An Ultimate DVD

Excelsior! The release of the straight-to-video "Ultimate Avengers" DVD marks an exciting time to be a comic book fan. With "Ultimate Avengers II" already in production, this release will hopefully start a trend of animated comic properties skipping the big screen and heading straight to stores. \nThe storyline is taken from the Marvel Comics mini-series "The Ultimate" written by Mark Millar ("Spider-Man" comics) and drawn by Bryan Hitch ("Superman" comics). The comic is part of the successful "Ultimate" comic's line that sets classic characters in a modern retelling, which ignores continuity from the Regular Marvel Comics Universe and instead focuses on compelling stories that stay true to the core of the character's identity. \n"Ultimate Avengers" begins in WWII with the last battle of Captain America. He successfully thwarts a Nazi missile launch, but in the act falls into arctic waters and is believed dead. More than 60 years later his body is found frozen and preserved thanks to the Super-Soldier Serum responsible for his heightened abilities. He is revived and recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D., who has been attempting to resurrect the Super-Soldier program for years. \nS.H.I.E.L.D.'s leader Nick Fury rallies Earth's mightiest heroes: Giantman, Black Widow, Iron Man, Thor and Wasp to join the Captain America led Avengers to fight off an alien threat. At the height of the battle, a new threat arises: Dr. Bruce Banner emerges from within their team as the Incredible Hulk.\nThe most impressive part of the animation is the artwork. Absent of any Japanese Anime influence, the cartoon has a feel and aesthetic that seems reminiscent of the early '90s Fox superhero cartoons like "Spider-man: the Animated Series" and "X-Men." At a time when everything animated seems to blend traditional American artwork with that of Anime, it is refreshing to have a film like "Ultimate Avengers."\nThe DVD has several interesting special features including an "Avengers Trivia Track." This option plays during the movie much like VH1's "Pop-Up Video" and is great for anyone with little to no prior knowledge of the characters or comics. \nThe most disappointing aspect of the movie is it's dumbing down of the source material. Miller's politically charged subtext from "The Ultimates" is lost as the film tries to be far too accessible to its audience. The film should respect the intelligence of children and avoid speaking down to them. With a PG-13 rating the movie should expect more from its audience, worrying more about delivering an intelligent and interesting storyline and less about going over the heads of younger viewers. \nOverall, the film offers a glimpse of what could be with the straight-to-video market. Hopefully the success of "Ultimate Avengers" will usher in a new era of superhero animation that will fully respect both its source material and the intelligence of its viewer.