Top Comic Book Picks for October 3, 2012

Avengers vs. X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel

Avengers vs. X-Men #12 The final chapter! Who can stop a Cyclops possessed by Dark Phoenix? How will Hope and Scarlet Witch factor in the final battle?

Daredevil: End of Days #1 How does it end for The Man Without Fear? An all-star creative team in a story decades in the making. Reporter Ben Urich tells one last story – the final fate of Matt Murdock.

Doctor Who #1 A brand new series starring the Eleventh Time Lord? Who will be joining the Doctor in the Tardis for his first adventure?

Fatale #8 It’s Hell in 1970’s Hollywood as the crime noir/horror series takes a huge turn. Will Josephine’s lost years on the year from the 1950’s to the 70’s be revealed. How will the seemingly immortal mystery woman escape the demonic man that’s been stalking her through the decades?

Uncanny X-Force #32 Claws will rip! Wolverine’s covert team vs. the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants as Rick Remender’s Final Execution continues.

By Editor

 

Namor After AvX

Avengers vs X-Men #8 courtesy Marvel

Arrogance Rex! Namor the Sub-Mariner is one of my favorite Marvel characters. He can come across as an arrogant, belligerent, vain snob. I love this guy.

Namor is a man of two worlds but uncomfortable in both. A ruler faced with an impossible duty. A romantic always falling for the wrong woman – especially brainy blondes belonging to another man.

Having Namor join the X-Men was genius. Marvel’s First Mutant allied his defeated Atlantean forces with Cyclops and the mutants of Utopia. Namor and Emma’s passionate past was an attraction they kept in check until the Phoenix Force threw gasoline and lit the match. I think Emma used her wiles the keep Namor in check but the Phoenix Force fed off their buried passion.

The Phoenix possessed Namor went too far. After coveting Emma Frost for years Namor defied Cyclops and tried to seduce her. Namor invaded and devistated Wakanda in an effort to wipe out the Avengers.

Namor is appearing in The Defenders which is coming to an end. He’s likely out of both X-Men and Avengers. So is Namor a fish out of water in the Marvel Now? Or could this be a bold new chapter for Marvel’s first mutant?

Namor will be isolated and hated by some. It’s time to have the Sub-Mariner play the villain again. I think Ben Grimm would say he was never that heroic!

Uncanny X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel

In the past Namor has allied with Doctor Doom, attacked New York City and been an enemy of the Fantastic Four. I consider Namor be in the same league with old school Magneto. Namor was fighting to save his people and his kingdom no matter what it took.  There’s an old theory about his boiling Atlantean/human blood driving him mad and into his extreme measures.

It’s safe to say Black Panther will not be forgiving Namor for the destruction of his homeland, Namor’s alliance with the X-Men has been shattered and even old friend Steve Rogers may not let Namor off for his crimes.

 

Namor: The First Mutant #1 courtesy Marvel

Where does that leave this classic character in the Marvel NOW?

A villain?

A rogue antihero in a new solo series – think Punisher but with winged feet?

Part of a movement born in the aftermath of AvX? Scott and Emma’s relationship is probably over so could the former White Queen finally give in to Namor and form the Avenging X-Men?

A love interest for She-Hulk in FF?

Because of his actions in AvX and his history Namor is an iconic character could lead to a flood of story potential in the Marvel Now.

Imperius Rex!

By Editor

 

Marvel Comic Books For The Cure

 

Wolverine #315 courtesy Marvel.com

  Marvel is going pink! Some of the publisher’s most iconic superheroes drawn by an all-star roster of artists are joining the fight for the cure this month. Eight of Marvel’s biggest titles will go pink with variant covers in support of the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Campaign during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These books will be sold exclusively in comic shops and include a one-page advertorial educating readers about breast cancer.

Captain Marvel #5 courtesy Marvel

“Marvel is proud to partner with Susan G. Komen For the Cure to support their unparalleled efforts to raise awareness about the risk of breast cancer to both women and men,” said Dan Buckley, Publisher & President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. “We’re in a unique position to educate all our fans worldwide and increase awareness of the ways to fight—and reduce– this risk of this disease by utilizing our comics and online presence.”

