Alpha Flight To End With #8 SPOILERS FOR #4 UPDATED

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Published on 10-21-2011 05:11 PM Number of Views: 13449

58 Comments

ALPHA FLIGHT #8
GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE (W)
DALE EAGLESHAM (C)
COVER BY CARLO PAGULAYAN
VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YU
• THE FINAL ISSUE!
• The big showdown between Alpha Flight and the Master of the World!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Just released from Marvel, their solicitations for January 2012.
Which would seem to confirm the other news on the net tonight, that Alpha Flight is to be cancelled as of Issue 8.
Ifanboy have also reported on the cancellation.

The issue is solicited with the previously thought to be #9 cover as main cover and the previously thought to be #8 cover as a variant, and listed as 32 pages, giving 10 more than standard.

UPDATE:

Greg Pak has posted the following tweets on his twitter account:

(For more on the above sequences check out http://www.alphaflight.net/content.p...-Art-from-AF-6)

Categories:
Alpha Flight

58 Comments

Le Messor - 10-22-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by Phil

It's just the announcement of an upgrade & then going back on that, that's perplexed me.

"We have all of us been given a glimpse of the gold at the rainbow's end, only to have that treasure snatched from us, directly or indirectly due to the actions of one man."

rplass - 10-22-2011
- Reply
I think the reason we're all so gut-wrenched about it is that Alpha Flight v4 is awesome. If it were 2nd rate or not enjoyable, or the art sucked, or the characters were off, or it weren't tied into the 30+ years of Alpha Flight history, or if Marvel hadn't made an effort, or if the creators were inaccessible.... we'd probably take this news with a nod and be *****ing at the writers and artists and whining about what could've been...

Instead, we hold the artists and writers so closely and dearly and desperately want more of the same. I think we're in a good place here. I bet FREG's ending to #8 will be a satisfying end.

Let's review:

Temporal copies: gone
Claire: has a name
Dead Alphans: resurrected credibly
Puck: frakkin' awesome
History of Alpha Flight: honored
O Canada: Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Ranark: returned, worse than before!
The Master: returned, still worse!
Purple Girl: Purple Woman
LGBT: Kyle is a real person. Northstar has a real boyfriend. Nod to Tim Fish of course.
Marrina: has a personality now. Most love her. Including me. I love you Marrina.
Gary Cody: returned. not sure if kidding
Phil Jiminez covers: Awesome
Signings, variants, the promo poster, 0.1 issue, video @ marvel.com, variant covers @ Fan Expo: Awesome
Wolfie: Love you! XOXO

I hate that we didn't get an ongoing and hate that we got jerked around there with that announcement.. but we got a great deal. We won. No rage here. Satisfaction and the knowledge that we went out on a high note... which paves the way for v5 when it's right. I'm sure we'll get Alpha Flight back in some incarnation and I hope it's half as good as this time around.

Love,
rplass

mrdann1205 - 10-22-2011
- Reply
i still think we should attempt to save it somehow if we can, AF got me back into comics after 8 years, because, of DE&W, GP, and F-VL, you will NEVER get this type of spartan talent ever again i think

cmdrkoenig67 - 10-22-2011
- Reply
I agree that Volume 4 has been great, but that isn't the only reason I feel "gut-wrenched", R. I'm pissed and irked because they made a huge announcement that Alpha was going to be an ongoing series (getting us fans very excited), Freg talked about expanding their story and hinting about other things they may do (IIRC), then Marvel pulls this crap...Dashing everyone's hopes (including the creative team).

I felt like I did before Omega Flight came out when it was said to be an ongoing, then it was downgraded to 5 issues...Like I've been lied to. I don't like liars.

I do not for one minute blame the creative team, they put together a wonderful series..It's the Marvel Execs I'm pissed at.

Dana

Legerd - 10-22-2011
- Reply
Personally, my anger is all about making the book look unsellable. As with OF, by reversing the ongoing announcement, Marvel has basically said: "We don't think this book can sell," and that's the message new readers will take away from this. V5 will most likely never happen, because future readers and Marvel execs alike won't consider AF viable.
When V4 was announced as an ongoing posters were popping up all over saying it would be cancelled. How can any creative team overcome that kind of negativity? And it will only be worse now.

Get ready for, at best, a number of guest spots in which the characters are written badly, and used as punching bags.

cmdrkoenig67 - 10-22-2011
- Reply
Good point....I find it odd that Marvel has so little faith in Alpha Flight when (as we've seen) it's outselling a lot of their other books still.

Sure it's not in the top 100 anymore, but that's to be expected with DC's #1 explosion.

Dana

mrdann1205 - 10-22-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by cmdrkoenig67

Good point....I find it odd that Marvel has so little faith in Alpha Flight when (as we've seen) it's outselling a lot of their other books still.

Sure it's not in the top 100 anymore, but that's to be expected with DC's #1 explosion.

