CBR: CBR TV: Gage Guides "Angel & Faith," "Avengers Academy"

[CBR News]

Writer Christos Gage spoke with CBR TV about his current workload: tackling two of the Whedonverse's biggest icons in "Angel and Faith" and introducing the Runaways to the cast of "Avengers Academy."


Full article here (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35499).

[Zcorck]

Great interview! Gage ftw!
Much of it was already known, but it's good to get it out there!

[Kieran_Frost]

SO EXCITED Runways will be in Avengers Academy!!! :smile::smile::smile: TOTALLY going to get this comic when they join!!!!!!
:smile:

[Songbird/Diamondback]

SO EXCITED Runways will be in Avengers Academy!!! :smile::smile::smile: TOTALLY going to get this comic when they join!!!!!!

You haven't been getting it already? :confused:

[Kieran_Frost]

You haven't been getting it already? :confused:
Nope. You're "opinion" doesn't carry much stock with me right now, so the less you try to advocate Avengers Academy, the greater chance there is I will give it a go when the Runaways come along.
:evilangry:

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Nope. You're "opinion" doesn't carry much stock with me right now, so the less you try to advocate Avengers Academy, the greater chance there is I will give it a go when the Runaways come along.
:evilangry:

You're really trying to hold that to me personally?
I was as big a T-Bolts fan as the next person, but I can't deny that I am extremely unhappy with it's direction.

[Kieran_Frost]

You're really trying to hold that to me personally?
I was as big a T-Bolts fan as the next person, but I can't deny that I am extremely unhappy with it's direction.
Yeah... because big fans call for a comic to be cancelled when it's merely "okay". *roll eyes*

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Yeah... because big fans call for a comic to be cancelled when it's merely "okay". *roll eyes*

What? And watch the book get worse and worse? There's a phrase called ending on a high note. It something things like the Simpsons should have done long ago. More meaningless adventures in time won't win anyone over. They blew it.

[Kieran_Frost]

What? And watch the book get worse and worse? There's a phrase called ending on a high note. It something things like the Simpsons should have done long ago. More meaningless adventures in time won't win anyone over. They blew it.
It's not getting worse and worse, only YOU think it's getting worse an worse. A good fan would at-least realise the majority liked the direction. I have polls to prove the majority of the fans on here seem to really like it... you only evidence that people dislike it is the drop of numbers each month... guess what, MOST Marvel books are shedding numbers (including Avengers Academy, by the way). So are all the books all together getting progressively worse, or is it something else?

Any data you use to justify Thunderbolts getting worse would HAVE TO apply to Avengers Academy also (since it's in the same boat).

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Yeah... because big fans call for a comic to be cancelled when it's merely "okay". *roll eyes*


It's not getting worse and worse, only YOU think it's getting worse an worse. A good fan would at-least realise the majority liked the direction. I have polls to prove the majority of the fans on here seem to really like it... you only evidence that people dislike it is the drop of numbers each month... guess what, MOST Marvel books are shedding numbers (including Avengers Academy, by the way). So are all the books all together getting progressively worse, or is it something else?

Any data you use to justify Thunderbolts getting worse would HAVE TO apply to Avengers Academy also (since it's in the same boat).

I see people complain about New Thunderbolts all the time! There are some in the T-bolts thread right now! In fact, what's to say people aren't so bored with it that they don't even go to your t-bolts thread. People do agree with me here and on other forums. It is going nowhere and it is not using it's characters to the fullest.
Academy, though low, has steady sales and is giving us interesting stories that people want to see, like Magneto and Quicksilver last issue. It's not lingering on a gimmick which t-bolts is going to keep doing through March.

[Kieran_Frost]

I see people complain about New Thunderbolts all the time! There are some in the T-bolts thread right now! In fact, what's to say people aren't so bored with it that they don't even go to your t-bolts thread. People do agree with me here and on other forums. It is going nowhere and it is not using it's characters to the fullest.
Not the MAJORITY!!! As proven by the polls of the last 6 months!


