The Source has released the cover to the first issue of May’s upcoming Legion of Super-Heroes #1 from Paul Levitz and rising artist Yildiray Cinar – I’m not sure if this is an alternate cover and the one they released pencils for is the main cover or vice versa. Time will tell.
If you read Final Crisis Legion of Three Worlds, then you know about the fate of the last of the GL Corps in the future… Legion of Super-Heroes resident Green Lantern Rond Vidar (son of Universo) was killed by Superboy-Prime and his ring returned to the only remaining Guardian… Daxamite Sodam Yat!
So whose hand is that with a Green Lantern ring AND a Legion flight ring? Is Sodam Yat joining up? Do we get a new future Lantern now that Yat has sent rings out to recruit a new GL Corps? Or will it be a familiar face with a new power. I can’t wait until May to find out!!! Everything I hear about this says this WILL be the Legion from Legion of 3 Worlds and THAT Legion (which was reintroduced in the recent Action Comics Lightning Saga) is the very same from original continuity (before all Crisis/Zero Hour etc reboots – which were established as the Legions of the Multiverse).
Be sure to check out Yildiray Cinar’s sketches of the 3 founding Legionaries if you missed them previously. I like his interpretations of the Gary Frank designed Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy and look forward to seeing the whole gang in action.
As part of their planned reboot of all Avengers titles to celebrate the dawn of THE HEROIC AGE, Marvel has released a number of “Secret Avengers” teaser images showing silhouettes of the members of the 2nd Avengers title slated to fill the void with the end of the New, Mighty, Dark and Initiative books. Secret Avengers hits shelves in May and will feature the creative team of Eisner Award-winning writer Ed Brubaker and current “Dark Avengers” artist Mike Deodato.
With Iron Man, Thor, Bucky Barnes, Hawkeye and Spider Woman already claimed for Bendis and Romita Jr’s Avengers team, the speculation about candidates for the Secret Avengers is still wide open with possibilities like Scarlet Witch (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE), Ms Marvel, Spider Man, The Beast, Wonder Man, Nova, Justice or even a revamped-in-time-for-the-movie War Machine all potentially available for membership. But those are just some obvious choices… what if a Dark Avenger goes light? Perhaps we’ll see some new blood?
Since they are canceling 4 titles… I expect 4 new ones. So what will the OTHER two be? I’m thinking we’ll see another Initiative type series about training fledgling heroes and then maybe something either cosmic or more antihero for the final title. Thoughts?
With the final issues of New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers and Avengers: The Initiative looming in the not to distant future. Marvel has begun to let us know what they have in store for the Marvel Universe after The Siege. Brian Michael Bendis will be writing a new title called simply Avengers (wanna bet it will use the old numbering?) with art by John Romita Jr. (AAAARRRRGHHHH!!!!! I HATE HIS WORK! He’s not as bad as some of the hacks out there but definitely on my list of extremely overrated artists). I may opt not to read this title if they don’t bring a REAL artist in on it by issue 6 and I will tell them so.
Really bums me out that this is a flagship title and they put a merely adequate artist like Romita on it. Unimpressive. Yuk. They just need to yank Carlos Pacheco out of the Ultimate universe and give him this book. RIGHT NOW!
Well I knew they wouldn’t leave the whole Aquafamily dead with Mera left alone to carry the trident. So although as a longtime DCU fan, I’m pleased to see him in color again, it’s no huge revelation to see a living breathing Aquaman looking at his dead reflection on the cover of Brightest Day #2. But what about Tempest and his family? I haven’t found the cover to #1 anywhere as of yet. Just the previously released covers to #0 and other teasers. DCU’s Blog The Source has promised more Brightest Day news tomorrow so I’ll keep ya posted an any further developments about this series from writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi.
