Posts Tagged ‘Monthly’

« Older Entries

Young X-Men

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Cover of Young X-Men #5 (Oct, 2008). Art by Terry Dodson.

Young X-Men is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series, which began in April 2008, is written by Marc Guggenheim and penciled by artist Rafa Sandovol. It was confirmed in Marvel Previews #65 that issue #12 will be the final issue.

Plot summary

Final Genesis (Issues 1–5)

Blindfold has a vision of a team of X-Men facing off against a deadly old foe of the X-Men, Donald Pierce, former member of the Hellfire Club. After one of the members is murdered in the ensuing battle, she wakes up violently from the nightmarish dream. Elsewhere, Cyclops is seen across the world, recruiting, several teenaged mutants such as Eric Gitter, and former students like Sooraya Qadir (Dust), Nicholas Gleason (Wolf Cub); and Santo Vaccarro (Rockslide). Santo, however, refuses to join unless Scott accepts Ruth Aldine (Blindfold) who Scott had originally planned not to recruit, to be on the team as well.

After assembling the Young X-Men in the Danger Cave, he gives them their costumes, which have the appearance of the standard yellow and black training uniforms. He lectures them that he is reforming the X-Men, beginning with perhaps the last generation of mutants. Their first mission is to take down what he claims is the new incarnation of the Brotherhood of Mutants, under the control of Sunspot (who is now Lord Imperial of the Hellfire Club) and is accompanied by his friends and former teammates, Cannonball, Magma, and Danielle Moonstar.

After they fail in training sessions against Brotherhood simulacra, Cyclops decides to send them after Moonstar and Magma in small teams, each with a specific target. When surprise-attacked by Dust, Rockslide and Wolf Cub in Los Angeles, Magma responds violently by destroying their Blackbird. In the Colorado Rockies, Moonstar proves herself superior to the young mutants Blindfold and Ink despite her lack of powers. However, she is taken down by an unseen force that Blindfold seems to know. Carrying the unconscious Moonstar back to their Blackbird, Ink asks Blindfold how her powers work. After she is done explaining, Ink immediately knocks her unconscious. Ink then delivers the unconscious Blindfold to a mysterious man in the shadows who happens to be Donald Pierce. When questioned about why they aren’t dead, Ink explains that he is a mercenary not a killer.

Rockslide, Wolf Cub, and Dust recover from their crash and attack Magma. Magma, though unprepared, is much more experienced. She turns Dust into glass, sends Wolf Cub packing, and turns Rockslide into a pile of rocks. Distracted by Rockslide, who reforms, she is eviscerated by Wolf Cub, knocking her out but leaving Wolf Cub with a nasty burn.

Sooraya’s sickness.

Cannonball and Sunspot are watching the battle in LA. After hearing nothing from Danielle, they are convinced that the Young X-Men are coming after them. Graymalkin watches Ink talk to Cyclops in the shadows, Ink having lied about what happened to Blindfold and Moonstar. Graymalkin appears to be talking to himself, knowing something nobody knows. He says “Very well. I’ll kill the Cyclops.” Danielle Moonstar confronts an awakening Blindfold and is very confused. Blindfold apologizes and points out that Donald Pierce is behind her. The other Young X-Men discuss Blindfold’s vision and Dust’s critical condition. Ink is surprised he is included in it as part of the team. Elsewhere, Donald Pierce ambushes Moonstar and Blindfold, and disappears.

Ink shaves his head and has a lightning bolt tattoo on it, assuming he will gain telepathy. Ink, Rockslide, and Wolf Cub lead an attack on the Hellfire Club to fight Cannonball and Sunspot. Graymalkin attacks Cyclops back at the Danger Cave, leaving the Young X-Men on their own. Wolf Cub wounds Sunspot, angering Cannonball. Graymalkin takes out the lights to the Danger Cave, saying it gives him more power. He then exposes Cyclops for who he really has been this whole time, Donald Pierce. Once both teams learn the truth, they go after Pierce, but arrive too late to save Wolf Cub, who was the then-unknown teammate that was killed in Blindfold’s vision.

It is notable that the first story arc of Young X-Men echoes a narrative pattern first established with the inception of the New Mutants in their eponymous graphic novel, which was also echoed in the first story arc of New Mutants volume 2, which gave rise to the New X-Men series that is the immediate antecedent for Young X-Men. All three of these storylines deal with the assembly of a new team of mutants, feature the cyborg Donald Pierce as the villain, and have one member of the team (Cannonball, Elixir, and Ink, in the respective stories) that initially works for Pierce before switching sides and joining the new team. This story pattern was also followed, to some extent, in the New X-Men arc that appeared within the House of M timeline. Further underscoring this continuity is the appearance of many of the original New Mutants in all three stories: as the protagonists in the New Mutants graphic novel, as teachers and mentors to the “new” New Mutants volume 2, and as the antagonists, the ersatz Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, in the arc in Young X-Men.

Graymalkin mentions a “Cypher” twice. The first is when he is alone the air ducts inside of the Danger Cave. He mentions that he is “not the only one that can help them. There is Cypher.” The second time is when he tells Donald Pierce (who was disguised as Cyclops) that “Cypher told [him] everything.

Membership changes

After the adventure where Wolf Cub died, Cyclops asked Sunspot and Moonstar to teach the Young X-Men, they both accepted. Blindfold decided to leave the team, since she is no great contribution on the field of battle. Meanwhile Moonstar asked Anole, also a former member of New X-Men, to join the new team.

Ink finds out he is not a mutant at all. The artist who made his tattoos is in fact the one who gave Ink his powers, this tattoo artist is a mutant. Ink decides, since he is not a mutant, there is no place for him with the Young X-Men and leaves.

The new Cypher, an African-American girl, reveals herself at the end of Young X-Men #8, however her codename is spelled “Cipher,” rather than “Cypher” (as it is spelled in earlier mentions). She had come to warn Ink that his teammates were in trouble and he is needed to come with her to save them. Although Ink is very skeptical about this young girl’s motivations or intentions, she is shown wearing the standard uniform of the Young X-Men, and has a jet from the X-Men’s headquarters to transport him to his team as well, to show that her information is legitimate, even though she refuses to give any more information, about herself or the team, other than that. However, she also gives into his demand to take him to his tattooist to give him some new abilities, even though she voices that she feels he is wasting his time while his friends are “dead or dying.” She is still able to get him to the battle with the Y-Men in time, though, where Ink is able to turn the tide and save his teammates. Later that evening, Ink begins to ask Graymalkin about his connection to Cipher and just who she is, while Cipher, in a transparent form, spies on the two from the ceiling above.

