One of the most fun aspects of Loki, that they frankly have not done enough of, is when the writers use time travel aspects to explain away historical mysteries. In season one, we learned Tom Hiddleston’s Loki was actually the infamous D.B. Cooper, who robbed an airplane in the ’70s, popped out with a parachute, and vanished for all time. Now, in the second season’s penultimate episode, “Science/Fiction,” the show solved yet another historical mystery, MCU style. One involving the most infamous (and mythologized) prison in American history—Alcatraz.

At the end of episode four of this season, the Temporal Loom exploded, and we learned the different TVA employees who were in the control room, as well as Sylvie, were sent back to their lives before the TVA took them and wiped their memories. Mobius was a single dad named Don who sold jet skis (of course). O.B. was a scientist and an aspiring sci-fi author. Hunter B-15 was a doctor. Sylvie just went back to work at McDonald’s in 1982. But the most interesting true identity of a TVA employee had to be Casey. Turns out, the mild-mannered “guy at the desk” was once a notorious criminal, Alcatraz escaped convict Frank Morris.

When Loki starts time slipping again, Casey appears in 1962, escaping from Alcatraz. We even see the crude dummies the inmates made to appear as if they were sleeping during bedcheck. It’s something that really happened. Casey even says “If they catch us, they’re going to gut us like a fish!” That was a fun callback to season one, when Loki threatened to do the same to him but he had no idea what a fish even was. As they’re trying to escape, a time-slipping Loki appears on the shores of Alcatraz island in San Francisco. He finds Casey, now called Frank, who doesn’t recognize him, along with two other men getting ready to escape in a makeshift raft.

In reality, the two other men were Clarence and John Anglin. They were portrayed by the episode’s directors, Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson. The real Frank Morris was a lifelong criminal who spent much of his life in correctional facilities. Authorities arrested Morris for armed robbery, car theft, and finally, the crime that put him in Alcatraz, bank robbery. However, he had a genius I.Q., and was likely the real mastermind behind the whole escape. Being so smart, it’s no wonder the TVA wanted him as an employee.

Later in the episode, Loki appears to Frank Morris on a beach along with the other two escaped convicts, who made it to dry land. In reality, no one really knows what happened to the three men. Official reports suggest they drowned in the waters of San Francisco Bay, or hypothermia got them. But they never discovered any bodies. Over the past 60 years, some anecdotal evidence points to at least one of the men surviving. We have since mythologized the only successful escape from Alcatraz in pop culture. It was even the subject of the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood playing Frank Morris.

Frank accepts Loki’s offer to help restore the TVA, even though he doesn’t understand what’s going on. Once he realizes that O.B.’s temp pad can take anyone to anywhen, he even asks if it could take him into a bank vault. Even after doing time in the world’s most infamous prison, Frank still can’t get rid of the urge to rob banks. When one of the TemPads vanishes due to reality coming undone everyone thinks Frank stole it. Hey, when you’re famous for robbery, it’s hard to shake that reputation.

While we saw Frank/Casey unravel at the end of the episode, we have a strong feeling it’s not the last we’ve seen of him. If Loki has taught us anything, it’s that there’s always another branched timeline somewhere.

The post LOKI Reveals How One Character Was Involved in an Infamous Historical Event appeared first on Nerdist.

The Temporal Loom is central to Loki’s second season, and we learn it’s critical in making the Time Variance Authority function. But what is Loki‘s Temporal Loom exactly? Here’s what we know about the Temporal Loom from Loki season two and what we can glean from Loki‘s various inspirations.

The MCU’s Loom: Loki Season Two’s Temporal Loom

Created by He Who Remains at some unknown point in time, Loki‘s Temporal Loom takes raw temporal energy and refines it into a physical timeline. Part of the reason the TVA prunes the extra timelines is so that the Temporal Loom doesn’t overload trying to “weave” too many timelines at once. Without the Temporal Loom, the TVA can’t function. And if it overloads, the TVA goes boom, and all of reality would soon follow. In episode two, we learn that a meltdown can’t be prevented without the temporal aura, or time signature, of He Who Remains. Who is currently quite dead.

By the third episode of Loki season two, the Temporal Loom is indeed overloading, thanks to the countless branched timelines that are returning with the death of He Who Remains. It simply wasn’t made to handle so many divergent timelines branching off at once. And without it, not only does the TVA cease to function, but chaos will reign in the multiverse. But we also learned of the origins of the Temporal Loom and how they tie into a specific Kang variant.

Victor Timely and the Origins of the MCU’s Temporal Loom

In episode three of Loki’s second season, Loki and Morbius travel back in time to the year 1893. There, they encounter a variant of He Who Remains. This variant, Victor Timely, is presenting his latest invention at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. It’s a very rudimentary version of the Temporal Loom, sold to the 19th-century audience as a way of harnessing energy. Victor Timely was able to create this Temporal Loom prototype based on his understanding of the descriptions of the TVA manual. A book that was left for him by Ravonna Renslayer and Miss Minutes when he was a child. Of course, the Temporal Loom malfunctions on stage after a mere few minutes. Yet it shows that as early as the 1890s, a Kang variant was working on the very thing that would make the TVA run.

Loki‘s Temporal Loom Implodes Threatening the MCU’s Multiverse

In episode four, Loki and Mobius bring Victor Timely to the TVA to fix the overloaded Temporal Loom. They need the temporal aura of He Who Remains to open the blast doors to the Loom, which Timely matches. But Timely provided another service, what he called his “greatest invention” in the previous episode. Timley’s greatest invention is something that looks like a primitive version of Kang’s Multiversal Power Core from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He can attach this invention to the Throughput Multiplier and expand the rings of the Temporal Loom. This would allow the new branched timelines to filter through, and save the TVA, and all reality. However, it doesn’t quite work out that way.

When Victor Timely tries to head out and fix the loom, he turns into spaghetti. And the Temporal Loom, well, it overloads and explodes. We don’t know the full extent of what the Temporal Loom’s explosion means yet, but already there are major consequences in the world of Loki and the MCU.

In episode six of Loki, we see that seemingly due to the Temporal Loom’s explosion, every branch of reality is starting to turn into spaghetti and die. Every universe and thread of reality is literally shredding, and there’s nowhere to go. Thankfully, Loki seems to be able to turn back the clock and is trying to head to a time before the Temporal Loom’s complete meltdown. Whether or not he is able to remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, it looks like the Temporal Loom being able to do its job is key to keeping existence stable.

That’s the MCU. But does Loki‘s Temporal Loom have a precedent in the pages of Marvel Comics? Well, yes and no. But mostly, no. However, Loki season two’s Temporal Loom found inspiration in various parts of Marvel’s comics and actual myth.

Loki‘s Temporal Loom and Its Mythological Inspirations

In Greek mythology, there is a Loom of the Fates, which also exists in the Marvel Universe. In Norse mythology, that loom is the Loom of the Norns. (Marvel Comics combines these two mythologies together into one.) Essentially, in mythology, the three Fates weave this loom to shape the life and destiny of every being in creation. Thor destroyed the Loom of the Fates in Thor Vol. 2 #85 and broke the thread that holds the destiny of Asgardians, from which Those Who Sit Above in Shadow were absorbing energy. Those Who Sit Above were the silent beings who created the Asgardian Gods. So it’s fitting that a powerful loom that determines how the universe flows originated in Thor comics since the MCU’s Temporal Loom now appears in Loki, thus tying it to Thor’s mythos.

Spider-Man’s Loomworld

In the Spider-Man lore, there’s another powerful loom of sorts, reminiscent of Loki‘s temporal loom. The loom in this instance is a whole world itself, one that accesses all existence. There’s an entire Loomworld, where beings called the Inheritors could access the Web of Life and Destiny to travel across the multiverse and hunt down Spider-Totems. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse especially drew inspiration from this. They created the Loomworld of conquered realms from countless wars fought across realities. Eventually, several spider-people formed the Web-Warriors. They operated from Loomworld and used it as a focal point to protect the multiverse, which is similar to how the MCU’s TVA works.

Temporal Limbo, Chronopolis, and the Heart of Forever

In the comics, Kang did not create the TVA. There was a “He Who Remains,” but as far as we know, he’s not a Kang variant. However, the TVA has a lot in common with the realm of Limbo, a place outside of time historically ruled by Immortus, who was, of course, a Kang variant. Temporal Limbo was a timeless realm facilitating time travel to various points in history. Much like the MCU’s TVA, it existed outside the time stream. And time did not flow there the way it does everywhere else.

Limbo is also part of Chronicles, which has something very similar to the MCU’s TVA. At its heart is the most important component of the city, the Heart of Forever. It’s a trans-chronal engine that enabled Kang’s home to exist in every branch of the timestream simultaneously. While not exactly like the Temporal Loom in Loki, it has key similarities.

In the end, Loki‘s Temporal Loom is a hodgepodge of different elements from the pages of Marvel Comics—not to mention actual mythology itself. Ultimately, though, the Temporal Loom is a unique creation designed for the MCU. However, we’d hardly be surprised to see it retconned into the comics at some point.

Originally published on October 5, 2023.

The post LOKI’s Temporal Loom: What Is It and What Are Its Marvel Comics Inspirations? appeared first on Nerdist.

Are the original Avengers returning? Is Doctor Doom set to replace Kang as the “Big Bad” of the Multiverse Saga? And just what the heck is going on with the Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali? Variety ran a story about the troubles Marvel Studios is having post-Avengers: Endgame, and in particular, post-pandemic. While Marvel has still had tremendous box office success, the glut of series and movies has made the MCU daunting for the casual fan. We’ll break down each of the big reveals from the Variety article, and what these reveals might mean for the future of the MCU as a whole. We should note, we’re focusing on what this means for future films and series here and not any behind-the-scenes drama.

Are the Original Avengers Making an MCU Comeback?

According to the report, there have been talks to bring back the original Avengers back for a film. This would include Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, both of whom were killed off in Avengers: Endgame. While the Variety pieces used the word “revive,” we would be shocked if they literally resurrected the versions who died. It’s far more likely we’ll meet their Multiversal variants in Avengers: Secret Wars, which would mean that they’d still be played by Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson.

Putting on our Nerdstradamus cap on, we think Avengers: Secret Wars, while loosely based on the 2015 comic, will at least feature a Battleworld made of various mashed-up realities and timelines. That puts every character, dead or alive, back on the table. So yes, that means the original Avengers are reunited—in a way. And also probably teamed up with the likes of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and maybe Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. If they ever wanted a real “victory lap” film, likely before Secret Wars reboots everything, something like this might be the only way to come close to the success of Endgame. It’s not something even the most cynical person who grew up with Marvel films would ever miss. And we’d bet it was always the plan too.

Is the MCU Replacing Kang with Doctor Doom as the Multiverse Saga’s Main Villain?

And now, there’s the Kang problem. Between Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Loki, everything was gearing up to have Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror be the main villain of Phases 5 and 6. But then, all of Major’s personal and legal troubles began (which the Variety article details). It all leaves the MCU in a pickle. How do you make Avengers: The Kang Dynasty with possibly no Kang? The article suggests that at a recent Marvel Studios Palm Springs retreat, executives discussed backup plans, including pivoting to another comic book adversary, probably Doctor Doom.

Victor von Doom is one of Marvel’s greatest villains. Heck, he’s one of the entire comic book medium’s greatest villains. So a pivot toward the megalomaniacal ruler of Latveria makes sense. Also, as will all things MCU, the answers lie in the comics. In the 2015 Secret Wars series, Doom essentially steals the god-like power of the omnipotent Beyonder. It could be that Doom usurps Kang’s role and power in the story in a similar way. The Kang Dynasty could become The Doom Dynasty, and there’s ample Marvel Comics precedent for that. While the original report suggests the upcoming end of Loki forces Marvel to have Kang as the primary antagonist, we bet they have an out planned.

What Is Happening with the MCU Version of Blade?

So what about poor Blade? Things have certainly been contentious in the world of the Daywalker ever since SDCC 2019, when Feige announced Mahershala Ali as the iconic vampire hunter. The project has apparently gone through at least five writers, two directors, and one shutdown six weeks before production. Feige most recently hired Michael Green, screenwriter for Logan, to start from scratch. The hope is that Blade will now make it for a 2025 release date. The supposed budget may have come down to $100 million or so, way less than the standard MCU fare.

We think if that’s the case, it’s a wise move. Blade is a bloody, horror action franchise. Cleaning it up to be a PG-13 tentpole defeats the purpose. If Marvel Studios is releasing an R-rated Deadpool 3, why not do the same for Blade? Nobody wants to see a sanitized version of the character. We would not be shocked if going back to the drawing board for Blade means looking at what worked in the original Wesley Snipes films (well, at least the first two) and giving the Marvel vampire saga a modern spin. The report says Mahershala Ali almost walked away from the project, but we think Kevin Feige is too smart to let that happen.

The X-Men May Be the Focus Post Multiverse Saga in the MCU

The report also mentions Kevin Feige’s trump card is the acquisition of the X-Men library of characters from Fox. Although it is rumored that many of the original Fox-era mutant heroes are returning for Deadpool 3 and possibly Secret Wars alongside Hugh Jackman, we’re guessing this is a big swan song for those iterations of the characters. A reboot of X-Men is inevitable, and we agree Marvel Studios is likely to pivot to all things mutant post-Secret Wars. Feige knows the X-Men world has much unrealized potential. They can make government operative strike teams like X-Factor or mutants in a Doctor Who-style world like Excalibur. A mutant black ops team? There’s X-Force. While we doubt the Avengers brand is going away, we foresee a big pivot towards Marvel’s mutants.

Why We Shouldn’t Count Out the MCU Just Yet

Although the original report has a real “the sky is falling” approach, the truth is more complex. A “failure” for Marvel is a big success for anyone else. If The Flash made as much as Quantumania, they’d be popping champagne bottles over there. But for Marvel, compared to the peak of the Infinity Saga, it paled. Marvel’s biggest enemy is its own success. The first decade of the MCU, from Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame was unprecedented in terms of success. We’re talking about a franchise of 23 films, all opening at #1 at the box office. All with Fresh Rotten Tomatoes scores. And all of which collectively made a staggering $25 billion. To expect that kind of wild success indefinitely is totally unrealistic. We’d suggest not writing off the MCU just yet. And even if it dies, what stays dead in comics forever? The answer: Nothing.

The post Are the Original Avengers Returning to the MCU? appeared first on Nerdist.

What is canon and what is not to the MCU has been a topic of fervent fan debate for years. Is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which referenced the events of Avengers, actual MCU canon? What about the former Netflix shows like Daredevil, which also made mention of Avengers like Captain America and Thor? Well, we now have an answer to that question from the guy in charge, Kevin Feige. In his introduction to the book Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe—An Official Timeline, he wrote the following:

On the Multiverse note, we recognize that there are stories—movies and series—that are canonical to Marvel but that were created by different storytellers during different periods of Marvel’s history. The timeline presented in this book is specific to the MCU’s Sacred Timeline through Phase 4. But, as we move forward and dive deeper into the Multiverse Saga, you never know when timelines may crash or converge (hint, hint/spoiler alert).

FYI, our own Editor-in-Chief Amy Ratcliffe cowrote that book.

So, in short, everything utilizing Marvel characters, whether produced by Marvel Studios or not, is part of a branched timeline in the overall Marvel Multiverse. Some we already knew about. The original Sam Raimi Spider-Man films, and the Marc Webb Amazing Spider-Man films? No Way Home confirmed them as Multiverse canon. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness confirmed Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and Deadpool 3 is set to canonize Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Even if these are variants of the Fox X-Men films, it indicates all those movies are also Multiverse canon.

Also, with clips of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s respective Peter Parkers in Across the Spider-Verse, not to mention the appearance of Donald Glover in his MCU role as the Prowler in that film, those animated films also exist in the overall MCU Multiverse tapestry. Will movies like Ang Lee’s Hulk, Sony’s Ghost Rider films, and others get included in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars? Well, Jennifer Garner as Elektra in Deadpool 3 suggests it’s all on the table now. Heck, why not Howard the Duck? Stranger things have happened.

Right now, the MCU is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. By a lot too, with $29 billion dollars total. By contrast, the #2 slot goes to the Star Wars franchise, which is a distant second at $10 billion. But if the MCU now includes pre-Marvel Studios films? Oh man, then does that number ever go up. The mutant franchise at Fox adds $10 billion to that sum. The non-MCU Spider-Man films? About $8 billion total. Even the Fantastic Four films have collectively made $800 million. Throw in a couple of Blade films, we’re talking about a franchise that has made some $50 billion dollars. Easily the biggest success story in Hollywood history. And a record we’re likely never going to see surpassed in our lifetimes. In the meantime, we’re just excited to see Hugh Jackman take on Tobey Maguire while Deadpool just laughs at them both.

The post Kevin Feige Confirms All Marvel Films and TV Shows Are Part of the MCU Multiverse appeared first on Nerdist.

Nick Fury assembled an impressive Avengers squad to protect the MCU. However, that version of Earth’s mightiest heroes is just one of an infinite number of super teams spread out across the multiverse. A few others are surely better, and a lot more are likely worse, but one stands out because of how it was built. And by that, we mean it’s built from little plastic bricks. Now those heroes are getting their very own special at Disney+, LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red.

The film’s new Easter egg-filled trailer puts together an incredible lineup with a special member. It will have Marvel fans wondering when they’ll get to see such an X-citing unit in live-action.

The Collector is back! The LEGO Variant of the character is looking to add Marvel’s Avengers to his vast library of intergalactic goods. That’s a big problem on its own, but one they can manage. It’s a far bigger issue that will lead to the superheroes asking for help. Here’s the synopsis for LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red from Disney:

The Avengers gather to celebrate their latest victory, but their celebration is quickly interrupted by the mysterious disappearance of Black Widow’s father, Red Guardian. As the Avengers investigate, they discover that Red Guardian isn’t the only one missing when they meet a dangerous new foe quite unlike anything they’ve ever encountered before.

That new foe is Red Phantom. He’s why LEGO Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, two Captain Americas, the Incredible Hulk, and the Black Panther will reach out to a “quirky” Marvel counterpart. And oh, is he quirky. The LEGO Avengers will turn to a grumpy, self-healing, hot dog-loving Marvel legend who has yet to appear in the MCU: Wolverine.

Sorry Hulk, we know you really don’t want to deal with “that guy,” but he does have special skills. And also knives in his hands. Indestructible hand knives are always helpful, especially against plastic. Plus, with Wolverine joining the LEGO Avengers, it might push his MCU Variant to get in on the action sooner rather than later. We really want to see that happen. Wolverine makes every team better in every universe.

LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red stars: Laura Bailey, Trevor Devall, Steve Blum, Will Friedle, James Mathis III, Liam O’Brien, Laura Post, Bumper Robinson, Roger Craig Smith, Fred Tatasciore, Travis Willingham, Mick Wingert. It debuts on Disney+ on Friday, October 27. 2023.

The post LEGO MARVEL AVENGERS: CODE RED Trailer Recruits Wolverine to the Team appeared first on Nerdist.

After years of speculating, in 2022, Marvel Studios confirmed that Deadpool would officially join the MCU for a third installment of the R-rated comic book franchise at the start of Phase Six. This would mark the first official character of the Fox X-Men universe joining the MCU (although Patrick Stewart as a variant Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kinda counts too, we suppose).

Although Deadpool 3 currently has a set release date of May 3, 2024, it looks like its release may end up moving to a later point in time.

Director Shawn Levy recently commented on a possible change in Deadpool 3‘s release to The Wrap, saying, “I wish I knew. I don’t even know if we officially have [a release date]. I know we were gonna be May 3… Certainly, the actors’ strike and the long pause in production have put that release date in true risk. We’ve shot half the movie. I’ve edited half the movie. We’re dying to get back to work and get this movie out next year.”

Additionally, Deadline reports that sources have shared with the publication “that Marvel Studios‘ Deadpool 3 won’t be making its May 3 start-of-summer theatrical release date. Even if the strike ends in the next few weeks, a 2024 restart on the half-finished Deadpool 3 would not get the Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman threequel to a May opening date. There’s just too much to do in regards to re-assembling crew, etc.”

These reports, of course, do not offer definitive information about a shift in Deadpool‘s release date, but there does seem to be some likelihood of truth to them. While it would be sad to have to wait longer for Deadpool 3‘s the true sadness lies in the studios’ refusal to come to an agreement with SAG-AFTRA. If the AMPTP offered a respectful and fair contract to Hollywood’s actors, they would not have to contend with such delays.

Here is everything we know so far about Deadpool 3.

Title

Right now, everyone is calling the film Deadpool 3. However, for superpowered mercenary Wade Wilson’s first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, at least the first official entry, we think they may choose to give it a more creative title.

Deadpool 3‘s Plot

The plot of Deadpool 3 remains a mystery. All we know is that Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine, and that it takes place before the feral X-Man’s death in Logan. In fact, Jackman has confirmed that time travel will be involved in the threequel in a big way.

As most folks know by now, Deadpool’s third solo film will reunite him with his X-Men Origins: Wolverine co-star. Deadpool and Wolverine will work together, although they have made it very clear that these two characters “hate each other.” It will not be a love-fest in this story. But the fact that Deadpool 3 is smack in the middle of the Multiverse Saga should give us all a clue as to what’s going to go down, and probable multiversal shenanigans will ensue.

Deadpool 3‘s Cast

We know Hugh Jackman will return, along with the very obvious Ryan Reynolds. Here’s who else we know about: Karan Soni, cab driver Dopinder, Leslie Uggams, Emma Corrin, and Matthew Macfadyen. In exciting news, Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic are reprising their roles as Vanessa and Colossus in Deadpool 3. So are Rob Delaney’s Peter, Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), and Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio). Jennifer Garner’s Elektra from the 2003 Daredevil Marvel Fox movie is also reported to reprise her role in this MCU film.

Behind the Scenes

Deadpool 3‘s director for this third outing will be Shawn Levy, most recently known for his work on Stranger Things. This would be a reunion for Levy and Reynolds, as the pair previously worked together on the movie Free Guy. Levy is also known for the time travel movie The Adam Project.

On the writing side of things are Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, writers for the popular animated series Bob’s Burgers. The writers for the first two Deadpool films, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, are also contributing to the third film’s screenplay, as is Ryan Reynolds himself.

Deadpool 3 Release Date

Deadpool 3 will arrive on May 3, 2024.

Originally published on January 4, 2023.

The post DEADPOOL 3 Release Date in ‘True Risk’ of Moving From May 2024 appeared first on Nerdist.

For Marvel Studios’ upcoming film The Marvels, it seems the story is not leaning into some of the more well-known villains from the pages of Marvel Comics. In fact, what appears to be the film’s “big bad” is a fairly obscure character. One that even the most die-hard Marvel fans have likely forgotten about. Here’s what we know about Marvel’s Kree leader Dar-Benn, played by Zawe Ashton in the Captain Marvel movie, their comic book origins, and how they factor into The Marvels and the overall MCU.

Who Is Marvel Comics’ Dar-Benn?

So just who is The Marvels‘ upcoming villain Dar-Benn in Marvel’s comics? Dar-Benn is a very minor Marvel Comics villain in the grand scheme of things, making only two appearances in the early ‘90s comics. The comics introduced Dar-Benn in the cosmic Marvel crossover Operation: Galactic Storm, in 1991’s issue #53 of Silver Surfer. A general in the great Kree Empire, Dar-Benn, along with Kree general Ael-Dann, coordinated a plot to assassinate a Kree leader named Clumsy Foulup. (Yes, that was his name. The ‘90s comics were not subtle). Aliens known as Cotati put Foulup in a leadership position. The generals later assassinated Foulup using an imposter robot Silver Surfer, leaving Dar-Benn and Ael-Dann as co-rulers of Marvel’s Kree Empire. However, this was a brief reign.

A brutal tyrant, Dar-Benn considered himself superior to the previous Kree leader. He saw that ruler as weak and believed they should eliminate him. Even the infamous Kree villain Ronan the Accuser was viewed as weak by Marvel Comics’ Dar-Benn. But Dar-Benn met his match when the Shi’ar leader Deathbird, often a foe of the X-Men and Carol Danvers, killed his right-hand man Ael-Dann in front of him. It wasn’t long after that Deathbird killed Dar-Benn too, and she became the new leader of the Kree Empire, now calling herself Viceroy Cal’syee Neramani. The minds of Dar-Benn and Ael-Dann were ultimately absorbed into the Kree Supreme Intelligence, and that was the end of Dar-Benn in Marvel Comics, at least for now. Often MCU appearances can bring comic book resurrections.

The MCU’s Dar-Benn Is the Villain in The Marvels

In the MCU, Marvel gender-swapped Dar-Benn, who is now an Accuser of the Kree Empire. This is much like Ronan’s title in Captain Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy. It appears that the MCU version of Dar-Benn blames Carol for the fracturing of her planet’s dominance of the galaxy. We assume this is something that happened after the events of the first Captain Marvel movie. So it appears Dar-Benn’s mission in The Marvels is twofold—establish a new Kree Empire, and get revenge on Carol Danvers.

What Are Dar Benn’s Powers in The Marvels?

As a very skilled Kree warrior, Dar Benn is an expert in armed and unarmed combat. Usually, they wield either a gun or a staff that dispels a very deadly energy beam. In images we’ve seen from The Marvels, it seems Dar-Benn holds the Warhammer, or “cosmi-rod,” of a Kree Accuser.

