Why send sample pages of the latest story arc in the Marvel universe when you can send a trailer instead. Lately this has been the comic company’s mantra to promote their signature book events.

Marvel Comics (MC) is pulling out all the stops to create buzz for the next big multi-pub series, The Siege. Here’s how MC describes the upcoming series:

SIEGE is coming! It’s all been leading up to this universe shattering four issue limited series from the superstar team of Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel! Following the events of Dark Reign: The List, Norman Osborn sets his sights set on Asgard and nothing will stop him from completing his mission. But what does he want? How do Loki and Thor figure in? And just how does this relate to the inner strife between the Cabal? Marvel’s greatest heroes unite against the deadliest threat they’ve ever faced, but even they have no idea what’s coming next. It’s time for the most jaw dropping comic book event of the decade begins in December with Siege: The Cabal and continues in January’s SIEGE #1!

I have to admit I’m still playing catch up with the Marvel series. Right now Dark Reign is barely keeping my interest, but the thought of Asgardians raining pain down on the Avengers is just to delicious to miss.

Marvel Comics released a trailer of their upcoming motion comic Astonishing X-Men: Gifted today. The story was written by Buffy series creator Joss Whedon and illustrated by John Cassaday (Captain America series).

The story according to Marvel:

Cyclops and Emma Frost re-form the X-Men with the express purpose of “astonishing” the world. But when breaking news regarding the mutant gene unexpectedly hits the airwaves, will it derail their new plans before they even get started? As demand for the “mutant cure” reaches near-riot levels, the X-Men go head-to-head with the enigmatic Ord, with an unexpected ally – and some unexpected adversaries – tipping the scales!

Gifted is Marvel Comic’s second motion comic release. Last month, Marvel launched its first series, Spider-Woman on August 19th.

Astonishing X-Men: Gifted is scheduled for release on October 26, 2009. Marvel motion comics are available for download exclusively on iTunes.

Ryan Reynolds is scheduled to star in upcoming Deadpool feature film.

Twentieth Century Fox announced that it will begin production on an X-Men franchise spinoff featuring Marvel’s bad guy gone good, Deadpool. This brings up a lot of questions considering in the early releases of the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds is horribly mutated and (spoiler alert!) beheaded.

According to Variety, there’s an easter egg ending to the Wolverine movie in which Deadpool emerges from the rubble and gestures a “shhh” to the viewing audience. Most people saw the ending where Logan appears at a bar in Japan drinking in lament of his now hidden past. This sets the film up for the anticipated sequel which was officially announced on Monday.

For you noobs, Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson is a soldier for hire, who when diagnosed with cancer enlists into the Weapon X program. What emerges is an indestructible nut job with talent for klling and the gift for gab. Wade’s weapon of choice are two katana swords, but in Wade’s hands, really anything is a weapon.

Reynolds portrayal of Deadpool seems to be a natural fit, he’s been playing the quick-witted funny man since his stint on Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. But this isn’t the first time Reynolds has wielded a sword in an action film. In Blade: Trinity he plays Hannibal King, a snarky member of the vampire hunting team, The Nightstalkers.

The film will be produced by Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) in conjunction with Marvel. Its also reported that Marvel has also greenlighted two additional spinoff projects from the X-Men franchise; X-Men Origins: Magneto (2011) and X-Men: First Class (TBD). Rumors are still circulating about Halle Berry’s Storm project but nothing confirmed at the moment.