Brightest Day co-author Geoff Johns had this to say about the upcoming bi-weekly 26 issue series event…
Brightest Day’ is about second chances. I think it’s been obvious from day one that there are major plans for the heroes and villains from Aquaman to take center stage in the DC Universe, among many others. ‘Brightest Day’ is not a banner or a vague catch-all direction for the DC Universe, it is a story. Nor is ‘Brightest Day’ a sign that the DC Universe is going to be all about ‘light and brighty’ superheroes. Some second chances work out…some don’t.
- Geoff Johns
So what DOES it mean? How will our heroes drive back the overwhelming tides of Nekron’s forces and who will live again to see the Brightest Day? Atom is already looking for a plan to resurrect Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Will he succeed? at what cost? And who decides who lives or dies?!?!? If everyone comes back the Titans and the JLA will need bigger HQs. It remains to be seen exactly how many series will end up bearing the Brightest Day banner before the year is out… but I’d expect some major ramifications.
As usual – his review is right on the money. GayComicGeek consistently has great reviews of comics, books, shows and movies that interest me. So OF COURSE he’s put up his opinion on Smallville: Absolute Justice…
Recent talk about the upcoming Captain America: First Avenger movie has revealed a few choice tidbits. First reveal is no BIG surprise…likely big bad is The Red Skull. Which isn’t a huge shocker to any longtime Steve Rogers fans. The other reveal which IS a bit more of a significant revelation. The Invaders will play a BIG part in the second act of the film and will include no less than six members. But they have YET to reveal exactly WHICH six members…
Now the Invaders had a number of different members over the years, but I’ve narrowed it down to what I thought were some of the more interesting candidates with big screen potential and fanboy panache… Who would YOU like to see fighting ratzis aside Captain America?
Posted in Comics, SFW on 02/08/2010 03:04 am by fanboi
In case you didn’t know, there was an X-Factor before Peter David and Madrox turned it into a Mutant Detective Agency… So Louise Simonson and Dan Panosian are here to remind us with a 5 issue mini-series.
If you were first introduced to the 5 original X-Men by X-Men: First Class, then you most likely weren’t even a gleam in yo daddy’s eye when Jean Grey was discovered in a cocoon at the bottom of Jamaica Bay in 1986 and it was revealed she wasn’t actually the cosmic entity who died as the Phoenix. If so, you missed out on the original X-Factor, which reunited the 5 founding X-Men as a group of professional mutant-busters the public could call if they had a mutant problem. This era added many elements to the x-mythos, including the birth of Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable and the sequence of events that sent him to the future.
Original X-Factor scribe Louise Simonson has teamed with artist Dan Panosian to bring us new adventures of the original dream-team as they return to fight the one threat that’s haunted them since the day they took on the X-Factor name. Join legendary X-scribe Louise Simonson as she reunites with the title and characters she made famous for an epic in the FOREVER tradition!
As with Chris Claremonts’ X-Men: Forever (a recent revisiting of his run on X-Men that might have been more interesting if confined to a mini), X-Factor: Forever picks up where the Simonson’s 5 year run on the title run left off. Evidently this is one of Marvel’s new traditions… Add a Forever to the title and let a former writer go wild.
Posted in Comics, SFW on 02/07/2010 04:42 pm by fanboi
I like Pixie and was one of the few who didn’t mind when they unmanga’d her and stopped drawing her like an 11 year old. I’m glad to see more of her!
Pixie, X-23, Armor, Mercury and Blindfold face a new kind of hell: high school! Things get even worse when Pixie’s mother shows up on Utopia demanding to see her daughter. Discover the truth about Pixie, including the answer to something even SHE doesn’t know: the identity of her father – one of the most dangerous X-Villains ever!
For some reason I thought Blindfold wasn’t just blind, but in fact didn’t have eyes… Am I making that up or was she ever drawn that way?
I am eagerly wondering who Pixie’s father could be… any guesses people? The powers she had BEFORE Magik took part of her soul to make a “soul dagger” were flight (due to insect wings) and “pixie dust” which causes hallucinations. Not getting a clue from the wings, but hallucinations, hmmm, maybe Mesmero?
