Hi everyone. I’m back and I had a nice weekend at WW Philly. I hope everyone else had a good time. I’ll cover what I liked at WW and what I didn’t here later.
*Looks around shocked.* What about my intro”¦
Chase emails
Guys, guys, guys… I love the column to death; in fact, I don’t even pick up any comics right now, and yet keep “in the know” solely by reading the Nexus, and most importantly, the Marvel Handbook to learn all sorts of crazy things.
But when someone asks you something like “who’s beam is the most powerful” like t his week, don’t throw psychology in there. Yes, most heroes wouldn’t kill, but that doesn’t make their beams any weaker or stronger; if you’re gonna tell us why they wouldn’t use full power, go ahead, but tell us which beam is strongest, too. This is the same deal with the one guy versus another guy; it always comes off as a cop-out to me when someone uses a character’s emotions to determine why a less-powerful character would probably win.
I’m not saying that the character’s personalities don’t mean anything… of course, that’s a huge part of any battle. But unfortunately, a character’s personality and morality seem to change from writer to writer, and in these versus situations, it’s best to just leave it to who’s more powerful.
That’s just my opinion, though. Then again, I’m the same nut who thinks Marvel (and DC for that matter) has too much sh!t going on; I mean, c’mon, vampires, mutants, alternate timelines, clones, gamma rays, a million different superheroes and villains… it just seems like no one in any comic should ever be shocked by anything. In a world like that, I have a feeling you’d become numb to any crazy event, what with constant resurrections/nations being blown to bits by sentinels.
We’re talking Thanos though. We’ve seen that most people with that power can’t even touch him. He’s that damn powerful. It’s not just the fact he would kill. It’s the fact how the hell are you going to stopping him?
Actually, YOU’RE talking Thanos. And I understand what Chase is saying. The question wasn’t who has the strongest beam & the balls to use it, just who has the strongest beam. My problem though is the slight lack of clarity in the question. As I said last time there are so many levels in the Marvel U (or the DCU for that matter) that you really need to set some parameters for a question like that. The answer to this version of the question is undoubtedly going to be some godlike cosmic being (who I don’t think is Thanos – I know there are more powerful beings out there than him). So if you’re wanting to know which human level character has the most power blast you should phrase questions like that.
Richard emails
Hey I am 19 and got back into reading comics for the first time since i was like 10. I continue to be amazed at the variety and drama they can put into stories about super heroes. It’s amazing. Also I really enjoy your column. I’ve been a marvel guy since i was a kid but have sadly been finding myself buying a lot more dc stuff since i started reading comics again. My two favorite books are still marvel: the Ultimates and Astonishing X-men. I buy wolverine cuz its wolverine but i really dont like the art at all. I dislike books like District X with 8th rate villains you’ll probably never see again and stories that really dont matter in the context of the marvel universe. I have not made up my mind on new avengers yet but will at least finish out the current arc (if they ever release it)
New Avengers isn’t getting the delay that some other titles are. I’m talking Iron Man and the like. Although I admit this arc should be finished already. I’m enjoying it myself.
My questions are :
1) in your opinion, what are the top 5 must-read monthly titles that Marvel currently puts out.
Mine currently are:
1. New Avengers (Yes I’m enjoying this book myself)
2. Young Avengers (Can you say KANG!!!!!!!!!!! Actually good storyline)
3. Astonishing X-Men (Josh Whedon breathed some good storylines into the X-Men)
4. Incredible Hulk (Peter David is back and it’s damn good)
5. Amazing Spider-Man (JMS is still doing a great job with Spidey)
I’m so far behind on my reading I can’t really say, but from everything I’ve been hearing, Jim’s list is probably pretty accurate.
2)who is your absolute #1 favorite marvel hero and who is ur fav. marvel villain
1. My book has always been Wolverine. Followed by Spider-Man
1 Villain: Thanos followed by Magneto.
Mine is a tie between Angel & Havoc for hero. For villain, I think I’d have to go with Mags.
3)based on your knowledge of bendis’s writing, and what you know of past marvel crossovers (ive never read one), would u guess that house of m will be good or bad. I love marvel and big events so i’m probably along for the ride but i wanted to know what you thought of the whole thing.
I’ve read the first issue. I loved it. I really did. I think it will be a god series. I like Bendis work with certain characters and the like. His DD is good. New Avengers has been interesting. I think this will be very good.
