Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed something that many of us have been waiting for: a new movie is in production. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, director of the last four Mission: Impossible films, he has confirmed two very important details. The first is that he will star in it himself. The second is that if he will star in it, it is because it will be based on King Conan. Everyone’s favorite barbarian, King Conan is a collection of five stories written by Robert E. Howard that describe the tales of Conan as king of Aquilonia. Aging, but wiser, it presents us with a familiar yet different Conan. Something we have already seen […]
Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed something that many of us have been waiting for: a new movie is in production. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, director of the last four Mission: Impossible films, he has confirmed two very important details. The first is that he will star in it himself. The second is that if he will star in it, it is because it will be based on King Conan.
Everyone’s Favorite Barbarian
King Conan is a collection of five stories written by Robert E. Howard that describes the tales of Conan as king of Aquilonia. Aging, but wiser, it presents us with a familiar yet different Conan. Something we already saw in the popular 55-issue series from Marvel Comics, published between 1980 and 1989, King Conan, which would be renamed as Conan the King starting from issue 20.
Schwarzenegger, in comments to The Hollywood Reporter, has stated that this is a dream come true for him. “For the last 10 years, I’ve been saying: ‘We should make King Conan, get a great script written, find someone who really understands Robert E. Howard, who understands the art of Frank Frazetta, and continue the story’”. He also emphasized that his inspiration for the movie is a most unexpected author: “Think of Clint Eastwood’s movie, Unforgiven. It will be very similar to that, but with extraordinary battles”.
Although the movie won’t start filming until 2027, which means we won’t see its release until at least 2028 or 2029, it’s interesting to see the return of Conan the Barbarian. Especially since it’s Schwarzenegger returning to the role. And if he is capable of making a movie like Unforgiven, a true cult classic in Eastwood’s filmography and cinema in general, we could be talking about a genuine masterpiece.
Marvel Comics has announced the release of a comic miniseries titled Spider-Man ’94, which will continue the story of the iconic animated series that aired from 1994 to 1998. The miniseries, consisting of five issues, will debut on September 3 and will feature scripts by J.M. DeMatteis, one of the writers of the original series, and art by Jim Towe, known for his work on titles like X-Force. The series will finally have an ending The new story will take place right where the series left off for fans, exploring the reunion of Peter Parker and Mary Jane […]
Marvel Comics has announced the release of a comic miniseries titled Spider-Man ’94, which will continue the story of the iconic animated series that aired from 1994 to 1998. The miniseries, consisting of five issues, will debut on September 3 and will feature scripts by J.M. DeMatteis, one of the writers of the original series, and art by Jim Towe, known for his work on titles like X-Force.
The series will finally have an ending
The new story will take place right where the series left off for fans, exploring the reunion of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson after their interdimensional journey. This return is hinted at in X-Men ’97, a revival of another animated Marvel series, where the couple is shown reunited. Additionally, Spider-Man ’94 will introduce two villains who never appeared in the 90s series: Morlun, a totem hunter, and Kaine, Peter Parker’s first failed clone.
The announcement of this miniseries has been well received by fans, who see it as an opportunity to relive the nostalgia of their childhood. However, not everything has been positive, as John Semper Jr., creator of the original series, has expressed his discontent for not being consulted on the new project, which opens a debate about respect for the original creation and the rights of authors.
Despite the controversies, Spider-Man ’94 seems to be following the path of other nostalgic Marvel projects, such as the successful comic X-Men ’92 that preceded the release of X-Men ’97. Fans will appreciate the opportunity to return to one of the most beloved eras of Spider-Man, hoping that this new installment manages to capture the spirit of the original series and brings new narratives to the Marvel multiverse.
Marvel Comics has announced the return of one of the most iconic phenomena of the 90s: the Marvel Swimsuit Special. The new publication, titled Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1, will be released in July and will include designs of new costumes that will be incorporated into the popular video game Marvel Rivals, developed by Marvel Games in collaboration with NetEase Games. Swimwear for everyone! The original Swimsuit Specials were primarily aimed at a teenage male audience and were characterized by featuring characters in swimsuits, accompanied by eye-catching illustrations. However, these issues were not just pinups; they also […]
Marvel Comics has announced the return of one of the most iconic phenomena of the 90s: the Marvel Swimsuit Special. The new publication, titled Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1 will be released in July and will include designs of new costumes that will be incorporated into the popular video game Marvel Rivals, developed by Marvel Games in collaboration with NetEase Games.
Swimsuits for everyone!
The original Swimsuit Specials were primarily aimed at a teenage male audience and were characterized by featuring characters in swimsuits, accompanied by eye-catching illustrations. However, these issues were not just pinups; they also included storylines. The new special will continue this tradition under the direction of writers like Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs, with illustrations by the prominent artist Nick Bradshaw, focusing on Janet Van Dyne, also known as the Wasp, as the main fashion designer of the Marvel universe.
This revival seems to capitalize on the current interest in content with a higher sexual charge, reflecting contemporary trends in entertainment and, in particular, in video games. It has been reported that in Marvel Rivals, both male and female characters exhibit an increase in their sexual appeal, a change that aims to resonate with the growing demand for more visually striking and exciting gaming experiences.
