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How to Date a Red Lantern

~ Blue Beetle #9 (#2012)

Jaime may have fallen in love. With a Red Lantern.

Compromising positions arise as Khaji-da! finds himself engaged with the Ring-Wielder of Hate; Bleez and the Blue Beetle are two parts of this latest issue as Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and the New Guardians defend themselves from an assassin who lays in the waiting.

Titled "The Enemy of My Enemy", find out if the bugsuit is experiencing true "metabolic arousal" or if this is the love that can never be.

SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

Scourge: Revealed


~Captain America #12 (2012)

In the latest issue of Captain America, we've finally learned who is hiding behind the visage of Scourge: it's Dennis Dunphy, who some might know of as Demolition Man.

D-Man's past is a bit muddled; he's in a state of flux and has served Marvel Comics as a superhero and villain. His first appearance was in The Thing #28 (1985), but he actually took his name during Captain America #328 (1987).

One theme that has surfaced in Dennis' history is his desire or need to be Captain America's ally. Apparently though, things have changed for the worst. Henry Gyrich, a man bent on revenge and extreme justice, has turned Dunphy into the Scourge of The Underword; now the one-time do-gooder is murdering anyone who gets in their way.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

Spidey Suit #6: The Original Stealth Suit

 ~Amazing Spider-Man #651 (2011)

Being well-known in the Marvel Universe as a scientist, Peter Parker is one of the few superheroes that weaves through his career adapting devices and inventions to beat his foes. Most often, it's his ingenious web-shooters that get the upgrades; we've seen them do everything from retard flame to insulate from electricity. Sometimes, too, it's the Spider-Tracers.

But every-so-often, Parker rebuilds his entire Spider-Man suit; at first thought, you might remember the Spider of Steel which appeared for only one issue. Once again, the concept seems complicated, but turns out brilliant when applied by an intellectual like Peter who can actually use his knowledge of physics with the resources at Horizon Labs or the FF's Baxter Building. So, this is exactly what happened when he took on Hobgoblin in Amazing Spider-Man #650 (2011).

Spider-Man found out that Hobgoblin was turning out to be a more-than-nasty foe; he had a sonic scream and had managed to acquire a cache of Reverbium, a metal that was very potent and dangerous. To help him succeed in the mission, Peter went into his lab and built this suit of omni-harmonic mesh with wave-bending properties; he coupled it "anti-metal" darts, a special form of Vibranium from the Savage Land that would destroy the Reverbium.

Designed in black, the suit has simple neon-tracings down the front and back that allows anyone wearing special goggles to see him when invisible. According to Pete, it has three modes: Green Neon means invisibility, Red Neon is the sound-absorbing mode. The last mode is White, which means it's off. (Is off a mode?)

Last check, Pete passed the suit over to a clone of his named Kaine during the infestation on Spider-Island; this protegee who also has Spider-Man powers has done some modifications of his own, which you'll be seeing soon enough.


The Top 10 Costumes of Spider-Man is a Countdown provided by The Superheroes List, preparing Comic Book Fans for the upcoming movie, The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. If you're a Spider-Man enthusiast, join in and check out the fun as we sort through all his popular and, sometimes most wacky, Spidey designs.

Don't Mess With The Homeless...

 ~New Mutants #42 (2012)

...because he might be Tyr, The God of War.

New Mutants #42 is in the middle of the Exiled story arc, which revolves around an Asgardian-in-hiding named Sigurd, who is tied to the Disir of Hel. In this story, they've been freed and all the Asgardians have been magically changed to humans who have forgotten their unearthly origins. So now? Thor's a mechanic; Volstagg's a baker, Hela is a more like a bag lady.

And Tyr, well, he's sleeping in trash down the street.

It turns out the only way to reverse this magical spell is to gather components from those forgetful Asgardians.


SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

DC Announces Gay Hero; It's Probably Wonder Woman

 ~Wonder Woman #9 (2012), Hades using her own Lasso of Truth against her.

DC Comics recently announced that one of their primary (Read: main) characters will be coming out of the closet; in an interview with Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, he stated that although this person was originally considered straight, the announcement would immediately make this superhero "one of our most prominent gay superheroes".

