Marvel is continuing its trend of releasing comics loosely tied to its movie franchises with the latest upcoming release: Winter Soldier. Of course, if you’ve seen the Captain America movie (or remember the comics) Cap loses his beloved sidekick Bucky and has to deal with that loss.

But don’t worry, it seems Bucky is alive and well . . . with a little catch. Here’s the official info from Marvel:

Steve Rogers most trusted partner and a former Captain America, Bucky Barnes, must tackle his greatest challenge yet as Winter Soldier #1 hits store shelves everywhere this February! After going toe to toe with the Nazis and being assumed dead for decades, Bucky Barnes went through hell and back as the Soviet Union rebuilt his war torn body into their own one man army known to all as the Winter Soldier. But what if he wasn’t the only one?

From the blockbuster creative team behind Captain America, Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice send Bucky back into the shadows to take down the remaining ex-Russian sleeper agents and dismantle their diabolical plot. Teamed with the Black Widow, the former Captain America will have his hands full when he finds out that he trained them all AND that Doctor Doom is involved! With the entire Marvel Universe thinking he’s dead, Bucky will have to tackle this threat head on with limited resources.

Winter Soldier #1 hits store shelves on February 1. Until then, check out some preview pages after the jump.

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It is quite possible The Avengers is the most important superhero film of all time. It could singlehandedly set a bar for audience acceptance in multi-film, continuity heavy, comic book franchise.

Not to mention the fact that this is essentially the sequel to four different individual franchises. So yeah, people pay attention when things like two new banners are unveiled.

Yahoo! Movies and Moviefone both debuted one of the two new character banners for The Avengers. The first depicting the main four heroes from previous franchises, and the other showcasing supporting characters and the villain of the movie.

These are very standard looking character posters, but there are a few interesting things we are seeing here. For one, this is the first time I have seen Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner and I see the character more so than the actor. Also, Captain America is the only one in mask and not showcasing a star of the film.

This might be some extreme over analyzation, but I think it really fits the character of Cap to stay in his mask, as opposed to the nigh celebrity in Tony Stark, who is on the poster sans helmet.

Compared to the Comic-Con connected character posters, these banners seem almost lazy. It is almost like they had a series of cool character posters and chained them together for the sake of creating something banner sized. It would have been much more exciting to see the comic style painted posters as a banner and these cut up into individual pieces.

Take a look at the full spread of posters after the jump.

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Even though many people prefer to read comics printed on paper that hasn’t stopped Marvel from having an iPad Application on which fans can read many of their favorite comics. This week some new comics come to that device for your reading pleasure.

Some of the ones we’re most interested include Ender’s Game: War of Gifts, Loki #3, X-Men: Messiah Complex #1-13 and the free comic New Mutants #1. You can find the Marvel Comics App either at the company’s website or directly at iTunes. Check out the list (and some cool cover art) below.

Digital Comics On-Sale:

AVENGERS VS. PET AVENGERS #3

BLACK WIDOW #7

ORSON SCOTT CARD’S ENDER’S GAME: WAR OF GIFTS

(Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: War of Gifts Special #1, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: Mazer in Prison #1, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: Recruiting Valentine #1, and Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game: The League War #1)

IRON MAN: RAPTURE #3

LOKI #3

MARVEL 1602: NEW WORLD

(Marvel 1602: New World #1-5)

NEW MUTANTS VOL. 1: RETURN OF LEGION

(New Mutants #1-5)

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This week brings new ones from our friends at Marvel. Among the ones dropping this week that we are particularly excited about are Avengers #6, Captain America #611, Secret Warriors #21 and Ultimate Avengers 3 issue #3.

As they usually do, comics hit stores on Wednesday this week. So, head over early to your favorite comics shop for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic shop is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Check out the list of comics you can get below.

