The holiday season and new books to buy and expect!

There are going to be quite a lot of new comics coming up over the next few weeks...which coincides with the Christmas shopping season, meaning that I've got to learn how to save and budget and prioritise like never before!

Brian Michael Bendis' Secret Invasion just finished...and what a series it was! The anticipation of what would happen in the next issue was just like Mark Millar's Civil War a couple of years ago and boy, was that a fantastic series and Secret Invasion certainly ended with more questions than resolutions.

Yes, the Skrull invasion was halted...was there really any doubt? But the fallout is just about to happen, and it leads nicely into Marvel's event of 2009: Dark Reign. I won't list any spoilers for those who haven't yet read Secret Invasion (and if you haven't, hurry up and go read it already!), but the gist of it is, the Marvel Universe has just become a much darker place with even MORE conspiracies than ever before at the conclusion of the failed Skrull invasion.

While Tony Stark was heralded as the Marvel Universe's saviour only a mere two years ago, with the Superhero Registration Act implemented as a result of the Civil War, he now finds himself discarded by his own government. All his plans post-Civil War failed to yield any fruition and he's failed to deliver on his promise of protecting America with the 50-State Initiative program.

So the government has sacked Tony from being the big kahuna of S.H.I.E.L.D. Wait until you see who they've chosen to be the new big boss...it's the shock ending of Secret Invasion that will resonate and create a ripple effect in all of Marvel Comics' books for years to come!

Anyway, I'll give Secret Invasion a proper review sometime down the line. Back on topic, another new title I'll be adding to my standing list is Dark Avengers, which spins off from the ending of Secret Invasion. There have been quite a number of huge releases in the TPB and HC format such as The Boys: Definitive Edition HC which collects the first 13 issues of Dynamite Entertainment's superb series.

The Boys is a guilty pleasure and the world it's set in is as realistic as it comes in posing the question: What would it be like if there really were superheroes in the real world? Garth Ennis (of Preacher and Punisher: Max infamy, and one of my favourite writers) crafts such a splendid tale of absolute power corrupting absolutely. He certainly doesn't hold back and while there are some moments in the series which are just flat out gross, it IS classic Ennis, which means fans will be treated with over-the-top humour in the vein of Preacher.

Hmm...methinks I should review The Boys sometime down the line too! It's just too good not to have a review!

The Rising Stars Compendium HC also gets released after the new year, which collects the entire series of Rising Stars, from the original 24 issue mini-series by J. Michael Stracyznski, to the three related mini-series. Rising Stars was absolutely brilliant, especially in the first third of the series where it established the world in which 113 special humans with powers lived and how they interacted with society at large.

It's a great time to be a comic book fan...not good for our wallets though!

Francis is also helping me to get the entire series of the Slam Dunk manga in English, published by Chuang Yi Comics in Singapore. 31 volumes means that it'll be a while before I can actually pay him for the order...yipes. Good reading times ahead!

[PREVIEW OF THE WEEK] Avengers: The Initiative #8

I know I've said I probably wouldn't buy Avengers: The Initiative anymore, especially what I THOUGHT was a pretty ordinary first six issues. And then issue 7 put the title back on the map for me again. So looks like I might keep on buying!

Here's a preview of issue 8:


[PREVIEW OF THE WEEK] AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #8
Meet Camp Hammond’s new drill instructor

Posted December 20, 2007 2:30 PM

“Killed in Action” (Part 1 of 4): Training is almost over for our cadets. Some will graduate. Some will wash out. And, yes, some WILL die! It all starts here, in the Initiative’s biggest story to date! And with the clock ticking on the first class of recruits, get ready to meet the next batch! Including new Marvels, old Marvels, at least one SKRULL, and...THE IRREDEEMABLE GIANT-MAN? Also, with the Gauntlet out of commission, just wait until you meet Camp Hammond’s new drill instructor... he’s a real Taskmaster!

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #8
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
Rated T+ …$2.99
On sale—12/28/07

[PREVIEW] Mighty Avengers #6

Avengers-fever is at its highest right now with me, what with Ultimates 3 #1 having been released and Bendis and Cho doing some fabulous work on Mighty Avengers! So much so that I've decided I can't wait to read the single issues of New Avengers ONLY when I get back to Singapore...I want to read them now! Hence, I'm looking to obtain all the existing collections of New Avengers in Australia...either the TPB or HC versions, depending on which one is more worth it, and I don't mean just price-wise!

That's a great lead-in to the next issue of Mighty Avengers:


[PREVIEW] MIGHTY AVENGERS #6
The Avengers reassemble and go on the offensive against Ultron

Posted December 14, 2007 11:20 AM

The shocking conclusion to the Ultron terror as the Avengers reassemble and go on the offensive. It’s now or never for an Ultron butt-kicking. How on Earth will Tony Stark survive this??? And how does this connect to the startling Skrull infestation that may have taken over the Marvel Universe? The next big clue to the truth is HERE!!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #6
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by FRANK CHO
Cover by FRANK CHO
Rated A …$2.99
On sale—12/19/07

"Ultimates 3" theories: Who killed Scarlet Witch?

