Scarlett Johansson is The Black Widow in next summer's 'Iron Man 2'

Credit: Paramount Pictures

One day, HitFix will be so big that we will command movie stars to appear at the HitFix studios for photo shoots that we will run as exclusives, but until that day, we are stuck with the sloppy seconds from outlets like Vanity Fair or Entertainment Weekly, and that's just the way it is.

Thankfully, with Comic-Con happening next week, Entertainment Weekly decided to court the nerds a bit, and the result is an "Iron Man 2" cover along with a preview inside that includes new photos and, yes, our first look at Scarlett Johansson as Natasha aka The Black Widow.  She's a spy, but our introduction to her comes when she's hired to replace Pepper Potts (Gwenyth Paltrow), who has been promoted to CEO of Stark Industries.

I like the look of this film, and the world they're building out from the first one.  I like the tech that Mickey Rourke's character Vanko aka Whiplash is using.  Electrified bullwhips?  A crazy drunk Russian who talks to his cockatoo and teams up with Sam Rockwell?  Oh, please, yes.

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I also like the Cheadle quotes.  Overall, it sounds like this is an actor's showcase, like the first film was for Downey, but with a deeper, richer, crazier cast.  Rockwell, Cheadle, and Downey all chewing scenery?  They're going to leave teethmarks in the digital mattes, and I can't wait to see them do it.

Next week, there's an "Iron Man 2" panel at ComicCon.  For many of us, that'll be our first real look at what Marvel's up to this time out, and I can't wait to see what they bring.  In the meantime, I'm glad to see them releasing some photos already.  ScarJo almost looks like she could beat me up, and I'm not sure I'd mind.

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