Luke Judge

West Dorset: Daredevil reporter takes a charity dive

11:02am Wednesday 27th October 2010

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FEARLESS Bridport and Lyme Regis News reporter Adrianne Maslen survived – and even enjoyed – her bungee jump at the White Horse Inn in Litton Cheney on Sunday.

In common with the other 20 plus jumpers she was raising money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance by hurling herself – shackled to new husband Anthony Mullins – 175ft off a crane parked in the pub car park.

She said: “It was nerve wracking on the ride up but I did feel very calm once I was up there. The view alone was worth it and it helped having Anthony there. The organisers made me feel at ease and safety didn’t even enter my mind.”

Watched by a crowd of vociferous supporters the brave souls lept off one by one and then got to enjoy the live music and barbecue put on by landlady Cassie Williamson, whose brother Jonny Sims organised the jump through his Extreme Sensations Bungee Club The original jump was to have been last month but not enough people signed up to make it worth while.

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I’m done compiling my ideal Marvel superhero lineup, a list of which actors I think should play which Marvel hero in their newly formed cinematic universe. This does NOT include characters who have already been cast, such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Nick Fury, Red Skull, Loki, etc. Below you can find the full complete list, just in time for Comic-Con.

Kristen Bell – Ms. Marvel

Jennifer Garner – She-Hulk

Billy Crudup – Mr. Fantastic

Jeffrey Dean Morgan – The Thing

Elizabeth Banks – Invisible Woman

Nathan Fillion – Giant-Man/Ant-Man

Morena Baccarin – Wasp

Johnny Depp – Doctor Strange

Zachary Quinto – Namor the Sub-Mariner

Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje – Black Panther

Tobey Maguire – Spider-Man  (already debunked……as expected)

Paul Bettany – Vision

Michael C. Hall – Daredevil

Jeremy Renner – Hawkeye

Jamie Bell – Rick Jones

Josh Holloway – Iron Fist

Terry Crews – Luke Cage

Stanley Tucci – Mephisto

James Gandolfini – Kingpin

Chris Pine – The Human Torch

Edward Norton – The Hulk

Ralph Fiennes – Norman Osborn

Ben Kingsley – Mandarin

John Malkovich – Vulture

Mark Strong- Dr. Doom

 

Let me know what you think of my choices. Who do you agree with me most on? Disagree? Did I leave any of your favorites out? Let me know, and I’ll be sure to get back to you. Well, that does it for my ideal Marvel superhero lineup. Let’s hope Marvel listens!

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During World War II, the brave fighting men of the Marvel Universe had to contend with the conventional forces of the Axis Powers as well as their elite costumed and super-powered shock troops. Fortunately, the Allies had costumed champions of their own, including Captain America, The Human Torch and Union Jack. This trio eventually banded together with several more costumed champions to form the super team that came to be known as the Invaders. The younger generation did their part as well, as seen with groups like the Young Allies, who came together when Captain America’s sidekick Bucky and the Human Torch’s sidekick Toro joined forces with several other non costumed teenaged adventurers?

The Young Allies first full appearance was in 1941 in the debut issue of their self titled series. Since the end of World War II, a number of teams have laid claim to the Young Allies name; the most recent being a group made up of Arana, Gravity, Nomad, a new character named El Toro and Firestar. Last year, writer Roger Stern (“Captain America,” “Amazing Spider-Man”) and artist Paolo Rivera revisited the original Young Allies in “Young Allies Comics: 70th Anniversary Special,” which was part of Marvel’s 70th Anniversary celebration. The one-shot had the former Bucky and current Captain America James “Bucky” Barnes reflecting on his war time exploits with the “Young Allies” and reconnecting with the surviving members in the present day. It also revealed that the non-costumed members of the group, Pat O’Toole, Washington Carver Jones, Geoffrey Worthington Vandergill and Henry Yosef Tinklebaum were not as bumbling as their original comic book adventures made them out to be. They were, in fact, highly capable and determined young adventurers who served their country with distinction.?

This August, Stern revisits both the current Captain America and the Young Allies in the four issue miniseries “Captain America: Forever Allies” , which features art work by Nick Dragotta and Marco Santucci CBR News spoke with Stern about the project.?

