#guardians is my favourite mcu franchise

[hauntedhotel]

Me after Endgame: I think I'm done with the MCU now, this seems like a natural stopping point, none of the upcoming stuff interests me and I don't think I'm invested in any of the characters anymore.

Me after GotG3: *sobs hysterically over the hard-won happiness of a fictional raccoon*

[ohfugecannada]

Groot’s many backstories

So earlier I saw this post by @alastorgould where he over some of the many versions of Rocket’s backstories, eventually writing his own take on it that combined elements of all of them. It’s a pretty good summary of Rocket’s past and it’s many incarnations in the comics, cartoons and MCU etc and I highly recommend you check it out along with his rocket and halfworld related art/fics.

Anyway, It inspired to make my own post going over some of the backstories/incarnations of my personal favourite gotg character: Groot. Because A) as mentioned, he’s my fave, and imo one of the more underrated Guardians members out of the core 5, and B) Groot actually has quite a few takes on his backstory already through not only multiple retcons in the 616 comics continuity but also through several multi-media adaptations of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. And I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you all.

Obviously, this isn’t gonna cover every single piece of media Groot has been in/has had his backstory mentioned etc. But I did my research and tried my best to cover a good chunk of the most notable continuities and adaptations.

Also, I haven’t read the entirety of every comic Groot is in ever (I.E. the latest gotg Grootfall/Grootrise story arc) so forgive me if I get a few details wrong. If there are any die hard gotg/Groot comic readers out there, feel free to politely and respectfully correct me on a few things.

The Comics

In the main marvel 616 comics there have been at least 3 different versions of Groot’s backstory and origins. 4 if you count his very first incarnation…

Tales to astonish #13 (+ other King Groot appearances)

King Groot is the giant tree like ruler of Planet-X, and an alien invader who lands on earth to kidnap the humans from a small town in order to take them back to his home planet and experiment on them. Conventional weapons used by the towns military don’t work as this groot is immune to fire and explosives. But thanks to the quick thinking of protagonist human scientist Leslie Evens, king groot is taken down by genetically bred super termites. He seemingly dies in this story but later makes appearances in comics like the Howling Commandos, aiding the team. Most commonly being seen as an inhabitant of Monster Isle. There was a time where it was thought the groot on the guardians of the galaxy was the same groot as king groot (mainly the annihilation: conquest series), but this was later retconned as a different Groot impersonating King Groot. Which brings us to…

Guardians of the Galaxy #14 (2013)/Annihilators #1 and 2 (2012)

Groot was a flora colossus sapling who along with his fellow saplings (also all called groot) were looked after by a group of elder flora colossus called the Arbor Masters. This groot was different from the others as he often brefirended the maintenance mammals; small intelligent mammal like beings who most other flora colossus looked down on as inferior. One day, another group of flora colossai were bulling a squirrel-like maintenance mammal and groot steps in to defend it. After one of the more violent flora colossus nearly kills the mammal, groot snaps and tears the other colossus apart. Presumably killing him. This catches the attention of the Arbor masters, who then have groot banished from the planet via a space ship.

This groot would later go on to impersonate king Groot and join the team that would become the Guardians of the galaxy, in Annihilation Conquest: Starlord #1, where he’d first meet his teammate and future bff Rocket Raccoon. The way he was written in annihilation conquest made it seem like he was the same character as King Groot, but this was later retconned in Annihilators #1 and 2 as well as Guardians of the Galaxy #14.

Groot vol.1 (2015)

My personal favourite comic origin for groot. (Also literally the best version of Groot in any media ever dont @ me)

Groot is born on Planet X, where the flora colossus are towering giants who regularly kidnap beings from other planets to preform experiments on them. Groot is disturbed and appalled by the actions of his people but feels powerless to do anything… until one night where he discovers a little human girl, Hannah, being held prisoner in one of the holding pods and decides to help her escape.

After teleporting Hannah away back to Earth, Groot remains behind and destroys the teleportation pad, presumably cutting the flora colossus off from earth, and he is banished by his elders. Groot then wanders the universe for a while, taking in all its wonders and sights, before being thrown in a kree prison where he meets Rocket for the first time. Rocket can’t understand Groot at first, but over the course of months sharing a cell with him, does. After this the two form a fast friendship and break out of prison, becoming bounty hunters/criminals and eventually joining the Guardians.

Groot vol.2 (2023)

One of the most recent and drastically different origins presented in the comics so far.

In this miniseries, Planet-X is a lush forest covered planet and the flora colossus, unlike the other comic origins, are a benevolent and peaceful race of sentient plants ruled over by a giant matriarch tree called Granopy. She looks after and tells stories to a child groot and his two friends Tweeg and Gleef.

One day their forest gets burnt by a gang of mercenaries known as The Spoilers, led by an evil Flora colossus named Agz, and the three get kidnapped. But are freed by a young Mar-vel. Together the four of them, along with an Alpha Centurion hunter called Yondar, fight against the Spoilers and save Planet X. As of writing this, the Grootfall/grootrise arc, which references this miniseries, has only just wrapped up. So It’s not clear if this story is supposed to be a prequel to the 2015 Groot origin or if it’s a full on retcon of it. (Im gonna assume the latter, given how different Flora Colossai are in this compared to the previous origins. Unless Flora Collossus society/planet X as a whole really went down hill after Groot grew up, somehow going from the peaceful forest utopia we see in vol. 2 to the desolate wasteland ruled by an evil king groot in tales to astonish/groot number 6 but I digress) so it’s up in the air for now if/how they connect to each-other…

Origins in other media

As a Marvel multi-media franchise, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and by extension Groot, have had a number of different adaptations and interpretations across various non-comic book mediums including movies, games, tv shows etc. so let’s take a look at four of the most famous ones.

MCU

Weirdly enough, despite this version of Groot (and his son Groot ii aka baby groot) being the most widely known by general audiences thanks to the popularity of the MCU, MCU Groot is the most mysterious when it comes to his origin story. We never get any implications or mentions of it in the entire gotg franchise (outside of a mention of Planet X in the nova police lineup scene in vol.1). The closest we get is an idea James Gunn had planned for a short film about how Groot and Rocket met and a few very brief mentions about it in interviews. In the tweet about the short film idea, James explains Groot was caged up at an intergalactic zoo housing exotic alien creatures and was treated like an animal. Until a worker at the zoo, a robot/cyborg named Tibus Lark, became attached to Groot and helped him escape, becoming his closest friend. Until they found themselves in a hole/prison where Lark and groot would meet Rocket. Being mortally injured, Tibus would explain his and Groot’s story to Rocket before entrusting Groot with Rocket and dying. Rocket would then use the robotic parts of Lark’s body to build his big gun seen in the first gotg and break out of the pit with Groot. Beginning their criminal partnership and (dysfunctional) friendship.

Gotg Disney XD cartoon season 1

In the Disney XD cartoon, Groot grew up on an idyllic and serene Planet X ruled by his father(?), both coming from a long line of flora colossus spanning billions of years who, along with all life on Planet X, all grew from an object known as the world pod. A source of power that exists within groot. Shortly after a day of battle training with his father, the Kree and their leader Ronan invade the planet to mine it of its resources. Dispute the protest of its natives, the planet is burnt to ashes, leaving groot the lone survivor. He’s then taken by the kree and experimented on, along with other kidnapped Earth animals. This is where he meets a newly anthro-ified Rocket, and the two break out together and eventually join the guardians.

Gotg Telltale Game

Like the MCU version, we unfortunately don’t get a look into his backstory, but what we do know from the alternate story path where Rocket stays with Quill and Groot goes with Mantis when the team break up is he is the last of his kind and empathises with mantis greatly because of it.

Gotg Eidos Game

Through conversations with Groot (with Rocket, and later in the game Mantis, translating for Quill), and a few parts of rocket’s conversations, we learn that Groot’s father was the king of Taluhnia (the original native name of Planet X) as well as the other branch worlds. Groot himself wanted to be a forest caretaker so he could care for the plants of Taluhina. In contrast, his father and the arbor masters were corrupt and favoured the needs of the few over the many, and enslaved the sapient animals on Taluhnia. With some saplings even hurting these mammals for fun. Groot however, preferred thier company over the others of his kind due to how nice and smart they were, comparing them to rocket in his convo with Quill and Mantis.

