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.

10. All-New, All-Different Avengers and Avengers by Mark Waid

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 Marvel 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)

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)

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)

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)

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

The post The 10 Greatest Avengers Comic Book Runs of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.

The Mighty Avengers have been Marvel Comics’ premiere “all-star” collection of heroes for sixty years. And during that time, across the media of comics, animation, live-action film, and video games, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have had many different rosters. But which iteration of the Avengers has been the best across different media? Here are our picks for the ten best Avengers lineups over the past six decades.

10. Marvel’s Avengers Video Game Team

Video games haven’t delivered quite the same amount of incredible rosters for the Avengers as comics or film. And although the 2020 Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics game Marvel’s Avengers wasn’t the runaway hit that many were hoping for, the team in the game was still pretty great. It focused on the version of the Avengers we saw from their first live-action film, but added two very important members—Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), and Hawkeye (Kate Bishop). Eventually, Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Black Panther (T’Challa), and the Winter Soldier became playable characters as well. The game never lived up to the roster they used. But credit where credit is due; this was a formidable team.

Members of Marvel’s Avengers Team

Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hawkeye (Clint Barton) Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Thor (Jane Foster), the Winter Soldier

9. The All-New, All-Different Avengers

In 2015, Marvel Comics infused a lot of new blood into the Avengers with the All-New, All-Different Avengers. Written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Adam Kubert and Mahmud Asrar, it featured some of the youngest members to ever serve on the main flagship team. While Tony Stark’s Iron Man remained in the lineup, this version had Jane Foster as Thor, Sam Wilson as Captain America, and the Vision. But it also contained teen heroes like Spider-Man Miles Morales, Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), and Nova (Sam Alexander). This team would be dissolved after just 15 issues, when the younger heroes forged their own team, the Champions. But for a brief time, they were a pretty memorable roster of Avengers.

Members of the All-New, All-Different Avengers Team

Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Sam Wilson), Thor (Jane Foster), Vision, Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Nova (Sam Alexander)

8. The West Coast Avengers

It took over 20 years from their debut, but the Avengers finally got their first official spin-off team in 1984 with the series West Coast Avengers. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) moved to Southern California, and started a new team with classic members. WCA added characters whom Marvel had long relegated to second-stringer status like Wonder Man (Simon Williams) and Tigra. But it also introduced new important additions like Mockingbird, Moon Knight, and the U.S. Agent. Eventually, this Avengers team decided to ditch the name, and became the atrociously named Force Works in the early ‘90s. But for several years, they were a top-tier Avengers team, with a pretty “all killer/no filler.”

Members of the West Coast Avengers

Hawkeye, Iron Man (James Rhodes, Tony Stark), Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hank Pym, Tigra, Wonder Man, Mockingbird, Moon Knight, Human Torch (Jim Hammond), Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), U.S. Agent

7. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Animated Team

The original animated Avengers: United They Stand series from 1999 left a lot to be desired. But Marvel got it right with their second attempt in 2010, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This animated line-up featured a cast of core Avengers heroes that most fans might expect from the original comics. One inspired largely by the ’70s and ’80s rosters. But the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes team also expanded into an early 2000s New Avengers-inspired roster, featuring the likes of Spider-Man, Wolverine, War Machine, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. Although, there were some puzzling omissions (Hey, where’s Wanda?), this cartoon version of the team was ultimately a hard one to beat.

Members of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, the Wasp, Ant-Man, Black Panther, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), Hawkeye, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, War Machine, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, the Thing

6. Roger Stern’s Mid-’80s Avengers

By the mid-’80s, Uncanny X-Men had overtaken Avengers and the Fantastic Four as Marvel Comics’ biggest-selling team book. Then, in an effort to compete, Avengers series writer Roger Stern got a little experimental. He introduced a new Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, to the team, quickly making her team leader. While stalwarts like Cap and Thor stayed, members like She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) and Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) got a big boost during this run, including a long stint with Wasp as team leader. And they propped long-missing members like Hercules and the Black Knight up, and even the “doesn’t play well with others” Namor joined the team. Of course, this roster had two of the worst members ever, Dr. Druid, and the eternally horny Eternal, Starfox. But no Avengers lineup is perfect.

Members of the Mid-’80s Avengers

Captain America, Thor, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) Hercules, Namor, Starfox, the Black Knight, Doctor Druid.

5. Brian Michael Bendis’ New Avengers Team

After the Scarlet Witch decimated her former team in Avengers: Disassembled, the group was in pieces. Sales hadn’t been great for the Avengers, and even previous writer Geoff Johns, who would create huge hits for rival DC, couldn’t really spruce up attention for the team. Enter superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist David Finch who expanded the Avengers into something fans had never seen. Captain America and Iron Man remained (Thor was dead at the time), but they finally added Marvel superstar characters like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Luke Cage to the roster at last. And long-abandoned heroine Spider-Woman became a member during this era as well. Sure, she was secretly a Skrull, but the real one joined eventually. This run also saw Clint Barton transition from Hawkeye to Ronin. This roster was such a hit with readers, New Avengers overtook X-Men in sales for the first time in decades.

Members of the New Avengers

Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ronin, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Spider-Woman, Sentry, Echo

4. The Avengers: Age of Ultron Final Battle Roster

The Avengers from the original film are pretty iconic themselves, a mix of the original Stan Lee/Jack Kirby team, with a dash of 2000s alt-universe series The Ultimates. Who can forget their circular pre-battle shot in the first film? But the best MCU Avengers roster, for our money, came in film two, Avengers: Age of Ultron. They came together in what many consider the least loved Avengers sequel. But this roster not only had all the MCU founding members from the first film, but also new recruits War Machine, the Vision, Scarlet Witch, and (ever so briefly) Quicksilver. They all still make for the most formidable big-screen Avengers team, even if they only lasted for this one film. But as Vision said in Age of Ultron, “A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts.”

Members of the Avengers: Age of Ultron Team

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, War Machine, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Vision

3. Steve Englehart’s 1970s/Early 1980s Avengers

From about 1975-1980, writer Steve Englehart created some of the most iconic stories to ever run in the pages of Avengers, showcasing what many believe solidified the team’s most popular roster for decades. During this era, which featured such iconic stories as “The Celestial Madonna” and “The Korvac Saga,” Englehart collaborated with an up-and-coming artist named George Perez, who would become the team’s most defining penciler, but also wrote the last ever Jack Kirby Avengers stories. This roster featured most of the original members (sans poor Hulk), as well as newer additions like Moondragon and Hellcat. Former X-Man Beast joined up and became besties with Wonder Man, a once-forgotten member. Even the Guardians of the Galaxy were made honorary members during this run. A truly GOATed iteration of Marvel’s most iconic heroes.

Members of the ’70s/’80s Avengers

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Wasp, Yellowjacket, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wonder Man, Beast, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), Black Panther, Black Widow, Hellcat, Moondragon, Jocasta

2. Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers

In the wake of the enormous success of the MCU Avengers in 2012, Marvel relaunched the book with writer Jonathan Hickman. Not only did he use the complete roster from the film, but also heroes from the previous New Avengers run like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Spider-Woman. Plus, he added several new characters, and even a few former X-Men like Sunspot and Cannonball. This run was mind-blowing in its scope and imagination, introducing concepts like Avengers World. And Hickman found a role for each member of this super-sized team to play in the cosmic proceedings. Hickman’s team really was a “best of every era” roster. Together, they pushed the very concept of what the Avengers were meant to be within the Marvel Universe.

Members of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers Team

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), Spider-Man, Shang-Chi, Wolverine, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Falcon, Wasp, Hank Pym, Hyperion, Captain Universe, Star Brand, Manifold, Abyss, Nightmask, Smasher, Ex Nihilo, Cannonball, Sunspot

1. Kurt Busiek’s ’90s “Heroes Return” Avengers Team

In 1996, Marvel gave several of their most iconic properties to the Image Comics founders Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld for one year, who wrote stories about them in a separate pocket universe. Then, one year later, they came back to the 616 universe, in a new #1 “Heroes Return” issue by writer Kurt Busiek and returning artist George Perez (and later, Alan Davis and Carlos Pacheco). Busiek’s team featured a truly classic roster. But he also added former New Warriors stars Firestar and Justice, along with newcomer Triathlon, adding a much-welcome rookie POV. Busiek’s four-year run on Avengers is still the gold standard, and his team lineup was pretty much perfect. It resulted in some of the best Avengers stories ever, with a collection of some of the best Marvel heroes to ever respond to the call “Avengers, Assemble!”

Members of Kurt Busiek’s Avengers Team

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wonder Man, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), Firestar, Justice, Triathlon, Wasp, Hank Pym, She-Hulk, Quicksilver, Black Widow, Quasar, Jack of Hearts, Silverclaw.

The post The 10 Best Avengers Team Rosters Ever in Marvel History appeared first on Nerdist.

In cinematic terms, the Guardians of the Galaxy are Jame Gunn’s “babies.” Essentially, Gunn wrote the book on them for the MCU in the first two Guardians movies. But with these children, the writer/director had joint custody in a way, for two whole films. The entire Guardians team appeared in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, directed by the Russo brothers, not Gunn. And he recently revealed there were some things they did with those characters he did not necessarily agree with. Especially when it came to Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord and his decision in Infinity War leading to Thanos’ infamous snap.

Gunn revealed his misgivings in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via Gizmodo). He said “They did some things that I wouldn’t have wanted.” He says Star-Lord would have killed Gamora as she asked him to, as a way of stopping Thanos. And Gunn does not believe that a grieving Peter Quill would have punched Thanos at a critical moment and doomed the universe. It sounds like that’s a creative decision he would not have made for Star-Lord. Read the full context below:

The Guardians will undoubtedly continue as a property after Gunn completes the transition to DC, and the new film hints at a future, albeit with a different lineup of Guardians. Gunn is enthusiastic about a handoff, though protective. When the characters appeared in the Avengers two-part epic directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Gunn saw disconnects with certain storylines. “They did some things that I wouldn’t have wanted,” says Gunn of the films. (Yes, he says, Star-Lord would have killed Gamora if she asked him to; no, he would not have punched Thanos and doomed the universe.)

The Guardians of the Galaxy characters remain intimately tied to James Gunn’s vision. So much so, that some of them even called him while shooting the back-to-back Avengers films in 2017. Mantis actress Pom Klementieff called Gunn while on the set of one of the Avengers films. She asked him if her character would say or do the things written for her.

The Guardians cast see James Gunn as the real authority when it comes to their characters. Whatever future lies ahead for the Guardians, it’s clear that without James Gunn, it won’t ever really quite be the same.

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In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, we get a funny moment during M.O.D.O.K.’s “death” scene where he says “at least I died an Avenger,” having turned coat and helped the Ant-Clan against Kang. Obviously this elicits a chuckle from the audience and a funny look from Scott Lang. No, of course M.O.D.O.K. isn’t an Avenger. But what exactly makes one an Avenger in the MCU? Traditionally in the Marvel Comics, just helping some or all of the Avengers doesn’t give you full membership. And yet, with very few exceptions, we never really see any kind of induction ceremony. So how exactly does one become an Avenger in the MCU?

The For-Sure Avengers

The ones we know for absolute certain count as Avengers are the OGs from The Avengers. Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, and Clint Barton. They have a gif, they’re definitely the Avengers.

We also pretty much know the second wave of Avengers from the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Wanda Maximoff, Vision, Sam Wilson, and James “Rhodey” Rhodes. Cap assembles them, which seems like it’s a pretty major indicator of membership. Hmm. We’ll see.

The First Maybe Avengers

Once the Avengers disassembled during the events of Captain America: Civil War, it was unclear if there even was a proper Avengers roster anymore. Half the team (save Thor and Hulk; they were busy in space) fought the other half. They also had some help. Cap’s side recruited people like the Winter Soldier and Ant-Man, while Iron Man’s side recruited Black Panther and Spider-Man. At this point, neither of those additions could realistically hope to be official Avengers.

Spider-Man, interestingly enough, was offered membership at the end of Homecoming and turned it down.

The Thanos-Fighting Avengers

The events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame both complicate and clarify the membership of many characters. Dr. Strange, Wong, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Winter Soldier, Okoye, Shuri, and M’Baku all help fight off Thanos in Infinity War. Are all of them Avengers? Or are they merely allies? Plus, most of them get dusted before anyone can officially receive an invite anyway.

