Comic Catch-Up: New Releases, 10.09.09

Even with the best intentions, the second week of the Comic Catch-Up escaped me, so here’s a quick catch-up for the week of September 10th, a week of Marvel comics that saw Norman Osborn taken down a few pegs with regard to the mutant situation in the culmination of Matt Fraction’s Utopia arc, ushering in a new status quo for mutant-kind, and beginning the important The List banner of books which may or may not lead to the end of the Osborn’s Dark Reign.

This entry of the Comic Catch-Up takes a look at Dark Avengers: Uncanny X-Men – Exodus one-shot, Dark Reign: The List – Avengers one-shot, Thunderbolts #135, War of Kings: Who Will Rule? one-shot and Ultimate Comics: Avengers #2.

When You Wish Upon A Comic

The stock market isn’t usually a topic we’ll cover here on BurnAllZombies, but this latest news is something we just couldn’t ignore, the news that Disney have acquired Marvel Entertainment in a stock and cash transaction worth approximately $4billion. That’s…a lot more money than I can count.

Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company had the following to say:

This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories.

Interestingly enough is Iger’s mention of “entertainment properties,” highlighting Marvel’s value as more than just a comic book company, but also with big-screen potential (and much more) as well.

It’s an interesting development, and there’s some more information that I’d like to know before deciding on whether it’s a good deal or not. On the upside, this gives Marvel much more money to work with, potentially giving them the buying power they need to buy back film rights for the Spider-Man franchise from Sony, or mutants and the X-Men from Fox. But there’s also a point where we have to wonder just how much influence Disney will have over Marvel’s publishing division, and we can only hope that the company’s comics remain free to publish as they have been for years. But given the recent merger between Disney and Pixar, with both companies remaining free to operate individually, we can hope that there won’t be any adverse effects.

The full press release will be due later today, but until then, you can check out just what Marvel have to say about it themselves.

Flashback Feature: Marvel vs Capcom 2

It could be a little bit of cheating including Marvel vs Capcom 2 as a Flashback Feature, but it’s appropriate when it’s the same week as the game gets released for download on XBox Live Arcade.

Originally released in 2000 as a coin-op machine in arcades, swiftly followed by a home-console release on both the PS2 and the Dreamcast, Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is the fourth and last game in a series of fighting games pitting characters from Marvel Comics against heroes and villains from Capcom produced games (just in case you hadn’t figured that much out from the name, of course.)

Flashback Feature: X-Men (1992-1997) [Part 2]

In the first part of our Flashback Feature on the “X-Men” animated series of the early 90s, we looked at the series’ origins, along with the mutants that made up the core team of X-Men.

Now, in part two, we take a look at some of the villains and other characters featured throughout the series, along with the storylines adapted over its five season run, and how they fit into the bigger picture of the X-Men universe.

One of the highpoints of the X-Men animated series was its willingness to include characters from across the Marvel Universe: some were simple cameos, others had episodes dedicated to them and their origins, and others still were new characters, introduced, created and adapted solely for the series.

Flashback Feature: X-Men (1992-1997) [Part 1]

Anyone who watched cartoons in the early 90s should have fond memories of Fox’s “X-Men” cartoon which ran for five seasons between 1992 and 1997. Of course, it was a bit later than that by the time it hit shores outside of the US, and lasted longer than that in re-runs, especially when the success of the movies brought the animated series back onto TV.

This Flashback Feature is dedicated to a look at the 90s TV series, and most importantly, its ties to its comic book origins. But before we start looking at the show and its characters, why not remind yourself of the very first reason why the show was so beloved to begin with…?

The “X-Men” animated series has very close ties to the storylines of the comics at the time, right down to the cast of characters. Part of the reason it has proven so successful with the X-Men fanbase has been because of how faithful it remains to its subject matter, even adapting whole storylines for plot points, both large over-arching plots and individual stories. Over five seasons and 76 episodes, Fox’s series provided many people with their first introduction to the world of the mutants, in many ways paving the way for the movies to take over the box office (not to mention two further animated series that have followed in its footsteps.) But to appreciate everything that “X-Men” was, it helps to know what went before.

When Broken Is Easily Fixed

 It’s been a long time coming, but Mike Carey’s uber-arc of “X-Men: Legacy” is coming to a close, with some massive changes for Professor Charles Xavier and Rogue. 

Since Carey started writing “X-Men” with issue #188 (becoming “X-Men: Legacy” with issue #208 in the wake of the Messiah CompleX crossover) there has been an inevitable lead-up to something involving Rogue and her powers, from downloading multiple personalities to having them wiped by the child mutant “Messiah” and then using her powers against Mystique. For the last few issues, Mystique’s personality has been sharing Rogue’s body, influencing her and helping her out with the occasional fight, even though all Rogue has wanted was some peace and quiet.

Let’s Play, Bub

 I made no qualms about how poor a film I thought “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” was, but that I was somewhat excited about the video game. Having downloaded the demo for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Uncaged Edition” I got my hands on the full copy of the game and have been enjoying fighting my way through it ever since.

The game’s significantly better than the movie, and has actually given me quite a few “wow” moments of awesomeness, as it picks up on a lot of comic-book story arcs that the film ignores, and does a much better job of steering close to the comics and the first three movies (and previous X-Men games) than the movie does.

The game itself gets a B, highly enjoyable, but with some flaws…you can find out more in the full review below.

Claw Games

Well “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” might have been an incredibly disappointing game, but it looks like something good might come of it.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Uncaged Edition” is the tie-in game, and it looks like it’s doing everything the movie didn’t (as in, doing things right!) It occurred to me whilst watching “X2″ on TV the other night how hopelessly pants the fighting was in the movie, where Wolverine didn’t even use his claws to do anything more than cut a door, and a sink, and a few other nonsense things like that.

Anyway, I’m pleased to report that the game looks slashy, bloody and awesome. I’m gonna try get my hands on it when I can, but until then, I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of IGN and their video review, most importantly because it has some pretty awesome gameplay footage which gives you an idea of what this game has (and what the movie was lacking.)

Claws Of Crap

 So no, I’m not going to talk about the fact that “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” leaked on-line, nor about the fact that that this will kill the film’s box office takings. This will just be an honest, impartial review of the film. Personally, even just from the ads, I’m irritated at how they seem to have forgotten all about why these films are being made, all about the other films in the series, all about the original comics, and all about the original characters in them. So instead, the fan-boy in me looks at “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” as a film that shouldn’t necessarily have been made.

Having watched it, I’m glad that my opinion hasn’t been unfounded: it really validated my incredibly low expectations of it. I honestly don’t know how films this…okay, I’m not gonna say bad, but I don’t know how films this mediocre can be made, passing through so many producers, actors, directors, writers…

Anyway, my ‘proper’ review is below: I really rather hope it encourages you not to go see it…but maybe that’s cos I’m a bit mean. Short answer: 2/5.

Something Inside Me Just Died

So X-Men 3 just…well, completely ruined the franchise for me, as well as shitting all over, I repeat ALL OVER one of my favourite characters, and plots (ie. the Dark Phoenix Saga.)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine looks like it’ll be doing something similar, anyway. I’m not the hugest Wolverine fan, but the character’s alright…I still prefer Steve Blum’s take on him than Hugh Jackman (for the uninitiated, Blum voices Wolverine in all the animated/video game appearances of the character since X-Men: Evolution…he’s perfect.)

So let’s see, where have they gone wrong with this?

• Well, for starters, if you believe the news floating around the interwebs, the scary-looking mutant dude is Weapon XI, in the body of Wade Wilson. Meh, I don’t care much for Deadpool, but way to SHIT ALL OVER CHARACTERS (again.)
• Emma Frost…she’s organic diamond, not some “chick” with “sparkle” powers. There is no way in hell that that…girl is in any way connected to Emma Frost. No.
• Gambit. Who cares? I know I don’t. Then again, I suppose they’ve had Jubilee and Nightcrawler in the films, the only characters to SUCK MORE ASS THAN A CAJUN THIEF.

Meh, rant is coming to a close now, so I’ll just leave you with the trailer. Part of me wants to see this for reviewing purposes, just so I can absolutely SLATE it. Cos I so will.