Cancellation

In the March 2009 solicitations of Marvel.com, it was revealed Young X-Men #12, which will be released in March 2009, will be the final issue of the series. It will be replaced by a new New Mutants series.

Cast

Issues Characters
#1–4 Blindfold, Dust, Ink, Rockslide, Wolf Cub
#5 Blindfold1, Dust, Graymalkin, Ink, Rockslide, Wolf Cub2
#6–8 Anole, Mirage3, Dust, Graymalkin, Ink, Rockslide, Sunspot3
#9–12 Anole, Cipher, Moonstar, Dust, Graymalkin, Ink, Rockslide, Sunspot
  • 1. Left the team in the next issue; not in the line-up for those issues
  • 2. Died; therefore no longer a member
  • 3. Chosen as the “coaches” of the Young X-Men and are also members of the team

Creators

Writers

  • Marc Guggenheim – Young X-Men #1–12

Art

  • Yanick Paquette – Young X-Men #1–5
  • Ben Oliver – Young X-Men #6–7, #10
  • Rafa Sandoval – Young X-Men #8–9, #11–12

Cover art

  • Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson – Young X-Men #1–7
  • Michael Ryan – Young X-Men #8
  • Chris Bachalo – Young X-Men #9
  • Billy Tan – Young X-Men #10
  • Pasqual Ferry – Young X-Men #11–12

Collections

Title Material collected Date Released ISBN
Volume 1: Final Genesis Young X-Men #1–5 December 2008 ISBN 0-7851-3154-X
Volume 2: Book Of Revelations Young X-Men #6–12, X-Men: Manifest Destiny #3 June 2009 ISBN 0-7851-3165-5

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Young Liars (comics)

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Cover of Young Liars #1 (May, 2008). Art by David Lapham.

Young Liars is a comic book series created by David Lapham. It is published by DC Comics as a part of that company’s Vertigo imprint. The first issue was released in March 2008.

The book centers around a group of 20-somethings in modern day New York City, though the story quickly expands to other parts of America and the world. All of them have disturbing secrets about themselves that they keep from the others, and even the readers are left to decide what is true and what are lies.

Publication history

In April 2009, Lapham announced that the title had been cancelled, with the last issue being #18.

Characters

  • Danny: The protagonist of the book. He is an aspiring musician who moved to New York along with Sadie. He is obsessively in love with Sadie, and often falls into extremely self-destructive behaviour. He has tried to kill himself multiple times in the series, including trying to set himself on fire, leaving horrific burns on his torso (Though he claims to the others that he got them elsewhere).
  • Sadie: The other central character in the story. Sadie is the daughter of the owner of the Brown Bag Superstore (A Wal-Mart style store), and has run away from her family. As a result, her family have sent the Pinkertons out to find her. She has a bullet lodged in her brain, which causes her to act erratically. Namely, she only wants to dance, fight, and sleep with Danny. She repeatedly brings up warnings about “The Spiders from Mars” and their plans to enslave Humanity, though at this point it is not certain if this is a result of her injury, if she’s lying, or if what she says is in fact true. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that Danny has a manipulative hold on her.
  • Big C: CeeCee is a Groupie for rock bands. Danny hates her and insultingly calls her Big C. She was in college at one point, but dropped out to “have a rock star’s babies” instead. Instead, she got Syphilis and is now unable to have children, though it does not stop her from sleeping with Musicians. While she and Danny dislike each other, they have bonded in later issues.
  • Donnie: Donnie is a male cross-dresser. All the other characters seem to like him, despite their own conflicts amongst themselves. He is also a Heroin addict, and has overdosed at least once.
  • Annie X: A former fashion model, Annie begins in the story by bussing tables at a club. Ironically, despite the nickname, she is not anorexic but actually bulemic. She generally dislikes both Sadie and Danny, particularly for the troubles with the Pinkertons that they brought upon the group.
  • Runco: Although rich, Runco is obsessed with Get-Rich-Quick schemes. He is the one who suggests that the group to go to Spain in order to “recover” a painting. He has repeatedly informed the Pinkertons of Sadie’s whereabouts in hopes of profit, though this has backfired on him.
  • Puss Bag: An English Punk Rock fan that the group meets in Spain. It’s unclear at this point if Puss Bag is actually his name or not. According to him, his mother was kicked in the stomach by Johhny Rotten of the Sex Pistols while he was still in the womb. Though he’s friendly to all of the characters and even saves them on a couple occasions, Danny takes an immediate disliking to him, largely because he thinks Puss Bag slept with Sadie.
  • The Pinkertons: A group of elite killers who are in pursuit of the Young Liars. Sadie describes them as “Nazis injected with special powers by the Spiders from Mars”. They tend to be somewhat questionable masters of disguise, but make up for this with their Sadism, including castrations and beheadings. It is not likely that they have any connection with the real life Pinkerton Agency.

Plot

The story opens up outside of a nightclub, where Sadie beats up a Bouncer and later a Gang member. The main characters are all introduced inside, where Runco tries to convince them to go to Spain. When they refuse, he calls the Pinkertons, who quickly advance on the nightclub. Meanwhile, Donnie shoots Heroin in the bathroom, and Danny tries to tell Sadie he loves her, with no success.

Issue 2 sheds some light on Danny’s background and how he met Sadie. He worked in a Brown Bag Superstore (In the firearms department), and was trying to put a band together with some friends. Even at this point, he was obsessed with Sadie, and was upset when his best friend ditched him to go to a concert with her.

In a near suicidal state, Danny crashes the concert, and with gun in hand, takes a drugged Sadie away just before a group of Pinkertons looking for her advance on his friend. After he escorts her home, Danny returns to his own home only to find his friend’s severed head in the fridge, and his mom and brother dead. (As with many aspects of the story, whether this is actually what happened is up to debate).

Back to the Nightclub, the Young Liars flee just as the Police raid the building, while Donnie is having an Overdose. Outside, they encounter the gang member from before, as well as some of his friends. The Pinkertons arrive and kill the gang members, but Sadie steals a Garbage Truck and they make their escape. They take Donnie to a hospital, where yet another Pinkerton (disguised as a doctor) takes Sadie at gunpoint. Sadie and Danny kill him, which freaks out the others. They all eventually decide to flee the country, and go to Spain on Runco’s get-rich-quick scheme.

On the cruise to Spain, Danny and Sadie have sex. They eventually have to hijack the ship and go the rest of the way by Lifeboat, as Runco lied to the others about paying for the tickets. Once they get there, Sadie goes missing. This causes extreme anguish for Danny, as he thinks that she will now start having sex with other people. She is in actuality at a Bar fighting Puss Bag and keeping score.

