2013 saw a rise in the comics readership, up from the previous year which was itself a rise from the previous year, and comics publishers are looking to grab even more new comics readers in 2014. What's the best way to do this? #1 issues! So far in the year we've already seen a ton of new #1s being released, mainly from the biggest hitter, Marvel, with other companies like Image and Valiant following suit. Marvel's All-New Marvel NOW! has seen comics like Loki: Agent of Asgard, Ms Marvel, Avengers World, She-Hulk, and more hit the stands with enormous success and the promise of more and more to come in the months ahead. Smaller publishers like Valiant have also announced a raft of new #1 titles beginning in May, noticing the draw #1 issues have on new audiences eager to find a new series to follow. Image too look to continue their fantastic last year with even more exciting new creator-owned titles to expand their audience with. So while the last few weeks have seen a ton of new titles launch, next month sees still more coming out. Here are ten of the most anticipated comics out in March.
10. Iron Patriot #1 (Marvel)
Colonel James Rhodes was once known as War Machine, a soldier equipped with a devastating armour created by Tony Stark. Now, he's left the Secret Avengers a covert ops team and struck out on his own with a new suit of armour as the Iron Patriot. The Iron Patriot armour was formerly used by the ignoble Norman Osborn but now with Rhodey in the driving seat, the armour is in the hands of a selfless and idealistic man a true patriot! And he faces a new enemy who wants to ruin Rhodey's good name that'll turn him from a hero to a villain the eyes of the public. Writer Ales Kot says that the comic's storylines will mirror real world news stories, focusing on America's military past, terrorist attacks, and Iron Patriot's commitment to defending America from threats both domestic and otherworldly. Joining Kot will be artist Garry Brown. Though Rhodey is Tony Stark's best friend, Iron Man will not be a part of the series it's firmly all Rhodey, all the way. What does it mean to be a real patriot? Find out in Iron Patriot #1!