Marvel Tightens Up Their Back Stories With Short Clips To Be Featured On Upcoming DVD's

I truly like the strategy that Marvel has employed weaving together the world that will be on display in next summers blockbuster film 'The Avengers'. The after-the-credit vignettes have done a wonderful job getting us ready for what would happen next on the laundry list of films that had to come first to properly set up 'The Avengers'. (Continued after the jump)

Avengers Assembled

I remember when I first started hearing the rumors back in 2007, that the upcoming "Iron Man" movie was going to have a cameo appearance by Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, that is going to set up for an Avengers movie............Suuuuuuuuuuure. Now first, I didn't believe it, and second, even if they did include said scene, ain't no way in hell they are gunna be able pull off that kind of big plan.

But here we are, 5 movies later, and less than a year away from an unprecedented comic book movie event. Here's a look a the character posters they unveiled over the weekend at SDCC all together as one giant banner of nergasm.

Click the pic for a big version. I'll let you guess what my current wallpaper is.

Aside from a few bumps (I really wish that was Edward Norton) Marvel looks like they may actually pull this off. An ensemble comic book film, all with predefined singular experiences, helmed by Joss Whedon, one of the best ensemble and genre handlers out there today. Holy crap I say.

I have enjoyed all the movies thus far, as good, fun, "comic book movies." I am eagerly awaiting this. If it doesn't go any further after, I'm totally fine with that, because as I said, I never would have believed it would have even made it this far.

What do you guys think? If the world does end late next year.....are we good?

Favreau Might Be Off Of Iron Man 3... Here Is Why This Doesn't Matter At All

So websites all over the place are running unconfirmed stories that Jon Favreau, the wonderful filmmaker who brought us Iron Man 1 & 2, will not be sticking around to direct Iron Man 3. Oh My GOD... judging by the general reaction to this, you would think that someone just found a sex tape featuring Yoda & The Emperor. People are already touting the complete collapse of the Marvel Comics movie world and all other kinds of doom & gloom.... and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Listen, I am a movie geek, a comic book geek, a toy geek... yeah, pretty much an all around geek. Yet the one thing that drives me nuts is when fellow geeks light up the 'net with ridiculous claims and statements. Whats even worse then that is when they complain about shit that is perfectly fine... So, instead of just disagreeing with all of these "doom & gloom" prophets, I will do one better: I will give you a 5 point explanation on why Jon Favreau leaving Iron Man 3 means absolutely jack shit. Here we go...

1. The rest of the directors involved in the foreseeable future of the Marvel Comics movie universe are pretty awesome themselves. Honestly, are these guys fucking kidding me? First up, you got Kenneth Branagh directing Thor next May. That trailer just hit and looks great... Then you got Joe Johnston directing the World War II era Captain America: The First Avenger in July. That one is scripted by uber geek god Joss Whedon... who also happens to be lined up to direct The Avengers, which will represent the culmination of everything started with Iron Man back in 2008. That hardly seems like a lineup that should lead to the belief disappointment is coming on the horizon. Factor in Matthew Vaughn's X-men: 1st Class, Marc Webb's Spiderman reboot, & the proposed Edgar Wright Ant Man movie and Marvel Films looks to be more then OK.
2. It was silly to think Favreau would just sit around waiting for the time to direct Iron Man 3. Favreau is a wonderful director. Made, Elf, even the Jumanji sequel Zathura... all good movies. He wrote Swingers... and not to mention Iron Man 1 & 2. Cowboys & Aliens looks pretty good as well. Did you really think this guy was just going to sit around and wait for Thor, Capt America, The Avengers... not to mention the sure sequels to all of those films... it's just unrealistic. He has a ton of great films in him, and he need to go and make them.
3. Are we sure there even will be a Iron Man 3? Lets be real. If you are going to have all of these characters crossing over into each others films and tying in to a major film franchise like The Avengers, will you even have to make Iron Man 3 right away? I think not. Lets put it like this. In 2011 you got Thor, Cap & the X-men, 2012 gets us Spidey, Ghost Rider, & The Avengers. Iron Man came out in 2008, and had a sequel by 2010. Why wouldn't any of the above films spawn a sequel just as quick? As a matter of fact, based on the track record of superhero movies over the past decade, its pretty much a forgone conclusion that this will happen. So... are you really crying over a movie that may be like 10th on the burner?
4. What about all the other Marvel characters out there? There are so many great characters out there that deserve their shot. Ant Man by Edgar Wright can be phenomenal. I am looking forward to bat-shit crazy Nic Cage going Ghost Rider once again. But what about a epic underwater Namor movie? Or a great space opera featuring Captain Marvel, The Eternals, Nova, or The Silver Surfer? How bout that R Rated Punisher movie that HAS to be made? Black Panther? Power Man & Iron Fist, Heroes For Hire? Power Pack? The opportunities are endless... and should be mined carefully. They should take a hard look at the tons of great characters that litter the Marvel Universe stable.
5. If they do make Iron Man 3, why can't somebody else do it just as good (if not better) than Favreau? Superman 2 - Richard Lester replaced Richard Donner. James Cameron took over for Ridley Scott on Aliens. Irvin Kirschner solidified the Star Wars franchise as epic with Empire Strikes Back by taking over the directing reigns from George Lucas. Chris Nolan not only recreated Batman, he recreated superhero movies FOREVER. I'm not shitting on Favreau at all. I love him & all he did with the Iron Man franchise. But to say it can't be done without him... that's just crazy. Robert Downey Jr is the bread & butter of Iron Man. That's that. If they get someone who is passionate about the comic book, who strives to tell a good story, and wants to make not just a good "comic book" movie, but a "good overall movie", then all will be fine.

