Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU

  • REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 1

    REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 1

    As the 7th Marvel Studios Disney+ series and 14th project of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4, Ms. Marvel’s first episode manages to shine as the beginning of an origin story that, so far, feels distinct from the constant influx of MCU content throughout the past couple of years. In other words, Ms. Marvel stands out, and it does so despite not teasing fans that the series will be a game-changer for the franchise. The character of Kamala Khan makes a triumphant leap from comics to screen, and the way the episode is shot, edited, and visualized gives the start of Ms. Marvel a texture that makes it arguably the most unique-feeling project of the MCU in years.

    Of course, at the heart of the first episode and series is Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan. Kamala is a Muslim American-Pakistani teenager from Jersey City who is obsessed with the Avengers. The character has been a comics favorite for nearly a decade, so Ms. Marvel exceeds in Vellani’s seemingly flawless portrayal of Kamala. The first episode treats Kamala’s family and cultural background like any other; for the casual viewer, Episode 1 does not subtitle basic phrases spoken in Urdu and does not baby the audience or other the Khans by explaining every detail of Pakistani- or Islamic-influenced element in Kamala’s life. She is noticeably different in terms of her background from the heroes and characters of the MCU thus far, but her culture is not treated as something mysterious or otherworldly—Kamala Khan is Kamala Khan. And her inclusion into the MCU makes Earth-616 a bit more real and a bit richer.

    Speaking of richness, the mechanics of this episode are mesmerizing. The inclusion of animation, the fast-paced editing, and the quirky shots give Ms. Marvel a visual but intangible texture that genuinely feels unique in the MCU. To achieve this, it does not have to be on the same terrain as Guardians of the Galaxy or Thor: Ragnarok. The subtlety itself is brilliant, as it feels like the viewer is in a new world without having to leave the old one. 

    Plenty of fair concern was levied against Ms. Marvel in advance due to the fact that the series changed her power set from the comics. What we see in Episode 1 is not enough to begin to truly decide whether the changes are a true downgrade. But an undoubted positive to the change is that now her powers and their origins are a mystery. In that way, the series moves into uncharted waters—even the viewer doesn’t know where the journey will ultimately take Kamala and how she could connect to the greater MCU. 

    Fans have also never truly seen the MCU from the angle Ms. Marvel has created. Kamala is all of us—obsessing over the Avengers, wishing she had superpowers, and living in an age of heroes. This “regular citizen” angle has never been explored before and Kamala’s coming-of-age and coming-of-superhero story takes place in a world fully aware and mindful of most of the events of the MCU. So seeing how Kamala works her way into the overarching MCU will surely be something special.

    The premiere episode of Ms. Marvel achieved something miraculous—standing out while fitting in. Vellani is a perfect casting and driving force for Kamala charm, and the series’ placement in the MCU feels natural. Still, between the charisma of Kamala herself and the texture of the episode, Episode 1 feels uniquely Ms. Marvel, and so far Ms. Marvel has built a world for itself that can’t help but make the future of the rest of the MCU look brighter. 

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ May Have Teased a Connection to Time Travel and the Quantum Realm

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ May Have Teased a Connection to Time Travel and the Quantum Realm

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest hero Kamala Khan has arrived in Ms. Marvel. There has been plenty of discussion about the changes made to the character’s origins and powers from the comics. But one of the positive outcomes of the changes so far is that they allow for a mystery to play out in the Disney+ series.

    It’s already been pointed out that her bangle that seems to have activated Kamala’s powers may actually be similar to the Quantum Bands from the comics. Using evidence from Episode 1, we can theorize about her powers and their implications in the MCU even more. Of course, in the comics, Quantum Bands derive energy from the Quantum Zone—MCU fans would recognize its live-action parallel, the Quantum Realm. Established in the Ant-Man franchise, the Quantum Realm was the key to time travel as seen in Avengers: Endgame. But other than the Quantum Bands theory, what evidence is there that Kamala Khan has anything to do with the Quantum Realm or time-travel in the MCU?

    In the comics, Ms. Marvel’s powers function because her molecules time travel when she embiggens and shapeshiftes. Ms. Marvel comics revealed that Kamala has access to some sort of temporal vortex that allows her to borrow and lend her atoms across time. While her MCU powers in Ms. Marvel are significantly different, there’s no reason that this connection to time travel would need to be removed from Kamala’s powers’ characteristics. Considering she projects some sort of crystallized light from nowhere, a similar explanation could easily work for her new powers.

    An important moment in Episode 1 occurs when her bangle appears to activate when she first puts it on at AvengerCon. After she is surrounded by some glowy energy field, her eyes change color and there is a cool shot where she seems to fall backward in a circle through a strange purple-hued environment. There are human-like figures there, though they appear to have large glowing eyes and it is difficult to make anything out. This could have been some type of vision, but it also could have been Ms. Marvel’s first trip through time.

