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X-Book Renovations

  
  

Page: 1234(5)6

 
 
perceval
00:34 / 05.02.04

AXM would be a new book, while NXM would continue as XM, if the rumors have any substance. A very good source has been suggesting that Austen will take over XM, so I HOPE the Whedon rumors are true. A Whedon written AXM would take over NXM's role, hopefully with Jean (as his Buffy run demonstrates he's a Phoenix fan). A huge chunk of the X-cast would want to get as far away from the Scott&Emma Lovefest as possible (Can't see Ororo or even Logan accepting Emma's authority over them), and an AXM and UXM set away from the School would allow them to do that (and give the Cuckoos somewhere to go, as they wouldn't want to stay with Emma). Meanwhile, the people who LIKE trashy soap opera would have Austen (And what s the Scott&Emma relationship if not trashy soap opera?), who's made this sort of thing his specialty. Everybody wins. The Scott&Emma crowd wouldn't have to deal with Jean, and vice versa. The social and philosophical stuff and fresh perspective would move to AXM, UXM would be classic Claremont, and the fans of Austen style soap opera would have XM.

I hope that's how it works out, anyway.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
01:41 / 05.02.04
Greg Rucka is currently writing Wolverine and he's really not at all bad.
 
 
PatrickMM
01:46 / 05.02.04
Anyone know when the Marvel solicits for May are going to be out, and we can (hopefully) get some confirmation on the Whedon X-Men.

And, is anyone else surprised by the lack of buzz this is getting? I know it's not really common knowledge yet, but I'd suspect most of the people who frequent a comics message board have at least heard about the rumor. Personally, short of more Morrison, Whedon is the person I'd most like to see on the title. Buffy was basically Claremont X-Men, super-powered people having normal problems, and it was done amazingly well. I think letting Whedon loose on the actual X-Men is going to give us a run completely different from Morrison's, but quite close in quality.

So, with this fact, why does it seem like people either don't care, or are actually against Whedon on the book? I've read some message boards where people are saying they'd rather see someone like Geoff Johns or Rucka on the book, and then actually saying that these people would get the book more buzz than Whedon. It's one thing to not think Whedon would work on the book, but to think that he's not going to get the book buzz? Buffy, while never a ratings hit, was always a critical darling, and it's got some rabid fans, that are likely to pick up the book. So, give Whedon the benefit of the doubt, he's going to be amazing, and so will Cassaday.
 
 
Mike-O
03:33 / 05.02.04
Allegedly, there's going to be an offical announcement made by Marvel just prior to the solicitation info being released, which is approximately 3 weeks from now. So sometime between here and there... you'll know.
 
 
perceval
12:22 / 05.02.04

Also, there's the sheer amount of rumors over the last several months to consider. I think people are waiting for something official, now, before getting excited.
 
 
_Boboss
12:36 / 05.02.04
and good as he is at tv scripts, Fray wasn't really much to write home about. it was okay, but that was it.

however his is one of a very few names that would keep me with the xmen after grant zoids skrull kill krew morrison leaves. i'm glad - i've enjoyed having the xmen back in my life the last three years and am happy to have them sticking around for a bit longer.
 
 
diz
13:50 / 05.02.04
and good as he is at tv scripts, Fray wasn't really much to write home about. it was okay, but that was it.

i wouldn't even go that far. Fray is fucking awful. totally generic setting and plotline and cliched characters. occasional bits of sparkling dialogue, but not really quite so many.

i'm more lukewarm on Whedon in general than most people in fandom, it seems. i think Buffy is kind of overrated, i think Angel is crap. i started watching Firefly on DVD, and it was better than anything else i'd seen of his, and i started getting a bit more excited about Whedon writing an X-book, but then i started reading Fray and my enthusiasm fizzled.

there isn't really anyone better out there who would do it, so i suppose it will be relatively OK. i probably won't be rushing out to the comic store when new issues come out, though.
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
14:10 / 05.02.04
I'm curious about which characters Whedon will use. I've got a strong hunch that he's going to want Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde, which would be great since those two characters haven't been written well in comics since 1986.

Claremont has confirmed that Archangel and Professor Xavier are slated for Excalibur, and that Storm, Bishop, and Sage will be in Uncanny X-Men. Rogue and Gambit seem like obvious characters for Whedon, so I'm hoping that he gets them. It's been ages since Rogue has been any good.
 
 
Murray Hamhandler
14:57 / 05.02.04
I believe Kitty Pryde is going to be in Uncanny (or whatever the Claremont-penned X-title will wind being called). And although I don't know what team (if any) Nightcrawler will be affiliated w/when the time comes, I'll be happy enough w/the Chuck Austen Nightcrawler series. It'll be awesome.

