Central City Comics Blog: Comics Talk

Archive for the ‘Marvel’ Category

Continuing what appears to be a week-long line of Fantastic Four/FF-related teasers, Marvel follows the release of yesterday’s Black Bolt image with a shot of Negative Zone tyrant Annihilus as illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico. Emblazoned above the world conqueror and his insectoid minions is the phrase “I don’t think we can kill Annihilus.”

What does Hickman have planned for this milestone issue? We have the teaser covers to go on at this point. All the players are there to make it a great story. However, early speculation in the comic community is that Johnny Storm may just return from the dead and return Marvel’s first family to it’s traditional lineup. Of course, this is all assumption and theory at this point. We’ll have to wait until November to find out if the issue is ‘FF’ #12 or ‘Fantastic Four’ #600.

FANTASTIC FOUR #600
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by STEVE EPTING, LEINIL YU, CARMINE DIGIANDOMENICO, FAREL DALRYMPLE & MING DOYLE
Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
ON SALE 11/22/11

FF #12
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by JUAN BOBILLO
Cover by STEVE EPTING
ON SALE – 11/30/11

Annihilus

Galactus

Black Bolt

Point One #1 Cover Kubert

Media Release — The foundation of 2012 is here! Kicking off in Point One #1, by the biggest names in the industry, fans can get the inside track to the hottest new series, the return of fan-demanded characters and a teaser that will leave jaws on the floor…demanding more! With legendary artist Adam Kubert and rising star artist Nick Bradshaw providing awe inspiring covers, no fan can miss Point One #1 – this November!

“Point One is a massive one-shot of 64 all-new pages of story by the top creators in the business, setting the stage for the biggest stories coming in 2012. It is the starting point to what’s in store for the world’s most iconic characters and startling events. Point One serves as the launch pad for dynamic new series, the return of fan-demanded characters, and a shocking teaser that will have everyone talking. See how all it comes together in one gigantic epic!” – Tom Brevoort, Senior Vice President, Executive Editor

POINT ONE #1
Written by JEPH LOEB, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, MATT FRACTION, ED BRUBAKER, FRED VAN LENTE, CHRIS YOST, DAVID LAPHAM & MORE
Art by ED MCGUINNESS, BRYAN HITCH, TERRY DODSON, SALVADOR LARROCA, RYAN STEGMAN, JAVIER PULIDO, ROBERTO DE LA TORRE & MORE
Cover by ADAM KUBERT (NOT FINAL COVER ART SHOWN)
Variant Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
ON SALE – 11/2/11

Here it is the new major series from Marvel. They are still cleaning up the the Fear Itself story and now the lead into 2012 with Point One the series involving the Watcher and what looks like the Phoenix entity. Another world changer for Marvel. But that how it is in the Superhero Marvel Universe, never a dull moment.  Just when you thought you could get a breather another threat to the universe. This one has all the talent and fire power that Marvel can dish out. Make sure you put your $4 or $5 away for this one if you are a Marvel go getter. Stay tuned Comic faithful for more. Walt

Point One #1 Cover Bradshaw

ITS COMING

Fear Itself #7

This is it! This year’s blockbuster comics event from Marvel Architects Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen, comes to its cataclysmic finale in FEAR ITSELF #7! Left defenseless and on their own, Earth’s Mightiest must dig deep for one last assault on The Serpent and the Worthy! Luckily, from the depths of Asgard, Iron Man returns with a last-chance arsenal that will transform the Avengers into the Mighty! Earth’s last hope has arrived – but not everyone will make it out alive. Catch the action packed, double-sized conclusion of Fear Itself this October – filled with extras that no fan can miss!

Tony Stark return from the depths with a last-chance arsenal will transform the Avengers from Earth’s Mightiest Heroes…into Earth’s Last Hope! It’s THOR’S DAY– the day that everything ends! Double sized Finale with a little something extra for keen eye. 56 PGS.

Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Variant Cover by BILLY TAN

This is the end of Marvel’s Big Event for 2011 coming this week. A gigantic story written by Matt Fraction. If nothing else it really keeps you guessing. With the return of Odin as the “All Father” and head of Asgard things have changed dramatically for the Marvel Universe. Thor’s fate is in doubt along with humanity and Asgard. One last battle with the Worthy Against the Mighty, Thor against the Serpent, it doesn’t get any better than this. A must read for all Marvel fans to see if the universe will survive Fear Itself or be changed forever. Look at the preview provided here for my readers (Click Image For Full Size). Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

The Mighty

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FearItself Teaser

Media Release — Kick off Shattered Heroes in style as you catch your first look at the all new variants for Fear Itself #7.1, #7.2 & #7.3! Following the catastrophic events of Fear Itself, superstar artists Lee Bermejo, Salvador Larroca, & Ariel Olivetti provide these must have covers for the issues launching readers into the next big story arcs for each member of Earth’s Mightiest! No fan can miss these emotionally charged issues that will change these heroes forever.

FEAR ITSELF #7.1
FEAR ITSELF #7.1 BERMEJO VARIANT
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils by BUTCH GUICE
Colors by ELIZABETH BREITWEISER
Variant Cover by LEE BERMEJO
ON SALE – 11/2/11

FEAR ITSELF #7.2
FEAR ITSELF #7.2 LARROCA VARIANT
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by ADAM KUBERT
Variant Cover by SALVADOR LARROC
ON SALE – 11/9/11

FEAR ITSELF #7.3 (SEP110501)
FEAR ITSELF #7.3 OLIVETTI VARIANT
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by SALVADOR LARROCA
Colors by FRANK D’ARMATA
Variant Cover by ARIEL OLIVETTI
ON SALE – 11/16/11

Fear Itself comes to an end but not with out scars and consequences. Marvel pulled out all the stops in this epic event. Check this blockbuster series conclusion. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Avengers X Sanction 1 Cover Hitch

Media Release — Marvel is proud to unveil the highly anticipated comic shop variant covers to Avengers: X-Sanction #1! As all-out war breaks out between Cable and the Avengers, your comic shop will get caught in the crossfire and be immortalized in one of two all new covers! In the Avengers: X-Sanction #1 Wanted Variant by Bryan Hitch, see the bounty on your comic shop with an actual photograph of your store right on the cover! Then, in the Avengers: X-Sanction #1 Battle Variant by Carlo Pagulayan, Captain America goes toe to toe with Cable defending your favorite comic shop, complete with store name and logo prominently featured! Leading into the biggest event in Marvel history, Cable has just 24 hours to destroy the Avengers to save the future and the battle is being brought to YOUR front yards!

Avengers X Sanction 1 Cover_Pagulayan

Be sure to head on over to your local shop immediately and tell your retailers which one you want because both of these commemorative Avengers: X-Sanction #1 Comic Shop Variants can’t be ordered together. Here’s your chance to show your comic shop some support as these personalized variants are a one of a kind, must-have item! Can Cable take on the heaviest hitters of the Marvel Universe to save his future – or will the combined might of Earth’s Mightiest prove to be too much? Find out this December as superstar creators Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness begin their epic and you show store spirit with the Avengers: X-Sanction #1 Comic Shop Variants!!

Avengers: X-Sanction #1!

Written by JEPH LOEB
Art by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Covers by BRYAN HITCH & CARLO PAGULA
ON SALE – 12/14/11

You have to hand it to Marvel they really know how to market things, the return of Cable mix in the Avengers with special comic shop variants and what looks like a great story by Jeph Loeb and popular artist Ed Mc Guinness. This should be a good one. Recommend my readers pick this up this December. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

X-Men Schism

The X-Men’s world changes forever! With mutant numbers at their lowest and trust dwindling, an international incident demands the Children of the Atom come together…but instead splits them apart! Writer Jason Aaron and an all-star team of artists present the next evolution of Marvel’s mutant heroes in X-Men: Schism!

