This is an open letter to anyone at 20th Century Fox, with how I would handle their X-Men Universe in the wake of The Avengers and their successful First Class Pre-Boot-quel-thing. 

The X-Men cinematic universe was the first major franchise launched in this modern era of comic book blockbusters. The original X-Men film managed to successfully lay in the groundwork of how these types of films can be a success without losing their comic book soul.

The sequel was a massive leap forward in both action and general cinematic quality. While the other sequels have received mixed reviews, it was clear that despite the reboot happy tendencies of modern hollywood. Fox remained committed to the continuity of the universe they established in 2000.

Just a few weeks ago The Avengers made more money than conceivable in its debut, representing the culmination of a five-year, 6 movie plan. The newly established ‘shared universe’ model demonstrated by Marvel Studios could be a new gold standard for what a studio can do with these types of properties.

So it is with that context that I present my plan for a smaller scale ‘shared X-universe’ that can allow Fox to use it’s already established property in an exciting new way.

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Much like the upcoming Avengers big screen movie, in the comics Marvel heroes are fighting each other. Only in the comics, it’s the Avengers fighting the X-Men and not fighting among themselves — although that happened a few years back with Civil War.

Anyway, we’ve got a preview of the latest installment of Avengers vs. X-Men for you today. To tell you more about this book, here’s some info from the official Marvel press release:

The war is here! Today in Avengers VS. X-Men #3, by the blockbuster creative team of Ed Brubaker and John Romita Jr., Captain America splits the Avengers up all across the Marvel Universe to find Hope before the X-Men do! But Cyclops and his team are hot on the mutant messiah’s trail and are not letting Earth’s Mightiest get in their way. With Wolverine’s loyalty still in question – Captain America must make a harrowing decision and the result will have everyone talking!

Avengers vs. X-Men #3 is in comic stores and Marvel’s digital app now. Click through to check out the preview pages.

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The concept of ancillary books to large comic events is becoming common place. No longer does an event take place in the confines of it’s own limited series or the pages of the characters involved, now it is everywhere. Marvel’s newest event, Avengers VS. X-Men, is no exception to that new rule, although Marvel might just be changing the game a little bit.

Marvel has teamed up with MTV to bring you Avengers VS. X-Men: War Journals, a web series that gives you a behind the scenes look at the event from the perspective of the people actually creating it:

Join Axel Alonso (Marvel Editor in Chief), Tom Brevoort (Marvel SVP/Executive Editor) and Nick Lowe (Senior Editor) as they discuss putting their own personal allegiances aside to craft the biggest story in Marvel history and meet fans at Midtown Comics in NYC for the largest Avengers VS. X-Men launch party in the world! As fans argue about who will win—Avengers or X-Men—some of the hottest celebrities—DJ Pauly D, Big Time Rush and the Wanted—let you know just which team they’ve chosen! Plus, discover more bonus clips featuring the biggest names in comics exclusively at MTV Geek.

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Now that Hunger Games shattered tons of records, making it the biggest film in the past few years, other studios are doing what they can to compensate for the massive train which will be the production of the rest of the Hunger Games trilogy.

The first in that line is Fox, as they’re moving the start time for production on Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class’s sequel. From THR:

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Fox is informing talent agencies Thursday that the studio plans to begin shooting its in-development sequel to X-Men: First Class in January. That means Lionsgate could move forward with an August-September start date for the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire without a conflict for Lawrence, who is set to star in both. 

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One thing Marvel never seems to get tired of is pitting its creations against each other. After all, what do you do when you’ve concurred all the super villains in the universe?

The latest example of this is Marvel’s upcoming Avengers versus X-Men. Not content with just one new series, Marvel is also dropping some tie-in books lioke the one we’ve got a preview of today.

This one, called AVX VS #1, comes from the creative team of Jason Aaron & Adam Kubert and Kathryn & Stuart Immonen. It features “pulse-pounding battles” as Iron Man faces off against Magneto & Thing takes on Namor.

Look for AVX VS #1 to arrive in comic stores on April 25. Check out the preview after the break.

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Due to the fact that two different movie studios own the rights to The Avengers and The X-Men, we will probably never see a movie here those two teams meet, let alone fight each other. However, we still have the comics.

Marvel has already released the first issue of Avengers vs. X-Men and it was, putting it mildly, damn cool. The second issue is coming soon and we’ve got previews for it for you today.

Here comes the Marvel PR stuff:

From the powerhouse creative team of Jason Aaron & John Romita Jr. comes the second part of the groundbreaking event pitting Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake! As the all-powerful Phoenix Force hurtles ever closer toward Earth; The Avengers storm the beach of Utopia, determined to save mankind at any cost! This is what you’ve been waiting for all year, and now you’ll get the chance to see some explosive matchups and who comes out on top.

Look for Avengers vs. X-Men #2 to drop on April 18. Click through for some preview pages from the issue.

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Netflix has secured another original series with Hemlock Grove, a thrilling tale of murder and mystery adapted by Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever), is set to star Famke Janssen (X-Men, Nip/Tuck) and Bill Skarsgard (Anna Karenina, Simon and the Oaks). The series is set to be available for Netflix members to watch instantly, beginning early in 2013.

