Marvel Artist Mike Perkins Talks About His Venom Variant Cover

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February 15, 2018

Marvel Artist Mike Perkins Talks About His Venom Variant Cover

Venom is set to take over the Marvel Universe in March to celebrate the character’s 30th anniversary, and Marvel plans to highlight 20 key moments in the symbiote’s history with 20 variant covers.

One of the covers is by Iron Fist artist Mike Perkins, a homage to Incredible Hulk vs. Venom #1 from 1994, written by Peter David, with art and cover by Jim Craig.

We talked with Perkins to get beyond the gloss and the cardstock to get into the head of the artist.

MFR: What was the inspiration for your cover?

PERKINS: I was actually asked to illustrate a direct homage to a previous Hulk issue – that’s inspiring enough, right?! I’m always excited when I can fit a cover into my schedule. It’s a nice breather. A change, being as good as a rest.

MFR: The Venom suit has taken many forms over the past 30 years, why did you choose the early 90s version?

PERKINS: That’s the one on the original cover. I think there’s a whole bunch of Venom variant covers planned across the line of Marvel comics for that month so there’ll be different iterations of the character showcased. Besides, how could you refuse that really extended jawline?

MFR: Back in the day, what was your first impression of Venom?

PERKINS: I thought it was an interesting concept – the black costume coming to life…having a mind of its own…taking on another host. I must confess to being surprised myself as to its longevity! I guess it really DID take on a life of its own! Visually it’s stunning and can lead to great creativity in the hands of the artist – there’s definitely an allure to that.

MFR: Why do you think Venom has remained so popular?

PERKINS: I think the changes and developments of the character have kept him distinct and interesting. He’s not a one-note villain…and can even be somewhat of a hero if being controlled by a heroic host.

What do you think of the Venom Variants, do you have a favorite? Comment below.

Here is a list of all 20 Venom Variants:
1. ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #33 by DUSTIN WEAVER
2. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #798 by TERRY and RACHEL DODSON
3. AVENGERS #687 by JAMAL CAMPBELL
4. BLACK PANTHER #172 by GREG HORN
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA #700 by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY
6. DAREDEVIL #601 by RAMON PEREZ
7. DOCTOR STRANGE #388 by CHRIS STEVENS
8. INFINITY COUNTDOWN #2 by RON LIM
9. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #599 by AKCHO
10. MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #5 by DAVE JOHNSON
11. MIGHTY THOR #706 by MARK BAGLEY
12. NEW MUTANTS #2 by BENGAL
13. OLD MAN LOGAN #38 by GREG SMALLWOOD
14. PETER PARKER: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #303 by ROB LIEFELD
15. THANOS #18 by MIKE PERKINS
16. VENOM #164 by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
17. WEAPON H #2 by MIKE MAYHEW
18. X-MEN: BLUE #25 by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
19. X-MEN: GOLD #25 by TODD NAUCK
20. X-MEN: RED #3 by INHYUK LEE

Mike Perkins is an illustrator for Marvel Comics having worked on Captain America, Thor, and The X-Men. After wrapping up the 31 issues adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand he transitioned into illustrating Astonishing X-Men and has now re-launched Deathlok, Carnage and Iron Fist. He has been nominated numerous times for Eisner and Harvey Awards and, as well as winning the Eagle Award, counts being on the New York Times Bestseller list and being exhibited in Munich, London, and Paris amongst his career achievements. Check out his website mikeperkinsart.com

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Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK Bonus Features Overview

By

Matthew Sardo

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February 15, 2018

Marvel Studios waited till the third film to give you the best version of Thor, and since the first screening, we’ve all been waiting for the outtakes reel. Thor: Ragnarok hits the home theater Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™, and Movies Anywhere, on Feb. 20 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on March 6. Check out the bonus features below:

Blu-ray:

Director’s Introduction

Deleted/Extended Scenes – Deleted Scenes: The Sorcerer Supreme, Skurge Finds Heimdall & Hulk Chases Thor Through Sakaar and Extended Scenes: Thor Meets the Grandmaster, Stupid Avenger vs. Tiny Avenger & Grandmaster and Topaz

Gag Reel – Watch a collection of goofs, gaffes and pratfalls starring the cast

Exclusive Short/Team Darryl – Fresh off being unseated as the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster makes his way to Earth to start a new life. It’s been over a year since Thor left Australia and Darryl has been struggling to pay his rent. Now Darryl needs a new roommate to help make the monthly payments. Unfortunately for Darryl, the Grandmaster was the only one who answered Darryl’s “Roommate Needed” ad, and with no viable options, the Grandmaster moves in.

Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years – The Evolution of Heroes – Marvel’s universe is vast and transcends both time and space. We’ll examine the Cinematic Universe as a whole and revisit each of our heroes’ current location and their place in the current MCU timeline, as it all leads up to the one culminating event: “Avengers: Infinity War.”

Getting in Touch with Your Inner Thor – “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi has brought his unique sensibility and sense of humor to the film in a great many ways, but it is the evolution of Thor’s own sense of humor, which stands out the most in the new film. This piece explores the impact Chris Hemsworth has made on the development of his widely-loved character and celebrates the mighty cast and crew who reveal the fun and hard work that went into assembling Thor’s eccentric counterparts.

Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie – This piece explores the strong female characters in “Thor: Ragnarok,” their importance in the MCU, their incredible casting, and their epic comic origins.

Finding Korg – A tongue-in-cheek interview with Taika on casting Korg. He describes the difficult search for just the right evolution of the character design, and the nuances of this instantly classic character in the MCU. This conversation will also delve into all the extraordinary visual effects that brought Korg, Sakaar and the worlds of “Thor: Ragnarok” to life.

Sakaar: On the Edge of the Known and Unknown – Sakaar is the collection point for all lost and unloved things. This documentary will answer all known and unknown questions while also exploring the hard work and creativity that went into creating the look and feel of Sakaar. From design inspired by Jack Kirby’s classic artwork to the dedication of the visual development team to the awe-inspiring physical and digital production, you will see this distant world come alive.

Journey into Mystery – A deep dive story piece with the writers, director and producer Kevin Feige about the inspirations for “Thor: Ragnarok” within the comics. Most notably, the contest of champions limited series where the Grandmaster pitted our favorite heroes against one another as he does in the film. This piece also further explores Thor’s comic book origins and classic arcs through interviews with some of the most important comic creators, such as Walt Simonson and Jack Kirby.

8bit Scenes – Final Bridge Battle + Sakaar Spaceship Battle. Dive into these climactic sequences presented in retro video-game format.

Directors Commentary

Digital Exclusives:

Evolution of Thor and Hulk’s Bromance – We’ll examine this Super Hero friendship, which has spanned through several Marvel films. From their original Helicarrier fight match to the now iconic Hulk punch from Avengers 1, see how Marvel’s most powerful Super Heroes become the most extraordinary Super Hero buddies.

Additional Deleted Scenes – Travel to Asgard & Race To The Wormhole

Where do you rank Thor: Ragnarok among the greatest comic book films of all-time? Comment below.

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GAME OF THRONES Expands Into The Gaming World

By

Don Draper

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February 15, 2018

Game of Thrones is one of the most popular TV shows on the planet right now. In fact, it’s possibly the most popular show, and fans simply can’t get enough of the hit American fantasy drama due to the many memorable scenes. The show has been running now for close to 7 years, and in that time, there have been seven seasons produced. They’re currently filming the last ever series, and it’s set to be the biggest one yet.

With Game of Thrones being so popular with viewers, it’s expanded its horizons further than the TV screens and made impacts in other areas too. There’s been merchandise, but one area where Game of Thrones has really enjoyed success is the games industry. People have read about the characters and the plot-lines, they have seen them on television, but games allow audiences to actually experience Game of Thrones with a bit more of a hands-on approach.

First of all, there have been board games and these have been very well received. They allow players to take control of the houses of Westeros, playing with the original characters. There’s also been an updated version to the official board game that takes past events into consideration giving players an even more authentic experience.

As you’d expect there have been quite a few video and mobile games released too, with each one of them proving huge hits with fans and neutral gamers alike. The latest Game of Thrones game to hit the market is Game of Thrones: Conquest and this was released to both iOS and Android-based smartphones and tablets. There are also two games, Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms and Game of Thrones: Season Two, still yet to be released, with the latter likely to be available across all platforms.

Another area of gaming where Game of Thrones has enjoyed a lot of success is in the online casino world. Industry leaders Microgaming are behind the extremely popular Game of Thrones slot game that has 243 different ways for players to win. The game is played across five reels, with three rows and it sees players travel across both Westeros and Essos. There are some superb bonus features too which take the excitement levels up another notch, especially as there’s always a good chance that a player could walk away after winning big.

Another great aspect about Game of Thrones games is that during the break between it airing on TV after you’ve binged watched it again and again, you can still enjoy GOT in a more authentic way. Also, with the upcoming season being the very last one ever made, people will still want more Game of Thrones. The games allow that to be a reality.

