Avengers vs. X-Men rages on this week in X-Men Legacy #268 but Marvel promises this issue will dive into the past of Frenzy. Joanna Cargill has been a villain with the Alliance of Evil and the Acolytes but is now trying to redeem herself with the X-Men.
I’m a huge Frenzy fan because of Mike Carey and now Christos Gage’s portrayal of her in X-Men Legacy. She left Utopia and joined Rogue and Wolverine because of falling in love with Cyclops in the Age of X pocket universe. Scott did not return her affection when reality was reset.
Frenzy is a powerful mutant and emotional powder keg. She may have been pushed but Frenzy threw the first punch in the AvX fight in this tie-in book. Joanna’s rage has been because of emotional manipulation and disappointment after giving her all to a cause (the Acolytes, Cyclops in Age of X.) Gage has been slowly showing an attraction between Joanna and Gambit. Frenzy reminds me of Rogue when she first joined the X-Men. I look forward to seeing what Gage does in this issue with such a character that has so much potential.
Click here to see why I think Frenzy would be perfect for an X-Men: First Class sequel.
A new Green Lantern from the Middle East? DC Comics revealed the cover to Green Lantern #0 by Geoff Johns and Doug Manke scheduled for September. After seeing the writing on the hero’s arm on the cover I did some searching and I think this Comic Book Resources post does a good job wrapping up the potential for this character.
This moves follows the reintroduction of Alan Scott as a gay man and Green Lantern of Earth 2 and continues DC’s commitment to add more diversity. Given this is a stand-alone story it may be a test to see if this character could receive his own title or be part of the Green Lantern Corps.
I think this may be the first time a Muslim character has been introduced since Dust in Grant Morrison’s New X-Men era.
No head? No problem! The meanest mutant of all is back! Jeph Loeb, Simone Bianchi and Editor Jeanine Schafer are the team behind Sabretooth Returns kicking off in Wolverine #310. The Loeb & Bianchi pick up where they left off in Evolution when Logan beheaded Victor Creed. The trio answered questions on today’s Marvel.com Next Big Thing event.
“We always said Wolverine: Evolution was only half the story. We thought it be great if Sabretooth would be off the table for a while, though none of us thought it would be for five years. Axel Alonso and Jeanine Schaefer really stood on the wall and kept him out until we were ready to come back,” Loeb revealed.
Wolverine #310 courtesy Marvel
“This isn’t a story where we pick the needle up off the record and then drop it back down on the same song. Between Evolution and now, some really talented people have worked on Wolverine. In particular, Daniel Way advanced a lot of the story lines we put together and we wanted to acknowledge what had happened. A lot of this revolves around Romulus, and when we last saw him, he had been sent to the Darkforce Dimension by Cloak. When our story opens, something has happened to bring Cloak to the top of the Empire State Building. Romulus, Sabretooth, Cloak and Dagger are all tied together,” Loeb said.
Wolverine #310 courtesy Marvel
Evolution was the first arc but as Loeb revealed it’s a major theme of his upcoming arc.
“This story is very much about the nature of being a villain. No villain wakes up in the morning and sees himself that way. They have a point of view and it happens to be the antithesis of the hero. How do you embrace that side of Sabretooth? He has an opportunity, being reborn. What has his death taught him?”
Wolverine #312 courtesy Marvel
“There is a brand new character who I hope will join Wolverine’s rich cast of characters. I’m excited to add to that. One of the things I like about working with Simone is his extraordinary ability to design looks that will stand the test of time.”
Creed recently turned up as a “mentor” to Kade Kilgore of the new Hellfire Club in Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men.
“I love Wolverine & The X-Men and what Jason Aaron is doing, but there are times when you want Wolverine to feel more like a singular character. This really is more of a story of Wolverine, Sabretooth, the nature of their relationship and the lies they’ve been told through the years,” Loeb said about guest stars from the Jean Grey School.
“Romulus said some stuff in Evolution that was really bold and outrageous. He’s the villain. If you saw Empire Strikes Back in the theaters, you didn’t automatically believe that Darth Vader was telling the truth about being Luke’s father.”
“I can only tell you that the way Sabretooth returns is through a way that was planted in the first story and comes from a well-known place to do with one of our characters,” Loeb revealed about the new character.
For more quotes and variant covers here’s the Marvel.com link. The 4-part arc kicks off July 4, 2012.
Black Panther returns in Fantastic Four #606 courtesy Marvel.com
The next Marvel hero to get a solo movie…Black Panther? Latino Review is reporting based on what they call several sources that T’Challa will get his own movie. The cinematic Captain America’s shield is made from vibranium, a metal found only in Wakanda, home of the Black Panther.
T’Challa was introduced in Fantastic Four, became a member of the Avengers, has his own solo series and married Storm of the X-Men. T’Challa was King of Wakanda a fictional nation in Africa that’s the only source of a metal called vibranium. T’Challa was dethroned and became the star of Daredevil’s title and briefly held his role as protector of Hell’s Kitchen in New York City.
The Black Panther recently appeared in Fantastic Four #606. Writer Jonathan Hickman discussed the status of the fan favorite hero. Black Panther and Storm’s romance has turned rocky since they are on opposing sides of Avengers vs X-Men so I expect T’Challa to be a single King again and ready for a solo comic book series.