Unfortunately, however, they along with the rest of Taluhnia, would perish after the Chitari would test an experimental doomsday device on the planet. After the planets destruction, the other branch worlds would mobilise an attack, but they were no match for the Chitari and were destroyed as well. Fortunately, groot was able to regrow himself into a smaller sapling form. Making him, as far as he knows, the only survivor. In his smaller form, he would eventually be sold to the collector, but would later be stolen by rocket who raided the whole place while drunk. It’s kind of a mix of the maintenance mammal stuff from the gotg issue 14 story and the general flora Collossus are corrupt stuff from that and groot issue 6, with the alien race wipe out the flora colossus part from the cartoon (though swapping out the Kree for the Chitari this time).

…And that’s it for the most famous Groot origins! Again, this doesn’t include every incarnation of Groot ever, but I think I covered my bases with the most notable continuities. Maybe I’ll have a go at writing my own take on the origin at some point, but for now, I just hope you all enjoyed learning about Groot’s different pasts as much as I did researching them…

Also let me know if there are other, more obscure versions of Groot and his backstory I missed here. I’m always down to learning more Groot lore.

[xxmisty]

First intro post for a verrrry long time!

Hello! 🌈

Bit out of practice for this but since I’ve started to get a few new followers again I thought I should make a quick post to say thanks for following and to kind of re-introduce myself since I’ve been away a little while. Tumblr’s been my online home since 2011 though so even when I’ve been away a while I’ll always come back sooner or later - I met my lovely partner here and this hellsite saved my life in a very literal way back in the day so it means the world to me 💙

I can’t help worrying that if you’ve just followed for the art you’ll get fed up with the absolute yard-sard of fandoms, nonsense and tumblr nostalgia I’ve been reblogging lately and I don’t want to put unwanted nonsense on your dash so I’ve set up a side blog which I’ll reblog just my art to. Feel free to follow that one instead! 💜 Art side blog: @johnmist 💜

But if we share fandoms (especially Torchwood - oh my god I am over three years into the biggest hyperfixation of my life and it’s showing no signs of fading!) or other interests it’d be nice to meet you - feel free to say hi!

My name’s John, some people might still know me as Mist, but all the best people call me Stringer (= my wife 🥰) I’m a 40-something trans, bi, disabled artist who’s tired of all the hate, horror and misery out there. I can’t change the world but I can try to brighten it just a tiny bit with some fan art of characters and fandoms that I love.

At the moment I’m struggling big-time with my health. I live with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, severe crohn’s and UC, endometriosis, narcolepsy, migraines and recurrent meningitis so honestly, sometimes I have to disappear without warning. From one day to the next I never know what I can manage so I try to make the most of every good day, every good hour, every good minute and draw as much as I can when I’m able. Art is one of the things that keeps me going, makes life worthwhile.

Full disclosure, I’m currently going through the worst health of my life and finding it hard to cope this time. Somehow this is the one place I don’t actually feel guilty sharing so I may talk about it sometimes. I’m also autistic and like just about everyone on this site I also suffer from anxiety. I also am very much an adult and may post/reblog adult subjects so please don’t follow if you are a minor or know you’ll find topics such as sex, sexuality, my fetish and other mature content upsetting - be safe in your own space, and feel free to follow my art blog instead 💙

💜 Again.... Art side blog: @johnmist 😁 💜

A non-complete list of my other fandoms:

Doctor Who (classic and new), What We Do In The Shadows, Marvel (mostly MCU, particularly Runaways, Jessica Jones, Wandavision, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, She-Hulk and Cloak & Dagger), Red Dwarf, Homestuck, Ashes to Ashes/Life on Mars, YuGiOh, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, Xenoblade, My Hero Academia, Yakuza, 80s and 90s nostalgia and various other franchises that we dip in and out of from time to time 💙

My icon is my favourite OC, Kim, and I may post about my OCs now and again.

I’m horrible at self-promotion but I do have a Patreon and a ko-fi and am very grateful for any support; money is a constant struggle and every little helps 💙 If you’d like a hi-res version of any of my sketches in exchange for a ko-fi donation please drop me a message 🥰

patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xxmisty

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/xxmisty

Thank you for following - I hope you enjoy my art!

[hectormcfilm]

INVINCIBLE

The first half of Invincible season 2 just wrapped up and I am raring to talk about it. I watched season 1 of Invincible week to week back when it first came out with my Dad and I still remember what an impression the first episode made, creating a well realised superhero world, having a great family dynamic of Nolan (Omni-man) Debby and mark within one episode then ending it with one of the most shocking and violent scenes in recent television history. Season 1 was an exciting and refreshing superhero project, there were some weaker episodes, most noticeably the mad scientist making cyborgs at the college Mark and his friends were viewing was very average and contrived BUT for the most part it was a great season of TV. The best part was easily the final episode and the conflict between Mark and his own father, their battle was relentlessly brutal, the scene of Omni-man holding Mark by the head as a train crashes into them at full speed, tearing through and murdering everyone inside was beyond shocking and traumatising. Besides the amazing action and impactful death and violence the emotion of the final fight was stellar having Mark still illustrate his love for his father despite everything, it was just brilliant.

Now season 2 has released its first 4 episodes and I'm ready to discuss them. (As a side note the second half of the season isn't releasing until February which is really irritating and I wish they released it all at once as this split over months really kills the hype and momentum of the show). I think so far season 2 is just as good if not even better then the first season honestly. There are lots of unchanged and improved elements with only some downsides. To start off the worldbuilding is still great. I love how this is a fully realised superhero world with locations like Atlantis being known and normalised, having an entire working civilisation there. Similarly, the multiple worlds across the galaxy all feel real and believable, I appreciate the way things aren't being discovered for the first time or created they feel like they have been around for centuries or millennia, realistic and soft worldbuilding.

When it comes to characters Mark and Debby have easily been the best this season. Mark's want to not be like his dad after everything but needs to become stronger and being pushed to kill, the arc being built for him is great so far and Steven Yuen is still great a portraying a wide range of emotions. The star of the show for me however is Debby, Sandra Oh has such an emotional and grounded performance its honestly beautiful. Debby's struggle to come to terms with Nolan's betrayal is so engaging and seeing her breakdown and crumble is perfectly disheartening. My favourite moment of this season so far is probably the parallel between Debby and Nolan, both wondering alone and lost. there are some weak characters like Rex is still annoying and some of the Guardians of the Globe in general need development as at this point the story only really focuses on their relationship problems which feels like such a waste, they also need more action scenes and a bigger stake in the plot as they feel quite tacked on and unnecessary this season.

One of my main worries with the show so far is the introduction of multiverse. Granted it has only just been introduced and it is all great so far but I am anxious where it will go. Multiverse allowed for an incredible opening to the season having Mark and Omni-man tearing through a destroyed Earth and hunting down the characters from season 1, murdering everyone, it was striking and confusing, the audience only realising it was an alternate reality at the end of the episode. HOWEVER, besides the spider-verse films and Everything Everywhere all at once thriving off the concept of multiverse many superhero franchises like the MCU and DCEU have completely failed at it, leading to the concept destroying all logic and demolishing the stakes, making everything too big and hard to comprehend or care about and making it that if any character dies they can come back. Basically so far the short multiverse teasers have been intriguing but I am weary.

The final elements I want to talk about are the more formal filmmaking aspects. I think overall the show has pretty great cinematography and framing especially for action and flight scenes, the music has been a standout this season having a very sombre and depressing atmosphere perfectly reflected by the music choice. I also enjoy that the show allows for silence and doesn't always use music when its unnecessary. The animation is unchanged from season 1 meaning it is decent but has some disappointing scene where some fights turn into a slideshow, making them feel like they have less motion then the comic book it is based on.

