Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso developing storylines as envisioned by Skottie Young

Fridays on CBR mean Axel's In Charge.

Welcome to MARVEL A-I-C: AXEL-IN-CHARGE, CBR's regular interview feature with Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso!

An editor with years of experience who's brought out comics to both critical acclaim and best-selling status, Alonso stepped into the chair at the top of Marvel's Editorial department and since then has been working to bring his signature stylings to the entire Marvel U. Anchored by regular question and answer rounds with the denizens of the CBR Message Boards, each week Alonso will shake things up with special guest stars, exclusive art reveals and more!

This week, with New York Comic Con in full swing, Axel takes on a roundup of fan questions ahead of a weekend of panel announcements. Below, the Editor-in-Chief answers your questions on upcoming All-New Marvel NOW! titles from Kieron Gillen, the fate of "Infinity" cast members like Thane and Gladiator, the future of "Inhumanity," the "Battle of the Atom" fates of future X-Men and Mystique and more. Read on!

EXCLUSIVE: Something Sinister lurks beneath Adam Kubert's acetate cover for "Wolverine: Origin II"

Kiel Phegley: Axel, let's kick off our regular convention all-fan question installment with one from Time_to_Zap who was one of many to ask about All-New Marvel NOW! "I'm so excited to hear more about the All-New Marvel NOW! teasers at NYCC! I have noticed, however, that Kieron Gillen and Dennis Hopeless' names have not yet been seen in any of the teasers. Do I just need to be patient for more teasers to come, or are not all series receiving teasers?"

Alonso: You didn't see the "Descent" teaser, featuring Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker, that we released last week? As for Kieron, in due time. But you did see the teaser for "Origin II," right? In the tradition of the first "Origin" series, "Origin II" will turn what you know about Wolverine and his early life on its head. Starting with an almost-silent tour de force issue that proves why Adam Kubert is a comics legend, Kieron and Adam have mind-blowing revelations for Wolverine and his legendary supporting cast.

Spidergreen12 had a follow up on one of "Infinity's" breakout stars: "My question is in regards to Gladiator. He's always been a great character and I think 'Infinity' is doing a great job of showcasing that. What are the chances we'll get some sort of "Gladiator" or "Shi'ar Imperial Guard" series to further showcase why Marvel's cosmic landscape is simply the best?

Alonso: Jonathan Hickman wanted to do an "Imperial Guard" limited series during "Infinity," Spidergreen, but there just wasn't enough time in his schedule for it. But you never know what tomorrow might bring.

EXCLUSIVE: "Avengers" #22 pages by Leinil Yu, Gerry Alanguilan & Sunny Gho

Looking at some other facets of the modern Marvel U, Spidey616 started some questions with, "Recently the Marvel: Avengers Alliance game gave players an early look of Thane, the Inhuman son of Thanos, the search for whom is a major crux in Infinity. Post-Infinity, will he be a continuing player in the Marvel Universe either in Matt Fraction's Inhumans series or another project?"

Alonso: Don't want to say too much that might spoil the ending of "Infinity," Spidey616. But yes, our intention is that Thane will be a continuing player within the Marvel Universe.

He continues on the "Inhuman" front, asking, "A few years back, Bendis opened up a can of worms when he revealed the Beyonder was a mutant Inhuman. Given the resurgence of mutants in the Marvel U as well as the Inhumans in the coming months, has Bendis or other creators discussed revisiting this concept?"

Alonso: We can't. The Beyonder took a job at Marvel back in 1989, grew a beard to disguise himself, took on a weird Dutch-sounding name and has risen to become our Executive Editor. And he still toils every day trying to understand just what it means to be human.

Lastly, Spidey616 wonders, "Franklin Hall better known as Graviton has been revealed as a character in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and incidentally, Graviton has resurfaced in the pages of Secret Avengers as part of AIM's High Council. Was bringing back Graviton just another well timed coincidence or did editorial know far enough in advance about the use of Franklin Hall in the TV show?"

