Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. premiere aired on September 24th on ABC and the nerd fires have been lit. When this show was announced I was ecstatic! The show has a lot of talented people working on it and such a nice pool of plot devices from the Marvel comic movies as well as comics in general to pull from. I've enjoyed watching all of the episodes so far. The one thing I found I love most about this show are the constant references to comic-book themes and/or scenes from Marvel superhero movies.
Below is a list of "Easter Eggs" I noticed after watching the premiere episode several times. This list includes spoilers, but honestly, who hasn't seen the first episode? If you see something I missed, please leave a comment; otherwise enjoy....
SPOILER ALERT!
In the opening scene, Stark Tower/Avengers Tower is in the background (Stark Tower/Avengers Tower is featured in the Avengers Movie and in various Avengers comics).
Also in the opening sequence, narrated by Skye, there are flashes of Thor's hammer, Captain America's shield, Iron Man flying, a Chitauri soldier's face, and a shadowy figure that is referenced as the Hulk (These are references directly from the Avengers movie and/or Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man movies).
We see Michael Peterson, a fired factory worker who volunteers and receives super powers through an experiment (Joss Whedon often employs actors that he’s used in other projects, J. August Richards, played Charles Gunn in Joss Whedon’s Angel series).
When Maria Hill interviews Agent Ward before assigning him to Agent Coulson's team, they talk about a Chitauri Neural Link, a billionaire in a flying metal suit, how the battle of New York has changed the world (Cobie Smulders reprises her role as Maria Hill she appears in comics and the Avengers movie, much of what her and Ward talk about are direct references from the Avengers movie. The Chitauri are the alien army that invaded New York in the Avengers movie).
Maria Hill talks to Coulson about his return. Agent Coulson makes mention of being stabbed by Asgardian Mussolini (He was stabbed and apparently killed by Loki in the Avengers movie).
When Agent Coulson is reading Agent Ward's assessment, he mentions in espionage he has the highest marks since Romonoff (Natasha Romonoff is the Black Widow).
Actor Ron Glass appears as a Medical doctor who clears Agent Coulson for duty (Joss Whedon often employs actors that he’s used in other projects, Ron Glass played Sheppard Book in Joss Whedon’s Firefly series and Serenity movie).
Maria Hill and the doctor share a secret “He can never know” (Speaking of how Agent Coulson returned after being ‘killed’ in the Avengers movie).
Skye talks to Michael Peterson, the hooded hero, and says “With great power comes…a ton of weird crap you’re not ready to deal with (This comes from the classic line from Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility).
Agent Simmons asks Agent Ward if he's "excited to be coming on our Journey into mystery" (Journey into Mystery is the Marvel comic title that Thor first appeared and starred in).
Agent Fitz analyzing robots are named after the 7 dwarves.
When Skye is being interrogated by Agents Coulson and Ward, she mentions the Project Pegasus cover-up (Project Pegasus was a fictional scientific base in Marvel comics created to find alternative energy sources and later was used as a prison for super villains. Project Pegasus was also mentioned in Iron Man 2 movie).
When Simmons is analyzing the alien technology and says "its dripping with gamma radiation" (gamma radiation is the source of the Hulk's powers).
Agent Coulson says "Extremis, its new and completely unstable" (This is a direct reference from the Iron Man 3 movie).
Agent Coulson says " I've seen giants upclose and that privilege cost me" (Referencing his appearance and apparent death in the Avengers movie).
Lola is revealed to be a SHIELD hovercar (In the comics, SHIELD hovercars were "standard issue" and originally designed by Anthony Stark. In the Captain America: the first avenger movie, Anthony Stark debuted his prototype hovercar).
Beware the Batman Cartoon Network animated review.
I love superheroes and a superhero cartoon would have to be pretty bad for me not to watch it. Well this show almost meets the criteria. To be fair, Beware the Batman already has two strikes with me as it replaced one of my favorite animated shows of all time, Young Justice. I know some folks would say, Young Justice is gone and to get over it, but I say then NAY and never even! I got that out, I feel better now, so lets move on.
The first question I have to ask is did we really need another animated Batman show? After watching several episodes of Beware the Batman, I don't think we needed this one.
In my mind, and many others I'm sure, Kevin Conroy is the definitive voice of Batman. Well the voice of THIS Batman almost sounds nasal to me. What's worse is there isn't a vocal distinction between Bruce Wayne and Batman. The voice just doesn't excite me.
