Tag: Movie Features

Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 28: Reviewing ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Marvel Studios’ final Phase 4 theatrical release, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, hit theaters this weekend. You can read Hunter Radesi’s advance review here, but what did the rest of the team think? We team up to share our thoughts.

Mary Rowe

Overall, I think I loved Wakanda Forever as a total package, but I think I may have enjoyed it in the theater a little less than others seemed to. The overarching concept and plot for me was a 10/10, the actors and their performances were a 10/10, Namor was a 10/10, and the excruciating emotional heaviness that felt like a constant crushing sensation was a 12/10. Substantively, for me, the film was absolutely masterful in those regards. I did find it overly packed with what it wanted to do, and it was something I felt like I noticed frequently while I was watching it. Some amazing scenes felt abruptly cut short before transitioning a bit awkwardly to other (sometimes jarringly different) scenes. I struggled with Riri’s role in the film. I loved the character and Dominique Thorne, but Namor’s sole motivation being to kill her did not make a ton of sense. Clearly, others knew how to make the vibranium-sensing machines based on her invention and the general threat from world forces to find vibranium would never be solved by killing one scientist. So the driving force of the overarching plot felt weak, and Ironheart’s big role took up too much time and attention from the rest of the film, which was far more compelling. Val’s role in the film seemed absolutely unnecessary, especially since she really did not do anything that set up any other project in any way. A lot of people refer to a Thunderbolts setup, but literally at no time was that project actually set up or advanced in any way. Even if it was, the side plot of the U.S. government considering taking (idiotic) action against Wakanda was OK, but had too much time given to it. I think the film overall is a triumph, and it is wild how big of a film it is considering it is technically a solo sequel. I also think it is not discussed enough how the film is led by women and easily the most representative MCU film in that regard. I would be genuinely surprised if Angela Bassett did not get an Oscar nod for her performance, and I think the film (like its predecessor) has a strong chance at a Best Picture nod as well.

Joao Pinto

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is nothing short of an incredible achievement given the terrible circumstances its development faced. But even though I’ve been a strong proponent that, following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios should not recast the role, there is no denying that that choice would present a few issues when it came to the project’s script and overall tone. Acknowledging Boseman’s passing would imbue the feature with almost inescapable emotional gravitas, something that would make everything else a Marvel movie is known to feature pale in comparison. And, in my opinion, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever struggles when trying to mesh everything into a single vision, revealing itself as a bit unfocused when moving from one thematical approach to another.

All in all, honoring Boseman’s legacy all while expanding on the Black Panther mythos, introducing an entirely new civilization and its background, moving the Cinematic Universe forward by hinting at several future projects, and doing all of it in a little less than 3 hours would always be a herculean task. What Ryan Coogler managed to deliver is about as good as one could expect given the hand he was dealt, and the entire cast was pretty much brilliant in the way their performances honored both their characters and their friend.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will surely be widely regarded as a standout project within a franchise with an already extremely high bar. It will be revisited countless times. and I’m sure time will keep doing it justice given the way it sets up the MCU’s future as well as it warm-heartedly honors its past.

Anthony Canton III

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an emotional sledgehammer and a necessary one for all parties involved. Ryan Coogler’s effort is full of all the emotions one can go through in dealing with the loss of a loved one. It is the truest of parallels from real life to screen. Chadwick Boseman’s absence is felt in this film and I say it endearingly. The director and cast wanted us to know this and didn’t hold back in expressing it as such. There are MCU ties sure, but this movie is more than that. From Angela Bassett’s Oscar-worthy performance of a heartbroken Queen to Letitia Wright’s powerful showcase as Shuri, we were reminded that these people went through this hurt on a grander level. It was touching, it was angry, and it was chaotic at times. Most importantly, it was real.

The stages of grief, from regret to outright frustration were transferred to the viewer. Through Tenoch Huerta’s explosive arrival to the MCU as Namor, we saw a window into what endless vengeance could look like. Through it all, the end of the film is a stark example of life. There are the darkest of times, but through it all there is the simplest sliver of hope, and that hope saves. Salute to Ryan Coogler and the cast for making an unforgettable movie.

Torbjorn Frazier

There genuinely isn’t a Marvel Studios movie, let alone a major blockbuster film, like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The themes of grief and loss are explored in such a visceral way that are greatly unexpected, even with an understanding of what the film would be going into it. Ryan Coogler adeptly leads the audience through an odyssey of emotions that lead to hopefully some closure for the legacy of Chadwick Boseman. With that, the director proves himself to be truly one of the best of his generation. Each of the leads brings their best into their performances and highlights why Wakanda deserves to have a marquee role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Special attention needs to be placed on Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, who provides the MCU with another all-time great antagonist and a character that should be primed for a massive role in various future projects (and rightfully so).

Though with that in mind, it does lead to the one noticeable folly I had with the film. While the threads being set up are certainly interesting, essentially all of the content involving Martin Freeman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus would’ve been way better served in a different project (ie Secret Invasion or Ironheart). The extensive runtime of the film isn’t an issue at all, but it would’ve been much better served to focus directly on the themes of grief and legacy alongside the conflict with Talokan. There are some noticeable nitpicks with the film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever absolutely sings in the parts where it needed to, and that’s what matters most at the end of the day. It’s a bonafide 9/10 in my book.

Dalbin Osorio

10/10. Zero notes.

