Allan Heinberg on Avengers The Children’s Crusade Finale

   

Avengers: The Children's Crusade #9 courtesy Marvel

    Avengers: The Children’s Crusade reached an emotional, game changing climax last week. The maxi series by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung launched in July 2010 starring the Young Avengers in search of the Scarlet Witch (she’s the mother of Wiccan and Speed.) The teens faced the wrath of the Avengers, X-Men and Doctor Doom. When it was over, heroes died, quit and the Scarlet Witch’s role in the Marvel Universe was established on the eve of Avengers Vs X-Men. I wanted to share some of Comics Newsarama’s interview with Heinberg now that the epic series is over.

  “After over two years of working on the book, I felt immediate relief for a day or two after the book went off to the printer — and I’ve been sad ever since. I miss the characters. I miss my regular, sanity-restoring chats with Jim Cheung and our amazing editor, Tom Brevoort. I miss the pleasure of seeing new pencils from Jim every month. Honestly, if I could, I’d continue working with Jim Cheung the rest of my life. He’s a great friend and creative partner.”

  The story was the redeeming of the Scarlet Witch for her actions (Avengers Disassembled, M-Day.) Some characters sympathized, some condemned Wanda for her actions. Comics Newsarama how he felt about her.

 

Avengers Children's Crusade #7 by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com

“We wanted the reaction to the Scarlet Witch’s story to reflect as many different viewpoints as possible — to foster continued conflict and debate among the Avengers and the X-Men — and among readers, as well.”

 “My personal sympathies were obviously with Wanda, but she’s certainly not blameless — even if Doom was ultimately responsible for her transgressions. Wanda was, after all, driven by grief to ask for Doom’s help in the first place, leaving her and the Avengers vulnerable to his manipulations.”

 For Allan’s entire interview (including spoilers) here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

 This Geek’s Opinion: Avengers The Children’s Crusade is one of Marvel’s most beautifully drawn and written epics. Jim Cheung created dynamic action sequences packed with a huge cast and very intimate scenes where we could sense the hope, fear, regret and love of each player in this epic executed by Allan Heinberg.

 

  The hardcover version is now collected and available.

 

The Mastermind Behind The Court of Owls Revealed in Batman #10

 

Batman #10 courtesy DC Comics
    The Night of the Owls crossover flies across all Batmanfamily of titles in May. The Dark Knight’s allies will face different versions of the Talon, enforcer for the Court of Owls. The mysterious organization has been secretly manipulating Gotham City for decades. 

  Today DC Comics revealed the cover and solicit for Batman #10 in June teasing that in this issue Batman takes the fight to the Court of Owls and we learn the mastermind behind the secret society.

  Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are the creative team behind this epic new chapter in Batman history.

Captain Marvel Returns to Marvel

 

 

Captain Marvel returns July 2012 courtesy Marvel.com

Marvel.com unveiled this teaser heralding Captain Marvel in July 2012. All will be revealed Saturday, March 17 at the Talk To The Hat panel, 4:00PM PST, during WonderCon 2012.

 An earlier preview for the cover of Secret Avengers #27, the AvX tie-in showed Captain Marvel bursting out of what appears to be Phoenix energy and flanked on each side by Ms. Marvel and Protector.

Could this mean the entity of death and rebirth could give birth to a resurrected Mar-Vell?

“The Hunger Games” Tour Finale in Seattle – New Photos

Photo by Josh Lewis, Seattle Pulp
Photo by Josh Lewis, Seattle Pulp

  Fans (nearly a thousand) packed Seattle’s University Village Saturday to see the stars of The Hunger Games.

Photo by Josh Lewis, Seattle Pulp

  Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson will play Katniss, Gale and Peeta. All three leads were at this final stop on The Hunger Games Tour in Seattle.

Photo by Josh Lewis, Seattle Pulp

  I had the opportunity to interview the stars about the film and reaction to the fans.

 

Photo by Josh Lewis, Seattle Pulp

These new photos of the event courtesy Josh Lewis of Seattle Pulp.

