Tag: Kieron Gillen

The New Young Avengers Revealed

Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel

One of my favorite teams will relaunch with a new writer, artist and new members in the Marvel Now. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie assemble some of Marvel’s best teen heroes into a brand new Young Avengers in 2013.

Gillen and McKelvie succeed Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung who guided the teens through two volumes and the Avengers: Children’s Crusade mega series.  Gillen reveals how he got the job on Marvel.com.

“[Marvel Editor-in-Chief] Axel [Alonso] bullied me into it.

 I’m not even joking. When it was floated, I wasn’t sure. YOUNG AVENGERS was a book with such a unique and singular vision from [co-creators Allan] Heinberg and [Jim] Cheung, and at least a big part of the vision was simply not what I do. It’s a book which was kind of a love song to Marvel Comics’ continuity, playing games and celebrating equally. I dug the book, but I knew that’s just not what I would do. I would never base a story around that. It’s just not how I think.

Then Axel basically beat my head against the floor a few times and said “Seriously, give it a proper think.”

So I did, and I managed to find a way to make it work for me. It was such a personal book for Heinberg; I realized the heart of it had to be trying to make it just as personal for me. And since we’re different writers, we have to be personal in our own way. I realized a big part of that had to be gathering together the creators I most trusted, and try and build something entirely bespoke. Which lead to Jamie McKelvie and everyone else, and the pop-song-as-super hero-comic you see before you.”

Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel

This is Gillen’s third book involving younger heroes: Generation Hope and Journey Into Mystery starring Kid Loki. Gillen was asked about what it takes to be a young hero in the Marvel Now.

 “I previously wrote GENERATION HOPE, which was basically me taking a bunch of relatively realistically rendered teenagers and dropping them into a serious, 00’s-style super hero universe. It was about showing how the personality rubbed against the craziness of their lives. With YOUNG AVENGERS, I’m flipping that. In my own style, I’m doing what classic 60’s Marvel did, and using the super hero elements as a device to specifically illustrate the characters’ challenges and thrills. So when we first meet one character who’s much cooler than most of the cast, she’s in Earth-212, which is basically a dimension which is basically an infinite New York. Normal Earth is a bit downmarket for her—which is using the super heroic element to turn her into the equivalent to the person who moves from New York to your small town. They have a glamour you simply don’t. Or, at least, that’s how you feel.

  So, to answer your question, teenagers deciding to use their superpowers is really about human beings blossoming and trying to work out how best to behave, trying to see where their talents will work in. Puberty is basically a superpower experience. It changes you totally. What are you going to become? What are you going to do?

That, bascially.”

courtesy Marvel

Familiar members Kate Bishop aka Lady Hawkeye, Wiccan and Hulkling are joined by Miss America, Loki and Noh-Varr (formerly known as Marvel Boy and Protector.) Loki brings the team together in the upcoming Point One.

Gillen reveals where the teens are when the story begins.

 “When we actually join them, they’re not a super-team. They’re not even superheroing. Wiccan is still basically in the emotional place he was where everyone last saw him. He’s completely burnt out on super heroics. He’s worried he’s just going to get more of his friends killed or their lives destroyed. However, unbeknownst to him, his boyfriend Hulkling has started to be a super hero on the down low. Our story basically starts when Wiccan discovers this—which, through our super heroic prism, is basically akin to “you were cheating on me!”

 Hulkling says some choice words. Wiccan realises something—and then makes a mistake.

Our status quo quickly follows.

And they’re equally swiftly on their own.”

The big question: where are Patriot and Speed? Perhaps joining Hickman’s Avengers?

By Editor

For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

Amateurs in the Marvel Now

courtesy Marvel

Comic book pros Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie will be dealing with Amateurs in the Marvel Now. Marvel is teasing this new team’s book is coming out in January 2013 but what will it be?

Gillen is leaving Journey Into Mystery which starred Kid Loki but Lady Sif will take over the lead character when writer Kathryn Immonen takes over the book. There’s no word on a book starring the Young Avengers yet either.

courtesy Marvel

  Gillen and McKelvie were the creative team on this Point One teaser showing Kid Loki getting smacked by Miss America Chavez from Joe Casey’s Vengeance series. This anthology comes out later this month.

