What to look forward to in 2011: TV

Bendis' Alias adaptation for TV, set to film a pilot for the fall; the first of the Marvel TV series (Hulk and Cloak and Dagger as the other two) to debut. Jessica Jones is retconned in the comics to have once been a superhero, loosely associated with the Avengers and friends with Ms. Marvel. She tried her hand at superheroing and sucked. So she became a private detective. She's awesome. Dry humor, baggaged, and all sorts of badass. No actors are picked yet.

What to look forward to in 2011: films, pt 2

Thor
May 6
Kenneth Branagh is probably the only person that could make this work, since Thor's language is highly Shakespearean. Branagh is an expert at such. He'll be able to help actors with their lines and how the emotion and message conveyed through the dialogue. From what we've seen the sets look fantastic and over-the-top, as should a place where gods reside. The acting looks superb as well. Chris Hemsworth as Thor, the ever-adorable and increasingly-talented Natalie Portman as love interest Jane Foster, Kat Dennings as Darcy, Anthony Hopkins as Thor's despotic dad Odin, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Rene Russo as Frigga, and Jaimie Alexander as Sif.

Bobby's Top 15 X-Men: 5-1

5. Madrox/Multiple Man (Jamie Madrox)

Jamie Madrox is a conundrum. His powers and his personality are completely random and crazy-complicated...and crazy. And apparently he's not even a real mutant, but somehow he tested positive for the mutant gene when he entered the mutant concentration camp in the future. Madrox's humor, ability to constantly fail despite his best intentions, constant narration, and dedication to the belief that his life is like a noir film have make him a lovable damaged goof. I wasn't too familiar with him until my venture into the miniseries Madrox, and since then he quickly became a favorite of mine. Not to mention, he's had the best moments as a character the past five years in the X-Men books: his baby with Siryn who turned out to be a dupe (as he was a part of him) was perhaps the most memorable.

Favorite costume: Current and previous X-Factor

What to look forward to in 2011: films

The Eagle
Feb. 11
To honor his father, a young Roman soldier (played by one of the worst actors with one of the worst names Channing Tatum) goes on a quest to find the eagle, his father's lost legion's emblem. Okay, so Channing is awful, but the movie is VERY reminiscent of King Arthur's gritty style. And besides, Tatum and Clive Owen have the same acting skills, which is one face the entire time (mad while bored and surprised, respectively). It might be good. It's worth a rental later this year.

What to look forward to in 2011: Books

This year may not have another Hunger Games, but it will have equally devastating dystopian novels, as we surely near a change in our world's political climate. But, of course, some of them will not be dystopian. Here's a look at some of the books we are eagerly awaiting this year.

Bobby's Top 15 X-Men: 10-6

10. Omega Sentinel
Karima Shapandar

Omega was awesome when Claremont wrote her in his Excalibur v3 run, but her first appearance was in X-Men Unlimited (1993) #27 in 2000, years after Bastion's Operation Zero Tolerance, though that is the setting.  It tells the story of how Neal Shaara's brother and Karima became prime sentinels, while Neal's powers prevented the transformation.  Neal and Karima fell in love, but Karima warned him of her transformation and told him to leave.  Thus begins her journey of struggling to keeping her humanity.  Magneto and Professor X reassembled her and programmed humanity into her on Genosha.  Again she was deconstructed and abused by Pandemic in Carey's X-Men run.  She was reassembled and corrected herself.  She proved herself a valuable X-Man as a resource, weapon, intelligence, and friend.  In a recent arc of X-Men Legacy called Fables of Reconstruction, we find that the virus created by Cypher also effected her, but due to the layers of humanity, it had a delayed effect.  She became violent, hunting her teammates, and Hellion took violent action against her, more than he should have, leaving her a vegetable.  We don't know what the future holds for the lovely lady, but we do know we love her.  And she has quite a following.

Favorite Costume(s): Excalibur (pictured), X-Men