Marvel started spinning a web of intrigue sure to get fans guessing! This minimalist image with the message Spider-Men, June 2012.
Here’s what we know:
Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Spidey’s The Ends of the Earth storyline ends in March. Spider-Man will fight with the Avengers in Avengers Versus X-Men – or will he switch sides? Peter is also a member of the Future Foundation. Clone Ben Reilly is in a new series The Scarlet Spider. Peter Parker is dead in the Ultimate Universe but Miles Morales wears the suit and stars in the title.
AvX image courtesy Marvel.com
What if Marvel is spinning an army of Spider-Men in multiple locations like Batman Incorporated? I was inspired by this photo of Broadway’s Spider-Man for that theory.
Oh yes they are going there. To the excitment or hate of some fans – DC Comics is daring to go back into the world of Watchmen. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons classic series changed the concept of comic book heroes. To some purists – this move is heresy – their version of doomsday. To an all-star lineup of writers and artists it’s the challenge of playing in a world that’s the holy grail of comics created by the legendary Moore and Gibbons.
As I digested the news I kept thinking of the Dune series. Frank Herbert’s original novels are revered as groundbreaking, influential classics of science fiction. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson, using his late father’s notes, have created multiple new books set in the Dune universe. I love them all. The original novels have a deeper meaning and impact. I still enjoy all the new novels set before, during and after the original books. It’s like pieces of puzzle seeing how characters, worlds and themes are built.
Courtesy DC Comics
I have to admire the creators of Before Watchmen. To attempt to get into the heads of Alan Moore’s creations is a huge challenge, professional risk, and irrestible opportunity. I really commend Brian Azzarello for daring to go into Rorschach’s mind!
How do you follow-up the biggest selling graphic novel of all time? DC Entertainment is lining up an all-star cast of creators for new stories expanding on the acclaimed WATCHMEN universe. BEFORE WATCHMEN will be seven inter-connected prequel mini-series building on the foundation of the groundbreaking graphic novel. The move is highly anticipated by fans but controversial.
“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”
Courtesy DC Comics
Here’s are the creative teams for each character:
RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
A new issue will be released each week featuring a two-page back-up story called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR, written by original Watchmen editor Len Wein with art by original series colorist John Higgins.
There will also be BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a CRIMSON CORSAIR story by Wein and Higgins.
“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.
Courtesy DC Comics
“Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction,” said DiDio and Lee. “Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant.”
The first official photo from the set of the next James Bond movie Skyfall was revealed today. It shows a bearded Daniel Craig armed with his Walther in Shanghai.
This scene was filmed at the famed Pinewood Studios, England back in November. You may have seen the unofficial photo of Craig in a swimsuit in a rooftop hotel pool.
Avengers Children's Crusade #7 by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com
The actresses who played The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo have cast a spell on this comic book geek. I keep picturing both stars as Marvel’s tragic mutant heroine – Scarlet Witch aka Wanda Maximoff.
Noomi Rapace starred in the Swedish films based on the Millenium Trilogy. Rooney Mara is playing Lisabeth Salander is the American version directed by David Fincher opposite Daniel Craig.
Both actresses are stunning on-screen in appearance and their riveting performances.
An actress who can portray Lisabeth Salander could certainly play Magneto’s tragic daughter who became an Avenger. A fragile woman with such destructive power looming under the surface.
Rapace would be perfect as an adult Scarlet Witch in an Avengers sequel. The idea first came to me after seeing Rapace play a gypsy in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Wanda and Pietro Maximoff were raised by a European gypsy family.
With news that Director Matthew Vaughn and the cast have signed on for a sequel to X-Men: First Class my thoughts turn to a younger Wanda – when she was in Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants. I can’t get the idea of Mara as a younger Wanda in an X-Men: First Class sequel. Producers would have to make Michael Fassbender appear older since he would be playing her father.
AvX #0 art by Frank Cho courtesy Marvel.com
Fans’ feelings about the Scarlet Witch may change after the outcome of Avengers Versus X-Men. Wanda’s sons are trying to redeem her in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade but she could give in to her dark side and dark chaos magic again in AVX.
Taylor Kitsch as John Carter AP Photo Frank Connor courtesy Disney Enterprises
Stars of Kick Ass, Green Lantern and X-Men Origins: Wolverine in the same movie? Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively and Taylor Kitsch star in Oliver Stone’s Savages.
The R rated film is based on the book by Don Winslow. The story involves two pot growers who share the same girlfriend. She is kidnapped by a Mexican cartel.
Today Universal moved up the release date to July 6th according to The Hollywood Reporter. The studio moved it up to compete against The Amazing Spider-Man after a test screening last week. The story goes on to say the film had a hard R rating and along the lines of Pulp Fiction.
This is one of three big movies for the Kitsch. John Carter arrives next month and Battleship in May.
The web of rumors have been cut and fanboy dreams dashed. Director Joss Whedon denied Spider-Man will not have a cameo in Marvel’s The Avengers in today’s Twitter session.
Has the CW Network hit a bullseye with actor Stephen Amell? The actor will play DC’s playboy/vigilante Oliver Queen in the pilot Arrow according to Deadline. The actor was recently on The Vampire Diaries, New Girl, Private Practice and has appeared on 90210, Blue Mountain State, Dante’s Cove, and the television movie Justice for Natalee Holloway.
On HBO’s Hung Amell played a rival prostitute and was a finalist to replace the late Andy Whitfield on Starz Spartacus: Vengeance.
According to Comic Book Resources Dinah Laurel Lance will appear in the pilot as a crusading lawyer. No word on if the character will have the same DC Comics alter ego, Black Canary.
