Which Side Will Beast Choose: Avengers Versus X-Men?

 

The evolving looks of Beast on Secret Avengers #13 courtesy Marvel.com

“Oh My Stars and Garters!” which side will Beast take in Avengers Versus X-Men? Marvel’s hairy hero shares a history with both teams. Hank McCoy is a brilliant scientist but he often goes with his heart over his head when it comes to a fateful decision.

  Hank is one of Professor X’s original X-Men. After leaving Xavier’s Hank worked for the Brand Corporation where an experiment turned him into the blue hairy beast he is now. The Avengers recruited Hank where he made lifelong friendships with Captain America, Iron Man and other iconic Avengers. Hank always came to help the X-Men in their time of need like the Dark Phoenix Saga but always returned to the Avengers.

  Because of government intervention of the Avengers, Beast leaves, briefly joins the Defenders along with original X-Men Angel and Iceman. When Jean Grey is found alive, all 5 original X-Men reunite to form X-Factor for a long run of adventures.

Beast leaves Utopia from Uncanny X-Men courtesy Marvel.com

  All 5 rejoin the X-Men for many years. Beast used his brains and brawn to help protect the mutant race while facing several ethical dilemmas. Shortly after establishing Utopia, Hank became disillusioned with Cyclops leadership and vision for the X-Men.

  Captain America recruited Hank for the Secret Avengers but when Wolverine decides to split the X-Men, Hank answers his call for help. Hank rebuilds the old Westchester school now named after Jean Grey.

  Wolverine and Storm are members of both X-Men and Avengers. Beast is back with the Logan’s X-Men but could he go against Captain America and his old friends in the Avengers?

  As the Phoenix targets Earth looking for a host, I expect Hank push himself to find a scientific solution even if it means exploring unethical options. Hank has been tested so many times: trying to find a cure for the Legacy Virus knowing that a mutant would have to die in order to save millions or reaching out criminal geniuses like Doctor Doom and Mr. Sinister in order to save the mutant race from extinction after M-Day.

New X-Men #117 courtesy Marvel.com

  I think Beast will try to be the peacemaker. Hank is a natural bridge between the teams. A shocking decision related to the impending return of the Phoenix is what triggers the war. Cyclops is willing to make more drastic decisions and sacrifices than Captain America. Hank’s disillusionment with Scott has only grown so I would expect him to side with the Avengers. I expect Marvel’s most brilliant yet thoughtful scientist hero to be tested to his limit in AVX.

Raising Hellcat!

It’s time for Hellcat to prowl again!

The Defenders are back in action and on front line of the Marvel Universe. A new series debuted this week by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson. Doctor Strange recruited Red She Hulk, Namor, Iron Fist and Silver Surfer for this latest incarnation of the ‘non-team’ team to face the supernatural threats unleashed by the events of Fear Itself storyline.

Ed Brubaker brought ex-Defender Valkyrie back for his Secret Avengers run. The Norse warrior woman is now starring in The Fearless racing against Sin and her own teammates to recover the mystical hammers summoned to Earth by The Serpent during Fear Itself. 

  This Defenders comeback is making me long for the return of their sexy former teammate, Hellcat.

  Patsy Walker was a child actress/model and star of a comic book within a comic book. She dreamed of being a real superhero. A chance meeting with Beast led to her becoming a costumed hero. Patsy joined the Avengers, the Defenders, went to Hell and married a devilish husband, Son of Satan. Pasty was last seen as part of the limited series Marvel Divas.

  I always love her adventures with Valkyrie. The sexy cat and steely warrior woman were a great female duo during their Defenders run and I’m hoping Hellcat gets to use one of her nine lives in a new series or make an appearance in the new Defenders or The Fearless series. Now that the Defenders are back “in” it’s time to raise a little Hellcat!

  Check out her Marvel.com bio for more on the history of Patsy Walker.

By Editor

In Defense of the Defenders 2

Defenders #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  Hookups, zero-g kung fu, and doing shots with a red-hot mama. Matt Fraction brings the action, humor and creepy twists in Defenders #1.

  Earlier this week I raised the question of why another reboot of the Defenders and a little back story of Marvel’s oddest team. I assumed Doctor Strange brings this odd mix of loner heroes together but I was wrong. I won’t spoil who is behind the team building.    

  Knowing their history (even though you don’t have to) and the new specific mission you quickly realize why these outsiders are perfect for the latest version of Marvel’s non-team.

  Fraction captures each character and blends them up in a fun mix. Terry Dodson’s art is bold with strong expressions that will convey the enthusiasm and fun Fraction is pouring into the story.

 

In Defense of The Defenders

Defenders #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  If at first you don’t succeed, relaunch with a hot creative team after a huge crossover event. Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson made mutant magic on Uncanny X-Men. Fraction’s Fear Itself epic unleashed supernatural forces on earth courtesy of The Serpent.

  Now Doctor Strange recruits a new team to face threats unleashed by the Asgardian God of Fear . Namor the Submariner, Red She Hulk, Iron Fist and Silver Surfer join the Doctor’s mission against mystical monsters threatening the planet.

  When you’ve got teams of Avengers and the X-Men plus the Fantastic Four, why does the world need The Defenders? I’ve always been puzzled why the “non-team” keeps getting reboots. 

  Fraction joins a fraternity of writers including Roy Thomas, David Anthony Kraft, Steve Gerber, Kurt Busiek, Keith Giffen and Joe Casey that have crafted the adventures of a team of outsider/lone wolf types.

  Doctor Strange, Hulk and Namor are the most iconic members that have appeared in most versions of the series. My favorites have always been Valkyrie and Hellcat. The steely noble warrior woman and the sexy crimefighter were odd couple that worked great together.