Listen, if the time comes around for Iron Man 3, and Favreau takes a pass (or isn't chosen) for the gig... well, I'll be sad. But I won't think its totally fucked before we know anything like what it may be about or where the whole Marvel Universe story will actually be at the point (with the above movies we mentioned all being tied in). Can it all fail... sure it can. But nothing is guaranteed. Lets hope it all works out in the end!!!

Do You Want To Be Iron Man ? Got 100 Mil ?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a superhero??? Not like Kick-Ass, where the kids dress up as heroes but rely on guns and karate to inflict pain on the bad guys... but a real superhero, like Iron Man. All the tech, the tricked out armor, the fame and fortune that would come with being a world renown bad ass... wouldn't it be great???

The guys over at IO9 have figured out how much it would cost you, for real though. This is not a silly list of made up materials, this is an honest to god guide to building a functioning Iron Man suit of armor. Everything from a computer in the helmet, to boot rockets, to weaponry... its all here. This is a really cool list. Good job fellas. Check out the full story over at IO9 here. Enjoy the list, and and if you got a 100 mil or so laying around, its time for you to grasp your destiny and start fighting crime. Good Luck!!!

12 Photos That Should Convey The Awesomeness That Is Iron Man 2

I saw Iron Man 2 last night at a midnight show, and all I could say was "wow"! Instead of trying to make you guys understand whats so great about it, I figured I could just show you. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, these 12 might just do this film some justice. Congrats to John Favreau, Robert Downey Jr, and all the rest of the cast. Hope you guys enjoy... now get to the theaters and make this movie #1!!!

Tony Stark and Pepper Potts Testify Before Congress

Tony at His Desk in The Hall Of Armor

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer

Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury

Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Enterprises

Mickey Rourke as WhipLash

War Machine Armor (My Favorite Part Of The Movie!)

Mickey Rourke Prepares The Hammer Drones

Even Iron Man Likes Donuts!!!

Stark & Rhodey as Iron Man Mark V & War Machine

Mark V Armor in Action!!!

Last But Not Least, Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow

"Artin' It Up" Volume #5 by Tommy Lombardozzi

Hello, hello!  OK, so, this week I am doing something a little different. My theme this week corresponds with the highly-anticipated release of what is sure to be this summer’s first blockbuster movie, ‘IRON MAN 2’!

Since C.C.D. always has it’s thumb in the butthole of pop culture, I thought it’d be apropos to have my ‘Artin’ It Up’ article coincide with the opening of this movie… which actually looks like it may be better than the first! (And, unless you’ve been living under a rock since 2008, you know the first was pretty damned good!)

As some of you may know, I like comics. Since I was a kid. Some of my formative teenage years were spent pulling my prick in secrecy as I… no, wait, ignore that. Lemme try that again. Ahem. Some of my formative teenage years were spent either reading or drawing comic book characters. Specifically Marvel characters. In the last decade, these characters have become even more integrated into modern pop culture… via their movies and TV shows/cartoons. THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN was never one of my favorite characters. I didn’t DISLIKE him… he was just THERE. His book was just OK, so it never garnered much attention from me.In the early ‘90s, he was sort of just a “staple character”, like Captain America and Thor. Now these dudes are having a real comeback in the Marvel Universe, becoming real lynch pins of said world. Anyway, I am geeking here. Lemme stop.

I knew Iron Man just like a good comic nerd should. Again, he is still not one of my favorite characters, but he’s become a lot more interesting over the last decade in the books (leading S.H.I.E.L.D., advocating the superhero registration act!, bangin’ broads!) , and like I said, the movie was great.

So, I’ve decided to give propers to ol’ Shellhead by having this week’s ‘Artin’ It Up’ article exclusively feature Mr. Billionaire Playboy Tony Stark’s alter-ego, IRON MAN!  And speaking of exclusive, these drawings were done specifically for this blog! You’re seein’ them here first, you C.C.Degenerates! ENJOY!

Drawing #1: “IRON MAN IS BORN! REBORN!”

Based on a fairly famous Joe Lieber splash page from issue one of Iron Man back in the early sixties, this is my version of this drawing. It’s fairly simple, depicting our hero in all his original, bulky glory! It’s done with marker, pen, and colored digitally. I also added some Photoshop filters for added effect & grit. Good fun.

Drawing #2: “DIGITAL IRON MAN”

I did a drawing of modern day Iron Man, flying it up nice. It was in pen marker, with very thin line work. When I scanned it in and started to color it, I hid the line layer (Photoshop talk, sorry) and the colors alone looked really cool to me! So, I omitted the outline and did some shading on the colors that were left. Then added that weird smoke shit behind him, and there ya go. It wound up being a completely digital creation.

For my last trick, I wanted something a “little” different. I thought I’d do another character that was going to be featured in the new movie. I thought I’d do Whiplash, but then it seemed weird to not stick to my all-Iron Man theme. So, WAR MACHINE was the next obvious choice, right? RIGHT! He’s sorta like Iron Man 2.0 (that was gay… sorry). But, I STILL wanted to do something different! Man, I’m so unique!!! Soooo… I give you…

Drawing #3: “LITTLE WAR MACHINE”

Well that’s it for now, fuckos. I hope you liked my contribution to C.C.D. this week. I will see you all tonight at Midnight at the Sheepshead Bay UA Theater for ‘IRON MAN 2’! Popcorn’s on Mike D.!!!

Smile up!
~TL
PS. Tell your friends about this page! Stop dickin’ around!!!