Thursday, March 31, 2016

Uncanny X-Men #6 Preview

Uncanny X-Men #6
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Ken Lashley
Variant Covers by: Whilce Portacio, Ken Lashley & Greg Land

The Story:
"APOCALYPSE WARS" CONTINUES! The first time original X-Man Archangel met Apocalypse, he was transformed into the homicidal Horseman of Death. Breaking free of Apocalypse's grasp, Archangel eventually returned to the X-Men and formed a relationship with his teammate, Psylocke. Now, years later, Psylocke has found a vacant, drone-like Archangel in the guise of Death once more. Fearing he's again fallen under Apocalypse's sway, Psylocke and her team of X-Men embark on a mission to save Archangel's life. But little do they know that they are about to discover a far more horrifying truth than they could have imagined...

In Stores: April 6, 2016

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

X-Men '92 #1 Art

X-Men '92 #1 Spoilers


Spoilers: After the events of X-Men ’92 (vol. 1), Charles Xavier announced the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning would accept new students to be trained by the X-Men themselves. As Beast is preparing to assign his first class, Maverick breaks into the school and interrupts the class warning the X-Men that “they’re coming” before passing out. The X-Men take Maverick to the Medical Bay while the school is invaded by the Winter Guard – Darkstar, Vostok, Ursa Major, Red Guardian and Omega Red. The Winter Guard wants to retrieve Maverick who has stolen classified information from the Russian government. Wolverine is not willing to hand over his friend Maverick and so the X-Men fight the Winter Guard. Maverick comes to his senses and makes a deal with the Winter Guard’s handler – He has information on something that’s going to be a lot worse for Russia and asks for 24 hours before surrendering himself. Afterwards, Maverick explains to the X-Men that the Von Strucker twins had hired him to find the whereabouts of a long-lost Soviet super-soldier, an experiment gone wrong codenamed Alpha Red. Instead of super-solder serum, the Russians combined Soviet science with a vampire, and now the Von Struckers want to use Alpha Red to prey on the X-Men, all part of a game with other players all after the same goal – The X-Men. Meanwhile, Alpha Red already has his sights on Jubilee and Chamber.

Monday, March 28, 2016

X-Men '92 #1 Preview

X-Men '92 #1
Writer: Chris Sims & Chad Bowers
Art by: Alti Firmansyah
Cover by: David Nakayama

The Story:
The X-Men of the 90s are back! Continuing from the hit Secret Wars series starring the X-Men of a more EXTREME decade. With Cassandra Nova defeated, the X-Men have taken in all the young mutants she had rounded up and are officially reopening the Xavier School for Gifted Children...but being responsible won't stop them from having crazy adventures! Especially when Omega Red shows up with the (Formerly) Soviet Super Soldiers!

In Stores: March 30, 2016


Thursday, March 24, 2016

"X-Men: Apocalypse's" Horsemen Assemble in New Image


"Empire" revealed its subscriber-exclusive variant cover, featuring Apocalypse walking through flaming rubble, flanked by his our Horsemen: Magneto, Psylocke, Storm and Archangel. "Everything they've built will fall," Apocalypse states on the cover. "And from the ashes of their world, we'll build a better one."

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Uncanny X-Men #5 Art

Uncanny X-Men #5 Spoilers

Spoilers: Psylocke, Monet and Sabretooth manage to get out of the sealed tomb in Egypt on their way to Genosha. Meanwhile, in Genosha, the Dark Riders ambush Magneto and Triage and manage to critically injure Triage. Magneto tells them he is superior in the open and stabs most of the Riders with pieces of metal. Psylocke, Monet and Sabretooth arrive and the Riders realize Magneto was buying time and they were tricked. Triage also questions if Erik was using him as living bait. The Uncanny team was able to overpower the Riders. Magneto left them for dead or critically injured on the island, which he then detonated and sunk into the sea with a series of explosive charges, finishing off the Riders. Aboard the X-Jet, Magneto tells the others the destruction of Genosha was a warning to the world that he has no intentions of laying low. With Magik’s aid, the Uncanny team teleport to Limbo, where Triage will reside from now on. Storm wants Betsy and Monet to join them and warn them that sooner or later they’ll butt heads with Magneto. Betsy assures her that she stands by Magneto’s beliefs. The Uncanny team then heads to their new Headquarters in the Savage Land, where Psylocke tells Magneto that he’s got to starting trusting them if they’re going to be teammates. Afterwards, in L.A., Fantomex and Mystique are travelling aboard E.V.A. when they are intercepted by Magnet who wants to have a talk with them.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Bunn Explains How Magneto's Actions Push the "Uncanny X-Men" Into "Civil War II"

