C2E2 Wrap-Up

C2E2 certainly presented us with some interesting panels this weekend!

After the jump, there's a list of links to the stories coming out of the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo:

C2E2: Marvel Brings Back 'Supreme Power'

One of the smaller announcements to come out of C2E2 from Marvel's 'Next Big Thing'  panel was that writer Kyle Higgins will be tackling the (anti)heroes from Supreme Power in a new four issue mini-series under Marvel's MAX imprint.

Supreme Power was a  MAX series first released in 2003 by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Gary Frank, a title that revamped the characters from The Squadron Supreme.

I believe the idea was to complete with Wildstorm's The Authority and provide readers with an 'Ultimate' version of Hyperion and the other heroes from the Squadron.

In Supreme Power a baby is found in a crashed spaceship by a 'kindly couple' but is then quickly taken away by the government and over the next several years the child (named Mark Milton) is brainwashed into becoming the perfect American soldier.

This was called Project: Hyperion

C2E2: Is a Small Screen Adaptation of 'Runaways' in the Cards?

During yesterday’s Cup ‘o Joe panel at C2E2 yesterday, Jeph Loeb, Marvel Entertainment’s Head of Television, posed a question to the audience: would they like to see a Runaways television series?

Very interesting. Until now, Runaways has been a production slated for the big screen. You may remember that Marvel Entertainment slowed production of a big screen adaptation to resume next year with a possible 2013 release date after determining that they had several projects slated for release in2012. It sounds as if the possibility is open to adapting Brian K. Vaughn’s fantastic comic book into an ongoing television series.

Runaways, originally published in 2003 and conceived by Vaughn and Adrian Alphona, is the story of six kids who learn their parents are supervillains.  The book was dark but its protagonists kept things light as they continued to stay one step ahead of their maniacal parents.

Cross your fingers that this property comes to television because a long form story format is what Runaways deserves. The book has too big a cast and story to fit into a two-hour (at most) film and still retain the charm that readers enjoyed.

More to come!

Source: Newsarama’s live-blog.

C2E2: Is Paul Cornell Staying on 'Action'?

An interesting thing occurred towards the end of yesterday’s DC Nation’s Q&A session at C2E2.

According to Newsarama’s Live blogging, a fan asked if Paul Cornell was going to stay on Action Comics past the “Reign of Doomday” storyline. The writer answered “I don’t know.”

I certainly hope DC has big plans for the writer and Superman since his refreshing run on the Action has been so widely enjoyed by fans who probably didn’t expect a year-long Lex-centric book to be so good. Cornell brings Superman back to the title for issue #900 to wrap-up the “Black Ring” storyline—I’m crossing my fingers the writer stays on well beyond this.

More to come!

C2E2: Cup 'o Joe Panel

The Cup ‘o Joe panel at C2E2 promised some big announcements and we got them that is for certain. Greg Rucka and Marco Checcetto on The Punisher. Mark Waid with Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin on Daredevil. And somewhat out of left field, Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley announced Brilliant, a new creator-owned title for Marvel’s Icon imprint.

The panel featured Joe Quesada, Brian Michael Bendis, Jeph Loeb, Mark Waid, C.B. Cebulski and Matt Fraction.

Bendis confirmed that he has no plans to use the Runaways in his new Moon Knight series. He mentioned that he would play up the character’s multiple personalities, specifically featuring Moon Knight’s versions of Captain America, Wolverine, and Spider-Man.

C2E2: Bendis and Bagley Get 'Brilliant'

Brian Michael Bendis has another creator owned title to add to one seriously long resume: Brilliant. The announcement was made at today’s Cup ‘o Joe panel at C2E2. Joining the writer to pencil the series is longtime Ultimate Spider-Man collaborator Mark Bagley. The two spent eight years together on 111 straight issues of the prolific reimagining and cornerstone series of the Ultimate universe.

Brilliant is based in the real world where a group of geniuses on a college campus are working on a way to create super powers. Something tells me that they’ll succeed. The book will reside under Marvel’s Icon imprint, alongside Powers, Scarlett and Takio.

Leave it to Bendis to come up with another cool, high concept series that plays off of superhero conventions. As long as the writer can churn out the scripts this book will always come out on time—I cannot think of another artist who is able to turns in pages faster than Bagley.

