On Tuesday Marvel treated us to their latest “Next Big Thing” press conference call. Moderated by Arune Singh, Marvel’s Director of Communications, and featuring  Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuiness, and Marvel’s SVP of publishing Tom Breevort, Marvel finally shed some light on their December event,  Avengers: X-Sanction.

The four issue miniseries was originally teased during Comic Con’s Cup ‘O Joe Panel as Cable Reborn. It’s the latest collaboration from Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness. It features the return of Nathan Sumers a.k.a. Cable to the Marvel Universe following  his death in X-Men: Second Coming.

Loeb and Tom Brevoort explained that this is the book that will launch several events in the Marvel Universe that will play out through 2012. It was pointed out that it’s not a coincidence that book is launching just as Fear Itself, Children’s Crusade, and Schism are all ending.

This is a return to the character for Loeb who got his first monthly comic work on Cable back in mid-90’s. After expressing his love for the character, Loeb added “I always saw Cable as very much the Captain America of the X-Men. A soldier from out of time who cared deeply for the people he worked with.”

Cable believes that something is going to happen to his daughter Hope, and that is what puts the Avengers in his sights.“This is a man who has a daughter and a need to protect her. That’s really all you need to know.” Brevoort elaborated,“The idea of Cable as a man out to protect his daughter by any means necessary gives the character an emotional heft and underlines everything he does. It’s richly fulfilling.

When talking about the art McGuiness explained “The art on this book is much darker. The whole tone is. It’s been fun coming at it from that angle, playing with light and shadow, creating mood.” He joked, “I have yet to find a gun too big for Cable.”

Avengers: X-Sanction hits stores this December. So are you guys excited to see the return of Nathan Summers to the Marvel U? Are you happy that Loeb and McGuiness are the ones bringing him back?

Matt Todd

matthew@comicimpact.com