There’s a big rumor about the villain that will unite DC’s biggest heroes in a Justice League movie. According to Latino Review Warner Brothers will have Darkseid as the villain for the big screen battle.
Darkseid is a God-like being from a dark dimension, rules planet Apokalips and armies of evil warriors (Parademons, Female Furies, Kalibak, Desaad.)
Darkseid was the first villain to The New 52 Justice League fought and his invasion was the key that united the heroes.
Maxwell Lord in The Omac Project courtesy DC Comics
I still think the smarter, cooler direction is to have a Superman/Batman team-up against Lex Luthor and Ra’s Al Ghul as the super villains try to tap into The Source of extradimensional power. Diana (not Wonder Woman yet) is a warrior woman trying to warn the outside world of the invading force (Darkseid) that is a legend among the Amazons. Bruce, Clark, and Diana fail. Lex and Ra’s unleash Darkseid.
The Superman/Batman team-up movie leads into the Justice League’s big showdown against Darkseid and his invading forces.
I’m also a big fan of Maxwell Lord from The Omac Project but I guess if you’re competing with a Titan (Thanos in The Avengers sequel) you have to go big with your biggest villains – you don’t get bigger than Darkseid!
A new era for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes begins this week. Writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Jermone Opena are blowing up the team with bigger roster and bigger mission.
Jonathan Hickman and Editor Tom Brevoort revealed the new mission for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and what to expect from this week’s premier issue and beyond on Marvel.com.
“We will see the back story of how Iron Man and Captain America have been quietly building a contingency plan for the day that comes in issue #1,” Hickman teases of the huge event that requires a bigger team that will reflect our modern world.
“One of the first things we all agreed on is that the roster should look more like the world. So far we’ve seen the biggest and most iconic characters, but as we reach issues #7 and #8, we’ll see more new characters and characters we’re reviving or recreating. Eventually there will be 24 characters. 12 will be either female or minority characters,” said Hickman of the growing roster.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
In January Hickman and artist Steve Epting launch a new New Avengers – a new version of the Illuminati. This new secret cabal working behind the scenes will be Black Panther, Iron Man, Doctor Strange Black Bolt, Namor, Reed Richards and Beast.
“It’s about the guys who quietly, secretly run the world. It’s thematically much different than Avengers. The plan I’ve worked out is that the Avengers are the utopian Avengers, the ideal ones we want, whereas the New Avengers are real world, they live in the dark, apocalyptic world as it is,” revealed Hickman.
“The books will work in tandem. You don’t have to read both, but they are two sides of the same coin. Two different stories,” he added.
Some of the most surprising and exciting additions to the new team are New Mutants Sam Guthrie and Roberto Da Costa.
“You’ll get an issue where Cannonball and Sunspot get to spend time with Captain America,” Hickman revealed, “I’ve always really liked them. I wish it was more complicated than that. I pitched a Bobby and Sam in Mojoworld book, and somehow it got made.”
One reason I love Sam and Bobby getting this “promotion” is that they never got to rise up to true X-Men status.
“Cannonball and Sunspot are at least chronologically younger characters. It’s always good to have those types of figures in Avengers to bring a fresh viewpoint. That said, they’re also established Marvel characters,” Brevoort said, “When Brian Bendis brought Luke Cage and Spider-Woman into the Avengers, they weren’t the most popular characters, but they had legitimacy. I think it will be the same thing with Cannonball and Sunspot.”
“When we get to 24 characters, their will be several subgroups of characters, and one tier will be a group of younger, more idealistic people like Cannonball and Sunspot,” Hickman explained.
Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Hickman explained the leadership hierarchy of this new Avengers.
“Cap is in charge, of course, and he has two vice-captains in Captain Marvel and Iron Man. For bigger stuff, it splits into three teams. There are other factions within that, but generally, that’s the command structure. In New Avengers, they all think they’re in charge and none of them are,” explains Hickman.
Hickman confirmed Avengers will start with the 3 big arcs then 3 stand-alone stories and he’s creating new villains. Mr. Fantastic and Beast will be on New Avengers. Hyperion will be part of the team. Eden Fesi of Secret Warriors will be in the Avengers.
Brian Michael Bendis really affected the X-Men when he was writing the Avengers. Can you imagine what the writer will put the Children of the Atom through now that he’s writing the X-Men?
From the first issue of All-New X-Men #1 we know that Beast’s days may be numbered due to his mutation…mutating. Henry brings the original five X-Men into the Marvel Now hoping to make the modern-day Cyclops change the path he’s taken. Will this blast from the past end in death for a modern mutantr one of Xavier’s originals? Bendis talked with MTV Geek about his past, present and future impact on the X-Men.
“All-New X-Men” is an entry point into a brave, new, angsty mutant-filled world for Bendis who’s been the number one “Avengers” guy for years. He said, “I had done a lot of stuff to the “X-Men” universe without being an “X-Men” writer. Like, “House of M” gave Wolverine his memories back, I killed Charles Xavier, I know it shows a lot of destruction, but it showed to me, a lot of love and affection for the X-Men.”
All-New X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel
According to Bendis, “All-New X-Men” is really about looking back and paying tribute to the Silver Age adventures of the “X-Men,” while pushing the title forward into an exciting, unexpected and “All-New” future.
