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The 12 Blogs of Christmas: Three. Dark X-Men.
Something else I should have mentioned yesterday that I liked this year: Stan Lee's Twitter feed. Stan, under the handle of smilinstanlee has found yet another medium to talk in like it's just you and him, to be wonderfully himself in. He makes 140 characters look like it should be enough for anyone. He entertains, he's self-deprecating, he cajoles, promotes and teases for himself and his buddies like it's 1965. I'm so glad he's there.
Nick thought the mystical look a bit old-fashioned, and had asked for options without the coat and long hair. So at the same time Leonard also provided this one:
Me and Nick only ever seem to argue about characters' hair! I asked to compromise on keeping the coat, but giving him a haircut, and so Leonard went for this:
With which we were all happy. I like a big coat. And I don't know why I wanted him barefoot, but there we go. It just seemed to suit the mutant shaman thing.
Though Leonard did show Nick several different costume colour options for when she poses as Jean Grey. Finally, here's one of those little somethings Leonard treats us to in midsummer, which I immediately pounce on and ask if I can save for the 12 Blogs:
I think that shows the fun we're having with Dark Beast. You can find Leonard's blog, with many more examples of his art here.
And while we're talking about all things Marvel, remember that you can bid for an initial Captain Britain and MI-13 pitch document (way different from how things worked out, never seen by anyone outside me and Marvel) and many more delicious comic goodies via the Geek Syndicate charity auction page here. I see that you've been very generous already, but there's still a few days to go.
And talking of Marvel, today is when I want to show off some of Leonard Kirk's designs for Dark X-Men. (Those long time readers amongst you may regret that Scale Guy is not featured.) It's been a real blast getting the old Captain Britain and MI-13 band together (that is, me, Leonard and invaluable editor Nick Lowe) on this title. And it's been a joy to see Leonard inking his own pencils, which sometimes now are just quick sketches, the hard lifting being done in the inks, because we've come to trust his work so much. I've just finished writing the five issue mini, and Leonard's started drawing the last issue. In short, we're utterly on schedule. It's what I'm happiest doing, in a lot of ways: being given a team to play with and finding the dynamics within them. And the huge X-Man/Dark Avengers battle that's coming up... but I'm telling you the plot.
Here's one of Leonard's initial designs for X-Man:
Nick thought the mystical look a bit old-fashioned, and had asked for options without the coat and long hair. So at the same time Leonard also provided this one:
Me and Nick only ever seem to argue about characters' hair! I asked to compromise on keeping the coat, but giving him a haircut, and so Leonard went for this:
With which we were all happy. I like a big coat. And I don't know why I wanted him barefoot, but there we go. It just seemed to suit the mutant shaman thing.
To show off Leonard's way with detail, here's something there was no debate about, his lovely version of Mystique:
Though Leonard did show Nick several different costume colour options for when she poses as Jean Grey. Finally, here's one of those little somethings Leonard treats us to in midsummer, which I immediately pounce on and ask if I can save for the 12 Blogs:
I think that shows the fun we're having with Dark Beast. You can find Leonard's blog, with many more examples of his art here.
And while we're talking about all things Marvel, remember that you can bid for an initial Captain Britain and MI-13 pitch document (way different from how things worked out, never seen by anyone outside me and Marvel) and many more delicious comic goodies via the Geek Syndicate charity auction page here. I see that you've been very generous already, but there's still a few days to go.
And here's today's update from Laurie Pink. Hmm, you remember I mentioned Rude Lesbian Nurses yesterday...?
Tomorrow is going to be my Answer Every Tweet day on Twitter, from 10am to 10pm, with the best exchanges reprinted here, the blog being updated all day. Do pop in and ask me something. I may not be able to actually answer your question, I may lie my head off, but I will reply. To every one. With a lot of coffee handy, I should think. And maybe some sort of wrist support. Until then, Cheerio!
Labels:
Comics,
Dark X-Men,
Leonard Kirk,
Marvel,
Nick Lowe,
Stan Lee
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Excellent stuff!
Can I say just how much I'm enjoying reading this series. Despite what should perhaps on paper be anything but, given the duplicitous nature of the cast, this is a really good team book.
I'm loving the in-caption tally of building and landmarks which Omega has destroyed. :)
I see that Mr Kirk also contributed a strip to the Nation X limited series last week. Also good stuff.
Seriously, when are Marvel going to give you guys an X-Men ongoing title? I'm sure we'd all read it. ;D
Dark X-Men. Great title, but I can't help singing it in my head, using the tune from Wham's Last Christmas:
"Dark X-Men, I gave you my heart..."
I'll get me coat.
I'd just like to point out that I read this because you told me about it Paul, and not as a result of a slightly dodgy google search...
Mystique really stand-out with that red-hair. Lovely.
Any chance with your Twitter Q&A you would ask folk to hashtag? I hate that ole one part of a conversation thing. I thought #QandC might be a good un!
Mr Sword: thanks very much. I'd like that too! David: and next day, they really would give it away. You can also sing 'Dark Avengers' to the Hallelujah Chorus. Simon: oh, you were after *polite* lesbian nurses. Andy: okay, that hashtag it will be!
I *love* alt universes. It took me a while to get used to them, back in HS I got embroiled in the classic fan-type "No, but in issue 23 on page 17 you can clearly see that Nightcrawler is left-handed, which means he wasn't the real..." anyway, now that I've grown-up *snort* (sorry, still can't say that with a straight face :D) I've really developed an appreciation for the storylines that follow the paths-not-taken, as it were.
This team is too good.
If you could get Mr Kirk to display some more Dark X-Men designs, like say the Mimic... Christmas will be early this year. :)
I've never been a fan of Nate Grey's shaman look. I much prefer his original/classic look with the blue/yellow uniform and jacket. :/
Kim: yes, I used to particularly enjoy Exiles, which made it clear that character is all that matters. Morgan: ah, I'm afraid he's done! Chris: we were trying for something halfway between the two.
Mr Minchin: It's Varga.
I would've preferred if you kept Nate's hair long with the jacket a little bit shorter, reaching up to the the hip enough to cover the butt. And that giant yellow X at the back of the jacket? Horrible because I think it's too loud. If you insist on keeping him bare chested, I think he should start wearing shoes again if he's gonna start stepping on the ground again.
And please don't let Nate refer to Jean Grey and Scott Summers as mother and father. Not once did he call them mom and dad, not even when he was still in the AOA.
Still, thanks and please keep X-Man aliveforica...
Sorry you don't like the fashion choices, Rey!
To each his own taste. But still, THANKS FOR BRINGING NATE GREY BACK. I just hope the eye patch doesn't mean Osborn took out Nate's left eye. That would be so Cable-like since the latter lost his left eye to his technoorganic infection...
Thanks! And I thought I'd leave that open for interpretation. Cheers.