Top 5 for 1/4/12

Wolverine and The X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1

Logan’s X-Men survived the attack on the new mutant school but can they defeat an enemy within? Kid Omega challenges Wolverine for dominance of the school and a fan favorite mutants is caught in the crossfire. Writer Brian Wood returns to Marvel for this clash of the mutants. Logan may be the best there is when it comes to a physical brawl but how will he defeat an omega level telepath?

Uncanny X-Force 19.1

Spinning out of the Dark Angel Saga Finale, The Age of Apocalypse version of X-Men make a last stand against Weapon X and meet this dimension’s new heroes, the X-Terminated. Rick Remember sets the bloody stage for a new ongoing Age of Apocalyple #1 debuting later this year.

 

Fatale #1 cover courtesy Image Comics

Fatale #1

The modern masters of crime comics introduce a new blend of horror and noir. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips throw what looks likes some Lovecraftian terror into the story of a woman on the run, a mobster that may be a demon, and the men caught in their endless struggle.

Avengers: X-Sanction #2

Cable’s mission to wipe out the Avengers ontinues. Last issue left with Nathan holding a gun to Captain America’s head now Iron Man is Cable’s target. Can the Iron Avenger fare any better against the mutant super soldier gone rogue?

Peanuts #1

“You’re in a new monthly comic book, Charlie Brown!” Snoopy and the whole gang in new original stories and never before seen stories from the Sunday strips.

 

Avengers Assemble – 12 Geektastic Reasons to Love 2012

Avengers Prelude Comic image courtesy Marvel.com

The Avengers Assemble! Marvel’s biggest guns in one movie under the direction of cult hero Joss Whedon. A decade of planning will put action heroes from five movies into one big screen spectacular. Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson are joined by Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Nick Fury, Hawkeye, Black Widow unite against Loki and his secret army(speculation is that it’s the shapeshifting Skrulls). Even modern SHIELD creation Maria Hill (Colbie Smulders) gets screen time.

Chris Claremont on Today’s X-Men

This is the image that started my love of comic books! Find this image on Marvel.com

  I grew up on Chris Claremont’s X-Men. My first post on this site was about ‘my first time’ so to speak. Uncanny X-Men #116 was the finale of the X-Men trying to save the Savage Land from Garokk and I was hooked on comics.

  I’ve been there for all the Claremont years, his departure after X-Men #1, his return, and his X-treme X-Men. It’s about following and loving what you grew up with. It’s just staggering to think how he shaped the mutants he inherited and the many he created.

  The man who was a defining force in modern super hero comics hasn’t written a comics script in a year.

  The writer who talked with Chris Arrant of Comic Book Resources about several topics. I was interested in his take on the current state of the mutants he guided for so many years.

  “Over in the X-Men line of titles, I see that there seems to be a structural redefinition of the canon that will substantially change readers’ relationships with the characters, in the sense that some characters who you felt were on one side of the line in behavior now seem to be turning into anti-heroes, as I understand. Wolverine’s become head of the school, and Cyclops has been positioned as a Magneto equivalent, a good soul taking a violently pro-active stance toward mutants’ perceived antagonists in the world. It’ll be interesting to see how that all relates to the readership.”

Essential X-Men Volume 2. Art by John Byrne and Terry Austin. Courtesy Marvel.com

  Claremont has more to say on Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, the state of the super hero movie and his own prose projects at this Robot 6 link.

New Guests for Emerald City Comicon

Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes! courtesy DC Comics

Emerald City Comicon is kicking off the New Year with new guest announcements for the 2012 con.

Chris Burnham‘s work includes Batman Incorporated, Batman Inc: Leviathan Strikes, Batman and Robin, Teen Titans, Fear Agent, Hack/Slash and Elephantmen.

Nathan Fairbairn is colorist on Batman Inc, Swamp Thing and Mystic. His recent work includes Nation X, X-Factor, and Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne.

Ben Templesmith is the best selling artist and writer is best known for 30 Days of Night and Fell. He’s also worked on Doctor Who, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Star Wars for other publishers.

Bill Willingham is the creative force behind Fables, The Elementals, Jack of Fables and The Literals.

Erik Larsen is the creator/writer/artist of The Savage Dragon and co-founder of Image Comics. Larsen has a long run as artist of Spider-Man.

