Marvel Rejoins the Animated Movie Game

Although it was Marvel's Ultimate Avengers that kicked off the modern wave of animated direct to video movies, it has been DC that has dominated the market with three regular releases each year. Marvel seemingly left the game in 2011 with the lackluster Thor: Tales of Asgard, but they are back in action this month with Iron Man: Rise of Technovore. The anime features a rogue Iron Man being hunted by Black Widow, War Machine, Hawkeye and the Punisher. A new trailer was released today with the movie coming out in just two weeks.

Iron Manime Gets a Release Date

Whats that, a decent looking animated movie from Marvel? Its been a while but come April 16, I just may have to check out this Iron Manime, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore.

Most Anticipated Superhero Shows of 2013

2012 was perhaps the greatest year yet for superheroes. Marvel's the Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises were the two biggest movies of the year, each surpassing a billion dollars in worldwide box office receipts. Spider-Man was successfully relaunched and even C-listers Judge Dredd and Ghost Rider were given  the chance (though they were not successful) to relaunch potential film franchises. The found footage film Chronicle was another bright spot in the genre paving the way for the success of lower budget films. DC churned out three more animated films with Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 proving that the film line hasn't yet run out of tricks. So can 2013 top this past year? Perhaps not financially, but there are a ton of projects worth getting excited about. Let's countdown the most anticipated new superhero shows of 2013...

Trailers for Those Other Iron Man Movies Have Landed

While we wait for the trailer to Iron Man 3, we have been treated to the first peeks at the CG tie in Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United (which coincidentally shares a similarity to today's just announced Lego Batman: DC Heroes Unite) and the anime Iron Man: Rise of Technovore. Lets tackle Heroes United first.

The Avengers Black Widow Revealed

Its probably safe to guess that Thor and Hulk's reveals should be arriving soon, but for now Marvel.com has unveiled The Avengers Black Widow costume. Looks like she has had her hair cut since Iron Man 2, but she remains very loyal to the comic book design.

See also:
Black Widows Onscreen History.

Whiplash Takes Center Stage in the Iron Man Poster

Here is a new poster for Iron Man 2. Whip it good. I like it and I also find it quite in line with the tone and design of the Iron Man I poster (below).

Onscreen History of Black Widow

The Black Widow AKA Чёрная вдова the Russian secret agent is all set to make her live action film debut as a supporting character in the upcoming Iron Man 2. The character first appeared back in 1964 in Tales of Suspense #52. Since then she has had just a few on screen appearances, mostly in the last couple of years.

Natalia the Black Widow first appeared in the Marvel Super Heroes show during the Iron Man segments way back in 1966.

It would be 40 years before Natalia would get another moment on screen. She was a main cast member in The Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2 movies.

The fledgling romance with Captain America hinted at in the Ultimate Avengers was consummated (though not on screen) in 2008's Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow in which the Cap and the Widow's kid James Rogers led a new team of Avengers. The lovebirds were shown in a flashback.

Later in the movie, a Black Widow themed robot had to be dealt with by the younglings.

In 2009, the Super Hero Squad featured Black Widow in the episode, "Deadly Is The Black Widow's Bite!"

But it will most likely be Iron Man 2 that brings Black Widow to the mainstream. She was featured prominently in the Iron Man trailers and appears to have a significant role most likely leading to her inclusion in the upcoming Avengers movie.

Update July 17, 2011

Black Widow has also become a mainstay of the animated series Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

And the Widow will return in 2012's live action Avengers. 

Black Widow Has Been Spotted

The Iron Man 2 hype machine is just getting started, after all, as summer 2009 winds down, it is the next big summer movie. Here is your first look at the Black Widow. Also seen are Whiplash and the Man of Iron. Enjoy.

Heres another one:

What to Expect in 2010

Since these projects are a little farther off, the knowledge about them is a bit more limited. Here's the news I have managed to scrape up.

Feb 2010 - Planet Hulk (Animated DVD)

Now this is a project I can get behind. I assume this will be based on the comic book story of the same name which involves a secret group of superhero leaders called the Illuminati who consider the Hulk an unacceptable potential risk to Earth. They rocket him into space to live a peaceful existence on an uninhabited planet, but due to a trajectory fail, the Hulk crashes on the violent planet Sakaar where he becomes an intergalactic gladiator. So, basically Hulk meets Gladiator in space. Whats not to love? Seems like Hulk Smash and DVD are a match made in heaven.

