In the aftermath of Avengers vs. X-Men a team of top creators will bring heroes together in a new series. Marvel shared this cover to A+X #2 by Kaare Andrews featuring two team-ups between four of Marvel’s top brainiacs.
Spider-Man and Beast will fight zombies in a story by Kaare Andrews. Iron Man, Kitty Pryde and Lockheed take on the Brood in a story by Peter David.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Kitty is a computer science expert. I wonder if ladies man Tony will hit on her? Kitty can handle herself but good thing she has Lockheed!
It’s been a long time (1970’s) since Marvel published this kind of concept book. The Thing co-starred with a guest star each week in Marvel Two-In-One. Spidey starred in a Marvel Team-Up with different guests and stories each month.
One of the big topics at GeekGirlCon in Seattle this past weekend was the lack of female comic book writers and lead characters. Somebody is listening. This week two creative announcements should geek girls and (any fan of great writing and characters) celebrating.
Marvel Comics revealed Kelly Sue DeConnick will be the new writer on Avengers Assemble. This a newer comic book designed to appeal to fans of the blockbuster movie.
“These are the AC/DC Avengers. When I saw the movie, I managed to keep in together until Iron Man came onscreen and Back in Black blared. I bounced up and down in my chair. That’s the moment I’m writing for,” declares DeConnick.
DeConnick will be the first female writer on an Avengers title.
“I’m very interested in making sure women knowing that wanting to work in this industry is not peculiar. There is not anything in heroism or sci-fi that is exclusively masculine. The hero ideal is as important to my daughter as it is to my son. But I don’t want to represent all women in comics…particularly because I blow things sometimes!” says DeConnick.
For longtime Executive Editor it’s about having the right writer on Marvel’s biggest franchise.
“It’s a nice factoid, but I didn’t hire a woman to write Avengers, I hired Kelly Sue to write Avengers for the same reasons I’ve hired and will continue to hire writers,” said Brevoort
DeConnick will add Spider-Woman and Captain Marvel to the team. Last month Ms. Marvel was promoted to Captain in a brand new book written by DeConnick too. Captain Marvel #1 was a sold out smash.
Journey Into Mystery #646 courtesy Marvel
Marvel made another announcement this week. Kathyrn Immonen will take over writing Journey Into Mysterywith issue #646. Lady Sif will be the new lead character of this book set in the Thor universe. Kid Loki was the previous lead character. Lady Sif is an Asgardian warrior and Thor’s great love.
“We talked at length as far as what her story could be, and it came down to a single question: What does she want? For Sif, what she wants above all is to be a better warrior. How far would she go for that? She makes some terrible decisions and puts a lot of people in peril,” Immonen spoke of her protagonist.
At GeekGirlCon 2012 there were a few geek gals in Thor costumes. Maybe next year we’ll see a Lady Sif or the new Captain Marvel?
Two of the biggest success stories celebrated at the con were Batwoman and Wonder Woman. Along with Batgirl these three DC Comics books starring female leads are solid sellers which could lead to more female driven books. These two iconic heroines are joining forces. Wonder Woman guest stars in this week’s Batwoman #12.
Batwoman #12 courtesy DC Comics
After attending GeekGirlCon I thought this week’s announcements were ironic and inspiring. The big publishers appear to be listening to the fans.
I’m thrilled to share that my favorite X-book Wolverine and The X-Men will go on in the Marvel NOW! Logan set up the new Jean Grey School after the events of Schism. Jason Aaron (and rotating artists Chris Bachalo and Nick Bradshaw) have delivered a lesson in comic book fun with the faculty and students of this mutant high.
Aaron tells Comic Book Resources the mutant kids could have some famous non-mutant guest intructors into a powerhouse Asgardian. (Aaron is writing the new Thor: God of Thunder.)
“Yes, I would love to have more guest-speakers show up at the school. And since I’m now writing “Thor,” I definitely want to find a place for the God of Thunder to make an appearance. Just in general, I like trying to integrate the Jean Grey School into the fabric of the Marvel U as much as I can, like having Matt Murdock drop by to offer legal advice. You’ll see a lot more touches like that in the coming months. There’s a scene in issue #15 that was particularly fun to write involving Broo and Iron Man. And in issue #19, when the hunt for a new teacher kicks into high gear, you’ll see lots of different faces making an appearance.”
Wolverine and the X-Men #17 courtesy Marvel
During Avengers vs. X-Men several staff members fought with the mutants and against the headmaster. Logan will tackle that after AvX.
“That very question is answered in issue #15, and it speaks to Logan’s entire philosophy as a newfound mutant leader,” reveals Aaron.
Many fans asked about the possibility of a Kitty Pryde/Iceman date, Toad’s crush on Husk, the aftermath of Kid Gladiator joining the AvX battle. Aaron pointed to issue #15 for answers.
The new flagship X-book is All-New X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis starring the original five X-Men from the past now in the present. Aaron reveals his cast will interact with the cast of the Bendis book.
Wolverine and the X-Men #14 courtesy
“You will definitely see that these books are happening in the same new X-Men universe. You’ll see the Jean Grey School play a role in his book, and you’ll see the events of his reflected in mine. Though you’ll also be getting books that have very distinct flavors and mandates, which I think only makes for a stronger roster of X-titles.”
