Super ‘Avengers’

All those scenes after the credits of Marvel Comics movies culminate this Friday in The Avengers, when Samuel L. Jackson’s shadowy peacekeeper Nick Fury assembles a who’s-who of superheroes to defend the planet from an invading alien army. Robert Downey Jr. is back as Iron Man to lead this highly-skilled and often-contentious all-star team that includes Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, and stepping in as the latest actor to portray the Incredible Hulk, Mark Ruffalo. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon directs. Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Renner and Stellan Skarsgard co-star. Rated PG-13. (Image courtesy Zade Rosenthal)