Superman/Wonder Woman Hulk and the Agents of SMASH and the 10th Anniversary of The Walking Dead (New Comic Day)

It’s another big week of comics, nerds and geekettes.  DC has began a new Forever Evil tie-in series in the form of Arkham War, I imagine you can guess where in the greater DCU that focuses. 

Also starting this week is DC’s new ongoing mash-up title Superman/Wonder Woman which features a wonderful trifold cover by Tony S. Daniels (pencils), Batt (inks) and Tomeu Morey (colors).  The cover’s central image of the titular heroes is a little weak but the surrounding imagery of their supporting characters and villains is awe-worthy.  However, the interior art by the same art team is weaker even than the worst elements of the cover.  Flipping through the book before reading it, I thought I liked the art, but as I read I realized I didn’t.  The story itself – by Charles Soule – I initially didn’t like but it grew on me as I went – I actually stopped reading about 6 pages in but picked it back up later in the day and gave it a second chance – which it proved it deserved.  I’m still not behind the Superman/Wonder Woman romantic relationship – I’m squarely behind the classic Lois and Clark relationship in the present and like the SM/WW relationships to be in set in the future stories – nor am I sure we needed a Superman/Wonder Woman team-up title.  But for what it is, it’s good. 

Finally, from DC this week, we have Astro City #5 and Batman # 24 (which is part of Batman Year Zero).  Batman is a little longer than usual but not really enough to justify the 7.99 price tag DC has on it – I might have been a little more forgiving on a giant-sized 25^th issue, but 24^th seems like they are just money grabbing. 

Fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series or of the comic that spawned it, might want to pick up some of its 10^th Anniversary issues – including a special feature featuring The Walking Dead 10^th Anniversary Edition of issue 1 and Tyreese Special 1. 

Over at Marvel comics, a comic adaptation of the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. cartoon series started up this week featuring typical cartoon-turned-comic art (alas only a 4 issue mini-series).

Also hitting the stands this week is my all time favorite Dark Horse character X, with issue 6 of his new eponymous title, which is much more promising than last week’s Catalyst Comics. 

Finally, Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales line has several issues out this week, notably Halloween Special 2013 and – just in time to coincide with ABC’s Once Upon a Time spinoff Once Upon a Time in Wonderland – a new 5-issue Alice-inspired mini-series Wonderland Through the Looking-Glass. 

Let us know what you’re reading in the comments or on twitter @nerdisnewcool. 

Until next time,

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off.  

Fantomex, Joker’s Daughter, and More (New Comic Day #6)

It’s an interesting week for comics.  Last week, I discussed in detail DC’s Villains Month crossover.  This is the first post VM week and DC’s titles are mostly back to normal.  I mentioned, Joker’s Daughter as being in short supply and DC has been kind enough to send out more copies of the 2D cover version as a reshipment.  I picked it up and it definitely was not worth the wait.  The issues writing by Ann Nocenti – the current writer on Catwoman and co-creator of Marvel character’s Longshot, Mojo, and Typhoid Mary – and art by Georges Jeanty were both minimally acceptable but lacking and parts of the story are pretty far out there. 

Also from DC, Forever Evil 2 hit shelves this week.  Same quality of art and general writing, but remember all that stuff I said about Lex Luthor’s pathos.  Yeah, scratch that, this issue shot it right out the window.  However, a nod to the old Christopher Reeves Superman series in the form of LexCorp Employee Otis was a nice touch, though in the end a bit of a letdown.  One more DC title of note is Scooby Doo 38 for its Elvira homage cover and story.   

Over at Marvel this week are the high recommended Captain America: Living Legend 1 (check me out posing with it on Starbase 21 Tulsa’s facebook page as customer of the week – because awesome) and Fantomex Max 1.  Fantomex is a minor X-Men character (first appearing in New X-Men 128 in 2002), a background of little or no importance to this issue.  Probably the worst four bucks I’ve spent in a comic book shop in awhile. Fantomex Max features atrocious art by Shawn Crystal (best known for his work on Deadpool, Crystal has done better work before and occasionally reaches an expectable passable level here, but rarely) and nearly unreadable dialog and narration by Andrew Hope (who drew two comics and wrote one for a small UK publisher in 1990 before disappearing from the comic world until last year when he popped up at Marvel).  The highlights of this issue include gratuitous shots of heroine Special Agent Rhona Flemyng’s panties on page 9, Fantomex’s sadomasochist/fetish holographic assistant, and an unrealistic and hackneyed story with copious amounts of hyper-unrealistic violence. 

