Cool Video: 'The Avengers' assemble at Comic-Con, including Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson

  Marvel got The Avengers together all in one place for the first time this weekend: awesome.

Over the weekend, we ran the news that Marvel Studios had finally pulled it off: The Avengers assembled for the first time on the Comic-Con 2010 stage, and by many accounts it was the highlight of the entire weekend (which is pretty impressive, considering the competition the panel had).  Yes, everyone was there: Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Joss Whedon, Samuel L. Jackson, and-- in a move that came as a surprise only to the people in the crowd that hadn't been following the drama behind-the-scenes over the past few weeks-- Mark Ruffalo, who's just landed the job of playing the Incredible Hulk.  Video footage of the panel has finally shown up online, and you can see it for yourselves below, my gentle Examiner readers...

From what we've heard, the assembling of The Avengers was the moment to beat at this year's Comic-Con.  After weeks of speculation, it turned out that Marvel Studios was able to corral the entire team together for the first time, pulling people to San Diego from all over the globe (Chris Evans, for instance, was over in London shooting Captain America).  It was a historic moment for film geeks, comic nerds, and people that enjoy looking at Scarlett Johansson for any reason.  Now video footage has arrived, so all of us who weren't lucky enough to be there can pretend that we were:

As I mentioned in our article about this earlier in the weekend, I'm not really big on superheroes, but this was a moment I would've been thrilled to see live.  Over the past few years, Marvel's been carefully cultivating a team of actors and directors to build their stand-alone superhero flicks into the combined franchise that is The Avengers, and the moment above marks the first time that all that hard work's paid off.  Now we can all officially begin speculating on what's going to happen in The Avengers when director Joss Whedon delivers delivers it next May.  I'm sure the theories are already legion.

And as we also mentioned once before: What, no Ant-Man?  The character's a fan-favorite (despite being a confirmed wife-beater) and part of The Avengers series, so why wasn't he part of this club?  The current speculation is that the character may have a cameo, but won't be a full-blown character in the film due to Edgar Wright's proposed Ant-Man film starring Simon Pegg.  That film's been rumored for some time now, so perhaps Pegg will make a cameo in-character before getting his own film?  Or maybe Ant-Man will arrive before The Avengers (not likely, but possible)?  Guess we'll have to wait and see, geeks.

Stay tuned for more coverage on all this as it becomes available, my precious snowflakes.  There's gonna be a whole bunch of cool trailers, film clips, and photos released to us lowly non-Comic-Con attendees over the next few days, and we'll have 'em all for ya here at the Comedy Examiner's Office.  Hit that "Subscribe" button up top next to my ugly mug to get all future Comedy Examiner articles delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge, the moment they arrive.  Why, just look at all the fun you've been missing:

AMAZING PHOTO: "THE AVENGERS" ASSEMBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE 2010 COMIC-CON STAGE, AND IT'S AWESOME-- in which Marvel Studios gets everyone in The Avengers onstage at the same time for the first time.  Even if you're not a comic book geek, it's a pretty cool sight.  Check it out here.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: WELL, IT'S OFFICIAL-- "INCEPTION" HAS DOMINATED AT THE BOX OFFICE FOR TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS-- in which the inevitable occurs and Chris Nolan's latest keeps Angelina Jolie's latest in second place.  In other news, The Sorcerer's Apprentice looks ready to join Jonah Hex in the "Hell, No, I Won't Be Seeing That Movie" club.

LINDSAY LOHAN HAS A "HYSTERICAL FIT" AFTER INMATES CHANT "FIRE CROTCH" AT HER IN JAIL-- in which Lindsay Lohan doesn't seem to be making any friends while behind bars.  Also in which Lohan's notorious nickname rears its ugly head for the first time in years (OK, probably not years, but you get the idea).

BREAKING NEWS: IS DWIGHT SCHRUTE GOING TO BATTLE THE BATMAN IN "THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS"?  THAT'S THE RUMOR-- in which we examiner the rumor that Rainn Wilson, best known as Dwight on NBC's The Office, will be playing The Riddler in the next Batman movie.  Oh, and we also supposedly know who else is in the film, what it's called, and who the other villain is.  Take it with all the salt you can find, people.

(photos: top--aicn.com, middle--superherohype.com, bottom--comicbookmovie.com)