The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has been on the air for two fairly successful seasons – our own Kofi Outlaw gave the season one premiere episode a fairly glowing review. Season two has been particularly appreciated for its crossover episodes with the Fantastic Four and Wolverine, among other Marvel characters.
Unfortunately, after much speculation and despite fan acclaim, Marvel has officially (and somewhat shockingly) canceled The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in favor of a new series Avengers Assemble. The bittersweet announcement came earlier this week from Marvel Animation by way of a very brief press release.
Check it out below:
“‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ won’t be renewed for the 3rd Season. Marvel Animation will present their newly developed series ‘Marvel’s Avengers Assemble’ in 2013.”
The release was accompanied by a promo image for Avengers Assemble that bears a striking resemblance to Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s The Ultimates. Check it out below (click to enlarge):
Marvel made a similar choice in the past when they replaced the Spectacular Spider-Man animated series with the less critically-acclaimed Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon. While there’s still very little information about Avengers Assemble, it will apparently feature the same core characters as the Avengers movie with the addition of Falcon (who is rumored to be part of the upcoming Captain America 2 film). Hank Pym and Black Panther are expected to show up later in the series.
Fans of Avengers: EMH are undoubtedly gutted by the news of the popular show’s demise, which featured solid characters and writing based on classic Marvel comics stories – but the fact that the show would not see a third season has been hinted for some time now.
Back in April, Jeph Loeb, the head of Marvel Animation, gave some cryptic comments on the show’s future and even refused to answer direct questions as to whether or not the beloved cartoon would be renewed for a third season:
“I can only tell you that we’re committed to ‘The Avengers’ universe and that’s as far as I can go. We have big plans for ‘The Avengers.’”
After smashing box office records by bringing in over a billion dollars, it looks like Marvel seeks to ride the wave of the Avengers movie as far as it will take them. While seemingly a great idea, this can be a double-edged sword, as it further removes the classic (and current) comic book series from other Marvel media. Ultimately, Marvel could slap the brands of the Avengers, Spider-Man, and X-Men on pretty much anything and it would do fairly well, but as The Avengers: Earth Mightiest Heroes and the ’90s X-Men cartoon have proven, connecting an animated series with classic comic stories can result in great overall success.
In other superhero animation news, Marvel has announced the renewal of Ultimate Spider-Man for a second season. Season two will see Spidey teaming up with Avengers, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk. Also, Buffy the Vampire Slayer bad-girl-turned-good-girl Eliza Dusku will be lending her voice to Disney XD’s upcoming Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H as the Hulk’s buxom cousin, She-Hulk. The series will feature the original (green) Hulk, Red Hulk, Skaar (Hulk’s son), and A-Bomb (the new Abomination).
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Avengers Assemble will air on Disney XD next year.
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Damn, I liked EMH but I hope this new show is good.
Say it ain’t so… I love A:EMH – and I’m 30.
I truly hope this is a good move for Marvel’s Animation Group.
Haha…I love AEMH too…and I’m 41!! Seriously!
Ditto “Misty” right down to the age.
i’ll be 45 in july.
i liked the show also, mostly for the writing (hawkeye was being bear hugged by some massive villain, and he yells,”I’m begging you, brush your teeth!” that caught me so off guard i almost shot coffee out of my nose.) i wasn’t a fan of the animation so much, but i’d like to check out this new show.
I’m 39… LOVED A:EMH. But Marvel letting its ‘movie’ universe dictating its animation is a bad idea! It was great seeing the many Avenger’s storylines blended into the show. The animation of Assemble looks good, but I’m concerned about the direction (tone similar to Ultimate Spider-Man) they might be going in. We’ve seen the cancellation of Wolverine and the X-Men, Spectacular Spider-Man and now this. Why not cancel USM instead of renewing it?
I wouldn’t mind an update to the actual animation – but the writing for A:EMH is awesome…
This is just the newest proof that Loeb needs to retire.
100% agree
Loeb is a DC “plant”. It has been known for some time now.
Since the new show exists in the same universe and will most likely intertwine with the garbage that is Ultimate Spiderman I really hope the styles of the two shows have absolutely nothing in common.
MAN, I sure hate that! I love EMH.
no black panther… it’s going to suck
So disappointing. I hope this new one is just as good as EMH, if it’s like that new Spiderman then I’m done. This second season of EMH has been amazing with The Skrulls. I was hoping to see more of The Vision, since I’m a huge Vision fan. (If US fans don’t know, Australia is about 10 episodes ahead of us in America, and The Vision is shown in later episodes.
the new show looks really good (judging from that promo pic), it’s like a HD version of the one they cancelled
You can’t fool us, Loeb…
If this is anything like Ultimate Spiderman I’m gonna be pissed EMH was awesome and they canceled it before the Kree Skrull war
Rumor is, it will be a LOT like Ultimate Spider-Man
Not good. I really enjoyed this show as well as spectacular spider-man and even wolverine and the x-men. I don’t know why they even bothered if none of those shows had no long term future. This doesn’t bode well because ultimate spider-man is quite terrible. I fear I will no longer have any quality avengers programming now to help keep me entertained until the next avengers film comes out. Dark days ahead.