CBR News: Roger, “Forever Allies” is your second time writing Bucky as Captain America, and you had a highly acclaimed run in the early ‘80s writing some of Steve Rogers’ adventures as Cap. in your mind, what makes Bucky a compelling Captain America? Do you find both Bucky and Steve intriguing for the same reasons?

Roger Stern: Not exactly, though there are some similarities. What Steve Rogers and Jim Barnes have in common is that both of them are men living out of – and beyond – their time.

Where they differ is that Steve spent the second half of the 20th Century in an unbroken state of suspended animation. When he was finally found and revived by the Avengers, they became his new family. They were his support group, helping him adjust to modern life, while he continued his ongoing mission as Captain America. ?

Jim, on the other hand, spent all those years as almost a zombie, brainwashed by his captors and brought out of hibernation only when they needed an assassin. Through Steve’s intervention, he was eventually freed. But with the restoration of his memories, Jim has had to come to terms with all the deaths he caused as the Winter Soldier. Being Captain America is how he’s been making amends.

In the “Young Allies 70th Anniversary” one-shot, you established Bucky’s relationship with the surviving members of the Young Allies. What made you want to tell another story involving these characters?

First of all, it was a blast writing that Anniversary Special. I got to retool the Young Allies, to take them from being insulting caricatures and turn them into more rounded individuals. In plotting that story, I came up with more ideas than could ever have fit into twenty-two pages. So when Tom Brennan, my editor, asked me if I’d like to write a miniseries, I had to say yes. I still had more to tell.

What is it about Bucky and his association with the Young Allies that you find so interesting?

Over the years, whenever there have been stories of Bucky at war, they’ve mainly shown him in the company of Cap, or the Invaders, or the Liberty Legion. Even when he’s been portrayed with other people his own age, they’ve been people with super-powers, like the Kid Commandoes.

With the exception of his buddy Toro, the other Young Allies aren’t super-beings. They’re ordinary Americans, young men who rose to meet the extraordinary challenges of a world at war. And in reality, there were millions just like them. Some, like Pat and Hank, were the sons of recent immigrants. Others had ancestors who went back to the Mayflower, like Geoff. And some, like Wash, were the descendants of slaves. They were all part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” They made our world possible. How could they not be interesting?

Do readers need to have read the “Young Allies” one-shot to understand “Forever Allies?”

No, “Forever Allies” is more of an indirect sequel. There are elements of the story that spin out of last summer’s Special, but everything you need to know about the Young Allies is right there in the miniseries.

What can you tell us about the tone of the miniseries?

It opens with a troubling mystery and leads to a desperate chase. With an emphasis on high adventure. Along the way, there are Zoot Suit Riots, mysterious ancient temples and an aerial dogfight over Hollywood. Think of it as a wild ride across eight decades and two continents…not counting any that might be sunken.

From the solicitation info, it sounds as though “Forever Allies” will be told in a unique way, involving both the past and the present. So, does the story unfold chronologically with each issue covering a particular type period, or does the bulk of the story take place in the present with occasional flashbacks to the past?

It’s divided up, with a little of both in each issue. We open with Barnes as Bucky during the war, and then cut to him in the present day. That’s where Jim encounters an individual from his past, which leads him into an investigation that involves the last unresolved case of the Young Allies. And that in turn takes the reader back in time to witness that case. Throughout the miniseries, there are cuts to incidents in different times.

In terms of plot and theme, does “Forever Allies” involve the final Parisian adventure of the Young Allies that you showed in the one-shot?

No, the Paris adventure was the last one that all six Allies shared. This unresolved case is set on the wartime home front, before they went overseas.

Who are the adversaries and what are the obstacles you’re putting in your protagonist’s way in “Captain America: Forever Allies?”

Since the solicitations for the second issue just came out, it’s no longer a secret that Jim’s main adversary is the notorious war criminal and former Invaders villain, Lady Lotus. But there’s a lot more to her than has previously been revealed. And as far as obstacles go…is the power of the gods enough?

Now that Toro is back from the dead will he play a role in this series?

No, as “Forever Allies” opens, Jim has not yet learned of Toro’s resurrection. But the Black Widow has a role in the story – she and Jim have a relationship, after all. And there’s a fellow by the name of Texas Jack Muldoon, who keeps turning up. The Falcon just might make an appearance, as well.

This book features two different artists, Marco Santucci and Nick Dragotta, and it sounds like each is penciling a different time period. What led to this approach to telling the story?

