Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV Features

  • The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Six years after being canceled by Netflix, Daredevil will be born again on Disney Plus beginning March 4th. After initially planning to make Daredevil: Born Again a “whole new deal” with no connection to the three seasons that streamed on Netflix between 2015 and 2018, Marvel Studios switched gears, reconning the events and characters of the gritty drama into the MCU as part of a creative retooling led by showrunner Dario Scardapane and the directing duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead.

    During our restart of all the creative on Daredevil: Born Again, all the creatives got together and said, “Look, this is how we’ve got to do it now.” So we are for sure only speaking about it in terms of being directly connected to the original Daredevil, and that’s a great thing. It brings in a lot of cool stories and all the collateral story that happened in those original three seasons. So we now get to start this Born Again situation with all of that history behind us and the outcome of all that history. So we’re all talking about Daredevil: Born Again in those terms now.

    -Vincent D’Onofrio

    While that decision reportedly resulted in very positive changes to the quality of Daredevil: Born Again, it also greatly added to the required reading fans might choose to do if they’re not intimately familiar with Daredevil and its cast of characters. And if 39 hour-long episodes of that series aren’t enough, an important chapter in Matt Murdock ‘s Netflix story was told in The Defenders and Jon Bernthal‘s Frank Castle, who debuted in Daredevil Season 2 before starting in two seasons of The Punisher, will also be featured in Daredevil: Born Again...and that’s just the Netflix stuff!

    Though it might seem overwhelming, it’s only because it truly is. However, as you’ve no doubt come to expect, we’ve got you covered with an incredibly detailed Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Daredevil: Born Again!

    Tier One

    Preparing yourself for Daredevil: Born Again will be no small task. With the decision to canonize the entirety of Netflix’s Defenders-verse series, the required reading for Daredevil: Born Again will take just under 2 days worth of time…you better get started.

    Daredevil Season, 1 (2015)

    🍅 99%

    Reliving the Gritty Streets: Recapping ‘Daredevil’ Season 1

    Netflix’s 2013 deal with Marvel Television changed the landscape of comic book content. In 2015, Daredevil blazed a bloody path into homes, delivering an unprecedented brand of superhero TV. Charlie Cox cemented himself as THE Matt Murdock/Daredevil and found an incredible equal and opposite force of nature in Vincent D’Onofrio‘s unforgettable turn as Wilson Fisk. Though 13 hours of any season of television will have its faults, Season 1 of Daredevil remains the highpoint of Marvel TV entertainment 10 years later.

    This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what’s sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.

    -Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment, 2013

    Marvel Studios’ decision to rework Daredevil: Born Again into essentially a fourth season of Daredevil means that all the foundation built in Season 1, for both Daredevil and Kingpin, will indeed matter to full enjoy the new season. Matt’s relationships with Karen and Foggy and Wilson’s relationship with Vanessa will be key elements in the next arcs for each of them.

    Daredevil Season, 2 (2016)

    🍅 81%

    Shadows of Justice and Vengeance: Recapping Daredevil Season 2

    Though it was not as highly regarded as Season 1, the second season of Daredevil is a must watch for fans as they prepare for Daredevil: Born Again. Not only does it introduce Frank Castle into Hell’s Kitchen, but Season 2 also delivers some key Daredevil mythology by exploring the Hand and Matt’s relationship with Elektra.

    If possible, Season 2 may be more violent than its predecessor, thanks almost entirely to Jon Bernthal‘s murderous Castle. It’s also likely that Frank’s relationship with Karen Page, the exploration of which extended into The Punisher, will factor into Daredevil: Born Again.

    The Defenders (2017)

    🍅 78%

    Netflix’s crossover event brought together the stars of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist but ultimately fell a little flat. It feels a lot more like another season of Daredevil and does some real heavy lifting for Season 3.

    Daredevil, Season 3 (2018)

    🍅 97%

    Redemption, Resurgence, and the Shadow of the Devil: Recapping Daredevil Season 3

    After sidelining Fisk for a good portion of Season 2, the third and final season brings him back into the spotlight and face-to-face with Matt. It also introduces Wilson Bethel‘s Bullseye who joined the cast of Daredevil: Born Again and looks to be even more dangerous this time around.

    Tier Two

    These three projects should be the mustard and relish to your Daredevil hot dog. You don’t need to watch any of these to consume Daredevil: Born Again; however, you’ll find yourself enjoying it more thanks to the extra boost.

    The Punisher, Season 1 (2017)

    A Gritty Tale of Vengeance, Crime, and Redemption: Recapping The Punisher Season 1

    🍅 68%

    The Punisher, Season 2 (2019)

    🍅 61%

    A Riveting Saga of Revenge, Redemption, and Resilience: Recapping The Punisher Season 2

    Unfortunately, neither season of The Punisher is must see TV, not for enjoying Daredevil: Born Again or even in general terms. It’s unclear just how large of a role Frank Castle is set to play in the news series, especially after the creative overhaul, but it’s definitely more than a cameo and he WILL be working with “Red” for at least the better part of one episode. If you’ve never seen the Netflix series and want a little background on this particular version of The Punisher, knock yourself out and squeeze in 26 hours of madness; if not, you’ll still know everything you really need to know from watching Daredevil and from exposition in Daredevil: Born Again.

