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cinemaseeker · 2 years

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Let's Review: Thor Love and Thunder

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SALTY LANGUAGE AND SPOILERS FOR THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER*

It has been said, many times by many people, that comic books and comic book movies are our new modern mythology and superheroes are the new gods and goddesses of that mythology. Well, it's very easy to make that case when the heroes of your comic book movie are literally figures from Norse and Greek mythology, such as Thor and Zeus. These gods were indeed the first superheroes, so things come full circle here, an ouroboros of inspiration that sees these classical deities donning capes and, occasionally, saving the day.

But if the opening of this movie teaches us anything, it's that the gods are still as petty and powerful as ever.

We start off Thor: Love and Thunder with, of all people, our main villain Gorr, played with equal parts brooding gloom and sadistic glee by DC defector Christian Bale, as he loses his daughter and begs for help from his god. But his pleas fall on deaf ears, leading Gorr to take up the god-killing Necrosword and become Gorr the God Butcher.

While Gorr is not exactly a top-tier Marvel villain (that title still belongs to Thanos and Killmonger), Gorr is definitely a higher tier Marvel villain that comes close, thanks in large part to this opening. It reminds us that the best villains are those that think that they're doing the right thing; they have a persuasive worldview informed by relatable pains caused by shortcomings of the world around them. They do what they do in order to take back some control and change their circumstances. And although avenging the unjust death of a loved one is not exactly new when it comes to villain or antihero motivations, we can relate to that feeling of being let down by a supposed higher power who not only refuses to help you, but flat-out tells you that your existence is pointless, that there is nothing meaningful beyond this life, and you were a fool for believing that there was in the first place. And yeah, the gods can be pricks sometimes and they do deserve to be punished and wouldn't it be nice to knock them down a peg or two? It's a very appealing notion, one that Gorr is more than happy to take advantage of.

Especially when you look at someone like Thor.

Now don't get me wrong, Thor has changed and grown a lot over the course of his movies and throughout the MCU, but even now he can still be a bit oblivious. Most of the time that's what makes him so lovable but sometimes it can ring hollow when you put him next to characters who are dealing with actual problems, as we will see with his ex-girlfriend Dr. Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman (who FINALLY gets to have some fun in a Thor movie), and *MAJOR SPOILER COMING UP* her struggles with stage 4 cancer.

Thor's biggest personal obstacle in this movie is his own masculine insecurity, which is fitting for a guy whose sense of self-worth is measured by the size of his biceps (rumor has it that Chris Hemsworth achieved his biggest physique yet for this movie). That struggle takes many forms, ranging from getting back into shape after the events of Avengers: Endgame (because Gods forbid we have a fat Thor, am I right?) to dealing with the return of Jane, who has taken up the mantle of Mighty Thor and has assumed ownership of the reconstructed Mjölnir.

Although it's exciting to see Jane really step up and become a proper hero in her own right, her journey puts a spotlight on Marvel's ever-present problems that they still have with their female characters.

First off, Jane only gets to be powerful because she is a cruel victim of fate, getting this aggressive form of cancer out of nowhere just so she can become Mighty Thor by borrowing the tools and persona of her male counterpart in order to regain her vitality. This basically makes Jane a Smurfette figure despite her obvious strengths and her insistence on being called Mighty Thor, not Lady Thor. But her power and superhero status is achieved by essentially being a direct extension of her ex-boyfriend. Thor gets to be Thor, but Jane has to contend with being Lady Thor. Granted, this is handled fairly well in the movie and none of the characters really express any problems with this. After all, Valkyrie gets to be King of New Asgard and it's a non-issue. Between this, Florence + the Machine's song "King", and the upcoming Viola Davis flick The Woman King, it's nice to see that our mainstream media is actively trying to make the title of King a gender neutral term.

Speaking of Valkyrie, she and Jane are the real heroes here. They're the ones making battle plans and staying on task and holding their own alongside Thor.

I would even argue that Jane has better chemistry with Val than she ever did with Thor, who's too busy whining that his ex-weapon Mjölnir doesn't like him anymore while trying to appease Stormbreaker (which I have to admit is pretty hilarious).

Bottom line: Jane and Val display major BDE, or in this case BHE (Big Hammer Energy) in this movie, and for that they deserve our respect.

However they both still get viciously sidelined, albeit briefly in Jane's case, right before the climax despite proving themselves to be extremely capable warriors several times over. This turn sends the implicit message that, while women can be powerful, it's best that they're not too powerful, lest they overshadow the men.

Just look at what happened to Black Widow (fridged), Scarlet Witch (villainized), and Captain Marvel, who although not victimized in the same way as other female Avengers still earned endless vitriol for essentially being more powerful than the boys. So when it comes to female heroes in the MCU, they can either be all-powerful and lose their humanity (again, see Scarlet Witch) or have some power (but again, not too much power) before ultimately getting sidelined, sacrificed, damseled, disempowered, or killed off.

But with all that said, Jane does get her best character development in this movie and, like I said earlier, she actually gets to have some FUN here. We get to see her actively owning and enjoying her newfound power while adorably trying out different superhero catchphrases. She gets to be strong and weak in equal measure without diminishing her power, thus avoiding the trap of the tired Strong Female Character trope. She gets to be goofy, gets to figure herself out, gets to share that enthusiasm with her comrades, and gets to have an awesome bromance with Valkyrie, cementing a strong female friendship with a fellow female superhero.

She also gets to have a great story arch worthy of any hero. *MAJOR SPOILERS COMING UP* We learn that, although Mjölnir grants Jane better health, strength, and stamina, her body becomes unable to fight off the cancer whenever she's not using the hammer, and it gets worse every time she uses it. During the climax, we see her make the ultimate sacrifice by taking up Mjölnir one last time to deal the final blow against Gorr before succumbing to the cancer and dying in Thor's arms. This death feels like a cog in the Marvel machine, which sees characters come and go based on the availability of their actors. But it was nice to see that in the post-credits scene Jane is greeted by Heimdall and welcomed with open arms into the halls of Valhalla, earning the reward of a true hero. *MAJOR SPOILERS END HERE*

This movie is such a mixed bag of steps forward and steps backward when it comes to feminist representation. The female characters are both central and peripheral here, but overall it's definitely moving in the right direction and I, for one, would like to acknowledge that fact. This movie offers an abundance of hope for the next generation and it's exciting to think of all the girls and women (and others) who'll start cosplaying as Mighty Thor in droves for cons and for Halloween, having been given unspoken permission by this movie to do so.

On another note, I am happy to report that Thor: Love and Thunder has the best queer representation of any Marvel movie yet. To quote Mighty Thor, this movie really brings the rainbow. *SPOILERS COMING UP* We get verbal confirmation that Valkyrie had a girlfriend (albeit one who was unnamed and killed off and doesn't appear onscreen), thus fulfilling the studio's promise to make the character openly bisexual (while still putting out a cut of the film that can be easily censored to appease homophobic countries); plus we see her chivalrously kiss the hand of one of Zeus' handmaidens while making bedroom eyes, so that's something I guess. We learn that Korg has two dads and gets a boyfriend by the end of the movie. We get to meet Heimdall's son Axl, who tells us that he used to be called Astrid, and although it's never confirmed canonically that Axl is trans, he's definitely coded as such. Either way, I was shocked to see Thor deadnaming this kid as a joke, which, I can't believe I have to stress this, is NOT OKAY. Despite this, Axl gets to play an important part in the story, taking up a leadership role amongst the children who are kidnapped by Gorr and getting to fight alongside Thor with them in the final battle. *SPOILERS END HERE*

Marvel movies are at a critical tipping point right now, and if they hope to stay prevalent and relevant, they're going to have to start shaking things up. The Marvel formula is starting to get stale and it'll need to get thrown out and replaced with something fresher very soon, or else we'll going to start consuming something else.

This has never been more obvious than it is in Thor: Love and Thunder. The vibe for Love and Thunder, just like it was in Ragnarok, is bright and outrageous, like those spray-paintings on the sides of vans showing unicorns and sorcerers. But that painting is starting to fade around the edges. That classic brand of Marvel humor is starting to get old (i.e. those goddamn yelling goats) and has been reduced to poking fun at Disney themed parks, as we see in New Asgard (but, to be fair, it's also poking fun at New Zealand aka Middle Earth, which tracks because director Taika Waititi is from New Zealand, so he gets it). It was hilarious to see those Asgardian actors at it again, and now it makes me want to see a spin-off starring them, just so I can see what they do in their downtime outside of work.

