My picks of the July Solicitations 2015...

Another month another list of upcoming comics this time for July. So without further ado here's my picks;

DC: Batgirl Annual #3

Writer: Cameron Stewart & Brendan Fletcher

Artist: Bengal

Bengal is back illustrating Batgirl so what other reason do you need to pick this up. Well Grayson is showing up for one, plus Batgirl visits Gotham Academy and in those few lines I am sold. I mean look at that cover it's just beautiful. I can't get enough Bengal art.

Marvel: Lando #1

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Alex Maleev

It's safe to say that Marvel are taking there Star Wars line very very seriously and so they should. They have been given the opportunity to work on in-continuity stories, alongside the Lucasfilm Story Group, building on the background and mythos of a beloved franchise. Well we don't need to be worried, as with there other titles, Marvel have announced a stellar line up for their next solo series which will focus on Lando Calrissian. Lando #1 will be brought to us by the creative team of, the main who seems to be writing many many books, Charles Soule and fan favourite artist Alex Maleev. Lando #1 hits shelves this July and I'll be looking forward to giving this a look.

Image Comics: Wolf #1

Writer: Ales Kot

Artist: Matt Taylor

Colorist: Lee Loughridge

I have read a few books by Ales Kot and enjoyed them all but its the description of this one that has really caught my interest, plus of course the remaining team members on this title. "The crime noir thrills and characters reminiscent of True Detective meet with mythical stakes worthy of Neil Gaiman's Sandman in this original fantasy/horror/crime saga for mature readers." and with art from Matt Taylor and colours by colorist Lee Loughridge you know this is going to be a very pretty book. With 58 pages of story with no ads we are certainly going to get a decent introduction to this new series.

BOOM!: Spire #1 (1 of 8)

Writer: Simon Spurrier

Artist: Jeff Stokely

I'll admit it, I missed out and I am still to read Six Gun Gorilla. But through following Jeff Stokely on twitter I know I am certainly a fan of his art. A new limited series from the same creative team, Spire #1. Described as being a series fans of both East of West and Dark Crystal will enjoy, I look forward to seeing what this series will be about and being introduced to a new character in Sha. BOOM! are publishing some very exciting books at the moment and this certainly looks like it will be another to add to the list.

KABOOM!: Power Up #1 (1 of 6)

Author: Kate Leth

Artist: Matt Cummings

Another BOOM! book from there sister print name KABOOM! Power Up #1 from the creative team of fan favourite writer/artist Kate Leth teams up with Matt Cummings to bring us a story of four nobles who have incredible strength, which they receive through a cosmic aligning of planets. This is yet another original series from KABOOM! that is both exciting in content and also in potential. I'm a fan of Kate Leth and I look forward to seeing what she and Matt Cummings have created.

My Picks of the June Solicitations...

If only I posted everything I type up as a draft and everything I note on my phones notepad I would be looking at 10 times more posts a week. Anyway, here are my picks of the solicits for June which have been sitting on my phones notes for the past four weeks... hopefully I will get July's out before August's are revealed.

Marvel: Runaways #1

Writer: Noelle Stephenson

Artist: Sanford Greene

I need to catch up with the old Runaways series, its a series I had always meant to read but never found the time too. But with the upcoming Secret Wars event Marvel have paired the exciting creative team of Noelle Stevenson and Sanford Greene to bring a new Runaways line-up and tales to Marvel. I can't wait to pick this up and give it a read.

DC: Gotham Academy #7

Writer: Becky Cloonan/ Brendan Fletcher

Artist: Karl Kerschl

Damian Wayne comes to Gotham Academy. The first arc ended this month, I finally caught up recently, and teased the arrival of Damian to Gotham Academy. Olive has been causing quite a lot of mischief and it seems that Batman, Bruce Wayne, has decided the easiest way to keep this in check is to let his son attend the school. I am a huge Damian Wayne fan, I was lost after that last issue of Batman Inc. I look forward to reading one of my favourite DC characters in one of my favourite DC books.