Perhaps it shouldn't come at a surprise. Both Marvel and DC have been introducing superheroes with gay backgrounds for a few years now. (For example, Northstar of Marvel Comics is leading an openly gay life in Canada, while Batwoman of DC is pursuing a similar lifestyle.) What's culminating from these stories appears to be a contest of upstaging; recently Marvel announced Northstar would enter a gay marriage and this may be DC's chance to outdo their comic book rivals.

Additionally, this could also be a quirky timing gimmick since President Obama decided to announce he supports gay marriage; this also wouldn't be the first time politics have lurked in comic books. So if you're wondering "why" a formerly straight superhero will be announcing this revelation, join the club. Let's be honest, hopefully most of the stories will be about fighting and action.

Pictured Right: Excerpt from Wonder Woman #220 (2005)

If "prominent" is the keyword, this could limit our choices to Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and possibly, Aquaman. Among DC's biggest draws, they represent their major product lines and would seriously shake things up. Any other character coming out of the closet would lack the same level of significance. So who will it be:

Superman has been suggested, but should be discounted. We also know that it would really hurt him if his Lois Lane/Clark Kent, strangely-promoted affair disappeared.

Batman has also been speculated, which better be inaccurate. Perhaps people are forgetting Bruce Wayne has had some suspicious "Robin" debates over the years; it would destroy The Dark Knight. Basically it would mean illegality and surely DC doesn't want to fight that war.

The Flash and Aquaman are married. To women. (Or,  at least, they were; since the DC New 52, Barry dates a girl named Patty Spivot, while Iris has a romantic attraction to him.) Hal Jordan, The Green Lantern, is a swinging single; it could be him, but unlikely. His character has always been tied to Carol Ferris aka Star Sapphire.

And so we're left with Wonder Woman. Intentionally. If DC Comics is going to out one of their major characters, Wonder Woman is the most likely, and best, choice:

She originates from the island of Themyscira, home of The Amazons, where only women are allowed to live; this gives her a perfect background, one of unfamiliarity with men and comfort-ability with her own gender. It would, therefore, be no surprise to see her spending time with other women; this is or was her natural setting.

Picture: Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor Breaking Up. No One Knows Why. ~Justice League #9 (2012)

Take also into consideration the comic book readers: mostly men. Comic book demographics have aged over the years, but clearly if there is a sense of appeal, a lesbian would be preferred by them over a gay male.

Lastly, most of us who know the Wonder Woman history, remember Colonel Steve Trevor; he's always been the major love-interest for Diana Prince, from back when he first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 (1941). Although Steve has been through a lot, lately there's a storyline that the Amazonian isn't reciprocating his feelings.

Take this prediction as you will; it's not set in stone. But remember this as you go through the list - DC isn't in the business of losing money. It's all about what sells. And anytime you shuck a "major" change on a "primary" character, you have to assume they don't want to diminish their own paychecks. (Heck, it was rough enough back when Superman was switching his red tights.)

Reed Richards of The Reich


~Fantastic Four #605.1 (2012)

The Fuhrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, is not a foreign entity to villainy; he's been used across the globe, not just in comic books, but throughout the last half-century in cartoons, movies - you name it. In this case, though, he's the hook, the patsy, and that's what puts a unique twist on this villainous moment.

In this issue titled Origin Story, Hitler praises the Fantastic Four. Well, the Fantastic Three plus Ben Grimm, who is Jewish. That's why he's in chains; the Germans pulled him out of a labor camp and coerced him into using his piloting skills for the glory of the Homeland. Rocketing into the cosmos, Reed, Johnathan and Sue Sturm, and Ben were violated by those ill-fated Cosmic Rays, each gaining a unique set of powers.

So, who's the real villain? Oh, he's there; it's Doktor Reed Richards, half hidden behind The Fuhrer's visage.

Once again, we are treated to another installment of The Council of Reeds and The Bridge, a concept that has been evolving in the Fantastic Four adventures. If you're not familiar with the technology, Richards has built a device that allows him to travel to a time-space where other Richards are meeting; their goal is to solve all the problems of reality, right wrong, and basically meddle into affairs. Of course, it turns out that not all Reed Richards are good. This one featured in this issue destroyed his reality.

