Giant Size X-Men 1- Dave Cockrum
Marvel Age 33 – Jackson Guice
Cover Dated December 1985
Cover by Bob Layton and Jackson Guice
Great homage cover to Giant Size X-Men 1. I like the current team being replaced with the Original team, but they are X-Factor in this instance.
I really like Marvel Age, it works as a perfect time capsule of what was happening at Marvel.
This issue offers a lot of nice coverage.
Some comics coming out were :
September 24
Daredevil 226
New Mutants 35
Web of Spider-Man 10
West Coast Avengers 4
Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham 5
Cloak & Dagger 4
Squadron Supreme 5
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition 2
October 1
Power Pack 18
Micronauts 16
Alpha Flight 30
Dazzler 41
Longshot 5
Vision and Scarlet Witch 4
X-Men Annual 9
October 8
Marvel Age 34
Avengers 263
X-Men 201, the duel between Storm and Cyclops for leadership! Imagine buying this off the spinner rack?
ROM 74
Nightcrawler 3
Punisher 1
X-Men and Alpha Flight 2
October 15
Fantastic Four 286
Secret Wars II 7
Doctor Who 16
Top Ten for June 1985
Mini Mutant Report – Mary Wilshire is the new artist on New Mutants, Bill Sienkiewski will be inking her.
There is a page regarding Flexography.
The first big feature is that the very first Spider-Conference has happened. Which is crazy as we take that for granted now. I remember when Wizard would have articles regarding the various Spider- and X-conferences and how the big stories would come from that. I’m surprised it took until 1985 so Marvel could fly everyone to one spot and discuss the next year’s worth of stories.
Punisher is getting a limited series by Steven Grant and Mike Zeck with John Beatty. This is the Circle of Blood storyline.
Fred Hembeck draws a goofy interview with Cyclops, where all of his answers to questions start with “X-” like “X-citing” and “X-pired” and such.
We get to the cover story, which is a multi-page / multi-part featurette on new series, X-Factor. The initial art shows how Cyclops was originally going to be blue/red costume and Beast was going to have the blue/yellow but they switched it but all the interior art shows their costumes as the other way around. Funny how, at one point, someone wanted to take Cyclops’ away from his yellow and blue color scheme and try something else. It wasn’t until Astonishing X-Men with John Cassaday, that he got away from those colors and experimented with some black and red; which he has now.
There are six interviews – Mike Carlin / Bob Layton / Jackson Guice / Roger Stern / John Byrne / Jim Shooter
The fun aspect to the feature is that they are really trying to keep the secret fifth and lady member of the team. Fans wouldn’t have thought it was Jwan, as that would require bringing her back from the dead.
As usual, there is a flashback feature, this time for – the final third of 1969.
Back Cover has the birthdays of September 1985, which is becoming a fast favorite of mine.
September 2 – Walt Simonson’s Birthday
September 3 – Pat Redding’s Birthday
September 4 – Paul Smith and Ken Lopez’s Birthday
September 6 – Mike Zeck’s Birthday
September 8 – Archie Goodwin’s Birthday
September 11 – Rod Whigham’s Birthday
September 13 – Lynn Cohen’s Birthday
September 14 – Jim Novak’s Birthday
September 16 – Kurt Busiek, Brenda Mings and Keith Williams’ Birthday
September 17 – Roger Stern and Danny Fingeroth’s Birthday
September 19 – Cynthia Martin and Brian Garvey’s Birthday
September 23 – Libra and Peter David’s Birthday
September 24 – Bill Vallely’s Birthday
September 25 – Bob Layton’s Birthday
September 26 – Louise Simonson’s Birthday
September 27 – Jim Shooter’s Birthday
September 30 – Ken Feduniewicz’s Birthday
Eulogy, Part One of Two prepared by Jason Latour
Artists paying their respects
Robbi Rodriguez & Israel Silva
Ian Bertram & Ian Herring
Kris Anka
Jim Rugg
Declan Shalvey & Matthew Wilson
Ronald Wimberly & Sasha Kimiatek
Ariela Kristantina & Sonia Oback
James Harren & Matthew Wilson
Lettering & Production VC’s Clayton Cowles
The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Storm looks at her pocket watch, it is 12:30pm. Wolverine’s ex-girlfriend, Melita Garner, is still writing his book. She has finally got to the point where she can interview various X-Men and students. She starts with Beast. This issue is mostly not very good, in terms of her goals, as no one really gives her any stories or insight. Beast is decent. Iceman gets a joke about karaoke.