    Hawkeye (2021)

    🍅 92%

    If Daredevil: Born Again was JUST a Daredevil show, Hawkeye would not be on the list; however, Wilson Fisk’s story is just as much a part of the MCU’s Daredevil lore as Matt Murdock’s and a chapter of it is told here. If you’re short on time, you can watch Episodes 5 and 6, which are the only two in which Fisk physically appears, but Hawkeye is good enough that it’s worth the watch if you have the time.

    Echo (2024)

    🍅 70%

    Though Fisk is a major player in Echo, the project’s identity as a Marvel Spotlight series should mean that any ground covered in it that’s relevant to Daredevil: Born Again will likely be explained within the framework of the new series.

    No. I don’t think that she would like that idea. I think it’s a terrible idea. He’s such a dirty crook. He’s got a lot of things going on. I don’t think him running for a position of political power would be a good idea.

    -Alaqua Cox

    While Fisk does play a major role in the body of the series, it’s his appearance in a credit scenes that ties directly to Daredevil: Born Again. And though it could be argued that alone should make Echo a Tier One project, it’s probably going to be covered in some sort of pre-Episode 1 highlight reel.

    Tier Three

    Here only for those of you who want to be fully prepared for anything that could happen in Daredevil: Born Again and to be able to say you’ve watched every MCU-set project in which Daredevil has appeared, two Tier Three projects are just fun visits with an otherwise very serious character while another will lay the foundation for a character appearance.

    Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

    🍅 93%

    He’s a really good lawyer.

    As revealed by our own Charles Villanueva in 2020, Cox made the jump into the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home. While it was only a cameo, it generated a lot of excitement and was the first step toward fully integrating Daredevil into the MCU. While Spidey and other NYC heroes will be mentioned during Daredevil: Born Again, it’s only worth remembering that the Murdock served as Peter’s legal counsel. Since Doctor Strange’s spell would ensure that he does not know who Peter Parker is, this is essentially a dead end.

    Ms. Marvel (2022)

    🍅 98%

    Though the full extent of his role in the series is not clear, promotional materials for the series have revealed that Kamala Khan’s father, Yusuf, will appear in Daredevil: Born Again. Ms. Marvel is one of Marvel Studios’ best streaming efforts so if you haven’t seen it in a while—or at all–give it a look.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

    🍅 79%

    Episodes 8 and 9 of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law marked the MCU debut of Daredevil. While some fans bristled at the more carefree vibe Cox brought to the role in his appearance, it certainly fit the tone of the series, as head writer Jessica Gao explained. “They get to take a little bit of a comedy vacation,” said Gao of guest starring heroes like Cox’s Man Without Fear. “Of course, after our show, they get to go back to save the world, saving the universe, very serious, intense story…“

    I’ve made it no secret that I’m a huge fan of Tatiana’s and the fun we had on She-Hulk was some of the best fun I’ve had as that character. I thought she was amazing as Jennifer Walters and I would be a huge… certainly an advocate of her showing up in our show if she’s free and available and willing and all of those things. So I would love for that to happen. I have no idea if that is possible.

    -Charlie Cox

    While Cox admittedly had a blast portraying a different side of the character and expressed a desire to work with She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany again, it’s unlikely that his appearance on the show will impact Daredevil: Born Again in any significant way.

    About Daredevil: Born Again

    Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again stars Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, with Ayelet Zurer and Jon Bernthal.

    In Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course.

    -Official synopsis for Daredevil: Born Again

    Dario Scardapane is showrunner. Episodes are directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Michael Cuesta, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and David Boyd; and executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Sana Amanat, Chris Gary, Dario Scardapane, Chris Ord & Matt Corman, and Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead.

    Daredevil: Born Again launches on Disney+ on March 4, 2025.

  • ‘Skeleton Crew’: D+ Clarifies Confusion Around the New Series Place on the Star Wars Timeline

    ‘Skeleton Crew’: D+ Clarifies Confusion Around the New Series Place on the Star Wars Timeline

    Set on the very Earth-like planet of At Attin, Lucasfilm’s new Disney Plus Star Wars streaming series, Skeleton Crew, oozes with timeless nostslgia and innocence. By creating a show centered on the unexpected adventures of a group of children, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford have provided an opportunity for fans to reconnect with the he franchise through an unjaded perspective and seem to have done just that. However, the wholesome and unfamiliar setting along with some mysterious goings on in the first two episodes have caused some confusion about where in the Star Wars timeline Skeleton Crew takes place.

    As discovered over the first two installments, to the rest of the galaxy, the homeworld of Wim, Fern, KB and Neel is a bit of a myth. Referred to by a Theelin “entertainer” as the “lost planet of eternal treasure, At Attin is a bit of a place out of time that rests behind a barrier to the rest of the galaxy. While that’s certainly a core mystery of Skeleton Crew that will continue to unfold, the series’ place on the timeline is not.

