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Pandora

According to the short story in Justice League #6 the mysterious lady in red who was introduced in Flashpoint #5 is named Pandora. I am sure it is a play on words from Greek mythologies Pandora’s box because the Phantom Stranger in the story asked for her to give him her box. In Greek mythology Pandora opened a box made by Zeus the king of Gods which contained all the evils of the world. She has knowledge far greater than a normal human but looks human except with distinctive marks on her face. We still don’t know much about her as we see in the short story that she possesses a ‘box’, has ‘cursed’ the world before and also seems to be observant and curious toward things that occur. The Phantom Stranger said that she interfered with reality and changed things for her own purpose and said she should fear the higher powers in the universe namely the Spectre but she said she had already been judged by a higher power and he did not scare her.

Pandora Close Up

At the end end Flashpoint with Barry Allen’s help running through the time line Pandora’s actions appears to have merged three of those worlds the regular DC world, the Vertigo world and, the Wildstorm world. The full reason for this has not yet been revealed. A synopsis of events in Justice League #6: Pandora comes across a dead body which she begins to investigate, until the Phantom Stranger interrupts her. Phantom Stranger reveals that he is aware of what Pandora has done to the universe, and while she thinks she may have strengthened it, he tells her she has only cursed it, as she once did before. He continues to state that a group called the Circle of Eternity had made it clear that people like them were cursed to watch the world that they’ve sown, never getting involved, but Pandora remains defiant, dismissing the Stranger’s warning believing the Circle to had been destroyed. Stranger informs her that someone from the Circle who he refers to as “The Third Sinner” is still walking the world, but unlike her, does not interfere with the human world. Stranger attempts to take “the box” away from Pandora, leading her to attack, and shoot him in the head, knowing full well that she can’t kill him, only cause him pain. Pandora leaves, telling Stranger that she will find and imprison someone called “The Strange,” as it will free her of her curse, and she will receive help from the Justice League, whether they like it or not.

This story sheds light on Pandora but leaves us with many questions, when will this story be presented in the New 52 and how will the Justice League play into this. The intrigue of the mysterious woman in red is not over yet but we have a name Pandora. This is part of the fun of reading comics guess as you may it still has to be revealed in story and art in some future issue in the New 52 comics. You can be assured we will be there at Comics Talk. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Justice League: Doom

I the age of mega million dollar movies about the comic world you can understand why that DC Universe Animated Original Movies have done so well in the superhero market. DC Universe Animated Original Movies are direct-to-video film projects being created by Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Comics. Currently, thirteen feature-length films have been released with additional films slated for release. The first film was released in 2007 and in each year since two to three have been released. Additionally, five short films have been released. The first of these projects was Superman: Doomsday, which was loosely based on the popular 1992–1993 storyline “The Death of Superman” where Superman fights Doomsday in a duel to the death. It was released on September 21, 2007. It made $9,448,768 in the US and sold 683,530 units DVD/Blu Ray. With the cost of a the major movie production vs the animated releases it has been a popular way for Warner Bros. to bring the iconic superhero characters in film. The gross proceeds of the 13 films has been $75,519,467 making room for the latest edition ‘Justice League: Doom’.

Justice League: Doom is an adaptation of Mark Waid’s JLA story arc, “JLA: Tower of Babel” wherein the Legion of Doom is formed to eliminate the Justice League using protocols created by Batman to take down the group should its members ever go rogue. The movie was adapted and written by Dwayne McDuffie shortly before his death in February 2011, and is directed by Lauren Montgomery and produced by Bruce Timm. It was released on February 28, 2012. The film dedicated to Dwayne McDuffie. The voice talent is very good: Tim Daly as Superman, Kevin Conroy as Batman, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, Michael Rosenbaum as the The Flash (Barry Allen instead of Wally West), Carl Lumbly as Martian Manhunter (likewise as Ma’alefa’ak), Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Phil Morris as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo as Star Sapphire, Alexis Denisof as Mirror Master, and David Kaufman as Jimmy Olsen with the voice talents of Bumper Robinson as Cyborg, Carlos Alazraqui as Bane, Paul Blackthorne as Metallo, Claudia Black as Cheetah, Grey DeLisle as Lois Lane, and Robin Atkin Downes as Alfred Pennyworth.

