Olivier Coipel's X-Cellent Covers

I love me some Olivier Coipel artwork, but I really hope we get more from him than just cover work. Coipel was responsible for the first Age of X: Alpha teaser and he is also responsible for one of the cover treatments for issue #1 (above). I've always loved Avalanche and sure hope that is him front and center.

The “Age of X” storyline that begins next year is a seven-issue arc that begins with Age of X: Alpha and carries on into X-Men: Legacy #245-247 and New Mutants #22-24. Like “Age of Apocalypse” before it, “Age of X involves a world in which Charles Xavier never started a school—and sanctuary—for mutants.

Coipel also drew the cover for the first issue of Wolverine and Jubilee (below). Coipel has taken pieces of Jubilee's classic look and reinterpreted it into something that actually looks cool. This title follows the aftermath of the “Curse of the Mutants” storyline which has had a depowered Jubilee transformed into a vampire. The book is written by Kathryn Immonen and drawn by Phil Noto.

Age of X: Alpha #1 is scheduled for release on January 26, 2011. Wolverine and Jubilee is scheduled for release on January 19, 2011.

'Age of X: Alpha': Day 5 Teaser Image (Final)

And here you have it. The Age of X-thing just got big. Today Marvel released the final image for January’s Age of X: Alpha book with Rogue and Phoenix on the cover. So is this series also the reintroduction of Jean Grey into the X-books?

Based on the way Olivier Coipel has drawn her, you could almost say she’s an entity, or specifically the Phoenix force, than an actual person. Jean Grey has been “dead” since she last appeared in Grant Morrison’s run in 2004 (I’m not counting the Warsong and Endsong follow-ups), after she willed the relationship of Scott Summers and Emma Frost. Only time will tell.

Marvel published this completed teaser indicating that the two additions were Revenant and Reaper. Probably to keep anything from leaking before this morning.

Age of X: Alpha #1 is scheduled for releases on January 26, 2010.

'Age of X: Alpha': Day 4 Teaser Image

You can't have a big X-Men event without inviting Magneto! The frequent X-Men nemesis and sometimes ally (we can't really simply label him a villain anymore can we?) is joined by Cannonball in today's fourth teaser to the Age of X: Alpha. One more day to go and we'll finally see who Gambit is holding!

'Age of X: Alpha': Day 3 Teaser Image

Well if you're going to tease a book this way, it's better that it's being done with second-tier X-Men. I don't think fans would have gotten excited by Cyclops or Wolverine reveals. Today Marvel relased their third teaser image for Age of X: Alpha and Basilisk and Frenzy have joined the fray.

Age of X: Alpha is scheduled for release in January 2011.

Marvel Continues to Tease 'Age of X: Alpha'

If you were collecting X-Men comic books in the mid-90’s you’ll remember an obscure crossover event called “Age of Apocalypse.” Okay, perhaps obscure is not totally fair. How about giant-sized mega event? In that alternate-universe event, all of the X-Titles were renamed for four months as the X-Universe was erased, re-imagined, and eventually put back together again.

Marvel has been hush hush about their upcoming Age of X title that is planned for release next year, but they have released a solicitation for the book that is actually titled Age of X Alpha. This is interesting because the original “Age of Apocalypse” opener was titled X-Men: Alpha. I can’t imagine that Marvel is planning as enormous event as its 90’s predecessor but this should pique your mutant-loving interest.

A new teaser has been released today featuring more characters (Berserker and Nightmare join Gambit and Hellion) on the wraparound cover by Olivier Coipel. I would assume we’ll have the completed cover by the end of the week.

Age of X: Alpha is scheduled for release in January 2011.

New York Comic-Con: Friday's Announcements

Here’s a quick glance at today’s announcements from the New York Comic-Con:

There are going to be two Batmans according to Dan Didio. The current Dick Grayson Batman, who protects Gothan City, and the returning Bruce Wayne Batman (alive!), who is going into the Bat-business with the Grant Morrison-penned Batman: Incorporated. Earlier this week my buddy claimed that there was no other character that had a larger run of ongoings than Batman; I corrected him because I believe there are more X-Books. If I was correct, I'm sure things will change come 2011 with the addition of four new titles: Batwoman, Batman: Dark Knight, and the aforementioned Morrison book. I’m interested in seeing what Morrison has in store Bruce-Batman as the character branches out to become a franchise (at least that is my understanding).

After a spat of rotating cast and creative teams on The New Teen Titans, DC is promising a greater consistency on both fronts.

Dark Knight: Boy Wonder, the continuation of the Frank Miller/Jim Lee opus All-Star Batman and Robin, will be reintroduced to the world after what will be an almost three year absence from the comic shelves (holy patience!). Once again, I implore DC to begin using a summary page at the start of their books!

A possible announcement of a new creative team on Superman/Batman may be made this weekend. I sure hope so. Now that Bruce Wayne is back and healthier than ever, I would like to see this book be one of DC’s cornerstone books as opposed to the anthology series it has become over the past few years.

Something mysterious is coming from the X-Universe called Age of X. The retro cover with a bunch of familiar mutant silhouettes is pretty damn cool looking. This story may be akin to the Age of Apocalypse storyline (my favorite X-crossover event) where the X-Universe was completely revamped for four months back in the 90’s. More to come.

IDW is going to release Godzilla beginning in February. This title will feature guest spots from Rodan and Mothra among others. Meh. Interest-wise, this speaks to me much in the way a Transformers comic does. Which is not at all. But I may just pick this little nugget up to see what the unnamed writer can do with this property.

Sit tight for Saturday—there are bound to be some exciting revelations!