Dana

agreed, but what i don't get.. is if they had so LITTLE faith in it from the get go, why did they even bother to bring it back in the first place in chaos war? that doesn't make sense if they had no faith in it they should have just let it alone. i think marvel has gotten a little TOO comfortable, with its movie money and that's what attracted disney to buy it in the first place. and when DC takes a risk in the books they soundly kick marvels ass, and we get caught in the crossfire and they also seem to be forgetting the fans, that make them the money in the first place. marvel would be NOTHING if no one bought the stuff they make

Sypes - 10-22-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by rplass

I think the reason we're all so gut-wrenched about it is that Alpha Flight v4 is awesome.
Let's review:

Temporal copies: gone
Claire: has a name
Dead Alphans: resurrected credibly
Puck: frakkin' awesome
History of Alpha Flight: honored
O Canada: Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Ranark: returned, worse than before!
The Master: returned, still worse!
Purple Girl: Purple Woman
LGBT: Kyle is a real person. Northstar has a real boyfriend. Nod to Tim Fish of course.
Marrina: has a personality now. Most love her. Including me. I love you Marrina.
Gary Cody: returned. not sure if kidding
Phil Jiminez covers: Awesome
Signings, variants, the promo poster, 0.1 issue, video @ marvel.com, variant covers @ Fan Expo: Awesome
Wolfie: Love you! XOXO

rplass

Extremely well said! As sad as I am to loose Alpha Flight, we have to be thankful to Fred, Greg, Dale and Sonia for an amazing serie! I've never been so excited by comics before and it's thanks to them and all the amazing work they did! It's fair to be angry and pissed, but gotta be thankful at the same time!

EccentricSage - 10-22-2011
- Reply
I'm definitely grateful to the creative team who obviously love Alpha as much as we do and treat the characters with respect.

I'm just mad at Marvel for being short sighted liars who refuse to put forth effort or take risks.

I worry that now the characters will just be offered up to hack writers on fly-by-night titles to be jacked up. I wonder who among them will be sacrificed to the next big event that requires character deaths and characters doing a 180 in order to force some **** plot in a big formulaic money grab? Yes, I'm still bitter over Tieri and Loeb.

kingdomofevan - 10-22-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by rplass

We won. No rage here. Satisfaction and the knowledge that we went out on a high note... which paves the way for v5 when it's right. I'm sure we'll get Alpha Flight back in some incarnation and I hope it's half as good as this time around.

Well said. The fact is, Alpha Flight is alive in the Marvel U again, which is better than where we were before Chaos War. Now other writers have Pak and Van Lente's fresh characterization of the team to draw on, and if we see those characters in action in other books, great.

Phil - 10-23-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by cmdrkoenig67

Good point....I find it odd that Marvel has so little faith in Alpha Flight when (as we've seen) it's outselling a lot of their other books still.

It's really not though.
It's only outselling 4 other ongoings, and if sales are dropping at the rate they are then #5 probably won't be outselling all of those, by #8 probably none of those.

Marvel can't pander to the 24,000 of us that actually like AF. It's just not practical.
And I can honestly say that if I were in control of Marvel finances I'd have to do the same.
It's nothing personal against AF; they really pushed it this time.

A clean, tight, finished maxi-series really is the best option.
Two months ago that was all we were expecting, all we were getting and that was fine.

Let's look forward to the next event-tied-in mini.

Wolfie - 10-23-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by rplass

I think the reason we're all so gut-wrenched about it is that Alpha Flight v4 is awesome. If it were 2nd rate or not enjoyable, or the art sucked, or the characters were off, or it weren't tied into the 30+ years of Alpha Flight history, or if Marvel hadn't made an effort, or if the creators were inaccessible.... we'd probably take this news with a nod and be *****ing at the writers and artists and whining about what could've been...

Instead, we hold the artists and writers so closely and dearly and desperately want more of the same. I think we're in a good place here. I bet FREG's ending to #8 will be a satisfying end.

Let's review:

Temporal copies: gone
Claire: has a name
Dead Alphans: resurrected credibly
Puck: frakkin' awesome
History of Alpha Flight: honored
O Canada: Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Ranark: returned, worse than before!
The Master: returned, still worse!
Purple Girl: Purple Woman
LGBT: Kyle is a real person. Northstar has a real boyfriend. Nod to Tim Fish of course.
Marrina: has a personality now. Most love her. Including me. I love you Marrina.
Gary Cody: returned. not sure if kidding
Phil Jiminez covers: Awesome
Signings, variants, the promo poster, 0.1 issue, video @ marvel.com, variant covers @ Fan Expo: Awesome
Wolfie: Love you! XOXO

I hate that we didn't get an ongoing and hate that we got jerked around there with that announcement.. but we got a great deal. We won. No rage here. Satisfaction and the knowledge that we went out on a high note... which paves the way for v5 when it's right. I'm sure we'll get Alpha Flight back in some incarnation and I hope it's half as good as this time around.