We could even see further games released even after the TV show itself stops airing, with further titles hitting PC, console, mobile and online casinos. It would help the Game of Thrones name live on, and that would certainly please both GOT fans and gamers alike going forward.

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Review: WONDER WOMAN #40 Concludes Silver Swan’s Return

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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Wonder Woman abandons people.

Not really, but that is what the villain of this arc thinks. Vanessa Kapatelis was a young girl who ended up crippled after getting into a crossfire between Wonder Woman and a villain. As she recovered, Diana visited her every day until a surgery involving Nanites popped up. Vanessa was soon able to walk again, but Wonder Woman stopped visiting. Feeling betrayed, Vanessa used the Nanites from her surgery to become the villainess, Silver Swan. Diana goes in with her brother, Jason, to confront the former friend, but they all end up in a stalemate, falling from the sky wounded. Will Wonder Woman and Jason defeat this ghost from the past?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

After their fall, Diana and Jason pick themselves up and get to work trying to figure out where Silver Swan went. They are able to piece together that she would first go to the hospital where she was treated. Wonder Woman is informed by the staff that the Silver Swan had to use her Nanite-ridden blood to purge all files on her origin. With no other leads, the children of Zeus head home only to find the villain waiting there for their final battle.

If you can’t tell by the shortness of the paragraph above, the main plot of the story wraps up quickly and unceremoniously. Most of the issue feels more like a set-up for future storylines than a conclusion to this one. We get scenes of Darkseid’s forces fighting Steve Trevor, the return of Dr. Psycho, and Jason getting kidnapped by a dark force. This wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t jammed in at random.

If they were all at the end of the issue, it would be a nice haunting sign of things to come. Instead, two parts are forced into the middle of the Silver Swan fights. The battle against Darkseid doesn’t even get a conclusion! It has a two-page spread, then it’s never mentioned again. If one of these plots were removed, there would have been more time to have an emotionally impactful finale. This issue could have had all of this if it was stacked properly. Since it’s not, the issue is just a mess.

Art:

The art is still the selling point of this story arc. Emanuela Lupacchino and Carmen Carnero work together on the pencils and it looks amazing. Every page pulls you into this eye-catching world and doesn’t let you go. This is also in part of Romulo Fajardo jr.’s colors, that has the characters look colorful yet realistic. The team created art that could be breathtakingly beautiful and horrifyingly dark in the matter of a single page. It has such range and skill behind it, it’s a shame that it wasn’t paired with a better story.

Conclusion:

It’s sad to see a story with such a great opening fall so hard. While it’s beautiful to look at, most of the emotional connection of the book has faded away. Any of the pages that hinted at future stories could have easily been removed to make room for the emotional connection this story so desperately needed. The only positive I can really point out is the fantastic art, but even that isn’t enough to save the issue. This storyline flew so high at the start, but sadly swan dived before the climax even began.

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PORT OF EARTH Holding Its Government Accountable

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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Port Of Earth #4 came out this week from Image/Top Cow. The series is still figuring itself out, but providing top-notch sci-fi conversation and concepts along the way.

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

The horrific side of Earth’s deal with the Consortium is explored. There have been incidents in the past where aliens have found themselves on the outside of the port, and the results were gruesome. The government takes a particularly shady approach when the shit hits the fan. These interview clips have slowly and effectively shed more light on why the people of Earth are largely against the port.

We find out later that the ESA may actually be expanding the operation and adding a second port. The ESA is losing the public’s trust and grasp on the deteriorating situation with the Consortium. Writer Zack Kaplan plays at government leaks and shady dealings well. Today’s political landscape surely plays a role in why the story is so easy to get behind.

It seems like we’re trending towards the government losing control of its people as the situation continues to get worse. Perhaps what Kaplan will really give us is a fantasy world where the people are able to hold their leaders accountable. There are a couple of different directions this story could go in and they’re all intriguing.

Our two main characters are still rather bland. Everything about this world in concept and exploration has been stellar. The only thing missing is compelling characters at the center. When Rice loses his love interest, Emily, there’s little emotion felt in the pages and therefore the reader as well.

If Kaplan and company can inject some life into the cast, this series could reach a whole new level. The plot, this world being built, and the politics are laid out so well and full of detail. The only thing holding Port Of Earth back from being truly great is this lack of character.

The underwater sequence is a bit rough on the art side. It’s tough to tell what’s going on, or that we’re underwater in the first place outside of a few air bubbles. Port Of Earth utilizes a lot of gray and white in it’s art style. It gives the book an interesting visual appeal but doesn’t do it any favors underwater apparently.

Andrea Mutti and Vladimir Popov are a fine art team, even with this issue’s script limiting them to only a few locations. The more aliens and landscapes we get to see, the better. The page of horror scenes was fantastic.

There’s still plenty to explore and discover with the series, Port Of Earth is clearly still just scratching the surface. It may not be perfect, but there’s plenty to grab onto.

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Hasbro to Launch IRON MAN Hero Vision AR Experience

By

Michael Stagno

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February 14, 2018

Just as Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) began a now 10-year reign of superhero movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the billionaire hero will now be the first with his very own augmented reality toy, thanks to Hasbro.

It is still fairly new, but augmented reality will make huge strides in 2018, especially in the toy and gaming industries.

With that, Hasbro has unveiled its brand new Hero Vision Iron Man AR Experience. The toy comes with a helmet, accessories and is compatible with most smartphones. The kicker, it will only set you back $50, compared to Lenovo’s Star Wars AR Experience, which retails for $200.

This essentially puts kids (and most adults) into the driver seat as Tony Stark and launches you into superhero status. The process is quite simple as your phone slides into the headset and opens up a world of translucent images as it uses the camera to visualize the room. With an accessory that fits to your hand, you are given the ability to see your hand as one of Iron Man’s gauntlets, which is used to fight back against foes and collect ‘Infinity Gems’. Each gem will have special abilities that will allow you to mix and match your preferred levels and experiences.

There only exists one game mode at the moment. No news yet as to whether there will be updates to introduce new levels or characters, but you are tasked with protecting three towers against Thanos’ legion. The baddies come in waves, so the fighting is consistent, but it is definitely one of attrition. Your stint is up if the towers collapse.

Will Hasbro release other heroes in a possible ongoing series of ‘Hero Vision’ masks? How the Iron Man version sells will determine whether we see it, but we’d love to see a Black Panther or Spider-Man versions (hint-hint).

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HOW TO KEEP A MUMMY: Three Episode Report

By

Anthony Wendel

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February 14, 2018

Is How To Keep A Mummy adorable enough to watch or is it too cute for its own good? Welcome to three episode report. Here, an anime series from the new season is given three episodes to prove it is good enough for the audience to continue watching to the end. Today’s series up for the Pass/Fail report is How To Keep A Mummy.

Summary

Sora Kashiwagi always gets sent weird and dangerous creatures from his father’s expeditions. When a large coffin comes to his house, Sora fears the worst. When he opens it up, he finds a mummy so small it can fit in the palm of his hand. Naming it Mii-kun, Sora soon finds big things come in small packages.

Positive

The biggest advantage this series has is just how cute Mii-kun is. He’s an adorable little Mummy and this is before any of the other adorable creatures which will be introduced which have already been featured in the opening.

The comedy is also good at perfect level. Episodes are filled with little gags which help to keep the mood light and fluffy. No jokes seem forced and everything finds a way of blending together perfectly.

The opening and closing are very catchy. Especially the ending which features a very elaborate dance number. It won’t be surprising to see more extreme fans of this series performing the full dance on YouTube in the future.

Negative

This is not exactly the most essential anime to in terms of content. There are no epic stakes or character development which will be present. There is also a pretty good chance Mii-kun will not unlock some hidden power in the future, become an ancient pharaoh of immense strength, and engaged in battle with a dark force. It’s banking on you wanting to enjoy something cute but if you are looking for more you are going to have to search elsewhere.

Grade

This series PASSES with flying colors. A cute little show which is the perfect thing to start the first anime season of 2017. Fun if you catch it but you won’t be out of luck if you let it slip through your fingers. If you like cute shows this one is perfect for you.

How To Keep A Mummy is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Team USA Sporting MARVEL-Inspired Unis at Winter Olympics

By

Michael Stagno

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February 14, 2018

The Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, are incredibly exciting this year. A lot of the top stories are coming by way of Team USA, which recently tallied its 100th all-time medal in the world games.

The other reason why there is a lot of excitement, the uniforms. That’s right, members of the US Olympic Ski and Snowboard Team have been competing in uniforms inspired by both Captain America and Captain Marvel.

If there is a group of people on this planet that possess superpowers, it is Olympic skiers. They are literally flying through the air, zipping down mountains and pulling off death-defying tricks. So, it would make sense as to why official team supplier, Spyder, would team with Marvel.

The Marvel-inspired uniforms actually debuted at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, last year, but are drawing significantly more attention at the Winter Olympics this year as the event draws more in viewership.

The Olympics began on Wednesday, Feb. 7, with the Alpine Skiing event having taken place on Monday, Feb. 12, but the games run through Sunday, Feb. 25, so there is still plenty of time to see some high-flying awesomeness!

Make sure to tune in to see the superheroes in action! Stay updated with the official schedule and results HERE and you can track all the medals won HERE.

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VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER Season 5 Trailer

By

Matthew Sardo

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February 14, 2018

Netflix and Dreamworks released the first trailer for Season 5 of Voltron Legendary Defender, Wednesday afternoon.

Season 5 will debut on Netflix Friday, March 2nd with six all-new episodes. Watch the trailer below.

About Season 5 of Voltron Legendary Defender:
Shocked by Prince Lotor coming to their rescue in the fight against the evil witch Haggar, the Paladins struggle with whether or not they can really trust him. Though suspicious, Team Voltron is able to liberate more rebels with the aid of Lotor’s intel. Just as things start to look hopeful, Zarkon strikes, resulting in a shocking chain of events.

Are you a fan of Voltron? Is this the best-animated show on television? Comment below.

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Top 5 Actresses Who Could Play KITTY PRYDE

By

Kimberly Cook

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February 14, 2018

With the news dropping of Brian Michael Bendis and Tim Miller pairing up to develop a Kitty Pryde solo film, let’s make some predictions on who could be cast in the titular role.

5ANNA KENDRICK

Anna Kendrick already made it clear that she’s ready to star in her own comic book feature, as she expressed extreme interest in the role of Squirrel Girl. However, that role has already been filled by Stranger Things‘ Shannon Purser. Could Kitty Pryde be her chance to join the X-Men on the big screen?

Kendrick has proven that she can play a variety of roles. She’s done teen angst, dramedies, musicals, and voiced animated characters. She’s also demonstrated that she can carry a lead role in the success of Pitch Perfect, which was a sleeper hit, even though its sequels went downhill.

4ALEXIS BLEDEL

Let us not forget that our sweet, smart “Rory Gilmore” once kicked some ass in the neo-noir crime thriller Sin City. Alexis Bledel played a gun-wielding prostitute, which is a far cry from the role with which she became a household name for in Gilmore Girls.

She’s currently on the Hulu series The Handmaidens Tale and was confirmed as a cast regular for the show’s second season.

3HAILEE STEINFELD

Multitalented Hailee Steinfeld broke into Hollywood at the age of 13 with her Oscar-nominated role in True Grit, and she hasn’t looked back. Her role in the Pitch Perfect series also helped boost her music career, which has landed her as high as #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for her song “Starving.”

Steinfeld is currently filming the Transformers prequel film Bumblebee: The Movie, which is set to be released in late 2018. Perhaps she can get some battle tips from movie costar John Cena.

2KAREN GILLAN

Karen Gillan is no stranger to the Marvel movie world. She’s “Nebula” in Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, and will soon appear in Avengers: Infinity War. She’s also still reeling from the success of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Marvel is notorious for using the same actors as different characters. Josh Brolin, Ryan Reynolds, and Chris Evans have all appeared in different Marvel worlds, and it doesn’t deter from their film presence. With “Nebula’s” extensive makeup, most moviegoers would never realize that they’re seeing the same actress in a new Marvel role.

1EMILY KINNEY

After her character’s death on The Walking Dead, Emily Kinney continued to be a powerhouse on comic book television with guest roles on both Flash and Arrow.

As “Beth” on The Walking Dead, she stepped up when she needed to. She took care of her injured father, she tended to newborn “Judith,” and handled a machine gun like it was nothing. She can hold her own, and that’s what Kitty Pryde will need to do in this film.

Honorable Mention: ROWAN BLANCHARD

Rowan Blanchard

If the Kitty Pryde film will stay true to the story from issue 143, as the working title suggests, Pryde should only be about 15 years old. A young actress may have a tough time spearheading a role of this magnitude, so I doubt they’ll cast someone so young. But, if they do, Rowan Blanchard would be my pick.

Girl Meets World’s “Riley Matthews” was a character that was coming into her own, much like the actress was doing in real life. She’s a public activist for feminism, gender equality, and human rights. With that kind of confidence, it may be time for her to join the superhero world.

Who would you like to see cast as Kitty Pryde? Do you agree with my choices? Let me know!

Blu-ray:

Digital Exclusives:

Wonder Woman abandons people.

Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

Summary

Positive

Negative

Grade

5ANNA KENDRICK

4ALEXIS BLEDEL

3HAILEE STEINFELD

2KAREN GILLAN

1EMILY KINNEY

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD