Marvel has just released more about it’s feature films coming over the next 3 years. There already have announced they would do Iron Man 2 if sales were good and after one weekend, it’s clear there will be one. Also, as alluded too in the secret ending for Iron Man…The Avengers will be coming. Very Cool!

The Incredible Hulk - June 13, 2008
Iron Man 2 - April 30, 2010
Thor - June 4, 2010
The First Avenger: Captain America - May 6, 2011
The Avengers - July 2011
Ant-Man - Writer/director engaged

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Lionel Luthor (played by John Glover) is the scheming father of Lex Luthor and the founder of LuthorCorp. He has many connections and resources with the government and the criminal underworld which he uses to his best advantage.

“Clark, the real test of a hero is knowing when the greater good will be served by an evil act. To save the Earth, the cost of one life is the price that must be paid.” - Lionel Luthor

We like Lionel or rather we like to hate him. Sometimes he’s working against Clark Kent and yet other times he seems to helping work toward the greater good. At this point he knows of Clark’s powers but he’s held that information in full confidence even when under physical duress.

“I know, I know. The methods I have to use seem cruel, heartless but the truth is I am using them to protect you. ” - Lionel Luthor

At this point Lionel is a great character with ever changing motives. We like him, we hate him, and finally…we like him again.

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I am one of the few Smallville fans that believe the show has run its course and either needs to evolve or change its tune (i.e. its story arch). I recently went to a friend’s wedding and the pastor said everyone changes after time, 5 years, 10 years, etc. Well, its been 8 years now and Clark on Smallville has yet to evolve/change in my eyes. Example: The entire “No Flight, No Tights” gimmick, is getting old.

Anywho, a friend of mine that is also a Smallville fan, but not a comic book fan, always comes to me when the story get’s weird or a little confusing. I clear things up the best I can to help this fan sleep better (just kidding MH). Anyway, she had some questions for me about recent episodes and I half-@$$ answered them the best I could (with the amount of coffee I had in me this morning).

MH’s Question: What is the deal with Chloe’s meteor freak abilities? It looks like she is able to heal people.. so why was she so ready to give up her powers by that crazy doctor to do brain surgery?

Avery’s Answer: Jimmy. It’s the drama factor, soap opera, deal going on here. Jimmy seems to have a dislike for “meteor freaks,” so Chloe wanted to be normal, in a nutshell. She was ready to give up her ability for Jimmy, but then dumps him later. Can we say Drama Queen?

MHQ: Why won’t she share with Jimmy? I can’t understand why she would hide it from him.

AA: See answer 1. Jimmy has voiced his dislike for mutants + Chloe is a mutant (of some sort) = Chloe won’t tell Jimmy she’s a mutant in fear Jimmy won’t like her (and/or expose her).

MHQ: What is up with Lana? She is becoming Miss Secretive now. I am watching these shows, but apparently I missed something last season. Now Lana is all miss devious. And why won’t she tell Clark? He just busted and told her the BIGGEST secret of all (about the crystal). Lana is about to break his lil’ ole heart?

AA: Lana is waging a secret war with the Luthors. If you saw last season, you’d know why (for the most part, she’s acting crazy, but it’s a comic book TV show, so game on). But other then that, it gives Kristin (Lana) something to do on the show ever since the addition of Lois and Kara. Lana was always just the innocent girl next door for the first 4 seasons, they needed to do something with her on the show after that, i.e. keep Kristin employed. In my opinion, I feel its time for Lana to go, move on. We’ve all had to say good bye to our childhood crushes at some point, it’s time
Clark moved on (if only for the sake of progressing the show as I feel it is going in cycles with the plot line).

MHQ: And hey I thought Clark COULD fly? What’s up with him not just taking off after Kara and seeing where she is going?

AA: The show’s motto lives on: No Flight, No Tights. It’s silly now, but whatever, the creators/writers can do whatever they want for the most part. Or it could be that Clark Kent, Superman, in this version is retarded. J/K. I used to think this show was more tied to the comic book story arch in the beginning, but it isn’t. This is another version of Superman, which is fine, I enjoy that. Lois & Clark was also a different version of Superman too (heck, I never knew Superman was half Japanese until I saw Lois & Clark; referring to Dean Cain). All kidding aside, and going off the story of why he can’t fly, well I guess its because he’s still afraid of heights or perhaps its just too difficult to master. It’s probably the one power that is tricky to do. Plus, he’s more exposed flying around rather than him just zipping around at the speed of light. He flies as Superman so he can be seen (think about it), with his tights, big S, and all his blue-red glory. It’s like the same way I don’t need to buy a brand new 2008 Mazda RX-8; it’s nice, but my current Mazda is fine and gets me around no problem.

