AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #606: The Black Cat returns! This isn’t a spoiler, because it’s in an ad in every Marvel comic. And, you know, the cover. Anywho. I’m kind of getting repetitious with beating the “Spider-Man is as fun as it has ever been” drum, so here’s one particular aspect of this issue I found surprising in a negative way: it felt like a big step backwards for the Black Cat. Not that I don’t love the her and Spidey romance issues (creepy roof-sex aside), but she’s grown a LOT as a character in the intervening years, and doesn’t really deserve to find herself back with Spidey, yet again. Yeah, weird, I know. Other than that, relatively fun issue, but also a slight step down from the creepiness of Van Lente’s excellent Chameleon arc, and the gang-busters over-sized #605.

ANITA BLAKE, THE LAUGHING CORPSE – NECROMANCER #5: This preview had, without a doubt, the longest file name I’ve ever seen.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #28: Though this series continues to be good, it’s suffering from what a lot of books get after the main purpose, and the main creative team move on… This used to be the backbone of the Marvel U, and I used to recommend it to anyone who wanted to know what was going on in Marvel comics. It was a great refresher, good character stories, and great art, issue after issue. It still has most of that, but it’s no longer the backbone, it’s more of a, I don’t know, what’s an unimportant bone? The skull? Well, anyway, the series is still reflective of what’s happening in the Universe at large, but it no longer seems to be effecting it. I’m curious to see whether this title will stick around in the long run.

DARK REIGN: THE LIST – X-MEN ONE-SHOT: As a gigantic fan of John Byrne’s work on Alpha Flight and the Fantastic Four, there’s a page in here that absolutely killed me and ripped my heart out like nothing else I’ve read this week. Beyond that, Matt Fraction turns in a reliably solid story directly following off the Utopia cross-over, and though I usually swoon over Alan Davis’ work, this was not my favorite issue he’s ever done. And in the larger view, I’m finding that this List event, while a solid series of comics, is not really delivering the lasting change that was promised. Like most of Norman Osborn’s projects, its all spin.

DARK X-MEN: THE CONFESSION ONE-SHOT: I would contend that this issue goes in the exact opposite direction of what you’d expect to happen. I’d also contend that maybe this is a good thing. And for those of you expecting big action, well… It’s called the Confession, not the Explosion. Nice one, Zalben.

ENDER’S SHADOW: COMMAND SCHOOL #1: All of these series so far are very, very good, but the books about Bean are a step above. I wouldn’t say this issue is necessarily a good jumping on point, but both of the Command School books are far more focused than the Battle School books. Makes me want to read the actual novels, and that’s a compliment.

FANTASTIC FORCE #4: Two points about this: 1) I wonder if, in Hickman’s book, when Ben and Johnny visit Nu-Earth, this series will be referenced at all, and 2) Last page has the most ridiculous, over the top thing Wolverine has ever done in the entire history of published Wolverine comics. This is not hyperbole.

FANTASTIC FOUR #571: The promise of last issue’s final page is fulfilled, if not in full, then at least in satisfying fashion. Plus! Though we’re pretty much focused on Reed(s), everybody else’s dialogue reads far more smoothly than it did last issue. Also! I’m really starting to think this series is not taking place in our main universe. Not going to say why, just my pet theory. Prove me wrong, Hickman. Prove me wrong. Or prove me right, either way is fine.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #18: Every single time I get sent an issue of this, I think Marvel has started publishing Gargamel comics, but that’s probably only weird to me (they abbreviate its title as “GARGAL”). And I know you’re all interested in file names, but on to the review of the issue: this series is darn good and fun. This issue, in particular, reminds me of a certain Bill Murray movie (if you said “Operation: Dumbo Drop,” you would be wrong), and is much lighter than the last issue in tone and execution. And I’m curious, more than anything, to see what the long game here is, and how it will play out. That’s enough to keep me on for the long haul.

IMMORTAL WEAPONS #3: The best thing about this series is that each issue has its own look and feel to it, as each one focuses on a different Immortal Weapon (hence, you know, the title). While this is my least favorite of the three so far, that still means its heads and tails above most comics, and Iron Fist fans should be picking this for Duane Swierczynski’s back-ups alone.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #135: Every issue of this series is a fabulous adventure that deserves to be collected and read over and over. When people ask what the best comics of the first decade of the century were, they’ll fondly recall Pak and Van Lente’s classic run on Incredible Hercules. If you’re not reading it, you might as well give up reading comics. This is also not hyperbole.