  Kang the Conqueror (as Iron Lad) played a critical role in the creation of the Young Avengers. It would be an interesting parallel to have Kid Loki be a factor in the rebirth of the team. I loved Gillen’s work on Generation Hope and would definitely enjoy his take on the younger generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

By Editor

 

New Armor for Iron Man!

 

Iron Man #3 courtesy Marvel

  Kieron Gillen and Greg Land leave Utopia and Uncanny X-Men to steer Tony Stark into the Marvel Now. Stark has all the best toys. Gillen shared some armor Stark will sport in the upcoming relaunch. The writer tells Marvel.com Tony will debut two new suits in December’s Iron Man #3 and #4.

  “In the first and second issues, we go and see the modular nature of the suit,” explains Gillen. “The ultra-high tech joust of the second issue is especially a showcase for the ‘Ooh, I think I’ll have that arm, with the fancy UV Laser’ style of storytelling.

 “But sometimes you can’t just fiddle with the details. Sometimes you have to commit to a problem, and that’s what the suits in issues three and four are showcasing.”

 Vibro, Firebrand and Living Laser attack Tony. Stark faces these old foes with his new stealth armor.

 

courtesy Marvel.com

“The stealth suit [is] shown here in tasteful black, though its chameleonic tendencies can move that in any direction he wants,” shares Gillen. “It maxes out its light-bender, includes lots of holograms, lots of hacking and still keeps a little repulsor and strength if needed.”

Gillen’s keeps up the action with the debut of a brand new heavy-duty battle armor.

Iron Man #4 courtesy Marvel

“[Issue #4] showcases the sort of suit which starts where War Machine leaves off,” Gillen boasts. “Frankly, if I was asked to re-launch Power Pack, I’d somehow manage to work a mini-gun in there, so it’s no surprise that there’s some manner of Gatling device attached to this genuinely brutal piece of machinery.”

courtesy Marvel.com

Iron Man #3 and #4 blast into comic book shops this December.

By Editor

Consequences of Avengers vs. X-Men

  Kieron Gillen and Tom Raney explore the moments after the conclusion of Avengers vs. X-Men #12. Marvel shared the cover and first look inside AvX: Consequences #1.

  Because these images could be viewed as giving away who survives the conflict, especially the cover, I’m going to give you this before you scroll down:

 

SPOILER WARNING

 

THESE IMAGES MAY GIVE AWAY PLOT POINTS OF AVX #11 & 12

 

SERIOUSLY

 

HERE THEY COME

 

OK

 

Cyclops is on the cover of All-New X-Men #1 so we can assume he survives the final chapter of AvX. The hook is how they heck are they going to get the Dark Phoenix Force out of him!

AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel

Wolverine and Storm are shown (arguing in the Blackbird?) over what to do with Scott after his actions.

AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel

Finally Abigail Brand of SWORD is seen talking with Magneto – over the fate of the Phoenix entity?

AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel

AvX: Consequences #1 arrives October 10.

By Editor

Gillen Teases Second Marvel NOW Book

Iron Man #2 courtesy Marvel

Kieron Gillen and Greg Land will leave Uncanny X-Men for a brand new Iron Man series. Gillen is saying goodbye to Journey Into Mystery too. In a new Comics Newsarama interview Gillen teased he will be writing a second title in the Marvel Now relaunch.

  “Hmm. What can I say about my other Marvel NOW! book. On a work-happiness level, I’ve enjoyed writing two ongoing books at Marvel with contrasting stances. One is the book where I find a way to make a pre-existing Marvel powerhouse operate as well as I’m able to make it. The other is the one where I try to make a book from the ground up, and create something relatively unprecedented. Uncanny X-Men was the former, and Journey Into Mystery was the latter.

Clearly, Iron Man is the former, and the unannounced book is the latter.

