Preview: Avengers Standoff Assult On Plesant Hill Omega #1

Image Credit: Marvel

Hey O&G fans, today Marvel released a preview of Avengers Standoff Omega. The heroes from across the MCU converge on Pleasant Hill to face-off with an army of super villains! S.H.I.E.L.D.’s clandestine secret prison Pleasant Hill lies in ruins. The villainous Baron Zemo and the super villain inmates of Pleasant Hill stand upon the verge of victory. Should S.H.I.E.L.D.’s reality-warping technology KOBIK fall into their hands, the Marvel Universe will bend to their will.

All that stands between them and total annihilation are a small band of Avengers. But who is that leading them? None other than the restored Steve Rogers! With the original Captain America at the helm, they just may stand a chance. And seeds sown here will set the stage for major things to come in the Marvel Universe! The return of Steve Rogers, the formation of the all-new Thunderbolts and more! The can’t-miss ending to Avengers: Standoff comes to comic shops and digital devices this April with AVENGERS STANDOFF: ASSAULT ON PLEASANT HILL OMEGA #1!

AVENGERS STANDOFF: ASSAULT ON PLESANT HILL OMEGA #1 (FEB160815)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art & Cover by DANIEL ACUNA
Variant Cover by JIM STERANKO (JAN168399)
Connecting Variant B by ART ADAMS (FEB160816)
Wraparound Variant by MIKE DEODATO (FEB160817)
FOC – 04/04/16, On-Sale – 04/27/15

Marvel reveals Dead No More

image credit: Marvel

Hey O&G fans, Marvel revealed a two part teaser for the Dead No More Spiderman Event this fall, which was revealed at a retailers only event during C2E2. Details are scarce as to exactly what "Dead No More" will be, though the preview art shows Spider-Man fending off some kind of tentacles - possibly those of Doc Ock? - while long dead figures from his past such as Jean DeWolff, George Stacy, and even Uncle Ben gather behind him.

Doc Ock's mind was recently revealed to be alive in the robotic body of the Living Brain, after being transferred there from Peter Parker's body, which he took over when his own aging body died. Ock operated for almost a year as the "Superior Spider-Man" before being switched back.

Todd McFarlane's New Spawn Film making progress

Hey O&G fans, for those who are a fan of Spawn and the original movie will be happy to know that a Spawn Movie Reboot is on it's way. Todd McFarlane is currently looking over and revising a script for the movie.

News of the movie reboot has been circulating for a few years and a fan created short was out on the net last year. Todd McFarlane has gone on Facebook to give fans an update on the progress of the movie. He talks about working on a 132 page script that he hoping to get down to 120 pages. Hopefully he finishes soon and production can start on the film.

We will keep you updated as news comes out.

Interview with Jeremy Haun & Jason Hurley (Creators of The Beauty)

Interviewed by Justin D Williams

I had the great pleasure of chatting with Jeremy Haun and Jason Hurley the two guys behind the comic The Beauty. The Beauty is one of my favorite comics on the Image Comics roster this year. I sat down with the guys to talk about the process of the comic, the theme and more. 

Otakus and Geeks: The concept of The Beauty follows a world where people actually want to get this particular STD called Beauty. This STD allows people outward appearance to be “beautiful” in the eyes of others. How did that concept and story come about?

HAUN: Every creator has a list of stories they want to tell. The Beauty started out as one sentence on that list. “The Beauty-- an STD that makes you beautiful.” I had other projects that were further along. Hell, a couple of things were fully plotted and even partially scripted. That one sentence haunted me, though.

Hurley and I have spent years hanging out together and talking about those stories on our lists. On a four hour car ride back from a little convention in St. Louis, I ran the concept for The Beauty by him. We ended up talking about it all the way home. By the time we pulled in to Joplin, we had most of the first arc figured out. The Beauty went from one sentence on my list of stories to a book that we were going to do together come hell or high water.

Otakus and Geeks: What would you say were some of the biggest challenges in creating this comic?

HURLEY: I had made a couple mini comics, and worked on some smaller projects before this, but The Beauty is my first major comic work. While I’ve been involved in the comics industry for years, it’s almost exclusively been on the retail side of things. It was interesting trying to make the transition to a creative role, while still running a comic shop and putting in 60-70 hours a week there. I guess the biggest challenge was just finding time to do the thing and meet deadlines.

HAUN: My biggest challenge was getting Hurley to realize how absolutely badass he actually is.  

Otakus and Geeks: One thing I really enjoyed about the book is how willing some people were to get this STD. However there is also some characters that say things like yes it makes you look and feel beautiful but it’s still an STD. The division between those against Beauty and those who are for it drawn throughout the book. What was it like to use something as serious as an STD to explain your narrative and theme?

HURLEY: The idea of a disease, something we automatically think of as bad thing, being desirable is what really drew me into the project. Taking a thing like an STD, something that no one in their right mind should want, and making it the hottest fad ever creates a dichotomy that I find very appealing. It gave us a very clear line to define two opposing groups in the narrative, and easily drove the conflict between them.

Otakus and Geeks: Without any spoilers do you have a favorite moment from Volume 1?

HURLEY: I was really proud of several of the “cold opens” that we created. The short 2 or 3 page scenes that opened each issue and featured a person infected with The Beauty meeting their end. My favorite of those is probably the one from issue six, the misdirection works well, and I think it really illustrates how far reaching collateral damage from a Beauty’s death could be.

HAUN: For as crazy as things get, my favorite moments in the book were always the conversations between Foster and Vaughn. Their friendship is equal parts police work and ball busting. I absolutely love it.

Otakus and Geeks: Which character would you say is your favorite or that you can relate to the most?

HURLEY: Vaughn. She’s definitely my favorite character in this arc. Who do I relate to most though…? Probably Captain Siuntres. He’s just kind of overwhelmed by everything that’s going on around him, and his immediate response is drinking whiskey in the middle of the day.

HAUN: I have to go with Vaughn here too. There were a few times where we had to force ourselves to not give her ALL of the good lines and action. She’s a hell of a lot of fun to write. I’ve got to say that a character that really surprised me was Brandon. She started out as one thing and really grew into one of the strongest characters in the book. My only regret with the character is that we decided to do this thing where she didn’t use contractions. To be honest, it was an “in joke”-- us poking fun at a friend. Nothing is harder than writing one of the leads in a story and not being able to have them speak using contractions.

As for who I relate to most...it’d have to be Delante. He gets shit done.

Otakus and Geeks: As a writer or an artist can tell us what a typical day working on the comic was like?

HAUN: My schedule is kind of ridiculous. Like...really ridiculous. I wake up around noon, stumble my way downstairs for a bit of coffee and something to eat. From there I head out to the studio-- it’s the converted carriage house behind my house, so it’s not much of a commute. I take care of emails and social media stuff from 12:15-1:00 and then get to work on drawing. I try and prep as much as possible before I pick up my kids from school at 3:00. After I pick up the boys, we hang out and play video games and/or build Lego for an hour or so. I send them off to do chores and homework and I try and get another hour or two in. Around 5:30 I head inside for dinner and family time. If I can, I sneak in a post dinner nap and then I’m back to work around 9:00pm. My “actual” work time typically goes from around 9:00pm to 4:00 or 5:00am.

We adjust that schedule a bit, and Hurley and I write together Monday and Wednesday evenings. ...well...unless we’re on a deadline and then we just write constantly until it’s done.

Otakus and Geeks: What can we expect in the next installment?

HAUN: The next arc is going to be a bit different from the first arc. We always planned to jump around a bit and tell different stories along the way. Think of it as expanding on the opening sequences from the first arc. We’re going to show different people from different walks of life and how The Beauty affects their lives. You’ll find characters from one arc weaving in and out of later arcs-- learning about the bigger picture along the way.

The second arc is more of a crime story and starts about a year and a half before the first one. It’s a real change of pace. I’m crazy excited about it.

From there we’ll be back to Foster and Vaughn for the third arc and see how The Beauty task force started. We can’t stay away from those two for very long.

Otakus and Geeks: What do you hope audiences will take away from The Beauty?

HURLEY: There are a lot of heavy social and political themes in the book, and I want people to think about things like vanity, obsession, and corruption, and how they affect our lives as they read The Beauty. Mostly though, I just hope we put together an exciting, tense thriller for readers to get lost in for a little while.

Otakus and Geeks: How can readers follow you? Do you have a social media account?

HURLEY: You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as jasonahurley.

HAUN: I’m on Twitter and Instagram as jerhaun and you can find me on Facebook under my full name, Jeremy Haun. I post a lot of pictures of my artwork, what I’m eating, shots of my various travels, and Lego--lots and lots of Lego. You can also find me over on my website/online store www.jeremyhaun.com.

HURLEY: We have an e-mail account set up at thebeautycomic@gmail.com. We’ll be doing a letter column in upcoming issues, and we’d love to see any feedback our readers have on the book.

First look: Spider Women, Silk, and Spider Gwen

Image Credit: Marvel

Press Release

The Spider-Event of 2016 is here! This April, Silk, Spider-Woman and Spider-Gwen unite for a story too big for any one of their titles to contain! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look at SPIDER-WOMEN ALPHA #1 – kicking off the epic 8-part universe hopping crossover!

Blockbuster writers Jason Latour, Dennis Hopeless and Robbie Thompson are joined by a dazzling array of artists, including Vanesa Del Rey, Bengal, Javier Rodriguez, Tana Ford and more to bring you a story you won’t want to miss!

A routine trip to Earth-65 to visit Spider-Gwen turns into a nightmare as Silk and Spider-Woman find themselves trapped on Gwen’s alternate Earth! And they’re not alone! The villainous organization S.I.L.K. is on their tails, and they’re dead set on using these interdimensional interlopers for their own gains. Now, it’s a race against time to get home in one piece! But while these Spider-Women struggle to find their way back, who’s keeping an eye on their universe? Plus – Cindy Moon comes face-to-face with her Earth-65 counterpart!

Don’t miss one minute of the excitement as these three wallcrawling warrior women swing into action in SPIDER-WOMEN ALPHA #1 this April!

First Look: Uncanny X-men #6

Image Credit: Marvel

Press Release

This April, the secrets of Archangel will be revealed as Magneto and his team prepare for war. Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside UNCANNY X-MEN #6 - the start of the Uncanny X-Men’s foray into Apocalypse Wars! Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Ken Lashley take you on a mission to save the life of one of the founding X-Men!

Years ago when Archangel first met Apocalypse, he was transformed into the homicidal Horseman of Death. Now, years later, it appears he may be again returning to that form. Psylocke has discovered a vacant, drone-like Archangel in the guise of Death once more. Fearing the worst, that her once lover is under the control of Apocalypse – she and the rest of the Uncanny X-Men embark on a mission to save Archangel’s life. But what they are about to uncover is far more horrifying than they could have imagined…

The quest for Archangel begins this April as Apocalypse Wars comes to UNCANNY X-MEN #6!

Three Men Who Have Carried The Mantle Of Capt. America Unite In Captain America: Sam Wilson #7

image credit: Marvel

Hey O&G Fans, Capt. America: Sam Wilson #7 will be a variant cover featuring all 3 Captain America's. "Avengers: Standoff," All-New All-Different Avengers artist Mahmud Asrar is illustrating Sam Wilson, Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes in their classic Captain America garb. Captain America: Sam Wilson #7. Both a full color & greyscale version of the illustration will be included in ComicConBox's May release.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #7
NICK SPENCER (W) • DANIEL ACUñA (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS • VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY JOHN CASSADAY • VARIANT COVER BY JIM STERANKO
WOMEN OF POWER VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CAPTAIN AMERICA OF ALL ERAS VARIANT COVER BY Chris Sprouse

• Since World War II, Steve Rogers has wielded his red, white and blue shield against unspeakable odds. When he fell, his brother in arms, Bucky Barnes, picked it up. When it was time to rest, he handed it to his good friend, Sam Wilson. But now Steve will be asked to wield it one last time, against a foe so deadly he knows it could very well be his final stand.
• Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Marvel’s Sentinel of Liberty with a story of Captain Americas present and former -- with this explosive, world-changing chapter in the blockbuster spring Avengers event, STANDOFF.
• Plus, stories celebrating the legacy and legend of Captain America throughout history, by Greg Rucka & Mike Perkins; Tim Sale; & John Cassaday
56 PGS./Rated T …$5.99NORMOUS 75th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE! • A STANDOFF tie-in!

Apocalypse War Variant Covers

Hey O&G fans, with the upcoming X-Men Apocalypse movie  and Apocalypse War event,  Marvel has announced (via IGN) a series of 23 variant covers beginning in May depicting some of its top heroes transformed into a horseman for Apocalypse.

The seven variant covers released so far are Amazing Spider-Man #12 by Jamal Campbell, Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 by Paul Renaud, Guardians of the Galaxy #8 by Dale Keown, Uncanny X-Men #7 by Ryan Sook, Astonishing Ant-Man #8 by Will Sliney, All-New All-Different Avengers #9 by Khoi Pham and All-New X-Men #9 by Pasqual Ferry.

Free Comic Book Day First Look

Press Release

New York, NY—February 4th, 2016— The biggest heroes, the biggest creators and the biggest stories in comics are coming to FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! But before that exciting Saturday in May, get your first look at the covers to both of Marvel’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY offerings right now!

First, FCBD CIVIL WAR II #1 peels back the curtain of the biggest event of 2016. Be there for the opening shots of CIVIL WAR II as Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung give you the first taste of the conflict that will ignite the Marvel Universe later this year! Plus, this issue also features the highly anticipated debut of the All-New Wasp! Be there as she makes her debut, courtesy of All-New, All-Different Avengers writer Mark Waid and legendary artist Alan Davis! But is this mysterious character friend or foe?

Then, FCBD CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 brings you the titanic return of Steve Rogers as Captain America! Nick Spencer and Jesus Saiz bring you one of Steve’s first adventures since his dramatic return in the pages of AVENGERS: STANDOFF. Just in time for their new series Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 later that month! Then, go deeper into DEAD NO MORE, a top secret storyline coming later in 2016! If you got the chance to bring someone back, would you?

There’s no better time to jump into the Marvel Universe than Free Comic Book Day. Don’t miss out on these 4 can’t miss stories, available at participating comic shops nationwide on May 7th!

FCBD CAPTAIN AMERICA
Written by NICK SPENCER & DAN SLOTT
Art by JESUS SAIZ & JAVIER GARRON
Cover by JESUS SAIZ
Coming Free Comic Book Day!

FCBD CIVIL WAR II
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & MARK WAID
Art by JIM CHEUNG & ALAN DAVIS
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Coming Free Comic Book Day!