Recently Stan Lee on the Sci-Fi reality show "Who Wants to Be a Super Hero?" commented tersely to one contestant that "Super heroes don't kill people they save them." A very noble and lofty position from the man that built Marvel Comics, but not exactly true. The real truth is that the modern day super heroes (even going back as far as the late 80's) in comics aren't as noble or as careful as they used to be. Things have changed and even Stan Lee's mighty Marvel Comics has changed with the times, delivering grittier stories, tackling social issues and even recreating old heroes that a new generation can enjoy.

That truth is more evident than ever if you've read The Ultimates (a recreation of several heroes including The Avengers) as Henry Pym (Giant Man) slaps his wife (wasp) around and gets the senses kicked out him by Captain America, or as the Hulk goes on a berserker rampage that kills hundreds of people, beating the living crap out of his team mates in the process. Yeah, the new face of comics isn't some guy calling his goofy sidekick "old chum" anymore.. it's Wolverine standing on a pile of bodies with his adamantium claws unsheathed..

So it's no shocker that the first Ultimate Avengers film, based on Marvel's recreation of the under appreciated team of super heroes in the "The Ultimates," was a hit. And with that in mind Marvel and Lionsgate team up for the follow-up title Ultimate Avengers 2. This direct-to-DVD animated film picks up where the last film left off with The Avengers dealing with the aftermath of their battle to protect the planet from the alien menace known as the Shadari. The first film embraced the modern style of comic book storytelling in a way that adults would enjoy, and while the second film offers similar moments, it's not quite as powerful or compelling. That's not to say that Ultimate Avengers 2 isn't good or that it's not a solid continuation of the first film, but it does seem to be overshadowed by the extreme story in Ultimate Avengers.

In the opening of the film we re-enter the lives of the Avengers gang (Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, Black Widow, Nicky Fury, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Giant Man), picking up where we left off. The team that almost wasn't are out and about living their lives and coping with the fallout from the events of the first film. Assuming you saw the first film, everything is a mess, relationships are strained and The Hulk has been locked up for his rampage through New York. It isn't until Nicky Fury and the king of a mysterious and secretive African nation realize that the Shadari are back that the Avengers reassemble for another mission to save the planet.

Those pesky Shadari are attempting to retrieve a sacred object (a giant mountain sized meteorite comprised of Vibranium) from the hidden African nation of Wakanda, home to the freshly introduced king and hero Black Panther. And that's as much as we can tell you without blowing the entire plotline for you.

Ultimate Avengers 2 attempts to resolve a number of problematic relationships and pits Captain America against his century's old nemesis . You can probably figure out what happens next, but all that inner-team tension remains, event though it's not quite as satisfying this time out (who cares if Henry is jealous of Captain America this time around - we already know he's a self-absorbed, arrogant jerk).

The second film isn't quite as edgy or as violent as the first one for another reason - Bruce Banner (the alter ego of The Incredible Hulk) has been locked up and spends most of it trapped like a rat and drug induced to boot. With the Hulk being benched for this one (he does still play a small part in the plot), it's up to the rest of the team and the Black Panther to take on these alien invaders the best they can.

Ultimate Avengers 2 is an enjoyable enough film with plenty of action and a few key scenes that push the envelope in terms of violence. From the first twenty minutes you'll probably know where this film is heading and by the end everything you expect to happen does. There's no surprises to be had here, but the journey is certainly entertaining.

The real stand out characters of the film this time are Iron Man and Thor, mainly because they handle a lot of the action, and a particular fight between Cap's old nemesis, Cap and Black Panther certainly was one to remember. Betty Ross again dissapoints and the dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. Pym came off as a little over acted.

Despite the predictable ending you have to admire Marvel and Lionsgate's commitment to this animated film series, which is a lot more action orientated and isn't afraid to push the envelope when it has to (it's not uncommon to see someone's bleeding or even dying in one of these films - which 5 or 6 years ago would have been considered too taboo for a comic book inspired anime film made in America). So all in all Ultimate Avengers 2 is a decent enough film, despite standing in the long shadow of the first film which was excellent.