Post-Snap, we have a much better sense of who is an Avenger. Why? Because we see a functioning Avengers team after the five-year time-jump. Steve, Natasha, Okoye, Carol Danvers, Rocket, Nebula, and Rhodey. Smart-Hulk seems to have left the team, as has Tony Stark. However, once Scott Lang returns from the Quantum Realm and gives everyone hope to undo the snap, they both return to the fold. Clint Barton, too, who’d been away for many movies, and Thor who went into hiding following his failure.

So the Endgame Avengers are as follows: Steve, Tony, Natasha, Clint, Thor, Banner (hey, the originals!), Nebula, Rocket, Rhodey, and Scott. We feel pretty confident calling all of these characters full members.

What About All Those Heroes in Endgame?

Honestly, this one is a bit of a who-knows. The end of Endgame has roughly 19 million good guys returning to fight against Thanos and his forces. Are all of them Avengers? Cap does say “Avengers….assemble” and it rules. But Is that enough to say they all have membership?

Naturally, some of these are Avengers by default. Hope Lang was never an Avenger before, but Scott is and her parents were, so it seems reasonable that she’d be in. Wong was the Sorcerer Supreme during the Blip and, it seems, he has worked with the Avengers on some level. So he’s in. Valkyrie, also, never fought with the Avengers, though she did fight with Thor and Hulk. Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Black Panther, and Winter Soldier I think are all officially in based on general heroism.

But what about the entire Wakandan army? What about the returning members of the Guardians? What about all those Kamar-Taj sorcerers? And what about Pepper Potts, who had nifty Rescue armor? Are they all Avengers just because?

Are the Avengers Even a Thing Anymore?

Following Endgame, it sure seems like the Avengers as a functioning team no longer exists. Nick Fury’s in outer space with the Skrulls; Tony, Nat, and Vision are dead. Steve went back in time and lived himself to geriatric status. Thor went off with the Guardians of the Galaxy and is now in outer space too; T’Challa sadly passed away. Pretty sure Wanda lost her Avenger status by turning evil, if she didn’t die at Mount Wundagore. Sam and Bucky seem to just be working for the US government, not even S.H.I.E.L.D. Dr. Strange seems uninterested in Avengering, and nobody can remember Spider-Man anymore. That pretty much only leaves Clint, Scott, and Banner and all three are effectively retired.

We know there will be an Avengers team by the time of The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, but by that point there won’t have been an Avengers movie in two full phases. I doubt many, if any, of the Thunderbolts will get Avengers status.

Who Definitely Are Not Avengers in the MCU?

Besides M.O.D.O.K.? Well, actually quite a few heroes aren’t Avengers. Shang-Chi, Shuri as Black Panther, White Vision, and Jennifer Walters all could receive Avengers invitations but they haven’t yet. Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau will team up with Carol Danvers in The Marvels but will she recruit them? Same holds true for any of the other “Young Avengers” they’ve set up thus far; this includes Yelena Bolova, Cassie Lang, and Kate Bishop.

Loki isn’t. Daredevil isn’t. Nobody even knows who Moon Knight is, so he isn’t. The Eternals almost assuredly will never be Avengers. Howard the Duck is absolutely not.

Part of the fun of Avengers comics is shaking up membership and roster every so often. But there needs to be someone in charge. Otherwise people can just say they’re Avengers, William Nilliam. Until Sam Wilson becomes fully vested as Captain America, we kind of don’t think the Avengers in the MCU will exist as it has in the Infinity Saga.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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The Marvel Multiverse is about to crack open wide. And that means that at long last, mutants are coming to the MCU. We’ve had some X-Men hints already, but when Wade Wilson crashes into the MCU in Deadpool 3, he’ll be bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine with him. And if we were to take Sir Patrick Stewart’s hints seriously, it seems Professor X and maybe even Magneto may also go along for the ride.

And honestly, with Avengers: Secret Wars coming up, we feel confident that we are getting one last hurrah for the Fox X-Men. We suspect their reality will be part of the eventual Battleworld in Secret Wars. And if it is, that means we are going to be getting some long-awaited Avengers vs. X-Men live-action rumbles. Heck, some may happen as soon as Deadpool 3. Here are the AvX fights we are dying to see play out on theater screens in the coming years.

The Hulk vs. Wolverine

If there’s one big “Avenger vs. X-Man” fight everyone on Earth wants to see, including Hugh Jackman and Mark Ruffalo, it’s the Hulk fighting Wolverine. In the pages of Marvel Comics, these two have a long-standing rivalry. In fact, Wolverine first appeared in the pages of Incredible Hulk, not in Uncanny X-Men. We just hope it’s classic, rampaging Hulk and not smart Professor Hulk. We want to see the most feral versions of Logan and the Jade Giant go toe-to-toe. This one needs to get ugly.

Iron Man vs. Magneto

Yeah, we know, Tony Stark is very dead. But if we’re getting a Battleworld in Secret Wars, it means that some version of Iron Man will be around. Will it be Robert Downey Jr. as a variant? Maybe it will be Tom Cruise as “the Superior Iron Man” as was once rumored? Who knows? Regardless, we want to see the Man of Metal vs. the Master of Magnetism. It’s happened several times in the comics, with various outcomes. But the prospect of RDJ (hopefully) trading not only punches but sarcastic comments with either Sir Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender has us salivating at the thought.

Captain Marvel vs. Rogue

In the original Fox X-Men films, Anna Paquin’s power-absorbing Rogue was significantly less powerful than her comic book counterpart. A big reason why was that in the comics, Rogue was able to permanently steal a portion of Carol Danvers’ powers, allowing her permanent super strength and flight. With Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel now a major MCU player, we’d like to see Rogue take her on in a fight, and siphon some of her powers. Then, we’d have the two powerhouses actually have a real down n’ dirty battle. The ability for the X-Men and Avengers characters to share a screen now means this storyline can finally see live-action glory.