Later, Melita is interviewing Armor. For some reason, Armor is Marvel’s go-to brunette, who will be mourning Wolverine. Which is so frustrating. Armor is working on her armor, piecing it back together. I’m not why she even has to do that, is that new?
I got this for the Wolverine and Lockheed photo!
Essentially, Eyeboy tells Melita that Wolverine always said he was the best there was. Lockheed likes it when Logan jams.
Melita interviews Fantomex. Next was Genesis. Then Oya, who does tell a story about picture day. People joke about how much Logan worried about being attacked by ninja. Oya’s story involves when he was attacked by ninjas. Broo also tells a story.
Issue ends with Kurt taking Melita to Harry’s Hideaway. Kurt and the patrons are all drinking to Logan’s honor.
The final page has her on the phone with someone, maybe her editor? She is mostly done with interviews. she has Quire to still interview. She has one last big name to interview, as Storm lands in front of her. Which is so odd as if you are going to tell Wolverine’s story, you have to interview Jubilee, Kitty Pryde and Cyclops. That just makes sense.
I’m set to own issue 11 but if that’s not Kitty on the cover or she doesn’t appear in the issue itself, then no issue for me.
Back in the JoeQuesada.com message board days, I use to have access to these Pac-Man emoticons but I think that website is down down. If anyone comes across those, please let me know. Thanks!
CBRev message board, that I am a member of, has these two new emoticons
and 
Which are so great!
Since that Lockheed one doesn’t move, I’m including the Lockheed Micro-Hero :
Writer Charles Soule
Penciler Steve McNiven
Inker Jay Leisten
Colorist Justin Ponsor
Letterer Chris Eliopolulos
I had to buy the Hastings Exclusive Variant, as they were all out of the regular cover. Cost me an extra two dollars. I only own this for the Ogun reference, which may make me the worst.
Issue opens in Paradise Valley, Nevada. Wolverine is heading towards the Weapon X facility that Ogun told him about in the previous issue. He makes his way through some soldiers. He sees some dudes in tanks and in beds. Wolverine spies Dr. Abraham Cornelius.
Dr. Cornelius is happy that Ogun told Wolverine where he was, as it saved him a bunch of money. He’s on the verge of making the perfect killing machines.
Dr. Cornelius isn’t happy with his legacy, which is that he created Wolverine. Cornelius has been trying to make the perfect killing machine. He’s killed hundreds over years. The one missing ingredient has been Wolverine’s healing factor. Wolverine laughs as he cuts his palm and the bad doctor is surprised to see the palm isn’t healing immediately.
We see one of Cornelius’ latest success stories. Major Sharp, has every tactical enhancement in his head. Wolverine and Major Sharp fight as Cornelius insults Wolverine. We learn that the AK-47 is arguabl the most successful invention in the history of mankind. It has been unchanged in seventy years.
During their fight, Major Sharp breaks the glass that was protecting Cornelius. Wolverine knocks out Major Sharp. Wolverine wants Cornelius to turn off the machines that are operating on the dudes in the beds.
The emergency lights come on as Cornelius presses a button and runs off. The adamantium process is starting. Wolverine pops his claws and slashes open the canister with the liquid adamantium. It just dumps out and covers Wolverine. I do like how the room is bathed in red light. Wolverine is just covered in liquid adamantum. There must have been an easier way to stop the process.
Meanwhile, on the roof. Cornelius is shouting at the helicopter pilot to start up the bird. Cornelius is bleeding from his pierced intestine. Wolverine has made it to the roof, he doesn’t look good at all. But he does look very shiny, so that’s something. Cornelius falls to the ground and the pilot runs for the helicopter. Cornelius shouts at Wolverine that all he ever did was kill people, which prompts a flashback. I don’t think Wolverine does the killing blow, I think Cornelius just dies. Then he makes it to the ledge of the building.
My question is, how do the X-Men eventually find out where Wolverine’s body is? Also, he died just saving some soldiers no one will even remember from getting unbreakable bones. It seems like the stakes were pretty low and this is how Wolverine dies? It is a tad underwhelming.
I like how all of the variant covers are shown in the back.
For Issue one, I need to buy John Tyler Christopher cover. I’ve opted to not need to buy the Canadian variant of issue three, its just the regular cover but with Canadian Maple Leafs instead of regular flowers, just didn’t seem that different.
