Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • Review: Marvel’s Greatest Cosmic Hero Is Back On Top in ‘Nova: Centurion’ #1

    In the late 1960s, Marvel Comics began to truly carve out the cosmic corner of its universe. With the Fantastic Four Galactus Trilogy, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby shifted the scope of the Marvel Universe beyond Earth-based villains and into the vastness of space. With imaginations running wild, Lee and Kirby–with the Kree hero Mar-Vell at the center–created entire civilizations complete with complex histories and mythologies all their own.

    For 15 years, Captain Marvel led the publishing house’s charge into space, introducing dozens of characters, many of whom became major players in their own right. Following 1982’s The Death of Captain Marvel, Cosmic stories continued–mostly via the mind of Jim Starlin–with characters such as Thanos, Adam Warlock and the Silver Surfer taking center stage. Starlin‘s spin strayed a bit from the traditional hero-vs.-villain dynamic, crafting a complex, almost philosophical, and ultimately symbiotic relationship between Thanos and Warlock.

    In 2006, a new era of Cosmic story telling began, one that may ultimately be counted among the House of Ideas finest hours. Primarily helmed by writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Marvel kicked off what is generally considered to be a five-part epic story. Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, War of Kings, Realm of Kings and The Thanos Imperative formed a continuous saga that re-established and redefined the Guardians of the Galaxy, Inhumans, Nova Corps, and other major cosmic players while elevating Peter Quill and Richard Rider to A-listers.

    While that’s not intended to be a comprehensive history of Marvel’s Cosmic continuity, it’s certainly the highlights. Though Marvel has never abandoned its Cosmic pursuits, space epics aren’t for everyone, nor can everyone write them well enough to appeal to the masses. Arguably, the biggest issue facing Marvel Comics has been its struggle to consistently leverage the legacy of Mar-Vell to sell Cosmic stories.

    Primarily due to Mar-Vell’s definitive, respected death and the subsequent proliferation of his title and power set among other characters, an overt set of challenges have complicated Marvel’s own efforts. So, for every Annihilation, there’s an Empyre, which, once again, attempted to lean into the legacy of Mar-Vell to make space fun again…and fell short once again.

    From those ashes came Jonathan Hickman‘s Imperial, which circumvents the half-hearted attempts to recognize Mar-Vell’s importance, ultimately placing his true successor back in his rightful place as Marvel’s Cosmic champion.

    Despite its efforts to make Quasar, Silver Surfer, Star-Lord and even Mar-Vell’s own offspring the next Cosmic hero, Marvel has never done better then Richard Rider and the last-reamining Nova is front-and-center again, not only headlining his own solo series since 2017.

    Under Jed MacKay, who has been perfecting his craft since 2011, Richard Rider resumes his rightful throne as the heir to Mar-Vell in Nova: Centurion #1, which sees the last remaining Nova set sail on what looks to be a stellar adventure willing to delve into the publishing house’s deep Cosmic legacy.

    The issue pulls no punches, boldly boasting Rider’s own bequest as not only Nova Prime but Marvel Comics’ Cosmic Prime.  Rider–reciting his own resume while, once again, rolling the dice–showcases his wide-range of heroic characteristics, which inarguably allows him to stand beside Steve Rogers and Thor as the most noble heroes to ever grace the pages of Marvel Comics. It’s only one issue but ’nuff said: MacKay gets right to the core of Rider, allowing him to shine like the Supernova he is.

    With Imperial, Hickman did as he does, resetting the board by cleverly crafting a story from a corner where nobody was looking. That story resulted in a new Cosmic order in which Rider found himself on the outside looking in…and that’s always where the man has done his best work. Nova: Centurion #1 picks up with Rider–the last Nova–smartly using the terrors of space against it to save a cruise vessel before revealing the dire nature of his circumstances. And before you know it, MacKay‘s alchemical first issue pays homage to prior iterations of the Cosmic glory days, pairing Rider with the hedonistic Starlin-era scoundrel Pip the Troll while bringing Annihilation-era sideckick-turned-space bandit Cammi back into the fold as a mystery surrounding the Hickman-era X-Men precious metal mysterium points Nova in the direction of one of his old foes.

