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Post by goldenfist on Dec 29, 2008 17:12:49 GMT -5
I couldn't think of any other stuff to put on the poll, Some people like this new roster of the Mighty Avengers.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 29, 2008 17:10:54 GMT -5
I am intrested in buying this title I can't wait to see the Dark Aven gers face the New Avengers in NA #50.
I've heard someone say that the character in the Spider-Man suit could one of the clones of MVP from the Avengers The Initiati ve book.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 29, 2008 17:07:28 GMT -5
I enjoyed reading the issue, Why is Loki in the form of a woman anyway.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 29, 2008 17:03:29 GMT -5
Here's a picture of the Original Avengers vs JLA Year One.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 28, 2008 12:22:55 GMT -5
UPDATE, 12/26: Some readers have been confused about this story since it was previously reported that the case would go to trial January 20. But as The New York Times reported yesterday, "At an earlier hearing, the judge said he believed that issues in the case could be settled only at a trial, which was scheduled for late January. On Wednesday, however, Judge Feess said he had reconsidered and concluded that Fox should prevail on crucial issues."
Deadline Hollywood Daily says "the judge himself advised both Fox and Warner Bros to settle or appeal. 'The parties may wish to turn their efforts from preparing for trial to negotiating a resolution of this dispute or positioning the case for review,' he said. But if WB goes down the appeal road, then Watchmen may not come out until 2011 considering the glacial speed with which the court system moves."
DHD also points out "this interesting footnote" about producer Lawrence Gordon's lack of testimony in the case and what the judge thought of that.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 28, 2008 12:02:52 GMT -5
* Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for this week's Secret Invasion: Requiem. *
In this week's Secret Invasion: Requiem, readers found out that Hank Pym will be taking on a new name: Wasp.
In a new eight-page story by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham that accompanied reprints of two classic Marvel stories – Tales To Astonish #44 and Avengers #213 – Secret Invasion: Requiem shows that not only did Hank Pym adopt the name Wasp, but he also attempted to replicate her powers for himself. In a story that had him interacting with Jocasta, Hank made the change as he reviewed his relationship with Janet, deciding to do something that is rare in comic books – becoming a male character who takes on the legacy of a deceased female character.
While it was only eight pages, the story has gotten a lot of reaction. Many readers have commented not only on the name change, but the developing relationship between Jocasta and Hank. And as Slott told Newsarama earlier this month: "One of the messed up things about Hank is that he's going to be spending a lot of time with Jocasta. Most people forget that Jocasta's robot brain is based on Janet Van Dyne's brain patterns. And... let me creep you out... could this lead to a new relationship? Think about it. Jocasta's a cyber-reflection of Jan, a version of Hank's dead ex-wife, a version he could never hurt physically or emotionally. There's something very disturbing about that."
Although Hank's story will be further explored in Avengers: The Initiative #20 and future issues of Mighty Avengers, this story established the hero's new name as he also changes his focus. We talked to Slott about the name change and what it all means to the future of Hank Pym in the Marvel Universe.
Newsarama: Dan, what can you tell us about Hank Pym's decision to name himself Wasp?
Dan Slott: For him, ever since he's entered the world of superheroes, he's tried to make a name for himself. And he's failed time and time again, no matter how many times he has reinvented his own identity. And he's always, in his own eyes, fallen short. But it's always, on some level, been for the sake of ego. "I'm Giant Man, I'm Goliath, I amYellow Jacket." For the first time, he has a legacy to live up to.
NRAMA: And it's her legacy.
DS: It's her legacy. It's not that he's going to carve out history for himself. It's that the bar has been raised for him, and he must strive to live up to the kind of hero that Jan was.
NRAMA: So are we going to see him be more heroic in Mighty Avengers as he tries to live up to her legacy? Or will it get twisted as he reacts emotionally to her death?
DS: He's going to try to become the A-list hero that the Marvel Universe needs him to be. From Hank's point of view, he was off-Earth for too long. Ever since he was captured by the Skrulls, look at everything that's happened since he's been gone. He looks at 'World War Hulk', he looks at 'House of M', he looks at 'Civil War' – especially with the death of Cap and his good friend Bill Foster – all these things happened while he wasn't on the watch.
So this is all about him saying, "I need to take control of things. I need to step up."
NRAMA: Who came up with the look for Hank's new costume?
DS: Khoi Pham. He did a really great job with that page where Jocasta was in Jan's closet with every Wasp costume hanging behind her. The art in this story was beautiful, but when people see the stuff he's turning in for Mighty Avengers, they're going to be blown away.
NRAMA: Getting back to this name – "Wasp" – it seems very strange to have a man wearing that mantle.
DS: Yes, but keep in mind that Wasp is an asexual term. It can be a male or female. And I know it seems unusual, but I just want to tell everyone that all the reactions you're seeing people having on the Internet – characters will address it in the book.
NRAMA: And his powers have changed to match the name now, right?
DS: He did the same experiment that happened to Wasp in Tales to Astonish. He replicates it on himself, so now he's grown the wings. But he also has some new tricks up his sleeve. We're expanding his repertoire. He's going to reach into all his bag of tricks from when he was in Scientific Adventure and West Coast Avengers, with the growing and shrinking. But we're playing with new facets of what he can do with Hank Pym technology and Hank Pym's level of science.
One of the things I like is that he has his version of the MacGyver Swiss Army Knife or the Dr. Who Sonic Screwdriver. He has this thing called the Toolbot, which is a tool handle that grows one of 16,000 different tools out of the head. And he keeps it shrunk down microscopically in his palm so he can pull it out whenever he needs it. And one of the 16,000 is a 1950s/1960s sci-fi zap gun, which channels his bioelectric blast. And he's got Dr. Horrible goggles. He's awesome.
NRAMA: Anything else you want to add about what we'll see from Hank Pym in future issues of Mighty Avengers?
DS: In Mighty Avengers, we're going to be really pushing Hank Pym to the forefront of the Marvel Universe, but he'll stay an interesting character with flaws and complexity. But we're really trying to make Hank Pym a character that steps up to the point where he's on the same level as Iron Man or Captain America and becomes an A-list guy.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 25, 2008 13:12:20 GMT -5
DC has released a teaser picture of who will be BatMan since Bruce Wayne will be out for sometime. Hope everyone enjoys the picture.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 25, 2008 1:47:58 GMT -5
Ign.com reviews Ultimatum #2.
