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THE ACOLYTE’s Wookiee Jedi, Explained

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The latest Star Wars show, The Acolyte, features a new type of character that’s never been shown in a live-action film or television show: a Wookiee Jedi. Fans have loved Wookiees ever since Chewbacca won their hearts in Episode IV: A New Hope, with his skeptical but loyal personality. Now, The Acolyte will expand fans’ horizons about Wookiees and Wookiee culture with the character of Master Kelnacca. Wookiees are already formidable warriors without the Force, making a Wookiee Jedi even more fearsome. Master Kelnacca is the only Wookiee Jedi we’ve seen in live-action. But he is not the only member of his species in the Jedi Order during the High Republic period. In fact, it could be argued that Wookiee Jedi are a staple of the High Republic as a whole. 

Lucasfilm/DisneyThe History of the Wookiee Jedi in the High Republic Era

The Acolyte, set during the tail end of the High Republic, takes place a hundred years before The Phantom Menace. In total, the High Republic lasted four hundred years. The Jedi Order was at its most powerful during this period, with scores of Jedi from a diverse array of species scattered in temples across the galaxy. Given how the Jedi Order flourished during the High Republic, it would be strange for there not to be any Wookiee Jedi. 

The High Republic as a time period within Star Wars was first championed by a multimedia publishing initiative that introduced the era’s key players, geopolitics, and more across novels, comics, manga, and audio dramas. It kicked off with Charles Soule’s novel, Light of the Jedi, the cover of which prominently features a Wookiee Jedi named Burryaga. Standing directly behind Master Avar Kriss, the Padawan Burryaga Agaburry (or “Burry” to his friends) fiercely holds his distinctive blue lightsaber, growling at a threat in the distance. 

Simon & Shuster/ Mizuki Sakakibara

Burryaga is a beloved member of the Jedi Order because of his selfless and empathetic nature. In fact, Burry has a unique Force power where he can detect emotions with a much greater intensity than other Jedi. This makes him skilled at comforting people in distress, even using the Force to remove some of the emotional burden. He also wields a lightsaber specifically designed for his tall stature, its length nearly as great as a double-bladed lightsaber. The hilt of the saber is made from materials found only on his native planet of Kashyyyk.

The Challenges of Being a Wookie Jedi

Being a Wookiee within the Jedi Order isn’t without its difficulties though. In Burryaga’s case, he can understand Basic, but he only speaks his native language, Shyriiwook. His master, Nib Assek, is one of the few non-Wookiee Jedi who can speak and understand Shyriiwook fluently. As Light of the Jedi shows, this can be sometimes distressing for Burry. This is particularly true in tense battle situations when he senses vast amounts of fear or danger and can’t convey it easily to other Jedi. 

Master Arkhoff, a Famous Wookie Jedi in the Star Wars Universe

While Burryaga eventually became a Jedi Knight, there is another, more seasoned Wookiee in the Jedi Order: Master Arkhoff. Master Arkhoff is a wise mentor to many other Jedi, particularly Master Lily Tora-Asi, who was once his apprentice. Briefly appearing in Light of the Jedi, Arkhoff was a principal character in the manga series, The Edge of Balance by Justina Ireland, Shima Shinya, and Mizuki Sakakibara. There, he helped settle refugees on the planet Banchii who were displaced by the Great Hyperspace Disaster. (This took place in Light of the Jedi).

Simon & Shuster/ Mizuki Sakakibara

Arkhoff is immediately recognizable thanks to his braided beard. (Or is it facial fur? Do Wookiees even have beards?) His tall stature made him a little intimidating to the younglings at Banchii’s Jedi Temple. Nonetheless, he played a vital role in helping his former Padawan, Lily Tora-Asi, mentor her own Padawan. Unlike Burryaga, Arkhoff worked with Jedi who understood Shyriiwook.   

Master Kelnacca, the Wookie Jedi in The AcolyteLucasfilm

This leads us now to The Acolyte’s Master Kelnacca. The elusive Jedi Master has hidden himself on the planet of Khofar, known for its thick forests. It has been long established within Star Wars lore that Wookiees prefer wooded environments that resemble their home planet of Kashyyyk. Though we only get a small taste of Kelnacca’s life on Khofar in episode 2 of The Acolyte, we have to assume that the Wookiee was living his best life in seclusion. 

So far, Kelnacca seems to be the only Wookiee Jedi in The Acolyte. Given how instrumental Burryaga in particular was to the very start of the High Republic initiative, it would be a treat to see other Wookiee Jedi in other live-action projects. If we can agree on anything, it’s that the sight of a Wookiee Jedi will always be a winner.

