AVENGERS #1 brings the excitement back to comics...big time!

AVENGERS #1 (May Cover Date)
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Ed McGuinness 

In a nod to the recent Infinity War movie, Avengers #1 posits our heroes in smaller groups to confront an all encompassing villain (s). The story begins with a stirring prologue at the dawn of time with the prehistoric Avengers led by All-Father Odin (yes Thor's dad), the first Black Panther, The Phoenix, Amagotto (the first Sorceror Supreme) and gigantic Stone Age Hulk. They take on a truly large scale villain in the opening pages which then flash forwards to the present day.

Now our trio of Thor, Iron Man and Captain America are having drinks in a New York bar, contemplating getting the band back together before they are interrupted by massive sounds of destruction and away they ago. Meanwhile in space right above Earth, Captain Marvel (yay!) sees the action first hand and zooms into this worm hole to see what the fracas is.

Meanwhile back in Wakanda, T'Challa and Dr. Strange investigate strange occurrences underneath the fabled nation which leads to some crisp and funny dialogue.

Across the world Ghost Rider in his spiffy new Black Charger, gone is the motorcycle, tries to save his young nephew from some demons that start materializing out of thin air. Finally back in New York, Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk is just jogging along in Central Park when things get real.

Whats the commotion you say..freaking Celestials falling from the sky, pretty much dead. Now Celestials are some heavy duty dudes and for someone or something to take them out is definitely someone not to be trifled with (yep borrowed that line from The Dark Knight Rises).

Iron Man, Cap, and Thor meet up with Captain Marvel and things are quickly explained. A lot of exposition is needed to set up this exciting new series and some cool action set pieces are filtered through-out. The writing is witty and engaging by Aaron and the art by McGuinness is fantastic!

Welcome back Avengers. I'll post another review soon of the second issue.

Rating: B+

In defense of The Avengers...

Maybe I'm the wrong guy to be defending the Avengers. Since I have been a fan of them since 1981 and have seen the film three times so far. Each time, the film just gets better and better. But I have seen some of the complaints about the film from a small majority of audience members. Which are few and far between considering the film just hit 1 billion dollars. I wanted to hit on some of the main issues some people have had and comment on them. So here goes:

#1 - Loki did not make a good villain:

I disagree wholeheartedly. Tom Hiddleston as Loki, picked up right where he left off in Thor and even took it up a notch. Along with being mad with a lust for power and a hatred for Thor, he showed signs of genuine craziness. I mean this guy was off his rocker. And Hiddleston was perfect in his portrayal. His scenes with Thor were solid as usual but I loved his brief little chat with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) where he really got to gloat and snarl and all that good stuff.

#2 - The film starts off slowly:

 Not to me, but if you're are expecting fireworks every 10 minutes, then yes it moved at a casual pace. Which I was more than fine with. Better to enjoy the movie that much more.

#3 - Compared to The Dark Knight, The Avengers doesn't come close:

 Really, come on people..trying to compare those two films is idiotic to begin with. They are totally different. I know a lot of Bat fans might be a little hurt now that Avengers is just making tons of money, but that actually benefits us all as more comic book movies will continue to get made. And if that causes Batman to have to raise his game up a little, then so be it.

#4 - The visual effects were just so-so: 

To that I will say...are you kidding. I was blown away by the effects. From the impressive SHIELD heli-carrier to the mass destruction finale in New York City, the effects were cool and amazing.

#5 - The finale was over-wrought and too reminiscent of Transformers 3:

 while I agree there may have been a feeling of deja vu between the two films..The Avengers did it far better. You could actually tell who was fighting who and the action seemed to flow seamless. And it didn't take a whole hour to do it.

#6 - Black Widow and Hawkeye were useless:

 Once again I have to disagree. Black Widow was much improved from her debut in Iron Man 2 with Scarlett Johansson being very good and in total sync with her character now. And Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye hung in there with gods and monsters with the best of them.

#7 - Cobie Smulders acting was weak:

 I tend to think as Maria Hill, Cobie played the part as I imagined Maria would be..tough, cold and by the book. What more could you want.

#8 - the film being described as one big cheese-fest:

 I can't recall any cheese inducing moments in the film and since I have seen it three times so far, you would think I would have noticed it by now.

#9 - The Hulk wasn't used enough:

Au contraire, he was used the right amount. After three times, they finally got the Hulk right. He is best used in small doses and as a supporting player, not having a movie built around him. And hats off to Mark Ruffalo, who nailed him with the right touch of humor and nerdiness.

#10 - why did Nick Fury have to be black:

Well when they started the Ultimate Avengers comic book version many years ago, they actually based Nick Fury on Samuel L. Jackson, so when it came time to cast the film version, you better believe they were gonna cast Samuel L. Jackson. And he was bad ass in this movie. 

I probably could go on and on, but as Tony Stark says to Loki in the movie..."You're missing my point!"

