I am a life-long lover of Marvel Mutant Mayhem, and lately, my cup runneth over. I’ve been out of the loop for a long time, but the launch of Marvel NOW has pulled me back with a vengeance. I haven’t been reading everything (I’m only mildly wealthy, after all), but I have been reading more comics lately than I have in nearly two decades. Mission accomplished, Marvel. Your mom and I are so very proud!

I’ve been a fan of Rick Remender’s writing since Fear Agent. He has a way with dialogue that is engaging, flippant, and poignant all at once. Uncanny Avengers has not be an exception. Starting with the Red Skull stealing the brain of Charles Xavier and starting a wave of anti-Mutant hysteria, and then moving into the current Heirs of Apocalypse storyline, Remender has been keeping his story moving along quite nicely.

Eimin and Uriel, the children of Archangel and heirs apparent to the throne of Apocalypse assassinated a Celestial in issue 7. Now, they are back on Earth (after destroying a SWORD orbital station) and trying to woo Sunfire back into the fold as their agent of Famine. Thor and Sunfire team up to save Rio De Janeiro from burning orbital wreckage. Wasp tries to get cozy with Havock. Captain America crash lands in the Sudan. Parts of the Avengers team start to suspect their mutant team-mates of keeping secrets. Thor’s old axe makes a comeback.

The Good: Wolverine is in the background here, unless needed for the overall story. Havock shrugging off the Wasp’s advances. Eimin and Uriel are interesting, to say the least.

The Rad: Shiro and Thor are my new Abbot and Costello: “Do you require a hug to sort out your disposition”? “Would you risk hugging the core of the sun itself”? Sunfire in Rio:”No, please. no need to thank me, Rio. Thank the Avengers for having the foresight to beg Sunfire to join”. Captain America in the Sudan is AWESOME.

The Fugly: That smack was for blasphemy, Junior! Remender’s pacing is excellent. This isn’t mere Fights and Tights, kids. Daniel Acuna’s artwork is very sharp, and keeps you focused on the overall story from start to finish. I’m sure I could find something not to like here, but why bother? Uncanny Avengers is a great read!

Uncanny Avengers #8 is available at your local comic shop now.

Sometimes being a girly girl geek has its bonuses. Well, all the time it does, because that’s awesome, but sometimes it has bonuses that you get to share with everyone.

Picture it: It’s a gloomy Saturday morning, and your trolling your favorite private shopping sites for discounted McQ and instead you stumble on this.

I’m sorry, did the site that usually offers me Urban Decay and ridiculously expensive baby clothes just show me some Marvel art? Yes. Yes they did, and they are selling an amazing lot of art for up to 80% off. Here is a fraction of what is up for grabs:

I Am An Avenger #5 framed and signed? Don’t mind if I do!

Last Man Standing holy crap that’s awesome.

Defenders: Strange Heroes. COME ON, they have Defenders art!!

And lastly, if anyone wants to buy this for me, I’m just sayin’, it has pretty much all my favorite characters and just… Wow.

The cons? You do have to be a site member to make purchases. But the pros? I don’t think you have to be invited anymore, and also I’m sorry did you see that art? It’s amazing. Just pop over to Gilt to start adding to your collection.

If, a year ago, anyone had told me that I would count a Hawkeye comic in my top five “must reads” for 2013, I would have laughed. Really hard. Hawkeye has been one of the Marvel characters I could care less about, right up there with Wonder Man and that little booger guy from X-Men. I do, however, enjoy Matt Fraction’s writing, so I picked up Hawkeye #1 when it hit the comic shop, and was pleasantly, if not overwhelmingly, surprised.

Hawkeye tells the story of the Avenger’s Clint Barton when he’s not wearing the purple gimp suit. The comic also features Kate Bishop, the “other” Hawkeye, and a host of great supporting characters. Hawkeye also introduced what has quickly become my favorite group of villains in comic-dom, the Tracksuit Draculas. These guys are a constant foil for “Hawkguy”, but mostly cannon-fodder and comic relief.

