Assemble!: The first full trailer for THE AVENGERS hits the web

In case you missed it, yesterday marked the release of the first full-length trailer for next summer's superhero-orgy-juggernaut-franchise-collision, Marvel's THE AVENGERS.  It stars Chris Evans as Captain America, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk (replacing Edward Norton who replaced Eric Bana), Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.  This melding of hyper-successful franchises is unprecedented in the history of cinema and will either be the greatest thing ever...or a total dud.  But, in the hands of writer/director Joss Whedon (BUFFY, FIREFLY), I have faith that it will be great, even if some of the individual films leading up to it were less than stellar.  As they say, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, right?  Let's hope that's true.

Fans were treated to a quick glimpse of about twenty seconds of footage after the credits of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, which was more infuriating than exciting with its rapid-fire editing and lack of anything all that elucidating.  So this two-minute trailer couldn't come soon enough for the millions of rabidly salivating fans.

The trailer opens with an ominous voiceover from villain Loki, whispering (presumably to the whole human race) "You were made to be ruled."  I can't help but feel that he is speaking directly to the audience here, taunting us for our susceptibility to superheroes, explosions, big franchises and the whole Hollywood money-making machine.  I don't think that anyone who has seen any of the Marvel movies leading up to this and enjoyed them could honestly say that this isn't on their "must-see" list.  We'll find out when it hits theaters next May 4, won't we?

Anyway, here's the trailer in all its glory.  Watch it and let us know what you think! Does it look as awesome as you were expecting?  Or were you underwhelmed?  Do you think this will break any box office records?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

Which AVENGERS-feeding Marvel film is your favorite?