*Refuses to respond on the grounds that we’ve been burnt WAY to many times with company-wide crossovers.*
Thank you for your time.
Your welcome. Email again.
James emails
Hope you had a good time at Wizard World Philly. Do you have any spoilers or inside news from the Marvel Universe to share? And how was the food?
Spoilers
Well let’s see most of the stuff everyone knows by now. I’m sure everyone knows Moon Knight, Madrox, Nick Fury, Thing and a few other characters will be getting series soon. Also, many know that Nightcrawler, Rogue, Gambit, District X are all on the canning line.
There’s going to be some changes after House of M that will shock fans. I will bet people will like some and won’t like others.
The food was good. I mean I live in Philly though. Not sure I should be the judge.
With the house of M now upon us, how did the Scarlet Witch’s mental state get to the point where she “turned to the dark side”? And what was the final event that drove her over the edge?
Actually the scary thing is we’ve seen this before with Wanda. Her mental state has never been solid. This all still goes back to the days of West Coast Avengers and her twins with Vision who where not real. Agatha Harkness of course tried to help her deal with the problem. She wasn’t the best one to do it. Doctor Strange said so himself that they should have called him. There’s also theories she’s been and for some time now and unknown to some caused some events to happen in Marvel because of this. We’ll find out what after this is over. (ie it’s why the status quo is changing.)
On the other hand, Juggernaut has been a “hero” for quite some time. How did he give up the ways of evil and turn to the “light side”? And do you think it’ll be retconned away like Byrne did with the Sandman? What team is he going to end up on after the House of M?
Actually Juggs joined the X-Men after Black Tom turned on him. He saw that his friend tried to kill him while the foes tried to save him. He saw the error of his ways and joined them willingly. Oh and he will stay a good guy if you didn’t know he’s joining the New Excalibur.
Recently Joe Q. was interviewed about summer events and he said that no X-books were going to be canceled after the House of M. At least, as he was quoted, “not yet.” So, what X-books do you think will be axed down the line? And what X-characters deserve a shot at a solo book (since it is all the rage these days), who hasn’ yet had one?
Here’s what I think will be axed and is already going to be soon:
District X
Gambit
Nightcrawler
Rogue
Personally I would like to see more books like Cable/Deadpool, Spidey/Torch, Cap/Falcon
X-Men wise I might do Gambit/Rogue
I’d like to see how limited series go for Colossus, Storm and Kitty. There’s to many X-Books now but at least we’re cutting it down.
What is the story behind Spider-Man moving in with the Avengers? For years and years he refused to join the team since teams weren’t his thing. What changed his mind? And how are they handling him suddenly bringing a wife and Aunt into the Avengers HQ? Do all the Avengers know his identity now? And do the other characters trust someone like Aunt May, who was, after all, replaced for a time by an imposter and no one noticed and prone to dating Doc Ock (bad flashback! bad flashback!), with their identities?
Well Spidey’s been an Avenger for some time. Hell no one said he was always solo. Remember the first Amazing Spider-Man for instance. He wanted to join the FF. He’s worked with the Avengers and became a reserve Avenger some time ago. Plus he’s joined the Secret Defenders in the past and was part of the second FF group. He really only was solo because he didn’t stick with a team full time.
Also Spidey sells books. So does Wolverine. Both are members of the New Avengers. Actually most knew his identity. Bendis is to blame thanks to Secret War. But they knew anyway. Avengers Tower will be his home till Pete/MJ get a place. As they pointed out in one of the panels Aunt May, may stay in the tower though.
I”m not too keen on the current lineup of Avengers so I’m bypassing the “new” Avengers (though Young Avengers, strangely enough, is a good read), so who in your book, were the best and worst line ups of Avengers?
Some of the best
1. Avengers Disassembled roster. Almost every Avenger around at the time along with Daredevil and the reserves all come in to help after the mansion is attacked.
2. Avengers #1 Vol. 3. That’s right. Every member of the Avengers at the time all together. A little over kill but it was the 2nd best roster.
3. The Kang War Roster. Numerous Avengers joined this roster to help deal with Kang the Conqueror
Worst:
1. Inferno line up: Cap (as Captain), Gilgamesh, Mr Fantastic, Invisible Woman, and Thor)
2. Team before that: Dr Druid, She-Hulk, Black Knight, and Thor
A few years back in the pages of Quasar, there was a race to determine the fastest person in the Marvel Universe. It was won by a guy who may or may not have been DC’s Barry Allen. Okay, nearly a decade has gone by since that race, who is today’s fastest speedster in the Marvel Universe?