Captain America: Living Legend, however, (which I haven’t read yet, sorry) seems to feature a much more cohesive storyline and the best interior artwork – by Adi Granov  – I saw this week.  Granov is best known for his work on Iron Man, both the series, where he was the artist on the Extremis storyline and the movies, he provided conceptual designs for all three Iron Man films as well as Marvel’s The Avengers.  Originally intended for a 2010 release, the title was delayed due to Granov’s involvement with the Marvel movies and he will not be returning for issues 2-4 of the mini-series. 

I should also mention that Dark Horse Comics recently resurrected their Comics Greatest World title Catalyst: Agents of Change as Catalyst Comix of which issue four is on stands this week.  I’m a huge fan of the CGW line from way back and Catalyst lead character Grace is among my favorite characters (right after X, Ghost, Barb Wire, and Vortex).  I somehow missed this return to the stands until last week, when I noticed the solicitation in Previews for the December issue.  Flipping through the week’s installment, makes me wish I could go back to having overlooked this unfortunate relaunch. 

One last title worth discussing this week, Archie 648 featuring a super-hero parody by legendary comic writer Tom DeFalco with a variant cover by longtime Thor artist Walt Simonson. 

Also, recommended this week are Dynamite’s Lady Rawhide 2 and Dark Horse’s The Star Wars 2 and whatever it was the Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole 5 (which – admittedly – I primarily like for the covers).

So, that’s what we’re reading here at Nerd Is The New Cool.  What’s on your pull list this week?  Let us know in the comments or hit us up on twitter @nerdisnewcool. 

Until next time,

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off.

Top Ten Super-Hero Films That Should Get Made (But Never Will)

So over on the Black Nerd Comedy Channel on YouTube, Andre Meadows asked his viewers what Super-Hero they would like to see get their own movie (You can watch his video here: 

Be sure to give him a thumbs up and subscribe to his channel.  He’s a pretty funny guy.  Tell him Nerd Is the New Cool sent you). 

So in honor of Black Nerd, here is my list of 10 Super-Heroes (and Teams) that deserve their own feature length film... but aren't going to get one...

10.       Chase (DC Comics) – Chase is kinda DC comics Nick Fury – only young, hot, blonde, female, and sporting a full set of eyes.  Cameron Chase is a DEO (that’s Department of Extranormal Operations for the Newbies) Agent operating primarily in New York, though several of her adventures are in Gotham City and Metropolis (homes of Batman and Superman). Chase is the daughter of murdered Super-Hero Acro-Bat (think the Adam West incarnation of Batman if Eli Roth wrote the final two parter), a former teammate of the Martian Manhunter (then using the name Bronze Wraith).  Her title only lasted about 10 issues, not leaving a lot of source material, but giving a fairly in-depth mythology that could be mined. 

Chase Fan Casting: Jennifer Morrison as Chase, Hugo Weaving as Dr. Trap

9.         Eclipso (DC Comics) – ok, I know what you’re going to say.  Eclipso isn’t a hero, he’s a villain and thus not even eligible by my own title to be given this spot.  My heartfelt and thoroughly thought out response to this honest and constructive criticism on your part:  shut up, it’s my fraking list.  But in all seriousness, Eclipso both in his early lame villain self and as his more resent awesome godlike villainious glory, is a pretty cool villain and one of the better ones to ever headline their own title (he had both a feature in House of Secrets and a self titled book, not to mention helming a couple of miniseries).  He’s cool, he’s inexcusably evil, he’s kinda funny at times, and he’s down right demented at others.  Plus, he’s got a pretty decent supporting cast: Dr. Bruce Gordon, who had a long time Jekyll-and-Hyde connection to Eclipso; Gordon’s fiancé Mona; the Atom’s ex-wife Jean Loring, gone insane and serving as Eclipso’s host; heroes Creeper, Starman, and Lar Gand (Mon-El) all have significant dealings with him.  He could easily be featured as a villain in someone else’s movie, say Green Lantern or even Superman, but to be true to this classic character, he needs to be taken back to his roots and given the reins of his own project. 

