First Look: Superheroes team up in ‘Avengers’

The movie: "The Avengers"

When: Opening Friday at local theaters

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo

Director: Joss Whedon

The story: An all-star team of Marvel superheroes - led by Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America - assembles to help save imperiled earthlings from the villainous Loki.

The buzz: The Marvel gang's all here, just in time to kick off the summer blockbuster season, with "Iron Man's" Robert Downey Jr., "Thor's" Chris Hemsworth and "Captain America's" Chris Evans returning to duty. Mark Ruffalo takes over (from Edward Norton) as The Incredible Hulk's mild-mannered alter ego, Bruce Banner; providing the voice for the computer-generated Hulk, however, is none other than Lou Ferrigno, who's been a Hulk smash since "The Incredible Hulk" hit the TV airwaves in 1977.

- CAROL CLING