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  • New Spider-Man Suit Featured in Latest ‘No Way Home’ Teaser

    New Spider-Man Suit Featured in Latest ‘No Way Home’ Teaser

    It looks like spoilers are fair game, as the official Spider-Man: No Way Home account has shared the official first look at the new suit featured in the film’s ending sequence. After going through the multiversal madness, Peter creates a new suit on his own merits that pays tribute to the original design the character is famous for, as it focuses on the red-blue from the comics that many tend to call his “classic suit.” It is briefly showcased in the opening of the new trailer, which you can check out here:

    The design is probably one of the film’s best, which is filled with some great designs as Peter moves on from his Stark suit era. We don’t know if his eyes will move as they did before, but it would seem unlikely they’d move away from the expressiveness it provided to the character stuck behind a mask. We also don’t get a good look if he started creating any elements to add his arsenal in combat against thugs across New York City. We are moving into a new era for the MCU’s take on the character and perhaps we’ll get a bit more straightforward version, who mainly relies on his web-shooters and agility moving forward. It’s an exciting new era and with a fourth entry on the way, it’ll be exciting to see what the future has ready for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Studios Calls ‘Hawkeye’s Upcoming Episode a “Season” Not Series Finale

    Marvel Studios Calls ‘Hawkeye’s Upcoming Episode a “Season” Not Series Finale

    A new and potentially final poster has dropped ahead of the release of Hawkeye‘s finale. It shows off most of the main players outside of the returning Kingpin, who is still purposely held in the shadows even though we got a glimpse at him in a photograph. Yet, there’s a rather curious detail in the Instagram post, as it includes the rather curious detail that this is, in fact, a “season finale” and not a series finale.

    The season finale of Marvel Studios’ @HawkeyeOfficial starts streaming tomorrow on @DisneyPlus

    There are no set rules in what series gets a continuation over at Disney+. Not every show requires a follow-up season, as WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier were never given a greenlight. The first time we got any confirmation was during the post-credit sequence of Loki. What If…? was renewed ahead of its release and only hinted at during interviews. Some time ago, we even got a hint for the upcoming She-Hulk series, whose first season still has no release date.

    While calling it a “season finale” doesn’t directly confirm that we’ll get a second season of Hawkeye, but there are many plot threads that have the potential to become the center of a second season, especially if we continue exploring Kate Bishop’s journey. Our very own Hunter Radesi has explored the potential of a second season, which you can check out here.

  • James Gunn Confirms Weekly Release for ‘PEACEMAKER’

    James Gunn Confirms Weekly Release for ‘PEACEMAKER’

    The DCEU may be dead-silent following the release of last summer’s The Suicide Squad but 2022 is set to open with a loud bang as Peacemaker debuts on January 13th. In the face of that anticipated release, there has been some question regarding the series’ release format, whether it would be a weekly affair or a Netflix-style binge release. Series creator and director James Gunn confirmed on Twitter that the show would follow a weekly release after the season premiere on HBO Max.

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1473335583430758403?t=OYpqEmnYBFCCuVMaRxadBg&s=19

    Just like how the Marvel Studios Disney+ shows are dominating on social media on a weekly basis, it isn’t surprising to see HBO Max opt the same for their first major DCEU series. Fans will have a lot to chew on with the hefty 3-episode premiere on January 13th, followed by more 5 weeks of action-packed hilarity starring John Cena. MCU fans will have to wait until they get some Marvel content so this will have to do.

  • ‘Hawkeye’ Finale Primer

    ‘Hawkeye’ Finale Primer

    The latest episode of Hawkeye was the most revealing one yet. Kate and Yelena had a great girls’ night leading to Kate finding out that Yelena was hired to kill Clint…but by who? This question is answered in the final minute of the show: Eleanor Bishop! Clint reveals to Maya that he is Ronin and that he was tipped off by an informant, hired by her boss, who was revealed to be Kingpin. The informant is no other than Kazi. Maya learns this quickly and this might result in a fight in this last episode.

