It’s the 50th anniversary for Marvel’s X-Men, and Marvel has some big plans for everyone’s favorite mutants. Announced at C2E2 in Chicago, this fall will see the release of X-Men: Battle of the Atom, a ten issue event launching in September with Battle of the Atom #1. The story will then crossover between the regular issues of All-New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine and the X-Men, and X-Men for two months before wrapping up in Battle of the Atom #2.

Continue reading for more info and to check out the first cover image.

Conan the Barbarian #15
Written by Brian Wood
Pencils by Andrea Mutti
Inks by Pierluigi Bladassini
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Cover by Massimo Carnevale
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.50

Conan the Barbarian #15 is, unfortunately, the first issue in quite some time that I haven’t enjoyed more than the previous installment. I wish I could explain why, but I really can’t.

Brian Wood does a fantastic job, as usual, writing this issue, but there’s just something lacking from previous issues. I think it’s just the rare issue wherein it’s a pretty boring chapter of a good story. And when the rest of the story has been so good and exciting, this slow act, really grinds to a halt. It’s Belit’s origin story, which again, should be really good, but it’s not. Don’t get me wrong, this issue isn’t awful, it’s just not aweSOME. I’m sure Wood will be back on track with the next issue.

Star Wars #4
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Carlos D’anda
Colors by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover Artwork by Alex Ross
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 10, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Brian Wood‘s new Star Wars comic book series is refreshing. It feels to me, as a longtime fan, that the saga is going through a rebirth, what with the new Sequels coming, Lucasarts switching to licensing only, and this ongoing series continually smashing expectations. With Issue #4 of the new Dark Horse series, straightforwardly titled Star Wars, we continue following the heroes and villains from A New Hope in the weeks following the Battle of Yavin.

Princess Leia, leading the stealth X-Wing unit of Grey Squadron, is focused on the mission of finding a new base for the Rebels, while also aiming to uncover the alleged Imperial Spy in their midst. But while on their first mission, Leia’s detachment is caught in a targeted firefight with Imperials, indicating the Imperial espionage could be deeper and closer than she previously anticipated.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, grounded from the elite stealth squadron due to his cockiness at letting the "man who destroyed the Death Star" hero-worship go to his head, receives a message in the Force from his spiritual mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, warning him of the danger Leia is encountering; but is surprised to discover he is not the only one who hears Kenobi’s voice from the grave”¦

Star Wars #3
Script by Brian Wood
Art by Carlos D’anda
Colors by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover Art by Alex Ross
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 13, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

To be perfectly honest with you, I wasn’t sure whether Brian Wood would be able to top #2 of Star Wars, but he has absolutely blown above and beyond all expectations in this third installment. Coupled with the fantastic art team of Carlos D’anda and Gabe Eltaeb, Dark Horse is delivering the goods on this new Star Wars series, adopting a deeper glance at key characters from the saga, while upping the ante for expectations.

Now with the secretive "black ops" X-Wing group christened Grey Squadron, Princess Leia leads her team in training operations in preparation for the ongoing search for a new Rebel Base location, and to uproot the suspected Imperial spy. Luke Skywalker, also in Grey Squadron, falls short of expectations in the team, as his heroic reputation begins to corrode his sensibilities and cause him to be reprimanded.

Meanwhile, Han Solo and Chewbacca have snuck onto Coruscant, the heart of the Empire, on a secret mission based on intelligence provided by Mon Mothma. They are placed into an almost impossible quandary, cornered by Imperial Stormtroopers after their intelligence is found to be compromised.

Star Wars #2
Script by Brian Wood
Art by Carlos D’anda
Colors by Gabe Eltaeb
Cover Art by Alex Ross
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Continuing the new series, simply and boldly self-titled as Star Wars, Dark Horse enters the second chapter with a little action, along with much context that moves the story along significantly. Writer Brian Wood continues proving his chops with Star Wars #2, whilst artists Carlos D’anda and Gabe Eltaeb are beginning to forge a unique style for this new series.

Star Wars #2 begins with Han Solo and Chewbacca on a detached mission, still relatively unclear though involving a lot of credits, as they move through a sequence of rendezvous points and longwinded hyperspace jumps to avoid detection. While everything seems to be going like clockwork to begin with, the challenge of the mission makes itself clear when a particularly well-known bounty hunter, accompanied by an Imperial Star Destroyer, show up”¦