When The Venture Bros. left us in Episode 0, which was basically an extended Star Wars reference, Dr. Venture inherited his brother’s multi-billion dollar business empire. This is followed by a rather stylish montage of the three Ventures moving to their new NYC compound. The Mary Sue has compiled some quick season recaps for your viewing pleasure. The entirety of Episode 0 is also available to watch at Adult Swim.
The whole episode feels like getting the band back together, as the OSI assigns Brock back to the Ventures. Hank and Dean get their own independent storylines, The Monarch attempts to continue ‘arching’ with disastrous results, and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch tries to head up the Council of 13. The dynamics return to what fans love. The relationship between Dr. Venture and Brock works especially well. Gotta love Bock’s relentless cursing.
Now with the Venture family relocated in New York there’s an entirely new opportunity for the writers do whatever they want. Hilarious superhero and super villain characters pop up out of nowhere. One great example is The Crusaders Action League. The trio of ‘professional’ superheroes (who charge for their services) consists of a Hispanic Wonder Woman, an overly sexualized Captain America, and a purple Arrow who shoots feet from his bow. They of course meddle where they’re not wanted, causing more harm than good. These are the kind of problems comic books and movies usually gloss over with traditional superheroes. Got to love that dose of reality.
The highlight of this episode, which mostly consists of setting up characters, is Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. This badass lady shoulders a lot of the responsibility of The Council of 13. Her experiences with all of her male colleges have her torn between her career, and her life with The Monarch. Dr. Mrs. The Monarch isn’t anyone’s companion anymore; she’s her own super villain. Dr. Mrs. The Monarch will probably rise to head of the Council of 13, but at what cost? Female viewers take note here. There’s ample opportunity to continue to develop Dr. Mrs. The Monarch over Season 6, bring it on Venture Bros.
Earlier today Marvel released this promo picture for Captain America: Civil War.
The picture gives us a clear look at the teams in the film, so I thought it would be interesting to see how they may match up against each other in the movie.
Iron Man vs. Captain America
Now we’ve already seen from the impressive trailer ( if you haven’t seen it, first where have you been and secondly I’ll put it at the end of this post ) Cap is giving Stark a pretty serious beat down with the help of Bucky. I think at some point though Bucky will have to fend off an attack from somewhere else, leaving the two big guns to duke it out. The question is, who would win? Will we see one of them realize the only way to stop the other is to take him down permanently. In doing so, it gets to the point when they are about to deliver a killing blow and Spider-Man comes in and puts a stop to it.
Having someone so young be the voice of reason makes them snap out of it and realize what they were about to do. It doesn’t necessarily mean they will have solved the issue but it puts an end to the fight.
Black Widow vs. Hawkeye
If you go back to the first Avengers film, you will remember these two have already had an onscreen fight. Hawkeye was controlled by Loki, and by the end of the fight, it was pretty clear Black Widow can take Hawkeye, given the fact she knocks him out.
During Civil War though can we expect to see the same thing. I think it will be an interesting one, especially as at the end of Age of Ultron they were pretty close after what they went through. Will Civil War put a severe strain on their friendship? I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them switches sides at the end of the fight. My money is on Hawkeye for this one. I think Tony will do something quite drastic that will make Natasha rethink her position in the battle. A nice twist could be that she is working undercover for Cap and his team and she helps bring Iron-Man down at the end.
War Machine vs. Falcon
I’ve put these two together because Falcon is the only one on Caps team who flies and will give War Machine a run for his money ( I’m not counting the clip we saw of Scarlet Witch using beams of energy as we don’t know how high she can go). Also, the added bonus is these are both military men. They will each give a decent argument about their stance in Civil War. War Machine does have supreme firepower but lets face it, he’s no Tony Stark in the suit. Falcon does have the advantage of being more nimble with the wings and being able to switch in and out of flying may give him the edge. Then, there is a clip from the trailer where Rhodey just had his reactor ripped from his chest.
There is also a chance one of the two characters will die during Civil War, which could be one of the reasons it ends as both sides realize things have gone too far. If its going to be anyone I think it could be War Machine. It could even be the main reason the Civil War begins and the need for Superheroes to register.