    Some of the biggest things that haveto happen in this next episode are Kate confronting her mom about being essentially the bad guy in this whole thing. And then we have the Kingpin issue at hand; he is obviously going to be a problem for Maya. We also still have Yelena coming after Clint. And he has to get home for Christmas. All of these things have to wrap up seeing that this is the last episode.

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    How Spider-Man: No Way Home's Ending Connects to Hawkeye's Finale

    At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, we see Peter swinging over the Rink at Rockefeller Center, the location where the big, final fight is supposed to happen in Hawkeye. As cool as it would be to see Spidey join the fight, if he is in the show for too long it would take the focus off of Clint and Kate’s stories. Now that Maya knows that Kazi helped get her father killed, she’ll be looking to put a hurting on him. She will also want to get back at Kingpin, but I don’t think that Kingpin is going to make too big of an impact in the finale because the last thing he wants to do is be openly associated with criminals. I think he’ll be back in a bigger role in another series. Eleanor is going to end up in jail leaving Kate all by herself and, after everything Kate has done for Clint, I think she’ll be joining him as he makes it home just in time for the Barton family Christmas.

    The final episode of Hawkeye streams tomorrow!

  • How the ‘Hawkeye’ Finale Could Set Up a Second Season

    How the ‘Hawkeye’ Finale Could Set Up a Second Season

    There are no rules for which Marvel Studios’ Disney+ series will get a second season or not. As the big Hawkeye finale draws closer, it’s beginning to feel like there may be too many loose strings left to tie in only a single episode. A startling cliffhanger in this week’s penultimate adventure opened yet another door for the series to explore. Kate Bishop’s mother Eleanor was revealed as a confidant for the infamous Wilson Fisk and the latest employer of Florence Pugh‘s Black Widow. With this new information in mind, it seems more likely than ever that the show could be headed towards a surprise renewal in the same vein as fellow MCU series, Loki. If that happens, it looks like the seeds could have already been planted for the plot to end up resembling a continuation of the My Life as a Weapon comics, as it already borrows much of its story from.

    In the comic continuation, Clint and Kate’s New York City exploits are followed by a period in which Bishop switches coasts for a dalliance with her own independence. The younger Hawkeye moves to Los Angeles after a falling out with Clint, where she’s cut off from her family’s wealth and begins living a brand-new lifestyle as a “half-superhero, half-private eye”. While living on the West Coast, Kate comes into contact with the villainous Madame Masque, who is attempting to expose the sins of Barton’s past via possession of a scandalous videotape. Now, it may currently seem like a stretch for Hawkeye to set this entire plotline up in only a single remaining episode, but one could argue it’s already done most of the leg work throughout its first season.

    Last year, we got hints that Hawkeye would feature Madame Masque in some capacity. At this point in time, the scoop seems to have proven false. However, it would only take one revelatory scene in the finale to surprise fans and divulge that the comic villain has actually been in the series all along. Eleanor Bishop checks a lot of the boxes when it comes to Masque’s background in the comics. Much like Whitney Frost, Vera Farmiga plays an intelligent, attractive socialite who becomes engaged to a charming and well-liked man of high regard. Also, like Frost, Eleanor is apparently the secret brains behind a criminal conspiracy that wants Clint Barton dead. A simple accident or fight-gone-wrong would take only a moment of the show’s time, and could quickly give Farmiga‘s character the facial scarring and identifying golden mask that the Madame is so well known for.

    If her mother were to go full-on supervillain, it would only be logical for Kate to cut things off and leave the city with her dog to take some distance from her mother’s activity. There, without her family’s wealth or influence, she could be forced to make do with the two talents we’ve seen her use the most throughout the first season of Hawkeye: her skill with a bow and her knack for private investigation. The hypothetical second season of the series could then follow a similar story as the comics. Kate is running across the country to Los Angeles with a chip on her shoulder and the goal of bringing down Madame Masque. With the way the current episodes are trending, the videotape from the pages of Fraction and Aja‘s comics could even come into play. Perhaps Eleanor comes into possession of footage that proves Clint’s history as Ronin, giving both Kate and Clint extra reason to take her down.

