Marvel Solicitations January 2011

AGE OF X: ALPHA #1
Written by MIKE CAREY
Pencils by TBD
Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
Variant Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Mutantkind’s final war starts here.
If you don’t know which side you’re on, check your DNA.
32 PGS./Rated A …$3.99

 
X-23 #5
Written by MARJORIE LIU
Penciled by WILL CONRAD
Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY
X-23’s search for her soul continues! What does Mr. Sinister have to do with Laura’s past…and how is MISS SINISTER trying to influence her future? Caught between a dead man and a dangerous woman, Laura must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for answers. GUEST-STARRING GAMBIT!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99

DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #5
Written by MARJORIE LIU
Pencils & Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
AN ALL-NEW STORYLINE STARTS HERE! Daken is going to prove to the world he’s the best there is at what he does, one country at a time…and he’s starting with MADRIPOOR!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99


WOLVERINE #5
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by RENATO GUEDES
Cover by JAE LEE
There's a riot going on down below! As hell explodes around him, Logan confronts the last person in the world he ever thought he'd have to face again. Plus Sabretooth! And Ghost Riders! And demonic action galore! Don't miss this shocking finale to the sold-out saga of "Wolverine Goes to Hell."
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

UNCANNY X-FORCE #4
Written by RICK REMENDER
Penciled by JEROME OPEÑA
Cover by ESAD RIBIC
“THE APOCALYPSE SOLUTION,” PART FOUR
It all comes down to this! To stop him from bending all reality to his will X-Force must kill Apocalypse. But at a terrible cost. The final set piece: lovers positioned against each other, old friendships irreparably shattered, and the future of the Marvel Universe forever twisted. The story X-fans will be discussing for years to come, the conclusion that will change one character evermore!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

X-Force X-23 Fine Art Statue

Thanks to threeclawseach for this info! 

The deadly mutant is mission-ready, scouting out her target before a precision strike. Standing ever alert, X-23 wears her current X-Force uniform complete with skin-tight suit (that leaves her midriff bare), belt, bracelet and intricately-laced boots. Laura's trademark weapons, her claws, are unsheathed; two stand out from each hand while a solitary spur extends from her left foot. The ultra smooth adamantium blades stand out in stark contrast to the intricate sculpting and texture of her body, complete with musculature and clothing effects. The expert tracker comes with two heads so you can display her as you prefer: wearing her mask and a teeth-baring grin or sans mask and a more serene look on her face!Sculpted by Erick Sosa, X-23 stands approximately 11 inches tall (1/6 scale) perched atop a New York City building rooftop. Catch her now, because she is just the first in a new X-Force series bringing your favorite mutants to life!
$159.99
Available May, 2011

Interview with Nich Lowe

Enjoy some outtakes from an interview with Nick Lowe that I found interesting! There is also a most beautiful cover of "X-23 #5" featuring Gambit who Laura already appeared killing vampires with in the "X-Men #3"! And the lamest, most idiotic explanation of why Elixir is not on the team and can't heal Hellion's hands and Karma's foot that appear to be the proof that Second Coming was badass. Lame. WTF??

"Uncanny X-Force" was amazing – easily the best X-book right now! Rick Remender mentioned that his X-Force team was already chosen when he was attached to the book. So why did you pick these characters? I'm especially interested in why Psylocke was chosen, but it's always a pleasure to read a good-written Betsy.
That's an easy question. Axel loves Psylocke – plain and simple. He just loves her. So that's pretty much why she's there. As for the rest, we knew that Warpath, X-23 and Wolfsbane weren't going to be signing up for such a team again, and we wanted to formulate a cast that would get people talking. Seems like it worked.

Elixir's powers make him an important character who could potentially help human/mutant relations. Which X-book will be getting him and will his knowledge about Hope obtained in "Messiah War" ever be acknowledged?
Right now, Elixir is on the lam. You won't be seeing him particularly soon, but I imagine that he is on a quest to eat at every McDonalds in the world and then heal himself from the damage that such a quest would cause. It's similar to the quest that I'm on, only without the healing powers.

Interview with Marjorie Liu

I'm very sorry for the recent lack of news - I visited Croatia with my friends to spend the rest of the holidays on the sea. =) Now I'm back, so here's a new interview with Ms. Liu about Laura and also an amazing preview of the issue #1!

How much story time passes between the end of the recent "Second Coming" event, where Wolverine told her that she would no longer be part of X-Force, and "X-23" #1? Where is Laura physically and emotionally when the series begins?
Not a huge amount of time at all. She's messed up, honestly. She doesn't know where her place is anymore. While she was part of X-Force, her life was defined by "the mission." There was a job to do, and she did it. She was a good soldier.
But - what people love in war, they fear in peace. Or if they don't fear it, they don't understand it. And that's Laura's situation. She was great to have around when times were bad, but now that the world is settling down, well, what do you do with her? How do you treat her? Do you pat her on the back and say, "Okay, go be a kid now?" That's ridiculous. Except, that is what some of the X-Men try to do. Others who have had traumatic childhoods know better. She's not just a kid. She'll never be just a kid. She's a child soldier. That's a very unique psychology.
Of course, one can argue that all the kids on Utopia are child soldiers - but not like her. It's like comparing the students of an upscale military academy to the children of Sierra Leone who are forced into armies and then subjected to fear, brutality, and psychological manipulation to achieve absolute obedience. Those kids are dehumanized. The entire world is dehumanized, for them.
And now Laura is out of that army. How do you recover from that? How do you recover, when even your friends are afraid of you?

