Happy New Year! Best of Comic Book Time

Age of Ultron #1 courtesy Marvel
Age of Ultron #1 courtesy Marvel

As we celebrate a new year it’s a perfect time to look back at the year in comic book stories with a time twist.

 

Age of Ultron

The bad guy (or should I say evil A.I.) wins! Age of Ultron shattered our senses with a new reality for our favorite Marvel heroes who survived the A.I. onslaught.

Brian Michael Bendis and an all-star roster of artists created a fast-moving, game-changing epic that inspired unique team-ups (Wolverine and Invisible Woman made an awesome duo) and reintroduced Hank Pym to the modern Marvel Universe. Continue reading Happy New Year! Best of Comic Book Time

GOBLIN NATION Spider-Man Preview

Superior Spider-Man #26 courtesy Marvel
Superior Spider-Man #26 courtesy Marvel

Ring in the new year with two of Spider-Man’s greatest enemies going head to head in Goblin Nation.

 

Marvel shared a first look at the cover and inside Superior Spider-Man #26 by Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos and Javier Rodriguez.

 

The Green Goblin is back but he doesn’t know that it’s Otto Octavius under the mask. Can Otto be superior to the Goblin? Continue reading GOBLIN NATION Spider-Man Preview

14 Geek Wishes for 2014 Movies & Television!

X-Men #183 courtesy Marvel
X-Men #183 courtesy Marvel

2014 will be superstar year for comic book and sci-fi fans with Marvel movies, a new Doctor Who, The Walking Dead returns and Godzilla’s comeback!

 

But a geek can dream – here’s what I hope to see or announced in 2014.

 

1. All New Cast for X-Men: Apocalypse!

Bryan Singer revealed he’s on board for 2016 film set to star the First Class cast. After the time twisting elements of X-Men: Days of Future Past – it’s  a perfect opportunity for Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) to start over and discover a young Cyclops, Jean, Storm and even the impossible task of recasting a wild loner named Logan!

 

Wolverine #11 courtesy Marvel
Wolverine #11 courtesy Marvel

2. Hugh Jackman in Wolverine and Kitty Pryde.

I know I’m countering my previous wish but if Hugh Jackman and director James Mangold return for a solo Wolverine movie I hope it’s based in part on this other classic tale by Chris Claremont set in Japan. Ellen Page as Kitty could join Jackman in this supernatural tale of family, honor and demons.

 

3. Daniel Craig returns as James Bond 007 in SPECTRE!

Don’t “Khan” it! Producers have the rights to bring back the classic S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and their sinister leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, back to the big screen for the first time since the Sean Connery era! I want to see Craig’s Bond kill and seduced his way up the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. food chain until a final showdown with the bald, bad criminal genius with a fondness for white kitties.

 

4. Fantastic Four teaser in X-Men: Days of Future Past!

I think Fox’s Marvel movie team (including Mark Millar) have a “Fantastic” teaser moment in the post-credits sequence for us! How about Dr. McCoy calling on a young Reed Richards in class or Logan and Ben Grimm sharing a brew?

 

The Massive #1 courtesy Dark Horse Comics
The Massive #1 courtesy Dark Horse Comics

5. The Massive will become a movie or television series!

Brad Pitt as sniper/professional soldier turned conservationist Callum Israel and executive producing a big-screen version of Brian Wood’s epic series of pacifist environmentalists now fighting for survival and searching for their sister ship in a post-apocalyptic world. With Naomi Campbell as Mary, Callum’s tough devoted lover and Dwayne Johnson as Mag, Callum’s fellow soldier turned activist.

 

 

6. Rian Johnson

The director of Looper should be up for any superhero movie he wants! How about Doctor Strange?

 

7. Lex Luthor in Superman vs. Batman!

Enough speculation – let’s have the charming but ruthless genius/C.E.O. manipulate the conflict between the DC titans but in a sequel having him fitted for a Lexcorp Battlesuit!

 

courtesy BBC and Facebook/DoctorWho
courtesy BBC and Facebook/DoctorWho

8. Doctor Who, Agent of ?

 

I’d like to see the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) forced to an agent of a greater power. I always enjoyed when the Time Lords forced the Third and Fourth Doctor to go on missions for them. My first Doctor Who arc was Tom Baker on a quest for The Key to Time by the White Guardian. The Time Lords forced Baker’s Who to investigate the Genesis of the Daleks. Capaldi reminds me of Jon Pertwee, who was a UNIT scientific adviser. I liked seeing the anti-authority rebel Doctor sometimes forced to work at the whim of a higher authority.