Vision vs. Scarlet Witch
This matchup is a lot harder to try to visualize a clear winner. Vision is shown as being on Iron-Man’s side in promotional material but there is nothing saying he can’t easily be swayed. He is making his choices based on his understanding of what he thinks is right for humanity. There have been a lot of articles saying Tony Stark is very manipulative in the film and he could be the one who convinces Vision to join his side. Once the fight gets under way, Scarlet Witch could show Vision a glimpse of what life could be like if Tony wins. He would then see how the heroes are treated, especially if they showed a glimpse of the prison that Tony builds with Reed Richards in the Civil War comic series. Also, there could be a hint of the romantic relationship Vision and Scarlet Witch have, which could sway the fight and cause issues. When someone can wield Mjolnir like Vision can then the fight could be over before its even started.
Black Panther vs. Winter Solider/Bucky Barnes
This one is also quite difficult to call. We have all seen how well Bucky can handle himself since he became the Winter Solider. What we don’t really know about yet is what his mental state is. He is one sandwich short of a full picnic. Either way, he knows how to take care of himself and if he is slowly starting to get his old persona back, then he is going to fight with all he has when it comes to helping his old buddy Steve.
As we’ve seen in the trailer, they make a pretty formidable team when they take down Iron-Man. Bucky also looks like he really wants to rip the arc reactor right out of Tony’s chest. He could also be the who possibly causes War Machines death (if the story goes that way). Marvel does need to build up Black Panther for his solo film, expect Black Panther to come out on top.
The Wildcard – Spider-Man vs. Ant-Man
I used the above image of Spider-Man purely because I hope this is what the Spider-Man Civil War suit looks like. It’s as good a guess as any at this point. So this last one is pure speculation as we don’t know how big a part both of these characters have in the film. Although if Spider-man does faceoff with Ant-Man, the dialogue should be incredible. Also how cool would it be if Spider-Man caught Ant-Man in a web while he was small and just left him there. Again it’s probably not going to happen its just my imagination getting the better of me.
Captain America: Civil War will be in theatres April 29th.
So that’s it. What do you think of the pairings and do you agree with them or would you like to see others paired up to fight. Let me know in the comments.
As promised here is that trailer for the person that’s been under a rock for the past year.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVdV-lxRPFo[/embedyt]
That’s all for now.
DC Films Performing 500% Stronger On Social Media Than Marvel!
Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and even Wonder Woman have all had major promotion as of late. So much so that DC Films has jumped ahead of Marvel when it comes to social media, according to ListenFirst Digital Audience Ratings. The site is known for their weekly looks at which films are performing well on social media; their recent reports show that Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, both releasing this year, have easily breezed pass the Disney owned brand.
While Captain America preps for his Civil War against Iron Man, the DC Extended Universe prepares for a new dawn in comic films. With the polarizing trailer for Batman V. Superman 2 months ago to the new Suicide Squad trailer being a smash on Youtube, the online presence for DC is masterful.
The Entire DC vs Marvel Debate In A Nutshell
With about a month and a half until the release of Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad coming this summer, what more could DC Films do in an attempt to increase social media awareness? All they need to do is look over to Deadpool and their genius marketing campaign. With what seems like a new piece of promo everyday, Deadpool is the goal for social media marketing. Imagine Jessie Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor rant-tweeting like Kanye West?! Could Superman make a Youtube video coming out against Donald Trump because of his stance on illegal aliens? Endless possibilities!
Will DC continue to reign or can Marvel take back the crown closer to Civil War‘s release date?
William Friedkin’s The French Connection is a near perfect thriller. In 1971, it defined a documentary style, a mimicry of the European New Wave movements, that became commonplace in 70s Hollywood. It also singlehandedly built the legacy of the great Gene Hackman, who owns every moment of this picture, striding confidently through the neorealism settings, larger than life and disparate from the police code he honors.
Hackman is Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, a hard-charging narcotics detective who keeps his blood boiling beating the streets of New York City, busting low-level dealers and junkies. Doyle is a little bit of a racist, a moderate drunk, and he isn’t afraid to skirt the rules and work the angles to get the crooks. But there is something burning deep inside Doyle, tempered only briefly at times by his more level-headed – but equally as tough – partner, Buddy (Roy Scheider, great as usual). For all of his flaws and questionable morals, Jimmy Doyle is blinded by righteousness. No matter how much disdain he may carry with him to these dive bars and city streets he shakes down, Doyle is driven by a truthful desire to clean things up.