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

TWIC: Alliances, Allies, and People In The Way

In the last week of comic books, there's a lot to be said concerning the many formations and breakings of friendships and alliances. It's no longer certain how things are going to settle when the dust clears on the two major events occurring right now with DC and Marvel.


In the Avengers vs. X-Men story, Hope manages to find Wolverine before he "finds her" (Avengers vs. X-Men #4, 2012). That's a good thing, but thinking he was on her side, she's left surprised when he calls Captain America and team and tells them they are on the moon! (I was a little confounded, considering Captain America kicked Logan off the Quinjet in the previous issue.) Oh well, no one ever knows what Wolverine will do.

Meanwhile, out in deep space (Avengers #26, 2012), the cosmos-residing Avengers are having little luck against the oncoming Phoenix Entity. The Protector has learned something in their defeat, though; Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, has some traces of the Phoenix energies within it; it could be the key to stopping the creature. The send the God of Thunder out there with machines strapped to his back. The plan works and they gather information they plan to use at a later point.

Lastly, with AvX: Versus #2, we saw what happens when Spidey faces Colossus, recently endowed with the power of the Juggernaut. Actually, we saw what little happens. Meh; let's be honest, Spider-man is a great hero, but he's not in that league of power. The greater battle of the issue was Captain America vs. Gambit.

The Night of The Owls event last week showed us lots of the skirmishes across the city as some of the famous characters of Gotham returned to its defense.

Red Hood and his allies dropped in on Chinatown to stop Mister Freeze and a Talon in mid-battle. This all happened in Red Hood and The Outlaws #9 (2012) and reminds us that Jason Todd is loyal to the city of his upbringing, even though he hates Batman. And to my recollection, this is the first time we see the infamous cold-wielding villain since DC's New 52, and he's a bit "upgraded". Or so it appears.

Black Canary and Katana face a Talon after seeing "parts" of their associate, Poison Ivy, on a telephone poll. In their battle, this creature is nearly unstoppable until Batgirl drops in and reveals the villain's weakness. (Birds of Prey #9 2012).

In Nightwing #9 (2012), Dick Grayson resumes his battle; the fight is a personal one with him taking on his great-great grandfather, one of the original Talons.

Catwoman decides not to turn a blind eye while in the middle of a heist with her boyfriend, Spark. While waiting for Penguin to leave his roost, they catch a Talon breaking in to assassinate him. Selina, for some reason, show's her allegiance to some form of goodness and joins the fight. For me, the ending was a bit of a surprise since these Talons are quite unbreakable.

The Week In Comics is a new series of articles that will update on Monday on the Superheroes List Blog, and The Superheroes List website. It will cover all the major events and story lines of recent in the superhero and villain world. If you're interested in today's super-news, keep your eyes open and Check out the List! #TWIC

Spidey Suit #7: Original Venom

 ~Excerpt from Amazing Spider-Man #258 (1984)

Ironically, this outfit is on the list twice. Yes, it's true, but only fair since the Original Black Venom suit looked way more different than it's rendition on Flash Thompson, listed above. And that's the point; for some reason, the alien symbiote takes on a unique semblance depending on who's wearing it. In this first version, it was more like an inky, sleek, black with a sheen in the light. White guards appeared on the back of the hands where it projected his webs; likewise, the eyes and spider logo on the chest were also white against the ebony backdrop.


Ominous or dangerous, this costume first appeared in Secret Wars #8 (1984) when Spider-man encountered it on a world when he was destined to fight for the fate of existence. The original concept was to appear more like the current Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter (she had a black and white outfit that was popularized at the time. The benefits of the bonding between Peter Parker and the symbiote were originally ones of pure advantage; the suit responded to his thoughts, produced its own webbing, and increased his strength and agility.

Only later did the flaws emerge; the symbiote, aside from having a weakness to attacks of a sonic origin, amplifies emotional stress and has hunger issues. Yes, unfortunately, it wants to eat and consume people, wreck destruction, and make the host a psychotic maniac. Oh well, better luck next time!