    All any reader can glean from a new #1 is a glimmer of hope that the series is in good hands and on the right track. MacKay‘s Nova Centurion #1 deftly blends what’s probably nostalgia, though it might be too obscure for many readers to notice, with the best parts of modern Marvel to put the Human Rocket back in the driver’s seat and promise an adventure worth a second chapter.

  • DC Studios’ Next Streaming Series Officially Delayed

    DC Studios’ Next Streaming Series Officially Delayed

    All signs point to DC Studios’ HBO Max streaming series Lanterns having quite a bit going for it. Led by what DC Studios’ co-chair James Gunn labeled as a crack team of writers, the project has begun to sound more and more like a potential prestige series for HBO. After nabbing Kyle Chandler to portray Hal Jordan, the studio landed star-in-the-making Aaron Pierre to play John Stewart.

    Lanterns will see Pierre‘s Stewart, who the actor says “radiates strength and fortitude,” being prepped as a replacement for Hal Jordan which, as one might expect, will cause some friction between the two. They’ll have to get over that quickly, however, as they’ll have to take on one of DC’s darkest villains, the Black Hand, and probably deal with some nonsense from potential Legion of Doomer Sinestro, played by Ulrich Thomsen.

    According to Gunn, the show will feature Lanterns who “find this ancient horror on Earth, and these guys are basically supercops on “Precinct Earth.” It sounds like it’ll be one helluva ride…but it looks as though fans will have to wait a bit to take it.

    Originally intended to stream in in spring or early summer 2026, the series has now officially been delayed to the “end of summer 2026.”

    Gunn previously described Lanterns as playing a “really big role leading us into the main story” of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters while DC Studios’ co-chair Peter Safran as a “terrestrial-based investigation story” in the vein of True Detective. As it stands now, the series will follow Supergirl‘s theatrical release and is currently the only streaming project on the DC Studios slate.

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘Daredevil: Born Again’: Bullseye’s Full (Mostly) Comic-Accurate Suit Has Been Revealed

    ‘Daredevil: Born Again’: Bullseye’s Full (Mostly) Comic-Accurate Suit Has Been Revealed

    Following the takeover of New York City by Mayor “Kingpin” at the end of Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, Matt Murdock vowed to out together an army to stop his archenemy from destroying the city. Whole the new season was a hit, it felt frustrating at times, surely in part to it being almost entirely overhauled in mid-production. According to one of the show’s producers, Sana Amanat, any issues that impacted Season 1 were not an issue while making the sophomore season.

    “The landscape was open, and that was so liberating,” said Amanat in an interview with Empire. “We were like, &We can do whatever we want.’” And part of that looks increasingly like a team-up between Charlie Cox‘s Daredevil and Wilson Bethel‘s Bullseye.

    Photos from the NYC set showed the two apparently working together while also providing fairly clear looks at their updated Season 2 costumes. Recently leaked promo art gave a much better look at the costumes, revealing some comic accurate details on Dex’s new gear but nothing quite so comic-accurate as a second leak which clearly shows the character’s traditional logo on his mask.

    https://twitter.com/variablelace/status/1990525409700852052?t=Aka2yng4nt4ejHOOOXL3kQ&s=19

    While it’s clearly a much more subdued color scheme than the drastic black and white contrast, it is unmistakable. With a show (and fanbase) so unbelievably obsessed with darkness, it’s probably as close as we’ll get to the outlandish Bullseye costume from the comics but it’s a solid step forward from the first iteration.