    As seen on Disney Plus, the events of Skeleton Crew take place after Ahsoka and before Star Wars Resistance, setting it firmly in the New Republic era. Though the series hasn’t provided enough clues to pin down an exact spot on the timeline, with Ahsoka taking place in 11 ABY, Skeleton Crew must take place either concurrently with that or shortly thereafter as the New Republic is still functional.

    Of course, Lucasfilm made some effort to circumvent at least some of the confusion ahead of the series by confirming the New Republic era setting; however, the D+ timeline does provide a little more information and, perhaps, a clue that could help solve the show’s ongoing mystery. By setting Skeleton Crew chronologically AFTER Ahsoka, it can be assumed that the audience is already familiar with the Star Wars franchise’s extragalactic expansion which played a major role in Ahsoka. Perhaps the reason At Attin seems frozen in time is that it has been hidden in the same way Peridea was revealed to be? Perhaps not! With 6 episodes to go, it’ll likely be some time before audiences learn the true nature of the Skeleton Crew‘s central mystery.

  • A Look at Marvel Studios Lost Phase 6 Projects

    A Look at Marvel Studios Lost Phase 6 Projects

    A recent interview with Don Cheadle seemed to confirm what most fans had already come to understand: Marvel Studios’ original plans for Phase 6 have been significantly refigured. During SDCC ’22, the studio’s head honcho, Kevin Feige, showed off an impressive plan for the final phase of the Multiverse Saga that included 11 total projects. At the time, the plan was for Fantastic Four to kick off Phase 6 on November 8, 2024 and for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars to hit theaters only 6 months apart on May 2nd, 2025 and November 7, 2025, respectively. For a multitude of reasons, nothing on that slate made its scheduled release and many of the projects will never come to fruition at all.

    Though the nature of the other eight projects may never be disclosed, at least two more of them were likely destined to be films which would mean the other six were planned as streaming series. Given what the studio’s plans looked like at the time, that’s probably how it was meant to shape up.

    Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

    Following the dismal reception of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, a confluence of events led to the plans for the fifth installment in the Avengers franchise to be scrapped. The plans put in place, presumably, in the Quantumania stinger and in Season 2 of Loki were ditched following star Jonathan Majors‘ legal troubles. But what were those plans?

    The earliest rumors indicated that Sam Wilson, Shang-Chi and Shuri were set to take on Kang though they were destined to fail. Interestingly enough, that information matched a recent report that indicated the scrapped sequel would have had a heavy focus on Simu Liu‘s hero.

    In the original plan for Avengers 5, then called Kang Dynasty, Shang-Chi would’ve been one of the film’s main leads. A lot’s changed since then; Avengers 5 was meant to focus on Kang the Conqueror, but Marvel has since completely retooled the film to introduce Victor Von Doom.

    -Inverse

    It was also reported that while The Kang Dynasty was going to have a huge roster of heroes, it would not include the Fantastic Four. Instead, director Destin Daniel Cretton, who has since left the project, was keen on including Hulk, She-Hulk and Moon Knight in the project as part of the rumored team of new Avengers.

    Shang-Chi and the Wreckage of Time

    Whether or not “Wreckage or Time” was indeed meant to be the subtitle of the sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a sequel was most certainly in development. Even as the first film was being made, the wheels inside Destin Daniel Cretton’s mind were hard at work on the sequel. It’s unclear if some of those ideas would ultimately have been included in The Kang Dynasty, which was reportedly a sort of surprise Shang-Chi sequel, but it is clear that Shang-Chi was originally intended to play a major role in Phase 6 and now, with Cretton taking on Spider-Man 4, it would seem his role has been greatly reduced.

    Armor Wars

    First announced during Disney’s 2020 Investor Day presentation, Armor Wars will go down as one of the most curious projects in the history of the MCU. Originally developed as a Disney Plus streaming series, the studio made the decision to switch gears on Rhodey’s solo project, choosing to overhaul it for theaters. According to EP Nate Moore, the ideas the studio has were deemed to be “too big” for a D+ series.

    Yeah, I mean in that case, there were some great ideas that were coming out for that show but that, to be quite honest, felt too big for that show.

    Despite little to no progress having been reported over the years, Armor Wars was reportedly searching for a director in January 2024 with an eye on a 2026 release. However, recent comments by the project’s star, Don Cheadle, did nothing to generate positive vibes. “I don’t know, I’m not sure where anything is right now,” said Cheadle when asked about the film. “I think things are going through a lot of changes, and we’ll see what happens, we’ll see what it is.”

    Silver Surfer

    The only project in this list that was never officially announced by Marvel Studios or revealed by a Hollywood trade, the Silver Surfer Special Presentation may or may not have ever been in development; however, if it ever was, it certainly does not seem to be at this point.