Comics On-Sale:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #646
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #646 SPIDEY VS. VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #646 VAMPIRE VARIANT
ANITA BLAKE: CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED – THE CHARMER #5
AVENGERS & THE INFINITY GAUNTLET #3
AVENGERS #6
AVENGERS VS. PET AVENGERS #1
AVENGERS VS. PET AVENGERS #1 HARDMAN VARIANT
BLACK WIDOW #7
BLACK WIDOW #7 VAMPIRE VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA #611
CAPTAIN AMERICA #611 VAMPIRE VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA: PATRIOT #3
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #888

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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. San Diego Comic-Con is this week. Yeah, thought that wouldn’t be a surprise.

Fortunately, our friends at Marvel have decided not to take the week off and justgo to COmic-Con. Instead, they will be releasing a whole slew of new comics today for your reading pleasure.

Among the ones we are most looking forward to are Avengers #3, Black Widow #4, Dark Wolverine #88 and Age of Heroes #3.  Comics come out today so be sure to head on over to your favorite comics store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:
AGE OF HEROES #3
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 QUESADA VARIANT (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 SKETCH VARIANT (OMT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: AMERICAN SON #3
ATLAS #3
AVENGERS #3
AVENGERS #3 JRJR CHARACTER VARIANT
BLACK WIDOW #4

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After many years of happily reading John Romita Jr.’s work on Wolverine’s “Enemy of the State” Arc, Spider-Man and Kick-Ass, I was thrilled to be able to interview John Romita, Jr. (or JR. Jr.) for Marvel’s return to a bright, new day with the “Heroic Age.”

I caught up with the delightful John while he was working hard on the Avengers.  It seems this is one man who can draw and answer in-depth questions at the same time.

As always he was humorous, insightful, and well…in need of a nap.  Read on, true believers, and enjoy the latest from the desk of the modest legend himself.

The Flickcast: Marvel takes the entire Avengers line of titles into “The Heroic Age.” You’ve been paired up with Brian Michael Bendis on the core “Avengers” title; is your opening run contained to the first arc or two, or do you plan on being involved for the foreseeable future?

John Romita, Jr: In the first year I’m doing it [Avengers] for a minimum of 2 arcs and I’m enjoying myself.  If the book is still doing well, I’ll do it for a second year.  It’s so difficult, though, that I may not survive the first year— it’s intense work.

I have to finish 25 pages in the next 17 days.  So, after doing Avengers, I may want to sleep for a year.  But doing the Avengers with Bendis is an amazing experience.  If I get through the year and I’m still healthy enough, I will do another one.

TF: What are the benefits and challenges of drawing iconic characters like Thor, Spidey, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Captain America vs. drawing characters you create?

JR: Oh, that’s on a strictly selfish scale, it’s much more fun to do a character you create because you create them and there’s a lot of gratification for that, but working on iconic characters is like driving your father’s classic car, it’s spectacular and fantastic, but it’s better off when it’s your own.

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Here you are Marvel fans, all the great comics, trades and whatnot coming out from your favorite publisher this week. Of course, there’s lots of Iron Man related comics such as Black Widow #2 and a host of actual Iron Man Titles. We’re also interested in the new Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis, Siege #4, Hulk #22 and the latest The Marvels Project.

Remember, comics go on sale this Wednesday so get to your nearest comics store early for best selection. Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:
AGENTS OF ATLAS MGC #1
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #631
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #631 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1
ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 FOILOGRAM VARIANT
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #35 (S)
BLACK WIDOW #2 (HA)
BLACK WIDOW #2 HANS VARIANT (HA)
BLACK WIDOW #2 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
DAREDEVIL: CAGE MATCH #1
DARK AVENGERS #16 (S)
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #893
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #893 HEROIC AGE VARIANT

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This week finds Marvel out with another bunch of new comics and other goodies. Of the ones dropping this week we’re particularly interested in Iron Man Noir #1, Powers #4, Punishermax # 6 and the debut of Black Widow #1.

