Tag: X-Men

Scarlet Witch Casting – A Geek’s Dream

 

Avengers Children's Crusade #7 by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com

The actresses who played The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo have cast a spell on this comic book geek. I keep picturing both stars as Marvel’s tragic mutant heroine – Scarlet Witch aka Wanda Maximoff.

  Noomi Rapace starred in the Swedish films based on the Millenium Trilogy. Rooney Mara is playing Lisabeth Salander is the American version directed by David Fincher opposite Daniel Craig.

  Both actresses are stunning on-screen in appearance and their riveting performances.

  An actress who can portray Lisabeth Salander could certainly play Magneto’s tragic daughter who became an Avenger. A fragile woman with such destructive power looming under the surface.

 

Rapace would be perfect as an adult Scarlet Witch in an Avengers sequel. The idea first came to me after seeing Rapace play a gypsy in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Wanda and Pietro Maximoff were raised by a European gypsy family.

  With news that Director Matthew Vaughn and the cast have signed on for a sequel to X-Men: First Class my thoughts turn to a younger Wanda – when she was in Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants. I can’t get the idea of Mara as a younger Wanda in an X-Men: First Class sequel. Producers would have to make Michael Fassbender appear older since he would be playing her father.

AvX #0 art by Frank Cho courtesy Marvel.com

  Fans’ feelings about the Scarlet Witch may change after the outcome of Avengers Versus X-Men. Wanda’s sons are trying to redeem her in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade but she could give in to her dark side and dark chaos magic again in AVX.

 By Editor

Wolverine’s New Writer

Wolverine #305 cover by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com

  Cullen Bunn is taking over Wolverine’s solo book after Jason Aaron’s 3 year run. I’m a huge fan of his work starring Valkyrie in Fear Itself: The Fearless. The latest issue of that series featured a bloody brawl between Logan and Crossbones.

  “Of all the Marvel characters I’ve worked with, Wolverine’s definitely the most ‘down and dirty,’” Bunn said today on Marvel.com. “His physical confrontations are up close, personal, and bloody. He’s more visceral. I think Wolverine’s a character most of us want to be like. His ‘code’ is pretty appealing. He stands up for what he believes in. He owns up to his mistakes and he tries to make amends. His friends can count on him when the chips are down.

Fear Itself: The Fearless #7 courtesy Marvel.com

   “He doesn’t start trouble unless there’s no other choice. He doesn’t flinch—and he doesn’t take crap from anyone.”

 In his first arc Bunn said he’s bringing a nasty villain from Jason Aaron’s run back to plague Logan. 

 Cullen Bunn and Paul Pelletier take over with Wolverine #305 For the complete interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

 

Generation Hope Preview Art – Countdown to the End

Generation Hope #16 courtesy Marvel.com

  Writer James Asmus revealed that Generation Hope is coming to an end. Sigh. The final issue is #17 but today Marvel revealed preview art by Takeshi Miyazawa from the penultimate issue #16.

  We know that Hope Summers will likely play a critical role in the upcoming Avengers Versus X-Men event but first she must survive the insane traitor on her team.

  The final showdown between Hope and Kenji is coming and Asmus teased that the insane Kenji won’t be alone in his stand against his team leader.

Generation Hope #16 courtesy Marvel.com

 

  Will the Lights join Idie at the Jean Grey School and become part of Wolverine and the X-Men? How will Hope and Cyclops resolve their conflict over the newly recovered Sebastian Shaw? How will the Laurie, Martha, Kenji triangle be resolved? Will Pixie find love with Gabriel?

  Will any of these kids survive AVX and the return of the Phoenix Force? I’ve often thought that the Five Lights could have been a creation of the Scarlet Witch’s power.

 

Generation Hope #16 courtesy Marvel.com

  For more preview art here’s the Marvel link. Generation Hope #16 hits stores February 15th.

  I know Cable is back in Avengers: X-Sanction. I hope he gets to see his daughter again. The Nathan, Scott, Hope family dynamic is strange logistically but still very moving.

X-Men First Class Cast Confirmed

X-Men: First Class courtesy 20th Century Fox

  X Marks the spot for the cast of X-Men: First Class. Following up on yesterday’s news that Matthew Vaughn will return to direct the next film – The Hollywood Reporter Heat Vision reports that the entire cast will return – including Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence.

One point the article makes is that Simon Kinberg is working on the script – he wrote the excellent Sherlock Holmes and the “critically reviled” X-Men: The Last Stand.

I hope Rose Byrne’s Moira MacTaggert is back. I think James McAvoy (will he lose his locks in the next film?) and Byrne have great chemistry to explore.

X-Men: First Class Screenwriter Talks Sequel

Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy from X-Men: First Class courtesy Marvel.com

  Jane Goldman is screenwriter and queen of comic book geek friendly films. She’s featured in Entertainment Weekly because her new film The Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe opens February 3rd. I was fascinated to learn the greek cred connections Goldman shares.

  With director Matthew Vaughn, she gave us Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class. The Goldman-Vaughn partnership started with an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. He’s a family friend who recommended Goldman to Vaughn. Her husband is British television presenter Jonathan Ross, who is collaborating with Bryan Hitch on an upcoming comic book series, America’s Got Powers. Goldman wrote the short film James Bond Supports International Women’s Day.