Alonso: Just a fortuitous happenstance, Spidey616. But fans of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." will find a lot to like inside the pages of "Secret Avengers," including familiar faces like Phil Coulson.

EXCLUSIVE: A colored "Secret Avengers" #11 page by Luke Ross, black-and-white #12 pages by Butch Guice

Back to the mutant side of things Noshee24 had a follow up to "Battle of the Atom" that goes in two parts: "Will there be any plans for the Future X-Men (Xorn, Oldman Deadpool, Ice-Hulk, Ice Gandalf(?), Phoenix Quire, Oldman Colossus, etc...) that was recently introduced during the Battle of Atom Crossover to have their own ongoing X-books? I think there's potential in the series since it is seen in the distant future. Also are there plans for Mr. [Rick] Remender to write another X-Book like that of his Uncanny X-Force run?"

Alonso: Good questions, Noshee24. You're going to have to wait for the end of "Battle of the Atom" to see what happens to all the future characters, and, indeed who survives the experience. I mean, you can't have a book if you're dead -- unless you're Dead-Girl. As for Rick -- we'd love to have him back in the X-Office, but he's got his hands full with "Uncanny Avengers," "Captain America," and something that is going to be announced very soon.

EXCLUSIVE: "Uncanny X-Men" #13 spread by Chris Bachalo, "X-Men" #6 art by David Lopez

On an entirely different side of Marvel publishing, Derek Metaltron asked, "I been enjoying reading the Prose Novels released over the past year with Civil War, the New Avengers, Iron Man and Astonishing X-Men, and I've also been really happy to see that those and the Pocket Novels Marvel used to do for Spider-Man, Wolverine, X-Men, Ultimates and the Fantastic Four are being released by Graphic Audio - I recently got Spider-Man: Drowned in Thunder and loved it! I was just curious whether there are any more Prose Novels planned for release (and hopefully adapted by Graphic Audio) next year? I would love to see stuff like Planet Hulk, Spider Island, Secret Invasion or Thor: The God Butcher released as prose and adapted into audio books."

Alonso: We do have more in the works in the coming year: Spider-Man, Captain America, X-Men and more surprises to come. And Graphic Audio will indeed be doing more. But we'll leave those titles for them to announce!

CMBMOOL had two questions about folks missing from action, starting with, "Given her appearances in various X-men titles in the past few years... does Marvel have anything BIG plans for Mystique given her connections through various Marvel X-men and heroes?"

Alonso: We have HUGE plans for Mystique, CMBMOOL. She's going to be taking a much bigger role in the Marvel U than she ever has before.

He followed up with, "Even though we have a new White Tiger in the comics, will we ever find out the true fate of the previous White Tiger that disappeared in the midst of Shadow Land event?"

Alonso: There are no current plans to reveal her fate, although one editor tells me she's gone off with the previous White Tiger from the '90s "Heroes for Hire" and Kasper Cole to form the musical trio, "Tres Ratones Ciegos."

Finally, IgVeni had a fun question about where Marvel stacks up to international comics competition: "I'm a spanish Marvel fan, and Im really enjoying Marvel Now! relaunch. Keep up your great job!! This week European Mass Media have showcased Asterix's new album is going to sell 2 million copies, just in french's 1st Edition. I know last Asterix album was published in 2009, so this success shouldn't be compared with sales of monthly comic-books, but... What are your comments about it? And about US Comic Industry health in comparation with France's?

Alonso: Totally different market, IgVeni. You're talking returnable newsstand comics in Europe versus non-returnable comics in the U.S. Our international licensees, Panini or Televisa, are better prepared to speak to numbers. However, we can say that both licensees have been increasing their sales each year, thanks to our strong backlist of titles that they produce.



Have some questions for Marvel's AXEL-IN-CHARGE? Please visit the CUP O' Q&A thread in CBR's Marvel Universe forum. It's now the dedicated thread for all connections between Board Members and the Marvel Executive staff that CBR will pull questions for next week's installment of our weekly fan-generated question-and-answer column! Do it to it!