CBR News spoke with Cullen Bunn about how Magneto's experiences during the eight-month gap between "Secret Wars" and "Uncanny X-Men" #1 impacted him, his relationship with and plans for the Uncanny X-Men, and the inciting incident of and potential character clashes in his "Civil War II" tie-in series.
CBR News: It feels like these initial issues of "Uncanny X-Men" seeded the fact that some fairly major events went down during the eight-month gap after "Secret Wars," especially when it comes to Magneto. From what I can gather, he had set up a new mutant sanctuary on Genosha and when the Terrigen Cloud hit, it not only ravaged the sanctuary it did something to his powers. It either killed him or left him in a death-like state, correct? Will we learn more about exactly what occurred or see that in flashback soon?

Cullen Bunn: You're on the right track with some of what happened to Magneto and Genosha. Magneto definitely established a new sanctuary on Genosha. We saw the first steps toward that during the "Magneto" series. But during the eight-month gap, the Terrigen cloud swept across the island nation. The mutant population there was ravaged once again. That event has left a pretty deep emotional wound on Magneto, and I think you'll see his reaction to it in a big way in issue #5 of "Uncanny X-Men."

As for Magneto's "death" -- we'll learn more about it in bits and pieces. I don't think I'll take a lot of space to go into a great deal of exposition on it. With his powers it is the same deal. He's more powerful than he was throughout most of his solo series, but he's not as all-powerful as he was at the end of that book.

Again, I'll reveal more on that as we go along. In the next arc, we'll start learning a little more about how Magneto decided to bring this team together. Let's just say he was given a "sign" from a power greater than his own.

Magneto is clearly angry over what happened on Genosha, but the question is just how angry. Would you say he's as mad as he was in the early issues of his ongoing series, or is this a whole new level?

At this point, I think Magneto is just as angry as he was in his ongoing -- maybe even a little more -- but he's focusing that anger in different ways. During the eight-month gap, Magneto became a little lost, especially after what happened to Genosha. With this team of X-Men, he's trying to build himself back up and do some "good" for his people. He has a lot of plates spinning right now, as you will soon see, and he's approaching the mutant plight from a lot of angles instead of being a one-man vengeance squad. But there are some secrets that will be revealed in the "Apocalypse Wars" arc that may send Erik back down the path of fury and revenge.


One teammmate who seems to do a good job dealing with Magneto and his anger is Psylocke. Why do you think that is? What's your sense of the relationship between Magneto and Betsy?

I think that Betsy knows exactly what Erik is all about. She knows his motives. She knows his quirks. And she has no interest in taking any of his BS. She believes in what Magneto is doing -- right now -- but she also knows that he's only a few steps away from going off the deep end. In turn, I think Magneto genuinely respects Psylocke. As you'll see in a future issue, when Magneto really needed help, he turned to Psylocke. A bond and an understanding has formed between the two of them. As it stands right now, Psylocke may be the mutant who understands Magneto the most.

"Uncanny X-Men" #5 sees you and artist Greg Land pit Magneto against the Dark Riders on Genosha where he's struggling to protect the life of the mutant healer Triage. Given his fragile emotional state, what can you tell us about how that conflict plays out?

That rage and anger we discussed a bit ago? You're going to see some of that unleashed. You're also going to see that Magneto is still a planner and he's been working toward some interesting end goals, some of which his team has been completely unaware of. This might drive a bit of a wedge between Magneto and his team.

Also, I've heard a lot of comparisons between this team of X-Men and X-Force. X-Force, as you know, was most recently this team of mutants who worked behind the scenes, never being seen as they struck at their enemies. Issue #5 draws a line in the sand between the methodologies of those shadow operatives and this team.

And, by the end of the issue, we will see something new for the X-Men: War Room X.

"Uncanny X-Men" #6 by you and artist Ken Lashley arrives in April to kick off your book's "Apocalypse Wars" tie-in, which focuses on Psylocke and Archangel, but another war arrives in June, one in which Magneto plays a central role according to what we know about "Civil War II: X-Men" so far. Is this more of a separate story that's informed by the events of the main "Civil War II" series or something that directly involves the central conflict of that story? Can you tell us what brings the X-Men into the mix and how the mutants align?

Yes, "Civil War II: X-Men" is a story that is "sort of" separate from the main story line of "Civil War II," but it is informed by what happens during the event and there will be ramifications that will be felt throughout the Marvel Universe in the months to come. This tale is set into motion by the same catalyst that sets "Civil War II" into motion. A new power emerges among the Inhumans. This power, in Magneto's eyes, could be very dangerous to the mutant population, so -- in typical Master of Magnetism fashion -- he decides to take it for himself.