There's only one word that sprung to mind as I turned the pages of Ultimatum #2: stupid. And I don't mean that in the teasing, inane schoolyard way. I mean it very, very seriously. This issue is so mindless and shallow that I'm not even inspired to find a deeper word than "stupid," mostly because that is just so accurate. From the plotting to the script to the art, it's all just some of the dumbest comic material I've seen since, well... Ultimates 3. Let's start at the beginning, shall we?
Most of Ultimatum #2 details the cleanup of the New York flood from last issue, which basically means the denizens of the Ultimate Universe are wandering around town, finding their dead comrades. About three pages into the first issue, it became clear that the entire pitch for Ultimatum probably went something like "Magneto kills everybody," and I assume these deaths are supposed to rock me to my core or break the blogosphere in half or whatever. But the way they're just being tossed out left and right, it's hard to feel much of anything. The choppy pacing doesn't help, as it seems like Loeb wrote this like a paint-by-numbers - 1) Show distressed hero; 2) Have some awkward, unnatural chatter; 3) Show gored hero and quickly change the scene. Lather rinse repeat. Vomit.
This issue features one bad development after another. I'd think somewhere along the line readers were supposed to buy Thor and Valkyrie as a legitimate couple, because this issue features the Norse god raiding Valhalla to rescue her (as opposed to doing anything heroic, like helping with the NY cleanup). And there's a frankly stupid (there's that word again) sequence where the usually logical Reed Richards flatly refuses to believe Magneto is behind the attacks, even in the face of multiple sources of cold, hard evidence. Princess Power is awkwardly wheeled out to remind everyone that Ultimate Power was a "Road To Ultimatum" tie-in. And then, of course, there's more throwaway dialogue reminders that Tony Stark is a drunk. In case you forgot, guys. Loeb's handling of these characters is at best misguided, and at worst completely disrespectful.
Speaking of the dialogue, it's another one of those issues where characters walk around recapping events. The first page, for example, sports Spider-Man saying (to nobody) what happened last issue, and later Yellowjacket and Hawkeye outline Hank's relationship with Jan for a page or two. It's bad writing at its finest. The only sequence that borders on acceptable is the Magneto/Xavier face-off in the final pages, and even that feels like stock dialogue from any of the millions of X-Men issues when Charles and Mags have had an antagonistic conversation.
Then we have the art. Normally I enjoy David Finch's work, but the stupidity of Ultimatum extends to encompass his art as well. It's not nearly as diabolical as the script, and it's actually nice in parts, but there are some glaring missteps that rightly deserve a facepalm or two. For one, there's a splash of Carol Danvers rocking some ridiculously massive breasts and brandishing two semi-automatic rifles in both hands. In the middle of an otherwise peaceful hospital. Finch's rendering of Hela, Norse goddess of the dead, is equally as ridiculous and somewhat at odds with the overall feel of the Ultimate Universe. Valhalla isn't much more detailed than some fog effects and a gradient, perhaps suggesting that Finch is as confused about what to make of the whole thing as I am. There is, however, a very chilling splash page featuring the Blob eating human remains that's shocking and grisly in the right way and actually made me check the cover of the issue to see if there's a parental advisory.
Very, very, very few redeeming qualities for the second installment of Ultimatum. I don't know if the deteriorating quality of the plot is meant to mirror the rapidly unravelling state of the Ultimate Universe, or if it's simply suffering from the same lack of editorial direction as Ultimates 3. Either way I really, really don't recommend this unless you've begun playing a self-fashioned drinking game with Loeb comics or something.
Review Score: 2.7 Terrible
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 25, 2008 1:44:45 GMT -5
Here's what Ign.com had to say about Thor #12.
A brilliant mish-mash of modern fantasy and respectful nostalgia, you'd be hard pressed to find a better monthly comic than J. Michael Straczynski's Thor. Everything about the series is exemplary. The pacing. The dialogue. The art. So keeping such lofty, persistent accolades in mind, the fact that Thor #12 might be the best issue of the series to date is a real testament to the author's continued mastery of his re-imagined domain. What Straczynski accomplishes here in the confines of a single, self-contained story, is nothing short of amazing.
Lots of comics succeed on atmosphere, snappy dialogue or high-adventure. But the comic that triumphs in all of the above - the comic that broadcasts a wholly tangible ambience alongside its firm grasp on the basics – that's a rarity. What Straczynski has done with the series - notably in his most recent installments - makes it increasingly hard to suppress hyperbolical praise. Every issue he seems to come up with a fresh way to approach the material without ever abandoning his basic framework.
In this case, with Thor #12, Straczynski adds a new layer of vulnerability to a character already well established over multiple millennia of stories. Not only does he target Loki's basic motivations, but he also presents a coherent, nearly comprehensive definition for the character which serves as a basic blueprint for what makes him tick.
Fitting for the season, Straczynski's time-travel schematic also serves as a twisted analogy for Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol. As Loki transports in and out of the time stream, he approaches a number of the seminal events in his life, using the experience to exude a compensational arrogance towards the most important figureheads of his childhood. What results is an entertaining journey, but also a touching one.
Straczynski manages to direct the reader towards the chink in Loki's armor, highlighting the underlining emotional damage the God of Mischief tries so hard to mask. Loki pretends to be impervious to pain, desiring his enemies to believe he is above any sort of emotional baggage, but here Straczynski allows the character to become unhinged. He allows Loki to show a rare bit of vulnerability, playing with the relationship between the character's tough demeanor and his psychological scarring.
When you couple this skillful examination with Coipel's beautiful pencils, what results is a near perfect comic book. As a vetted professional, Straczynski has had his hands in a number of notable franchises, spanning both decades and mediums. So it is notable that what he continues to do with Thor is amongst his very best work. If you've yet to jump on board, do yourself a Christmas solid and catch up.
Review Score: 9.5 Incredible
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 25, 2008 1:40:39 GMT -5
Here's a review of New Avengers #48 by Ign.com
A lot of people laugh at me when I say this, but New Avengers is one of my favorite comics. When it's not embroiled in a major crossover, it's a great depiction of what it means to be a hero in the hardened, more realistic world that the Marvel Universe has become. It's always managed to keep enough twists and turns coming to keep me on the edge of my seat. After a long period of being invaded by Skrulls, issue #48 sets the characters down a new path with a new roster and reminds me why I'm not embarrassed to call it one of my most anticipated Marvel books every month.
Last week's Mighty Avengers #20 was billed as the epilogue to Secret Invasion, but New Avengers #48 feels much more like the proper extension of the event's fallout being folded into the fabric of the Marvel U. Unlike its sister title, this issue of New sets the groundwork for the post-SI version of the book. The plot is centered around the search for Jessica and Luke's missing daughter Danielle, but this issue also features the new official line-up for the team, with a few new additions.
