A show focusing on Boba Fett has always felt the optimal way to re-introduce the Star Wars criminal underworld to live-action Star Wars. Solo: A Star Wars Story took some steps in that direction but it only really seemed to skim the surface. But now, and considering Lucasfilm‘s track record when dealing with their Disney+ projects, we might be getting exactly what we wanted.
Following the tremendous success of The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm has decided to use an almost opposite strategy to the one Marvel Studios has been using since 2008 when introducing new characters/shows. Instead of having separate introductions before bringing them all together in the same feature, Lucasfilm has decided to branch out and use an established project to welcome new characters before giving them their own series. We’ve seen it happen with Ahsoka Tano, Boba Fett, and in all likelihood with Cara Dune and the Rangers of the New Republic project which was later abandoned.
This would mean that having yet another show spin-off The Book of Boba Fett might be more than just a mere random possibility. And bringing into the fold comic book storylines (the same comics that first introduced us to Black Krrsantan) as well as rumors that have been circling about the possible return of a Solo: A Star Wars Story character (that has been prominently featured in the latest Star Wars comic crossover The War of the Bounty Hunters) we might just have found who might be showing up towards the end of the season. Emilia Clarke‘s Qi’ra.
Master Bib did not have the power of Jabba, so he relied on uneasy alliances to preserve his tribute and title.
8D8
Mayor has no power. Somebody else is behind that play.
Fennec Shand
There are already a few hints regarding how someone yet undisclosed is pulling the strings, with the only reason that Bib Fortuna managed to stay in power for as long as he did being that someone wanted him there. Watching the Pikes arrive on a starliner ahead of battle, meaning their forces are off-world, also helps to make everything seem to be about something even greater than Tatooine’s issues themselves. With Qi’ra’s importance in recent and upcoming comic runs as leader of the Crimson Dawn criminal syndicate hinting at a possible bigger role to play in the grand scheme of things, combined with her active role in the dismembering of the Hutt Council in The War of the Bounty Hunters which left the Hutt cartel without clear leadership making her be at odds with the remaining Hutts, all seem to play into the frictions The Book of Boba Fett has already established. An interesting new one would be her relationship with Fett since she was the one who managed to steal Han Solo’s frozen carbonite body from Fett before he got it to Jabba the Hutt.
Almost 20 years have passed in-universe since the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story (set around 10BBY) but given the way Qi’ra has been represented in comics, looking the same as she did back then, it wouldn’t be too hard to get Clarke to reprise the character without major appearance concerns. But even if her showing up might have her looking a bit older, that could perhaps hint at a future series focusing on herself but set in the past, set right after the ending to her on-screen debut.
Persona is a series that has finally entered the mainstream due to its success with the official fifth entry. After its titular character Joker joined Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as its first DLC character, it was clear that Atlus had pushed their slice-of-life RPG to a new level. Yet, we haven’t heard much on the next numbered entry in the series, Persona 6. Yet even as 2021 was the franchise’s 25th anniversary, we still are lacking any concrete information on the next entry. As such, let’s take a closer look at the current state of what we know about the project so far.
The official confirmation came in a rather surprising way. We never got a definite highlight that work has already started on the project, but through a statement by Atlus director Naoto Hiroaka in a job listing back in July. It explicitly highlights that they are hiring for a sixth project that manages to succeed previous entry.
Thanks to the large amount of support we received for Persona 5, we have gotten a sense of accomplishment. But we can’t stop there. When we created Persona 4, there was pressure that it had to exceed Persona 3. Now, we will have to create a 6 which exceeds 5. However, exceeding 5 will be difficult with the current staff. I would like to surpass this tall hurdle with everyone who joins us in this recruitment
Naoto Hiroaka
This job listing came around a similar time when the 25th anniversary was announced with a promise for a year of news surrounding the Persona franchise. As mentioned previously, we still haven’t gotten quite a lot of insight into what the anniversary includes. While we did get the announcement in July and the confirmation of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has been the only major reveal so far. The game wasn’t confirmed until the Video Game Awards in December with rumors hinting at remasters of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden. The official site still hints at more announcements coming but the well has been dry for some time. Still, supposedly we’ll get seven announcements up until the fall of this year. If they include the merchandise and wallpapers, there are still four slots open.
There have been some curious visual teasers in the form of the anniversary-themed goods, which include all the main protagonists o the various entries across the series. What stands out is that they purposefully included one that only has “Secret” in its place. So, once an official announcement drops, they may unveil the character card, which would include the sixth entries protagonist, the game’s main color, and the school logo.
It seems very likely that this is a tease for an eventual announcement, especially with the placeholder also being used for the covers. Thoug, curiously,t the game covers includes two slots while each entry since P3 is mainly the vanilla game and its expansion, such as Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal. So, the new game either has two unique covers, or we might have a Pokémon situation with two versions of the same game.
