Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 429

HANNAH WADDINGHAM: HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Special Kicks Off the Holiday Season With Festive Trailer

It’s the holiday season, which means parents around the globe are telling their children Santa Claus will soon bring them lots of goodies and toys. Before that, though, Apple TV+ is bringing a different magical being to our screens to spread some cheer. Ted Lasso‘s Hannah Waddingham is kicking off the most wonderful time of the year with a big new holiday musical special. And the first trailer for Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas is another reminder that if someone as talented as her can be real, Santa might be, too.

Get out your finest suits and dresses because this year Hannah Waddingham is ringing in the holidays with style. She’s also ringing it in whole bunch of songs and friends in her Home For Christmas musical extravaganza recorded live at The Coliseum in London.

The one-hour show will see the Emmy-winner perform a number of iconic Christmas songs. Some big names will also join her on the show. That includes Sam Ryder, Luke Evans, Leslie Odom Jr., Phil Dunster, and, as this trailer reveals, even more of her Ted Lasso co-stars like Juno Temple and Brendan Hunt. The show will also feature performers from the English National Opera, the London Gay Men’s Chorus, The Fabulous Lounge Swingers, and an 18-piece band.

Apple TV+

Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas will debut everywhere on November 22. As a bonus present, Apple has also announced that same day will mark the release of a companion album. You’ll be able to listen to it on all music streaming platforms. Waddingham’s “What Christmas Means to Me” is already available. You can hear it right here.

I don’t know if Santa Claus is real. He’s probably not. However, I won’t rule it out. Not when Hannah Waddingham is. That seems just as unlikely as a magical elf who lives in the North Pole.

I mean, can Santa even sing?

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THE MARVELS Shines Brightest When It Focuses on Its Leads

The Marvels is a planet-hopping, zany MCU outing that is held together by its leads: Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), and Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). While on the shorter side for MCU films, The Marvels develops the relationship between Carol, Kamala, and Monica in an engaging and natural manner. The film’s weak points come during its slightly rocky beginning and from the inevitable struggle it faces between its aims and the needs of the MCU’s broader world. 

Marvel Studios

Kamala Khan, Monica Rambeau, and Carol Danvers have not appeared together on screen before. The MCU, after all, introduced Kamala in Ms. Marvel in 2022, while it (re)introduced Monica in WandaVision in 2021. But director Nia DaCosta, and fellow writers Elissa Karasik and Megan McDonell, flesh out their dynamic very well. The relationships between the three leads are easily the most interesting parts of The Marvels‘ story. Kamala, Monica, and Carol are (literally) thrown together when a mistake from Carol’s past comes back to haunt her.

The trio then have to navigate not only their powers, which cause them to switch places with one other if used simultaneously, but also an entirely new relationship and team dynamic. Vellani, who has proven to be a joyous addition to the MCU, spends much of her screen time being the quintessential fangirl. But her character goes through an important journey as her confidence in her powers and herself grows. She realizes that even her idol, Captain Marvel, can make grave mistakes. 

Marvel Studios

While the science of it all is questionable (as is true for most MCU films), the three heroes being linked through their powers makes for a thoroughly entertaining experience. The conceit allows for some fast-paced, electric action scenes. And the extent to which The Marvels stretches and experiments with the idea feels quite entertaining. We also get to see the heroes actually learning and training to work with each other. As cool as it was to see the Avengers assemble in Avengers: Endgame, we never learned how they knew exactly how to fight together. But we do get to see that team-building phase here. DaCosta’s direction keeps the story moving quickly, but never so much as to lose the audience.

While Zawe Ashton’s villain Dar-Benn certainly has intriguing motivations, she ends up following in the path of most forgettable MCU villains. Ultimately, she has very little to work with in the script. Her naked hatred for Captain Marvel is clear, but there was more potential to explore her motivations as a leader of the Kree. 

Marvel Studios

Kamala Khan and her family have time to shine in The Marvels, which grounds the universe-threatening stakes to a teenager simply trying to make sure her family stays safe. We see Kamala promise over and over again to her mother, who is fiercely protective, that she is in good hands with Carol and Monica. The moments shared between Kamala and her mother are incredibly touching, just as they were in Ms. Marvel.