That was all Tom Brennan’s doing. He thought that Nick would do a bang-up job on the war years scenes, and that Marco’s more illustrative style would nicely fit with the current look of the latter day Cap. Gotta love that Brennan, he was right on both counts.

But to be more accurate, the book features three artists. We got Lee Weeks to draw our covers. Imagine four new movie posters for the latest Captain America blockbuster – that’s what Lee is creating for us.

It’s all exciting, beautiful work. I’d love to work with these guys again – individually or together.

Over the past couple of years, you’ve revisited both Spider-Man and Captain America, two characters you had highly acclaimed runs with in the past.

Yeah, and – this is eerie timing – just the other day I learned that “Captain America: War & Remembrance,” the collection of Cap stories by John Byrne and me, is going to be released in a new Premiere Hardcover edition in about six months. It’s part of the September Advance Solicitations, but I believe it’s slated to go on sale December 1. Hey, just in time for Christmas.

In addition, the most recent Spider-Man stories I wrote for Lee Weeks are also coming out in a hardcover edition that also collects the Spider-Man/Juggernaut stories that John Romita Jr and I produced, way back in “Amazing Spider-Man” #229-230. That book goes on sale August 4.

Is there any more Spider-Man or Cap work in your future? Are there any other Marvel characters that you’re hoping to revisit soon?

Every decade or so, I get lucky and Marvel lets me write a Cap or a Spider-Man story. I don’t currently have any Cap projects on my plate after “Forever Allies,” but given the opportunity…well, I never say never.

I’ve already plotted another Spider-Man story for Roberto De La Torre to draw; he’s working on that story between his “Daredevil” assignments. I’ll be scripting that once he’s finished. And there’s the possibility of my writing some more Spider-stories in the future.

As far as other Marvel characters go? If I got the opportunity, I would love to write Machine Man. Jack Kirby was way ahead of his time with the original “Machine Man” series, and I think the rest of the world may finally be catching up to him. Machine Man is the ideal character for the 21st Century.

Discuss this story in CBR’s Avengers forum.  |  4 Comments

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Canadian Stage presents the Toronto premiere of Catalyst Theatre’s Frankenstein, an award-winning adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic gothic novel integrating poetic verse, song, original music, stylized movement and fantastical costumes and sets made entirely of paper. Frankenstein has taken western Canada by storm enjoying sold-out runs in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Banff, Saskatoon, Whitehorse, Vernon BC and Fort McMurray AB, and collecting eight Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards including Outstanding New Play, Production of a Musical, Score, Set, Costume and Lighting Design. Conceived by Catalyst Theatre’s Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson, who also directs, and Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke, the production stars the original cast including Andrew Kushnir as Dr. Victor Frankenstein and George Szilagyi as The Creature. Catalyst Theatre, an internationally acclaimed, groundbreaking Edmonton-based company was part of the Cultural Olympiad in Vancouver in February and will be playing London’s Barbican Theatre in July and NY’s New Victory Theater in the fall. The company was introduced to Toronto audiences at the Luminato Festival last year receiving critical and popular acclaim for Nevermore, The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe. Frankenstein previews begin April 29; the production opens May 6 and continues to May 29, 2010 at the Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Tickets are available in person, by phone 416.368.3110, or online at canadianstage.com.

“A monsterpiece…Christenson scores a dazzling trifecta. His book explores the story’s broader themes with stunning theatricality and emotion. His lyrics are simple but faithful to the complexity of the original and his music, ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan patter songs to gorgeous modern pop power ballads is accessible, even hummable … the audience was transfixed. A monster hit.”-The Edmonton Sun

“a darkly comic phantasmagoria, whose storytelling elements remind you of everything from Alice in Wonderland and Cabaret, to Into The Woods and Phantom – and then some. A gothic tour de force.”-Calgary Herald

“One of the real stars of the show is designer Bretta Gerecke. Her richly detailed, raggedy white costumes and dreadlocked wigs evoke the 18th century, Rocky Horror and a convention of ghost clowns all at once. A bizarre collection of strangely mutated props enhance the sense of hybrid weirdness. Gerecke’s sets are equally evocative: a graveyard of twisTEd White papier-maché trees and crosses, and Arctic mountains and glaciers made of plastic shower curtains.”-Vancouver Province