When a French heroin-smuggling ring works its way from the banks of the Como to the back alleys of Doyle’s stomping grounds, Doyle and Buddy see this as their one and only shot to bring in the big fish and simultaneously save their careers. “What have ya brought in?” their Captain argues. “Some bellhop who had three joints in his sock?” Doyle and Buddy need this bust.
This is a grand smuggling ring, one typically told in sweeping cinematic style and flamboyance. At least these days. But not in Friedkin’s film. The director’s dedication to his documentary style remains true, even when Doyle and Buddy’s investigation reaches international scope. The investigation, seen early on in surveillance from a car or rattling the cages of informants, is filmed as if the audience is a third member of the team. We ride along in the back seat, peer out through the car windows. We are privy to private talks, and we stand at the end of the bar while Doyle cleans up the small-time collection of drugs. It’s beyond immersive, demanding your attention, and rewarding you for it.
Then there’s the car chase, the single most defining moment in the French Connection. This chase was Friedkin’s first true dalliance with such an action set piece, but not his last (if you haven’t seen To Live and Die in LA and the chase there, make it a priority). There’s also that little note that Friedkin, Hackman, and the crew didn’t bother with setting up the chase, announcing their intentions, or seeking out any permits. Which is astounding given the finished product. The chase is also unique in that it’s Doyle in hot pursuit of an elevated train. He must navigate the streets, all the while staying close to the train as his potential assassin.
The plot of the film is secondary to the singleminded drive driving Doyle to amorality in his investigation. This is Doyle’s story, framed with a high-profile smuggling ring that serves to motivate this hard-nosed detective who only lives to get the collar. The French Connection grabbed five Oscars at the 1972 ceremony, including Best Picture, Best Director for Friedkin, Best Actor for Hackman, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ernest Tidyman, whose dialogue is sharp, quick, and textured by the streets in which these characters inhabit. It defined a style, it helped bring neorealism to America (see any parallels with this new style and the smuggling ring?), and announced new powers in the industry in both Friedkin and Hackman.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are in the “home stretch” of completing their first studio album since 2011’s I’m With You.
Anthony Keidis recently went on Joney’s Jukebox podcast to discuss the long-gestating album, which they will produce with Danger Mouse. The teaming with Danger Mouse marks the first time the Chili Peppers haven’t worked with Rick Rubin since Mother’s Milk back in the 80s.
Here’s a bit of what Kiedis said about Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and the progress of the album:
“We had written two dozen songs before we got with him [Burton]. [He] is like, ‘Let’s keep a few of those, but let’s go write all new songs in the studio.’ We’re looking at each other like, ‘Dude, we kind of already wrote the songs, bro.’ He’s like, ‘No, I like to write new ones in the studio.’ So, in honor of accommodating this new process, we wrote all new songs, and it’s a good thing we did.”
The Chili Peppers have been working on this album on and off, with a few delays along the way, since 2014. Last year, Kiedis said this was as good a Red hot Chili Peppers album as any they’d ever written. Flea also chimed in, saying the new tunes would be “super danceable.”
Until the album drops, the band will be headlining the Reading and Leeds Festival in the UK, and have booked a few more concerts and festivals for the summer months.
Though it may look like “The Perfect Storm Lite”, The Finest Hours actually has very little in common with that other, far more intense and engrossing drama based on a true story of maritime peril and tragedy.
It has its moments of intensity, and its story is built around an emotional trope that should resonate fairly well with audiences. But its narrative momentum lags in all the wrong places, resulting in a film that drags when it should be at its most gripping. It’s not a terrible film, by any means, but considering the story that inspires the film, one that’s hailed as one of the most heroic in the history of the United States Coast Guard, audiences may leave theaters thinking the Coast Guard deserved better.
What’s it About?
Set in February, 1952, The Finest Hours recounts the rescue of 32 crew members from the SS Pendleton, a 500-foot oil tanker that’s caught in the winds, waves, and rain of a powerful nor’easter pummeling the eastern seaboard. The ship literally splits in half, its bow sinking below the waves within minutes while its stern section remaining afloat thanks to the engineering of the ship’s ballasts and pumps. Faced with the fact that the radio and all the ship’s officers went down with the bow, the Pendleton’s soft-spoken but skilled chief engineer, Raymond Sybert (Casey Affleck, Gone Baby Gone), is forced to rally the remaining crew and find a way to keep the ship afloat in the storm until help arrives.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts, commanded by Warrant Officer Cluff (Eric Bana), works to mount a rescue of an second oil tanker out at sea, the SS Fort Mercer, also split in half by the ferocity of the storm. It’s only after the Guard’s best sailors have left to rescue the Fort Mercer that Cluff and his remaining staff discover the Pendleton’s plight.
