The Avengers Initiative

For those who missed it (complete with fan acknowledgment)...

Captain America, Not Dead After All!

Can't say I'm exactly surprised. I mean you knew those good folks at Marvel weren't gonna keep one of the all time superhero comic book icons dead forever.

Cap's new duds, designed by legendary comicbook artist Alex Ross, will debut in the January issue of Captain America, #34. This new (and improved) Cap (whoever he may be) will sport not only the classic shield, but also a knife and (for the first time in the comics) a gun!

Since writer Ed Brubaker and the folks at Marvel insist that good ol' Steve Rogers is well and truly dead (assasinated by his lover in Captain America #25), just who is this new Cap? My money's on former sidekick and current Winter Soldier, Bucky, but I suppose we'll just have to keep on reading and wait until January to find out!

Tony Stark is...

This year it was Spider-Man, Ghost Rider and the Fantastic Four.

Next year it's Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk. and a third, Travolta-less attempt to reimagine the Punisher.

And you thought 2007 was the summer of comic book movies?

Rise of the Best Summer Sequel (So Far)!

No the scene of Johnny Storm (aka Chris Evans) coming out of the shower wrapped only in a towel wasn't gratuitous. We've come to expect such crowd pleasing fare from a Fantastic Four flick (though in my humble opinion we shouldn't have had to wait so long for said scene), good honest comic book movies with a little style, very little substance, but a very fun-filled 90 or so minutes nonetheless.

The 7:30pm Friday night audience at The Grove was packed with kids (and a spattering of homos), the target audience for this popcorn tale that introduces the iconic Silver Surfer (herald of the storm-cloud like Galactus, an Ultimate Universe-esq. departure from his classic pointy-helmeted appearance), cures Victor Von Doom of his facial deformities (so that the stunning Julian McMahon, who I'd never really considered that handsome before, can play him mask, and makeup, less), and brings the Fantasticar to the movie mythology.

Like Spider-man, New York City is the home base for this super foursome, however unlike most Ameri-centric comic book movies, FF2 turns into a truly global venture with spectacular set pieces at the London Eye, the Great Wall of China and some other Asian city. Like the recent Spider-man 3 however, FF2 also features a dancing superhero (this time Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards), though this time its totally played for nothing but laughs (and to show off Reed's stretchiness).

With an estimated opening weekend gross of $57.4 million in the US, it looks like I wasn't the only one to actually like the Rise of the Silver Surfer, despite mediocre reviews. If I had one real complaint about the entire movie it would be this: Jessica Alba's blond locks really bothered me (with a Storm circa X-Men 1 and 2 feel)!!!

(But best summer sequel (so far) you ask, well Spidey 3 just couldn't, and didn't, live up to its previous installments, and Pirates 3 beached itself on a sandbar of confusion and boredom. Next upJohn McClane dies again.)

Hulk Smash!!!

Wizard World LA 2007

Finding parking at the LA Convention Center sucked as much this year as it did last, and there weren't any Buffy alums to beg autographed eight by tens from, but the 2007 leg of the Wizard World Convention in downtown Los Angeles provided just as much geeky enjoyment (maybe even more) as my inaugural visit did in 2006.

Last year I all but dragged Mikey along with me. This time Joe was my willing accomplice. Last year Charisma Carpenter and Stephanie Romanov were the big draws (though I'm still kicking myself for not shelling out for Andy Hallett and Elizabeth Rohm's signed pix). This time it was artists Marc Silvestri and Humberto Ramos.

Thanks in no small part to the never-ending Marvel Civil War, the advent of Buffy: Season 8, and most importantly, Joe's own love of the art, my appreciation of comics has been rekindled over the last few months. Though I'm still really more of a collector/completest, Joe is a true and avid comicbook fan, so his excitement at meeting his favourite artist, Ramos, was infectious. Not only did Ramos sign a few comics, but he drew Joe a very very cool Venom sketch. We followed that with signings by British writer Paul Jenkins and Anita Blake penciller Brett Booth (sadly the line for Top Cow founder Silvestri was way too long).

In addition to meeting the artistes, I found several of the Civil War tie-in issues I was missing (including the Wizard World Captain America #25 variant, though Amazing Spidey #529 still illudes me), as well as some adorable Star Wars character prints (which will nicely adorn my bathroom). We even came across a number of those exclusive Wal-Mart figures I mentioned previously, and though cheaper at $15 a piece, I still couldn't justify the price.

Without the glitz and glamour that Hollywood lavishes on the San Diego Comic-Con, and with guests the like of Jerri Manthey, Tony Burton and Lou Ferrigno, the comicbook artists and writers far outshown the competition at Wizard World. As well they should!

Buffy: Season 8

After the catastrophy of last week (missing out on Captain America #25), there I was at 10:00am this morning, waiting outside Golden Apple for the store to open, ready to snatch up the Joss Wheadon-written premier issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8, the official continuation of the iconic (and my all-time favorite) TV series.

Being one of the first sad buggers at the store, not only did I pick up the regular edition, with cover art by Ju Chen, but I also managed to grab the Georges Jeunty and Dave Stewart drawn variant cover edition (both for me and for Joe).

Since we last saw Buffy in May of 2003, about a year and a half has passed, 500 or so slayers now roam the earth, Xander is in Scotland, Dawn is suffering from growing pains and as such "The Long Way Home" has begun!

UPDATE: A day after it's release, publisher Dark Horse has already announced a second printing for this inaugral edition since retailer interest has significantly surpassed the original 100,000 copy print run.

