Death of the Family hits this week’s Detective Comics #16. While the Joker continues his campaign of terror against the Dark Knight and his allies, Batman joins forces with Penguin? Does Bruce know the Joker has already “recruited” Oswald in his plot against Batman? You know this deal is going to come back to haunt Bruce!
Writer John Layman is remaking Gotham City’s underworld. In this week’s issue we’ll see the fallout from the new mastermind usurping the Penguin’s throne and how it will affect Batman’s deal with the Penguin and the crime lords of Gotham City.
Remember when the Empire ruled and Rebels were on the run? This week a brand new series takes you back to the classic period before the destruction of the Death Star.
Brian Wood (The Massive, Northlanders, X-Men, Ultimate Comics X-Men, Conan) is the master of a new comic book series set during the original trilogy for Dark Horse Comics. Alex Ross captures that classic spirit on the cover for Star Wars #1.
Since I’m a huge fan of Star Wars and Brian Wood I wanted to share some of his exclusive interview with The Nerdist about writing in the galaxy far, far away.
“The biggest challenge is actually writing it under the shadow of reader expectation. And doing right by Randy Stradley, my editor, who has written a fair share of Star Wars himself, and that can be intimidating. When I started the job, I had this idea that Star Wars fans would be really hardcore and nitpicky and, to be frank, ready to challenge my work. Then I went to Star Wars Celebration, this convention, and I had one of the most positive experiences of my professional life. Everyone was super nice, very receptive to what I’m doing, and I felt like I belonged in a way that comic book conventions don’t. I came home from that show determined to write 10x on this title.
And I’m more of a fan of Star Wars than I was aware. Thirty-five years of exposure to it, I guess, creates an impression as well as a huge about of information stored in my brain that is only just now proving its worth.”
For the entire interview and a first look inside here’s the link on the always enjoyable Nerdist.
Dredd was the film longtime fans of the classic British comic book had been hoping to erase the memories of the previous version? Now Judgement is coming…to your home!
Karl Urban kept his helmet on and delivered a wry performance as the Judge tasked with wiping out a drug lord in the futuristic Mega City One. The filmmakers were faithful to the source material. If you missed it in theaters Dredd is now on Blu ray/dvd so you can deliver your verdict at home.
For more ways to satisfy your Dredd craving – IDW is publishing a brand new Judge Dredd comic book series.
Uncanny X-Force goes into action with a new volume this month. Sam Humphries and Ron Garney relaunch the covert X-team with Psylocke, Storm, Spiral, Puck and a new character called Cluster? In Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force finale the fate of Fantomex and Cluster was revealed.
Before I keep going here’s a:
SPOILER ALERT
IF YOU HAVE NOT READY UNCANNY X-FORCE #35 DO NOT KEEP READING
OK
HERE IT COMES:
In Uncanny X-Force #35 Fantomex’s three brains were born again in three different clone bodies. Sam Humphries tells Comic Book Resources two of those three will appear in the new volume of the series:
Uncanny X-Force #3 courtesy Marvel
“We knew when I started plotting the new ‘Uncanny X-Force’ that Rick was going to split Fantomex in three, and we also knew that he planned on ‘killing’ Fantomex for a certain number of issues. We didn’t want to undercut that though. So that’s why we’ve been very coy about Fantomex, the identity of Cluster and how and why they’re involved in the book. We wanted the end of Rick’s run to have as much impact as possible.
So we can finally reveal that Fantomex is in the new ‘Uncanny X-Force.’ Both Fantomex and Cluster are in issue #1 and joining the rest of the crew in this new era of mutant ninja noir. We can also reveal that Cluster is not a ‘Lady Fantomex’ or ‘She-Fantomex.’ She’s the cloned third brain of Fantomex; an aspect of what used to be ‘Fantomex Prime’ now split off into an individual person.”
