Shut Up and Take My $5: Adventures of Superman #2, Uncanny Avengers #8, Avengers #11

I get it. The universe is punishing me. I didn’t give you guys a review last week, and now I’m presented with an impossible choice.

This week, there were two amazing books and one fantastic digital release. One was incredibly emotional; one was beyond epic, and the last was just plain ol' entertaining. That’s right, folks: it’s (Insert Dramatic Music) The Triple E!

As a result, we have our first ever tie: The Adventures of Superman #2, Uncanny Avengers #8, and Avengers #11. There is just no way I can recommend one above the other; all three are just that damned good. So this week, I’m going to try and sell you on all three. I know, it's Uncanny.

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ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #2

This e-comic (book?) by Jeff Lemire hit me right in the gut. I’ve had a soft spot for Lemire ever since I read Sweet Tooth and The Underwater Welder. That man knows how to tug at the heart strings. AoS #2 is no different.

He presents us with an odd Superman setpiece: instead of focusing on the man in the cape, we center on two kids pretending to be Superman and a variety of villains. It is absolutely wonderful. It brought back so many memories of when I ran around pretending to be Batman or the Green Ranger. Lemire had the dialogue down pat. The kids play Superman in the cheesiest, 1950s-iest way possible, as befits the incomparable carefree optimism of youth.

Lemire's art, on the other hand, may be off-putting to some.  His characters are all a bit distorted (picture a more coherent Picasso.) Having read his other work, I've come to love it, but it's easy to see how this would be jarring for those used to a clean look in their Super-comics. Still, for $0.99, you really shouldn’t pass this one up. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy for when the air suddenly gets dusty after reading that last panel...

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UNCANNY AVENGERS #8

This book by Rick Remender has been teetering on the edge of mediocrity. The first arc was cool, but it hasn't been the groundbreaking story I was looking for in an X-Men/Avengers team-up. As it turns out, I just needed a bit more patience.

Holy shit, there's a lot to be excited about in this issue. Thor and Sunfire save Rio in the coolest most badass way possible. Tension builds in the ranks, as Wolverine’s Uncanny X-Force chickens come home to roost. And finally, Captain America pulls off a one man Black Hawk Down. It’s an intense book. I will admit, if you haven’t read Remender’s Uncanny X-Force, you will be missing some helpful backstory. Don’t let that discourage you, though: it’s still amazing, and you are given the major points you need to know. Still, if you are having doubts, look at it this way: the book revolves around Apocalypse, Red Skull (with Xavier's telepathy), and Kang the Conqueror.

Oh, I shouldn't forget to mention Daniel Acuna’s art. His cover work has always been amazing, and his interiors follow suit. His art for the opening scene in Rio is worth the price of admission alone. Honestly, this book deserves a whole crap ton of credit for making me like Sunfire. I hate that guy.

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AVENGERS #11

I have been itchin' to make one of these books my pick of the week since Jonathan Hickman took the reins. I am absolutely loving this series, but I just happen to love the classic cryptic and plot-heavy storyline. If you don't enjoy those stories, it's series as a whole is not for you (at least not yet.)

Avengers #11, a bit more accessible this time, brings the story back down to earth with a hilarious casino caper in Macau. A.I.M. and some other agencies of ill-repute have all gathered at this one casino for a supposed chemical weapons deal. Enter Carol’s 6: Captain Marvel, Sunspot, Cannonball, Black Widow, Shang-Shi, and Spider-Woman all go undercover in an attempt to sweat out the seller and discourage any buyers.

This one's just too much fun. Seeing A.I.M. goons dress up in tuxes (still rocking the beekeeper look!) is wonderful. Better still, the Shang-Shi section felt like I was watching a Bruce Lee movie, except with glowing lightning nunchaku and shadow ninjas. The best part of this book was when Cannonball and Sunspot talked a bunch of A.I.M. lackeys into a ceasefire so they all could party all night. (Well, all of them except for Doug. God damn it, Doug!)

