Wolverine, comedian

One of the funniest series of panels I have seen in ages, thanks to Brain Reed and Luke Ross.

From today’s issue of Ms. Marvel, Wolverine reveals his secondary mutation while entertaining Luke Cage’s baby:

I should mention that the issue as a whole was also spectacular. I have been on the fence about dropping Ms. Marvel more times than I can count and each time I pick up the new issue I am glad that I did. Writer Brian Reed has maintained this series by keeping it new month-to-month and the latest shift (introducing Moonstone as the new Ms. Marvel) is just brilliant. If you have never picked up this series, you may want to give it a shot, either by picking up the latest issue, in collected form or at the Marvel Comics digital database.

The details on the upcoming Thor movie

the road to the Avengers is paved and ready

With the Marvel Motion Picture Machine churning its way toward the Avengers, I thought it would be a good time to collect the data thus far regarding the hammer-swinging thunder God known as Thor.
The Premise

Originally planned to be set exclusively on Asgard as a fantasy film, it is starting to sound more and more like the mighty Thor is touching down in NYC. Honestly, I liked the idea of this movie being more of a comic book answer to Lord of the Rings rather than Hercules in New York, but we’ll see if my anxiety is justified or not soon enough.

The mighty Thor is tethered to the lame physician Dr. Donald Blake to teach him humility, a lesson posed by his father Odin that ends up backfiring. The more Thor gets to know humanity, the more he admires them and becomes a guardian to the world Man (called Midgard by the Norse Gods).  Thor’s trickster brother Loki conspires to confuse and harm Thor at every turn, jealous for the love that their father bestows upon the thunder God.

A unique blend of fantasy, mythology and superheroics, Thor is also a tough sell to moviegoers. But then again, so was Iron Man.

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Yes, the Shakespearean actor/director from Henry V and Hamlet is directing a superhero movie. I guess that if he going to head any such project it has to be Thor, doesn’t it? It made so little sense when I first heard his name associated with the film and I’m still in a quandry over this one. However, Marvel EIC Joe Quesada is beside himself with excitement:

We had one big creative meeting with the Marvel Creative Committee, which now works on all of our movies and I have the honor to be a part of. We sat with Kenneth and discussed the “Thor” movie and the overarching story of what that’s going to be, just to give our input before anything was put down to paper by screenwriters.

And it was one of the highlights of my time here at Marvel because not only did Branagh sit there and give you the story beat for beat, he and [Marvel Studios head] Kevin Feige formed a great team. It was performance art. Kevin would give us the establishment of the shot and the situation: “Here we are. We’re in (take your pick of location). And here’s Odin and he’s coming up to (pick a character).” And then Kenneth would come in and give you the color commentary. “Odin has an air of majesty to him” and he’d act out the Odin part or the Thor part. So we sat there and literally got a three-hour one-man show from Kenneth Branagh. It was fantastic. People pay a lot of money for that kind of performance by one of the world’s greatest living actors.

And of course, he’s got that great, charming British accent, so it makes it all go down easy too. [laughs] He could have said anything, and we would have said, “Yeah. Make that.” He has such a passion for the material, and he’s sitting there describing things from the Kirby run and things from the Simonson run, citing places where the mythology conflicted in Marvel history and how we’re going to streamline it. It was just fascinating to watch.

Loki: Tim Hiddleston

A fellow stage actor to Branagh, the fact that he was the first actor announced said many things. This will not be a ‘cast of thousands’ debacle as many fear it to be. It will be a real movie with real actors… that you don’t know. I’m hoping that Hiddleston will bring the necessary life to the character of Loki because it is such a pivotal role in the world of Marvel Comics and the character of Thor.

Odin: Brian Blessed

Color me pleased. Prince Vultan of Flash Gordon himself is Odin the All Father. This is just brilliant casting the likes of which is rarely seen in movies. Another fellow RSC actor of Branagh’s (as Hiddleston is), Blessed is also well known in sci-fi circles for his appearances on Blake’s 7, Doctor Who and Space: 1999.

Yes, he has been in all three.

Thor: Chris Hemsworth

I’m still on the fence about this announcement (the latest casting announcement to date) as I know so little about the guy. Given that the film dodged so many bad idea bullets from the wrestler Triple H to Brad Pitt I should be grateful. So far he strikes me as just another pretty face. I think (hope) after I see him in costume I will feel better about this one.

