Archive for January 4th, 2012
Marvel Mystery Liveblog
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2d2a35fb1d" mce_href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2d2a35fb1d" >Next Big Thing: Mystery Liveblog</a>
Download 7 New X-Men Anime Wallpapers
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
Download all seven wallpapers from the links below and bring your favorite mutants to your desktop with these images taken from the anime series. And if you missed it, check out our exclusive clip and screenshots from Friday's finale!
Tune in to "X-Men" this Friday night at 11:00 p.m. ET on G4, and check-in to "X-Men" on GetGlue during the episode for a new exclusive digital sticker!
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #9
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #10
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #11
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #12
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #13
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #14
"X-Men" anime series wallpaper #15
What The–?! The Incredible Drive Part Three
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
Hulk, Doctor Strange and The Punisher make a pit stop for some grub, only to run into their archrivals: Red Hulk, Absorbing Man and Jigsaw! Can Hulk go over the top to prove his superiority? Can Punisher get by the doorman? And for the love of tacos, can somebody get Strange some dinner?!
Enjoy this special installment of Marvel Super Heroes: What The--?!, and for more of the 2012 Toyota Yaris visit their official web site!
The X-Perts: Colossus
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
By Ben Morse
The Schism has come and gone—now it’s time for Regenesis.
Following a split in the Children of the Atom, two factions of X-Men have taken to their own missions in UNCANNY X-MEN as well as WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN. Here on Marvel.com we’ll be regularly gathering the creators and editors responsible for guiding the X-Men’s destiny to dissect each of their charges to examine what makes them tick and lend some insight into why they’ve chosen the team they did in the wake of Regenesis.
For years, Peter Rasputin has been a stalwart of the X-Men as Colossus. He has deviated from his heroic path for a brief sojourn with the Acolytes and sacrificed his life to stop the Legacy Virus only to be restored through alien technology, but for the most part, this warrior with the soul of a poet has been steadfast and reliable. Recently, however, Colossus has experienced massive upheaval, taking on the power of the Juggernaut to save San Francisco and perhaps losing part of his soul in the process. Now a member of Cyclops’ Extinction Team in UNCANNY X-MEN, what lies ahead for Peter and those who love him?
 |
How would you describe the core of who Colossus is and what is most important to him?
Victor Gischler: (writer of X-MEN): Loyalty. He's a very steadfast fellow.
Kieron Gillen (writer of UNCANNY X-MEN): Colossus is someone who believes in goodness and sacrifice, and the belief that the two tend to be one and the same. He's in the process of discovering the problems that tend to go along with that. He wants the best for everyone. He still feels guilt from the many times he's acted in a way which he considers beneath that. He's a good person who isn't quite as good as he thinks he should be, which as far as burdens go, a pretty bad one.
Nick Lowe (X-Men Senior Editor): People. Specifically, the people he loves—his family and his dear friends. Everything else comes at a distant second. Except for charcoal and a nice big sketchbook. And Pirozhki. Look it up!
What is Colossus’ view of how the mutant race should conduct itself moving forward? How does this contrast or conflict with others?
Kieron Gillen: Despite him being one of the more aggressive weapons in [Scott Summers’] armory, I don't think he's someone who by his nature believes in a militarized mutant [race]. He thinks ideally that everyone should be able to do whatever they want, as long as they don't hurt themselves. But right now maybe people need to be thinking more about what they can do for others than themselves. For him, that's about being a super hero.
Nick Lowe: He focuses more on the people than the bigger mutant issues. And at this point, he’s just focused on not letting Cytorrak take over.
 |
Victor Gischler: I think he's putting faith in his leaders to make those difficult decisions. He's not without his own opinions, but he understands there are some high level decisions being made, and once he's decided to support the leadership, he's all in.
How has Peter Rasputin changed since the day he became an X-Man? What events have influenced that change?
Nick Lowe: He’s changed in a lot of ways, but he’s still mostly the same guy. And thank your lucky stars for that because you need a foundation like that to fight off an evil god inside your brain.
