Category: Uncategorized

Joker Attacks the Batman Family

Batman #14 courtesy DC Comics

The Joker’s terrifying comeback continues in three Batman family books this week! Last month the Clown Prince of Crime invaded Gotham Central and left a wake of death. In the final panel of Batman #13 we finally saw the Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s horrific new take on the classic villain as he attacked Alfred at Wayne Manor. The cover of this week’s Batman #14 shows a chilling image of the Joker in his own makeshift Batcave-like control center watching his targets.

Batman and Robin #14 courtesy DC Comics

One of those targets will be Damian. The renegade Robin sets out on his own mission. What sinister plan could the Joker have for Bruce Wayne’s son?  This week’s Batman and Robin #14 could be a critical tie-in to the Death of the Family event.

Another Bat-family target is Barbara Gordon. Her mom has been abducted by the Joker’s gang. As discussed at GeekGirlCon, Gail Simone has made Batgirl a story of overcoming trauma. Barbara has come so far and in this week’s Batgirl #14 she must face the psycho that left her paralyzed in their last encounter and threatens her real family now.

Batgirl #14 courtesy DC Comics

As a huge Barbara Gordon fan the Joker’s plan for her could be the most compelling for me. I have been thinking about what Death of the Family could really mean. Could a member of the Batman family be pushed so far that they kill the Joker? I hope Barbara doesn’t kill but I would love to see her unleash some severe punishment I.E. beat the hell out of the Joker!

  Death of the Family will continue in upcoming issues of Catwoman,  Teen Titans, Red Hood and the Outlaws and Nightwing.

By Editor

Amazing Spider-Man Sequel Talk

Andrew Garfield as The Amazing Spider-Man courtesy Columbia Pictures

Amazing Spider-Man is out on dvd/blu ray but fans are buzzing about the sequel! Director Marc Webb, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone will return.

The biggest casting rumor is that Jamie Foxx may play Electro according to Variety.     Electro’s real name is Max Dillon. The villain gains control of electricity after being struck by lightning.

Shailene Woodley is reportedly in talks to join the cast…as Mary Jane Watson?

I still think Dr. Michael Morbius (The Living Vampire) would make an excellent villain in the darker, edgier Spideyverse Webb has created but Morbius’s story may be too similar to Curt Connors/The Lizard.

What do you think of having Jamie Foxx as Electro?

By Editor

 

WORLD WAR Z Trailer! Brad Pitt vs. Zombies

World War Z cover courtesy Max Books Zombie World

Max Brooks is a storytelling genius. I absolutely love World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. A United Nations worker chronicles the outbreak, spread of the zombie apocalypse and how survivors fought back. The film is said to be different from the book with a more narrative story.

Brad Pitt stars in movie based on the book. Here’s a the trailer for World War Z:

This trailer looks like it does not follow the book but as a zombie fanatic I’m thrilled to see a high-profile star like Brad Pitt wanting to work (he’s a producer too) with the genre and see that’s it more than just horror. Zombie fiction always reflects on humanity and sometimes the living are more dangerous than the undead.

James Badge Dale, Matthew Fox and Mireille Enos co-star in the Paramount film directed by Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace)  Damon Lindelof (Lost, Prometheus) worked on the script.
World War Z opens in June 2013.

Thanks Dark Horizons.

If you haven’t read the book here’s a link. I also highly recommend The Zombie Survival Guide and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks – both by Brooks. And if Books comes to your local comicon – get in line! He’s worth the wait!

By Editor

All-Female FEARLESS DEFENDERS

 

Fearless Defenders #1 courtesy Marvel

  I am THRILLED to share this news! Two of Marvel’s Finest, Fiercest Females will star in a brand new Marvel Now series! Comics Newsarama reports that Fearless Defenders will star Valkyrie and Misty Knight in a follow-up to Fear Itself: The Fearless.

  I have been sharing my hope that Valkyrie of The Fearless and The Defenders would live on in the Marvel Now. Now I guess we’ll see if they are two great concepts that taste great together?

  Cullen Bunn (Venom, Wolverine) will write the new series with Will Sliney on art. Bunn scripted the excellent Fear Itself: The Fearless 12-part series that I may have posted over and over that I LOVE. I think Misty Knight kicks ass but I absolutely love Valkyrie so you can imagine my excitement!

 

Fear Itself The Fearless #9 courtesy Marvel

  According to the CN story – Dani Moonstar of the recently ended New Mutants has found a home in the Marvel Now – YES! Dani was once a Valkyrie and recently made a deal with Hela during the SIEGE saga. More female characters will joining the team too.