Seriously, it was that good. Namor was incredible, and I think that’s a good place to start. This isn’t a villain who you root for because he’s conflicted: this is a villain that you root for because he’s 100% right in a way that Killmonger was not. His warning about other nations coming for Wakanda seems incredibly predictive, given that it seems Val (hello CIA Director) is sending the Thunderbolts in to get it. His mistrust of the surface world drives him to seclude his Kingdom much like the Wakandans and Wakanda. The parallels between him and T’Challa are hard to ignore, and I can’t help but wonder how powerful T’Challa versus Namor would’ve been.

However, Shuri more than holds her own weight. Her arc, like Okoye and M’Baku, is earned. That’s the best thing I can say about this movie: every choice is earned, and there are actual consequences to decisions made in the first. It’s what you want to see in these sequels. Riri Williams is a star, and I cannot wait to see her build her Mark 3 suit and battle The Hood. Angela Bassett deserves all the praise: her grief as she banishes Okoye was palpable, and Bassett remains one of the more underrated actresses of our time. It’s Marvel’s best sequel, and if Ryan Coogler can stick the landing in the third Black Panther film, it will be Marvel’s best trilogy.

Charles Murphy

It has never seemed fair to critique a movie for what it is not, but it’s nearly impossible to think about what Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could have been with Chadwick Boseman. Though the film was reworked after Boseman’s passing, the shadow of what it was is still visible. Boseman’s death turned the cast and crew of Wakanda Forever inside-out and the film necessarily expresses their grief and mourning; it would have been impossible to make the sequel without addressing it. The cast and crew handled this with incredible poise and their work was beautiful.

As writer/director Ryan Coogler has pointed out, Namor was always on track to be the villain of Wakanda Forever. The introduction of one of Marvel Comics’ oldest and greatest characters needed to be done no a big stage and it was. The choice to adapt Wakanda vs. Atlantis into the film was ballsy. Add to it the choice to completely reinvent Atlantis into Talokan and provide a backstory to it that was on par with the one given to Wakanda in Black Panther was even ballsier. The cast and crew nailed this. Talokan was beautiful. Namor was every bit who he should have been. Maybe the action wasn’t 10/10, but it was plenty.

Wakanda Forever, ultimately, had to try to balance these two stories and blend them into one coherent film. It did that unequivocally. However, it was the ancillary plot that threw the film off-kilter. Despite Dominque Thorne crushing her role as Riri Williams, the character’s arc in the film never felt as though it fit smoothly. Even less smooth was the inclusion of CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in what seemed to be nothing more than a set-up for another project and a poor one at that.

The principal cast all delivered monster performances. Letitia Wright’s performance hasn’t garnered anywhere near enough praise. Tenoch Huerta gave Namor all the edges he should have and still made him just likable enough. Angela Bassett went off. Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke were all given opportunities to mourn their onscreen and real-life friend AND be a part of the other arc as well. One would have to think the entire experience was cathartic for them all.

Incredible performances. Two impossible stories intertwined into one. Just a few speed bumps along the way. As always, I’ll have to see it again to really know where it fits, but I do know this: unlike some of Marvel Studios’ recent theatrical releases, at least I WANT to see it again.

Joseph Aberl

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a film that explores grief in a complex world that wants you to push forward. Most of the film’s conflict centers around Letitia Wright‘s Shuri and Angela Basset‘s powerful performance as Queen Ramonda, who bring their A-game to this film. One can feel that this is an emotional journey for everyone involved, especially with how difficult it must be to handle the tragedy of Chadwick Boseman.

Tenoch Huerta is a new powerhouse and a reminder of the star power that Marvel Studios creates with its projects. He brings a balance to Namor that wasn’t going to be easy to handle by introducing him as the film’s main antagonist but they pull it off. While the film can drag at one point or another, it feels like a project that wants to take its time. And, it’s something we don’t see often in these bombastic larger-than-life films. The film doesn’t want to run away from the grief but forces us to face its consequences through many eyes.

November 13, 2022
‘Wakanda Forever’ Makes Good on One of Namor’s Many Comic Book Aliases

In introducting Namor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever writer/director Ryan Coogler almost entirely recreated on of Marvel Comics’ oldest characters. Coogler created a brand new backstory for the character, a new “lost city” and a new timeline. In doing so, Coogler created one of the MCU’s most fascinating and powerful characters by managing to keep him true to who he has always been in that comics despite the changes. One of the aspects Coogler chose to keep was Namor’s identity as a mutant and by giving the character such a long life span, he also made good on one of the many aliases the character has been given over his decades in the comics.

Avenging Son. The Savage Sub-Mariner. Lord of the Seven Seas. Those are among the many titles given to Namor in the pages of Marvel Comics and they could all certainly all still apply to the MCU version of the character (though Avenging Son would have to be more of a title and less the Atlantean translation of his name). One title that absolutely applies, however, is The First Mutant. Given Namor has been alive in the MCU for 500 years, give or take, Wakanda Forever chronologically established the character as the first MCU mutant. While Kamala Khan may have been the first character to have been identified as a mutant, Namor just flat out did it first.

Of course, in the comics the title ultimately became a bit of a misnomer. While he was the first mutant to be introduced in the comics (his first appearance in comics predated the X-Men by 25 or so years), there are plenty of other mutants who walked the Earth before him. Apocalypse, Selene and even Amahl Farouk all predated the known history of Namor but, in the pages of the comics, he came first.

So what Coogler has done in Wakanda Forever is not only introduce an incredibly complex and conflicting character, he’s also retroactively established the existence of at least one mutant in the MCU to a time well before the word was first uttered on the timeline. Could other ancient mutants find their way into the MCU? Or does the future of the mutants lie in one of the infinite Earth’s in the Multiverse? MCU fans might not find out as quickly as they’d like, but Namor’s identity as The First Mutant now makes either option possible.

