Recently in Avengers Category

Marvel has been producing some Women of Marvel variant covers.  Here are three recent ones from Secret Avengers, Avengers Academy, and X-Men Legacy.

Secret Avengers #4 Valkyrie cover by Chris Bachalo.  I'm very conflicted about this cover.  The drawing itself by Bachalo is excellent.  She looks a like young wicked woman and that sword is scarred up like it's been in many battles.

The problem is that this doesn't look like a Viking woman.  She looks like one of the Gossip Girls carrying a sword way too much for her slight body weight.  Mike Deodato draws Valkyrie with some muscle and gravity.  So this cover isn't consistent with the way Valkyrie is drawn in Secret Avengers, Avengers Academy, and New Ultimates.

But it is still a nice cover and worth collecting for Bachalo fans.

Avengers Academy #3 Tigra cover by Amanda Conner.  Now I am thinking we need to see a new Tigra series with Ms. Conner on the art.

X-Men Legacy #239 Rogue cover by Terry Moore.  This cover was a total surprise and a delight!  Moore draws Rogue in the outfit from her very first appearance, Avengers Annual #10.  Nuff Said!

Today is Jack Kirby's birthday.  Even though he's not around, I still like to celebrate with a big old stogie and some Kirby comics.  Well, maybe not a real cigar, but here is one classic Marvel image you will like.

This is one of the Marvelmania posters that Jack Kirby did in the late 60s, featuring Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Thor, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom and Silver Surfer.  The Jack Kirby Collector Magazine #47 had this on the cover, which is where the scan came from.

Here is the original un-colored drawing, from Tod Seisser's gallery at ComicArtFans.

For another tribute to the King, check my Amazing Heroes 100 article on Giant-Size Geek that features a few cartoons from Kevin O'Neill, William Messner-Loebs, and Scott Shaw.  Nuff Said!

Link: Tod Seisser's Gallery at ComicArtFans.

Link: TwoMorrows Publishing.

Alex Ross painted version of the Avengers, in a print titled Assemble that was published for Comic-Con 2010 at Marvel Art Works.

Ross has an uncanny knack for cherry picking my favorite eras of the Marvel Universe for his paintings.  This team, from left to right, has the key players from the Roy Thomas years:  Black Panther, Hawkeye, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Vision, with Giant-Man's visor looming in the background.  Nuff Said!

Link:  COMIC-CON 2010: First look at 'Avengers Assemble' painting by Alex Ross

Link:  First Look At Alex Ross' Assemble Print Featuring Marvel's Avengers

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Last year, I made my case for Clay Quartermain as the Red Hulk.  What a waste of time that article was!  The answer was just too obvious, and if you've read the latest issues, then you either feel the same way or figured it out months ago.

Marvel announced that the Red Hulk would be joining the Avengers, starting in issue #7, available this November.  Here is the variant cover to Avengers #7, by Ed McGuinness.  Let's hope he lasts longer than the green Hulk did.  Nuff Said!

Two of my favorite off-beat characters are in Secret Avengers.  Here are some posters, in the original black and white versions from Mike Deodato.

Valkyrie was one of my favorite Defenders.  The version in Secret Avengers isn't quite the same, but in looks and spirit she's close enough for me.

The Beast is back--let's hope he stays with the Avengers for 10 years before going back to that crowded island of mutants.  I wonder if drives Deodato nuts to draw all that hair?  He's very good at it.  Nuff Said!

Link:  Mike Deodato page at Comic Art Community.

Last time, I knocked your socks off with that Marvel Treasury Avengers cover.  Well, these 3 covers for the regular Avengers comic are pretty darn great, too.

Avengers #151 is a classic cover, with the big three dudes (Thor, Cap, Iron Man) and one of those "old order changeth" issues.  It also marked the exit of writer Steve Englehart.  You can see the original Kirby pencils for this one over at Kirby Vision, along with a new ink/color job by Scott Reed.

It's interesting how different inkers will interpret Kirby's pencils.  Adkins changed the rendering in some places (Iron Man helmet and Thor's face) and the hand was changed from open to a pointed finger (probably an editorial decision).  Scott Reed certainly does keep to Kirby's original pencils.

You can see a few other Kirby pieces that Scott Reed has re-inked at the Kirby Musuem.  And Scott has a nifty website as well.

I think the cover to Avengers #156 is unique because of the perspective.  The heroes are flying up alongside a building, trying to reach Doc Doom on top.  Cap's guarding the Scarlet Witch while his comrades go on the attack.  A great ink job here by my pal Al Milgrom.

Avengers #148 is my least favorite among this set, but still cool because of the Squadron Supreme and Hyperion holding Thor over his head in a triumphant pose.

Check out the Jack Kirby Comics Weblog over at the Kirby Musuem.  Great stuff there, I really dig this Mister Miracle t-shirt that is coming out soon!  Nuff Said!

Perhaps you are like me and didn’t go to San Diego but followed the news closely this weekend?  Or perhaps you were there for all the Marvel Film announcements but didn’t have a good seat?  These videos will interest you, yes indeedy, courtesy of Hall H Coverage.

The press has widely reported on The Avengers film cast getting together, along with new Hulk Mark Rufalo and director Joss Whedon.  This video of the event gives you a front row seat on all the action.  The energy in that Hall was like a Nerdgasm of epic proportions.  Seeing those actors up there was like having the Beatles in front of you.

Going backward in panel time a bit, here is Kenneth Branagh on the Thor panel discussing his love for the Thunder God.  Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki) walk out on stage.  Natalie looks petite and Hiddleston is much taller than Hemsworth.

More videos after the break…

There are some wonderful Avengers covers that Jack Kirby did during his mid-late 70s Marvel stint.  Here's one of my favorites: Marvel Treasury Edition #7, from 1975.

I like this cover as it features my favorite classic Avengers, running straight at the viewer.  Thor is front and center in a timeless pose, swinging the Uru hammer above his head.  Cap looks cool to the left and on the right you have Henry Pym as Giant-Man (blue costume).

If that wasn't enough, Kirby also did the back cover with a different Avengers lineup.  The Hulk makes an appearance and Henry Pym is in the red Giant-Man costume--and does double duty as YellowJacket!  This pinup must have foretold Avengers Forever.  :-)  You can see some retouching going on here--I believe that the Beast, Vision and Iron Man were slightly changed to make them look more like the contemporary versions.  Great stuff.  Nuff Said!