Academy, though low, has steady sales and is giving us interesting stories that people want to see, like Magneto and Quicksilver last issue. It's not lingering on a gimmick which t-bolts is going to keep doing through March.
As is Thunderbolts. YOU just don't want to see them. You do NOT = everyone. The majority of the fans seem very happy with the comic. Avengers Academy isn't giving me any stories I want to see (until the Runaways join). I'm not hubristic enough to think I = everyone.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Not the MAJORITY!!! As proven by the polls of the last 6 months!


As is Thunderbolts. YOU just don't want to see them. You do NOT = everyone. The majority of the fans seem very happy with the comic. Avengers Academy isn't giving me any stories I want to see (until the Runaways join). I'm not hubristic enough to think I = everyone.

Could we take this back to the T-bolts thread? No need to clog up this one.

[Kieran_Frost]

Could we take this back to the T-bolts thread? No need to clog up this one.
It involves Avengers Academy too (through example). I see no reason to move the debate (and I don't want to clog up the entire review thread with your continued negativity). Besides, this news (Runaways joining) is being discussed in several threads, the Thunderbolts REVIEW is only being talked about in one!

You want to debate this, we do it here.

[Dog]

What? And watch the book get worse and worse? There's a phrase called ending on a high note. It something things like the Simpsons should have done long ago. More meaningless adventures in time won't win anyone over. They blew it.
Haha, so you're saying that the whole thing is completely irredeemable? There's no way Parker can right the ship? Erase a title that has existed for more or less 15 years because of one bad story?

[Songbird/Diamondback]

It involves Avengers Academy too (through example). I see no reason to move the debate (and I don't want to clog up the entire review thread with your continued negativity). Besides, this news (Runaways joining) is being discussed in several threads, the Thunderbolts REVIEW is only being talked about in one!

You want to debate this, we do it here.

Fine.

Just because a couple tens of people vote up your poll doesn't mean you have majority favorites. Many probably don't even go into T-bolt threads. Your poll isn't reflecting obvious sales drops. And people are unhappy with this phoned in arc. Look at Parker's last T-bolts interview in cbr. That studies me as someone starting to lose interest.
The characters are becoming more quirky rather than fleshed out. Academy is giving us powerful character confrontations, many of which fans asked about and Gage reponded. Thunderbolts answer is, "let's make them time travel for far longer then they should.". No one is developing. The Captain America arc could have been the Avengers, and nothing would have changed. If the Thunderbolts betrayed Cap to save Zemo, that would have been interesting. But no, Monster fights with no purpose is what we get.
If you want to believe that the current direction of Thunderbolts is above criticism, then you are a fool. The course of the book is heading into ruins, and fans too blind to admit that are not seeing the collision ahead of them. Thunderbolts will be gone by next year or greatly retooled because this time traveling is just meaningless.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Haha, so you're saying that the whole thing is completely irredeemable? There's no way Parker can right the ship? Erase a title that has existed for more or less 15 years because of one bad story?

You know how hard it is to get people on this smaller title? Unless Carnage is the next Thunderbolt, they aren't going to save the book in time. Six plus issues of time traveling will kill interest in this book. It can probably be relaunched later, but nobody is sticking around to see if Centurious or Boomerang's survival.

[Hypestyle]

I thought the Runaways considered the Avengers as 'the establishment'.. how's that going to be addressed? plus, so many of these characters are sullen morons.. I don't look forward to a bunch of dialogue with exchanges that are exclusively derisive comebacks.. "you suck!"; "you suck more!".. "bite me!" "whatever!" "what a tool!"..

already, there's a 'traitor' among the Academy recruits.. haven't we seen that in Runaways already?

[Kieran_Frost]

Just because a couple tens of people vote up your poll doesn't mean you have majority favorites.
No, but it does mean I have data to support my arguement, and you don't.


Your poll isn't reflecting obvious sales drops.
All comics are dropping INCLUDING AVENGERS ACADEMY!!! Are you saying that comic is also failing to please the majority of its readers?