 “The basic idea of the book is that Valkyrie is choosing a new team of Valkyrior, and she’s been asked to choose all these women from the heroes of Midgard, instead of from Asgard. She has completely failed in this task. [Laughs.] Valkyrie has been unable to choose anyone that she feels is worthy to be one of the hosts of the shield maidens. So she just hasn’t done it. She’s dropped the ball,” Bunn tells CN.

  “Because she’s not done what she said she would do, nature — or supernature, as it is — abhors a vacuum. The absence of the Valkyrior has opened the door to something terrible. Something awful is waking, and Valkyrie finds that it’s really her fault that she’s put everything at risk.”

Fear Itself The Fearless #2 courtesy Marvel

  Bunn had heroes and villains after Valkyrie in the earlier limited series but he’s plotting new enemies for her and Misty in the new series. 

  “Yeah, in the first issue I’m introducing a couple of new villains. One of them is, in my mind, the nastiest villain to ever come into the Marvel Universe. She is absolutely ghastly. At her very core, she is a horrible, horrible person, and she is capable of some really deplorable things that we’ll be seeing.

  We’re creating a new team, and I felt like it would be important to create this mastermind-type character who’s coming in to be the main antagonist for the foreseeable future for the team. She’s not the only villain you’re going to see, and you’ll some other Marvel Universe villains, but she is new, and I wanted people to believe she is a challenge for Valkyrie. Look at Valkyrie — she’s a very powerful character. This woman is definitely going to be a challenge for Valkyrie, and she’s going to be that challenge without having any powers whatsoever.”

  Fearless Defenders arrives in February 2013. I’m loving the Mighty Mark Brooks cover art up top!

 For the entire interview here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

By Editor

Bonding Out For SKYFALL!

photo by ComicsBlend

  In honor of SKYFALL and the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond franchise…I’m sporting my 007 movie posters tie that I haven’t word since Goldeneye!

 

photo by ComicsBlend

I’m obsessed with James Bond! I’ve read all the books (from Fleming to Deaver to comic strips) and see the movies over and over!

I’m going to a sneak peek in IMAX tonight and will have a review soon and more news!

By Editor

AvX Aftermath! The Future of Cyclops

Spoiler Warning:

 

This review/post reveals key elements of AvX: Consequences #4 and #5.

 

Seriously.

 

Here is comes.

 

AvX: Consequences #5 courtesy Marvel

Kieron Gillen wrapped the second volume of Uncanny X-Men but he has more mutant stories to tell that propelling fan favorites into the Marvel Now. Gillen’s Extinction Team have been the stars of AvX: Consequences. This 5-part epilogue to Avengers vs. X-Men reveals how the Phoenix Five are facing the consequences of their actions while possessed by the cosmic entity.

In Chapter 4 Cyclops submits himself to Tony Stark as a cosmic lab rat. Scott has been playing the martyr but is he really playing possum to outwit the genius?

Abigail Brand of S.W.O.R.D. has been keeping secrets. She’s hiding fugitive members of the Phoenix Five and she reveals that she’s more than a green haired alien. I really hope Brand might pop up in Gillen’s upcoming Iron Man run.

If you’re wondering about Hope and Namor’s roles in the Marvel Now this is the issue! Hope and the King of Atlantis share an exchange in the underwater ruins of Utopia. In one line Gillen captures the personality of Namor and why I love him so much.

Storm and Colossus fought it out in Brian Wood’s final issue of X-Men but here Peter and Ororo share a bitter reunion. Colossus may be free of his demons but his former little snowflake left him filled with hate. I know that Peter will be part of Cable and X-Force and I can’t help but think of when Nathan recruited a rage filled Warpath to join his first incarnation of the team.

Wolverine comes back to prison to deliver sad news to Cyclops. I really enjoyed this encounter. After the bitter fallout of Schism and AvX I think Gillen is setting the stage for a reconcilation between Scott and Logan. (I wrote this part of the post before I read issue #5)

I think the most exciting plot springboard is when the fugitive Magneto finally makes his appearance. Erik is back playing the role we all know he can do best: the villain.

This week’s final chapter picks right up with a new mutant unholy trinity: Magneto, Magik and Danger. The clues have been there the entire series but I wanted to believe Scott Summers was accepting his role as the martyr and on the road to redemption.

Logan said it best when he tells the Avengers, “Scott is gone.”

