"For God and Country" courtesy Comic Book Resources, published by GQ
A comic book based on the operation to kill Osama bin Laden?
GQ is publishing a comic in their December issue described as an “illustrated account” of the U.S. Navy Seal raid on the terrorist leader’s compound.
One of my favorite writers, Matt Fraction worked with artist Nathan Fox and colorist Jeromy Fox to create “For God and Country.”
“The original editorial directive was to tell the story from OBL’s perspective but, aside from not caring to get inside the man’s head, the more I researched that night, the more in awe I became of the DEVGRU/Seal operators who performed the raid — and the more I decided their story demanded telling, too,” Fraction writes in one annotation.
Matt Fraction is best known for his work on Uncanny X-Men, Thor, Invincible Iron Man, Fear Itself, The Defenders for Marvel Comics and his creator owned title Casanova.
Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix versus Scarlet Witch (during the Avengers Disassembled period.)
Who would win?
Both formidable females are beautiful, all powerful, consumed by their power and out of control because of their emotion.
Two beloved women on two of the most important teams in comic history. What would happen if these two women at their most powerful…went to war? Continue reading Phoenix Versus Scarlet Witch!
X-Club #1 Cover courtesy Marvel.com and Comics Newsarama
X-Club #1
Beast gathered a brilliant collection of minds to become the X-Men’s first ever science team. This motley crew of geniuses has saved the day against Sentinels, Dark Avengers and Bastion. Doctor Nemesis and company get their own limited series. A gesture of goodwill goes every wrong. Can the X-Men’s egomaniac team survive each other long enough to save the day.
Defenders #1
One of my favorite creative teams takes on The Defenders. Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson reteam this new series picking up after the Fear Itself finale. Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Namor, Iron First and Red She-Hulk become the last line of defense against supernatural forces unleashed on the Marvel universe.
Villains For Hire #1
A new brand new limited series starring some Marvel’s motley crew of psychopaths. Misty Knight is Marvel’s sexy, super bad, martial arts mistress behind the new “Heroes for Hire” concept but she’s really a pawn of a mysterious puppet master. Misty is putting the underworld’s craziest killers on the payroll to help create a new criminal empire. Will she realize the manipulator and cut his strings in time?
Boondock Saints Volume 1
The comic book series inspired by the cult crime film collected in a trade paperback. Co-written by the movie’s director/writer – these stories include the original saint’s war on the underworld.
Spider-Man Marvel Team Up
Kick it old school with these classic teams up by one of the most legendary teams in comic history. Chris Claremont and John Byrne are known for their epic X-Men run but duo was behind these entertaining matchups in the 70’s. See Spider-Man team up with Thor, Captain Britain, Ms. Marvel, Human Torch, Iron Fist and more against an impressive rogues gallery of Marvel’s greatest villains.
Uncanny X-Men #135 cover courtesy Marvel.com. Art by John Byrne
Marvel’s live press event tomorrow may reveal details about the return of the Phoenix Force after months of teasers.
A friend and fellow comic reader gave me something to think about. In Uncanny X-Men #137 Dark Phoenix flies into Shiar space and consumes the D’Bari star to satisfy her ‘hunger” and kills five billion peaceful aliens living on the fourth planet of that system. Empress Lilandra and the Shiar Empire sought justice and revenge on Jean Grey and the X-Men for their connections to the Phoenix Force on behalf of those aliens.
“What if some aliens from that world destroyed by the Phoenix were off planet during the annihilation? Wouldn’t they seek revenge?” Mitch Cook said.
An interesting thought full of good story potential. It was the motivation driving the Romulan Nero in Star Trek. It’s been decades since the Dark Phoenix Saga and the whole Jean ‘sacrifice’ became a moot point due to a retconning of the storyline. Always fun to speculate with a fellow fan.
It's coming Live Event this Wednesday. Image courtesy Marvel.com
It’s payoff time this Wednesday. After months of teasers, today Marvel announced a live event Wednesday at 3pm eastern, high noon pacific.
The teasers with the fiery image have been promoting that Marvel’s top creators are attached to the project meaning this will not be just an X-Men storyline.
In the Point One issue Nova was seen speeding away from the Phoenix image as it appeared to be consuming a planet like it did in Uncanny X-Men #135 during the Dark Phoenix Saga.
Uncanny X-Men #135 cover courtesy Marvel.com. Art by John Byrne
The Watcher was a central figure in Point One. Marvel teased that Ed Brubaker may be working on a Watcher project in 2012. The alien has always been tied to the Phoenix. If Ed Brubaker is involved, I hope this means the return of Vulcan, Scott and Alex’s revenge crazed brother who took over the Shiar Empire. The entity is tied to Shiar legends, a Shiar warrior once wield the Phoenix Force via a giant blade. If Vulcan is able to host or manipulate the entity the universe should be quaking with fear.