    Originally rumored to be set to hit Disney Plus ahead of the theatrical release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the Silver Surfer project was said to be required reading for the film. Problematically, the rumored plot was said to follow Norrin Radd out and about in the cosmos while serving as the Herald of Galactus despite the fact that Marvel Studios cast Julia Garner as an all+new, all-different Shalla Bal version of the character.

    Nova

    Despite Marvel Studios giving a Disney Plus Nova series the green light in March 2022, the project–written by Moon Knight scribe Sabir Pirzada—was rumored to be headed to the big screen before being unceremoniously shoved to the back burner as other projects took precedence. However, in May 2024, a report indicated that the studio was gearing up to begin production on the series in 2025.

    While the studio has not officially indicated when the series might begin filming, Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum did reveal that that Nova is being developed as “an amazing ensemble piece” before explaining that fans of the comics will know “how heated that Richard Rider kind of world can get.” Should the project get underway in 2025, there’s no reason to believe it will be included in Phase 6 which is expected to wrap up in May 2027 with Avengers: Secret Wars. At this point in time, it would seem that the studio’s Wonder Man and Vision Quest series will debut in 2026 and it’s unclear what role, if any, the Nova Corps would even have in the Multiverse Saga making the project a likely entry in the studio’s post-Multiverse Saga plans.

  • ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 6 Reveals the Real Reason Billy Is Walking Down, Down, Down the Road

    ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 6 Reveals the Real Reason Billy Is Walking Down, Down, Down the Road

    As it moves through its nine-episode season, it’s become increasingly clear that Agatha All Along was never intended to be about Agatha all along. Initially the unassuming familiar of Agatha Harkness’ coven of chaos, Joe Locke‘s Teen has emerged as the true protagonist of the second half of the series. Following the Episode 5 reveal that Teen is Billy Maximoff, the son of Wanda Maximoff believed to have been erased from existence in the WandaVision finale, the true nature of the character immediately changed the focus of the series. With Episode 6 detailing how Billy came to be entangled with William Kaplan, the final three episodes look set to proceed with a new storytelling purpose that was made clear before Episode 5 wrapped.

    While the “Billy reveal” wasn’t truly a surprise to a large percentage of the MCU’s fan base, the revelation of why Billy wanted to walk the Witches’ Road may have been a surprise to those unfamiliar with the very detailed leaks about the plot of Agatha All Along. Despite Teen expressing a desire to obtain power at the end of the Road, much of the online discussion about his real motives (most of which were  based on the assumption he was truly Billy Maximoff) leaned into the idea that he would use the Road to find his mother. Episode 6 made it clear that the Wanda problem remains one to be solved another day.

    Thanks to some detective-esque interrogation from Agatha, Billy’s true motivation for walking the Witches’ Road came bursting forth in a show of strong emotion. What Billy is truly missing and hopes to find at the end of the road is his twin brother, Tommy. Like Billy, Tommy was believed to be erased from existence as Wanda undid the hex. However, as is the case with Billy, Tommy’s soul remains on Earth-616. Moreover, Billy can feel his twin’s presence but is unable to locate him.

    With three episodes left to go, there’s still some exploration of other witch’s stories to go, a trial or two and at least one incredibly interesting twist; however, with Billy’s true intention for manipulating Agatha to leading the way down the Witches’ Road having been revealed, the show has changed course and one has to wonder what adventures will be in store for Billy and Tommy, if and when they reunite.

  • ‘Agatha All Along’: Teen’s Big Episode 6 Origin Reveal Explained

    ‘Agatha All Along’: Teen’s Big Episode 6 Origin Reveal Explained

    Through its first six episodes, Marvel Studios’ first WandaVision spinoff, Agatha All Along, has been nothing short of spellbinding. In Episode 5, “Darkest Hour/Wake They Power”, creator Jac Schaeffer revealed that Joe Locke‘s unassuming Teen was actually Wanda Maximoff’s son, Billy. Though it was certainly not a surprise to hardcore fans of either the MCU or Marvel Comics, general audiences who don’t read comics or scour the internet for every leak, rumor and scoop may have found themselves not only surprised but a little confused about how Earth-616 Billy, who disappeared when Wanda undid The Hex, could be alive and rather well. More multiversal shenanigans? More magic? Fortunately, the wait to find out was not a long one as Episode 6, “Familiar By Thy Side”, set out to explain the previous episode’s twist.

    Though the big Billy reveal was indeed part of multiple and widespread leaks about Agatha All Along, the “how” of it all was not necessarily front-page news. And as is Marvel Studios’ way, Schaeffer chose not to follow along step-by-step with the way Marvel Comics handled Billy Maximoff’s “rebirth”, opting to create a more connected in-universe option. For those who haven’t seen it yet or find themselves a little confused, let’s look at how it all went down.