The post THE ACOLYTE’s Wookiee Jedi, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

THE ACOLYTE Introduces Its Mysterious Sith-Lord Villain, ‘The Master’

If there was one character that stood out in all of The Acolyte‘s promotional materials, it was the mysterious Sith Lord who hides his face behind a mask. Truly, this enemy of the Jedi is one of the most fearsome creations to ever emerge from a Star Wars property. But although his identity remains shrouded in mystery, Star Wars dark side fans didn’t have to wait long to meet his evil Sith. What did we learn about the menacing evil referred to as “The Master” in The Acolyte‘s first episodes? Let’s take a look.

[image error]The Sith Lord Known as “The Master” Wants Mae to Kill Jedi Without a Weapon in The AcolyteLucasfilm

We only saw The Acolyte‘s villainous Sith Lord once in the series’ first two episodes. Mae meets with him on a deserted beach located on an unknown planet. But in her later scenes with Qimir, we learn a bit more about this so-called “Master” and his agenda for Mae.

Mae reveals she has been tasked to kill four Jedi, seemingly by The Master. But from what she shares, the Sith Lord specifically wants her to kill a Jedi without using a weapon. So far, Mae has not been successful in these pursuits. She kills Jedi Master Indara with a knife and Jedi Master Torbin with poison from Qimir. But she notes that she has two Jedi left to kill in order to fulfill The Master’s command.

Qimir also seems to be in some way involved with the masked Sith Lord. When Osha poses as Mae, he believes for a moment Mae has succeeded in her task and notes, “Wait, you killed Torbin without the poison. He will be so pleased.” It remains to be seen how Qimir, who on the face appears more innocent than the rest, is mixed up with the Sith.

The Master and His SpeechLucasfilm

When Mae meets with The Acolyte‘s villain at the end of the first episode, the Sith Lord offers the following speech. He intones, “The Jedi live in a dream, a dream they believe everyone shares, if you attack a Jedi with a weapon you will fail, steel or laser are no threat to them, but an Acolyte, an Acolyte kills without a weapon. An Acolyte kills the dream.”

Perhaps this has to do with why The Master is so set that Mae kills a Jedi without a weapon. The Sith Lord’s speech seems to imply that Jedi can only be taken down via emotional attacks/attacks to their spirit. And maybe that’s what The Master hopes Mae will learn to do. But for now, the practical aims of this villain’s mission remain unclear.

Who Is Star Wars: The Acolyte’s Mysterious Sith Lord?

But just who is Star Wars: The Acolyte‘s mysterious Sith Lord villain? Well, it’s much too soon to tell. Although we do have some theories. We’re sure there will be a reveal, and it will be a good one, sooner rather than later.

Is this Villainous Sith Lord the Titular Acolyte on The Acolyte, or Is Mae?

Another natural question around Star Wars: The Acolyte is related to the identity of the titular Acolyte. Of course, the series seems to imply Mae is the Acolyte in question. But it could be that The Master is also a candidate for the position. We’ll have to wait and see.

Here Are Other Looks at Star Wars: The Acolyte‘s Sith Lord Villain Click To View Gallery Lucasfilm Lucasfilm Lucasfilm

The identity and motivations of Star Wars: The Acolyte‘s villainous Sith Lord will surely unroll over time. But as we wait to find out more, here are the images of “The Master” that we’ve seen so far.

The Acolyte is now airing on Disney+.

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Is Manny Jacinto’s Qimir Hiding a Major Dark Secret on THE ACOLYTE?

The Acolyte‘s official description of Qimir makes Manny Jacinto’s character sound like a fun rogue, the type of secondary figure we frequently meet in the galaxy far, far away. Lucasfilm calls him a former smuggler-turned trader and supplier of unusual items who has “survived in some of the shadier starports” around. He’s also known as a “shiftless drifter with seemingly no cares at all other than his own amusements.” But his debut in episode two of the new Disney+ Star Wars series indicated there is much more to the insightful and cunning Qimir than he wants anyone to know. His dark side affiliations, unusual wisdom, and clear purpose suggest he’s hiding the biggest secret in the High Republic.

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The Acolyte takes place during the High Republic, a time when the Jedi dominated the galaxy without any equals. As the series has shown, the guardians of peace also had outposts on every planet. Denizens of every world interacted with the highly-esteemed Jedi. They also thought no one could realistically fight those powerful Force users. Bar customers laughed at Mae when she challenged Master Indara in the show’s premiere. People of this era clearly had a personal awareness and intimacy with the Jedi Order a century and a half later before Order 66.

And yet, the ubiquitousness of the Jedi does not fully explain Qimir’s deep insights into them. He doesn’t just know about them like most people. He’s not intimidated or awed by them, either. Qimir has a meaningful understanding of who they are, what they want, and how they operate. He also sees they are vulnerable.