And people are unhappy with this phoned in arc.
But not the majority, as shown by the poll. :wink:


The characters are becoming more quirky rather than fleshed out.
I would disagree.


Academy is giving us powerful character confrontations, many of which fans asked about and Gage reponded.
Yet their sales seem to be dropping... I wonder if that means fans aren't happy with the comic. :tongue:


Thunderbolts answer is, "let's make them time travel for far longer then they should.". No one is developing.
The overall arc isn't over yet, how do you know what is development and what is not? Do you have any proof that Satana ISN'T about to become pregnant? Wouldn't that be development? What about Moonstone basically being the reason Zemo exists in the first place? Are we sure that won't lead to something?


If you want to believe that the current direction of Thunderbolts is above criticism, then you are a fool.
I don't think the comic is above criticism, most reviews I have "dislike" column, just not for the last issue. I understand there is a HUGE difference between "thinking it's above criticism" and "it should be cancelled" . There is a WHOPPING huge area in the middle, that you seemed to skip.


The course of the book is heading into ruins, and fans too blind to admit that are not seeing the collision ahead of them. Thunderbolts will be gone by next year or greatly retooled because this time traveling is just meaningless.
What are the lottery numbers for next week, oh "she who sees the future"? Parker himself said this is leading to a Thunderbolts event other comics will be involved with.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

No, but it does mean I have data to support my arguement, and you don't.

All comics are dropping INCLUDING AVENGERS ACADEMY!!! Are you saying that comic is also failing to please the majority of its readers?

But not the majority, as shown by the poll. :wink:

I would disagree.

Yet their sales seem to be dropping... I wonder if that means fans aren't happy with the comic. :tongue:

The overall arc isn't over yet, how do you know what is development and what is not? Do you have any proof that Satana ISN'T about to become pregnant? Wouldn't that be development? What about Moonstone basically being the reason Zemo exists in the first place? Are we sure that won't lead to something?

I don't think the comic is above criticism, most reviews I have "dislike" column, just not for the last issue. I understand there is a HUGE difference between "thinking it's above criticism" and "it should be cancelled" . There is a WHOPPING huge area in the middle, that you seemed to skip.

What are the lottery numbers for next week, oh "she who sees the future"? Parker himself said this is leading to a Thunderbolts event other comics will be involved with.

You obviously don't go on other forums. People have been telling me T-Bolts sucks now, and this was even before the time traveling.

And what would the baby accomplish? Oh gee, a monster we kill in one issue and move on from. And Moonstone paradox? Please, that was just lazy. It is like someone going back and creating the Spider that made Spiderman. It means nothing.

When.books like X-23 are canceled, Thunderbolts have no chance when it continues to venture into no stars zone. Jack the Ripper plot is just going to be Hyde trolling and Medevil we seen already in cartoons.
You know what, continue to believe that one liners are character development. Cause Thunderbolts is going to drop below 20,000 very soon and it will be gone.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Now that I'm actually on a computer:

How are the T-bolts fleshed out? Almost all of them are extremely one note and several have no importance, Boomerang and Centurious.

And Avengers Academy had a MAJOR overhaul. Just because YOU don't follow it or the characters doesn't mean others aren't getting invested in the future plot lines. What did the last arc of T-bolts offer in terms of developing characters? The characters find out they're time traveling, but that's about it.
And don't say Moonstone created Zemo being evil. He was a Nazi already, she had minimal outcomes for Helmut.

Really, you could lose half of the current team, and the book would probably improve because Parker would be able to focus on less characters and not 11 he is currently using.

And Avengers Academy is a whole nother beast. It's arcs are shorter (Minus Fear Itself) and it gets to what fans of the series want faster. There's a lot less pandering with slower arcs.

[Kieran_Frost]

Okay, I'm putting a stop to this right now, since I have painted us both into horribly negative corners. I am so, SO sorry for my tone and attitude and all the horrible criticisms I have made. Black Panther: Man Without Fear gets cancelled, X-23 is cancelled; I'm losing Mike Carey on X-men: Legacy... I have little hope Daken: Dark Wolverine will survive, all I can hang onto is Thunderbolts... and I guess seeing such a huge Thunderbolts fan as you jumping ship (when you have been so HUGELY supportive) really freaked me out. A LOT! I handled it VERY badly, and I apologies.

