Monday, August 26, 2019

Marcus To Previews 'Excalibur'

X-Men Monday #25 - X-Tra-Sized Anniversary X-Travaganza

AiPT!: Welcome to the all-new, all-different X-Men Monday at AiPT!–just in time for the column’s 25th edition! Hey, comics love to celebrate those milestone issues, so you better believe a column about comics on a comic book website’s going to do the same. It’s our milestone 25th X-Men Monday, with special guests Gerry Duggan, Benjamin Percy, Bryan Edward Hill and Tini Howard!


AiPT!: Such eclectic picks–love it! Now, who is your favorite X-Men character and why?

Tini: Half of my brain is like ‘how dare you choose’ and the other half is like ‘Rictor.’ Part of why I love him is because he’s spent an extended period of time without his powers, where he became sort of the audience-viewpoint of what it was like to be a de-powered mutant during that time. I love that his powers are simple, but vague and fun to play with–his connection to the Earth can be very scientific or very mystical. I like that Rictor is someone we’ve seen as super vulnerable–on the page we’ve seen him go through breakups, a coming out, a passionate reunion or two, possible fatherhood, losing his powers, depression, a crisis of faith… Maybe it’s ’cause I was raised Catholic and also had a coming-out story, but he’s always been my #1.

AiPT!: What X-Character are you currently having the most fun writing?

Tini: I’m not regularly writing Kitty Pryde, but I wrote her for a few sentences, and maybe it’s the amazing work Gerry is doing in Marauders, but she just sings right now. It’s hard to not have a blast writing Kitty. Currently, at this very moment, I am writing a very fun Rogue scene. Betsy is my favorite to write but I wouldn’t describe her as fun right now. We’re working through some stuff. She’ll be OK.

AiPT!: Why should X-Fans and non-X-Fans give your new Dawn of X series a shot?

Tini: It’s hard to read House of X and Powers of X and look at the Excalibur cover and mission statement and wonder how it’s gonna fit in. But it does–pretty beautifully if I say so myself. We’re merging the spirit of Excalibur with the Dawn of X. There are swords and kissing and a lighthouse and the legacy of the Braddocks–who are, person for person, one of Marvel’s most powerful families, I said one of, settle down, Summers fans–carries on.

AiPT!: Working on an X-Men comic is something many of comics’ greatest writers and artists have done. What does working in the X-Men universe–with these iconic characters–mean to you?

Tini: We’re getting to establish a new status quo for the X-Men. We’re building a nation, a culture and an entirely non-human way of life. That’s honestly my favorite stuff–when we’re all together brainstorming: what is human and what is mutant? What can the superior shed and leave behind, and how can they improve, not just genetically, but culturally, spiritually. That’s what I’m about.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

X-Solicits for November 2019

Excalibur #2
Tini Howard (W) • Marcus To (A) • Mahmud Asrar (C)
• Betsy Braddock is Captain Britain, but a citizen of Krakoa.
• With Rogue’s condition a mystery, the team heads to the one place that has always been the seat of Excalibur’s power - the Lighthouse.


X-Men #2
Jonathan Hickman (W) • Leinil Francis Yu (A/C)
• Jonathan Hickman and Leinil Francis Yu continue the flagship X-Men title!
• When an island full of unspeakable horrors appears on the horizon, the X-Men have their work cut out for themselves keeping Krakoa safe!


Marauders #2
Gerry Duggan (W) • Matteo Lolli (A) • Russell Dauterman (C)
• The Hellfire Trading Company has control of Mutant trade on the seas… but that doesn’t mean its Inner Circle is done stabbing one another in the back.
• As Captain Pryde and her Marauders sail on, the real cutthroats are back home…


New Mutants #1 & #2
Jonathan Hickman & Ed Brisson (W) • Rod Reis (A/C)
• The classic New Mutants (Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Mirage, Karma, Magik, and Cypher) get together with a few new friends in Chamber and Mondo.
• They’re the next generation of mutants and they’re ready to claim their future now...so what better way to do that than a mission to the stars alongside the Starjammers!?


X-Force #1 & #2
Benjamin Percy (W) • Joshua Cassara (A) • Dustin Weaver (C)
• X-Force is the CIA of the mutant world; Beast, Jean Grey and Sage on the intelligence side, Wolverine, Kid Omega, and Domino on the special ops side.
• In a perfect world, there would be no need for an X-Force. But we’re not there...yet.


Fallen Angels #1 & #2
Bryan Edward Hill (W) • Szymon Kudranski (A) • Ashley Witter (C)
• Mutantkind’s newfound place in the world doesn’t account for every mutant…not all belong in paradise.
• Psylocke is joined by Cable and X-23 on a mission of revenge that could jeopardize all of mutant existence!

Saturday, August 10, 2019

IGC Exclusive Variant Covers by Scott Williams



Marvel Comics #1001 Variant Cover
Marvel Comics #1000 Variant Cover
Powers of X #2 Variant Cover
by Scott Williams

Produced Exclusively by IGComicstore. Limited to only 600 hand selected Virgin Copies per book. We present to you, one of the greatest homage covers ever created. This 3-part connecting Virgin variant Set pays Homage to Jim Lee's & Scott Williams X-MEN #1, what makes this even more special is that it was created by one of the original creators, the legendary artist and inker Scott Williams. This historic 3-piece set is a absolute must have for your PC and is guaranteed to make it's mark with collectors around the world.