Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD has been getting better with every episode. The cast is gelling with each other and everyone plays a roll. The mysteries of Agent Coulson’s return from the dead and Skye’s mysterious past are front and center and building, along with the question of who is The Clairvoyant (aka the first season’s “big bad”).  Now we have news that Thor‘s Lady Shif (Jamie Alexander) will be joining the mix in an upcoming episode. Will The Clairvoyant end up being tied to Asgard? Does Lady Shif hold the key to who he might be? Will anyone else from Asgard end up visiting our Government sponsored Scooby Gang? I’d love to also see Thor: The Dark World‘s Fandral (Zachary Levi) show up. It has been too long since we have seen Levi on the small screen.

Agent Carter is one step closer to becoming a reality as Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas (writers on Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse) have been chosen as potential showrunners. The pair created the supernatural comedy Reaper, which was very enjoyable in its early run. It is interesting to think where they might go with Agent Carter, as we learned in the Marvel One-Shot short that she will be the co-head of the newly formed SHIELD, along with Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper). Rumor has it that Hayley Atwell will return as Peggy Carter, but no word on if Cooper will reprise Stark or if we’ll see other familiar faces from Captain America: The First Avenger, including Dum Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough), Jim Morita (Kenneth Choi) or any of the other Howling Commandos.

On one hand, if the series gets made we’ll be able to visit some of the unseen Marvel history between the first Captain America and Ironman. But on the other hand, we already have a SHIELD series, do we really need a second one? I’d love to see a different side of the Marvel Universe, like Black Panther or Doctor Strange. But I guess both of them are rumored to be the center of future films. I guess we’ll see.

Here we go, a new era begins for Marvel’s Avengers as they enter Marvel Now! with a new creative team, Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena, and a new number 1. Hickman has promised a large roster of heroes as part of the team and we can see from the covers above that it includes all of the movie Avengers (although they all look very different with their Marvel Now! makeovers) and an assortment of Marvel’s popular recent Avengers, including Wolverine, Spider-Man, Falcon and Spider-Woman.

Brian Michael Bendis had a long and very well done run with Avengers and New Avengers, but this shakeup is needed to keep things fresh and moving forward. I can’t wait to see which characters are a part of the book. While I think DC Comics handled their “New 52” reboot/rebranding very poorly from a fan’s point of view, I think Marvel has treated fans with respect during the creative changes that have come along with “Marvel Now!”. DC Comics should take note on how to not alienate your core group of fans.

Avengers #1
Official Description: The greatest heroes in comics together on one unbeatable team! Now shipping twice a month, the Avengers “go large,” expanding their roster and their sphere of influence to a global and even interplanetary level. When Captain America puts out his call – who will answer? Big threats, big ideas, big idealism – these are the Avengers NOW!

You can pick up the issue on Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 and you’ll have to pick it up fast because the Marvel Now! #1s have been selling out. I didn’t get to the store quick enough and I’m waiting for a second printing of All New X-Men #1 as we speak.

Wow. We have come a long way since 1998’s Nick Fury: Agent of SHEILD that featured David Hasselhoff in the starring role and was written by Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer. While I do admit that Hasselhoff was the spitting image of Fury, the movie was a joke like most of the efforts to adapt Marvel characters (remember Captain America‘s helmet or Roger Corman’s take on Marvel’s first family, the Fantastic Four).

Now enter Marvel Studio’s shared movie universe, which will be expanding onto the small screen and could provide us with as many as 20 new hours a year of content. ABC and Marvel have announced that they are going into production on a SHIELD pilot to be written and (possibily) directed by Joss Whedon, who not only helmed the big screen Avengers but created cult television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dollhouse, and Firefly. Joining Whedon on the new Marvel series will be usual contributors Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tanchareon, who both wrote for Dr. Horrible and Dollhouse and helped shape both of those properties.

At this time it is unknown whether we’ll see familiar faces such as Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury or Cobie Smulders’ Agent Maria Hill, or any of the big guns like Ironman, Hulk, Thor, etc. Depending on the time period of the show, there is always the chance to see Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson again. I think it is a given that we’ll see everyone from the Marvel universe in some capacity (even archive footage) at one point or another. The most exciting thing about the series is that they’ll be able to present so many more characters; including heroes, villains, and smaller supporting characters. What would bring in the ratings more than an episode that introduces Doctor Strange or Black Panther? Here is hoping that they will go all out- with Whedon directing the pilot and developing the series, they are taking all of the right steps. I can’t wait to hear more about SHIELD.

Marvel Comics is taking a huge step into their next generation of stories with “Marvel Now!” a massive initiative similar to DC Comic’s “New 52”. Unlike DC Comics, Marvel will not be rebooting their universe with new origins and histories, they will be continuing forward with their classic universe while relaunching a ton of ongoing series with new creative teams and designs.

Below is a poster they released for the event, featured on the poster are Spider-Man, Hulk, Jean Grey, Nova, Nick Fury, Captain America,  Rocket Raccoo (Guardians of the Galaxy), Wolverine, Ironman, Cyclops, Invisible Woman, Thor, and Cable. Under the poster is Marvel’s official press release for “Marvel Now!”

The most popular characters. The most acclaimed creators. The most ambitious stories. This is Marvel NOW!.

This Fall, the Marvel Universe heads in an exciting all-new direction, as the industry’s top creators join the top super heroes, including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine and more, to deliver all-new ongoing series, each beginning with issue #1! Marvel NOW! is the culmination of Marvel ReEvolution, the groundbreaking new initiative to evolve the comic book experience through innovation.

