Batman has seen the future. It’s hell. The Joker’s final gag on Gotham City is the last laugh from another Bat villain.
This week’s Batman Incorporated #5 is the most disturbing and relentless chapter of Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham’s epic war between Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul for control of their son.
Bruce Wayne declares that Damian can no longer be the new Robin. In this chapter Morrison takes us back into the twisted future he created in Batman #666. In this nightmarish world Damian is Batman, Gotham City is plagued by Jokerized zombies and the last hope lies inside Arkham Asylum.
Chris Burnham delivers every dark, gritty, gruesome scene of a badass Batman and Gotham gone insane that Morrison conjures up. The issue is packed with action, some very disturbing acts and a cliffhanger that thrills your heart and breaks it.
The Children of the Atom may have won over the hearts of two of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes but they have a new enemy that is pure evil and possibly the most powerful new villain in the Marvel Universe. Welcome to the Uncanny Avengers.
Here’s what you need to know: Captain America wants you Alex Summers! The Star-Spangled Avenger asks Havok to lead a team of human and mutants heroes. A mutant terrorist attacks New York City. Havok, Cap, Wolverine and Thor fight to stop the madman and save lives. Scarlet Witch and Rogue are attacked by a mysterious squad of freaks at Professor Xavier’s grave. The Red Skull has been reborn and he’s stolen Xavier’s brain.
Rick Remender and John Cassaday continue the shock and awe in this week’s issue #2 picking right up where the last issue left off. The Red Skull is using the Professor’s brain as a weapon to inflame anti-mutant rage. The creators deliver more “oh —-!” moments involving the Red Skull and his manipulations.
I’m really excited by the way Remender portrays Rogue from her clash with Scarlet Witch, her discovery of Xavier’s remains and her recollection of joining the X-Men.
This book is definitely working for me and I’m excited for what’s next. Remender and Cassaday have me hooked!
Hugh Jackman leading the real Last Stand! In the classic Days of Future Past storyline Logan leads the underground resistance in a future North America ruled by Sentinels. Magneto, Storm, Colossus and Kitty Pryde (now Kate Rasputin) are the only surviving X-Men. The heroes eventually break out of their concentration camp and join Logan on a suicide raid on Sentinel headquarters. Hugh Jackman is now in talks to join the film.
Uncanny X-Men #466 courtesy Marvel
Rachel Summers! The daughter of Scott and Jean is the key to the story. Rachel is telepathic and telekinetic like her mother and uses her psionic powers to send Kate’s mind into the present day body of a younger Kitty Pryde who must convince the X-Men to prevent an assassination that will lead to this dark future. Bryce Dallas Howard (yes I know she’s already been in a Spidey movie) would be perfect as tragic daughter of Scott and Jean. Rachel was forced to be a “Hound” and track down fellow mutants. In the comic books Rachel escaped the future and went into the past became the new Phoenix and joined the X-Men. She currently teaches as the Jean Grey School.
Franklin Richards! The last surviving member of the Fantastic Four is in love with Rachel. The son of Reed and Susan Storm Richards is in the camp with the surviving X-Men and I won’t reveal his final fate. Mark Millar’s new role as Creative Consultant for the Fox controlled Marvel franchises includes the upcoming reboot of Fantastic Four. This film could serve as a reboot point for both franchises similar to J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek.
Kitty Pryde/Kate Rasputin! Could Singer recruit Ellen Page to reprise her role? In the future Kate is married to Colossus (as it should be!) but agrees to have her mind travel into the past to rally the X-Men to stop a chain of events leading to the dark future. I think this is unlikely given the time period of the previous film.
Frenzy! I think the movie version will still have a Brotherhood of Mutants attempt to assassinate a Senator. The killing leads to the creation of the Sentinels. Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) will need new members of their Brotherhood. Why not have the gorgeous and formidable Frenzy aka Joanna Cargill on the roster? This would be a good way to have an African-American character in this retro time period as a way to explore race relations and the human/mutant conflict. In the comics Frenzy is a former mutant terrorist (who followed Apocalypse and Magneto) but joined the staff of the Jean Grey School.
X-Factor #243 courtesy Marvel
Polaris! Before I knew the X-Men: First Class sequel would be Days of Future Past I was hoping Magneto’s children (Polaris, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch) would appear in the sequel. Polaris aka Lorna Dane is a green haired mutant with magnetic powers and falls in love with Havok (played by Lucas Till.) Polaris is one of the most tragic characters in X-history and having her could lead to romantic scenes with Till and powerful scenes with the men who would be revealed as her father (Michael Fassbender, Ian McKellen.) I think maybe Lorna would be the mutant sent back to save the future instead of Kitty.
Halle Berry returns as Storm! Ororo joins Logan in his assault on the Sentinel HQ in the future. I would love to see Berry (and Daniel Cudmore as Colossus) join Hugh Jackman in what is one of the most gripping scenes from the comic book series as the older broken heroes go on a suicide mission to save humanity one last time.
Earlier this week Director Bryan Singer sent off the Tweet that sent the X-world buzzing: Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen would join the cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past. The new film is based on the classic story by Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
Uncanny X-Men #141 courtesy Marvel.com
In Days of Future Pastthe surviving X-Men of the future send Kitty Pryde (Rasputin) into the body of her past self to rally the X-Men of that era to prevent an assassination. The murder leads to an apocalyptic future in which mutant hunting robots called Sentinels rule North America and have killed or imprisoned all mutants and superheroes. A much older Wolverine leads the underground resistance movement and a final assault on the Sentinel Headquarters.
With this storyline we might see Halle Berry reprise her role as Storm, Daniel Cudmore as Colossus, Ellen Page as Kitty?