Alfred...**sigh**...where do I start. I have always envisioned Alfred as the British gentleman who's looks are deceiving. An innocent looking older man who has more tricks up his sleeve that in Batman's utility belt. And I picture him with hair. Well the Alfred of this show had neither any hair or that innocent look I've come to expect. He looks "leathery" and weathered like a bald Clint Eastwood; when what I'd come to expect is Sean Connery I understand that Alfred's back-story involves a past as a soldier; but that's not what I get from his look or mannerisms. I see a MI6 agent who is one vacation, not retired. I just don't like the guy, and I've always liked Alfred; from the cartoons of the 60's, to the live action 70's, to the animated series of the 90's. and the movies with Micheal Keaton to Christian Bale.
If that isn't enough, there's the villains. The 70's live action show had villains I could laugh at. The animated series of the 90's had villains I felt sorry for. This show has villains that I don't care about or care to see. Professor Pyg, Magpie, Humpty Dumpty, Silver Monkey, Anarky, Cyber. NO SPOILERS... But none of those villains make me care or laugh. Batman's villains has always been one of the reasons I've liked him sp much. They have a complexity that's just awesome. The villains from Beware the Batman are simply not interesting. They're have the complexity of a Rubik's cube that's all one color. No matter how you look at it or turn it; there is nothing there. A friend watched the show and thought Magpie was Catwoman redone. while that speaks load of his character and issues, it says to me that Magpie had/has no depth.
After watching a few episodes with my wife, we both say the computer animation as lackluster. The backgrounds were too dark and stagnate. I know it's Gotham mind you, but there's dark and then there's dark! The animation doesn't look smooth, in fact it looks choppy in some parts and the action got hard to follow in some instances.
With all this hate that I've dishing out, I do have to say that having Katana as a Robin of sorts is a rather interesting. Not interesting enough I'm afraid.
I realize that this is a retelling and a different prospective on the idea of the Batman mythos, but from what I've seen, it's just not a good one.
Guess who else I'm not dressing up as... T'Challa the Black Panther
T'Challa is the ruler of the African nation of Wakanda. The ruler also inherits the title of the Black Panther (although it still has to be earned). Wakanda is the main and only source of the metal Vibranium. The thought of outsiders exploiting Wakanda for it's valuable and rare metal, lead to Wakanda closing itself off. T'Challa traveled to the US to learn about other perceived threats to his homeland by joining the Avengers.
T'Challa, like other Black Panthers before him took a mystical herb that grants him Olympic level strength, speed, stamina, and agility and super human senses. This was due to a mystical connection to a Panther entity. Several times this connection was broken and the Black Panther lost his enhanced abilities. Besides his physical abilities, as the ruler of Wakanda, T'Challa has access to an enormous amount of resources; financial and technological. This outfit is made of a Vibranium mesh. Probably his most deadly asset is his mind. T'Challa is a genius that has a Ph.D from Oxford, as well as a skilled hunter, fighter, scientist, and strategist.
He first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 The new Mutants (July 1966), and was created by Stan "the man" Lee and Jack Kirby..
No need to cosplay as the following were done so well:
Who else gets kicked from the list? This guy...Sunspot aka Reignfire
Roberto "Bobby" de Casta is a Brazilian young man who happens to be a mutant. After his power manifested during a soccer game, he was recruited by Professor Charles Xavier as one of his "New Mutants" Bobby comes from a wealthy family and he inherited membership to the Hellfire club when his father died. Portrayed as a ladies man, Bobby has been always been cocky and headstrong.
Roberto has the ability to absorb solar energy and convert it into physical strength and stamina. When using his powers, Bobby's would be covered in a black aura outlined by various black spots. This was said to be the result of his power's reaction to air and dust particles. Early on, his powers mainly dealt with increased strength. Many times have I read "For all Bobby's strength, he's just as vulnerable as we are" or lines similar to that. Later in his appearances due to the result of a few different story-lines, Roberto could use the solar energy he absorbed to fly and project concussive blasts.
He first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 The new Mutants (April 1982), and was created by Chris Claremont and Bob McCloud.
Since I love Marvel comics and I love Phineas and Ferb, loving Mission Marvel was a no brainer.
I think the best part of Phineas and Ferb is that my wife and daughter love the show as well. Its awesome "geeking" out as a family and sitting down together and watch an episode. Or after we put the kids to bed, my wife and I watching episodes on demand...DEFINE AWESOME (geeking out with your wife)! This was no different.
Here is a list of "Easter Eggs" I noticed after watching Mission Marvel for the 4th time (this time I had a notepad). If you see something I missed, please leave a comment; otherwise enjoy....