And the point is that The Avengers is a terrific and entertaining movie that is just plain fun to watch. You get the epic fights you have always dreamed about like Thor taking on Hulk. Seeing a team of heroes working together to fight off an invading army of aliens. Stuff like that will have you gasping and cheering the whole time. Like I said maybe I'm the wrong guy that should be defending them, because in my eyes, The Avengers are perfect.

THE AVENGERS assemble for one terrific movie!

 Oh they are about to mess some shit up..believe that!

Just saw The Avengers for the second time in three days and all I can say is wow! As a diehard comic book fan for over 25 years, this is a moment in time I will always treasure. Seeing some of Earth's mightiest heroes team up in the same movie and do their thing. This is how you make an awesome movie! The midnight crowd was in a frenzy from the time the lights went dark and for the next 2 and a half hours, I was in sheer bliss. 

Captain America

Picking up from the endings of last year's two films Captain America and Thor, The Avengers begin with Thor's mad brother Loki (once again played by Tom Hiddleston and even better this time around) arriving on Earth at SHIELD's facility, and wreaking havoc. Shield director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson in a much more substantial role this time) is in possession of a cube of unimaginable power called the Tesseract. Loki wants it as he plans to use it to open a portal for his allies, an alien race called the Chitarui, to cross over and invade Earth. 

Iron Man

Fury quickly assembles a team to take on this threat. He recruits Captain America (played once again by Chris Evans, solidly might I add), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr..never better) and Bruce Banner aka The Hulk (this time played by Mark Ruffalo...who gives the best impression of Banner/Hulk by far). Also already in place is Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Thor (Chris Hemsworth) will join the party a few scenes later. 

Thor

After a quick skirmish that has Loki captured by Cap and Iron Man, Thor arrives to personally settle things between him and his brother. Of course Iron Man takes offense and we have one hell of a fight that Cap has to break up. That's the thing about this film as there are so many cool fights between different characters. Thor and Hulk mix it up for another great fight. Hulk has a little beaut with Loki. Black Widow and Hawkeye go at it with lethal intensity as he is under the control of Loki. Just so many terrific matches that make a fan scream "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"

Hulk

But amid all the action and spectacle there is the wonderful dialogue and direction by Joss Whedon, who has crafted some of the best series on TV ever in Buffy, Angel and Firefly. He guides this film with a deft hand and his imprint of engaging and witty cantor is on full display. Downey gets to rip off countless one liners as he butt heads repeatedly with Cap, Thor, Fury..hell everyone in the movie. Ruffalo gets to shine as we finally get the perfect guy to bring the perfect Hulk to the screen as he gets to have some fun in his role and the Hulk gets to let loose and smash. Johansson also gets a more fully developed role as Black Widow, a much improved character from Iron Man 2. In fact she has one of the better scenes in the film as she gets to have a little chat with Loki that gets very deep and personal.

Black Widow

The film is well paced as the beginning takes time to get going but once the ball gets rolling...oh boy, look out. The final 30 minutes as the team fights Loki and the alien race in downtown New York is one breathless, rollercoaster ride. So much action going on, it's just cool as hell to sit back and watch. When Banner finally gets to 'Hulk' out and smashes a giant alien in the face, the whole crowd just erupted. In fact the Hulk gets most of the best scenes as he gets two really funny scenes involving him and Thor, then him and Loki. Funny as can be. I also liked Renner as Hawkeye the archer. He was slinging arrows all over the place, from the side, from behind, no look, etc. Really wicked! And nice seeing Clark Gregg back as Agent Coulson. Gwyneth Paltrow pops up in a cameo as Pepper Potts, trying to carry on her romance with Tony Stark. And newcomer to the series, Agent Maria Hill (played by Cobie Smulders). Terrific cast!

Hawkeye

Man, this movie is awesome. Been waiting my whole life for this to happen and it finally has. I can't wait to see it a third time, which will be sometime this week. The Avengers is the best comic book movie I have ever seen. Better than my beloved X2. I'm still seriously stoked for Spider-Man and Batman later on this summer, but for me, The Avengers is it. Avengers Assemble!
A

 Nick Fury

Loki

 Agent Maria Hill

Hill and Agent Coulson

Captain America (Chris Evans) actually met Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) years ago

As The Avengers nears it's North American debut, it has already opened in several other countries, I noticed one interesting fact. That Captain America has met Black Widow before now. Well the stars who are playing the respective heroes, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson. The two starred in the 2004 teen comedy, The Perfect Score, about a bunch of high school seniors who plan to steal the SAT answers. That was eight years ago, and I'm sure the pair had to idea they would be saving the world as super-heroes in the comic book extravaganza, The Avengers. Just a cool little random fact.

As Black Widow and Captain America, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans

 have come a long way from their high school days.....