The movie was well done and using the premise that Batman would have a contingency plan for the other Justice League members if they went bad is awesome, and causes a lot of flack between the heroes especially when the plan falls into the hands of villain Vandal Savage. It also introduces the voice of Bumper Robinson as Cyborg who plays a major roll in the story. Producer Bruce Timm and his fellow movie makers have a good formula of making past stories into film and making them successful, entertaining reproductions of the superheros we know. This movie is also very entertaining and worth buying.  The superhero world is alive and well at Warner Bros. Animation.

There is a preview in the DVD/Blu Ray that I got of an up coming project call Superman vs The Elite (Click Link to see trailer) which is based on the comic book Action Comics 775 titled “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?”. It’s about ultra-violent super-heroes who routinely killed their enemies and who flaunted their powers and willingness to kill to prevent others from opposing or criticizing them and how Superman deals with these violent people who may be more powerful than he. This is also for release in 2012. We are on the watch for you here at Comics Talk. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Justice League

After a three-year run on Marvel’s First Superhero team book, Jonathan Hickman is leaving “Fantastic Four” in October. In an interview with Marvel.com, Jonathan Hickman announced he will be finishing his story arc on the Fantastic Four and Future Foundation after “Fantastic Four” #611 and “FF” #23. By the time he leaves the books, Hickman will have been the “Fantastic Four” writer for three years, introducing storys such as the death of Johnny Storm, the council of Reeds and launching the Future Foundation.

“I always had an end point in mind, but along the way I really fell in love with writing Marvel’s First Family and I also had all these dangling bits to clean up, so I agreed — [and] wanted — to stay on,” Hickman told Marvel.com. “Then all the gears started turning on all the [Avengers Vs. X-Men] stuff and what comes after and it just became obvious that October would be a good time to hop off.”

While Hickman will be leaving “Fantastic Four” after revitalizing the franchise, fans can catch his work on “Avengers vs. X-Men” later this year and read his take on the Ultimate Marvel universe in “Ultimate Comics Ultimates” alongside co-writer Sam Humphries beginning in issue #10. Hickman’s creator owned “The Manhattan Project” hits March 7 from Image Comics.

“Personally, I just hope that I continue to evolve as a creator — that FF was better than the things I wrote before [it], and that what I write after FF will be the best thing I’ve done,” Hickman said. “We’ll see.”

To say that the readers will miss Hickman as writer is an understatement. He has brought the motto “Worlds Greatest Comic Magazine” back to the Fantastic Four comic book. When I was younger I enjoyed reading Stan lee and Jack Kirby’s version of the Fantastic Four, the first 100 comics will for ever be classics in story and first time ever done stories. Kirby’s art work was years ahead of it’s time and characters like the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and of course Doctor Doom, just to name a few, were brought to life with his art. Early on in Fantastic Four #4 Namor the Sub-Mariner was reintroduced to silver age readers and  during the early issues the the hidden race the Inhumans, the Black Panther, an African king who would be mainstream comics’ first black superhero; the rival alien races the Kree and the shapeshifting Skrulls and so much more that shaped the Marvel Universe. The early writers included Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Roger Stern, Steve Englehart, Walt Simonson, Tom DeFalco.

I never forget the work of John Byrne on the Fantastic Four, very good stuff. Byrne revitalized the slumping title with his run. Byrne brought to the Fantastic Four the amazing stories of the early years into the modern times. The Fantastic Four grew as a family and the Invisible Girl became the Invisible Woman and one of the most powerful woman in the Marvel Universe. Some writers have been worthy of taking on Marvels First Family and telling us about them.

Jonathan Hickman did some of the best writing in resent Marvel history and made the Fantastic Four and now FF very fun to read. He kept the Marvel tradition alive and wrote about major events and seemly hopeless situations and made them into a very interesting story arc. I can’t wait to see how he closes the run on the Fantastic Four. We wish Jonathan the best on your current and future projects. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

The Avengers Movie

Here it is the best Trailer yet for  The Avenger Movie Coming May 4th 2012.

Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.