Dar-Benn’s Bangle

Another deviation from Marvel Comics is that the MCU version of Dar-Benn seems to wear a bangle similar to the one worn by Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan. We don’t know for sure yet, but this implies that the mythologies of Ms. Marvel and her ancestors, citizens of the Noor, are tied into the Kree in some way. And also, perhaps, so are the Ten Rings from Shang-Chi. We’ll be interested to see what role the bangle plays in the hand of The Marvels‘ villain.

Who Plays Dar-Benn in The Marvels?

Actress and filmmaker Zawe Ashton plays Dar-Benn in The Marvels. She’s famous for her roles in Not Safe for Work and the Netflix horror thriller film Velvet Buzzsaw. She has one other rather big MCU connection, though. She and Tom Hiddleston, a.k.a. Loki, are a couple.

The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris, is scheduled for release on November 10, 2023.

The post Who Is THE MARVELS’ Villain Dar-Benn? Zawe Ashton’s Marvel Comics Character, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Most characters in the MCU draw inspiration from those in the pages of Marvel’s comics. Sometimes, two characters are combined. But usually, it’s a character or characters with a long history, often going back decades. And then, there’s Prince Yan D’Aladna (Park Seo-joon), soon to star in The Marvels. Prince Yan is joining the MCU and making it to the big screen after only one Marvel Comics appearance in an issue of Captain Marvel. Here is everything you should know from Marvel’s comics about alien royalty Prince Yan D’Aladna and everything we know already about the version Park Seo-joon will play in The Marvels.

Prince Yan D’Aladna’s First Marvel Comics Appearance

In Marvel Comics, Prince Yan of Aladna’s first and so far only appearance happened in 2014’s Captain Marvel (Vol.8) issue #9. The issue has Carol Danvers, who had only recently become Captain Marvel, and her alien sidekick Tic journeying to the distant world Aladna to help a mutant rock star, Lila Cheney, who also happened to be a cosmic adventurer. Lila Cheney had the mutant power to teleport across the cosmos, which led her to many entanglements with the X-Men and Carol over the years. Now, Lila found herself trapped in an unwanted engagement with alien royalty, and needed her old friend Carol to bail her out. In Prince Yan’s world, everyone has to rhyme when they speak. Good times.

Prince Yan’s Connection to an X-Men Character

When she was a child, and her mutant powers first manifested, young Lila Cheney transported herself to Aladna and fell for the planet’s handsome prince. Lila was an Earth mutant of considerable power who once dated Xavier’s student Cannonball. In Prince Yan d’Aladna’s world, only women could choose their lifemates. Being from Earth, Lila didn’t realize that when she chose Prince Yan, it was a real commitment that would have to be honored. When she returned to Aladna as an adult, they forced Lila to marry Prince Yan, even though neither of them wanted that.

Prince Yan asked Captain Marvel to help him stop the ceremony by formally objecting. During the ceremony, Marlo of Sleen, who wished to rule Aladna, appeared, intending to defeat Lila in combat and marry Yan. Carol represented Lila in battle and won. Now officially betrothed to Yan, Captain Marvel offered him the right to choose whoever he wanted to marry. Hoping to avoid the possibility of Yan being denied the crown if he attempted not to marry, Tic volunteered to become Yan’s wife. Once he became king, Yan abolished this rule of Aladna.

What Are Prince Yan’s Powers?

As far as we know, Prince Yan D’Aladna doesn’t have any superpower, at least not in Marvel’s comics. However, like everyone on his home planet, Yan can always speak and carry on a full conversation totally in rhyme. Essentially, all of Aladna’s people speak musically. So, that’s kind of a power? We’ll have to see if Park Seo-joon’s MCU Prince Yan develops any other powers in The Marvels.

Is Prince Yan Captain Marvel’s Husband?

Although Carol Danvers won the right to marry Prince Yan, she decided not to. She allowed the Prince to choose his own consort. Or rather, the consort chose him. So no, Carol is not married to the Prince in the Marvel Comics and is, therefore, not secret alien royalty. However, that did not stop him from being flirty with her. It remains to be seen how the MCU relationship between Captain Marvel and Yan D’Aladna unrolls in The Marvels and if they end up entangled in some kind of marriage plotline.

Park Seo-joon as Prince Yan D’ Aladna in the MCU

We also don’t know yet how Park Seo-joon’s version of Prince Yan in The Marvels will differ from his comic book counterpart more globally. We don’t think Lila Cheney is in this movie, so that aspect of his comic book storyline probably won’t play out in the same way. And Prince Yan doesn’t have the Davie Bowie-esque lightning bolt image over his eye in the MCU. Park Seo-joon’s The Marvels character also definitely feels like a warrior prince in this film, something the 616 universe Prince Yan really wasn’t. Or didn’t seem to be.

We’ll learn more about Prince Yan d’Aladna, his relationship with Captain Marvel, and whether Park Seo-joon is actually playing him when The Marvels hits theaters on November 10.

The post Who Is Prince Yan D’Aladna, Park Seo-joon’s Rumored THE MARVELS’ Character? appeared first on Nerdist.

The first season of Loki on Disney+ brought back Tom Hiddleston as the seemingly unkillable Asgardian God of Mischief. It was a huge success. The series introduced MCU fans to the Time Variance Authority, or TVA, who watch over the timeline of the known universe. Loki also formally introduced the concept of the Marvel Multiverse. We also got a perfect foil for Loki in the form of his variant Sylvie. Perhaps most importantly, it’s the only MCU series to get a second season (so far). But what wild adventures through the spacetime continuum will Loki’s second round include?

Here’s everything we know about Loki season two.

Loki Season Two’s Plot

The first season of Loki ended with Sylvie killing He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), thereby erupting the Sacred Timeline and unleashing the Multiverse in full. When Loki returned to the TVA, it was altered in the timeline, and no one remembered him. Not to mention, statues of He Who Remains (or one of his variants more likely) stood tall in the TVA’s halls.

The synopsis for Loki season two says:

Loki Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.

We can see what will go down in Loki season two in this Disney+ trailer.

Behind the Scenes

Season one writers Michael Waldron and Eric Martin are coming back, with Martin now the head writer instead of Waldron, and Waldron serving as executive producer. One of the creatives from season one not returning is showrunner Kate Herron, according to a report from Deadline. Co-directing several episodes in season two, also according to Deadline, are Moon Knight’s Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. Natalie Holt is also back as the series composer.

Loki Season Two’s Cast

Tom Hiddleston returns, of course, as the titular Loki. Also returning is Owen Wilson as Mobius, Sophia DiMartino as Sylvie, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ravonna Renslayer. Eugene Cordero as ever-present TVA employee Casey (he’ll play a series regular in season two), and Tara Strong as the voice of Miss Minutes will also come back. No word yet on Jonathan Majors as one of the Kang variants, although the giant statue of him at the end of season one suggests we will see him again.

Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) is in season two of Loki, but we don’t know details about his role yet. Additionally, Deadline reports that Game of Thrones‘ Kate Dickie will likely play the villain in Loki‘s second season.

Loki Season 2 Release Date

Loki season two will release on October 5, 2023 and 6:00 PM PT/9:00 PM ET.

Originally published on August 24, 2022.

The post Everything We Know About LOKI Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

The hallway fight has become a staple of action films ever since The Matrix knocked it out of the park in 1999. Since then, movies like The Raid and others have done their version of the hallway fight scene, taking it all up a notch. And Marvel films and television series are no different. Here are some of the all-time Marvel hallway fights. Whether or not these all count as MCU is debatable. After all, we still don’t know officially if the Marvel Netflix series are MCU canon. But we can make still an argument they are. So for the purposes of this ranking, we are counting Daredevil and the other Defenders shows as MCU.

8. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Spider-Man vs. the Lizard

Ok, this first entry is an MCU adjacent fight, but we say it count since Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker is now officially part of the MCU multiverse thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home. In the first Amazing Spider-Man film back in 2012, the Lizard emerges from the sewers and attacks Peter Parker in Midtown High. The two tussle in a hallway between rows of lockers. Eventually, this Peter puts on his Spidey outfit, and the two wreck the school halls in an all-CG scene. They then take the fight to an overpass, also kind of a hallway, where Gwen Stacy gets involved. Granted, some of the effects are dodgy, but the fighting acrobatics themselves are pretty cool still.

7. The Defenders (2017) Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist vs. The Hand

When the Netflix Marvel shows did their crossover, The Defenders, it wasn’t quite the Avengers-level event we hoped for. Nevertheless, it gave us a pretty cool hallway fight between Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist as they take on the Hand. This scene was good enough to make even Finn Jones’ Iron Fist look cool. Everyone fights in their traditional forms. Matt Murdock and Danny Rand use Martial arts, Luke Cage uses sheer strength, and Jessica Jones tosses dudes aside like paper. One of the best parts of the entire Defenders experience is these four emerging from a high-rise elevator and kicking ass.

6. Iron Man 2 (2010) Black Widow vs. Justin Hammer’s Guards

Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) made her MCU debut in Iron Man 2. While not a terrible movie, it is one of the least-loved entries in the Infinity Saga. Without a doubt, Natasha Romanoff had a lot more to do character-wise in future MCU films. However, we cannot deny that her big action scene in Iron Man 2 is one of the greatest Marvel fights ever. Towards the end of the film, Nat and Happy Hogan are looking for villain Ivan Vanko, who is hiding out in the Hammer Industries complex. Nat easily makes mincemeat of every guard that comes at her. She uses every trick both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Red Room taught her. After she’s cleaned all their clocks in the cramped office corridors, she pepper sprays one last guard as if to say “This wasn’t even that hard.” Nat, you were the best.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (2023) The Guardians vs. the High Evolutionary’s Creatures

The most recent hallway fight on this list is more of a corridor on a spaceship, but it counts. When the full OG Guardians roster busts out to free the kids on the High Evolutionary’s ship in this two-and-a-half-minute action scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, to the perfect James Gunn needle drop of the Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” audiences wanted to stand up and cheer. Unlike many of the other entries here, particularly the ones involving the Defenders, this one is very CGI-reliant. However, the folks at Weta Digital knocked it out of the park. It may look like one take, but it’s actually 18 separate shots stitched together. We can watch this one on a loop and never tire of it. Just for Rocket’s glee at all the carnage.

4. Daredevil (2016) Punisher vs. Prisoners

In terms of sheer gore and brutality, nothing tops the Punisher’s prison fight in season two of Daredevil. After Wilson Fisk has set him up, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) takes on a metric ton of inmates in the prison corridors. And he murders everyone who gets in his way. The Punisher is not Daredevil. He doesn’t go for the injury, he goes for the kill, and you see it in all its bloody gory. This one is brutal folks, and not for the squeamish. No single fight scene shows the difference between how Daredevil and the Punisher approach a brawl than this one.

3. Daredevil (2015) Daredevil vs. Russian Traffickers

The first season of Daredevil had everyone talking, when in the second episode, vigilante Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) takes on a group of Russian human traffickers to save one kidnapped boy from their warehouse. The whole thing remains impressive for several reasons. First, it’s a three-minute sequence all shot in one take. Daredevil takes on a good ten Russian thugs inside his little cramped hall, bathed in a sickly green light. Unlike so many fight scenes in superhero media, this one looked like it actually hurt. Not just for the bad guys, but for Matt too. You could feel every punch landed, and every punch Matt landed on the bad guys. There have been other great, more grandiose hallway fights, but this one will probably remain talked about as a game changer for a long time.

2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Cap vs. HYDRA Agents

If we’re extending hallway fight to include any cramped indoor space, then what’s a smaller cramped indoor space than an elevator? And that’s where this entry comes in. When Steve Rogers, realizing he’s in an elevator surrounded by Hydra agents in S.H.I.E.L.D. gear looking for a fight, asks if anyone wants to get out before the beat-down begins? You just knew it was going to be a brawl for the ages. Steve proves why he’s freakin’ Captain America in this scene. He takes on all these guys who should have beat him ten to one…and he still hands their butts to them. And then jumps through the glass several stories below. This scene will never not be impressive. If it was in an actual hallway, it would be our number one pick.

1. Daredevil (2016) Daredevil vs. Bikers

After all the accolades season one of Daredevil got, especially that hallway fight, the creators clearly felt the need to top themselves. And we argue they did. This fight showed the Punisher trying to show the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen that his nonlethal ways are ineffective. This scene takes place after Daredevil escaped capture by the Punisher. Matt discovers the gun he taped to his hand doesn’t have bullets in it. Subsequently, Matt fights a plethora of bikers, starting in an apartment complex hallway, later extending into the stairwell. And all without full use of his hands! It is one amazing fight, as Daredevil mows through his attackers. This fight scene somehow topped the first hallway fight from season one. And it’s our favorite Marvel hallway fight of all time.

The post The Best Marvel Hallway Fights, Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.

The Marvels arrives this fall from Marvel Studios, and this week, Entertainment Weekly had a behind-the-scenes cover story on the film. All three leads, Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani, were interviewed. Not to mention Marvel Studios’ Man of the Hour, Samuel L. Jackson, fresh of Secret Invasion, and director Nia DaCosta. And of course, so some juicy tidbits were shared. Not to mention several newly seen photos from The Marvels, which you can check out below. Note: These interviews occurred before the current SAG-AFTRA strike.

So what are the big takeaways from Entertainment Weekly‘s piece on The Marvels? Well, for starters, this should erase any doubts that Nick Fury might not survive Secret Invasion, or retire quietly due to the events of the show. Unless The Marvels is a stealth prequel, which is possible, it looks like Fury will be back to his old self (and maybe in his old job) by the time The Marvels hits theaters.

But that doesn’t mean that he and Carol Danvers are talking much these days. According to Samuel L. Jackson, “He’s been calling her, and she’s off in galaxies far, far away. She’s like, ‘Fury, why are you calling me? I told you not to use this [number].’ He’s like, ‘You gave it to me, so I’m gonna use it. And I’m calling you because I need your help!” Carol, meanwhile, has been spending all her time post-Endgame far away from Earth. It seems she really doesn’t like visiting home often.

The Marvels will of course be a reunion between Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers. Carol last saw Monica as a child in the ’90s, and she was her “Auntie Carol.” But Monica’s reaction to hearing Carol’s name in WandaVision suggested that there was tension in the family. According to Teyonah Parris, that still seems to be the case. She said “Carol is such a huge part of Monica’s life in Captain Marvel. When we see her [as an adult] in WandaVision, you get a sense that she has not talked to Carol in a very long time. So, we have to address the elephant in the room.”

Perhaps the most fun fact we learned, at least for Marvel Comics fans, is that the “location swapping” across space is a nod to the original Captain Marvel comics of the ’60s and ’70s. Back then, Captain Marvel, a.k.a. the Kree hero Mar-Vell, would switch places with teenager Rick Jones using Kree bracelets called Nega-Bands. Hmmm, those sound a lot like what Kamala Khan wears in Ms. Marvel. Rick Jones, who served as sidekick to the Hulk, Captain America, and others, has never popped up in the MCU. If he ever does, it will likely be in another project. Because it seems Ms. Marvel now has his function in terms of the Captain Marvel mythology.

Speaking of Ms. Marvel, the actress who portrays her, Iman Vellani, is well known as a true blue comics nerd. And now a comics writer too. She’s definitely more of a fangirl than her co-stars. But it turns out, director Nia DaCosta is also a huge Marvel Comics nerd. And in particular, she’s a fan of the character of Kamala Khan. She said “I’m a big nerd from New York City, and here was this hero who was a big nerd from Jersey City, writing fan fiction the way I used to when I was that age. It was really fun to feel close to that character in that really specific way, in a way you don’t often feel when it’s Iron Man or Thor.”

The Marvels hits theaters on November 10, 2023.

The post New MCU Details Revealed About THE MARVELS appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s official! After 23 years, Hugh Jackman will finally wear his comics-accurate costume in Deadpool 3. Although the first X-Men movie made a snarky remark about yellow spandex costumes, fans have waited forever to see Logan in the world-famous outfit on-screen. But with news of Jennifer Garner’s Elektra joining the cast as well, it seems likely that the Marvel Multiverse rumors about Deadpool 3 are true. We can’t confirm anything, but we would not be shocked if several of the Fox-era X-Men appear in this film alongside Logan. And if they do, the X-Men deserve comic book-style costume upgrades too, to properly pay homage to their Marvel Comics origins. But which X-Men comic costumes should appear in the MCU’s world? And just how comics-accurate should these costumes be? Here are the X-Men we’d love to see in the MCU and the suits and costumes we’d love to see them wear.

Cyclops’ Blue and Yellow Costume Should Join Wolverine’s Suit in Deadpool 3

Scott Summers, the X-Men member whom you may know as Cyclops, has had literally dozens of costumes in the comics. While we love Cyclops’ ‘70s/’80s blue costume, with the skullcap and the pirate boots, we believe it would be a hard one to pull off on screen in the MCU. For many, his most iconic costume is his ‘90s Jim Lee-designed one, used in X-Men: The Animated Series. We almost got a version of this costume in a Marvel movie, as it was teased for a moment at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse. Of course, by the time of the next film, Dark Phoenix, Cyclops was wearing yet another suit. If James Marsden shows as up as Cyclops in Deadpool 3 or Secret Wars, we think a proper version of his ‘90s X-Men costume is in order for the MCU. Although with a more accurate color scheme than the X-Men: Apocalypse one that Tye Sheridan wore. That’s a good place to start.

We’d Love for Storm’s Epic Cape to Take Flight in the MCU

For all of the major diversions costume-wise in the first X-Men movie, the costume worn by Halle Berry as Storm is pretty close to what the Marvel Comics presented. (That first wig, though? That’s another story). While we are partial to Ororo Munroe’s original costume designed by Dave Cockrum, we do think it would be hard to justify the headpiece, leather swimwear, and thigh-high boots in live-action. But Storm’s ‘90s look, designed by Jim Lee, is perfect to wear on screen. This costume is very similar to the first X-Men movie costume, only this time, we would want the MCU’s version to have yellow accents and the red X symbol on the shoulders. Sometimes in the comics, this costume looks like black leather, sometimes, it’s all white. We’d happily take either one.

Magneto‘s Purple and Red Costume Needs to Make an On-Screen Appearance

Magneto has one of the best costumes in comics. When Jack Kirby nailed a design, he really nailed it. That’s why Mags had so few costume changes over the interceding decades. But the movies always shied away from going full comics look when it came to the Master of Magnetism’s costume. The closest we ever got in terms of Marvel Comics’ accuracy was the costume at the very end of X-Men: First Class, where Michael Fassbender’s Magneto sported the classic comics helmet and his purple and maroon color scheme. But that was all done away with in the next film, X-Men: Days of Future Past. If Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender do return in Deadpool 3, then let’s go full Kirby. Okay, maybe without the trunks. But the rest of it? Let’s go. It’s time to give Magneto the costume he deserves in the MCU.

Rogue’s Classic Marvel Comics Yellow and Green Suit Would Make a Splash

Anna Paquin’s Rogue was perhaps the most different characterization from her comic book counterpart. She was very shy and unsure of her powers, a far cry from the version most fans knew from the ‘90s X-Men cartoon series. We’ve heard that version described as “Dolly Parton, with the powers of Superman.” And that’s accurate. Rogue has had many costumes in Marvel Comics, most of them green and white. But If Paquin returns, now all grown up, we’d love to see her in the Jim Lee-designed costume from X-Men #1, later made famous by the animated show. It’s really Rogue’s best costume, the bomber jacket just works so well with the suit. This comics-accurate costume is easily translatable to the screen with very few tweaks, and we’d love to see it add a splash of color to the MCU’s X-Men lineup. We’re ready to see this Rogue costume in live-action, sugah.

Colossus’s Bodysuit Is the X-Men Costume the MCU Deserves

Piotr Rasputin, the X-Men’s Russian metal man Colossus, has been a key figure in the Deadpool movies, and is confirmed to return for the third film. As much as we love Stefan Kapičić in the role, that black and red costume is just not very Colossus to us. In Marvel’s X-Men comics and others, Colossus wore a red and yellow costume for much of the ‘70s and ‘80s, with big shoulder flares and thigh-high boots. That was later streamlined by Jim Lee in the ‘90s. Maybe the best version of the Colossus costume was from the Astonishing X-Men series of the 2000s. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine costume seems inspired by Astonishing, so why not Colossus’ suit? We just know it’s time for Piotr to wear the red and yellow. We’d probably give the big lug some pants, though.

Phoenix‘s Firebird Emblem Should Rise On-Screen

Jean Grey has been a part of the X-Men since the very first issue in 1963, and has had dozens of costumes since then. Some are iconic, others are fashion nightmares. But while we’ve lobbied hard for the Jim Lee ‘90s costume designs for any possible X-Men returning in the MCU, Jean Grey’s outfit from this era is not a favorite. The shoulder pad armor, the headpiece, the padding on the legs? It’s all too busy. Maybe the MCU could pull off a version of this X-Men costume that works. But we’d prefer something that evokes Jean as Phoenix.

Of course, that means the classic firebird emblem, in yellow and green. We realize the classic Phoenix costume might be hard to pull off in live-action. It would be hard to justify those opera gloves, thigh-high boots, and gold sash. But in the mid-2000s, Jean wore a more practical version of the Phoenix red and green, which could work on screen. With two movies dedicated to Jean Grey not being able to control the Phoenix Force, it would be fun to see Famke Janssen totally in control of her powers in the MCU, and wearing something resembling her New X-Men-era costume.

Mystique’s Comics-Accurate White Dress Is a Costume Long Overdue for Its Debut

Mystique has been an iconic part of the X-Men film franchise since the very first film in 2000. She’s been played by Rebecca Romijn, and later, Jennifer Lawrence. But we think if Magneto returns, then Mystique should be right by his side. And if it’s Ian McKellen’s Magneto, then the original Mystique, Rebecca Romijn, should join him. Rebecca Romijn is currently killing it as Number One on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. And while we think at this point in her career, she probably doesn’t want to spend hours in the makeup chair being painted head-to-toe blue, she doesn’t need to. Because Marvel Comics’ Mystique wore clothes. We’d love to see Mystique’s iconic white costume from the comics appear in the MCU, with the tiny gold skulls. We got a tease of this comics-accurate costume in X-Men: Apocalypse, but the later movies never delivered. This one’s long overdue.

The post Comics-Accurate X-Men Costumes We Want to See in DEADPOOL 3 in Addition to Wolverine’s Suit appeared first on Nerdist.

The Disney+ series Secret Invasion, which stars Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, details the veteran agent’s attempt to uncover a conspiracy of alien Skrull infiltrators on Earth. The show’s title refers to a seismic event in the Marvel universe, which took place in the eight-part Secret Invasion event mini-series in 2008. For MCU fans who are less familiar with the comics, here’s a full breakdown of the Marvel Comics Secret Invasion event. Just what was the secret invasion? Who exactly were the aliens that did all the invading? And how did it all work out in the end? Here’s the comic book history of the Secret Invasion and how it differs from what we’re seeing in the MCU.

What Is Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion?

Secret Invasion was the brainchild of Marvel Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis. After revitalizing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with his New Avengers run starting in 2005, Bendis planted the seeds for what would be one of his greatest epics. He began his long run at the end of the original Avengers series, with the storyline Avengers Disassembled. This story saw the legendary team crumble from within. It was the end of an era that had lasted over 400 issues.

But soon, Captain America and Iron Man would put together a new Avengers team, realizing the world couldn’t go unprotected. For the first time, long-standing Marvel heroes like Spider-Man and Wolverine would join the ranks. Also enlisted was one hero who hadn’t been heard from in a long time: Jessica Drew, the original Spider-Woman. Fans hadn’t seen her in costume in decades but were nevertheless excited for her return. However, this return was not as it seemed. Before we get too far into Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion, a brief explainer on a particular alien race is in order.

A Brief History of Marvel Comics’ Skrulls, Key Secret Invasion Players

The menacing Skrulls have been a thorn in the side of Marvel’s heroes since 1962’s Fantastic Four #2. The green, reptilian aliens were shapeshifters and could assume the form of anyone. They made life miserable for Earth’s heroes, culminating in the epic Kree-Skrull war in the pages of Avengers. Even after that, they continued to create havoc, notably kidnapping the Thing’s girlfriend Alicia Masters, and replacing her with a Skrull agent. She married the Human Torch, creating a deep rift among the team. During this time, the planet eater Galactus destroyed the Skrull homeworld, leaving them a nomadic race. But they never lost sight of their plans for Earth.

The first signs of a Skrull infiltration came in 2006 when an Avenger named Echo killed the assassin Elektra. Upon her death, Elektra transformed back to her natural Skrull state. This led to shockwaves throughout the superhero community. Who else had been replaced? This was especially shocking to the Illuminati, the secret cabal of heroes formed after the Kree-Skrull war. These included Iron Man, the Inhuman King Black Bolt, Black Panther, Professor Charles Xavier, Doctor Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards. Black Bolt then revealed himself to be a Skrull and attacked the rest of the Illuminati.

