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Post by Shiryu on Feb 20, 2009 17:25:35 GMT -5
As Dlw's and others have suggested, to decrease the workload on the servers and avoid burying old topics too quickly, we should compress all the web reviews (IGN, Newsarama etc) in a single topic in each section. So from now on, we should post all the ones about Dark Avengers here only, ok?  |
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Post by Ignore Me! on Feb 24, 2009 15:53:06 GMT -5
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Post by starfoxxx on Feb 24, 2009 16:29:06 GMT -5
Hey Ignore Me! the I-Mockery site is a hoot! Sorry, I'm not doing Dark Avengers, though.
after NA #50, I'm giving Bendis up for Lent.
He can take that last 5 bucks and stick it.
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 2, 2009 11:04:02 GMT -5
WonderCon '09 - Fraction Talks Uncanny X-Men/ Dark Avengers
The X-Men have long been a force to be reckoned with in the Marvel Universe, and whenever major events ripple through the social or super heroic superstructure of it, somehow, the mutants trained by Professor Charles Xavier find themselves front and center.
Marvel’s current Dark Reign, which sees the villains of the Marvel Universe secretly in charge of the world is no different. And a reckoning is coming.
Backing things up a little – the X-Men and Norman Osborn, the man in charge of the Marvel Universe following Secret Invasion did have an understanding.
As Uncanny X-Men writer Matt Fraction explains it: “When Norman ‘won,’ he got together some of the biggest superpowers left and said, ‘We won. This is how it should work,’ and set about carving the world up like a slice of pie. Emma [Frost, of the X-Men] was one of those included, and the agreement was simple – ‘I don’t want to deal with mutants, so you keep them quiet. Keep your people out of my affairs, and I’ll make sure the government doesn’t come for you.’ Mutants are an endangered species, there are no more being born, they’re being murdered and hunted and are still hated and despised, and Emma thought that sounded like a pretty good deal, so she took it.”
Beginning in June though, that agreement starts to fall apart. The Dark Avengers and Uncanny X-Men’s worlds will come together in an opening one-shot, cross-over for the respective July and August issues (Uncanny #513 and #514 and Dark Avengers #7 and #8) of the respective series, and conclude in another one-shot in September, all written by Fraction, with Dark Avengers writer Brian Bendis advising.
We spoke with Fraction for more on the meeting of the groups of equal resolve.
Newsarama: Matt, first off, this is a pretty big event, both in the number of books and scope covered within the Marvel Universe under Dark Reign. How did you end up writing it all? Obviously, you write Uncanny, but it seems like Dark Avengers would be a book you’d have to pry out of Brian’s cold, dead fingers...
Matt Fraction: I think Brian thought I had a good grip on it, and he’s doing his stuff, and we talk a lot – there’s a lot of overlap and a lot of coordination between us right now just to make sure his moving part and my moving parts are all moving in congress with one another.
Without getting too into the story, it all ultimately ended up making sense. It’s a huge vote of confidence from Brian, it’s going to be big and crazy, and obviously, it’s going to be mine to blow. If it sucks, I don’t get to blame Brian anymore. [laughs]
NRAMA: Touching on the story lightly then – it’s safe to assume that Norman and Emma’s deal...goes south?
MF: The deal was “Keep your people quiet, and I’ll keep H.A.M.M.E.R. out of your business.” And her people don’t stay quiet. Again, not to get too specific, a H.A.M.M.E.R. presence is required in San Francisco, and all hell comes with them.
NRAMA: With Cyclops' increasingly aggressive stance on protecting the remaining mutants of the world—will readers be seeing a more tenacious X-Men as they face off against the Dark Avengers?
MF: Tenacious? Hell no. Cyclops has endured countless nervous breakdowns and crises of faith and confidence because he was irrevocably heading towards this very moment. He's been raised to be a general his entire life, whether he wants to admit it or not. And now the war the survival of his species has gone hot on his doorstep. Tenacious is absolutely not the word I'd use. Resolute, maybe.
This is it. This is the big one.
NRAMA: Are the kid gloves going to be off for this confrontation? Will there be any bloodshed or casualties?
MF: This ain't one of those stories that the teams can settle by a rousing game of softball, no.
NRAMA: You've indicated recently that things are only going to keep getting worse for the X-Men; will this run-in with the Avengers be another nail in their coffin? Will this fight cause ramifications across the board in all the X-line?
MF: Things are certainly dire, and the stakes are certainly high, and through it all there are still no more mutants being born. And this confrontation propels the whole of the Marvel Universe forward, whether it's the Avengers family or the X-Men family of stories. What comes next is as inevitable as the sunrise.
We've both got some big stories to tell—here's where they intersect.
NRAMA: The power structure of the Marvel Universe has been turned on it’s ear over the past several years—are things going to get worse? Are the heroes of the Marvel Universe in grave danger as more and more of the villains of the Earth become more organized?
MF: Yeah, absolutely. There's nothing more disastrous than these guys getting mad and organized, especially when the heroes have been brought to their lowest points across the board.
