Snikt: Marvel Cuts X-Men Relaunch Pricing

Snikt: Marvel Cuts X-Men Relaunch Pricing:
Good news from Marvel: They’ve announced that they’re lowering the price of the debut issues of both Wolverine and The X-Men and Uncanny X-Men to… $3.99. Well, okay, still pricey, but at least they’re not $4.99 anymore, and the price drop comes without a drop in content according to the press release. So, what prompted this turnaround?

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I can’t help but wonder whether X-Men: Schism #1 not making the top 10 for July was involved in this decision (It was just outside, at #11). For the debut of an insanely-hyped event book from Marvel to miss the top 10 entirely is embarrassing for Marvel, and given the talent involved – Jason Aaron and Carlos Pacheco surely made up for the familiarity of “It’s Wolverine vs. Cyclops – again!” – the only real explanation for it being outsold by, say, War of The Green Lanterns Aftermath #1 has to have been that it was $4.99. So does this reduction mean that Marvel may be moving away from a $4.99 price point for the near future, or just that they’ll be saving it for more successful franchises like Fear Itself and Avengers?


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The Hulk Vs The X Men: Part 1

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It's a Mutant Make-Out Session in Uncanny X-Force #12

It's a Mutant Make-Out Session in Uncanny X-Force #12: "

We've seen the cover to Uncanny X-Force #11 for some time now. Fantomex and Psylocke are making out. This was surprising to all because Psylocke is (or has been) in a committed relationship with Angel.
Of course that hasn't stopped Fantomex from putting the moves on her since issue #1. Based on the cover, something between the two is going to change. Covers are not always completely accurate. There has been plenty of times we've been mislead by what has been depicted on the cover and what is contained in the actual comic.
If you've been reading Uncanny X-Force lately (which you should be because it's awesome), you know that the relationship between Psylocke and Angel has been a little...strained lately. The fact that he is possessed and is fighting the evil Archangel persona makes it a little difficult for them to have quality alone time. Psylocke has been working hard to help him fight his...demon but with his recent bouts of killing, it hasn't been too easy. The team also made a trip to the Age of Apocalypse universe in order to try to find a cure for Angel.
And that brings us to issue #11. Besides Fantomex and Psylocke locking lips, we can see that they won't be the only ones involved in extracurricular activities. Now that Wolverine has come face to face with the Jean Grey from this world, it won't be too surprising what happens next.
Uncanny X-Force #12 is part two of The Dark Angel Saga. It's written by Rick Remender with pencils by Mark Brooks and colors by Dean White. The cover is by Esad Ribic with Adam Kubert providing a variant cover. The issue is on sale July 27, 2011.

Is there any chance that AoA Jean Grey will return to the 616 universe with Wolverine as I suggested before?
"

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Keeping It In The Family: The X-Factor We Never Saw

Keeping It In The Family: The X-Factor We Never Saw: "


It’s clearly the day for What Ifs about familiar comic teams: First, Jim Shooter revealed the Kryptonian who never joined the Legion, and now Chris Claremont explains who he wanted to join X-Factor instead of a resurrected Jean Grey:

I’d taken this short story I’d done the previous year with Jean and her sister. I said ‘Okay, you want a Grey. How’s this? Sara Grey. What’s her power? Her power is to detect mutants. She knows where they are. She can find them and even manifest their power in advance, so they’ll know who they are. If you’re going to do this with X-Factor, here’s the person. Here’s why: She’s a Grey, okay, but she’s not affiliated with anyone. Suddenly you have the girl at play for all four guys.

Scott might feel ‘I’m torn. She’s Jean’s sister, but I love Jean and can’t betray Jean. Jean is dead.’ And Warren? ‘Hey, you’re cool.’ Bobby? ‘I’m not a kid anymore.’ Hank? ‘Why not? I’ll get some action.’

Suddenly you have physical and romantic tension that you don’t have with Jean. With Jean it’s reasserting everything that existed. With Sara, you have ‘Do I want to get involved with these guys? If I get involved with these guys and something goes wrong, what happened to Jean could happen to me, or worse. And yet, do I really want to spend my life running around in a skintight suit?’

