First and foremost:

Chris Hemsworth as Thor! I’m really glad they went with the modern Olivier Coipel-designed costume, it looks really great.

Speaking of Marvel movies, I got into a screening of Iron Man 2 at the Alamo Drafthouse (Gotta love Austin) this past Tuesday. After watching well over an hour of bizarre cartoons and videos from the 30s and 40s, the lights came down and they ran through the usual Alamo pre-movie reel of coming events. Then the lights came back up and AICN boss Harry Knowles and Alamo head Tim League came out to introduce the movie. Then this happened:

Where yes indeed, both Robert Downey, jr. and Jon Favreau came out to introduce and talk about the film. As for the movie, it was an absurd amount of fun. More action, more spectacle, more character developments than the first. It still suffered from some slow pacing in a few parts, but the snappy dialogue made up for it. And at just under 2 hours, they crammed a LOT into it. Also, there were tons of references for the comics fans, including direct references to the upcoming Captain America and Thor movies (namely the post-credits sequence, which I had to go to Youtube to see, as it wasn’t included) as well as things like the Silver Centurion armor (combined with the iconic Silver Age suitcase armor, no less). Overall it was really good, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing it again when it officially opens.

I also found these great pieces of Star Wars propaganda art by Joe Corroney (from /Film):

Also these pieces by “21st Century Art Deco” artist Mike Kungl

He has some great non-Star Wars work as well, I’m definitely a fan of the angular, elegant art deco style.

I got picked to go to the Iron Man 2 fan screening at the Alamo Drafthouse at South Lamar tomorrow night! A full week and a half before it opens nationwide!!!

EEEE SO EXCITED!!!