Kelowna, U.S.A. – Marvel mania has reached all the way to Club Penguin Island, the number one virtual world for kids, as penguins assemble for the Marvel Super Hero Takeover, an epic online event starting soon.

A meteor has hit the island of Club Penguin, powering up the dangerous Destructobot. Players can choose to suit up as one of 14 Marvel Super Heroes or Super-Villains, including Avengers characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, and Thor, as well as the mischievous Super-Villain Loki.

“Everyone wants to feel special and believe that they can do something that no one else can do. That optimism is what drives both Club Penguin and the Marvel story lines and characters,” said Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin and executive vice president of Disney Interactive Worlds. “Club Penguin and Marvel characters are the perfect match, and I’m sure our players will love it!”

“Bringing our worlds together marks a major milestone for both Marvel and Club Penguin,” said Rob Steffens, Executive Vice President of Marvel Entertainment. “Reactions from the fans are already tremendous, and we’re thrilled that we’re able to bring Marvel and Club Penguin together for such an epic event.”

As part of The Marvel Super Hero Takeover event, players can:

• Choose to dress up as Marvel Super Heroes, Super-Villains or civilians
• Explore the island, which has been transformed to include new destinations such as a bank, jail, and a superhero headquarters
• Join teams to decide whether to defend or defeat the evil Destructobot
• Meet Aunt Arctic, the news reporter and editor-in-chief for the Penguin Times, the Club Penguin Island newspaper. She’ll be keeping a close eye on the battle of Super Heroes and Super-Villains around the island

About Club Penguin

Club Penguin is the number one virtual world for children. Club Penguin works to maintain a fun and safe online entertainment experience by using filtering technology and live moderators. The award-winning virtual world of Club Penguin contains no third-party advertising and is free to use and enjoy, however a subscription membership provides access to additional features that enhance the play experience. Club Penguin, headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, is enjoyed by children around the world, and can be played in English, German, Portuguese, French and Spanish.

Image Courtesy of  The Avengers

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Marvel Entertainment and Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) has announced that the first social game based on Marvel’s iconic characters, Marvel: Avengers Alliance, is now live on Facebook.

Developed by Playdom, Marvel: Avengers Alliancefeatures a tactical turn-based combat experience with dozens of familiar Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains, setting a new standard of production value and interactivity in a social game.

“Marvel: Avengers Alliance combines epic Marvel characters with Playdom’s industry-leading game mechanics to deliver a game that is sure to attract casual gamers and Super Hero fans alike,” said John Spinale, Senior Vice President of Social Games, Disney Interactive Media Group. “With this game, Disney is bringing one of the world’s largest entertainment brands to the largest social network, giving millions of fans an entirely new opportunity to engage with the characters they love.”

“We are thrilled to break new ground here, working with Playdom to create the first ever Facebook game to feature Marvel’s Super Heroes,” said TQ Jefferson, Vice President of Games Production for Marvel.

“With both a compelling story and Marvel’s premier super team, The Avengers, leading the rest of our heroes in epic turn-based battles, Marvel: Avengers Alliance allows us to engage fans and gamers in a way that we never have before. The future of Marvel games begins now.”

With dozens of the most iconic Marvel characters available at launch, Marvel: Avengers Alliance offers players a tactical turn-based combat experience unlike any other social game. Players will have the opportunity to recruit some of Marvel’s most notable characters, including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow and many others. Players can train their heroes to unlock unique abilities, and further customize abilities.

Players can also square off against each other in player-versus-player combat, challenging their social graph to super-powered showdowns.

Marvel: Avengers Alliance takes place in the wake of a galaxy-wide disaster, known as the Pulse, which exposes Manhattan to attacks by Marvel’s most deadly Super Villains.

Players are recruited as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., the secret espionage and peace-keeping organization of the Marvel Universe, to assemble and lead teams of Super Heroes with a mission to keep New York City safe from the clutches of such enemies as Loki, Doctor Doom and Magneto, as well as sinister criminal organizations like Hydra and AIM.

In the coming months, Marvel: Avengers Alliance will continue to expand with ongoing content releases.  Players can look forward to new missions and storylines, additional Super Heroes, and upgraded abilities, plus new equipment, weapons, powers and costumes for unlock and purchase.

Social gamers and Marvel fans can join S.H.I.E.L.D and begin the adventure immediately: http://www.facebook.com/avengersalliance.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/avengersalliance

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This April, The Avengers and the X-Men — the two most popular franchises in comics history — go to war. Marvel has announced the Avengers VS X-Men, a landmark twelve-issue pop culture event bringing together the world’s greatest super heroes — Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Magneto and more — for an unforgettable battle beginning in April 2012.