Danny drinks with and confides in Big C, and reveals that it was actually him who shot Sadie in the head. The two drunkenly have sex, but are interrupted by Maxim, the midget head of the Pinkertons. He proceeds to castrate Danny and rape Big C, but then is attacked by Donnie and Puss Bag, stabbed in the eye, and jumps out a window.

Danny leaves the hospital shortly after, determined to save Sadie. Puss Bag tells him that she went with Runco and Annie X to steal the painting. In flashbacks, we see what led up to Sadie getting shot in the head. Where she killed a man (though she claimed he was one of the Spiders from Mars) and Danny helped her cover it up. Sadie constantly belittled Danny and seems to have different memories of meeting him than what was in issue #2. In a rage, he chases her down and shoots her.

Meanwhile, both Runco and Annie contact the Pinkertons in hopes that they will be rewarded, but instead get captured. When the others arrive, Runco gets decapitated, and the Pinkertons demand to know where Sadie is. Sadie drives through the window on a motorcycle and kills all the Pinkertons. Immediately after, she has a stroke resulting from the bullet in her brain and collapses. Danny attempts to kill himself, but Puss Bag knocks him out.

In an odd flashback, Sadie is on Mars, where the Spider race is planning to use her to lay thousands of eggs and amass an army to conquer the earth. She listens to the Earth DJ Danny Duoshade, and wins a contest to go to a concert. She stows away on a flying saucer heading to Earth, and causes it to crash land. She takes Spider form and possesses a young girl.

She goes back to the child’s dysfunctional home (the mother and father being Danny and Big C). However, other Spiders have also survived, including Sadie’s father, who impregnates her with eggs. The DJ Danny Duoshade (Who also looks like Danny) arrives, and Sadie is able to acquire a gun from him. She kills all but five of the Hatchlings, and vows to get the others. Back in “the real world”, Danny reveals (to the reader) that he created the Duoshade identity to try to manipulate Sadie. Danny, Puss Bag, and Sadie visit her mother, as Sadie wants to destroy all of the space spiders. Her brother comes in, and Sadie shoots him, killing him as the mother’s lover comes in with a militant group. The group manage to get away, and in the process, Sadie’s mother is killed along with the entire group, but not before two flashbacks reveal that Cee was once pregnant and miscarried. Finding solace with Danny, he had sex with her when Sadie is away. When C miscarries again, she saves the fetus and puts it in a box. Danny finds out, and throws it in a garbage disposal. In the other, Danny had set himself on fire to cover up something important.

Returning to the present, Sadie and her friends stage a showdown against the Pinkertons at her father’s home. In the midst of the ensuing carnage, Danny commands the Pinkertons to release Sadie, shedding his shirt to show his burn scars and a spider tatoo underneath it, declaring himself the King of all Spiders.

Collected editions

The series is being collected into trade paperbacks:

# Title Release date Collected material Pages ISBN
1 Daydream Believer December, 2008 Issues #1-6 144 ISBN 1-40121-978-0
2 Maestro June 10, 2009 Issues #7-12 144 ISBN 1-40122-272-2

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Welcome To Hoxford

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Welcome to Hoxford is a four-issue comic book mini-series created, written, and drawn by Eisner Award nominee and Spike Scream Award-winner Ben Templesmith and published by IDW Publishing.

The series focuses on a group of prisoners battling against Werewolves in a privately run prison.

Publication history

The first issue was released on August 27th of 2008 by IDW Publishing.

Plot

Ray Delgado, a delusional murderer, and a handful of other dangerous death row prisoners are transferred from the state run prison system to the Hoxford, a privatized correctional institution owned by the Russian based Usmanov Corporation. Dr. Jessica Ainley arrives at the prison to try and follow up on some of her old patients but her attempts are blocked by the Hoxford staff and her concerns for the prisoner’s wellbeing are ignored. As the new prisoners settle in, conflict arises and after a bloody incident in the showers the inmates are put under lock down. Dr. Ainley keeps trying to gain access to her old patients, and after a shocking encounter with Ray she is locked in the Warden’s office with a strange old man who sheds some light on the Usmanov Corporation, until night fall when he and the entire prison staff transform into Werewolves and begin hunting the prisoners. Ray, believing that as Cronos Lord of the Titans he must battle the monsters, leads the escaped prisoners to the prison armory where they stock up on weapons and then begin to fight back against the wolves.

Characters

Humans

Human characters include:

  • Ray Delgado: Murderer, Delusional inmate with numerous Mental Health issues.
  • Morton: Pedophile and Murderer.
  • Burly Bill: Rapist and Murderer.
  • Skunty: Necrophiliac and Murderer.
  • Gravy: Cannibal and Murderer.
  • Jones: Cop Killer and Torturer.
  • Doctor Jessica Ainley: Psychiatrist.

Werewolves

The werewolves originate from Russia and live among humans. They operate under the guise of a Russian Corporation, which has allowed them to move out of Russia.

  • Warden Baker: Hoxford Institution Warden and Russian Werewolf leader.
  • Hartnell: Prison Guard
  • Oldman (name not yet given): Original leader of the wolves, usurped by Baker, the other wolves are unaware of the change.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

War Heroes (comics)

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Cover of War Heroes #1. July 2008. Art by Tony Harris and J. D. Mettler.

War Heroes is a six-issue limited series from Image Comics, written by Mark Millar, with art by Tony Harris.

Millar has said “War Heroes is everything I’ve been leading up to with Civil War, Ultimates, The Authority, Kick-Ass and Wanted” and “This is what my Ultimates 3 would have been if Bryan and I had stuck around.”

Publication history

The limited series started August 2008.

Plot

Set in an alternate timeline during the coalition wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the detonation of a nuclear bomb in Washington D.C. prompts the United States administration to expand the coalition War on Terror to include Iran, as well as institute martial law in the United States. As American casualties increase, morale and public support declines with the economy, reducing America’s standing in the world. Lacking the necessary recruits, the US Military boosts enlistment by distributing pills to its soldiers which confer upon them various superpowers, tipping the scale in the war. The story is based upon the heroic feats of Gunner Q (who received an honorable discharge from the United States Army on May 21, 2007).

Reception

David Wallace reviewed the first issue for Comics Bulletin and concluded that “this is a solid debut that sets up the book’s premise quickly and efficiently, and shows a lot of potential for the future.” Richard Renteria at Newsarama agrees saying “Millar deftly sets into motion a series of events that are perfectly captured by Harris’ detailed and eye-catching art.”

The first issue had sales estimates of 30,637 putting it at 77th in the sales charts.

Film

In September 2008 it was announced that War Heroes had been optioned by Sony, with Michael DeLuca as producer and Millar taking an executive producer role.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Ultimatum (Ultimate Marvel)

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Cover of Ultimatum #1 (Nov, 2008). Art by David Finch.

