Amazing Spider-Man #700 The final issue of the series. How will Dan Slott end his run and relaunch Superior Spider-Man in 2013?
Aquaman #15 Atlantis attacks the surface world! The crossover with Justice League continues in part two of Throne of Atlantis. Aquaman is torn between his past and present as Ocean Master rises from the depths with an army behind him!
Mara #1 Brian Wood (Ultimate Comics: X-Men, The Massive, Northlanders) blends superpowers, celebrity worship and feminism in a new science fiction limited series from Image. Mara Prince is a superstar in a reality show obsessed world. She uses her supernatural powers on live television but is she just a pawn?
Tis the season so I wanted to share a special Christmas issue of the X-Men.
X-Men #109 was dubbed a 100 page monster issue featuring a new story by Chris Claremont plus 3 classic tales set around the holidays. While the previous stories are all action packed with Sentinels, a demon stalking Kitty and Gladiator versus Cannonball, the main story is very moving and reminds us how Chris Claremont poured a lot of heart into the team he wrote so many years.
“Ceremonies” shows the X-Men family in a snowball fight, ice skating, enjoying a date, breaking up, giving each other comfort. Comics always deliver action, thrills and battles but once in a while, a change of pace issue like this one makes you remember why you’re cheering for the X-Men to win.
I may not be posting as much as you’re used to this week because I’m spending time with family but I will be back up to full speed after the holiday. Thanks for visiting and supporting Comics Blend. As you unite with friends and family I wish you safe travels and a happy holiday.
As we celebrate the finale of The Dark Knight Trilogy, the success of The Avengers and the return of James Bond in in Skyfall in 2012, it’s time to look at some of the genre films that will thrill us in 2013.
Here are my most anticipated comic book films of 2013.
Hugh Jackman as The Wolverine courtesy Marvel and 20th Century Fox
The Wolverine Hugh Jackman plays the X-Man in his second solo movie based on the classic story by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. It’s Logan in Japan fighting Yakuka, Ronin, the Hand and The Silver Samurai! This film introduces three iconic women of Wolverine’s list of romantic conquests: Lady Mariko – daughter of crime lord, Yukio – the wild assassin who inspired Storm to get a mohawk, and Viper – ruthless terrorist leader. With James Mangold (Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma) directing from the classic source material, I think this film will be a showcase of action and great acting Jackman. Jackman and Wolverine are one of the greatest combining of actor and role ever.
Thor: The Dark World Chris Hemsworth as the Thunder God goes home again when a new threat targets Asgard! Malekith (played by former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston) leads the Dark Elves on a quest for vegeance that threatens the Nine Realms. Adwele Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays another classic comic book enemy: Kurse. I hope to see a bigger role for Lady Sif (Jaime Alexander) and look forward to that bloody Shakespearean drama from Anthony Hopkins, Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston as Odin, Thor and Loki.
Iron Man 3 Marvel is injecting new creative blood (director Shane Black) and a classic enemy – Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin – in Tony’s third solo movie. The story is based on the classic Extremis story and introduces new armor including the Iron Patriot.
Man of Steel With a team like director Zach Snyder, producer Christopher Nolan and writer David Goyer will this darker, realistic Superman work the way Dark Knight did? Henry Cavill will face Michael Shannon as Zod and possibly more evil Kryptonians.
Star Trek: Into Darkness To boldly go where no franchise has gone before! J.J. Abrams rebooted the sci-fi classic by honoring the original series while moving forward at warp speed. Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise crew track a mystery villain (Benedict Cumberbatch) villain out to destroy the Federation.
Best Continuing Series: Wolverine and the X-Men Humor, action, heart and the unexpected. Jason Aaron pack big moments, hilarious exchanges and moments that went for the heart and the gut!
Best Artist: David Lopez (X-Men) This was a tough call with the always mighty Jim Cheung (AvX covers) in the lead. Nick Bradshaw made an outstanding debut. This cover and Lopez’s portrayal of Storm just stayed with me.
Best Writer: Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men, Thor: God of Thunder) Everything I’ve said about Wolverine and the X-Men plus a serial killer of Gods in Thor – nuff said!
Best Mini-Series: Avengers vs. X-Men
Best Single Issue: Wolverine and the X-Men #18I picked this issue because of how it made me feel with the most shocking ending of the year. The last panel just hurt in my gut and heart! Jason Aaron made me love a strange little student at Logan’s school and then blasted him.
Wolverine and the X-Men #17 courtesy Marvel
Funniest Issue of the Year: Wolverine and the X-Men #17 (the All Doop epic with Mike and Laura Allred art!)
Comeback of the Year: Scott, Jean, Bobby, Hank and Warren in All-New X-Men
Best New Talent: Seth Peck & Paul Azaceta (X-Men #38 & #39 aka Domino & Daredevil)
Best New Series: Talon the killer who got away from the Court of Owls is back for vengeance.
Best Continuing Series: Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo! How do follow up the Court of Owls? Bring back the Joker and make him more horrific and twisted then ever1
Best Artist: Greg Capullo Batman
Best Writer: Scott Snyder Batman, American Vampire, Swamp Thing
Best Single Issue: Batman #5 Here’s my review when this came out back in January.
Best Comeback: Joker
Best Surprise: Superman kisses Wonder Woman in Justice League #12
Best New Talent: James Tynion IV (Batman backup stories, Talon)
As we celebrate the Christmas episode of Doctor Who I was inspired to make a wish list for second half of the season in 2013. The Snowmen will introduce the Doctor’s new companion: Clara Oswin (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and bring some humor back after the heartbreaking end of The Angels Take Manhattan.
The Return of Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax! Check these off! The Doctor’s allies appear in the holiday episode.
Neil Gaiman Returns! The Sandman creator wrote one of the most emotional episodes of all time. The writer of The Doctor’s Wife is working on script for the upcoming second season starring…
Cybermen! Those sinister cyborgs will return in an episode penned by Gaiman.
Torchwood! Can you imagine Captain Jack Harkness hitting on Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor? I’m curious if there is an organization like Torchwood now. It was fun to meet Kate Stewart in The Power of Three. Kate is following in her father’s (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) footsteps with UNIT.
The Doctor faces Brian Williams! Will the Time Lord break the news of Amy and Rory’s fate to Rory’s dad? Moffat would write a heart ripping scene I know Matt Smith and Mark Williams would play the hell out of
Zygons! My favorite aliens of the series! The Tom Baker storyline Terror of the Zygons creeped me out because it involved the Loch Ness Monster but when I saw the Zygons for the first time it gave me childhood nightmares. I thought sure we might see one in The Pandorica Opens. Fingers crossed for the return of those creep suction cup crustacean looking bastards!
Queen Nerfertiti and John Riddell! Riann Steele and Rupert Graves played the Egyptian Queen and big game hunter who joined the Doctor in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. How about the Doctor, Riddell, Clara and her Majesty united for an adventure in ancient Egypt that brings back Sutekh, another villain from the Tom Baker days in Pyramids of Mars.
Doctor Who in Seattle! Why should New York City and Utah have all the fun? Emerald City Whovians like me would love to have the Doctor come to the home of the Space Needle – maybe it’s a real spaceship waiting to blast off or a Tardis?
That’s my wish list but I trust in Steven Moffat! Happy Holidays to my fellow Whovians around the globe!
Valkyrie has been back in action in Fear Itself and Secret Avengers. In 2013 Val will co-star in Fearless Defenders. The other former Defenders Patsy used to run with have a place in the Marvel Now. I’m longing for the return of their sexy former teammate, Hellcat.
Patsy Walker was a child actress/model and star of a comic book within a comic book. She dreamed of being a real superhero. A chance meeting with Beast led to her becoming a costumed hero. Patsy joined the Avengers, the Defenders, went to Hell and married a devilish husband, Son of Satan. Even no good Damien got some panel time in New Avengers. Kathryn Immonen wrote a Hellcat limited series starring Patsy as the Initiative agent assigned to Alaska. Patsy was last seen as part of the limited series Marvel Divas.
I always loved her adventures with Valkyrie. The sexy cat and steely warrior woman were a great female duo during their Defenders run and I’m hoping Hellcat gets to use one of her nine lives in a new series or make an appearance in Cullen Bunn’s Fearless Defenders series.
How about recruiting Gail Simone to reboot Patsy in new solo book?
Marvel, Let’s Raise Some Hellcat in 2013!
Check out her Marvel.com bio for more on the history of Patsy Walker.
