Ed Piskor’s X-Men Grand Design has been a critical darling for Marvel Comics, and there are already hints that the company is looking to give other characters similar books of their own.
Piskor’s Grand Design is consolidating the X-Men’s history (up to a certain point) and retelling their story in a clear, linear fashion. The comic has an edgy, underground vibe that’s unique to superhero books, and it’s resonated with fans in a big way. It makes sense that Marvel Comics would want to extend this success to their other books. But with the company’s long, rich history, where do they begin? Let’s break down five properties that deserve the X-Men Grand Design treatment.
Fantastic Four
Remember when we said there were hints that Marvel’s already planning more Grand Design comics? Well this is what we meant. Last month, Tom Scioli hinted on Twitter that Fantastic Four Grand Design is “maybe” in the works.
Earlier this year @Marvel asked me to pitch a #FantasticFour story along the lines of @EdPiskor’s X-Men, telling the story of the FF and their extended cast. It started with the origin of Galactus which is eerily similar to the FF’s origin. pic.twitter.com/2NybzVJXuz
What’s most interesting here is that Scioli claims Marvel ASKED him to pitch the story, which infers that this is in their plans.
The FF is Marvel’s first family – the book that started it all. They also have some of the biggest and baddest villains of the whole universe (literally, in the case of Galactus). Much like X-Men, Fantastic Four Grand Design could be an awesome mix of Earth-based superhero action and grand cosmic adventures.
The Avengers
Like the X-Men, the Avengers are a team with a long history of rotating members. A Grand Design book could go through all the various incarnations and play with almost all of Marvel’s superheroes and villains.
This might seem like it would just be an action comic, but the Avengers have faced their share of emotional trauma. There have been deaths, disbandments, and catastrophic events like Avengers Disassembled. This could balance out the action and give the book more poignant character moments like X-Men Grand Design has.
The Avengers have also been at the center of most Marvel events, so this would be a great way to include landmark moments.
Cosmic Marvel
Some of Marvel’s best stories have been told in space, without the likes of Captain America, Spider-Man, and the rest of the usual faces. The problem is that cosmic Marvel can be a bit daunting to new readers. But that just makes it the perfect candidate to have its history consolidated in a single book.
Piskor is only retelling X-history up to a certain point, and a cosmic Marvel book could do the same thing. Imagine a Grand Design story focused only on Jim Starlin’s work. Doesn’t that sound incredible? It could hit all the major beats concerning Adam Warlock, Thanos, Captain Marvel, the Infinity Gauntlet saga, and more.
Of course, if it were to extend to the Abnett and Lanning era including Annihilation, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Nova, that’d be pretty incredible too.
Spider-Man
Ol’ web-head might seem like an odd choice for this list, but the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler actually has a pretty confusing history that could use a cleanup.
Aside from the obvious (“Clone Saga”, anyone?), Spidey’s been rebooted and retconned more than a few times. He’s been mutated and killed. He’s been to space and to the suburbs. Who can keep track of all that? He also has an incredible supporting cast of both allies and villains, and a Grand Design book would allow them all to shine.
And there’s the obvious financial benefit that Spider-Man is Marvel’s most famous character, and any book with his face on it will sell like Aunt May’s wheatcakes.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Grand Design could be an intense spy thriller focusing on Nick Fury (both of them) and beyond. That whole side of the Marvel universe is criminally underappreciated, but it’s a cult favorite.
Just like Piskor went back to before the X-Men were created in his book, S.H.I.E.L.D. could go back to the days of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos. It would give a more comprehensive look at the Marvel Universe as a whole.
Whereas the other books on this list are all superhero/sci-fi books, S.H.I.E.L.D. would provide something different. It would explore a specific corner of the Marvel Universe, and a corner that could benefit from an edgy, underground style.
Are you reading X-Men Grand Design? What Marvel Comics do YOU want to see get the same treatment? Sound off in the comments!
By now you have heard that the live-action adaptation of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is coming to the silver screen, but now we know the cast that will live out the horror!