Secret Invasion‘s Skrull Infiltration of the Marvel World Revealed

In Secret Invasion, suddenly, every hero in the Marvel Comics universe was a suspect—especially heroes who had died and suddenly come back to life in previous years. Captain Mar-Vell had passed away from cancer years before and had only recently returned. Turns out, he, too, was a Skrull in disguise. Others replaced by Skrulls in Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion event were Iron Man’s faithful butler Jarvis, the X-Man Longshot, and Brother Voodoo. The biggest blow came when Spider-Woman was discovered to be not only a Skrull, but the Skrull’s ruler Veranke.

Readers learned that the alien Princess Veranke was originally exiled by the Skrull Emperor Dorrek, but after Galactus destroyed the Skrull homeworld, Veranke became the new Empress. She was behind the invasion of Earth, gaining knowledge of Earth’s superhumans while posing as the heroic Spider-Woman. The real Jessica Drew was held captive when Veranke assumed her place.

All-Out War in Secret Invasion‘s Comics

Once revealed in Secret Invasion, Marvel’s Skrulls infiltrated and disabled the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, along with their orbiting base, The Peak. Skrulls instigated a massive breakout on the Raft, a supervillain high-security prison. The Secret Invasion comics’ climax saw a huge battle between Nick Fury’s collection of Marvel heroes and the Skrull Armada. Naturally, the heroes ultimately won. But it wouldn’t be one of the good guys who dealt the Skrull their killing blow, but former Green Goblin Norman Osborn.

Those replaced by Skrulls came home, some after years away. But the failure of the Avengers and the other heroes to stop this massive infiltration did not go unnoticed by those in charge. The President of the United States dissolved S.H.I.E.L.D. and replaced it with a new organization called H.A.M.M.E.R. (Don’t ask what it stands for; that’s classified.) Norman Osborn took charge of H.A.M.M.E.R., kicking off a period in Marvel history known as the Dark Reign. For the next several years after Secret Invasion, villains ruled the day in Marvel Comics.

Who Do You Trust in Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion?

Of course, the MCU is very different than the comic book universe. There are no X-Men or Fantastic Four… yet. The only Kree-Skrull war we know of took place in the past during the events of Captain Marvel. Also, the biggest change is that in the MCU, many of the Skrulls are good guys, like Captain Marvel’s Talos. Ben Mendelsohn reprises his Talos role for Secret Invasion.

The MCU’s Own Secret Invasion

The MCU Secret Invasion is much, much more akin to an espionage thriller than a superhero epic—one with an alien twist. The only Avenger we’ve seen so far is James Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine (Don Cheadle), who is working for the government (and might be a Skrull). Emilia Clarke plays G’iah, the daughter of Talos; we met her as a child in the climax of Captain Marvel. Now, G’iah works with other displaced Skrull refugees, many of whom are angry at how little the human race has done for them in terms of relocating her people to a new home.

But where the original Secret Invasion comics were about which Marvel superheroes were replaced with Skrull agents, this series is all about replacing (mostly) ordinary humans in positions of power across the globe. Like many previous Marvel Studios projects, the MCU is taking the comics as inspiration for the premise of Secret Invasion and running with it. Big superhero battles seem very unlikely to happen in the series. However, one thing is certain: although the MCU’s Secret Invasion is sure to be different than the comic book version, we should expect massive changes to the universe as a result.

Originally published on December 15, 2020.

The post The Marvel Comics History of the Skrulls’ SECRET INVASION appeared first on Nerdist.

In the MCU, the motto is “It’s all connected.” This includes the Disney+ series Secret Invasion and 2021’s Black Widow. In the third episode of Secret Invasion, we hear a familiar name, Dreykov. In the episode, we get a flashback scene of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) at a diner in New York City, circa 1998. He was there meeting with his Skrull contact Varra (Charlayne Woodard), and Varra mentions to Fury that the information she’s supplied to him will “put Dreykov’s men on their heels.” Fury responded with, “It sounds like you already have.”

The Dreykov in question on Secret Invasion is General Dreykov, a Russian operative first introduced as the primary villain in Black Widow in 2021, played by Ray Winstone. Marvel movies mentioned Dreykov as early as the first Avengers, as a part of Black Widow’s nefarious past. Given the Black Widow connection, does this mention of Dreykov in Secret Invasion suggest that Nick Fury was aware of Natasha Romanoff as early as 1998? Let’s look at the evidence.

Dreykov, the Red Room, and Black Widow

General Dreykov famously headed the Red Room, a top-secret Russian state program in which they abducted young girls from around the world and brainwashed them into becoming living weapons. The year 1998 would have been a peak time for Dreykov and his operations, surely coming into conflict with agencies like MI6 and S.H.I.E.L.D. These possibly involved the Red Room’s finest agent, Natasha Romanoff. But what was Natasha’s status as a Black Widow in 1998, and wasn’t she barely middle school-aged at the time? Her age, however, would not have been a deterrent.

Natasha Romanoff was born in December 1984 in the Soviet Union. As a baby, General Dreykov detected genetic potential in her and purchased her from her family. We’re not sure what this genetic potential means, but we’ve seen Nat do some amazing things in the Avengers films. In any event, Natasha’s mother immediately regretted selling her child to the state and tried to get her back. For her efforts, Dreykov had her murdered. Natasha would never meet her birth mother or her biological family.

Dreykov: Natasha Romanoff’s Perpetual Nightmare

Dreykov indoctrinated Natasha into the Red Room, where girls with exceptional genetic potential trained to be government operatives. And by training, we really mean they were physically and mentally tortured. It’s unknown what Natasha’s earliest years were like in the Red Room, but when she was seven years old in 1992, she was sent to America along with another Red Room child abductee, Yelena Belova. Together, they lived for several years undercover in the United States as part of a Russian spy operation. They posed as sisters, with Russian agents Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff posing as her parents.

In 1995, when Natasha was 10, S.H.I.E.L.D. busted the family’s cover. The artificial all-American family had to flee to Russia. They separated Natasha from her “sister” Yelena, and took her back to the Red Room training program. At age 13, she would have entered adolescence, the time when her most extensive period of training would likely have begun. And by then, the year would have been 1998—the same year that Nick Fury needed Skrull intel to stop an operation from Dreykov, as we see in Secret Invasion.

Natasha Romanov, Teenage Black Widow?

Was Natasha Romanoff doing dangerous missions for the Red Room as early as 1998? She would have been very young, only 13 at the time. But the Red Room had no moral quandaries about sending children into dangerous situations. It could be that Natasha arrived on Nick Fury’s radar as early as 1998 while executing missions for Dreykov.

At some point, S.H.I.E.L.D. marked Natasha Romanoff as too dangerous to be allowed to run loose. They sent agent Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, to take her out in 2008. But as she later reminisced in the first Avengers film, “he made a different call” by recruiting her for S.H.I.E.L.D. instead. The two initiated a mission with the intention of killing Dreykov and ending the Red Room. However, it would actually be years later that Natasha would actually accomplish that goal. But it’s quite possible that Nick Fury’s most trusted asset was someone he first became aware of as far back as the ‘90s. We may learn even more about Dreykov, Black Widow, and the rest of the story as Secret Invasion continues to unfold.

The post How SECRET INVASION Connects to BLACK WIDOW’s Villain appeared first on Nerdist.

In Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion, we learned that in the MCU, the Kree destroyed the Skrull’s homeworld Skrullos, leaving the entire species as a roaming diaspora around the galaxy. It was one enemy that brought them down to the level we first encountered in Captain Marvel. But the Skrull Empire was much more powerful in the pages of Marvel Comics with several different events to cripple them. Despite their long conflict with the Kree Empire in the comics, it was something far bigger and badder that destroyed the home planet of the Skrulls.

The Skrulls’ Journey From Skrullos to Throneworld

Despite Skrulls having been a part of the Marvel Universe since Fantastic Four #2 way back in 1962, the original Skrull homeworld did not appear in print until 2008’s The Incredible Hercules. Skrullos was where the species originated from, somewhere in the Andromeda galaxy. Their shapeshifting powers were the result of genetic tampering by the godlike Celestials. Yes, the very same beings who created the Eternals and the Deviants on Earth. These shapeshifting powers led to civil wars on Skrullos, where the “changing peoples” dominated the rest of the species. Around 100,000 Earth years ago, the Skrull Empire relocated to a new world, Tarnax IV, more commonly known as the Skrull Throneworld.

It was from the planet Tarnax IV that the Skrull Empire truly conquered their galaxy, and eventually set their sights on the Milky Way. The Skrulls conquered thousands of worlds, becoming a major power in the universe, along with the Shi’ar, the Badoon, and the Kree. But despite their long-standing war with the alien Kree Empire, it was not the Kree who destroyed their home planet. It was Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

The Coming of Galactus to Destroy the Skrulls

In Fantastic Four #257, writer/artist John Byrne had Galactus’ new herald Nova choose the Skrull Throne World as his next meal. This Nova was a transformed Earth woman named Frankie Raye. She’s not to be confused with Marvel’s other hero named Nova, who wore Nova Corps armor. With her power cosmic, Nova was able to lay waste to the Skrull Empire’s Imperial Starfleet. Or at least the part of it that was present in Tarnax space. Galactus then arrived and consumed the planet entirely. But that wasn’t even the worst thing that happened to the Skrull Empire. Something worse was on its way.

The Annihilation of the Skrulls’ Throneworld

Although the destruction of Throneworld was a huge blow to the Skrulls, they still had thousands of planets in their conquered areas of space. But that too was about to change. An interdimensional invasion from the Negative Zone led by its maniacal ruler, Annihilus, devastated most of the Skrull-controlled space. They called this invasion the Annihilation Wave. The shapeshifting species was now at a fraction of its former power and without a homeworld to call their own.

The Secret Invasion Takes Shape as Skrulls Take Over Other Planets

But an ancient prophecy spoke of a “blue world” that would become the new home for the Skrulls. And many believed that prophesied blue planet was the Earth. This belief was perpetuated by the ultra-religious Skrull Queen Veranke. She implemented a plan to replace heroes on Earth, in preparation for a full-scale Skrull invasion. Veranke actually impersonated the heroine Spider-Woman, and hid among the Avengers for months.

The Avengers thwarted this clandestine infiltration when they and other Marvel heroes teamed up to defeat the Skrulls, repelling the invasion. The Skrulls would later reorganize under a new ruler but Earth would not become their new home. Although we doubt they’re done trying to take the Earth from humanity. It’s only a matter of time before they try again, perhaps in Secret Invasion.

The post How Did SECRET INVASION’s Skrulls Lose Their Planet in the Marvel Comics? appeared first on Nerdist.

The MCU’s latest show, Secret Invasion, marks the return of Talos (played by Ben Mendelsohn), a Skrull who first appeared in 2019’s Captain Marvel. Talos is the leader of a faction of Skrull refugees on Earth, and is close allies with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). So far, Secret Invasion explores Talos’ challenges in helping his people. Mendelsohn’s nuanced performance makes him one of the highlights of the series. 

Talos being the dramatic heart of Secret Invasion is a surprising choice to fans of Marvel Comics, considering that he is by no means a prominent character in the source material. In fact, even among Skrulls, Talos was not well-known before his MCU debut in Captain Marvel. He has only been in a handful of comics over the years. Talos made his first Marvel Comics appearance in The Incredible Hulk #418 (1994) by Peter David, Roger Cruz, Cam Smith, Glynis Oliver, and Peter Rosen, later making an appearance in 2006’s Annihilation event.

It would be many years until Talos appeared in Marvel Comics again, this time in Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones’ Howard the Duck series in 2015. Yes, a series about Marvel’s resident anthropomorphic duck. Considering Skrulls have been around in the Marvel universe since Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four #2, all the way back in 1962, Talos was a curious comics choice to feature in the MCU. 

A distinct difference between Talos in Marvel Comics and his MCU counterpart is his powers. As Secret Invasion reveals, MCU Talos can shapeshift into anyone, the same way that any Skrull can. However, in Marvel’s comics, Talos is unique because he is the only Skrull who cannot shapeshift. This is what launched Talos on his path of villainy in the comics, because of the anger he felt from not fitting into Skrull society. This facet about Talos is representative of a trend emerging in the 1980s in comics, where some alien villains were the only member of their species without superpowers. The most prominent example of this type of character is Blackfire, the sister of Starfire in DC Comics, who the Teen Titans battled during Marv Wolfman and George Pérez’s acclaimed run on The New Teen Titans. 

Talos’ lack of powers in Marvel Comics also coincides with a change in personality. Whereas Talos in the MCU is smart, funny, and diplomatic, his comics counterpart is much less interested in the welfare of the Skrull species. The Incredible Hulk #419 describes him as:

“[A]n evolutionary misfit. A throwback to a branch of Skrull development, once extinct, where Skrulls did not survive through shapeshifting trickery… but instead through the unstoppable power of their sinews. Some would think such a time to be a period of savageness. He prefers to think of it as a time of nobility. Then again, what place is there for nobility… in the pathetic existence of Talos the Tamed?”

Talos’ warlike perspective in Marvel Comics is also in line with popular and contemporaneous depictions of aliens in the nineties. Star Trek: The Next Generation featured several storylines about Klingon culture and their practice of ritualized combat. Talos’ Marvel Comics characterization as a “throwback to a branch of Skrull development” also recalls the dynamic between the militaristic Romulans and their more peaceful cousins, the Vulcans, in The Next Generation. 

Clearly, Talos was not meant to be as charismatic like Mendelsohn’s iteration of the character is. Perhaps the reason for Talos’ role in Captain Marvel, as opposed to other Skrull characters, is because he debuted in a Marvel comic from the ’90s. Captain Marvel, after all, took place during the same decade. This would make Talos’ role a subtle wink toward readers of nineties comics.

Secret Invasion follows Talos’ family life and relationship with his daughter, G’iah (Emilia Clarke). In the MCU, Talos has a rocky relationship with G’iah, due to his failure to provide the Skrulls with an adequate home on Earth. This is a departure from Marvel Comics, where G’iah is not Talos’ daughter. Instead, she’s another Skrull living undercover with her husband and children. G’iah premiered in 2019’s Meet the Skrulls series by Robbie Thompson and Niko Henrichon, which detailed the sacrifices and precautions that Skrulls must take in order to live undetected on Earth.

While Talos isn’t in Meet the Skrulls, the general tone of the Marvel Comics story is in line with how the MCU has represented the Skrulls. Since the first issue of Meet the Skrulls came out the same week as Captain Marvel in 2019, it’s possible that G’iah was created for the purpose of joining the MCU eventually. 

While G’iah wasn’t originally Talos’ daughter, the family-focused storyline of Secret Invasion makes sense, given the focus of Meet the Skrulls. In that series, G’iah’s main conflict was between her and her daughters, who have been raised on Earth. Since her daughters never experienced life on Skrullos, their original home planet, G’iah and her husband often wondered if their daughters could ever truly commit to the Skrull cause. Similarly, while the MCU’s version of G’iah wasn’t born on Earth, she has spent the majority of her life there. Her struggle with her Skrull heritage and human influences on Earth, alongside her tense relationship with Talos, thus embodies the same spirit of Marvel Comics’ G’iah from Meet the Skrulls. 

Talos is far from the first Marvel Comics character the MCU has dramatically revised, and he likely won’t be the last. His relative obscurity in comics gave Marvel Studios the opportunity to craft a Skrull character without the fan expectations of notable baddies like the Super-Skrull. Though the MCU isn’t without controversy when it comes to changing the powers of comics characters, Talos has clearly benefited from a fresh Marvel perspective. 

The post SECRET INVASION’s Talos Is a Major Departure From His Marvel Comics Origins appeared first on Nerdist.

Many comic book historians would likely argue that the most important date in comics history is April 18, 1938, the publication date of Action Comics #1. After all, that issue introduced Superman to the world, and by extension, the entire superhero genre. But, I believe July 2, 1963 is the most important date in comic book history. On that date, Marvel Comics published X-Men #1 and Avengers #1, both by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

These two franchises, at different moments, change the face of not just comics culture, but pop culture in general, especially these past two decades. From a seed that was planted on drug store comic book spinner racks in 1963, at 12 cents each, these comics grew into films, merchandise, and theme park franchises. And it all started because Marvel was chasing trends and trying to replicate their own earlier success. Those seeds were planted on the same day; however, it took several decades to evolve into the mighty oak it is now. This was a tree that needed a lot of water, time, and patience to grow.

Two Super Teams Ahead of Their Time

In July 1963, as far as American culture was concerned, it was mostly still the ‘50s. The “Baby Boom” was in effect, a young President had energized the country, and Elvis movies reigned supreme. But within six months, JFK would be assassinated, and the Beatles would strike their first hit on the American charts. Everything in American culture would change almost overnight. This is the environment that both X-Men and Avengers were released into the world. They were both comics that were a little edgy for the time, certainly for kids. Yet they would be perfect for the decade of change that was coming soon. And both of them only happened because Marvel’s competitor DC Comics had a big hit on their hands.

DC Comics’ Justice League Paves the Way

In 1960, Marvel Comics’ biggest rival DC Comics launched Justice League of America, which grouped their most iconic heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman together in one team book. Sales were fantastic, and Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman heard DC’s editor-in-chief brag about the JLA sales to him during a golf game. He subsequently told his nephew and employee Stan Lee to give him a similar superhero team. Together, Lee and artist extraordinaire Jack Kirby introduced Fantastic Four to the world and Marvel Comics as we know it today was born. It was an instant hit and game changer.

But Fantastic Four was not a real riff on the “all-star heroes” team the League was for DC. Lee and Kirby kind of went against their directive when creating them. Fantastic Four succeeded anyway, but by 1962, Goodman wanted Lee to introduce more teams to Marvel. This time they had to produce one that was more like DC’s Justice League of America, a group made up of established heroes, as originally asked—and another that was more in line with Fantastic Four. It needed to be a cross between the FF in terms of aesthetics, but mixed with the teenage soap opera of Spider-Man. The results were the Mighty Avengers and the Uncanny X-Men.

Two Super Teams of Mismatched Misfits

Despite the Avengers being more like the JLA by teaming up previously established heroes, Lee and Kirby still didn’t do a one-for-one with DC’s team. It wasn’t exactly an “all-star” team, as Spider-Man was already too high a seller to be part of the group and didn’t need a boost. Iron, Thor, and Ant-Man had features in anthology titles, but not their own comics. Hulk’s title had just been canned and he needed a home. So established heroes or not, the Avengers were already different from DC’s JLA as not having all their biggest stars on one team. This made them misfits of a sort too and that appealed to teen readers who didn’t want their parent’s superheroes.

And while X-Men might have essentially looked like an FF knock-off, with the characters all in basic matching uniforms and with similar powers, there were key differences. Lee and Kirby injected a sense of otherness into the mutant X-Men that the celebrity FF didn’t have, something future X-Men writers would run with to great success. But neither Avengers nor X-Men were instant hits. They sold well enough, Avengers a bit more so, but FF and Spider-Man ruled the sales charts. By 1969, nearly every Marvel book was outselling Avengers and X-Men. Marvel decided to cancel X-Men and keep Avengers going. X-Men spent the next five years as a reprint title only.

The X-Men Dominate Comics, While the Avengers Try to Keep Pace

Throughout the ‘70s, Avengers, under writers like Steve Englehart and others, rose to become a steady seller for Marvel, and a showcase for iconic stalwarts like Iron Man and Thor. Then in 1975, Marvel introduced the “All-New, All-Different X-Men.” With series writer Chris Claremont, Uncanny X-Men became a juggernaut, overtaking the comics industry and producing spinoff after spinoff. Marvel’s Mutants received a second volume in 1991, whose first issue sold a staggering eight million copies. This led to the greenlighting of X-Men: The Animated Series in 1992, where the characters, especially breakout star Wolverine, became household names—all nearly 30 years from the moment the first issue hit newsstands.

Movie Icons for the New Millennium

In 2000, the long-awaited X-Men live-action film launched a franchise that few believed could ever work. If the ‘90s cartoon made Wolverine an icon to ‘90s kids, then Hugh Jackman made him a global icon to their parents as well. While X-Men was achieving the pinnacle of their pop culture success, Marvel Comics started to position Avengers as a title that could finally outsell their mutant colleagues. Forty years after Martin Goodman told Stan Lee to make his own “all-star” team, New Avengers added company mascots Spider-Man and Wolverine. The Avengers franchise overtook X-Men in sales. And a newly formed Marvel Studios started to think about capitalizing on the brand’s potential. From the beginning, Marvel Studios hoped to introduce their roster of heroes to big-screen success. After all, X-Men had become a global phenomenon. Why couldn’t Avengers?

Of course, we all know what happened next. The MCU, anchored by the Avengers films, has grossed a staggering 29.1 billion dollars. For context, the next most successful franchise, Star Wars, is a distant second at 10 billion. In short, no other franchise is likely to topple the MCU anytime soon. So what’s the lesson here? We now live in a media landscape where things need to be instant hits. If a movie doesn’t blow up the box office on opening weekend, that marks its death. If a streaming series doesn’t click right away, it gets canceled. The same goes for comics.

But decades ago, Marvel Comics knew that both the Avengers and the X-Men were great concepts, and eventually, the world would catch up to how awesome they were. Maybe Marvel should officially declare July 2 as #AvengersXMenDay? It’s certainly a pivotal shared birthday that deserves to be celebrated.

The post AVENGERS and X-MEN’s July 1963 Debut Is the Most Important Date in Comic Book History appeared first on Nerdist.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been an unprecedented success, the kind never before seen in Hollywood. Fifteen years, 32 films, with many critically acclaimed, box office hits. Not to mention the MCU’s several Disney+ series. And yet, if the MCU entries have a flaw, it’s that their villains aren’t always the most memorable. However, there are diamonds in the rough among the Marvel bad guys, and maybe some of these villains have been underappreciated.

So let’s countdown the MCU’s bad guys, from worst to best, and see where they all rank in the halls of villainy.

35. Sonny Burch (Ant-Man and the Wasp)

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun little adventure comedy. And it was a great palette cleanser after the heaviness of the Infinity War. Having said that, the character of Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) is not really a villain. She’s more of a sympathetic antagonist—yes, even more so than sympathetic bad guys like Killmonger or Loki, who still really enjoy getting all murdery. That leaves only smarmy arms dealer Sonny Burch, played by Walton Goggins. There’s is nothing that makes him stand out as special at all, hence coming in at the very bottom.

34. Malekith (Thor: The Dark World)

Thor: The Dark World isn’t the worst Marvel Studios film. It’s near the bottom, but it is fun and entertaining enough that we always stop and watch whenever we catch it flipping through channels. Nevertheless, Malekith the Dark Elf is one of the least memorable and most boring of all the MCU villains. Everything about his performance, make-up, etc., is just totally forgettable.

33. Ronan the Accuser (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Credit where credit is due: actor Lee Pace has such a charming, nice guy face, it’s amazing he was able to come off as evil as the Kree villain Ronan the Accuser in the first Guardians of the Galaxy. Although he is convincingly an evil tyrant,  he’s also pretty much just your standard monologuing alien bad guy, who goes off on rants which end with his killing someone.

32. Dreykov (Black Widow)

Black Widow’s arch-nemesis since Avengers has been the mysterious Russian operative, Dreykov. The manipulative psychopath operated the Red Room and kidnapped girls from all over the world to turn them into trained killers, including Natasha Romanov. When we finally meet Dreykov in Black Widow, Ray Winstone plays him with a questionable accent and with zero depth of character. The concept of the Red Room itself is way more menacing than Dreykov ever was.

31. Aldrich Killian (Iron Man 3)

The memorable villain in Iron Man 3, the Mandarin, is the fake-out villain in the movie. Played by Ben Kingsley, both his villainous persona of the Mandarin, which parodies every “scary voice” movie baddie ever, to the clueless actor who portrays him, Trevor Slattery, are a joy to watch on screen. Sadly, since he’s a decoy to the movie’s real bad guy, he doesn’t make this list.

Iron Man 3’s true villain is actually Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian, another genius who Tony Stark slighted in his younger hedonistic days. Killian just feels like any bad guy in a ’90s action movie, except he breathes fire. He just never has enough personality to make an impression.

30. Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)

Watching Sam Rockwell chew the scenery as jealous weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2 is somewhat diverting, because it’s among the few times that the movie isn’t super boring. I’ll go on record as saying I think Iron Man 2 is the weakest of all the MCU films, but it at least it sparks to some kind of life whenever Sam Rockwell is on-screen. Here’s hoping he shows up in Armor Wars.

29. Dormammu (Doctor Strange)

The dread lord Dormammu was really just a giant floating head in Doctor Strange, bent on dominating the universe. In that sense, he’s more or less just like Sauron in The Lord of the Rings films. However, the effects and designs that went into creating him were really cool and memorable. And his menacing voice came from none other than Benedict Cumberbatch, blended with the voice of another actor.

28. Ivan Vanko (Iron Man 2)

It’s hard to decide which of Iron Man 2’s villains was worse: Justin Hammer or Ivan Vanko, a weird combination of old-school Iron Man bad guys Whiplash and the Crimson Dynamo. While Sam Rockwell chews the scenery in a fun way, Mickey Rourke does so in a grating way. But, he edges out Rockwell’s Justin Hammer only because he got a cool action scene in an otherwise boring movie.