Lucasfilm

“Everyone has a weakness,” he told Mae about the Jedi everyone else thinks unbeatable. She proved him correct twice when she killed two Jedi in very different ways. The death of Master Torbin especially showed the depth of Qimir’s intuition about the Order and its members. He knew Torbin’s decade-long trance (as part of his Barash Vow) indicated the Jedi had not really found peace. Qimir somehow understood—even though the Jedi hadn’t spoken to anyone in ten years—the past still haunted Torbin enough he’d willingly atone with fatal poison.

Qimir also apparently knows what planet the wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca is living on, something the Force sensitive Mae didn’t. He also managed to talk himself out of what seemed like an obvious and inevitable arrest by the Jedi. Qimir then skillfully eluded their detection when he helped smuggle Mae off the planet. And that followed the supposed smuggler-turned-trader without a care in the world physically overpowering Mae, a warrior who’d just bested multiple Jedi.

Lucasfilm

Indara didn’t even consider Mae a real threat until she recognized Mae could use the Force. Yet somehow Qimir quickly fought back and overtook Mae when she surprise attacked him in that alley. How did he do that? Han Solo couldn’t beat a Force-user in hand-to-hand combat, but this rogue can? And that’s just one of the many intriguing questions the second episode of The Acolyte raised about Qimir. How does he know so much about the Jedi, including what they seek, the lies they tell themselves, where they live, and their own vulnerabilities? And how did he so quickly recognize Osha wasn’t Mae?

One possibility is that Qimir is Force-sensitive himself and has received the same training Mae has from her mysterious Master we saw at the end of episode one. Qimir said he serves that masked figure with the red lightsaber, just seemingly in a different way than Mae. She’s the warrior, he’s simply an accomplice. But it’s not as though a dark side devotee couldn’t hide their identity from another Force user like Mae. Palpatine kept his Sith identity secret from the entire Jedi Order while working closely with them.

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There’s an obvious issue with that explanation, however. If the masked Master is the very Sith who will revive the dark Order, they would only have one Padawan. “Always two there are. No more, no less. A master and an apprentice.” If Mae is the Master’s “acolyte,” Qimir can’t also be.

But what if he is the mysterious Master? Despite his official character description, Qimir obviously cares about something. He has a purpose. He’s not just helping Mae kill Jedi, he wants to expose the lie the Order tells itself. That’s the same purpose the Master has. He/she said they wants to “kill” the dream the Jedi live in.

Qimir is also is working with Mae, who knows almost nothing about him (just as she doesn’t even know her Master’s true identity.) Yet Qimir is sharing seemingly unknowable knowledge about the Jedi with her, all while he can physically overmatch her. All of which points to the fact he’s pretending to just be a normal servant of their mutual leader.

Nerdist

Star Wars fans know a powerful Sith Lord can keep a secret identity from everyone. Qimir might be hiding his own as the Master. If he is there, his story would be the kind of poetry George Lucas said drived Star Wars. Qimir’s own story would mirror that of Palpatine, whose own rise was made possible by a dark side user who took on the Jedi during the time of the High Republic.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who thinks Manny Jacinto deserved an Emmy for The Good Place. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Mae and Osha’s Relationship on STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE, Explained

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In the lead-up to Star Wars: The Acolyte, official sources gave us a tease of the characters we expected to meet in the series. One of the characters prominently featured in discussions of The Acolyte was that of Mae, played by Amandla Stenberg. But those who have watched The Acolyte‘s first episodes will know that Mae isn’t the only character Amandla Stenberg plays in the Star Wars series. No, Amandla Stenberg takes on a dual role in the series, twins Mae and Osha. But are Mae and Osha both really present in the world of The Acolyte? And if they do both exist, what is their relationship and history with one another? Let’s dive into everything we know and theorize so far about The Acolyte‘s Mae and Osha.

Is The Acolyte‘s Mae Real, or Is She in Osha’s Mind?

The first episode of The Acolyte seemingly wants you to question whether Mae really exists or whether she is just a presence within Osha. We see Mae fight and kill Jedi Master Indara in the opening sequence of the series, but then The Acolyte‘s first episode cuts to Osha asleep as if it were all a dream. Osha and the other characters in the world also seem to truly believe that Mae died in a fire as a child. This includes Jedi Master Sol, who appears to be a reliable source and claims to have witnessed the death with his own eyes.

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Later in The Acolyte‘s first episode, Osha is led into a vision by a younger version of her twin. The two exchange cryptic words, which do nothing to ease the suspicion that Mae lives only inside of Osha’s mind and does not really exist.

However, despite the surreal nature of these early encounters, by episode two of The Acolyte, it seems far more likely that Mae does really exist as her own person in the Star Wars series. We see Mae attacking Jedi Master Torbin at a Jedi Temple at a time confirmed to be temporally identical to Master Sol’s encounter with Mae on Carlac. Additionally, throughout the episodes of The Acolyte, it seems that Mae and Osha are having different conversations and engagements. Mae interacts primarily with Qimir, and Osha remains with Master Sol, Yord, and Jecki. A moment of doubt is cast again when Mae disappears after having poisoned Jedi Master Torbin only for Osha to be found with the vial.