[nikitalovesmelissa]

MCU rant aka im done with MCU

Today is come todays rant is going to be on one of the most popular movie franchise called Marvel Cinematic Universe or MCU with beginning with the first Iron Man in 2000 and ever since then it became on of if not the most successful franchises especially in box office i for one myself really like the early MCU because of the characters being amazing especially Tony Stark aka Iron Man is portrayed by Robert Dawney Junior and some of my favourite movies are The First Avengers, Avengers Infinity War and Spider-Man homecoming which by fact Tom Holland is the best Spider-Man besides Tobey Maguire and Avengers Endgame although its not good as people saying it to be but its still a grand finale of the Avengers and the MCU in general maybe im not understood the population of Endgame that much but yeah the praise of MCU is feeling rushed The first three phases are considered to be diamond of the movies but the later phases such as Phase Four- Onwards has received a multiple backlash by fans even myself i didnt watch the movies from Phase Four because i genuinely feel like my head is going to explode when i watch these movies Eternals is worst movie i ever heard and seen in my life this movie is so boring and clishe and runs for freaking long like for 2 hours its still long long than The Hobbit even that movie is isnt really that good and after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 im done watching MCU Movies for the time actually im planning to see The Marvels in theaters to know how bad it is the only exception from Phase Four is Spider-Man No Way Home and Doctor Strange In Multiverse of Madness looks okay its not that great but Thor Love and Thunder and Ant Man and wasp Quantumania are considered a massive let down and by the way ive seen Professor x in the Doctor Strange In Multiverse of Madness but that its not that special maybe i do miss understood the appearance of that character ive not seen any of the X-Men movies but theres 13 movies in total that it will take a days to finish it and understand that what happened i dont want to sit through on Dark Pheonix because its so bad and you know the worst part is theres fifth and sixth Avengers movies that came out on the future yeah im not kidding that MCU is going to share universe to full and i don't want to watch Avengers Kangs Dynasty and Avengers secret Wars because i dont understand what will happen and overall im done with MCU after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 i know that theres TV Shows on Disney + but im not going to waste any time watching them

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #602

Top Ten MCU Character Arcs

A few weeks ago I wrote a list of my favourite MCU “series” – as in, the individual film series centred on one hero or team that forms part of the wider multi-film-and-TV-show shared continuity that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But what that list specifically wasn’t was a list of the best overall character arcs; because, of course, the characters in the MCU flit about from one film to another, cropping up in all manner of places. Take Bruce Banner, for instance; he's had one proper solo film and a sort-of spin-off series starring his cousin, but he’s actually in loads of movies as a supporting character: The Avengers, Age of Ultron, Iron Man 3 (kinda), Ragnarok, Infinity War, Endgame, Shang-Chi (kinda)… and over all those movies he has rather a lot of character development (to say nothing of looking an awful lot like Ed Norton and then looking an awful lot like Mark Ruffalo).

And this is true of loads of characters. One of the things I love, in fact, about the whole MCU is the way that development is spread across the entirety of the saga. If you only watched the four Thor films, you might not really understand why he’s so different in so many of them. Likewise so much of the Guardians’ story is defined by what happens in Infinity War and Endgame. And then you’ve got the supporting characters whose importance to the overall plot has grown as the series has developed – Wanda and Sam, for instance, who’ve developed into leading-heroes of their own shows/films.

All of this is to say that the slow-burn development of characters across the MCU is one of the most successful things about it, and really one of the best things about a shared universe. That it is so successful so often is notable, because a lot of the time these arcs are written and directed by multiple people; it’s testament to the producers who oversee the overall franchise that things not only hang together as well as they do, but that the various tribulations and developments of, say, Tony Stark feel like a natural progression of the events he undergoes. Rarely does a character seem to act “out of character” in these movies, and that’s praiseworthy indeed.

Another, final, point is to look to the future. How will characters such as Kate Bishop or America Chavez or Kamala Khan develop as the next batch of films unfurl themselves? In a decade’s time will we talk about how different Shang-Chi seems after three solo films and two Avengers under his belt? Will we be discussing how nuanced and interesting and exciting it was to see Love and Toussaint and Billy and Tommy after they got aged-up and replaced their hero parents? There are so many places the franchise and these characters can go, and it still gets me excited to think about the future of the MCU. Despite Secret Invasion.

Rocket (from Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014, to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, 2023): starting out as basically a comic relief supporting character, Rocket spends the first film being grumpy and violent. A shot of his scarred back hints at horribleness in his past, but it’s not dwelled on. Subsequent films open him up: how this trauma hardened him, made him distrustful, and also gave him a self-esteem problem. After his armour begins to crack, the Avengers movies pile on the tragedy and give him more responsibilities. By the the third film, he’s unquestionably the protagonist, as he comes to terms with his past, his trauma, and his relationships with the other Guardians.

Loki (from Thor, 2011 to Loki, 2021): Loki begins as a selfish, prideful baddie, betraying his family for glory; then he doubles-down on the gittishness and leads an invasion of Earth. Teaming up with Thor in The Dark World shows there is still a bond between the brothers, solidified by the end of Ragnarok and his tragic attempts at heroism in Infinity War. Loki (the series) took us back several steps with an alternate version of the character, but still we see that underneath the priggishness and narcissism he does feel a lot and can be a good guy if he tries. The nuanced, multifaceted performance from Hiddleston helps sell the dance he performs between good and evil.

Nebula (from Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014, to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, 2023): Nebula is a damaged, tortured, abused victim who lashes out violently, trying to kill the good guys, but is saved somewhat by the love of her sister. After being rescued, bereaved, and helping fight Thanos, she – like Rocket – ends up in a leadership role, being more integral to the plot than Gamora. Roll on Guardians 3, and she’s a massive part of the story, and one of the few members of the team where you feel she’s got more to do. Considering how slight her role was in the first film, this is quite a change.

Thor (from Thor, 2011, to Thor: Love and Thunder, 2022): Thor has gone through more than most MCU characters: from banishment to heroism, fighting with the Avengers, losing his mum, his dad, his brother (a few times), his home, and his entire kingdom. The various defeats and losses weigh on his character, and his development across the last two Avengers movies is one of the stronger story threads, Hemsworth totally selling it. The comedic touches in Ragnarok also show other facets of his character, and this is accentuated in Love & Thunder, where he’s able to have a more mature relationship with Jane and, ultimately, embrace fatherhood, which feels like a natural fit.

Wanda Maximoff (from Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2016, to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, 2022): from villain to hero and back again, Wanda’s been through it. She’s mostly defined by tragedy: losing her family, being experimented on, losing her brother, causing an international incident, and then, well, losing even more. Being an Avenger and being in love was great, until it was all torn away. Attempting to deal with Vision’s death lead to her making some very bad choices, taking her down an even darker path, turning her into a complicated, pitiable, yet genuinely terrifying villain in Multiverse of Madness.

Tony Stark (from Iron Man, 2008, to Avengers: Endgame, 2019): in a way, Stark doesn’t change much: he starts out thinking he knows best and making decisions on behalf of everyone else, and kinda ends that way too. But there’s a lot of nuance and growth underneath the surface. The first film is him realising his responsibilities; he then grows into a more heroic character. His desire to always control and protect creates conflicts, damaging his two key relationships (Pepper and Steve); he can’t back down, can’t reconcile with Steve until it’s too late. He doesn’t see how his damaging behaviour creates more problems (bringing a child into battle) and is too emotional to think straight by the end of Civil War. He mellows a lot, but still the lessons of heroism mean that, at the end of the day, he’s still Iron Man, and he gets his heroic finale.

Bruce Banner (from The Incredible Hulk, 2010, to She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, 2022): there’s a lot of change here, and a lot of it’s visible. I don’t mean the switch in actors; but aspects of his personality are reflected very visually in the way the Hulk looks or behaves. From being terrified of letting the Hulk out, he learns some tenuous method of control – “sun’s getting real low” – that means he can use the green meanie to be a hero. Years spent primarily as the Hulk give Banner’s alter ego more depth and, well, a voice; but it’s Infinity War and Endgame that show the most development. The two halves of Banner/Hulk come together, Banner’s voice in Hulk’s body, but now far more confident and – seemingly – happy, his fractured psyche reconciled with itself. The wrinkles in She-Hulk suggest more development is to come.