Amazing Spider Man 3

For those Marvel fans that have been following all the major happenings at Marvel and are into the next big thing at Marvel I want to point out that the Amazing Spider Man series is very good and has a major story arc coming involving the Sinister Six some of the toughest villains Spider Man ever fought and Spider Man’s old foe Doctor Octopus (Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius).  His first appearance was in The Amazing Spider-Man #3 (July 1963). Doctor Octopus was created by the great Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes. He is typically portrayed as a stocky, myopic man who utilizes four powerful, mechanical appendages, and is obsessed with proving his own genius and destroying Spider-Man. In the first story Dr. Octopus’ last name was spelled “Octavious.” All stories since have spelled it Octavius. Spider-Man has also nicknamed Octopus as Doc Ock.

During the Dark Reign storyline, Doctor Octopus learns that due to injuries suffered from his many battles, his body is failing, giving him only months to live. He has now modified himself to be mentally connected to his own army of miniature ‘octobots’, and has added four additional appendages to his harness. He used the octobots to take control of all of the technology in New York City and planned to turn it into a paradise under his control, though he subconsciously also targeted Spider-Man, and disrupted the wedding plans of  Aunt May. Spider-Man and the Human Torch eventually tracked down his base, save the captive J. Jonah Jameson Sr. (May’s fiancee), Carlie Cooper, and Norah Winters, and finally destroyed Doctor Octopus’ hold over the city. Doctor Octopus is then able to escape (still holding power over his octobots) and vows a “terrible revenge”.

In Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli’s “Ends of the Earth” arc, he and the Sinister Six have an explosive endgame in store for the world. Only the Avengers and Spider-Man can stop them. With the 50th anniversary of Spider Man this series reports to be something very special. I will share excerpts from the interview with Dan Slott by CBR on the web.

Slott: For me, the biggest motivation of the 50th was that I could see it coming. With the twice monthly book, you end up working on three or four arcs at once because everyone has to keep working. It can be a grind. Knowing the 50th was coming was the carrot. It was my reward. I kept myself going through a couple of all-nighters by saying, “You can do this, you can do this. The 50th is coming!” It’s an honor, and it’s something I take very seriously. We’ve got a lot of great plans, and we’re building to a lot of things because these moments should be special. It’s 50 years of Spider-Man! But I can’t spoil too much.

Amazing Spider Man 682

CBR: The one thing we do know is coming up is “Ends of the Earth” – Doc Ock’s big return with the Sinister Six that we’ve been waiting for for quite a while now. Dan, why was now the time for those chickens to come home to roost in the wake of “Spider-Island”?

Slott: You’re always building to something bigger and bigger, and when you look at the journey Spider-Man has taken, especially in our opening arcs, you see how all the pieces of our status quo have fallen into pace. The Sinister Six have been out there planning something. Spider-Man has this job at Horizon, and on top of that he also has this new mission. He’s given himself this almost untenable goal, like the War on Drugs or the War on Terror. He had decided that whenever he’s around, on his watch, no one dies. And that’s because of the death of Marla Jameson. Everything grows out of those big moments and beats and will keep building. You’re going to see a major shift during “Ends of the Earth” as a lot of those elements come to a head, all in a big, globe-trotting, world-spanning adventure!

CBR:Obviously, with “Spider-Island” we had a core story in “Amazing” that was supported by a number of minis and one-shots. With “Ends of the Earth,” we know there are six issues of main story, but will there be any support books with the rest of the Spider-Man cast?

Slott: We’re going to do a one-shot special. This story has ramifications for all of planet earth, and in the one-shot, you’ll see superheroes from across the planet dealing with this problem. There are characters here that might not have been highlighted for a while from different countries and fan favorites it’ll be fun to touch base with. And in “Ends of the Earth,” you’ll see a lot of fun stuff with the supporting characters, particularly the Horizon cast, during the course of the six issues of “Amazing.” But for the most part, this is like a movie. “Ends of the Earth” is a Spider-Man blockbuster focused on action between Spider-Man, the members of the Sinister Six and Doc Ock. They’re your stars.