    Teen (Joe Locke) in Marvel Television’s AGATHA ALL ALONG, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2024

    Even if the mechanics of it all aren’t quite clear right away, the bare bones explanation for what’s going on is that just as Billy Maximoff and his brother, Tommy, disappeared as their mother ended the hex that created them, a teenager named William Kaplan (Locke) was killed in a single car accident. As Kaplan’s soul left his body, Billy’s soul moved into the “empty vessel” and as the body reanimated, it was Billy behind the wheel.

    As he explains in the episode, Billy has none of William Kaplan’s memories and has been essentially posing as the teen for three years, a stranger within the body of another person. Interestingly enough, Billy retained the psionic powers he displayed in WandaVision while also, obviously, learning spellcraft along the way.

    Moving forward, it should be clear that Locke’s Teen is truly Billy Maximoff wearing the skinsuit of William Kaplan. How the studio will choose to proceed with identifying the character is already a topic of conversation among Marvel Comics fans with the very simple solution of calling him Billy Kaplan deemed as a solid compromise. Whatever the case, it’s now clear that Locke’s character has a future beyond Agatha All Along, though with the studio taking its time producing new streaming series, it could be years until we see the next chapter.

  • ‘Agatha All Along’ Crowns Wanda Jr.

    ‘Agatha All Along’ Crowns Wanda Jr.

    For the first four episodes of Agatha All Along, creator Jac Schaeffer let fans dabble in their theories about who Joe Locke‘s Teen may or may not be. Thankfully, following Agatha Harkness’ heartbreaking trial, there’s no longer any doubt about who Locke is playing or who is in charge on the Witches’ Road.

    Those who have enjoyed the mystery of Teen’s true identity shouldn’t despair now that the show revealed him as Wanda Maximoff’s son, Billy. Indeed the mystery was spoiled long ago and more mysteries are yet to be solved. While fans may find themselves a little too focused on the “revelation”, perhaps a little more attention should be paid to the enormous power Billy displayed in the episode’s final moments where he not only took control over two other witches but, possibly, the Road itself.

    While Marvel Studios has yet to officially acknowledge Teen as Billy Maximoff, aka Billy Kaplan, aka Wiccan, Episode 5 of Agatha All Along crowned the Demiurge-to-Come and, in doing so, subtly referenced one of the character’s more popular arcs, The Children’s Crusade. Following Agatha mocking Teen for being like his mother, the character proved her right by displaying not only the magnitude of his power but also his apparent lack of control of it when he unleashes it.

    Of course, the real question here is if Billy has been capable of these great feats of power all along, why has he been so meekly playing along on the coven’s trip down the Witches’ Road? Or has he been meekly playing along at all? At his strongest in the comics, Billy was a reality warper capable of creation, transmutation and essentially accomplishing any and every thing he wished. Sure, he’s out of control at the end of Episode 5 but what might we have missed along the way?

  • Theory Thursday: Salem’s Seven’s Beef with Agatha Harkness in ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Theory Thursday: Salem’s Seven’s Beef with Agatha Harkness in ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Note: This article was first published on June 15, 2023

    A recent plot summary of Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos indicated that a group of villains ripped from the pages of Marvel Comics will be stirring up trouble for Kathryn Hahn‘s Agatha Harkness and her coven. According to insider Daniel RPK, Salem’s Seven will be headed to Westview to “seek out revenge” on Agatha Harkness…but revenge for what?

    In the Comics…

    First seen in the pages of Fantastic Four #186, Salem’s Seven were, in their own words, “a supernatural squadron” capable of mutating themselves through magic to take on some pretty horrifying forms. Led by Vertigo, the group was made up of mystics named Brutacus, Gazelle, Hydron, Reptilla, Thornn and Vakume all of whom were the grandchildren of Agatha Harkness. As it turned out, Agatha’s son, the wanton sorcerer Nicholas Scratch, had quite an itch to scratch indeed and spread his seed liberally amongst the potential baby mamas of the quaint magical community of New Salem, a hidden Colorado town founded by the survivors of the Salem Witch Trials.

    While each member of the Seven wielded reasonably powerful magic, their transformations made them far more formidable. Brutacus got brutey. Gazelle morphed into a super speedy deer lady. Hydron became a merman with a stump water canon. Reptilla turned into a snake with bitey snake arms. Thornn became a demonic porcupine. Vakume lost his face and could control the wind. And Vertigo…well you can probably guess. It’s best not to overthink these types of things and just accept that they did what they could do because crazy animal sorcerers provided a much more fertile landscape for telling weird witch stories.

    And Salem’s Seven found their way into more than one weird witch story, though their primary purpose remained largely the same: get Agatha. Despite their father being one of the most popular characters in the long history of Marvel Comics, the children of the Scratch mostly failed miserably in their attempts to bring harm to their powerful granny. When it’s all said and done, other than looking cool when they mutate, they were mostly cannon fodder.

    In the MCU…

    In what might be the least mysterious mystery in the history of MCU mystery, the origin of the vengeful Salem’s Seven began in 1693. As seen in Episode 8 of WandaVision, “Previously On”, Agatha’s taste for dark magic put her in a rather precarious predicament as she was put on trial by her own Salem-based coven. Eight witches, including her mother, Evanora, held court as Agatha was accused of a bevy of witchy crimes and sentenced to death by energy beaming. Unfortunately for the coven, Agatha’s reverse energy beaming powers were stronger and she laid those witches low.

    Eight dead Salem witches. One of them Agatha’s mother. Seven dead witches whose descendants would have reason to be out to give Agatha some smoke. Salem’s Seven. The math checks out. Drawn to Westview, perhaps, after the incredibly powerful hex cast by Wanda caught the attention of every magic user across the globe, Vertigo and crew would seem to have a leg up on Agatha given that last time she was seen, she didn’t know who she truly was following Wanda’s spell. Maybe a powerful “familiar” can help her find herself.

    As in the comics, it sounds like the Seven will be led by Vertigo, who is reportedly being played by Okwui Okpokwasili. The only burning question about Salem’s Seven is whether or not Marvel Studios will bring their funky mutant powers from page to screen. The answer, probably, is yes. Much like Len Wein and George Perez, Jac Schaeffer and crew likely recognize that having funky-looking sorcerers is cooler than having a bunch more who look like people. It’s also likely that they’ll pose little actual threat to Agatha and Billy, though they might be able to take out one of their coven just to keep it interesting. If that’s the case, it begs the question of why Marvel Studios would make the main villains of Agatha: Coven of Chaos so underwhelming. Easy one: because they aren’t the true big bad.

    The first two episodes of Agatha All Along are now streaming on Disney Plus.

  • Scratch That, Reverse It! Joe Locke’s Teen May Not Be Who You Thought He Was

    Scratch That, Reverse It! Joe Locke’s Teen May Not Be Who You Thought He Was

    The two-episode premiere of Agatha All Along certainly didn’t disappoint the legions of fans who had been waiting to return to Westview. Star Kathryn Hahn stepped right back into the role of the spellbound Agnes O’Connor before quite literally stripping away the layers that created that persona until Agatha Harkness reemerged. And while fans are rightfully looking forward to Agatha and her coven of chaos making their way down the Witches’ Road, series’ creator Jac Schaeffer had a good old Easter egg hunt planned first.

    Before Agatha escapes the spell cast on her by Wanda Maximoff, she finds herself living out her days as a Westview PD detective. As she works a mysterious murder case, Detective O’Connor grows frustrated in her attempts to deduce any reasonable conclusions from the clues she’s collected which include a familiar-looking locket. Upon returning home for the evening, a distressed Agnes opens a door to a room in her house which, in turn, opens a great big can of worms related to one of the central mysteries of the series.

    Revealed to be the room of her son, the room is shown to be filled with drawings, trophies and otherwise everyday kid stuff…but there’s no kid. Oh, and the kid who isn’t there: it’s Nicholas Scratch. Son of a bitch!

    Who Is Nicholas Scratch?

    Like his mother, Agatha’s comic book son, Nicholas Scratch, has a bit of a sordid history. Scratch was referenced as somewhat of an Easter egg in WandaVision, with Harnkness’ pet bunny (who returns for Agatha All Along) sharing the name, but in the comics, he was a powerful warlock in his own right who had less than a loving relationship with his mother.

    Schaeffer smartly seeded Scratch into the tapestry of Agatha All Along out of the gate…and Episode 1 is hardly the last time he’ll be referenced.

    Scratch Where It Itches

    Teen (Joe Locke) in Marvel Television’s AGATHA ALL ALONG, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2024 MARVEL.

    Scratch’s presence in Agatha All Along has been predicted and debated since the series was announced and speculation reached a fever pitch when Joe Locke was cast in a role that has yet to be fully disclosed. Despite some evidence to the contrary, dozens of dedicated fans of Nicholas Scratch and at least one once prominent “leaker” held fast to the belief that Locke was cast as the son of Agatha Harkness.

    Unsurprisingly, Schaeffer not only refuses to resolve the debate over the course of the first two episodes but rather encourages further discourse around it. The recovery of Agatha’s Neopaganistic Triple Goddess broach/locket complete with a lock(e) of curly dark hair shrewdly sustains the suspense over the true nature of Locke’s character, providing hope to the Nicholas Scratch fan club, now 36 strong.

    AGATHA ALL ALONG. © 2024 MARVEL.

    The first two episodes of Agatha All Along are streaming now on Disney Plus.

  • The ‘Agatha All Along’ Premiere Revealed a Major Clue Most Fans Missed

    The ‘Agatha All Along’ Premiere Revealed a Major Clue Most Fans Missed

    The two-episode premiere of Agatha All Along set the stage for plenty of mystery and mischief to unfold over the next six weeks. Though there truly wasn’t much mystery behind the identity of Episode 1’s murder victim, there are still plenty of questions left unanswered by the end of the series’ double-dip debut. There seems to be much to discover about Aubrey Plaza‘s Rio Vidal and her past with Agatha Harkness and, of course, the true identity of Joe Locke‘s Teen will haunt theorists and speculators for the duration of the show. However, creator Jac Schaeffer may have already given away more information about who Teen truly is than you might think.