As you can imagine, something like that could very easily start a war between the Inhumans and the mutants. Storm sees this and decides to stand in Magneto's way. This will be a major team-up between the Extraordinary X-Men and the Uncanny X-Men, but I use "team-up" lightly. The two groups will be poised against each other in some dramatic ways. What's more, there may be dissent among both teams. I think there will be a lot of discussion as to who is right and who is wrong in this tale.

Is this a strictly mutant versus mutant conflict or will we see some members of the Inhumans and their royal family in the mix as well?

The Inhumans will be involved, and you will see some of the royal family, but I think you'll be surprised by the roles they play.

What's it like pitting Magneto against someone like Storm? Are there any mutant-on-mutant showdown you're looking forward to writing? Any chance we'll see Sabretooth and Old Man Logan throw down?

One of the things I like about this story is that we're going to see how the two teams approach problems differently. We'll see the very different leadership styles of Storm and Magneto. But we'll also see how they are similar, and I believe there are some really engaging moments that will play out because of those similarities. As for specific conflicts you'll see play out, I don't know if I want to reveal all of them just yet.

There are some match ups that just sound awesome to me. Magik vs. Monet, anyone? In addition to the regular "EXM" and "UXM" team members, you'll be seeing some other familiar mutant faces in the book, and some of them will be going head-to-head with our heroes. As for Sabretooth and Old Man Logan -- of course they are going to have some very interesting interactions!

Bringing all the conflict to life in "Civil War II: X-Men" is Andrea Broccardo, an artist whose work I'm not super familiar with but he seems to have a real flair for science fiction. What do you enjoy most about his style?

Andrea brings lots of energy to the series, and he gives a great sense of life and motion to these characters. I love his interpretation of the X-Men. I feel like he is a great choice to merge the tones of "Uncanny X-Men" and "Extraordinary X-Men."

If we can look beyond the events of "Civil War II: X-Men" for a minute, will the fallout from that series have a major effect on "Uncanny X-Men" down the line?

There will definitely be shockwaves coming out of "Civil War II: X-Men" that will have long-lasting impact on the Uncanny team, both in terms of their mission and the team dynamic. In a lot of ways, this series also sets up some major happenings in the months to follow.

Monday, March 21, 2016

X-Solicits for June 2016

Uncanny X-Men #8 & #9
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Ken Lashley
Cover by: Greg Land
“APOCALYPSE WARS” CONTINUES!
• Fearing their teammate Archangel has once more fallen under the sway of the villainous Apocalypse, Psylocke and Magneto have embarked on a mission to save his life.
• But little did Psylocke suspect that the mission would bring her face-to-face with her former flame, Fantomex! (And believe me, things did NOT end on good terms!)
• Meanwhile, Sabretooth and M make a horrifying discovery in the Morlock tunnels beneath New York City. A ghost from M’s past has resurfaced…and she’s determined to make this run-in their last!


Civil War II: X-Men #1 (of 4)
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Andrea Broccardo
Cover by: David Yardin
Young Variant Cover by: Skottie Young
Action Figure Variant by: John Tyler Christopher
Character Variant Cover by: Phil Noto
Variant Cover by: TBA
Terrigen Mists circle the globe, igniting the Inhuman race while crippling mutantkind, pitting the two nations against one another. But when a new Inhuman with the ability to profile the future emerges, the X-Men fear that he may tip the scales in the Inhumans’ favor, spelling doom for their kind. And one mutant is willing to wage war with the Inhumans AND his own people to prevent that from coming to pass… The X-Men enter the fray of CIVIL WAR II when the world’s most terrifying mutant, MAGNETO, takes mutantkind’s fate into his own hands!


X-Men‘92 #4
Writer: Chad Bowers &  Chris Sims
Art by: Alti Firmansyah
Cover by: David Nakayama
• The X-Men face the danger of THE DARKHOLD...
• ...in a new “virtual” realm called “CYBERSPACE”!
• Plus: they’re still surrounded by VAMPIRES!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Uncanny X-Men #5 Preview

Uncanny X-Men #5
Writer: Cullen Bunn 
Cover & Art by: Greg Land
  • The final confrontation between the Uncanny X-Men and the Dark Riders!
  • One X-Man is dead and the world's deadliest team of mutants is eager deliver retribution. But what price will they pay to exact their revenge?