    Considering her family history is at play, it could have been a very stylized depiction of an event her ancestors went through. Considering her Pakistani heritage and the fact that the scene looked like a large group of people traveling in one direction, Partition in 1947 may have been a major event that affected her family. Perhaps an ancestor with a connection to Kamala’s powers is trying to pull her back for some reason or the connection itself is doing so. A further stretch could be that she passed through the Quantum Realm itself, and the reason the figures looked odd is that they were not human. If you want to stretch it even further, the purple is reminiscent of the iconic color of Kang the Conqueror. The future Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania villain is a time-traveler and some fans believe he may rule a city in the Quantum Realm called Chronopolis. 

    To be fair, the fact that no one around her experienced that wild moment suggests that the easy explanation is that it was a vision or hallucination. But, considering the fact the Kamala in the comics was always connected to a temporal vortex and constantly time-traveled without even trying, a connection to the Quantum Realm or quantum energy could allow for her to look like she had not left AvengerCon. As Scott Lang himself said, “time works differently in the Quantum Realm”. Or, more simply, she could have essentially been in two places at once. While some of these thoughts are bit more technical and complex than Kamala or Ms. Marvel seems so far, it is worth noting that the Disney+ series hired a theoretical physicist who worked on Endgame’s time-travel elements. 

    The first episode of Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+.

  • Major ‘Ms. Marvel’ Villain Easter Egg Explained

    Major ‘Ms. Marvel’ Villain Easter Egg Explained

    Episode 1 of Ms. Marvel, “Generation Why”, came complete with some of the most inventive and impressive visual flair we’ve seen in an MCU production. The creative team behind the show seemed to work hard to give the audience the same kind of experience a comic reader might have, filling the screen with fun add-ons and images that really click and bring the dialogue to life.

    With so much to look at on-screen, however, one might be forgiven for missing a thing or two, especially during your first viewing, including, possibly, a very well-planted neon sign that could serve either as an Easter egg or as foreshadowing that one of Kamala Khan’s most unique villains could appear down the road.

    While Kamala and Bruno are talking atop a building with the Jersey skyline behind them, a sign for Edison Electric can be seen directly behind them. It might be easy to overlook, especially with everything else to see and the fact that, from the viewer’s perspective, it’s backward, but it’s there and this might not be the only time we see it.

    First appearing in 2014’s Ms. Marvel #7, the Edison Electric building served as the lair of The Inventor, Ms. Marvel’s first supervillain and the first of many incredibly strange adversaries she’d come across. The Inventor-part cockatiel, part Thomas Edison-is the result of a cloning experiment gone wrong and was part of a 7-issue arc that saw Kamala clash with bionic alligators and a couple of teenage henchmen before finally taking The Inventor out.

    Kamala came across The Inventor in her earliest days as a hero and their feud in the comics was intertwined with Kamala coming to understand her Inhuman heritage and the powers it gave her. The issues featured pretty heavy cameos from members of the Inhuman Royal Family, including Medusa, and Kamala got to hang out quite a bit with Lockjaw during them. Early rumors surrounding Ms. Marvel indicated that The Inventor and the Inhuman Royal Family would appear in the series, though there’s been no recent buzz around the appearance of those characters (other than Vellani indicating she tried to sneak a Lockjaw Easter egg into the show).

    For the time being, it doesn’t seem likely that Kamala is going to run around New Jersey with Lockjaw, but having the Edison Electric building front and center gives leaves the door open for The Inventor to appear, whether in this season or down the road. For the moment, it certainly appears that Kamran, played by Rish Shah and a family known in the comics as the Clan Destine are going to carry the bulk of the load as villains in Season 1, but with producer Sana Amanat saying she’d love to see the Inventor in Season 2, there’s hope that Ms. Marvel can cross paths with the crazy birdman some day! If not, it’s still an impressive bit of world-building that could pay off at any time.

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Star Iman Vellani’s Continues Continuity Feud with Kevin Feige

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Star Iman Vellani’s Continues Continuity Feud with Kevin Feige

    Once upon a time, the Inhuman Royal Family was rumored to make an appearance in the Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Ms. Marvel. With much being made about the changes to Kamala Khan’s superhero origins, it doesn’t seem like Black Bolt and Medusa will appear in the series, but thanks to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, fans know that they do exist in the multiverse, even if there’s one less Black Bolt than before.

    Anson Mount’s return as the Midnight King was short-lived and ended violently as the Scarlet Witch put him down with little more than a thought. And that ending does not sit well with Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani, who is a bit of a Black Bolt fan herself. Though she liked the movie, Vellani took issue with the way they treated the King of the Inhumans.

