It’s a rough world out there. I’d just have to tell you to think of what has happened recently and no matter when someone reads these lines, they will find something to connect it with. Even as the pandemic is seemingly “calming” down, we’re still readjusting to a whole new world. Industries are still in a form of constant flux, no matter how many would talk about “what it used to be” as we all know: it’ll never be that ever again. In a world of constants and variables, it becomes harder to sometimes connect with things. As discussions online remain heated over any minute detail of no significance, you start finding yourself lost in it all.
Luckily, there are still some things that give you a perception that seemed lost in the online world of cynicism, clout-chasing, and god knows what else. Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil feels like the perfect antidote to the bubble that we live in. Take yourself out of that world to join Phil Rosenthal on his journey of just enjoying life. Traveling the world, meeting interesting people, and enjoying some delicious food. It’s just refreshing and reminds you that most of what happens online doesn’t matter. It’s a world created by those in it, but it doesn’t really reflect the world out there as much as one would think.
The new season has just dropped and it was an instant must-watch because, with each new season, you feel like Phil is taking you along as part of his newfound family. He shares his delight and excitement no matter what. An optimism very missing from today; not overanalyzing anything but just enjoying it. Take a look at its history and story, not criticize what it stands for, what should or shouldn’t be the way it is but rather just accept and enjoy it at that moment. Somebody Feed Phil has grown beyond just its initial premise, it’s about life and the many people that live it. The episode on Maine has him visiting this family and spending time with people in their everyday life; even if just for a bit.
Every location visited is a new adventure, be it locally or far abroad. You’re taken along with that adventure and you just feel at home. You meet people you might never meet in your life, but you feel welcomed. They all have passions of their own and even with unique backgrounds, the sweetest moment is when they all come together at the end. Phil brings these unique individuals together and they all are having such a blast. At that very moment, they all just share what they’re doing, eating, and talking about. Something that’s gone lost throughout the pandemic, as we were locked at home.
In a world filled with cynicism and negativity, Somebody Feed Phil is that light of hope that no matter what hardships one faces in their private life, work-life, or anything that seems to just slam down on one’s head, it’s going to be okay. There’s always something out there to enjoy, and it’s up to us to find it. It’s in our hands to break away from that what drags us down, because it doesn’t define us. There’s a lot to enjoy out there, it’s just waiting for us to grasp it. What can one say but thank you Phil for taking us on your journey and letting us be part of something special.
Now that Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness has released on the big screen, and Moon Knight has concluded its 6-episode run on Disney+, eyes have naturally pivoted to the next double entry in the MCU: Thor: Love & Thunder and the introduction of Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel. Ms. Marvel is about three weeks away from dropping, and as we have seen, the Disney+ shows are FIRMLY connected to the wider MCU (even Moon Knight had a reference to the GRC that debuted in The Falcon andThe Winter Soldier). Ms. Marvel will be no different, forging ties to the 2023 theatrical release, The Marvels.
The 1-2 punch of Ms. Marvel/The Marvels seems in line with WandaVision/Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness. As such, the speculation train is rampant as to how this story about a young hero from New Jersey can connect to the sequel for one of Marvel’s highest grossing films ever. We can start to answer that by going back to the source: the comics.
Based on the trailer, Kamala Khan’s power source seems incredibly reminiscent of the Quantum Bands. The Quantum Bands, gifted in the comics to Mar-Vell as he became Protector of the Universe, may offer us our first connection to Carol Danvers.
In the MCU, the Bands are likely Kree tech with a connection to the Quantum Realm. The Kree came to Earth-616 to bring Carol Danvers back to Hala, and it is entirely possible that they left some tech that Kamala Khan stumbles upon. The last time we saw Carol, in the post-credit scene for Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, where she was quickly distracted and had to run off. It’s incredibly likely that will coincide with the timeline of The Marvels.
The Disney Plus streaming series Hawkeye may also provide a template for a connection to form between Kamala and Carol. In that, we see a young Kate Bishop inspired by Hawkeye after watching him from her parents’ apartment as he fought off the Chitauri. In the comics, Kamala looks up to Carol in the same way, and you see hints of that transferring over from the page to the screen in the footage that Marvel has released. Kamala idolizes Carol, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see a similar scene in Ms. Marvel that allows for Kamala to develop a deep respect for Carol. Keep in mind that, at this point in the MCU, Carol’s adventures have taken place off-world, so Marvel is going to have to show why Kamala feels this deep connection to Carol.
Lastly, we can’t talk about how Ms. Marvel will connect to The Marvels without discussing the third “Marvel”: Monica Rambeau. Imbued with powers from thrice crossing “The Hex”, it is possible that Monica Rambeau will be the one to remind Kamala that Carol is not the hero that she thinks she is. Monica blipped when her mother was alive, returning only to have her mother pass and Carol, her mother’s best friend, nowhere to be found. In Wandavision, we see a Monica that is very clearly not too fond of Carol, and now she’s going to be with a person in Kamala who adores the person she cannot stand.
Given that Carol didn’t Blip, and thus won’t understand why Monica is so pissed, it’s even likely that Kamala is who tells Carol that Monica has a reason to not be happy with her. Given Carol’s stubborn nature, this will most likely be needed. At the end of WandaVision, we also see that Monica is told by a friendly Skrull that someone wanted to see her, and that someone could be a Carol who has now recruited a kid into space (if Ms. Marvel ends with Kamala Khan being beamed up in order to be protected). Imagine her anger when seeing that Carol came to protect Kamala, but not her.