NRAMA: For you as a writer, how does the whole ‘game change’ aspect to the Marvel Universe that ‘Dark Reign’ represents affect you in doing your job?
MF: It’s great – you never get to write like this, so it’s a lot of fun. And what comes out of the X-Men/Dark Avengers story is big - it’s another game changer on top of the earlier game changers. It’s virgin territory for these kinds of stories. The bad guys have never won this big before – this...perpetually before, so it’s a blast because we’ve never gotten to put the heroes through wringers like this before. It’s a lot of fun.
NRAMA: Speaking of the Dark Avengers, this is your first time with most of them, correct?
MF: I haven’t written any of them before – it’s a treasure trove of bad guys. I’ve wanted to write Bullseye for years. I wanted to do Bullseye stuff in Punisher, but we couldn’t because of where the character was, so I’ve had a mad-on for Bullseye for a long time. As for Norman – well, I’ve written Norman before, and love writing him. I love the stuff that’s happened with Moonstone that Warren did in Thunderbolts; and Marvel Boy is really fun – he’s a terrific and underrated Grant Morrison character that’s just a wellspring of great stuff. And Venom for god’s sake – it’s the Avengers of evil. Who doesn’t want to write them?
NRAMA: Big event run-ins like this always draw slight amounts of skepticism—especially when they tout the idea that everyone involved will have their lives altered forever. Forever is a long time and pretty big talk; here's your chance to back it up.
MF: Nothing gold can stay, Pony Boy. Nothing lasts forever. Everybody dies. Everything ends. Maybe that all starts here.
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 2, 2009 11:32:09 GMT -5
Another interview about Dark Avengers/X-Men crossover.
The X-Men and the Avengers don't meet very often, but when they do team up it tends to have major consequences. Last time the two teams worked together, the House of M was created and nearly all the world's mutants were de-powered in an instant.
So we tend to sit up and take notice whenever Marvel tease at another X-Men/Avengers crossover. Such an event will be taking place this summer. Beginning in July, Uncanny X-Men and Dark Avengers will begin a six-part crossover storyline. The crossover begins in a one-shot special called X-Men/Dark Avengers Alpha. The story continues in the pages of Uncanny X-Men #513-514 and Dark Avengers #6-7, before finishing off in another one-shot called X-Men/Dark Avengers Omega.
One of the more surprising aspects of this project is that each of the six issues will be written by Matt Fraction. Though Brian Michael Bendis helped plan the event, he'll be turning over the reins of Dark Avenger to Fraction for two months.
For all the juicy details, we turned to Fraction himself. Fraction reveals how he has been laying the seed for this crossover from the beginning of his run, and what we can expect from Uncanny as it moves into this dark crossover. We also chat about Invincible Iron Man and Casanova, including why Pepper Potts will never be able to call herself Iron Maiden.
IGN Comics: How did this crossover originally come about? Whose idea was it originally?
Matt Fraction: I wanted to do it from the very first when I was being asked about this stuff. Being involved with X-Men I wanted to do an X-Men/Avengers crossover. Everyone just sort of rolled their eyes. But then as Brian's story unfurled with the Cabal and we got Emma into it, it made more and more sense. I brought it up and got Brian into the idea, and we got excited about it very quickly.
We've been working on bringing the X-Men back. They've been isolated in their little pocket of the Marvel U. and we've been working on bringing them back into the mainstream for a while. Even though they might not be in New York anymore, their story is going become much more front and center with where the Avengers storyline has been. It was one of those things where I wanted to do it for the fun of it and because I wanted to work with Brian. It's just me – he's not actually on it anymore – but we've kind of worked together organizationally. It's just one of those things that synchronicity made happen.
IGN Comics: So how exactly are the writing duties being divided? Did you sit down with Bendis...
Fraction: It's just me. There's no Bendis.
IGN Comics: Oh, really?
Fraction: We've talked about it. But yeah, it's just going to be me.
IGN Comics: So you'll be writing both Uncanny and Dark Avengers for those months?
Fraction: Yes. There's an Alpha special which will be drawn by Marc Silvestri. Then it's Uncanny #513, Dark Avengers #6, then Uncanny #514, Dark Avengers #7, and then there's an Omega issue. And I'm writing all of them. And the Alpha and Omega specials will be oversized.
[Editor's Note: Silvestri will also be drawing the Omega one-shot.]
IGN Comics: What event would you say brings the two teams together? Is it a case where Osborn shows up to call in Emma's favor?
Fraction: I don't want to blow it. You should read it. But Emma is a part of the Cabal. We all know what Emma and Norman's agreement is, and something happens. The long and the short of it is – Norman says to Emma, "You need to control your people." That's the origin of it. Without giving too much away, something happens, and it's something we've been building towards in the X-books. There's an incident in San Francisco, and suddenly the human and mutant populations come to a head. Norman has to get involved because he's the face of law and order in the Marvel U. now. Wackiness ensues.
