As Marvel movie fans await the Guardians of the Galaxy on the big screen – readers of the comic are about to see some big changes in time for a major milestone.
Guardians of the Galaxy #14 will be the 100th issue of a Guardians book. The outer space heroes welcome two new members for the anniversary. New Editor Mike Marts revealed Captain Marvel and Venom will join the the series on Comic Book Resources: Continue reading CAPTAIN MARVEL, VENOM Join GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
It’s Alive! It’s Allllliiiiiivvvvvvveee!
Those mad scientists behind Wolverine and the X-Men create a smashing finale to the Frankenstein’s Murder Circus arc! Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw pack Wolverine and the X-Men #23 with horror, humor, action, dramatic character development and one hell of a surprise ending!
A witch’s magic mind control turned the X-Men into circus freaks. Idie became unexpected allies with a member of the new Hellfire Club. Frankenstein was obsessed with killing the sadistic little brat. The mutants were facing zombie clowns! Yes, zombie clowns! Trust me, Aaron and Bradshaw make it work!
In The Last Frankenstein we learn the young villain’s monstrous past, see a glimpse of hope that he might be redeemed and a potential rattling in the status quo in the Hellfire Club. Maximillian Von Katzenelbogen isn’t the only teen who undergoes a big change in this chapter. The blossoming attraction between Idie and Quentin Quire takes an interesting turn. Is the smitten Kid Omega possibly changing his arrogant bad boy ways as Idie sinks deeper into the dark side?
Nick Bradshaw is an artistic madman conjuring zombie clowns, teen angst and a poptastic splash page of Wolverine and the X-Men ready to to drop the big top on the murder circus! Doop fans will LOVE this issue!
I enjoyed every frame then Aaron and Bradshaw and pull a bombshell for theie final magic act! The comeback of a forgotten villain that may be tied to a running gag since the series began. This issue shows yet again this is the X-book is the most mutant fun you can have and maybe the most fun you’ll have with a Marvel title!
By Editor
Best New Series: Captain Marvel This fan review sums up why!
Best Continuing Series: Wolverine and the X-Men Humor, action, heart and the unexpected. Jason Aaron pack big moments, hilarious exchanges and moments that went for the heart and the gut!
Best Artist: David Lopez (X-Men) This was a tough call with the always mighty Jim Cheung (AvX covers) in the lead. Nick Bradshaw made an outstanding debut. This cover and Lopez’s portrayal of Storm just stayed with me.
Best Writer: Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men, Thor: God of Thunder) Everything I’ve said about Wolverine and the X-Men plus a serial killer of Gods in Thor – nuff said!
Best Mini-Series: Avengers vs. X-Men
Best Single Issue: Wolverine and the X-Men #18 I picked this issue because of how it made me feel with the most shocking ending of the year. The last panel just hurt in my gut and heart! Jason Aaron made me love a strange little student at Logan’s school and then blasted him.
Funniest Issue of the Year: Wolverine and the X-Men #17 (the All Doop epic with Mike and Laura Allred art!)
Comeback of the Year: Scott, Jean, Bobby, Hank and Warren in All-New X-Men
Best New Talent: Seth Peck & Paul Azaceta (X-Men #38 & #39 aka Domino & Daredevil)
Best Art Influenced By Life: The wedding of Northstar and Kyle Jinadu in Astonishing X-Men.
By Editor
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.
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!
By Editor
An outer space army has come to earth to kill X-Men! Gladiator is here to snuff out the Phoenix Force and rescue his son. Wait until he finds out what Wolverine did to Kid Gladiator? Nick Bradshaw is bringing the cosmic conflict to life in Wolverine and the X-Men #13. Marvel.com revealed some of Bradshaw’s kinetic and color packed pages.
Remember the first time you saw Gladiator and the Shi’ar Imperial Guard? I was a very young geek. Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin had already blown my mind with what would become the Dark Phoenix Saga. As I opened Uncanny X-Men #137 to see my favorite heroes on an alien spacecraft surrounded by Empress Lilandra and her Imperial Guard. This elite squadron of the most powerful alien warriors dedicated was led by a muscle-bound alien with mohawk. Gladiator (real name Kallark) was created by Claremont and Dave Cockrum. He had an array of powers like Superman and carried a noble air. Gladiator remains one of the coolest creations I ever saw in a comic book.
Gladiator has fought with and against the X-Men to protect the universe from the Phoenix. Emperor Kallark now leads the Shi’ar Empire and his son is at Wolverine’s school – protected by Warbird. The Phoenix is back on Earth. Gladiator and his alien army have come to save his son and take on the Phoenix Five.
The tease for this issue also promises to reveal more about Warbird’s past. This is my favorite X-book. Jason Aaron has been knocking my out with each issue. Nick Bradshaw’s art has an Art Adams vibe.
This Avengers vs X-Men tie-in chapter comes out in July. Gladiator beat down Colossus in the Dark Phoenix Saga but a Phoenix powered Colossus may be the warrior’s biggest challenge. Here’s hoping Kallark survives!
A post-thought: given the cosmic direction Marvel movies are going maybe we’ll see the Shi’ar Empire in an Avengers sequel or if a Guardians of the Galaxy movie happens?
By Editor
Wolverine and the X-Men by Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw is my favorite book right now and a pure joyride with action, humor and outrageous storylines.
Here’s a quick recap:
Wolverine built the Jean Grey School for young mutants after his schism with Cyclops. Kitty is pregnant – sort of. Beast and some kids are inside Kitty’s body trying to save her. Logan and Kid Omega – that brat – are in an outer space casino cheating at gambling to get money to keep the school open. There’s a nice Brood student who talks and won’t eat you. The school is being invaded by an army of Brood – the nasty kind you know and hate.
Oh yeah – there are these baby nightcrawler looking things that steal Logan’s whiskey and are kind of like the Gremlins of the school. Continue reading Wolverine and the X-Men’s Nick Bradshaw & Kitty Pryde Gives Birth?
An adventure in inner space and outer space for the students and staff of the Jean Grey School. Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw turn the joyride up several notches in Wolverine and the X-Men #6.
Kitty Pryde’s mystery pregnancy is revealed. Beast and Rachel are inside the headmistress giving some students the most bizarre biology class/field trip in comic book history! Kitty’s condition is connected to my favorite new character Broo. Kitty’s body is under attack and now the entire school is invaded.
Odd couple Wolverine and Quentin Quire are in outer space trying to beat the house at an intergalactic casino that Jabba the Hutt would frequent. The duo hopes to win enough money to save the school.
Aaron is a masterful at keeping the drama, action and tension high yet still keeping it brisk with moments of humor that fit perfectly. I’ve said before how Bradshaw reminds me of Art Adams. I was tremendously impressed by the detail on the variety of alien races inside the space casino and the Brood back at the school. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. It’s the most fun I’ve had with a superhero comic.
Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men has been pure joy. The eclectic staff and students of the new Jean Grey School are an odd but lovable mix of heroes, egos and misfits.
In X-history, there have been many touching foster father/daughter relationships for Logan but his father/son rapport with Quentin Quire is completely different. The X-Men’s odd couple are hilarious. Logan dragged the arrogant egomaniac to set him straight at the new school. In the upcoming issue #6 Logan takes the telepath on an outrageous field trip.
The stakes are high. The Jean Grey School is in ruins after the Hellfire Club’s assault. Logan and Kid Omega head to deep space to gamble on their future. It’s like a cosmic Casino Royale. What could possibly go wrong?
I love this page by Nick Bradshaw showing Logan and Quenin ready for action in the Vegas of outer space. For more of the X-Men preview images here’s the Comics Newsarama link.