Rémy LeBeau, the Ragin’ Cajun aka Gambit of the X-Men is getting an all new ongoing series from writer James Asmus with art by Clay Mann. The character has always been one of my favorite X-Men, right up there with Rogue, and it is nice to see him as popular as ever. He has had two other ongoing titles in the past with a total of 39 issues, so it should be interesting to see if this title can last a bit longer. Especially consider that Marvel Now! is set to shake up things in the Marvel Comics universe and is relaunching most of the publisher’s main titles (including Captain America, Thor, and Hulk).

Official Description: When Marvel’s premier thief sets his sights on his biggest score yet, he may just end up over his head. It’s going to take more than just playing cards and southern charm to get out of this one!

The issue arrives in stores on Wednesday, August 8, 2012. Will you be picking it up? Would you prefer another X-Men member to get a solo?

This week is a big week for everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-Man as he takes center stage in Avengers vs X-Men, where he might be the last Avenger standing, and has two of his own titles to keep his head above water in. All this while he tries to celebrate his 50th anniversary.

I have not picked up the team-up book that is Avenging Spider-Man, but it is nice to see him finally getting the spotlight and respect as an Avenger in the Marvel Universe. Peter Parker: Spider-Man is a series that hasn’t had a new issue since 2003 and this special point one combines the issues from the first volume/run and its second run for a new issue count.

Avenging Spider-Man #10 (above left)
Boston! Prepare to have your sox knocked off! A 50-ft tall red-headed madwoman versus an army of privatized mecha-police! Care to guess who’s caught in between? Spider-Man and Daring Damsel Carol Danvers, the new Captain Marvel!

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #156.1 (above right)
Celebrating 50 Years of the Great Responsibility of his Great powers, The Spider-Man 50th Anniversary Series collects the Webbed Wonder’s greatest heretofore secret history! Spanning from his earliest days as a hero to the heyday of the heralded Big Time era and everything in between, a collection of Marvel Legends, venerated comic creators and awe-inspiring artists shine the spotlight on everything that makes Spider-Man the World’s Greatest Superhero!

Avenging Spider-Man is written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with art/cover by Terry Dodson. Peter Parker: Spider-Man is written by Roger Stern with art by Rob De LaTorre and a cover by classic Spider-Man artist John Romita Jr. Both of these issues and Avengers vs X-Men #9 hit stands and the digital marketplace on Wednesday, August 1st.

Well, they should call these guys the “All New, All Different” X-Treme X-Men as writer Greg Pak  and artist Stephen Segovia spin this new book directly out of Astonishing X-Men. This book joins past titles like Exiles and Mutant X in taking us on a journey out of the main Marvel universe/dimension and exploring new worlds. The cast, which includes new takes on Wolverine, Emma Frost, and Nightcrawler is inspired- finally a way for Wolverine to be on another team, yet done in a believable way. With the main Nightcrawler still six feet under, I’d jump at the chance to see any version of him still among the living. I wonder who else might join them? Blink? X-Man? Maybe in their journey they can pass by one of the alternate reality futures that Bishop is stuck in and take him a long for the ride as he looks for redemption (it will not happen, but wouldn’t it be fun?).

Official Description for X-Treme X-Men issue #1: Spinning out of the pages of ASTONISHING X-MEN! Travel the multiverse with Captain Howlett, Kid Nightcrawler, and Emmeline Frost. Which X-Men will be lost between dimensions… with no guaranteed way home?

The issue hits stands and the digital market place on Wednesday, July 25th with covers by Salvador Larroca (top left) and Julian Totino Tedesco (top right). Will you be following the new X-Treme X-Men wherever they may go?

In space no one can hear you… punish? Um… seriously? A limited series with the Punisher heading into space to hunt done an intergalactic mafia? If there is one Marvel character that does not fit in cosmic stories, that would be Frank Castle, the Punisher. I don’t see how this story will work, but it is a crazy enough idea to at least give it a chance.

SPACE: PUNISHER #1
Official Description: Punishment is a dish best served-in Space! Frank Castle shoots his way through the criminal hierarchy of outer spacestarting with the Sym-Brood-ant Queen!  From Frank Tieri, writer of Marvel vs. Capcom and Punisher: Noir and gorgeously painted by Mark Texeira (Punisher War Journal, Ghost Rider).

The first issue of this four part limited series hits stands on next Wednesday, July 11th, from Marvel Comics.

Then at the end of the month, July 25th to be exact, you can get your usual fill of Deadpool with issue number 58, the first part of a new storyline that pits the merc with the month against one of his rouges, Black Box. The issue is from writer Daniel Way with art by Al Garza, and a cover by Dave Johnson (the image above is cropped from the cover).

DEADPOOL #58
Official Description: Part one of ‘BLACKLISTED!’ Deadpool vs. classic ‘Pool persecutor, BLACK BOX!

Will you be checking out Space: Punisher? Is Deadpool on your pull list? Post a comment and let us know!

Check out these Deadpool related products…

The Lizard? Morbius the Living Vampire? I did not know about this issue when I posted last week (See: Four Possible Amazing Spider-Man 2 Villains), but in terms of villains/allies both the Lizard and Morbius work well together as both have tragic origins routed in science. Written by Dan Slott with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and covers by Camuncoli and J Scott Campbell. I’m not too surprised to see the Lizard return around the release of the Amazing Spider-Man, which features Rhys Ifans as Curt Connors/the Lizard- not the first time we’ve seen Connors on the big screen, but this will be the first appearance by the Lizard in a movie adaptation.

Official description: Spider-Man, Peter Parker, Curt Connors, and the Lizard. The stars of this summer’s big blockbuster movie are right here! Morbius the Living Vampire is on the loose and no one at Horizon Labs is safe–including a recently cured Curt Connors. But if Curt Connors is cured, who or what is that new Lizard creature? It’s definitely someone Spider-Man knows!

I’m excited to see Morbius mixing it up with Spider-Man again, could this lead to a future movie appearance? And who could the mysterious new Lizard be? The issue hits stands on July 5th. On July 3rd, we get the release of the Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone! Excited? Ready to be amazed?

I have to admit, I’ve really been enjoying the Avengers vs X-Men storyline that has been cursing through the Marvel Universe and threatens to “change everything.” One thing I hope that it doesn’t change is X-Factor, the most consistent Marvel Comic of the past few years. This is the book that has remained awesome through characters coming and going, dying and coming back to life, and  it features one of the most unique teams of heroes, including Multiple Man, Strong Guy, Banshee, Layla Miller, Monet, Rictor, and more recently Shatterstar, Longshot, and Pip the Troll.

July brings us two new issues of the series from writer Peter David, with art by Paul Davidson in issue 239 and art by Leonard Kirk in issue 240..

X-FACTOR #239
Banshee versus…an actual banshee?! Strong Guy asks M out on a date. (Yikes!)

X-FACTOR #240
“RUN LAYLA RUN” A one-off issue featuring Layla Miller racing the clock.

Will you be picking up the new X-Factor issues? Are you excited that we are getting two new issues in July? What Marvel Comics are you currently buying?

Spinning out of the pages of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 is a five issue Spike limited series from writer Victor Gischler, with art by Paul Lee and covers by Jenny Frison (left) and Steve Morris (variant, right). This title joins the ongoing Buffy and Angel and Faith titles under the Season 9 banner. There is a rumored Willow limited series that will be coming after this one, but no official solicitations have been announced for it, nor has an issue amount. I’m excited to have more Buffy universe comics and even more excited that we’ll have a Spike story away from Buffy herself (now if we could just remove him from the spaceship with the cockroach crew).

Official Description: Having fought to regain his soul after falling in love with the Slayer Buffy, the once-terrifying vampire villain Spike has been a bit less fearsome (to humans, at least). On his own adventure, Spike is forced to examine the man he once was, the man he is now, and the man he still hopes to become.  As master of a steampunk ship filled with loyal, oversized alien cockroaches, Spike embarks on a journey to the dark side of the moon, setting into motion an adventure filled with demons, witches, and others who brew new evil in the world without magic! Spike visits the dark side!

The issue hits stands on August 22nd, 2012, two weeks after Buffy Season 9 #12, and the week before Angel and Faith #13. Excited for the Spike spinoff? Who else would you like to see get their own title? Willow? Andrew? Xander/Dawn? Connor?