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.

Retrospective 2010 - Part 2

Iron Man 2

Fortunately for Iron Man 2010 was surprisingly light for the superhero genre. The next few summers will be jam packed. But with very little in the way of competition Iron Man 2 wrangled $312 million, falling just shy of the original's take. While the movie was okay, it seemed that the movie was more of a place holder for Marvel buying time to introduce the rest of the team leading up to the ensemble Avengers movie. Perhaps, this should have been titled Avengers Part 0 rather than Iron Man 2.

Jonah Hex

DC countered Marvel's Iron Man with Jonah Hex. This lesser known wild west DC bounty hunter had the honor of following in the footsteps of Steel and Supergirl by ensuring the title character would not soon be returning to cinemas. The movie barely earned $10 million and pretty may have been the final straw for Megan Fox's short lived career. Seriously, Hex's appearance on the kid targeted Batman: The Brave and the Bold and his 10 minute animated short that were released this year were both way better than this pile of garbage.

Phantom

In June, SyFy finally aired its Phantom miniseries attempted to reinvigorate one of the classic superheroes. The presentation was okay, but it doesn't look like the miniseries did enough to earn the character a hoped or ongoing series.

The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan's name being attached to The Last Airbender didn't do the film any favors. Honestly, this movie never had a chance of capturing the heart or epic scale of the animated series, but it wasn't nearly as bad as people said. Earning just $131 million, the chances of completing the trilogy are unlikely, but hey at least we will always have the series.

Batman: Under the Red Hood

In my opinion, the best offering of the summer, and possibly the year was the animated Batman: Under the Red Hood direct to video movie. The film adapted the comic arc that reintroduced presumed dead Jason Todd (the second Robin) to comic continuity. This movie was really well done and is currently at the top of my list of DC's animated films.

Jonah Hex

Attached to the Batman DtV was an animated Jonah Hex short. This little gem gave the sense that the character just might be able to carry a movie of his own, just not the version that actually got made.

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

Pulling heavily from video games, the super powered Scott Pilgrim had to defeat seven evil X's to win the day and the girl. I knew going in that this movie was going to be different, but it truly was an original and very worth seeing. Unfortunately, its the kind of movie that is going to make pretentious teens feel like they are cool just because they saw it. It really is a shame it didn't do better in theaters. I haven't read the original graphic novels but the music, animations, and effects of the films were all spectacular and its hard for me to imagine this story in silent, still, black and white. The only thing I would have done is not cast George Michael. He was a real wuss.

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).

War Machine Declared in Iron Man 2 Trailer

Sure looks shiny.

Onscreen History of War Machine

James Rupert Rhodes AKA Rhodey is the character most associated with the War Machine armor. Rhodey filled in for Iron Man when Tony Stark was off drinking, but when Tony returned, Rhodey assumed the War Machine identity.

Rhodey and the War Machine armor first appeared on screen in the 1994 animated Iron Man series.

During the '90's War Machine made the rounds on the animated circuit also appearing in a cameo as a member of SHIELD in an episode of the X-Men animated series.

Next up, War Machine and Spidey teamed up against Venom and Carnage on the Spider-Man animated series.

Then of course, Iron Man and War Machine made a stop on the Incredible Hulk animated series.

After his 90's whistle stop tour, War Machine took a hiatus, with the armor making a quick appearance in 2006 on the Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Superheroes series.

Also in 2006, Tony Stark would don the War Machine armor when his traditional suit got busted up in the Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther direct to video movie.

The 2009 Iron Man Armored Adventures featured a young take on Iron Man and his friend Rhodey, and as you could expect, the story eventually led Rhodey back into the War Machine suit.

War Machine is slated to appear sometime in 2010 on the animated Super Hero Squad series.

Though War Machine did not appear in 2007's Iron Man movie, Rhodey sure did, even going as far as to say that some time he would like to try on the Iron Man suit.

Though, Rhodey was recast for 2010's Iron Man 2, it is now confirmed that he will be getting his wish.

And in 2010, War Machine will be making his big screen, live action debut.

Whats So Civil About War Machine Anyways?

Its official. War Machine will be helping to sell Iron Man 2 as if the movie needs selling.