Character Spotlight: Agent Phil Coulson

Comic Book Resources has just announced that Marvel will be bringing the fan-favorite Agent Coulson into the Marvel Universe proper in the upcoming Battle Scars #6 (June 2012).  And that's not all: there will be a black Fury as well!

Battle Scars is a 2012 miniseries about an Army Ranger named Marcus Johnson, who is being fought over by several Marvel entities, including SHIELD, Captain America, and the Serpent Society, because they believe he's important for some reason.  In issue 5, it's revealed that he's the son of Nick Fury (whose real name is Nick Fury Jr.), and according to the above image, he'll at least join SHIELD, and maybe even take the elder Fury's place. Whether this piece of obvious synergy is handled smartly or in a contrived way is yet to be seen, but I hope it's the former. (It'll probably be the latter, though, since Marcus has to lose an eye, shave his head, grow a goatee, and join SHIELD in the span of an issue.)

What's more important - to me, at least - is the addition of Coulson. Ever since he first appeared in Iron Man (2008), I've been counting down the days to his first comics appearance. But it never came. Even after showing up in other movies, being featured in a couple of shorts, becoming a major character in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, and getting his own poster for The Avengers film, it never came. I was even considering making a Canon Immigrant Wish List post that would've showcased several popular canon foreigners that never made the jump, but now the #1 pick would have to be removed. Thank goodness. Anyway, Coulson first appeared in Battle Scars #1 (January 2012) as Marcus's friend "Cheese", and was then revealed as Phil Coulson in Battle Scars #6 (June 2012).

Character Spotlight: Nite-Lik

Red Lantern Nite-Lik is a rarity among immigrants in that he isn't from a movie or a tv show; he actually made his first appearance in a toy line.

Nite-Lik was announced as part of wave 2 of Green Lantern Classics (a subline of Mattel's DC Universe Classics) in 2010. He was created by the line's sculptors The Four Horsemen, and named by Geoff Johns; his name is based on the line's manager, Scott Neitlich. He was scheduled to appear in Green Lantern #61 (February 2011), but his debut was pushed back to Red Lanterns #1 (September 2011).

Ultimate Spider-Man Saved This Blog

This blog's been in a slump for a while now, for a few reasons. One, modern adaptations of comic books are more likely to use obscure characters instead of inventing new ones. Two, there's been an adaptation dry spell lately, so there's been no way for new characters to appear anyway. And three, DC's immigrant frenzy halted with the New 52 relaunch, while Marvel has never been big on immigrants in the first place.

But luckily, something changed. Ultimate Spider-Man debuted last weekend (April 2, 2012), and the premiere brought us two new characters, both of whom are new versions of existing characters, and both of whom have already jumped to comics: White Tiger and Nova. (This is becoming increasingly common, as it's a good marketing strategy for new shows, but I'm not a fan because it makes the idea of canon immigrants murky. But I digress.)

In the animated series, White Tiger is part of a group of superhero SHIELD trainees (as is Nova, Spider-Man, Power Man, and Iron Fist). In the comics, she first appeared as a part of the closest thing to that in the Marvel Universe: the Avengers Academy. Ava Ayala is the sister of Hector Ayala, the first superhero to use the name "White Tiger" and she has inherited his jade tiger amulet. She is also at odds with fellow canon immigrant Reptil because she thinks he's not active enough in the hispanic community.  Ava first appeared in Avengers Academy #20 (October 2011).

Nova, aka Sam Alexander, is the newest member of the Nova Corps and Richard Rider's replacement. He first appeared in Point One #1 (November 2011) and has already played an important role in Marvel Comics: he alerted Earth to the impending arrival of the Phoenix Force, thus kicking off the event "Avengers Vs. X-Men".

I'm glad to be able to add these, and hopefully there will be more entries soon!