Category Archives: Comics
The New Awesome Cyclops Will Get His Own Awesome Series!
Turns out that Brian Michael Bendis really will be writing a standard X-Men series, and it’s going to star Cyclops and Magneto on their quest to save the new mutants created after Avengers vs. X-Men! I’ve often said that Bendis’ talents might be wasted on this All-New X-Men series, which is going to be about the original five X-Men from the past coming to the present. That’s not a premise I want to read about, let alone one I think can sustain an ongoing series.
Bendis and Marvel revealed details about this new series today. Along with Cyclops and Magneto, there will be Emma Frost and Magik on the team, as well as a few others. And my brother will be happy to hear that Scott and Emma are no longer a couple.
Why has Cyclops never had an ‘X’-shaped visor before?
Bendis gave a full interview today. The interview is fantastic.
This is incredibly exciting news! Readers of my blog know that I have stood by Cyclops’ side all through Avengers vs. X-Men, and I am absolutely loving his characterization in AvX: Consequences. The final issue came out this week, and it’s as amazing as the rest have been. Look for that review in this weekend’s Hench-Sized reviews. So Cyclops is in a great place right now, and if Marvel sticks with how Kieron Gillen has been writing him, I bet this series will be amazing. I have all the faith in the world in Bendis.
Here’s what he had to say about Cyclops:
You will discover in the very first issue of ALL-NEW X-MEN exactly where Scott Summers’ head is at. Of all the X-Men that feel it is their job to further the legacy of Charles Xavier, no one feels it more strongly than Scott Summers. Scott Summers himself is not only trying to save these kids but he is trying to train them and get them ready for what he feels is coming mutant revolution These new students represent his only hope for true redemption. And his only hope to make the world the way he really thinks it should be.
Marvel went ahead and teased this development last week with one of their ‘one-word’ teasers they’ve been doing for Marvel NOW! It had the word ‘Uncanny’ and both Bendis and Bachalo’s names, as well as a red beam to indicate Cyclops.
This will mark the third ‘Uncanny’ book at Marvel. ‘Uncanny Defenders’ to follow
And while Marvel only confirmed the series today, artist Chris Bachalo offered yesterday some information on his personal blog:
Looks like the cats out of the bag. Its me an Bendis on a new launch of the series. This was a tough one as i was really enjoying my time on WX but Brian asked for me to help him launch the new Uncanny and how do you turn down that offer. Launches are tough as there’s a lot of ground to cover to get things rolling. Characters are re-imagined, writing styles adjusted to, locations established. Its a tough learning curve that typically takes a few issues to figure out and grow comfortable with. We’re still very early into the creative part so hard for me to comment on exactly what to expect. The daring part is that the tone of the book–feels like, its early–will be a little darker. Characters powers have been ‘adjusted” as a result of the Phoenix five fall out and I was asked to redesign costumes for the entire cast. Everyone. Plus, as of today, there are two “new” mutants. Its a big jump that I’m sure will turn a few off but, we’re betting on, that most will welcome and enjoy. One thing that you can count on Is that Brian will always give you something worth reading. He never fails to be interesting. Launch is two issues in February.
I am already in love with this series.
Review: X-Factor #246
I never particularly bought into Pip the Troll being a member of X-Factor. He was often funny, with writer Peter David giving him some of the best zingers in the comic, but what the heck was Pip the Troll doing as receptionist for X-Factor? It just never made much sense to me. Well PAD clearly loves the idea, and so he has devoted an entire issue to the secret life of Pip the Troll. It’s a somewhat entertaining issue, with a surprise finish. But I can’t say that it has relieved my Pip prejudice any. Pip never becomes anything more than PAD’s in-joke to himself.
X-Factory #246
Still, if you’re a fan of Pip the Troll, this issue is probably a hoot.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
This is a ‘day in the life’ issue, fairly common in all types of fiction. What does Pip get up to behind the scenes? Quite a bit, apparently, some of it entertaining, some of it downright funny and some of it more than a little sleazy. I suppose it gives us more about Pip as a character, but the oddness of a cosmic space imp playing receptionist for a very grounded team like X-Factor is still his defining element. It’s a weirdness that I don’t particularly like to see in X-Factor, but that’s a personal taste more than anything. I don’t think Pip ever fit in, but I suppose PAD makes it work.
