RedPhoneZone Issue #31

Copyright Warner Home Video
Art by Salvador Larroca

Artwork for the cover of Invincible Iron Man vol. 2, 25 second printing (June 2010 Marvel Comics).

In this issue, the RedPhoneZone jumps back into the grind when We Make It with Iron Man 3.  What would we like to see in the third installment of the Marvel Films blockbuster franchise?  Then, we take on our Top 6 Character Entrances on Top 6.  We wrap things up this issue with Watch This of the 2010 direct-to-DVD Warner Bros. animated release of Batman: Under the Red Hood.

About Iron Man

Iron Man is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character debuted in Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963), and was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby.

Born Anthony Edward Stark, and usually called Tony, he is an industrialist playboy and ingenious engineer who suffers a severe heart injury during a kidnapping in which his captors attempt to force him to build a weapon of mass destruction. He instead creates a powered suit of armor to save his life and escape captivity. He later uses the suit to protect the world as Iron Man. Through his multinational corporation ― Stark Industries ― Tony has created many military weapons, some of which, along with other technological devices of his making, have been integrated into his suit, helping him fight crime. Initially, Iron Man was a vehicle for Stan Lee to explore Cold War themes, particularly the role of American technology and business in the fight against communism. Subsequent re-imaginings of Iron Man have gradually removed the Cold War themes, replacing them with more contemporary concerns such as corporate crime and terrorism.

Throughout most of the character’s publication history, Iron Man has been a member of the superhero team the Avengers and has been featured in several incarnations of his own various comic book series. Iron Man has been adapted for several animated TV shows and films. The character is portrayed by Robert Downey, Jr. in the live action film Iron Man (2008), which was a box office success. Downey reprised the role in the sequel, Iron Man 2 (2010), and also played the character in a cameo in The Incredible Hulk (2008). Downey will also play the role in the upcoming film The Avengers (2012) and the planned Iron Man 3 (2013).

About Batman: Under the Red Hood

Copyright Warner Home Video

This is the cover art for Batman: Under the Red Hood.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is a direct-to-video animated film based on the Batman storylines “A Death in the Family” and “Under the Hood“. The film is the eighth in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation. It was released on July 27, 2010. The film stars Bruce Greenwood as Bruce Wayne/BatmanJensen Ackles as Red Hood/Jason Todd, and John DiMaggio as the Joker. The screenplay was written by Judd Winick, who also wrote the “Under the Hood” run in the monthly Batman comic.

The two-disc special edition and Blu-ray also includes an animated short featuring Jonah Hex.