Eclipso Fan Casting: Andy Serkis or Michael Emerson would make interesting choices for the Bruce Gordon Eclipso.  Claudia Black as the Jean Loring incarnation

8.         Valiant Heroes (Valiant Comics – some now at Dark Horse) – I’m not sure if I’m calling this a series of individual movies – of which I think X-O, Shadowman, and Rai are all especially good choices for, with Turok and Bloodshot being secondary contenders  – or an ensemble film – my first choices there would be the Malev War or the initial Spider-Alien invasion with Unity being a distant third for an initial outing.  More than anything else on this list, I can’t ever have this film/series.  Magnus, Solar, and Turok aren’t Valiant anymore, the others are drastically different in the “Summer of Valiant” universe.  Aww…but if only…

Valiant Heroes Fan Casting: Chris Hemsworth as X-O (too obvious?), George Takei or Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Harada

7.         Werewolf by Night (Marvel Comics) – ok, Disney, listen up and listen close…non-Super-Hero comics do exist and are cool and should be mined for movie ideas.  Marvel’s titular lycanthrope is just one of several great Marvel Monster titles ripe for the big screen adaptation picking.  The story of Jack Russell – initially told in Marvel Spotlight 2-4, Werewolf by Night 1-43, and five Giant-Sized issues – if full of recognizable Marvel characters including Topez, Moon Knight, Dracula, and Tigra all of whom could be introduced and spun off into their own movies… ok maybe not Topez, but you get my meaning. 

Werewolf by Night Fan Casting: Christian Kane (though I also thought about Taylor Kitsch) as Jack/Werewolf, Amy Aker as Lissa Russell, Timothy Dalton as Dracula

6.         Astro City (currently at DC/Vertigo) – another almost impossible to make film.  A good Astro City film would be on par with Watchmen and The Avengers, but possibly with a bigger cast and more special effects.  Individual films could focus on Samaritan and/or Honor Guard, The Confessor (the “Confession” alien invasion storyline would be a great second or third film), Steeljack’s “Tarnished Angel” storyline, or any of the sundry other unique and familiar characters in the AC universe. 

Astro City Fan Casting: Neal McDonough as The Confessor, Dean Cain as Samaritan, Harry Dean Stanton as Steeljack, Eli Wallach as Mr. Bridwell

5.         X (Dark Horse Comics) – X my personal favorite Dark Horse hero is sorta a cross between Batman and Punisher.  In recent years, his (dare I say) frienemy Ghost has greatly overshadowed him as the ultimate representative of the Comics Greatest World line of comics from Dark Horse – and I would gladly accept a Ghost film as well or instead of an X one – but X remains my favorite.  Of all the ultra violent Batman clones in comics, X has the most grit and the most flair.  Of all the Punisher clones, X is the only, in my humble opinion, to outshine the original.  I would love to see a scuffle between a big screen X and the Pit Bulls – his still violent but much more “good guys” vigilante antagonists – as well as appearances by Monster (with well done Hulk-like CGI or equally good practical Thing-like prosthetics/makeup) and Ghost.  But the main thrust of the film would have to be the gangster Carmine Tango, hitman Gamble, and my favorite X-villain Gretchen the corrupt mayor’s secretary – what can I say, I like bad girls.  Also, success with this film could open up more CGW films: Vortex, Barb Wire (they did? When? Pam Anderson? I don’t recall that…and you say it was a Casablanca rip off? Doesn’t sound like Barb Wire at all…), Titan, Golden City/Catalyst, spin offs for Ghost or Pit Bulls, even a full adaptation of the original Comics Great World mini.

X Fan Casting: Karl Urban as X, Eliza Dushku as Ghost

4          Micronauts (Marvel Comics) – ok, this movie would be a logistics nightmare, mostly because Marvel doesn’t have license for the Micronauts anymore…some of the characters, but not the team or the main villain… So that’s a big strike against it.  But a big screen adaptation of these little guys would be monumentally big…err… small, I mean.  An adaptation could be made of the Image (or Devil’s Due or Kinetic Underground) title or of the franchise without using any comic company as source material, but Marvel is the classic incarnation and everyone who would flock to this is fans of the Marvel version…add in the Marvel Cinematic Universe non-comic fans and a good cast and this could be a blockbuster.  Done right it could be a holiday season family film money maker or a summer action flick, either way. 

