X-Factor and Seattle’s Dead Heroes

X-Factor #235 courtesy Marvel

  Someone is killing Seattle’s super heroes and X-Factor Investigations is on the case.

  In Marvel’s May solicits for X-Factor #235 a new villain called Scattershot debuts and Shatterstar goes berserk! This new bad guy sure looks like a hybrid of two mutants – maybe a Super Skrull is at work?

  Here’s the link about the new Seattle heroes debuting in X-Factor #234, the story about real self-proclaimed super heroes and more reasons why the hometown of Comics Blend is so comic book cool!

X-Men Vs. Vampires Updated: That’s Why Jubilee Is a Vamp!

 

X-Men #25 courtesy Marvel

 

  You may have read my post in favor of Victor Gischler’s radical transformation of Jubilee in his X-Men series. The young mutant who was Wolverine’s spunky sidekick with fireworks generation powers is now a creature of darkness. In a new interview with Comic Book Resources, Gischler reveals who was behind the decision to turn Jubilee into a vampire.

  “The initial idea to turn her vamp came from the big brains in the X-office. I jumped on the idea and ran with it. Jubilee was a big part of the “Curse of the Mutants” arc. Jubilee had been de-powered and it was not only a cool plot point to turn her vamp but also an exciting way to get her more actively in the mix again.”

  If you haven’t been following Jubilee was turned into a vampire in X-Men #1: Curse of the Mutants. Jubilee disappeared from the team’s last mission and ended up with a unique vampire clan calling themselves the Forgiven. Gishcler talks about the long mutant/vampire history that led to his ongoing epic.

  “I was sent a huge PDF file of all Marvel vamp lore when I started designing the different vampire sects for “Death of Dracula.” I started with ideas that were already there and sort of formalized and expanded them. Dracula, the sects and The Forgiven are now players in the Marvel U and we’ve already seen them make cool appearances in other books. They’ll continue to crop up now and then.”

  Gischler says Storm will stay team leader but expect roster changes for the team. Will Jubilee stay if she can learn to control her vampire urges or will she join Logan at the School?

For his entire interview here’s the link.

X-Men Vs. Skrulls II

 

X-Men #29 courtesy Marvel.com

  Does the impeding Avengers Vs. X-Men epic have you longing for events past? X-Men #29 is just what the event addict ordered. In Marvel’s May solicit for the issue by Victor Gischler and Will Conrad, relive Secret Invasion when the Skrulls conquered Earth.

  In X-Men #29 a team of the shapeshifters infiltrates the X-Men. Pixie is taken hostage “or did she go by choice?”

I loved all of Secret Invasion especially the X-Men limited series. I wouldn’t mind some more Skrull-crushing!

 

Michael Fassbender joins Ridley Scott’s New Film – Updated

Michael Fassbender in Prometheus courtesy 20th Century Fox

  Michael Fassbender has officially joined Ridley Scott’s next film The Counselor. The Cormac McCarthy penned thriller is being called “No Country for Old Men on steroids.”

  Scott went for Fassbender as his lead after working with him on Prometheus. The actor will play an attorney who gets involved in a drug operation. Thanks to Deadline for breaking and now confirming the story.

  This marks 3 scheduled projects with previous directors for the in demand star. Fassbender will work with his Shame director Steve McQueen on 12 Years A Slave and director Matthew Vaughn on a X-Men: First Class sequel that will reportedly focus on Magneto.

Update:

Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper and Brad Pitt have been mentioned as potential actors to play the film’s villain. Thanks to Deadline and Dark Horizons.

All of those actors would be perfect but there’s something about the physicality of Renner that is most exciting – or maybe it’s the geek in me picturing the guys who played Magento and Hawkeye in the same cool movie?

AvX: Cyclops at the Jean Grey School

 

Wolverine and the X-Men #10 courtesy Marvel.com

  Cyclops is coming to the Jean Grey School but not to be a guest professor. The Extinction team leader goes to the school in Wolverine and the X-Men #10 but will the staff and students join Scott against the Avengers?

 Schism tore X-Men apart. I can see how the return of the Phoenix will equally divide Logan’s school family of mutants. Rachel Grey has a huge connection to the entity and this could bring back feelings of her mom and make her want to support Scott.

  If that’s not enough of a reason check out this issue – the May solicit promised Iceman Vs. Red Hulk! Good thing Bobby has reached a new level of power. I’d love to see Iceman go all Omega Level and take out RULK!

AVX: An Avenger’s Betrayal

Avengers #26 courtesy Marvel

  “An Avenger must betray the team to fill their destiny with the Phoenix.”