With the release of the second season of Marvel Rivals, players have already noticed an evolution in character design, showing a notable increase in physical proportions, which likely reflects NetEase’s inclination towards the sex appeal of Marvel characters. As the release of the special approaches, expectations grow about how these changes will be integrated into both the comic and the video game, making this collaboration a point of interest for fans of both platforms.
Marvel Rivals is a thrilling, team-based PvP game that brings the expansive Marvel universe to life in a dynamic and engaging way. This action game allows players to assemble their dream teams from a wide array of beloved Marvel characters, including heroes and villains from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and more.
Wizards of the Coast has surprised Magic: The Gathering fans with the release of an unexpected Secret Lair drop inspired by Deadpool, the iconic Marvel Comics hero. This limited collection, which has just been announced, consists of five cards, four of which are reprints with Deadpool-themed art and text, while the fifth is a unique creature card specifically designed for the Merc With A Mouth. A collaboration with Marvel that continues to bear fruit The Deadpool drop aligns with the ongoing collaborations between Marvel and Magic: The Gathering, […]
Wizards of the Coast has surprised Magic: The Gathering fans with the release of an unexpected Secret Lair drop inspired by Deadpool, the iconic hero from Marvel Comics. This limited collection, which has just been announced, consists of five cards, four of which are reprints with Deadpool-themed art and text, while the fifth is a unique creature card specifically designed for the Merc With A Mouth.
A collaboration with Marvel that keeps yielding results
The Deadpool drop aligns with the ongoing collaborations between Marvel and Magic: The Gathering, which have previously brought characters like Captain America, Wolverine, Black Panther, Storm, and Iron Man to the game. Players cannot overlook Deadpool’s distinctive style, as he addresses players in a fourth-wall-breaking tone in the new cards, providing a humorous and authentic touch that fans of the character will appreciate.
Among the cards included in this new drop are reprints of beloved cards, each with new artwork that captures the essence of Deadpool. Additionally, the inclusion of a mechanically unique card for Deadpool marks a milestone, being the first of its kind since the drop that introduced Lara Croft, Tomb Raider in 2024.
Magic: The Gathering Arena is a free online card game for Windows developed by Wizards of the Coast. Magic is undoubtedly one of the most important and iconic collectible card games, with millions of players worldwide and official competitions with great prizes. Now, thanks to Magic: The Gathering Arena, you can enjoy this card game on your computer for free.
Despite the creative cleverness and fresh ingenuity of Marvel figureheads and directors like Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, James Gunn, and the Russo Brothers, the widespread success and growth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe still began with the kernel of the comics. While the MCU has stayed relatively true to its source material, they’ve also taken their fair share of liberties.
While more hardcore Marvel fans might still be salty about Sony’s recent acquisition of Spider-Man, the glaring lack of mutants in the films, or how the Mandarin was cheekily sidestepped in “Iron Man 3,” there’s a lot of decisions the team has made that vastly improved the comic origins. Here’s our top 10:
10. Thor isn’t Donald Blake
If your first foray into Asgard was through the MCU then you probably don’t even know the name “Donald Blake.” While Thor was still born and raised an Asgardian in both, his powers and relation with the mystical Mjolnir was very different. In the MCU Thor is sent to Midgard (Earth) to learn humility and respect in the original “Thor.” He knows what he has lost and it’s only when he starts acting like a true hero that he re-earns his powers.
“soft-spoken and lame” is right
In the comics Odin sends Thor to Earth for much the same reason. The difference? In the comics Thor is further punished by being sent to Earth in the mortal guise of a crippled young medical student named Donald Blake, forced to hobble around on an injured leg. Furthermore he’s completely stripped of his memories, leading to a long stint as a (surprisingly successful) physician and surgeon, similar to Doctor Strange. It’s honestly pretty weird – “Donald Blake” even opened up a private practice in New York. We think it’s definitely for the best that the MCU decided to forego this unnecessary complication to the plot, and instead that Thor learned to be a hero the real way. No mind-wiping necessary.
9. Scott Lang, not Hank Pym
Hank Pym is one of the most important members of the Avengers in the comics: He’s a founding member, the creator of Pym Particles, and even the mind behind the creation of Ultron. Many fans of the comics were upset by his exclusion in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” when in the comics his character played such a pivotal role. Even when Ant-Man finally got a solo movie it wasn’t Hank Pym in the starring role, but rather Scott Lang. Hank Pym’s role is minimal, and he certainly had nothing to do with Ultron. Here’s why:
You can’t come back from some things
In the comics Scott Lang does become Ant-Man, and he’s the second guy to take on the mantle, just like it was shown in “Ant-Man.” Why put Hank Pym on the sidelines?
Well, to put it bluntly, it’s because in the comics Hank Pym beat his wife. Not something you’d likely see in a 2019 movie where you’re supposed to like the protagonist. Plus, the MCU already had one genius with a cool suit, they didn’t really need two. It was a lot more fun to see Scott Lang as the guy in the suit while Hank Pym exasperatedly tries to coach him.