“Forty years before Charles Darwin blew the top off a religiously determined natural world, Shelley expressed the horror of digging too deeply into life’s secrets. And this Tim Burtonesque musical, so tenderly sung and gorgeously presented, digs very deep indeed”-The Globe and Mail

Frankenstein has been a bona fide hit in every market. The original production of was presented at Keyano Theatre in Fort McMurray in November 2006. In March 2007, the production ran in Edmonton for nineteen performances and garnered ten nominations and eight wins at the 2007 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards. In January 2008, Frankenstein traveled to Vancouver where it was co-presented by the Vancouver East Cultural Centre and the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. That tour also included the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre (Vernon, BC), The Eric Harvie Theatre (Banff Centre for the Arts) and was followed by a return to the Catalyst stage in Edmonton. In 2009, Catalyst was introduced with Frankenstein to audiences in Calgary at the Max Bell Theatre in a co-presentation between the One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo and Theatre Calgary; in Whitehorse at the Yukon Arts Centre and in Saskatoon at the Persephone Theatre. Most recently Frankenstein played for the third time in Edmonton at the Timms Centre for the Arts, where on April 17, 2010, it played its 100th performance. The entire original team (onstage and off) has stayed on with the production since the first phase of its development.

Frankenstein is a highly stylized musical adaptation of Shelley’s classic novel. The cautionary tale about the consequences of interfering with nature and the universal search for love and acceptance revolves around Dr. Frankenstein and his tormented creature who becomes increasingly hostile towards the man who made and abandoned him, and the society that repels him. A startling storybook come to life, this dreamlike spectacle features the original cast of eight actors in over 40 roles and integrates poetic text, witty song, stylized movement and fantastical costumes and sets made almost entirely of white paper. It is a quirky, beautiful and often ghoulishly humorous retelling of a timeless story.

Co-creators Jonathan Christenson and Bretta Gerecke wrote, ‘We were drawn to Frankenstein as a powerful contemporary myth, one that speaks on both the personal and the collective level and to explore deeply felt, if rarely expressed, fears and longings that transcend time and space. It was a story that seemed at once topical and timeless. It is a brilliant exploration of what happens when we fail to take responsibility for what we have put out into the world, on both an individual and a societal level. Like all great myths, everything about this story is writ larger than life, stretching our imaginations to the very limits of probability. We hope to transport audiences to another world – a place in between dreams and reality. We tell the story as a modern day fairy tale for adults with dark, complex and contradictory truths. It is a world that is at once whimsical, nostalgic and tender, horrifying, brutal and ugly, one that walks the tightrope that’s stretched between tragedy and comedy, that belongs more to the world of dreams than that of our waking lives, and speaks more to the heart than it does to the mind.’

Canadian Stage’s Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn states, “Catalyst Theatre Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson and Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke have a unique visual vocabulary. They explore ideas through a highly stylized approach to language, movement, design and performance style. It is with great pleasure that we welcome these formidable artists, and the magic they create, to our stage.” He continues, “What makes Catalyst Theatre’s adaptation of Frankenstein so compelling is the way it explores the root themes of Shelley’s novel while framing its questions in an undeniably contemporary context. Re-imagining eternal human questions from a uniquely contemporary perspective is at the very heart of our work here at Canadian Stage.”

Frankenstein features the original cast and creative team from the world premiere production. Joining actors Andrew Kushnir and George Szilagyi are Nick Green, Tim Machin, Sarah Machin Gale, Nancy McAlear, Dov Mickelson and Tracy Penner.

Frankenstein is written, directed and composed by Jonathan Christenson (Artistic Director of Catalyst Theatre), and designed by Bretta Gerecke (Catalyst Theatre’s Resident Designer) with choreography by Laura Krewski and sound design by Wade Staples. John Raymond is Stage Manager, with Candice Charney and Beth Dart as Assistant Stage Managers. James Robert Boudreau is Production Manager. Amy Kucharuk is Head of Props. Sheena Haug is Costume Associate and Kevin Green and Chris Hayes are Stage Carpenters.