There is also a page of Reflections from the Creators. Soule, McNevin, Leisten, Ponsor and yes, even Chris Eliopoulos himself, writes a few sentences. Eliopoulos reveals his two favorite characters are Wolverine and Puck. I did not know that.
I own Wolverine’s first four appearances (three Hulks and one Giant Size) and now, James “Logan” Howlett’s final proper appearance – for now.
Final Page is promotional for the repercussions of Wolverine’s death.
Wolverine and the X-Men 10 & 11, which I own 10 for Lockheed and I believe that is Kitty on 11’s page.
Deadpool and Captain America 1, no interest
Storm 4 & 5, no interest
Nightcrawler 7, so good, plenty of Kitty Pryde
Life After Logan 1, I ordered it, here is hoping Kitty is in it
Weapon X Program 1 – 5, I read that Ogun takes over Major Sharp’s body, so I might have to buy a few issues
Logan Legacy 1 – 7, I am getting for sure issue two as it centers on X23 and Kitty Pryde and the All New X-Men team is in the preview pages
Writer Chris Claremont
Artist Ron Wagner
Colorist John Wilcox
Letterer Tim Harkins
Cover Dated January 1991
Girls’ School from Heck Part Two of Three
Chris Claremont’s penultimate issue of Excalibur!
Issue opens with Captain Britain and Meggan inside an empty film studio. The studio has posters for the upcoming Americanized Football that is coming to England. Captain Britain makes the awesome comment of, where is the attraction in watching hugely muscled bods in helmets and body armor thump into each other? Captain Britain much prefers soccer and cricket. Meggan likes that Americans have cheerleaders.
They notice a circus poster with some believed dead X-Men. The editorial note references Uncanny X-Men 227. Just then, they are mesmerized.
Lockheed is watching as his good friend, Nightcrawler, is trying to strengthen his teleporting skills.
Kurt loses focus and teleports upside down in the water, luckily, Rachel is there to rescue him.
There is a knock at the door, which they seem to be cool about. If I lived in a lighthouse, away from civilization, a knock at my door would make me super suspicious.
Turns out, it is Jean Grey in a very bad girlish outfit.
I really enjoy Kurt making Lockheed feel like part of the team while Kitty is believed to be missing.
Kurt gets the idea that Kitty may not be lost to time, space and the multiverse – she may be here in the Proper Marvel Universe.
Captain Britain swoops in and chokes Kurt.
Rachel has been mesmerized. Poor Lockheed has to just float there as Mesmero reveals himself.
Uncanny X-Men 111 and Classic X-Men 17, are referenced, which I like, as one is probably easier to find.
We begin the second half of the issue. At St. Searle’s School for Young Ladies. Kitty believes her classmates are still in bed, so she practices her shadow boxing.
Turns out, several of them are watching her. Phoebe Huntsman, the lead broad, is not impressed.
Kitty has gotten good at ignoring her classmates. Phoebe gets the entire student body to pretend Kitty doesn’t exist.
Headmistress Miss Rutherford comes to check on Kitty, in her room in the attic. Their special moment gets interrupted when Miss Rutherford receives a phone call, which panics her.
Kitty, being curious, sneaks down the tower and into the airduct above Miss Rutherford’s house. We learn that the school is out of money and will be shut down at month’s end, if they can’t raise the funds.
Turns out, Pheobe is also up there with Kitty. The two put aside their differences, they want to save the school.
We get to two pages that serve as a time cut for the final scene. Two people are noticing that high ranked officials keep leaving a doctor’s office. The page ends with the implication that they are really trying to find a way to stop the Shadow King with a nice footnote stating to pay attention to Uncanny X-Men. Which is some nice synergy – which one can get away with when one writer is writing everything. That is, of course, a reference to the Muir Island Saga.
Cut to inside. Mesmero is looking back at his career. He has never been that great of a planner, but he is now on the verge of his best plan yet. His plan is pretty brilliant actually. He’s not really hurting anyone, he has mesmerized officials but only with the thought that if they have a problem, they should come to him. It is as legit as a super villain can be, while still using his power.
Mesmero is upset as he remembers that two heavys are now trying to strong arm him into corrupting his plan. Their boss wants Mesmero to start influencing the officials, which will only end with Mesmero getting hurt and he knows that. The mysterious boss sent the two robots as robots can’t be mesmerized.