 

Here are the titles to watch for this month:

  • AVENGERS #31 KOMEN VARIANT by Pasqual Ferry & Chris Sotomayor [on sale 10/10]
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA #18 KOMEN VARIANT  by Dale Keown & Frank D’Armata [on sale 10/10]
  • CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 KOMEN VARIANT by Joe Quiñones [on sale 10/107]
  • FANTASTIC FOUR #611 KOMEN VARIANT by John Tyler Christopher [on sale 10/10]
  • INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #526 KOMEN VARIANT by Paul Renaud [on sale 10/10]
  • THE MIGHTY THOR #21 KOMEN VARIANT by Mike Perkins & Sonia Oback [on sale 10/17]
  • UNCANNY X-MEN #20 KOMEN VARIANT  by David Marquez & Chris Sotomayor [on sale 10/17]
  • WOLVERINE #315 KOMEN VARIANT by Ben Ang & Edgar Delgado [on sale 10/24]

    Uncanny X-Men #20 courtesy Marvel

  Wolverine’s daughter, X-23, is featured on the Wolverine variant. It’s inspiring to see Carol Danvers helping the cause. The recently promoted Captain Marvel is the only female character headling her own title written by a fan favorite writer Kelly Sue DeConnick.

Marvel is also publishing a special one page advertorial running throughout its comics in October to raise awareness of breast cancer in men. The publisher reveals all the variant covers which you can see here on Marvel.com.

By Editor

Hope-Less In the Marvel NOW?

 

The final chapter of Avengers vs. X-Men is almost here and with it the final (?)fate of Hope Summers. Hopefully we will learn her true origin and connection with the Phoenix Force (and perhaps Jean Grey?)

 

Avengers vs. X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel

The Generation Hope series was so promising with an amazing cast of young characters but was a victim of poor sales and (in my opinion) not fitting in with two planned events. Idie has become a student at the Jean Grey School. The other kids stayed on Utopia and Hope became the source of AvX conflict but what will happen to Hope.

 

Hope and Storm at Emerald City Comicon 2012 photo by ComicsBlend.com

Hope is a strong young female character. I don’t think we have enough of them in comics today. I always say a new character is making an impact when you see an inspired cosplay fan. (Pixie Cloud of the Great Northwest!) In fact, I saw rival Hopes at Jet City Comic Show this weekend!

photo by ComicsBlend.com

It feels like Hope’s story is coming to an end and she will be sacrificed to save the Earth (and Scott.) Layla (“I know stuff”) Miller was a critical character in House of M and went on be part of Peter David’s X-Factor. As much as I would hate to see Hope go it feels like she should and wrap up story threads born in Messiah Complex.

Avengers vs X-Men #4 courtesy Marvel

Hope triggered the Five Lights which included some new female mutants. Maybe Hope’s final act in AvX will save the mutant race and give birth to more strong characters. The final fate of Hope is in the hands (as they reach for their wallets) of the fans so maybe Hope is alive in the Marvel Now!

By Editor

President Captain America?

  An embattled and divided America unites and voters choose a war hero to lead them…a SUPER war hero!

 

 

SPOILER WARNING!

 

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ULTIMATES COMICS ULTIMATES #15 AND #16 YOU MAY WANT TO STOP READING THIS POST

 

SERIOUSLY

 

OK HERE IT COMES

 

 

The Ultimate Comics United States was divided and fell. The Ultimate U.S.A. is about to stand as one nation under…Steve Rogers?

 

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #16 courtesy Marvel

One man will unite the country – President Captain America?

In this week’s Ultimate Comics Ultimates #16 Captain America is sworn in as President of the United States. Writer Sam Humphries tells Marvel.com about the making of this huge event for the book and the entire Ultimates universe.

 

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #16 courtesy Marvel

“Jonathan Hickman, my predecessor, very generously gave me all his notes for the title. There was a line in there about making Cap the president. It was an intimidating idea to pitch to Marvel, especially on my first big book. But the more I talked about it with editorial, the more we all became convinced it was the right story to do.”

Humphries explains how this story will play out.