This 5 part series has set the table for the separation of teams and leadership of the mutant kind in the Marvel universe. Jason Aaron writer for the series is usually a good story teller, but this one baffles me centered around the always violable relationship between Wolverine and Cyclops. The fight is to bring the younger members of the mutants into the fight as cyclops wants or ease them into more responsibility after they are trained and understand what they are doing this is Wolverines wishes for them. Wolverine is protecting them from the horrors of battle and possible death.

It came to a head with a giant Sentinel wading towards Utopia, and Cyclops wanting to fight with the young mutants from “Generation Hope” at his side while Wolverine wanted to evacuate Utopia.  The two eventually came to blows right in the middle of the Sentinel’s attack. The young mutants finally help the destruction of the Giant Sentinel and the dialog between Wolverine and Cyclops really does not justify the break up in teams there is no compelling argument for the split, but it does happen.

However you look at Schism there are going to be new direction titles and new leadership of mutant kind. Regenesis has begun with the titles Uncanny X-Force #19 in December, Wolverine and the X-Men in October, Uncanny Legacy #259 in November, X-factor #230 in January, Generation Hope #13 in November, X-Men #20 in November, and New Mutants #33 in November, and the first restart of  Uncanny X-Men with #1 in November. The banners are below to check out. More to come on this change in titles of X-Men and related books. Stay tuned comic faithful For more. Walt

X-Men Regenesis Panel #1

The Avengers Movie

Marvel has premiered the much-anticipated trailer for “The Avengers,” the Joss Whedon – directed epic adventure that brings together the major players of the Marvel Movie universe. Preview from the CBR News team. The two-minute teaser establishes the movie’s premise, with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury laying out a vision for “a group of remarkable people” to “fight the battle we never could.” In this case that battle is with Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who says, “You were made to be ruled.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark gets the best lines, whether it’s bumping heads with Chris Evans’ Captain America, complimenting Mark Rufallo’s Bruce Banner on his ability to lose control, or solemnly vowing, “If we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damned sure we’ll avenge it.”

“The Avengers,” which opens May 4, 2012, also stars Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders and Stellan Skarsgård. From what we have seen it is well done and should hold the interest of Marvel fan’s around the world. I expect the first weekend to do very well at the box office. With Zak Penn and Joss Whedon (director) involved in the screenplay it should be good, should have all the ingrediants that made Marvel number one in the comic world. The powerful acting should come across well with Joss Whedon as director. This may be the most anticipated movie of 2012 by far. Definitely not one to miss. See you at the movies on this one. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

The Children's Crusade #7

One of the series that has almost been over looked this year is Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. The Young Avengers appear in the 2010–2011 miniseries we are now at number 7 of 9 it will hit the stores September 21 this month. In the series, Magneto learned that the Young Avengers were going to search for the still missing Scarlet Witch, and that Wiccan and Speed may be the reincarnations of Wanda’s children. The Young Avengers finally find Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) and through a series of events she remembers what happened in Avengers Disassembled, House of M and Decimation. She is feeling guilty for the crimes she committed, the lives she changed the people she removed from existence. He changed reality itself with her mutant powers.

And now she is back to full power and knowledge of who she is. In issue #7 the media release says: IT’S THE AVENGERS VERSUS THE X-MEN – with the Young Avengers and X-Factor caught in the crossfire — as all four teams battle to determine who will hold the Scarlet Witch responsible for her crimes. Plus, when the origin of the Scarlet Witch’s godlike powers – and the secret history of her murderous rampage in “Avengers: Disassembled” — are finally revealed, the truth creates a rift among the members of the Young Avengers that the team may not survive.