Defenders #63 courtesy Marvel.com

  My earliest memory of The Defenders is their most outrageous storylines. You could say Kraft’s Defender for a Day was ahead of its time. Long before reality shows took over television, this story showed how slick producers and wannabes could exploit and tarnish the most heroic ideas.

  In Defenders #62-#65 a promoter exposes the team to the world and announces a membership drive and videotapes the whole thing for a documentary. Some of the lamest back burner characters and villains invaded the Defenders home hoping to join the team. It was great fun with hilarious moments especially from the Hulk. The story is infamous now but as a little kid I loved seeing so many costumed characters all packed into one issue. And if Captain Ultra has a shot maybe I could be a Defender?

Does the world really need another variation of the Defenders? Maybe not. But with this creative team and membership it’s definitely worth finding out.

By Editor

Flash Enemy Shows Off The Guns in New Design

Captain Cold preview design courtesy The Source, DC Comics

  The Flash’s Rogues Gallery is a collection of the most iconic evil in the DC Universe. No one is colder than the Captain!

  Artists Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellatto reveal their brand new design for the iconic villain. The new series has only shown brief glimpses of the icy killer but in Flash #7 Captain Cold is back with a vengeance leading the Rogues.

  DC Comics Blog The Source provided the design preview. What do you think of the muscled up, showing some skin version of the classic villain?

Daniel Craig on SKYFALL Director

AP Photo/Joel Ryan. Daniel Craig and the new Bond girls.

Daniel Craig reveals his bigger behind the scenes role in the new 007 film Skyfall because of his experience on the last film Quantum of Solace to Time Out London.

Daniel Craig says he pushed for Sam Mendes as director of the next James Bond film.

“He’s English. He’s Cambridge educated, he’s smart. He’s lived with Bond his whole life. He grew up with Bond the way I did. I said to him, “We have to do this together, we have exactly the same reference points. We both like the same Bond movies. We both like the same bits in the same Bond movies we like.”

Craig referenced From Russia, With Love and Live and Let Die as films he talked about with Mendes.

Daniel Craig talks about working with David Fincher on his new film, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in the exclusive interview with Time Out London.

By Editor

Avengers Versus X-Men Event Highlights

Avengers Versus X-Men courtesy Marvel.com

The Phoenix is coming. Marvel’s biggest teams are going to war. The men behind the event of 2012 took fan questions and delivered details and teases sure to generate excitement.

Marvel presented the Avengers Versus X-Men writing team (Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman) along with X-Men Editor Nick Lowe and Avengers Editor Tom Brevoort. 

Here are some of the rapid fire highlights. My thoughts follow in italic:

“Wolverine and Storm have to redefine themselves in the Marvel Universe.” Bendis. This could be an opportunity to rethink their decisions after Schism which could be sever or mend their friendship with Cyclops.

“New armor for Iron Man with a specific foe in mind.” Fraction. Could this be a suit that can take a beating from the Juggernaut powered Colossus or a stab from Wolverine’s adamantium?

Thor gets up to come big time cosmic colossal shenanigans. Fraction. Now that Colossus is nearly God like thanks to Cytorrak, he could be a match for Thor.

“Cyclops is willing to make more sacrifices than Steve Rogers.” Brubaker.

“A new reader friendly take on the Phoenix.” Aaron.

X-Sanction starring Cable is a prelude and leads up to AVX. “Specific events Cable has come back in time to prevent are connected to AVX. It’s the opening shot of AVX.” Brevoort. Cable will do anything to protect his daughter Hope. This could be a clue that Hope is the target host for the Phoenix Force.

AVX #0 is in March. The Prelude is brand new material. Not a recap. Art by Frank Cho. Bendis.

Black Panther and Storm’s marriage. “Storm’s allegiance is very much split down the middle. Her choice will be heard very loudly. A big one for Storm.” Bendis. Storm is my all time favorite female hero. I have an ominous feeling Bendis could sacrifice her. There’s a reason she joined Avengers.

“Storm joining the Avengers was a separate decision” not predicated on AVX. Bendis

“The end of Avengers: Children’s Crusade will set up and calibrate how the X-Men, Avengers and the world feels about Scarlet Witch.” Yesterday I posted my thoughts on a Dark Phoenix Versus Scarlet Witch battle.

Professor X stayed out of Schism. “He can’t just stand on the sidelines.” Aaron. I immediately thought of the classic psi war between Charles and Jean in the Dark Phoenix saga. Can the greatest mutant mind – if Professor X still is – take on the Phoenix and win if needed? Charles has stayed out of Cyclops way but this conflict could lead to a showdown between the Professor and Scott.

How will SHIELD be involved?  “There’s an opportunity for a lot of players in Marvel universe to pick new allegiances” Bendis hinted there could be a “potential reinvention” of a law enforcement group like SHIELD.

Those are some of the highlights, more to come!

 

bin Laden Raid – The Comic Book?

"For God and Country" courtesy Comic Book Resources, published by GQ

  A comic book based on the operation to kill Osama bin Laden?

  GQ is publishing a comic in their December issue described as an “illustrated account” of the U.S. Navy Seal raid on the terrorist leader’s compound.

  One of my favorite writers, Matt Fraction worked with artist Nathan Fox and colorist Jeromy Fox to create “For God and Country.” 

“The original editorial directive was to tell the story from OBL’s perspective but, aside from not caring to get inside the man’s head, the more I researched that night, the more in awe I became of the DEVGRU/Seal operators who performed the raid — and the more I decided their story demanded telling, too,” Fraction writes in one annotation.

  Matt Fraction is best known for his work on Uncanny X-Men, Thor, Invincible Iron Man, Fear Itself, The Defenders for Marvel Comics and his creator owned title Casanova.

Thanks to Robot 6 for this story and this image.