The heroes in this summer’s crop of superhero films have the potential to be some of the most sophisticated and compelling in action-movie history, bolstered by the high-wattage charisma of Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Christian Bale (as Batman in The Dark Knight), Ed Norton (The Incredible Hulk), and, maybe to a lesser extent, Will Smith (Hancock). Additionally, these films pack an impressive amount of star power and talent into their supporting female roles: Gwyneth Paltrow as Tony Stark’s executive assistant, Virginia “Pepper” Potts; Liv Tyler as scientist Betty Ross, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Gotham district attorney Rachel Dawes, and Charlize Theron as the hypotenuse of Jason Bateman–Will Smith love triangle. This talent roster seems to suggest that we’ll be seeing one hell of an other half this summer — but just how super will these heroines be?

Probably not very. Historically, in superhero movies, the only way for an actress to get a piece of the action is to be a piece of action. While all these female characters will certainly be smart, capable women, their primary function will still be as the hero’s love interest. These perilous roles virtually guarantee that no amount of brains or pluck will be enough for a damsel to save herself from distress; her endangerment serves to ratchet up the tension of the film, which is always nicely resolved with the tender coda of her rescue. Naturally, as usual, the girls will also suffer the emotional kryptonite of loving a man with a serious identity crisis. On top of that, they’ll be given no otherworldly powers to contend with their crises, unless you count being really foxy with superhuman capacities for understanding.

Thank the gods, then, for Selma Blair. As the sharp, pyrokinetic Liz Sherman of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Blair promises to be the antidote to all this leggy helplessness. She may be Hellboy’s main squeeze, but she wields her very own superpower as a member of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, an international intelligence agency frequently tasked with saving the world. Still, it’s telling that the only real superwoman we’ll see this summer is in the most low-profile film of the genre, being played by the actress least likely to be featured in Us Weekly. That’s a pretty woeful state of affairs for such an otherwise enlightened set of hero tales. What does it take to get some superequal rights up in here? —Tammy Oler

From New York Magazine

Writer-artist Mike Mignola’s Hellboy has thrilled comics fans for years, as did the hit 2004 film which was spawned from the comic like a demon from Hell… And now a sequel to that movie is finally on its way to theaters this summer! But first, Mignola, director Guillermo del Toro, and the cast of the new film will be visiting the IGN Theater at New York Comic Con next week for a special preview of the highly anticipated return of Big Red…

In addition to Mignola and del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth), stars Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Selma Blair (Liz Sherman), Doug Jones (Abe Sapien, among various other characters) and Luke Goss (Prince Nuada) will be in attendance to discuss Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Hitting theaters on July 11th, the film is described thusly by studio Universal: “With a signature blend of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world’s toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination.”

Be sure to join IGN’s own Chris Carle as he moderates the Hellboy II panel in the IGN Theater at the Jacob Javits Center’s New York Comic Con on Saturday, April 19th, at 2 p.m. All attendees with horns get automatic attendance to the room!

From IGN

A behind the scenes featurette from HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY has been posted online featuring Mike Elizalde!

Empire Online had the “Creature Feature” video. It shows a bunch of behind the scenes creature shot to give you an idea of what the Hellboy 2 world is going to feel like!

With a signature blend of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world’s toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in “Hellboy II: The Golden Army.” Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination from Oscar®-nominated director Guillermo del Toro (”Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Hellboy”).

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it’s up to the planet’s toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it’s time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman).

Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development–pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann–the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who’s accepted by neither, must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.

Visit EMPIREONLINE to watch the behind the scenes clip now!

From IESB

From the trailers we’ve seen, we all know that Hellboy II: The Golden Army will feature a large assortment of new monsters, demons, fairies and sprites which the titular hero and his allies will be forced to work alongside or battle against. Now, thanks to a featurette created by Empire Online, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the creatures.

In the clip, Mike Elizade, who supervised the creation of Guillermo del Toro’s new beasties, explains how they were created and also shows off some B-roll footage of the monsters in action.

To watch the featurette, click here

Hellboy II: The Golden Army stars Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Selma Blair (Liz Sherman), and Doug Jones (Abe Sapien). The sequel film directed by Guillermo del Toro comes to theatres July 11, 2008.

From Superhero Flix