New Justice League of America Announced

Justice League of America #1 courtesy DC Comics

  DC Comics announced a brand new Justice League of America series by Geoff Johns (Justice League, Green Lantern) and David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight) at Fan Expo Canada.

  Steve Trevor will recruit an eclectic team of heroes to fight the Secret Society of Super Villains. Th roster pulls from the New 52, JSA and a shocker. 

  Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, Hawkman, Green Arrow, Stargirl, Vibe, Katana and the new Green Lantern. (Baz will be the first Arab Lantern debuting in September’s Green Lantern #0)

  Geoff Johns tells MTV Geek why this new version of the team forms:

  “The idea of why the JLA forms, and what it is, and what it’s in reaction to… It kind of spins out of Justice League #12; what happens in that, and then subsequent issues, because JLA comes out next year some time. But the book itself is a group of heroes that aren’t necessarily coming together because they want to be together… They’ve been selected specifically. They all want, or need something that Steve Trevor, and the other person behind the scenes that’s in charge of this team can provide.

  The first arc is going to deal with something they learn is called The Secret Society of Super-Villains.”

  There are a lot of surprise choices in this roster – Vibe? The choice that will make me try this book is Catwoman. Why is Batman’s femme fatale on the team?

  “Catwoman is a very different perspective, and is brought in for a very different reason. She stays because they have something that she wants… And it’s not at all what you’d expect. It’s not a big diamond, it’s not a get out of jail free card, it’s something she’s been searching for that’s going to lead to a whole exploration of a side of Selina Kyle we haven’t yet seen.

  But she is going to have a lot of fun on the team, she is going to be the Veronica to Stargirl’s Betty, if you will, and she has a new dynamic because we haven’t really seen her interact much with all these characters. Some of them not at all, like Vibe, and Stargirl… There’s not a lot of interaction between her and Martian Manhunter, and I don’t think she’s ever interacted with Steve Trevor that I can remember. Catwoman has a very different reason for being on the team.”

  For more from Geoff Johns here’s the  MTV Geek link.

 Justice League of America arrives in 2013.

By Editor

Doctor Who Meets Guinan of Star Trek

  Doctor Who (along with Amy and Rory) are on board the U.S.S. Enterprise! The Time Lord and Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s crew have teamed up in an out of this world sci-fi crossover.

 

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 courtesy IDW Publishing

  The Borg and Cybermen have formed a frightening alliance. CyberBorg are attacking the Federation. The Doctor’s mind is way off. Last issue the Doctor remembered an encounter with Kirk and Spock back in a previous life (the fourth Doctor – Tom Baker) to be precise.

  In Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 the Time Lord meets the timeless Guinan (played in the series by Whoopi Goldberg.)  IDW Publishing gave Comic Book Resources an exclusive peek at next week’s chapter. They have more images of the meeting.

 

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 courtesy IDW Publishing

This series has been great fun. The creative team has definitely captured the spirit of both series, each character and made a thrilling crossover that works.

By Editor

 

New Writer for Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier #15 courtesy Marvel

  My favorite new book of 2012 will get a new writer in 2013. At the AvX panel at Fan Expo Canada Marvel announced that Jason Latour will take over Winter Soldier.

  Ed Brubaker brought Bucky Barnes back as the brainwashed assassin and set him on a path of redemption during his acclaimed Captain America run that continued with the Winter Soldier series.

 Comic Book Resources talked with the writer turned artist (his creator owned title Loose Ends and Untold Tales of the Punisher MAX) about taking over.

  “I was surprised to get the chance, simply because I didn’t think this character would ever be in play. Brubaker’s work on this character has been great. He’s really built such a strong and compelling foundation– that when the possibility was introduced my mind went off like a nuclear test site.

  As for how it came about — I’d drawn a few stories for my editor, Lauren Sankovitch, in the past and I’d made it clear I was interested in writing for hire, too. Fortunately she seemed to like my creator-owned work and when the time came to cast the book she asked me if I would be interested.”

  Brubaker has several issues left. Latour takes over with January’s issue #15 with Bucky in a dark place.

“A darkness has washed over The Dude — Like I said, it’s the pain that sticks. He’s done some awful things — things that he’d like to believe were independent of his control.  But when Cap fixed his mind with the Cosmic Cube, it’s telling that he used the phrase “Remember who you are.” That didn’t just return him to “Gee wilikers, Cap, I sure like pinball” Bucky — it kept intact a lot of memories he’d rather have seen erased.