Damn it! Wish I hadn't seen or read this article because now the surprise is ruined for me! I haven't yet picked up Ultimates 3 #1 from Classic Comics since we never did go to Melbourne on the Sunday. Grah. I know we'll be going sometime this week...just don't know when!


‘ULTIMATES 3’ THEORIES: WHO KILLED SCARLET WITCH?
Writer Jeph Loeb gets grilled about the ‘Ultimate’ suspects

By Ben Morse

Posted December 11, 2007 12:00 PM

Who fired the shot heard round the Ultimates’ world?

The hotly anticipated first issue of Ultimates 3 by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Joe Madureira ended with a literal bang: In the issue’s climax, a projectile fired by an unseen assailant eluded super-speedster Quicksilver and blew out the heart of his beloved sister, the Scarlet Witch, ending the life of the Ultimates’ mutant pseudo-sorceress.

So whodunit?

“The murder is just a small piece of a larger puzzle,” says Loeb. “Think about who would want the victim dead, and why?”

Take a look at just seven of the possible suspects in this high stakes mystery and what Loeb has to say about them.

HAWKEYE
The Charges: The super-marksman lost his family in Ultimates 2, and maybe his sanity in the process. He’s also iced traitorous teammate Black Widow. Has he learned something sinister about the Witch?
The Testimony: “He has the ability. The gunshot was extraordinary—not only to hit the intended target, but to be able to outrun Quicksilver as well. It has to be Hawkeye!”

MAGNETO
The Charges: The Master of Magnetism wouldn’t be above using the death of his own daughter to galvanize the mutant cause against the homo sapien regime and their foremost protectors.
The Testimony: “Mags already shot his son in the kneecaps—what’s a bullet through the heart between family? Maybe it’s Magneto controlling Hawkeye!”

CAPTAIN AMERICA
The Charges: This super-soldier’s not above executing an enemy, if necessary. It’s also clear he didn’t approve of the unusual “closeness” between siblings Quicksilver and the Witch.
The Testimony: “Ultimate Cap is far more ruthless than the 616 Cap and also less dead. He was also a Marine with a sharpshooter’s background and capable of taking the moral high ground. Okay, you’ve convinced me—not Mags or Hawkeye, it was Cap!”

THE BLACK PANTHER
The Charges: A complete question mark. Only on the team because Captain America vouched for him, the Panther could be literally anybody with any motive.
The Testimony: “How could I have been so stupid? I’ve missed the obvious choice! He hides behind a mask and won’t give up any of his secrets. The Panther has the eyesight necessary to make a shot like that. And who says in the Ultimate Universe that the Panther can’t be a villain? I’ve changed my mind—it’s the Panther!”

BLACK WIDOW
The Charges: Yes, she died at the end of Ultimates 2, but nobody ever stays dead in comics, least of all Russian super-spies trained to disappear.
The Testimony: “We never saw the funeral. Maybe she was in league with the now-deranged Hawkeye to fake her death and then turn out to be the real killer. I’ve never done that before—I mean, except in Batman: The Long Halloween and ‘Hush,’ but who read those? Black Widow it is!”

DEADPOOL
The Charges: A mutant-hating former soldier with an array of weapons designed specifically to target homo superior, he’d certainly have the motive and the means.
The Testimony: “What a brilliant idea that would be. Take an obscure character from the 616 Universe, make him even more obscure in the Ultimate Universe, and then have him be the centerpiece for the murder of the century! Brilliant! Nobody would suspect! Okay, we go with Deadpool!”

KRAVEN
The Charges: Ultimate Kraven once had a reputation as a peerless big-game hunter. But now he needs a big hit to get his street cred back up. An Ultimate would fit the bill.
The Testimony: “Who? That guy? C’mon, now you’re just getting silly!”

Marvel Mondays: Luke and Jessica

Oh no! Surely it can't end THIS quickly! Barely two years ago (or maybe even just last year, I can't remember!), we were all celebrating the union between Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. Seemed like a match made in heaven...that was born in the ghetto.

So when I read this article on Wizard Universe, I just thought to myself: "Surely not?" Bendis is a big fan of both Luke AND Jessica, who was a character he created. Surely he won't go so far as to help them achieve happiness only to pull the rug out from under them?

But this IS Bendis I suppose, so nothing can be taken for granted.


MARVEL MONDAYS: LUKE AND JESSICA
A look at the marriage headed for the rocks in ‘New Avengers #37’

By Brian Warmoth

Posted December 10, 2007 3:00 PM

The gloves come off in a heated brawl between The Hood’s minions and the New Avengers this week in New Avengers #37. According to Brian Michael Bendis, however, one of the biggest fights waiting offstage may be a confrontation between Luke Cage and his wife Jessica Jones.

