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Post by goldenfist on Feb 3, 2009 11:40:57 GMT -5
Marvel has provided Newsarama with an exclusive look at March's New Avengers: The Reunion #1 by Jim McCann and David Lopez. The solicitation for the issue reads: In the wake of SECRET INVASION, Mockingbird is alive and has returned to Earth after being held captive by the Skrulls. Ronin, her estranged husband, volunteers to help her adjust to her new life as a member of the new Avengers, but some old wounds run too deep. And what deadly secret did she bring back with her that could tear them, and the world, apart once more? It's high-octane action and intrigue as the Mr. & Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe take on one of the biggest threats in the world...and each other! Click on the link to see the pages of the book www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=843
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 29, 2009 19:55:03 GMT -5
Ign.com reviews Ms.Marvel #35.
I'm not sure I've tried and failed to keep up to date with a series as many times as I have Ms. Marvel. Every time I jump back into the series, I can only sustain my interest for a few issues before growing bored. It's nice that Machine Man has a vehicle outside of Nextwave, but I need compelling character development out of Carol Danvers herself or the whole thing is moot. With Dark Reign drastically altering Carol's status quo, I figured now was a good chance to check in and see how the series is faring.
The signs are both promising and as depressing as ever. Where Reed really excels is by touching on the same story threads we saw in last year's Captain Marvel mini-series. This book offered the most compelling character development I've seen out of Ms. marvel in years, and certainly from Brian Reed's treatment. With Noh-Varr usurping the Captain Marvel name, Carol is understandably miffed. And when the Church of Hala stages a ritualized suicide, she finds her mentor's memory is growing more tarnished by the day.
So this plot thread lays the foundation for some interesting material. Two problems, though. For one thing, I don't get the impression Reed intends to do much with it. This issue might as well be a done-in-one tale as far as that thread is concerned. For another, the Captain Marvel fiasco is only half the focus. The other half concentrates on Carol's search for the artificial intelligence known as Essential. This seemingly all-powerful entity has ties to Norman Osborn, which means both halves of the issue tie into Dark Reign in their own ways. Frankly, I worry marvel may already be spreading Osborn too thin in the same way Iron man was hugely overexposed following Civil War. If Osborn is meant to play a role in a book, it needs to be for a good reason. This is... just boring.
With only half a compelling storyline and art that neither offends or truly impresses, I find Ms. Marvel in much the same state I left it. I'll stick it out for a while in hopes that Dark Reign eventually grants the series new life. But without even Machine Man to fall back on, I'm not holding my breath that this will be the time that hooks me.
Review Score: 6.5 Passable
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 29, 2009 0:53:05 GMT -5
Here's what Ign.com thought about Captain America #46.
Captain America #46 is a book that works because of all the minor details functioning together rather than just one glaring success. From the story developments to the characterizations to the artwork, Cap continues to be the definition of a title firing on all cylinders.
Brubaker's approach to filling in James's history with villainous figure Professor Chin has been a little puzzling to me thus far. Readers have been given the backstory in strange, jerky segments, and most of the juicy pieces have been frustratingly kept secret. Enter Captain America #46 stage left. The important parts that provide the key to really understanding the relationship between Bucky and Chin are laid on the table, and they enrich the entire stretch of the past several issues. I don't necessarily agree with the tactics, but the results are undeniable and I find myself once again sucked into another Captain America drama.
The character work this issue cannot go unmentioned. The awkward, uncomfortable team-up between Bucky and Sub-Mariner is a joy to witness and serves to further set Bucky apart from the sort of hero Steve was. I always love it when a writer can completely nail a good Namor interpretation, and Brubaker's take on the king is just the right mix of condescending regal pomp and projected apathy. Artist Steve Epting echos that, peppering the issue by giving Namor some very cocky mannerisms. Elsewhere, Black Widow's involvement in the issue is relatively brief but could very well be the highlight.
As I mentioned, Steve Epting is back on regular art duties. lathough Luke Ross and Butch Guice did a fine job keeping the visual tone consistent for the last few issues, Epting's work has become the only kind that feels "right" for the book. The action sequences are fluid, and the nuance in character movement and expression is masterful. As always, beautiful stuff.
If you've been following Captain America regularly, you know the deal. It's consistently top tier, and issue #46 once again proves why. James is, in many ways, a character with more story opportunities than Steve Rogers had, and Brubaker is already doing wonders with him. You'd be hard-pressed to find better superheroics out there.
Review Score: 8.9 Great
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 29, 2009 0:48:52 GMT -5
Read what Ign.com had to say about New Avengers #49.
So let's get this out of the way immediately: New Avengers #49 feels like, in many respects, a filler issue — the bane of many comic readers' existence. It sets up the next major development for the series, ties up a dangling plot thread from Secret Invasion, and, beyond that, achieves little in terms of developing new plot threads for the future.
Of course, a filler issue of New Avengers is still better than 90% of the mainstream comics out there, and this installment is no exception. Bendis proves, once again, that even his transitionary issues are still worthy of praise and emulation.
As you'd probably anticipate, this issue picks up where the last one left off, with Luke Cage having sold his soul to the Marvel Universe's present devil-in-chief Norman Osborn, in return for Osborn's assistance in finding Cage's child. The issue resolves, at least for the time being, the fate of the child, and primes the audience for the already-advertised showdown next issue between Avengers Dark and New.
It also provides Bendis with an opportunity to remind us, lest we forget, just how bad-ass the former Power Man is. What's even more impressive, though, is that before and after his displays of superhuman fortitude, Bendis allows Cage to be a mere human being; a husband and father in awe of love he feels for his family and fully conscious of the responsibility that love entails.
The final pages of the issue reunite many of the New Avengers, as well as some of their other superheroic cohorts, at the home of Captain America. In this scene, Bendis includes some strong character beats through the dialogue, and takes the opportunity to pontificate on the overarching theme of Dark Reign. Namely, that when a crisis occurs there is always someone ready to take nefarious advantage of the populaces' desire to be saved.
As the team gathers around the television set to watch Osborn's press conference, as depicted in last week's Dark Avengers, you can practically here the guitar squall from the Who's classic, "Won't Get Fooled Again" rising in the background. Okay, maybe that was just me. Nonetheless, what will be clear to any New Avengers fan is that the team's frustration and righteous anger has reached the fever pitch that Bendis has been working towards since the conclusion of Civil War.
In other words, someone's about to get beat down. And, thanks to the deft building of anticipation in this issue, I'm excited as hell about it.
Review Score: 8.0 Impressive
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 29, 2009 0:44:39 GMT -5
Here's IGN's review of Avengers The Initiative #21.
Last issue, I questioned what Avengers: The Initiative's role would be after Secret Invasion essentially took an axe to it. The elephant in the room for the title is what it's supposed to busy itself with now that Norman Osborn is in charge of things and, more to the point, now that about four other titles are currently chronicling that story. Judging from issue #21, it seems poised to be the dumping ground for all the dropped or forgotten plotlines in the Marvel Universe, a prospect that's equal parts good and bad.
On one hand, it's a fair enough idea. Take threads and characters that may not have been strong enough to support their own series and weave them all together into a workable whole, banking on the strength of their combined audiences to be enough to keep the title afloat. Things with some story left to tell but no home to call their own like The Order, Omega Flight, She-Hulk, and other such Marvel Universe oddities could find a shared place to reach their logical progressions alongside Initiative mainstays like Gauntlet, Baron Von Blitzschlag, and the Shadow Initiative. Even in this issue, discarded concepts like Ragnarok (lovingly known to most of fandom as Civil War's "Clor"), Tigra, and the New Warriors pop up in a mishmash of craziness that somehow manages to work in conjunction. There's a particularly nice scene that deals with the predicament of both Ultra Girl and Moonstone currently wearing identical costumes. There's pretty much no other book on the stands where you could do that sort of thing besides here. In theory, this book is now what the recent Marvel Comics Presents revival probably should have been.