As I mentioned before, it's been a long time since New Avengers really featured a textbook, token Avengers story where the team sets out to accomplish a goal and there's some nice, flashy pages of your favorite heroes all collected together. In essence, issue #48 is that story. It's definitely a contemporary comic and features a relevant plot, but it somehow feels retro in a fun way. The pacing is brisk and a lot of ground is covered, as well as a ton of story possibilities. And the twist ending, well... let's just say the issue earns the banner on the cover. This issue is on point in all the ways that matter.
Billy Tan's art follows in the script's traditional leanings, and is much improved from output I've seen from him before. Parts of the issue lean a bit too heavily on the inks, but most of the characters look suitably heroic and Tan does a good job displaying the distress and hysteria on Jessica and Luke's faces.
Say what you want about Secret Invasion (Lord knows I have), but Bendis is making the most of it in the pages of New Avengers. It's refreshing to have these kinds of stories back in the pages of the book, and things are really looking up for the once-rebel band of Avengers.
Review Score: 8.5 Great
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 18:24:18 GMT -5
The Dark Avengers are coming so post your opinions about the Dark Avengers, Who are they and in your opinion why has Norman Osborn created the Dark Avengers.
Iron Patriot Spider-Man-? Ms.Marvel-? Wolverine-? Hawkeye-? Ares Sentry Noh-Varr
Don't forget to vote on the polls pick your choice and vote.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 18:13:45 GMT -5
What do you think about the changes on the roster of the New Avengers.
Captain America(Bucky) Luke Cage Wolverine Spider-Man Ronin(Clint Barton) Ms.Marvel Spider-Woman(Jessica Drew) Mockingbird
Vote and post your opinions.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 18:06:58 GMT -5
Vote and post your opinion about the new roster of the Mighty Avengers.
Henry Pym Hercules Hulk Iron Man Jocasta Scarlet Witch Stature U.S. Agent Vision
Do you like the roster or do you hate it?
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 18:03:23 GMT -5
Here are the names of the characters who will be part of the New Thunderbolts Roster so far.
Yelena Belova (a.k.a. Black Widow II) Ghost, Paladin Headsman the irredeemable Ant-Man
If you seen the cover of Thunderbolts #128 you'll see why Norma n Osborn is changing the team.
He is making the Thunderbolts his secret black ops team and he does not want Songbird back at all.
There will be more characters coming in but right now the names that I posted are the confirmed characters.
Post what you think about the team.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 17:51:01 GMT -5
Well it seem's Avengers The Initiative will lose some characters but which characters do you think should leave and who should stay.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 17:31:06 GMT -5
In the aftermath of Secret Invasion, the heroes of the Marvel Universe are under the shadow of a Dark Reign. And at the center of the turmoil are the mysterious Dark Avengers, the new comic by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato Jr.
While the "dark" in the title makes it obvious what kind of tone this new Avengers team and comic will have, Bendis made it clear during our interview with him when the comic was announced that the look and feel will match up well with Deodato's art. "Having Deodato on the book sets the perfect tone for it," Bendis said of his frequent collaborator. "He's the perfect artist for it."
In fact, Bendis has compared his new comic to the Warren Ellis run on Thunderbolts, leading fans to believe some of the still-unexplained characters showing up on the covers of Dark Avengers are moving there from the Thunderbolts team and donning new costumes.
But until the first issue comes out next month, readers are – somewhat appropriately, given the title – being left in the DARK about who all the characters on the team might be.
In the meantime, we talked to Deodato about his new job as the artist on Dark Avengers. And while he wouldn't spill about any of the characters or make-up of the team, we found out why the artist enjoys collaborating with Bendis, and why Norman Osborn might remind you of Al Gore.
Newsarama: How did you find out about the Dark Avengers job, Mike? And what did you think of the concept and the opportunity to work with Brian Bendis on it?
Mike Deodato Jr.: In the still of the night, the call came to me from Dark Alfred on my Dark Bat-phone... no, wait, wrong company.... make that Dark Jarvis, otherwise known as Tom Brevoort typing an email.
My first thought, when he told me it would be Brian Bendis, my first thought was, "I hope he doesn't give me 50,000 zombies to draw, like last time we did an Avengers." He still owes me 22 pages of a polar bear fighting Wendigo in a snowstorm, to make up for it [laughs]. Since we made such a good team on New Avengers, I saw it would continue to be a good fit.
I was hesitant about leaving Wolverine so soon – particularly since I'd be champing at the bit for a couple of years waiting to draw it – but the opportunity to start a new Avengers project from Issue #1 sounds like a good one, so I'm there.
NRAMA: Have you gotten to design some new characters and costumes? What was that experience like?
MDJr: They said, "Do some sketches of these characters," and I did. They picked the ones they liked, and we were off and running. I'm not that good on uniforms, but I think I did a good job on creating the new vehicles and the logo for HAMMER.
NRAMA: With a comic named "Dark" Avengers, it's easy to imagine it as a "dark" comic. But how would you describe the overall tone of this comic? Are you changing anything you do to achieve the overall look of Dark Avengers?
MDJr: I think it's safe to say, if you liked my work on Thunderbolts, you'll like me on Dark Avengers. Something of a similar vibe creatively.
NRAMA: Are "darker" comics something you prefer drawing?
MDJr: I didn't start out the style I'm using with the intent of drawing "darker" comics. My goal was to draw better comics. I think I am oceans better than I was 10 years ago, and I learn something with every series I draw and every editor and writer with whom I work.
I prefer drawing good stories, and I've been fortunate to have worked with Bruce Jones, J. Michael Straczynski, Brian Bendis, Warren Ellis and so many others. If the writer and editor give me a direction to go, I follow it. Certainly Spider-Man was a much different type of series than Thunderbolts, so visually I handled it much differently. Tell you what: Just give me a fun-filled Fantastic Four story with Stan Lee writing, and you'll see a different side of me there, too.
NRAMA: Can you give us an example of a new character you're enjoying on the Dark Avengers team?
MDJr: I can't say that, or they won't shove the tray of bread and water under the door tonight!
NRAMA: You've worked with Brian Bendis before. What is it about his projects that makes working with him particularly attractive to you as an artist?
MDJr: He always looks for the strengths of those who are working with him. He knows what I am good at, and he gives me the chance to bring on my best game. Also, he has really emotion-filled stories, even if the emotions aren't happy ones.
NRAMA: You're back drawing Norman Osborn. What do you think is important about the character as he heads into this period of being so powerful? How do you portray him and his body language?
