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The first blockbuster of the summer is finally here: The Avengers, with Joss Whedon at the helm and all the actors you would expect in their various rolls. If you have been going to the movies for the past handful of years you have been watching them build up to this one, movie by movie. If you haven’t, no need to panic, because you can do them ALL AT ONCE!!!! Two different theater chains are running marathons of all 6 of the movies (yes, I know there are way more than 6 Marvel movies, but in this instance we are only talking about the 6 leading up to the Avengers, and even at that they are only including the second Hulk movie, where I think they should have started with Hulk 1), select Cinemark theaters will let you watch them all for $20 for the set, assuming you are close enough to one of the theaters with the deal and they haven’t already sold out, while AMC has the same deal going for the same set of movies at twice the price. In order, the films for the marathons are: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor 3D, Captain America 3D, and The Avengers 3D.

Not exactly a top week for movies on DVD, the only genre flic I could find was Thunderstorm: Return of Thor, based on a comic book version of the god published by Fox Comics back in the 1940s. While I found the concept interesting, I am underwhelmed by its execution, and would sooner recommend the non-genre Haywire, which is at least a fun action romp. Or if you are interested in a documentary, Films Of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie is a lot of fun, giving some background and history along with some interviews to tell you how we got here.

In TV The Invisible Man: The Complete Series is the 1975 David McCallum version, which took place between his Man from Uncle and his VR.5 series. Also out this week, Curiosity with Stephen Hawkings has a first rate mind looking at the creation of the universe.

Story Corps: Animated Shorts is an animated subset of one of the biggest oral history projects ever attempted, put together by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. If you have been following their broadcasts on NPR or listening to their podcasts, you will probably want to check this one out.

In Anime the new release is Psychic Squad: Collection 1, a story of 3 young psychic girls and the guy who has to try to keep them on mission in the field. His survival, and the planet’s, are both in question. There streaming service is not available in my part of the world, depending on where you are you may have better luck (it is all a matter of licensing).

Finally, Dirty Pair: Features DVD Collection is being re-released by Right Stuff, becoming available for the first time in the US since ADV went out of business. If you already have ADV’s Dirty Pair Movie Collection this is the same set, but if you don’t it will bring you closer to completing your collection.

The maniacs at Robot Chicken have a new special coming out, and the target this time is the superheroes of DC Comics. I think the fun part is going to be the cast, which includes Nathan Fillion (Green Lantern); Megan Fox (Lois Lane); Seth Green (Aquaman, Batman, Robin); Neil Patrick Harris (Two-Face); Breckin Meyer (Superman); Alfred Molina (Lex Luthor); and Paul Reubens (The Riddler). It should be hitting the small screen some time this fall; thanks to Deadline for the heads up on this one.

If you are anywhere near DC this weekend the USA Science & Engineering Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The schedule includes exhibitions, stage shows, and a monster book fair, with literally hundreds of events and exhibits taking place. A few of the events I am looking forward to are the Stargazing Party at the Air and Space Museum with Bill Nye and a team from Celestron, and of course the Mythbusters presentation. I am really going to have to restrain myself at the Book Fair, or you might find me collapsed under the volumes as I try to get them home using the Metro. Visit the Plan Your Day segment of the site for more details.

In this game you get 12 women pregnant, bond with their kids while they are growing up, and the kids become your team for the battles. Games may have changed a bit since I last noticed. This one is for the PSP platform, and is scheduled to be released tomorrow, at least in Japan. I am not sure what category it should be listed under, since it mixes dating, child-raising, and combat role-playing in an alternate universe setting. Thanks to Crunchyroll for the heads up on this one.