The other side of the coin, however, is that the title struggles with a sense of identity. Being sewn together of disparate story elements nobody else wanted to deal with means the overall tone of the book is similar to a C-list landfill. It's also undeniable that a book called Avengers: The Initiative is going to have a hard time living up to that mandate when nobody besides a select few people at Marvel are sure what it really means in light of "Dark Reign." While the story in this issue is pleasant and competent enough and hits the right comedic beats, it's really not more than gussied-up wheel-spinning while the characters wait for something real to push against. This disarrayed state is fine for the time being, but it won't sustain the title for very long. A new directive and mission statement for the title is desperately needed.
Humberto Ramos turns up on art duties, and he's sure to cause the usual complaints that seem to crop up around his issues. He's an artist that excels when things get crazy, so predictably the action sequences with Ragnarok come off fairly nicely. The art suffers a bit, though, when Ramos is required to do static stuff like depict characters standing around looking worried.
It's fitting that the title of this storyline is "Avengers: The Initiative Disassembled," because the book is largely in a disassembled state. There's no momentum and the tone is undeniably bleak. That doesn't mean it's a bad issue, but the title should get in the beginning stages of sorting itself out sooner rather than later.
Review Score: 7.3 Decent
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 26, 2009 12:57:20 GMT -5
Don't know man unless someone just said show Luke's behind.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 26, 2009 12:55:16 GMT -5
I'm suprised that Marvel has never killed off Pym.
Starfoxx you really think the art could've been more better I thou ght it was good, Guess people are pickie on artwork these days.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 26, 2009 12:38:39 GMT -5
Marvel has released a preview of Avengers: The Initiative #21 by Christos Gage and Humberto Ramos. The solicitation for the issue reads: THE INITIATIVE DISASSEMBLED begins here! The Fifty State Initiative stands revealed as a Skrull plot. Key personnel have left Camp Hammond, never to return. And that's the least of the shocking fallout from Secret Invasion. Is there a future for our heroes? It could be a moot question when the mad clone of Thor, last seen in CIVIL WAR, is revived and turned loose on Stamford! This is no idle hype, True Believer--after this story, the Initiative will never be the same! www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=827Click on the link to see the previews
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 23, 2009 8:38:03 GMT -5
Brian Bendis was right - some truly unexpected people are becoming Avengers. Of those surprises, Bullseye was certainly a character we never thought would be recruited to serve the public heroically, even if he was under the "control" of Norman Osborn. With the first issue of Dark Avengers in stores now, it was clear that Andy Diggle's Hawkeye mini-series wasn't going to be about Clint Barton (those honors go to Jim McCann's New Avengers: Reunion mini). We spoke to the writer, and series editor Bill Rosemann, about the latest Bullseye project. Dark Reign: Hawkeye will be five issues in length, priced at $3.99 each. Tom Raney will be providing art and Clint Langley has provided the first cover. IGN Comics: I guess the first and most obvious question is, both from a
creative and editorial perspective, what spawned the need to generate a
mini-series focusing solely on Bullseye/Hawkeye? Andy, what drew you to
the character? Bill Rosemann: As Frank Miller, Warren Ellis and many other creators have shown, Bullseye is one of our most intriguing and frightening characters of all time. With the infamous psychopath now entering center stage of the Dark Reign, now seemed the perfect time to ask Andy Diggle and Tom Raney to chronicle where Bullseye is heading next. Andy Diggle: I think Bill just nailed the question! I agree, Bullseye is a terrifying and compelling character. The challenge for me is to make sure I capture that nihilistic quality, that complete lack of empathy, conscience or remorse. He should never be some rakish anti-hero that you love to hate; he's pretty much the definition of soulless, nihilistic evil. A pure sociopath. The intriguing question is, what happens when you hide that behind a hero mask? And what happens when the public is only allowed to see the hero mask, and not the monster behind it? media.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377203.htmlIssue 1 Cover media.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377191.htmlInterior Art IGN Comics: This project is another $3.99 Dark Reign title. Do either of you
worry that the price increases the likelihood that people will pass on
this mini-series without giving it a chance? Does it add pressure to deliver
more somehow despite having the same page count?
Diggle: I always feel pressure to deliver. It's not like I'd just phone it in if the comic was given away free, y'know? If it's got my name on it, you know I'm putting everything I've got into it, every time. All I've got is my reputation, and I want to be the guy that delivers. IGN Comics: What will this series really explore that Dark Avengers
couldn't?
Rosemann: With any team book, you have to strike a balance and give each member a time to shine. With Dark Reign: Hawkeye, we give the floor to the baddest apple in the bushel. Diggle: That's exactly it; a team book is about the team dynamic, so you don't have as much room to explore a single character in that much detail. A solo book gives us a chance to really get inside Bullseye/Hawkeye's head, see what drives him, and see how he reacts to being put in this very unique situation. media.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377193.htmlmedia.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377195.htmlIGN Comics: Let's hit the main premise of this mini-series - what can fans
expect? Is this something that will eventually operate away from the
Dark Avengers?
Rosemann: How long can the world's most talented and demented killer stay on the leash? How long can he play the role of public hero before he sneaks "off campus" for a little of his own definition of R&R? And if he's caught, what would that mean for Norman Osborn's hand-picked team of Dark Avengers? Diggle: That's exactly what the first issue's all about - Bullseye/Hawkeye straining at the leash, and heading off on his own tangent. Bullseye has always loved the limelight; think back to his televised battle with Daredevil. So while he loves the public attention that comes with being one of the Avengers, he hates the fact that he can't reveal his true identity and claim the credit for "Hawkeye's" actions. So there's that dynamic tension building within him. He's a pressure cooker, and eventually he's going to blow. Did I say, "eventually"? I meant, "before the end of the first issue"! IGN Comics: I'm sure there's plenty of material to explore regarding
Bullseye attempting to be a hero... will we still see a "traditional"
villain (or more than one) clashing with Bullseye during this story?
Rosemann: In some ways, you could say this story is Bullseye vs. himself. Diggle: Let's just say I think we've found a neat way of balancing out Bullseye/Hawkeye's internal and external conflicts. There's a ton of action, but I wouldn't want to spoil it for the fans. IGN Comics: Though we've seen Bullseye be somewhat obedient to Kingpin in
the past, we never really struck him as a follower type. How much will
Norman's so-called leadership come into view during these five issues?
Rosemann: There's nothing "so-called" about it - Norman is an exceptional leader. Through actions and words, anyone on his squad knows you follow the gameplan and achieve the objective... or your time on the team is over. Norman knows what Bullseye wants, and if Bullseye wants to stay out of prison and live the high life, he'll do what Norman asks of him...until he simply can't. Diggle: Bullseye isn't a guy who likes following orders, unless he's ordered to do something that he'd want to do anyway. But Norman Osborn is shrewd enough to know that, so he tries to point Bullseye/Hawkeye in the direction he wants to go. Norman just has to make sure those goals coincide with his own. If not, sparks (and blood!) will fly... media.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377185.htmlmedia.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377183.htmlIGN Comics: In addition to being a follower, Bullseye is being asked to be a
teammate... which strikes us as being completely unlike him. Is he even
going to be interested in playing along with Norman's group? Is there
any sense of team cohesion?
Rosemann: Don't fall into the trap of thinking that Bullseye is being a follower by choosing to be a Dark Avenger. Norman wants something, and so does Bullseye. Each is manipulating the other in a deadly game of "who will blink first". Diggle: There are a lot of big egos in the Dark Avengers, and none of them particularly like being told what to do. It takes a master manipulator like Norman Osborn to hold the team together at all. But it's fair to say that Bullseye/Hawkeye couldn't care less about team cohesion. He wants instant gratification, and he doesn't care about consequences. He's driven by the pleasure principle - and what gives him pleasure is killing. As long as he gets to do that, he's just happy as a clam. IGN Comics: Bullseye also has this tendency to kill... well, anyone and everyone.
That seems like it would be a bit of a problem for a team that is the
public representation of Norman's reign... correct me if I'm wrong?
Diggle: That's Norman's problem. But he's a pretty shrewd spin-doctor, and it's easier than ever for him to manipulate the media in the H.A.M.M.E.R.-monitored world of Dark Reign. That said, he's going to have a hard time covering up some of the excesses you'll see in this mini-series... Rosemann: Ah, see now there's the question: How long until the tiger attacks the tamer? Can a killer ever keep their true nature controlled? media.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377189.htmlmedia.comics.ign.com/media/143/14316570/img_6377187.htmlIGN Comics: I'm trying to think of an answer for this, but I can't - why did
Norman put Bullseye on his very public Avengers team? Wouldn't he be better suited to stay on the
covert Thunderbolts team?
