After seeing these you will not want anything else sticking out of your usb ports. Until the Justice League ones come out. Have you seen the Avengers yet? It keeps breaking box office records as the box office were hit by Thor’s hammer. Speaking of Thor’s hammer, this Avengers Thor 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive is too awesome not to buy. It looks just like Thor’s hammer and it will hold all of your important files. It is compatible with USB 2.0/1.1., Windows ME/2000/XP/Vista/CE3.0/Mac OS 9.0/Linux2.4.0 or higher.

• Ultra portable USB Drive and lightweight design
• Plug-n-play via USB port, No installation required
• Metal usb flash drive design
• Size:1.5″(L) x 1″(W) x 1″(H)

It also has fast Transfer Rate of 25 MB/s and in Write mode: 8~12 MB/s. This makes a great addition to your USB collection or your Marvel collection. Only $39.99 from Amazon.

You might drive a Prius, but that doesn’t mean you should be rolling down the road without the Trucker’s Friend ($50). This all-purpose, all-in-one tool incorporates an axe, spanner, hammer, nail puller, tire chain hook, pry bar, and lever into a single, rugged 21-inch body. Mesh hat and Big Gulp not included. Source: Trucker’s Friend

Unless you’re a guru working in construction, you probably fear the hammer when trying to pound a nail in. We’ve all felt the pain of a swollen, bruised thumb.

But here’s a simple gadget that aims to end our phobia of hammers once and for all… a magnetic nail setter. The name says it all. The ThumbSaver features a powerful magnet that picks up nails and holds them securely in place while you use all your might to get the job done safely.

It’s about damn time.

<small>Published 4 days ago By Lou Carlozo, Green Dad columnist for dealnews

<=”" a=”" align=”right” border=”0″ height=”250″ hspace=”8″ vspace=”5″>My friend Fabulous Frank is always coming up with neat ideas and inventions; one of his best designs boasts a refrigerator with a glass door on it. And while that may mean some extra-tough cleanups, just think of the one glorious advantage it offers: “Every time you’d go to check the fridge,” he says, “you wouldn’t have to open the door to see what’s inside.” Which of course means less energy wasted.

Until Fab Frank’s fridge becomes a regular consumer option, we have our work cut out for us. Even if you have an EnergyStar refrigerator, you know these big appliances still eat electricity — about 500 kilowatt-hours per year even for the stingier models. The question is: Can we improve on that? You betcha. Below are some tips for making fridges (both standard and EnergyStar models) run more efficiently. And we’ll start with a tip that comes courtesy of Frank himself.

1) Open The Door Less

Particularly if you have kids, you know fridge doors get opened dozens and dozens of times a day. Whenever that happens, warm air rushes in, making it harder for your appliance to keep cool. Leave the doors open longer than two minutes, and you’re putting strain on the fridge. So until they invent glass doors, do what you can to limit how often and how long your doors get yanked open. With shopping trips, I lump all the refrigerated items into one big pile and then load up as fast as possible. Try determining how much time you need to shave off your loading time with this Presto Electronic Clock & Timer ($10.68 with free shipping via Prime).

2) Pack It Up, Baby

After each shopping trip, I love to stuff the fridge — and there’s a reason besides the fact that many Italian Americans like myself do this. A full fridge means that there’s less hot air that needs cooling. Of course, a stuffed fridge means poor air circulation, and any well-stocked cooler begs to be opened many times. But so long as you police your clan from peeking out of boredom (or swinging on the handles) you should come out ahead on the energy-savings side.

3) A Freezer on Top is Tops

For those of you considering a new fridge, keep in mind that not all EnergyStar models are created equal. The government’s EnergyStar website reports, “Models with top-mounted freezers use 10% to 25% less energy than bottom-mount or side-by-side models.” Besides, a bottom-mounted freezer means stooping over to get the Haagen-Dazs, which isn’t exactly my idea of how to launch an indulgent dessert experience. The GE Top Freezer Refrigerator in White or Black ($448 via “APP50B2″ with free shipping) is an inexpensive option that fits the bill.