Victor Gischler: He's matured. He's had Kitty, lost Kitty, had Kitty and lost Kitty. He's toughened up mentally and emotionally.
Kieron Gillen: He's changed from a dude into a metal dude. He does it almost every issue. Haven't you been paying attention at all?
How important is family to Colossus?
Victor Gischler: Very.
Kieron Gillen: It's almost impossible to overstate its importance, in either his actual blood relations or his chosen friends.
Nick Lowe: It is the most important thing.
What is the state of Colossus' relationship with Kitty Pryde and how does it influence his current decision-making, if at all?
Nick Lowe: It’s certainly not in good shape right now. The choices he made during Fear Itself changed the way Kitty looks at him and how he looks at himself.
 |
Kieron Gillen: They're still friends, though it's clearly hard for both of them. Though, at least from current evidence, it seems she doesn't influence his current decision making at all.
If it comes down to protecting Kitty or Illyana, who do you think Colossus chooses?
Victor Gischler: Yikes. What kind of crazy trick question is that? He'd find a way to protect both!
Kieron Gillen: Whoever needs protecting at that exact moment. Part of me isn't even sure he'd be capable of choosing if you gave him a Sophie's choice situation. I think he'd end up getting them both killed, or somehow kill himself to avoid making that decision. Or ask Kitty and Illyana who he should save.
Nick Lowe: I think he’s the kind of guy that would find a way to protect both. But if we’re in Philosophy 101 and this is a question that he can’t dodge, I’d probably say Illyana. She’s still his little snowflake to him, no matter how many Elder Gods she wipes out of existence.
What does Colossus think of Cyclops' "Extinction Team" and his place on it?
Kieron Gillen: He was already a powerhouse, and his avatar-possession by Cyttorak only makes that more so. Cyclops wants him on the team? The team seems to be saving people. Maybe this will let him save some more people before whatever is in his head consumes him? It seems to be the best place for him. And the part of him that's charred from contact with Cyttorak's spirit is enjoying destroying everything. It doesn't matter what for. It's the destruction that matters.
Nick Lowe: He doesn’t really have a lot of brain space right now to think about it, but he’s always been ready to make tough realistic grey-area choices.
 |
Is the choice he made to leave the X-Men and join the Acolytes something that ever still affects Colossus?
Nick Lowe: He certainly hasn’t forgotten that time, but I don’t think it weighs that heavily on him as it was eclipsed by Illyana’s death and had a lot to do with his emotional fallout there.
Kieron Gillen: Sticking his hand up to “Have you ever been a super villain” during the first issue of UNCANNY X-MEN probably says much.
How did his sacrifice to cure the Legacy Virus and subsequent revival alter Colossus?
Kieron Gillen: Not enough, I think. He killed himself and I don't think has learned almost anything from the experience.
Nick Lowe: That was Colossus to a T, making such a sacrifice. I would say both the sacrifice and revival were more character defining than character changing.
Have we seen the full extent of the changes to Colossus now that he is the Juggernaut? How much should we be scrutinizing his most recent actions as perhaps not entirely his own?
Nick Lowe: You have not seen the full extent. And I can’t stop you from scrutinizing.
Victor Gischler: It's something to watch. My guess is that there might be a few surprises on the horizon. After all if all is well and settled, well, what fun would that be?
Kieron Gillen: I'll limit myself to saying that the trials and changes to Colossus is one of the backbones of what I'm doing. As Idie was to my GENERATION HOPE run, Colossus is to my UNCANNY. He's not saying much, so what he does say bears close examination. I'd say that you almost hope that his recent actions weren't his own, because the alternative really is even more horrible.
 |
What role within the X-Men is Colossus most comfortable with?
Victor Gischler: Support of the leadership; implementing orders to the best of his ability.
Kieron Gillen: The guy who stands in the middle-back in the team-photo; the central defender in a football—i.e. soccer—team.
Nick Lowe: He’s comfortable being the support of his friends.
Who among the X-Men is Colossus closest to? Who does he trust the most?
Kieron Gillen: Now? Magik. More than anyone, Magik. More than ever, Magik. He has no other choice.