Avengers VS X-Men is written by a team of the top-selling authors in the comic book industry today: Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man); Jason Aaron (Wolverine & The X-Men, Wolverine); Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, Ultimate Comics Ultimates); Ed Brubaker (Captain America, Winter Soldier); Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man, The Mighty Thor).

This unprecedented assembly of acclaimed writers is joined by a trio of the industry’s superstar artists: John Romita Jr (Avengers); Olivier Coipel (The Mighty Thor); Adam Kubert (X-Men: Schism).

The Avengers and X-Men have learned that the all-powerful embodiment of both death and rebirth known as the Phoenix Force is on a crash course for Earth – and it needs a new host to unleash its immeasurable power. But what is the shocking decision tied to the Phoenix’s return that will pit the Avengers against the X-Men? And when good friends become bitter enemies, what does this mean for the future of the Marvel Universe?

Shipping twice monthly, this epic twelve-issue limited series will be available in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app on the same day — additionally, each print issue of Avengers VS X-Men includes a code for a free digital copy of the issue on the Marvel Comics app at no additional cost to fans or retailers.

“Avengers VS X-Men brings together the most powerful forces in comics for a super hero war like you’ve never seen before and will never see again. We all want to see the best of the best go against each other — Lakers & Celtics; Ali & Frazier; Yankees & Red Sox; and in comics it’s the Avengers fighting the X-Men,” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment.

“We’ve brought together the biggest writers, biggest artists and biggest characters for the biggest story we’ve ever told. This is the kind of high-octane action-packed story that fans demand while also having a profound effect on every character involved—and reshaping the Marvel Universe in its wake.”

Plus, for the first time ever, fans can watch and take part in the groundbreaking Avengers VS X-Men live Kickoff beginning at 3:00pm ET today on Marvel.com and http://new.livestream.com/marveluniverse. A unique event produced in collaboration with Livestream.com’s cutting edge streaming services and the Hangout functionality provided by Google+, they will be bringing the writers and editors of AVX directly to the fans.

Make sure to follow Marvel on Google+ as five lucky True Believers will be chosen to join in on the AVX hangout with their favorite writers and editors. Even if you’re not part of the Hangout, your questions can still be answered via Facebook and Twitter using hashtag #AvX—just make sure to send in your questions before the press conference ends.

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

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Following the shocking revelations from the last issue, Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #4, featuring the secret origin of Ultimate Xorn.

The Ultimate Universe is at the brink of war as news of a new mutant serum breaks out. It’s up to Hawkeye, Hulk and Ultimate X to swoop in to obtain the serum for themselves before it’s too late.

The odds are stacked against our heroes, but that’s just how they like it! Catch the explosive finale to Jonathan Hickman and Rafa Sandoval’s thrill-ride this November in Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #4.

Fans of the Avengers can also look forward to more Avengers Origins — He is an Avenger, the God of Thunder, and protector of the nine worlds; he is THOR!

Courtesy of Kathryn Immonen and Al Barrionuevo, Marvel present the first look at Avengers Origins: Thor #1.

Learn all about how Thor became the mighty Avenger and the trials and tribulations he had to go through to get there. This December, Thor wields his trusty hammer Mjlonir for the first time.

Finally, after a critically acclaimed first issue, you can also enjoy a first look at Uncanny X-Men #2 as X-Men: Regenesis continues. The fan-favorite creative team of Kieron Gillen and Carlos Pacheco pull out all the stops as Cyclops and his new Extinction team go head to head against the deadly Mr. Sinister. And with Sinister controlling the all-powerful Dreaming Celestial in San Francisco, his destruction has no limits.

Fans and critics agree – Uncanny X-Men is a smash hit.

“This first issue sets up the new status quo well before diving into the plot, resulting in an entertaining, action-packed, smart comic.” – Chad Nevett, ComicBookResources.com

“Pacheco captures the scope of long shots well while using interesting environments and viewing angles to create an effective sense of depth.” – Poet Mase, IGN.com

“It’s time to get on board the Uncanny X-Men train and enjoy the ride.” – Tony Guerrero, Comicvine.com

“With Uncanny X-Men #1, Gillen and Pacheco take a bold step forward in the evolution of the X-Men mythos” – Ron Richards, iFanboy.com

Can Cyclops pull his team together in time to take out Sinister? Will his mission statement fail right off the bat? Find out in Uncanny X-Men #2.

Who’s your favorite member of the Extinction team? Join the conversation on Twitter with #XMenRegenesis.

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When the impossible is everywhere and the very fabric of reality is threatened by insanity, the world needs more than super heroes — they need Defenders! Enter Defenders #1, from the top-selling creative team of Matt Fraction (Fear Itself, Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor) and Terry Dodson (Uncanny X-Men), as Doctor Strange assembles a new team of heroes to face a new kind of threat that will leave readers shocked.

The original series first appeared in December 1971 so the re-booted Defenders will mark 40 years of justice at the hand of a rotating line-up between 1972 and 1986.

