Geek Syndicate Issue 5 | Page 5

Geek Syndicate Image © Marvel Pictures, 2012 become the norm – and 2013 is no exception. But this time things are slightly different. With Marvel Comics, Brian Michael Bendis brings the true finale to his near decade long Avengers run with the return of the villainously unstoppable artificial intelligence known as Ultron. He gets stronger after each encounter with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and this blockbuster has been in the pipeline since the words “Ultron War” were hinted in an issue of Avengers way back in 2010. On the other side of the street, DC Comics prepares to launch its first epic storyline since the New 52 line-wide reboot in 2011. Elements and mysteries have been teased at since the launch of the New 52 with a big lip-smacking teaser emerging in last year’s DC’s Free Comic Book Day special issue. DC Comics has remained pretty hush-hush over the exact details of the event – including who is involved. 2 - Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 begins (Iron Man 3 Thor: The Dark World) Having been blown away by last year’s Avengers movie (Titled Avengers Assemble in the UK), Marvel’s Cinematic Universe moves forward with the opening salvos of Phase Two, setting the stage for 2015’s Avengers sequel whilst continuing the individual stories of two of its major players. Iron Man 3 will be the first to hit the silver screen in late April/early May. Shane Black takes over directing duties from Jon Favreau, whilst returning players Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man) and company prepare to butt heads with Ben Kingsley’s mega-baddie The Mandarin. Later in the year comes Thor: The Dark World (November), where Chris Hemsworth returns as the Norse God of Thunder and prepares to battle a race of Dark Elves that threat- en the universe in the wake of the events of the Avengers film. Thor’s budding romance with Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster is also on the cards in this Alan Taylor directed sequel to 2011’s Thor. 3 - Blockbuster Comics Events (Age of Ultron, Marvel Comics Trinity War, DC Comics) Annual comic book blockbuster events from the two titans of superhero comics have Image © Marvel Comics, 2012 5