Mark Beall's Geek Beat: Avengers Assemble!

Top Thought of the Week -- The Ghost Rider team amuses me. I'm probably one of the five or so people on earth who really, really want to like this movie, and even I can't help but chuckle at them. Here's the deal. You're talking about a guy who admits to loving the Punisher flick. I'm willing to accept some high levels of cheese in my Marvel movies because -- let's all be honest here -- Marvel comic books are full of cheese. A level of goofiness is to be expected in nearly every Marvel story, and that's just how it is. The trick for movie directors is exactly the same as it is for comic book writers: Find a happy balance between action, drama, and yes, humor, and you'll be a success with the fans. The Spider-Man franchise is probably the best example of this balance ... possibly in both the books and the movies. If you want to be optimistic about the Ghost Rider flick, hold out hope for a strong script (yeah, I'm having trouble holding down the laughter, too) and solid acting performances.

The other rule you generally need to follow in creating Marvel comics is don't be Rob Liefeld. In other words -- make it pretty. You don't have to be the champion of all digital effects, but for goodness sake, don't look like an early 2000s video game. This has been a strong negative for the Ghost Rider camp lately, and their attempts to fight back against internet geeks vocally roasting their look is what has given me such amusement this past week. Nonetheless, hope springs eternal in this geek heart of mine.

Other stray thoughts, in no particular order:

Will a tanked Ghost Rider film bode poorly for Jon Favreau and his Iron Man movie, or will an ugly Johnny Blaze make Tony Stark and company look even better by comparison?

Speaking of Iron Man -- which film will make it to theaters first, Iron Man or Hugh Jackman's solo Wolverine title. If we want to compare flicks, this is probably a more fair contest. Both are slated for 2008. Both would seem to be summer "popcorn action" blockbuster potentials. Does it hurt Marvel to release both of them in one summer (remembering, of course, they only have a full financial stake in Iron Man), or do you see it as a way to ride out an entire summer with Marvel box office gold? If you got to play executive, how would you arrange them? Exhibit them both in the summer in separate months? Maybe save one for the October - December season?

While we are putting you in charge of Marvel's future, what order would you put the following Marvel films in? Remember now, these are the properties Marvel hasn't licensed out to other studios, so they're the big "tent poles" for Marvel's new war chest. They NEED these films to do well, or we're talking a world of hurt in Marvel land.

Iron Man is obviously launching first, followed quickly by the new Hulk flick. Marvel obviously has their own launch order in mind, but I'd like to know what you would do with it. The line-up I'm giving you is Fav's Iron Man, Leterrier's new Hulk, the comic Ant-Man spoof to be directed by Shaun of the Dead helmer Edgar Wright, the Goyer penned Thor,and of course, the major Avengers movie. Throw the possible Black Panther, Cloak and Dagger, and Deathlok films into the mix if you want, but the big Avengers five are the ones I'm most interested in.

Given the general hatred for Iron Man across the Marvel community right now, do you still choose to lead with an Iron Man flick? Do you expect him to redeem himself in the books before summer of 08 to bring readers back to their old Stark lovin? Is taking a second shot at a failed Hulk film so early a wise move? How about turning Ant-Man into a wacky, slap-stick character via the Irredeemable Ant-Man book title so we can have a Marvel comedy film? Wise,or idiotic?

Me? I'm launching with a Captain America flick as quickly as possible. Cap is a beloved figure, especially right now with his "secret Avengers" underground in the Civil War. And whatever you want to believe about the political nature of the country, America loves being proud of America, and if you play the script correctly, you can avoid the politics and just have a "proud to be an American" hero. I follow quickly with the Thor project, probably winter 08, trusting Goyer to turn it into something with strong appeal. Drop Ant-Man in as a spring or early summer project in 09, and have Iron Man waiting for a strong summer release to wipe away negative Ant-Man memories should the comedy angle flop. If it doesn't flop, thanks to the talents of Wright, then you've got a power line-up running solid from summer '08 to summer '09. If you want to risk a return to the Hulk, which I do, because I want Hulk to do well in theaters, swing him in a a fall-winter title for '09, just to keep the momentum going before the big summer splash of The Avengers in 2010.

Your turn. If Marvel wants to spin movie gold from the Avengers characters they've got waiting in the wings, what would be their best plan for release?