Diggle: Bullseye was a covert operative on the Thunderbolts team, and he saved their asses when it all went to hell. Norman recognizes Bullseye's extraordinary skill, and knows he can put it to better use. The public was never told that Bullseye was a Thunderbolt; he had to be kept hidden away, and Bullseye hated that. He wants the world to see he's the best there is at what he does. As a Dark Avenger, he finally gets to step out of the shadows and into the limelight. Rosemann: Norman's already done the covert-ops route with Bullseye - remember the public never really saw Bullseye cut loose on any Thunderbolt missions - and felt that it worked out rather nicely for both parties. Now Norman wants take the relationship to the next level. IGN Comics: Tom Raney is tackling the art for this mini - what made him
a good fit? What does his style bring to this series?
Rosemann: In Annihilation: Conquest and Secret Invasion: Inhumans, Tom showed how well he delivers intense details and over-the-top action. While he loved his year in space, Tom also had one eye on all the twists and turns the Avengers were taking during Secret Invasion. So when the opportunity arose, we figured it was a win-win situation for everyone. We needed a major talent for a high-profile Avengers story, and Tom was interested. And when Tom turned in his first scene, everyone knew the fit was perfect. Diggle: Tom's very first page knocked me flat on I disagree. 'Nuff said! IGN Comics: Anything else either of you would like to add? Diggle: Sometimes I need to pinch myself. I've been at Marvel less than a year, and I'm writing an Avengers book! Man, I love my job. Rosemann: Two of the industry's hottest talents unite to unleash comic's most infamous characters during Marvel's next huge event. Sign me up!
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 23, 2009 8:20:20 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 23, 2009 8:04:05 GMT -5
Read what Newsarama.com had to say about the Hulk VS dvd.
The hype has been building since the release of the trailers. Hulk versus Wolverine and Hulk versus Thor—easily two match-ups any Marvel Zombie has either seen in a comic or discussed ad nauseum on the internet or in a comic shop. It’s completely debatable who would be the victor in either one of these match-ups, right? Well...I’d pick the Hulk but that’s because I’m a huge fan of the big green galoot. So, like the rest of my gamma-inspired brethren, I’ve been champing at the bit to see these two new cartoons.
Did I like them? Absolutely. The animation is really good—each of the two cartoons is distinct; heck, the Hulk vs. Thor cartoon evokes both legendary Thor artists Jack Kirby and Walt Simonson. The Hulk vs. Wolverine cartoon also looks good and is incredibly fast-paced. Heck, I think I was too busy being enamored with all of the blood and violence at times....
That said, the battles can get pretty garish. I wouldn’t show this cartoon to a small child—but tweens and teens will definitely be attracted to it.
Spoilers ahead for both stories...
First things first, neither of these cartoons start with much set-up—which can be good considering how much valuable story time gets used up re-hashing plot beats that 95% of fans already know. Wolverine is being dropped over the last known whereabouts of the Hulk. Yes, he’s wearing a costume very similar to his original—but this is not a re-hashing of Hulk vs. Wolverine vs. Wendigo from Hulk #181. Actually, it watches more like a Wolverine cartoon with some Hulk sprinkled on top—it’s Wolverine vs. Hulk vs. Weapon X.
I say Weapon X loosely; in fact, I wouldn’t have called them that but Dr. Windsor showed up. Understandably, with X-Men Origins: Wolverine coming to theaters in May, this story plays in the same world, and it’s a nice little treat to see Wolverine and the Hulk to take on Sabertooth, Lady Deathstrike, Omega Red, and Deadpool. Another thing that’s nice: the folks at Marvel Studios who put this thing together don’t pull any punches with exposition and continuity—they let the dialog do the talking so to speak. This type of front-loading of background information was completely appreciated and made for a very fast-paced story.
There wasn’t much that bothered me about Hulk vs. Wolverine other than it ended so quickly. Well, that and the fact that the end... You’ll have to see for yourself—and be sure to watch for a funny little scene after the credits.
The Hulk vs. Thor cartoon was a little slower paced and featured much more dramatic storytelling and more narration. The Bruce Banner in this story is markedly different as well—in the Wolverine cartoon, he’s this panicked almost paranoid mess of a man. In the Thor cartoon, he’s a definitely a Debbie Downer who sulks and even makes his fantasy after-life (yeah, he dies for a bit...) a bit of a bummer. Essentially, the battle is a classic Thor/ Loki struggle with Hulk caught in the middle. The story starts up very quickly—Loki already has Banner in his clutches—so there is little need for build-up. Loki and the Enchantress possess Hulk and attack Asgard but something goes wrong with the spell and Loki loses control of the Hulk; thusly, Hulk uses all of Asgard like punching bag for 30 minutes. It’s great—even Gods can get their butts kicked.
I liked this cartoon for completely different reasons than I did the other. It was very grandiose—from the look of Asgard to the regally iconic capturing of Thor himself. There are several moments where I really thought a Kirby comic of Thor had come to life. My inner fanboy giggled like a school girl. Also, this episode seemed more complete than the other—it didn’t have much of a beginning but the end ended the way an end should...if that makes sense.
If you’re a fan of Marvel Comics, you’ll want to own these DVDs. They’re fun to watch and they’re ripe with continuity Easter eggs. Again, parents of younger children might want to hold off a bit on these; the Thor episode isn’t as graphic but the Wolverine episode has some stuff that pretty hardcore for cartoons. They may be short and sweet but two solid line drives can equal a game winning homerun—hit the store next Tuesday and pick this pair up.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 17:53:15 GMT -5
MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS FOR MS. MARVEL AHEAD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
Carol Danvers announced months ago, to readers' surprise, that she was going to kill Norman Osborn.
But it looks like someone will kill her first.
In a previously unexplained bit of non-sequential storytelling, Ms. Marvel writer Brian Reed shocked readers by showing a scene from the future in issue #31 where Carol visits her dying father and declares her intent to murder Osborn, long before anyone knew why.
Since then, the Ms. Marvel comic has been building a case against Osborn that stems from Carol's military years, exploring the mystery of a secret yet powerful terrorist project linked to both the CIA and Osborn. And with this week's Dark Avengers #1, the conflict between Carol Danvers and Osborn escalated as he placed Carol under arrest just before she escaped out a window, then let Moonstone wear the title of Ms. Marvel.
Now the shocking revelation that Carol wants to kill Norman makes sense. But Reed isn't done with the shockers, as readers of this interview will see. Newsarama talked to Reed about Carol's future -- or as we found out, her lack of one -- as she resigns from the Avengers and pursues her vendetta against Osborn. It's all coming to a fatal end for Carol soon, Reed said, and by issue #38, Moonstone will not only wear the title of Ms. Marvel in Dark Avengers, but in the Ms. Marvel title too.
Newsarama: Let's just get something done right up front, Brian, because the question will be inevitable. During Civil War, Ms. Marvel followed the letter of the law even when it didn't particularly make her feel comfortable to do so. Why isn't she following the letter of the law and following Norman Osborn the way she followed Tony Stark?
Brian Reed: Well, Tony was very much the law and was doing the will of the people. And when Norman comes along... yes, Norman is doing the same thing, but Norman has a very different history. Tony, for a very long time, saved the world. Norman threw teenaged girls off bridges.
NRAMA: A bit of a difference. And as readers of your series have been seeing, there's more to her hatred of Norman Osborn than just recent events. How does what happened in Dark Avengers fit together now with what we've been reading in Ms. Marvel?
BR: The Avengers have finally caught up to my book, as far as the timeline goes. In Ms. Marvel #31, Carol Danvers went home because her dad was dying. That happened post-Secret Invasion and post-Dark Avengers #1.
NRAMA: Aaah... that explains the declaration about Norman Osborn at the end.
BR: Yeah. Thats why she said she was going to kill Norman Osborn. And a big part of us doing that was so that people would say, "Wait. What?"