The film has a stout duo of visionaries, behind both producer Guillermo del Toro and director André Øvredal, both of whom will guide the cast of six teens into Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The film’s story will follow the six teens as they struggle to uncover the cause of a series of horrifying deaths. With that, let’s meet the gang!
She has had roles in TV shows like, Past Life and Rubicon and was Tessie in the reboot of Annie and the TV movie, Nerd Herd. She has two projects in post-production, including Skin.
Øvredal was quoted as saying the cast will, “Help realize the most-terrifying adaptation that we could conceive!”. Production begins soon, though no official release date has been set. Look for more casting announcements and film tidbits to come down the pipeline.
What do you think, are you excited to see the books come alive? What stories do you hope they include in the film? Let us know in the comments section below.
There was a time, many moons ago when the Star Wars galaxy existed in the form of only movies, comics, and books. Determined to reach a younger audience and explain the Prequels in more depth (since adult fandom was shedding tears), George Lucas partnered with Cartoon Network to bring about Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The series first aired in 2008 amongst heavy criticism, largely in part to the unpopular opinion associated with the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie.
And yet, as the series progressed, the fanbase continued to grow. Much of this was in part to an upcoming animation director who got his start working for Nickelodeon on the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Under Lucas’ tutelage, Dave Filoni (writer, director, and developer) helped hook a new generation of Star Wars fans. At the height of its popularity, Lucasfilm was sold to Disney, thus abruptly ending The Clone Wars animated series due to licensing issues.
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary at SDCC, Filoni shocked fandom by announcing the return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The trailer left thousands cheering and crying tears of joy.
Twelve new episodes will be airing on Disney’s streaming service, expected to launch in early 2019. Currently, the six previous seasons of The Clone Wars are airing on Netflix. They won’t be there for long, as it’s expected to get pulled before the new year. For those looking to refresh themselves or break into the series, time is short.
To alleviate binge-watching madness, we’ve compiled a list of 12 Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes everyone needs to watch before its return.
The Galactic Trinity
Prior to the return of The Clone Wars animated series, there are three essential must-see episodes. They’re powerful, animated brilliantly, emotional, and will definitely play a role in season 7.
Ghosts of Mortis S3: Ep 17
Image via Netflix Studios
Stuck on the outlying planet of Mortis with Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker is forced to confront his possible future. Bent on destroying The Son, Anakin has a vision. Deeply troubled, he witnesses events to come in the Star Wars Skywalker saga.
“Ghosts of Mortis” is the tipping point episode of The Clone Wars animated series. It takes the show down a darker path while fleshing out many of Anakin’s flaws. The episode also dives deeper into Kenobi’s and Skywalker’s relationship. After all, Obi-Wan always sought to protect Anakin like a big brother should.
The Wrong Jedi S5: Ep 20
Image Via Netflix Studios
When The Clone Wars animated series first aired, Ahsoka Tano was amongst the most hated character in Star Wars fandom (right behind Jar-Jar Binks). Over the course of the series, Snips would become the most popular. Much in part to the exceptional voice acting skills of Ashley Eckstein. “The Wrong Jedi” is a pinnacle episode for Ahsoka’s arc.
To fully understand the awkwardness of Anakin and Ahsoka seen in the trailer, watching “The Wrong Jedi” will put events into perspective. The ending of the episode is emotional, so remember to have tissues on hand.
Sacrifice S6: Ep13
Image via Netflix Studios
Dubbed as The Lost Missions, season 6 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is a compilation of episodes not previously aired on Cartoon Network. Some are filler, but others like “Sacrifice” set the stage for season 7.
The episode follows Yoda to the ancient Sith planet of Moraband, where he seeks answers regarding The Force. It also features Darth Sidious working his Sith Alchemy with Count Dooku in tow. “Sacrifice” is a glimpse into a darker Star Wars universe, not shown in the movies.
Darth Maul And The Mandalorian’s
Many suspect the seventh season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will begin by returning to the planet Mandalore. The possible re-appearance of Darth Maul is another top theory. The Mandalorian and Maul arcs contain a bunch of episodes, so we narrowed it down to the top 5. Not every episode listed here is a stunning work of art. But to fully understand the characters and possible arcs for season 7, each one should be watched in the order listed.