‘The Phoenix is about destruction and rebirth,” Marvel Editor in Chief Axel Alonso told Comic Book Resources. Could that signal a huge shakeup of the Marvel Universe titles and perhaps this might explain why so many titles were cancelled.
If the Phoenix is coming who will be the host? Will this mean we go back inside the ‘white hot room’ and revisit Grant Morrison’s Here Comes Tomorrow storyline?
The image of the Phoenix appeared to Emma Frost twice recently around the young mutant Hope. With titles like Messiah Complex and Second Coming, the X-events featuring the young mutant fanned of flames that Hope might be Jean reborn or the future host of the Phoenix.
Phoenix: Endsong #1 Cover by Greg Land. Marvel.com
As I have posted before I hope the return of the Phoenix does means the resurrection of Jean Grey Summers. Jean has suffered enough rebirths. I know a lot of fans love Jean and want her back with Cyclops but I want her to stay dead. Thanks for the information Robot 6.
Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega preview art by Mark Brooks courtesy Marvel.com
Marvel had a presser today with Brian Wood about his upcoming Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega limited series.
While Logan’s team is fighting off the new Hellfire Club to save the school in the new series, this 5-parter will focus on an enemy within. Psychic teen Quentin Quire picks a huge fight with Logan kicking off a showdown between the Headmaster and student.
“I know people think Quentin is a brat or annoying, that’s why I love him” Wood said.
In this earlier post I talked about the sudden return of Quentin AKA Kid Omega to the X-Men front burner in Schism and gave you a primer on the rebellious mutant.
Wolverine and The X-Men Alpha and Omega preview art courtesy Marvel.com
The presser confirmed an earlier post that Armor will be caught in the clash between Logan and Quentin and expect to see Rachel, Toad, and Bling ensnared into Quentin’s agenda.
On writing Logan,”I find him very intimidating to write, just because everyone on the planet has written Wolverine, ” Wood said and added that he and Jason Aaron see Logan as the “weary old man” but don’t expect Wolverine to be as button down in this 5 parter as he is on the ongoing series. Moderator James Viscardi called Logan the “grumpy old man of the X-Men.”
When Wolverine and the X-Men #1 debuted I posted how much I enjoyed seeing this side of Logan and the other surprises in this new book.
This series marks Wood’s return to Marvel after years writing his own creations like DMZ and Northlanders. Wood said it feels totally new and he gravitates to the X-Men.
Wolverine and the X-Men Alpha and Omega preview art courtesy Marvel.com
This is one of my most anticipated series of 2012. How will such a physical brawler like Wolverine handle matching wits with an Omega level psychic mind like Quentin? Emma Frost proved she can take down Quentin so maybe she’ll make a guest appearance?
A near mint issue featuring the first appearance of Superman soared to a new auction record tonight. The copy of Action Comics #1 sold tonight for $2.16 million. This issue was stolen from Nicolas Cage’s home. He was insured. This 1938 issue is graded at 9.0. The previous auction record was $1.5 million for an 8.5 grade issue of the same issue. About 100 copies of this famous issue are out there.
Thanks to Robot 6 for tonight’s news update. I don’t have any issues that old but oh how I wish I’d taken better care of my 80’s X-Men, Hulk and Avengers issues!
Wolverine and The X-Men: Alpha and Omega #1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com
Brian Wood is coming back to Marvel Comics with a new limited series: Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega. Wolverine is trying to play is cooler now that he’s headmaster of the reopened Westchester school. Quentin Quire aka Kid Omega is the certainly one character that can infuriate Logan. This clash of the titanic personalities will be the focus of Wood’s new series.
Brian Wood talked with Marvel.com about his new project. He revealed that Quentin will be driving the series and Armor will be caught in the crossfire of his clash with Wolverine. Mark Brooks and Roland Boschi will share art duties on the series. Mark Brooks was at Emerald City Comicon this year and I was lucky enough to have some issues autographed.
One of the year’s biggest surprises was the return of Quentin Quire to the X-Men. Jason Aaron put the omega level mutant on the front burner of the Schism storyline. Quentin’s mind manipulation of world leaders ignited a new wave of hatred and hear against mutants. You might call his act telepathic terrorism.
Wolverine and the X-Men #1 by Chris Bachalo courtesy of Marvel.com
Quentin is now part of the Wolverine and the X-Men cast. As Wolverine tries to evolve and be a leader for the next generation, Quentin is the perfect foil to rattle Logan’s cage. Kid Omega was created by Grant Morrison during his New X-Men era. Quentin went from top student to dangerous rebel after learning a family secret and seeing one of his heroes victimized. Quentin formed his own Omega Gang and staged a riot at Xavier’s.
Quentin encountered the Phoenix Force in Greg Pak’s Phoenix Endsong limited series. The kid had been left on the back burner until Jason Aaron brought him back in Schism and now Wolverine and the X-Men.
Quentin may make Logan regret all the wisecracks he made to Cyclops and all the times he called Professor X Chuck.