In terms of plot and theme, what is the opening arc of "X-23" about? I understand there's some connection to the current story arc in Jason Aaron and Renato Guedes' recently launched "Wolverine" series, which has the title character's soul trapped in hell while sinister forces inhabit his body, but I assume there's more to "X-23" than simply tying in with that.
It's about Laura coming to terms with this new life she's got. She doesn't see it as a second chance, because that implies that the first part of her life was a failure, and she doesn't feel that way. It was just life, and now she had to figure out a different way to live. She needs to learn who she is outside of the army, away from all these adults who used her. But - to tie in with the Hellverine arc - we've got the Devil tempting her back into that old life of death and war, which does hold a certain comforting appeal. Laura needs to make a choice. Does she go back to what she knows - or does she have the courage to go forward into the unknown?

Who are some of the major supporting players readers will see throughout the opening arc of "X-23?"
Laura's relationship with Hellion will be explored, but she also finds a caring figure in Storm - and in one other well-known X-Man who will play a very important role in her life (and in the second story arc, which starts with issue #4).

How important is setting to the overall opening story? Where does the opening story take place?
It takes place on Utopia and in the personal hell of Laura's mind, which will feel like another world entirely.

You mentioned in past interviews that much of this series is going to be Laura, on her own, exploring the world. Are there any locales you're dying to take her to? Say, some of Wolverine's favorite stomping grounds like Madripoor or the Savage Land?
I would love to take her to Madripoor. You'll definitely see her in China (I have this vision of her tromping all over the Great Wall, which I can't seem to shake), and she'll be heading back to New York City. Really, she can go anywhere she wants. And she will.


It seems like Daken and Laura have a lot in common and a lot of issues with each other. They met once before in the Utopia crossover. With you writing "X-23" and co-writing "Daken: Dark Wolverine," is there any chance we could see them run in to each other again in the near future?
Yes. Absolutely, yes. Readers have been clamoring to see Daken and X-23 go head-to-head, and we gave a taste of that in the recently released "Wolverine: Road to Hell." We wanted to hint at what the crossover will be about - but even that doesn't give a real sense of the rich, intense storyline that we're planning. These two have very different views of the world, but at the same time, they are very much of the man they're made from: Wolverine. Working with and against each other may bring out parts of their personalities that they don't expect.

---

But will X-23 truly be "on her own?" That's what Katja S. (that would be me)) was wondering, at lea.
Marjorie, you've said in the past that you didn't want Laura's story to solely focus on her romantic relationship with Hellion. Being a huge fan of these two characters, I was curious how you plan on dealing with this, or if you plan on mentioning this relationship at all?
Liu: Oh, yes. The first arc deals, in part, with Laura's relationship with Hellion. I've stated in the past that I'm not interested in exploring her role as a girlfriend - and that's still the case - but their ties to one another will be examined within these first three issues. After that, they part ways - at least for a little while. It won't be forced, I promise you. It should feel like a very natural result of what happens in issue #3.

Will either Daken or X-23 be doing any dating in their upcoming series?
Liu: Daken always has it going on with the ladies (and men), but I don't know if that counts as dating; although, he's going to come very close in issue #2. As for X-23, she'll be forming some deep and lasting bonds - but again, I don't think that's the same thing as going out on a date.
2) When Wolverine goes to hell, will it affect Daken and X-23 on an emotional level? Will they know about it (and will they care)?
Liu: Yes, to X-23. It's going to affect her in more ways than one.
3) In X-23 and Daken's new series, can we expect the two to go up against villains we've seen before? Or are you creating brand new baddies for these books?

Liu: You'll see Laura going up against an established female villain in her second arc (hint: it's not Kimura). I don't plan on creating any new characters, to be honest. I think the Marvel universe already has tons of great villains without adding another one to the mix.

4) Laura has never really had any formal education. How does this impact her in her life? Do you think she'd even be capable of sitting through any kind of class? And how old is she - would she be in high school or college?
Liu: That's a good question. Laura is a highly intelligent young woman with a wealth of life experience that very few could ever hope to match. That, in itself, has been an incredible education. Is she book smart? Well, she could be. She was raised in a lab, after all - meant to be a weapon - and as such, one would assume that she was taught strategy, languages, history and culture - all the things a good living weapon would need to know in order to assess a situation, adapt, blend in, etc.
I never felt that X-23 was meant to be a blunt force object. On the other hand, I don't see her ever sitting down in a formal high school setting. That doesn't mean, however, that she won't try to educate herself. The two are very different things - and an interesting side of her to explore.