No, it doesn't seem particularly healthy to me either.
Nick Lowe: His original X-Men cohorts. Storm [and] Wolverine. And Illyana and Kitty, of course.
Who does Colossus believe should lead the X-Men?
Victor Gischler: Cyclops or maybe Storm.
Nick Lowe: I don’t think he really has a dog in that fight.
Kieron Gillen: As someone who doesn't like leadership, he views those able to lead with enormous respect. He respects the station as much as the person doing it. At the moment, he thinks that Cyclops is doing a good job considering the situation he finds himself. That said, of Cyclops' inner circle, he's the one who sees the bravery in Wolverine's route too. I think he's partially glad that both men are choosing to lead right now, in their very different ways. That fate has meant he can only be on one side doesn't mean that he doesn't see the merit in the other.
 |
Does Colossus have any desire to lead the X-Men himself? Would he be capable of doing so?
Kieron Gillen: No and no. I think he's one of nature's followers. I think, historically speaking, it's one of the most important things about him. He's reliable. That he's not quite as reliable at the moment is one of the things that is disturbing about the current team for the members.
Nick Lowe: That would be really interesting to see, but I don’t think he would want it. So we should do it, I suppose.
Victor Gischler: No. Not his thing.
Why did Colossus choose to follow Cyclops in the Schism?
Nick Lowe: It had more to do with his sister than Cyclops.
Kieron Gillen: He can't be at the school, because he considers himself a risk to them—and he's not wrong. In a real way, Colossus has bigger problems right now than mutant politics. That said, as I noted earlier, he's one of the X-Men whose natural instincts lead him to thinking being a pro-active super hero is a good and necessary thing.
Visit the X-Men Regenesis event page for all the latest news and updates
9 New Amazing Spider-Man Movie Photos
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
Plus, get a closer look at Spider-Man's web-shooters, Peter Parker swinging around and more! Andrew Garfield stars as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, while Emma Stone stars as Gwen Stacy and Denis Leary as her father, Captain Stacy, in Spidey's new cinematic adventure, coming your way in 3D this summer.
Now check out our full gallery below, and stay tuned to Marvel.com for all things Spidey!
Like most teenagers his age, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. In his journey to put the pieces of his past together he uncovers a secret that his father held…a secret that will ultimately shape his destiny as Spider-Man. “The Amazing Spider-Man” is the first in a series of movies that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story. On July 3, the untold story begins.
Marvel Comics App: Latest Titles 1/4/12
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
Want more comics in the Marvel Comics App for iOS and Android? Your search is over! Check out these comics that just hit the Marvel Comics App and keep coming back every week for new additions to the growing library! That's right, we add new books every week to feed your need for super-heroic entertainment!
Don't have the Marvel Comics App? What are you waiting for?! Download it for iOS and Android!
Here's your official list of comic books hitting the Marvel Comics app today!
Digital Comics On-Sale This Week:
AVENGERS ANNUAL (2012) #1
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE (2007) #31
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE (2007) #32
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE (2007) #33
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE (2007) #34
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE (2007) #35
AVENGERS: X-SANCTION (2011) #2
DEADPOOL (2008) #23
DEADPOOL (2008) #24
DEADPOOL (2008) #25
DEADPOOL (2008) #26
DEFENDERS (2011) #2
FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS (2011) #6
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #86
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #87
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #88
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #89
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #90
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #91
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #92
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #93
NEW MUTANTS (1983) #94
SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #11
SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #12
SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #13
SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #14
SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #15
SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #16
ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #89
ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #90
ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #91
ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #92
ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #93
UNCANNY X-FORCE (2010) #5
UNCANNY X-FORCE (2010) #6
UNCANNY X-FORCE (2010) #7
UNCANNY X-FORCE (2010) #19.1
UNCANNY X-MEN (2011) #4
VENGEANCE (2011) #6
VENOM (2011) #1
VENOM (2011) #2
VENOM (2011) #3
VENOM (2011) #4
VENOM (2011) #5
VILLAINS FOR HIRE (2011) #2
WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN: ALPHA AND OMEGA (2012) #1
X-23 (2010) #20
X-CLUB (2011) #2
X-MEN (2010) #23
Digital Collections On-Sale This Week:
ANNIHILATION BOOK ONE
AVENGERS: DISASSEMBLED
MARVEL 1602 BY NEIL GAIMAN
DEFENDERS: SECRET DEFENDERS
ULTIMATE IRON MAN VOL. 1
VENOM: DARK ORIGIN
WOLVERINE: EVOLUTION
The Marvel Comics App for iPad and Android (as well as the iPhone, iPod Touch and all Android devices) is available for free from the iTunes or Andriod App Store. Individual comics are priced at just $1.99 each with new content arriving every week.