Mike Deodato was tapped for art duties this time around. It was pretty standard fare, sprinkled with moments of greatness anytime Cannonball, Sunspot, and the A.I.M. guys were on the page. I like Deadato’s work but sometimes it can get pretty heavy and muddy, which is exactly what happens here.

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So there you have it, folks. You can see why I couldn’t pick just one. If you are low on cash, go with Adventure of Superman #2, it’s the best value this week! If you are looking for an epic story, grab Uncanny Avengers #8 and buckle up. If you need to check-out and just have some fun, Avengers #11 is your book. But no matter which book you grab, always remember: never hang out with an A.I.M. agent named Doug. That guy sucks.

Comics Primer: What You Need to Know For "Age of Ultron"

Marvel’s latest event is upon us! The “Age of Ultron” has dawned, and you have no idea what’s going on. You might have some questions like: “Who the hell is Ultron?”, “Where did this event come from?” and “Why have I not heard about this?!” Thankfully for you, I am here to answer some of your questions, and get you ready to jump into what should be a very cool event from Marvel Comics.

Who is this Ultron character?

Let’s start with the basic question here. Ultron hasn’t been seen around the Marvel U. for a while now, so some of the new readers may have no clue who he is. Ultron first appeared in Avengers #54, but he truly debuted in Avengers #55. Originally created by Hank Pym (aka Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Yellow Jacket, Golaith, or Wasp, depending on his state of mind), Ultron is an aritifical intelligence that gained self-awareness and that decided all organic life must be destroyed. With an adamantium body, he is one of the Avenger’s most powerful enemies. He is nearly indestructible, but is often ultimately bested by the Avengers. Any time the Avengers do manage to defeat him, however, Ultron is able to transfer his consciousness into a new body.

Now, I hear you. You’re saying, “Oh boy, another mad AI bent on destruction,” but Ultron is not the same as every other AI that’s rebelled against organic life. Ultron has an obsession with the Pyms and their family, giving way to some of the most interesting moments of Ultron’s history as a villain. Ultron is constantly attempting to punish his “father” Hank Pym, while having a strange oedipal fascination with his “mother” Janet Pym (nee van Dyne, aka The Wasp.) He actually created a bride named Jocasta, modeled after Janet -- weird, right? Ultron also created a son, The Vision, who betrayed him and joined the Avengers to defeat him.

To summarize: Take a sociopath and give it nearly infinite intelligence, an indestructible body, and the capability to create infinite copies of itself. This is why Ultron is one of my absolute favorite villains.

Hit the jump for the full primer on Ultron!

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Marvel Eyes the Stars with Guardians of the Galaxy!

“THEY'RE GOING COSMIC!!”
 
It’s a phrase that many Marvel fans probably uttered when they saw big bad Thanos at the end of The Avengers, an image signifying Marvel Studios’ intention to set their sights on the galactic landscape of the Marvel Universe. With that mindset firmly entrenched in the brains of the fans, one would assume the Mad Titan’s next appearance would be in Avengers 2, currently slated for a 2015 release, yes? NOPE!
 
A few months back, Marvel Studios announced release dates for their forthcoming sequels (Iron Man 3 - May 3rd 2013, Thor 2 - November 8th 2014, and Captain America 2 - April 4th 2014), but also hinted at an unnamed film receiving a May 16th 2014 release date. Speculations about what film this could be ranged from Doctor Strange to Black Panther. All were wrong. Closing out the next round of Marvel films, and setting up for Avengers 2, will be Guardians of the Galaxy! It doesn't get much more cosmic than that.
 
Who are the Guardians of the Galaxy? Crash course time! It’s the 31st century and the Milky Way needs protecting! Enter the likes of Star-Lord, Adam Warlock, Groot, and Rocket Raccoon. (Yes, Rocket Raccoon.) This film will also prominently feature Thanos before he reemerges in Avengers 2, as well as act as a direct lead-in to the highly-anticipated sequel. While the Guardians operate in the 31st century, expect some time travel in order to team them up with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in modern day. Two teams in one movie? It’s ambitious, to say the least.
 