    I have so many opinions, which I don’t think we have time for. Here’s my TL;DR. I love Sam Raimi. I don’t care what anyone says. He’s my guy. I think they did him dirty. I did not appreciate that.

    Iman Vellani

    Vellani apparently disliked it so much that she texted Marvel Studios One-Above-All, Kevin Feige, after watching the film. In addition to expressing her displeasure over Black Bolt being killed, she also took the time to engage Feige in what appears to be an ongoing argument between the two: whether or not the MCU’s established continuity should be referred to as 616.

    Every time I talk to Kevin, we have this argument where I say, ‘The MCU is not 616. He’s like, ‘It is because I said so.’ I’m like, ‘No, it’s 199999.’ He hates it. So, we keep having this argument, and then they put 616 in the movie. I’m like, ‘Kevin, you know it’s not 616.’ He just sends me a sad face. I was like, ‘Great.’

    The MCU had previously been defined as “Earth-199999”, but over the course of a couple of films (Spider-Man: Far From Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), the comic accurate 616 has come into play. Who knows the answer? Ultimately is doesn’t matter, but it makes for a fun debate between fans and there’s no bigger fans of the MCU than Vellani and Feige.

  • A Young Avengers Heat Map: Power Ranking Existing MCU Characters’ Chances of Making the Cut

    A Young Avengers Heat Map: Power Ranking Existing MCU Characters’ Chances of Making the Cut

    If the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 1 was about building to The Avengers, Phase 4 has been about, among other things, introducing the next generation of heroes. All the Disney Plus series (sans What If…?) and a number of the films in this phase have featured, or will feature, at least one younger character who could pick up a superhero mantle in the near future. And most expect that to culminate in a Young Avengers project. So with Ms. Marvel due to make her MCU debut in her eponymous series this week, let’s check in with the younger heroes we’ve met so far, and figure out who we think will be part of that initial lineup.

    Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel)

    Debut: Ms. Marvel, June 8, 2022
    Where We’ll See Her Next: The Marvels, July 23, 2023

    The Case For/Against:

    With strong reviews already pouring in for the show and its star Iman Vellani, Kamala Khan is poised to be even more of a breakout character in 2022 than she’s been in previous years, where she’s been featured in countless animated series, as well as the Avengers video game. Her brand is already closely associated with the Avengers, and as a youthful character, Kamala could easily be put at the forefront of branding the Young Avengers as the next big thing in the MCU.

    On the other hand, her next appearance being in The Marvels alongside another new hero in Monica Rambeau and an established hero in Carol Danvers might mean that Marvel is interested in establishing that team as a viable brand, especially if A-Force and The Ultimates — two team brands closely associated with Captain Marvel — aren’t being considered as viable options. And if Marvel plans to do subsequent seasons of Ms. Marvel, setting her apart from the other youthful heroes keeps the “hero worship” dynamic going a little bit longer before she steps into an eventual leader role on a team of her own, which hems more closely to her arc in the comics.

    Conclusion: ⚡⚡⚡

    America Chavez

    Debut/Where We Saw Her Last: Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, May 6, 2022
    Where We’ll See Her Next: TBD


    The Case For/Against:


    At 16, Xochitl Gomez fits firmly in the age demographic for teen superheroes, and is a charismatic, likable screen presence that Marvel will want to feature more. America Chavez has also been associated with the Young Avengers team in the comics. To the extent that there are questions about where her story in the Doctor Strange sequel landed, putting her in a team setting alongside other young heroes could afford her the room to grow, without the pressure of having to carry a project. There aren’t really any downsides here.

    Conclusion: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

    Tommy Maximoff (Speed)


    Debut: WandaVision, May 2021
    Where We Saw Him Last: Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, May 6, 2022
    Where We’ll See Him Next: TBD

    The Case For/Against:

    The 10-year-old Julian Hilliard has already been prominently featured in two high-profile Marvel projects, and audiences have responded favorably to him. Speed is definitely the less prominent of the two sons of the Scarlet Witch, so whether they ultimately decide to recast him in order to age him up, or let him age in real time as the youngest Young Avenger remains to be seen, but the positive response to his character does bode well for more appearances, and the Young Avengers is the most logical place for him.

    On the other hand, the end of Multiverse of Madness could also be read as the end of the arc for Wanda, and Marvel may want to move on from the characters for a few years, in order to let her storyline land more impactfully, before doing whatever magical shenanigans would be necessary to reintroduce him and his brother to MCU-616. Even still, it feels more likely than not that the shenanigans are already afoot, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he and his brother are back by Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

    Conclusion: 👟👟👟👟


    Billy Maximoff (Wiccan)


    Debut: WandaVision, May 2021
    Where We Saw Him Last: Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, May 6, 2022
    Where We’ll See Him Next: TBD

    The Case For/Against:


    Jett Klyne, at 12, is slightly older than the actor who plays his brother, and based on recent red carpet pictures, he appears to be on the verge of adolescence in terms of appearance, which would put him right in the Young Avengers wheelhouse if they skew younger. Wiccan is definitely the more well-known and popular of the two twins, so his return feels inevitable, and Young Avengers (where a future romance with Teddy “Hulkling” Altman would be in the cards) seems highly likely, notwithstanding the concerns raised above about the conclusion of Wanda’s arc, and his character’s role in it.