IGN Comics: I think we've all been wondering when the rest of the team is going to find out about this bargain Emma has entered. Will that conflict play into the crossover?
Fraction: A lot of questions get answered. A lot of cats get let out of the bag. Definitely a lot of questions get answered and a lot of secrets get revealed. Let's put it like that.
IGN Comics: Does the story build on anything you introduced in the Annual a couple months back?
Fraction: Of course. All this ties in. There's been a road map in place for a very long time. We're getting to it one step at a time. Hopefully you can sit back when all of this is done and look at where we've come from and where we've been to and see what the plan is and what the design has been. This has definitely been going for a while. The Annual was the start of it, the Cabal special too. We've really gone a long way to make this very meaningful and not just another summer fight scene.
IGN Comics: How wide are you casting the net in terms of the characters involved? Is this the full roster of the Dark Avengers and the X-Men?
Fraction: Oh yes. This is the grand royale. This is the big time. All hands on deck for both sides of the equation. Norman's got some surprises we haven't seen yet that will blow minds and melt faces and all that good stuff.
IGN Comics: I think there are a lot of readers who have been waiting for the Dark Avengers to be unleashed on one of the other major superhero teams. Bendis teased that in New Avengers this week but then went in a different direction.
Fraction: Ask and ye shall receive. Like I said, this isn't just another summer fight scene. We're blowing the f---ing doors off the joint, and as much as things have changed so far, we're changing them even more. This is all the storylines in a place where the X-Men and Avengers happen to converge. Both of their ongoing storylines are changed as a result. Things keep shifting, and there are real consequences. There are real payoffs and real resolutions and real changes that happen because of this story. This is a very big, very fun, very exciting story to write because it's so rich in payoff and resolutions and such.
IGN Comics: The Alpha special is drawn by Marc Silvestri. Its interesting, because he seems to be involved with a lot of the major X-Men projects of the past few years. He drew the opening issue of Messiah Complex, and he handled the covers for Deadly Genesis too. In your opinion, is Marc an important part of any modern X-Men event?
Fraction: He's got a pedigree that very few people have these days. He's a marquee named X-guy, you know? His name is really synonymous with one of the most legendary runs on the book. He can still deliver that essential whatever it is that made people go crazy for him back in the day. He still has that, and he draws the X-Men like nobody else. It's kind of special to be able to get him on these things every now and again for these big, earth-shaking moments. He's perfect for it.
IGN Comics: As far as the actual Uncanny and Dark Avengers issues go, who will be handling the art on those?
Fraction: That'll be Terry Dodson on Uncanny and Mike Deodato on Dark Avengers.
IGN Comics: In a general sense, how would you say Osborn views the mutant population right now? Are they a threat to his new power, or more a resource that he feels he can exploit?
Fraction: It's like we saw in the Cabal special. His deal was, "You keep your people off my game board, and I'll keep my game board off your people." He doesn't want to deal with them. He doesn't want to deal with 200 super-powered, potentially militant minority members fighting against extinction. He wants them out of sight and out of mind, and in exchange for that he gives them protection. Or at least, protection from overly aggressive incursions. The deal we saw in Secret Invasion: Dark Reign is the default setting for their relationship. "You keep your people quiet and I'll make sure they stay safe." The problem is that they don't stay quiet.
IGN Comics: Looking at the whole of 2009 so far, there's not really any one all-encompassing event storyline like we had with Civil War and Secret Invasion. Instead, we're seeing a lot of these smaller crossovers between books like Cable and X-Force or Thunderbolts and Deadpool. Do you think this is the start of a new approach to event comics?
Fraction: It's not like there's been a mandate or anything like that. I don't know that I necessarily believe in event fatigue as a market force. But as creators, it's easier to feel like "This is six issues and then you're out." It's easier to get your head around it and power through it. It's interesting. I don't know that I'm qualified to answer that. The way Brian and I were talking about it was – he's just coming out of Secret Invasion. God knows how toasty he is. He was really writing three books. It wasn't just the Secret Invasion book, it was the Avengers stuff too. That was a really elaborate thing that he did.
This is our story. Let's just focus on our story. Let's muscle up and tell the strongest story we can and do it quick and not ask another eight or nine months and 40 parts. Let's not build these massive things. Let's just focus on high octane, high firepower stories. Let's hit people fast and hard. And hopefully these people will be wanting more. Rather than risk overstaying our welcome, let's just do what we came to do and get the hell off the page. Leave people wanting more.
IGN Comics: I also wanted to touch on the next couple months leading into this crossover. What can you tease about Uncanny #507 and the end of your second big arc on the series?
Fraction: Issue #507 is the end of Terry's first arc called "Lovelorn", and then we go into "Sisterhood", which we've actually been building to since #499. We started to see the build-up there. It kind of flows into the crossover after a standalone #512. This is dealing with who the Sisterhood are, what they're up to, and why they want the X-Men not in San Francisco. Some old favorites come back, new favorites get the chance to shine. There's the biggest fight scene I've written in my entire career.