Issue 9 of Hawkguy saw the sudden murder of Grills, a nice guy who gives Clint advice from time to time. His killer was wearing a tear-drop Harlequin mask, and claimed to be straight from Hell. Issue 10 tells the back story of the killer, an kid named Kazi who was orphaned, became an assassin, and was recruited by the Tracksuit Draculas. The story itself is told in flash-backs while Kazi is flirting with Hawkeye Kate, then wraps up on the roof of Clint’s building with the same scene that ended issue 9.

The story is great, as should be expected with Fraction. You really feel for Kazi, as tragedy after tragedy befalls him. You can see how a life of non-stop catastrophe could turn someone into a sociopathic contract killer. Kate has some great lines, and there is a very poetic ode to Manhattan at night that I loved.

The only thing holding me back from flat-out loving this issue is the art. Up until this issue, David Aja has handled the illustration, and while simple, it works. Aja’s drawings have a great narrative elegance to them that reminds me of Matt Wagner during his early Grendel days. The colors are complementary to the art, sticking to unshaded, flat hues and a cool color palette. Issue 10’s art was provided by Francesco Francavilla, who’s work I normally hold in pretty high regard. I have to assume that he had very little time to complete the issue, because it feels rushed, muddy, and at times sloppy.

Still, sloppy art doesn’t interfere with the overall quality of this issue; snappy dialogue, clever word-play, and excellent character work flows through every page of this story. Hawkeye #10 is at your local comic shop now.

Loud. ‘Splodey. Schnickty. Exactly as it should be.

We got a plot reveal last week, but Fox is finally giving us a tease into James Mangold’s “The Wolverine.” Many are hopeful that this will be the Wolverine movie we were supposed to get before, but I don’t even care because it’s got an X-Man and kung-fu, which are like, my two favorite things ever. Also? Silver Samurai, y’all. Silver. Samurai.

Well, what can be said about this latest installment of the Iron Man saga?

I feel like it was a vast improvement over the last film and, at this point, I’m pretty convinced that it might be my favorite of the three films. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy Favreau’s efforts, but this just brought things together in a way I wasn’t sure was possible.

Where to even start? This is a post-Avengers world, and thusly, this is our first glimpse into what the Marvel Universe looks like after the invasion of the Chitauri, and it’s our most human look at Tony Stark across the board. Shane Black said we couldn’t see him dealing with the demon in the bottle, but we were certainly able to see him battling the devil in himself. At this stage in his life, he’s prone to panic attacks at the mere mention of the words “New York.”

Yes, we saw Tony change in The Avengers, but that change wasn’t all for the better and Tony wasn’t exactly ready for the change.

And, like most things in Tony’s life, things from his past come back to haunt him.

I don’t want to get too much into spoiler territory with this review. I will say that I’m still not sure that I like some of the choices for characters made. I can safely say, though, that I do like the portrayal of The Mandarin. Ben Kingsley is fantastic and turns in one of the finest performances of any superhero villain. Though I will admit the direction they take him might upset some fans. It made perfect sense, though.

What I will say, is that Shane Black placed his own thumbprint on the film in a way I wasn’t sure was possible. It’s a Christmas movie that instantly conjured images of Lethal Weapon, with the Christmas music, tree lots, people tossing fake badges on tables, Riggs and Murtaugh like shootouts in construction sites…  This film truly is the descendant of Lethal Weapon. It also has much more of Shane Black’s later sensibilities, many will notice similarities in style with his last Robert Downey, Jr. film, Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang. It’s particularly striking in the way the film starts and ends.

As for the post-credits sequence, it’s worth staying for once, and it’s fun to see other characters from the Avengers universe, but it’s not much to write home about. It’s satisfying to a degree, but I feel like it should have left a stronger lead up to Thor: The Dark World.

This film had me in tears (the scene where Tony’s house is blown up!) and in stitches (Tony is as funny as ever.) It had me smiling (Downton Abbey!) throughout and cheering for the good guys and hissing at the bad guys. Guy Pearce is particularly delightful, if not slightly cardboard. The events put into motion provide the backdrop for the most stunning and Iron Man filled finale in any of the movies.

And I can’t overstate how much I liked his interplay with “The Kid.” Best sidekick ever.

My only complaint (aside from the questionable change of one character, which may or may not be fixed by the end) is that it felt as thought Rebecca Hall was underused. I think she’s a great actress and she was given a bit of short shrift here, underutilized in a way that was even worse than Sam Rockwell’s under-utilization.