On sale next week, March 23rd

New "X-Men: Apocalypse" Arrives: "Let's Go To War"

Fox has unleashed the new full-length trailer for Bryan Singer's "X-Men: Apocalypse." Opening May 27, "X-Men: Apocalypse" stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor and Ben Hardy.


Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

"X-Men: Apocalypse" Reigns Over Empire Magazine Covers

CBR: For Empire's March issue, they're highlighting the mutants of "X-Men: Apocalypse." Check out the cover featuring Olivia Munn as Psylocke and Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert for the issue, on sale March 31, below:

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

X-Position: Bowers & Sims X-Plore The New "X-Men '92"-Niverse

CBR: This week, "X-Men '92" co-writers Chad Bowers and Chris Sims return to X-POSITION and answer your questions about everything from the Generation X kids' role in the book to Cyclops and Jean Grey's retirement.


What can we expect to see from Psylocke and Bishop now that they've taken over for Cyclops and Jean? They're going from roles in X-Force to a role with the regular X-men. Will there be a transition or a learning period of sorts?

Sims: The scene in the miniseries where Cassandra Nova refers to Psylocke and the rest of X-Force as "incurably violent" was one of my favorite parts to write, so I'm really glad that we got to pull them in for the ongoing. As for the learning period, I think you'll see in the first arc that they're a little more... direct at dealing with their problems than the other X-Men are, and they don't really trust anyone outside of the inner circle.

Bowers: And basically, to Psylocke and Bishop "inner circle" means each other, exclusively. They have their reasons for joining the X-Men, and they genuinely want to do good and protect both mutants and humans, but Storm's going to discover pretty quickly you can take them out of X-Force, but you can't take X-Force out of them.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Olivia Munn Talks Psylocke

CNET Magazine: Olivia Munn spoke with Connie Guglielmo, editor in chief of CNET News, about preferring PCs over Macs and why she’s waiting for someone to invent a Tesla-like hoverboard, and Psylocke of course.

You play Psylocke in X-Men. Why did the role appeal to you? 

Munn: I’ve loved Psylocke for so long. She’s a really, really strong badass female character in this comic book world where a lot of times the women don’t get to be strong and badass. You see a lot of superheroes [who] don’t always want to kill, and they’ll avoid it if they can. She’s never had a problem killing, and I like that she was the bad guy that had no problem being the bad guy. She’s telekinetic and telepathic so she can read your mind. She can create anything with her mind. To win any fights, she can just create a mountain and have it fall down on you, but she chooses to create a sword so she can kill up close and personal. I always thought that was really cool and badass.

Munn also shared a Psylocke quote from the upcoming X-Men: Apocalyse: "I also know there are monsters in the world. I may even be one of them." - Psylocke

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Psylocke & Archangel Re-Connect In Uncanny X-Men #6 First Look


Newsarama: This April, the secrets of Archangel will be revealed as Magneto and his team prepare for war. Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside UNCANNY X-MEN #6 - the start of the Uncanny X-Men’s foray into Apocalypse Wars! Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Ken Lashley take you on a mission to save the life of one of the founding X-Men!

Years ago when Archangel first met Apocalypse, he was transformed into the homicidal Horseman of Death. Now, years later, it appears he may be again returning to that form. Psylocke has discovered a vacant, drone-like Archangel in the guise of Death once more. Fearing the worst, that her once lover is under the control of Apocalypse – she and the rest of the Uncanny X-Men embark on a mission to save Archangel’s life. But what they are about to uncover is far more horrifying than they could have imagined…

The quest for Archangel begins this April as Apocalypse Wars comes to UNCANNY X-MEN #6!



New 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Poster

Mutants Face Inhumans in Civil War II: X-Men


Marvel.com: Marvel’s first Civil War drew the line between super heroes, pitting friend against friend, teammate against teammate, and even family against family. While Civil War II will no doubt bring similar confrontations, there’s one Marvel Universe rivalry that’s been brewing for a while now; it’ll all come to a head as Cullen Bunn and Andrea Broccardo pit mutant against Inhuman in Civil War II: X-Men.

With the Terrigen Mists that enable an Inhuman’s powers now causing all sorts of trouble for mutants, tension between the two groups has never been higher. But when a new character appears who could tip the scales in the Inhumans’ favor, one mutant in particular takes action to save his people, while others try to prevent the brewing battle.

“Without giving away too many details for Civil War II, a new Inhuman has appeared,” Bunn shares. “This Inhuman has a power set that could, should a conflict between the mutants and the Inhumans ever erupt, tip the scales in a big way. Some of the X-Men—I’m sure you can guess who—want to get their hands on this power to control it. But to try to obtain this power could very well start this bloody feud we’re talking about, and other X-characters want to make sure that doesn't happen.”

