The New 'Logan' Trailer is Seriously Depressing

Fox's X-Men franchise is all over the place. It's got dizzying highs (Deadpool) dismal lows (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and daunting middles (X-Men: Apocalypse), so it's hard to gauge just what a new entry in the franchise will bring to the table. On March 3, we get Logan, an odd film that will likely be Hugh Jackman and Sir Patrick Stewart's last outing as Wolverine and Professor X. It has the trappings of a road trip movie, with the titular Logan and Chuck Xavier on the move and encountering a young girl named Laura (Dafne Keen), who bears a striking resemblance to Wolverine in the "disemboweling people with metal claws" department. In the film, Laura is likely Logan's clone, or at least we can assume that's the case given what's happened in Marvel's comic book universe, where she has taken up the Wolverine mantle after her "father's" death.

Logan seems to be loosely based on Mark Millar and Steve McNiven's Old Man Logan, taking place in a dreary near-future where our favorite adamantium-infused mutant has lost a step in his advancing years. The film evidently makes full use of its R rating, with plenty of bloodshed and an older, decrepit Prof. X that has developed a bit of a potty mouth. It looks like a weird, sad movie, but by all accounts, it could be the satisfying sendoff that both Jackson and Stewart deserve.

Watch the second trailer for Logan below.

The Journey to 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Begins in Marvel Comics

StarWars.com has debuted this cover image announcing Shattered Empire, a Marvel Comics event that's part of Disney's "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" program. The series begins in September, and evidently begins where Return of the Jedi left off.

It's here that we'll see Disney's new, unified canon truly begin to diverge sharply from the former Expanded Universe. What do you think we'll see in this series? Will this be required reading before the new film hits theaters on Dec. 18? Is Marvel hitting a saturation point with its multiple Star Wars titles? Regardless, expect more tie-in novels, comics and other media as the "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" continues this fall.

The Buy Pile for Oct. 2, 2013

Tonight marks the conclusion of my first vacation in more than a year — seven days of comic books, horror movies, Breaking Bad binge sessions and excessive amounts of Grand Theft Auto V. I know many of you are sucking your teeth at me for not taking this opportunity to do some traveling, but I had business to take care of in Los Santos … Paris can wait.

My regular Wednesday trip to Stamford, Conn.’s A Timeless Journey netted me a relatively light haul, but that doesn’t mean I was in any way disappointed with this week’s new offerings. Marvel’s “Battle of the Atom” still has me hooked despite the time-travel weirdness, and there’s definite promise in DC’s Forever Evil book, which hints at big things to come next month. I’m also thoroughly entertained by Glen Brunswick’s Reality Check over at Image Comics, which released its second issue this week.

Here’s a rundown of what I’m bagging and boarding this evening:

• Captain America: Living Legend #1 (Marvel)
• All-New X-Men #17 (Marvel)
• Iron Man #16 (Marvel)
• Batman: Detective Comics #24 (DC)
• Batman: Black and White #2 (DC)
• Forever Evil #2 (DC)
• Reality Check #2 (Image)

Thor’s Movie Look Unveiled?

Earlier this week, Ain’t It Cool News posted some leaked concept art from The First Avenger: Captain America, giving fans their first glimpse of what Chris Evans will look like as the star-spangled superhero. Not longer after those reportedly legitimate pics started generating some serious Internet buzz, Collider unveiled concept art of actor Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) as Thor, whose self-titled film debut hits theaters May 6, 2011.

Here’s one of the images:

Marvel released an official image of Hemsworth as Thor back in April, but this is the first full-body view of the costume we’ve seen thus far. It’s hard to judge this too harshly—it is just concept art, after all—but this outfit looks more like really good San Diego Comic-Con cosplay as opposed to the live-action iteration of our favorite Norse god. There’s something vaguely cheap about this design, and I think it just might be the leathery 1990s Matrix influence it seems to have.

Having said that, Mjolnir is glowing, and that’s awesome.

For more images of Hemsworth as Thor click here.

Marvel EIC Says Captain America “Will Have Everyone on Their Feet Cheering”

Now that Chris Evans has been cast as Steve Rogers/Captain America, we can all finally start getting excited about The First Avenger: Captain America in a very real way. That excitement, it seems, is quite palpable in the Marvel offices. In a series of tweets earlier today, Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada described the third day of a “super secret” trip to Los Angeles, during which he walked through the Captain America art department, saw the Captain America costume and met director Joe Johnston for the first time.