8. Everything about Black Panther
Black Panther in the comics was a cool dude. He was the king of a hidden nation, a noble warrior, a humble leader in tune with his ancestry, and a frighteningly capable warrior. So how did the MCU take that character and improve him? By keeping everything we mentioned canon and focusing on improving everything and everyone around him. We could talk about the cool costumes and sleek technology of Wakanda all day, so to keep this short we’ll focus on a few key supporting characters from “Black Panther.”
Making Lupita Nyong’o a one-shot villain would be an egregious waste of her talents
Let’s start with Nakia. In the movies she plays T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend and a spy for the throne of Wakanda. Strong, compassionate, pragmatic, and forward-thinking she’s largely the reason T’Challa’s family survived Killmonger’s coup.
In the comics, Nakia is strong, too; in fact she’s one of the Dora Milaje. She was also a wife-in-training openly obsessed with marrying T’Challa (she even threw herself 50 feet into a shallow pool just so T’Challa would perform mouth-to-mouth on her). Ew. Definitely not something that would cast her in a good light in the movies. M’Baku was also radically overhauled in the movies, for which we are eternally grateful. Why? Dude was called “Man-Ape” in the comics.
Let’s just leave it at that.
7. Peter Parker is Iron Man’s protegee
Iron Man is a brilliant engineer and inventor. Spider-Man is a smart kid. On top of that, both are costumed superheroes trying to leave a positive mark on the world. It makes perfect sense that Peter would idolize Tony Stark, and that Tony would welcome his talents during a heated disagreement with his former friend, Steve Rogers.
We love the Tony-Peter relationship
What makes this improvement such a stroke of genius is that it also means MCU Spider-Man gets to play with all Iron Man’s gadgets and toys. As we saw in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” it’s a clever way for Stark to pass on the torch and keep his character’s influence present in the MCU even after the character has sadly departed.
6. Bucky is awesome
Before Steve Rogers became a super soldier in “Captain America: First Avenger” it was Bucky Barnes who pulled him out of the fire again and again, “’till the end of the line.” Even after receiving the serum, Rogers still played the shy hero with a heart of gold, while Bucky was the more outgoing, confident, older brother figure. This dynamic was one of the key aspects that made “The Winter Soldier” such a compelling film, and gave such weight to Cap’s wanting to protect and redeem his best friend in “Civil War.”
My eyes! They bleed!
It’s times like this that we implore you to remember that Bucky was Captain America’s teenage sidekick in the comics. Yeesh. Introduced during a time when Batman and Robin was all the hype, Bucky originally played the part of Steve Rogers’ eager, plucky sidekick and mascot. This version of Bucky also led a team of teenage soldiers called – wait for it – the Kid Commandos. We get the feeling that if this character had fallen off a train in the final act the audience would have burst into applause.
5. War stories
Some might say that the MCU really hit its stride with the release and unprecedented success of the first “Avengers” film. The aftermath of the Chitauri invasion set the stage beautifully for Phase 2, with the effects of the disaster playing an important role in the subsequent chapters. While this isn’t really a choice you can compare with the comics, it was a brilliant way to interweave several of the themes and threads from the comics into a more streamlined, logical order.
It’s so cool that Vulture’s wings are powered with Chitauri tech
Right off the bat, we see this come into play with “Iron Man 3.” In the comics, Tony Stark had a serious drinking problem (which they addressed with moderate success in “Iron Man 2“) that was a huge hurdle for the character to overcome. This was repainted as severe panic attacks and an obsessive need to protect the planet as a result of realizing how under-prepared they were for what the universe had in store. Speaking of neat segues, this leads right into our next point:
4. I am Iron Man
Aside from making the smart choice to headline the MCU with a character that at the time was lesser-known (which meant a smaller chance to screw up the series!), placing Iron Man at the center was smart for another reason: His personal journey aligns perfectly with the course laid out by Marvel’s first 3 phases. Aside from Robert Downey Jr.’s performance elevating the character to a whole new level of awesome, it’s his relation with the other characters in the MCU that made such an important figure on a more macro level.
Tony Stark was never the same after New York
We already talked about how “Avengers” put Tony Stark on a course that plagued him with anxiety. While he recovered on a personal level at the end of “Iron Man 3,” he still carried this with him in all the later movies. He sees a vision of death and destruction in “Age of Ultron” that inspires him to build a shield around the planet. Thus Ultron was born.
He wants to prevent global disasters and champion a more legal, institutionalized grip on superheroes. Thus the Sokovia Accords were introduced and the Civil War ignited.
He carries the weight of Marvel’s first three phases on his shoulders and brings that weight into every story in which he plays a part, adding his signature gravitas and credibility to situations well into “Avengers: Endgame.” We love you 3000, RDJ!
3. Everything about the Guardians of the Galaxy
If you knew who the Guardians of the Galaxy were before 2014 you are a cut from a very different cloth than most. Seriously, even the most hardcore Marvel fans probably didn’t know these oddball characters terribly well, and certainly never thought they’d see the day when they hit the big screen. James Gunn changed all of that with the huge breakout success of the first “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Virtually everything about this corner of the Marvel universe needed a serious overhaul and paint job, and this movie managed to do that with flying colors, injecting its trademark humor, heart, multi-faceted characters, and zany, larger-than-life situations.
The Guardians of the Galaxy magically evolved into one of our favorite teams in Marvel
While Rocket and Groot didn’t change overly much from the comics’ formula, the oblivious and hilarious Drax was a delight to watch, and Star-Lord became the anchor the audience could attach to in an unfamiliar world. Playing rock hits from the ’60s and deeply affected by his mother’s passing, we could immediately sympathize and enjoy the new character. Gamora was perhaps the most important of all, with her ties to Thanos and the Infinity War, but we’ll get into that later.
2. To court Death
Humans “are unruly and therefore cannot be ruled,” The Other said to Thanos in the post-credits scene of Avengers. “To challenge them is to court…Death.” This line probably didn’t mean much to fans unfamiliar with the Infinity Gauntlet storyline, but to those who were, it carried on a whole new context.
In the comics, Thanos was obsessed with Mistress Death, one of the Cosmic Entities of the Marvel Universe. The MCU could have gone a very different direction with his character if they’d stayed true to the comics:
Come on, dude, you’re embarrassing yourself.
Thanos in “Infinity War” was portrayed as a dogmatic futurist set out to carve a universe with plentiful resources, a universe that would know neither famine nor overpopulation. This wasn’t the case at all in the comics; everything he did in the Infinity Gauntlet story arc was for the affections of Mistress Death, a love that was never requited. We’re glad the MCU didn’t go this route in the movies; we’re not sure we could have taken him half as seriously.
1. Everything connects
Our favorite thing about the Marvel Cinematic universe is how everything is seamlessly intertwined. Plot threads often return or are revealed to have had a much deeper impact than we previously thought, and it’s one of the coolest parts of setting up a multi-movie franchise. In that way, it’s actually quite similar to the comics!
Of course, there are a lot of differences in the things the studio chose to connect, like turning the Eye of Agamotto into the Time Stone, having Captain Marvel’s plane inspire Nick Fury into launching the “Avenger Initiative,” or making Red Skull the protector of the Soul Stone.
Did anyone really expect Hulk to run into the Ancient One?
While the comics had their own connections written throughout the series, drawing different connections between different points made these tie-ins special and exciting even to people who thought they knew Marvel comics inside and out.
Agree with our list? What’s your favorite story line or character from Marvel comics that got a shiny, refurbished paint job for the limelight of the MCU? Let us know in the comments below, and stick with Softonic for all things Marvel!
If you weren’t aware that Bucky was the Winter Soldier, or that Loki was really a frost giant, you probably went into the MCU without much prior knowledge of the comics. Say what you will about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s really good at keeping its content close to the original source material while still injecting it with a fresh spin, a clever tie-in, or a more modern re-imagining of its classic characters and story lines.
M’Baku was vastly improved in “Black Panther.” Want proof? In the comics he was ‘Man-Ape.’
The great thing about the studio’s modern cinematic approach is that even if you’re a Marvel comics guru there’s still plenty of opportunity for a movie to catch you off-guard with a sudden reveal, connection, or subverted expectation. Here’s a list of some of our favorite plot twists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
*SPOILER ALERT*
10. Mandarin is not Mandarin
When you watch the trailer for “Iron Man 3” it looks like Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley) is gonna be one bad dude. At the start of the movie he’s labeled a dangerous terrorist, and he destroys Tony Stark’s house just to prove he means business. He’s set up to be the film’s baddie, so when he ends up being an out-of-work actor named Trevor Slattery, there were a lot of questions to answer.
The set-up was especially convincing to Marvel fans because Iron Man and Mandarin were infamously paired off dozens of times in the comics. Some fans were pleasantly surprised by the subverted villain, but others were upset that they never got to see the two square off on the big screen. Good news for those fans – (the real) Mandarin is set to enter the MCU with the upcoming “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” which is coming out in 2021. He will be portrayed by Tony Chiu-Wai Leung.
When Peter Parker had a crush on a girl named Liz in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” Marvel fans might have predicted it to be Liz Allan, the web-head’s sometime love interest. While they may not have expected a successful budding romance, they probably didn’t expect it to go the way it did.
Plot twist! Liz is the daughter of Adrian Toomes, the film’s main villain. Poor Spidey discovers this after the two have already fought one another … and right before he and the unsuspecting Liz attend a dance together. It’s tough to be Spider-Man.
When Steve Rogers squared off against Red Skull in “Captain America: The First Avenger” it was a brief tussle on a doomed aircraft that ended with the power-hungry HYDRA leader foolishly picking up the Tesseract (later revealed to be the Space Stone in what you might call another plot twist). The Infinity Stone was too much for his mortal form to hold, let alone control, and despite his super soldier serum he ended up being zapped away like the nazis at the end of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Tony Stark may have left us at the end of “Avengers: Endgame,” but his legacy was very present in “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and will likely stay present in Marvel’s upcoming Phase 4. That’s great for all the Stark Tech we get to keep seeing, but Tony Stark had his fair share of demons, and they’re still taking their toll on the post-Iron Man world. You won’t find a better example of this than Mysterio.
