Natasha Romanoff, yes, one of my favorite heroines from the Marvel Universe, will be portrayed by Scarlett Johansson for Iron Man 2. Could be interesting. The costume looks fine, but I don’t believe the actress is a dead ringer for the Russian agent and former Avengers leader… but who cares if the film is as entertaining as the first installment?

One of the most astonishingly beautiful starlet of the seventies was Barbara Leigh. Oh yes. With barely 10 motion pictures in her credits and some TV appearances, it’s a real shame that she didn’t became a more bigger star. Still, she’s remembered to this day as a near perfect female beauty, and many fans recall that she was a top Vampirella model (and the first), hence her inclusion right here in this tribute.

Barbara posed for now classic Vampirella magazine covers, sought-out collector’s items. In fact, it was announced in 1975 that she was cast as the heroine for a major movie produced by celebrated Hammer Films. But the studio was on the verge of collapse in the mid-seventies, and that project was never meant to be, even if big cheese Michael Carreras has promised a many pictures deal. This deception resulted in Barbara more and more distancing herself from the acting business. A real shame, because things were well on their way, as veteran Peter Cushing has already been cast and director John Hough was a strong possibility. Difficulties regarding who owned the rights of the characters were also a factor.

Even then, she’s still seen as the “Original Vampirella” and probably one of the best person to portray the role “live”. Cult Sirens will pay a more definitive homage to Barbara very soon.

Was the much anticipated movie version of the Vampirella comic book a piece of crap? I’m afraid it is, with Roger Daltrey as some sort of Dracula (?) slicing the ham a bit too thick. There’s also a scene that I still consider the worst special effect that I ever had the misfortune to witness in a motion picture: an amazing shot of a vampire bat. You’ll understand when seeing it.

But still, there was Talisa Soto in that costume. Was Talisa a good choice to portray the vampire heroine? I have no clue, as the script leaves her a bit too passive to my taste. Anyway, the sight of her remains awesome and there’s a perverse pleasure in watching Vampirella these days.

Of course, there was no franchise created after this movie’s dismal reviews and straight to video release. But who knows in these times of comic book adaptations craze if there’s still hope? Executed properly, being faithful to the core of the Vampirella mythos would make an amazing project.

So there’s a chance for a new Red Sonja movie, even if Rose McGowan and Robert Rodriguez aren’t a couple anymore (or are they? who knows about these things?). Well, I’m all for any comic book adaptation starring a strong heroine… but these action movies taking place in ancient legends are more often than not stiff and monotonous, with more duds than gems in the lot (exemple: anyone remember the 1985 version?). Rodriguez will produce, with Douglas Aarniokoski directing. All this was revealed during a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con International last month.

Can Miss McGowan handle the action, though? Is beheading Thulsa Doom’s minions more demanding than shooting zombies with an artificial leg? Only time will tell. This promotional poster is still very nice to look at, though. Shooting starts in October.

This is it, my friends, time to lay some cards on the table. Maybe I’ll lost the majority of you along the way but it’s high time to talk about my favorite female Avenger. Heck, how about my favorite female Marvel super-heroine?

I personally liked Mantis from her first appearance, back in Avengers #112 (June 1973), where she was wearing a different costume than the one she’s more known about (with the same colors) and looked more like a sophisticated Japanese lady than a young Vietnamese orphan. To top it off, when I learned that she lead the evil Swordsman to a new life of righteousness, I couldn’t be more glad: he had always been one of my favorite villains, acting noble and snotty in his own unique way. In my book, she couldn’t be a bad person. Of course, when she dropped-kicked a whole team of Avengers soon after (including Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision, Black Panther…), oh boy, there was more to meet the eyes here. And on the chauvinistic side, I have a weakness for beautiful, Asian-type girls, as if you didn’t know… I found interesting the way she talked (the «this one» part) and her «humbleness». Of course, the Celestial Madonna story is classic Avengers material (though it was never developed to my satisfaction in future years, if developed at all…).

