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Archive for the ‘Marvel’ Category

Spider-Men #4

Since the initial, vague announcement back in February, Marvel has slowly revealed more information on Spider-Men, namely that it’s the first-ever meeting between the classic Spider-Man, Peter Parker, and the recently debuted Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales — and the first interaction of any kind between their two fictional universes.

Spider-Men, a five-part miniseries by the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli, debuts with two issues in June. The villain of the series is classic fishbowl-helmeted Spidey foil Mysterio, and the story is also set to include guest spots from the Ultimate versions of Aunt May and Gwen Stacy, who saw their Peter Parker perish during a fight with the Green Goblin at the climax of last year’s “Death of Spider-Man” storyline.

Newsarama talked to Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso about why the time was right for Spider-Men, waiting a dozen years to break down the barrier between the Ultimate and Marvel universes, Mysterio’s role in the story and the impact the series is set to have. Courtesy of Marvel, we’re exclusively debuting Jim Cheung’s cover to Spider-Men #4, out in August.

Newsarama is solely reponsible for the content you can find the interview HERE.

The Avengers in Avengers vs. X-Men seem to have the upper hand right now but thanks to the Marvel teaser for Act Two , that might not be for long.  Promoting the second act of Avengers vs. X-Men, starting with June’s issue #6, Marvel released a teaser Wednesday stating “No more Avengers” — calling back to Scarlet Witch’s famous “No more mutants” proclamation at the end of 2005′s House of M, which led directly to the “Decimation” era of a depleted mutant population. What type of affect this statement will have — and the identity of the person uttering it — remains to be seen.

MEDIA RELEASE: Following the world changing effects of Avengers VS. X-Men #5, the Marvel Universe will face a dramatic change unlike any fans have ever seen before bringing the action packed first act to a close. Then, the comic book event of the summer kicks into overdrive as Act Two begins in Avengers VS. X-Men #6! Thought you knew everything about the Phoenix Force and what it’s capable of? Think again, True Believer!  Get in on all the excitement as Avengers VS. X-Men #5 and Avengers VS. X-Men #6, hit comic shops, the Marvel Comics app, and Marvel Digital Comic Shop this June.

Avengers VS XMen ActTwo NoMoreAvengers

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #5
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by JOHN ROMITA JR
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
ON SALE – 6/6/12

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #6
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Pencils by OLIVIER COIPEL
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
ON SALE – 6/20/12

The Avengers movie was great for Marvel fans. It had everything dialogue, intrigue, suspense, Thor vs Hulk, Iron Man vs Thor, Hawkeye vs the Black Widow, Aliens vs the Avengers, Loki vs everyone, and Hulk smash. Josh Whedon really did an outstanding job as director and turning the screenplay into a great action movie. If you are comic and Marvel savvy you will love this big screen version of the Avengers.

Thanos

A band of heroes learned to put their differences aside to become earths mighty Avengers. This movie is a great setup for a sequel. Speaking of sequel never leave a Marvel movie before the credits are over because we get clues at to the direction of future movies. In the middle of the credits you see the character that Loki had to deal with showing homage to a greater person that is none other than Thanos the Titan.

Infinity Gauntlet 1

Thanos who first appeared in Iron Man #55 (Feb. 1973) and was created by writer-artist Jim Starlin. The character’s name is a derivation of Thanatos, the personification of death and mortality in Greek mythology. Thanos is a mutant member of the race of super humans known as the Titanian Eternals. He also has a real fascination with death. He once had the all the Infinity Gems in a Gauntlet which gave the power of God. Whoever holds all six gems in the Infinity Gauntlet gains omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and God-like power, and has absolute dominion over the universe. However because of his arrogance and other problems in the series Thanos The Infinity Gauntlet he is defeated by Earth’s superheroes.

