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I guess there's a nasa Hulk on the way, as shown in this new Marvel teaser, and he's got some on-trend athletic shorts but also a doorag or headband of some sort...not sure if that's in style or not. He also sports some kind of glove that would give away his identity.

As we hastily posted from our phone last night, the AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON trailer was supposed to break next week during Agents of SHIELD, but last night leaked versions sprang up like bedbugs, unstoppable and immortal. Marvel Studios, being smarter than the average bear, just made a joke

Dammit, Hydra.

— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) October 22, 2014

and then OFFICIALLY RELEASED THE THING EARLY.

Poor Agents of SHIELD—can’t buy a break. (However I should point out that the show is FINALLY tying in lesser characters from the Marvel U, like Mockingbird, and should rebound just fine if they don’t mess it up.)

Rections to the trailer were swift, and as you read this there are probably 900 detailed frame by frame analyses of the thing. I’ve stolen the screen caps from all the other, better sites, but I must give Andrew Wheeler a shout out for noting the “shirtless, wet Thor”.

Anyway, here are some pics and thoughts, and ideas.

James Spader voices Ultron, the robot created by Tony Stark, and, wow he’s actually scary! This trailer has  a darker, Nolan-esque  feel to it, but sandwiched between some light heated outings Guardians and Ant-Man, it’s okay. The slowed down “I’ve got no strings to hold me up” song recalls the trailer for the very successful Maleficent, which also used a creepy version of a Disney classic to set up a sad, bad world.

As for what it means: Ultron is to Tony Stark as Pinocchio is to Gepetto, get it? Throughout the trailer we see Tony looking sad and other Avengers looking mad, so presumably everyone gets annoyed that Tony created this killer robot genius in the first place.  If one wishes to detect a trace of Joss Whedon in the idea of Ultron’s journey presented as a murderous, tragic take on the sturdy Pinocchio story, well go ahead. A nice solid dramatic spine is a nice thing in a superhero epic.

This is Tony Stark’s HULKBUSTER armor, as various leaks have shown the Hulkbuster fighting Donald Sterling. NO NO WHAT AM I SAYING, The Hulkbuster fights the Hulk! The internet went ape shit over the Hulkbuster. Because you see…

Mark Ruffalo’s Banner/Hulk looks to be pretty busted up in this one. As the only “Core” character without his own film series at this point, it’s time for The Hulk to get his due. Evidently he gets the feels over something, freaks out and in true Marvel Comics fashion, must be stopped by any means necessary.

Hey it’s Andy Serkis! The mocap madman did some of the acting for Ultron and gets to show his face as well…but as WHO WHO WHO? The internet has decided that he’s playing a supervillain named Klaw, and this has excited the internet because Klaw is the natural enemy of The Black Panther! And The Black Panther’s introduction into the MCu has been rumored for a long time.

This could be interesting because one of the MOST SHOCKING SHOTS IN THE TRAILER shows Captain America’s shield DESTROYED! Oh god, can someone called Stephen Colbert? IF this is not a dream, not a hoax, not an imaginary story (and I’m not convinced it isn’t) then maybe they have to go to Wakanda and get some vibranium to make a new shield? That’s the popular theory anyway.

Shirtless, wet, anguished Thor. Paging fanfic writers.

The trailer also shows the Black Widow looking jaunty on a motorcycle, Captain America looking grave, Hawkeye running around in the woods, and lots of rubble. Lots and lots of rubble.

Images are now leaking from the 'Avengers 2' trailer. Here's Ultron showing his good side, saving a helpless victim. pic.twitter.com/ttKrN6PQxg

— The Film Stage (@TheFilmStage) October 22, 2014

Finally, this was the greatest thing to come out of the Affair of the Early Avengers 2 Trailer. (That’s a still from CRASH, a movie in which Holly Hunter and James Spader play people who can only have sex at the scene of horrible auto accidents, in case you didn’t know.)

Anyway, that’s what caught MY eye. What did YOU think?

The World Cup is coming in June and most of the world, and even an increasing number of Americans, will be stopping everything to watch it. Nike has released a new 4 minute mini film about kids playing a ipck up came up imagien they are international superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney and more, including Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimović (the guy with the ponytail), Gerard Piqué, Gonzalo Higuaín, Mario Götze, Eden Hazard, Thiago Silva, Andrea Pirlo, David Luiz, Andrés Iniesta and Thibaut Courtois. I also spotted Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva among other sports/Nike luminaries.

Even The Hulk appear at one point, subbing for goalie Tim Howard, who is is the goalie on the US team! Yes, an American footie player made this film and I think we should all be proud of that. (Some say the Hulk is there because one of the players is nicknamed The Hulk, but I think it’s because of Howard’s green kit.) The Hulk still doesn’t have is own movie franchise but he will appear in next year’s Avengers 2.

The spot—which is pretty amazing all around—was produced by Wieden + Kennedy Portland for Nike.

The World Cup kicks off on June 12 in Brazil. The US team has drawn the group of death—Ghana (who knocked them out of the last two World Cups), Portigal, who boast one of the worlds greatest superstars in Ronaldo, and Germany, who are perennial finalists. BUt easing the sting of what might be a painful World Cup for ths US, at least the games take place in EST so you can watch the games at night and not get up at 8 am last the last few times.

On a personal note: I liked the morning hour World Cups! It was an excuse to get together for brunch with friends sand then go about your day. I’ve never been through a EDT World Cup though so we’ll see.

Hi guys,

I guess you all heard the news about Carl's Mother. Carl is really a great guy and his family is super nice (I know you who already read this blog know this), so keep them in your thoughts. I know I will be keeping them in mine.

Well, I have read some really great Graphic Novels lately and wanted to share them with you. So take a look and see what you think about these:


The Life and Times of $crooge McDuck Companion by Don Rosa - As the title states this is a companion to Don Rosa's "Walt Disney's The Life and Times of $crooge McDuck" (which I reviewed on my 2/18/08 post). This is really a terrific addition to the previous Graphic Novel in that it presents even more stories of Uncle $crooge's past. These stories are ripe with adventure, intrigue, comedy and much more. The tales are epic in scale and just a blast to read. Some of my favorite stories included "The Vigilante of Pizen Bluff" in which Uncle Scrooge teams up with famous old west figures such as Geronimo, Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and others against the notorious Dalton Boys; "The Cowboy Captain of the Cutty Sark" in which Cowpoke Uncle Scrooge serves aboard the famous Clipper Ship The Cutty Sark; and "The Dream of a Lifetime" in which the Beagle Boys have stolen a machine that allows them to enter Uncle Scrooge's dreams to find the combination of his safe. All the stories are fun and inventive and just plain fun to read. So give it a chance, I promise you will not be disappointed.


Amelia Rules! What Makes You Happy by Jimmy Gownley - Okay technically this books main character is a girl named Amelia McBride. So I know some of you out there are going: "Bill, what are you doing talking about a book with a girl as the main character in the "Boys Rule Boys Read" Blog Site? Well all I can say is I'm doing it because it is a really cool Graphic Novel and does have some guys in it that really make it rule!!!!!!!! Amelia is a 4th grade spitfire, wise-cracking, tomboy whose parents have divorced and she and her Mom have relocated away from New York City. She makes knew friends and faces new challenges throughout this period in her life. Her friends include Reggie (er, I mean Captain Amazing), Rhonda, Pajamaman (really, a kid who spends every waking moment in PJ's), Sunday, Joan, Kyle (or should I say Ninja Kyle), her Aunt Tanner and of course her Mom and Dad. My favorite parts of this Graphic Novel are when Captain Amazing and G.A.S.P (Gathering of Awesome Super Pals) are taking on their dreaded arch-nemesis the Ninjas led by Ninja Kyle. This Graphic Novel is at times laugh out loud fun to very moving. I love this Graphic Novel and all the others in the series. So give it a shot and tell me what you think. If you would like to get some more information on this series checkout www.ameliarules.com/overview.html.



Marvel Adventures Hulk: Misunderstood Monster by Paul Benjamin, David Nakayama and Juan Santacruz - It's the Hulk Baby!!!!!! He's mean, green and ready to cream anybody who messes with him. This Graphic Novel collects the first 4 issues of the comic. I have been a Hulk fan for a long time and the stories included are really great (lots of action and humor). The first story is the origin, naturally, of Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk. The Hulk has friends in Rick Jones, Monkey (who happens to be just that, a monkey) and sorta in Jamie Madrox, The Multiplying Man. He also has more than a few enemies such as General "Thunderbolt" Ross and his Hulkbusters and The Radioactive Man. This really is a fun read so check it out and see: "Hulk Smash!"



Well that's all for now my amigos. Keep this summer fun and be nice to each other,

Bill

Hooray! The first Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production medalists have been named! As chair of the committee that had the pleasure of choosing the titles, I can say that the decision came after deliberating many wonderful productions. We were amazed that the finest titles also covered a breadth and range of ages and interests. But the truly astonishing fact was discovered only after we had completed the entire process. We all felt the planets aligning when we realized that the author of the first Odyssey winner, Walter Dean Myers, was also the winner of the first Printz Award. It was meant to be.

The winner:

Jazz. By Walter Dean Myers. Narrated by James “D-Train” Williams and Vaneese Thomas. 43min. Live Oak Media. CS, $25.95 (9781430100195); CD, $28.95 (9781430100225).
“Jazz,” a production of Live Oak Media, takes the readalong to new heights as James “D-Train” Williams and Vaneese Thomas perform the work of Walter Dean Myers. Original music accompanies each poem's performance, resulting in a rhythmic representation of mood and tone. Separate tracks for the selections and lively inclusion of a glossary and timeline create a dynamic audiobook; part poetry, part nonfiction, and wholly authentic.

The Honor audiobooks:

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy By L. A. Meyer. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. 8hr. Listen & Live Audio. CD $37.95. (9781593160944).
Katherine Kellgren’s vocal athleticism takes listeners from the filthy streets of eighteenth century London to the high seas in Meyer’s fast-paced novel about a girl who stows away as a cabin boy.

Dooby Dooby Moo. By Doreen Cronin. Narrated by Randy Travis. 13.36min. Weston Woods/Scholastic. CS $24.95 (9780545042833). CD $29.95 (9780545042819).
Music and barnyard chatter enhance Randy Travis’ performance of Cronin’s comic tale of talented farm animals gone wild.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. By J. K. Rowling. Narrated by Jim Dale. 21hr. Listening Library. CS, $90 (9780739360408; CD, $90(9780739360415).
Jim Dale masters and maintains voices for all genders, ages, species, and emotions created by author J.K. Rowling in this final Harry Potter adventure.

Skulduggery Pleasant. By Derek Landy. Narrated by Rupert Degas. 7.5hr. HarperChildren’s Audio. CD, $27.95 (9780061341045).
Rupert Degas fleshes out a cast of characters including a “tweenage” girl, nefarious villains, and a skeleton detective. Music and sound effects mirror the mood of this bone-rattling mystery.

Treasure Island. By Robert Louis Stevenson. Narrated by Alfred Molina. 7hr. Listening Library. CD, $55 (9780739350836).
Stevenson’s pirate classic elegantly unfolds as Alfred Molina’s panoply of accents and the soundscape of the sea place listeners aboard the Hispaniola.

Listen and discover the best in audiobook literature.