Spider-Man fans mostly knew that Mysterio (Quentin Beck) was a talented illusionist, and when he reveals himself to be the film’s baddie it’s not much of a twist. What was a surprise, though, was that we’d actually seen his illusion tech before – back in “Captain America: Civil War,” though we didn’t realize it at the time. Tony shunned Beck and Stark Tech shunned weapons tech specialist, William Riva. The two of them harbored grudges and it was a young Peter Parker who had to bear the burden.
We’ve read them in the comics, we’ve fought them in the video games, and when Carol Danvers was enlisted in the Kree military to fight against the creepy disguise artists we were ready to see the Secret Invasion unravel on-screen. While “Captain Marvel” featured plenty of Skrull-bashing antics, the story ended up going a very different direction.
The Skrulls aren’t so much a galactic threat. Rather, they’re a dwindling race on the run from the oppressive Kree – the same conquering empire that we saw Ronan the Accuser lead in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Maybe we should have seen this one coming. The discovery of the Skrulls’ plea coupled with the new knowledge that the Kree were trying to hold back Carol Danvers’ powers was enough to turn the cosmic hero to the Skrull cause.
Thor’s the older brother in line for the throne, Loki’s the adopted younger son (who’d arguably be a better ruler) who seeks to depose Odin and claim the rule of Asgard for himself. That’s the story of the original “Thor“, and it’s in keeping with the comics. That’s why when it was suddenly revealed in “Thor: Ragnarok” that there was an elder sister in the mix, it came as a surprise both to Odin’s sons and to the audience.
The reveal of Odin’s incredibly powerful first-born isn’t the only facet of this twist – it’s that she’s quite a bit older than either Thor or Loki, and old enough not only to remember Odin’s aggressive conquests of yesteryear, but to have been at the helm of them herself. Hela shows Executioner (and by proxy the audience) that Asgard was not always the glorious, peaceful city we’d seen previously, but a ruthless, war-like dominion that took the nine realms by force.
4. Nick Fury is a Skrull
Remember when we said that the Skrulls were shape-shifters who infiltrated Earth in the comics? And remember when we said that the Skrull were the good guys back in “Captain Marvel?” Things got a little confusing at the end of “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” Turns out that Nick Fury – and the many scenes were saw him in – was not actually Nick Fury, but rather Talos, Carol Danvers’ Skrull friend from the ’90s.
Oh, and Maria Hill was one too.
As for what this means for movies past and present (aside from “Captain America: First Avenger” every film in the MCU has taken place after the ’90s) we’re not sure yet, but it certainly opens a whole can of green, scaly worms.
What ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ tells us about Marvel Phase 4
We knew that Bucky wasn’t in control of his actions when HYDRA had their hooks in him. We knew the Winter Soldier had committed his fair share of wartime atrocities and violence, but there was one that hit a little too close to home for Tony Stark – the murder of his parents.
It’s a shame because Tony and Cap were this close to making amends towards the closing of “Captain America: Civil War.” Bucky’s murder of Tony’s parents, regardless of whether he was in his right mind at the time, was the straw that broke the billionaire’s back. Once the truth was out, Helmut Zemo accomplished what he set out to do – break the Avengers right down the middle.
After the Avengers failed to stop Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War,” our heroes were at their absolute lowest. Half of all life in the universe was simply snapped away and there was nothing they could do about it.
Perhaps no one felt as guilty about the failure as Thor, who infamously “should’ve gone for the head.” Fans everywhere were arguing and speculating as to how the Avengers could beat the Mad Titan when he was still in control of all six Infinity Stones. Odds are, not many fans anticipated what actually happened:
Thanos destroyed the stones himself. True to his word, he wanted to kill half of all life, and once it was finished his purpose was fulfilled. Rather than excessive lead up and a climactic fight for the ages, once Thor discovers there’s no hope left he simply cuts off the titan’s head. The next plot twist comes right after: The remainder of the film takes place five years later.
It’s a short scene and it’s three plot twists in one.
1. Hail Hydra
HYDRA was literally a thing of the past, a distant memory for the history books for anybody that wasn’t Steve Rogers. The entirety of “Captain America: Winter Soldier” proved just how wrong we were. We learn that not only is HYDRA is alive and well, but that they’ve infiltrated SHIELD. In a way it’s like the Skrull Invasion without the Skrull. Nick Fury is presumed dead, everyone is suspect, and suddenly no one knows who to trust.
This film is a big departure from Captain America’s first solo film in that it’s heavily intertwined with the structure and world of the current day. After the events of this film, SHIELD is no longer a thing. The eye in the sky that had the Avengers’ back is put out, and Earth just lost its best line of defense. This makes the top of our list not just because it’s unexpected and a pivotal chapter for the MCU, but because it had been in the works behind the scenes as far back as “Agents of SHIELD” with Jasper Sitwell and “Iron Man 2” with Senator Stern.
Agree with our list? Let us know your favorite MCU plot twist in the comments below, and stick with Softonic for all things Marvel!
Can Marvel’s original superteam survive a third reboot?
Marvel shared a ton of news with us at Comic-Con last week: A handful of new TV series, some of the upcoming movies in Phase 4, and a bunch more. One promise that raised some eyebrows was the announcement of another Fantastic Four reboot.