Image Comics: Nonplayer #2

Writer: Nate Simpson

Artist: Nate Simpson

I never quite realised the fan fair regarding this comic. I purchased the first issue, then when the second didn't arrive just assumed it was a one-shot. But I really enjoyed the first issue which I will now need to dig out of one of my comic boxes to re-read in preparation for the upcoming second issue. I'm excited to see another issue come out.

Boom: The Fiction #1

Writer: Curt Pires

Artist: David Rubin

Curt Pires is the writer of one of my favourite Monkey Brain comics series, Theremin, and he has recently worked with Dark Horse on his book POP. Pires is now teaming up with BOOM! comics, one of my current favourite publishers, with his new title The Fiction. The solicitation for this sounds intriguing and I hope to find out more once this comic hits the shelves.

My picks of the solicits for May 2015...

Right, well here are my picks from the May solicits, this has been sitting in draft form for sometime but here they are...

Marvel: A-Force

When I first started collecting comics it was the post Civil War Mighty Avengers and Avengers Initiative that I began reading. Since then I always like to pick up new takes on the Avengers books. Dark Avengers being one of my favourites. The creative team and idea behind this series is exciting. But no disrespect meant towards Jorge Molina who I don't doubt will do a great job, looking at the variant cover by Russell Dauterman I wish he was on interiors. This has the set up to be a great series and in G. Willow Wilson and Marguerite Bennett I believe it is in safe hands. 

A-FORCE #1
G. WILLOW WILSON & MARGUERITE BENNETT (w) • JORGE MOLINA (a)
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
VARIANT COVER BY RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
VARIANT COVER BY STEPHAN HANS
• Marvel’s Mightiest Women finally get their own explosive series!
• In a secluded corner of the Battleworld, an island nation is fiercely protected by a team of Avengers the likes of which has only ever been glimpsed before…
• Fighting to protect the small sliver of their world that’s left, the Amazing A-FORCE stands shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to take on the horde!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Marvel: Old Man Logan

I took advantage of a Comixology sale to get the original issues containing the brilliant Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. Old Man Logan is a killer character and I am excited to see him getting a series during Secret Wars, will this be our Wolverine moving forward post Secret Wars? I wouldn't be disappointed if it was. Again another brillitant creative team on this one and I can not wait to see how Sorrentino and Bendis collaborate to continue this characters story.

OLD MAN LOGAN #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (w) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (a/C)
VARIANT COVER by STEVE McNIVEN
VARIANT COVER BY ANDREA SORRENTINO
YOUNG VARIANT BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
BLANK VARIANT COVER
• Enter the Wastelands…a realm where all heroes have been murdered by their arch-enemies, villains who now rule over the land with an iron fist. In the midst of this dystopian chaos, one man may make a difference…a reluctant warrior who was once the greatest mutant of all…a man known as OLD MAN LOGAN.
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

Dark Horse: High Crimes

High Crimes is the critically acclaimed digital series from Monkeybrain comics finally heading to print in this collection from Dark Horse. I'll be looking to grab this one, I really enjoy when these successful digital formats head to print. 

High Crimes HC
Christopher Sebela (W) and Ibrahim Moustafa (A/Cover)
On sale July 8
FC, 184 pages
$19.99
HC, 7″ x 10″
Disgraced Olympic snowboarder Zan Jensen runs a sideline business as a high-altitude grave robber. When a body is found at the summit of Everest with a treasure of state secrets under its skin, Zan finds herself in the crosshairs of a government hit squad. As she races to the roof of the world, Zan will navigate bullets and avalanches to find salvation in the deadliest place on Earth.
Collecting the critically acclaimed Monkeybrain digital comic the A.V. Club calls “a high concept executed with precision, delivering real-world intrigue.” 
“Instead of just yelling at people to read High Crimes, now I can throw it at them at the same time.”—Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals)


Boom!: Adventure Time #40

I am a big fan of the TV programme and I collect the Mathematical Editions of the collections. Adventure Time #40 sees the previously teased story created by Matt Fraction and his son Henry Leo. This is the main reason this is in my pick, I look forward to seeing what Matt Fraction and his son have created.

ADVENTURE TIME #40
Retail Price: $3.99 
Author: Christopher Hastings, Henry Leo & Matt Fraction
Artist: Zachary Sterling
Cover Artists:
Main Cover: Paul Pope
Subscription Variant Cover: Lauren Dawson
Variant Cover: Simon Leclerc
It’s a special interactive, one-shot issue! Magic Man plans to use the reader to help beat Finn and Jake, but can our heroes turn the tables? Features a special short written by debut writer Henry Leo and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye)!

Image: Injection #1

There are no reasons this shouldn't be in my pick and 3 easy reason why it should. Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire. I have been waiting for this since its announcement from the incredible creative team previously on Moon Knight, May seems to far away. 

INJECTION #1
STORY: WARREN ELLIS
ART / COVERS: DECLAN SHALVEY & JORDIE BELLAIRE
MAY 13 / 24 PAGES / FC / M / $2.99 
Once upon a time, there were five crazy people, and they poisoned the 21st Century. Now they have to deal with the corrosion to try and save us all from a world becoming too weird to support human life.
INJECTION is the new ongoing series created by the acclaimed creative team of Moon Knight. It is science fiction, tales of horror, strange crime fiction, techno-thriller, and ghost story all at the same time. A serialized sequence of graphic novels about how loud and strange the world is getting, about the wild future and the haunted past all crashing into the present day at once, and about five eccentric geniuses dealing with the paranormal and numinous as well as the growing weight of what they did to the planet with the Injection.

DC Announce A Mini-Relaunch coming June 2015... 24 new titles... 25 continuing titles... Divergence

Friday just gone was a day full of announcements but, and it may come as a surprise for me to say this, DC won the day. They have announced a new wave of titles to hit the shelves in June 2015, a mini re-launch of sorts, with a new story over continuity focus. This philosophy excites me as superheroes can get so bogged down in having to keep within continuity that it can really restrict and hurt the story. DC are obviously learning from the success of the likes of Gotham Academy and the new re-launched Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) both spear headed by the Bat-Office.

Now I got this excited for the New 52 relaunch in 2011, I think I can go close to saying I practically picked up every new #1, which was helped by just starting my first full time job. But looking back now the only title from the original New 52 that I am reading and collecting is Batman from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo and I have to say it is because this creative team, bar the length of Zero Year which I thought was a little long, are killing it on the title. I did keep reading Justice League for quite some time along with Wonder Woman and Superman. But for some reason or another I dropped several of those titles.

One of the most exciting things about the long list of new titles to be released are the creative line-ups DC are really giving new up and coming talent a shot and also handing over several of the titles to successful Indie creators which I only hope pays off.

Looking at this new list of titles I will highlight the ones I am most excited for and definitely be picking up the 1st issues of. Right lets dive right in, as the saying goes.

Black Canary -- W: Brenden Fletcher, A: Annie Wu;

Black Canary from Brenden Fletcher and Annie Wu, Fletcher is one half of two exciting team bringing us great comics from the Bat Universe, Gotham Academy and Batgirl. He will now be taking on solo writing duties alongside the talented Annie Wu who illustrated a run on Matt Fraction's acclaimed Hawkeye series. To be honest I am more picking up this title for the creative team, other than her appearances in the new Batgirl series I have not read any comics containing Black Canary, but I'll be excited to learn more about the character and see what the creative team produce come June.

