Batman artist Greg Capullo created the Talon – ruthless assassin for the Court of Owls. This May the secret society unleashes an army of Talons against Batman and his DC family in the Night of the Owls crossover.
All this week Capullo shares his designs for Talons from different time periods resurrected to fight the Bat-family. The latest reveal on The Source shows the Talon from the 1840’s.
“Now I’m thinking Jack the Ripper,” says Capullo of the mid-Victorian Talon that threatens the Birds of Prey during the crossover. “Cloaks and lots of layers. A bird’s feathers are all layered. Perfect.”
Andrew Stanton has captured the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom (aka Mars) in Disney’s John Carter. A huge gallery of photos and posters is up at Ace Showbiz. I love the look of the Tharks.
Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in Disney's John Carter
Taylor Kitsch plays the Earthman transported to Mars to fall in love with a Princess of Mars (Lynn Collins of True Blood Season One and X-Men: Origins: Wolverine.)
Poster for Disney's John Carter
I really love this retro look – that 70’s sci-fi movie poster feel.
Hope Summers jets into action on Marvel.com in a first look at interior art from AvX #0 by Frank Cho. Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron are writing the issue out March 28th.
Jason Aaron talked about how the mutant messiah’s experiences have made her ready for her role in Avengers Vs. X-Men:
“That’s a big question at the opening of the series. Is she prepared? Does she even really know what she’s getting herself into? She was raised by Cable in a time-traveling Lone Wolf and Cub style adventure. She’s been told all her life she’s destined to do something great. But when the Phoenix is involved, a force that can be used for good or that can destroy entire planets, people are always going to be a bit uneasy. In Hope’s mind, she’s ready for whatever’s coming—or at least that what she says. Regardless, her resolve and readiness will be severely tested, all throughout AvX.
A great question from Ben Morse: Does Hope believe she’s the mutant messiah?
“I think at this point there’s no question she’s the mutant messiah. When Hope came back, new mutants came back with her. Just a few, but still, where once there were no new blips on Cerebro, now there are blips. I think people’s faith in her—especially that of Cyclops—has been resoundingly rewarded. But everything that came so far was just the warm-up. Her true destiny still awaits. As for Hope’s feelings, I think she’s still trying to figure out what her role is. She most definitely doesn’t want to just stand around and let herself be defined by other people. She’s going to get out there and figure things out for herself.
AvX #0 courtesy Marvel.com
How does AVX #0 set up Hope for the event:
“I think it establishes her mind-set and relationship with Cyclops. Longtime X-Men fans will see Hope anxious to embrace the destiny that has for so long been teased for her, a destiny of which she seems to have a little bit better understanding. And for fans new to the X-Men who’ve never read a story with Hope in it, hopefully this issue will show them why they should care about her in the first place, why she’s an interesting character, and why she’s totally badass.
You can ready Jason Aaron’s entire interview and more preview art here.
Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy from X-Men: First Class courtesy Marvel.com
I’m thrilled Fox is moving forward with a sequel to X-Men: First Class. Matthew Vaughn is directing. Michael Fassbender and the entire cast are locked in.
I’ve been posting how much I hope we might see Magneto’s fractured family (Polaris, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver) in the next film. No word on if those characters will appear but Magneto will be the focus of the sequel according to the screenwriter. Simon Kinberg spoke with MTV News about his love of the X-Men and how he will continue exploring Magneto’s evolution.
“That’s what was so cool about the first one and what we want to continue,” Kinberg said of exploring the villain’s tortured origin. “Magneto becomes the villain ultimately of the franchise but he’s a much more complicated character as a young man. He’s someone you sympathize with, you care about you root for even though might not necessarily agree with his methods, you understand his philosophy.”
Fans may be wondering if Magneto will be a total villain or still in between good guy and bad guy roles.
“We’re still figuring that out. I think the truth is ultimately that because Michael is such an interesting actor, he’ll never be full-on anything. He’ll have a villainous side and he’ll have a sympathetic human side you’ll be able to relate but you’ll also be afraid of him. He becomes Magneto, he says ‘Call me Magneto’ at the end of the first movie.”
