Movie fans know Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) as SHIELD operatives from previous Marvel films and the upcoming Avengers movie.
Now Fury (Jr) and Coulson are in the Marvel Universe after Battle Scars #5 and now a terrorist threat will send the SHIELD agents into action in Scarlet Spider #5 on May 9th.
“There’s a dirty nuke loose in Houston, and everybody from the Houston PD, the F.B.I., S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers get pulled in,” Battle Scars and Scarlet Spider writer Christopher Yost tells Marvel.com. “Fury and Coulson are the face of S.H.I.E.L.D. in this case, and Coulson actually runs point with Iron Man, Scarlet Spider’s the one on the ground.”
“In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Coulson somewhat became the face of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” adds Yost. “So when S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up in the comics, Fury and Coulson can now serve that function.
“Fury’s not the director, not the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.—he’s an agent. He and Coulson aren’t going to be sitting in meetings; they’re going to be out there on big S.H.I.E.L.D. adventures.”
You may have heard a little something about a movie called The Avengers. You can’t escape the promotion. Hype is high. It’s the first time this many iconic super heroes from other blockbusters are in the same big movie. Here’s what you need to know if you’re never seen opened an Avengers comic book or seen the previous Marvel films: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America or Thor.
Spoiler Warning: this guide gives away the endings of those previously named movies.
1. SHIELD is an international agency charged with protecting Earth led by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson.) The Avengers Project is a gathering of super powered heroes to fight the global threats no single hero can handle alone – that big threat is here.
2. Captain America: The First Avenger Chris Evans plays Steve Rogers, a skinny, weak Brooklyn kid with a big heart who wanted to serve his country in World War II. Steve volunteered to be part of a top-secret experiment to create Super Soldiers. Steve was chosen because “a weak man knows the value of strength” and he became Captain America. Cap stopped a rogue Nazi scientist known as the Red Skull. The super serum transformed the man into an insane monster. Cap saved America from the Skull’s flying superweapon by crashing it into the arctic. Cap was frozen. SHIELD scientists discovered and revived Steve who was shocked to learn decades of his life are gone. He’s alone in a modern world he doesn’t understand.
Iron Man from Marvel.com
3. Iron Man Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is an arrogant genius inventor/playboy. Tony was kidnapped in Afghanistan and learned that his company’s weapons were being sold on the black market against the terrorists that U.S. forces were fighting. While in captivity Tony builds a suit of armor to escape his captors and protect the world as Iron Man.
4. Thor What the Vikings hailed as Norse Gods were mighty beings from a mystical realm called Asgard. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) was the God of Thunder and son of Odin, King of Asgard. Thor’s arrogance ignited an ancient war with the Frost Giants (a rival race that almost destroyed Earth eons ago) and Odin stripped Thor of his powers and sent him to Midgard or Earth. Thor learned lessons of humility, love and what it meant to be a true hero.
Marvel’s Avengers The Hulk courtesy Marvel Studios
5. Hulk Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is a scientist exposed to an experimental treatment that turns him into a monstrous, childlike Hulk. Anger triggers the change so Bruce has tried to live a secluded existence while trying to discover a cure. Bruce will be recruited back to use his brains and Hulk like strength to fight the alien army – the big question – how do you control a rampaging Hulk?
6. Black Widow Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) is a Russian super spy recruited to SHIELD by Nick Fury. She has no super powers but is highly skilled in combat and weapons. Natasha was working undercover as Tony’s assistant in Iron Man 2. In the comic books, Natasha has dated Hawkeye.
Hawkeye & Black Widow in Marvel’s The Avengers courtesy Marvel
7. Hawkeye Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is a tough, resourceful SHIELD agent and an expert archer. You saw Barton briefly in Thor. In the comic books, Clint is a former criminal turned good guy with a sarcastic sense of humor.
7. SHIELD Agents Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is the no-nonsense government operative who appeared in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America. Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) is Nick Fury’s second in command.
8. The Big Bad Guy =Loki Thor’s half-brother is the treacherous Loki (Tom Hiddleston.) The God of Mischief is a master of manipulation and sorcery who orchestrated Thor’s banishment. Thor defeated Loki but the spiteful brother refused to let Thor save his life so we last saw him falling out of Asgard into deep space. Loki is back and has declared war on Earth and he’s allied with an army of aliens – this leads to the formation of the Avengers.
If you’re in the Seattle area like myself and want to catch up SIFF Cinema presents Avengers Assemble! You can see all the previous Marvel movies each night! The Incredible Hulk Monday, Iron Man I & II Tuesday, Thor in 3D Wednesday and Captain America: The First Avenger in 3D Thursday. Each night members of the cast (and local heroes) of Citizen Heroeswill be introducing the films.
