Punisher has had, in his surprisingly long career in movies, the faces of Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane, and Ray Stevenson, and the creators of the recent The Punisher: One Last Kill are clear about who should be the next actor to portray him in a standalone film: Jon Bernthal. After all, he has been sporting the skull on his chest for almost a decade, and he deserves the recognition, right? I shoot first and ask questions later For now, it’s just a distant idea. Its director, Reinaldo Marcus Green (who was nominated for an Oscar thanks to King Richard), has explained perfectly what […]
Punisher has had, in his surprisingly long career in cinemas, the faces of Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane, and Ray Stevenson, and the creators of the recent The Punisher: One Last Killare clear about who should be the next actor to portray him in a standalone movie: Jon Bernthal. After all, he has been sporting the skull on his chest for almost a decade, and he deserves the recognition, right?
Shoot first and ask questions later
For now, it’s just a distant idea. Its director, Reinaldo Marcus Green (who made it to the Oscars thanks to King Richard), has perfectly explained what he wants to happen in the future: “I don’t know what the plans are for the future of Punisher. The only thing we hope to achieve is that people want more. Hopefully, Jon Bernthal and Marvel will come together to create something worthy of what the audience wants to see.” It’s not that what has been done isn’t worthy, of course.
And while we’re at it asking for the Three Kings’ letter, Green ended up saying that “Moving forward, I know that Jon and I would like to make a movie, something global that is on screens everywhere. But obviously, that will be Marvel’s decision“. You know, no pressure.
In fact, Bernthal will fulfill his dream in the upcoming Spider-man movie, where he will accompany the arachnid in one way or another. What happens from here is between Punisher, the machine guns, and Marvel.
In 2005, Civil War was a turning point in Marvel’s history, a before and after: superheroes facing each other like never seen before, choosing a side, making decisions that would change their future. What was the result? The best-selling graphic novel in the company’s history, a movie adaptation that grossed 1.15 billion… And of course, logically, they have tried to make the donkey pull the cart again even though it has no strength or desire left. Civil War, but now done well The company has just launched the first comic of a new collection […]
In 2005, Civil War was a turning point in Marvel’s history, a before and after: superheroes faced off against each other like never before, choosing sides, making decisions that would change their future. The result? The best-selling graphic novel in the company’s history, a film adaptation that grossed 1.15 billion… And of course, logically, they have tried to make the donkey pull the cart again even though it no longer has the strength or desire.
Civil War, but now done right
The company has just released the first comic of a new collection titled Civil War: Unmasked, dedicated to telling us secrets that no one told us during the initial run 20 years ago. And the first one tackles something fundamental: the reason why Tony Stark insists relentlessly that a Superhero Registration Act is needed. Just in case the explosion by Nitro that killed 600 people, including children, wasn’t enough.
In this case, shortly after the start of the war, Tony Stark goes to see the mutants to try to persuade them not to remain neutral, and then Bishop decides to show him his future, a world in which he shows what will happen if he loses: the Wideawake Project, a future with millions of Sentinels enslaving the population. And of course, Iron Man, after a talk with the president, ends up supporting the act even more strongly because he believes he must prevent any other future. Anyway.
This issue, if anything, diminishes Iron Man’s decision, who is fully aware of the existence of alternate futures and multiverses that do not have to be our own. In the next issue, the real reason why Spider-Man decided to show his face to the world. While we’re at it, why not mess that up too.
If there is one thing Marvel does wrong, it is keeping rumors under wraps. When they announce Young Avengers, will there still be anyone surprised? I guess the same people who were shocked when it was announced that VisionQuest is a series that actually exists and is not just a fan invention. The difference is that now, finally, we have a first image, release date, and an idea of where things might be headed. Vision for the future In the presentation of new developments from Disney, we finally learned more about the project when Robert Downey Jr, Tom Hiddleston, and […]
If there is one thing Marvel does poorly, it is keeping rumors under wraps. When they announce Young Avengers, will there still be anyone surprised? I suppose it will be the same people who were shocked when it was announced that VisionQuest is a series that actually exists and is not just a fan invention. The difference is that now, at last, we have a first image, release date, and an idea of where things might be headed.
