Doctor Who will be a getting a new traveling companion soon. The journey is coming to an end for Amy Pond and her husband Rory. Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill are leaving the show after next season. Executive Producer Steven Moffat hinted that their daughter River Song (Alex Kingston) may be back before their exit.
The Matt Smith Doctor Who seasons have been the “Doctor and Amy” era. I think Amy (from her childhood to marraige to baby) is the most personally intertwined to the Time Lord than any other companion. Amy’s narration even became part of the open of the series. Amy and Rory were the first married couple to travel with the Doctor. I knew it was coming. Companions come and go. It will be bittersweet to see the couple leave. Here’s hoping they have a happy ending.
Joe Simon: My Life in Comics book cover courtesy Marvel.com
Comic book legend Joe Simon passed away Wednesday from natural causes at the age of 98. Simon was surrounded by his family at his home. An extended family of fans are remembering the legend and his enduring creations.
Wolverine #300 cover by Adam Kubert courtesy Marvel.com
A Wolverine milestone, a new villain and creative changes from Marvel today.
Wolverine #300 will be the start of Jason Aaron’s final arc on the title and takes Logan back to Japan.
“This is a good story to go out on. It’s the biggest Wolverine story I’ve ever done. Threads I’ve set up over my entire run come to a head. There has been a power vacuum in Japan since Silver Samurai died in Wolverine #1 and now everybody is fighting for it,” said Aaron.
Wolverine #300 will introduce a new Silver Samurai, son of the original, but Aaron says is very different from his father. The milestone issue features the return of Sabretooth. Aaron says he has plans for the new Silver Samurai beyond this arc.
Wolverine #300 interior art courtesy Marvel.com
Victor Creed’s comeback will be explained in another story by Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi – the same team that killed Sabretooth in a previous Wolverine series run.
Aaron said his two big Wolverine in Japan influences are the Wolverine limited series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller and Blood Debt by Steve Skroce.
Wolverine #300 interior art courtesy Marvel.com
Yukio (Logan’s lover and the woman who inspired Storm to get a mohawk way back around the time of Wolverine’s almost wedding to Lady Mariko) and Amiko (Logan’s adopted daughter) are confirmed to be big parts of this story.
Adam Kubert, Ron Garney and Steven Sanders are the artists working on the landmark issue divided into 3 parts.
Jason Aaron’s final Wolverine arc begins in January. Aaron will stay on Wolverine and the X-Men. For the entire presser click this link on Marvel.com.
For movie fans – the next Wolverine movie is said to be based on the Claremont/Miller Wolverine in Japan story with the original Silver Samurai as the villain.
Wolverine #300 wrap cover art by Geoff Darrow courtesy Marvel.com
Natalie Portman is said to be deeply upset about the firing Patty Jenkins as director of Thor 2 according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Oscar-winning actress had urged Marvel to hire Jenkins after Kenneth Branaugh left the project. The new story also says the Jenkins was fired and the split was not amicable based on creative differences as previously reported.
Portman is contractually obligated to reprise her role as Dr. Jane Foster in the sequel. Marvel is considering two directors best known for their work on the Game of Thrones HBO series.
A new comic book limited series will give fans a special look into the cinematic Marvel Universe. Marvel’s The Avengers #1 and 2 (of a 4 part series)debuts this March sets the stage for the movie event of 2012. The preview teases what exactly is The Avengers Initiative, insight into SHIELD Director Nick Fury and the agents of SHIELD. Chris Yost and Eric Pearson are writing with Luke Ross on art.
2012 is truly the year of the Avengers with Brian Michael Bendis ending his 8 year run on the franchise, the Avengers versus X-Men maxi series and Avengers Assemble by Bendis is a special series in continuity starring the Avengers featured in the upcoming movie.
Batgirl #4 is set on Christmas Eve as Barbara is haunted by the most horrific night of her life. Batgirl’s war with Mirror leads her to relive the nightmare that left her paralyzed. This made Batgirl confront her past and evolve as a character. Barbara uses the Mirror’s tactics to force him to face his own tragic past.
Gail Simone has created a thrilling cat and mouse story that also serves as an empowering survival story. Adrian Syaf’s art make Batgirl dangerous and sexy with heart and strength. Fight scenes are kinetic. Barbara’s scenes with her roommate around the Christmas tree are heartwarming and relatable. I hope critics who were against Barbara getting out of the wheelchair will read this. This is the beginning of a great new era for Batgirl. Barbara receives a holiday miracle in the final panel that should lead to new mysteries for Batgirl.
Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness bring Cable back with full impact in Avengers: X-Sanction #1. This time Nathan is not a father figure, freedom fighter or platoon leader. Cable is an effecient super soldier on a focused mission.
Nathan and Steve Rogers are two determined soldiers with brilliant tactical minds. The fight is big and physical but you get a sense of the strategy behind every move.
I think you can get a sense of the battle strategies Captain America and Cyclops will execute in Avengers Versus X-Men. Cap may even learn something from Cable that could give him an advantage to beat Cyke – knowing when to make sacrifices.
We learn how Cable survived “death” in Second Coming, see a blast from Nathan’s past who sets him on his new mission and learn why he must destroy the Avengers in 24 hours.
The script is tight. The art is big, brash and bursting off the pages. The issue is one big giant teaser for the upcoming AVX but this first shot in the war in a fun yarn on its own.
