Tag: Marvel Now!

Namor After AvX

Avengers vs X-Men #8 courtesy Marvel

Arrogance Rex! Namor the Sub-Mariner is one of my favorite Marvel characters. He can come across as an arrogant, belligerent, vain snob. I love this guy.

Namor is a man of two worlds but uncomfortable in both. A ruler faced with an impossible duty. A romantic always falling for the wrong woman – especially brainy blondes belonging to another man.

Having Namor join the X-Men was genius. Marvel’s First Mutant allied his defeated Atlantean forces with Cyclops and the mutants of Utopia. Namor and Emma’s passionate past was an attraction they kept in check until the Phoenix Force threw gasoline and lit the match. I think Emma used her wiles the keep Namor in check but the Phoenix Force fed off their buried passion.

The Phoenix possessed Namor went too far. After coveting Emma Frost for years Namor defied Cyclops and tried to seduce her. Namor invaded and devistated Wakanda in an effort to wipe out the Avengers.

Namor is appearing in The Defenders which is coming to an end. He’s likely out of both X-Men and Avengers. So is Namor a fish out of water in the Marvel Now? Or could this be a bold new chapter for Marvel’s first mutant?

Namor will be isolated and hated by some. It’s time to have the Sub-Mariner play the villain again. I think Ben Grimm would say he was never that heroic!

Uncanny X-Men #12 courtesy Marvel

In the past Namor has allied with Doctor Doom, attacked New York City and been an enemy of the Fantastic Four. I consider Namor be in the same league with old school Magneto. Namor was fighting to save his people and his kingdom no matter what it took.  There’s an old theory about his boiling Atlantean/human blood driving him mad and into his extreme measures.

It’s safe to say Black Panther will not be forgiving Namor for the destruction of his homeland, Namor’s alliance with the X-Men has been shattered and even old friend Steve Rogers may not let Namor off for his crimes.

 

Namor: The First Mutant #1 courtesy Marvel

Where does that leave this classic character in the Marvel NOW?

A villain?

A rogue antihero in a new solo series – think Punisher but with winged feet?

Part of a movement born in the aftermath of AvX? Scott and Emma’s relationship is probably over so could the former White Queen finally give in to Namor and form the Avenging X-Men?

A love interest for She-Hulk in FF?

Because of his actions in AvX and his history Namor is an iconic character could lead to a flood of story potential in the Marvel Now.

Imperius Rex!

By Editor

 

All-New X-Men Beast Preview

All-New X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel

  The Children of the Atom will mutate as new creative team Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen launch All-New X-Men #1.

  The five original X-Men are yanked from the past and into the Marvel Now. Can you imagine young Henry McCoy’s reaction when he meets his future self? Immonen’s depiction of the furry blue Beast is seen in this new interior art courtesy Marvel.com . This preview includes an except from Bendis’ script.

 

 

ALL-NEW X-MEN #1
Page 2-3
1- Ext. Jean Grey School for Higher Learning- day
Wide shot of the mansion from the front gate looking in.
It is a gorgeous day and it’s a calm day at the mansion.
Reads: the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning
THE BEAST
JOURNAL
I am mutating.    
And it is [REDACTED].

  This popped in my head – could the arrival of the younger X-Men trigger the end of their future and current counterparts? What would Doctor Who say? Hang with me – you know what they always say in sci-fi movies about the impact to the timestream if you actually meet your other self? Could the young McCoy’s arrival trigger Hank to completely evolve to a Beast or hold the key to curing him?

  There’s a definitely long-term reason Bendis brought the original five into the Marvel NOW. I have to imagine the shock of the young X-Men as they witness what’s happened to their dream and to their leader. Maybe the kids will have a dark agenda when it comes to their current selves. This blast from the past may want to blast away the status quo and start new? 

By Editor

The End for Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America & ?

Amazing Spider-Man #700 courtesy Marvel

  The Marvel NOW relaunch continues with the end of long running titles only to be relaunched later.

  The Marvel December solicitations include Amazing Spider-Man #700. The milestone issue will be the final issue.

  Wolverine #317 and Captain America and Black Widow #640 (which I think is the original numbering for the Captain America series but who can tell at this point?)

  Wolverine is joining Uncanny Avengers, All-New X-Men and his Wolverine and X-Men book will continues. Black Widow will be part of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers relaunch. Captain America will be part of Uncanny Avengers, Avengers and a brand new solo book by Rick Remender.

 No word yet on a new book or creative team for Spidey. For me the biggest Marvel NOW surprise is two new X-Force books (Cable & X-Force, Uncanny X-Force) that don’t include Logan.