The film’s official announcement will come at San Diego Comic Con in July, but the plan has been in development for some time, according to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. I guess we now know why Rocket Raccoon and Marvel space cop Nova (rumored to be appearing in the script) were given facetime in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Even the Avengers post-credits Thanos tease was planned with this endeavor in mind, making it as much of a premeditated gamble as putting Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man, which, of course, laid the first bit of pavement on the road to The Avengers. The first gamble paid off. Let's see if lightning can strike twice. (Thor, a little help?)

Assemble! A New "Avengers" Trailer Hits the Web!

Just in case you've been living under a rock (or in the desert with Dr. Banner), Marvel's The Avengers comes out this May. Marvel/Disney has release a new trailer to get you even more hyped up.

The studio is still doing a great job of concealing the true nature of Loki's army.  Skrull? Kree? Frost Giants? No idea. But, I'm excited to find out when I plunk my butt down in that theater seat on May 4th.

The Avengers is directed by Joss Whedon, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Bendis to Leave "The Avengers"

After a seriously impressive eight year run, Brian Michael Bendis will be ending his time as head writer for The Avengers in 2012.

In an interview with CBR, Bendis revealed his plans to move onto other projects, but is "very, very proud" of the work he has done with Earth's Mightiest Heroes.  Don't leave yet though, Bendis fans, because he's got plenty of huge things cooking for his final issues.

"It's a good time to move on to other things. Before I go, though, I'm ending things big. I'm in countdown mode. You know when you're watching a show like 'Breaking Bad,' and every episode feels like the second to last episode? That's where I'm at."

Brian Michael Bendis has been heralded as one of the best writers to ever tackle the flagship superhero team and with good reason.  Whatever he moves onto next will, no doubt, be worth keeping an eye on.

Check out the full, lengthy interview on CBR, where he discusses all things H.A.M.M.E.R.!

NYCC 2011: Hasbro's 2012 Preview, Part 1

Kicking off the convention weekend right with a "Preview Night Party," prolific toymaker Hasbro offered journalists a sneak peek of their 2011 and 2012 product lineups from iconic brands like Transformers, Marvel, G.I. Joe, and Star Wars.

OTF was graciously invited to attend the party, and the little kids in all of us are actually pretty excited!

First up: the robots in diguise!  Hasbro introduced us to the upcoming Transformers lineup in classic action figure scale. Scheduled for a release scheduled sometime in 2012, these figures are based on the recent Transformers Prime television show on The Hub network.

Hit the jump for more Transformers, G.I. Joe, and The Avengers! Also, stay tuned for Part 2 for details of their newest Star Wars products!

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'The Avengers' Trailer Debuts!

For many, Marvel's The Avengers is the most anticipated movie of 2012.  For some, the most anticipated movie of all time.  Due in May, the film's first trailer has hit the web.  Check it out below!

Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers finally brings together the Marvel superheroes who have been gracing theaters and inducing fanboy-gasms since 2008.  Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Hiddleston, The Avengers is due in theaters on May 4th, 2012!

Cobie Smulders to Appear as Maria Hill!

Rumors started flying late last week regarding casting for the role of "Nick Fury's assistant" in Marvel's upcoming film, The Avengers.  Names were quickly thrown around, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Jessica Lucas (Cloverfield), Morena Baccarin ("V") and Cobie Smulders ("How I Met Your Mother"); the latter two actresses being previously linked to Avengers director, Joss Whedon. Baccarin had appeared in his space western, "Firefly", and Smulders was reported to be his top choice for the role of Wonder Woman when he was attached to write and direct that film a few years ago.

It was also unclear which character would be placed in the role of "sidekick" to Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury.  Janet van Dyne/The Wasp was the first thought among speculators, but it was later confirmed that the role would be that of Maria Hill, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, and later S.H.I.E.L.D. Director in Fury's absence during Marvel's "Civil War" arc.  