C2E2: Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto provide Punishment

Marvel has announced that the new creative team behind the new Punisher series will be fan favorite Greg Rucka and artist Marco Checchetto

While Fear Itself will be just warming up when The Punisher rolls back into the Marvel Universe, the writer told Comic Book Resources that he won't be forcing Frank Castle into the event. "I've talked to Matt Fraction a bit and I've read one of the 'Fear Itself' scripts, but I've utterly failed to find a way that was satisfying for me to thread it in,"said Rucka.

Rucka also had this to say about the character:

"There are certain characters to me that need to stay the same. In fact part of their character arc is their inability to change and their unwillingness to grow. If you change the Punisher you break him," said Rucka. "He knows he's going to die eventually, but he's got a lot to do before he gets there. His goals are very clear and straightforward and there is something genuinely wonderful about a character who is that pure."

Very cool...

Add this to my pile please.

C2E2: 'Fear Itself' Panel

Marvel’s heavy-hitters were on-hand for today’s Fear Itself panel at C2E2, and they had plenty to say. Series-helmer Matt Fraction appeared with Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers), editor C.B. Cepulski, Fred Van Lente (Alpha Flight), and Nick Spencer (Iron Man 2.0).

Fraction presents Fear Itself as Thor’s worst fear as "the Red Skull discovers Odin might not be the All-Father." Ultimately the mini-series is a Captain America and Thor story that reaches far and wide across the Marvel Universe. Fraction said that the ramifications of Fear Itself may be felt for somewhere between one to three years.

C2E2: DC Nation Panel

The C2E2 DC Nation panel did not offer up a ton of information, but there is some news to share. The panel included Dan DiDio DC Comics co-publisher, Bob Wayne senior vice-president of sales, Paul Cornell (Action Comics), Scott Snyder (Detective Comics), Bill Willingham (Fables), and Gail Simone (Secret Six).

C2E2: Dr. Strange and Namor to Battle the Worthy in 'Fear Itself: The Deep'

Friends since their Illuminati days, Dr. Strange and Namor are going to need to have each other’s back if they are going to survive Marvel’s Fear Itself event and the hammer-wielding Worthy.

This June, Cullen Bunn (Sixth Gun) and Lee Garbett (Batgirl) will bring us Fear Itself: The Deep, a mini-series that features the former Sorcerer Supreme and the Atlantean. Marvel announced the title today at C2E2 and teased that the other heroes featured in this mini will be announced at a later date.

I’ve mentioned previously to see Garbett working on various Marvel projects after enjoying his work on Batgirl. Enjoy the preview pages after the jump

More to come!

C2E2: Williams and Clark Take on 'Ghost Rider' this June

Marvel announced that Rob Williams (Daken: Dark Wolverine) and Matt Clark (Doom Patrol) will be responsible for the latest relaunch of Ghost Rider this summer. In June, the popular character receives the 0.1 treatment for his inaugural issue.  The series was last handled by Jason Aaron who followed it up with the six issue mini-series Ghost Riders: Heaven’s on Fire.

This has always been one of Marvel’s trickier properties because, unless handled by the ablest of storytellers, it’s never seemed to be a hero that mass audiences connect with. Make no mistake, Ghost Rider has a rabid fan base, but I will interested to see what Williams and Clark bring to the table to garner readers.

C2E2 Blows Into Chicago This Weekend

C2E2 begins tomorrow and Chicago will never be the same!

Okay, that might be a bit of hyperbole, but hey, we comic fans have long been accustomed to hyperbolic statements. So what can we expect? Some big announcements and unexpected news I hope. C2E2 is the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo and is a precursor to summer’s big daddy comic con. Comic book creators and publishers are descending upon the windy city to meet with fans, hype their goods, and walk amongst a sea of cosplayers.

There is no end to the talent appearing: Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man), Paul Cornell(Action Comics), Garth Ennis (The Boys), Jeph Loeb (Hulk), Gail Simone (The Secret Six), Scott Snyder (American Vampire), Mark Waid (Irredeemable) and Terry Moore (Echo) to name a few. With about a month and a half to go before the big opening, Chris Hemsworth  will also appear to get the Thor promotion train underway.

Marvel teased this week that the creative teams for the Daredevil and Punisher re-launches would be announced at Joe Quesada’s Cup ‘o Joe panel—unfortunately, it looks as though Bleeding Cool has spilled the beans early. Ah well, there are sure to be more announcements to jump start our anticipation for the next big thing.

Stay tuned to our page for non-stop updates and listen to Sunday’s podcast to our commentary on breaking C2E2 news!