Turns out, Mesmero isn’t the fool his reputation will have us believe he is. Once the robots leave, Mesmero shifts back into Meggan. If the meeting didn’t go well, he had nothing to lose. Then he proves why he and characters like Purple Man are the worst, as he kisses Meggan. He makes a sick comment about how kissing is never the same with someone who has been mesmerized. I’m sure he’s done it to hundreds of women, the sicko. Mesmero is using Captain Britain to follow the robots to their master. He has a second plan, to use Excalibur to save his business.
Issue concludes with the entire student body, back at St. Searle’s. The students have gathered all of their money, and it is only mere pocket change. They can’t ask their parents for the money as surely the school has already done that. An idea of submitting themselves to a pin-up magazine is brought up and quickly quashed. Sadly, I imagine, that magazine would have sold into the millions in a modern age. There would be an outrage, but it would be offset with the saving of the school.
Kitty enters the room, she has a plan – no one wants to listen to her due to Phoebe’s demand. Phoebe enters the room and tells everyone that Kitty misspoke, they have a plan. Which is odd, did those two not talk about how they were going to present the idea? Clearly they talked some as Kitty walked into the room and then Phoebe did. One would think they would have waited to grab people’s attention once they were both present. Seems odd.
Kitty brings out a poster of the upcoming American style football coming to England – which is a great way to die the end of the issue with the beginning of the issue. Kitty wants the assembled ladies to be cheerleaders. The football team is having an open call so that the football team doesn’t have to bring along American cheerleaders. The winner gets a performance contract and a major cash prize. If one of the students win, they can give the money to the school and buy them some additional time.
To fool Miss Rutherford, Kitty offers that they all wear wigs. As that has always worked in British comedy shows, I’m sure.
Not a bad issue. I believe we don’t have to wait another year to get to issue 34 as Lockheed Month should cover it, if I’m doing my preliminary numbers correctly. Time will tell!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
. . .
Thanks WordPress for doing all of this! That is pretty cool!
Writer Bill Mantlo
Penciler Sal Buscema
Inker Gerry Talaoc
Letterer Jim Novak
Colorist Bob Sharen
Cover Dated April 1986
Cover by Mike Mignola
What is with the X-Men being in the shadows, but still identifiable – except for Kitty. That’s Mignola for you, he just doesn’t like drawing Kitty – I suppose.
One of the great bonuses to my collecting every appearance (and mention) of Kitty Pryde, Lockheed and Magik – is that I get several first appearances of other characters. I had no idea I owned this issue, which is the first appearance of Lady Deathstrike! I want to say it didn’t even cost that much, so I must have bought it prior to X2 – but I could be wrong. This isn’t Yuriko Oyama’s first appearance, that would be Daredevil 197, but she’s a better character once she gets the claws. She was in Dardevil issues 197, 198 and 199 before this issue.
Right now, at MileHighComics.com, you can buy Daredevil 197 (in Fine condition) for $11.70. The NM would be $31.50. Alpha Flight 33 in Near Mint condition is $40 and in Fine is $18. I would to say my copy must be in Good condition, as I try to not buy any comic that is in the double figures.
The issue opens with Heather Hudson in her dead husband’s old uniform, Guardian. This is before she takes on the codename of, Vindicator. He died in the famous 12th issue, as the footnote states.
People see her in the costume, as she flies overhead, and are confused by seeing a dead man.
Meanwhile, Marrina is under the water. She is in a monstrous form. She was turned into this state by The Master in issue 16. She is missing her lover, Namor. Attuma is chasing her in his ship.
Elsewhere, Snowbird isn’t feeling well. She is with a doctor. The deity that she gets her powers from is trying to take over her body.
We catch up, finally, to the other main members of Alpha Flight. The team is Madison Jeffries, Box, Auroa, Northstar and Puck. Good thing there are editorial notes, and that the characters overly explain themselves, as I would be a tad lost with what is happening in their lives.
The team is confused over Heather’s actions. Northstar can’t believe their leader would just abandon them. Aurora believes Heather is running towards something. Puck is conflicted as he is who Heather had asked for training and he turned her down, as he doesn’t want her to get hurt as he loves her. Apparently, everyone supports Puck and his decision to not help.
Then we get to the confusing part, or the part I’m sure Puck wishes we will keep forgetting about. Madison Jeffries is mad at Puck as Puck made the decision to keep the spirit of Black Razer inside his body, keeping him a dwarf but also giving him the ability to pounce around. I forget that is where his power comes from.