Vision of the Future
At Disney’s presentation of news, we finally learned more about the project when Robert Downey Jr, Tom Hiddleston, and Paul Bettany took the stage to present it and show a teaser that we still can’t see, but in which we will see Vision in his human form, recalling his past as if it were a movie, searching for his humanity… and fighting, as it could not be otherwise, with Ultron, who also appears in his human form. Call it innovation, call it a lack of budget.
On October 14, we will finally know if the series is worth it or if it sinks into the swamp of lost possibilities of Marvel, but for now we have Bettany’s statements on the matter: “One of the most fun things is that we can finally see what’s on Vision’s mind, and it’s messier than you might think. He has been storing, copying, and pasting AIs to keep them alive in his head. One of them, of course, must be kept behind a pretty impressive firewall because it’s a psychopath. But a smart one.” Hello, Ultron, long time no see. In any case, this is the first image of the series for your enjoyment.
In addition to the classic characters, we will also see the arrival of Jocasta (Ultron’s girlfriend), Jarvis, F.R.I.D.A.Y, and E.D.I.T.H. So, we are going to have a curious robotic commotion to watch… And it will be the last thing we see from the MCU before the arrival of Avengers: Doomsday! We’ll have to see if it warms us up well or if it’s just simple junk.
On December 18 of this year, we will probably be fed up with news about Avengers: Doomsday, and that’s normal. Despite sharing a release date with Dune 3, all eyes are on Marvel and its attempt to revitalize a franchise that many consider already over. To do this, it has pulled all possible desperate measures, from the return of characters and directors to a villain with the familiar face of Robert Downey Jr. And yet, the most important thing remains in question: What will the script be about? Avengers, something and something! The one that has […]
On December 18 of this year, we will probably be fed up with news about Avengers: Doomsday, and that’s normal. Despite sharing a release date with Dune 3, all eyes are on Marvel and its attempt to revitalize a franchise that many consider already surpassed. To achieve this, they have pulled all possible desperate measures, from the return of characters and directors to a villain with the familiar face of Robert Downey Jr. And yet, the most important aspect remains in question: What will the script be about?
Avengers, whatever and whatever!
The one who has broken the silence on the subject is none other than Ebon Moss-Bachrach, better known as The Thing, who will obviously appear in the movie as part of the Fantastic Four and has clarified that the script he read was incomplete. That said, to ensure no one gets anxious too soon, it is worth remembering that this is not a mistake per se, but a security mechanism. At least, I hope so.
“Yes, I read a complete script, but those scripts change quite a bit. You know? Probably not, probably didn’t have a complete third act. I don’t think it had an ending. I don’t think anyone can see those things.” Only the Russo brothers and those involved in the final scenes have the right to know how Doomsday ends, and it makes perfect sense: Imagine someone finds a script lying around and decides to take an unexpected photo!
Although, to be completely honest, it doesn’t seem like Bachrach was going to understand much after all: “These movies are so interstellar and so galactic and conceptual that sometimes it’s very hard to understand what’s happening in the story. And with Doomsday it was a bit harder to fit the pieces together. I knew where I was, I knew which planets, in which universe I was. But to understand how it connected with other universes, I had to go back to Joe Russo and say ‘I know you’ve told me this a lot, but can you tell me one more time?'”. Few things provide more assurance than an actor saying “I have no freaking idea what I did.”
There is not a day that I open TikTok and find myself with hundreds of mediocre videos (if not directly made with AI) accompanied by one or two absolute genius creations made by the future filmmakers of tomorrow. No matter how hard it is for us to get used to it, there are absolute genius works on the Internet and it has democratized the system to enter Hollywood… even though some stars still struggle to come to terms with it. And I’m not looking at anyone, Robert Downey Jr. Iron Influencer The star of Iron Man and whom we will see as the ultimate villain of Marvel in Avengers: Doomsday has complained, in the podcast […]
There isn’t a day that I open TikTok and find myself with hundreds of mediocre videos (if not directly made with AI) accompanied by some absolute genius creations by the future filmmakers of tomorrow. No matter how hard it is for us to get used to it, there are absolute geniuses on the Internet, and it has democratized the system to enter Hollywood… although some stars still struggle to come to terms with it. And I’m not looking at anyone, Robert Downey Jr.