Ultimatum is a five-issue comic book story arc from Marvel Comics, which began publication in November 2008. It falls under Marvel’s Ultimate Marvel imprint & is written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by David Finch.

Production

During Ultimatum, Ultimate Marvel titles Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four will contain side stories about various characters and events that occur throughout Ultimatum. Rogue has already been confirmed to appear in a run of Ultimate X-Men during the Ultimatum event and The Thing (Ben Grimm) has been confirmed to appear in the story which runs in Ultimate Fantastic Four for this period. Elements of Ultimatum’s story were established in the Ultimates 3, Ultimate Power, and Ultimate Origins miniseries.

Loeb commented in an interview with Comic Book Resources.com that the series “will hopscotch back and forth between the two books [Ultimatum and Ultimates 3] and conclude what I would like to say is the first chapter of the Ultimate Universe. What that means and how that’s explored is the basis of our story and we’re not letting any cats out of the bag.”

In a recent interview on YouTube, artist David Finch confirmed that Loeb would be bringing much to all of the Ultimate Universe to a close. At the 2009 New York Comic Con it was then announced that the Ultimatum would in fact end the entire Ultimate Marvel Comic line. Which would then be relaunched as Ultimate Comics. With it comes many new titles that are meant to help bring in new readers.

During the Marvel Ultimate Universe panel, at the 2008 Comic-Con International in San Diego, Jeph Loeb said that Aron Coleite’s run on Ultimate X-Men would tie-in to Ultimatum, but did not indicate that this Ultimate Marvel series would end. It has since been revealed that both Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four will be canceled following the events of Ultimatum.

Loeb also commented that Ultimates will continue as New Ultimates coming out after Ultimatum and that he and Frank Cho will be working on that series. It has also been revealed that Mark Millar, writer of The Ultimates, The Ultimates 2, and founding writer of Ultimate X-Men, will be launching an Ultimate Comics Avengers title with a rotating team of artists to include Leinel Francis Yu and Carlos Pacheco. Ultimate Spider-Man will also be relaunched after the end of the Ultimatum as Ultimate Comics Spider-Man with Brian Michael Bendis writing and art being done by David Lafuente.

A teaser promo shows a tombstone marked with 2000-2008 only with the 2008 piece broken from its place.

Plot

Premise

The first shot of the events of Ultimatum seems to have been fired in the first issue of Ultimates 3 #1, when – as is revealed in #5 – a lovesick Ultron shoots and kills the Scarlet Witch, with whom he believes he is in love, but whom he can never possess. Ultron’s rebellion and Wanda’s death lead to a series of events which end with the death of Wanda’s brother, Quicksilver – killed unintentionally by Hawkeye, who had targeted Magneto instead. Magneto, sick with grief, vows ultimate revenge on the Ultimates (”For what they have done, they must pay the ultimate price.“). Before escaping the Ultimates, Magneto is able to steal Thor’s hammer. A further twist is revealed when the destroyed remnants of Ultron are pondered over by Doctor Doom, who states it was he who arranged for all this to happen.

Ultimatum

Ultimatum begins with scenes depicting the characters of the Ultimate Universe in routine circumstances. Reed Richards is proposing to Sue Storm, Ben exercises, and Franklin Storm encourages Johnny to be mature, like his sister. Giant Man has now adopted the Yellowjacket uniform (though Hawkeye wasn’t impressed by it). Captain America convinces Tony Stark to stop drinking and be ready for what disaster awaits them. Thor is doing his usual training with Valkyrie, Peter Parker and his friends (including a resurrected Gwen Stacy) are planning what to do with their day, and Dazzler, Angel, Nightcrawler and Beast are talking about a play. Everything seems well until a series of disasters befalls a few major cities: a lightning storm suddenly appears in New York City and a tidal wave hits Manhattan. Reed Richards and Sue Storm attempt to make it back into the Baxter Building while the Thing attempts to hold off a blue whale that crashes into the building. Giant Man breaks out of Tony Stark’s mansion looking for Jan. In the flooded streets in New York City, Bruce Banner appears to have drowned only to turn into his Hulk persona. He then notices that a Watcher is in the middle of New York. Kitty Pryde helps Peter get on his Spider-Man costume and encourages him to save as many as he can. Angel rescues an unconscious Dazzler whom he believes is dead. Iron Man proceeds to rescue Captain America, stating that many people have died and that he doesn’t know where the rest of the Ultimates are. With New York City underwater and time running out, Sue Storm manages to push all the water back out of the city with a colossal force field which knocks her unconscious and leaves her on the brink of death. Reed later assumes that Namor was the one who caused the tidal wave. Namor aggressively denies any part in the destruction of New York City, his reasoning being that he would never knowingly put Sue in danger. After knocking him out, Reed wonders who it truly was. In Latveria, Doctor Doom leaves his castle to notice that everyone and everything is frozen. Professor X states that millions have died and telepathically tells Captain America, Reed Richards, Iron Man, the Thing, and Spider-Man that Magneto has arranged for all of this to happen. Magneto is then revealed to be in his floating citadel with Thor’s hammer Mjolnir.

At the time when the Ultimatum Wave slammed into New York, Aunt May was being questioned about Peter Parker’s connection with Spider-Man. Kitty Pryde is shown attempting to rescue people on the L train while Spider-Woman swings down to save Aunt May, who in turn is trying to save Detective Mary Lambow.

William Stryker’s wife and son are killed by the Ultimatum Wave. At Xavier’s school, Jean Grey tells the team that Dazzler and Nightcrawler are dead. She refuses to allow Rogue to become involved following her recent use of Banshee. Upon Toad stating that the X-Men don’t trust her, Rogue leaves the mansion. A group of survivors, incensed at Magneto’s actions, find William Stryker in Central Park and offer him the opportunity to lead an anti-mutant militia using armor plating scavenged from the remains of destroyed Sentinels. Rogue flies to Canada to find Alpha Flight member Vindicator, revealing that she knows he is actually former Weapon X watchdog John Wraith. He tells Rogue that he will help find former Weapon X agents who are working for Magneto. They find Sabretooth and Juggernaut in a pub and incapacitate them. William Stryker and his armored death squad begin hunting mutants in upstate New York; their first act of violence is against Syndicate.

Following the Ultimatum Wave attack, Franklin Storm is found dead, Sue is in a coma, and Johnny is missing. The Thing is alone at the Baxter Building while Mister Fantastic searches for him. Thing travels to Pinehead Buttes, Montana in search of Dr. Arthur Molekevic. Josie and her team lead Thing down into the caverns where Dr. Molekevic is discovered, imprisoned by the Lava Men. Thing manages to rescue him and return to the surface. Upon reaching New York, Molekevic agrees to help Susan in any way he can; after examining her, they conclude that they will have to travel into her body. Dr. Molekevic asks Thing if he has access to Pym Particles.