November 13, 2022
Scoop Culture All But Ruined ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Afro-Latinos (read Black Latinos) don’t have many heroes in superhero movie mediums. We have seen a lot of cis-hetero white dudes carry the superhero mantle, be redeemed for their mistakes, and lead teams with reckless abandon. Those same dudes review-bombed two really good women-led superhero films, which really highlights how they believe the superhero space just belongs to them. A lot of those same dudes reviewed T’Challa’s first appearance (“what is with the horns whenever he’s on screen”, they said, like a superhero theme playing when a hero was onscreen was somehow an anomaly) and 2018’s Black Panther with a serious lack of cultural-competency. We heard that it wasn’t very good, wasn’t Marvel’s best, and how they didn’t really understand Killmonger’s beef with America.

It was strange, word to Stephen, but expected.

In a post-Black Panther world, we saw Marvel position T’Challa as the man who would lead and influence the next iterations of the Avengers. It was not a mistake for the final stand versus Thanos to take place in Wakanda, or for the first person to walk through the portal to be her King. Whereas the first version of the flagship group included absolutely zero diversity, this next generation would be made up of not just the Black Panther, but a new Captain America, two LGBTQ+ heroes, a Muslim mutant, a Jewish protector (unfortunately played by a Guatemalan actor, but progress brings missteps sometimes) with mental health issues, and two Black, armored Avengers. With diverse heroes, we were bound to get diverse villains, too: Black Panther gave us our first non-white villain and Marvel then cast an absolute legend in Tony Leung in a movie with a primarily Asian cast. Progress was slow but steady, and people were not happy. Still, for us Black folks, T’Challa represented so much more than just a seat at the table: he was the guy the table was built for.

When he died, there was this absurd movement to recast T’Challa led by A LOT of neckbearded cis-hetero white dudes. This seemed to coincide with the rise of scoopers who would throw so much at the wall with the hope that clout would follow if even 20% was right. They could then say that Marvel changed what they got wrong, which means they were never wrong, and rinse and repeat for the next movie. The sequel to Black Panther brought even more of that: we heard of an imaginary scene with a Fantastic Four villain making their debut, how it would end with the Thunderbolts descending on Wakanda, and how Lake Bell was playing a bigger character than what she really ended up playing. It was frustrating but expected. I treat “leaks” like fan fiction anyway and love coming back to them to see what they got wrong and whether there is ever any accountability. You guessed it: there isn’t any.

However, there should be, and it was during the lead-up to Wakanda Forever ‘s release date that I first thought “this is some bullshit.” If you’ve seen Wakanda Forever, you know that there is only one tag after the movie concludes, and it is a pretty important deal. I will not spoil it here, but needless to say it is one of the more impactful scenes Marvel has ever added both in terms of what it means for the future of the MCU and how it ties into the theme of Phase 4: grief and legacy are always intertwined, and as we try to grapple with those who aren’t here we have to come to grips with how we will remember them. Wakanda Forever, in that regard, almost gives us a front-row seat to the homegoing of T’Challa and lets us remember him for what he is and what he could’ve been. The tag at the end of the movie, then, acts as a way for us to see a future where the grief has settled. To have that moment ruined a full year before the movie came out would’ve been bad enough on its own. To have the choice to ruin it be justified as something fans needed to know made it substantially worse. That scene was so beautifully executed, but to have experienced that scene with no prior knowledge would’ve hit substantially differently. Nobody would’ve had less clout had it not been shared prematurely, and as a man of color and father, it hit a little differently than your normal Marvel stinger. Because of those two things, Wakanda Forever hit differently than your normal Marvel movie. Chadwick deserved for us to experience it the right way.

Scoopers will go back to ruining movies: they can’t help themselves, after all. It is telling that a Native American site owner is letting me write and publish this, and I’m eternally grateful to Charles for giving me this platform. It’s also telling that, even with us knowing things, we’ve never ruined a movie for anyone. The goal for us is to write about the stuff we’ve loved since we were kids. I thought that was the reason we all started doing this, anyway. Cheers to Black Panther, and to the Scoopers Who Almost Ruined it: I hope you chew gravel.

November 13, 2022
From Page to Screen: Riri Williams, Ironheart

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally made its way to theaters, and it’s brought a few fresh faces with it. Among the multiple newcomers is Dominique Thorne‘s Riri Williams, perhaps better known to comic fans as the invincible Ironheart. A genius student attending MIT, Williams plays a pivotal role in Wakanda Forever and is actively set up as a major player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. While the live-action portrayal of Ironheart is surprisingly faithful to the source material, it’s not always entirely accurate, and as such, it becomes the duty of Murphy’s Multiverse to break everything down and clear up what comes from the comics and what does not. Keep in mind, it’s not inherently bad to make changes to a character, but it is fun to compare and contrast.

Comics – Riri Williams, Ironheart

Debuting in 2016’s Invincible Iron Man (Vol. 3) #7, Riri Williams is a teenage prodigy with an incredibly gifted mind. Originally from Chicago, Williams was born to her mother, Ronnie Williams, shortly after the supposed death of her father, Demetrius “Riri” Williams Sr., in a gas station robbery gone wrong. Growing up under the care of her mother, sister Sharon, and stepfather, it became quickly apparent that Riri was not like other children her age. At only 5 years old, Williams was diagnosed as a “super genius”, something that made it difficult for her to make friends or interact with other people. As a result, Williams received special care to foster her abilities and became something of an introvert, often trapped in her own mind while working on new inventions she hoped would one-day aid superheroes in saving the world. After a tragic shooting causes the deaths of her step-father and best friend, Natalie Washington, 15-year-old Riri accepts an early scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and moves away from Illinois.

