Marvel’s Plan for The Avengers Surprise Villain

The first mid-credits extra scene in Marvel’s The Avengers revealed the evil mastermind behind Loki and his alien army. To non comic book readers it was ‘who’s that?” but to comic fans it was a moment of “oh —-!” (Fill in your own expletive of your choice there!)

 

Before I go on with this post – just in case you were off planet and haven’t seen The Avengers I should put up a…

 

SPOILER WARNING

IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE AVENGERS YOU MAY WANT TO STOP READING

SERIOUSLY

HERE IT COMES

 

The mad Titan THANOS was the big bad behind the scenes. The purple alien’s weapon the Infinity Gauntlet was scene in Odin’s vault in Thor. Marvel is prepping a Guardians of the Galaxy movie so it’s logically to assume the next phase of Marvel sequels is laying the groundwork for an Avengers/Thanos showdown. Marvel movie mastermind Kevin Feige tells MTV News there’s a reason Thanos turned to show his evil grin at the end of The Avengers.

Infinity Gauntlet #4 courtesy Marvel.com

 

“Clearly, there’s a purpose to us putting him in the end of that movie. We do have plans for him,” said Feige. “I wouldn’t say we ever feel the need to rush anything one way or the other. We succeeded in Phase One because we stuck to our guns and stuck to the plan. That plan took place over many, many years and it ultimately paid off. I see Phase Two unfolding in the same way of us taking our time, us doing what’s right for each individual movie, while folding in elements that will not only build up to the culmination of Phase Two, but even Phase Three.”

 

Thanos made his comeback in the pages of Avengers Assemble and is fascinating non-comic book readers making him a perfect enemy for a future movie.

 

“Suddenly, you have a million people who had never heard of an Infinity Gauntlet or a Mad Titan learning those terms,” says Feige. “I love that. I love when the experience goes beyond the movie theater and encourages people to look deeper into our universe.”

Thanos returns in Avengers Assemble #3 courtesy Marvel

 

Can you imagine Jim Starlin’s epic The Infinity Gauntlet (when Thanos wipes out half the universe as an act of love for Death) on the big screen!?

 

Of course that might mean the big screen debut of Adam Warlock, Captain Marvel and maybe (if the Fantastic Four movie rights go back to Marvel) a scene with Reed Richards and Tony Stark brainstorming some ingenious way to beat him and maybe the Silver Surfer!

 

Feige also said the role would likely be recast. My first impulse is Vin Diesel but I would also cast the Fast & Furious star as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy.

 

Marvel’s The Avengers is out on blu-ray and dvd September 25th.

 

By Editor

The End for Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America & ?

Amazing Spider-Man #700 courtesy Marvel

  The Marvel NOW relaunch continues with the end of long running titles only to be relaunched later.

  The Marvel December solicitations include Amazing Spider-Man #700. The milestone issue will be the final issue.

  Wolverine #317 and Captain America and Black Widow #640 (which I think is the original numbering for the Captain America series but who can tell at this point?)

  Wolverine is joining Uncanny Avengers, All-New X-Men and his Wolverine and X-Men book will continues. Black Widow will be part of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers relaunch. Captain America will be part of Uncanny Avengers, Avengers and a brand new solo book by Rick Remender.

 No word yet on a new book or creative team for Spidey. For me the biggest Marvel NOW surprise is two new X-Force books (Cable & X-Force, Uncanny X-Force) that don’t include Logan.

By Editor

Chris Evans on Captain America Sequel Update

 

Chris Evans as Captain America in Marvel’s The Avengers courtesy Marvel Films

Chris Evans will play the First Avenger again in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Fans of the comic book know this sequel will be based on the story by Ed Brubaker in which Steve’s best friend is back from the dead as a brainwashed assassin.

  “Oh, I am fully up to date with my comics.  I know all about it.  Kevin Feige was talking about [Winter Soldier] when we were filming the first Captain America and well before The Avengers.  During the first Captain America we were talking about potential futures and, you know, I don’t want to give too much way,” Evans tells Collider.

  Some of the scenes Evans shot for The Avengers showing Cap adjusting to the modern world was cut but may turn up in the Captain America sequel.

Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger courtesy Marvel.com

  “A lot of that stuff [that was cut] is for Captain America 2.  That is his story.  It is him trying to on a personal level adjust to the fact that everyone he knows is gone and the whole Peggy Carter of it all.  There are a lot of things that he kind of has to come to terms with.  So I don’t know.  I am excited to kind of see flashes of the first Captain, if you know what I mean, and to see his memory of what we now know as an audience of who he was.”

  Evans adds that he’d like for Steve to appear in Thor: The Dark World.

  “[Chris] Hemsworth and I even talked about that.  I would love to do a little thing in Thor 2.  It is obviously going to be tricky trying to work out the plot, the reason why I am not there to help him, and why he is not there to help me.  But the best thing about Marvel is that, like I said, the movies were so good and we had such a good time making them.”