Ever since its debut, the Black Suit has evolved into one of Spidey's Greatest Villains. That's sorta funny considering the goal was to simply give the wall-crawler a new look.

The Top 10 Costumes of Spider-Man is a Countdown provided by The Superheroes List, preparing Comic Book Fans for the upcoming movie, The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. If you're a Spider-Man enthusiast, join in and check out the fun as we sort through all his popular and, sometimes most wacky, Spidey designs.

The Suicide Squad-mobile!



~Suicide Squad #9 (2012)

In a very telling downtime moment with Deadshot and the remaining (living) members of Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, the group is preparing to debrief back at headquarters. Somewhere in the back of that bus is Mitch Shelley, R.I.P.

Oh, take that back. Mitch is well-known now as The Resurrection Man; in a mini-crossover with the Squad, their job is to bag-and-tag him. Unfortunately, that won't be too easy...


SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

Thanos Is Back!


~Avengers Assemble #3 (2012)

Here he is, everybody! And if you haven't seen The Avengers Movie, you might not appreciate the special importance of this Mad Titan, a being who has spawned multiple wars, killed millions of lives, and heralded quests for some of the most powerful objects in existence.

Thanos has returned in Avengers Assemble #3 and it's not a coincidence. You can bet your Infinity "Watch" that this has everything to do with the recent movie upheaval with Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Did you catch the Easter Egg at the end of Avengers? Did you recognize the face of that being sitting on his meteoric throne? That was no Skrull; that was Thanos! And that also guarantees that he'll be showing up in an Avenger Movie sequel.

If you're new to this purple, bulky entity, just know one thing; where Thanos walks, death is sure to follow!

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

And Who Are You, Spider-Man?

 ~FCBD Avengers: Age of Ultron #0.1 (2012)

We were forewarned that Ultron would return back when the huge Marvel Point One November 2011 issue appeared; the world would be plunged into chaos and tyranny, and the artificial intelligence that had threatened Earth's Mightiest Heroes from times past would find its way back to Earth.

That day has come; but before we cower in fear, this panel will grant us a few moments of levity. Steve Rogers, aka Captain America is learning about the organization known as SWORD in a meeting with Abagail Brand. The scene quickly becomes one of revelation as Hank McCoy, The Beast steps forward.

Not to be outdone, Spidey decides it's time to unveil his "other" identity. Please note, this was the Free Comic Book Day 2012 release, so prepare for an intense series of stories to come.

SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

Gotham on Fire; Jean Grey School Under Attack!

In the backdrop or a record-breaking week for The Avengers Movie, there have been huge developments for our heroes in the comic books:

Night of The Owls, The Batman saga involving many of the surrounding denizens of Gotham, has escalated and we're getting a vision of the city spreading into anarchy. Commissioner Gordon was given a warning in Batgirl #9 not to light the Bat-Signal. He does it anyway and finds out it's been altered to appear like the Athenian Owl. Elsewhere in Batman and Robin #9, Damian headed off and encounters a Talon trying to kill Major General Burrows in the Gotham Barrens; after reading the issue, you have to admit the kid has talent. In Batman #9, we finally read the conclusion of the fight in the Batcave; Batman finally acheives victory, racing out to see the "Owl" signal in the skyline.

Quick point: This Batman story just keeps getting better. It has the familiar-but-awesome psychological backdrop that keeps the Dark Knight at the top of the favorites list. 


The Avengers vs. X-Men event took a turn back to the Northeastern United States this week. Previously, we knew that Wolverine was kicked off a Quinjet by Captain America. Well now we know what transpired before then. When Logan was checking in on his students at the Jean Grey School For Higher Learning, Cyclops dropped in during Wolverine and The X-Men #10; it was quick attempt to make his point and try to siphon off some mutants for the cause. And it worked.


And now a word about X-Men Legacy #266 (Pictured Above). This is the latest occurrence in the AvX story and in this issue, The Avengers, consisting of She-Hulk, Falcon, and Moon Knight show up to keep the School's staff and students from joining Cyclops' cause. It's one of those What Were You Thinking Moments! By the end of the issue, Rogue and Frenzy are beating the crap out of the trio. Let's be honest, it was stupid for them to head there; next time use a satellite!


