Brian Michael Bendis brought Luke Cage out of comics oblivion and made him an Avenger. (Thank You!) With all the Marvel Now creative shakeups I was wondering where Cage might end up?
Spoiler Warning!
If you have not read New Avengers #34 you may not want to keep reading!
Ok
Here it comes
Essential Power Man and Iron Fist courtesy Marvel
In New Avengers #34 by Bendis and Mike Deodato Luke left the Avengers with wife Jessica and raise their baby. How will this former Avenger make a living? Luke teases that he’s bringing back his Heroes-For-Hire with “a new way to play it.”
Jessica didn’t seem to thrilled by the idea.
So far Luke Cage and Iron Fist have not been named as part of Jonathan Hickman’s huge roster for this Avengers relaunch or any other Marvel Now title.
Could there be a new Heroes for Hire starring Luke and Danny Rand by Bendis? I loved how there were “street level Avengers” like Luke, Danny and Daredevil but where do they fit in the Marvel Now?
I would love a new Heroes for Hire book with Luke and Danny taking on the Hand or a new Maggia. Way back in the day Power Man and Iron Fist was a cool, action packed buddy book and perfect for a modern reboot. Heroes or Hire, Avenger or something new…Luke Cage (and Jessica and Danny) is too great a character to go back on the back burner.
A new era for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes begins this week. Writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Jermone Opena are blowing up the team with bigger roster and bigger mission.
Jonathan Hickman and Editor Tom Brevoort revealed the new mission for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and what to expect from this week’s premier issue and beyond on Marvel.com.
“We will see the back story of how Iron Man and Captain America have been quietly building a contingency plan for the day that comes in issue #1,” Hickman teases of the huge event that requires a bigger team that will reflect our modern world.
“One of the first things we all agreed on is that the roster should look more like the world. So far we’ve seen the biggest and most iconic characters, but as we reach issues #7 and #8, we’ll see more new characters and characters we’re reviving or recreating. Eventually there will be 24 characters. 12 will be either female or minority characters,” said Hickman of the growing roster.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
In January Hickman and artist Steve Epting launch a new New Avengers – a new version of the Illuminati. This new secret cabal working behind the scenes will be Black Panther, Iron Man, Doctor Strange Black Bolt, Namor, Reed Richards and Beast.
“It’s about the guys who quietly, secretly run the world. It’s thematically much different than Avengers. The plan I’ve worked out is that the Avengers are the utopian Avengers, the ideal ones we want, whereas the New Avengers are real world, they live in the dark, apocalyptic world as it is,” revealed Hickman.
“The books will work in tandem. You don’t have to read both, but they are two sides of the same coin. Two different stories,” he added.
Some of the most surprising and exciting additions to the new team are New Mutants Sam Guthrie and Roberto Da Costa.
“You’ll get an issue where Cannonball and Sunspot get to spend time with Captain America,” Hickman revealed, “I’ve always really liked them. I wish it was more complicated than that. I pitched a Bobby and Sam in Mojoworld book, and somehow it got made.”
One reason I love Sam and Bobby getting this “promotion” is that they never got to rise up to true X-Men status.
“Cannonball and Sunspot are at least chronologically younger characters. It’s always good to have those types of figures in Avengers to bring a fresh viewpoint. That said, they’re also established Marvel characters,” Brevoort said, “When Brian Bendis brought Luke Cage and Spider-Woman into the Avengers, they weren’t the most popular characters, but they had legitimacy. I think it will be the same thing with Cannonball and Sunspot.”
“When we get to 24 characters, their will be several subgroups of characters, and one tier will be a group of younger, more idealistic people like Cannonball and Sunspot,” Hickman explained.
Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Hickman explained the leadership hierarchy of this new Avengers.
“Cap is in charge, of course, and he has two vice-captains in Captain Marvel and Iron Man. For bigger stuff, it splits into three teams. There are other factions within that, but generally, that’s the command structure. In New Avengers, they all think they’re in charge and none of them are,” explains Hickman.