NRAMA: So Ms. Marvel #31, which came out a few months ago, takes place after Dark Avengers, and we've had a few flashback issues since then that explored military missions from Carol's past. Are we finding out now that all these things tied together?
BR: Yes. This is all part of a huge plan that is coming together for the reader now. Everything in Ms. Marvel from Issue #1 was leading up to Secret Invasion. It was all about her big awakening as the "hero that I can be." But post-Secret Invasion, since issue #31, it's been all about who Carol Danvers was before she was Ms. Marvel. Everyone knows the story about Rogue stealing her powers, but her past has never really been explored. And this was our time between the end of Secret Invasion and the start of Dark Reign that I had this chance to go back and explore that.
Nobody had ever deeply explored Carol's spy days, and it's a really cool element of her character that no other superhero has. We've got Nick Fury and Black Widow, but they're not out there doing superhero things -- they're spies. So this was a chance to go in and do something about how she's actually a superhero/spy. And as we see over the next issue or so that winds up tying into all the Norman Osborn stuff.
NRAMA: During the flashbacks, Carol has investigated something called "Project: Ascension," which she discovered after being shot down in Afghanistan and tortured by a man named Ghazi Rashid. During this storyline, are you saying we've been getting little pieces of a greater puzzle?
BR: There have been clues planted in every issue as to what's going on. And it all ties to Norman Osborn.
NRAMA: You've been using a lot of non-sequential storytelling here, flashing forward to that scene where she sees her dying father, then flashing back to her days in the military and Special Ops. It was a little confusing for awhile there how it all fit together, but it's all leading toward Dark Reign?
BR: Yep. It actually all makes sense and pays off now. In the opening of Ms. Marvel #36, you see how Norman Osborn figures into the puzzle. But all the hints have been there all along.
NRAMA: So over the last few months leading up to Dark Avengers, we've been seeing her justification for killing Norman Osborn?
BR: We've been seeing pieces of it. We've now seen his takeover of the Avengers, but we've also got the revelation [in Ms. Marvel #33] that one of the bad guys she's been dealing with in her series, Ghazi Rashid, has ties to Norman Osborn. And we're going to find out that Norman didn't just let her walk out of Avengers Tower and call it a day after their confrontation in Dark Avengers. He went after her.
NRAMA: That's not surprising. Over the next few issues, what are we going to see as Carol heads toward this showdown with Osborn?
BR: Over the next few issues, we'll see all of Carol's past catching up to her present. We'll understand why I've been doing these flashback stories. It has a lot to do with what the present is all about. And some very bad things happen, and Carol dies.
NRAMA: Wait. What???
BR: As of Ms. Marvel #37, as seen in Dark Avengers #1, Moonstone is Ms. Marvel. And where we go from there is a whole new, very scary place.
NRAMA: There will still be a Ms. Marvel comic book after Carol's death?
BR: There will still be a Ms. Marvel comic book and the numbering will continue forward. But Moonstone as Ms. Marvel, is the new lead character. In Issue #37, we see the baton passed.
NRAMA: This is a pretty mind-boggling revelation, Brian. Have you known about this eventuality for your lead character for awhile now?
BR: The idea of bringing Moonstone into the book has existed for a long time. But the idea to move Carol aside and let Moonstone take over was something that cropped up a little later. I thought of it one night, and although it seemed to make sense with Carol's story and what was happening, I initially thought, "Well, that's insane!" And then I told [Marvel Editor] Steve Wacker about it and he said, "No! It makes sense! Do it!" And it really did make sense. As I went back and looked at the issues I've done in this title, I realized that I've unintentionally planted the seeds for this from the beginning. I had given myself this plot without realizing I'd done it. For me, that's when I enjoy the stories the most, when they surprise me. And I figure they'll also surprise everyone else.
NRAMA: You said earlier that Carol's been on a journey toward discovering "the hero she could be" ever since Ms. Marvel #1. Can you describe that journey? And how has the knowledge of her upcoming death influenced how you've written it?
BR: The death itself goes back into the Cru issues. Cru was an alien being who had lived inside her since issue #3. We got that alien out of her somewhere around the teen issues. When her and Cru separated, Cru warned Carol saying, "You think this is a good thing, but really, it's not. Bad things are coming."
When Secret Invasion came along, Carol pushed herself very hard. And if you look at Secret Invasion, there is a hole of time where Carol disappears.
NRAMA: She fights the Skrulls in Manhattan, but then we don't see her for awhile, right?
BR: Yeah. The end of my issues is only the end of the first day of the invasion. The invasion goes on for around 72 hours. And then she's back in the Central Park fight. So where was she in between? That's part of what we're going to be exploring over a couple of issues, filling in that time gap and showing that this is where bad things started to happen. And all of that ties into the current arc of Ms. Marvel, and leads directly to Moonstone taking over the mantle.
NRAMA: You said that Norman Osborn didn't just "let" her fly out the window and that he's going after her. Is she, at the same time, plotting against him?
BR: Oh yeah. That's what this current arc is all about, discovering that Norman has been behind what has been going on. And while she thought she was rallying her troops to go after him, he was already coming after her.
NRAMA: When this series started -- and I know this is often the label of death for comics -- but when it first started, Ms. Marvel could be labeled as a light-hearted, "fun" comic. But while it's kept many of the fun elements, it's gotten more and more complex as we've gotten closer to Dark Reign, hasn't it?
BR: Yeah. We're certainly going a new direction. We're saying, if you haven't given the book a chance in awhile, come on over, 'cause things are happening.' But it was this fun thing for me, trying to appease both the Ms. Marvel action/adventure mindset while doing this darker story.
NRAMA: In Dark Avengers #1, we also see a new version of Captain Marvel join the Dark Avengers. How is it for Ms. Marvel to see him as part of the Avengers?
BR: We’ll actually be dealing with that in Ms. Marvel #35. She sees it and feels like she should comment on it and do something about it, but she doesn't really understand why she has that emotion. So when she sees that this guy has become Captain Marvel, she's surprised by it. We also see that the Church of Hala from the Captain Marvel mini-series is still going, but church attendance is dwindling because Captain Marvel himself has disappeared. It has almost become the cult that everyone accused it of being. And when everyone sees this new Captain Marvel, their reaction is that this guy is not Captain Marvel; this guy is going to kill us all. So there is a mass suicide at one of the Church of Halas. Carol goes to see what it is all about. She's not even sure why she's there. She just knows that it was done in Captain Marvel's name, and that's her name, so she feels like she has to see it. And when she gets there, the new Captain Marvel's there too. They have a confrontation, and we learn what he meant to both of them.
NRAMA: With Moonstone taking over the mantle of Ms. Marvel now, will you be writing a Moonstone/Carol Danvers meeting of some kind?
BR: Oh, it certainly seems like the thing to do, doesn't it?
NRAMA: It does.
BR: That's the fun thing about comic books. Anything can happen.
NRAMA: Carol's been acting very strange in her last few issues. And there are a lot of unanswered questions as we move forward. Is this all going to be resolved in the next few issues before she dies?
BR: Every question I've raised gets answered in the next three issues, leading up to the end of Carol's current story and the beginning of Dark Reign in Ms. Marvel.
NRAMA: So let's review what you've got coming up, Brian. Carol Danvers' death is going to be in issue #37?
BR: Yes, it's in issue #37. And I'm writing issue #40 right now. It's the same series, but it's definitely switched gears. We've gone into the Dark Reign.
NRAMA: If somebody would pick up Ms. Marvel with the next issue, which is Ms. Marvel #35, would that person be able to understand the story starting there?
BR: Right now is a great time to jump on because we're ramping up to all this stuff. You'll be there just in time to see how the whole train falls apart. Issues #35, #36 and #37 are the death of Carol Danvers. And in Ms. Marvel #38, the Dark Reign begins in earnest. But the next three issues are where we see Norman play his hand. We see that he's been behind things since the end of Secret Invasion in Ms. Marvel's book.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 11:21:37 GMT -5
Loads of spoilers for Dark Avengers #1 ahead
When comic book fans saw the cover for Dark Avengers #1 by Mike Deodato Jr., there were a lot of guesses about who these new "alternate" caped heroes were. But once the issue came out this week, readers found out this is no alternate team at all.