I’m not the biggest fan of Jean coming back to life in the first place – Sorry, Ragnell – and I admit, I think I’d have rather seen this version of the book than the one that actually saw print (Admittedly, I’d really have rather read the version that had Dazzler in the team, but that’s just my bias for roller-skating disco divas coming out). Think of all the angst we could have been spared! Think of the possibility of a Scott Summers who was still married to the woman who really had nothing to do with his dead girlfriend! It could’ve been a whole new world! A new fantastic point of view!
"

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CALLISTO: Morlock Matriarch

CALLISTO: Morlock Matriarch: "

CALLISTO: Morlock Matriarch

'The Rain! Every drop felt like a needle in my flesh! It's too much! The light is blinding me, the stench of your sweat in the air…'

--CALLISTO











Comic Book History

Who is CALLISTO?

CALLISTO is a Marvel Comics character, associated closely with the X-Men universe. Writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith created CALLISTO. Her first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #169 (May 1983). She was the leader of subterranean mutants known as the Morlocks.




First Appearance












CALLISTO's origins are unknown, although she says that the scars she is bearing are proof of 'how dumb a mistake' it was for her to try to live among normal humans; in one of her earlier appearances, her greatest psychological fear is the image of the beautiful woman that she once was.








In her first appearance, CALLISTO kidnapped Angel and stripped him of most of his clothing, intending to make him her mate. CALLISTO attempted to cripple Angel by cutting away his primary feathers.








Storm of the X-Men challenged and beat CALLISTO in a duel for the leadership of the Morlocks and to free her teammate, Angel. As the new leader of the Morlocks, Storm decreed that they would no longer kidnap and terrorize surface-dwellers, and in return, they would have peace.








When the wizard Kulan Gath enslaved the city of New York and transformed it into a Hyborian Age city, CALLISTO became his warrior servant. She battled Storm again, but Storm saved her life. CALLISTO then helps in defeating Kulan Gath.








CALLISTO would later encounter an amnesiac Colossus, who had assumed the identity of artist Peter Nicholas. The two became attracted to each other.








CALLISTO will then ally herself with Mikhail Rasputin, Colossus' older brother. Mikhail and CALLISTO transported the Morlocks into an alternate reality, where time moved more quickly than on Earth. There she watched as the Morlock youths grew up with great bitterness towards their elders for all that had happened to them. When the young Morlocks, now known as the Gene Nation, returned to Earth with revenge planned, CALLISTO went looking for help and located her former lover Colossus, the two warned the other X-Men.








After the face-off of the X-Men and the Morlock's Gene Nation, The recovering CALLISTO remained in the tunnels looking over they young morlock, Marrow. CALLISTO advised Marrow to find her place amongst the X-Men, figuring it to be the best place for her. Afterwards CALLISTO disappeared.








More recently, CALLISTO was transformed drastically by Masque, having her arms reformed into tentacles. CALLISTO was also under Masque's control in 'The Arena,' an elite fight club in Japan. CALLISTO finds herself battling Storm again, but later both escaped with help from one of Storm's friend.








CALLISTO is next seen as one of the main characters in the new Excalibur title, where she was helping Professor Xavier and Magneto rebuild Genosha.








In the aftermath of 'House of M', CALLISTO is among the many mutants to have lost her powers. Quicksilver offered to her the Terrigen Mists, stolen from the Inhumans, as a way to restore her powers. CALLISTO willingly accepted the offer and the Mist effectively restored all her previous abilities without her disfigurements and arm-tentacles, but without any control over them. Her new senses are so acute that even a drop of rain causes her tremendous pain; unable to handle it, she fell into a coma. The depowered Magneto found her body and showed it to Quicksilver saying that he poisoned her with the Terrigen Mist. He later took her body to a hospital, where the effects of the Mists wore off.











CALLISTO

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ANIMATED APPEARANCES

X-Men: The Animated series

In X-Men: The Animated series, CALLISTO was the leader of the Morlocks. She and the other Morlocks captured Cyclops.















X-Men: Evolution

In X-Men: Evolution animated series; CALLISTO appears to be a non-violent, even-tempered leader of the Morlocks. She seemed to sabotage a beverage company where its beverage, which was leaking into the sewers, was revealed poisonous to mutants. She would later return when anti-mutant thugs where using laser technology to attack the X-Men, Spyke, and Leech.