MDJr: A lot of people have remarked at how, visually, I've made him look a bit like Tommy Lee Jones – but they miss the other, more significant, part. The character is persuasive, and powerful, and has a lot of influence. Once I went down that path, Tommy Lee Jones inspired me further – I based some of Osborn's look and mannerisms on Jones' old college roommate, who is a well-known politician...
NRAMA: Ah, that's a bit of trivia that people will be looking up now. Just to finish up, Mike, how long will you be drawing Dark Avengers? Is there a set time period? Or are you on the comic for the foreseeable future?
MDJr: I'll be drawing Dark Avengers for precisely as long as Marvel decides to have me do it. I was the new full-time artist of New Avengers and that lasted four issues. I was to be on Wolverine Origins 'til the end of time, and that turned out to be only a few months. Stuff happens – I go where Marvel needs me most. Right now, that's Dark Avengers. I hope they'll keep me on it for years, if reader reaction turns out as great as I hope it will.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 11:11:00 GMT -5
A Los Angeles federal judge has moved the trial for Watchmen back two weeks to Jan. 20 after declining to issue a ruling on whether Fox or Warner Bros. controls the rights to the project, reports Variety.
Judge Gary Allen Feess set the new trial date Monday, noting that he's required to handle a criminal matter on Jan. 6. He also refused to make a pre-trial summary judgment -- as requested by both sides -- because, he said, the contracts between Fox and Watchmen producer Larry Gordon are so open to interpretation that a trial is required.
Fox's suit, filed in February, contends that it retains distribution rights to the graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. It asserts that Gordon's option to acquire Fox's remaining interest in Watchmen was never exercised, thereby leaving Fox with its rights under a 1994 turnaround agreement.
Warner Bros. is still targeting a March 6 release.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 10:36:59 GMT -5
The story that will change the Ultimate Universe forever continues! The unlikely pairing of Spider-Man and the Hulk take on Magneto's gathered forces as two more major heroes fall! And will Reed Richards, Doctor Doom and Zarda (Power Princess of the Squadron Supreme) manage to save the world…or just destroy what's left of it?! Eisner Award-winning writer Jeph Loeb and superstar artist David Finch rock the planet in this surprise-packed saga featuring the Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four and the Ultimates! media.comics.ign.com/articles/938/938691/img_6280037.html
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 10:32:36 GMT -5
It's less than a week till Christmas, and that's as sure a sign as any that the year is winding down to a close. In terms of news, announcements, and surprise developments, 2008 was one of the comic industry's biggest yet.
At this point, we'd like nothing more than to head home and chug a gallon of eggnog. Maybe play a few round of Call of Duty in our more lucid moments. But before we do that, it's time for IGN Comics' 2008 Year in Review.
The setup is simple. In the first section, we summarize a year's worth of news and announcements in one page. It wasn't easy. In the second, we touch on the year's 10 most important books in alphabetical order. These aren't necessarily the best books – we already handed out our Best Of awards – but those ten books that had readers talking and arguing all year long. In the final section, we tell you what to look forward to in the coming year.
So enjoy the article and the holidays. Go read some comics while you're at it.
News of 2008
2008 brought about a fresh new start for at least one character. January saw the debut of the ongoing "Brand New Day" storyline in Amazing Spider-Man. Critical and fan reaction to the events "One More Day" were anything but positive. While the stories of Brand New Day were generally well received, the negative backlash to the new status quo has persisted in some readers throughout the year.
With World War Hulk having wrapped up in November, the early months of 2008 saw the launch of several new Hulk-related series. Most notably, these included Jeph Loeb's Hulk and the replacement of Incredible Hulk with Incredible Hercules.
In February, WonderCon kicked off the convention season and brought fans new details on 2008's big storylines, Final Crisis and Secret Invasion in particular.
As the convention season continued, both Marvel and DC announced a slew of exclusive creator signings and shuffling of creative teams. Matt Fraction left Immortal Iron Fist to rejoin Ed Brubaker on Uncanny X-Men. J. Michael Straczynski ended his exclusivity with Marvel and announced his intention to write several DC projects. Creators like Joe Kelly, Mark Waid, and Mike McKone joined the Spidey Brain Trust for "Brand New Day."
April was notable for two things. One, the first issue of Secret Invasion hit stores, quickly becoming the best-selling title of the month. Secondly, NYCC opened the floodgates of announcements. Marvel addressed plans for Secret Invasion throughout the summer, while DC focused on Final Crisis and new licensed projects like Gears of War and The X-Files.
May brought with it WW Philly. Marvel began releasing teasers for its 2009 mystery project, which fans would later learn was the new Marvel Noir line. IDW also announced they had acquired the G.I. Joe license and would be launching several new series in 2009.
By June, DC had released the first issues of both Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis. More convention updates hinted that Geoff Johns and Ethan van Sciver would be returning to the Flash. DC later confirmed the duo were working on Flash: Rebirth for 2009. Marvel began to tease readers about the aftermath of Secret Invasion, showing off preview material for what would eventually become Secret Invasion: Dark Reign and Secret Warriors.
July was all about SDCC. Marvel announced, among other things, War of Kings, X-Fernus, and the return of Mark Millar to the Ultimate Universe. DC began teasing Battle for the Cowl in the Batman books, while also announcing Kevin Smith's Batman: Cacophony and Neil Gaiman's Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? DC also announced the acquisition of superhero characters from the Archie and Milestone comic universes. Not to be outdone, Boom Studios announced the development of several series based on Pixar's movies, most notably Mark Waid and Darwyn Cooke's ongoing Incredibles series. Late in the summer, Image announced that Robert Kirkman had been made a full partner, the first since the company's creation. Kirkman later stirred the fires of controversy with his YouTube video that called for creators to abandon mainstream superhero comics in favor of creator-owned projects.
As summer moved into fall, DC fans became increasingly accustomed to announcements of delays. The publisher eventually revealed that Carlos Pacheco would be joining J.G. Jones on Final Crisis beginning with issue #4. When Crisis still slipped into 2009, DC announced that Doug Mahnke would be taking over the art for the final issue. Batman R.I.P. also encountered delays, missing its intended Halloween finish date by a month. In both cases, these delays had a rippling effect that delayed several other related series.
October was a big month for Superman. His adoptive father was killed by Brainiac in Action Comics #870, an event that made national news headlines. At the end of October, the crossover "New Krypton" kicked off in the wake of Pa Kent's death and the reemergence of Kandor. Batman's "death" also made the news, despite the fact that he was still alive and well at the end of R.I.P. The final fate of Bruce Wayne remains a mystery for the time being.
