Tag: Wolverine

Geekscape Comics: First Look At ‘Uncanny Avengers’

by Shawn Madden

I will admit it is a pretty cool line-up. Anything with Havok on the team means I’m reading it. I love Havok…but why is he back in a version of his classic suit? It also appears that Cap and Thor will definitely be getting more movie inspired looks after ‘AvX’.

Source: EW

 

 

[UPDATE] Geekscape Comics: Take Your First Look At The Marvel Universe After ‘AvX’

by Shawn Madden

UPDATE: Marvel has released the official image and information on the books.

Taken from Entertainment Weekly’s Comic-Con issue we have the following:

The artist behind this teaser (and Chief Creator Officer of Marvel) Joe Quesada had this to say about the new looks for these characters. “There are some costume changes. There are some new character attitudes. Some characters may be changing their identities altogether. There’s a reason Sue Storm is there. And why there’s a floating robot near Hulk. We’re trying a lot of fun and new different things, we’re exposing characters who we’ve had in our toy chest for a long time.”

UNCANNY AVENGERS

Following Avengers Vs. X-Men, Captain America will apparently decide that he hasn’t done enough for the mutants over the years and this results in a new book from writer Rick Remender and artist John Cassaday. With a team including Cap, Thor, Wolverine and Havok, this is an exciting twist which will apparently see that latter, “become one of the biggest players in the Marvel Universe.” Their first villain will be none other than the Red Skull! However, it won’t be the version most recently seen in comics as the writer explains. “In 1943, Arnim Zola, who was this bio-fanatic engineer, recorded the Red Skull’s consciousness, and set it to wake up 70 years later. So the Red Skull [in Uncanny] is right out of 1943-44. Prime Nazi scumbag. In his mind, he’s taking that vitriol and hate and Nazi horror and methodology, and pointing it at the mutant species.”

AVENGERS

“It’s not six Avengers, it’s 18 or more,” teases writer Jonathan Hickman. The book will be pencilled by Jerome Opena, and the first arc will be entitled “Avengers World”. Published twice a month, it will apparently tell five and six issue arcs as well as much smaller one-shot stories. There’s currently no word on which heroes will make up the roster, but one of them WILL be Shang-Chi.

ALL-NEW X-MEN

“The X-Men is a tough nut to crack. There’s thousands of characters, all of which have a website dedicated just to them. I wanted to make sure I had a take that was unique,” says series writer Brian Michael Bendis. As this is a time travel story, it will feature original X-Men, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, and Marvel Girl. “Here’s the big question that the original X-Men are gonna be faced with: We’re gonna grow up, and this is what we’re going to get? That is not acceptable.” Since her death in 2004, fans have been desperate to see the return of Jean Grey and that is obviously exactly what they’ll get in this series. “It’s the one thing X-Men fans have always asked for is: They want Jean Grey back. But they want Jean Grey. Not reincarnated Jean, or the ghost of Jean. Well, you’re getting Jean back. And Jean is gonna be looking at a world that rattles her.” Stuart Immonen has been confirmed as artist.

So it won’t be a reboot but there WILL be drastic changes to the Marvel U. I’m not sure how I feel about it (especially Cyke’s new Eric The Red’ish outfit) but I am glad they aren’t killing Scott Summers. I promised to never read a comic again if they did. Some of the suits look cool though. Especially Thor, Spider-Man and Nova.

Source: EW

Geekscape Comics: Marvel Announces ‘Marvel Universe Vs The Avengers’

by Shawn Madden

In October we will return to a world ravaged by a plague that had turned most of Earth’s heroes into raving cannibalistic monsters. Jonathan Maberry is back to continue on from events that unfolded in ‘Marvel Universe vs Punisher’ and ‘Marvel Universe vs Wolverine’ in a four issue mini-series ‘Marvel Universe vs The Avengers

“The story is intensely personal, as all stories of great cultural trauma,” Maberry says. “These are horror stories, and ‘Marvel Universe vs The Avengers’ takes the horror down to a very personal level. We are no longer witnessing the world’s hurt or the cultural hurt, we’re inside the head – and heart — of a man who is experiencing the most personal kind of hurt.” The man he is referring to here is Clint Barton aka Hawkeye.

