Avengers cartoon - Part 3

[Dread]

Originally Posted by R_Hythlodeus

Disney XD to Launch Marvel Universe April 1! The premiere of Ultimate #SpiderMan & return of #AvengersEMH!

I knew that the debut of "ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN" was going to be on April Fool's Day (seriously, that's a bad omen, what suit thought of that date), and having Season 2 of "A:EMH" start at the same night for Disney's Marvel Block makes sense. By then, the Avengers film is a month away so everyone wants to gear up for it. On the downside, it's been about a year since new episodes have aired - at least to those of us who watched them first elsewhere. On the upside, Disney XD has a history of showing episodes in modestly sane procession once they actually debut, in clips of 8-12 in a row without too long of a gap in between. This season will be different because we'll actually get 26 episodes, not 5 episodes as "micros" and then 21 episodes after. The team and world is already set up so I expect things to really get rolling.

Given most of the production team has since left, I am unsure if a third season is happening. Given how long it takes to produce an animated series from script to screen (roughly a year), it would have had to be approved NOW in order for Season 3 to start in 2013. While it would be nice to have at least one Marvel cartoon not based on X-Men or Spider-Man to last beyond 2 seasons, but that will still add up to 52 episodes. The last Marvel show that lasted that long that I really enjoyed was "X-MEN: EVOLUTION", which needed 4 seasons from 2000-2003 on Kid's WB to hit 52 episodes. Whether across 2 seasons or 4, 52 episodes is a respectable run for a cartoon, especially a Marvel cartoon. Marvel had little luck in getting them to last past 26 episodes for quite some time. Spider-Man's technically had THREE cartoon series that debuted since 1999 that didn't last 26 episodes; the first two were DOA after 12. Not even an X-Men cartoon on NickToons survived past 26 episodes, due to corporate flip-flopping (because everyone was gearing to go and I imagine Disney said "funk that" at the last minute).

I am eager for seeing how big and bombastic these adventures get. I was vastly impressed by Chris Yost and company for Season 1 and I can't wait to see if they truly can top themselves. There is a part of me dreading the SECRET INVASION/SENSATIONAL HYDRA style plot because I have grown weary of "the team disassembles and they all hate/fight each other" plots due to overuse from Marvel lately. But, I don't expect it to last forever; while subplots linger all season long, most "arcs" in the show are done after 2-4 episodes, which leaves a lot of season left. I'm eager to see how Ms. Marvel adds to the mix and I just want to see more interactions with the cast in new adventures, as well as returning threats like Ultron and Kang. I do hope the series doesn't go nuts with cameo's, though. That undermined "JLU" at times. While they're fun for fans and can add to stories, the focus should be on a core cast. I normally would be wary of Red Hulk showing up anywhere, but given how General Ross was already introduced as Hulk's antagonist earlier in the series, having him become empowered and fight Hulk (and thus the Avengers) by itself isn't a bad plot for an episode - especially if it means more of Leader. Seriously, how cool is it that this show not only got the big guns like Loki, Ultron, Kang, and Zemo right, but even often mangled villains like Leader?

While some of the power levels may be inconsistent - and I do think Cap needs to kick more ass without just throwing his shield - I think the cast is balanced. There are various levels of power and skill but no one character is always the savior nor is one character always the load. Yeah, the Hulk had some "shocking" losses in this show for plot convenience, but I actually didn't mind that. A Hulk who is fallible and can't just steamroll everything becomes more interesting to me; it is easier to become engaged in his battles. Besides, if even Superman can take a dive sometimes, why not Hulk? I was/am especially pleased with how Hank Pym was handled. Here is a character who was often broken or insane in some modern takes but this show got to his core and eliminated a lot of the problems. They remembered that the audience needs to like Pym first and foremost.

"A:EMH" has been a better show than "YOUNG JUSTICE" to me, even without the latter having wrapped a season. I think a key difference is "A:EMH" had the time to build the world it was in from simple to complex while "YJ" threw us into the deep end with a cast of thousands and established connections we are supposed to roll with. "YJ" doesn't have the same quality of reoccurring villains and some of the characters have reoccurring catch-phrases or gimmicks that are divisive and annoying. Wasp, in comparison, doesn't need a catch-phrase to steal a scene or be sassy. "YJ" has obvious stars (Superboy/Megan), and an obvious load (Kid-Flash), and a central threat which, if I wanted to be cruel, could so far be described as MAD from "INSPECTOR GADGET", played dead straight. The animation quality is better for "YJ", but in most other areas it has fallen short to "A:EMH" to me - which is shocking given Greg Weisman's pedigree. "YJ" isn't a bad show; it just isn't as good as it could be, or as good as it's competition. Given that Cartoon Network's own DC NATION block starts in March, I'll likely see new episodes of "YJ" first.