Get your first look at the events leading up the biggest movie of the year Marvel’s The Avengers this Sunday in Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week #1 (of 8), free on the Marvel Comics app! That’s right not only is Marvel giving you the first look at new footage from The Avengers in a special commercial during the big game, but the Marvel Comics app will feature the first issue of this action packed series for FREE! Subsequent issues of Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week will arrive every Tuesday beginning February 14th for 99 cents per issue.

“We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Marvel Studios to create an exciting story set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sets the stage perfectly for the most anticipated film of the summer,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor in Chief. “Now, for the first time. you’ll find out just what happened to some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the road to Marvel’s The Avengers.”

What is the Avengers Initiative? And what are the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury? The answers arrive in Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week and the first issue is free this Sunday only on the Marvel Comics app.

Want to know more about Marvel Studios The Avengers blockbuster film? Follow us on Twitter at @Avengers and tweet with hashtag #Avengers. And then “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/avengers for access to more exclusive Avengers content.

Check out http://avengers.marvel.com for more news on the biggest film of 2012!

The next big Spider-Man epic begins in Amazing Spider-Man #682, part one of Ends Of The Earth, by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. The Sinister Six, led by the vengeful Doctor Octopus, is back and they’re looking for revenge! Can Spider-Man and Earth’s Mightiest save the world before Doc Ock’s explosive endgame is revealed? Find in Amazing Spider-Man #682 hitting comic shops and the Marvel Comics app this March.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #SpiderMan.

This summer, DC Entertainment will publish all-new stories expanding on the acclaimed Watchmen universe. As highly anticipated as they are controversial, the seven inter-connected prequel mini-series will build on the foundation of the original Watchmen, the bestselling graphic novel of all time. BEFORE WATCHMEN will be the collective banner for all seven titles, from DC Comics.

“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”

Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets), Lee Bermejo (Joker), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Darwyn Cooke (Justice League: New Frontier), John Higgins (Watchmen), Adam Hughes (Catwoman), J.G. Jones (Final Crisis), Andy Kubert (Flashpoint), Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock), Jae Lee (Batman: Jeykll and Hyde), J. Michael Straczynski (Superman: Earth One) and Len Wein (Swamp Thing).

Before Watchmen includes:

•Rorschach (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
•Minutemen (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
•Comedian (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
•Dr. Manhattan (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
•Nite Owl (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
•Ozymandias (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
•Silk Spectre (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner
Each week, a new issue will be released, and will feature a two-page back-up story called Curse of the Crimson Corsair, written by original series editor Len Wein and with art by original series colorist John Higgins. There will also be a single issue, Before Watchemen: Epilogue, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a Crimson Corsair story by Wein and Higgins.

“The original series of Watchmen is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.

“Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction,” said DiDio and Lee. “Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant.”

Marvel has just released a teaser for The Avengers commercial that will be aired during the game. If the 17 second teaser trailer is any indication of what is in store for us during Super Bowl fans will be very pleased.

The film is directed by Joss Whedon and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Mark Ruffalo as the Incredible Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill.

The Avengers assemble in theatres May 4, 2012!

To replay the Avengers Twitter Chat visit: Marvel Comics.

This March, fans worldwide cannot miss the essential opener to the biggest pop culture comic event of the year as Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Avengers VS. X-Men #0. Just before the Avengers and the X-Men go head to head, superstar creators Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron & Frank Cho set up the crucial roles of the Scarlet Witch and Hope Summers before their allegiances come into question. With all eyes on Wanda and the Mutant Messiah, the Marvel Universe has become a powder keg on the verge of exploding! No fan can miss Avengers VS. X-Men #0, in stores and the Marvel Comics app this March.

You’ve heard It’s Coming and this April The War Is Here in Avengers VS X-Men. All your favorite super heroes enter—and only one team will emerge victorious!

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com 

Here is your chance to be a hero to others! Check out our Capes for Causes charity auctions on eBay that are ending tonight!

Here's a great chance to win an Original Breyfogle cover on eBay -- ARCHIE LOVES BETTY #7 and help critically ill Kids. The CPG-Foundation is our Charity foundation with a simple goal of helping wherever we can. 

Our goal is to unite Comic Creators, Publishers, Companies, Retailers, Collector's and business's to help those in need. In doing so we show the world what we are really all about.

All profits from every auction will go to help Critically Ill Children, Animal Rescues and grass roots charities. We always say super heroes to the rescue, we hope to do our part to help!

To bid on the Capes for Causes eBay auctions.

Find out more about Capes for Causes.

Sign up for the CPG Foundation Facebook page.

This Spring, Marvel Entertainment takes Austin, Texas by storm in its inaugural appearance at the South By Southwest Interactive Festival with the Marvel: Digital House of Ideas panel at SXSW ScreenBurn! In this historic event on Sunday, March 11 at 1pm on the IGN stage at the Palmer Events Center, Axel Alonso (Marvel Comics Editor in Chief), Jeph Loeb (Head of Marvel Television) and Peter Phillips (SVP & GM, Marvel Digital Media Group) unveil Marvel’s bold new multimedia plans that includes the premiere of Marvel's revolutionary new ways to read comics. Not only does this mark the first major appearance by a comic book publisher in SXSW history, but Marvel is coming armed with the big news—and exclusive animation footage—that can’t be missed by any fan in attendance! Best of all, this event is free and open to the public, so everyone can be on hand to see Marvel’s newest innovations.

“Marvel’s always been the industry leader in graphic fiction & digital media and with the announcements we’ve planned, we couldn’t have picked a more appropriate show than SXSW,” said Dan Buckley. Publisher & President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. “We’re big believers that both print and digital can work hand-in-hand to bring more readers to comics than ever before—and if you’re at SXSW Interactive you’ll be the first to see just how we’re going to do that.”

Since the launch of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited in 2007, the first major digital comics program in comics history, Marvel has been on the forefront of digital comics publishing with innovations such as the landmark Marvel Comics app in 2010. Since then, Marvel has expanded its digital comics offerings to numerous platforms, while also becoming the first comics company to offer free digital copies with select print issues and comic shop coupons with the purchase of a digital comic.

"We are very excited to have Marvel on board for the ScreenBurn portion of the 2012 SXSW Interactive Festival,”  said Hugh Forrest, Director of SXSW Interactive. “The presence of this industry leader is another indicator of the growth and maturation of the event. Marvel's addition to the SXSW lineup will add even more flavor to the mix of creative energy that fills Austin in March."

After the Marvel: Digital House of Ideas panel concludes, fans in attendance will receive a limited edition lithograph (while supplies last) and a chance to have it signed by Alonso & Loeb in a special Marvel signing session.

“Marvel’s fans are the best in the world—bar none—and I’m excited to meet more of them at SXSW” said Alonso. “We have exciting new plans that you’ll see implemented with the release of Avengers VS X-Men #1 that’ll take the biggest comics event in history and make it even bigger!”

 Stay tuned to www.marvel.com and www.sxswscreenburn.com for more details on the Marvel: Digital House of Ideas panel.

Its official, everyone can’t stop talking about Miles Morales – the all-new Ultimate Comics Spider-Man AND USA Today’s best new character of 2011! From the history making creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli & Justin Ponsor, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man was met with overwhelming critical acclaim and this February – you can experience Miles Morales’ break-out story in the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man By Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 1 Premiere Hardcover!

“I love Miles. I just adore him. But the real gift is that every day somebody gets a hold of me to tell me how much they love him too,” explained Bendis. “The good news is we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet because Miles is about to discover so many things including some very hard lessons. Everyone can look forward to some very powerful moments that will define him as a human being…and as a super hero.”

Once you’re all caught up – jump on board the next great arc of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man as red-hot artist Chris Samnee joins Brian Michael Bendis & Justin Ponsor in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #6, available now in stores and on the Marvel Comics app! Then, the team introduces Miles to a world of hurt as an all-new Scorpion makes his debut in the pages of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 and we have your first look at the issue!

Love the all-new Ultimate Comics Spider-Man? Join the conversation on Twitter with #MilesMorales.

Continuing his 2012 road show, this weekend, Baltimore Comic-Con promoter Marc Nathan brings the Baltimore Comic-Con to his neighbors to the south -- Northern Virginia!  The second show of 2012 he is attending is the Shoff Baseball & Sports Card Shows & Comic Book & Nonsports Card Show this Sunday, January 29th.  Marc is bringing friend, prolific comic writer, and latest 2012 Baltimore Comic-Con guest Ron Marz (Artifacts, Voodoo) with him to the DC suburbs, so make sure to stop by to meet Ron, chat with Marc about the show, and pick up some comics and cards!  Marc will also have Exhibitor and Artist Alley forms for this years convention on September 8th and 9th.  

For more information about Shoff show, please go to their website. The January 29th event will be held at the Tysons Corner, VA Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn), 1960 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22102 from 10am-3:30pm, and admission is only $3/person.  Be sure to stop by!

On Saturday, January 28th, Ron will be stopping by Cards Comics & Collectibles of Reisterstown, MD, 100 A Chartley Drive, Reisterstown, MD  21136 from 11am-2pm (which will feature 50% off trade paperbacks and hardcovers during Ron's visit!) and Laughing Ogre Comics in Fairfax, VA, 10647 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032-2202 from 4pm-7pm.

The 2012 Baltimore Comic-Con will feature the following announced guests:

Laura & Michael Allred - Madman, iZombie
Greg Capullo - Batman, Spawn
Frank Cho - Avengers vs. X-Men, Liberty Meadows
Steve Conley - Bloop
Rich Faber - Roboy Red
John Gallagher - Buzzboy
Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez - Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman
Keith Giffen - Superman, OMAC, Green Arrow
Larry Hama - G.I. Joe, Wolverine, The 'Nam
Dean Haspiel - Billy Dogma, ACT-I-VATE, Trip City
J.G. Jones - Wanted, Doc Savage
Scott Kurtz - PvPonline.com
David Mack - Kabuki
Ron Marz - Artifacts, Voodoo
David Petersen - Mouse Guard
Frank Quitely - All Star Superman, Batman & Robin
Walter Simonson - Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers
Scott Snyder - Batman , Severed, Swamp Thing
Billy Tucci - A Child Is Born, Shi
Matt Wagner - Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel
Mark Waid - Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredemable
 
...With more on the way!  Stay tuned to the Baltimore Comic-Con website.

This April, as the Marvel Universe waits on baited breath for the arrival of the all-powerful Phoenix Force, Wolverine must choose a side of the coming war…but will the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning follow? Find out if Logan fights for mutantkind or mankind in Wolverine & The X-Men #9 from the blockbuster creative team of Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April.

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com