User blog:XD1/The Avengers: Print vs. Film

The following is a brief comparison between the Avengers characters found in the mainstream Marvel Comics Universe, and those seen on screen in the film(s). I've tried to be somewhat vague about it, and this is pretty much all opinion-based, but technically some of this may be considered minor spoiler territory. What are you waiting for?? Go see the film!!!

Iron Man
Your average movie-goer doesn't know any other version of Tony Stark/Iron Man than Robert Downey Jr.’s arrogant, narcissistic one-liner-machine, but the print version has always been a great deal more no-nonsense. The big-screen Tony has a comeback for everything, while the Stark of the comics universe is more likely to just respond with firepower.

Nick Fury
The on-screen Nick Fury of late is definitely the alternate reality "Ultimates" version created by Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch. This Fury was intentionally modeled after Samuel L. Jackson, with the hope of enticing the actor into signing on for the role. I love it when a plan comes together! (Oh, wait, wrong movie...)

Hulk
Though recent CGI has done a better job of it, the Hulk formula is pretty easy to follow: equal parts big, green, and smash. The problem has always been in capturing the complexities of Bruce Banner's tortured personality. For my money, Joss Whedon has come closer to a bulls-eye than anyone else who has made the attempt so far. Mark Ruffalo's Banner personifies the character as seen in the comics better than I've ever seen. He's brilliant, guarded, and resigned to his "curse" with dignity and heroism.

Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson is hot. ...Uhhh, oh yeah, the comparison - so the pen-and-paper version of Black Widow was a Russian spy who was anything but helpful to the already-formed Avengers until she defected to the good ol' U-S-of-A. In the films Iron Man 2 and The Avengers however, she is a S.H.I.E.L.D. double-agent who - aside from her name - doesn't seem Russian at all, and is clearly already on "our side" before the Avengers are formed. This doesn't bother me all that much though, because if I didn't mention it before, Scarlett Johansson is hot.

Hawkeye
I think mentioning any details about Hawkeye's comic vs. on-screen characters could be considered a spoiler, so I'll leave this one to you guys. I will say that I think Whedon did his homework here, what do you think?

Thor
I was never much of a Thor guy, but there is a very traditional formula to work from. Thor + Hulk = a damned good brawl. We had it in the comics, and we've got it on the big screen too. Bonus!

Captain America
As much as Captain America is pretty much the poster-boy for the team, in the comics he wasn’t actually a founding member. The Avengers found Cap in the ice, not S.H.I.E.L.D., as is the case in the film universe, and he didn’t become a true member of the team until the comic’s fourth issue. That aside, the character seems to be fairly spot on as far as this comparison goes.

Agent Coulson
Who? While Coulson has been a nifty addition to help tie the previous films together, this character had never appeared in the Marvel comics universe at all until 2012. Battle Scars #6 introduces Agent Phil Coulson into the Marvel Universe and is probably still available in stores, so you may want to snag a copy before it's too late!

If you've seen The Avengers, what differences or similarities did you notice? What did you think of the film? Hop up on your soap-box and chime in below in the comments section, let your voice be heard!