07 May 2010 - Iron Man 2

This has a shot at being the biggest earner of 2010. The story may deal with Stark's alcoholism as Tony develops a drinking problem when he is unable to cope with his age and Pepper getting a boyfriend. It does not, however, look like the Demon in a Bottle arc, the quintessential Iron Man story, will be adapted just yet. It may be held for Iron Man 3. Fine, if they don't want to give that story its due yet that's their prerogative, BUT hero turning dark in part 3 didn't work out so well in Superman 3 or Spider-Man 3. On the other hand, this may be a smart move to build anticipation for part 3 because this is such a well known tale. Bottom line for me, if they want to hold off, I hope they are still delivering the goods in part 2.



In part 2, I expect S.H.I.E.L.D. will continue to have a major role and Black Widow (thanks to ScreenRant.com for the look at ScarJo as BW) and War Machine are also expected to play major roles. Sam Jackson as Nick Fury is also expected to have a pre-closing credits role this time around.

As for villains, It looks like we will be getting Whiplash as opposed to the previously rumored Crimson Dynamo. Whiplash will get his technological toys from Anti-Stark industrialist Justin Hammer. No word if we will see Iron Man nemesis Mandarin, or if he is being held for another day.

I have high hopes for Iron Man 2. Its got a lot to live up to, but if it keeps the balanced tone and humor of the first one, lighting could strike twice.

25 Jun 2010 - The Green Hornet

I have a couple of problems with this project. First, I don't really care about the Green Hornet and I am not sure that anyone else does either. The TV show was big in the 60s from what I hear, but Kato played by Bruce Lee, Hornet's sidekick eclipsed the hero in popularity. At best, I can see this garnering up the level of interest of Dick Tracy, and that got a fairly lackluster response. The other concern I have I that there have been any number of "creative differences" during the film's early production which has lasted for years on end. The movie may or may not see the light of day, but we will at least know soon if a 2010 release is going to happen.

06 Aug 2010 - Jonah Hex

Ah, so Warner Brothers is aware that DC has more characters than just Batman and Superman. Right now I only have mild interest in this western anti-hero and I admit I don't know much about him other than he lives in the old west and kind of looks like Two-Face. Wikipedia adds that he was an officer for the Confederacy during the American Civil War and he is surly and cynical. I need to learn more, but I am not lining up for this yet.

05 Nov 2010 - Master Mind

No, this is not an adaptation of the classic board game - that would be a disaster. Instead, it is Dreamworks Animations answer to The Incredibles. The movie is described as "a villain gets depressed after accidentally killing his superhero nemesis Uberman." I am guessing that there will be plenty of pop culture references to keep it "hip," and though it may be fun, it will not rise to the level of Pixar greatness.

17 Dec 2010 - Green Lantern

Definitely my most anticipated release of next year will be Green Lantern, that is if it gets made. At this point, the idea sounds too good to be true, so until filming actually gets under way I will remain cautiously optimistic. The movie is rumored to focus on the Hal Jordan origin story, borrowing heavily from the Emerald Dawn storyline. Just like in the upcoming Green Lantern: First Flight animated tale, Hal will be under the tutelage of one Green Lantern Sinestro. Together they will fight Legion and Hector Hammond. There are also rumored appearances by the fashion challenged bowl cut and double breast touting Lantern Guy Gardner as well as Clark Kent.


If done well, this could be the beginning of a cohesive DC universe leading to a Justice League movie modeled after Marvel's Avengers initiative begun in Iron Man. There is also talk of plans for a Green Lantern trilogy that will include John Stewart and possibly other' Lanterns in the sequels. No matter how it turns out, it will have to be better than the Jack Black Green Lantern spoof that was gearing up back in 2006.

T.B.A 2010 - The Phantom

Created in 1936, The Phantom was the first crime fighter to wear the skintight costume and the first to wear a mask with no visible pupils, both superhero standards. I am pretty sure he remains one of the few heroes give purple such prominence in his costume.


The Sci-Fi channel (SyFy now) is reimagining The Phantom for modern times. He has a high tech nano-suit resistant to heat, bladed weapons, falls, impacts and small-arms fire. It also increases the wearers strength, and incorprates wireless communication devices.


I'm sure some will be outraged at the changes to this hero, but honestly I think its pretty much the only way to make the dude relevant anymore, especially after the 1996 Phantom film's horrible reception. Then again, he pretty much looks like the "Purple Arrow" from Smallville. Still, this looks better than Mansquito or the other made for SyFy movies we usually get. No official date has yet been given for this made for TV project.