    Conclusion: 🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄


    Kate Bishop (Hawkeye)

    Debut/Where We Saw Her Last: Hawkeye, December 2021
    Where We’ll See Her Next: TBD

    The Case For/Against:

    Kate Bishop is probably the character most closely associated with the Young Avengers, and Hailee Steinfeld is a bona fide star who definitely scored rave reviews in Hawkeye. She’s perfectly positioned as a talented but green superhero with a lot to learn, and in need of mentoring. That feels like a Young Avengers slam dunk.

    On the other hand, the character is 22, and Hailee is 25. As most likely a college graduate by the time we see her next, she definitely could be a lot removed from the teen angst and high school problems of her younger teammates (if they don’t age Billy and Tommy up). Maybe the right story for her is a young hero who mentors younger heroes while she herself is mentored. Or, as suggested earlier, maybe Billy and Tommy are aged up to be closer to her. But regardless of the challenges in circling that square, Kate still seems like a lock.

    Conclusion: 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯


    Yelena Belova

    Debut: Black Widow, July 9, 2021
    Where We Saw Her Last: Hawkeye, December 2021
    Where We’ll See Her Next: TBD


    The Case For/Against:

    Yelena is only being included here because she was introduced as Natasha Romanoff’s little sister in Black Widow, and Florence Pugh plays her character with such youthful exuberance. However, Yelena is almost 30, based on the MCU timeline, and it seems highly unlikely that there will be thirtysomethings mingling with teenagers on this team.

    Conclusion: ⚔️

    Kid Loki


    Debut/Where We Saw Him Last: Loki, June 2021
    Where We’ll See Him Next: TBD

    The Case For/Against:


    Kid Loki played a role in the Young Avengers comic run, and audiences generally do love Loki. The trickster nature of the character makes it fairly easy to drop him into the narrative as a bit of a wildcard within the team dynamic, as he could drive the story as both ally or antagonist.

    On the other hand, Jack Veal, who played the character in Loki, wasn’t particularly well-received, and because he’s hardly necessary to the narrative, it’s easy to imagine him being left out of both the short and long term plans for bringing the Young Avengers team together.

    Conclusion:🐊🐊

    Joaquin Torres (Falcon)


    Debut/Where We Saw Him Last: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, March 2021
    Where We’ll See Him Next: TBD

    The Case For/Against:


    Danny Ramirez is tremendously likable, as anyone who saw Top Gun: Maverick can attest, so who wouldn’t want to see him take to the skies again, especially since his character inherited Sam Wilson’s Redwing gear? That bit of foreshadowing has to pay off, right?

    On the other hand, despite his baby face, Ramirez will be turning 30 this year, and that takes him way out of the age bracket. Plus, Captain America 4 affords Marvel a much more streamlined path to picking up on that narrative thread, as New Cap might be looking for a New Falcon before it’s all said and done.

    Conclusion: 🦅

    Eli Bradley (Patriot)

    Debut/Where We Saw Him Last: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, March 2021
    Where We’ll See Him Next: TBD

    The Case For/Against:

    On one hand, Elijah Bradley is a founding member of the Young Avengers in the comics, and it would definitely feel like a slight if he wasn’t there. After the emotional storyline the writers of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier gave Isaiah Bradley in that series, it would be nice for his grandson to get the opportunity to carry on his legacy and be prominently featured as part of the Young Avengers. And at 23, Elijah Richardson (the actor who plays him) would be able to match youthful energy with a Young Avengers team that skews more to college age.

    But on the other hand, while the other Young Avengers in the comics have developed independent fan followings, Bradley has seen Marvel move past him to another character, Rashaun Lucas, wearing the Patriot colors, confusing the marketplace and raising questions about the extent to which Marvel brass has prioritized the character. Add in the fact that in America Chavez, the Young Avengers will have a star-spangled character they are definitely more interested in pushing, and it becomes more of a 50-50 proposition as to whether he will find himself firmly established as a Young Avengers mainstay, or have his story told in Captain America 4 alongside Sam WIlson.