At the end of the day, you can still rest assured that this movie will have plenty of love and thunder in equal abundance. It's still a good time, you'll still laugh at the jokes, you'll still enjoy hanging out with some of your favorite characters (we even get to see 2 out of 3 Marvel Chrises when Starlord and the Guardians of the Galaxy briefly show up in the beginning), you'll still enjoy the action scenes, the colors and visuals are still amazing (especially when our heroes get to the Shadow Realm in a sequence that's visually on par with the slo-mo flashback of the Valkyrior battle against Hela in Ragnarok), and you'll still bob your head to the soundtrack, which slaps pretty hard although the one big strike against it is the overwhelming lack of AC/DC's "Thunderstuck"; I mean COME ON people, it's fitting for both the God of Thunder AND all the Aussies in the cast. The last thing I'll say about that is if (i.e. when) they make another Thor movie, it would be really cool if it could find its way onto the soundtrack.

Either way, it's nice to see that Thor can still bring the thunder.

Thanks for reading!

My Rating: 3/5 thunderbolts

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browsethestacks · 5 years

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The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength And Fitness Book (1976)

The Patriotic Pull

Art by Joe Giella

#Vintage #Art #Illustration #Design #Comics #Marvel #Marvel Comics #Fireside Books #The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength And Fitness Book #Exercise #Fitness #Captain America #Steve Rogers #Falcon #Joe Giella #1976 #1970s #70s

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elgaberino-mcoc · 3 years

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MCOC Wishlist Blog Character Spotlight KNULL

by Marco “Prophet of Knull” Garcia ed. Other Gabe

BACKGROUND

Knull is an ancient malevolent deity whose existence predates the universe itself, and was originally content to drift through the endless abyss that existed before time.

He used his weapon, the Necrosword, to combat the Celestials who disturbed his darkness. With this sword Knull severed the head of a Celestial. That head is now Knowhere, a popularly-known Marvel location and a battle zone in the Marvel Contest of Champions Battlerealm.

Wanting an army, Knull then constructed the aliens we all know, love, and sometimes hate, the Klyntar race of gooey symbiotic aliens.¹ Later, after a debacle with the Mighty Thor, the symbiotes rebelled against their “God” and trapped him on a desolate planet, later known as Klyntar. There the God of Symbiotes waits and plans his escape, hoping to one day lay waste and bring Darkness to the universe.

“The End is near. God is coming….”

Editor’s note: the next several sections are designed to familiarize the reader with Knull’s worthiness to be featured in a video game, compared with the myriad other Marvel characters from whom Kabam could choose.

POPULARITY

Technically, Knull has been around since 2013, and appeared in Thor: God of Thunder Vol.1 #6 by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic, as he was a shadowed figure from whom Gorr the God Butcher steals All-Black the Necrosword.

He was then revealed by name by his creators in Venom Vol. 4 #3 by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman in 2018.

Knull has had huge fan buzz around him since his inception and his name is only getting bigger. Despite fewer than a dozen appearances initially, Knull headlined the King in Black line-wide event that began in December 2020, from the minds of Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman.

Editor’s note: Arguably named after Knull, the King in Black initial release was considered critically to be a high-stakes situation, due to the perceived hype. Its comics made regular appearances in bestseller lists after the event launched, suggesting the Knull name and story, in conjunction with the strength of his creators’ reputations, was strong enough to sell books. Overall the King in Black arc has also gotten good critical reviews.

KNULL AS MATERIAL FOR OUR MARVEL GAME

Editor’s note: these character spotlights usually explore several factors to determine whether it is reasonable to expect Kabam to seriously consider the character as a candidate for addition to Marvel Contest of Champions. Among these factors are inclusion in other similarly-marketed games, mainstreaming in comics and other media, mentions in MCOC lore, Kabam conversation, or community rumors, and pure hype among summoners.

OTHER MARVEL GAMES

Knull has been featured in other games already: first in the Spider-Man Unlimited mobile app,² then in Marvel Future Fight. In Marvel Puzzle Quest, Knull was originally only part of the backstory description of the playable Prophet Carnage character, but was eventually released in his own right in May 2021.

KNULL AND THE BATTLEREALM

Arguably no direct mention of Knull has happened in either [Marvel Contest of Champions or Marvel Realm of Champions], but it can be said he was alluded to in the motion comic that accompanied the release of Cosmic Ghost Rider and Red Goblin in October 2020.

Then, when story mode Act 7 was released in December 2020, this dialogue was revealed, which has been strongly speculated to be a reference to Knull.

CLAIM TO FAME: KNULL IN OTHER MEDIA

Knull has not enjoyed a reference in any Marvel Cinematic Universe content to date. Hel has only been mentioned in the Disney XD cartoon Spider-Man: Maximum Venom with a retelling loosely based on his comic book origins.

UNIQUE WAYS KNULL COULD FIT INTO THE MCOC META

Knull could be a massive boost (editor’s note: synergy hub) to many Symbiote champions or champions in general. I see him as a Cosmic [based on what I was told by co-creator Ryan Stegman], with massive damage. Being the creator of symbiotes, Knull could outfit any [non-#Symbiote] champ with a “Klyntar symbiote” of their own to enhance their kit or base numbers. He could also operate with #Symbiote champs similarly to the way Apocalypse enhances Mutant champs. He could also work as a counter to Symbiotes or anyone who would have ever been bonded to a Klyntar before in canon, which would include most of the Spider-Fam!

Knull’s kit could alternately introduce a #Codex tag to add to certain non-#Spiderverse Hero champs who have famously bonded to symbiotes (paging Red Hulk or even Deadpool).³

A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN?

No mention of Knull ever came out of the Kabam team or anyone related to MCOC. Then again, Kabam never likes to tease big-name additions like Knull would be. Mid-September 2021, one data miner claimed that Knull is forthcoming.

WHAT DO SUMMONERS THINK?

Summoners seem to dig Knull. He was the winner of the first Tournament of Battlerealm Future, March Addness 2020, which was co-hosted by MCOC Wishlist creator Other MCOC Gabe and Unofficial MCOC Podcast veteran UMCOC Deacon on Twitter. The tournament pitted hundreds of characters against one another for votes from Summoners expressing who they would prefer to enter Marvel Contest of Champions. He cleaned house throughout most of the tournament, earning his addition to the MCOC Wishlist, where he has risen into the top 50 most wanted champions.

Due to recent ramblings by the author, and the introduction of Red Goblin to Marvel Contest of Champions, people have warmed up to the idea that Knull might actually be coming to the contest. (Even community-renowned comics expert CTMCOC agrees!)

Once below rank 250 on the MCOC Wishlist, Knull now stands as the #31 most-wanted champ, with over 550 Summoner upvotes as of this writing.

KNULL: CHAMPION BUILD IDEAS

PROBABLE CLASS

As mentioned above, Knull is a canonically cosmic entity or deity who purports to predate the universe itself. This forms a strong case for the MCOC Cosmic class of champions.

POSSIBLE ABILITIES

Like many Cosmic champs’ builds, I can see his relying on many Active Buffs with massive damage and defensive potential due to Symbiotic Armor. Perhaps as Knull collects Codices, he gets stronger and this mechanic could be used in game as persistent charges. The more Codices he gathers, the more potent his Buffs could become. He could utilize Fury, Aptitude, Armor, Cruelty, Precision, and other critical-damage-enhancing Buffs. Bleed and Armor Break Debuffs are likely as Knull breaks down his enemies with bloodthirsty ferocity.

POSSIBLE SYNERGIES

Knull's status as the God of the Klyntar could enhance all #Symbiote champions just as Apocalypse does for Mutants.

Venom could get a unique synergy called “Daddy Issues,” allowing Venom a 2% attack boost for every Buff converted on his sp2 but as passive Fury stacks. I imagine Carnage with something like a “Prophet of Knull” Synergy allowing 95% resistance to incinerate effects, allowing him to heal from Incinerates, since Carnage has no weakness to fire when he is operating as Knull’s prophet in the comics.

Knull could also be built to spend Persistent Charges to enhance #Symbiote champions in order to increase their stats and enhance their buffs.

It would also be clever to have a Synergy with Void called “Knull and Void” allowing Void access to a non-stacking Armor Break Debuff, such as on his Heavy Attack. More debuffs for Void would be devastating.

Knull could also enjoy a basic “Enemies” synergy with Thor and Silver Surfer. A great champ to release in conjunction with Knull would be Gorr the God-Butcher, a notable Thor villain, played by Christian Bale in Thor: Love and Thunder, and the other best-known wielder of All-Black the Necrosword.

•.•.•

Editor’s note: this concludes Marco’s commentary and notes on Knull as a potential champion. Anyone tracking the conversation about future champs knows that the name of Knull comes up frequently among Summoners, and his rise in every voting event in the community tends to support the notion he is greatly demanded by Summoners and would make an excellent addition to the game.

This article was originally drafted almost entirely in late 2020, and has been dug up and completed in September 2021 after MCOC Trucos released a purportedly datamined leak suggesting Knull “is Coming” to Marvel Contest of Champions in October 2021. -OG

________

NOTES 1. The Klyntar alien race is most popularly represented by Venom, and his fellow Klyntar aliens Carnage, Scream, and the other names associated with their stories of superhuman symbiosis and “Venomization.” 2. Spider-Man Unlimited was well ahead of the curve announcing Knull for a video game in 2018. It got there by virtue of attempting to release almost every noteworthy Spider- and symbiote character as playable video game characters. Knull was not yet a character most people would consider important for gaming. 3. A codex (pl. codices) is the term for the biological traces a Klyntar symbiote leaves in its host’s system after separating from that host.

#Knull #All Black the Necrosword #Klyntar #Symbiote #deity #mcoc class cosmic #cosmic entity #cosmic being #immortal #synergy hub #character spotlight #Venom rogue #Silver Surfer rogue #Thor rogue #October 2020 Recursion #Act 7 #MarcusPack16 #summoner write up #summoner guest feature

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weirdlandtv · 6 years

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Illustrations from The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength and Fitness Book (1976).

Ghost Rider…

#illustration #comics #fitness #exercises #vintage #marvel #superheroes #spider-man #1970s #70s #1976 #comic art #art #marvel comics

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songketalliance · 6 years

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The Privilege of Hands

“We normalise abled bodies so much that we ignore that other people have different experiences in everyday conveniences.”

by Teah Abdullah

Lift your hands and look at it. Study carefully at how the creases work so you can bend your palm and fingers. Look at the how elastic your skin is. Now grab something close to you—a book, or a pencil, or a portion of the clothes you’re wearing. Put the item on your palm. Explore how it doesn’t hurt you to do that. Hold the item. Grip it within your hand.

Let go.

Marvel at how your fingers can change shape.

For a long time, one of my hands cannot do any of these things.

I appear as an able-bodied woman—I can walk, have no visible crutches, and have somewhat okay posture (sorry, backbone, I have been so unkind to you over the years). But whenever I am asked to carry something, I quickly refuse it. Assume whatever it is that you want from my rejection to help you carry that damn piano—she’s lazy or hasn’t signed up for CrossFit so can’t carry the instrument—I have a hand that doesn’t function as well as any other able-bodied person’s.

Let me give you some examples of my disability. I switch lights on and off using my knuckles or arm. I cannot turn faucet handles, preferring those that goes up or down (innovation is fantastic, isn’t it?) I cannot open unopened bottle caps at all because my right hand has lost a lot of its strength. I turn the keys to my car with great difficulty and would use my non-dominant left hand instead. I hate being the first one to come to my office because I’d have to be the one to unlock the door. Since it is the right hand, I break adab by sometimes eating rice with my left hand—don’t worry, I wash my hands notoriously (without soap, because soap burns).

I am a proponent of utensils.

Even with utensils, it hurts. I am clumsy while eating because of my disabled right hand. And because my left hand is just as clumsy, I leave crumbs and mess behind. So, when the debate about whether pizza must be eaten by hand or utensil, it dawned on me how ableist that debate is. (For the record, my Italian friend—i.e., the place where pizza originated from, i.e., the person who would know the best—said that pizza should be eaten however well you want to, as long as it ends up in your belly, because damn, pizza=good.)

Ableist means prejudice towards those who are disabled. Brunei is ignorant towards those with disability, so much so that they are not visible in public spaces. How often do you see people who are disabled in your everyday life outside of medical centers? When was the last time you saw someone bound to a wheelchair in public three times within a week unless you live with someone who does? We lack resources to allow wheelchair to enter buildings as well as feel ashamed at those who are visibly disabled.

We normalise abled bodies so much that we ignore that other people have different experiences in everyday conveniences. The plastic straw debate that wants to ban the use of straw completely? Many disabled people can only use plastic straws at the current height of technological advancement of drink sucking. Hate Comic Sans as a font? Some dyslexic people find it to be the easiest font to read because of the way it curves. A step that’s half-a-foot high leading towards restaurants? Not everyone can climb it even if they have legs that can stand.

Ten years ago, I was obsessed with correct typing, but I am now known among my friends as someone who cannot bother with punctuation or correct spellings anymore. A friend recently scolded me asking why I can’t take the time to type things properly, because somewhere in their mind, thee has’t speaketh English prop’rly on Whatsapp or thee shall face the wrath of the mighty lord.

It occurred to me then that we all assume that those with hands equates to fully functional hands. I no longer type properly on chat because my fingers make so much typos, especially with technology that doesn’t recognise fingers that doesn’t have skin on them--I have not passed any fingerprint tests the past ten years! I can’t be bothered to text anymore and doing it regularly is a strain to my hand. There are even times where I hilariously unlock my phone with my nose (did you know that the iPhone’s fingerprint feature can identify your nose’s skin?)

By no means am I saying you should sympathise me. My life the past ten years has been about adaptability. But it still doesn’t change the fact that I am a disabled person on a visibly abled bodied, until you microscope onto the disability itself. I have had days where I cannot drive because of it, and have had days where I need to sanitise my steering wheel to make sure that I wouldn’t get an infection from holding it. I have had days where I had to assign my colleague to type for me, and days where my right hand is semi-functional enough for me to type my own work. There are days where my whole arm shrinks because of the pain. I have many days where I use the speech-to-text function on my phone, but also have many frustration towards my phone’s inability to understand ‘leak’ in my accent and would instead type it as ‘league’ (‘I have to take a league’ is far more ambitious than the originally intentioned ‘I have to take a leak’.)

I look forward to the day when medical advancement can cure me of this. But it has also been a decade since my condition started and has gotten progressively worse (yes, I’ve downed ten bottles of essential oils—it doesn’t work!) This is my life now, and the only thing I can hope for is for people to create awareness towards the most marginalised group in our society: the disabled. We need to make changes for people who does not fit the able bodied category. Whatever we do, whatever decision we make that has the involvement of others should consider those who cannot do things that an able-bodied person can because we stand to benefit from the involvement of many people who doesn’t fit in the mold of normality in our society.

by Teah Abdullah

DONATE TO SONGKET ALLIANCE

Interested in contributing to Songket Alliance? E-mail us at [email protected] with your ideas or article.

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#teah abdullah #brunei #writing

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libertalhovistadormireneicampi · 6 years

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Mood:Vintage‏ @moodvintage

Illustrations from The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength and Fitness Book (1976). Ghost Rider…

#marvel #comics #ghost rider #Mood:Vintage #strength and fitness book

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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 6 years

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Thor: Ragnarok review

Thor has had the worst track when it comes to the MCU. His first outing was an okay-at-best adventure that took place with a cast of boring, unfunny humans instead of on Asgard where cool shit happened. When you start out your trilogy with someone like Kenneth Branagh directing and even he can’t make it cool, you know you’re in trouble. Then we come to his appearance in The Avengers, where he does decent but still gets outshone quite a bit by the rest of the cast. Then we get to Thor: The Dark World, one of the worst superhero films ever made… the less said about it the better. Then comes Age of Ultron and Thor’s overall role is negligible, especially with his weird cave dream sequence which doesn’t amount to too much. All of this build’s Thor up as one of the least-interesting Avengers, which is a damn shame, because Chris Hemsworth plays the role with such charm and enthusiasm, it’s sad to see his efforts go to waste…

...And then comes Thor: Ragnarok, and it blows all that bullshit out of the water by doing a soft reboot to the whole Thor series. Sure, the bullshit before is still canon, but Thor got dumped by his human girlfriend so we don’t need to put up with those fucks anymore, the movie takes place mostly in the cosmos which were the best parts of the other Thor movies, and best of all we have a director who knows what we want to see and gives it to us with cheesy 80s and Jack Kirby aesthetic: Taika Waititi. More than anyone before him, he seems to really GET what makes Thor so cool in the first place, and what makes comic book movies cool in general. The other Thor movies are naught but a whimper to this film’s epic Led Zeppelin metal scream. But how? How did this film fix the fatal flaws of the films that came before?

First let’s give you a rundown of the story: It has been two years since Thor has left Earth. His girlfriend has dumped him, he has found no Infinity Stones, and as soon as he returns to Asgard he finds out Loki has hijacked the throne and hid his father, Odin, on Earth. And just when things don’t seem like they could get any worse, Odin dies and releases the wicked Hela, his firstborn child who was banished long ago for being an evil bitch. She makes it to Asgard and starts trying to dominate everything, while Thor and Loki end up on the planet of Sakaar… though Thor is stuck fighting in gladiator battles while Loki, who through temporal bullshit showed up a week earlier, has sucked up to the grandiose ruler known as the Grandmaster and landed himself in a cushy position. Soon enough Thor is up in the gladiator arena against his old pal, the Hulk, and from here Thor tries to figure out how he can get back to Asgard and whoop Hela’s ass. Can the mighty Thor manage this impossible feat, or is Ragnarok finally upon him?

The reason this movie works so well is that the film has moved away from dull Earth settings and into cosmic realms with a heavy 1980s sci-fi and Jack Kirby influence. Earth was not a very interesting setting for a character who is supposed to be a mighty physical god; the earlier films never really played to his strengths, as evidenced by the main villains being meek and unimposing in comparison to a swaggering viking like Thor. This is not much of a problem here, where all the foes Thor matches up against are more than able to measure up. Over the course of the film he does battle with the fire demon Surtur, his evil death goddess sister Hela, and of course the not-so-jolly green giant himself, Hulk. These are foes that actually give Thor a realistic challenge, and while there are obviously still scenes of Thor fighting mooks, there are actually antagonists that can put up solid fights themselves. It’s a real breath of fresh air!

Speaking of the characters, and continuing on with how moving away from the structure of the old film’s was a good thing… the previous supporting casts of the Thor movies were one of the greatest weaknesses. They were good actors (and Kat Dennings) in awful roles. But in THIS film, we get a supporting cast worthy of Thor! Gone is the dull Natalie Portman and the horrendously unfunny Kat Dennings characters that have bogged down the films in the past! Say hello to the new supporting cast of characters, with the badass Valkyrie and the charming goofball Korg! Valkyrie is an awesome, badass, worthy partner for Thor, who has a solid backstory and good characterization for her first film. Korg is just an absolutely lovable doofus; played by Taika Waititi himself, he exists mostly to add a bit of levity to the proceedings, which is easy to do as he is a hulking rock monster with a very soft, pleasant voice. These two are highlights of the movie, worthy newcomers and allies to Thor, and I hope they pop up more in the future. The interactions they could have if they meet up with the Avengers would be astounding.

Of course, we also have villains to take into account here, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Not in terms of quality mind you, because the performances are all well-done, it’s just that the villains tended to be underutilized. Hela is the chief example; yes, she has plenty of scenes where she’s badass, Cate Blanchett is perfect as her, and by fucking god that scene where she kills all the valkyries in flashback is one of the most gorgeous scenes I’ve ever seen in superhero cinema. But she’s a bit underutilized and barely deals with Thor until the very end of the film after their brief meetup. Still, she gets some cool fight scenes, so it does even out a bit, I just feel she deserved some more attention, especially with her interesting backstory. Surtur is quite a victim of this problem too, as instead of serving as a big bad, he’s relegated to a plot device after his defeat in the opening – a plot device I shall not reveal any spoilers on. Needless to say, he’s cool in his appearances, but he could have done a lot more. Thankfully, these two characters could possibly return, as their final scenes do leave things a bit open-ended.

But there is one antagonist who I can heap nothing but lavish praise upon: The Grandmaster. This is Jeff Goldblum dressed in the gaudiest clothing imaginable just… Jeff Goldbluming it up. He is absolutely perfect, hilarious, delightfully weird… it is everything I could have wanted from Jeff Goldblum in a Marvel film. There is not a single scene he’s in that’s unenjoyable, and I can’t wait for him to show up again so he can potentially interact with his equally scene-stealing weirdo brother, The Collector. Benicio Del Toro and Jeff Goldblum weirding it up onscreen together… It would be the stuff legends are made of. But yes, Goldblum, he’s a highlight of the film.

Now on to the returning characters: Odin is okay. Anthony Hopkins does a great job playing Loki pretending to be Odin, but his death scene is a bit rushed when taken out of context of the Thor series as a whole. It starts so near the beginning and wraps up the arc from the previous Thor film so quickly I just ca- oh, wait a second, Thor: The Dark World sucked ass, so why do I care if it’s stupid plot points get thrown out the window? Then we have Loki, who here just goes through the heel-face revolving door so many times it’s hard to really tell whose side he’s on at any given moment. As usual, his interactions with Thor are fantastic and enjoyable; they really do feel like bickering brothers who deep down do love each other, and Loki also gets some of the most hilarious moments during the Thor vs. Hulk gladiator fight. He’s solidly done, and Tom Hiddleston also gets a few scenes where he gets to ham it up, which is a big plus.

And then we have Doctor Strange, in a very brief cameo appearance that builds off the stinger of his film… and this scene is fucking awful. It’s supposed to be some goofy, lighthearted jokiness but it’s just so forced, awkward, and shoehorned into the film; it’s clearly only there to beat you over the head with the fact this movie takes place in a shared universe with other heroes. To be perfectly frank, the entirety of Thor and Loki’s trip could be cut out of the film with zero effect on the plot. It is just utterly irrelevant fanservice. The joke about Loki falling for thirty minutes though, that was funny, and it almost makes the scene worthwhile. Credit where credit is due, I laughed.

And now, the big one: Hulk. This is Hulk’s absolute best film appearance yet. He talks, he gets some personality to him, he gets good chemistry with Thor, and all his fight scenes are a blast, finally pitting Hulk against worthy foes (hey, he and Thor both finally get to fight people who are a good match)! And if you think Hulk’s the only one getting in on the fun, Banner shows up too and gets in on the fun; after two years stuck in Hulk form, Banner is a bit loopy, and gets tons of goofy, manic lines and great chemistry with Thor. Ruffalo is at the top of his game here; let’s see him keep this up in his next appearances.

Every fight scene is awesome, the score by Mark Mothersbaugh is awesome, every time “Immigrant Song” kicks up it’s the absolute peak of awesome… there’s nothing about this film that doesn’t scream “AWESOME!” Okay, well, there are a few things, as I’ve mentioned, but the pros heavily outweighs the cons. The awesome 80s Saturday morning cartoon sci-fi aesthetic fits Thor like a glove, giving him an enjoyable identity rather than the gloomy, overwrought, and often half-baked tone that has plagued his films in the past. This is a Thor film worthy of being a Thor film, and while I can’t say this is Marvel’s best film yet (I still like the Guardians of the Galaxy films and Civil War more), this is easily top ten best Marvel movies material, and one of this year's finest superhero films, and this is a damn good year for superhero movies! This one gets a recommendation for me, especially if you love throwbacks to the awesomely trashy and cheesy 80s sci-fi of the 80s… and boy fucking howdy do I love that shit.

This is science fantasy at its most fun, and I pray to all the gods of Asgard that Taika Waititi gets to keep the reigns of Thor for the foreseeable future. This man knows how to show us a good time; let’s let him keep doing it for a while longer. We need a bit more making up for the first two crappy Thor films, y’know?

#Review #Movie review #Disnovember #Thor #Thor: Ragnarok #Marvel #MCU #comic book movie #Hulk #Jeff Goldblum #superhero #superhero movie #Loki #Hela #Asgard

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true-halloween-tales · 6 years

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2017: #10-SUPERHEROES

Superheroes have not been around for more than 100 years, yet they are featured in films, tv series and their origins of comic books. Since 2008’s Iron Man, Marvel superhero films have collected from the box office more than $12.6 billion! Superheroes seem to have evolved from heroes like Robin Hood, the Scarlet Pimpernell, Zorro, the Lone Ranger, and the Shadow. These heroes all wore costumes and broke the law for higher ideals, and none of them were more than human. Tarzan is a hero but is not a superhero, especially since his costume is just a furry, ratty pair of underwear that does not exactly hide his secret identity. The Phantom is the first superhero to be depicted wearing a costume; he wore a black mask, purple body suit, and appeared in a 1936 comic strip as well as a 2006 film with Billy Zane and Patrick McGoohan (see 2017: #4-SPIES).

Superheroes are crime fighters and protectors of humanity. There are multitudes of characters who qualify as superheroes, and it would sure help to classify them. Superheroes are often divided into which comic book publisher they originated from. D.C. was founded in 1934 and is named after their Detective Comics which Batman started out in. Marvel popped up in 1938, and office assistant Stanley Lieber became Stan Lee and perhaps Marvel’s greatest force. Stan Lee is now 94 years old and is the company’s Emeritus Chairman. D.C. has created some great superheroes and films, but Marvel is clearly winning the superhero game. But we need to go beyond comic book publishers to properly classify superheroes.

One classification of superhero is for highly talented people, often with special training, but without any special powers. The most common special training is for the ninja fighting style. Batman fits into this category as does the Green Arrow. There are teams of ninja superheroes such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. Handicapped people can be superheroes too, such as Daredevil who is a highly trained, ninja-like, blind man. If a superhero does not have special training, then sometimes they have a commanding personality like Flash Gordon. Superheroes who are distinguished by special training often have useful devices or weapons, like Batman’s batarang boomerang or his utility belt. Judge Dredd is a futuristic police officer superhero in a post apocalyptic world, but he does not have ninja training. Instead, he has the Lawgiver, a futuristic gun that shoots bullets with multiple harmful effects. Some superheroes’ useful devices are precisely what makes them a superhero, such as the Green Lantern who has all of his powers, including flying in outer space, because of his ring.

A second category of superheroes is for normal people who gained special powers. The special powers are usually gained from an accident, but they can be gained other ways. The Blue Beetle originally gained his powers by taking a super special vitamin. Spider-Man fits into this category as does the Flash. Luke Cage and Jessica Jones both gained their abilities by mad scientists’ experimentation and accidents (see 2018: #5-MAD SCIENTISTS). Wolverine from the X-Men is a popular film character who gained his abilities from experimentation intentionally designed to give him superpowers. Doctor Strange gained his magical abilities by years of training (see 2016: #2-WIZARDS). One of my favorite childhood comic superheroes was Metamorpho who had a lab accident and developed the ability to turn his body or parts of his body into anything. He constantly changed his shape based on the needs of the situation and his creativity, turning his arm into a sword, or turning his body into a doorknob with his face spying on the criminals.

A third type of superhero is distinguished by having natural special powers that they were born with. This classification of superhero tends to either be aliens or divine. Superman has his super powers because he is an alien from the planet Krypton. Thor has his strength from being a Norse god. Wonder Woman has her super powers because she was created by the gods. The Sub-Mariner has his underwater abilities because he is half-human and half-Atlantean. The fact that some superheroes are born or created from gods really sheds light as to what superheroes symbolize: they are the new gods.

Another classification of superheroes exists: those with dark powers. These are superheroes who border on being monsters or really are monsters. Man-Thing and Swamp Thing are both half-plant swamp monsters. The Hulk is a very well known monster-like superhero known for his super strength and jumping for miles across the countryside (see 2013: #3-STRANGE COMIC BOOK MONSTERS). In the 1970’s there was a cornucopia of comics featuring monster superheroes. Werewolf by Night was about a werewolf superhero. Blade is a half-vampire superhero who started out in the Doctor Strange comics. The Tomb of Dracula featured Dracula as more of a supervillain than a superhero (see 2018: #12-SUPERVILLAINS). Morbius the Living Vampire was about a vampire who wore a superhero outfit. Ghostrider sold his soul to the Devil and became a flaming skeleton biker when he is after the bad guys. The Spectre was an undead ghost-like superhero who had quite surreal abilities. Superheroes with this dark edge are some of the sharpest!

There are some superheroes who are primarily comedy characters. Plastic Man was the first superhero who stretched some comedy into his comic. The Tick is a funny 1980 tv series, and the new 2017 series is equally as entertaining. The Toxic Avenger films by Troma Pictures are about a bullied boy who becomes similar to Swamp Thing. Troma also presented us with the comedy superhero film, Sgt. Kabukiman, N.Y.P.D. Frisky Dingo was a very funny animated superhero series ten years ago and was the precursor to Archer. Ant Man appears in Marvel films as partially a comedic character. The soon-to-be released Thor: Ragnarok supposed to include much comedy and may be a great film. Deadpool is a comedic, violent, and adult superhero who is known for breaking the third wall and addressing the audience. There’s even the fat-headed Powerpuff Girls cartoon and animated film.

There are quite a few superhero teams. Besides the Justice League and the Justice Society of America, there are the very popular Avengers. The Fantastic Four and the X-Men exist within the same universe. The Watchmen are more recently on the scene. The Defenders now have their own tv series on Netflix. The Suicide Squad are villains turned superheroes. The Guardians of the Galaxy are space traveling superheroes including a plant-man, Groot. The Guardians of the Galaxy are also distinguished to have an animal superhero: Rocket Raccoon. Other animal superheroes include the peculiar Howard the Duck, the pill-popping Underdog, Atom Ant, Mighty Mouse, Danger Mouse, and Secret Squirrel. There is even a worm superhero, Earthworm Jim from a cartoon and video game series. Anyone and anything can be a superhero!

Who are the superheroes with the best comics? Spider-Man is a fun comic and so is The Flash. Both have strange supervillains and often have science fiction based plot lines. The Amazing Spider-Man comic is usually lots of fun, mainly because of the cool villains and light tone. However, The Flash is usually an even lighter comic and more amusing and creative. The Flash is not a dark character like Batman, and he is rarely serious, unlike in the current tv series. The Flash has adventures in parallel worlds, on other planets, and even places like an ape city (see 2017: #9-THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES 5: RETURN OF THE RAT, THE CAT, AND THE MONKEY). I particularly like the monster superheroes, and I own the entire Werewolf By Night comic. Werewolf By Night’s Michael Ploog created incredible artwork for Man-Thing, and it would be wonderful if another Man-Thing film was made.

As for the best superhero films, 1989’s Batman is the best superhero film for me. It features the creepy Jack Palance, the crazy Jack Nicholson, the cool music of Prince, and it was directed by the creative Tim Burton. Christopher Nolan’s second two Batman films are excellent films, but they present a comic book with a bit too much stark realism. Heath Ledger was amazing in The Dark Knight, but the Batman Arkham Asylum video games really present Batman so much better and include Mark Hamill’s voice work as the Joker. Superman tends to be boring and more of a Pooperman, and the Spider-Man films really lost the fantasy element of the comic. The X-Men films have been fun, but the film franchise’s timeline has collapsed all over itself. The Avenger films have consistently been entertaining and good productions with large casts and good special effects.

There have been many superhero tv series. Most have been cartoons such as 1967’s Space Ghost in which a space Batman flies around the galaxy with his team including Blip the monkey who wisely wears a mask. Unfortunately there has not yet been a Space Ghost live action film made starring Bruce Campbell. One of the coolest superhero cartoons ever made was Ralph Bakshi’s 1967 psychedelic Spider-Man. There are few more entertaining superhero adventures than in “Vine” from that series in which Spider-Man battles a gargantuan plant monster and travels back in time. The best superhero live action tv series was Adam West’s Batman series; it finally was released on dvd. The guest stars and villain characterizations are excellent. There were a number of somewhat silly superhero series that aired in the 1970’s, and I watched them all: Wonder Woman, Isis (the Egyptian goddess), and Shazam! with Les Tremayne. The 1980’s spawned the live action Spider-Man, The Flash, and The Greatest American Hero. The Incredible Hulk series with Bill Bixby was the best superhero tv series in the 1980’s (see 2016: #4-THE DETAILS ARE IN THE DEVIL). Starting in 1999, Batman Beyond was an interesting animated series with a very old Bruce Wayne in the future training a new Batman in an upgraded high-tech bat suit. There currently are some very entertaining superhero series on the CW network: Arrow, The Flash, and the really good Legends of Tomorrow.

If the three most powerful superheroes were to fight it out, who would win? That is easy since it would be Flash. There are a few other superheroes like Superman who could catch up to Flash, but Flash could easily send them off into a parallel world against their will. Speeding to the analysis, it is indicative of the Twentieth Century that superheroes were required. Heroes were not enough. Since both D.C. and Marvel formed after WW1 and before WW2, perhaps world wars were the unconscious need for superheroes. Perhaps it was too many laws piling up and no one to cut through the red tape and save the day. That would mean that superheroes save us, often by breaking the law, because the law is really insufficient to protect us. Superheroes are so popular because of a rejection of the constraints of society. Welcome the new gods, superheroes!

#superhero #Halloween #true halloween tales #marvel #dc comics #judge dredd #Metamorpho #the spectre #the flash #batman #Man-Thing #incredible hulk #Spider-Man #legends of tomorrow

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aion-rsa · 4 years

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Marvel Gifts: Avengers, Spider-Man and More in our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

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From Blu-rays to bikes and beyond, here are the Marvel gifts you'll want to give...and get!

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It's a fantastic time to be a Marvel Comics fan! Between the stellar MCU releases to the comics and merchandise, there's endless gift ideas for Marvel maniacs. Here are a few of our favorites!

Avengers: Endgame

This year's biggest film event is not only a must-have physical media release, but arguably the greatest example of superhero filmmaking ever. The unprecedented achievements of the MCU that led to the production of Avengers: Endgame have yet to be fully realized by us mere mortals, with this film being a landmark moment in nerd culture that proves how fully the geeks have inherited the Earth.

Buy Avengers: Endgame here

Spider-Man: Far from Home

Spidey's latest big screen outing was a hugely satisfying adventure that removed any lingering doubt that Tom Holland's take on the webslinger is the best ever. With Marvel/Sony having worked through their issues (for now), we have all gotten an early Christmas present -- the promise of more amazing Spider-Man films to come.

Buy Spider-Man: Far from Home here

Venom

No one is going to declare Venom to be a A-list superhero flick, but buoyed by Tom Hardy's bananas performance, it is way better than a Spidey-less symbiote film has any right to be. Delivering pure goofy dumb fun, that's this one's greatest asset.

Buy Venom here

Captain Marvel

Take your movie collection higher, further, faster with Captain Marvel's movie debut, complete with all the Brie Larson awesomeness included therein.

Buy Captain Marvel here

Deadpool: The Ultimate Collection (For Now)

Don't miss a sarcastic, ultra-violent moment of Deadpool fun with this collection of the first two Deadpool films in 4K Ultra HD.

Buy Deadpool: The Ultimate Collection (For Now) here

Thanos Hallmark Christmas Tree Ornament

Make trimming your tree a snap (too soon?) with this Thanos ornament that features the Mad Titan wearing the Infinity Gauntlet.

Buy the Thanos Hallmark Christmas Tree Ornament here

Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1

You loved him in Into the Spider Verse, now you can see where the fun began in this collection of Spider-Ham comics. Debuting in what was originally intended to be a one-shot appearance back in 1983, Spider-Ham became an instant hit among comic readers/pun lovers the world over. Soon he was joined by other animal-inspired takes on the denizens of the Marvel Universe like the Fantastic Fur and Hulk Bunny for his ongoing title, the first volume of which is collected here. Let the hammy humor commence.

Buy Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1 here

Little Golden Book: Avengers: Battle on the Moon

Young readers will love this cosmic adventure in which Captain Marvel, Iron Man and the Hulk facing off against enemies on the surface of the moon. For adults who grew up on Little Golden Books, they'll love introducing the next generation to the format that is packed with fun storytelling and great illustrations.

Buy Little Golden Book: Avengers: Battle on the Moon here

Part of a Bigger Universe: Unforgettable Quotes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Think of this book of memorable and inspiring quotes from the first three phases of the MCU as Chicken Soup for the Nerd's Soul.

Buy Part of a Bigger Universe: Unforgettable Quotes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe here

Captain Marvel Single-Speed Bike by Schwinn

Unless you have the ability to fly, one of the best ways to get around is this Captain Marvel single-speed Fixie-style bike by Schwinn. With 28-inch wheels, fixed gear capability, dual alloy caliper breaks, this is a stylish set of wheels that is just as cool as its cinematic counterpoint.

Buy the Captain Marvel Single-Speed Bike by Schwinn here

Lego Marvel Avengers Hall of Armor Set

Builders of this Avengers-inspired Lego set can craft their own instant Iron Man armory. With 524 individual pieces and five included mini-figures, this is the ultimate Iron Man Lego playset.

Buy the Lego Marvel Avengers Hall of Armor Set here

Marvel Avengers Iron Man Gaming Chair

Whether you decide to use this as your work, computer, movie watching, or gaming chair, this beautiful seat is full of comfort and style. Created by Neo Chair, it measures 23" X 22" with 23.5" back size and his full reclining capabilities and can hold up to 400 pounds. And yes, we absolutely think that Tony Stark is narcissistic enough to own one of these.

Buy the Marvel Avengers Iron Man Gaming Chair here

Spider-Man: Far from Home Spider FX Mask

Even not equipped with Edith, this Spidey mask offers up plenty of role-playing fun.

Buy the Spider-Man: Far from Home Spider FX Mask here

Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia

An A to Z of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this exhaustively researched tome showcases the strengths, weaknesses, and background information of all of your favorite heroes and villains.

Buy the Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia here

Thor Mjölnir Tool Set

For the truly worthy there is thus 28-piece tool set that comes packaged in a durable replica of Mjölnir, Thor's mighty hammer. Released by Buyton, this is the ultimate gift for home improvement buffs.

Buy the Thor Mjölnir Tool Set here

The Thing T-Shirt

This unisex T-shirt available in various colors and sizes allows anyone to show off their fondness for the ever-lovin', blue-eyed Thing. Clobberin' time has never been so fashionable!

Buy The Thing T-Shirt here

Captain Marvel Goose Plush

From Hasbro comes this plush version of Captain Marvel's Goose the Cat that hides a very special feature -- if you press on its chest, the sweet-seeming kitty's true Flerken nature is revealed!

Buy the Captain Marvel Goose Plush here

Funko Marvel 80th Anniversary Advent Calendar

Mark down the days until Christmas with this Advent calendar that reveals 24 mini Funko Pop! Marvel characters. From Thanos to Captain America, these are treats that will make the wait until Santa's arrival a fun one.

Buy the Funko Marvel 80th Anniversary Advent Calendar here

Garmin Legacy Hero Series Captain Marvel Smartwatch

If someone on your shopping list is both a techie and a Marvel maniac, impress them with this Captain Marvel smartwatch. Part of Garmin's Legacy Hero Series, this beautiful piece includes all of the typical smartwatch acoutrements (fitness tracking, notifications, etc), as well as "Captain Marvel watch faces and goal animations plus specially designed Garmin connect badges, avatars and insights to elevate the superhero experience." In other word, it's a high-end gift idea that is, as you may have guessed, beyond Marvelous.

Buy the Garmin Legacy Hero Series Captain Marvel Smartwatch here

Capcom Marvel Super Heroes Arcade 1Up Cabinet

Featuring the Capcom games Marvel Super Heroes, X Men: Children of the Atom, and The Punisher, this release from Arcade 1Up brings the thrill of retro-gaming home.

Buy the Capcom Marvel Super Heroes Arcade 1Up Cabinet here

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Nov 29, 2019

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biofunmy · 5 years

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‘Avengers: Endgame’s’ top 5 geekiest moments

If you’re one of the dozens of people on the planet that has yet to see “Avengers: Endgame,” be warned: Spoilers are below.

You could make a brand-new Infinity Gauntlet with the multiple comic-book-inspired Easter eggs spread throughout Marvel Studios’ record-breaking “Avengers: Endgame.”

While the film could be enjoyed even if you hadn’t watched the previous 21 movies, “Endgame” still served as a multi-moment thank-you to the fans who have been devoted to not only a decade’s worth of films but the comics that inspired them as well.

The latest Avengers movie is a three-hour tribute to House of Ideas and its true believers. Here are the top five geekiest comic-book moments from “Endgame.”

5. Future fat Thor

The God of Thunder didn’t just provide the funniest performance in “Avengers: Endgame” — he gave the heaviest one, too. One of the biggest laughs came with the camera revealing that the mighty Thor had let himself go. Gone was the body that the Guardians of the Galaxy devoted several minutes to worshiping when they met Thor in last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” replaced by something much softer and rounder. Thor’s newfound, more-to-love body and long beard in “Endgame” served as the slightest of nods to King Thor of the future, who appears at the very beginning of Jason Aaron’s run writing the character for Marvel Comics. That Thor was older and very much over it — “it” being everything. This larger cinematic version, again taking advantage of the comedic chops of Chris Hemsworth, gave off a similar vibe.

Chris Hemsworth, with Scarlett Johansson, left, and Brie Larson, is still his fit Thor self in this “Avengers: Endgame” scene. (Disney/Marvel Studios/AP)

4. Smart Hulk

Another heavy-lifting Avenger going through a major change? The Incredible Hulk, who goes from “Hulk smash” to “Hulk calculate” after Bruce Banner successfully merges his intellect with the Hulk’s size and strength. When Tony Stark initially balks at Ant-Man, Captain America and Black Widow’s plea to figure out time travel so they can try to recoup the recently destroyed Infinity Stones, the crew realizes they’re still in need of a super-brain, so they go to the next person on their list, Banner. But what the Stark-less trio finds instead is a fully transformed giant green Hulk with the intellectual abilities of Banner, combining his puny human and gamma-irradiated selves. This is a fun tip of the cap to the debut of Professor Hulk, a Marvel Comics story line written by Peter David and illustrated by Dale Keown in the early ’90s.

3. Hail Hydra

When the Avengers’ big time-travel mission in “Endgame” begins, they find themselves back in 2012 during the battle of New York. They arrive during their victory over Loki, but in an attempt to recoup a past Infinity Stone, Captain America finds himself in an elevator of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that, we have discovered from the earlier films, are secretly rogue Hydra spies. (It’s a fun repeat of a similar scene in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which, like “Endgame,” was also directed by the Russo brothers.) When Cap asks for Loki’s scepter, which he knows contains the Mind Stone, the Hydra agents know something is wrong. For a brief moment, it looks as if we’re in for a repeat of the well-choreographed “Winter Soldier” elevator brawl. And while that would have been great, nothing topped what happened next: Captain America leans over someone’s shoulder and whispers “Hail Hydra” to “prove” he’s on their side. This was a tip of the vibranium shield to writer Nick Spencer’s story line, beginning in 2016, in which Cap said those same two words and cause a social media riot among fans (although we told everyone back then it would all be fine).

[Why the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ writers say Captain America is the most compelling character to script]

2. The passing of the shield

Captain America takes advantage of the many loopy “Endgame” time-travel rules during his mission to return the Infinity Stones to their proper hiding places after the Avengers’ dark victory over Thanos. After being sent into the past by Banner, he comes back seconds later as an aged and elderly man with a look of satisfaction, having lived a full life while in the time stream. It’s apparent that his superhero days are over. But that doesn’t mean it’s over for the mantle of Captain America. Cap gives his shield to Sam Wilson, a.k.a. the Falcon, anointing him as the new Captain America while his other famous sidekick, Bucky, the Winter Soldier, looks on in approval. This is another nod to Spencer, who wrote the comics featuring the Falcon as Cap in a story that looked at whether America was truly ready to see a black man take up the star-spangled mantle. This comic-book-heavy moment makes the upcoming “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” limited series coming to the Disney+ streaming service highly intriguing. Will the Falcon be rocking the red, white and blue?

[FALCON IS THE NEW BLACK CAPTAIN AMERICA: 5 Things to Glean From Marvel’s new move as the House of Diversity]

1. Hammer time

There was no geekier moment in “Endgame” than when Captain America wielded Mjolnir, the mystical hammer of Thor, which can only be held by whomever the hammer deems worthy. With Mjolnir in hand, Cap also provides the top geek moment when, with the entirety of the recently resurrected Marvel Cinematic Universe behind him, he lets out an “Avengers, assemble,” the legendary comic-book call of the superteam. Cap has raised Mjolnir to the sky multiple times in Marvel Comics. His potential to wield the hammer was also hinted at in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” when Captain America was able to budge Mjolnir ever so slightly when Thor wanted to prove that no other being could lift his No. 1 weapon.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ is a thank-you to those who believed in the storytelling power of Marvel Studios

Who dies in ‘Avengers: Endgame’? Here are the four biggest spoilers.

Sahred From Source link Entertainment

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browsethestacks · 5 years

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The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength And Fitness Book (1976)

Peter's Perpendicular Leg Extensions (For People With Perpendicular Legs)

Art by Joe Giella

#Vintage #Art #Illustration #Design #Comics #Marvel #Marvel Comics #Fireside Books #The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength And Fitness Book #Exercise #Fitness #Spiderman #Spider-Man #Peter Parker #Spider-Man Far From Home #Joe Giella #1976 #1970s #70s

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mercmouth · 10 years

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Stan Lee Presents: The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength and Fitness Book (1976)

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browsethestacks · 5 years

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The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength And Fitness Book (1976)

The Little Miss Muffet

Art by Joe Giella

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browsethestacks · 5 years

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The Mighty Marvel Comics Strength And Fitness Book (1976)

Cap’s Handy Indian Wrestle

Art by Joe Giella

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aion-rsa · 7 years

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15 Comics To Look Forward To In 2017

With 2016 behind us, it’s time to look ahead into the future. In the world of entertainment there is a lot of excitement in store in movies and on TV. Marvel has a lineup of epic films in development and DC is starting to really hit its stride with the upcoming “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League” films. That being said, you might be glad to know that there’s even more excitement coming within the pages of your favorite comics and graphic novels.

RELATED: Marvel Comics: The 15 Biggest Moments Of 2016

What do you have to look forward to? Well, we can tell you that change seems to be a major theme for most superhero comics in 2017, while many graphic novels and new titles seem to be focusing on horror. To give you just an sample of what to expect, we’ve put together this list of 15 comics to look forward to in the New Year.

RELATED: DC Comics: The 15 Biggest Moments Of 2016

DEADPOOL THE DUCK

One of the most anticipated Marvel comic of 2017 revolves around an amalgam of a sardonic duck trained in quack-fu and an immortal anti-hero mercenary. That’s right, Deadpool the Duck is coming, but is he the duck with the mouth… or the merc with the bill? “Deadpool the Duck” has Wade encounter Howard on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D; unfortunately (or very fortunately), Deadpool turns up in the wrong place at the wrong time, causing him and Howard to merge together and begin fighting for control.

Written by the talented Stuart Moore with artwork by Jacopo Camagni (who knows how to do Deadpool justice), “Deadpool the Duck” promises oddity and hilarity in equal measure. As strange as it might seem, the two have more in common than just a satirical or nonsensical nature. It’ll be fascinating to see what they bring out of each other if they don’t end up killing one another (no doubt because Deadpool started it) within the psyche of this mercenary mallard. “Deadpool the Duck” begins January 4th.

INJUSTICE YEAR TWO: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

As with any Comic Book publisher, DC Comics has multiple universes that branch from different properties. “Injustice: Gods Among Us” was a successful fighting game in 2013 (with a sequel on the way), which saw Superman snap and take over the world after accidentally killing his wife and unborn child thanks to the Joker’s diabolical meddling. It created the basis of an award-winning fighting game and a series of critically-acclaimed comics revealing the years leading up to the events in the game and those that take place thereafter.

With the series finishing earlier this year, it’s time for fans to start building their collection. “Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Two” will be released in a complete collection on the 11th of January. Published by DC, and written by Tom Taylor with artwork by the likes of Mike S. Miller and Bruno Renaldo, the series will reveal how Superman strengthened his rule over the world and what happened when the mighty Green Lantern Corps attempted to take the tyrant down.

BEOWULF

Before George RR Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” before JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” there was the epic “Beowulf,” which has been told and retold for more than a thousand years. Now, writer Santiago Garcia has united with artist David Rubin to bring you a retelling of the tale unlike any other. For those who don’t know, Beowulf began as an epic poem, written in Old English, about a hero hailing from modern day Scandinavia, who arises to save the realm from vicious monsters of incredible strength and viciousness. Against all odds, he faces and defeats Grendel, a monstrous troll-like creature, followed by his monstrous mother and finally, a mighty fire-breathing dragon.

Like the epic poem, Image Comics’ graphic novel will be split into three parts for each monster Beowulf faces. Garcia has stated that the graphic novel’s story will remain faithful to the ancient tale about heroism, honor and warfare, while at the same time offering a more modern perspective. The title will be released on the 11th of January.

MONSTERS UNLEASHED

January 18th promises a monstrous amount of action, starting with Marvel’s “Monsters Unleashed” series, written by Cullen Bunn with artwork from Adam Kubert, Greg Land, Salvador Larroca, Steve McNiven and Leinil Yu. Much like “Beowulf,” this series will see Marvel’s mightiest heroes take on vicious monsters from across the 616 Universe. Characters that were once in the background will be brought to the forefront and monsters that were once forgotten will now play a huge role, according to Bunn.

Brunn has also said, “It’s a story about the heroes of the Marvel Universe [waking] up one morning and out of nowhere, giant Marvel monsters start descending on the Earth and attacking in force. The super heroes have to put aside their differences, they have to mobilize extremely quickly in order to combat the monsters that are suddenly appearing all over the world.” The story will lead to multiple spin-offs and change the new Marvel Universe in a big way, though the writers have obviously been quite secretive about specifics. They have said that “Monsters Unleashed” will bring “something new and exciting that we think will be a very valuable new player in the Marvel Universe.”

RESURREXION

Marvel has some big plans for the X-Men, plans they’ve been teasing since Fall 2016, with their mysterious teaser banner stating only “An Ending. A Beginning.” It’s the end of the war between the Inhumans and the mutants who are fighting for survival after discovering that the Terrigen Mist that creates Inhumans and is engulfing the Earth is also toxic to mutants.

However, that enigmatic tease can mean a lot of things and few details have been released. What we do know is that Spring 2017 will see the release of several X-Men titles branching from the final part of the “Inhumans vs X-Men” story arc. “ResurreXion,” from which “X-Men Gold,” and “X-Men Blue” will stem, will hopefully be a return to form for the X-Men, as well as the Inhumans, with more details being released about upcoming tie-in titles like “Iceman,” “Jean Grey,” “Cable,” “Weapon X” and “Generation X.” That all begins when “Inhumans vs X-Men” #3 is released on the 25th of January.

DARTH MAUL

Darth Maul is one fan favorite that people have been curious about since the reshaping of the “Star Wars” universe. His comics-based stories preceding “The Phantom Menace” film were made non-canon, for the most part, so the upcoming comic could re-shape him for the new “Star Wars” universe. The upcoming mini-series, written by Cullen Bunn with artwork by Luke Ross, will explore Darth Maul’s past and his fall to the dark side, as well as his temptation away from it.

Bunn has said that the series would help bridge the two depictions of the character — “the warrior seen in ‘The Phantom Menace’ and the cunning strategist of ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ and ‘Star Wars: Rebels.'” The mini-series will also include appearances by Darth Sidious and show us just what he’s like as a teacher. Of course, you can probably guess he’s not a very good one… at least ethically speaking! For those eager to see Darth Maul in a new light, you can look forward to “Darth Maul” #1 on February 1st.

BALTIMORE: THE RED KINGDOM

Beginning in 2007, with the novel, “Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire,” the story of Lord Baltimore has been filled in and expanded through Dark Horse’s comic series, “Baltimore,” written by Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy. Lord Baltimore was once a soldier whose family had been destroyed by a vampire, Haigus, whom Baltimore hunted down and killed only to find that his vengeance was still incomplete. The upcoming “Baltimore: The Red Kingdom” will see Lord Baltimore missing, while a great evil in the form of The Red King takes over the world.

The miniseries will be written by Mignola and Christopher Golden and illustrated by Peter Bergting. It’s the final series of the epic 41-issue-long vampire saga, and teases the climactic and fittingly horrific ending to it all, with Baltimore seemingly absent for the moment when real vengeance for his family, killed by a monstrous vampire, could finally be realized. This conclusion, beginning with “Baltimore: The Red Kingdom” #1, will be released on the 1st of February.

BATWOMAN: REBIRTH #1

Kate Kane has become quite a popular character as the undaunted Batwoman in “Detective Comics,” which is why she’ll once again be receiving her own comic series this year, beginning with “Batwoman: Rebirth,” which will help fit her into DC’s post-New 52 universe. Fans of the character will be glad to know that she’ll finally be getting the attention she deserves.

The one-shot comic, written by Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion, illustrated by Steve Epting and Ben Oliver, will explore Batwoman’s origins and her future as she attempts to take down the syndicate spreading a new bio-weapon called Monster Venom. It’s a storyline following the events of the current “Detective Comics” story arc, in which Batwoman is tasked with leading a new group to defend Gotham City, a group consisting of Clayface (Basil Karlo), Orphan (Cassandra Cain), Red Robin (Tim Drake) and Spoiler (Stephanie Brown). The one-shot will be released on the 15th of February, followed by Batwoman’s own comic series in March.

THE OLD GUARD

On February 22nd from Image Comics comes a new series about Andromache of Scythia and her brave comrades, all of whom are bound by immortality and try to find their way through the 21st century. Written by Eisner Award-winning writer, Greg Rucka and illustrated by renowned artist Leandro Fernandez, “The Old Guard” will explore morality and mortality. Rucka has said, “Our main character is tired. She’s been around a really long time and it is long since passed the novelty phase.”

The protagonist, Andromache (or Andy) will narrate throughout the series and refer to her past often. It’ll explore the relationships between each character, affected by the turmoil and views of their respective ages. Two of the characters, for example, come from the First Crusade — an Italian knight and one of the Moors. Rucka has said “they keep killing each other, and then they wake up again, which resulted in them going, ‘this is pointless.'” The series looks as though it will portray immortals with a bit more realism than many films, books and comics have done in the past, which is an exciting prospect, indeed!

HELLBOY AND THE B.P.R.D: 1954– GHOST MOON

After his end in “Hellboy in Hell” #10, our favorite paranormal investigator, Hellboy, is set to return on March 8th in Dark Horse’s “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D 1954— Ghost Moon” #1, this time hunting ancient Chinese demons in Hong Kong’s infamous Kowloon Walled City. Mike Mignola returns to write, though he unfortunately will not be involved in the artwork. On the other hand, Brian Churilla and Dave Stewart will be illustrating the story, which is enough to turn our frown upside-down!

The writers and artists researched heavily into the period in which the story is set, with a focus on the British spy network in the Far East at the time. Brian Churilla has previously worked with Marvel Comics, writing and illustrating “The Secret History of D.B. Cooper,” which features adventures comparable to those of Hellboy’s, though perhaps on a lesser scale. That being said, his artwork is sure to bring new life to the character, as well as the historical setting in which he finds himself. And as far as we’re concerned, any new Hellboy is a good thing!

AMERICAN GODS: SHADOW

Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel, “American Gods,” has quite a year up ahead. In April, we’ll see it adapted to television on Starz starring Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon and Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. But first, on March 15th, you’ll see it adapted to comics with “American Gods: Shadow” #1, written by P. Craig Russel and of course, Neil Gaiman himself, with artwork by Scott Hampton, who’s brought life to titles like 1992’s “Batman: Night Cries,” as well as DC’s “Sandman” series (also by Gaiman).

“American Gods: Shadow” follows the titular Shadow, who has just been released from prison to find his wife dead. Alone and that much emptier, he takes a job as a bodyguard for the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, a conman who seems to know far too much about Shadow. Before he knows it, Shadow is cast into a world of dying Old Gods and the younger, more powerful New Gods. Lovers of literature and comics (or anything Sci-Fi or fantasy-related) are sure to enjoy this one.

DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD

This seems to be a great year for Deadpool fans. After you’re finished with “Deadpool the Duck” you can get your copy of Deadpool’s first ever original graphic novel, “Deadpool: Bad Blood,” written by Chris Sims, Chad Bowers and Rob Liefeld, who also does the illustration. It is set for release on March 28th. The graphic novel follows Deadpool as he tries to figure out where and how he came to make an enemy in Thumper, who keeps beating the hell out of Wade. That’s just about all Liefeld and company are willing to reveal about the character.

The writers are being very secretive about this one, not even revealing what Cable and Domino’s role will be in the story, other than the fact that they have one. If you have any doubts, remember that it’s Rob Liefeld, creator of the character (alongside Fabian Nicieza), and this is a story he’s wanted to tell for 20 years. You can rest assured that whatever story takes place in “Deadpool: Bad Blood,” it’ll be a great one… or at least something that will get people talking.

SUPER SONS

Superman and Batman are nothing short of legendary in the DC universe, so you could probably imagine that any kids either of them had would be under a lot of pressure. That’s exactly what the “Superman and Batman: Saga of the Super Sons” comic of the ’70s was about, Clark Kent Jr. and Bruce Wayne Jr. trying to make their fathers proud, that’s what strengthens their bond, so much so that they’re pretty much like brothers. Over the years, however, the DC universe has shifted and changed, and Superman and Batman both have new sons in the mainstream DC universe.

“Super-Sons” #1, written by Peter Tomasi, with artwork by Jorge Jimenez, will be released in April and follow Damien Wayne as a 13-year-old Robin and Jonathan Kent as a 10-year-old Superboy. They’re set to fight alongside each other as well as against each other, though probably not as dramatically as that sounds. Aside from the clear artistic and dramatic differences, “Super Sons” is part of the “DC: Rebirth” relaunch and will help reset the DC universe with elements from the New 52. Unlike their predecessors, these guys are being set up to last and it’s something we don’t want to miss.

JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR

Free Comic Book Day, first held in 2002, was first held because of the attention given to comic-based films. Now, we have a film-based comic to look forward to this May, when “James Cameron’s Avatar” by Dark Horse Comics is set to be released. It’s been 7 years since the film’s release. David Cameron has promised an expansion to his world through sequels, but these films seem to have been hindered by the inner workings of Hollywood, so there’s plenty of reason to get excited about this comic. The story, written by Sherri Smith and illustrated by Doug Wheatley, will expand on the characters and settings introduced years ago through Jake Sulley, and will take place during and after the events of the film.

This is just the beginning of a 10-year partnership deal, which means there’s a lot more up ahead. The world of James Cameron’s “Avatar” film is beautiful and rich, and any expansion of that world, in any form, is something to look forward to while we wait for the highly-anticipated sequels.

JOHN BYRNE’S WONDER WOMAN

For fans of John Byrne’s work, you can look forward to the first ever collection of his 1994-1995 “Wonder Woman” comics. The collection contains issues #101-113, wherein Wonder Woman faces the likes of Doomsday and Sinestro, who seem to have returned from the dead. Book one follows her as she tries to figure out how and why they’ve returned while trying to survive. You’ll see her overcome the greatest foes even when the odds are stacked against her. Arguably the best part of the series was seeing Wonder Woman face the ever-evolving Doomsday, who seems to grow more monstrous with every step, forcing Diana to push past her limits, and even then… it may not be enough.

The legendary John Byrne, who has worked on “X-Men,” “Fantastic Four” and “Superman,” focused on Wonder Woman as a superhero and eventually brought Diana to divinity, exploring other characters such as Hippolyta by giving her the title of Wonder Woman while Diana was busy being the goddess of truth. As contentious as it was, his run built on the character a lot, even when it focused on other characters donning the tiara, showing us more about what distinguished Diana as Wonder Woman. Look out for it on the 30th of May.

What other comics and collections are you looking forward to in 2017? Let us know in the comments!

The post 15 Comics To Look Forward To In 2017 appeared first on CBR.com.

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