Scarlet Witch vs. Phoenix (Jean Grey)

The most powerful members of both the Avengers and the X-Men are a pair of women who, at their peak powers, can reshape all reality. Or, more pointedly, destroy it entirely. Jean Grey is the host of the cosmic Phoenix Force, while Wanda Maximoff is the prophesied Scarlet Witch. If these two do battle, everyone else shouldn’t just clear the room, they should clear the whole darn planet. If we see Famke Janssen finally unleash the Phoenix Force at her full potential at an equally powerful opponent like Wanda, we’re in line for this on day one. It would make up for the shoddy treatment Jean Grey received in both Dark Phoenix Saga adaptations.

Captain America vs. Cyclops

Both the X-Men and the Avengers have had their share of leaders. But the quintessential field commanders of both teams were almost always Cyclops and Captain America. And whenever the two teams clashed, often the iconic image on the comic book cover was the sight of Scott Summers’ optic blasts ricocheting off Cap’s vibranium shield. We’re good seeing Scott take on either Cap, be it Sam Wilson or Steve Rogers. With the multiverse in play, anything is possible. Regardless of who Cap is, it would be nice for James Marsden to finally get to truly show off his skills as the iconic mutant hero.

Thor vs. Storm

One is a Norse God of Thunder. The other is a mutant “weather witch.” Both wield the power of lightning. So yes, Thor vs. Storm has all the ingredients for an epic showdown. Sure, Thor has an advantage, being an immortal god and everything. Storm is a mortal mutant, despite being worshipped as a goddess by her African tribe. But we know Ororo Munroe would give Odinson a run for his money. In the comics, Storm even spent time on Asgard, and was bequeathed her own enchanted hammer, Stormcaster. So she’s not unfamiliar with their forms of combat. These are some sparks we can’t wait to see fly on screen. We’re sure both Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry would have a ball filming this fight.

Scarlet Witch vs. Magneto

In the comics, Magneto is the father of Wanda Maximoff. Well, most of the time. Marvel retcons have changed that fact occasionally. However, he definitely raised her from her teen years on. Yet due to rights issues, Wanda’s relationship with her mutant dad could not be acknowledged on screen. But with Disney now having rights to the X-Men characters free and clear, we want to see the Scarlet Witch encounter her deadbeat dad, and maybe even show the Master of Magnetism who the real power in the family is. As powerful as Magneto may be, his little girl might hand him his butt.

Deadpool 3 hits theaters on November 8, 2024. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars are currently set to release in 2025 and 2026.

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After meeting his variant in the season finale of Loki, the Multiverse Saga’s big bad, Kang the Conqueror is finally making his official debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. But what is this version of Kang’s master plan, and why does he need Ant-Man’s help to achieve it? Dan dives into the Quantum Realm to break down all the latest on a new fan theory in today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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Kevin Feige loves to keep fans waiting, and he did just that at SDCC. After revealing the end of Phase 4 and the entire slate of Phase 5, he then teased the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 6. The long-awaited Fantastic Four movie will kick off the phase. Feige also shared that there would be two new Avengers movies: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty on May 2, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, which will now release on May 1, 2026. (Initially, it was slated for November 7, 2025.) We also learned that the current phase we’re existing in—which will end with Secret Wars—is called the Multiverse Saga. 

Jump To: Secret Wars // The Kang Dynasty

That moniker makes a lot of sense seeing as there have been plenty of Multiverse shenanigans so far. Most interesting is the reveal that the Phase 6 of the MCU saga will end with Secret Wars. This is something we’ve been predicting for a while. In the comics, the most recent Secret Wars event was used to streamline the massive multiverse of Marvel Comics. So it makes sense that after introducing the multiverse, the MCU might want to do the same. But it’ll be really interesting to see how we get there. Now thanks to Hall H, we have a little more of an idea of the roadmap. 

If you’re wondering what Secret Wars and The Kang Dynasty are in terms of the comics, of course, we have you covered, so read on for a little primer on the history of each. 

What Is Secret Wars?

In 1984, Secret Wars was the first epic Marvel crossover event comic, pitting Marvel’s most popular heroes against their worst villains. The 12-part series had the all-powerful entity called the Beyonder place these characters on a so-called “Battleworld,” where their conflict would decide the fate of humanity. The original series was mostly a gimmick to sell toys. But writer Jonathan Hickman took the bones of that concept and ran with it for a new version, back in 2015. 

In this critically acclaimed reboot, Battleworld was composed of multiple realities from across the Multiverse, ruled by Doctor Doom. Versions of virtually every character Marvel fans have ever loved appeared on Battleworld, doing battle with each other. And it looks like we might see this play out on the big screen, with something that might blow fans’ minds. Secret Wars may have the possibility of making the Infinity Saga like just a warm-up act. 

Secret Wars has been a rumored MCU outing for a long time, so we’re excited to see it in Marvel’s Phase 6. Famously, the Russo Brothers have brought up over and over again that they would like to helm the Secret Wars film. But, alas, Kevin Feige has revealed that this won’t come to pass for now. In fact, the Russos won’t connect to either the Secret Wars or Kang Dynasty Avengers movies. Per Deadline, Feige notes, “They’re not connected to it…They’ve been very direct about that. We love them, they love us. We want to find something to do together, it’s not this.”

What Is The Kang Dynasty?

Marvel Studios likes to take titles from well-known comics but apply them to all-new stories. Most famously, they did this with Avengers: Age of Ultron. The movie had a totally different story than the comic of the same name, aside from the basic “Avengers vs. Ultron” of it all. We may see the same thing with The Kang Dynasty. 

In the comics, “The Kang Dynasty” was a 16-part story by Kurt Busiek, who wrote one of the best Avengers runs of all time with multiple artists. The basic plot of the 2001-2002 story saw Kang in the present announce his intentions to the UN to take over the world, in order to prevent all negative futures from happening. We could see something like this taking place in the MCU, which would lead an all-new team of Avengers to stop Kang. 

Of course, we don’t know any details about The Kang Dynasty yet. But The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton will also helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. So we already know its going to be fire. Additionally, per Deadline, Jeff Loveness will pen this Phase 6 Marvel movie.

Both movies will hit the MCU and theaters in 2025!