This is the Avengers. The official, government sanctioned, following-the-guy-in-the-iron-suit Avengers. And they're wearing the names of the heroes the world has come to trust.
In other words, that isn't someone in a costume similar to Ms. Marvel. It is Ms. Marvel. And that isn't a dark version of Spider-Man. It is Spider-Man. It may not be Carol Danvers and Peter Parker behind the masks, but those identities have been placed upon someone new, and the people of the Marvel Universe are greeting them with cheers and confetti.
It's all part of Dark Reign, the post-Secret Invasion story spreading across multiple comics in the Marvel Universe -- particularly the two Avengers comics written by Brian Michael Bendis. While the Skrulls lost the battle in Secret Invasion and failed in their takeover attempt, it's not necessarily the good guys who won. As the aliens were driven from Earth, it was Thunderbolts leader Norman Osborn who emerged as a public hero while former Avengers leader Tony Stark took the fall along with many of his former teammates, some of whom are now wanted as criminals.
Very quickly, in Dark Avengers #1, readers found out what this new status quo means to the future of the Marvel Universe. Venom became Spider-Man, Bullseye became Hawkeye and Moonstone became Ms. Marvel. And Norman Osborn himself put on one of Tony Stark's fancy outfits and became the new Iron Patriot. A whole new Avengers team debuted under the smiling leadership of the former Green Goblin, who promised a post-war American public that his team would charge into battle against any future threats to "our way of life."
We talked to Bendis about the issue, the psychological effect of dressing former villains up in hero suits, and how the New Avengers are going to react to seeing their public identities donned by someone else.
Newsarama: Brian, Dark Avengers #1 didn't just confirm that the bad guys were in charge. This is a lot more creepy that that, because they were literally introduced to the public as being Wolverine and Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man. What's your thinking behind telling a story where villains take the place of actual Avengers characters? Is it just to stick it to the superheroes themselves? Or is there more to it?
Brian Michael Bendis: Really, what the Dark Reign is about, and Dark Avengers in particular, is this idea that everyone is the hero of his own story. This is one of the mantras of recent modern fiction. Norman never sees himself as the villain. Everyone's got their own point of view.
I was riffing on this back in Goldfish. Every once in awhile I see someone refer to themselves in a comic book as a criminal, or "I'm the bad guy." They'll actually say, "I'm the bad guy." And I'm like, no one actually thinks they're a bad guy! You know? Even the sociopaths have a complete agenda. So I really wanted to explore that. Norman is the hero of his story, and everyone on his team is the hero of their story. Yes, they have vendettas, and absolutely, they want to stick it to the man and let everyone have it. But how they're doing it is through this idea of being the hero of their own story.
And maybe they're better at it! Maybe Wolverine's kid is a better, younger Wolverine. Maybe Venom actually would be a better Spider-Man if you got him under control. Maybe you'd get more accomplished because they don't have the same piles of neuroses and moral quandaries that our "heroes" wrestle with. Maybe they'll be more effective Avengers.
NRAMA: Nooooo!!
BMB: [laughs] I want you to d**n well make sure you put that in the article. "Noooo!!"
NRAMA: It's just against everything superhero comics are about, isn't it? You can't suggest the bad guys would be better at the job the heroes do.
BMB: I think it actually explores it in quite an interesting way. Maybe Bullseye will actually discover things about himself that he never got a chance to before. Maybe he does this exceptionally well, and if he does it well, maybe something else takes hold. You know what I mean? Every war story you've ever heard, every great hero story you've ever heard are about people rising to the occasion.
NRAMA: Yeah, even Spider-Man was bad at the beginning.
BMB: Yeah! He was a dick at first! And I'm not saying that's what going to happen here, but I'm just saying it's interesting that it could. And on the flip side, you've got heroes like Luke Cage and Hawkeye/Ronin and others who do well under the confines of their clear label as "hero," but if that's taken away from them or if they're sharing it, they may not do as well. Peter Parker is a very specific kind of cat who can handle the self-loathing and drama of losing even when you win. That takes a special kind of personality. I think it's a very similar personality to a comic creator. So maybe Luke Cage can't handle that, and maybe other things happen to him and his personality. Pushed up against a wall like that, people might react adversely.
NRAMA: It's like they say that if you label a kid as something, they become that. If you talk about them being lazy or dumb, they think, well, that's what I am. So they become that label.
BMB: Perfect example. I'm sure you've been through this too. You see parents talk about the kid in front of the kid, like the kid can't hear them. It's like, you're calling her bad and the kid can hear you. That skeeves me out to no end. So yeah, that's one angle to it. But there's also the fact that, sure, Bullseye knows he's bad-ass. He knows he's a sociopath. But now he's been medicated and given an agenda, and the agenda might fulfill him in a way the other nuts didn't. He just never would have even thought to try.
These aren't things that will happen, necessarily. I'm just saying that these questions are being put forth by these books. I'm saying that I think this is a grand opportunity to address the label of hero and villain in our modern society. We've heard for the last 20 years that we can't have heroes anymore. We set them up and knock them down. Is that our society? Or is there something else?
And the other thing I like about it is that Norman is fulfilling a role as the dastard world leader. Everyone knows he's an not a very nice person. He's not hiding that he's an not a very nice person. But every once in awhile our society, and other cultures too, love that there's an not a very nice person in charge. People used that with Bill Clinton too. "Oh, we know he's up to shenanigans; we just like the way he's doing it." People use that with Cheney, although a lot of people don't like him. But some people love him to this day, you know? He's their kind of not a very nice person. And it's this attitude where, as long as I'm safe and I get to watch TV and my X-Box works and you're keeping the problems away from me, go be an not a very nice person, man. I don't care. People feel that way about their own lawyers. They say, "I know he's an not a very nice person. I need an not a very nice person!"
I'm reminded of Joe McCarthy who, for awhile, was very, very popular. That's why he got so popular. And there's an arc there where sometimes they overshoot. And the not a very nice person-ness that got them into power is the same kind of personality that knocks them out of power. They push the limit. I know some comic book publishers who are very similar. [laughs] You know. So there are a lot of people who are like this.
NRAMA: There's a scene in Thunderbolts where Norman is in a Congressional hearing that is reminiscent of McCarthy. And he's also similar to McCarthy in that Norman is utilizing the public's fear after Secret Invasion, turning it toward a specific agenda.
BMB: Absolutely. And what I like about it is his point of view isn't incorrect. It's much like we all agree that Magneto is probably the best villainous character in the Marvel Universe because his agenda -- his point -- is arguable. You could argue it over coffee and no one would be wrong. It's just how he goes about doing it that is wrong. I do like the writers who have grabbed on immediately to that idea with Norman Osborn. He's a blast to write. He's so much fun to write, because he's smart and savvy. And he's finally coming into his own. This is his moment. I know there are some people who are reading this or who are reading Dark Avengers who are like, "Wait. Didn't he murder people?" All of this will be addressed very, very soon. Of course it will be addressed. Yes, I am aware of the history of Norman Osborn. Please. Don't start with that. Of course I know. Come on. I've been writing Spider-Man for nine years and I've seen the movie, you know?
NRAMA: Didn't just conveniently forget?
BMB: No. It will be addressed. And remember that the last real dark shenanigans that Norman was up to was something I'd written with him in The Pulse, with Spider-Man and Luke Cage and all that. Mark Bagley drew it and maybe you should check it out because both that and what happened with Norman in Mark Millar's Spider-Man book will be addressed directly.
NRAMA: Since we're on the character of Norman Osborn, he's Iron Patriot?
BMB: It's either him or Tommy Lee Jones.
NRAMA: What's his motivation for putting on the Iron Patriot costume? Is this a case of him not only figuratively replacing Tony Stark but literally crawling into his skin?
BMB: Well, it says right there in the book that he's trying to put together this team, and Ares says, the two elements you're missing that sell this are the knight and the flag. And in the next page, Norman is shocked to find out he has the key to Tony's toy box. And in the not a very nice person exuberance of his not a very nice person-ness, he puts on the armor. And that's what we love about him. It made me feel there's a couple guys I know in my life who absolutely would have done that and I would have laughed and said, oh, you're such an not a very nice person. There's friends of mine who do things like this, who make moves publicly that I laugh the whole time but think, I would never do that. And it seems to always work out for them, but I would never do it.