For Now, It Feels Like Mae Is Real on The Acolyte

But Mae and Osha’s face to face meeting in episode three seems to dispel this notion. It still could be possible that Mae isn’t real and is a figment of her twin’s imagination. But for now, we’ll assume Mae and Osha are two separate and existing characters.

Mae and Osha’s Star Wars HistoryLucasfim

Now that we feel reasonably certain Mae and Osha both exist on Star Wars: The Acolyte, what do we know about their history? Well, from what the first two episodes reveal, Mae and Osha are twins who were born on the planet Brandoc. In their childhood, Mae started a fire in their home that killed their entire family. It seems that neither Mae nor Osha knew their twin survived into adulthood.

Additionally, Star Wars: The Acolyte reveals that four Jedi were stationed on Mae and Osha’s childhood planet during the fire. These were Jedi Master Sol, Indara, Torbin, and the Wookiee Jedi Kelnecca. It seems that Mae holds these Jedi responsible for something dire, perhaps for killing her sister, and now seeks revenge.

LucasfilmMae and Osha’s Force Connection

Of course, even though Mae is not Force possessing Osha, there seems to be something special about their connection. When they meet in Osha’s vision, whispers of the Force swirl around them. Additionally, Mae admits to killing Indara. So, although neither sister appears to remember the vision, it appears to be in some ways real. Both Mae and Osha are Force users.

In their shared vision, Mae and Osha recite the following cryptic poem: “You’re with me, I’m with you, always one, but born as two. As above sit the stars and below lies the seas, I give you, you, and you give me, me.” At the end of the poem, Mae’s eyes turn black.

Could Mae and Osha Be a Force Dyad on Star Wars: The Acolyte?Lucasfilm

All of this seems to hint toward the possibility that Mae and Osha are part of a Force dyad on Star Wars: The Acolyte. The Star Wars sequel trilogies introduced us to the idea of a Force dyad, two individuals that are one in the Force. In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, we learn that Rey and Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, make up one such dyad. Those who are in a Force dyad are able to connect their minds across time and space, including over long distances. In The Rise of Skywalker, we learn a Force dyad hasn’t been seen for generations. But, of course, the High Republic era is several generations before the New Republic.

In sum, all the information seems to point to the idea that Mae and Osha form a Force dyad on Star Wars: The Acolyte. And, of course, the way they describe their relationship, “always one, but born as two,” echoes the very definition of a Force dyad. Still, there could be other forces at work that we don’t yet know about.

We’ll have to wait and see if this concept is explored further as we watch the relationship between Mae and Osha develop on Star Wars: The Acolyte.

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THE ACOLYTE’s First Episode Features a Shocking Death

We knew The Acolyte would bring Star Wars fans back to the era of the High Republic, a century before The Phantom Menace. What we didn’t know is that it would also deliver a shocking death. The Disney+ show’s first episode featured a demise we did not see coming. Who met their end during the series’ start? And more importantly, what does that mean for the show? May the Force be with you, because spoilers definitely will be ahead.

Lucasfilm[image error]Who Died in The Acolyte‘s First Episode?Lucasfilm

The Acolyte opened with Amandla Stenberg’s Mae attacking a Jedi Master, Carrie-Anne Moss’s Indara. At first Master Indara tried not to fight back, merely to avoid being struck. But as the battle continued she realized this unknown young warrior was Force-trained. That’s when Indara became more actively engaged in the duel.

Things completely changed when Indara unmasked Mae and recognized her. After Mae Force threw Indara, the Jedi drew her lightsaber, which Mae took as a sign Indara meant to kill her. The Jedi Master then turned off her lightsaber. Mae threw one of her daggers at the bartender, and as Indara used the Force to stop the knife and save him Mae threw another dagger into the Jedi’s heart.

Why Did Mae Kill Jedi Master Indara?Lucasfilm

During their encounter a vengeful Mae insisted Indara attack her with “all her strength.” Later, after Indara said Jedi don’t attack unarmed people, an angry Mae said, “Yes, you do.”

That exchange hints at a dark past between the two, one where Indara or her colleagues did something we would not expect a Jedi to do. From what we saw and heard of Osha’s own sad memories, whatever happened between Indara and Mae happened when Mae was a child.

What Does Indara’s Death Mean for The Acolyte?Lucasfilm

Like with Drew Barrymore’s death in the opening scene of Scream, The Acolyte began by letting us know nobody is safe on this show. If a Force-using student without a lightsaber can kill an experienced Jedi Master—played by a major star—she can kill almost anyone. (And just imagine what her Master can do.) Indara’s death fully shows the peace of the High Republic is more vulnerable than ever before. As are the Jedi.