The Marvel Life: Say Anything Singer Max Bemis
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
By Blake Garris
It's been over two years since we spoke with Say Anything's Max Bemis. In that timeframe things can change drastically in one's life, career, and even comic tastes. And for Bemis all of these things are true. Since we spoke he's gotten married (to Eisley's Sherri DuPree), Say Anything's on a new label (Equal Vision) and about to release a new album (Anarchy, My Dear), and his graphic novel collection has grown even bigger than it already was.
We decided to catch up with Bemis again to see what difference two years really makes for a comic book fan. He still loves Captain America, he's still working on his own graphic novel, and he’s got some suggestions for some Marvel Comics you should be reading if you aren’t already.
Marvel.com: To begin, let’s talk about your new album.
 |
| Max Bemis of Say Anything |
Max Bemis: In certain ways it’s a traditional punk rock record. And the past few records have kind of been about me finding myself, whereas this one’s kind of like I’ve found myself, now what do I want to do with my life and how do I want to affect the world? And obviously I see a lot of things in society and the world around me that I think need to be changed and kind of destroyed and start anew, even if it’s on an internal level. There’s a lot going on right now with those kinds of things in a very literal sense with Occupy and all that stuff. But to me I wrote the record a little bit more about changing your heart and your soul and taking control of your life and rejecting the mind control. But it can extend to political beliefs as well. It’s still run through a very Say Anything filter of dark humor, and [it’s] somewhat ironic, I guess, in certain ways. But it does come from the heart.
Marvel.com: Talk to us about this tour you’re on now.
Max Bemis: This one is the second acoustic tour I’ve ever done and we’re really lucky and privileged that they’ve both done really well and sold out most of the shows. And more importantly, the way that they feel, it’s like a whole other thing than a Say Anything show because it’s so stripped down. So the energy of the type of people that come to see us is pretty insane. I’d like to think that they’re experiencing my energy and I’m experiencing their energy on a very primal level without all the noise and the layers and the showmanship. But it’s still there and it’s that same spirit underneath. So it’s very interesting to see, and I think it’s something I’ll hopefully be privileged to keep doing for the rest of my career.
 |
| Bucky as Captain America |
Marvel.com: Will Say Anything be touring anytime soon?
Max Bemis: Yeah, we’ve got some touring stuff coming up next year around when the record comes out. It’s going to be a very heavy touring year for us next year for sure.
Marvel.com: Talk to us about Song Shop.
Max Bemis: Song Shop is basically something I open once or twice a year for the past two or three years. And it’s a system that I run with my merch company, MerchDirect. There’s a website [where] you buy a song from me and I write you a song based on whatever you want. It can be about you or a loved one or a situation you’re going through. Literally anything. I will write about anything. There hasn’t been one situation where I was like “I won’t do it.” And then I send you an MP3. Actually right now we have a whole crazy system where it gets uploaded to a server and you can go online and download it and you can change your description anytime. After this run I will have done 2,000 songs. And they come with a phone call. I give you a call sometime after I do the song and say hi. It’s just my way of kind of stripping away the pretentiousness of being in a band and saying, “what is the interaction between someone who’s appreciating music and someone who’s making it.” To me you can relate to the song, and how could you relate anymore than if it’s written about you? That’s where I sort of came up with that idea. And it’s been awesome so far; I don’t see myself ever stopping to do it. But I can’t really do it that much, I have to kind of close it. It sells out really quick when we open it. I can only do it a couple times a year at most; the last few years it’s been like once a year. But I love it. It opened a few months ago so it’s closed now. It should be opening up again the spring or early summer of 2012.