    Source: Empire

  • Mayday, Mayday: Mystery Surrounding Sadie Sink’s Role Takes a New Twist as Star Joins ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    Months after being cast in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Sadie Sink‘s role is still the subject of speculation among fans and insiders. Reports and rumors have pegged the Stranger Things star as Jean Grey, Mayday Parker, Gwen Stacey and even the shape-shifting insectoid deity Shathra. Even after appearing on set in the UK, Sink’s role remains a mystery and how it’s taken a new twist.

    According to Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye, Sink has joined the cast of “the next Avengers picture.”

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to open on July 31. There has been much speculation about the role Sink has in the Spidey film, and frankly, I do not know the answer, but I do know that she’ll join the cast of the next Avengers picture that shoots here in London later in 2026.

    -Baz Bamigboye

    Though Bamigboye’s wording obfuscates the message to some extent, it would seem as though he’s referring to Avengers: Secret Wars which is, of course, NOT the “next Avengers picture,” but will shoot “later in 2026.” Of course, with the Russos preparing to shoot additional photography on Avengers: Doomsday early next year, it is possible Sink will appear in that film instead–or in both!

    The news certainly calls into question the nature of Sink’s role and would seem to launch Jean Grey and Mayday Parker back to the top of the list. The latter becomes especially interesting with the recent report of Tobey Maguire returning to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday. Whatever the case, while surprising, it’s not shocking that the studio has cast an actress of Sink’s caliber and demand in something more than a one-off.

    Source: Deadline

  • Additional ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Casting Info Intensifies Wonder Woman Buzz

    Additional ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Casting Info Intensifies Wonder Woman Buzz

    On the heels of a report that DC Studios was searching for a character believed to be Wonder Woman for a key role in Man of Tomorrow, a second report has surfaced containing additional details about the role.

    Following the initial report by insider Daniel Richtman, Nexus Point News has come through with some new information that certainly makes the new character sound like Wonder Woman. Take a quick look at a breakdown of the key points:

    • Late 20s
    • Has “an edge to her”
    • Height requirement/taller actresses
    • Strong physique
    • Character is a warrior

    As NPN pointed out, though the description does lend itself to Diana, there are indeed other tall, female warriors that could be pulled from the deep DC Comics roster. However, with a Wonder Woman film on the way, having the character appear in Man of Tomorrow does seems relatively sensible.

    Source: Nexus Point News

  • New Casting Information for ‘Man of Tomorrow’ May Point to Another of DC’s Trinity Joining the Battle Against Brainiac

    New Casting Information for ‘Man of Tomorrow’ May Point to Another of DC’s Trinity Joining the Battle Against Brainiac

    After months of speculation that the sadistic supervillain Brainiac would finally make his big screen debut in DC Studios Man of Tomorrow, a trade report confirmed the Coluan Collector of Worlds would indeed serve as the catalyst bringing Superman and Lex Luthor together. With Hawkgirl confirmed to return and other heroes such as Supergirl and John Stewart also believed to be joining the fray, plenty of Superfriends will be on hand to assist in the battle against Brainiac. However, new casting information has fans believing another hero might be set to appear as well and if speculation is correct, it’s one of DC’s heaviest hitters.

    …a story about Lex Luthor and Superman having to work together to a certain degree against a much, much bigger threat.

    -James Gunn on Man of Tomorrow
    Following a report from insider Daniel Richtman that DC Studios is searching for an actress in her 20s for a major role in Man of Tomorrow, speculation is growing that Wonder Woman will make her DCU debut in the film.

    It’s important to note that Richtman’s report doesn’t provide anywhere near enough information to determine that the female character will be Wonder Woman. However, with DC Studios co-chair James Gunn recently saying that the character was crucial to the success of the fledgling shared universe and that a script for a new Wonder Woman project by Ana Nogueria was in the works, it’s not the worst guess.

    With principal photography on Man of Tomorrow set to kick off in April, casting is certainly underway, so if the character is indeed Wonder Woman, expect trades to get on the case soon and try to figure out what actresses are in the mix for the role.

  • Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Reportedly Set to Return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

    Tobey Maguire‘s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home was rumored long before the film opened in theaters but despite plenty of legitimate proof that the star was in the film, legions of fans refused to believe it until he walked through his portal. And while folks may not have believed Maguire was part of the project, it turned out he and Andrew Garfield were instrumental in pulling things together.

    The film’s writers, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, revealed that Maguire and Garfield had significant input on the way their characters shaped the film, making sure the focus stayed on Tom Holland‘s Peter while the other two Spideys helped Holland on his journey.

    He was really excited to be back. You could tell it really meant a lot to him. Him putting the suit on again. Us getting back together. It was awesome.

    -Tom Holland on Tobey Maguire’s return as Spider-Man

    Since the film, fans have become fascinated with the idea of seeing more of Maguire‘s Spidey, whether back in the MCU or in a fourth Sam Raimi Spider-Man film. While the latter remains an intriguing option, a new report indicates that Maguire will be suiting up again quite soon.

    According to insider Daniel Richtman, Tobey Maguire‘s Spider-Man will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, set to be in theaters in December 18, 2026.

    Maguire’s name has been floated for both Doomsday and the follow-up, Avengers Secret Wars, for some time now. The possibility of Maguire sharing the screen with members of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men–specifically Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine–seems to appeal to audiences. Richtman’s report doesn’t indicate if that’s set to happen in Doomsday or if Maguire is expected to return for Secret Wars but with Incursions ending universes, there’s a pretty clear entry point for just about any character into the next two films.

  • New Report Confirms Sadistic ‘Superman’ Sequel Supervillain; Rumored Front-runner Emerges

    New Report Confirms Sadistic ‘Superman’ Sequel Supervillain; Rumored Front-runner Emerges

    Following the successful launch of Superman, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav teased “an ambitious, 10-year plan of interconnected sequels and spinoffs,” which included the “next movie in the Super-Family,” set to be directed by James Gunn. Gunn then spent the next few weeks teasing the next installment in his Superman Saga which was ultimately revealed to be a Superman and Lex Luthor team-up film titled Man of Tomorrow.

    In between Zaslav’s tease and the announcement of Man of Tomorrow, fans discovered an unused storyboard from Superman in the behind-the-scenes featurette, Adventures in the  Making of Superman,which they believed revealed the villain of the 2027 Superman sequel. The storyboard features Superman, Supergirl and Krypto flying but a closer look at the bottom corner reveals the head of one of the House of El’s greatest enemies: Brainiac. Gunn further teased the classic Superman villain by releasing a photo of the script for Man of Tomorrow with a brain front and center on the cover page, but stopped short of confirming his inclusion. Now, a trade report seems to have taken care of that.

    According to The Wrap, Brainiac will indeed be the catalyst that causes Superman and Lex Luthor, complete in his Warsuit, to join forces in Man of Tomorrow.

    Gunn previously revealed that the villain “was considered” for Superman and with Supergirl hitting theaters in 2026, it wouldn’t take much to give some background to Brainiac’s fascination with Kryptonions and reveal that he visited Krypton before it was destroyed and shrunk and stole the capital city of Kandor.

    In the comics, Brainiac’s primary motivation is generally a cold, unquenchable thirst for absolute knowledge and self-improvement—which involves collecting and destroying civilizations; however, modern writers have created a more sadistic version of the character, will to torture and experiment on his enemies–or even his own clones in the Absolute Universe–and employ psychological tactics that are more calculated cruelty than logic.

    Following the news, social media scoopers collaborated to indicate that Claes Bang, who played the title role in Netflix’s Dracula, has already rested for the role. However, tests are ongoing and given Gunn’s previous work with DC Studios, will involve multiple rounds of testing, including reading with leads David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult.