Magneto, Magik and Danger stage a daring jailbreak and execute Cyclops’s severe punishment on his prison tormentors. Scott leaves a note for Logan. The letter sums up what Kieron Gillen has pulled off: the role reversal of Wolverine and Cyclops. The bad boy who did the dirty work to keep mutants safe is now the heir to Professor Xavier’s legacy of teaching young mutants. The former golden boy is now the self-appointed and ruthless defender, protector and avenger for the mutant race.

All-New X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel

From the preview art for All-New X-Men #1 we know Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magneto and Magik will be part of Brian Michael Bendis’s Marvel Now X-Men era. Marvel has teased another Bendis book (with Chris Bachalo on art) with the simple word: Uncanny.

From the finale of AvX: Consequences #5 it looks like my theory of an Avenging X-Men may not be that far off! You may have read my earlier op/ed about how AvX should have been called Operation Hate Cyclops. This week’s finale may cement the hate for some of you.

 

All-New X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel

  All-New X-Men #1 is out November 14th. Maybe we’ll find out then?

By Editor

Sean Connery Cameo Talk in SKYFALL?

courtesy 007.com

James Bond journeys to Scotland in Skyfall. Bond’s father was Scottish. Sean Connery is Scottish. You see where I’m going?

A Sean Connery appearance in the latest 007 film for Bond’s 50th Annivesary?

Director Sam Mendes tells Huffington Post that there was a possibility of a Connery cameo.

  “There was a definite discussion about that — way, way early on. But I think that’s problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too … it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond and he’s not going to come back as another character. It’s like, he’s been there. So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.”

Did Mendes and the producers make the right call?

A Bond fan confession: My first 007 film was Moonraker. I grew up on Roger Moore and one night while waiting for the ABC Sunday Night Movie with my dad – up comes the pre-credit sequence then title sequence for From Russia, With Love. I turned to my dad and asked “Who is Sean Connery?”

From Russia, With Love is now my all-time favorite 007 film. I love all the Bonds for what they are and what meant then and now.

I hope the franchise continues for decades and a kid may one day turn and ask “Who is Daniel Craig?”

Skyfall opens November 9th in the U.S.

By Editor

 

Traitor Strikes Uncanny X-Force

 

Uncanny X-Force #33 courtesy Marvel

  This week is the finale of Rick Remender’s Final Execution in Uncanny X-Force #33. It’s been brutally violent, insanely ambitious and packed with “OH —-!” moments.  This may be Wolverine’s covert team but the incredible way Remender evolved Psylocke, Angel, Deadpool and Fantomex has been masterful.

   As Final Execution concludes it’s the manipulations of Mystique at her best (or should I say baddest?) and the Age of Apocalypse Nightcrawler that may seal the face of the team.

  This series has not been just about these dark heroes but about a child named Evan. A kid murdered, brought back as a clone, kidnapped and mentally tortured. This poor child is Apocalypse. The heroes of this series have shattered the lines of right and wrong and the story of Evan is the story of good and evil and can it be altered? Does a child destined to be a force of evil be changed?

  In the final chapter of The Final Execution in Uncanny X-Force #33 Logan’s team strikes back at the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in an effort to save Evan but they were betrayed by one of their own.

  Remender told Comic Book Resources he’s leaving the title with December’s Uncanny X-Force #35. The last chapter of Final Execution will be the series finale.

“There were a lot of different factors involved. It was a very tough decision to make and it came down to a conversation I had about it with Kieron Gillen about how long I would stay past this. He said, “Know when to get off the stage.” That’s something that we maybe overlook.

  I’m now doing “Uncanny Avengers” and “Captain America” and I realized that in order for me to do those and not want to blow my brains out, I might have to walk away from “Venom,” “Secret Avengers” and “Uncanny X-Force.” That was a bummer because I put so much into building them and getting the trains out of the station. I love all the characters, but that’s just the reality. With “X-Force,” I feel like this final story, which I’m very excited and have been building towards for a while now, pretty much wraps up everything we’ve been doing. It says everything I wanted to say about a kill squad while also really digging into the X-Universe that I loved so much as a kid growing up. So it really did come down to the fact that it was time to get off the stage.

  Hopefully, I’ll be able to stick a nice landing with “Final Execution” and people will really enjoy it, so the series will never have that part where it tapered and stopped being as good. That’s the upshot. You do your best work — and we all have — and then you wrap things up and walk away from it.”

 

By Editor