Greetings from SXSW, where today Marvel rocked the festival — again! for the third year in a row!– with major announcements about their comic, tv, and film properties. Their “Your Universe” panel focused on the fans being an integral part of what Marvel does in its comics, movies, and television offerings.
The biggest highlight of the panel was a surprise visit by Brian Michael Bendis and Clark Gregg via FaceTime. Both answered audience questions and teased upcoming events in their respective works. Bendis spoke about the upcoming “Ultimate Spider-Man” #200 and “Guardians of the Galaxy” #100.
And Gregg introduced a segment from next week’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” featuring some major ass-kicking by guest star Lady Sif (Jamie Alexander). You’re going to want to tune in to that.
He also answered a fan’s question about who his favorite Avenger is by talking about Austin’s very own Barbecue Man, and asked if someone could please bring back some Austin BBQ to him in LA. Let’s get the ball rolling on having an Agents of SHIELD panel in 2015. . .
Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso and Social Media superstar Ryan Penagos (aka “@AgentM” on Twitter) talked about the history of Marvel vis a vis social media, pointing back to early “Ask Stan” columns and their history of sharing behind the scenes info. Arune Singh, Head of PR for TV, who was moderating the panel, pointed out how Marvel’s social media is all real, it’s all really them, and that’s why you get people who are so different and so real online. For instance, Bendis’s Tumblr is a sight (site?) to behold. As is Tom Breevort’s, who answers EVERY QUESTION someone posts.
And for everyone playing Avengers Alliance (I know there’s lots of you, because you keep sending me invites!!!), you’ll be getting a new chapter soon, including Scarlet Witch, Taskmaster, and the members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Because, really, who doesn’t want Rocket Raccoon and Groot on their superhero team?
Their announcements included expansion of the AR app (announced first here at SXSW three years ago) which will be relaunched in April with even more content and a new interface. Look at how pretty and all the new features!
They also announced the expansion of the open API for web developers, allowing websites (like BigShinyRobot) have access to their vast library of images and documents, so we can host a custom image/comic gallery here. They have had this service available, quietly, for about a month, but now after some testing, they feel confident enough with it that they are willing to open it up a little more widely.
As an added bonus, Marvel will showcase the best uses of their API at San Diego Comic-Con, so those of you who always wanted to make some cool Marvel content for your website, head over to http://developer.marvel.com/
In addition, it’s worth pointing out Marvel already started celebrating early, with a 99 cent (WHOA!) trial membership to their Marvel Digital Unlimited comics service. If you haven’t taken advantage of this, you have one week left, through March 14 (the end of SXSW) to try it out. This offer also includes discounted monthly and annual options. As someone who has this service (and paid full price for it), I can assure you it is worth it!!! DO IT!!!!
Tomorrow we are promised even more with Marvel’s second panel, the third annual “House of Ideas” at SXSW. I chatted briefly with some of the Marvel folks, and while they remain tight-lipped, they teased at least one thing we’ll see tomorrow. No, I’m not telling. But just to say it will be cool.
For Austin area folks, the House of Ideas panel is free to attend, you do not need a SXSW badge, and you will find the panel on the Comixology stage inside the Screenburn Arcade at the Palmer Events Center. Set your clocks forward tonight, and don’t be late for it, starting at 1:15 CT. For more info, check here.