Quesada also seemed pretty stoked about a series of story meetings about “secret stuff.” Vague? Absolutely, but at least he admitted that he was giving his frothing-at-the-mouth fanboy followers absolutely nothing of substance. That didn’t stop us from geeking out and speculating.

“I suck, I know,” he wrote. “But think about how hard it is on my end to keep from bursting and telling you all the amazing stuff I’m seeing.”

He continued, “I soooo want to tell you about this thing that happens in the Cap movie that will have everyone on their feet cheering, but I can’t.”

Oh Quesada, you tease.

Tony Starch Steals the Show at Toy Fair 2010

Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7 and, as one must surely expect at this point, it’s going to be accompanied by a veritable tidal wave of merchandise based on the film and comic books. At Toy Fair 2010 in New York, Hasbro debuted a wide variety of Iron Man 2 action figures, accessories, games and other playthings, but the most bafflingly incredible item in the lineup is surely Tony Starch, who is lovingly staring at you from the top of this post.

Yes, Hasbro is releasing an Iron Man Mr. Potato Head, who joins the ranks of Darth Tater, Optimash Prime, Spider Spud and other licensed side dishes-turned collectibles. Did I say collectibles? I meant toys. Yep. Toys are for kids, right? Why would I, a 26-year-old man, have any interest in buying an Iron Man-themed Mr. Potato Head? That’s just dumb…

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll take two.

Head over to MTV’s Splash Page for a look at Hasbro’s entire Iron Man 2 line.

Have a Drink on Tony Stark

Sure, most people probably associate Iron Man with Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” a song that has absolutely nothing to do with the Marvel superhero but kicks ass nevertheless. However, it looks like AC/DC have become ol’ shellhead’s new go-to rockers, especially when it comes to his hit movie franchise. “Back in Black” featured pretty prominently in Jon Favreau’s original Iron Man, and the soundtrack for the sequel is essentially an AC/DC greatest hits album.

AC/DC: Iron Man 2 will feature 15 tracks from 10 of the band’s studio albums from 1976 to 2008. As expected, one of those tracks is “War Machine,” one of my favorite songs off their underrated 2008 disc Black Ice. When I first heard that song, I was convinced that AC/DC wrote it specifically for Iron Man 2, in which Iron Man/Tony Stark’s pal James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle, replacing Terrence Howard) steps into the War Machine armor. Maybe I was right.

Other songs on the album include “Shoot to Thrill,” “Guns for Hire” and “Have a Drink on Me.” While Iron Man 2 opens in the U.S. on May 7, the album hits shelves on April 19.

“Music is an integral part of the Tony Stark and Iron Man experience, and we are pleased that Columbia and AC/DC are taking part in the franchise’s phenomenon,” Marvel Studios chief operating officer Tim Connors said in a statement. “Through this relationship, the band is delivering fans supercharged Iron Man-branded music through all our combined consumer touch points, from the movie to retail outlets and even virally with the debut of the new video.”

New video you say? “Shoot to Thrill,” is the debut video from the soundtrack/greatest hits collection. Watch it below. For more info, visit marvel.com or acdc.com.

Marvel Enters a “Heroic Age” This Spring

The Marvel Universe has been through a lot over the last few years. From civil wars to secret invasions to dark reigns, Spidey, Iron Man, Wolverine and the gang just can’t seem to catch a break. But Marvel promises that things are going to get a lot a cheerier for these characters later this year with the dawn of “The Heroic Age.”

“Our heroes have experienced some of their greatest trials and tribulations recently, but now there’s going to be a renewed hope among their ranks,” Marvel’s chief creative officer and editor-in-chief Joe Quesada said in a statement. “As our heroes emerge from the darkness, the Marvel Universe is going to be a more optimistic place than we’ve seen in quite awhile. But that doesn’t mean we’re making things easy for our characters!”

While some might speculate that this shift in tone has something to do with Disney’s recent $4 billion acquisition of the comic book publisher, Quesada told USA Today that this return to Marvel’s roots, “with more of a swashbuckling feel,” has been in the works for two years. Fans need not fear that their favorite titles are being watered down.

“There is no sanitizing of the Marvel books at all,” he said. “Our philosophy here is to just keep telling good stories.”

Personally, I think this is a great idea. I’ve always thought comics should be about escapism first and foremost, and the industry tendency to contemporize classic characters by making them “dark and gritty” doesn’t always sit well with me.

