Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Joseph Aberl

  • First Look at ‘M.O.D.O.K.’ Teases His Family Life

    First Look at ‘M.O.D.O.K.’ Teases His Family Life

    M.O.D.O.K. will be gracing Hulu next year with a unique comedy. It will focus on the titular character as he tries to balance his family life as his work at A.I.M. is crumbling. It is a very unique take on the iconic Marvel villain that is sure to offer something new to the superhero genre. Just recently, it was revealed that the series will actually be created through stop-motion by Stoopid Buddy. They are most known for their work on Robot Chicken, so it was uncertain if they would stick to the animation style they are famous for.

    Well, Entertainment Weekly revealed the first look at the designs and they look amazing. The human characters do show some of Robot Chicken‘s go-to animation style but the titular character really stands out. The details on M.O.D.O.K.’s design is great with darker outlines highlighting his facial structure. We also get a good look at his family, which will be the main focus of the story.

    EW also got the chance to interview co-creator Jason Blum, who highlighted their main inspirations that are pretty apparent when looking at the images.

    We’ll see the big battles and the big fights, it’s a huge sci-fi Marvel Universe show, but we thought it would be really funny to see [M.O.D.O.K.] dealing with water cooler gossip at A.I.M. shot in this very handheld style and make it feel like you’re working at AIM alongside him and the same with the family, too. It’s kind of a little inspired by things like Modern Family and The Office where it just makes you feel like you’re part of the group in the show.

    They also reveal his main adversary as Austin Van Der Sleet, who is the blond character teased in the second image. M.O.D.O.K. has experience taking on superheroes but faces his biggest enemy, corporate America. A.I.M. is almost bankrupt, so a Google-inspired company named GRUML is trying to acquire their company. At first, it seems like an opportunity for him to focus on his favorite past-times but he also has to attend board meetings and human resources. It’s a clever twist on what one would expect from a show featuring a mental organism designed only for killing. The images are very promising and hopefully may confirm a trailer in the near future.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Crystal Dynamics Teases an ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Update for Next Week

    Crystal Dynamics Teases an ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Update for Next Week

    So, the wait for any content has been truly harsh. I am enjoying the game quite a bit but have been taken more frequent breaks. I even broke down the reasoning and importance of this with these types of games in a journal entry you can check out by clicking here. We were anxiously waiting for an update this week but didn’t even get our weekly War Table blog entry. It is understandable that many are frustrated with the lack of content that was promised post-launch. Thankfully, Kotaku got an official statement by Crystal Dynamics studio head Scot Amos. It’s a refreshing article to read. Instead of just posting it directly, I would like to tackle some aspects that stand out. Let’s start off with the promise of brand new mission types and the first Raid event.

    As such, we have a number of new content pieces coming in the weeks ahead including: a totally new War Zone mission type called Tachyon Rifts, a new Outpost that’s a jumping off point for new story missions in the future, and AIM’s Cloning Lab, which requires a coordinated high-level group of four players to beat with new top-end loot rewards for finishing it. And in each of these updates we do tuning and bug fixing to enhance the overall experience.

    The AIM Cloning Lab, or Secret Lab, has been teased since before the launch. They have postponed its launch most likely to focus on fixing the matchmaking issues that plague the PC port. Forbes’ Paul Tassi shared an interesting article on the topic with the active low-numbers on Steam not helping the matter. I do believe once they start offering a consistent flow of content players will gradually return. They just sadly dragged it out for too long. The Tachyon Rifts do sound like a promising addition with a story building towards the larger content drop with the first character additions.

    In addition, we’ve announced two new Heroes coming in the near future: Kate Bishop in Operation: Taking AIM, and after that the double-feature Operation starring Clint Barton… this is the “two Hawkeyes” we mentioned in the last War Table. These new Operations pick up right from where the main Reassemble campaign ended in the core game and will propel the overall world story forward with new mysteries and villains, as well as new multi-player content.

