ShirEPanjshir

Neither.

I can't believe they'll replace Uncanny X-Force, which is amazing, with these two dull books. The line-up for the new UXF is terrible (Psylocke wanted to get away from UXF on several occassions now, Storm as a member of a covert ops wet-squad isn't an idea that makes sense to me and the other two members I couldn't give a flying f*%k about). Although I admit I was a bit skeptical about Fantomex at first too, so the other two members might work out alright I guess. Cable & UXF just gives a weird vibe for me. I love Cable as a character, but I just can't see him leading this new UXF. Plus it all seems a bit too forced for me.

Besides, I think having 2 UFX titles which seem to have nothing to do with each other except for the obvious similar titles is just plain stupid. But I guess we'll have to wait and see. But so far nearly nothing has me excited for this MarvelNOW stuff...

I really can only think of one thing when I read this: "What? Whaaat?" and not in a positive sense.

First off: Psylocke is the only remaining character of the previous X-Force. Which is odd, since she's shown on several occasions that she wanted to leave X-Force because she didn't believe it its ideals/methods anymore. So possibly X-Force's ideals/methods will change completely? But then it wouldn't be X-Force anymore, would it?

Secondly: Storm on X-Force. This alone made me frown my eyebrows. There's no way I can see Storm working on a team like X-Force. I even remember that she strongly opposed Wolverine's merry band of killers when she learned of its existence.

Puck and Spiral also seem like odd choices, although I don't know enough about these two to actually pass judgement.

Then there's also the new creative team. The art, I think, will be satisfactory. But the writing? I admit I haven't read anything written by this new writer. But I did notice that he's a relative newbie. Which is odd to me, because Marvel's giving the reins of one of their most successful (in sales numbers as well as positive critics) titles to a newbie, who's following up after being written by one of Marvel's most talented writers.

I really don't know what to think of this book. On the one hand it does seem like an interesting, albeit odd line-up.

I can totally dig Red Hulk and Venom working together. Loved the interaction they had in the Venom series, seeing as they both have military background. Punisher does seem a weird choice, seeing as he doesn't really work with team members. Deadpool, I don't know what to think. I love Deadpool, but I really can't see him working together with the likes of Red Hulk and the Punisher. I mean, these are two deadly serious guys who probably won't put up with Deadpool's shenanigans. Unless this Deadpool will be written like he is in Uncanny X-Force (which I doubt, seeing as the writer is Daniel Way). Elektra, I couldn't care less about.

Then there's the creative team. I hate Way for what he's done to Deadpool as a character. His Deadpool run wasn't complete crap, it was decent, but it rarely was good. His Venom run made me want to bit off my own head. I can't see him writing characters like Red Hulk or Punisher at all. Plus I was hoping he was finally finished with making Deadpool into a clown. Dillon I'm not that familiar with. I've heard a lot of bad things about him though, and after checking out some of his art online I'm not enthusiastic either. Though I think I could definably live with it.

I guess I'll give it a shot and buy the first issue, but this title will probably be a hit or miss for me.

I'm currently holding on to the 'Peter will be forced to kill Alpha, therefore breaking his own rules, to stop him from truly becoming an unstoppable monster. Possibly triggered by Alpha killing Aunt May.'-theory as the most viable. I know a lot of people pointed out that the Alpha story-line seems to stop somewhere near issue 687. Followed by the Goblins story-line. But it probably would be possible that this would simply give us a false sense of security that Alpha may be dealt with already, which'd make the events in 700 a surprise blow to Peter.

Of course only Dan Slott truly knows what his own creative mind has cooked up for Peter. Issue 700 can't get here soon enough! But in the time in between, I'll just keep on enjoying ASM as it is.

Wow. Just... wow. It'd seem like Hopeless, who seems to be a newbie writer, just walked up to the Marvel office right after watching The Hunger Games/Battle Royal/... and said: "Hey guys! Let me use that, but with your young comic book characters! It'll be fun, I'll be able to pointlessly kill off at least half these characters and afterwards give it an ending just like The Hunger Games where they decide it's better to work together to escape, rather than to play along with the game."

"Oh yeah, that seems really unoriginal, but since it's based off The Hunger Games, I'm sure it'll be a big hit."

Hopeless indeed. Ah well, perhaps they'll surprise us and it'll be awesome. The jury 's still out.

@AgeofHurricane: That doesn't make... any sense. I don't have any stake in the Avengers vs X-Men event. I don't give a flying rat's ass on who 'd win. Therefore I'm not pleased or displeased. And if you're trying to suggest that I'm whining, I'd refer you to a dictionary seeing as making one comment on a subject, from a neutral point of view, isn't the equal of 'whining'.

Seriously, I'm not in the mood to actually go back and look if you're one of the people here who was crying about his favorite X-Men losing a comic book battle or not. But if you were, than you seriously need to learn how to deal with criticism. If you weren't, than you're probably out to start a pointless discussion over the internet. Which is fine by me, a healthy discussion is always welcome. But seeing as you're starting this one without any actual content. I think I'll pass on this one.

Oh please, X-Men fanboys, stop whining. Seriously.

If the X-Men win, you'd all be cheering about how amazing it was. While the Avengers-fans would be 'upset'. Same way goes for the other way around. Not everyone can be pleased all the time. Face it.

@PsychoKnights: Seriously? Wow I did not know that. I thought comics were more widely accepted, known and less haunted by clichés in the U.S.

A lot of people I know who are actually interested in perhaps starting with comics do know it's not just kids' stuff. The problem here is that it isn't really widespread. I think we only have like about 3 stores who actually 'specialize' in US comics in the entire country.

Anyhow, back to topic: I also get a bit annoyed, but I probably annoy others equally as much. The way of the world, people.

@PsychoKnights: Good point. Though I do wonder how many people actually would make the step towards comic books. I suspect that in the U.S. it indeed might boost comic book sales. For countries like mine, Belgium, the number of resellers is too small for people to just casually buy a comic book though. But I'm sure it does indeed thrusts the popularity of movies like The Avengers and The Dark Knight upwards. So you're certainly right that there's a plus.

@PsychoKnights: Yes well, no one likes to be shown off, which is why people don't like know-it-alls. Fact of life is; no matter where you go, what your hobbies are, what your job is, etc. There 'll always people that annoy you and are annoyed by you. It's just simply how human beings work. You'll never be able to please everyone. Don't expect to.

I can completely imagine that I've annoyed a couple of people by correcting them about several comic book facts. Though I certainly don't consider myself someone who immediately starts comparing feats etc.

Though I do think a lot of us comic book geeks in general are annoyed by the sheer huge mass of hipster fashion that's made geeky stuff like SciFi and comic book characters into a fashion style. A couple of years ago, if I saw a teenager/adult wearing a Star Wars T-shirt or a Batman T-shirt I could assume that he probably watched the movies and read a couple of books, probably watched the animated series. Now 90% of the people wearing this stuff haven't even got the faintest idea who Bruce Wayne is.

It is this that annoys me the most. As I said before: I can't see myself wearing a Nirvana T-shirt while never having listened to a single one of their songs. Whereas this is actually the case with a lot of people nowadays wearing comic book T-shirts. A friend of mine, for example, was wearing this vintage-looking Justice League T-shirt. But he couldn't even name half the characters on the picture. "Batman. Superman. Uhm.. That green guy and the chick. Yeah. Oh, wait, there's more than four of them on there?"