Will you enjoy Iron Man 3? Absolutely.

Did I? You bet.

Was it the best of the three? As I’m at the end of this review, I still think so, yes.

Am I still more excited for Thor: The Dark World coming later this year? Verily.

Iron Man 3 hits cinemas in the United States on Friday.

Lots of announcements from the comics companies at C2E2, held in Chicago this past weekend: X-Men: Battle of the Atom, Elfquest is coming to Dark Horse, and more! (more…)

Are you just so excited for the PS4 that you just absolutely want to devour as much information as possible as soon as it arrives? If so, you should check out this nice video Sony put together to introduce the new DualShock 4 controller. If you want the story behind the new design, it’s intriguing, even if I had did have trouble with the buffering and audio sync.

On the neXtBox front, Microsoft has confirmed that the reveal will be happening at a May 21st press event. The event will reportedly ring in “the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment.” That quote confirms to me the reports that Microsoft is looking to expand ever further into being your complete entertainment source, not just your gaming console. But, will that mean their next-gen box will have all those extra media options, or does it confirm the rumors of a “mini-XBox” that will function like a Hulked out Roku box? We should know all of this in less than a month.

The latest rumors, and they are just rumors, is that Batman: Arkham Origins will have a multiplayer component. It’s not clear what that component may be, but the rumor mill suggests you’ll be playing as a member of Joker’s or Bane’s gangs and trying to take down Batman and Robin. Which, frankly, would be the only reasonable form of multiplayer for a game like this. A Batman and Robin co-op mode could be interesting, but it would be an odd fit for the pacing of the previous two titles. I kind of like the concept of one player as Batman (and Robin, possibly) versus an army of player-controlled Joker goons, but the balancing for something like that would just be obscene. Hopefully we’ll get confirmation from Warner Bros. Montreal about available modes soon. The game is scheduled for October 25, 2013.

2K Marin has confirmed today that their XCOM shooter has been slightly rebranded, but it’s still part of the same shared universe. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified (as it is now called) is scheduled for August 20, 2013. The third-person shooter will be a prequel of sorts, taking place in 1962 and portraying the establishment of the XCOM organization. Tactical decisions and permanent squad member death will also be rearing their brutal heads once again.

The delayed, formerly-WiiU-exclusive Rayman Legends from Ubisoft has finally been given a firm release date. The game will now be releasing August 27, 2013 for WiiU, PS3, and XBox 360. A Vita version has also been rumored, but remains unconfirmed, for that date or any other.

A translated tweet from the official Okami feed indicates there will be some major announcement next week. The rumor mill doesn’t even have a consensus on it will be. Here’s the translated text [note: Golden Week is a collection of Japanese holidays, April 29-May 5]:

Hello, this is Okami news. Sorry I’ve been kind of out of touch lately, but I have the feeling we’ll be able to drop a fresh announcement like WHAM! around the beginning of Golden Week, so please look forward to it. Right now we’re on track with preparations.

The release date for Battlefield 4 has been rumored as October 31, 2013 for a while but is still officially unconfirmed. The latest promotional poster at EB Games may have made the confirmation unnecessary. It also reveals some of the features we can expect to see:

Rockstar apparently has plans for three new Grand Theft Auto V trailers next week. Unless their promo is deliberately misleading, each trailer will focus on one of the three main protagonists. If you’re excited for this one, watch for the trailers next Tuesday, April 30th.

If you’re the type that likes to be a little late to the party on major titles to insure you get all of the DLC, you’ll be glad to know your Legendary Edition of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is on its way. As expected, this version will include the main campaign, all current updates, and all previously released DLC. It will retail at launch for $60 and is set for release June 4, 2013.

A pair of newly released images for Activision’s upcoming Deadpool game reveal two new characters we’ll see in the game. One of them might even get our own Scarlett Robotica interested in playing, as she has a bizarre fascination with Mister Sinister. The other reveal is Psylocke, the hot European chick that somehow became a hot Asian chick in what passed for 1990’s X-Men storytelling. Things are shaping up nicely for this June 25th release.

