We’re almost at the finish line kids! For those of you just now joining us, all this week we’ve been revisiting Wizard magazine’s “55 Comic Book Movie Things We Can’t Wait To See”- an article from back in 2005, when many of these comic book movies seemed like far away prospects. Before reading about numbers 34-44 on their list, go back and read parts 1, 2 and 3, then join us back here as we continue to countdown towards the end.

#34. Avengers Assemble!

What Wizard Said: “A live-action version of the Avengers may be years from assembling, but Marvel zombies will know the moment has arrived when Captain America, Thor and Iron Man stand tall on the silver screen rallied to battle by Cap. We’re getting super powered chills just picturing it.”

Did We Get It? Did we ever.

Was It Satisfying? Joss Whedon’s The Avengers delivered in just about every way we could have wanted it to. And Wizard was totally right — it was years away (seven, to be exact) and we all got super powered chills watching it happen before our eyes.

#35. Cap Throws His Shield

What Wizard Said: “A Captain America movie has been on Marvel Studios’ radar for years… fans everywhere are sure to stand up and salute when a live-action Cap launches his iconic shield at the nearest Nazi goon, HYDRA agent our outlandish super villain for the very first time.”

Did We Get It? We absolutely did, in Joe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Was Is Satisfying? When Steve Rogers first threw his vibranium shield I totally did want to stand up and cheer, and I know I was hardly the only one in the theater who felt that way.

#36. “I Say Thee Nay!”

What Wizard Said: “A Thor movie is closer to reality than ever. The mortals will surely cheer when the mighty God of Thunder holds Mjolnir aloft, bringing his enemies to their knees by uttering “I say thee nay!” We say thee Hell YEAH!”

Did We Get It? I’m going to go out and a limb and say I don’t think Wizard was being literal with this entry — I think  what they were really just saying was, “We want to see Thor be a badass and lay the smackdown on someone with Mjolnir,” and not necessarily have him say those exact words. If that’s the case, then yes… we got Thor bringing down the thunder several times.

Was It Satisfying? “You want me to bring the hammer down??”  As Stan Lee would say, ’nuff said.

#37. The Silver Surfer Defies Galactus

What Wizard Said: “The pivotal moment of an epic saga, the Silver Surfer turning against his master Galactus, would be a critical moment in the movie. It’s the ultimate underdog moment, when all hope is lost and help comes from the most unlikeliest quarter, the kind of stuff comics and movie fans alike live for. Besides, both the Silver Surfer and Galactus will both be CGI masterpieces, and watching them go at it will make The Matrix look like The Muppet Show.

Did We Get It? I guess that technically we did, in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Was It Satisfying? Sigh. Reading Wizard’s description almost makes me cry, because it is exactly what we should have had, instead of making Galactus a giant black cloud. I’m not saying Galactus needed to look exactly like the Jack Kirby conception, since I realize that might be hard to pull off in live-action. But a giant cloud was just lazy and uninspired. It’s unfortunate, because Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer was pretty awesome in that movie, which overall had more of an early F.F. feel that it’s predecessor did, with the Four traveling the globe as a team and getting into adventures. But the lameness of Galactus kills everything, especially the moment that the Surfer has to defy him. I mean, he’s just talking to a giant black cloud with no personality at all! It’s beyond lame. At least the giant evil cloud found work later in the Green Lantern movie.

#38. The Lizard

What Wizard Said: “Dylan Baker was briefly introduced as Curt Conners in Spider-Man 2, the man who will become the dual natured Lizard. We don’t think it’s a coincidence that an established actor like Baker was used in such a small role, and are hoping that the seed will sprout into the scaliest, most warm-blood hatin’ villain in the Spider-Man franchise.”

Did We Get It? We got a version of the Lizard, as played by Rhys Ifans in the Amazing Spider-Man reboot.

Was It Satisfying? As much as I disliked The Amazing Spider-Man 2, I mostly liked the one before it. But the weakest part of that movie was that Rhys Ifans was just so boring as the Lizard. You know that Dylan Baker would have brought it home in a Sam Raimi directed Spider-Man 4, especially based on his super creepy performances in movies like Trick r’ Treat and Happiness. 

#39. Black Cat

What Wizard Said: “Felicia Hardy the Black Cat is a complex and sexy character, who would fit in seamlessly into the next Spider-Man sequel, and give the Wolverine/Jean/Scott love triangle a run for its money.”

Did We Get It? Nope. There is an actress that plays a character named Felicia in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, in what amounts to being a bit part,  but there is nothing to suggest that she is Felicia Hardy, much less will get to play the Black Cat in a sequel. I guess it’s possible, but don’t get your hopes up.

 #40. The Fortress of Solitude

What Wizard Said: “Bryan Singer said so himself — the Fortress of Solitude will figure into his upcoming Superman movie. He admits he drew enormous inspiration from Superman and Superman II, so you can count on him revisiting Supe’s inner sanctum in that stark, Arctic environment. Whether he preserves the dry ice and quartz decor or takes off in an entirely new direction remains to be seen.”

Did We Get It? Yeah, we got a more classic version of the fortress in Superman Returns, and a newer interpretation in Man of Steel.

Was It Satisfying? I actually loved both the 70s retro Fortress of Solitude from Singer’s film and Zack Snyder’s version from Man of Steel. Chances are if you didn’t like one you liked the other.

#41. Reed Stretching

What Wizard Said: “Move over Elastigirl! As cool as the super powered mom was in The Incredibles, the big screen Fantastic Four will stretch the limits of big screen super-stretching with groundbreaking visual effects that truly get under Reed Richard’s skin. From the hairs on his arm to the cracking of his bones, look for an extremely realistic — and painful — take on the phenomenon.”

Did We Get It?  Well, we got Reed Richard stretching. I guess Mister Fantastic without stretching powers just isn’t Mister Fantastic.

Was It Satisfying? Not really. The stretching effects were pretty damn cheesy in both the Fantastic Four movies, and “groundbreaking” is not the words I use to describe them. It certainly wasn’t a “an extremely realistic and painful take on the phenomenon,” although Josh Trank’s upcoming reboot of the FF is said to be going that route, so maybe we’ll see Reed’s powers in a cool way next year.

#42. Nick Fury: The New James Bond

What Wizard Said: “if Marvel Studios is really chasing Samuel L. Jackson to portray an Ultimates-inspired version of the character, you can forget about 007. The name’s Fury. Nick Fury.”

Did We Get It? Again, the 2005 staff at Wizard were like Nostradamus. Marvel Studios went after Samuel L. Jackson and got ‘im. He hasn’t had his own 007 style franchise (your movie series is safe, Mr. Bond) but he’s been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since he showed up at the end credits of the first Iron Man.

Was it Satisfying? Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury didn’t have much to do except just be Sam Jackson until Avengers, where we actually got to see him have a real part that was more than just a cameo. He had an even bigger and better role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where he really got to show off his stuff. I would definitely say that getting Samuel L. Jackson to play Nick Fury has been worth the pay off we got in the last few Marvel Studios movies.

#43. The Justice League

What Wizard Said: “We all love the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, but if a JLA movie ever got off the ground, it would be the pinnacle of fanboy cinematic heaven. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman-characters that even somebody who has never once picked up a comic recognizes.”

Did We Get It? Not yet… but we all know Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is setting up the next chapter in the DC cinematic universe, which will be the Justice League, probably in 2017 or 2018. A  JLA movie almost happened back in 2007, but this time I’m pretty sure it’s happening for real.

Was It Satisfying? Like Wizard said, this movie is the pinnacle of fanboy (and fangirl, thank you) cinematic heaven. They had better not screw it up.

#44. Transformers: The Movie

What Wizard Said: “The moment the red and blue tractor trailer undergoes a full transformation into Optimus Prime, it will give a whole new meaning to “more than meets the eye.” Steven Spielberg and Tom DeSanto are producing a live-action movie, and the special effects alone will make this a must-see.”

Did We Get It? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the Transformers franchise has been one of the most lucrative movie franchises of the last several years (although not the most iconic movie franchise of all time, despite whatever nonsense Mark Wahlberg said. More like the 15th most iconic movie franchise ever.)

Was It Satisfying? It’s hard to remember now, but I found the first Transformers movie extremely fun and entertaining. I felt the hand of executive producer Steven Spielberg heavily in that first movie. Once he was gone in everything but name, the series became insufferable, and Revenge of the Fallen remains one of my worst times ever at a movie theater. But I’ll still say that hearing Optimus Prime saying “roll out!” was pretty damn cool that first time. So I’m going to say yes, it was satisfying. But just once.

Come back tomorrow for the grand finale, as we discuss items 45-55  in 55 Things We Can’t Wait To See In Comic Book Movies- Revisited, and sound off on your thought’s about this installment in the comments below.