Next Avengers Debut Trailer
May 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Marvel’s animated branch of direct to DVD movies will bring Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow in August of 2008. So far I’ve loved the stuff they have been doing, although this one seems a bit stranger to me.
The premise is that Ultron has returned years after the classic Avengers have long since moved on. The kids step up and have to save the world. I wondered about how good this would be for comics fans, considering these characters are all new, here is what the Marvel.com interview with creator Chris Yost had to say:
“But!” he continues, “If you do know the classic characters, and do know the history, then there is a TON of stuff packed into the movie. Nothing distracting, nothing that will take people out of the moment, but there’s going to be plenty of goodness for hardcore Avengers fans.”
Tags: animated, animation, avengers, chris yost, dvd, heroes of tomorrow, marvel, marvel studios, movie, movies, next avengers, yost
Iron Man Movie Excitement
April 30, 2007 | Leave a Comment
As Spider-Man 3 prepares to hit theaters on Friday night kicking off the summer 2007 movies, I begin to look forward to the Marvel movies of summer 2008. Headlining those charts is the exciting Jon Favreau rendition of Iron Man.
Classically, Iron Man/Tony Stark has not been one of my favorite Marvel characters. However, 2005’s Orson Scott Card written Ultimate Iron Man series piqued my interest. Following this, the deep involvement in Spider-Man continuity. Peter befriends and relies on Tony Stark, moves into Avengers tower with Mary Jane and Aunt May. He then changes to the Iron Spidey costume. Eventually comes out in support of Stark’s Super Hero Registration Act initiative and reveals his identity. His stance changes in the long run as he defies Iron Man, goes underground and joins the resistance as part of the conclusion of Civil War. All this certainly puts Iron Man front and center in all my comic readings.
Of additional note, last winter’s Invincible Iron Man DVD, created by the same animation studio responsible for Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2 DVDs, was the best of the three.
With all this in mind, the star studded casting of Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Terrence Howard as good friend and coworker Jim Rhodes/War Machine, Gwyneth Paltrow as the love interest Viginia “Pepper” Potts, and Jeff Bridges as the apparent villain Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger is highly exciting.
I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the first teaser trailer…
Tags: "ultimate avengers", avengers, civi war, dvd, gwyneth paltrow, invincible iron man, iron man, iron monger, james rhodes, jeff bridges, jim rhodes, jon favreau, marvel, movie, obadiah stane, orson scott card, pepper potts, poster, robert downey, robert downey jr, spider-man, spiderman, spidey, tony stark, trailer, war machine
Who is Ronin Now?
April 18, 2007 | 1 Comment
Ronin joined the New Avengers last year when she helped them out in Japan. It was later revealed that Ronin was in fact Maya Lopez formerly known as Echo. She was good friends with Matt Murdock, in fact they had a off an on relationship for awhile. Lopez was raised by Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin after he killed her father.
She was born deaf, but with the gift of being able to reproduce anything she saw anyone do. This includes playing the piano, fighting styles, flying planes, etc. It makes her a formidable opponent, especially if she has witnessed someone fight in the past.
After revealing herself to Captain America, Iron Man, and the rest of the New Avengers, she returned to Japan to infiltrate the organized crime group “The Hand”. When Civil War broke out shortly after, her contact with the Avengers was broken.
Following Civil War, she contacted Matt Murdock as she feared being captured or defeated by Elektra (leader of The Hand). He in turn told Iron Fist, who told the New Avengers she needed help.
By the time the new New Avengers arrived in Japan, Maya had been killed and resurrected by Elektra. Clearly Elektra intended to convert her to The Hand’s cause.
The interesting thing about all of this, Ronin arrived with the New Avengers. So the question is, who is Ronin now? Considering the fact that she contacted Murdock to help her, that’d be my initial guess. However… The picture to the right shows Maya and Ronin’s first interaction which seems to indicate this is not Matt…
The only other hints come from author Brian Michael Bendis in a Newsarama interview: “It’s someone with a long history in the Marvel Universe. There are quite a few people it could be, and it’s not necessarily the person you immediately go to, but it’s someone I have an affection for who also has a history of donning a guise that best suits his or her mental tone. And this is his or her mental tone right now. And it just so happens there is a costume that needs filling and a person who can fill it, and so it’s taken.”
