Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Kitson/Fraction's The Order...SPOILERS

Sneak look at the cover and solicitation for the new Champions series by Matt Fraction and our friend, Barry Kitson.

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THE CHAMPIONS #1
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils and Cover by BARRY KITSON
Variant Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN

THE CHAMPIONS introduces the all-new and Los Angeles-based crown jewel in Tony Stark’s FIFTY-STATE INITIATIVE. A team of Stark-branded and created super heroes, these young actors, athletes and models are infused with tremendous powers and even more tremendous fame, reborn as the First Super Hero Team of Tomorrow™ -- THE CHAMPIONS. Here the same ol'-same ol' means hooking up at the Standard, drinks at SkyBar and a death-duel on Sunset Blvd. against some villain too stupid to realize that, in Hollywood, the good guys always win. The catch: you can be fired at any point along the way. And every inch of your life will be subjected to intense public scrutiny. And if you survive all that for a whole year, you'll face mandatory retirement. And there's no guarantee you'll live to see that retirement. If you had one year to save the world, what would you do?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

edit-- Thread title updated to reflect new series title.

So... wait. Why do these costumes/general design aesthetic bear no resemblance to the first time we saw this group in Civil War #6, which were far more colourful and varied?



[Even before you consider that that was meant to be the group debuting and I don't see any of them there...]

Guess none of them got the call up to the big league franchise in LA.

Love the cover.

Sounds like "The Real World" meets "The Apprentice" meets Menudo.

I'm checking it out for Barry's artwork, but am not expecting much overall from that solicit. Give me THE CHAMPIONS, not a trademark holder. Maybe Angel can slap Stark with a cease and desist for stealing the incorporated name.

I can't say I'm a big fan of the character designs. I'll give it a shot so maybe it'll grow on me.

The symbol also reminds me too much of Commerce Bank:

(except when it's on the speedster's head, in which case it reminds me of the Dominators)

The characters from Civil War do appear in the first issue.
There are a few changes in the coloring to come - I'll explain those when the issue hits the stands.
I hope some of you will give the book a try - I do think you'll enjoy it. Matt's writing had really impressed me!

I'm going to give it a try... but I think there should be at least *one* of the original Champions involved. And I'll repeat myself-- find a way to bring back DARKSTAR and I'll be a guaranteed reader.

I listened to Matt Fraction's interview the other day. I was pretty impressed by the premise and his enthusiasm.

A hero team that's set up like a sports team. Having loved super team comics for so long it makes sense.

Big Guy
Team Leader
Sneaky Guy
etc. etc.

I'm going to give this a try for sure.

Matt's doing a great job with "The Immortal Iron Fist" and of course Barry's bringing the art so I'll be down for the first few issues to see where it goes.

I can't imagine the pressure of trying to launch this given the near onslaught of new titles coming out in the wake of "Civil War". And without familiar characters, I imagine it'll be doubly hard.

Of course if there are any little previews/character designs you can throw us Barry, it might stoke the fires... (hint hint)

Pluses: Obviously, the art. And "Iron Fist" is one of Marvel's best books right now, so Fraction has cred with me.

Minuses: It spins out of "Civil War", which I didn't like at all.

I'll likely check it out.

If people could choose one of the old lineup to be in this title, who would you choose?

I know she's in The Mighty Avengers, but I'd love to see Black Widow take the reins of this team. It'd elevate her status and of all the old guard, she's the one that'd make the most sense being on the post Civil War Champions.

Darkstar, for sure.

Absolutely Darkstar. I always liked Laynia.

Angel and Iceman made a neat 'buddy' team, but Hercules, Ghost Rider and Black Widow didn't work so well for me.

Sounds like something I'll want to give a try, especially it's set in my old stomping grounds. I just hope that this new team doesn't end up running the Runaways out of town. I think SoCal is big enough for the both of them.

Does the guy in the blue & white in the front row remind anyone one else of Gravity a little?

Runaways already got "run out of town" by Iron Man.

Man, that really bites.

I'm excited about it. While I didn't care for Civil War I do like what it caused. I'm a fan of goverment or police type supeteams with matching uniforms.

They only have one year? Now that changes things?

I'm the guy who loves all the superhero laws, charters, organizations, costumes, etc. Hence I love the Initiative idea and this.

Is that Thor Girl with the hammer? And a new look?

LOL: http://forum.newsarama.com/printthread.php?t=109223

Alternate titles for the Champions book:

- The REAL Champions
- The ChamP'ynz
- The Super-hero Team Formerly Known as The Champions
- Champs

1 & 3 probably wouldn't work (too similar).

2 & 4...

How about 'Big Tony Warbucks' Goon Guard'?

West Coast Champions?

WHAT new Champions series, exactly?