    They are teasing some interesting additions plus new villains. Right now, the selection is rather scarce with two Warbots, Abomination and Taskmaster. This gets pretty redundant after a few weeks, as the core gameplay of these fights doesn’t really change much – only the environment does. They do add that more content will be added throughout the next few months, so hopefully, next week’s blog will offer more details. We’ve been waiting for a roadmap that was promised since the last War Table video, so they promise a bigger update next week

    Our biggest issue sadly has been the decrease in communication. At first, they were actively sharing information and pointing aspects out but that seems to have calmed down quite a bit in recent weeks. It looks like they may have been strategizing something, as they promise new community communication initiatives moving forward.

    We’ll have more information and details about the very near content drops in a blog scheduled for next week and we have new community communication initiatives coming soon to even more directly share fun and useful information with you.

    So, this is something I think many of us were hoping to hear. It could mean that Crystal Dynamics is trying to find better ways to communicate with its audience. I will say though it is odd that they didn’t share this on Twitter or in their Discord. It seems like a PR move, which is great to see. They are trying to get general info out there about them working hard on the game. Something, we haven’t really seen from others. Of course, they did miss out on using this chance to share it with their community directly which is a missed opportunity. Still, this is a big step forward for Crystal Dynamics and Marvel’s Avengers. They even acknowledge that they are losing their player base. No matter where one stands, this is a big step. I believe that if they keep their word and release the info on upcoming updates next week, we could see an upswing. The important thing is, they can’t drag this out forever and need to start pumping out consistent updates to keep players. Still, I always like to be positive and I cannot wait to share whatever info we get next week with you!

    Source: Kotaku, Forbes

  • First Trailer for Robert Kirkman’s ‘Invincible’ Released

    First Trailer for Robert Kirkman’s ‘Invincible’ Released

    Amazon Prime has had a fantastic year with its superhero content. The Boys had a very successful second season and is already entering production for its third. Now, they are adding a brand new superhero-based series in the form of Invincible. The series is currently eyeing a 2021 release with no official release date named. It is based on Robert Kirkman‘s comic of the same name, which concluded in February 2018. After a long wait, we finally got our hands on the first trailer, which teases the father-son dynamic between Mark Grayson and his father.

    We also got our first series synopsis, which teases the dark history of Omni-Man and what will be at the center of this story:

    Invincible is an adult animated superhero show that revolves around 17-year-old Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), who’s just like every other guy his age — except that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). But as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers that his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.

    This series has quite the amazing cast lined-up. In addition to the our father-son duo, it also includes Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Zazie Beetz, Mark Hamill, Walton Goggins, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jason Mantzoukas and many more. The series is being produced by Skybound with Kirkman, Simon Racioppa, David Alpert, and Catherine Winder acting as executive producers. Amazon Prime is also the perfect place for a superhero show trying to tap into darker themes. It can build on the success of The Boys and fill the void left while everyone waits for the third season. Invincible is a promising addition to their streaming library and can offer another refreshing story at a world filled with superheroes.

    Source: IndieWire, YouTube

  • Marvel Studios’ Fail-safe: Spider-Man Enters the Multiverse

    Marvel Studios’ Fail-safe: Spider-Man Enters the Multiverse

    The announcement of Electro joining Spider-Man 3 had everyone theorizing. Is he the same character we meet in The Amazing Spider-Man 2? If so, why did he announce that he won’t be blue this time? There were a lot of hints pointing to this potentially being a live-action adaptation of the Spider-Verse. Yet, it could just be that they are reintroducing Electro with the same actor to build-up to the Sinister Six. Just yesterday, it could’ve gone anyway. Well, I did say that was what we thought yesterday. Now, we know that Benedict Cumberbatch will join the upcoming Spidey threequel. Now, it is hard to deny that there is some Multiverse aspect in play. I am not here to discuss the story implications, our very own Superhero Theorist will tackle that. In my case, I want to write about the reason this is happening. In my view, this storyline may be the result of Sony’s latest deal to keep the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in Marvel Studios’ hands.