Constantine: The Hellblazer -- W: Ming Doyle & James Tynion IV, A: Riley Rossmo;

Another DC character that I have not had much or any contact with. I've heard about popular takes no the character and I know Hellblazer is definitely a comic sometime in my life that I will need to pick up and read. The Dark corner of the DC Universe has always been one of my favourites, even though I haven't read many titles based around the characters, but I do spend a lot of time on Wikipedia reading about certain characters and Snyder's Swamp Thing New 52 run was one of the Dark characters I have read comics containing. The creative team on this book is another one that really excites me, many people know of James Tynion IV as Snyder's protégé but he has really come into his own recently, with some exciting titles with Boom! studios including 'The Woods'. Ming Doyle has been a artist I have long admired who I found while browsing the internet, I own her Flashbacca print which is still to be framed and hung, she has a very distinct style. But on this occasion she will be sharing writing duties with James Tynion IV which I look forward to seeing. Finally on art is Riley Rossmo, a fan favourite artist, I have seen his work in a couple of things mainly Image books and I can not wait to see what he brings to this title.

Dark Universe -- W: James Tynion IV, A: Ming Doyle;

I have read this this is the title that will be taking over from Justice League Dark and also has the same name as the animated movie project being worked on by Guillermo Del Toro. But most importantly the creative team is what is to be excited for, the same two members of the new Constantine title to be released are also the creative team on this book. It would certainly seem that James Tynion IV and Ming Doyle have been given the job of reviving this corner of the DC Universe and it is one that I certainly look forward to seeing. I can't wait to see how Ming Doyle's distinctive art style will bring to these characters, well in June I will be able to find out.

Justice League of America -- W: Bryan Hitch, A: Bryan Hitch

Bit of an honourable mention really, along with Marvel's Civil War by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven I also read Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's Ultimates which also got me into comics. So although I don't have as much to write about this as I do with the previous announcements I will be looking forward to picking this up and see the very talented Bryan Hitch take on the iconic characters of the DC Universe. 

A few others I may flick through are We Are Robin from Lee Bermejo and Khary Randolph. On a side note it is interesting to see a creative change to the Superman books with Gene Luen Yang taking over the reins on Superman after the end of Geoff John's run, John Romita Jnr will still be on art duties.

Finally more has been released regarding DC comics Free Comic Book Day contribution. The issue will be called Divergence and will contain teasers for the beginning of post Convergence storylines including Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok's Darkseid War within the pages of Justice League, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's next arc of Batman and Gene Luen Yang and John Romita Jnr.

To check out the full list of new and continuing titles coming June 2015 click on the link below;

Click Me... Please

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE! Here are my highlights of the year from 2014...

So another year has gone by. A much busier year, a lot less posts than I would like. What will happen in the year to come I can't say but I here are my highlights of the year from comics, to movies, tv and more! I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!

My favourite writer of 2014: Sam Humphries

Why? If your not reading Legendary Star-Lord then you should be!

My favourite artist of 2014: Jacob Wyatt

Why? Did you see those issues of Ms Marvel and Edge of Spider-Verse #5? Well go and check your local comic stores back issues, now, if they have any left!

My favourite colorist of 2014: Matt Wilson

Why? The new Thor just looks incredible and thats partly because of the beautiful colours done by this guy, and many other titles he colours! For example The Wicked + The Divine!

My Favourite Publisher of 2014: Image Comics

Why? "Well sometimes superheroes just get boring and Image do a great job of offering more diverse titles and filling in that gap, The Wicked + The Divine, Southern Bastards, I could go on listing for quite some time."

My favourite single issue of 2014: Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (That Spider-Gwen issue)

Why? "This is when superheroes don't get boring!"

My favourite event of 2014: Spider-Verse

Why? "Every Spider-Man EVER! Need I say more"

My favourite cover artist of 2014: Julian Totino Tedesco

Why? "His covers for the Marvel Event Original Sin were the best thing about the series! And now he's lending his fantastuc to S.H.I.E.L.D.!"

My favourite title of 2014: Thor God of Thunder/ Thor (Avengers NOW!)

