The Flying Swords of Dragon Gateis an amazing spectacle starring Jet Li and directed by Tsui Hark and shot in 3D. I saw it in IMAX and I’ve never ducked and moved and jumped so much in a 3D film. Swords pierced off the screen and I swear I could see it in my peripheral vision!
Take a look at the trailer and I have a comic book connection for you after!
I left this film longing to go to Kun Lun! Marvel Films, please put Iron Fist and Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu on the big screen!
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate is in Mandarin with subtitles and on a limited release. Experience it if you can!
Brian Michael Bendis made me love the Avengers again. I never really stopped loving Cap, Tony, Wanda, Clint but I had stopped buying the book because the title had become tired to me.
The idea of losing something makes you realize how much you it. Avengers Disassembled rocked my world and shook the foundations of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. New Avengers made the franchise exciting again with new faces and new threats.
Eight years later and End Times are in sight as Bendis leaves the Avengers family for the Children of the Atom. I wanted to share some highlights of this Marvel.com interview about the final months of the Bendisvengers! (And new preview art!)
The fan favorite writer will leave Avengers and New Avengers with an all-star list of artists on board.
“I’m going out on a very pleasant note personally. I just finished an AVENGERS run with Walt Simonson. I’m working on NEW AVENGERS with Michael Gaydos, Michael Avon Oeming, Carlos Pacheco and Mike Deodato. The very last issue we’re doing this big jam sequence. I like to do these jam sequences every once in a while which are very difficult on editorial. I find them to be a lot of fun if you can find the right reason to do them. We found one, and me and Tom [Brevoort] are gathering together a group of very unique, very out-there artists, people who I feel have been exciting to me that are outside of the Marvel mainstream. We’re pulling them in to let them show off a little bit to the larger audiences, people whose books I’ve been buying that are very exciting. We’ll be debuting those names very soon. I feel like we’re leaving on a high note. On [the last issues of] AVENGERS, we’ve got Brandon Peterson, Terry Dodson [and] Mike Mayhew, and it’s gorgeous. It’s absolutely stunning.”
Avengers #31 courtesy Marvel
Bendis is famous or infamous for starting his Avengers run by blowing up the Avengers mansion and the team. (Jack of Hearts ran out of luck the hard way!)
“Disassembled” was this disaster movie starring the Avengers, which I thought was awesome. Other people thought it was awesome too, and other people were very, very angry at me. They’re still angry at me as if it happened yesterday.”
I think Bendis fearlessly challenged the fans and the industry to rethink status quo. Cap and Tony were joined my Spider-Man and Wolverine. My favorite part of the Bendis era was adding Luke Cage and Spider-Woman to the team. He then proceeded to put them both through hell and back. Luke became a father, husband and team leader. Luke and Jessica Jones became one of my favorite Marvel couples. Jessica Drew’s comeback (including the fake Skrull Jessica) is the stuff of comics legend all on its own. The path of Robert Reynolds/The Sentry is pure Shakespearean tragedy with a cosmic twist. Bendis is ready to shake the status quo again.
Avengers #31 courtesy Marvel
“Well, many years have gone by. This status quo has been around for eight years. It’s quite a lengthy amount of time for any status quo in any comic of any company. So it’s certainly a good time for me to wrap up certain story-lines, to make my final statement on some of these characters. Some characters will be moving on to a new chapter in their life, and other characters will be deciding what it means to be an Avenger. Not all the characters will survive this last story.
I’m losing some babies. I’m losing some characters that mean the world to me. So when you add up all the elements that I just described, that is the status quo change. A lot is going to happen in the next four issues. Some great celebratory things, some tragic things, all setting the stage for my friend Jonathan Hickman, who has his own status quo to try to achieve. I’m going to do the best I can to make that happen.”
Avengers #31 courtesy Marvel
For his entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.
What is your favorite character, storyline or moment of the Bendisvengers era?
Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena relaunch a brand new Avengers series in the Marvel NOW! Marvel revealed this first look at the three covers in one by Dustin Weaver.
Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Wolverine and the new Captain Marvel are on the team. Cap sidekick Falcon is joining up. Cannonball of New Mutants is seen blasting into action. One cover #2 there’s a man on fire – is this Jim Hammond – the original Human Torch? On cover #3 is a man with a shadow power and infinity sign on this chest? Could this be Cannonball’s New Mutants teammate Roberto da Costa aka Sunspot or maybe an Eternal?
I’m loving Cannonball on the team. I think Sam Guthrie is the Dick Grayson of the Marvel Universe. Cannonball could easily take over for Cyclops but will never be allowed to like Dick could take over for Bruce as Batman. I’m thrilled to see Sam soar in the greater Marvel Now.