    Conclusion: 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

    Cassie Lang (Stature/Stinger)

    Debut: Ant-Man, June 29, 2015
    Where We Saw Her Last: Avengers: Endgame, April 26, 2019
    Where We’ll See Her Next: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

    The Case For/Against:


    This character has been in the MCU longer than any of the others, notwithstanding the recent recasting that put a new actress, Kathryn Newton, into the role. And it’s unlikely that they’d recast if they didn’t have big plans for her. Fans have had a while to get invested in her story, and were she to develop powers like her comics counterpart, that would be the culmination of a story eight years in the making (assuming we see those powers in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania). And Cassie Lang is a founding member of the Young Avengers who has never been associated with any other team. Everything is pointing to Cassie on the squad.

    Conclusion: 🧚🧚🧚🧚🧚

    Riri Williams (Ironheart)


    Debuts: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, November 11, 2022
    Where We’ll See Her Next: Ironheart

    The Case For/Against:


    Ironheart might be the trickiest character of all to call. Her comics version doesn’t really have a lot of established history with the Young Avengers, whose “Iron” character is Nathaniel Richards, a young Kang variant who has not yet gone down that path. But Riri’s comics version also doesn’t have much of a connection with Wakanda either, despite the fact that she’ll be debuting in the Black Panther sequel. Dominique Thorne is 23, so we can assume the character will be slightly older than her comics counterpart was, but a college-aged Riri is still in the right age bracket for an older skewing Young Avengers team. Plus, she’d be able to fill the tech genius void that the team would be lacking if she wasn’t included. Plus, since we’re already in uncharted territory with the character, who’s to say that Riri couldn’t turn out to be a Kang variant herself, in keeping with the “Iron Lad” role of the comics’ Young Avengers? It’s certainly not a perfect fit, but it could work.

    Conclusion: 💙💙💙💙

    After going through the possible candidates, the most plausible team dynamic would be a team that’s mostly composed of twentysomethings, with America Chavez as the “little sister” of the group who is mature beyond her years due to her life of traveling the Multiverse. In this scenario, it makes sense to age up Billy and Tommy to be peers of Kate, Cassie, Riri, and maybe Elijah. As for whether it makes sense for Kamala to join this mix right off the bat, there are arguments for and arguments against, but ultimately it hinges on how fast Marvel wants to get her out of high school. So much of her grounding in the teenage experience goes away in that scenario, but on the other hand, her going off to college puts her at a similar level of life experience as the other candidates — Young Avengers, but not too young. And I think that’s the vibe Marvel might be going for.

  • ‘Luke Cage’s Mike Colter Debunks MCU Return Rumors

    ‘Luke Cage’s Mike Colter Debunks MCU Return Rumors

    Just last month, an image surfaced between Mike Colter and Krysten Ritter that included the wording “Big Tease” and the initials of their Marvel characters, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. There have already been quite a few rumors that Ritter might return in an upcoming project, especially with Charlie Cox‘s return in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it definitely added some weight to Colter potentially reprising his Luke Cage role as well.

    Yet, in an interview with The View, he revealed that it wasn’t more than just two former colleagues meeting up. While the Instagram post including the reference does add a lot more questions, it does seem they just live “really close to each other” and that’s what led to them bumping into each other.

    You know, we live in a neighborhood really close to each other, and it’s funny, we bumped into each other at a strawberry patch that’s like an hour away, and we just happened to be in the same place hanging out with our kids. And I bumped into another actor who I did not know, who came up to me; we were talking and he’s like, ‘oh, you know Krysten [Ritter’s] here.’ And [I’m like], ‘Krysten?’ I thought they were friends. So then I texted her and she pops up in front of me and we start hanging out and let the kids play… I don’t know what’s happening with Marvel. I, you know, I loved working with her and really don’t know anything other than that. That’s it.”

    Mike Colter

    Mike Colter has been quite busy working on his series Evil, and it does seem like he might not have the time to make a grand MCU return. Yet, we’ve also had many theories in regard to other projects. So, we’ll have to see if he ends up surprising us with a sudden return in a future project.

    Source: Instagram via The Direct

  • The Ultimate List of What To Watch Before ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    The Ultimate List of What To Watch Before ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    Chris Hemsworth is returning as the titular superhero, Natalie Portman will reprise her role as Jane Foster after almost ten years, Tessa Thompson is King Valkyrie this time around, and Christian Bale will make his MCU debut as the villainous Gorr the God Butcher. Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy will also have a role in Love and Thunder. It has been described as both a romance and a “midlife crisis”, so it will definitely be an interesting addition to the MCU.

    There are 17 total recommendations, and they are listed by likely importance. First, there are projects that are essential to watch before the fourth Thor solo film. Second, there are projects that we would strongly encourage you to watch but likely are not strictly necessary. Third, there are extra stories that could heighten your Love and Thunder experience but may ultimately have very little impact on the film itself. You have until the film releases on July 8, 2022, to get prepared. Let the god butchering begin.