27. Emil Blonsky/The Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)

The Incredible Hulk is the red-headed stepchild of the MCU. Personally, I think it’s a perfectly decent comic book movie with some nifty action scenes, and Tim Roth gives a pretty good performance as an over-the-hill military operative who just wants to be able to keep kicking ass. No, he’s not the most nuanced villain, but we understood him, and he was fun to watch on screen. And although no longer a villain really, he was super fun to watch on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

26. Kaecilius (Doctor Strange)

We don’t have anything really bad to say about Mads Mikkelsen’s turn as rogue sorcerer Kaecilius from Doctor Strange. I mean, this guy can do sophisticated Euro-evil in his sleep. And whenever he appeared, he was actually threatening. We realize this movie didn’t dive deeply into his backstory and motivations, but it was just enough for us to be satisfied with the final product. Plus he had cool glittery eye makeup; that helped.

25. Darren Cross/Yellowjacket/M.O.D.O.K (Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)

Ant-Man ended up being a delightful surprise. One thing that the movie didn’t nail, however, was the villain, Darren Cross. Played by Corey Stoll, this bad guy is really just a rip-off of Obidiah Stane from the first Iron Man. Basically, he’s another jealous corporate CEO type who feels that a paternal scientific genius figure should have paid more attention to him and not his actual children. However, as far as we’re concerned, Darren Cross got a big glow-up when he became M.O.D.O.K in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He leaned into the silliness of the character, and although never menacing, he was at least memorable. And hilarious.

24. Arthur Harrow (Moon Knight)

Ethan Hawke gave an appropriately slimy performance as cult leader Arthur Harrow, who worshipped the Egyptian goddess Amit, and tried to bring forth her wrath upon the world. Harrow was both a cult leader and a cultist, which is a fun combination to play, and Hawke did it well. But, there just wasn’t enough of him to really make him more memorable than some other MCU baddies, as the show was, understandably, far more focused on Moon Knight.

23. Ultron (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

In some circles, the Avengers’ second big villain Ultron gets a lot of hate. Is it because he’s an all-CGI character? Is he just too classic Whedon “Jokey-jokey” for some? While I understand the complaints, I get Ultron as a character and his motivations, and I enjoy James Spader’s slimy delivery of every line he utters. If Tony Stark is Ultron’s “father,” then he sure inherited Daddy’s tendency towards snarky delivery. We probably won’t, but we wouldn’t mind seeing Ultron again down the line sometime. He’s the MCU’s Frankenstein monster, and destroyed a whole country. You have our respect, Ultron.

22. Baron Helmut Zemo (Captain America: Civil War, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier)

The best villains have simple motivations that are easy to understand, and Helmut Zemo, played by German actor Daniel Brühl, is absolutely one of those. Having lost his family due to the events of Age of Ultron, he blames the Avengers, and it’s hard not to see where he’s coming from. His complicated plot to make the Avengers fight against one another holds up on multiple viewings, which is more than can be said for most of these villains. He’s not on-screen a lot in Civil War, but when he is, he makes good use of his screen time. Plus, he’s went on to become one of the best parts of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. 

21. Obadiah Stane (Iron Man)

Obadiah Stane was the very first villain of the MCU, going back to 2008’s Iron Man. The whole “I was your right-hand man but I really hate you” thing has played out in a million movies before this one, and probably done better, but Jeff Bridges brings so much smarmy glee to the role, you kind of can’t help but enjoy him every second he’s on-screen. He gets points just for the way he yells “Tony Stark built one of these in a Cave! With a bunch of scraps!!!” Truly an iconic moment.

20. Alexander Pierce (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

It was something of a stroke of genius to get Robert Redford, the star of so many paranoid conspiracy thrillers back in the ’70s, to play the man behind the giant conspiracy in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But it’s not just stunt casting here; not only is Pierce’s evil HYDRA plan scary in almost a real-world way, Redford sells you on the fact that he’s a true believer in this kind of authoritarian rule. Also, watching an Oscar winner and acting royalty like Robert Redford say lines like “Hail HYDRA” meant comic book movies were no longer marginalized, second-rate entertainment.

19. Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel)

A few years ago, we would have all thought Ben Mendelsohn as Talos would be high on this list. But, SURPRISE! His Skrull character wasn’t actually a villain in Captain Marvel. The true villain of the film was Jude Law’s Kree Commander, Yon-Rogg. Although for most of the film he was portrayed as a strict yet paternal mentor to Vers, a.k.a. Carol Danvers, he later turned out to be anything but a good guy. And yet he’s great because we still get the sense he really genuinely cared about Carol, despite all his horrible actions.

18. The Red Skull (Captain America: The First Avenger)

While most of the MCU villains try not to go for over-the-top comic book-style theatrics for their live-action incarnations, the same can’t be said for Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull—and that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s because the first Cap movie is a 1940s period piece, but we forgive a lot of the heavily accented mustache-twirling that Red Skull does here. It’s so era-appropriate, and Weaving seems to be having so much fun here. And really, how does one play a guy with a red skeleton face in a subtle way? You don’t. I’m glad Weaving just went for the jugular.

17. Arishem the Judge (Eternals)

Eternals is not the most beloved MCU entry, and truth be told, it’s kind of hard to pinpoint who the “villain” even was. Was it the Deviants? Ikaris? In the end, they were all puppets of the cosmic gods known as the Celestials. And the Celestial who pulled all the strings in Eternals was Arishem the Judge. And it might have zero personality, but in terms of evil plans? How about creating Earth and humanity to give life to another Celestial and thereby casually destroying everyone on the planet? That is cold. But it showed commitment to playing the long game. It makes Thanos’ evil plan tame in comparison. If Arishem had an ounce of charisma, it would rank much higher. But, it’s just a giant scary red thing.

16. The Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

The best Marvel villains have motivations that make sense, and among those is Adrian Toomes, a.k.a the Vulture, in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Played with the perfect balance of empathetic working-class everyman mixed with terrifying criminal (that scene with Peter Parker going to the prom!), Michael Keaton just nails it, and makes you genuinely care about his character and hope he doesn’t get killed off by the end.

15. Ego, the Living Planet (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)

In many ways the polar opposite of Michael Keaton’s Vulture (one’s a god, the other lives in New Jersey), they both fall under the category of villains that you can’t help but kind of like. In the scenes where Ego’s just hanging out with his son Peter Quill, you get the sense that he cares about him in his own weird and twisted way. Of course, a lot of the reason Ego works at all is due to the fact that he’s played by Kurt Russell, who can’t help his rugged charm. Impeccable casting is always Marvel Studios’ strength.

14. Mysterio (Spider-Man: Far From Home)  

The former contender to play Spider-Man wound up as the MCU Spidey’s best villain. So what makes Mysterio so great? First, he convincingly pulls off the charade of “I’m a fellow superhero too” to gain Peter Parker’s trust—not only to Peter, but to the audience. Even longtime comics fans who were well aware that Mysterio is a classic Spider-Man villain were wondering if the MCU version was maybe a good guy somehow. That’s how charming Jake Gyllenhaal was in the role. And his motivations for hating Tony Stark were more valid than Aldrich Killian’s in Iron Man 3. On top of all that, he gets the ultimate upper hand on Spider-Man by revealing the hero’s secret identity to the world. Not bad for a one-movie villain!

13. Kingpin (Hawkeye)

It was sort of unclear who the true villain of the Hawkeye series was until the very end. Was it the Tracksuit Mafia? Echo? In some ways, Kate Bishop’s mother could be considered a villain (misguided is probably a better word for her). No, the final episode of Hawkeye revealed the true “big bad” of the series, and it was none other than Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin.

The Kingpin was not only pure rage combined with physical strength in the show’s finale, he had some of the best bad guy line deliveries in the MCU. Of course, fans already loved his version of Fisk from the Daredevil series, but since we only have this one episode of Hawkeye to go by, Wilson will have to settle for this spot. 

12. Gorr the God Butcher (Thor: Love and Thunder)

In just a decade, Gorr the God Butcher became one of Thor’s best villains in the comics. And thanks to Thor: Love and Thunder, Christian Bale has made Gorr one of the most compelling villains in the MCU as well. Although Love and Thunder is mostly goofy and lighthearted, Gorr remains terrifying as he wields his Necrosword. He’s sympathetic as well.

When you meet him in the opening moments of the film, you feel for him. His motivations for wanting to end all gods tracked, as he witnessed firsthand how callous and indifferent they were to mortal suffering. Not only does Bale give a legit scary performance as Gorr (helped by great makeup), there’s a part of you that’s actually rooting for him. This is what helps Gorr transcend the likes of Malekith and other lesser MCU villains into the upper tier.

11. Kang the Conqueror/He Who Remains (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Loki)

So far, Jonathan Majors has played two versions of the same character in the MCU. First, he appeared as “He Who Remains,’ the main baddie pulling the strings at the end of Loki season one. He barely appeared up in that episode, dying by the end of it. However, one of his variants, who actually went by the name Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, stole the show in that film. This Kang, exiled to the Quantum Realm, oozed menace. And he had no problem wiping out entire timelines if it suited his needs. Like any good villain, he could deliver an evil monologue for the ages.

10. Green Goblin (Spider-Man: No Way Home)

Technically, Willem Dafoe’s version of Norman Osborn from 2002 is the very first MCU villain, ever since Spider-Man: No Way Home retconned him into the larger Marvel Multiverse. In the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man, Osborn did a lot of damage to Peter Parker’s life, but was just shy of actually killing anyone he loved. But in No Way Home, he returned with a vengeance, ultimately murdering Peter’s Aunt May.

Yes, other classic villains returned for No Way Home, but none were truly that bad. Dafoe never missed a beat in his performance. He still made you feel compassion for his tortured soul, consumed by an alternate personality. Because of the permanent emotional damage he did to Peter Parker, the Green Goblin proved in No Way Home he will always be the most dangerous Spider-Man villain of all.

9. Hela (Thor: Ragnarok)

Does Thor: Ragnarok’s Hela have a great deal of complex motivation beyond the obvious? Well, no….but man, does Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett tear up the screen every second she’s in this movie. Vamping it up like a modern-day version of Eartha Kitt’s ’60s Catwoman, Blanchett is having so much fun it’s infectious. That’s a costume that could wear her, it’s so over-the-top, but make no mistake, she wears it. The role is thin on paper, but when you’re acting at 110%, it doesn’t really matter. Some roles are so memorable because they’re fun to watch, and Hela fits into this category.

8. Namor (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

We struggled on whether or not to include Namor the Sub-Mariner on this list, because he’s so charming and likable, thus teetering into anti-hero territory. However, in Tenoch Huerta’s one and only appearance so far in the MCU in Wakanda Forever, he floods the African nation and kills Queen Ramonda. So, sorry, that puts him in the villain category for us. But like Magneto from X-Men, he has a reason for his despicable acts. It’s all to protect his Talokan people from the evils of the outside world. Unfortunately, the man worshipped as the Mayan god K’uk’ulkan did a lot of damage in the second Black Panther film, so he is ranked as a villain for now. That may change with subsequent MCU appearances.

7. Agatha “Agnes” Harkness (WandaVision)

Wanda Maximoff herself might technically be the villain of WandaVision. But the one truly stirring the evil pot is none other than the “nosy neighbor” with a secret, Agnes. Or should we say, Agatha Harkness. The witch from olden times was drawn to the hex power Wanda exhibited in Westview, and wanted all the magical mojo for herself. So she played along with Wanda’s sitcom reality in hilarious ways, before proving that she was there to suck that magic dry. Not only is Kathryn Hahn perfect as both the annoying neighbor and as a deliciously powerful witch, she has the best theme song of any MCU character ever.

6. The Scarlet Witch (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)

The Scarlet Witch is the best kind of villain because she’s the kind you root for. If you’ve been on Wanda’s journey through all the MCU films and WandaVision, you understand the terrible losses that led her down the path of the dark side. In fact, the Scarlet Witch’s journey from hero to villain is better than her cinematic Marvel counterparts like Dark Phoenix, and dare we say, even better than Anakin Skywalker’s in Star Wars. And Elizabeth Olsen performs the hell out of the part in Multiverse of Madness, giving us pure driven rage coupled with heartbreaking vulnerability. Some may question her ever becoming a villain, but almost no one can question how good she is at being one. 

5. The High Evolutionary (Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3)

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3’s High Evolutionary might not be the most nuanced villain on this list, but for our money, he’s the most unrepentantly evil. Played by actor Chukwudi Iwuji to the hilt, the Evolutionary hits two of the necessary requirements for being completely unredeemable. First, he tortures cute little animals. Right there, that makes him someone we want to see get his comeuppance right away. Second, he’s a eugenicist, making him akin to Nazis on Earth. And third, he commits genocide on entire worlds he’s deemed as “genetic failures.” Yeah, this guy is hateable and then some. And actually legit threatening. Even though, as Peter Quill said, he had a Robocop-looking head.

4. Erik Killmonger (Black Panther)

Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther is the best kind of villain, because though he might be misguided, he wasn’t entirely wrong. In this instance, his points about why T’Challa and his father before him have let their people down for centuries as they hid Wakanda away from the outside world are hard to debate against. But like Magneto, his methodology is twisted, and his moral compass is skewed by his own horrible life experience, which is what ultimately makes him a villain. In a movie that is filled with memorable characters, Killmonger shining so brightly is no small thing.

3. Wenwu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Phase 4’s villains were kind of “meh.” But when Shang-Chi came out, we all collectively said “now we’re cooking with fire.” Because that’s what Shang-Chi’s father, Xu Wenwu, is: fire. Teased since the first Iron Man, when the Ten Rings organization kidnapped Tony Stark, Tony Leung’s portrayal did not disappoint. As an ancient immortal, he was a ruthless criminal warlord, a tender-loving husband, and a delusional grieving widower—oh, and a terrible father (most of the time). Tony Leung gives layers to this villain, making him not only the best of all the Phase 4 baddies, but one of the best MCU antagonists, period.

2. Loki (Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Loki)

People might not love all the Thor movies, but there is just no question that they gave us one of the very best villains in not only the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but just one of the best villains in movie history. Tom Hiddleston brings a metric ton of Shakespearean-level weight to the role of the adopted son of the King of Asgard, and yet manages to make him endearingly witty as well. As we’ve said for many of the previous entries on this list, the key to a great villain is that you kind of have to like them on some level and root for them, and Loki is the epitome of that. Whether he’s destroying New York or brooding in a jail cell, we all can’t help but love the god of mischief. We’re so glad he’s finally earned his own spotlight.

1. Thanos (Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame)

Ever since the post-credits tag at the end of Avengers, Marvel teased the imminent arrival of the character who was supposed to be their biggest bad, the “Mad Titan” known as Thanos. Almost since the beginning, Kevin Feige and the folks at Marvel said Thanos would be the Marvel Universe’s Darth Vader (no pressure or anything). After all that build-up, he had to be great.

After all those years, Thanos, as played by Josh Brolin finally made his real presence known in Avengers: Infinity War and he did not disappoint. He was instantly one of Marvel’s most complex and nuanced villains. Before the credits even rolled, he mopped the floor with the Hulk. Then he killed Loki, almost as if to say “you know that guy who was Marvel’s best baddie? Yeah, I just killed him. Who’s the best villain now?”

Usually, the villains who are the most dangerous are the ones who think they’re the hero, something Thanos absolutely does believe. Plus, unlike all the other villains on this list, Thanos isn’t all talk; he actually won at the end. Most CGI villains are forgettable, but Brolin’s acting and personality always came through the purple pixels, truly making the Mad Titan one of the great movie villains, and easily the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best villain yet. He was completely okay with dying once he completed his life’s work in Endgame. He didn’t care if he died in the process. Just as long as the “work was done.”

Originally published on February 21, 2018.

The post Every MCU Villain Ranked from Worst to Best appeared first on Nerdist.

In the pre-release hype for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, MCU fans were convinced that one or more of the team were going to shuffle off this mortal coil. After all, Avengers: Endgame ended with the deaths of Black Widow and Iron Man. For this final installment of the Guardians trilogy, we’d have to lose at least one of the team, right? Everyone was betting heavily on Rocket or Drax biting the dust, although there was some chatter that Star-Lord himself might go. Gamora already died once, so she seemed safe. But the rest? Take your pick. They were fair game. Well, not so fast.

Reports of the Guardian’s Deaths Were Greatly Exaggerated

In Vol. 3, both Rocket and Peter Quill almost die. Heck, Rocket technically does die. He gets an afterlife moment and everything. But in traditional comic book style, Rocket very quickly got better. There was also a “psych!” moment with Peter Quill where he seemingly passed on, but he too was rescued from the jaws of oblivion by one Adam Warlock. To the shock of many, none of our beloved Guardians bit the dust. Instead, Peter returns home to Earth to finally connect with his grandfather, and Rocket leads a new Guardians team, with Groot by his side. Gamora rejoins the Ravagers, and Drax and Nebula become the caretakers of Knowhere. Mantis leaves for parts unknown.

James Gunn surprised us all, by not killing off a single main member of the Guardians. Did the man who claimed that Vol. 3 would definitely end this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy prank us all? No, not even a little. The third Guardians film absolutely ended the sentence with a very definitive period. This version of our beloved space misfits is over. We’ve been so conditioned by pop culture that climaxes of stories must have big character deaths, that we now think that’s the only kind of ending that works. But life just isn’t like that. Major life endings happen all the time without a death.

Death Is Not the Only Way to End a Story Dramatically

When we’re in high school or college, we form a tight-knit group of friends we see every day. Then, you graduate, and that iteration of the friend group is over. Oh, you may all still be friends. That happens of course. But the “in the trenches” bond of being together every day is now over. It is an ending. The same goes for friends you make in certain jobs, or in the military, or in any other similar situation. When the circumstances that brought the group together change, and people go in separate directions, that’s an ending. Nobody needs to die for those endings to happen.

James Gunn completely understands this. The end of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 is bittersweet, and we know a lot of folks out there who were watching it cried buckets. And you didn’t need anyone to die to elicit that emotion. Just knowing that this found family was going their separate ways was enough to know that this was the end of an era, and even if there is another movie with the name Guardians of the Galaxy, it won’t be these guys again. Besides, Gunn probably realized the Avengers saga ended with two major deaths and a big funeral for its main hero, Tony Stark. If Guardians of the Galaxy ended with the exact same tone, it could have felt like a huge ripoff.

Star Trek: Picard’s Ending Had Similar Vibes

Guardians Vol. 3 came quickly on the heels of another well-received ending where fans were convinced someone was going to die. We’re talking about Star Trek: Picard’s third season, which saw the reuniting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew for one more adventure. Most watching fretted on social media that Picard, Worf, or one of the other Enterprise-D crew members would die heroically, giving the series a bittersweet ending. But instead, all of our main characters survived, and they close out the show playing a round of poker together. It’s still bittersweet, because we know when that game is over and that they will all return to their separate lives. Their days as the crew of the Enterprise are over. It delivered emotions without having to kill a single character.

Of course, sometimes you so need big deaths in a narrative. We can’t imagine a version of Return of the Jedi where Luke and his dad get to live happily ever after like nothing ever happened. And say what you want about Game of Thrones, but it would have felt really weird for that show to end without some major character deaths. And originally, Dexter ended with our titular serial killer getting away with it, and it just felt wrong. They needed to reboot the show to fix that much-hated mistake. But while sometimes the narrative calls for death, it simply isn’t always necessary. With Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, James Gunn proved that you don’t need a funeral finale to have an emotional and cathartic ending. There’s more than one way to say “The End.”

The post GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Proves Death Is Not the Only Ending appeared first on Nerdist.

X-Men: The Animated Series arrived on TV screens across the country 30 years ago, catapulting Marvel’s mutants into household names. Without the success of the cartoon, it’s unlikely the X-Men films would have ever happened. All roads lead back to the animated version of Xavier’s School. So it’s only fitting that Disney+ is continuing those adventures in the new X-Men ’97 animated series, coming to the platform sometime this fall. Recently, X-Men ’97 head writer and executive producer Beau DeMayo confirmed which mutant characters would take center stage in the new series. So who are the X-Men ’97 revivals’ main characters? None other than Cyclops and Storm. We absolutely love to hear it.

At SDCC 2022, we finally got our first details about the new show. Here’s what we know so far.

Cheers erupted when Brad Winderbaum spoke fondly of the legacy of X-Men: The Animated Series and presented a sizzle reel featuring cast and creatives from the popular ‘90s animated show. X-Men ‘97 writer and executive producer Beau DeMayo then spoke about the new series, and shared artwork. The main cast looks almost identical to the original ’92 series, but Storm seems to have a new hairdo. Of course, Ororo Munroe changing her hair constantly is very much a staple of the character. And Jean has lost her signature ponytail.

Aside from the main cast, returning X-Men include Cable, Bishop, Forge, Morph, Nightcrawler, and former New Mutant Sunspot, who never made it to the original series.

Magneto is now the leader of the X-Men, and is shown wearing his short-lived “hero” costume, from Uncanny X-Men #200, way back in 1986. This is the one with a giant “M” on the chest, and the opera gloves. He’s also got much longer hair, like his ’90s incarnation.

Emma Frost, the White Queen appeared, along with her fellow Hellfire Club companion Sebastian Shaw. Also, Morlock leader Callisto, government agent Val Cooper, and Mister Sinister images were shown. On the panel, they revealed that Val Cooper “has an agenda” that will learn about as the season progresses.

They presented an early animatic, showing the team fighting Sentinels. It was very rough, but gave the fans in Hall H an idea of what the show is — pure ’90s Fox Kids action. Although the show won’t debut until Fall 2023, X-Men ’97 already has a second season renewal.

Here’s hoping we learn just how X-Men ’97 ties into the wider Multiverse when the show debuts. We know there has to be a reason the cartoon theme song keeps playing in MCU films Like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and shows like Ms. Marvel. We’ll just have to wait and find out in 2023.

Originally published July 22, 2023.

The post X-MEN ’97 Revival Reveals Its Main Characters appeared first on Nerdist.

As with all films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, except Avengers: Endgame, the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 teases a future of new adventures and story possibilities. Despite Vol. 3 being the end of the road for the ragtag band of cosmic heroes we’ve come to love, it does hint towards many new beginnings for an MCU Guardians of the Galaxy team. Here’s what the future may hold for the Guardians of the Galaxy based on one post-credits scene from Vol. 3.

Who Leads the Guardians of the Galaxy Team at the End of Vol. 3?

At the end of Vol. 3, the new Guardians of the Galaxy team is led by none other than Rocket Raccoon. And yes, he’s embraced his full comic book name after discovering that he is indeed a genetically modified raccoon during the events of the film. Peter Quill leaves Rocket in charge of the Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after he goes back to Earth to reconnect with his family. Meanwhile, Nebula and Drax ultimately decide to stay on Knowhere. Nebula chooses to lead the colony that resides there, while Drax will take care of all the creatures the Guardians rescued from the High Evolutionary. He is no longer Drax the Destroyer, but Drax “the Dad.” And so, that leaves Rocket to be the leader of the MCU’s new Guardians of the Galaxy—an honor he absolutely deserves.

Who Are the Members of the MCU’s New Guardians of the Galaxy Team?

At the end of the film, a whole new Guardians of the Galaxy team is in play. But who are the members of the MCU’s new Guardians team led by Rocket in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 post-credits scene? Well, Star-Lord, Gamora, and Mantis have all left the team for various reasons. Although, this version of Gamora was technically never really a Guardian.

Remaining from the old team is a very bulked-up Groot, who now resembles his very first comic book appearance from 1960 in Tales to Astonish #13. Additionally, Kraglin is still around, now having mastered Yondu’s arrow. New to the Guardians of the Galaxy team are Adam Warlock, Phyla-Vell, and the creature called Blurp. Speaking of creatures, Cosmo the Spacedog is officially part of the team now.

In sum, the MCU’s new Guardians of the Galaxy team is Rocket Racoon, Groot, Kraglin, Adam Warlock, Phyla-Vell, Blurp, and Cosmo the Spacedog. We see our new Guardians on a desert planet together in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 post-credits scene, about to go into action.

James Gunn has been adamant that this film is the end of the Guardians as we knew them. And he’s correct; this is indeed a whole new iteration of the team. But this new team also finally brings in several members from the comics who never made the MCU cut initially, chiefly Adam Warlock and Phylla-Vell. Both were important characters in the 2008 reboot of the Guardians team in the comics, the team that the MCU version is largely based on. And until now, both were absent in the MCU. There’s also still room for other famous Guardians from the comics, like Moondragon and Nova, to join the MCU’s vision of the team.

What Does the New Team Mean for the Guardians of the Galaxy’s MCU Future?

So yes, the post-credits scene reveals there still is a functioning Guardians of the Galaxy team at the end of Vol. 3. Similar to how the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron left us with a very different team of Avengers. This could all lead to a new MCU movie for the Guardians. Although, it wouldn’t really be a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4, as it’s a new squad of heroes. But the possibility of seeing these new Guardians of the Galaxy in action on the big screen is definitely possible. If they’re not in a new movie of their own, then perhaps we will see the Guardians team appear in Avengers: Secret Wars or a Disney+ series.

As for the other important group from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Gamora’s team of Ravagers is the same team we saw at the end of Vol. 2. That team features Starhawk (Sylvester Stallone), Martinex (Michael Rosenbaum), and other characters who were part of the original team from the comics. It’s possible we will see them together in a future project too.

This Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 post-credits scene only closes the door on the iteration of the team that we knew, not on the Guardians as a concept. We’re sure to see a Guardians team roaming the spaceways again before too long.

