Greg Pak’s Dazzling New X-Treme X-Men

X-Treme X-Men #2 courtesy Marvel.com

  The X-Men’s rock n roller shines in a brand new ongoing X-Treme X-Men debuting this July 25th by Greg Pak. The new book spins out of Pak’s Astonishing X-Men run and features a team of X-Men from various timelines. The versatile writer tells Marvel.com why this new mutant book will shine among a crowd of X-titles.

“Dazzler, baby! We’re taking our universe’s Dazzler, the Alison Blaire you know and love, and throwing her into a series of mind-blowing, life-and-death, cross-dimensional, alternate universe adventures that will eventually result in a massive threat to our own reality.

  Dazzler’s a phenomenal lead character for a book like this; she’s funny and wry and irreverent, but she’s also a massively powerful mutant warrior and a leader-in-the-making who’s about to be tested to the extreme. So she’s completely down to earth and accessible, which makes her the perfect kind of character to undertake a huge hero’s journey like this. She’s long been due for a story that brings her to the forefront of the mutantverse like this, and I’m thrilled to be along for the ride.”

 

X-Treme X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel

Pak has assembled (sorry Avengers) a team of mutant heroes from various dimensions and goes into the pros and cons of taking on alternate versions of established favorites.

  “Dazzler’s team consists of surprising alternate versions of Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Emma Frost. Working with alternate versions of characters is a blast because you have the opportunity to really crystallize some of the things that really work about the character while trying some shocking new ideas that you’d never be able to do with our universe’s version. The extra bonus here is that although these characters are from alternate realities, they’re all absolutely in continuity—and we’ll eventually see their impact on our universe.

  For his entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link. 

 I’m thrilled to see Dazzler back on the front burner. Anyone remember when she faced off against an obsessive fan named…The Juggernaut? That was a great Claremont issue.

Amazing Spider-Man Video Game Trailer

 

The Scorpion from The Amazing Spider-Man video game courtesy Marvel

The Amazing Spider-Man video game swings into action June 26th. The Scorpion is ready to sting our hero. The classic Spidey foe gets a big redesign for the game. The latest trailer just premiered at E3.

Trailer and image courtesy Marvel.com. Spidey faces the Lizard in the big screen reboot in July.

By Editor

Zombies vs Gladiators By Clive Barker

Clive Barker

Zombies. Gladiators. Barker. The limits of undead carnage are about the pushed beyond the limits. The man who gave us Pinhead in Hellraiser is unleashing the undead on ancient Rome. Amazon.com has signed Clive Barker to write and direct Zombies vs Gladiators for Amazon Studios.

 From the press release:

  Based in ancient Rome, the Zombies vs. Gladiators story opens as a shaman who is about to die in the Coliseum casts a spell that unleashes the world’s first zombies.  It’s up to a gladiator to stop the spread of the zombie horde and save Rome. From the moment it debuted at Amazon Studios, Zombies vs. Gladiators has been one of the most creatively engaging scripts, spurring tremendous interest within the community and movie fans alike, indicating it’s mainstream and commercial viability for the studio.  As a result of this overwhelming and popular support, Amazon is moving forward to develop the project with Clive Barker at the helm.

  “Zombies vs. Gladiators is now in the hands of someone who has written genre-defining material throughout his career,” said Roy Price, director, Amazon Studios. “We are excited to see how Clive will add his unique narrative to capture the essence of this story and propel the project into something unique and original that could one day be enjoyed by all audiences.”

  Said Barker, “I’m excited by the opportunity to interweave two very rich narrative threads. One of them concerns itself with the reality of the decadence of Rome and its rise and fall. The other is a fantastical narrative element – the living dead. My brief to myself on this project is to give the audience not only zombies they have never seen before but also a Rome they have never seen before.”

  Barker added, “Amazon Studios offered up the dream ticket with this project. In twenty five years of working in this town, I’ve rarely had people listen to what I had to say as closely and as carefully as they did and then simply give me the freedom to go do it. Amazon Studios is an innovative creative concept. I am looking forward to providing my own perspective to make Zombies Vs. Gladiators a highly commercial and entertaining movie.”

 Thanks to TwitchFilm – which has a great bio of Barker.

This Geek’s Opinion:

The idea of Gladiators written by Barker is awesome. The idea of zombies by Barker is huge! Barker has always been a daring creator pushing the boundaries of sex and violence in his storytelling. From The Books of Blood to Hellraiser to Cabal – Barker’s writing is so visceral.