“Cap is a soldier, not a politician. He’s not trying to make a career change. He’s answering the call of the people. They want him to do a job—unite America—and he’s going to do anything he can to do it.”

 

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #16 courtesy Marvel

What kind of President will Steve Rogers be?

“This isn’t the first time Cap has answered the call of an America in crisis. He’s not going to let the presidency change who he is; he’s going to do the job he was elected to do.”

Mutants of the Ultimate Universe have had it particularly hard thanks to the Sentinels. Brian Wood writes Ultimate Comics X-Men. Wood tells Comic Book Resources the new leader of the free world will reach out the leader of the mutant underground.

“Captain America and Kitty Pryde will sit down and talk about what the future holds for mutants in this fractured America he needs to put back together. That’s all I can say right now, since this is where the future of this title starts, in that actual meeting. You’ll see in November.”

This is the same comic book line that killed most of the X-Men and Fantastic Four, has the U.S. defeated by its foreign enemies and inspired the alien warrior seen in The Avengers movie. Humphries explains why this election could only happen in this universe.

“In the Ultimate Comics Universe we do stories with iconic characters you can’t find anywhere else—in the Marvel Universe, the movies, video games, anywhere. President Cap fits that definition by shaking up Steve Roger’s status quo in a radical fashion, and hopefully getting to know him in new ways.”

For more of Humphries interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

In the Marvel Comics Universe Captain America is still leader of The Avengers and not entering politics.

Humphries (Higher Earth, Fanboys vs. Zombies) is launching a brand new Uncanny X-Force in January, 2013.

By Editor

Wolverine and Doop by Allred

Wolverine and the X-Men #17 courtesy Marvel

  There are many reasons to love Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men: Kitty & Iceman’s growing attraction, Kid Gladiator, Bamfs, Broo, Beast in full wacky professor mode, Logan’s tempter tested by Kid Omega, Toad’s crush on Husk and then there’s Doop!

  Mike and Laura Allred crafted the cover for this week’s Wolverine and the X-Men #17 featuring Logan and Doop ready for action! The staff and students of the Jean Grey School try to soldier on despite the world burning in the grip of the Phoenix. One student may not survive this AvX tie-in.

  Allred co-created Doop with Peter Milligan back in an X-Force reboot which became X-Statix. Doop is now on staff at the Jean Grey School. Just one of the many characters Jason Aaron has on an amazing and eclectic palette of characters on the tite.

Thanks to Marvel.com.

Top 5 Comic Book Picks 9/26/12

Astonishing X-Men #54 courtesy Marvel

Astonishing X-Men #54 Susan Hatchi reveals her mutant connection. The new villainess has already blown up Wolverine and the rest of the team is infected with her nanobombs in their blood. Can former New Mutant Karma escaped Hatchi’s control to save her team.

Batman Incorporated #0 You need an international army to fight a global terror network like Leviathan. See how Bruce Wayne recruited his worldwide team of crimefighters in this origin issue.

Happy #1 A hit man’s world of murder, sex and corruption – not your usual Christmas tale. Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson team up for this new Image mini-series of an unjured assassin on the run from the cops, the mob and connected to a killer Santa.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 # 5 Captain Picard is faced with an impossible choice that could save or damn the universe. Only Doctor Who may be able to convince the Captain to team up with his greatest enemies.

Talon #0 A new hero in a new series spinning out of the Batman: Court of Owls epic! Calvin Rose is the only man to escape the Court of Owls. Can this former assassin live a normal life and become a hero? The Court is back and they’re after their prize killer.

By Editor

Jet City Comic Show Reunion With Kitty Pryde and Colossus

photo by ComicsBlend.com

Jet City Comic Show is a back to basics one day of comics and costumes in Seattle.

photo by ComicsBlend.com

It was a reunion with my favorite X-Men couple (Seattle’s own Kitty Pryde and Colossus.) Since I last saw this costumed couple at Emerald City Comicon the cosplay couple has added some fine touches.

photo by ComicsBlend.com

Kitty is now sporting Lockheed the dragon and Peter is has an optic option to give him the complete organic steel look!

 

photo by ComicsBlend.com

By Editor