4) Chill Out on the ice-Cube Maker

Maybe we could stand to learn something from the Europeans, who don’t take ice in their drinks. Icemakers and through-the-door dispensers not only increase a refrigerator’s price by up to $250, they also increase energy use by 14% to 20%, EnergyStar figures show. So if you have an icemaker, why not give it a rest? And if you really need crushed ice, consider the merits of these Tovolo Perfect-Cube Ice Trays (two for $14.99 with $3.99 s&h) and a hammer.

5) Location, Location, Location

This one comes courtesy of our friends at allyou.com, who point out that a fridge shouldn’t rest close to obvious hotspots. “Place your fridge away from your oven, stove top, radiator, or other heat sources, and make sure there are a few inches of space around it. The unit can nestle, but it shouldn’t abut walls, counters, or other appliances.” I suppose that means no cold storage for my Twinkie flambé, either.

6) Check the Seals and the Frost

Just as leaky window and door seals yield a drafty house, a fridge with bad seals around the doors can’t do its job well. If your seals have suffered from wear or damage, check out RepairClinic, which stocks just about every type of replacement part for large appliances. As for the frost side, it’s a good idea to periodically defrost your freezer, as that will help it work better. If you see more than a quarter-inch of frost all the way around, it’s time.

7) clean Those Coils

Dust is the enemy of many large appliances, from air conditioners to stereo systems. In the latter, dust blocking the vents can cause overheating, and dust on the coils of your fridge forces it to work harder. Getting in back of that monster may conjure visions of an emergency room visit, but tidying up isn’t hard if you consult a reliable resource, like your appliance manual. A vacuum with a crevice attachment is crucial, as is a small brush (like a paint brush) to reach more troublesome areas. Your efforts will not only keep the fridge working better, but also preserve its longevity.

Pick the Right temperature

Going colder than the preferred temperature wastes electricity, and for refrigerators, that ranges between 35 and 38 degrees, according to howstuffworks.com. There are other benefits as well to sticking in this range: “Anything higher and foods will spoil too quickly (it also presents food poisoning problems). Anything lower and freezing becomes a problem.”

Common to all these tips is one overarching principle: habit. Once you get in the habit of checking on the appliances you take for granted, they’ll reward you in kind with extended years of service and extra savings in the bank — all while making a dent in your carbon footprint.

the Macallan distillery is back with the Lalique Cire to give you limited edition Albert Watson series which was distilled in 1946. Known as a high-class celebrity photographer, Watson was honored with the Royal Photographic Society Centenary Medal recently. bottle within a rare Lalique Cire Perdue decanter, only 36 bottles of this 64-year-old single malt Scotch with a platinum print from Watson’s project will be available. Priced at $16,000 apiece, you can also look for 1,000 special variant of Albert Watson Masters of Photography which world feature 20 year old single malt bottles priced at $1,000 each. These 64-year-old bottles first surfaced at an auction at Sotheby’s and the earned a whooping $460,000.

[Justluxe]

Don’t Let A Wall Be An Obstacle to Hanging Pictures

Have you ever found the perfect piece of art for your Home, but weren’t quite sure how to hang it.

Just grabbing a hammer and a few nails may not be the right way to start hanging the art. So, before you are left with unsightly holes, chunks of plaster on the floor or your masterpiece in pieces, Danny Lipford, host of “Today’s Homeowner,” has some advice.

Lipford says one of the first steps to successfully hanging your favorite framed picture or mirror, is to choose the right picture hook or fastener for the job. To determine the right hardware, you must consider both the type of wall surface, as well as the size and weight of what you are hanging.

The three most common wall surfaces are drywall, plaster and masonry — each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Drywall is softer and therefore it is easier to insert a picture hook. The problem however, is that if inserted wrong, the picture hook can come out just as easily as it went in.

Plaster, while much harder than drywall, may hold a fastener better. Getting the fastener in may be where the challenge lies.

Masonry or brick is probably the least common but most challenging wall surface.