Hulk assists Spider-Man in freeing a New Yorker trapped beneath a car. At the Triskelion, Iron Man arrives with Captain America’s lifeless body, and convinces Carol Danvers to put Cap on life support. Hawkeye volunteers to help Hank Pym search for Jan, stating that nobody deserves to suffer the loss of a loved one. Back at the Baxter Building, Ben Grimm watches over Sue Storm, who remains comatose after saving the city. Her powers remain active but uncontrolled, and Grimm nearly falls victim to her unrestrained telekinesis. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom and Zarda confront Reed Richards, for help in stopping Magneto, which necessitates retrieving Nick Fury from the parallel universe which is home to the Squadron Supreme. Thor seeks the land of the dead to save Valkyrie and is confronted by Hela, who forces Thor to battle Hela’s army of fallen warriors to reach Valkyrie. Captain America appears, implying that he died in the Triskelion. Hawkeye and Hank Pym notices something on a flooded New York street: Blob eating the remains of the Wasp. Meanwhile at Xavier’s Institute for Gifted Children, Magneto confronts Professor X. Magneto tells him that the deaths of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch “merely opened [his] eyes”, stating that man has been in the constant decline spreading disease, war, ecological ruin, and famine. Magneto alludes to the biblical flood, but Xavier says that Magneto is not God, and that upon captured or death he will be recalled as a monster. Enraged, Magneto snaps Xavier’s neck.

The Daily Bugle staff relocates to New Jersey where J. Jonah Jameson starts writing articles to support Spider-Man after witnessing his daring acts of heroism when the Ultimatum Wave hits. As Spider-Woman rescues Aunt May, Spider-Man persuades the Hulk to help save people from the Ultimatum Wave. After Hulk uses his power claps to douse some building fires, he and Spider-Man find the body of Daredevil. When Hulk regresses to Bruce Banner, he blames himself for the carnage that has happened. Spider-Man tells him that it wasn’t him who caused the damage which Bruce was witness to, but Banner is inconsolable. He asks Spider-Man to kill him, as he transforms back into the Hulk, who attacks Spider-Man. While Spider-Man swings over to Greenwich Village to escape, he sees that the Sanctum Sanctorum had been hit by the Ultimatum Wave; dozens of demons emerge when the Sanctum Sanctorum’s roof collapses.

General Thunderbolt Ross shows up to oversee the Thing and Dr. Molekevic’s mission. They prepare a vehicle that they will use to travel into Susan’s body. When the Awesome II vehicle is complete, Dr. Molekevic and Thing head into her body and go through various parts to get to her brain stem. When they get to the brain, Molekevic uses his laser to stimulate the appropriate section. They fight off the remaining nano-bug on their way out (at rapid speeds since the bug damaged their size-holding processor). As Susan Storm wakes up, Ben is offered a job as a test pilot for the Army. Sue discovers that the nano-bugs were created by Reed for some unknown reason. She uses this discovery to postulate that they can find Johnny if he has the same bugs in his system since they give off a microscopic signal.

William Stryker’s Sentinel units invade the X-Mansion and managed to deliver the final blow on Syndicate. At Department H, Rogue convinces Sabretooth to help out while John Wraith does the same for Juggernaut. Rogue receives contact from Psylocke that William Stryker’s goons have invaded the X-Mansion. When William Stryker’s group surround the school, Liz Allan (who had just joined the X-Men as Firestar) starts throwing fireballs at them. One of Stryker’s men fires at Liz, but Toad blocks the attack and is nearly killed. Rogue and the others arrive. One of them fires a poison dart into Juggernaut’s eye where he apparently dies in Rogue’s arms. Rogue gets angered by this and attacks William Stryker.

Mystique taunts Magneto about destroying the world for his “little girl,” and some of the mutants begin turning on Magneto for killing other mutants – seen as “turning on his own people.” Hank Pym, furious at the death of Janet, bites Blob’s head off before carrying her body back to the Triskelion. The X-Men are also mourning their dead, and Angel swears he’s going to kill Magneto for what he’s done, and when Jean tries to reach out to the professor, she tells the others that he’s dead as well. Thor officially sacrifices his life to save Valkyrie and Captain America from Hela’s realm. Meanwhile, a horde of Jamie Madrox’s dupes act as suicide bombers, attacking Ultimates headquarters as Iron Man and Carol Danvers struggle to hold them off. Eventually, Hank arrives back and realizing the direness of the situation. He sacrifices himself to destroy the clones by taking them out to the water, but not before instructing Tony to take Wasp’s dead body and find an encrypted file titled “The Jocasta Project”. Captain America wakes up not long after. He is infuriated by the death of both Hank and Janet, the woman he loves. Captain America then orders the Ultimates to hunt down all remaining heroes as they are going after Magneto.

While looking for Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Thing, and Doctor Doom find Mister Fantastic’s signal in the Squadron Supreme dimension.

Jamie Madrox’s duplicates attack the X-Mansion and Rogue uses her powers to copy his in order to fight them. Wolverine heads to the Savage Land to find Jamie Madrox. With the help of Ka-Zar, Wolverine finds Jamie and kills him.

Mary Jane gets angry that Kitty sent Spider-Man out to save people. Kitty leaves to get Spider-Man back. Spider-Man and Hulk enter the Sanctum Sanctorum and fight various demons. They then encounter Doctor Strange who has been overtaken by Nightmare. It turned out that Nightmare possessed Dr. Strange’s (dead?) body and has been responsible for the demons that have been released from Dr. Strange’s house. In the midst of the battle, Nightmare attacked Spider-Man and Hulk. Nightmare creating the hundreds of dead bodies Hulk killed as a part of his nightmare and re-created Peter’s villains/fears in the shapes of the Green Goblin, Venom, Carnage, a dead Uncle Ben, and numerous others, leaving Peter to wonder if being a hero was really worth all the death and suffering. However, upon solidifying into a young looking purple being, the Hulk attacked him in response to the nightmares. In doing so, the Hulk created an explosion with Peter, Nightmare, Kitty Pryde, and the Hulk trapped in the center of the blast.