O Captain! My Captain!

*Squish! Squish!*

No these are not the tears of a man saddened by the death of an American icon, the death of a hero who symbolized the spirit of America, the death of Steve Rogers. These are not tears for the death of Captain America.

Having surrendered to the Pro-Registration forces, Steve Rogers is assassinated, shot once in the shoulder by a sniper, then three times in the stomach by his lover, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Sharon Carter, as he enters a Federal Courthouse.

No these are the tears of a man who missed out on one of the most important issues of Marvel's whole Civil War crossover event. The tears of a man who forget to ask his Joe to pop into Golden Apple (since he didn't have to go into work until late). These are the tears of a man who missed out on Captain America 25, the issue that told the above story.

*Sob!*

These are real tears!!!

Bye Bye Blade!

*Sob*

Yes, it looks like Spike TV has put the spike in Blade, the recent TV series based on the movies and the Marvel character of the same name. The news, originally leaked by Jill Wagner, who played the double-agent vampire Krista, was made official by the channel earlier today, as reported here by Sci-Fi Wire.

While yes, the pilot was pretty lame, and the acting not exactly the best, (especially rapper Sticky Fingaz who simply mimicked Wesley Snipes rather than trying to make the title character his own), the storyline, featuring the House of Chthon (and the spectacularly evil Chase), developed dramatically over the season. I for one am sad to see the show dumped so unceremoniously.

More importantly however, how does this now bode for the newly released comic book series which had revamped itself to appeal to fans of the movies and TV series, rather than it's previous comic incarnations? Only time (and sales) will tell!

In other Marvel news, Robert Downey Jr. has been cast to play Tony "Iron Man" Stark in the upcoming 2008 movie by ex-Swinger turned director Jon Favreau. An interesting choice to be sure! I'm sure the fans will be foaming at their mouths over this one. It was oft rumored that Tom Cruise was very interested in the role, but his recent split with Paramount ended that pipedream didn't it?

The Civil War Intensifies

The ratification of Superhuman Registration Act (HR 421) by the US Congress has caused a Civil War to break out amongst our nation's superheroes. Tony "Ironman" Stark leads the pro-registration allies on one side, while Steve "Captain America" Rogers forms an underground resistance of those who adamantly oppose this violation of civil liberties on the other.



With Spider-Man already unmasking himself on national television in support of the act, this latest crossover event is destined to change the Marvel Universe as we know it.

The folks at Marvel are certainly aware of the popularity of this event, with many issues already on 2nd, even 3rd printings, and 1st printings (like Amazing Spider-Man #529 and She-Hulk #8) becoming increasingly pricey and hard to find.

The series, originally scheduled to wrap in November, has been extended through February of 2007 to accommodate artist Steve McNiven. Accordingly a number of the tie-in books have also been delayed, while other comics (and heroes) have been conscripted into the War (increasing the total number of Civil War books from 81 to 96. Great! Even more to bloody buy!)

Whose Side Are You On?

GeekFest 2006

Otherwise known as Wizard World Los Angeles!

Back in March, Mikey and I took a lovely trip downtown to the oh-so-wonderful LA Convention Center (with the easiest parking in the area) where the event was being held. LA is just one of the stops on the Wizard "tour" (which includes Philly, Chicago and Arlington, TX). And this being LA, where all the stars are, it surely has to be the best for autograph collecting, my real reason for showing up! Yes, how very, very sad!

This wasn't my first comic/action-figure/geek convention, a few years back I did go to the Baltimore Comic-Con, though it truly paled in comparison (especially for autograph junkies). Scheduled to appear were Kevin Smith, Marlon & Shawn Wayans, Lou Ferrigno, Ray Park (what an ass!), and a whole bunch of comic book artists, writers and inkers. But who did I want to see and chat with? None other than all those ex-Buffy and Angel stars in attendance!

Unfortunately, this autograph thing ain't cheap! Did I really want to spend over $200.00 on signed photos? Absolutely not, so sorry Elizabeth Rohm (Det. Kate Lockley) and Andy Hallett (Lorne), I just couldn't justify the expense (though from watching him interact with the fans Andy was by far the most personable star there).

I most wanted to meet Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia on both shows. I was hoping for an Angel-esq. cutesy Cordy, unfortunately, Charisma was much more like the icy high-school cheerleader character she played on Buffy. At least the photo was hot!

Next up was Christian Kane aka Lindsey McDonald aka "Idaho Guy. Mike dared me to go up to him and say " What's up Idaho Guy?" I did, proving myself to be a really big 'mo. Luckily Christian was just so cool, he didn't give a damn.

Best of the bunch by far was Wolfram & Hart's head bitch, Lilah Morgan, played by Stephanie Romanov. Not only was Stephanie incredibly tall, busty and personable, but she also really knew her stuff. I had just been watching Angel, Season 3, mentioned to her the episode where she gets beaten up by the Asian guy from Lost, and she began talking in depth about the episode, her character, etc. I just geekily gushed all over her, I think Mike was quite embarrassed!

Overall it was a very good afternoon. I met some stars. I got some comics. I saw a bunch of collectible items I'd really quite like. I even saw some artwork I was quite partial to. I can't wait till the next one, Joe and I are going down to San Diego for the daddy of them all: the Comic Con International!

[ I don't know why I never wrote about this before, especially with the pictures et al, somehow it just slipped through the cracks. ]