With her power source potentially being Kree tech, the idolization of one of the heroes, and potential role as an intermediary between Carol and Monica, Ms. Marvel will most definitely be required watching for anyone preparing to watch The Marvels.
Duchess Satine of Mandalore is on the run, and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has been assigned to save her. The two have a long history together, dating back to Kenobi’s time as Qui-Gon Jinn’s apprentice. For a moment, all feels right again. Remarks and retorts are thrown back and forth as they relive their glory days, nearly forgetting about the weight of their responsibilities. The same weight that crushed any chance they had at a life together all those years before. Then, suddenly, Senator Tal Merrik is unveiled as a traitor. His sights set on ending Satine’s life. Thinking this might be the end, the Duchess admits something she never thought she would. “I’ve always loved you“, she says to Obi-Wan. The Jedi responds with one of his classic quips, “This is hardly the time-“. Satine stops him with a furrowed brow. She knows something about him nobody else does, and no amount of wit will substitute the admission she’s looking for. Kenobi takes a moment, and then he says it. “If you had said the words, I would have left the Jedi Order.”
Obi-Wan is a lot of things. To one generation, he’s remembered as the wise old hermit who set Luke Skywalker on the path toward becoming a legendary Jedi. To another, he’s seen as a valiant hero of the Clone Wars, who never faltered in the face of tragedy. He’s loved by legions of fans because he is brave, he is charming, and he always appears to do the right thing. He is Jedi Master Kenobi, a purveyor of righteousness and adept at all things not flying. What people tend to forget, however, is that he is also deeply human. Full of regret, sorrow, and longing. He knows where he’s made mistakes, and he knows where he will continue to make them. He’s just really hoping the next one won’t be as bad as his last.
It’s this trait, perhaps his most crucial, that endears him so completely to so many, even if they aren’t aware of it. Duchess Satine would end up surviving that terrifying brush with death, but Kenobi’s reputation as a by-the-books mentor did not. Suddenly, fans across the globe were aware of Obi-Wan’s true self. Free of obligation and duty, for just one moment, Kenobi became every bit the emotional puppy he had spent years telling his apprentice it was unacceptable to be. This is because, as much as he tries to hide it, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are one and the same. They just have different coping mechanisms.
Kenobi spends most of his time in the prequel trilogy scolding Anakin. The young Jedi feels so much at any given moment, and he feels it genuinely. When a person is constantly bombarded with that level of emotion, it begins to manifest in one of two ways. It either numbs itself, or it boils to the point of outward reaction. Anakin reacts, and Obi-Wan numbs. The Jedi Master’s way of dealing with his own trauma is to stuff it down and live by his code, in much the same way a real person might bury themselves in work after a bad breakup. He never truly believed in the code as an end-all-be-all solution. It was just easier to cite a rule of “no attachments” than it was to confront his own feelings. Life is less complicated when you’re not allowed to do things anyway.
During the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli spoke to Anakin about his love for padawan Ashoka Tano. With both Tano and Barris Offee presumed dead, Skywalker became frantic. Unduli remained calm. Searching desperately for his learner, Anakin was told by Luminara that it was not the Jedi way to feel so strongly for his apprentice. He refused to comply. The moment is played as an indicator of Anakin’s future, but it plays surprisingly well into his own master’s future as well. This same type of emotional denial would emerge again in one of the franchise’s most iconic moments. Faced with losing his apprentice to the Dark Side amidst the fall of the Republic, to which he dedicated so much of his life, Kenobi says something that flies in the face of everything he’s told Anakin since their partnership began. “You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you!”. This, good folks, is attachment. Unbridled attachment, showing Kenobi’s true colors in the same way they emerged when he thought Satine would be gone forever.
Unfortunately, with the untimely death of Qui-Gon, Kenobi was forced to begin raising Anakin way before he was ready. At such a young age, the Jedi Knight was still learning who he was, and the Jedi Code was simply sitting there like the galaxy’s warmest comfort blanket. Qui-Gon never got the chance to teach Obi-Wan how to love himself, and he was never allowed the time to sort that out himself. Being then tasked with the emotions of a young, wildly Force-sensitive boy likely stunted his own emotional growth, and in turn, negatively impacted the way he was able to deal with Anakin’s own needs. He wanted to help, but he just couldn’t understand the way Anakin would respond to the same scenarios as himself. Both cared, both wanted nothing but the best, and yet they always argued over how to solve the problem. One reacts, one numbs, and neither is able to comprehend the other. This is the true tragedy of Star Wars, a catastrophic lack of communication.
It doesn’t help that, typically, when confronted with accusation or pressure, Kenobi will respond with some sort of cheeky comment. For him, it makes it easier to sidestep the admittance of his own faults. Earlier in the same aforementioned adventure with Satine, the Duchess mentioned having a scar to prove she spent time with Kenobi in the past. “I remember carrying you to safety“, the debonair Jedi claims. “That’s from when you dropped me“, she informs him. The visual feedback on Obi-Wan’s face seems to communicate something along the lines of, “Why would you say that in front of my friends?”. In actuality, what Satine has done is cut through the teacher’s façade. In front of everyone, she has revealed him to be fallible. No matter how many cool moments he’s had in the past, everyone now knows that Obi-Wan Kenobi once dropped the damsel in distress. He is imperfect, and it’s beautiful.