Cast

Here is a list of who is featured in this storyline. Names that have been crossed out indicate that the character has died, or is presumed dead:

Heroes

  • Captain Britain – Presumed dead. Blown up by Madrox. (Ultimate X-Men #100)
  • Daredevil – Found dead by Spider-Man. Presumably killed by the Ultimatum Wave. (Ultimate Spider-Man #131)
  • Doctor Strange – Overtaken by Nightmare. (Ultimate Spider-Man #132)
  • John Wraith
  • Ka-Zar
  • Namor
  • Spider-Man
  • Spider-Woman
  • Shadowcat
  • S.H.I.E.L.D.
    • Carol Danvers
  • Ultimates
    • Captain America
    • Hulk
    • Hawkeye
    • Iron Man
    • Thor – Trapped in alternate plane of existence. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Wasp – Her body was found dead and was being eaten by Blob. (Ultimatum #2)
    • Yellowjacket – Killed by Madrox. (Ultimatum #3)
  • Ultimate Fantastic Four
    • Mister Fantastic
    • Invisible Woman
    • Human Torch
    • Thing
    • Franklin Storm – Killed by the Ultimatum Wave. (Ultimate Fantastic Four #58)
  • Ultimate X-Men
    • Angel
    • Beast – Killed by the Ultimatum Wave. (Ultimatum #1)
    • Cannonball – Killed by Madrox. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Cyclops
    • Dazzler – Killed by the Ultimatum Wave. (Ultimatum #1)
    • Emma Frost – Killed by Madrox. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Iceman
    • Jean Grey
    • Liz Allan
    • Nightcrawler – Killed by the Ultimatum Wave. (Ultimatum #1)
    • Polaris – Killed by Madrox. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Professor X – His neck was broken by Magneto. (Ultimatum #2)
    • Psylocke
    • Rogue
    • Storm
    • Sunspot- Killed by Madrox (Ultimatum #3)
    • Syndicate – His heads were blasted off by William Stryker, Jr. (Ultimate X-Men #99)
    • Toad
    • Wolverine

Villains

  • Brotherhood of Mutants
    • Magneto
    • Blob – His head was bitten off by Yellowjacket. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Detonator – Tortured and killed in the Savage Land. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Forge – Tortured and killed in the Savage Land. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Hard-Drive – Tortured and killed in the Savage Land. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Longshot – Tortured and killed in the Savage Land. (Ultimatum #3)
    • Lorelei – Killed by Wolverine. (Ultimate X-Men #100)
    • Madrox – Killed by Wolverine. (Ultimate X-Men #100)
    • Mystique
    • Sabretooth
  • Doctor Doom
  • Juggernaut – Hit in the eye by a poisonous dart shot by a Sentinel soldier. (Ultimate X-Men #99)
  • Nightmare
  • William Stryker
  • Zarda

Other Characters

  • Aunt May
  • Dr. Arthur Molekevic
  • General “Thunderbolt” Ross
  • J. Jonah Jameson
  • Robbie Robertson

Bibliography

  • Ultimatum #1-5
  • Ultimate Fantastic Four #58-60
  • Ultimate Spiderman Vol. 1 #129-133
  • Ultimate X-Men #98-100

Reception

Jesse Schedeen of IGN.com has said, “Loeb’s handling of these characters is at best misguided, and at worst completely disrespectful.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Ultimate Origins

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Cover to Ultimate Origins

Ultimate Origins is a comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics, released in June 2008. It falls under Marvel’s Ultimate Marvel imprint. It was written by Brian Bendis and illustrated by Butch Guice. It was intended to be a “chapter in the development of Ultimatum, a crossover event scheduled to begin in September 2008.

Jeph Loeb has stated in an interview with Comic Book Resources: “What Ultimate Origin is going to do is sort of tell us how it all began. … The Ultimate Universe isn’t very old, so this isn’t a cosmic story. You’re not going to see the birth of a planet. What you’ll see is how the superhero community was introduced into the human population. So you’ll learn the importance of things like the Super Soldier program, which has been hinted at in Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimates 1 and 2. Now, Brian is going to connect the dots.”

Plot summary

The story opens with Spider-Man confronting a deranged Bruce Banner, who tells Spider-Man in desperation that “it’s all connected.” General Ross arrives, and despite Spider-Man’s attempts to defuse the situation, Banner transforms into the Hulk and escapes.

In 1942, at the Battle of Tenaru, an American super-soldier (a normal GI dressed in a special uniform) rallies his men in the face of a Japanese onslaught. However, the soldier is shot and killed, his blood staining the American flag. A photograph of this image is released around the world, and then-President Roosevelt demands a true super-soldier from his advisors, rather than a normal soldier wearing a special uniform.

A year later, during the invasion of Sicily, three soldiers, (American privates Fisk (the grandfather of The Kingpin) and Nicholas Fury, and Canadian soldier James Howlett), attempt to loot a house. Military police arrive to arrest them, and all three are subdued. Fisk is grazed by a bullet, while Fury and Howlett, despite the latter’s protests that he’s Canadian, are shipped off to separate unknown locations.

Fury is selected to be the next test subject for Project Rebirth, as his bloodwork most closely matches that of subject 22, the most successful of the previous test subjects. He is injected with a serum that gives him super-strength, which he uses to free himself and the other prisoners, who then escape. The scientists who were working on him let him escape, deciding that they have all the information that they need for now. Elsewhere, Howlett awakens in a tank of water inside the Weapon X complex. He escapes the complex, but is fatally shot as he nears freedom. Miraculously, Howlett’s wound heals completely and he is recaptured. Dr. Cornelius, Weapon X’s head scientist, explains that in attempting to create their own version of Captain America, Weapon X accidentally discovered a genome that, when genetically altered, grants the person carrying it various abilities based on their DNA. He calls these altered humans “mutants”, (with Howlett as “Mutant Zero”), and states that mutants will be how humanity survives.

The story then flip-flops between Captain Carol Danvers at Project Pegasus finding the artefact known as the Watcher and the events leading to the birth of Captain America. Project Pegasus is shown as a government-issued warehouse for objects with mysterious origins and, usually, mass destructive value.

Steven Rogers, with a bad limp, is recruited by Dum Dum Dugan into the Super-Soldier Program; Project Rebirth. Through many different treatments, Steven Rogers is reborn as the ultimate super-soldier and leaves his fiance Gail behind to start his life in World War II.

Later, a teenaged Erik Lehnsherr visits the Weapon X complex and sets Wolverine free, letting him know that his name is James. When Magneto’s mother tries to stop him, he murders her and proclaims that he hopes there “is a hell.” Before his mother’s death, she justifies her work with Weapon X by declaring that she only wanted to find a cure for Erik and the others.

Even later in Erik’s life, he reads a book published by Charles Xavier and is determined to meet him. Showing up in the class that Xavier teaches, they soon realize that Charles’s telepathic powers do not work on Magneto. They discuss the theories involved with having mutananity accepted and eventually relocate to the Savage Land, where Magneto’s brotherhood is waiting to be trained by the two.

