I made it to about tenth in line, and watched as issue after issue got autographed by the Marvel team.  I respectfully asked for an unautographed copy because I've always shyed away from signed comics.  As a collector, I guess I'm a purist.  My estimation is that not very many of the comics will end up pure and unsigned.

The event was great.  Marvel packed a ton of news and video clips into their hour-long session.  And it was really great to get Marvel's involvement at SXSW.  I hope they show up again next year.

And good luck finding a copy of this variant.  As of yet (the afternoon following the event) no copies have shown up on Ebay, but I would guess they will eventually.

New York Comic-Con 2011 Exclusive Giveaway Comic Books

This year's New York Comic-Con featured a number of giveaway comics, toys and more.  The most prominent giveaway from Marvel was an exclusive variant of X-Men Regenesis #1.  And while Spidey doesn't appear in that one, there were two other giveaways at the con that he does show up in.

Marvel Mix-Tape #1 NYCC Variant features Spider-Man on the cover in a preview of the upcoming Avengers Sanction #1.  The series features the return of Cable on a quest to wipe out the Avengers in order to save the future.  Other previews in the comic include Feat Itself The Fearless #1, Uncanny X-Men #1, Wolverine & the X-Men #1, and Incredible Hulk #1.

Marvel Press Book Program for Young Readers is a NYCC exclusive comic promoting Marvel's latest hardback original books about their core superheroes.  In addition to information and pictures form the Spider-Man hardback book, the promo comic also includes a bound-in poster of the Mighty Avengers (full color on one side and pencil sketched on the other).

Marvel pairs with Food & Wine magazine for a new Spider-Man comic strip

The September 2011 issue of Food & Wine magazine features an original Spider-Man comic strip.

Written by C.B. Cebulski & Chris Eliopoulos and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming, the one-page comic teams the F&W Test Kitchen Superheroes with Spider-Man against the Green Goblin.

You can read more on the F&W website.

The magazine also features an article illustrating how chefs are seen as modern day superheroes.

Coupled with the article is a link to view a digital-only 13-page comic book featuring Spider-Man and former Top Chef contestant Eli Kirshtein as they battle Mysterio.

The comic is being offered to view for free on the Marvel.com digital comics site.

Marvel Comics and Williams-Sonoma have cooked up a new Spider-Man giveaway comic book

Spider-Man and the Avengers #1 is a new Marvel giveaway comic book available in-store from Williams-Sonoma.  The 12-page comic was created to generate awareness for Share Our Strength, a charitable organization aiming to end childhood hunger.

Written by C.B. Cebulski and artist Todd Nauck, the issue features appearances by Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Giant-Man, The Wasp and the Avenger's butler Jarvis.  The Frightful Four provides the villainy at a Share Our Strength cooking demonstration hosted by Jarvis.  The heroes unite to do what they do best.

To get a copy of the comic you must attend a cookie decorating demonstration featuring a new line of Marvel Comics inspired products.  Your local Williams-Sonoma stores are currently offering demos for $5.00.  The fee includes cookies and one copy of the Spider-Man and the Avengers #1 comic book.

Marvel Mix Tape Giveaway Comic Available at the 2011 San Diego Comic Con

Marvel has announced their freebies to be given away at the 2011 San Diego Comic Con, and a new issue of the Marvel Mix Tape giveaway comic is included.

The comic will feature exclusive previews of upcoming Marvel comic books and the entire first issue of one of Marvel’s most popular comic books.

Based upon the cover, it looks like they're putting the first issue of FF#1 in there.  Regardless, it features Spider-Man on the cover so all of you completists will want to get this one.  Myself included.

This is the latest in a series of Marvel Mix Tape giveaway comics that have been released at major conventions over the past few years.  To date there have been 6 issues released primarily at San Diego Comic Con and Chicago Comic Con.  Spider-Man has made at least a cameo appearance in each issue to date.

The value for these issues ranges from cheap to steep (roughly $2-20 on Ebay).  A decent average would be $5 for any particular issue.  Some are a bit scarcer than others.  Here are the covers:

In addition to the giveaway comic book, Marvel will be handing out the following swag:

• S.H.I.E.L.D. Pin
• Captain America Pin
• Daredevil Pin
• Ultimate Spider-Man Pin
• Peavey Guitar (there will be a special drawing for these gems)
• Captain America Shield iPhone 4 Phone Cases
• The Avengers Eye Patch
• The Avengers Concept Art Poster

Have a great time this year if you make it to the 2011 SDCC show.  I'll have to get my copy of the Marvel Mix Tape comic on Ebay (sound the violins).


=8-)