Of course, an announcement this year doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll get the game any time soon. Though, there is a comment that hints at Atlus having some major plans for this year. Shinjiro Takada, who is the mastermind behind Etryan Odyssey and Shin Megami Tensei. He made the following reveal that the hope to offer a major release this year that will “become a pillar for Atlus” moving forward. Sadly, there’s no definite clue what exactly may end up being or even if it is Persona related.
I chose ‘Challenge’ as my keyword for 2022 in hopes to release a title to the world that will become a pillar for Atlus. The staff are working hard on development to make something that’ll be interesting and satisfying for everyone, so I’d be happy if you could look forward to it.
The interesting aspect about Persona 6 is that there aren’t many rumors about the upcoming release. As the last three entries covered the primary colors of blue, yellow, and red, many theorized that green is the most likely choice for the next entry in the franchise. Others have pointed to orange also being a possibility, but Persona 2‘s entries seemed to rely on a similar color. There are some rumblings of the game either embracing a female-centric storyline or copying Persona 3 Portable‘s option to choose your gender at the start of the game.
For now, the well is pretty dry but it seems likely that the 25th anniversary might end with an announcement for the franchise in the fall of this year. It’s not definite but signs are there given the inclusion of those “Secret” placeholders. There are hints that we’ll get a lot more announcements as time goes on, which hopefully means that it’s going to be a big year for the franchise. For now, we can only keep an eye out for more information as
All of Hawkeye, Echo, Moon Knight, Blade, and by association, She-Hulk serve as Marvel Studios’ first foray into the street universe. Just as Kevin Feige‘s think-tank built the cosmic, mystical, and multiversal mythology, the mythos of the MCU’s street universe needs to be built. Here are ten essential villains that would help grow it nicely.
The Rose
Wilson Fisk made his official debut in the MCU at the tail end of 2021 when he appeared in Hawkeye as the defacto big bad of the series, a performance that Vincent D’Onofrio drew from his own in the Daredevil Netflix series. It’s not entirely clear from that single appearance how this version of Fisk got to where he was but it certainly leaves a lot of space for new stories to build around the character.
What better way to build a different story for Fisk by introducing his son Richard, the bitter son who would eventually turn into the villainous Rose? Richard Fisk’s relationship with his father in the comics is nothing short of Shakespearean; a familial power struggle that culminates in a lot of betrayals. It’s the kind of drama we haven’t seen Wilson Fisk deal with in live-action and would make for one of the more interesting villain dynamics in the MCU.
Hammerhead
You can’t get any more street-level with a villain like Hammerhead, who was created as a callback to the mobsters of the Great Depression era. But despite his over-the-top appearance and persona, Hammerhead is a very modest character; he’s never been at the center of major street-level crossovers unlike some of his cohorts on this list. Yet that hasn’t stopped the character from being a key component of that side of the Marvel Universe. Hammerhead’s appearance in the Spider-Man DLC proved how menacing the character could be if done contemporarily. He’s a major player in the street game and has been known to rival the likes of Kingpin and The Hood.
Typhoid Mary
Typhoid Mary is an important character within the Daredevil mythology. An on-off lover of Matt Murdock, she regularly falls under the employ of Wilson Fisk and eventually makes her way onto the 50 State Initiative as Mutant Zero. Mary Walker bridges some of the quirkiness of the larger universe with the grounded ethos of the streets. She’s a mutant with dissociative identity disorder, whose multiple personalities often manifest with different abilities. She’s a telekinetic, telepath, as well as a pyrokinetic, making her one of the most lethal street characters in Marvel, not to mention, one of the more sinister-looking villains. A version barely resembling the comic counterpart appeared in the second season of Iron Fist but the quicker we can forget about that, the better.
Tombstone
Like Hammerhead before him, Tombstone is an A-list member of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, having busted the skull of the wallcrawler numerous times over the years. The character has a strong rivalry with Robbie Robertson, a character known to orbit around Peter Parker’s life as his Daily Bugle superior. A lot of Spider-Man’s key encounters with Tombstone involve Robertson in some way. So as the MCU launches Peter’s next phase in life, which hopefully involves the Bugle and Robertson in some way, the room for a character like Tombstone just keeps getting wider.
Madame Masque
A version of Whitney Frost may have served as Agent Carter Season 2’s big bad but that shouldn’t preclude the actual Madame Masque from appearing in the MCU down the road. Born Giulietta Nefaria, heir to the fabled Maggia criminal empire, Madame Masque is as much of a street character as she is a heavy-hitting Avengers villain. The character has crossed paths with the likes of Moon Knight and Hawkeye, the latter’s solo show she was rumored to appear in last year.
Turk Barrett
Turk Barrett represents one of comic’s most marginalized groups of characters: lowly henchmen. Yet he’s the henchman to end all henchmen, garnering notoriety for being a pestering reoccurrence in Daredevil’s radar and a one-time wielder of an Infinity Stone. The character was brilliantly brought to life by acclaimed actor Rob Morgan in the Netflix shows and he would certainly be welcomed with open arms should that opportunity return. He’s Turk Barrett, baby!
