Happy weekend to all you comics fans out there, and welcome to the first Comics Relief of the last month of 2016. In today’s edition, we have even more X-Men ResurrXion news, as one of the original mutants steps into her own ongoing series at last. Read on for all the details!

Marvel reveals creative team, details on Jean Grey solo series

This week, Marvel Comics has been releasing details on all their new X-Men titles that are hitting the “refresh” button due to ResurrXion. The latest is Jean Grey, who along with Iceman, is getting her first self-titled solo series.

For fans hoping this would be a literal resurrection, I hate to break it to you, but the adult Jean Grey is remaining dead. Instead, this series will focus on the time-displaced teenage Jean Grey, who is now becoming aware of her Phoenix potential. The creative team on the series is writer Dennis Hopeless and artist and artist Victor Ibanez.

In a statement, Hopeless said “It’s a sort of trials of Hercules story. Jean gets a premonition of sorts. She’s told the Phoenix is back in play and that the Earth is doomed unless Jean Grey can step up. Unfortunately, the Jean Grey we have is a wildly unprepared teenager. Our Jean needs to level up in a hurry. She needs to step into those huge shoes and become the full grown badass we all know she will eventually. So… she straps in and heads out to get some life experience.”

The writer also says he wants to bring in other Phoenix-related characters into the series “I have a Post-It note on my laptop with this growing Phoenix list: Quentin Quire? Hope Summers? Rachel? The Phoenix Five? I’m not 100% sure who we’ll use or how exactly, but that’s definitely part of the plan.” Jean Grey #1 will debut in spring 2017. [CBR]

Weapon X to feature Marvel’s deadliest mutants

Jean Grey isn’t the only X-Men series with details getting revealed today; as part of ResurrXion, Marvel has announced the creative team for their new Weapon X series, which features an assortment of the deadliest killer mutants in the Marvel Universe. Weapon X will be written by Greg Pak with art from Greg Land, fresh off Uncanny X-Men.

The team line-up features Old Man Logan, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Domino, and Warpath as they work to take down a new Weapon X program which aims to exterminate mutants instead of turning them into living weapons, as they famously did in the past.

Writer Greg Pak explained. “And the powers and abilities of this new Weapon X threat are so terrifying that you need both heroes and villains teaming up to handle it. So get ready for a blockbuster thriller of a comic book with a brutal group of heroes and anti-heroes stretched to their limits in a battle for the survival of mutantkind. And of course, we’re going to have tons of fun as our heroes drive each other crazy along the way.” Weapon X will debut in the Spring of 2017. You can see teaser art for the series above. [Newsarama]

First wave of DC Rebirth books will be available to read free via Hoopla

Were you a reader who was intrigued by all the DC Rebirth hype, but never managed to pick up a title? Well, if you’re a user of Hoopla, the digital streaming service that is completely free for movies, music, ebooks, TV shows, and more, then you are in luck. Right now, the DC Universe Rebirth #1 special is available, and Hoopla has released a timetable for the rest of the books.

With Hoopla, subscriptions are available through public libraries which lets readers “borrow” the items digitally for a short temporary period. The library pays a fee, but the library member does not, it is free for the reader. You can see the Rebirth release timetable above. [Bleeding Cool]

January’s Batman issues get new story content

DC is altering their previously solicited plans for January’s Batman #14 and #15, changing the announced contents and making the issues a two-part story where Batman will decide “what to do” with Catwoman after recent events.
Here is DC’s new description of the issues: “How do you solve a problem like Selina Kyle? Is she a hero? Is she a villain? Can Batman and Catwoman ever really work things out?

The award-winning team of Tom King and Mitch Gerads (Sheriff of Babylon) bring you ‘Rooftops,’ a story in which Batman must decide once and for all what to do about Catwoman.” The two-part “Rooftops” arc begins in January 4’s Batman #14. You can see the cover image by Stephanie Hans above. [Newsarama]

Shutter to celebrate 25 issues, 25 years of Image Comics

Image Comics series, Shutter by Joe Keatinge and Leila del Duca, is getting ready to celebrate two milestones at the same time. First off, they are hitting issue #25, which just so happens to coincide with the actual 25th anniversary of Image Comics. To celebrate this convergence of events, Shutter will get a crossover, featuring several of Image Comics’ most popular characters from the past quarter century.

This very rare crossover event will feature Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, Rob Liefeld’s Glory, Marc Silvestri’s Witchblade, Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon and Jim Valentino’s Shadowhawk. (Sadly, Wildcats had to sit this one out for obvious reasons). Robert Kirkman will be represented by his character Invincible.

Keatinge said in a statement “Image Comics is why I write comics. After a lot of soul-searching, I felt the best way to express my gratitude on the Image partners’ momentous anniversary is to unite our characters over eating eggs and drinking mimosas.” [CBR]

Jason Momoa Aquaman makes first DC Comics appearance in unlikely series

Valentine’s 2017: TEEN TITANS GO! #20 art features Jason Momoa & Amber Heard DC Films versions of Aquaman & Mera with famous DC couples! pic.twitter.com/jGgSC34fkb

— The Aquaman Shrine (@AquamanShrine) November 28, 2016

The Jason Momoa version of Aquaman and the Amber Heard version of his wife Mera are going to be making their comic book cover debut in the most unlikely of places. Nope, it’s not an issue of Aquaman or Justice League, but the the couple will appear in cutesy form on the cover of Teen Titans Go! of all things, for the Valentine’s Day issue in February. The couple was spotted by website The Aquaman Shrine, who tweeted it out. You can see their tweet with the cover image up above. [Bleeding Cool]

Valiant teases new X-O Manowar series for 2017

Valiant Comics‘ long running series X-O Manowar ended recently after 50 issues, but you all knew that was going to really be the end, right? Valiant has already confirmed a March release date for an all-new X-O Manowar series, with art by Monika Palosz. No other details except the release date are given, but expect more information soon. You can check out the teaser image above. [Comics Beat]

Images: Marvel Comics / DC Comics / Image Comics / Valiant Comics