Agent Palmer

Iron Man Three, the first leap back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the Avengers is out. How does this movie stack up in comparison with the other two Iron Man movies? How does it work within the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe and moreover how does it continue the story? Ignoring the how, does it even do any of those things?

The answer… Yes it does.

I recently infiltrated the Great Allentown Comic Con in the city’s Merchants Square Mall. The attendance was not what it had been in the past and there weren’t quite the number of dealers that usually show up, but that can be attributed to the beating this and surrounding areas had taken due to Superstorm Sandy and the Nor’Easter that dumped winter weather in New Jersey.

Attendance aside, the atmosphere was upbeat – how could it not be with a room full of comics!

Recently, I attended the Philly Non-Sports Card Show. I didn’t quite know what to expect. I had been to “CCG” shows, but they’re universally labelled as such. So I headed out, having very little idea of what might be in store for me.

When I arrived there was a line of about 100 people waiting to get in. It wasn’t quite a comic con crowd, but there were some characters, an equal mix of genders and a very wide range of ages.

Now before I explain what I saw at the show, let me explain all I know about Non-Sports Cards.

In my first review of Marvel’s the Avengers, I ended with a diatribe about my geekdom getting watered down in the process of making it consumable for the masses. I recently saw the movie a second time and again I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is one thing that I need to discuss, or point out, as an addendum to my first review.

One thing to consider, about my first post, is that everything I said was criticism and it was not meant as a condemnation.

I’m sure that most of the world wasn’t waiting for this movie since they were little kids. I’m sure even less of you were waiting for this after Ironman. The proof is that most of the world didn’t wait for Nick Fury to make his big screen debut after the credits of that film, but I did. And I was waiting for this since I was a little kid. And today was the day… Would it live up to the critical acclaim, I’ve been hearing about? Would it live up to my lofty expectations?

The simplest answer is yes and no.