Marvel.com: Since you last spoke to us, two years ago, what’s changed as far as your comic tastes go?
 |
| The Death of Ultimate Spider-Man |
Max Bemis: To be honest, it’s funny. It’s more of a very rapid cycling thing when it comes to comics because I go through phases on almost a weekly basis or a monthly basis, more than “this year I like this writer” or “this year I wanna read this kind of comic.” I’m so intense about it. I read them so much that the normal phases you see a comic fan go through, which they all do, it kind of happens to me very quickly. A few things that are different: I guess I’m a little more discerning, which is unfortunate just because you can’t help it when you read so many books. And I feel like I’m a little more jaded, but at the same time I’m more enthusiastic about the craft than I ever have been. But you can’t help it. It’s sort of like when I was a kid before I started playing music, I was just wide eyed and wanted to hear everything and would approach everything without any skepticism. Now I’m still reading everything, but I can’t help but have my own little fickle annoying comic fan-isms. You become that cliché the more into it you get unfortunately.
As I’ve said before, Marvel is my home. It’s what I grew up reading; it’s innately tied into me. The nature of how Marvel approaches telling stories [appeals to me]; they’re very character-based, and there’s a lot more of a real world setting.
Marvel.com: Since you tend to read graphic novels and omnibuses more than single issues, how do you avoid spoilers?
Max Bemis: It’s so hard. It’s been harder for me because I’m so sick of music press. Let me put it this way, there’s very few music publications or websites that I can go to and not get really annoyed and stressed out by. Whereas when I go to Comic Book Resources or Newsarama, I don’t get stressed out. So I find myself drawn to them, and they put me in a good mood, but [there are] literally spoilers constantly. They’re not going to not post it. It’s their job. So it is harder but if I see it in the headline don’t go there unless I need to know. And to be honest I’m so into the writing and the art form that knowing that [Ultimate] Spider-Man died, it didn’t really… I mean it was a profound thing, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. To me it’s more about the writing and the experience of reading it.
 |
| Ultimate Comics Ultimates |
Marvel.com: What makes you like graphic novels more?
Max Bemis: [When] I was a kid, I would have to save up weeks and weeks to get one trade, when trades were kind of first becoming prominent. Just the feel of it in your hand is more like a book, and since I grew up reading books I love the heaviness. I’m a sucker for big hardcovers, and the flimsiness of a single issue kills me. So on a very shallow aesthetic level, that stuff I love. And I love that a lot of times they’ll be oversized. Marvel has a great program with oversized books and doing a lot of deluxe books. I think nowadays--maybe it’s because of how the market is swinging--books are written in these at least six-issue arcs, in the super hero world especially, where it’s geared towards that. It feels like a whole story being told. And I’m reading so many books and my attention span is so crappy that I can’t imagine reading so many stories on a monthly basis. I don’t know how people do it and remember what happened the month before. It’s unfortunate because I know it affects the market, and some books go out of business because not enough people are picking them up until then. I feel terrible about it, but I mean I buy so many trades and hardcovers that I don’t really feel that bad because I’m supporting the industry in some regard.
Marvel.com: Captain America and Iron Man were your favorite characters the last time we talked. Has that changed any?
Max Bemis: Yeah, new Cap. Bucky was big for me. It’s so hard for me to say [who’s] my favorite characters because I’m so obsessed with writers. It really depends on who’s handling them, you know what I mean? So I don’t know if my taste in characters has necessarily changed, but there are certain books that I have definitely gotten more into since we’ve last spoke.
Marvel.com: Have your favorite writers change at all, then?
 |
| S.H.I.E.L.D. by Jonathan Hickman |
Max Bemis: No. It’s funny, even though I’ve grown to read so many varying comics and have become aware of so many writers and my tastes have changed, honestly the top ten have not really shifted that much. Like Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, Ed Brubaker, Brian Bendis, Matt Fraction. Those are top five, and it definitely doesn’t change. Those are the people that got me back into comics, so maybe that’s what it is, that I can’t really get over it. There are some new writers that I would say are climbing the ranks. [Jonathan] Hickman is big for me, and Nick Spencer. Both those guys are really exciting to me, and I think maybe over time they’ll crack [my] top ten.