The subplots throughout rise to where we're going in X-Men/Dark Avengers. These little things we've been seeing in the background that might be a panel here or a two-page sequence there – these drumbeats become pretty cacophonous by the end. These subplots are what unite X-Men/Dark Avengers. The main story is self-contained. It shows who the Sisterhood are and what they want and how the X-Men try to stop them. But the B and the C stories are what flow into the crossover. Scott and Emma are keeping secrets from one another, and the nature of Scott's secrets and the nature of Emma's secrets...
I don't want to blow anything that happens in #507, but Beast and Angel are alone on an island with a very angry atomic mutation. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how they're going to get out of there. Beast is stunned to find out that one of his oldest and best friends has been lying to him. All of these big secrets are coming home to roost. All of this stuff is building, so all these subplots that may seem random really start to pile up. And then X-Men/Dark Avengers is the first really big payoff we get for all these places we've been heading for a while.
IGN Comics: One of the big developments in this current arc is that footage of the Alaska massacre has leaked out to the public. Is that another of those subplots that will play out in the future?
Fraction: Yeah, that's exactly it. The Humanity Now Coalition and Simon Trask and what he's up to – that's exactly the kind of stuff I'm talking about. The tone of anti-mutant rhetoric, Proposition X and what it means for mutants. Human/mutant distrust is starting to boil. That might just be what our tipping point is in the story.
IGN Comics: As long as I've got you here I anted to ask you briefly about Invincible Iron Man. In these first three issues since Dark Reign began we've seen Tony Stark fight back against Osborn. He's destroyed all his spare suits except for one. He's got one suit left and he's on the run from HAMMER, so what's next for Tony?
Fraction: It just gets worse. Every ATM camera, every traffic camera, every CCTV camera that Stark Industries built is now controlled by Osborn, and they're all looking for Tony. He's got to continue the deletion process. It just gets worse. Tony's mission is a suicide run. Or maybe suicide run is the wrong term. It's like a Hail Mary pass. This is fourth and game. This is one last shot for all the marbles. If Osborn gets a hold of him, Osborn's going to get the names and home addresses of every hero in the Marvel Universe and where their families live. That's a disaster unparalleled in his time. All of his particular chickens are coming home to roost.
IGN Comics: And I have to ask – have you come up with a name for Pepper Potts' new suit yet?
Fraction: Yes.
IGN Comics: Because I've got to tell you, I'm not going to be happy unless its Iron Maiden.
Fraction: We can't do that. That is the problem, my friend. That is exactly the problem. I'm with you. The issue is that there's a comic called Iron and the Maiden.
IGN Comics: Ahhh, yes.
Fraction: And even though Marvel has a copyright to the character Iron Maiden, it's not the band, it's the comic. And the risk is, if the words "Iron Maiden" ever appear on a comic, the guys that do Iron and the Maiden can rattle sabers. So we can't do it. Thats the canard. It's dying, dying, dying, dying to be Iron Maiden, but it can't be. You and I are just going to cry our bitter tears at a cold and uncaring universe that has no use for the likes of us. But yes, that's exactly the problem. She was supposed to be Iron Maiden, and I was told we can't call her that. I'm so pissed off...
IGN Comics: Well, I'm interested to see what you came up with instead.
Fraction: We've come up with about 780 names. And none of them are Iron Maiden. But I'm pretty happy with the end result.
IGN Comics: And I also have to ask whenever we talk – what's the current status on Casanova?
Fraction: The twins [artists Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon] are busy with the new Umbrella Academy book and their new Vertigo book. We're talking about ramping up right now. I'm starting to take notes. I expect to be writing it really soon. Hopefully I'll start writing in the next couple months, and I expect they'll start working on it... late spring or early summer might be optimistic. They might want me to write the whole thing before they get started. But we're working on it. Everybody's clearing their desks, and we'll get to it.
It's exciting. The gears are starting to move. The work is starting to happen. Notes are being taken and outlines are forming. The machine is coming to life. I want very, very, very badly to be able to go into summer convention season with a definitive game plan so I can make declarations and announcements and give dates so folks will know exactly. We're close to be able to know when it's going to happen.
IGN Comics: And the second hardcover is coming out in April, right?
Fraction: No.
IGN Comics: No? I remember seeing a listing on Amazon.
Fraction: That might have been a preemptive book listing or something. But no. I don't want to put the second hardcover out until I know when the third volume is coming. We're not going to get another chance to promote the book like having collections out. So until we know when Volume 3 is coming out, the second collection won't be coming out. Which sucks. Believe me, no one is more annoyed and frustrated by that than me. But it's a tiny independent comic that needs every bit of marketing push and enthusiasm it can get. When we know, we'll know. That's another thing, too, going into the summer con season. Knowing when Volume 3 is going to start, hopefully we'll be able to announce when Volume 2 is coming out as a collection.
It's great. I think Casanova got everybody into these high-profile gigs, which is terrific for everybody except Casanova. [laughs] But everybody's excited to get back into it. I think it does me and the twins both a lot of psychic good to do it. It's terrific for us just to be able to work on.
