We've featured artist Dave Williams before, on account of this excellent X-Men: First Class poster he did last year. He's still doing great minimalist Marvel work, taking on Captain America, Thor, and of course the big one - The Avengers!

OK, it's gotten to the point that Marvel can just release any old still of two characters doing nothing in The Avengers, and I squee. Case in point, here's a pic of Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, possibly deciding how hard they're going to kick Loki's ass, possibly bidding on obscure parts for the Heilcarrier. Either way, Im' psyched.

"Verily, it doth come." Thor faces off against Phoenix on Jerome Opena's variant cover for Avengers vs. X-Men #4.

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

Louise and Walt Simonson will be appearing at MoCCA on Saturday (January 28), along with Bob Wiacek, Chris Sotomayer, and John Workman, as well as moderator Danny Fingeroth. If you're in the New York area, I definitely recommend this one. Here are the details:

COMICS OUT LOUD
Saturday, January 28, 2012 1:00 - 5:00PM
Featuring: LOUISE SIMONSON, WALTER SIMONSON, BOB WIACEK,
CHRIS SOTOMAYOR and JOHN WORKMAN
Curated by DANNY FINGEROTH

Comic books (and their cousins, graphic novels) are something we're all familiar with from childhood on. But if you're not involved in making them, how they come to be can seem a little mysterious and intimidating. Now, the curtain is pulled back as comics editor and writer DANNY FINGEROTH, in collaboration with the SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS presents: COMICS OUT LOUD

In a manner similar to the Society's acclaimed ART OUT LOUD events, COMICS OUT LOUD will feature top comic book creators-one from each discipline of the medium-demonstrating and discussing their work processes as attendees circulate around the room and watch the process of "sequential art" (as the great Will Eisner dubbed it) being made.

You'll get to watch writer LOUISE SIMONSON, penciler WALT SIMONSON, inker BOB WIACEK, colorist CHRIS SOTOMAYOR, and letterer JOHN WORKMAN as they ply their crafts. Each creator will be working on a current assignment, so that attendees will get a sense of how team-created comics come to be. Event organizer, and longtime comics editor, DANNY FINGEROTH, will be on hand to discuss and demonstrate the role of the editor in the comic book making process.

COMICS OUT LOUD will be a rare opportunity to see top creators doing (and speaking about) their work. You will have the chance to find out everything you always wanted to know about making comics, but were afraid (or didn't even know) to ask!

$50 non-members, $40 members, $20 students
Food will be available for an additional $5.

Reservations are limited. To reserve your spot, go to:
http://www.societyillustrators.org/Product.aspx?id=7341


There will be two 15 minute breaks that will be designated for book and print signing.

Marvel has revealed Alan Davis' cover art for Secret Avengers #26, featuring Thor leading the team into space on a possible suicide mission.

• Avx Tie-In!
• Thor Leads A Secret Team Of Avengers On A Suicide Mission To Stop The Phoenix By Any Means Necessary!

Actor Tom Hiddleston spoke with Empire about his role as Loki in Thor, The Avengers, and the upcoming Thor 2. According to Hiddleston, shooting on the Thor sequel is scheduled to begin soon:

... without revealing too much, there's a specific skill set you need to be Loki's army - let me know if you have the qualifications. And all I know about Thor 2 is that we're supposed to film it in London in the summer and that it's being directed by Alan Taylor.

Verily, he's a pinball wizard - there hath to be a twist! You've seen the X-Men table for Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue, now here's a look at the Thor table and some more details on the game.

Thor Revealed as the final Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue Table

The Norse God of Thunder Defends Asgard and Strikes Pinball Brilliance

Los Angeles, CA – December 5, 2011 – Zen Studios and Marvel Entertainment today announced Thor as the final character in the upcoming Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtuefour-table pack, available for download next week for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points (as DLC for Pinball FX2) and $9.99 on PlayStation®Network (as DLC for Marvel Pinball). With tables for “vengeful” characters Moon Knight and Ghost Rider already announced, Thor joins the X-Men to round out the collection’s “virtuous” side.

Venturing throughout the Nine Realms, Thor must defend Asgard against his mischievous half-brother Loki and the ferocious power of the Destroyer armor, as well as the evils of the fire demon Surtur, and Ymir, ruler of the Frost Giants. Thor unleashes strikes of brilliant lightning and hurls his powerful hammer Mjolnir on this visually striking table that boasts more animations than any other to date in the critically acclaimed Marvel Pinball series.

Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue will be available for download on December 13 on PSN and December 14 on XBLA. This brand new four-table pack will integrate seamlessly to Pinball FX2 on Xbox LIVE® Arcade, and Marvel Pinball on PlayStation®Network.

Patty Jenkins (Monster) is stepping down as director for Thor 2. Jenkins, who took over the reigns of the franchise when Kenneth Branagh decided that he wouldn't return for the sequel, is reportedly leaving over creative differences. Apparently the differences weren't such that her departure is on negative terms, as Deadline is reporting that Jenkins will likely be directing another of Marvel's films, just not a sequel.

Marvel is expected to announce a replacement for Jenkins shortly, as they have little time to spare if Thor 2 is to make it's schedule release date of November 15, 2013.

Marvel has rolled out some new images of the character designs for the upcoming Marvel Universe Online MMO. I've already featured the designs for Wolverine, and below we have Captain America, Thor, The Thing and Iron Man. Check 'em out, and let me know what you think!