Considering the dangerous conditions created by the storm combined with the area’s geography, sending help to the Pendleton looks like suicide. but it’s exactly what Cluff orders his one remaining boatswain, Bernie Webber (Chris Pine, Star Trek Into Darkness) to do: pick a crew, take his wooden CG36500 lifeboat through the storm and the waves out to the stricken tanker, and attempt a rescue. Bernie, who went to work that day thinking the most difficult thing he’d have to do is ask his commanding officer’s permission to marry his sweetheart, Miriam (Holliday Grainger), solemnly follows his orders and ventures out into the storm, with no one really expecting that he’ll return. Haunted by previous failure and dogged by the doubts of his own crew, Bernie resolves to do his duty and reach the Pendleton or die trying.
Score one for the underdogs
What makes The Finest Hours potentially a crowd pleaser is that it is an underdog story, maybe even more than it is a disaster film. The film is full of mismatches: the tiny, motorized lifeboat versus the nor’easter and the massive waves it creates; Bernie and his sense of duty versus the collective wisdom of Chatham’s more experienced seamen; Sybert versus the fear and doubts of his remaining crew about the Pendleton, as well as the elements; and even Miriam, who fights a battle of her own against expectations of the “proper” behavior of spouses and loved ones of Coast Guardsmen in that place and time.
In each case, it’s quiet determination that triumphs over brute strength and bluster, and there’s always something satisfying in seeing those kinds of stories play out on film for all but the most hardened and cynical of viewers. Credit Affleck and Pine (more so Affleck) and their committed performances here for making that triumph both credible and enjoyable. Are there clues as to how it all will play out in the end? Sure, but if you enjoy historical dramas like this, those clues should do little to diminish how much pleasure you’ll get from this film.
Are they there yet?
But for all the sterner stuff shown by the characters as they’re written in The Finest Hours, by the film’s final third it begins to sink under the weight of all it builds up in the early going. It’s matter of pacing and editing — as currently cut, it may feel to more impatient audiences as though they’ve been lost among the waves with Bernie and his crew for hours, or it may seem even more impossible that a tanker missing its entire front end could stay above those same waves for so long.
The choice to extend these sequences feels deliberate; after all, it’s about just how much all these brave souls both out at sea and back at home had to endure in the course of that horrible night off the coast of Cape Cod. But dragging it out also results in some of the more melodramatic subplots feeling even more forced. Does it all feel contrived and “Hollywood-ized”? No, but in that final third it definitely starts approaching that territory.
Worth seeing?
Again, because at its heart it’s an underdog story, it’s hard not like The Finest Hours on some basic level. There is also something to be said for seeing it in theaters, as the special effects work depicting the waves and the storm no doubt will be far more impressive in that medium than they might be on your home TV. So yes, assuming you don’t get seasick watching films about storms at sea and ships sinking, The Finest Hours may well be worth your box office dollar, especially if you don’t mind your movies being a bit predictable.
The Finest Hours
Starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz, Kyle Gallner, John Magaro and Eric Bana. Directed by Craig Gillespie.
Running Time: 117 minutes
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of peril.
The Green Room, Jeremy Saulnier’s latest directorial effort starring Patrick Stewart as a Neo-Nazi, has a new red band trailer:
And here is the synopsis:
GREEN ROOM is a brilliantly crafted and wickedly fun horror-thriller starring Patrick Stewart as a diabolical club owner who squares off against an unsuspecting but resilient young punk band. Down on their luck punk rockers The Ain’t Rights are finishing up a long and unsuccessful tour, and are about to call it quits when they get an unexpected booking at an isolated, run-down club deep in the backwoods of Oregon. What seems merely to be a third-rate gig escalates into something much more sinister when they witness an act of violence backstage that they weren’t meant to see. Now trapped backstage, they must face off against the club’s depraved owner, Darcy Banker (Stewart), a man who will do anything to protect the secrets of his nefarious enterprise. But while Darcy and his henchmen think the band will be easy to get rid of, The Ain’t Rights prove themselves much more cunning and capable than anyone expected, turning the tables on their unsuspecting captors and setting the stage for the ultimate life-or-death showdown. Intense, emotional, and ingeniously twisted, Green Room is genre filmmaking at its best and most original. Saulnier continues to build his reputation as one of the most exciting and distinctive directors working today, with a movie that’s completely different from his previous, highly acclaimed Blue Ruin, but which is just as risk-taking and even more full of twists. The entire cast deliver first-rate performances, but Patrick Stewart gives a transformative and brilliantly devious turn as Darcy-elegant yet lethal, droll yet terrifying, Stewart makes the film simply unforgettable.
