Astonishing Changes for Astonishing X-Men!

Astonishing X-Men #48 cover courtesy Marvel.com

  Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins are the next creative team on Astonishing X-Men starting with issue #48. Marvel announced the changes today in their Next Big Thing presser. This will be Liu’s first official team book. The lineup is Wolverine, Warbird, Northstar, Gambit, Iceman, Cecelia Reyes and Karma.

“We’ve got Northstar moving back to New York and he’s going to be living with his boyfriend, Kyle,” Liu said. “Another side of it, we’ve got characters like Cecelia and Gambit circling each other and [Gambit] moving into his own apartment in Westchester.”

 Liu’s first issue will settle in the team and introduce the villains, the Marauders. Liu has added the Vanisher and Chimera to the Marauders, but did not comment on the rest of the current team line-up. The Marauders were last seen in Messiah Complex. Chimera was part of the Sisterhood of Evil Mutants. Vanisher was a uwilling member of X-Force. The Marauders have always worked for Mister Sinister but Liu confirmed Sinister will not be part of this storyline. No word on who is pulling the strings on this incarnation of the mutant mercenaries.

I’m excited to see Northstar back with the X-Men. You may have read my post on why Jean Paul should join Logan’s school. Seeing Cecilia and Karma on board is a thrill too. Warbird is a Shiar bodyguard to Kid Gladiator who just joined the Jean Grey School in Wolverine and the X-Men.

I’m a huge fan of Liu’s previous work on NYX: No Way Home, X-23 and Daken: Dark Wolverine and I’m eager to read what she will do with a larger cast in a new corner of the X-Men universe.

Black Widow Solo Movie?

Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner on sete in The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com

  Scarlett Johansson returns as Black Widow in The Avengers movie in May, 2012 and says she’s ready to go back in black for a solo movie.

  “I love playing the Widow. I think she’s got a very interesting past, a lot of storylines to explore, and certainly Kevin (Feige) loves that character,” she told us when asked about a possible spin-off.  “I think that Marvel has a very personal relationship with their fans, and I think if the fans want it, and the audience wants it, nothing’s impossible. I would love to explore that option as well. Like I said, I love the character and it would be nice to see something nice and gritty” Johansson told SuperHeroHype.

Black Widow: Deadly Origin cover courtesy Marvel.com

  Black Widow is a KGB assassin turned SHIELD operative and quickly became Nick Fury’s top field agent. Natasha has been with the Avengers, Champions, Defenders, Thunderbolts and Secret Avengers – that resume alone makes her character worthy of solo screen time.

  Natasha has quite a love life with romantic partnerships with Iron Man, Hawkeye, Daredevil and Bucky Barnes (the former Captain America and Winter Soldier.)

  A possible enemy for a Black Widow solo movie would be Yelena Belova – the second Black Widow. Yelena followed the same path as Natasha until an attack left her disfigured. She was then recruited by the modern day Hydra (Red Skull’s criminal group from the Captain America movie) and given super powers.

Black Widow and The Winter Soldier from the cover of Captain America and Bucky #624 courtesy Marvel.com

  No word on if Scarlett Johansson will appear in Iron Man 3. I’m hoping Captain America 2 will be set in the modern day and be based on the Winter Soldier epic which prominently features Black Widow working with Steve Rogers and eventually falling for the back from the dead Bucky. Natasha and Bucky have the best chemistry. Both are deadly, hot and thankfully good guys now.

What do you think? Black Widow solo? Black Widow in Iron Man 3 or Captain America 2?

Tom Hardy Warrior

  If you want a preview of just how menacing and muscled up Tom Hardy will be as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises you should see Warrior. Hardy and Joel Edgerton play estranged brothers trained to be mixed martial arts fighters by the father.  Alcoholism, divorce, and years of bad blood have driven the three men apart. Both brothers enter a multi million dollar tournament where the eventually fight each other and confront their past. Edgerton is a retired fighter hoping to win to give his family a better life. Hardy is a Marine haunted by what happened during war and driven by a promise he must keep to a fellow Marine.

  Tom Hardy looks like a hulking, stalking beast in the ring and his dead focus on his opponents is frightening. His character, Tommy, looks inhuman and I couldn’t help but imagine the Bane costume around him at times. Tommy is cold, cruel and efficient in the ring and emotionally raw when he’s out of it.

  It’s one of my favorite movies of 2011. It would easy but not quite accurate to call this the “Rocky” or MMA. It’s raw in the brutal confrontations in and out of the ring. You’ll feel it in the gut, you might cry and you will cheer.

  If you missed the Lionsgate movie in theaters, Warrior is available to buy December 20th.

Dark Knight Broken!

The Dark Knight Rises teaser poster courtesy Warner Brothers

An ominous new poster for The Dark Knight Rises that may reveal a crucial plot point: Bane is walking away from a shattered Bat mask with the slogan: The Legend Ends.

The 6 minute IMAX prologue was screened to select critics earlier this week.  The prologue was an action packed opener featuring Tom Hardy as Bane much like the opening of The Dark Knight showcased the Joker.

Christopher Nolan told Empire this new film is set 8 year after The Dark Knight with Batman in a weaker state and “with Bane, we wanted to give Batman a challenge he hasn’t had before. With our choice of villain and our choice of story we’re testing Batman both physically as well as mentally.”

The one-two punch of the new poster and Twitter image make it seem like Nolan will follow the Knightfall storyline in which Bane breaks Batman’s spine and Bruce Wayne is forced to quit.    In comic book version there was Dick Grayson and Azrael (who temporarily took on the famous cape and cowl) were Bruce Wayne’s possible replacements. There’s no one in the cast list so could it be the Nolan will end the series with Batman broken?