Natasha Romanoff (from Iron Man 2, 2010, to Black Widow, 2021): bit of a weird one, really, because some of her development is retroactively fitted to her character. She begins as a badass superspy, but Avengers adds depth; we know she was a villain who was recruited by SHIELD. Future Avengers and Captain America films show her developing relationships as she embraces the heroic life. She seems to become Steve’s second in command, and – come the Endgame time-jump – the de-facto leader of what remains of the Avengers. That film gives her a tragic and heroic end, but in her solo movie we get even more nuance: the relationship with her estranged “family”, and how that will have influenced her decisions throughout. It’s a great storyline, told almost in the background, and it’s a shame really that it’s done.

Bucky Barnes (from Captain America: The First Avenger, 2011, to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, 2021): almost feels like a cheat to cite Bucky, who changes drastically because of outside forces. From Steve’s rugged mate to Captain America’s best friend, he’s captured, injured, and brainwashed, becoming a long-time serial assassin. The slow unpicking of his tortured mind occurs over the next few films, and he struggles with how culpable he feels for the crimes he committed as The Winter Soldier. In his own series, he still deals with his legacy as the Soldier, his relationship with Wakanda, and his relationship with Steve, finally – hopefully – accepting that he can be a hero now, outside of the shadow of what was done to him.

Steve Rogers (from Captain America: The First Avenger, 2011, to Avengers: Endgame, 2019): in one sense, Steve doesn’t really change much. He stars out as an absolute hero, always ready to sacrifice himself for others, and bows out in much the same fashion. But underneath the surface there is a slow-burn change; he becomes more relaxed, comfortable as both a role model and as a peer. Also, surrounded by other heroes, he’s willing to share the burden; he trusts that he isn’t the only one who can do this stuff. You could say that going to be with Peggy is an abandonment of his responsibilities; I think we can assume that he’s still doing his Captain America thing back in whatever alternate past he’s in now. Rather, his acceptance of the strength of the other Avengers means he knows that the here-and-now is in safe hands, and he can go and live up to other responsibilities, as well as allowing himself a happy ending. It’s a nuanced change, but in such a resolute character, it’s a significant one.

Phew. Blimey. Didn’t mean to write that much. Sorry, My Novel. I’ll get back to you now.

[canadachild9]

To say that I’m excited about the space fam being back would be an understatement.

[agentnico]

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Review

Am I the one who thought of that Britain’s Got Talent contestant Stavros Flatley when Russell Crowe popped up in this film? With the accent and the general demeanour? No? Just me? Fair enough.

Plot: Thor's retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who, to Thor's surprise, inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher's vengeance and stop him before it's too late.

Thor: Ragnarök is still to this day my favourite Marvel Cinematic Universe film. It perfectly reinvented the titular character by seamlessly blending Taika Waititi’s energetic comedic timing with the mythology already built by the franchise prior, and truly that movie felt as if it came out straight from a comic book. The many colours and the inclusion Mark Mothersbaugh’s synthetic heavy 80′s techno pimped music score really made this entry a stand-out. So naturally I was looking forward to Thor’s fourth outing, especially since the entire Ragnarök creative team were coming back. Of course there was also concern, as since Avengers: Endgame the MCU has seen a dip in quality, as the lack of narrative direction has made most of the newer films very mediocre at best. But hey, in Taika we believe, so scurried into the cinema I did on opening day, ready for some Thortastic madness! By the way, did anyone know that Ben & Jerry’s now do ice cream shakes at the cinema? B&J SHAKES!? I mean c’mon, I’m trying to budget here and then Ben & Jerry’s come and pull this stunt. They taste rad though, not going to lie. Anyway, with a mighty fine shake in my hand, I sat in the cinema, ready for Thor’s next adventure. What could possibly go wrong?

I’m so glad I had that Ben & Jerry’s shake, at least I got some good out of this cinema outing. It is to my huge disappointment to reveal that Thor: Love and Thunder may just be Taika Waititi’s first real flop. The movie is a rushed mess and a half. It feels similar to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 where Marvel gave James Gunn full creative freedom after he proved himself with the first Guardians film, now Taika to has been given full creative reign and the result is waaaaayyy too many cringey jokes, a lot of which don’t hit, and a very weak narrative plot, especially as the movie rushes through all the events, instead focusing on trying to fit in as may gags and humanly possible. 

First and foremost, they dumbed down the character of Thor to the point that we behold a bumbling idiot doing stupid things for the sake of jokes. In Ragnarök, yes Chris Hemsworth lent more into the comedic side of the character, with the innocent child-like outlook on certain things, however he was still cool. He still felt like a Norse god who can kick butt and lead an army. In Love and Thunder however, he is just silly to the point that you don’t see him as the hero anymore. What’s worse is that the movie reminds you of the good times, as there are a couple of dramatic scenes between Thor and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, where Hemsworth actually shows signs of tender serious emotions, but then within minutes that is lost again in favour of some unfunny gag. And speaking of Portman, her return is actually one of the few highlights. Previously in the franchise Jane Foster didn’t have much purpose other than hey, Thor is a beautiful man, so he needs a beautiful woman to rub his face against. There was no chemistry or care for their relationship. However in Love & Thunder props given where props are due, Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster is utilized really well. Her relationship with Thor felt much more believable, and a certain flashback featuring their love backstory to the accompaniment of ABBA was one of the few successful sparks of humour in the film, and her story in the movie actually tackles some deeper subjects that I do wish were given more time to explore and delve into. 

In regards to other characters, there are a few, but again, due to the rushed plot where the movie seems to be racing against time itself, a lot of characters are heavily under-used. Valkyrie and Korg basically serve no purpose, other than the latter over-staying his welcome by cracking eye-rolling jokes. The Guardians of the Galaxy that are heavily featured in the marketing are in the movie for 5 minutes at best, if that. There are also a bunch of cameos throughout, some of which work, others not so much. I do want to talk about Christian Bale though, who plays the villain Gorr. As expected, Bale brings a powerhouse performance filled with gravitas and depth, however one that also has a bit of whimsy to it, and actually he was one of the best parts of the movie. Again though, not used enough. You have an A-list actor like Christian Bale and give him such a short role, that’s naturally disappointing. But in the moments he’s in he does magic. Metaphorically speaking but also physically, as he has this magical death sword which he spews out shadow monsters from. You know, typical evil bad guy shenanigans. 

Thor: Love and Thunder comes off as a big fat joke. It’s a self parody of itself essentially, opting to act as a 2 hour long stand-up show, only that the comedian didn’t bring any decent material to the stage. Don’t get me wrong, it has a good few entertaining moments, and visually its good to look at, especially if you want to see Thor’s butt cheeks, but all in all it’s an underwhelming experience. Especially if you’re someone like me who is a big fan of Thor, with not just Ragnarök, but the previous films too. I’m sad to say, no matter how much Guns N’ Roses hits Taika sticks in this film, it doesn’t save it from being nothing more that mediocre and forgettable. Ah heck, at least I had that Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shake. That’s the only thing that’s keeping me going right now.