Drywall

With drywall, the safest and easiest way to hang a picture is to locate a stud (a vertical wood beam behind the wall) and drive a screw straight into it. If you leave a small amount of screw protruding slightly, you will be able to safely hang your picture from it. Lipford says the easiest way to locate a stud is by using an electronic “stud finder.” It is widely available for as little as $10 (although advanced models can be considerably more expensive). The device senses changes in density behind the wall and signals the area where the stud can be found.

If you don’t have a stud finder, Lipford says, you can use “low-tech” methods such as tapping the wall until the sound goes from hollow to dull, indicating the location of a stud. Also, wall or switch plates can serve as a clue because they are usually (but not always) nailed to studs. Generally, studs are an equal distance from one another (usually 16, 20 or 24 inches apart). Once you have located the center of one stud, you will be able to locate and mark studs around a room.

If a stud is not in the spot you wish to hang your picture, you must then choose the appropriate picture hooks or fasteners. Picture hooks are generally rated by how much weight they can bear, so Lipford warns to choose accordingly. For lightweight frames and mirrors, regular picture hooks, “elite” picture hooks or EZ hangers are perfectly fine, he explains. Simply hammer the nail for the hook in at an angle. This will help provide the support required.

For medium or larger pictures being hung on drywall, toggle bolts or molly bolts will provide the additional support required. Both toggle and molly bolts have wings that “expand” once inserted into a wall. A Molly bolt is a screw with a metal sleeve that splits once the screw is turned — forming wings to grip the inside of the wall. To install, drill a hole to fit the widest part of the Molly, tap it in and turn the screw to expand the wings. Once the wings have expanded, unscrew and remove the bolt, attach the object being hung and screw the bolt in tight.

A toggle bolt functions much the same as a Molly, but the installation is much simpler. Choose a bolt long enough to include the object plus the wall plus the length of the toggle when folded up and drill a hole large enough for the folded wings to pass through. Place the object being fastened to the wall over the bolt, attach the wings and then push it through the wall. Once the wings expand, simply tighten the bolt to the wall.

Lipford says a new hanging system that can make hanging pictures much easier is called “Attach-it.” Attached directly to the back of your picture, this hardware allows you to simply push your picture onto the wall. This innovative product not only effectively secures anything to the wall, the included miniature level ensures your picture hangs and stays straight, according to Lipford.

Plaster walls

Plaster walls are much harder than drywall and attempting to hammer a nail through plaster will almost certainly be futile, Lipford says. The best bet is almost always to use a masonry bit to drill a hole and insert a “wall anchor.” Anchors are sleeves that expand into the wall as you drive in a screw, providing additional grip on the wall.

To install, drill a hole just large enough to insert the anchor and, if necessary, tap the anchor until it is flush with the wall. Drive a screw into the sleeve, and either leave a small amount of screw protruding to hang your picture on, or attach a fastener to the wall. Usually anchors come packaged with the right size screw for the particular insert as well as instructions on the right size hole to drill.

Masonry

For masonry or brick walls, there are two basic options to hang a picture. The first is to once again use a masonry bit as you would for plaster walls. The other is to create a built-in picture hook by using a small amount of an epoxy mixture and inserting the picture hook into the mixture before it dries.

Allow the mixture to dry completely before hanging anything from the hook and again, be sure to choose a fastener that is rated to hold the correct amount of weight. When you decide to take the picture down, you can remove the epoxy with a chisel.

the Duchess of Windsor sure had an amazing sense of fashion jewelry. An exquisite Onyx and Diamond Panther bracelet, crafted by Cartier for Wallis Simpson along with 20 other pieces of jewelry were all brought under the hammer to create auction records of sorts. Sold by Sotheby’s for a staggering $7 million, the fine jewelry was initially touted to make only $4.6m. This diamond panther bracelet is now also the most expensive Cartier item to be sold at any auction. It was a part of a collection owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor which fetched a total of £7,975,550 ($12,417,369).

Another show stopper included a $2,679,712 worth Cartier flamingo clip crafted out of ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine and diamond. This diamond studded Panther bracelet from Cartier toppled the previous holder of the most expensive bracelet which was sold at slightly less price of $6.9 million at Christie’s.

