Axel-In-Charge - Dec 21, 2012

[Songbird/Diamondback]

as much as Avengers Arena doesn't float my boat, i think it's unfair to judge what statement it is or isn't making until after it's over. we don't even know how Arcade got to all of these folks, yet.

Still, the fact that the book is so focused on killing (and has done a poor job showing how tragic death is, in my opinion), I think people are kinda justified with being jumpy on it's premise.

I fully believe the book's purpose is making an X-Force team of teenagers, and it'll just weed out the characters who don't fit that theme. We all know X-23 is surviving, and that's a reason I'm annoyed.

[Joecooler2u]

I don't like it. Why throw Spiral at us if you're just going to reduce her to another long-haired gal with big teats and a propensity for slim swimwear?

Where is my PIXIE title? Now there's a female character everyone can enjoy, from all feminist screeds and perspectives. She's universal.

The boobs look pretty average-sized when you compare these to Jim Lee's renditions of these characters. Even Psylocke and Storm come off as more average and realistic here. Spiral's costume shows some flesh (I guess as it is hard to tell with these colors (it looks like a little bit of arms and legs are shown here but not to the level of Psylocke's classic costume). I'm loving Psylocke's "new" costume here and this is from a guy who loves her classic look as well (the Jim Lee ninja-bikini as I like to call it). I still have hope that there will be a reboot of the Adjectiveless title. Storm forming a team to find the next team, does that refer to forming the new Uncanny X-Force or forming a new Adjectiveless team? Could be either, but since it was in Adjectiveless I'm hoping it's in reference to forming another team (hey I don't mind as many characters getting the spotlight as possible). I'd like to see the adult Iceman get some spotlight now that he's no longer on Astonishing and All-New is focused on the original 5 more with everyone else as background. I wish the X-Treme team name would be available for Storm as I love the name and could see a team of Storm, Psylocke, Dazzler, Sage, Warpath for the strong guy and some others (hey Slipstream and Lifeguard should be available too and hopefully Bishop eventually reforms). The next Adjectiveless might be another team with Storm leading (whereas Psylocke seems the leader of UXF) and Pixie, Warpath, Wolfsbane, adult Iceman (he is more a background character in ANXM), Rachel (she is probably one of the least spotlighted big-names in the X-Men as her W&TXM rarely uses her). Marvel is smart in how they're using some very popular characters to help spotlight some characters who wouldn't shine on their own. Sure Wolverine is over-exposed bigtime but Astonishing & W&TXM wouldn't survive without him.

Let's see... That's not swimwear (it's a full bodysuit, as has been shown in other previews/artwork), her breasts are hardly oversized, and you have not even read the book to be able to complain that the character has been reduced in any way whatsoever.

But otherwise, you are right on target. Yay Pixie and all that.

I agree the breasts are all average sized here, might appear slightly big depending how you look at it, but compare it to Jim Lee's work and they are all pretty small (Storm and Psylocke in particular). As I said I hope there is a new Adjectiveless (by Wood) with a new team purpose. Sort of a strike squad without the having to answer to Cyclops bit. Pixie would be a great addition. I kind of hope it's not the weird-Angel leading because he's not particularly appealing to me. I'd go with Storm, adult Iceman, Rachel, Warpath, Pixie and maybe Psylocke (thought it might appear too much like UXF but Psylocke would still only be in 2 titles...) maybe with the weird Angel and a surprise or two.

as a bald man im offended by the bald guys head.


you cant get them that shiny, and it really glorifies shaved head like that. its not practical, you cant keep it smooth like that all the time. its a unrealistic representation

Puck has always been a shiny-head bald guy. Since his history goes back to the mid-70's when Alpha Flight first appeared in Uncanny X-Men during Claremont/Byrne's run) it's hardly anything new. Hey the shiny bald head worked for Michael Jordan and yes he did always shave it. Maybe Puck is just bald as he is hardly a young guy and might be up there in age. He seemed kinda old as early as his first appearences so I doubt he even have to shave it much anymore...

[Joecooler2u]

Still, the fact that the book is so focused on killing (and has done a poor job showing how tragic death is, in my opinion), I think people are kinda justified with being jumpy on it's premise.