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 3, 2009 13:08:09 GMT -5
What's in a Name? Andy Diggle on Dark Reign: Hawkeye
Norman Osborn has swiftly taken aim at the Avengers during his grab for power in the post-Secret Invasion Marvel Universe. In organizing his “Dark” Avengers, Osborn has taken some of the deadliest villains and clothed them in the garbs of some of the Marvel Universe’s most valorous heroes. In April, Marvel gives readers a chance to see one of the deadliest Dark Avengers in some solo action in Dark Reign: Hawkeye.
Written by Thunderbolts writer, Andy Diggle, with artwork by industry vet Tom Raney, this mini-series focuses on Bullseye and his role as a maniacal misrepresentation of an Avengers mainstay, Hawkeye.
Newsarama contacted Diggle to talk about what sorts of machinations a terrifying wolf like Bullseye could have—dressed in sheep’s clothing.
Newsarama: First off Andy, can you give readers some set-up for Dark Reign: Hawkeye?
Andy Diggle: We get to see what a sadistic mass-murderer gets up to when he isn't pretending to be an Avenger.
NRAMA: With Bullseye posing as Hawkeye—a showdown between these two weaponry experts can't be far off, can it?
AD: You'll be seeing Bullseye versus Hawkeye, but maybe not the way you expect.
NRAMA: Is the comparison between Hawkeye and Bullseye a rivalry? Or is it something more balanced? Are they mirror opposites?
AD: I'd say they're pretty much polar opposites. Flawed though he may be, Clint Barton is ultimately a hero. Bullseye, on the other hand, is an out-and-out villain, with no redeeming features whatsoever. When a monster like Bullseye pulls on a hero's mask... well, it's unsettling. People trust him. And believe me, that's a mistake you don't get to make twice.
NRAMA: Bullseye seems to be stepping into an A-List villain spotlight as a member of Osborn's Dark Avengers - what can you tell readers about his recent comeuppance?
AD: Norman Osborn may be crazy, but he's not stupid. He recognizes talent when he sees it, and he knows that Bullseye is one of the most skilled and capable killers on the planet. If he can just channel that talent to his own ends, he's trapped lightning in a bottle. Plus, Bullseye loves the spotlight, and putting on the Hawkeye mask lets him indulge in a little of that. Just as long as the media don't catch sight of what he's really up to behind the scenes...
NRAMA: What is it about Bullseye in your eyes that makes him such a detestable villain?
AD: I'd say it comes down to two main things: everything he says, and everything he does. What can I say? He's not some posturing villain you love to hate, or a roguish anti-hero who cuts corners but gets the job done. He's a sadistic, malignant sociopath without any trace of conscience or remorse, who murders innocent people for fun. He's pretty much the definition of evil.
NRAMA: What sort of timeframe does this mini-series fall into, and how does Bullseye spend his time as Hawkeye?
AD: It unfolds shortly after the Dark Avengers are first assembled, once the dust has settled. Hawkeye splits his time between running with the Avengers team, and blowing off steam on his own. I should probably say that Bullseye's idea of "blowing off steam" might not be quite that same as ours...
NRAMA: Having worked with DC's Green Arrow in the past--how are both Hawkeye and Bullseye different from the Emerald Archer?
AD: Oliver Queen and Clint Barton have a lot in common, beyond the obvious weapon of choice. They're both hotheads, but they have a conscience. Bullseye has pretty much nothing in common with either of them, beyond fighting proficiency. He's barely human.
NRAMA: Best written Bullseye-posing-as-Hawkeye moment so far?
AD: I'm pretty pleased with the way the final scene of the first issue played out. I actually shocked myself a little bit, and that doesn't happen very often.
NRAMA: With Osborn running both the Avengers and the Thunderbolts—will there be any team-ups, crossovers, or confrontations in the near future?
AD: The way we're playing it, the Dark Avengers hog the limelight while the Thunderbolts move in shadow. One team is overt, the other covert. So, it's unlikely you'll see them cross paths, at least in public. But you'd better believe there's some coordination going on behind the scenes—not least when the T-Bolts are hunting Deadpool through Avengers Tower, that was a lot of fun to write!