Why? "By far the most consistent title this year. Aaron and Ribic have done a brilliant job on this title, King Thor is the stand out for me though. Then they throw in the curve ball of a new Thor, I was a doubter, and now believer... go on what are you waiting for? Go pick it up!"

My favourite collection of 2014: Ms Marvel Volume 1
Why? "This is one of my big highlights of the year. This book proves why Marvel are as successful and influencial as they are. Kamala Khan is the breakout character of the year! Well done to G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona"

My favourite independent collection of 2014: By Chance and Provedence (Becky Cloonan)
Why? "Becky Cloonan is by far one of my favourite artists, I have each issue of her self published comics, more than once, so when she collected these in to white neatly package Tome I had to get my hands on a copy!"

My favourite up and coming writer of 2014: Noelle Stephenson
Why? "Have you been reading Lumberjanes from BOOM! Box? Well you should be! Noelle Stephenson is the creator and writer of this wonderful little comic, she has also completed her online comic Nimona which will soon be coming to print. Check out her stuff you'll dig it!"

My favourite up and coming artist of 2014: Babs Tarr/ Russell Dauterman
Why? "Well I just couldn't decide. Babs Tarr is the exceptional find now illustrating the newly rejuvenated Batgirl title for DC Comics! Russell Dauterman is the new star of the Thor comic working alongside Jason Aaron to create a truly wonderful new take on the character! Look out for more from these two next year!"

 My favourite up and coming colorist of 2014: Ruth Redmond

Why? "Ruth Redmond started of as coloring extraordinaire Jordie Bellaire's intern. Now she is covering several titles from different publishers. You may have seen her work in All New Warriors! Keep an eye out for more from her next year!"

My favourite film of 2014: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY!!!!
Why? "I Am Groot"

My favourite video game of 2014: Game of Thrones Episode 1: Iron from Ice (Telltale Games)
Why? "I've read the books. I watch the TV programme! And now there is a game worth playing. A year in the waiting and TellTale have finally released their first episode of  there Game of Thrones series based on the TV programme and it did not dissapoint!"

My favourite TV programme of 2014: Star Wars Rebels/ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2
Why? "There are only 2 programmes I make sure I watch at the moment and that is Star Wars Rebels and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. They are both currently on mid-season breaks. I miss them so."

Just a few Honourable Mentions;

The Wicked + The Divine

"Kieran Gillen and Jamie McKelvie along with Matt Wilson, continue there indredible form from last years Young Avengers with there new independent creator owned title The Wicked + The Divine you should check it out!"

Jason Latour/ Robbi Rodriquez/ Rico Renzi

"They are only the creators of the break out character of the year for me, Spider-Gwen, and because of the huge fan response we will be getting a Spider-Gwen title in the new year! I'm not excited about this... much"

Declan Shalvey/ Jordie Bellaire

"I couldn't do a highlight of the year list without including these two. They continue to create fanatstic covers and were instrumental in the revival of Moon Knight alongside Warren Ellis earlier in the year. Bring on Injection from Image comics next year!"

TellTale Games

"They developed my Game of the Year. They continue to develop my favourite games. Walking Dead and Wolf Among Us (Fables) are all done so far. Borderlands just out with Game of Thrones, and now a Minecraft game just announced being produced. This studio is only on the up and up! And I for one hope it continues, there episodic gameplay is something I love and can't wait for more!"

In 4 Months Past... Time Ran Out

So there has been a long absence since I last posted something on here. The incredible thing for me was that I didn't even get anything SDCC related onto the blog through July, life has just been far to busy and quite frankly my chrome book doesn't stand up to my previous laptop and can be annoyingly frustrating at times.

But back to the blogging, I'm not going to make any promises of this being my return, it may well even be another 4 months from this post that I finally post something else again, but we will just have to wait and see.

It has been a busy 4 months for the comic world and film and here is a quick well actually fairly long look at what caught my eye and I had hoped to post about.