I don't want Avengers Academy cancelled, I don't want my team cancelled (I don't want any comics cancelled, truthfully); and I have nothing but sympathy for a fan not enjoying a comic they once loved. It sucks. I have been so lucky with Thunderbolts, I've loved every different direction and version; but I know plenty haven't. Old school fans hated it getting darker, new school hated losing the Dark Reign cast. I am very lucky to have always loved this comic.

I truly hope the next two issues take the comic in a drastically surprising direction, that both thrills and pleases you. I want you to find your love in this comic again, I really do.

Once more... huge apologies. You are a true Thunderbolts fan. :smile:


And Avengers Academy is a whole nother beast. It's arcs are shorter (Minus Fear Itself) and it gets to what fans of the series want faster. There's a lot less pandering with slower arcs.
Parker has consistently has two issue arcs since he began his run; minus Fear, Itself also. :smile:

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Okay, I'm putting a stop to this right now, since I have painted us both into horribly negative corners. I am so, SO sorry for my tone and attitude and all the horrible criticisms I have made. Black Panther: Man Without Fear gets cancelled, X-23 is cancelled; I'm losing Mike Carey on X-men: Legacy... I have little hope Daken: Dark Wolverine will survive, all I can hang onto is Thunderbolts... and I guess seeing such a huge Thunderbolts fan as you jumping ship (when you have been so HUGELY supportive) really freaked me out. A LOT! I handled it VERY badly, and I apologies.

I don't want Avengers Academy cancelled, I don't want my team cancelled (I don't want any comics cancelled, truthfully); and I have nothing but sympathy for a fan not enjoying a comic they once loved. It sucks. I have been so lucky with Thunderbolts, I've loved every different direction and version; but I know plenty haven't. Old school fans hated it getting darker, new school hated losing the Dark Reign cast. I am very lucky to have always loved this comic.

I truly hope the next two issues take the comic in a drastically surprising direction, that both thrills and pleases you. I want you to find your love in this comic again, I really do.

Once more... huge apologies. You are a true Thunderbolts fan. :smile:
Also, I'm not jumping ship. I'm still buying T-bolts. That's probably why my anger is more apparent.
And Legacy is getting Gage. That has me hopeful.

Parker has consistently has two issue arcs since he began his run; minus Fear, Itself also. :smile:

I guess I need to apologize too.
I admit, I have been really frustrated at late with the direction of Thunderbolts, and yeah, that cancellation comment was out of line. I'm sorry that I got you so riled up. I know I might have come across as really harsh, but I think that's because I am caring too much about the direction of T-bolts right now.
I fully understand the fear of having books be canceled, and I should not have said that statement like that. Again, I'm sorry.

Hope we can get along again. :redface:

[Kieran_Frost]

Hope we can get along again. :redface:
Me too. Besides, when I start picking up Avengers Academy, I'll need you there to explain what the hell is going on, and who everyone is. :smile:

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Me too. Besides, when I start picking up Avengers Academy, I'll need you there to explain what the hell is going on, and who everyone is. :smile:

Oh, no problem! Someone has already done that for me!

http://www.4thletter.net/2011/11/avengers-academy-the-unusual-suspects/
Also
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/avengers-academy-gage-series-111116.html
and
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/avengers-academy-gage-series-111117.html

[vitruvian]

Now that I'm actually on a computer:

How are the T-bolts fleshed out? Almost all of them are extremely one note and several have no importance, Boomerang and Centurious.

Boomerang, maybe, but how does Centurius have no importance? He's been fleshed out considerably in T-Bolts, to the point I wouldn't be surprised for him to become a major villain in the future. An African-American mad scientist in the same league as Horton and Wyndham and so on? Move over, Moses Magnum.