  Brian Michael Bendis is joined by the legendary Walter Simonson on Avengers #26. This tie in to Avengers Vs. X-Men is called a “game-changer for the Avengers franchise…and it’s not who you think,” according to the just released May 2012 solicits.

 The cover shows Thor and Protector (I think that’s him) fighting so does this mean the Asgardian or Kree will betray the team? 

  Remember Thor was on the cover of Secret Avengers #26 on what was hailed as a suicide mission in space to confront the Phoenix. Does Thor learn something in on that mission to change his allegiance?

 And don’t forget the New Avengers #25 and #26 cover showing Iron Fist apparently feeling the Phoenix Force and defending Hope Summers.

  For all of Marvel’s May solicits click here.

  It’s easy to think Wolverine, Beast, or Storm will be the Avengers that side with their fellow mutants, but time to rethink the cosmic connections between certain Avengers and Phoenix entity.

Top 5 Picks for 2/22/12

Batman: Dark Knight #6 courtesy Marvel

 

 

Batman: Dark Knight #6 Bane will challenge Batman in The Dark Knight Rises on the big screen. This week Batman must find the mastermind behind the toxin in Gotham City’s most notorious supercriminals and confront the evil force that once broke his back – Bane.

Star Wars: Jedi: Volume 1: Dark Side  An early adventure of the Jedi Master who trained Obi Wan. Young Qui-Gon Jinn is sent to investigate an assassination and prevent civil war on his homeworld. A mission that will bring Qui-Gon close to the dark side and affect the Jedi Order.

 

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 courtesy Marvel.com

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 It’s Gambling 101 when Logan and Quentin hit an outer space casino hope to win big and save the Jean Grey School. It’s Casino Royale meets Star Wars as the mutant odd couple go ‘all in’ to save Logan’s dream.

I, Vampire #6 The Queen of Blood’s army overruns Gotham City. Batman must ally with Andrew to fight off the vampire infestation.

All Star Western #7 Jonah Hex vs a giant bat! If that’s not enough to suck you in Jonah and Amadeus Arkham (as in the Asylum from the Bat books) team up to escape a deathtrap and save Gotham’s children. These tales of the past uncover some of Gotham City’s darkest legend including Court of Owls. 

 

X-Men Legacy’s Frenzy and X-Men: First Class Casting

 

Frenzy by Jorge Molina courtesy Marvel.com

Following in the path of Rogue, Frenzy is a character searching for redemption. Joanna Cargill debuted as part of Apocalypse’s Alliance of Evil in the original X-Factor then joined Magneto’s Acolytes.

Mike Carey started evolving the ex-villain in Age of X. The heartbroken Frenzy awoke from that alternate world arc learning her passionate romance with Cyclops was lie. Christos Gage now has Joanna flirting with bad boy Gambit in X-Men Legacy. Gage told Comic Book Resources about Frenzy’s motivations and his plans for her.

“I’ve always been a sucker for characters who are seeking redemption, and Frenzy is most definitely one. I think her primary motivation right now is to be a hero, the kind of person she was in the world of “Age of X.” An interesting catch is that in “Age of X” she was protecting and defending mutants, not humans. As a former mutant supremacist, she hasn’t really addressed how she feels about protecting a world that hates and fears her. We’ll be exploring that coming up.

Cyclops and Frenzy share a kiss courtesy Marvel.com

I think that her struggle after discovering her relationship with Cyclops, which meant so much to her in “Age of X,” was an illusion is the very reason she shared a kiss with Gambit. It was implied back in the ’90s that they had met before joining the X-Men, when both were freelance mercenaries and that they were both enemies and lovers. It’s not terribly uncommon for people who are emotionally vulnerable to turn to an old flame for comfort; even if they know there are probably pretty good reasons that old flame is not a current flame. I think she and Gambit are in a similar place emotionally, and it’ll be intriguing to see where it goes, if anywhere.”

For Gage’s entire interview here’s the Comic Book Resources link. I love David Baldeon’s art on X-Men Legacy especially Frenzy.

On a geek personal note:

Nicole Beharie by John Shearer courtesy WireImage.com

I think Frenzy would make a perfect for Magneto’s Brotherhood in the X-Men: First Class sequel. A passionate and strong African-American woman like Joanna would be a great character to explore the turbulent 1960’s and the struggle for racial equality and mutant equality. Frenzy could become Erik’s love interest. Michael Fassbender could reunite with his Shame co-star, the stunning Nicole Beharie. The two had incredible chemistry in that film.