At MIT, Williams uses a secret hideaway on campus to construct her own suit of armor out of stolen school material and reverse-engineered Stark tech. When security becomes aware of her activities and tries to stop them, she dons the suit and takes flight. Traversing the country and practicing her newfound abilities, Riri ends up stopping a group of escaped inmates in New Mexico, putting her in the national spotlight but damaging her already-flimsy suit. Luckily for Williams, her actions are noticed by Iron Man himself, who pays her a visit and gives her his blessing to become an armored superhero. She creates a newer, better version of the suit, and joins Tony Stark’s side of the second superhuman Civil War.

Following the conflict, Stark slips into a coma and leaves an Iron Man-sized hole in the world. Using an A.I. duplicate of her mentor, Williams designs a fully-functional, Stark-supported armor and takes over as the active ‘Iron-Person” in the Marvel Universe, adopting the name “Ironheart” and working alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers to stop world-conquering foes. Eventually, Williams joins the Champions, a group of young vigilantes, and grows further into her new role as a superhero. Over time, Riri would go on many engaging adventures, including a trip to Wakanda that earns her an honorary home among its people and establishes a close friendship with its Princess, Shuri. In more recent comics, Riri has developed an intense rivalry with the Mandarin and the Ten Rings. It’s revealed her father, long-thought deceased, was actually alive and a high-ranking member of the criminal organization.

MCU – Riri Williams

Much of Riri Williams’s backstory in the MCU remains unknown, but several elements do appear to be lifted straight from the comics. Like her comic counterpart, Thorne’s Riri is originally from Chicago and, according to a brief comment made by Williams, is close with her mother. A running motif in the film reveals Riri lost her father in the MCU as well, and learned to build machines with the help of a loving step-dad. She is also attending MIT and secretly building a suit of armor from stolen materials when discovered by Shuri and Okoye. While still a “super genius” in Wakanda Forever, Williams is aged up from her 15-year-old comic self and made to be, seemingly, an appropriate age for college. She is brash, confident, and not afraid to hustle her peers if it means making some extra cash.

Williams becomes a mainstage member of the MCU when she constructs a device capable of locating the elusive metal Vibranium from great distances. The implications of this machine land her on the radar of both Wakanda and the hidden undersea nation of Talokan, with their respective leaders Queen Ramonda and King Namor vying for possession of Williams and her creation. Namor wants Williams dead, but she’s fortunate to be found by Wakanda first, with Shuri and Okoye attempting to transport her back to their homeland in one piece. The plan falls apart quickly, however, and Williams is forced to don her secret homemade suit of armor in an effort to save her own life and help the Wakandans escape. Of course, this also fails, and both Williams and Shuri are taken by Namor’s warriors to be held captive in Talokan.

Williams, unaccustomed to a superhero lifestyle, panics for most of her time in captivity. It’s not until she and Shuri are rescued and brought safely back to Wakanda that she once again begins to shine. Surrounded by advanced Wakandan technology, Williams and Shuri help each other manufacture new weaponry for the war against Talokan. Shuri aids in the development of a new suit for Williams, while Williams offers the solution for bringing down Namor. Like in the comics, Williams establishes a unique relationship with Wakanda and Shuri, and, when Talokan attacks Wakanda, is even saved by Ramonda in her last act of heroism. At the end of the film, Riri is left without the upgraded version of her suit but finds her future is more clear after teaming with Shuri to end the Wakanda-Talokan conflict.

November 12, 2022
From Page to Screen: Aneka, Midnight Angel

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally graced movie screens, and so have the faces of quite a few new characters. The world has been abuzz over the Marvel Cinematic Universe introductions of Namor and Riri Williams, but those are not the only names making their live-action debuts in the film. One of the overshadowed additions is the latest member of the Dora Milaje – Michaela Coel’s Aneka. The character has a unique role in the film, as an important part of Wakanda’s storied history and ever-evolving future. Of course, no movie adaptation can be exactly like the source material, and as such, Murphy’s Multiverse has an urgent job to do. It has become the site’s duty to lay down Aneka’s role in both the comics and the MCU and to play a game of compare and contrast for readers to sift through and enjoy.

Comics – Aneka, Midnight Angel

Aneka’s comic story begins largely the same as it does on the big screen, as a newly introduced member of the Dora Milaje. However, on the page, Aneka is more than just part of Wakanda’s greatest protectors, serving as the group’s combat instructor in a position personally appointed by King T’Challa. She specialized in tech-based combat, initially using her role to train the Dora for an upcoming battle against vicious robots as part of the Doomwar. Eventually, however, Aneka would lose her title and be jailed at the behest of Queen Ramonda. The youthful Dora found herself on trial for the murder of a village chieftain, whom she had slain in an effort to protect the women he was abusing. Aneka’s teammate and romantic partner, Ayo, was unable to abide by Ramonda’s decision, and also left the Dora Milaje. Ayo then stole a prototype “Midnight Angel” armor, a new high-tech suit designed for the Dora and broke Aneka out of prison, gifting her a second set of armor before leaving together.

Aneka and Ayo took refuge with the women the former had saved before going on trial, but quickly found themselves under siege from the White Gorilla and his vile Jabari forces. As the Midnight Angels, a self-proclaimed offshoot of the Dora Milaje, the duo killed the White Gorilla and took over the Jabari lands. In an effort to rewrite history, they established a democratic form of government within the Jabari lands and made it their goal to campaign for a better Wakanda. Soon, they would accept an offer of assistance from a separate Wakandan rebellion, known as “the People”, and T’Challa would become unsettled by the rising unrest in his nation. After a few inciting incidents, T’Challa and the people of Wakanda would go on the offensive against the Midnight Angels and the Jabari, growing the disagreement into a full-scale civil conflict.