MHQ: Oh! How come that crazy freak who saw Clark catch the bullet would not tell Lex about it when offered? Is he trying to keep the super hero code of ethics or something?

AA: The guy knows Lex, or at least suspects, that he is the big bad villain. He’s not going to expose Clark, the hero, to the enemy. The guy loves super hero comics and lives by the moral values that come from them. A lot of fans do.

My final note to MH: You should do what I do, concentrate on NBC’s Journeyman (Monday nights at 10/9 central); that is better show this season (which I want to blog about later because I am tired of people saying it’s a Quantum Leap clone; I was a big fan of that show too). I’ll be more excited for Smallville again when Ollie, The Green Arrow, returns later this season. Plus, Ollie’s true main squeeze is going to be on the show when he returns: The Black Canary. It should be entertaining!

FYI to all the people that read this far:
Hollywood is making a Justice League and Flash movie to come out in the next couple years (if you didn’t already know…you probably do though).

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Superman has had many enemies, but none that we like better then Lex Luthor (played by Michael Rosenbaum). Smallville has take the meglomaniac villian and transformed him into someone we understand. In fact, sometimes you just plain like the guy.

“I’ve always been fighting my destiny, trying to avoid becoming my father. But we all have certain genes that, no matter how much we want to change, dominate us.” -Lex Luthor

Lex’s obsession with the meteor freaks is really about trying to protect the world from their powers. More recently, Lex has learned of the super-powered Kryptonians from the phantom zone and he seeks to get their powers or use them in some fashion. He really sees them as the largest threat mankind has and he has no qualms about striking first.

“There’s so much of my own life I can’t explain. I’ve survived countless brushes with death, and it all started with this car crash. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s that I’ve inherited my father’s eccentric curiosity for the unexplained.” - Lex Luthor

Sure he’s lied, cheated, stolen, and killed in the name of his obssession. He’s also helped, paid for medical attention and used his clout to help people when he didn’t really need to. To quote a famous line: “He’s not bad, just misunderstood.”

We all know eventually he becomes Superman’s greatest foe, but it’s been one heck of a ride learning his motivations.

Interesting Note: Lex has had over 27 (and counting) brushes with death and has been knocked unconscious more then any other character on Smallville.

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Scottish actor Kevin McKidd has been supposedly up for the role of Thor in the upcoming film by Marvel Comics. I a recent interview, he seemed to think he wouldn’t get it.

It is semi true. I didn’t know about it either until I heard the rumors. I called my agent and the last I heard was I think they want to go with somebody much younger, a nineteen or twenty year old for that role. Although they may be switching their sights, the other main male character in that movie I think I am in consideration for. It certainly is by no means in the bag. To be honest until I read a script I don’t really know so this is all still information coming out. It could be fun, but it depends on what is on the page. It all starts and finishes with the script.

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I don’t really see this guy playing Thor myself. I’m just saying…

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Here’s a list if the current stuff that Marvel is working on for movie releases. All of it is awesome stuff

Films:
Wolverine, Fox - Director engaged (Gavin Hood)
Punisher 2, Lionsgate - Director (Lexi Alexander) and lead actor engaged (Ray Stevenson)

Film Projects Being Developed by Marvel - partial list:
Iron Man, Marvel - Completed principal photography; May 2, 2008 release
The Incredible Hulk, Marvel - Commenced principal photography; June 13, 2008 release
Ant-Man, Marvel - Writer (Edward Wright, Joe Cornish) and director (Edgar Wright) engaged
Captain America, Marvel - Writer engaged (David Self)
Nick Fury, Marvel - Writer engaged (Andrew Marlowe)
Thor, Marvel - Writer engaged (Mark Protosevich)
The Avengers, Marvel - Writer engaged (Zak Penn)

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