Mister Negative
One of the best parts of the PS4 Spider-Man game was how it put Mister Negative at the forefront of Spidey’s rogues gallery. It not only proved that there was more to Spidey’s rogues gallery beyond the Sinister Six but that the character of Martin Li was perfect for a live-action take. From a visual and power-set standpoint, Mister Negative already stands out among Spidey’s antagonists, boasting dimensional abilities that rival both Cloak and Dagger’s. On top of those qualities, he’s also a compelling villain with a layered backstory.
The Hood
Given the prominence of mysticism and the occult, it’s almost impossible to imagine the MCU’s future without Parker Robbins aka The Hood in it. The Hood is best described as a Marvel Gus Fring if Gus Fring stumbled onto a demonic ritual, stole occult paraphernalia, and become a sorcerer in the process.
The Hood entered Marvel prominence during Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign, where he ascended to the top spot of the criminal empire. Parker Robbins was also, at one point, in contention for the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. His Crime Syndicate was home to a lot of villainous heavy-hitters and would go on to prove highly formidable. The idea that a gun-toting, demon-summoning mobster could be in the MCU is a no-brainer.
Bullseye
You can’t have Daredevil in the MCU without Bullseye. If the Kingpin was to Daredevil the same way Norman Osborn is to Spider-Man, Bullseye is definitely Daredevil’s Venom; the secondary arch-nemesis whose skillset and penchant for disorder rivals that of the protagonist.
Bullseye is evil-incarnate which, in many ways, gives him such a powerful presence on the page. That a blind Catholic from Hell’s Kitchen is one of the few who can hold a candle up to Bullseye’s evil makes that rivalry so twistedly poetic. While I’m not entirely a fan of Daredevil Season 3’s troubled incel take on the character, Wilson Bethel‘s twitchy performance alone makes for a convincing argument for him that he get a second shot at the character.
The Punisher
Frank Castle may not be a villain in the modern sense but he’s certainly butted heads with enough Marvel heroes to be considered an antagonist. In fact, Frank Castle would also be the first person to tell you not to revere him as a hero. Unfortunately, an aspect of the character’s legacy continues to endure this day for a lot of wrong real-world reasons.
Perhaps one way for Marvel Studios to bypass the ugly aspect of that legacy is to bring Frank Castle into a world far removed from our real one. Have the Punisher fight over-the-top monsters, superheroes, and supervillains. Use what the playground that is the MCU has to offer to give us a different kind of Punisher. Bring Jon Bernthal back while you’re at it.
Marvel Studios first canonical animated series, What If…?, introduced fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Variants of dozens of their favorite characters. From Party Thor, to a redeemed Thanos, to one character who was immediate a fan favorite: T’Challa Star-Lord.
Taken by accident by Ravagers looking for Peter Quill, T’Challa took on the mantle of Star-Lord and had a major impact on the events of his universe. Voiced by Chadwick Boseman, T’Challa Star-Lord eventually came back home to Wakanda and was reunited with his family who had long thought him dead. Now, fans can add a great looking Funko Pop! version of the character to their collection at Entertainment Earth.
Shipping this month, the Funko comes with a stand allowing T’Challa to take flight. The collectible show T’Challa Star-Lord complete with his mask, gun and jet boots and makes for a great addition to any Funko collection, especially beside the other pieces from the What If…? wave.
You can order your T’Challa Star-Lord for $11.99 by clicking here.
Murphy’s Multiverse is an Entertainment Earth affiliate.
1. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness This I’m sure is on most people’s most-anticipated lists, but it still has to be mentioned. The MCU is about to really get into the multiverse, and there are countless possibilities for the film to explore. That, plus Sam Raimi’s return and the horror elements its supposed to bring, makes Doctor Strange’s second solo outing the easiest movie to be excited about in 2022.
2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) Also like a lot of people, I absolutely adore Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. While I’m always wary of sequels to incredible or near-perfect movies, I’m glad Spider-Verse is getting the recognition it deserves and was not a one-off.
3. Everything EverywhereAll At Once All I really know about this movie is the trailer, but it looks absolutely wild. Michelle Yeoh as the lead is enough for me, but Everything Everywhere All At Once looks emotional, colorful, action-packed, and mind-boggling. Plus it fits the multiversal theme of the rest of this list.
Anthony Canton III
1. The Batman Matt Reeves’ undertaking of the caped crusaders franchise is most fascinating. This movie can be a game changer not only for DC films, but tv as well. With the spin-offs and sequels planned, the building out of this universe has a lot riding on this movie. With a great cast headlined by Robert Pattinson, The Batman could be a changing of the guard of how success can be achieved with a singular character.
2. Dr. Strange In The Multiverse OfMadness With the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the next Dr. Strange movie has an epic feel. Rumors aside, we have the Scarlet Witch returning and the debut of America Chavez. The possibilities of what this movie can be are tantalizing. Another underrated story of this movie, the return of Mordo. However his character returns, his arc in the first film is one that echoes the mistakes of Strange in No Way Home. The bill comes due. Always.