“Issue #38 of New Avengers is a very big issue where maybe even his marriage falls apart because of [the Initiative],” Bendis said in a recent Marvel press conference. Since Cage’s daughter Danielle batted some big green eyes at the close of New Avengers #31, a huge question mark has been dangling over the heads of Luke and Jessica. With the Initiative boiling up an occasionally tumultuous relationship, watch for some piping hot plot bubbles to start hitting the surface over the next two months.

But why exactly are the two heroes at odds? The two had a one-night stand long ago and fell at odds with one another shortly thereafter. That one night produced a baby, though, and the now husband and wife seemed to have repaired what was damaged between them, getting married to raise their daughter.

Civil War, however, through a huge wrench into their living situation, sending Jessica to Canada with Danielle while Luke remained in New York fighting alongside the unregistered New Avengers. Though Dr. Strange seems to have verified that Jessica isn’t a Skrull, the possibility of either her or her daughter being a sleeper agent who doesn’t know that she’s a Skrull in disguise has been suggested. Between the potentially cataclysmic ramifications such a reveal could have and the divide placed between them by Tony Stark’s 50-state Initiative, what happens between Luke and Jessica could echo throughout the Marvel Universe over the course of the next 2 issues.

Ultimates 3 #1

I usually NEVER post anything from Wizard Universe's "Thursday Morning Quarterback" feature, simply because there usually is nothing there to interest me.

However, they reviewed Ultimates 3 #1, so I just had to post this!


THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
A water-cooler review of this week’s comics

Posted December 6, 2007 9:00 AM

When the new batch of weekly comics arrives at Wizard HQ, the workday stops and the fanboys and fangirls inside take over. Every week in Thursday Morning Quarterback, we discuss and debate three of the most attention-getting titles, be they good, bad or indifferent—and maybe crown one of them our Book of the Week!

Your critics this week:
Wizard Associate Editor Andy Serwin: “I’m into offbeat superheroes like James Robinson’s Starman or genre books like Brian Azzarello’s Loveless.”
Wizard Entertainment Editor Rickey Purdin: “I like DC heroes who make reading fun, and throwback stories that make B-listers cool. Oh yeah, and every indie book in the galaxy.”
WizardUniverse.com Staff Writer Brian Warmoth: “The more absurd the gap between the goofiness of the costumes and the gravitas of the moment, the more I dig it.”
Wizard Price Guide Editor David Paggi: “I definitely gravitate towards more inventive comics like All Star Superman or Shaolin Cowboy.”

Reviewed this week: Ultimates 3 #1, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #9, Justice Society of America #11 and Quick Hits out the wazoo, fanboys! Can you dig it?!?

WARNING…Spoilers ahead!


ULTIMATES 3 #1
Marvel
Jeph Loeb (W)/Joe Madureira (A)



BRIAN: “So the Ultimates are all hanging around watching Tony’s sex tape with the Black Widow when Venom shows up and attacks them out of the blue. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Joe Mad’s art and I’ve got to say: his Venom is pretty effing sweet. I loved all the Venom scenes in this issue.”

RICKEY:: “Did he get shot in the face and pull the arrow out with his tongue in this one scene?”

BRIAN: “Yep! But I’m a little confused about the jump between Ultimates 2 and 3. It’s a little disorienting. There’s a lot of violence and ambiguity right from the get-go as the creative team seems to go for visual cues over plot establishment, which is cool because you want to make a splash. Then Black Panther shows up, which is also cool, though is this the guy from ‘Ultimates 2’ DVD? He punches Venom in the face, then gets swatted…”

ANDY: “And you never see him again!”

BRIAN: “Then Valkyrie shows up, which looks cool as hell. In fact, I’ll call it my ‘Splash Page of the Week!’’”



BRIAN: “This scene was cool, but there’s something off about it storytelling wise.”

RICKEY: “It’s a reaction that’s five pages old. It’s hard to figure out what’s going on. Is Thor in the opening spread with the rest of the Ultimates when Venom attacks? Is Thor being thrown into the building at that point by Venom? But I’ll say this: I want to date Thor so I can get a badass sword that shoots lightning. Also, so I can be a hot 19-year-old blonde.”

BRIAN: “What is up with this vaguely incestuous relationship between Wanda and Pietro? It’s really creepy.”

RICKEY: “They’re all curled up on the couch and cuddling, holding hands like they’re 12 in the opening scene, then later on, it’s like they’re on a date in the city. What’s up with that?”

BRIAN: “Well, it won’t matter now, because Wanda’s dead—she gets a bullet in the torso in a cliffhanger splash that leaves her dead in the street.”

ANDY: “She’ll be back. They ALWAYS come back. Anytime I see anyone dead in comics these days, I figure it’s six months max before someone hits the reset button and they’re back from the grave.”

RICKEY: “But they killed off Ultimate Beast in Ultimate X-Men.”

ANDY: “He’ll be back!”