So that's the motivation behind it. Absolutely there's a smile behind that armor. And he knows, he pulls off that helmet, and he's the opposite of Tony. He doesn't say I am Iron Man or I'm not Iron Man. It's that I'm Norman Osborn and this is how it's going to be.
NRAMA: The all new Avengers. This grouping and the way they look here on the page, with that enthusiastic crowd -- it kind of makes me cringe.
BMB: Good! That's a legitimate reaction. There's something fun about that.
NRAMA: It all just hits a little close to home, like it's something you could see on CNN. You see these people cheering and they have no idea that, for example, this Captain Marvel that they're applauding is a Skrull.
BMB: What? Captain Marvel's not a Skrull! He's a Kree! He's the enemy of the Skrull.
NRAMA: Oh, that's right. He's not only a hero being replaced, but a Kree, so there's an even bigger lie here. And no one has any idea?
BMB: Well that's going to be the story as the book progresses. Something is being sold here, and we are a society that sells that image. I mean, even think about Joe the Plumber. They were selling that. Right? Everyone was selling Joe the Plumber. And the more and more we found out about Joe the Plumber, the worse it got, and next thing you know we'd open up the paper and find out Joe's punching reporters or something. So the idea of someone being thrust into the spotlight and sold and sold until the media gets their hands on it -- that's fascinating. And it's the world we live in. And I bring up Joe the Plumber and don't mean any political aversion with that. I mean, both sides and their political agenda have sold us images. The Flags of our Fathers movie was all about that. There's that image, but what's behind that image is completely different. And this is a version of that.
NRAMA: But you just said yourself that something happens once the media gets their hands on it, so will we see people begin to discover the secret behind Captain Marvel?
BMB: Yeah. And remember that the New Avengers know all about what's going on here. So that's going to be what's fun is watching the New Avengers have their tantrum about this and see what they're going to do. How is the Marvel Universe going to react to this bomb that Norman Osborn has dropped into the superhero community? There will be waves of reaction in a lot of different books. But what you'll also get is, now you have a team of personalities that I really don't think you've ever seen before, because it's not just Warren's Thunderbolts. It's a mixture of them in a different place, plus the Sentry's crazy and Ares is a god. We've never seen a group like this before. So their interactions and relationships are set up to be very unique.
NRAMA: The Sentry says, "This is where I live." That seems like a weak motivation for joining. Do we get to find out more about why he's part of this team?
BMB: Oh, yes. There's a very big deal between Norman and him. So I don't want to spoil it, but you find out in the very first few issues.
NRAMA: We're talking with Brian Reed about Ms. Marvel and the future of Carol Danvers as Moonstone takes over the Ms. Marvel mantle. But there's a bigger story behind what Carol is doing in this issue of Dark Avengers #1, isn't there?
BMB: Absolutely. And Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers, will be a big part of New Avengers. This is a character being tested dramatically. This is a military woman who was raised to follow orders and was raised to believe in certain things. And really, she should do what Norman says.
NRAMA: He is technically appointed by the government.
BMB: Yeah, he is her boss. And on some level, she feels that she's failed by not accepting this. But of course, we know she hasn't. She's being true to herself.
NRAMA: And an interesting situation for Moonstone as well to be able to take over this heroic title.
BMB: Oh, yeah.
NRAMA: Ares has a pretty straightforward motivation, doesn't he?
BMB: Yeah! He's a god! I mean, no matter what you think of Norman and the dastardly deeds he's done, it's nothing compared to what Zeus has done. Zeus is an not a very nice person! Holy crap! Ares is used to hanging around that guy and Norman is nothing! Norman's fun! Norman's well dressed, takes him out to dinner, you know?
NRAMA: "You have to taste this. 'Tis glorious crap."
BMB: Yeah! It's nice! But yeah, I mean, Ares' feeling is that this is a warrior's time, and these are the warriors who won. So yeah, this is the place he would be proud to be.
NRAMA: Was Norman not aware that Daken Akihiro is Wolverine's son?
BMB: Yeah. That's not a known thing. I kind of like that Norman's going through the book -- Mr. Know-It-All -- and someone drops a bomb on him. This is something that nobody knows, and it's obviously going to leak out to New Avengers as well. And then everyone has to have an image of what it's like for Wolverine to make a baby, so that's an image that will haunt everybody. When's the last time you heard a good, juicy piece of superhero gossip?
NRAMA: And you've already talked a lot about Bullseye becoming Hawkeye, but that's the one that creeps me out the most.
BMB: Imagine being Clint Barton. I think it probably annoys him even more. And I'm sure there are people on this very website who it annoys even more. But I'm not doing it to piss anyone off. There's interesting stuff going to happen here.
NRAMA: But Venom as Spider-Man is probably the most bothersome part of this because Norman took a real enemy of Spider-Man and put him in a Spider-Man costume and gave him the official title. You've said that in Dark Reign, you wanted to show other heroes what it's like to lose the way Spider-Man does, but Norman's really sticking it to Spidey here, isn't he?
BMB: Yeah, Norman's definitely got it in for Spider-Man. There are people in the world who believe if you can go about your business and f___ over somebody at the same time? That's a good day. I don't feel that way, but I know people who feel that way. And that's what Norman's doing. Norman's having his cake and eating it too.
And it's a perfect situation for him. Let's say Venom completely loses it. Norman just says, "Oh, that Spider-Man. I tried so hard. I gave him everything in the world. But Spider-Man is a menace!" It's a win-win.
NRAMA: OK, now let's talk about the villain who's brewing in the background of this story here. We've got Doctor Doom going home and Morgana in the wings?
BMB: Yes. This was a lucky bit of business for me. At one point, I was brewing this Morgana thing. Morgana's part of our Mighty Avengers arc with Doctor Doom as well. We've been cooking the fact that Doom has been traveling back with her and maybe even dating her to get dark magic secrets. They're very involved with each other. And we've set it up that he, by ignoring her, has her mad. She's not the most stable woman. So she comes back to deal with Doom, and I thought, wow, we really lucked out here because we have a classic Avengers villain for these Dark Avengers to deal with.
And this gets interesting now because we've seen how the Avengers have dealt with her. But seeing how Norman's Avengers will deal with her will give a great juxtaposition of what the difference is between those Avengers and these Avengers.
NRAMA: And this is also Doom getting his reward for sitting in that meeting with the "Dark Illuminati?"
BMB: Yes. Absolutely. This is all connected to that. There's a lot of business with Doom that is tying up nicely here.
NRAMA: Are we going to be seeing the other Dark Illuminati touched upon in Dark Avengers, or are they spread now into other comics?
BMB: They're spread out a little bit. But The Hood is a big part of New Avengers. And I don't want to ruin anything, but Rick Remender is doing some Hood stuff in his Punisher as well. And you're going to see a lot of them bouncing around, because it's not just the world according to Norman. There's a different power base going on here. And there are a lot of different angles to write about it from. You don't have to read everything together. You can just read what you're reading. But for those who are reading everything, there's a lot there.
There's also something interesting about Norman's first mission. Saving Doctor Doom might not be the best public deal. "What did you do with our money?" So there's that to deal with as well. Norman's really got a lot of plates in the air.
NRAMA: So in the next issue of New Avengers, will we see the heroes' immediate reaction to what just happened in Dark Avengers?
BMB: Yes! There's going to be a lot of whining. The most whining you've ever seen in an Avengers book in the history of the Avengers. Including when the Vision was crying like a baby. More whining than even that.
NRAMA: Last time we talked, you implied this would all lead to interesting stories for both books...
BMB: Yeah, and you gave me that look! You were like, yeah sure, we'll see buddy. And see? Look? I mean, I creeped you out!
NRAMA: OK, you got me there. But my question is that what we just saw in Dark Avengers what it means to live in Norman's brave new world, so will that be central to what's happening with New Avengers in that series' upcoming stories?
BMB: Yes. There is going to be a relationship between the two Avengers books. You can read one or the other and be fine. You don't have to read both of them. But if you do read both, there are things bouncing back and forth that will have massive pay-offs between the two books. Their relationship is very different than it was with Mighty Avengers; even though that was antagonistic, it's nothing compared to how these two books will antagonize each other.
