PEREZ LEAVES 'AVENGERS,' BUSIEK, PEREZ TALK FUTURE PROJECTS

Fans of Marvel Comics' "Avengers" got a blast from the past two years, when artist George Perez returned to the title when it was relaunched with a new first issue in the wake of the "Heroes Reborn" event. Now, they're going to have to say good-bye to him a second time.

Perez decided late last week that he'd be leaving the title later this year.

"I'm obviously a bit sad about breaking up with [writer Kurt Busiek], but considering the situation (and the fact that we'll still be watching over Gorilla Comics together), it's not so bad for me," Perez told the Comic Wire on Wednesday. "Even though I had contemplated leaving 'Avengers' in another 6 months or so, I had to make my decision now primarily because of health concerns. My last medical exam showed that I wasn't doing enough to normalize my blood pressure and blood sugar level (I'm a Type-2 diabetic). A monthly schedule just wasn't allowing me enough time for proper exercise and stress management, so I opted to leave after issue #34, fittingly, another double-sized issue."

As for whether he'll return to the "Avengers" franchise for a third go-round, "only time will tell."

Fans waiting for his long-awaited return to the "Crimson Plague" comic, Perez said the series will "go on as scheduled, bimonthly for Gorilla/Image."

He's also got a number of other projects in the works.

"I will be penciling a series of specials for CrossGen Comics which will provide special background stories for their regular monthly series. It is similar in concept to the 'Tales of the Teen Titans' mini-series I did while still drawing the monthly [DC Comics] series. I'm looking forward to working with writers Barbara Kesel and Ron Marz as well as the young artists working for CrossGen. I will also be penciling the last of the Stan Lee DC titles which will feature Stan's take on 'Crisis.'

"I'm also drawing either a cover or pin-up for 'Spawn' #101.

"Beyond that, who knows? It should be an interesting year."

As for who will fill the very big shoes Perez will be leaving behind on "The Avengers," it's a little too soon to tell.

"It's all pretty new news, and while we're discussing possibilities, there's nothing ready to be announced yet," Busiek told the Comic Wire on Wednesday. "But some of the possibilities are pretty dang exciting."

Busiek fans are familiar with the notion of serious health problems interfering with work, with his DC/Homage series "Kurt Busiek's Astro City" having run into numerous lengthy delays over the past two years as a result of major chronic sinus infections.

Don't look for "Astro City" to return to a monthly series any time soon.

"Number 22's being printed, but my health has been rocky enough for the past eight months now that #23 is still just an outline," Busiek said. "We're hoping things improve, but for the moment, there's little we can do beyond that. I regret the series' irregularity more than anyone can know, but I'm just not physically capable of writing it regularly while wrestling with these chronic health troubles. So we're trying to avoid stress and concentrate on getting me healthy again …"

On a happier note, Busiek's other creator-owned series, the Gorilla Comics "Shockrockets" has recently had its second issue hit the stands.

"So far, response seems great, both from readers enjoying the book and retailers supporting it and reordering. I can only hope they like #3 even more, and #4 better still, and so on …"

Fans have also noted that Busiek really meant it when he said the second issue of "Shockrockets" would be "new reader friendly," as reportedly will be all Gorilla Comics.

"I'm used to doing it - we're only calling attention to it since modern-day readers, by and large, aren't used to it, and we want them to know they can trust the book even if they miss an issue …"

As for what fans can expect in future issues: "Lotsa cool stuff! Origins! Espionage! Traitors! Aerial battles! Technological breakthroughs! Sound effects! Word balloons! Character drama! Action!"