Special Mention: If you're interested in a mini-event, check out The Culling, which incorporates the New Teen Titans, including Superboy, and the members of Legion Lost. This breakout story will culminate in the formation of the new DC Second Wave title The Ravagers #1.

The Week In Comics is a new series of articles that will update on Monday on the Superheroes List Blog, and The Superheroes List website. It will cover all the major events and story lines of recent in the superhero and villain world. If you're interested in today's super-news, keep your eyes open and Check out the List! #TWIC

Spider Suit #8: Military Style Venom

~Venom #4 (2011)

Run everybody! He's got a gun!

First endowed with the Venom Symbiote in Amazing Spider-Man #654 (2011), Eugene "Flash" Thompson took the whole list of Spider-Man costumes to a new level when Project: Rebirth incorporated his military service and training to encompass a "Spidey With Prejudice" mentality. He's got grenades; he's got guns; and, oh yes, he's got no legs, but that doesn't matter because the bond between them creates new ones.

The original Symbiote appears as a black, inky substance; one of the unique characteristics is that it never entirely appears the same, depending on who melds with it. In this "Flash" presentation, we're seeing what looks like black armor with spiked guarding. It almost appears to have taken on a rigid, scaly aspect in certain areas, conforming to mercenary, paramilitary-based needs.


He's an American-superhero agent, even one of the Secret Avengers; so how does he do it? Last time we checked, Venom's main interest was eating people and going into an uncontrollable rage. Well, it turns out that the process is very limited and defined; Flash has to be separated from the Symbiote after long periods of wear, just to keep his sanity. Coupled with a concoction of drugs for sedation, they keep the alien substance from going freaky on a Friday night!

The Top 10 Costumes of Spider-Man is a Countdown provided by The Superheroes List, preparing Comic Book Fans for the upcoming movie, The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. If you're a Spider-Man enthusiast, join in and check out the fun as we sort through all his popular and, sometimes most wacky, Spidey designs.

The X-Ceptionals!


~X-Factor #235 (2012)

Lord Defender! Buzzkill! Farsight! They are next wave of superheroes. Fighting crime in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington, evil shall know their might (or lack thereof).

If you want a good laugh, mixed with a little mystery, the first few pages of X-Factor #235 start you off with a bang. Somewhere in the levity-bound plot of this comic book story, a glimmer of truth is harbored. Wannabees, wanting to raise their own Hall of Heroes (as soon as they can renovate the old Coat Factory); meanwhile, they live in their mother's basement.

Pop Quiz: Two new heroes are joining their ranks; their names are Star-Face and Multitask. Can you guess who they really are? (No peeking!)

SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

Harvest Time!

~Teen Titans Annual #1 (2012)

The Culling is an exciting mini-event happening with the Teen Titan and other heroes that involves a horrendous super-villain named Harvest. Masterminding a dimension where only the strongest survive, he's lured the 31st Century superheroes from Legion Lost to face Red Robin and his crew, in the middle of chaos.

What makes Harvest so demonstrative is his plans; these metahumans and talented fighters - the ones who survive - will eventually became part of his Ravagers. And if you're familiar with that term, pay close attention to the DC Second Wave; The Ravagers #1 will be coming out as part of both of these events.

The Culling can be followed in this short chronology of issues:

Prelude
Superboy #8
Legion Lost #8
Teen Titans #8

Main Event
Teen Titans Annual #1
Superboy #9
Legion Lost #9
Teen Titans #9

Conclusion
The Ravagers #1 (also part of the DC Second Wave)

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.

Avengers Movie Opens Amidst FCBD

It all happened this week. You were here.

 Saturday was Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) and with it came the heralded Avengers Movie. Did you go? Here's my review if you're still on the fence. Of course, if you're a comic book fan, what are you doing on a fence? I guarantee you that it will be the box office favorite.

In the comic book world, we just learned that Shattered Heroes can now be put to rest. Iron Man #516 came out and started a new story arc, meaning that closes the chapter of the event. So what happened overall and what were the outcomes. Well, there's Asgardia, Cap lost his powers for awhile, Tony was outed for drunkiness and we have a new Nick Fury. Check it out.


