Eric J. Moreels
Mar 18, 2003, 09:49 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/WEAPON_X_7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/WEAPON_X_7t.jpg" align=left alt="Weapon X #7 preview"></a>The villainous stars of Marvel's mutant bad-guy book Weapon X are set to face their toughest challenge yet beginning this month in issue #7 when they go up against "The Underground", a revolutionary force led by the mutant mercenary from the future named Nathan Summers.
As the lead-in to the new Weapon X story arc plays out in the last few issues of his own solo title (see 'SOLDIER X DISCHARGED' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15868)) in the coming months, writer Frank Tieri is ensuring that the character isn't consigned to character limbo like many before him.
"I decided to bring in good ol' Nate for a few reasons - primarily because his arrival shakes things up a bit," Tieri told X-Fan. "The Director's had his fair share of opponents that have been associated with the Program in the past (Wolverine, Sabretooth, Deadpool), I thought it was time to bring in some new blood. He's a good ying to the Weapon X Program's yang, but we'll see that Nathan has changed a bit. {We'll see} that he may be willing to blur the line a little to achieve his goal - the destruction of the Weapon X Program and the elimination of the Director. By the time this arc is all said and done, we'll see if he accomplishes either goal."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/WEAPX_8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/WEAPX_8t.jpg" align=right alt="Weapon X #8 preview"></a>Tieri went on to say that he hopes to have a lot of fun with the character of Nathan Summers, and that whilst he won't necessarily be returning the character back to his roots, he will be sending him in a new direction.
"I always liked the military aspect of the character. This guy is the future's ultimate soldier - the Captain America of his era, if you will. There's a lot of fun you can have with that. Nathan fulfilled his lifelong mission when he killed Apocalypse. I felt it was time to give him a new one. The thing is, he's changed since then, and those changes include the way he goes about things. When Nathan's around, other characters sometimes follow - don't be too surprised if a familar face or two doesn't eventually pop up."
Those readers that keep up with Marvel's monthly solicitations will already know two of the aforementioned familiar faces - Cable's long-time friend Domino and former X-Force member Meltdown.
"Domino is Nathan's glue - she's always there for him, ESPECIALLY when the going gets tough. Friends like that in life are always hard to come by, so you can certainly see why Nate would want her around. Meltdown's heart is in the right place but she's always the one to beat to a different drum a bit. I think that's fun to play with and I like the dynamic she brings to the squad. Fans have already started speculating on who the other members are - and one member in particular - from who they saw in the shadows at the end of issue #6. That sort of speculation is part of what makes comics fun, so I won't spoil the surprise just yet."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0503/WEAPON_X_9.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0503/WEAPON_X_9t.jpg" align=right alt="Weapon X #9 preview"></a>Tieri has also been deluged with requests to bring Agent X into the series, following the recent announcement of that title's cancellation (see 'CASE CLOSED FOR AGENT X' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16605)), but gave a non-committal "We'll see" when asked if Alex Hayden will be seen in the pages of Weapon X.
Tieri added that 'The Underground' arc will have "tremendous ramifications" for the series as a whole. "I know people say this all the time," he said, "but the series won't be the same after this arc - SERIOUSLY."
"'The Underground (Weapon X #7-12) will really set a lot of things in motion," Tieri continued. "In fact, just about everything that's been building up in this series will come to a head by issue #12. Not only will subplots like the Aurora/ Director relationship and Agent Jackson's plans be explored, but we'll also be adding some new wrinkles within the arc that many fans have been clamoring for. For instance, we'll be seeing confrontations between Nathan Summers and Kane and between Marrow and Sabretooth. So fans can imagine, this arc will be HUGE - in fact, two members of the cast won't survive the experience."
Following "The Underground", Tieri offered a few teasers as to what fans can expect from Weapon X's second year.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0603/WEAPX010_COV-C_100.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0603/WEAPX010_COV-C_100t.jpg" align=right alt="Weapon X #10 preview"></a>"Change is the optimal word - some familiar faces won't be around and some new ones will pop up," Tieri teased. "But I'd have to say, the biggest thing to affect the series, however, will be a shocking revelation at the end of issue #12 (we're talking issue #5 level reveal folks, so you can just imagine how big it is). It's the sort of revelation that keeps in line with one of the strengths of the series - and that's it's unpredictable nature. If fans thought they didn't know what to expect next from this series - just wait 'til they get a load of this!"
