Matt Fraction Words. Mike Allred Art. Medusa. Ant-Man.
Fraction send Marvel’s First Family into space in Fantastic Four #1 with Mark Bagley. Fraction isn’t leaving the Earth defenseless. She-Hulk, She-Thing, Ant-Man and Medusa form the new FF in FF#1.
I love the Inhumans. Black Bolt and Medusa are one of Marvel’s most beautiful and tragic couples. Seeing how Medusa’s story in FF play out is just one of the tempting reasons to check out the book.
FF #1 courtesy Marvel
I love the story of Scott Lang too. This Ant-Man was destroyed by the Scarlet Witch in Avengers Disassembled then brought back to life to see his daughter killed in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. Fraction previously teased how Lang will carry out a plan of revenge against Doctor Doom for Cassie’s demise.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m a She-Hulk fan and I’m curious about She-Thing but my heart belongs to Medusa.
FF #1 courtesy Marvel
Thanks to Marvel.com for these new images by the Astonishing Allred!
Iron Man #1 is out this week with a new creative team and a new suit of armor for Tony Stark! Kieron Gillen and Greg Land (Uncanny X-Men) relaunche the Armored Avenger as part of the Marvel Now relaunch. Gillen told Marvel.com why he left the mutants of Utopia and Asgard (Journey Into Mystery) for the world of playboy genius Tony Stark.
“It just seemed like an interesting way to mix things up a bit. It wasn’t just the fact that [Tony Stark is] such a tech hero, because beneath some of the stuff I’m doing in Uncanny X-Men there is a modicum of science even though I often fire it through quite a few filters. This is actually the first solo hero I’ve ever written. The Thor run really doesn’t count because it was a bit strange; every book I’ve written has been a sort of team book. Loki, abstractly, is the lead [of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY] but in practice he isn’t and, on a larger scale, has gone 23 issues and hasn’t hit anybody. That’s not a traditional Marvel super hero. This is different, this is the iconic Avenger.”
When I started writing Wolverine in Uncanny X-Men, I called my mom once and told her what I do for a living and she said “Ohh, I fancy that Wolverine.” When you’re writing characters that members of your family fancy you’re in an interesting place and, in the case of Iron Man, that’s totally it.
When Marvel NOW! came around, I had reached a suitable place in Uncanny X-Men to move off of, and there were a variety of options with Iron Man [which sounded] really interesting. Of the major Marvel characters he’s the one most aligned to me philosophically, as in he’s a very straightforward person, and in terms of the heroes, there are none more forward than Tony; that’s what attracted me to [him].”
Gillen revealed his plans Stark involve the women of Tony’s complicated life.
“Oh hell yeah. It’s actually a key part of my second theme. I’m going to explore Tony and his relationship with women. I’m interested in Tony’s selection of women in everything, from his mom, to Pepper, to the random people he’s sleeping with and everything that relates to them. He’s a complicated guy and he does bad things occasionally without thinking. Well, not [without] thinking exactly but he’s not always thinking about the right thing. He’s not the distracted genius but he always has something else going on.
Matt Fraction did a brilliant take on the corporate figure and his run is a defining arc, so I’m staying away from it. Tony is still a scientist and will still be working on the armor but it’s all about him going out into the world and the whole grail-knight comparison. All the traditional corporate motifs are there but they’re not the primary drive of the book. Tony will be in the armor a lot, he’ll be going out into the world.
Iron Man #2 courtesy Marvel
The first five issues will be single stories that will share [both] a defining motif and a plot but it will be Iron Man facing new instances of technology and each is basically a new villain. Each issue will illuminate something about Tony and they’re all very different. Issue two is a lot like the Bruce Lee Kung-Fu Island story; it’s like a joust, it’s all about the knight imagery, essentially going to a tournament. Issue three is like a ninja story, Tony Stark trying to be a full-on stealth master, issue four is a horror story and issue five is something a little more romantic and scientific but I’m going to keep that one under wraps.