On Monday, it was announced that Cobie Smulders had been cast in the role.  She joins not only Jackson, but Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, and Mark Ruffalo in the ever-expanding cast of Marvel's superhero opus.

Personally, I think Morena Baccarin would have been a better choice for the role. Currently appearing in "V" with very short hair, she bares a striking resemblance to the character of Maria Hill.  She also has the ability to play cold and calculating, qualities many comic readers will attribute to the no-nonsense Hill.  However, Smulders is known to television audiences as Robin Scherbatsky, the tomboyish beauty on CBS's "How I Met Your Mother."  Her ability to be seen as "one of the guys" on that show might have been the quality that convinced Whedon and the filmmakers that she could hold her own alongside Samuel L. Jackson and the veritable "boys club" that is The Avengers.

The Avengers is due in theaters on May 4th, 2012.

NYCC 2010: Comics, Cartoons, Costumes, & Chaos

After 1 year and 8 months since the last New York Comic Con, the East Coast's premiere pop culture event returned to the Jacob Javits Center in New York City last weekend.  The five-year-old convention has exploded in popularity since its inception, hoping to one day rival the legendary San Diego Comic Con.  

In an effort to further the event's expansion, ReedPOP, NYCC's parent company, combined it with the New York Anime Festival.  With crowds of comic geeks and otaku filling the halls, the shoulder-to-shoulder attendance turned out to be a sell-out crowd. The selling of weekend and day passes was suspended on Saturday.  The grand total of attendees was an amazing 95,000+.

Fans were shoulder-to-shoulder in the aisles of NYCC

Following the trend set in San Diego in July, DC and Marvel, the heavy hitters of the comics industry, showcased the latest and greatest from their respective universes.  Remaining at the forefront of the DCU, Green Lantern had plenty of publicity.  Blackest Night may be wrapped up, but Brightest Day is in full swing.  On hand to discuss the popularity of GL in the DCU was writer and Chief Creative Officer, Geoff Johns.  Mr. Johns received a great deal of exposure at his own Q&A session, as well as at panels pertaining to the upcoming Green Lantern animated series and the "Emerald Empire" of the GL mythos.  While many questions were dodged to preserve secrecy, Johns still managed to coyly drop some hints about upcoming events both on the page and on the screen.  With four Green Lantern titles on comic shop shelves, an animated series in the works, and a feature film nearing completion, the popularity of Hal Jordan and the intergalactic police force is at an all-time high.

Green Lantern: Emerald Empire panel

Video games were also a large part of Marvel's presence.  Game developer SEGA was on hand to show both a demo of "Captain America: Super Soldier", and production art and a behind the scenes look at "Thor: God of Thunder."  The debut of both games will coincide with the releases of their respective feature films in 2011.

OTF with Next Level Games' Brandon Gill, game director of Captain America: Super Soldier

Continuing the theme of Marvel video games, attendees were able to play the recently released "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions" at the Activision booth, "Marvel Super Hero Squad Online" at the Marvel booth, and, of course, the highly anticipated "Marvel VS. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds", which could be found at the center of the large mob of people at the Capcom and IGN booths.  Apparently, since Marvel has already saturated the film market, they are now focusing on the gaming market.  Not to be outdone, DC Universe Online, the MMORPG that will be finding its way to PC's everywhere next year, was also featured.  OTF got to sit down with Executive Creative Director Jim Lee and game director Chris Cao to discuss the game.

But if you're interested in more cutting-edge gaming, Microsoft and IGN teamed up to give NYCC attendees a chance to get physical with a demo of Kinect, the Xbox 360's revolutionary motion control gaming and entertainment experience.  Playable sample games included racing, rafting, and dodgeball swatting…for lack of a better description.  If you plan on purchasing the new peripheral, make sure you have plenty of room.

OTF tries out Kinect

Across the show floor, Marvel Comics had their own goodies to share.  For Marvel, one word sums up their mission for the next few years: Avengers.  We all know the film is on the way, but surprisingly enough, there was almost no sign of it at NYCC.  Instead, Marvel featured news and footage from the upcoming animated series, "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes."