Night Of The Owls released Batwing #9, where the franchise superhero risks his own life to save Lucious Fox from execution by a Talon. You'll especially like Detective Comics #9, which also came out, because the same regenerating killers invade Arkham Asylum; it's written in the perspective of Jeremiah Arkham, who they tried to kill, and you're getting a psycho-logical treat. Batman appears and reluctantly saves him. You can tell he's about to unleash some beat-down.

In the Avengers vs. X-Men event, Captain America and Wolverine came to blows, which was a surprise; Logan was originally helping stop Cyclops and his extinction team, but Cap decided he didn't want his kind of help anymore and kicked the mutant out of a moving plane in Avengers vs. X-Men #3. Meanwhile, in the midst of all of this, the remaining, non-aggressive mutants were brought to Hank Pym's training center in Avengers Academy #29. Tensions are still high and now Earth's Mightiest have split up to look for Cyclops' team and Hope all across the globe. (This should mean lots more fights, right?)

And in case you thought that was it, don't leave now. DC's Second Wave just came out. After the discontinuation of six of their lowest-revenue titles, they were replaced this week by new ones, including the much-anticipated World's Finest #1. And, by the way, a lot of controversy is brewing there because fans are missing the old Power Girl uniform.

The Week In Comics is a new series of articles that will update on Monday on the Superheroes List Blog, and The Superheroes List website. It will cover all the major events and story lines of recent in the superhero and villain world. If you're interested in today's super-news, keep your eyes open and Check out the List! #TWIC

The Avengers Movie Review

Somewhere out there, other worlds exist. And they have no intention of being friendly, especially when a power-hungry demigod Asgardian is looking for some payback. In a nutshell, this is the villainy you're going to see in the May 4th, 2012 release of the movie, The Avengers. I had the privilege of viewing an early release: It had everything you'd expect. And more. If you're a fan of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, you're going to get your money's worth; and if you've never heard of Thor, Iron Man, or any of the rest of these legendary heroes, you'll in for an action-packed story.

Let's get to the meat, though. Here's the important notes.

The Plot: Loki, Thor's brother, has made a pact with an alien race to invade the planet Earth. To get them across the cosmos, he steals the Cosmic Cube, called the Tesseract. Fearing for the planet's safety, Nick Fury calls in Earth's Mightiest Heroes and forms The Avengers, who work together with difficulty, but eventually mesh together to fight for their survival.

First off, the characters. Most were top-notch, but I felt a couple of them were weak. At this point, I can now say that nobody plays Tony Stark better than Robert Downey Jr.; the two were made for each other. And Samuel L. Jackson actually was the inspiration for this version of Nick Fury, so we needed to look no further. Chris Hemsworth as Thor: perfect. I was also surprised how great Mark Ruffelo did as a burdened Bruce Banner; he came across perfect, had clever quips, and probably to the rest of us, became the most scrutinized actor because he only recently got the part after we learned Edward Norton was not asked to fill the role. Overall, we had reasonable expectations from them due to their appearances in all the prequel movies.

My disappointments came from some of the character designs and writing. Nick Fury: in my book, he's a no holds barred son of a gun. He plays with the big dogs; on the battlefield, he's as ruthless as The Punisher. I didn't see that, unfortunately. Captain America was mediocre to my liking. I'm a big Cap fan and didn't like the costume that much; he looked stiff and kinda thin. (I do realize that the Cap uniform is a tricky, though.) What redeemed the super-soldier was near the end when he started taking aliens down, barking orders, and coordinating the Avengers counter-attack. That's my guy!

Black Widow and Hawkeye were never billed as main draws to the movie; I felt they played well in the mostly supporting positions. I knew Scarlett  Johansson was going to have short hair, but I made amends. She played Black Widow well and the scene were she beat up a russian mob boss and his flunkies while tied to a chair was brilliant. Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) was interesting to me; I wasn't sure how they were going to pull off an archer superhero in a real life movie. Thumbs up, though; he was actually quite good and I loved how he could set his quiver for specialty arrowheads at a moment's notice.

