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By Michael Lopez

If you ask us, Marvel doesn't have change a thing in the new year. Their movies have been well received (and scored a bundle at the box office), their comics continue to be compelling, and they still put out a ton of great merchandise. But editor-in-chief Axel Alonso and publisher Dan Buckley still feel there's a lot more work to be done.

Speaking specifically about Marvel’s comics, the two emphasized stronger storylines for characters like The Avengers, Spider-Man, and The X-Men. Currently, Marvel dominates competitors like DC on the publishing front and they intend to keep it that way.

"This is an American storytelling medium that people love and respect," Buckley explained.

And within the past several months, Marvel has delivered some powerful plotlines. Fantastic Four No. 587 proved to be a huge seller, particularly because it killed off main character, The Human Torch. Miles Morales, the Afro-Latino Spider-Man, turned out to be a big draw as well. It certainly takes a lot of guts to make drastic changes to beloved brands and Marvel continues to pull it off.

Dan also explained how the company's using social media to help promote its new and classic characters.

"It's huge – social media and the way we speak to each other," he added. "The opportunities are just fantastic out there."

Alonso has been a Tr3s fave for years. One of the highest ranking Latinos in the comic world, he oversees dozens of Marvel's top brands. Axel seemed extremely enthusiastic about this year's story arcs and teased about even more shocking plotlines to come.

"We all want to see the best of the best go against each other — Lakers & Celtics; Ali and Frazier; Yankees and Red Sox," Alonso said. "And in comics, it's the Avengers fighting the X-Men. 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."

Do you keep up with many of the Marvel storylines? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Axel Alonso, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, Dan Buckley, Fantastic Four, Marvel, Spider Man, The Avengers, X-Men

By Michael Lopez

It seems like The Adventures of Tintin may have a tough time finding its ideal audience. Too dark for young kids, yet too tame for R-Rated action fans, this animated spectacle falls somewhere in the middle, all the while highlighting a character American moviegoers may not be too familiar with. That being said, it's still an amazing visual achievement and a worthy addition to the Steven Spielberg catalog.

The Tintin character has a huge following overseas. Created as a comic strip back in the 1930's by Belgian artist Herge, his travels with Captain Haddock and his faithful dog Snowy have been read by millions of die-hard fans. But in the states, the adventurous boy reporter has never really connected in the way cartoon crime fighters like Superman or Dick Tracy have.

Obviously Spielberg and his producing partner Peter Jackson are hoping their latest movie will change all of that. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn works almost as an origin story, introducing audiences to the colorful world Herge created and sending our hero off on a quest around the globe.

The film starts off exciting enough, with Tintin and Snowy accidentally entangled in a pirate ship mystery. Taking a cue from Steven's Indiana Jones franchise, the young reporter is almost immediately thrust into a world of spies, gun-toting thugs, and legendary treasures. Before long, Tintin and his furry companion leave their small Belgian town for the high seas and brutal deserts.

Along the way, we meet the most colorful character yet. The grizzly Captain Haddock, a booze-swilling seaman who may hold some secrets about a mysterious "Unicorn" vessel. Hilariously voiced by Andy Serkis (Gollum from The Lord of the Rings), the Captain provides some of Tintin’s most memorable moments and makes a great comic foil for some of the duller leads.

Unfortunately, for all the fun that Captain Haddock provides, Tintin still suffers from a little too much bombast. The action sequences, though visually beautiful, seem a little too fast-paced, barely letting the audience breathe. And sadly, the slower paced "Unicorn" backstory leaves much to be desired. Worst of all, the climax feels like just a teaser for another sequel. But with all its bumps and bruises, Tintin is still a heck of a lot better than Spielberg's last adventure outing, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Bottom line: The Adventures of Tintin is definitely not a bad movie. And we certainly give Steven Spielberg credit for moving out of his comfort zone and helming an animated film. The problem is, it feels too much like a set up of things to come. With all of the character introductions and exposition, we have yet to see the Tintin team truly gel onscreen. Perhaps things will move a bit more smoothly come sequel time.

