Professor Charles Xavier is a refined badass. He’s been patient. He’s tried to support and understood the actions of this prize student. It’s time for Professor X to get into the war. Time to go all psi-war on the Phoenix Force!
Comics Newsarama has a first look at interior art for Avengers vs. X-Men #11 by Olivier Coipel. Professor X and Storm join forces with Captain America, the Avengers and Hope against the Phoenix Two: Cyclops and Emma Frost.
Brian Michael Bendis will script this penultimate issue of the epic conflict. I felt Bendis really captured Professor X’s anguish and anger in last week’s New Avengers #29 and this week’s Avengers #29.
With the announcement of a new X-Men Legacy relaunch starring the Professor’s son, Legion, could this mean Charles will make the ultimate sacrifice to stop the student who is more like a son?
A new guy at my local comic book shop asked what’s a good book as a jumping ON point for the X-Men. The clerk said asked this guy. I’m thrilled to see a potential new X-fan in an Avengers dominated age. I gave the guy a brief rundown of each current X-book and what you need to know but recommended this week’s X-Men #34. No disrespect to the other X creative teams but all the current titles are currently part of AvX or mid-arc.
X-Men #34 starts a new arc spinning out of the last issue’s shocking conclusion. Brian Wood excellent first arc had a Torchwood (minus the sex) vibe as Storm’s “security team” tracked down monsters that turned out to be products of a twisted science and a genetic secret of mutant history.
Subterraneans part one picks up right where were left with the small unit tracking stolen genetic material. The trail leads to a cult with a strange twist. I love the way Wood writes this team. Storm leads with confidence and authority. The Psylocke and Domino infiltration of the cult’s unusual compound is written with tension and humor.
I have to say I miss David Lopez. Wood/Lopez had a kind of magic that reminded me of the Chris Claremont/Paul Smith era but darker. Roland Boschi’s work is not as clean but still fits the tone of the story. This run has excellent characterization of a small team, a tightly plotted mystery and a dark tone. If you want a great X-book – not connected to crossover – then Brian Wood’s X-Men is a book you should be reading.
Storm is joining the staff of the Jean Grey School in Wolverine and the X-Men #20 and #21 according to Marvel November solitics. The teaser is for Frankenstein’s Murder Circus coming to town and looks like the staff (including Logan and Bobby) are unwittingly joining the circus.
I love that Storm is on the faculty and this image takes me way back to the Chris Claremont/John Byrne Uncanny X-Men era when Mesmero hypnotized the X-Men into thinking they were part of his traveling circus.
Brian Michael Bendis is taking on the Children of the Atom in a brand new All-New X-Men this November. The original teenage dream (Scott, Jean, Bobby, pre-metal wing Warren and pre-furry Hank) blast from the past into the present day.
MTV Geek has this exclusive look at the cover of All-New X-Men #2 featuring present fan favorite mutants Storm, Wolverine, Kitty Pryde and Lockhead, furry Beast and Bobby – now at his full Omega level potential. It’s assumed that the girl with the short red hair is Rachel Summers, daughter of Scott and Jean from an alternate future. Art by Stuart Immonen.
I’m thrilled to share that my favorite X-book Wolverine and The X-Men will go on in the Marvel NOW! Logan set up the new Jean Grey School after the events of Schism. Jason Aaron (and rotating artists Chris Bachalo and Nick Bradshaw) have delivered a lesson in comic book fun with the faculty and students of this mutant high.
Aaron tells Comic Book Resources the mutant kids could have some famous non-mutant guest intructors into a powerhouse Asgardian. (Aaron is writing the new Thor: God of Thunder.)
“Yes, I would love to have more guest-speakers show up at the school. And since I’m now writing “Thor,” I definitely want to find a place for the God of Thunder to make an appearance. Just in general, I like trying to integrate the Jean Grey School into the fabric of the Marvel U as much as I can, like having Matt Murdock drop by to offer legal advice. You’ll see a lot more touches like that in the coming months. There’s a scene in issue #15 that was particularly fun to write involving Broo and Iron Man. And in issue #19, when the hunt for a new teacher kicks into high gear, you’ll see lots of different faces making an appearance.”
Wolverine and the X-Men #17 courtesy Marvel
During Avengers vs. X-Men several staff members fought with the mutants and against the headmaster. Logan will tackle that after AvX.
“That very question is answered in issue #15, and it speaks to Logan’s entire philosophy as a newfound mutant leader,” reveals Aaron.
Many fans asked about the possibility of a Kitty Pryde/Iceman date, Toad’s crush on Husk, the aftermath of Kid Gladiator joining the AvX battle. Aaron pointed to issue #15 for answers.
The new flagship X-book is All-New X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis starring the original five X-Men from the past now in the present. Aaron reveals his cast will interact with the cast of the Bendis book.
Wolverine and the X-Men #14 courtesy
“You will definitely see that these books are happening in the same new X-Men universe. You’ll see the Jean Grey School play a role in his book, and you’ll see the events of his reflected in mine. Though you’ll also be getting books that have very distinct flavors and mandates, which I think only makes for a stronger roster of X-titles.”
Aaron also confirmed Kitty Pryde will be part of the cast of All-New X-Men and stay on in his title. Issue #19 will be a hunt for a new teacher story and #21 begins a “Frankenstein Murder Circus” arc. Both will feature the Nick Bradshaw on art after Jorge Molina.
But what about the Bamfs!? For his entire X-position Q & A here’s the link.
Avengers Vs. X-Men #10 Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are cornered. Is Hope’s last hope joining forces with the Scarlet Witch? Is the mutant messiah/chaos magic alliance more dangerous than the Phoenix Force?
Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1 The back story of the vicious vigilante. Brian Azzarello takes on the dark past and reveals what made Rorschach the ruthless anti-hero he became.
Captain Marvel #2 Carol Danvers soars as the new Captain (#1 was a sold out smash!) but her past is coming back to challenge her. What is the Banshee Squadron?
Fatale #7 Cults, sex, drugs and killings in 1970’s Los Angeles. Demonic secrets stalk the heroine Josephine into her new life as the second arc of horror/crime comic continues.
The Walking Dead #101The last issue was one of the shocking and brutal moments of the series. How do the survivors go on when the heart of group has been sadistically ripped out of them?
Hugh Jackman is shooting The Wolverine in Australia now and says the new film stands alone and will not directly tie to the Logan’s previous solo movie.
“We’ve deliberately not called it Wolverine 2 because we want it to be placed and feel like a standalone picture,” Jackman tells Total Film (via Coventry Telegraph). “With an all-new cast and setting it in Japan, it’s going to give us a whole new visual aesthetic.”
The Wolverine is based on the story by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, set in Japan and Logan battles the Silver Samurai.
Op/Ed: Now that we know the X-Men: First Class sequel will be based on Days of Future Past it would make sense to have Jackman play a much older Logan in the sequel’s nightmare future scenes. This would be a great swan song for Jackman as the cinematic Wolverine.
The original students of Professor X arrive in the Marvel NOW! this November. Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen will take over the Children of the Atom in a brand new book that finds the original five X-Men in their future…and they don’t like it. Comics Newsarama has the first look at the cover to All-New X-Men #1.
No word yet on which modern-day mutants will be in the book but this cover sure looks like a wraparound that might reveal the other players as the Bendis X-Men era begins.