As winter approaches, the buzz continues to swirl around the fallout of Secret Invasion and the approach of Dark Reign. Several of Marvel's books have already been hit by the changes, and many more still will be doing with Norman Osborn's rise to power.
Most Influential Comics of 2008 Action Comics/All-Star Superman
2008 really proved to readers that Superman was still an engaging and relevant character. Part of this was thanks to All-Star Superman, which finally wrapped up this past fall. All-Star will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest Superman stories ever told.
But Action Comics deserves a great deal of credit for telling compelling stories on a (mostly) monthly basis. Action especially had readers talking with the death of Pa Kent and the return of Kandor.
Amazing Spider-Man
Few books had readers talking this year like Amazing Spider-Man, for better or worse. Following "One More Day," Spidey's marriage was erased and a new status quo set in. With no real explanation of how this "Brand New Day" shift affected past Spidey stories, many fans assumed the worst.
Readers gradually warmed to the concept over the course of the year, but many still feel sore about the change. With Marvel admitting that they expect the backlash to last five years or more, it's clear to us that readers aren't going to stop talking about Spider-Man for a long time.
Batman
How can a company kill off its most popular character? Who can possibly fill the void left by Bruce Wayne? Is Dr. Hurt really the Devil? These are the sorts of questions fans have been asking for most of the year, and they're still asking it now.
Grant Morrison turned in one of the most controversial Batman stories ever with "Batman R.I.P." He also delivered one of the more highly rated stories in Batman's 70-year career. We still don't know what will ultimately become of Bruce, but the battle for his cowl is going to heat up very soon.
Captain America
2007 was the year Captain America died. 2008 was the year his replacement stepped forward. Bucky cast aside his troubled past and took up Cap's shield in the pages of this series. Fans quickly embraced the new hero as he battled the Red Skull amidst a murky political environment that hit painfully close to home.
The success of this book has already led to Bucky's rise to prominence in Secret Invasion and now New Avengers
Final Crisis/Countdown
We wish we could simply laud Final Crisis for its entertainment value, but Crisis was as notable for what it failed to do as what it accomplished. Fans were confused when it became quickly apparent that Countdown and Final Crisis lacked the connection DC promised. The rampant delays and fill-in artists didn't help matters either. Some questioned whether DC learned anything from Infinite Crisis.
But despite the numerous problems surrounding this project, in many ways Final Crisis demonstrated how to do an event comic properly. Nearly every core issue and tie-in has been a winner with our Review Crew.
Green Lantern
2008 may have been relatively quiet for Green Lantern compared to 2007, but that's only in the most relative sense. Fans still eagerly lapped up each new issue of Geoff Johns' series, as well as the sister series Green Lantern Corps. 2008 saw the introduction of the Alpha Lanterns and several new colors of Lantern Corps.
Even outside these two books, the Lanterns have gone on to play a major role in the DCU. The War of Light has begun, and it all leads to Blackest Night in 2009.
Hulk
Following World War Hulk, readers wondered what Marvel had planned for a follow-up. To the confusion of many, the Green Scar incarnation of Hulk was swept under the rug in favor of a more familiar Savage Hulk. This Hulk has gone on to clash with the villainous Red Hulk in the pages of Jeph Loeb's Hulk.
Our Review Crew doesn't particularly care for this new series, a fact that is only exacerbated by its extremely high sales. For most of the year, readers have clashed over whether Hulk is good, dumb fun or just dumb. All the while, Marvel sleeps on their giant piles of money.
Invincible Iron Man
A second ongoing Iron Man book debuted this year. Fans immediately began to debate whether such a move was necessary or just an editorial response to the release of the movie. This argument was rendered moot by the announcement that Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was being morphed into War Machine.
Since then, Invincible Iron Man has chronicled the increasingly troubled life of Tony Stark. Stark has fallen from grace, but that doesn't mean his story – or this series – will become any less important in 2009.
Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion was undoubtedly Marvel's biggest project of 2008. Each issue numbered among the highest sold books of the year. Fans were talking about the event well before it began in April, and they're still talking about it now.
Many have criticized the book for its lack of depth and extraordinary amount of tie-ins. Many more could happily go years without hearing the word "Skrull" again. But any buzz is good buzz, as they say, and the buzz on this project won't be dying down soon.
Stephen King Books
Comic publishers often grapple with the question of how to lure casual audiences into comic shops. Despite the wealth of blockbuster superhero movies, many potential buyers just don't care to pick up a comic.
Marvel's most successful solution so far has been to adapt the stories of Stephen King into comics. This year, two Dark Tower books and the first chapter of The Stand helped bring in new audiences by the thousands. For a medium that always struggles to boost readership, there can be no greater success story.
A Look Ahead to 2009
Early 2009 will be focusing heavily on the fallout of 2008's various event comics. Grant Morrison's Batman run officially wraps up next week. Following that and a handful of tie-in stories, "Battle for the Cowl" heats up in March. From the look of things, readers can expect a new hero to be wearing the cape and cowl by the summer.
"New Krypton" also wraps up in a few weeks, and it promises to overhaul the various Superman books dramatically. Superman will be spending much of his time away from Earth next year. To fill the gap, the duo of Nightwing and Flamebird will be taking over Action Comics for 12 issues, courtesy of writer Greg Rucka. Fans of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Action Comics will also want to keep an eye out for Superman: Secret Origins. This mini-series will tell the definitive account of Superman's origin as it stands following the three Crises. DC's single biggest project for 2009 will be Blackest Night. This event comic will cap off the trilogy begun by Green Lantern: Rebirth, and features all seven Lantern Corps locked in a war with the undead hordes of the Black Lanterns. It's unknown what book or books this story will take place in, or how many tie-ins DC has planned. We figure it's best just to set aside a lot of money now.
Barry Allen returned this year in Final Crisis. Next year, Barry is officially inducted back into the DCU with Flash: Rebirth. Expect a story similar to Green Lantern: Rebirth, particularly since the same creative team will be reuniting. Across the rest of the DCU, expect more big changes to take place in early spring as the fallout from Final Crisis reverberates. Batman and Superman will be out of the picture, and it's very possible Wonder Woman will be taking a vacation too.
At Marvel, Dark Reign will continue to dominate the lineup throughout the spring. Over the coming weeks, Marvel will be launching Secret Warriors, War Machine, Agents of Atlas, and Dark Avengers, as well as several new mini-series. Additionally, books like New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Thunderbolts, and Avengers: The Initiative will be drastically overhauled.