The partnership between the Midnight Angels and the People deteriorated not long after, with the former disapproving of the latter’s increasingly violent tactics. The breakdown in compatibility between the groups lead to the People breaking off and becoming something of a terrorist organization, causing Shuri to confront her former peers and ask them to assist her and T’Challa in protecting Wakanda’s innocents. Although the alliance between the Wakandan leadership and the Midnight Angels was fragile at first, it would eventually culminate in a truce that saw T’Challa reform Wakanda’s government away from monarchy and Aneka regain respect for her country.

MCU – Aneka, Midnight Angel

The MCU’s take on Aneka is not a combat instructor, but she is shown to gravitate towards innovative weaponry as a member of the Dora Milaje. Also, like her comic counterpart, Aneka is not held by tradition and appears to be something of a free-thinker, much to the chagrin of Okoye and the other longstanding Dora. Her role in Wakanda Forever is a relatively minor one, but it does ring a few bells that indicate she could have a much larger part to play in future Wakanda-based projects. Aneka is first seen stopping an attack on a foreign Wakandan embassy alongside her Dora teammates, Ayo included, wielding new prototype daggers designed by Shuri. Later in the film, it is revealed that Aneka and Ayo are in a relationship, like the comics, and Aneka becomes one of the very few Dora Milaje members to receive the finished “Midnight Angel” armor Shuri had created as an advanced form of Wakandan protection in the wake of her brother’s death. She dons the armor and her daggers to aid in the final battle against Talokan, before peacefully returning home to Wakanda with Ayo.

While Aneka does not play as big of a role as she does in the comics, some of her other story elements are still present in Wakanda Forever, albeit with other characters adopting them. Her trial before Ramonda and removal from the Dora technically occurs in the film, but with Okoye in her position instead. Okoye’s use of the Midnight Angel armor to become a Wakandan hero outside of the Dora is also reminiscent of Aneka’s arc in the books. Furthermore, Shuri’s dissatisfaction with Wakanda’s government and traditions, and ultimate reconciliation with T’Challa’s legacy, has strokes of Aneka’s original origin.

November 12, 2022
From Page to Screen: Attuma, Breaker of Oceans

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now in theaters, and so are a handful of new additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The highly-anticipated sequel has been praised for it’s introductions of characters like Namor, the King of Talokan, and Riri Williams, the future Ironheart. Yet, those aren’t the only two names making their first live-action appearance in the film. Another, perhaps lesser-known, face being added to the fold is Alex Livinalli‘s Attuma, the muscle behind the Talokanil’s fearsome army and one of Namor’s highest-ranking allies. Oddly enough, however, Attuma’s movie depiction is radically different from his time as the Sub-Mariner’s arch-nemesis in Marvel’s comics. As such, it becomes the duty of Murphy’s Multiverse to break down both versions of the character and present all of the information in one convenient location.

Comics – Attuma, the Barbarian

The best comparison one could make to explain the comic version of Attuma is this: he is the M’Baku to Namor’s T’Challa. Similarly to M’Baku and the Jabari tribe in Wakanda, Attuma is the leader of the banished Skarka tribe on the outskirts of Atlantis. Before his birth, Attuma’s people were forced out of Atlantean society for their barbaric ways and violent opposition to the royal ruling class. Now an independent sect of “Homo mermanus”, the Skarka lived by the prophecy that one day a warrior of their blood would rise up and conquer Atlantis in the name of the tribe. Learning of this prophecy, a warrior named Rorak captured the Skarka with the intention of controlling this fabled aggressor and, therefore, Atlantis itself. Attuma was born during Rorak’s siege, surviving the attack and taking a clot of his dying mother’s blood on the way out.

Only a boy, Attuma lead an uprising that overthrew Rorak and placed his own father, Attukar, as chieftain of the Skarka. This led to a brief period of rest for his people that saw Attukar attempt a peace treaty with Atlantis, and gave Attuma time to befriend a young Prince Namor. Together, the unlikely duo embarked on a mission important to both of their civilizations. Unfortunately, the journey was a disaster, resulting in the death of Attukar and ending all hope for lasting relations between Attuma, Namor, and their people. From this moment on, Attuma claimed himself as the prophesized warrior who would conquer Atlantis and began leading his tribe in constant brutal attacks against their former home nation.

Over the years, Attuma would try countless schemes to defeat Namor and take his throne. Among many children, he would have a daughter named Andromeda, who would grow to join him in his plots against Atlantis. After failing in his goal to rule the ocean, Attuma would also attempt to conquer the surface world, coming into conflict with heroes like the Avengers, Defenders, Fantastic Four, and even Daredevil. He also made a habit of allying himself with other villains in a bid to gain power, including several heavy hitters like Red Skull and Kang the Conqueror. On some occasions, Attuma actually did find himself able to control Atlantis, but his rule was typically brief before circumstances put Namor back on the throne.

In modern times, Attuma has left his goal of ruling Atlantis behind and has instead taken control of Lemuria, a neighboring underwater city established by the cosmic Deviants. This came after Attuma perished in battle with the Sentry, was resurrected by Doctor Doom, and became possessed by the spirit of Nerkkod – the Asgardian “Breaker of Oceans.” A wild few years for the undersea barbarian, who will likely continue to be a thorn in Namor’s side for decades to come.