While it’s easy to remember Barker’s explicit work his projects include the compelling Gods and Monsters and his Abarat fantasy children’s book series.

I still hope to see his The Damnation Game on the big screen. Here’s the official Clive Barker site.

By Editor

Christopher Nolan On Directing James Bond

The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Poster from thedarkknightrises.com. Courtesy: Warner Brothers Entertainment

  What will The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan pick for his next project after the Batman finale? Nolan has expressed interest in directing a James Bond film. The director has said the big action sequence at the snowbound fortress in Inception was inspired by On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

  In a new interview Empire Online with The Playlist Nolan says he’s serious but cautious about a potential 007 film.

  “It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things.”

  I have to agree with the editors that say Nolan’s comment suggest he would only like to take on the job if he got to make a fresh start, including casting a new Bond. Craig is lined up for more films so a potential Nolan helmed 007 movie may be more than a decade away.

courtesy 007.com

   Daniel Craig recruited Oscar winner Sam Mendes to direct the upcoming Bond film Skyfall so it’s not a stretch to see an acclaimed filmmaker work on 007. And never underestimate producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson shaking things up. The change from Pierce Brosnan to Daniel Craig was a shock and look how it’s working. After the Daniel Craig era closes an innovative director like Nolan might be just what the franchise needs.

By Editor

 

X-Men: First Class Sequel Plot?

  The sequel of X-Men: First Class is moving ahead with director Matthew Vaughn back on board and a release date of July 18, 2014. The story continues the story of Professor Xavier and Magneto. Michael Fassbender has said he’s working with writer Simon Kinberg on the script. But could the next X-film be inspired by one of the greatest Chris Claremont/John Byrne era stories?

  Ain’t It Cool News reports that the studio has registered the title Days of Future Past with the MPAA.  That may not mean anything to the movie-goer just looking for a great action film. But to an X-Men comic reader – it’s close to the Holy Grail of mutant epics.

Uncanny X-Men #141 courtesy Marvel.com

  In Uncanny X-Men #141 and 142 the Days of Future Past was a powerhouse two-part story in two timelines. In a future North America rules by Sentinels (mutant hunting robots) most super heroes have been hunted down and exterminated or imprisoned. Magneto, Storm, Colossus and his wife Kate (Kitty Pryde) are in the camp. Rachel Summers (daughter of Scott/Cyclops and Jean Grey) and Franklin Richards (son of Reed and Sue of the Fantastic Four) are together and living in the prison camp too. Wolverine is with an underground resistance movement.

  The future X-Men conceive a daring plot to rewrite history and change the nightmare future. Rachel uses her psionic powers to send Kate’s consciousness into the past and into the body of Kitty Pryde who just joined the X-Men. Kitty must convince the mutants to go to Washington, D.C. to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants led by Mystique. The killing of Kelly led to the country’s hatred of mutants and implementation of Sentinels. While the past X-Men race to prevent the assassination, the remaining future X-Men fight the Sentinels.

Uncanny X-Men #142 courtesy Marvel.com

  The next X-Men film will likely not follow the storyline exactly but it could be an exciting way to reboot the entire film franchise but like Spock created a new timeline in JJ Abrams Star Trek.

  We could forget X-Men: The Last Stand ever happened. Professor Xavier and Cyke would still be alive. It could be a whole new beginning for the film franchise and I love Rachel Summers.

 Thanks to Collider.

By Editor

Black Cat Strikes in Defenders

Defenders #7 courtesy Marvel.com

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.

By Editor

Top 5 Picks for 6/6/12

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

By Editor

James Bond, Thor 2 Villain Cast As New Hannibal Lecter

 

Mads Mikkelsen photo courtesy IMDB

Mads Mikkelsen has been cast as Hannibal Lecter in NBC’s Hannibal television series according to TVLine. The Danish actor played Le Chiffre in Daniel Craig’s first James Bond movie Casino Royale and is reportedly in talk to play a villain in Thor 2.

  Hugh Dancy plays FBI agent Will Graham (William Petersen in Michael Mann’s Manhunter and Edward Norton in Red Dragon.) Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies)created the series. No word on a premiere date yet.

  No word on if Mikkelsen is locked or what role he will play in Thor 2.

  By Editor