“The Heroic Age” kicks off in May with the release of Avengers #1, which will reunite Thor, Captain America and Iron Man on Marvel’s premier superhero team.

Iron Man 2: The IMAX Experience Opens May 7

Marvel Entertainment and Paramount Pictures announced on January 14 that Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2 will open in IMAX theaters simultaneously with its worldwide release on May 7. The IMAX version of the film will be digitally re-mastered using IMAX DMR (Digital Re-Mastering) technology.

Bottom line? Ol’ shellhead will look and sound pretty awesome in this limited release.

“The success of the first Iron Man movie catapulted the franchise from the comic books to theatre screens, and we're excited that the IMAX format will offer fans an even more immersive way to experience the sequel," said Marvel Studios CEO Tim Connors in a statement.

Iron Man 2 stars Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell. But you knew that already.

Zombieland Writers Mobilize for G.I. Joe 2, Deadpool

I might be in the minority on this, but I actually really liked Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It was dumb and ludicrously cheesy at times, but it was also far more enjoyable than Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, last year’s other mindless, toy-based summer blockbuster.

Despite near-universal criticism, G.I. Joe was moderately successful, bringing in more than $300 million worldwide not counting revenue earned through home video sales and merchandising. As one might expect, Paramount Pictures is readying a sequel.

IESB.com reports that Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick—who wrote the uproariously entertaining horror comedy Zombieland—are on hand to write G.I. Joe 2.

Do these names seem familiar? If you’ve been following movie news recently, you might have read that Reese and Wernick are also penning Deadpool, a film based on the popular Marvel Comics character.

Great writing was one of Zombieland’s many strengths, so this is promising news for fans who vehemently exclaimed “No, Joe!” when the first G.I. Joe movie hit theaters last August.

Iron Man 2 Trailer Now Online! (Update With Video)

Oh my. Iron Man 2 is going to be a damn good sequel.

Judging by the movie’s new trailer—which Apple debuted yesterday—director Jon Favreau is bringing the awesome and bringing it hard. We’ve got Iron Man and War Machine in a massive shootout with armored bad guys, Robert Downey Jr. at his scene-stealing best, Mickey Rourke as the badass—and suitably creepy—new villain Whiplash and Scarlett Johansson in skintight leather.

I could go on and describe everything that’s awesome about the trailer, but it’s probably best that you just watch it and geek out on your own. (Embed via Marvel.com.)

New Iron Man 2 Poster Features Mickey Rourke as Whiplash

And the Iron Man 2 images keep coming! Apple has debuted a pretty awesome poster featuring Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, complete with badass energy whips and, judging by the newspaper clips in the background, an unhealthy obsession with Tony Stark. I was worried about how this character would work onscreen, but it seems as though director Jon Favreau and his crew have the right idea. Rourke is going to own this role.

Iron Man 2 hits theaters May 7, but, according to Film School Rejects, a trailer for the anticipated will be attached to Sherlock Holmes, which also stars Robert Downey Jr. That film opens Christmas Day.

Ryan Reynolds: Green Lantern Won’t Be a Typical Origin Story

Green Lantern star Ryan Reynolds told MTV’s Splash Page recently that while the upcoming film intends to introduce mainstream audiences to Hal Jordan, the titular DC Comics character, it won’t be like most drawn-out superhero movie origin stories. Rather, it will cut to the chase pretty quickly.

“It is [an origin story] to a certain degree, but it’s not a labored origin story, where the movie [truly] begins in the third act,” he said. “The movie starts when it starts. We find out Hal is the guy fairly early on, and the adventure begins.”

Reynolds also drew comparisons between this film, directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), and Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, saying that some of the best parts of the film don’t necessarily involve the Green Lantern saving the universe with his super-powered ring.

“I think you walk away from this first film, and the moments that you remember and the moments that mean so much to you, not unlike Iron Man, are the moments where the guy’s not in the suit,” he said. “That to me is the tough thing to get right. And that's something that they did get right [in Iron Man]. You see why this guy’s in the suit, and that’s what’s interesting to me. Not that he is in the suit, but why."

I was never the biggest Green Lantern fan growing up, but I’ve been thoroughly enjoying what Geoff Johns has been doing with the character over the past few years—especially Green Lantern: Rebirth and the phenomenal Blackest Night. This could be a major ongoing franchise for Warner Bros. if they play their cards right. Casting Reynolds was an excellent start.