Many Avengers died under Bendis’s watch. The writer is teasing death in this rebirth of the X-Men:
“Which one of them dies, what happens then?”
You can see Bendis and Editor Nick Lowe’s interviews at this MTV Geek link.
In 2013 Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting assemble a new Illuminati to save the world! Some of Marvel’s most brilliant minds gather to prevent our universe’s collision with another universe. Black Panther leads Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Beast and Namor against a swarm of invading parallel realities.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Marvel shared new Steve Epting art from inside New Avengers #1 in which Wakanda becomes ground zero for the invasion.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Black Panther’s homeland is recovering from Namor’s invasion in Avengers vs. X-Men. T’Challa is coping with the end of his marriage to Storm and the destruction of his country.
T’Challa is a formidable warrior but a brilliant scientist too. Black Panther refused to join the original Illuminanti but this time he’s leading the secret cabal of Marvel’s biggest brains.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
New Avengers #1 arrives January 2, 2013. I’m thrilled to see Black Panther back on the front burner in comics and hope this is a sign T’Challa may appear in a future Avengers movie.
The Brian Michael Bendis Avengers era ended with week with New Avengers #34. Marvel recruited Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena to relaunch Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for the Marvel Now. In December’s Avengers #1 the franchise will “go large” with 2 issues per month and a bigger roster of heroes.
Marvel provided Comic Book Resources with a first look at variant covers and inside premiere issue.
I LOVED this Steve McNiven variant featuring the new Indestructible Hulk and Jermone Opena will no doubt deliver a masterpiece with each issue.
Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
I’m a huge fan of Hickman’s SHIELD, Manhattan Projects and Fantastic Four and it appears he’s bringing his big science, big cosmic level concepts and knowledge of Marvel history to the first arc.
Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
The expanded roster will allow the Avengers to fight threats on Earth and beyond! Prepare to have your mind blown.
It’s a new beginning for the Future Foundation in this week’s FF#1 by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred.
Here’s what you need to know: Reed Richards created the Future Foundation to help shape the world’s most brilliant young minds (including mutants, aliens and clones) into the leaders of a brighter future. Reed is taking his family on a vacation into uncharted time and space. (The real reason behind the journey is far more heartbreaking.)
FF #1 is a recruitment drive for new heroes to be the world’s new Fantastic Four while Marvel’s First Family ventures to unknown worlds. Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben recruit their replacements in clever scenes that offer great interactions and logical reasons why these new four have been chosen. Between those scenes Fraction has the extended family of FF kids explain the Foundation to their new leader.
FF #1 courtey Marvel
The human and hilarious storytelling tell you everything you need and gives you compelling reasons why should join the FF. Mike and Laura Allred’s pop art styles really convey the wonder, hope and fun in every panel. Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk and the future Ms.Thing may be replacements but I think they’ll win a prime space in the hearts of comic book fans soon!
Marvel is aiming for the stars for their next big comic book and comic book movie franchise! James Gunn is reportedly been hired to direct Guardians of the Galaxy. Now the search for a star to play the leader: Peter Quill aka Star-Lord.
Joel Edgerton, Lee Pace, Jack Huston, Eddie Redmayne, Jim Sturgess are in contention along with Garrett Hedlund and James Marsden as options according to Deadline.
How important is Guardians of the Galaxy to Marvel? Brian Michael Bendis. The writer of Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man and now All-New X-Men is writing a brand new Guardians of the Galaxy series with superstar artist Steve McNiven and Iron Man is joining the team.
Peter Quill is the son of a human mother and alien father raised on Earth who leads a ragtag group of aliens on adventures in deep space. In the comics the Guardians and Avengers have worked together so expect a cinematic tie-in, especially given the appearance of Thanos.
Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) matches the look of Peter Quill but my gut goes for Garrett Hedlund (Tron) because once he becomes Star-Lord he gets a little grittier.
I’m still hoping Dwayne Johnson will play Drax the Destroyer.
All-New X-Men is perfect for an X-virgin but even better for a veteran! Brian Michael Bendis set the stage for the future of the Children of the Atom: New mutants are emerging around the world. Cyclops is racing to recruit them for his revolution. Wolverine, Storm, Kitty, Iceman and Beast are trying to teach young mutants and keep the peace. If Scott could only see young man he used to be. The only hope for the future of mutantkind is in the past.
Beast has been the heart and moral compass of the X-Men for years. Bendis made the perfect choice of having Henry as the balance between hope and destruction, past and present. Beast brings the original X-Men into the present. A desperate act of a dying X-Man.
I absolutely loved this week’s All-New X-Men #2. Bendis just nails the wonder and innocence of the “little X-Men” as Logan calls them. The writing captures the relationships between the original five X-Men. You really get a sense of their youth, hope and inexperience as they grapple with what Beast is telling them. When they arrive in the present you understand the team’s fear and disbelief over how their lives are radically different and how Xavier’s dream could have gone so wrong.
Bendis and Stuart Immonen create an incredible issue packed with drama, humor and excitement. There’s a heartbreaking moment between the young Jean Grey and modern Beast that just signals the powerful stories that will be told. Past meets present and future of All-New X-Men will be a thrilling ride.
