We love to bring previews of upcoming comics to you. Today is no exception. This time around it’s a preview of Marvel’s upcoming X-Force #1.

Here’s more:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at X-FORCE #1 – the exciting new series from innovative creative team Si Spurrier and Rock-He Kim! Every sovereign nation in the Marvel Universe makes use of superhumans to protect national interests and pursue a covert national agenda. The stakes are high, and the prizes are intelligence, security, resources and power. Now, Cable and his new black-ops squad are entering this endless shadow-game to ensure that Mutants have a hand in the future of the Marvel Universe – by any means necessary!

But when an international incident threatens the already fragile human/mutant relations, the Mutant Nation needs a dirty tricks department – and X-Force is it!

Check out the previews after the break. Look for X-Force #1 to arrive in stores on February 12.

Normally, we are too busy to be able to come back and do reviews on DLC for game,s but as you saw in my recent review of the Deadpool game, I really enjoyed it and was looking for a reason to go back. That reason came from a download code for the Merc with a Mouth map pack.

For $2.99 on the PlayStation 3 or 240 Microsoft Points on the XBox 360, players can download two additional maps for the game’s challenge mode along with two new costumes. Spoiler alert: This DLC pack was actually a preorder bonus from Gamestop upon the original Deadpool release so if you already did that, then you probably don’t need to make this purchase… or read this review… so… sorry!

So first off, let’s talk about costumes. For some reason which isn’t ever really discussed, the costume options are only available in the Infinite mode which is a wave based level of the challenge modes. Still not entirely sure why these special outfits are only available in the challenge mode when it is just a skin swap over the character so keep that in mind if you didn’t go through (or like me just didn’t spend a lot of time) in the Challenge mode. The D-Pooly costume resembles Deadpool’s selfstyled MC look while the X-Force outfit represents the grey and black from when Deadpool joined up on Wolverine’s black ops team… but they are only available to the challenge mode.

Last year, the Deadpool shinanigans began on preview night of San Diego Comic-Con. A “leak” and fake website hinted that Activision’s next Marvel property was going to be Hit-Monkey. This red herring was quickly proven wrong the next day when Deadpool took Comic Con by storm, announcing himself that he would be starring in a game developed by the team behind Transformers: War for Cybertron and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron from High Moon Studios.

From there, Deadpool wrote his own press releases promoting his single player adventure that would have appearances from Wolverine and a few of the more scantily clad X-Men. And what came from Deadpool was something not many would expect, a good game.

The Long

Deadpool has a lot to overcome as a game. First, it has to take on the stigma of being a licensed title which is something that can still sadly go either way right now. For every Wolverine: Origins or Batman: Arkham Asylum, there is still a X-Men Destiny or Thor: God of Thunder. Deadpool also faces a problem that games like X-Men Destiny and Thor did not have to deal with: Name Recognition.

As much as the comics community knows who Deadpool is, he isn’t known by the mainstream community at large. Right off the bat, there is an uphill battle on sales that Deadpool must deal with. But, for those who either recognize the Merc with the Mouth or have someone turn their attention towards the schizophrenic red and black clad, potty mouthed lunatic, there is a very pleasant surprise waiting for them.

After the recent sad news with layoffs happening at High Moon Studios following the completion of the Deadpool game which is set for June 25th release for the XBox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, there was a PR blip that went out late yesterday getting into detail with the Deadpool preorder incentives. Obviously, the team behind the Deadpool PR is still working hard at keeping Deadpool at bay when he gets his hands on their press releases.

Below, you’ll be able to check out the list of presale incentives from GameSpot and Amazon for those who are picking up this Marvel merc at the budget price of $49.99. Make sure to check out all the new screens below as well!

intimidated invited Activision Publishing, Inc. and High Moon Studios to make a video game starring Marvel’s most Marvel-ous character, me. And you being a gamer of unquestionable good taste wish to pre-order that game. Well I say bravo – you deserve some awesome rewards for putting your trust in Deadpool.

As of this moment, the PR on Deadpool may be the most fun of any comic book game for any journalist to cover. Instead of the same standard PR blips from developers or agencies, Deadpool (or someone who is doing a heck of a job impersonating him) is doing his own promotions for the game. With the Deadpool movie in development hell, it only makes sense that the poor guy would have the free time to handle gaming PR.

Most recently, Deadpool announced that he would be including Domino of X-Force fame in his upcoming Mature rated game. The two characters are quite familiar with each other, both being long time associates to both Wolverine and Cable, as well as both being members of recent incarnations of X-Force together at one time. And with Deadpool being (a self described) ladies man, it only makes sense that he would invite one of the finest pieces of Marvel comic booty into his game.