    Episode 1 of Agatha All Along, “Seekest Thou The Road”, makes an overt effort to drag viewers in one particular direction when it comes to the true identity of Teen. While still trapped within Wanda’s spell as Agnes, it’s revealed that Agatha once had a son named Nicholas Scratch. If that name isn’t too familiar to you, you’ll be forgiven, but it is a name that fans and leakers alike threw around as the “true” identity of Locke‘s characters dating back to when he was cast in the series. GIven the way Episode 1 plays out, it’s understandable that fans might conclude that Locke is Scratch; however, the devil (Mephisto!!) is in the details.

    Misdirection is well utilized by magicians and it seems as though Schaeffer has employed some “look over here” type shenanigans in Episodes 1 and 2. While fans are busy Googling Nicholas Scratch, growing his fan club to nearly 4 dozen, Detective Agnes O’Connor dropped a fairly important clue of her own in Episode 1 that likely went unnoticed. When she was visited at her home by Rio Vidal, Agnes mentioned a car crash that took place one hour before the time of death of the murder victim she found in the creek. When found in Eastview, the car’s front two airbags had been deployed and there was blood in the backseat. Though Agnes is sure there’s some connection to the dead body that was recently discovered, she’s unable to make all the pieces fit. However, her intuition is sound as the car accident is very likely related to the true identity of Locke’s character.

    Teen (Joe Locke) in Marvel Television’s AGATHA ALL ALONG, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2024 MARVEL.

    Schaeffer has sprinkled clues to the identity of Locke’s character everywhere and more will pop up as the show goes on. Everything seen and heard in the first two episodes was seen and heard for a reason. Agnes’ conversation with Rio about the car would be completely unnecessary if it weren’t going to come back into play sometime down, down, down the road. And while the full reveal hasn’t come along just yet, Episode 2 holds further clues that tie to the car accident. While Teen and Agatha go witch shopping, they hop into Teen’s car…or at least a car he says is his.

    While Teen is clearly comfortable with the vehicle and familiar enough with its contents to know that there’s a pen in the dashboard compartment, there’s at least one compelling reason to believe that it doesn’t belong to him but rather to his mother. Remember that lovely string of pearls that Agatha “borrows” from the mirror and wears around her neck while collecting the coven? That might just be one of those clues you were supposed to notice but missed. And why might that matter?

    If he’s not Nicholas Scratch, Teen is probably Billy Kaplan, a character he’s looooong been rumored to be. And if he’s Billy Kaplan, he’s also Billy Maximoff, kind of…and it’s all pretty confusing how that works out; however, it’s very possible that the car crash has a lot to do with how Billy Maximoff’s disembodied soul might find its way into Billy Kaplan’s body. Unless you had the captions on, you probably missed the dialogue in Episode 2 that revealed that Teen was born and raised in Eastview…where the car crash happened. Delievered during a conversation with Agatha in which she realized she couldn’t hear him speak, it may have seemed like some throwaway lines that were just part of the sigil gimmick but pretend for a minute that it wasn’t. One possible explanation that does provide a somewhat reasonable explanation for what’s going on is that Billy Kaplan died in a car crash, his body was taken over by Billy Maximoff’s soul, he abandoned the car found his way to his house where he took his mom’s car and hatched his plan to get down the Witches’ Road. And why might it be his mom’s car? That string of pearls looks just like the one worn by Rebbecca Kaplan, Billy’s mom, in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #1.

    It’s all conjecture at this point but as the show progresses and we all continue to wonder what Agatha is up to, what’s up with Rio and what surprises await down the Witches’ Road, keep in mind that the most innocent member of the group might just be the one dissembling the most and hiding his true intentions.

    The first two episodes of Agatha All Along are now streaming on Disney Plus.

  • Ultron’s Return May Give New Life to a ‘Runaways’ Throwaway

    Ultron’s Return May Give New Life to a ‘Runaways’ Throwaway

    Few Marvel Comics IPs have as interesting of a story to tell over the last decade and a half as the Runaways. Originally intended to be one of the studio’s earliest Infinity Saga films with development beginning in 2008, the project was scrapped following the success of 2012’s Avengers and the realization that the MCU could truly thrive financially by going bigger. In 2016, Marvel Television–no, the old one–partnered with Hulu to begin development on a streaming adaptation of the property which debuted in 2017. Over three seasons and 33 episodes, Runaways proved to be a critical darling but as the old Marvel Television branch run by Jeph Loeb began to be put down, the series came to a premature end in 2019.

    Despite sharing some storytelling elements with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Runaways is not only nowhere to be found in the Marvel section of Disney Plus but also was pulled from Hulu, the streaming service that originally presented it. So while Marvel Studios has mad moves behind the scenes to canonize Marvel Television’s Netflix Defender-verse series, Runaways–despite being both popular and promising–has been given the Sloth treatment and been chained in the basement by Mama Fratelli, hidden away while its brother and sister series are allowed to see the light of day. It was strange fate indeed for a property that once seemed to hold so much promise as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but even as time and measures taken by Disney help erode the memory of the Hulu series, there might be some hope on the horizon for at least one character who played a major role in Brian Vaughan‘s comic book series and was always intended to play a role in the the TV series.

    The Runaways Throwaway

    Introduced in 2005’s second volume of Marvel Comics Runaways, Victor Mancha is an incredibly interesting character who was a big-time threat in the comic book series, was supposed to show up in Hulu’s Runaways and whose lineage might just make him a perfect fit for an upcoming MCU project. As Marvel Television was putting together Season 1 of Runaways, they had every intention of including a character by the name of Victor Mancha. Those plans never materialized and Mancha’s role in the show was reduced to an easy-to-miss mention and his name appearing during a brief shot of a note from the future found by Alex Wilder in the series finale.

    In Mancha’s case, having not appeared at all in Runaways may ultimately turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to the character.

    El Diablo Robotico

    Victor Mancha is a significant character in Marvel Comics, particularly known for his association with the Runaways series. Created by Ultron, Victor is a sophisticated android designed to infiltrate and destroy the Avengers. However, his destiny took a different path when he joined the Runaways, a group of young heroes with complicated backgrounds.

    Origin and Creation

    Victor Mancha was conceived as part of Ultron’s plan to create a synthetic being capable of harnessing incredible power to defeat the Avengers. As a half-human, half-android, Victor possesses a unique blend of abilities inherited from both his human mother and his robotic father, Ultron. His powers include electromagnetic manipulation, super strength, and advanced computing capabilities, which make him a formidable opponent.

    Joining the Runaways

    Despite his origins as a potential threat, Victor defied his programming and joined the Runaways, a team of teenagers who rebel against their villainous parents. Victor quickly became an integral member of the group, contributing his technical expertise and raw power to their various missions. His affiliation with the Runaways marked a shift in his character, emphasizing his struggle to choose his own path rather than succumb to the dark designs of Ultron.

    Role in the Marvel Universe

    Victor’s story extends beyond the Runaways as he also interacted with other major Marvel entities, including the Avengers AI and Vision. His struggle between his inherent programming and his desire to be human continues to define his journey within the Marvel Universe, making him one of the more complex characters in the pantheon of Marvel Heroes.

    The Son of Ultron

    The news of James Spader‘s return to the MCU as Ultron in the as-yet-untitled Vision streaming series was met with nearly universal celebration by fans. While Avengers: Age of Ultron didn’t initially land as well with fans as 2012’s Avengers, it has grown on fans over time and Spader’s performance as rogue AI peacekeeping program has always been well-regarded. Fans of the comics know Ultron never truly dies and the character’s return to the MCU could open the door for Victor Mancha.

    In the comics, Victor’s mother, Marianella, came into possession of one of Ultron’s chrome domes with an intact CPU. Over time, Marianella rebuilt Ultron and the two became besties. And as a woman and a detached robot head often do, the two hatched a plan to create a child. Weaving Marianella’s DNA into a nanite-based robot, Ultron created the cyborg known as Victor and placed within him programming that would allow him to make his way into the Avengers as a sleeper agent designed to wipe them out. While Victor ultimately overcame his programming, it was a great move by Ultron and one that can easily be adapted into the MCU.

    Indeed, the thought of Victor being used in an MCU project is hardly a new one. Fans theorized how the character might be used in WandaVision or even as the big bad in a Young Avengers project. However, while it’s unclear exactly what role Ultron will play in the upcoming Vision series–currently in development under the care of showrunner Terry Matalas–it’s time to revisit the idea of bringing Victor into a Marvel Studios project.

    The Pieces Are in Place

    As seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming, bits and pieces of Ultron and Sub-Ultrons that the Department of Damage Control collected ultimately found their way onto the black market as weapons. The DODC also houses the head of Ultron which is really all anyone needs to kick off another age of Ultron in the MCU.

    While it is still being put together, it’s believed that the Paul Bettany-led Vision series will follow the White Vision as he tries to regain his memories. At some point, that will certainly include learning he was an Avenger and the realization that his “father” was one of the Avengers’ deadliest foes. It would make for compelling television to see Ultron being physically reassembled while his son reassembles the memories of who he once was. Once put back together again, Ultron would obviously seek vengeance against his foes–who he would sadly find are almost all nowhere to be found. It would not, however, be too tough to locate his son, Vision, who he might feel particularly apt to get even with. And, as Vision will also likely feel the absence of his family, the appearance of a “brother” would make for a nice Trojan Horse for whatever Ultron’s newest evil plan might be.

    It would only seem right that the Vision series eventually sees Vision reunite with Ultron. And since Ultron has proven to be incapable of permanent destruction in the comics and has never truly been defeated, the best one could hope is to continue to foil his plans. In this case, that might simply mean that Vision helps Victor overcome his programming and choose his own path.