Ever since the announcement at last years San Diego Comicon, there's been firestorm of debate as to whether or not Marvel Productions' choice to approach Joss Whedon to helm easily the riskiest project in the history of comic related films was a smart move: taking 4 successful Marvel film franchises, putting them under the umbrella of a single title, The Avengers. The guy who did Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel? Really? Yes, really. The guy who produced, wrote and directed a short lived sciencefiction/western called Firefly which had gained such a cult following by the time it was canceled that he got a chance to make a boxoffice success called Serenity? Yes. He's perfect for the job. In his film and tv work Whedon probably had to spend his time multitasking between a large cast, writing-editing-rewriting scripts, maintaining a sense of continuity between television episodes and film scenes while providing larger than life yet relateable characters. He's done that and with a sense of humor that's practically become a trademark of his work. He even has lesser known writing credits for Toy Story and Titan A.E and an uncredited draft of Twister. But most of this is all general knowledge for tv and filmwatchers. The biggest reason he'll pull it off is his work in comics.
In 2005 he started what has become one of the most successful ongoing Xmen titles in years: The Astonishing Xmen. He's managed to bring all his experiences in film production to the pages of a popular comic, monthly deadlines, maintaining plotlines, juggling and developing a large cast and his sense of humor. But he also provided something that nobody expected. A sense of drama to his work.
While maintaining the offbeat sense of adventure that he's known for, he's managed to stay true to the main themes, social commentary and moral dilemmas, that the best Xmen writers have pulled off for years. Human drama. He's done all that and it's bound to show up in The Avengers next year.
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