Thoughts on, and a place to discuss, the plot details we can't reveal in our review.
Per reader request, here’s a Spoiler Space feature for The Avengers. Spoiler: The Avengers win. OK, I guess there’s stuff to talk about beyond that. Like Thanos showing up at the end. For those who don’t know—and that reveal probably left a lot of non-comics readers scratching their head—Thanos is a big, cosmic bad guy who should pose a formidable threat to the superteam in the Avengers sequel. Thanos first appeared in 1973 and is the creation of Jim Starlin, who specializes in big, cosmic stories. Thanos is best known for a series of stories in which he tries to take over the universe to impress a girl. (Well, Mistress Death, the living embodiment of mortality.) The most famous of these is The Infinity Gauntlet, written by Starlin and drawn by George Pérez and first published in 1991.
Otherwise, it’s probably worth talking about where the end leaves everyone. The Hulk, whom everyone seems to love in this movie (and rightly so), appears positioned to have his own movie again. (It helps that Mark Ruffalo’s so much fun as an extremely mellow-seeming Bruce Banner.) So, though maybe less immediately, are Hawkeye and Black Widow, who could probably star in a spy thriller with a superheroic twist. As for those definitely getting sequels: Iron Man looks to have reached a point where his power and hubris could bring him down. Captain America’s well-positioned to have a contemporary adventure. (Evans was good in Cap but really found the character’s soulfulness here.) And it looks like Loki will figure into any future Thor movies.
As for the other big shock: RIP Agent Coulson. We barely knew ye. (Seriously, we only got to know him in this movie, but it was still sad to see him go.)