 

9. Spacey cameos in Guardians of the Galaxy!

The Collector, The Nova Corps and Ronan the Accuser will appear in the big screen adventure based on Marvel’s space faring team. I’m sure if Ronan is a villain then we’ll see the Supreme Intelligence or Yon-Rogg, the Kree officer connected to the transformation of Carol Danvers into Ms. Marvel – now known as Captain Marvel.

 

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #2 courtesy Marvel.com
Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #2 courtesy Marvel.com

10. Black Cat in Amazing Spider-Man 2! Sony is spinning spinoffs starring Venom and the Sinister Six but have about Peter Parker’s femme fatale? There are some reports Felicity Jones will play Felicia Hardy – the cat burglar anti-heroine.

11. Misty Knight and Colleen Wing in Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones.

The tough private detectives (Knight Wing Restorations) aka the Daughters of the Dragon are integral players in the world of Murdock, Cage, Rand and Jones. Misty and Danny Rand always made one hot couple.

 

 

12. Steranko in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Stan Lee deserves every cameo he wants but how about giving the legendary Jim Steranko a role in the ABC series or flashback arc that salutes the groundbreaking Steranko era of Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

 

13. Fatale The hit horror/crime noir Image series by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips would be a smash and (would have to be on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax.) Josephine is cursed and so is every man who falls in love with her as she runs through the decades from demonic forces and killer cults.

 

 

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

14.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This is THE story that made be love Steve Rogers all over again. Ed Brubaker’s epic take on the Star-Spangled Avenger and his resurrected best friend is one of my all-time favorite comic book storylines. I hope this sequel is such a smash that we see a Winter Soldier/Black Widow movie based on Brubaker’s spinoff series.

 

 

There you have it – my 14 geek wishes I hope to see or have announced in 2014. What’s on your wish list? Comment below or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter @comicsblend and check out our Best of 2013 recaps.

 

By Editor

Final Top 5 Comic Book Picks of 2013

Savage Wolverine #13 courtesy Marvel
Savage Wolverine #13 courtesy Marvel

Here we are at the end of 2013! It’s been an amazing year of superhero movies, fan favorite writers and artists at the top of their game on the books with love and introducing new titles in various genres. Thanks for coming to check out the news and views here on Comics Blend and here is the final top 5 picks of the year (that may not be available until 2014 but you get the idea.) Continue reading Final Top 5 Comic Book Picks of 2013

AVENGERS #24 Review

Avengers #24 courtesy Marvel
Avengers #24 courtesy Marvel

How does Jonathan Hickman follow-up his incredible first year writing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

 

New threats. New mysteries. A “Ghost from Christmas” future themed encounter for Tony Stark! Continue reading AVENGERS #24 Review

Best Comics of 2013: Heroes, Trends and More

Avengers #22 courtesy Marvel
Avengers #22 courtesy Marvel

We continue our look at the amazing year in comic books. Here are more of our favorite heroes, moments, creators and trends of 2013.

 

Best Team Leader: Steve Rogers, now and forever but especially as seen in Infinity. The master tactician rallied the universe and coached his team (Thor – Infinity MVP?) to an intergalactic victory against the Builders and then take back the Earth from Thanos. Continue reading Best Comics of 2013: Heroes, Trends and More

The Comics Before Christmas

Avengers #24 courtesy Marvel
Avengers #24 courtesy Marvel

Hope you’re having a great holiday week. Due to Christmas it’s a slower, divided week but we do have 3 big releases out tomorrow so instead of our usual top 5 here are the comics before Christmas:

 

Origin II #1 An untold tale of Wolverine’s past! The sequel to the groundbreaking Origin takes place a decade after James goes into the wild. Kieron Gillen and Adam Kubert reveal what happens when the man Continue reading The Comics Before Christmas

Best Comics of 2013 Favorite Writer

Infinity #3 courtesy Marvel
Infinity #3 courtesy Marvel

Favorite Writer:

Jonathan Hickman

 

Hard to narrow down but it came to to these four Words: Avengers, New Avengers, Infinity!

 

I have never loved Avengers the way I’m loving the team right now. Steve and Tony expanded the roster to create an Avengers World but threats from across the universe and multiverse tested Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Continue reading Best Comics of 2013 Favorite Writer