Avengers Assembled

Since Disney decided to not give us a Fast Food Toy set for the Avengers film we decided to build our own set: from the best parts of those that preceded this film (Thor, Iron Man 2, and The Incredible Hulk — all from Burger King), for Captain America, we’re going to grab the figure from the 2010 Marvel Heroes toy line (McDonald’s); and finally, in the cases of the Black Widow and Hawkeye — since there were no fast food figures for either of these characters — we’re going to cheat and pull in their respective action figures from Marvel’s movie Avenger toy line.

Oh yeah, perennial villain, Loki, is from the Thor Burger King toy set.

Thor drinks Dr. Pepper

Have you seen the Dr. Pepper/Thor commercial?




So, did ya see Stan Lee in that spot?

He is reprising his role from the Dr. Pepper/Iron Man 2 Spot from a couple of years ago.




Cool, eh?

Oh, and here is a look at those Dr. Pepper cans.

I’m thill thor!

The other day I told you about how Thor cups were showing up at 7-eleven, well I just learned that they also have straws figures as well, (just like they did for the Iron Man 2 & Wolverine movies). Unfortunately, unlike either of those flicks, these 7-eleven figures won't stand up independent from the straws. Still, they are wicked cool, and well, Here they are.

I'm tho Thor!

OK Kids, it looks like we’re getting an early jump on Summer movies. At least as far as their fast food toys are concerned. I just stopped by my local 7-eleven and discovered that they already have Thor cups in stock. (Unfortunately no figure straws, just cups.)

7-eleven also has a 12" Destroyer figure that doubles as a cup.

In addition to the Thor 7-eleven cups, Marvel is also reported to be doing a tie-in with Burger King that is rumored to include the following six kid meal toys the will show up closer to the June release of the film.

1. Mighty Thor Figure: The God of Thunder articulated in full costume with helm; Pose-able 
2. Mjolnir "Lightning" Shooter: Thor's mystical hammer with the ability to shoot multiple "lightning" discs 
3. Lady Sif Headdress: A miniature replica of the ceremonial helm worn by Sif in the film 
4.  "Rainbow" Ring: Unlock the secrets of the Bifrost Bridge, the gateway of the Gods of Asgard 
5.  Loki Figure: The God of Mischief casts a spell to "multiply" himself before your eyes 
6. The Destroyer: Asgard's most powerful weapon, which only Thor may be able to stop; Pose-able 

However, since these toys are apparently still in the prototype phase of production, we really don’t have more detailed information, or images of what they actually look like. We did learn that fans who find themselves lacking enough patience to wait will be happy to learn that the general public will get a good look at much of the Thor movie tie-in merchandise once the Iron Man 2 DVD/Blu-Ray is ready to hit store shelves.

Iron Man tastes so good!

So, when Iron Man 2 hit the screens there was (supposedly) a big media tie-in for the flick, needless to say, it wasn’t until just yesterday that I found my first pack Iron Man Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (and hey, I’ve been looking). Not really sure what to think of that, but well, I finally found one, and well, I’m happy about that.
I understand that there are IM Land of Frost food tie-ins, but I haven’t seen any of those either. I guess that for all his Glitz, Iron Man just isn’t as universally popular as my pal Spidey.

The Iron Eagle has Landed

Yep, that's right, Iron Man now “lives” in my office. As stated a few weeks back when I was collecting the Iron Man toys at Burger King, I mentioned that I was going to come into possession of an IM “Standee” that the BK near my place was using during the promotion. Well, the promotion is over,and I just now collected the cardboard POP display. It fits nicely in my office.


Oh yeah, that IS a Blow-up Spidey in the background. I got that years ago from my buddy where I used to by my comics when he closed up his shop. Now Spidey doesn’t have to hang from the ceiling by himself.

Yeah, I’m a totally geek, and I completely don’t care.

Iron Man 2: The Movie

Yeah, I saw the film the other day. Went with my Brother, Brother-in-Law, and their kids (Dylan was still in school), he'll see it this weekend. Well, briefly, I really enjoyed the film (like there was a possibility that I wasn't going to like it, eh?).

Seriously though, I think that the film held up on all points, staying true to the nature of the comic, and followed from the first film, without simply repeating it. Plus (if you stay through the credits to catch the Easter egg at the end), sets up the next big Marvel film (due out in 2011).

Look for a quickie cameo of Stan Lee (in the beginning of the film). plus appearances of Nick Fury (Sam Jackson), and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson), as well as the cast of the previous film (substituting Don Cheadle for Terrence Howard as Rhodey).

