If you just can’t get enough of The Avengers, then today’s match up is one you’re going to love. Two members of the all-star Marvel super hero team are together again, this time as stars of an animated adventure. Marvel Animation Studios will release, direct to video, on April 23, 2013, Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United. The animated film has a slick look, but don’t take our word for it. Check out this glimpse at the art from the upcoming animated flick.
Three images were released to Entertainment Weekly, just to tease us about this animated film. They depict Hulk and Iron Man; brawn and brains. In Joss Whedon’s 2012 live action blockbuster, The Avengers, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and Robert Downey, Jr.’s Iron Man teamed up with Hawkeye, Black Widow, Captain America and Thor to battle Loki with the help of S.H.I.E.L.D. In their Heroes United storyline, Hulk and Tony Stark do battle against the villain called Zzzax.
How did the artists come up with such rich color in these images? Well, the process is described as a hybrid of computer-generated and hand-drawn animation. Kudos to the team! These look great!
Jeph Loeb, executive Vice President of Marvel’s TV division, wanted audiences to know that Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United isn’t intended to be a direct sequel to Marvel’s live action film The Avengers, but “We welcome people to interpret any way they like. In tone and character, we want to follow our best leader.”
With a total gross of something like $1,511,679,547.00, worldwide, yes, I’d agree that Loeb’s definition of The Avengers as a leader is most accurate.
Adrian Pasdar, the actor from TV’s Heroes who portrayed high flier Nathan Petrelli, lends his voice to Iron Man in this picture. Meanwhile, Fred Tatasciore is voicing both Bruce Banner and his Hulk alter ego. Tatasciore is an old pro at giving Hulk his signature sound. Dee Bradley Baker is also rounding out the voice acting cast as the villainous Zzzax. He’s best known for his role as Klaus the fish on American Dad!
This won’t be the last time you see a Heroes United animated title. If folks watch, then Marvel plans to release similar pictures.
It’s our hope that we will start doing more feature-length direct to Blu-ray and DVD stories,” Loeb said. “They’ll more than likely be in team-up situations. We find it works really well when we have big exciting adventures with two or more of our heroes.”
The Hulk really stole the show in The Avengers live action film. I was very skeptical of Mark Ruffalo’s ability to play the haunted scientist, but not unlike Anne Hathaway’s turn in the DC flick, Dark Knight Rises, both actors really pulled off their comic book inspired roles. Even when Hulk was, well, The Hulk, he got some of the biggest laughs from audiences. I’m guilty of viewing the youtube video of Hulk versus Loki in Stark Tower more than once. It’ll be nice to get more Hulk, even in animated format. Teaming him with the witty ladies man, Stark himself, ought to be a hoot.
Which Heroes United team-ups would you like the future to bring? How about an Avengers prequel featuring Hawkeye and Black Widow. Toss in a cameo or two from other Marvel heroes and that would be really awesome. Or Wolverine and Spider-Man? You know they’ve been known to put their names on The Avengers roster, too, in the comic book pages. Of course Captain American and Thor also have some fans.