I fully believe the book's purpose is making an X-Force team of teenagers, and it'll just weed out the characters who don't fit that theme. We all know X-23 is surviving, and that's a reason I'm annoyed.

I don't think they'll go that route. I think they got the dark team aspect covered prett well between Cable & X-Force, Dark Avengers, Thunderbolts and Uncanny X-Force. Sure I thnk X-23 will survive but even that's not a given spoilers:

as Daken bit the dust in Uncanny X-Force's "Final Execution"

end of spoilers. I'm thinking instead of being a complete copy of Battle Royale or it's American version Hunger Games we'll see more of a team survive and it will be a mixed team given the new Braddock students, Avengers Academy and a mix of other young and new characters to the mix. I think they're setting up a new school type team like a New Mutants/Avengers Academy/Generation X/Wolverine & The X-Men school. Or maybe it won't be a school but a New Warriors type deal. Sure it might seem like it will be dark as Darkhawk will probably be a survivor and X-23 as well. Yes it will weed out some, and even some cool characters as it already has done (the first issue's ending got to me and I'm not near the Avengers Academy fan you are). I do think that first death came off as tragic and done well, the 2nd death was a bit of dark comedy. Yes it sucks to kill characters we like or put them through hell, what they've done to Spider-Man kills me not just with OMD but what they are doing right now. So yeah I can understand how you feel, but we're powerless other than voting with our wallets. I don't think it will make a difference in my Spider-Man stance, but I've done it since OMD and will continue doing it. The simple fact is the characters wouldn't be interesting if they lived peaceful lives. They got to go through hell to be the characters we love. Unfortunately sometimes their stories end long before we're ready for them to be over. As a bigtime Jean Grey fan I can tell you it sucks waiting years to see her again. But it's also part of her appeal that she's such a strong character she overcomes even death.

[Joecooler2u]

Wow. We have to embrace Sam Alexander Nova. My guess is Rich Rider outstretched his Galactic influence and was sent to the curb. Bad DnA. Nice that Alonso admits the connection between Marvel NOW and the movies. Though there are subtle differences, he can't deny Marcus Johnson Nick Fury wasn't inspired by the Marvel Avengers related movies, otherwise, why construct such an obvious resemblance? The interview sounded more and more like the comics are just the storyboards of the movies now. Gone will be the independence of creativity, if we have to put up with movie replication in the books. It all sounds very stale, and unimaginative, especially the part where Alonso builds up Ant-Man 2, and it's not really the real one. (Anybody noticed any references to Hank Pym in Marvel NOW?)

That's where I think Marvel is going wrong here. I always thought the Ultimate Universe was supposed to be the place for the Movie-like characters. The comics should be the place where the wild ideas are free to roam and the movies can weed through and pick and choose which they can adapt. It's like trying to make the movie costumes work for the comics with X-Men. It kinda worked during Morrison's run but the comics just weren't visually entertaining enough going with all black leather. They still had to have some things stand out colorwise. Also it became clear fans preferred the comic book style costumes. Now some may really love the movie versions of Cap, Hawkeye etc make their way into the comics and now most us agree Robert Downey Jr is THE definite Iron Man which has also leaked into the comics, but like you said it stifles creativity at times. Visually I'll always love the comic book costume of Cap despite how silly it would look in real life, same for Wolverine's longer "eared" head piece and colors for his costume. I'm all for realism to help relate to comic book characters (and Marvel always did this best) but there is a danger of hurting that creative edge writers and artists have. Let them do their thing and have the movies select among the best works as they have done thus far. Comics shouldn't be storyboards for the movies but pieces that can be eventually adapated to be movies. Marcus Johnson/Nick Fury Jr is a perfect example of the comics going too far to be like the movies. I'll always prefer the Ultimate Nick Fury for my Sam Jackson fix in the comics and always prefer the original Nick Fury for being the original thing that came long before these other 2 versions.

[Monty_Cristo]

That's where I think Marvel is going wrong here. I always thought the Ultimate Universe was supposed to be the place for the Movie-like characters.

it was a test to see how you would react to movie-esque versions of the heroes. then it became a blueprint for the movie adaptations. and, because the Ultimate titles aren't as profitable, the regular titles became the ground floor for movie-goers.