Lara Croft looks to finally be getting some practical clothing. Three upcoming DLC outfits for the Tomb Raider reboot have “leaked” that feature Lara in long pants and jackets (or a vest). The three outfits are called Modern Archer, Mountaineer, and Engineer (pictured). No word yet on when they’ll release or how much they’ll cost, but it’s good news for people who like to change their characters’ clothes like a digital Barbie doll.

Climax Studios (Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Smart As…) have revealed they are currently working on two new games. Other than a few screen shots, very little has been revealed about the games. The first is a “character action platformer” that has a very Prince of Persia look to it. The second is horror title with some creepy dolls. Titles, platforms, release dates, etc. are all still in the dark. However, Climax’s website does indicate they are developing for PS4, WiiU, and “other new consoles” (which is the next XBox).

The first of the DLC characters (which you knew would be coming) for Injustice: Gods Among Us has been revealed. Price and date for Lobo are still a mystery, but it’s a safe bet he’ll be included in the season pass for $12.

A few preorder bonuses have been revealed for Activision and High Moon’s Deadpool game coming June 25, 2013. Ordering from GameStop will score you two extra challenge maps, two extra character skins, and “the most epic digital wallpaper ever.” You could also order from Amazon for a $5 credit towards graphic novels, exclusive digital cover sleeve, and digital wallpaper.

After Tuesday’s report that Bethesda is moving on from Skyrim they began to release teaser videos on Vine that didn’t seem to make any sense. We knew it wasn’t Fallout 4 based on a tweet from Pete Hines (boo, gimme Fallout) but what could it be? It was revealed today that this is Shinji Mikami’s Project Zwei, now being called The Evil Within. Mikami says, “We’re incredibly proud to announce The Evil Within. My team and I are committed to creating an exciting new franchise, providing fans the perfect blend of horror and action.” The game is set for release on PS3, 360, PC, and “next generation consoles.” No release date yet, but the platforms make it safe bet for late 2013 or early 2014.

That’s all for this week. If you’re in Salt Lake City, don’t miss Big Shiny Robot’s Street Fighter 4 tournament at SLC Nerd on Saturday. It’s $10 for the event, but the tournament is free.

It’s no secret that Coulson lives in the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. television series, but what is a secret is exactly how that’s possible given the fact that he died at the hands of Loki in The Avengers.

Gregg spoke to Collider recently at WonderCon about Coulson’s return, the television series, and if he will appear in any of the Marvel Phase 2 big-screen productions coming up. He has this to say about the beloved S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent’s return:

“Even though my friends at Marvel said, ‘You know, we spent a lot of time talking about how Coulson lives, and we know that there’s a movement out there, and there are t-shirts and people paint on bridges ‘Coulson Lives,’ we’re going to bring you back,’ and it’s one of the many things people tell you that never ever happens. And then I get this call from Joss [Whedon] saying, ‘Well… there’s a script… and it’s after The Avengers.’ By the time Joss finished telling me, I was in.”

For me, though, the most interesting bit from this interview about Coulson’s “resurrection”:

“After people see the show, they’ll have some clue as to why I’m still there, still breathing, but I don’t think they’ll know everything…”

Most likely, I am reading too much into it, but Gregg notes that he’s “still there, still breathing”. Does this throw a wrench in the Vision and Deathlok theories/rumors? Has he actually somehow been resurrected? I really think while everyone is looking forward to a hopefully quality Marvel television series, a lot of the anticipation is stemming from the question of “How the hell is Agent Coulson still alive?!”

You can check out the full interview with Clark Gregg, including his thoughts on if Agent Coulson will make it back to the big screen, over at Collider.

Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D will (hopefully) be premiering on ABC this Fall.

You can follow Arse-bot and all the pointless thoughts he puts out into the interwebs on Twitter @Arse_bot

Phase 2 of Marvel’s cinematic universe is about to kick off with Iron Man 3 next month, followed by Thor: The Dark World later this year. Next year, we have Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Guardians of the Galaxy to look forward to, and GeekZenith has gotten their hands on some pretty awesome pre-production art work for the latter two – including one featuring a fight between Cap and Bucky/The Winter Soldier!

For those concerned about spoilers, there doesn’t seem to be anything terribly spoilery about the images in the gallery below – so check them out!

You can follow Arse-bot and all the pointless thoughts he puts out into the interwebs on Twitter @Arse_bot