Overall score: 4/10

[mattelektras]

in your opinion what’s ur top 4 worst dc writers and top 4 worst marvel writers (and maybe top writers too for both?)

even writers i'd put at the top i have issues with sometimes or im not willing to commit to them being good for the future i dont wanna get too friendly w these bitches

tbh most writers write for both marvel and dc (and other stuff) so theres only rly one list and it’s more than 4 because i’m jessie, 25, and i never learned how to shut the fuck up

frank miller - has wronged me personally as well as just. being a bad person and that showing in his writing

dan slott - will see a spiderman franchise doing perfectly fine, ask who is going to fuck this up for the rest of time? and not wait for an answer

grant morrison - just never seems to care about the history of the character theyre writing. like there's jsut no substance because they pretty much do whatever they want regardless of the consequences

charles soule - has wronged me personally. writes comics for years and fails to convince me even once that he likes the character

scott lobdell - just. a fucking idiot. just dumb as all fuck w the atrocious choices he makes in his writing. an honest to god moron

dc: tom king - just writes in circles whist thinking he's saying something profound. he isnt

chuck austen - makes some balls to the walls insane choices no one asked for. sees a woman, fuckin floors it. yes she hulk SHOULD fuck juggernaut and anyone who disagrees doesnt understand redemption

bendis - just. wildly shifts from writing good shit and then some absolute nonsense. often tries to take established characters in new directions and it WORKS sometimes ie daredevil identity reveal but other times its a shitshow ie mcu tinged guardians

brian azzarello - edginess isnt a skill. i would know

favourites that i like but exist eternally on thin ice

mark waid - basic action superhero genre shit w a real intelligence and thoughtfulness which is what makes comics more than just silly little picture books sometimes

ed brubaker - has a classic spy brand throughout all of his books without it being repetitive or boring or out of place

ann nocenti - really DEVELOPS her characters. no character shes ever written has been the same at the end of her run. you believe that theyre really gone through some shit

greg rucka (elektra vol 2 notwithstanding. i do not perceive it) - just fuckin. GOOD honestly. innovative stories without the need for continuity events, care about what hes writing

peter milligan - this is a me thing i think. i just find his writing kinda comfy. ive read elektra vol1, justice league dark vol 1, xstatix more times than i can count. theyre nothing universe changing or groundbreaking and they dont really matter in the grand scheme but i have Fun. his red lanterns book give me bleez content. i owe him my life

john byrne - his superman stuff has real like. soul. and u cant write superman without it. ppl talk about frank miller ~~~~defining batman or daredevil or whatever but byrne's superman is what Defining a character looks like imo

[gotham]

Thoughts on what we've heard and seen of Thor: Love and Thunder so far?

honestly i'm just very [long continued sigh] about it. infinity war, but especially endgame, fucked thor's character and franchise over so extremely much that i'm not sure it's possible to truly recover. thor's entire trilogy was about how he needed to become a good man to be king, then accepting that being a good man meant being a good leader to his people BUT THEN HE JUST GIVES UP LEADERSHIP IN ENDGAME TO JUST FUCK AROUND THE GALAXY??? are we just going to do the iron man thing where thor learns the same lesson every go around and forgets it again in the team ups bc..... yawn. i thought maybe they might try to fix what the russos did to New Asgard in L&T but then i saw set photos of it turned into like a disneyland knock off so i'm like haha yeah let's just turn the displacement and genocide of an entire people into more of a joke why not at this point??? they're only the most advanced civilisation in the universe.

the loki show proved that thor and loki are now separate properties that most likely won't interact in a major way ever again (bc money and content >>> story and characterisation integrity) so i'm even less excited about either of their solo outings as their relationship was my main investment in both of them. so, thor is completely without family and is trying to become a guardian for some reason and loki is off trying to fuck his female self who is as interesting as a loaf of bread, what a wonderful development for these characters.

taika waititi's been annoying me a lot lately (midlife crisis aside, did anyone see him in freeguy?? god LORD) and i think he's high off his own kool aid so i'm hesitant about how un-irritating the humour and his overestimating how funny korg is will play in L&T. i dont want the only message they take for ragnarok to be "it was funny that was why ppl liked it." no, it was great bc it balanced the humour well w/ the heavier, nuanced stuff. also the girlboss-ing of jane and valkyrie is making me nervous; jane was a dorky scientist who loved being a dorky scientist, is thor!jane just going to be Strong Female Character no. 37 or will that character still remain but just be ripped? and val was a traumatised, drunkard who literally sold ppl to slavery bc she didn't give a shit about anyone or anything anymore (and who HATED the monarchy), will she just be girlboss snarky lady who now is an amazing king (and why king not queen, words have meanings???) bc its illegal for female characters to be too flawed in the mcu???

but the thing that keeping me invested to some extent is my man christian bale being the villain. i love this man, i will die on any hill for this man, i will watch truly terrible films for this strange man (if he looks hot). if they somehow tempted bale out of his oscar bait cave to do another comic book film and he's NOT playing some sort of jesus type figure then this shit must be good, or that cheque was really, really nice. hela is my favourite mcu villain besides loki so they're 2/3 for great villains in these films, let's hope we get another banger. plus the god-butcher is just a sexy concept.

[guardianreadersofthegalaxy]

My ★★★½ review of Thor: Ragnarok on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/1QbJEj

This is my wife's favourite MCU and by far the best Thor. The absurdity works much better for him than the po-faced earnestness of his first two outings (although I wonder if we'd enjoy the deconstruction so much if he hadn't been so firmly established in the first place). For something so visually inventive, it's a shame all the exterior scenes are lit so flatly. I'd have ranked this above Guardians 2, otherwise. But the Led Zepplin scenes are some of my favourite in the franchise as they immediately tell you everything you need to know about Thor. Taika Waititi is the only person I want to see direct a Bond film from now on.

[octoberobserver]

Heyya Zee! <3 Here for the top 5 post... Let me see....

Top 5 of your fav movies? (:

OMG! Hi @kin-rokku ❤️❤️ How have you been? Hope you're well!!

Ooh that is a tough one. My favourite movies change every day I think 😂 so to make things a little easier, I'll give you my top favourite movies from the MCU and Marvel-affiliated movies if that's okay haha.

1) Venom - I know, I know. Bet you didn't think this was first, huh? But it really is. I'm not joking, this is my comfort movie. My friend and I have watched it together at least 3 times and separately a least four times. I just never get bored of watching Tom Hardy bicker with himself for 2 solid hours. So needless to say, I'm psyched for the sequel.

2) Deadpool - duh. This was my favourite until Venom. It's just *chef's kiss* everything I ever dreamed for my favourite Canadian child. Ryan Reynolds is absolute dream casting and every meta joke and reference is just hilarious and perfect. I really liked the supporting characters too, particularly Blind Al and liked Vanessa's portrayal too. The story is just a solid origin while being wildly fun.

3) Captain America: The Winter Soldier - this is still my favourite MCU film, I think. It's like a spy thriller that masquerades as a superhero movie. I LOVE SAM WILSON!! Also, Sam, Steve and Nat as a trio are iconic. I ALSO LOVE BUCKY!! I like the expansion of Bucky and Steve's dynamic but now in the modern world and how it sets things up for their future paths. It's solid storytelling.

4) Ant Man - I just had a blast with Ant Man, tbh. Scott is so funny as a character, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly are amazing and oh my god Luis just cracks me up every single time. Such a fun film.

5) Iron Man - I think for purely nostalgic reasons, Iron Man takes this spot. It's the one that started the universe, the one that sucked me into the franchise and RDJ really is phenomenal in the role. I also love Pepper and Happy and the villain is predictable but solid.

Honourable mentions: 1) Guardians of the Galaxy - I adored this when it first came out. Love a found family trope and the soundtrack is still one of my favourites ever. 2) Spider-Man: Homecoming - Spider-Man has always been and will always be probably my favourite superhero (excluding Deadpool lol). And Tom Holland does a wonderful job. I loved Keaton as the villain and omg Marisa Tomei 😍 I like Peter's dynamic with Tony too and how it sets up future films and MJ and Ned are chaotic and I love them.

Thanks again for asking, this was so fun ❤️❤️

[violent-optimism]

With the “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Trailer that just came out, I’ve been recalling just how much I love Doctor Strange, both the character and the movie he’s from. I know that sounds weird considering Spidey is the main focus of that movie but god damn I love me some Strange and I’m so excited for his role in this movie as well as Doctor Strange 2.

I think it’s been said before that Doctor Strange is one of the most underrated MCU films. With 20+ films and shows in the franchise it’s very easy for some works to get lost or forgotten about. I’d be lying if I said that every single MCU movie that’s come out in the last 12 years or so was perfectly enjoyable and memorable. News flash: not all of them are.

Doctor Strange is though (to me at least). I honestly don’t know what it is about the character that I love so much. Stephen Strange is often compared to Tony Stark in that they both started out as wealthy, arrogant assholes with massive egos who only care about themselves. Granted, they have both changed a lot and became better people over time.

