Coke's showdown between Marvel superheroes will surprise you

Coke enlisted a little help from the Avengers to save its Super Bowl commercial this year.

The glossy minute-long spot pits Paul Rudd's Ant Man against the wrath of the Hulk after the tiny super hero robs Bruce Banner of his last mini-Coke can and sends him into a rage.

The pair eventually make amends when Ant Man helps the Hulk pry open the soda's tiny tab and gulp it down, but only after a destructive rampage through a downtown cityscape.  

The slick Hollywood special effects and high production value were made possible through a partnership between the two brands that gave Coke access to Marvel's movie magic.

Coke teased the ad earlier in the week by sending Mashable and other news outlets mini-cans emblazoned with six Marvel heroes. Many speculated that the ad would have tie-ins to Marvel's upcoming Captain America: Civil War.

Emmanuel Seuge, Coca-Cola's senior vice president of content, said there are "Easter eggs" scattered throughout the commercial meant to make super-fans go back and re-watch. The brand will also be releasing hidden clues on its social media accounts that hint at the location of a limited number of Marvel-branded Cokes.

As more Americans ditch sugary soda for healthier options, Seuge said the ad is an attempt to rope in more young adults and up the profile of its smaller serving drinks.

"It's a David and Goliath-style clash between two of the most iconic Marvel heroes," Seuge said. "Those are characters that are extremely appealing to the young adult target so it seemed to us a very natural to partner with them."

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