Rick Remender and John Cassaday launch Uncanny Avengers this October. Captain America, Wolverine, Thor, Rogue, Havok and Scarlet Witch assemble a new version of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the aftermath of AvX to fight a reborn Red Skull and his S-Men.
Marvel revealed this Uncanny Avengers #1 variant by Daniel Acuna. Although this relaunch is part of the Marvel NOW! I’m loving the retro feel. Havok will be team leader. You may or may not be a fan of Alex’s headgear but I think he has one of the coolest and most visual power signatures in comics.
I admit I exclaimed “OH —-!” when I saw this teaser image for Avengers vs. X-Men #12 from Marvel. It’s a haunting blast from the past as what appears to be Jean Grey as Dark Phoenix strikes a pose amid cosmic flames with the ominous title “The End.”
If you’re old school like me you can’t help but picture Jean Grey pleading with Scott to kill her on the moon before the Dark Phoenix takes over again in the classic conclusion to The Dark Phoenix Sagaby Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
But I’m feeling hope too. Not that Hope. I think of Grant Morrison and Marc Silvestri’s Here Comes Tomorrowmodern masterpiece when Jean set Cyclops on the right path to prevent a nightmare future and she went to off to a higher plane. Is Jean back to make things right?
AvX has been so much more than team vs. team. Heroes on both sides have been in conflict over which side to choose. While I love the action and fights I’ve really been engrossed with the inner conflicts.
Is this a resurrected Jean Grey or Hope as the Dark Phoenix? How does the final chapter of AvX lead to the original X-Men being brought into the present day?
Avengers vs X-Men #12 by Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert arrives in October
A big day for comic book fans as DC unleashes a wave of New 52 Annuals! I always loved those as a kid – a bigger size issue with a huge story. Three of DC’s biggest icons star in 3 big annuals out today.
The first New 52 Detective Comics Annual features a showdown between Batman and the Black Mask. Artist Roman Molenaar joins writer Tony Daniel on Detective Comics Annual #1. The artist talked with The Source about joining the Batman family.
“He knows exactly how to write for an artist which makes it a delight setting up the pages,” says Molenaar of Daniel, “Fans can expect fast-paced action and details all over the place as far as the art goes. Batman will need all of his physical and mental strength for this Annual and be ready for the return of one of his most diabolical villains!”
“The first DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL features the return of one of Batman’s most dangerous adversaries – the Black Mask!” adds editor Mike Marts. “Picking up from where readers last saw him in the ‘Night of the Owls’ storyline, gangster Roman Sionis has once again donned the maddening mask and formed his False Face Society. How will the Dark Knight combat this unique threat? And is there an even greater villain lurking in the shadows?”
Superman Annual #1 courtesy DC Comics
The Man of Steel takes on the most evil alien of the Wildstorm Universe in Superman Annual #1. Helspont is a Daemonite warlord and galactic menace born in the pages of Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.S.
“We’ve heard a lot about Helspont and his intergalactic conquests – I thought it was time to see him in action! Unfortunately for Superman, the Last Son of the House of Daemon has a bite that is much worse than his bite!” new writer Scott Lobdell tells The Source.
“There is an old life rule that says you shouldn’t move in with your best friend. You would think a guy as smart as Clark would know that hosting Jimmy would strain even his super human levels of endurance.”
“I love that the Annual touches base with other aliens living on Earth. We get to see Starfire, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman — and the cameos don’t stop there! I think it was only fitting that we should touch base with these characters considering how much Superman’s actions in the coming months are going to effect the perception of all aliens currently visiting our planet. This is one of those Annuals that is a total game-changer!”
“In the Man of Steel’s first Annual we deal with an alien threat that has targeted the Last Son of Krypton, and we get the truth’s behind invaders that have been here for some time and are about to be eradicated by their own kind,” adds series editor Eddie Berganza. “There’s also close encounter cameos by Starfire, Hawkman and Martian Manhunter. Why should they be loyal to their adopted planet is the question raised.”