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LIVE MEDIA APPEARANCE

Dania Ramirez

In X3: The Last Stand, CALLISTO was the leader of a small band of outcast mutants sometimes referred to as The Omegas or Omega Gang. After the mutant cure was created, The Omegas allied with The Brotherhood of Mutants. CALLISTO seemed to dislike Storm, who she attacked repeatedly. She was eventually electrocuted by Storm during their climactic battle on Alcatraz Island.




CALLISTO with the Omegas

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POWERS & ABILITIES

Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.



Superhuman Senses: CALLISTO possessed superhumanly keen senses of sight (including night vision), hearing, smell, taste, and touch.



Enhanced Strength



Enhanced Agility



Enhanced Reflexes



Regeneration



Abilities

CALLISTO is a natural-born leader, huntress, and fighter skilled in virtually every form of hand-to-hand combat.



Movie Version

X-Factor Detection: She was able to Psionically sense the presence and Mutant Level of other Mutants.



Superhuman Speed: She is able to run much faster than a normal human being.



Speed Physiology: CALLISTO's body was adapted to the rigors of high-speed movement. Her cardiovascular and respiratory systems were likely many times more efficient than those of a normal human being.

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Sources : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callisto_(comics) : http://marvel.wikia.com/Callisto_(Earth-616) : http://marvel.wikia.com/Category:Callisto_(Earth-616)/Quotes : http://marvel.wikia.com/Callisto_(Earth-616)/Gallery : http://marvel.wikia.com/Callisto : http://marvel.wikia.com/Callisto_(Earth-10005) : http://www.comicvine.com/callisto/29-3423/ : http://www.comicvine.com/callisto/29-3423/earth-616-callisto/108-390/150127_143556_callistoa/105-1759778/ :

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TOAD: The Terrible

TOAD: The Terrible: "

TOAD: The Terrible

'Do you know what happens to a TOAD when it gets struck by lightning? ... The same thing that happens to everything else.'

--Storm








Who is TOAD?

TOAD is Mortimer Toynbee a Marvel Comics supervillain. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 (March 1964). TOAD originally appeared as a weak, hunchbacked mutant, with a superhuman leaping ability.




First Appearance












TOAD was thought to be mentally inferior due to his extreme shyness and mild learning, though he was actually quite intelligent. Based on years of abuse and knowing full well he was a freak, Mortimer developed a severe inferiority complex, becoming servile to anyone that showed him the slightest bit of affection.








This is the reason why he joined Magneto's original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. TOAD believed that Magneto loved him, while the mutant mastermind considered this henchman little more than a human shield.








TOAD later happened upon the advance technology of the being known as the Stranger. He studied the Stranger's equipments in an effort to become more powerful. He use this newfound tech to strike at the superhero team the Avengers but was defeated. (Avengers #137-139)








Later he met and was befriended by Spider-Man, and teamed with Spider-Kid and Frog-Man as the superhero adventurer team, the Misfits. (Amazing Spider-Man #266)








However, TOAD's dabble into superheroic was shortlived and returned to villainy. Forming his own Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. (X-Force #5-7)








Years later, TOAD learned that his deformed body was the result of experimentation by Juggernaut's father, Kurt Marko, at Alamogordo, New Mexico, which left TOAD with an unstable genetic structure. The Stranger's equipment corrected his genetic flaws, resulting in an almost complete metamorphosis: TOAD had a taller and slimmer appearance and had his powers augmented. Among the most notable changes was a prehensile tongue. This new look was to actually coincide with his movie appearance. (X-Men Forever 1-6)








TOAD has not been involve much in big storylines, appearing momentarily here and there. However, this gives him time to hatch his plan and jump at you. And to show you how serious you should take this funny looking mutant, here's him fighting Wolverine in a one-on-one cage match. (Wolverine Vol. 2 #167-168)

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ANIMATED APPEARANCES

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

TOAD was in a short scene in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, when Magneto is demanding for The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to be freed from prison in the episode 'The Prison Plot'. Magneto describes him as 'obedient and super-agile'.















X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men

Frank Welker lent his voice for TOAD in the pilot episode X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men.








X-Men: Evolution

The TOAD who appears in the X-Men: Evolution cartoon is an American teen named Todd Tolansky instead of Mortimer Toynbee. In the series he speaks with a heavy Brooklyn accent and is a member of the Brotherhood and a former classmate of the X-Men. He was voiced by Noel Fisher.