Image Expo (Tokyo Ghost, Drifter, Injection, Southern Cross)

To begin, and to my surprise it is not Marvel related. The Image Expo that tagged itself to to the beginning of SDCC this year had some of the most exciting announcements of the convention. Image continue to produce some of the best independent comics out there, there philosophy is luring and attracting some of brightest and most promising talents in the business and the titles announced at this expo were testament to that. I am only going to write about the ones which caught my eye but there are plenty of titles to keep an eye out for in the Image solicitations as they are released month by month.

Injection #1 (Source Comic Book Resources)

The two which shouted out at me the moment they were announced while I was keeping up with the live blog of the event were Injection from the creative team of Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire, who just finished their run on probably one of the best arcs of Moon Knight I have read. The creative team alone has gotten me really excited for this one. The other title that screamed manically at me is Southern Cross from Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger, if any of you have read my previous posts you will be well aware of my love for Cloonan's comics. Andy Belanger is a creator I am not particularly familiar with but I look forward to seeing his artistic talents in this creator owned voyage.

Other titles that grabbed my attentions were Tokyo Ghost from Rick Remender and Sean Gordon Murphy, Drifter from Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein. For all the other exciting titles keep your eyes peeled to the Image Solicitations as and when they are released.

DC Bat Universe (Gotham Academy, Batgirl, Gotham by Midnight, Arkham Manor)

Next, and still not Marvel, DC have suddenly and surprisingly announced a new group of Bat-centric titles from creators that have mainly had a independent background. In order of my favourites, Gotham Academy with the incredibly exciting creative team of Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher and Karl Kerschl who will be taking us into the halls of a school funded by Bruce Wayne and being Gotham this will not be your run of the mill highschool. Then there is the re-vamp of Batgirl which sees the long standing fan favourite writer Gail Simone handing the character over to Brendan Fletcher, Cameron Stuart and newcomer Babs Tarr, this is yet another exciting line up and the preview work and what has been revealed so far has already gathered quite the online following including it's own tumblr by the creators for the flurry of fan art. Finally not to be forgotten from the hype of the previous two announcements there will also be Arkham Manor from Gerry Duggan and Shaun Crystal along with Gotham by Midnight from Ray Fawkes and Ben Templesmith. Arkham Manor sees Bruce Wayne's home become the new Arkham Asylum and Gotham by Midnight sees a group of detectives that investigate the mysterious in Gotham led by Spectre.

Gotham By Midnight

Spider-Verse (Spider-Gwen)

Okay now it's time for some Marvel news. Spider-Verse begins this month well the run up to with the Edge of Spider-Verse titles beginning to roll out. These being 5 one shot issues focusing on alternative universe Spider-Men or Women. From the known to the new, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Gwen which I am most excited for and already hope will receive her own stand alone title, Dustin Weaver creates is own alterate universe Spider-Man, there looks to be a sort of pulp horror Spider-Man and the second favourite of the 5 I'm looking forward to is the team-up of Gerard Way and Jake Wyatt for there interpretation of a alternate universe Spider-Man.

As mentioned the most exciting title for me from the 5 is Edge if Spider-Verse #2 from Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez, who sounds like a Marvel character himself but is part of the creative team from Vertigo comic FBPD. They will be bringing us an alternate universe Gwen Stacy who was in fact bitten by the spider. Rodriguez has killed it on the design and there have already been several Spider-Gwen cosplayers at comic conventions. I have high hopes for this issue and really hope I'm not disappointed, Latour has already stated should there be a demand he would be more than happy to write more Spider-Gwen.

The other Edge of Spider-Verse title that has caught my eye is the offering from Gerard Way and Jacob Wyatt. This has potential on so many levels as Jacob Wyatt is one of the rising stars, having worked on his creator owned title and recently on a couple of Ms Marvel issues and well Gerard Way has been around long enough with Umbrella Academy and Killjoys for us to know he can write a good comic it will be interesting to see what he does with his own take on a Spider-Man origin.

