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Marvel says:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Ultimate Comics X-Men #1, from rising stars Nick Spencer & Paco Medina! Iceman, Kitty Pride and the Human Torch discover the true history of the x-gene as the divide between Mankind and Mutantkind grows deeper than ever before! Who are the X-Men and how will they handle the fallout of this universe shattering discovery? Find out in Ultimate Comics X-Men #1 this September, as Ultimate Comics Universe Reborn continues!

ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #1
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by PACO MEDINA
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS (POLYBAGGED)
Variant Cover by PACO MEDINA
ON SALE – 14/09/11

Marvel says:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Uncanny X-Force #12, from critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender, superstar artists Mark Brooks and Dean White. X-Force must find a Celestial Life Seed before Archangel succumbs to the darkness within him, but when the alternate reality’s twisted versions of Earth’s mightiest stand in their way – will they be too late? Can they halt the coming of a new Apocalypse? Find out in Uncanny X-Force #12!

UNCANNY X-FORCE #12
UNCANNY X-FORCE #12 KUBERT VARIANT
Written by RICK REMENDER
Penciled by MARK BROOKS
Colors by DEAN WHITE
Cover by ESAD RIBIC
Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT
ON SALE – 27/07/2011

But don’t worry kids, it comes back immediately! You’ll have to decide who ‘wins the breakup’ though. My money’s on Scott, if they were my parents, he’d be the one I’d choose to live with after the divorce. Logan would be the dead-beat dad who comes to my 11th birthday drunk to throw up in the punch.

Check out the preview for X-Men: Schism #2 below…

Marvel says:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at X-Men: Schism #2, from Marvel Architect Jason Aaron and superstar artist Frank Cho. The blockbuster X-Event of the summer continues as Sentinels threaten to wipe out all of Mutantkind! It’s up to Wolverine and Cyclops to band the X-men together and tackle the threat head-on, and with tensions boiling – one of them will go too far. Find out this July the fate of mutantkind remains unclear in X-Men: Schism #2!

X-MEN: SCHISM #2
X-MEN: SCHISM #2 CHO VARIANT
Written by JASON AARON
Art  and Cover by FRANK CHO
Variant Cover by FRANK CHO
ON SALE – 27/07/2011

Marvel says:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Uncanny X-Men, from acclaimed writer Kieron Gillen and rising star artist Ibraim Roberson! Someone has kidnapped Hope and Wolverine’s the only one capable of saving her! He’s the best there is at what he does, but when it comes to hunting down Hope, can Wolverine set his personal feelings aside to complete the mission? Mutantkind needs their messiah now more than ever and whoever holds her captive has painted a giant X on their back. The relationship between Hope and Wolverine is forever changed this June, in Uncanny X-Men #539!

UNCANNY X-MEN #539
Written by KIERON GILLEN
Penciled by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
On Sale—29/06/2011

Poor old Bryan Singer, he barely turned his back for a minute in 2006 and then X-Men: The Last Stand happened and ruined all his hard work! And the less said about X-Men Origins: Wolverine the better… But now Fox are back to try and revive the X-Men franchise (and keep hold of the license they own on the property) with the full involvement of original director Bryan Singer who produces alongside British director Mathew Vaughn (who tore up the screen with Kick-Ass just last year). So, can Singer and Vaughn breath new life into this flagging franchise?

Well the answer to the above non-rhetorical question is a yes! Vaughn and Singer take the action right back to the beginning of the X-Men, finding Professor X and Magneto as young men only just forming their opposing ideas surrounding the world, mutants and their relationship with humans. To say the storytelling moves at a brisk pace would be an understatement, barely staying in one location for longer than 3-5 minutes through the first half of the film, Vaughn and his co-writers (including regular collaborator Jane Goldman and the guys who wrote Thor) cover a lot of ground fast, both in terms of character, story development and physical miles; in the first half hour the action moves from Germany to America, then on to Argentina.

It’s never an easy job to balance such a large cast in an action film, and for the most part Vaughn and his co-writers manage to do this juggling act quite well, it would have been nice to flesh out Oliver Platt’s CIA agent and find out a little bit more about Shaw’s henchmen (Emma Frost was hideously under-developed – ED). Apart from a lag in the second act the script is kept pretty tight throughout, although the film does take a long time to bring all the main players together, the third act picks up nicely with a classic rocky influenced training montage.

Vaughn completely indulges himself in the style, fashion, design and even social customs (basically sexism) of the 1960s. His camera constantly glides into rooms and cuts to wide shots whenever possible, showing off the detailed and fine looking production design. The costumes are also incredible well detailed and varied; this all gives the film a real feel of a quality production, and really invites the viewer into the X-Men world. Just like Xavier’s first recruits, the film bursts with a huge amount of youthful energy, from the fast paced editing to the kinetic camera work.

Obviously there was a huge amount of pressure on Vaughn to cast the right actors in the two principle roles, and for the most part I think he did a good job. Both Fassbender and McAvoy give very nice performances, especially Fassbender as a pre-Magneto Eric. Neither tries to imitate their older counterparts and both find their own voices through the characters. It’s also very easy to see that Kevin Bacon relishes the chance to play a villain, and fantastically hams it up at every moment possible, whilst still providing the film with a strong central villain. Emma Frost though, was hideously mis-cast – ED.

X-Men: First Class is a pretty typical summer blockbuster, full of loud noises and big explosions (considering the tight production schedule, the effect shots are pretty impressive). Vaughn manages to nicely hold the balance between character development and action throughout. Vaughn also definitely achieves the James Bond influenced globe-trotting adventure tone he first spoke about before production, although a few more jokes wouldn’t have gone amiss. The X-Men franchise has now been revitalised, expect the second installment in cinemas soon… maybe they could call it X-Men: Second Class? Emma Frost was crap though – ED.