3. Thor: Love and Thunder After Thor: Ragnarok and what Taika Waititi was able to do for the character, this movie is going to be quite the spectacle. Jason Aaron’s run of Thor being adapted with Jane Foster taking the mantle will be interesting. The Guardians of the Galaxy are involved, how much will they be? You also can’t talk about this movie without mentioning that Christian Bale has been cast as Gorr the God Butcher. When you talk about comic book lore, that’s as good as it gets. Add Valkyrie, Korg, and some of our other Thor favorites, and we’re guaranteed for a fun time. Russell Crowe is in this movie too! It’s hard to not be excited about what this film can be.
Joseph Aberl
I am quite excited for 2022, as it not only continues the momentum built from the last year but will also be the anniversary of some of my favorite franchises. Kingdom Hearts will celebrate its 20th anniversary, the live-action One Piece series will finally start production, and rumors are hinting at the Persona franchise finally getting an announcement for its sixth entry. As there’s a lot of uncertainty about what and how true the rumors are, there are enough exciting official announcements to look forward to. From a gaming perspective, I am excited to finally get my hands on God of War: Ragnarok. The story of Kratos and Atreus ended on a massive cliffhanger in the first, and with this ending the Norse storyline, it’ll have a lot to offer to fans of the franchise. I am also highly anticipating the release of The Batman, as the expansion of a Batman-centric universe is an idea I adore and the direction seems quite promising. On the Marvel side, I am quite excited for their live-action adaptation of Moon Knight. It seems like a darker direction for an MCU entry, and Oscar Isaac is the perfect choice to explore the broken mind of Marc Spector.
Dalbin Osorio
1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever The introduction of Ironheart gets delivered here, plus the introduction of Namor to the MCU after some teases. The biggest draw for me, as a huge Black Panther fan, is to see how they handle T’Challa’s story. Some folks have spoiled some of the bigger parts of this, which was not ok, and that has really soured the experience for me. As a person of color, T’Challa is our hero: heck, my 3 year old daughter loves Black Panther, and so to have callousness and disregard for those who this was more than a movie for is ridiculous. Be that as it may, RyanCoogler delivered the best origin story in MCU history with Black Panther and now its time to set his sights on Captain America: Winter Soldier for the best sequel. I really can’t wait for this.
2. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness More multiverse shenanigans? Sign me up. Strange Supreme? All in. All the rumors in Spider Man’s last film are going to pale in comparison to what we will have here, and I couldn’t be more excited. The selling point for me is that we get Strange v the Scarlet Witch at some point, and that’s worth the price of admission alone.
3. Thor: Love and Thunder When we last left Odinson, he was going off to discover who he is with the Guardians of the Galaxy. We don’t know how his story moves their story on the chessboard, but we do know this will introduce Mighty Thor and a man who butchers Gods for a living. I’ve long theorized that Phase 4 will have our legacy heroes transitioned, and this, in my opinion, is no different. I think Thor meets his maker in Christian Bale’s Gorr. I, also, think the Necrosword returns via a symbiotic nature.
Charles Murphy
1. The Batman I’ve never understood DC’s inability to build a proper world around the character on their roster with the most well-developed world. My hope is that Matt Reeves’The Batman changes that and gives us not only a new take on the Caped Crusader, but seeds the world for the development of dozens of other characters and stories over the next decade.
2. She-Hulk When this series was originally announced, it certainly wasn’t one at the top of my list of projects about which I was excited. However, as I’ve learned more about it during development and production, I have become incredibly excited about it. It sounds, to me, like the most different thing Kevin Feige and The Parliament have attempted so far and I have continued to hear nothing but praise for Tatiana Maslany’s performance. It also sounds like it’ll set up some of the stories fans have wanted to see told in the MCU for a while now and really dive into what it means to be a Hulk.
3. Obi-Wan Kenobi This sounds like the kind of series we don’t need because we already know how Kenobi’s story ends. But the same could have been and was said about Rouge One, which now stands as one of the best modern Star Wars productions. As a kid, I always wondered what Kenobi got up to in that old hut and what all that stuff was. Now I am just a few months away from finding out.
Hunter Radesi
1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part 1) Must I really explain this? Into the Spider-Verse remains the greatest comic book film of all the time, and I have immensely high hopes for the sequel. Bring on Miguel O’Hara!
2. Moon Knight What can I say? I’ve got a type, and it’s Oscar Isaac. Hopefully the actor will be able to deliver a truly unique and unforgettable performance as one of Marvel’s strangest “good guys”. That teaser alone was enough to get my gears going.
3. The Boys, Season 3 I would die for Frenchie. And I can’t wait to see this season give him a truly positive storyline where nothing bad happens. That’s what’s going to happen, right? Right??
Joao Pinto
1. The Last of Us I distinctly remember playing The Last Us for the first time in 2013 and feeling a bit underwhelmed, perhaps because I wasn’t patient enough to let the game hit its stride. When I gave it the time it needed, it became one of my favorite videogame/cinematic experiences ever. The Last of Us: Part II doubled down on it and has now been thoroughly recognized as the masterpiece it is. With Neil Druckmann (writer) and Gustavo Santaolalla (composer) being back for the TV adaptation, I cannot wait to see what they have to offer this time around. The incredible cast featuring the likes of Pedro Pascal, Ana Torv, Bella Ramsey, and Nick Offerman make it hard not to expect it to become a classic adaptation in the making.
2. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Part One) Even with the latest Spider-Man MCU entry being recognized as a major cinematic achievement by critics and fans alike, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse remains, in my book, the best ever Spidey-flick. With Phil Lord and Christopher Miller reunited in writing the screenplay (Miller was only a producer in the original feature), and with the idea of pushing the visual boundries even further, keeping audiences just as flabbergasted and enthralled as in 2018, how can we all not be expecting something equally special and unique? Speaking of in-theater cinematic experiences this might be my most anticipated project of them all.
3. Moon Knight In what concerns the super-hero genre (if there even is such a thing) 2022 will bring us a number of projects bringing back familiar characters already introduced previously. With this in mind, Moon Knight stands out both because it will bring us a fresh take on a character that has yet to make its live-action debut but also because of the talent involved. Oscar Isaac has been one of the most interesting actors to follow for the past few years and his take on the multifaceted titular character might end evolving into a top-tier Marvel performance. And by bringing Ethan Hawke into the MCU, working opposite Isaac, we are surely getting one of the most riveting Marvel Disney+ shows, performance wise, to date.
John Sabato
1. The Batman Everything we’ve seen from the film has been absolute stunning, from the casting to the cinematography and score it’s shaping up to be the definitive Batman film.
2. Black Adam At first, I would’ve aked “why would we need a Black Adam movie?” but I think everything we’ve heard and seen is incredibly exciting. The big screen debut of the Justice Society is what really has me amped as they’re my favorite team in comics.
3. She-Hulk Possibly one of my favorite marvel characters next to Ghost Rider and Black Bolt, the show looks to be something very special and unique. I’m excited to see Tatiana Maslany bring Jennifer Walters to life.
With Peacemaker just under a week away, stills and promotional materials are coming out featuring some of the characters. One of those characters is Judomaster. Given James Gunn’s affinity for lesser-known comic characters, it’s no surprise that Judomaster fits right into his vision. But who is Judomaster? Don’t fret, we have you covered.
Judomaster, played by Nhut Le
Created in 1965, Judomaster’s real name is Hadley “Rip” Jagger. He is a World War II vet and appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #6. Judomaster has undergone three reboots with different people taking up the helm. While Judomaster wasn’t originally a DC Comics character, the character was bought by the company in 1965 and he made his debut in Special War Series #4 shortly after inception.
Nhut Le stars as the aforementioned hero joining John Cena‘s Peacemaker. Appearing as Judomaster in Peacemaker is Nhut Le’s first major role as an actor. Previously, he’s appeared in Kroll Show and Raven’s Home. With the role of Judomaster, Le is poised for a breakout with James Gunn and John Cena at his side.
As the name implies, Judomaster is a master of Judo which is the Japanese art of throwing people, or as people in the Judo circle refer to it as: “The art of hitting someone with a planet.” Readers can get a feel for judo in the below video, highlighting three-time Olympic judoka champion, Teddy Riner.
But Judomaster isn’t as one-dimensional as his name implies. In addition to Judo, Judomaster is adept in karate and boxing, making him a very formidable person to fight. He can be seen punching, throwing and chopping his way through guerilla insurgents in the Martial Law series. So when you tune into Peacemaker on January 17th, expect some high-flying action à la Bruce Lee. Judomaster, should he live up to his name, will be a hero with no real superpower, only specialization in hand-to-hand combat.
What to expect?
What can fans expect from the titular hero? Well, as mentioned above, Judomaster isn’t a one-trick pony. He is a master in hand-to-hand combat. With a martial arts background, I expect to see a very Bruce Lee-esque approach to his choreography, but with a peppering of Gunn’s hint of violence: a hot-tempered fighter with a huge enthusiasm for violence.
The Lee influence will likely borderline on parody in this series knowing Gunn. In many martial arts, there’s the risk of injury, but Gunn will likely lean into this to keep the tone and violence levels similar to The Suicide Squad.
Te-Gutuma
If you’re looking for the Judo influence, I fully expect to see the Te-Guruma implemented. The Te-Guruma, as seen in the above image, involves picking your opponent up and slamming them upside down. This throw, also popular in MMA and freestyle wrestling, is especially dangerous when improperly (or properly in Judomaster’s case) implemented. You can easily slam your opponent on their head or the back of their neck causing severe spinal damage.
Osoto Gari
One other throw that you can almost bet on is the Osoto Gari. The Osoto Gari involves getting close to your opponent and sweeping the legs from under them while pushing their torso down. Modified, Judomaster will likely push on the head, smashing the skull to the hard surface. The technique can also be seen in the drawing above.
Ronda Rousey applying an armbar
One more judo technique, which is more common in Jiu-Jitsu, I expect to see is an armbar. This stretches the arm across the hips and hyperextending the elbow which is very painful. But if not tapped or, what is likely in Judomaster’s case, continued torque, will break the arm — something that seems likely in Peacemaker.