NRAMA: But the New Avengers team is also changing, right?
BMB: Yes, absolutely. It's already changed a little bit and will change even more after New Avengers #50, which is a big, double-sized anniversary issue that deals directly with the events that happened in Dark Avengers #1.
NRAMA: To finish up, is there anything else you want to tell us about what's coming up in Dark Avengers and New Avengers?
BMB: New Avengers #50 is a really big one, as I said. Not only is it the New Avengers reacting to Norman and deciding to proactively do something about him, but it's also a bit of a jam issue where we came up with the battle scene that takes place in the issue. There will a page dedicated to each character in the New Avengers, and it will be drawn by an artist known for that character. So David Aja is doing Iron Fist, McNiven's doing Spider-Man, and Bryan Hitch is doing some and Alex Maleev is doing Spider-Woman, so it's a very cool kind of character-dedicated fight scene. I'm actually very excited about it. So on top of it being big story book, it's a really gorgeous out book as well. That's a big one.
And Dark Avengers will roll on quickly. There's a lot going to happen in that book. There's a lot that's going to happen very fast. And Namor's situation -- I know a lot of people are confused and worried about Namor -- but that situation and what happened in his mini-series with the Atlantean sleeper cells and what Namor's state of mind is will all be addressed shortly in Dark Avengers.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 11:10:44 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 0:56:50 GMT -5
Here's a review of Guardians of the Galaxy #9 from Ign.com
Abnett and Lanning begin their latest installment of Guardians of the Galaxy with a quote from Jack Flagg, proclaiming, "I hate cosmic stuff. I ****ing hate cosmic stuff." There was a time, not too long ago, when I would have been inclined to agree. Yet every month, this title continues to convince me otherwise. Guardians of the Galaxy is space opera at its best. It's everything the Star Wars prequels should have been, a perfect mixture of thrills and good-natured fun. And if it weren't for a massive failure in the art department, this would have been one of my favorite installments yet.
As much fun as a typical installment of Guardians is, Abnett and Lanning do a particularly fine job here, mainly with their driving narrative from Jack Flagg. Not only are his misgivings a fun ribbing at the general sentiment this title is at a constant war with, but they also work fairly well to make his otherwise mismatched presence work within the confines of the cosmic niche.
Focusing on the burgeoning war in the Negative Zone, Guardians #9 picks up with Star-Lord dealing with his recent imprisonment as he works as a go-between for Blastarr. While this book routinely gets credit for its handling of a hodge-podge cast, Abnett and Lanning take things to a whole different level here, bringing characters ranging from the Condor to Gorilla Man into play, almost seamlessly.
A large part of this issue reminded me of the Arrested Development episode, S.O.B.s, where the Bluth family routinely took jabs at both Fox and its underdeveloped audience, while also making light of the show's impending cancellation. No less than five times do Abnett and Lanning kid about their cosmic niche, basically laughing at the book's relative obscurity. What results is easily the funniest issue of Guardians to date.
Unfortunately, while the book is nearly flawless in scripting, the art… yeah, not so much. I thought that Brad Walker did a fairly great job with the last issue, but there are points in this book that are downright hideous. There are two artists listed in the credits (Walker and Carlos Magno), and I'm not sure who drew what, but whoever was responsible for the creature being passed off as Rocket Raccoon on the last few pages, completely dropped the ball. Cosmo is equally as ugly, while even the most presentable of other characters still suffer from a veritable lifelessness.
It's a shame Paul Pelletier has jumped ship to War of Kings. His pencils have the rare ability to play up the cosmic theatrics, while maintaining a tangible comedic underpinning. He is a hard act to follow, no doubt, but I hope Marvel can find a few artists to better suit Guardians basic tonality. Again, when dealing with multiple artists it is hard to spread around the blame, but there is no doubt that this issue marked a serious step back.
Yet if you can get past the artistic woes, Guardians #9 remains another outstanding installment of one of the most reliable titles on the shelf. I remain hopeful that War of Kings will bring more people on board, as there are still a large number of people missing out on Abnett and Lanning's best book.
Review Score: 7.6 Good
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 0:51:59 GMT -5
Read what Ign.com had to say about Dan Slott'a work on Mighty Avengers #21.
Mighty Avengers #21 is the book's first issue under new writer Dan Slott and features its brand spankin' new cast, motivation, and direction. It seems odd to release the book the same week as Dark Avengers, but I suspect it's an intentional move that serves to highlight the opposite sides of the spectrum that the dueling titles will inhabit. Whereas Dark is sleek, cool, and very "of-the-now," Mighty is populated by mostly B- and C-listers and feels peculiarly Silver-Agey with its focus on magic and classical Avengers values.
The Avengers oath goes something like "On a day unlike any other yadda yadda some heroes got together and beat some ass, etc etc etc." and, in crafting his old-school version of the team, Dan Slott makes good on that proclamation by giving his Avengers a cause to fight against. The Chaos Cascade is a magical force wreaking havoc all over the world, causing large-scale disasters and good old-fashioned hero fatality. The Scarlet Witch begins collecting an army to combat it while Hercules, Amadeus Cho, and Jarvis try to get Hank Pym (now the Wasp) back in the game.
It's admirable that Slott sticks to the Avengers tradition of a threat no single hero can overcome and all that, but I personally feel that Mighty Avengers #21 bites off more than it can chew. When the issue shows worldwide crises and prominent heroes being killed (think Ultimatum #1), you can basically see the finger hovering over the reset button. It's too much, too soon for me. On top of that, the dialogue is awfully clunky in parts. Slott seems to struggle with writing a natural teen girl; Stature's lines come off as awkward and stilted. Elsewhere, there are long stretches of characters standing around explaining past plot points to one another for (ostensibly) the benefit of unfamiliar readers. The dialogue and interaction between characters doesn't feel smooth or organic.
Still, despite that, there's a likable quality to the book. Slott seems to be making a case for Mighty Avengers as the revival of the 1970s era of the team, and generally speaking, there's certainly a market for that sort of thing - I'm sure that the intended audience for this title probably doesn't overlap completely with readers who are in love with Brian Bendis's all-star makeover of the franchise. In interviews, Slott has called his version of the team the Avengers for old-school Avengers fans, and with a cast list that sports Jocasta, the Vision, and Hercules, he's not far off the mark. The mysterious reintroduction of the Scarlet Witch and a overarching plot firmly steeped in the magical realm cements that, and reminds me of Kurt Busiek's "Heroes Return" era of the team, which I suspect is probably intentional. This issue also names Jarvis the lynchpin of the Avengers, as well as Hank Pym one of the most crucial aspects of the team. Slott certainly has his head in the right place to make this workable, and a more old-school oriented Avengers book definitely has a place in the contemporary market.
But the bottom line is, Mighty Avengers #21 could make use of a Pym Pocket, because it tries to cram too much stuff into too small a space. Being overambitious is much, much better than being boring, though, and there are some isolated glimmers of potential in this new team and Slott's new setup. Once it finds its rhythm, the new iteration of Mighty should be one to watch.
Review Score: 7.4 Decent
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 0:48:16 GMT -5
Here's Ign's review of Dark Avengers #1.
It's rather ironic that Dark Avengers, a book apparently hinged on a changing of the status quo, comes across altogether familiar. As well written and well drawn as it is, I just can't shake the feeling that this book is a watered down version of the Thunderbolts. I understand that some of the themes are different. Yet even so, the basic intent for this title remains mostly the same. Any way you cut it, this is still a title about a band of villains pretending (or forced) to be superheroes.
As it is, Bendis' story seems to rely wholly upon shock value. As different villains transform into basic burlesques of their counterparts, the enjoyment (or lack thereof) of this issue basically comes down to the simple discomfort of seeing a group of bad guys change their tune, be it genuine or otherwise. Bendis sets a rather foreboding tone, heavily implying that the "loose cannon" aspect of the Thunderbolts will be largely present in Dark Avengers as well.