“If you had said the words, I would have left the Jedi Order“. Potentially the most important sentence Obi-Wan Kenobi said in his entire life. Only moments after speaking it, the Jedi Master would be given a near-impossible choice. Senator Merrik holds Satine at gunpoint, taunting Kenobi with the power he now holds. If Kenobi kills him in cold blood, he will betray his order and lose Satine’s respect, but if he doesn’t, Satine will die. Obi-Wan stands his ground as music swells, raising anticipation for the decision everyone hopes he’ll have to make. He grips his lightsaber, scowls, and prepares to do what must be done. Then, a blue-colored blade runs Merrik through. While Kenobi numbed himself and weighed his choices, Anakin reacted to save those he loved. “What“, Anakin says jovially, “He was gonna kill her“. The crisis is averted, and everyone involved is able to maintain the status quo. Life goes on, and nobody learns anything. This is the way of the Jedi, and its eventual demise. The rest is history.
Long before Marvel Studios started creating series set in the MCU for Disney+, there was Marvel Television. Marvel Television is now under the Marvel Studios banner, and the effects of that have been pretty clear. The Disney+ series, such as WandaVision and Loki, have been wholeheartedly welcomed into the greater MCU family. It only emphasizes how the previous Marvel TV’s connection to the universe is definitely unclear.
Marvel Studios had consistently steered clear of establishing television series outside of Disney+ originals as canon, the recent news that a “new” but “continued” Daredevil series is in the works at the streaming service. The often bitter debate about which or whether Marvel TV shows are canon is likely only about to get more heated. The easy answer is to enjoy the shows you like (if you like any), consider them headcanon if you want (or ignore them completely), and move on with your life until Marvel Studios ever wants to make it more clear.
But since many will still wake up every day and choose violence on Twitter instead, here are the Marvel TV shows ranked from best to worst. Marvel Studios can make any of these canon at any time (yes, I can hear those of you already yelling that some are), but will they? This list does not include the few shows originally made as part of the old Fox X-Men universe, nor the animated M.O.D.O.K. or Hit Monkey series.
1. Daredevil
Marvel’s ‘Daredevil’ (2015)
It is no surprise that Netflix’s Daredevil tops this list. The #SaveDaredevil crowd is celebrating the announcement of a Disney+ series for Matt Murdock. It certainly seems like canon territory for the original series, but it really is yet to be seen how the upcoming show might actually adapt the previous one so as to be formally part of the MCU.
But the fact that Daredevil is the first “revival” of old Marvel TV on Disney+ is a testament to the quality of the series. While never entirely consistent across its three seasons, the show features exciting action, violence that generally surpasses that in the MCU, solid performances by Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, and a gritty emotional layer that films struggle to achieve.
2. Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones was made with the type of quality that Daredevil brought to the table. Krysten Ritter’s Jones was one of the first leading women in Marvel TV (Agent Carter premiered months before) and would have been one of the first in the MCU as well by years. She was not forced, and her struggles and traumas related to David Tennant’s chilling antagonist hit a tone that many were afraid to explore—especially at the time. The series also had plenty of upbeat notes with Jones’ personality, and the street-level detective work was a fresh addition to the Netflix Defendersverse.
3. Luke Cage
Luke Cage may not go down in history for nailing all of its storytelling elements, but the action-packed and star-studded show is a solid watch. But the series truly excels at putting the spotlight on Black experience and culture through both its subject matter and in the way the show was made, especially with music. One thing that Marvel TV was able to accomplish before the greater MCU was pushing boundaries of representation and actually developing a character within that perspective.
4. Agent Carter
Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’
Yes, Agent Carter was canceled after two seasons on ABC due to low viewership. And the show was not particularly phenomenal. But where it did succeed is that it made sense as a piece of the MCU puzzle. It has been by creators more recently that the show was made specifically to be canon to the MCU, while others like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may not have necessarily had that same attention. But the series kept Captain America: The First Avenger’s 1940s story going. It was fine. It had its charm and it stayed consistent. It never tried to do too much, which is a major problem with some other series on this list.
5. Runaways
As noted above, Runaways definitely felt like it was trying to do too much at times. The Hulu show came at a time when MCU fans started to get a bit tired of keeping up with shows that were beginning to feel less and less relevant to the film universe. But Runaways also felt like it was exploring a corner of the comics that Marvel TV and the MCU had not touched, and the focus on younger heroes certainly gave it a fresh perspective. Like other shows on this list, it pushed representation boundaries—particularly with LGBTQ+. The whole series might not be the most enjoyable experience, but the first season or so isn’t too bad.
6. Defenders
Something about the story and writing in Defenders really felt like a flop, but plenty enjoy Marvel TV’s first crossover event. It definitely came across as the Avengers of television, but it was nowhere near as cool. In any event, now that Daredevil is eyeing Disney+, that just begs the inevitable question of whether the Defendersverse as a whole is headed there with it.
7. The Punisher
I’m sure many would argue that The Punisher should be higher on the list. Marvel TV got arguably its darkest and most violent here, and it brought a very popular character to the screen. Plenty were not fully satisfied with the portrayal of Frank Castle, but some really appreciated the character development the show afforded him. But the show overall felt like a drudge through a relatively one-note anger fest with lots of guns. While maybe the point of the show, it could still be much better.
8. Cloak & Dagger
Cloak & Dagger has some meaningful moments filled with heart amongst a pretty forgettable series overall. Where it shined, it did well, but at the end of the day, it felt like another victim of ABC mediocrity, albeit on Freeform.
9. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
I will start by saying that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has a dedicated fanbase that loves the show. I am very happy for them, enjoying stuff is fun. But listen, as someone who has watched the show due to the fact that it was the first Marvel TV show that half-promised it was in the MCU, it is so bad.
Of course, some moments across the bloated 7 seasons are naturally better than others. But watching this show was work. It fell prey to the ABC network television level of “meh” before the writing and story made it so nonsensical and ridiculous to the point where it is extremely difficult to understand how someone would like it. Considering where the series took itself, the likelihood of the show itself being canon to the MCU is so incredibly low. But if it is, I like the MCU less.
But there is no strong reason to think that none of the AoS characters or actors will make actual MCU debuts. The fanbase is odd but strong, so the MCU would naturally get some boost of morale if someone like Chloe Bennet’s Quake got a firm reboot somewhere.
10. Iron Fist
Iron Fist basically failed before it even tried to fail. But at no point did the series feel like it was trying to succeed. Jessica Henwick’s Colleen Wing managed to feel like a positive at the end of the day, but overall this show is known as one of the worst across the board. Still, it exists within Netflix’s Defendersverse, so it has some staying power.
11. Inhumans
Marvel’s ‘Inhumans’
Inhumans is Marvel’s most infamous failure. From premiering the first bad episodes in IMAX theaters to releasing the rest of the horrible episodes on television was just absolutely unredeemable. But Anson Mount’s Black Bolt made a multiversal cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so the series is getting some renewed attention it does not need.
12. Helstrom
Honestly, does anyone know about this show? Apparently, the Hulu show suffered from a severe lack of marketing as well as not being good. It definitely debuted in that awkward space of late 2020 when Marvel Studios was gearing up to premiere its Disney+ slate. Marvel Studios took over Marvel Television while Helstrom was filming, meaning it was the last cry of Marvel TV that was too late to stop.
Only time will tell how Marvel Studios intends to use (or not) these shows, and Daredevil‘s “continued” series will be quite the eye opener as to how these properties could be formally integrated into the MCU.
The Thor: Love and Thunder teaser trailer dropped just weeks ago, and now Marvel Studios is gearing up to release the official trailer for the fourth Thor film this upcoming Monday. While the teaser trailer certainly gave viewers their first look at several things, including Chris Hemsworth’s cross-fit Thor, the guest-starring Guardians of the Galaxy, Tessa Thompson’s King Valkyrie, as well as Natalie Portman’s Mighty Thor… it ended up leaving plenty to be desired.
Some are confused about the tone of the Taika Waititi-directed follow up to Thor: Ragnarok, but the teaser trailer also left out major elements of Love and Thunder, including any hint at the plot. Of course, the official trailer will not give away the entire film, but there are without a doubt certain things that fans are hoping to see most in the Love and Thunder trailer on Monday.
First and foremost, the thing everyone wants to get their first glimpse at is Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. As the antagonist of the film, getting a good look at him will surely help viewers get a stronger sense of what to expect. More importantly, who wouldn’t be excited to see how the filmmakers ended up designing and creating the Academy Award-winner’s look for the role? Assuming it took any inspiration from the comics, it should be quite the gnarly look for Bale. Past the appearance, it would be great if the trailer gave the villain a little time to be, well, villainous. As a butcher of gods, the guy is set to be fairly frightening, so hopefully the trailer will build him up ahead of Love and Thunder’s July release.
As the trailer and promotional images have made it clear, the Thor movie is about two Thors—Hemsworth’s and Portman’s Mighty Thor. Jane Foster was present as the biggest tease of the teaser trailer, so her presence could be confusing or mysterious to those less familiar with the character from the comics. Even the comics aficionado is pretty much in the dark with respect to how Jane ended up with a pieced-together Mjolnir given where the character left off in Thor: The Dark World almost a decade ago. It would be great if the trailer made her return a bit more understandable and also give her the proper foundation as one of the most important players of the film. Seeing her interact with Thor after all this time could also be quite entertaining.
Considering Waititi has described the upcoming film as a full-blown love story, the trailer could certainly spare to share a bit of the “love” in Love and Thunder. The writer-director also teased that the romantic pairings may not be what viewers expect. The trailer does not need to and will not give away any surprises meant to be revealed in the actual film, but giving away a smidge of the “love story” could also give shape to the film and help set the tone.
Any additional information on King Valkyrie’s role as leader of New Asgard would be fun. We have seen brief shots of her at what looks like some global political council or conference, so an update on how New Asgard has integrated into Earth’s society would be interesting and set up Valkyrie’s role a bit more.
Lastly, of course, where is Miek? We need some Miek.
Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters on July 8, 2022. You can catch the official trailer on May 23, 2022 during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Over the past week, Marvel has released their monthly solicitations for their August 2022 comics. Here’s a brief look at what books have me most excited and are sure to end up on my pull list, if they’re not already there:
A.X.E.: DEATH TO THE MUTANTS #2 (OF 3) KIERON GILLEN (W) • GUIU VILANOVA (A) • Cover by Esad Ribić
Kieron Gillen has been absolutely knocking it out of the park at Marvel, with his runs on Uncanny X-Men, Young Avengers, and more recently, Eternals. I’m a bit late to the Kieron Gillen hype-train, but ever since reading his inventive run on the Eternals, Gillen has become a favorite. If Gillen writes it, it’s a must read. Aside from Gillen’s involvement, and Guiu Vilanova’s stunning artwork, what intrigues me the most about A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 is the pairing up of Cyclops and Kro: a team-up you never knew you needed until now.