Whenever the new Avengers movie comes out it is our opinion that Thanos will be the major villain. Rumors about the Infinity Gauntlet have been around for a couple years now with a mock version of the Gauntlet at the San Diego Comic Con. Well enough speculation already you need to see the Avengers if you have not done so yet, perhaps more will come to light about that in the future. You can bet we will keep you posted. Till next time stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

The Ultimates 9

Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribic and Dean White have produced one of the best comics at Marvel. With no continuity concerns, it’s been a comic where anything can happen and does with every issue out doing the other in surprises. Imagine Jonathan Hickman with his writing skills allowed to reshape the Ultimate Universe bringing forces more powerful that all the super-powered heroes combined. More powerful than all the nuclear might of the United States. Creating a race of people that have the power to destroy all there is and children of tomorrow led by the unscrupulous former leader of the Fantastic Four Reed Richards bent on retaliation against the United States.

Shield and the super-powered community seem to have no power to stop what is coming. Thor is de-powered and the Asgardians are destroyed. Is there hope that mankind as we know it will survive. Why aren’t you reading this no holds barred story arc? What will happen next? You must read #10 when it hits the comics stores and digital market, but first get you hands on the first 9 comics in the Ultimate Comics: Ultimates if you can find them. Jump on board and enjoy great story and art. I know there is a lot happening in the superhero world of comics but don’t miss out on this series. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Avengers 2012

The movie that will officially come to the big screen on May the first but some have pre-screened the movie and we have their comments read them if you dare. Beware SPOILERS AHEAD.

Thor vs Hulk ends in a stalemate. The fight begins on the heli-carrier after Banner hulks out and almost kills Black Widow. A huge fight between the two ensues (they’re about even in terms of power levels) but eventually ends when Hulk is distracted by a SHIELD fighter jet.

Stark Tower becomes The Avengers Mansion. It’s damaged during the battle for NYC but an A symbol can be seen on it at the very end (in a scene involving Pepper and Tony).

The events of The Incredible Hulk are acknowledged as in continuity. Tony watches a clip of the Hulk roaring from the park scene in TIH, Coulson briefs Captain America on the variation to the serum Erskine made (i.e. what Blonsky had), and Ruffalo’s Banner talks about how he leveled Brooklyn (i.e. when he duked it out with Abomination).

Thor flies only a handful of times during the film (once or twice in the battle at the end).

Pepper Potts is implied to be pregnant.

The battle in New York City lasts between 15 and 20 minutes.

The Leviathan(s) is not named in the film, and there are in fact three of them.

Agent Coulson is killed by Loki. He tries to use a gun created from the technology of the Destroyer armor on him (in order to save Thor), but gets stabbed. He does manage to fire the gun as he dies.

Thanos is the villain in the mid-credits scene (CGI, but possibly voiced by Jeffrey Wright). One of his minions remarks that to interfere with earth would be to “court death”, at which he smiles.

Asgard and Odin do not feature in the movie.

At the end Thor leaves Earth with Loki and the Cosmic Cube.

This movie is the most anticipated movie this year and we are all going to experience the fun of watching in the theaters. Perhaps there is a sequel in the works, we can only hope. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Incredible Hulk #7

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD: I have been reading comics for many years and thought I had seen everything but Incredible Hulk 7 gave me quite a surprise. Writer Jason Aaron has really done something with the relationship between Bruce banner and his alter ego the Hulk that has never been done. He has killed Banner and introduced the idea that the creature instead of the man may have been the calming part of the Banner/Hulk. Well when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the character the Hulk back in 1962 Bruce Banner was the normal mild mannered scientist who heroically save a young man from a Gamma Bomb and got the full blast of Gamma radiation that later turned him into the Hulk.

Stan Lee shared some of the thinking that went into the creation of the Hulk. “I combined Jekyll and Hyde with Frankenstein,” he explains, “and I got myself the monster I wanted, who was really good, but nobody knew it. He was also somebody who could change from a normal man into a monster, and lo, a legend was born.” Lee remembers, “I had always loved the old movie Frankenstein. And it seemed to me that the monster, played by Boris Karloff, wasn’t really a bad guy. He was the good guy. He didn’t want to hurt anybody. It’s just those idiots with torches kept running up and down the mountains, chasing him and getting him angry. And I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to create a monster and make him the good guy?” The rest is history and the Hulk quickly became one of the most popular Superheroes in comic history.