My dream cast is Idris Elba as Black Panther, Mads Mikkelsen as Klaw and Paula Patton as Monica Lynne. The storyline could follow T’Challa as the Prince sent by his father as an Ambassador to the United Nations and have urban adventures in New York City then have him brought home when Ulysses Klaw and ROXXON invade Wakanda to exploit the vibranium.
When I think of a perfect union of artist and character I think of Terry Dodson and Black Cat. The Spider-Man femme fatale claws her way into a different kind of book this week. Black Cat graces the cover of Defenders #7. Matt Fraction sends Doctor Strange and his team to Wakanda which means the Black Panther (the Fantastic Four are currently having an adventure there too.)
I love every female character Dodson draws (I have a framed poster of the X-women from Uncanny X-Men #500 autographed by Terry and Rachel Dodson) but there is something about his Black Cat. Terry and Rachel Dodson are killing with The Defenders. Fraction has been taking the non-team and readers through the Marvel Universe from Wundagore to Atlantis and now into Wakanda.
Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #2 courtesy Marvel.com
The issue teases that Black Cat will get the offer of a lifetime. For a modern-day classic check out Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do limited series by Kevin Smith and the Dodsons.
Here’s hoping the Black Cat may steal Sony and director Marc Webb’s heart. I’d love to see Felicia Hardy appear in a Spider-Man movie in the future.
Matt Fraction at AvX party @ Excalibur Comics photo by Kyle Helstien of Happy Robot Photography
Avengers vs X-Men #5 Two rival super hero teams battle on the moon. One team fights for the survival of their face. One team fights for the fate of the Earth. The Phoenix Force arrives for the fiery climax to Act One. Who becomes the host of the cosmic entity and how does this lead into the next act: No More Avengers?
Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1 One of the most controversial decisions in recent comic book industry. DC Comics is going back into the Watchmen universe to tell new prequel stories with some of the biggest names in comics on board. Love or hate the idea – it’s time to judge the story. This is the first series focusing on the team of heroes from the 1940’s that led to the Watchmen.
Earth 2 #2 Classic Silver Age heroes reborn. Fan favorite Alan Scott is now reintroduced as a gay super hero and the only Green Lantern of this world. This issue reveals the origin of this world’s Flash, Jay Garrick and the threat that would wipe out this alternative Earth.
Harbinger #1 Pete is a young guy struggling to make it. Toyo Harada is a billionaire with a global empire. Both share a mental based power that could reshape the world. A kid off the streets is offered the alliance of a lifetime with a man who has everything…but there’s got to be a catch! Valiant Comics is back. Harbinger was my favorite book and Harada was the best villain of that universe.
Invincible Iron Man #518 Tony Stark may be celebrating a victory in The Avengers and Iron Man 3 on the big screen but there’s a new man in the armor in the comics. The new Iron Man blasts in after the Spymaster leaves a bloody trail in Stark Resilient and Marvel is teasing the assassination of Tony Stark?
I use this photo because Matt Fraction is the writer of AvX #5 and Invincible Iron Man #518.
Gaming gone green! The Green Goliath in his Planet Hulk gladiator gear and a pre-Juggernaut Colossus are two of my favorite characters in the new Marvel Heroes video game. Colossus just took on the Red Hulk in the Avengers vs X-Men series.
Marvel Heroes courtesy Marvel.com
Marvel.com revealed these images along with screenshots. One of my favorites could be right out of The Avengers movie as Hulk, Captain America and Black Widow fight alien warriors. It’s still amazing the reaction to the Hulk in the movie – even my non-comic book reading friends rave about the Hulk more than anything else from the movie.
Marvel Heroes courtesy Marvel.com
For more characters and screenshots here’s the Marvel.com link.
Wolverine and the X-Men #11 may be my favorite chapter (even if it’s a tie-in) in Avengers vs. X-Men so far. The issue is packed with action and humor with AvX battles on six fronts. Jason Aaron must love a challenge because not only does he balance all these story threads but he brings on the Shiar is a big way.
Logan is haunted by the Dark Phoenix Saga and questions if he really can be the best at what he does – if it means killing a child. Aaron writes Wolverine like no one else. Logan doesn’t know if he should save Hope or kill her to save humanity. The debate is interrupted by the Shiar Death Commandos. The alien assassination squad is on Earth to eliminate the potential joining of the Phoenix Force to its human host. The battle is brutal, inventive and reveals the true threat Hope poses.
One of my favorite elements of Aaron’s run is how he handles Bobby Drake. The original Iceman still provides comic relief but he’s maximizing his power like never before. Bobby is an Omega level mutant and now he’s flaunting it. The Red Hulk tries to make crushed ice out of Bobby but Iceman’s new power level and cool factor smashes the Rulk.
Kid Gladiator is a breakout new star of the series. Aaron is pitch perfect with how he writes the arrogant, brash heir to the Shiar Empire who defies his father and frustrates his classmates. Lord Kubark may have taken on more than he handle but we’ll have to wait until next issue plus his daddy dearest arrives for one helluva parent-teacher conference!
