Valentine’s Day – Great Comic Book Gifts of Love

 

courtesy Fantagraphics

Young Romance: The Best of Simon and Kirby’s Romance Comics The men who created Captain America also created the romance comics genre! Fantagraphics collects all the love, schemes, heartbreaks and makeups of the classic comics of a bygone era.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga A woman, two men that love her and the most powerful destructive force in the universe. The tragic heroine Jean Grey fighting a losing battle to control the darkness within her. Cyclops and Wolverine were the two men who’d take on the universe to save her. This is the ultimate X-Men story and one of the most cosmic love stories in comics.

Astonishing X-Men Omnibus This is must pick for two great love stories. Scott Summers and Emma Frost. The stoic leader of the X-Men slowly fell for the ice-cold bad girl turned ally. Kitty Pryde and Peter Rasputin. Not even death could keep them apart. Colossus came back from the dead and finally had sex with his beloved “Katya.” This is Joss Whedon’s romantic, thrilling and game changing X-Men era in one huge collection with stunning art by John Cassady.

New Avengers Annual #1

Jessica Jones and Luke Cage Marvel’s coolest couple is former hero Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. Ex-superhero turned private investigator Jessica was introduced in the series Alias by Brian Michael Bendis. Former Hero for Hire Luke Cage was her love interest. When Bendis revamped the Avengers, Captain America recruited Luke and Jessica and their baby moved into Avengers HQ. The couple married in the beautiful New Avengers Annual #1. Luke has unbreakable skin but the tough guy went all soft and romantic for the troubled ex-heroine. AKA Jessica Jones based on Alias is in a television pilot stage and could become an ABC series. 

Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler this may be an odd choice but I love against all odds love stories. During Peter David’s classic run on The Incredible Hulk he eventually merged Bruce and the Hulk into one being. Rick was the Hulk’s sidekick. Marlo was the Hulk’s girlfriend in Las Vegas back when he was grey and a mob enforcer named Joe Fix-It. Marlo later became best friends with Betty Banner and fell in love with Rick. Not even death could keep them apart. After Marlo’s resurrection they couple were married in Incredible Hulk #418 in a sweet but hilarious cameo filled ceremony.

 

AVX The X-Men’s Wild Card

X-Men #190 courtesy Marvel

  Avengers Vs. X-Men is filled with characters who may switch sides due to conflicting alliances. Wolverine, Beast and Storm are on both teams but I believe they will stand with their fellow mutants. Is there a wild card on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

  I would love to see Mystique play a role in AVX? The shapeshifting villain always has her own agenda and has a track record of infiltrating teams anyone – hero, villain, ally – to execute her goal.

  During Mike Carey’s spectacular X-Men run Mystique was part of Rogue’s team only to betray them in Blinded by the Light and became Mister Siniser’s operative in Messiah Complex. Raven ultimately betrayed Sinister because of her own plot within a plot to save her foster daugher. Never underestimate the lengths Raven will take to protect Rogue.

X-Men Annual #1 courtesy Marvel

  Cyclops may recruit Mystique to infiltrate the Avengers. During Messiah Complex Scott and Wolverine assembled an X-Force black ops squad to kill the Purifiers. Would Cyclops make a deal with this she-devil? Raven could use her shapeshifting powers to get inside the Avengers and give the X-Men an edge.

 

New Bond Girl’s GQ Shoot

Berenice Marlohe courtesy MI6-HQ.com

  Details of the new James Bond girl in Skyfall are top secret but you will get a chance to see a lot more of the French actress who portrays her. Berenice Marlohe will be featured up February’s GQ magazine.

Thanks to MI6 for the tip and this alluring photo.

Space 2099

Space 2009 promo poster courtesy The Hollywood Reporter

  As a kid I loved (and often was frightened by) Space 1999. The Gerry and Sylvia Anderson British series will be reimagined by ITV Studios America and HDFilms as Space 2099 according to The Hollywood Reporter.

  The original series followed the crew of Moonbase Alpha. A nuclear waste accident blew the moon out of Earth’s orbit and across space. Commander Koenig and Dr. Helena Russell (real life married couple Martin Landau and Barbara Bain) and the crew encountered alien races and bizarre phenomenon over two seasons.

  My favorite character was Maya. Catherine Schell played the shapeshifting alien who joined the second season. The Princess from Psychon became the science officer and love interest for Tony (Tony Anholt) the head of security.