    Essential

    There are seven films that will undoubtedly be directly important to Love and Thunder: Thor; Thor: The Dark World; Thor: Ragnarok; Avengers: Infinity War; Avengers: Endgame; Guardians of the Galaxy; and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. But some are likely much more important than others—below is the list of these in essential films in order of how important they will be to understanding and enjoying Love and Thunder.

    1. Thor: Ragnarok
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok’

    The third installment of the Thor solo franchise tops the list of what you should watch before Love and Thunder for several reasons. Probably most influential is the fact that Thor: Ragnarok is the first and only other MCU film to be directed by Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi. His eclectic, colorful, visually stunning, and humorous style is unmatched in the God of Thunder’s franchise in the MCU as a whole. There is very little question about which MCU film will be most related to Love and Thunder for that reason. Many important Thor 4 characters were also introduced in Ragnarok: Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Waititi’s Korg, and Korg’s best bud Miek. This film also explains why New Asgard exists on Earth, Thor’s loss of his father and homeworld, and the destruction of Mjolnir.

    2. Thor
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor’

    Considering Love and Thunder is the latest installment in the character’s solo franchise, taking it back to the beginning is always important. Thor, of course, introduces the superhero to the MCU and explains his origins, Mjolnir, and generally lays the foundation for all things Thor-related—Asgard, Loki, Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, you name it. To be fair, all of those are dead now. But it also introduces Natalie Portman’s future Mighty Thor, Jane Foster. Most of what we know about Jane in the MCU comes from this movie, as the sequel does not expand on her personal story or background all that much. Of course, their romantic relationship begins in Thor as well.

    3. Avengers: Infinity War
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

    Avengers: Endgame is arguably more important than Avengers: Infinity War, but in terms of watching order, it makes the most sense to watch the third Avengers before the fourth. Infinity War shows the immediate aftermath of Ragnarok and Thor’s grief stemming from those events. As was made obvious in Endgame, this emotional journey was pivotal for the character. Stormbreaker was forged here, and this is where he first met the Guardians of the Galaxy. Lastly, absolutely vital to any enjoyment of Love and Thunder is Infinity War’s explanation as to why Thor no longer has an eyepatch after Ragnarok.

    4. Avengers: Endgame
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Endgame’

    We last saw Thor in Avengers: Endgame, and Thor’s whereabouts, physical state, and mental state in Love and Thunder are coming directly from the end of Endgame. The Love and Thunder trailer showcased the notorious “Fat Thor” working out before we see a return of Thor’s more traditional physique. The character’s interest in settling down we see in the trailer is also likely a result of his processing of the events beginning in Ragnarok and continuing through Endgame. The fourth Avengers film also introduces New Asgard, Valkyrie as the new King of New Asgard, and ends with Thor going off with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Essentially, Endgame is the immediate predecessor for Love and Thunder, even if Thor is not the main character.

    5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

    While it is unclear how much of a role the Guardians of the Galaxy will play in Love and Thunder, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the last outing of the team other than Infinity War and Endgame. It also introduces Pom Klementieff’s Mantis who we see in the Thor 4 trailer. In general, it highlights the most recent roster of the Guardians, including some work with developing Karen Gillan’s Nebula. The Guardians’ journey will undoubtedly be explored more in next year’s Vol. 3, but it is safe to assume Vol. 2’s team is the best foundation for what to expect of them in Love and Thunder.

    6. Thor: The Dark World
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: The Dark World’

    If you have ever existed, you probably already know that Thor: The Dark World, the follow-up to Thor, is one of the least-loved films in the MCU. Nevertheless, it is a Thor film, and watching it will round out your Thor franchise viewing ahead of Love and Thunder. It is also the last time we see Jane Foster, so The Dark World is pretty significant to her character considering she was only in two movies about a decade ago. It shows the death of his mother, which is significant to his character and I suppose could be referenced in the upcoming movie. But needless to say, if you skip any Thor movie, this one is a good choice.

    7. Guardians of the Galaxy
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy

    Since the Guardians likely may not have a huge role in Love and Thunder, getting acquainted with their first outing is not as vital as the other films. Still, they will be there and Guardians of the Galaxy introduces most of the main players and is fundamental to who they are in the MCU. It also is a great survey of some cosmic MCU elements that have otherwise not been explored extensively, even by the Thor franchise. Judging by the Love and Thunder trailer, the cosmos will get some more attention soon.

    Encouraged

    These next five projects have a strong chance of being directly relevant to Love and Thunder. But even if you are not familiar with them, their potential influence on the Thor outing should not be so important that you would be missing something. Still, if you have the time and you want to be totally prepared, these encouraging films and series are great additions to your watchlist.

    8. Black Panther
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther’

    While the bulk of Black Panther might not be all that helpful to the Love and Thunder experience, the film lands at the top of this section because there seems to be one specific connection. The Goddess Bast had been rumored to be part of the movie and looks to have been spotted in an official still from the film. According to Wakandan legend in the MCU, Bast led Bashenga to the Heart-Shaped Herb, granting him the power to become the king and the first Black Panther. Outside of the MCU’s current lore, Bast or Bastet is a member of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, which is explored a bit further in Moon Knight.