AWESOME!

(BTW...has anyone seen the Austen ego-stroke special feature on the X2 DVD? What th' fuck was that about?)
 
 
_Boboss
15:42 / 05.02.04
yeh i saw (and was a bit weirded out by) the Austen 'featurette'.

Well I grew up and i knew the xmen better than anyone else and i really thought nighcrawler was cool and'

in my carefully considered opinion it was

!!!FUCKEN AWESOME!!!
 
 
Mike-O
15:55 / 05.02.04
Shmeh?
 
 
The Falcon
17:03 / 05.02.04
I hope no-one uses Gambit. Fantomex is like a 9000x better and less annoying version (with GUNZ!)
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
18:33 / 05.02.04
In total seriousness, I can think of few other characters in the X-Men who has more potential for great stories than Gambit. It's just unfortunate that he's consistently written badly, because the core concept is promising. He's a sleazy creep, a bit of a sociopath. He lies all the time. He's a known criminal. No one knows too much about him, and it's not always clear why he's involved with the X-Men. He has a relationship with Rogue which is just as sweet as it is questionable and disturbing. If a writer were to truly embrace what a selfish sleaze he is, it would be great. I think that writers always want to make him likeable, which is the wrong move. I think you should hate the guy, and he should cause tons of problems for the group. He should be less Fonz, and more Gorch.

I think Fantomex has a lot of potential too, but I see him as being a much better person. He's a nice guy, just a bit selfish and pessimistic. I think the fun thing with Fantomex could be his relationship with the concept of indentity - he doesn't really have one, so he can put on new ones all of the time. If I was in charge of Fantomex, he'd be changing a lot. He wouldn't be stuck in faux-French guy-with-guns mode for long. Also, his relationship with EVA is obviously something which could be fleshed out quite a bit.
 
 
FinderWolf
18:56 / 05.02.04
Um, who's "Gorch"?
 
 
diz
18:59 / 05.02.04
wow, Flux, you are so dead on here it's not even funny.

In total seriousness, I can think of few other characters in the X-Men who has more potential for great stories than Gambit. It's just unfortunate that he's consistently written badly, because the core concept is promising. He's a sleazy creep, a bit of a sociopath. He lies all the time. He's a known criminal. No one knows too much about him, and it's not always clear why he's involved with the X-Men. He has a relationship with Rogue which is just as sweet as it is questionable and disturbing. If a writer were to truly embrace what a selfish sleaze he is, it would be great. I think that writers always want to make him likeable, which is the wrong move. I think you should hate the guy, and he should cause tons of problems for the group. He should be less Fonz, and more Gorch.

this is probably the only way i could even conceivably be interested in Gambit.

however, i doubt it would ever happen. there's SUCH a huge Gambit fanbase and the R/R shippers are total fanatics. to say that writing Gambit like the sleaze he is would be hugely unpopular would be an understatement, and fucking with Rogue and Remy's relationship would cause shrieking that would make the outcry over Scott and Emma look tame.

of course, the fanboys generally have horrible taste, and NXM sells really well despite the fact that they all hate it, so mayyyyybe...

I think Fantomex has a lot of potential too, but I see him as being a much better person. He's a nice guy, just a bit selfish and pessimistic. I think the fun thing with Fantomex could be his relationship with the concept of indentity - he doesn't really have one, so he can put on new ones all of the time. If I was in charge of Fantomex, he'd be changing a lot. He wouldn't be stuck in faux-French guy-with-guns mode for long. Also, his relationship with EVA is obviously something which could be fleshed out quite a bit.

i think Fantomex has more potential than almost any other GM character from this run, and that's saying a lot. i like your proposed approach to him a lot.

i don't see why everyone hates Fantomex so much as a character. well, actually i do, but don't they get it? geez.

it's so childish and stupid and fanboy of me, but i would cream my pants if Fantomex were to mop the floor with Gambit in some big fight scene. especially if he were to mock him and make scathing comments and just generally make him look like a punk. did i mention that i hate Gambit?
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
19:22 / 05.02.04
I don't know. Just for fun, I've given a lot of thought about what I'd do if I had the X-writing gig (which is not necessarily a career goal for me, but certainly something fun to think about), and I don't think any of the ideas I have for Gambit would really piss off his fanbase. I think most of his fans enjoy the sleaziness of the character, and would probably like him even more if that was embraced. It's not like I'd be making up ways for him to be sleazy in ways he wasn't already - we're talking about a character who was hired by Mr. Sinister to lead the Marauders to the Morlocks, so that they could be slaughtered. This is clearly a character with rather questionable selective morality.