Hickman confirmed Avengers will start with the 3 big arcs then 3 stand-alone stories and he’s creating new villains. Mr. Fantastic and Beast will be on New Avengers. Hyperion will be part of the team. Eden Fesi of Secret Warriors will be in the Avengers.
General Thunderbolt Ross (Red Hulk) recruits Elektra, Punisher, Venom and Deadpool to take on and take out Marvel’s most dangerous villains.
Get ready for a brand new Thunderbolts #1 this week by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon.
Way told Marvel.com his past experience with solo books is what drew him to this team concept.
“My work on solo characters has probably been my strongest, and it’s definitely what I’m most comfortable writing. That being said, the idea—and the challenge—of writing a team book had been steadily moving to the front of my mind for several years. When I was presented with this team, in particular—a team of “lone wolf” characters—it was like a dream come true.”
With this kind of roster and concept expect Way to be unleashed on this book.
“This is the team that takes on the big problems others can’t or won’t. The easiest way to explain this is to look at the real world. Though there are atrocities committed all over the world, why is it the U.S. government intervenes in only some of these cases, rather than all? The reasons, sadly and invariably, are rooted in politics. The Thunderbolts have no politics. Of course, this being a comic book with an unlimited special effects budget, rest assured that any conflict into which this team enters will definitely be on the epic side of the scale. With this cast of characters? There’s no way I’m going to hold back.”
Way delivers this tease making Thunderbolts #1 a book you can’t refuse.
“By the time the first story arc concludes, the Thunderbolts will have done something that will have everyone—everyone—in the Marvel universe screaming for their blood. What that is and how it happens starts on the first page of the first issue.”
In 2013 Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting assemble a new Illuminati to save the world! Some of Marvel’s most brilliant minds gather to prevent our universe’s collision with another universe. Black Panther leads Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Beast and Namor against a swarm of invading parallel realities.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Marvel shared new Steve Epting art from inside New Avengers #1 in which Wakanda becomes ground zero for the invasion.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Black Panther’s homeland is recovering from Namor’s invasion in Avengers vs. X-Men. T’Challa is coping with the end of his marriage to Storm and the destruction of his country.
T’Challa is a formidable warrior but a brilliant scientist too. Black Panther refused to join the original Illuminanti but this time he’s leading the secret cabal of Marvel’s biggest brains.
New Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
New Avengers #1 arrives January 2, 2013. I’m thrilled to see Black Panther back on the front burner in comics and hope this is a sign T’Challa may appear in a future Avengers movie.
All-New X-Men is perfect for an X-virgin but even better for a veteran! Brian Michael Bendis set the stage for the future of the Children of the Atom: New mutants are emerging around the world. Cyclops is racing to recruit them for his revolution. Wolverine, Storm, Kitty, Iceman and Beast are trying to teach young mutants and keep the peace. If Scott could only see young man he used to be. The only hope for the future of mutantkind is in the past.
Beast has been the heart and moral compass of the X-Men for years. Bendis made the perfect choice of having Henry as the balance between hope and destruction, past and present. Beast brings the original X-Men into the present. A desperate act of a dying X-Man.
I absolutely loved this week’s All-New X-Men #2. Bendis just nails the wonder and innocence of the “little X-Men” as Logan calls them. The writing captures the relationships between the original five X-Men. You really get a sense of their youth, hope and inexperience as they grapple with what Beast is telling them. When they arrive in the present you understand the team’s fear and disbelief over how their lives are radically different and how Xavier’s dream could have gone so wrong.
Bendis and Stuart Immonen create an incredible issue packed with drama, humor and excitement. There’s a heartbreaking moment between the young Jean Grey and modern Beast that just signals the powerful stories that will be told. Past meets present and future of All-New X-Men will be a thrilling ride.
It’s Alive! Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw are mad scientists who may have created their most twisted issue yet with Wolverine and the X-Men #21.