But if Dark Reign isn't your cup of tea, Marvel has other big storylines planned. War of Kings officially began this week with X-Men: Kingbreaker #1. The story will eventually lead into the War of Kings miniseries, and it unites just about every group of cosmic characters still left standing after both Annihilation events.
Also expect a massive retooling of the Ultimate Universe following the conclusion of Ultimatum. Expect Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four to be canceled, with at least one new book to spring up in their wake. Mark Millar will be launching Ultimate Avengers, and we may or may not see Jeph Loeb's Ultimates 4 next year as well. X-Men fans can look forward to the creation of another ongoing Wolverine book by Jason Aaron, as well as (we hope) the conclusion to Mark Millar's "Old Man Logan" story. Messiah War unites Cable and X-Force in the spring, and the X-books in general will begin moving towards their next big crossover storyline.
Marvel's literary adaptations will also continue. Following the conclusion of Dark Tower: Treachery, a one-shot issue focusing on the life of Marten Broadcloak will hit in March. Expect the fourth mini-series to follow soon after. The Stand will also continue with the second of six mini-series, as will Ender's Game.
Outside the realm of Marvel and DC there's plenty more to keep an eye out for. We hope to hear further word on Boom Studio's lineup of Pixar projects soon. IDW will be launching three separate G.I. Joe books next year. Hellboy is also a character to keep an eye on, as Mike Mignola moves the character closer and closer to his ultimate destiny.
But undoubtedly the biggest project in the world of indy comics next year will be Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 3. Moore has brought the series to Top Shelf Comix, who will be publishing the story in three installments. Any way you slice it, 2009 has plenty to offer readers. We're already dreading the amount of work it's going to take to craft next year's Year in Review feature.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 23, 2008 10:08:39 GMT -5
While Ed Brubaker’s run on Captain America has been earning critical acclaim, the character’s viability has still been questioned by members of the company’s film division, Marvel Studios.
With the United States’ image abroad taking a pounding, many execs have been concerned about the good Captain’s foreign sales — can a character that is so unabashedly American be embraced by a population that has a bone to pick with Uncle Sam?
This has already seemingly affected parts of the story development, as the Captain America film due to be released in 2011 will be set in the relatively “safe” background of World War II. Cap will presumably return to the present only in the following Avengers film.
Orlando Weekly has made a post discussing whether or not the new administration will help change that. Indeed, many European and Middle Eastern countries were rooting for Barack Obama, and the question on Marvel’s mind is: will this potential boost in Americanism help propel Steve Rogers’ appeal?
At the very least, EW has reported that Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige has taken the new Commander-in-Chief into consideration: ”The idea of change and hope has permeated the country, regardless of politics, and that includes Hollywood… discussions in all our development meetings include the zeitgeist and how it’s changed in the last two weeks. Things are being adjusted.”
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 22, 2008 16:57:39 GMT -5
Lady Liberators
Wasn't that a team created by the Enchantress when she used her magic to disguise herself as Valkyrie.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 22, 2008 16:34:11 GMT -5
Part 1
Part 2
These are interviews about Dark Reign with Joe Quesada, Tom Brevoort, and Brian M Bendis.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 22, 2008 16:13:55 GMT -5
Putting all the news and rumors into perspective, 'Wizard' takes a comprehensive look at everything there is to know—right now—about ol' Shellhead's sequel If you throw out the misogynist attitudes, the insane wealth and the bum ticker, Tony Stark and his director may have more in common than they realize. Both hover over blueprints: While billionaire-turned-human-weapon Stark continues to evolve his armor in order to fit the demands of his heroics, Jon Favreau eyes production designs. Both have high expectations placed upon them, Stark for his bouts of world-saving, and Favreau for delivering a sequel as sleek and streamlined as the Mark III.
And if their budgets are anywhere near comparable, Favreau can thank the success of his "Iron Man," the pivotal first attempt by Marvel Studios to finance and produce a faithful adaptation of its source material. "Iron Man" steamrolled its way to over $300 million in box office receipts, while many hailed Robert Downey Jr.'s Stark as the finest performance ever given in the growing library of comic-inspired films.
"He is strong because he is smart, quick and funny, and because we sense his public persona masks deep private wounds," wrote film critic Roger Ebert. "By building on that, Favreau found his movie, and it's a good one." Marvel agreed—less than 72 hours after the film's opening, the studio announced a sequel would hit theaters in April 2010, a date that was later amended to May 7. What followed was a deluge of news, rumors and innuendo about Favreau's plans. Here's what we do—and don't—know about Shellhead's next takeoff.
Identity Crisis Spoiler alert! With Stark "outing" himself as Iron Man in the original's closing sequence, Favreau appears to be distancing his star from other screen heroes by eliminating his secret identity. While that may save him from the indignity of wearing glasses and ducking into phone booths, he may as well paint a target on the back of Stark Industries—as well as loved ones.
"It's about what happens after you say, 'I am Iron Man,'" offers Invincible Iron Man scribe Matt Fraction, who recently spent three days at the Marvel Studios offices talking shop with Favreau. "I think Tony revealing his identity to the public opens up a lot of different boxes for him. Some of them are bad and some of them are good."
One of those "bad boxes" could conceivably be a carton of cheap booze: Favreau told the Los Angeles Times that Tony's battle with the bottle is a likely topic for the sequel, one made all the more resonant by Downey's prior troubles. "Stark has issues with booze," he said. "That's part of who he is...it will be dealt with."
Just don't expect Stark to spend a full two hours vomiting into his helmet. "I don't know that they're ever going to do a straight-up 'Demon in a Bottle' After School Special about the nightmares of drinking," says Fraction, in reference to the famous alcoholism storyline from Iron Man.
"My impression is, it's there, it's becoming a problem, but I don't know they're ever going to go super-dark." But when queried whether or not Stark's media revelation has anything to do with his increased imbibing, Fraction shifts in his seat and laughs. "That's an unfair question. I know the answer, but I can't really speak to it."
Though the sequel will sport a screenplay by Justin Theroux—whom Downey recommended after working with him on "Tropic Thunder"—Favreau and Downey, who have both officially signed on for the sequel, also consulted with screenwriter/director Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon," "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang") on Stark's character arc, who advised them to think along the lines of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the self-titled "destroyer of worlds" who struggled with remorse after inventing the atomic bomb.
Scum and Villainy Excised from early drafts of "Iron Man" was the Mandarin, Stark's arch-nemesis from the Orient who wields ten rings of mystical power. Favreau has been oft quoted as saying he didn't yet have a proper handle on the character; now, as he told the L.A. Times, he thinks he's got it.
"Mandarin is still an important figure in the Iron Man universe," he said. "We have an interesting take on him that allows us to incorporate the whole pantheon of villains."