[Laughter]

RICKEY: “Speaking of that last death scene, Joe can draw the hell out of an action scene, but when it comes to the storytelling and the quiet moments, they don’t come off as dramatic or touching to me. The thing about Ultimates, it’s a widescreen, action-packed comic. But this, the biggest thing so far was a fight with Venom across the street, and that was in the beginning of the book.”

BRIAN: “I felt a little cheated by that, too. You expect a certain something out of Ultimates based on the two previous series, and I’m not sure this edition followed through on that.”

RICKEY: “I know Loeb jumped ahead a little bit, but it seemed like he’s trying to fit in that Mark Millar style, but that’s not really his voice. Loeb moving into this ‘Millarworld’ doesn’t make much sense to me.”

ANDY:: “Aside from some of the art aspects we already talked about, this book was a miss for me. I didn’t care for the inking or coloring on Joe’s art; it didn’t convey that cinematic style I expect from an Ultimate title. And a lot of storytelling points were lost on me; Loeb tried to throw you right into the action, but some more setup would have been appreciated. I get thrown into the deep end, but I can barely tread water with all the questions posed. And there’s a lot of things that are just sort of clichéd: Hawkeye’s family is dead, now he wants to die. Cap’s all ‘I don’t understand the future’ still. Tony’s drinking. Wanda and Pietro are creepy mutants. And why on Earth would Janet Van Dyne feel compelled to open up to her ex-husband Hank Pym; he sprayed her with Raid and beat her with a phone! There’s a lot going on here that didn’t connect with me.”

RICKEY: “It’s almost like Ultimate Ultimates with these edgier portrayals of all the characters, but I’m not entirely sure that Loeb’s voice works here. From this first issue, this title doesn’t feel like a 12-issue must-read event the way the previous series have.”

New Skrulls and 3-D Man on their way

You know how I said that I was going to stop purchasing the Avengers: The Initiative series? I didn't think that it was that great a read and I couldn't understand the hype.

But after reading issue #7, I sort of changed my mind a bit and then I read this article, and I think I might stay on a bit longer. Especially since it seems to lead into the next big Marvel event in 2008!


NEW SKRULLS AND 3-D MAN ON THEIR WAY
Writer Dan Slott teases big at Marvel’s third Initiative press conference
By Brian Warmoth

Posted December 5, 2007 4:15 PM

Dan Slott brought plenty of big reveals to Marvel’s Initiative press conference today, coinciding with the release of Slott and co-writer Christos Gage’s origin-stuffed Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1. The energetic writer, who said he came to the press conference with 16 hours of sleep under his belt and lots to say, didn’t disappoint, offering a look at what lies ahead as the Initiative storyline leads into Marvel’s 2008 event “Secret Invasion.”

“There aren’t teams set up in all 50 states yet,” Slott began, evaluating the state of Tony Stark’s Initiative program. “We’re coming up pretty soon on our first graduation in the book, where we’re going to see the cadets that we’ve been following for the first year finally make the grade or not.”

The writer predicted a dangerous event concluding his heroes’ period at “superhero boot camp” where not everyone will walk away intact. He specifically pointed to War Machine as a character to watch as things heat up.

“Jim Rhodes is the guy who starting with issue #7 is starting to realize maybe he doesn’t have as much control over this base as he thought he did, and that maybe he’s the odd man out in the creep triumvirate of Gyrich, Yellow Jacket and War Machine,” Slott suggested. “Eagle-eyed Initiative fans might notice we haven’t seen him out of that mask yet.”

At a time in the Marvel Universe when all characters are potential shape-shifting Skrull agents, Slott cited the armored Initiative trainer as a worthy target of suspicion. “We’ve gone seven issues, and we have not seen that faceplate lift up,” he stated.

As for warning signs from other heroes, Slott was a little more playful. ‘I think if you see a character eating a kitten, they’re probably a Skrull,” he chuckled. “I hear Skrulls find them very delicious.”

Discussing his new character Baron Von Blitzschlag, whom Slott created for Avengers: The Initiative, the press conference provided one interesting tidbit behind the series’ casting. “Originally, when I needed a character to be there to be my wacky ex-Nazi, that was originally going to be Arnim Zola,” Slott said, continuing that Ed Brubaker’s use of Zola in Captain America demanded that he select a different mad scientist.

One big reveal Slott unloaded at the press conference was the fate of Initiative recruit Triathlon. “Someone I will tell you survives ‘Killed in Action’ is Triathalon,” Slott said. “When he makes it through, he’s going to graduate, and he will be the new 3-D Man.”

“3-D Man is the Skrull hunter from the ’50s,” the writer elaborated excitedly.

Another central character to the upcoming story, according to Slott, will be Hank Pym. “In Initiative issue #8 Yellow Jacket will probably make one of the worst decisions of his entire superhero life,” the writer teased. “For Hank Pym, that is saying a lot,” he continued, referring to Pym’s history of domestic abuse and his role creating the supervillain robot Ultron.

[PREVIEW] House of M: Avengers #2

Is it time for another issue of House of M: Avengers already!? Could have sworn I bought the first issue like a week back.

