Marvel’s people at SDCC have been doling out “concept” (read: paintings, not photographs) character-posters of the various film characters as they’ll appear in “The Avengers.” The set is now complete, and when placed together they form a banner that now constitutes the first “official” group-shot of (right-to-left) Black Widow, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Coulson and Maria Hill. Click it to embiggen it:

The immediate “big deal,” of course, is that we can now see what the new-er Hulk looks like… which is to say he looks like The Hulk. I haven’t put them side-by-side as yet, but it looks to me like the face – with the larger-than-normal maxilla (“upper-lip” palat) and pronounced Neanderthal-esque brow – is erring more toward the 60s/70s comics Hulk than previous versions. The Ang Lee version, for contrast, was designed to look more like an “inflated” version of Eric Bana; while the “Incredible” Edward Norton Hulk reflected more recent designs where he’s more of a “giant human.” But… yeah, Hulk looks like Hulk. I wonder if they’ll keep this design for the new TV show?

Oh, yeah… that’s something else that’s kinda gotten lost in the Comic-Con shuffle: in lieu of (for now) further films, Hulk is getting a new live-action TV series. Also on the front-lines of Marvel/Disney’s new TV venture: “AKA Jessica Jones” (with Luke Cage and Carol “Ms. Marvel” Danvers in the supporting cast) “Cloak & Dagger” and, for some reason, “Mockingbird.” Those with a less-than-noble interest in the “Cloak & Dagger” announcement should, unfortunately, adjust their expectations accordingly; as it’s an ABC Family project and thus very unlikely to let Dagger keep her infamous uniform.

I’m also given to wonder if there’s any significance to the fact that Captain America (which is now on-track to have had the biggest opening weekend of all the Summer 2011 superhero movies) has the center-spot, appears to be at the “front” of the lineup and seems to have a color-scheme that’s a little bit bolder and less effected by the sepia-sheen of the rest of the piece, which makes him stick out from the others. A lot of folks had been assuming that the more popular Iron Man (or the more widely-exposed and theoretically higher-ranking Nick Fury) would be the “boss” of The Avengers; but this makes it look an awful lot like Cap is in his (in the comics) usual position as team-leader.

I like Hawkeye just fine, but I still say not even letting him have a mask only serves to call attention to the question of just how useful being really, really good with a weapon that’s been obsolete since the 14th Century is on a team of (literal) gods, monsters and super-soldiers. And hey, look: You can see the Helicarrier and a Quinjet (?) in the background. Awesome.

FYI, a piece about certain revelations about Anders Behring Breivik – the alleged perpetator of the horrific bombing/shooting in Oslo, Norway – is now up at The Other Blog.

I know that there are Norwegian readers and fans of this blog and the attendant shows/series; and I encourage other readers to keep them in your thoughts, prayers etc. during this period and to keep discussion of the tragedy respectful (re: I WILL delete insensitive/confrontational comments regarding the tragedy) and to donate to charitable organizations of your choice when/if the ability to do so is made available – for those in Norway: I am told that Ullevaal Hospital – where some victims are being treated, is in need of TYPE 0 BLOOD donations.

I once again join the Post-Movie Podcast to talk about “The First Avenger.” MAJOR SPOILER WARNING is in effect, but give it a listen if you’ve seen the film and please consider bookmarking their site, downloading or subscribing to the show on iTunes, etc – these are good guys, working hard.

UPDATED! I’m reasonbly certain that THIS is the commercial John Black was talking about:

It’s fantastic, go see it. Seriously, go – a superhero movie this good and this different “underperforming” would be a disaster for the genre.

Also: “Intermission” talks Easter Eggs – “Captain America” may feature the most obscure Marvel cameo ever.

AND ALSO: Did you watch the explosive new GAME OVERTHINKER yet??

A Twitter pal linked me to this video of the new “Beavis & Butthead” relaunch from MTV. Dunno where it came from in the first place, as I haven’t watched MTV in years, but I assume if it’s a “bad” leak they’ll take it down, so… whatever.

My impression? Wow… it’s as though they’d never left. The animation looks basically the same as it did on the last season (are they still using hand-drawn cels? The original show ended well before the dawn of Flash…) and the boys are still wearing their band-T’s, tormenting poor Stewart and – yes! – THE GREAT CORNHOLIO LIVES!!!

The big “new” hook, of course, is that the video-mocking interstitials have been replaced by mockery of MTV’s reality-centric present-day programming; and if these examples of “Jersey Shore” whacking are any indication it’s going to work out just fine. I like that they’ve preserved the gag that B&B somehow get exponentially sharper and quicker-witted when it’s TV time:

SNOOKI: “Hello? Ya, I’m a whore!?”
BUTTHEAD: “That’s how she answers the phone.”

