Avengers Assemble!

I know that most of the comics I talk about here are DC based, Aquaman, Batman, etc, but when I was growing up I was all about Marvel.  (Heck, just check out the basis for this blog’s name.)  As such, I have to say that I have loved all the Marvel movies I’ve seen since they started Marvel Studios, which would be Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and, of course, Thor*.  Unfortunately I haven’t seen Captain America yet, but I am told that it is also quite good.  Needless to say, this makes me quite excited for The Avengers, due out on May 4^th of this year.  I’m not sure about the storyline, since all the trailers have shown so far is shots of all the heroes together and interacting, which really is enough.  I do know that Loki is somehow involved, and that makes sense due to the fact that it was his meddling that led to the formation of the team WAY back in Avengers #1.

One disappointing thing about the movie is a new Bruce Banner.  I thought that Edward Norton was superb in the role, but I understand how the studio needs to feel they can work with an actor, especially in an ensemble piece.  It looks like the design of the Hulk is the same, though, so it’s not like it’s a complete reimaging.  Still, it would have been nice to have 100% continuity between the films.  They’ve worked hard to make all of these movies fit together, which has been lacking in all other superhero movies, both Marvel and DC, up to this point, but what are you gonna do?

I do like how they are working in the costume changes for some of the characters.  Cap is going from his 1940’s pseudo-military uniform to the more super version in this movie.  Thor is also going back to the sleeveless look that he had before the modern chainman costume.  Both of these make sense internally to the film (Cap for being moved ahead 75 years in the time-stream and Thor because he’s only fighting “mortal” foes, so why does he need the armor?) and it’s a nice nod to the fans for acknowledging how the characters have changed over the years.

* Funny story about seeing Thor.  This was my daughter’s first movie theater movie, and she was only 2 and a half at the time.  She managed to sleep through most of it, but she was awake at the beginning (she definitely saw the Winnie the Pooh trailer) and sort of knew what was going on.  Anyway, when Odin comes to Jottenheim, to save his sons and the Warriors Three, he lands and Slepnir rears up, neighing.  At this moment my darling little girl stands up on the seat and starts clapping and cheering for the All Father.  It’s one of my proudest moments as a father.