CBR: Many people on the boards were playing detective about “Ends of the Earth,” with NickFury90 pointing out that we’re looking at a new costume coming up in issue #683. What lies ahead on that front?

Slott: Stefano Caselli designed a great suit, and you’re going to see why Spidey needs it in “Ends of the Earth” and what it can do. It is something we’ve been building to, and you’ll see Humberto Ramos do his take on it too. It’s great, but we’re not sharing it yet. We’re hiding it!
DISCLAIMER:  Comicstalk.com is protected from liability under “safe harbor” provisions and will disable information that knowingly commits plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. End of excerpts of interview.

In the modern age of comic book stories this looks like something to check out. A dieing man’s revenge and the persistence of possibly Marvel’s greatest hero to save the day Spider Man to celebrate his 50th birthday. The art work looks great and the story has real possibilities of being one of the best Spider-Man story’s of all time. That is what is happening this March in Amazing Spider Man.  Be there Marvel and Spider Man reader. We will be there also commenting on the ‘Ends of the Earth’. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

SEE THE SERIES PREVIEW HERE

Action Comics 9

Media Release – With ACTION COMICS #9, two acclaimed guest artists will explore an alternate Earth and the story of its Kryptonian protector. Multiple Eisner Award-winning artist Gene Ha will be a guest artist for the primary plot, penned by regular series writer Grant Morrison. And fresh from his recent work on THE SHADE miniseries, artist Cully Hamner will illustrate the issue’s back-up story, written by Sholly Fisch.

Parallel worlds come to the forefront of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave,” with titles such as EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST exploring the adventures of heroes on alternate Earths. ACTION COMICS #9 sets up the multiverse with a standalone story of a Superman from another Earth, who must fight a monster from yet another parallel world. But this isn’t just any monster; it’s a Superman surrogate known as Superdoom, twisted into an unstoppable agent of evil. The back-up story will also feature an adventure of this alternate Superman, set on his parallel Earth. Regular series artist Rags Morales will return for ACTION COMICS #10 in June. End Media release

Action Comics 9 Multiverse Story

Well by the look of the media release and the fact that DC is bringing back the Justice Society in Earth 2 and Worlds Finest featuring Power Girl and the Huntress the Multiverse is alive and well at DC. That is something that fans where wondering and DC is answering with new and different versions of there heroes and villains. DC seems to write stories about the multiverse more than any other comic book publisher. Marvel has the two Universes that it mainly deals with the regular Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe. While they occasionally use the concept of multiple universes they tend to deal with these two. Some Marvel comics refer to the main Marvel Universe as Earth 616.

Most references to Earth-616 appear in Marvel UK titles, in Excalibur, or in Marvel reference texts such as the guide to Alternate Universes (2005). In addition, there are a number of other references to Earth-616: In Marvel 1602 #6 (March 2004), Uatu the Watcher refers to the universe as Earth-616. In Marvel Knights 4 #15 (April 2005), Earth-616 is mentioned. In Uncanny X-Men #462 (September 2005), Earth-616 was mentioned also. There were other references also but Marvel tends to not elaborate on the mulitivese and some in Marvel don’t like the designation of Earth-616.

Former Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort have each stated their dislike for the term Earth 616.

“I can tell you for sure that those of us actually working on the books virtually never use the term — and I kind of wince inside whenever I hear somebody use it. It just sounds so stupid to my ear, and so counter to the kind of mindset we try to foster in regard to the stories we create and the thinking we try to employ.” Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort.

“I never use it, I hate the term pure and simple and agree with Tom’s assessment of it. I can’t remember ever hearing it in the office and only really see it used online for the most part. I think the term really came into vogue when the Ultimate Universe came into prominence, but in my world, the language and distinctions are simple, there is the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe. Anything other than that reeks of all that DC Earth 1, Earth 2, Earth Prime stuff which I’ve never really taken to, but then again, I got into DC when they got rid of all that stuff so it was from and for a different era than my own. ” Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.