It kicks off in October’s UNCANNY AVENGERS #1, from the team of Rick Remender and John Cassaday and continues with jaw-dropping new Marvel NOW! series nearly every week through February.

“There’s never been a better time to check out comics than Marvel NOW!” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment. “This isn’t a reboot or a reimagining—Marvel NOW! is all about looking forward, building on our rich history of great stories and delivering new ideas.”

In UNCANNY AVENGERS #1, the Avengers and X-Men must join forces to overcome the greatest challenge either team has ever faced, one so devastating that neither can afford to do it alone! Can Captain America’s newly assembled team find a way to peacefully co-exist while also dealing with the game-changing repercussions of Avengers Vs. X-Men?

Then in November, Marvel NOW! expands to all corners of the universe with launches including ALL-NEW X-MEN #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen, AVENGERS #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena, on-sale in December, and NEW AVENGERS #1, by Hickman and Steve Epting, on-sale in January 2013.

“We brought fans the biggest comic book event imaginable in Avengers Vs. X-Men and now we’re taking the Marvel Universe to an exciting new place, beginning with Uncanny Avengers #1,” said Tom Brevoort, SVP, Executive Editor, Marvel Entertainment. “If you’re a long-time fan, all the stories you’ve read will give you even more enjoyment of what’s happening now—we’re not abandoning our past. But if you’re a new reader, this is where you’re going to learn just why Marvel comics are unlike anything else you’ve ever read. And no character is left unaffected by Marvel NOW!.”

Every comic book bearing the Marvel NOW! branding includes a code for a free digital copy of that same comic on the Marvel Comics app for iOS and Android devices. Additionally, each issue #1 of Marvel NOW! series features special augmented reality content available exclusive through the Marvel AR app, including cover recaps, behind the scenes features and more that add value to your reading experience at no additional cost.

“This is the natural next step of the Marvel ReEvolution, as we evolve every facet of Marvel publishing,” explained Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer, Marvel Entertainment. “You’ve seen us craft new digital storytelling formats like Marvel Infinite Comics and bring added value to our comics with Marvel AR. Now our print comics leap into the future with a cinematic new look for our covers, exciting new designs for our biggest characters and stories that will send you on the kind of journey you can only get at Marvel.”

This October, Join The ReEvolution as Marvel NOW! kicks off with UNCANNY AVENGERS #1, ushering in a new era for comics and the perfect jumping on point for new readers. The biggest creators bring you the biggest characters in the biggest stories…and it’s happening NOW!

To commemorate the historic release of UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 on Wednesday, October 10, participating retailers can host special advance release parties the night before! That’s right, you can experience the biggest new series launch of the year on Tuesday, October 9 at select retailers, who’ll also have limited edition giveaways exclusive to these events.

For more on Marvel NOW!, join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #MarvelNOW.

With the current television season ending and the idiot box being taking over by summer reality TV, we’ve switched gears at MHD to focus on movies and comic books- with the latter dominating. This piece of news concerns comic books adapted to the small screen.

TV Guide broke the news earlier this week that Marvel would be halting production of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes after the shows second season (which is currently airing). The show is being replaced by two new Marvel animated show, Avengers Assemble (pictured left) and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Both shows will join the Ultimate Spider-Man series and will all share one Universe, with the characters expected to crossover between the shows.  All three shows are expected to be put together in a Marvel Comics block on Disney XD (Disney of course owns Marvel).

Avengers Assemble will sport the team from Joss Whedon’s Avengers movie; Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and the Hulk, along with the new addition of the Falcon. The look and feel of the series will be more serious than Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The cast in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. will focus on Hulk, She-Hulk, Red Hulk, Skaar, and A-Bomb. Both new shows will start in 2013. Will you be watching? Are you disappointed about Marvel canceling Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? Let us know in the comments!

With The Avengers movie ruling the box office, it is no surprise that a new video game is on the way from Marvel and Ubisoft for Xbox 360 Kinect and Nintendo’s Wii U. The game, Avengers: Battle for Earth is based on the popular “Secret Invasion” storyline which saw the alien Skrulls invade earth while impersonating various Marvel heroes causing The Avengers to not know who they could trust.

The game will feature more than 20 characters. So far they have announced Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, Magneto, Spider-Man, Storm, Thor, Wolverine and Venom being in the mix. Each of the playable heroes and villains are equipped with four unique powers that you use different movements to trigger the attacks. Game modes include campaign, co-op, arcade, challenges, versus, and tournament. As you can see in the picture above, the game is done in a cartoony style inspired b the actual “Secret Invasion” storyline.

Official description: The Skrulls have landed and now it is up to you to embody your favorite Marvel super heroes and defeat epic enemies during the Secret Invasion. Unleash your inner superhero in Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth!.

You can watch the game’s trailer here.

Trying to attract new readers via this summer’s epic crossover movie comes Marvel Comic’s Avengers Assemble #1, an all new Avengers series that focuses on the cast of the upcoming movie and eases the movie audience into the vast Marvel Universe.

The Avengers Versus The *Brand-New* Zodiac! • One Of The Greatest Avengers Villains Of All Time Gets Reinvented For The Modern Age Just In Time For The Blockbuster Movie Event Of The Summer! • A Perfect Jumping-On Point Featuring The Cast Of The Summer Blockbuster But In Marvel Universe Continuity!

The issue hits stands on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art from Mark Bagley.