Meanwhile, Kamala’s father and brother bring some comedic relief in the form of their disbelief as they make some of this galactic journey along with Kamala. There are specifically some downright hilarious moments with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury that, for me as a South Asian and Muslim, indicated that care was taken with the specificity of Kamala’s family’s culture and traditions in The Marvels. DaCosta also leans into the weirdness a comic book-inspired film can afford, and it brings an entertaining detour to the planet of Park Seo-Joon’s Prince Yan. The film is a wild ride, but it balances the humor and the emotional beats mostly well.

Marvel Studios

Monica and Carol also finally come to terms with how much time they lost in The Marvels, and how they plan to move on as a family that accepts each other, flaws and all. Parris and Larson are compelling to watch together. Additionally, Larson finally gets more to do in this film, as opposed to in her previous MCU appearances. This comes not just in terms of engaging with the actual plot, but also in the range of emotions the movie asks her to convey. We see cracks in Captain Marvel’s oh-so-confident demeanor, and they make her all the more interesting.

Parris also gets the opportunity to be more than just the scientist of the bunch. She has some strong emotional beats opposite Larson. However, where Monica Rambeau ends up at the conclusion of The Marvels feels like a calculated move to set up future MCU expansions, as opposed to something truly in favor of her character.

The movie’s climax spells out major consequences for the MCU as a whole. And The Marvels‘ end credits scene will absolutely send fans off to the races with their theories for where the MCU’s projects will go next. Crucially, though, this is where the film’s best parts—the relationships between Kamala, Carol, and Monica and the broader theme of the responsibility of a power like Captain Marvel’s—threaten to become overshadowed. 

Marvel Studios

The Marvels shines the most when it focuses on the central dynamic between Kamala, Carol, and Monica, as they figure out how to be a team together. While the villain may have been forgettable, she was a formidable test for the leads, and her actions will have sweeping consequences for the MCU as a whole. Overall, the film is an enjoyable journey through new parts of the MCU, along with some much-needed development for Captain Marvel, who finally has to face the consequences of her incredible power.

⭐ (4 of 5)

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MR. MONK’S LAST CASE: A MONK MOVIE Gets Its First Trailer

It’s been 12 years since we last saw the Monk series grace our screens. The mystery dramedy ran on USA from 2002-2009. And yes, 2009 was 12 years ago and not just yesterday. Don’t even get us started on 2002. Monk was an early entry in the USA Network’s heyday, which involved shows like Psych, White Collar, Suits, Burn Notice, and more. And like all good things from the increasingly distant past, Monk has now received a new lease on life, this time in the form of a reunion movie that will air on Peacock. Happily, this Monk Movie finally has a release date and some first-look photos. The movie title mentions Monk’s last case, but we’re not so sure. Here’s our first taste of Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie.

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie‘s Trailer

The first trailer for Mr. Monk’s Last Case shows Tony Shalhoub settling right back into the role of Monk and all his quirks. He references what a struggle COVID was for him, but now, he’s getting back to work.

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie‘s First-Look Photos

Joining Shalhoub are Ted Levine, Jason Gray-Stanford, Traylor Howard, Melora Hardin, and Hector Elizondo. You can see our first glimpses of the reunion movie below.

Click To View Gallery Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock Peacock More About This Reunion Movie

The logline for the movie shares, “Monk returns to solve one last, very personal case involving his beloved stepdaughter Molly, a journalist preparing for her wedding.“

And additionally, a note from Monk‘s original creative team, Andy Breckman, David Hoberman, and Randy Zisk, offers:

It’s been twelve years since the world has seen a fresh installment of MONK. The world has changed mightily in those intervening years and MONK 2023 reflects the changing world. 

We’re so delighted to have made a movie version of MONK, and we are thrilled that every one of our stars were so enthusiastic about coming back. But in coming back, we wanted to do a film that was worthy of our legacy. MR MONK’S LAST CASE is a story that is powerful, emotional, funny, heartwarming, and has something to say about the human condition. And it will be both familiar and surprising.

According to an article from Entertainment Weekly, this Monk Movie will touch on the impact of the pandemic and find Monk himself in a dark place and also facing a new foe. But hopefully, we’ll get to see a lof of those funny and heartwarming aspects as well.

As we anticipated, Breckman notes, “‘The End’ was not the end and the ‘Last Case’ we hope is not really the last case… I have an idea for a sequel that I’d love to do, and if the gods smile on this project, I hope we get a chance to continue our journey.”

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie Release DatePeacock

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie has now officially set its release date. The Monk Movie will release on December 8. It will stream on Peacock.