One question still out there. Is Bane working for Ra’s Al Ghul? This film is said to come full circle with Batman Begins. Batman let his ex-mentor Ra’s Al Ghul/Henri Ducard played by Liam Neeson crash to his death in the first film. In the final film Liam Neeson is listed in the cast and actor Josh Pence is listed as playing a younger version but is this in flashback or in the present? In the comics Ra’s Al Ghul resurrects himself via Lazarus Pits hidden around the globe. And I still wonder about my contention that Marion Cotillard could be playing Talia Al Ghul and she is the secret mastermind and Bane her enforcer.

The new poster is courtesy  TheDarkKnightRises.com.

New Comic From Walking Dead, Terminator Producer

Let me just say it: Gale Anne Hurd is The Goddess of Action, Sci Fi and Coolness! Her producing resume includes The Terminator 1, 2 and 3, Aliens, The Abyss, The Walking Dead television series and so many more.

So when Gale Anne Hurd is behind a new comic book – reserve my copy! Hurd is teaming up with writer Peter Calloway and artist Brian Steelfreeze to create ANTI from 12 Gauge Comics. ANTI is a brand new four issue series. From the interview it reminds me of the series, Supernatural. Two best friends, one finds out he’s the savior of the world. A preview issue will be 12 Gauge Comics offering for Free Comic Book Day in 2012.

You can read her interview in this exclusive Comic Book Resources interview.

 

STAR WARS Comics

Star Wars: Art: Comics courtesy Abrams Books  Star Wars was the first movie I saw in a movie theater. I’ve never been the same since! Maybe that’s why I can forgive George Lucas for anyway he wants to evolve his movies. I had the landspeeder, droid factory, an army of action figures and comic books!

  Marvel Comics published the first Star Wars comics then Dark Horse Comics was the force behind new series set before, during and after the 6 movie chapters. There’s a beautiful new book I’ve been tempted to buy for myself (it would make a great gift) from Abrams Books.

Star Wars cover art from Marvel Comics

Star Wars: Art: Comics celebrates the marriage of the beloved film franchise and the graphic art of comics. Inside you’ll find comic strips and book art from previous series and new commissions from some of the biggest names in the industry. All the art was selected and curated by George Lucas who gave Comic Book Resources this preview, which includes interviews with the artists on the new commissions about their Star Wars inspirations.

From Star Wars: Art: Comics by Arthur Adams, courtesy Abrams Books

I wanted to share one of the most eye-catching selections by one of my all time favorite creators. Arthur Adams (one of my favorite X-Men artists) knows how to draw hot babes and ugly monsters so it’s fitting Adams brings Leia’s metal bikini wearing hotness and Jabba the Hutt’s throne room to graphic life.

The Dark Knight Rises Prologue Revealed!

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

First up I’m not going to give it away – I aim to be spoiler free on this site but I want you to know that the The Dark Knight Rises 6 minute IMAX prologue general details are out!

 It was screened to a select group of Los Angeles press last night. Shot for shot relays are not allowed but general descriptions are. If you want a summary with spoilers I recommend Dark Horizons, one of my all time favorite movie sites I’ve been following long before I was a blogger.

Here’s what I will say:

 

Courtesy Empire Magazine

 

 

The prologue will focus on Bane in a thrilling action sequence much like The Dark Knight prologue featured the Joker.

It will have the feel of a pre-action sequence like in the pre-reboot James Bond movies. 

The action appears ties in with the fake CIA Bulletin about a missing scientist posted yesterday that some say is part of the viral marketing campaign.

See you at IMAX for MI4!

 

FREE Comic Book Day Highlights

 

Star Wars Free Comic Book Day 2012 Cover courtesy Dark Horse Comics

Diamond Comics released the full list of titles for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY May 5, 2012. From super heroes to kid shows and EVERY genre in between, there’s something for every comic book fan. Not to diss any of the superhero books that I love but I wanted to highlight some other genres. These are great reasons to get your friends who are not usual readers into the shop next FCBD and support our shops and creators.

For the sci-fi fan: Dark Horse offers a Star Wars/Serenity flip book! Two tales in one featuring A Han Solo/Chewbacca adventure plus a Mal Reynolds tales for the Browncoats!

I freakin’ LOVE anything related to DUNE (yes, even all those endless prequel novels) and BOOM! Studios presents DUNE: ORIGINS.

Dune Origins Free Comic Book Day 2012 courtesy Boom! Studios

IDW brings the Transformers back to comic books after a petition from thousands of fans. This new issue picks up where the previous series left off.

For the kids: Yo Gabba Gabba from Oni Press, Peanuts from Boom!Studios 

DC Comics is offering a Justice League, Marvel is featuring the Avengers in their FCBD title. Dark Horse is offering a Buffy, the Vampire Slayer/The Guild flip book. The Smurfs, Tinkerbell, Donald Duck and even My Favorite Martian will appear in FREE titles next month for the eleventh year of FCBD.

Burt Ward, Boy Wonder courtesy BlueWater Productions

And something fun that brings up a childhood memory: Bluewater Productions presents Burt Ward: Boy Wonder, the further adventures of the actor who starred with Adam West on the old television series. When I was a kid dad took me to our local Chevy dealership to meet Robin (Burt Ward) and get his autograph and a young geek’s dream fulfilled!

  See you in the shops May 5, 2012.