Sometime later, Nick Fury is questioned by General Ross while lying in a hospital bed after seemingly being saved by Wolverine during an earlier war. General Ross feverishly questions him about his previous involvement with the mutant known as Weapon X and the nature of Nick Fury’s unique physiology. After Fury dismisses his use as the “new” Captain America, he wonders about his usefulness in other ways.

The story skips forward for the brief description of Project Rebirth 2, including Fury later becomes involed with Project Rebirth 2, which includes the involvement of Dr. Franklin Storm, Bruce Banner, Dr. Hank Pym, and Dr. Richard Parker. During this time, Dr. Storm is contracted to work with the Baxter Building project as well as Project Rebirth. Their work with the facility is helped along by the use of a vial of Fury’s blood of which, none of the scientists know the truth of where the blood came from, (except Parker who suspected it). When Banner seems to have had a breakthrough, he and Dr. Pym decide to try it on themselves, starting with Banner. The trial goes horribly wrong and Banner, now as the Hulk destroys the building and seemingly kills both Richard and Mary Parker, leaving their infant son Peter an orphan.

The sight of the infant son in his mother’s arms shocks Banner back to himself and is quickly subdued by Fury. Taking the infant in to his arms, he whispers that it is good that Peter is young, because he won’t remember a thing.

Later, Fury infiltrates the Weapon X project, and, after the shock of the environment sinks in, Fury realizes that neither man nor mutant should ever know of man’s involvement in the mutant gene. This conclusion is acted upon when he kills all of the scientists and their experiments. The only mutant to make it out alive is T’Challa, whom Fury feels a connection with due to their tragic pasts.

Charles Xavier is next seen being speared in the back as an act of retaliation by Magneto, who claims Charles tried to attack him in his own mind. Magneto speaks of the mutant race’s fate to ascend like gods over homo sapien and his belief that God willed this to be.

In the present day, the Watchers speak through Sue Storm and tell of a certain doom that awaits before picking a herald. While the Fantastic Four wonder who this could be, Rick Jones is found by his family glowing in the backyard.

Retcons

Ultimate Origins provides a soft retcon for several stories originally presented within the various Ultimate imprints.

  • Nick Fury had displayed no indication of possessing any super-normal abilities except when he got his arm back in Ultimate Power after losing it in Ultimates 2.
  • Doctor Cornelius is portrayed in Ultimate X-Men as being a middle-aged man, certainly not an adult during WW2.
  • In Ultimate X-Men, Magneto wears a helmet to protect Xavier from reading his mind. In Ultimate Origins, Xavier can’t read Magneto’s mind even when he isn’t wearing it.
  • In Ultimate Spider-Man during the Venom arc, Peter’s parents are shown to be still alive when he is five years-old.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Ultimate Human

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Cover of Ultimate Human #1 (Jan. 2008), featuring Ultimate Hulk and Ultimate Iron Man.<br /> Art by Cary Nord.

Ultimate Human (originally titled Ultimate Hulk vs. Iron Man) is an American comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics. The limited series set in the Ultimate Universe, is written by Warren Ellis and pencilled by Cary Nord.

The series deals with a desperate Bruce Banner pleading with Tony Stark to cure him of his Hulk affliction.

Plot summary

The story begins with Bruce Banner approaching Tony Stark to assist in curing him of the failed super-soldier serum that still runs through his body. The Leader (an Ultimate amalgam of the original Leader and Pete Wisdom) is shown to be attempting to obtain both men’s blood. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner travel to a Stark facility and Stark places Banner under extreme environments (simulating conditions on Venus and Mars), causing him to become the Hulk and revealing that the Hulk is inhumanly capable of adjusting to new environments and situations.

While the Hulk is on a rampage, Tony manages to get himself inside an Iron Man suit. But due to the lack of weapons, Tony must fight Hulk head on. After Tony uses a blade to cut off the Hulks anger, Hulk reverts back into Bruce Banner. No Iron Man suit had survived more than one punch, while this suit had received two. This amount of damage cause the suit to go into overload, causing Tony to fly off and eject midair; falling to the ground. He survives the fall due to his advanced healing. After Bruce wakes up in the hospital, Tony explains how he has disabled the Hulk using Nanites to shut down any Hulk cells that form. Later, Bruce explains to Tony his true intentions for the Super Soldier formula that became the Hulk. He felt that if in the 1940’s they could turn a dumb kid into Captain America, who is not only a superb physical specimen but a brilliant military strategist, then a 21st Century formula would turn Bruce Banner into the greatest mind on the planet. Tony tells Bruce to use the time away from the Hulk to work on his Super Soldier formula, and that he can use the Ironworks factory however he pleases. Just then the Leader’s men attack Ironworks and kidnap Bruce and Tony.

In Issue 3, the history of The Leader is shown. In the fourth and final issue, Tony shuts down the anti-Hulk nanodes in Bruce’s body and provokes the Hulk transformation to defeat the Leader, over Banner’s protests and despite the knowledge that the Hulk’s physiology will adapt to the nanodes and render them useless in preventing further transformations. The Hulk subsequently escapes and Tony apologizes to Banner for not being able to help him.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

True Believers (comics)

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Cover art for True Believers #1.

True Believers is an American comic book limited series from Marvel Comics, written by Cary Bates, with art by Paul Gulacy.

Publication history

The series launched as a five part storyline in July 30th, 2008.

Characters

The four main team members are:

  • Payback – Mavis Trent, a S.H.I.E.L.D. data analyst who uses her position to keep the True Believers safe from the Superhuman Registration Act.

Powers – Due to being bonded with an alien symbioite, Trent is able to transform into a silver skinned energy form. Unlike the Venom alien, this one is sustained when its host is in a state of bliss.

  • Headtrip – Tayln Roark , A relationship expert with hieghtened emapathic abilities. Max Trent’s former Girlfriend and first recruit in the True believers.
  • Red Zone – Theo Bomba, Fringe Conspircist with Heightend mental abilities due to accidental fusing of skull with alien alloy.
  • Battalus – Ozzie Tanaka , Former S.H.I.E.L.D. R&D Scientist. Uses Adavanced Battle Armor developed for Urban Combat Ozzie also has A Form of BPD Borderline Personality Disorder.

Plot

The series involves a team of new characters digging into the background goings-on in the Marvel Universe. The team is led by Payback, Mavis Trent, a S.H.I.E.L.D. data analyst.

Though a miniseries, True Believers is unusual in that each issue contains a central plot that is resolved by the end. Issue 1 features the team ending an underground fight club. This club is run by rich and powerful men who pay to have women abducted, drugged and forced to fight one another.