Favreau has yet to clarify the statement—it's possible the Mandarin could summon a troupe of villains to oppose Stark—but Fraction advises not to expect the standard-issue depiction of the main antagonist. "It's tough when you've got a guy with a Fu Manchu mustache and imperial robes," he says. "You can bring a mature and fully formed character to the screen that doesn't play on stereotypes."
However he's formed, it's possible Mandarin will remain more of a string-pulling puppeteer than someone with as much screen time as the first film's villain, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). Favreau has said he's looked at the way the Emperor was used in "The Empire Strikes Back" as an example of perfectly proportioned terror.
Speaking of the Stane clan, Fraction cautions against expecting an appearance by Ezekiel Stane, the prodigy he conjured up in the pages of Invincible Iron Man. "I don't think it makes sense for the sequel because we just got done with Stane. It's a big world. Why limit yourself to Stark vs. Stane movies?"
A possible clash could come instead against James Rhodes (Don Cheadle, replacing Terrence Howard in both "Iron Man 2" and "Avengers"), the man who dons Stark's armor after the industrialist succumbs to alcohol. Favreau promised the Times that War Machine would be a factor, "shoulder cannons and all," while Howard told IGN.com about an intermediate step that would see Rhodes adopting the Iron Man identity before securing his own armor.
SUPERHERO SYNERGY "Iron Man 2" isn't Marvel's only heavy artillery for 2010: The studio is also busy prepping "Thor," likely directed by Kenneth Branagh ("Dead Again") and slated for a July 16 release.
Considering the studio's commitment to having franchises cross-pollinate—Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) popped up in the first "Iron Man" to help whet appetites for the eventual "Avengers" movie, which will be executive produced by Favreau—it's possible that we'll see Mighty Mjolnir function in the same fashion that Downey did in "The Incredible Hulk." The problem, Favreau told CHUD.com, is that Thor's Norse god mythology is a bit of an oil-and-water fit for Iron Man's techno-strict narrative.
"I think that's what makes it fascinating," counters Fraction. "I have no idea how they're going to work together on 'Avengers.' [But] I think the first concern is, 'Let's make a great Iron Man movie and a great Thor movie,' and not, 'Let's make sure they mix together.' First things first."
However Thor factors in, expect Jackson to further the "Avengers" link with another appearance. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is important to the franchise, and what's S.H.I.E.L.D. without Fury?" he told the Times.
Under Pressure Marvel's near-immediate press release of a 2010 landing for the sequel was news to Favreau, who posted a candid reaction on his MySpace blog in June.
"I am concerned about the announced release date of April 2010...This genre of movie is best when it is done thoughtfully and with plenty of preparation...I think we owe it to the fans to have a great version of 'Iron Man 2' and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one."
In October, he re-affirmed that the expedited schedule was "daunting," but elaborated to the Times that, "we are making much faster progress than the first time around and have much less to design and fewer casting issues."
Fraction agrees, citing the fact that after making the first film, Favreau and his team have a template to work from. "They have Iron Man, Pepper [Potts, and] that's a huge part of it. I didn't see anything that led me to believe he was feeling any kind of time crunch. It was a relaxed and super-creative environment."
If "Iron Man" provides a ready-mixed chemistry for the sequel, it might also serve as a cautionary tale of what to avoid. Among the few complaints lobbed at the film was a standard-issue climactic CGI battle between Stark and rival Stane. "I thought the movie was so imaginative and so creative and the actors were so wonderful that when the computer robots started to fight each other, it was a bit of a letdown," says Fraction. "When it inescapably resorted to formula, that was the biggest bummer for me. I wanted to watch the characters."
Favreau, he adds, "is definitely aware" of the criticism and welcomes the input by Fraction and other Marvel consults—even while threatening them with cigar burns if they spill any secrets.
But if there's one thing Fraction can guarantee about Shellhead's celluloid sequel? "Iron Man is going to be in it."
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 22, 2008 12:13:05 GMT -5
I thought that Clint was going punch Osborn in the face at the church.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 14:17:42 GMT -5
Add another record for The Dark Knight.
According to Variety and to little surprise, the film will be the top home video release of 2008. During the first week of release of The Dark Knight on DVD and Blu-ray, it sold over 13.5 million copies, worldwide.
Breaking the number down, the total sales include over 1.7 million Blu-ray discs, making it the top-selling Blu-ray disc; and 10 million copies going to consumers, with the remainder going to rental outlets. 3 million copies were sold on December 9th, the first day of release – 600,000 of those were Blu-ray.
Taking this data, Warner Bros. is projecting that The Dark Knight will be the best-selling 2008 home video title.
Despite the impressive number of copies sold on its first day of release, Batman ultimately loses out to a clownfish and his dad for the record – in 2003, Finding Nemo sold 8 million copies on its first day of release. Comparing to this year’s other big superhero movie, Iron Man sold 260,000 Blu-ray discs on its first day of release, and a total of 500,000 Blu-rays discs in its first week of release.
Despite the massive sales of both The Dark Knight, Iron Man and other summer blockbusters on Blu-ray and DVD, the home video market is down from 2007, with DVD sales being particularly soft, although Blu-ray is making inroads in total sales.
The Dark Knight will return to theaters and IMAX on January 23rd, a move which will bring its box office total to over $1 billion.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 14:15:12 GMT -5
I wonder if Clint will her to reunite the West Coast Avengers.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 14:11:45 GMT -5
Marvel has released a preview of January's Mighty Avengers #21 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. Marvel's release for the issue reads: Marvel is proud to present your first look at Mighty Avengers #21, from superstar scribe Dan Slott and red-hot Young Gun artist Khoi, beginning a bold new era for the Mighty Avengers! Spinning out of Dark Reign, the Mighty Avengers have an all-new line up and an all-new mission—you can’t afford to miss this extra sized issue guest starring the New Avengers, Dark Avengers, Young Avengers and Classic Avengers! A new team assembles in Mighty Avengers #21! MIGHTY AVENGERS #21 www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=761(This link will show 6 pictures of the book but with words)
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 14:09:45 GMT -5
Many writers will have diffrent visions of any Marvel/DC team some will like it some will hate it but that's the way it goes with writers.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 14:07:22 GMT -5
Tony is now blamed for the Skrull Invasion and Osborn has put the blame on Stark.
He was taken off guard with the Skrull Invasion, Some say he's gettin what he deserves.
