Legendary Heroes Return in 'Marvel Legacy'

Marvel announces their Legacy initiative, which includes a renewed focus on classic and legacy characters. Since the dawn of time, or at least comic book universes, publishers strove to keep their material fresh and their sales high. The big two (that’s Marvel and DC) have been cranking out superheroes since the 1930s, and are always seeking ways to make their characters hit home with new audiences, while retaining their longtime fans. Initiatives like Marvel NOW! and DC’s “Rebirth” are aimed to do just that, and have met with a good degree of success in their own rights.

In a similar vein to Marvel’s “Secret Wars” in 2015, the House of Ideas is looking to bring their line of classic heroes full circle in “Marvel Legacy.”

The news arrives via the House of Ideas’ Next Big Thing panel at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (or C2E2). During the setup, Marvel guests such as Jason Aaron, Margaret Stohl, Darren Shan, Chip Zdarsky, Nick Lowe, and others discussed the future of the company, including their controversial Secret Empire, the upcoming “Generations” event, and this fall’s Legacy, which is “not a reboot” according to the panelists (via Newsarama). Legacy also teases the "Earth-shattering return of a beloved Marvel mainstay," although Marvel hasn't announced who (potentially Hulk, Tony Stark, or even the Fantastic Four) as of yet.

The initiative will return many long-running titles to their original numbering, affecting books like “Spider-Man, Avengers, Black Panther, and Guardians of the Galaxy.” The action kicks off in Jason Aaron (The Mighty Thor) penned and Esad Ribic (Secret Empire) drawn Marvel Legacy #1 – a 50 page kickstarter – which also features a four-page pullout drawn by Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada. Marvel claims the Legacy “initiative” will showcase:

Epic storylines hearkening back to the glory days of Marvel starring Odinson, Squirrel Girl, Spider-Man, the Avengers, America Chavez, Iron Man, Moon Knight, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Luke Cage, the X-Men, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Deadpool, the Champions, Wolverine, Ironheart, Hulk, The Punisher and so many more.

Marvel's Legendary Heroes Return in 'Marvel Legacy'

In addition to returning to many classic storylines and bridging the gap between classic and same-name characters, Marvel promises fun “fan-service” tie-ins as well as “the return of the Marvel Value Stamp, the classic Fan Magazine FOOM [or Friends of Old Marvel], iconic Cover Corner Box Art and more that’ll have you saying 'MAKE MINE MARVEL' in 2017!” Although the full list of series and creative teams haven’t been unveiled yet, the action kicks off this fall. CCO Quesada discussed the significance of the upcoming thrust:

“The Marvel Legacy initiative is a celebration of everything that makes Marvel the best in fiction and it’s a signifier of a new era for Marvel Comics. It’s a loving look at the heart of Marvel as we embrace our roots and move enthusiastically forward with all the Marvel characters you know and love starring in the biggest, boldest, best Marvel stories. All of which kicks off with the giant MARVEL LEGACY special.”

Many longtime fans and new readers alike have pointed to the continual reboots of individual lines, as well as the over-dependence on complicated events, as making the stories and characters less-accessible for old schoolers and neophytes alike. Hopefully, Marvel’s renewed focus on classic characters won’t affect their younger legacy characters like Ms. Marvel, Riri Williams’ Ironheart, and Jane Foster's Thor.

Returning to their classic numbering and renewing their focus on the core group of heroes is important, especially when it comes to retaining their classic fan base. At the same time, it sounds as though Marvel will continue their efforts to push newer characters and legacy characters in their efforts to pull in new fans from the global appeal of their superhero movies. Hopefully the blend and the retro feel will create the perfect atmosphere for cultivating new readers and pleasing old ones.

Stay tuned to Screen Rant for more updates on "Marvel Legacy."