The Hulks cry “I am the strongest one there is” and “Hulk smash” is well known by Marvel readers. He is known as the angry monster and yet in one story of a fight between the Hulk and Thor (Thor 385) the god of thunder the Hulk was the one that broke off the fight leaving Thor to face the fact that he was the real angry prideful one that time. Dr. Doom, who separated Banner from the Hulk, in the issue 7 suggest that the Hulk side of Banner was the side of his personality that kept him sane. Well for years we thought that the Hulk was the angry one and Banner the sane and rational part of the psychic of Banner/Hulk.

What is the direction Aaron is going we don’t know but I can’t imagine a Hulk without a Dr. Banner. The storyline concludes with Banner being destroyed in the blast from his new gamma bomb, but it is implied that he has been ‘re-absorbed’ into the Hulk due to their proximity when the blast took place. Perhaps that is what we are going to see in the future. If true we may see the dynamics of the Bruce/Hulk relationship change forever. This is great reading and Marc Silvestri’s art is wonderful in the comic. Next issue is a month away recommended reading. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

The Phoenix Force

The Phoenix Force is one of the oldest known cosmic entities, representing life that has not yet been born. The Phoenix Force is an immortal, indestructible, and mutable manifestation of the prime universal force of life. Born of the void between states of being, the Phoenix Force is a child of the universe. It is the nexus of all psionic energy which does, has, and ever will exist in all realities of the omniverse, the Guardian of Creation, and a de-facto guardian of the M’Kraan Crystal.

The M’Kraan Crystal was a huge pink crystal of unknown origins, which was older than known history. Inside of the crystal there was a beautiful alien city, that outstretched the room that should have been there by far. Also there was no movement, as time and space had no meaning here. At the center of the city was a glowing energy sphere, which hosted a neutron galaxy. The sun of this neutron galaxy was a nexus point of all matter and antimatter of not only the universe, but all the different realities in existence. The crystal also housed the White Hot Room.

The White Hot Room is a realm that serves both as the afterlife and a base of operations for the Phoenix. Death described the realm as “the alpha and the omega, the beginning and end of all– where the physical universe merges with the domains of the spirit and imagination.”

Uncanny X Men 1st Phoenix

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.” It has been confirmed that the Phoenix Force will return in the upcoming 12 issue story arc Avengers vs. X-Men. The event has the Phoenix Force returning to Earth to reclaim Hope Summers, the “Mutant Messiah”, which will lead to a confrontation between the Avengers and the X-Men on how to deal with its arrival. It has also been revealed that the Phoenix Force will be revealed to have a previously unknown connection with the Iron Fist legacy. Because of this current series we wanted to share a little about the Phoenix.

Jean Grey Phoenix

It has been said that Hope Summers is the reincarnation of Jean Grey the most famous host of the Phoenix Force. If that is true or we will see the return of Jean herself remains to be seen but it is a series (Avengers vs. X-Men) that you don’t want to miss. This is the culmination of stories about the Phoenix written since 1976. Old marvel Fans and new will be amazed what happens. When I asked Matt Fraction one of the writers of Avengers vs. X-Men at the Emerald City Convention what we had in store for the series, with out revealing what happens he said that things will be done in this series that have never been done in superhero comics before. Plus there will be a definitive winner and looser of the series and we will understand the Phoenix better from the series.  Also he said that we can get the whole story by reading the bi weekly series which will be easier on the pocket book that other series have been in the past.