Are you planning on watching The Adventures of Tintin? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Serkis, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, Hergé, Indiana Jones, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, The Adventures Of Tintin, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin

By Michael Lopez

It seems as though Teen Titans is becoming one of the most Latino-friendly comics in the DC Universe. Not only does it have a rich history with legendary Puerto Rican artist George Perez, but it's now added a gay Mexican superhero named Bunker.

Also known by his secret identity, Miguel Jose Barragan, Bunker was born and raised in the Mexican village of El Chilar (according to his "official" DC bio). He is described as upbeat, funny, and very comfortable in his own skin. But we're sure what comic fans will love most about Bunker is his ability to project Psionic bricks, fists, and shapes with his mind.

And, for the record, Bunker is openly gay and has even been described as "flamboyant" by the Teen Titans writers. The DC artists have reflected that fact, by dressing the character in colorful pink costumes, complete with earrings and "metro" styled hair.

Some in the gay community have actually criticized Bunker as being a bit of a stereotype, but artist Brett Booth was quick to defend his creation.

"We wanted to show an interesting character whose homosexuality is part of him," Booth told fans. "Sure there are gay people who you wouldn't know are gay right off the bat, but there are others who are a more flamboyant, and we thought it would be nice to actually see them portrayed in comics. Did we go over the top, I don’t think so. Our TT is partly about diversity of ANY kind, it’s about all kinds of teens getting together to help each other."

And Brett certainly held true with his diversity statement. The new Teen Titans lineup also features Skitter, an African-American girl with insect powers, and Solstice, an Indian character capable of light manipulation.

Issue #1 with the revamped Titans hit newsstands in September and has been garnering tons of positive reviews. Who knows? Maybe if Bunker breaks out, he could get his own comic and perhaps his own movie! We've already got a great idea of which Mexican star could play him on the big screen.

Have you read the new Teen Titans comic yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Brett Booth, Bunker, Comics, DC, Miguel Jose Barragan, Skitter, Solstice, Teen Titans

By Larry Yepez Jr.

It's amazing to see that a movie has been 30 years in the making. At a 30th anniversary screening of Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg told his fans that he first decided to make a Tintin film about 30 years ago, while filming Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Spielberg, who is directing The Adventures of Tintin,  had never heard of the long-running comic book series by Georges Remi, aka Hergé, until 1981.  His assistant at the time brought to his attention the French reviews of Raiders of the Lost Ark in the newspapers.

"They were basically saying that Raiders of the Lost Ark owed a lot to Hergé’s Tintin", Spielberg said. "I read the book, and I could see that there was a lot of similarities, a lot of links between both adventure stories, especially the globe-trotting aspect. I thought it was different enough that they could both coexist in the same world at the same time."

The Adventures of Tintin is Speilberg's animation debut that is set hor a holiday release on December 21. With a whimsical score from John Williams playing in the background, the Tintin trailer shows our hero getting wrapped up in an adventure that goes way over his head, which sounds an awful like several of the plots in Spielberg's Indiana Jones franchise.

Adding to the Indy vibe is that the plot apparently involves Tintin finding an artifact that can alter the course of history, giving us the background for plenty of action and chaos.

The animation looks amazing, but this comes as no surprise with Peter Jackson as the producer and mastermind behind the film's visual effects.

While Spielberg's War Horse is a smaller release that will probably try to scoop up some awards buzz this holiday season, it's Tintin that is taking aim at a massive audience.

Peter Jackson and Steven Speilberg both have a pretty good feel for finding adventure-seeking audiences, this is a film that no doubt has very high box office potential.

Are you excited to see the similarities between Tintin and Indiana Jones?

Tags Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Georges Remi, Hergé, John Williams, Peter Jackson, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Steven Speilberg, The Adventures Of Tintin, War Horse

By Michael Lopez

Anyone who follows the world of comic books knows that George Perez is a bona fide legend. For over 30 years, his illustrations have brought life to iconic characters from both the DC and Marvel universes. And now, one of his most anticipated graphic novels is finally hitting bookstores.