Part of the excitement of The Wolverine movie is seeing Hugh Jackman take on the Silver Samurai and lots and lots of ninjas! Part of the anticipation is Jackman in scenes with two very different women: Lady Mariko and the wild Yukio. The Ronin is ordered to assassinate Logan but develops a romantic fascination with him after seeing him “doing the best at what he does.”
Lady Mariko is shocked by Logan’s violence. Yukio gets turned on after seeing what an excellent killer he is.
courtesy Comic Book Movie
Comic Book Movie scored this first look at Rila Fukushima as Yukio. It looks like Yukio will not be sporting her short spikey hair from the comic books. In the pages of X-Men Storm was inspired by Yukio to change her hair and get a mohawk.
PAX 2012 photo by Josh Lewis, courtesy KOMONEWS.COM
PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) brought tens of thousands to Seattle! The celebration included arcade games, video game tournaments, concerts and incredible cosplay.
PAX 2012 photo by Josh Lewis, courtesy KOMONEWS.COM
Here are just some of the amazing photos by my frequent collaborator Josh Lewis of Seattle Pulp and KOMONEWS.COM. You can check out more at KOMONEWS.COM.
Earth 2 #0The first issue of this series has been the best. The epic and tragic final battle between Darkseid and the big trinity (Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman) was just the beginning of this alternate world. DC promises this “zero” issue reveals the origin of this world’s most tragic villain.
First X-Men #2 Legendary Neal Adams continues his untold tale of an X-Men before Professor X founded the school. What happens when Wolverine and Sabretooth recruit Magneto for their mission against the government?
Hawkeye #2Matt Fraction and David Aja reteam on a new series starring Clint Barton. The premiere issue was a pleasant surprise – a “slice of life” superhero book? Young Avenger Kate Bishop becomes Clint’s partner in stealing from the rich.
True Blood #4The series that shows what happened when vampires came out came a hairy twist! This issue is for fans of Alcide the werewolf!
X-Factor #243 What happened to the mother of Polaris? How was Magneto involved? What does it do to the tragic romance of Havok and Polaris?
DC Comics marks the one year anniversary of launching The New 52 by going back to zero. This September all the DC titles will #0 and be stand-alone stories.
“Some issues will tell the origins of a character or a team, or in some case where an origin has already been told, they will fill in the blanks in terms of questions readers may have about the New 52 DC Universe,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “Each of these issues promises to reveal something surprising.”
The first week kicks off with zero issues for Action Comics. In The Boy Who Steals Superman’s Cape Grant Morrison reveals the early days of Superboy in Metropolis.
Tony Daniel draws his final Batman story (for now) in Detective Comics #0 showing how Bruce Wayne became a martial arts master and the introduction of a major villain.
Scott Snyder explores the past of Alec Holland and Anton Arcane in Swamp Thing #0.
Green Lantern #0 introduces a brand new member of the corps. The first Arab American Lantern will become a member of the Justice League of America in 2013.
Peter David is rewarding longtime X-Factor fans for their devotion. The writer is dangling plot threads and long running storylines together in Breaking Points. The first chapters have been excellent regardless of how long you’ve been reading the adventures of X-Factor Investigations.
This week’s chapter is the most anticipated one for me! Marvel teases that a long-buried secret will a member of the team insane.
One of the most tortured couples in Marvel Comics history is Havok and Polaris. The couple recently returned from Shi’ar space and Wolverine placed them with X-Factor Investigations in the book they starred in back in 1990’s also under Peter David’s watch.
Alex Summers will be starring in Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers. The younger brother of Cyclops will lead the hybrid team of X-Men and Avengers that will be the first book of the Marvel NOW! relaunch. Will Lorna be joining him? Will there even be an X-Factor title?
Breaking Points appears to be Peter David’s opportunity to wrap up his storylines but is it the end? Lorna’s relationship with Alex and her connection to Magneto will be explored in the storyline. David tells Marvel.com why fans are so obsessed with the Lorna and Magneto and makes a vow.
Uncanny X-Men #50 courtesy Marvel
“Probably because there have been aspects of Lorna’s background that have been left dangling for literally decades. It’s not just Magneto himself; it’s the entire story behind the demise of her mother and father, and whether Magneto had anything to do with it. All of this will be answered.”
Back to the insanity tease…Polaris has been possessed by Malice, became crazy jealous during Chuck Austen’s run (remember Alex and Nurse Annie?)and a pawn of far too many mind games. Will Lorna learn the truth and lose Alex again?
For more of his interview and plans for other members of X-Factor here’s the Marvel.com link. I’m loving the David Yardin cover for X-Factor #243 featuring Marvel’s tortured mutant lovers.