“The story is told from Hawkeye’s perspective, but most of the big guns are there: Thor, Hulk — red and green versions — Iron Man, Giant Man, Luke Cage, Black Widow, Mockingbird, Spider-Man, and others,” reveals the writer. “We also check in on the kids at Avengers Academy. The events in these four issues cut a bloody swath across the entire Avengers landscape.”

“The world is becoming a horror show and no one has the power to stop it,” Maberry explains. “Then we look down at the street-level, at a man like Hawkeye who has no super powers and who isn’t really the go-to guy for a world-threatening crisis and for reasons we’ll explore in the story, he doesn’t succumb to the plague as quickly. More and more of the responsibility for this fight falls to him, and he’s extremely mortal.”

“View that same thing from another perspective and you see someone who has never been as powerful as his teammates, and yet he’s always held the line, always done his part. So, maybe he’s the kind of hero we need in a world where super powers are no longer the answer.”

“The world itself is broken, and the storytelling reflects that,” Maberry offers. “There is no longer an orderly pace to history, and if humanity survives, the history that’s taught will come from fragments of memory and experiences.”

“I wanted to get inside the phenomenon of becoming ‘powerless.’ Many of the heroes lose their heroic status by becoming monsters; we have characters struggling to continue to be heroes while knowing that they are transforming into the enemy. The government and even groups like S.H.I.E.L.D. can’t stop this. The greatest brains on the planet—Reed Richards, Hank Pym, T’Challa—can’t solve this problem. We see how different characters cope with their friends/team-mates and loved ones becoming monsters.”

But in the end it’s all coming down to one man. The man with the arrows.

“That is a special kind of horror, and it’s a special kind of heroic tale,” Maberry promises. “I think people are going to bond pretty heavily with Hawkeye in this tale.”

Source: Marvel

Geekscape Comics: Uncanny…Avengers?!

by Shawn Madden

Earlier this month it was rumored we would be getting another Avengers title after AvX and the rumor was that it would be called ‘Astonishing Avengers’ and would be replacing ‘Secret Avengers’. Now it’s appearing that the name has been changed to ‘Uncanny Avengers’. The new title by Rick Remender and Jerome Opena will seem to throw a little more mutant on the team.

“Starring Wolverine and Captain America, running an Avengers team together, with Cap in a more movie-friendly costume. And something that is very much a post Avengers Vs X-Men comic…”

I’m guessing this means that the sides are going to getting split even more than they were after Schism. Most likely more mutants returning to Utopia. But who knows what Marvel has up their sleeve? Guess we will find out soon enough.

Source: Bleeding Cool


 

Geekscape Comics: Marvel Teaming Up With Komen For The Cure For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by Shawn Madden

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Marvel will be teaming up with Susan G. Komen For The Cure and releasing special variants in order to raise awareness. In addition all Marvel superhero comics in October will feature a special one-page advertorial educating readers about breast cancer. A message that Marvel will also make available on its internet site and via social media.

“Marvel is proud to partner with Susan G. Komen For the Cure to support their unparalleled efforts to raise awareness about the risk of breast cancer to both women and men,” said Dan Buckley, Publisher & President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. “We’re in a unique position to educate all our fans and increase awareness of the ways to fight—and reduce– this risk of this disease by utilizing our comics and online presence.”

“Komen is thrilled to partner with Marvel Entertainment in the fight against breast cancer this October,” said Dorothy Jones, VP, Marketing at Komen. “This partnership will allow us to share critical information with this important audience, empowering them to take positive action for their breast health and for the women they love.”

Source: Examiner

Geekscape Comics: Marvel Teases “This Is War”

by Shawn Madden

It looks like ‘AvX’ could be the start of something even bigger. Marvel has posted two teaser images for their next event starting in October with the simple tagline “This Is War”.

No details have emerged yet but they will be announcing the details to this event at the Spider-Man panel (weird) at Comic-Con.

Source: Marvel

SDCC 2012: Marvel Legends Uncanny X-Force

by Shawn Madden

Well, if you’re not an Uncanny X-Force fan…I don’t know whats wrong with you. One of the most exciting exclusives for SDCC is this right here.