    Moving Kate to L.A. would also bring her closer to Cassie Lang, her comic book friend and Young Avengers teammate based in San Francisco. Recent rumors have claimed Bishop might even be in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and this potential development might give her a reason to be in the neighborhood. Clint’s identity as Ronin being exposed and any additional threats to his family could also be a reason for him to uproot and head towards the West Coast, enabling him to appear in the second season and possibly set up a fan-favorite Avengers plotline that Jeremy Renner himself has expressed interest in adapting. All will be revealed when the final episode of Hawkeye drops on December 22nd.

    Source: The DisInsider

  • REVIEW: ‘The Witcher’ 2.01, ‘A Grain of Truth’

    REVIEW: ‘The Witcher’ 2.01, ‘A Grain of Truth’

    After an incredibly popular first season, The Witcher Season 2 has finally hit Netflix, continuing the story of Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer. When we last left the continent, we witnessed Yennefer join the fight against the Nilfgardians in the battle of sodden, using every ounce of chaos to conjure a blaze so strong it sends Nilfgard into retreat. The biggest moment comes when Geralt is stumbling through the woods, injured by a beast, and finally meets the one he’s been sworn to protect, Princess Ciri.

    This season picks up right as the battle of Sodden concludes, and the battlefield lays riddled with corpses, Yennefer is nowhere to be seen. Ciri and Geralt are continuing onward but get caught up in a storm, and decide to detour an old friend of Geralt’s, and head to Nivellens Manor.

    A dynamic many were looking forward to being introduced is brought to life here, with Ciri and Geralt finally united. It’s a promising and much-needed addition to the series. Ciri offers a great opposite to Geralt’s steely and stone-cold demeanor, but she’s also able to relate to him, with her proving that Geralt’s got a bit of soft-side, even if he’s bound by an oath to protect her.

    Henry Cavill’s dedication to the role of Geralt is another shining gold star for the series, with absolutely stellar casting. While he may seem a bit one-note, this season looks to explore the layers of the character, with Freya Allan’s Ciri playing a pivotal role in that.

    Nivellen is quite the eccentric and welcoming host, with Kristofer Hivju delivering a magical, Tormund-Esque, performance under all those prosthetics. However the entire thing just feels off, it feels like Nivellen is hiding something, no matter how many magical tricks he can pull to distract Ciri, you feel as if Geralt never really trusts him, as Nivellen’s cursed appearance really put him on edge, this wasn’t the same Nivellen he’d met all those years ago.

    The series is very obvious in its mistrust of Nivellen, with the cursed man harboring a Bruxxa named Vereena, responsible for countless deaths. For his crimes, he was cursed to never be able to love, presumably turning him into that beast once he’d fallen for Vereena, but he didn’t care cause she’d loved him either way. This felt like an obvious play on Beauty and the Beast, except the roles are swapped and this time around both of them were the beast. It’s not until the curtain is pulled back and Nivellen’s curse is broken that it really works, when it’s revealed that Nivellen was cured due to raping a priestess, it’s hard to sympathize with a man who’d just lost the one thing that loved him, and it feels like a callback to earlier in the episode when Nivellen had asked Geralt how he was not heartbroken following Yennefer’s presumed death, with Geralt responding, “Who says I’m not?” It feels like Geralt is beginning to scratch the surface of showing emotion, having lost the good person he’d once seen in Nivellen and considered a close friend.

    Perhaps the weakest part of this episode is whatever they’re trying to do with Yennefer. All we see is her locked up in chains under the watch of Fringilla and a few surviving Nilfgardians. Where episode 1 leaves Yennefer promises something surely more interesting than her just pacing around the woods for an hour.

    While this was a bit of a slower start to what will, hopefully, be an eventful season, it was a good starting point for our characters. I look forward to seeing the relationship between Geralt and Ciri progress, and how Ciri learns to hone her abilities. I hope to see storylines come together by the end of the season, with Yennefer and Geralt finally reuniting.

  • Brian Michael Bendis Developing ‘Legion of Super-Heroes’ Show for HBO Max

    Brian Michael Bendis Developing ‘Legion of Super-Heroes’ Show for HBO Max

    HBO Max has ordered comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis to develop a Legion of Super-Heroes series.

    The news was revealed by Bendis himself.

    Per Bendis, the series is still in the very early stages of development. However, it is being developed as an adult animated series. He confirms he’s been working on it for a while now, but it has officially entered the next phase – although, he doesn’t necessarily specify exactly which phase.

    Bendis explained that he’s a die-hard Legion fan and asked to reveal the news to his followers, as he knows Legion fans don’t get news all that frequently. However, as he advises, things are early on meaning the project could be a ways out yet. He did, however, note that the adaptation will be based on the Legion of Super-Heroes title by Ryan Sook and Bendis.

    “And just like that series, on sale now, it will harken back to so many classics while at the same time doing what Legion does: pushing all the ideas of superheroes forward in every direction,” he writes. “I think Legion of superheroes is among the greatest franchises in the history of comics and I’m as honored to be curating them as I was Spider-Man.”

    Bendis warns fans because of how long animation takes, it’s doubtful news will surface about the title for a while. “Animation takes a loooong time so you may not hear anything about this for a while as I’m just getting to work on it over the break.”

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Artwork Offers Closer Look at Classic Villains Updated Designs

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Artwork Offers Closer Look at Classic Villains Updated Designs

    Spider-Man: No Way Home has been breaking records at the international box office. It builds upon the previous two film entries and continues the journey of Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker, while also paying tribute to what came before. Villains from the previous Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man franchises make a grand return, but with a twist. Marvel Studios and Sony have given these familiar faces a new look to highlight the meeting of old and new. Luckily, it seems that artwork has found its way online showcasing the details behind these new takes on familiar faces.

    Let’s start off with the first confirmed return, which was Alfred Molina‘s Doctor Octopus. His design has mainly remained the same, especially as Marvel Studios used their de-aging technology to make you believe that they are continuing their journey from the moment they were about to die.

    Doc-Ock No Way Home

    We also have the updated look at Green Goblin, as Willem Dafoe drops the mask for the iconic purple scarf, but just in the form of a ripped-up sweater. He still has his iconic green suit underneath, which ties the elements and adds a bit more usage to it.

    Green Goblin No Way Home

    Next up is Thomas Haden Church‘s return as Sandman, who spends most of the time in his sand form. We get a brief appearance of the actor at the end.

    Sandman No Way Home

    The Lizard makes a return from The Amazing Spider-Man and remains mostly the same. They sadly didn’t update his humanoid-reptile face, but it’s still a design that many fans of the film will be happy to see return.

    Lizard No Way Home

    Last, but certainly not least, Jamie Foxx returned as a very different take on Elektro. He’s gone through the most changes and they managed to find the perfect balance to make it work, especially with the nice touch that electricity creates his iconic mask.

    Electro No Way Home

    These are some great designs and it makes you wonder if they ever considered changing more elements as production was underway. You never know how much has changed once they get into the draft phase, which may never see the light of day.

    Source: Marvel via The Direct

  • Keanu Reeves Offers Update on Talks with Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige

    Keanu Reeves Offers Update on Talks with Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige

    John Wick and The Matrix‘s Keanu Reeves has been actively talking about his hope of joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe one day. We heard that there were talks between him and Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige but it was uncertain what has come of them. Luckily, Phase Zero’s Brandon Davis had the chance to sit down with the actor during his press tour for The Matrix Resurrections, where he revealed that they’ve indeed had talks but that they “don’t have it yet” and they “got to find something.” He is still actively working towards a potential role and

    If they still haven’t found the right role as of yet, it might still be quite some time before we see Reeves join the franchise at some point. There was a point when Sony wanted him to tackle the role for the upcoming Kraven the Hunter spinoff series, but it seems unlikely he’ll join a Marvel project that doesn’t involve Feige, who spearheads the MCU. He has been a popular pick to take on the role of Ghost Rider, but it’s uncertain how committed he’d want to be while also juggling his other franchises. Here’s hoping they find the right character sooner rather than later.

    Source: Twitter

  • Peter Parker Paid the Ultimate Price in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Peter Parker Paid the Ultimate Price in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Spider-Man No Way Home was an epic movie that oozed emotion, stakes, and fan service. The cameos – especially the appearances of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire – took us all the way back to the beginning. It felt gratifying, satisfying, and like a warm blanket to the current cold world. However, going into this movie a question could be posited. Was Tom Holland’s Peter Parker given a proper story arc in this nostalgia-driven spectacle?