Love,
rplass

Aww, thanks rplass! {{{HUG}}} That was a really nice recap -- and I love Marrina too! <3 I am definitely as bummed as you all are, if not more. I thought this team really SHONE, and it's a real shame that it can't keep going.

Woolf

Sypes - 10-23-2011
- Reply
Originally Posted by Wolfie

Aww, thanks rplass! {{{HUG}}} That was a really nice recap -- and I love Marrina too! <3 I am definitely as bummed as you all are, if not more. I thought this team really SHONE, and it's a real shame that it can't keep going.

Woolf

Wolfie,

This might be premature, but where can we see more of Dale's work in the future? If there is one thing I got most out of the series is how wonderful his craft is!

M

Wolfie - 10-23-2011
- Reply
I have nothing official yet, but keep an eye on our website/Facebook page/The Agora. I'll announce as soon as something's official.

So glad AF introduced you to Dale's art. And what *I* got most out of this series is a whole bunch of amazing alpha-friends, including you, Sypes! It was really great meeting you and I hope we see you at FanExpo again next year!

Oh, and I forgot to say to rplass: The rounded ear is driving me NUTS too!!! I feel some Tourette's coming on every time I see it, LOL!

Wolfie

DIGGER - 10-23-2011
- Reply
After reading the cancellation news and all of these postings I only hope that Marvel sees the passion the fans and this latest group of creators have for Alpha Flight. I also hope that this isn't the end of AF and that an ongoing is in the future after all...because if we don't have hope what else is there (besides anger, bitterness, resentment, frustration, feeling of betrayal, etc.). BTW, I'm still gonna wear my Guardian suit for Halloween!

DIGGER

Jason Eberly - 10-23-2011
- Reply
I have roughly 40 long boxes full of comics (and probably another 2 or 3 worth of loose issues around the house, my girlfriend of over 10 years thanks me very much!), and I have them broken into 2 categories: titles I currently collect, and all titles I dropped/cancelled/ended.

I just pulled the entire three volumes of AF out of the latter and put them into the former, shifting everything around Friday evening. Saturday comes and this news happens. Figures, donnit?

While I'm happy that we got any Alpha at all for these past (soon-to-be) 10 months or so, I would like to say I am not angry at Marvel.

I am extremely disappointed at them, however.

I am under no disillusionment that this was anything more than a fringe title for Marvel that would always be on the razor's edge of cancellation once it was announced that it would be ongoing. I figured that if it made it more than 20 issues (beating out Vol. 2), that it would be a success in my mind.

However, to not even let it get past its initial, designed-to-be-a-mini first arc to see if the fans would start to pick it up, to use the vernacular, sucks.

To announce that it would be an ongoing, and two months later announce its cancellation, blows.

To lose a title that doesn't month-in and month-out feature characters that feel like they don't just belong there (I'm looking at you, Avengers and FF), stinks.

I also feel bad for the creators. I know Fred, Greg, and Dale will all get more work (and I'm sure probably already do). Fred and Greg especially however, are dear to my comic heart. In an age filled with writers who write comic books, these two are comic-book writers. They are in a select handful of writers today who I feel actually write their stories for all ages, not talking down to children and not dumbing down their comics for adults. In an age where so often I read a comic and feel like taking a shower afterward to wash the stink of despair and hopelessness emanating from these characters that used to exude so much hope, Fred and Greg made things feel both serious and fun at the same time. They are throwbacks to the pre-90's type of writer that is quickly disappearing, and I feel that many of today's "mature" fans have chosen not to embrace as "edgy" and "cool".

I know I joke around a lot on these boards, and will continue to do so, but this is one moment I just have to shake my head and ask what Marvel means to me anymore.

varo - 10-23-2011
- Reply
I agree with what Phil is saying and he makes a good point. Just because it's outselling some other ongoings, doesn't mean it's not losing readership. Now if the numbers on #5 come back and have leveled off or gained some readers I'm going to scratch my head.

Also, gen hope, xfactor, avengers academy are all heavy involved in a restructure with regenesis and the fall out of fear itself, so no way those books are in immediate danger.

The thing that really.......really..........REALLY BUGS ME, is that they should have never announced it as a ongoing!!! Keep it a maxi series, tell a great story, reestablish their place in the marvel universe. THEN launch a ongoing if the tpb sells well. Makes me question Who's running things at marvel. It just makes no sense. None.

varo - 10-23-2011
- Reply
Oh btw, I am really gonna miss this creative team. Wolfie feels like a surrogate mom. You can tell how much dale loved these characters, and we all know fvl's love of them.

*sigh*

CMatt78 - 10-23-2011
- Reply
Wondered why it still said "of 8" on issue five's cover...

That sucks...even my wife, who doesn't "get" comics, thinks it's pretty low of Marvel to announce an ongoing and then change their mind.

At least it was fun while it lasted (though this is now officially the shortest Alpha ongoing series, no?)