Anyway, here's the preview featured on Wizard Universe:

[PREVIEW] HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #2
Luke Cage’s Avengers battle Shang-Chi’s Dragons

Posted November 30, 2007 1:15 PM

The secret history of the House of M universe continues as Luke Cage’s Avengers battle Shang-Chi’s Dragons...Officer Misty Knight infiltrates the Avengers to take them down from within...and Thunderbird’s FBI task force, the Brotherhood, recruits a new Sapien member: ex-Marine Frank Castle, aka the Punisher! And tragedy strikes as an Avenger heads toward death!

HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #2
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by MIKE PERKINS
Cover by by MIKE PERKINS
Rated T+…$2.99
On Sale—12/5/07

Earth's Mightiest Column: Nov. 14, 2007

Time for another Earth's Mightiest Column!


EARTH’S MIGHTIEST COLUMN: NOV. 14, 2007
Wizard Universe’s regular rundown of Marvel’s mightiest teams

By Matt Powell

Posted November 14, 2007 4:00 PM

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Beyond the umbrella of “The Initiative,” Earth’s mightiest heroes soldier on to unravel the shadowy threats that menace the Marvel Universe! For regular recaps of post-Initiative New Avengers, Mighty Avengers and New Avengers: The Illuminati, swing by with each new issue for insight into the costumed conspiracies and superpowered slugfests that break out every time the Avengers assemble! )

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

PREVIOUSLY IN THE ‘AVENGERS’ TITLES:

• It was a period of Civil War. Though seemingly brought together by fate out of the ashes of the disassembled Avengers team to stop a supervillain breakout at the supermaximum security prison the Raft, the group of heroes known as the New Avengers—Captain America (Steve Rogers), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Wolverine (Logan/James Howlett), Luke Cage, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), the Sentry (Robert Reynolds) and sometimes Ronin (Maya Lopez, aka Echo)—were torn between Iron Man’s drive to register all superhumans and Captain America’s determination to resist.
• When the dust settled, Captain America was dead and Iron Man triumphant, installed as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. As a result, two separate teams claim the Avengers mantle.
• Duly authorized under the Superhuman Registration Act, the Mighty Avengers consist of Iron Man, the Sentry, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), the Wasp (Janet Van Dyne), the Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), Wonder Man (Simon Reynolds) and god of war Ares.
• On the run from the government—including the Mighty Avengers—the New Avengers comprise Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme), Iron Fist (Danny Rand) and the new Ronin (Clint Barton, formerly known as Hawkeye). They’re supported by Strange’s servant Wong and Cage’s wife Jessica Jones (the one-time hero Jewel and mother of Cage’s child).
• As part of the “Initiative” event, the Mighty Avengers are embroiled in a tense struggle against a new Ultron, who seized control of Tony Stark’s biomechanically enhanced body, transforming it into a female form not unlike the Wasp’s and deploying near-unstoppable new powers against the team—most recently killing the Sentry’s wife Lindy.
• Meanwhile, the New Avengers’ battle to rescue their teammate Echo from the clutches of the powerful ninja cult called the Hand ended abruptly when Echo stabbed the Hand’s leader Elektra to death—revealing that she’s not Greco-American Elektra Natchios at all, but a Skrull impostor. The fact that a member of this shape-shifting alien race—whose long and hostile history with Earth’s heroes was recently illustrated in New Avengers: Illuminati—could assume control of the deadliest group of assassins known to man left the team wondering: Who else might be a Skrull? And who can they trust?
• Not Spider-Woman, apparently: Whether because she’s secretly a Skrull or just thinks taking Skrullektra’s body to Tony Stark for analysis is the right thing to do despite the objections of her teammates, Jessica Drew takes advantage of the crash of the New Avengers’ jet to zap Wolverine and make off with Skrullektra’s corpse.
• Tempers rise and paranoia spreads like a disease, causing the New Avengers to almost disassemble! As the team takes a much-needed break from one another, Wolverine comes face-to-gun-barrel with the criminal underground’s newest head honcho—the Hood!
• New Avengers: Illuminati has been depicting untold tales of a clandestine group of heroes known as the Illuminati: Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Professor X (Charles Xavier), Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon, king of the Inhumans) and Namor the Sub-Mariner (ruler of Atlantis). Brought together in secret by Stark in the wake of the Kree-Skrull War to quietly protect humanity from major threats, the group played a major behind-the-scenes role in the Marvel Universe before splitting up prior to the Civil War. Among other tasks, they’ve chased off a Skrull fleet, gathered the Infinity Gems, attempted to banish the Beyonder from this universe, convinced Marvel Boy to rethink his life, and exiled the Hulk from the Earth.
• Capitalizing on the disarray facing Marvel’s heroes following the Civil War and the Initiative, the new Kingpin-in-training—the Hood—gets organized and rounds up virtually every villain who broke out of the Raft back in New Avengers #1. Promising his newfound allies more money than they can imagine, the Hood pledges to hit heroes where it hurts—particularly their families—if any cape comes near his new operation. To prove his dedication to his new world order, the Hood physically and psychologically takes out Tigra and sets his sights to earn big while the heroes are occupied with a symbiote infestation.
• While the Mighty Avengers continue their metallic melee with the horde of Iron Man armors unleashed upon them by Ultron, Ares leaves the battle to travel to the S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier and reveals his plan to take down Ultron. After a brief meeting of the minds, Ares and Hank agree to implant a virus directly into Ultron’s system. However, to keep the Avengers busy, Ultron hacks into government systems, causing the launch of a nuclear missile off the Florida coast. While the Avengers halt the missile, the Starktech 940 drone secretly launches a shrunken Ares into the mouth of Ultron to implant the virus.
• Disturbed by recent events (and a body bag dropped on his doorstep), Iron Man calls an Illuminati meeting to address the corpse of Skrullektra and threat of a Skrull invasion, which is the result of their past attack. As the group tries to rationalize how to approach this threat, Black Bolt is revealed to be a Skrull spy who immediately attacks the stunned heroes. In the fight against…umm, Black Skrolt, the Illuminati seemingly kill him, only to be surprise-attacked by Skrulls mimicking the powers of Thor and Colossus. To end the battle quickly, Iron Man creates a huge explosion that appears to have destroyed the Skrull attackers. Fueled by distrust and betrayal in light of the current situation, the team disbands again, leaving Iron Man to lament the Skrull invasion.