Photo by Josh Lewis, Seattle Pulp

 

First Look at Javier Barden as James Bond Villain in “Skyfall”

 

Javier Barden on the set of Skyfall courtesy MI6HQ.Com

Daniel Craig and the Skyfall crew wrapped up their final shoot in London before moving on to Turkey. MI6 captured the action of the scene in which 007 emerges from the London Underground chasing the chief villain played by Javier Bardem. Hundreds of extras and vehicles were part of the scene. The Oscar-winning actor’s character has not been revealed.

Daniel Craig on the set of Skyfall courtesy MI6-HQ.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Hunger Games” Tour in Seattle

 

The Hunger Games Cast Tour in Seattle

  Fans packed Seattle’s University Village for a chance to meet the stars of The Hunger Games who will play Katniss, Peeta and Gale. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth made young fans erupt into a frenzy like tributes arriving in the Capitol. This was the finale of a mall tour to promote the upcoming adaptation of the first book in the trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

  The first 100 fans won the golden ticket. Some families had been waiting more than 24 hours for this opportunity. These most devoted fans came to be face to face with the stars of the book they love and went home with an autographed poster in an exclusive session inside the Microsoft Store. Some girls were overcome and walked away trembling and sobbing uncontrollably into the arms of their smiling parents.

Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson by Josh Lewis courtesy Seattle Pulp

  You could feel the anticipation and excitement as hundreds waited outside for the live Q & A session to begin. Sudden waves of screams and panic erupted with the possibility that the stars could arrive at any moment. When the actors did exit the Microsoft Store and move onto the stage the adoring fans absolutely lost control. Screams were deafening. Declarations of love for Josh or Liam pierced through the madness.

  Local girls asked Josh to be their prom date. Jennifer was asked the preference of which co-star is hotter. We learned Jennifer did her own shooting movie. The actress learned archery to display the skills of Katniss in the arena.

The Hunger Games Cast Tour in Seattle

  In an earlier interview session I asked the leads did they imagine the insanity of the tour, the passion of the fans and rock star treatment they’re being showered with now. Josh Hutcherson reacted to the screaming and sighing but “just wants to make a great movie and hope they like it.”

  The majority of elated fans were on Team Gale or Team Peeta. I asked Jennifer Lawrence about the relationship between Katniss and Cinna, the stylist who becomes her mentor. While filming X-Men: First Class Lawrence (who played Raven/Mystique) became friends with co-star Zoe Kravitz (who played Angel) and developed a friendship with her dad, rock star Lenny Kravitz. She says that helped their on-screen rapport.

  Woody Harrelson plays Haymitch Abernathy. The Hunger Games champion of District 12 must train Katniss and Peeta. I asked the young cast about the charismatic actor and his performance. Liam Hemsworth shared that Haymitch was his favorite character.

  The screams and shouts of love echoed even as the stars waved goodbye. The young leads thrilled the audience and made teen dreams come true. The Hunger Games opens March 23rd. 

by Josh Lewis courtesy Seattle Pulp

 

Marvel Infinite Comics Launches with AVX Story

 

Avengers Vs X-Men Infinite courtesy Marvel

  Marvel Comics unveiled their newest innovation at South By Southwest this weekend. Infinite Comics will be the new format taking Marvel into the digital world.

  “Infinite Comics are a new technique in comics storytelling that is built specifically for the digital world yet in a very elegant way manages to keep the purity of what makes a comic a ‘comic,’” said Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment. “It gives readers the same feel of reading a traditional comic while also offering a whole new experience that really feels like the future of where the medium is headed.”

  The first Infinite Comics will tie to the Marvel’s mega AvX event. Avengers Vs X-Men Infinite will star Nova. Mark Waid and Stuart Immonen and Marte Gracia are the creative team. It will be available for purchase on the Marvel Comics app free with the redemption code found in print copies of Avengers Vs X-Men #1 or included with the purchase of the digital version. It will also be available to purchase on its own for 99 cents.

  “The events are concurrent to Avengers Vs X-Men #1,” Waid says of the story. “It shows a certain key sequence of events uniquely from Nova’s point of view, and much of what we learn will be important in later AvX developments.”

  “While AvX is a huge story, we only have so much room by which to tell it,” adds Quesada. “Infinite Comics will be bringing you some stories that may have fallen through the cracks or haven’t been dealt with in great detail.”

  Earlier this year in the Point One Special a new Nova appeared with the Phoenix Force in pursuit.

 For more of their interviews here’s the Marvel.com link.