Don’t miss out on the violence when Peacemaker debuts on Jan. 17th. Oh, what a lovely day!
Fans have long looked forward to the latest Star Wars Disney Plus streaming series, The Book of Boba Fett. The first tease for the show, glimpsed at the end of Season 2 of The Mandalorian, and subsequent footage shown in trailers seemed to promise big action as Fett took over the organized crime scene on Tatooine. Fans were excited about seeing what Fett would do next and hype was high. And yet, through two episodes, we’ve seen very little action in the present day and the slow, deliberate pace of the flashbacks have left fans unsure of to think.
“The Book of Boba Fett doesn’t have an identity yet.” “The Book of Boba Fett is unsure of what kind of show it wants to be.” “The Book of Boba Fett has yet to find its footing.” These types of reactions provided a decent summary of some of the particular criticisms of the series so far. And from the standpoint of the audience, they are fair criticisms; however, what became clear after viewing Chapter 2, “The Tribes of Tatooine”, is that the creatives behind this show (Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Robert Rodriguez) know exactly what they want the show to be and, per usual, are making no bones about it.
While fans are understandably eager to see Fett kick all sorts of ass, the creatives have a different angle in mind, at least in these first two episodes. As fans, including myself, have complained about how we could easily put the pieces together of how Fett got back on his feet following his escape from the Sarlacc, what is being overlooked, by some, is that what we are getting is a story that redefines a character that we never really knew much about in the first place. When he swooped in and reclaimed his armor in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, fans of the character took to social media cheering the return of the character. “Boba is back, baby!!” But the reality being presented to us is quite different: Boba is not back. And since we never really knew Boba, we’re getting the opportunity to get to know him now.
It was a bold choice by the creatives to deconstruct the character the way they did. They literally stripped him bare of what made him iconic and did so in order to be able to tell us a better story down the road. His escape from the Sarlacc, subsequent stripping down by the Jawas and the ongoing story with the Tuskens will, when it’s done, be the defining period of this new Fett. His time with the Tuskens is growing more interesting over time and the experiences he’s having there will shape him into the man we see in the present day.
We’ve seen him symbolically reborn and deconstructed and what we’re witnessing now is the creation of essentially an entirely new character. He may wear the familiar armor, but this is not the same old Boba. The Book of Boba Fett is not here to continue the story of the iconic bounty hunter, told nicely over the years in the canonical animated series, it’s here to define the character anew.
The wildly successful release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Marvel Studios’ current interest in the multiverse, has brought the attention of fans back to the superhero franchises that started it all. Most specifically is Sam Raimi‘s iconic trilogy featuring the famous wall-crawler, which has now seen its leading man Tobey Maguire don the webbed mask once more alongside successors Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland. With an insane, unknown cinematic future in store for the heroes of the many Marvel universes, the doors for more potential returns have been flung wide open. Of course, if Maguirewere to come back for another ride, the continued story of his Peter Parker would have to be far different than originally intended.
As was pointed out in my previous recap of Garfield’s unproduced cinematic future, both former web-heads have seemingly aged past the point of their stories picking up where they left off. Luckily for fans of the original Raimiprojects, very little was revealed about Maguire’s take on Parker post-Spider-Man 3. Therefore, it feels entirely plausible that some of what was planned for the character actually ended up happening. While we may never know exactly what that was, a collection of interviews from the era before The Amazing Spider-Man may have given us a good idea at some of the concepts Raimiand company had in mind for their ensuing films.
It makes sense to start with what is known with absolute certainty. Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 would have featured the title hero clashing with the Vulture, a winged foe portrayed by the great John Malkovich. While this casting was never confirmed by the studio, the actor himself revealed he’d been tapped for the role in two separate interviews. Once before production was cancelled, and again after the movie fell apart. The film also would have introduced Anne Hathaway as Felicia Hardy, a character who was originally rumored to be altered in a way that allowed her to become “The Vultress” instead of her classic Black Cat alter ego. However, Raimihimself later debunked this in an interview with, ironically, Vulture.
Aside from these castings and character introductions, not much is known about the actual plot of Spider-Man 4. When we last saw Tobey’s Pete, he was attempting to mend his broken relationship with Kirsten Dunst‘s Mary Jane Watson. The inclusion of Felicia Hardy in the next movie plausibly indicates that the friction between Peter and MJ would continue. Spider-Man and the Black Cat have a long romantic history in the comics, so the character was likely added to the film as another Gwen Stacy-esque foil for the Peter/MJ plotline.
Thanks to concept artist Jeffrey Henderson, we also know that the movie would have given us some intense, high-flying battles between Spider-Man and Vulture. Hendersonreleased a series of early concepts on his website, which show Spidey and his enemy dueling atop the buildings of New York and using stone gargoyles as weapons. The artist explained that the intent was to make Vulture the fiercest force Peter had encountered yet:
The thing we kept coming back to was that, as a character, everyone was going to dismiss the Vulture as just an old guy in a silly green suit. So we wanted to go the opposite way and really make him the most fearsome and formidable adversary that Spider-Man had faced in the series.
