BRIEFLY

GUARDIANS ARC: Marvel Comics has released details on "Planet of the Symbiotes," the storyline beginning in November's Guardians of the Galaxy #21, from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Valerio Schiti.

Here's how the story is described:

"Ever since the Symbiote bonded with Flash Thompson, he has wielded it as a force for good, making the Earth a safer place as the hero known as Venom. Only the far reaches of space are a little bit out of his depth – even when he's packing a crazed alien costume!

"With the Venom Symbiote back among its own species, where will its allegiances lie? Trapped on a world full of hostile alien parasites, the Guardians of the Galaxy might begin to regret letting Flash Thompson join their team!"

"Isn't it interesting after all this time, we've never seen the Symbiote's home planet?" editor Mike Marts said. "What does the planet look like? How will they respond to Agent Venom? It's a lot of mystery, which is always fun. But come November, we'll be adding to the Symbiote mythology in some new and exciting ways."

BIGGER BANG: IDW Publishing has announced a November launch for The Bigger Bang, a four-issue, creator-owned series from writer D.J. Kirkbride and artist Vassilis Gogtzilas.

Here's how the series is described:

"Created by an inexplicable universe-killing event, the being called Cosmos traverses the stars, seeking to help those he can in order to atone for the sins of his birth. Often mistaken for a harbinger, Cosmos soars the intergalactic space ways alone... but will soon find himself up against an alien tyrant on his quest for acceptance."

"My artistic pal Vassillis approached me about doing a comic with some kind of outer space superhero, and that pretty quickly became The Bigger Bang," Kirkbride said. "It's a comic about forging one's own destiny despite circumstances of birth or the past... starring a space god in orange tights, a three-eyed green warrior lady, and a Cthulhu in a flying space castle."