 With Kick-Ass based on Mark Millar’s comic and X-Men: First Class -Goldman has become the female member of a male dominated clique of superhero-film makers. 

“The only moment I became aware of being the only woman in a meeting is when actresses are being discussed,” she told EW, “If someone’s critical of how a woman looks, they turn to me and apologize.”

Goldman told EW she and Matthew Vaughn enjoyed a “huge amount of freedom” on the reboot. And her response to a Vaughn directed sequel, “I’m there.”

I’ve posted my hope that a X-Men: First Class sequel will introduce Magneto’s children: Polaris, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver.

I loved Kick-Ass, Stardust and X-Men: First Class – all very different movies from the comic book genre that worked – a sure sign that the Goldman/Vaughn partnership is magic.

 

Valkyrie Versus Avengers, Storm, the Marvel Universe!

Fear Itself The Fearless #12 by Art Adams courtesy Marvel and Comic Book Resources Exclusive First

  I’ve been raving about Fear Itself: The Fearless. The action packed series stars Valkyrie in a race with Sin to recover mystical hammers. The Norse warrior woman defied the Avengers in search to recover the Asgardian artifacts. The legendary Art Adams provides stunning covers for the limited series.

I was thrilled to see two preview images in this week’s Axel in Charge column on Comic Book Resources. Valkyrie is ready to strike on the cover to the final issue and another image shows Storm and Danielle Moonstar (back in her Valkyrie form) confronting Val with a hammer ready to strike.

When a fan asked about Art Adams upcoming work with Marvel, Editor in Chief Axel Alonso responded:

Fear Itself The Fearless preview cover courtesy Marvel

  “Fingers crossed we can find time for him to draw a story in “AvX: Versus.” I mean, how cool would that be?

Seriously cool! Adams starts creating covers for Secret Avengers, also featuring Valkyrie, next month.

Here’s one of my favorite Art Adams X-Men stories from the late 80’s featuring Mojo, Longshot and the X-babies.

GLAAD LGBT Marvel Characters to Watch in 2012

  Because of the overwhelming response by my posts on the recent GLAAD Media Awards: Best Comic Book Nominees I wanted to share some LGBT characters to watch for in 2012.

  Writer Marjorie Liu and Artist Mike Perkins are the new creative team on Astonishing X-Men starting in March. Northstar and Karma are in their lineup.   I’ve posted before about why Northstar should rejoin the X-Men now that Alpha Flight is ending. Jean-Paul Baubier and boyfriend Kyle’s relationship was tested in Alpha Flight and the tension isn’t over as the couple move to Westchester. I’m hoping Jean-Paul will be a teacher at the Jean Grey School. You can read about Liu and Perkins take on Northstar in this post.

Karma preview art by Mike Perkins courtesy Marvel and Comics Newsarama

  Karma was a founding member of the New Mutants. She has the mutant power to possess the minds of other people or animals. Xi’an (pronounced Shan) Coy Mahn was born in Vietnam. During the Mekanix series Karma and Kitty Pryde reunited at the University of Chicago. This is when Xian came out as a lesbian, confessed her for Kitty but Kitty’s heart belongs to Colossus. (OK I know they broke up but they’re soul mates.)

  Karma eventually returned to the Xavier Institute as their librarian and became a mentor to Anole, a young gay mutant boy. When the X-Men were based in San Francisco Xi’an’s leg was injured in battle, had to be amputated and replaced with a prosthetic. It will be exciting to see Karma on the Astonishing team and perhaps have a love interest.

  Anole (Victor Borkowski) is a young mutant with an appearance like the reptile he’s named after. Vic’s powers include wall crawling and adaptive camouflage. Vic was a student at Xavier’s then regrouped with the X-Men in San Francisco and decided to attend Wolverine’s new Jean Grey School. Anole is among the student cast of Wolverine and the X-Men. Anole and Rockslide’s (Santo is straight with a mutant body made of rocks) friendship continues to be hilarious and inspiring. You can follow Victor on Twitter @_Anole_.

 These are some great X collections featuring Anole with a quick link: New X-Men: Academy X, Young X-Men, Nation X

X-Men Legacy #261 Exodus From the Jean Grey School?

 

X-Men Legacy #261 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  X-Men Legacy #261 isn’t just in fine hands but phenomenal hands. Christos Gage took over last month after Mike Carey long run.  His second issue is filled with drama, humor and action. A love triangle is building into a quadrangle. An old enemy arrives.

  I’ve never been a fan of the villain Exodus. He’s a pink skinned, immortal mutant who can do anything but I think it’s very clever how Gage uses him here. Exodus wants to reunite the X-Men. Through the conflict the X-Men show why Schism happened and why they made the right choice to follow Logan.

X-Men Legacy #261 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  Gage has picked up the baton from Carey when it comes to portraying Rogue as the confident teacher/leader she’s become. From her girl talk with Rachel about long distance relationships to tapping into powers for a takedown of Exodus, this is the decisive, exciting Rogue I’ve come to love.

  I really love David Baldeon’s art. His work is energetic and expessive. The fight scenes are dynamic and a great fit with Nick Bradshaw’s work on Wolverine and the X-Men. I’m reminded of Gary Frank and Dale Keown’s work on The Incredible Hulk.  

 

I’m definitely excited to see where this new team take Rogue, Gambit, Frenzy and company. The Exodus plot is not over and looks like this team is heading back to Utopia.