The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Generation X, and Hawkeye have been canceled by Marvel, and the future of various other series is not known after the announcement of Marvel’s March 2018 solicitations.
The publisher’s latest set of solicitations didn’t have six earlier ongoing series: The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Generation X, Captain Marvel, Defenders, Luke Cage and America. Heather Antos, the editor of Marvel, confirmed on Twitter that Gwenpool is ending. He stated that the February’s issue #25 will be the concluding part of the series. Christina Strain, writer of Generation X, has also told fans on Twitter that her X-team story is truly ending. She wrote, “Today I submitted the last script pages for Generation X.”
Hawkeye is set to end in March’s issue #16, but, writer Kelly Thompson suggested that she might not be finished with the character. She wrote on Twitter, “As some of you are guessing from that cover, #16 will be our last issue of #Hawkeye. Obviously, I’m disappointed, but I’m really proud of our book & 16 issues is a solid number in modern times. And there’s maybe something interesting coming next? We’ll see!”
Marvel’s March 2018 solicitations also don’t mention Captain Marvel. However, writer Margaret Stohl told fans on Twitter that the series has not been dumped and she as well as other members of the team are “hard at work on all things Carol Danvers even now!” That’s certainly reassuring for the fans, it is not known if the fact that the book is missing in the March 2018 solicitations, implies just a break in the shipping schedule or an indication of a relaunch (it is possible that a new #1 linked to the 2019 movie might be on the way).
This brings us to Defenders, Luke Cage and America, whose fate is presently not clear. CBR tried to get a response from Marvel, but, no answer has been provided till now.
Defenders might be missing due to the health issues faced by writer Brian Micahel Bendis recently. He has been consistent about having got enough time from Marvel to finish his ongoing storylines before going to work at DC Comics; it is unlikely that any of his ongoing series is coming to an end.
Luke Cage was a part of the February 2018 solicitations for Marvel with issue #170, the fifth episode in the “Caged” story arc. During an interview last month, writer David F. Walker had admitted to being uncertain about the series’ future. “We’re still figuring things out,” Walker had said. “I pay attention to what my sales are like, and I’ve had some ideas for some great story arcs, but the question is will sales support us going into those arcs?”
America was also a part of the February 2018 solicitations with issue #12, the second section of “The Midas War.” There is no clear word about this series’ status as of now.
Most of the comics that got scrapped recently or have unclear future are indicative of the ongoing push by Marvel to create greater character diversity and each of them having female, Black and/or queer characters.
None of the series that go out will be surprising, in terms of sales, as they were all, the worst sellers among Marvel’s titles as of November 2017’s sales reports. All the above-mentioned series were a part of the Marvel Legacy initiative, which is aimed to return to a more iconic Marvel feel after the controversial Secret Empire event.
