Phantasmic Links 7.26.10

I suppose I can sum up this weekend by saying I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I caught a matinee of Inception, and thought it was great, a concept with many layers that was complex without being incomprehensible, and had great performances. I may write more about it later in the week after my brain has had time to process it. The bad news is that my Aunt Josie, who hadn't been doing well due to cancer, passed away. It doesn't seem real yet, and will probably fully sink in once we've gone to the wake on Tuesday and funeral on Wednesday. My dad seems fine so far, but I'm worried about how the first loss of one of his siblings will affect his health. I may write more about this as well after my brain has had time to process it. Right now, it's enough to assemble this week's PHANTASMIC LINKS:

(1) But first, let's get a first look at the Avengers assembled! Joss Whedon is officially directing! What beloved character will he shockingly kill off when we least expect it? Mark Ruffalo officially replaces Edward Norton! He's a great actor; will he be as good a Bruce Banner? Jeremy Renner is officially playing Hawkeye! Who is this guy, and when will I get around to renting The Hurt Locker to find out why fans think he'll make a great Clint Barton?

(2) Kevin Bacon is going to appear in X-Men: First Class! Why has he never done a comic book movie before, and what films might have been better with his involvement?

(3) “HULC smash!” No, this one isn't actually comic book related, but rather a new military exoskeleton, the Human Universal Load Carrier. So it's more like, “HULC carry a lot of heavy equipment!”

(4) In a Great Comic that Never Happened, behold an untold undercover adventure of Jimmy Olsen. Just remember that some things, once seen, cannot be unseen....

(5) Darth Vader: Bank Robber. Hey, fully armed and operational battle stations don't finance themselves....
Hat Tip: J-No.

(6) Beware the perils of using Comic Sans....

(7) What secrets lie in The Illusionist's Dream? Take on the forms of various animals as you delve deep into his subconscious seeking something you've lost....

(8) In Romania, a ”Happy Cemetary” has painted, etched images of the deceased on either side of each tombstone. One side illustrates how each person lived; the other, how he or she died....

(9) In case you were wondering, here's how to make a Daft Punk helmet in just 17 months! (I think the video is sped up slightly....)

(10) The Enchanted Cave is the perfect mental escape. Navigate down 100 levels of dungeons. Use “Escape Wings” to get out with all your elite loot and gems, so you can make it a little further each time. It's like chess meeting an RPG.

Have a link to a game, movie, article, or anything else you think might be “phantasmic”? E-mail me and it just might appear in an upcoming PHANTASMIC LINKS!