Release Date: May 20, 2011

Mark Waid on new Dr Strange series

One of the most popular characters in the history of Marvel Comics also has one of the worst luck with keeping a monthly book on the shelves. Doctor Strange, the Master of the Mystic Arts, has been defending the human race from threats posed by the dark forces of beyond since his first appearance in 1963. The brainchild of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (also responsible for a certain wall crawling misfit named Spider-Man), the character operated in the realm of the supernatural rather than the every day real world where the rest of the superheroes planted fists on chins 24/7.

Pairing the character in Strange Tales first with the Human Torch and later with Nick Fury, Dr Strange finally graduated into his own book in 1968. An oddball character, Strange is a former surgeon who was so egocentric he prided himself on his immense skill with the scalpel, refusing to operate on anyone who could not afford his services (can you imagine!?). After a tragic car accident took the use of his once golden hands from him, he took to the streets, destitute and hopeless. Only after hearing of the fabled Ancient One, did Strange find hope. Trained by the Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange eventually learned to use his hands in weaving spells rather than making incisions. His operating table was the realm eternal and his patient all of humanity. He was now Dr Strange.

You’d think with such a blockbuster origin story and two of the finest creators in the business that the character would be a natural success in the comics world. However, he has been beset with several cancellations in his paper-based career. Recently writer J Michael Straczynski attempted to revive the character but had little luck. Lost scriptwriter and creator of Y: The Last Man, Brian K Vaughn also launched a mini-series… again with limited success.

Brian Michael Bendis took the hero into the fold of the New Avengers (as he has done with so many creations without a home from Hawkeye to Luke Cage and even Spider-Woman) and kept him alive and relevant while Marvel prepared to once again bring back the good doctor.

This October, Mark Waid will bring his writing skills to the former Sorcerer Supreme (more on that later) in another mini-series that will hopefully break the curse that has plagued the magician for so long.

“The appeal of Doctor Strange, to me, is that he’s one of the few longtime characters who’s always learning, always striving to better himself in ways that we can actually witness,” the writer explains. “He never rests on his philosophy or dwells for long in the status quo.”

The series will address the character’s fall from grace, but it’s a shift in focus that apparently will not be all bad news.

“To his stunned surprise, he doesn’t miss it,” Waid reveals of Strange’s disposition towards his new lot. “He figured he would, he assumed he would, but the Doc we’re meeting up with is one who’s looking upon this as more of a sabbatical than a punishment and is rather enjoying, for the first time in his adult life, not having to shoulder the weight of responsibility every waking moment. Before he started learning the Mystic Arts, Stephen Strange must have had other hobbies, other interests, and now he’s able to reconnect with them with a joi de vivre that’s overwhelmingly new to him.

“Doc’s been a tough sell as a solo player, but we’re hopeful that the story we’re going to be telling in this new STRANGE project will interest some new fans while giving Doc’s core supporters something they’ll like,” editor Tom Brevoort articulates. “The goal in this case is what the goal always is with our characters: to bring greater attention to them, and to bring them to greater prominence and popularity.”

New to Dr Strange?

Try these books:
Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 1
Essential Doctor Strange, Vol. 2
Essential Doctor Strange Volume 4
Doctor Strange: The Oath
Doctor Strange: A Separate Reality

Greg Rucka’s Whiteout

For those of you unfamiliar with the writing of Greg Rucka… get familiar with it. A celebrated crime novelist who turned his talents to comics with Whiteout and later Detective Comics and Checkmate (to name but a three), Rucka has been hailed as one of the best of the ‘new breed’ of comic book writer extending to Brian K Vaughn, Ed Brubaker and Brian Michael Bendis.

His first major comic book work from 1998, Whiteout is the perfect fusion of his skills as a comic book writer and novelist. A murder mystery set in the wastes of Antarctica during its long period of complete seclusion, the story is told from the point of view of Federal Marshall Carrie Stetko. The only female stationed on the network of bases, there is a definite feeling of seclusion from the rest of the world as much as a feeling that being the only female puts her at risk. A thrilling tale that earned Rucka the Eisner Award for Best Writer, Best Artist for Steve Lieber, Best Limited Series, and Best Graphic Album of 2000, Whiteout has been in film development for some time.

Finally, it’s here.

... somewhat awkward tagline, no?

While the trailer offers little in ways of hinting at a story, it is very informative about the challenges posed by Antarctica as a setting… kind of like a miniature nature documentary.

Trailer

Release date: September 09

Recommended:
Whiteout Volume 1: The Definitive Edition

What’s the story with Batman 3?

With Marvel Comics launching into their Avengers franchise in the coming years, many comic book fans are wondering what DC is up. You’d think that with the success of Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight film, there would be word about his next Batman project. The press has attempted to keep the story alive with rumors on what actors will be playing which supervillains from Eddie Murphy as the Riddler or Paul Giamatti as the Penguin (both of which have been debunked), but Chris Nolan hasn’t said a word.

It has become clear that there are problems with a third Batman film to continue the most successful comic book character franchise.

Batman on film has some answers:

• The death of Heath Ledger in January of 2008 rocked Mr. Nolan hard. So hard that Chris was convinced that TDK was going to be it for him and Batman on film.
• The Joker was going to return in BATMAN 3.
• “You are correct in reporting that he is developing story ideas with [Jonathan Nolan] and David Goyer, but it will be until AT LEAST 2012 before we see the Caped Crusader back [in theaters]. And that is only an EARLY ESTIMATE at best right now. They are even saying it might not be until 2013.”
• Basically, the BATMAN film franchise is back to square one. As far as a story or a BATMAN 3, “Right now, there is none,” says our guy.

While this may sound like bad news, Batman on film has a positive closing statement.

Despite the bummer vibe that permeates this report, let me remind you of the positives. One, Warner Bros. has not officially announced that Chris is done and the search is underway for a new Bat-director. Secondly, Nolan himself has admitted to “musing” with David Goyer about the storyline of a third film. Third, back in February, IGN reported that Chris is the only screenwriter attached to B3 per the WGA. And finally, the same industry scuttlebutt that produced today’s story also says that Chris’ deal with WB for INCEPTION included at least a handshake agreement for BATMAN 3.

War Machine

Even though Jim Rhodes was introduced as far back as 1979, the character did not wear the Iron Man armor until much later in 1983 and received his own signature War Machine armor later still in 1992. A former US Marine, Jim Rhodes has known Stark almost as long as the billionaire playboy has been Iron Man. In fact, the two met in Vietnam just after Tony escaped from his captor Wong Chu’s camp.

Initially a supporting cast member that made the series feel more like Miami Vice than anything else, Rhodey stepped into the role of Iron Man when Stark’s alcoholism became too much of a liability. He even served in the Secret War! After Stark gained control of his affliction, Rhodey got another role, that of War Machine. Designed to deal with threats that were immune to Iron Man’s traditional repulsor technology, War Machine’s armaments were much more in tune with military-grade weapons. While he may appear to be just another version of Iron Man, the War Machine armor is built for one purpose only, to destroy.

More recently, War Machine has starred in his own monthly series by Planet Hulk and Incredible Hercules writer Greg Pak. Rhodey had disappeared from the pages of Marvel Comics for some time only to return as a man that was barely human. In the pages of Avengers: The Initiative, James Rhodes was shown to be a part of his armor. His battle-scarred face covered in cybernetics, the truth behind his condition was only just revealed in this month’s issue of the character’s comic. During the Skrull Secret Invasion, Rhodey discovered that his armor was built not on the Stark tech (useless during the invasion since the Skrulls hacked it) but on Staneware. This allowed him to function as a one-man retaliatory strike team against the Skrull fleet by hooking up with a battle satellite hovering in Earth orbit (apparently Stark plans for most every eventuality).

The Skrull threat extinguished, Rhodey feels that his work has just begun. When he connected to the satellite, he became aware of multiple war crimes occurring across the globe. Even more so, he was emotionally affected by this knowledge due to the discrete connection to the intel feed. As such he is now a one man response team against these acts. As his humanity diminishes at an alarming rate, Rhodey’s abilities as War Machine grow. Now armed with the ability to incorporate any hardware he encountered into his armor, he is forever losing limbs only to replace them with the very tanks and jets that took them away in combat. This ability to rebuild on the fly makes him a formidable opponent in the field.

