‘The Avengers’: What you need to know going into the Marvel superhero epic

Will Perkins
·Blogger

By now you're likely aware of Marvel's big-budget superhero throwdown "The Avengers." You've seen the trailers, the TV spots, and posters all over your town, but if you missed any of the other recent Marvel films (or aren't a comic book geek), then you might be left scratching your head.

Just who are all of these heroes in Joss Whedon's superpowered ensemble, and where have you seen them before?

Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.)
Previous film appearances: "Iron Man" (2008), "Iron Man 2" (2010)
What you need to know: Tony Stark is an arrogant, borderline-alcoholic, billionaire inventor who battles threats using a heavily armed, flying suit of armor he designed and built himself. The character starts "The Avengers" having previously been courted by S.H.I.E.L.D director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to join the government's top secret Avengers Initiative, a project intended to assemble Earth's mightiest heroes in case of emergency. Stark is pitch-perfectly played by Robert Downey Jr., who will suit up again for the role this summer when filming for "Iron Man 3" begins.

Steve Rogers/Captain America (played by Chris Evans)
Previous film appearances: "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011)
What you need to know: Transformed from skinny weakling to supersoldier, thanks to a secret serum during the Second World War, Steve Rogers spent the better part of the 1940s punching out Nazis on the front lines as Captain America. Near the end of "Captain America," Cap crashes the Red Skull's plane in the Arctic and is presumed dead. Frozen and perfectly preserved, Cap is thawed out in the 21st century and ready for action when "The Avengers" starts rolling.

Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth)
Previous film appearances: "Thor" (2011)
What you need to know: Thor is the Norse god of thunder and has a really big hammer with an unpronounceable name. Earth's heroes are skeptical of the blond bruiser when he arrives on the scene, mostly because he claims to be a demigod, but Thor soon painfully proves his prowess to key members of the Avengers. A sibling rivalry with his younger brother Loki, playing the villain yet again, will figure heavily into the plot of "The Avengers."

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson)
Previous film appearances: "Iron Man 2" (2010)
What you need to know: As an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Natasha Romanoff was previously tasked with keeping a close eye on Tony Stark as his assistant. Although Black Widow has no superpowers per se, her beauty and expertise in weapons, martial arts, and espionage make her a force to be reckoned with. When the Avengers need a job done that requires stealth and subterfuge, they look to Black Widow. There's talk of the character getting her own spin-off film after "The Avengers."

Clint Barton/Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner)
Previous film appearances: "Thor" (2011)
What you need to know: After a brief (but awesome) cameo in "Thor" last year, S.H.I.E.L.D. operative extraordinaire Clint Barton is set to return in "The Avengers." An expert marksman who favours a bow and arrow over a gun, Hawkeye will have the super team covered from a distance. The character has also been discussed as getting his own spin-off film after "The Avengers."

Bruce Banner/The Hulk (played by Mark Ruffalo)
Previous film appearances: "Hulk" (2003) played by Eric Bana, "The Incredible Hulk" (2008) played by Edward Norton
What you need to know: Bruce Banner is a brilliant scientist with anger-management issues. Having been exposed to gamma radiation, whenever Dr. Banner faces emotional stress or anger, he can transform into the Hulk, a green behemoth that becomes bigger and stronger the angrier he gets. In this state, Bruce Banner is as much an asset to his fellow heroes as he is a liability, but the Avengers will need all the help they can get. Hopefully Ruffalo will get his own "Hulk" film out of this.

Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson)
Previous film appearances: "Iron Man" (2008), "Iron Man 2" (2010), "Thor" (2011), "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011)
What you need to know: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (a secret government agency charged with handling superpowered threats), creator of the Avenger Initiative (break glass in case of supervillain emergency), and star of more after-credit sequences than can be listed here (seriously, watch after the credits of every Marvel movie made in the past five years), Nick Fury proves that you don't need superpowers when you're the baddest dude in the room. Also: eye patch.

"The Avengers" hits theatres in Canada on May 4.

Also on Yahoo! Canada Movies:

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Dow Jones Futures Fall As Meta Dives On Guidance; Chipotle Eyes Buy Point

    The rally attempt paused Wednesday as Nvidia reversed lower. Meta, Chipotle and ServiceNow led key earnings late.

  • Border security not addressed in aid bill

    ABC 10News spoke with local advocates following the announcement that funding from the aid bill will not go towards border security.

  • Reena Virk's killer thinks TV show about crime 'disrespectful': B.C. parole documents

    ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Reena Virk's killer told parole officials that a television series about the Victoria, B.C., teen's murder is "disrespectful" and will "re-victimize" Virk's family. Documents released by the Parole Board of Canada Wednesday say that Virk's killer Kelly Ellard — who changed her name to Kerry Sim — demonstrated "remorse and victim empathy" after discussing the TV show about the high-profile 1997 murder with her case managers. The parole board decision said Sim, who was 15 at the

  • Fashion retailer to close 16 California stores amid bankruptcy. Is yours on the list?

