Avengers Assemble – Speculating on Marvel Studios Phase Two
Well, Marvel have confirmed one of the other movies we’ll be getting before Avengers 2. Guardians of the Galaxy will apparently be hitting cinemas in 2014, just before the Avengers sequel itself arrives in cinemas. Rumour has it that the Avengers themselves will appear in the closing moments of GOTG, leading into Avengers 2. One assumes the Avengers cast will film their scene(s) for this right at the beginning of filming for Avengers 2. Does this mean that the Guardians will be appearing in Avengers 2, fighting alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? And will the villain in both movies be the same character? Is said villain the same guy we saw at the end of Avengers, who I won’t mention by name this week just in case you’ve still not seen Avengers, but who I will be covering next week? And finally, which version of the Guardians will it be? The classic team we looked at in this column a few weeks ago? The more modern one which has been appearing in the comics lately? A mix of the two? Does this mean… Rocket Raccoon on screen? Lord, I hope so. Rumour has it there’s still another film in development yet to be revealed. Smart money’s on either Black Panther, or Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man. We probably won’t have too long to find out. And that’s a perfect lead in to the first character we’re looking at this week…
Ant-Man (Eric O’Grady)
First Appearance: The Irredeemable Ant-Man #1 (2006)
Created by: Robert Kirkman and Phil Hester
Joined the Avengers: Secret Avengers #1 (2010)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None. Probably.
The so called “irredeemable” Ant-Man, Eric O’Grady was a SHIELD agent who gained his powers by, yep, stealing a costume from Hank Pym. He first appeared in his own solo comic, in which he was revealed to be selfish and egotistical, but a stint on the Thunderbolts under Norman Osborn saw him beginning to want to make something better of himself. Who better to redeem the irredeemable than Captain America? Cap offered Eric a spot on the black ops Secret Avengers team, where he has been ever since. While there is an Ant-Man film being developed by Edgar Wright, despite early rumours suggesting it could focus on O’Grady, it’s much more likely to be Hank Pym and/or Scott Lang in the Ant-Man suit there. However, there is an interesting fan theory that we may have already seen O’Grady in the Avengers. Remember the SHIELD agent on the bridge of the Helicarrier caught playing Galaga by Tony Stark? That’s very much something O’Grady would do, and fans have speculated that this is who it was supposed to be. Of course, no one at Marvel has confirmed this. But they haven’t denied it either…
Prince of Orphans (John Aman)
First Appearance: Amazing-Man Comics #5 (1939)
Created by: Bill Everett
Joined the Avengers: Secret Avangers #6 (2010)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
Originally a golden age character known as the Amazing Man, who had fallen into the public domain, John Aman was introduced into the Marvel Universe in the pages of The Immortal Iron Fist, as one of the champions of the Seven Cities of Heaven. This seemed fitting, since the Amazing-Man was an influence on the creation of Iron Fist in the first place. A martial arts expert who can also transform into a green mist, Prince of Orphans will only appear on screen if we ever get an Iron Fist movie.
The Protector (Noh-Varr)
First Appearance: Marvel Boy #1 (2000)
Created by: Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones
Joined the Avengers: Avengers #6 (2010)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
First appearing as Marvel Boy in the self-titled Grant Morrison mini series, things went a bit quiet from Noh-Varr for a while, until he was brought out to play again as an antagonist for the Runaways and the Young Avengers during Civil War. After that, he was drafted into Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers as the new Captain Marvel, but left the team after he discovered that he actually did want to be a good guy. Noh-Varr became the Protector, and was soon invited to join the real Avengers. The chances of seeing Noh-Varr on screen, in any of his identities, are slim for the forseeable future, but if Marvel ever want to release a stand alone film, still set in their mainstream universe, but not tied to anything else particularly, Marvel Boy wouldn’t be a bad comic to adapt.
Shang-Chi
First Appearance: Special Marvel Edition #15 (1973)
Created by: Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin
Joined the Avengers: Secret Avengers #10 (2011)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
One of Marvel’s premier martial artists (Spider-Man has even gone to him for training), Shang-Chi is not just the master of Kung Fu, but the son of the villainous Fu Manchu. No, really! He’s also a big fan of Fleetwood Mac, having been showing dancing to The Chain in one famous scene from the comics. A solo movie (with a Fleetwood Mac based soundtrack?) isn’t entirely off the cards at some point, but if Marvel are ever looking to dip their toes in the martial arts movie genre, then Iron Fist is a much more likely starting point. Still, if an Iron Fist movie does ever appear, and does well, expect Shang-Chi to follow at some point.
Red Hulk (General Thaddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross)
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #1 (1962)
Created by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness
Joined the Avengers: Avengers #12 (2011)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Also known as Rulk, the Red Hulk was introduced in the pages of Hulk #1 in 2008, written by Jeph Loeb with art by Ed McGuinness. He proceeded to run amock through the Marvel universe for a number of poorly written (but beautifully drawn) issues, beating the crap out of She-Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and the original (and best) Hulk. There was supposed to be a big mystery regarding Rulk’s true identity, but it was obvious from the very beginning that he was actually long-time Hulk enemy, General Thunderbolt Ross. Ross may have started out as a bad guy, but his actions came from a genuine, if misguided, attempt to do good, so when Captain America invited him to join the Avengers to redeem himself, the good General quickly accepted. General Ross, of course, has already been seen in the Marvel cinematic universe, played by John Hurt. He’ll almost certainly return at some point, whether that’s in a future Hulk film or an Avengers sequel, but I would expect Marvel to hold off for a long time before they turn him into Rulk, if they ever do.