Originally published on October 10, 2023.

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GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE Shares Chilling Trailer Featuring Original Stars

After generations came together in Oklahoma in 2021, the Ghostbusters are going home. Well, at least the old ones are. Technically, the new Ghostbusters are going someplace new. What matters is they’re all heading back to where things started for the franchise, New York City. It’s a good thing, too. The Big Apple is going to need all of them. Columbia Pictures’ first teaser trailer for (the officially named) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a chilling look at the horrors that await the City That Never Sleeps. A powerful, ancient enemy is turning fear itself into its greatest weapon. Take a look at the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire trailer below.

No need to wonder if the original Ghostbusters will return like they did in 2021’s Afterlife. They are a big part of this Ghostbusters sequel’s trailer, which is way more grim than we would have imagined. At least Paul Rudd is back to keep things light. Unfortunately, New York City will need more than a little light to thaw out.

Columbia Pictures

To help us make sense of the trailer, here is the official synopsis for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire from Columbia Pictures:

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Columbia Pictures

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire comes from the Afterlife co-writing team of Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan. Only this time, Kenan is in the director’s chair. The movie also stars: Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts.

Hopefully, Ghostbusters, both old and new, kept their winter jackets close by when they unpacked their summer clothes. They’re going to need them when Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire comes to theaters on March 29, 2024.

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MEAN GIRLS Movie Musical Trailer Fetchingly Revives the Original’s Fun

This isn’t your mother’s Mean Girls, the trailer for the Mean Girls (2024) musical movie wants you to know. Ouch. That does make us feel like we’re back in high school. But honestly, from what we can see, this movie musical captures all the true spirit of Mean Girls and brings us right back to 2004. Of course, this movie is an adaptation of the hit Mean Girls stage musical, which was released in 2017. But the musical was based on the 2004 movie. So, while this trailer is for an adaptation of an adaptation of Mean Girls, it speaks to the power of the movie that its essence is not diluted at all. And that, my friends, is so fetch.

Take a look at the full trailer for Mean Girls, the 2024 movie edition, below.

This movie musical feels like a great way to celebrate twenty years of Mean Girls. The movie really did shape our culture in a big way. In the Mean Girls trailer, we see all the greatest hits, but reimagined for a slightly new audience and age. There’s The Burn Book, health class, the epic performance of “Jingle Bell Rock,” Cady’s scary Halloween look, and more. But this time, everyone’s phones are out. We imagine that makes the jungle of high school that much wilder.

In addition to the trailer, Mean Girls has shared a synopsis for the movie. It notes:

From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, MEAN GIRLS. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

Paramount Pictures

So we agree, we think that’s pretty excellent. Jumping from original to adaptation, once-removed, are Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, who reprise their roles as Ms. Norbury and Principal Duval. There’s no word yet on whether any other cast will cameo or act in this Mean Girls musical movie. But Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, Daniel Franzese, and Rajiv Surendra all came together recently for a Mean Girls reunion/sequel of sorts—by way of a Walmart ad. So maybe, just maybe, we’ll see them.

In the meantime, we’ll look forward to a new generation of Plastics and friends. The Mean Girls movie musical releases on January 12, 2024.

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Nintendo Announces Live-Action LEGEND OF ZELDA Movie in Development

Shock of shocks! Hot on the heels of The Super Mario Bros. Movie making—conservatively speaking—a s**t-zillion dollars earlier this year, it seemed only reasonable for Nintendo to keep that ball a-rolling. However, while an animated Mario movie was a sure bet, the next project might prove a bit trickier. In Japan on Wednesday, Nintendo announced it will develop a live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, arguably the game manufacturer’s second most important property. The franchise began in 1986 and has continued to this very year with Tears of the Kingdom.

Nintendo

The news is very scant at the moment. Nintendo’s Representative Director, Shigeru Miyamoto, will produce the movie alongside Avi Arad’s Arad Productions. Arad’s name should be familiar to our readers, having executive produced all of the Spider-Man films, many of the X-Men films, and a number of other Marvel properties. Nintendo will co-finance the movie with Sony Pictures Entertainment, with Sony handling worldwide theatrical distribution. The press release also points out Nintendo will put up “more than 50%” of the money for the movie, assuring they retain the most creative input.

The release also mentions director Wes Ball, of The Maze Runner movies and the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will direct. However, no word yet on a writer, cast, or any of the other fun stuff.