Patrick Stewart is definitely the main draw here, but the cast surrounding him should not be overlooked. Anton Yeltsin is always solid, and Macon Blair teams up again with Saulnier after working with he director on Blue Ruin. The film will open in April, with a limited release the 15th and a wide release the 29th.
Marvel’s massive 2015 event Secret Wars finally came to a close on January 13, after numerous delays. Love it or hate it, the event was Earth shattering (pun intended), and required all titles to stop dead in their tracks. Now, in the aftermath, Earth-616 has returned to normal, and all of the publisher’s books started fresh, with new issue #1’s taking place eight months post-event.
Which of the new books are worth spending $3.99 on each month? Here are the best of Marvel’s All-New, All-Different campaign:
All-New Wolverine
What a sleeper hit this turned out to be.
The changing of the guard is a dicey game in comics, and there was absolutely no subtlety in this case. The creative team put Wolverine’s classic costume on his clone/daughter, Laura (X-23), and slapped the words All-New Wolverine on the cover. A lot could have gone wrong.
Perhaps the low expectations worked to this book’s advantage though. It’s got a lot going for it: action, humor, intrigue, and awesome cameos. It looks like Marvel is really trying to establish X-23 as a staple in the All-New Universe by having her rub elbows with classic characters and getting their seals of approval (which might be bad news to fans who were hoping for Logan’s speedy revival).
Everyone consulted for this list said that All-New Wolverine had to be on it. Between this solo title and her role in All-New X-Men, Laura is proving herself to be a worthy heir to Logan’s mantle.
Black Knight
Speaking of sleeper hits…
Who is Black Knight? Seriously, if the name sounds familiar, sound off in the comments and earn some major deep cut fan points.
Black Knight is another character that benefits from his anonymity; he has no where to go but up. Which is good, because the start of this series finds him at rock bottom. He’s trapped in Weirdworld, and has managed to earn himself the rank of ruler through less-than-reputable circumstances. On top of that, he’s slowly losing control of himself; the Ebony Blade he wields is taking over, driving him to do some dark deeds.
There is a lot more humor in this book than one would expect, which makes it all the more enjoyable. Holistically, this is a quick, easy, and fun read.
Similar to All-New Wolverine, Black Knight‘s lack of fame is aided by some early cameos by well known characters. No plot spoilers here, but writer Frank Tieri gives fans a better Deadpool than the current Deadpool solo book.
Captain America: Sam Wilson
Captain America: Sam Wilson may be the most important book Marvel is putting out right now.
Sam Wilson, the former Falcon, is still the new Captain America. But, whereas Steve Rodgers mostly kept his mouth shut about politics, Sam is a bit more outspoken. This forthright nature immediately puts him at odds with S.H.I.E.L.D., and Cap is on his own. Without government backing, the hero takes on villains that embody real-life issues, such as greedy corporations and illegal immigration.
This book is not about politics, or pushing a liberal agenda. It’s about doing the right thing. Sam doesn’t help people cross the border because he supports them; he helps them because he doesn’t think they should be murdered by people taking the law into their own hands. Author Nick Spencer is not preaching to his audience. He is simply reminding them what it means to be a hero.
Captain Marvel
This book had big shoes to fill. It follows the brilliant run by Kelly Sue DeConnick, where Carol Danvers first took on the mantle of Captain Marvel, a mantle that she will carry in the 2019 film.
Carol’s All-New, All-Different series is written by Agent Carter showrunners Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, and carries on many similar themes as the previous volume. Carol is once again leaving Earth, taking to the stars to find what else is out there for her. She is the new commander of the Alpha Flight Space Station, Earth’s latest “first line of defense.”