What character could cause conflict between both mutant and Inhuman and mutant and mutant? Magneto, a character near and dear to Bunn’s heart.

“See? I knew you could guess which X-Man wants to control this Inhuman power,” Bunn jokes. “Yes, in many ways, Erik lights the match that sets the two groups of X-Men against one another. He is haunted by the current plight of the mutants. He sees them dying off—again! In his mind, this is because of the Inhumans. There’s writing on the wall. Erik sees it. Tensions are rising. And Magneto wants to prepare for the worst. He’s got tunnel vision, and he’s willing to trample anyone who gets in his way.”

Broccardo hopes to draw the Magneto who fights for mutant rights, “using every method or way. I love Magneto when used like a leader.”

Bunn notes a twist in the story:

“But—and this is when it gets interesting—the Extraordinary team is taking action based on what they think Magneto will do, not what he has actually done.” 

Characters from both UNCANNY X-MEN and EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN will appear in the series, as well as mutants who haven’t made much noise in a while.

“A lot of mutant characters who haven’t been seen much lately will have significant roles to play,” Bunn shares. “I can’t say who just yet. I want that to be a surprise. But I’m very excited to write some of these characters. Of the characters I can mention, I think it surprises no one that I’m geeking out over writing Nightcrawler and Magik.”

Broccardo adds that he loves the 1990’s X-Men stories and hopes this series gives him the opportunity to draw some of his favorites.

“I’d love if I [could] see characters like Colossus, Rogue, Gambit, Cable, Bishop, Psylocke, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine,” he says. On the Inhuman side, he hopes to draw Medusa, Crystal, Black Bolt, Karnak, and “the mighty Lockjaw.”

While this story stands apart from the main Civil War II narrative, Bunn vows that fans can expect “shock waves” across both series.

“This is the tale of how the mutants are reacting to what is going on in the world around them,” the writer explains. “That said there will be shock waves from the main series that ripple into this book and vice versa. Again, without giving too much away, the X-Men are pretty heavily involved in the main story.”

The original Civil War not only divided characters into two factions, but fans as well, as they supported “Team Cap” or “Team Iron Man.” This series could do the same.

“I certainly hope this story divides the fans in terms of who is ‘right,’” Bunn says. “One of the things I’m excited about with Civil War II is that there are so many questions, debates, and positions that are going to rise from it. In Civil War II: X-Men, we’ll focus that on the mutants and the specific positions they are taking.”

Bunn promises the story will have repercussions on the futures of both X-Men teams: “This story will divide the Uncanny and Extraordinary teams, not just along team lines, but from within the teams. Some of those divisions will not heal, and you may very well see new team line-ups surfacing from the events of this series!”

As for whom the creators support, they both fall into the same camp.

“In the original Civil War, I was on Cap’s side,” Broccardo admits. “I love Captain America, and without any thought, my side was the ‘rebel’ side. I love the X-Men—sorry Inhumans; I've followed the X-series since I was a boy. So I’ll say another time: X-Men.”

As for Bunn you can probably guess his answer.

“C’mon... After writing Magneto for so long, I can only answer mutant!”

Cullen Bunn and Andrea Broccardo bring you CIVIL WAR II: X-MEN beginning in June!

Monday, March 7, 2016

Stan Lee Collectibles Exclusive: X-Men 92 #1 Variant by J. Scott Campbell

Stan Lee Collectibles: Our first exclusive variant this year will be kicked off by none other by J. Scott Campbell at the helm. We chose X-Men 92 #1! The cover will feature non other than PSYLOCKE! She will have a breakout year in all forms of media especially in the upcoming movie X-Men: Apocalypse.

This tribute cover to her is the perfect way to kick things off and why not have one of the fan favorite artist, J Scott Campbell, do her justice!

We will be offering these variants signed by Stan Lee as well! Get yours now!

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Marvel Announces Civil War II: X-Men #1 by Cullen Bunn

BleedingCool: Written by Cullen Bunn, and announced at the Instore Convention Kick-Off, the X-Men series spin-off series from Civil War II, with Magneto getting rather interested in the Inhuman with a power set that will divide the Marvel Universe over their reaction to the individual in question…

Theyalso took the opportunity to attack the internet for saying they hated the X-Men. Of course Bleeding Cool has never said that, we’ve stated – as told to us by Marvel staffers – that X-Men licensing was curtailed to support Marvel Studios. Of course the comics/movies co-operation has been called into doubt of late….