Brothers S4: Ep21
Image via Netflix Studios
If you were among the confused fans watching Solo: A Star Wars Storywhen Darth Maul appeared, “Brothers” will help clear things up. The episode is slightly hard to watch, but it does flesh out how Darth Maul survived being sliced in half.
“Brothers” also takes a deep dive into Darth Maul’s mentality and his unstable nature. Sam Witwer’s voice acting skills are quite amazing to witness. Mauls unstable mentality will continue to play a role in season 7.
Revival S5: Ep1
Image via Netflix Studios
Continuing down the Darth Maul arc, “Revival” serves as a key turning point. Maul has proclaimed himself to be a Sith Lord with Savage Opress as his apprentice. Seeking to take control of the criminal underworld, his decisions lead to a face-off against Obi-Wan Kenobi.
“Revival” also contains the appearance of the beloved pirate Hondo Ohnaka and his great sense of humor. The highlight of the episode, however, is the fierce lightsaber showdown. Obi-Wan Kenobi is not a Jedi to be messed with.
Duchess of Mandalore S2: E14
Image via Netflix Studios
Breaking away from the Darth Maul arc, “Duchess of Mandalore” focuses on Mandalore and its people. The episode fleshes out Duchess Satine’s character and the politics surrounding the planet. It also touches on her and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s romantic feelings for one another. If that wasn’t enough, it introduces the Mandalorian rebel group known as Death Watch.
It’s a political heavy episode, but one which will set up events to come.
A Friend in Need S4: Ep14
Image via Netflix Studios
While not a stellar episode, “A Friend in Need” follows Ahsoka Tano’s rebellious nature as she gets caught up with the Mandalorian underworld group known as Death Watch. This episode is important to watch because it fleshes out Pre Vizsla’s (leader of Death Watch) character. Vizsla has the Darksaber, and this is the first time its seen in Star Wars Canon. Duchess Satine’s sister Bo-Katan also gets introduced as a member of Death Watch.
R2-D2 gets a chance to shine as he leads droids into battle while Ahsoka learns a few hard lessons. The introduction of Bo-Katan will play a major role in the return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7, making this episode a must see.
The Lawless S5: Ep 16
Image via Netflix Studios
Considered by many to be one of the best Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes of all time, “The Lawless” is packed full of action and superb writing. It also connects the Maul and Mandalorian arcs.
Darth Maul has taken control of Death Watch along with the planet of Mandalore. Obi-Wan rebels against the wishes of the Jedi Council and seeks to help Duchess Satine. Bo-Katan switches sides, while Darth Sidious breaks out his lightsabers in an epic duel. Even Obi-Wan receives character development, explaining why he’s against Anakin falling in love with Padme.
Revisiting The Clones
It’s impossible to talk about Star Wars: The Clone Wars without revisiting a couple of episodes featuring fandoms favorite clones. While there’s a ton to watch, the following two are essential.
Rookies S1: Ep5
Image via Netflix Studios
Clone officers Cody and Rex are sure to play a major role in the return of The Clone Wars. “Rookies” fleshes out their leadership abilities and relationships with the Jedi, while introducing significant characters like Fives and Echo.
An important detail most miss in this episode is the mentioning of clones being put into the battlefield too early due to losses. Overall, “Rookies” focuses on the individuality of the clones under the helm of Jedi leadership. They may look alike, but each has a mind and personality of their own.
Orders S6: E4
Image via Netflix Studios
The return of The Clone Wars is sure to incorporate Order 66, making “Orders” one of the most essential episodes to re-watch. A chip has been discovered to be implanted in the clones, and Fives finds himself on the wrong end of a conspiracy.
This episode goes into detail regarding how Palpatine was able to pull off his master plan while explaining how Rex, Wolffe, and Gregor managed to escape their pre-determined fate.
Exploring Bounty Hunters
The return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is sure to feature a bounty hunter or two. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy venturing into the dark underworld of the Star Wars universe? Much like the clones, there’s a bunch of bounty hunter episodes to watch. The following two introduce and flesh out the most important ones in the galaxy.