In All-New X-Men #1 Henry McCoy revealed that he’s mutating again and he may not survive the experience. Beast has been the heart, soul and moral compass of the X-Men. I was pleasantly surprised to see how Brian Michael Bendis is using the Henry to launch the new series. Henry thinks the key to saving the future of the mutant race lies in the past with the original five X-Men.
All-New X-Men #2 is out this week. How will Xavier’s original students react to seeing their future?
The first arc will conclude with issue #5 and Comics Newsarama has this exclusive first look inside the final chapter of the first storyline.
It does not look good for Dr. McCoy. How many times have we seen Beast watching over and trying to heal an injured mutant? The last time Hank mutated (in Grant Morrison’s New X-Men era) he evolved into his more feline appearance. What are Hank’s genes doing to his body now and can anyone help him? Will the X-Men turn to Mister Sinister or the Dark Beast (from the Age of Apocalypse) for help. When I saw this image I remembered Henry’s search for a way to restart the mutant race in Endangered Species.
All-New X-Men #5 courtesy Marvel
Cyclops continues his campaign to recruit new mutants for his cause. I can’t wait for Cyclops to meet his younger self and how will he react when learns Hank may be dying?
One of my favorite DC Comics heroines hits Arrow on The CW this week! DC Comics Creative Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns will pen the episode titled Muse of Fire.
“I’m thrilled to be writing this episode of ARROW, and while I can’t give too much away, I think comic fans are going to like what we have in store for them – keep an eye out for the Huntress,” Johns tells The Source.
Jessica De Gouw will play Helena Bertinelli aka the Huntress. In the comics Bertinelli is the daughter of a murdered mafia boss out for revenge when her family is wiped out. Helena continues her crime fighting career as a member of the Birds of Prey and as a member of the Batman family.
Huntress #1 courtesy DC Comics
Here’s the official character description from The CW:
“Helena is a potential love interest for Oliver Queen; a fellow vigilante, set on destroying her father’s organized crime empire. But Helena’s blind pursuit of revenge will put her on a collision course with the Arrow.”
Here’s what the actress told IGN about playing the heroine:
“It’s challenging for me because I play Helena and the Huntress and I have to be able to hold my own regarding the duality of the role,” De Gouw continued. “And I have to be able to kick butt and all of that. And I’m quite feminine in my normal every day life, so the fighting and all of that is new and interesting for me. But it’s good. I’m really enjoying it. I’ve really been thrust into it so you might as well just jump in, right?”
I’m thrilled to see Huntress on television and hope she may appear in a Batman movie some day.
This week’s New Avengers #34 is the final issue of the Brian Michael Bendis era. 8 years ago Bendis took over Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and made me love the Avengers again!
Avengers Disassembled: Here’s where it all began again. He blew up Avengers mansion, blew away team members and made prodigal fans like me take notice and remember why we love Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It was more than stunts for shock value. There was great drama and emotion as Steve and Tony mourned friends and coped with the truth that one of their own had become the greatest enemy. The team ended but the call would go out again for heroes to assemble!
Enter Spider-Woman: Jessica Drew was lifted out of the comic book void and right into the middle of the action in Breakout in New Avengers #1. Bendis made us fall madly in love with the reborn heroine then pulled the rug out of from under us! Turns out this Jessica was really the Skrull Empress and mastermind of Secret Invasion. The real Jessica came back during that epic and started rebuilding her reputation and life. There were huge action packed events that were building blocks, plots within plots that led to bigger events. Jessica was at the center of them all.
New Avengers Annual #1 courtesy Marvel
Luke Cage Is The MAN: Bendis must have loved the Power Man & Iron Fist series too because he put Cage on the front burner. Luke’s comeback started in the excellent Alias series when he became the love interest of Jessica Jones. In Breakout Luke answered Captain America’s call for help and soon Cap made Luke leader of the New Avengers. The course of true love never runs smooth but Luke, Jessica and their baby became the tortured heart of the series for me.
The Illumanati: A brilliant concept! Turns out there was a secret society of super heroes that had played key roles in major Marvel events through history. The covert alliance of Iron Man, Professor X, Namor, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt and Reed Richards would eventually shatter and ghosts of the past would come back to haunt them.
Love to HATE Norman Osborn: One of Spidey’s greatest enemies became Marvel’s most powerful villain. The former Green Goblin’s rise to power began when he started running the Thunderbolts. In the aftermath of Secret Invasion Osborn seized power with control of the Avengers and SHIELD, which he renamed HAMMER. The Dark Reign began with a madman disguised as a hero (the Iron Patriot) with his own Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men. Osborn’s obsession for power led to an invasion of Asgard in SIEGE.and that was his downfall – and we were reminded just how bat—- crazy Norman really is!
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Who’s An Avenger? Bendis said what a lot of fans had been saying for years – if the Avengers are the best and most powerful heroes then why aren’t Marvel’s biggest guns on the team! He did something about it! Wolverine, Luke Cage, Thing and Doctor Strange were assembled along with the tragic powerhouse, the Sentry. Daredevil, Iron Fist would later join the team. Hawkeye’s lost love Mockingbird even returned.
I could go on and on but I will end here with a huge thank you to Brian Michael Bendis for an incredible run and for making me love the Avengers again!
New Avengers #34 is out this week! Thank you and good luck with the X-Men!
I was honored to be the special guest on my friendly neighborhood comic shop’s special edition videoblog dedicated to the new Marvel Now titles! The Zanadu Comics crew dubbed me Professor Marvel! Take a look and I’d love to know your favorite Marvel Now titles so far:
Thanks to Perry, Howard and Casey were having me as your special guest for and always great experience every new comic book Wednesday! Thanks to the Sam the man behind the cam! Disclosure: I will always love X-Men – it was my first book but I do read titles of the competition and I always welcome your indie picks!