INCREDIBLE HULK #602: People have been saying my critical faculties towards Hulk comics have been compromised since I wrote Hulk Team-Up (still on sale at comic book stores everywhere!). But if that were true, would I say that Incredible Hulk is back, and as good as it’s ever been? That the pairing of a de-powered Banner, and a finally starting to have fun Skaar is enjoyable, high action, smart comics? I mean yeah, I guess I would. But that doesn’t make it any less true.

MS. MARVEL #45: This arc may have gone on about one issue too long (it’s starting to feel a leeeeetle flabby), but damn if Brian Reed hasn’t taken Ms. Marvel to a new level, breaking the character down and making her completely unique and worthwhile.

NEW AVENGERS #57: Okay, remember earlier when I was complaining about things not mattering in Avengers books? This matters, for one character in particular, and the Marvel U at large. One of Bendis’ tightest, punchiest arcs on the book so far, full of fun moments, danger, and great character work.

NOVA #29: This issue is an ever-so-slight comedown from the great War of Kings tie-ins, but if you’re looking for old school comics at their best, look no further. I’ve never been a fan of the cosmic stuff, but I’m a fan of good comics, and Abnett and Lanning have made a believer out of me.

SPIDER-WOMAN #1: That’s weird… This motion comic barely moved at all.

UNCANNY X-MEN #515: A great character issue for Cyclops fans, showing probably the most realistic reaction to a big event I’ve ever read in a comic in a while. Also, a killer last page, but then, we all knew it was coming. Right?

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #19: “Wah, wah, wah. Comics are expensive. Wah, wah, wah. I can’t buy comics without having to buy a thousand other comics to understand what’s going on, so I won’t buy comics. Sniff, sniff. Everything is so dark, why aren’t comics fun anymore?” Hey crybaby: Wolverine First Class is an easily accessible, super fun comic book series for readers of comics new or old. This one comes with a fabulous Skottie Young cover, and only cost $2.99. Peter David writes (you like him, right?), and Dennis Calero draws (you DEFINITELY like him, right?). Game, set, and match, a-hole.

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #40: I really, really hope that this Romulus stuff pays off by revealing the mastermind behind everything is Remus, King of the Bird-People. But then, that’s only one of the many reasons I’m not writing Wolverine Origins.

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE #1: Goatse cover aside, this is a fun, big action conclusion to Millar and McNiven’s run on the title. And I’m going to reiterate what I’ve been saying all along: this is going to be a fabulous collection. Each individual issue, this one included, is like a light snack, with pretty much one major action beat per comic. But read as a trade, it’ll be a full, satisfying meal. McNiven’s pencils are cinematic, as always, and Millar writes cheeky action scenes like no one else. There’s one totally unnecessary Millar perversion in this issue, which must have seemed very funny at the time, but plays as just plain crass; though that shouldn’t stop you from picking this up. What might stop you is the back half of the issue, which is just a bunch of covers from the series, that, presumably, you already purchased. At $5 for an (albeit, over-sized) story, to throw in 20 pages of bonus material that will most likely appear in the upcoming trade collection is just a wee bit unfortunate.

Video reviews for JSA #30, Superman #691, Flash: Rebirth #4, Hulk #14, Secret Warriors #7, Last Days of Animal Man #4, Wonder Woman #35, New Mutants #4, Batman: The Widening Gyre #1, Sinister Spider-Man #4, X-Force #18, Gotham City Sirens #3, Dark Wolverine #77, Avengers: Initiative #27,

Joe Johnston named Film’s Director

· Joe Johnston has signed on to direct Marvel Studios’ THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA based on characters developed by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. The film will be produced by Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige. Executive Producers on the project are Louis D’Esposito, Stan Lee and Marvel Studios’ Chairman David Maisel. Paramount Pictures will distribute THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA worldwide. The film will come to theatres domestically on May 6, 2011.

· LOGLINE: In the early days of the Marvel Universe, Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

· Johnston is currently directing THE WOLF MAN, which comes to theatres early next year. He is developing THE DEATH AND LIFE OF CHARLIE ST. CLOUD. Johnston previously directed OCTOBER SKY, JUMANJI, JURASSIC PARK III, THE ROCKETEER, and HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS. Johnston won an Academy Award® in 1982 for Best Visual Effects for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

· Marvel Studios most recently announced an agreement with Raleigh Studios to film each of its next four films at Raleigh’s facility in Manhattan Beach, CA which will include THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA.

· Johnston is repped by CAA and attorney Lawrence Rose.