Again, the only thing that really separates this book from Thunderbolts is the basic lack of anonymity. I fully realize that the whole point of Dark Reign is to present the fallout from Norman Osborn's ascension to power, and that this book is basically intended to properly bring him out from the behind the shadows. Obviously, the Thunderbolts were more of an underground operation, while the Dark Avengers choose basic deception over camouflage. But I still find this a rather flimsy way to justify this book's existence (and for that matter charge four dollars for it), rather than just continuing these themes in Thunderbolts, or even New Avengers.
But where I may take issue with Dark Avengers' premise, it's hard to argue against Bendis' always-solid execution. Emerging from beneath the fallout of Secret Invasion, the first issue of Dark Avengers is largely logistical, basically serving as a roll call for what constitutes the book's main cast of miscreants. Bendis does a remarkable job of doing this rather expediently, pretty much providing the antithesis of his initial issues of New Avengers five years ago. It takes an unmistakable amount of skill to pull this off quickly while also forming a sustainable framework, which Bendis does seamlessly here.
And if there's one benefit to this book's echoing of Thunderbolts, it's the artwork of Mike Deodato. Himself a carry over from the days of Warren Ellis, he was a natural choice for this series, and he takes full advantage of his prior expertise here. His dark contrasts are his bread and butter, and his basic schematic does a lot to add to the series thematically, while also providing the kind of sparkle needed to properly launch a new franchise.
In the end, Bendis is a pro. When he is on his game, his sharp dialogue and quick pacing help to make his work perpetually readable. This remains true in Dark Avengers, despite the basic premise stepping on the toes of another, more established franchise. Bendis certainly packs a series of combustible elements into Dark Avengers, promising for a veritable powder keg; I just hope this book can differentiate itself a bit as things really get moving.
Three people gave three diffrent Review Scores. 6.8 Passable 9.0 Outstanding 8.8 Impressive
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2009 0:39:10 GMT -5
Well I enjoyed reading it I was shocked to see who was the Iron Patriot.
I even got a variant cover of the issue the artwork is great I think it's the same person who did the artwork for the Thunderbolts before the Secret Invasion Tie Ins.
They got all the members of the Dark Avengers together in one issue.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 21, 2009 16:33:13 GMT -5
I bought the frist issue today you'll a review of the issue tomorro w or friday.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 21, 2009 16:30:18 GMT -5
He guest stared in the Spider-Man comics, Obama said Spider-Man is one of his favorite heroes.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:35:16 GMT -5
I just liked it way better than Iron Man and one time I watched comic con on G4 fans were asked which was better and they said the Dark Knight.
When one fan said Iron Man all the others said yeah right.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:29:34 GMT -5
The untold origin of Iron Man continues – written by international best-selling author Orson Scott Card! When last we saw him, young Tony Stark was nearly blown to bits. How much of him survived his initial Iron Man trial run, and where does the young genius go from here? Plus: How does James Rhodes fit into Tony’s plans for the perfect fighting machine? Four-time Hugo Award-winner, two-time Nebula Award-winner and World Fantasy Award-winner Orson Scott Card (author of Ender’s Game) returns to the Ultimate Universe, now joined by ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR’s Pasqual Ferry! Collecting ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #1-5. www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/ultimv2_tpb_cov.jpg
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:28:41 GMT -5
Dr. Doom returns to menace Iron Man in the chilling and long-awaited conclusion of the Camelot Trilogy! Mephisto has apparently found a way to bring about the End of Days, and Tony Stark and Victor Von Doom must form an uneasy alliance to try and stop him. But all may not be as it seems. And it takes a journey to Hell itself before the shocking truth is revealed! Iron Man legends David Michelinie and Bob Layton are joined by penciler supreme Ron Lim to bring you an epic literally decades in the making! Collecting Iron Man: Legacy of Doom #1-4. www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/imdoom_tpb_cov.jpg
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:27:38 GMT -5
The countdown to Ultimatum begins here — and when it's over, the Ultimate Universe will never be the same! And when we say that in the Ultimate Universe, you know we ain't fooling around! A year later, who are the Ultimates? After going through the tumultuous events of the past two volumes, the Ultimates find themselves operating out of Tony Stark's mansion in New York where, no longer working for S.H.I.E.L.D., they have to make it on their own. But a terrible secret is about to tear them apart and bring about a murder at the mansion! One of Earth's greatest heroes will die, and there'll be plenty of suspects! New Members! New Adventures! And New Secrets! All this and Ultimate Venom, too! Join Eisner winner and Emmy-nominated writer Jeph Loeb (TV's Heroes, Fallen Son) and the superstar team of Joe Madureira & Christian Lichtner (Uncanny X-Men, Battle Chasers) as they take the Ultimates on their wildest ride yet! Collecting ULTIMATES 3 #1-5. www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/ultmts3_tpb_cov.jpgUltimates Cover www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/ultmts3_tpb_dm_cov.jpgBrotherhood of Evil Mutants Cover
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:25:14 GMT -5
ELEKTRA IS A SKRULL! Words that have echoed through Marvel Comics for the last two years. But how did this happen and for how long has this been true? Plus, the return of MAR-VELL has brought with it more questions then answers but now all those questions will finally be answered. Also, find out all you need to know about Nick Fury’s SECRET WARRIORS. Then watch the lives of two of the most famous Kree, Captain Mar-Vell and Marvel Boy, alter the events of the Invasion forever. Collecting MIGHTY AVENGERS #16-20. www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/mightavn_v4_tpb_cover.jpg
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:21:42 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:19:45 GMT -5
As the Mighty Thor reclaims his rightful spot in the Marvel Pantheon, we join Matt Fraction and Patrick Zircher as they examine the triumphs and tragedies that have befallen the God of Thunder across the eons. As all the things he holds dearest are threatened by unimaginable forces of evil, Thor must rise up, again and again, to hold the line against terror and chaos as only the God of Thunder can! Plus, For countless millennia, over and again has the mighty, thunderous, impetuous, petulant god Thor raged and rebelled against the leadership of his father and lord, the all-powerful Odin. The capricious tantrums of a selfish titan, spoiled by his own power. But...ODIN HAS HAD ENOUGH! And so as the cycle is repeated in all ages, Thor must ultimately face the fullest wrath of the enraged All-Father! Then, his name was Skurge, and men and god alike knew him as Executioner... and the legend of his life and death reverberate across the walls of Heaven itself. In Asgard, though... no one can quite remember WHAT happened to him. How did he live? How did he die? And why does everyone in Asgard remember it differently? There's trickery at hand so vile even Loki joins Thor in trying to unravel it Collecting THOR: AGES OF THUNDER ONE-SHOT, THOR: REIGN OF BLOOD ONE-SHOT, THOR: MAN OF WAR ONE-SHOT and THOR GOD-SIZED SPECIAL. www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/thoraot_hc_cov.jpg
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:17:35 GMT -5
Pick up the adventures of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes from day one with the MARVEL MASTERWORKS! Comicdom’s greatest assemblage of super heroes burst onto the scene in 1963 as Marvel Comics revolutionized the comic-adventure art form. Gathering together to face the evil Loki, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp and the Mighty Thor formed the improbable core of the ever-changing super-team. But it was three issues later when, from the ice of the northern Atlantic, Captain America returned from the frozen depths that the Avengers truly took form. Illustrated by Jack Kirby and Don Heck, and written by Stan “The Man” Lee, you’ll find the first appearances of Kang the Conqueror, Wonder Man, the Space Phantom and Baron Zemo, the debut of the Masters of Evil and the Hulk’s departure from the team and "subsequent team-up with the Sub-Mariner to take down his former comrades. They’re Marvel Masterworks one and all! Collecting THE AVENGERS #1-10 www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/mmaven001_tpb_solicit.jpgwww.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/mmaven001_tpbvar_solicit.jpgVaraint Edition
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:12:49 GMT -5
A WAR OF KINGS tie-in! The guns of the Kree and the Shi'Ar have thundered — and there will hell to pay! Star-Lord’s Guardians spring into desperate action in an attempt to stop the planet-shattering battle, but will either side listen? If they don’t, the walls of the galaxy will disintegrate! It’s more mind-blowing cosmic heroics from the book that made CBR.com rave “if comics were movies, this would be the one people would be talking about all summer!” www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/apr2009/gargal013_covcol.jpg
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 20, 2009 22:08:46 GMT -5
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