    Let’s return to last year when the world was less chaotic. In a sudden twist, Sony announced they will not renew their contract with Marvel Studios. Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige would only remain as a consulting producer rather than have full control. Negotiations fell through, and it seemed like Sony Pictures was taking back their creative rights. Luckily, they managed to come to an agreement that would let Marvel Studios finish the trilogy. It even includes an additional cameo. For now, there are no more plans for Spider-Man within the MCU. This could very well be his last appearance for some time if no new contract is finalized. Funn enough, Kevin Feige may have already hinted at the character’s development last year.

    He also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes, so as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold.

    Doctor Strange’s involvement in the unnamed Spider-Man sequel may have strong ties to this contract. Today’s news would also confirm that the additional cameo will be in Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness. If no new deal is reached for the character’s return tot he MCU, it is a risk for Marvel Studios to set up future appearances and sequels. They might be trying to set-up a storyline that could keep the door open for a future return. If there is no new deal, Spidey’s absence makes sense in-universe. As such, they aren’t closing the door on a future contract but are wary of it potentially falling apart again. As Feige mentions, he can cross cinematic universes, so he is not ruling out a return in some form.

    Why does this matter? Well, Sony wants to develop its franchise surrounding Spidey’s expansive cast of character. They’ve already started with a Venom film that already has a sequel underway. It is noticeable that this film did not have any references to Spider-Man or his larger universe. It wasn’t until the Morbius trailer that we got any connections. It revealed a short sequence that features Michael Keaton‘s Vulture. There was also an image of Spider-Man graffiti with Murderer painted over it. At face value, this is an obvious connection to the ending of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Yet, someone chose an image with the costume from the original Sam Raimi trilogy. It wasn’t even from the film but ripped straight out of PlayStation’s Spider-Man game.

    There is one more thing that adds to the confusion. Spider-Woman director Olivia Wilde let slip that she is in contact with Kevin Feige while developing the film. So, it seems like some cooperation is happening behind the scenes. The way it’s mentioned, it sounds like a consulting position. It seems odd he is her first reference point. There is a chance that we could see some of Sony’s characters officially being part of the MCU as they expand the contract beyond just the titular web-head. I doubt we will see Morbius in Blade, but there seems to be some kind of connection. The Strange reveal today would lean on this being an alternative universe with similar set-ups just without the Avengers. Whatever it may be, this storyline seems to be the result of that contract and the uncertainty of the future. Feige wants the character’s trilogy to end on a high-note while keeping the potential of sequels open. Hopefully, they will find some agreement as the franchises continue to grow.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios ‘BLACK WIDOW’: Who is Taskmaster?

    Marvel Studios ‘BLACK WIDOW’: Who is Taskmaster?

  • First Look at Netflix’s ‘Godzilla: Singular Point’ Anime Revealed

    First Look at Netflix’s ‘Godzilla: Singular Point’ Anime Revealed

    Godzilla is one of my favorite franchises. I grew up with the original Toho films as a kid when they showed re-runs on our local channel on weekends. The American 2014 remake is a personal favorite, as it highlighted just how massive of a titan he truly was. Netflix has also been investing in the franchise, as they released the Planet of the Monsters film trilogy. Well, it looks like 2021 will be adding one more anime in the Godzilla franchise titled Godzilla: Singular Point. The series announcement also includes our first look at the characters and new Godzilla design.

    Not going to lie, this looks fantastic. Character designer Kazue Kato is well-known for his manga Blue Exorcist and he has a very unique style that really makes the characters stand out. Eiji Yamamori, who is well-known for his work as a Ghibli animator, also reveals a very unique and detailed design for the iconic lizard. it will be interesting to see if they stick to this level of detail once they animate him. I am in general happy that they seem to be sticking to a 2D animation style, as the before-mentioned trilogy was made with a very stiff 3D animation.