About Marvel
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

As part of his four picture deal with Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr. is appearing as Tony Stark in THE AVENGERS motion picture, as well as reprising his starring role as the larger-than-life leading character in IRON MAN 2. Jon Favreau will return to direct the sequel to the blockbuster IRON MAN, which to date has grossed over $578 million worldwide, as well as executive produce THE AVENGERS.

Academy Award® nominee Downey was most recently seen in the summer comedy blockbuster TROPIC THUNDER starring opposite Ben Stiller and Jack Black. Before Iron Man, he was best known for his film roles in KISS KISS BANG BANG, WONDER BOYS and CHAPLIN, the film for which he was nominated for an Oscar®.

In addition to directing the first IRON MAN, Favreau has previously directed ELF, ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE and MADE. He is also well known for writing and starring in SWINGERS. He will next be seen acting in FOUR CHRISTMASES, I LOVE YOU MAN and COUPLES RETREAT.

DON CHEADLE WILL STAR AS RHODEY IN IRON MAN 2

Marvel Studios is pleased today to confirm that an agreement has been finalized with award-winning actor Don Cheadle to take on the role of Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes in Marvel’s IRON MAN 2 due in theaters on May 7, 2010. In casting Cheadle, Marvel replaces Terrence Howard who appeared in the role of Rhodey in IRON MAN.

Cheadle is also signed on to perform the same role in THE AVENGERS and subsequent installments of the IRON MAN franchise.

“We are very excited about working with the extraordinarily talented Don Cheadle as we expand the role of Rhodey in Iron Man 2. It has already become apparent as we prep the movie for production, that the dynamic between Robert and Don will take Iron Man 2 to new heights,” said Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios.

Cheadle is best known for his Oscar® nominated lead performance in HOTEL RWANDA as well as his role as Basher Tarr in the OCEAN’S franchise, CRASH and SWORDFISH.

Based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero, IRON MAN 2 continues the story of this summer’s box office blockbuster IRON MAN, the first feature film produced independently by Marvel Studios. IRON MAN 2 will be produced by Marvel Studios’ President, Kevin Feige, and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Denis Stewart.

In a movie event, THE AVENGERS will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they’ve ever faced.

The highly anticipated sequel to IRON MAN will be released in theatres on May 7, 2010 and THE AVENGERS will be released July 15, 2011. Both films will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Cheadle is represented by UTA. Downey and Favreau are represented by CAA.

What is even more interesting about the news is that it confirmed some upcoming film projects that fans have been speculating on for quite some time. Even better than that, we even know the anticipated release dates for the films as well.

The five movie deal includes:

‘Iron Man 2′ Anticipated Release Date: May 7, 2010
‘Thor’ Anticipated Release Date: July 16, 2010
‘The First Avenger: Captain America’ Anticipated Release Date: May 6, 2011
‘The Avengers’ Anticipated Release Date: July 15, 2011
‘Iron Man 3′ Anticipated Release Date: TBD

We’ll have more information on these projects as they break. In the meantime, you can read PopCultureShock’s review of the Blu-Ray release of ‘Iron Man’ right here.

Maybe this is just me, but there’s this one bad joke I or a friend sometimes tell where you hear someone with a unique and crazy voice and remark how you’d love to see that guy do a book on tape. You’d even listen to the Yellow Pages on CD, or something equally ridiculous, just because you love listening to that guy’s voice. Brad Garrett reading Moby Dick. Something like that.

That’s how I find Brian Michael Bendis’ recent Avengers work. The guy can write a story about the average day of an Amish farmer and he’d make it seem readable. There’s something just soothing about his writing. That explains the mixed feelings I have for today’s batch from Bendis, Mighty Avengers #17 and New Avengers #44. Well, the former at least.

On the surface, neither of these comics have much to do with the respective teams. Even when you remove the reality of the characters involved, New Avengers features none of the current New Avengers (Strange left the team) and Mighty Avengers doesn’t feature a single Mighty Avenger.

No, this is part of Secret Invasion. Secret Invasion is the big climax, at least for the moment, for Bendis’ various Avengers runs. More than Disassembled and House of M, every issue has been leading up to this event. So if New, Mighty and Illuminati have been leading up to Invasion, does that mean that Bendis gets a pass for using these two issues and the several before them for Invasion padding? That’s up for debate.

The last few months have existed to expand on the Skrull state of mind and their plans. How do they work and how did they happen? They also show the tragedy of the lead-up. With so many Skrull duplicates in the roles of heroes, we know that something bad is going to go down each time we open an issue. Every issue is another time to read and wait for the other shoe to drop. We knew that we’d see Hank Pym get beaten half to death. We knew that Elektra would ultimately lose. This week’s two issues bring another piece of dread that we hadn’t expected.