  My favorite alien monsters (they gave me nightmares as a kid) are in the two parter The Bringers of Wonder. The Alphan saw them as human visitors but Koening and Maya could see the truth. I describe the aliens as a cross between Sigmund the Sea Monster and a pile of Garbage covered with strips of raw bacon.

  Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, David Prowse, Brian Blessed and Sarah Douglas were among the notable science fiction genre stars who played guest roles in the series.

 I’m pretty excited about this reboot news. I always hoped a publisher would create a comic book tie-in to go with my Eagle spaceship toy. Thanks to Dark Horizons for the story. I got so excited I searched for the season two opener with the cool theme song. Check it out and dig the 70’s Sci Fi groove:

AVX Vs. #2 Slugfest

Vs. #2 courtesy Marvel

  Salvador Larroca is one of my favorite creators. The Spanish artist’s style has evolved over several X-Men titles, Invincible Iron Man and does any recall the short lived but beautiful New Universal?

 Marvel gave Comic Book Resources several AVX preview covers. This is one of my favorites. Spidey faced a Cyttorak powered foe before in the classic Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut. Looks like Peter Parker will have to fight Colossal Juggernaut now that the X-Man can summon the power of the Cyttorak.

  Captain America and Gambit are clashing on the cover too. It’s tough to root for one over the other: the boy scout against the bad boy. Gambit’s luck may have run out on this fight.

 AVX: VS. #2 is by Kieron Gillen with art by Larroca and Steve McNiven.

The Walking Dead Boss Says Rick Vs. Shane Is On!

The Walking Dead promo art courtesy AMC

  Team Rick or Team Shane? Whose side are you on? The Walking Dead returns Sunday, February 12th with the best friends on opposite sides. Rick is questioning his leadership. Shane is sinking deeper into the dark side. Does Shane deserve a chance at redemption or should he deserve a fate like or worse than Otis?

 

 

 

Warning: This Quote Reveals The Mid-Season Finale:

 

Spoiler Alert:

 

Seriously here it comes:

 

 

  “That rivalry is certainly at the heart of the show,” producer Glen Mazzara tells MSNBC’s The Clicker. “Certain people feel Shane was right to break open the barn, but Rick’s the one who stepped forward and put down Sophia. You have these two alpha males sparring for position and we get a lot of great story out of that.”

 For more of the interview including what Mazzarra says to expect from Sophia’s mother click here.

Gary Oldman on Michael Caine in “The Dark Knight Rises”

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

  Gary Oldman is a stunning actor to watch. From his brooding Dracula to insidious but outrageous Zorg in The Fifth Element to good cop Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, Oldman is a true artist. Who impresses him?

 Gary Oldman discusses Michael Caine’s work in the final Batman film and gives a hint at a critical scene in The Dark Knight Rises in a new interview with Collider.

  “There’s an emotional scene coming up in the next Batman, which I am obviously, absolutely sworn to secrecy about… They would kill me.  Well, I’d do the press junket and then they’d kill me.”  

 “Watching Michael Caine work, as Alfred, was a great lesson for me.  Just focus, concentration.  He has this emotional scene.  I’m kidding you not.  It was tears and the whole thing.  And it’s ‘Take 1.’  (Oldman snaps his fingers) He got it.  ‘Take 2′ (snaps his fingers again), Got it.  Take 3 (snaps his fingers) Got it.  He’s just on the money.  Every single time.  It’s just extraordinary… You get inspired by it.”  He adds that Caine “loves cricket.  He loves soccer.  So, he comes to the set and (he) wants to get it done.  He doesn’t fuck around because he wants to get back to cricket.”  He even gave a little Caine impersonation, “I’ve got to get back.”

  You can find the entire interview here. The story is a must for Gary Oldman fans with insight on his many roles.

Daniel Craig, Judi Dench Film “Skyfall” Scenes In Scotland

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

  The stunning Daniel Craig and regal Dame Judi Dench were in stunning Glencoe, Scotland for one day of filming.

  Cast and crew are scheduled to film at Duntrune Castle, Scotland. Speculation is this is the location for the film’s finale and the villain’s lair.

  In Ian Fleming’s novels, James Bond’s father is from Glencoe, Scotland.

  For more photos here’s the link on MI6.com.

Judi Dench and Daniel Craig on the set of Skyfall courtesy MI6-HQ-com