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 12, 2009 9:16:03 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 25, 2009 9:11:18 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: UTOPIA Cover Written by MATT FRACTION Pencils & Cover by MARC SILVESTRI Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI Variant Cover by JAE LEE The Dark Avengers take on the Uncanny X-Men! Kicking off the 6-part crossover event, rising star Matt Fraction (UNCANNY X-MEN, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) is joined by X-artist supreme Marc Silvestri (X-MEN: MESSIAH COMPLEX, CIVIL WAR: THE INITIATIVE ONE-SHOT) to bring you a story that shakes the foundations of the Marvel Universe. When mutant riots break out in San Francisco, Norman Osborn declares martial law and sends the Dark Avengers in to quell the riots and take down the X-Men. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t miss the first Avengers/X-Men crossover in over 15 years! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/june09/24_dark_avengers_uncanny_x_men__utopia_1.jpgi.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/june09/darkreignutopiavar.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 25, 2009 9:12:44 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #6 Cover Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO Young Guns Variant by RAFA SANDOVAL DARK REIGN Big, bold choices! That's what Norman Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R. and Avengers have been all about! And with every bold choice comes more and more risk! And with risk comes pressure! And with pressure...come the voices. How long can Norman Osborn hold it together? And what is he willing to do to make it look like everything is just fine! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/june09/23_dark_avengers_6.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 25, 2009 9:18:40 GMT -5
DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #3 Cover Written by ANDY DIGGLE Penciled by TOM RANEY Cover by CLINT LANGLEY From the pages of DARK AVENGERS! The psychopath formerly known as Bullseye has been painting the town blood-red in the guise of the heroic Hawkeye. But the hero mask is starting to slip—along with his tenuous grip on reality! As the cold blooded killer struggles to cover up his murderous excesses and hide his deteriorating mental state from Norman Osborn, who should he be more afraid of—the killer within or the hero without? i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/june09/28_dark_reign__hawkeye_3.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 30, 2009 8:29:55 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Apr 3, 2009 9:16:43 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Apr 21, 2009 11:08:46 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #7 Written by MATT FRACTION Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI "UTOPIA: CHAPTER 3" The DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN crossover continues! San Francisco teeters on the brink of absolute chaos and the X-Men keep getting in the way of Norman's vision of law and order. So Norman takes his game to the next level: who are the DARK X-MEN? And will Norman's Avengers play nice with Norman's X-Men? Here's a hint: no. www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/july2009/28_dark_avengers_7.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Apr 21, 2009 11:11:51 GMT -5
DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #4 (of 5) Written by ANDY DIGGLE Penciled by TOM RANEY Cover by CLINT LANGLEY From the pages of DARK AVENGERS! As Ben Urich learns the awful truth about the terrorist cell operating in New York City, Hawkeye finally confronts the mysterious antagonist who's been haunting his dreams. But is he just a figment of Bullseye's diseased imagination? And if so, where the hell did all these dead bodies come from? You want some wicked Dark Reign fun? The dastardly duo of Andy Diggle (THUNDERBOLTS) and Tom Raney (SECRET INVASION: INHUMANS) hit the mark! www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/july2009/31_dark_reign__hawkeye_4.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Apr 27, 2009 22:18:38 GMT -5
Dark Avengers #4 Preview Marvel has released a preview of this week's Dark Avengers #4 by Brian Bendis and Mike Deodato. The solicitation for the issue reads: The Dark Avengers’ first mission shows Norman Osborn all the plusses and minuses of the choices he has made for his team. So changes must be made. Some come, some go, and not everyone is happy about it. Also, the Cabal reunites for the first time since the Dark Reign began, and they are REALLY not happy. www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1000Click on the link to view the previews |
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Post by goldenfist on May 20, 2009 11:32:25 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #8 Written by MATT FRACTION Pencils by LUKE ROSS Cover by MIKE DEODATO Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI 70th Frame Variant by TBA Norman's X-Men, as led by Emma and Namor, are the face of mutant law and order! The X-Men look played out of position as Osborn's dark reign falls over California-- but Scott Summers isn't done yet. The X-Men strike at Norman, at H.A.M.M.E.R., at his fraud X-Men and his sham Avengers all at once! This is the book where, at long last, the Marvel Universe starts to fight back-- and it sets the stage for next month’s unbelievable conclusion in UNCANNY X-MEN/DARK AVENGERS - EXODUS! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/aug09/21_dark_avengers_8.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on May 20, 2009 11:47:20 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on May 31, 2009 11:43:14 GMT -5
Dark Avengers #5 Preview Courtesy of Marvel, we're got a look at next week's Dark Avengers #5 by Brian Bendis and Mike Deodato. The solicitation for the issue reads: When the public is reminded of Norman's terrible past, Norman's wheeling and dealing becomes a public concern. Plus, some of the Avengers are getting frisky with each other, and that can't be good. Plus the return of...the Cabal! Click on the link to see the previews www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1073 |