    The concept of a series based around Godzilla is actually nothing new. The first attempt at an American film had an animated spin-off that ran for three seasons. We even got an animated series by Hanna-Barbera that was produced together with Toho back in 1978. It will be interesting to see how they balance the characters and monster action. Of course, we will hopefully see some of the iconic monsters fight Godzilla like King Ghidorah, Destroyah, Biollante, or Hedorah. They have enough material to run for a few seasons. Hopefully, we get a trailer reveal that teases the giant in action in the coming months.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’s First Poster Reveals New 2022 Release Date

    ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’s First Poster Reveals New 2022 Release Date

    The pandemic really has not been kind. Every major film for 2020 has now been postponed into 2021. Of course, that year is crowding up with many tentpole releases. As such, many wondered if any films would be postponed into 2022 as a result. Well, looks like we have the first major franchise to postpone its release, as Jurassic World: Dominion officially postponed to June 10th, 2022. So far, it’s the only competition in that month will be an unannounced Pixar film. The Flash was originally going to release that year but was postponed until November. This announcement isn’t all that bad, as it did come with a brand new poster featuring the iconic image in amber.

    The poster looks great. It reminds me of the time when 1989’s Batman just released the symbol. We all recognize this visual so it is a great simple way to give people something while the film is still in production. The delay sadly makes sense as it is uncertain if any of the current productions will be able to stick to their schedule. At any time a COVID case could disrupt production for weeks. It gives them time to focus on getting productions ready, focus on the health of their teams, and not rush anything.

    As difficult as it has been, it is important that we keep the hardworking team behind the scenes in mind. Also, this just means they’ll have even more time to work out the details and polish up the effects. Jurassic World: Dominion will see the return of Jurassic Park‘s original trio, which is already a promising addition. It will be interesting to see the dinosaurs roam the United States, and how they save them from being hunted back into extinction. It makes you wonder if this also means they will have to rebuild a park, or if they will find a natural habitat for the dinosaurs. Whatever it may be, we will be there once it opens in theatres in 2022.

    Source: The Wrap, Twitter

  • Batmobile Cartoon ‘Batwheels’ Heading to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

    Batmobile Cartoon ‘Batwheels’ Heading to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

    We’ve all been waiting for the next DC show to be added to HBO Max’s fantastic line-up. The streaming service allowed DC to branch out and explore darker storylines. Doom Patrol and Harley Quinn certainly highlight this new direction. So, I don’t think many expected the next DC entry to be a pre-school action comedy featuring a living Batmobile. You read that right, it is not about Batman or Robin but their vehicles. It’s actually a very cute idea that seems strongly inspired by Pixar’s Cars. The short description of the show also features a variety of other familiar bat vehicles joining the fight against crime.

    Having just been created by the Batcomputer, our heroes are essentially kids with little to no life experience.  Led by Bam (The Batmobile), the Batwheels – Bibi (The Batgirl Cycle), Red (The Redbird), Jett (The Batwing) and Buff (The Bat Truck) – must navigate the growing pains of being a newly formed super team as well as the growing pains that come with just being a kid.  This relatable and aspirational series will follow the journey of this dynamic team as they thrill and entertain with their heroic adventures as well as demonstrate to kids the value of self-confidence, friendship and teamwork.

    The show is being produced by Warner Bros. Animation with Sam Register serving as executive producer. He is joined by Michael G. Stern as a co-executive producer and Simon J. Smith as a supervising producer. Steven Fink of Bang Zoom Ltd. is also set as a producer. Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics president Tom Ascheim also had the following to say about the show.

    Batwheels is the perfect show to headline our new foray into preschool. I can’t wait for all the aspiring super heroes out there to meet this whole new batch of crime-fighters.

    Batwheels sounds like a perfect introduction for pre-schoolers into the world of Batman and DC. The first visual shared also seems to hint that it will still combine a modern neo-design with some gothic influences. It will be interesting to see how many vehicles will be introduced that act as stand-ins for the Joker, Riddler, and many other famous rogues. This is a perfect addition for any Batman fan with a young kid.