Me, I'm waiting for the Nick Fury film

Two more from the King

Yep, kids, here are the final pair of Iron Man 2 toys from Burger King:

a Cyclone Drone...

...and a Mark VI charm necklace.

I have to say that I’m actually a little bit disappointed that there wasn’t a figure of Whiplash. I mean the over-sized Iron Man figure that you build was kind of cool, but I thing that I personally would have preferred a Whiplash figure, but no one listens to me.

Yes, another Iron Man post (Sing it loud!)

So it is official, Iron Man 2 had like the fifth-largest opening weekend on record, so we can be assured that there is an Iron Man 3 in our future. So, while most of Mr. Stark’s fans are looking forward, we’ve decided to look back, and present Iron Man’s theme song (no not the one by Iron Maiden either).

♪ Tony Stark makes you feel ♫

♫ He’s a cool exec with a heart of steel. ♪

♪ As Iron Man, all jets ablaze, ♫

♫ He’s fighting and smiting with repulsor rays! ♪

♪ Amazing armor! That’s Iron Man! ♫

♫ A blazing power! That’s Iron Man! ♪

But then, we asked ourselves, why stop there when we can bring you The Hulk?



The Sub Mariner...



...Captain America...



...Thor...



...and of course, our man in webs, Spidey!



Finally, here is the theme song for the Merry Marvel Marching Society (of which I was a member).

Iron Man v Jonah Hex

If you’ve never seen these “I’m a Marvel, I’m a DC” (Done in the style of the Mac/PC commercials), you are missing out on some very funny stuff. Check out this latest one that pits Iron Man 2 up against Jonah Hex:



Some fun, eh?

The Official Index to the Marvel universe Vol #2

So it is now in, The Official Index to the Marvel universe Vol #2 and, well, I’m once again contributing to the series. This time we are indexing Captain America, Avengers & Thor. Personally, I am working on both Captain America and Thor entries.

Yeah, yeah, I jknow it is isn’t Spidey, but well, we do what we can. Plus, I’m sort of a funnybook historian and well, I do know morr than just Spidey, you know.

How cool is that, eh?

Oh yeah, I saw Iron Man 2, and well it totally rocks. I'll post my feelings on it sometime tomorrow.

right now, I’m going to bed.

Iron Man! IRON Man! IRON MAN!

OK kids, Iron Man opened last night and while I didn’t go yet (I was actually supposed to see it on Wed night, but that’s a whole ‘nother story), I AM going today. (First show of the day!) So, until I get there, I’m gonna lay on you the pair of Free Comic Book Day Iron Man comics that I scored on FCBD (which was last Saturday, in case you Droogs missed it).

One of them co-starred Thor and the other co-starred Nova. Both of them were fun and interesting reads, with the Nova one apparently pitched to a younger audience. The IM/Thor issue had the Norse weather god unsuccessfully battling fierce and unprecedented weather patterns that were apparently the result of a device initially created by Stark to “weaponize” weather, and (mis)appropriated by a bunch of greedy and self-centered multibillioniares who wanted to emigrate to the famed Blue Area of the moon and terraform Earth’s natural satellite for their personal enjoyment.

The Nova issue had the youngster teem with the Golden Avenger to smack down the Red Ghost and his team of super apes. The Apes themselves are being kept in protective custody, but Ivan (the Ghost), busts them out, only one of the apes (Igor, the shape-changing monkey actually) doesn’t really want to be subservient to his Russian master anymore and assists the heroes in stopping him. At one point Igor shifts into Spider-Man which merits this issue being listed in the Spider-Fan database.

As stated, both of these comics were available for FCBD, which brings up a perennial question I’ve posed, that why doesn’t Marvel (or DC, or whatever company is the bases for the new comicbook film), produce and distribute giveaway comics to be handed out at the premiere of funnybook films? Such a maneuver would (perhaps) entice patrons of the film to head back into their local comicbook shops to seek out the four-color versions of these stories, thus increasing readership?

This seems like such a simple marketing idea, and yet it is rarely ever utilized.

Talk about brain trusts.

Superheroes @ Taco Bell

OK, OK, I made you wait long enough. So here’s the lo-down on the DC Comics giveaways at Taco Bell. First of all, they aren’t comics (so we’re just a little bit disappointed), Still, they are are comics (though not figures or toys either), but posters; 3D posters, no less.



Yep, that’s right, there is a large 3D poster (3D glasses, and a pop-out poster where you pop-out the primary figure and re-attache it to the background, making a sort of a 3D diorama. All of which are pretty cool (and hey, they are comic-related on the cusp of Free Comic Book Day, and a trio of comicbook movies (Kick-Ass, The Losers, and Iron Man 2), so, well, at least they are trying.