Iron Influencer
The protagonist of Iron Man and whom we will see as the ultimate villain of Marvel in Avengers: Doomsday has complained, in the podcast Conversations for our Daughters, about influencers, somewhat like the man shaking his fist at a cloud: “When I hear people talk about ‘Oh, the stars of the future are going to be influencers’ I think ‘I don’t know what world you’re living in, but I think that’s nonsense’“.
Downey Jr, in fact, clarified his words shortly after: “Nowadays people can create fame without doing much more than pointing their mobile phone. I don’t see it as something negative, but I do believe that the challenge of individualization is intensifying”. Or in other words: don’t come near my territory, I have a shotgun and I know how to use it.
“Hopefully, most of the youth will say ‘Okay, but this is not my thing. I want to do something, I’m going to do something, I want to build something, I want to educate myself and I want to receive more information, so that whatever I do, it’s not just something like what an influencer does who only seeks to glorify themselves“, says Downey Jr, who also seems tired of endlessly scrolling through Reels and thinking “Okay, but besides the best hamburgers in Madrid, what else is there?”.
The truth is that the actor knows what he’s talking about because he has it in his own home: “My 14-year-old son got into influencers, and the next thing is ‘Hey, if you like how I play this video game, do you want to send me a donation?’ and it becomes a religion. There’s something about today’s influencers, they are like the evangelical snake oil salesmen of the information age“. Nothing, Robert, just feel free to express yourself.
Spider-Man is not Peter Parker and Spider-Man wasn’t until Uncle Ben died. If Marvel has done anything systematically, it is to clearly define Peter’s story regarding this. How becoming a hero is not only due to Uncle Ben’s legacy, but also because of the guilt of not having done the right thing and being able to have prevented his unjust death. Uncle Ben died, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. According to Joe Russo, one of the directors of Avengers and part of the Russo Brothers duo, “in our heads, he […]
Spider-Man is not Peter Parker and Spider-Man was not until Uncle Ben died. If Marvel has done anything systematically, it is to clearly define Peter’s story regarding this. How becoming a hero is not only due to Uncle Ben’s legacy, but also because of the guilt of not having done the right thing and being able to have prevented his unjust death.
Uncle Ben has died, but it wasn’t that big of a deal
According to Joe Russo, one of the directors of Avengers and part of the Russo Brothers duo, “in our heads, he was not responsible for Uncle Ben’s death,” he said about Peter Parker, “if he blamed himself for his Uncle Ben’s death, he would be a very different character.” Basically denying the narrative that has been developed by comics for decades as well as the most popular adaptation of the character until the arrival of the MCU, that of the 90s animated series.
That doesn’t mean the Russos are wrong. Simply, their version of Spider-Man does not feel the guilt that other versions of the character do. Something that gives it a particular character and personality, defining it as a different character than that of the comics or other adaptations. Which is probably one of the reasons for the current popularity of their movies, of which we will have the next one, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, on July 31.
Director Kenneth Branagh, known for his work on the 2011 Marvel film Thor, has expressed his interest in returning to the superhero universe. In a recent interview with Business Insider, Branagh confessed that there is a part of him that wishes to finish what he started with the adaptation of the character Thor, which opens the door to the possibility of a sequel or a new project within the same genre. Branagh, who ventured into the world of superheroes with his unique and deep portrayal of Thor, has hinted that […]
Director Kenneth Branagh, known for his work on the 2011 Marvel film Thor, has expressed his interest in returning to the superhero universe. In a recent interview with Business Insider, Branagh confessed that there is a part of him that wishes to finish what he started with the adaptation of the character Thor, which opens the door to the possibility of a sequel or a new project within the same genre.
Wants to return to the MCU
Branagh, who ventured into the world of superheroes with his unique and profound interpretation of Thor, has hinted that his experience in making the film was deeply rewarding. The story of the Norse gods and their conflicts on Earth resonated with many fans, and the director expressed his appreciation for the narrative that Marvel presents. “A part of me would love to conclude it,” he commented, suggesting that the story of the god of thunder may not have reached its definitive conclusion.