The trick with Gambit would be to embrace the character's subtext, much like what Grant did with Cyclops. You need to foreground that he's a tremendously charismatic creep, and play it up. Make him the character that you love to hate. I'd want to put him and the X-Men in a situation where he tricks them all into doing something very wrong so that he can accomplish an arguably noble goal, and have them hate him when they find out.
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
19:32 / 05.02.04
Another way of thinking about is this - initially in New X-Men, we're meant to think that Quentin and Magneto are kind of cool. They are bold and drastic, and you could side with them a bit. Initially, I'd want Gambit to be sympathetic in this way. He's brash and a total bastard, but you're with him. He's sexy and cool and he's big on the ultra-violence. I'd want the reader to lose respect for Gambit gradually, as his true nature is revealed over a period of time, and he eventually hits rock bottom.

Hunterwolf, the Gorch is a reference to a Best Show On WFMU sketch. The premise is, the Fonz from Happy Days is based on this guy called The Gorch, who is this sleazy, creepy, violent goon. He's essentially what the Fonz would REALLY be like, as opposed to the smiling likeable character from tv.
 
 
Krug
14:19 / 06.02.04
Matthew: I completely agree.


I've always hated Fantomex.
I was so happy when Grant anounced that there was a big massacre coming for the X-Men before he came onto the book and that he hated Gambit. Was hoping he'd kill him off but I later found out what the massacre was really.
 
 
FinderWolf
14:25 / 06.02.04
Thanks, Flux. And I also, like some others here, think your thoughts on Fantomex and Gambit are very cool indeed. Very good ideas there!
 
 
Mister Six, whom all the girls
18:00 / 10.02.04
Anyone else hip to the fact that the title 'Astonishing X-Men' is not a new title?

Perhaps an Age of Apocalypse is upon us???

http://www.rectrix.cx/rectrix/comicbooks/TheAstonishingX-Men/
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
18:29 / 10.02.04
They are probably just using the title because they already have it trademarked, etc.
 
 
FinderWolf
18:37 / 10.02.04
So Bryan Singer to write Ultimate X-Men for a year, huh? Sounds nice.

And Rich Johnston noted yesterday that Joe Q. denied that Joss & John Cassady would be the new NEW X-MEN team - and noted that that's a true denial if J & J are in fact doing a comic called ASTONISHING X-MEN and not NEW X-MEN.
 
 
Murray Hamhandler
20:55 / 10.02.04
Right. So, Astonishing is a (sort of) completely new title (if you don't count the two previous minis w/the same name) which, I'm assuming, will launch w/a new first issue. Why? Because Astonishing is apparently a completely different creature than New X-Men. So what's happening w/NXM, you ask? Well, let me tell you:

AUSTEN AND LAROCCA, MUTHAFUCKA!!!

Austen ain't goin' nowhere! Cue mass sigh of relief.

I'm assuming NXM will get Nightcrawler. Fuck.
 
 
bigsunnydavros
21:32 / 10.02.04
A theory: Marvel keep hiring Chuck Austen because he's [A] a very quick writer (duh!), and [B] because Paul O'Brien's reviews of his work are really, really fucking funny.

"But soft! What shite through yonder window breaks?
A new Uncanny X-Men, for my sins."
 
 
perceval
18:03 / 11.02.04

I'd guess (if this is true) Claremont will likely get Kurt. Since Austen will be losing some of his current cast (Warren's headed to Excalibur, and Lorna would likely jump to another book if the opportunity came up), and the already small current NXM cast will likely be further depleated, Austen would just have to shift most of his current characters over and make NXM THE book set at the School (besides New Mutants, of course). This would put the Scott&Emma soap opera into Austen's hands (Claremont wouldn't want it, and Whedon might want to avoid it, too). So, we'd have Emma, looking for a dominant father figure due to her screwed up childhood, and trying to get Scott to be the dominant guy, with the writer who just LOVES writing trashy soap opera and abusive daddy stories. Should be an interesting train wreck. Austen would want to keep Beak and Angel, too, I'd imagine.

Well, as long as Jean returns, and takes Hank, Logan, and the Cuckoos to Joss's book, I'll be happy.

E
 
 
Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!
18:20 / 11.02.04
I'd kinda prefer for him to just do the next damn film.
 
 
mario94606
02:03 / 12.02.04
MAYBE WHEN LIEFELD LEARNS TO DRAW WITH DEPTH (BACKGROUNDS) HE'LL BE WORTH READING.
 
 
Jack Fear
02:19 / 12.02.04
Maybe when you turn off your caps lock, you'll be worth redaing, too.
 
 
mario94606
03:02 / 12.02.04
to jack fear:
someone who CRITIQUES should at leats learn to spell "READING" BEFORE THEY TALK SHIT!!
 