Hostage Crisis S1: Ep22
Image via Netflix Studios
Featuring fan-favorite Cad-Bane and his group of delinquent bounty hunters, “Hostage Crisis” explores how Palpatine used the criminal underworld to further his ultimate agenda.
The episode also shows a younger and immature side of Anakin Skywalker, reminding fans of his own mental instability.
Bounty S4: Ep 20
Image via Netflix Studios
Asajj Ventress is no longer a Sith apprentice. “Bounty” explores what happens to her while introducing another bounty hunter fan favorite — Boba Fett. Despite being a child, he’s running his own bounty hunter gang.
During Star Wars Celebration in 2017, Filoni showed fans a raw animated clip of Cad-Bane and Boba Fett having a showdown. Hopefully, it’ll appear in season 7 of The Clone Wars.
The Clone Wars Honorable Mentions
Many suspect the previously mentioned must-see episodes will tie-in to the return The Clone Wars. In addition to these, we’ve got a few more which should be watched purely for entertainment value. These include:
“The Box” S4: Ep17.
“Shades of Reason” S5: Ep15.
“Cloak of Darkness” & “Lair of Grievous” S1: Ep9,10.
“Clone Cadets” & “Arc Troopers” S3: Ep1,2.
Clone Wars has always bridged a gap in Star Wars fandom. And it’ll now continue to do so. The future of Disney’s success with Star Wars remains to be seen. With Filoni in charge of animation, however, it’s looking bright.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 will premiere on the Disney streaming service sometime in early 2019. Be sure to check out previous seasons and episodes while they’re still on Netflix, as they will likely be pulled before the first of the year.
If you’ve never seen the series before, or need a refresher, stick to the 12 episodes we mentioned, and you’ll be up to speed for the return of Star Wars:The Clone Wars.
If you miss The Wire and Bunk Moreland, hold on to your seats because Wendell Pierce’s character James Greer in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is another damaged soul trying to save the day.
Pierce spoke to the media at the Amazon Prime Video premiere of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Friday night. The actor gave some insight into his character and why the long format of the show works well to develop relationships.
About Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan:
This explosive, globe-trotting thriller finds Marine-turned-rookie CIA analyst Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) sitting behind a desk scrutinizing suspicious financial transactions. Following the money leads Jack and his boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce) to Mousa Bin Suleiman (Ali Suliman), the Syrian-based terrorist mastermind behind a horrific attack in Paris. With assistance from government epidemiologist, Dr. Cathy Mueller (Abbie Cornish) and Suleiman’s wife Hanin (Dina Shihabi), Jack becomes an unexpected hero as he races to stop the extremist from unleashing an insidious assault on U.S. soil. An action-packed thrill ride told in eight heart-stopping episodes, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is an up-to-the-minute reimagining of the iconic American hero’s first foray as a CIA operative.
The Amazon series stars John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish, Wendell Pierce, Ali Suliman, Dina Shihabi, and Amir El-Masry. Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland created the show based on Tom Clancy’s work.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is available now on Amazon Video.
Have you started watching Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan yet? What do you think of the series? Comment below with your thoughts.
At the Amazon Studios premiere for Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the star of the show, John Krasinski reminded everyone why he is still America’s sweetheart.
Krasinski is a nerd, humble, thankful, and gracious. How he carries himself in the above clip is what made Jim Halpert a great character on The Office. You can’t help but root for Krasinski to be successful.
About Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan:
This explosive, globe-trotting thriller finds Marine-turned-rookie CIA analyst Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) sitting behind a desk scrutinizing suspicious financial transactions. Following the money leads Jack and his boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce) to Mousa Bin Suleiman (Ali Suliman), the Syrian-based terrorist mastermind behind a horrific attack in Paris. With assistance from government epidemiologist, Dr. Cathy Mueller (Abbie Cornish) and Suleiman’s wife Hanin (Dina Shihabi), Jack becomes an unexpected hero as he races to stop the extremist from unleashing an insidious assault on U.S. soil. An action-packed thrill ride told in eight heart-stopping episodes, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is an up-to-the-minute reimagining of the iconic American hero’s first foray as a CIA operative.