If I was to take bets, these are the odds I’d give on who Ronin will turn out to be:
Clint Barton (Hawkeye) - 3:2
James “Bucky” Buchanan Barnes (Winter Soldier) - 3:1
Nick Fury - 5:1
Sharon Carter - 20:1
Jessica Jones - 40:1
Frank Castle (Punisher) - 50:1
Marc Spector (Moon Knight) - 100:1
Matt Murdock (Daredevil) - 250:1
Wade Wilson (Deadpool) - 500:1
Tony Stark (Iron Man) - 10,000:1
Steve Rogers (Captain America) - 1,000,000:1
Tags: avengers, bendis, brian michael bendis, bucky, captain america, civil war, clint barton, daredevil, deadpool, echo, elektra, frank castle, hawkeye, iron man, james buchanan, jessica jones, kingpin, luke cage, marc spector, marvel, matt murdock, maya lopez, moon knight, new avengers, nick fury, punisher, Ronin, sharon carter, suit, the hand, tony stark, wade wilson, wilson fisk, Winter Soldier
A Darker Spider-Man
April 15, 2007 | 2 Comments
I am certain that putting Spider-Man back in the black suit was primarily a marketing ply to bring him inline visually with the new Spider-Man 3 film coming out this summer. It can’t help but sell comics if the book on the newsstand looks just like the character on the big screen.
However, I have been pleasantly surprised by how they are playing out this change in the books. First of all, in the wake of Civil War, Aunt May was shot by a sniper hired by the Kingpin. All evidence indicates this bullet will be lethal, but for now she hangs on, in a coma, sustained by life support. He vows to avenge her by all necessary means. In fact, as you can see in the image on the left, he intends to find who is responsible and he “is going to kill them”.
Additionally, Peter Parker decides not to take the pardon offered by new director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Tony Stark/Iron Man. This leaves him as a criminal fugitive in defiance of the Superhero Registration Act. As part of this he remains a member of the New Avengers who are now made up entirely of heroes in a similar situation. Now led by Luke Cage, the New Avengers are made up of Wolverine (Logan), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Iron Fist (Danny Rand), Ronin (unknown), Echo (Maya Lopez; formerly Ronin), and the surprise addition of Doctor Stephen Strange. This is a group who are known far more for street level crime fighting as opposed to global/galactic/cosmic level events. They start right out fighting Elektra and The Hand, but Spider-Man is here to fight the Kingpin’s crew.
This newly formed team is certainly darker, with a much more aggressive take on crime fighting. The US government considers all of them criminals and this combined with their plans, means they will be taking out their aggressions in potentially lethal ways. I would not want to be a street thug in the Marvel Universe with these guys out for vengeance. The image below shows that they are not implying this, but stating it outright.
Al of this leaves us with a Spider-Man who has turned to much darker tactics. His life has taken a dark turn. So… using the black costume as a symbol of his new stance both to fans reading the book and to criminals he will encounter in the Marvel Universe is a nice and accurate touch. Again, the marketing aspect of this change had me a bit hesitant about their decision to make this change, but I’m loving the story lines that are emerging.
Tags: "black suit", "Spider-Man 3", aunt may, avengers, danny rand, dark, doctor strange, echo, elektra, iron fist, iron man, jessica drew, lethal, logan, luke cage, marvel, marvel universe, maya lopez, new avengers, power man, Ronin, shield, spider-man, spider-woman, stephen strange, the hand, tony stark, vengeance, Wolverine
Stephen Colbert on the Death of Captain America
March 15, 2007 | 3 Comments
I recently reported on the tragic death of Captain America. Being such a large event, it spilled over into some more conventional media spaces. Below is Stephen Colbert’s “The Word” segment titled “Comic Justice” about Captain America’s death.
As a follow up to this segment, Marvel got involved, more specifically editor-in-chief at Marvel, Joe Quesada.
From the Marvel press release:
Cap’s shield has resurfaced and is now in the hands of Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”
As you’ll see in the video below, Colbert claims to have received a letter from Marvel EIC Joe Quesada, presenting the shield to the late night talk show host. Quesada’s letter states that Steve Rogers bequethed the shield to Colbert in his Will, which was read last Friday.
After reading the letter, Colbert’s staff brought out the shield and the bespectacled host hefted the legendary weapon, stating, “Cap? I hope I make you proud.”
S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently investigating the Will, as well as the validity of the letter. Quesada, admitted “friend of the show” says Colbert’s on the up and up and gave us the full story.
“I must confess that I am the culprit,” states Quesada. After reading Cap’s Last Will and Testament, I quickly snuck out of the Marvel’s offices with the shield. As so many of you know, Steve Rogers was a humble man and wanted his last remaining wishes to be carried out as privately as possible.