NEW AVENGERS #36
Brian Michael Bendis (W)/Leinil Francis Yu (A)



SYNOPSIS ASSEMBLE!

• Luke Cage gives the play-by-play to his lady, Jessica Drew, on how his teammates were infected with Venom symbiotes (along with millions of others in NYC) and attacked him.
• Brutally assaulted by his infected allies, Cage awoke uninfected (thanks to his unbreakable skin) and to the face of Ms. Marvel and Wonder Man of the Mighty Avengers.
• Teaming up with the pro-registration Avengers, Cage took it to the streets to halt the threat while Iron Man sped away to find a cure for the plague.
• At the climax of the battle, Tony Stark comes through and spontaneously transforms all the affected heroes and bystanders back to human form.
• After everyone is returned to normal, both Avengers teams remain behind for damage control and to assist the disoriented citizens.
• Tensions rise as Cage continues his talk with Jessica, as they are both worried about who could be a Skrull in disguise and the secret invasion going on.
• At Avengers Tower, the Mighty Avengers team learns that Dr. Doom was behind the symbiote bomb that infected NYC, and make preparations to depart to Latveria to confront Doom.
• Meanwhile, to get some long-overdue answers, Wolverine confronts Jessica Drew as she showers to interrogate her on her actions leading up to her quitting the team.
• Following all the leads they can, Cage, his Avengers, and a host of Marvel heroes find themselves at the Hood’s doorstep ready to throw down with Hood’s new organization.

LITTLE CITY OF HORRORS



As if Skrulls weren’t enough to worry about already! The Avengers (and practically all of NYC) play host to a horde of symbiotes in full-on tongue-waving, drool-drippin’ fashion! You can save your mind power on wondering, “What if the New Avengers were taken over by symbiotes?” as Leinil Yu awesomely illustrates the plague. As amazed as we were by the sight of Venoms and Carnages everywhere, we can’t help but wonder how cool this would look in a video game. Marvel Universe: Ultimate Carnage has a nice ring to it, right Marvel (nudge nudge)? We’re just saying…

DR. D-BAG



The Fantastic Four’s professor of chaos is in full D-bag form with this move. The Doc took a backseat in Civil War, but obviously he was biding his time to capitalize in the launch of his “symbiote bomb” dropping smack-dab in the heart of NYC. However, justice is swift, as Iron Man quickly gathers all the evidence he needs to launch a full-scale assault on Latveria, Avengers-style, to introduce some gunmetal to Doom’s iron face.

SHOWERTIME INTERROGATIONS



As much as Wolverine likes to get down-and-dirty, in this issue ol’ Logan’s ready to get squeaky clean with Jessica Drew in the shower. Hold your thoughts folks, because Logan’s all business and keeps his claws out to get the truth from Jessie on what her deal is. When a scantily clad Black Widow enters the room, Wolvie does what any guy caught in a compromising position with two women would do: hastily leave the room! But when you’re about 80 stories up, jumpin’ out the window’s all ya got. “The best there is,” indeed!

REUNITED…



…and doesn’t it feel so good to not see our heroes trading punches with each other? When Luke Cage said he needed backup, we didn’t think the God of Thunder, let alone the Silver Surfer, would be on his Rolodex. But hey, you can’t blame a guy for aiming high. It’s like Malone said in “The Untouchables”: “They pull a knife, you pull a gun…” Hope you’re wearing a diaper, Hood.


Venom symbiotes infecting the superhuman population in New York City! 'Tis a dream come true for fans of Marvel Comics in the early 90s when Venom was an uber hot property.

