After seeing Prometheus a second time I went back to a casting dream for a possible Avengers sequel. Seeing Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace together a second time made be think how perfect they would be as the Vision and the Scarlet Witch. This is just the musing of a geek – I have no knowledge and assume Fassbender would not want to play another android.
Avengers Origins: Vision from Marvel.com. Cover by Marko Djurdjevic
Prometheus still of Noomi Rapace courtesy 20th Century Fox
I posted before how both actresses who played The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo could play Wanda on-screen in an X-Men: First Class (Rooney Mara)sequel or Avengers (Rapace) sequel.
Avengers Vs X-Men #6 variant courtesy Marvel
Again – I have no power or knowledge and will probably enjoy what Marvel decides but it’s fun to dream and play casting director!
Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 courtesy IDW Publishing
Now this is an assimilation you might enjoy! Doctor Who, Amy and Rory are about to meet the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise! Star Trek: The Next Generaton/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 is a new comic book from IDW Publishing. Issue #1 featured an attack on a Federation world by Borg with Cybermen.
io9 has a first look at issue #5. Amy Pond, Deanna Troi and Dr. Beverly Crusher share one cover. The Time Lord and Captain Picard are seen peering out of the Tardis on another.
Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 courtesy IDW Publishing
Here’s the official description: The two greatest science-fiction properties of all time cross over for the first time in history, in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION²! Captain Jean-Luc Picard faces one of the most difficult decisions of his life, but the fate of the galaxy may depend on it! Can the Doctor convince him to make the correct choice?
Ninjak is back! Valiant Entertainment reveals Ninjak will take on Aric in X-O Manowar #5 this September. This will be the first chapter of a new arc by Robert Venditti and Lee Garbett.
From the publisher:
“X-O Manowar has landed on Earth – and now the world’s most lethal intelligence agent has a new target. But who is the operative known as Ninjak? And who – or what – has marked Aric of Dacia for death by his blade? Find out when the all-new, all-ruthless Ninjak makes his shocking debut – and cuts his way to the forefront of the Valiant Universe!”
X-O Manowar #5 courtesy Valiant Entertainment
Mark Moretti and Joe Quesada created Ninjak in the Bloodshot series but the character became so popular he got his own series. Colin King is the rich son of a British agent raised in the Far East where he was an outcast. After his father’s murder King became a martial arts master to bring his father’s killer to justice and later a master spy.
X-O Manowar is a popular choice and book of the month with my Comic Book Reading group!
The tragedy of Colossus: Let’s start with Joss Whedon bringing him back from the dead. He gets Kitty Pryde back. He finally has sex with Kitt then loses Kitty when she’s trapped in a speeding bullet through space. He loses Nightcrawler. Deals with the never-ending limbo/dead/limbo/back/no soul drama of his sister Magik. He becomes the Juggernaut and Kitty dumps him.
I love Colossus because the mighty mutant of steel is the emo whipping boy of several Marvel writers but he can take it. The poor guy is coping with the emotional abuse of losing Kitty, having a psycho demonic sister and fighting a demon of his own.
In Avengers vs X-Men writers have poured on the physical abuse. Colossus took a beating from the Red Hulk in AvX and AvX Versus plus that fight with Spidey.
In this week’s AvX Vs #3 Peter goes fists to fists with the Rulk then the Thing on the moon! Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness clobber us with a brutal steel vs rock showdown. The art is powerhouse and Peter’s inner dialogue is powerful. The former innocent Russian farm boy is long gone. A cold steel warrior with a devil inside is fighting an inner battle that he’s losing with every physical victory.
SPOILER
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ AVX #5 STOP READING NOW
SERIOUSLY
OK HERE IT COMES
In Avengers vs X-Men #5 the Phoenix Five (Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus and Magik) were born as the entity seized them as hosts. If there’s one thing I hope from this is the Phoenix burns the Cyttorak out of Peter and Limbo out of Illyana. Since the entity represents death and rebirth, I hope Colossus and Magik can be cleansed and reborn.