Yes, another one.
We’ve had three movies with these guys in the past 15 years, and they were all pretty … well, they weren’t fantastic.
Guide to Marvel Phase 4: Everything you need to know
One of their more remarkable feats is time and again bringing long-forgotten characters into the glorious spotlight. Who could have foreseen the popularity of Iron Man over a decade ago? The same can even be said of the Avengers. How many people had even heard of the Guardians of the Galaxy before 2014 (seriously, comment below if you had; kudos to you)?
If you told a Marvel fan back in 2005 that the Guardians of the Galaxy would rake in more cash than the Fantastic Four, he’d laugh in your face through his vintage issue of Alpha Flight. That’s because the Fantastic Four weren’t a long-lost offshoot in the overlooked annals of comic book history – they were at the epicenter of the Marvel universe, and had tie-ins to virtually everything involved inside it.
Why the Fantastic Four are so important
These guys have been on more adventures than anyone else in the Marvel Universe!
Historically the Fantastic Four were the group that propelled the Superhero genre into the modern era. It did so by capitalizing on what were, at the time, very atypical angles of narrative: Though they got their start in space, the problems they shared were very down-to-earth.
The four teammates did not get along like the members of the original Justice League; The Thing despised his monstrous appearance and wished he’d never gotten his super powers; and Reed Richards struggled with decidedly non-super problems – overspent budgets, stock market crashes, failures in his personal projects, and struggles to lead his team. Instead of an unapproachable hero figure, Lee and Kirby created a relatable family of misfits:
It was at this point (in 1961) that Stan Lee convinced Martin Goodman to rename the company Marvel, and the team really started finding their own voice. It’s sad to see such a flagship of comic book history fail to meet the mark again and again with a modern audience, and it would be a welcome change if Marvel were to redeem their golden four.
The Fantastic Four might be the most important team in the original Marvel comics
The Fantasic Four are also hugely important to several story arcs and characters that the MCU could tackle soon, most notably Galactus, Silver Surfer, Kang the Conqueror, the Negative Zone, Annihilus, and of course the infamous Doctor Doom. So it’s not just about Marvel’s fab four looking shiny on-screen, it’s about what it could mean for the direction of the cinematic universe on a macro level.
Question: How do you go bigger than Thanos? Answer: Galactus.
That brings us to the big question: The Fantastic Four have been done before and it’s bombed every time. How can they be done better? When asked why the latest Fantastic Four did poorly at the box office, Stan Lee’s response was pretty legendary: “It was probably because I didn’t have a cameo in it,” he joked.
Unfortunately the MCU can’t rely on the same selling point that pushed the Fantastic Four comics to stardom, this notion that superheroes weren’t too dissimilar from us, or that they dealt with everyday problems; the MCU has already covered that in spades, and it wouldn’t make them stand out from characters like Hawkeye, Spider-Man, or Hulk.
So what can make this story work? First off, we’re all dying to see Doctor Doom, but maybe it’s best that we don’t – at least not right away. Spider-Man’s biggest villains are the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, and the MCU wisely chose to veer away from them in favor of the less famous, less scary Vulture and Mysterio (both of whom they did really well). Instead they might be better off focusing on the Skrull, Terrax, or Annihilus, the latter two being characters we’ve never seen on film before.
Introduce the Negative Zone early, and bring in Annihilus as their first big villain!
Besides picking the right villain, it’s also important that the film tell the right story. We don’t need another origin story. Please. We didn’t need one for Spider-Man, we didn’t need one for Black Panther, and we don’t need one here.
Instead, focus on the family dynamic that made the team likable to begin with, and then pick a conflict for them to face together. The Negative Zone is an especially powerful plot thread that could have a huge impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a Fantastic Four reboot is the best chance to introduce it in a big way.
We’re anxious to see how Marvel and Feige plan to handle the Fantastic Four, but tbh we’re still biting our nails; we’ve been burned three times. Let us know in the comments below if you agree with our points, and what you’d like to see the company do with the Fantastic Four!
Take our quiz to see if you could pick up Thor’s mighty hammer.
“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” That’s the inscription Odin placed upon Mjolnir, the infallible weapon wielded by his son, Thor. While Thor is famous for using this hammer, carrying it into battle was not his birthright. It was something he had to earn. If you can’t remember a time where Thor didn’t have his trusty Mjolnir, you might want to re-watch his first film in the MCU. Luckily for you, you can live-stream “Thor” right here!
It takes a lot of internal strength to wield Thor’s hammer, and precious few are deserving of the honor. Are you one of them? Take our quiz and discover whether your are worthy!
Are you worthy of Mjolnir? If not, never fear; as we’ve seen in the MCU, strength can come from the most unexpected of places – don’t write yourself off yet! It may simply be time to “stop trying to be the person you’re supposed to be and start being who you truly are.” Take another crack at it when you’re feeling zen, and we’ll see you in theaters for “Avengers: Endgame!”
With Endgame in our rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead at other possible Marvel projects to come.
SPOILERS BELOW!