Box reveals that since he made the new Guardian costume, they can track Heather pretty easily. I would have lead with that.
Heather gets us to why I own this issue in the first place. She is heading towards the X-Mansion to see her old friend, Wolverine. As she approaches, the X-Men are heading out to catch one of Mozart’s operas. Rachel feels a disturbance in the (Phoenix) force. They notice someone is coming right at them. Wolverine shouts to not do anything.
So Magneto blasts Heather out of the sky. This upsets Wolverine. Storm also takes offense as Magneto is the leader of the New Mutants and she leads him as she is in charge of the X-Men.
I like how everyone knows that Guardian is dead. There must be a newsletter that is sent out to every hero, updating them with current status and villains they fight. Nightcrawler teleports into the sky and catches Heather. Vertical jumps exhaust Kurt but the suit prevents it (and Heather) to be teleported away. So Kurt teleports back to the ground, in pain and feeling silly for even trying to help.
On Storm’s demand, Rogue flies and catches Heather. Once on the ground, Wolverine takes Heather into his arms.
Kitty recognizes Heather. Colossus, of course, is confused why she is wearing her dead husband’s uniform. The idea of her inheriting is beyond him, I suppose. Magneto is confused why Heather would try to attack him, and Rachel is sweet enough to remind him that there was no attack. Magneto just knocks out anyone who attempts to get near him. Wolverine makes the excuse that Heather didn’t know that flying at the X-Men like a speeding bullet, wouldn’t be a good idea. Storm tells Wolverine to settle whatever this new situation is, the others have a show to see.
On a ship, the captain is upset that he doesn’t know what they are tracking. A voice tells him that he will learn when their target has learned. Also, the lady gives a warning –
and 
We get to Lady Deathstrike! Moving from a Daredevil villain to becoming a Wolverine villain is quite the upgrade! I like how her basic character design that we know from the FOX Animated Series is there, she just loses the red sunglasses and lets her hair be shown more.
Which is pretty impressive that Sal Buscema got her design pretty much where it had to be and besides a recoloring and a few other details, its pretty much the same design. I guess one can say that one is Pre-Cybernetics and the other is Post-Cybernetics, and that can explain the change. Hopefully Buscema is the one who designed the outfit.
She’s in the next issues, 34 & 35, which I don’t own but then her next appearance is in Uncanny X-Men 205 – which I don’t own as it is expensive! Also, Kitty is only on the Character Box in the upper left corner, so it hasn’t been a high priority for me. In 205, is where she does get her cybernetics and Barry Windsor-Smith gives her the new look. From there, she appears in Uncanny X-Men 247, 248 and 249. I don’t own those as Kitty has been out of the title for some time, by that point.
I just looked and Mile High Comics has 205 for $15 in NM for the non-Newstand edition. I forget the exact differences but when it comes time to buying one or the other, I try to get the higher quality for the cheapest amount of money. That’s called, smart shopping! A Good condition of the Newsstand is $6 and Very Good is $9.60 whereas the non is $3 and $4.80. Near Mint Newsstand is $30. The non-Newsstand is also known as Direct Market. I believe one was more expensive than the other, as paper quality was important. One would think Direct Market would be in better condition, so that would be the one that is worth more but it isn’t.
That was a slight detour, let’s get back into the comic!
Back to our heroes. Heather wakes up as Wolverine is driving the two of them somewhere. He knows her husband is dead, and she has red hair, so he’s not going to be wasting no time!
Heather admits she handled the situation wrong and she should have called first. I’m like that, I don’t like having people just stop on by, just give me a call so I can put pants on.
Heather is there as she wants Wolverine to train her. Wolverine puts it all together, how she wanted to be a proper leader of Alpha Flight, how the team didn’t appreciate her as she has no field experience and calls her idea silly. Heather leaves the car, crying, as she’s a woman of the 80s? Maybe? Seems like a reaction the Heather I know not to make.
Wolverine catches up to her, as he’s Wolverine. He never said he wouldn’t teach her, it was just a silly idea. She wants help with the suit, which he has to tell her that she’s using the suit fine. Like, how is he suppose to know how the suit works? This one is built for a woman, so he can’t just don it and try it out and let her know what he has learn. He can teach her other skills though. She was there for him, so he will do the same for her. So we get a multi-page original story that we are all familiar with. Feral Wolverine comes out of the woods. Finds a nice cabin and goes in for a nap. Turns out that Heather and Mac Hudson are living in there, and they turn an animal into a man.