Brian Wood took over X-Men #30 with a new mission and mystery for Storm’s team. This issue felt so good because it took me back to the Chris Claremont and Paul Smith era. As much as I love the mutants and creative teams all the X-books can seem too big with too many characters tied to way to many plot threads.
Cyclops has made Storm leader of a security task force to defend mutants. Ororo leads a small team where everyone has a purpose, every mutant’s power fits into making them an effective unit and everyone gets screen time. Wood definitely demonstrates this team is under Storm’s authority.
Blank Generation begins with the discovery of what might be a new mutant race, a murder, two monsters and Storm defiantly keeping secrets from Scott. Wood sets a strong tone and pace. The art reminds me of Paul Smith but more nuanced. David Lopez draws the X-Women feminine yet strong without the typical cheese. This book reminded me of when there was just one book – and it felt nostalgic and exciting but with a dark tone.
Rock and Roll legends KISS are back in a brand new ongoing comic book from IDW this week. KISS #1 kicks off with a story called Dressed to Kill by Chris Ryall and Jamal Ingle.
From the publisher:
“Four ordinary humans in 1920s Chicago find themselves caught up in a battle of epic proportions that will reverberate across time and space in “Dressed to Kill,” part 1!”
This “Demon” variant cover is my Michael Gaydos.
Detective Comics writer/artist Tony Daniel revealed his love of KISS at Fan Expo Vancouver. Daniel may be acclaimed for Batman but he reveals how KISS inspired him and first paid work. I asked if he shared my love for the movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.
“I did and when I was a kid man I loved that show. I like 7-year-old – it was a long time ago. As a kid those guys are like superheroes. They’re more than like rock stars. Every kid in my class loved KISS just because they look crazy and had the makeup on – dragons and space guys and what not. What I remember it was so weird. But back then you didn’t have video recorders, Tivo – you watch it once and when it’s over you’re like, man what did I just see. Today you can rewind and watch it again. It was such a weird – you know maybe that screwed me up or something it was very…I just remember it being very bizarre. I’m sure if I watched it now I might feel disappointed in it (laughs) but it was super cool back then as a child.
(I interject asking about how KISS art was his first paying work so to speak)
Yeah it was my first commission. I drew a giant poster size picture of all of four characters. One kid was gonna buy it from me for like two dollars and another kid was gonna give me a big giant stack of basically the entire collection of KISS trading cards and I went with the trading cards and ended up getting into a brawl afterwords with the guy that lost. So yeah, you know blood, sweat and tears from age 7 on with the art.”
You can see my entire interview with Tony Daniel here.
Black Panther is back in the book that introduced him to the world. In this week’s Fantastic Four #607 by Jonathan Hickman Marvel’s First Family travels to Wakanda when the world runs out of vibranium. Mike Choi created this regal cover showing the former King in his glory.
This week’s comic book return of T’Challa follows the reports that Black Panther is next in line to get the big screen treatment from Marvel Studios. I’ve always pushed for Idris Elba (Heimdall in Thor.) After seeing Elba as the Captain in Prometheus I’m even more convinced. If you’re not then check out Elba in BBC’s Luther. I can see the dynamic between Elba and Robert Downey Jr now in an Avengers sequel. If there’s one bad ass who could silence Tony Stark it’s T’Challa.
Marvel is spinning a new mystery for Spider-Man again. The teaser for Amazing Spider-Man #692 features “Who Is Alpha?”
The official press release below:
“This August, celebrate Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary as the amazing dream team of Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos introduce someone new to the Marvel Universe that will have everyone asking – “Who Is Alpha?”
But in order to find out, you’ll have to be amongst the first to pick up Amazing Spider-Man #692 – the special anniversary issue you’ve been waiting 50 years for!”
Could this be a direct tie into The Amazing Spider-Man movie which features scenes of Peter Parker figuring out formulas and searching for answers about his parents? The round of teasers earlier this year promoted the Spider-Men series starring Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Maybe Alpha could mean a battle for title of Spider-Man – the Alpha male?