Now DC on the other hand has a clear history of trying to fix continuity issues by creating Crisis series to fix there problems. Crisis on Infinite Earths (April 1985 – March 1986) was inspired by earlier crossover stories involving the multiple parallel Earths of the Multiverse, such as “Crisis on Earth-Two” and “Crisis on Earth-Three”, but instead of lasting two to five issues and involving members from many superhero teams from many parallel worlds, it involved virtually every significant character from every parallel universe in DC’s history. It in turn inspired the titles of four subsequent DC crossover series: Zero Hour: Crisis in Time (1994), Identity Crisis (2004), Infinite Crisis (2005–2006), and Final Crisis (2008).

Now after Flashpoint 2011 they created The New 52 and did a reboot of all things and we are in the process of finding out what that means to the DC Comic world of the present. Writers and editors are creating all things new and some trends of the old DC remain the same. The multiverse will be a main part of the New DC 52 and the DC comic creators will have to do it the DC way and try to please a very competitive market and comic reading public. I feel change is good and see many changes in the direction of the comic world, but there are distinct differences in that don’t seem to change. Marvel is having the same challenges in pleasing the entertainment public and they will change also but there will hopefully always be a Marvel way of doing comics. That is what choice is all about. Competition makes things better and we vote with our pocket book. Tell me what you think about the New 52 and Marvel because you are part of the future in comics. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Avengers Vs XMen 1

Media Release — This April, prepare for the biggest super hero war in comics history as Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Avengers Vs. X-Men #1! From the powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel comes a groundbreaking event pitting Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake. Cyclops and his team believe the arrival of the Phoenix Force will save mutantkind, but Captain America is convinced it will destroy the world! But who is right? Don’t miss out on all the action in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS,
JASON AARON, MATT FRACTION,
JONATHAN HICKMAN, ED BRUBAKER
Art by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Colors by LAURA MARTIN
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
ON SALE – 4/3/12

Well from the media release above you can see that Avengers vs X-Men is the next major event in the Marvel Universe, as the paragraph says: the Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake. Well the Marvel Universe is always at stake these days so that doesn’t surprise me and friend has fought friend before (Civil War) so that doesn’t astound me either.

What has me taking attention is the fact that the Phoenix Force is coming back in full force. Some of the best X-Men stories have been part of the Phoenix Force story arc. The Phoenix is among the most feared beings in all of existence — having the power to cut and re-grow any part of the universe, as well as destroy it entirely, which is part of the Phoenix’s purpose: “The Judgment of the Phoenix”, to burn away the obsolete. The Phoenix Force is described as being “the embodiment of the very passion of Creation – the spark that gave life to the Universe, the flame that will ultimately consume it.” The greatest of all host was Jean Gray. After dieing and resurrected Jean ultimately merged with the Phoenix Force, once again becoming the White Phoenix, and returned to the White Hot Room, while the Phoenix Force went to find its missing pieces.

The 12 part series event has the Phoenix returning to Earth to look for a new host possibly in Hope Summers. The supposed “Mutant Messiah” and some say the reincarnation of Jean Grey. What that has to do with Jean Grey and whether we will see her again still remains to be seen. But try as I may to not participate in the latest Mega event of Marvel just the collection of all star talent producing the series (listed above) will draw me to the story like a moth to the flame. Also is my appreciation of the wonderful story’s about the Phoenix in Chris Claremont writing and the artwork of first Dave Cockrum and then John Byrne in the late 1970s, still one of my favorite comic stories of all times.

So I am hooked and will be there for the series and report back to you what I think. Click on the pages below to get the start of what I hope is a great story. Also for you Marvel big fans check the video interview of the creators and editors. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Watch Marvel Architects Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Ed Brubker and Jonathan Hickman along with EiC Axel Alonso, SVP – Publishing Tom Brevoort and Senior Editor Nick Lowe as they give …

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The Avengers Movie

The Avengers Movie has to be the most anticipated movie of 2012. A culmination of stories hinted at in the Marvel movies that came before and should be a colossal success if done as well as their previous movie productions. With Director/Writer Joss Whedon and an all star cast Robert Downey Jr. as Ironman, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, and even Lou Ferrigno as the voice of  The Incredible Hulk this should be something special. We know that the special effects will be good and the acting with this line up and director should be excellent. But what do we know about the story through the recent trailers?