Mighty is the lesser of the two issues because ultimately, it doesn’t say too much. It may foreshadow a bit and maybe it’ll be more interesting to look back on after the event is complete, but it’s mostly padding. Entertaining and, at times, disturbing padding. The story, featuring the Skrull doppelganger of Hank Pym goes in a direction few anticipated. Despite the interesting turn of events, we know that things will make a negative turn before the issue is done. It’s only a matter of time.

Of all the issues of Bendis’ Skrull Saga, Mighty ranks as one of the least important. You won’t find answers to any riddles, but it does show the complicated effects of their plan. It shows that Skrulls, much like humans, are diverse in morality. You can’t judge a race by the actions of a few. Or… in this case, maybe you can? Maybe the Invasion will shed some more light on it.

Khoi Pham’s pencils work well for the story being told. There’s even a good use of a television in the background that gives a subtle pinpoint to the timeline. It’s just unfortunate that the final page is a redrawn version of a more high-profile artist’s work and comes across as a hand-me-down.

New Avengers has more to do with the Skrull plans, though nothing too earth shattering. It’s not like the recent issue that explained how the invasion came to be and then paid us off with the revelation that the Queen is Spider-Woman. The story has more to do with how part of the Skrull plan came to be. Explained with dialogue, even Bendis dialogue, it probably would have been underwhelming.

This issue isn’t underwhelming. It’s absolutely horrifying. Several pages in, there’s a part with Dr. Strange that gave me the creeps reading it. The slow realization of what was happening was a huge holy shit moment. What followed only proceeded to make it worse. Then, without the weapon of surprise, the rest of the issue continues to make your skin crawl. It’s one horror after the other.

The Skrulls claim to be going for peace and maybe they are, but the way they go about it is disgusting. It’s an act that’s grounded in fiction, meaning that you won’t see many examples of it in real life, but it’s just so cruel and heartless that it’s appalling. I’ve read this issue three times over and it gets harder to get through each time.

It’s nice to see that Billy Tan is improving as an artist. His work here is by far an improvement over his efforts in Spider-Man: The Other. There are so many panels and details that are just nasty. Considering the story I just described, I mean that in a very good way.

If you’re a completist, you’ll probably pick up Mighty Avengers. Only if you’re into Secret Invasion. If you’re looking for Sentry and Ares blowing stuff up, wait a couple months. Then again, you should already know that by now.

Definitely pick up New Avengers. That one’s a keeper.

New Avengers #44:

Mighty Avengers #17:

A couple years back, Marvel released an animated straight-to-DVD movie Ultimate Avengers, based somewhat on the popular Ultimates comic. Softening the hard series put a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, but it did have some stuff going for it. It had that great Avengers vs. Hulk fight at the end and a sweet scene where Captain America realizes just which century he’s woken up in. All in all, it wasn’t so good.

A sequel came out soon after, featuring Black Panther. I remember very little of it due to how boring it was. The highlight of it being a fun segment where Tony Stark takes a walk through his cave of infinite Iron Man armors to settle on the War Machine design.

As much as I didn’t like Ultimate Avengers 2, that doesn’t compare to the outright disgust I had at Invincible Iron Man. Holy shit. That movie is so boring that, no joke, PCS’s own David Brothers fell asleep watching it TWICE. It’s made up of endless talking, bad CGI, lots and lots of Iron Man getting his ass handed to him and a laughable climactic battle involving the Mandarin’s ghost floating over a mind-controlled naked woman who’s defeated by Iron Man yelling “REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!” It’s really bad. I feel sorry for anyone who purchased it based on the success of the Robert Downey Jr. movie.

Following that came Doctor Strange. This one had promise. As an origin for Strange, it went really well. The character development was tops. Too bad they decided to bog it down with so many unneeded things. They decided that magic wasn’t interesting enough, so they transferred nearly everything magic-related into kung-fu sword fighting. Then they gave Strange a squad of kung-fu action sorcerers for the sake of a body count. It would have been pretty good, ultimately, until they ruined it with the most laughable deus ex machina in movie history. The way Dr. Strange beats Dormammu is so badly written and lazy, I’m still in awe.

My personal order is Doctor Strange over Ultimate Avengers over Ultimate Avengers 2 over Invincible Iron Man. The new animated movie Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow steps over that list as the best. But does that mean it’s actually good? That’s a good question.