SPOILER ALERT!
In the title sequence, Spider-Man tells Aunt May about what Phineas and Ferb are doing a la Candace and mom.
The gang starts the episode surfing in space...possible homage to Silver Surfer...
The gang then talks about how they powered their boards with Cosmic Rays...the source of the Fantastic Four's powers...
Stan Lee first cameo: He is selling Hot Dogs at his Excelsior Hot Dog stand.
After the heroes lose their powers, Nick Fury says "Yes, yes I have" ... the "Yes, yes I..." comment used constantly on the show.
After Doofenshmirtz takes away the heroes' powers, he updates his L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N. blog ... L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N. is an acronym for League Of Villainous Evildoers Maniacally United For Frightening Investments in Naughtiness which was introduced in the Nerdy Dancing episode of Phineas and Ferb
Red Skull comments about that Doofenshmirtz sounds Drusselsteinian and he has a Drusselsteinian relative. ...So the Red Skull has a relative from Doofenshmirtz's hometown.
Spider-Man asks Phineas "Aren't you a little young to be stealing superhero's powers?" ...the question "Aren't you a little young to be..." is constantly asked of Phineas.
Nick Fury, Red Skull, and Venom comment about Agent P not having powers: Is he some kind of super platypus with super platypus powers? Does he have a super platypus exoskeleton? Is he super-soldier platypus like Captain America? Was he was bitten by a radioactive platypus, like Spider-Man?
Doofenshmirtz askes if Red Skull's head might burst into flames ... a Ghost Rider reference
The heroes and Phineas and Ferb go to a small shed-like building called the Secret Hideout for Emergency Defects (or S.H.E.D. for short) ... a play on S.H.I.E.L.D. OR a play on TARDIS from Dr. Who
After entering the S.H.E.D. , the inside looks bigger than the outside and Ferb makes a comment about it "just a little British sci-fi technology." A Dr. Who and Tardis reference
Thor makes a comment about Iron Man's armory ... making reference to the Beak 2.0 armor
Candace geeks out and asks the heroes to read her fan-fiction, Spider-Man refuses since they are not allowed to accept unsolicited material
During Doofenshmirtz "Evil Buddies and Me" number, a giant floating baby head passes by MODOK
Venom steals hotdogs from Stan Lee
As the heroes face the villains with their restored powers switched, a frustrated Thor refers to talking to Iron Man like talking to a bilgesnipe ...he refereed to this mythical beast in the Avengers movie
After the heroes are rescued by Agent P, Spiderman asks if that was Howard the Duck
After making Phineas mad, Candice walks off while a piano plays something awfully close to the closing theme of the live action Incredible Hulk TV series and Buford makes a reference to not making Phineas angry, you wouldn't like him when he's angry ... homage to a popular line from show
Major Monogram is seen on Agent P's communicator wearing an eye patch and a goatee a la Nick Fury (calls it a face mullet)
The Red Skull traps Doofenshmirtz and Agent P in traps similar to what Doofenshmirtz uses every episode
Doofenshmirtz continues to talk about the Red Skull's accent; suggesting he get a speech therapist
Buford talks down Hulkjeet and causes him to transform back to normal a la the Hulk movie and Betty Ross talking the Hulk into turning back to normal
The villains use the Power Draininator to disintegrate Stan Lee's hot dog cart
A falling Iron Man is saved by Hulkjeet a la the Hulk saving Iron Man in the Avengers movie.
After being saved, Iron Man says "We have a Baljeet" a la "We have a Hulk" line from the Avengers movie
Doofenshmirtz uses his Waffleinator against the villains ...this was unveiled at D23 Expo in real life
After the heroes regain their powers, Thor's hammer has a bunch of parking tickets and a boot on it.
With their powers restored, the heroes and Agent P stand ready as the camera rotates around them. ...Homage to the rotating scene in the Avengers movie as the heroes stand back to back
A grade for Mission Marvel! Would've gotten an A+ if it had featured Black Widow...LOL
On my quest to Comic Con 2014, I am NOT going to dress as this guy!
This is Olympic gold medalist Jefferson Pierce, he was born with the meta-gene (DC comics version of mutants). He donned the costume and called himself Black Lightning to battle local thugs that were threatening his neighborhood. Later he joined Batman when he formed the Outsiders and still later he joined the Justice League.
He has the ability to generate and magnify electromagnetism. Black Lightning uses this ability to fire bolts, generate force fields, among other effects. He suppressed this ability for most of his life.
He first appeared in Black Lightning #1 (April 1977), and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.