Actually, y’know what’s even more genius about this? It plays PERFECTLY to the “real” target audience of this relaunch – now-grown Gen-Xers who’ll be returning to MTV for the first time in a decade and HATE everything on the network now. Kind of deviously brilliant, that.

Here’s the page on The Other Blog (updating w/details later)!
Here’s the direct-link to ScrewAttack!

I’m generally obliged not to give details as to what I thought of movies I’ve seen before they’re officially released; but you may wish to take what you will from the following:

I am going to a midnight show of “Captain America.” It is not a critic’s showing or a free preview, it’s a regular showing that I am paying regular ticket-price to see.

I am doing this even though I have already seen “Captain America,” AND the “Avengers” teaser; for no reason other than I have an unignorable desire to see “Captain America” again.

I do not recall having done this for any other “big” movie released this summer.

Infer from this whatever you wish to infer, and make your near-future moviegoing plans accordingly.

I like how what was supposed to be a quick comment by moi on another blog – but got longer – about the “stop pre-judging!!!!!” response to negative reactions to the awful-looking “Spider-Man” trailer, so I’m reposting it here:

Oh ENOUGH with the “wait-and-see” comments – geez! It’s not like this is someone’s bootlegged out-of-context set footage, it’s the official trailer! This is what the studio felt was their BEST set of selling points right now. It looks like shit, you KNOW it looks not only like shit but “like shit” in EXACTLY the same way you imagined it would when this whole asinine project started up. OWN your negative reaction – after all, the near-universal insta-revulsion for “Green Lantern” after the FIRST costume shot turned out to be wholly-predictive.


For fuck’s sake, howzabout we save the “benefit of the doubt” for something “iffy-looking” that’s taking an actual risk or doing something new or original; not for what is easily the most cynically-mounted, passionless, made-SOLELY-to-retain-a-licensing-contract cinematic undertaking of the 21st Century so far. Even if it turns out halfway-decent, this is the LAST movie that deserve ANYONE bending over backwards to give it a “fair shake,” especially if we’re just trying to avoid looking like “fanboys” who’re mad that the costume is blue in the wrong places.”


Egh. Exhale…


Anyway…


So after all the hype about all the “awesome” practical-effects jumping and swinging scenes the stunt guys were doing, and how that was going to make it soooooooooo much better than Raimi’s because he used too much of the CGI Spidey… their big reveal-trailer “money shot” looks like gameplay footage from a Wii port of “Mirror’s Edge?”

…kinda blows. Watch it after the jump.

Before that, though, some good news: Jeff Wells – who’s sort of become the “leader” of the too-many-damn-superhero-movies backlash among the old guard critical press – saw “Captain America” and LOVED it. If you’re not aware of Wells, the idea that he’ll get out of  ANY movie and start tweeting wild enthusiasm is a rare event, but this is a HUGE shocker… and a good sign, as the last time he reacted this way to a genre film was “First Class.”

I’m well aware that, because I’m the guy for whom a minute or so of Peter Parker dancing WASN’T an apocalyptic event, everything I have to say about this is subject to outright dismissal; plus I have to head out to screen “Captain America” so I can’t do a full piece right now… but my first reaction is that this is a god-awful trailer.

Sony is betting the farm on this movie – this is the movie that’s going to keep Spider-Man “theirs” for the next cycle – and this is how they reintroduce him? A few shots of Andrew Garfield wandering around generic cityscapes and interiors, a goes-nowhere bit about Peter’s parents (supposedly a BIG part of the revamped backstory) and a stretch of CGI that wouldn’t pass muster as a Wii cutscene?

I get that they’re going for “what’s thi… oh! Spider-Man!,” but I can’t imagine an audience reacting excited to the reveal here – more like “what’s thi… Spider-Man, again? Already? Seriously?” Kinda interesting that he seems to have a biological-spineret after all, and I’m amused by the bit where it looks like he’s going to eat a fly; but all of the important stuff about this screams “This Fall on The CW,” not “huge blockbuster next year.”

I have it on good authority that GAME OVERTHINKER: EPISODE 54 is coming this Thursday at 11pm EST exclusively on ScrewAttack.com. In this thrilling episode, you will…
LEARN! The OverThinker’s take on the subject YOU voted on!
MEET! A new member of TGO’s expanding supporting cast!
WITNESS! Fiery destrcution EXPLODING across your screen!
MARVEL! As The OverThinker does NOT engage in a pulse-pounding adventure!
THRILL! As our hero actively avoids looking down at his cue-cards!
BEHOLD! TGO’s brand-new abbreviated opening credits!
DISCOVER! The NAME of the mysterious Game Store Arsonist!