Jonathan Christenson is Writer, Director, ComposerChristenson became Artistic Director of Catalyst Theatre in 1996. Under his leadership, the company has created nearly 20 original productions which have toured Canada, the United States, the U.K. and Australia. He garnered numerous awards in Canada and the U.K. for his work as a director, writer and composer. Past productions have included Nevermore which will be touring London’s Barbican Theatre, New York’s New Victory Theater and Calgary’s Vertigo Theatre, Frankenstein, The Blue Orphan, The House of Pootsie Plunket, Elephant Wake, My Perfect Heaven, The Abundance Trilogy, Electra, Songs for Sinners, Carmen Angel, Dream Life, Love + Love, and Sticky Shoes. He was recently commissioned to write, compose, and direct Hunchback by The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton) and Keyano Theatre (Fort McMurray). Outside of Catalyst Theatre, Christenson has taught for the Department of Drama at the University of Alberta and directed productions for Studio Theatre (University of Alberta), The Citadel Theatre’s Teens at the Turn Festival, Workshop West’s Springboards New Play Festival and Keyano College Theatre (Fort McMurray).

Bretta Gerecke is Production DesignerOriginally from Winnipeg, Gerecke has been based in Edmonton for 14 years. She is the resident designer of Catalyst Theatre, where she was designed more than 15 world premieres. Gerecke has also worked extensively at The Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Opera, Canadian Stage (Sunday Father, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Omnium Gatherum, Fire, Misery), The Edmonton Opera and the Calgary Opera. Her most recent credits include Beyond Eden (Theatre Calgary/Vancouver Playhouse), Nevermore (Catalyst Theatre), The Drowning Girls (Bent Out of Shape Productions), True Love Lies (Factory Theatre). Upcoming projects include Don Giovanni (Calgary Opera) and One Pure Longing (Luminato/Erika Batdorf). Gerecke is the recipient of 15 Sterling Awards, the Enbridge Emerging Artist Prize, a Top 40, Under 40 Award, the Global Woman of Vision Award, and was twice short-listed for the Siminovitch Prize.

Andrew Kushnir plays Dr. Victor FrankensteinKushnir is a Toronto-based actor and playwright. Most recently, he played Jack Wilson in Beyond Eden (Theatre Calgary/Vancouver Playhouse). Other acting credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hair, Sweeney Todd (Canadian Stage); The Last Five Years (Theatre Company); Habitat (Theatre Network); Offensive Shadows (Studio 180); Pal Joey, Floyd Collins (Shaw Festival), King Lear (Colorado Shakespeare Company). Television and film credits include The Border, This is Wonderland (CBC); Love Bites I & II (TBS); The Lazarus Child (Eagle Pictures). Writing credits include the play The Middle Place, which was developed through Project Humanity (where Andrew is Creative Director) and will be presented by Canadian Stage and Theatre Passe Muraille in their respective 2010-2011 seasons.

George Szilagyi plays The CreatureAn Edmonton-based actor, Szilagyi makes his Canadian Stage debut. Szilagyi recently produced and performed his play Hockey Stories for Boys, which he has adapted into an award-winning screenplay. Other highlights include: Dr. Treves in The Elephant Man (Studio Theatre); Betram in The Black Rider (November Theatre); Owen in Girl in The Goldfish Bowl (Theatre Network); and Ernest in The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine (Aarrgghh! Productions), for which he received a Sterling Award for Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Actor. Film credits include Freezerburn with Tom Green. Upcoming, Szilagyi will be curating the theatre program of Edmonton’s Kaleido! Arts Festival in September.

About Catalyst Theatre Catalyst Theatre is an internationally acclaimed Edmonton-based theatre company renowned for groundbreaking new work under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson and ongoing partnership with Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke. Since 1997, several of Catalyst’s productions including: The House of Pootsie Plunket, The Blue Orphan, and Frankenstein have toured Canada, the U.S., Australia and the U.K. and garnered over forty awards. The work is characterized by a bold and distinctive theatricality that integrates a strong musical component with striking visual imagery, a heightened physical performance style, poetic text, and an often darkly comic sensibility. Rachel Haliburton of The Independent (U.K.) wrote “With its unique visual language and disorientating sense of humour, Catalyst promises to rewrite the theatrical agenda for other companies straining to be original.” Starting with Frankenstein in 2006, the company has focused on developing one large-scale production every second year and on the continued collaboration of a core group of artists. Their recent work Nevermore was presented last season at Keyano Theatre (Fort McMurray), Catalyst Theatre (Edmonton), National Arts Centre by Magnetic North Theatre Festival (Ottawa) and as part of Toronto’s Luminato Festival at the Winter Garden Theatre. More recently it was part of the Cultural Olympiad in Vancouver by the Arts Club Theatre, The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and The Vancouver East Cultural Centre and enjoyed a second sold-out run in Edmonton. In 2010-2011 Nevermore will appear at The Barbican Theatre (London) co-presented by the Barbican’s BITE and The London International Festival of Theatre, at the New Victory Theater in New York, and at the Vertigo Theatre Centre in Calgary by the High Performance Rodeo and Vertigo Mystery Theatre. The Citadel Theatre has commissioned Catalyst’s next production, Hunchback, an adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic. Hunchback will be presented next February at Keyano Theatre in Fort McMurray prior to its official premiere in the Citadel’s Shoctor Theatre in March 2011. For more information, refer to catalysttheatre.ca.

