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Thor, Loki, and Odin Helmets from San Diego Comic-Con 2010

Marvel announced the official casting lineup for the upcoming Avengers movie at the San Diego Comic-Con.  The cast includes:

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johansson (The Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America) , Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye).  Some fans are not happy that Ed Norton, who portrayed Bruce Banner in the last Hulk Movie is not included, and the fact that Chris Evans is cast as Captain America.  Evans is best known to comics fans as the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four movies.

Also presented in public for the first time, was the Destroyer, a villain in the upcoming Thor movie, as well as the helmets worn by Thor, Loki, and Odin in the movie.

Avengers Movie Acting Cast from San Diego Comic-Con 2010

The movie poster for the  upcoming Captain America move was released for the 2010 San Diego Comic Con. 

More images released in anticipation of the San Diego Comic Con from the upcoming Thor move:

Asgardian Hall of Heroes in the Thor Movie

Photos from the upcoming Thor movie are now available, and a Thor preview is expected at the San Diego Comic Con.

Thor Movie Picture with Anthony Hopkins and Chris Hemsworth

Interesting article about Disney and the Marvel Movies, including Iron Man 2,  and the upcoming Thor, Captain America, and Avengers movies.

Go to: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/126038-disney-sees-iron-man-as-a-model-for-marvel

Iron Man and War Machine in Iron Man 2

A new page detailing the first appearance of Superman and Lois Lane in Action Comics #1 (June, 1938) is now online at:

http://www.historyguy.com/comicshistory/comics_issue_file_action_comics_1.htm

The new Captain America movie is gearing up with the famous Marvel PR Machine, and here is a move teaser video of the upcoming Captain America movie:

The Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) is the annual comic book convention held in Seattle, Washington every year in March. This year’s comic convention’s featured guests Stan “The Man” Lee, Leonard “Spock” Nimoy and Lou “The Hulk” Ferrigno. The comicon was held this year at the Washington State Convention Center.  Some fun stuff to look at and take pictues of, included Darth Vader and some of his white-armored Storm Troopers, though for a bunch of clones, the stormtroopers sure came in a variety of sizes.  I think they were Faux Troopers, not Storm Troopers! Also seen were a variety of Superheroes and Supervillains, such as Spider-Man and Doctor Doom, though why they were hanging together is beyond me!

Dr. Doom and Spidey

http://www.historyguy.com/comicshistory/emerald_city_comicon_2010.htm

and

http://www.historyguy.com/comicshistory/emerald_city_comicon_2010_pictures_images.htm

http://www.historyguy.com/comicshistory/emerald_city_comicon_2010.htm

Batman in Detective Comics #27

Detective Comics featured the first appearance of “The Bat-Man,” as he was first called.  This book included several separate stories, only the first of which featured Batman.  Several oddities are evident in this story.  Batman is called “The Bat-Man,” and Bruce Wayne is seen smoking a pipe.  This also features the first appearance of Commissioner Gordon.

Featured Characters in this Detective Comics Batman Story:

Batman (First appearance)

Supporting Characters:

Commissioner Gordon (First appearance)

Villains:

Alfred Stryker (Single appearance) (Dies in this issue)

Jennings (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

Lambert (Single appearance) (Dies in this issue)

Lambert, Jr. (Single appearance)

Paul Rogers (Single appearance)

Steven Crane (Single appearance) (Dies in this issue)

Locations:

Gotham City

Lambert Residence

Stryker Laboratory

Story Summary: “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”:

Commissioner Gordon learns that a chemical industrialist named Lambert has just been murdered. It appears as if Lambert’s son is guilty of the crime, but the son, Lambert Jr., confesses only to finding his father’s body. Bruce Wayne is conveniently present at the scene of the crime, and decides to investigate as his alter-ego, The Batman. After looking though the late Lambert’s contacts, Batman discovers the names of his old business partners, Steven Crane, Paul Rogers and Alfred Stryker. Shortly thereafter, Steven Crane is found dead in his home. Paul Rogers learns of the murder and seeks out the last surviving business partner, Alfred Stryker. But Stryker reveals himself to be behind the crimes and kidnaps Rogers. He wants total control over their business interests. Batman swoops down inside of Stryker’s chemical factory and rescues Rogers. Stryker tries to attack him but Batman beats him back, toppling the criminal into a vat of acid.

Detective Comics # 27: First Appearance of Batman (1939)

A rare original copy of the first Batman comic book, which is owned by a Rochester, NY collector, will break the record for most expensive comic book ever when it is sold at auction later this month.

The Detective Comics #27 from 1939 has already garnered an online bid of $350,000 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The record price had been $317,000 for an Action Comics #1, which featured the first appearance of Superman.

The owner is a Rochester man in his 50s who wants to remain anonymous,.

“It’s a part of Americana,” a source close to the seller said of the original Batman comic book, which was bought from another Rochester collector in December.

Lon Allen of Heritage Auctions said the comic is in near-mint condition. Heritage originally estimated the book would sell for $350,000, but Allen expects it to surpass that figure.

“I would not be surprised to see it go for significantly higher,” Allen said. “This really is the Holy Grail. We sold $19 million in comic books last year, and this is the best thing we’ve ever handled.”

The auction concludes Feb. 25. The Heritage Auctions Web site can be accessed at www.ha.com.