You don’t have to be an Avengers expert to enjoy the movie – just come, have fun and feel like a kid again! Hope you have a great time!
If you have any Avengers related questions please contact me by leaving a comment, email or following me on Facebook or on Twitter @comicsblend.
By Editor – thanks to Marvel for the images, the characters and for making this movie happen!
Updated: How do these characters tie together? Captain America. The Red Skull was obsessed with myths and the supernatural. He recovered a lost Asgardian artifact called the Tesseract (in the comic books it’s called the Cosmic Cube) that fueled his super army’s weaponry. The artifact is in SHIELD custody. Another fact: Tony Stark’s father Howard was a part of the team that helped turn Steve Rogers into Captain America.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com
Samuel L. Jackson has played SHIELD Director Nick Fury in 5 Marvel films. Would movie-goers accept the mission to see a film based on the super spy and his team of operatives? The actor spoke with MTV News about the possibility.
“I don’t know how much of S.H.I.E.L.D. [Marvel] want[s] to expose…I mean, we’re not superheroes. We’re more of a shadow world. So, it would be more like ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy‘ with good toys—closer to a ‘Bond’ movie than a superhero movie.”
courtesy Marvel.com
After a big ‘save the world’ plot in The Avengers would a SHIELD movie have the star and story power? I say YES! Fury, Black Widow, Hawkeye along with Cobie Smulders as SHIELD officer Maria Hill and Clark Gregg reprising his role as Agent Coulson – you have a great lineup. Secret War by Brian Michael Bendis, about Fury’s covert incursion into Latveria and it’s aftermath would be the basis for a thrilling spy story.
For the entire interview here’s the MTV News link.
Chris Evans in Marvel's the Avengers courtesy Marvel
Disney and Marvel announce the Captain America sequel will hit April 4, 2014.
Cap’s second solo adventure will “pick-up where the highly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers (May 4, 2012) leaves off, as Steve Rogers continues his affiliation with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., and struggles to embrace his role in the modern world.”
Chris Evans will reprise his role as Steve Rogers.
For the entire press release here’s the Marvel.com link.
A Geek’s Hope: I really hope Marvel/Disney will use Ed Brubaker’s The Winter Soldier epic as the inspiration for the modern-day set sequel. This would mean Sebastian Stan returning as a very different Bucky Barnes. Plus the introduction of the Red Skull’s daughter Sin and her lover/enforcer Crossbones.
Marvel recently revealed they’ve narrowed down their list of directors.
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes assemble on a brand new movie poster revealed on Marvel.com. The Avengers are in the rubble of a battle weary Big Apple ready for action. A new trailer debuts tomorrow on Apple.
What is that I spy in the sky behind our heroes? Is that an alien or SHIELD ship on fire? Maybe tomorrow we’ll know more about Loki’s secret army? And I’d like to see Maria Hill in action too.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel's The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com
“And you will KNOW my name is Nick Fury when I lay my vengeance on thee!”
It’s a good bit and I stand by it – back to the story – one of my friends and followers emailed this IMDB link followed by “WHATTTTTTT!”
Marvel has a full slate of movies post Avengers including Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 plus two untitled films – Captain America 2 is likely but is Nick Fury getting his own flick?
Thor and Nick Fury from Ultimates #7 courtesy Marvel.com
The synopsis goes like this:
“A daring amateur boxer from Hells Kitchen is recruited by the Army for some top-secret assignments. He soon is promoted to captain, where he puts together the First Attack Squad, a group of elite soldiers who carry out elite missions.”
Samuel L. Jackson, Neal McDonough(Dum Dum Dugan) and Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) are listed as rumored.
How cool would a young Nick Fury and the formation of SHIELD movie be? Who could play a young Nick? And could you have feature one of his World War II missions with a Canadian paratrooper – last name Howlett (soon to be named WOLVERINE!)
Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America in The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com
Marvel’s The Avengers assemble Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Nick Fury with SHIELD on the big screen this May.
Collider reports that Marvel is moving ahead with solo films including Captain America 2 and may begin production this year plus a possible film featuring SHIELD.
The release schedule is here:
The Avengers on May 4th, 2012
Iron Man 3 on May 3rd, 2012
Thor 2 on November 15th, 2013
Untitled Marvel 1 on April 4th 2014
Untitled Marvel 2 on May 16th 2014
Collider puts the pieces from multiple sources pointing that one of those Untitled slots if for a second Cap movie.
Captain America and Bucky #620 Courtesy Marvel.com. Art by Mark Bagley
Here’s hoping producers choose The Winter Soldier storyline as a modern-day sequel for Cap.
Which Marvel character deserves the second slot? Nick Fury and SHIELD, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye or will a long rumored Ant-Man movie finally happen?