Mac tries to call Department H (that runs Alpha Flight) and goes off to their base after their phone doesn’t work. Heather is watching over Wolverine when he pops his claws and tears off the rope that was holding him down onto the bed.
The Hudsons were on their honeymoon, they opted for a Hunting Honeymoon, so Mac is gone on their first night. Instead, she got to spend it with Wolverine. I’m sure that’s something those two joke about and Mac has to grim and bear it.
Wolverine pops his claws and is shocked to see that they are metal, and Heather is shocked as well. This makes Wolverine go a tad crazy, which is completely understandable! Who has metal claws popping out of their hands and not know how they got there!?!
Heather walks over to a crying Wolverine and hugs him. Which brings us to the present.
Wolverine reveals that he stuck around, hoping Heather would leave her newly married husband. Once he realized he didn’t have a chance, he was out of there. Wolverine has decided to teach Heather how to use her powersuit.
Which is good as she is about to get some on the job training as Lady Deathstrike and her goons appear, as the issue ends.
The Checklist promotes these titles :
New Mutants 37, The New Mutants v The Beyonder, as Secret Wars II.
Amazing Spider-Man 274, Puma appears
Alpha Flight 32, Wolverine appears
Power Pack 20, New Mutants appear
Dazzler 42, Final Issue
Firestar 1, guest starring the New Mutants and the X-Men
Fantastic Four Index 4, covering issues 46 – 65
Official Handbook 4, Doctor Strange to Gee
Avengers 265, Secret Wars II crossover
X-Men 203, Secret Wars II crossover
Marvel Saga 4, mutant issue
Wonder Man 1, why bother?
Fantastic Four 266, Secret Wars II crossover
Spectacular Spider-Man 112, Black Cat returns
X-Factor 2, Beast is kidnapped
Secret Wars II 9, Final Issue
. . .
Happy 2015, Ya’ll!!!
I hope it has been safe and wonderful, thus far!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_in_film
January
They are making a sequel to Woman in Black!?! Seems like a direct to DVD cast.
Taken’s third film is coming. Still haven’t seen any of these. Famke Janssen is in this one, not sure if she isn’t in the second one. Should be supporting her career.
Chris Hemsworth is in a Michael Mann film, Blackhat, that has to be good.
Mordecai looks like it has a good cast, besides Johnny Depp. Ewan McGregor, Olivie Munn, Aubrey Plaza, Olivier Platt, Gwyneth Patrow and Jeff Goldblum.
February
They settled on, The Wachowskis, for their combined name. That makes sense.
Fifty Shades of Grey. I’ll be watching this eventually, I’m sure. Still not that big of a fan of Dakota Johnson. Plus, Jamie Dornan is #NotMyChristian
Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman, the trailer didn’t look that great but now that I see Michael Caine and Samuel L. Jackson is in it along with Colin Firth, could be decent – at least.
They are making a sequel to Hot Tub Time Machine 2!?! I thought we said everything we needed to in the first one but it seems like the cast is back (minus Cusack, naturally). I wonder if Gillian Jacobs and Chevy Chase will have any scenes together.
Kevin Costner is doing yet another sports film? At least McFarland, USA has Maria Bello.
March
I will probably watch Hugh Jackman’s Chappie eventually but he may be getting to the point where I don’t watch everything he does. I sort of already don’t as I’m sure I’m four or five films of his behind.
The Coup is an Action / Thriller with Owen Wilson and Lake Bell? I would have thought it was a comedy with Pierce Brosnan.
They are making a sequel to Best Exotic Marigold Hotel!?! Was the first one that good?
Disney and Kenneth Branagh are making a live action Cinderella film, as that is the thing to do. I was not a fan of Alice in Wonderland, at all, but this is being helmed by Branagh, who I really like. It seems unnecessary but Disney needs to keep giving us a reason to buy the original films, though I would suspect those sell themselves once they are out of the Disney Vault.
Chris Hemsworth has a second film in 2015, In the Heart of the Sea. His second film with Ron Howard.
They keep making those Paranormal Activity movies. Whenever I’m tempted to get into these films, the continuity turns me off. I bet it would have been good if I got in on the ground floor.
We still need to watch Divergent, my wife really liked the books.
Alison Brie is in a film titled, Get Hard, it appears she isn’t a large role in it but I’ll make a point of watching it once it is on Netflix or something.
