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C2E2 2011: FEAR ITSELF Panel

Will this be the biggest comic book event of 2011?


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The panel for Fear Itself began to a packed room. C.B. Cebulski, Fred Van Lente, Matt Fraction, Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Spencer sat in to tell us all about the next big event. The series begins in April. The Red Skull (Sin) discovered that Odin might not be the all-father and unleashes a new evil. Now Captain America (Steve Rogers) finds himself up against a Red Skull more powerful than any Red Skull's he's faced before. Thor finds himself questioning everything about who he thought he was.  
 
You will not have to follow the other tie ins. They are firm that you get the complete story in the main series while the others will expand on certain events. Every issue will have something shocking. The series will be full of them. Fraction said he can't wait for the world to see it and for it to get out of his head.  
  == TEASER ==
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Other books tying in: Fear Itself: The Home Front, Invincible Iron #503 and Journey Into Mystery 622. Tony Stark will have to realize that there is more to the world than just science and technology. Fraction's Thor will not tie in directly as it will be new-reader friendly (for the release of the movie) and will focused on in Journey Into Mystery. There's also Avengers #13 (new romance, roster change, Chris Bachalo fill in), Secret Avengers #13 (how do the events affect the individual characters, the issues will focus on the impact) Iron Man 2.0 #5 (the Immortal Weapons will be looked at). Alpha Flight (no visuals provided) will show what's going on North of the border. The original team is back. The government has changed and Alpha Flight is fighting a new government super group. 
 
Fear Itself: The Deep will launch by Cullen Bunn and Lee Garbett. Namor has been targeted by one of the hammer wielders and forms a new team with Savage She-Hulk, Doctor Strange and Silver Surfer.
 
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Rob Williams and Matt Clark will be taking on the new Ghost Rider series, beginning with a 0.1 issue in June and a #1 right after in July. Who will be the new Spirit of Vengeance? 
 
The Q & A began. 
  • Will this affect the FF? Profoundly. 
  • Will this cross over with Power Pack and Runaways? Power Pack members are scattered.  
  • How will it compare to Civil War? It's a global catastrophe. "It feels bigger." Sets up the next couple years for Marvel.  
  • What characters or teams get hit the most? FF ("gets hit pretty hard") and Avengers. Cap and Thor. Which Cap? "Yes." 
  • Is Johnny Storm going to come back as a "flaming zombie guy"? Fraction said, "Yes, you've discovered Hickman's secret plan." 
  • Any magic stuff? Yes, quest for new Sorcerer Supreme. Brother Voodoo's brother is pissed.  
  • Will we see the original Red Skull in physical form? The focus is on Sin. She is the Red Skull. She's like a "trust fund kid" who's been handed everything. 
  • Will we see more of Bruce Banner Hulk tied into rest of the Marvel Universe. Starting in issue #3.
  • Who's the strongest between Thor, Hulk and Sentry? "Boy are you going to love Fear Itself."
  • After Fear Itself, can we finally see Marvel and DC crossovers again? "There's some great crossovers told in the past that can be read over and over again."
  • Will Ragnarok have an appearance? No.
  • What Avengers rosters will change? Bendis says his books, Avengers and New Avengers will see roster changes.
  • Is Thor a momma's boy or a daddy's boy? Earth or Asgard? That's what Odin asks Thor in the first issue.
  • What about The Worthy? Issue #2 will answer some of that.
  • What about fear-based characters like Man-Thing or Dormammu? Man-Thing will be in the Fearsome Four with Howard the Duck and others. They may pop up in other books.
  • Any plans for Spider-Ham? "Because most of us are Jewish, we don't like him."
  • How much has Disney tried affecting direction? Not a bit. They made it clear in the deal that they would not even touch them creatively. Marvel is still in complete control.
  • What about other Thor supporting cast members? They'll be in Journey Into Mystery with Kid Loki.
  • Will Nick Spencer be on Secret Avengers after the Fear Itself issues? Nick said, "No. And when you hear who's coming after me, you'll forget I was ever on.
  • Will Puck be in Alpha Flight? "Maaaaaaaybe."
  • Will we see the return of Iron Fist's green suit? Bendis said there's a lot of internal debate over it. He likes the white. "You'll see the white in my book and the green may pop up elsewhere. It gets dirty easy."
 
And be sure to check out our interview with Matt Fraction where he tells us how Fear Itself ends.