Ok so I'm a little uninformed about this whole Siege, Dark Avengers, Dark Reing, thing. I haven't been reading any marvel books simply because I can't afford the event story lines that cross over all these books. I hear snippets here and there and stand and read in the store from time to time (which shop owners love) and I have to say some of it sounds great. I picked up a free “Origins of Siege” prologue the other day and noticed something interesting. In the middle of this free preview are 12 pages of origins that star our original Avengers line-up back to back. The origins of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Bucky as Captain America, Spider-Man, Green Goblin, and Loki. On a side note this freebie also includes the origins of the Sentry, Wolverine, Doctor Doom, Ares, and the Hood, but they don't fit into my theory here so I'm going to choose to ignore them.
I know that all these characters are involved in “Siege” some how so that is why these character's origins are included. Makes sense right? Just extra fluff to fill a free little comic so we feel like we got something good, right? Or, maybe it's something more. Maybe it's a prototype for the long term plan that marvel has for its one universe film canon. I know when I'm trying to figure something out, I lay all the pieces out in front of me to see how it looks all together. The thing that struck me most about these origins is that they are so concise. All one page. All boiled down to the Hero's most identifying characteristics. All back to back and close together. They also match what little I have heard about all the new movies.
The origins fall in this order:
Captain America:
Steve Rogers as a young art student (new to me) is rejected from the army because he is too weak. After a series of chemical and radiological treatments (wording is new to me) he is transformed into a physically perfect human. Becomes Captain America, fights Nazis, punches Red Skull in the teeth, keeps morale high, the usual Cappy stuff. In the end is lost at sea the nation mourns. Sounds just like what I've heard about the new film and what they are going to focus on. I haven't heard anything about Red Skull though.
Iron Man: Origin is just like the movie which is basically the proper origin with minor changes.
Btw my scanner is busted so I had to take photos, boooo!
Thor:
Thor gets bored, fat, and lazy in an Asgard where not much is happening anymore. Odin decides that even a God should know humility. He wipes Thor's memory and banishes him to earth in the form of Donald Blake, selfless, physically disabled physician. Odin eventually gives him his memory back and Thor becomes one of earth's mightiest protectors. In the end of this one it shows Thor fighting one of the wrecking crew. I think the wrecking crew or one of the wrecking crew might be a minor villain next to Loki. Most of this somewhat matches what I've heard is being considered for the Thor film.
Captain America (Bucky):
It starts with how Bucky becomes attached to Captain America and leads to his disappearance and then his emergence as the Winter Soldier and later Captain America. I think this will be a plot point and might lead to more elements of Siege in the new Avengers movie.
Spider-Man:
Very basic origin here. Gets bit by spider, becomes super, uses it for personal gain, ignores responsibility, learns lesson, becomes hero. It seems to reiterate the basic comic origin and nothing to do with the film. Which makes sense because this IS the comic numbskull! Here me out though. There is going to be a reboot so that leads me to believe that they will reboot closer to Spidey's comic origins which means they can reintroduce Green Goblin. I know Sony owns the rights to Spidey and all but why leave him out of the Avengers? Leaving him in would be a lot more beneficial to everyone involved, fans and investors alike.
Green Goblin:
The origin reiterates that he is enhanced by a serum, not unlike Captain America, and he has access to technology, not unlike Iron Man. These two similarities like in Dark Rein, can be woven into plot points for the Avengers film. It ends with mentioning that Osborn's political connections keep him from paying for his crimes and free to terrorize the world like in Dark Rein.
Loki:
Loki the adopted son of Odin starts off as one of Asgard's protectors. He does something bad and blames Thor for his bad situation. Thor gets banished gives him ample opportunity to kill Thor in our world. Yet another possible plot point for the Thor film.
I could be reading too much into all of this and be too uniformed about what is going on in Siege. What I do know is that Marvel has to be planning for the future of their properties and the lives of their characters in film. They have to plan and plan well. They can't plan only for the individual films and one Super group film and be done with it. I'm sure what they want is to do with film what they've done with comics. The characters develop and cross over, continuing on and on.
This is from Siege Prologue first page:
Norman Osborne has unveiled his new identity as the Iron Patriot (not unlike Iron Man I) and has made bold moves across the US to remake the country's status quo into his image of justice and fairness. (sounds like a good foe for Iron Man or Avengers villain)
The Mighty Thor, god of thunder, has recently returned to earth and brought the golden city of Asgard, along with all the gods who called it home, with him. Asgard floats just feet above the fields of Oklahoma. Did I or did I not hear some Thor movie gossip that said they were bringing Asgard to earth? Why would a few plot points be similar? Why not more?
Osborn has partnered with Thor's brother Loki, the god of mischief, and they are about to unveil a plan that will get the great Asgard away from earth. We know that Loki has been cast for the Thor film. I don't think it's much of a stretch to think they will use more of the “Siege” storyline. Does this make any sense? What do you guys think?
Everything in Marvel universe is getting streamlined to coincide with their new movies. I would even say the Planet Hulk movie, changing Silver Surfer to Beta Ray Bill is in line with that.
--DogsOfWar