“After a small “transfer of power” ceremony occurring on the Avenger’s Quinjet, followed by several intense hours of introspection and deliberation with Mr. Colbert, we both felt it would be best to make a public statement of his inheriting the shield. Not as way of raising Mr. Colbert’s status even further (How is that even possible?), nor as a cheap ratings stunt, but rather to let evildoers across the globe know that even with Cap’s demise, there is no still place for them to hide. A clear message had to be sent that the mantle had been passed and that the Marvel Universe has gained a new (Colbert) Nation and remains secure.”
It is of course well known that Colbert is a geek at heart. His on screen relationship with Quesada originated when Quesada visoted the Colbert Report last year to promote the start of Civil War. You can view that interview in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.
Tags: avengers, cap, cap's shield, captain america, colbert, colbert nation, colbert report, joe quesada, quinjet, shield, stephen colbert, steve rogers
Avengers, New and Mighty
February 22, 2007 | 9 Comments
In the wake of Civil War, the Avengers are left split into two teams. These will be the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers. Little is known about either, especially considering Civil War has not yet completed. However, the cover for Mighty Avengers has been revealed, and the first issue with the new New Avengers is out!
We do know that Brian Michael Bendis will be writing both books. Leinil Yu will be drawing New Avengers and Frank Cho will be drawing Mighty Avengers.
Here’s what the teams are looking like so far:
Mighty Avengers
based entirely off the cover art
- Ms. Marvel - leading the team
- Iron Man - is this Tony Stark? I have my doubts…
- The Sentry
- Ares
- Wonder Man
- Wasp
- Black Widow
New Avengers
- Luke Cage (returning)
- Spider-Man (returning, now in black suit)
- Wolverine (returning)
- Spider-Woman (returning)
- Maya Lopez/Echo (returning, no longer as Ronin)
- Iron Fist - no longer wearing the Daredevil costume and clearly the new money for this group.
- Doctor Strange
- Ronin - not Maya, so who’s Ronin? They imply it is “not quite” Matt Murdock. Could this be Nick Fury? Captain America? Sue Storm? Some other lesser known disenfranchised character?
I find the Mighty Avengers to be the more surprising of the teams. Lots of old characters being brought back to the main stream.
Early indications say that Mighty Avengers will be the more government acknowledged team addressing the massive universe effecting events.
New Avengers are a darker more street level team with a concentration on fighting crime. The art styles do a great job of immediately indicating that distinction as well.
Tags: ares, art, avengers, bendis, black, black widow, brian michael bendis, captain america, civil war, comics, daredevil, doctor strange, echo, iron fist, iron man, luke cage, marvel, matt murdock, maya lopez, mighty avengers, ms marvel, new avengers, nick fury, Ronin, sentry, spider-man, spider-woman, spiderman, spiderwoman, sue storm, tony stark, wasp, Wolverine, wonder man
Ultimate Avengers 2 Trailer Available
June 7, 2006 | 3 Comments
Unfortunately Marvel isn’t listing any information about it yet, probably still caught up in the success of X-Men 3. However, IGN has the trailer already so that works out. Considering how much I enjoyed the first movie I was plenty excited to know it will be coming to DVD August 8th.
This movie, subtitled “Rise of the Panther” seems to concentrate quite a bit on Black Panther. This departure from the basic Ultimates story line may prove to make a better film, but I also fear that any departure from Mark Millar’s fantastic work is a bit of a shame.
The oddest thing in this trailer is Iron Man’s appearance. Initially they show him in the standard red and yellow costume, but quickly cut to mostly footage with him in a black and white costume. This costume appears to me to be the War Machine armor warn by Jim Rhodes in classic Iron Man stories. It also resembles the armor Black Widow (aka Natalia Romanova) wore in the Ultimates, which was a wedding gift from Tony Stark. Oddly though, if you watch the trailer slowly there is at least one scene where Black Widow is standing with the black and white suited Iron Man, pretty much throwing that second theory out of the water. The question remains, is that in fact Tony in the armor, Jim Rhodes, or is Marvel animation throwing us some odd curve ball? I’ll let you know in my review after the 8th…
Tags: "ultimate avengers", avengers, black panther, black widow, dvd, iron man, jim rhodes, mark millar, marvel, movie, natalia romanova, preview, tony stark, trailer, ultimates, war machine