Arrow Villain Cast

 

Stephen Amell courtesy IMDB

The CW’s Arrow television pilot has its hero, leading lady and now a villain? Colin Donnell has been cast as Tommy Merlyn according to Deadline. The character is described as the hero’s best friend and a playboy. 

  In DC Comics Merlyn is Green Arrow’s arch-enemy and also a master of archery. Merlyn was affiliated with the Injustice Society and the League of Assassins. No word on if the character in the television pilot will become the super villain. 

  Stephen Amell is playing Oliver Queen, Katie Cassidy is playing Dinah Laurel Lance – an attorney and not Black Canary.

X-Factor and Seattle’s Dead Heroes

X-Factor #235 courtesy Marvel

  Someone is killing Seattle’s super heroes and X-Factor Investigations is on the case.

  In Marvel’s May solicits for X-Factor #235 a new villain called Scattershot debuts and Shatterstar goes berserk! This new bad guy sure looks like a hybrid of two mutants – maybe a Super Skrull is at work?

  Here’s the link about the new Seattle heroes debuting in X-Factor #234, the story about real self-proclaimed super heroes and more reasons why the hometown of Comics Blend is so comic book cool!

X-Men Vs. Vampires Updated: That’s Why Jubilee Is a Vamp!

 

X-Men #25 courtesy Marvel

 

  You may have read my post in favor of Victor Gischler’s radical transformation of Jubilee in his X-Men series. The young mutant who was Wolverine’s spunky sidekick with fireworks generation powers is now a creature of darkness. In a new interview with Comic Book Resources, Gischler reveals who was behind the decision to turn Jubilee into a vampire.

  “The initial idea to turn her vamp came from the big brains in the X-office. I jumped on the idea and ran with it. Jubilee was a big part of the “Curse of the Mutants” arc. Jubilee had been de-powered and it was not only a cool plot point to turn her vamp but also an exciting way to get her more actively in the mix again.”

  If you haven’t been following Jubilee was turned into a vampire in X-Men #1: Curse of the Mutants. Jubilee disappeared from the team’s last mission and ended up with a unique vampire clan calling themselves the Forgiven. Gishcler talks about the long mutant/vampire history that led to his ongoing epic.

  “I was sent a huge PDF file of all Marvel vamp lore when I started designing the different vampire sects for “Death of Dracula.” I started with ideas that were already there and sort of formalized and expanded them. Dracula, the sects and The Forgiven are now players in the Marvel U and we’ve already seen them make cool appearances in other books. They’ll continue to crop up now and then.”

  Gischler says Storm will stay team leader but expect roster changes for the team. Will Jubilee stay if she can learn to control her vampire urges or will she join Logan at the School?

For his entire interview here’s the link.

Daredevil’s New Artist and Time for Lovin’

Daredevil #12 courtesy Marvel.com

  Artist Chris Samnee (Ultimate Spider Man) will join Mark Waid on the acclaimed Daredevil with issue 12. Marvel revealed the news today along with this racy Paulo Rivera cover and news that Matt Murdock will make time for assistant district attorney Kirsten McDuffie. It may be lawyers in love this May but somebody should warn Kirsten about Matt’s not so stellar track record with romance.

X-Men Vs. Skrulls II

 

X-Men #29 courtesy Marvel.com

  Does the impeding Avengers Vs. X-Men epic have you longing for events past? X-Men #29 is just what the event addict ordered. In Marvel’s May solicit for the issue by Victor Gischler and Will Conrad, relive Secret Invasion when the Skrulls conquered Earth.

  In X-Men #29 a team of the shapeshifters infiltrates the X-Men. Pixie is taken hostage “or did she go by choice?”

I loved all of Secret Invasion especially the X-Men limited series. I wouldn’t mind some more Skrull-crushing!

 

Amazing Spider-Man Gets Gritty

Spider-Man courtesy theamazingspiderman.com

  Amazing Spider-Man is a darker take on the web slinger but just how dark? Andrew Garfield who plays Peter Parker compared the reboot to The Dark Knight in a new Empire magazine interview.

  “We haven’t gone for gritty, we’ve gone for grounded,” Garfield told Empire. “If we try and make Batman, we’ll fail. The new Batman is it’s own thing – and also in terms of tone, Spider-Man is nothing like that character. Spider-Man is witty, Spider-Man is a kid, Spider-Man wants to have fun, he’s a teenager and he needs to go through first love and piss around.”

Thanks to Spinoff Online and Comic Book Movie for posting the Empire story.

New Creators Coming to Emerald City Comicon

Emerald City Comicon has an impressive lineup of stars and creators for this year’s big event. My hometown con just announced even more new guests coming March 30th-April 1st.

Stefano Gaudiano & Brian Thies  Stefano Gaudiano is best known for his work on various Marvel titles, including The Punisher, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger – The Battle of Tull and Secret Avengers, plus Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Gotham Central, Spider-Man: Grim Hunt. Brian Thies is an art assistant at Marvel Comics.

 Eric Canete is on the New 52 Superboy.  Canete’s other work includes Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin, The Amazing Spider-Man, The End League, Drink and Draw Social Club, Dr. Horrible, New Avengers: Luke Cage, Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men, Fear Itself: The Worthy, Fear Agent.

 

Amy Mebberson Artist known for Strawberry Shortcake, Richie Rich, Dorothy of Oz, Monsters Inc., Muppet Show Comic Book and Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life starring the current Doctor.

 

Joe Quinones This artist impressive work includes Star Wars: Knight Errant-Deluge, Thunderbolts, Captain America: Who Won’t Wield the Shield?, Adventure Comics, Black Widow, Origins of Marvel Comics, The Amazing Spider-Man, Joker’s Asylum II: Harley Quinn, Star Wars: Knight Errant, and Mass Effect: Evolution.

James Silvani The writer/artist of Darkwing Duck plus artist of Muppet King Arthur, Richie Rich: Rich Rescue, Chip ‘N’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Muppet Snow White and Uncle Scrooge.

 

Peter Steigerwald Colorist for Aspen titles: Lady Mechanika, Executive Assistant Iris, Soulfire, The Scourge, Fathom: Blue Descent, Haunted City and Michael Turner’s Fathom. His other work includes Ultimate X, Batman: The Dark Knight, Fantastic Four, Justice League International and Uncanny X-Force.

 

Astonishing GLBT X-Men In Action

Astonishing X-Men #50 courtesy Marvel.com

  Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins are the new team on Astonishing X-Men. The lineup includes Wolverine, Iceman, Gambit, Warbird, Karma and Northstar. With the cancellation of Alpha Flight I had hoped Marvel would bring Jean Paul back to the X-Men. Northstar is at the Jean Grey School and he’s continuing his relationship with boyfriend Kyle.

  I call Astonishing X-Men the title to watch for next year’s GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Comic Book. In the solicit for May’s issue Liu is keeping Karma and Northstar pivotal to the first arc.

  The mutant with mind possession power is losing control over her own. How will the X-Men stop Karma from taking control over her teammates. Northstar’s boyfriend Kyle is in danger. Will Jean Paul be forced to choose between him or his team. Plus Marvel promises that his issue’s ending will “be the most talked about moment of the year!”