Marvel Introduces Motion Comics

What's a motion comic? Some of you may already know without realizing it. Anyone that has DC's Watchman DVD comic owns a motion comic; and you know that the future of comics is 'motion comics'. For anyone that has not seen a motion comic. Imagine the vivid illustrations that are generally static and motionless panning or zooming for emphasis along with minor moving elements in the background or foreground from time-to-time.

Marvel has taken the initiative to offer a free episode of their motion comics in an effort to draw in subscribers.

Check out Spider Woman episode 1 complete with cameo from Spider-Man.

Ripped from the pages of "Secret Invasion" and "New Avengers," this explosive first episode follows the new adventures of Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman as she rediscovers her life in a world she did not make. The Secret Invasion is over. Now comes the reckoning.




If that's not enough. Joss Whedon (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) has penned an episode which you can get a glimpse of in this trailer. And unlike some of the poor dialogue in the Spider Woman episode above, it has all the trappings of great Joss Whedon writing. It will be available October 28th.






If you are ready to subscribe to Marvel's motion comics check more out at: http://marvel.com/motioncomics/

Mickey Mouse is now Hulk's Father

In what should be bigger news, Disney is making a 4 BILLION dollar offer to buy Marvel. Disney calls it "quality branded content". Can we be so sure?

Will Marvel just be a cash cow subsidiary of Disney or will Disney, Disneyfy Marvel with less character in their characters shunning violent content and dictating story lines.

Disney is well known for creative freedom but within their guidelines which in reality is not true creative freedom, it's just a cordoned off play-ground in which to operate. If that theology is forced on Marvel characters and stories, then the characters we see now will become bland and dull by comparison to the stories in the past.

Disney's representative on the deal Robert Iger was happy to announce, "We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation," conspicuously absent was the reassurance that the Marvel property would retain it's integrity.

Disney stands to gain over 5000 Marvel characters and the intellectual Marvel universe in which they live.

Marvel Casts Thor!

The looming question of which actor could seal the deal is done. The Nordic (Asgardian) God will be portrayed by Australian Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth is a relative unknown in the states except for his recent portrayal of the short lived character George Kirk in the rebooted Star Trek. PMC recently reported that HBO's Alexandar Skarsgard met with director Kenneth Branagh.

Thor is a necessary character in the Marvel Universe if they are to create the superhero team up of The Avengers which includes Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America. Later incarnations of the Avengers include Spider-Man. Captain America's release date has been moved back from July 16, 2010 to May 20, 2011. Thor begins filming of January 2010 for the following year's June 2011 release. The Avengers film is set for the following summer release of 2012. For what it's worth, Spider-Man will be released in advance of them all in it's usual May slot of 2011.

Hollywood Daily reports that a host of actors have either turned down the role or failed readings for the part of Thor. In the case of Daniel Craig, he turned it down; while Chris Hemsworth was turned down without even had read for the part. Then Marvel's representative on the project Kevin Feige reconsidered Chris Hemsworths Manager's request to have Chris read. "You've got to reconsider Chris, he's your guy".

Marvel's reaction? "Oh my God". Chris has the physical attributes for the task too standing at at a towering six foot three inches.

Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

There is no doubt that Hugh Jackman is the perfect actor to portray Wolverine; and Marvel's decision to do an origin story on Wolverine is a good idea. The character is steeped in mystery for the average movie goer whom enjoyed the first three X-Men films. The idea is to take us back some 15 years before the X-Men films take place. For the most part we get introduced to many new X-Men when they were young? Cyclops is but a young teen, Emma Frost, Gambit all become small blips in the film.

The story itself is worthy and the assortment of other Marvel characters in it, but when you use other characters, you open Pandora's box to their origins too. Certain enough that the bastardization of those characters hurts this film. There is much confusion as to what nationality Wolverine is.

He's born in what appears America but as he ages infinitely slower than regular humans, he settles in Canada. The same goes for the key protagonist, Stryker. Is his program an American run operation or Canadian? After all the secret government facilities are housed in both Canada and America. It makes no sense. How can a man travel in both countries and run what appears a secret American commando operation out of Canada? On who's authority does he operate?

While I'm condemning all this garbage, the film actually holds together the first 40 minutes. Then the story falls apart. At the seams. From Gambit interfering in a fight between Wolverine and Sabertooth without good reason, to Logan's continued interest in revenge after he learns he has no reason for it.

Aside from the failed story line there are still two major problems with Wolverine, one is story tellers bring in other characters without any true interplay. The second is the ending ... more

Read Lars Hindsley's complete X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review

-Lars Hindsley

Marvel Resets Release Dates

No wonder with rumors abounding over is Micky Rourke in Iron Man 2 (yes, confirmed by Marvel) to is Kenneth Branagh going to direct or perhaps even star in the Thor movie? Branagh is the director folks -- well...Marvel has opted to reset the timetable of release dates for the following movies:

Iron Man 2 May 2010
Thor moved back a year to June 2011
Captain America July 2011
Spider-Man 4 May 2011
Avengers May 2012

With Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury and locked into as many nine films, the stage is set for each character to be established in their own film then segued into the Avengers film in 2012. Marvel is on record as being committed to eventually releasing two films per year.

As for Branagh; he is directing Thor and was seen recently eating dinner with Alexander Skarsgård whom clearly fits the build for the lead role of Thor towering at 6'4" in stature.

In other news, the Fantastic 4 appears to be subject to recasting. No word if this is yet another reboot as in the case of Hulk. In the case of Hulk, despite the reboot, Marvel was wise enough not to put fans through a restart. The Fantastic 4 may get a new cast, but it appears we will not be required to experience an whole new restart of the story line.

-Lars Hindsley

Samuel L. Jackson IS Nick Fury

It's official. Marvel has locked in Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury for no less than NINE count em folks -- nine films. Gee did we see this coming? After all, he did give Marvel his consent to use his likeness for Nick Fury in The Ultimates graphic novel series.

Nick Fury is a key character to many Marvel enterprises: S.H.I.E.L.D., The Ultimates, The Avengers and even the Weapon X Program (Wolverine's origin). Fury's claim as a super hero is super strength. I won't bother to explain how he got it as Marvel will most likely re-establish that origin for the film incarnation of Nick Fury. After all, they changed his race from Anglo-American to African-American, so there is no telling what else Marvel has in store for the character.

NINE may be a record breaking string of appearances as a single character. Expect to see Nick Fury in just about every Marvel movie coming in the next few years from Iron Man, Hulk and Fantastic Four to perhaps even a Spider-Man film IF there is to be an (New) Avengers.