IMMORTAL X-MEN #6 KIERON GILLEN (W) • MICHELE BANDINI (A) Cover by MARK BROOKS
I couldn’t choose just one Gillen written solicit, now could I! Beginning back in March, Gillen’s Immortal X-Men run has since become my favorite mutant-related book currently running, and my main source of hype for Marvel’s upcoming “Judgement Day” event. Gillen has crafted a plethora of characters that are both complicated AND relatable; what more could you want from a mutant series! Marvel, here’s a little word of advice: just give Kieron control over everything pertaining to mutants.
DAMAGE CONTROL #1 (OF 5) ADAM F. GOLDBERG, HANS RODIONOFF & CHARLOTTE FULLERTON (W) WILL ROBSON & JAY FOSGITT (A) • COVER BY CARLOS PACHECO
Variant Cover by WILL ROBSON FROM THE CREATOR OF TV’S THE GOLDBERGS! Marvel’s Unsung Heroes finally get sung! After the mega-powered battles and Hulk-level catastrophes, Damage Control is always there to clean up the mess and get things back to normal. But Damage Control is much more than just a glorified cleanup crew, and this new series will pull back the curtain and reveal the secret inner workings that were previously only available to people with Clearance Level Eight. And we’ll witness it all through the eyes of Gus: a fresh-faced, eager newcomer to the company who has no idea how chaotic his life is about to become. ADAM F. GOLDBERG (TV’s The Goldbergs) and HANS RODIONOFF team up with WILL ROBSON to take you into the secret labyrinth of Damage Control, where it’s totally common to run into familiar faces like Moon Knight! Nightcrawler! She-Hulk! And more! Plus: A second story by DAMAGE CONTROL creator Dwayne McDuffie’s McSpouse, Charlotte Fullerton, as the Damage Control crew must clean up after the Infinity Gauntlet! 40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
A group of individuals that have to deal with the aftermath of superhero-related disasters will always be an idea with unlimited potential in the Marvel Universe. This new Damage Control series seems like an interesting way to explore dynamics between different characters that wouldn’t necessarily interact under normal circumstances. The possibilities are endless. Knowing that Marvel loves its corporate synergy, and with the return of Damage Control in the MCU with Spider-Man: No Way Home, and seemingly Ms. Marvel, could a Damage Control show á la “The Office” possibly be in our future? Well, with an obvious choice like Adam F. Goldberg to helm the project, it seems like a no-brainer – but only time will tell.
DAREDEVIL #3 CHIP ZDARSKY (W) • RAFAEL DE LATORRE (A) • Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Variant Cover by ALEX MALEEV • PROMO VARIANT COVER BY PAULO SIQUEIRA DAREDEVIL SAVES THE WORLD! With more ambitious and aggressive goals than ever before, DAREDEVIL has started putting together a team — but not everyone wants to be a part of Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios’ vision of the future. As Matt and Elektra grow increasingly distant from the super hero community and closer to one another, DAREDEVIL will once again be at odds with heroes and villains alike… 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
After concluding his acclaimed Daredevil run with the Devil’s Reign event, Chip Zdarsky’s new run on the Man Without Fear looks to explore the ramifications of this event of the Marvel Universe. With the world believing him to be dead, Matt Murdock is able to focus completely on being Daredevil, and, along with Elektra Natchios, is assembling a team to defeat the Hand for good. What’s exciting about the 3rd issue of Zdarsky’s new series is the prospect of bringing some of Marvel’s most underused street level heroes into the spotlight as members of Daredevil’s new team. And with the Punisher now leading the Hand, Daredevil and Elektra will certainly need all the help they can get.
EDGE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE #3 (OF 5) DAN SLOTT AND MORE! (W) • MARK BAGLEY AND MORE! (A) Cover by JOSEMARIA CASANOVAS • Variant Cover by KRIS ANKA
Design Variant Cover by KRIS ANKA IN THIS ISSUE! SPIDER-MAN: INDIA! AND NIGHT-SPIDER! Wait, WHO IS NIGHT-SPIDER?! 48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
Dan Slott’s greatest contribution to Marvel Comics is the Spider-Verse, of which Spider-Gwen was the breakout character. Spider-Verse and Dan Slott fans everywhere can now rejoice, because Slott is returning to the Spider-Verse with a new Edge Of The Spider-Verse series (which is where Gwen Stacy original appeared as Spider-Woman). Edge of the Spider-Verse #1 or #2 – which tease the return of Spider-Gwen, Peni Parker, Araña, and Spider-Man Noir, as well as a new female Spider-Man UK (Spider-Woman UK, if you will) – could easily be on this list in place of Edge of the Spider-Verse #3. However, #3 stands out as it teases a potential breakout star: Night Spider, a.k.a. Felicia freakin’ Hardy.