The big difference is that the change Tony went through over several films, Stephen was able to do in just one. I think that’s what makes his story so satisfying. Benedict Cumberbatch is charismatic and likeable as all hell, even when he’s playing a selfish bastard, but what’s even better is that by the end of his arc he understands that it’s not just about him and he can see the big picture. There are larger forces at work and he needs to do his part to protect not just the Earth, but space, time and the fabric of reality.

Granted, Tony and Stephen do butt heads a lot in Infinity War and they are both equally guilty of acting like children at certain moments. But Stephen definitely has the more mature edge and at least we see him actively trying to explain to Tony why they can’t just do what he suggests.

(No hate on Tony as a character btw I think RDJ does a fantastic job and I like him too)

There’s something else I really like about Doctor Strange. Like Ant-Man or some in the ‘Guardians’ crew, he could have easily fallen into more of a background role with a couple cool scenes and the odd one-liner joke. It’s obvious almost from the start that Doctor Strange has to play a CRUCIAL role in the fate of the larger story. It’s why he had such a big role in Infinity War and why is return/revival in Endgame was so necessary.

I mean the dude was the only one who knew EXACTLY what was going to happen and made sure that it did. That’s pretty damn significant and the rest of the characters certainly owe Strange their lives. In short, I love how powerful Doctor Strange is as a character and I love that he plays such a vital role in the series. I think his worth will only continue to grow, especially since he is going to have to work some major sorcery in order to fix all the multiverse BS that’s been going on lately lol

Sorry that this post is kind of all over the place. Before I cap it off the one thing I really need to mention is the soundtrack posted above. Doctor Strange has probably the BEST MCU soundtrack with only the main Avenger’s theme competing with it. Michael Giacchino is right up there along with my other favourite composers. I absolutely love what he did with this film and how he gave Strange such a unique and strong theme. It was one of the first things that caught my attention when I first saw the movie in theaters, and I continue to listen to it every once a while.

Enjoy this random blurb and the song that accompanies it. Maybe one of these days I’ll sit down and right a proper review of the film. I admit that I’m starting to suffer a bit from Marvel fatigue, but honestly Doctor Strange is one of the biggest reasons I keep coming back to it.

[loststarsabove]

My thoughts and opinions on the slew of recent trailers and announcements that no one asked for, but I needed to process all this information. These are just my opinions so don’t hate me.

Marvel:

WandaVision - Not very interested in this and it looks a little too trippy for my taste, but might watch it anyway to see Jimmy Woo and Monica Rambeau (and Billy and Tommy?)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - Easily my most anticipated of Marvel’s offerings. I was disappointed that it was delayed but it looks like it will be worth the wait! The trailer was epic. It looks like an action movie. I love Sam and Bucky, and their relationship and banter. Also I can’t wait to see my girl Sharon!

Loki - Not sure what to expect from this one and the trailer did not make things any clearer, but I’m just thrilled that Loki is getting his time to shine away from the Thor franchise.

What If? - Now that I’ve seen the full trailer I am actually quite excited for this! Also the animation looks gorgeous.

Hawkeye - I am not a fan of Jeremy Renner or what they did to Clint’s character in the MCU - hopefully this series will correct some of that. However the dog is adorable, Hailee Steinfeld looks really good as Kate Bishop, and I’m interested to find out what Yelena’s role in the story will be. 

Ms. Marvel - From the brief clips we have it looks like a cute, heartwarming, and inspiring story. It has jumped to the top of my list! 

She-Hulk - I’ve hated Bruce Banner in everything after The Avengers so I hope his involvement in this show is minimal.

Moon Knight - Not interested at the moment.

Secret Invasion - I was never one of those fans who felt like this story had to be adapted for the MCU and I liked what they did with the Skrulls in Captain Marvel, but I’m 100% for it now that Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn are involved!

Armour Wars - Finally giving Rhodey a leading role after playing pivotal supporting roles in a gazillion movies is long overdue. Sounds like an interesting premise. Will definitely watch!

Ironheart - Not very familiar with the character so I don’t have much of an opinion at the moment. Will probably watch though.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special - For some reason I have the feeling this is just going to be a Star Wars Holiday Special parody/rip-off.

I Am Groot - Will probably be cute.

Black Widow - I’m over it at this point. Was never really into it. Should have come out years before Endgame. Will only be watching for Yelena Belova.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Admittedly was not familiar with the character prior to the announcement. I like Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina though, and I’m interested to see what the movie does with The Mandarin (after the disaster that was Iron Man 3). No real opinion until I see the trailer.

Eternals - Would not be interested in this at all except for the fact that I like Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, and Kit Harrington. The cast is massive and star-studded to the point of feeling bloated.

Untitled Spider-Man 4 - Not sold at all on the multiverse/spiderverse, but the previous MCU Spider-Man films are among my favourites and I thought they both sounded like crap initially. Will definitely reserve judgement until I actually see the movie. As much as I adore Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, my wish for this movie is that we see a move towards more classic Spider-Man comic elements (The Daily Bugle and Peter’s photography, a mere mention of Uncle Ben, Harry and Norman Osborn, etc.)

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness - Not really interested right now.

Thor: Love and Thunder - Will likely not be watching. An unpopular opinion but Ragnarok was my least favourite MCU movie.

Black Panther II - Right now I am just eagerly awaiting any announcement regarding their plans for where they are taking this franchise. 

Captain Marvel 2 - I loved the first movie, Brie Larson, and Carol Danvers. Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau appearing in this makes me so happy! Hopefully Goose will be back! The Ms. Marvel tv show seems to imply that Captain Marvel is famous enough as a superhero to have merchandise, so I hope this movie explains when and how that happened (presumably during the 5 years after the snap that we didn’t see in Endgame).

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Very torn about this one. I really loved the first two movies, but my enthusiasm for the franchise has admittedly soured due to controversies involving certain members of the cast and crew. Will watch it, but not particularly bothered either way.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania - I am truly upset by the decision to recast Cassie Lang, perhaps to the point of being irrational. Hopefully I get over it because I have been looking forward to this movie for so long. The plot sounds good and I am anticipating much family cuteness.

Blade - Never saw the original movies and only know the character from Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Fantastic Four - We all knew this was inevitable. Just give me a comic accurate Susan Storm and a teenage/young adult Johnny Storm (because if we don’t get Spideytorch content then what’s the point?) and I will be happy.

Untitled Deadpool - Not the biggest Deadpool fan, but the second movie was amusing. Will probably watch out of curiosity. 

Untitled X-Men/Mutant movie - Not sure how they are going to integrate Mutants into the already very established history of the MCU. If they do go ahead with this movie I hope that it focuses on different characters from the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise. Personally I don’t want to see Erik and Charles played by anyone else after Ian McKellan, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, and James McAvoy.

Star Wars:

Obi Wan Kenobi - We have Hayden Christensen! This is not a drill! Honestly I am so happy! He was absolutely incredible in RotS and he truly deserves all the love he’s been getting over the years. As exciting as a reunion between his Vader and Ewan’s Obi Wan will be, a tiny part of me is frustrated because I thought Episode IV implied that their encounter on the Death Star was their first encounter since Mustafar? I’m sure they will find a way to make it work, however. Deborah Chow is an amazing director. I hope they cast a young Luke :3

Andor - Definitely my most anticipated Star Wars project after Obi Wan Kenobi. Really excited to see more of life in the Rebel Alliance, and loving the sound of the “nail-biting spy thriller” angle. Glad that Genevieve O’Reilly is back as Mon Mothma. Keeping my fingers crossed for Jimmy Smits. 

The Bad Batch - The animation looks stunning. Always interested to see more of the early days of the Empire.

Ahsoka - I don’t want it

Rangers of the New Republic - Not a lot of information except that it’s “culminating in a climatic event” with other stories, which sounds ugh. Reserving judgement until we learn more and see a trailer.

Lando - Awaiting more info. No word yet on whether Donald Glover or Billy Dee Williams will be back, but we can’t go wrong if either one (or both) are involved.

The Acolyte - Sounds like it could be interesting. Glad to see other time periods in the Star Wars universe being explored.

Star Wars: Visions - Will probably watch for pretty anime animation.

A Droid Story - Sounds like it will be cute, and I love droids so will probably watch. 

Rogue Squadron - Unless it’s an adaptation of the EU Rogue Squadron, I’m not particularly interested. If we’re getting Corran Horn, Mirax Terrik, Tycho Celchu, and Wes Janson, however, then I am 100% onboard!

Untitled Taika Waititi Star Wars - Not a fan of Ragnarok as has already been established, nor did I like aspects of his episode of The Mandalorian. Can’t imagine that I will be interested.

Other:

Fate: The Winx Saga (Netflix) - This looks like a cheesy guilty pleasure at best and a dumpster fire at worst. I wish that Prince Sky’s hair was longer. W.I.T.C.H. would have translated better into live-action if they wanted to adapt a mid-2000s era cartoon.

Batwoman Season 2 (The CW) - This looks like a huge improvement from season 1. Judging from the trailer I think they made an excellent decision by bringing in Javicia Leslie. The character dynamics all look really interesting. My most anticipated CW show along with Superman and Lois.

[thefloatingstone]

I would def recommend seeing Black Panther next time you get the opportunity. It’s one of the few MCU movies where you don’t need to watch the entire franchise first to understand

XD It’s not so much “I won’t understand it because I haven���t watched most of the others” as it is just... Superheroes aren’t really interesting to me? They never have been. I LOVE comic books but literally none of the comic books I’m interested in have anything to do with superheroes. My top favourite comic books are Usagi Yojimbo and Bone.

There’s also the thing where if an action or fight sequence goes on for too long and isn’t visually interesting like a weird Jackie Chan prop comedy sequence... my brain literally switches off because it gets visually over stimulated and it starts thinking about what I’m going to cook for supper or what the last episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race was I watched or whether I should pay the money to buy Minecraft or not. Only for me to go “oh shit! I’m watching a movie! I’m supposed to be paying attention!” and trying to drag my focus back to what I’m watching.

And if the action sequence KEEPS GOING the same thing happens because my brain is so overstimulated with visual noise it gets bored and starts thinking about other things instead.

So..... yeah I’m not a big Marvel fan.

The Guardian movies are great though. They’re like literally some of my favourite films. I met Loyd Kaufman at Comic Con one year and when I bought Tromeo and Juliet he was super enthusiastic about Peter Gunn and kept bragging about him and it was super adorable.

... uh... oh yeah. Black Panther. idk maybe I’ll watch it if I hang out with friends one day again or something. But I’ve got too many other things to watch.

Did you know the entire movie Solaris is up for free on Youtube?

[fandumbstuff]

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ranked Best to Worst.

Why watch a movie when you can experience it? And that’s what the MCU demands you do. These films are less about settling in to watch a movie. It’s about getting together your family, your friends and making an entire event of them. Marvel Studios has forever changed cinema going, and boy am I eager to get back to them. So with that, let me break down the franchise and my take on the best and worst it has to offer.

1. Iron Man 3 Directed by Shane Black

Iron Man 3 still holds up as one of the MCU’s strongest screenplays. It’s their first (and one of their only) real character study of a superhero, and the psychology behind being one. Tony Stark suffers from PTSD and struggles to understand his relationship with Iron Man. He is forced to contend with human issues and find what it is that truly makes him a hero. It’s also a movie chock full of incredible action set pieces- the Air Force One scene still holding up as one of my favourites- and wickedly funny dialogue. It continues to be my most satisfying re-watch out of the MCU.

2. Black Panther Directed by Ryan Coogler

Marvel’s best villain, best score, best production design, and best picture candidate. It’s the movie that forced Hollywood to take them seriously. Ryan Coogler showed the world that he can perform even within a studio system that had largely been criticised for being too overbearing. The world may have always known that Black Panther existed, but Coogler showed us why he matters so much. The story is the MCU’s most inspiring yet. Killmonger forces not just T'Challa, but every audience member to consider his motivations seriously. It shows humanity that heroism doesn’t come from superficial acts, but from overcoming our own flaws and learning hard lessons from our history.

3. Thor: Ragnarok Directed by Taika Waititi

In letting Taika Waititi have free reign over Ragnarok, Marvel is given their most unique film yet. The movie feels very much like Waititi’s own vision, chock full of his signature wit and charm. And its within this vision that we finally see Chris Hemsworth come into his own as Thor. Finally at ease, he’s allowed to be funny, and absurd, and play the emotional scenes without any melodrama. Waititi really makes the character dynamics in this film memorable, introducing us to the Grandmaster and Valkyrie, and fleshing out Banner and Loki. It’s a cast that charms us enough to consider staying with the MCU and seeing where they go.

4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo

Chris Evans finally comes into his own as Captain America, as Winter Soldier gives him a captivating character arc to work through. Steve Rogers is placed in a conflict that makes him question his own motivations. The morality that he stands for is in direct opposition to the authority he serves, leaving him to question what it means to be Captain America. We also see him learn from his relationships with the supporting cast- with a franchise best portrayal of Nick Fury and Black Widow and a particularly strong introduction of Falcon. The Russos create something truly remarkable by taking a character that has been criticized for being too traditional and show him learn and change significantly. But in addition to all this they direct what is easily the MCU’s best pure action movie yet, showcasing the franchise’s best car chase (Fury vs Cops) and its best fight scene (THAT knife scene).

5. Avengers: Endgame Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo

Stunning, momentous and joyous, Endgame is the theatrical experience that Marvel has spent over 10 years honing to perfection. Just one year after Infinity War, the MCU brings together their iconic, colossal cast for their grandest, most ambitious adventure yet. And while Endgame is chock-full of some stunning action sequences and gleeful references, it carries a genuine heart to it. These heroes struggle with PTSD from the events of Infinity War. We see them at their very lowest, and watch their desperation mount and grow to determination. This epic struggle is what has made superheroes so compelling for so many years. By breaking these characters down, the Russos show us just what makes them great. We’ve witnessed writers, directors and certainly the actors take these characters on journeys that have seemed at times thrilling, at time out of touch, but in Endgame, they’re at their very best. The moments of reprieve in the action where we simply sit with them to listen in on their banter are the best. Building to it’s inevitably emotional ending, Endgame winds up being one of the most wholly cathartic experience I have had with a film.

6. Guardians of the Galaxy Directed by James Gunn

At the time of it’s release, Guardians was the franchise’s best-looking movie yet, and it still holds up. The slick space opera designs set to the now iconic soundtrack made the first Guardians an aesthetic marvel. It’s the substance that comes with this that makes the movie one of the MCU’s best. The ragtag group are misfits who find their purpose by banding together, and while the sequel may have drawn this out to nauseating lengths, the first movie made it succinctly effective. It found the right balance of humour and sentiment, endearing us to a cast of characters that seemed too obscure to be popular- and guaran-damn-teeing that Marvel can do whatever the hell it pleases moving forward.

7. Avengers: Infinity War Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo

To handle ten years of storytelling and world building and bring it to such a satisfying crescendo is commendable. The Russo brothers handle each character well- each new introduction is a pleasing moment of familiarity and excitement to the fans that have stuck with this franchise. It’s a perfect match to the comic book format. And ultimately Infinity War is as good as any major comic book event. A chance to see our favourite characters interact with each other with conceivable motivations, and face a threat that is alarmingly critical. Its in this respect that Infinity War outshines its predecessors. For the first time, the Avengers face real emotional consequences if they fail. The Russo’s pull no punches to make this clear and despite a fair amount of signature MCU levity, Infinity War winds up being their darkest film yet.

8. The Avengers Directed by Joss Whedon

There’s no questioning the milestone achievement that The Avengers accomplished. As a superhero ensemble, it never once feels congested or jarring-something that most blockbusters consistently suffer from. Instead the protagonists are given clear goals, and their obstacles make real sense. Their hostility towards each other stems from their innate character flaws that they need to address to face the true antagonist in Loki. It highlights what Marvel does so well- offer us adventures that don’t tie up all their loose ends but rather leave them dangling to set up more ambitious stories.