Remember, comics go on sale this Wednesday so get to your favorite comics store early for best selection. Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: JACKPOT #3
BLACK WIDOW #1 (HA)
BLACK WIDOW #1 FOREMAN VARIANT (HA)
BLACK WIDOW #1 MOVIE VARIANT (HA)
BLACK WIDOW #1 WOMEN OF MARVEL VARIANT (HA)
DAREDEVIL #506
DAREDEVIL #506 IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #894
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #894 IRON MAN BY DESIGN VARIANT
ENDER’S GAME: THE LEAGUE WAR #1
HULK MGC #1
IRON MAN LEGACY #1 LARROCA COVER
IRON MAN LEGACY #1 MEINERDING VARIANT
IRON MAN LEGACY #1 MOVIE VARIANT WRAPAROUND COVER
IRON MAN NOIR #1

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With the success of Siege#1 last week (it sold out) Marvel is dropping all new books this week to try and continue the momentum they’ve started in January. This week, we’re particularly excited to read Psylocke #3, Strange #3, S.W.O.R.D. #3 and the latest Invincible Iron Man.

And, as we always say, be sure to click through for some cover art from some of these new books. The overs are pretty cool. See you at the comic’s shop on Wednesday.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 SOMETHING IS COMING VARIANT (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 RHINO IS COMING VARIANT (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 VILLAIN VARIANT (GNTLT)
ANITA BLAKE, THE LAUGHING CORPSE – EXECUTIONER #3
BLACK PANTHER #12
BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #3
DARK X-MEN #3
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #22 ZIRCHER COVER
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #19
NATION X #2
PSYLOCKE #3
PUNISHERMAX #3
REALM OF KINGS IMPERIAL GUARD #3
S.W.O.R.D. #3

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Taking advantage of the anticipation building towards to Saturday’s Iron Man 2 presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, USA Today has posted new stills from the movie that will undoubtedly whet the appetites of fans everywhere.

Over at the site, readers are treated to images of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, amid racing wreckage, the stylishly professional Gywneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, a surprisingly demure Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Don Cheadle as Col. James Rhodes under oath.

Regardless of the success of the first movie (and the legendary presentation to Comic-Con crowds in 2007), both Downey Jr and director Jon Favreau understand the importance of presenting the right impression to the 125,000 fans flocking to Comic-Con this year.

“This is about the toughest group there is to impress,” says Downey Jr., “They’re watching your footage, every one of them waiting to Twitter whether you suck.”

“You can’t underestimate how powerful this group is,” Favreau says. “It’s an unlimited press corps, all of them knowing how to communicate in a digital age. The geeks have inherited the Earth, and that’s good news for us.”

Iron Man 2 will be in theaters May 7, 2010. Meantime, click through to see larger versions of some of the photos.

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Previously, we had the first picture of Mickey Rourke as “Whiplash” in Iron Man 2. And now, we’ve got a brand new picture of Scarlett Johansson suited up as Natasha Romanova’s alter ego Black Widow from the movie, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly. Not much really needs to be said about these pictures except the following: Scarlett Johansson, curly red hair, tight black catsuit, hot. I’ll let that sink in for a moment.

Along with the new pics, EW’s PopWatch has also posted excerpts from the interview that contained the pictures. The interview sheds some light on a few interesting elements of the project including Mickey Rourke’s character and the switch from Terrence Howard to Don Cheadle in the role of James “Rhodey” Rhodes. “Terrence and I couldn’t be more different,” said Cheadle. “We address it head-on in the movie in one exchange. We’re not trying to fool people.”

Also according to the report, Rourke’s character “creates his own battle-suit, which shoots devastating, whip-like beams” while incarcerated in a Russian prison. While this seems to confirm reports that Rourke’s “Vanko” character will be a mash-up of Crimson Dynamo and Whiplash, the report also touches on elements of a potential love triangle between Johansson, Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts in the film. Must be nice to have two women like that fighting over you.

Click through for slightly larger versions of the photos. Iron Man 2 hits theaters May 7, 2010.

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