The post GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3’s Post-Credits Scene Reveals the New Guardians Team appeared first on Nerdist.

When the Netflix Daredevil series ended in 2018, fans everywhere were pretty heartbroken. The series, which starred Charlie Cox as vigilante lawyer Matt Murdock, remains one of the most beloved Marvel-produced live-action products of all time. Fans jumped for joy when Marvel finally announced last year that a new Daredevil series would arrive on Disney+ in 2024, featuring both Cox in the title role and his nemesis Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin. But in a recent interview with Newsweek, D’Onofrio revealed that Marvel is already planning a second season of Daredevil: Born Again. Here’s what he had to say:

By the second season, there are gigantic, gigantic payoffs—in the first season, too, but I can’t say much about that—but the fans are gonna really get what they want. It’s really quite cool to be doing it.

And there you have it: “Second season,” straight from the Kingpin’s mouth. The first season of Daredevil: Born Again will have 18 episodes in total. That’s a lot for the modern streaming age. It’s about triple the episode count of what most MCU Disney+ shows have for their first seasons. It’s a remarkable vote of confidence from Marvel Studios. Knowing that we’re getting another batch of episodes on top of that is the cherry on the sundae. D’Onofrio also commented that Jon Bernthal would play a huge part in the series. This has led many to believe that the Punisher is going to be the main antagonist.

It’s hard to speculate what a second season (or fifth, depending on how you look at it) might entail. Especially without having watched the first one yet. But there is one thing we really hope for. So far, it looks like Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson, who play Karen Page and Foggy Nelson, respectively, won’t be in season one. They were an integral part of the Netflix Daredevil series, and removing them seems like a big mistake. We hope that if season two does get underway soon, both of those actors can return. The law firm of Nelson and Murdock is just not the same without Nelson and Page.

Daredevil: Born Again premieres on Disney+ in 2024.

The post Vincent D’Onofrio Confirms DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Season 2 Is in the Works appeared first on Nerdist.

With big movie franchises that go on for years and years, viewing order can be a tricky proposition for viewers just getting into it. Where to start? It’s certainly not always in release order. And with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with some 30 movies and countless TV shows at this point, it becomes absolutely daunting. So how should you watch the MCU in full? Well, don’t fret, we’re here to help. In today’s Nerdist Now, Hector Navarro gives us the very best MCU Phase One viewing order. And we promise you, it’s not what you think it is. You can take a look at the videos right here:

Most folks see Iron Man as the way to start, since it came out first, in 2008. Yup, Iron Man is now 15 years old, believe it or not. However, 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger largely takes place in the early ’40s, so many fans think the viewing order should start there. But recent developments have changed things. In our opinion, the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy is the place to start. After all, those films (along with the Amazing Andrew Garfield Spidey films) have now been retconned into the official Marvel Multiverse timeline by No Way Home. They are part of MCU canon now and absolutely should count in your watch.

However, given that logic, why not the first X-Men from 2000? After all, Patrick Stewart showed up in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as Professor Charles Xavier. While that may be true, he’s not the same Charles Xavier from the Fox X-Men films, but a variant. So, until the OG movie X-Men pop up in the MCU (In, say, Avengers: Secret Wars) the Raimi Spider-Man gets first place in the MCU timeline. We realize that all that may change in a few years, though. There are other fun timeline tidbits sprinkled throughout this video. Do you know that Iron Man takes place two years after it hit theaters? Now you do!

MCU Phase Two Watch Order

But don’t stop there, Phase Two of the MCU also needs to be watched, and it has an order all its own. All Hail the King, for instance, cannot be missed, but we’re willing to bet its not on most people’s to watch list. We’ll even guide you through which episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D take place when! (It’s no easy science.)

Phase Three Watch Order

From there, it’s time to embark on Phase Three. There’s a lot to consider when watching this phase of the MCU, especially the Netflix Marvel series. Here’s how the MCU makes the most sense.

Phase Four Watch Order

And now it’s time to conclude our tour of the MCU with some of the latest entries into the universe. As we head into Phase Five, you can rest easy knowing, you’ve seen it all.

As Kevin Feige is always fond of saying, “it’s all connected.”

For the interested, here is the best way to watch phase one of the MCU in list form:

MCU Phase One Watch Order List:

SPIDER-MAN (2002)

SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004)

SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007)

IRON MAN (2008)

IRON MAN 2

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THOR’S HAMMER (MARVEL ONE-SHOT)

THOR

THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008)

THE CONSULTANT

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

AGENT CARTER (2015)

AGENT CARTER (MARVEL ONE-SHOT)

THE AVENGERS

ITEM 47

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)

MCU Phase Two Watch Order List:

IRON MAN 3

ALL HAIL THE KING

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (FIRST SEVEN EPISODES)

THOR: THE DARK WORLD

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (EPISODES EIGHT THROUGH SIXTEEN)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (EPISODES SEVENTEEN THROUGH TWENTY-TWO)

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

I AM GROOT SEASON ONE EPISODE, “GROOT’S FIRST STEPS”

DAREDEVIL (SEASON ONE)

JESSICA JONES

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (SEASON TWO, EPISODES ONE THROUGH NINETEEN)

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.  (SEASON TWO, EPISODES TWENTY THROUGH TWENTY-TWO)

DAREDEVIL (SEASON TWO)

LUKE CAGE (SEASON ONE)

IRON FIST

THE DEFENDERS

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (THIRD SEASON, EPISODES ONE THROUGH NINETEEN)

“WHIH NEWSFRONT” (YOUTUBE)

ANT-MAN

MCU Phase Three Watch Order List:

“WHIH NEWSFRONT” (SEASON TWO, SETS UP CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (SEASON THREE, EPISODES 20 THROUGH 22)

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

BLACK PANTHER

INHUMANS

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.: SLINGSHOT. (WEB-SERIES ON YOUTUBE)

THE PUNISHER (SEASON ONE)

CLOAK & DAGGER (SEASON ONE)

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (FOURTH SEASON)

JESSICA JONES (SEASON TWO)

LUKE CAGE (SEASON TWO)

IRON FIST (SEASON TWO)

DAREDEVIL (THIRD SEASON)

CLOAK & DAGGER (SEASON TWO)

DOCTOR STRANGE

RUNAWAYS (ALL THREE SEASONS)

THE PUNISHER (SEASON TWO)

JESSICA JONES (SEASON THREE)

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

I AM GROOT (SEASON ONE, EPISODES TWO THROUGH FIVE)

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (SEASON FIVE, EPISODES ONE THROUGH EIGHTEEN)

THOR: RAGNAROK

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (FIFTH SEASON, EPISODES NINETEEN TO TWENTY-TWO) 

CAPTAIN MARVEL

VENOM (2018)

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEASONS)

HELSTROM

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

MCU Phase Four Watch Order List:

LOKI

WHAT IF…?

WANDAVISION

ETERNALS

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

THE DAILY BUGLE (SEASON ONE, YOUTUBE)

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

THE DAILY BUGLE (SECOND SEASON, TIKTOK)

MORBIUS

THE DAILY BUGLE (THIRD SEASON, TIKTOK)

STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

HAWKEYE (FIRST THREE EPISODES)

BLACK WIDOW

HAWKEYE (EPISODES FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX)

MOON KNIGHT

MS. MARVEL

SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY

WEREWOLF BY NIGHT

Originally published on January 26, 2023.

The post How to Watch the MCU in Order: Phases One Through Four appeared first on Nerdist.

After only briefly appearing in the two previous Ant-Man films, the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, will have a prominent role in the third film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Once again, Michelle Pfeiffer will play the role of Janet. And by the looks of things, this third installment will finally give one of Marvel’s most important heroines a sizable role (pun fully intended). But what exactly made Janet one of the pillars of the Marvel Universe? It’s because her comic book counterpart was one of the most important Avengers of all time.

The Origins of “The Winsome Wasp”

Janet Van Dyne first appeared in 1963’s Tales to Astonish #44, less than a year after Ant-Man’s first appearance. The Ant-Man feature in Tales to Astonish never clicked with readers the way that Fantastic Four or Spider-Man did. Because of this, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby probably felt the need to inject a new element into the book. And it came in the form of a female partner for Ant-Man called the Wasp. A few months after her introduction, she and Ant-Man became founding members of the Avengers. In fact, Janet even gave the Avengers their name.

In her first appearance, Janet Van Dyne was a flighty, spoiled heiress. Her father was a well-respected researcher, who introduced her to Hank Pym, the moody scientist who was secretly the Ant-Man. When her father’s research led him to discover an alternate dimension, a creature from that world murdered him. Seeking revenge, she went to Dr. Pym for help. He gave her a version of his Pym Particles, as well as small antennae that would grow from her head when she shrunk, and wings. She also had hand pulses that functioned as “wasp stings.” Thus began Janet’s career as “the Winsome Wasp.”

Becoming a Key Member of the Avengers

From the get-go, the Wasp was the buoyant and fun partner to the always-serious Ant-Man. The Robin to his Batman, if you will. [Editor’s Note: We will.] Although she was a very fun character, she was stuck with many sexist tropes of early ‘60s comics. All, of course, were written entirely by men. Her only interests were convincing Hank to romance her, and designing new costumes. (Something Marvel creators would have fun with, with Wasp designing over 100 new costumes for herself.) Not that there’s anything wrong with fashion of course. But one can’t help but feel that Stan Lee couldn’t think of another interest for her that wasn’t stereotypically female-oriented.

Avengers membership gave Janet a whole new life. She wasn’t just good at being a superhero, she was great at it. Often better than her partner, Hank Pym. Unfortunately, her 1960s Avengers stories often came riddled with demeaning tropes. Almost every villain that Jan faced was a man obsessed with her beauty and who wished to kidnap her. In fact, she only finally married Hank when he took on the new, aggressive persona of Yellowjacket, and effectively kidnapped her too. But as the ‘60s turned into the ‘70s, Janet began to assert herself more.

The End of “Mr. and Mrs. Pym”

When Hank Pym first left the Avengers in the early ’70s, Jan dutifully followed him. But she didn’t want to just be an appendage while he did research in a remote installation. She wanted to have adventures with the Avengers. It wasn’t long before she came back to the team, and Hank followed suit. But Hank’s personal problems had taken a toll on his mental health, and in early 1981, an event happened that forever changed their dynamic.

In Avengers #213, writer Jim Shooter (also Marvel Comics EIC at the time) culminated a storyline where Hank Pym was at his most belligerent. Now a broken man after his own creation Ultron had possessed him, he lashed out at Janet, and was verbally abusive. A miscommunication between Shooter and artist Bob Hall led to more controversy. In a scene where Jan confronted a distraught Hank in his lab, he was supposed to throw his arm up in the air and accidentally hit her. But Hall drew it as if Hank intentionally struck his wife, knocking her to the ground. It was the moment that changed their dynamic forever.

Janet Van Dyne’s Character Renaissance

Because of this incident, the Avengers court-martialed Hank, and he left the team. But this time, the Wasp stayed on board. In the ‘80s, she went through a personal renaissance. She nominated herself as the leader of the Avengers, and after Captain America, she led the team more than any other member. Her coolness under fire and savvy strategic skills proved invaluable, much more so than Hank ever was. Instead of just designing new costumes for herself all the time, she became a professional fashion designer, going into business for herself on top of her Avengers duties.

Eventually, Jan and Hank reconciled. Marvel editorial retconned much of his abusive behavior, saying outside external influences caused it. However, the two never remarried. After what happened, Jan just flat-out refused. In fact, she dated other Avengers, like Iron Man and Hawkeye, although neither seriously. In the 2000s, she made a concerted effort to induct more women into the team, and served as co-leader with Captain America for a long time. Steve Rogers officially recognized Jan as someone just as capable as himself at leading the team.

The Lingering Mysteries Surrounding the MCU’s Janet Van Dyne

The MCU Jan’s superheroic past remains something of a mystery. We know she was the Wasp, but that her adventures with Hank were largely kept secret from the public. It seems her relationship with Hank was far more healthy than her comic book counterpart. Did she and Hank save the world together many times? Was Jan a fashion designer? Was Hank’s company funded by her family fortune? We really don’t know.

Another big difference was that Jan and Hank never had a daughter in the comics. Hope Van Dyne was a combination of their alternate future daughter Hope Pym, and Hank’s daughter from a previous marriage, Nadia. Eventually, Nadia changed her surname to Van Dyne, as Jan became a mother figure to her. But as Jan didn’t meet her until adulthood, the relationship was just very different from the one she had with Hope in the MCU.

How MCU Janet Can Emulate Marvel Comics Janet

However, the MCU may be taking a page from Janet’s more recent comics adventures. In the 2009 series Secret Invasion, Jan was presumed dead by her Avengers teammates. But instead, she shrunk down so small during a battle, she went into the Microverse. There, she led a rebellion against the Microverse’s despotic tyrant, Lord Gouzar. Eventually, she found a way to send a signal outside the Microverse, and her Avengers friends rescued her.

We may see a version of this play out in Quantumania. In an issue of Empire Magazine, writer Jeff Loveness said Janet was “a very, very well-known, very powerful freedom fighter in the Quantum Realm.” Sounds a lot like her more recent comics history, post-Secret Invasion. Hopefully, this third Ant-Man is not the end of the line for Jan as a character. The new Avengers, whoever they might be, need a leader. Why not Janet as the Wasp, who we now know had years of experience as a fighter?

Michelle Pfeiffer may be in her 60s, but we know she can pull it off. Pfeiffer is one of the greatest actresses of her generation, and it’s time to let her Jan be the superhero she was in the comics. When the Avengers go up against Kang in The Kang Dynasty, we can’t imagine anyone with as much stake in the game, or better suited to lead, than Janet Van Dyne.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17.

The post The Evolution of Janet Van Dyne, Marvel’s Original Wasp appeared first on Nerdist.

You know that futuristic city we saw in the trailers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, located within the Quantum Realm? That was almost certainly the MCU’s version of the city of Chronopolis. In the comics, Kang the Conqueror ruled this kingdom, located outside of time. Chronopolis appeared mainly in comics that Marvel published during the ‘90s. Judging from the Ant-Man trailers, Chronopolis contains highly advanced technology, likely from Kang’s MCU origin point in the far future. Clearly, it’s a place Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) is very familiar with—and did not want to return to. Here’s the backstory of the historic city of Chronopolis. Or should we say, a city made of history?

What Is Marvel’s City of Chronopolis?

In the pages of Marvel Comics, Chronopolis was the city that Kang called home. It first appeared in 1992’s Captain America Annual #11. The epic Avengers Forever mini-series in 1998 featured the destruction of Chronopolis. The layout of the city was circular in shape, and like the mythological Atlantis, a giant clear dome structure protected it. Inside, Chronopolis contained access points to all the different time periods Kang had conquered in the Marvel universe. The full map of Kang’s Chronopolis is below.

Each part of Kang’s kingdom was a slice of a specific time period. So one section looked like ancient Egypt, while another appeared as Victorian England, and so on. One could only go back and forth between parts of the city via hidden portals. But this free movement was not something an average citizen could do, and was largely reserved for Kang himself. The heart of the Chronopolis’ ability to function was the immensely powerful Forever Crystal.

Where Is Marvel Comics’ Chronopolis Located?

Chronopolis was located in Limbo, the pocket dimension that exists outside of time. Originally, Chronopolis occupied the same spacetime as another one of Kang’s first strongholds, the town of Timely, Wisconsin. After licking his wounds following an early battle with the Avengers, a variant of Kang’s went back in time to January 1, 1901, and founded the town of Timely. (The name itself was an in-joke, as Timely Comics was the original name of Marvel Comics).

From Timely, this Kang Variant, known as Victor Timely, created futuristic technology from his era of origin, in the hopes of gaining control of the following century. It’s where the advanced technology used to create the original Human Torch of the ‘40s, as well as many Hydra weapons, originated. Eventually, another Kang variant used this same location; he built Chronopolis there. Only it was “out of phase” with Timely and imperceptible to most regular people.

Was Marvel Comics’ Chronopolis Connected to the Quantum Realm?

In the comics, we knew the Quantum Realm as the Microverse. (There are all kinds of legal reasons the MCU version of a sub-atomic universe had a name change, mostly pertaining to a 1970s action figure line). Chronopolis was not located in the Microverse/Quantum Realm, but instead in the furthest outskirts of the realm of Limbo. Although, it was also partially located in “our” reality as well. But it looks like the MCU will give Chronopolis a change of address and place it in the Quantum Realm.

LEGO Marvel Super-Heroes‘ Chronopolis

In the game, LEGO Marvel Super-Heroes 2, a version of Chronopolis appeared composed of different points in time from famous Marvel locations. This was similar to Battleworld in the 2015 Secret Wars series. The locations included Avengers tower, Medieval Europe, the planet Xandar, Asgard, the swamp home of Man-Thing, and many more. There was even a whole new map of Chronopolis, which you can see above. We’re guessing that in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Studios will combine a version of Chronopolis with Battleworld, transforming it from a city to a whole planet. LEGO may yet inspire the MCU and soon, Chronopolis could be a key setting in it as well.

A Quantum Realm Chronopolis in the MCU

Ant-Man and the Wasp

We first saw hints of Chronopolis in a “blink and you’ll miss it” scene in Ant-Man and the Wasp. It’s hard to make out, but one can see the domed Quantum Realm city in that Phase 3 film. Although never outright stated, the fact that Janet Van Dyne seemed to have clothing and gear that she didn’t go into the Quantum Realm with suggested that there was a civilization in the Quantum Realm. We just didn’t get to see it in that film.

Loki Season One

In Loki, He Who Remains, himself a variant of Kang, lived alone in a Citadel at the End of Time. Was that Fortress the remains of Chronopolis? We’re not entirely sure. However, the Chronopolis we saw in Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania trailers sure seems similar to Loki’s Time Variance Authority in the season one finale. All the giant statues of Kang certainly gave off similar vibes. It would not surprise us to see similar monuments dedicated to his own greatness in Quantumania’s Chronopolis. Kang’s ego spans millennia, after all.

Chronopolis in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and MCU Phase 5

From what we saw in the trailers for Quantumania, there are several large rings that circle around buildings in Chronopolis. Many fans think that means both Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings, as well as Ms. Marvel’s bracelets, have a connection to the tech we saw in Chronopolis. There are also what appear to be lots of alien races present. (Although “alien,” as in from another planet, might not be the best description here). We’ll discover the truth about the MCU’s version of Chronopolis, and just how much the Quantum Realm city has in common with its Marvel Comics counterpart when Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17.

The post What Is the Quantum Realm City of Chronopolis? Kang’s Marvel Kingdom, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

We have slightly over a month before MCU Phase 5 begins, with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Unlike the previous two Ant-Man films, this one won’t be just a comedic “palette cleanser” after a big MCU event. It will be the big MCU event. It properly introduces the villainous Kang (Jonathan Majors), setting the stage for everything in the Multiverse Saga. All culminating in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. And we now have our latest trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and it’s a big one.

This tease of Peyton Reed’s third installment in the saga of Scott Lang reveals much more in terms of the actual plot. You can watch the full trailer from Marvel Studios right here:

The one thing Scott Lang wants most in this world is time. He wishes so much to get back the five years he lost with his daughter after Thanos’ snap. And it sounds like he might just listen to Kang’s tempting offer when the superpowered villain promises he can give it back to him. But, of course, he’ll discover it’s not wise to make deals with the devils.

A new synopsis also shares more about the movie ahead:

Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible. Directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a. and Stephen Broussard, p.g.a., “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” also stars Jonathan Majors as Kang, David Dastmalchian as Veb, Katy O’Brian as Jentorra, William Jackson Harper as Quaz and Bill Murray as Lord Krylar.

Interestingly, David Dastmalchian won’t return in his previous Ant-Man role of Kurt, but instead in the role of “Veb.” Meanwhile, Bill Murray will play the mysterious Lord Krylar, a character who only appears briefly in Marvel’s comics.

This Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania trailer already looks bigger (and dare we say, weirder) than either of the two previous films. In both Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp, our visits to the Quantum Realm were fairly limited and brief. This time, we explore this section of reality way more in-depth than ever before. And they’ve filled it with unusual residents, including the big screen debut of M.O.D.O.K. Not to mention thousands of Ant-Mans are bubbling up all around us.

We also have a couple of new posters for Quantumania, which show off our three main characters and our big bad.

We’ve got Paul Rudd as our titular hero (in his full mask), Evangeline Lilly in her Wasp costume, and Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) in her own superhero suit. Also looming above them all is Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror himself. We see what looks like Chronopolis, the city that exists outside of time, which in the MCU will be located within the Quantum Realm, and so much more. Between the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania posters and trailer, we say… Bring on the microscopic, epic fun.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will release on February 17, 2023.

The post ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA Trailer Reveals Huge Kang Battle and M.O.D.O.K appeared first on Nerdist.

Although Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige might choose to give the old Fox X-Men a final victory lap in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, eventually, he will reboot the mutant team for the MCU. It’s only a matter of time. But with dozens of X-Men as part of the comics over the years, which Marvel Mutants should make the cut for the first official MCU team? In our opinion, for their first outing in the 616, the students of Xavier’s school should go as iconic as possible. All killer, no filler. Sorry, all you fans of obscure mutants. We believe for the initial roster of MCU X-Men project, it’s “go big or go home” when it comes to creating its lineup.

We know there are lots of “cult favorite” members of the team, but we think sticking to the most iconic X-Men is what Marvel Studios should do for their first film. Characters that people think of whenever someone says “the X-Men.” These are the heroes we want to see on the poster. And in costumes that evoke the comics. And yes, we know that 13 X-Men is a lot. But remember how well Marvel Studios juggled the same amount of heroes in Civil War and later Avengers films? We know it can be done. Here are the 13 X-Men “big guns,” in addition to Charles Xavier of course, that we hope to see in the MCU’s lineup.

The Original 5 X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel)

When X-Men debuted in the summer of 1963, they were comprised of five outcast teenagers who were students at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Cyclops (Scott Summers), equipped with optic blasts, Marvel Girl, the telepathic and telekinetic Jean Grey, Beast (Hank McCoy), the winged Angel (Warren Worthington), and the polar-powered Iceman (Bobby Drake).

The original “first class” would eventually make way for more popular team line-ups. But they always found their way back home. And in many ways, they remain the core of what Xavier’s dream of mutant/human integration stands for. Besides, the Fox X-Men films never had the “O5” together on screen as a team. The MCU would get off on the right foot by correcting that.

Wolverine

Look, it’s really not the X-Men without the feral Canadian mutant, is it? The adamantium-clawed X-Man is easily the most popular member of the group, and has been since the ‘80s at least. He anchored the movie series and several animated television shows, and made a star out of Hugh Jackman. He may not be our personal favorite member of the X-Men, but it’s undeniable how wildly popular he is. If there’s an X-Men team in the MCU, then it needs to have Wolverine on it.

Storm

Debuting in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1, Ororo Munroe is Marvel’s most prominent Black female hero. She’s also one of the publisher’s most iconic women heroes, period. The Weather-controlling goddess has been a leader of the X-Men many times over, and is one of the world’s most powerful mutants. Along with Wolverine, she is probably the X-Man who is most definitely a household name to the general public, thanks again to TV and film exposure. Given her connection to the world of Black Panther as well, it sure would be a big mistake to have an MCU X-Men roster without her.

Colossus

The Russian metal man with a heart of gold, Peter Rasputin also joined Xavier’s class in Giant-Size X-Men #1. He has more or less been a mainstay of the team for the better part of 45 years (give or take a few times when he was dead). Although sidelined in the main X-Men films, he did finally get his due as co-star of the Deadpool films. In our minds, the kind-hearted “big lug” is the heart of the X-Men, and needs to have a spot in the MCU roster.

Nightcrawler

While some mutants can pass for “normal,” that cannot be said for Kurt Wagner, the German X-Man known as Nightcrawler. Looking like a blue demon, complete with a tail and all, Nightcrawler has the ability to teleport. Not to mention, he’s pretty agile and fast too. Despite his demonic appearance, Kurt is a devoutly religious man. He is often the shoulder for the rest of the team to cry on. He appeared in a few X-Men films, portrayed by both Alan Cumming and Kodi Smit-McPhee. But the MCU needs its own version of the former circus performer turned swashbuckling mutant hero in its X-Men lineup.

Kitty Pryde

If Colossus is the heart of the team, then young Katherine “Kitty” Pryde is the soul. Kitty, who can phase through solid matter, joined the X-Men as a young teen, forging important bonds with each member. She provided the older X-Men a “kid sister” of sorts, and then, became something of a team mascot. She’s had many codenames, ranging from Sprite to Ariel to Shadowcat. But we know her best in the end as just Kitty. Although Umbrella Academy’s Elliot Page played the character in a couple of the Fox X-Men films, the MCU needs Kitty to be more front and center in its first lineup.

Rogue

This Southern belle is both a no-nonsense powerhouse, and also a tragic figure. Rogue has the power to absorb other people’s energy, and in the case of mutants, their powers. But this gift makes it so she can’t touch anyone, or she might accidentally kill them. She overcompensates for her tragic circumstances with bluster and bravado, making her a fascinating contradiction of a character. (She also has super strength and flight, permanently absorbed from Captain Marvel). The Anna Paquin version from the Fox films is almost another character entirely. So an MCU Rogue would be a perfect chance to introduce the comics version of this X-Men into a live-action roster.