Micronauts Fan Casting: Patrick Warburton as Rann, Adrien Brody as Bug, Colin Salmon as Acroyear

3.         Metal Men (DC Comics) – there are a number of ways that this could be played out.  As a straight action/super-hero movie, as a sci-fi movie, or as a comedy.  It’s very rare that a serious comic works as a comedy on film, but this one might be able to pull it off.  However, I think the best way to go would be as a serious Sci-fi movie.  The Metal Men lend themselves to it so well. They are after all robots, they fight Tohoesque giant monsters, and they are led by a mad scientist.  Don’t even emphasize the comic book source material in the trailers, just treat it like a sci-fi film.  You’re not listening are you Warner Bros.?  You’re going to either not do it or do what you did with Jonah Hex and make it a super-hero movie aren’t you.  I give up…

Metal Men Fan Cast: Pierce Brosnan as Doc Magnus, Charisma Carpenter as Platinum

2.         Man-Thing (Marvel Comics) – No, they haven’t!  But the reason you think they have is the reason they never will.  There was a few years ago a God awful movie called Man-Thing, a terrible horror movie with nothing to do with this comic yet somehow baring its name and the worst application of “based on” ever.  The real Man-Thing is an anti-heroic monster dripping with pathos.  With the right script, a decent FX budget, and the backing of the Marvel Cinematic Universe label, a good film adaptation could be achieved. 

Man-Thing Fan Cast: Josh Brolin as Ted Sallis, Amber Benson as Jennifer Kale, and Stephanie Szostak reprising her role as Ellen Brandt from Iron Man 3

1.         Adam Strange (DC Comics) – the ultimate comic book, sci-fi hero.  He’s been an honorary member of the Justice League and a member of the Forgotten Heroes.  In the Silver Age, he was an A-lister, then he dropped down to the C-list, but since the 52 mini-series, he has had a strong showing as a B-lister.  Kinda like a certain Metal Guy over at Marvel, you know, the one who is the central driving force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Kinda what DC needs to start its own Cinematic Universe, a strong B-list character who can become a box office A-lister.  DiCaprio has had this project in Development Hell since at least ’09. 

Adam Strange Fan Cast: since DC seems insistent on not casting him as Green Lantern, how about having Nathan Fillon don a red space suit instead as Adam Strange

So there you have it, my Top Ten Comic Book movies we ain’t never gonna see, but should. 

What comic books (whether Super-Hero or elsewise) would you like to see make it to the big screen?  Let me know in the comments or on twitter @NerdIsNewCool

Oh, and by the way #AllisonScag4Cassie (not on the list cause it's still gonna happen!)

Top Ten Non-Japanese Kaiju

OK, let’s start by correcting the nomenclature of the title, shall we?  It should actually say “Top Ten Non-Japanese Daikaiju.” Kaiju is the Japanese term for monster (it actually translates as “strange beast”); Daikaiju, meaning “giant Kaiju” is the word for “giant monster,” which will be the subject of this list. American vernacular usually shortens it to "Kaiju," thus the incorrect title above.  

Now, I expect some retaliatory style attacks to me and this list because properly Kaiju films are only Japanese films, and one could argue that this is merely a list of giant monster films.  And one would be right.  This is a list of giant monster films.  And Daikaiju means giant monster, so shut it. 

Also, I have intentionally left off a number of real creatures that could have made this list - notably Dinosaurs and sharks.  Thus, the dinos from Jurassic Park and Bruce from Jaws (who is only arguably “giant”) are unfortunately absent from the list, as is the only literary character I considered the megalodon from the Meg series of novels. 

10. Konga and Gorgo (from the 1961 British films of the same names)

 

Konga and Gorgo are, respectively, knockoffs of King Kong and Godzilla.  They appear in two unrelated films and they were hard to put on this list, but impossible to leave off.  I don’t even know how to begin talking about these films.  They are blatant rip-offs, but also, kinda not.  Both are pretty stupid films and I don’t particularly like either one.  But they typify the King Kong and Godzilla knockoff genre.  There have been literally tens of Kong and Godzilla rip-offs – maybe more – but somehow these stand out as the definitive ones.  Also, Alfred from the Michael Keaton Batman is in Konga, so it’s got that. 