 
Mike-O
04:02 / 12.02.04
ZING.... like a motherfuker....
 
 
sleazenation
07:18 / 12.02.04
...and someone who criticises someone else's spelling should at least spell 'least' correctly.

but this is getting us nowhere

Mario - using all caps all the time makes you look like you are shouting and detracts credibility from what you are saying. You will probably get more out of your interactions here if you use caps less.
 
 
Spaniel
13:27 / 12.02.04
I love Mario.

Perceval, Logan's going to be in every x-book ever.
 
 
FinderWolf
14:06 / 12.02.04
sleazenation, thank you for being a voice of reason and pleasant moderation here.

Let's get this thread back on track by saying "hmmm, let's see what Marvel officially announces in 2 weeks." For my own sake, I'll be staying way the heck away from Claremont's books (unless the Alan Davis art on the one is just so beautiful that I have to check it out) and the Austen books will be like garlic to Dracula to me. I'm very much looking forward to Bryan Singer's ULT. X-MEN, and I really really hope the Joss/Cassaday rumors are true, gloriously true!
 
 
The Falcon
19:37 / 17.02.04
Here are the facts on 'Reload' from Marvel's May X-book stuff, leaked:

ASTONISHING X-MEN #1
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Pencils & Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
"GIFTED" pt. 1 (of 6)
Dream-team creators JOSS WHEDON (creator of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and
JOHN CASSADAY (Planetary, CAPTAIN AMERICA) bring you the explosive #1 issue of
the all-new flagship X-Men series! As part of X-MEN: RELOAD, this issue marks a
return to classic greatness and the beginning of a brand-new era for the X-Men.
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99
UPC: 5960605543-00111

UNCANNY X-MEN #444
Written by Chris Claremont
Pencils & Cover by Alan Davis
"THE END OF HISTORY" pt. 1 (of 4)
Beloved X-Men creators CHRIS CLAREMONT and ALAN DAVIS return to the series that
started it all! New alliances are forged as old friendships are rekindled, but
one thing is certain: The X-Men will never be the same!
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.25
UPC: 5960602461-44411

X-MEN #157
Written by Chuck Austen
Pencils & Cover by Salvador Larroca
"DAY OF THE ATOM" pt. 1 (of 4)
UNCANNY X-MEN scribe CHUCK AUSTEN moves to X-MEN (formerly NEW X-MEN) to team up
with new regular artist SALVADOR LARROCA as part of X-MEN: RELOAD!
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.25
UPC: 5960601772-15711

New X-Men: Academy X #1
Written by NUNZIO DEFILIPPIS & Christina Weir
Pencils & Cover by RandY Green
"CHOOSING SIDES" pt. 1 (of 5)
For the young mutants at the Xavier Institute, life will never be the same! The
children at the X-Mansion thought they had it tough when Professor X was running
things - but now that X-Men Cyclops and Emma Frost have taken over the reins of
the school, they're wishing for the simpler times of yesterday! Codenames,
school-issued uniforms and mandatory training sessions in the Danger Room are
just a few of the changes being implemented around the Institute - but when the
entire student body is forced to divide itself up into small squads and "choose
sides," Xavier's will never be the same again!
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99
UPC: 5960605544-00111


EXCALIBUR #1 & #2
Written by Chris Claremont
Penciled by Igor Kordey
Covers by ANDY PARK
"FORGING THE SWORD" pts. 1 & 2
The island of Genosha was once a thriving nation of mutants, built from the
ground up by Magneto, the mutant Master of Magnetism. Then, one day, an
apocalyptic attack killed every man, woman and child, and reduced an entire
society to rubble within hours. Now, Professor Charles Xavier - legendary
founder of the X-Men, and the man who dreams of peaceful coexistence between
humans and mutants - has come to Genosha with one intention: to rebuild a nation
from its ashes. This brand-new X-MEN: RELOAD series features stories and art
from the creative team that brought you X-TREME X-MEN!
32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each)
Issue #1 UPC: 5960605540-00111; #2: 5960605540-00211

The Official Handbook of
the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004
Featuring extensive diagrams and maps of the new X-Men Mansion, profiles on your
favorite heroes, and exclusive behind-the-scenes X-MEN: RELOAD material that can
only be seen here, The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004 is a
must-have for any true Marvel fan.
48 PGS./Cardstock Cover/MARVEL PSR ...$3.99
UPC: 5960605545-00111


