So, the wonderful people at DK publishing teamed up with Marvel to release Marvel’s The Avenger’s Encyclopedia.
Granted, when you see the word encyclopedia, “fun” is probably the furthest thing from one’s mind, but reading is fundamental, right? It is just what it says it is: a comprehensive look at one of Marvel’s most expansive and encompassing franchises. All the big names like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Incredible Hulk, etc. seen in the recent Marvel movies are examined through key storylines, which provide origin stories up to current cannon.
Where the book truly shines is in connecting lesser-known Avengers to the overarching universe. Long time fans already know about Spiderman, Wolverine, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and the like being members of different iterations of Avenger teams, but seeing names like Sandman, Venom, Squirrel Girl, and Mr. Fantastic may come as a surprise. Finding out how they became part of various Avengers factions and their role with the team is always interesting. I have to say, my favorite part is the major storyline synopsis in between chapters.
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For those of you who do not have access to a towering comic book collection, Marvel’s The Avenger’s Encyclopedia has you more than covered. They introduce the arc and provide a point by point breakdown of what happened and how it impacted the Avengers or, in some cases, the Marvel universe.
All in all, this is a real straightforward situation. If you have love for anything Marvel, you want to learn more about your favorite characters, or you’re looking for a good way to get into something new, this book is definitely the move.
You can purchase Marvel’s The Avenger’s Encyclopedia for $40 on the DK website.
Rather than following the review trend of saying whether a movie is worth seeing, I’ll be bypassing that whole tradition as many of my readers cannot be persuaded or convinced either way. Therefore, I’m going to use Age of Ultron as a prime example for something that interests me as a writer and consumer: multi-layered narratives.
What I mean by a multi-layered narrative is a scene in which there is more going on than what is actually portrayed. Often times in the Marvel Cinematic Universe there are hidden ideas only long-time fans might catch. This same technique can also add depth to many of the characters, either by alluding to past films, or acknowledging comic lore. This is usually just a passing reference to something else, but in some instances there can be a lot of emotion injected into these instances.
Black Widow must calm The Hulk a few times with a “lullaby”.
For example in Age of Ultron there are romantic connections between Natasha (Black Widow) and Bruce (The Hulk). These intense exchanges are made even more potent when considering these two as persistent characters. Bruce knows being with Natasha is dangerous. He’s afraid to hurt her or any innocent person, but when confronted with this, Natasha mentions how she is also a monster in her own way.
Black Widow’s past is extremely dark and tragic, explaining her roughness.
Even though Marvel has never created a Black Widow film for her blood-stained back story, there have been hints in the movies. Most recently in Age of Ultron, viewers receive visualizations of the psyche of most of the cast via the Scarlet Witch. Wanda (Scarlet Witch) uses her powers to show the Avengers’ horrors from their past, present, and possible future. It’s during this exchange viewers get a visual portrayal of Natasha’s past and what was done to her to make her one of the deadliest assassins in the world.
One of the best exchanges between the two.
This makes conversations and encounters between Widow and Hulk that much more complex.
Joss Whedon is a master of using these layered characters to their highest potential. He crafts these lines and scenes with the intent to set off those connections in the minds of his viewers. Different people interpret entertainment in different ways, but Joss uses his awareness of those interpretations to bring out some of the most memorable moments of our time in film.
It’s not just the Avengers films in which these themes are challenged. Marvel’s policy of having its films and comics take place in their own universes provides lasting connections beyond the time spent with each work. What immediately comes to mind is Tony Stark’s character in Iron Man 3, which takes place shortly after the Chitauri invaded New York in The Avengers.
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Stark is one of the most complex characters in the Avengers’ lineup. He goes through many transitions during the films, from struggling with being Iron Man publicly to post traumatic stress from New York’s invasion. This battle affected Stark’s character tremendously, driving his motives since.
For example, in the scene above, Stark must save passengers falling out of a plane. JARVIS calmly tells him he can only carry four out of the thirteen passengers. Stark’s heroism and quick wit saves the day, but that refusal to listen to logic is the key element. Stark wants to save everyone and do better than he did in New York, blatantly ignoring all reason. That battle scared the hell out of Stark, giving him a reason to push himself and his technology beyond its limits.
Stark’s fear of alien invasion leads to the creation of Ultron and Vision, with a little help from Banner.
It’s this complexity of characters combined with writing that uses these layers that makes the MCU. Without this combination, many films wouldn’t hold up on special effects alone. In a way, this recent care put into each movie has been there from the very beginning. Marvel has always told complex stories since its origin and using those flawed and human characters to their fullest potential.
Marvel in comics and in film has touched on everything from political situations to homosexuality, making it one of the most diverse companies in entertainment. Most tales touch on more than just action, or good guys thumping evil doers, but often take the time to go deeper into the human condition and current issues.
Age of Ultron is filled with interesting exchanges between characters that are worth studying in greater detail. Therefore, I challenge consumers and scholars alike to consider the deeper meanings of some of the best films of our time. Also be sure to share these findings with me and Giga.
Til next time, I’ll be counting down the days til Marvel’s next film, Ant Man.
How much do you know about the Marvel Universe? A lot? Like, a lot, a lot? In celebration of Free Comic Book Day, this Saturday, May 2, put your knowledge to the test. MorphCostumes (formerly Morphsuits) has designed a Marvel Comics quiz to challenge even the most devoted fans.
Once you’re done with the quiz, let us know in the comments how you did, and then shop for your favorite Marvel costume.
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There are few names that hold as much awe in the entertainment industry as Marvel does. From humble beginnings as Timely Comics to the film powerhouse that is Marvel Studios, there has been more content flowing from these minds than almost any other group. So much so, that there is seemingly no way to know the intricacies of each facet of the Marvel Universe(s). Lucky for those lacking warehouses full of dusty pages, people like Dan Casey exist. Casey holds a self-proclaimed degree in Marvel Comics and shows off his knowledge in his book, 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.
My first Free Comic Book Day. For a guy that knows next to nothing about comics, I can look the part pretty well.
Before telling our Giga Geeks why this book is a valuable resource and overview of the Marvel yarns, let me first tell you about my lack of comic book knowledge. I am nowhere near a comic nerd, nor could I take that title by association. My early years were spent blowing the dust out of Nintendo cartridges and pretending to be a Power Ranger. I also grew up during the 1990s, which was what I now know to be a bit of dry spell in the comic book industry. Yet, I did love Marvel’s characters in other media, like the classic cartoon iterations of X-Men and Spider Man. That guitar-heavy opening from X-Men still rings clearly in many of my early memories.
A few comics were passed down to me when I was a kid—some beat up X-Men and Street Sharks—but no one I knew was really into them. It wasn’t until the first few Marvel films hit theaters that I rekindled that need for these super heroes and heroines. Actually, I remember my father taking me to see X-Men in the summer of 2000. This was also a great bonding experience for both of us as we walked away not liking the film and making jokes about it. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the first Spider-Man film much more than the X-Men (2000) movie.
Why I like Toby Maguire as Spider-Man over this, I’ll never know. . .
It wasn’t until I entered college in 2010 that I got a real taste of the comic world. A humble comic shop called Counter Culture Concepts opened that same year and it wasn’t long before I made lasting friends in that cramped space. If it wasn’t for that store, I never would’ve owned a decent pile of comics. As a side note, my girlfriend even painted an awesome mural that was a stark contrast to the American paintings on the opposite wall.
One of several paintings done by Diabolikupcake at Counter Culture Concepts.
My story proves that I’m not a guru of comics at all, merely a Padowan on a journey towards being a Jedi. Therefore, Casey’s collection of Marvel knowledge awakened me to a multi-verse of stories created over decades of talented work.
Casey starts by explaining Marvel’s history, and then works his way up to the more practical bits of know-how, such as mixing a shot of The Incredible Hulk (which is guaranteed to get you smashed). There’s so much knowledge to be gained even from the first few chapters. I had no idea Jack Kirby joined the dark side of D.C. Comics at one point!
One of Lee’s latest appearances in Big Hero 6.
Be reminded that you have to understand what impotence cheap tadalafil india is, and you have to look any further than this Cambridge gerontologist. This device sucks air prescription viagra uk from the penis duct and therefore enabling blood to flow smoothly in the desired way. Major Varieties of Tea White – requires the least processing; leaves are picked only a few days out of the year Black – Chinese black brand viagra from canada drink leaves are fully oxidized. SIDE EFFECTS :Side effects brand levitra spotted because of the intake of the Silagra pills. After discussing Marvel’s origins, Casey outlines the back stories of almost every character in the film canon, or the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) as some might call it. These segments are great due to the addition of where those characters are in the current continuity. In some instances it also gives those who lack key points of comic knowledge a hint at what’s to come in future film projects from the House of Ideas. Case in point, the Vision was merely a visual character for me, but I now know him to be one of the deepest characters in Marvel. Also, I didn’t know he was an android, but that’s not the point.
I stared at this image for hours at the local shop; it’s so powerful and wrong on many levels.
After shedding light on most characters in the MCU, Casey goes on to discuss major events throughout the years. He outlines Civil War and Secret Invasion with passion and precision, bringing major plot points to life with minimal wording. During my stays at the comic shop, I had always wanted to pick up the comics containing these events, but for some reason or another never did. Now I wish I had—I will eventually—as those stories mark things I want to see in future films.
Similar to the Greek Gyro, but ever so mysterious and provocative.
The end of the book holds some neat things Avengers fans should try outside of films and comic books. Most interestingly for me, there’s a Shawarma recipe by Natasha Feldman and Julianna Strickland, the women behind Cinema & Spice. While I’ve yet to try this mystery food, I do have plans to film my attempt. The last chapters also hold a call to action for comic book fans everywhere in hopes that the community can give back, celebrate Free Comic Book Day, and find a local comic shop.
Nerducopia, another local comic shop, has an awesome logo and equally awesome people behind it.
These last few things on the Avengers-fan bucket list are very important. I will attest to the awesome potential hidden down alleys. Some of my best memories of college come from behind the glass doors of my local comic shop. Dan Casey and I, advise everyone to find a shop and experience one of the greatest things about loving comics: having friends as passionate as you are about fantastic stories portrayed in panels.
After reading Casey’s book, I feel more confident in my overall knowledge of Marvel’s heroes and heroines, as well as being a part of the comic book community. I feel like I just finished studying for the mid-terms in Marvel 101 and I’m ready for the test. Professor Casey, I can honestly say I had more fun in this class than any other. Will you be teaching Marvel 102, also?
Welcome to my spoiler filled corner of the internet where I review comics. I will be here every week with a few reviews for the (usually) newest books. My ratings are simple. I don’t use—or really like—number ratings. I go by Pass, Read, and Buy. See I told you it was simple. Now that we got that cleared up, let’s get to reviewing some comics!
Rai #1 Story by Matt Kindt | Art by Clayton Crain
Rai is a very interesting book. From the cover alone I want to love it. The book is about Japan in the year 4001. Everyone in Japan now lives in what is basically a giant tower in the sky, much like Cloud City or The Jetsons. The structure feels like a ship from Battlestar Galactica as well with its fake sun and resources. The nation of Japan is now run by an entity known only as “Father,” who has created such an excellent place to live that there have been no murders in a 1,000 years. The law is, however, upheld only by one guy: Rai. Things are now changing as a group of rebels are murdering people in an attempt to topple Father’s reign. Everything here feels like a mash up of other great stories; that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The problem for me is that the book was still a bit boring even with so much borrowed. They should have borrowed a better story or at least some better parts to fill it out. The art, however, is beautiful. I’m willing to keep reading just to see more shots of Rai looking like the bad ass futuristic samurai that he is.
My Recommendation: Read
Silver Surfer #2 Story by Dan Slott | Art by Laura Allred
This run for our favorite cosmic wave rider has felt so much like an homage to the past. I’m not complaining though; I love it. It feels like an old comic in a good way without forcing it down your throat. The story here feels a bit far fetched, even though it’s a comic about a silver guy who rides through space on a surfboard. I guess far fetched is kind of what all of the stories should be. There’s a hidden planet that’s powered by some all-powerful and all-knowing space goddess’s heart, and now she wants it back. Surfer is “hired” by the planet to kill the goddess, but some events occur that change everything. It’s obvious, but I’m gonna make you read the book to find out exactly what it is. Though I do love old comics, I’m much more a fan of the look current comics have. The art here is done very well, but in the old style. I can respect it, but it’s not my favorite to look at.
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Chimichangas #2,986
They’re still delicious.
My Recommendation: Buy! Buy! Buy!
Amazing Spider-Man #1 Story by Dan Slott | Art by Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba
That’s right we’re back to number one with this series—again. During the time that I’ve been reading comics, this has happened way to many times to this series. Every time something big happens, good or bad, it just jumps back to number one. It’s really annoying. (Lately, all comics seem to be doing this and I’m about to break off in an angry tangent here.) Anyways, on the heels of the greatest Spidey story in recent memory, a really low bar admittedly, the book picks up right where Superior Spider-Man leaves off. Immediately we see Spider-Man back to his old shenanigans, which really sucks. Spidey was truly superior when Doc Ock was the one running the show in his head. This issue is very entertaining though. It’s mostly just Peter reacting to everything that Doc Ock did to his life, while he was “away.” Such as getting Peter his Doctrine, setting up plans to marry his current girlfriend, and making him the CEO of his own company. There is also some hilarious moments of the Avengers and Human Torch making fun of the clearly rusty Spidey. The book looks great, but nothing too amazing. Also featured here are some shorts about where some of the other relationships of Peter’s currently stand. They were interesting enough, but did nothing except hype other books and future arcs for this book. Finally, Inhuman #1 was icluded in this issue. It was (and still is) a mediocre book when it came out. It’s about that slow-moving fart gas they call the Terrigen Mist. This Mist is slowly making its way around the Earth and turning what appear to be “normal” people into Inhumans. Yep it’s as boring as it sounds.
My Recommendation: Buy
That’s it for this week. Come back next week for more comic book reviews, and chimichangas.
Marvel in comics and in film has touched on everything from political situations to homosexuality, making it one of the most diverse companies in entertainment. Most tales touch on more than just action, or good guys thumping evil doers, but often take the time to go deeper into the human condition and current issues.