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 17, 2009 9:11:26 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: EXODUS Written by MATT FRACTION Penciled by MIKE DEODATO Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI The climactic conclusion to the crossover event of 2009 is here! This is it, the final battle for the Dark Avengers and the X-Men that will change the status quo for the Marvel Universe. Emma Frost’s betrayal comes home to roost. Cyclops’ plan clicks into place, but is it too late? What can the X-Men do against the Sentry and Ares? i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/sept09/14_dark_avengers_uncanny_x_men__exodus_1.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 17, 2009 9:13:28 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #9 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO Poor Marvel Boy... he had no idea how sinister a gang the Dark Avengers actually is. And now he is running for his life. And poor Ares, he has no idea where his son goes while he is off being an Avenger. And now he is going to find out. And when he does... there will be hell to play. Guest-starring Nick Fury and the Secret Warriors. Oh, you heard that right. Ares versus Nick Fury! You know when Stan used to say 'nuff said? This is the kind of thing he was 'nuff saiding about! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/sept09/13_dark_avengers_9.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 20, 2009 23:26:07 GMT -5
Marvel Preview: Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men: Utopia #1 The battle gets rolling, and we've got a look at next week's Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men: Utopia by Matt Fraction and Marc Silvestri. The solicitation for the issue reads: The Dark Avengers take on the Uncanny X-Men! Kicking off the 6-part crossover event, rising star Matt Fraction (UNCANNY X-MEN, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) is joined by X-artist supreme Marc Silvestri (X-MEN: MESSIAH COMPLEX, CIVIL WAR: THE INITIATIVE ONE-SHOT) to bring you a story that shakes the foundations of the Marvel Universe. When mutant riots break out in San Francisco, Norman Osborn declares martial law and sends the Dark Avengers in to quell the riots and take down the X-Men. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t miss the first Avengers/X-Men crossover in over 15 years! Click on the link to see the previews www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1130 |
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 21, 2009 11:18:21 GMT -5
Marvel Preview: Dark Avengers #6 DARK REIGN Big, bold choices! That's what Norman Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R. and Avengers have been all about! And with every bold choice comes more and more risk! And with risk comes pressure! And with pressure...come the voices. How long can Norman Osborn hold it together? And what is he willing to do to make it look like everything is just fine! Click on the link to see the previews www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1131 |
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 23, 2009 11:12:19 GMT -5
Tom Brevoort on Norman Osborn's List
It’s the strike you knew was coming.
If you’ve been following Dark, New or Mighty Avengers, or have been following the efforts of Norman Osborn in any of the “Dark Reign” titles, you know there’ve been burrs under his saddle, so to speak. Despite his efforts to clamp down on all the heroes of the Marvel Universe, many have slipped through his grasp or have just been out of his reach. But never fear – Osborn has a List.
What’s on his list? Well, it’s not so much a question of what as it is a question of who. Readers will get to find out just who’s on Osborn’s list beginning in September in the Dark Reign: The List specials – eight one shots featuring Osborn’s strikes against eight heroes or groups who’ve not yet come under his control.
We’ll be talking to all the writers of the specials in the coming days, but to kick things off, we spoke with Tom Brevoort, who’s overseeing all the Dark Reign: The List specials (the individual books are being edited by the series’ editors), and he gave us some perspective on what Norman will be up to in these specials.
Newsarama: Tom, before touching on The List one shots, let’s talk about the larger picture that the Marvel Universe is under right now. Can you give us a touch of an overview of what Norman's larger plan is? Each book that he appears in has a piece, it seems, but can you stitch them together for us a little? He's never been one to take power just to have power - so in what direction is his endgame with Dark Reign?
Tom Brevoort: I don't think Norman has a larger plan so much as an agenda. Both a political agenda and a personal agenda. And that's what pushes him forwards. This is a guy who's a self-made man, who built his fortune through his own blood and sweat and savvy and ruthlessness, who became a super-villain through a fluke but who as a super-villain similarly was all about building himself a power base. Norman is driven by ambition--he always wants more than he has, and he's willing to do whatever he needs to in order to get it. So his endgame, such as it is, doesn't really have an endpoint. He wants to consolidate his power base and expand it, by whatever means necessary, and at the same point neutralize or co-opt or undercut those powers that might stand in his way.
NRAMA: We've seen the “Iron Patriot Acts” teaser art, and that image maps pretty much dead on with The List specials - so that teaser's text - are the "Iron Patriot Acts" a specific thing such as the Patriot Act, or does it refer to the Iron Patriot himself acting against those that he sees as his enemies?
TB: "Iron Patriot Acts" is just a clever play on words, rather than indicating any sort of legislation--we've perhaps had enough stories about legislation in the Marvel Universe for awhile. What you'll be seeing in the List books is Norman or one of his proxys acting directly to further his agenda. Sometimes that means H.A.M.M.E.R., sometimes that means one of the Dark Avengers or the Thunderbolts or a member of his secret villain Cabal, and sometimes it'll involve Norman getting his own iron hands dirty.
NRAMA: Without giving too much away, what is "The List" and why are these specific heroes on it? Some have had a lot of interaction in Dark Reign, but for others, like Daredevil, this is his first time to be involved with the whole affair...
TB: In the aftermath of the Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia storyline, a circumstance is realized in which Norman sees an opportunity to deal with any number of issues or situations that have been floating in the ether. How can Norman let the Hulk walk around causing havoc wherever he goes? How can he let the Punisher continue to wage a propaganda war against his administration from the shadows? How can he let Nick Fury remain at large? And how can he allow rogue teams of Avengers continue to operate? So Norman makes what amounts to a to-do list, and each of these Specials will concern itself with one of the items on his list. Norman's list isn't as simple as just eight guys he wants to eliminate--some of these characters will be pulled into their stories indirectly, as Norman or his agents deal with something in their sphere of operation.