Marvel Star Wars (Star Wars Jason Aaron/ Cassaday, Darth Vader Gillen/ Larocca/ Granov &, Leia Waid/ Dodson)

SDCC saw the a announcement of some long awaited news since Disney acquired Lucasfilm and it was officially announced that Marvel will be taking over the Star Wars franchise when it comes to the comics and so the titles and creative teams were finally announced.

There will be a stand alone Star Wars title written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by John Cassaday. Darth Vader will get his own title written by Kieren Gillen and illustrated by Salvador Larocca and Adi Granov and finally Princess Leia will get her own solo title from Mark Waid and Terry Dodson. I can't help but think a better artist could have been found for Leia that more suited the Princess but Dodson may well prove me wrong. These have been confirmed for 2015 so I imagine in the coming months more info and hopefully preview art will be released.

Avengers NOW! All- New Captain America (FalCap) Thor (Female) Superior Iron Man (Tony Stark Gone Mad Scientist) 

Marvels big SDCC announcement was the upcoming Avengers NOW! initiative much like the Marvel NOW! and All-New Marvel NOW! initiatives this sees many new titles and characters beginning from #1 with creative changes, mainly focusing on the characters within the Avengers team. The 3 big announcements are the upcoming changes to the big three Avengers, Captain America, Superior Iron Man and Thor. The mantle and shield of Captain America will be finding a new wielded in Sam Wilson a.k.a Falcon now dubbed Falcap, Steve Rogers has had the super soldier serum removed from his system and now resembles a man of his proper age so obviously he is required to hand over the mantle to someone he trusts. This will be brought to us in the pages of All-New Captain America from Rick Remender & Stuart Immonen starting in November. 

Tony Stark will be moving to San Francisco and after the major fall out from Original Sin, his antics in New Avengers and the events at the beginning of AXIS see him become the Superior Iron Man, an adjective once again made popular by the successful run of another Marvel heavyweight Spider-Man, this sees Tony go a little mad scientist and he will come head to head with another Marvel character recently moved to the area Daredevil. This take on the character certainly sounds interesting and with a new creative team to Marvel of Tom Taylor & Yilidray Cinar may well be worth checking out.

Thor also gets a major shake up. Thor Odinson no longer being deemed worthy of Mjolnir finds the hammer in someone else's hands, a mysterious female. It has been pointed out that this is not Thorita, Lady Thor. This is Thor and the God of Thunder is now a woman. In Jason Aaron I trust and he will be joined on this new era of Thor by Russell Dauterman, he will certainly need to be giving his A-Game as he will be replacing the critically acclaimed Essad Ribic on art duties for the character. This female character who now holds the hammer is shrouded in mystery and it has been confirmed we will have to wait to find out who it is.

Other new titles announced for Avengers NOW! included Angela: Asgards Assassin from Gillen/ Bennett/ Jimenez and Stephanie Hans, Bucky Barnes: Winger Soldier from Ales Kot and Marco Rudy. Deathlok is getting a new series starting in October from Nathan Edmondson and Mike Perkins. Two Inhumans feature in the image, Medusa and Inferno, this may be a continued push for the Inhumans as a whole or NYCC may see the announcement of a solo Medusa title can't really see a solo series for Inferno. Scarlet Witch features in the image also another character that is currently in Uncanny Avengers I have more on my ideas as to why she is in the image in the AXIS section below. Doctor Strange and Ant-Man both are present in the image and with there solo films confirmed or in production it is likely they will see there own individual titles especially considering they were both heavily involved in Original Sin it's only a matter of time.

AXIS

With Original Sin coming to an end, well ended by the time this is posted, AXIS now known as Avengers & X-Men AXIS has been getting a big promotional push. From Special Edition NYC we learnt about the first arc of 3 issues coming in October "The Red Supremacy" which sees the return of the Red Skull in his Onslught duds. This arc sees both the Avengers and X-Men battling the Red Skull on Genosha where he has turned the once mutant country into his base with enslavement camps and this is where he is spreading his message of hate across the world with his new found Charles Xavier mutant powers.

