Marvel's Expanding Universe: Comic Con in Short

Because Otherwise We'd Be Here Forever

Finally found a cover picture for these articles!

Due to complaints that the superhero-movie posts are too many, and the "other stuff" movie posts are too few on this site, I'm going to compile the 10 posts I wanted to put up these past few days into one summarized post of all the excellence that happened at Comic Con. From an intergalactic raccoon to cream-colored armor, here's the finest bits of Marvel news for you.

The Avengers Review: Updated Box Office

Step aside, Christopher Nolan

Earth's Mightiest Heroes: And the theater collapsed under the weight of their awesomeness, but then they saved everyone, and were amazing whilst doing it

After getting home, taking off my Spidey costume, and relaxing, I sat down to write this, and after going through a few drafts, still am not quite sure how to put everything I just saw into words.  I've read so many of the reviews, and I agree with all the good stuff, and disagree with all the bad stuff.  Some people say it feels like a TV movie, but it doesn't at all.  People say that a certain character stands out above the rest, but no one does.  Everyone gets their time in the sun.  This review will be (mostly) spoiler-free, but if you want to save yourself a few minutes of reading, just don't even read this.  Instead go to a theater now, and watch The Avengers.

Avengers Preview, Mk. III

Like the Mk. II, just with lots of explosions and cool colors.  Still better than any of Michael Bay's stuff.

Last night, The Avengers hit the big screen in international audiences.  So far it's done nothing short of what was expected.  It broke records all over the globe, and has earned an incredible rating on rottentomatoes.  One week from now Earth's Mightiest Heroes will come to American theaters, and I will also have just finished watching them be awesome.  Joss Whedon and the folks down at Marvel Studios have done some incredible work building hype for their baby.  Everything about this movie has been BIG.  The first time we saw actual footage in teaser-form was during Superbowl XLVI.  Both trailers since then have been epic, epic, and more epic.  There have been so many TV spots, I still am not sure if I have seen all of them.  And that's just the promotional stuff!  Don't forget about their enormous budget, their all-star cast, the 5 blockbusters leading up to this movie, and of course the legendary heroes themselves as seen in thousands of comics.  With a skilled story-teller at the helm, and 5 excellent prequels, was it ever really possible this movie couldn't be something....Epic?  Invincible?  Incredible?  Amazing?  Fantastic?  Thunderous?  Heartfelt?  We'll soon see.

Marvel's Expanding Universe, Pt. IV

You say you want some more?  I'm not surprised.

        Joe Johnston's (The Rocketeer) Captain America: The First Avenger was a critical and financial success.  Being the last of Marvel Studios' Avengers' lead-in films, it had a lot to live up to.  I think we can for the most part say it more than lived up to expectations.

        I believe the main reason for this is the reason why I actually enjoyed TFA.  As a die-hard Marvel fan, I have to say I'm not a fan of every character.  One of the characters I'm super not a fan of is Captain America.  I think he looks ridiculous, acts ridiculous, takes himself too seriously, and looks ridiculous.

Did I mention he looks ridiculous?     

        Having said that, I think Chris Evans did a fantastic job of making Captain America into everything I just described, but he did it in a way that was appealing and downright awesome.  Of the current Marvel movie heroes, Cap is one of my favorites.  I was worried when I heard The Human Torch was taking up the mantle, but then I saw how insanely buff he got.  I was feeling better.  Then I saw the preview.  I felt way better.  Then I saw the movie.  NOW I LIKE THE HERO, EVEN IN THE COMICS.  Go Chris Evans.  Oh Captain you are my captain.

        After basically winning World War II, Captain Steve Rodgers crashed a giant plane in the arctic, not to be seen for almost 70 years.  After being found and rescued by SHIELD, Rodgers woke up to the modern day.  He is a member of SHIELD, and one of the first Avengers.  So far the story of how he came to be an Avenger is congruent with the comics, with a minor change here and there.