And yet another shot of the uber sexy Spider-woman nude in the pages of New Avengers. With strategically placed "endowments" covering up her naughty bits. But hey, nudity is nudity, even covered up. Man does Bendis like those shots of Spider-woman...he keeps writing them in!

LMS: The Ultimates Vs The Avengers

Cmon...was it REALLY that hard to predict that I was going to write a LMS article featuring the Ultimates? And is it that hard to predict I'd do something to incorporate my favourite line in all comicdom somewhere into the story?

This one was written and published on 19 September 2007:


The Marvel Universe's premier two superteams battle it out! The biggest guns of the Ultimate universe take on their contemporary counterparts from the regular Marvel universe.

But which Avengers roster should be represented? I guess since the two teams are duking it out, it'd be fair to have each team be represented by their alternative world counterparts, yeah? So we can tell which Hawkeye is better, which Black Widow is deadlier, etc etc.


Tale of the Tape

Home:
The Ultimates - The Triskelion: military base with the highest tech equipment available, sponsored by military intelligence of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Avengers - The Avengers Mansion: posh, swanky, comes with own personal butler

Most powerful member:
The Ultimates - Thor: new-age freak of nature
The Avengers - The Mighty Thor: The Odinson, God of Thunder

Liable to destroy the team at any given moment:
The Ultimates - Hulk: horny and has a mad-on for using people's heads as toilets
The Avengers - Scarlet Witch: insane in the membrane with reality altering powers

Most hated scripter of their adventures:
The Ultimates - Mark Millar: He let the Wasp singlehandedly take down Hulk! The wuss!
The Avengers - Brian Michael Bendis: He killed some Avengers and disbanded the team! The swine!

Useless sidekick:
The Ultimates - Jarvis the butler
The Avengers - D-Man, smells like crap

THE PLAYERS:
When America needs to develop its own government-sponsored superhero strike force, S.H.I.E.L.D. general Nick Fury is entrusted in recruiting America's most powerful heroes to serve as members of the superpowered initiative known as The Ultimates!

Earth's mightiest heroes banded together to fight against the forces no single hero could stand up to. Whenever the world is in danger, the human race can take solace in knowing that in their darkest hour, they can heed the rally cry of "Avengers Assemble!"

THE BATTLE:
Tired of constantly being The Avengers' whipping boy, a mischievious Loki amuses himself watching an alternate world version of The Avengers easily defeating the alien Chitauri race...and then turning on each other with maximum catastrophic results! Noting this unfamiliar team's penchant for brutality, Loki casts a spell that teleports his sworn enemies, The Avengers, into the heart of the Triskelion, causing a few thousand S.H.I.E.L.D soldiers to simultaneously implode from the vacuum created by the wormhole portal!

Startled at the invaders, the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D forces all start pointing their hi-tech rifles at the Avengers, who are still seated at their polished pine table, trying to finish their afternoon tea!

"What treachery be this?" yells an enraged Thor as he warily eyes several S.H.I.E.L.D agents starting to assemble some sort of projectile launcher. "Attac....!" a S.H.I.E.L.D commander starts to yell out, but before he can finish his sentence, the entire battalion is down on the ground unconscious with their weapons disassembled, courtesy of the fleetfooted Quicksilver! "A piece of cake..." the arrogant Pietro starts to remark, when he gets floored by a repulsor blast from the sky.

"Take them down hard and fast!" growls Ultimate Captain America, as he releases himself from Giant Man's grip and executes a perfect rolling somersault, landing face-to-face with his Marvel universe counterpart. Both combatants eye each other warily as they start testing each other...a strike, a parry, a thrust, a dodge. The rest of the teams start pairing up against each other. Ultimate Quicksilver easily dispatches his counterpart who's still dazed from Ultimate Iron Man's repulsor blast. Natasha Romanoff easily dodges the bullets from her Ultimate counterpart's assault rifle and knocks her out cold with a couple of well placed widow's bite blasts. Clint Barton takes out Ultimate Hawkeye with a strategically well-placed boxing glove.

Ultimate Iron Man realises first hand how inadequate his armour is when compared to Tony Stark's, when Stark's own armour easily out maneuovres it in mid-air...Ultimate Iron Man's armour moves like a rock in the sky and Tony easily accounts for his counterpart. The Odinson gets his ass handed to him by Ultimate Thor, who's willing to cut loose with everything he has. Janet Pym has too much fighting prowess for Ultimate Wasp and Ultimate Giant Man is much too big and strong for Hank Pym.

Meanwhile, Steve Rogers and Ultimate Cap have reached a stalemate, neither one giving an inch or backing down to the other. Suddenly Rogers tucks his shield to his side and stretches out an open right palm towards Ultimate Cap. "This is pointless. I don't know why we're being attacked for no reason. We're too evenly matched. Both of us are soldiers, you and I. Call off your troops and I'll call off mine...surely the two of us can reach a diplomatic solution?" says Rogers with a smile on his face.