Teen Titans: Games reunites George with award-winning writer Marv Wolfman. Back in the 1980's, their collaborations reshaped the characters of Robin and Beast Boy and added beloved new personalities like Cyborg and Starfire. Wolfman and Perez first launched their New Teen Titans line back in 1980 and had conceived of the Games storyline over 25 years ago.

Part of the reason that DC is issuing the graphic novel now, is to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Marv and George's creative partnership. Games had actually been intended for release several months earlier, but issues with Perez' eyesight delayed the final prints.

"George was undergoing eye surgery," Wolfman explained to Comic Book Resources . "It took longer and there was no way he could do the type of incredibly intensive work he's doing on this book in the midst of the eye surgery. We really wanted to get it out for last year because that would have been the 30th anniversary year, but this is sort of like the extended 30th anniversary I guess!"

But don't worry Perez fans, Wolfman assured CBR that his partner's eyes are as good as new and that he will still be inking and painting for a long time to come. In fact, George was most recently linked to the newest Superman incarnation. He contributed to the first six issues of the comic and may return as a finisher in the next few months.

Truly a legend among Latino artists, George posts tons of comic news on his site and has an awesome online gallery of his most famous covers.

Who is your favorite Latino artist? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, DC, DC Comics, George Perez, Marv Wolfman, popnews, Superman, Teen Titans, Teen Titans: Games

By Michael Lopez

Who says girls don't read comic books? Believe it or not, one of the most popular underground titles on the market involves a trio of sexy heroines. Entitled Danger Girl, it first hit the scene back in the late 1990's and now is on its way to becoming a major Hollywood movie. Best of all, Milla Jovovich, Kate Beckinsale, and Sofía Vergara are attached to star!

First published in 1998, Danger Girl follows the lives of three gorgeous agents sent on secret missions throughout the world. Mixing elements of James Bond and Charlie’s Angels, it's definitely heavy on the Grrrl Power but has artwork and storylines guys can appreciate too.

In fact Danger Girl has become so popular, the three main leads (Abbey Chase, Sydney Savage, and Natalia Kassle) got their own action figures. There was even a Playstation game based on their adventures.

The movie still is in the very early stages of development. It is unclear which Girl Sofia will play, but we're putting our money on Abbey Chase (the linguistics master). Milla and Kate would make awesome costars, so we're seriously hoping this project gets off the ground.

Do you think Sofía Vergara would make a good secret agent? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, Danger Girl, Hot Stuff, Kate Beckinsale, Milla Jovovich, Movies & CineMás, sofia vergara

By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, there are millions of people around the world who worship at the altar of Disney. Whether it's die-hard park lovers, Mickey Mouse collectors, or classic animation buffs, the 87-year-old conglomerate has built a huge fan base. And this past weekend, the Walt Disney Company celebrated "itself" with a massive D23 Expo in Anaheim California.

Sometimes it's hard to fathom how many well-known brands are part of the Disney family. Marvel Comics was acquired by the company back in 2009, the Pixar division has been going strong for years, and don't get us started on the Disneyland and Disney World fan base.

All of most famous properties were on display at the three-day event and each one showed off some pretty unique stuff. On the Marvel side, fans got a taste of the highly-anticipated 2012 film, The Avengers. Stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Scarlett Johansson were on hand to introduce exclusive new footage from the movie, which wowed the crowd.

Other Disney flick sneak peeks included footage from next March's sci fi epic John Carter and the new Muppet film. Fans also got treated to concept art from Sam Raimi's Wizard of Oz update, Oz The Great and Powerful.

On the Pixar front, head honcho John Lasseter arrived to huge cheers and announced two exciting projects. One happens to be an animated dinosaur movie, set to hit theaters in late 2013. The other was called The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside The Mind, which we're sure has endless potential. You can look for that one in 2014.