Aaron also confirmed Kitty Pryde will be part of the cast of All-New X-Men and stay on in his title. Issue #19 will be a hunt for a new teacher story and #21 begins a “Frankenstein Murder Circus” arc. Both will feature the Nick Bradshaw on art after Jorge Molina.
But what about the Bamfs!? For his entire X-position Q & A here’s the link.
Marvel revealed today that Kathryn Immonen will take over Journey Into Mystery with issue 646. Kieron Gillen left to take on Iron Man. The Gillen run starred Kid Loki. The warrior Lady Sif will become the new lead character.
“We talked at length as far as what her story could be, and it came down to a single question: What does she want? For Sif, what she wants above all is to be a better warrior. How far would she go for that? She makes some terrible decisions and puts a lot of people in peril,” explains Immonen of the lead change.
“One of the really interesting things about Sif to me is that she’s defined by absence, with her lover, Thor, and brother, Heimdall, always away from her.
‘What’s most interesting to me about the Asgardians is the inevitability of them. So much of their conflict is internalized because they don’t have alter egos. They’re also almost more human because of that.”
Immonen sets out the journey she’s planned for Sif and the change in tone of the title.
“Sif is not just a warrior. We’ve often seen her leading the charge, but I don’t feel like we’ve ever seen her in charge. Bear with me, but she’s kind of like my dog. He’s very committed to his pack, but never looks back because he assumes everybody else is as committed as he is. Sif is the same way.
I see a similarity between Sif and Loki because neither of them can ever be Thor. I think that has more effect on her then she’ll admit. She’s been told she’s capable of anything, but at the end of the day, she will never be Thor. It’s a matter of finding out how to be enough anyway.”
Sif is an action hero. Loki is not. They’re fundamentally different. I don’t use the talking to get to the fighting, I use the fighting to get to the talking.” says Immonen.
Journey Into Mystery #646 out this November. Editor Lauren Stankovich revealed up and coming Italian artist Valerio Schiti will provide art.
Jaime Alexander played Sif in Thor on the big screen. With this kind of higher comic book exposure could we see a bigger role for Sif in Thor: The Dark World.
Fear Itself The Fearless #2 courtesy Marvel
If you love the idea of Asgardian warrior women then I highly recommend Fear Itself: The Fearless. This 12 part epic starred Valkyrie on a mission from Odin. Valkyrie defied the Avengers on a quest that has personal implications for her and took us across the Marvel universe.
I’m a huge Valkyrie fan. Hope she is part of Marvel NOW! too.
The coolest guy in the galaxy…and he plays the cool, suave Lando Calrissian! The man who ran Cloud City in The Empire Strike Back is coming to our Emerald City – Seattle! Billy Dee Williams is coming to Emerald City Comicon March 1-3, 2013.
Williams reprised his role and redeemed Calrissian in Return of the Jedi. The Star Wars vet played Harvey Dent in Tim Burton’s Batman. Sir Patrick Stewart is the only other celebrity guest announced so far. Tickets go on sale September 5th.
Injustice: Gods Among Us image courtesy DC Comics The Source
If you loved Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises then you may want to get your claws on Injustice: Gods Among Us. Catwoman is the latest femme fatale (Harley Quinn has already been revealed) to join the upcoming game from WB Games. Check out this vignette courtesy Comic Book Resources. This Selena is cool like Hathaway’s version but packs the female fury of Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns. Wonder Woman, Nightwing, Soloman Grundy, Flash, Superman and Cyborg also appear in the game coming in 2013. Check it out -but watch out for the claws!
Avengers Vs. X-Men #10 Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are cornered. Is Hope’s last hope joining forces with the Scarlet Witch? Is the mutant messiah/chaos magic alliance more dangerous than the Phoenix Force?
Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1 The back story of the vicious vigilante. Brian Azzarello takes on the dark past and reveals what made Rorschach the ruthless anti-hero he became.
Captain Marvel #2 Carol Danvers soars as the new Captain (#1 was a sold out smash!) but her past is coming back to challenge her. What is the Banshee Squadron?
Fatale #7 Cults, sex, drugs and killings in 1970’s Los Angeles. Demonic secrets stalk the heroine Josephine into her new life as the second arc of horror/crime comic continues.
The Walking Dead #101The last issue was one of the shocking and brutal moments of the series. How do the survivors go on when the heart of group has been sadistically ripped out of them?
Hugh Jackman is shooting The Wolverine in Australia now and says the new film stands alone and will not directly tie to the Logan’s previous solo movie.
“We’ve deliberately not called it Wolverine 2 because we want it to be placed and feel like a standalone picture,” Jackman tells Total Film (via Coventry Telegraph). “With an all-new cast and setting it in Japan, it’s going to give us a whole new visual aesthetic.”
The Wolverine is based on the story by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, set in Japan and Logan battles the Silver Samurai.
Op/Ed: Now that we know the X-Men: First Class sequel will be based on Days of Future Past it would make sense to have Jackman play a much older Logan in the sequel’s nightmare future scenes. This would be a great swan song for Jackman as the cinematic Wolverine.