While concrete details about a possible return have not yet emerged, the idea of Branagh returning to the genre is exciting for many Marvel fans. The franchise has evolved tremendously since the release of Thor, expanding its universe with numerous movies and series that have explored different heroes and storylines. If Branagh decided to reprise his role in this universe, he could bring a fresh perspective and an artistic direction that many consider valuable.
For the moment, all of this remains in the realm of speculation, as no official project involving Branagh in the world of superheroes has been announced. However, his willingness to consider a return could open new conversations between Marvel’s creatives and offer fans the opportunity to see his vision on the big screen again.
During the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, the surprise was huge when it was announced that Robert Downey Jr. would return to Marvel, although not as the iconic Iron Man, but as the complex Dr. Doom. This decision has generated a mix of opinions, with some seeing it as a bold move and others as a desperate strategy by Disney to capture the public’s attention. The experience in Oppenheimer has changed Downey Jr. He has stated that his main motivation is not solely economic, but also artistic. The experience he gained working with Christopher Nolan on Oppenheimer, which earned him […]
During the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con, the surprise was huge when it was announced that Robert Downey Jr. would return to Marvel, although not as the iconic Iron Man but as the complex Dr. Doom.
This decision has generated a mix of opinions, with some seeing it as a bold move and others as a desperate strategy by Disney to capture the public’s attention.
Robert Downey Jr. at Emily Blunt’s Walk of Fame ceremony:
Downey Jr. has stated that his main motivation is not solely financial but also artistic. The experience he gained working with Christopher Nolan on Oppenheimer, which earned him an Oscar, has given him a new perspective on his career and reinforced his desire to explore darker and more complex characters.
In a recent interview, the actor mentioned that hitting that superhero franchise button again is a deliberate decision, beyond what it might seem at first glance.
The actor, known for his charisma in roles like Tony Stark, expressed that his work in Oppenheimer has provided him with the credibility and artistic backing necessary to return to a universe that, according to him, has much to offer. “I feel entitled to access unique spaces in the industry,” he stated, emphasizing his desire to tackle projects that do not scare him, despite their scale.
With a premiere scheduled for December 18 in Avengers: Doomsday, the interest in this new venture of Downey Jr. is palpable. Although an official trailer has not yet been presented, a closed-door teaser has been screened that has sparked excitement among fans. However, public opinion is divided: some believe it is a marketing strategy, while others trust in the artistic nature of the actor’s return to the Marvel world.
Punisher is one of the most controversial heroes in Marvel. Violent, tortured, and always with a weapon in hand, he has always been a discordant note in the Marvel universe. One that has added many shades to other superheroes and has allowed for the exploration of darker and more adult themes that are usually not permitted for superheroes, especially those more grounded in the virtue of not harming anyone while working alone. But his creator, Gerry Conway, was never afraid to address sensitive topics. Something he demonstrated in a long career full of exceptional […]
Punisher is one of the most controversial heroes in Marvel. Violent, tortured, and always with a weapon in hand, he has always been a discordant note in the Marvel universe. One that has added many shades to other superheroes and has allowed for the exploration of darker and more adult themes that are usually not permitted for superheroes, especially those more grounded in the virtue of not harming anyone while working alone.
But its creator, Gerry Conway, was never afraid to talk about delicate topics. Something he demonstrated in a long career full of exceptional creations, both in terms of characters and stories, which have made him a figure of great importance in the history of comics. Even more so now, as he has left us.
Deceased this April at the age of 73, for unknown reasons but after years of battling cancer, he leaves behind an amazing career in comics that has changed superheroes forever. This is something we are going to talk about today so that a man who was Punisher, but was much more, does not fall into oblivion. Because his importance goes far beyond a single creation.
A very young creator
Conway began working in the world of comics at the age of 16, writing the story Aaron Philips’ Photo Finish in issue 81 of DC Comics’ House of Secrets in 1969. His first superhero comic would be for Marvel, where he would write issue 72 of Daredevil in January 1971, and in May of that same year he would write the first issue of Savage Tales, where the Man-Thing would appear for the first time, the first character created by him. The creation of both the character and the comic would be attributed to Conway as well as to Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gray Morrow.