    Stores are expected to close no later than June 30, according to court documents.

  • 25 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Retire in Florida

    This article takes a look at the 25 safest and cheapest cities to retire in Florida. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on navigating retirement living in the US, you may go to 5 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Retire in Florida. Does the Sunshine State Still Hold Retirement Charm? Moving for retirement […]

  • Deputy Prime Minister says new Indigenous loan guarantee program is ‘a really big deal’

    Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto. Freeland, who is also the minister of Finance, took part in the “Ministerial Panel On Indigenous Loan Guarantees And Economic Growth” on that final day, April 23. Freeland touted the $5 billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program, which she announced April 16 as part of the 2024 federal budget. The program

  • Portugal's democracy turns 50: Thousands to commemorate Carnation Revolution

    Thousands are expected to take to the streets to celebrate the 50th anniversary on Thursday of Portugal's "Carnation Revolution" that toppled the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe and ushered in democracy. Antonio Oliveira Salazar ruled Portugal from 1932 to 1968, but the regime lasted for a further six years under successor Marcelo Caetano, only crumbling on April 25, 1974. The almost bloodless revolution was conducted by a group of junior army officers who wanted democracy and to put an end to long-running wars against independence movements in the African colonies of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

  • Judge orders anonymous jury for trial of self-exiled Chinese businessman, citing his past acts

    A self-exiled Chinese businessman is set to face an anonymous jury at his trial next month on fraud charges after a judge on Wednesday cited his past willingness to tamper with judicial proceedings as reason for concern. Guo Wengui goes to trial May 22 in Manhattan federal court, where jurors will be escorted by U.S. marshals in and out of the courthouse, according to an order from Judge Analisa Torres. Lawyers for Guo agreed that the jury should be anonymous, saying in court papers that “protective measures are justified by the actions and potential actions" of the Chinese Communist Party, "who has not hesitated to use each and every means at its disposal to attack” him, the judge noted in her written order.

  • 2024 NFL Draft: Where latest odds, mock draft predictions say LSU WR Malik Nabers will go

    The 2024 NFL Draft features many talented players on offense, including wide receiver. Here's where one of the top talents at the position could go.

  • Travellers beware: Multiple days of severe storm risk unfolds in the U.S.

    As we approach the end of April, severe weather season is ramping up stateside, serving as a reminder for Canadians to be aware of what will be occurring more frequently north of the border as the country ditches the snow for thunderstorms.

  • Jazz Fest vendor enters 33rd year selling his jewelry

    Jazz Fest vendor enters 33rd year selling his jewelry

  • Meta shares sink after it reveals spending plans

    The firm said expenses would be higher this year as it spends heavily on artificial intelligence.

  • ROUTE 66 REVAMP: Revitalization efforts at 11th and Lewis bring new businesses

    ROUTE 66 REVAMP: Revitalization efforts at 11th and Lewis bring new businesses

  • Jazz Fest opens doors to artists who design poster each year

    Jazz Fest opens doors to artists who design poster each year

  • Watch: Biden reads ‘pause’ aloud from teleprompter in latest speech blunder

    Joe Biden has suffered an “Anchorman moment” after he read out a prompt to “pause” on his teleprompter to a baffled audience.

  • BBC Proms to feature disco night and Florence + The Machine

    Full details of the 2024 season have been announced, with one of the most diverse line-ups in years.

  • Shohei Ohtani finding comfort zone with scandal (mostly) behind him. Watch out, MLB teams.

    Shohei Ohtani is hitting the ball harder than ever – and finding his comfort zone with the Dodgers in wake of the Ippei Mizuhara scandal.

  • How some Sask. communities are preparing for the 2024 wildfire season

    Last year was one of the most severe on record for wildfires in Saskatchewan. There were 494 of the fires, and 1.9 million hectares of land burned, about five times the size of Prince Albert National Park, according to the province.Cliff Buettner, director of forestry and emergency services for the Prince Albert Grand Council, has been dealing with wildfires in this province for more than four decades.Buettner said humans cause a lot of fires and he wants people to know how quickly things can ge

  • The Oxford-Trained Chemist-Turned-Journalist Defending Climate Capitalism

    Akshat Rathi spoke with HuffPost about the evolution of climate denialism, and what the climate crisis means for democracy.

  • Haiti transition council to be installed on Thursday, says PM office

    PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - A ceremony to install a stalled presidential transition council in Haiti will take place Thursday morning on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince, the office of outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced in a statement on Wednesday. The statement noted that the ceremony will be hosted at the prime minister's official office, known as Villa d'Accueil, not the downtown National Palace, which has come under repeated fire from armed gangs in recent days. Earlier on Wednesday, powerful gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier insisted that talks over Haiti's political future must include the gangs.