Earth Station One Episode 162 – The Third Time’s the Charm with Iron Man 3

This week, the ESO crew begins reviewing the summer movies with one of the most anticipated films of the season, Iron Man 3. Mike, Mike, the award-winning author Bobby Nash, Tara Lynn, and Jennifer Hartshorn form a think-tank of their own and discuss the movie in detail. They also talk about the other geek-related events of the weekend, particularly the phenomenon known as Free Comic Book Day. Also, writers Charles and Beverley Connor take turns in The Geek Seat and Nikki Rau-Baker reports on C2E2. Plus, the usual Rants, Raves, and Shout Outs!

Join us for yet another episode of The Earth Station One Podcast we like to call: The Third Time’s the Charm with Iron Man 3

Next On Earth Station One….

The Earth Station One crew and friends head back to the theater for a look at one of the summers most highly anticipated movies. That’s right. It’s Iron Man 3! ESO will take a look at the film, the franchise, and the comic books that started it all. Plus, as if that wasn’t enough, ESO takes a look back at this year’s Free Comic Book Day celebration.

ESO wants to hear from you. Tell us what you thought about Iron Man 3. Did you love it? Did you hate it? Are you ready for Tony Stark’s next adventure? We want to know your thoughts regarding Marvel’s Armored Avenger. Plus, ESO wants to know how you celebrated Free Comic Book Day. We’d love to hear reports from you about your comic shop.

Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. We just might read yours on the show.

Beyond ‘The Avengers’: Marvel prepares for ‘Phase 2′ of superhero franchise

By Ashley Bergner
Box Office Buzz

Before 2008, many people weren’t familiar with the Marvel comic book superhero Iron Man. DC Comics characters Superman and Batman had long been the two most famous superheroes, and no one was expecting a movie based on Tony Stark — a snarky narcissist in a metal suit — to be a mega-hit.

However, Robert Downey Jr.’s great performance not only rebooted the actor’s own career, it also helped launch an impressive theatrical run for a line-up of Marvel superheroes, culminating in last summer’s epic mash-up “The Avengers.” Earning more than $1.5 billion worldwide, “The Avengers” established Marvel’s dominance in the cinematic superhero universe, and now DC Comics is the one struggling to catch up.

Still, Marvel is hoping this is just the beginning. “The Avengers” completed the first stage of the film franchise, and now Marvel is preparing to launch what the company is calling “Phase 2,” which features new movies about Iron Man, Thor and Captain America; an Avengers sequel; and a science fiction film about an Avengers-style team called “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Personally, I’m very much looking forward to Marvel’s new line-up of films, though I do have a few possible concerns.

White Rocket, Ep 007: Marvel Movies, Part 2

 This week on the White Rocket Podcast, we present Part 2 of Van’s conversation with writer/ publisher/ director Jim Yelton, exploring Marvel’s Cinematic Universe– and in this installment, they also dig a little bit into what DC is doing, has been doing, and will be doing in movies.

White Rocket, Ep 007: Marvel Movies, Part 2

ASSEMBLED AGAIN!

ASSEMBLED! 2: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES AND VILLAINS has now joined

Vol. 1 on Kindle, also for $2.99 at http://www.amazon.com/ASSEMBLED-Earths-Mightiest-Villains-ebook/dp/B0082PXQH4

This volume focuses on “The Big Three” of Iron Man, Cap, and Thor, along with top villains Ultron and Kang. Includes opinion, analysis, humor, and special features covering the history and relationships of these major characters.

Written by the Jarvis Heads of AvengersAssemble.net.
Edited by Van Allen Plexico.
Introduction by Marvel Comics Exec. Editor Tom Brevoort.
Profits go to the HERO Initiative charity, as chosen for us by George Perez.

Learn more about White Rocket Books and Assembled at http://www.whiterocketbooks.com

 

Building a Better Sequel

Is Hollywood out of ideas? Lets examine the evidence. In the past few years, sequels, prequels, and remakes have dominated the box office. We’ve seen the proliferation of strangely specific genre films filled with superheroes, vampires and zombies. They are adapting adaptations of adaptations. It seems that any recognizable properties, from theme park rides to board games, are preferable to new ideas.

I know I’m not the first to person to complain about this. I am also unoriginal. The question we should be asking is: are these sequels any good? Good sequels propel the franchise further while bad sequels end them. It is very Darwinian. In fact, it seems that the sequel as a concept is beginning to evolve.

(Spoilers!) Whedon, not Branagh, directed Thor’s easter egg

If you’ve seen Thor, you’ll know that, as with Iron Man and Iron Man 2, there’s an easter egg after the credits, a bonus scene that leads into the upcoming movie The Avengers. It turns out that Thor’s director Ken Branagh didn’t have a hand in it—the director of The Avengers, Joss Whedon, did.

Thor star Stellan Skarsgard talks to Empire Online (clip below) about that final scene, where his character, Erik Selvig, speaks with Nick Fury, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., played by Samuel L. Jackson. There are SPOILERS for Thor in the clip (but alas, none for The Avengers). Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The scene is probably old hat for Joss: It takes place in an underground government facility that deals with weird magic and science … just like the Initiative in season four of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And it likely felt like a reunion for Jackson and Skarsgard, who had worked together in the movie Deep Blue Sea.

See the interview here

Rumor of the day: Avengers movie to feature Skrull-Kree War?

An Albuquerque resident and Ain’t It Cool News reader picked up a copy of the Albuquerque Journal on Christmas Eve and, in a story about the production coming to the local Albuquerque Studios for a good six months or so, noticed this line: “The Avengers’ script will blend Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger story lines as the Avengers battle with two alien races, the Skrulls and the Kree.”

Read the story here, what do you think?

Comic Book Movie.com is reporting that this article was in fact just a rumor not “officialy” from Marvel Studios. So take it with a grain of salt, like all rumors.

The Science of Iron Man at Caltech

On a mid-October Wednesday, a panel of experts in special effects and various sciences paid a visit to the California Institute of Technology to discuss some of the science behind the “Iron Man” movie franchise. The panelists included SVP of Production and Development Jeremy Latcham, Co-founder of Legacy Effects Shane Mahan, Assistant Professor Andreas Krause, Professor Mark Wise and Character and Concept Designer Ryan Meinerding. Geoff Boucher moderated the panel.

Read the story

Jon Favreau wants The Mandarin

Great interview with Iron Man director Jon Favreau, it’s interesting to hear him talking about Iron Man 3 already and see the villain he leaning towards for the new movie.

Read the interview here