The earlier four movies were pretty bad because they took an established idea and tore it down with mediocrity. They take ______ and make it worse. Even New Frontier was a great animated movie, but people disrespect it because it’s nothing compared to the graphic novel it’s based on. Next Avengers has that advantage. They’re on new ground, building up rather than tearing down. Even though the idea has similarities to the comic Avengers Next and the team that came out of What If the Secret Wars Never Ended?, it’s different enough that it isn’t stepping on anyone’s toes.

The exposition is told to us by an older Tony Stark as a bedtime story. Years ago, the Avengers (616 style, not Ultimates) kicked enough evil ass that they could retire. They paired up and had some kids. Then Ultron showed up and killed the whole lot of them. Surviving the slaughter, Tony Stark took the children and escaped to an isolated paradise. For about 15 years or so, Tony raised the children as his own and trained them in using their abilities.

The leader of the team is James Rogers, son of Captain America and Black Widow. He lacks his father’s unbreakable shield, but does wield the holoshield that Cap had back in the 90’s. Torunn is the daughter of Thor. Instead of Mjolnir, she has a sword that only she may lift. She’s constantly praying to her father in Asgard and spends much of the movie refusing to run from stuff. Azari is the son of Black Panther and, judging from his electric powers, Storm. He’s the most loyal to Tony and appears to be the most level-headed. Finally, there is Pym, obviously the son of Giant Man and Wasp. I don’t think a single person can agree that he is without a doubt the most annoying child in the movie. He reminds me of Beast Boy from Teen Titans, but without any of the charm.

The plot device that pushes the story forward into danger is an odd one. As Tony Stark tends to the returning Vision (bringing the news that Hawkeye had a kid too) in his secret lab, the kids sneak in and come across a series of Iron Avengers. They’re much like the robot duplicates from Earth X, mixing the Avengers’ appearances with that of Iron Man. James accidentally activates them, causing them to fly off to fight Ultron. Just from being turned on, Ultron figures out where everyone’s hiding and easily defeats the robots before reprogramming them to serve him.

So, what? Tony Stark is secretly a moron? Why did he have those things in the first place? It’s pretty obvious that they’d only be a hindrance, so why even keep them around? It’s like having a phone lying around with nothing but Ultron on speed dial.

From there, the story is about the four children and the disembodied head of Vision going around, meeting Hawkeye Jr. and working on a plan to take on Ultron. After the halfway point, the Hulk shows up into the story, which would be a spoiler if it wasn’t for the cover and commercials making this public knowledge. It’s obvious that the movie was written with the summer movies in mind, considering how big a role Iron Man and Hulk have.

Now, the movie isn’t all that fantastic. The animation has taken a step down from the other movies, even though they don’t have the weird shading problems anymore. A lot of movement comes off as choppy. The children can come off as really grating at times, ESPECIALLY Pym. The middle gets very bland, despite a scene reminiscent of the grim “heroes vs. robot results” sequence in the Incredibles.

That said, if anything, watch this movie for the last twenty minutes. The climax is some awesome stuff. It’s the only climax in an animated Marvel movie that fits. Sure, Avengers vs. Hulk was pretty cool, but it was so tacked on. I don’t remember anything about the end of Ultimate Avengers 2 worth mentioning except Giant Man died and Iron Man wielded the Ghostbusters Proton Pack. Invincible Iron Man had a ridiculous final fight scene that Iron Man didn’t even win. The less said about Dr. Strange’s ending the better… unless you’re in the mood for a laugh. This movie hits just the right notes in its final minutes, including an awesome one-on-one battle that really needs to happen again and again in the comics. Hell, I’d read a 6-issue miniseries dedicated to it.

It’s very loyal to the Avengers mythos, except for a major origin change that they make with Ultron. It’s the kind of origin change that I wouldn’t doubt they’d do for the live-action Avengers movie. Other than that, there’s a lot of little pieces of fanservice for the comic-reading crowd. Captain America naming his son James is a nice touch. Thor’s daughter Torunn tells off Ultron in a way that should make the hardcore Avengers fans smile. There’s also a moment with the Hulk that’s an obvious reference to a certain popular comic miniseries that’s yet to be finished off.

If you’re looking for a rental and you need ideas, I’d say give the movie a chance. It has some mediocrity to it, but at least they tried. It’s not on higher ground than DC’s recent animated movies, but it is roughly on the same level as Superman/Doomsday. They’re getting better, which is a good thing. Hopefully their Wolverine vs. Hulk and Thor vs. Hulk movies can push the quality upwards.