We know through the convention interview with Tom Hiddleston that Loki did not die at the end of the movie Thor. Loki wandered through the universe getting knowledge and power. He made an alliance with an intergalactic army and comes to rule the earth but must confront his brother Thor and the Avengers to do this. He also shows great interest in the Cosmic Cube and may have found a way to use it’s vast power to his advantage. He has learned more and has become a very dangerous individual with an army behind him the greatest threat to earth we have seen in Marvel movies thus far.

Nick Fury has facilitated this Avengers get together because he “believes in heroes” and I know that S.H.I.E.L.D. is deeply involved in the plan to save earth from this invader. Thor is drawn to the challenge because of his brother Loki and I am sure he must have mixed feelings about dealing harsh with him.  It looks like the Black Widow makes a personal appeal to Bruce Banner to be part of the Avengers and he accepts. How the Hulk agrees to be part of the Avengers we still don’t know but in the last trailer we see him fighting the army from another world so we know he is part of the team. Captain America after he wakes up from hibernation adjust quickly to the new world he gets a new uniform and has words with Tony Stark asking him what he gives the team without his armor. Tony Stark has a lot of one liners that add to the flavor of the movie in the trailers, I hope they saved a few for the full movie.

This is a mixture of characters that are used to working alone and must find a way to get it done and work as a team to defeat the major threat to the world. Every entertainment project of Joss Whedon has been done with quality and this should be also. This is a movie event that I think will put many people in the theater may even set records. We will be there, I recommend you be there on May 4th or there about to check the Movie The Avengers. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Amazing Spider Man

Amazing Spider-Man reboot starts July 3 2012 in theaters. The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high school student who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr Curt Connors, his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

Marvel is set for a great year with the release of Spider-Man and The Avengers movie in the same year. We shall see if the quality continues in movie production of Marvel Entertainment. I hope the reintroduction of the Marvel Icon Spider-Man is well done. You can bet we will be there to comment and review. Stay tuned for more comic faithful. Walt

Justice League #5 2012

DC Comics has all the titles in top 10 in January great sales beginning the new year. Diamond Comic Distributors shows Marvel comics with slight lead in Dollar sales DC leads in Unit sales and has become very popular since coming out with the New 52 back in September 2011. DC had a great month, taking every slot of the top ten single issues and topping the industry in overall units sold with Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s “Justice League” #5 leading the pack. “Justice League” has been the top selling single issue in every month since the book’s premiere in August 2011.

Why is DC Comics doing so well after the Marvel Dominance for so many years. There are several factors working here the first is the price of the comics. Please note in the list of the top ten comics of January 2012 all but 2 titles sell for $2.99. That will push the unit sales up because more people can afford to buy more comics. I have a friend who loves comics both Marvel and DC but because of the price he must limit the comics he buys every month. Marvel’s average cover price is higher than DC Comics. I read Comic Vines Forums and one writer started a thread; ” I have been a Marvel fan my entire life, often thinking of DC as stupid. However, this past year DC is dominating for me. The new 52 is mostly awesome and the lower prices mean I can buy more books. I have no desire to buy a marvel book right now, while I can not wait for the new DC releases every week. Is anybody else with me?”  Boy that says a lot.

Also is the quality much of the New 52 is very good. It has a new fresh look and feel. DC put together some of the best writers and artist to make something special in story and very pleasing to the eyes. When people buy in these numbers it is because they like what their reading. The stories stand alone and for the current time you don’t have to read many titles to get the story like old DC and Marvels mega series. I think people like major stories and series but it should not dominate all the time. A mega series should be rare and not as frequent as Marvel and DC have produced in the past 5 to 6 years. The reader is brain numb to tragedy because it is so frequent in modern comic publishing. Sometimes we just want to read a good story involving the personal life and superhero life of our favorite comic book character.

And also there are new readers out there that are jumping on the New 52 band wagon because it is something new from the ground up. Many of the names are the same but the past history of these icons in DC is gone so the writer has no script he must follow to stay within continuity of past stories. It is a great jumping on point for old and new readers.

Will this trend continue? Well that depends on DC Comics and Marvel and the visual appetite of the reader of comic books. The company that fills that hunger for quality of story and art be it Marvel, DC or any of the other publishers out there will sell the most comics because that is how it works. We will be there and tell the story. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Batman and Robin

Media Release — In May of 2012, DC Comics will release a “Second Wave” of titles as part of its historic DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 initiative. Six new, ongoing series will build on the shared universe and bold concepts introduced in September 2011 with the renumbering of DC Comics’ entire line of comic books.

Featuring a variety of different genres and storytelling sensibilities, the titles in the “Second Wave” will be helmed by some of the most legendary writers and artists in the comic book industry, and will also feature the first ongoing comic book series written by acclaimed novelist China Miéville.

“The excitement of the initial launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”

DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” includes:

* BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

* EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

* WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

* DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

* G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

* THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

The six new series will replace BLACKHAWKS, HAWK AND DOVE, MEN OF WAR, MISTER TERRIFIC, O.M.A.C. and STATIC SHOCK, all of which will conclude with their eighth issues in April.

“Many of the characters from our canceled books will appear in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 titles, and in some very surprising ways,” said Harras. “We’re developing stories that reach from cultures around the globe to parallel worlds. We’re just getting started.”

Well it looks like DC isn’t messing around with low selling comics they have a new set of titles coming out soon. It’s nice to see World’s Finest with the Huntress and Power Girl stuck in the wrong universe. And Earth 2 The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society nice to see DC did not forget them. And Grant Morrison gets his chance to finish what he started in Batman Incorporated, it is now part of the New 52. So don’t any body think there is time for a new DC Crisis series, I hope not. We are here checking the best of Comics for you. Stay tuned Comic faithful for more. Walt

Media Release– This April, as the Marvel Universe waits on baited breath for the arrival of the all-powerful Phoenix Force, Wolverine must choose a side of the coming war…but will the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning follow? Find out if Logan fights for mutantkind or mankind in Wolverine & The X-Men #9 from the blockbuster creative team of Jason Aaron & Chris Bachalo available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!

Wolverine And The XMen 9

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #9
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
ON SALE THIS APRIL!

Avengers vs X-Men 2

Looks like The Avengers vs X-Men begins this April. You knew Marvel can’t let a year go by without a big Major deal involving most of the Marvel Universe in a crossover event. So here it is. The all-powerful Phoenix Force and maybe Jean Grey are back, which makes it the Avengers against the X-Men. How does it happen? What events lead to this? Marvel will spell it out soon starting this April. For the Marvel fans get your reading glasses on or digital device ready this looks like a big one as only Marvel can do.

The Avengers and X-Men have learned that the all-powerful embodiment of both death and rebirth known as the Phoenix Force is on a crash course for Earth…and it needs a new host to unleash its immeasurable power. But what is the shocking decision tied to the Phoenix’s return that will pit the Avengers against the X-Men? And when good friends become bitter enemies, what does this mean for the future of the Marvel Universe?

Shipping twice monthly, this epic 12-issue limited series will be available in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app on the same day—additionally, each print issue of AVENGERS VS X-MEN includes a code for a free digital copy of the issue on the Marvel Comics app at no additional cost to fans or retailers. “AVENGERS VS X-MEN brings together the most powerful forces in comics for a super hero war like you’ve never seen before and will never see again. We all want to see the best of the best go against each other—Lakers & Celtics; Ali & Frazier; Yankees & Red Sox; and in comics it’s the Avengers fighting the X-Men, ” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment. “We’ve brought together the biggest writers, biggest artists and biggest characters for the biggest story we’ve ever told. This is the kind of high-octane action-packed story that fans demand while also having a profound effect on every character involved—and reshaping the Marvel Universe in its wake.”

Well Marvel is still changing the Universe with major event after event and this makes me wonder when they will do what DC Comics did and start all over. Well if they do it will be done the  Marvel way with much fanfare and flare. Perhaps they will join the Ultimates with the original universe, wouldn’t that be something. Well before I let my imagination get away from me one thing in the Media publication caught my eye it said, “You’ve heard It’s Coming—and this April the War Is Here in AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1! All your favorite super heroes enter—and only one team will emerge victorious!” What that means I am not sure but you can bet we will be there for you our readers. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt