GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Comic Books

Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel

Congratulations to the creators and publishers nominated Outstanding Comic Book in the GLAAD Media Awards:

 

Batwoman H. Haden Blackman, Marc Andreyko  (DC)

Fearless Defenders Cullen Bunn (Marvel)

Husbands Jane Espenson, Brad Bell (Dark Horse)

Life with Archie Paul Kupperberg (Archie)

Young Avengers Kieron Gillen (Marvel)

 

“The GLAAD Media Awards recognize Continue reading GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Comic Books

Gay in the All-New Marvel Now?

Astonishing X-Men #51 courtesy Marvel

Editorial:

Suddenly you might wonder will GLBT characters have a home in the All-New Marvel Now?

Mutant lovers Rictor and Shatterstar are not part of the All-New X-Factor series. The previous volume earned a GLAAD Media Award for the portrayal of this couple rocky’s romance.

Astonishing X-Men #51 is famous for the landmark wedding of openly gay X-Man Northstar to Kyle Jinadu. Lesbian mutant Karma was part of this team, too but now that series is over. Continue reading Gay in the All-New Marvel Now?

YOUNG AVENGERS Ends?

Young Avengers #14 courtesy Marvel
Young Avengers #14 courtesy Marvel

Young Avengers was missing from Marvel’s February previews. It’s not Loki’s fault! The critically acclaimed series from writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie will end with January’s issue.

 

Gillen confirmed via his tumblr that it’s the end…of the season.

 

“Those who closely follow solicits have noted the absence of Young Avengers from the just-released February set. They’ve been wondering if that’s the end of our run.

In short: yes. Continue reading YOUNG AVENGERS Ends?

YOUNG AVENGERS #9 I’m Back In

Young Avengers #9 courtesy Marvel
Young Avengers #9 courtesy Marvel

Love the characters. Love the creators. Love the book?

 

The Marvel Now Young Avengers started strong with as a perfect combo of action, humor, teen angst and then the multiverse happened. In the tradition of Excalibur’s Cross-Time Caper, I feel the new Young Avengers didn’t get a chance to really set up themselves before being sent on an ambitious storyline that I couldn’t wrap my head around. I’m not young comic book reader I used to be.

 

With Young Avengers #9 this week I’m thrilled to say I’m back in! Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie craft a rapid fire conclusion packed with chases, confrontations, and romantic twists as the kids find their way back to Earth and for some a crossroads that changes the team dynamic. Kid Loki is at his wicked best. David and Teddy’s kiss has a big impact while showing why comic book heroics are the perfect platform to explore real social issues. Who knew Prodigy could be so intriguing?

 

Young Avengers is one of the most ambitious, funniest and innovative books out there but Gillen and McKelvie go straight for the heart with the final panels and may have the broken hearts of some fans. (This one’s for your Cutler!)

 

By Editor

YOUNG AVENGERS #1 Review

Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel

Action, teen angst, hooking up and making out! Marvel has a new teenage dream! Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie with Mike Norton rebuild Earth’s Mightiest Teens and infuse Young Avengers #1 with the hormonal energy, fury and fun of electric youth!

The creative team have HUGE shoes to fill. Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung’s Young Avengers run was perfection. Excitement, anticipation and maybe a little trepidation has been building since the announcement of this series. Gillen and McKelvie deliver the heart of the original but give this new “assembling” of teen heroes an edge.

In the finale of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade the team called it quits. In the premiere Wiccan and Hulkling are struggling with their vow to stop the superheroics and Kate Bishop is enjoying an “out of this world” new boyfriend when classic foes attacks. Kid Loki, Noh-Varr and Miss America infuse the teen soap with passion and danger and Gillen delivers one mother of a cliffhanger!

My most anticipated Marvel Now book overdelivers. Young Avengers #1 is packed with fun, heart, humor, action in a stylish narrative packed with promise and substance.

By Editor

Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, AVX and Scarlet Witch’s Fate

Avengers The Children's Crusade #9 preview art by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel, Comic Book Resources

  When the GLAAD Best Comic Book Series Nominee Avengers: The Children’s Crusade began it marked the return of the excellent Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung on the team they created. Wiccan and Speed hoped to find, save and redeem their mother, Scarlet Witch. Their devoted teammates joined them on an adventure into Latveria through time. The heroes faces the Avengers, X-Men, X-Factor and Doctor Doom. Avengers: The Children’s Crusade is one of the most perfectly written and drawn series Marvel is publishing.

  I had no idea how pivotal this story would be to the entire fate and future of the Marvel Universe. When the series ends the Scarlet Witch will be set up for her role in Avengers Versus X-Men, the return of the Phoenix Force and her possible connection to the mutant messiah, Hope Summers will be revealed.

  X-Editor Nick Lowe answered fan questions on Comic Book Resources. The question I found interesting was if the Avengers Editors or X-Editors determined Wanda’s fate after Avengers: The Children’s Crusade?

  “It was Allan Heinberg (with input from Tom Brevoort) mapping out Wanda’s trajectory. Allan had some great ideas on the subject and somehow Tom B. didn’t ruin them all,” Lowe responded. Brevoort is the Avengers Editor.

  Will Wanda be redeemed for Avengers Disassembled and M-Day/The Decimation? Wiccan and Speed may save their mother only to see her fall in AVX. Time will tell but Heinberg and Cheung have created a real Marvel classic with Avengers: The Children’s Crusade.

 

GLAAD Best Comic Nominees Part 2

    I hope Avengers: The Children’s Crusade wins the GLADD Best Comic Awards. Hulkling and Wiccan fell in love in Young Avengers. As the heroes try to save the Scarlet Witch (Wiccan’s mother) they are in the center of a huge storyline featuring Doctor Doom, Avengers and X-Men. The book is filled with action but the heart of story is the strong relationships between the boys and their devoted teammates.  This is one of the most beautifully written and drawn stories Marvel is publishing.

Northstar to the rescue. Courtesy Marvel.com

 

  I’m hoping that Marjorie Liu’s upcoming Astonishing X-Men (featuring the return of Northstar and his partner Kyle) will be nominated next year. Northstar (when he was in Alpha Flight) was the first superhero to come out. The Canadian mutant has been a teacher and mentor to younger gay mutants, Anole and Graymalkin.

  If you want to learn more about Northstar you can read my post about why he should rejoin the X-Men – which he will later this year.

  Teen Titans (part of the DC New 52) welcomed Bunker, an openly gay Mexican teen hero. Scott Lobdell co-created Bunker with the plan to make him flamboyantly out. It will be interesting to see Bunker’s story develop in Teen Titans and if the book will be nominated next year.

Teen Titans #3 from DC Comics. Art by Brett Booth.

  You may want to read my post about gay heroes in comics.
  Thanks to Comics Alliance for the story about this year’s GLAAD nominees.