This is a good time to read comics and we are part of your search for information at Comics Talk. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Hope with Phoenix Power

Glimpse of why the Avengers and X-Men are going to war against each other what are peoples attitude towards the Scarlet Witch including her husband Vision who wants no part of Wanda (the Scarlet Witch) for what she did when controlled by the power to change reality. And its about Hope and the relationship she has between her and the X-Men and their leader Cyclopes. What direction they are going with this is not clear accept that Hope and Wanda are being  judged by what they did or are going to do in the future. Wanda because of the crisis she caused in the past and Hope by the crisis that some people hope she can avert with the coming of the Phoenix to earth and the uncertainty of what that means.

Recently Albert Ching interviewed Tom Brevoort the Marvel senior vice president of publishing — and the man who edited Avengers vs. X-Men #0. The question and answer is important because it sheds some light on the evidence that Hope and the Phoenix are tied together some how and Hope has shown extraordinary power that looks like the work of that entity.

Avengers Vs X Men 0

Newsarama: Tom, hoping you can clear up some curiosity out there about when Avengers vs. X-Men #0 takes place compared to Avengers: X-Sanction #4 — the Phoenix takes over Hope rather vividly in X-Sanction #4, and heals Cable (with Cyclops as a witness). But in #0, the Phoenix is rather clearly still “coming,” as seen most plainly on the final page. Can we then presume that X-Sanction #4 takes place after, or does the manifestation in that issue signal something different than the Phoenix’s true arrival?

Tom Brevoort: I’m afraid you’re jumping to a (perfectly understandable) conclusion here. But X-Sanction #4 and AvX #0 take place in the order in which they shipped. Hope’s healing of Cable is certainly a signal that the Phoenix is on its way, and is coming closer—it’s the biggest flare-up of Phoenixlike power we’ve seen her evidence up till this time (though there have been other flashes for many months.) The exact mechanics of what is going on and how it all works are spelled out a bit more concretely in AvX #1 and #2. But no, the Phoenix Force isn’t here yet, and Hope does not yet have it.

Avengers vs. X-Men #0 is indeed a prelude, and there isn’t much in the way of Avengers-on-X-Men violence in this comic. In fact, the two teams don’t interact here at all, as the story consists of two separate but parallel narratives focusing on the individual camps. Still, we get Scarlet Witch (and Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel) vs. M.O.D.O.K., and Hope vs. the Serpent Society.

April the 4th is the release of Avengers vs X-Men #1 we will be commenting on the series as it is unfolding because of the far reaching effects of the story on the Marvel Universe. Stay tuned here to read the latest about the comics you love comic faithful. Walt

Spider-Man and Nick Fury

Media release CBR: Following the high-school adventures of teenage superhero Peter Parker (voiced by Disney star Drake Bell), Disney XD is teaming up with Marvel Entertainment to bring Spider-Man to a new generation. “Ultimate Spider-Man” begins as Parker is recruited by Nick Fury (Chi McBride) to join a special team of teenage crime fighters, including Marvel heroes Iron Fist (Greg Cipes), White Tiger (Caitlin Taylor Love), Power Man (Ogie Banks), and Nova (Logan Miller). Using the high school as their base — under the auspices of Principal Coulson/Agent Coulson, Clark Gregg reprising his live action film role — Parker must balance his crime fighting with his school life, hiding his alter ego from friends Mary-Jane (Tara Strong) and Harry Osborn (Matt Lanter).

With the series debut of April 1 fast approaching, Head of Marvel TV and “Ultimate Spider-Man” Executive Producer Jeph Loeb and Marvel Chief Creative Officer and Co-Executive Producer Joe Quesada spoke with reporters about the show. One of the thing they emphasized is the way the upcoming series will expose viewers to the broader Marvel Universe, leveraging Spidey’s popularity in order to spotlight characters like Luke Cage and White Tiger.

“We have a huge treasure chest of wonderful characters we think haven’t been exposed properly over time, but it was also a matter of finding characters that would work well within this cast, that would mix well with Peter Parker and characters that would translate to the young audience,” Quesada said. “These are absolutely characters we feel vested in, that we’re gong to be investing in the future, that we thought would just make for a wonderful show.

