Captain America and Cyclops in AVX Variant

Avengers Versus X-Men #1 variant courtesy Marvel.com

  Fists are flying in the latest AVX reveal from Marvel. Ryan Stegman created this Avengers Versus X-Men #1 variant showing the two team leaders in battle.

  This is the press release with the image – which includes a big clue*:

  “This April, the biggest names in the industry pit the largest super hero franchises against one another for the biggest war in comics history in Avengers Vs. X-Men! To celebrate this blockbuster event, Marvel has your first look at the Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 Stegman Variant by red-hot artist Ryan Stegman! The Phoenix Force is headed towards Earth and Captain America is determined to prevent the destruction of the whole world by stopping it. But when word gets to the X-Men that the Phoenix is returning, Cyclops will do anything he can to save it…including going up against Earth’s Mightiest! But who is right? Will mutantkind be saved or will the world be annihilated? Don’t miss out on all the action in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!”

AvX #1 cover by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com

   When AVX was unveiled we learned that “a shocking decision related to the return of the Phoenix Force” is what triggers the conflict.

  *I could be wrong but isn’t this the first time we’ve been told that Captain America is determined to stop it and Cyclops will do anything to save it? Scott has demonstrated he’s willing to make sacrifices and take drastic steps to protect his fellow mutants so could this mean the Phoenix is targetting Hope?

 

Wolverine the AVX Peacemaker?

New Avengers #24 courtesy Marvel.com

  Wolverine – the peacemaker? Marvel reveals a gripping image of the X-Man/Avenger caught in the middle of his leaders. Logan is seen reaching out as Cyclops and Captain America fight on the cover of New Avengers #24 a tie-in to the Avengers Versus X-Men Event debuting April.

The official press release:

“This April, as the flames of war are stoked by the impending arrival of the Phoenix Force, the New Avengers have received the call to arms by Captain America to go to war against the X-Men. Except where does the loyalty of Wolverine lie? Find out in New Avengers #24 from the blockbuster creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato!”

On the cover of Avengers Versus X-Men #1 Wolverine is shown fighting with the Avengers.

“Community” Cast as X-Men!

 

Community X by Aviv Or courtesy BuzzFeed

Now this really is the “All New, All Different X-Men!”

  I came across this clever depiction of the cast of the NBC comedy Community as the X-Men on BuzzFeed. Artist Aviv Or illustrated this excellent version of Greendale’s finest students as Marvel’s Merry Mutants! What do you think?

“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” Free Preview

 

Courtesy Vertigo and DC Comics The Source

  The bestselling book turned motion picture is coming to comic book stores. Today DC Comics The Source announced THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Special Edition Preview.

  This will be a free advance look at the Vertigo graphic novel adaptation of the international best-selling thriller. The adaptation is scheduled for November 2012 and features the acclaimed team of writer Denise Mina, artists Leonardo Manco and Andrea Mutti and cover artist Lee Bermejo. This Special Edition Preview is scheduled for April 18.

Secret Avengers Face Ultravisions!

Secret Avengers #24 by Arthur Adams courtesy Marvel.com

  New creative team. New team leader. New members. New arc. New enemies from an old source. Marvel is releasing the Father Files this week to give fans an idea of what to expect when Rick Remender takes over Secret Avengers.

  Remender is revealing the secrets of The Descendants, evolved from the most famous robots and androids of the Marvel Universe. He is revealing to Marvel.com his notes as he prepares to take over the title with February’s Secret Avengers #22.

  Today Remender gave us a commentary on the Vision – the basis for the Ultravisions coming to threaten the team.

  “In terms of [the Ultravisions’] lineage, there are obviously connections to [original Human Torch] Jim Hammond, The Vision and Ultron,” Remender notes.

  “[Real-life scientist] Ray Kurzweil and his research and his theories on the singularity come into play with them the most. Their bodies are less important. The Vision’s body has always been important to him. The Ultravisions are more about consciousness and their consciousness can be saved on a computer the size of a molecule that can then be transferred to another body. They’re un-killable and highly evolved. A lot of my ideas come from what Ray Kurzweil thinks will happen when man bonds with robotics.” 

The Vision courtesy Marvel.com

 “Here’s a small taste of the Ultravisions’ abilities: Ultravisions can phase seconds forward into time and predict what you’re going to do using ‘Tachyon Fu,’ [and] a Vision and a Jocasta can bond/couple to form a bigger, way-more-powerful robot.”

  For more of Remender’s notes on the original Vision click here.

Nightwing Feels The Owls’ Talon

Nightwing #8 courtesy DC Comics The Source

  Nightwing is about to feel the claws of Batman’s new enemies in Nightwing #8. Can Dick Grayson protect the Mayor of Gotham City from the Council of Owls and the Talon?

  This issue leads into the Batman event Night of the Owls. The Source says the issue will have a back up story on the Talon who is hunting Batman. For more of today’s previews click here.

Batman Battles The Talon

Batman #6 courtesy DC Comics The Source

  The Court of Owls mystery helps make Scott Snyder’s Batman my favorite DC New 52 title. DC Comics recruited fan favorite Gary Frank for this variant cover to Batman #6 showing Batman battling the Talon, The Court of Owls enforcer.

Batman #5 is out tomorrow. DC’s The Source has this first look at Gary Frank’s variant cover to #6.

Top 5 for 1/18/12

Batman #5 courtesy DC Comics

  Batman #5

  Deep under Gotham City is the Council of Owls’ ultimate trap and Batman fell right into it. Batman versus the Talon in a deadly labyrinth.

  Steed and Mrs. Peel #1

  The Avengers (not Earth’s Mightiest Heroes but England’s most stylish spies) are back in a new story by comic book superstar Grant Morrison. John Steed and Emma Peel reunite when Tara King is kidnapped by a mystery organization. The dashing duo and their mashup of sci-fi, spy and crime stories made The Avengers one of the most iconic shows in television history.

Avengers #21

  X-Woman Storm is now an Avenger. The team needs every hero it can get against the combined forces of H.A.M.M.E.R. Hydra, The Hand and AIM under the leadership of Norman Osborn.

Avengers #21 courtesy Marvel Comics

  Prophet #21 

  Image Comics throws some indy cred into the fuel to make a 90’s sci-fi concept blast off again. In the far future mankind has devolved into primitives and become prey for alien invaders. John Prophet awakens from cryosleep to wake up and restart the human race. Brandon Graham and Simon Roy take their European sci-fi style on the 90’s Rob Liefeld creation. The Zanadu Comic Book Round Table chose this as the first book to discuss at the next gathering on February 8th – the geek counterpart to O’s book club!

  Generation Hope #15

  Mindwiped Sebastian Shaw’s rescue and return to Utopia triggers new splits and fires up old grudges among the X-Men. Emma Frost has some serious explaining to do. Can this old enemy really become a hero now that he’s a blank slate?