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 19, 2008 13:53:22 GMT -5
Since the fallout of Civil War, the superhero landscape in the Marvel Universe has changed dramatically. All heroes are now required to register their identities and submit to government training. A new generation of heroes found the superhero life to be much different than they had once imagined. The trials and tribulations of these new heroes have been chronicled in the pages of Avengers: The Initiative.
However, the Initiative is literally in shambles after the devastation in Secret Invasion. With Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. now assuming control, the lives of these trainees are about to be shaken up once more. And is that Thor we see on those covers? What's up with that?
Recently we talked with Christos Gage about the future of this young series. Now that Dark Reign has begun, we took the chance to talk to him again and learn some more concrete details. Beginning with next month's issue #20, the Gage is crafting an arc called "The Initiative Disassembled." It looks to be as dark and foreboding for our heroes as it sounds.
Warning - This interview contains spoilers for Avengers: The Initiative #19, which hit stores yesterday.
IGN Comics: How soon after the end of the last issue does issue #20 pick up?
Christos Gage: A couple of weeks.
IGN Comics: What sort of state is the Initiative in following the battle? With the way the various teams were forced to demolish their headquarters to thwart the Skrull weapon, I imagine there's quite a bit of collateral damage to deal with.
Gage: A ton! As you mentioned, the state headquarters are mostly in ruins. There are a lot of casualties— both dead and wounded. Many more heroes are just returning from Skrull captivity, and facing varying degrees of readjustment. Camp Hammond itself is in disarray, with no clear leader and a new overall Director, Norman Osborn, whose agenda is very different than Tony Stark's. And after issue #20, things will be even more uncertain… that's when things get really bad.
IGN Comics: Crusader got a pretty bum rap when he helped save the world, only to be shot by 3-D Man. Is he going to go down in history as just another Skrull impostor, or will he get his proper due?
Gage: In issue #20, we'll see that there are significant differences of opinion over how to feel about Crusader… whose story might not be quite over yet, given how the last page of #19 played out!
IGN Comics: You've said that the first arc is titled "Initiative Disassembled." Is this a sign that Osborn is breaking down the organization?
Gage: A better question might be who isn't breaking down the organization? Osborn will be making some drastic changes, all right, but he's not the only one…
IGN Comics: How do the various recruits react to the shift in power? Will we see a lot of them vacating Camp Hammond for greener pastures?
Gage: Who says they have a choice? The Initiative operates under a military system—you don't get to just quit if you don't like your new commanding officer. There are options…you can ask for a transfer, or maybe retire if you've got enough seniority…but if you just leave, you're AWOL and subject to arrest. Even so, going AWOL might just start looking like the best option to some…
IGN Comics: As we saw when the Avengers themselves were "Disassembled," it was only a matter of time before they were reassembled in a new form. What can you say about the new form of the Initiative?
Gage: It will reflect its leadership. How's that for ominous?
IGN Comics: Now that H.A.M.M.E.R. controls the Initiative, are we going to be seeing a difference in the types of heroes that are being recruited?
Gage: That would depend on who's doing the recruiting… who is the "Skrull Hank Pym" of this new iteration of the Initiative? When "Disassembled" kicks off in issue #21, it's early on in the transition of power… Iron Man's picture on the wall at Camp Hammond is just being replaced with one of Norman Osborn, and we're hearing the early rumblings of change. By #25, you may no longer recognize the Initiative… if there's one left at all!
IGN Comics: The impostor Yellowjacket is dead, but what about the other instructors? Are the likes of Gauntlet or Justice going to be sticking around the book in this new regime?
Gage: That remains to be seen. The Gauntlet is a military man, used to following orders and rolling with the changes wrought by new administrations, but this is a whole new world he's about to face. It's interesting that you mention Justice, because he walked away from the Initiative in issue #12… but he'll be back, with the rest of the original New Warriors. The question is, have they come to save the Initiative, or bury it?
IGN Comics: One of the more interesting additions to the new Thunderbolts roster is Ant-Man, who has been a recurring character in this series. Will we be seeing his transition from trainee to Thunderbolt at all?
Gage: Yep, in #20. And who knows, he may pay his old buddies a visit one of these days…
IGN Comics: We're seeing a very Thor-like character on some of the upcoming covers. Is it safe to assume this is Ragnarok, the Thor clone? What is the extent of his involvement in the book?
Gage: It's very safe to assume that. Ragnarok has been in a suspension tube at Camp Hammond since Hercules bashed his head open at the end of the Civil War. Now he's out, back together again...and not very happy.
IGN Comics: Ragnarok has been pretty much dormant since the end of Civil War. What causes him to be reactivated now? Is it part of the new management taking over Camp Hammond?
Gage: No, it's a "parting gift" from the outgoing management...specifically, the Skrull Yellowjacket. Sort of a final fly in the ointment in case the Skrulls lost the war.
IGN Comics: How would you describe Ragnarok's personality? Does he actually believe himself to be Thor? Does he have a personality at all beyond liking to hammer things?
Gage: Yes, he genuinely believes himself to be the real Thor. But he's got all the haughtiness and arrogance of a god without any of the humility Thor learned while living as Don Blake. He can't understand why these inferior being don't bow down before him and worship him like they're supposed to. And as a very young being, he also, to a certain extent, is like a kid--a sociopathic, extraordinarily powerful kid whose tantrums break cities in half.
IGN Comics: Now that the real Thor is back, what are the chances of a full-on Thor vs. Thor battle?
Gage: Better than when he was dead!
IGN Comics: As you promised last time we talked, issue #20 is going to be the one that reveals the identity of Mutant Zero. How strong a role will she and the rest of the Shadow Initiative be playing in the near future?
Gage: The Shadow Initiative embarks upon a new and perilous overseas mission in issue #20… and it only gets more dangerous when S.H.I.E.L.D., the agency that dropped them off, gets disbanded before it can pick them up!
IGN Comics: This book has always had its share of drama, but it's not something I would describe as dark or gritty. Is it going to grow significantly darker now thanks to Dark Reign? Will it still appeal to readers based on the same qualities it has from the beginning?
Gage: Well, our first issue had a teenage kid get his head blown off, the Skrull War saw a hefty body count, and Steve Kurth called a scene with Tigra in issue #20 "the second most disturbing thing I've ever drawn", so while we may not be Punisher MAX, we're not The Hugga Bunch either (gotta love it when I can slip a Star Comics reference into an interview!).
I'd like to think that, while things may be getting darker in the Marvel Universe overall — and that will be reflected in the Initiative as much as, if not more than, anywhere else — longtime readers will still feel like they're getting the same book they've been enjoying for the past two years… even if the circumstances may be drastically changing. Pick up issue #21 and see what you think!
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