    The ending of Far From Home was the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. Peter Parker’s identity was exposed by Mysterio to the world and he’s left dealing with the consequences. A story like that could’ve gone so many directions. They even had plans at one point to make this about him being hunted by Kraven the Hunter. They could’ve had a rematch with the Vulture, as Scorpion joins the fray. Those would’ve been fun to see, and Peter’s story could be told in a much more straightforward manner. Make no mistake, No Way Home is a yeoman’s effort. It massages our curiosity but when it’s all said and done the mission is to remind us why we love Spider-Man.

    This trilogy has been about Peter Parker understanding what it means to be a superhero. In Homecoming, it’s about wanting it all too quickly after tussling with the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. He causes a calamity and realizes he’s better off staying close to home. In Far From Home, he wants to take a break. It’s certainly understandable after fighting Thanos and losing his mentor figure with the death of Tony Stark. He skirts his responsibility and pays the price as Quentin Beck betrays him. It’s those words though. The price. Peter Parker pays the ultimate price in No Way Home.

    The distress of seeing what his identity reveals does to the people around him, specifically MJ and Ned, drives Peter to find a quick fix. He goes to Dr. Strange who’s all too happy to help. The young hero believes that everyone should forget he’s Spider-Man. Of course, then realizing that it shouldn’t be everyone. In trying to tweak the spell, Peter and Strange end up breaking the multiverse wide open. This isn’t some simple mistake, in fact it’s the mistake that turns out to be the final journey of the Peter we’ve come to know and love across his journey in the MCU.

    In trying to hastily fix things instead of facing them head-on Peter loses. It’s such a Peter Parker story, and it’s why we relate to the character. He is us. It’s totally human to want a life with the girl he loves and his best friend. Yet, at the same time, he’s more than that. He is Spider-Man.

    Later, as all the villains from Spider-Man’s cinematic past come through, it almost feels like a ghosts from Christmas past story. These villains are here to show him the way in a metaphorical sense. His first instinct, and the one echoed by Strange, is the logical thing to do, send them back to their world. In dealing with Norman Osborn, Aunt May contends that Peter must help them. What then ensues is the push and pull between doing the right thing and the practical thing. Especially once reality sinks in that their fate’s back at home isn’t going to end nicely.

    When Peter attempts to heal the villains, it does feel like the right thing to do, especially in how it stands in contrast to Dr. Strange’s view on the matter. We live in a world where there are plenty of people who end up on a dark path but there’s always a reason for it. Circumstances dictate things sometimes as much if not even more than a person’s nature. That nuance gets lost in the conversation. Yet, Peter sees exactly that but ends up paying the ultimate price.

    Green Goblin turns on him as Norman succumbs to his dark passenger. Tragically, Aunt May dies as she has lived, trying to help people and do the right thing. It is in this lesson for Peter that he receives the words the character is most famous for: “With great power comes great responsibility.” There is no easy answer, but you have to try. At this moment Peter gains wisdom and knowledge but he loses his innocence. It is gone, and he’ll never be the same. 

    By the end of the film, we see that price. The attempt to kill Norman Osborn will stick with him. This time around, he’s not to one giving help but receiving it. He’s pulled out of the darkness to embrace the right choice. Yet, he once again has to pay a price and unlike before, this time it is by choice. Peter convinces Strange to make the world forget he ever existed, even if it means he’ll lose everything and everyone. MJ and Ned will forget him. Happy forgets him. Aunt May is gone. His ties to the Avengers and kindred spirits will be severed. The anguish on Peter’s face when he decides not to reveal himself again to MJ or Ned is heartbreaking. There is no turning back here. It is a cold lesson, and one he must learn alone.

    Now that this price has been paid, Peter must live on. He must move on. It is the bridge that he must cross alone. As he goes forward, there will be a better understanding of the choices previously made. Peter Parker is one of us, but he’s not. He’s Spider-Man, and with being Spider-Man, it comes with a price. May the payments for Peter Parker going forward be more peaceful.