Is this the movie version of War Machine?

In film, War Machine is a rumored co-star in Iron Man 2. Even though the sequel is already full of characters from Nick Fury to Black Widow, fans have been chomping at the bit for a little armored Jim Rhodes action ever since Terrence Howard glanced at the discarded Mach II armor in Stark’s lab and mutter, ‘next time, baby.’ With Don Cheadle playing the part of Rhodey in the second film it is unclear where they are taking the character but Marvel EIC Joe Quesda hinted that there will be ‘more than one armored character’ in the second film.

Recommended:
Secret Invasion: War Machine
War Machine 1: Blood Money
Iron Man: Armor Wars
The Many Armors of Iron Man
Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collectors’ Edition)

Vengeance of the Moon Knight

As many readers may know, I am a big supporter of Moon Knight. A character who on the surface may appear to be a poor man’s Batman or a rich man’s Punisher, he is actually neither. A man brought back from the brink of death with a distinct personality for each phase of the moon, he is a unique breed of vigilante. He out-crazies both characters and is truly more driven than either while the level of violence that he delivers to the criminals on the street would shock even Frank Castle into silence. The Moon Knight is not fighting a war as the Punisher does, nor is he acting as a warder over his city as Batman does… he’s making the wrath of his God Konshu known. Not content with breaking up gangs or destroying drug empires, Moon Knight has been known to carve a crescent symbol into the foreheads of his prey each night they continue their deviant behavior. Eventually they figure it out and the attacks stop.

In the latest series, writers Charlie Huston and Mark Benson have stepped up the the threat level that Moon Knight poses in the Marvel Universe, making him a character that demands attention. In the past 20 odd issues he has challenged Iron Man’s Super Hero Registration Act (and even tricked the psych test) and taken on the entire Thunderbolts team.

So what’s next?

Writer Gregg Hurwitz and artist Jerome Opena have been announced as the creative team behind a new ongoing series titled the Vengeance of the Moon Knight. It’s unclear to me if this is a restart or renaming of the current series or if it is an additional monthly (while I think MK is tops, I’d be surprised if the character had that much popularity!). The creators and editor Alex Alonso spoke about the project at Wizard World Philly.

The New Moon Knight

“VENGEANCE opens with Moon Knight crashing back into the heart of the Marvel U as Jake Lockley—a brand new super hero with the gear and gizmos to make his mark,” reveals Hurwitz. “We’re gonna have a lot of fun with appearances from some staples from the Marvel U, and we get to see Moon Knight in a whole new way.”

In addition to a new direction, the series will also see a new costume design by Opena.

“I was hesitant, in the beginning, because I really liked the original design,” he admits. “But a new look was what they wanted for the character to coincide with the re-launching of the title. So, with that in mind, I tried to keep the most important iconic aspects of the original design intact while also trying to satisfy what Gregg and Axel were looking for. It was a challenge to try to have all those new elements still fit the iconic image of Moon Knight and to keep him recognizable to everyone.”

The name Alex Alonso should be familiar by now. Formerly of DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, Alonso has since moved to Marvel and worked on restructuring several of their most successful comics including X-Men, Spider-Man and the new Punisher and Black Panther series.

“Gregg’s an amazing writer, focused, passionate and meticulous,” praises Alonso. “VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT provides the perfect platform for his skills. He knows how to write super heroes.

“Jerome is a future superstar who is right for just about anything. What makes him perfect for VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT is his uncanny ability to navigate between oftentimes claustrophobic psychological material and the widescreen, big budget action that drives a book like this.”

Read the whole piece here.

Recommended:
Moon Knight Volume 3: God & Country
Moon Knight Volume 4: Death Of Marc Spector
Essential Moon Knight, Vol. 1

Gatchaman (or Battle of the Planets)

For those of you who had no idea that there was such a course of study as ‘ninja science,’ allow me to crack open the secrets of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.

Better known stateside as Battle of the Planets (or G-Force), Gatchaman is one of the most popular super hero anime series of all time. This style of program (five young heroes kicking the snot out of nameless/faceless goons and monsters) would much later resurface as the all-too-familiar Power Rangers, but for the original was amazing for its purity.