Not far from the busy industry booths were the humble tables occupied by the creative individuals behind smaller productions, such as independent print publications and webcomics. Among them were PVP creator, Scott Kurtz and “Nowhere Man”creator, Jerome Walford. They each took the time to speak with OTF and shared details about past and upcoming features.

OTF Editor, Thor with PVP's Scott Kurtz

Fans of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim were treated to panels featuring the creators of "Robot Chicken" and "The Venture Brothers."  Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Clare Grant, and Macaulay Culkin previewed Season 5 of "Robot Chicken" and also gave the fans a look at their third Star Wars special, due to air on December 12^th on Cartoon Network.  "The Venture Brothers" creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer (and unexpected guest Michael Sinterniklaas) had nothing to show, since their new season is currently airing, but they were more than happy to take questions from the fans and answer them in the most bizarre way possible.

Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, creators of The Venture Brothers

Other panels and screenings that took place over the course of the weekend ranged from discussions about SyFy’s now complete, yet still popular Battlestar Galactica series to a preview of DC's newest animated series, "Young Justice."  OTF Contributor Cinephonic was even in the fray, co-hosting the panel, The Music of Heroes, discussing film scores and composers involved with big screen superhero adaptations.

OTF Contributor, Cinephonic (right), discusses superhero film music.

And what would a comic convention be without cosplayers?  Fans from as close as New Jersey, and as far as Canada descended upon the Jacob Javits Center clad in all forms of spandex, armor, and fur, breathing life into their favorite comic, cartoon, video game, movie, or pop culture characters.  It's impossible, even for the intrepid OTF crew, to see every spectacular costume, but the few we spotted can be found here.  We applaud the dedication, creativity, and in some cases, bravery of all of these talented fans.

All in all, NYCC was a rousing success.  Sure it’s crowded and an attendee is unable to experience every single sight, sound, or event, but we at Open The Fridge did our best to experience as much as we could.  I’m just happy we don’t have to wait another year and a half for the next one.  New York Comic Con 2011 will be October 14th-16th.

Avengers, you may now Assemble.

With all of the news coming out of San Diego over the past few days, it's hard to decided where to begin.  Marvel was the powerhouse presenter, and they had some great news.

To kick off the Marvel panel on Saturday the 24th, Kevin Feige, Marvel's President of Production, presented a teaser for Captain America.   Following that, director Joe Johnston and stars Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving came out to talk about the film.  A clip of Weaving as Johann Schmidt (not quite yet The Red Skull) followed, much to the joy of the crowd.  The clip gave us a brief glimpse at the WWII period that will dominate the majority of the film, but most importantly, it presented a link to Marvel's other 2011 release, Thor.

footage form Thor followed, giving a much broader look at that film.  The footage included clips of Thor's expulsion for Asgard, his detainment by SHIELD Agent Coulson, and his budding relationship with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).  To close out the footage, the legendary Destroyer Armor made an appearance.

Needless to say, every fanboy and girl was ecstatic to see these sneak peeks at Marvel's future projects.

But Marvel wasn't done.  To cap off their awe-inspiring panel, they brought out the cast of their most ambitious project to date, 2012's The Avengers.  In addition to introducing fan-favorites like Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson, two new additions to the cast were finally confirmed.  After months of speculation, Jeremy Renner was finally announced as the actor chosen to portray Clint Barton/Hawkeye, the Avengers's resident expert archer.  And also, Mark Ruffalo was brought out as the new Bruce Banner/The Hulk for the film.  The assembled cast then posed for a fanboy-gasm-inducing photo op.

Left to Right: Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Clark Gregg (SHIELD Agent Coulson), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Hulk), director Joss Whedon, and Kevin Feige, Marvel's President of Production.  (Image courtesy of www.comingsoon.net)

I don't know about you, but I am one excited fan.

Captain America is due in theaters on July 22nd, 2011, Thor is due on May 6th, 2011, and The Avengers will hit on May 4th, 2012.