The second issue deals with a conspiracy to frame Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four, for driving under the influence of alcohol. This issue also sees Payback with Reynolds’ psychiatrist Dr. Cornelius Worth discussing her feelings with her father.

The third issue reveals the origin of Payback, and begins the search for the murderer of Payback’s Father.

The fourth gives the origins of Battalus and Red Zone. and reveals there’s more to The Murder of Payback’s Father

The Fifth reveals the Truth behind The Murder of Payback’s Father.

Reception

The first issue had estimated sales of 17,151 copies, placing it at number 132 in the sales chart. Issue #2 dropped to an estimate of 12,838 (149th).

True Believers has received mixed reviews. For instance, Broken Frontier was less impressed, feeling it didn’t live up to expectations suggesting “it is rather disappointing given what one might have hoped for” and that the “tone established by the writing crosses over to the art as well: it shows some nice potential, but fails to realize it fully”. However, they also feel that all hope isn’t lost and if “Bates and Gulacy really put their minds to it and are willing to push the limits of what they can do with this concept, it just might turn into something very special indeed. Keep an eye out for future issues” Comic Book Resources agrees and suggests that the story “is an original and timely concept, but the weak execution doesn’t carry it well. Bates’ craft seems to be a little rusty at best, and feels more than a little outdated at times” and that problems with the art partly come from script problems as “any artist would struggle to fit 15 panels on one page and still maintain a good flow.” Comics Bulletin is largely positive and concludes that “overall this issue presents an interesting if somewhat vague introduction to the characters” with the only downside being the colouring “Beredo does an estimable job but the technique seems so common that it fails to add anything”. They stop just shy of awarding full marks to the second issue, largely because the reviewer feels “a certain detachment from the principal character,” but the minor niggles about the art in the first issue have been addressed and they declare that they are “prepared to ratchet up my praise for Rain Beredo’s colours, too”. The online comic book reviewer for Scifipulse.net, Nicholas Yanes, is equally positive, writing that “this is a title that everyone should have on their pull list.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Tiny Titans

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Tiny Titans #1 (April 2008). Art by Art Baltazar.

Tiny Titans is a comic book series by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani. It is published by DC Comics, beginning publication in February, 2008. The first issue was also released as part of the annual Free Comic Book Day promotion in May, 2008.

Tiny Titans stars alternate versions of the DC Universe’s characters, primarily those from the Teen Titans series. It is set in a kid-friendly, elementary school environment. Issues typically consist of several individual stories as opposed to one cohesive storyline.

Recurring Characters and Jokes

Although the comical nature of the stories feature a wide variety of characters, several are part of recurring jokes.

  • Robin is one of the more featured characters and is generally considered the leader, though no one seems to take him seriously. In one attempt to prove his character, Robin briefly changes his name and costume to Nightwing, but still fails to garner any respect.
  • Beast Boy and Terra appear as part of a very one-sided relationship, in which Beast Boy’s romantic (though ridiculous) advances towards Terra are met with thrown rocks.
  • Deathstroke (Slade) is the [[principal (school)|principal of the kids’ school, Sidekick City Elementary. The kids tend to think of Principal Slade as a mean guy, and they’re usually right.
  • Psimon is often called Brainiac because of his exposed brain, and he always has to remind people what his name is, but they don’t listen.

References to DC continuity

  • In Tiny Titans #12, The Monitor is a hall monitor, who is constantly thwarted by The Anti-Monitor.
  • In Tiny Titans #13, page 16 shows a “signed portrait” of Dan Didio, as well as Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! #1, Final Crisis #1, The New Teen Titans #1 and Superman #199.

Trade Paperback Collections

Vol. # Title Collected material Pages ISBN#
1 Welcome to the Treehouse Tiny Titans #1–6 144 ISBN 1-40122-078-9
2 Adventures in Awesomeness Tiny Titans #7–12 144 ISBN 1-40122-328-1

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Twelve (comics)

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Promotion art for The Twelve #1<br /> by Kaare Andrews.

The Twelve is an American comic book limited series from Marvel Comics, which the company announced in July 2007 would run twelve issues beginning spring 2008, with the creative team of writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Chris Weston. The series stars 12 obscure characters from Marvel’s earliest incarnation as Timely Comics from the 1940s period historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Publication history

According to Universaldork.com, on January 11, 2009, fans of the Marvel comic The Twelve, which started publishing in 2007, received some disappointing news from Joe Quesada:

THE TWELVE has momentarily become a casualty of the success of its creative team. First J. Michael Straczynski became one of the most sought after writers in Hollywood following the release and success of the film he wrote, CHANGELING.Then, Chris Weston signed on to do conceptual art and storyboarding for a completely separate film project at around the same time! So for the moment, while they stick pick away at it, THE TWELVE is on hold until such time as Joe and Chris free up from their incredibly hectic schedules. “

The Twelve #9 has been cancelled and will be re-solicited at a later date.

Plot synopsis

As related by the Phantom Reporter: During the World War II Battle of Berlin in 1945, a dozen of the many superheroes and masked crimefighters of that era are ambushed by Nazis in the basement of an SS building, where the heroes are gassed and placed into cryogenic suspension for later experimentation, but the building is air bombed soon after and anyone aware of their situation is killed. In the present day, construction workers find this bunker, and the Twelve, as they become known, are revived. Put into the care of the U.S. military, they are housed together in a mansion where they receive counselling and support, are gradually made to understand that decades have passed, and are offered a role as heroes in the 21st century.

The Twelve adjust in various ways: The Blue Blade becomes a celebrity; the Phantom Reporter starts a column for the Daily Bugle, Dynamic Man allies himself with the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies and throws himself into heroics; the Black Widow reconnects as the “instrument of vengeance” of an unknown party and begins going on missions; and Rockman bemoans being cut off from an underground kingdom that may or may not exist. On ballistics evidence, police arrest the Laughing Mask for a 1940s murder. In addition, the daughter of the creator of the robot Electro reclaims possession of the robot.

In framing story set “much later”, the Phantom Reporter, gun in hand, stands over the body of the Blue Blade, regretting the man’s death.

Membership

The Twelve are:

  1. The Blue Blade
  2. The Black Widow (not the modern character of that name)
  3. Captain Wonder
  4. Dynamic Man
  5. Electro
  6. The Fiery Mask
  7. The Laughing Mask
  8. Master Mind Excello
  9. Mister E
  10. The Phantom Reporter
  11. Rockman
  12. The Witness

Collected editions

The series is being collected into two volumes:

  • Volume 1 (collects The Twelve #1-6, 144 pages, hardcover, October 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3372-0)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Older Entries