Still, it’s a fairly entertaining comic, for what it is. Nothing really special about it, unless, like I said, you are a huge Pip the Troll fan. He has an adventure, reveals some funny secrets about himself, and we all move on with PAD’s ongoing story. He’s been building to this big picture story forever and a day. Let’s hope it gets here soon, and let’s hope he really knocks it out of the park!
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
The Ladies Are Kicking Ass at Marvel Comics
Some have said that an all-female team comic book could never succeed, but Marvel Comics is going to try anyway with the new Fearless Defenders! It will star Valkyrie, Misty Knight and Danny Moonstar, and supposedly several more cast members to be revealed at a later date! It’s not going to be written by a woman though, which is too bad. Instead, Cullen Bunn is writing and Will Sliney is on art. In random news, Cullen Bunn once followed me on Twitter for like a day. I don’t know why…
Ladies vs. Ninjas!
I think this is a great idea. I’m always in favor of more diversity in comics. What kind of guy doesn’t love a kickass female lead? I’ve heard all sorts of stories in the past about all-female teams getting shot down editorially. I think Gail Simone has been trying to make one happen for years. Somehow Cullen Bunn has done it.
He did an interview with Newsarama. And this is what he said about the book’s premise:
The basic idea of the book is that Valkyrie is choosing a new team of Valkyrior, and she’s been asked to choose all these women from the heroes of Midgard, instead of from Asgard. She has completely failed in this task. Valkyrie has been unable to choose anyone that she feels is worthy to be one of the hosts of the shield maidens. So she just hasn’t done it. She’s dropped the ball.
Because she’s not done what she said she would do, nature — or supernature, as it is — abhors a vacuum. The absence of the Valkyrior has opened the door to something terrible. Something awful is waking, and Valkyrie finds that it’s really her fault that she’s put everything at risk.
Sounds reasonable and maybe fun. I’ll probably check out the first issue and see where it goes.
Vibe Gets a Comic! Katana Gets a Comic! You Get a Comic!
UPDATE: There’s more information out about the Vibe comic! You can find it lower after the jump!
Blowing the minds of comic book fans everywhere, DC Comics announced today that C-list nobodies Vibe and Katana will get their very own comic series next year, to highlight their membership in the new Justice League of America series!
Because already having the Justice League, Justice League Dark and Justice League Fruit Loops wasn’t enough
This is a brilliant move! I have zero interest in Vibe and Katana as characters, but I am a huge fan in giving new and minor characters a chance to shine. Not every comic can star Batman, Spider-Man or Wolverine. If you want to find some new breakout characters, you’ve got to give the little guys a chance! Just look at how well it worked out for Multiple Man. He was a C-list nobody back in the day, but one well-received Madrox mini-series later and now he’s been headlining X-Factor for nearly 100 issues! Iron Fist had absolutely nothing going for him until Marvel gave him a series written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, and now he’s one of the leading Avengers and stars in that new Spider-Man cartoon.
It could happen for Vibe!
Agent of S.T.U.D.
Anything could happen for Vibe.
Vibe, of course, being the absolute worst member of the Justice League of all time. He was the bottom of the barrel back when they were known as Justice League Detroit, and worked out of a warehouse. He died an ignoble death. But since this is a reboot, he’s back to life and looking to actually make something of himself for once! He was also my pick for which DC character was going to be revealed as gay.
Katana is a sword-wielding badass warrior who…well, that’s basically it. She used to be with the Outsiders back in the day, and was a Bird of Prey in the new continuity. She’s also going to be Batman’s new sidekick in the upcoming Beware the Batman cartoon…for some reason. So I guess DC want to give her a push.
Before she cuts your freakin’ head off!
And who wouldn’t!? I fully support the existence of both these series…though I can’t guarantee I’ll buy either one.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 11/3/12
It’s a new week, there are new comics, and here we have the second installment of Hench-Sized Reviews! I’m kind of excited that I was able to keep to my schedule. I do have video games to play, after all. Plenty of good issues this week, at least in the comics I buy. I think the stand-out best of the bunch was AvX: Consequences #4. Cyclops is the best he’s been since Joss Whedon was writing him.
Well you are
Other reviews this week are Aquaman #13, Captain Marvel #6 and Wolverine and the X-Men #19. Join me after the jump!
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