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

Psylocke Leads New Uncanny X-Force

Uncanny X-Force #1 courtesy Marvel

Earlier Sam Humphries revealed he and Ron Garney will launch a brand new Uncanny X-Force this January. The new book with a new team picks up 6 months after the climax of Rick Remender’s run. The new roster starts with Storm, Psylocke, Spiral and Puck of Alpha Flight. The writer says the action begins when a student is kicked out of the Jean Grey School. Humphries tells Marvel.com why Elizabeth is taking charge as team leader and acts the center of the book.

Uncanny X-Force 17 from Marvel.com. Cover Art by Esad Ribic

“She’s a great character with deep contradictions. Her history is a mess. She’s a survivor who doesn’t fear the darkness. She’s one of my favorite X-Men. And it’s her time. Watch the throne.”

I’ve said before that Psylocke is the new Wolverine. She’s everywhere. Betsy was in the previous Uncanny X-Force and in Brian Wood’s X-Men where she followed Storm’s commands. Humphries points out a moment of Storm’s history to explain her position on his new team.

 “Don’t forget Storm is still the same person who ran off into the Tokyo night and reappeared sporting leather street wear and a mohawk! I see everyone in this book as a wild card, especially Storm. Without saying too much, the events of AvX creates a bond between her and Betsy that will take them into the events of the book together.

  Characters in Uncanny X-Force aren’t always going to be on the same page when it comes to killing. Same goes for some of the other bizarre surprises we have in store. We’ve got a wide spectrum of strong personalities and it’s been fun to decide where they stand on some core values—and how their positions could change over time.”

Alpha Flight #1 courtesy Marvel

I think the biggest surprise about the roster is a short, hairy Canadian adventurer. Not that one with the claws. Puck.

  “I see him as a Canadian Indiana Jones. He’s gone some dark places in his past, and he’s a dwarf, which can present challenges most of us never have to deal with. But he’s also a bad ass who has confronted the darkness with a wry sense of humor, and he has yet to find a situation where being small of stature has stopped him from kicking some butt,” Humphries explains.

The first villain this new team will face is Lucas Bishop. Storm has a history with this X-Man gone rogue.

“Bishop is the man she remembers, but not the man she remembers. He was abandoned in the year 6300 AD. The dude has been alone, thousands of years in the future. A man goes through a lot of changes trying to get from 6300 AD to the present day. It is going to be an ugly reunion all around,” explains Humphries.

Humphries explains how his new Uncanny X-Force will differ from Cable and X-Force by Dennis Hopeless.

  But we’ve also got two books with two very different focuses. To put it simply, UNCANNY X-FORCE are the hunters, and CABLE AND THE X-FORCE are the hunted. Will the two books intersect? Well, one book has Cable as a leader, and one has Bishop has a bad guy. There’s a volatile history there that could be powerful enough to draw in both teams.”

Humphries ends with explaining how he will deliver on the Uncanny.

 “How can I say this without spoilers? I take the title of “uncanny” very seriously, just like I do the mandate of “ultimate” over on ULTIMATES. My job is to tell a story about mutants that you can’t find in any other X-book—and that’s what you’re going to get. After the first arc, even the so-called “Uncanny” X-Men are going to find these mutants very, very uncanny. And [editor] Nick Lowe might start dodging my calls.”

For more on the perhaps lesser known members of this team:

What the Puck? I highly recommend John Byrne’s original Alpha Flight run with Eugene Milton Judd as the small guy with a big tragic past.

Longshot #6 courtesy Marvel

Stuntwoman Ricochet Rita was transformed into Spiral by Mojo back in the original Longshot series. Spiral was last scene in Matt Fraction’s Sisterhood arc of Uncanny X-Men.

By Editor

LGBT in the Marvel NOW?

Astonishing X-Men #51 courtesy Marvel

Northstar made Marvel history, generated a ton of media attention and sold a lot of comic books. Jean-Paul’s wedding to Kyle Jinadu in Astonishing X-Men #51 was a huge success story. But will Northstar and Kyle’s story continue in the Marvel NOW? What about other GLBT characters in the relaunch?

Faithful followers of this blog have been sharing their concern over the fate of GLBT characters in the upcoming relaunch. So based on their suggestions and a Marvel NOW tally of announcements so far here are some great characters that will hopefully survive and thrive in the relaunch.

Striker: Several members of the soon to be departed Avengers Academy will graduate and appear in the recently announced Avengers Arena but Striker is missing from those kids.