We learnt more about the 2nd arc 'Inversion' during SDCC and since. This arc sees heroes becoming 'bad' guys and villains becoming 'good'. The X-Men team up with one of their greatest villains. Tony Stark goes a little mad scientist and moves to San Francisco to become the Superior Iron Man as teased during the Avengers NOW! initiative. With the AXIS of Evil apparently winning where does that lead the Marvel Universe and what can possibly take place in the third arc to rectify this. Marvel are churning out event after event at the moment and it is understandable why many are apprehensive about this but from the solicitation for both the first and second arc this may be just as exciting and successful as the Avengers vs X-Men event from 2 years past.

Theres also several big teases in the solicitations for the issues during the second arc. The formation of the Astonishing Avengers in issue 6, and with the Uncanny Avengers on hiatus during this event and Remender teasing he will be on a new book by the end of this AXIS is it difficult to put two and two together and believe this will be Astonishing Avengers? Looks as though Remender is just working his way through all the pre-fix adjectives that haven't been before the word Avengers. Bleeding Cool certainly seem to think so and they also think Esad Ribic will be on art duties. Also from the solicits that have since been released issue 5 teases a new sorceress supreme, could the Scarlet Witch be gaining the mantel of Sorceress Supreme and with Marvel's big publishing push for female led titles and the character appearing in Avengers: Age of Ultron next year could she be getting her own title, 'Scarlet Witch Sorceress Supreme'? This would certainly answer why she is in the Avengers NOW! promo image.

Guardians of the Galaxy

So the film I had been waiting 3 years for was finally released at the end of July and is now the highest grossing film in America this year, surprised? I'm not. I've seen the film 3 times now and it was everything I expected and some. I'm counting down the days until the release date is confirmed for the Blu-Ray and then I will be counting down the days until the release date. This film take the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a completelt new and exciting direction and with Guardians of the Galaxy 2 confirmed to be directed by James Gunn and already announced to be released in July 2014 I now only have another 3 years to patiently and excitedly await the sequel. If you haven't yet got to see this I stongly recommed you find a cinema that it still showing it and see it NOW!

And so to end this long and wordy post why not a few teaser videos for some TV shows and Video Games I'm looking forward to coming this Fall.

Star Wars Rebels: October

Agents of Shield Season 2:

Ben Affleck to play Batman in Man of Steel Sequel

The news that was announced over night, well for me anyway. I woke up to a Twitter feed full of shock, some anger and well many mixed feelings. The announcement that had been racking everyones minds since SDCC 2013, who will be playing Batman in Man of Steel 2? Well the announcement was made and Ben Affleck has been cast. This is to be an older Batman. A mature Batman, established crime fighter. I have tried desperately all day to not base any opinion on this from my overall thoughts on the only other superhero film I have seen Ben Affleck in, Daredevil, as that would not be fair. Ben Affleck now has an Oscar to his name for his award winning film Argo. I've read a lot of things on the internet along the lines of Affleck will only Direct a film if he is acting in it also, WB want him for Justice League so if he is Batman then that will work. The only real opinion I currently have is that Affleck is going to have a tough job pleasing an even tougher crowd, Nolan and Bale set the bar so very high with their Dark Knight trilogy that to take on the cowl so soon could really only be taken on by an older actor, one with experience. Lets not forget though that Nolan is involved in this film. I am going to reserve any criticism until the film is released, or maybe the trailer, the film now has a release date of 17/07/3015.

Man of Steel wasn't quite the film I expected and I am hoping that this may do something to rectify that. The quote during the original announcement was from Dark Knight Returns and after recently watching the animated Movie for the comic of the same title I find it hard to think they would chose to do a Live-Action one so soon. It may sound obscure but I actually feel the animated film was ten times better than Man of Steel. But heres to hoping Affleck will surprise his critics and please those who have been supporting an have faith.