The Action was great: If you ever want to make a successful superhero movie, add aliens or robots; something you can beat up on, which doesn't make you look like a killer. That's what happened here as Loki allied himself with the Chitauri to invade earth. This movie ran almost two and a half hours; although the first hour was slower paced, it seamlessly lead into a much more frenzied last half. Many of the battles were actually disputes between the heroes. The best solo fights in my opinion were Thor vs. Iron Man and Hulk vs. Thor; they really threw down. (No, I mean threw down through buildings, trees, battleship hulls, etc.)
The CGI and Special Effects were excellent. Hulk stole the show, not just with the renditions of the monster, but the writer's portrayal. In the beginning, he was surprisingly psycho-scarey, but by the end, you're laughing at the behemoth's aggressive nature. In all the cases, it worked. Superb.

My only problem, what surprised me the most, was the size of the handguns. I'm thinking Fury and Black Widow would be packing some sizeable heat; instead they were firing off pea-shooters that produce little "bang". I'm not sure why it was decided that they carry very small firearms, but that's how it ended up.
Tied into all this, you had the background and scenery, which I thought was a little dull at times. Much of the film took place on the SHIELD heli-carrier, a floating "city" where they ran their operations; this put us in grey and battleship steel sequences, aircraft cockpits and flight decks. But don't fret; the last half of the movie, aliens are destroying Manhattan, and you can never go wrong when New Yorkers are fleeing for their lives.

Overall, this movie was a success. I though it was going to be difficult to pull off a plot with this many superheroes; there's always a lot that gets left on the cutting room floor when you have a huge cast like this. In my opinion, it was better than any in the X-Men trilogy. There was a great deal of action, and even great moments of humor (sometimes very unexpected, like when Loki calls Hulk a stupid monster and gets throw back and forth before he can finish his sentence. That was incredible.) If you really want an experience, go for the 3D; it adds to the dimensional, sci-fi content because the special effects were great.

Last Note: Stay for the Easter Egg. Most Marvel flicks have a brief scene at the end; The Avengers followed the same pattern and you'll see a surprising character between the credit rolls. And yes, this means more Avengers to come!

This review is a supplement from the Superheroes List Blog, The Superheroes List website, and the Spotlight On The Avengers Movie fan page. If you enjoyed this movie or have another opinion, please feel free to chime in and Check out The List!


Spider Suit #9: The 1990s Scarlet Spider

~Excerpt from Amazing Spider-Man #399 (1995)

The next most dazzling version of the Spider-Man ensemble comes from the 1990's, or better a clone of Peter Parker from Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975), who later appeared with his own rendition of a Spidey suit during the 90's. This one, a mostly crimson bodysuit with a blue vest, has come to be known as the Scarlet Spider version.

For the purposes of this countdown, we'll call it the 1990 Scarlet Spider version, and you'll learn why soon enough.

Ben Reilly is, or was, the original Scarlet Spider and he came at us through the machinations of a diabolical fiend known as The Jackal. In all guises, this super-villain has been ruining Spider-Man's life for a long, long time, and it was only inevitable that one day, he would create a clone of Parker. Unfortunately for him, though, Reilly became a force for good, sporting this Spidey-wear which received lots of approvals back then. To this day, you'll catch glimpses of this costume in video games and on missions in the Marvel Universe.

Other notable features of the 1990 Scarlet Spider suit are web shooters and a utility belt worn on the outside and leather straps for the ankles. The entirety of the webbing design disappeared altogether; one of the most popular features of this set were the ghostly large eyes drawn in a ghoulish fashion.

The Top 10 Costumes of Spider-Man is a Countdown provided by The Superheroes List, preparing Comic Book Fans for the upcoming movie, The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. If you're a Spider-Man enthusiast, join in and check out the fun as we sort through all his popular and, sometimes most wacky, Spidey designs.

Avenger #1: Captain America


He's the Star-Spangled Patriot, born out of the misery of The Great Depression and Second World War; an inspiring emblem to an emerging nation in need of hope, his name is Captain America, wearing the colors of the good ole' U.S. of A. Carried with him at all times is his trademark shield, thought to be indestructible, which he uses as a devastating weapon and formidable defense.