 9.  The Blob (from the 1958 film, its 1972 sequel Beware! The Blob!, a 1988 remake, and a pretty catchy song). 

The Blob is another one that barely made this list.  On the one hand it’s a giant monster movie, but on the other it isn’t.  As a film – a horror film, a sci-fi film, a cult film, a 50s film, a teen film – it would have ranked higher than most of the others on this list.  But as a giant monster, I just couldn’t let it beat out the others.  The blob isn’t a giant insect, or monkey, or lizard, or worm.  It’s a, well a blob.  It is attack of the killer jell-o – and grape jell-o at that.  But it’s still an awesome monster.  Be it the 1958 Steve McQueen star making original, the campy Larry Hagman directed sequel, or the almost-as-good-as-the-original-(how-often-does-that-happen?)-remake staring Shawnee Smith (later of Saw fame), the blob is at once hilariously stupid and oddly terrifying – way to ruin theaters for me, movie!

Also, what monster has a cooler theme song?  Freddy, Jason, Michael, Jaws, ya’ll could take lessons from Jell-o-Boy… “he creeps, he leaps, he slides, he glides…”

8. The Graboids (from the Tremors franchise – 1990, 1996, 2001, 2003-2003, 2004)

OK, I may just not be able to go to my parents’ house every again.  My dad sees that Tremors was only #8 and he’ll disown me.  Lizard, if you’re reading this, congratulations, you get to inherit everything now.  Don’t get me wrong, the Tremors movies are hilariously stupid.  When I first saw the original, I didn’t like it, but it (and they) grew on me.  But I don’t love them.  I really, really like them and we can still be friends, but I just don’t love them. 

But as camp, as the backhanded love letter they are to the Atomic Age science fiction/horror movies they mock and belittle and idolize, they are awesome. Not Slither awesome, but awesome.  

7. The Spider (from the 1958 film Earth vs. the Spider)

Maybe my favorite AIP film of all time, The Spider is the quid essential 1950s teenage rock and roll sci-fi/horror movie.  The effects are cheese, the plot is fast and loose, the music is corny and does nothing to advance the plot.  It’s the perfect popcorn and root beer on a Saturday afternoon film from a studio that specialized in popcorn/Saturday afternoon films.

Side note: I also considered Universal's earlier film, Tarantula, but I just like this one so much better and I couldn't justify to myself putting two giant spider's on the list.  And besides Universal did so much better with...

6. The Deadly Mantis (from the 1957 film of the same name)

I love this film.  It came from Universal about a decade after Universal stopped being THE name in horror - and, except for the Black Lagoon films, was their best in the 50s.  A ridiculous premise about a ginormous prehistoric insect frozen in the Arctic that returns to eat people.  That really was all you needed in the 50s to make a movie. Go figure.  

5. The Killer Tomatoes (from the Killer Tomato franchisee – 1978, 1988, 1990, 1990-1991, 1991)

Ok, I admit it, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes may in fact be the dumbest movie ever made.  I have no defense for the movie, the franchisee – which only gets worse as it goes –, the cartoon – which I watched religiously as a child –, or myself for including it on the list.  It’s funny.  It’s stupid – intentionally so.  It’s ridiculous.  It’s cheesy.  But so is Adam West’s Batman.  So is Tremors.  The Killer Tomatoes are the most unrealistic monsters on this list - maybe the most unrealistic monsters ever.  They aren’t scary.  They aren’t poignant.  They aren’t clever or really even that original.  They just are.  And somehow they are awesome and great.  

4. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (from the 1953 film of the same name)

Based on a Ray Bradbury short story (which he quickly renamed “The Fog Horn” to distance from this loose adaptation), The Beast would later be the basis for the Japanese film Gojira, the Godfather of all Kaiju films.  The Beast has the exact same story as The Deadly Mantis except it’s about a giant lizard instead of a giant insect.  And I know what you’re going to say.  It’s a dinosaur movie – and you’re right, but at the same time, you are most definitely right.  But it is a fictional, made up species of dinosaur and this is my list, so shut up.  And if you think this was breaking any rules then wait 'til you get to…

