Friday News Wrap-Up

There have been various news tidbits today, but unfortunately not the news about what's next for the Starjammers that fans were hoping would come out of Wizard World Chicago (especially after Brubaker and Fraction hinted at something on the way for the Starjammers last weekend at Heroes Con).

At the Mondo Marvel panel today at Wizard World Chicago, there wasn't any Starjammer/Emperor Vulcan news, except a few tidbits about some cosmic Marvel developments for 2009.

Newsarama reports that Annihilation, Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, and will be in New York in July for a meeting about Marvel's cosmic plans for 2009 (which could potentially involve the Starjammers). There has been considerable speculation about the Vulcan and the Starjammers being involved in a third Annihilation, but no specific news.

Marvel editor Bill Rosemann (who edits the Cosmic Marvel titles and Annihilation events) was asked about another cosmic event:

Rosemann said that's another thing that is discussed frequently by himself and Abnett and Lanning. The goal of the series was to change the universe and move it forward. "You want to see things change, and when it's changed, you want to have time to explore what the universe is like," Rosemann said. However, any events in the future will depend on how organic it would be for the stories to be linked together. "If we see things building toward something," then an event will happen, he said.

Hmmm.... I'm not sure how Vulcan and the Starjammers fit into that, since Annihilation and Conquest have established a unique set of characters and stories in their part of the universe.
Suddenly having something like a Shi'ar invasion would disrupt everything going on and take it in a completely different direction. It certainly wouldn't give them time to "explore what the universe is like" if Vulcan comes in and changes everything. While that could eventually happen in 2oo9 or later, it doesn't sound like anything will be happening any time soon with the Starjammers and Cosmic Marvel.


On MyCup o' Joe, the Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada was asked about Lorna:

DEAN wants to know:... And can we please get Polaris back? Uncanny X-Men is very short on established female characters.

JQ: As for Polaris, keep your ear to the ground. She might be imprisoned, but she's not down for the count!

Also, Cable #5 is out next week, which includes a panel where the baby from Messiah Complex has the Phoenix symbol appear reflected in her eyes. This is bound to spur up more discussion about who the Messiah complex baby is and whether she may be Rachel or Jean.

I've already stated my opinion about this in the editorial: Is the Messiah Complex Baby Rachel? and I'm working on an updated edition, since the speculation is continuing, especially after new "clues" like this.

Brubaker and Fraction Talk Emperor Vulcan Follow-Up at HeroesCon

Last weekend at HeroesCon in Charlotte NC, Uncanny X-Men writers Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction were featured on X-Panel. The upcoming Uncanny X-Men #500 and the X-Men's move to San Francisco were the main topics, but they were asked about the Starjammers and Vulcan.

The exact quote from Fraction and/or Brubaker isn't available online, but according to CBR's coverage, there's potentially something on the way, but not in Uncanny:

There's some stuff coming with the characters from "Emperor Vulcan," they haven't been forgotten. That might not come in the main book, but something's on the way.

Newsarama also covered the panel, and had this to say:

Moving on, Brubaker said that there will be stories coming that touch upon Vulcan, but Brubaker couldn’t say just what yet.

While hopefully this means that something will be announced soon that will conclude the Vulcan storyline and bring the Starjammers home, it's possible that the Starjammers could appear in the X-Men: Manifest Destiny mini-series, which is similar to the X-Men: Divided We Stand mini-series, and will follow how the move has impacted X-characters not in a core book.


Also at the HeroesCon X-Panel, a fan asked about poor predicament many female X-characters (like Rachel) are in:

Asking about female X-Men, an audience member asked if it could be possible that Emma Frost is consciously or unconsciously eliminating “the competition,” and that’s the explanation for the lousy fates that have befallen several female X-characters?

“That’s such a good idea, you just don’t know...” Fraction mused, clearly excited by the notion, explaining it to Brubaker that the fan had come up with an explanation for rampant misogyny in comics.

Although, Emma is hardly to blame for rampant misogyny in comics, or X-books lately.

Preview for ClanDestine #5

ComicContinuum has a six page preview of ClanDestine #5, the final issue of Alan Davis' mini-series featuring the time-lost classic Excalibur team.

ClanDestine will be in stores on 6/11.

Starjammers/Vulcan Question in X-Position

X-Editor Nick Lowe was answering questions in this week's X-Position, and still no real answers on when the Starjammers story will be continuing:

Ashley is up next, and it sounds as though she needs to vent a little…

It's becoming increasingly frustrating that there hasn't been a resolution to the situation with Vulcan, which has Alex, Lorna, and Rachel stuck in a holding pattern in space. Can we get any information on what's next for them? Or, at least know when to expect an announcement about a conclusion?


Nick Lowe: Just be patient! We haven’t forgotten them, there’s just a lot going on. You’ll get your story. And there’s one major character you didn’t mention in your question. And it’s not obvious…