“This year, collectors have a chance to hook their adamantium claws into the new Marvel Legends Special Edition Uncanny X-Force Collectors Pack. Featuring six-inch scale figures of Archangel, Wolverine and Psylocke, the characters are seen in their costumes from the Fall of Archangel story line. The set even comes in a collectable display box with exclusive art by comic artist Clayton Crain!”

The Marvel Legends Special Edition Uncanny X-Force Collectors Pack is available for an approximate retail price of $49.99 at HasbroToyShop.com and Hasbro Booth #3329 at San Diego Comic-Con.

Now with an already released Fantomex figure you’re probably thinking “Well, shucks. This would be perfect if only I had an Uncanny X-Force Deadpool!”

Fear not X-fans! It is on its way. In September we will see a third variant of the Marvel Legends Deadpool…this time in his X-Force suit.

 

Why “Days of Future Past” Is A Brilliant Idea For An X-Men Sequel

by Eric Diaz

Yesterday it was revealed that Twentieth Century Fox had registered the name Days of Future Past with the MPAA. While this might turn out to be nothing, I’d say it is pretty significant clue as to what the future holds for an X-Men First Class sequel, now scheduled to come out in Summer 2014. The idea of using Days as a template is a minor stroke of genius on the part of director Matthew Vaughn, and if Days in indeed the inspiration for the new movie, here are some reasons why it is a brilliant move.

The Original Story Is A Classic

The original Days of Future Past story was a two parter that ran in 1980, and closed out Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s legendary run on Uncanny X-Men. Along with The Dark Phoenix Saga, it is considered one of the greatest X-Men stories ever told, and one that has been revisited many a time. The original story deals with a dystopian future, one in which mutants are incarcerated in concentration camps and the city of New York is patrolled by mutant hunting Sentinel robots. An older Kitty Pryde transfers her mind into the younger, present-day Kitty Pryde, who brings the X-Men to prevent a fatal moment in history (in this instance, a political assassination) which triggers anti-mutant hysteria. The story constantly  switches between the past and the present.

One can imagine that if DOFP is used, then certain story elements would be radically altered. A character from the “future” X-Men team would need to have a physical presence in the past as well for the whole mind switch thing to work, and since the “present” scenes are presumably still in the 1960’s era (and since there is no Kitty Pryde character among the First Class kids) my money is on Mystique. With Jennifer Lawrence’s star ascending thanks to the Hunger Games, Fox will no doubt want to expand her role in a sequel. Mystique could be a member of the future X-Men, who (like the original comic) include mutants that are former enemies like Magneto among them, banded together for survival.

Days of Future Past Is A First Class Sequel AND an X4

Fox has been mulling an X4 ever since the end of Last Stand. Sure, most fans hate X3, but it made a gajillion dollars. The only reason that Fox didn’t do another one right away was because everyone’s salary would have had to double to come back, and they didn’t think it was worth it with that many principle players. But the “Future” segments of DOFP could serve as an unofficial X4, although it is likely that only Wolverine (and maybe one other member of the original cast) would still be around.  X3 killed off Cyclops, Jean and Charles Xavier (sorta) and a subsequent mutant Holocaust could get rid of the other dead weight, *cough*HalleBerry*cough*  leaving an older grizzled Wolverine and an “X-Men” team of survivors. This would be a good time to flesh out characters like Colossus and maybe even Angel, characters who just stood around in the last movie with little to no characterization. And unlike Wolverine, no one will care if those other parts are re-cast.

And let’s not pretend the leader of the future team and main returning X-Man will be anyone but Hugh Jackman as Logan; let’s face it, whether you are sick of him or not, Hugh Jackman is THE face of the X-Men franchise.  His presence alone would guarantee more asses in seats. And unlike so many other members of the original X-Men cast, he sems to genuinely love playing Wolverine, and seems happy to continue doing so for as long as he’s able. The idea of an X-Men sequel with rising stars Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender sharing top billing with Hugh Jackman must have Fox salivating right now.

It Ups The Stakes In A Post Avengers World

As far as super hero movies, especially super hero team movies are concerned, the success of Avengers just changed everything. Long gone are the days when a handful of X-Men can have a fight in the gift shop of the Statue of Liberty and people were satisfied with that.  But a dystopian future, where giant robots roam Manhattan fighting mutants? That’s thinking big, and thinking big is what the X-Men franchise will have to do from now on if it wants to compete.