Aaron Campbell is known for his work on Green Hornet, House of Mystery and Sherlock Holmes.

For the full list of guests and tickets visit Emerald City Comicon. The big event in Seattle is March 30-April 1, 2012.

Ralph Fiennes Reveals James Bond Role

 

Ralph Fiennes courtesy MI6-HQ.com

 Ralph Finnes reveals his passion for Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and a little about his role in Skyfall.

  “I used to be a complete nerd about the books and the detail in them. They are fantastic,” Fiennes tells the Daily Record.

“There was Fleming’s obsession different kinds of caviar and champagne. He kind of fetishes these things.”

The casting of Fiennes shook and stirred Bond watchers since Javier Bardem was hailed as the villain so who is Fiennes playing?

 “I’m allowed to say that I’m a government agent.” Fiennes said. Thanks to MI6 for the lead.

Perhaps the character will be part of “M’s past back to haunt her when MI6 comes under attack?”

Winter Soldier Heat

Winter Soldier #1 preview art courtesy Marvel on Robot 6.

  Watching Captain America: The First Avenger again made me long for a possible modern sequel featuring The Winter Soldier storyline. Until then Marvel is giving us The Winter Soldier in his own series. The February debuting tile delivers the essential 4 B’s: Brubaker, Butch, Bucky and Black Widow.

  Robot 6 has the exclusive preview with more images but I wanted to share them. Ed Brubaker teams with Butch Guice on a new series starring Bucky Barnes and Natasha Romanoff with Nick Fury as a supporting character. Russian sleeper agents awaken and the deadly duo could be facing an army of ‘Winter Soldiers.’

Maybe Super-Villians Just Need a Hug?

courtesy misscoffee deviantart.com

Didn’t get what you want for Christmas? Snuggle up with your favorite psychotic super-villian, mutant terrorist, femme fatale or Time Lord.

As I search for the latest news of the world in my cold condo I came across these plushy gift ideas courtesy the Buzzfeed the gave me a cuddly feeling – or was that the heat kicking on?

 

courtesy misscoffee deviantart.com

Deviantartist misscoffee makes these cute versions of comic book and sci-fi icons and sells on etsy

I’m particularly fond of the 4th Doctor.

courtesy misscoffee deviantart.com

From the Vaults: Psylocke, Longshot, Mojo join X-Men

  While I was home in North Carolina for the holidays I looked into my boxes of old comics and reread some classics that I want to share with you.

New Mutants Annual #2 cover by Alan Davis courtesy Marvel.com

  New Mutants Annual #2 and X-Men #10 are fantastic tales by Chris Claremont, Alan Davis and Art Adams from 1986 that brought Psylocke, Longshot, Mojo and Spiral into the X-Men universe.

  Created by Ann Nocenti and Art Adams – Mojo was the ruler/producer Mojoverse where beings were addicted to his gladiator reality game shows. Longshot was his star warrior turned rebel who escaped to Earth.

  Betsy Braddock, before she became a psychic ninja, was Captain Britain’s sister. Betsy was a telepath blinded by an enemy then abducted by Mojo and given bionic eyes. Always searching for the next big thing to keep ratings up, Mojo saw the mutants as his next superstars. Betsy and Longshot would be the bait.

X-Men Annual #10 cover by Art Adams courtesy Marvel.com

  In New Mutants Annual #2 is first time Betsy is referred to as Psylocke. Mojo used Betsy to lure the New Mutants and in X-Men Annual #10 Longshot to ensnare the X-Men into becoming unwilling stars of his latest productions. The X-Men are transformed into the X-Babies, Captain Britain is reduced to childhood and we get a glimpse of what might have been when the New Mutants gear up in their graduation uniforms that would have made them officially the new X-Men.

  The scripts are definitely a change of pace with a twisted fairy tale feel. Alan Davis (New Mutants) and Arthur Adams (X-Men) provide stunning artwork. Longshot had a long run on the X-Men and is now on X-Factor. This issue is back when Elizabeth still looked British, wore her pink suit and a butterfly effect appeared when she used her telepathy. Spiral, Mojo’s six armed sorceress went on to join the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Mojo and the X-Babies have returned to plague the X-Men but these books are when the twisted fun began.