Don’t Let A Wall Be An Obstacle to Hanging picture

Just grabbing a hammer and a few nails may not be the right way to start hanging the art. So, before you are left with unsightly holes, chunks of plaster on the floor or your masterpiece in pieces, Danny Lipford, host of “Today’s Homeowner,” has some advice.

Lipford says one of the first steps to successfully hanging your favorite framed picture or mirror, is to choose the right picture hook or fastener for the job. To determine the right hardware, you must consider both the type of wall surface, as well as the size and weight of what you are hanging.

The three most common wall surfaces are drywall, plaster and masonry — each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Drywall is softer and therefore it is easier to insert a picture hook. The problem however, is that if inserted wrong, the picture hook can come out just as easily as it went in.

Plaster, while much harder than drywall, may hold a fastener better. Getting the fastener in may be where the challenge lies.

Masonry or brick is probably the least common but most challenging wall surface.

Drywall

With drywall, the safest and easiest way to hang a picture is to locate a stud (a vertical wood beam behind the wall) and drive a screw straight into it. If you leave a small amount of screw protruding slightly, you will be able to safely hang your picture from it. Lipford says the easiest way to locate a stud is by using an electronic “stud finder.” It is widely available for as little as $10 (although advanced models can be considerably more expensive). The device senses changes in density behind the wall and signals the area where the stud can be found.

If you don’t have a stud finder, Lipford says, you can use “low-tech” methods such as tapping the wall until the sound goes from hollow to dull, indicating the location of a stud. Also, wall or switch plates can serve as a clue because they are usually (but not always) nailed to studs. Generally, studs are an equal distance from one another (usually 16, 20 or 24 inches apart). Once you have located the center of one stud, you will be able to locate and mark studs around a room.

If a stud is not in the spot you wish to hang your picture, you must then choose the appropriate picture hooks or fasteners. Picture hooks are generally rated by how much weight they can bear, so Lipford warns to choose accordingly. For lightweight frames and mirrors, regular picture hooks, “elite” picture hooks or EZ hangers are perfectly fine, he explains. Simply hammer the nail for the hook in at an angle. This will help provide the support required.

For medium or larger pictures being hung on drywall, toggle bolts or molly bolts will provide the additional support required. Both toggle and molly bolts have wings that “expand” once inserted into a wall. A Molly bolt is a screw with a metal sleeve that splits once the screw is turned — forming wings to grip the inside of the wall. To install, drill a hole to fit the widest part of the Molly, tap it in and turn the screw to expand the wings. Once the wings have expanded, unscrew and remove the bolt, attach the object being hung and screw the bolt in tight.

A toggle bolt functions much the same as a Molly, but the installation is much simpler. Choose a bolt long enough to include the object plus the wall plus the length of the toggle when folded up and drill a hole large enough for the folded wings to pass through. Place the object being fastened to the wall over the bolt, attach the wings and then push it through the wall. Once the wings expand, simply tighten the bolt to the wall.

Lipford says a new hanging system that can make hanging pictures much easier is called “Attach-it.” Attached directly to the back of your picture, this hardware allows you to simply push your picture onto the wall. This innovative product not only effectively secures anything to the wall, the included miniature level ensures your picture hangs and stays straight, according to Lipford.

Plaster walls

Plaster walls are much harder than drywall and attempting to hammer a nail through plaster will almost certainly be futile, Lipford says. The best bet is almost always to use a masonry bit to drill a hole and insert a “wall anchor.” Anchors are sleeves that expand into the wall as you drive in a screw, providing additional grip on the wall.

To install, drill a hole just large enough to insert the anchor and, if necessary, tap the anchor until it is flush with the wall. Drive a screw into the sleeve, and either leave a small amount of screw protruding to hang your picture on, or attach a fastener to the wall. Usually anchors come packaged with the right size screw for the particular insert as well as instructions on the right size hole to drill.

