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.

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.

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.

When you happen to be one of the biggest comic book and media companies in the world and you have all these characters you’ve created over the years, it must be difficult to figure out what to do with all of them. Well, if you’re Marvel, it seems like they’ve found an answer: have them fight each other.

Much like they did during the “Civil War” event from a few years back, a bunch of characters from the Marvel U, The Avengers and X-Men specifically, are being pitted against each other in a brand new upcoming comics event.

Here’s all the scoop directly from Marvel:

The Avengers and X-Men have learned that the all-powerful embodiment of both death and rebirth known as the Phoenix Force is on a crash course for Earth…and it needs a new host to unleash its immeasurable power. But what is the shocking decision tied to the Phoenix’s return that will pit the Avengers against the X-Men? And when good friends become bitter enemies, what does this mean for the future of the Marvel Universe?

Things are moving right along in 2011 with just about a week to go before January is a thing of the past — at least until next year. Of course, this week sees the release of a bunch of new comics from our friends at Marvel.

Let’s take a look at what they are dropping for our reading pleasure this week. Among the new coming out on Wednesday, we’re most interested in Magneto #1, X-Men #7, Secret Avengers #9, Avengers #9 and Fantastic Four #587 (Three).

As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday, so hit your nearest comics book 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 X ALPHA #1
AGE OF X ALPHA #1 COIPEL WRAPAROUND VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #648 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #649 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (BIG)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #650 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (BIG)
ASTONISHING THOR #2
AVENGERS #9
BLOCKBUSTERS OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA #614
CAPTAIN AMERICA 70TH ANNIVERSARY MAGAZINE #1
CHAOS WAR #5 (CW)
CHAOS WAR: X-MEN #2 (CW)

Just in time for the new year comes new comics straight from our pals at Marvel. With Christmas past there’s still time to get your hands on some great gifts before 2010 comes to a close.

Of the new comics dropping this week we’re most excited about Chaos War: X-Men #1, Nemesis #4, S.H.I.E.L.D. #5, X-23 $4 and Avengers #8. As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday so hit your nearest comics book store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one. Also, as an added bonus, don’t miss the Marvel 2011 Calendar, free for all fans and only available at your local comics shop this week.

Comics On-Sale:
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #4
ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #4
AVENGERS #8
BULLSEYE: PERFECT GAME #2
CAPTAIN AMERICA #613
CARNAGE #2
CARNAGE #2 ADAMS VARIANT
CHAOS WAR: X-MEN #1
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #4
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #4 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT
DEADPOOL CORPS #9
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #886
HALO: FALL OF REACH – BOOT CAMP #3
HEROIC AGE: X-MEN #1
HULK #28
INCOGNITO: BAD INFLUENCES #2

Yes, we know it’s Thursday already and that comics come out on Wednesday. However, that doesn’t mean that all of you have already gone out and purchased your comics for this week. We might still have a few stragglers. If so, this week’s “On Sale” is for you.

Of the comics out this week we’re particularly interested in Avengers #7, Osborn #1, Superior #2 and X-Men #5. Also, we’ve got some cover art for you after the jump so be sure and check that out too.

Comics On-Sale:
AVENGERS #7
AVENGERS #7 BLANK COVER VARIANT
AVENGERS #7 DJURDJEVIC GATEFOLD VARIANT
AVENGERS #7 MCGUINNESS VARIANT
AVENGERS #7 TRON VARIANT
CHAOS WAR: CHAOS KING #1 (CW)
CHAOS WAR: DEAD AVENGERS #1 (CW)
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #3
DEADPOOL CORPS #8
DEADPOOL MAX #2
HEROIC AGE: VILLAINS #1
HULK #27
IRON MAN: RAPTURE #2
MARVEL SUPER ACTION #1
OSBORN #1 (BIG)
OSBORN #1 GOBLIN VARIANT (BIG)

Fans of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr’s first ultra-violent kid-superhero romp, Kick-Ass will have something special in store for them at the comic store today. Kick-Ass 2, the second volume of the popular comic arrives in stores today.

In the new story-arc, Hit-Girl is adopted by a cop following the death of her father and is no longer allowed to engage in hero activity. While Hit-Girl lays low, the story’s main villain, Red Mist hires a bad-ass girl from Russia to help him exact revenge for his family’s death at the hands of Kick-Ass and company. He goes online and influences a new bunch of young villains to take up his fight.

Soon enough, gangs from across New York are filming their atrocities and putting them on the internet in an attempt to out-do each other. All in all, it sounds like more of the same ultra-violent and foul-mouthed comic goodness we’ve come to expect from Millar and Romita Jr. And of course, the question now is what about the second flick?

While IMDB already has an entry for the flick, Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall, and is showing a 2012 release, Millar talked with MTV and outlined what would need to happen to make that release on-time.

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.

Now that Marvel has revamped their current state of continuity with the Heroic Age of comics, lots of books are getting a fresh start. One of the books we’re pretty excited for is the upcoming first issue of X-Men.

From Victor Gischler and Paco Medina, this revamp marks the first time there has been an X-Men #1 in nearly 20 years. According to a Marvel press release, the team will start things off with a bang by fighting a threat that will “alter the ENTIRE Marvel Universe!” We’re pretty stoked for it, to say the least.

Gischler is has been one of the lead writers for Deadpool over the past few years, including Merc With The Mouth and Deadpool Corps. He’s also currently working on The Death of Dracula for Marvel. You may also remember Paco Medina’s art from many of the Deadpool books, as well as New X-Men and a few others.

In celebration of this major issue, Marvel is releasing several variant covers, including a blank cover (at right), a varient by Medina, John Romita Jr., and even one by Thor artist Marko Djurdjevic.

Check out a few sneak preview images from the book after the jump, and be sure to pick up X-Men #1 on sale July 8th.

Here you are Marvel fans, a roundup of all the great comics, trades and whatnot coming out from your favorite publisher on Wednesday. This week there’s lots of Avengers and Iron Man related comics such as Avengers #1, Avengers Assemble #1 and Invincible Iron Man #26. We’re also interested in the new Deadpool, a new X-Factor, a new X-Men Legacy and the new Fall of the Hulks premiere hard cover.

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:

AGE OF HEROES #1 (HA)
AGE OF HEROES #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: AMERICAN SON #1
ANITA BLAKE: CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED – THE CHARMER #1
ATLAS #1 (HA)
ATLAS #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
ATLAS #1 WOMEN OF MARVEL VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 (HA)
AVENGERS #1 BLANK COVER VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)

By Shannon Hood

Reprinted from the SXSW Film Festival, 3/14/2010

Make no mistake about it, Chloe Moretz (500 Days of Summer) owns this movie. She may only be 11 years old, but her performance as Hit-Girl is spunky, sassy, and exciting. Hit-Girl is poised to become a new comic cult icon, and Kick-Ass is quite simply a rollicking good time.

At one of the panels I attended this weekend, someone likened Kick-Ass to a comic type Pulp Fiction, which I would say is a pretty accurate description. British Actor Aaron Johnson plays Dave Lizewski, a nerdy high school type whose only interaction with the popular kids is when he brushes up against one at his locker.

One day out of the blue he decides he is going to become a vigilante superhero. He concocts a hideous green costume that resembles a wet suit, sets up a social media homepage for his alter ego, and starts “training.” When someone asks his name, he proudly proclaims, “I’m Kick-Ass!”

Completely inept and not blessed with any actual powers, Dave gets the living crap beat out of him by a few thugs mere moments after his official debut as Kick-Ass. This results in a multitude of injuries requiring steel plates and rods being placed throughout his body, which makes him a little more impervious to injury, but still not in possession of actual powers.