Jeffrey Henderson
Hendersonalso dropped the news that Spider-Man 4 would have opened with a montage canonizing several lower-class villains from the comics. This included a reveal that Bruce Campbell, who made several cameos throughout the series, was actually Quentin Beck, a.k.a. Mysterio:
…a montage of C and D-list villains that we knew would never be used as main antagonists: Mysterio, the Shocker, the Prowler, the old school-onesie-wearing version of the Rhino, maybe even the Stilt Man, etc.
Jeffrey Henderson
Some supposed leaked script treatments claim the film would have seen Adrian Toomes replace J. Jonah Jameson as editor of the Daily Bugle and team-up with Electro, before ending with Peter giving up the Spider-Man mantle (again). Unfortunately, none of this can be backed up, and is likely untrue. Though, had Peter actually given up his crime-fighting identity, it certainly would have been one way to end the hero’s story, as Raimi initially intended to conclude the franchise with his fourth film:
I was very unhappy with Spider-Man 3, and I wanted to make Spider-Man 4 to end on a very high note, the best Spider-Man of them all.
Sony Pictures is going to be making many more ‘Spider-Man’ pictures. I just don’t know what [my] future holds yet… But if it’s a great story and Sony will bring me back to the screen, I would love to…
Sam Raimi
Should Raimihave returned, it’s likely his villain for Spider-Man 5 would have been a familiar face. Dylan Baker portrayed Dr. Curt Connors in small appearances over the course of the previous films, and both he and Raimihad made it known there was an interest in bringing his transformation into the Lizard to life on screen. The concept had originally been batted around for Spider-Man 2 before the director settled on Doctor Octopus as the film’s antagonist. The idea made it as far as the concept stage, with official art eventually making its way online. Many people, including Bakerhimself, believed the story would make a great fit for Spider-Man 4, which he explained to IGN in 2007:
…we’re hoping it’s not too far down the line! I’ll be trying to get on the Lizard costume when I’m 80…it’s like, just open that door up… I’m ready to go!
I love Dylan Baker as a person, and I really like the character he is developing. The Lizard is probably one of my favorite characters. But [‘Spider-Man 4’] will probably have to start with the central journey of the main character to arrive at the proper villain.
Sam Raimi
After being pushed out of two movies, it feels right that Bakerwould finally get the chance to play Lizard in a fifth Spider-Man entry. After all, Raimihad discussed his hope of adapting the Lizard origin on more than one occasion. At one time speaking with MTV about rumored Spider-Man 4 villains, Raimiexpressed admiration for Lizard while dispelling the popular fan theory that Carnage would appear to capitalize on Venom’s role in the previous film:
I love the Lizard… There’s a great story there in the Marvel comic books about Dr. Connors. I’m less familiar with Carnage.
Sam Raimi
So, with Vulture and Black Cat in 4 and Lizard in 5, that leaves Spider-Man 6 as the ultimate unanswered question. I will include a disclaimer that the following is almost entirely conjecture, but natural storytelling and a specific quote from Raimi’s past could help the average detective guess what the film would entail. In the same interview where he mentioned loving Lizard and first name-dropped Vulture, the director mentioned only two other villain prospects he’d like to adapt:
I would love to see Electro…maybe the Sinister Six as a team.
Sam Raimi
One may wonder how these characters could make their way into the RaimiSpider-Man finale. The answer is a famed comic from the 1980s, known as The Wedding! The biggest through-line between all of the series’ films is the relationship between Peter and MJ. It would have made sense, should Raimihave wanted to definitively conclude his story, that the Spider-Man saga end with Maguire and Dunstfinally ending up together and tying the knot. Now, in the pages of said comic, who does Spider-Man do battle with before his big day? You guessed it! Electro.
After defeating Electro, the rest of The Wedding! has Peter fearing for MJ’s life as he remembers all of the dastardly foes he’s encountered over the years. Spider-Man 6 could have easily made this literal if it had Electro join forces with surviving members of Peter’s rogue’s gallery after losing his initial duel with Spider-Man. I can’t think of a better way to end the Spider-Man saga than the Sinister Six threatening to end Peter’s marriage before it even begins.
Continuing with The Mandalorian‘s season 2 tradition of bringing into live-action Star Wars characters first introduced in another medium, The Book of Boba FettChapter 2 brought us the Wookie bounty hunter Black Krrsantan. Unlike Bo-Katan, Cobb Vanth, and Ahsoka Tano who either made their first appearances in animated form or in a novel, Black Krrsantan was first introduced in a comic book, 2015’s Darth Vader #1, back when Marvel Comics relaunched its Star Wars line.
It was there that Vader, doubting the Emperor’s true intentions following the events of A New Hope, requested that Jabba The Hut loaned him his two most reliable bounty hunters so that he could use them to conduct two separate investigations, without the Emperor’s knowledge. The two names brought forward were none other than Black Krrsantan and Boba Fett. While Fett was tasked with tracking down the rebel pilot responsible for the destruction of the Death Star, Black Krrsantan is ordered to find and capture an agent of the Emperor himself.