Masonry

For masonry or brick walls, there are two basic options to hang a picture. The first is to once again use a masonry bit as you would for plaster walls. The other is to create a built-in picture hook by using a small amount of an epoxy mixture and inserting the picture hook into the mixture before it dries.

Allow the mixture to dry completely before hanging anything from the hook and again, be sure to choose a fastener that is rated to hold the correct amount of weight. When you decide to take the picture down, you can remove the epoxy with a chisel.

Spider-man, as a character, is fast approaching his 50th anniversary in comics. Andhile his video game exploits don’t run nearly as long (yet), ol’ web-head has seen his fair share of adventure in the realm of gaming. With the impending launch of Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, we’re paying tribute to the red and blue pajama web-slinger with a video game history lesson, covering the past twenty years of Spidey adventures; from the Commodore days to the current next gen gaming landscape.

1990: The Amazing Spider-Man

Developed in 1990 for Commodore’s Amiga system, “The Amazing Spider-Man” (pictured left) was an action platformer with Spidey out on a mission to save his wife Mary Jane from the fish-bowl helmet clutches of his nemesis Mysterio. In order to find and save his wife, Spider-Man needed to navigate a series of environments inspired by classic film, designed by Mysterio the cinephile. The early/mid 90’s were a good time for ol’ web-head in the realm of video games, and it all started here with “The Amazing Spider-Man” by Oxford Digital Enterprises.

1990: The Amazing Spider-Man vs. Kingpin (aka Spider-Man)

“The Amazing Spider-Man vs. Kingpin” was the first Spider-Man title to hit Sega’s consoles. The game premiered on the Master System and was later ported over to the Mega Drive/Genesis, Game gear, and finally the Sega CD. The game was a critical success, noted for its faithful adaptation of the comic characters to video game form, as well as its winks and nods to the Spidey mythos; like taking photos and selling them to the Daily Bugle in order to purchase more web-fluid. Also, depending which platform you purchased the game for, you were treated to different levels, updated graphics and minor improvements to gameplay. For Sega CD players, there were also alternate endings, one of which saw Mary Jane thrown in a vat of acid with the Kingpin escaping. Ouch, Spidey, tough break.

1991-1993: The Amazing Spider-Man (Game Boy trilogy)

From 1991 to 1993, three Spider-Man games were created for the Nintendo Game Boy. The first, entitled “The Amazing Spider-Man,” was created by Rareware and saw Peter Parker donning the red and blue on a quest to, once again, save Mary Jane from a group of supervillains. The second title, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” released the following year, this time developed by B.I.T.S., and was a side-scrolling beat-um-up were Spidey attempted to clear his name after being set-up by the Hobgoblin and wrongly accused for crimes committed. Finally, in 1993 the same team that developed the sequel, B.I.T.S., released the third title in the trilogy, “Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers.” This game’s story ran in tandem with a storyline currently sweeping through the Spidey comics where Manhattan was being attacked by deadly spider robots.

1992: Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six

“Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six” was the first Spider-Man video game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was developed by B.I.T.S. (developer of the Game Boy Spidey trilogy) and was an action platformer with Spider-Man trying to beat each member of the Sinister Six; Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, Hobgoblin, Vulture and Doc Octopus. The game was later ported over to Sega’s consoles and featured updated graphics.

1992: Spider-Man/X-men: arcade’s Revenge

Don’t let the title fool you, this was was not an arcade, coin-op title. Instead, the title refers to the game’s villain, who had captured four members of the X-Men (Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm and Gambit), making it Spider-Man’s job to rescue them and save the day. That’s right, Spidey saving Wolverine’s ass. This game was also the first Spidey title to release cross platform in the 16-bit era, first on the Super Nintendo in 1992, later on the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1993. “Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade’s Revenge” was later ported to the Game Boy and Game Gear handhelds.

1994: Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage

Being a gamer of the 16-bit era, that red game shell is hard to forget. In the mid 1990s, Marvel kicked down the doors with two major Spider-Man storylines in the pages of the comic, both of which were adapted into video games. The first title was “Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage” (pictured below right) releasing on the Super Nintendo and Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994. The game featured a plethora of characters from the entire Marvel Universe and is widely regarded one of the greatest Spider-Man video games of all time, mostly due to the nostalgia factor amongst gamers.