“Cluster is the nicest and most nurturing of Fantomex’s brains, but that doesn’t mean she’s the most heroic. I don’t know if heroic is quite the right word to apply to any Fantomex. To some people saying you are the nicest version of Fantomex may be like saying you are the tallest version of Danny Devito,” Humphries said with a laugh. “‘Fantomex Prime,’ or the old Fantomex, was constantly wrestling with the three sides of his personality. He had Fantomex, Cluster, and Jean Philipe. Jean Philipe being the dark, evil sentinel brain within him. Cluster calls herself ‘the nicest’ and that’s certainly true. She’s the most loving and most in touch with her feelings and her emotions. She’s not the rakish, devil-may-care, Fantomex.””All three Fantomexes have feelings for Betsy, and all three Fantomexes are still Fantomex,” the writer remarked. “So you’ll see the immediate ramifications of how that dynamic plays out in the first issue of ‘Uncanny X-Force.’ It will be something that we’re going to play with in the long-term future of the book.”
The team battles Bishop in the first arc. Uncanny X-Force #1 hits comic shops on January 16th.
Sunfire the Avenger? That may inspire exclamations of “YES!” or “say what?”
Children of the Atom are moving up to join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Captain America recruited New Mutants Cannonball and Sunspot to Avengers (by Jonathan Hickman.) Sunfire will join Uncanny Avengers in issue 5. Professor X invited the Japanese mutant to join his cause back when Storm, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Colossus were the all-new, all-different X-Men. Sunfire said no and Shiro Yoshida’s heroic career has gone to hell. Sunfire even became a Horseman of Apocalypse.
Sunfire, Wonder Man and Wasp will join Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers lineup. The writer talked about why this fallen hero made the team and his search for redemption with Marvel.com.
“First off, it’s the “what if?”of it all. Here’s the one guy who refused Xavier’s invitation to be part of the “All-New” X-Men. He was the guy who was like, “oh this is the coolest era of the X-Men coming up? No thanks, I’ve got stuff to do.” And then he pops up once in a while and he’ll be involved, but he’s such an [expletive]. He’s just an [expletive]. He’s just like “shut up stupid people, dear god you Western morons,” and I’ve never really had a chanceto write just such an unabashed jerk.
Uncanny Avengers #5 courtesy Marvel
And he’s also crazy powerful. I know in the Age of Apocalypse version, his body is gone and he becomes a living being of energy, of fire. But I don’t think we need to turn him into that, necessarily. Power level wise, he can nuke a city. And you put Sunfire on the team, he’s a very powerful character, and he’s also someone that should have been one of the X-Men, but refused it, and he’s someone that’s at the lowest point of his life; really, he should have been on X-Force. He would have been a perfect addition to that squad. He’s been a Horseman, Mr. Sinister has manipulated him, he’s been a Marauder, he’s lost his legs and has had them returned, he’s lost family members; he’s gone through so many changes.
His core belief that Japan is the center of the universe was skewed and he lost who he was. He’s broken. So when we find him, he’s purposeless, shattered, manipulated and broken, which was attractive to me in taking that angle with him; he’s that tone of damaged and probably going to do some crazy things and is way more powerful than anyone else that we’ve seen in that situation. Shiro, to me, is an opportunity to make good on what could have happened in Giant-Size X-Men #1, when he declined to join the team. Now that Xavier’s dead and here’s this guy that’s lost his honor, it’s an opportunity to redeem himself as well.”
Remender says Wolverine recruits Shiro to the team. It will be exciting to see how Sunfire reacts if he encounters his former master. Apocalypse and Kang are the villains of the next Uncanny Avengers arc.
For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.
Marvel Now continues with more new relaunches and brand new series in 2013 but this year will mark the return of the Avengers’ greatest enemy!
Age of Ultron! No planning. No build up. The robotic menace hase already won on page one of Age of Ultron. The long-awaited epic series reunites Brian Michael Bendis and Bryan Hitch.
Young Avengers! Kid Loki gets a new group of young heroes together to kill Wiccan? The Scarlet Witch’s son and his boyfriend Hulkling and Kate Bishop are joined by new recruits Miss America and Noh-Varr. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (Phonogram) are the new creative team on the new Young Avengers coming January 23.
Marvel Goes Cosmic and Gets Spacey! Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven relaunch Guardians of the Galaxy with new member Iron Man. Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness blast a brand new Nova series with a new young hero under the helmet.
Fearless Defenders! Cullen Bunn assembles Marvel’s finest female heroes in a brand new series starring Valkyrie, Misty Knight and Dani Moonstar! I’m hoping he’ll bring back Hellcat for a reunion with Val!
