Category: Books

Black Panther Returns in Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four #606 courtesy Marvel.com

  The Black Panther’s solo title ended but the King of Wakanda returns to Africa in Fantastic Four #606 according to Marvel’s solicitations for May 2012.

  Jonathan Hickman sends the FF back to the African kingdom with the ominous questions: “What happens when the world completely runs out of vibranium?”

  The precious metal is what made Wakanda one of the most technologically advanced nations on the planet and a target for enemies out to exploit its natural resource.

Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive had T’Challa in New York City taking up the role of protector of Hell’s Kitchen for Daredevil.  

FF # 18 features the Future Foundation kids on their first field trip in Africa and we meet the science club of Wakanda.

I’m thrilled to see the Black Panther staying in the Marvel Universe and back in Wakanda. Now let’s get working on that script for the movie starring Idris Elba!

Justice League Bows Before Darkseid!

Justice League #6 courtesy DC Comics

  Justice League #6 is the final chapter of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s first arc. We’ve seen DC’s greatest heroes unite to fight the ultimate evil, Darkseid. Jim Lee talked with The Source about his inspiration for the cover.

“I wanted to create a cover which resonated with what I consider to be the most classic Darkseid story – namely the Great Darkness Saga – so that entailed the Justice League bowing down naturally to the power of Darkseid,” said Lee. “Except of course Batman who, despite not having powers, fights with all his strength in defiance.”

  Geek’s Opinion: I love the positioning of Batman. I can almost hear him saying ‘I will not yield!”

 Justice League #6 is out next week.

Top 5 Picks for 2/22/12

Batman: Dark Knight #6 courtesy Marvel

 

 

Batman: Dark Knight #6 Bane will challenge Batman in The Dark Knight Rises on the big screen. This week Batman must find the mastermind behind the toxin in Gotham City’s most notorious supercriminals and confront the evil force that once broke his back – Bane.

Star Wars: Jedi: Volume 1: Dark Side  An early adventure of the Jedi Master who trained Obi Wan. Young Qui-Gon Jinn is sent to investigate an assassination and prevent civil war on his homeworld. A mission that will bring Qui-Gon close to the dark side and affect the Jedi Order.

 

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 courtesy Marvel.com

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 It’s Gambling 101 when Logan and Quentin hit an outer space casino hope to win big and save the Jean Grey School. It’s Casino Royale meets Star Wars as the mutant odd couple go ‘all in’ to save Logan’s dream.

I, Vampire #6 The Queen of Blood’s army overruns Gotham City. Batman must ally with Andrew to fight off the vampire infestation.

All Star Western #7 Jonah Hex vs a giant bat! If that’s not enough to suck you in Jonah and Amadeus Arkham (as in the Asylum from the Bat books) team up to escape a deathtrap and save Gotham’s children. These tales of the past uncover some of Gotham City’s darkest legend including Court of Owls. 

 

Avengers Movie: Loki & The Captain

Avengers Prelude Comic image courtesy Marvel.com

  Thor and Loki’s sibling rivalry explodes to threaten the world in Marvel’s The Avengers this May. Tom Hiddleston gave insight into Loki’s interactions with Captain America and the Hulk in a new interview with Total Film.

“I had huge fun with Chris Evans, as Captain America, because super-soldier though he may be, he’s still a man, up against a God who in his own mind is infinitely superior,” Hiddleston said. “Then, in the ring with The Hulk, we’ve got this silver tongued, lightening quick mind up against the embodiment of rage…Loki has this mercurial, transformative ability, not just physically but intellectually, so not all the fights are purely physical. Mind games? Maybe..”

  Thanks to Spinoff Online for the story and I salute their description of the film as “Earth’s Mightiest Movie. The best kept secret of the big screen movie is still a secret – Loki’s army he unleashes on Earth.

 

 

The Black Widow Strikes

The Black Widow Strikes possible cover

  The Black Widow is Marvel’s sexiest and most dangerous super spy. Natasha is starring in the Secret Avengers, The Winter Soldier with her lover Bucky and will have a role in Avengers Vs. X-Men. And then there’s that little movie you might have heard about during the Super Bowl.

  Marvel’s The Avengers features Scarlett Johansson as the super spy on the big screen. Fans can dive into a new Widow limited series set in the cinematic Marvel Universe. The spy goes back to Russia to stop an international crisis and demonstrates how lethal she can be. Marvel’s The Avengers: The Black Widow Strikes is set between Iron Man 2 and the Avengers movies writer Fred Van Lente tells Marvel.com.

  “Black Widow is running down some loose ends from Iron Man 2, namely some bootleg Stark technology that Justin Hammer made. It’s her and Agent Coulson going into Russia, but you’ll also probably see Nick Fury and the other heroes as necessary.”

Secret Avengers #20 courtesy Marvel.com

  “For this series, I’ve given Black Widow a kind of fan/stalker–a freelance espionage operator who has modeled herself on Black Widow,” explains Van Lente. “She’s attempting to usurp the Black Widow title from Natasha, so these two are in competition with one another.”

  “I took my inspiration for this series from Joss Whedon’s script for Marvel’s the Avengers, which I was lucky enough to read,” says Van Lente. “He does a good job making her inclusion on the team perfectly believable.”

  “This is on the same scale as the Marvel movies. We’re working closely with Marvel Studios to have it integrate seamlessly with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Once this is over, they’re welcome to use any of my ideas here for a movie,” Van Lente says with a chuckle. “It was fun to talk to the studio and see what they have in mind for Black Widow, but who knows where she’ll be after Marvel’s The Avengers‘; maybe she doesn’t even make it out at the end?”

Black Widow: Deadly Origin cover courtesy Marvel.com

  For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

  A Geek’s opinion: I’d love to see a Black Widow solo movie (vs. Yelena?) but I’d much rather see Natasha partner with Steve Rogers in Captain America 2 where she meets The Winter Soldier/Bucky.

John Carter: The Gods of Mars

Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in Disney's John Carter

   Disney’s John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) will be swinging his sword on the big screen next month. Fans of the legendary character can enjoy a new comic book adventure. Sam Humphries is an up and coming writer at Marvel on double duty. Humphries will become co-writer of Ultimate Comics: Ultimates with Jonathan Hickman and writer of John Carter: The Gods of Mars. The series is set a decade after events in the movie. Humphries spoke with Marvel.com about the hero’s time away from Mars.

John Carter: The Gods of Mars #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  “Every year sticks in his ribs like a knife that won’t stop turning. At some point during his first trip to Mars, it stopped being the place that trapped him, and started becoming the place he fell in love. The planet that used to be his prison became his home, and vice versa. Now that he’s back on Mars, he’ll do anything to be reunited with his true love, Dejah Thoris.”

  The limited series picks up right after events of the first novel, A Princess of Mars, exploring the world of Barsoom and mythology of the Martians.

 

John Carter: The Gods of Mars #3

 

 

“There’s a lot to contrast between John and all the societies that populate Mars. He’s an earthling, an American, a soldier. His sense of independence and freedom runs deep. John Carter is a great character to throw into the complex layers of interlocking civilizations; just by being in their midst he illuminates so much about them—and so much about himself. How he compares to the Martian gods themselves is integral to the core of the book—a key theme I’ll keep to myself for now.” 

Ramon Perez is the artist while Julian Totino Todescro provides covers for the series. For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

 

Gage’s X-Men Legacy and Rogue’s Future

 

X-Men Legacy #262 courtesy Marvel

  As a huge fan of Mike Carey’s X-Men Legacy run, Christos Gage had big shoes to fill, especially when it comes to writing Rogue. I’m thrilled to say that I’m really enjoying his initial issues. I wanted to share some highlights of Gage’s interview with Comic Book Resources.

  I really like his take on why choosing between Cyclops and Wolverine (after Schism) was difficult for Rogue and why she’s so comfortable with new role at the Jean Grey School.

  “I think Rogue’s struggle with the Schism wasn’t so much over what side to choose but rather the fact that it was happening at all. It hurt her to see two men she liked and respected so much in Cyclops and Wolverine disagreeing so strongly, and to see the X-Men divided. It was especially tough on her to leave Magneto in the early stages of their burgeoning yet largely undefined relationship, before she’d had a chance to sort out her feelings about him.

 

X-Men Legacy #261 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  That said, I think she was always going to go to the Grey School. She had been working with the X-Men’s younger kids for a long time, and I think it gave her a feeling of doing something positive while at the same time giving kids in situations similar to hers when she was young — often confused and scared by their powers — opportunities she never had. It’s good for her and it’s good for the kids. I think she feels better about her role in the world — what she’s doing with her life — than maybe she ever has.”

  X-Men Legacy #262 arrives February 22nd with a stunning Mark Brooks cover.

 

Wolverine’s Mutant Gambling 101

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 courtesy Marvel

  Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men has been pure joy. The eclectic staff and students of the new Jean Grey School are an odd but lovable mix of heroes, egos and misfits.

  In X-history, there have been many touching foster father/daughter relationships for Logan but his father/son rapport with Quentin Quire is completely different. The X-Men’s odd couple are hilarious. Logan dragged the arrogant egomaniac to set him straight at the new school. In the upcoming issue #6 Logan takes the telepath on an outrageous field trip.

  The stakes are high. The Jean Grey School is in ruins after the Hellfire Club’s assault. Logan and Kid Omega head to deep space to gamble on their future. It’s like a cosmic Casino Royale. What could possibly go wrong?

I love this page by Nick Bradshaw showing Logan and Quenin ready for action in the Vegas of outer space. For more of the X-Men preview images here’s the Comics Newsarama link.