AMAZING FANTASY #1000 NEIL GAIMAN, ARMANDO IANNUCCI, JONATHAN HICKMAN, DAN SLOTT, HO CHE ANDERSON, KURT BUSIEK, ANTHONY FALCONE, RAINBOW ROWELL AND MORE! (W) JIM CHEUNG, OLIVIER COIPEL, MICHAEL CHO, GORAN PARLOV AND MORE! (A) Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
WRAPAROUND VARIANT COVER BY JOE QUESADA VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL RETRO VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL VARIANT COVER BY STEVE MCNIVEN VARIANT COVER BY TAURIN CLARKE VARIANT COVER BY PEACH MOMOKO The comic that brought you SPIDER-MAN hits issue #1000! We’re going big to celebrate in this, our thousandth issue of AMAZING FANTASY! An ALL-STAR roster of creators are coming together to celebrate Peter Parker and Spider-Man’s birthdays! 72 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T …$7.99
New Spider-Man stories by Neil Gaiman, Armando Iannucci, Jonathan Hickman, Dan Slott, Ho Che Anderson, Kurt Busiek, Anothony Falcone, Rainbow Rowell, etc (WHO ISN’T A PART OF THIS?!?)!?! Just inject this into my veins right now!!!
This is just a glimpse of what’s available out there and just scratches the surface of what I’ll be ordering for the month of August.
Daredevil lives. After years of wishful thinking on the part of both fans and star Charlie Cox, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will bring Daredevil back to life with a brand new season of television on Disney+. The news was just made official by the outlet Variety, which also revealed writers Matt Corman and Chris Ord have been tapped by Marvel Studios to tackle the story. Almost immediately after, The Hollywood Reporter let slip that the show would be a “new but continued series” from the critically acclaimed three-season run the character previously enjoyed on Netflix. While this is pretty vague phrasing, it likely means that Kevin Feige is hoping to produce a show that can work as a soft “fourth season” of Daredevil while also standing alone as a fresh take on the character.
You can almost imagine Corman and Ord huddled in a dark room somewhere, furiously attempting to craft the next big solo adventure for lawyer and vigilante Matt Murdock. After all, the duo have a gargantuan task ahead of them. It’s not easy to follow in the footsteps of something so immensely popular, especially while balancing the expectations of fans who want more of the same with a studio that wants something new. Luckily, the pair have two major things going for them – Daredevil is a wildly multifaceted character with decades of tonally varied storytelling to pull from, and the last season of Netflix’s Daredevil ended in a place that allows them to go in almost any direction they please.
The first three seasons of Daredevil draw heavily from the work of Frank Miller. Each one is darker and more brutal than the last, adapting elements from famously depressing arcs like The Man Without Fear, Born Again, and Gang War to bring the protector of Hell’s Kitchen to life one beatdown at a time. Murdock’s violent origin, Wilson Fisk’s steel-fisted rule as Kingpin, and the tragic demise of Elektra Natchios. Even when it strayed from the path of Miller, it still found ways to be generally hard-hearted. The second season used imagery directly from Garth Ennis‘ stress-inducing Punisher comic The Choice, while the third season only broke away from Born Again long enough to copy a famous death from Kevin Smith‘s Guardian Devil.
The series finale, however, concluded the show with a scene that was seemingly pointing toward a disparate future. Cox‘s Murdock and Elden Henson‘s Foggy Nelson welcome Deborah Ann Woll‘s Karen Page as the latest partner in their ramshackle firm, with all three, perhaps for the first time, looking at a brighter tomorrow with a shared smile. Though many people associate pain and suffering synonymously with Daredevil, this has never been the case in the comics. Miller‘s elongated era of writing the character has, for some reason, become the default representation of how all Daredevil stories should be. Of course, this has led many to forget that his earliest escapades involved villains like The Matador and Leap-Frog, or that more recent comics involved him casually wearing a sweater that read “I’m not Daredevil.”
This occasional goofiness is something Marvel Studios would be smart to exploit going forward. Erik Oleson and the previous Netflix team couldn’t have teed them up any better. Both in metaphor and in the title, Matt Murdock was born again in Daredevil‘s third season. He comes out the other end of his conflict with Fisk a more optimistic person. In 2013, Mark Waid began a run on the character that aimed to explore the potential of this exact concept in full. Murdock attempts to cope with his traumatic past by forming a renewed sense of adventure, returning to his swashbuckling roots in a classic example of overcorrection. The arc added a new dynamic to Daredevil’s long history, but it never fully ignored the brutality of his past. Adapting this element from Waid‘s run would be an ideal way to give Daredevil a new coat of paint without having to dismiss its former seasons.
So, Marvel Studios’ Daredevil could begin with a reinvigorated Matt Murdock joyfully taking on crime in Hell’s Kitchen while his best friends keep their struggling law firm afloat. Naturally, there would have to be a conflict that uproots this, and the perfect inspiration can be found in the work of acclaimed creative Brian Michael Bendis. The writer had a run almost on par with Miller in the early 2000s, and some aspects of his comics found their way into Netflix’s live-action show. A key plot point in Bendis‘ Daredevil legacy comes in the form of Out, which saw Matt Murdock’s secret identity discovered by the FBI and eventually leaked to the press. The third season of Daredevil also had a member of the FBI learn about Murdock’s double life, and while he never leaked it to the press, it’s not too much of a stretch to say a fellow agent could find proof of Daredevil’s identity while sorting through Ray Nadeem’s old files and decide to make some extra cash.
The ensuing chaos would understandably cause some problems in each of Murdock’s two lives. Forced to face the same kind of scrutiny he had just helped Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker escape, Murdock’s fresh outlook on life would be tested. It would also put somewhat of a target on his back for any criminal who might be wanting revenge for a prior defeat, especially one who always hits his mark. Last we saw Wilson Bethel‘s Benjamin Poindexter, he was crazier than ever and in the middle of receiving a fancy new Cogmium spine. All these years later, it’s entirely possible he would be up and operating as the criminal underworld’s most effective assassin. No longer Poindexter, now simply Bullseye (hopefully in an MCU-worthy, comic-accurate costume). Should he need more resources to get even, he would have no problem finding a wealthy benefactor whose thirst for vengeance could equal his own.