Superior Spider-Man! Apologies to hardcore Peter Parker fans but imagine how much fun this could be? Feel the ick when Doc Ock kisses MJ! Root for Otto to get busted or is it possible you could end up rooting for this new “hero” in the suit?
Uncanny X-Men! Brian Michael Bendis and Chris Bachalo relaunch the flagship X-book starring Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magneto and Magik after the finale of the first arc of All-New X-Men starring the original X-Men.
Everything old is All-New after the first X-Men arc of Brian Michael Bendis. In this week’s All-New X-Men #5 an original X-Man gets a makeover and two X-Women take charge.
Professor X was murdered by Cyclops. Scott, Magneto, Emma and Magik are recruiting new mutants for a revolution. A dying Beast went into the past to bring the original Scott, Jean, Warren, Bobby and Hank into the Marvel Now. Hank’s dream of inspiring Cyclops takes a dramatic twist in this chapter. In the finale of the first arc Beast is reborn, Jean Grey learns entire truth about her future history and Kitty Pryde takes on a new role with Xavier’s original teenage dream.
Bendis delivers drama, action, intrigue and humor but the most important element is heart. A psychic exchange between newly telepathic Jean and the older Beast shows the sense of love and loss these characters are feeling. The storytelling has inspired great moments of nostalgia while still moving the Children of the Atom forward. There’s just a sense of the writer’s love and awe of these classic characters, their history and their relationships. I think I was in a psychic rapport with Bendis and Stuart Immomen as I read this arc!
In these first five chapters Bendis has established the new mutant order with new leaders, new agendas, new mutants, new powers and the potential for exciting new directions. X-Men really is All-New.
Emerald City Comicon Exclusive by Alex Ross courtesy Emerald City Comicon
This is the year! You know you want to go. You cheered in The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. You may have said “say what?” when the picture of Superman smooching Wonder Woman hit mainstream news sites.
Geek has gone global! Nerd is no longer niche. There’s no better geek experience than a comic book convention! Make 2013 the year you attend one!
In just two months the city I call home will host my favorite 3 days of the year! This March Emerald City Comicon will bring Sir Patrick Stewart, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Adam West, Burt Ward, stars of The Walking Dead and a huge roster of comic book creators to Northwest fans.
If you’re a sci-fi or comic fan but have never gone to a con this post is for you. By special request here’s a guide to Comicons for Virgins!
1. Have fun. Bring cash. You never know when you will find an awesome back issue or amazing print!
2. Do a little homework to maximize your con time. I have a wish list of stars and creators I hope to meet and panels I want to attend.
3. You know what they say about best laid plans! If you miss something don’t worry, there’s always something cool around the corner.
4. When it comes to autographs from writers/artists. Know when they have panels booked so you’re not waiting in line and then they have to leave for a panel. Autographs/photos from media guests (TV and movie stars) are on a schedule and do have fees.
5. I take only a max of 4-6 books to be signed by a writer/artist. Respect the other fans waiting just like you. Don’t drop dozens of books to be signed. You can buy books new at their table usually. This is your chance to talk with the creators. If you’re going to be critical, be constructive and respectful. If the writer killed off your favorite character, don’t worry, they’ll be resurrected eventually. This is your moment with the creator but remember your fellow fans are patiently waiting for their moments too.
6. Sketches. Most artists charge a fee – it’s worth it! Ask the guys ahead of you what they’re charging. Sometimes you might catch an artist in a mood and sketches are free but most have a fee – many have already been commissioned. Even if they’re drawing they will still autograph your books. Be patient.
Claremont/Byrne era Phoenix & Nightcrawler at ECCC, ComicsBlend.com
7. Let your geek flag fly! Don’t be self-conscious. If you want to go all out with a costume – go for it or just wear a cool t-shirt celebrating your favorite comic, sci-fi or fantasy thing. This is your chance at a second Halloween so go for it!
8. Panels – If it’s a big name star or show the expect a huge crowd so get there early.
9. Expand your horizons! This is a great time to discover a new artist, book, writer. If you’re just a superhero comic fan – why not try a crime, western or indie series.
10. Have fun! Bring cash! Be Patient!
Hope to see some of you at Emerald City Comicon March 1-3, 2013. Keep checknig out this site for updates and coverage.