Pre-order Weapon X online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=282&cat=WEAPON+X+)
As the lead-in to the new Weapon X story arc plays out in the last few issues of his own solo title (see 'SOLDIER X DISCHARGED' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15868)) in the coming months, writer Frank Tieri is ensuring that the character isn't consigned to character limbo like many before him.
"I decided to bring in good ol' Nate for a few reasons - primarily because his arrival shakes things up a bit," Tieri told X-Fan. "The Director's had his fair share of opponents that have been associated with the Program in the past (Wolverine, Sabretooth, Deadpool), I thought it was time to bring in some new blood. He's a good ying to the Weapon X Program's yang, but we'll see that Nathan has changed a bit. {We'll see} that he may be willing to blur the line a little to achieve his goal - the destruction of the Weapon X Program and the elimination of the Director. By the time this arc is all said and done, we'll see if he accomplishes either goal."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/WEAPX_8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/WEAPX_8t.jpg" align=right alt="Weapon X #8 preview"></a>Tieri went on to say that he hopes to have a lot of fun with the character of Nathan Summers, and that whilst he won't necessarily be returning the character back to his roots, he will be sending him in a new direction.
"I always liked the military aspect of the character. This guy is the future's ultimate soldier - the Captain America of his era, if you will. There's a lot of fun you can have with that. Nathan fulfilled his lifelong mission when he killed Apocalypse. I felt it was time to give him a new one. The thing is, he's changed since then, and those changes include the way he goes about things. When Nathan's around, other characters sometimes follow - don't be too surprised if a familar face or two doesn't eventually pop up."
Those readers that keep up with Marvel's monthly solicitations will already know two of the aforementioned familiar faces - Cable's long-time friend Domino and former X-Force member Meltdown.
"Domino is Nathan's glue - she's always there for him, ESPECIALLY when the going gets tough. Friends like that in life are always hard to come by, so you can certainly see why Nate would want her around. Meltdown's heart is in the right place but she's always the one to beat to a different drum a bit. I think that's fun to play with and I like the dynamic she brings to the squad. Fans have already started speculating on who the other members are - and one member in particular - from who they saw in the shadows at the end of issue #6. That sort of speculation is part of what makes comics fun, so I won't spoil the surprise just yet."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0503/WEAPON_X_9.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0503/WEAPON_X_9t.jpg" align=right alt="Weapon X #9 preview"></a>Tieri has also been deluged with requests to bring Agent X into the series, following the recent announcement of that title's cancellation (see 'CASE CLOSED FOR AGENT X' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16605)), but gave a non-committal "We'll see" when asked if Alex Hayden will be seen in the pages of Weapon X.
Tieri added that 'The Underground' arc will have "tremendous ramifications" for the series as a whole. "I know people say this all the time," he said, "but the series won't be the same after this arc - SERIOUSLY."
"'The Underground (Weapon X #7-12) will really set a lot of things in motion," Tieri continued. "In fact, just about everything that's been building up in this series will come to a head by issue #12. Not only will subplots like the Aurora/ Director relationship and Agent Jackson's plans be explored, but we'll also be adding some new wrinkles within the arc that many fans have been clamoring for. For instance, we'll be seeing confrontations between Nathan Summers and Kane and between Marrow and Sabretooth. So fans can imagine, this arc will be HUGE - in fact, two members of the cast won't survive the experience."
Following "The Underground", Tieri offered a few teasers as to what fans can expect from Weapon X's second year.
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0603/WEAPX010_COV-C_100.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0603/WEAPX010_COV-C_100t.jpg" align=right alt="Weapon X #10 preview"></a>"Change is the optimal word - some familiar faces won't be around and some new ones will pop up," Tieri teased. "But I'd have to say, the biggest thing to affect the series, however, will be a shocking revelation at the end of issue #12 (we're talking issue #5 level reveal folks, so you can just imagine how big it is). It's the sort of revelation that keeps in line with one of the strengths of the series - and that's it's unpredictable nature. If fans thought they didn't know what to expect next from this series - just wait 'til they get a load of this!"
Pre-order Weapon X online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=282&cat=WEAPON+X+)