#137: Waiting For My Favorite Heroes To Assemble…

Do you realize I still have four more sleeps until Marvel Studios allows the Avengers to assemble at my local Cineplex theatre?

Marvel Studios (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 I have been waiting for this film since I was an actual fanboy, never mind a forty-year-old father! I need the diversion and the emotional boost that can only come from watching one’s childhood heroes brought to life on the big screen more than ever these days.

 Wish me luck on my vigil, will you?

 

The Avengers (2012 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Related articles

• ‘The Avengers’ ensemble debuts to big overseas box office (csmonitor.com)
• Cobie Smulders and Clark Gregg on Why The Avengers Is “Mind-Blowing” (popsugar.com)
• Video: Does The Avengers Live Up to the Hype? Find Out! (popsugar.com)
• Film Review: Avengers Assemble (nataliestendall.com)

#158: The “Very Special Issue” of Comics!

Years ago, The Drew Carey Show mocked the modern-day television convention of the “Very Special Episode”.

I feel the “Very Special Issue” is a comic book convention that deserves to not only be mocked, but beaten, tortured and buried alive.

Why do I feel so strongly? The answer is obvious, really.

I need blog fodder, lots of it.

But I’ve also been inspired by “Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Nine” #6, a comic book that picks up where the Buffy TV series left off, with the young, blond hottie slaying the undead – when she’s not banging them – and stumbling her way though life.

Drama and female angst has always been a MAJOR component to the Buffy mythos and this issue is no exception.

And so in one single panel everyone’s favorite vamp hunter ups her drama quotient and draws in mainstream attention from every corner of the media, including feminists and plain ‘ol fanboys like me.

And this isn’t the first time Buffy has resorted to such tactics.

 

 Of course, Buffy eventually went back to a sausage diet – as evidenced by the abortion stunt – but the creators captured the media’s attention, which helped support sales of the then-fledgling Season 8 comic.

In fairness, Joss Whedon has always delivered a superior product and that is in part, attributable to his knowledge of the market; the man-child knows what sells. He gives his creation a plausible motivation for her decision…

But what about the big picture? These publicity stunts rarely contribute to the greater good of the character – unless Buffy keeps the baby it’ll be business as usual in no time – and so the fans are left asking the same question over and over.

What was the point?

Ed Norton “Hulks Out” on Marvel Studios!

Image via Wikipedia

Attention security guards at Marvel Studios HQ, if you see a man with glowing green approaching the building, pull the fire alarm and head for the hills!

Actor Edward Norton is STILL ticked at Marvel’s decision to replace him as the Jade Giant in Joss Whedon‘s crown jewel The Avengers.  In a recent interview with the U.K’s Independent,  the Incredible Hulk actor shared his disgust and resentment with the studios’ decision.

“I found it a cheap and unnecessary representation that it was about things other than money,” sighs Norton. “They came to me avidly to talk about it and then at the end of the day it was just flat out a business decision.”

Marvel claims Norton’s replacement, Mark Ruffalo, is a superior player because he is someone “who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members.”

At the end of the day, Norton’s comments don’t serve his cause, they just give Marvel’s PR department a break. You know what they say, any publicity, even if it’s from a disgruntled actor, is good publicity.

Let’s face it, the fans are still going to stand in line to watch the Avengers Assemble no matter who’s on the team.

Image by Boogeyman13 via Flickr

Related Articles

• Edward Norton is still whining (wwtdd.com)
• Joss Whedon 101: The Avengers (Feature) (popmatters.com)
• Edward Norton says he wants to work with Brad Pitt again (celebritytreat.com)

Is Wonder Woman Terrible? Hollywood Seems To Think So.

Image via Wikipedia

She’s been around since 1941 and in that time, she’s beat down Nazis, mad scientists and traditional notions about air travel by owning an invisible plane.

So why can’t the Amazon princess get any respect from Hollywood?

A big screen treatment starring Princess Diana has been in the works for years, with Joss Whedon (among others) attached and various female stars throwing their tiaras in the ring.

But while Superman managed to crank out a super-dud (Superman Returns) that still made money, Wonder Woman can’t even get a modern television series on the air!

According to Entertainment Weekly, an updated series, minus Lynda Carter of course, has joined the film version in Development Hell.

Image via Wikipedia

Warner Bros. TV was actively shopping a script from David E. Kelley that updated the period tale about an Amazon princess who battled Nazis and other bad guys during World War II.

One source close to the project said the Wonder Woman team won’t give up on the project, even though it’s “not moving forward at this time.”

Kelley has a solid rep in Hollywood, with hits like L.A. Law and Boston Legal under his belt and still, they’ve passed? Granted, he’s had some difficulty lately getting other projects greenlit, but I don’t think the “suits” have thought this one through.

Consider this: a half-naked hottie from an island of lesbians (Think about it, there are no men on Paradise Island!) running around tying men and women up with a lasso.

Sounds like a hit to me.
  

 

Related Articles

• A Wonder Woman TV series from the creator of Ally McBeal? [Please God No] (io9.com)
• Angelina Jolie As Wonder Woman? Joss Whedon Thinks So! (splashpage.mtv.com)
• “David E. Kelley Still Optimistic About That Wonder Woman TV Show” and related posts (beyondhollywood.com)