Wanda is one of the most powerful mutants and must be dealt with in the Marvel universe. This series seems out of current continuity and does not fit in the current events in the Marvel major story arcs. So it may have happened previously. One way or the other it is an interesting story with very good art work. Story by Allan Heinberg, art by Jim Cheung and Mark Morales. For those who have always wondered what Marvel is going to do with the Scarlet Witch well here it is the story to read. Catch the next issue this week at your neighborhood comic store. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt
PREVIEW BELOW:

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Fear Itself #6

Marvel has taken Friday’s Fear Itself panel at Fan Expo Canada to release a first look at next month’s Fear Itself #6, showing a sequence that maybe puts the speculation on the fate of Thor in a whole new light. FEAR ITSELF #6 (of 7)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Variant Cover by MIKE McKONE
Marvel Architects Variant also available
Marvel Architects Sketch Variant also available

Marvel Comics; September 14, 2011
The penultimate chapter of the apocalypse is here! Captain
 America, Thor, and Iron Man scramble to make Earth’s last stand against the relentless Serpent and his army of world-shattering avatars–all while amongst unbelievable chaos and destruction, Spider-Man makes the choice of a lifetime! Dark Asgard has risen and all of Earth’s forces converge on the World Tree as the globe shudders in the shadow of FEAR ITSELF!

SEE PREVIEW CLICK TO ENLARGE

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Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is coming February 17 2012

Ghost Rider 2012

Directed by
Mark Neveldine
Brian Taylor

Writing credits:
(in alphabetical order)
Scott M. Gimple      screenplay
David S. Goyer      story
Seth Hoffman      screenplay
Howard Mackie      character & comic books
Mike Ploog      character & comic books
Javier Saltares      character & comic books
Roy Thomas      character & comic books

Cast:

Nicolas Cage    …    Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider
Idris Elba    …    Moreau
Ciarán Hinds    …    The Devil
Christopher Lambert  …  Monk
Violante Placido  …  Nadya
Johnny Whitworth  …  Blackout
Fergus Riordan    …    Danny

Trailer:

The New Dark Avengers

From CBR News: November will see the return of the Dark Avengers to the Marvel Universe, according to a teaser released today by the publisher. Featuring art by Mike Deodato, the image showcases Norman Osborn in a Uncle Sam-esque pose, flanked by a trio of silhouetted characters, one of whom appears to be the Hulk’s son, Skaar, and another, bow-wielding character who strongly resembles Hawkeye, the identity taken on by the late Bullseye in the previous DA incarnation.

The team will debut in November’s “New Avengers” #18, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Deodato. Dark Avengers was very popular for a very long time hence Osborn is back. How this is done you will have to check out The New Avengers #18 in November. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Four Future

Marvel is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of “Fantastic Four” #1 with a new image teasing at the possible return of the Human Torch to the Marvel Universe. The image consists of a shot of the Fantastic Four’s icon set against a satellite photo of the Earth with a date of November 2011 at the bottom. Listed at the top is the project’s creative team — last names only — of Hickman, Epting, Di Giandomenico, Yu and Dalrymple. While the first two are obviously referring to the team of Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting, the creative duo behind the Death of the Human Torch storyline, the other names seem to indicate an interesting artistic line-up of consisting of (presumably) Farel Dalrymple, Leinil Francis Yu and Carmine Di Gianomencio.

Four Present

Marvel has officially released it as its third teaser for the November-launching project only known as “Four.” As with the previous teasers, the description for the image reads, as did yesterday’s, “FOUR,” and carries the same list of creator names (Hickman, Epting, Di Giandomenico, Yu and Dalrymple) and date of November 2011 which would, perhaps not coincidentally, be when “Fantastic Four” #600 would have been published if the title had not been cancelled and replaced by the Jonathan Hickman- “FF.”

Four Past

Remember in the issue that Johnny (Human Torch) was to die we never really saw his demise before the portal to the Negative Zone closed. So perhaps another comic hero returns from an apparent death. In the current series FF we see the Return of the King of the Inhumans, Black Bolt who was rumored to be dead. Well the previews of the new series shows the Fantastic Four past, present, and future. Definitely worth checking out this November. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. Walt

Update 4 August 12, 2011: And, as predicted, a final shoe has dropped. While Fantastic Four is picking back up with a shiny #600 in November 2011, FF #12 will also be coming out that month. Perhaps Johnny is coming back.

Fantastic Four #600

reborn