Meanwhile, Reynolds will also star in a Deadpool film after playing the fan-favorite Marvel Comics character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The spin-off has yet to enter production.

Star Tours Gets 3D Facelift in 2011

If you’re any kind of Star Wars fan, no trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World is complete without at least one visit to Star Tours, a flight simulator that takes parkgoers to that galaxy far, far away.

Well, I’ve got some bad news. The Los Angeles Times’ Hero Complex blog reports that at Disney’s D23 expo, Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo announced that the ride is closing in October 2010. However, it’s getting a 3D update in 2011, complete with new sequences from the prequel films. In addition, while Yoda was not a part of the original Star Tours ride—which opened in 1987—voice actor Frank Oz told Hero Complex previously that he’s recorded new dialogue for the updated version.

According to Rasulo, Star Wars creator George Lucas has been heavily involved in the ride update. Although, to anyone that’s purchased numerous versions of the Star Wars trilogy over the years, Lucas’ affinity for tinkering is no secret.

“Ever since we did our original Star Tours attraction with George, the relationship with Imagineering has been very, very close,” Rasulo told D23 attendees on September 12. “We strive for authenticity in everything we do. This is a Lucas idea, this is Lucas storytelling, interpreted by Imagineering.”

I got a chance to experience Star Tours at Disney World in the spring of 1999, and I’m honestly surprised that it’s taken Disney this long to revamp the aging attraction. My one request? That they keep Paul Reubens as the voice of the ride’s droid pilot, RX-24. Knowing there are robots that talk like Pee-wee Herman somewhere in the world helps me sleep sounder at night.

So, let me get this straight. Disney is upgrading Star Tours, owns Marvel, and is apparently remaking the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine movie using motion-capture animation.

Did Disney get kinda awesome in the past month?

James Vanderbilt to Write Spider-Man 5 and 6

Are your writer senses tingling? If so, it’s probably because Sony Pictures has hired James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) to pen Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6. Variety reports that the films will have an interconnected storyline.

Vanderbilt was first enlisted to write Spider-Man 4, but director Sam Raimi brought on David Lindsay-Abaire to rewrite the script. That version of the script is now being rewritten by Gary Ross. Spider-Man 4 will start production early in 2010 for a May 2011 release.

It’s unknown at this point whether Raimi and franchise stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will be returning for the fifth and sixth installments, as they are not signed on for films beyond Spider-Man 4. If the stars don’t return, according to Variety, Vanderbilt’s two-part story could serve as the basis for a series reboot.

I’m getting a little tired of Hollywood’s obsession with reboots these days, but having a new director and some fresh faces in the cast might prompt Sony to work out a deal with Marvel Studios, getting Spider-Man involved in their continuing series of interconnected crossover films. Who wouldn’t want to see Spidey fight alongside Iron Man, Captain America or the Hulk onscreen?

Wolverine Sequel Gets Oscar-Winning Screenwriter

The sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine may not suck after all. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Christopher McQuarrie, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects, has signed on to write the next Wolverine flick. Hugh Jackman will return as the titular clawed Canuck in a story that will likely borrow heavily from Chris Claremont and Frank Miller’s 1982 Wolverine miniseries, which follows the popular mutant’s violent exploits in Japan. This is good news.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that McQuarrie is already familiar with this universe, as he was an uncredited writer on Singer’s original X-Men, released in 2000. This is also good news.

X-Men is a film series that deserves redeeming, so let’s hope that 20th Century Fox realizes what a massive cinematic misfire the first Wolverine was and moves the franchise in a completely different direction. But, then again, that movie earned $363 million worldwide despite poor critical reception, fan backlash and the fact that it leaked online a month before its release.

Damn. Maybe not.

Marvel and Capcom Square Off on Xbox Live Arcade!

It’s about damn time. Arguably one of the most popular titles among hardcore fighting game fanatics, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is now available on Xbox Live Arcade. The cost? 1200 Microsoft Points ($15.00). The updated title features competitive online play, widescreen support and enhanced HD graphics.

But why is this re-release of a nine-year-old game so hotly anticipated? That can probably be attributed to its robust character roster, featuring 56 fighters from the Marvel and Capcom ranks, pitting Street Fighter brawlers such as Ryu, Chun-Li and Guile against comic book icons such as Spider-Man, Captain America and Iron Man. Coupled with three-on-three tag-team gameplay and a control scheme that is as simple to learn as it is difficult to master, it’s easy to see why Xbox 360 owners have been clamoring for an update.