Mae’s masked Master said, “The Jedi live in a dream.” Master Indara’s death proves they’ll need to wake up quickly before they are all living in a nightmare.

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The 10 Greatest Fantastic Four Comic Book Runs of All Time

In 1961, Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby changed comics forever with the arrival of the Fantastic Four on newsstands. This family of superheroes—Reed Richards, Susan and Jonny Storm, and pilot Benjamin Grimm—gained powers in a cosmic ray accident in outer space. Returning to Earth forever changed, this bickering quartet became Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing, the celebrated superheroes known as the Fantastic Four. Running almost continuously since 1961, Fantastic Four pioneered modern superhero comics. In anticipation of their MCU debut, we present to you what we consider the 10 greatest creative team runs of Marvel’s self-proclaimed “World’s Greatest Comic Magazine.”

Marvel Comics10. Steve Englehart with John Buscema, Keith PollardMarvel Comics

Veteran writer Steve Englehart, who had written some of the best Avengers comics ever, had an unenviable task in 1987. He had to take over the Fantastic Four after a best-selling and critically loved run by John Byrne, who had left to revamp DC’s Superman. Now, Englehart’s two-year stint on the title post-Byrne isn’t anywhere near the former creator’s level. Yet it’s still very enjoyable, and added some fun wrinkles to the series. Reed and Sue left the team to be good parents to Franklin. So Steve Englehart replaced them with the new Ms. Marvel, Sharon Ventura, and Crystal of the Inhumans. Together with Human Torch and the Thing, it created a whole new team dynamic. Especially with “mom and dad” Reed and Sue gone.

Having Johnny’s ex-girlfriend Crystal on the team led to all kinds of romantic tension. Turning Sharon/Ms. Marvel into the She-Thing also ended up being a genius move. Toward the end of his run, Englehart was tasked by editorial to bring back Reed and Sue, which he hated. He made the entire last year’s worth of stories a dream sequence, and he was so unhappy with them that he wrote them under the pen name “John Harkness.” At the time, Keith Pollard’s pencils seemed a little old-fashioned compared to other comics, as was the work of the iconic John Buscema. If you ask us, they’ve aged like fine wine. Is it the greatest Fantastic Four run of them all? No, but it certainly deserves some recognition. If only for its big, weird swings.

Issues in Steve Englehart’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.1) #304-333 (1987-1989)

9. Mark Millar with Bryan HitchMarvel Comics

Writer Mark Millar, creator of Kick-Ass and Kingsman, wrote an updated version of the Fantastic Four for Marvel’s Ultimate universe. But the version he did with his Ultimates collaborator Bryan Hitch for the 616 universe is actually better, even if it doesn’t get as much attention. Less bombastic than his Ultimate Fantastic Four run, which leaned into shock value (a Millar trait), this relatively brief run only has 16 issues. Yet it’s still a very enjoyable read, which saw the return of Reed Richards’ old girlfriend Alyssa Moy, a creation from Chris Claremont’s run, and the creation of Nu-World. This is an alternate Earth created by the world’s greatest minds as a home for humanity when the world goes up. The fact that these stories are bolstered by Hitch’s incredible art sure doesn’t hurt. Were this a longer run, we’d likely rank it higher.

Issues in Mark Millar’s Fantastic Four run:

Fantastic Four (vol.1)  #554-569 and Annual #32 (2008-2009)

8. Chris Claremontwith Salvador LarrocaMarvel Comics

Writer Chris Claremont remains most famous today for his epic 16-year run on Uncanny X-Men. But after leaving Marvel and the X-Men comics in the early ‘90s, he returned in 1998 to Marvel’s First Family. This was the comic that got him hooked on Marvel in the first place. His run came at a controversial time for the Fantastic Four brand, after Jim Lee’s brief “Heroes Reborn” stint, which spun the team off into its own universe for a year. The following year, after a poor reception to the Jim Lee version, “Heroes Return” brought the team back to Marvel Universe proper.

Scott Lobdell was the initial writer for Fantastic Four vol. 3, but Marvel quickly replaced him with Claremont with the third issue. Now, Claremont’s run on the team didn’t set the world on fire the same way his X-Men run did. The first year of the comic leaned too heavily on former X-Men plot elements. However, it is worth reading. This was not only because of Claremont’s clever handling of the team’s family dynamics, but also for the stunning art of Salvador Larroca. Claremont introduced Sue and Reed’s daughter (originally thought to be Doom’s) Valeria Von Doom/Valeria Richards in this run, one of the few modern FF characters who has had a long shelf life beyond one creator’s run.

Issues in Chris Claremont’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.3) #4-32, Annuals 1999 and 2000 (1998-2000)

7. Tom DeFalcowith Paul RyanMarvel Comics

This run by writer (and former Marvel EIC) Tom DeFalco doesn’t ever get the credit it deserves. It came at a time when everything gaining attention at Marvel was X-Men, Spider-Man, or Punisher adjacent. In addition, DeFalco’s writing and Paul Ryan’s art was very “old school,” in an era when everything was about being flashy and over the top. But this creative team, while not reinventing any wheels, was very good at classic Marvel Comics soap opera yarn spinning.

For five years, you never knew what was going to happen from issue to issue. As a reader, you always wanted to know what would happen next. Human Torch’s wife might actually be a Skrull agent, or Reed and Dr. Doom might die together (and stay dead for a year). No plot twist was off the table, and the book was just plain fun to read. Yes, there were missteps and desperate attempts to try and stay hip. For example, Sue Storm’s “sexy” costume, or disfiguring the Thing so he had to wear a menacing helmet. Nevertheless, De Falco and Ryan’s tenure remains extremely fun, deserving its place among the best FF runs.

Issues in Tom DeFalco’s Fantastic Four run:

 Fantastic Four (vol.1) #356–416, 645, Annual #25 (1991–1996)

6. Dan Slottwith Sarah Pichelli, Aaron Kuder, Paco Medina, R.B. Silva, Rachael Stott, Francesco Manna.Marvel Comics

After Marvel’s event series Secret Wars in 2015, the Fantastic Four went on an extended hiatus. The team took off into the Multiverse, perhaps never to be seen again. For the first time since 1961, Marvel would not publish a regular Fantastic Four series. Of course, within a few years, the FF was back. Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott relaunched Fantastic Four in a new volume with a new first issue. For four years, Slott guided the FF through a world that grew accustomed to not having them around.

During his run, Slott finally married Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters after a sixty-year courtship, and the pair became adoptive parents to alien kids. He gave Reed Richards one of the coolest inventions in a long time, the Forever Gate, an artificial nexus of realities owned by the FF. This is the most recent Fantastic Four run on the list, ending only in 2022. While controversial to some, as Slott’s work often it, this run is an extended love letter to the FF, and a highly enjoyable era for the team.

Issues in Dan Slott’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.6) #1-46 (2018-2022)

5. Walter Simonson with Arthur AdamsMarvel Comics

Steve Englehart’s run on Fantastic Four, which followed up John Byrne’s, was interesting and often bizarre, but not groundbreaking or modern in the way fans wanted. So enter writer/artist Walter Simonson, fresh off a groundbreaking run on The Mighty Thor. Simonson didn’t do away with any of the previous run’s stranger additions, even including the controversial She-Thing from Englehart’s run. Despite the title still having the name Fantastic Four, the team was essentially the Fantastic Five at the time. Simonson brought modern kinetic energy to Fantastic Four that had been missing since Byrne’s run, and fans loved it.

Simonson’s imagination was big, and his art style was often otherworldly and widescreen in scope. During his brief time on the title, he introduced concepts like the Time Variance Authority, now famous thanks to Loki. Simonson also brought a much-needed sense of humor to the usually stodgy team. During his run, he also introduced the “new” Fantastic Four, comically consisting of just super popular heroes like Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider. These meta commentary issues came with an art assist from X-Men’s Art Adams. Speaking of art, Simonson’s pencils were never better than in Fantastic Four, celestial and grandiose, truly befitting a family of cosmic explorers.

Issues in Walter Simonson’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.1) #333-354 (1989-1991)

4. Mark Waid with Mike Wieringo, Karl Kesel, Howard Porter Marvel Comics

Writer Mark Waid was already one of comics’ brightest stars when he took over writing duties on Fantastic Four in 2002, coming off iconic runs at DC on books like The Flash. Together with his Flash collaborator, the late, great artist Mike Weiringo, they gave the series a nice shot in the arm, embracing the past while forging new territory. For the first time in a long time, the FF felt like cosmic explorers again, or as Waid profered, “Imaginauts.” He also made the series funny, reminiscent in a way of DC’s Justice League International. It’s likely that Waid’s run partially inspired the first Fantastic Four movie’s light tone. Only the comics did it way better.

During this era, the team has to face one of Reed’s mathematic equations that gains sentience, and a new Frightful Four. There’s also a glow-up for Johnny Storm, who becomes the team’s C.F.O, and has to manage their IP. But it wasn’t all goofy fun in Waid’s run. The “Unthinkable” arc is one of the best Doctor Doom stories ever, which sees the Latverian ruler embrace supernatural power over scientific prowess to defeat his rival Reed Richards. Things got pretty out there in this run, with the Human Torch becoming the Herald of Galactus, and the team even meeting God when they need to rescue one of their own from the afterlife. And (spoilers) God looks just like legendary artist Jack Kirby. How can one not love that?

Issues in Mark Waid’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.3) ##60-70, (vol.1) #500-524 (2002-2005)

3. Jonathan Hickmanwith Dale Eaglesham, Steve Epting, Barry Kitson, Ron Garney, Neil Edwards, Nick Dragotta, Mark Brooks, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Ryan StegmanMarvel Comics

Before writer Jonathan Hickman had groundbreaking runs on X-Men and Avengers, he tackled Marvel’s First Family. Under Hickman’s watch, he focused on redeeming Reed Richards, as Mr. Fantastic had suffered the most in recent years for his role in Civil War. This Mr. Fantastic dedicated his mind to solving everything. Literally, everything that is broken in existence. What could go wrong? Reed faced many Multiversal (and smarter) versions of himself known as the Council of Reeds, and the team got a big expansion of their mythos with the addition of the Future Foundation, a team of young geniuses operating out of the Baxter Building. Spider-Man even became a member for a time, finally joining after trying out in Amazing Spider-Man #1 in 1963.

Hickman’s Fantastic Four, and its companion series simply titled FF, also featured incredible artwork from artists like Dale Eaglesham, Steve Epting, and others, which was the perfect compliment to Hickman’s big-brained concepts. Perhaps most importantly, the Hickman run was ground zero for the 2015 Secret Wars event, one of the best sagas in modern Marvel history, and perhaps the greatest Reed Richards/Dr. Doom story of all time. When Hickman first took over the title, it flew under the radar. By his exit, it stood as one of the all-time best Fantastic Four runs.

Issues in Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four Run:

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5, Fantastic Four #570-611, FF #1-23 (2009-2012)

2. John ByrneMarvel Comics

When writer/artist John Byrne took over the Fantastic Four in 1981, he was coming off a legendary run on Uncanny X-Men. Although FF was still selling well, every creative team since Lee and Kirby left a decade earlier played it relatively safe with the concept of the Fantastic Four. Not Byrne however. In Byrne’s five-year run, he shook up the status quo that existed for years. For the first time in their history, he gave the team new costumes. He broke up the Thing and his longtime girlfriend Alicia Masters, and actually had Alicia start dating Johnny Storm. Absolutely nothing was sacred. Fantastic Four felt fresh again, and sales soared.

Byrne upgraded Sue Storm from the timid Invisible Girl into the Invisible Woman, now the most powerful member. Speaking of powerful women, he had She-Hulk replace Ben Grimm on the team for a long time, changing the dynamic of the group by adding someone outside the family for an extended period. And his “Trial of Galactus” story still stands as one of the best FF sagas ever. That story is really the trial of Reed Richards, who the galaxy holds accountable for letting Galactus live. Byrne’s art was at its peak during this era, and his strengths in telling cosmic soap operas were never stronger. For the first time since Lee and Kirby left, under Byrne Fantastic Four truly was “the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine” once more.

Issues in John Byrne’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.1) #232-294 (1981-1986)

1. Stan Lee and Jack KirbyMarvel Comics

Much like Chris Claremont’s Uncanny X-Men was the only choice for “best X-Men run ever,” Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s seminal run on Fantastic Four is the only choice for the best FF run. It’s not even up for debate. When Lee and Kirby created the FF in 1961, they didn’t only change comics, they essentially created the Marvel Universe as we know it. During their nine-year, 102-issue run, Lee and Kirby emphasized flawed characters in a way superhero comics had never done before. Kirby’s pencil work expanded the limits of comic book art and storytelling at the time, and suddenly comics weren’t just for little kids anymore. Every single Marvel comic that came after owes a debt to Fantastic Four in some way.

How important was the Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four? During their near decade-long collaboration, readers were introduced to Doctor Doom, the Negative Zone, Black Panther, Adam Warlock, the Inhumans, Galactus, and the Silver Surfer. That’s just naming a few by the way. Sure, some of it is very “of its time” in a big way. Particularly the sexist treatment of Invisible Girl. These comics are 60 years old now after all. Regardless of dated flaws, this run is the bedrock of everything Marvel is built on. It will always be the greatest Fantastic Four run of all time. No matter how good anyone else’s work on the book is, they stand on the shoulders of Lee and Kirby.

Issues in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four Run:

Fantastic Four (vol.1) #1-102 (1961-1970)

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Marvel Eyes Shawn Levy to Direct Next AVENGERS Movie (Report)

What was once Avengers: Kang Dynasty now has a big question mark around it. Recently, it was announced that the now-reconceived fifth Avengers movie would be written by Michael Waldron. And now it seems that Marvel Studios is tapping another familiar name for the new Avengers movie, Deadpool & Wolverine’s Shawn Levy.

Marvel Studios

Deadline reports that Levy “may be the studio’s choice” for directing the upcoming Avengers film. The MCU movie remains in very early phases of development, so we’ll have to wait and see what exactly will become of it.

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Join Nerdist for a HANNIBAL Reunion Panel at Fan Expo Boston

If you know Nerdist, or, well, me, you might know that both the publication and the individual are big fans of Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal. We are Fannibals, you might say, to the core. In fact, in 2020, Nerdist hosted the Hannibal reunion, and it’s still one of our favorite pieces of video ever. So you can imagine my delight, to announce that I’ll be moderating Fan Expo Boston‘s Hannibal reunion panel, “Having Old Friends for Dinner: Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy.”

NBC

If you’re heading to Fan Expo Boston, I’d love to have you for dinner. I mean, meat you in the Main Theater at 7:45 PM on Friday, June 14 for a Hannibal panel. There will be Fannibals, flower crowns, Hugh Dancy, and Mads Mikkelsen. Nothing will be vegetarian. Everything will be weird. (Which it’s fine to be.) What more could anyone ever need in life? We can promise it will be a good, funny time.

Although Hannibal has been off the air for nearly a decade now, it has sustained a loyal following hungry to continue to discuss and engage with the series. New fans are finding Hannibal every day, even now, eleven years after it first aired. And that’s beautiful. In a true twist of Hannibal magic, Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen have actually done more promotional panels for the series in the last few months than they ever did while the show was airing.

We expect the Hannibal panel to fill up at Fan Expo, so get your tickets now and get there early. Who knows what manner of mischief will ensue?

In the meantime, get ready for all the Hannibal excitement by rewatching our reunion video. It’s always nice, as they say, to have an old friend for dinner. See (see) you soon!

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BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE Will Not Contain Any Generative AI

The argument over the use of generative AI, in which a program aggregates from sources across the globe to create something like text, videos, images, etc., is hot these days. Should production companies use it to cut some corners? Is the product actually inferior? (Yes, it is.) And why do CEOs seem intent on using it, no matter what? Well the final question has been a big one, and producer Chris Miller has responded. Beyond the Spider-Verse will not employ any generative AI.

Sony Animation

IndieWire reported on May 30 that Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra told investors that the studio was “looking at ways to produce both films for theaters and television in a more efficient way, using AI primarily.” Obviously, this made people scared, especially for movies like the third Spider-Verse. Those movies, which have gorgeous visuals, are difficult to make. Would this mean Sony would push to use generative AI for “efficiency” sake? Chris Miller had something to say about this, which we first saw on Gamespot.

Miller responded on Twitter: “There is no generative AI in Beyond the Spider-Verse and there never will be. One of the main goals of the films is to create new visual styles that have never been seen in a studio CG film, not steal the generic plagiarized average of other artists’ work.”

Sony Animation

It’s worth noting that the Spider-Verse movies have used AI programs, but not generative AI. They instead incorporated ethical and smart-use machine learning to eliminate repetitive tasks and help the artists better adhere to 3D geometry.

Per the effects supervisor Pav Grochola, “We determined that in order to speed up artists’ productivity over the course of the project, we would utilize machine learning to help our animators get an initial predicted result that would give them a reasonable first pass of creating ink lines on the characters.”

We’re not going to see an end to the AI debate in film and TV for some time. As a tool, machine learning can help artists achieve the desired result more quickly. But generative AI undermines the work of hundreds of real humans, not to mention all the people whose work the machine samples. And so far at least, people can tell the difference.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Mike Flanagan’s HUSH Coming to Blu-ray for First Time Ever

Physical media is the only way to actually have ownership over the movies, TV shows, and music you love. FACT. Blu-rays and the like take up room, but they aren’t subject to the whims of a streaming service and its licensing agreements. How many of us have purchased a film or TV episode on Prime or Apple only to later learn it isn’t in your library? With Netflix, as we’ve seen with other services like Max, you never own the media. It can disappear without warning. That’s why we’re so thrilled to hear at least one of our favorite horror filmmakers’ film will get a physical release soon.

Netflix

As we learned from Collider, Mike Flanagan spoke to SlashFilm recently about his 2016 Netflix-exclusive movie Hush. Starring Flanagan’s frequent collaborator and spouse Kate Siegel, the movie follows a deaf novelist who lives in a house in the woods unaware a home invader lurks. It’s a very straightforward thriller, but offers some great tension. But Netflix took the movie off the platform, and it’s nowhere to be find at the moment.

“We took it back because I really value physical media,” Flanagan said. “Netflix, by policy, it does not work in their business plan. So we took it back. We do have a new home for it. I can’t say where.” He went on to say that they’ve been working on a fancy schmancy physical release for a year. “There will be a lot of really awesome surprises that we’ve been working on for a year to make this release awesome. It’s something that will be really exciting.”

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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