Hawkeye shocked fans by revealing Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin was still active in New York City. It seems likely he would make an appearance in the next season of Daredevil, but perhaps it wouldn’t be him pulling all the strings this time. The last Fisk was seen prior to Hawkeye, he was being arrested alongside his wife, Ayelet Zurer‘s Vanessa. The last season of Daredevil proved Vanessa wasn’t as innocent as she once appeared, and is potentially more ruthless than Wilson himself. If his most recent arrest is the reason Fisk now operates out of a garage, and Matt’s final threat of ruining Vanessa if Wilson came for Foggy or Karen is the reason all three heroes are still alive, then perhaps a spiteful Mrs. Fisk could be the one hiring Bullseye and calling the shots as the public face of the Fisk fortune. Waid‘s run also had Murdock’s identity being revealed, that time purposefully announced by Matt to avoid being blackmailed. Maybe Vanessa attempts to use the information about Murdock’s identity against him, only for Matt to surprise her by unmasking himself in the court room.
These hypothetical plot points may not always line up perfectly with the Netflix Daredevil series, but there’s a really good chance the new show might not always follow the previously established canon. At least, not exactly. Bullseye may have a Vibranium spine, the aforementioned arrests may not have gone down quite the same way, and Kingpin might be a little more durable than Netflix remembered to show. Aside from the mention of Ray Nadeem or the FBI, all of these elements could be explained away with a line or two of vague dialogue. Either way, they’d be a fantastic way to give Charlie Cox‘s take on Daredevil a proper continuation whilst also giving Disney+ a fresh tone to work with. I mean, if Matt reveals his identity and ends up disbarred in New York, he’s always got that comic book move to San Francisco waiting in the wings.
The first trailer for She-Hulk has finally arrived, and while some are focused on the rough CG, there is still a lot to take away from the trailer. We’ve already explored some of the Easter eggs such as an Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes reference or its old logo being reused. Now, there’s also one thing the trailer seemingly gives away if you look closely and that may be Jennifer Walter’s origin story before turning into She-Hulk.
In the comics, Walters actually gets shot by Nicholas Trask, who also killed her mother. It was also someone that was after her as she had proclaimed she had evidence to put him behind bars while defending another gangster in court. After being seriously wounded, she was visiting her cousin Bruce Banner at the time who swiftly came to give her a blood transfusion, as there was no other option. This event led to her entering the metaphysical Green Door and was revived; now with the ability to transform similar to her cousin.
It’s unclear if the Green Door and Below-Place might become integral to her origin, as it is a part of the multiverse ruled by an evil entity that wants to destroy the Multiverse. Yet, the trailer does offer at least a glimpse at how they’ll twist her actual origin. It doesn’t seem like she’ll be shot but they are going a Doctor Strange route, as we can see a car drive off the road early in the trailer.
The timing and environment are also quite interesting, as it seems like wherever she ends up off-road isn’t too far from where she met up with her cousin Bruce in his Professor Hulk form. She seemingly is bringing him some kind of document and it does seem like they’ll reconnect before she faces the harsh transformation. Perhaps the part that remains is that she is involved with a legal case before getting the blood transfusion, and it could be connected to Emil Blonsky.
We briefly see him in the trailer in his human form before we get a brief tease of his transformation into Abomination. Perhaps that is in the opening of the series, where she is part of the new Superhero Law division and ends up having to defend her own cousin due to him suing him. While we remember that he did it to himself in The Incredible Hulk, perhaps Hulk was supposed to help him get this transformation under control but bailed to use it on himself.
No matter what, some lawsuit brings her to visit her cousin and she ends up in a car crash that may be the kick-off for her having to learn and control her abilities. Now, we do see a brief sequence of her transforming and looking into the damaged car, which could hint at her already having the Gamma radiation in her bloodstream. So, perhaps it’s not the traditional blood transfusion but an accident in their earlier meeting that led to it. So, we can’t rule out that maybe she drank something she wasn’t supposed to and ends up hulking out as a result. While we can only theorize, for now, the trailer does offer enough teases to potentially put together the puzzle on her revamped origin.
While he has yet to be officially announced, there is one place that will surely bring She-Hulk and Daredevil together in She-Hulk: the courtroom. The 9-episode comedy series is set to spend a lot of time focused on Jen Walters’ legal practice, as the subtitle, “Attorney at Law,” makes clear. The teaser trailer introduced Walters’ firm, Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, where she is the face of the firm’s superhuman law division. Matt Murdock, of course, is also a lawyer, but he doesn’t specifically focus on super-powered individuals as Jen does. Throughout the character’s history, he has practiced many kinds of law. But for the most part, Matt works as a criminal defense lawyer and sometimes takes on civil rights cases.
There seems to be little doubt that the two could meet as two attorneys, but what kind of case would bring them together? Sure, the optimist might argue that the two will work as a team to bring about justice. But the legal battlefield is much trickier than that, and what constitutes “justice” often just depends on the side that you are on. And given their shared history in the comics, all bets are on She-Hulk and Daredevil on opposing sides. In Charles Soule’s 2014 She-Hulk run, the two actually took a wrongful death suit against Captain America to court, with Matt representing the victim and Jen representing old Steve Rogers.