The third score from this year’s Golden Globe nominated set that I have the pleasure to review is from The Artist. The film is an interesting one, a silent film shot in black and white, set during Hollywood’s golden age. The film goes through great lengths to simulate the style of films the movie is about, and one of it’s biggest assets is it’s score.

Musically this could have come right out of the late 20s, it has a timeless quality, that allows it to feel fresh at the same time it transports you back to film music of a long passed era. Silent films used to rely heavily on music to help convey emotion, and as a result the music would often tell you as much of a story as the pictures did. It is exciting to hear that style of music in cinema again.

There is also a tremendous positivity abound in the music. Ludovic Bource has crafted a musical composition that damn near forces you to smile. One of the things that we too often hear these days is dark, monotone notes played for a mildly uncomfortable effect. This score excels at the exact opposite, and is incredibly fun.

It may come as a surprise to some of you but in addition to watching our favorite marvel characters on the big screen we also like reading their adventures in comic book form. Some of our favorite characters of all time are the X-Men and we’ve enjoyed their various exploits and incarnations in comics featuring over the years.

One such comic is Uncanny X-Force. We’re read it since issue one and today, we’ve got a preview of the upcoming twelfth issue of the comic. With story by Rick Remender and art by Mark Brooks and Dean White, issue #12 deals with the “Dark Angel Saga” and centers on the X-Force “who must find a Celestial Life Seed before Archangel succumbs to the darkness within him.”

“But when the alternate reality’s twisted versions of Earth’s mightiest stand in their way – will they be too late? Can they halt the coming of a new Apocalypse?” Now that sounds good.

Check out a preview for the new comic after the jump. Look for Uncanny X-Force #12 to hit comic book shops on July 27th.

Although they are pretty important, E3 and Apple’s WWDC are not the only things being going on this week with lots of things being announced. Obvioulsy, other news happens in other areas that we love and cover here at The Flickcast.

This time around one of the other things we we love and cover is comics. Our pals at Marvel have sent over a cool preview for one of their upcoming titles: Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force #1. Naturally, we’re going to share it with you.

Here’s the deets direct from the source:

Extremists hell-bent on saving humankind from the evils of Fear Itself must answer for their crimes this July in Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force #1! As the comic blockbuster event of the summer tightens it’s stranglehold on the Marvel Universe, the Uncanny X-Force storms into action courtesy of red-hot writer Rob Williams and superstar artist Simone Bianchi.

They’re the only thing that stands in the way of mass murder on a global scale when a group of frenzied zealots set out to save souls of the Marvel Universe from the clutches of the God of Fear! Except when the only way to reach true salvation is death at their hand, Marvel’s mutant black-ops team has no choice but to step in. But will their actions feed the frenzy?

Click through for your first look at this upcoming title. Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force #1 hits comic store shelves on July 6th.

Okay comic book fans, here’s some new ones coming out from our friends at Marvel this week. And like we do every week, we’ve got some particular ones we’re most interested in.

Among the new ones coming out, we’re looking forward to reading  FF #1, X-Men #5,  Deadpool #34, Captain America #615.1, and Uncanny X-Force #5.

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

5 RONIN #4 AJA COVER
5 RONIN #4 MACK VARIANT COVER
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #654 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #615.1
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BATROC #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA: MAN OUT OF TIME #5
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN MGC #1
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #7
DAREDEVIL: REBORN #3
DEADPOOL #34
DEADPOOL #34 CAPTAIN AMERICA 70TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT
DEADPOOL MAX #6
FANTASTIC FOUR #587 3RD PRINTING VARIANT
FF #1

With Comic-Con in San Diego coming up next week our minds are on all things comics. Plus, movies, tv, games and everything else the Con has to offer. But hey, this particular post is about comics and Marvel comics in particular so let’s get on with it.

Our friends at Marvel are releasing a bunch of new books this week but we’re pretty sure they will be saving the bigger announcements and releases for next week during the Con. Still, of the books this week we’re interested in X-Force: Sex and Violence #1, X-Men Origins: Deadpool #1, Avengers Academy #2 and World War Hulks: Spider-Man vs. Thor #1.

Comics come out on Wednesday 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:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #637
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #2
AVENGERS ACADEMY #2
AVENGERS ACADEMY #2 MCKONE VARIANT
CAPTAIN AMERICA/BLACK PANTHER: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS #4
DAREDEVIL #508 (SHL)
DEADPOOL CORPS #4