Throughout his comic book appearances, he crossed paths with a number of legacy characters besides Fett, including Ben Kenobi on the sands of Tatooine. At one time, tasked with the mission to capture Luke, he even crashed into the Millenium Falcon which lead to him meeting up with Han Solo, C-3PO, R2-D2, and eventually even fighting Chewbacca. But what eventually turned out to be one of his most meaningful connections to another character was his relationship with human female archaeologist Chelli Aphra, a.k.a. Doctor Aphra.
Aphra was also recruited by Darth Vader after the Battle of Yavin, unlike Black Krrsantan, perhaps due to her strong(er) moral compass, soon found herself running from the Sith Lord following his attempt to end her life after she was no longer of use. Black Krrsantan played an important role in all of this since it was him that managed to save Aphra only because she owed him money and letting her die was, simply put, a bad investment. He then stayed with her for a while, expecting her to comply with his demands and pay her due.
All through his chronicled adventures, Black Krrsantan has always presented himself as a ruthless and fierce warrior, and with his live-action debut apparently putting him up against the mighty Boba Fett, his former partner in crime, we are perhaps due a fight for the ages. If his presence in The Book of Boba Fett may open the door to a few other live-action character introductions, that remains to be seen. But even if Doctor Aphra might be seen as a long shot, characters like Triple-Zero and BT-1 who also have a history with the Wookie gladiator would also be extremely welcomed additions to live-action Star Wars.
Recent rumors have sent fans of the DCEU into a bit of a crisis, pun intended. At the center of recent controversy is the fate of the Justice League within the shared universe and just what the team roster will look like in future appearances. Luckily the DC Extended Universe continues to grow and offers plenty of prime candidates who’ve joined the team in the pages of the comics and could eventually become a member in live-action.
Honorable Mention: Hawkgirl
The only reason Hawkgirl did not make the actual list is due to the uncertainness surrounding the character in the DCEU. The existence of Carter Hall, aka Hawkman, would point to Shiera Sanders Hall existing somewhere within the greater DC Universe. The character is a current member of the Infinite Frontier Justice League line-up and played a prominent role in the Justice League The Animated Series in which she was quite the fan-favorite character.
5. Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz
Both cuts of Justice League confirm that Green Lanterns do indeed exist in the DCEU however the corps has been AWOL and yet to make an appearance in the present day. Both Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz will make their live-action debuts in the upcoming Green Lantern series on HBO Max, and while the status of the series canonicity in the DCEU is still up in the air, the two would make great additions to the league. The pair joined the league in the place of Hal Jordan and Jon Stewart upon the beginning of DC’s Rebirth storyline and have been present in the DC Universe ever since.
4. Shazam
Billy Batson is probably one of the most beloved characters in the DCEU with one of the best films; of course, he’s a viable candidate for the Justice League, especially with how the Shazam! ended. Rumors surrounding the future of the team state that he could very well indeed be one of the newest members. The character has been a come-and-go member of the team since the launch of the New 52 and has been a popular addition ever since.
3. Zatanna
Zatanna is in a similar situation to Hawkgirl, but we actually know for a fact that the character is coming with a solo film in the works from academy award-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennel. While the character will most likely be a member of the Justice League Dark, this doesn’t exactly keep her from the Justice League. If Constantine leads the JLD and Doctor Fate represents magic on the JSA, Zatanna should have a place on the JL as she’s quite a powerful magic user and the league lacks someone that specializes in that.
2. Martian Manhunter
A character who was there at the very beginning, Martian Manhunter is a founding member of the Justice League and should be a member of the team. He possesses a variety of different abilities and powers that make him worthy of a spot on the team. In recent years, the character has taken a bit of a backseat, with Cyborg taking his spot on the team when the New 52 came around. The character was only revealed to exist and be General Swanwick in Zack Snyder’s Justice League which isn’t technically canon to the mainline DCEU, but the character could still find a place in the DCEU and on the League in a post-Flash universe.
1. Black Canary
Jurnee Smollett’s debut as Dinah Lance in Birds of Prey was praised by fans for her portrayal of the character, and people instantly craved more of the character. Jurnee is set to return as the character in her own solo film, as well as rumored to appear in Batgirl. The character is usually seen on the team alongside Green Arrow, who has yet to make an appearance in the DCEU, but existence is sure due to a graphic image featuring Lexcorps corporate rivals listing Queen Industries. What we’ve seen from Dinah so far has proved she can hold her own and harnesses a killer canary cry. With Jurnee wracking up a few more appearances and quickly becoming a prominent character in the DCEU, a spot on the league is what she deserves.
The DC universe is vast and full of plenty of diverse and beloved characters and while things may feel familiar it’s also important to welcome a bit of change. The Justice League is a team that’s gone back decades and featured an ever-expanding and transitioning roster of characters so these additions wouldn’t feel out of the ordinary.
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