Marvel One Shots

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I was sick over this last weekend.  I was still trying to get Oscar nominees out while I could but it was very hard to pay attention while trying not to succumb to the NyQuil coma.  At some point on Sunday, or maybe it was Monday, I just said "to hell with it" and broke out my Phase One box set.  Nothing helps you get over a cold like some Marvel goodness.

If you haven't seen any of the short films Marvel has included on their major releases (called One Shots), you owe it to yourself to check them out.  Chances are good you already own the movies anyway so why not spend a little extra time with them?

First up is The Consultant:  basically just an extended bit from the end credits sequence of The Incredible Hulk, it does introduce SHIELD Agent Sitwell (Maximiliano Hernandez), who shows up later.  Plus, any extra time with Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is always worthwhile.  The two agents meet at a diner to discuss how they should handle SHIELD's request to bring on The Abomination to the Avengers Initiative.  Coulson thinks it's a terrible idea so they want to make sure General Ross (William Hurt) is so offended by the suggestion, or at least by the suggester, that he'll never agree.  Included on the Thor blu-ray.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer:  Even SHIELD agents have to stop for gas and road munchies, and Agent Coulson is no exception.  On his way to New Mexico to investigate the appearance of Mjolnir, he is saved from trying to decide between powdered donuts and fudge donuts by the attempted robbery of the gas station.  Included on the Captain America:  The First Avenger blu-ray.

Item 47:  A down-on-their-luck couple think they've discovered the answer to their money troubles when Ben (Jesse Bradford) manages to activate a fallen Chitauri weapon.  He and Claire (Lizzie Caplan) go on a bank-robbing spree before Agent Sitwell (Maximiliano Hernandez) is sent to retrieve the alien artifact.  Included on The Avengers blu-ray.

Agent Carter:  Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is having a hard time adjusting to post-war and post-Captain America life.  Her boss (Bradley Whitford) is a sexist jerk and she spends more time pushing paper than kicking ass.  But when a late-night mission comes in, Peggy sets out to prove that she's more than up to the challenge.  Included on the Iron Man 3 blu-ray.

Ranging from only a couple of minutes to about half an hour, each little piece brings something awesome.  The latter two were intended to set up TV shows Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and the yet-to-be-announced Agent Carter.  The plan is to have one of these attached to each new release, with All Hail the King being the latest.  I haven't seen that one yet but I'll be sure to mention it when I do.