REVIEW: Fury Max #9

Fury Max is Garth Ennis’s take on Nick Fury as a Cold Warrior, trading in his jet pack and blue bodysuit for extrajudicial killings and murky political maneuverings. Fighting the Viet Cong instead of Hydra, and working for the CIA instead of SHIELD, this version of Nick Fury is more realpolitik than superhero. Major Spoilers has the review of Fury Max #9 so you can decide if this gritty tale of a real-world cigar-chomping one-eyed spy is for you. Plus: bonus Frank Castle!

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REVIEW: The New Avengers #10

Cage’s Avengers have started to come into their own as a group, but can the team handle a mortally wounded Mockingbird on their first real mission together? Also, what was Fury putting together back in the late 1950’s? Find out after the jump.

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Art Appreciation Moment of the Day: Evan Shaner

Sometimes I wish I had the money to throw my favorite writers and artists in a room and say “GO! CREATE THE AWESOME!” While I don’t have the money, or god-like powers needed to accomplish such a thing, I do have access to Deviant Art, and Comic Twart where I can get a taste of what might be or what could have been.  Today’s Art Appreciation Moment of the Day takes a look at Nick Fury as only Evan Shaner could create.

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Join Marvel DCU and get Nick Fury action figure free

Marvel has announced that all new and renewing subscribers to Marvel’s Digital Comics Unlimited service, not only get a slew of digital comics, but each account will also get an exclusive Hasbro Marvel Universe Nick Fury action figure.

“Hasbro is very excited to be teaming up with Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited for this exclusive giveaway,” said Billy Lagor, Senior Director of Hasbro’s Global Brand Strategy & Marketing, Marvel.   “We truly value and appreciate the connection that we have with our Marvel fans and hope that shows in our action figures.”

Marvel is making it clear, you need to sign up with the service to get the figure.  Or do like everyone else will do and head over to eBay and purchase one there.

via Marvel

Muther F’n Jackson and Marvel Work Out Differences; Fans May Now Rejoice

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Much like the public quote fest that took place between Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Marvel over Iron Man 2, Samuel Jackson and Marvel have been talking back and forth through the media for some time as the two tried to work out a deal to get Jackson back in the eyepatch of Nick Fury.  Things looked pretty tense as Marvel did away with Terrence Howard and replaced him with Don Cheadle in the role of Jim Rhodes.

The good news is a deal has been reached.  The better news is Jackson has signed a nine – NINE! – picture deal with the studio.

The movies include “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America,” “The Avengers” and its sequels.   Also on the table is the possibility of toplining a “S.H.I.E.L.D.” movie, which is in development.

Nine movies?  If it is true that Jackson gets a minimum of $7 million per movie, that would put this deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million.  Can you say “CHA-CHING!”  With fans eating up Jackson’s appearance in the first Iron Man, as long as the studio continues to deliver solid films based on its huge archive of properties, Jackson is going to be a very rich, and very busy guy for the next six years.

Of course this means we’ll never see The Hoff reprise his role as the cigar chomping leader of S.H.I.E.L.D.

via Hollywood Reporter

Nick Fury Sells Out

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Nick Fury and his team of Secret Warriors have sold out at the distributor level, prompting Marvel to go back to press with Secret Warriors #1 — complete with a variant printing.  The Brian Michael Bendis penned issue, features a new cover utilizing interior art by Stefano Caselli.

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A World Without Sam Jackson as Nick Fury

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Negotiations with Sam Jackson’s people and Marvel Studios doesn’t look like it is going too well.  Mr. Jackson did an interview with the LA Times where he explained his position, and why he may not don the eye patch in upcoming Marvel movies.

“There was a huge kind of negotiation that broke down. I don’t know. Maybe I won’t be Nick Fury. Maybe somebody else will be Nick Fury or maybe Nick Fury won’t be in it. There seems to be an economic crisis in the Marvel Comics world so [they're saying to me], ‘We’re not making that deal.’”

Economic crisis with Marvel Comics?  I wonder if he is referring to the around the block lines of people who are lining up to buy the Obama/Spider-Man issue that debuts today, or if he is referring to the millions of dollars the first Iron Man movie brought in.  Marvel Studios is in no way connected Lionsgate, who produced and distributed The Spirit, and from what I remember the company’s bottom line looked good during the last reporting period.

Perhaps the economic crisis Nick Fury is talking about is someone wanting to be cheap.  That kind of hardball negotiations didn’t work with Jon Favreau, so I expect this statement is some hardball pushing back on the part of Jackson.

What say you Major Spoilerites?  Would you rather Marvel spend the money on Sam Jackson, or go the cheap route and bring back The Hoff?

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via LA Times

Marvel Comics Sneak Peek: Mighty Avengers #12

Wow. I mean, wow! Did you read Secret Invasion? Did you pay attention to the Who Do You Trust? campaign? Remember that Nick Fury picture? Where is Nick Fury, and is he a Skrull?

Answer will be revealed April 23, 2008 in Mighty Avengers #12 featuring the return of the cigar chomping, one eyed hero.

Marvel Comics has kindly slipped us a sneak peek of the issue.

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