Posted in Comics, SFW on 02/07/2010 02:21 pm by fanboi
So Nate Grey is in control of Norman Osborn, for now. I have a feeling that this happened BEFORE The Seige so I don’t think X-Man will be taking up permanent residence in the Green Goblin’s noggin. But I also have no idea how they plan to exorcise him. Maybe Mimic will copy his telepathy and use it against him? Butthey would only be a sliver of his power… shouldn’t be enough to take him out. Hmmm, we’ll see.
What has X-Man done to Norman Osborn? Whatever it is, it must be extreme because the Dark X-Men are making a journey into Osborn’s mind to fix it! But once they’re in, can they survive the depths of madness they find in the dark corners of Norman’s mental minefield?
What will Mystique do when confronted with the choice to 1. Expose Nate, 2. Help Nate, 3. Run, 4. Keep quiet and see where the chips fall. I’d put money on #3 if I were a betting man. I REALLY hope that Nate Grey will be left a part of the Marvel universe again once the dust has settled. I always liked the character. He was really the only AoA character that I was happy to see enter 616 continuity.
Posted in Comics, SFW on 02/07/2010 01:48 pm by fanboi
I LOVED the original New Mutants and was really hoping to see some of Marvel’s best and brightest working on new stories with Sam Guthrie, Roberto Dacosta, Xi’an Coy Mahn, Dani Moonstar, Illyana Rasputin and Amara Aquilla. The Alex Ross cover for the first issue led me to believe we’d see their A-game… But Sauron? C’mon.
Sauron is one of those villains of yesterday that I have a hard time taking seriously (Like Despero, Killer Moth or Paste Pot Pete). So I’m not seeing his appearance in New Mutants #10 as something either necessary or as likely to generate much interest. And its really a shame.
Why do the New Mutants exist? Why are they a team? Cyclops runs the X-Men as one giant army, not separate squads. So, why do the New Mutants exist as a squad? The answer isn’t what you expect.
So Cyclops and Emma (the writers) have a plan for Cannonball, Sunspot, Magik, Karma, Moonstar, Magma, Warlock and the newly resurrected Cypher. But with an army of X-Men at his back and call, WHY reform the New Mutants? I’ll find out if only because I am a bit intrigued by the subplot regarding Illyana’s knowledge from the future. I’d also like to see Rhane back with her old buddies as Wolfsbane. She’ll need her friends now and X-Force is no place for a pregnant lady.
Art is still just borderline adequate. It is a shame that Marvel isn’t trying their hardest to turn this into a top shelf title. The characters MORE than have the potential.
I’m SO EXCITED!!!! I’m trying to explain the historical significance of the Justice Society of America’s first Primetime appearance to Popapathy but don’t think he’s feeling my joy.
A bit surprised Clark never thought to ask why they all looked so young. I’m hoping that Geoff Johns is grooming JSA to be Smallville’s spinoff successor. But if he is, the costumes need work. Stargirl looked OK, but how hard is it to design a belly shirt and hot pants. I stick by my original assertion that Hawkman should have been played by someone who was more believable as a mace-wielding barbarian. The ab covering harness looked ridiculous with Shanks’ (nice for an ordinary human but far from the Hawkman we are accustomed to) arms coming out of it. Dr Fate looked like he was wearing football pads under his blue spandex. Either cast actors who have the physique to fill the costume or hire better costume designers.
BUT enough negativity… costumes aside I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the 2 hour special episode. I hadn’t realized Checkmate was part of it until I read the on demand episode synopsis. Pam Grier as Amanda Waller is sheer brilliance and it looks like we’ve not seen the last of her… or hopefully the JSA. FINGERS CROSSED! WE LOVE YOU GEOFF JOHNS!Smallville, Absolute Justice, Geoff Johns, Hawkman, Stargirl, Dr. Fate
Posted in Comics, SFW on 02/05/2010 04:15 pm by fanboi
With the Scandal Savage alone at Secret Six HQ against Amanda Waller’s forces and Catman, Rag Doll, Bane, Black Alice, Deadshot and Jeanette at the throats of the deadly Suicide Squad, with a throng of Black Lanterns prepared to wipe them all out, who wins? We do! Secret Six #18 wraps up the Blackest Night crossover and prepares the way for what comes next…
It’s the exciting conclusion of John Ostrander and Gail Simone’s epic team-up! The Black Lanterns have both the Suicide Squad and the Secret Six up against the wall. But Amanda Waller always has a plan. That plan: Manhunter!