[Hickman’s] a genius. He did S.H.I.E.L.D., he did SECRET WARRIORS, now he’s doing a lot of stuff in the Ultimate Universe which unfortunately I haven’t gotten to read because it hasn’t been collected yet. But he did work on ULTIMATE FALLOUT with Spencer and Bendis, and that was awesome. It got me really excited about the Ultimate Universe coming up.
Marvel.com: What else are you reading right now?
Max Bemis: Again, getting the beginnings of these new Ultimate [books] is big for me. Obviously I’m always reading the Bendis’ Avengers stuff, and Nick Spencer’s stuff that he started to do over there. I mean everything that comes out, I read. It’s sad. It’s like a sick obsession. [I love] CASANOVA by Fraction and CRIMINAL, the Icon [books]. There are so many. Literally any Marvel book that gets collected, I read. Literally.
 |
| Powers |
Marvel.com: Do you have anything you’d recommend to people to get them into comics?
Max Bemis: Yeah, actually this is something to mention. I started a Twitter that’s just me once in a while throwing out my thoughts about comics. It’s @maxcomics on Twitter. And I’ve actually been asked this a few times but I think [there are] two that I would go with. Y: The Last Man would be one of them because it’s so accessible. It’s basically like a TV show, one of those great HBO shows like The Sopranos or something in comic book form. And yet at the same time it really gives you an idea of the ideal pacing and great art of the medium. So it’s kind of like a gateway drug in that respect. But I think POWERS is also a really cool place to start for people who have a sort of a superficial idea about super heroes and what they’re about. In many ways it sends up and is a satire of that. You don’t have to be involved in any of the continuity to understand why it’s funny or why this group is kind of like The Fugees or why this person kind of resembles Superman. So I think those two series are a really great place to start.
Marvel.com: What’s the status of the comic you’ve been writing?
Max Bemis: There are a few ideas I’ve been tossing around, but every time I feel like I’m about to really start writing, music kind of flairs up and something happens, like around the time that I was going to start really fleshing out doing the book. It’s something that I won’t half ass cause my passion for comics is on par with my passion for music, if not more to be honest. Every time I almost do it, I get the feeling like I want to be working on music. And there’s a lot going on. But now we’ve kind of got a new situation set up, we’re on a new label and we’re kind of easing into where we’re going to be for the next hopefully really long time with the band. And I think once that’s a little more solidified, I’ll be able to bring this new passion into my life. Also, it doesn’t hurt that I read about five to ten graphic novels a day. So the more I read, the better I think my book will be eventually, hopefully. [Laughs] Or it’ll just suck. But it’s going to be better than it would be, even if it does suck.
Marvel.com: Besides comics, what else do you nerd out about?
 |
| Brian Bendis' Avengers |
Max Bemis: I guess a really good film is good for me. But that waned when I got obsessed with comics. I get really nervous when I meet people that I respect, so I guess I’m a total nerd in that regard. A couple of comic writers have tweeted at me since I’ve been doing the Twitter thing, and I freak out to my wife. “Nick Spencer tweeted at me” or “David Mack tweeted at me!” I flip out like a total nerd. I’ve never grown out of the feeling of being slightly intimidated by people I respect.
Marvel.com: Any funny stories in relation to that?
Max Bemis: There have been tons of them. Growing up, and still to this day, Saves The Day is my favorite band. I had done everything that an obsessed fan would do. Covering their songs and going to their shows and waiting to sort of say hi for one second and then run away. It just so happened that we ended up playing a CMJ show with Saves The Day once things kind of started picking up with Say Anything. I remember walking into the room and they were on stage sound checking and Chris [Conley] turned to me and he started playing one of our songs. That was probably the biggest nerd moment of my life. It just goes to show that you may feel like you’re never going to meet this person, [but] be careful, because you literally could end up in the same room with them. And he knew everything. Ge became one of my best friends, he is one of my best friends, [and I had to later admit], “by the way, I would stalk your website and I covered your music and know everything about your life and now you’re one of my friends. So it’s a little weird.” So just be careful, because they’re just people and you may end up in a situation where you’re actually on par with them, and it gets a little awkward. [Laughs]
 |
| Fear Itself |
Marvel.com: Anything else Marvel-wise you’d like to talk about?
Max Bemis: I’m really excited about the new Ultimate Universe and those collections coming out. It’s so funny, real comic nerds must look down on me so much because I haven’t even gotten to read FEAR ITSELF. So I can’t wait for that hardcover to come out and read all the tie-ins. I’m excited that they handed over the reigns to Matt Fraction to do a bigger event. I would love, just as a suggestion, [to see] Ed Brubaker do an event book like that. I mean he hasn’t really gotten a chance to have his own Secret Invasion-esque thing. And then any of the new writers, eventually once they become more recognized, it would be awesome to see. I really think Nick Spencer is the best writer that Marvel’s picked up in the past five to 10 years. He is ridiculous and just exciting and he fits Marvel so well. So I’m glad that they snapped him up.
For more information on Max Bemis and Say Anything, visit their website www.sayanythingmusic.com. You can also follow Max on Twitter: @maxbemis for his personal page and @maxcomics for his comic book suggestions. Be on the lookout for their new album Anarchy, My Dear out on Equal Vision Records in March.
Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties
by on Jan.04, 2012, under Extra
Marvel’s making sure all comic book stores worldwide are armed for the biggest super hero war of all time with the Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties on Tuesday, April 3 at 8pm (local time), one day before the first issue goes on-sale. In addition to being the first in line to purchase AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1, fans will also be able to receive special items exclusive to these parties, specific to the team—Avengers or X-Men—supported by the store.
To ensure these parties are the biggest sales success of 2012, each retailer opting into this event will receive a free Avengers VS X-Men Party Kit from Marvel, containing exclusive promotional materials. In order to receive this party kit, every retailer just needs to choose a team—Avengers or X-Men—and will receive special bonuses for their allegiance.
“We’ve never had a bigger story than Avengers VS X-Men and we’re backing retailers with the biggest incentives you’ve ever seen through the Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties,” said David Gabriel, Marvel Senior Vice-President of Sales. “Whether it’s advertising, promotional material or limited edition variant covers, every one of our valued retailer partners will be able to get the word out to both their regular customers and new fans about this comic event and the exciting Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties. Some stores will choose to side with the Avengers and some will side with the X-Men, but I can guarantee one thing—Marvel will make sure all of them have everything they need to make AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 their top selling comic of the year.”
 |
All retailers who opt into the parties & choose a team will receive the following as part of the Avengers VS X-Men Party Kit:
• Avengers VS X-Men Program, a free comic previewing the upcoming event
• Avengers VS X-Men Postcards
• Avengers VS X-Men Customizable Flyer
• Avengers VS X-Men Customizable Press Release
• Avengers VS X-Men Backlist Sales
• Avengers VS X-Men mini posters
• Avengers VS X-Men promo items
• AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 Advance Screening Copy, delivered to retailers in late March 2012
• Avengers VS X-Men Party Lithographs
• Mass media promotion around the launch of AvX and the associated parties
• Promotion of parties to Marvel fan base via Marvel.com, Twitter and Facebook
• An additional discount on the Road to Avengers VS X-Men Trade Paperback
And these same retailers will receive complimentary team specific versions—based on their allegiance—of the following:
• Exclusive AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 Spotlight Variant specific to the team supported by the store
• Free Avengers VS X-Men mini-posters showing store allegiance
• Free Avengers VS X-Men Party Tickets
• Free Avengers or X-Men Team Pins
• Free Avengers VS X-Men in-store signage and shelf-talkers
Retailers, please check the Marvel Mailer or Diamond Daily for regular updates about the Avengers VS X-Men Launch Parties.
Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!
For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://marvel.com/avx