Still, I recall when Taco Bell made the coolest set of toys (including a couple or three Star Wars sets).

♪ It’s a Barbie World ♫

Yeah, yeah, more Barbie toys from McDonald’s, but don’t worry all you “macho” funnybook guys, there’s also more Iron Man 2 (Burger King), and “3D” DC superhero posters (Taco Bell) waiting in the wings.

We’ve got Seahorses...

Tiaras...

And yes, more Barbie mermaids...

Also don’t forget to to buy your advance tickets to Iron Man 2! for it’s opening weekend this weekend.

Don’t get left out! (Watch out for a Thor Easter Egg after the credits.)

What you need to know before (or after) seeing Iron Man 2

OK, just like the rest of you, I'm totally psyched about seeing Iron Man 2 this weekend, and well, I just found this article, and — while I already knew much of the info in it — I strongly recommend that the rest of you folk read it so that you will become as smart as me. (Yeah, I really said that).

Oh, and in case I haven't said (over and over again), there are Iron Man toys at Burger King.

More on this later. Plus we certainly don’t want you to forget to purchase your advance tickets to Iron Man 2! for this, its opening weekend.

Don’t get left out!

Ion Man v Dr. Pepper

One of the tie-ins to Iron Man 2 is with Dr. Pepper (they also sponsored on or more of the Spidey movies), here is the commercial currently running. Tell me if you can spot the Special celebrity “hidden” in this spot.



Nope, not the guy getting “suited up” but the older gent in the background. If you said Stan “The Man” Lee, then you’d be right.

How cool is that?

Get ready foe an Iron Man (2) Summer!

Well, this is interesting, it appears that Iron Man 2 has already made its international debut, and, courtesy of it's new corporate master, Disney, it already looks like it will be pulling in blockbuster-level box office Bucks!

"Iron Man 2" took in $100 million in its international debut this past weekend, auguring well for its U.S. opening May 7. More important, the movie will serve as a barometer of Walt Disney Co.'s ability to integrate Iron Man creator Marvel Entertainment, with its tangled legacy of licensing and distribution arrangements.

While we certainly hope that the Disney/Marvel merger-nee-acquisition it looks like that the Mouse House is certainly rolling out the red carpet.

Further down the road, Mr. Iger said he expects Iron Man and other Marvel characters to become "presences" at some Disney theme parks, initially through smaller attractions than set-piece rides. Again, though, the company is somewhat constrained by agreements previously struck by Marvel, which granted Universal Studios Florida the exclusive right, in the region, to create rides based on many of its major characters, including Iron Man.

Now we just have to have them fix that terrible, terrible mistake Joe Q. did with Spidey, eh?

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday

Just in case you folk think that I forgot about Free Comic Book Day (which happens this Saturday), no, I didn’t. (I just got a little bit distracted by the pretty, shiny Iron Man 2 stuff @ Burger King).



Personally, I’m going to be at Bronx Heroes Con at Hostos College in The Bronx:



So if you are anywhere near there, swing on by and check us out. I’ll be manning the Atlas Unleashed table. I’ll be there with our imperious leader Mark Mazz and a number of other AU creators. Plus we might have some surprise info and cool collectibles for you. Mark & I will also be hosting a panel where we will be chatting with the legendary Irwin Hasen (creator of Dondi & Wildcat), so it is going to be a show to see.

Iron Man Meets the King (Week 2)

Yesterday (Wednesday) I hustled over to my local Burger King to pick up the new Iron Man 2 toys (because that’s when they arrive), and while I was there I saw something wicked-cool. The new POP display in the store is a cardboard “standee” of Iron Man that is “crashing” through the ceiling of the store with a Dr. Pepper in his hand. Well, even cooler than the Standee itself, is the fact that the manager is going to give it to me after the end of the promotion. (Now I just have to make sure that I buy all of my IM toys from her, so she knows that I’m a regular.)

Anyways, here’s the toys for this week:




This pair of boy/girl toys are a War Machine figure and an Iron Man erasable message board. Last week's toys looked like this. Neat, eh?

Tony Stark buys Burger King!

OK, OK, he really didn’t (but wouldn't it be wicked-cool if he did?), but we just wanted to announce that Iron Man 2 toys have finally (finally) arrived at Burger King, and as soon as we get our morning work done, we’re going to run out and grab up as many toys as we can find.

Whoo-Haa!



There are eight toys, so this could take a while!