Daredevil (Matthew Michael Murdock)
First Appearance: Daredevil #1 (1964)
Created by: Stan Lee and Bill Everett
Joined the Avengers: New Avengers #16 (2011)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
It was a while coming, but the Man Without Fear eventually agreed to join the Avengers, lending his hyper-senses and martial arts prowess to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. DD had appeared in guest appearances in Avengers comics for a long time, both thanks to him once dating long-time Avengers member the Black Widow, and in his civilian guise as lawyer, Matt Murdock, when the Avengers have needed legal assistance. However, while we’ve had one Daredevil film already (which this writer will still defend as underrated, especially the director’s cut version), and there is another in the very early stages of development, there’s no chance of DD being a part of Marvel’s shared universe. The Daredevil rights, like those of the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, are owned by Fox. Bah.
Storm (Ororo T’Challa (nee Munroe))
First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)
Created by: Len Wein and Dave Cockrum
Joined the Avengers: Avengers #19 (2011)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
When Captain America asked the Black Panther to rejoin the Avengers, T’Challa declined. However, he did suggest that, if Cap needed more firepower, then perhaps his wife, Storm, might be worth asking. And so, Storm became the third X-Man to also serve as an Avenger, which makes her one of only two characters to have been a member of the X-Men, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four (Wolverine’s the other). Unfortunately, we won’t see her alongside the Black Panther in a Marvel film for a good long while, due to those pesky X-Men film rights issues. Oh, well. At least we probably won’t be seeing her played by Halle Berry again either. That was just… Bad.
Quake (Daisy Johnson)
First Appearance: Secret War #2 (2004)
Created by: Brian Michael Bendis and Gabrielle Dell’Otto
Joined the Avengers: Avengers #19 (2011)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
A SHIELD agent and a mutant with the power to project earthquake resembling vibration waves, Quake was recruited by Nick Fury to join his Secret Warriors before being tasked to investigate Norman Osborn’s escape from prison. Since the Avengers were also going after Osborn, Captain America drafted her onto the team, something Daisy had wanted for a while. She currently serves as director of SHIELD, Nick Fury having stepped down from the position. Given that SHIELD are involved in pretty much every Marvel movie going, it would make sense for Daisy to appear somewhere within the next few years, even if it’s just in a cameo role.
Captain Britain (Brian Braddock)
First Appearance: Captain Britain Weekly #1 (1976)
Created by: Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe
Joined the Avengers: Secret Avengers #22 (2012)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
I know there are a legion of Sidekickcast readers who are huge Captain Britain fans. I’m one of them. The only character to really, properly break out of Marvel UK and have a lasting presence in the comics (sorry, I’m as big a Death’s Head fan as anyone, but the character doesn’t really go beyond cult status), Cap is now getting exposure as a member of the Secret Avengers under writer, Rick Remender. Cap isn’t just a British version of Captain America, since he has actual superpowers granted to him by Merlin (yes, that Merlin) which relate directly to his confidence. Alan Moore’s run on the character is one of the best superhero comics the world has ever known, and anyone reading this who hasn’t checked it out already needs to do so. And Marvel need to hire someone to come over to the UK and make a proper Captain Britain movie set in their shared universe. Who’s up for starting a campaign?
Venom (Eugene “Flash” Thompson)
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)
Created by: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Joined the Avengers: Secret Avengers #23 (2012)
Marvel Studios Film Appearances: None
In the comics, the Venom symbiote has had four primary hosts (there have been others for brief spells), with the first being Spider-Man. After Spidey rejected the symbiote, it bonded with Eddie Brock, the first character to go by the name of Venom. Eddie eventually gave the symbiote up and it was given to Mac Gargan, formerly the Scorpion, who continued as Venom for a short while, before the government got hold of the symbiote and gave it to Flash Thompson, who at this point had lost his legs while serving in the military. Operating as Agent Venom when required for covert missions, but having the symbiote removed in between, Flash fought alongside Captain America during the Spider-Island event. This led to Cap later inviting Venom to join the Secret Avengers, and while he’s only undergone one mission with the team so far, given that Secret Avengers and his own solo book are both written by Rick Remender, Venom shows no sign of going anywhere just yet. Flash has appeared on screen in a small role in the first Spider-Man film, and the Eddie Brock version of Venom was one of the main bad guys in Spider-Man 3, but Flash as Venom is something we’ve yet to see on screen. A Venom film is in the works, though again, probably featuring Brock as Venom. This will be owned by Sony, and probably share a film universe with The Amazing Spider-Man, but don’t forget, Avi Arad seems to be looking to strike a deal with Sony which would let them keep the Spidey film rights, but also have the characters be a part of the shared Marvel movie universe. Venom could still show up.
And that’s it! All one hundred Avengers looked at, and their chances of appearing somewhere during Marvel Phase Two completely guessed at! But that’s not the end of my random speculation. Come back next week when we start looking at which bad guys might be showing up. And don’t worry, we won’t be covering ever villain to have ever fought the Avengers. Just a few choice suspects. With that in mind…
To be continued…
About the Author
PJ Montgomery Writer of various things, lover of comics, films, books and computer games, loveable rogue and proud Sidekick.
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