So at the least, in terms of how it fits in my head, the new book is related to Journey Into Mystery. However, I’ll be pushing whole different areas. It’s not a high fantasy book, for example. While I want to push some technical stuff, rather than trying to reclaim and renovate ’90s caption excess and hyper-compression (normally via the particular choice of ironic narrator), this is trying to push in a whole other bunch of ways. I’m working hand in glove with an artist. I wanted to do something that felt as aesthetically coherent as [Mark] Waid and collaborators have managed to make Daredevil.”

So what will Gillen’s second new series be?

Uncanny X-Men #9 interior art of UNIT courtesy Marvel

I’ve said on this site before how much I love UNIT. The alien android villain is a brilliant creation with terrifying potential. I think UNIT could be the Ultron for the X-Men and a foil for Tony Stark.

I was a fan of his Generation Next so could Gillen take on a new teen team? Runaways?

What characters would you want to see Gillen write?

By Editor

The X-Men’s Sinister Showdown

Uncanny X-Men #17 courtesy Marvel

  A sinister showdown in Uncanny X-Men #17 taking place before the shattering of the Phoenix Five in the main AvX series. Gillen orchestrates unexpected action and sharp humor in a last stand between the X-Men and Mister Sinister.

  Psylocke is the breakout star of his issue. From her psychic manipulation of Sinister’s army to her intimate bonding with Danger to infiltrate the stronghold to her declarations “I’m a bloody ninja!”

Psylocke has become the female Wolverine! She’s in every freakin’ X-book but when she’s written this good (Rick Remender and Brian Wood equally rock Betsy) I can enjoy her overexposure.

  Kieron Gillen does a fantastic job wrapping a two-year storyline amid a major crossover. I wish Carlos Pacheco could have rejoined him as this title ends. Gillen breathed new life into a tired old villain and Sinister manages to do to the Phoenix Five in this issue what Avengers’ biggest brains wish they could do.

Uncanny X-Men #9 interior art of UNIT courtesy Marvel

  This looks like the end of Sinister and his own twisted version of London but I hope it’s just the beginning for Unit. I think he’s the X-Men’s version of Ultron. I already pleaded on Twitter for Gillen to pit Tony Stark against the metallic manipulator on his upcoming Iron Man run. Please? I just hope Marvel doesn’t let this brilliant and scary creation fade away.

By Editor

 

Thor & Kid Loki Burn

 

Journey Into Mystery #642 courtesy Marvel

  Asgard Inferno! Matt Fraction and Kieron Gillen are torching Thor and Kid Loki’s realm with Everything Burns. This crossover marks the final chapters of Fraction on The Mighty Thor and Gillen on Journey Into Mystery with the Aesir/Vanir War. Fraction tells Marvel.com how this war surpasses the previous war – one of the darkest moments of Asgard history.

 

Journey Into Mystery #642

  “Well, historically, it’s a big chunk of the Norse cycle that’s just been lost. The Marvel-Norse myth, however, has no duty to its source and has been pretty freely rewritten over the years. One of the biggest missing components to the Marvel-Norse stuff is, quite frankly, the women; for whatever reasons, whereas women are extraordinarily vital and important in the original cycles, they’ve been kind of shunted off to the sides over here. Of course there are exceptions, and important ones at that, but these merely prove the rule rather than right the wrong.

The Mighty Thor #19 courtesy Marvel

  Anyway I started wondering if I could tie the two together: the legendary lost Aesir/Vanir War, and a boys vs. girls story that would explain the Marvel-Norse patriarchy. And so here we are. This new flare-up, pardon the pun, is a proxy war waged by Surtur; a war hidden inside a war, bigger and bloodier than anything. Even Ragnarok is simply a cycle’s end and rebirth—but this is the end of everything, the very extinguishing of light and life in the universe.”

The Mighty Thor #19 courtesy Marvel

  Fraction says the Odinson’s biggest fear is losing all because he was wrong about Loki and warns “Thor’s greatest fear cripples him at the worst possible time.”

  “Loki’s prime fear remains what it always was: that he’s exactly what everyone else thinks he is. He’s a destroyer, a chaos-bringer,” adds Gillen. 