Heroes like Nighthawk, Beast, Valkyrie and Daimon Hellstrom aka the Son of Satan have all graced the pages of Marvel’s Defenders and the new books will have the original leader Doctor Strange teaming up with Iron Fist, Namor, Red She-Hulk, Hulk, the Silver Surfer and more of the favorite Marvel Heroes.

They will band together exploring corners of the Marvel Universe you never knew existed for missions so deadly they have to be kept secret. Once a Defender, always a Defender – no matter the cost or sacrifice.

To support the launch of this major new series, Marvel is promoting Defenders through the following retailer support program:

• A free Defenders/Avengers X-Sanction preview book in stores Wednesday, November 2^nd
• Exciting new ordering incentives for retailers, announced in this week’s Marvel Mailer
• Full issue preview on Diamond Retailer Site
• Extremely limited-edition Defenders #1 Neal Adams Inked Variant
• In-store promotional items including mini-posters, postcards and more.
• Digital marketing designed to drive consumers to comic stores for Defenders #1
• Prominently placed Defenders house ads in major Marvel comics
• A month long promotion through the Marvel Comics app, designed to create greater awareness and interest in Defenders
• Defenders-centric E-mail blasts to consumers
• Mainstream press timed around the Defenders #1 on-sale
• Ads in each digital issue of Defenders #1 directing fans to check out subsequent issues at their local comic shop

This December, all-new era in Marvel history begins with Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson’s Defenders #1.

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Since 1998, Marvel Productions has been releasing superhero movies after the other- but how could this once bankrupt company, grow to such a colossus?  In 1997, Marvel, a once vast comic book company collapsed. Forced to re-organize, the newly formed Marvel Enterprises started their movie production division. In 1998, they created Blade with Wesley Snipes, and the rest is history. Now, after considerable success at the box office Marvel is releasing one of their biggest projects: The Avengers.

The Avengers is a team assembled by S.H.I.E.L.D leader, Nick Fury. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a law-enforcement/ espionage agency that keeps the peace throughout the world.  With Captain America coming 4 issues later the team of superheroes first consisted of Wasp, Ant Man, Thor, Iron Man, and the Hulk.

With release scheduled for May 4, 2012, the movie started production on April 25, 2011. Crafting a star studded cast together, Marvel will be bringing most of the actors back that they used in their other movies, such as, Chris Hemworth Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Paul Bettany as the voice of Jarvis. Along with these old faces come new ones. Jeremy Renner will play Hawkeye, and Cobie Smulders will perform as Maria Hill.

If you know the Avengers, then you are probably wondering, “where is the Hulk?” Well, after Edward Norton’s falling out with Marvel, they replaced him with Mark Ruffalo. What is exciting about this new Hulk is that it is not all CGI. Mark Ruffalo will put on a motion-tracking suit and, in post-production, artists will draw on the Hulk according to Ruffalo’s movements. Oh, and Lou Ferigno is voicing the Hulk, no big deal.

The original writer of The Avengers is Zak Penn. He has written movies like X2, X-men: Last Stand and The Incredible Hulk but bringing all these characters into one movie proved a challenge to Penn. He told Craveonline.com, “My job is to kind of shuttle between the different movies and make sure that finally we’re mimicking that comic book structure where all of these movies are connected… There’s just a board that tracks ‘Here’s where everything that happens in this movie overlaps with that movie.’” However, though Zak Penn made the original script, the official writer is the director, Joss Whedon.

Joss Whedon, has written many hit movies like Toy Story, as well as underground cult TV classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer—he also directed part of the series. With his reputation, many cult followers believe he will stay true to the comic’s story. Whedon was a fan of the comics as a kid, and has given a hint of what the movie will focus around. Whedon, had said at the 2010 Comic-Con,”these people shouldn’t be in the same room let alone on the same team — and that is the definition of family.”

In an interview for IamRogue.com, Tom Hiddleston, playing Loki, alluded to how each character interacts with each other.  “These are seven big egos, and I’m referring to the characters not the actors. They all want to be the alpha male, or in Black Widow’s case the alpha female. So he has made a virtue of that by having them all compete for the top dog slot,” Hiddleston said.

It seems like Loki will not be the only obstacle the Avengers need to overcome.  They will have to learn how to work together for the salvation of Earth. Its one large dysfunctional family of superheroes that the world relies on, they will need to learn how to rely on one another in order to make their team work.

Considering the fact that The Avengers has been in the works since 2005, it’s safe to say that this hero ensemble is long overdue and maintains its position as one of the most anticipated Marvel pictures yet.  With Joss Wedon behind the wheel and still riding the wave of Marvel Enterprises’ success in comic adaptations, movie fans can look forward to being blown away in summer 2012.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/TheAvengersMovie?sk=photos

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