Case in point...The Perfect Score

2012 - Year of the Renner

Today marks actor Jeremy Renner's 41st birthday and this guy's star is on the rise. Big time! Me and my friend and blogger extraordinaire Jennifer Cooper was just talking about him yesterday and now it's his birthday. Coincidence? I think not. People may think Renner has only just come around these past few years thanks to roles in 28 Weeks Later, The Hurt Locker, and The Town, but he's been around since the mid 90's. Getting his start in the teen comedy National Lampoon's Senior Trip back in 1995. Then he appeared in a host of TV series such as CSI and even my fave Angel. He played Jeffrey Dahmer in a 2002 movie that I have yet to see but Jenn raves about. His first major role in Hollywood would have to be as Colin Farrell's ex partner who goes bad in SWAT. Then he started getting more and more roles like in the Charlize Theron 2005 pic North Country and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford with Brad Pitt. Then came his Academy Award nominated Best Actor turn in The Hurt Locker followed up by another nomination for The Town, this time for Supporting Actor. Oh and let's not forget his role in the brief series, The Unusuals about life for some cops in the big city. I thought this was a great show but the powers that be didn't and canceled it like after only 6 episodes in 2009.

As SFC William James in The Hurt Locker (2008)

As James Coughlin in The Town (2010)

But 2011 has been very pivotal for Renner. First up was his cameo as Hawkeye in the summer's blockbuster Thor. That role will lead to this year's almost guaranteed hit, The Avengers. Where his character shares the screen with the likes of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). He just joined Tom Cruise for the recent Mission Impossible film which was a doozy of a ride. He's got the film Hansel and Gretel with Gemma Arterton due early this year. And then in August, he takes over the Bourne franchise. Not as Jason Bourne, but as new character Aaron Cross.

As William Brandt in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

With Gemma Arterton as Hansel and Gretel (2012)

As Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Add all that up and 2012 looks to be the year of the Renner. Count me very excited.

The Dream Team assembled

THE TOP TEN FILMS THAT I AM SO READY TO SEE IN 2012

These are the top ten films I am most anxious about to see in 2012. I'm hyped to see a lot more films but these ten are the ones I am really stoked about. And I think I may have a good shot at breaking my record of movies seen in theaters. I was on pace last year but sputtered out at 28 thanks to a soft fall/winter schedule. The record is 36, set so long ago back in 1992. Anyway, here are my picks for 2012. For a comic book and action enthusiast lover, this year is a dream come true.

Dwayne Johnson looking all bad ass as Roadblock for GI JOE 2

10.) G.I. JOE 2 - I thought the first GI JOE was a good enough action flick, but I think the sequel is poised to be even better. Two words: THE ROCK. And two more: BRUCE WILLIS. 


9. ) THE HUNGER GAMES - Futuristic yarn where young kids must battle each other to the death to stay alive. Oh yeah. count me in for this one.


8.) THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN - OK, so the first trailer was kind of under-whelming. Spidey did not look right, a little too CGI-ish. But I'm still excited for this one. It's Spider-Man for crying out loud. And we finally get to see The Lizard come center stage after being hinted at in Sam Raimi's original trilogy.


7.) THE HOBBIT - Finally the beginnings of Bilbo Baggins can finally be told. The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite film series ever and I'm so ready for some new adventures with hobbits, elves, wizards, and monsters. 

The lovely Rosamund Pike..one of the reasons why Wrath of the Titans

will be better than Clash of the Titans

6.) WRATH OF THE TITANS - Damn, it just felt like last month when the first Titans movie came out. I liked that first one a lot, but this new one looks ever better. The effects look better and the action seems to be amped up to another level. This should be really good. Plus it has Rosamund Pike in it. She can never hurt a film's appeal.


5.) PROMETHEUS - The unofficial prequel to Alien is eagerly awaited as famed director Ridley Scott is at the helm. I know he has stated that this was in no way a new Alien movie, but the cat has been let out of the bag ever since the trailer premiered weeks ago. And I'm so cool with that. Bring it on Ridley!


4.)  THE BOURNE LEGACY - The action franchise gets a new player in Jeremy Renner who takes over as a different character. Renner who knocked audiences for a loop in the latest Mission Impossible movie and also stars in The Avengers is poised to become a major star.

HE'S BAAAAAACKKKKKK!

3.) THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - OK, we all know that Chris Nolan won't be able to top his masterpiece, The Dark Knight. But there's no denying that his third Bat film promises to go out with a bang. Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman join the mix as the villains. And Christian Bale returns as Batman. But look at the supporting cast: Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Matthew Modine. Stellar indeed!


2.) SKYFALL - Bond is back. And I'm so primed for this one. Daniel Craig returns for the third time and he's backed by the best cast for a Bond film ever assembled: Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris and the returning Judi Dench. The film is being talked about as a throwback to Goldfinger and From Russia With Love. Color me excited!


1.) THE AVENGERS - I have waited for this movie basically my entire life. A gathering of Marvel's biggest super-heroes in one movie: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk and with good high quality actors like Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Renner. Oh yeah. I can't wait for this bad boy.

The Dream Team Assembled!