How many fans would love the chance to talk with Joss Whedon? I would probably be speechless or so hard trying to be cool – I’d blow all my questions.
Marvel is giving you the rare opportunity to chat (via Twitter) with the fan favorite creator and two stars of The Avengers.
Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Clark Gregg (SHIELD Agent Coulson) will join the writer/director Tuesday, January 31st 2pm EST for a global chat.
Fans can use the @Avengers handle and #Avengers hashtag in a live 30 minute session. The faithful will be rewarded with a :10 second preview of the :30 second commercial appearing in the Super Bowl.
For more details here’s the Marvel.com link to learn more.
Fear Itself The Fearless #12 by Art Adams courtesy Marvel and Comic Book Resources Exclusive First
I’ve been raving about Fear Itself: The Fearless. The action packed series stars Valkyrie in a race with Sin to recover mystical hammers. The Norse warrior woman defied the Avengers in search to recover the Asgardian artifacts. The legendary Art Adams provides stunning covers for the limited series.
I was thrilled to see two preview images in this week’s Axel in Charge column on Comic Book Resources. Valkyrie is ready to strike on the cover to the final issue and another image shows Storm and Danielle Moonstar (back in her Valkyrie form) confronting Val with a hammer ready to strike.
When a fan asked about Art Adams upcoming work with Marvel, Editor in Chief Axel Alonso responded:
Fear Itself The Fearless preview cover courtesy Marvel
“Fingers crossed we can find time for him to draw a story in “AvX: Versus.” I mean, how cool would that be?
Seriously cool! Adams starts creating covers for Secret Avengers, also featuring Valkyrie, next month.
Today Marvel recognized the creative teams of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade and X-Factor for their GLAAD Media Awards. Both are nominated in Best Comic Book category.
“We try very hard at Marvel to be inclusive of people of all backgrounds, all races, all religions and all orientations,” said Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s Senior Vice-President of Publishing and editor of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. “And to make sure that a reader of any stripe can find a character that reflects their experiences within our stories.”
“Usually when you say, ‘It’s an honor just to be nominated,’ that’s code for prepping yourself for disappointment,” says X-Factor writer Peter David. “But in this instance, it genuinely is an honor considering that X-Factor was nominated and won last year. Not a convention goes by where a fan or fans comes up to me to tell me how much Rictor and Shatterstar’s relationship means to them, and that always fills me with a sense of pride; and also a feeling of—to borrow a page from Spidey—great responsibility. I’m just glad that Marvel has consistently allowed me the latitude to explore these kinds of topics.”
X-Factor's Shatterstar and Rictor courtesy Marvel.com
Allan Heinberg is the writer of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade featuring gay teens Wiccan and Hulkling. X-Factor made an appearance in this series.
For today’s complete press release click here. For my previous posts about all the nominated books (and who I want to win and who I think will win) click here and here.
In my weekly geek speak on Smart Talk 570 KVI I make kid friendly comic picks. We’ve had great feedback from parents who listen in and I’m happy to share that two new all ages comic books are coming.
Marvel revealedUltimate Spider-Man Adventures (Creative Team: Dan Slott, Ty Templeton and Nuno Plati) and Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Adventures #1 (Creative Team: Chris Yost, Adam Dekraker)will debut this April.
These new titles will connect with the launch of Marvel Universe on Disney XD where young fans can see the animated versions of these heroes on television.
The Avengers are featured on 4 covers of the latest issue of Empire Magazine, which includes an interview writer/director Joss Whedon.
The fan favorite creator demonstrated how to take an existing story, make it accessible for new viewers and showcase a variety of favorite characters when he turned Firefly into Serenity. Whedon talks about the challenge of penning a story servicing each characters’ existing storylines and future solo ventures:
courtesy Empire Online
“It was an up-all-month job. Finding the characters’ voices was not only easy, but glorious fun – it doesn’t suck to write Tony Stark – yet finding the structure was just brutal. I haven’t had that much trouble making a screenplay work since Serenity, and embarrassingly, for the exact same reason: there’s just too many characters.”
Whedon is now in the critical post-production stage to meet his May deadline. Here’s his mental state:
courtesy Empire Online
“It’s like a sea. I can’t see either shore. I’m pretty sure I will drown. Don’t even call me Ishamael. The experience doesn’t feel any different from when I was running three TV shows and my son was born. Really the same. Not so huge. As far as the press goes, they don’t put it on me,” reflects Whedon. He pauses. “And I don’t feel it. It ain’t my money. I don’t care!”
I love comic books. I love non comic art just as much. In fact you’ll find a framed print of Henri Rousseau’s The Snake Charmer across from a framed print of Uncanny X-Men #500 (the X-Women cover) autographed by Terry and Rachel Dodson and Christina Strain. I blog on a workspace in between these two inspiring works of art!
I can lose myself in a museum or art gallery. Now Marvel is giving Earth’s Mightiest Heroes a fine art spin in April.
Today the Avengers Art appreciation variant covers were unveiled. It’s a chance to see your favorite Avengers crafted in styles inspired by some of the world’s most famous artists and periods.
courtesy Marvel.com
You could call this Sunday in the Park with the Avengers – inspired by George Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island La Grande Jatte. You may remember Ferris Bueller’s friend Cameron becoming obsessed with it in the movie.
I’ve posted by 3 favorites but you can see all of them on this Comic Book Resources link. These are beautiful clever covers. Just think how many more of you would have signed up for Art Appreciation if you could study super hero inspired art. I just hope I can collect them all.
If you love these covers and want to have real life comic art experience then head to the San Francisco – you might even see a mutant!
courtesy Marvel.com
In San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood you should check out the Cartoon Art Museum. More comic book art should be on display for all to see.
2. It’s choose your Avenger week as the latest Empire magazines hit shelves with 4 different covers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and Scarlet Witch. Don’t feel too bad for Hawkeye. Jeremy Renner is getting double exposure in this issue for his roles in The Avengers and The Bourne Legacy. Here’s the link to see all the covers.
Courtesy EmpireOnline
3. Remember all the rumors that the Skrulls will be Loki’s secret army in the movie or that the Red Skull will appear? Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige responds to all those rumors. Because his comments are spoilers – I will not post them but here’s the Spinoff Online link if you want to know.