1995: Spider-Man and Venom: Separation Anxiety

As mentioned prior, the second Spider-Man video game based off a major comic storyline in the mid 1990s was “Separation Anxiety.” Much like its predecessor, “Maximum Carnage,” “Separation Anxiety” was a side-scrolling beat-um-up where you played as Spider-Man or Venom and set out to stop the evil symbiote Carnage. “Separation Anxiety” also featured a surplus of Marvel cameos, but was unfortunately met with much less fanfare than “Maximum Carnage.”

1995: Spider-Man

Due to the success of “Spider-Man: The Animated Series,” Western Technologies and publisher Acclaim released “Spider-Man” for the Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, incorporating elements from the wildly popular cartoon. Much like previous Spidey games, “Spider-Man” was a side-scrolling action platformer. However, the list of boss characters was quite impressive with everyone from The Owl, Rhino, Hammerhead and Green Goblin represented. “Spider-Man” also featured an appearance by the Fantastic Four.

1996: Spider-Man: Web of Fire

By 1996 the Sega 32X was dying. As one of the last titles released for the add-on, Sega teamed with Acclaim to publish their first Spidey game since “The Amazing Spider-Man vs. Kingpin.” The new title, “Spider-Man: Web of Fire,” saw Spidey teaming up with Daredevil to stop a HYDRA invasion of New York City. However, the game did not perform well critically, being panned for its ridiculous difficulty, awful controls and sub-par visuals.
2000: Spider-Man

By the end of the 1990s Marvel wasn’t doing so well. The company was gearing up to file for bankruptcy and thus explains the lack of Spider-Man video games between 1996 and 2000. However, things quickly turned around for Marvel and before we knew it, the company was licensing out their characters again for film and games. In 2000, Activision published their first (of many) Spider-Man titles in Neversoft’s “Spider-Man” for the Sony PlayStation. The game was critically acclaimed, labeled by many as the “best Spider-Man game ever.” “Spider-Man” boasted alternate costumes, a “What If” mode, and the first 3D web-slingin’ action Spider-Man had seen in gaming. Soon thereafter the Spider-Man games would become completely open-world sandbox titles – all inspiration can be traced back to Neversoft’s “Spider-Man” as the foundation for the formula.

2001: Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro

“Enter Electro” is the sequel to Neversoft’s “Spider-Man.” The game featured the same voice actor for Spider-Man, Rino Romano, and focused on Spider-Man stopping Electro from obtaining the Bio-Nexus Device. “Enter Electro” featured many of the same gameplay mechanics as Neversoft’s previous Spider-Man effort, and thus, was criticized in reviews. However, the game did sell well enough to become a PlayStation Greatest Hits title.

2002: Spider-Man: The Movie

Taking its cues from Neversoft’s “Spider-Man,” Treyarch adapted the first “Spider-Man” film into video game form in 2002 with “Spider-Man: The Movie,” developed for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC. “Spider-Man: The Movie” was also the first time aerial combat was integrated into the Spider-Man titles, allowing Spidey to freely web-sling around NYC.

2004: Spider-Man 2: The Game

With a new Spider-Man film comes a new Spider-Man licensed tie-in game. “Spider-Man 2: The Game” was once again developed by Treyarch and extended the “openness” of the series, allowing players complete control over their NYC web-slingin’. Gamers could choose to solely focus on the game’s narrative driven missions–recreating the plot of the second Spidey film with some liberties–or participate in a large number of side-quests to build hero points and upgrade Spidey’s abilities. The free-form, open structure of “Spider-Man 2: The Game” became the cornerstone for all Spider-Man video games in years following.

2005: Ultimate Spider-Man

In this humble writer’s opinion, “Ultimate Spider-Man” remains the greatest Spider-Man video game to date. The cel-shaded graphical style was perfectly fitting for a comic-based video game, the story–written by comic writer Brian Michael Bendis–played into the continuity of the “Ultimate Spider-Man” comic, and the gameplay–both as Spider-Man and Venom–was wildly addictive. “Ultimate Spider-Man” can also be seen as the pinnacle of Treyarch’s work on the Spider-Man video game franchise.