Founded in 1987 with the merger of CentreStage and Toronto Free Theatre, Canadian Stage is one of Canada’s leading not-for-profit Contemporary Theatre companies. Led by Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn, Canadian Stage produces and showcases innovative theatre work from Canada and around the world, allowing its audience to encounter daring work guided by a strong directorial vision and a 21st-century aesthetic. The company prides itself on presenting trans-disciplinary work and work in translation that pushes the boundaries of form and style. The company reinforces the presence of Canadian art and artists within an international context through work that mirrors the cultural diversity of Toronto. Canadian Stage has a long-standing commitment to education and enhancement programs for the public and investing in the art form by nurturing and developing theatre professionals while producing thought-provoking theatre and quality entertainment in Toronto, one of North America’s largest theatre centres. For more information, refer to canadianstage.com.

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Anybody doubting my assertion that Wolverine is, most definitely, part of Marvel’s “Big Three” ought to think about this fact coming out of C2E2 – - soon, there will be at least books coming out with “Wolverine” in their titles. Put those on top of all the Avengers and X-Men books that the ol’ Canucklehead already appears in, and it’s pretty clear that the guy has a presence in the Marvel U that’s too prolific to ignore.

First off, is a new WOLVERINE series by Jason Aaron and Renator Guedes, with covers by Jae Lee. The first arc of the series, titled “Wolverine Goes to Hell”, succinctly brings the man sometimes called Logan to the nether realm to face down all the scumbags he’s killed over his decades-long career. There will be a mystery as to who sent Wolverine to Hell, and how they did it, as well as some machinations from demons looking to make him to stick to his murderous ways.  The new ongoing monthly’s starting in September.

The other Wolverine title isn’t about Logan, per se – - it’s a solo title for his evil son. DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE hasn’t got a release date, yet, but it’ll be drawn by Giuseppe Camuncoli and written by the duo of Marjorie Liu and Daniel Way (check out Babs’ interview with Ms. Liu). The creative team haven’t gotten into much detail about the book, suffice it to say the Daken will continue to be a rat bastard bad ass.

Just a quick question – - has Marvel ever come out and revealed that Flex from ALPHA FLIGHT is Wolverine’s son? Because that was hinted at for a LONG time, and I’d be curious to see how he gets along with his evil half-brother, seeing as how he didn’t quite get along with his other half-brother, Unus’ son Radius, that well.

– Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Studios and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Entertainment. Both titles are available on Amazon.com - – UNIMAGINABLE and HYBRID BASTARDS!

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While there are still a few roles that need to be cast, yesterday’s report that actor Chris Evans will play Captain America provides one of the final pieces in a long-developing puzzle that, when completed, will bring together a host of Marvel Studios superheroes for “The Avengers.”

Currently scheduled to hit theaters in May 2012, “The Avengers” will team Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Nick Fury against an unknown enemy (possibly The Hulk) that the heroes must unite to defeat. And though we’re still not sure what form that enemy will take, Evans’ casting as soldier-turned-superhero Steve Rogers now gives us a pretty good idea how Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will look when they arrive on the big screen.

From familiar faces in new roles to unknown actors playing some of the world’s most iconic characters, it’s time to get to know your Avengers, folks.

IRON MAN: Actor Robert Downey Jr. made Tony Stark a household name when he first donned the Mark I armor in 2008. Two years later, it’s hard to imagine any other face under the mask of Marvel’s armored Avenger.