Recently his past has come home to roost — and each time he found himself asking what his role in creating the situation was. It’s made him feel very powerless. People he loves keep getting thrown into harm’s way, and he’s trying to look in the mirror and see how much of it is his old habits. Who he works for is just where he starts.”

Latour says he’ll create a new villain.

“Two people who were once caught in the Winter Soldier’s swath. Our big antagonist is a new take on Bucky’s rogues’ gallery in the sense that she’s the first indirect casualty of his actions. She’s got plans much larger than revenge, but their personal connection is going to make things very complicated for Bucky.”

By Editor

 

Thanks to Comic Book Resources.

Astonishing X-Men’s Explosive Issue

Astonishing X-Men #53 courtesy Marvel

  Wolverine goes boom. The new villain proves she’s one stone cold —–. Beast references Frank Herbert’s Dune. I love you Marjorie Liu!

  Mystery woman Susan Hatchi forced Karma to attack her own teammates and Northstar’s partner Kyle and blew up Wolverine. Controlling someone who controls minds is a pretty impressive feat then Susan made Logan explode from the inside out. Now Hatchi is just showing off!

 In this week’s Astonishing X-Men #53 the honeymoon is over as this X-team tries to find Hatchi and Karma and uncover a deadly new tech that inspires Hank’s Dune reference.

  Liu does the unexpected when the X-Men confront Hatchi at a corporate presentation. Hatchi admits her guilt, gloats and teases the X-Men over what she did to them. Hatchi belittles them and basically calls them guineau pigs. Hatchi reveals she’s much more than just a ruthless businesswoman. I’m curious to see how Liu will tie Hatchi’s actions and revelation to a huge moment in mutant history. 

  Northstar and Kyle’s wedding was not just a one issue stunt. Liu takes us into the newlyweds’ bedroom. Liu continues to give us a unique perspective on what it would really be like to be a superhero’s spouse. This isn’t the only couple Liu has masterfully written. The hilarious flirtation between Warbird and Iceman continues in this chapter. Beast and Cecilia Reyes have a scientific John Steed and Emma Peel tension. In the lab or in the field Hank and Cecilia share an easy rapport, clever banter and mutual dedication to medical science.

  The search for Karma moves to a Russian complex where we see just how cruel and massive Hatchi’s experiments are evolving. Liu and Mike Perkins take a dark turn from Northstar’s wedding day and make this mutant soap opera great fun with realistic touches. I hope this creative team and title continue in the Marvel NOW.

Just remember X-Men:

“Fear is the mind-killer. You must not fear.”  The Bene Gesserit Litany in Dune.

  By Editor

Fantastic Four Payback

FF #1 courtesy Marvel

  Matt Fraction is sending the Fantastic Four into space and forming a new FF to hold down the fort here on Earth in the Marvel NOW relaunch. One member is planning some serious payback against Doctor Doom but it’s not who you think.

  Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (along with Medusa, She-Hulk and She-Thing) are the new FF lineup. Fraction tells Comics Newsarama he’ll follow through on a tragic moment from Avengers: The Children Crusade.

 

 SPOILER WARNING:

 IF YOU HAVEN’T READ AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE (READ IT- I LOVE THIS STORY!) THEN YOU MAY WANT TO STOP NOW.

 SERIOUSLY.

 HERE IT COMES.

 OK.

 

FF #1 courtesy Marvel

 “Doom killed Scott’s daughter. There’s no other way to put it, there’s no other way to phrase it, there’s no skirting around the issue. Because of his actions, Doctor Doom killed Cassie Lang. What this book is going to be about is Scott and his replacement Four, and the Future Foundation, aiming their resources right at Doctor Doom. The premise he presents to the Future Foundation is “End Doom.” And not just kill him, but eliminate him from human memory. That would be worse for Doom than dying. And that’s the payback that Scott ultimately wants.

  This is their macro arc, this is their reason to being, this is their constant through line: “Let’s remove Doom from the equation of life on Earth, and see what happens.” But concurrent to that, every FF villain that ever was comes out of the woodwork, gunning for these imposters, thinking now’s their time to take their shot. So you’ve got these people who have not been the Fantastic Four longer than 10 minutes having to fight off all of the latest and greatest versions of the characters you know and love the most. Whereas Fantastic Four is constant new stuff and new places we’ve not been before, FF is the greatest hits performed by a brand-new band.”