DISTRICT X #1
Written by David Hine
Penciled by David Yardin
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
"MR. M" pt. 1 (of 6)
A new MARVEL KNIGHTS series! Welcome to Mutant Town, the dark corner of New York
City where the long arm of the law has been severed clean. Here, the mutant
population doesn't sport GQ style or champagne dreams. They eke out each day in
squalid tenement rows and filthy streets where only one man and one law can be
trusted: the X-Man Bishop.
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99
UPC: 5960605530-00111


EXILES #46 & #47
Written by Tony Bedard
Pencils & Covers by Mizuki Sakakibara
"EARN YOUR WINGS" pts. 1 & 2 (of 3)
There's no rest for the weary when there are realities to save! After the
devastating events of their last mission, the Exiles hope for a little downtime,
only to find themselves 'ported directly into a none-too-friendly reception from
the regular Marvel Universe! This X-MEN: RELOAD issue is a perfect jumping-on
point, featuring the debut of new writer TONY BEDARD (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,
Negation) and the promotion of EXILES cover artist MIZUKI SAKAKIBARA to regular
artist! Guest-starring the Fantastic Four and Beak from NEW-X-MEN!
32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each)
Issue #46 UPC: 5960605108-04611; #47: 5960605108-04711


WEAPON X #23 & #24
Written by Frank Tieri
Penciled by TOM MANDRAKE
Covers by ANDY PARK
"WAR OF THE PROGRAMS" pts. 1 & 2 (of 3)
Featuring WOLVERINE and FANTOMEX! Writer FRANK TIERI and new regular artist TOM
MANDRAKE take WEAPON X in an exciting new direction! What is the Weapon X
Program? What is its relationship to the shadowy past of the most famous X-Man,
Wolverine? And what did Wolverine recently learn about himself that threatens to
destroy everything he believes in? Guest-starring FANTOMEX, these X-MEN: RELOAD
issues serve as a great jumping-on point! Featuring covers by Tomb Raider artist
Andy Park!
32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each)
Issue #23 UPC: 5960605372-02311; #24: 5960605372-02411


MYSTIQUE #14 & #15
Written by Sean McKeever
Penciled by MANUEL GARCIA
Covers by Mike Mayhew
"UNNATURAL" pts. 1 & 2 (of 5)
When Mystique is sent to Europe to investigate a biotech company rumored to be
using mutants as guinea pigs, she discovers a mystery far greater than anything
she'd imagined! Join the new X-MEN: RELOAD creative team of SEAN McKEEVER
(SENTINEL, The Waiting Place) and returning artist MANUEL GARCIA (AVENGERS) for
this bold new adventure featuring everyone's favorite shape-shifting secret
agent!
32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each)
Issue #14 UPC: 5960605431-01411; #15: 5960605431-01511


ALPHA FLIGHT #3
Written by Scott Lobdell
Pencils & Cover by Clayton Henry
"YOU GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME" pt. 3 (of 6)
The All-New, All-Different Alpha Flight -- led by everyone's favorite Chewbacca
look-alike, Sasquatch -- unites to tackle the menace of the Plodex. But will
Canada's newest, hippest fighting force be able to save their maple-leaf-clad
forefathers in time? Could this be -- gasp! -- the end of Puck, the Killer
Canuck?
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99
UPC: 5960605518-00311

EMMA FROST #11
Written by Karl Bollers
Penciled by Carlo Pagulayan
Cover by GREG HORN
"MIND GAMES" pt. 5 (of 6)
Emma Frost has freed herself from her overbearing father, but now she's on her
own and in over her head with the Boston mob! Her developing mutant powers have
barely saved her so far, but how will she escape mob custody with nowhere to
run?
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99
UPC: 5960605432-01111

CABLE/DEADPOOL #3
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Penciled by Mark Brooks
Cover by Rob Liefeld
"IF LOOKS COULD KILL" pt. 3 (of 6)
The One World Church has a lovely message of eliminating all that divides us to
bring about a glorious global unity. All they want is to love you till you're
blue in the face -- literally! Will Cable and Deadpool allow themselves to be
recruited, or will they go ballistic?
32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99
UPC: 5960605490-00311
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
20:48 / 17.02.04
Okay. That confirms what we expected about the creative teams, but I'm mostly interested in what the line-ups for each of the four core X-books will be. So far, the only definitive information we have in that regard is that Charles Xavier and Archangel are going to be regulars in Excalibur.

Claremont's premise for the new Excalibur sounds very promising, but I can't fathom why they would use that title for the series other than for copyright reasons. It's so misleading! I do think that's a very logical next step for Charles, after having stepped down from the Xavier Institute. I'll give it a shot.

I'll give Whedon's X-Men a go, but I don't really know what to expect from him.
 
  

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