In the wake of news that Marvel Comics will cancel at least five titles early next year, including Luke Cage and The Unbelievable Gwenpool, one of the publisher’s top editors has a reminder for upset fans: cancellation isn’t necessarily the end.
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“It is worth pointing out again: Incredible Hulk was cancelled once. X-Men was cancelled once. Thor was cancelled once,” tweeted Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s executive editor and senior vice president of publishing. “Being cancelled is not necessarily the end of the story, nor does it necessarily reflect the value of the work.”
It is worth pointing out again: Incredible Hulk was cancelled once. X-Men was cancelled once. Thor was cancelled once. Being cancelled is not necessarily the end of the story, nor does it necessarily reflect the value of the work.
— Tom Brevoort (@TomBrevoort) December 21, 2017
His comments follow the release on Tuesday of Marvel’s solicitations for March 2018, which revealed the cancellations of Generation X, Hawkeye, Iceman, Luke Cage and The Unbelievable Gwenpool. The news was later confirmed by the editors and writers of some of the titles; however, Marvel has yet to release an official statement.
RELATED: Marvel Cancels Luke Cage, Iceman Ongoing Series
The fates of America and Defenders remain unknown, as both titles were also absent from March’s solicitations. However, Defenders writer Brian Michael Bendis has experienced serious health problems, which could explain why that comic is missing.
The confirmed cancellations were among the publisher’s lower-selling titles on the November direct-market sales chart released by Diamond Comic Distributors. They were also part of the Marvel Legacy initiative, intended to mark the company’s return to a classic style of storytelling.