MCU – Attuma, the General

Similarly to the MCU version of Namora, the live-action Attuma still does not have much of a background. Throughout Wakanda Forever, the character simply appears to be Namor’s left hand, muscle, and a commanding general in the army of Talokan. This is a far cry from Attuma’s comic counterpart, who has never taken orders from Namor or fought for his people’s interests without ruling them. Nothing is revealed about Attuma’s origins, but one would have to assume they’re awfully different from the source material considering his position as a high-ranking, respected member of Talokan society in the film. The Skarka tribe does not seem to exist in the MCU, so Attuma was likely never part of a banished people and never lived by the prophecy that he would one day conquer the nation. Instead, he seems to have grown into one of Talokan’s most feared defenders.

Attuma is seen participating in the attacks on the United States government and Wakanda, as well as leading the charge to capture Shuri and Riri Williams in Massachusetts. He forms an intense rivalry with Okoye, leader of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje, and is only truly defeated once his foe dons a suit of armor to assist herself in combat. His fate is not certain, but it is implied that Attuma returns peacefully to Talokan with Namor and his military after the monarch forms a truce with Shuri. There are no implications that Attuma has a hatred for Namor or might one day try to overthrow Talokan, but his status as “probably alive” means he’ll hopefully get the chance at some point.

November 12, 2022
From Page to Screen: Namor, the Sub-Mariner

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally hit theater screens, and it’s brought a few new characters along with it. Perhaps the biggest name to make their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut is Tenoch Huerta‘s Namor, the King of Talokan and one of the fiercest warriors Earth-616 has ever known. The character makes his highly-anticipated first appearance on the big screen after decades of failed attempts, and the result is radiant. However, the Sub-Mariner’s live-action interpretation is a little different than his original comic book take. Not better or worse, per se, but definitely not the same. As such, it becomes the duty of Murphy’s Multiverse to inform its readers of the history of Namor – as it happens on both the page and the screen.

Comics – Namor McKenzie, the Sub-Mariner

Much like his portrayal in the MCU, Namor is initially introduced to the world of Marvel comics as a terrifying vengeance from the deep. Along with the original Human Torch, the “Sub-Mariner” was one of the first Marvel characters ever to grace the page. Namor debuted in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1, in a story that saw him as an enemy of the United States. However, his true cause was not completely unjust. As King of Atlantis, and lifelong inhabitant of the ocean, Namor has always been most faithful to his people and their way of life. If the surface world were ever to endanger this, Namor would not hesitate to take action against the rest of Earth’s civilization.

The future monarch was born in the Atlantean capital to Fen, the daughter of Emperor Thakorr, and Leonard McKenzie, an American sea captain. Fen and McKenzie had fallen for each other while the former was infiltrating the latter’s ship, and produced a half-blooded mutant son with pink skin and feathered ankles. The Atlanteans did not take kindly to this, quickly killing McKenzie and forcing Fen back to her home. Namor would then be raised as the Prince of Atlantis, building a strong relationship with the underwater nation while occasionally popping to the surface world and handling scenarios involving oil spills and attacking foreign powers. Growing into adulthood, the Sub-Mariner gained incredible strength and durability, as well as other powers including flight, Marine life telepathy, and hydrokineses.

Namor rose to further prominence during the Second World War, when he joined Captain America and the Allied Forces as part of the Invaders – a superhero team formed to bring down the Nazis. This period would cement Namor and Atlantis as a world power, bringing McKenzie into contact with several notable leaders and members of the superpowered community. It was during WWII that Namor first met the Black Panther and visited Wakanda, who he and Atlantis would eventually develop a lasting back-and-forth with. After the war, Namor became further integrated into the Marvel universe, encountering the likes of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. His status as friend or foe was always dependent on the situation, even after helping to found Marvel’s version of the Illuminati and save the planet on multiple occasions.

MCU – Namor, the Feathered Serpent God

The MCU’s version of Namor is similar in spirit, if not in detail. He maintains his nationalistic attitude and undying devotion to his people and is still very much a jerk when the scenario calls for it. However, in Wakanda Forever, the undersea ruler is not from Atlantis but is instead from the nation of Talokan. He is also not born into a royal bloodline, with his homeland alternatively finding life at the same time as him. As explained in the film, Namor’s people were driven from their land on the surface world by diseases, specifically, smallpox, brought on by colonizers. Luckily, the future citizens of Talokan discovered a reserve of vibranium in the waters off their shore, and a form of Heart-Shaped Herb growing above it.

Taking the Herb, Namor’s people were able to recover from their illness. Unfortunately, they also found themselves unable to survive on land and were forced to retreat beneath the waves. They built a new city underwater and began to thrive. Namor’s mother took the Herb with Namor still in the womb, and as a result, he was born a mutant with astonishing abilities. Winged feet, human skin, and immense strength led to his crowning as the prophesized ruler of Talokan, better known to its people as K’uk’ulkan – the “Feathered Serpent God”. Aging at an incredibly slow rate, Namor would rule over Talokan in secret for centuries.

It’s not until T’Challa, King of Wakanda, reveals the presence of vibranium to the world, and Riri Williams, a gifted student from the United States, creates a machine that detects vibranium, that Namor feels the need to make himself known. In an effort to protect his country, Namor wages war on Wakanda and lays waste to its lands and royal family. Every bit as aggressive as his comic book counterpart, Namor makes sure everyone knows not to trifle with Talokan, and founds an uneasy alliance with Wakanda in the process.

November 12, 2022
What the ‘Wakanda Forever’ Post-Credit Scene Means for the Future of the Franchise

If you thought you were done crying when the credits for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began rolling, you were simply fooling yourself. As newly-minted Black Panther Shuri symbolically moved past her grief by burning her mourning garments, the post-credit scene to the film stirred a whole new batch of emotions. If you haven’t seen the film yet and wish not to be spoiled, turn back now as we’ll take a look at what the surprising PCS might mean for the future of the franchise.

The PCS reveals that Nakia hasn’t just been hiding out in Haiti mourning the loss of her lover, King T’Challa but rather has been raising their son, Prince T’Challa. As Shuri and the audience learn all about the royal son, who goes by the name Toussaint in Haiti, it becomes clear that the young Prince has been taken away from the craziness of succession in Wakanda but is being prepared to ascend to the throne one day. Only 6 years old, Prince T’Challa has a long road ahead of him before he’s ready to become King and Protector of Wakanda, not to mention the backlash and political ramifications of revealing his existence to Wakanda. What could his existence mean for the future of the Black Panther franchise?

According to Executive Producer Nate Moore, there are multiple D+ projects being developed within and adjacent to the World of Wakanda. The events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could easily lead to several such projects. While fans might be familiar with rumors of an Okoye-centric project (which could become a Midnight Angels), the PCS of Wakanda Forever could turn into another project sometime down the road. With Marvel Studios Multiverse Saga slate pretty full, there might not be room in it for a third Black Panther film and director Ryan Coogler isn’t quite ready to make the decision about whether he wants to sign on for it or not, but the longer it takes for Black Panther 3 to hit theaters, the older Prince T’Challa gets to be. Is there room for a streaming project about Prince T’Challa between now and when Black Panther 3 hits theaters? Or, perhaps it’s better to ask if there’s room for one between now and when Avengers: Secret Wars hits theaters?

Ultimately, the PCS of Wakanda Forever doesn’t truly feel like it’s setting up much of anything as much as it’s making a statement in line with the film’s subtitle: the legacy of T’Challa, and Wakanda, will continue on. With the deaths of T’Challa and Ramonda, Shuri stood as the last member of the family who had ruled Wakanda since their ancestor, Bashenga, became the first Black Panther and united four of the five tribes of Wakanda into one nation. Prince T’Challa serves as a promise that the line will continue for another generation. But will audiences ever see the Prince become the Black Panther?

It’s a tough question to answer because, in the comics, 616-T’Challa doesn’t have a son. Some alternate universe T’Challas have had children, but for the most part any story involving Prince T’Challa will be an original. And again, whether or not those stories end up being told is a big question. It’s possible, maybe even likely, that while Marvel Studios chose not to recast Chadwick Boseman in Wakanda Forever, the potential to do so down the road a few years in Avengers: Secret Wars remains tempting. A post-Secret Wars MCU could potentially be built around one new universe in which characters from others find themselves together. In that case, a new actor coming in as a Variant T’Challa provides opportunity for Marvel Studios to have the character working alongside the Fantastic Four and, yes, the X-Men where a potential relationship with Storm can finally come to the big screen.

That’s not to say Marvel Studios may not chose to keep Prince T’Challa in the plans. A D+ series about the young Prince, his mother and aunt could be a way to continue to explore the rich history of Wakanda or another film, 5+ years down the road set in Wakanda could end up exploring the changing political landscape of the country, a theme that’s often been explored in the comics. So while it’d be great to “know” just what Prince T’Challa’s appearance means for the future of Wakanda, all it really does is ensure that there is one.

November 12, 2022
5 Spidey Suits We’d Like to See in the MCU Following Tom Holland’s New Deal

Rumors persist that Tom Holland and Marvel Studios have struck a deal that will allow the actor to reprise his role as Spider-Man in a bevy of upcoming MCU projects. If that’s true, there’s one thing above all others that fans can count on: new suits! New suits sell toys and there’s nothing Disney loves more than that.

Now all on his own within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter Parker has to fend for himself and that means creating his own suits. He put together a very nice-looking one at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home and that’ll almost certainly be the one he’s wearing when he’s first seen in his next appearance. However, Marvel Stuios has done a pretty great job of incorporating some of the most memorable Spidey suits into their films, even if they’ve not all been Peter’s and not all been entirely comic accurate. With that in mind, we take a look at five comic-book suits that might inspire Peter’s wave of costumes in the MCU!

Spider-Armor

At SDC ’22, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige listed Spider-Man and Daredevil as headliners of the MCU’s street-level heroes. Being a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man means spending a good deal of time in the streets and less in space, and it’s pretty likely that’s exactly what will happen in Holland’s fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Battling crime on the streets, especially with the likes of a guy like Kingpin and his goons, almost certainly means coming under gunfire. With that in mind, it seems like it would be a pretty good idea for Peter to put together an armored suit. The comics provide inspiration for a few different choices, but the very metal silver and black MK1 that he first donned in 1993’s Web of Spider-Man #100 would look great on screen and serve as a nice contrast the bright red and blue of his default suit.

The Symbiote Suit

Everyone wants to see Holland’s Parker bond with Venom and bring the Symbiote Suit to the MCU. The post-credit scene of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home set the stage and it’s likely that Holland’s new contract will have him signed on for Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning if Marvel Studios chooses to, they could pay homage to the comics by having him bond with the symbiote for the first time in the the 2026 conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.

The Bombastic Bag-Man Suit

With Marvel Studios Fantastic Four film set to come out in 2025, Holland’s new contract could work him into the film in a larger-than-a-cameo-but-still-pretty-small-role. If that’s the case, there’s no more MCU-type gag that Matt Shakman and the creatives behind Fantastic Four could play than having Peter suit up as the Bombastic Bag-Man for a scene. If Marvel Studios can give Peter a new suit by making him turn one inside-out, they can definitely come up with a way for him to need to borrow one of the FF’s suits and put a paper bag over his head.

The Future Foundation Suit

A much more iconic suit that Peter could wear a bit longer in either Fantastic Four or something like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the Future Foundation suit seems like a must to shove Holland into over the next 6 years. The suit has been featured heavily in video games, Marvel Legends and in the comics. It’s a fascinating design and the colors can be inverted at will, meaning Disney could go two-for-one as far as getting toys out of a suit. Keeping in mind that just because it’s called the Future Foundation suit in the comics doesn’t mean there needs to be a Future Foundation in the MCU, this seems like the second surest bet on this list.

The Big Time Suit

Another suit that gamers are already plenty familiar with is the Stealth Suit, aka the Big Time Suit. It could be argued that Peter already had a Stealth Suit in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but that’ll almost certainly go down in memory as the Night Monkey Suit. The Big Time Suit could show up down the road in Spidey 5 or 6 after Peter has had some time to build on his already impressive engineering skills. Interestingly enough, Peter first wore it in the comics to help defend him from Hobgolin, a villain who has yet to appear in any Spider-Man films but who could pretty readily be worked into the MCU.

Ultimately, it was tough to choose just 5 suits. Outside of Peter’s vast array, there are the iconic looks of Ben Reilly, Miguel O’Hara, Kaine Parker and, of course, Miles Morales. Of those characters, it doesn’t seem like more than one could ever have a future in the MCU, so should Marvel Studios choose to do so, they could work some of those into the next half-dozen or so appearances by Holland. In all likelihood, whatever suits they do choose to adapte, we won’t see the same one twice!

November 10, 2022
The New Deal: A Look at Tom Holland’s Future as Spider-Man

Though it hasn’t been officially announced, the buzz around Sony and Marvel Studios reaching a new deal to continue their collaborative efforts to co-produce Spider-Man films has been at an all-time high this week. The deal, should it be reached, would allow Marvel Studios to get to work on developing new Spidey films with Sony and for them to negotiate a deal with star Tom Holland that would allow him to appear in non-Spidey films. As we wait for word to come down that Holland is ready to get back to work, we take a look at how Tom’s New Deal might play out over the next several years.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2024)

Once the new deal is announced, expect things to advance pretty quickly on the first new solo Spidey outing. In late 2021, Kevin Feige admitted that he and Amy Pascal had already begun developing the story for the fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Even though the film hasn’t been officially given the green light yet, the fact that a story has been in the works for nearly a year means that some of the principal talent involved might be privy to some of that info. Feige announced at SDCC that Spider-Man and Daredevil were going to lead the way as street-level heroes and Tom Holland, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have all dropped some breadcrumbs along the way that make it sound like the fourth MCU Spidey film might feature Spidey and Daredevil teaming up to take on Mayor Fisk. Of course, it’s also time for Peter Parker to complicate his life by adding a new love interest and there’s no better time than now for that to be Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.

Fantastic Four (2025)

Undoubtedly, part of Holland’s New Deal will include stipulations that allow for appearances in non-Spidey MCU films. Given that the New Deal will coincide with the Fantastic Four finally making their way into the MCU and that one of Peter Parker’s longest-lasting and most important friendships in Marvel Comics is with Johnny Storm, it’s nearly impossible to think he wouldn’t show up in their film.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2026)

Spider-Man is among Marvel’s most valued and beloved characters, so it’s all but a sure thing that they’ll want Holland’s New Deal to include appearances in both their upcoming Avengers’ films. Secret Wars is probably the most ambitious project Marvel Studios has ever attempted and it’s likely to take inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 version, which means that another Spider-Man could potentially be introduced here, setting the stage for the remainder of Holland’s time as the Wall-Crawler. It also allows for Marvel Studios to make good on the symbiote suit tease in the post-credit scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, allowing Holland to get at least one go around in the beloved black suit.

Spider-Man: One More Day (2026)

Assuming Sony wants to keep churning out new Spidey films every 2 years as they did during the first deal, Holland’s next MCU-based Spidey film will hit in 2026. Assuming the rumors of Sacha Baron Cohen signing on as Mephisto for multiple projects are true, it’s likely that at least one of those appearances would be for a major film and it’s also likely he didn’t sign on to something that would keep him busy for a decade or more. In the comics, Spider-Man made a deal with Mephisto that had long-lasting ramifications for the character. It’s not out of the question that Peter’s MCU story could see him try to find a way to have “one more day” with MJ. Mephisto is just the guy to grant that kind of wish to Peter, but at what cost?

Spider-Man: End of Days (2028)

Unfortunately, Holland can’t and won’t go on forever as Spidey; fortunately, the comics provide a fantastic road map for what to do next and both Sony and Marvel Studios would be foolish not to take advantage of it. Miles Morales is one of the most important Marvel Comics’ characters not just of the modern age but of all time. Giving Peter and Miles time to get to know one another after meeting in Secret Wars would deepen and enrich both characters, make Peter’s death feel like an even great loss and set up Miles as THE Spider-Man for the next decade.

6 projects in 4 years for Holland seems crazy, but obviously, this is all just speculation and no dates are set in stone, not even, as we’ve seen, those for movies as big as Fantastic Four and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, whether the dates are even remotely correct or not, Holland’s New Deal will certainly keep him incredibly busy over a very short amount of time.

November 10, 2022