All of the Captain’s best qualities are showed off in just the first issue. She’s snarky, tough-as-nails, and funny-as-hell. The real highlight is watching her adjust to being an administrator after so long in the field. Butters and Fazekas look like they’re going to do a great job following DeConnick, continuing the best parts of her run, and forging their own ground.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange hits theaters this November, so the character was a lock to get a book all to himself.
This book is like an acid trip. It transports its audience into new, strange realms, and the art by Chris Bachalo is totally groovy. But the story is clean, and easily accessible for new readers trying to gain an understanding of the character before the film.
Magic is being removed from the various spheres of reality. Stephen leads a band of sorcerers, witches, and shamans to save their skins and maintain order in the universe.
Jason Aaron is known for more savage warrior books, like Wolverine, Southern Bastards, The Goddamned, and the three latest volumes of Thor. The world of magical spells seems to be uncharted territory for him, but this book is so good that it’s a non-issue. He did give Stephen a sweet battle axe though, for good measure.
Extraordinary X-Men
The X-Men’s mission has always been about protecting a world in which they are hated and feared. Now, they’re just trying to stave off extinction.
Mutants are dying (again)! The Inhuman Terrigen Mists are spreading across the globe, and are revealed to be extremely poisonous to Homo sapiens superior. Storm leads a team of heroes that includes Iceman, Magik, and Colossus in tracking down the world’s remaining mutants and proving them a haven
The story is good, but the real stand outs are young Jean Grey and Old Man Logan. Their relationship alone is worth the price of admission. Whereas Logan and Jean were always in a forced love triangle, the new age gap here makes for a more grandfather/granddaughter situation. It will be interesting to see how their personal experiences will influence the team members that are where they actually belong in the timeline.
Hercules
Hercules is a god, notorious for his debauched lifestyle of drinking and womanizing. But he wants to clean up his act, and become a better hero.
Creatures and monsters of the olden days are popping up in New York City, and Heracles charges to stop them. However, he quickly realizes that the old threats are not threats at all; they’re simple trying to survive. A mysterious force known as The Uprising Storm is in play, removing all remnants of the past.
Dan Abnett is writing an interesting story about a fringe character that’s finally getting his day in court. Herc makes for a great character study. He’s essentially a former rock star who has not responded well to his fall from grace. The most interesting aspect is how modernized he has actually become, even wielding a machine gun in the latest issue. How will his embrace of the contemporary affect his standing with The Uprising Storm?
Invincible Iron Man
Just as Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Invincible Iron Man kicked off the All-New, All-Different era.
Brian Michael Bendis is no artist, but he can write a good action/adventure book. This series is the comic book equivalent of a popcorn flick. Pop it open, turn off your brain, and enjoy a fun story.
The first arc had cameos galore. Mary Jane Watson is going to play a big role moving forward; Doctor Strange pops up a couple of times for hugely funny bits. Most importantly (and slap a mild spoiler alert on this), issue one has the first appearance of Victor Von Doom post-Secret Wars, and it’s under pretty unexpected circumstances.
Invincible Iron Man feels like the flagship book of All-New, All Different Marvel. Don’t miss out on the fun.
Karnak
Consider this: Karnak only has one issue out currently, and it made this list.
Karnak may be the most fascinating Inhuman character outside of Black Bolt. He’s a philosopher, which is interesting enough in a character. It adds a layer of depth to him, as he thinks and perceives things differently than most. The Inhumans need a philosopher in this new era. They are suddenly thrust into the spotlight, commingling with humans more than ever before, unsure of how to handle it.
Don’t be fooled; as smart as he may be, Karnak is fierce, as clearly demonstrated in the first issue. Inhumans are the new mutants, feared and hated by the world, and Karnak is not one to stand for that.
Warren Ellis is penning this one, which is really all the reason needed to pick it up.
The Mighty Thor
This is a pretty simple pick. One of the best books pre-Secret Wars proceeds to be one of the best books post-Secret Wars.
Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman continue the story of Jane Foster as Thor, and begin to answer all the questions leftover from the previous volume.
The Mighty Thor is glorious. It’s beautifully drawn, and incredibly written. The story is empowering, not just for women, but for everyone. Aaron is finally getting around to the War of the Realms that has been building in the background for quite some time, and it looks to be massive. Plus, his take on Odin as a tyrant is blood curdling.