But don't think movies were the only attraction at D23. Disney lovers also got treated to quite a few goodies from the company's theme parks. Concept art was revealed for the new Disneyland Shanghai resort and fans got to participate in live panels with the "Imagineers" who design the rides.

As expected, there was a TON of merchandise on hand. Characters from attractions like The Haunted Mansion graced floor and rare Mickey Mouse collectables were displayed. There were also original animation cels, movie props, and one-of-a-kind sculptures sold at a D23 auction.

The attendees of the event were also a sight to be seen. Truly an affair for the hardcore fans, the D23 guests put the Comic-Con crowd to shame. Throughout the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center, cameras caught Jack Sparrows, Buzz Lightyears, and tons of Mouseketeer hats roaming gleefully and posing for pictures.

Would you classify yourself as a massive Disney fan? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, D23, D23 Expo, Disney, Disneyland, John Lasseter, Marvel, Mickey Mouse, Movies & CineMás, Pixar, The Avengers

By Michael Lopez

A while back, we mentioned how Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso had wanted to incorporate a little more diversity into the company's line of comic books. And starting this week, he's carrying through on that promise with the introduction of Mario Morales, a new Afro-Latino Spider-Man.

Don't worry purists, good old Peter Parker will still exist in the traditional Spidey comics. But in the parallel universe that Marvel has created for its Ultimate Spider-Man comic, Mario will be the one climbing up walls and shooting out webs.

Launched back in 2000, Marvel's Ultimate line offers a fresh take on the brand's traditional super heroes. Here, new contemporary storylines could be born and beloved characters can be killed off without hesitation. Over the summer, Peter Parker bit the dust at the hands of the Green Goblin.

And this Wednesday, readers will get to meet his replacement. Though Marvel execs are staying tight-lipped on how exactly Mario got his web-slinging abilities, they did promise a fleshed out storyline within the next few months. All we know now is, he’s a teenager and he will be getting advice from classic Spidey icons like Gwen Stacy and Aunt Mae.

Alonso, for one, feels very excited about the transition, as he explained to USA Today.

"What you have is a Spider-Man for the 21st century who's reflective of our culture and diversity. We think that readers will fall in love with Miles Morales the same way they fell in love with Peter Parker."

And outside of his cultural background, writer Brian Michael Bendis promises that Morales will have different super powers as well. Though he only provided a few sketchy details about Mario's mysterious background.

"He's younger than Peter Parker, he's coming from a completely different background, a completely different world view," Bendis explained. "It's Peter Parker's death that inspires this kid to step up."

Who knows? Maybe if Morales becomes popular enough, Marvel can find a way to incorporate him into next summer’s highly-touted Avengers movie.

Are you excited about the first Afro-Latino Spider-Man? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Axel Alonso, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, Mario Morales, Marvel, Spider Man, Ultimate Spider-Man

By Michael Lopez

Were you one of the thousands of Darth Vadars, Homer Simpsons, or Spider-Girls wandering the floors of Comic-Con this past weekend? If not, don't worry. We happened to get the scoop on the convention's most "geeked-out" moments.

One of the major highlights from the pop culture fest was Friday's appearance of legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Despite directing some of the most geek-friendly movies in history, he had never done Comic-Con until this year. So what was the project that finally brought him to San Diego's Convention Center? The Adventures of Tintin!

Based on a beloved Belgian comic series from the 1930's, Tintin has a huge fanboy following. And Spielberg's movie version promises to stay true to its legacy. Set to be released in December, the film will use performance-capture 3D effects and be co-produced by Lord of the Rings maestro Peter Jackson (who made a surprise appearance on the Tintin panel).

Another big Friday highlight was the panel discussing The Amazing Spider-Man. 2012's reboot of the web-slinging film series has been building a ton of buzz and eager fans got a chance to mingle with star Andrew Garfield. Appearing in the audience in a Spidey costume, he drew huge roars and built quite a bit of "web" activity.

Saturday's highlight was the panel discussing Snow White and the Hunstman. We had mentioned this movie a few months back and, though we're a little bummed they didn't go with any of our casting suggestions, it still seems like an incredible project. The seven dwarves newest leading lady, Kristen Stewart, made an appearance, as did "evil queen" Charlize Theron.

On the TV side, the Game of Thrones panel got a huge response from the die-hard medieval community. The HBO drama recently snagged a few Emmy noms and all of the major actors (along with Thrones author George R. R. Martin) seemed thrilled with its success.

Glee also got its own panel and raised some interesting questions about the show's "graduating" students. Though reports are saying that series stars Lea Michele and Chris Colfer will be making their exit after next season, executive producer Brad Falchuk hinted that wasn't the case.

"Just because they're graduating, doesn't mean they are leaving the show," he said. "It is not our intention to let them go...they are not done with the show."

And what fun with Comic-Con be without some Latino elements? Several Tr3s faves made some memorable appearances too, including Jorge Garcia and Ramon Rodriguez. Jorge participated in Alcatraz panel and dropped teasers about the show's mysterious plot.

Rodriguez stood alongside his new Charlie’s Angels; Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor, and Annie Ilonzeh. By the sounds of things, this revamp of the 1970’s detective show promises a lot of sex appeal and tons of action.

"We're a lot more badass [than the original]," Ramon stated. "Everyone kicks ass on the show. We take pride in the training we’ve been doing."

Obviously you can expect a lot more details on all of these geekalicious projects within the next several months.

What was your favorite moment from Comic-Con 2011? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alcatraz, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Charlie's Angels, comic-con, Comic-Con 2011, Comics, glee, Hot Stuff, Movies & CineMás, Television, The Adventures Of Tintin, The Amazing Spider-Man

By Michael Lopez

Forget the Red Skull, Captain America just bested an even greater foe; Harry Potter! According to the latest statistics, Cap took in over $60 million at the box office this weekend, knocking the boy sorcerer down to second place. It also is about to turn up-and-coming star Chris Evans into an overnight sensation. The actor spoke to us at a press conference recently about his thoughts on the film.

"I loved this character," Evans enthusiastically said. "And I loved the people behind it. There was nothing I didn’t like about the making of this film."

Interestingly, Captain America is not the first Marvel character that Chris has portrayed. Back in 2005, he starred alongside Jessica Alba in the Fantastic Four film, playing The Human Torch. And though he admittedly wasn't the biggest comic book fan growing up, Evans has learned to appreciate the magic of Marvel.

"The guys at Marvel, these guys are so clever and so smart," he said. "They make great films. I think [director] Joe Johnston and [producer] Kevin Feige really knew how to make Captain America and his era come to life."

Of course from Chris' perspective, making Cap come to life was no easy task. He had to spend an exorbitant amount of hours in the gym training to get that superhero physique.

"I never had a trainer before," he confessed. "We were doing two hours in the gym everyday."

For Captain America, and his alter ego Steve Rogers, the muscles came much more easily. This particular Marvel hero got his powers from a special serum developed by World War II scientists. And Evans thought that gave the character an interesting layer of depth.

"I find Steve Rogers so complex, so interesting," he said. "Part of the reason he was chosen for this experiment is because I don't think he'll let this new physical form change who he is and that's what makes him worthy of this gift. We tried to keep him the same man throughout."

One big question on everyone's minds now is, what's next for Captain America? Chris is currently filming Cap scenes for next summer's top secret Avengers movie, but was pretty tight-lipped when it came to details. Although, he did share his thoughts on working with Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr.

"I can't say enough about Robert. He’s so talented and he has so much charisma. When he comes into a room, he owns the oxygen!"

You can see Robert, Chris and the rest of Marvel's Avengers united on screen next May.

What did you think about the Captain America movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Captain America, Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans, Comics, Exclusive Entrevistas, Marvel, Movies & CineMás, The Avengers, Tr3s Exclusives