His great year will be, however, 1972. Because in addition to writing the first issue of the popular comic The Tomb of Dracula, he will take charge of one of Marvel’s most important series, if not the most important: The Amazing Spider-Man.
Conway was only 19 years old and no one had touched Spider-Man until then except for Stan Lee. But between issues 111 and 149, which were from August 1972 to October 1975, he left an indelible mark on the character. He was the one who signed off on the death of Gwen Stacy in issue 121 in June 1973, and he also created The Jackal, a villain who still appears from time to time in Spider-Man stories, and more importantly, he created a Spider-Man antagonist who would soon become much more than that: Frank Castle, aka Punisher.
A man named Frank Castle
Created by Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru, the character’s first appearance was in issue 129 of The Amazing Spider-Man, in February 1974. Presented as a vigilante, heavily inspired by the protagonist of the Executioner novels of a Vietnam veteran seeking revenge against the Mafia for murdering his family, he was a brutal contrast to everything that had been seen in superhero comics until then. He was violent and had ideas that were completely opposed to what superheroes did, especially one like Spider-Man, which led to constant clashes.
With the design sketched by Conway himself and later completed by John Romita Sr., who was inspired by the comic Black Terror by Richard E. Hughes and Don Gabrielson, the character was already more or less everything we know him to be. A tortured man with expedient methods, but in his first appearance, he attempted the unthinkable: to kill Spider-Man for considering him too soft. Something he did not achieve, and they clashed on several occasions.
Although Frank Castle is a character that will be developed in detail by other authors —in particular, Garth Ennis, Mike Baron, and Greg Rucka—, Conway would develop all the details upon which later authors would build. Creating one of the most iconic characters in history.
His career was far from over there, even if that is his most notable point. He worked on numerous Marvel and DC comics, on a popular Star Trek comic strip for years, and even worked both on the script and production of some of the most well-known and popular television series of the 80s and 90s, such as Matlock, Hercules, or Law and Order. Demonstrating that his genius went beyond the pages of the comic.
After his passing, he will undoubtedly be remembered for his work on the creation of Punisher. Perhaps also for his excellent work on Spider-Man. But Conway is much more than that. He was an excellent writer who showed that comics could be deeper and more complex than what was being done until then. Also television. And for that, we should be grateful.
Marvel Studios has announced the re-release of Avengers: Endgame in December 2025, just before the premiere of Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 2026. This move aims not only to draw fans back to theaters but also to smooth the transition between the two films by including new footage that is intrinsically linked to the narrative of Doomsday. Avengers, assemble! Joe Russo, one of the directors of Endgame, has made it clear that the new material will not be limited to a simple deleted scene; it will be essential for understanding the evolution of the story […]
Marvel Studios has announced the re-release of Avengers: Endgame in December 2025, just before the premiere of Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 2026. This move aims not only to draw fans back to theaters but also to ease the transition between both films by including new footage that is intrinsically linked to the narrative of Doomsday.
Avengers, assemble!
Joe Russo, one of the directors of Endgame, has made it clear that the new material will not be limited to a simple deleted scene; it will be essential for understanding the evolution of the story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is similar to the strategy used in the special editions of Star Wars, where elements were added to connect the original trilogies with the prequels.
Since the release of Endgame, the MCU has faced challenges in finding a clear direction and has tried to reconnect with the audience through various re-releases and new installments. Although titles like WandaVision and Loki have explored the post-snap world, the arrival of Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. and directed again by the Russo brothers, has generated interest from fans. Additionally, Chris Evans is expected to reprise his role as Steve Rogers in this new movie, which could provide answers about his fate since Endgame.
While re-releases are not unusual in major franchises, the case of Endgame is particularly relevant in the context of the MCU. Marvel’s decision to introduce new content into a critically acclaimed film could change the way fans perceive the narrative, raising questions about the canonization of already established events. Thus, the public’s reaction will be crucial in assessing the success of this bold move by the company.
