Bleeding Cool last week had a brief snippet up about a book that Marjorie Liu tried to pitch to Marvel last year. A book that would have had X-23, Black Widow, Elektra, and Mystique.
Marvel turned down the proposal as they naively felt it wouldn't sell.
Instead, they've brought back Ms. Marvel's comic under the deceptive title Captain Marvel with her taking a demotion in rank, and are about to change one of the Hulk books to Red She-Hulk.
Okay, I'll admit I'm outright a fan of Red She-Hulk and look forward to that book. I also love how Captain Marvel was handled so far with the first issue and the focus on her pilot and air force nature. That being said, I would have eaten up beyond all others the comic mentioned above.
It'd have done wonders on the dynamics X-23 presents. Sold like no other with Black Widow and Mystique associated, especially right now as those two in particular are booming thanks to each of their associated movie franchises. With a new Daredevil film in the works, Elektra is due for a surge in popularity too. All of this could have helped contribute to expose X-23 to wider audience appeal as well.
Whoever handles these decisions at Marvel should really reconsider this idea. It'd help strengthen their lineup, grant wider exposure for some, and give others a comic for just the characters they want to read about after the get hooked from going to theaters and seeing the Avengers, or even X-Men First Class on dvd and its future sequel in theaters.
One question does come to mind though. Why does a female author trying to pitch a comic that could attract both male readers and female readers that also has a precedent in decent sales from a competitor having done the same thing years ago(Birds of Prey) get told it wouldn't sell, but a male author or editor who pitches and pushes for a female lead book get the go ahead? Not that I disagree with the reasoning behind the two titles that are going forward, but the above mentioned book fits right into much of the same reasoning they use except has wider exposure thanks to the Avengers film. It also has more mainstays with various attributes that cover more bases, tons of potential for stories, and still allows for the same escapist power fantasies.
Sometimes Marvel really makes me scratch my head.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
A few thoughts on Avengers Academy Issue 33
This issue is part 2 and the conclusion of "What the Heart Wants." A stellar tie-in to AvX. Not so surprising really as the Avengers Academy AvX tie-in before this is also one of the better sideline characters tie-ins too. This creative team just keeps nailing it every go out the gate and raising the bar that much higher with each issue. This issue is no exception.
1. The Parallels.
Throughout Emma's attack, her words sting various students as they too fall under the various things she's calling the sentinel. It's an interesting point about how power corrupts and can cause people to overgeneralize and miss the core of what they are actually saying. It's something very common in all walks of life, especially politics.
2. X-23 adds Emma to her list of enemies.
It's about time on this one. Emma has pushed and prodded, mind raped X-23 and worse. It's about time Laura put her foot down. Really interesting though as the psychology of X-23 still shines through. The straw that broke the camel's back isn't from something Emma did to X-23, but how she harmed a fellow student. Something that's very common among people that are trying to find their own self-worth and still unsure about it. The entire "I'll deal with whatever you throw my way, but if you harm someone else I will stop you at all costs."
3. Quicksilver has a heart?
Okay maybe not, but I still loved his line about all his heart wants is quiet, and uses it to rationalize his actions of helping. Where have I heard that one before?
4. The Sentinel
An interesting moment happened in this issue with the processing unit. A moment that shows that this "killing machine" has truly evolved, dare I say it, even mutated into something alive with how it overrode it's own prime directives. Someone here really did their homework, because Pym was absolutely right with how coding works. That should be an impossibility and the Sentinel made an actual concious choice to disobey to protect those it cared for.
All around just wow.
Next issue the Avengers Academy starts wrapping up some loose plot threads as it paves the way for the post-AvX future. Fear not true believers! Thanks to the October solicits we know for fact Avengers Academy isn't going anywhere but up!
1. The Parallels.
Throughout Emma's attack, her words sting various students as they too fall under the various things she's calling the sentinel. It's an interesting point about how power corrupts and can cause people to overgeneralize and miss the core of what they are actually saying. It's something very common in all walks of life, especially politics.
2. X-23 adds Emma to her list of enemies.
It's about time on this one. Emma has pushed and prodded, mind raped X-23 and worse. It's about time Laura put her foot down. Really interesting though as the psychology of X-23 still shines through. The straw that broke the camel's back isn't from something Emma did to X-23, but how she harmed a fellow student. Something that's very common among people that are trying to find their own self-worth and still unsure about it. The entire "I'll deal with whatever you throw my way, but if you harm someone else I will stop you at all costs."
3. Quicksilver has a heart?
Okay maybe not, but I still loved his line about all his heart wants is quiet, and uses it to rationalize his actions of helping. Where have I heard that one before?
4. The Sentinel
An interesting moment happened in this issue with the processing unit. A moment that shows that this "killing machine" has truly evolved, dare I say it, even mutated into something alive with how it overrode it's own prime directives. Someone here really did their homework, because Pym was absolutely right with how coding works. That should be an impossibility and the Sentinel made an actual concious choice to disobey to protect those it cared for.
All around just wow.
Next issue the Avengers Academy starts wrapping up some loose plot threads as it paves the way for the post-AvX future. Fear not true believers! Thanks to the October solicits we know for fact Avengers Academy isn't going anywhere but up!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
SDCC Exclusives: X-23 Edition
Kotobukiya has an SDCC X-23 X-Force version Bishoujo exclusive statue with a limited to 1000 pieces run.
