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.
Bucky Barnes gave the Captain America mantle back to Steve Rogers and becomes the Winter Soldier again. Partnered with the Black Widow, they are the “Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe” according to writer Ed Brubaker. The Seattle writer spins new adventures of Marvel’s hottest spies as they team up to take out awakened ex-Russian sleeper agents.
Fatale #2
This is a potent brew of crime noir and supernatural horror. Two men in two time periods chasing down the same woman. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips create dueling time crossed mysteries with the impeding dread that a poor bastard is inching closer to a demonic end.
Batman: The Gates of Gotham trade paperback
Batman assembles some of greatest detectives in the DC Universe when a mystery as old as Gotham City challenges the Dark Knight. Batman soon learns the dark history of Gotham’s past and sins of its most famous families – including the Waynes. Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins
Assassins Creed: After the Fall trade paperback
Based on the killer video game this story follows the Russian assassin in a race against the Templars to claim a powerful artifact.
Avengers X-Sanction #3 courtesy Marvel.com
Avengers X-Sanction #3
Cable Versus Red Hulk! The mutant from the future has taken on Captain America and Iron Man – now it’s smash time with RULK! Why does Nathan have to take out the Avengers to save Hope of the X-Men?
I love Seattle. It’s been my home for 13+ years. We have great comic book stores, cafes and cons: Emerald City Comicon, Geek Girl Con and Jet City Comic Show. Ed Brubaker calls Seattle home so that makes us pretty cool too. Oh and we have a Troll eating a volkswagen under an overpass…seriously.
We already have a real life masked crime fighter named Phoenix Jones, leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement.
Now Peter David is giving us two new super heroes in X-Factor #234. Marvel’s April Solicitation for the issue “introduces Seattle’s new heroes: The Insignia and Shutterbug. (One of whom may not make it though the issue.)”
Will they be mutants? Does this mean X-Factor Investigations latest case will take the detectives to the Emerald City?
The teaser promises a catfight too. Monet and Layla have a showdown and a dead X-Factor member returns. I’m in! You really should come check out ECCC-it’s March 30-April 1 and budge some time to go see the Troll.
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.