Originally published on July 23, 2022.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

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In the MCU, Thanos might be an evil megalomaniac, but he rarely wants to get his hands dirty. He’d much rather get his pawns to do the grunt work of conquering worlds for him. In the original Avengers, he tried to conquer Earth using Loki and the Chitauri army. Of course, that didn’t go the way he wanted, thanks to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. So Thanos waited it out, until he decided “fine, I’ll do it myself.”

But what if he had just decided to take on the Avengers himself way back in 2012, during the original film? Well, as this fan edit from YouTube account ActiveSufi points out, it probably would have gone poorly for Iron Man and company. Very poorly. You can watch the full video below:

This fan edit cleverly combines footage from several entries in the Infinity Saga. The main focus is on the original Avengers, and also Infinity War, and the final battle of Avengers: Endgame. There’s some Thor: Ragnarok thrown in for good measure, as well as Avengers: Age of Ultron. In this version of events, the newly formed Avengers don’t stand a chance against the Mad Titan. To put it bluntly, he wipes the floor with them.

The creator of this video pointed one important thing out in the description. Thanos was lucky Wanda Maximoff wasn’t part of the team yet. (And for that matter, Carol Danvers either). That might have changed the odds somewhat. In fact, not too long ago, they made a video showing how the Endgame battle would have gone far differently had a fully Darkhold-powered Scarlet Witch gone up against Thanos. Even before the Darkhold, Wanda almost destroyed him. Imagine if that confrontation had gone down with the Multiverse of Madness incarnation of her. Thanos would have been a purple puddle on the ground.

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The MCU’s first three phases featured four Avengers movies and a de facto fifth in Captain America: Civil War. And yet, Phase 4 of the MCU hasn’t had—and won’t have— a single franchise-wide crossover Avengers movie. And Phase 5 won’t bring the Avengers together, either. But we now know when Earth’s mightiest heroes will finally reunite. The Fantastic Four will kick off Marvel‘s Phase 6 in 2024, then two MCU Avengers movies, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, will follow in 2025. That’s closer than you think, but with so many Marvel projects on the docket before then, it’s not clear which superheroes will even be around to take on Kang the Conqueror. So which Avengers should we expect to see protecting the multiverse? Based on both their comic history and importance to the franchise’s future, we put together a list of the characters we think are most likely to team up and create the Phase 6 MCU Avengers. Here’s what we think the next Avengers roster will look like.

The Most Likely Candidates for the New MCU Avengers Team

Captain Marvel

Arguably the most powerful Avenger in the MCU (we said “arguably,” Wanda fans!), Carol Danvers seems poised to lead the Avengers against Kang in the upcoming MCU films. She was already an important member of the group in Endgame, only, unlike her colleagues, she focused on saving more than just Earth. If anyone is capable of leading the charge against a danger that threatens all worlds everywhere, it’s her. Welcome to the next phase of the Avengers, Captain Marvel.

Doctor Strange

We know the real dream of every Marvel Comics fan is to see Doctor Strange lead The Defenders. But within the MCU, the master of the mystic arts is far more likely to help steer the new iteration of the Avengers. He’s already familiar with the dangers of the multiverse. He knows all about incursions and messing with forces you can’t comprehend. That’s why we wouldn’t be surprised to see the powerful Doctor Strange end up as an Avengers co-leader alongside Carol Danvers. The two of them alone are an impressive squad.

Thor

One of the original six MCU Avengers is still around, and he’s more than kicking. Thor Odinson is possibly stronger than ever now that he’s made peace with who he is rather than who he is supposed to be. He’s also the longest-serving hero ever to protect Earth. And if Chris Hemsworth wants to keep playing the God of Thunder, our bet is Disney will continue to make him the face of the franchise. We’re betting that Thor will remain part of the MCU Avengers going into the Phase 6 movies.

She-Hulk

The original Avengers also had a Hulk, but we bet by the time the team reforms it’ll feature a different green hero. Jennifer Walters is coming to the franchise this year with her own Disney+ series, and she has a far greater history with the Avengers in the comics than Bruce Banner does. We’re willing to wager that even if the old Hulk is still around to smash in the MCU, it’ll be the new She-Hulk who takes on a more prominent role on the Avengers team this time.

Ant-Man

Ever since Scott Lang joined Steve Rogers at that German airport, he’s seen and done it all. He’s also one of Marvel Comics’ most frequent Avengers and is played in the MCU by one of Hollywood’s most popular stars. And if all of that isn’t enough, Ant-Man will be among the first heroes to take on Jonathan Majors’ Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He’ll be one of the Multiversal Saga’s most important Avengers.

Captain America

You can have an Avengers team without Captain America. But why would you want to, especially when you have a great one around? And Sam Wilson will be around. His first standalone film, Captain America: New World Order, premieres one year prior to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. And every team needs a selfless hero with a good heart whose only concern is protecting others. Just like the old team, the new Avengers will need Captain America on their roster.

Black Panther

We don’t actually know who will take up the mantle of Wakanda’s protector in the next Black Panther movie, but we know someone will. The film’s stunning first trailer teased another hero wearing the character’s signature suit. But regardless of who it is, the powerful African nation already helped saved the universe against Thanos, and we’re confident it will be called on again when Kang the Conqueror comes calling. And with so much on the line, the Avengers will need the wisdom, strength, and backing of the Black Panther.

Shang-Chi

One of the newest heroes to the MCU is already one of its most powerful. Shang-Chi was a skilled warrior even before he gained the power of the Ten Rings. His abilities, both human and magical, are enough reason to put him on the new Avengers team. Especially during their greatest time of need. But it doesn’t hurt his sister still runs their father’s organization. Shang-Chi would have the best shot of convincing the group to fight in the coming war with Kang.

Other Characters Who Could Be Part of the New MCU Avengers Team

Like Bruce Banner, Clint Barton was an original MCU Avenger. And like Hulk can still get the job done. But Hawkeye is getting older, and he’s not as healthy as he once was. He’s seemingly ready to pass the baton bow to Kate Bishop. There’s a good chance the loving family man is out of the superhero game entirely when Kang shows up. Even if he were to come out of retirement again, though, we wouldn’t expect him to be a main Avengers at that point. But obviously, both men are still serious candidates to join the team.