2007: Spider-Man 3

By 2007 and the release of “Spider-Man 3″ in theaters, the Spider-Man video game blueprint was beginning to feel stale. While “Spider-Man 3: The Game” sported a new plot and a larger version of New York City to explore, the sense of innovation and freshness in the series had all but disappeared. That’s not to say “Spider-Man 3″ was a bad game, it wasn’t, but the Spidey franchise needed a kick-start in a new creative direction.

2007: Spider-Man: Friend or Foe

A fresh interpretation of the “Spider-Man” films, “Spider-Man: Friend or Foe” felt like the classic Spidey brawlers of old mixed with the tongue-in-cheek humor of the LEGO video games. “Spider-Man: Friend or Foe” could be played solo or cooperatively, and allowed players to convert classic Spidey villians into sidekicks once defeated in boss battles. The game also had levels set in Tokyo, Egypt and Nepal, to name but a few. This was definitely a change of pace from what we’ve seen in previous Spider-Man games. And while “Spider-Man: Friend or Foe” was not a critical or commercial success, it did show that Activision was approaching their Spidey games with some much needed lateral thinking in an attempt to make them fun and relevant again.

2008: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

It’s fitting that the Spider-Man game with the darkest plot also represents the darkest point in Spider-Man video game franchise history. Even with two distinctly different playstyles–depending on costume of choice–and an original plot, “Spider-Man: Web of Shadows” felt like the same old thing all over again. The game also lacked polish, making it incredibly frustrating at times. Spider-Man games, at this point, were a joke. “Web of Shadows” was the final nail in the coffin. There needed to be a radical shift in approach if we were going to be excited by a Spidey game ever again.

2010: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

“Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions” (pictured above left) represents the dawning of a new creative era for Spider-Man video games. By studying everything that has come before, cherry-picking the best elements, and melting it all together, “Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions” looks to be the ultimate Spider-Man video game. Featuring four completely distinct universes (Amazing, Ultimate, 2099, Noir)–all with unique gameplay styles–and a plot written by comic scribe Dan Slott, “Shattered Dimensions” is exactly what the Spider-Man video game franchise needs as a kick in the pants to reinvigorate this limping franchise. Time will tell if it gets the job done. Here’s to the future!

Thor trailer is here and it looks AMAZING!!!

the first and extended 5-minute trailer for the highly-anticipated <strong>Thor, which was debuted at San Diego Comic Con, has now hit the web.

The epic adventure Thor spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, in Thor, Chris Hemsworth portrays the title character with Tom Hiddleston in the role of Thor’s brother Loki, and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Additionally, the studio has cast Academy Award® winning actor Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Renee Russo as Frigga, Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Tadanobu Asano as Hogun, Josh Dallas as Fandral, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Idris Elba as Heimdall, as well as Colm Feore, Kat Dennings and award-winning actor Stellan Skarsgård.

The screenplay for Thor was penned by Mark Protosevich as well as Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz, and Don Payne. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige will produce the film. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, and Marvel Studio’s Co-President, Louis d’Esposito, will executive produce.

The film is slated for release in theatres domestically on May 6, 2011 via Paramount Pictures which will alsorelease the film on a worldwide basis.

The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Who is Thor?

Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug. 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.

Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character is based on the Thor of Norse mythology. He has starred in several ongoing series and limited series, and has been a perennial member of the superhero team the Avengers, appearing in each of the four volumes. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series; clothing; toys; trading cards and video games.

A self-titled film based on the character and comic is scheduled to be released in May 2011, with Kenneth Branagh as director and Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor. Hemsworth is also contracted to reappear as Thor in the film The Avengers, set to be released in 2012.

Powers and abilities

Like all Asgardians, Thor is not truly immortal but relies upon periodic consumption of the Golden Apples of Idunn to sustain his lifespan, which to date has lasted many millennia. Being the son of Odin and the elder goddess Gaea, Thor is physically the strongest of the Norse gods, and has performed such feats as almost lifting the entire World Serpent^[129] (stated to encircle the Earth multiple times)^[130] knocking out the Abomination with a single blow,^[131] crumbling uru to dust,^[132] breaking the Silver Surfer’s force field with a single blow,^[133] and hurling the Odinsword, an enormous mystical blade of incalculable weight, through a Celestial.^[36] If pressed in battle, Thor is also capable of entering into a state known as the “Warrior’s Madness” (“berserksgangr” in Norse), which will temporarily increase his strength tenfold, although in this state he attacks friend and foe alike.^[134] In the Warriors Madness he struck Beta Ray Bill with enough force to destroy the planet they were on.^[135] In early comics he showed the power to telepathically communicate with Odin while Don Blake.^[136]

Thor also possesses a very high resistance to physical injury that approaches invulnerability; (e.g. he can withstand rocket fire;^[137] intense cold and heat;^[138] falls from orbital heights^[139] and the gravity of a neutron star^[140]) superhuman senses (“super-breath”);^[141] the ability to travel through time;^[142][143] ventriloquism;^[136] tracking objects traveling faster than light;^[144] hearing cries from the other side of the planet^[145]); his stamina allowed him to battle the entire Frost Giant army for Nine Months without any sustenance or rest;^[146] Thor has also shown the ability to regenerate wounded portions of his body,^[147] including entire limbs or organs, with the aid of magical forces like Mjolnir,^[148] or the Odin Force^{[volume & issue needed]}; speed; agility and reflexes enabling him to deflect bullets with his hammer^[149] and make trenches before even Quicksilver could react.^[150] Like all Asgardians he has immunity to all Earthly diseases and some resistance to magic. However, exceptionally powerful magic , like Dormammu‘s, can overwhelm the enchantment that transforms him between immortal and mortal forms.^[151]

As the Norse god of Thunder, Thor can summon the elements of the storm (lightning; rain; wind; snow) and uses Mjolnir as a tool to focus this ability, although the hammer cannot command artificial weather. He can cause these weather effects all over the world and destroy entire buildings; by whirling his hammer he can also lift entire buildings with the wind.^[132] As the son of the Earth goddess Gaea, Thor has shown some control over the Earth.^[152]

Thor is a superb hand-to-hand combatant, and also skilled in armed combat, excelling in the use of the war hammer, sword and mace. Thor possesses two items which assist him in combat: the enchanted Belt of Strength, and his mystical hammer Mjolnir. The first item doubles Thor’s strength and endurance^[153] while the second is used to control his weather abilities; flight; energy projection and absorption; dimensional travel; matter manipulation and the most powerful of his offensives, the God Blast (which taps into Thor’s life force and has driven back a weakened Galactus),^[154] the Thermo-blast (which has challenged Ego the Living Planet),^[155] and the Anti-Force (which counteracts another force).^[156] Using Mjolnir, Thor can also travel at supersonic speeds in Earth’s atmosphere and travel faster than light in space. Thor also uses a chariot drawn by two huge mystical goats called Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder.^[157] He can throw an object out of Earth’s atmosphere using his strength,^[158] and throw his hammer to Asgard from where it will return.^[159]

After Odin’s death, Thor inherited his father’s power, the Odinforce. Thor becomes capable of feats such as reconstructing the Earth’s Moon,^[160] willing the Asgardian monster Mangog into nothingness,^[161] and, by focusing his entire power into a hammer throw, decapitating a Desak-occupied Destroyer.^[162] Thor also acquires mastery of the Runes, and a level of enlightenment that allows him to free Asgard from the eternal cycle of Ragnarok.^[163]

Donald Blake is a highly trained and licensed physician and surgeon.

When Mjolnir was damaged, the Odinforce was transferred by Doctor Strange from Thor to the hammer, as Strange claims the power is required to restore it. However, doing so has also bound Thor’s own life force into Mjolnir, meaning that if the hammer were to be broken again, Thor may also die