Naw, this will be better. They’ll be able to tell more big crossover stories un conjunction with the actual comic universe. Plus this looks more serious and realistic a show than EMH…which as a comic fan was a bit too kiddy in appearance to be devoted to
umm no they wont, they are going to be telling self contained stories, with no story archs, that what douche Loeb has stated. “like Ultimate Spiderman , which he feels is abetter way to go with animation.
If it follows the movieverse it won’t. Plus EMH already had recent comic storylines like secret invasion and the red hulk.
Why does Young Justice look so clean and smooth while Ult Spidey looks….ehh. Are they trying too hard? C’mon Marvel get it together.
In a word, YUP.
B
“Why does Young Justice look so clean and smooth while Ult Spidey looks….ehh.”
Money. DC puts more money into its animated series than Marvel. That simple.
As much as I love, and I do mean LOVE, EMH, this could actually work out. Introduce cleaner, less cartoony animation (which reminds me of the Ultimate Avengers DVD movies) and introduce characters that more than likely will appear in the 2013 slate of films and possibly take on a more serious tone.
But while we all will miss EMH, it is on Netflix which is always awesome to have with just a few clicks.
“and possibly take on a more serious tone.”
Yeah… unfortunately, the chances of that happening is about 2% considering Loeb’s involvement and the show airing on a Disney channel.
Yeah, but Batman TAS had a somewhat serious tone for most episodes. Maybe something like that. I mean, I’m upset with the decision as much as you and the others, but I get it. I think its less about being like Ultimate Spider Man, and more about being a cartoon version of the movie universe. All of the looks are similar. The Falcon is rumored for Cap 2. This new series starts in 2013, probably around the same time as the next slate of films start to arrive. I see what they are doing. I get it. It just kinda sucks that to get it the way they want it, they have to cut off a fan favorite. But they all gotta go sometime right?
If its like young justice then it should be good. Better animation is always a plus. Cant stand ultimate spiderman, just like i could stand teen titans back in the day. Something about manga style animations in north american cartoon properties that just doesnt sit well with me.
Batman: TAS was also produced by Fox ($$) and aired during prime time up until it started airing on WB.
Excellent! Get that putrid cheese off of the air! Anyway, this won’t mean anything if the new series has the same quality of the old one.
However, if they raise the bar, and get a really killer studio to animate this, sign me up!
B
Not a fan of this at all…
(I’ve mentioned this in another article, but I’ll just say it again):
From that pic, the character designs/animation look better than EMHs character designs, but if the rumors are true and the series will be like Ultimate Spider-Man (in term of story, characters, tones, etc. – the stuff that EMH did very well) then I won’t be watching.
I just don’t understand the REASON for doing what they’re doing (canning an already established and popular series to replace it with another similar series that’s already doomed in the minds of some fans)
As for Ultimate Spider-Man being renewed for season 2? I don’t get that either. Surely their viewership numbers can’t be that good (why else would they withhold them?) and the word of mouth is so bad (justifiably) that I can’t imagine how or why they would continue with it…
I mean, Loeb has even closed down his facebook page because of all the bad comments! There are rumors that Marvel is even “moderating” some of their websites and deleting all negative comments about the show.
Damn!
-End rant-
I just couldn’t get in to EMH. I wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Hopefully this will appeal to me more.
big bummer, EMH was a good show! season 1 (IMO) was better than season 2….
i feel like we knew this news for a while already? for me i have been watching season 2 knowing its the last for some time, makes the show worse maybe haha
so sad.
Going by the promo pic, looks like the new show will have much better animation, the only negative I had of EMH. But if TheAvenger is right, and the new show is like Ultimate Spiderman, I will have a hard time liking it.
A promo pic does not an animation make.
I would bet a few hundred dollars the animation looks NOTHING like the promo art.
I didnt watch this. But i hope for all you fans out there that this gets a proper ending because i watched spectacular spiderman and they cancelled it and it was a terrible decision and they had so many unanswered question and the show was really hitting its stride. If they continued it, it would have stood up against the spiderman animated series and even x men TAS. They screwd up the shockingly bad new spiderman cartoon and i only watched till the venom episode. i havnt watched since.
I might watch this, i only wasted the spectacular spiderman cause i was in the mood to watch cartoons cause i had not watched them in years except family guy and american dad. Im only 19 and i sounded like some old guy getting intouch with his child hood hahahaha.
watched not wasted, dont know how i typed that :/
Safly they ended it with a few storylines still left open and hanging… namely the Sutur/Enchantress storyline
Yeah that storyline never being resolved is the biggest disappointment.
Avengers Assemble just better be good if not better than EMH. But I’m not so confident based on how terrible Ultimate Spider-man is.
Damn..I just started watching the series and thought it was good.
I can’t believe Avengers EMH has been canceled o really enjoyed that show. As for this new show while the look of that promo pic looks to be better animation. What bothers me is the it’ll be more like ultimate spidey.
I hope they improve on the graphics…make the avengers looks real-like instead of too cartoonish.
This STINKS! I am a huge fan of this show. Now they are planning to make more garbage like Ultimate Spiderman. That show may be all fun and games for small kids, but A:EMH was great for a wide age range and this more viewers.
What is Loeb thinking!
Well 2 years ago they did tell us that this series will only consist of 52 episodes and they really mean it. Its such a waste that this will end soon, I’m kind of one of the many people who like the show. If its about to end, let it end with a great ending, one by which we’ll never forget (of course no cliffhangers like what they did to Spectacular Spider-Man and Wolverine and the X-Men).
I haven’t watched a single episode of Ultimate Spider-Man and many have given a lot of negative reviews and rants about it by which fortunately I didn’t get to watch it. Its still too early to judge “Avengers Assemble”, if they knew about the whole thing for Ultimate Spider-Man, then they give it a different approach, one that would appeal to everyone for all ages.
Its nice that they’ll include Black Panther later in the show just like what they did in EMH. Yeah Hank Pym will be there soon and I was hoping Jan will also be there as well just to have another female member besides Black Widow.
Maybe the reason why they did this is because of the ratings. They’re no. 1 competitor is of course Young Justice by which many critics says its much better than EMH. There is no doubt that this is a total reboot of the Avengers series just to make sure that they are toe to toe with Young Justice. As for Young Justice if everything is going according to plan then they’ll add 3 more seasons for a total of 5 just like its predecessors (i.e. Justice League and Teen Titans).
Also what about the voice casting will they retain some of the voice actors and actress from EMH or are they going to replace everyone. It would be nice if they would release at least a teaser trailer of it. The earliest would probably be by February and the latest would be by June for the premiere.
Anyway let’s just cross our fingers and hope for the best.
Comparing it to Young Justice isn’t fair. Besides The Legend of Korra, Young Justice has the best animation and stories in animation. Actually, the stories of these two shows, rival most tv shows period.
VERY Disappointed!!!! >:(
Man :[ Just when I was starting to have a good day too :[
I was always on the fence watching AEMH… part of me gave it a pass because the animation was horrible but the stories were good… even accepted dumb/comedic Hulk for the most part(if you are not Zen, Maestro, or WWH), I prefer my green Hulks not to talk…
They say the image above is going to be the new animation style for the new series which makes me very pleased(me likey!) because of how clean it looks but at the same time kinda faked… looks more like a comic book cover… and with that much detail I doubt they will make it similar to Ultimate Spiderman…
Speaking of Ultimate Spiderman I can sympathize what the fanboys say about the cartoon but at the same time c’mon guys its not the WORST animated series in the world… I can think of plenty of others most recently Motorcity, less recently the new Voltron, and I won’t even start on CN, that should get the axe way before Ult. Spidey…
Lastly… why is there a big push to compete with Young Justice when people can just dvr both?… lol!
I just don’t get the point of this. Let the animated version tell the older stories like it was doing (quite well in fact) and leave the movie universe for the movies, no need to make an animated version of the film version. Sad news for sure. We’ll see how this all turns out though.
No no no bloody no why are marvel making great decisions in for their cinema propeties but now crap decisions for their tv propeties. The tv show was awesome voice work animation story was all awesome damm you marvel damm you
Why?
Because Marvel Studio’s head producer and creative genius is Kevin Feige, whereas Marvel Animation’s head producer and creative “genius” is Jeph Loeb…
I honestly think they believe that it is bad business to cater to the old-school fans. They don’t seem to get that it is our excitement that spawned a lot of the success in the first place.
I loved EMHs, but I wasn’t crazy about it catering to younger children. The comics started by catering to teenagers and then gradually more toward adults. I would just like to see the demographics for EMH.
Honestly, IMO, Ultimate Spidey is kind of lame. I am just almost speechless that they are making these choices. Huh, oh well, I guess I’m just one fan.
Best animated Marvel cartoon was the Fox Kids one out about 15 years ago or something like that, for The X-Men!