I really want to mix it up with single issue stories because I think that quite a few people are feeling the same way.Single issues are an exciting place to go and anyone can jump on with any of the first five issues, not just issue #1. [In] each of those issues I introduce Iron Man; I say something meaningful about a character that you may know already and I want it to be accessible and to pop. That’s the thing with Greg Land: his photorealistic style really pops and it’s a glamorous book in that way.”
Iron Man will go on a quest for one of his greatest creations. The techno virus Extremis is loose and Tony must prevent it from falling into the hands of terrorists. Iron Man Extremis by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov will be a story element in Iron Man 3.
Iron Man #1 by Gillen and Land launches this week followed by #2 later this month.
For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.
Daredevil: End of Days #1 was the brutal and dark first chapter of the long awaited final story of The Man Without Fear. Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack write. Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkewicz draw. We devour. Issue #2 is out this week. Reporter Ben Urich is on a mission to write the last Daredevil story based on one name uttered by Matt Murdock.
Daredevil: End of Days #2 courtesy Marvel
Alex Maleev’s cover and the solicit reveal the Kingpin has been murdered. Klaus Janson’s art shows Ben Urich sinking into the darkest underbelly of the Marvel Universe after Daredevil’s biggest secret and it looks like he’ll pay a personal price for his story.
Daredevil: End of Days #2 courtesy Marvel
For a look at the first issue and hear from the creators about the last Daredevil story click here. For my review of issue one click here.
Get ready for a brand new Deadpool #1 out this week! Comedians/comic writers Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan (with Tony Moore on art) launch the Merc with a Mouth on an insane mission against zombified dead Presidents as an agent of SHIELD. The writers tell IGN how they met and why Deadpool.
“We met at a comic shop, actually. Around ten years ago now, around the back issue bin. Obviously we were both lifelong Marvel fans up to that point. Deadpool has always occupied that space of action and comedy that doesn’t exist elsewhere in comics. I think that’s why he resonated with us,” Duggan says.
“Yeah, he was kind of the obvious choice for us. We both can be serious too, and we’ve talked about writing a more serious book down the line, but it felt like the way to get the foot in the door was to do the thing that we’re both good at. And Deadpool is really the only game in town where you can do both things that we enjoy doing – tell an action story but also have the main character be a smart-ass,” Posehn adds.
The duo says Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers, Captain America)introduced them to Editor in Chief Axel Alonso leading to the Deadpool relaunch.
Deadpool #1 courtesy Marvel
Now back to that crazy concept of Deadpool versus Undead Presidents…
“It starts with a man who has decided that America has a lot of problems that can only be fixed by bringing back our former leaders, our great American Presidents. But that’s not how it works out. Once they’re back, they have a completely different idea of what they need to do and what the country needs. It’s a distasteful job having to send our presidents back, but Deadpool is up for the job and is suited for it. They’re not equal in terms of their planning, but in their own way they have returned corrupted. We think it’s going to be a very fun first story that leads to other funny stories,” Duggan tells Marvel.com.
Deadpool #1 courtesy Marvel
Seeing Wade Wilson versus a monster version of FDR is really weird. The comedian/writers and Tony Moore unleash their twisted history lesson this Wednesday with Deadpool #1. I wish I could take credit for this line but bravo to Marvel.com for “In Wade We Trust.”
Never fear! New one word teases are here! Marvel revealed a new title by Cullen Bunn (Wolverine, Venom) and Will Sliney is coming in February 2013. What could FEARLESS mean?
I hope this means a title starring Valkyrie! Why? I absolutely loved Fear Itself: The Fearless in which Bunn was one of the architects (along with Matt Fraction.) This 12-part epic starred Valkyrie on a mission for Odin that took her across the Marvel Universe and against some of the biggest heroes and villains. Valkyrie even defied the Avengers and X-Men to recover lost Asgardian artifacts.