Unlimited Highlights: X-23

Read and enjoy the story of X-23 from the very beginning!

X-Force: Sex and Violence #2 Preview

COVER BY: Gabriele Dell'Otto
WRITER: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
PENCILS: Gabriele Dell'Otto
LETTERED BY: Neurotic Cartoonist, Inc
THE STORY:
WARNING: This issue lives up to the title. Not for the squeamish or easily embarrassed, wink wink. Wolverine finds out why the Assassins Guild is after Domino, and it's a funny story. Well, Domino thinks it is. But Logan is grumpy and doesn't see the humor in it, probably due to the fact that Dom's actions have put a half dozen of the worlds deadliest assassins on their trail. And then things get complicated. Ahhh, romance. Parental Advisory
PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: August 11, 2010

X-Force: Sex and Violence #1 Preview Lettered

X-FORCE: SEX AND VIOLENCE #1 (of 3)
Written by CRAIG KYLE and CHRIS YOST
Pencils and Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
Just when you thought it was over, we pull you back in—it’s the X-Force story everyone’s been talking about, finally delivered! Wolverine and Domino have always had a special relationship, but everything goes upside down when the Assassins Guild puts out a hit on our gun wielding bombshell. Why do they want her dead? And more importantly, how many people have to die before Wolverine and Domino can spend some quality time together? Get ready for the sexiest blood-soaked ride Craig Kyle and Chris Yost have ever delivered as they join forces with international superstar Gabriele Dell'otto to offer up their final X-Force story! Parental Advisory $3.99
On Sale July 14 2010

X-Men: Second Coming #2 Preview

Story by Zeb Wells, Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost , Matt Fraction

Art by Ibraim Roberson, Esad Ribic, Greg Land, Jay Leisten , Terry Dodson , Rachel Dodson

Colors by Matt Milla, Matt Wilson, Frank Martin, Brad Anderson

Cover by Adi Granov, David Finch, Matt Banning, Peter Steigerwald

The end is here. Sacrifices have been made. The most dangerous and successful attempt at the extermination of mutants is upon us. Who will walk away? $3.99

Release Date Wed, July 14th, 2010

X-Force #28 Preview

COVER BY: Adi Granov
WRITER: Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost
PENCILS: Mike Choi
COLORED BY: Sonia Oback
THE STORY:
“SECOND COMING”, CHAPTER THIRTEEN The final battle begins here! It’s X-Force’s last stand in the future and the X-Men’s last stand in the present. Bastion has been one step ahead of the X-Men the whole time, but one X-Man’s sacrifice could turn the tide! Don’t miss the penultimate chapter of the X-Event of 2010! Parental Advisory …$2.99
IN STORES: July 8, 2010 

Wolverine: The Road To Hell #1

Written by: Jason Aaron, Marjorie Liu, Rick Remender & Daniel Way
Penciled by: Guiseppe Camuncoli, Will Conrad, Renato Guedes & Jerome Opeña
Cover by: Mico Suayan
This September, Wolverine starts down the road to hell and we want to take you along for the ride…it all starts here! With all new material by the creative teams bringing you Wolverine, X-23, Daken: Dark Wolverine and X-Force, The Road to Hell is packed with clues and signposts to help you find your way through the brand-new launch of Wolverine’s own family of books! You won’t want to miss it, because bonus material includes a second look at the first issue of Namor the First Mutant #1 and an exclusive preview of the November launch of an ALL NEW X-BOOK! You won’t want to miss it!

X-Force: Sex and Violence Preview (2)

Another two pages of the upcoming issue. 

X-Solicitations September 2010

X-23 #1
Written by MARJORIE LIU
Penciled by WILL CONRAD
Cover by DANNI SHINYA LUO
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL'OTTO
Women of Marvel Variant by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
After the events of Second Coming and the stunning conclusion to X-Force, X-23 strikes out on her own in this all-new ongoing series, written by best-selling author MARJORIE LIU, spinning out of the events of Wolverine #1! X-23 has never had an easy relationship with the rest of the X-Men, but when she learns someone has taken down Wolverine, she must step up to fill his shoes.
40 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

X-MEN LEGACY #240
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by CLAY MANN
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Super Hero Squad Variant also available
“COLLISION” Part 3
The city of Mumbai is coming apart at the seams, torn asunder by freak energy storms...and Rogue and Magneto have finally discovered their source: The Children of the Vault have returned. And the X-Men may not be enough to stop them. But might their “new mutant” tip the scales in their favor?
32 PGS./Rated A ...$2.99

Hellion is going to play a role here, so I included this issue it the Solicits.



 
X-FORCE: SEX AND VIOLENCE #3 (of 3)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
Art and Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
The blood soaked conclusion!! Wolverine is the best he is at what he does. Domino is the luckiest there is at what she does. But this time, it's not going to be enough. The full force of the Assassins Guild is coming down on our heroes, and it's not going to be pretty. Except for the art.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99