April
Furious 7, the last to feature Paul Walker. Still only seen a few minutes of one of these films.
They are making a sequel to Mall Cop!?! Good grief, I thought sequels were getting out of hand last year!
Rock the Kasbah, is a musical – so I’m in. But then there is Bruce Willis, Zooey Deschanel and Bill Murray, that’s pretty awesome too!
May
Chris Hemsworth’s third film is going to be his best one of the year . . . The Avengers 2, yo! We’ll be celebrating the release of the film here on S&FwM.
That Max Max reboot is coming. Never haven’t seen any of these. Not the biggest Mel Gibson fan.
Pitch Perfect 2 may rival The Avengers!
Spy seems to be testing Melissa McCarthy’s ability to continually combine action with comedy. Or comedy with action. She’s reteaming with Rose Byrne and Jason Statham is the dude in it.
Still not sure if I can get that excited about Tomorrowland. The Harry Potter of Science Fiction, someone billed it asl. I do like the Incredibles’ Brad Bird directing and LOST’s Damon Lindeolf writing the film. So there is good pedigree there.
San Andreas, sadly not based on Grand Theft Auto but starring The Rock and hottie Alexandra Daddario.
I was waiting to make this post when Cameron Crowe’s film got a title but they are taking their time with that.
June
How star studded is Entourage’s film going to be? If they released the Aquaman episodes in a set, I would buy that.
Insidious is becoming a franchise, apparently.
Jurassic World, I’ve been waiting for this for so long! Hopefully it isn’t bad like Indiana Jones 4. That trailer made it look like it is going to rival the first one! Which I admit is the goal of the trailer.
Transporter becomes a rebooted franchise.
Diablo Cody wrote a new film, Ricki and the Flash but not that Flash.
Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, that promises to be a good acting film
Ted 2 is finally coming! Looks like they got Amanda Seyfried as the gal in it. Mark Wahlberg’s first sequel of his own film, I believe. Which is an odd trivia note but he’s in whichever Transformers film, so he has made a sequel but not to his own film.
July
Terminator relaunch, I haven’t seen one since 3. I meant to watch Bale’s and now Matt Smith is in a film, so I want to support him. The trailer looks all over the place. Ever since they made a television series and side timelines, I feel like they have gone too far.
Magic Mike is getting its most requested sequel. Looks like Olivia Munn isn’t in it.
Ant-Man, we will be celebrating as well. Won’t be all month though.
That Pan film, after Once Upon A Time’s horrible storyline, where they butchered the story, I think I am all Peter Pan out. Plus, SciFi do an origin story only two years ago?
Judd Apatow has a new film, Trainwreck, co-written and starring Amy Schumer, so that’s pretty impressive! Bill Hader, Colin Quinn and Vanessa Bayer are in it, I like that. John Cena, I’m curious about his role. I wonder if that is why her Comedy Central show didn’t get a third season.
Poltergeist is getting rebooted. Nothing is sacred.
Sacha Baron Choen’s Grimsby, could be interesting. Anything to get Isla Fisher in more films, I say.
Point Break is being remade, good grief!
Ryan Reynolds is in Selfless along with Ben Kingsley, so I’ll watch that eventually
August
Fantastic Four will be celebrated all month long here! I’m mostly waiting to see if they are putting Thing in pants (like they should!) and how Kate Mara looks in the uniform. The Blogger Doom Twitter page shouldn’t be the only good thing that comes out of this film.
Another comedy heist film!?!
Man from UNCLE is being adapted into a film. I never saw the show but I like Henry Cavill getting another gig. Guy Ritchie writing and directing.
Straight Outta Compton, now I have that song in my head!
Ryan Reynolds’ second film, Criminal, has a great cast with Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Oldman!
September
Jane Got a Gun, reteaming Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor but in a Western. I bet it will be good.
M. Night Shyamalan is still trying to get out of movie jail with The Visit. I do like Kathryn Hahn, a horror comedy, I’m not sure about.
An Everest film, will make me want to watch a documentary on the film, based on the 1996 disaster.
The Maze Runner is apparently getting a sequel. I am curious how descriptive the novel is as it really must paint a picture having seeing the trailer for the first film. It must take pages to describe the one wall moving.
Hotel Transylvania is getting a sequel.
Nancy Meyers got a good cast in her latest comedy, The Intern. With Anne Hathaway, Adam DeVine and Robert DeNiro.