Ultimate Cap looks at Rogers' outstretched hand, grins, then reaches out and shakes it...and without warning, he kicks Rogers' hard in the gonads! Rogers drops to his knees, using his free left hand to grab his crotch in pain. Without letting go of Rogers' right hand, Ultimate Cap uses his shield and smashes Rogers in the face, knocking him out cold.

"Diplomatic solution? In my language, that means surrender," smirks Ultimate Cap. Ultimate Cap then points to the "A" on his head and yells: "And surrender? SURRENDER?! YOU THINK THIS LETTER ON MY HEAD STANDS FOR FRANCE??!!" Ultimate Cap starts to walk away, then turns back and says to a prone Rogers: "The letter on this head stands for 'Asshole'. As in, I'm willing to fight dirty to get the win, scumbag."

Suddenly, Wanda Maximoff starts to lose a grip on reality after being subject to one of Ultimate Scarlet Witch's hex spells. "ARRRRGHH!!!" Wanda yells, as reality starts to fracture around her. Ultimate Scarlet Witch gets caught up in the vortex and is blinked out of existence in less than a nanosecond! More and more heroes start getting hurled into the vortex...and into oblivion. Tony Stark, Ultimate Giant Man, Quicksilver... "Pietro!" Wanda screams, but it is too late to save her brother. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a lumbering beast drops out of the sky and lands next to Wanda, obliterating the ground beneath him. The beast aims a backhand at Wanda's head, knocking it clean off and dispersing the reality-ending vortex.

"Mission accomplished, Banner," a loudspeaker cries out from the helicopter above, with Nick Fury signalling for Hulk to finish off the other Marvel Universe opponents. Hulk does exactly that, easily accounting for and dispatching the rest of The Avengers with brutal efficiency. But after the last Avenger has fallen, Hulk, in a mindless bloodrage, turns on his Ultimate teammates! "HULK SMASH!" yells the behemoth, as Ultimate Cap and Thor throw themselves headfirst into battle with one of their own.

Winners: The Ultimates...that is, if they don't kill themselves after beating The Avengers!


That took me a while to write! Phew! Maybe I should do away with team battles...it's much easier just going with single characters!

I was originally going for an angle where Scarlet Witch notices Ultimate Quicksilver and drops the devillish remark of: "He may look just like my brother, but what a hunk!" then decides that it's not incest if you're...erm...committing adultery with your alternate world brother, and the two of them walk off hand in hand...or speed off to some seedy motel somewhere. :p

Marvel Mondays: "House of M: Avengers" #1

When I saw this week's shipment list, I went, "What?! House of M again? Are they reprinting something or are they bringing back a mini-series event that happened last year just to milk it as much as they can?"

Seems like I'm right. But that's not going to stop me from purchasing this series, of course. I wonder whether I should just wait for the TPB to come out instead of purchasing single issues?


MARVEL MONDAYS: ‘HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS’ #1
Know your history as Christos Gage and Mike Perkins bring it to the House of M this week and uncover a new cranny of the alternate reality
By Brian Warmoth

Posted November 12, 2007 2:00 PM

When the Scarlet Witch temporarily altered reality to create a world where Magneto ruled the planet, everyone’s lives in the Marvel Universe were completely changed. This week, Christos Gage crosses back into the skewed universe of The House of M, where Luke Cage became a crime boss and humans and mutants clashed in an all-out war, in House of M: Avengers #1. In case you need a refresher course, here are the big differences between the big players in the House of M Avengers circle and their Marvel 616 counterparts.

LUKE CAGE
Originally: went to prison when his ex-friend Willis Stryker planted heroin in his apartment.
In House of M Universe: went to prison after being convicted for a murder he didn’t commit.

Originally: got out of prison and became a Hero for Hire.
In House of M Universe: got out of prison and became a crime lord.

Originally: hunted down any criminal he could make money hunting down.
In House of M Universe: joined with other superhumans to keep mutants off of his turf.

HAWKEYE
Originally: left the circus he worked at with his brother after a falling-out with his mentor Trickshot.
In House of M Universe: left the circus when the Mutant-Human Wars forced it to close.

Originally: almost killed his brother Bernard, who was working as a bodyguard for a notorious crime lord.
In House of M Universe: hates mutants for killing his brother Bernard.

Originally: admired Iron Man and joined the Avengers.
In House of M Universe: joined Luke Cage in order to get revenge against mutants.

MOON KNIGHT
Originally: Bushman left Marc Spector to die in the desert, and Spector crawled to an ancient Egyptian temple.
In House of M Universe: Spector wound up in an ancient Egyptian temple while on a special-ops mission hunting down Apocalypse’s forces.

Originally: Spector turned immediately to crimefighting after gaining his powers from Khonshu.
In House of M Universe: Spector tried to become a boxer again in Hell’s Kitchen after returning home from Africa.

Originally: joined the Avengers after saving them from Dominus.
In House of M Universe: Luke Cage invited Spector to join his anti-mutant team after watching him fight.