ComicsPRO update: Thief of Thieves starts strong; Smallville gets comics series; Avengers to battle X-Men
Kyle Roberts talks to Matt Price from the ComicsPRO meeting in Dallas. Expected topics of discussion include the Image Comics resurgence, including “Thief of Thieves”; the new Smallville comic book series; and the Marvel Comics Avengers vs. X-Men comics.
Avengers vs. X-Men #1 preview
Marvel has released a preview of April’s “Avengers vs. X-Men,” written by an all-star cast of Marvel writers with art by John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel.
Here’s how Marvel describes the series, which goes on sale April 3.
This April, prepare for the biggest super hero war in comics history as Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Avengers Vs. X-Men #1! From the powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel comes a groundbreaking event pitting Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake. Cyclops and his team believe the arrival of the Phoenix Force will save mutantkind, but Captain America is convinced it will destroy the world! But who is right? Don’t miss out on all the action in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!
This 12-issue series will feature many of Marvel’s most popular characters, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm and Magneto.
Click past the cut for the full 7-page preview!
- Matt Price
“The Wolverine” set for July 2013 release
20th Century Fox has set a release date for the Hugh Jackman “Wolverine” sequel, titled “The Wolverine.”
The film is now set for a July 23, 2013 release date, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jackman returns as the title character, based on the Marvel Comics mutant who first appeared in “Incredible Hulk” No. 181 in 1974. Wolverine is considered the most popular of the X-Men, and now appears in the X-Men titles, his own solo series, and Marvel’s Avengers comic books.
Jackman has starred as Wolverine in three previous “X-Men” films and in “Wolverine: Origins.” (And, SPOILER WARNING, perhaps, has a brief, but excellent, moment in “X-Men: First Class.”)
James Mangold is the director of the film, which is said to be loosely based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller “Wolverine” miniseries and will be set in Japan.
- Matt Price
Watchmen prequels, X-Men First Class part 2, and Avengers Super Bowl spot teaser on the new format Planet 46 Comics show
Watchmen prequels, X-Men First Class sequel, and Avengers assemble this week on the comics podcast.
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Amazing Spider-Man photos; The Dark Knight Rises trailer; favorite comics of 2011
Fans get to see more about The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man, and Matt and Kyle reveal some of their favorite comics of 2011.
SPIDEY PICS
The Amazing Spider-Man, Marc Webb’s film reboot of the Spider-Man property, is set to release July 3, 2012. 
In the meantime, the official site has revealed more photos from the film, which will star Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Theamazingspiderman.com is the film’s official site.
BATMAN TRAILER, PICS
The second “The Dark Knight Rises” trailer has been officially released online. The third film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises” stars Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy, and is set to be released July 20, 2012. New pictures also reveal closer looks at Batman and Bane.
FAVORITE COMICS OF THE YEAR
Matt and Kyle talk about some of their favorite comics of the year, including X-Men Schism and Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine for Kyle, and Batman: The Black Mirror and Criminal: Last of the Innocents for Matt.
REVIEW FILE: Activity #1, Near Death #4, Justice League #4
Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1 reviewed here.
For 2011 count: Detective Comics 871-881; Criminal: Last of the Innocent 2-6.
Comics read in 2011: 2009 Still to go: 2.
Christian Bale wraps up Batman; Luke Skywalker lunch; Hulk TV plans
Batman 3, aka “The Dark Knight Rises,” has wrapped, and Christian Bale is done. Also: Lunch with a Star Wars legend and Hulk TV news.
LUNCH WITH LUKE
Actor Mark Hammill, who brought Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker to life in the original Star Wars Trilogy, is offering to have lunch in Los Angeles with the highest bidder and a guest to raise funds for The RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, which provides an ongoing base of support to human rights defenders around the world. Valued at $10,000, the exclusive experience is open for bidding from November 29th through December 15th at:
http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/276455
BAT-FINISHED
The Philippine Daily Inquirer talked with Christian Bale, and he confirmed he was done with Batman. 
“I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I’m taking that cowl off,” he said. “I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it’s all done. Everything’s finished. It’s me and Chris – that will be the end of that Batman era.”
He also praised co-star Anne “Catwoman” Hathaway.
“I had plenty of scenes with Anne,” he said. “And I was there when we did the screen test for her. The thing that I said to Chris [Nolan] that day was that there were many very accomplished actresses who had read for the role. I’m terrible at auditions, so I’m very impressed when somebody really seems to acquire an ownership of a character without having worked on it or prepared for some amount of time.”
THE INCREDIBLE HULK NEARS
Guillermo del Toro tells io9 that the screenplay is in for the possible upcoming “Hulk” TV show, and the team is waiting for a green light. Del Toro, serving as producer, says he and his team know the essential stories, including “Hulk: Grey,” written by Jeph Loeb, who is involved with the show.
“We know all the iterations of the Hulk pretty good. We’ve read all the essential stories, and we’re then riffing on that. There are so many incarnations and ideas. Jeph Loeb — who did a good run [on Hulk: Grey] — is involved, and I love Peter David’s Hulk. But there’s really no part in that mythos that we don’t know, so we are trying put our own personal spin on it.”
REVIEW FILE: Green Lantern The Animated Series #0, Wolverine #19, Uncanny X-Men #2, X-Men Legacy #259, Archie #627, Flash Gordon Zeitgeist #1.
Comics read in 2011: 1,853. Still to go: 158
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Uncanny X-Men #3 preview
Marvel Comics has released a preview of “Uncanny X-Men” No. 3, which will go on sale Dec. 28.
Here’s how Marvel describes the issue: THE CELESTIALS HAVE ARRIVED! In your first look at Uncanny X-Men #3, from the team of Kieron Gillen, Carlos Pacheco, Paco Diaz, & Rodney Buchemi, Cyclops and his Extinction Team must protect mankind not only from Mr. Sinister…but the world ending space gods! Sinister’s quest for supremacy has doomed the entire world and it’s all crumbling down around the feet of the X-Men. Are the Children of the Atom finally spread too thin? Find out this December in Uncanny X-Men #3!
“Uncanny X-Men” #3 is written by Kieron Gillen with pencils by Carlos Pacheco, Paco Diaz and Rodney Buchemi.
Click past the cut for the full preview.
- Matt Price
James Bond film Skyfall begins filming; Batman trailer could be on the way; Lord of the Rings follows a War in the North
James Bond news, Dark Knight Rises preview coming, and Lord of the Rings gets a new videogame in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast
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Halloween comics review: X-Men and Power Pack #1 (2005)
X-Men and Power Pack #1 (2005)
The 2005 miniseries “X-Men and Power Pack,” written by Marc Sumerak, started off with a Halloween-themed issue, as the Power kids are heading to a Halloween party, with young Jack dressed as one of his favorite heroes, Wolverine.
Avengers trailer rocks, DC Comics hits No. 1 and X-Men Destiny reviewed
Sorry for the delay in getting this one up! Matt and Kyle discuss the Avengers trailer, DC Comics hitting No. 1 on the sales charts, and the X-Men Destiny video game. 
Review File: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3, DuckTales #5, Shade #1.
Comics read in 2011: 1,543. Still to go: 468.