She features a new face sculpt and minor alterations to her costume to mimic her X-Force attire with a blend of comic accuracy and Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 X-Force alternate costume accuracy in an interesting anime-like design.
She was available on the show floor, and will be made available through pre-orders on their site. You can check out a photo review of her at Tomopop.
Pre-orders for her are available here.
Update: Err, well they were. It seems to be sold out now.
She features a new face sculpt and minor alterations to her costume to mimic her X-Force attire with a blend of comic accuracy and Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 X-Force alternate costume accuracy in an interesting anime-like design.
She was available on the show floor, and will be made available through pre-orders on their site. You can check out a photo review of her at Tomopop.
Pre-orders for her are available here.
Update: Err, well they were. It seems to be sold out now.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Marvel October 2012 Solicits
Marvel has posted their October solicits. For X-23 fans, so far that means Avengers Academy issue 38 and a tpb or two.
![]()
AVENGERS ACADEMY #38
CHRISTOS GAGE (W)
TOM GRUMMETT (A)
Cover BY GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
• Guest-starring the staff & students of WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN!
• Because you demanded it: the flag football game between Avengers Academy and the Jean Grey School!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99
AVENGERS ACADEMY: SECOND SEMESTER TPB
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by SEAN CHEN, TOM RANEY, TOM GRUMMETT & KARL MOLINE
Cover by RODIN ESQUEJO
New students, new teachers and new campus — same threats! With the Avengers’ Infinite Mansion in ruins, Giant-Man moves the school to California — where he converts the West Coast Avengers’ former headquarters into the new Avengers Academy! It’s a bright day for the student body, as Pym invites all young superhumans seeking direction to enroll in the Avengers’ training program — including X-23, the new White Tiger and Lightspeed. And they’re joined by new instructor Hawkeye! But tragedy strikes when a faculty member is murdered, and the killer hides in their midst! Can the new and old students band together to root out the traitor, or is the Avengers Academy’s future doomed before it begins? Collecting AVENGERS ACADEMY #21-28.
176 PGS./Rated T …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5203-3
X-23 VOL. 3: DON’T LOOK BACK TPB
Written by MARJORIE LIU
Penciled by SANA TAKEDA & PHIL NOTO
Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSKY
Laura Kinney, the teenage clone of Wolverine known as X-23, has been on a quest to find herself. Now, it’s time for her to choose between the two feuding X-Men teams — but first, it’s time to have a misadventure in babysitting! Reed and Sue Richards of the Future Foundation have asked Laura to babysit their children, Franklin and Valeria. Of course, the Richards children aren’t normal kids — and this night will turn out to be anything but normal! X-23 will face dragons in Manhattan, cosmic beings in space and teenage romance at inopportune times. And the biggest danger will be the Invisible Woman if Laura doesn’t safely return Franklin and Val to their Baxter Building home! Collecting X-23 (2010) #17-21.
112 PGS./Parental Advisory …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5282-8
AVENGERS ACADEMY #38
CHRISTOS GAGE (W)
TOM GRUMMETT (A)
Cover BY GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
• Guest-starring the staff & students of WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN!
• Because you demanded it: the flag football game between Avengers Academy and the Jean Grey School!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99
AVENGERS ACADEMY: SECOND SEMESTER TPB
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by SEAN CHEN, TOM RANEY, TOM GRUMMETT & KARL MOLINE
Cover by RODIN ESQUEJO
New students, new teachers and new campus — same threats! With the Avengers’ Infinite Mansion in ruins, Giant-Man moves the school to California — where he converts the West Coast Avengers’ former headquarters into the new Avengers Academy! It’s a bright day for the student body, as Pym invites all young superhumans seeking direction to enroll in the Avengers’ training program — including X-23, the new White Tiger and Lightspeed. And they’re joined by new instructor Hawkeye! But tragedy strikes when a faculty member is murdered, and the killer hides in their midst! Can the new and old students band together to root out the traitor, or is the Avengers Academy’s future doomed before it begins? Collecting AVENGERS ACADEMY #21-28.
176 PGS./Rated T …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5203-3
X-23 VOL. 3: DON’T LOOK BACK TPB
Written by MARJORIE LIU
Penciled by SANA TAKEDA & PHIL NOTO
Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSKY
Laura Kinney, the teenage clone of Wolverine known as X-23, has been on a quest to find herself. Now, it’s time for her to choose between the two feuding X-Men teams — but first, it’s time to have a misadventure in babysitting! Reed and Sue Richards of the Future Foundation have asked Laura to babysit their children, Franklin and Valeria. Of course, the Richards children aren’t normal kids — and this night will turn out to be anything but normal! X-23 will face dragons in Manhattan, cosmic beings in space and teenage romance at inopportune times. And the biggest danger will be the Invisible Woman if Laura doesn’t safely return Franklin and Val to their Baxter Building home! Collecting X-23 (2010) #17-21.
112 PGS./Parental Advisory …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5282-8
Reminder: Avengers Academy Issue 33
Just a friendly reminder! Avengers Academy issue 33 hits comic shops this Wednesday, the 18th of July.
You can check out the preview for it here. It's the conclusion to the two part story "What the Heart Wants."
You can check out the preview for it here. It's the conclusion to the two part story "What the Heart Wants."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)