New Uncanny X-Men Built For AVX

Uncanny X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel.com

  The geek world shuddered when Marvel ditched Uncanny X-Men’s numbering and relaunched with a brand new one after the Schism event. If you’ve been reading Kieron Gillen’s new Uncanny you know why – it’s a very different book because of Cyclops’ mission – to create an Extinction team to maintain peace and protect mutants through a show of power. Captain America demonstrates his own show of force when he arrives on Utopia in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1.

 “I’ll be entirely candid here: my entire run has been conceived in order to build towards AvX. I knew that was coming, and I wanted to do everything I could to increase its importance for it. You get people saying how they hate their favorite books derailed for a crossover, and I wanted to avoid that. AvX is the logical endpoint of huge chunks of what I’m doing. I sort of call the process “Steering into a crossover.” I’ve done it with most of my Marvel work — in that if you know something enormous is on the horizon, your story best veer in its direction otherwise it ends up feeling false when you do a story which does tie in. If you’re writing a shared universe book, you want it to help the book rather than hurt it. ” Gillen told Comics Newsarama in their exclusive interview.

 

Uncanny X-Men #11 courtesy Marvel

  “So, yes, it’s no accident that final arc is a team-up to defeat a string of world-level threats. It’s about seeing them together one final time before it all goes bad. It’s also about delineating the fundamental difference between the two groups. And part of me is always trying to at assume some people are only reading my book. I even try to assume that people have only read my book ever, so may not even be aware who the Avengers are. In that case, if they’re going to go to war shortly, I want to introduce them into the narrative before it happens.”

 For Gillen’s entire interview here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 Preview Pages

AvX1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  Marvel revealed preview pages from Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 by the great John Romita Jr. The idea of Captain America’s arrival usually inspires happiness, relief and confidence. Cap’s arrival on Utopia stirs fear and dread.

 When Emma Frost said, “He’s here for you, Hope,” you can feel the tension.

AvX1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  The Phoenix Force is coming to Earth. Steve Rogers believes it will destroy the world so he’s taking action. Cyclops thinks the entity could save mutantkind. I love Cyclops but he is the new Magneto. Even Erik recognizes how Scott has evolved in his struggle to save the mutant race.

AvX #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  As you read the preview pages I also get the impression that Scott should watch out for Namor. The Submariner’s alliance with the X-Men and love for Emma Frost could be shaken by his long friendship with Captain America.

Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  The big question is which team will win but you have to think how will the sides change before AvX is over?

Super Bowl of Super Heroes! Avengers Versus X-Men!

  Today may be the Super Bowl but for comic book fans the big game starts in March with Avengers Versus X-Men! No half time act but I bet Dazzler is available if she’s not fighting Mockingbird!

 

AvX #1 cover by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com

My picks to win:

Overall Team: X-Men!

Cyclops V. Captain America

Iron Man V. Magneto

Thor V. Storm

Beast V. Luke Cage

Ms. Marvel V. Rogue

Spider-Woman V. Gambit

Namor V. Thing

Hulk V. Emma Frost

Black Widow V. Psylocke

Iceman V. Spider Man

Colossus (in Juggernaut mode)V. Rulk

Matchups not teased yet but I hope we’ll see in AVX.

Colossus (in Juggernaut mode) V. Thing

Thor V. Colossal Juggernaut

Warpath V. Hawkeye

Emma Frost V. Ms. Marvel

Winter Soldier V. Warparth

Wolverine V. Captain America – Logan will be on Team Cyke but I suspect he will be forced to switch sides.

 

The Winter Soldier #1 Accept the Mission!

 

The Winter Soldier #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  Bucky Barnes is back in his own series stalking the underworld of the Marvel Universe. Bucky faked his death, gave the Captain America role back to Steve Rogers and suited up as the Winter Soldier again.

  Bucky and Black Widow are on the trail of Russian sleeper agents before an army of Winter Soldiers is unleashed on the world. New readers get a quick recap but the focus is on the mission. The villains behind the conspiracy are an exciting surprise.