Set in a ravaged Pennsylvania steel town, Hemlock Grove starts with the body of a young girl, mangled and murdered in the shadow of the former Godfrey steel mill. There are a multitude of suspects from an escapee from the White Tower, a biotech facility owned by the former steel magnates, to a 17-year-old Gypsy kid named Peter from the wrong side of the tracks, who tells his classmates he’s a werewolf. 

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Since most of the major Marvel Universe players have found their way already into the Minimates line, ArtAsylum is now able to give some spotlight to some of the heroes, villains and storylines from the past. This time in the 43rd wave of the Minimates line, which also marks the ten year anniversary of the product, the Marvel Minimates will focus on the “Death of Jean Dewolff” storyline.

Back in the mid 80′s when comics were beginning to mature in both artistic merit and story themes, editor on the Spectacular Spider-Man Jim Owsley gave writer Peter David the task of knocking off detective Jean DeWolff. The character of Sin-Eater was created as a way to kill DeWolff. Interestingly enough, the biggest impact of this story is the indirect creation of Venom as Eddie Brock claimed to have found out who the real Sin Eater was, only to be disproven by Spider-Man catching the real killer and costing Brock his job.

You can check out Art Asylum’s interview with creator Peter David here on their site and check out the full gallery of the collection after the jump.

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Those of you who caught last year’s break-out superhero film, X-Men: First Class, most likely developed a totally normal man-crush for a certain featured actor in the film. Believe it or not, it wasn’t for former heartthrobs James McAvoy or Kevin Bacon. The standout role in the film clearly went to Michael Fassbender, who played Eric “Call me Magneto” Lensherr.

Fassbender was slightly less known before the role, and is quickly becoming a big player in the competition for leading man in Hollywood. It seems that even First Class scribe Simon Kinberg agrees, and plans on expanding Fassbender’s story a bit more for the proposed sequel which he’s working on now. From MTV.

What’s what was so cool about the first one and what we want to continue. Magneto becomes the villain ultimately of the franchise but he’s a much more complicated character as a young man. He’s someone you sympathize with, you care about you root for even though might not necessarily agree with his methods, you understand his philosophy.

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What’s with all these mutants? All they seem to want to do is fight with each other. Can’t we all just get along?

Fortunately, at least if you’re a fan of Marvel’s sprawling mutant epics, we can’t. And this latest series looks to continue the tradition.

Here’s all the info from the official press release:

Spinning out of the critically acclaimed Uncanny X-Force, the Amazing X-Men and the human resistance must fight tooth and nail to end the tyranny that has left their world ravaged! Continuing Apocalypse’s war on humanity, Weapon X leads the genocide that rains down upon this dimension, eliminating any who stand in his way.

“This new Age of Apocalypse book does the impossible – it revolutionizes an old concept without a reboot,” explains Senior Editor Nick Lowe. “If you’ve been reading Uncanny X-Force, you know where this is coming from and you’re already in.”

“If you’re an Age of Apocalypse junkie, this builds on the alternate universe’s mythology is fascinating and troubling ways. And if you aren’t either and just want a ground-breaking, easy-entry book that will challenge everything you know about the X-Men, there hasn’t been a better jumping on point.”

Age of Apocalypse #1, written by Dave Lapham and pencils by Roberto De La Torre, hist store shelves on March 7. Check out some preview pages after the break.

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If there’s one thing that send waves of excitement through comic book nerds everywhere it’s epic battles between superhuman combatants. So you can imagine how excited comic book fans will be when two groups of these titans meet to do battle for the fate of the entire Marvel Universe.

Let’s just say it’s going to be epic. Want to know more? Of course you do.

Here’s all the scoop from the official Marvel press release:

From the powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel comes a groundbreaking event pitting Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake. Cyclops and his team believe the arrival of the Phoenix Force will save mutantkind, but Captain America is convinced it will destroy the world! But who is right?

Who indeed? Check out an image of the first cover after the break. Look for Avengers vs. X-Men to hit store shelves on April 3.

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The comic book world is abuzz with anticipation of next year’s battle royal between the Avengers and the X-Men. The event series kicks off with a prologue issue that sets up two of the most critical characters in the series, Hope Summers and The Scarlet Witch. The issue is written by Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron with art by Frank Cho, a veritable dream team of creators.

“This March, fans worldwide cannot miss the prologue to the biggest pop culture comic event of the year as Marvel is pleased to unveil the trade dress and cover to Avengers VS. X-Men #0! Just before the Avengers and the X-Men go head to head, superstar creators Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron & Frank Cho set up the crucial roles of the Scarlet Witch and Hope Summers in the coming storm.

With all eyes on Wanda and the Mutant Messiah, both sides have already made up their mind on where allegiances SHOULD lie …but what about those caught in the middle? The drums of war are beating and fans should be ready for the essential opening to the event that will change everything you know about the Marvel Universe in Avengers VS. X-Men #0!”

Check out the awesome full cover after the jump.

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