Plus, Deadshot is forced to make the decision of his life!
Its been cool to see the Suicide Squad again, but I’m looking more forward to #19 with the return of Cheshire… Roy got Lian, so has Chesire made another love-child?
Posted in Comics, SFW on 02/05/2010 01:51 pm by fanboi
Good news for fans of the DCU’s resident backwards-talking descendant of DaVinci. Zatanna is getting her own ONGOING series starting in May! Paul Dini will be writing and the art will be provided by Stephane Roux (first image is a study of the DC sorceress he did in 2008). For the series he’s used a variation of the costume including fishnets AND thigh high boots (one of my favorite versions of her signature look).
Zee’s similarly powered teen cousin Zachary Zatara will be a recurring character and he allies in the JLA may be popping up from time to time as she acts as a peacekeeper and avenger in the worlds of magic. Here’s hoping Timothy Hunter will show up sometime too!
Posted in Video Games on 02/04/2010 03:26 am by fanboi
This was brought to my attention by the proprietor of “Whatever” (the comic store in the heart of San Francisco’s fabulous Castro where I buy my books). I’d heard of Orson Scott Card (writer of Ender’s Game) in passing due to a blog post on another site (I forget which – if it was yours comment with link) about the cover to Ender’s Game #3 being homoerotic (which is odd considering he’s a devout and outspoken Mormon on the board of the National Organization for Marriage who believes homosexuality is an “acquired characteristic linked to abuse or molestation in childhood”).
Also peculiar is the vast number of articles I find mentioning Ender’s Game being either homoerotic or homophobic. Does anyone read it? It doesn’t seen like that fine a line to me. Not sure how to mistake one for the other… Thoughts?
Well apparently for some ungodly reason he’s been tapped by IDW Publishing and EA Comics to write a comic version of the very gay-friendly Dragon Age: Origins RPG from Bioware. Dragon Age garnered much attention at sites like GayGamer, Kotaku, AfterElton, BitMob and even Telegraph.uk for the ability to play your character as Straight, Gay or Bi and the tastefully suggestive and romantic sex scenes that follows if you seduce the warrior elf Zevranthe with the right conversation.
TELL EA COMICS HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE INSENSITIVITY OF GIVING A LGBT FRIENDLY PROPERTY TO A HOMOPHOBE! Here is some contact info provided by the publisher of DoorQ (which has a history of pointing out Orson’s hatred). Thanks Jody!
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, CA 94065, USA
Phn: 650-628-1500
Fax: 650-628-1422
They seem to be a bit stingy on the email addresses. But if Marci Galea, the company wide talent manager is mgalea@ea.com, then John Riccitiello, the CEO of Electronic Arts, should be at jriccitiello@ea.com. No promises that won’t disappear into a black hole, so you might want to make a call to their phone line and follow up with an email.
Until recently, (Dragon Age, Bully, Mass Effect, Fable) playable gay and lesbian characters in videos games were often limited to stereotypical gay NPCs or lesbians meant to titillate the typical straight male gamer. I am very happy to see this sort of option showing up more often. This sort of inclusion in a predominantly straight genre is a heartening example of how the world is changing for the better and can only lead to gay kids growing up feeling not only represented but also accepted and straight kids growing up with the belief that someone being gay is no big deal.
Looks like Zevranthe gets around… so if you play Dragon Age gay and take him for a tumble, you might wanna pick up some buckskin rubbers.