The Flash Annual #1 courtesy DC Comics
“THE FLASH ANNUAL #1 is the culmination of the past six issues, as we finally get to see the DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Rogues team up against the Flash,” co-writer Brian Buccellato tells THE SOURCE. “[Co-writer and artist] Francis Manapul and I are bridging the gap between the old ‘gun-toting’ Rogues that everyone remembers from previous continuity, and the new meta-powered incarnations. In the Annual, we finally reveal HOW the Rogues got their super powers and at what cost.”
“While the Annual does answer a lot of questions and give context to Flash and his relationship with the DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Rogues, it also propels the book into the next major story arc,” Buccellato continued. “We got the biggest thrill out of having Flash team up with someone unexpected in his fight versus the Rogues. I don’t want to spoil anything, but his uneasy partnership is with a former Rogue that was recently left out in the cold.”
Detective Comics, Superman and The Flash Annuals arrive today.
Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill in Marvel’s The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com
ABC has ordered a pilot for a live-action television series from Marvel’s The Avengers writer-producer Joss Whedon according to Deadline. Whedon will co-write and possibly direct!
S.H.I.E.L.D. is the peacekeeping organization run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as seen in Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers. The pilot will be written by Whedon, his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) were agents of SHIELD.
Can we get Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) out of her contract and in this show?! I love Maria Hill!
Get ready for Phantom Lady #1. The female member of the Freedom Fighters stars in her own miniseries by writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Amanda Conner with her partner in crime Doll Man.
I just discovered the amazing history of Phantom Lady in The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy and the History of Comic Book Heroines. Mike Madrid kicks off his book with the origin of Sandra Knight in the 1947. Knight was a bored rich girl who donned a yellow bikini and cape to seek thrills and fight crime as Phantom Lady.
Phantom Lady bust courtesy DC Comics
I met Madrid recently at GeekGirlCon 2012 in Seattle where he delivered an insightful and hilarious look at female superheroes through the decades starting with Phantom Lady.
Knight’s costume has definitely changed over the years and this is Jennifer Knight. This Phantom Lady’s parents were killed when she was a child by Gotham City gangsters, The Benders. Jennifer will infiltrate the mob family as part of her plan for revenge.
Phantom Lady #1 is out this week from DC Comics.
For Mike Madrid’s book and more about his extensive research here’s the link – Heaven4Heroes.com.
AvX Vs. #5 One of Marvel’s most iconic power couples is shattered. See the extended battle that led to the breakup of Storm and the Black Panther. Plus, Hawkeye takes aim at Angel. Two huge fights from the Avengers vs. X-Men mega series in this “all fights” series.
Captain Marvel #3 Carol is trapped in World War II with a team of female pilots under siege. Is this time twisting part of a NASA experiment gone wrong?
Justice League #12 Superman and Wonder Woman in love! Have you seen the super kiss? There’s more to romance in this action packed issue as the heroes are tested while fighting their new foe.
Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 courtesy IDW Publishing
Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who Assimilation2 #3 The Borg and Cybermen are attacking the Federation. Why an alliance of the Time Lord and Captain Picard may be more dangerous than the CyberBorg. What will Guinan reveal to the Doctor?
Winter Soldier #9 Marvel’s hottest superspies and lovers turned against each other. Black Widow’s tragic past has taken hold of her. Can Bucky save her?
I can forgive anything when it comes to Wanda. Even the Decimation of the mutant race. To borrow a Kelly Clarkson song she is a “Beautiful Disaster.”
The Scarlet Witch is on a path to redemption in Rick Remender and John Cassaday’s Uncanny Avengers this September. The team of Avengers and X-Men will take on a reborn Red Skull.
Legendary Italian artist Milo Manara created this volumptous variant to Uncanny Avengers #2 featuring the bewitching mutant with hex power courtesy Marvel.com.
I feel hopelessly in love with Scarlet Witch in the Avengers era by David Micheline and John Byrne. Remember when she was possessed by Chthon on Wundagore Mountain? Hope Wanda holds it together for a while.
Given how Rick Remender writes Psylocke I’m excited to see how he will write Wanda.