We also have no idea if Spider-Man (Sony owns the rights) and Moon Knight (no contract for Oscar Isaac) will be a part of the franchise going forward. And it’s unclear what the future holds for the Scarlet Witch or White Vision. (Including if anyone would trust them.) All we know is any of them would be great Avengers to have around to fight Kang.

In any case, we can’t wait to see what the next Avengers team looks like, whoever ends up on the roster. if they’re willing to fight the conqueror, we don’t care which dimension they come from. All of existence will take great Avengers wherever they can find them.

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Even before it appeared on film, Captain America’s shield was an iconic piece of pop culture. But once Chris Evans started throwing the shield in the MCU, its pop culture relevance went through the stratosphere. And perhaps its most iconic appearance was in Avengers: Endgame, when Tony Stark gives Cap his shield back, after the events of Civil War.

And now, that very shield from Avengers: Endgame can be yours. From November 2-3, Hake’s Auctions will offer up the prop to the highest bidder. And one lucky MCU fan will get the chance to own it. You can check out an up-close look at Cap’s signature weapon in the video right here:

According to Hake’s official description, Senior Prop Master Russell Bobbitt constructed this shield for Marvel Studios. It measures 24″ in diameter, approximately 3″ deep. They constructed it out of high-density foam, with a spun aluminum exterior and hand-crafted leather arm and hand straps on the interior. Some thirty to forty shields were produced for Endgame. But this particular prop was used for close-up shots in Chris Evans’ hand. They handled the shield with care on set for use in multiple scenes, making this shield’s near-pristine condition especially rare.

Marvel Studios 

The Avengers: Endgame shield shows just some very minor edge wear. They used other prop shields for the bulk of Endgame, mainly in long shots and action sequences. Most of them lasting for just a scene or two, before sustaining damage thanks to stunt work. So the rare shield for auction is truly a piece of Marvel cinematic history. And who doesn’t want to have that in their posession?

It is ready to be the centerpiece display of any MCU collection.  And if you hold it and yell out “Avengers Assemble!” when no one is looking? No one will judge you for that. Head on over to Hake’s official site for more information.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe uses a certain formula when it comes to its standalone superhero flicks. Typically, we see the before times: before Nick Fury recruited them, before they were world (or universe) renowned heroes, before they found power and purpose in the Avengers Initiative. But Natasha Romanoff never fit the Marvel superhero mold. Not because she wasn’t worthy, but because of her nontraditional entry into the universe. Black Widow was something of an enigma, her backstory played out in whispers.

So it makes sense that her standalone film is nontraditional, too. Not in format, necessarily, but in placement. Black Widow—which finally sees its release next week after months of COVID-19 shuffling—is the first film in Phase 4 of the MCU, but is set after Captain America: Civil War. Natasha is dead in the present timeline, but so alive here. In fact, Black Widow is one of the more palpably heartfelt stories in the saga thus far. It’s just a pity it comes post-mortem.

Marvel

The film opens in Natasha’s childhood. She’s deep undercover in Ohio with other Russian operatives pretending to be a happy all-American happy. There’s patriarch Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), mother Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), and little Yelena Belova (Violet McGraw as the kid version, Florence Pugh when she grows up). They flee the Midwest when their cover is blown, but not before we see a slice of their idyllic family life. A time when scraped knees were as bad as it got and fireflies lit up a summer-green lawn. It’s a sharp contrast to what comes next. They’re torn from the only family they’ve ever known, split apart, and forced to train in the Red Room. There, they lose all bodily autonomy and become Black Widows—elite assassins controlled by a cruel master named Dreykov (Ray Winstone).

Cut to the post-Civil War timeline. Natasha is now an Avenger and on the run. She hides out in Norway, where she lives in a trailer, watches James Bond on her laptop, and eats food out of cans. It’s about as normal as it gets for a galactic superhero, and seeing this juxtaposition from the splashier saga films is a nice antidote. Natasha’s humanity comes through in little touches: the way she quotes the Bond film on her screen and blasts music in her car. The blue hair dye she wore as a kid. Later, after a fight, she takes ibuprofen for her wounds.

Marvel

It sounds silly, but all of these details come together and make Natasha a fully formed character for perhaps the first time in the MCU. She isn’t shot full of super serum or born into royalty or a daughter of gods. She’s a survivor who dreams about where she comes from. Whose abuse and trauma doesn’t define her, but gives her the most important thing an assassin can have: a heart.

It’s not long into her hideout that Natasha falls back into action, albeit on a less universal scale. This time, it’s personal. She encounters a grown Yelena in Budapest, who informs her that the Red Room is still in operation, although its whereabouts are unknown. Plagued by the guilt she associates with Budapest, Natasha decides to put an end to the Black Widow program for good. But to do so, she needs to round up the only family she’s ever known. She and Yelena set to tracking down their “parents.” Alexei, a serum-enhanced super-soldier once known as the Red Guardian (a.k.a. the Soviet’s version of Captain America), is now in prison. Melina, their mother figure, still works for the Red Room as a lead scientist.

Marvel

When they finally do reunite, it’s both awkward and tender. Alexei shrugs off the abuse “his girls” endured. Melina struggles against her role in the system and her inner desires. And Natasha and Yelena attempt to come to terms with what family means to them. Was their childhood in Ohio just a sham, or was it truly the only time they were happy? They’re split in their feelings, and that dichotomy plays out in their actions. It also leads to an adorable sisterly camaraderie; Yelena especially loves taking the piss out of her famous sibling.

From there, the action ramps up, and occasionally bloats into incoherence. This is still a Marvel superhero film, after all; there’s bound to be explosions and endless grey action. The film also has the same dull color grading as the other MCU entries, which keeps things more muted than they need to be. But there’s enough heart and goodwill to shine through the dull. As we learn more about the Red Room and those associated with it, we learn more about Natasha and what drives her.

Marvel

It helps that the performances are all top-notch. Johansson seems more relaxed in the character here, which makes sense after a decade in her shoes. This Natasha is still steadfast and precise, but there’s more vulnerability than we’ve seen before. Harbour has a lot of fun with Alexei and Weisz is as allusive as the character beats require. She feels the most under-utilized but I suppose that’s mostly by design. The real star of the show, however, is Florence Pugh. This comes as no surprise for Pugh fans, who watched her steal scenes from Meryl Streep in Little Women and scream her way to meme queendom in Midsommar. Here, she’s loose and funny, but also the film’s emotional center. The MCU should feel very lucky that they have her talent in their clutches.