Valkyrie has been a member of Rick Remender’s Secret Avengers team but I think it’s time Valkyrie to assume the leadership role in her own series or with her own team (maybe with former Valkyrie and New Mutant Dani Moonstar?)Matt Fraction’s Defenders has ended so perhaps this is a relaunch of the non-team team – maybe Val reuniting with Hellcat? Stay tuned!
I will always hold a special place in my geeky heart for the New Mutants. This extended family of mutants is reaching a milestone again. The latest volume ends with this week’s New Mutants #50. Dani Moonstar, Magma, Sunspot, Warlock and Cypher welcomed X-Man in this latest version of the team based on San Francisco. They sided with Cyclops in the Schism event, chose to live in a San Francisco neighborhood in an effort to integrate better with normal humans.
I consider the New Mutants and the Teen Titans the comic book kids who never get to grow up. In some ways I would love to see Sam, Dani, Roberto and Shan become the X-Men. In the real world these young heroes would already taken the leadership role. But this is comics and I’m also a guy who would cry if Wolverine, Storm and Cyke really did retire to a mutant retirement center.
What will happen to the New Mutants in the Marvel Now?
Sunspot and Cannonball are becoming part of Jonathan Hickman’s huge roster for The Avengers.
Dani Moonstar may have lost her mutant ability to cast illusions but she always has been in touch with her Asgardian connection as a former Valkyrie. Dani made a deal with Hela that turned the tide of Siege. Even without powers, Dani has proved herself to be a born leader and teacher. Dani has even infiltrated the Mutant Liberation Front. Dani would make an excellent S.H.I.E.L.D. agent or Secret Avenger at some point.
Warlock and Cypher would be perfect as rookie agents for S.W.O.R.D. Doug’s abilities and Warlock’s background could make them good resources for Abigail Brand’s mission to protect earth from alien invaders.
Magma – the fiery female may need to consult with Doctor Strange after her recent romantic encounters with Mephisto. Dating the Devil can be hazardous to more than your heart!
In the aftermath of AvX new mutants are being born so we could expect a new volume of the New Mutants starring brand new mutants.
In between scary movie marathons why not dive into a classic comic book tale of terror this Halloween? An obsessed killer and a monster in the sewer are horror movie favorites. These are the driving forces that make“Kraven’s Last Hunt”also known as “Fearful Symmetry” one of my favorite comic book chillers.
J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck crafted this twisted tale of Kraven the Hunter, Vermin and a deadly double posing as Spider Man. My college roommate gave me this creepy collection one dark night in the dorms when I was in need of a study break distraction. A psychotic Kraven the Hunter’s final scheme to bag his most elusive big game, Spider Man, delivers on suspense and playing on your great fears. And just like a horror movie with that one last shock, this hunt delivers!
Uncanny X-Men #143 is a classic confrontation that’s perfect for Halloween. This issue titled “Demon” is one of my favorite comic book chillers. It’s a true nightmare before Christmas as a rookie X-man is alone in the mansion being stalked by a N’Garai, a nasty hybrid of Alien and Michael Myers.
Kitty Pryde had just joined Xavier’s School and this issue was a lesson in fear and determination. The youngest X-Man is terrified by the relentless demon then learns the hard way that her mutant phasing power will not save her from the otherworldly predator. Just like horror movie heroines Kitty uses the adrenaline and thinks on her feet to find way to kill the monster. I’m not giving anything anyway obviously because we know Kitty is alive and well – until the next villain goes after her.
You should give this one issue thrill ride a go to see how Kitty survives. If you can’t find this single issue, this story is collected in Essential X-Men Volume 2 by Chris Claremont, which includes another creepy one issue story with Cyclops facing the demon, D’Spayre, and features a guest appearance by Man-Thing.
This creepy cover image above features the art of John Byrne and Terry Austin. Check out Marvel.com for more of the X-Men’s clashes with these demons.