Gambit

Here’s an X-Man who might have not made the cut, if not for two things. The Cajun mutant, who had the power to energize objects and make them deadly projectiles, was in the 1991 relaunch of X-Men, which sold some 8 million copies. He also became a main character in the ’90s Animated Series which launched a year later. These two things made him an iconic X-Man in the eyes of many fans, and most fans have been dying to see Remy Labeau in a proper X-Men film (X-Men Origins: Wolverine doesn’t count). While he’s not our most favorite mutant hero, he is viewed as a signature X-Man by many, and probably should be on the team.

Jubilee

Much like Gambit, Jubilation Lee, the Chinese-American teenager who was the team’s youngest member (after Kitty left) became iconic thanks to her inclusion in Jim Lee’s comics and the ’90s cartoon. But because of those things, the fireworks-creating mutant Beverly Hills mallrat is synonymous with X-Men. Especially to a whole generation who grew up with the character on TV. While some of the valley girl aspects are super dated now, they could easily update Jubilee to modern times. We think many fans want to see that yellow raincoat on screen.

Of course, some changes will have to be made. With the exception of Storm and Jubilee, it’s an overwhelmingly Caucasian lineup. But they could always diversify some of the characters for the big screen. Marvel Studios has already set precedent for that. Whenever it happens, we’re excited to see what form the X-Men will ultimately take in the MCU.

The post Who Should Be in the MCU’s First X-MEN Roster? appeared first on Nerdist.

After a wonderfully delightful Holiday Special, the Guardians of the Galaxy are back for their third movie! Writer/director James Gunn promises it will bring the story of the Guardians as we know them to a close. With Zoe Saldana on hand, Marvel Studios released the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 at CCXP. And you can see the full trailer right here, which showcases our favorite heroes on one last adventure, including the alt-timeline Gamora last seen in the finale of Avengers: Endgame.

Ok, there’s a lot to unpack in this trailer. We’ve got the Guardians in their matching uniforms, something from the Marvel comics we’ve never seen in the MCU before. We go to a world that looks just like Earth, with suburbs and all, with strange alien/animal hybrids living on it. This is almost surely Counter-Earth, a constructed world created by the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). It orbits our sun in the exact opposite direction as Earth. And the animal hybrids may be the New-Men, a staple of classic Marvel comics. Counter-Earth played a big role in the early comic adventures of Adam Warlock. A character that we glimpse in the trailer, played by Will Poulter.

Peter Quill’s new ship is the Bowie, named after the Starman himself, which was introduced in the Holiday Special. (Let’s pour one out for the Benatar. We hardly knew ya). It looks like we’re going to get some flashbacks to Rocket’s origins as well. And they appear to be tied into the High Evolutionary.

And it looks like Lady Lylla, a genetically engineered otter, made it into the film as well. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, and Sean Gunn all return to their iconic roles. New to the cast are Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the space dog.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 hits theaters on May 5, 2023.

The post The GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOLUME 3 Trailer Is Here At Last appeared first on Nerdist.

With the arrival of Tenoch Huerta as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, one of the last headlining Marvel Comics characters from the Stan Lee era has finally made their live-action debut. But unfortunately, like the Hulk, the solo film rights for the character lie at Universal Pictures. That means Marvel Studios can only use the Sub-Mariner in ensemble movies where he doesn’t headline. But these circumstances might mean that the best showcase for both Namor and Hulk could be one of Marvel’s most classic teams: the Defenders. It’s the perfect time for the MCU Defenders to team up.

The Defenders: Marvel Comics’ “Non-Team”

Now, for those of you only familiar with Marvel films and television, you’re probably thinking we’ve already been introduced to the Defenders. There was the (former) Netflix series of that name starring Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist as the team. Although called “the Defenders,” they’re not really the Defenders team that became famous in the comics. That team dates back to 1971 and headlined a long-running title that ran for 15 years. We use the word “team” loosely.

The Comics History of The Defenders

The original idea behind the Defenders was that it would be a group of headlining Marvel heroes famous for not playing well with others. Although Hulk was a founding Avenger, he left after their second issue for not being a team player. The hot-tempered Namor was another loose cannon, and Dr. Strange was smug and above them all. So naturally, putting these volatile characters together was too tempting for Marvel editorial to pass up.

After a “tryout” in Doctor Strange, the Defenders officially debuted in Marvel Feature #1 in 1971. An old foe of Strange’s called Yandroth threatened to destroy reality (as one does). So the Sorcerer Supreme called on Namor and Hulk to help defeat him. Strange tried to bring in the Silver Surfer, but he wasn’t able to reach him. The true story behind that is Stan Lee felt he was the only one who should write Silver Surfer stories, so he prevented other writers from using him. Thus, the founding members of the Defenders in Marvel Comics were Strange, Namor, and Hulk.

After the success of their debut, the Defenders got their own series in 1972. The “non-team” came together to defeat mystical and otherworldly threats, and other things often outside the Avengers’ purview. Without a formal structure, many Marvel heroes joined the Defenders, if only for one adventure. Eventually, under the guidance of writer Steve Englehart, the Silver Surfer did join, though his appearances became more and more infrequent. For much of the run, the “core” Defenders were the original trio, along with the Asgardian Valkyrie and the hero Nighthawk.

The End of an Era

A big success in the ‘70s, sales lagged for the series in the early ‘80s. Eventually, Marvel had all the original members leave the book. They rebranded it as The New Defenders. They added three original X-Men to the team, Beast, Angel, and Iceman. But when Jean Grey returned from the dead, they rejoined their original teammates and became X-Factor. And that was the end of the Defenders for many years. Several revivals have happened since, but it almost always goes back to the original core members. This brings us to the MCU.

The Case for an MCU Defenders

Currently, Marvel Studios is getting rave reviews for their introduction of Namor in Wakanda Forever. But as previously mentioned, neither he nor Hulk can get solo films. Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie has been a highlight of the last two Thor movies, but she’s had to play second fiddle to the titular Asgardian. Why not bring them together with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, and give us the MCU version of the Defenders? Sure, they can’t use Silver Surfer (yet), but he was a part-timer at best. These four characters really compromised the main Defenders.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness made nearly a billion dollars, so a third Doctor Strange is a given. Why not “plus it up” by making the third film Doctor Strange and the Defenders? Perhaps he and Clea (Charlize Theron) need the help of some powerful heroes to defeat a mystical threat, and they recruit Namor, Banner, and Valkyrie? Hulk and Valkyrie already have a rapport, and Strange knows Banner already. Throw Namor into the mix, and it’s a recipe for juicy drama. Clea was an occasional Defender in the comics, too.

With no current Avengers team in the MCU, we may need a new gathering of heroes to save the Earth. The Defenders are the perfect candidates. And the addition of these marquee characters would enhance a third Doctor Strange film in the same way Civil War made the third Captain America film a true event. There’s never been a better time to make the Defenders happen in the MCU than right now.

The post Namor’s Arrival Clears the Way for an MCU Defenders Team appeared first on Nerdist.

Ever since Black Panther changed the cinematic landscape in 2018, fans have been clamoring for the return of the hero. But in the wake of the death of Chadwick Boseman, who so memorably brought King T’Challa to life, there remained the question of who would on the mantle of Black Panther when the highly-awaited sequel hits screens. The release of Wakanda Forever, of course, brought answers. As many fans suspected, it is T’Challa’s sister Shuri who is the new MCU Black Panther. This was always a pretty smart guess, though, especially if we look at her comic backstory. Here’s a rundown of Shuri’s relationship to the mantle of Black Panther.

Has Shuri Been the Black Panther in Marvel’s Comic Books?

Shuri was first introduced in 2005’s Black Panther Vol. 4 #2, created by Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr. Just like in the movies, T’Challa’s younger sister is a powerful, funny, smart sibling to the Black Panther. But it wasn’t until nearly five years later in Black Panther Vol. 5 #5 when she’d take on the mantle of Black Panther herself. This came about during the Dark Reign saga at Marvel. As Norman Osborn gathered his Cabal, Namor asked T’Challa to join them in the fight. Soon, after the King refused, his ship crashed. This left T’Challa in a coma and Wakanda without a Black Panther. T’Challa’s wife, the X-Men hero Storm, suggests Shuri become the Black Panther in his stead. It makes a lot of sense as he’s long been training his sister to take his place. But when Shuri visits the Panther God, she refuses to let her take the mantle of Black Panther, claiming that she’s too arrogant.

Despite this rejection of Shuri, the Panther God allows her to live. That goes against everything the Wakandans expect, so Shuri decides it’s because she still has a greater purpose. With her brother in a coma, Storm in Limbo trying to recover him, and the evil Morlun encroaching on her country, she puts on the Black Panther costume and goes out to protect her people. It’s a controversial choice as Bast refused her, but it also gives Shuri more agency than her brother. After her bravery and smart wits defeat Morlun and save T’Challa and Storm from the underworld, the Panther God finally recognizes Shuri as the new Black Panther.

How Did Shuri Get Her Black Panther Suit in Marvel Comics?

It’s unclear how Shuri got her Black Panther suit, as the suit simply exists when Shuri puts it on. That makes us think that she may have built it herself. Just like her brother’s iconic suit, it’s made of vibranium but is more form-fitting, especially in the eyes of series artist Ken Lashley and cover artist J. Scott Campbell. The biggest visual differences from T’Challa’s Black Panther suit are that Shuri has a slimmer helmet (which looks similar to the one Marvel Studios teased on their poster), cape, and a now instantly recognizable fur collar. In issue eight of the series, Shuri’s Black Panther suits gets many upgrades too. One of her Wakandan scientists, N’Iix, offers her weapons. These include “holopods, spider bites, desert sand, and shok-nets.”

The coolest part, though, are the kevlar and spider-silk mesh gloves, with adamantium-tipped, vibranium claws. Perhaps we could see the arrival of the metal, most closely connected to Wolverine, in Wakanda Forever?

Shuri as the New Black Panther in the MCU

Ever since Letitia Wright’s breakout performance in Black Panther, fans wondered whether she’d take on the mantle; would Shuri become the new Black Panther in the MCU? With Boseman’s tragic passing, Shuri seemed more likely than ever to follow in his footsteps. And indeed, she did. This choice not only fits with the comic book canon, but it falls in line with Marvel Studio’s current era of exploring legacy heroes.

We saw in early trailers that the new MCU Black Panther had a suit with markings that mirrored Shuri’s ceremonial white dots. And Shuri also keeps her favored gauntlets as her Black Panther weapons of choice. In Wakanda Forever, Shuri takes on the role of Black Panther but forgoes the crown. The Black Panther is greatly needed in the conflict with Atlantis, but where the mantle goes from here throughout the future of the MCU is not certain.

Of course, Shuri is not the only person in the comics to have donned the mantle of Black Panther. Among the few who have been called Black Panther are NYC cop Kasper Cole, T’Chaka (T’Challa’s father), and even Erik Killmonger. In fact, a new upcoming Marvel comic book series Wakanda will be a “definitive overview of all the Wakandans who have held the mantle of the Black Panther.”

But it seems like the most likely candidate for the next Black Panther will be a new MCU character, T’Challa’s son Toussaint, also known as T’Challa. Before that happens, though, it would be nice to see a few more outings for Shuri as the Black Panther in the MCU. Maybe she’ll even get to meet Bast.

Originally published on July 26, 2022.

The post The Marvel Comics History and MCU Future of Shuri as Black Panther appeared first on Nerdist.

Universal’s Fast and Furious saga be damned; Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is the franchise that’s really about family. They don’t even need a six pack of Corona! Through two named films and Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, the Guardians have proven that their bonds are stronger than blood. This continues in a big way in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Not only is it all about bringing the joy of the yuletide season to deep space, it expands what we know about the franchise’s lead character. Yes, Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, has a big realization.

In order to discuss this, we’ll have to spoil the special. But it’s only 45 minutes; go watch on Disney+ and then come back!

While most of this special is just good, silly fun, we do get a few revelations. One is that the Guardians now own Knowhere, having purchased it from the Collector. So they’re landlords now. The rent is too high, Peter! Another is that Cosmo the dog is now a member of the team, it seems. But the third and largest has to do with Peter’s blood relations.

We know from Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 that Peter’s father was Ego the Living Planet, a real tool of a near-god who was an intergalactic f-boy. The Holiday Special lets us know Ego spilled his egoo closer to home than we thought. Mantis reveals she is also a spawn of Ego, making her Peter’s biological half-sister.

It’s this revelation that causes Mantis to try to give her brother a good and happy Earth Christmas. She and Drax go to Los Angeles, get drunk in bars, and kidnap Kevin Bacon as a present for Star-Lord. This is all in an effort to soften what Mantis thinks will be the unhappy news that she’s his sister. With Gamora gone and Yondu’s questionable parentage, maybe Kevin Bacon can make him happy.

The good news for everybody is that Peter is very happy to have Mantis as his blood family, not just a found one. The special ends with the two of them hugging it out. For Mantis, whom Ego always mistreated, having his offspring embrace her fully is a pretty great present too.

We can’t wait to see more of this family dynamic in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 next May.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL Reveals New Truth About Star-Lord appeared first on Nerdist.

Since Avengers: Endgame crashed onto our screens and finished the Infinity Saga, fans have been wondering who the MCU’s next superteam will be. Though we have floated many ideas from the Young Avengers, to the West Coast iteration of the team, all the way through the Dark Avengers, it now looks like we have an answer. At their SDCC Hall H presentation, Marvel Studios revealed that Phase 5 of the MCU will end with Thunderbolts. But who is the team? Why are they so controversial? And what do the Thunderbolts look like and mean for the MCU? 

Who Are the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics? 

First introduced in 1996’s Incredible Hulk Vol 1 #449, the Thunderbolts announce themselves by trapping the hulking hero. They claim that they want to save innocent people from his violent rampages, but who are the new heroes on the team? That would be Meteorite, Songbird, Mach-VI, Atlas, Techno, and their leader Citizen V. Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley created the incredibly ’90s looking team but their motivations were still a mystery until Thunderbolts #1. 

Are the Thunderbolts Villains? 

The Thunderbolts revealed their true nature in their debut self-titled issue. The issue still stands as one of the smartest and most shocking comic book twists of all time. But before that, readers got to experience their heroics in the face of a New York without heroes. The Thunderbolts battle the nefarious Wrecking Crew and even fix the Statue of Liberty, establishing themselves as a powerful new superhero team, something that the city desperately needs. They even find support from heroes like Black Widow, the New Warriors, and Spider-Man. But the final pages reveal the Thunderbolts aren’t a new hero team at all. Instead they were a group of villains brought together by none other than Baron Zemo to exploit the absence of the Avengers and Fantastic Four after the heroes sacrificed themselves during the Onslaught event. 

The real team actually consisted of previous Masters of Evil members using new alter-egos. Meteorite was actually Moonstone; Songbird was really Screaming Mimi; Mach-VI was Beetle; Atlas was Goliath; Techno was Fixer; and their leader Citizen V was, of course, Baron Zemo. Their plan was to snake their way into the public’s hearts and then use their new found power and platform for evil! But since then the Thunderbolts have taken on many forms. The team often consists of villains, heroes, and anti-heroes, but their first iteration is their most famous. 

Who Will Be in the MCU’s Thunderbolts?

This is the big question! And happily, we have the answer. The MCU Thunderbolts team will feature Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, Ghost, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (a.k.a Winter Soldier), US Agent, and Taskmaster. We know now that Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine is actually the Deputy Director of the CIA in the United States. With that knowledge, we can assume she will take the helm of assembling the team.

The one character we definitely assumed Marvel would bring over to the MCU Thunderbolts is fan favorite Daniel Brühl as Baron Zemo. But we haven’t yet seen confirmation he will appear in the Thunderbolts movie or have an association with the MCU team. The comic book team also has had so many members over the years that many MCU heroes could still end up on it. For instance, Hawkeye (well, Clint is a killer) could join. There’s also the chance that Netflix Marvel TV characters like Luke Cage or Punisher could pop up as they’ve both been on the team in the comic books too. 

How Will Thunderbolts Impact the MCU? 

In the comics, the Thunderbolts represented a shift in the way that the public perceived heroes. With the MCU headed towards introducing mutants, likely in Phase 6 or directly after, the franchise needs to establish a world where the public no longer trusts powered people. Since its inception, the MCU has held up heroes as just that: heroes. But if the X-Men are to join the fray then that landscape needs to change. The seeds have already been sown thanks to Ms. Marvel’s drones and the arrival of the Department of Damage Control. But a superhero team that ends up being supervillainous would be a great way to cement that. Also, Phase 5 will begin with Secret Invasion, which will introduce the notion of Skrulls posing as heroes.

When asked to describe the MCU Thunderbolts team, Red Guardian David Harbour offered, “MCU has always been sort of elevated in a certain way. Captain America, even Iron Man, although he has egos, are always in it for the right reasons or ultimately does the right thing. And I like these guys who are a bunch of losers or a bunch of guys who can’t quite get it right.”

So basically, get ready to see an MCU where heroes are feared rather than trusted and don’t always do things perfectly or for all the right reasons.

Originally published on July 28, 2022.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios, Marvel Comics

The post Who Are the THUNDERBOLTS? The MCU’s Phase 5 Team, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

One of the most stalwart Avengers from the pages of Marvel Comics, Wonder Man, is finally making his way into the MCU. It was announced that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is taking on the role of superhero/movie star Simon Williams for a new Disney+ series. Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton is working together with Andrew Guest, producer of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community, to bring the character to life in a new series. With Guest on board, we can safely assume the MCU Wonder Man series will have a more comedic bent, similar to Marvel Studio’s She-Hulk.

But you might be wondering who the heck Marvel’s Wonder Man even is and if he’s somehow related to Wonder Woman. Well, she’s a DC hero, and he’s a Marvel one, so that should answer your question. (Although the two did arm wrestle once in a crossover event, which Diana very likely won). Here’s the skinny on the so-called “Ionic Avenger,” and our theories on just what an MCU Disney+ series about the adventures of Simon Williams’ Wonder Man might look like.

Marvel’s Wonder Man: The Seventh Avenger

Wonder Man was actually one of the earliest Marvel heroes ever inducted into the Avengers. He first appeared in Avengers #9, way back in 1964, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Technically, he was the seventh member to be inducted into the team. However, Wonder Man seemingly died in the very issue Marvel introduced him, and he didn’t come back to life on a more permanent basis for another 12 years, in 1976. As for why he was sidelined for so long, Stan Lee insisted that DC Comics threatened legal action due to Wonder Woman. But once DC introduced a Power Girl after Marvel introduced Power Man (Luke Cage) first, it seemed they had no legal legs to stand on. And thus, Wonder Man returned to the pages of Marvel Comics. We assume the MCU won’t follow this precedent when Wonder Man finally arrives on our screens.

A Wonderous Origin Story for Wonder Man

Simon Williams was a spoiled trust fund baby, heir to the company and fortune of Sandford Williams. But his bad business decisions ran Williams Innovations into the ground, and Simon blamed the company’s biggest rival, Stark Industries. He accepted an offer from the villainous Baron Zemo to gain ionic powers in an experiment. And thus, Marvel’s Wonder Man was born. Wonder-Man’s powers included super strength, invulnerability, and in later years, flight and energy projection. It’s too early to know which power the MCU version of Wonder Man will retain from his comics counterpart.

Simon Williams thus took on the identity of a new Marvel superhero named Wonder Man. And then, under Zemo’s orders, Wonder Man infiltrated Tony Stark’s team. All with the intent of destroying Iron Man and the Avengers from within. But Simon had a change of heart after serving with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Unable to betray his new teammates, he dies defending them from Zemo’s Masters of Evil. His criminal brother Eric Williams adopts the identity of the Grim Reaper. Grim Reaper then seeks revenge on the Avengers, blaming them for Wonder Man’s death. In the process, he becomes one of their worst enemies.

From Bad Guy to Essential Avenger

But, of course, Simon wasn’t really dead. The body of this Marvel hero went into an “ionic coma,” during which time Hank Pym recorded Wonder Man’s brain patterns. Patterns that would later form the basis for the mind of the android Vision. Eventually, Simon would emerge from his coma, and rejoin the Avengers in earnest. His brother Eric now hated Simon for siding with the Avengers after he became their enemy, causing that relationship to fall apart. But Simon had a new sibling now, as he considered Vision his “brother,” since they shared brain patterns. Wonder Man’s connection to Vision could come strongly into play in his MCU future.

He also made best friends with the X-Men’s Beast. Wonder Man also founded the West Coast Avengers and began a long career in the movies, trading on his superhero status to become an actor. And he’s been juggling those two roles ever since.

Nathan Fillion as Wonder Man? (It Almost Happened)

Wonder Man very nearly made it into the MCU before, albeit in a minor way. There were Easter egg movie posters in the background of the Earth-based scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that featured Marvel’s Wonder Man. And the face used for these Wonder Man posters was none other than Castle and Firefly actor Nathan Fillion. But those scenes were cut from the final film. Perhaps even back then, Kevin Feige had other things in mind for the Superstar Avenger.

Marvel’s Wonder Man in the MCU

There will probably be a few key differences between the Marvel Comics Wonder Man origin story and the one Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s version will have in the MCU. Unless we see extensive (and expensive) flashbacks, we doubt that Baron Zemo will have given powers to Wonder Man to go after Tony Stark. Marvel Studios would have to bring back Daniel Bruhl and Robert Downey Jr. for that, and we’d be very surprised if that happened. So Wonder Man’s MCU origin story will have to be retooled a bit. But with a Vision series coming soon, Marvel might find a way to tie Wonder Man and Vision together in the MCU, as per the comics.

So how could this work? Perhaps, in an effort to regain a more human personality without the mind stone, Vision fuses with Wonder Man’s ion-powered mind. This would be a way to tie the two characters together in a way that is similar to the comics. And if the Scarlet Witch ever returns (which she will), it might make for a very interesting love triangle. In Marvel’s comics, Wanda once brought Wonder Man back to life after one of his many deaths as being of pure energy. Of course, the character of Simon Williams could definitely stand on his own. But could Marvel Studios resist incorporating two of their biggest assets, Wanda and Vision, into the proceedings? We doubt it.

Wonder Man Could Be Marvel Studios’ First Hero-Turned Star in his Series

So far, in the MCU, we’ve seen superheroes as celebrities, like Iron Man. In fact, all of the Avengers have public identities, with the exception of Spider-Man. But we’ve never seen one parlay that fame into getting jobs on the big screen or doing product endorsement the way Wonder Man might in the MCU. Wonder Man is the ultimate celebrity/hero. He is someone who has to juggle the ridiculousness of life as a movie star with actually helping people. And that aspect of the Marvel hero’s could make for one interesting MCU Wonder Man series.

Series like The Boys have dealt with this idea, but mostly in a satirical way. They’ve never really done a deep dive into what it means to be both hero and a movie star. A Wonder Man series would be the perfect opportunity. It’s also perfect for a comedic angle because we’d likely see exaggerated movie versions of MCU heroes. We’ve seen Yaya Abdul-Mateen play a supervillain in Aquaman and a super god in Watchmen, so we know he can pull off a Marvel super movie star in Wonder Man.

Originally published on June 17, 2022 

The post Wonder Man’s Comics History Points to a ‘Hollywood Hero’ Series appeared first on Nerdist.

You just can’t keep a good android powered down. According to Deadline, Paul Bettany will return in a new Disney+ series as the synthezoid hero the Vision. The series has the working title of Vision Quest, and would be the second spin-off of WandaVision after Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Although no plot details are official, sources say that the show will be about Vision trying to regain his memory and humanity. Apparently, Marvel Studios has already started a writer’s room. This suggests it is indeed a series and not a Special Presentation. Although she won’t co-star, word is that Elizabeth Olsen may appear as Wanda Maximoff in some capacity.

Viewers last saw the Vision in the final episode of WandaVision. Actually, there were two versions of the character, both played by Bettany. There was the version Wanda conjured, based on her memories. Then there we saw the actual rebuilt android body of Vision, created by S.W.O.R.D. One without any of the previous Vision’s personality or memories. In the final episode, the two Visions fought, with White Vision scanning and absorbing Westview Vision’s memories. Then he flew off into the sky, declaring “I am Vision.” And we haven’t heard from him again. Until now.

“Vision Quest” was the title of the West Coast Avengers comics in the late ’80s. This story saw the android Avenger taken apart, and then rebuilt stripped of his personality. This caused the end of his marriage to the Scarlet Witch, and her subsequent insanity that led to so many problems. They have adapted already much of this storyline already in WandaVision. So we expect the title “Vision Quest” to not be a literal adaptation. It certainly would be great to see Vizh return to start the West Coast Avengers. Especially with Wonder Man joining the MCU. They revealed no release date for this new Disney+ series as of yet.

The post VISION QUEST Series Will Continue the Saga of the Android Avenger appeared first on Nerdist.

With the success of Werewolf by Night and the excitement over the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Marvel Studios seems to be adding to more “Special Presentations” on Disney+. Shorter than a full-length theatrical film, but not as long as a series like Moon Knight or WandaVision. This format seems like the ideal way to bring in certain characters we’ve been waiting to see in the MCU. Here’s who we think should get on Kevin Feige’s and Marvel’s shortlist for the “Special Presentation” treatment, stat.