October
Another Frankenstein film? I like James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, making it a very British adaption. Radcliffe is Igor.
London Has Fallen, stars Aaron Eckhart, so we’ll be thinking about I, Frankenstein during October.
Robert Zemeckis is making a live action film! The Walk with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ben Kingsley. If you get a chance to watch Phippe Petit’s amazing documentary on his high wire walk between the Twin Towers, you really should in anticipation for the film. It reads like an action film, so it makes sense it is being adapted.
Disney’s other live action adaption, The Jungle Book. 2015 is Ben Kingsley’s relaunching year, I guess! All the big names are going to be voice actors in it, which makes sense. Jon Favreau directing. I wonder who Christopher Walken is going to be play?
They are relaunching the beloved Vacation franchise! Plus, sequalizing Vegas Vacation – which I like as they mention Yuma, Arizona several times in it. Chris Hemsworth is in this, marking his fourth film of the year. I imagine Chevy Chase is in this for only a scene.
Guillermo del Toro has a new film, Crimson Peak, which Charlie Hunnam will be in it. Plus and Plus! Tom Hiddleston will be the main guy in it.
St. James Place, is Steven Spielberg’s movie of the year. Amy Ryan, who I really like, is in it. Film stars Tom Hanks and will be a war film. The Coen brothers are writing it, that is one impressive pedigree of a film! Based on a true story of a 1960 U-2 incident.
We are being treated to a Jem and the Holograms live action film. Here is hoping the songs are quality!
November
Spectre, but not that one. This is the latest Bond film! Daniel Crag’s fourth one, Chrostph Waltz is the main bad guy. Monica Bellucci is in it. Good stuff! I should watch Skyfall soon.
The Peanuts film, I’m so excited about!
Friday the 13th is getting a reboot, of course.
The Hunger Games comes to its conclusion.
A Disney Dinosaur animated film, I’m in! NPH is providing a voice.
A lot of classic directors are having films out this year. Ridley Scott has a new one, The Martian. Matt Damon is in it. Here is hoping Kristen Wiig doesn’t bring it down or host SNL to promote it. I bet they get Damon and she tags along. Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean and Donald Glover are going to be in it too!
I was also going to wait until the Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen Christmas film was given a title but that isn’t happening yet either. Anthony Mackie is in it, as well.
December
Star Wars : The Force Awakens, I’m working on a special post for this. So excited that key members of the Original Trilogy are going to be in this! We had to wait until they were all aged correctly. That just saves money!
Sisters, starring Amy Phoeler and Tina Fey, as America demands another film. John Cena in his second film of the year too! Maya Rudolph will be in this, naturally, and Johnny Legs too!
Kung Fu Panda 3 will be the big family film of Christmas. I haven’t seen the sequel. We only saw the first one as the power went out that summer and in Yuma, Arizona, when the air condition stops, you go find a cool place!
Joy, David O. Russell reteaming with Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. I guess he didn’t want to bring Christian Bale and Amy Adams along. He only wanted his Oscar winners. Hey, Bale and Adams don’t have any films out this year. Shoot!
Mission Impossible 5 is happening. Still haven’t seen the 4th one or maybe the 3rd one as well. Seems like everyone from Ghost Protocol is back, so I like that.
Jackass’ Dirty Grandpa must have been a surprising amount of money as now a comedy film with Zac Efron and Robert DeNiro is coming out.
So that’s the films of the upcoming year. Lots to get excited about!
Post 550!
Featuring Jess Glynne
Thanks to YouTuber Clean Bandit, hosting their own video!
We’ve just started watching this one not too recently. I think I like it more than Walker Dennis does. The parts with the businessmen really getting into the ‘no no no’ with the finger wagging, haunts me.
What I like about this video, is that
Extraordinary
Featuring Sharna Bass comes on afterwards. There is something about Sharna Bass that I really like but she’s still an up and comer.
Pretty brave of Grace Chatto to wear the same bathing suit as Sharna Bass, that is something that will trip me out with the comparison. I would make a horrible woman.
Is it me, or does Extraordinary sound like it starts with the same beats as New Kids On The Block’s Summertime?
Thanks to NewKidsVEVO for hosting the video!
I wish the video started right with the song for easily listening for this purpose but this was NKOTB’s first video two decades, so it makes sense to give it some flair.
For months, this was my alarm so I woke up to this song everyday.
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Shadow and Flame with Magik 