The Amazon series stars John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish, Wendell Pierce, Ali Suliman, Dina Shihabi, and Amir El-Masry. Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland created the show based on Tom Clancy’s work.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is available now on Amazon Video.
Have you started watching Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan yet? What do you think of the series? Comment below with your thoughts.
We have all heard the saying, ‘All Good Things Must Come to an End’, but it will be interesting to see The Walking Dead push on without its marquee character, Rick Grimes.
By now, you have most-certainly heard that Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln, will be departing the show at the upcoming season’s midway point, though has left a lot open for speculation that his character my indeed walk away alive, with the opportunity to eventually return one day.
“My relationship with this part is far from over,” Lincoln told comicbook.com. “The strange thing about being here (at San Diego Comic-Con) was the fact that I think it really hit me because of the relationship that the show has with the fans here. As soon as it finished, the panel, I walked off the stage, it was more profound — my sadness — the actually wrapping up on the show. The show, I was so proud of and where the story was going and where the season was going. It’s a brilliant launching pad, I think, the episode that I leave, into the rest of this incredible season. All of that was more than just ‘Oh, I’m pleased that I’ve completed it.’ This was, ‘Oh, f—.’ I’m leaving.”
Over the course of eight season, Grimes has had quite the transformation. He woke up into a walker apocalypse and we saw him pull off some heroic deeds, but also was responsible for some incredibly bizarre and out-of-character deeds, thus forcing others to question his morals. He has lost a lot of people over the course of eight years, including both his wife, Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies), and shockingly, his son, Carl Grimes, played by Chandler Riggs, last season, in what has been a complete turn-around from the Image Comics storyline, where ‘one-eyed’ Carl, who is alive and well, has taken on more of a leadership role.
With that said, check out the video below, by YouTuber InfiniteX, and take a trip down memory lane as we say goodbye to Rick and wish him well.
Season 9 of The Walking Dead kicks off on Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 9 pm (ET) on AMC. Check out the teaser and click HERE to see just how many people have actually come-and-gone through seven seasons.
Pardon the pun, but this episode of MY HERO ACADEMIA truly addresses a lot of big ideas. This episode puts a cap on the Provisional Hero License Exam in a dynamic way. There are so many Class 1-A students who shine, even though it mostly focuses on Shoto Todoroki. “What’s the Big Idea?” does a great job of wrapping up the Exam with an exciting, fiery conclusion.
The conflict between Todoroki and Inasa Yoarashi is a great way to center the end of the exam. Yoarashi reveals Todoroki was a jerk to him at the 1-A entrance exam, back when Todoroki was consumed with rage against his father. Todoroki coming to terms with how that bitterness has affected his journey is a brilliant moment of character development. Midoriya unlocking revelations for both Todoroki and Yoarashi is also a great way to bring him into the episode. MY HERO ACADEMIA utilizes two of its strongest characters for a powerful climax.
The “army of heroes” focus for the exam is also great. Much like Todoroki’s inner conflict, so much of this episode revolves on Endeavor. Endeavor is now the Number One hero, in the wake of All Might losing his power. However, he’s a very bitter hero, having lived in All Might’s shadow for so long. The same bitterness that caused Todoroki to turn on him also inspires the lack of faith from the government.
There are so many big ideas that MY HERO ACADEMIA nails in this episode. There’s a lot of exposition that comes out, but only through action. Because of this, the episode can explore its history without losing momentum. The abrupt end of the exam is a bit shocking, and the sudden cliffhanger is a bit off-putting. While the scoring system justifies the exam ending, it’s a bit too quick of a turnaround from the Todoroki development. It’s a bit of a shame that Todoroki and Yoarashi have so little time to dwell on their mistakes. However, it’s merely a somewhat rushed ending on an otherwise deep episode.