Black Widow may not feel all that consequential in the grand scheme of things. Natasha is dead, after all. But director Cate Shortland and storytellers Jac Schaeffer, Ned Benson, and Eric Pearson did a lot to make this one special. Its “girl power” spirit never feels manufactured and its message for survivors is a powerful through-line. Black Widow proves that the MCU can scale down when it needs to, which is a card trick more valuable than one might think. Natasha may be dead, but Black Widow shows how powerfully her legacy lives on.

4/5

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Nearly a year from when it was originally meant to launch, the gates of Avengers Campus are finally opening at Disney California Adventure. We got a special preview of the long-awaited arrival of the Marvel-themed land, set to open on June 4. And the arrival of the MCU into Disney Parks is one that fans of Marvel won’t want to miss. Even though it has a few bugs they need to work out. (No shade intended, Spidey).

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First off, for anyone hoping this is another Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in terms of scale and immersion, you might want to keep those expectations in check. The main reason is size. Avengers Campus is a mere four acres, as opposed to the fourteen acres of Galaxy’s Edge. They only have the footprint of the relatively tiny former A Bug’s Land to work with. In this sense, it just can’t compete with the planet Batuu. Once you realize this is not the same in terms of scale, you’ll have a much better time enjoying the land for what it does offer. Plenty for a land its size.

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Right now, there is only one new attraction in the land. And that is WEB-SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. And we are happy to report that this 3D ride is indeed a blast. It’s essentially a modern, more tricked-out version of Toy Story: Midway Mania. Only this time, created with new technology and a lot more fun. The conceit of the ride has you walking into Tony Stark’s WEB Building. Which stands for “World Engineering Brigade.” It’s a place where young minds, like Peter Parker, get free rein to create new technology. When you walk into the line queue, you see the other young engineers are a young lady from Wakanda, and Harley Keener from Iron Man 3. 

The mission at WEB has park guests helping Spidey (portrayed by Tom Holland) capture an army of mini Spider-Bots of his own creation. They’ve multiplied and become a danger, so the mission is to stop them before they attack the rest of the campus. The brief yet super-fun ride has you traveling through different areas of the campus where the bots have run amok. These include the Pym Test Kitchen and the Collector’s fortress from Mission: BREAKOUT! It’s nice how the attraction ties the whole land together.

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Unlike Midway Mania, you don’t need to press any buttons or shoot anything to get all the bots. All you need to do is throw out your arms and make hand gestures just like Spidey. The webs “come out of your arms” and meet their targets. And given that the entire mechanism is a motion sensor based on the rider’s arm movements, it’s wild how very accurate it is. And it is undeniably joyous to “play Spidey,” no matter how old you are.

Of course, if you want the really cool version of this ride experience, you have to go to the adjacent WEB Suppliers store and put down some extra money for the fancier web-shooters. To be fair, the regular version of the attraction is super fun the way it is. But do you want to beat those Spider-Bots with Iron Man repulsor rays or something other than just webs? Then it’ll cost you money. And that is sure to really annoy some folks.

And right now, WEB SLINGERS is the only new attraction in the land. Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT! is still a prime attraction to be sure, but it’s been there for four years. So when it comes to new Marvel attractions, Spidey is all we’ve got right now. It might be years before we see something new, and that’s not great.

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There is one thing that Avengers Campus currently has over Galaxy’s Edge, however. At least as we saw, there were far more appearances and interactions with the characters. You might see Chewie and Stormtroopers wandering around Batuu. But Avengers Campus features a full magic show from Doctor Strange in the ruins of his Ancient Sanctum. This magic and light show we saw in daylight was pretty fun, but we get the feeling it is far more impressive at night, when the light displays can be appreciated.

Black Panther’s elite Dora Milaje give a full military training demonstration to guests. It’s one in which guests can actually participate. In this sense, when it comes to characters, Avengers Campus rules. And although we didn’t see them, we know that the rest of the MCU’s greatest heroes are also a part of the land. Well, except for Hulk. But not sure how they’d pull him off. We issue you this challenge, Walt Disney Imagineering!

In terms of characters wandering the land, the champ is none other than Spider-Man. Not only do we get the character doing full acrobatics atop the WEB building that houses his attraction, but it also allows for the use of the very advanced stunt animatronic developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Although your eyes know that it’s not a real person, it absolutely looks and feels like a real live human swinging through the sky. Disney developed this new animatronic tech just for this, and it will make your inner child squee with delight upon seeing it in action.

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The rest of the offerings are basically food and shopping. The Pym Test Kitchen has food items both giant and tiny, Just like the tech we see in the Ant-Man films. We only got to taste their Atomic Pretzel, but it was indeed delicious. When you walk into the restaurant, it’s designed to feel like you’re going through the quantum tunnel of Hank Pym’s design. Which is a very nice touch. There’s also a Shawarma cart, a nod to the first Avengers’ famous end credits tag.

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In terms of buildings, the “star” is Avengers Compound. It features a to-scale replica Quinjet perched atop the roof. This recreation of the famous MCU locale is indeed cool to stand and take selfies at. But right now it’s housing nothing. There will be stunt shows on its roof, but we didn’t see that in person. You also can’t go in. Rumor has it this will be an eventual line queue area for a future attraction, which brings us to our biggest gripe. There’s simply no new E-ticket attraction at Avengers Campus.

In Disney slang, an “E-ticket” refers to a premier-level attraction. Not a short dark ride like Snow White, or a 3D shooter like WEB SLINGERS. And Avengers Campus simply needs an A-list ride on that level. They are working on one. Last year, Imagineering previewed concept art and ideas for an immersive top-tier attraction for a proposed Phase Two of Avengers Campus. But they need it sooner rather than later. Because a place called Avengers Campus simply needs an Avengers attraction. One that is a show stopper, like Rise of the Resistance at Galaxy’s Edge.

As of right now, Avengers Campus is something no Marvel fan will want to miss. Especially if you’re a local. But say you’re planning an expensive cross-country trip for the whole family to join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Then it’s possible you might want to wait a couple of years until Phase Two. Just like the MCU movies, that’s when things really went from good to great. We have a feeling Avengers Campus will follow a similar trajectory.