  Ed Brubaker calls Bucky and Natasha “the Mr. and Mrs. Smith” of the Marvel Universe. The chemistry is smoldering. They share a passion for each other and thrill of the espionage game. Butch Guice’s art is dark, sexy and full of energy. The new series builds on the best elements from Bucky in Captain America and blasts into its own direction.

Winter Soldier #1 preview art courtesy Marvel

  This debut is a thrilling mix of superheroics and James Bond. Bucky is out of Cap’s shadow. The Winter Soldier #1 shows why he’s the best man to operate in the shadows of the Marvel Universe.

 

Captain America 2, SHIELD Movies?

Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America in The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com

  Marvel’s The Avengers assemble Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Nick Fury with SHIELD on the big screen this May.

  Collider reports that Marvel is moving ahead with solo films including Captain America 2 and may begin production this year plus a possible film featuring SHIELD.

The release schedule is here:

  • The Avengers on May 4th, 2012
  • Iron Man 3 on May 3rd, 2012
  • Thor 2 on November 15th, 2013
  • Untitled Marvel 1 on April 4th 2014
  • Untitled Marvel 2 on May 16th 2014

  Collider puts the pieces from multiple sources pointing that one of those Untitled slots if for a second Cap movie.

Captain America and Bucky #620 Courtesy Marvel.com. Art by Mark Bagley

 

  Here’s hoping producers choose The Winter Soldier storyline as a modern-day sequel for Cap.

  Which Marvel character deserves the second slot? Nick Fury and SHIELD, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye or will a long rumored Ant-Man movie finally happen?

Can Hawkeye Cut It? Remender Takes Over Secret Avengers

Secret Avengers #21.1 courtesy Marvel.com

  Secret Avengers #21.1 is Rick Remender’s first issue with the covert team. But this story is a team-up between Captain America and Hawkeye.  

  You could say Remender has created a “Kobayashi Maru” test* for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. *All respect to Star Trek lore and their fans.

 The Avengers’ ultimate boy scout and outlaw are on an undercover mission in a nation run by criminals for criminals.

  It’s an action filled story of breaking, bonding and a hero pushing to prove himself.  Marvel already revealed Hawkeye was going to be the new Secret Avengers leader but this issue shows us how Steve and Clint fought their way to get to this point.

  The Shadow Council subplot continues and a new Masters of Evil is revealed. 

  After seeing what Remender did with Uncanny X-Force, I’m excited to see where he’ll take these covert Avengers and how he’ll develop Hawkeye.

Top 5 Picks 1/25/12

 

Secret Avengers #21.1 courtesy Marvel.com

Secret Avengers #21.1

It’s no superhero vacation! Captain America and Hawkeye aren’t checking out the Red Light Nation for the golf or beaches. The two Avengers invade the nation run by criminals for criminals. Expect new writer Rick Remender to turn up the action and violence as the covert team faces a new Masters of Evil.

I, Vampire #5

Gotham City has bats, cats, owls and now vamps! The Queen of Blood brings the vampire war to Bruce Wayne’s hometown. Before hero Andrew Bennett can take on the Queen he must first face the Batman!

X-Men Legacy #261

Rogue, Gambit and Frenzy just want to make a fresh start teaching at the new mutant school but an old X-Men villain wants to give them a lesson in revenge. And for the first time since Schism – members of Cyclops’ and Wolverine’s rival X-Men teams meet with chaotic results.

 

Catwoman Volume 1 courtesy DC Comics

Catwoman Volume #1

If the idea of Anne Hathaway as the feline femme fatale in The Dark Knight Rises is catnip to you check out this collection. It’s like Catwoman’s Greatest cuts – including the Selena’s Big Score one-shot, an infamous appearance in Detective Comics, and Catwoman #1-9. This volume features the work of Darwyn Cooke and Seattle’s own Ed Brubaker. A must for Selena fans!

 

 

 

Nancy in Hell on Earth #1

When I saw the title I knew I had to recommend this book! Nancy and Lucifer escape from Hell with a horde of demons in pursuit. Good thing Nancy wields a chainsaw! Nancy sounds like a hot female version of Ash from Evil Dead – sound tempting!

Avengers Assemble! Whedon’s Big Challenge

courtesy Empire Online

  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!”

  For more interview highlights visit Comic Book Movie.