Overall, this episode excels in wrapping up the License Exam. Not only is there excellent action, but the importance of teamwork is a strong way to wrap it up. The focus of finding a lot of heroes with strong bonds hits at the heart of MY HERO ACADEMIA. It’s unlikely every 1-A student passed the exam – especially Todoroki. But putting a focus on how important teamwork is illustrates how great Class 1-A is.
There’s a big shakeup in the works at Marvel TV. No doubt the Netflix division is having some changes.
Creator Melissa Rosenberg is leaving Jessica Jones as showrunner.
According to reports, Rosenberg will leave the show after its third season. She is preparing for an exclusive deal with Warner Brothers Television. The Hollywood Reporter reveals Warners did beat out Netflix in a bidding war. Needless to say, the former would be successful, but the latter did try courting her to stay.
“As I look ahead after this season, I’m thrilled that I will be able to explore new projects with the talented team at Warner Bros Television and push myself in new challenging creative directions,” Rosenberg says.
Rosenberg has been with the show since its inception. After years of development, the ABC network did pass on the series. Undaunted, Rosenberg’s show would find a home at Netflix. This is part of a Marvel TV deal with the streaming service. The deal also includes Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the Punisher.
As of now, Jessica Jones is a hit, and the title character is a pop culture icon. Ditto series star Krysten Ritter. Season one actor Mike Colter would find success in this show and Luke Cage.
As a writer, Rosenberg is known for her TV credits on series like Dexter, Ally McBeal, The O.C. and Boston Public. With regard to film, she’s been with the Step Up and Twilight franchises.
“All of my attention remains with the extraordinary cast, writers and production team of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, until the completion of season three,” she says. “It continues to be a career highlight working with my partners at Marvel Television and Netflix.”
Should Jessica Jones get a fourth season, Rosenberg will have a credit as creator and executive producer. After all, she is responsible for making the show.
“We’re extraordinarily grateful to the viewers who have supported us every step of the way on Jessica’s journey,” she says.
Rosenberg credits the crew and cast, including Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor and Carrie-Anne Moss, for the show’s success. “We have so many talented storytellers in every area of this show, who I’m honoured to call friends and collaborators.”
For now, Rosenberg is preparing for the third season of Jessica Jones. It will premiere on Netflix in 2019, and Ritter will be making her directorial debut on one episode.
Who should replace Rosenberg as the showrunner? Share your thoughts below!
The weekend that Ontarian pop-culture nerds have been waiting for is finally here, well, kind of. Starting August 30th at 4 PM, the festivities got underway by featuring a variety of Doctor Who- and Harry Potter-themed escape rooms, LARPing, celebrity photo-ops, and a retro video gaming arcade. One presumes that there are also a variety of costumed folk hanging about, and, if there’s any sanity left in the world, a variety of back issues, vintage and otherwise, for fans to riffle through. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to witness the kickoff of FanExpo Canada 2018, but I will be providing some coverage of events on Friday and Sunday.
And, although I’ll be attending FanExpo Canada 2018 in my official capacity as a writer for Monkeys Fighting Robots, I’ll also be searching for a few back issues.
If you’re anything like me, a compulsive buyer of comicbooks, you’ll have a list of desired issues with you whenever you go comicbook shopping. I will be bringing my tattered six-page list to direct me in my purchases, and I hope to take it down a few pages. Because celebrity interviews are uncertain, but comicbook purchasing isn’t, I thought I’d provide my own kickoff of FanExpo Canada 2018 by sharing some parts of the extensive list of comicbooks I’m looking for. After all, the 14 boxes I already own are getting lonely.
FanExpo Canada 2018 Bound: My Love for Machine Man
“No, I’m not Jim Hammond or the Vision. My name is Machine Man. I made it easy to remember.”
Perhaps more than others, I have a soft spot for ’70s and ’80s B-list heroes and villains that over the years just didn’t develop a solid fan-base, Beta-Ray Bill among them. Unsurprisingly then, I am in search of Machine Man’s entire published bibliography. For those of you who have never heard of Machine Man, he’s another in a long line of Marvel’s sentient androids, but, significantly, he was one of the final Marvel properties created by Jack “King” Kirby, followed only by Devil Dinosaur and his pal Moon-Boy.
Machine Man was created and raised like a son by Dr. Abel Stack. For an alias, MM alternately goes by the first digits of his registry, X-51, or the name Aaron Stack, given to him by his creator.
FanExpo Canada 2018 Bound: Morlocks and the Mutant Massacres of the ’80s
“What I do best ain’t nice, but it looks real good in chromium.”
In addition to looking for Machine Man comicbooks, I’ll be looking for some others from the ’70s and ’80s, including issues of the “Mutant Massacre” story-line from 1986. This crossover hunt involves one of the most embarrassing titles on my list, Power Pack #27. For casual readers, the Power Pack are a group of super-powered children created by Louise Simonson and June Brigman in 1984. Although the series was actually quite popular, I never feel right, as a childless adult male, purchasing a comicbook about a bunch of super-brats.
In addition to rounding out my collection of the “Mutant Massacre” story-line, I’m also looking to finish off a few other mini-series and crossovers from the ’80s, including The Sword of Solomon Kane, Storm and Illyana: Magik, Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown, Warlock: Special Edition, and the “Atlantis Attacks” crossover featured in Marvel’s selection of annuals from 1989.
FanExpo Canada 2018 Bound: The ’90s and Beyond!
“Behold my cosmic cover!!”
Since I really started reading, and buying, comicbooks in the ’90s, I’m also on the hunt for several issues from that decade, including such classics as Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection, X-Men Spotlight on...Starjammers, Warlock Chronicles, and the complete run of Warlock & The Infinity Watch. Of course, I was collecting Infinity War and Infinity Gauntlet comicbooks before they were cool, and have been on the hunt for all of both multi-title crossovers for the past nine years — my progress slowed substantially by fans of the Avengers: Infinity War movie buying up all the film’s source material.
Bound to love any property thrown at me in the ’90s, I’ll also be looking for Deathlok comicbooks, specifically his initial four-part run from 1990.
I’m also a hopeless follower of of Spider-Man’s interminable clone saga, and have been trying to find every comicbook featuring Ben Reilly or any other creation of Professor Miles Warren for the past 11 years.
FanExpo Canada 2018 Bound: Special Selections
Not quite the last Galactus story…
Although my quest to find basically every Spider-Man comic published between 1995 and 1997 is no less valid than any other title hunt I’m on, I think that the coolest issues I’m looking for, and have been for some time, are Epic Illustrated #26–34. I’ve only found one so far, but I hope to find more. These nine comicbooks feature “The Last Galactus Story” by John Byrne and Terry Austin.
Although this epic tale of Galactus’s origin and life was cut short by the cancellation of Epic Illustrated in 1985, it remains one of the most fan and critically acclaimed tellings of the planet-eater’s origins, and, as there doesn’t appear to be a movie featuring Galactus currently in the works, I just might find some issues of this cool story at a reasonable price.
FanExpo Canada 2018 Bound: Great Community
Although I have to admit that I’m more excited about getting a chance to find some of my missing comicbooks than hobnobbing with fellow nerds, going to conventions is always a fun, if somewhat expensive, way to meet people with similar hobbies, or obsessions as the case may be.
The last convention I attended was a lot of fun, so I’m happy to be able to cover another one for Monkeys Fighting Robots. I’m even happier, though, that I’ll have my list with me this time.
Filmmaker Shane Black doesn’t hold anything back in the final trailer for The Predator. The f-bomb filled trailer reminds fans why we love Thomas Jane, “We’re all going to die!”
About the film: From the outer reaches of space to the to the backwoods of southern Georgia, the hunt comes home in Shane Black’s explosive reinvention of the Predator series. Now, the universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before. And only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and an evolutionary biology professor can prevent the end of the human race.
Based on the characters created by Jim Thomas and John Thomas; Fred Dekker and Shane Black put the screenplay together for the film.
The Predator stars Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Jake Busey, and Yvonne Strahovski.
The Predator hits theaters September 14.
Are you going to see The Predator opening night? Comment below with your thoughts on the next installment of the Predator franchise.