It Frees Future New Films From Bad Continuity

Despite what many fans might think, First Class was not a total reboot; the opening scenes of both the original  X-Men and First Class in the German death camps are identical, not to mention just having Hugh Jackman cameo as Wolverine is letting you know this is the same universe, some minor continuity errors aside. The biggest problem is that the end of First Class contradicts the beginning of X3, where an older Charles Xavier and Magneto are still allies as late as the 1980’s, and Charles is still walking.

In the original DOFP story, the future Kitty Pryde prevents the assassination attempt that was supposed to result in her oppressive future. But upon returning to her own time, she finds it exactly the same, as she discovers you can’t change the past, only create a new, alternate timeline.

If the movie keeps this ending, it serves two purposes. One, it’s a bittersweet ending, because while Kitty (or whoever replaces Kitty in this movie) can’t save her own world, she creates a new world where the atrocities she experienced may not happen.  Second, it frees any remaining First Class sequels from the shackles of continuity; They would now be free to introduce Cyclops without worrying about him going out like a red shirt, or even redo the whole Dark Phoenix saga correctly. Storm could be introduced and not be Halle Berry. It opens up the X-Men universe again without negating the previous movies, and also not worrying about how this matches up with that. This is the same solution JJ Abrams came up with for his Star Trek reboot, and it worked there, it can work just as well in the X-Men world.

Sentinels, Sentinels, Sentinels

Along with Magneto and Dark Phoenix, the Sentinels are among the most iconic adversaries the X-Men ever faced. And yet, they’ve never made it into a movie (no, the cameo in X3 does not count) DOFP creates a perfect opportunity to introduce various types of  Sentinels. Because who the hell doesn’t wanna see the X-Men fight giant robots?

Of course, in the next few days and months, it could be revealed that DOFP isn’t really the basis for the new movie at all, and I’ll feel really silly here.

UPDATE: First Look At Reebok And Marvel’s Team-up!

by Shawn Madden

So, even though i’m a die-hard Nike person… I had heard about this awhile back and I have been waiting for some previews to drop and here they are! If you know me and my Wade Wilson fanboy ways… I’m probably going to end up buying those Deadpool ones!

 

 

Release dates have yet to be announced.

Source: Zombiebacons

Geekscape Comics: Preview For Age Of Apocalypse #4

by Shawn Madden

Check out this preview for next weeks issue of Age Of Apocalypse! Including a look at the 50th Anniversary Spider-Man variant.

“The X-Terminated activate their secret weapon, the AOA version of THE HULK!”

Click images for larger view.

Source: CBR

Astonishing X-Men to Feature Northstar/Kyle Wedding in Issue #51

by Shawn Madden

Well, if you’ve been seeing the promos and you’ve been wondering “Wow…who is getting married in Astonishing X-Men?” well…you’re the only one.

Marvel seems to be one upping DC yet again. DC announced this week that one of their characters would be coming out as gay. Well..Marvel has been there and done that (Rictor and Shatterstar for those behind on the times) and they’re going the next step.

In issue #51 we will see Kyle and Northstar tie the knot. Well that is…unless someone comes to ruin the day in the typical comic fashion.

 

From Marvel Editor in Chief Axel Alonso:

“The Marvel Universe has always reflected the world outside your window, so we strive to make sure our characters, relationships and stories are grounded in that reality. We’ve been working on this story for over a year to ensure Northstar and Kyle’s wedding reflects Marvel’s ‘world outside your window’ tradition.”

Source: Marvel.com


The Wolverine Will Shoot Japan in Sydney Australia!

by Steven Kunz

For those that follow X-Men, particularly the latest spinoff ‘The Wolverine‘ which will be directed by James Mangold (Director of the movie, Cop Land), the latest development for the film is that it’s going to be shot at least in part in Sydney, Australia, due to a $12.8 million government payoff from Australia as well as other incentives. What’s even more interesting is that at this time, Sydney is going to be the primary location for shooting the film when the story dictates that Wolverine will be traveling to Japan in the story. This means that every shot of Japan will essentially be done in Australia.

