Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude Debuts For FREE On Sunday

Lead-In To Hotly Anticipated Blockbuster Film Available on Marvel Comics app

Get your first look at the events leading up the biggest movie of the year—Marvel’s The Avengers—this Sunday in Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week #1 (of 8), free on the Marvel Comics app! That’s right—not only is Marvel giving you the first look at new footage from The Avengers in a special commercial during the big game, but the Marvel Comics app will feature the first issue of this action packed series for FREE! Subsequent issues of Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week will arrive every Tuesday beginning February 14^thfor 99 cents per issue.

“We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Marvel Studios to create an exciting story set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sets the stage perfectly for the most anticipated film of the summer,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor in Chief. “Now, for the first time. you’ll find out just what happened to some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the road to Marvel’s The Avengers.”

What is the Avengers Initiative? And what are the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury? The answers arrive in Marvel’s The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week and the first issue is free this Sunday only on the Marvel Comics app!

Want to know more about Marvel Studios The Avengers blockbuster film? Follow us on Twitter at @Avengers and tweet with hashtag #Avengers! And then “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/avengers for access to more exclusive Avengers content!

Check out http://avengers.marvel.com for more news on the biggest film of 2012!

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS PRELUDE: FURY’S BIG WEEK #1 (of 8)

Story by Chris Yost & Eric Pearson

Written by Eric Pearson

Art by Luke Ross

Rated T+ …FREE ON MARVEL COMICS APP

And if you’d like to see different actors cast as Marvel heroes, such as Bruce Lee as Spider-Man and Christopher Walken as Professor X, check this out.

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From Pantheon, comes Craig Thompson’s Habibi. It’s black and white, it’s 672 pages, it looks great (even the ugly parts) and well, just listen to the show.

The 7 mini-series and one-shot will carry the Before Watchmen banner and focus on the characters in the original series such as Dr. Manhattan and Nite Owl and will feature work by creators such as J. Michael Straczynski, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, Brian Azzarello and more.

Check out an interesting interview with JMS here, in which he talks about the controversy, the details and his approach. It’s no surprise that this is actually happening, as DC are sure to get lots of attention and sales and I’ll probably pick up some of the mini-series out of curiosity.

Official press release, and covers, below.

This summer, DC Entertainment will publish all-new stories expanding on the acclaimed WATCHMEN universe. As highly anticipated as they are controversial, the seven inter-connected prequel mini-series will build on the foundation of the original WATCHMEN, the bestselling graphic novel of all time. BEFORE WATCHMEN will be the collective banner for all seven titles, from DC Comics.

“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”

Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS), Lee Bermejo (JOKER), Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL), Darwyn Cooke (JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER), John Higgins (WATCHMEN), Adam Hughes (CATWOMAN), J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS), Andy Kubert (FLASHPOINT), Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), Jae Lee (BATMAN: JEKYLL AND HYDE), J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE) and Len Wein (SWAMP THING).

BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:

• RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo

• MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke

• COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones

• DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes

• NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert

• OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee

• SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

Each week, a new issue will be released, and will feature a two-page back-up story called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR, written by original series editor Len Wein and with art by original series colorist John Higgins. There will also be a single issue, BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a CRIMSON CORSAIR story by Wein and Higgins.

“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.

“Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction,” said DiDio and Lee. “Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant.”

Review here, and preview below.

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2: 15 THEME – CREATIVE DIFFERENCES

The increase in public disputes these days, such as recent examples including Rob Liefeld and Robert Kirkman falling out over The Infinite, and writer John Rozum’s problems with the making of Static Shock.

Good creative unions and frequent collaborators:

Mark Millar and his usual team of artists

Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

Creative splits:

Alan Moore and Steve Bissette on 1963, and Dave Gibbons after Watchmen

Mark Waid and Alex Ross after Kingdom Come

The Image Comics founders

Mark Millar and Grant Morrison

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Teams we want to see reunited:

Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle

Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan

Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove

Added bonus:

Megatokyo webcomic

Filip Acovic’s Dark Knight Returns piece.

A nice, quotable piece from Pawel Durczok

and finally, some cool superhero silhouettes.

Star Wars Uncut is an ambitious project that has now been finalised after years of work. Basically as part of its crowdsourcing venture, people across the globe remade Episode IV in 15 second segments, and here is the diverse, final, 2 hour result.

Marvel Unveils AVENGERS ART APPRECIATION VARIANTS!

Ever imagine what the Avengers would look like if they existed throughout the ages? Well here’s your chance as Marvel is proud to unveil Avengers Art Appreciation Variants available throughout all of April! With everyone on the edge of their seats for Marvel Studio’s The Avengers, fans will have the opportunity to see their favorite super hero team in the styles of the world’s greatest artists like Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Monet, Pollock, Schielle and more! No fan can miss their favorite Marvel artists like Alex Maleev, Michael Kaluta, Gabriele Dell’otto, Greg Horn, Gerald Parel and more put their spin on these surefire classic covers. So be on the look-out True Believers, because in April – these Avengers Art Appreciation Variants are sure to go fast!

AGE OF APOCALPSE #2

Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN NAUCK

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #683

Variant Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO

AVENGERS #25
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #2

Variant Cover by STEPHANIE HANS

DAREDEVIL #11

Variant Cover by STEFFI SCHUTZEE

FANTASTIC FOUR #605

Variant Cover by MICHAEL KALUTA

INCREDIBLE HULK #7

Variant Cover by CHARLES PAUL WILSON III

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #515

Variant Cover by GREG HORN

SECRET AVENGERS #26

Variant Cover by JOE QUINONES

UNCANNY X-FORCE #24
Variant Cover by JULIAN TOTINO

UNCANNY X-MEN #11

Variant Cover by GREG HORN

WINTER SOLDIER #4

Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

WOLVERINE #304

Variant Cover by Gurihiru

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #9

Variant Cover by ALEX MALEEV

X-MEN #27

Variant Cover by KHOI PHAM

Preview below.

Check them all out right here.