Wolverine and the X-Men

TOAD also appeared in Wolverine and the X-Men animated series voiced by A.J. Buckley. TOAD here sports a dreadlocks.








The Super Hero Squad

A.J. Buckley reprises his role of TOAD in The Super Hero Squad Show .

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LIVE APPEARANCES

Ray Park

TOAD appeared as a character in the 2000 movie X-Men, played by Ray Park. He is a member of Magneto's Brotherhood and possesses enhanced leaping capability and acrobatic speed, agility, dexterity, reflexes, coordination, balance, a sticky prehensile 13-foot (4.0 m) tongue, and the ability to spit an acidic mucus that hardens almost instantly.















Cameo in X-Men Origins : Wolverine

TOAD made a short cameo as one of Stryker's prisoners in X-Men Origins : Wolverine






POWERS & ABILITIES

Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.



Superhuman Leaping: The TOAD's primary mutant power is the ability to leap to heights and distances far greater than that of an ordinary human. He possesses a degree of superhuman strength, particularly in his back and legs, which grants him his superior leaping abilities. He has a vertical leap of 25 feet and a horizontal jump of approximately 37 feet in a single leap. Although the TOAD usually stands in a crouching position, he can stand erect if he wishes. His unusually flexible spine enables him to crouch continually without strain. The TOAD has no knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. However, his powers enable him to execute a leaping kick with superhuman force at an opponent.



Flexible Bone Structure: The TOAD's bone structure enables him great flexibility. He can remain in a crouching position for long periods of time and preform contortionist type feats without causing any damage to his spine.



Superhuman Stamina: The TOAD's muscles produce a significantly lower amount of fatigue toxins during physical activity than the muscles of an ordinary human. He can exert himself at peak capacity for several hours before fatigue begins to impair him.



Superhuman Agility: The TOAD's overall equilibrium application is enhanced to some degree and his bodily coordination and balance are enhanced to levels that are beyond the human body's natural limits.



Superhuman Reflexes: The TOAD's reflexes are enhanced to levels that are beyond the human body's natural limits.



Superhuman Durability: The TOAD's body is tougher and more resistant to physical injury than an ordinary human's. He can withstand major impacts and physical trauma that would severely injure or kill an ordinary human with moderate discomfort.



Regenerative Healing Factor: The TOAD has a limited healing factor that allows him to recover from injuries and ailments at an accelerated rate. He can recover from minor ailments, such as a cold, within a few hours. Larger, more damaging injuries, such as broken bones, heal within a matter of days.



UV/Infrared Vision: The TOAD's enhanced vision allows him to see into the ultraviolet and infrared spectrum, granting him a degree of heightened night vision. However, his eyes are also sensitive to certain types of lighting, forcing him to wear light-filtering goggles that allow him to operate in strong daylight that would otherwise blind him.



Prehensile Tongue: The TOAD has the ability to extend his tongue up to 30 feet in distance to ensnare objects and people.



Pheromone Secretion: The TOAD's tongue secretes odorless, pheremonous venom that seeps through the skin directly into the bloodstream. This venom allows him to control minds of any exposed to it to a limited extent..



Acidic Saliva: The TOAD's saliva is highly acidic and can adheres to most surfaces and quickly dissolve most materials with ease.



Paralytic Resin: The TOAD's pores secrete an adhesive resin that allows him to stick to any surface and paralyzes the nervous systems of any living organism that comes into contact with it.



Superhuman Respiratory System: The TOAD's lungs can expand and compress large quantities of air that can be expelled with enough force to knock a fully grown human off their feet.



Amphibian Control: The TOAD the ability to psionically communicate with and control amphibian life, such as frogs, TOADs, newts, and salamanders, who he often uses as spies.



AbilitiesExperienced Combatant: The TOAD has no knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. However, his powers enable him to execute a leaping kick with superhuman force at an opponent. The TOAD's superhuman agility combined with his powerful legs makes him a highly formidable opponent in kick-boxing, despite a lack of any formal training.



Expert Machinist: The TOAD has a great knowledge of most forms of conventional and advanced technology, thanks to his studies of machinery in the possession of Arcade, Arkon, Magneto, and the Stranger. He once developed a robotic battle suit containing an exoskeleton that amplifies his strength and emits a pulse ball of lightning when it hits a target. It was also equipped with termoblasters, poison gas projectors, and a self teleportation device. The TOAD has also used a strength amplifying exoskeleton composed of pure energy.