If you’re a longtime fan and aren’t too keen on spending more cash on a game you already own, consider that Capcom is likely testing the waters to see if the demand is there for a brand-new third game. After Street Fighter IV turned out better than we were all expecting, I think we can all get behind the idea of more Capcom fighting goodness.

PlayStation 3 owners will be able to purchase the title through the Playstation Network on August 13.

Stark Raving Mad: Iron Man Steals the Show at Comic-Con

Based on the exhaustive Internet coverage of last weekend’s Comic-Con International, those of us who couldn’t make it to San Diego really didn’t miss out on all that much as far as movies go. James Cameron screened footage of his mysterious 3D sci-fi epic Avatar, while some fans caught a glimpse of Tron Legacy, the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s 1982 cult classic starring Jeff Bridges. In addition, Twilight enthusiasts were treated to two scenes from New Moon, which hits theaters November 20. Nothing all that groundbreaking or unexpected.

But the big news coming out of the con is that Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2 is shaping up to be every bit as awesome as its 2007 predecessor, and that comic book geeks have plenty to look forward to as we near its May 7, 2010 release date.

Favreau and stars Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow) and Don Cheadle (Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes) were on hand to premiere about five minutes of footage from the anticipated film, which showcased Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role as Nick Fury and Johansson slinking around as the sexy Russian spy. Fans also saw Mickey Rourke wreak havoc as the evil Ivan Vanko/Whiplash as well as shots of Rhodey suited up as the fan-favorite War Machine.

But Iron Mania certainly isn’t limited to the live-action film these days. Marvel Animation/Madhouse unveiled a trailer at Comic-Con for the upcoming Marvel Anime: Iron Man, penned by acclaimed comic book scribe and novelist Warren Ellis. Check out the clip below, and be sure to pick your jaw up off the floor when you’re done.

Natalie Portman Cast in Thor Movie

Harvard-educated and Academy Award-nominated geek goddess Natalie Portman (Star Wars, V for Vendetta) is about to take on another nerd-friendly property by starring opposite Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Thor adaptation, which hits theaters in 2011. Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, Hamlet) will direct.

Portman will play Jane Foster, the titular Norse deity’s first love. A nurse employed by Thor’s alter ego, Dr. Donald Blake, Jane made her debut in 1962 in the pages of Journey Into Mystery.

The film also stars relative unknown Tom Hiddleston as the villainous Loki, Thor’s adoptive brother and arch nemesis.

It’s great that Marvel continues to attract top-tier talent to these projects, and I can’t wait to see what Branagh does with this lesser-known Marvel icon. It’s also exciting to watch this united cinematic Marvel Universe unfold in future films. Iron Man 2 arrives in theaters next May, The First Avenger: Captain America hits June, 2011, and The Avengers—which will bring together all of the heroes under the Marvel Studios banner—will be released in May, 2012.

For more info, head over to Marvel.com.

Watch Ms. Portman spit rhymes in the clip below (via Hulu/YouTube).

Spider-Man 4 Script Changes Hands Once Again

In terms of Marvel superheroes, we’re probably all anticipating Iron Man 2 (2010) just a bit more than Spider-Man 4 after the web-slinger’s last cinematic adventure two years ago disappointed pretty much everyone in the known universe (or at least anyone who’s ever picked up a comic book). But, Variety reports, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios are preparing to redeem this franchise in the hearts and minds of movie fans with the next installment in the blockbuster series, which is slated to begin production early next year. Sam Raimi will return to direct with Tobey Maguire reprising the title role.

The Spider-Man 4 script was originally penned by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and later turned over to David Lindsay-Abaire (Robots, Inkheart) for rewrites. According to Variety, the script will be rewritten again by Gary Ross, who directed Maguire in Pleasantville (1998) and Seabiscuit (2003).

We still have zero idea who Spidey will be squaring off against in the next installment, but I think everyone is in agreement that when it comes to villains in these movies, less is more. Shoehorning Venom—one of Spider-Man’s most popular villains in the 1990s—into Spider-Man 3 wasn’t fan service: It was insulting, and the already crowded film (introducing Sandman, Green Goblin II and Gwen Stacy) suffered as a result. After the phenomenal Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004), this series deserves far more than what it got last time around. Let’s hope this apparent attention to the script pays off.

Spider-Man 4 is scheduled for release in 2011.