Cap, more than any hero in the Marvel Universe, symbolizes Earth's Mightiest Heroes, which is quite ironic if you consider he's not a founding member (first appearing in Avengers #4, 1964, the group thawed him out from suspended animation). Nowadays, he's often known as The First Avenger, a term that qualified him due to the pre-Avenger's Initiative, government program he joined from the 40's.)

And why is that? Why is Captain America so important to the superhero ethos and integral to the Avenger team? It's clearly what he stands for: originally a frail, young Steve Rogers, this underprivileged boy withstood all trials to survive the super-soldier program, achieving the highest levels of physical performance capable by human standards. To people around the world, he now represents freedom, strength, and justice.

So, when the Thor, Iron Man, and the rest are being hammered to their very end, there's one man, endlessly and tirelessly rising to his feet, bearing the shield to defend all allies. He's their face to the public and the team's unshakeable will. Captain America is actually a man with no power, but one representing the highest ideals of mankind. It is this resume that makes him a true hero and the greatest Avenger.

The Top 10 Greatest Avengers is a countdown list provided by The Superheroes List. This is an event coinciding with the release of the 2012 Avengers Movie premiering May 4th. If you're big with Avengers trivia or superheroes, then Check out this List!

Johnny Storm Has To Go!

~FF #17 (2012)

That's Spidey wearing the tie-headband and Johnny Storm with the trail of fire. They're totally wasted: Kal the Horse-Alien is at the wheel.

Having nothing to do with Reed, Sue, and Ben, FF #17 goes out on a limb with the perspective of Peter Parker and his current rent-sharing buddy, Johnny Storm in an issue titled "The Roommate Experiment"; in other words, this is what happens when Spider-Man and The Human Torch share an apartment!

And the entire issue is predicated on one notion: Kick Johnny Out!

Pete's had enough! In the panel above, you're only getting a taste of the craziness as he tries to build up the nerve to get Torch to move out.

SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List.These are the moments of levity and humor, sometimes utterly ridiculous. You can also look for #SuperFunnies on Twitter.

The Top 10 Greatest Spider-Man Suits



Spider-man is a LOUD and colorful character. He likes to arrive in an acrobatic display of ability and a zinging one-liner: That's his favorite method of attack! (Just don't break out the bazookas.)

In this countdown, you're going to see what the life of Peter Parker is like from the inside out. It's not always about beating the bad buy! No! Sometimes you gotta pay the bills, do the homework! And yes, sometimes you have to change your suit! That's why, right here, you're now going to be privileged with The Top 10 Greatest Suits of Spider-Man. These are costumes and gear he's used over the course of his adventures, the ones that made the pages and added to his fan base. Let's get things started off, beginning with number 10:

Spidey Suit #10: Spider of Steel 

Okay, okay. So it was clunky, bulky, and only lasted for one issue; still, though, Spider-Man never seems to escape the popularity of his Spider of Steel outfit. (To this day, it appears in his video games.) Made of heavier armor with higher level protection capabilities, it first (and only) appeared in Web of Spider-Man #100, where it was the key factor helping him battle against heavy armaments of The Enforcers.

Conceived as a protective coating, Peter Parker engineered this design. As grand as the notoriety it gained, the pseudo-metallic-sheened, silvery suit didn't make it to the final page; it was quickly disintegrated by a combination of acid spores, freezing, and crushing damage. Read More.

The Top 10 Costumes of Spider-Man is a Countdown provided by The Superheroes List, preparing Comic Book Fans for the upcoming movie, The Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. If you're a Spider-Man enthusiast, join in and check out the fun as we sort through all his popular and, sometimes most wacky, Spidey designs.

Gorilla Grodd Rises To Power

 ~The Flash #8 (2012)

In a gory rite of passage, Grodd-Son, the villain who will be known as Gorilla Grodd, has just murdered his father to take the throne of Gorilla City. All that remains now is to eat the brains and partake in the festival.

Oh wait, who just showed up? That's the Flash!

In The Flash #8, Barry Allen escapes The Speed Force just as this diabolical, super-intelligent ape became King. Who knows what evil is about to be perpetrated as King Grodd reigns his terror?

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.