    9. Moon Knight
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Moon Knight’

    Much of the rest of this watchlist centers around Love and Thunder‘s villain, Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. As his title would suggest, he probably likes to kill gods. Thor 4 is set to introduce more MCU gods than we currently know, but we did recently meet a whole gaggle of new ones. The Disney+ series Moon Knight introduced ancient Egyptian gods to the MCU, including Khonshu, Ammit, Osiris, and Taweret. There is plenty of room for Gorr to butcher some of these or related gods without it having a major effect on the MCU or even any potential Moon Knight follow-up, but it would allow Love and Thunder to give Gorr some credits to his God Butcher name.

    10. Eternals
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Eternals’

    This one is a little trickier, but the Celestials introduced in Eternals could be relevant to Gorr’s journey. Celestials are sometimes known as “space gods”, but they are not the traditional types of gods as we are used to—Asgardian, Egyptian, Greek, etc. One major fan theory floating around believes that Gorr may have killed the Celestial whose head is now known as Knowhere (as seen in Guardians of the Galaxy). So if Celestials (or even the Eternals) could be “gods” to Gorr, there’s no reason why he could not target them at some point in Love and Thunder.

    11. Avengers: Age of Ultron
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’

    If you want to get the full scope of live-action Thor, you will need to watch or rewatch the first two Avengers films as well. While neither seems like they will be overly relevant, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a bit more important because Mjolnir gets a little time to shine. When the Avengers try to lift the hammer and when Vision actually does, there is some focus on what makes someone “worthy”. This is a concept that will presumably play into Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor and her use of the repaired Mjolnir.

    12. Avengers
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers’

    There is not much for Avengers to add to the rest of the list other than that is part of Thor’s story and journey in the MCU. If you’ve watched everything else so far, watching Avengers will finish up your viewing of all things (live-action) Thor. Although, if you do plan to watch these all, doing it in chronological release order is probably the way to go.

    13. Loki
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’

    Loki is somewhat like Eternals in the sense that it could be relevant. Unlike Eternals, though, the Tom Hiddleston-led series does not have any obvious gods for Gorr to butcher. But the reason it is on the list is that the introduction of Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror Variant likely sets up one of the MCU’s next big bads. While Love and Thunder does not have any known major multiverse connections, it cannot be completely ruled out in the Phase Four project. Also, if Gorr the God Butcher is roaming the universe killing gods, it is not too wild to think that he could come across another villain that is acting as a universal conqueror. If Marvel is going to build Kang up more ahead of his lead role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, he could have a brief appearance in Love and Thunder or even in a post-credits scene. In any event, Loki obviously showcases Loki, Brother of Thor, even if he is no longer on the same timeline as Thor.

    Extra

    These last few recommendations really speak for themselves. With the exception of What If.. ? they are not even related to the MCU, but they’re a love letter to the Love and Thunder experience and are perfect to get into if you still can’t get enough prep for the fourth Thor.

    14. What If… ?
    Marvel Studios’ ‘What If… ?’

    If you want to make sure you have seen every single appearance of Thor in the MCU in its entirety, you’ll need to check out What If… ? “Party Thor” makes an appearance in Episodes 7-9, which includes his own episode (with Jane Foster) and the final two episodes of the season.

    15. Hercules (1997)
    Disney’s ‘Hercules’ (1997)

    Hear me out. We know Love and Thunder will feature the Olympians, and we got a hint of Russell Crowe’s Zeus in the teaser trailer. There is no MCU foundation for this group of gods yet, so if you’re already watching all your Thor content on Disney+, you only have to scroll a bit to find the ’90s animated classic, Hercules. You will get some sort of survey of Greek gods including Zeus and Hercules, and Love and Thunder might hit harder if you feel like it’s some sweet singing cartoons that Gorr is butchering.

    16. The Dark Knight Trilogy
    Warner Bros.’ ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

    Speaking of making Love and Thunder hit harder based on unrelated films, get your Christian Bale fix and get the ability to picture Batman the God Butcher if you’re so inclined by revisiting Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

    17. Titanic
    Paramount’s ‘Titanic’

    Director Taika Waititi has described Love and Thunder as a full-blown romance film. It is hard to picture an MCU movie featuring a “God Butcher” as a true love story, but maybe that’s the point. Waititi has the skill the bring a completely unexpected film to the table, and he has several times teased the “love” in Love in Thunder. If you think you might have trouble getting into the mindset for a romance, watching the most financially-successful romance movie of all time could help you out.

    Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters on July 8, 2022.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Adds Griffin Matthews In Recurring Role

    ‘She-Hulk’ Adds Griffin Matthews In Recurring Role

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel will soon debut the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest hero, but plenty of eyes are still on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law which will premiere later this summer. The 9-episode event is set to focus on Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk, a lawyer who specializes in superhuman law. The series will include several notable actors such as Mark Ruffalo, Charlie Cox, Tim Roth, and Jameela Jamil. Entertainment Tonight just confirmed another addition to the cast. Actor Griffin Matthews, known for his role in the Emmy-winning The Flight Attendant will reportedly join She-Hulk in a recurring role. The actor revealed his excitement to join the series:

    Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would join the Marvel Universe! This was never a genre that I thought an actor like me (in my package) could fit into…The most exciting part of joining the MCU was being told by our director and writers: ‘Do not try to fit. Just be you.’ And that gave me the freedom to run wild…

    Griffin Matthews

    Matthews will star opposite Maslany, though his exact role has not been revealed. There are numerous options, but the fact that he will be a recurring character may mean his character is fairly significant. He could play one of the other lawyers or workers at Jen’s law firm, or he could even be someone she meets on the dating app we see in the trailer who sticks around some.

    Matthews’ role will be confirmed when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premieres on Disney+ on August 17, 2022.

    Source: Entertainment Tonight

  • How the Road to ‘Secret Wars’ Might Go Through Earth- 838

    How the Road to ‘Secret Wars’ Might Go Through Earth- 838

    Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is looking like another box office win for Marvel Studios, what it accomplishes as the 5th film in Phase 4 is to continue planting the seeds for the potential next major crossover. Already eleven projects in, the path to Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on the classic Secret Wars storyline seems like it’s being built, even if some feel we’re not ready quite yet.

    That’s right, it’s beginning to look like the MCU is eleven projects into what might become known as the Secret Wars saga. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier gave us a new Captain America, a reformed Bucky, and introduced us to the US Agent. Black Widow gave us a new Black Widow and a still effective Red Guardian. WandaVision gave us White Vision and Photon, while simultaneously introducing us to witches, including the Scarlet Witch. What If…? showed us different Earths, with different Variants of the heroes and villains we’ve seen on Earth-616, including worlds where Thanos does not become a villain and where Captain Carter is the first Avenger. And then there’s Loki, which presented us with the rules of the multiverse, how the TVA had been pruning Variants across different universes, while introducing the maestro behind it all, He Who Remains.

    He Who Remains, aka Nathaniel Richards, had spent considerable time and energy figuring out a way to defeat and/or trap multiversal Variants of himself, essentially wiping out their worlds. When Sylvie stabbed He Who Remains in the season final of Loki, she unleashed the multiverse. Indeed, we find out in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that a Variant remaining in another universe for too long causes an Incursion. Knowing that, it is clear that Nathaniel Richards did save lives, even if the methods of his TVA were not the right ones. The restoration of the multiverse, the knowledge that Incursions destroy other universes and the revelation that at least one universe in the multiverse has a TVA that openly works for a version of Kang can be seen as evidence that Marvel is building towards Secret Wars.

    With Incursions playing such a viral role in Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars run, and Marvel leaning a lot on Hickman’s work when they adapt these stories for the MCU, the mention of them by Earth-838’s Reed Richards is no coincidence. We now have one world (Earth-616) where a Variant (Gamora) is on the loose and no TVA to return her to her timeline. We know that, coming out of Avengers: Endgame, there were at least 5 different timelines. What If…? gave us the timelines mentioned above, which Kevin Feige confirmed are the consequences of Sylvie’s stabbing. In one of those universes, a Captain Carter exists. Could she be the same Captain Carter seen in Multiverse of Madness?

    In her world, we see that it’s a world where the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Inhumans all exist. The Charles Xavier who arrives late to Strange’s trial greatly resembles the Professor X from the X-Men animated series. If we accept that the animated series is canon to Earth-838, then this means that on this Earth there are the remaining members of the Fantastic 4 and X-Men, Inhumans who have just had their King brutally murdered, and ateam of Avengers who also just had their leader murdered. Also of note, only Mordo survived to tell their Wanda was possessed by another Wanda: as such, they’re going to want consequences.

    Hovering over all of this is every version of Kang. With Incursions caused by Variant sremaining in another universe for too long, and no TVA there to prune said Variant, then it is possible that Earth-838’s Kang (Immortus) will use the Baxter Foundation to further his desire to control the other universes. With a catalyst like Earth-616’s Doctor Strange off in the Dark Dimension, and the death of his own Variant, he may feel that Earth-616 is vulnerable and thus can be attacked. He’s got his army and all that’s left is war.

  • Ranking Marvel TV: The Best and Worst Shows In MCU Canon Limbo

    Ranking Marvel TV: The Best and Worst Shows In MCU Canon Limbo

    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.