Hmmmmmm well if that guys still around he would win. After all it was the Flash. Marvels fastest to me is the Runner. The Elders of the Universe member who created the race.
A fan brought up the Contest of Champions in your last column. Okay, so put yourself in the role of the Grandmaster and you’re pitted against Daron as Death. Keeping the “international theme” and expanding it to any variant of the Marvel Universe, who would you pick and why? And, most importantly, how would you topple Death, her no, him, err Daronself?
Oh this might be fun.
My team
12 members just like the Contest of Champions
No dead people
Captain America (USA)
Captain Britain (England)
Wolverine (Canada)
Black Panther (Africa)
Sunfire (Japan)
Starlight (USSR)
Mantis (Vietnam)
Sabra (Israel)
Dr Druid (Tibet)
Nightcrawler (Germany)
Shang Chi (China)
Storm (Kenya)
There’s my team. 1 USA hero in the bunch. He’ll lead the group.
As for how I topple Daron. My team can win most any battle. I would have them take out his heroes and then cheat and have them go after him next. My question is who Daron will pick.
Wow, shouldn’t we have picked like a draft or something? Jim just gets to pick and I get the leftovers. I see how it is. Well let me see”¦
Magneto (Israel)
Jean Grey/Poenix (USA)
Colossus (Russia)
Meggn (England)
Moon Knight (Egypt – What? That’s where his powers originate from :)
Iron Fist (K’un L’un)
Black Bolt (Attilan)
Namor (Atlantis)
Thor (Asgard)
Banshee (Ireland)
Silver Samurai (Japan)
Hercules (Olympus)
Personally, I don’t think Jim’s team has a shot in hell. I think I could pick characters out of my line up and wipe the floor with his whole team, but that’s just me. And talk about cheating. Half my team were villains at one point or another (especially with Mags leading), we know all your tricks little man, bring it on.
I think the readers should do some of the deciding. How do you all think these two teams would stack up? That should make for an interesting debate or two.
Again, hope Philly was fun and you had a great weekend.
Thanks. I did.
WW Philly Review
My own personal version here.
Best:
The House of M panel: Nice preview of what’s coming in the series and what might be coming out of it. I liked a lot of the art shown myself.
JMS Panel: More Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Supreme Power in his future as other titles like Dream Police, Book of Lost Souls, Hyperion and Nighthawk coming
Cup of Joe: More Black Widow and She-Hulk, As well as what might be good series in The Thing, Books of Doom, Drax, and Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
X-Men Panel:
New Excalibur: Looks like they are going back to the old format with the team. Nocturne, Juggernaut, Dazzler, Sage, Pete Wisdom, and Captain Britain on the team
Chris Bachalo will debut as the regular penciler on Uncanny X-Men
Colossus: Bloodline
Worst:
Ultimate Panel: I’m not a big Ultimate fan. Plus a possible crossover is not a good idea either.
Adam and Andy Kubert leaving for DC. Bad mistake by Marvel
All around it was a fun con. I got some books, met some people, had tons of fun. Can’t wait till next year when it comes here again.
House of M
Spoilers ahead.
The heroes Gather
The New Avengers
Astonishing X-Men
Doctor Strange
Ms Marvel
Wonder Man
Professor X
Yellowjacket
Wasp
Falcon
All go the Avengers Tower to discuss Wanda’s future. They decide they have to deal with her and take her down. Actually kill her mostly. The Heroes headed for Genosha.
Magneto and his son Quicksilver are together there watching Wanda.
When the heroes showed up they could not find Wanda but once they found evidence of her location they went there. The heroes went to the room to find her and find a gap in time. The last thing we see is Peter Parker waking up to a crying baby and a blond in his bed.
Next week a list of characters and short bios for all those involved so far.
That’s it for today. A good amount of emails but I would love more next week. The more the better. In fact let’s see what Daron has to say about it?
Oh sure now you want to talk to me. Thanks for my intro”¦jerk. Anyway, I’m curious to see what everyone thinks of our own little Contest of Champions.
Cool. Boss would you care to sign off first or shall I?
You know what, just do whatever you want”¦
Alright then.
Reporting From the Marvel Universe I’m Jim Trabold Have a great week and see you all next week.