At this time, at least $80 million is going to be spent in Australia, including visual effects, while post production work will be in the US. It’s certainly an interesting development, as you would figure that since the story takes place in Japan, it would be a logical decision to shoot in Japan since the primary story takes place in Japan. However, ultimately, it does depend on the production team in how he chooses to use Sydney’s locations to convince the audience that Wolverine is in Japan. There are a lot of new film stages in and around Sydney, but let’s just hope that we don’t spot a kangaroo or a  koala bear in the background of some of the exterior shots. Then again, that would already make it way better than “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” aka “The Tale of Jimmy Logan: The Man They Call Wolverine” aka “Not What We Considered a Real Wolverine Movie by Any Stretch”.

James Mangold’s “The Wolverine” is expected for a July 2013 release.

Source: http://www.deadline.com/2012/04/the-wolverine-gets-12-8-million-payment-to-shoot-in-sydney/

Uncanny Assembly: Geekscape Reviews Avengers vs. X Men #2

by Joe Starr

We’re back with Avengers vs. X Men: Round 2! If you missed my review of #1, it’s right here. Before you get caught up, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter so you can tell me I’m a dick for my opinions at @joestarr187. All caught up? Let’s do this.

Things pick up right where they left off: with a helicarrier full of Avengers decloaking over Utopia with jets scrambling and Colossus being hurled at it. He crashes through, and like Spider Man says, Avengers vs. X Men is actually happening.

Red Hulk pairs off with Cojuggerlossusnaught and Namor punches the holy hell out of Thing with Luke Cage on the ring apron ready to tag in and bring the Sweet Christmas to the Prince of Atlantis. I love the Hulk. Hulk dialogue will never surprise you, especially if it starts with ‘So you’re the strongest on <insert place here>?’ You know he’s going to say that he’s the strongest there is. But no matter what color he is, when he says it, it’s always awesome.

Captain America brings a wave of Avengers to the shore and gives the command for his hastily drawn comrades to take the beach. Cyclops, complete with a Cap shield dent in his visor, gives the order for the X Men to charge and the fight is on!

Not that it’s much of a fight. Seriously, Cyclops has Psylocke and some New Mutants and Dr. Nemesis charging into Wolverine, Iron Fist, Spider Man, Captain America, and a Giant Man. Not sure if it’s Pym or Stature’s dad. Remember the cartoon Samurai Pizza Cats? There was a comic relief B team called The Rescue Squad and that’s what Scott Summers has on the beach plus Psylocke. We can pretty much call the fight here, but this is a $3.99 comic, so we’ve got some pages to fill.

It’s time for the New Mutants to hang it up.

But things get better for the X Men because SURGE GETS A LINE! She says “why was I left off of a main roster but Vampire Jubilee is still around?” Actually, she only says “what the hell are they even doing here?” but she says it awesomely. She’s hanging out in a room with a giant window right next to the action with Pixie (Utopia’s Wesley Crusher) and some Lights watching the fight. Through a big window next to the battle. It’s the perfect place for Emma to stow Hope: an easily found room full of people Hope could easily incapacitate if she wanted to. I’m starting to think Cyclops got the short end of the schism stick as far as rosters go because the talent on this island is thin. Steve Rogers is just going to hang out in the ring and start jack knifing people while referees make three counts on guys he’s not even pinning.

“Did someone just reference me? I’m available for bookings! I played Super Shredder!”

This logic jump is forgiven, as we move into a cool Emma Frost vs. Iron Man and then Iron Man vs. Magneto sequence. And then we cut to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch hanging out in their bonus room watching the fight on television. Did you call it a bonus room or a den? I think it’s only a den if your dad is the primary occupant. Dad=den, kids=playroom and mom=kitchen. AMIRIGHT?

Apparently there’s crazy fighting going on, but it’s not so crazy that CNN helicopters are about 100 feet from a Magneto fight filming it. I always love seeing super heroes lounging in their house. It’s important to note that Quicksilver is business casual when he watches television, but Scarlet Witch has yet to buy new clothes since she resurfaced, so she’s been catching up on Breaking Bad in full costume. Pietro decides it’s time to punch his dad in the face, and does so. Scarlet Witch stays home and writes in her dream journal. We know it’s a dream journal because it’s opened to the middle of the book and it says ‘Wanda’s Dream Journal’ at the top. The first half of the book is all Quicksilver/Scarlet Witch fanfiction written by Quicksilver. And it gets pretty gross.

Meanwhile, the mutants are pissed at Wolverine because his X Men book is the best one, and Storm and Black Panther are super pissed at each other because remember that they’re married? This had better end with her and Panther making a decision together and not them splitting apart, since they got married and then he started being Daredevil right away and so far their marriage has been stupid.

Hope watches the fight from closer than the CNN helicopters and of course she’s gonna get out because she’s being guarded by Pixie and a blue chick I don’t know the name of.

Cyclops gets his ass handed to him by Captain America, but manages to get a shot off at Wolverine. Props to Aaron- he manages to show more Schism between Scott and “the crazy fringe” Logan in one panel than all of Schism did in like 6 books.

And seriously, Cyclops just did a total job to Steve Rogers. It was rough.

Magik traps Dr. Strange in hell and takes magic out of the fight. She’s back to having goat legs, which is pretty cool if you like goat legs. She’s got a demon army with her, which is a good indicator of where Scott Summers’ head it right now. Spoiler alert: It’s in a place where goat legs and demon armies are an ok thing.

Danger warns Cyclops that Stark is shutting down their island defenses. I haven’t seen any island defenses yet so I’m not sure that this is something anyone should be worried about. When I think ‘island defenses’ I think of that sequence in Transformers: The Movie when Autobot City turns into nothing but guns. So far, Utopia’s defenses have been Hepzibah in a sports bra, and Dr. Nemesis, who always makes me think of Dr. McNinja.

Please join the X Club.

Wolverine and Spider Man sneak into a drainpipe like Slaughter and the Renegades breaking into the Terrordrome. They find Hope and she Phoenixes them. And then I think she burns Wolverine alive? So he’s dead. LOLj/k.

And then, in a gag out of Three’s Company, the Avengers burst through one door and the X Men burst through another and they all go ‘where’s Hope?!’ And of course Hope has bailed. And then the X Men and Avengers are trapped together in a small space and forced to work out their differences.

Meanwhile, in deep space, the rest of the Avengers are about to get fucked up by a giant cosmic firebird. I bet Ms. Marvel gets aced. They don’t have anything planned for her, right?

In my last review I ripped Romita’s art pretty severely and it continues to be a problem. I’m not going to beat a dead horse but there are panels where Iron Fist looks like a circle with a smiley face and that just sucks.

But Aaron is shining: I’m excited to see The Best Writer of All Time writing Avengers. The fight scenes are well staged- when Namor comes at Thing there’s a sense of history between the two and not just ‘this will sell comics!’ Likewise when Summers keeps focusing on Wolverine and airs his ‘we’re fucking step children to the Avengers’ grievances. This moment of aggression was earned by Marvel. It didn’t need Nitro blowing up kids. It may not have even needed Phoenix: Everyone is sick of everything. X Men are sick of being second thought garbage. Avengers are sick of world killing events. The X Men might cause one. So now the Avengers are sick of them. It’s been organic and well done, and you can read the reasons behind every punch.

ELSEWHERE… I also picked up Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X Men AvX tie in, and I suggest you pick it up. It’s fantastic and it also made me realize that the Jean Grey School is basically a school for mutants run by Avengers, which is kind of awesome. It’s also full of Gladiator and Kid Gladiator, and Chris Bachalo took more than 20 minutes to draw it.

NEXT ISSUE… Phoenix burns the world to ashes and civilization has to be restarted by Surge and Kid Gladiator! Excelsior!

Brave Nerd World: Movie Villains vs. Super Heroes

by Stephen Prescott

We’ve all wondered what would happen if our favorite pop culture characters were pitted against each other in mortal combat. Well we’ve got a few match-ups covered for you! In this exciting episode it is movie villains vs. super heroes. With the help of some trusty 20-sided dice and their vivid imaginations, Heidi and Stephen tackle just who would win and why. Prepare to be surprised and possibly delighted by the outcomes

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