Jane has settled into the role of Thor very nicely; readers don’t even seem to really miss the former wielder of Mjolinir. But, after a few issues, the question still remains: where is the Odinson?
Old Man Logan
Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven is a modern day classic. So, to see the character get his own Secret Wars tie-in was great for fans. Then, hearing that he was going to be introduced into the mainstream Marvel universe was pure bliss.
Logan wakes up naked and confused in Times Square, 2016. After going momentarily berserk, he begins to regain his bearings, and wonders how/why he’s been sent back to this time. He determines that he has a purpose: to stop the villain uprising that cost him his friends and family. He writes four names on his arm, and he’s not going to stop until he crosses off each one.
Jeff Lemire is also writing Extraordinary X-Men, which Old Man Logan also stars in, but this solo title has a much darker tone.
Welcome to Earth-616 Miles Morales, hope you survive the experience!
The Ultimate Universe was faring so poorly that Marvel literally destroyed it. The fact that they wrote in a loophole to bring Ultimate Spider-Man to the mainstream universe says a lot. Fans love Miles, and for good reason. He’s everything that made Peter Parker a great character before Dan Slott took over writing duties and soiled him.
Miles is flawed and confused, but so willing to learn and be a better hero. It’s going to be a lot of fun reading about him on Earth-616, and seeing him interact with other heroes. All-New All-Different Avengers has already shown a little of this, with Tony Stark taking the youngster under his wing, similar to how he used to interact with Peter. Spider-Man is probably going to be the old-school street-level Spidey book that fans are craving, while Peter is off globe-trotting in Amazing Spider-Man (ugh).
Brian Michael Bendis is a polarizing writer. However, when he’s in his wheelhouse, he can amaze. Miles, being a character that Bendis created, falls right in that wheelhouse.
Totally Awesome Hulk
Greg Pak writes an amazing Hulk story. He’s the mastermind behind Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, arguably two of the biggest Hulk stories ever, with the former being the strongest contender for a feature film adaptation. So, Totally Awesome Hulk got a huge boost in fan interest when Pak was announced as writer.
There’s a much larger comedic element with Amadeus Cho as Hulk, as opposed to Bruce Banner. It’s clear how much love Pak has for the character, having created Amadeus back in 2006 as a representation for himself (both Cho and Pak are Korean American). The author’s personality just shines through his writing in the most enjoyable way.
It’s not all fun and games though. Pak is known for the long game in his writing; there’s a good chance he’s planting the seeds for an intense story to come. Make sure to get in on the ground floor.
Uncanny Inhumans
This is the best team book by Marvel right now, bar none.
The company really seems to be investing in their Inhumans these days, essentially making them the new mutants. As mentioned earlier in this list, the start of the All-New, All-Different books came with a drastic drop in the mutant population due to the Inhuman Terrigen Mists. Now, one could assume that this is all in response to the supposed feud between Fox (who own mutant film rights) and Marvel Studios (who are using the Inhumans in Agents of S.H.I.EL.D. before giving them a feature film).
Regardless of the motivations behind it, The Uncanny Inhumans does not read as some cheap throwaway book designed to cash in on movies. It’s a well crafted character study by the impeccable Charles Soule and Steve McNiven, with plenty of action and adventure thrown in for good measure. It doesn’t fall prey to the normal pitfalls of team books either; each member gets focused on and developed. The story always leaves you wanting more; fans won’t be able to help but crave the next issue.
Also, Black Bolt confronting Johnny Storm about his relationship with Medusa is one of the greatest standalone moments of the short lived All-New, All-Different era.
The Vision
This is a book for the Ex Machina fan. Whereas Invincible Iron Man is a light action story, The Vision is a dense read, and a dive into the realm of existential sci-fi horror.
Tom King is writing an eerie, slow burn of a Vision story. It begins in media res; Vision has removed the emotional components of his programming, thus eliminating them as a distraction. Yet, he still strives to be normal. He has synthesized a family for himself, a wife and two teenage offspring, and they try to blend normally into suburbia. A Stepford Wives level of creep is felt throughout the tale. Everything seems too perfect to be true, but not all is as it seems, and things immediately begin to unravel.