Nintendo

Over the years, many Zelda films and TV series, both live-action and animation, have been in development. None have managed to make their way much beyond that point. This, however, feels a bit different. Nintendo is in its own driver’s seat and coming off a monster global hit movie. The big question is which of the many Zelda games will be the basis of the film, or if it’ll end up as a totally separate story that doesn’t remake or contradict any previous game. The Legend of Zelda game timeline is one of the most complex in gaming, so probably they’d be smart not to mess with that.

And as long as we don’t get a Link saying “Well excuuuuuuuse me, Princess,” we should be in good shape.

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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THE MARVELS’ Director Reveals Her Dream X-MEN Project Starring Cyclops and Storm

Director Nia DaCosta has been doing promotion for her upcoming film The Marvels, and of course, questions about the film’s ties to X-Men lore have been brought up. Mainly because one promo for The Marvels lingered on the letter “X” in the word “Next,” leading fans to view it as a big X-Men tease. So naturally, someone asked DaCosta what her dream X-Men-related project would be. And it turns out it would focus on the two most famous leaders of the mutant team, Cyclops and Storm.

I spoke with THE MARVELS director Nia DaCosta about that “cheeky” X-MEN tease in the new trailer — and her dreams of making a Cyclops / Storm movie!

FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/typcSYQQJz pic.twitter.com/dbIu5kzFwG

— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) November 6, 2023

In an interview with Jake’s Takes, DaCosta said the following:

I really like Scott Summers [Cyclops] and Storm together and their dynamic fighting over who should lead the X-Men, like in the Chris Claremont run. I think some Cyclops and Storm team-up movie would be fun. I really like Scott Summers and Storm together.

Marvel Comics

When DaCosta says “the Claremont run,” you know she’s a big fan of the X-Men comics. The Claremont run refers to writer Chris Claremont’s epic 16-year run writing Uncanny X-Men. It was an era that defined so much of what Marvel’s mutants even are to this day. The struggle for leadership between Scott Summer and Ororo Munroe was a central plot point in many Claremont stories. Professor Xavier had Cyclops in mind for a leadership role since the X-Men’s inception, but when Storm joined later, she proved she was also a stellar candidate.

Marvel Comics

In Uncanny X-Men #201, the two finally fought each other over who would be the team’s field leader. Storm had no powers at the time, and she still managed to beat Cyclops through her ingenuity. Later, both Storm and Cyclops would lead their own squad of X-Men. Scott would lead the Blue Team, while Storm would command the Gold Team into battle. While we know it will be some time before this scenario can ever play out in the MCU since the X-Men need a proper introduction first. But we’re all for Nia Dacosta helming this X-Men story when it’s time.

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The 10 Greatest Avengers Comic Book Runs of All Time, Ranked

The Avengers is the biggest name when it comes to superhero media, thanks to the MCU. But those Marvel Studios stories are all based, in some way or another, on stories from over 60 years of Marvel Comics. Some of those Avengers comics were unmemorable, but some creative teams produced runs for the ages. Stories that deserve to be recognized today. Here are our choices for the ten best Avengers comic book runs of all time.

Marvel Comics10. All-New, All-Different Avengers and Avengers by Mark WaidMarvel Comics

Mark Waid was already a comics legend by the time he came on board the Avengers franchise, thanks to series like Kingdom Come and The Flash. but the Avengers he got to write were not the all usual suspects. In 2016’s All-New, All-Different Avengers, Waid kept stalwart members like Tony Stark, but added Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan, Miles Morales Spider-Man, Jane Foster’s Thor, and the teenage Nova, Sam Alexander, as a new generation of Avengers. And Sam Wilson was finally on the team as Captain America and not as the Falcon.

Waid excelled at writing this mix of heroic generations, giving the Avengers a multi-generational perspective it never had before. To make Waid’s run even better, he was joined by artists like Adam Kubert and Mahmud Asrar. Eventually, the younger generation would form their own team, the Champions, but Waid would continue with the older members in a new volume of Avengers. He’d close out his run in 2018 with the epic No Surrender arc, one of the best and most epic Avengers sagas of the 21st century. It was a brief run overall, but one that made a mark. No pun intended.