  The legendary Alan Davis and Carmine Di Giandomenico provided the art on this crossover ending the Fraction and Gillen runs on the Asgard icons. For more of their interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

  Fraction is moving on to Fantastic Four and FF. Gillen is taking on Iron Man. Jason Aaron unleashes Thor: God of Thunder in November. Kathryn Immonen makes Sif the new star of Journey Into Mystery.

By Editor

Iron Man: New Team, New Cover

 

Invincible Iron Man #518 courtesy Marvel.com

  Kieron Gillen and Greg Land leave Uncanny X-Men for Iron Man when Marvel NOW! relaunches the Armored Avenger. The writer tells Marvel.com why he left Utopia and Asgard (Journey Into Mystery) for the high-tech, globe-trotting world of playboy genius Tony Stark.

  “It just seemed like an interesting way to mix things up a bit. It wasn’t just the fact that [Tony Stark is] such a tech hero, because beneath some of the stuff I’m doing in UNCANNY X-MEN there is a modicum of science even though I often fire it through quite a few filters. This is actually the first solo hero I’ve ever written. The THOR run really doesn’t count because it was a bit strange; every book I’ve written has been a sort of team book. Loki, abstractly, is the lead [of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY] but in practice he isn’t and, on a larger scale, has gone 23 issues and hasn’t hit anybody. That’s not a traditional Marvel super hero. This is different, this is the iconic Avenger.”

  When I started writing Wolverine in UNCANNY X-MEN, I called my mom once and told her what I do for a living and she said “Ohh, I fancy that Wolverine.” When you’re writing characters that members of your family fancy you’re in an interesting place and, in the case of Iron Man, that’s totally it.

  When Marvel NOW! came around, I had reached a suitable place in UNCANNY X-MEN to move off of, and there were a variety of options with Iron Man [which sounded] really interesting. Of the major Marvel characters he’s the one most aligned to me philosophically, as in he’s a very straightforward person, and in terms of the heroes, there are none more forward than Tony; that’s what attracted me to [him].”

 

Invincible Iron Man #1 Extremis courtesy Marvel

  Gillen reveals his grand scale plans for Tony Stark involve the women of Tony’s complicated life.

  “Oh hell yeah. It’s actually a key part of my second theme. I’m going to explore Tony and his relationship with women. I’m interested in Tony’s selection of women in everything, from his mom, to Pepper, to the random people he’s sleeping with and everything that relates to them. He’s a complicated guy and he does bad things occasionally without thinking. Well, not [without] thinking exactly but he’s not always thinking about the right thing. He’s not the distracted genius but he always has something else going on.

  Matt Fraction did a brilliant take on the corporate figure and his run is a defining arc, so I’m staying away from it. Tony is still a scientist and will still be working on the armor but it’s all about him going out into the world and the whole grail-knight comparison. All the traditional corporate motifs are there but they’re not the primary drive of the book. Tony will be in the armor a lot, he’ll be going out into the world.

Iron Man #1 by Greg Land, courtesy Marvel

  The first five issues will be single stories that will share [both] a defining motif and a plot but it will be Iron Man facing new instances of technology and each is basically a new villain. Each issue will illuminate something about Tony and they’re all very different. Issue two is a lot like the Bruce Lee Kung-Fu Island story; it’s like a joust, it’s all about the knight imagery, essentially going to a tournament. Issue three is like a ninja story, Tony Stark trying to be a full-on stealth master, issue four is a horror story and issue five is something a little more romantic and scientific but I’m going to keep that one under wraps.

  I really want to mix it up with single issue stories because I think that quite a few people are feeling the same way.Single issues are an exciting place to go and anyone can jump on with any of the first five issues, not just issue #1. [In] each of those issues I introduce Iron Man; I say something meaningful about a character that you may know already and I want it to be accessible and to pop. That’s the thing with Greg Land: his photorealistic style really pops and it’s a glamorous book in that way.

  Gillen revealed he will be using Extremis, the creation of Warren Ellis, early in his run on Iron Man. The Extremis storyline is part of the basis for Iron Man 3 currently in production.

 The new Iron Man team debuts this November. Matt Fraction is ending his long run on Invincible Iron Man with Salvador Larroca to take on the Fantastic Four.

For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link. By Editor