‘She-Hulk’ (2014)
We know whatever case it is will be a civil case—not a criminal one—considering that neither of our heroes works for the government. Obviously, superheroes or superhumans will be involved in any case that Jen is working on, though that does not necessarily mean that non-superhero parties can’t have a significant role in the case. Assuming Matt takes on his traditional role as a defense attorney, Jen will be representing someone who is suing Matt’s client. An easy list of possible cases looks pretty simple. It could be that (a) a superhero sues a supervillain or vice versa, or (b) a civilian sues a superhero/villain or vice versa. But we can probably narrow it down further.
Matt Murdock does have a history in the comics of taking on superhero clients, but there is a strong chance that will not be the case in She-Hulk. Matt is known for looking out for the “little guy” or those who have the justice system stacked against them. So, it seems likely that Matt could be defending an ordinary civilian against a lawsuit by a more powerful superhuman represented by Jen and her firm. But what would a superhero need to sue someone over? The answer to that is pretty much endless, but since we know that She-Hulk is a comedy, it probably will not be anything too serious. In other words, the Sokovia Accords, the only KNOWN laws that apply to superheroes in the MCU, are probably off the table. The possibilities include emotional distress, defamation, unconstitutional imprisonment (that prison in the teaser trailer looks pretty intense), negligence, or fraud. While not likely to happen in a Disney+ series, Spider-Man has successfully sued J. Jonah Jameson and the Daily Bugle for Libel in She-Hulk comics. If it’s comedic and light-hearted, it doesn’t even need to be complicated. It could be as simple as a superhero suing the guy who makes their suit over the quality of said suit.
So, who could be Jen’s superclient? As mentioned, She-Hulk could have a crazy amount of cameos, so it is hard to say. There are rumors of Wong trying to sue another wizard, but presumably, the series will showcase several superpeople looking for legal advice or going to court. The teaser trailer also indicated that Jen will work with Emil Blonsky/Abomination to some extent as well. The sheer amount of possibilities makes this a difficult guess, but it would probably have the most impact if the superhuman involved is someone we know in the MCU.
Lastly, of course, which lawyer will win? In the comics case over Captain America that the two took to court, She-Hulk was the ultimate winner, though Cap pretty much set up that outcome. Still, considering it is She-Hulk’s series, that is another strong reason why we should predict her to triumph over Matt Murdock in court.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law starts streaming exclusively on Disney+ on August 17, 2022.
The Golden State Warriors, not too long ago, were thought to be done as a contender. Over the last few seasons they’ve dealt with injuries, roster turnover, and age. Now they’re back with their championship core, some new additions, and an attitude to get back to the NBA Finals. It might be Steph Curry’s league once more.
The Dallas Mavericks have a singular talent, the likes of which we may have never seen. A generational player in Luka Doncic, who’s combined his talents with smart coaching and a versatile roster. That combination led to one of the most shocking results in NBA history as they dismantled Phoenix.
It’s the old guard in Curry, and the new one in Luka. This matchup is fascinating for so many reasons. Let’s take a look.
Tale Of The Tape: In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Mavericks have had to adjust on the fly. First, Doncic missed some time against Utah, which led to Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie stepping up. After they got through that series they were dominated by Phoenix in the first two games. Once Jason Kidd challenged Luka and co. to participate, the Mavs shocked the world and won a Game 7 on the road.
The Warriors are coming off of a physical series against Memphis after dispatching Denver in the 1st round. In the 2nd round, it felt like the Warriors just had an experience advantage against the Grizzlies. Despite some uneven performances they now have home court in this round.
Key Matchup: Luka vs Everyone
Luka Doncic has shown that, at least for now, there isn’t a coverage that he can’t figure out. He will hunt a matchup and pick on it. Whether it’s getting a switch to get a big on him or getting a smaller guy, he is on another level. The Warriors will probably start with Andrew Wiggins on Luka. Then the game of chess begins. Dallas will want to get Steph Curry or Jordan Poole in actions for Luka to get the one on one. After that, it’s pick your poison. You either send your help to Luka and allow him to find a three point shooter or he goes one on one. Right now there is no easy answer. Here’s an example of how he can burn you in different ways.
Here you see the Warriors defense in scramble mode as Luka gets the ball movement going. This is where the Mavs are at their best.
Kevon Looney is one of the smarter switch bigs in the league, and here Luka just picks on him and gets to the basket for an and one.
Luka asks Looney for another dance, and this time backs him down, and gets to a mini fadeaway.
The Warriors can counteract this on the other end by making Luka work on defense. Andrew Wiggins could be an important player this series if Dallas isn’t going to send help. Expect the Warriors to target Luka just like Phoenix did. The only difference is the Warriors have more shooting to expose them.
The Mavericks should also expect Draymond Green helping on timed double teams, and where Green is deployed should be interesting. Green will have less of a 1 on 1 responsibility and should be able to roam in this series. He could definitely disrupt Dallas’ offense if they’re not on their game.
The Prediction: Golden State will miss Gary Payton II in this series. His defense and intangibles are very valuable, especially in trying to disrupt this Mavericks offense. There will be games in this series that the Warriors will win just by outshooting the Mavs. Steph, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole will find success.
The issue when the rubber meets the road is Luka Doncic. He is playing at a Hall Of Fame level. The decision making is sublime; the ability to dissect a defense is truly incredible. Add in Jason Kidd’s coaching and being adept at making adjustments. Also add in the Mavs role players figuring things out to a point where they dominated the best team in the sport. Going with the best player in the series here, Mavericks in 6.
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