Wiccan and Hulkling’s romance was a fan favorite element of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. Wiccan does appear on the cover of the an upcoming Marvel Now Point One issue. Anole is a background character as a student of the Jean Grey School in Wolverine and the X-Men. The romance of Rictor and Shatterstar has been a fan favorite storyline in Peter David’s X-Factor which sure seems like it’s ending with the current Breaking Points arc.

X-Factor’s Shatterstar and Rictor courtesy Marvel.com

One fan’s idea is a team of all GLBT characters. A storyline in which GLBT heroes use their powers to patrol and prevent bullying could have strong potential. I think it’s important to have more than just an all-gay cast. I remember how much I enjoyed Anole and Rockslide’s team up in the X-Men: Manifest Destiny series. Wiccan and Hulkling have always had the support of their straight friends in the Young Avengers.

Hopefully there will be more Marvel NOW announcements about books with GLBT characters. (I really hope Marjorie Liu’s Astonishing X-Men run continues and Peter David on X-Factor.) The publisher has shown a commitment to showing diversity in the Marvel Universe. It is the comics business. Publishers are willing to invest in GLBT characters and stories if readers invest in the books. You have the power.

By Editor

 

Axel Alonso on New Marvel NOW Teasers

  Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso played along with this week’s Marvel NOW second round of teasers for upcoming series. In the latest Axel-In-Charge column on Comic Book Resources Alonso said of the upcoming titles and teams:

  “The excitement for Marvel NOW! isn’t limited to the core monthlies, like “Avengers,” “X-Men,” “Captain America,” “Thor,” “Hulk” and “Iron Man.” We challenged creators to use the post-“Avengers Vs. X-Men” landscape to shake up and reinvigorate titles like “X-Men: Legacy,” “Deadpool,” “Avengers Academy” and “Thunderbolts.” The second round of teasers are for books that met the challenge head on, taking familiar series down bold new paths and providing characters who’ve been sitting on the bench a new place on playing field.”

When asked if some titles were almost brand new concepts with a familar name Alonso responded:

 “Some of our latest teasers fit that bill to a “T.” Daniel [Way] and Steve [Dillon]’s series features an eye-popping array of characters — all linked by one special trait — that you’d never think could make a team. Dennis [Hopeless] and Kev Walker’s series will have anyone who’s been to the Cineplex — from here to Japan — buzzing the moment they see the cover to issue #1. And Sam [Humphries] and Salva[dor Larocca]’s series is going to prove that some books are best fueled by drastic change. And we’ve got plenty more planned.”

Here are the teasers from this week collected:

 

courtesy Marvel

Daniel Way. Steve Dillon. Lightning. December 2012. A new series in the crosshairs!

The second wave of Marvel NOW! is unleashed! Does this mean a brand new Thunderbolts?

Back in the day the original Thunderbolts series launched with the tagline “Justice, Like Lighting.”

The current T-bolts just became Dark Avengers under Jeff Parker.

In an earlier interview Way told Comics Newsarama he would be writing a team book.

courtesy Marvel

Marvel is really making fans scratch their heads this week with all the teasers for upcoming Marvel NOW series.

Sam Humphries. Ron Garney. KILLERS. January 2013.

I don’t expect a Brandon Flowers and Alison Blaire duet. I do expect great writing from the man currently behind Ultimates and Fanboys Vs. Zombies. Garney has killed it as artist on several titles including Captain America.

I suspect this might be a relaunched Uncanny X-Force? What about you?

courtesy Marvel

Hopeless. Larroca. WANTED. 2012.

This latest Marvel NOW teaser confirms Dennis Hopeless is on two new books (the other book had the teaser SURVIVE.) Hopeless will be paired with Invincible Iron Man artist Salvador Larroca. I love Larroca so much I’d buy a title about a reading a telephone book drawn by Larroca.

What or Who is WANTED? Given the cosmic ambitions of upcoming Marvel movies maybe this is a Star-Lord, Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova series? Maybe this is my outlaw mutant idea: Avenging X-Men?

For a really out there guess – the Two-Gun Kid?

By Editor

KILLERS in the Marvel NOW

 

courtesy Marvel

  Marvel is really making fans scratch their heads this week with all the teasers for upcoming Marvel NOW series.

Sam Humphries. Ron Garney. KILLERS. January 2013.

  I don’t expect a Brandon Flowers and Alison Blaire duet. I do expect great writing from the man currently behind Ultimates and Fanboys Vs. Zombies. Garney has killed it as artist on several titles including Captain America.

  I suspect this might be a relaunched Uncanny X-Force? What about you?

By Editor