I would love to see Michael Fassbender play Erik when he was married to Magda and the tragic events surrounding their children. That could be a flashback leading to a present day (as in the 60’s or 70’s since it’s set in the past) reunion with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
Astra is good possibility for due to her love/hate relationship with Magneto. The legendary Alan Davis created this mutant teleporter when he on Uncanny X-Men. Astra was Erik’s first recruit to the Brotherhood. You can read more about Astra in the current Magneto: Not a Hero limited series out now.
The Talon sketch by Greg Capullo courtesy DC Comics
The Batman family of titles will invaded by the Court of Owls and their ruthless assassins, The Talons in May’s crossover Night of the Owls. The Court has been a secret manipulator of Gotham City for years. The Talons will sport different looks from the past. Batman artist Greg Capullo is revealing his designs for the Talon on The Source.
“Same approach as the 1660s owl, basically,” said Batman artist Greg Capullo of the 1770s Talon, who will be resurrected to menace Batman and Robin. “I looked at that period’s military. I was happy to find less frilly stuff. Overall, the period looks more bad-ass, despite the stockings.”
Ultimate Comics Ultimates writer Jonathan Hickman and incoming co-writer Sam Humphries. The mighty Marvel tradition of passing the baton continues with issue 10 this May.
“I wanted to work with somebody who has a fresh voice and who is clearly talented. I’m ecstatic to be working with Sam, he’s got some real game,” Hickman said on Marvel.com.
“When Hickman hits a book, he comes in with big plans. He’s a big picture thinker. At the end of issue #9, everything gets thrown off a cliff–figuratively. Something happens that nobody in the Ultimate Universe can walk away from. Everything changes for all the characters and how they relate to each other. S.H.I.E.L.D., the City of Tomorrow and other major institutions get shaken up,” Humphries said.
“I never planned on leaving Ultimates. I took the Ultimate Thor gig with the understanding I’d be getting Ultimates. When I came to Marvel, Ultimates was the book I wanted more than any other. But…I got a job offer I couldn’t refuse, so I’m taking it,” Hickman said.
Artist Luke Ross will join Hickman and Humphries on the arc. For today’s entire session here’s the Next Big Thing link on Marvel.com.
If you haven’t checked out Hickman’s SHIELD you should definitely get the trades – excellent storytelling.
I love spies. I love gorillas. Ed Brubaker had me with a machine gun firing giant gorilla in the premiere issue. You can’t do that in a James Bond flick. The cool factor blasts even higher in The Winter Soldier #2.
Can we just take a moment to wipe the drool away after gazing upon Lee Bermejo’s cover? Seeing this there’s no doubt the Winter Soldier and Black Widow are the sexiest, coolest characters in the Marvel universe.
Brubaker takes us on a wild ride as Bucky and Natasha track down Russian sleeper agents, the mystery villains behind the conspiracy and oh yeah, someone had the cahones to attempt assassinate Doctor Doom. He was not amused.
Butch Guice’s art is a perfect fit for Brubaker’s plot. You feel you’re in a the darkest underworld of the Marvel Universe.
Another winner. A killer teaser image from the next chapter. This is building up to something huge – accept this mission!
Side note: A non comic book reading friend was browsing through this issue and was impressed. He’d seen Captain America: The First Avenger so when I told him who the Winter Soldier really is…a big smile crept on his face saying that will be awesome (referring to a possible sequel based on The Winter Soldier.) If that sounds like a hint…it is.
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s macabre masterpiece that is Batman Vs The Court of Owls continues with a bloody night at the theater . After last month’s mind warping journey through the Owls’ labyrinth Batman takes a vicious beating while the Court cheers on their sinister champion, the Talon.
Capullo makes you feel the pain in Bruce’s battered body and you get uncomfortably close enough to his bloodshot eyes. We see just how massive, depraved and creepy the Council is and their surprise they’re about to unleash on Gotham City and Batman is chilling.