Captain America: The First Avenger opens April 4, 2014. Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes, Anthony Mackie plays the Falcon and no word on a love interest for Cap. Here’s hoping Sharon Carter aka Agent 13 will appear in the film.

Thanks to Collider.

By Editor

Top 5 Comic Book Picks for 9/19/12

Avengers #30 courtesy Marvel

Avengers #30 Love in war. AvX may be an epic with huge battles and ramifications but it’s also about heart and relationships. This tie-in focuses on the romance of Hawkeye and Spider-Woman. Can two emotionally damaged heroes like Clint and Jessica make it work in the damaged world shaken by the Phoenix.

Nightwing #0 The New 52 origin of Dick Grayson revealed. From orphan to sidekick to his own superhero identity.

Spider-Men #5 How will Peter Parker return to his own world? How will it end between Peter and Miles Morales? The story that brought together Spider-Men of two worlds comes to a shocking end.

True Blood #5 The secret history of the villain that terrified Bon Temps and his connection to Eric Northman’s maker – Godric.

Thanos: The Final Threat #1 He’s the cosmic villain behind the war in Marvel’s The Avengers movie and Avengers Assemble series. Experience Thanos at his evil best in this masterpiece by Jim Starlin. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must stop Thanos from using the Infinity Gems to seize power and satisfy his mistress, Death. This includes the classic Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2.

Ant-Man Goes Big Time! Marvel Point One Preview

courtesy Marvel

The coming years are BIG for a little guy! Ant-Man will get the big screen treatment in a film by Edgar Wright. Erik O’Grady has gone from shady to dark in Rick Remender’s Secret Avengers. Scott Lang is joining FF by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred. Let’s give a big  hand for the little guy!

This Ant-Man (Scott Lang) is featured in a new tease for Marvel Now! Point One courtesy Marvel.com. This book will be a primer for the Marvel Now 2013 relaunch. Fraction has said Lang will take a pro-active role against Fantastic Four nemesis Doctor Doom as retribution for the death of Stature aka Cassie Lang.

Bring on the Ant-Men!

By Editor

Magneto’s Wrath in AvX Aftermath!

 

AvX #4 courtesy Marvel

  Kieron Gillen (Uncanny X-Men, soon to be Iron Man) explores what happens right after the final chapter of Avengers vs. X-Men. What will be the fate of the mutant leader and race? Marvel revealed this variant cover to AvX: Consequences #4 by Mark Brooks.

  Magneto is full of rage. Erik pledged his allegiance to Scott and admired what he build on Utopia…until the Phoenix took control. Will the reformed Master of Magnetism go back to his more villainous ways in the aftermath of AvX #12?

  Scarlet Witch will join Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers to fight a reborn Red Skull and his anti-mutant agenda. I hope Magneto joins his daughter in the fight. I just hope the crafty and cunning Quicksilver finds a home in the Marvel NOW too.

By Editor

Avengers Lovers In Action

Avengers #30 courtesy Marvel

Storm and Black Panther are so over. Cyclops and Emma Frost are at each others throats as the Phoenix Force consumes the X-Men leaders. Hawkeye and Spider-Woman are the one Marvel couple that seem to be heating up due to action of Avengers vs. X-Men.

Marvel revealed art from Avengers #30 by Walter Simonson. Leinil Yu provides the cover showing the lovers on the run.

I think Clint and Jessica’s new romance will survive and thrive because of the conflict. Here’s hoping the hot duo will be part of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers or New Avengers in the Marvel NOW relaunch.

 

Avengers #30 courtesy Marvel

Brian Michael Bendis did bring Jessica back from back burner status. Could she be a casualty of war and change of writers? Stay tuned? Avengers #30 is out September 19th.

By Editor

Consequences of Avengers vs. X-Men

  Kieron Gillen and Tom Raney explore the moments after the conclusion of Avengers vs. X-Men #12. Marvel shared the cover and first look inside AvX: Consequences #1.

  Because these images could be viewed as giving away who survives the conflict, especially the cover, I’m going to give you this before you scroll down:

 

SPOILER WARNING

 

THESE IMAGES MAY GIVE AWAY PLOT POINTS OF AVX #11 & 12

 

SERIOUSLY

 

HERE THEY COME

 

OK

 

Cyclops is on the cover of All-New X-Men #1 so we can assume he survives the final chapter of AvX. The hook is how they heck are they going to get the Dark Phoenix Force out of him!

AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel

Wolverine and Storm are shown (arguing in the Blackbird?) over what to do with Scott after his actions.

AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel

Finally Abigail Brand of SWORD is seen talking with Magneto – over the fate of the Phoenix entity?

AvX: Consequences #1 courtesy Marvel

AvX: Consequences #1 arrives October 10.

By Editor