You could call Jean Grey #2 a Phoenix Force Family Reunion this week.
Jean Grey courtesy Marvel
Jean knows the Phoenix Force is coming back. In this new chapter it’s a telepath power up as Jean unites Quentin Quire, Rachel Grey (now called Prestige in X-Men: Gold) and Hope Summers hoping to find answers as she prepares for the inevitable confrontation with the cosmic entity. It’s the driving force behind Jean’s first solo ongoing by writer Dennis Hopeless and artist Victor Ibanez. Will she be ready as the Phoenix resurgence enters a new phase? What does it mean when Jean Grey meets Jean Grey later this summer? Continue reading X-MEN Ready For PHOENIX Return
The biggest Marvel story of 2012 is the inspiration for the return of What If?Avengers vs. X-Men was a game-changing event for the Marvel Universe but what if other heroes became the Phoenix Five?
Jimmy Palmiotti and Jorge Molina create a four part story starring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fighting the Children of the Atom…with a new twist!
Iron Man tried to kill the Phoenix before it could possess Hope but the entity split into five hosts: Cyclops, Emma Frost, Colossus, Magik and Namor – with devastating results.
Jimmy Palmiotti tells Marvel.com why the original epic is a perfect inspiration for What If?:
Kitty Pryde and Colossus are my all time favorite comic book couple. Death. Trapped in a space bullet for eternity. Demonic possession. Writers have ripped apart and reunited Kitty and Peter so many times. The two lovers split most recently due to the events of Fear Itself and Schism. Kitty took off the co-found the Jean Grey School with Logan in Wolverine and the X-Men. Colossus is now one of the Phoenix Five in Uncanny X-Men and AvX.
Jason Aaron raised our hopes when Kitty was pregnant. Fans like me were hoping against hope it was Pete’s baby but once again hopes were dashed when it turned out Kitty was impregnated with Brood. Thank you Dr. McCoy for saving her!
In the upcoming Wolverine and the X-Men #14 looks like Kitty agrees to a date with Peter and he’s using his Phoenix Force to woo her…but will they reconcile? Will either of them be around after AvX?
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 by Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw featured a cosmic level slugfest between Gladiator and the Phoenix fueled X-Men but the real star was Warbird. The creative team showcases the warrior’s fury and reveals Ava’dara’s tragic past. This issue proves this new character deserves to a major star in Marvel’s future.
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
Aaron and Bradshaw deliver a brutal showdown between the Phoenix Five and their former ally while revealing Warbird’s brutal upbringing and violent past. The Shi’ar have always been portrayed as regal rulers over their sprawling empire but Aaron rips away the facade and shows life growing up as a Shi’ar warrior and how an act of compassion landed her on Earth in her current role.
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
Aaron takes Ava’dara’s attraction to Bobby Drake that started in Marjorie Liu’s first Astonishing X-Men arc and plays with that plot here even as the allies have become enemies.
Here’s hoping Gladiator survives but I have a newfound obsessive love for Warbird! Jonathan Hickman’s new Avengers series is said have a huge cast and he favors the old school cosmic epics so maybe Gladiator or Warbird might turn up on his book. And 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?
This week is a major showdown Gladiator (Emperor of the Shi’ar) arrives on Earth to wipe out Phoenix Five and rescue his son in Wolverine and the X-Men #13 by Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw. Wait until he finds out what Wolverine did to Kid Gladiator? Marvel.com revealed some of Bradshaw’s kinetic and color packed pages.
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
Emperor Kallark’s son known as Kid Gladiator has been at the Jean Grey School under the watchful eye of Shiar warrior Warbird.
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
Warbird is part of Marjorie Liu’s Astonishing X-Men arc. past. This issue promises to reveal more of Warbird’s past and a date for Kitty Pryde?
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
Here’s hoping Gladiator survives! Jonathan Hickman’s new Avengers series is said have a huge cast and he favors the old school cosmic epics so maybe Gladiator or Warbird might turn up on his book. And 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?
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.
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
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.
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
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!
Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com
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?
X-Man versus X-Man, Wolverine versus one of his own students and a God slammed by a mutant one-two punch. Wolverine and the X-Men #12 gives us a powerhouse and emotionally powerful showdown in a nasty corner of this new world ruled by the Phoenix Five. Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo deliver yet another issue packed with action, humor and the unexpected.
The heart of this issue is Rachel Summers. You don’t have the know Rachel’s tragic future history chronicled in the Chris Claremont/John Romita Jr era but knowing it makes this issue more impactful. Scott and Jean’s daughter from the future escaped her future life where he was a hound. In the Phoenix’s new world order Rachel is tasked with hunting again. Once Rachel tracks her “prey” the result is shocking and hints of what’s to come in future chapters of AvX. Jason Aaron’s portrayal of Rachel’s inner struggle is a standout of this issue.
This issue was so powerful it felt like it could have been a major chapter of the main mega series. This is definitely a tie-in issue you should not miss. Gladiator and a Shiar strike force were already on their way to kill the Phoenix. I can only imagine his wrath when he learns what’s happened to his son after Kid Gladiator took on one too many Avengers!