It was supposed to be a new year of new beginnings. New mutants and the kids from Utopia joined the Jean Grey School. Storm agreed to join the faculty. The dream turns into a nightmare of monsters, clowns and circus freaks.
This week’s issue begins with the teachers gone. Troublemaker Quentin Quire knows this is too easy and suspects the teachers are testing him. The Hellfire Club continues their manipulation of Idie. I’m stumped as to why the villains have created a fake church and pastor to seduce Idie to their latest campaign of revenge against Wolverine and the school.
Wolverine and the X-Men #21 courtesy Marvel
We soon learn where the teachers have gone! Logan, Kitty, Storm, Beast, Bobby and Rachel are willing star performers in a wickedly bizarre circus owned by…Frankenstein. Yes, that Frankenstein. I can’t help but remember when the X-Men were hypnotized into becoming circus stars by Mesmero way back in the Chris Claremont & John Byrne era. This sideshow is even freakier and with a supernatural twist happenning to the audience. This Murder Circus is part of Frankenstein’s revenge against one of Aaron’s newest characters. in The final panel pits is monster against victim and X-Men fighting their own students.
Jason Aaron continues to masterfully spin several storylines and give multiple characters memorable moments. Nick Bradshaw continues to impress. You are watching the birth of a major art superstar. If you were knocked out by Bradshaw’s Planet Sin casino scenes in previous arc wait until you seen his Murder Circus. The creative team pack so much on the pages – watch for a hilarious Doop cameo – but it never feels stuffed. Wolverine and the X-Men remains the X-book delivering the most fun and surprises every issue. Come on. Wolverine transformed into a clown? You know Frank’s in for a world of hurt!
Indestructible Hulk #1 smashes into the Marvel Now this week. Mark Waid and Leinil Yu take the Green Goliath in a new direction – as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D?
“The reasons why he is–and exactly the deal he cut to become–an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a mystery that will build out as the story goes,” Waid teased on Marvel.com.
How do you bring a freshness to an iconic character for new readers while paying homage to the rich past?
“On the surface of it, its hard. It’s a less human, street-level book, so all the things that worked in Daredevil were harder to duplicate in Hulk. The commonality in the two books is that Bruce Banner, much like Matt Murdock, reaches a point in his life where he realizes the things he’s been doing have not been working. ”
“What Stan Lee and Jack Kirby did back in the day was they created the world’s first persecuted super hero in the Hulk. Bruce Banner was the seminal morose, tortured super hero. 50 years later, you can go to a comic shop, pick up a random stack of super hero comics, and most of them will probably feature tortured super heroes,” Waid explained.
Indestructible Hulk #3 courtesy Marvel
Bruce Banner will take command in an effort become known as a man of science instead of the “Hulk Smash” guy.
“Banner realized that the Hulk is not something he can stop. It’s something he can control to a degree, but “Hulk happens,” as he puts it. So when he comes out, S.H.I.E.L.D. points him where they want him to go. Think of him as a cannon, not a bomb.”
Maria Hill will be Banner’s handler.
“S.H.I.E.L.D. has what they believe is a fairly tight leash on the Hulk, but they’re mistaken. That’s part of the fun of writing Maria Hill and Bruce Banner, they both have different perspectives on the situation.”
What about those shots of the Hulk in armor? Waid says that’s really intended for Bruce. And as for that floating robot head – who looks like Widget of Excalibur? He’s part of the leash S.H.I.E.L.D. thinks they have on the Hulk.
Maid said to expect Hulk to fight Attuma, Frost Giants, a new version of Quintronic Man and a big bad secretly behind the upcoming year’s mystery.
In case you missed an earlier interview – I loved what Waid said about Hulk being his favorite character in The Avengers movie.
“I can watch the Hulk ragdoll Loki all day.”
Indestructible Hulk smashes into stores this week. Here’s the entire liveblog on Marvel.com.
