Marvel is known for its bold storytelling, with a mix of big blockbuster events and grounded, personal affairs. The publisher knows how to keep readers on their toes, while also teasing what it has in the pipeline. A special one-shot to close out the year has foreshadowed the following year’s biggest storylines, and the latest version came in Timeslide #1. The team up featuring the X-Men time travelers Cable and Bishop gave glimpses at what’s in store for 2026, but there was one scene that laid out what’s to come.

Cable and Bishop encountered Bronze, one of the new mutants Kitty Pryde is training in Exceptional X-Men. Bronze showed Cable and Bishop a list of events that have already occured in her timeline, but have yet to take place in theirs. The list is long, but it teases many of the storylines that will presumably take place in various books throughout 2025.

[RELATED: Wolverine #400: Marvel Teases Surprise Return From Logan’s Past in Milestone Issue]

We’ve done the dirty work for you and pulled ten of the events teased in Timeslide #1 that Marvel fans will want to pay attention to this year. They range from new status quos for Doctor Doom and Danny Rand’s Iron Fist, to the return of old villains and new threats rising to the surface. Make sure to let us know your thoughts as you make your way through the list, and let us know which ones you’re most excited about reading.

Strange of Asgard

Doctor Strange undergoes an identity crisis after losing the title of Sorcerer Supreme to Doctor Doom. Fans have wondered what will come of Stephen Strange, but Marvel revealed the mystical hero will head to the magical world of Asgard in a new ongoing series. Doctor Strange of Asgard is by writer Derek Landy and artist Carlos Magno, and finds Doctor Strange attempting to become the Sorcerer Supreme of Asgard.

Strange will become embroiled in a deadly power struggle and murder mystery that will bring him into conflict with Loki, Thor, and the other sorcerers of the Golden Realm. Marvel promises that long-hidden secrets of Asgardian myth will be uncovered in the series.

The Time of Strife

At first glance, this prognostication doesn’t offer many clues, but fans may have gotten an answer in the first issue of Deadpool/Wolverine. The mystery X-Men villain that writer Benjamin Percy had been teasing to make a comeback turned out to be Stryfe, Cable’s evil clone. Stryfe manipulates Deadpool throughout the debut issue, and the comic also alludes to Stryfe having a part to play in Deadpool and Wolverine’s past.

Fans got a primer on Cable’s history in the first season of X-Men ’97, as the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (Jean Grey’s clone) got sent to the future so he could get treatment for the techno-organic virus ravaging his body. After the hit success of Deadpool & Wolverine, the team-up comic that brings the two X-Men characters together against the time-traveling villain will be a can’t-miss title.

Beware the Spider-Verse

The name of this teaser is partially blocked in Timeslide #1, but we’re going to assume it’s referring to the Spider-Verse and its upcoming war with the Venomverse. Marvel’s multiverse has exploded in recent years in titles like Edge of Spider-Verse and Venomverse Reborn. That trend will continue in Web of Spider-Verse: New Blood and Web of Venomverse: Fresh Brains, all leading up to the event series Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse.

Web of Spider-Verse: New Blood and Web of Venomverse: Fresh Brains will continue to introduce new Spider characters and Lethal Protectors as the guardians of the Web of Life and Destiny collide with the Symbiote Hive-Mind.

The Ghost Fist Walks

Danny Rand died in Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1, but his resurrection was already hinted at thanks to a QR-coded bonus scene. After having his arm and leg cut off and killed by the blade-handed assassin Razor Fist — possessed by the mystical creature named Ch’i-Lin — a skeletal hand burst through Rand’s gravesite, alluding that the Immortal Iron First would rise again.

What form Danny Rand takes upon his resurrection remains to be seen. Will he be a new Spirit of Vengeance a la Ghost Rider, or instead of being the Iron Fist, will he simply be called the Ghost Fist?

Ms. Marvel – Second Genesis

In X-Men lore, “Second Genesis” refers to Professor X’s second team of X-Men with fan favorites like Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus. What it means for Ms. Marvel is a mystery for now, though there are some guesses we can take. Similar to Cyclops, could we see Ms. Marvel leading a new team of X-Men after another team disbands? Ms. Marvel is already the lead in NYX, but perhaps a Second Genesis title replaces that one.

There’s also the possibility that Ms. Marvel experiences a second mutation of some kind. The conclusion of Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant teased changes to her powers, as her mutant powers never manifested because of her exposure to the Inhuman Terrigen Mist. “Second Genesis” may see those mutant powers explode.

The Will of Doom

At the beginning of the year, we will see the Marvel Universe under the reign of Doctor Doom in “One World Under Doom.” But what does the latter half of the year hold for Marvel fans? We may find out in “The Will of Doom.”

[RELATED: Marvel’s Next Generation of Heroes Just Went on a Major Recruiting Drive]

“One World Under Doom” has to conclude at some point, and it’s not like things will simply go back to the way they were before Doctor Doom stole the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Doom has plans on top of plans, and if Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are somehow able to get the upper hand, he will surely enact them. “The Will of Doom” could become the next act in Marvel’s Doctor Doom resurgence.

XVX

We’ve had Avengers vs. X-Men and Inhumans vs. X-Men, but now we’re apparently getting XVX. You would have thought that’s what the X-Men event “Raid on Graymalkin” is about, but that might be the prelude to an even bigger X-Men civil war coming down the line. Heroes fighting heroes has always been a money-making recipe, so it’s not a surprise to see a tease for another throwdown on the horizon.

We know X-Manhunt is coming in March, and it finds Charles Xavier on the run as the most dangerous mutant in the world. Again the X-Men will have to choose a side, whether it’s in favor of their former mentor, or against him for his crimes against mutant-kind at the end of the Krakoan era.

Galactic Leaders Assassinated

One of the more mysterious entries deals with the assassination of galactic leaders. There are several leaders of galactic nations, including Emperor Hulkling ruling over the combined Kree and Skrull races. If the leaders of these different empires are killed, it could send the galaxy into chaos. The cosmic side of the Marvel Universe continues to grow and expand, and an event like this will only help to raise its profile.

Marvel has teased a new secret project from Jonathan Hickman with the title Imperial. Galactic leaders are very similar to imperials, meaning this may be the project Jonathan Hickman is working on. “Nature abhors a vacuum” is another clue that points to a galactic assassination. If these leaders were truly killed, then that would leave a vacuum of power open for opportunists to exploit. The only question is who are the executioners and who are the assassinated?

Ultimate Incursion

Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe was one of the highlights of 2024, and as we move on to Year 2 it appears that a crossover of some form is upon us. Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch kicked off the Ultimate Universe 2.0 in Ultimate Invasion, and soon we’ll have Ultimate Incursion.

Hickman introduced readers to incursions in the lead-up to 2015’s Secret Wars, with different worlds colliding and destroying themselves. We’ve also had incursions name-dropped in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as the Multiverse Saga plays out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ultimate Incursion could be a crossover between the Ultimate Universe and the Earth-616 universe.

One World Under Doom

It’s all about Doctor Doom in 2025. Robert Downey Jr. is portraying Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and Doctor Doom is now the Sorcerer Supreme of the Marvel Universe. “One World Under Doom” is the first big publishing event of the year, and there will be several tie-ins and limited series spinning out of the storyline. There is also a One World Under Doom title that finds Marvel’s heroes responding to Doctor Doom declaring himself Emperor Doom.

ComicBook spoke to One World Under Doom writer Ryan North to find out all the details, including Doom’s opening salvo and some of the big confrontations to come, such as Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four, and the one character Doom turns to for advice.

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Nearly two decades after Faran Tahir terrorized Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in 2008’s Iron Man as Raza, leader of the Afghanistan-based sect of the Ten Rings, the actor is set to reprise his role in Marvel Studios’ Vision series at Disney+. The Iron Man and Star Trek alum is the latest actor to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Paul Bettany-led WandaVision spinoff series, which has reportedly cast James Spader as the A.I. villain he played in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Deadline first reported the news.

Tahir appeared just once in the MCU, although he was mentioned by Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), a.k.a. the Mandarin, in a deleted scene from 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In Iron Man, Raza kidnapped Stark to force him to build a Jericho missile — setting the industrialist on the path to becoming an armored avenger — before he was dispatched, albeit off-screen, by Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges).

RELATED: MCU Schedule: Every Marvel Studios Movie and TV Show Release Date in 2025 and Beyond

Terry Matalas (Star Trek: Picard) is head writer and showrunner of the as-yet-untitled Vision series, the latest from a post-Endgame corner of the MCU that has expanded with 2021’s WandaVision and 2024’s Agatha All Along.

Bettany voiced Stark’s A.I. J.A.R.V.I.S. in the Iron Man trilogy before Spader’s rogue robot Ultron built him his synthezoid body in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Powered by the Mind Stone, Vision joined the Avengers and served with Earth’s mightiest heroes in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War until his death at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War.

A resurrected Vision returned in WandaVision, brought back by his grieving wife Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) magic after S.W.O.R.D. dismantled and rebuilt the “most sophisticated, sentient weapon ever made.” As the all-white Vision, the new version had a programming directive to destroy the “true Vision,” only for his memories to be restored before flying away from Westview.

What Is Marvel’s Vision Quest?

Plot details remain under wraps, but the series is expected to pull from Vision Quest, a story line spanning issues of West Coast Avengers in the 1980s. After the Vision tapped into every computer system on the planet and seized control of America’s nuclear arsenal, the world’s government security agencies formed Vigilance: a multi-national venture to keep a “watchful eye” on the synthetic android.

The Scarlet Witch learned that Vigilance scientists dismantled her robot husband and wiped his memory to erase data he might have uncovered from the world’s security networks, leaving him an all-white blank slate. (This was adapted into the MCU after the events of Avengers: Endgame.) The Avengers sought the help of Vision’s “grandfather,” Hank Pym, to restore the Vision, only to learn that Vigilance erased Vision’s back-up memory on file. Pym eventually uploaded data tapes into the synthezoid’s memory to reprogram the rebooted Vision, but without the emotional connection to that information.

Marvel Studios’ Vision series is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

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With great power comes great relaunchability. Marvel’s previously announced relaunch of The Amazing Spider-Man may have a new #1 (on sale April 9), a new volume number (Vol. 7), and a new artist (X-Men and Blood Hunt‘s Pepe Larraz), but it’s more of a renumbering than a restart. Not only will this new era feature some of Spider-Man’s classic enemies — alongside one Spider-Villain “we haven’t seen in over seven years” — but it will be written by former Spider-Man/Deadpool writer and current Amazing Spider-Man scribe Joe Kelly, with art by Larraz and John Romita Jr. (best known for legendary runs on Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1, the J. Michael Straczynski-penned Vol. 2, and 2022’s relaunched Vol. 6 under Zeb Wells).

In addition to a villain-filled wraparound cover by Larraz, 2025’s Amazing Spider-Man #1 will mark Eisner-nominated artist Simone Di Meo’s return to Marvel following his runs on DC’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Batman and Robin. The just-revealed variant cover by Di Meo, below, comes over five years after his work on issues of Immortal Hulk: The Best Defense, Old Man Logan Annual, Venom Annual, and Champions.

The debut issue will also feature variant covers by Ryan Stegman (X-Men and Superior Spider-Man Returns), Lee Bermejo (Daredevil and Winter Soldier), and the late Gil Kane, who penciled 1971’s Amazing Spider-Man #101 (the first appearance of Morbius) and the classic “The Night Gwen Stacy Died” arc spanning 1973’s Amazing Spider-Man #121-122.

A synopsis states, “The new run finds Peter Parker without a job and looking for gainful employment, but his job search is interrupted by a rampaging Rhino who is but the tip of a sinister iceberg. What major Spider-Villain is working behind the scenes weaponizing other Spider-Villains including one we haven’t seen in OVER SEVEN YEARS?! Also, what is that Goblin-free Norman Osborn up to these days?”

Amazing Spider-Man #1 wraparound cover by Pepe Larraz

Might that secret Spider-Villain be Mendel Stromm, a.k.a. Robot Master? Once the pre-Green Goblin Norman Osborn’s business partner before he became a cyborg supervillain, Stromm has been known to back other villains before his apparent death back in 2018’s Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 5) #5… seven years ago.

“Even though this is a new #1, I don’t think of it as a ‘restart’ per se,” Kelly told Polygon about the relaunch. “I’m writing the next chapter of the story of one the world’s greatest characters, lucky enough to follow in the footsteps of the folks before me. After that sinks in, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I love about Spider-Man and his cast, what stories resonated with me at different times of my life, and how I can synthesize all of that into something that works with what came before but breaks new ground.”

Kelly continued, “I’m fascinated by the internal lives of these characters and exploring new territory there — Peter’s youth is interesting, for example, the days before he was ‘puny Parker’ in high school. At the same time, I feel a drive to take bold, unexpected swings in order to see how Spider-Man deals with Marvel-sized curve balls. Pressure makes diamonds.”

Amazing Spider-Man #1: Ryan Stegman Variant Cover

Amazing Spider-Man #1: Lee Bermejo Variant Cover

Amazing Spider-Man #1: Hidden Gem Variant Cover by Gil Kane

The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 7) #1 goes on sale April 9 from Marvel Comics.

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Season One of Marvel Rivals has officially begun, with players digging into Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, the most recent additions to the superhero roster. With the Human Torch and The Thing releasing in late February, many fans are wondering when we will see even more characters make their debut in the free-to-play shooter. As players may know, there have been many leaks regarding the next batch of characters to assemble into the Marvel title, with names such as Cyclops, Professor X, Jean Grey, and Blade swirling around the internet. The wait for these superheroes won’t be long, as Marvel Rivals director Guangyun Chen has addressed the game’s planned character release schedule.

The excitement surrounding Marvel Rivals characters began with the debut trailer for the game, and continued until launch when the likes of Squirrel Girl, Iron Fist, Black Window, Cloak & Dagger, and Wolverine were revealed. Players got to witness the release of two characters simultaneously with the launch of Season One and will apparently get that chance again in February. While a massive amount of characters have already been announced, NetEase Games isn’t looking to stop the momentum.

Marvel Rivals Will Add a New Hero Every Half a Season

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Leak Reveals More Playable Characters Coming Soon

According to an interview with Metro UK, Che opened up about the plannyed three-month seasons and addressed the rollout of new content, including heroes. He revealed: “Every season we’ll be rolling out fresh seasonal stories, new maps, and new heroes. We’ll actually be breaking down each season into two halves. The length of one season is three months. And for each half of the season, we will introduce a new hero. We just eventually want to continue to enhance the experience, and keep everyone excited in our community.”

With confirmation that there will be two characters released in one season, this means that players will be introduced to a new character every 90 days in Marvel Rivals. From a macro-view, this also means that Marvel Rivals will release eight new characters every year, which is already more than Overwatch 2’s schedule of one new hero every other season. In terms of this year, given we’re getting four characters in one season, 2025 could see 10 superheroes added to the game. That in mind, the roster will jump to 43 characters by the end of the year. 

NetEase has been open about their continuous work on Marvel Rivals, as they have taken all the feedback given by players and addressed it when necessary. Chen’s comment on keeping everyone in the community excited about the game reassures players that there will be no shortage of new content to dig into every month.

Chen also spoke about the seasonal updates with team-ups and new heroes, adding: “Looking ahead as we move on to seasonal updates, we’ll be introducing new heroes and will also be refreshing the team-ups every season. That includes adding new team-ups, as well as breaking down and reshaping the existing ones to keep the experience dynamic and engaging for everyone.”

The dedication of the Marvel Rivals team has been comforting to a lot of fans, as the support for the game hasn’t died down since its release. According to SteamDB, Marvel Rivals has more players jumping into the game than it did on release, with about 500,000 playing the new season.

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Prepare to see Wakanda through new eyes. Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda, an animated Black Panther spinoff series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is a globe-trotting, centuries-spanning adventure about the Hatut Zeraze: “Like Wakanda’s CIA,” says producer Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, in a Marvel Animation 2025 Preview. While the series is executive produced by Ryan Coogler, director of 2018’s Black Panther and 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the series (premiering Aug. 6) is a story that could be told only in the medium of animation.

“Animation is the ultimate equalizer of locations,” series creator and showrunner Todd Harris explained. “Egypt costs just as much as New York City, and the moon costs just as much as Ohio. Filming around the globe has inherent limitations that we just don’t have in animation. That freedom allowed us to reimagine an idealized version of an era that’’s unaffected by human history.”

RELATED: Marvel’s Gold Tiger: New Wakandan Superhero Is Based on Unused Black Panther Design

The four-episode event series recounts the epic adventures of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history who carried out dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts from the enemies of Wakanda. Warriors like the gold-adorned Lion (voiced by Black Lightning‘s Cress Williams).

The Hatut Zeraze “often have to venture out to regain stolen Vibranium, but they also have to keep secrets well-hidden so that Wakanda can ward off invaders and stay safe,” Winderbaum said. “The Hatut Zaraze are challenged in different ways to stay loyal to Wakanda as they discover the rest of the world around them.”

Harris, a storyboard artist whose credits include both Black Panther films and Marvel Animation’s What If…?, directs and serves as executive producer with Winderbaum (X-Men ’97), Kevin Feige (Deadpool & Wolverine), Louis D’Esposito (Agatha All Along), and Proximity Media’s Zinzi Coogler (Judas and the Black Messiah), Sev Ohanian (Anthem), Kalia King (Sheba), and Coogler (Ironheart).

“This has been a long time coming,” Harris said. “The story has been stewing for a long time in my head. I’m a big believer in what Wakanda represents to mankind as a place that’s untethered by expansion. It has drawn a line — a line it won’t cross and it won’t let anybody else cross.”

Eyes of Wakanda — featuring the voices of Winnie Harlow (Grown-ish), Patricia Belcher (The Villains of Valley View), Larry Herron (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2), Adam Gold (Hogwarts Legacy), Lynn Whitfield (The Chi), Jacques Colimon (Fright Krewe), Jona Xiao (The Flash), Isaac Robinson-Smith (X-Men ’97), Gary Anthony Williams (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Zeke Alton (Batman: Arkham Shadow), Steve Toussaint (House of the Dragon), and Anika Noni Rose (Mufasa: The Lion King) — is streaming August 6 on Disney+.

The post Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda Showrunner Explains Why the Black Panther Prequel Series Is Animated appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Rivals has exploded in popularity, becoming one of the hottest and most played multiplayer games. It draws players in with its fantastic roster of Marvel heroes and villains, as well as its engaging hero shooter gameplay. Marvel Rivals is available on most platforms, including PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, and features controls for controllers and mouse and keyboard. However, some players have found a workaround on console that seemingly gives them an advantage. But those interested in using the tech should watch out, as Marvel Rivals developer NetEase has promised to come after anyone using the exploit, and it means business.

The exploit in question is using a keyboard and mouse adapter on console. What this does is combine the high sensitivity and precision of a mouse with the aim assist of a controller. Combining the two gives players an unfair advantage thanks to the controller inputs harnessing the aim-assist with the speed of a mouse.

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Leak Reveals Professor X, Cyclops, and More Characters Coming to the Game

NetEase has specifically mentioned several types of adapters, including XIM series, Cronus Zen series, Titan Two series, KeyMander series, and Brook Sniper series. It also stated it would target those not listed as well, citing “Any device enabling keyboard and mouse emulation of controller inputs, even if not explicitly listed, will be considered a keyboard and mouse adapter.”

Those caught using such a device face several consequences, including, “temporary or permanent account suspensions, removal from leaderboards, or other punishments depending on the circumstances.” The permanent ban is the penalty most focused on, as NetEase has not been shy about banning players in the past, though it has been understanding for false bans.

NetEase Games is strict about violating any of its rules for Marvel Rivals. The studio wants to ensure a fair and fun environment for all its players. This means ensuring there is a level playing field and all players have equal opportunities. Any other form of cheating or exploiting the game will be similarly punished. Marvel Rivals has also been quick to remove offensive mods as well. It is likely NetEase will continue monitoring Marvel Rivals for further exploits players discover.

This news follows the recent addition of Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Woman in season 1 of Marvel Rivals. There has never been a better time to jump into Marvel Rivals, and its popularity has soared, especially for strategist players. The Invisible Woman has been a huge hit with many players instalocking her as a soon as a match starts.

Leakers have been hard at work trying to uncover what is coming, which may be new a PvE game mode, costumes, and various incoming characters. The leaks may or not be true, but fans have a lot to look forward to with Marvel Rivals. But regardless of what content is added, players should make sure to play fairly and avoid any form of cheating, hacking, or exploits.

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One fan has taken it upon themselves to include Logan’s mask in his epic fight scene against Wade Wilson in Deadpool & Wolverine. There were many exciting moments in the third Deadpool movie that brought Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine, while also welcoming the duo into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One moment that stood out featured a fight between Deadpool and Wolverine, but in the movie Logan had yet to dawn his iconic mask. However, a creative fan took care of that by digitally inserting the mask on top of Jackman’s head as Adamantium claws slashed and swords stabbed away.

Taran Singh, a VFX supervisor and generalist, shared his fan-edited video on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “And here it is folks! DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE FIGHT MASK EDITION! This one was challenging but I’m glad how it turned out! #DeadpoolAndWolverine” To borrow a phrase from Deadpool, Singh gave the people what they wanted, as Wolverine’s mask is seamlessly integrated into the film. It had to take a lot of hours to make an edit like this, and Singh even shared a higher quality version on their YouTube account.

[RELATED: Ryan Reynolds Makes the Case for Deadpool & Wolverine Oscar Nominations]

Rob Liefeld comments on Cable being left out of Deadpool & Wolverine

Rob Liefeld, the comic book creator of Deadpool and Cable, had some choice words for Cable being left out of Deadpool & Wolverine. Josh Brolin portrayed Cable in Deadpool 2, and the assumption is Cable, along with Domino, would return for the sequel. However, with Wolverine taking center stage, it seems Marvel decided to keep the focus on the two leading men. Liefeld, ever outspoken, disagreed with that choice.

Famed fan artists Bosslogic shared concept art of Josh Brolin as the DC villain Darkseid. When one fan seemed intrigued by the prospect of the DCU snatching Brolin from the MCU, Rob Liefeld had this to say:

“Shouldn’t have blocked him from Deadpool & Wolverine. All time boner move.”

[RELATED: Marvel Reveals First Look at Deadpool and Wolverine’s Next Team-Up]

Even before the film’s release, Brolin jokingly(?) indicated that he felt some kind of way about being left out of Deadpool & Wolverine, explaining to Collider that it was, “Because Ryan [Reynolds] doesn’t like me? I don’t think that’s the reason. I don’t know. Maybe.”

In a different interview with Bingeworthy TV, Brolin said, “I so wanted to be in that movie,” when it came to Deadpool & Wolverine. Still, there are a lot of MCU fans who truly believe that Brolin’s Cable could (will?) show up again in event-level projects like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, providing yet another crucial bridge between the old Fox X-Men Universe and whatever X-Men reboot Marvel Studios has in the works. Brolin’s Marvel movie opportunities are far from over.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now available to stream on Disney+.

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Captain America: Brave New World is arriving in theaters with a very unexpected record to its name. The upcoming fourth installment of Marvel Studios’ Captain America franchise, Brave New World, also stands as the Captain America movie with the shortest run time. By comparison, its three predecessors carried more standard run times expected of modern superhero movies.

Per Discussing Film, Captain America: Brave New World carries a run time of one hour and 58 minutes, or 118 minutes. By comparison, 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger was released with a run time of 124 minutes, with its 2014 follow-up Captain America: The Winter Soldier having a run time of 136 minutes. Additionally, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War is the longest of the four Captain America films, with a run time of 147 minutes.

Anthony Mackie previously returned as Sam Wilson in the 2021 Disney + series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which continued Sam’s arc from the ending of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. That movie saw the now-elderly Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) formally step down as Captain America (after time-traveling with the Infinity Stones to live the full life he previously missed out on during his frozen stasis), with Steve passing his Vibranium shield onto his trusted ally Sam. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier acted as its own Captain America origin story for Sam, with Brave New World set to be his first full story as Captain America.

RELATED: Captain America: Brave New World – Who Is the Villain?

Brave New World will see Sam at odds with newly elected President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford). Ross formerly sought to bring the Avengers under more direct government control with the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War (Ross was then portrayed by the late William Hurt), and the trailers for Brave New World show President Ross wanting Sam to become a direct agent of the U.S. government. Like Steve Rogers before him, Sam Wilson rejects the idea of being a superhero under the government’s control, setting up the conflict of Brave New World.