3. The plethora of “Marvel Monsters” (from the Atomic Age Marvel Comics)

I can hear you know: “Nerd! The Marvel Monsters comics aren’t even movies, they’re comics!” To which I reply “duh.” At what point about or below, did I say this was a list of movie monsters?  So, the Marvel Monsters.  Fin Fang Foom.  Gigantis. Gorgilla. It, the Living Colossus.  And so many more populating the pages of Strange Tales, Tales to Astonish, Tales of Suspense, Journey into Mystery, and more.  I love them all.  Many – but not all – were the creations of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko – those guys who created many of the Marvel Super-Heroes a couple years later.  It’s hard to think of a comic industry without super-heroes but the Marvel Monsters ruled in the decade before the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Avengers, and X-Men hit the scene.  

2.  The Giant Ants (from the 1954 film Them!)

 Them may be the first big bugs in film history.  If they aren’t, they are still definitely the greatest.  The special effects aren’t very good in the post-Lord of the Rings era er...post-Jurassic Park era I mean, post-Star Wars era and the sound effects were never any good.  But Them! is still a compelling and scary movie.  Admirably, it’s more fun than frightening but it still holds its own if you let yourself get sucked into it.  Them are rather silly looking but watching one of Them toss the skeleton of a victim out of the anthill is still a creepy  - if not entirely terrifying - moment.  This may be my favorite giant monster movie of all time.

But if it’s my favorite why is it only number 2? You guessed it, because number 1 can only be…

1. King Kong (from the 1933, 1976, and 2005 films of the same name, as well as countless other appearances)

 

Was there ever any doubt?  RKO made it first and best, Kong holding Fay Wray may be the most iconic image in the entire history of the horror film.   But others have come along as well.  Toho – the home studio of Godzilla – did Kong several times, perhaps more outlandish and ridiculous but still loving and true to character.  Peter Jackson’s more recent version stands as one of the greatest giant monster films of the last few decades.  Kong stands on his own – likely atop the Empire State Building – or some other appropriately magnificent structure - as the American giant monster.  The iconic American monster.  Our national monster.  

So there you have them.  My picks for the Top Ten Non-Japanese Kaiju.  Feel free to let me know in the comments or on my twitter page @nerdisnewcool what giant monsters you think should have made the list and go ahead and argue for Dinos and Sharks if ya want.  I’m always up for a good fight.  But don’t think you and your bombers can beat me.  Everyone knows “it wasn’t the airplanes… it was Beauty killed the Beast.”

Until next time,  Nerd Is the New Cool, signing off

All images above, copyright their respective owners, except when they are not.  All are used to best represent the derivative material and are intended for commentary and identification purposes only not to delude the value of the original material.  Should any copyright owner wish their material removed from this blog, please contact the blogger on twitter @nerdisnewcool and the image will be taken down.   

Top 10 Characters or Duoes Who Should Appear in the New Avengers Movie

With all the post-SDCC buzz about Iron Man 3, Thor 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Ant-Man, I felt the need to chime in with my 2 cents on the Mighty Marvel (Cinematic) Universe. 

I was originally going to do the 10 characters who should appear in the next Avengers movie, but that was impossible…so to save spaces, I made it characters or duos.  Still couldn’t weed it down.  So here is my Top 10 (+3) Characters or Duos Who Should Appear in the Next Avengers Movie

First off, the Bonus Round:

13.  Wonder Man: My absolute least favorite classic Avengers character.  Simon Williams started out as an Avengers villain but quickly redeemed himself, just in time to die.  Being a Marvel villain Wonder Man naturally didn’t stay dead, and being an Avengers villain he quickly reformed and became a member of the team. 

12.  Sharon “Agent 13” Carter: Captain America’s Silver Age (and most significant) girlfriend.  She is more important to the Cap franchise and needs to show up there (possibly first), but a quick cameo with SHIELD, of which she is a member, isn’t uncalled for here.  Also, let’s all remember that Sharon is Peggy Carter’s nearly identical looking sister/niece/whatever-the-sliding-timeline-is-currently-calling-her and can thus be played by Hayley Atwell from Captain America: The First Avenger. 

11.  The Sub-Mariner:  Cap’s debut movie featured a cameo by Marvel’s first hero The Human Torch, leaving his longtime ally/enemy Namor – who was among the Avenger’s earliest foes – MIA and desperately due for an appearance on screen.  Though, personally, I’d rather see him – along with Hulk, Dr. Strange, and the Silver Surfer – in a Defenders movie.  Stan, Joss, could ya’ll get on that for me?

And now, the actual Top 10 part of this Top 10 list:

10.  The Vision:  Another classic Avenger of whom I’m not a big fan.  But like Wonder Man, Vision *is* a classic.  Not the most glaring of errors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far, but the lack of vision (ha, see what I did there? Comic gold) so far is in need of correction.

9.  Kang and/or Immortus: Kang and Immortus are among my favorite Avengers villains.  Citizen Kang being my favorite modern Avengers story.  Probably just a post-credits teaser for Avengers 3 (as my picks below will make clear, they aren’t the main villain(s) of this story). 

8.  Hercules: He should be an Avenger, he is after all one of the classics (I’m invoking that a lot on here aren’t I?) but I’d settle for a drunken brawl with Thor either here or in Thor: The Dark World  Fights with some of the others, such as Hulk, could also be enjoyable. 

7.  Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver: Yes, they were X-Men characters first, and yes Quicksilver was more or less in the third X-Men movie, but along with Cap and Hawkeye, these two were the Avengers for quite a while. 

6.  Enchantress and The Executioner: Between Thor and The Avengers how have these two not shown up yet.  The Enchantress is by far Thor’s coolest villain and is a deep, complex character – not as deep and complex as the movie version of Loki, but deep and complex none the less.  And a brawl between Executioner and Thor or Hulk would be much more Cinematically pleasing than the whipping Loki took from the Jolly Green Giant in Avengers.   

5.  Captain Mar-Vell:  Ok, so he was never an Avenger, and he wasn’t even in the title that often, but Thanos was in the post-credits scene and let’s face it Thanos wasn’t an Avengers villain.  Thanos was a Captain Mar-Vell villain, an Adam Warlock villain, and a Silver Surfer villain… Just be happy I didn’t put Adam Warlock on the list and move on. 

Side Note: Damn!  I forgot Carol!  The whole list is invalid! Side Note Ends.

4.  Black Panther: I could once again invoke the “classic” argument for T’Challa but I think a better argument would be, in a team with a rich diverse collection of characters, in a Universe where the traditionally white Nick Fury is African American, why are all the characters Caucasians?   Black Panther was among the first black heroes, Marvel’s third after Waku, Prince of the Bantu (an Atlas Comics character) and Gabe Jones (from Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandoes) and the first black Super-Hero (with super-power) from any company. 

3.  Baron Zemo:  My first pick for the main villain in Avengers 2 is – of course – Thanos.  But my second pick is Zemo – introduce him in the WW2 section of Captain America: The Winter Soldier first then have him over here leading the Masters of Evil: Enchantress, Executioner, Wonder Man, Radioactive Man (likely to appear in Iron Man 3).  Maybe do both, have this be the something “more personal.  More painful” Whedon talked about and Thanos this looming threat in the background. 

2.  Rick Jones: I don’t need to say anything here.  Marvel should just be ashamed he wasn’t in The Incredible Hulk and The Avengers and correct the situation with Avengers 2. 

1.  Henry Pym and The Wasp: Ok, what Marvel and/or Avengers fan didn’t see this coming as number 1?  Pym and Wasp were founding Avengers.  They were there before all the characters listed above as “classics”, before Hawkeye and Black Widow, even before Captain America “The First Avengers” himself.  Avengers number 1 starred Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man (Pym), Wasp, Rick Jones, and Loki. 

By the way, I say Pym not Ant-Man for two reasons.  Number 1: I want Hank Pym not Scott Lang or any of the other Ant-Men.  And Number 2: I’d be cool with Pym as Giant-Man.  Wasp is going to give us our shrinking hero, Pym can be a growing one instead. 

 

So that’s my list.  The Top 10(? 13? 17?) Characters for Avengers 2.   That is of course not counting the others characters who should be in it…Thanos, a cameoing Stan Lee, Phil Coulson, everybody from the first film…

Now I wanna see your list… Who do you want to see in the next Avengers film (or anywhere else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe).  Let me know in the comments below or on my twitter page @nerdisnewcool. 

Nerd Is the New Cool, signing off