Issues in Mark Waid’s Avengers Run

All-New, All-Different Avengers #1-16, Avengers (vol.6) #1-11, Avengers (vol.1) #675-690 (2016-2018)

9. Uncanny Avengers by Rick Remender, w/John Cassaday, Adam Kubert, Daniel Acuña, and Steve McNiven (2012-2014)Marvel Comics

The Avengers and the X-Men, two teams who debuted on the same day in 1963, were enemies as often as they were friends. But they’d never really united to become one team before, until 2012’s Uncanny Avengers series. Written by Rick Remender, with incredible art by John Cassaday, Adam Kubert, and others, arrived in the fallout of the Avengers vs. X-Men. Captain America decided that he and other human heroes had not done enough for the mutant race. So he proposed a joint team of Avengers and X-Men, called the Avengers Unity Squad.

Several iconic Avengers like Wonder Man and Scarlet Witch were members, but so were important X-Men like Rogue and Havok. The stories were consistently great and explored the tension between human heroes and the mutant community, all while the Avengers faced epic villains like the Red Skull and his S-Men. Rick Remender’s run was relatively brief, only lasting two years in total. Later, other writers did their own run of the Avengers Unity Squad, to varying results. If it were longer, Remender’s Uncanny Avengers might have gone up a notch in the ranking, because this is some darn great superhero storytelling.

Issues in Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers Run:

Uncanny Avengers (vol.1) #1-24, 2012-2014

8. Avengers and West Coast Avengers by John Byrne with Paul Ryan (1988-1990)Marvel Comics

Writer/artist John Byrne was the comic book industry’s biggest superstar by the time he took on the Avengers franchise in 1988. He had drawn issues here and there previously. However, this run was the first time he was the creator in charge of both writing and drawing. Actually, he took on both the monthly West Coast Avengers and Avengers at the same time, with help on the art of Avengers from Paul Ryan. His opening storyline involves the Scarlet Witch and Vision discovering the truth about their children. Not to mention, the Vision being dismantled and rebuilt as “White Vision.” Both stories had a huge influence on WandaVision.

Byrne’s run also saw Spider-Man join the team for an extended space adventure. Another significant addition was the Eternal named Sersi. The original ’40s Human Torch also made a comeback after 50 years during his tenure. Byrne’s run was big, pulpy, and just plain fun. He even took dated concepts like the Lava Men and made them a credible threat. And we can’t forget to mention that he introduced the comedic Great Lakes Avengers during his run. That alone makes this a run for the history books.

Issues in John Byrne’s Avengers Run:

West Coast Avengers (vol.1) #42-57 Annual #4, Avengers (vol.1) #305-317, Annual #19, 1988-1990

7. The Avengers by Stan Lee, with Jack Kirby, Don Heck (1963-1966)Marvel Comics

When Marvel publisher Martin Goodman asked Stan Lee to copy DC’s success with the Justice League of America, he did his own thing instead, creating the Fantastic Four. But by 1963, Marvel had enough solo characters to create their own “all-star” team, and The Avengers was born. The first two issues, by Lee and Jack Kirby, featured a lineup that included Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and the Hulk. Issue one also introduced the idea of Loki as a primary villain for the team.

But by issue #4, the Avengers really came into their own when Lee thought of having Captain America join the team. As leader, Cap proved to be the missing ingredient the Avengers needed. From that point on, Stan Lee was off to the races. Kirby left fairly early on, and capable artist Don Heck replaced him. Stan Lee’s run only lasted 35 issues and three years. Yet he introduced so many key concepts to what the Avengers are to this very day. Rotating memberships, major villains like Kang, and so much more were birthed in Lee’s run.

Issues in Stan Lee’s Avengers Run:

Avengers (vol.1) #1-35, 1963-1966

6. The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch (2002-2005)Marvel Comics

Forget what the title of this comic says; the Ultimates are the Avengers in all but name. When Marvel launched the streamlined and modern Ultimate Universe in 2000, it focused on Spider-Man and the X-Men. But when it came time to do the Avengers, Marvel editorial believed the name was too associated with a property that was no longer popular. So they dubbed this series The Ultimates. Even though the lineup featured Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, the Wasp, and the Hulk. So, basically, the Avengers.

Mark Millar, who became a name at DC writing the fascistic hero team series The Authority, brought some of his trademark grit and satirical take on heroes to Marvel. He and artist Bryan Hitch made Ultimates feel like you were watching a blockbuster movie. So it’s no surprise that Marvel Studios’ Avengers borrowed heavily from this run. If there’s one thing that makes this book cringe today, it’s that Millar’s take on the heroes is that they’re all slightly sociopathic at worst, self-centered jerks at best. And the modern twists to Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver are icky. But the big screen scale and imagination on display in The Ultimates make up for those shortcomings.

Issues in Mark Millar’s The Ultimates Run:

The Ultimates #1-13, Annual #1, The Ultimates 2 #1-13, 2002-2007

5. The Avengers by Roy Thomas, with John Buscema, Sal Buscema, Neal Adams, (1966-1971)

Roy Thomas took over writing duties on Avengers from Stan Lee in 1966, with issue #36. But more than any other writer, Thomas solidified who we think of as the most important and iconic Avengers. Taking over from Stan Lee must have been daunting, but Thomas somehow surpassed his mentor. During his run, Thor and Iron Man returned after a long absence, and he introduced the first hero created specifically for the team, the Vision. He increased the importance of the non-powered Hawkeye, and solidified ex-villains Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver as crucial members of the team.

Roy Thomas also added in Black Panther as a mainstay of the team, and created one of the Avengers’ primary antagonists, the sentient A.I. Ultron. During his tenure, Thomas dialed up the soap opera aspects of the Avengers, setting the standard for future writers. He also scripted the first true Avengers epic, the intergalactic Kree/Skrull war. He also worked with a genius young artist named Neal Adams, who took the book to a whole new level in a visual sense. Although his collaborators like John and Sal Buscema were no slouches either. So much of what everyone loves about the Avengers, and who we even think of as the Avengers, is rooted in Roy Thomas’ five-year run.

Issues in Roy Thomas’ Avengers Run:

Avengers (vol.1) #35–104, 132; Annual #1–2

4. The Avengers by Roger Stern, with John Buscema and Tom Palmer, (1982-1988)Marvel Comics

The Avengers had featured a steady lineup of characters ever since the late ‘60s, until writer Roger Stern took over in 1982. He changed up the team roster in a way that hadn’t been seen since early in Stan Lee’s run. During the Stern era, a new character he created, Monica Rambeau, joined as Captain Marvel. Also joining was the Prince of Atlantis, Namor. Often neglected members like Hercules and Black Knight got a chance to shine in Stern’s run. And the Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) went from writers relegating her to merely “Ant-Man’s wife” to team leader.

The Wasp was quickly succeeded by Captain Marvel as chairwoman. She-Hulk also became a cornerstone of the team during Stern’s run. These elements made Roger Stern’s time on Avengers a strong showcase for female heroes. Sure, some new recruits like Starfox and Dr. Druid were among the least popular Avengers ever. But hey, points for trying something new. Stern’s run saw one of the greatest Avengers stories ever in “Under Siege,” when Baron Zemo attacks Avengers Mansion, using their HQ’s own defenses against the team. Stern lasted five years on Avengers, primarily with the duo of John Buscema and Tom Palmer on artistic duties. Their run remains one of the best Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has ever had.

Issues in Roger Stern’s Avengers Run:

Avengers (vol.1) 227–279, 281–287, Annual #13–14 (1982-1988)

3. New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Avengers (Vol. 3), and Dark Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis (2004-2013)Marvel Comics

In the mid-2000s, Marvel realized the “main universe” Avengers needed a massive overhaul, and so Marvel’s editors pulled out the big guns. Not just on the creative team, with superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis, but also on the team roster. Bendis added two of Marvel’s most famous heroes, Spider-Man and Wolverine, who had never been Avengers before. After Bendis closed out the old Avengers era with Disassembled, which saw Scarlet Witch go mad and Hawkeye die, he launched New Avengers with artist David Finch, and later Leinil Francis Yu, Alex Maleev, Mike Deodato, John Romita Jr., and several others.

This run was an instant sales success, and New Avengers overtook X-Men in sales for the first time in over two decades. From the get-go, the conflict between Iron Man and Captain America was at the heart of this series. A conflict that would boil over into Mark Millar’s Civil War event. Bendis would continue his run for almost a decade, extending it to books like Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers, and just plain Avengers. Although this run ties into way too many big events, like Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, and others, the characterization was always top-notch under Bendis’ watch.  