The focus thus far has been more on Vision’s family than on the titular character himself, and it’s worked perfectly. The three struggle to adapt to society, finding normal human behavior strange and illogical. A striking moment comes in the first issue, when Vision tells his wife, “to assert as truth that which has no meaning is the core mission of humanity.”
Purpose is a core theme of this book, and what it means to be human. It may actually be hysterical, if it weren’t so chilling.
BONUS: Most Anticipated Series
Black Panther – April 2016
Fans lost their minds when Ta-Nehisi Coates was announced to pen the upcoming Black Panther series for Marvel. It will be the author’s first comic, but he’s fresh off winning the National Book Award for Nonfiction for his Between the World and Me.
Coates is known for his writing in the realm of cultural, social, and political issues, especially regarding race relations. This is exactly the spin that a Black Panther series needs. T’Challa was the first black superhero in mainstream American comics, and he’s African royalty. He deserves a book that will explore socio-political themes, and where he can be a champion of his people.
Black Panther’s own film is coming in 2018, so the company is probably going to invest in making this a solid read to get fans excited.
There are many more titles worth the money every month that unfortunately just couldn’t fit on this list. Astonishing Ant-Man is fun; Uncanny Avengers is action-packed; Weirdworld is…weird. What are you reading? Let us know in the comments!
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Suicide Squad is directed by Ayer and stars Will Smith as Deadshot, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Oscar winner Jared Leto as the Joker, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.The band of anti-heroes will be in theaters on August 5, 2016.
When it comes to the end credits, most movies just call it a day and don’t get very creative. Thankfully, there are exceptions that refuse to let the audience go until they have to make way for the next crowd to come into the theater. Here’s a list of a few of them, and be warned, there are spoilers.
1. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
In this moving, little sequence, Steve has reconnected with humanity and also with his faithful crew, all of them gathering ala Buckaroo Banzai to head out for another adventure, with the (apparent) ghost of Steve’s son watching over them. All to the tune of David Bowie’s “Queen Bitch.” This is followed by Seu Jorge giving his charming Portuguese acoustic cover of the song as the credits continue. You can get The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou right here.
2. Something Wild
Wes Anderson has gone on record saying that Jonathan Demme is one of his influences, and Life Aquatic’s end credits feel like one of the better examples. Right after Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith take off to properly begin their romance, Sister Carol’s Dottie takes a break from work to sing “Wild Thing” to the audience as the credits roll. It’s one of the most surprising, endearing ways to end a film, perfectly matched by the off-kilter credit design. There’s something about it that makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s a sincere happy ending, which is a rarity in movies. You can get Something Wildright here.
3. Super 8
When I watched Super 8 in the theater, there was one rarity I had never experienced, not even in other movies with end credits easter eggs: As soon as the title cards for “The Case” showed up on the side of the screen, the whole audience that was leaving quickly made their way back to their seats. In a movie filled with awe-inspiring and thrilling visuals and sequences, this was probably the best part. Anyone who’s ever been a kid and made a film surely got a kick out of it. You can get Super 8 right here.
4. American Ultra
We finally get to see the adventures of Apollo Ape in this colorful, gleefully violent and crazily animated sequence that also serves as something of an epilogue for the film, and perfectly sums up Mike and Phoebe’s relationship. It’s the perfect ending for this movie. You can get American Ultra right here.
5. Wall-E
Beautifully animated, paired with a sweet Peter Gabriel song, this sequence confirmed the movie’s message of hope and makes us look at our own world and appreciate just how lucky we are. You can get Wall-E right here.
6. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
One of the moments that took the audience most by surprise in this remake were the end credits, where suddenly we’re greeted by Jim Carroll singing “People Who Died” and video camera footage of Steve partying with sexy women on his yacht, and we get to see a bit of what happened to the main characters on their way to the island where they thought they’d be safe. So would they be? Nope. And the film leaves it to us to decide if they survived. It’s a perfect mix of dark humor, horror and surprise that made this one of the best horror remakes. You can get Dawn of the Dead right here.
7. Kill Bill Vol. 2
A lovely epilogue for Beatrix Kiddo and her daughter, paired with a final glimpse of the wide cast we’d come to know and love for the last four hours of Tarantino’s revenge saga. It’s a surprisingly sweet farewell to the audience from a violent, darkly humored and ultimately heartbreaking two-volume story. You can get Kill Bill Vol. 2 right here.
