Marvel Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso Talks Marvel Legacy

A new era is about to begin in the Marvel Universe, and it all starts with Marvel Legacy #1.

The special one-shot issue pairs Jason Aaron (The Mighty Thor) with Esad Ribic (Secret Wars) and several more of Marvel’s top artistic talent to set the stage for the Marvel Legacy era.

In addition to kicking off the new publishing line, Marvel Legacy #1 is promising an exciting story of its own, with the introduction of the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC and the return of a fan-favorite Marvel Comics character.

Leading Marvel into this new era is Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso. ComicBook.com caught up with Alonso to talk about what’s in Marvel Legacy #1, and how it effects the future of the Marvel Universe.

What can you say about the threat in Marvel Legacy? It must be pretty huge in scale to connect the story over more than 1 million years.

Axel Alonso: It is huge in scale, and it does tee up a big story, but it’s too soon to reveal details about the when and where.

We got our first glimpse at the 1,000,000 BC Avengers in the Generations: The Unworthy Thor & The Mighty Thor one-shot. How significant is Odin and Phoenix’s relationship going to be? What can you say about how these prehistoric Avengers connect their modern Marvel counterparts?

AA: That relationship is very important, and it will be the subject of a couple different stories in the future. Readers will get their first real insight into the scope of the relationship and learn what brought the Avengers of 1,000,000 B.C. together in the first place in the Marvel Legacy #1 one-shot. None of the characters are part of the team by accident — there’s a grand design at work here.

How far does the story in Marvel Legacy span? Besides the pre-historic Avengers, who are the most important characters involved?

AA: Every character that appears in the Marvel Legacy #1 one-shot is there for a reason: they will be important to the Marvel Universe next year.

The Legacy of Prehistoric Avengers

In terms of story, is Marvel Legacy self-contained? A prologue? How will the story that begins in Legacy continue? Where and when can we expect to see the prehistoric Avengers again?

AA: The Marvel Legacy #1 one-shot is both a self-contained story and a prologue to some of the biggest stories that will unfold during the “Legacy” era. The story of the 1,000,000 B.C. Avengers – how they came to be, their ties to the current iteration – will be one of those stories.

Marvel Legacy is the beginning of a new era for the Marvel Universe. In the previous era, we saw how the division between heroes can tear them apart and leave them vulnerable, and we got the sense that they were starting to put themselves back together. What would you say are the themes in Marvel Legacy #1 that will carry over into other Marvel Legacy titles?

AA: “Marvel Legacy” is Act 3 of a Universe-wide plan. The past couple of years were Act 2: We took a lot of our iconic heroes off the playing field, replaced them with either new, young characters – like Riri [Williams] or Amadeus [Cho] – or familiar characters – Jane Foster or Sam Wilson – and saw what happened. The return of the classic characters was inevitable, of course – it was something we planned for. “Marvel Legacy” is that plan. It’s the triumphant return of the most beloved classic characters – exploding across the line, sometimes without warning – and the next stage in the lives of the newer characters. Is the Marvel Universe big enough for the classic characters and the newer characters to coexist? Find out.

The Future of the Marvel Universe

Obviously, Marvel Legacy #1 hopes to introduce readers to the Legacy line of books. Is it also the beginning of a larger, overarching story? Something that you’re planning to culminate in another story or event down the line?

AA: There’s a big reveal in Marvel Legacy #1 that plants the seeds for a big story that we are moving toward.

You’ve teased a major return in Marvel Legacy #1. Obviously, you won’t spoil it, but can you hint at how this return affects and changes the Marvel universe? Which characters will be most affected by the return?

AA: Yes, it’s really happening, and the return will affect pretty much everyone in the entire Marvel Universe. It’s too soon to reveal details – the how’s and why’s and where’s – but we have a really cool story planned.

What message do you hope that Marvel Legacy #1 sends to fans about the direction of the Marvel Universe?

AA: Three things: 1. We love our classic characters. 2. We love our new characters. 3. We want to use both to tell stories that entertain and challenge our readers.

Is there a particular character you’d recommend readers keep an eye on going into and coming out of Marvel Legacy #1?

AA: “Marvel Legacy” spans the length and depth of the Marvel Universe, so there are a lot of characters you should keep your eye on. That said, the return is kind of a big deal.

Marvel Legacy #1 goes on sale September 27th.