The basic mission of the team (operating as part of the surprisingly well-funded International Science Organization) is to protect the planet’s natural resources from the evil terrorist organization known as Galactor led by the strangely effeminate Leader X. Trained in ‘bird style’ fighting techniques and armed with state-of-the-art weapons including the deadly yo-yo, what kind of chance does Galactor have?

The team of five super-ninjas consisted of your basic superhero team character types:

Ken Washio (or Mark), leader and all-around Johnny straight-laces. Ken is the noble hero of the series and as such he is also the center of attention. Think Captain America with a dart rather than a shield. Burdened with avenging the murder of his father, Ken may be the responsible leader but he is also a headstrong risk-taker. His vehicle of choice is a one-man jet.

Joe Asakura (or Jason), the violent and tortured member of the team. Where Ken was steadfast and true, Joe was a loose cannon with his mind on revenge for the death of parents at the hands of Galactor. As a sign of how no-nonsense he is, Joe’s costume is dark colored and his gimmick weapon is a handgun. He also gets the coolest vehicle, a sports car.

Jun (or Princess), the female, is dressed as a graceful swan yet she is also a demolitions expert. Serving as a mother-figure, Jun adopted the orphan Jinpei, but seems to dote over all 4 of the male team members. Jun’s motorcycle sparks reminiscences of Batgirl from the old 60’s TV series. ‘Nuff said. Jun always reminded me of the Doctor Who assistants of old. Depending on the whims of the creative team, Jun could be an independent woman or a screamer.

Jinpei (or Keyop), the young oprhan. In one version of the series Keyop spoke in complete gibberish which struck me as bizarre seeing as how he pilots the most dangerous vehicle that the team has. While he may seem to be little more than comicv relief, Jinpei brings the family dynamic of the program together in much the same way that Stan Lee operated the FF.

Ryu Nakanishi (or Tiny), the big peaceful guy who only wants to fish and date girls but don’t cross him in an alley. It’s nice to see that not all of the team members had tragic pasts as Ryu is jut a ‘regular guy.’ This is probably why he is so seldom regailed. Ryu pilots the ship called the God Phoenix and serves the role as being the backbone of the team.

One of the more violent cartoon series I can think of directed at kids, Gatchaman also had some rather mature story lines and even dealt with the death of their own rather well. If ever there was a good primer of how to make a superhero comic book into a cartoon, this it it. Despite the brilliance of the series, the most well known iteration of the program is a butchering of the original.

Below is a sampling of the original source material from 1972.

Gatchaman (in Japanese)

Here’s the initially translated version that many of us know all too well.
Battle of the Planets

And finally, here is an even more brutally translated version from 1980.
G-Force

A comic book series was released by Gold Key in 1979 and later in 2002 by Top Cow (complete with beautiful Alex Ross covers beckoning the aged fans) but surprisingly neither series really worked. Why did a cartoon that emulated comic books fail so singularly to translate back to that same medium? Who can say?

More recently, an attempt at salvaging the cartoon’s street cred was launched. As you can tell from the title (2000), there have been problems getting this film off the ground.

With the recent addition of Batman the Animated Series/Superman/Justice League writer Paul Dini, I think I can safely say that this project is in safe hands.

Gatchaman 2000/2010

More as it comes.

While we wait in anticipation, I highly recommend Home of the White Shadow as a superb resource on all things Gatchaman.

Ed Brubaker on Captain America: Reborn

With the media all abuzz over the sell-out sensation that is Captain America #600 (you DID get a copy, right?), the next big thing is the upcoming Captain America Reborn mini-series.

For an in-depth look at what to expect, here is a snippet of the Marvel.com interview with writer Ed Brubaker and editor Tom Brevoort:

“REBORN is the next chapter in the larger story that I’ve been building in [CAPTAIN AMERICA] since issue #1,” explains the writer, who launched this current volume in 2004. “This is a chance to really explore how things have changed in the years since Steve’s death and really delve deep into who Steve Rogers is and why he became Captain America. It’s a really a [story] with two or three different plotlines that all intertwine, which is a lot of fun and allows us to have [both] in-your-face action and quiet character moments.”