Will Pond.

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Wolverine #10, part one of “Wolverine’s Revenge!” from superstar writer Jason Aaron and acclaimed artist Renato Guedes! It’s a claws and carnage-fueled kill spree as Logan sets out for retribution on the Red Right Hand! What are the secrets of this shadowy council and why would they target the world’s most dangerous mutant? Can anything spare them from Wolverine’s unforgiving rage? Find out this June as Logan cuts the secrets out of the men who sent him to Hell as he begins a mission without mercy, only in Wolverine #10!

WOLVERINE #10
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by RENATO GUEDES
Cover by JAE LEE
On Sale – 08/06/11

I open up Captain America 615.1 and immediately recognise the name Brubaker, I assume Marvel is pulling out all the stops for this issue and eagerly read on! The issue nicely sets up the relationship between Steve Rogers and that shield, a man who doesn’t want to take on the huge responsibility it holds but jumps at the chance to jump over rooftops whenever the opportunity arises! The pages are exciting and action packed, Bettie Breitweiser’s colouring nicely complimenting the art. I do have one gripe though, Nick Fury disguised in a latex suit?! Come on… I must admit though, I am not completely swayed but decide to buy the next issue and see how it goes.

I have to take a double look at the cover for Hulk 30.1, the guy is red! Once I get through the opening page I hit the ground running and read on, or if you’re a hulk… jumping! Parker’s writing is really sharp, never losing sight of Thunderbolt Ross’ voice underneath the red skin; who else would shout “Get out off the way trust fund babies” whilst flying down a ski slope? The relationship between Ross and General Fortean is also well handled, and I like the Moby Dick referencing title. Hulk was exciting and full of adventure; I will definitely be buying issue 31.

Ok so just a few questions about Deadpool 33.1, is it always this crazy? And also so funny? If the answer to all of the above is yes, then I’ll be sticking with Deadpool through the next issue. Next up, Thor 620.1 and I have to admit I am really looking forward to this issue, the film is coming up and I am hoping it will be a good starting point; luckily I am not disappointed. Abnett and Lanning get through all the boring plot details quickly (Asgard on Earth… etc) and move straight into the action, introducing a villain and giving Thor a clear objective that can be completed within one issue. The writing builds up the anticipation to Thor’s arrival to maximum effect and very nicely gives us a way to meet all the other colourful characters in Asgard. I really like this issue and will definitely be putting Thor on my pull list.

The last release of the month is Uncanny X-Force 5.1, one look at the opening page and the size of the team I know I’ll be making quite a few trips to wikipedia in the near future. The issue is really exciting and can only be described as a combination of extreme violence and nice looking pictures, it’s good to see a darker arrow for the Marvel bow and I like the idea of a black opps mutant team. The colouring by Dean White nicely compliments Albuquerque’s scratchy drawing style; this leads to a grimy page, soaked in dark tones, really letting me know I’ve entered the dark side of Marvel. Remender’s writing is very lean and the action moves at a fast pace, and although the attention to the individual characters within the team is a little un-even, I feel we will become acquainted in future issues. Uncanny X-Force is loads of fun; I will definitely be buying the next issue.

You’re gonna end up buying SO many comics Will – ED

In part 3 of this feature, I’ll be taking a look at the final .1 releases including Uncanny X-Men 534.1 and Secret Avengers 12.1.

Will Pond.

Marvel done said stuff like this:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Alpha Flight #1 (of 8), from New York Times best-selling authors Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente and acclaimed artist Dale Eaglesham! Canada’s original super team is back in action – but can they survive the terror of Fear Itself? With their homeland gripped by fear, Alpha Flight has been named enemies of the state and their country has vowed to hunt them down! Can Guardian, Sasquatch and the rest of the team quell the influence of Fear Itself and restore order to the Great White North? The team faces its most daunting enemy yet – their own government – this June, only in Alpha Flight #1 (of 8)!

ALPHA FLIGHT #1
ALPHA FLIGHT #1 EAGLESHAM VARIANT
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by DALE EAGLESHAM
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Rated T+ …$3.99
On Sale – 08/06/11

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at chapter one of the Dark Angel Saga – beginning in this June’s Uncanny X-Force #11, from superstars Rick Remender, Mark Brooks and Dean White!  Warren Worthington is no more… there is only Archangel!  As their leader succumbs to the darkness within him, Uncanny X-Force has only one place left to turn for a cure – the Age of Apocalypse! But before they can find the one thing that can save their friend, the Uncanny X-Force must battle the Amazing X-Men! The next big X-Force epic begins here and no member of Wolverine’s black ops squad will escape unscathed.

Now is the a time to find out why fans and critics agree – Uncanny X-Force is redrawing the boundaries of the Marvel Universe one issue at a time!

“Five stars… Uncanny X-Force is one of the subversively smartest books Marvel puts out…” – Ryan K. Lindsay, ComicBookResources.com

“Rick Remender’s revamped X-Force series is streamlined, violent, hilarious, and operating at breakneck speed.” – Jesse Schedeen, IGN.com

“[E]xactly the kind of comic book I’d like to see more of.” – David Pepose, Newsarama.com

“Uncanny X-Force is one of the best and ballsiest mainstream comics in ages…” – Rafael Gaitan, ComicsBulletin.com

The viscera-strewn, smash hit comics sensation of 2011 enters its most devastating story yet when the Dark Angel Saga launches this June, only in Uncanny X-Force #11!

UNCANNY X-FORCE #11
UNCANNY X-FORCE #11 BROOKS VARIANT
Written by RICK REMENDER
Penciled by MARK BROOKS
Cover by ESAD RIBIC
Variant Cover by MARK BROOKS
On Sale – 01/06/11