Beta Ray Bill

We’ve had four Thor movies, and despite some teases in Ragnarok, we haven’t seen the Thunder God’s buddy Beta Ray Bill yet. Well, we don’t want to wait for Thor 5. We say give the horse-faced alien his own Disney+ Special Presentation. In the comics, Bill was one of the few beings in the universe that could wield Mjolnir. Eventually, Bill got his own hammer, Stormbreaker. The MCU gave that weapon to Thor in Infinity War, and his daughter Love now owns it. But we’d love to see Bill get a crack at it at least once. The best place would be in his very own special.

Dazzler

Before she was a member of the X-Men, Alison Blaire was a disco singer with a mutant power that let her turn sound into light. It turned out to be a handy power in showbiz. Dazzler has a wild history in the comics, once having the power of the godlike Beyonder, and even being a Herald of Galactus. But a Special Presentation could go back to her original ‘70s roots, maybe presented as a disco variety hour with many special guests and musical numbers. Marvel Studios can choose any pop star to play Dazzler, but Lady Gaga seems born to play the part.

Longshot

Speaking of Dazzler, her one-time boyfriend Longshot would also make for a great special presentation on Disney+. Although once an X-Man, he’s not actually a mutant. He’s a genetically engineered warrior from the Mojoverse, a dimension ruled by the grotesque Mojo. One where all life centers on media, especially televised gladiatorial matches (so, kind of like our world). This would make for a great special, especially if they used it to skewer modern reality competition shows. Longshot could lose the mullet for the special, though. Its time has come and gone, buddy.

Captain Britain

There’s a reason the MCU didn’t call superpowered Peggy Carter “Captain Britain” on What If…? and Multiverse of Madness—despite her costume having the Union Jack. It’s because the Marvel Universe already has a Captain Britain, Brian Braddock. But he’s no UK version of Steve Rogers. Braddock doesn’t have a super serum; he’s an aristocratic heir to the mystical power of England. With ties to Merlin and the magical realms of the Marvel Universe, we think the good Captain would shine in a special presentation.

Hercules

Thor: Love and Thunder‘s post-credits scene introduced Hercules (Brett Goldstein), but we don’t want to wait until the next Thor movie to see him in action. Give the Son of Zeus his own special where he goes to Earth to try to remind everyone who the Greek gods really are and why they rock. Maybe make this special presentation in the style of Ray Harryhausen movies like Jason and the Argonauts or Clash of the Titans. Hercules saving New York from stop-motion mythical monsters? Sign us up, please.

Squirrel Girl

First debuting in the early ‘90s, mostly as a gag character, Squirrel Girl has become a fan favorite in recent years. Yes, her power is the ability to talk to squirrels, but Doreen Green’s lighthearted adventures in a world with much heavier hitters has endeared her to many readers. She’s even had her own ongoing series a few times. A comedic superheroine, kind of in the same vein as She-Hulk, would make for a truly fun special presentation—especially since a series or full-length movie would be a bit excessive for her.

Tigra

Sure, Catwoman and Black Cat are cool. Even cooler than dressing up as cat, though, is being a cat. That’s why longtime Avenger Tigra would make for a fun Disney+ Special Presentation. We can imagine a fun retro-style special for Tigra, maybe filmed like an old ‘80s/90s TV show like Manimal or She-Wolf of London. The character of Greer Nelson, a.k.a. Tigra, might already be in the MCU, too. Hawkeye name dropped a friend of Kate Bishop’s named Greer. The character has never had her own long-term ongoing series to draw lots of stories from. Therefore, a special would be an ideal way to bring Greer into the MCU.

The post 7 Characters Perfect for a Marvel Studios Special Presentation appeared first on Nerdist.

Over the last five episodes, She-Hulk has taken delight in introducing some of the Marvel Universe’s most deep-cut characters. In episode six, we joined Jen as she attended a close friend’s wedding. It was all fun and games until the final moments of the episode. It’s there we get a hint that a darker plan in place. While Jen is having fun at the wedding, Nikki and Mallory discovered a nightmarish online cesspool called the Intelligencia, which likely rang a bell for Marvel Comics fans. And the Intelligencia, led by the mysterious figure Hulkking, plagued She-Hulk throughout the show. But who are these new villains to the MCU fold? Let’s see review the Intelligencia’s Marvel Comics history and see where the organization stands, and what they were after, after the She-Hulk finale!

Who Is the Intelligencia in Marvel Comics? 

First introduced in 2009’s Fall of the Hulks: Alpha #1, Marvel’s Intelligencia began as an organization for supervillains to share their nefarious information. We see that core of the Intelligencia reimagined in a very contemporary way in this episode of She-Hulk. Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier created the to, essentially, give the Hulk his own supervillain antagonist team. And what a team it was. There have been many notable members of Marvel’s comic book Intelligencia. Doctor Doom, M.O.D.O.K.—who we know will appear in Quantumania—Chameleon, and even deeper cut villains like Awesome Android, Egghead, Wizard, Trapster, and the Red Ghost all appeared as part of the villainous group. Soon the Intelligencia evolved from an information-sharing network to actual evil plotting and scheming.

The Intelligencia’s most dastardly plan—one that feels very relevant to their appearance in She-Hulk—was revealed in 2010’s Hulk #23. There readers learned the Intelligencia were behind the creation of Red Hulk. So it’s very likely that whatever we’re seeing here could lead to that eventuality. Interestingly, in She-Hulk‘s eighth episode, Jennifer Walters mentions a Red Hulk in an aside to the audience. She discusses the possibility of a finale twist and offers that it could be, “There’s another Hulk, but this one is red.” We will have to wait and see if that’s some She-Hulk foreshadowing to do with the Intelligencia.

How Did She-Hulk Change the Intelligencia?

The MCU version of the Intelligencia in She-Hulk is a clickbait-style website with a dark secret. As members know, it’s actually a hateful anti-She-Hulk site. Multiple death threats, posts about the best ways to kill the hero, and other horrific posts fill its pages. While Mallory believes it’s just trolls, Nikki is far more worried. And it turns out she should be.

Is She-Hulk‘s Josh Part of the Intelligencia?

Nikki calls Jen to reveal all to her bestie. But she gets Jen’s voicemail as her friend is busy drunk eating fries with her handsome fellow wedding guest, Josh. And the biggest question after Jen’s wedding escapades is whether Josh is a part of the MCU’s Intelligencia on She-Hulk. Josh seems to know exactly what Jen wants to hear after her legal tussle with Titania last week. He’s kind, thoughtful, and most importantly, he’s a Jen fan, not a She-Hulk one. Though it does feel pretty coincidental that Josh just happens to be there with Jen in the exact right position for the pair to be watched.

Well, too coincidental turns out to be exactly right, in episode seven, we learn that Josh is, in fact, a member of the MCU’s Intelligencia on She-Hulk, and he’s up to no good. Unfortunately for Jen and She-Hulk, after slithering his way into Jen’s good graces, Josh copies her entire phone, and worse, he seems to be out for her blood. We see him directly texting the evil Intelligencia’s leader at the end of the episode. Josh seems to imply he managed to get a sample of She-Hulk’s blood for the organization. And that spells trouble. It was this plan that ended up making She-Hulk smash the courtroom and led to her imprisonment in the finale.

Who Is the Evil Leader of the MCU’s Intelligencia

The final moments of She-Hulk episode six introduce us to a high-tech lab where it seems a team of scientists is very interested in Jen’s blood. Not only are they cyber-stalking her via security camera, but they are also monitoring her vitals.

We immediately discover this is connected to the She-Hulk Intelligencia site we saw as that site had a logo that featured a Hulk face—redrawn to look like Pepe the Frog—with a crown. And as we join the lab, we see that same avatar pop up under the name HulkKing. And he wants a status update from the lab. Other clues we get about the people behind the lab are the bent needle from episode three, hinting that the Wrecking Crew were employees of HulkKing and his crew. Plus, She-Hulk‘s Intelligencia has learned its lesson as they are preparing a new super needle to steal Jen’s blood. The left us with the question, just who is She-Hulk‘s villain, Hulkking?

We long wondered if Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader could be behind the mission to gain She-Hulk’s blood. That still seemed likely leading into She-Hulk‘s final episode, as he may want it to cure his own Hulk-tendencies. Plus, he was an Intelligencia member in Marvel’s comics. It could also have been the original Thunderball, Dr. Elliot Franklin, perhaps sick of being a henchman. But the nature of the MCU Intelligencia’s misogynistic website also opened new options for the leader of She-Hulk‘s Intelligencia. And, in the end, the answer was the most nefarious option. So, we ask again, just who is She-Hulk‘s Hulkking? Well, it turns out, Hulkking is gross Todd, who She-Hulk rejected on a date. And in true entitled man fashion, not only did he waste Jen’s time throughout She-Hulk, he also wanted to take what was rightfully hers. Todd has been after Jen’s Hulk powers all along.

What Is the Intelligencia’s Plan for She-Hulk and Her Blood? 

We had originally theorized that there were two big options for what She-Hulk‘s Intelligencia was up to. One that we already touched on was that it would connect to the Leader and his need for Jen’s blood. The Leader could have wanted She-Hulk’s blood for selfish reasons, but as he’s about to feature in Captain America: New World Order, there was another option too. As Jen got her powers from Bruce, it means her blood includes an adapted version of the Super Soldier Serum. It seems likely that the notion of Super Soldiers will play into Captain America: New World Order, so we could see it being planted in She-Hulk. Although this theory proved not to be fully true, She-Hulk did liken the narrative with her blood to that of the super-serum in her finale meeting with Kevin Feige analog, K.E.V.I.N.

The second theory focused on creating another She-Hulk or Hulk… with a crimson hue. If the Intelligencia had been trying to create Red She-Hulk that could have been a great way to reintroduce Liv Tyler as Betty Ross into the MCU. As we mentioned above, She-Hulk does refer to a red Hulk in episode seven, but ultimately, Red She-Hulk will have to wait another day.

Our theories sort of merged together into the truth of the She-Hulk finale: Todd, a.k.a HulkKing, wanted Jen’s blood so he could create a new Hulk, but that new Hulk was himself. He felt that Jen had just lucked her way into superpowers but didn’t deserve them, but that he had “earned” them. Though luckily, Jen thwarted his plan, there is still Hulk blood out there that his scientific team synthesized. So we’ll be interested to see where that comes back into play in the future of the MCU. All our theories might still be proven true.

Originally published on September 22, 2022.

The post Who Is SHE-HULK’s Intelligencia and What Is Their Plan? appeared first on Nerdist.

Ever since late 2020, when Kevin Feige announced a Fantastic Four movie at Disney’s Investor Day presentation, fans have eagerly anticipated any news regarding Marvel’s First Family on the big screen. And at SDCC’s Marvel Studios Panel, we finally got our first announcement, as Feige formally announced that Fantastic Four has a release date of November 8, 2024. (The movie’s release date has since changed to February 14, 2025) and will officially kick off Phase 6. As the Thing would say, it’s officially “Clobberin’ time!”

The Fantastic Four have had a somewhat rough go of it at the movies. This despite being the title that launched Marvel Comics. The original 1994 low-budget Roger Corman film was never even released to theaters, as it was made only to keep the rights to the franchise. Then, Fox’s 2005 Fantastic Four movie came out, hot on the heels of X-Men. The movie was a financial success, but audiences didn’t fall in love with this goofier version of the team. It didn’t help that Pixar’s The Incredibles came out the year prior, and was a great FF movie in disguise.

The Fantastic Four sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, was even less liked. Mostly due to Galactus appearing only as a giant cloud. That killed the FF franchise for eight years, until 2015. A new reboot came out that year, that had both horrible reviews and horrible box office. It seemed the heroes of “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine” would never get justice.

But when Disney bought Fox, the possibility for a true FF movie from Marvel Studios became certain. And at last, it’s finally happening. We got our first glimpse at what an MCU Reed Richards might look like in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness earlier this year. But that was the Mr. Fantastic of Earth-838. Might Earth-616 Reed be someone other than John Krasinski? Hopefully, we’ll hear about the director and cast at the D23 Expo, later this year. Production is set to begin in 2023 so we can expect lots of tidbits between now and 2024.

Originally published on July 23, 2022.

The post FANTASTIC FOUR Kicking Off Marvel Studios’ Phase 6 in November 2024 appeared first on Nerdist.

Kevin Feige loves to keep fans waiting, and he did just that at SDCC. After revealing the end of Phase 4 and the entire slate of Phase 5, he then teased the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 6. The long-awaited Fantastic Four movie will kick off the phase. Feige also shared that there would be two new Avengers movies: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty on May 2, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, which will now release on May 1, 2026. (Initially, it was slated for November 7, 2025.) We also learned that the current phase we’re existing in—which will end with Secret Wars—is called the Multiverse Saga. 

Jump To: Secret Wars // The Kang Dynasty

That moniker makes a lot of sense seeing as there have been plenty of Multiverse shenanigans so far. Most interesting is the reveal that the Phase 6 of the MCU saga will end with Secret Wars. This is something we’ve been predicting for a while. In the comics, the most recent Secret Wars event was used to streamline the massive multiverse of Marvel Comics. So it makes sense that after introducing the multiverse, the MCU might want to do the same. But it’ll be really interesting to see how we get there. Now thanks to Hall H, we have a little more of an idea of the roadmap. 

If you’re wondering what Secret Wars and The Kang Dynasty are in terms of the comics, of course, we have you covered, so read on for a little primer on the history of each. 

What Is Secret Wars?

In 1984, Secret Wars was the first epic Marvel crossover event comic, pitting Marvel’s most popular heroes against their worst villains. The 12-part series had the all-powerful entity called the Beyonder place these characters on a so-called “Battleworld,” where their conflict would decide the fate of humanity. The original series was mostly a gimmick to sell toys. But writer Jonathan Hickman took the bones of that concept and ran with it for a new version, back in 2015. 

In this critically acclaimed reboot, Battleworld was composed of multiple realities from across the Multiverse, ruled by Doctor Doom. Versions of virtually every character Marvel fans have ever loved appeared on Battleworld, doing battle with each other. And it looks like we might see this play out on the big screen, with something that might blow fans’ minds. Secret Wars may have the possibility of making the Infinity Saga like just a warm-up act. 

Secret Wars has been a rumored MCU outing for a long time, so we’re excited to see it in Marvel’s Phase 6. Famously, the Russo Brothers have brought up over and over again that they would like to helm the Secret Wars film. But, alas, Kevin Feige has revealed that this won’t come to pass for now. In fact, the Russos won’t connect to either the Secret Wars or Kang Dynasty Avengers movies. Per Deadline, Feige notes, “They’re not connected to it…They’ve been very direct about that. We love them, they love us. We want to find something to do together, it’s not this.”

What Is The Kang Dynasty?

Marvel Studios likes to take titles from well-known comics but apply them to all-new stories. Most famously, they did this with Avengers: Age of Ultron. The movie had a totally different story than the comic of the same name, aside from the basic “Avengers vs. Ultron” of it all. We may see the same thing with The Kang Dynasty. 

In the comics, “The Kang Dynasty” was a 16-part story by Kurt Busiek, who wrote one of the best Avengers runs of all time with multiple artists. The basic plot of the 2001-2002 story saw Kang in the present announce his intentions to the UN to take over the world, in order to prevent all negative futures from happening. We could see something like this taking place in the MCU, which would lead an all-new team of Avengers to stop Kang. 

Of course, we don’t know any details about The Kang Dynasty yet. But The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton will also helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. So we already know its going to be fire. Additionally, per Deadline, Jeff Loveness will pen this Phase 6 Marvel movie.

Both movies will hit the MCU and theaters in 2025!

Originally published on July 23, 2022.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

The post Marvel Teases PHASE 6, Including Two New AVENGERS Movies appeared first on Nerdist.

He’s a slimy green creature that lives in the swamp, one who looks like a cross between a human being and a marshland. You’re probably thinking we’re talking about Swamp Thing, the DC Comics star of many series, as well as a few films and TV shows. But that description also describes Man-Thing, Marvel Comics’ own swamp creature, who actually appeared before Swamp Thing did. And Man-Thing will be making his MCU debut in the upcoming Marvel Halloween special, Werewolf by Night. Here’s the lowdown on Marvel’s mysterious man of muck.

Man-Thing’s Marvel Comics Origins

The Man-Thing was a character similar to Werewolf by Night and Morbius, in that he was part of a surge of horror and monster heroes Marvel introduced in the early ‘70s, once the Comics Code restrictions loosened up. His first appearance was in 1971’s Savage Tales #1, one of Marvel’s first attempts at a black and white, magazine format series for older audiences. Created by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, and artist Gray Morrow, that first story was a short one, an 11-page origin tale in the first issue.

A Tragic Origin Story in the Everglades for Man-Thing

Dr. Ted Sallis was a renowned biochemist who the U.S. military recruited into a secret project and whose purpose was to create soldiers that would survive bio-chemical warfare. While part of this project, Sallis created his SO-2 serum, which actually gave soldiers immunity from chemical weapons. Sadly, it had the unfortunate side effect of turning said soldiers into monsters. But that didn’t stop Ted from trying again. This time, he changed his serum by attempting to fuse it with the Super Soldier Serum that created Captain America. (This never goes well in any iteration of the Marvel Universe).

Deciding to start his research over, the future Man-Thing thought he should move his operations to a more secluded area, so he relocated to the Florida Everglades. Part of this was to be closer to his old friend Dr. Curt Conners, whose own research there led him to become the Spider-Man villain, the Lizard. S.H.I.E.L.D. funded all of this. But A.I.M, the terrorist organization, wanted Sallis’ serum too. And they had the help of Sallis’ own wife Ellen, who was bitter that her hubby was paying more attention to his work than to her.

Once Sallis realized an A.I.M ambush was imminent, he injected himself with the serum, and then burned all existing records of the formula. He fled, but his car crashed into the swamp. It was later revealed that to make the SO-2 serum work, he made a deal with the demon Belasco. This accident was the price of said deal. Instead of dying, the combination of the swamp, the serum, and some of Curt Conners’ own Lizard formula, and Sallis became a new and monstrous lifeform. He was now a creature later called the Man-Thing in Marvel Comics, and his intelligence and sense of self as being Theodore Sallis all but vanished.

Guardian of the Nexus of All Realities

Only faint traces of his human mind still flickered in Man-Thing’s lumbering form, which was an amalgamation of his own human DNA with the vegetation of the Everglades. But the swamp that made Man-Thing was no ordinary swamp, it was mystical in nature. In fact, it was the Nexus of All Realities, a doorway to every dimension in Marvel Comics’ multiverse. Soon, Man-Thing became the Guardian of the Nexus. Although incapable of speech, he was fused with the Nexus. He kept dangerous other-dimensional interlopers out and welcomed friendly ones.

To the townsfolk of the nearby town of Citrusville, the Man-Thing was a local myth. But soon, others in the Marvel Universe found out the stories of Man-Thing were real, characters like Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Shang-Chi, Daredevil, and the Thing. Although he fought heroes occasionally, Man-Thing mostly used his existence to help others. So while “hero” might be too generous a term, Man-Thing definitely wasn’t a villain. Eventually, Man-Thing moved out of the Florida Everglades into the swamps of Louisiana and, apparently, took the Nexus of All Realities with him.

Werewolf By Night Man-Thing’s Marvel Powers and Abilities

Marvel’s Man-Thing had a power set was pretty bizarre and we’ll have to wait to see if his Werewolf By Night powers mirror the comics. Man-Thing had the standard superhuman strength, a result of the Super Soldier Serum part of his DNA. In fact, he was slightly stronger than Captain America. But here’s where things got really weird. While his brain was incapable of reason, rational thought, or even long-term memory, he was emotionally empathic. Violent emotions in others caused Man-Thing to secrete an acid fluid that could maim or kill anyone it touched. When around humans who were exhibiting fear, he could grow larger and more menacing.

Man-Thing’s role as Guardian of the Nexus meant he could access all realities and teleport himself as well. The plant part of his body allowed him to become impervious to most harm, such as from bullets and sharp weapons. Fire could harm him, but as long as he was around other plant life, he could use it to regenerate himself. As a plant/human hybrid, Marvel’s Man-Thing could alter his form into something more malleable, so he was always very hard to capture.

Marvel’s Man-Thing vs. DC’s Swamp Thing

So who came first, Marvel’s Man-Thing or DC’s Swamp Thing? Technically, Man-Thing debuted in May 1971. Swamp Thing would debut in July 1971. But the Swamp Thing story would have had to be in the works already from DC, given the amount of lead time to make a comic book story. This resulted in a very similar scenario as Marvel and DC had with X-Men and Doom Patrol. Here’s an extra fun fact; both Man-Thing’s original writer Gerry Conway and Swamp Thing’s original writer Len Wein were actually roommates at the time. Thus, the similarities can’t all be a coincidence, can they?

However, perhaps this was the awkward truth behind all of it. Both Marvel’s Man-Thing and DC’s Swamp Thing were heavily inspired by a comic book character from nearly thirty years earlier called The Heap. He, too, was a man transformed into a shambling, mindless muck monster and appeared in the pages of Airboy. Marvel ultimately decided not to take legal action against DC over Swamp Thing. Possibly to avoid being sued themselves over Man-Thing’s similar appearance and origin as The Heap. Also, DC’s villainous Solomon Grundy had a very similar origin story to Swamp Thing. All of that might have made the lawsuit frivolous. Both Things, the Man one and the Swamp one, have co-existed peacefully on comic store shelves for fifty years.

Man-Thing in the MCU

Man-Thing will soon join the MCU and appear in the Werewolf by Night special on Disney+. He can be seen in the trailer, if only for a split second. He also once headlined his own self-titled movie in 2005. However, that notorious critical flop was not a part of the MCU, despite being a Marvel production. Although originally meant for theatrical release, it ended up premiering as a Syfy original film instead. The low-budget film only bore a superficial resemblance to the comics.

Man-Thing in Thor: Ragnarok

Although we haven’t seen him on screen yet in the MCU, there already have been references to the Man-Thing. We can see Man-Thing’s face in the sculptures on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok, in fact. According to his MCU Wiki entry, the Grandmaster captured and imprisoned Man-Thing, where he forced him to fight in the Contest of Champions. Because of his many victories, he received a sculpture on the Grandmaster’s palace. What happened to him after Sakaar remains a mystery.

Man-Thing in Werewolf by Night

In the MCU’s Werewolf by Night special presentation, we learn that Man-Thing is being hunted by an elite group of monster hunters, all as part of a tournament to win the Bloodstone. Thanks to our titular werewolf, we learn that Man-Thing is indeed named Ted, suggesting his comic origins remain intact. He doesn’t speak, just like in the comics, but he gets away with a little help. We think he will pop up again in the MCU soon, perhaps as the Nexus Guardian? Only time will tell. But we think Man-Thing is opening up a whole new dimension in the MCU. Pun fully intended.

Originally published on September 19, 2022.

The post Who Is Marvel Comics’ Man-Thing? The MCU’s WEREWOLF BY NIGHT Hero, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

For years, folks have fan-cast Keanu Reeves in various MCU roles. It seems almost strange at this point that Reeves hasn’t starred in a Marvel project—especially given his vocal passion for comic books. Of course, he did play John Constantine for DC Comics, and may do so again. But Reeves had Marvel aspirations. We learned from a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live (via A.V. Club) that Keanu has wanted to play one Marvel Comics hero in particular ever since he was 10-years-old. And this character is one fans have wanted him to portray for years: Ghost Rider.

You can watch Keanu Reeves talk about his Ghost Rider dreams, all while promoting his own comic book project BRZRKR, right here:

For years, Sony had the the live-action rights to the Spirit of Vengeance. Sony produced the two Ghost Rider movies starring Nicolas Cage. Eventually, however, the rights reverted to Marvel Studios. At first, Marvel was content to introduce the character on TV, and the Robbie Reyes version of the character appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. But Marvel has mentioned that they have plans down the road for the original Rider, Johnny Blaze. They did tease us with a Donny Blaze on She-Hulk recently. But so far, that seems like an Easter egg.

If Keanu played Ghost Rider, we think most MCU fans would jump for joy. His Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4 was kind of a pre-Ghost Rider version of Johnny Blaze after all. But we actually think that Keanu would be the ideal Silver Surfer. He’s one of the last major Marvel heroes not yet introduced or announced for the MCU. And Keanu’s calming voice would be perfect for the former Herald of Galactus. If the whole Ghost Rider thing doesn’t work out at Marvel Studios (or they give the role to Ryan Gosling, who also wants the part) we would love to see Keanu on a cosmic surfboard instead of a hellfire motorcycle.

The post Keanu Reeves Says He’s Wanted to Play Ghost Rider Since He Was 10 appeared first on Nerdist.

Marvel Studios’ latest release, Werewolf by Night, introduces a horde of new characters into the MCU, including the famed monster hunter, Elsa Bloodstone. As Marvel Studios’ first unabashed horror project, Werewolf by Night lays the foundations for further explorations into the genre. With films like Blade on the horizon, the MCU will need to dig deeply into Marvel Comics lore to make this next chapter fully fleshed out. Though fans are accustomed to more traditional modes of heroism with the Avengers, projects such as Werewolf by Night will provide the necessary connective tissue to these next stages in the MCU.