“While Bucky’s been finding his way as Captain America, it was never a mantle he wanted to assume,” adds Brevoort. “But whether he realizes it or not, being Captain America has been good for [him]. It’s brought him into new circles of friends and allowed him to put some demons from his past to rest. If he’s no longer going to be carrying Steve’s torch, then a very real problem for Bucky becomes facing the question of where he fits in this modern world.

“[But that all] assumes Steve will come back hale and hearty and fit for duty, both physically and emotionally, and that may not be the case. All during these months, while the world thought him dead, Steve’s been on a metaphysical journey of his own, and the experiences he’s lived through during that time are going to have a profound effect on his state of mind.”

Follow this link to read the entire article.

Since the debut of the 2005 series, Captain America has been one of the most impressive superhero books out there. Writer Ed Brubaker inherited a character that was lost both creatively and editorially and turned him into the driving force of the entire Marvel Universe. I’ve stated here ion my blog several times that the death of Captain America was as much a statement on the United States as it was on the Marvel Universe. I can only hope that his return is as much of a mirror of both.

Captain America: Reborn hits the shelves July 1.

Long Live Captain America

The suspense has finally ended as one year after his death, the 600th issue of Captain America officially hit the stands and announced to the world that Steve Rogers is alive.

If there is one trick at generating buzz older than killing off a character it is bringing them back from the dead. That said, I’m genuinely invested in where Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch take their upcoming Captain America: Reborn series (due out the week of July 4th, naturally).

The coy EIC of Marvel Comics humorously discussed the fan and media speculation of what the big news was that finally broke today. I can’t help but think that he is reminding readers that there is a Captain America movie in production rather than just stating that the role is not as yet cast.

“I think the craziest [rumor] was the fact that we were going to announce who was going to be cast as Steve Rogers in the ‘Captain America’ movie in the pages of ‘Reborn,’” Joe Quesada revealed in his Cup O’ Joe column. “And I thought, ‘Wow! That is really amazing that people could go that far with it.’ And I guess that’s part of the fun of it, but at the same time it is the evils of the digital age. Stuff gets out there, and before you know it that information is attributed to somebody from Marvel, and it’s off to the races.”

Just who will portray the star-spangled Avenger in Director Joe Johnston’s movie The First Avenger: Captain America is still a mystery and the guesses are just too wildly divergent to be believed. Everyone from Will Smith, to Matthew McConaughey to Channing Tatum have been mentioned as possibilities. Thankfully Torchwood actor John Barrowman has not been mentioned for some time so maybe I can sleep again.

As for the 600th issue itself, the sell out Monday release was a celebration of Captain America’s past (including a scintillating essay from Cap’s co-creator Joe Simon!) and a hint at the future of the monthly comic. A mixed effort from several comic creators, the result is also mixed with some stand out greatness and some very clunky episodes as well. The story that strives to explain just who is Bernie Rosenthal was perhaps the most convoluted piece of exposition I’ve read in a long time and I think it’s hilarious that it included a glimpse of Cap in that awful suit of armor yet refused to acknowledge why he was wearing it. It was the late 80’s, we all wore embarrassing things.

On the flip side, the sequence featuring the Avengers both New and Dark and the vigil ceremony was well executed. It has been fascinating to watch the Marvel Universe continue to grow more sophisticated and complex these past few years. This issue dealing with the death of Captain America and the reality of just how far the world has fallen to the dogs without him is beautifully executed month-to-month in the pages of this comic and the latest issue is no exception.

While I have to admit that the inclusion of Rikki Barnes caught me completely off guard (there’s a column coming on this character), I have hopes that it will work out for the best.

DC Comics has had great success with Geoff Johns helming their Green Lantern and Flash Rebirth series but I have every confidence that Brubaker will blow both of these series out of the water with his upcoming Captain America: Reborn series.

More as it comes.

Recommended:
Captain America Omnibus, Vol. 1
The Death of Captain America, Vol. 1: The Death of the Dream
The Death of Captain America, Vol. 2: The Burden of Dreams
The Death of Captain America, Vol. 3: The Man Who Bought America

Also by Ed Brubaker:
Criminal Vol. 1: Coward (v. 1)
Sleeper: Season One
Daredevil Omnibus, Vol. 1
Gotham Central Book One: In the Line of Duty