The fact that Sam has already undergone a Captain America origin story in episodic form could account for why Brave New World is substantially shorter than the previous Captain America movies. With Sam having fully taken up the shield and mantle bequeathed to him by Steve, the aim might simply be to get the ball rolling on his next mission as quickly as possible. Indeed, Sam has quite a challenge ahead of him with President Ross becoming the Red Hulk.

With the MCU’s long-awaited debut of General-turned-President Ross as the Red Hulk, Brave New World promises to be a very action-heavy and to-the-point MCU adventure. While some superhero movies need longer run times to tell their stories, it seems that Marvel Studios and the makers of Brave New World feel that being just under two hours is all that’s needed for Sam’s first big-screen adventure as Captain America. Indeed, Sam’s first Captain America movie is only six minutes shorter than Steve’s, so the run time for Captain America: Brave New World isn’t necessarily a drastic comedown, but it is nonetheless a record in storytelling brevity for the Captain America franchise.

Captain America: Brave New World will be released in theaters on February 14th.

The post Captain America: Brave New World Already Sets a Record for the Franchise (And It’s Surprising) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a rollicking rollercoaster of cinema constantly delivering new characters people never thought they’d see headline major motion pictures (Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, etc.) all leading up to a pair of massive Avengers sequels. It was a collection of eleven movies that, in their own unique ways, paid off the storytelling Marvel Studios had been delivering since 2008. Along the way, countless actors stepped into this franchise to inhabit characters big and small across these motion pictures.

However, there were inevitably a bunch of actors rumored for roles in the Phase Three MCU movies that never came to be. A slew of factors, from scheduling conflicts to pay disputes to the producers opting to go in a different direction, led to these potential high-profile castings going up in smoke. Years later, they’re all now fascinating “What If…?” scenarios unto themselves. What would Phase Three have looked like if these actors had joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Morgan Freeman in Doctor Strange

Before the Ancient One was brought to live-action for the very first time in Doctor Strange, a slew of actors were considered for the role that would eventually go to Tilda Swinton. Among that initial trio was Morgan Freeman, who would’ve made this not only his MCU debut but also his umpteenth mentor role. Other rumored names like Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy indicate The Ancient One was once supposed to maintain his male gender (and even ethnicity) from the comics. Eventually, a radical new direction was taken with scoring Oscar-winner Swinton in the role, instead.

Matthew McConaughey in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

One of the leading finalists for the role of Ego the Living Planet in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was none other than Matthew McConaughey. The actor was so attached to the role that concept art was even drummed up imagining McConaughey as Ego, but Kurt Russell would eventually secure the part instead. As for why the casting fell apart, McConaughey apparently had to choose between Vol. 2 and The Dark Tower. Since the latter project wasn’t a sequel, McConaughey opted to anchor that Stephen King adaptation that turned into a box office flop.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Black Panther

For the role of M’Baku in Black Panther, director Ryan Coogler and company were apparently looking for a lesser-known face to inhabit this scene-stealing character. Before settling on Winston Duke, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was reportedly a major contender for this part. Though he missed out on this role, Abdul-Mateen II would later get menace Aquaman as Black Manta across two Aquaman installments, as well as heading the Marvel Studios TV show Wonder Man.

Asa Butterfield in Captain America: Civil War

The process of casting the MCU’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man for his debut appearance in Captain America: Civil War was a heavily contested one, with countless young men auditioning for the role. One of the finalists for the part was none other than Asa Butterfield. This young actor had cut his teeth on a slew of acclaimed 2010s movies like Hugo, which certainly made it seem like he had some prestige at his back compared to other candidates. Eventually, Butterfield and all the countless other casting options were passed over for Tom Holland’s eventually iconic Spider-Man performance.

[RELATED: 7 Directors Who Nearly Helmed Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies]

Rebecca Ferguson in Captain Marvel

Speaking of MCU roles that everyone was after, it felt like every woman of a certain age in the film industry was briefly buzzed about for the role of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel across 2015 and early 2016. Two months after she crushed it in her action-heavy Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation role, Rebecca Ferguson was rumored to be a top contender for playing Danvers and her superhero alter-ego. Eventually, of course, Brie Larson would secure the role while Ferguson would remain busy with further Mission: Impossible outings and the Dune saga.

David Cross in Avengers: Infinity War

After Anthony and Joe Russo snuck in props and characters from their sitcom directing days into their first two Marvel Cinematic Universe outings, all eyes were on who or what would show up in their third MCU feature, Avengers: Infinity War. Pre-release rumors that David Cross (from Arrested Development, a show the two directors helmed many episodes of) would show up didn’t quite come to pass. The Russo Brothers confirmed Cross couldn’t show up in the movie due to scheduling conflicts. However, a molded cast of his Tobias Funke character does briefly show up in the production.

Joaquin Phoenix in Doctor Strange

The world very nearly didn’t get to experience Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Though now thought of as indispensable to this character’s live-action incarnation, Cumberbatch originally couldn’t anchor Doctor Strange due to scheduling conflicts. This led to director Scott Derrickson and company engaging in talks with Joaquin Phoenix to take on the role despite Cumberbatch being the first choice. Per Derrickson, Phoenix was the actor who came closest to replacing Cumberbatch, but it eventually became obvious that he just wouldn’t fit right into this particular franchise. Doctor Strange‘s release date getting delayed four months allowed for the Cumberbatch casting to come through after all.

All these Marvel movies are available to stream on Disney+.

The post You Won’t Believe These Actors Were Once Rumored For MCU Phase Three Movie Roles appeared first on ComicBook.com.

McFarlane Toys is set to drop a third wave of 1:10 and 1:6-scale Marvel poseable figures, which will include heroes like X-Men’s Cyclops, Secret Wars Spider-Man, Mighty Thor’s Thor, and more. If you’re unfamiliar, this line of figures/statues are based on iconic Marvel covers from the likes of Jim Lee, Steve Ditto, John Romita Jr., Rob Liefeld and, of course, Todd McFarlane. Look for Wave 3 to launch January 15th at 9am PT / 12pm ET here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon. Check out the entire list of heroes below along with a gallery of teaser images.

• Marvel Collection 1:6 Scale Wave 3 Thor Mighty Thor #177 Comic Cover Statue
• Marvel Collection 1:6 Scale Wave 3 Spider-Man Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 Comic Cover Statue
• Marvel Collection 1:10 Scale Wave 3 Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #302 Comic Statue
• Marvel Collection 1:10 Scale Wave 3 Cyclops X-Men #1 Comic Cover Statue
• Marvel Collection 1:10 Scale Wave 3 Daredevil #600 Comic Cover Statue
• Marvel Collection 1:10 Scale Wave 3 Storm Marvel Tales Featuring Spider-Man and the X-Men #235 Comic Cover Statue
• Marvel Collection 1:10 Scale Wave 3 Captain America All-New Captain America #1 Comic Statue

Back in May of last year, Todd McFarlane, the comic creator, president of Image Comics and CEO of Mcfarlane Toys, exclusively told Comicbook about the launching of this new line. McFarlane had the following to say to ComicBook about the future of the lineup:

“Well, you know, I sort of got a soft spot for some of the guys I grew up with,” McFarlane said. “I’m gonna do a tip of the hat in the first series to Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld because I thought that during that whole era where we came along, we sort of each made our mark in different ways that were there.”

“Eventually, I’d like to tip my hat to some of the people that inspired me a ton, George Perez and John Byrne,” McFarlane said. “But I also know that there’s a whole generation that have come in who those aren’t the guys they grew up with, right? It’s more of people that they’re looking at right now. And whether it’s the interior artist and, or the cover artist, I’ll be sort of looking at what they’re asking for and giving them that.”

Want to stay up to date with all the latest comic book news? Then keep an eye on our Gear Page!

The post McFarlane Toys Marvel Comic Cover Statues Wave 3 Drops January 15th appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Miles Morales and Black Panther went from working together to solve Miles’ vampirism to having a battle to the death. All orchestrated by two deities with a grudge to bear. Along with gifting Miles Morales a Vibranium suit, Black Panther has also brought the young Spider-Man to Wakanda to seek the aid of the Panther God Bast. But when dealing with the gods, there’s always a catch that you’re not expecting. In this case, it’s that Bast wouldn’t help Miles because the Spider God Anansi already claimed him. Thus, Miles Morales and Black Panther must not fight for Anansi’s enjoyment.

Marvel released a preview of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #29 by Cody Ziglar, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Bryan Valenza, and VC’s Cory Petit. It begins with a faceoff between Miles and Black Panther, with Anansi trying to pump up his champion for the fight ahead. Miles, understandably, doesn’t want to fight T’Challa, but that’s how it has to go for Anansi to get the story he’s looking for.

[RELATED: New Black Panther Rumor Has Marvel Fans Fuming (But Some Are Happy With It)]

“There are lessons in stories, child,” Anansi tells Miles. “You don’t understand yet, but you will.” Anansi is similar to Loki in that he’s a trickster god, though Anansi is probably more trustworthy. Miles keeps bobbing and weaving to avoid attacks from Black Panther before finally letting loose with a venom punch. T’Challa merely shrugs it off as Bast complains about having her time wasted watching this fight play out.

Before the preview for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #29 ends, Anansi promises to give Miles the push he needs to become Anansi’s great champion of story and song. It looks like Anansi may be giving Miles a power boost of some kind, but in what form that will take remains to be seen.

“FIGHT TO THE (UN)DEATH! Can SPIDER-MAN hope to defeat BLACK PANTHER at the height of his powers in the heart of his homeland?!” the description of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #29 reads.

Miles Morales and Deadpool collide in Pools of Blood crossover

Miles Morales will go from fighting Black Panther to fighting Deadpool in his next story arc. Marvel previously announced “Pools of Blood,” a four-issue crossover between writer Cody Ziglar’s current runs on Deadpool and Miles Morales: Spider-Man. The recently revived Deadpool and his daughter Ellie will be contracted to take out Miles, so talk about your daddy-daughter bonding moment. “Pools of Blood” spills out into Deadpool #11-12 and Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30-31 in February and March.

“Anyone who knows me knows how much esteem I hold for Miles and the Deadpools,” Ziglar shared. “Which is why I’m so excited to write a crossover that lets them all interact! Ellie is new to the super hero scene so having her interact with someone else who’s picked up a mantle was so fun to write.”

The preview of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #29 is below. The issue goes on sale Wednesday, January 15th.

The post Marvel Pits Black Panther vs. Miles Morales in a Fight to the Death appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Villains: assemble! Before the Avengers reassemble in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to battle Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Comics is uniting Earth’s mightiest heroes — and villains — in One World Under Doom. The nine-issue series, by writer Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and artist R.B. Silva (Captain America: Symbol of Truth), anchors the biggest Doom-centric event since 2015’s Secret Wars, when Victor von Doom usurped the power of the Beyonders to make himself God Emperor Doom.

This time, Doom manipulated Doctor Strange into transferring him the mantle of Earth’s new superior Sorcerer Supreme to save the world from invading vampires during Blood Hunt. As Strange embarks on a journey to become the first-ever Sorcerer Supreme of Asgard in the One World Under Doom tie-in series Doctor Strange of Asgard, Doom will declare himself Emperor of the World and ruler of a new United Latveria.

RELATED: One World Under Doom, Explained: How Doctor Doom Became the New Sorcerer Supreme of the Marvel Universe

Leading the charge against Emperor Doom is Sam Wilson’s Captain America, the star of Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, while Red Hulk and the Thunderbolts — who are also set to make their MCU debuts this year — will take aim at the iron-fisted dictator in new tie-in series Red Hulk and Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. In another example of MCU synergy, Captain America’s strike team in One World Under Doom #3 (out April 23) will consist of villains recently featured in the movies.

The just-revealed team of Avengers allied with villains includes Baron Mordo (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2016’s Doctor Strange), Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home and Alejandro Saab in What If…?), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home), and M.O.D.O.K. (Corey Stoll in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania).

“This issue features a huge fight – all the heroes (and villains!) versus Doom,” North said. “It was a ton of fun to write, and even more fun to see drawn when R.B. Silva was done with it. And it doesn’t go the way you might think, and actually leads to an even BIGGER fight in the next issue! It’s got some Doom moments I’m super proud of. How could it not, when you’ve got characters like M.O.D.O.K. and Doctor Octopus trying to take down Doom for their own reasons?”

The synopsis:

“The Avengers have faced Doom. But Earth still needs avenging – and it’s not just the heroes who dislike having Doom in charge. And so heroes and villains unite against Doom, intent on taking him down once and for all!

But that’s not all: A simultaneous magic attack reveals the shocking truth of HOW Doom took over the world – with terrifying implications for how others might – or might not – take it from him. However, Doom’s mind – vast and cool and unsympathetic – is not the only one regarding Earth with envious eyes.”

One World Under Doom #1 goes on sale Feb. 12.

The post Sam Wilson’s Captain America Is Leading a Team of One-off MCU Villains Against Doctor Doom appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Kraven the Hunter is leaving the jungle for home theaters. With the latest — and possibly last — of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe movies hitting digital retailers this week, fans may be on the hunt for more from Sony’s universe of Marvel characters based on Spider-Man’s supporting characters and villains. Characters like Eddie Brock, bonded with an inky black alien symbiote to become the lethal protector Venom (Tom Hardy), blood-sucker Morbius, the living vampire (Jared Leto), the clairvoyant Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) and her group of future Spider-Women (Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor), and the human-hunting Kraven (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

If you’re wondering how to untangle the web of Sony’s Spider-Man spinoffs, which are set in their own loosely-connected universe separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we have you covered. Here’s how to watch Sony’s Spider-Man Universe movies in order and where to stream them all.

Venom (2018)

Journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a broken man after he loses everything, including his job and fiancée (Michelle Williams). Just when his life is at its lowest, he becomes host to an alien symbiote which results in extraordinary superpowers — transforming him into the brain-munching Venom. The lethal protector must bond with his alien alter-ego if they hope to survive their weaponized symbiote rival: Carlton Drake/Riot (Riz Ahmed).

Where is Venom streaming? You can watch Venom on Disney+ or Sony Pictures Core (available on PlayStation and Sony Bravia TVs).

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

When serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) bonds with a blood-red symbiote to become Carnage and joins forces with the sonic-screaming Shriek (Naomie Harris), the deadly duo is formed just as Eddie Brock (Hardy) and the Venom symbiote suffer some separation anxiety.

Where is Venom: Let There Be Carnage streaming? You can watch Venom 2 on STARZ or Sony Pictures Core.

Morbius (2022)

Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges when friend-turned-foe Lucien (Matt Smith) embraces his own vampiric blood lust?

Where is Morbius streaming? You can watch Morbius on Disney+ or Sony Pictures Core.

Madame Web (2024)

The origin story of future blind clairvoyant Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson), Madame Web follows NYPD paramedic Cassie, who develops the power to see the future — and realizes she can use that insight to change it. With great power comes great responsibility to protect Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazón (Isabela Merced), and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor), three young women bound for powerful futures…if they can all survive a deadly present as they’re hunted by the mysterious, spider-like Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim).

Where is Madame Web streaming? You can watch Madame Web on Netflix or Sony Pictures Core.

Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

The final film in the Venom trilogy finds Eddie and Venom (Hardy) on the run as they’re hunted by both of their worlds. Imperial General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) seeks to destroy Eddie/Venom before Knull’s (Andy Serkis) Xenophage can retrieve the Codex that is needed to free the King in Black from his Klyntar prison, which would bring about hell on Earth.

Where is Venom: The Last Dance streaming? You can rent ($9.99) or buy ($14.99) Venom 3 online via digital retailers like Apple TV+, Fandango at Home, and YouTube, or on Sony Pictures Core.

Kraven the Hunter (2024)

“Once you’re on his list, there’s only one way off.” In the R-rated standalone story, Sergei Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) becomes the world’s greatest hunter as he tracks down criminals like his gangster father (Russell Crowe). But when the Russian mercenary known as the Rhino (Alessandro Nivola) goes on the offensive with the mysterious assassin called the Foreigner (Christopher Abbott), Kraven’s hunt begins.

Where is Kraven the Hunter streaming? You can buy Kraven the Hunter wherever digital movies are sold starting Jan. 14.

The post Where to Watch All of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Movies, From Venom to Kraven the Hunter appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Wolverine is officially joining the Marvel Universe, but this isn’t the same Logan most fans are used to. The new Ultimate Universe is quite different from its previous iteration, and it’s all because of The Maker. The evil version of Reed Richards changed the past to prevent heroes from reaching their full potential. We’ve watched as heroes like Spider-Man and the Ultimates have started popping up to oppose Watcher and his evil council. For three members of the Maker’s council, keeping control of their territory means unleashing the Ultimate Wolverine — part Wolverine, part Winter Soldier. Talk about a terrifying combination.

Marvel released a preview of Ultimate Wolverine #1 by Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio, Bryan Valenza, and VC’s Cory Petit. It begins near the border of the Eurasian republic and Latveria, where an airplane carries the Ultimate Wolverine for his next mission. He sit silently as two soldiers discuss how scary he is, along with some of the rumors of how he was created from the corpses of dead soldiers. Ultimate Wolverine then stands suddenly, opens the cargo door and jumps out the flying plane without a parachute.

[RELATE: Ultimate Wolverine Is on the Hunt for Two Fan-Favorite X-Men]

Wolverine barrels towards the ground like a bullet. We see a forest where survivors of an airstrike are being dragged through the snow. Wolverine eventually lands outside a heavily guarded fortress, where he rips its guards to pieces looking menacing the entire time. Ultimate Wolverine doesn’t speak or utter a word, but much like the Terminator, he doesn’t need to.

“THE MAKER’S ULTIMATE WEAPON! From rising star Chris Condon (THAT TEXAS BLOOD) and MOON KNIGHT powerhouse artist Alessandro Cappuccio comes the story of the ULTIMATE WOLVERINE!,” a description of Ultimate Wolverine #1 reads. “In order to maintain control of their corner of the Maker’s world, three members of his council – Magik, Colossus and Omega Red – deploy their most lethal asset: The Winter Soldier! But WHO is the weapon behind the mask?”

Magik, Colossus, and Omega Red are the leaders of the Eurasian Republic, known to the public as a “rogue state” among the seven major territories that comprise Earth-6160. We know their Winter Soldier isn’t Bucky Barnes, because he was confirmed to be dead in Ultimate Invasion, with the Maker collecting his blood sample. How Logan was turned into a weapon of destruction is a mystery that will unfold as Ultimate Wolverine continues.

The preview of Ultimate Wolverine #1 is below. The issue goes on sale Wednesday, January 15th.

The post Marvel Reveals Wolverine’s Ultimate Form (and It’s Terrifying) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Avengers filmmakers… assemble. Five years after directing duo Anthony and Joe Russo ended an era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige announced that the Russo brothers would be returning to helm the Multiverse Saga-ending Avengers: Doomsday (dated May 1, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027). Not only are the Russos reuniting with screenwriter Stephen McFeely — co-writer with Christopher Markus of the Russo-directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame — but ex-Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. is donning the metal mask and armor of Doctor Doom.

While Endgame was the end of the line for the original lineup of Earth’s mightiest heroes — Downey’s Iron Man, Chris Evans’ Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk — it was also supposed to be the final MCU movie from the four-time Marvel directors.

“Endgame was the end, and it took a little time for us to begin to think about it as something other than an end,” Anthony Russo told Empire Magazine in an interview pegged to their new Netflix movie The Electric State. “We’re very close with Kevin and Lou [D’Esposito, Marvel Studios’ Co-President] and the entire Marvel team and we’ve had conversations through the years. We’ve talked about a lot of ideas.”

RELATED: MCU Schedule: Every Marvel Studios Movie and TV Show Release Date in 2025 and Beyond

The Russos fielded questions about returning to the MCU while promoting non-Marvel movies like The Gray Man and Cherry, and in 2022, they said “never say never” when asked whether they could see themselves back behind the camera for another Avengers-sized epic. One idea that kept surfacing: Secret Wars.

“Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon an idea that activated all of us,” Anthony explained. “You couldn’t see it coming until it came, and once it came it was like, ‘Well, that’s a story we need to tell.'”

Added Joe, “There were ideas that we were trying to wrap our heads around that preceded this one, and we just never found the story.” Although the Russos didn’t disclose which projects might have helmed, none seemed right until McFeely figured out how to adapt Secret Wars for the MCU.

An expansive superhero epic with a roster of characters that spans multiverses, 2015’s Secret Wars was conceived by comic book writer Jonathan Hickman as a universe-colliding event which would dwarf 1984’s superhero crossover Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars.

“I remember calling Steve [McFeely] and said, ‘Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?'” Joe Russo said. “You were like, ‘F— no. Absolutely not.’ And then you hung up. And the next morning at 7.30 you called and were like, ‘Alright, I have an idea.'”

It seems that idea hinges on Downey’s Doctor Doom. The Oppenheimer Oscar winner is coming out of retirement as the MCU’s greatest hero to play Marvel’s greatest villain, an archnemesis of the Fantastic Four who, as it happens, is the central character of 2015’s Secret Wars. Feige brought the Russo brothers on stage to announce the news at last summer’s San Diego Comic-Con, revealing that Avengers 5 — originally titled The Kang Dynasty and centered on the since-fired Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror — had been renamed Doomsday, and that Downey would be the man behind Doom’s mask.

“That four-movie run was incredible, and it left us creatively spent with all our emotions on the floor,” Anthony Russo told the packed 6,500-seat Hall H. “In the time since, through a very special story, Joe and I have come to potentially see a road forward with you all.”

Plot details are being locked away on Battleworld, but Marvel also confirmed that this summer’s Fantastic Four: First Steps — which stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Susan Richards/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/the Thing — will feed into Doomsday and Secret Wars, with Marvel’s first family joining Earth’s mightiest heroes in a crossover that is rumored to include everyone from Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

Besides Downey, reported cast members include Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. To paraphrase the master of the mystic arts: We’re really in the endgame now.

Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to open May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027, as the final film of The Multiverse Saga.

The post The Russo Brothers Confirm They Had Plans for a Marvel Return Before Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars appeared first on ComicBook.com.

]Just a few weeks after flopping at the box office and delivering a franchise-worst performance for Sony’s universe of Marvel characters, Kraven the Hunter is already making its way to living rooms around the country. On Monday, Sony announced the on-demand and physical releases for Kraven the Hunter, the former of which is just around the corner.

Kraven the Hunter is set to make its home debut this week, hitting on-demand platforms for purchase and rental on Tuesday, January 14th. That’s just one month after Kraven was initially released in theaters.

In addition to the on-demand digital release, Sony also announced the full physical release plans for Kraven the Hunter. The film is being released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats on March 4th. The 4K UHD combo will also be available as a collectible steelbook.

You can preorder any edition of Kraven the Hunter right here.

The 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and Digital versions of Kraven the Hunter are set to come with a slew of special features, including multiple featurettes about the making of the film and a selection of deleted scenes. You can take a look at the full list of features below.

• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Becoming Kraven
• Beast Mode: The Stunts of the Hunt
• Outtakes & Bloopers
• Kraven’s First Hunt: The Direction
• Allies & Antagonists: The Killer Cast

The DVD edition of Kraven the Hunter will only include the final three features listed above, so you’ll have to get one of the other editions if you’re hoping to check out the deleted scenes.

Kraven the Hunter stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular anti-hero, who has spent decades as a villainous fixture in the world of Spider-Man. The film also stars Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, and Russell Crowe. The film is directed by Triple Frontier and A Most Violent Year filmmaker J.C. Chandor.

The official synopsis reads, “KRAVEN THE HUNTER is the action-packed, R-rated, standalone story of how one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless gangster father, Nikolai Kravinoff (RUSSELL CROWE), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.”

After hitting theaters on December 13th, Kraven the Hunter struggled mightily at the box office, failing to live up to the performance of Sony’s other Marvel films. As it stands now, the film has made less than $60 million globally.

The post Kraven the Hunter Home Release Date Revealed (And It’s Sooner Than You Think) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Tom Holland is a fan of Funko Pops, especially when they’re based on his Marvel hero Spider-Man. The prolific actor recently revealed how he owns every Funko Pop made from his Spider-Man, which would include the trilogy Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. However, as much as he loves Funko Pops, Holland admitted to having to remove them from his home since it appeared he had built a shrine to himself, which was something he hadn’t intended on doing.

“Funko Pops! I love Funko Pops,” Tom Holland told GQ Spain. $43 bucks, worth every penny. I think they’re really cool. I’ve actually collected all my Funko Pops. I kept them in my house for a long time, but then it got to the point where it looked like I had a shrine to myself, and I had to get rid of them because it was quite embarassing. They’re in cupboard, but I love them. Keep making them, because I think they’re brilliant.”

[RELATED: Andrew Garfield Debunks Spider-Man 4 Rumor (But He Knows We Don’t Believe Him)]

Funko Pops are small vinyl figures of pop culture characters, most notably with large heads and small bodies with black eyes. Some of the franchises featured in the Funko Pop line include Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Disney, and many more. They usually don’t cost more than $15 for one figure, and they’re fun to display on a shelf or a desk inside or outside its original packaging.

Tom Holland and Zendaya are engaged

The latest bit of news on Tom Holland is that he’s engaged to his Spider-Man co-star Zendaya. Speculation on the popular couple began at the Golden Globes when Zendaya was spotted with a diamond ring on her wedding finger. TMZ reported that Holland proposed to Zendaya within the past couple of weeks, specifically on a date between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It’s worth noting that neither Holland or Zendaya have publicly commented on the reports of their engagement. That is also not a surprise since they’ve kept their private life out of the spotlight.

Tom Holland is suiting up as the web-slinger for Spider-Man 4, which has an official release date of July 24, 2026. The July 24, 2026 date is only seven days after a new untitled movie from director Christopher Nolan, which coincidentally will also star Tom Holland after he was added to the project. How Holland will handle juggle Spider-Man 4 and his Christopher Nolan movie filming in the same year remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say the webslinger will be a busy man in 2025.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton is helming the currently untitled Spider-Man 4. A new rumor states some Marvel villains were scrapped from the sequel after some script rewrites, including Scorpion and Shocker.

The post Tom Holland Confesses to “Embarrassing” Spider-Man Funko Pop Collection appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s only been a few days since Doom Match was added to Marvel Rivals, but a leak may have revealed another new mode in the works. According to the Rivals Leaks account on X/Twitter, a source told them “they had experienced a PvE mode in the game.” This information was provided “some time ago,” and nothing had been heard about it since. However, the Rivals Info account also received a tag about a possible PvE (Player vs. Environment) mode. At this time, none of this information has been confirmed, but the existence of multiple sources could add a little more credibility to this whole thing.

As with any rumor, readers are encouraged to take all of this with a grain of salt. That said, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if NetEase is testing or considering ways of expanding Marvel Rivals. The game has found huge success since launching last month, and new modes are a great way to lure in players that might not otherwise be interested in the main game. It’s possible the PvE mode could just be a limited time addition, or something a little more substantial.

How exactly a PvE mode would work in Marvel Rivals remains to be seen. Replies to the post from Rivals Leaks have shared some interesting ideas. X/Twitter user @Thisesportslife suggested this could be a way for the game to bring in Ultron, who has been leaked as a playable character, but not officially announced. Having players take down swarms of Ultron’s robotic drones could be a great way to introduce the Avengers villain, while also adding some fanfare around his addition to the game. By the same token, a mode where players have to take down swarms of vampires could also make sense, given the current season’s theme.

Whatever the case might be, it will be interesting to see if this rumor pans out. Marvel Rivals Season 1 just began last week, bringing in the Fantastic Four and Dracula as new playable characters. While Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny all leaked ahead of time, Dracula’s announcement seemed to come completely out of nowhere (though vampires had been established in the game’s narrative). It’s certainly not implausible that this mode leaked well ahead of an official announcement, but there’s simply no way of knowing how far along PvE might be, or when we might see it.

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Devs Shut Down Requests for Role Queue

Thankfully, Marvel Rivals players should have plenty to keep them busy in the game, regardless of whether this rumor pans out. Live service games can be quickly abandoned by players if they don’t get enough support, but it seems NetEase has ambitious plans for the coming months, including several more playable characters. The Marvel Universe has no shortage of content for the developers to mine, so we’ll have to see if the game can maintain its current momentum.

Would you like to see a PvE mode in Marvel Rivals? Have you been enjoying the game so far? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Marvel Rivals Leak May Have Revealed Another New Mode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel fans are going to have to wait a little longer to see what Daredevil: Born Again has in store. The MCU’s follow-up to the wildly popular Netflix series is going to launch in March, bringing Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk, and many other beloved characters back to the small screen. The official trailer for the show had apparently been set to arrive online in recent days, but its launch has been delayed due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

The fires that have been consuming multiple neighborhoods in and around L.A. have disrupted not only countless lives, but also numerous industries, entertainment included. Premieres have been cancelled or postponed, productions have been halted, and things like trailer releases have been pushed.

A Marvel fan on social media asked Daredevil: Born Again star Vincent D’Onofrio about the status of the full trailer for the series. D’Onofrio replied that the debut of the footage had indeed been delayed, but that it would still be arriving in the near future.

“Postponed because of L.A. fires,” D’Onofrio wrote in his response. “It’s coming.”

There’s a ton of excitement surrounding not only the Daredevil: Born Again series, but even the launch of the trailer. Fans have been so curious about the tone of the show since it was announced, specifically because the original Daredevil series on Netflix is so much darker and more mature than the majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

[RELATED: New Post Hints at Daredevil’s Role in Avengers: Doomsday]

Fortunately, the Daredevil team knew how important it was to keep the hard-hitting, street-level vibe of the original series in Born Again. In fact, according to star Charlie Cox, this new series is even darker than its predecessor.

“The thing that we kept talking about was, this show has had the success that it’s had and has appealed to a very specific demographic because it’s one of the few superhero shows that is so dark and sinister at times,” Cox told EW late last year. “Vincent and I both felt like if you lose that, you are at risk of losing the identity of our show. So we really pushed for the show to remain geared towards an older audience and not dumbed down to kind of capture a wider net of people. I think in some ways it’s even darker than a lot of the stuff we’ve done in the past.”

There’s no word as to when exactly the trailer will arrive, but it shouldn’t be long now. Daredevil: Born Again debuts on Disney+ March 4th.

The post Daredevil: Born Again Trailer Release Postponed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The hype train has already left the station for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. This began with San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, when Kevin Feige announced the return of Marvel heavyweights Robert Downey Jr. and filmmakers the Russo brothers, and continued with the news that Chris Evans will also return to the MCU. These movies are looking to revolve around RDJ’s Doctor Doom and seem to be taking their marching order from the Secret Wars comics, the name of a series of excellent Marvel event comics.

Marvel has bungled the Multiverse Saga and these two movies are their tickets back to the top. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has gotten further and further away from its comic-accurate roots, there are several things from the Secret Wars comics that these movies could use to great effect. Secret Wars stories have some tropes that have helped them become beloved, and Marvel Studios would do well to include the best ones.

Battleworld

Battleworld appeared in both the original Secret Wars from 1984 and the 2015 one. The original Battleworld was an amalgamation of different planets created by the Beyonder. The Beyonder made it so that the heroes and villains would have places to fight — hence the name — for the ultimate reward. The second Battleworld was made up of pieces of the Multiverse that Doom, Doctor Strange, and Molecule Man were able to save after the Incursions destroyed the Multiverse.

Battleworld is an integral part of the Secret Wars mythos. No matter where Marvel takes the story — whether it goes more towards the 1984 or the 2015 Secret Wars — Battleworld needs to be part of it. Each version has its charm — the original has high-tech alien bases and a variety of flora, fauna, and geographic conditions while the latter has pieces of the coolest worlds from the Marvel Multiverse. The latter is probably the version that the movies will use, as the Incursions have already been teased in the MCU, letting MCU fans experience Battleworld.

The Beyonder/Beyonders

Without the Beyonder and his people, there is no Secret Wars. The first Secret Wars revolved around the Beyonder, then known as One from Beyond, bringing together the heroes and villains of Earth to test them against each other. The character would get fleshed out in Secret Wars II, when he took on a human body and went to Earth to learn about being human. The Beyonder became a fixture in the Marvel Universe, showing up to do crazy stuff and then disappearing for a while.

Jonathan Hickman’s run on Avengers/New Avengers would introduce readers to the Beyonders and go more into the origin of the Beyonder — it was part of a race of all-powerful beings who dwell outside the Multiverse. They created the Celestials and maintained the Multiverse, and eventually started the Incursions as an experiment. Much like Battleworld, it’s impossible to imagine a Secret Wars story without the Beyonder or Beyonders. Things are pointing to them appearing, again because of the Incursions, and that’s a very good thing.

Molecule Man

Molecule Man first appeared in 1960 Fantastic Four #20. Owen Reece gained the power to control molecules and fought the Fantastic Four many times over the years. He was part of the villains gathered by the Beyonder. He’d become a major part of the Secret Wars mythos in Secret Wars II, his powers allowing him to stand against the Beyonder. His godlike power had its drawbacks — they drove him crazy — and it was revealed that they came from the universe of the Beyonders, linking him to them. The Molecule Man would allow Doom to manipulate the powers of the Beyonders in 2015’s Secret Wars, kept secret from the rest of Battleworld by Doom and Doctor Strange.

[RELATED: New Black Panther Rumor Has Marvel Fans Fuming (But Some Are Happy With It)]

Molecule Man is an important factor in Secret Wars stories. His relationship to the Beyonders and the Multiverse — it’s revealed that he can exist on a multiversal level, with one of him in every universe — is unique in the Marvel Universe, and he’s a rather sympathetic villain, having tapped into something he doesn’t understand. The MCU could always use more sympathetic villains, and Doomsday/Secret Wars could use Molecule Man to great impact.

God Emperor Doom

The announcement of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom was a massive surprise, and it’s one that fits the tropes of the Secret Wars comics. Doctor Doom plays an integral role in the first and last Secret Wars. In the 1984 one, he’s basically the leader of the villains and eventually is able to steal the power of the Beyonder, becoming a god and the main villain of the story. In the 2015 Secret Wars, he’s the savior of the Multiverse and the leader of Battleworld, ruling as God Emperor Doom.

Doom became a god twice in the Secret Wars stories and he needs to become one in the movies as well. It’s still unknown how Doom is going to work in the new movies — whether RDJ Doom is the actual Doom or a multiversal Iron Man pretending to be Doom trying to fight the true Doom — but regardless, God Emperor Doom has to appear. It’s such an important part of what Secret Wars is.

Superpowered Warfare

This one might seem like a no-brainer, given the name, but Secret Wars has always revolved around the concept of superpowered warfare. The 1984 version pits two sides against each other for the ultimate prize, while the 2015 version started with the 616 and 1610 Marvel Universes fighting each other for survival. This opened on a Battleworld that had been living under a fragile peace which is shattered when survivors of Earths-616 and 1610 start agitating the various factions and cause them to rise up against Doom. War is very important to these stories and the movies need to remember that.

The MCU has shown that they know how to cool superpowered war scenes — Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame have excellent, large-scale battle scenes — so it should be a snap to include that sort of thing in the new films. A multiversal war, manipulated by the Beyonders, Doctor Doom, or both, has to be the main focus of these movies. Marvel Studios needs to bring things to the next level with these films, and superpowered war is the road they need to take to get there.

The post 5 Things Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars Need to Include From the Comics appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite an illustrious career spanning over two decades, including two Academy Award nominations, actor Djimon Hounsou has revealed he’s still struggling financially in Hollywood. The revelation is particularly striking considering Hounsou’s trajectory, from his breakthrough role in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad to becoming a staple of blockbuster franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe. During a recent interview with CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, the star opened up about the challenging financial realities of his acting career, highlighting ongoing issues of pay inequality in the entertainment industry that persist even for performers of his caliber.

“I’m still struggling to make a living,” Hounsou admitted in the interview. “I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many blockbuster films, and yet I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.” The actor’s candid revelation contrasts his impressive resume, which includes critically acclaimed performances in films like Amistad, Gladiator, and Blood Diamond, the latter earning him his second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2007.

[RELATED: Djimon Hounsou Reveals How Rebel Moon Brought Friendship With Zack Snyder Full Circle]

The actor further elaborated on his experiences with pay negotiations in Hollywood, sharing how he often faces lowball offers despite his extensive experience and accolades. “I still have to prove why I need to get paid,” Hounsou explained. “They always come at me with a complete low ball: ‘We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.'” These struggles persist despite Hounsou’s involvement in major box office releases, including roles as Korath in Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, the Fisherman King in Aquaman, and the wizard Shazam in multiple DC films.

From Oscar Nominations to Ongoing Industry Struggles

Hounsou’s journey in Hollywood began with Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama Amistad, though his breakthrough performance was met with unexpected obstacles. “I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars,” the actor recalled. Despite this early setback, Hounsou would go on to earn two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor – first for Jim Sheridan’s In America in 2004, where he delivered a powerful performance as an HIV-positive artist, and then for Edward Zwick’s Blood Diamond in 2007, starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

The actor connected his personal experiences to broader issues in the industry, stating, “That’s a sign for you that systemic racism is not something you can deal with lightly. It’s so deeply inserted in everything that we do, across the board.” He also referenced fellow actor Viola Davis’s similar struggles with fair compensation, noting how even acclaimed performers continue to face pay equity challenges regardless of their achievements. Davis, who has won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony Award, has previously spoken about facing similar compensation disparities despite her accolades.

In recent years, Hounsou has maintained a strong presence in major productions, taking on roles in films like A Quiet Place Part II and Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon. His work has also extended beyond acting, as he founded the Djimon Hounsou Foundation to address the cultural disconnection between Africa and its diaspora. “My acting work really opened my eyes,” Hounsou shared. “As I was doing research for [Amistad], I became profoundly aware of the disconnect between Afro-descendants from their roots and culture. Because when you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know who you are.”

The post Marvel, DC Star Djimon Hounsou Says He’s “Definitely Underpaid” by Hollywood appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Wakanda has a new Champion. Marvel’s New Champions #1 by writer Steve Foxe (X-Men ’97) and artists Ivan Fiorelli (Fantastic Four) and Ig Guara (Sensational She-Hulk) asks the question: Who are the New Champions? First introduced as The Assembly in Foxe’s 10-issue Spider-Woman run, the San Francisco-based teen team includes the jet-powered Cadet Marvel, the spell-casting Hellrune, the hard light-constructing Beacon, and the light-absorbing Moon Squire. After Spider-Woman freed the brainwashed superheroes from the control of the terrorist organization Hydra, The Assembly reassembled as the New Champions.

When Hellrune cast a magic spell summoning the New Champions, she brought together a group of young heroes to fight the undead Cult of Hela: the Ghost Rider-inspired roller derby jammer Fantasma; the green-skinned, super-strong Hulkette; the Scarlet Witch’s protégé, Amaranth; Justin Jin, the unstoppable Kid Juggernaut; the temperature-wielding Logan Lewis, a.k.a. Nightshade; Spider-Man’s forgotten kid sidekick, Bailey Briggs, a.k.a Spider-Boy; and a “Wakandan runaway” known only as Gold Tiger. (Upcoming issues will introduce card-slinging magician Monte and the pink-clad Magnetrix, who resembles the mutant master of magnetism: Magneto.)

RELATED: Marvel’s Next Generation of Heroes Just Went on a Major Recruiting Drive

Marvel’s 2025 Black History Month variant cover series has revealed a closer look at Gold Tiger, who will adorn the cover of New Champions #2 in February with a variant cover by artist Alitha Martinez (Iron Man).

Created by artist Ernanda Souza, Gold Tiger first appeared on the cover of 2023’s Black Panther #5 as part of the New Champions Variant Cover program that imagined all-new young heroes as partners of established superheroes like Deadpool, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Moon Knight.

Souza’s original design (below) was inspired by Black Panther co-creator Jack Kirby’s unused design for T’Challa, at first named “Coal Tiger” by Kirby and co-creator Stan Lee. (Black Panther would debut in 1966’s Fantastic Four #52, while Coal Tiger — an alternate universe version of T’Challa — would come face-to-face with his mainstream counterpart in 1992’s Avengers #356.)

Gold Tiger takes her name from her golden claws and is shown with spell-casting abilities like Doctor Strange. It remains to be seen if the Wakandan teen has any connection to Queen Nehanda, Wakanda’s 11th-century Black Panther, who trained in the occult arts and was granted the power of Soul Sight with the Heart-Shaped Herb that gives a Black Panther their powers.

“As soon as I saw the New Champions variants, my mind started racing dreaming up possible origins and powers and codenames for these imagined sidekicks,” Foxe said of the characters created for variant covers. “Reverse-engineering the cast from the covers was unlike any other creative process I’ve ever been involved in, and I’m beyond stoked to debut a whole new class of Marvel heroes — and a few villains! — in New Champions alongside Ivan Fiorelli, who makes each and every one of these new additions feel like they’ve been part of the fabric of the universe all along.”

Foxe continued, “I’ve been dying to write a teen hero team my whole career—it’s the time in everyone’s life when we’re figuring out who we really are, and adding Norse magic or jet-powered punches or accidental hell portals to that search for identity is a recipe for storytelling gold.”

Marvel’s Black History Month variant covers will also spotlight Black heroes Black Panther (Avengers #29), Luke Cage (Power Man: Timeless #1), Storm (Storm #5), Captain America (Sam Wilson, Captain America #2), Temper (X-Men #11), Frenzy (X-Factor #7), and Spider-Man (Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30). The Gold Tiger New Champions #2 cover goes on sale Feb. 12.

New Champions #1

WHO ARE THE NEW CHAMPIONS? What do four kids whose lives were derailed by Hydra, Scarlet Witch’s mysterious protégé, a cursed roller derby jammer and a Wakandan runaway have in common? Not much! But when Hellrune’s mysterious powers activate to bring them together, they’ll have to learn how to work as a team quickly – or face the wrath of the Cult of Hela! Steve Foxe and Ivan Fiorelli (TIMESLIDE) team up to introduce the next generation of Marvel Heroes!

On sale: Jan. 8

New Champions #2

NEW ALLIES… AND ENEMIES? Hellrune has summoned young heroes from far and wide, but who among them has what it takes to become a New Champion? The smooth-talking magician Monte seems to be a prime candidate, but is he more than he appears? And who is the mysterious MAGNETRIX?

On sale: Feb. 12

New Champions #3

CHAMPIONS VS. CHAMPIONS! The New Champions adopted a name that didn’t belong to them – and the previous Champions have something to say about that! But when an old enemy threatens both teams, they’ll have to work together to survive – or there might be no Champions left at all!

On sale: March 19

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Wolverine is going for gold. After celebrating the metal-clawed mutant’s 50th anniversary in 2024, Marvel Comics has revealed the first look at another milestone in 2025: Wolverine #400. On stands in April, the over-sized Wolverine #8 — from ongoing series creative team Saladin Ahmed (Daredevil) and Martín Cóccolo (The Immortal Thor), with a bonus story by guest writer-artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Transformers) — marks 400 issues of The Best There Is as the adamantium-coated Canuck faces the mysterious call of the Adamantine.

Marvel’s solicits have been teasing that March’s Wolverine #7 (legacy #399) contains a “key appearance” and “a shock twist and surprising return you’ll have to read to believe.” In Wolverine #400, on sale April 16, the milestone issue promises to shake up the status quo with “several key appearances and revelations that will define Logan’s adventures moving forward.”

RELATED: No More Adamantium: Is Marvel Teasing the Return of Feral Wolverine?

“A big anniversary issue is always a great excuse to go crazy with reveals and unveilings, and we’ve taken that to heart here,” Ahmed said. “In this over-sized issue, an old enemy drives Logan’s new pupil the Wendigo to the brink, Logan finally comes face to face with the cryptic entity known as the Adamantine, and a stunning new family revelation plants the seeds for the next chaotic chapter of Logan’s life.”

Who might that familial link be? When December’s Timeslide #1 peered into the future of the Marvel Universe, it showed a glimpse of the feral mutant Wild Child, who Logan called “untameable” during their time together in Canada’s Department H (in Alpha Flight).

After all, the animalistic mutant has powers similar to Wolverine’s — claws, enhanced senses, and a healing factor — and Logan has sired many children over the centuries (including his son, Akihiro/Daken, and his daughter, Laura Kinney/Wolverine).

The Wolverine #400 cover above features classic foes Omega Red and Logan’s longtime archnemesis Sabretooth (who was killed with a Muramasa blade in last year’s Volume 7-ending Wolverine #50), plus Cyber, Lady Deathstrike, and Constrictor, all of whom have been infected by The Adamantine: an ancient, primal presence that seeks to purify and purge the “false metal” adamantium from the Earth.

Ahmed and Cóccolo’s ongoing Wolverine comic run also introduced a new Wendigo named Leonard, a cursed teenager that Logan took under his wing while in the Canadian wilderness. Meanwhile, The Adamantine has been imbuing Wolverine’s adamantium-laced enemies with the golden Metal of the Gods that is similar to the artificial metal alloy that coats Wolverine’s claws and skeleton — only godlier.

Below, see the solicits for upcoming issues of Wolverine and issue #400 variant covers by Andy Kubert (X-Men, Wolverine: Origin) and Jerome Opeña (Hulk, Inferno).

Wolverine #6

HEAVY METAL CLASH! Two WOLVERINEs and a NIGHTCRAWER versus CONSTRICTOR, CYBER and DEATHSTRIKE in a clash of the adamantium titans! United by a mysterious power, if LOGAN can’t beat them…will he join them? Come for the battle – stay for the jaw-dropping surprise!

On sale: Feb. 5

Wolverine #7 (Legacy #399)

GO FOR THE GOLD METAL! The ADAMANTINE saga reaches new heights, with a shock twist and surprising return you’ll have to read to believe! The GOLDEN metal means death for WOLVERINE…but is it also the world’s salvation? Collectors’ note: A key appearance is contained in this issue.

On sale: March 5

Wolverine #8 (Legacy #400) — Andy Kubert Variant Cover

A massive issue you cannot afford to miss! Wolverine faces off with the Adamantine! The Wendigo is pulled into a deadly trap as a specter from Wolverine’s past emerges – and the Wolverine story you never thought you’d see begins here!

On sale: April 16

Wolverine #8 (Legacy #400) — Jerome Opeña Variant Cover

On sale: April 16

The post Wolverine #400: Marvel Teases Surprise Return From Logan’s Past in Milestone Issue appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Sony’s connected universe of Marvel characters is essentially dead, as the studio is working on new directions for Marvel films. The Venom series was able to sustain success for an entire trilogy, but none of these other Spider-Man-adjacent solo adventures have been able to replicate it. Unfortunately, because of these failures, fans didn’t get to see some of the planned crossovers that would’ve taken place in the franchise.

It appears one of those big crossover moments could’ve come in the last of Sony’s Marvel experiments: Kraven the Hunter. Concept artist Jules Darriulat recently took to Instagram to share some designs for an unused scene in Kraven, designs featuring none other than Venom. Take a look!

“Here’s an environment shot done for a cancelled sequence from Kraven the Hunter,” Darriulat. “It was a lot of fun working on this sequence with the Framestone’s art department.”

According to the artist, this piece with what appears to be a fallen Symbiote is an “environment shot” for Kraven the Hunter. That could mean a number of things, but it does indicate that the sequence may not have involved Venom as an actual character in the movie. It could have been used for a scene that was part of a montage or post-credits sequence that teased the larger Sony/Marvel universe.

Remember that Knull, the god of the Symbiotes, was set up in Venom: The Last Dance to be a massive force across the entire universe. The character was discussed for a bigger role and even a potential solo film, so Kraven could’ve been paving the way for even more of Knull’s story across the Sony movies.

As it turns out, that idea must not have made it to the filming stages of Kraven the Hunter, as the only look we’ve got for it comes in the form of this concept art.

Other Kraven the Hunter Changes

Like other Sony/Marvel films, Kraven the Hunter had some changes and alterations take place in post-production that were noticeable to those working on the film.

Kraven star Alessandro Nivola recently told The Hollywood Reporter that one of this key scenes was changed by the time Kraven the Hunter hit theaters, even though he was assured that specific scene was being kept as it was.

“The way I performed it was totally silent. It was a silent scream. When I did it, everybody laughed on set. It was so weird, but they all loved it. We kept referring to it as the ‘silent scream moment,’” Nivola said. “So I kept asking J.C. [Chandor] during the edit if the silent scream was still in the cut, and he said, ‘Yeah, of course. We would never lose the silent scream.’ But when I saw the movie, it had that guttural voice catch, which I don’t think was as effective as it would’ve been otherwise.”

The post Kraven the Hunter Concept Art Reveals Scrapped Venom Connection appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Adam Scott is unsure if another comic book movie is in his future. The Severance star played paramedic Ben Parker — the brother-in-law of the pregnant Mary Parker (Emma Roberts), a.k.a. Spider-Man’s mom — in 2024’s Madame Web, starring Dakota Johnson as the titular clairvoyant. The Sony-made Marvel movie, which was panned by critics and audiences alike, bombed at the box office and grossed just $100 million worldwide. After playing Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man spinoff (and dressing up as Batman in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation), can Scott see himself making another comic book movie?

“I don’t know. Never say never,” Scott told ComicBook in an interview pegged to season 2 of his hit Apple TV+ series Severance. “I’m not sure. I think that it’s a genre that I, certainly, as an audience member, participate in. I like seeing all those movies, I watch them all.”

RELATED: Sony Pictures CEO Blames Critics for Spider-Man Spinoffs Bombing in Theaters: “These Are Not Terrible Films”

While promoting Madame Web, Scott described himself as a former “comic book nerd” who grew up buying comics from the Atlantis Fantasyworld comic book shop in California.

“I was really into comics as a kid. I actually grew up in Santa Cruz, California, where they shot Lost Boys. And the comic book store in [1987’s The Lost Boys] was the comic book store that I would go to just about every day to get all my latest comic books,” Scott revealed on The Jess Cagle Show. “And my next door neighbor owned it, Joe Ferrara, and so I would go in there every day, and he would have the latest comics that I was interested in.”

Although the S.J. Clarkson-directed film set up a potential sequel — with Johnson’s blind clairvoyant Cassandra Webb mentoring Spider-Women Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazón (Isabela Merced), and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor) — it’s a future that would never come to pass. The film performed so poorly that it reportedly dashed studio hopes for a franchise, and the studio isn’t actively developing other films set in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe after Venom: The Last Dance underperformed and Kraven the Hunter bombed with one of the worst-ever openings for a Marvel comic book adaptation. Palak Patel, Sony’s EVP of Production and Development who oversaw the SSU, recently exited the studio after 10 years, as did Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.

“Madame Web underperformed in the theaters because the press just crucified it,” he told The Los Angeles Times before ending his seven-year tenure at Sony Pictures. “It was not a bad film, and it did great on Netflix. For some reason, the press decided that they didn’t want us making these films out of Kraven and Madame Web, and the critics just destroyed them. They also did it with Venom, but the audience loved Venom and made Venom a massive hit.”

“These are not terrible films,” Vinciquerra added. “They were just destroyed by the critics in the press, for some reason.”

Severance season 2 premieres Jan. 17 on Apple TV+.

The post Severance Star Adam Scott “Not Sure” If He Wants Another Comic Book Role After Madame Web appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Squid Game Season 2 has been taking over the world ever since it debuted with Netflix last year, and the creator behind it all opened up about why the new season’s most controversial new character is named after a Marvel villain. Squid Game Season 2 has been breaking records with the streaming service since its debut in December, and it’s no secret as to why as the season introduces fans to a whole new group of characters competing in deadly games to win a massive prize. But Thanos the rapper has been standing out from the pack for a number of different reasons.

Squid Game Season 2 fans introduces a rapper who has named himself Thanos. He’s not only inspired by the famous Marvel villain as he sports purple hair, but even painted his nails to boast his own version of the Infinity Stones. Speaking to Netflix, Squid Game series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained that Thanos being named after a Marvel villain was a way to help fans around the world be drawn to the character. He was specifically designed for for worldwide appeal.

Why Squid Game’s Thanos Is Named After a Marvel Villain

As Squid Game series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk points out about the character, “The reason I named the character Thanos… It doesn’t really suit a rapper as a name, was to design him to be a character fans worldwide could love. But I am so grateful he is getting this much love.” As for the response to the character, it seems this appeal has worked as Thanos has been hailed as one of the big standouts from the new season. He’s outwardly different from anything that was seen in the first season, and the offers a chaotic presence to make the second season that much more of a tumultuous experience overall.

Thanos plays a key role in the new season as a direct antagonist that creates some chaotic moments that shake up the other characters. It’s a personality type that fans had not seen in Squid Game before, and is one that leads towards a certain conclusion that we find at the end of the season. Heading into Squid Game Season 3 later this year without this chaotic presence means things are about to get a lot more serious before the Netflix series comes to an end completely.

RELATED: Squid Game Fans Will Love These Death Game Manhwa for Their Next Binge

Squid Game’s Thanos Has Been Facing a Backlash

There has been controversy for Thanos behind the scenes as well. Actor Choi Seung-hyun was arrested for marijuana use in 2017, and Squid Game’s creator opened up to People about Choi taking on such a big role after a lengthy hiatus from the entertainment industry, “As you may know, the actor Seung-hyun, about nine years ago got involved in a marijuana scandal in Korea and wasn’t able to do any projects for the past nine years in Korea,” the creator noted. “And so this is a comeback after quite a long hiatus, and particularly because he portrays a character that’s a rapper and also someone who is on drugs.”

In elaborating further, Hwang noted how it was brave for the Thanos star to take on such a role too, “I feel that it took him a lot of guts, in a way, to portray a character, especially someone who shares a lot of similarities that are quite negative to him as a person too,” Hwang stated. “So I think it took him a lot of courage to take on that role. Despite the long hiatus, I have to say, as a director, he performed very impressively and I’m very satisfied with what he did with the character.”

The post Squid Game Creator Explains Why Season 2’s Most Controversial Player Shares Name With Marvel Villain appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe represents the greatest feat of interconnected storytelling that a franchise has ever pulled off; that said, there are more than a few major story threads and character arcs that the MCU has left dangling for years. There was one reveal during Captain America: Civil War that never got a lot of explanation – but it seems like an issue that definitely needs to be addressed. That would be the existence of the multiple Winter Soldier candidates that Zemo (Daniel Brühl) tracked down.

To recap: the final act of Captain America: Civil War saw Zemo lead Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Stever Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), and Prince T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) to a HYDRA facility in Siberia. There, the group discovers an entire squad of Winter Soldiers being kept in cryostasis; instead of unleashing the squad of crazed super soldiers, Zemo kills each one them with a gunshot to the head, ending the threat of the legendary assassins. He almost ends Bucky as well, by instigating a fight that tears the Avengers apart, after it’s revealed that Bucky was the assassin that killed Iron Man’s parents.

Who Were The Winter Soldiers?

We know that Bucky Barnes was the prized pupil of the Winter Soldier Program, and represented its best results. The issue with Russia’s version of the Super Soldier Serum was that it drove its recipients mad with psychosis, so much so that they had to be put into cryostasis. But who were these other candidates for the Winter Soldiers Program? And why did they each choose to step up and face the risks of taking the Super Soldier Serum? And how does Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) fit into all this?

The story of the Winter Soldiers is actually one of those minor character expansion pieces that would be exciting for fans to dig into. It’s a fun concept to play with: each one of the candidates that joined the program is a character with a backstory steeped in black-ops espionage, as well as their own personal stakes. Each of them also has to duel Bucky at some point in their training, creating a fun recurring role for Sebastian Stan to play (without too much commitment). These other Winter Soldier candidates are “blank slate” characters that can be tied to various other characters or franchises in the MCU via surprise twist reveals.

At the very least, we’ve learned that the MCU tends to succeed best with spy-action content like Captain America: The Winter Soldier – and hopefully the double-dose of Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* in 2025. A limited series expanding upon who the Winter Soldiers were would be a fun and unexpected spinoff of that underutilized plot thread from Civil War.

You can stream Captain America: Civil War on Disney+.

The post Marvel Needs to Answer This Captain America: Civil War Question appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Captain America: Brave New World is preparing for takeoff at the box office. The Anthony Mackie-fronted Marvel Studios movie hit pre-release tracking service The Quorum and is projected to open with upwards of $95 million when it flies into theaters over Valentine’s Day/Presidents’ Day weekend on Feb. 14 (via Deadline). The projection, which has the 3-day anywhere between $86 million to $95 million, could exceed $100 million for the 4-day Friday—Monday through Presidents’ Day on Feb. 17. Advance tickets are expected to go on sale this Friday, Jan. 17.

Opening within the $95 million range would put Captain America 4 on par with 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the espionage thriller which introduced Mackie’s Falcon and starred Chris Evans as the star-spangled Avenger opposite Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury. The second installment of the Captain America franchise took in $95 million from nearly 4,000 theaters when it opened during the MCU’s Phase 2 back in April 2014.

RELATED: Seth Rollins Confirms Marvel Cut His Scenes From Captain America: Brave New World After Reshoots

That projected number is just below the $96.8 million second weekend of last summer’s R-rated Marvel movie Deadpool & Wolverine, and within range of 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy ($94.3 million), 2017’s Justice League ($93.8 million), and 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home ($92.5 million). To compare to previous installments of the Cap franchise, the 2011 first installment, Captain America: The First Avenger, opened with $65 million, while 2016’s superhero ensemble Captain America: Civil War scored a franchise-best opening of $179 million in May of that year. (That film co-starred Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and featured the debuts of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.)

After inheriting the shield and mantle from Evans’ retired Steve Rogers in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and then embracing his new identity in 2021’s Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Mackie’s first feature as Captain America is looking to score the fifth-best February opening of all time.

Black Panther, the first Marvel film to feature a Black superhero in a titular role, has held the record for biggest February opening ($202 million) and the biggest-ever Feb. second weekend ($111 million) since 2018, giving it the No. 1 and No. 3 spots for the month. At No. 2 on the domestic list is 2016’s Deadpool ($132 million); No. 4 is 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($106 million); and at No. 5 is 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey ($85.1 million), the only non-comic book movie in the top 5 for February domestic openings.

RELATED: Who Is Red Hulk in the MCU? Captain America: Brave New World Villain Explained

The film’s promotional partners include McDonald’s and Tide Detergent, and trailers have featured Kendrick Lamar’s “N95.” Marvel Comics has also launched the MCU-inspired comic book series Sam Wilson: Captain America, pitting the star-spangled superhero against the Robert Maverick Red Hulk (rather than Thaddeus Ross); Ross’ Rulk will star in the new Red Hulk series launching on Feb. 26.

In addition, the Sam Wilson Captain America will feature on Marvel’s Black History Month variant cover series (alongside T’Challa, X-Factor’s Frenzy, Wakanda’s Gold Tiger from the New Champions, Miles Morales, and Temper and Storm of the X-Men), all-new anthology novel Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson (out Jan. 14), and picture book A Hero Looks Like You, which is set in the world of the movie.

Per the synopsis, “After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.” Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) directs the Kevin Feige-produced film, which also stars Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Tim Blake Nelson as the Leader. Captain America: Brave New World opens only in theaters Feb. 14.

The post Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World Tracking to Open Within Range of The Winter Soldier at the Box Office appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four are one of Marvel’s most venerable teams. They kicked off what has been called the “Marvel Age of Comics,” when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby changed superheroes forever. For years, Fantastic Four was called “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine,” but the team’s success outside of the comics has been lesser than many of Marvel’s other franchises. There’s a few animated series, two movies from the ’00s, and one major flop, Fant4stic.

The FF are getting their chance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie releases July 25th and many MCU fans want to know more about the FF. Well, they need to look no further. These ten stories will give them a primer on the best FF stories, ones that will better acquaint MCU fans with Marvel’s First Family.

Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #1

For MCU fans, it’s not always good to start at the beginning. Oftentimes, characters have changed a lot since their first appearance. Not only that, but comics have also changed a lot since then, and older books may not appeal to modern readers. However, for the Fantastic Four, the best place to start actually is the beginning. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s vision for the series is on display immediately in Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #1, which tells the story of how Marvel’s First Family gained their powers and then pits them against the Mole Man.

Lee and Kirby hook readers immediately with this classic. Its Cold War setting shows off the creators’ beliefs in American exceptionalism, but it still does a tremendous job of showing the direction this team is going to take as the years go on. This issue sets the standard for every FF story that has come after it. With the rumor the Fantastic Four: First Steps is going to take place in the past, this is the best place for MCU fans to start.

Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #5

Doctor Doom is going to play a massive role in the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and the best place to start with the character for MCU fans is Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #5, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This issue sees Doom attack the FF for the first time, using his time machine to send the team back in time to the age of pirates. On this jaunt, the Thing becomes the basis of the legend of Blackbeard before the team returns to the present and defeats Doom.

Lee and Kirby created one of comics’ greatest villains in this story and began a rivalry that would define the Marvel Universe. This comic harnesses the energy of two comic greats and is the definition of fun superhero action. Lee’s dialogue can be a little much, but it perfectly illustrates who each character is. Kirby’s art is amazing as always, jumping off the page at the readers. This is classic Marvel and MCU fans will find the kernels that grew into the universe they loved here.

“The Galactus Trilogy”

Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ villain is Galactus, so the best place to start for MCU fans may be the first Galactus story. Running through Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #48-50, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it’s gone down in history as “The Galactus Trilogy.” This story sees the Watcher, familiar to MCU fans, warn the Fantastic Four about the coming of Galactus and his powerful herald Silver Surfer. The team is nearly helpless against the all-powerful cosmic power of Galactus, with the Earth seemingly doomed.

The Galactus Trilogy is exactly the kind of cosmic spectacle that inspired the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Lee and Kirby are on fire here, presenting a story that dips into cosmic horror as Galactus is, after all, an unfeeling force of destruction, not caring about the lives on the planets he devours. Lee gets to write one of his favorite characters, Silver Surfer, and Kirby’s art is as bombastic as ever. This is one of the greatest comic stories ever, and perfect for MCU fans who want to see Galactus before his MCU debut.

“The Man, This Monster”

The tragedy of the Thing is one of the most important parts of the Fantastic Four mythos. While the other three members of the team got great powers and could bask in the glow of celebrity as scientists who saved the world, Ben Grimm was transformed into a monster. Mister Fantastic did everything he could to cure his old friend but always failed. Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #51, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, titled “This Man, This Monster,” puts the Thing on full display, when an evil scientist takes his power and pretends to be the Thing in order to destroy the Fantastic Four, forcing Ben to save the day and eventually transform back into the monster he hates being.

Lee had quite a grip on the pathos of Ben Grimm, and this issue puts it on display perfectly. This issue has gone down as one of the best Fantastic Four comics ever. It’s full of drama and pathos, rendered beautifully by Kirby. It cuts to the soul of the Thing and shows the powers of the bonds between the FF. This is the one issue that will help MCU fans truly understand the Thing and how far he will go to save the day, making it a must-read.

Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #242-244

While the first Galactus story is generally considered the best, there’s another one that many fans love. Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #242-244, by John Byrne, brought Galactus and his new herald Terrax to Earth. Galactus was at his lowest, not fed in ages, and the FF teamed with the heroes of New York City to stop the World Devourer. After they defeat Galactus, though, instead of destroying him, the FF comes up with another solution that leads the cosmic god to get another herald and leave the Earth.

John Byrne is probably the greatest comic creator to work on Fantastic Four after Lee and Kirby. His run on the book has gone down as one of the best comic runs of all time and is full of brilliant stories (several of which are on this list). This Galactus story is unlike any other MCU fans could experience, and it shows that the FF aren’t typical superheroes either, with the surprising ending of this story reveals exactly what kind of heroes the FF are and has repercussions down the road for the FF. More on that later.

[RELATED: Marvel Is Reprinting These Classic Fantastic 4 Comics — Do They Hint at The Fantastic Four: First Steps Plot?]

Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #258

Doctor Doom is an amazing character readers have learned to love over the decades. A big reason for that is how well the character has been fleshed out, and one of the best examples of this comes in Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #258, by John Byrne. This comic showed readers a day in the life of Doctor Doom, telling the story from his perspective. Comics about villains were rare in the early ’80s, and this comic does an amazing job of showing why Doom is one of the greatest villains of all time. The issue’s most well-known sequence sees Doom’s young ward Kristoff asking a question that sees the monarch show his petty true colors.

Doctor Doom is a complicated character, and this comic shows that. Byrne is on fire in this issue, and this book is often considered one of the greatest Doctor Doom comics of all time. If MCU fans want more Doom, then this issue is perfect for them. It captures all sides of the character, and it’s one that MCU fans should read to better understand the villain.

Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #262

The Fantastic Four saved Galactus when he was at his lowest ebb, something that showed the core of goodness that defines the FF. However, saving him would allow him to continue committing genocide on a massive scale, something which the rest of the universe wasn’t exactly happy about. This caused them to arrest Mister Fantastic leading to the trial of Reed Richards in Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #262. Richards has his defenders and detractors alike, including his family, the Watcher himself, and many survivors of Galactus. However, a most surprising being comes to the trial, one who is there to speak for Richards — and is also the last person most of the jury wants to listen to.

MCU fans have barely gotten a taste of how big the Marvel Universe truly is, which makes this comic perfect for them. It shows some of the greatest alien races in the Marvel Universe and goes into the terror that Galactus has caused over the years. This is truly epic cosmic Marvel and is perfect for MCU fans who want to see the grandeur of a great FF story.

Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #268

The Fantastic Four are first and foremost a family. Reed is married to Sue, Sue’s brother is the Human Torch, and the Thing has been like a brother to Reed since the moment they met. Reed and Sue even had a child by the 1980s, Franklin. Sue later finds herself pregnant again, but problems with the radiation in her system lead Reed to a villain in Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #268, by John Byrne. Reed asks Spider-Man villain Doctor Octopus for help. Doc Ock agrees and the two race to the hospital. However, when Ock’s arms break out of a secure facility and look for their master, things are about to get tragic.

This issue is completely heartbreaking and shows the problems with being a superhero with a family in the Marvel Universe. Byrne does an amazing job of this issue, balancing drama and action beautifully, playing with the reader’s expectations and giving them a suspenseful journey. It’s a brilliant use of the comic storytelling medium, and it’s something that MCU fans need to experience.

“Unthinkable”

Doctor Doom can be a noble monarch, and for this reason, many readers forget that he is also a monster. Doom has done heroic things over the years, but he’s also done terrible things. Nowhere is this more on display than the story “Unthinkable,“ by Mark Waid and the late great Mike Wieringo. This story sees Doom embrace the occult like never before to finally destroy his hated enemies in the Fantastic Four. However, to get the power he needs to destroy his enemies, he has to make a terrible sacrifice that will change the way readers look at him forever.

Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom is going to make it hard for many MCU fans to hate him. RDJ is Iron Man, after all, and these fans have been conditioned to love him. This is why they need to read “Unthinkable.” It shows just how far Doom’s hatred will make him go, containing his most ghastly act. This story shows Doom is the ultimate villain — a man who can make everyone think that he’s not that bad but is capable of acts that would freeze the blood of any person who witnesses them.

Secret Wars (2015)

Secret Wars (2015), by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic, isn’t technically an FF story. It’s an event that shook the Marvel Multiverse, pulling in characters from many Earths. However, at its core, Secret Wars is all about the FF. The story’s main character is Doctor Doom, and the members of the FF play massive roles. Secret Wars is about the end of the Multiverse and what comes next, with Doom standing tall as the savior of all. However, even when doing something altruistic, Doom is still evil, and a group of survivors of the old multiverse — led by two different versions of Reed Richards — decide to overthrow God Emperor Doom and try to rebuild creation as it should be.

Doom’s hatred of the Fantastic Four, and his grudge against Reed Richards, are central to this story, making it an FF story at its core. The MCU is likely going to take a lot from this tale in the years to come, and in many ways, it’s the ultimate Fantastic Four story, which should put it on every MCU fan’s list.

The post 10 Fantastic Four Stories Perfect for MCU Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

X-Men ’97 was a massive hit, which is something of a surprise. X-Men: The Animated Series was a classic ’90s cartoon, with millions of fans, but the fact that a sequel series could draw back in so many lapsed fans so well is impressive. X-Men ’97 succeeded because it remembered what the original show did so well — take stories from the X-Men comics and bring them to the screen in the best ways, creating adaptations that were both faithful and original at the same time.

X-Men ’97 captured some perfect ’90s X-Men moments, and longtime X-Men readers can see where the cartoon’s next few seasons could be going. There are several ’90s X-Men stories that X-Men ’97 should read, some because they are places the shows might go and some because they are just plain excellent stories. These five X-Men stories will scratch an itch for more retro X-Men goodness.

“Onslaught”

X-Men ’97 ended with Magneto pulling the adamantium out of Wolverine and Xavier hitting him with the mindwipe, which comes from the classic story known as “Fatal Attractions.” In the comics, this action saw a seed of Magneto’s evil take root in Xavier, leading to the creation of the beast known as Onslaught. Onslaught would wait in the shadows, finding allies and building its power, before attacking the X-Men and then the rest of the world in the summer crossover “Onslaught.“

Onslaught has always been a controversial character, and a big reason for that is the titular story starring the villain. A lot of fans find it emblematic of Marvel in the ’90s, a period that saw the publisher hit its lowest ebb creatively. However, this story does have its charm and is definitely a direction that X-Men ’97 could go. It’s definitely worth a read for fans of the show, an action-packed story that sees the entire Marvel Universe band together against a powerful villain.

“Children of the Atom”

After “Onslaught,” the X-Men had to labor on without Xavier, who was imprisoned by one of X-Men ’97‘s main Season 1 villains, Bastion. The X-Men would face off against Bastion in “Operation: Zero Tolerance,” but the end of the story would see them still Xavier-less. Eventually, their old mentor would appear, recruiting a new team of X-Men who would attack the X-Men in the two-issue story “Children of the Atom,” by Steve Seagle, Joe Kelly, Chris Bachalo, and Brandon Peterson, from Uncanny X-Men #360 and X-Men #80.

The story is a tight little tale that pruned down what was at the time a sprawling X-Men team down to seven members — Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and Marrow. The enemy X-Men team, consisting of mutants that Xavier almost recruited over the years is full of cool characters, and the twist at the end of the story sets up the next story on this list. While the show might not go in this direction, it’s an excellent X-Men story that has callbacks to various moments in X-Men history, and will definitely tickle an X-Men ’97 fan’s fancy.

“The Hunt for Xavier”

The end of “Children of the Atom” revealed that Cerebro, which everyone thought was destroyed by Operation: Zero Tolerance, had gained sentience and was trying to find Xavier. After its first failure, it decided to look on its own, and its search and the X-Men’s overlapped, leading to the six-part “The Hunt for Xavier,” by Joe Kelly, Steve Seagle, Chris Bachalo, Adam Kubert, and Leinil Yu. The story saw the X-Men split up, each team going after a separate lead, coming back together to battle Cerebro for Xavier in an epic battle. This fight was made all the more dangerous by the fact that Cerebro had access to their Danger Room training sessions and the Xavier Protocols, which Xavier created to deal with the X-Men in case they went evil.

[RELATED: Marvel’s X-Men ‘97 Is the Best Animated TV Show of 2024 (Golden Issue Awards)]

This is an excellent story from one of the best periods of the ’90s X-Men comics. Kelly and Seagle’s run as X-Men writers was very short — barely over a year — but it was full of amazing stories. This story finally reunited the X-Men and Xavier after several years and had some amazing action. Cerebro as a villain was an amazing idea and it would be one that the show could do wonders with.

“The Twelve”

X-Men ’97‘s first season ended by laying out some major clues for the future, as the X-Men were thrown into the timestream. Some of them ended up in the ancient past and others in the future, but these two far-flung locales had one thing in common: Apocalypse. The past X-Men were thrown to is Apocalypse’s past in Egypt and the future is the time when Apocalypse has taken over the world. In the comics, this future had its origins in the present day when Apocalypse gained godlike power. All of this points to the show adapting the X-Men story that ended the ’90s — “The Twelve.”

“The Twelve” ran through all of the major X-Men books — X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, Cable, and X-Man — and saw Apocalypse trying to gather the Twelve, a group of mutants whose powers would combine to grant godhood to whoever brings them together. This story represents the culmination of all the ’90s X-Men plots, so not all of it will make sense to X-Men ’97 fans who aren’t well-versed in the comics, but it does a great job of explaining itself. The story isn’t as popular as some other big-time X-Men events and is somewhat hard to find, but it’s worth hunting down.

“Warriors of the Ebon Night”

This one is almost certainly not going to get adapted and made a part of X-Men ’97, however, it’s the perfect encapsulation of why the ’90s X-Men were so great. The story does need some set-up — in Uncanny X-Men #328, Sabretooth breaks free of his imprisonment in the X-Mansion and nearly kills Psylocke. In Uncanny X-Men #329-330, by Scott Lobdell, Jeph Loeb, and Joe Madureria, Wolverine and Archangel team up to get their hands on the Crimson Dawn, a magical elixir that is the only thing that can heal the dying Psylocke. They team up with Gomurr the Ancient and journey into the magical underbelly of New York City’s Chinatown, where they encounter a powerful enemy who holds what they need.

Titled “Warriors of the Ebon Night,” this story is all killer and no filler. Wolverine and Archangel are two characters that don’t spend a lot of time together, so it’s an interesting pairing, and it shows the breadth of what the X-Men deal with. Sure, they’re mostly out there dealing with the enemies of humanity and mutantkind, but sometimes, they also find themselves going on trips to find magical ways to save their friends. It’s a wonderful little snapshot of a long lost era of the X-Men and it’ll show X-Men ’97 fans why the X-Men comics were so popular in the 1990s.

The post 5 X-Men Stories X-Men ’97 Fans Need to Read appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Studios may have just cracked the code on one of its trickiest casting puzzles – and it comes from an unexpected place: The Fantastic Four: First Steps. With Marvel’s First Family hitting screens in July 2025 with a cool retro-futuristic 1960s vibe, this throwback adventure might be the perfect way to bring T’Challa back to the MCU. The timing couldn’t be better, with buzz building about Marvel looking to recast the beloved character for future films, possibly through the Multiverse. And here’s the kicker – the film’s setting just happens to line up perfectly with Black Panther’s original comic debut in Fantastic Four #52 back in 1966.

Let’s talk history for a second. Black Panther and the Fantastic Four go way back. T’Challa actually made his first appearance in the pages of Fantastic Four, where comic legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced him as a mysterious African ruler who decided to test his skills against Marvel’s top team. This was huge – especially considering it happened in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. From the start, T’Challa proved he meant business by taking down the whole team single-handedly.

The new Fantastic Four movie looks like it’s giving a respectful nod to these roots. According to the official synopsis, we’re getting a story set in “a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world” that exists outside the main MCU timeline. This clever setup could let Marvel bring in a new version of T’Challa without stepping on the toes of Chadwick Boseman’s incredible legacy or messing with what happened in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Rumor has it that Marvel’s seriously thinking about recasting T’Challa. Industry insider Jeff Sneider dropped the news that Marvel already tried to get someone for the role last fall, but the actor passed. As you might expect, fans are split on this one – some think it’s too soon after Wakanda Forever‘s beautiful tribute to Boseman, while others feel it’s time for T’Challa’s story to continue.

Here’s where First Steps’ Multiverse angle could save the day. Sneider mentions that Marvel’s pretty open to bringing back T’Challa through the Multiverse, kind of like how they’re bringing Robert Downey Jr. back as Doctor Doom for those upcoming Avengers films. It’s a smart play – they can honor what Boseman did while still exploring new takes on the character.

[RELATED – Marvel Is Reprinting These Classic Fantastic 4 Comics — Do They Hint at The Fantastic Four: First Steps Plot?]

The timing here is perfect when you look at the comics. T’Challa’s original debut showed him putting the Fantastic Four through their paces using Wakanda’s sophisticated tech while dealing with big questions about whether the country should stay hidden or engage with the outside world. First Steps could recreate this classic moment while exploring what Wakanda was like in its alternate 1960s setting.

Plus, with the movie dealing with heavy hitters like Galactus and cosmic threats, it makes sense to bring in Wakanda’s amazing technology. The retro-futuristic vibe is ideal for showing off Wakanda’s hidden advanced society and diving into why they chose to stay isolated during such a crucial time in history.

Of course, bringing back T’Challa needs to be handled with care. Any new version would have to be its own thing while still respecting what came before. Setting it in the ’60s could help with this – we could see a younger, maybe more cautious T’Challa who learns to open up through his run-in with the Fantastic Four.

This could set up some really cool stuff down the line. Marvel’s got two big Avengers movies coming up – Doomsday and Secret Wars – and having a Multiverse version of T’Challa already established would fit right in. With Ryan Coogler still working on Black Panther 3, there’s potential for this ’60s T’Challa to cross paths with our modern MCU heroes through some Multiverse shenanigans.

Bringing T’Challa back through the Fantastic Four is smart for another reason. In the original comics, he proved how formidable he was by taking down Marvel’s biggest superhero team. Recreating that moment in the movie would be a great way to establish a new actor in the role while tipping the hat to that historic first appearance.

There’s no getting around the fact that this decision might ruffle some feathers. But by setting it in an alternate timeline, Marvel could give themselves enough breathing room to make it work. They could keep Boseman’s version sacred in the main timeline while still letting T’Challa’s character live on in the bigger Multiverse picture.

The July 2025 release could end up being perfect timing as well. It could bridge the gap between different MCU phases and set up T’Challa’s role in the upcoming Avengers films. Marvel’s clearly betting big on the Fantastic Four, and their connection to Black Panther might be key to where the MCU goes next.

First Steps might be exactly what Marvel needs to bring back one of their most important characters while showing respect to both the comics and what came before in the movies. We’ll have to wait and see if they actually go this route, but you’ve got to admit – they’ve laid the groundwork pretty nicely for making it happen.

The post How Marvel’s Fantastic Four Reboot Could Introduce a New Black Panther appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel’s latest animated series is taking Peter Parker’s story in an unexpected direction by removing his most beloved friends from the equation. When Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man debuts on Disney+ January 29th, fans will notice the absence of familiar faces like MJ and Ned, who have been staples of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films. This dramatic departure stems from a key narrative decision that transforms what was originally planned as an MCU prequel into something far more ambitious: a multiverse-spanning adventure that asks what would happen if Norman Osborn, not Tony Stark, became Peter Parker’s mentor.

Executive producer Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt explained to The Official Marvel Podcast that while the series begins in the MCU’s sacred timeline around the events of Civil War, it quickly veers into new territory.

“We’re starting at a point in the MCU where Civil War has happened, so the Sokovia Accords have been ratified so it’s modern day and then Peter gets to his first day at Midtown…then a thing happens which I’m going to try and dance around and there goes our branch. It’s a world where he never met Ned, he never met MJ.”

Marvel Television chief Brad Winderbaum explained previously that the transformation point that is so different occurs at a pivotal moment mirroring Captain America: Civil War.

“Down to Peter getting the broken Blu-ray player from the trash and he walks into his department for the famous moment where Tony Stark is waiting for him to offer him the stark internship and take him to Berlin,” Winderbaum said. “But because of things that happen in the multiverse because of new, random occurrences, it’s not Tony Stark who’s waiting for him there. It’s Norman Osborn.”

[RELATED – Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Swings Into Action With First Trailer From Marvel Studios]

The series now features a fresh supporting cast, including Nico Minoru, whom Vasquez-Eberhardt described to The Official Marvel Podcast as “such a great fit for Peter. She’s very different from Ned, and they fit so well together.” The daughter of dark wizards, Nico brings her own magical abilities to Spider-Man’s world. The show’s reimagining also opened doors to include classic Spider-Man villains who wouldn’t have fit within strict MCU continuity.

“You’re going to see some familiar faces — and if you’re a fan of Chameleon, you’re going to see a few of his faces. You’re also going to see Scorpion, as well as Speed Demon or Butane,” head writer Jeff Trammell previously teased

The 10-episode series features an impressive voice cast, including Hudson Thames as Peter Parker and Colman Domingo as Norman Osborn. Charlie Cox will reprise his role as Daredevil, joining other Marvel characters like Doctor Strange in what Winderbaum described to the website as an “ensemble show” where “every character is well-defined and has amazing arcs.”

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man debuts January 29th on Disney+.

The post Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Producer Explains Why Fan-Favorite Characters Won’t Appear (And It Makes Sense) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

X-Men follows Cyclops’s team of X-Men, a team which includes Magneto. Magneto helped Cyclops found this new team, but has been an X-Men ally for a long time. Magneto rejoined the X-Men during the Utopia Era, working with Cyclops to protect mutants and has stayed with the team ever since. The current X-Men books — published under the “From the Ashes” publishing initiative — are all about bringing the X-Men back to basics, so Magneto’s role on the current X-Men team is similar to Xavier’s role on previous teams — a mentor more than someone who goes into the field.

Readers noticed something was different about Magneto almost immediately in the ad material for “From the Ashes” and the first issue of X-Men. He was often seen in a wheelchair and his powers didn’t seem as potent as they had been in stories like The Resurrection of Magneto and Fall of the House of X. The truth behind this was soon revealed — that Magneto was afflicted with a mysterious new disease. However, as time went on and more was revealed about the disease, the less it made sense.

Magneto’s Disease Comes From Krakoan Resurrection but There’s Something Wrong With That

During the Krakoa Era — a time when the X-Men were based on the living mutant island of Krakoa — the X-Men were very different than the team that many got reacquainted with during X-Men ’97. Mutants had their own nation, one that combined heroes and villains. While there were technically no leaders on the island, Xavier and Magneto were the ones everyone looked to for guidance. Xavier and Magneto’s friendship was foundational to the island nation, and the two did everything they could to allow their people to flourish.

The combination of mutants allowed for them to experiment by working together and they were able to create a method of resurrection by combining Xavier’s telepathy, Mister Sinister’s DNA library, and the mutant powers of the Five — Hope Summers, Proteus, Tempus, Egg, and Elixir. This resurrection method allowed dead mutants to be brought back to life, giving the Krakoans an edge over their enemies.

Magneto had several resurrections over the Krakoa Era, mostly while trying to destroy the ultimate Sentinel Nimrod, but nowhere near as many as other mutants. After some of the island’s more unsavory secrets, secrets Magneto and Xavier kept, were revealed, he went to Arakko — Mars terraformed by mutants (the Krakoa Era was… complicated). Magneto worked with Storm to gain leadership of the Arakkii and as such had to embrace their culture, which meant giving up his resurrection back-ups. Magneto ended up dying defending Arakko and was unable to be resurrected.

Of course, Magneto was always going to come back, so Marvel put out The Resurrection of Magneto series. The Krakoa Era ended not long after — don’t worry, we’re getting into the home stretch here — and Magneto helped found the new X-Men team, when a mysterious disease started to affect him and his powers. Beast worked to try to find the origins of this disease, and learned that it came from Krakoan resurrection. Anyone resurrected by the Krakoan method could come down with this disease.

However, there’s a huge problem with this when it comes to Magneto. While Magneto has Krakoan resurrections, his last resurrection wasn’t using the Krakoan method. Magneto’s latest resurrection came from Storm journeying into the Elysian Fields, a place for mutant souls set up by Scarlet Witch in The Trial of Magneto, to retrieve him. His body was recreated as a perfect version of his original body with magic, not one of the bodies cloned from Sinister’s DNA library made by Egg, Proteus, Tempus, Elixir, and Hope.

Not much is known about the resurrection disease right now. Magneto isn’t the only person afflicted with it, but he is the highest profile. In some ways, it seems like a way to make Magneto more Xavier-like — weakening him physically and keeping him away from the field. This disease keeps Magneto from being the powerhouse and solving all of the team’s problems, one similar to the role he played in the early stages of Season 1 of X-Men ’97. It serves an interesting thematic reason, but it doesn’t really make sense when taking into account the events of the end of Fall of X.

The Real Reason Magneto’s Disease Makes No Sense

There is an actual reason that Magneto’s disease doesn’t make any sense and it comes long before the end of the Krakoa Era. Basically, Marvel decided to begin the work on the post-Krakoa Era X-Men comics before the ending of the era was turned in. So, new X-Men editor Tom Brevoort had no idea how Magneto was going to be resurrected, he just knew he was going to be resurrected. When Brevoort and the writers he brought on board were coming up with ideas, they came up with the Krakoan resurrection disease idea before knowing everything that had happened at the end of the Krakoa Era. By the time they knew Magneto’s last resurrection wasn’t going to come from the Krakoan method, they had finished multiple issues of X-Men.

The Krakoan resurrection disease is actually a pretty good idea. Krakoan resurrection always felt a little too convenient and relied on too many factors that could be suborned. In fact, Mister Sinister had messed with the DNA of every mutant so he could take control of them. Introducing a disease based off of it is a smart idea; the problem was they decided that Magneto would come down with the disease without knowing exactly how he was coming back.

Marvel wanted to put out X-Men comics that would be easy for fans of X-Men ’97 to get into and that could lead the mutants to an MCU-friendly status quo at some point soon. They rushed the ending of the Krakoa Era and the beginning of work on the current “From the Ashes” Era. This led to mistakes and the nonsensical nature of Magneto getting the Krakoan resurrection disease is one of these.

The post Marvel’s X-Men: Why Magneto’s New Disease Makes No Sense After Krakoa appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Part of why the American superhero movie is so popular with studio executives isn’t necessarily because it works every single time. However, when these titles do resonate with the general public, they do so in a profound manner. Several of the biggest movies in history have happened to be superhero features. These titles are capable of delivering massive box office hauls that go down in the history books in all the right ways. From the 2000s even to the erratic years of the 2020s, superhero films bring the noise in theaters in the best way possible.

Nine superhero movies, in particular, set the kind of box office records that fill up the dreams of the Bob Iger’s or David Zaslav’s of the world. These weren’t just profitable tentpoles, these were motion pictures redefining just how big theatrical movies could be. These nine superhero movies shattered box office records that, even decades later in some cases, still register as quite impressive.

Spider-Man

While Blade and X-Men had proven lucrative before 2002, it was Spider-Man that really proved Marvel Comics movie adaptations could soar to extreme heights domestically. To boot, its gargantuan $400+ million domestic haul outdid even 1989’s Batman in terms of superhero movie box office hauls. Spider-Man‘s box office run was impressive just from its first three days of release, though. This title’s $114-million domestic haul was the first time in history any movie exceeded $100+ million on its three-day North American opening weekend.

X-Men: The Last Stand

Though it would sink like a stone in the weeks afterward, X-Men: The Last Stand was certainly a magnificent record-smasher for its opening weekend. At the time of its release, The Last Stand had the biggest Memorial Day opening weekend in history. It was also the largest X-Men opening title ever and only the fourth movie ever (circa May 2006) to exceed $100 million on opening weekend. In hindsight, The Last Stand also started three consecutive years of glorious Memorial Day openers, with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull also delivering $100+ million bows in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Spider-Man 3

Spider-Man had become the first movie to open to $100+ million back in 2002. Why wouldn’t Spider-Man 3 (also opening the first weekend of May) set a new opening weekend record of its own? With a $151 million three-day bow, Spider-Man 3 was the first movie in history to exceed $150 million on its domestic opening weekend. Just six years earlier, no movie in history had cracked nine-digit figures over its opening weekend. Spider-Man 3 showed that the box office landscape was evolving at an exponential rate.

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight snatched Spider-Man 3’s domestic opening weekend crown just 14 months after that Sam Raimi movie debuted. Whereas Spider-Man 3 had a major dropoff after its gargantuan opening, The Dark Knight was unstoppable in its theatrical run. This film generated enough repeat business to eventually become the first non-James Cameron movie in history to clear $500+ million domestically. A barrier once thought to belong only to Titanic was now also the territory of Batman.

The Avengers

It’s odd how poetic the film industry can be sometimes. Ten years to the weekend that Spider-Man broke the $100+ million domestic opening weekend ceiling, The Avengers strolled into multiplexes to set another opening weekend record. This time, this Joss Whedon feature became the first movie in history to hit $200+ million in its domestic opening. Given that the previous Marvel Studios high in terms of opening weekend had been Iron Man 2’s $128 million debut, this Earth-shattering $206-million debut was astonishing to witness. As George Lucas might say, The Avengers opened to numbers that somewhat rhymed with Spider-Man’s domestic bow.

[RELATED: Is 2025 the Make-or-Break Year for Superhero Movies?]

Deadpool

Though it took eons for Deadpool to reach movie theaters, once it did, people came out in droves to see it. Deadpool’s $136-million domestic debut was an industry-redefining bow since it was the first time in history an R-rated movie exceeded $100+ million in its domestic opening weekend. Any perceptions that an R-rating would immediately obliterate a movie’s box office potential were erased thanks to Deadpool’s huge numbers.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

A month after Deadpool’s arrival, a much darker take on superheroes, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, hit theaters to extraordinary numbers. The $166 million debut of this project outpaced the opening weekends of all but three Marvel Studios releases at the time. It was also the biggest March opening weekend in history as well as the largest domestic bow for a DC Comics adaptation. Dawn of Justice took down many records on opening weekend, though, like The Last Stand ten years later, it didn’t stick around in theaters long after its debut.

Avengers: Endgame

It’s truly extraordinary how much the Avengers franchise blew up between 2012 and 2019. In just seven years, this saga went from opening to $207 million to scoring a mind-boggling $357 million debut. Avengers: Endgame was the first motion picture in history to open over either $300 or $350 million in its domestic arrival. In a single North American weekend, it exceeded the lifetime domestic haul of Spider-Man 3. 17 years earlier, a $100+ million opening staggered the industry. Now Endgame had once again redefined the domestic opening weekend record to amazing results.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

2021 was a rocky year for the film industry. Theatrical exhibition was trying to get its sea legs back with COVID cases still surging and studios sending countless titles to streaming. Spider-Man: No Way Home capped off the year with some extreme hope, though. This production scored the biggest December opening weekend in history, beating out Star Wars: The Force Awakens for that honor. Seeing pre-COVID box office records shatter once again was an extremely hopeful sign for exhibitors. Once again, a Spider-Man movie’s record-breaking box office haul was a game-changer for the industry.

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For years, the worlds of North American comic books and Japanese manga have gone head-to-head in countless ways. While the latter continues to outsell comics from the likes of Marvel and DC, outlets like the Marvel Cinematic Universe rake in untold profits by adapting major comic book storylines. While there have been instances of universes colliding that see classic Marvel superheroes meeting major anime figures, a new X-Men series has been influenced by certain members of the Demon Slayer Corps. Considering the current Marvel series is one for a character who has never had their own comic before, this makes for quite the crossover.

The character known as Magik, aka Illyana Rasputin, has seen some big years in recent memory. Never before having her own solo series until recent days, Magik has made appearances in some big projects as of late. In the multiplayer video game, Marvel Rivals, she can be picked to teleport across the map and use her Soul Sword to strike at enemies. Prior to Marvels, the sister of Colossus was a major character in Marvel’s Midnight Sons. Magik even was a part of a live-action film as she was played by actress Anya Taylor-Joy in Fox’s New Mutants. Finally getting her own Marvel Comic, writer Ashley Allen confirmed that her new take on Illyana has some major influences from the anime world.

[RELATED: Magik Headlines Her First X-Men Solo Series]

Demon Slayer Magic

In a recent interview with outlet AIPT Comics, Ashley Allen explained that Demon Slayer was a major influence on Magik’s current series as the X-Man cuts her way through scores of demons. Here’s what Allen had to say when mentioning the Demon Slayer Corps along with other big anime series that influenced the latest Marvel comic,

“I would say our tone is more supernatural, with a few horror elements sprinkled throughout! In my writing, I always aim to have a sense of hope in every scene while not shying away from those darker elements of a supernatural story. To that end, my goal for this series was to have lots of action combined with softer moments for Illyana’s heart of gold to shine through. I grew up with manga so I wanted to channel my favorite series like Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Demon Slayer, among others.”

Magik’s Supernatural Side

Illyana might be a mutant but her story is set deep in the supernatural side of the Marvel Universe. The X-Man has long been linked to the underworld locale known as “Limbo,” harboring a demonic side of herself known as the Darkchylde. Her mutant powers allow her to create portals that help her to teleport from one spot to another but its in her Soul Sword that her mastery of the supernatural shines through. Rasputin has become such a powerful force in the supernatural side of the Marvel Universe that she has often been thought of as a potential heir to the title of Sorcerer Supreme. Needless to say, Magik’s popularity and new series will continue to take Illyana to new heights in the comics and beyond.

Want to see what the future holds for the Demon Slayer Corps and Marvel’s foray into all things anime? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Demon Slayer and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via AIPT

The post Demon Slayer Inspired New X-Men Series (And Here’s How) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Across 34 films, Marvel Studios has employed a whole slew of directors to bring its individual Marvel Cinematic Universe films to life. Occasionally filmmakers like Anthony and Joe Russo recur in this space, but typically, they’re one-off figures who come and go. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Chloe Zhao, Kenneth Branagh, Scott Derrickson, Louis Leterrier, Cate Shortland, are just a few of the people who’ve only helmed one movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over its 16+ year existence in movie theaters. Not all of these figures are household names, but many have garnered an extra dose of popularity after their Marvel Studios experiences.

But what about the directors who got close to helming Marvel Studios titles but didn’t get a chance to realize their creative visions? We all know Patty Jenkins left Thor: The Dark World and Edgar Wright departed Ant-Man two months before filming. But what about lesser-known directors that got so close to directing various Marvel Studios motion pictures? Ahead, let’s look at seven lesser-known instances of directors who almost joined the pantheon of Marvel Cinematic Universe directors. For a whole litany of reasons, though, these directing opportunities never came to pass.

Brian Kirk & Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World’s extensive creative problems can be traced back to its inability to land a director. After original Thor filmmaker Branagh passed on returning for this follow-up, the project went through countless names (including Jenkins) before settling on the final choice of Alan Taylor. The very first person reported to be in talks for the project was Brian Kirk. Like Taylor, Kirk had garnered notoriety for his work helming Game of Thrones episodes. He’d also directed two movies (including 2009 indie Cherrybomb) before this potential gig. Though Kirk was reported to be in talks for The Dark World, this never came to pass and Jenkins was the next filmmaker connected to this eventually-cursed tentpole.

Travis Knight & Eternals

Before Chloe Zhao was selected to direct the feature, Eternals went through a whole slew of potential filmmaker choices. Among those names was Travis Knight, most famous for leading the animation studio Laika. In late 2018, when Marvel Studios was figuring out an Eternals director, Knight had proven his live-action filmmaking chops on Bumblebee. Helming a Marvel Studios movie could’ve been the next step in his live-action cinema journey. Eventually, though, Marvel opted for Zhao, a newcomer to the world of tentpole cinema.

Mark Andrews & Doctor Strange

Among the finalists to direct the original Doctor Strange was another name from the Disney empire: Mark Andrews. This Pixar veteran had won an Oscar for directing the 2012 feature Brave. Like past Pixar filmmakers Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird, Andrews clearly harbored live-action filmmaking ambitions. Doctor Strange could’ve been a way of realizing those dreams. Andrews got so connected to the project that, back in March 2014, he even had to play coy and refuse to respond to an interview question about Doctor Strange. This gig would eventually slip through Andrews’ fingers, with Scott Derrickson instead handling the feature.

Rob Letterman and Thor: Ragnarok

Among the finalists to helm Thor: Ragnarok was Rob Letterman, a DreamWorks Animation veteran best known for helming Monsters vs. Aliens and Shark Tale. His experience helming visual effects-oriented live-action movies like Gulliver’s Travels and Goosebumps also likely made him a prime pick for Marvel Studios, who were clearly hoping from the start that Ragnarok could have a lighter touch than past Thor movies. Rather than snagging a family movie veteran, Marvel Studios instead got the What We Do In The Shadows mastermind to change Asgard forever.

[Related: The Eight Worst MCU Post-Credit Scenes]

Jonathan Levine and Spider-Man: Homecoming

With the 2008 feature The Wackness, director Jonathan Levine established an ability to work with teenage stories that could’ve served Spider-Man: Homecoming well. He continued that deftness with 2013’s Warm Bodies while he also warmed up to Sony/Columbia Pictures brass by helming the 2015 comedy The Night Before. No wonder he was one of the finalists constantly mentioned as being connected to Homecoming. Ironically, eventual Homecoming director Jon Watts wasn’t even in the initial reports about directing choices for Homecoming! Eventually, though, this Cop Car helmer would blow past Levine and helm Tom Holland’s first solo Spidey outing.

David Wain and Ant-Man

Once Wright left Ant-Man, the production scrambled to find a replacement who get this project out in time for its July 2015 release date. Among the names heavily considered for the project was quirky indie comedy auteur David Wain. The helmer behind Wet Hot American Summer, Wain could’ve been a coup for the project thanks to the man’s relationship with Ant-Man leading man Paul Rudd. Wain and Rudd had worked together on many projects, including They Came Together, Summer, and Role Models. Though that could’ve been a fun reunion, Marvel opted to hire Peyton Reed for the gig instead.

Jamie Babbit and The Marvels

Among the three finalists for The Marvels (once it became clear Boden and Fleck wouldn’t return from Captain Marvel) was none other than But I’m a Cheerleader master filmmaker Jamie Babbit. Many indie filmmakers graduate to suddenly embracing much bigger-scale directing with MCU projects. Babbit would’ve been an especially interesting case since, unlike Zhao or Watts, she wasn’t a fresh-faced indie darling. She’d been helming microbudget indie features for over 20 years before she was considered for The Marvels! Babbit and Marvel Studios was never meant to be, as Nia DaCosta instead helmed this project.

MCU movies can be streamed on Disney+.

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Marvel Rivals has taken the gaming world by storm, but it’s also brought in a legion of Marvel fans who are able to play some of their favorite mainstream and not so mainstream characters. With the launch of season 1 this week, there are even more costumes for fans to customize their characters with, including completely original designs and designs pulled from the comics and movies, with the promise of even more to come.

That got us thinking about which comic costumes we’d like to see added to the game, especially as more and more characters are added to the playable roster. Without further ado, we’ve assembled a list of 10 great costumes pulled from the comics that we absolutely need to see in the game ASAP, and if they are given the same treatment as other costumes in Rivals, they could all be must-have additions for fans.

Black Widow: Gray Bodysuit, Hellfire Gala

Starting things off is everyone’s favorite super spy Black Widow, and her core Rivals costume adds some red accents and modern flair to her classic Black suit. She also has her White Widow suit from the MCU, so for her comics additions, the first one we’re starting with is another classic look from the 80s. That would be her grey bodysuit that still maintained the sleekness of her now conic look but added a little flair with an angular collar, a black widow symbol, and yellow Widow Bites gauntlets. It’s rare that this costume doesn’t look cool, and Rivals could certainly work their magic on it with some added elements too.

Widow has several great costumes to choose from, but we’re throwing in a bonus for her. The Hellfire Gala gave us some truly unforgettable costume designs over the last few years, and for 2022’s Gala Russell Dauterman created this beauty of a look that screamed Black Widow but stood out from anything else she’s worn in the past. A huge part of that is the red mask coupled with the long braid that goes almost to the ground, and through a Rivals filter, this suit might just be one of the best in the game if it makes it in.

[RELATED: Marvel Rivals: Who Is Jeff The Shark and Why Do Fans Love Him?]

Captain America: Ultimates World War II

There’s no shortage of memorable Captain America Costumes, but one that has become iconic and rather timeless is the Ultimates World War II design. The militaristic aesthetic and textures on the suit coupled with the goggles, A-adorned helmet, and more angular shield to create an unforgettable look. Even if Rivals gives the suit some touches here and there, as long as they keep the core elements and overall feel, this will be quickly become a favorite.

Moon Knight: Hunter’s Moon

As many choices as there are for Moon Knight in the costume department, this choice was beyond easy. Jed MacKay’s Moon Knight run revealed that there’s actually two Fists of Khonshu, and the other is a man named Yehya Badr, better known as Hunter’s Moon.

Hunter’s Moon is a lot like Moon Knight in terms of abilities, so him being featured as an alternate costume seems like a perfect fit. The suit features more black in the suit with a white cape and white symbol on the forehead to go along with gold gauntlets, boots, and a larger belt. Add a few touches from the Rivals design team and you’ve got an instantly cool costume that is also a huge nod to the Moon Knight comics, and that seems like a genuinely inning combination.

Magik: Phoenix Five

There was a time when several X-Men were in possession of the Phoenix force, becoming known for a time as the Phoenix Five. Magik was part of that group alongside Colossus, Cyclops, White Queen, and Namor, and Marvel Rivals should be able to create something extremely slick based on Magik’s Phoenix Five design. The red and gold of the suit shakes things up from her standard look, though the spiky armor and longer black boots feel tied to that standard, so it still feels familiar. Think this would look pretty rad as Magik tears up the battlefield with her soulsword, right?

Spider-Man: Hellfire Gala

This one was difficult, because aside from Batman, there’s not many with a wardrobe of memorable costumes that can rival Spider-Man. Not going to lie, Scarlet Spider was here for a while, and it’s still my absolute favorite Spider-Man look…but then the Hellfire Gala raised its hand for consideration.

The 2022 Hellfire Gala delivered some truly stunning designs, and one of them was this beauty. Few costumes fit the current Rivals aesthetic better than this Hellfire Gala Spider-Man look, which comes with an almost neon lit Spider design that stretches across the front and back but across the side, and it looks insanely cool and unlike any other Spider-Man design. Thrown in the neon webbed boots, gloves, and eyes, and you’ve got yourself a costume that feels ready made for Rivals from day one.

Fantastic Four: Future Foundation

Like with Anti-Venom, if this set isn’t already in the works it feels like a truly missed opportunity. The Future Foundation costumes have remained one of the best costume redesigns in the modern era, and not just for the Fantastic Four, but for Marvel heroes period. The white and black color scheme and clean modern lines looked fantastic on the page, and they would look just as great in the midst of all the chaos onscreen. Plus, you just released the Fantastic Four, and you could also give one to Spider-Man at some point, so this seems like a no-brainer.

Storm: Age of Apocalypse

We’re heading to an alternate universe for this next one, and that would be one of my favorite all time stories the Age of Apocalypse. Now you could fill a whole list with looks from this alternate future, but we’re going with two of them, starting with Storm. Storm already has a mostly black suit and a mostly white suit in the game, and Storm’s AoA suit actually is a blend of both, with a touch of signature 90s style.

The suit stands out for its relatively sleek design and black and white color scheme, but it also has the puffier look towards the shoulders, the vest-jacket combination that is broken up with the gold sash, and the longer white boots. It also features the shorter hair and the black tattoo around the eye, creating an incredibly memorable look that feels familiar but doesn’t look like anything else currently in Rivals. If you were to give this to the Rivals design team and let them add some of their flair to it, you could have something insanely cool to shake up your Storm costume rotation.

Wolverine: Age of Apocalypse, Horseman of Death

Last but certainly not least is Wolverine, who currently has a few killer costumes already in the game, including his yellow and blue costume and the Old Man Logan-esque look that stole the show of this week’s brand new battlepass. He has plenty more in the vault though, and one of them is the Age of Apocalypse redesign that has become an all time favorite. In Age of Apocalypse, Wolverine sported a blue and red costume that looks good on its own, but when combined with the wilder hair and metal stump over his other hand becomes something else altogether. If Rivals went with this look, you would see quite a few AoA Logans running around the battlefield, and I can’t blame anyone because I’d be right there with them.

Now, if you wanted to do something completely different, you could go with the Horseman of Death design. Logan’s time as the Horseman of Death had him wearing a red cloak around his face and at one point also around his head to hide his identity, and that was combined with a primarily blue armored costume with silver accents and brown straps that held the chest plate and gauntlets in place. If given a Marvel Rivals-style design, you could easily see this being something that caught people’s eye, and it might even help people spot Wolverine more as he darts across the battlefield.

Alright, those are our picks for 10 plus costumes from the comics we hope to see in Marvel Rivals, but let us know which ones you want to see too! You can talk all things Marvel Rivals and comics with me on Bluesky @KnightofOA!

The post 10 Comics Costumes We Absolutely Need in Marvel Rivals appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Wolverine has made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, with Hugh Jackman returning to play the mutant in Deadpool & Wolverine. Jackman’s return reminded everyone why he’s the longest tenured superhero actor and showed off Wolverine at his best. Wolverine is hot right now and MCU fans can’t wait to see him again. Luckily for them, there are fifty years of amazing comics they can read to get the best Wolverine stories imaginable.

Comics can be very hard to get into and Wolverine comics are no different. It’s hard to know where to start, but luckily this list has you covered. These ten Wolverine stories are the ones that MCU fans need to read. They’ll show MCU fans Wolverine in new ways and are among the best Wolverine stories of all time.

Weapon X-Men

The MCU loves multiverse stories and Deadpool & Wolverine showed off multiple versions of the character. For MCU fans that want a story that brings Wolverines from around the multiverse together, Weapon X-Men, by Christos Gage and Yildray Cinar, will scratch that itch. The story brings together five versions of Wolverine to travel the multiverse and try to stop the nigh-omnipotent villain Onslaught.

This is an exciting story, and is one of the best multiverse stories of the last decade. However, what makes it work so well for MCU fans is that the book goes into detail about each of the Wolverines. It answers any questions they’d have about them and takes each of them on an interesting journey. Weapon X-Men is perfect for fans who want to see Wolverine in a completely different light and succeeds in basically every way.

Weapon X (1995)

Weapon X-Men and Deadpool & Wolverine both feature one of the best multiversal Wolverines – the one-handed Wolverine from the blockbuster X-Men event The Age of Apocalypse named Weapon X. Weapon X #1-4, by Larry Hama and Adam Kubert, takes place in an alternate universe where Professor X was killed in the past and Apocalypse took over. The series begins with Logan and Jean Grey working for the Human High Council and battling Apocalypse’s forces. When Logan volunteers to guide the Human armada into North America for a nuclear attack, Jean leaves him, and Logan has to figure out how to get past Apocalypse’s defenses on his own.

Weapon X is one of the better miniseries from The Age of Apocalypse. It tells an interesting story, showing off a very different Wolverine. Many fans wondered who the one-handed Wolverine from Deadpool & Wolverine is, and this book will tell them his best story. Hama is one of the best Wolverine writers of all time – this won’t be the last time he appears on this list – and this story shows that he can work with any kind of Wolverine, even one from a completely different universe.

Old Man Logan

Old Man Logan, by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, is quite familiar to fans of Deadpool & Wolverine and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Old Man Logan appeared as one of the multiversal Wolverines that Deadpool tried to recruit and Logan is very loosely based on this story. Old Man Logan takes place in a future where the Marvel villains won. Logan is now a pacifist, working a farm in the Hulk’s territory. In debt to the Hulk Gang, he’s approached by Hawkeye for a bodyguard job, one that will allow him to pay off his debt. The two set off across the US, going on a bloody adventure that readers will never forget.

Old Man Logan is one of the best dystopian future stories out there. It’s dark and violent, with a reveal in the middle that will surprise readers. It’s an amazing piece of Wolverine fiction which perfectly understands the character. While the writing is very good – it’s almost certainly Millar’s best Marvel work – it’s the art that truly makes it sing. McNiven was sensational in this comic, his visual storytelling helping capture the flavor of this dystopian nightmare world.

Enemy of the State

Old Man Logan wasn’t Mark Millar’s first dance with Wolverine. The writer worked on the character before, with the year-long action epic known as Enemy of the State, alongside artist John Romita Jr. Enemy of the State sees Wolverine lured to Japan by the Gorgon, a leader of the magical ninja clan known as The Hand. Gorgon murders Wolverine and resurrects him, controlling his mind and making him join up with Hydra. The mind-controlled Wolverine becomes the greatest weapon of the two terrorist factions, battling the superhero community.

Enemy of the State was originally published as two six-issue story arcs – the first titled “Enemy of the State” and the second titled “Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, which should give readers an idea of where the story goes. These 12 issues are filled with amazing action scenes, showing off why Wolverine is one of the most formidable characters in the Marvel Universe. This story is pure excitement and will impress MCU fans who loved the Wolverine action scenes of Deadpool & Wolverine.

The Shiva Scenario

Wolverine’s past in the Weapon X program changed his life and The Shiva Scenario digs into what they did to his mind. Published in Wolverine (Vol. 2) #48-50, by Larry Hama and Marc Silvestri, the story followed Wolverine as he tried to plumb the depths of his memory. With the help of Professor X and Jean Grey, he finds clues to where Weapon X vivisected his mind. What he finds there is Shiva, a robot planted there to destroy Weapon X subjects who dig too deeply into their memory implants. This leads to a climactic battle against a machine built to kill people like Wolverine.

This story came out in 1991, around the same time as hyped books like X-Men (Vol. 2) #1 and X-Force #1. It was the first Wolverine story of many ’90s fans and did an amazing job of hooking readers. It’s an exciting story that showed just how deep of a character Wolverine can be, setting up his relationships with his friends in the X-Men, and ended with an action-packed bang. It also plays off another Wolverine story on this list, one that digs even deeper into Wolverine’s past.

Related: 3 Times Wolverine Should Have Died (And His Healing Powers Worked Overtime)

Weapon X (1991)

In the early ’90s, Wolverine appeared monthly in the X-Men books, his own solo series, and the anthology book Marvel Comics Presents. In 1991, writer/artist Barry Windsor Smith took over that last book’s Wolverine feature and gave readers Weapon X, which ran through Marvel Comics Presents #72-84. This story focused on the heads of Weapon X as they oversaw the adamantium bonding process on the subject known as Logan. However, something goes terribly wrong, and Logan is able to escape, cutting a bloody swath through Weapon X.

It’s the second story on this list with the title Weapon X, but this story is also one of the most important Wolverine stories of all time. Fans were rabid for information about Wolverine’s origin in 1991, and this story gave them a part of it. Windsor-Smith is one of the comic industry’s greatest talents, and he definitely brought his A-game to this story. Fans got a glimpse of Weapon X in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men: Apocalypse, and this comic inspired those, making it a must-read.

Not Dead Yet

Wolverine: Not Dead Yet, by Warren Ellis and Leinil Yu, takes place during the bone claw years of Wolverine. These years contain some amazing stories, showing off Wolverine having to learn to fight without his unbreakable claws and skeleton. This plays into Not Dead Yet, as an assassin who knew him in his black ops days known as the Gweilo sets his sights on Wolverine. The Gweilo is among the greatest assassins on the planet, an expert at creating death traps for his quarry. However, the Gweilo’s information is a little out of date and he’s prepared to kill a Wolverine with an unbreakable skeleton.

This story is yet another masterpiece of action storytelling. Wolverine weathers the Gweilo’s assaults, trying survive long enough to strike at the assassin. This story shows Wolverine at his most desperate, but also at his most resourceful. This makes it a great story for MCU fans who want to see the character tested in ways they’ve never seen on the big screen. It’s a gem of the bone claw years.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #90

Wolverine and Sabretooth have fought wars over the years. Sabretooth is Wolverine’s greatest foe, and there are lots of great battles between the two for MCU fans to explore. The next two entries on this list show off two of the best. The first comes from Wolverine (Vol. 2) #90, by Larry Hama and Adam Kubert, which takes place during the bone claw years. Wolverine has returned to the X-Mansion – he had left because he feared his loss of adamantium would make him a liability – and finds Sabretooth a prisoner there. He holds himself back from executing his hated enemy, but that changes when he realizes that Sabretooth is about to escape. The two have a knockdown, drag-out fight, one that ends in a way that no one ever would have guessed.

This issue has some amazing fold-out pages that give the story a larger than life feel. Every page is excellent. Hama has written several Wolverine and Sabretooth fights, and he cuts to the core of their hatred for one another in this issue. Kubert, himself one of the greatest Wolverine artists of all time, gives readers a visceral showdown between the two characters, his art capturing the enmity and brutality. This Wolverine/Sabretooth fight is one of the ones MCU fans need to experience. It could easily be called the best Wolverine/Sabretooth story if it wasn’t for the next entry on this list.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #10

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #10, by Chris Claremont, John Buscema, and Bill Sienkiewicz, is considered by many to be the single greatest single issue of Wolverine ever. The story takes place on Wolverine’s birthday on the island of Madripoor, as he tries to lay low. The reason why is revealed in the issue’s flashbacks, which take place far in the past on his birthday. Coming home from a fishing trip, he finds his girlfriend Silver Fox brutally murdered, with Sabretooth’s stink all over her and their cabin. This leads him to town, where he attacks Sabretooth and learns a painful lesson. Meanwhile, he’s not able to stay out of trouble in the present, constantly looking over his shoulder for his longtime foe.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #10 presents an important part of Wolverine’s past, from a master of Wolverine. Claremont made Wolverine famous during his run on Uncanny X-Men, and this is easily one of Claremont’s finest forays with the character. John Buscema was a Marvel veteran and this issue saw him inked by Bill Sienniewicz, giving his fluid pencils a very special feel. This is an amazing story, a taut story that gives readers everything they could ever want from a comic. It shows the origins of Wolverine and Sabretooth’s vendetta, making it a must-read for any MCU fan.

Wolverine (Vol. 1) #1-4

Wolverine became a big star in the late ’70s and early ’80s because of his place on the cast of Uncanny X-Men. It was only a matter of time before he got his own solo series, and that moment came in 1982. Wolverine (Vol. 1) #1-4, by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, saw Wolverine going to Japan to help the love of his life Mariko Yashida. Her father, Yakuza boss Shingen, has married her to one of his flunkies. Wolverine steps in and the more skilled Shingen beats him within an inch of his life. The rest of the story sees Wolverine team up with the wild ninja Yukio, learning to think about how he fights in time for a rematch with Shingen.

This story will be somewhat familiar to longtime fans of the Wolverine movies – The Wolverine partly adapted it. However, the original comic is vastly superior. Claremont is at his finest – few writers can cook like early ’80s Claremont – and working with fellow legend Frank Miller on pencils makes him even better. Miller also turns in some of his best art, capturing the man and warrior that is Wolverine. MCU fans need to experience Wolverine in Japan and this is the finest Wolverine in Japan story of them all.

These Wolverine comics are available from Marvel.

The post 10 Wolverine Stories Perfect for MCU Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When Disney announced their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, Marvel fans knew it was only a matter of time before the X-Men joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s been five years of a slow rollout, with projects like X-Men ’97 and Deadpool & Wolverine showing just how rabid fans are for Marvel’s merry mutants. Kevin Feige has said that the next few Marvel projects will start to incorporate mutants more, hyping fans up even more.

The X-Men can be quite a complicated beast (no pun). The mutant corner of the Marvel Universe is its own little fiefdom, one that is completely different in a lot of ways from the mainline Marvel Universe. For MCU fans who want to understand the X-Men side of things, see where the movies could be going, and get more context for events from Marvel Studios projects like X-Men ’97 and Deadpool & Wolverine, there are some stories that must be read. The 10 X-Men stories listed below are perfect for the MCU fans who want an X-Men primer, readying them for the eventual MCU debut of Charles Xavier’s finest students.

10. The Age of Apocalypse

Deadpool & Wolverine showed several Wolverine variants, including one with one hand. This is Weapon X, the Wolverine from The Age of Apocalypse, a story that is widely considered the greatest alternate reality story in comic history. The premise is simple – Legion, wanting to make Professor X’s life better and spend more time with his father, goes back in time to kill Magneto, but accidentally kills Xavier. Without Xavier to create the X-Men, Apocalypse decides to use mutants to attack the world, conquering the Americas and starting a war with humanity. Magneto decides to form his own team of X-Men to battle Apocalypse, fighting a desperate war against the ancient mutant and his overwhelming power.

The Age of Apocalypse spans two bookend issues and ten miniseries. Not all of them are amazing, but they serve as the most complete look at an alternate universe that Marvel had created up until the first Ultimate Universe premiered in the 2000s. Marvel has printed the entire saga in several omnibuses, making them easy to find, and MCU fans should give them a chance. The MCU loves multiversal stories and they’ll definitely use The Age of Apocalypse at some point. It would behoove fans to be familiar with it, plus it’s a mostly killer story, making reading it a win-win.

9. The Brood Saga

Writer Chris Claremont is the X-Men’s greatest architect. Claremont took the concept of the team and revolutionized it, mixing superhero action with sci-fi, horror, social commentary, and soap opera dynamics that made the members of the team into three-dimensional characters. This list is going to include a lot of Claremont – the man wrote X-Men comics for over twenty years in three different runs as well as several more years writing alternate universe X-Men stories – and the best place to start is with The Brood Saga, from Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Paul Smith.

The Brood Saga is a sci-fi horror with the X-Men in it. It introduces the Brood, a race of aliens who share a lot in common with the Xenomorphs of Alien fame, and documents the first of many battles the X-Men fought against them. It incorporates the Shi’Ar Empire, which fans of X-Men ’97 are definitely familiar with, and tests the X-Men in entirely new ways. It also proves how well the X-Men work in horror stories, something that the MCU could explore, especially with the fact that Marvel Studios is more liable to go R-rated nowadays.

8. E Is for Extinction

Writer Grant Morrison is one of the comic industry’s greatest scribes. While they’re mostly known for their DC work, Morrison did work at Marvel from 2000 to 2004, and had a forty-issue stint writing the X-Men in New X-Men. Their first story, with artist Frank Quitely, is called E Is For Extinction and it serves as a soft reboot for the X-Men after the chaos of the ’90s. It introduces Deadpool & Wolverine villain Cassandra Nova and shows off her war against her twin brother Professor X, one that costs the lives of sixteen million mutants when her Mega-Sentinels destroy the mutant nation of Genosha.

This story was partly the inspiration for X-Men ’97 but is completely different from that show. It sets up a new team of X-Men – Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Wolverine, Professor X, and former villain Emma Frost – and kicks off a new status quo for the team, one that sees them act more as teachers and mutant rescue workers than superheroes. However, the book has its fair share of action and its epilogue issue sets up the first phase of Morrison’s saga. It’s definitely a different type of X-Men story than MCU fans are used to, but Morrison’s wild creativity is on display and sucks readers in. While Quitely’s art is definitely an acquired taste, it works perfectly for this revolutionary story.

7. Riot at Xavier’s

The Xavier Institute is an important part of the X-Men mythos and the MCU needs to include it. Morrison’s run focuses a lot on the school, and that comes to a head in Riot at Xavier’s, a story that shows that sometimes the reality of anti-mutant bigotry flies in the face of Xavier’s idealistic dream. The story, from Morrison, Quitely, and Keron Grant, introduces readers to Quentin Quire, a mega-powerful telepath who finds out he’s adopted. This shatters his worldview and sees him start to rail against the ideals of the Xavier Institute, forming the Omega Gang, and deciding to start a riot on the day of the school’s open house.

Riot at Xavier’s is unique in the pantheon of the X-Men. It’s rare that an X-Men book so directly questions Xavier’s dream. The themes of youthful rebellion are a lot of fun and it’s nice for MCU fans to get a different view of the school and its students. Riot at Xavier’s shows off what can be done with the X-Men, and it’s an important story in the team’s history.

6. God Loves, Man Kills

God Loves, Man Kills is one of the greatest distillations of all the X-Men’s themes. Claremont went hard in this story, working with artist Brent Anderson, telling the story of the X-Men’s battle against Reverend Stryker and his Purifiers, a group of religious nutjobs who hate mutants. After the murder of two mutant children, the X-Men and Magneto team up to fight the Purifiers and their toxic beliefs, leading to a confrontation that was extremely controversial when the book was published and is as important today as it was then.

God Loves, Man Kills revolves around a villain who perverts religion to fuel bigotry. This is exactly the kind of story that the X-Men should be telling. It’s one of the greatest pieces of social commentary in the history of the superhero comic medium. MCU fans have rarely seen superhero stories like this, which is why they need to experience this powerful yarn. The MCU can often be empty calories, for lack of a better term, and this story is anything but.

Related: 5 X-Men Characters That Were Ruined by the Movies

5. Mutant Genesis

The X-Men’s relationship with Magneto is one of the best protagonist/antagonist relationships in the comic industry. Pretty much anyone who is a fan of superheroes, whether they be movies only or comic readers, knows about it and there are some excellent stories revolving around them. However, the best of these, the one that illustrates the rivalry the best comes from X-Men (Vol. 2) #1-3, from Claremont and Jim Lee, which is collected as Mutant Genesis.

The story sees a group of mutants chased to Magneto’s doorsteps by S.H.I.E.L.D.. The Master of Magnetism saves them and decides that humans need a lesson again about their dealings with mutants. The story introduces the Acolytes, the X-Men’s Blue and Gold teams, and outlines the main plot beats of the war between the X-Men and Magneto. It’s epic in every sense of the word, with Claremont and Lee hitting the next level. This story could easily be used as inspiration for the first MCU movie, which makes it a must-read for MCU fans.

4. Fatal Attractions

X-Men ’97 adapted Fatal Attractions to end its first season, so it’s at least somewhat familiar to MCU fans. The comic is somewhat different, and is one of the better X-Men stories of the post-Claremont 1990s. Magneto decides that he’s going to destroy human civilization and begins to call certain mutants to his new space station Avalon, sending his servant Exodus and the Acolytes to the Earth. This leads to battles with the various X-teams, and Magneto makes his move, detonating a planet-crippling EMP, just like in X-Men ’97. This spurs the X-Men to go and end Magneto’s threat, leading to a battle that almost costs them Wolverine and sees one of Xavier’s most desperate actions.

Fatal Attractions incorporates most of the heroes of the 1990s X-Men universe, showing MCU fans the breadth of the mutant side of things. While there are some things that MCU fans won’t have much context for – like the death of Illyana Rasputin – it’s still pretty new reader-friendly. Taken altogether, it’s an amazing story and is yet another near-perfect Magneto story.

3. Gifted

Morrison’s New X-Men took the X-Men away from their superhero roots, and when Morrison left Marvel – itself an amazing story for another day – the company decided to put the X-Men back in the colorful spandex. Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, from Joss Whedon and the late great John Cassaday, brings Kitty Pryde back to the X-Men and sees them deal with the threat of a new alien villain named Ord and a mutant cure, which represents an existential menace for the team and their students.

Gifted borrows heavily from Claremont – soap opera dynamics combined with big superhero action. Cassaday’s art is beautiful and brings the story to life in the best possible way. It’s hard to say nice things about Whedon in 2025, but his writing is perfect for MCU fans. The story explains everything a new reader needs to know, and has the snarky sense of humor that MCU fans expect from superheroes. It has just the right mixture of action, dramatic stakes, characterization, and humor.

2. Days of Future Past

Claremont worked with some brilliant artists, but most X-Men fans agree that his time working with artist/co-plotter John Byrne shows off some of the best X-Men stories of all time. The two worked well together, and anyone who wants to see peak X-Men needs to read their stories. Days of Future Past represents one of their finest stories as a team, as fans of the X-Men movies know all too well. It takes place in a future where the Sentinels have conquered the Earth, killed most of the superhumans, and put humans into camps, all to keep control of the mutant population. The X-Men decide to make a two-pronged attack – try to destroy the Sentinel’s Master Mold while sending Kate Pryde back in time to stop the assassination that created their timeline.

Days of Future Past is a short story – spanning only two issues of Uncanny X-Men – but its one of the most important stories not only in X-Men history but in Marvel history. Every dark dystopian superhero future owes a debt gof ratitude to this story. Every page is brilliant, the perfect combination of art and prose. This is true art, something that MCU fans need to see. However, it can’t hold a candle to the next story, Claremont and Byrne’s finest hour together…

1. The Dark Phoenix Saga

The Dark Phoenix Saga is widely considered the greatest X-Men story ever, but that’s selling it short. It’s the greatest Marvel story ever, a poetic piece of superhero pop art from Claremont and Byrne. It takes everything that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby set up for superheroes and takes it to the Nth degree. This is perfect Marvel, a story that revolves around the characters and their history while giving readers jaw-dropping action and drama. The Dark Phoenix Saga is truly that good, the perfect synthesis of a creative team as they craft a story that will stick with readers forever after.

The Dark Phoenix Saga revolves around a simple concept – power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The fall of Jean Grey, exacerbated by the manipulations of the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, is rendered perfectly by Claremont and Byrne. Claremont has never met a piece of purple prose that he didn’t love, and this story sees him at his most elegiac, every caption inflaming reader’s minds while Byrne’s art gives their eyes a treat unlike any they’ve ever had. This ultimate Marvel story is what every MCU fans needs to experience. Few adaptations have ever done the story justice – fans who went back and watched X-Men: The Animated Series before X-Men ’97 have seen the only good one – which speaks to the kind of accomplishment that this story represents.

The post 10 X-Men Stories Perfect for MCU Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Universe has a new boss, and his name is Doctor Doom. The legendary Marvel villain orchestrated events to steal the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme away from Doctor Strange in the finale of Blood Hunt. But after claiming his prize, Doctor Doom has kept a low profile, biding his time until just the right moment to declare to the world his intentions. Well, that time is coming in “One World Under Doom,” a publishing event that will sweep across the Marvel Universe. The main story will be told in a One World Under Doom limited series by Fantastic Four writer Ryan North and artist R.B. Silva.

ComicBook got the chance to talk to Ryan North ahead of the release of February’s One World Under Doom #1, which we had the opportunity to read. We asked North about the storytelling choices made in the debut issue, Doom’s opening salvo and how Earth’s Mightiest Heroes choose to respond, what characters fans should keep their eyes on, the state of the Marvel Universe post-“One World Under Doom,” and much more. We can also show off lettered preview pages for One World Under Doom #1, which goes on sale February 12th.

[RELATED: Marvel’s Doomasaur Returns: Doctor Doom Dinosaur Roars Again in One World Under Doom]

ComicBook: What was the idea behind starting the first issue with a long speech by Doctor Doom? It really helped set the tone for the story.

Ryan North: That was actually the first thing I wrote years ago when I started on it. I wrote the first version of that speech because it’s a Doctor Doom story and I wanted to make sure we knew where Doctor Doom was coming from, why he’s doing this, what he hopes to accomplish. It felt like a cool way to start the issue, with Doom being like, “Hey, I’m taking over the world and here’s why and here’s what we’re going to do.”

On the surface it appears that Doom means well. He’s in favor of universal healthcare and things of that nature. But there’s always a catch with Doom, and we see that come into play with Baron Zemo and Hydra. How will this game of chess between Doom and our heroes escalate as the series continues?

That’s a great question. Doom is someone who is not just smart but knows he’s smart, and likes to outsmart people. In the first issue, he outmaneuvers the heroes from the moment go by just thinking ahead and being smarter. The story of “One World Under Doom,” for the most part, is seeing these heroes react to Doom being in charge and trying to figure out “How do we stop him? How do we fix this? How do we go against someone who is doing his best to try and get people to like him?”

He’s Doctor Doom, he dresses like a scary robot but he’s trying to get people to like him. If you’ve seen the first issue, that woman he saves at the end repeats his slogan back to him. She’s on board.

I’m always interested in the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of how these types of stories and events come together. Was “One World Under Doom” in the works when you began your run on Fantastic Four?

It wasn’t, but it was very shortly afterward we started talking about it. It was in the works for quite awhile. I wrote Issue #7 of Fantastic Four as a Doctor Doom story and I think we started talking about it after that. It’s something that’s been in my head for years and years.

Aside from Doctor Doom, what characters are going to get a bigger spotlight in later issues?

Oh gosh, there’s tons. Slight spoiler, but the next issue has Doctor Doom going to Valeria Richards, his goddaughter, and going, “Look, unlike most people on Earth I care what you think. And I’m going to try and justify this to you.”

The Doom/Valeria relationship is one of my favorite in comics. It’s something on paper shouldn’t work. Why would Doom accept the daughter of his most hated enemy as his goddaughter? But he does and it works. It’s dramatic and operatic, and so satisfying. So that is a relationship I’m pleased to get to explore a bit.

The solicit for the second issue also teases a meeting between Doom and the Fantastic Four? Can you talk about what it’s like to bring these iconic characters together like this, especially in a big event like this?

Part of me almost thinks you need a big event like this whenever you have Reed [Richards] and Doctor Doom in the same room because they are such opposites, but also so much like each other. And neither of them will ever admit it. It’s such a fun dynamic.

Of course, what happens in this “One World Under Doom” event affects the Marvel Universe for the next 10 months, the rest of the year. That obviously touches what goes on in Fantastic Four. There are a lot of one-shot stories and one-and-dones under this status quo of “Doom is in charge and what are we going to do about it?”

This is your first big Marvel event as the head writer, so what’s it been like collaborating with the different editorial teams, and writers and artists on all the tie-ins and one-shots?

It’s been really fun. I’ve never been in this position before. I’m usually the guy doing the tie-ins, which is also fun. One of the things I wanted to do was have the full event written well in advance so that when people do a tie-in it’s not me saying, “Oh, I think this is what’s going to be happening.” Instead it’s, “Here’s the script, here’s what’s going on this month, you can play with that.”

There’s stuff coming up in Avengers and Iron Man that I’m so excited and honestly impressed, like, “Man, I wish I came up with that. That’s a really cool thing [laughs].” I’m very excited for how this is going to go across. It should feel tied together and organic and really, really cool.

[RELATED: Benjamin Percy Sets the Stage for Red Hulk’s Showdown With Doctor Doom]

Looking at the bigger picture, how has it been to work on the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom when all eyeballs will be on them later in the year with The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Doom joining the MCU?

It’s been fun and gratifiying. I feel like there are people that think of the Fantastic Four as your grandparents’ superheroes. Like they’re old, they’re not that interesting. But they’re great. They’re really great characters and there’s a reason they’ve stuck around for so long.

I think the fact we’re getting this movie with an exciting, relevant cast will help people realize these are some cool people, with a cool world and cool villains and everything. And bring more eyes to the comics, which is always great.

To wrap up, what will be the state of the Marvel Universe once “One World Under Doom” concludes?

How can I answer this one without spoiling? I guess I can say that where this story ends is not where it begins. There are things that come out of this story that are going to have to be dealt with by everyone else.

Everyone always says, “This story is going to have consequences.” There’s stuff beyond this story that I think, “Wow, I’m glad I don’t have to write the next event because this is a big thing to pick up on.”

The post One World Under Doom: Ryan North Reveals Doctor Doom’s Plans for the Marvel Universe appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Famous songs are a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heck, the franchise’s very first scene (the opening of Iron Man) was set to AC/DC’s “Back in Black”. Since then, MCU films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: Ragnarok, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and so many others have famously utilized iconic songs for sweeping sequences audiences never forget. But not every needle drop in this franchise is one that created an iconic moment. On the contrary, countless uses of recognizable pre-existing tunes within the Marvel Cinematic Universe have slipped through the cracks of the public consciousness.

In their original forms, these tunes topped the Billboard charts and dazzled radio listeners everywhere. But in their Marvel Cinematic Universe usage, they just breezed past viewers without drawing any attention. Now it’s time to give seven especially oddball Marvel Cinematic Universe needle drops their flowers.

“California Love” by 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman in Iron Man 2

In his larger big-screen trajectory, Tony Stark/Iron Man spent a lot of time in New York City and outer space. When he first appeared in Iron Man and Iron Man 2, though, a unique facet of the live-action version of Iron Man was that he lived on the West Coast rather than New York, where most Marvel heroes resided. Inevitably, this armored Avenger crossed paths with the ultimate California tune, “California Love” by 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman, in Iron Man 2. Unfortunately, given the deluge of needle drops in Iron Man 2, 2Pac’s big Marvel Cinematic Universe debut was impossible to remember against a barrage of AC/DC tracks.

“Single Ladies” by Beyonce in Doctor Strange

“Dormammu! I’ve come to bargain!” Those two lines, along with its trippiest visuals, have defined Doctor Strange’s pop culture legacy. Any other humorous moments have inevitably been forgotten in the sands of time. That includes a scene where Wong (after being non-responsive after Doctor Strange asks him if he knows who Beyonce is) sitting in the Kamar-Taj library listening to “Single Ladies” by Beyonce. It’s a cute gag that briefly lets this gloriously peppy song hit people’s eardrums. In hindsight, it also works to show Wong’s lighter side that would come to the forefront in She-Hulk and Shang-Chi.

“Come On Get Happy” by The Partridge Family in Ant-Man and the Wasp

The specifics of the Ant-Man movies tend to get lost in larger Marvel Cinematic Universe discussions, especially in a post-Quantumania world. That means details like that Ant-Man and the Wasp utilized “Come on Get Happy,” the theme song to The Patridge Family, have remained oddly obscure. However, this bouncy tune did indeed kick off this Marvel Cinematic Universe installment. Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang even briefly sings a few lines of the song through the magic of a karaoke machine. Who knew 1970s sitcoms and 2018 blockbuster cinema would ever merge?

“Come As You Are” by Nirvana in Captain Marvel

The 1990s rock needle drops in Captain Marvel never quite took off as, say, the period-era ditties from Guardians of the Galaxy. This means everyone has forgotten that Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” showed up in a key sequence where Annette Bening’s Supreme Intelligence, clad in a leather jacket, torments Carol Danvers. Making this needle drop extra puzzling is that it isn’t the first time this particular Nirvana track has been connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Come As You Are” was the centerpiece of the very first Netflix Defenders teaser trailer, after all.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Malia J in Black Widow

Hey, more Nirvana! Setting Black Widow’s opening credits, chronicling the adolescent torment of Natasha, Yelena, and other young girls in the Black Widow training program, to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” isn’t an inherently kooky idea. What makes this needle drop so unexpected is what version of “Teen Spirit” is utilized. A cover version from Malia J is used that, as near as this writer can tell, was first publicly released in 2015 with the release of the main trailer for The Gallows. Who knew that long-forgotten horror movie bomb would be in any way connected to the blockbuster feature kicking off Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Opting for such an obscure rendition of a famous grunge anthem makes this one of the most inexplicable Marvel Cinematic Universe needle drops.

[Related: 5 MCU Villains That Should Cameo in Marvel’s Thunderbolts]

“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

When Shang-Chi and Katy go do some karaoke at the start of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, they inevitably sing some popular karaoke staples like “A Whole New World” and “Old Town Road.” One tune they belt out, though, is Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” This more unexpected pick provides a bit of Mouse House synergy since it originated in the 1998 Touchstone Pictures release, Armageddon. Disney really never passes up a chance for cross-promotion.

“Mama Tried” in Eternals

When the modern incarnation of Don Lee’s Gilgamesh finally shows up wearing an apron and giant grin in Eternals, he’s accompanied by a totally unexpected needle drop for a 2021 blockbuster. The mid-20th century twang of Merle Haggard belting “Mama Tried” fills the soundtrack. This classic country tune is the last thing anyone would imagine showing up in a sci-fi epic, but it actually fits a bit into writer/director Chloe Zhao’s larger creative tendencies. After all, this needle drop echoes Toby Keith’s country hit “I Love This Bar” briefly showing up in Zhao’s 2020 feature, Nomadland.

Marvel Cinematic Universe films are streaming on Disney+.

The post 7 Bizarre Marvel Cinematic Universe Song Drops You Totally Forgot About appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For many who’ve played Marvel Rivals, choosing which Marvel superhero or villain to play can be challenging. Out of the 33 characters already introduced to the title, with more on the way, many players wonder which role is the best to tackle to score a win for the team. While it might take some time to figure out the optimal approach, there is an easier way of finding this out. Based on the recent data update for Marvel Rivals Hero Hot List, which compiled all the data from PC and console platforms and the Game Modes, the Duelist role is the key standout in win rates.

The pick rates for these characters are thin because over 50% of the current roster is comprised of Duelists. However, their win rates range from around 44% to 53%, garnering a majority of success on the battlefield. Duelists are a force of nature when it comes to making an impact on the ground. Dealing with a high damage output, the playstyle of a Duelist is simple and the rewards are greater. The most popular characters are within this role too, such as Wolverine, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, and Iron Man.

Hela Has the Best Overall Win Stats of All the Duelists in Marvel Rivals

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Players Agree One Hero Makes the Game “Unplayable”

While the details are pretty self-explanatory, one Duelist character outperforms the main lineup of traditional superheroes… Hela. The superhero has been the topic of much-heated discussion, since her abilities are extremely powerful and are hitscan meaning that her attacks hit instantly. With only a 6.36% pick rate in Quickplay matches, Hela is ranked 10th out of the 19 Duelist characters, thus her positioning within the total roster is even lower. That said, Hela’s Quickplay win rate separates her from the rest, sitting at the top with 52.86%. Matched up against the full roster, the Thor: Ragnarok villain is among the top ten win rates.

When it comes to competitive matches, the rates are vastly different compared to PC and console users. The PC data shows Hela’s pick rate is 12.86% with a win rate of 54.24%, which equates to over 1.3 million wins out of the 2.5 million matches if we use the 20 million player data from Marvel Rivals latest update. However, the console data shows a 7.70% with a 53.47% win rate. Magik, another Duelist, gains an advantage over Hela when it comes to the win rate, but the antagonist still holds up its weight when it comes to the pick rate. If we were to take the 20 million player data, around 748,580 out of the 1.54 million Hela users have won their battles in competitive mode.

With all of the data, it’s plain to see that Hela is one of the best Duelist characters in Marvel Rivals. While this information was recently taken, the latest update, which will feature a nerf for Hela, will affect those numbers. Mister Fantastic will be joining the Duelist family, so it will be interesting to see what shifts to whose side. In the end, there is no doubt that Hela packs quite the punch on the battlefield as the top Duelist character all-around … for now.

The post Marvel Rivals Stats Confirm Which Duelist Wins the Most appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s the sidekicks’ time to shine in the Marvel Universe. Marvel has quietly been sprinkling in new young heroes throughout several comics over the last year, all leading up to the launch of a New Champions series. While covers for New Champions have featured a hefty number of characters, the debut issue only starts with four characters officially on the team. Now, you certainly can have a superhero team with a small roster, but that doesn’t explain the cover art and promise of a wide range of sidekicks. The answer to this problem calls for a recruitment drive, except it comes in an unexpected fashion. WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for New Champions #1. Continue reading at your own risk!

New Champions #1 comes from the creative team of Steve Foxe, Ivan Fiorelli, IG Guara, Arthur Hesli, and VC’s Travis Lanham. It begins with the four New Champions — Moon Squire, Liberty, Cadet Marvel, and Hellrune — stopping The Brothers Grimm from stealing a vault. Afterward, they head back to their respective parents, but the only problem is that Hellrune lives with a foster family. All of their parents know they are superheroes, but Hellrune is the only one has gaps in her backstory.

[RELATED: Marvel Officially Reveals a New Team of Super Teens (And They’re Not the Young Avengers)]

She tries to solve the mystery of her past by sending ravens out to track down her real family. One raven returns with word of Hellrune’s aunt, so she teleports to an island off the coast of Norway. Meanwhile, Liberty reveals she’s put invisible hard-light tracers on everyone’s costumes so she can track their whereabouts, which is how she knows Hellrune is in Norway. The problem is Hellrune’s tracker went dead. Just as the New Champions start to discuss what their next move is going to be, Hellrune’s birds show up repeating, “Bring me the New Champions!” bringing the threesome to Hellrune’s location.

The New Champions recruit Spider-Boy, Hulkette, Amaranth and more

Just as the New Champions get their bearings, they’re attacked by a hoard of Norse zombies. Right before one of the zombies gets the drop on Liberty, Fantasma shows up to save her. Fantasma is a roller derby-winning Spirit of Vengeance who made her debut in Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes Special #1. Think of Fantasma as a slightly less intimidating Ghost Rider that blazes a trail on rollerblades instead of a motorcycle or car.

Fantasma was brought to Norway by Hellrune’s birds, the same as the New Champions. Hellrune appears and reveals that she was tricked into walking into a ritual sigil used to resurrect the undead Vikings and trolls. She was able to escape and asked her mystical spear to bring her the New Champions. The spear did its job by teleporting her teammates to her location, but since her request was broad and not specific, it cast a wide net across the Marvel Universe.

Just then Spider-Boy comes crashing in riding atop a massive zombie. He’s followed by six more sidekicks, including characters we’ve already been introduced to like Amaranth (Scarlet Witch’s protege) and Hulkette. There’s also a magician named Monte, someone with cosmic-like powers, and a mini Juggernaut. Some of these young heroes will officially become New Champions, though Marvel teases that others may go down a darker path.

The post Marvel’s Next Generation of Heroes Just Went on a Major Recruiting Drive appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Wednesday’s Amazing Spider-Man #65, from writer Joe Kelly and artist Carlos Alberto Fernández Urbano, is “one of the most emotional comics I’ve ever worked on,” editor Nick Lowe teased in December. The poignant issue, which is part 5 of the 10-part 8 Deaths of Spider-Man saga, sees Peter Parker suffer a fate worse than death: being powerless but to watch everyone he loves die.

Kelly’s run began with Doctor Doom, the new Sorcerer Supreme, choosing Spider-Man to be Earth’s champion against the Eight Scions of Cyttorak — the children of the dark god of destruction who empowers the unstoppable Juggernaut. To aid him in his fateful task, Doom equipped Spider-Man with an arcane armor to protect him and give him access to the mystic arts, and eight of the life-restoring Reeds of Raggadorr.

RELATED: Spider-Man’s 8 Deaths Continue in Crossover With the X-Men

Spider-Man spent the first of his eight extra lives when he was pulled apart on an atomic level by Cyntros (cause of death: spaghettification). The second was spent against the Scion Cyperion (cause of death: instantaneous dissolution of atoms through an infinitely recursive fold of space). The third was spent against the time-jumping Cyrios (cause of death: consciousness simultaneously split across past, present, and future).

When he was challenged by Callix and his sister Cyra, Spider-Man defeated Callix without suffering another excruciating death in the process. But then Cyra presented Spider-Man a different challenge: to win, he must hold Cyra’s crimson sphere until he can no longer bear it. The orb shows only “truth,” she says, and with it, another type of pain: “The inevitability of death.”

Over the next eight pages, Cyra’s sphere shows Spider-Man the deaths of everyone he’s ever loved. His once cancer-stricken Aunt May is hospitalized by the Essex Virus that kills over three million people in a month. The 79-year-old chooses to offer her bed to someone with a greater likelihood of survival, and so May Parker dies “wishing that she could have kissed her Peter, her son, one last time,” Cyra taunts.

Peter’s ex, Mary Jane Watson, dies in Spider-Man’s arms after she’s fatally wounded during a battle between the Hobgoblin and her superhero alter-ego Jackpot. J. Jonah Jameson, Peter’s former boss (and former family member by marriage), suffers a brain embolism at his desk. His girlfriend, Shay Marken, is struck and killed by a drunk driver. Randy Robertson, Peter’s activist friend and former roommate, is trampled to death at a rally addressing the housing crisis.

Felicia Hardy, Spider-Man’s former lover and partner, falls to her death while prowling the city as the Black Cat. Betty Brant, another friend and former coworker, dies in her bed surrounded by loved ones. The reformed Norman Osborn dies in a science experiment and is forgotten by history. Young Bailey Briggs (Spider-Boy), Gwen Stacy (Ghost-Spider), and Miles Morales (Spider-Man) die in the Cataclysm.

Spider-Man knows these deaths aren’t inevitable. These are potential fates in a future that has yet to be written. And yet Peter bears witness to these deaths, feeling them, all of his loved ones shepherded from life by Phil Coulson, the embodiment of Death. “Everything that lives, dies,” Coulson tells the anguished Spider-Man as he dutifully escorts countless lives into the arms of Death. And Spider-Man is powerless to save any of them.

“It’s not the pain of dying. You have felt it before,” Cyra tells Spider-Man. “You’ve died yourself. It’s not the fear, though that can be terrible at times… but you understand fear. It’s not the loss itself, great as it may be… sorrowful as it is… uncelebrated, unnoticed, or even heralded. What you understand now with crystal clarity each time you see a fellow human die… is the utter lack of impact they had on the world. With a long enough view to the horizon of the cosmos, no single life matters.”

Cyra continues, “A foundational element of your worldview is crumbling more with every death to which you bear witness. Everyone dies. Everyone is forgotten. Every legacy ends. Every great work is lost. You came from nothing… you return to nothing. Life is nothing. This is why you fight… in defense of ephemeral whispers who were dead the instant they were born… trapped in meaningless lives with inevitable ends whose echoes fade and leave only… silence.”

RELATED: 8 Deaths of Spider-Man Explained: Where to Start Reading the New Era of The Amazing Spider-Man

Spider-Man, feeling the weight of each vanishing life, collapses in Coulson’s arms. As Callix takes the opportunity to beat the champion to death, Spider-Man never lets go of the sphere. He endures. Coulson tells Spider-Man that he held on through Cyra’s trial, and now only three Scions remain — all of them worse than the five he’s faced so far.

Back at his apartment, Peter is reminded by Doctor Strange’s astral form what’s at stake should the covenant be broken: the world falls. And though Spider-Man lives, Cyra’s trial killed — extinguished — something within Peter Parker, who regretfully declares: “I quit.”

The Amazing Spider-Man #65 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

The post Marvel Has Spider-Man’s Loved Ones Die in the Most Tragic Way Possible appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Spider-Man spinoff universe is done, and while that’s not exactly breaking news anymore, it’s still a topic up for debate. People were hoping that Peter Parker would eventually meet Madame Web, Morbius, and the most talked-about villain fans were dying to see face off with the hero, Kraven the Hunter. Venom might not be the biggest issue, though, since the post-credits scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home already left a window of possibility open for the alien to pop up in future MCU projects. Sony did have a plan to expand its universe, like with the Sinister Six, but if there’s one thing the studio really struggles with, it’s scripts. Thanks to weak stories and a lack of overall franchise development, the audience’s response was underwhelming and failed to meet box office expectations. Kraven the Hunter ended up at the bottom of the franchise’s box office rankings.

The question now is: what did the future originally hold for these characters from the Spider-Man universe? Is there still a chance for them to come back, especially with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon? Or could it be that Sony, not ready to give up on Spider-Man’s world, has a backup plan? Given everything that happened in 2024, it’s tough to get excited again, and most fans have pretty much given up. The ship seems to have already sunk. But has it, really?

Where Did Sony Intend to Take Its Spider-Man Spinoff Universe Characters?

Sony’s idea of creating solo films for Madame Web and Spider-Man’s villains was a way to introduce them to the public before possibly integrating them with Peter Parker at some point. When the first Venom movie came out and earned $800+ million at the box office (proving he’s always been a popular character in Marvel comics), it gave Sony the initial impression that the spinoff universe could succeed, even without Spider-Man in the story. In fact, the box office was solid, which encouraged them to try the same solo film format with other characters. This could even allow the studio to build its own franchise, with the potential for crossovers and sequels, similar to what the MCU is.

Also, even though the agreement with Marvel Studios allowed the Web-Slinger to be included in these projects, Sony firmly believed that it wouldn’t sit well with the public to see Spider-Man in a production that wasn’t part of the MCU. They were confident that this strategy would work; however, that didn’t happen, and Sony made things really difficult and confusing, as the scripts of the spinoffs also made it seem like there was no real development toward or organized plan for the future. Nothing about Madame Web, Morbius, or Kraven the Hunter has been clearly defined since then, making it hard to speculate on how these films would move forward toward a showdown with Spider-Man.

[RELATED: Sony Pictures CEO Blames Critics for Spider-Man Spinoffs Bombing in Theaters: “These Are Not Terrible Films”]

Perhaps we should remember the idea of linking some villains to Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man. Sony had plans to create a cinematic Sinister Six, which was even suggested as a possibility after The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The idea was to bring together Spider-Man’s enemies Dr. Octopus, Vulture, Electro, Rhino, Sandman, and Mysterio, but with the mixed reception of the second film and other production issues, this villain team-up event was rethought. Tom Holland was then introduced as the new Spider-Man for the MCU.

Does this mean Sony’s Sinister Six team-up plan had to be canceled? Not completely, maybe just postponed for a long time. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the planning, based on reshoots of Morbius‘ post-credits scenes and even changes to Madame Web‘s script to ensure they didn’t disrupt the MCU Spider-Man franchise. Maybe the idea was for Morbius to be part of the villain team since he was invited by Vulture. Kraven isn’t too far off, after all, he’s officially part of the Sinister Six in the comics. Madame Web, on the other hand, could assist Peter with his foes, just like she does in the source material.

Reshaping the villains to be more antiheroes than anything else made it difficult to see them as enemies of the Web-Slinger, so it’s really uncertain how Sony would make it work without it feeling forced. This especially applies to Kraven, who went through a significant shift in his choice of victims during his movie. Still, there are possibilities for him to become a full-fledged Spider-Man villain if Marvel Studios is still considering making fans’ dreams come true. With the cancellation of the spinoffs, the truth is that all is not lost. There are still ways to take advantage of some of the doors that Sony’s productions have left open.

How Can Kraven the Hunter, Morbius, and Madame Web Fit Into the Future

Marvel Studios itself had already spoken out about the issue of Sony ruining Spider-Man at the very beginning, along with criticism from fans toward Avi Arad, co-founder of the MCU and a producer with great influence ovrer the Spider-Man brand. It’s worth mentioning that the script for the Web-Slinger’s fourth film was recently praised by Holland, but reportedly, it still seems to be undergoing rewrites due to issues with the plot. It’s hard to expect this new production to feature Madame Web, Morbius, or Kraven the Hunter, although nothing is impossible within the current Marvel Multiverse Saga. Is it possible that Kevin Feige is currently trying to fix Sony’s mistakes? One thing is certain: despite harsh criticism from fans and a lack of hope, many would still love to see a Spider-Man crossover with the new characters introduced.

Starting with Madame Web, this is perhaps the easiest to create something new with right now. With a story set in 2003, she could easily connect with Peter Parker in the present day, especially if you also consider Julia Carpenter, Anya Corazón, and Mattie Franklin, who have abilities even beyond Spider-Man’s. The movie ended with the three of them not yet being heroes, but with Cassandra seeing them as such in the future, there’s room for development. It’s worth mentioning that, considering the era portrayed (2000s), even though it’s unlikely that Tobey Maguire will return, Madame Web could still encounter his Spider-Man. Who knows? The MCU is famous for surprising.

As for Morbius, although his story is the least likely to connect to the web-slinger, one of the post-credits scenes helps a lot. Vulture, who appeared as a villain in Spider-Man: Homecoming, shows up to propose a partnership to the Living Vampire, precisely because he believes he has changed universes due to something related to Peter. That’s an open door for Morbius to cross paths with the hero at some point. As for Kraven, the safest thing to say right now is that his ending paves the way for him to go to New York in search of the Jackal (aka Prof. Miles Warren) and eventually meet up with Spider-Man.

Sony lost its way, but it’s not totally over for these characters. There are still chances to get it right – it’s just a matter of waiting to see if Marvel Studios has plans to save them first. Would it be worth bringing them into the next Avengers films? The multiverse still has plenty of time to be explored. It’s something to think about.

Some of the Sony Spider-Man Universe spinoff films are currently streaming on Netflix. Kraven doesn’t yet have a home release date.

The post Was Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Ever Going to Bring Kraven, Morbius, & Madame Web Together? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the voices behind Disney’s Mickey Mouse reveals his desire to play the iconic Marvel villain Norman Osborn / Green Goblin. While Willem Dafoe is the only actor to play the live-action version of the Spider-Man antagonist, there was another opening for an actor to portray Norman Osborn, but that slot has already been filled. Christopher Diamantopoulos voiced Mickey Mouse in The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse and is also a cast member on Amazon’s Invincible. Diamantopoulos recently broke down how he’d bring the Green Goblin to life, even though someone else is voicing Norman Osborn in the upcoming Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

The Direct spoke to Chris Diamantopoulos about his new series The Sticky, where the discussion turned to Diamantopoulos’ desire to play Norman Osborn. He’s already come up with a name for his starring vehicle, Goblin, and it would show how Norman becomes the pumpkin-bomb wielding Green Goblin.

[RELATED: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Yearbook: Every Marvel Character Confirmed to Appear]

“I would be very good in the in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yeah, I do definitely. I was born going to Silver Snail comic shop,” Diamantopoulos said. “That’s like one of the first place I ever went when I was a little kid, little baby. I’ve been a comic fan, a Marvel fan for my entire life, passed that on to my son. He’s a crazy comic collector, particularly 80s and 90s stuff.”

He added, “But I think that they should make a series called Goblin, and it should be about Norman Osborn leading up to becoming the Green Goblin. And I should be Norman Osborn.”

Colman Domingo voices Norman Osborn in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead, Candyman) is the voice of Norman Osborn in the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man animated series on Disney+. The show features the early days of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker right after gaining his Spider-Man abilities. Hudson Thames voices Peter Parker in the series instead of Holland, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will include other Marvel characters like Aunt Man, Otto Octavius, Nico Minoru, Harry Osborn, and more.

The first trailer for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was released at the end of December and offered fans of the web-slinger a sneak peek at what they can expect from the show. Along with Thames and Domingo, the cast also includes Eugene Byrd, Grace Song, Zeno Robinson, Hugh Dancy, and Charlie Cox. Jeff Trammell is the show’s head writer and Mel Zwyer serves as the supervising director.

Colman Domingo talking to Marvel Studios about a secret role

In a new interview, Colman Domingo confirmed that he is talking with Marvel Studios, though he’s staying mum about what roles he would be up for. Many fans are hoping he will take over the role of Kang the Conqueror from Jonathan Majors, who was fired from Marvel Studios after he was found guilty of assault and harassment.

“I have had a meeting with Marvel, yes. But it wasn’t specifically about anything,” Domingo told Screen Geek. “They literally sat down and said, ‘What do you want to do?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know. What do you got for me?’ So we’re having engagement, of course. Who would not want to be a part of the MCU? I just wouldn’t want it to be right. And something that is created for me and something where I feel like I can give something of myself to. So we’ll find out what that is. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m patient.”

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1 premieres January 29th on Disney+.

The post Mickey Mouse Voice Actor Wants to Play a Brutal Marvel Villain (But May Have Missed Their Shot) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Seth Rollins will have a ringside seat for Captain America: Brave New World. The former WWE champion confirmed his role in the Marvel Studios movie — which stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America and Harrison Ford as U.S. President Ross/Red Hulk — has been cut from the final version (out Feb. 14). In a new interview following his main event match against CM Punk on the Jan. 6 streaming premiere of WWE Monday Night Raw on Netflix, the wrestler revealed there’s no “Freakin'” trace of him in the next installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“I wish it the best, but I am not a part of that film,” Rollins said when asked about Captain America 4 on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast.

RELATED: Who Is Red Hulk in the MCU? Captain America: Brave New World Villain Explained

“Does my NDA still apply if I’m not in the film anymore? Truth be told, any answer I gave would only be my opinion on it. The script went through a lot of rewrites and reshoots so what I was there to do, essentially my role got either repurposed or completely erased,” Rollins explained. “So I did do a bit of an audition to possibly pop into another role, I believe, or the repurposing of my role, I’m not exactly sure on what it was, but they ended up going in a different direction with it.”

Rollins continued, “My understanding was there were just a lot of rewrites and a lot of reshoots, and they know they’ve got a finished product that hopefully they’re happy with, and hopefully it’s successful, but it will be sans Seth Rollins.”

Paparazzi photos that leaked from the Atlanta, Georgia set in May 2023 showed Rollins in a green and gold outfit with long blonde hair. Rollins’ rumored Marvel role was reported to be Cobra (later King Cobra), a founding member of the Serpent Squad that battled Steve Rogers and the Falcon in 1973’s Captain America #163. In 1985’s Captain America #310, Sidewinder reformed the snake-themed supervillains as the Serpent Society.

“I’m not in the movie. I will say unequivocally I’m not in the film,” Rollins added. “I do not want anybody to go to the film thinking, ‘I’m here to see Seth Rollins.’ There might be two people that would do that, but I don’t want those two people to waste their time. I don’t want to misinform anybody. I don’t want to lead anybody astray. I am not in the film.”

By May 2024, Rollins’ character was reportedly dropped from the film when Brave New World (retitled from New World Order) returned to Atlanta for a 22-day shoot with Breaking Bad and The Boys actor Giancarlo Esposito joining the cast in a villain role. Esposito, who will appear in the final cut, later confirmed his role as Seth Voelker, a.k.a. Sidewinder of the Serpent Society (albeit without the snake paraphernalia of his comic book counterpart).

“It should be a good one. Marvel does a great job,” Rollins said. “I mean, if I’m not [in anything else], I don’t care. I don’t love acting. I love wrestling. My wife [WWE wrestler Becky Lynch] loves acting. She’s way better at it than I am. She’s got awesome stuff coming out … she announced her bit on Star Trek [Starfleet Academy], which is going to be sick.”

Rollins made his film debut in 2016’s Sharknado: The 4th Awakens and appeared opposite Wesley Snipes in 2017’s Armed Response. Rollins also appeared in a scene deleted from the 2020 Tiffany Haddish-Rose Byrne comedy Like a Boss.

In Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson (Mackie) “finds himself in the middle of an international incident,” per the official synopsis. “He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.” Mackie and Ford lead a cast that includes Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Tim Blake Nelson reprising his role from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk as Samuel Sterns/the Leader. The movie opens Feb. 14.

The post Seth Rollins Confirms Marvel Cut His Scenes From Captain America: Brave New World After Reshoots appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The romance between Rogue and Magneto that heated up X-Men ’97 is about to be explored in a whole new manner. Longtime X-Men fans remember Rogue and the Master of Magnetism’s love affair in the Savage Land, but for viewers of the X-Men animated series on Disney+, it was all-new ground. Rogue gets the spotlight in an X-Men five-issue limited series that goes back to that era for a never-before-seen adventure that promises to reveal new details and insight into Rogue and Magneto‘s relationship. X-Men ’97 viewers and any X-Men fans will want to see what happened when Rogue lost her powers and got stranded in the Savage Land.

ComicBook has the exclusive preview of Rogue: The Savage Land #1 by Tim Seeley, Zulema Lavina, Rachelle Rosenberg, and VC’s Ariana Maher. It starts with Rogue recapping her transformation after going through the Siege Perilous, a magical crystal portal to the multiverse that leaves a person changed dramatically. For Rogue that means losing the powers she stole from Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers). After a detour to Australia — where she was hunted by a mind-controlled Ms. Marvel — Rogue teleported to the Savage Land.

[RELATED: X-Men Reveals Why Magneto Is in a Wheelchair, and It Ties Back to the Krakoan Era]

We now find Rogue in a Tarzan-like outfit crafted with whatever clothes she had on her back. She’s made a fishing rod by attaching a pointy rock to a staff to poke at the fish through the water. The Savage Land is a prehistoric land forgotten in time, full of dinosaurs and other large creatures. We see two of these behemoths collide in an example of “survival of the fittest.” Rogue lays out five rules for surviving in the Savage Land, with Number 5 being that it’s not a place for the bashful. The preview ends with a splash page of Rogue in an even skimpier outfit than what she had on earlier.

“In these five issues, I get to utilize my love for 80s X-Men, Jim Lee, Chris Claremont, Zabu, scantily clad heroines (and heroes!), and probably most importantly: DINOSAURS,” Seeley told Polygon, where the series’ announcement first appeared. “Alongside my collaborator Zulema Lavina, we’re going to deliver something fresh, while honoring the impossibly sexy and epic classic tale of a young Rogue, and two of the weirdest allies a girl from Mississippi could ask for: Magneto and Ka-Zar.”

“JOURNEY INTO THE LOST WORLD WITH ROGUE, MAGNETO, KA-ZAR AND MORE!” a description of Rogue: The Savage Land #1 reads. “The X-Man called Rogue has always been a survivor, but without her mutant powers, she’ll need to prove it like never before! As the Savage Land turns toward war, Rogue will need all her skills to survive dinosaurs, mutates and the Master of Magnetism himself! Writer Tim Seeley (LOCAL MAN) and new artist sensation Zulema Scotto Lavina tell a lost story of a lost world!”

Rogue: The Savage Land #1 goes on sale Wednesday, January 15th.

The post Marvel Revisits the Origin of Rogue and Magneto’s X-Men ’97 Romance appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The mystery of who the new, gold-wearing Venom in Marvel’s comics remains one of the biggest questions in the industry today. Writer Al Ewing and artist Carlos Gomez have thrown out some interesting picks for the superhero bonded to the symbiote this time around as Luke Cage, Rick Jones, Madame Masque, and Robbie Robertson all might fit the bill. While Venom can sometimes be as serious as a heart attack, it’s clear that the creative team is having fun with the “new” character and have given the hero some wild villains to tackle. If you ever had “Venom fights an Evil Gritty” on your bingo card, today might be your lucky day.

All-New Venom #2 continues to keep its protagonist’s identity under wraps, though it does offer more clues as to who took the symbiote from its predecessors, Eddie and Dylan Brock. While this new symbiote crime fighter appears to have his heroic duties on lock, Eddie Brock’s son wants nothing more than to get his symbiote back. The “Venom War” changed the game to a wild degree, with the Brocks losing their living costume and Eddie actually becoming the new Carnage in a crazy twist. In an issue with plenty of twists and turns, the “Evil Gritty” and his cohorts might take the cake for eye-popping moments.

[RELATED: Meet Marvel’s New Venom and Its Four Possible Hosts]

Chuck Stuff: The Evil Gritty

The “Death Throws” are a new villainous organization that appears to be made up of super-villain jugglers. Touted as “New York’s oldest surviving organized theme-criminal collective,” both Ewing and Gomez are clearly having fun with this new concept. The collective includes characters like Tenpin, Heave-Ho, Fair Shake, Tosser, and more. Of course, Chuck Stuff is the most striking of the group, clearly tailored to appear and act like a villainous version of the Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot Gritty.

In some hilarious scenes, “Chuck Stuff” expresses his Philadelphian accent and hurls Philly cheesesteaks at the new Venom, truly living up to his name and aesthetic. While the evil Gritty might have been defeated by Venom, the antagonist has such a hilarious concept that we’re hoping to see him return in the future.

The All-New Gritty

While Gritty remains a part of the Philadelphia Flyers’ line-up, he has made appearances in various television shows since his introduction. Making cameos in episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Abbott Elementary, Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, and more, it’s impossible to debate that Gritty is one of the most popular mascots in sports’ history. It will be interesting to see if “Chuck Stuff” makes an appearance in future Marvel comics based on their initial appearance here.

The new Venom’s identity has yet to be revealed though a surprising final page might rule out Luke Cage according to Dylan Brock. However, the long-tongued hero is, it’s sure to come as a surprise whenever their true face is shown.

Want to stay updated on the future adventures of Chuck Stuff? Follow us here at ComicBook.com for all the latest Marvel updates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post All-New Venom Fights An Evil Gritty In One Of Comics’ Strangest Battles appeared first on ComicBook.com.

From James Earl Jones’ moving farewell to a reimagined version of Pride Rock’s creation, Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King weaves countless references to Disney‘s beloved franchise throughout its origin story while crafting its own powerful narrative. In this article, we look at the many connections and callbacks (callforwards?) that Mufasa makes with the original Lion King film(s).

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR MUFASA FOLLOW!

A Tribute to the Original Mufasa

The prequel opens with a poignant homage to James Earl Jones, who passed away on Sept. 9, 2024. Before Aaron Pierre takes on the role of young Mufasa, Jones’ iconic voice delivers one final message of comfort to his son, followed by a written tribute to the legendary actor who first brought the character to life.

Familiar Visual Motifs

The film maintains the franchise’s signature visual style, opening with a sweeping sequence reminiscent of the original’s “Circle of Life” introduction. Audiences are treated to familiar sights of the Pride Lands’ diverse animal inhabitants, from towering elephants to tiny ants, demonstrating the continuing prosperity of the kingdom under Simba’s rule.

Reimagining the Pride Lands

The film begins in a place known as Milele, which means “forever” in Swahili. Here, Mufasa’s parents, Masego and Afia, told their cub about a promised land with rain, no drought, food, and where animals could live in unity. After they die, Mufasa and his adoptive brother Taka journey to this region, joined by Sarabi, Zazu, and Rafiki. The mandrill’s visions of the Tree of Life and Pride Rock guide them to these iconic locations that would become central to the franchise.

Musical Legacy and Meta Moments

The soundtrack weaves together the franchise’s rich musical history. The memorable opening notes of “Circle of Life” underscore young Mufasa’s near-drowning scene, while Broadway’s “He Lives in You” echoes throughout both Mufasa and Kiara’s storylines.

Timon and Pumbaa’s role as fourth-wall-breaking commentators reaches new heights, with their “Hakuna Matata” transformed into “Hakuna Mufasa,” complete with jokes about copyright law and legal permissions. The duo provides meta-commentary on their own legacy, joking that their original “Hakuna Matata” was powerful enough to get Simba “singing and dancing” even when he believed he had killed his father, noting they sang it “for six years straight.”

The comic relief extends to Broadway references, with Pumbaa mentioning the “play” and Timon becoming agitated about being presented as a “sock puppet” throughout the production. These self-aware moments maintain the original films’ tradition of breaking the fourth wall while acknowledging the franchise’s theatrical success.

Echoes of the Past: The Stampede Connection

The elephant stampede sequence deliberately mirrors one of the original film’s most iconic moments. Beyond employing similar musical cues, specific shots are meticulously recreated: Sarabi hanging from a branch echoes young Simba’s desperate grip above the stampede, while Taka’s cliff-edge positioning foreshadows his future role. The film adds a layer of dramatic irony with the young cubs joking about stampedes, unaware of their tragic future significance.

Redefining Brotherhood

The relationship between Mufasa and Scar forms the emotional core of the prequel. “It’s very much a love story between these two brothers,” screenwriter Jeff Nathanson explained to the Los Angeles Times. “We wanted to really capture what it’s like when you’re young and you have somebody who understands you more than anybody else. It’s bittersweet because you know what’s going to happen and where it’s all headed, but at least for this moment in time, everything was OK.”

The film reveals that Mufasa wasn’t born into royalty but was adopted after a flood separated him from his family. “Mufasa’s worldview, compassion and empathy — all of these things felt very different than what you’d expect from a king,” said Nathanson. “I thought maybe his upbringing wasn’t as traditional as one might think. What happened to him, and how did he end up being somebody who was a wise and powerful leader, but also such a great father?” (Los Angeles Times).

The Making of a Villain

The transformation of Taka into Scar unfolds gradually. “It was important to Barry that it was something that wasn’t abrupt, but evolved and layered,” Nathanson revealed. “Barry is very intentional with his visuals, and there are great shots of Taka just watching Mufasa with his mother, and you can start to see the wheel spinning even then.”

The film recontextualizes one of The Lion King’s most tragic moments – the positioning of paws and claws that would later mark Mufasa’s death first appears as a moment of salvation when young Taka rescues Mufasa from crocodiles. “We’re trying to play with your memories and your expectations, giving people enough of what you know and came for but also surprise you with new things,” Nathanson explained.

Origins of the Pride Lands

The creation of Pride Rock emerges from dramatic circumstances rather than existing before Mufasa’s arrival. “In the script, Pride Rock was already there when they arrived,” Nathanson shared, “and our production designer said, ‘What if, during the earthquake, it were to just pop down like that?’ It was just such a beautiful image and certainly a beautiful idea. And now, it’s one of my favorite little pieces of the movie.”

The film also explains Mufasa’s sixth sense, a mystical ability that allows him to perceive his surroundings in extraordinary ways. This talent for sensing and connecting with nature would later be inherited by Simba, along with the ability to close his eyes and perceive things from miles away – from approaching enemies to the scents carried on the wind. Even Nala demonstrates this gift in the flash-forwards, suggesting it’s a trait of the Pride Lands’ chosen leaders.

Spiritual Leadership

Rafiki’s journey from outcast to spiritual leader adds depth to his role in the original film. Born with a limp and blessed (or cursed) with prophetic visions, he was banished by his own troop despite using his abilities to heal them and lead them to water in the dry season. His eventual discovery of his iconic walking stick and arrival at the Pride Lands establishes the foundation for his role as the kingdom’s wise counselor and explains why his guidance is so valued when Simba’s time comes.

Connecting Generations

The film strengthens its ties to the original through the theme of legacy, introducing adult Simba and Nala’s growing family as Nala prepares to give birth to their second child. While this creates a different timeline than The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, the movie preserves Kiara’s role as their daughter. The recurring line “We are all one” appears throughout the film, referencing the song “We Are One” from the sequel and emphasizing how Mufasa’s teachings about unity continue through generations.

Legacy and Future

The prequel concludes with Kiara climbing to Pride Rock’s peak and roaring into a storm, revealing a lion’s face in the clouds that matches the iconic 2D design from the 1994 classic rather than the photorealistic style of the new film. This visual callback brings the franchise full circle while honoring its animated roots.

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