Marvel cancels AVENGERS AI, readies launch of ROCKET RACCOON

Couple of big news pieces this week, as, it seems, is true any week with new month solicits. First up:

Avengers AI cancelled after issue 12

Sam Humphries has made it known on his Tumblr that AVENGERS AI will be ending with issue 12. Along with the picture at left, he promised that the last three issues will be the wildest yet and thanked Marvel for giving him such a long leash, series artist André Araújo for his work on the series, and the fans for their support and love. Can't say I'm particularly surprised by this, as I've kind of been expecting this in many of my AVENGERS AI reviews, but it is nonetheless a little sad that the series wasn't able to really find its niche or its footing until it was too late (if it has or indeed will at all). This isn't a favorite series of mine by any stretch but there are bits and pieces here that made the story worth telling. Humphries fans shouldn't cry just yet though, even after the cancellation of UNCANNY X-FORCE and AVENGERS AI, as Humphries also promised that he had lots more coming from Marvel this year.

Marvel announces new Rocket Raccoon ongoing written and drawn by Skottie Young

Readers of this blog will probably know that I rather adore Skottie Young. I think his art is incredible, I think his sense of humor is strong, and his writing is solid (mostly his art is incredible, that's the biggest and best known aspect of Skottie). So, while I'm surprised and maybe a little skeptical about an ongoing series starring the always-strange Rocket Raccoon, I think that Marvel couldn't have picked a better creative lead for it. Just look at that art at left. Skottie Young is an immense talent and this sort of book could be the sort of book that is exactly up his alley. What's really intriguing, though, is the idea that maybe he'll get to draw a baby variant for his own book. That'd be real cool. Anyway, more Skottie Young art in the world is never a bad thing and it's Young's first shot at an ongoing in the greater Marvel Universe (he previously had been the artist behind Marvel's OZ books, but those don't really play in as much as you might think). ROCKET RACCOON is set to launch in July.