Issues in Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers Run:

Avengers (vol.1) #500-503, Avengers Finale, New Avengers (vol.1) #1-62, (vol.2) #1-34, New Avengers: Illuminati #1-5, The Mighty Avengers #1-36, Dark Avengers (vol.1) #1-16, Avengers Assemble #1-8, Avengers (vol.4) #1-34, 2004-2013

2. Avengers by Jonathan Hickman (2012-2015)Marvel Comics

Writer Jonathan Hickman has already made a name for himself thanks to his run on Fantastic Four and creator-owned titles like East of West. But on the heels of the Avengers film, he took over the franchise with a take on the team that used the MCU roster from the film, but also heroes from the previous New Avengers run like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Spider-Woman. Not to mention, there were several new characters, and even former X-Men Sunspot and Cannonball. Hickman worked with several artists at the top of their game during this run, including Jerome Opena, Stefano Caselli, Steve Epting, and many more.

Hickman’s run was a game changer due to the sheer breadth of its imagination, introducing concepts like Avengers World, and the threat of Multiversal incursions. All of which would culminate in Hickman’s Secret Wars event in 2015. Hickman found a role for each member of this superhero army to play, somehow balancing so many characters together in a way that just worked. No Avengers run has ever gone as big and outside the box in its scope as Hickman’s. Somehow, he found a way to push the very concept of what the Avengers were meant to be within the Marvel Universe. And readers everywhere had their minds blown.

Issues in Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers Run:

Avengers (vol.5) #1-44, New Avengers (vol.3) #1-33, Avengers World #1-5

1. Avengers by Kurt Busiek, with George Perez, Alan Davis, Carlos Pacheco (1997-2002)Marvel Comics

When veteran writer Kurt Busiek took over Avengers with a new #1 issue in 1997, the team had just come back from a year away with the Image Comics creators doing their own spin on the concept. He went “back to basics” doing classic storytelling with a modern sensibility, as part of Marvel’s “Heroes Return” publishing initiative. Together with superstar artists George Perez, and later Alan Davis and Carlos Pacheco, this creative team remembered how to balance the melodrama with world-ending threats. In this regard, no one did it better than Busiek and his creative partners.

This run featured just about every iconic Avenger in a significant role. All while graduating teen heroes like Firestar and Justice into Avengers themselves. Busiek rescued Carol Danvers from obscurity and gave her a rightful place at the forefront of the Marvel pantheon again, as well as expanding on often-neglected heroes like Wonder Man. And the versions of longtime arch-foes like Ultron and Kang were never better than under Busiek’s direction. For five years and 56 issues, Kurt Busiek gave fans the quintessential Avengers run, and it still hasn’t been topped.

Issues in Kurt Busiek’s Avengers Run:

Avengers (vol.3) #1-56, Avengers Forever #1-12, Avengers: The Ultron Imperative #1, 1997-2002

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What GEN V’s Season 1 Finale Means for THE BOYS

In a world full of superheroes controlled by an evil, all-powerful global conglomerate no good deed goes unpunished. That’s what Marie, Andre, Emma, and Jordan learned in Gen V‘s season one finale. But while their medical facility/prison has no doors, the show revealed a way out for them. A post-credits scene featured the world’s foremost supe hater is on the case. Billy Butcher stopped by The Woods to see exactly what Vought was up to at Godolkin University. While he might be looking for a virus that will play a major role in The Boys‘s fourth season, he could also find some super new allies who hate Homelander, too.

Prime Video

Dr. Edison Cardosa had been secretly working on a way to give Vought “compassionate control” over its superheroes. His monstrous experiments in The Woods resulted in a virus that left supes—and supes only—weakened. But Godolkin Dean Indira Shetty pushed Cardosa to not only make it more dangerous, she wanted him to make it contagious. Shetty also wanted him to make it airborne. She hated supes because she knew Homelander was responsible for her husband’s and daughter’s death in a plane crash that occurred during The Boys‘ first season. Shetty wanted the virus to exterminate super-abled beings all over the world.

After threatening Cardosa to give her what she wanted, Dean Shetty reached out to Grace Mallory, former Deputy Director of the CIA and founder of The Boys. Shetty said her project was getting more dangerous and she needed help. The Dean thought Mallory would happily work with her to “neutralize” every supe on Earth. Instead Mallory—who now has Starlight as an ally—called Shetty’s plan a “war crime.”

Prime Video

Shetty said she’d continue with her plan alone and left. That’s when Mallory pulled out a phone and asked someone if they “got all that” and to “keep a close eye” on the Dean. Mallory had someone record the entire conversation. Shetty provided proof of the horrible experiments Vought had been performing on kids at a school.