NRAMA: By the point of the The List specials, just how powerful would you say Norman is, and what kind of pall has he cast over the Marvel Universe?
TB: He's as powerful as he is right now, with a strong mandate and a lot of support from the average people within the Marvel U. But the pressure is beginning to get to him a little bit, and we'll be seeing more and more of the Goblin side of him beginning to peer out from behind his eyes. On the part of the heroes the situation is beginning to wear thin as well, and tempers are beginning to fray under the constant frustration of living in a world in which they simply cannot catch a break. So we're heading towards a showdown or some kind, but I believe it'll be somewhat different from what everybody expects.
NRAMA: Moving on to the specials themselves - they're all written by the regular writers for the characters in their series. Why'd you go that route with them, rather than pulling in other writers to help the main guys with their busy schedules?
TB: These are all going to be stories that are crucial not only to the more abstract Marvel Universe as a whole, but to the ongoing storylines in each of these titles. So there really wasn't any other choice but to have the writers on the ongoing titles craft these Specials as well.
NRAMA: You've also got quite the collection of artists on these - can you just run down the list for us with any words on how you got them? I mean, Adam drawing the Spider-Man special? Yowza...
TB: This is a major initiative for us--it's like a big crossover event, but structured in a different way in response to what we've been hearing from readers and retailers and our sense of the marketplace. But like any of our previous event series, we stocked THE LIST up with our best and our brightest. It wasn't really difficult to get any of these artists on board for this--it's a big deal in terms of our publishing plan as a whole.
So, to run down the list:
Avengers: Brian Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic
Daredevil: Andy Diggle and Billy Tan
Uncanny X-Men: Matt Fraction and Alan Davis
Punsiher: Rick Remender and John Romita Jr
Wolverine: Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic
Secret Warriors: Jonathan Hickman and Ed McGuinness
Hulk: Greg Pack and Ben Oliver
Amazing Spider-Man: Dan Slott and Adam Kubert
NRAMA: And just to wrap this up – in Norman’s mind, if his plans in The List work...what would the world be like?
TB: If Norman is able to check off all of the items on his to-do list, then the way should be clear for him and his future assured. And there's a ninth item on Norman's list, which will take us into...but it's too early yet to talk about that...
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Post by goldenfist on Jul 13, 2009 12:24:52 GMT -5
Marvel Preview: Dark Avengers #7 "UTOPIA: CHAPTER 3" The DARK AVENGERS/ UNCANNY X-MEN crossover continues! San Francisco teeters on the brink of absolute chaos and the X-Men keep getting in the way of Norman's vision of law and order. So Norman takes his game to the next level: who are the DARK X-MEN? And will Norman's Avengers play nice with Norman's X-Men? Here's a hint: no. Click on the link to see the previews www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1176 |
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Post by goldenfist on Jul 22, 2009 9:40:23 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #10 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO Oh hey, you know how Norman Osborn was once the Green Goblin but he got it under control and now he’s one of the most powerful people in the free world? Oh, and you know that whole thing about him being a ticking time bomb who could snap at any minute? Yeah... you might want to check this issue out. The smash hit of the year continues!! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/oct09/17_dark_avengers_10.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Aug 18, 2009 12:41:00 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #11 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO The explosive smash hit series from Brian Bendis and Mike Deodato continues!! The Dark Avengers are pitted against a foe they cannot defeat: A man with the power over every molecule in the world! Norman can't talk his way out of this one as the world gets turned upside down and no joke...someone dies. For reelz!! i.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Nov09/22_dark_avengers_11.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Sept 12, 2009 20:16:18 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Sept 16, 2009 10:50:14 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS Meet Their DOOM In December From the halls of Marvel - the Iron Patriot and Doom square off in December in the pages of DARK AVENGERS by Brian Bendis, Michael Lark and David Finch and here's a tease.... www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1309Click on the link to see the previews |
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Post by goldenfist on Sept 22, 2009 13:34:30 GMT -5
DARK AVENGERS #12 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO The explosive smash hit series from Brian Bendis and Mike Deodato continues!! The Dark Avengers are pitted against a foe they cannot defeat: A man with the power over every molecule in the world! Norman can't talk his way out of this one as the world gets turned upside down and no joke...someone dies. For reelz!! i.newsarama.com/marvelnew/dec09/21_dark_avengers_12.jpgDARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO Bendis and Bachalo launch from the pages of New Avengers and reunite for this very important DOUBLE-SIZED chapter in the Dark Avengers saga. Captain Marvel a.k.a. Marvel Boy found out he was surrounded by madmen and villains and ran for the hills. But no one gets out of Osborn's grip that easy...Will a new hero rise in the Marvel Universe or will Captain Marvel be seduced to the dark side? Also, the Sentry's true self revealed!! i.newsarama.com/marvelnew/dec09/22_dark_avengers_annual_1.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Oct 16, 2009 1:30:12 GMT -5
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