As the series begins, Peter Parker has been Spider-Man for just one year. He has saved lives and fought supervillains, but he is still in the process of learning how to be a superhero. Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. offers Peter the chance to train to be a real superhero and become “The Ultimate Spider-Man”. However, beforehand Peter will have to learn how to work with a team of four fellow teenage superheroes. The teen heroes Spider-Man will be teaming up with are Nova, White Tiger, Iron Fist, and Power Man.

Brian Michael Bendis and Paul Dini will be serving as writers and producers on the show. Man of Action (a group consisting of Steven T. Seagle, Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, and Duncan Rouleau), the creators of the animated series Ben 10 and Generator Rex, will be serving as supervising producers on the show. 26 episodes have been ordered for the first season. Marvel fans be there or be square.

Avengers Animated on TV

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Robot Overlord: Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes returns to the Disney XD on April 01, 2012, and Marvel sent a trailer our way for you to check out.

Media Release: Assemble!! Marvel’s The Avengers hits the big screen May 4… But in the meantime, get your hero fix with Marvel TV’s trailer for season 2 of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, premiering April 1 inside Marvel Universe on Disney XD!  The Avengers have fought against some of the most powerful and dangerous super villains in the world. But just when the team thought they had things under control, new threats emerge… Caught in the crossfire between two warring alien empires – Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must make a stand. But whom can they trust when they learn not everyone is who they seem to be?

Tune in for The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes season two premiere, along with the series premiere of Ultimate Spider-Man inside Marvel Universe on Disney XD April 1 beginning at 11am/10c.

On the Marvel web site to today a new teaser for the Spider-Men comic book coming out it leaves us who comment on comics to speculate who the Spider-Men are. Well we know that there are two persons that call themselves Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Miles Morales (Ultimate Spider-Man), and we know there is Kaine who is a Peter Parker clone and has his own title Scarlet Spider. There is also Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O’Hara) a character created by Peter David and illustrated by Rick Leonardi in 1992 who met Peter Parker in a 1995 one shot comic book. And later in Timestorm 2009–2099 a four-issue mini-series Peter Parker meets a different version of Spider-Man 2099 when he goes to the future in a story written by Brian Reed. Are any of these past characters that called themselves Spider-Man in Spider-Men or some one else?

A while back we saw a teaser for Spider-Men featuring the logos of both Miles Morales and Peter Parker, but that leads us to a problem in the Ultimate Universe Peter Parker is dead. Death does not seem to be a big obstacle to overcome for comic book writers so that is a possibility, is Peter Parker coming back in the Ultimate Universe? The Amazing Spider-Man story arc ‘Ends of the Earth’ will be ending in May perhaps it has something to do with the introduction of Spider-Men in June. Also the blockbuster series Avengers vs X-Men will be about halfway done in June also written by Brian Michael Bendis, there may be a tie in the story introducing Spider-Men. Bendis and Marvel are not giving other clues except the statement Spider-Men Coming in June Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli prepare to make history.

What is a historical event in Marvel. It would be historical if Miles Morales (New Ultimate Spider-Man) and Peter Parker (Original Spider-Man) would meet. Perhaps there is a merging of Universes original Marvel with Ultimate Marvel. Now that would be historical and open the endless possibilities for new stories. A new Marvel from the ashes of the old Marvel Universes, sounds like the legend of the Phoenix. I know one can only imagine. There is a lot going on in Marvel and with the up coming New 52 of DC Comics I would not be surprised. In the present day of comic book stories and major series what would be a historical Marvel event? I guess Bendis knows and a few others at Marvel. We are only to guess and speculate. Possibly you have an idea who the Spider-Men are coming to Marvel. Please comment at Comics Talk. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Spider-Men June 2012

This June – history will be made for the Marvel Universe.

SPIDER-MEN #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art by SARA PICHELLI
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
ON SALE THIS JUNE!

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