9. Spiderman: Homecoming Directed by Jon Watts

I’ve long considered Spider-Man an uninteresting superhero, so it is highly commendable that Homecoming manages to change that. We skip the origin story and meet a Peter Parker that is inexperienced and has a lot of growing up to do. He contends with Michael Keaton’s Vulture- a villain that is simultaneously charismatic, intimidating, and relatable. Supported by what is probably the best supporting cast in any MCU film. Martin Starr, Hannibal Burress, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau and Marisa Tomei flesh out Spidey’s own universe of Queens- wholly believable and charming.

10. Captain America: Civil War Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo

In all respects, this should have been the second Avengers film. The Russo brothers do what Joss Whedon couldn’t. They show these characters change and clarify their motivations based on the 8 years that we’ve been watching them. They introduce new characters like Spider-Man and Black Panther in seamless fashion. They provide exciting action set pieces and compelling moments of drama. The payoff at the end truly shows us how much of a battering these heroes take- emotionally and physically. We see their vulnerability more clearly than any other MCU film, forcing us to address the question that they can’t keep doing this forever.

11. Captain Marvel Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

The biggest issue that this movie suffers from is that it seems very episodic to a larger MCU. Its hard to get around this though, with it’s release date being less than 2 months away from Endgame. It feels like there are some key world building details that had to be gotten across. Had this not been the case, perhaps they could have explored Carol’s character a bit more. She does seem interesting, and Brie Larson does an expectedly great job, but it seems like we’re only getting a taste of a much larger character study. From what we see though, it is refreshing to see a female character who simply goes out and kicks ass without ever being sexualised, even in terms of costume design. The highlight of the film though, is undoubtedly Samuel L. Jackson’s incredible portrayal of a young Nick Fury, through the most magical of magic tricks in VFX.

12. Iron Man Directed by Jon Favreau

While I do feel like the movie has lost some of it’s lustre since it’s release, there’s no denying that Jon Favreau achieved something remarkable with Iron Man. Forever considered one of Marvel’s B-characters, Favreau brings Tony Stark into a modern era and instantly relevant setting. This is obviously due in large part to his gamble of casting the debilitated Robert Downey Jr. in the lead. Downey Jr. pays off in spades, revitalising his career and sadly typecasting himself forever with a roguishly charming performance.

13. Doctor Strange Directed Scott Derrickson

Doctor Strange is proof of the amazing world-building prowess the MCU has. They introduce key elements to the universe that seem incredibly important, without ever overwhelming the story. Benedict Cumberbatch puts on his best American accent yet and capably sells Stephen Strange as one of the MCU’s more level-headed heroes. The rich mythos of Doctor Strange fits immediately into the greater MCU framework while telling it’s own compelling narrative culminating in my favourite climax to any MCU film- “Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain.”

14. Spider-Man: Far From Home Directed by Jon Watts

The real standout from this film is Jake Gyllenhaal with his pitch-perfect performance as Quentin Beck/Mysterio. He threads that line of MCU humour extremely well, but also manages to come off as wholly and realistically threatening when he needs to. Far From Home had the tough task of following the monumental Endgame,  but it fulfills its purpose of truly setting the tone for the future. A lot rests on Peter Parker’s shoulders and Far From Home shows him having to deal with it responsibly, maturing and growing to fill a greater role in the MCU. 

15. Ant-Man Directed by Peyton Reed

If you ignore the fact that this movie was almost directed by Edgar Wright and how amazing that could have been, Ant-Man still delivers as a very entertaining movie and one of the franchises strongest origin stories. Scott Lang is instantly the MCU’s most relatable character- not a god, not a spy, just a thief with no powers and no resources (initially). And there is no one who could have played this character better than Paul Rudd. Bringing his signature charm and impeccable comedic timing to the franchise is a breath of fresh air and a brand-new dynamic. 

16. Captain America: The First Avenger Directed by Joe Johnston

Ultimately my biggest problem with Captain America has always been his origin story, so I have some natural issues with this film. It is also bogged down with some cliched romantic drama between Steve and Peggy which takes away from its otherwise engrossing plot. Hugo Weaving proves to be an effective Red Skull, showing us a deeply disturbing quest for power. The movie excels in its WW2 setting, laying down real consequences and motives behind Captain America’s heroism. It takes a few movies for Chris Evans to settle into the role, but this is a strong start.

17. Iron Man 2. Directed by Jon Favreau

Iron Man 2 consistently threads the line of poignant storytelling. Ivan Vanko’s vengeful motives, Tony Stark’s descent into alcoholism and the nature of war profiteering. It’s especially unfortunate then that the movie gets bogged down with a persistent need for levity. More than any other film in MCU, the humour in Iron Man 2 seems particularly cumbersome- taking away from what would surely be strong performances from Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell. As a result, we’re left with villains who don’t seem to be a threat at all- mere caricatures for Iron Man to dispatch without ever really pondering their motivations.

18. Ant-Man and the Wasp Directed by Peyton Reed

My initial reaction to this movie was pretty positive, but given time I realise it’s totally forgettable. While it does feature some integral world building to the larger MCU, there’s very little done to explore some of their characters, particularly the Pym/van Dynes. There are still a lot of great aspects, including some clever action set pieces that explore Ant-Man’s powers more. Scott’s relationship with Cassie is expanded on and Paul Rudd and Abby Ryder Fortson do a great job selling this, making it seem truly endearing without ever being corny. Also Randall Park is in it and he might be the greatest actor of his generation.

19. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Directed by James Gunn

More of the same, but not nearly as fresh is what Guardians 2 serves up. It rehashes a lot of its predecessors joke formulas, action montages and even the basic emotional tone. It’s hard for any of this to seem anything other than repetitive and I’m left wanting these characters to go on real adventures rather than wallow in their own angst. Without offering any new developments to these characters and a rather uninteresting plot, the movie is another totally dismissible filler episode in the MCU.

20. Thor Directed by Kenneth Branagh

It’s really baffling that with as big of a name as Kenneth Branagh attached to it, Thor winds up being one of the MCU’s most poorly directed films. Poorly constructed shots framed on a dutch tilt and coloured with a gaudy high contrast palette make this movie a downright eyesore. It’s especially unfortunate because it’s got some great moments of storytelling in it. While the first three quarters of the movie seem tedious, it pays off in the last 30 minutes- exposing a complex family drama that drives most of the film. While Chris Hemsworth took a few films to polish his acting chops, Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins provide strong performances to really sell their characters and make us care.

21. The Incredible Hulk Directed by Louis Leterrier

This movie has easily become the sore thumb in Marvel’s formula. It seems entirely different from the rest of the movies. This is due in large part I believe to make it similar to the original TV series. None of this is a good thing. The movie has a largely meandering plotline, with no sensible character development. Bruce Banner goes back and forth between being tortured by the Hulk and accepting him. In a world populated by poor villains, Tim Roth’s Abomination might be the worst one. At no point do his motivations make sense or seem clear at all.

22. Avengers: Age of Ultron Directed by Joss Whedon

It seems like Joss Whedon decided to make a sequel to The Avengers without taking into consideration the four other movies that came out after it. Ignoring most of the character development and brushing aside key plot points, Whedon instead tries to explore their team dynamic by sewing seeds of hostility and testing them against a new villain. However, as good as James Spader is, Ultron never feels like a real threat. The real antagonist for the Avengers winds up being themselves, constantly bickering over right and wrong- and while this isn’t necessarily bad, Civil War would do a much better job of this just a year later. This makes Age of Ultron a dispensable entry in the MCU, and Whedon’s extremely poor handling of Natasha and Bruce’s relationship make it an arduous rewatch.

23. Thor: The Dark World Directed by Alan Taylor

The Dark World suffers from some bizarre shifts in tone and horribly forced humour. They reduce Jane Foster and Thor’s relationship to a cliched romantic comedy and then use it to add unnecessary comedy to the family dynamic established in the first Thor. Even the performances seem poor here- as if the actors never truly felt comfortable in their role. They posture and exaggerate to sell a script that offers them very little to work with. With a caricature of an evil villain and a generic McGuffin to chase, The Dark World is everything you could criticize the MCU of, rolled into one movie.