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Doctor Strange Storyline & ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Doctor Strange Storyline & ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons

    Marvel Avengers‘ leaks have become my favorite past-time at this rate. We are still anxiously awaiting the reveal of the game’s roadmap. It was teased all the way back during the early September release but so far nothing. It makes sense, Crystal Dynamics is focusing on fixing the bugs that have become the norm with Games-as-a-Service releases. Still, a lot of leaks have been pointing to some great additions coming in the near future including War Machine, Black Panther, and many more. Ever since the leaks have calmed won with even some fake 3D models being shared online teasing an Infinity Gauntlet. Sadly, that turned out to be from Fortnite’s model, so it seemed like the leaks have stopped.  At least that was until now, as @mmmmmmmmiller has once again shared something that was leaked. This time around, it is an audio file that is from a very hyper NPC. At face value, there is no dead giveaway who this character could be but Miller luckily has a very unsubtle hint based on his own data mining.

    So, yeah, the audio file would be strongly hinting at the addition of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. character Jemma Simmons. He also points out that the voice lines are from a stand-in actress as they might not have cast yet. This isn’t the first time Simmons was featured in a Marvel’s game, as she also had a starring role in Marvel’s Future Fight. The audio file does not confirm that it is Simmons, but sentences like “absolutely smashing” could be a hint at the future voice cast being British. That or it is a female version of Nigel Thornberry. Still, it is an audio file for the Avengers game as she also mentions the Anthill. It also confirms that they’ve planned out most of the future content in advance, which probably is one of the reasons the current build is still barebones. They have to prepare a lot of assets in advance to keep a consistent flow of content post-launch, and I theorize that recent events may have shifted a lot as well.

    Still, let’s focus on what this audio file may tease. We might not see her in the upcoming Substation Base update, as her storyline seems to connect to ghosts of some kind. Yes, this audio file confirms that we will see some supernatural activities. This reveal also matches the leak that Doctor Strange will be in the game as a playable character at one point. There is also the mention of Tanaka. Now, that is an interesting name, as there are multiple Tanaka’s in comic history. There is the martial arts teacher of X-23, which would tease the future addition of the X-Men. Yet, there is also Leiko Tanaka, who some might recognize as Big Hero 6‘s GoGo Tomago. Either way, this reveal could be a massive addition to the game in future updates. Each new leak certainly gets me pumped for the future of this game.

    Source: Twitter, Vocaroo

  • ‘House of Dragon’ Adds Paddy Considine as Targaryen Lead

    ‘House of Dragon’ Adds Paddy Considine as Targaryen Lead

    Finally, it has been a long wait for any official news on the casting surrounding the upcoming Game of Thrones spin-off, House of Dragon. The series is inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood as it follows the house of Targaryen 300 years before the events of the main series. It has now been reported by The Hollywood Reporter that HBO veteran Paddy Considine will be leading the show as King Viserys Targaryen. He is described as a warm, kind, and decent man, whose only wish is to carry on his grandfather’s legacy. Sadly, a kind man doesn’t always make for a great king, which will be an important lesson he’ll learn throughout the series.

    The show was picked up straight-to-series with a 10-episode order. Martin and Ryan Condal are acting as series creators. Condal and Sara Lee Hess will be penning the script. Game of Thrones veteran Miguel Sapochnik will be acting as showrunner alongside Hess. He is also attached to direct the pilot and a few episodes. Considine is a great addition as the series lead. He has quite the extensive filmography ranging from Hot Fuzz, Peaky Blinders to HBO’s The Outsider. This is certainly a series to keep an eye out for as we near its production start. As the show focuses on the Targaryen history, we will see how many dragons they will show on-screen. Game of Thrones was a massive success for HBO, so they will be investing quite a bit into this show.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter