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Blog @ Newsarama reports that the upcoming “Captain America” film will be a period piece set in World War II.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige also confirmed that the mysterious object in the “Iron Man” film was in fact Captain America’s shield.

He also confirmed that a large portion of the upcoming “Thor” film would be set in Asgard.

I think this is good news on the “Captain America” front — first film during World War II, then revive him in the “Avengers” movie.  I’d also recommend the “Adventures of Captain America” by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire, as a good starting point for a movie storyline.

– Matt Price

It’s hard to believe that a few years ago, “Avengers” was a comic that Marvel couldn’t get anybody excited about. Somehow, Jack of Hearts and a female Captain Britain just weren’t drawing in the crowds.

Nowadays, the Avengers are everywhere you look and the roster(s) include a pretty diverse group of heroes. Come on — Spider-Man and Wolverine on the same team? Luke Cage going from street-level crime to fighting would-be world conquerors?

But while “Mighty” and “New” varieties are selling well, the Avengers book that most appeals to me these days is “Marvel Adventures Avengers” and issue 24 is a prime reason why. Yes, there’s Spidey and Wolverine and sometimes Iron Man, but the similarities end there.

These Avengers have some done-in-one adventures that feature lots of fun fighting and clever banter with stories a little lighter in tone. In issue 24, the team finds themselves fighting over the littlest things. And not just squabbling over lunch — they’re pounding on each other in the streets.

This series plays fast and loose with characters and I love it. The Hulk, usually a member, stays far away for fear of getting too angry. Giant Girl (better known as The Wasp in the 616 universe) and Storm fight about their hair. But the best joke of the book comes from a non-dead Steve Rogers in his Captain America costume, when he’s blamed for starting a fight with a tiny Ant-Man by rolling an ear of corn his way:

“That’s the way we ate our lunch back in the war! We rolled it first!”

The villain is an old Marvel favorite, though the reason for his villainy is pretty novel. And that’s what makes this book great issue after issue — writer Jeff Parker is having a ball writing a book that doesn’t take a ridiculous situation too seriously. Come on, like seeing a bunch of grown men and women wearing spandex and masks wouldn’t make you laugh.

This one is highly recommended, especially if you have kids, or just like remembering what it was like to be one.

 – Greg Elwell 

One of the unintended consequences of “Secret Invasion” is that I can no longer enjoy reading anything connected to the event without wondering if I’m going to learn anymore super-sexy Skrull secrets.

(Oddly, I first typed Skrull Seacrest, which would make a lot of sense.)

This issue, like the last, doesn’t advance the story so much as fill in the background. We are treated to some more of Jarvis worming his way into the Avengers’ systems and some pretty rational Skrull discussions on who to replace and why.

All credit to Brian Michael Bendis for really getting into that alien conqueror headspace. His reasoning regarding replacing the Sentry or anyone near him is compelling and the plan that goes ahead is represented in what we’ve already seen in “Secret Invasion” 1 and 2.

If I’m being totally honest, the only big downsides to this issue are a lack of reveals and the mediocre, though not bad, pencilling by Khoi Pham. I’d prefer to see more of Michael Gaydos’ work, as in last issue, and even a return to some of the previous issue’s storytelling. This one feels light on content and the art saps much of the cliffhanger’s drama due to poor page design.

When I go back to re-read my Mighty Avengers run, I won’t skip over issue 14 — I just won’t worry about flipping through the pages on my way to better future issues.

– Greg Elwell

The World War II superheroes of what would become Marvel Comics became “The Invaders” under the pen of Roy Thomas in the 1970s, writing about their 1940s adventures. Captain America, Bucky, Namor, the Human Torch and Toro socked it to the Axis powers for 41 issues.

There have been some revivals since, but the Alex Ross/Jim Krueger/Stephen Sadowski “Avengers-Invaders” 12-issue series has to be the most high-profile of the lot.

Ross co-plots with Krueger, and provides the covers, similar to the working arrangement on “Earth X.” Sadowski provides the pencils.

In 1943, Bucky narrates a mission of the Invaders, reintroducing the team to modern audiences.

Flashing forward to Manhattan, the same man who saw the Invaders as a soldier in the 1940s sees the Thunderbolts and Spider-Man battling in Manhattan.

“These are not heroes,” the old man says. “I knew heroes.”

Cue the Invaders, coming through a time portal of some sort into Manhattan.

After an Invaders-Thunderbolts dustup, Spidey remarks at Captain America, apparently back to life in his prime. As the issue closes, Iron Man looks at a screen bearing the image of Captain America.

There’s obviously some thematic tying in with this series to “Civil War.” The problem with it is mainly timing — how does this fit in with the current “Secret Invasion” story? Especially given that there’s a Captain America (ostensibly) from the past running around there, too?

It’s probably not fair to judge the creative team’s work simply on a scheduling issue, however. As a first issue, it’s interesting, though not as immediately compelling as the first issues of either “Earth X” or “Kingdom Come.”

Sadowski’s a professional; he makes each of the stream of various costumed characters a distinct individual.

– Matt Price

According to Marvel’s first-quarter financial report received by Newsarama, Marvel has slated an “Iron Man”sequel and a ”Thor” film for 2010, and two “Avenger-themed” movies in summer 2011: “Captain America” in May and “The Avengers” in July.

 – Matt Price