Directed by composer Michael Giacchino, Werewolf by Night is an hour-long special on Disney+ centering on the titular lycanthrope. Gael Garcia Bernal stars as Jack Russell, a man cursed with lycanthropy who convenes with other monster hunters at Bloodstone Manor, presumably the home of Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly). Shot in black and white, with a distinct style that harkens back to 1930s horror movies, Werewolf by Night is a celebration of Marvel Comics’ under-appreciated horror legacy. 

Part of that legacy includes Elsa Bloodstone, a monster hunter associated with the supernatural. Essentially, Elsa Bloodstone is Buffy Summers meets Lara Croft. As a member of the Bloodstone family, Elsa’s lore runs deep in the Marvel Universe. Her father, Ulysses Bloodstone, bequeathed his powerful Bloodgem fragment to Elsa, giving her enhanced physical abilities. Like Lara Croft, Elsa’s journey has taken her all over the world, and like Buffy Summers, vampires are among her greatest enemies. Bloodstone will likely play an important role in linking together Marvel’s future horror outings, as she has ties to everyone from Doctor Strange, to Black Knight, to Ghost Rider, to Blade. 

Elsa Bloodstone’s comics set a solid foundation for where the MCU could go next. One of her most recent appearances was in the 2021 Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade series by Simon Spurrier and Sergio Davila. There, Elsa came to the aid of Dane Whitman’s Black Knight, a notoriously incompetent hero who wields one of the most powerful weapons in the Marvel Universe: the Ebony Blade. The two fought Mordred, the bastard son of King Arthur, with Elsa chastising Whitman for his poor weapons skills. The Ebony Blade feeds off of the negative energy of whoever wields it, making it dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced.

This makes Elsa not only a seasoned pro at taking down supernatural or magical threats, but an important source of knowledge for other Marvel Comics characters. She’s not an ordinary person thrown into extraordinary circumstances, like Peter Parker or Steve Rogers. Elsa Bloodstone was born to see the world in its horrific clarity with her monster hunting family.

As such, the release of Werewolf By Night sets up a possible Elsa Bloodstone and Black Knight team-up in the MCU. Last year’s Eternals introduced Kit Harrington’s Black Knight, along with the Ebony Blade in a post-credits scene. Like Dane Whitman in the comics, the MCU’s version of the character is clueless about the weapon that he holds. This could give Elsa Bloodstone a perfect chance to come to his aid. Presumably, the MCU’s Dane Whitman lacks any combat skills too, putting Elsa in the position to teach him everything he needs to know. Thus far, Dane Whitman has only dealt with powerful godlike figures from space. Teaming up with human characters like Elsa Bloodstone would integrate him with Marvel’s other street-level heroes. 

Black Knight is far from the only character that Elsa Bloodstone has connections to in the comics. Werewolf By Night also sets up her tie to Blade and the supernatural Midnight Sons team. In the past, Elsa has been a member of the Midnight Sons, alongside Blade; Man-Thing; Doctor Voodoo (also known to fans as Brother Voodoo); Moon Knight; Iron Fist; and Ghost-Rider. The Midnight Sons are usually led by Blade, and most of its members are characters emblematic of Marvel’s dark supernatural bent in the 1970s.

This year, Marvel relaunched and renamed the title as The Midnight Suns, featuring a brand new lineup with Blade as their leader. And while Elsa is not on this new Midnight Suns team, Marvel’s history of brand synergy points to the possibility that the Blade film could introduce the team, with her as one of its members. The MCU has found success with aesthetically-distinct groups like the Guardians of the Galaxy. And a new Midnight Sons team could shake up a universe that is feeling more and more formulaic to fans. 

Thus far, the MCU has established its signature brand of quippy sci-fi action. But this has barely scratched the surface of its comics universe. Elsa Bloodstone’s MCU debut opens doors to a much darker side of comics rarely seen in adaptations. Considering that the MCU has made unapologetically “comic-book” concepts like Infinity Stones part of mainstream pop culture, it’s time the oddballs of Marvel Comics get their due.

Moreover, Elsa Bloodstone’s debut points to a promising future for horror directors and creators in the MCU. While the MCU has flirted with the genre in the past, most notably with Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, characters like Elsa Bloodstone, Werewolf by Night, and Blade require an extra sense of commitment to the genre in order to shine. Werewolf By Night is clearly a love letter to horror and horror comics. And if the MCU wishes to continue this ethos in the future, it should bring the wonderful world of Elsa Bloodstone to life.

The post How WEREWOLF BY NIGHT’s Elsa Bloodstone Could Tie Into the MCU’s Future appeared first on Nerdist.

Who needs six to eight hours of something when you could have slightly over two? That must be what the folks at Marvel thought after looking over the upcoming slate. Only a couple of weeks after D23 Expo 2022, at which we learned the upcoming Secret Invasion Disney+ series would roll right into an Armor Wars series, we now know, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, that the later title is not going to be a show anymore. It’ll instead become a feature film for theaters.

The change of format will also push Armor Wars even further down the pipeline of production. No directors had been attached to the series, so no worries there for feature direction gear-grinding. Comedian and writer Yassir Lester, who was on board as the series’ head writer, will write the screenplay. Don Cheadle, who would star in the series as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, aka War Machine, will still be the main character.

According to the report, sources close to the production realized the story—based on a seven-issue comic arc from the 1980s—would be better served as a movie. The series had not started production yet, eyeing a 2023 launch.

Armor Wars focuses on Tony Stark discovering his Iron Man technology is now in the hands of not just heroes but also villains. Which, of course, leads to chaos. So, of course, his bestie, Rhodey, sets off to recover the items. Disney confirms the series will ask the question, “what happens if Tony Stark’s tech falls into the wrong hands?”

Where the movie will end up now is anyone’s guess. But since Armor Wars was never on the Phase 5 announcement slate, and not officially on Phase 6, we can assume it’ll end up toward the end of the latter. We’re looking at fall or winter 2024 at the absolute earliest. Most likely, it’ll be 2025.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post Marvel’s ARMOR WARS Starring Don Cheadle Will Now Be a Film appeared first on Nerdist.

Half-hour comedy show or not, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is replete with references and cameos from the larger MCU. And episode three had more than the last two put together. We’ve got one Abomination incarceration, one Sorcerer Supreme, an elf from New Asgard, and one very angry Wrecking Crew. In today’s Nerdist News, we lay it all out for you.

This episode was largely about Jennifer Walters’ court case representing Emil Blonsky, a.k.a, the Abomination. Since his little New York rampage years ago, he’s been in a max security penitentiary. In episode two, She-Hulk took on his case, but there was an added wrinkle. Footage leaked of his underground cage fight with Wong that we saw in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which officially made him an escaped fugitive.

From there, we get our Wong appearance, played of course by Benedict Wong. He explained that his fight with Blonsky was part of his training as Sorcerer Supreme, and that it was he who broke him out. He even made an offhand reference to the memory-erasing spell from Spider-Man: No Way Home. Meanwhile, Jen’s law firm is representing an old colleague of hers, a total jerk named Dennis Bukowski. He claims a Light Elf from New Asgard defrauded him, using magic to pretend to be Megan Thee Stallion. And yes, Light Elves were another Easter egg straight from the comics, as they first appeared in the pages of Alpha Flight.

Before the episode was over, the show introduced us to MCU versions of the Wrecking Crew, a group of baddies who use weapons like enchanted crowbars, etc. They’ve had their butts handed to them by every hero in the 616. They were attempting to get a sample of Jen’s gamma-irradiated blood for a mysterious leader. And our money is on it being the Leader, who 2008’s The Incredible Hulk teased. Will She-Hulk finally pay off that hint from the Edward Norton movie? That Kevin Feige sure loves to play the long game.

The post Every Easter Egg We Saw in SHE-HULK Episode 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

One thing I’ve really grown to love about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is there’s no such thing as a one-off character. Sure, some characters might only end up appearing in one thing. But even over a decade later, someone could still show up again. Just look at Tim Roth in She-Hulk. Especially look at Sir Ben Kingsley. After a fake-out appearance as “The Mandarin” in Iron Man 3 in 2013, it seemed unlikely his slovenly actor character Trevor Slattery would turn up again. Then he appeared—delightfully so—in last year’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Now, it seems, Sir Ben will return once again in the upcoming Wonder Man series.

The news comes from Variety who says Kingsley will reunite with Shang-Chi director and co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton. Cretton is one of the executive producers and co-creators of the Wonder Man series. We first learned about the show in June. Reports said that Wonder Man would be a Hollywood satire. Having Trevor Slattery in the cast seems a perfect way to make that satire more pronounced. What’s more of a slag on Hollywood than a terrorist organization hiring an actor to be its face?

In the comics, Simon Williams was a spoiled trust fund baby, heir to the company and fortune of Sandford Williams. His bad business decisions ran Williams Innovations into the ground, and Simon blamed the company’s biggest rival, Stark Industries. He accepted an offer from the villainous Baron Zemo to gain ionic powers in an experiment. These powers included super strength, invulnerability, and in later years, flight and energy projection. He gave himself the moniker of Wonder Man, because of course.

Wonder Man later parlayed his success as a superhero into a successful career as a movie star. Sort of like how Audie Murphy was a WWII hero who turned to making movies. We’ve already seen another superhero-turned-actor in the MCU, of course. Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo in Eternals is a big Bollywood star. Of course, Kingo is a prisoner of the Celestials currently so who knows if and when he’d show up in Wonder Man.

Another thing we don’t know is when Wonder Man might premiere. The show was not among Marvel’s Phase Five titles Kevin Feige announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Our bet, therefore, is that it’ll be one of the currently blank spots in Phase Six. This would put it alongside Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. Cretton, we hasten to remind you, will direct The Kang Dynasty. Seems likely Phase Six will be a Cretton-heavy phase.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery Will Appear in WONDER MAN Show for Disney+ appeared first on Nerdist.

The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has finally hit, and as with all things Marvel, there are a metric ton of MCU Easter Eggs and references. In fact, She-Hulk might have more MCU of those in just one episode than all of Moon Knight and Hawkeye combined. And in today’s Nerdist News, we break them all down. Including all the ones about her cousin and some of his famous Avengering buddies.

Episode one showed us how Shulkie’s origin differs from the comics, while still keeping the broad strokes. Yes, Jen Walters (Tatiana Maslany) still got her Hulk powers from her cousin’s blood, but not from a blood transfusion needed thanks to a failed mafia hit. That never really made sense, because same blood type or not, Bruce (Mark Ruffalo) just had to know what his gamma-irradiated blood would do to his cousin, right? The MCU version is ultimately better.

We also learned how Bruce was in human form in Shang-Chi, despite his Infinity Gauntlet-induced injuries in Endgame. (Basically, he built a doohickey). Jen’s first Hulk-out was a tribute to Bill Bixby’s in the 1978 pilot for The Incredible Hulk because when given the chance, you should always give a shout-out to Marvel’s first live-action hit. The foundation of live-action Marvel rests firmly on the broad green shoulders of one Lou Ferrigno. Never forget.

We finally saw the gamma lab Hulk mentioned in Endgame (a “loaner” from Tony Stark). In it, we saw all the memorabilia Bruce has in his adjacent hideaway. We caught such things as Tony’s Iron Legion helmet, and Gladiator Hulk’s helmet, which he wore on Sakaar. Speaking of that planet from Thor: Ragnarok, a Sakaaran starship was what caused Bruce and Jen’s car crash. We still don’t know why it appeared, but we bet it has something to do with Hulk’s kids he sired on the alien world (at least in the comics). No way Kevin Feige is leaving that juicy soap opera twist on the table unused.

We also see the return of Marvel’s patented QR codes hidden within the series. They did this in Ms. Marvel as well. You can catch a glimpse after Jen’s blackout, when she wakes up in the bar, before she goes into the ladies room. It leads viewers to a free digital comic of She-Hulk’s very first appearance, Savage She-Hulk #1. Fun!

The best one of all these references comes in the post-credits scene. Here, Jen got Bruce to admit that Steve Rogers was in fact not a virgin as many believed. He confided in him that he punched his V-card with an unnamed lady after meeting her in a 1943 USO show. At last, the question asked by millions of fans who are obsessed about superhero sex lives (basically, all of us who are overgrown gossipy teens) had their question answered at last.

Based on that fact drop, we have another theory for you. What if the woman in question was the flirty fan who met Steve in The First Avenger? The actress who played her was Laura Haddock, who later played Meredith Quill, Star-Lord’s mom in both Guardians of the Galaxy films. What if Meredith was Cap’s kid he never knew he had, and he’s Peter’s grandpa? A little super soldier DNA might explain why he alone among Ego’s thousands of kids could harness the Celestial powers. We doubt Marvel would ever confirm this, but it’s our current headcanon. And all thanks to a jokey reference in She-Hulk! Was the MCU changed forever? As Stan Lee would say, “stay tuned, True Believers!”

The post Every Easter Egg We Spotted in the SHE-HULK Premiere appeared first on Nerdist.

Avengers: Secret Wars is coming in a few years, landing in Phase 6 of the MCU and capping off Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga. How loyal this Avengers movie will remain to the original 1984 event comic, or its 2015 reinvention of Secret Wars, is still a mystery. But the MCU version of Secret Wars won’t be the first time Marvel has adapted the seminal comics. Back in the ’90s, Spider-Man: The Animated Series did its own (fairly loose) adaptation. For a whole generation of kids, this was “their” Secret Wars.

The producers of Spider-Man: The Animated Series stuck to some key elements of the comic but took some wild swings too. Now, the folks at Comics Alliance have created a video detailing the 3-part Spider-Man: TAS version of Secret Wars. And this rendition of Secret Wars may give us a hint as to how the MCU might condense such a sprawling story into a relatively brief runtime. You can check out the full video above.

The Spider-Man version of Secret Wars kept certain core parts from the original 1984 comic, such as the omnipotent Beyonder, and his superhero vs. supervillain planet, Battleworld. But the roster of heroes was much smaller on TV. The creators kept it to Spidey, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America, and the X-Men’s Storm. Almost all the villains in this rendition of Secret Wars were Spidey villains as well. In fact, Lizard took over the role Magneto played in the comic event, acting as the “bad guy on the good guy’s team.” Luckily, Doctor Doom was still the main baddie. Just as in the comics.

The 1997 Spider-Man: TAS version made things even more Spidey-centric than that, though. In a team with Reed Richards, Iron Man, Captain America, and a literal goddess like Storm, they made Peter Parker the leader of the heroes. And they added Black Cat, who was nowhere to be found in the original comics. Also not in the original comics, but appearing in the cartoon, were Blade and Morbius. It’s hard to say whether the MCU’s Secret Wars will take anything from this rendition.

These three episodes led to the final two, which were actually a very early iteration of the Spider-Verse, all decades before the comics. In 2017, the animated series Avengers: Assemble also did its own version of Secret Wars, far more tied to Loki and Asgard. It was ok but lacked the charm of the ’90s Spidey version. That one was truly a wild adaptation of Secret Wars but a reminder that with the right storytellers, one could pull it off. Even on weekday afternoon television.

The post How the ’90s SPIDER-MAN Cartoon Adapted Marvel’s SECRET WARS appeared first on Nerdist.

We’ve been speculating for months that Secret Wars was the MCU event that they were gearing toward, and at SDCC, we were proven correct. Although which version of Secret Wars gets adapted is still a mystery. But given Kevin Feige’s love of all things written by Jonathan Hickman, we think his 2015 Secret Wars event is the way they are going. (With some elements of the original 1984 series sprinkled in). This means after a cataclysmic crisis across the Multiverse, we’ll likely see all time/space collapse at the end of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

But in the next film, we’ll see Battleworld. It’s a planet assembled by Doctor Doom, created from broken fragments of the shattered Multiverse. Each of these fragments is its own territory of land, a realm with its own monarch. Realms that often fight with the others for domination. Think Game of Thrones, but with Marvel characters. Although the comics had literally dozens of realities making up Battleworld, we think the movies will have to focus on a few. And we think these are prime candidates, each making this the ultimate Marvel movie crossover event of all time.

Technopolis, an Iron Man Science Utopia

The possibility of Robert Downey Jr. coming back thanks to the Multiverse will almost certainly come into play in Secret Wars. It’s just too tantalizing a prospect for Marvel Studios to pass up. And the multiverse provides a way to bring back Tony without undoing his sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame. (Variants, baby!) And the original Secret Wars comic had a perfect template for how to utilize Tony Stark in Battleworld: Technopolis.

Technopolis was a futuristic utopia, with flying cars and wonderful advancements. Howard Stark created Technopolis, although it was later run by Tony and Pepper Potts. A Techno-wonderland run by Stark tech, with Tony as the land’s “baron,” seems like a perfect realm to see in Battleworld. Technopolis is Tony’s dream of world made better by Arc reactor tech, something his 616 counterpart new saw realized. But it would be fun to see a world where Tony succeeded.

Marvel Zombies

Ever since Robert Kirkman introduced the Marvel Zombies in the comics, fans have wanted to see them in live-action. We’ve seen the reanimated superhero corpses in animated form as an episode of What If…?, and soon they’ll have their own animated series. Marvel will not be able to resist bringing a version of that to Battleworld. Maybe with a group of survivors fighting them that includes Steve Rogers as Captain America? There’s your perfect way to include Chris Evans in the mix.

Mutopia, the X-Men/Mutant Realm

We’ve been waiting for mutants to appear in the MCU for years now. But it seems certain that some versions of them will appear in Secret Wars. We think Kevin Feige can’t resist giving the Fox X-Men one last hurrah, and giving them their own section of Battleworld would be the way to go. In the comic, it was Mutopia, a world where humans are in decline and mutants rule. The X-Men are beloved celebrities with many different branches.

They may reimagine Mutopia as a whole section of Battleworld that is an amalgam of the Fox X-Men universe, with several of the original actors back. It would surely drive fans wild. Just imagine if we get Hugh Jackman back one more time, and he gets to fight the Hulk? Or James Marsden, Ana Paquin, Halle Berry, and the rest in comics-inspired costumes, taking on the Avengers? Who wouldn’t want to pay to see that?

Spider-Island, Home of All Spider-Mans

Ever since Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield came back as their respective Spider-Mans in No Way Home, fans have been asking if we’d see them again. Well, Secret Wars would be the perfect place. In the comics, Spider-Island was something a wee bit different, but we think it would be the perfect name for a version of Manhattan where only the Spider-heroes dwell. Not just Tobey and Andrew, but it might be how we meet the MCU’s Miles Morales too. Once the Secret Wars are over, and a new MCU is born, you fold Miles in this way, as a remnant of a now-dead reality. Which is just what the comics did.

Ultron Controlled Realm

What If…? gave us many different scenarios for different outcomes for various MCU movies. Including one in which Ultron won against the Avengers. This would be a world totally devoid of organic life, where only AI thrives. All of which are based on Ultron’s programming. Think the world of The Matrix or the Terminator films, only with the snark of James Spader. Many MCU fans came away disappointed in how they handled Ultron, so this might be his redemption as a villain.

The Hidden Isle of Agamotto

In the comic, Doctor Stephen Strange is the right hand of God Emperor Doom, and the Sherriff of Battleworld. He has his own land that is his call home, the Isle of Agamotto. They might reconceive this concept for the film as a section of Battleworld where magic reigns supreme. Where not only Doctor Strange resides, but also Wanda Maximoff, Agatha Harkness, and any other magic wielder. And maybe a few magic-based characters we haven’t met yet in the MCU might be introduced here.

The Realm of Loki, Prince of Asgard

Loki made a good attempt at conquering the Earth in the first Avengers film, and very nearly succeeded. But what if he did succeed? A world where Loki rules supreme is a tantalizing prospect, even if it only shows up in a small way. It allows for Tom Hiddleston to chew the scenery, and we always love that. We are pretty sure the actor would be down for that, give how attached he is to the character. We’re imagining a version of Manhattan where Chitauri soldiers stand on every corner, with Loki’s smug face plastered on every building. It’s just too fun to pass up.

In the Secret Wars comics, there are literally dozens of other realms. There’s Arcadia, a realm run by She-Hulk with only warrior women. There’s also Egyptia, where Moon Knight’s Khonshu rules supreme. A Secret Wars movie wouldn’t have time to explore them all. But perhaps a Battleoworld Disney+ series between Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars is called for? That would truly make the end of Phase 6 something fans will never forget.

The post Which Marvel Realities Should AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Use? appeared first on Nerdist.

Several great trailers debuted at the Marvel Studios panel this past weekend at SDCC. But none got the tears flowing quite like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Ryan Coogler’s film is very much a living tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. And his memory permeates the whole trailer. The grief weighs heavy in the faces of the entire cast, as the nation of Wakanda mourns its sovereign. And one of the key ways the trailer elicited emotion from us was the use of music.

The use of a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” by Nigerian artist Tems, arranged by composer Ludwig Göransson, was perfect. That song, along with “A Body, A Coffin,” performed by Ghanian artist Amaarae, and “Soy,” by Mexican rapper Santa Fe Klan, make up a new Wakanda Forever EP. And you can also listen to that EP on Spotify with all three tracks right here:

Here’s what Coogler and Göransson had to say about Prologue:

“This Prologue is an aural first glimpse of Wakanda Forever. The sound world for the film began with extended trips to Mexico and Nigeria. We spent our days working with traditional musicians who educated us about the cultural, social and historical contexts of their music. We built a catalogue of instrumental and vocal recordings that explored both traditional and non-traditional uses of their musical material.”

They added that “we had recording sessions with contemporary artists who were akin to the characters and thematic material explored in the film. Using the script as a blueprint, along with the recordings from the traditional musicians, we began to build a musical vocabulary for the characters, storylines and cultures. The instrumental score and soundtrack for Wakanda Forever both organically grew from these sessions and workshops. They are conceived together as a singular entity to create an immersive and enveloping sound world for the film.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on November 11, 2022.

The post Listen to 3 Tracks From the WAKANDA FOREVER: PROLOGUE EP appeared first on Nerdist.

We’ve been waiting since Avengers: Endgame and the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and now it’s finally official—Sam Wilson is getting his own Captain America film, in Captain America: New World Order. The announcement came at the massive Hall H Marvel Studios panel at Comic-Con. The film will release in theaters on May 3, 2024, towards the end of the MCU’s Phase Five. We even have a preliminary logo, as released by Marvel Studios.

Anthony Mackie will once again wield the shield, as bestowed upon him as Steve Rogers. The movie will be co-written by Malcolm Spellman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Dalan Musson and directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox). So what do we know about this movie, aside from the title? Pretty much nothing. The traditional Cap villains who might try to start any kind of “New World Order” might be the Serpent Society. Yes, the same evil secret society Kevin Feige once trolled fans into believing would be the baddies in what wound up as Captain America: Civil War.

The end of Falcon and the Winter Solider saw Sam finally accept his true place as the new Captain America. We may see several members of that series show up as supporting cast for his solo film, like his sister and his nephews. Since Sam has nephews, that makes him both Captain America and “Uncle Sam.” Nice touch there, Marvel!

It wouldn’t be surprising if we get a cameo from his old buddy Bucky Barnes as well. But we have a feeling Marvel is setting up the former Winter Soldier for more. Maybe his own solo project in the very near future. Perhaps as Nomad? We expect more details about Captain America: New World Order to be revealed at the upcoming D23 event in September.

The post CAPTAIN AMERICA: NEW WORLD ORDER Announced for May 2024 appeared first on Nerdist.

Marvel Studios’ monster of a Hall H panel at Comic-Con ended with our first look at Ryan Coogler’s much anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The movie was the subject of a lot of speculation given the absence of the titular character following star Chadwick Boseman’s untimely passing. But Wakanda is more than just one man! And the kingdom of Wakanda has many more heroes, as the emotionally charged trailer revealed. Plus, we got our first look at actor Tenoch Huerta as Prince Namor. That’s right, the Sub-Mariner himself.

The sense of loss is palpable in the trailer to a cover version of “No Woman, No Cry.” It’s clear that the movie will be about the loss of T’Challa. The void on the throne has been filled by T’Challa and Shuri’s mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett). She is angry that she is the queen of the most powerful nation in the world but her family is all gone. Does that mean Shuri (Letitia Wright) is gone too? Well, not necessarily.

But, among the familiar returning faces, like Danai Gurira as Okoye, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, and Winston Duke as M’Baku, we also saw new faces. The most prominent of these is none other than Namor, the Sub-Mariner. As the trailer indicates, Wakanda will have to fight against the kingdom of Atlantis. Or maybe they’ll team up eventually? Who can really say. The Atlanteans we see seem to have a cool Mayan-inspired look, which might point to the direction Coogler will go with them. Huerta had already indicated he was learning the Ancient Mayan language, so. Yep.

So you might ask yourself, “how can this be a Black Panther movie without Black Panther? Well, we’re fairly positive it will be none other than Shuri herself who will don the familiar costume to fight as Wakanda’s protector. It happened in the comics, don’t ya know!

We truly cannot wait to see Coogler’s second outing for Marvel. His first was an unmitigated success and this new one looks to truly tug at the heartstrings amid the action.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit cinemas November 11, 2022.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

The post Emotional First Trailer for BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Reveals Prince Namor appeared first on Nerdist.