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I'm Stephen Metcalf, and this is the Slate Culture Gap Fest, Kablamo, Snapy Rejoinder Edition.

It's Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012.

On today's program, the new Marvel action tent pole blockbuster movie The Avengers, ebook pricing and the future of publishing with Slate's Matt Iglesias.

And finally, what's your clout score with Slate's own Seth Stevenson?

Joining me today are Slate's deputy editor, Julia Turner.

Hey, Julia.

Hi, Steve.

And of course, Slate's film critic, Dana Stevens.

Hello. Dana, I will start with you. So The Adventures is the new movie starring the old Stanley Jack Kirby action figures from Marvel Comic Days. It combines Thor, the Hulk, Captain America,

help me out, Iron Man. Hawkeye.

Hawkeye. Whose favorite was Hawkeye? I mean, that kid gets a wedgy.

But anyway, and these are combined with the writing and directorial talents of Joss Whedon, most well-known, of course, for Buffy the Vampire Slayer Slayer, and more recently the semi-indy mid-major-sized film Cabot film cabin in the woods anyway all of which is to say

the movie's going to be huge it's already huge everywhere in the world except the united states it's

already done hundreds of millions of dollars of business there it's going to open here next on

friday we were admitted uh after much because of our. Because of our clout.

To a preview and saw it last night, Dana.

I have no I sat next to you.

...