  For Fraction’s entire interview here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

 

Cassie Lang aka Stature courtesy Marvel

  I LOVE the Young Avengers. Scott was killed by the Scarlet Witch (kinda) in Avengers Disassembled. The amazing and inspiring Cassie carried on her father’s legacy as Stature in Young Avengers. The time twisting events of Avengers: Children’s Crusade led to a brief, heartwarming and heartbreaking reunion between father and daughter. I’m thrilled that Fraction will continue Scott’s story. Hurt Doom, hurt him bad!

  This is Cassie by Young Avengers artist Jim Cheung. Hope Marvel will have Cheung create a variant for this story. 

By Editor

Star Trek Legend & NASA’s Mohawk Guy: An Out of This World Ballet?

 UPDATE: PNB is offering ComicsBlend fans a 10 percent discount to this event. Here’s the link. See you there?

image courtesy pnb.org

 Original Story: Star Trek, NASA and Ballet? Only in Seattle – I love this geeky cool town I proudly call home! 

  Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) and Curiosity Mars rover flight director Bobak Ferdowski aka “Mohawk Guy” are special guests at a futuristic space extravaganza with dance, music, video and song.

  Celebrate Seattle is September 16th at Pacific Northwest Ballet celebrating PNB’s 40th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair – when the Space Needle and Seattle aimed for the stars and ushered in the Space Age!

  The Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra takes the spotlight with dancers, video flashbacks, and special guest appearances for a double anniversary salute to PNB, the Seattle World’s Fair, and NASA’s race to outer space.

  This one-of-a-kind performance includes:

  • PNB Orchestra performances of Silvestre’s Back to the Future, Holst’s Saturn & Jupiter, Dvorak’s Song to the Moon & selections from Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite
  • Apollo pas de deux  and Circus Polka starring Artistic Director Peter Boal as the Ringmaster
  • Astronaut Cady Coleman
  • NASA’s Mars Curiosity landing film
  • Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols, introduced by June Lockhart of Lost in Space
  • Curiosity Mars rover flight director Bobak Ferdowsi (aka “Mohawk Guy”)
  • Video histories of  Pacific Northwest Ballet and the building of the Seattle World’s Fair
  • Angry Birds at the Seattle Center

  I’ll be there celebrating the past, present and future and cheering for science fiction, fact and this unique culture combination! To learn more and for tickets visit pnb.org.

Some Seattle creative minds created this salute to Bobak and the Mars Curiosity team and here’s the link to see it.

By Editor

Inside Thor: God of Thunder #1

Thor: God of Thunder #1 courtesy Marvel

  The battle is joined this November as Marvel NOW! relaunches Thor. Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic bring the hammer down with a brand new Thor series set in the past, present and future. Marvel.com revealed this first look at Ribic’s pages of Thor: God of Thunder #1. Aaron unleashes the God Butcher on the Nine Realms and only the Odison can stop the serial killer of Gods.

Thor: God of Thunder #1 courtesy Marvel

By Editor

The X-Men’s Sinister Showdown

Uncanny X-Men #17 courtesy Marvel

  A sinister showdown in Uncanny X-Men #17 taking place before the shattering of the Phoenix Five in the main AvX series. Gillen orchestrates unexpected action and sharp humor in a last stand between the X-Men and Mister Sinister.

  Psylocke is the breakout star of his issue. From her psychic manipulation of Sinister’s army to her intimate bonding with Danger to infiltrate the stronghold to her declarations “I’m a bloody ninja!”

Psylocke has become the female Wolverine! She’s in every freakin’ X-book but when she’s written this good (Rick Remender and Brian Wood equally rock Betsy) I can enjoy her overexposure.

  Kieron Gillen does a fantastic job wrapping a two-year storyline amid a major crossover. I wish Carlos Pacheco could have rejoined him as this title ends. Gillen breathed new life into a tired old villain and Sinister manages to do to the Phoenix Five in this issue what Avengers’ biggest brains wish they could do.

Uncanny X-Men #9 interior art of UNIT courtesy Marvel

  This looks like the end of Sinister and his own twisted version of London but I hope it’s just the beginning for Unit. I think he’s the X-Men’s version of Ultron. I already pleaded on Twitter for Gillen to pit Tony Stark against the metallic manipulator on his upcoming Iron Man run. Please? I just hope Marvel doesn’t let this brilliant and scary creation fade away.

By Editor