Now that we got that out of the way…
The aftermath of “Avengers: Endgame” left many fans in tears, both of joy and of sadness. The film presented a satisfying and climactic end to a 22-movie saga that changed the landscape of blockbuster films forever. We don’t know where the MCU is going to go after Endgame, but we do have some theories:
For many fans, it’s difficult to imagine Marvel ever surpassing Endgame. While this may end up being true, there have been dozens of huge crossover events throughout Marvel’s decades of comic books. One major advantage the MCU has moving forward is Disney’s purchase of FOX. This gives the MCU access to lucrative Marvel characters like the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and Deadpool. Here are five massive Marvel stories that could end up becoming major successes in the MCU:
5 Marvel stories the MCU should use after “Avengers: Endgame”
In the comics, the shapeshifting alien Skrulls have been a pain in the side of many superhero teams. This includes the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. The storyline “Secret Invasion” has several key figures in the Marvel Universe being kidnapped and secretly replaced with Skrulls. It leads up to a full-on invasion of Earth.
Earth’s heroes quickly find themselves unable to trust one another, worried that they may be talking to a Skrull. The Skrulls even took the form of several beloved dead Marvel heroes to sew confusion and emotional vulnerability among the Avengers. This is something that could be exploited in a movie adaptation to bring back some fan-favorite characters temporarily.
The invasion force has them combining the powers of several heroes into single beings called Super Skrulls. In this story, the Skrulls use their psychological and scientific prowess to bring the Avengers to their knees.
The Skrulls finally made their MCU appearance in “Captain Marvel,” being portrayed as sympathetic refugees hoping to escape the imperialistic, warlike Kree. While their portrayal in “Captain Marvel” worked in the movie and was a welcome surprise, there are several ways the MCU can turn the Skrulls into a vicious invasion force.
Since “Captain Marvel” took place in the ’90s, they could show a rebuilt Skrull Empire that has since shunned their peaceful ways. Alternatively, they could show a powerful Skrull terrorist force that goes rogue from the Skrulls we already saw. Either way, “Secret Invasion” would be a massive, body-snatching cinematic experience.
“Annihilation” was a comic storyline that had many of Marvel’s cosmic heroes like the Silver Surfer, (what would become) the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Nova defending the universe against the unstoppable Annihilation Wave. The Annihilation Wave was a force of millions of insect-like ships led by Annihlus. It was so powerful it managed to subdue both Thanos and Galactus. The storyline is often cited as one of Marvel’s best events ever.
Films like “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” and “Captain Marvel” have expanded on the MCU’s cosmic side for years. They show a delightfully weird and colorful cast of characters and locations. After introducing some of FOX’s Marvel characters like the Silver Surfer, an MCU adaptation of “Annihilation” would be the grand climax the MCU cosmos deserves.
In many ways, FOX’s X-Men movie franchise can be seen as a precursor to the MCU. While it had its ups and downs, you can’t say that it wasn’t ambitious. Now that Disney owns FOX, the beloved cast of mutants can finally join the MCU. And what better way to introduce them to the Avengers than to have them fight?
The “Avengers vs X-Men” comic event is confusing, overstuffed, and underwhelming. However, this doesn’t mean that the basic concept wouldn’t translate well to the MCU. Pairing up Marvel’s most famous mutants like Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, and Gambit against the Avengers would be many comic fans’ dream come true.
Since Marvel has had continued success in bringing together huge casts of characters, they should have no problem with this. It’s unfortunate we wouldn’t see iconic Avengers like Iron Man or Captain America suit up to fight the mutants. However, it would nonetheless be a treat for audiences to have two of Marvel’s greatest teams duke it out.
The Scarlet Witch of the comics is a very different beast than the one in the MCU. After experiences devastating losses, she uses her reality-warping powers to change the world. She creates one where everyone she cares about gets their heart’s desire.
In this new world, mutants dominate the world and humans are second class citizens. She rules alongside her adoptive father Magneto and her brother Quicksilver. They try to put an end to the constant human uprisings led by revolutionaries like Luke Cage. Some characters don’t want this world to end. Spider-Man, for example, is a beloved hero in this world who is happily married to the now alive Gwen Stacy.
In the MCU, Wanda has faced incredible loss after the events of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captian America: Civil War,” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” After Thanos brutally resurrects and then murders Vision after she was forced to kill him, Wanda was quickly snapped away by the mad titan.
When she comes back in the climactic battle of “Avengers: Endgame,” she shows a brand new ferocity in her fight against Thanos. She is nearly able to kill him singlehandedly by ripping him apart. This newly revived Wanda is clearly a broken person, which could easily lead her to do some questionable things. This may include rewriting reality. Scarlett Witch is set to appear in a new show for Disney+ called “WandaVision.” If the show follows “House of M,” we will not be disappointed.
Note: This will be about Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 Secret Wars event and not the 1984 original miniseries.
The 2015 crossover event “Secret Wars” changed Marvel Comics forever. It brought an end and new beginning to the shared comic universe that had been running since the early 1960s. As the culmination of Jonathan Hickman‘s amazing Fantastic Four and Avengers runs, “Secret Wars” is arguably the greatest event Marvel has ever produced.
The series has Doctor Doom stealing the power of the omnipotent Beyonders, allowing him to bend reality to his will. Doom uses his new power to create Battleworld, a patchwork of various Marvel universes and timelines, all under his control. Different heroes and villains from across the Marvel Multiverse must band together and fight a hopeless battle against a god.
The Secret Wars storyline brought a rare sense of finality to comic books. While the Marvel Universe continued after “Secret Wars,” it would be one hell of a way to close out the MCU for good.
In conclusion
It’s still hard to believe that the Thanos saga has been concluded. We are happy with the conclusion, we just also want more. What stories would you like to see the MCU adapt moving forward? Let us know in the comments below!
Marvel announces that Avengers: Endgame will be Stan Lee’s last cameo. Check out our favorites here!
Excelsior!
Stan Lee was more than just the father of all things Marvel comics; he was an icon in the industry.
Throughout his time with Marvel, Lee appeared in television shows, video games, and, of course, movies. Audience members sit in anticipation throughout a movie waiting to see when Lee will grace the screen. His cameos have ranged from hilarious to heartwarming.
Due to his death last November, Marvel has announced that his final cameo will be in “Avengers: Endgame.”
When “Deadpool” first came out, the R-rating had us wondering if and how Marvel would use Stan Lee. He always gave off a wholesome, grandfatherly vibe, and Deadpool’s crude nature might tarnish that image. Marvel decided to veer into the skid by making Lee the announcer at a strip club. Guess what. It was hilarious!
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
By the time “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” came out in 2017, Lee had already appeared in more than a dozen titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Around this time, a theory had been buzzing around the internet that Lee’s character in the movies was actually one of the Watchers. The Watchers are extra-terrestrial beings who, well, watch the universe.
Marvel decided to have some fun with fans, and show Lee talking to a group of Watchers while explaining to them all the different characters he has been throughout the MCU. Whether or not this was a joke or a hint at things to come, we were just glad that Marvel was listening to us.
5. Iron Man
“You look great, Hef.”
About a year prior to Lee’s passing, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner passed away. The two had been friends throughout the years. The two also worked together and created a series and a brief comic strip for Playboy.
It was only fitting for Lee to impersonate his friend in 2008’s “Iron Man.” As Tony Stark walks into a party filled with celebrities, he stops to greet “Hef” who is standing outside with some lovely models.
Sometimes Stan Lee can say nothing and have an absolutely hilarious cameo.
In “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Lee finds himself listening to music at a high school library… for some reason. Unbeknownst to him, Spidey and Lizard are fighting in the background. As the two clash back and forth, Lee narrowly avoids getting hit by a desk as he quietly jams out to classical music.
3. Mallrats
“I think you outta get him some help. He seems to be hung up on superhero sex organs.”
If you ran into Stan Lee on the street, what questions would you want to ask him? Hopefully, your choices would be less perverted than Brodie’s in “Mallrats.”
In the scene, Brodie finds himself down on his luck. His girlfriend does not understand his obsession with comics and video games, and he doesn’t know which means more to him. Almost like a guardian angel, Stan Lee descends from the heavens to give him life advice.
Sadly, Stan Lee is no longer around to give you advice for your love life, but you can read this story to learn how he created his characters:
“This is a DC movie? Oh geez, I gotta get out of here.”
Stan Lee’s eccentric, charismatic personality never got its justice on film. However, when Stan Lee was animated in “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies,” we got to see all of his personality out in the open.
As he jokes while breaking the fourth wall, someone on set tells him that he is doing a cameo in a DC movie. Realizing his mistake, Lee bolts out of there.
1. Spider-Man 3
In the first two Spider-Man films from Sam Raimi, the people of New York City have mixed feelings about the web-slinger. Despite the fact that he has saved the city over and over again, he still has his critics (not just J. Jonah Jameson).
Finally, in “Spider-Man 3” Spidey has the love and appreciation of the entire city. After saving Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker walks through the city and sees a news report saying that Spider-Man will receive the key to the city.
As Parker reads the news, a string of emotions comes across his face as he processes the news. Before he can say anything, Stan Lee walks up to him to offer his two cents.
“You know, I guess one person can make a difference.”
The words have dual-meaning as they represent what Spidey has done for the city, and what Lee has done for Marvel comics and the comic book industry in general.
Although “Spider-Man 3” might not be the best Spider-Man movie by a longshot, it does have our favorite moment from our favorite comic book legend.
Excelsior!
When “Deadpool” first came out, the R-rating had us wondering if and how Marvel would use Stan Lee. He always gave off a wholesome, grandfatherly vibe, and Deadpool’s crude nature might tarnish that image. Marvel decided to veer into the skid by making Lee the announcer at a strip club. Guess what. It was hilarious!
By the time “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” came out in 2017, Lee had already appeared in more than a dozen titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Around this time, a theory had been buzzing around the internet that Lee’s character in the movies was actually one of the Watchers. The Watchers are extra-terrestrial beings who, well, watch the universe. 
Sometimes Stan Lee can say nothing and have an absolutely hilarious cameo. 
“I think you outta get him some help. He seems to be hung up on superhero sex organs.”
“This is a DC movie? Oh geez, I gotta get out of here.”