When Mantis appeared, there were only three official female Avengers: Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp (who at that point, had still the sadly topical «bimbo-headed» etiquette around her); Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch (who had been under the shadow of her brother Quicksilver for too long, was beginning to develop a much-appreciated «power-up» and was more and more committed to future husband the Vision) and Natasha Romanova, the Black Widow (who made quite a list of guest-appearances and finally became a member for the grand total of two issues at the time). Not much girl action around Avengers Mansion. I found Mantis a different and intriguing addition to the team: she was very independent and mysterious, more powerful than presumed and was the lead player in her romantic liaison with the Swordsman, contrary to the other three gals (at that time, remember?: Jan overshadowed by husband Henry Pym, Wanda overshadowed by Quicksilver or Vision, Natasha by Hawkeye or Daredevil). Swordsman was the weak link in this relationship. Now maybe the majority of young male readers didn’t like to see the male hero on the receiving end?

After mating with an intelligent tree from outer space (?) and producing an unique being that is destined to be a new form of benevolent life in the universe, Mantis was lost in comic limbo for many years, as Marvel didn’t have a clue of what to do with her. A shame, as she was quite an unique creation, from the mind of writer Steve Englehart, who even more or less recreated her in different comic book companies, mainly the DC character Willow and the Eclipse Comics character Lorelei! Talk about dedication! More recently, Mantis has been glimpsed in the mini-series House of M: Avengers and in a more active role in the galactic mini-series Annihilation: Conquest. Check out her chronological apparitions and some personal info available via my Avengers site.

Not that’s what I call a cover, baby! In my youth, there were thought balloons on comic book covers that tried to describe the action with all kind of dramatic proclamations: “Reach for my hand, Spider-Man!”, “But… but I… can’t!” For the last couple of years, someone decided that it was probably uncool or too juvenile to do so, resulting in generic but still intriguing depictions of action scenes. This one, for Ms. Marvel #22 coming out on December 5, shows us a skillful mix of the three main costumes wore by Carol Danvers in her identities of Ms. Marvel, Binary and Warbird.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

As you maybe know, I’ve been a comic book fan since more than 30 years. I even more or less got the time to manage an Avengers website, which I shamefully admit to have neglected to take care of this sweet blog. All this to inform you that, from time to time, I’ll highlight a comic book heroine deserving Cult Siren status. Of course, I’ll start with one of my favorites, the Sensational (or is it Savage?) She-Hulk.

Let’s go back to the late seventies. Marvel Comics guru Stan Lee came up with a female version of one his most popular creations, the Incredible Hulk. In Savage She-Hulk #1, with a cover date of February 1980, we learned that attorney Jennifer Walters was Bruce Banner’s cousin (Bruce being of course, the Hulk). After becoming victim of a mob hit, Jennifer benefited from a blood transfusion from her cousin, which eventually led her to transform under stress in a tall, strong and angry green woman. This series lasted until #25, and even with this intriguing lead heroine, was a bit on the lackluster side, remaining more or less a pale imitation of the original. But Marvel didn’t gave up on her: she soon became a member of the Avengers (where she briefly began to wear hideous aerobic costumes) and eventually replaced the Thing in the Fantastic Four, where her personality softened a bit, becoming more sympathetic. Her great intelligence and inner warmth also shone through.

As written by John Byrne in her second solo series (Sensational She-Hulk, starting in 1989), She-Hulk frequently broke the fourth wall, meaning that she directly addressed the reader, commenting on the absurdity of her adventures and the characters she encountered. This second try lasted 60 issues. At the height of her popularity in the late 80s, a live-action movie was considered, with Brigitte Nielsen in the imposing role. The actress even posed in full costume for a concept that was never produced (for which many of us remain thankful).

The Jade Giantess, as she was frequently called, could next be seen again in the pages of the Avengers and diverse guest-spots in other Marvel publications. Not as destructive as Cousin Hulk, She-Hulk still was prone to sometimes hitting first and ask questions later, more often than not with humorous results. At 6′7″ and 650 lbs at full fighting mode, you better have a sense of humor yourself when facing her! She had relationships of various lengths with many men, including Starfox, Wyatt Wingfoot, Hercules, John Jameson, Clay Quartermain, Tony Stark… and maybe the Juggernaut! Her main pain in the ass as an adversary remains the treacherous Titania, bride of the Absorbing Man.

In 2004, a third series scripted by Dan Slott was launched, lasting 12 issues. After some months, a fourth series is still going strong, with great critical success. She-Hulk has been a member of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Fantastic Force, Heroes for Hire and S.H.I.E.L.D. She’s currently working as a bounty hunter, as of this month She-Hulk #22, now written by Peter David.

Quite a colorful character, She-Hulk has now become one of the most recognizable and well-loved female creations coming from Marvel Comics.