Meanwhile, thanks to a drunken Cardosa’s rant inside Dean Shetty’s office, a hidden Marie and Jordan learned about the virus. Marie then told a visiting Victoria Neuman all about it after Neuman revealed she is secretly a supe and they both share the same blood manipulation powers. In fact, Neuman had been secretly helping Marie for years.

Prime Video

Congresswoman Neuman would not help Cardosa escape the predicament he’d unknowingly created for himself. The Vought doctor had inadvertently made a virus that would destroy the company’s very own superheroes. The doctor was very happy when Neuman contacted him about the virus and happily gave over every vile in existence to her. He believed they were on the same side. However, once the doctor confirmed he was the only one who knew how to make the virus, Neuman blew up his head.

With Shetty (forced to slice her own throat by a furious Cate) and Cardosa both dead, the only person who has access to the virus is Victoria Neuman, a powerful, dangerous superhero who could potentially use the bio-weapon on enemy supes. She can also use it as leverage over Vought and anyone else who gets in her way. But Neuman isn’t the only one who knows it exists. Mallory and her Boys know, too, a fact Gen V reminded us during its season one finale post-credits scene.

The season ended with Billy Butcher showing up to examine the abandoned Woods facility. There he saw what Vought had been doing to its own young superheroes. (Which he described with his signature vocabulary.)

Prime Video

What exactly was he looking for there? Evidence of the virus and how to create it? The remains of a supe who died from it? Documentation of what really transpired? Anything that could support what Mallory recorded Shetty saying about the program? All of that and more? Whatever Butcher wanted—even if it was just a chance to see firsthand the depravity of Vought—might not be as valuable as what he didn’t find.

In the season finale Cate and Sam unleash The Woods’ patients on the humans of Godolkin. They wanted vengeance. Andre, Emma, Marie, and Jordan stopped the massacre, saving Vought’s entire board of trustees in the process. For that they earned Homelander’s scorn. (The very tough Marie got a laser eye blast to the chest.) Homelander accused them of killing their own “kind.” That earned all four a spot in a secret Vought medical facility. They’re imprisoned there while the world celebrates the free and clear Cate and Sam. Vought—under Homelander’s watchful eye and smile—is promoting the two of them as the “new” Guardians of Godolkin.

Prime Video

Vought is trying to bury the truth once again, but the company’s biggest enemies know about those dark secrets. And in the world of The Boys, where even Billy Butcher has learned to work with good, kind, moral supes, the four real heroes of Gen V might be just what he needs to reveal what the evil conglomerate is really all about. They’re all now natural allies, anyway. Those locked-up God U coeds are enemies of Homelander now. They need Billy as much as he needs them.

Well, they need each other and a deadly virus that can kill Homelander. Billy Butcher will probably wants to find that just as much as he does Godolkin’s true Guardians.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Amazing Fan Video Gives THE LEGEND OF ZELDA a Studio Ghibli Makeover

We all love an excellent mashup video. Now YouTuber RwanLink has taken The Legend of Zelda, and created an animated teaser showing what it would be like if Link came to life in the style of Studio Ghibli. This short teaser was created with Unreal Engine 5, the latest engine created by Epic Games. RwanLink recreated Ocarina of Time, which many believe to be the franchise’s most popular installment. In fact, Ocarina of Time turns 25 this year, so what better way to honor the game? You can watch the full 4K teaser for Zelda Ocarina of Time X Ghibli: Castle Town below:

Of course, this video is just a teaser. RwanLink has revealed they will release another, longer trailer on November 21. Then, their full Zelda Ocarina of Time X Ghibli: Castle Town video will drop on December 25th. That will be a true Christmas present for Zelda and Studio Ghibli fans. The full video will showcase over 30 characters in total. This is not the first fan video RwanLink has created based on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in Unreal Engine 5. So far, the artist has recreated Goron City, Kokiri Forest, and Zora’s Domain.

RwanLink

All those other videos from RwanLink look incredible, and will blow you away with their detail. However, mashing up The Legend of Zelda with the Studio Ghibli aesthetic really took it all to the next level. This is not the only remake of Ocarina of Time going around these days, especially with the 25th anniversary this year. But it certainly seems like the best one, as it truly captures the look and feel of a Hayao Miyazaki production. Hopefully, this is a harbinger of a real Nintendo and Studio Ghibli collaboration at some point. Yes, it’s unlikely, but this trailer proves it sure would be cool.

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