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘ViSiONQUΞST’ Reportedly Set to Feature Dark Reign Era Villain

    ‘ViSiONQUΞST’ Reportedly Set to Feature Dark Reign Era Villain

    Though the first trailer for Marvel Television’s VisionQuest featured a heavy dose of the “Marvel AIs” as showrunner Terry Matalas called them, it also introduced Thomas Shepard, the host of the soul of Vision’s son, Tommy, who will played by Ruaridh Mollica. While Matalas has called the relationship between Vision and Ultron the “core dynamic of the show,” Mollica‘s Tommy will certainly be a key figure as well, especially with a Young Avengers/Champions project likely to follow.

    Whatever role Tommy plays in the series, it seems as though he won’t be entirely alone as his brother, Billy, believed in Agatha All Along. According to a trade report, Lauren Morais is set to play Lisa Molinari, a character who they say is “closely connected” to Tommy and who has a very interesting comic book history.

    First introduced in 2009’s Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1, Molinari met Tommy Shepherd in a juvenile detention facility. After finding an enchanted object known as Tibero’s Coat, Molinari went on to form her own team of Young Avengers who eventually became known as the Young Masters. While she’s a bit of a nuanced character, Molinari ultimately became a mercenary under the employ of a new incarnation of the Masters of Evil.

    A relative newcomer, Morais can be seen in the AMC series, The Red King. Though the extent of her role in VisionQuest is unknown, it seems unlikely she’ll move into a major role in the MCU given the recent reduction of projects.

    Source: Variety

  • UPDATED: Veteran MCU Creative DOES NOT Confirm Return for Mystery Project

    UPDATED: Veteran MCU Creative DOES NOT Confirm Return for Mystery Project

    UPDATE: It seems that Deadline’s poorly worded article mislead many of us into thinking Giacchino was back for a new Marvel project. Upon further review, it looks as though the project referred to as his follow-up to Werewolf By Night is a unrelated project at Warner’s.

    Over the past decade, Michael Giacchino‘s distinct scores have helped shape the MCU’s first Spider-Man trilogy, 2016’s Doctor Strange and, most recently, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In between, Giacchino found time to direct the studio’s first Special Presentation, the wonderfully violent Werewolf By Night.

    Following the success of the standalone project, Marvel Studios Parliament member Stephen Broussard indicated that the studio intended to move forward with more horror projects, teasing an interest in “keeping our toe in that horror side of things.”

    Well, I will say that we’re starting to introduce some cool characters that are in the darker side, the more monster side and the supernatural and the occult, in a very organic way as you’re seeing these characters pop up. I think in very organic ways, it feels like there could be ways to continue those stories in ways that feel very fresh and new and keeping our toe in that horror side of things.

    -Stephen Broussard

    Over three years later, the only word that’s come down about potential follow-ups to Werewolf By Night came when fans learned that the studio had been developing a Terror Inc. series…by way of learning the project had been scrapped. And Giacchino—who was once a fan-favorite to pick up directing duties on the studio’s long-delayed Blade film before ruling himself out of contention–went back to work on composing incredible scores. However, it now seems as though he’s set to return to the director’s chair…

    While discussing how he scrapped and rewrote the score for The Fantastic Four: First Steps after viewing the film’s final cut, Giacchino revealed that his next project with Marvel Studios will be a follow-up to Werewolf By Night which he will direct.

    Interestingly enough, in February 2024, insider Daniel Richtman reported that Giacchino was being eyed to direct Midnight Sons. While it’s development has never been officially addressed by Marvel Studios, it’s been believed to be in the works for several years and rumored to see characters such as Jack Russel, Man-Thing and Elsa Bloodstone team up with Blade and others from Marvel’s roster of horror characters and, reportedly, take on Sacha Baron Cohen‘s Mephisto.

    Given the volume of reports and rumors over the years, Midnight Sons does seem like the most reasonable assumption for Giacchino’s next project; however, Fede Alvarez has also been rumored to be interested in the film as well and it still hasn’t even been officially announced by the studio. Regardless, whether it’s ultimately Midnight Sons or something else entirely, it seems as though fans will (sort of) soon be getting what they asked for with Giacchino back behind the camera.

    Source: Deadline