[The_Ronin]

Nope. You're "opinion" doesn't carry much stock with me right now, so the less you try to advocate Avengers Academy, the greater chance there is I will give it a go when the Runaways come along.
:evilangry:

How do you feel about my opinion? pretty neutral?

Because you should be reading Avengers Academy! simple one of the best books on the shelves right now.

[Skaddix]

Boomerang, maybe, but how does Centurius have no importance? He's been fleshed out considerably in T-Bolts, to the point I wouldn't be surprised for him to become a major villain in the future. An African-American mad scientist in the same league as Horton and Wyndham and so on? Move over, Moses Magnum.

Yeah after Moonstone, Century is getting plenty to due and development seriously he has made Fixer irrelevant.

[vitruvian]

Yeah after Moonstone, Century is getting plenty to due and development seriously he has made Fixer irrelevant.

Actually, Fixer's jealousy over that is likely to become relevant quite soon.

Was Centurius still around when Harrow and Chemistro were working on the captured Stark power nullifier? If so, I wonder if he was looking over their shoulders at all...

[Skaddix]

Actually, Fixer's jealousy over that is likely to become relevant quite soon.

Was Centurius still around when Harrow and Chemistro were working on the captured Stark power nullifier? If so, I wonder if he was looking over their shoulders at all...

Actually Centurius made the first move since he leaked the footage of Zemo and Fixer working together before they left which Fixer does not know about yet. Still Fixer decided to do this because he was not getting enough respect and honestly he gets probably less respect now.

[vitruvian]

Actually Centurius made the first move since he leaked the footage of Zemo and Fixer working together before they left which Fixer does not know about yet. Still Fixer decided to do this because he was not getting enough respect and honestly he gets probably less respect now.

Unless he goes full on villain again, I guess.

[The_Ronin]

is there no thunderbolts thread?

[The_Ronin]

So here is the big thing. IF you want to see the Runaways back, buy the issues of Daken and Avengers Academy featuring them!

[MrMancha]

So here is the big thing. IF you want to see the Runaways back, buy the issues of Daken and Avengers Academy featuring them!

:biggrin:everyone do this

[Songbird/Diamondback]

So here is the big thing. IF you want to see the Runaways back, buy the issues of Daken and Avengers Academy featuring them!

Tell that to all the Runaway fans you know.
...maybe tell them to start picking up AA now cause that would make sure we'll still get it.

[The_Ronin]

Tell that to all the Runaway fans you know.
...maybe tell them to start picking up AA now cause that would make sure we'll still get it.

I am I am

....

[Kieran_Frost]

Oh, no problem! Someone has already done that for me!

http://www.4thletter.net/2011/11/avengers-academy-the-unusual-suspects/
Also
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/avengers-academy-gage-series-111116.html
and
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/avengers-academy-gage-series-111117.html
Thanks for the help, SB/DB; cheers for the links. :smile:


Boomerang, maybe, but how does Centurius have no importance? He's been fleshed out considerably in T-Bolts, to the point I wouldn't be surprised for him to become a major villain in the future. An African-American mad scientist in the same league as Horton and Wyndham and so on? Move over, Moses Magnum.
Parker has done wonders with Centurius. After Satana, he's my new favourite Thunderbolt (as in, of the latest batch, excluding members already Thunderbolts). I think Boomerang is the only one (SO FAR) not getting any story plot... confident that will change (make him gay, make him gay!!!) :biggrin:


How do you feel about my opinion? pretty neutral?
Because you should be reading Avengers Academy! simple one of the best books on the shelves right now.
I tried it during the Scared Straight crossover with Thunderbolts, but didn't warm to the characters. When the Runaways join, it seems like it will be a good point to jump on too. :smile:


Tell that to all the Runaway fans you know.
...maybe tell them to start picking up AA now cause that would make sure we'll still get it.
I intend too! LOVE the Runaways, so excited Victor will be getting some good attention (he's my favourite one, then Nico)


is there no thunderbolts thread?
Latest review thread: http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=392438 ENJOY! :smile: