What has become the most beloved and talked about Marvel Comics cartoon in ages is coming to an end to make way for a successor. Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes has been a masterwork of storytelling, interweaving plots and character threads through several episodes in order to present not just a solid adventure story, but a glimpse at the Marvel Universe to the uninitiated.

Adapting some existing ideas and introducing new spins on existing concepts, the series has tackled several long-standing event story lines in episodic form. The result is a mash-up of epic proportions such as the current situation that combines Walt Simononson's run on the Mighty Thor with Civil War and Secret Invasion!

Each episode feels like a stack of incredible monthly comics dumped in your lap all at once.

So... why cancel it?

Judging from the publicity artwork, the answer seems to be in order to tie into the Avengers movie franchise.

Back in April, we reported that head of Marvel Animation Jeph Loeb was hinting that the popular 'Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes' animated show would be cancelled. Now those fan fears have proven true.

Marvel TV News reported today that the cancellation is official. Here's the news from a press release that Marvel Animation put out:

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" won't be renewed for the 3rd Season. Marvel Animation will present their newly developed series "Marvel's Avengers Assemble" in 2013.

So it's just as we thought. 'Avengers: EMH' is gone but it'll be replaced with a new 'Avengers' series. The Marvel press release also included the artwork for the new show seen below…

So it looks like they just switched the team up to focus on the Marvel movie characters. Oh yeah… they added Falcon but rumor is that he'll be making an appearance in the upcoming 'Captain America 2'. Also rumored to be joining the team down the road are Ant Man and Black Panther (which would lend credence to the last movie speculation).

So… as sad as it is, at least now the speculation and waiting is over. Let's just hope that the replacement show has half the heart as 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes'.

Via ScienceFiction.com

Spectacular Spider-Man, the best animated series starring the web slinger since the 1960's canned after two years only to be replaced by a garish 'Ultimate' cartoon that challenges the gag reflex and now this...

Thoughts?