With “Iron Man 2″ primed to further cement Downey’s association to the face of Iron Man’s alter ego (while also introducing potential Avengers members Black Widow and War Machine), Tony Stark will easily be the most well-established member of the team’s lineup when the film hits theaters.

NICK FURY: While the relationship between the chief of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers has taken various forms over time (and between different Marvel universes), one thing that’s certain is the face of Nick Fury in the Marvel movie universe. Ever since Samuel L. Jackson first approached Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark during a post-credits scene in “Iron Man” and mentioned “The Avenger Initiative,” art has become reality and the model for Fury in Marvel’s “Ultimates” comic book universe has become the live-action head honcho of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Even though Jackson has said Fury won’t see action in “Iron Man 2,” it’s a good bet that there will be enough to keep his face and Fury’s name connected in fans’ minds until “Avengers” rolls into production.

THOR: Chris Hemsworth’s role in “Star Trek” was a brief but memorable turn as the doomed George Kirk, but that’s really all we have to go on at this point when it comes to Marvel’s god of thunder. We’ve been told he’s becoming “a beast” for the part, but as far as costume goes, we’ve heard more about Thor’s dad, Odin, than we have about the hero who wields the magical hammer Mjolnir.

How will his mythical style mesh with the more modern look of Tony Stark and Nick Fury? Hopefully we won’t have to wait until 2011 to find out!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: If you’re a fan of comics and comic book movies, there’s little to no chance that you’ve missed Chris Evans in one of his many featured roles. Steve Rogers will be the fourth comic book character Evans plays on the big screen after becoming the face of Johnny Storm (“Fantastic Four”), Jensen (“The Losers”) and Lucas Lee (“Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World”).

While all of the characters he’s played have shared a certain charisma, it’s worth noting that they’ve all featured different hairstyles, hair color, degrees of facial hair and certain accessories (Jensen’s ever-present earpiece, for example). It will be interesting to see which physical elements of past characters will be present in Evan’s take on Steve Rogers.

Still Uncertain: While these four characters are certain for “The Avengers,” there are still some big questions as far as casting and team lineup. We’ve been told Hulk will be in the film, but will Edward Norton reprise the role of Bruce Banner? What about Black Widow and War Machine? And finally, will anything come of those Hawkeye and Wasp rumors?

Keep it locked to Splash Page for more “Avengers” movie news as it develops.

What do you think of the lineup thus far? Which characters do you want to see in “The Avengers”? Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter!

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G.I. JOE was the first boy’s “Action Figure” in the world. G.I. Joe first hit the scene as an 11-1/2 inch “doll” for boys. What made G.I. Joe unique was its 21 moving parts for interactive play. G.I. Joe is named after the movie “The Story of G.I. JOE” which gained great popularity in the early sixties.

Due to the popularity of G.I. Joe, the Hasbro Company that invented the action figure decided to expand the brand’s line in 1967. Hasbro introduced the Canadian Mountie set of G.I. Joes.

Five years after the original G.I. Joe Hasbro was producing all categories of the United States Armed Forces action figures as well as many foreign armed forced. It wasn’t until 1969 that “G.I. Joe” went from being the name of one specific action figure, to the name of an entire line of action figures for boys.

As the seventies continued to evolve, so did G.I. Joe. He was given flocked hair, and even some G.I. Joes came with a kung-fu grip. It was in the seventies that the first superhuman team member was introduced, his name was Bulletman. Other new team members introduced in the seventies included Eagle Eye and The Defenders.

G.I. Joe found a force that he could not defeat in 1978 when the price of petroleum grew so high that G.I. Joe production was suspended. It wasn’t until 1982 that the line was re-introduced in a smaller size. The smaller size action figures were created as a direct result of keeping production costs lower to accommodate the price of petroleum.

It was also in 1982 that G.I. Joe was licensed with Marvel Comics. This partnership was very lucrative for Hasbro and Marvel with $200 million in combined revenue by 1984. At the time there were uniforms, weapons, vehicles and comic books rounding out the G.I. Joe brand.

Also in the early eighties G.I. Joe found himself fighting a slew of adversaries including the Drednoks. By this time the brand had grown so large that real human characters were being incorporated into the G.I. Joe adventure team. The first was professional wrestler Sgt. Slaughter followed by Chicago Bears legend William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

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