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An Education: Who Was the X-Men's Best Teacher?

An Education: Who Was the X-Men's Best Teacher?: "
Everybody needs a little bit of guidance. Think back to all your years spent in school and filter through all the teachers you had growing up; I bet there is one teacher who, above all the rest, sticks out the most to you in your mind. We all have at least one--a teacher who inspired us to reach for our goals, or taught us that whatever we put our mind to, it’s possible with hard work and a little bit of faith. Most importantly though, that teacher is likely the person who helped guide your character. Maybe that teacher helped you develop your ethics, your morals, and the structure of many of your personal beliefs. That’s something I think we all have in common with the X-Men--at one point or another we all had a good teacher.

The most recent issue of Uncanny X-Force takes the X-Force team into the Age of Apocalypse; a world without Professor Charles Xavier to influence and lead them. It’s interesting to see how different the world is for the X-Men without the guidance of Charles Xavier--but does that make for a better world? Over the years, the X-Men have had many teachers, and each provided their own individual and unique school of thought and philosophy for each new class of young mutants. So, how do you gauge which of these teachers was the best?

Magneto was to the X-Men and the mutant race what Malcolm X was to the African American civil rights movement in the United States. This comparison isn’t at all a new concept, and is something the guys at Screened discuss in greater detail in a recent editorial. Eric’s philosphy on life and the mutant race being more powerful than humanity is something that evolved over time, and was due in part to bearing years of discrimination and ostracism. Eric suffered as both a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp for being Jewish during World War II Germany, and again for being a mutant. He taught his children and his students that mutants are the superior race; doing everything in his power to “advance his cause of mutant supremacy.” While Magneto has sometimes been depicted as cruel and closed minded- his greatest concern has generally been for the survival and success of his race. Magneto’s ideologies helped drive many of the X-Men’s major story arcs including Mutant Massacre, Secret Wars II and House of M.

Since she was first created by Len Wein in 1975, Storm has been a prominent figure of leadership for the X-Men. Not only was she one of the first major black comic characters, but she was also one of the first female characters at Marvel to hold a position of power. In a sense, Storm endured discrimination on more than one level, similar to Magneto; unlike Eric, however, Storm grew up and became more like Charles Xavier than anything. In Charles’ absence, Storm became the leader of the X-Men and lead them through major events like the Mutant Massacre and Inferno. Once Charles returned, he split leadership responsibilities between Ororo and Cyclops. More recently, Storm married T’Challa and became Queen of Wakanda- but she has since returned to the X-Men. No longer holding position of leadership, she continues to be regarded by her peers (with the exception of Emma Frost) as a wise counsel. Storm is often written as a maternal and compassionate character.

New Mutants #24

Founding Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters was one of the many things Charles Xavier accomplished during his tenure with the X-Men. Charles is often seen as the foundation for the X-Men- responsible for bringing them together. Professor Xavier has always stressed the importance of his ideology: to strive for a peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans, and that no race is more important than the other. Charles acted as both a teacher, struggling to help his students harness and control their powers, and protector; often taking in mutant children who suffered ostracization and discrimination; giving them a place where they no longer felt like outcasts. However, his peaceful nature was later perceived by members of the X-Men as passive, and his leadership abilities were considered sub par. While Xavier did protect many mutants by taking them in, he also often left them vulnerable when he sometimes withheld important information pertaining to their existence.

Once a member of the Hellfire Club, Emma Frost has since reformed and joined the ranks of the X-Men. Following the death of Jean Grey, Emma was appointed co-headmistress of the Xavier Institute. However, long before that, Emma Frost had her own set of students, the Hellions, during her tenure with the Hellfire Club. The Hellions, who died under the tutelage of Frost, left a deep scar and she has since felt tremendous guilt over their deaths. Emma often utilizes her psychic abilities to help her students harness their powers to their utmost potential- linking Synch and Jubilee, for example, allowing Jubilee to reach her full potential in order to defeat the Phalanx.
These are, of course, only some of the X-Men’s more influential teachers, and there are several others (Cyclops and Beast, for example) who I haven’t mentioned here. Which X-Man do you feel is the most important and influential? Which mutant do you feel was the best X-Men teacher and why? Do you think Charles should have stepped down sooner? What would their world be like if another mutant had been there to teach?
"

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