The post Disney’s Avengers Campus Is Cool, Not Spectacular appeared first on Nerdist.

Well, the official Disney Parks Blog has shared dining details for all you foodies out there. We now have the low down on what to expect from Avengers Campus’s eating options. And it’s not only the Guardians of the Galaxy-themed options that look out of this world.

Pym Test Kitchen

Disney Parks Blog

In the MCU, Ant-Man and the Wasp used “Pym Particles” to make things shrink or grow. At the Pym Test Kitchen, the quick-service restaurant utilizes Pym Particles to grow and shrink various foods. You can indulge in “hero-sized meals” or “tiny treats,” all while you watch the Pym food scientists working their science know-how in the kitchen lab.

Disney Parks Blog

Perhaps the most fun aspect of the Pym Test Kitchen is watching the growing and shrinking of a pretzel, making its way through the quantum tunnel directly above. Patrons will see the pretzel go from large to small, then small to large. All until it finally grows into a super-sized pretzel designed for sharing. The Pym Testing Lab will also offer oversized craft beers, and “particle-infused cocktail experiments and beer cocktails.”

Shawarma Palace

Disney Parks Blog

After the Battle of New York (a.k.a. the first Avengers film), Iron Man convinces his new friends to go with him to try shawarma. From that point on, shawarma and the Avengers have gone hand in hand. Tony Stark seemingly loved the food so much that now Avengers Campus will have its own Shawarma Palace. The food cart will offer New York’s tastiest chicken shawarma wrap, along with an Impossible Victory Falafel. Shawarma Palace comes decked out with Avengers memorabilia as well.

Terran Treats

Disney Parks Blog

Near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is yet another food cart that Marvel fans will certainly want to check out. Curated by Taneleer Tivan, known better as the Collector,  this cart features strange and exotic “galactic concoctions” created to lure guests to his fortress. We’re personally most looking forward to the Sweet Spiral Ration, churro spirals with unique flavors. What is Disneyland without churros after all?

Coolest part of all? This cart is where MCU fans can buy cool novelties, like the Pym Particle Capsule or the Pym Particle Disc. But what we think everyone will really want is the Iron Man Infinity Gauntlet, made to hold your soft drinks. We have a feeling these will be quite popular.

For more information on Avengers Campus’ full menu of items, and how to mobile order food and drinks, be sure to click here. Avengers Campus opens at Disney California Adventure on June 4.

Featured Image: Disney Parks Blog

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When The Avengers first came out back in 2012, we weren’t sure if its theme music was as memorable as some other iconic superhero movie themes. Sure, it was more memorable than the X-Men movie theme (what isn’t?), but could it stand the test of time like John Williams’ Superman? Or Danny Elfman’s Batman? But here we are, a decade later, and Alan Silvestri’s Avengers theme is recognizable the world over. Sometimes, a song just needs to grown on ya.

Some other folks who recognize the GOAT-adjacent status of The Avengers theme is the a cappella group MayTree. They’ve recently released their version of Silvestri’s now-iconic piece of music, which we’ve discovered via Geeks are Sexy. And it instantly makes us want to hold a shield or wield a magic hammer. You can listen to MayTree’s a cappella rendition of the Avengers‘ theme in the video above.

The last time we heard the Avengers theme in a movie was, of course, in Endgame. We’re pretty sure when Avengers 5, (or New Avengers, or Young Avengers, or whichever Avengers comes next) it will take on a new significance. Because in many ways, Avengers: Endgame was the last true, almost universally beloved blockbuster we all shared together before the pandemic. Just sayin’, there might be tears.

Marvel Studios

The MayTree a cappella group has several other fantastic covers of iconic pieces of music. And they cover all corners of the pop culture landscape. They have a version of the Harry Potter theme and a pair of compilations of different movie studios’ intro music. They even cover the classic MGM theme, which is just a lion’s roar, and the classic THX sound effect. They’ve also uploaded a video where they manage to recreate several different iPhone sounds. Yes, even the text message “sent” noise. They really covered their bases.

You can check out out MayTree’s other amazing videos by heading on over to their YouTube channel.

Featured Image: MayTree

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Recently, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige revealed that a fifth Avengers movie will happen “at some point.” But whenever it does come to pass, it will almost certainly feature an entirely new Avengers team. For those of us hoping to see Cap, Iron Man, Thor, and the rest together again, it seems that ship has sailed. At least in live-action.

As footage from the upcoming Disney+ series What If…? shows, animation is a perfectly viable way to tell MCU stories. It’s also a plausible way to rally the original actors to reprise their roles. Kevin Feige has had great success in getting most of the MCU actors to lend their voices to their animated counterparts for What If…?; we think he could pull off the same trick twice.

An animated Avengers series on Disney+ could be the perfect way to not only keep the brand alive in between films, but to tell the greatest lost story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: how the Avengers really became a team in between The Avengers and Age of Ultron.

The Formation of the Avengers

Marvel Studios

At the end of the original Avengers, the team members all go their separate ways after saving the Earth from Loki. Iron Man goes back to Malibu, which we see in Iron Man 3. Cap joins S.H.I.E.L.D. formally, as the events of The Winter Soldier show us. And Thor returns to the duty of cleaning up the Nine Realms, as seen in The Dark World. So how and when does Tony Stark regroup these heroes into the functioning fighting unit we see in Age of Ultron? Marvel Studios never bothered to cover this story. But thanks to animation, now they can.

A series like this could explain how Tony Stark, still recovering from the events of Iron Man 3 (and blowing up all of his armors), decides to rescind his vow to end his superhero career. And how he decides to start up the Avengers out of Stark Tower. How does he convince Steve Rogers to lead, fresh off S.H.I.E.L.D.’s betrayal? Or Thor to saddle up, for that matter? This would be the story of how the Avengers went from a one-time emergency response team to a formal group dedicated to protecting the planet.

Marvel Studios 

It would be a great way to see the original Avengers together again, a prospect that is extremely unlikely in live-action. Who doesn’t want to see Iron Man and Bruce Banner as “science bros” again, or Clint and Natasha kicking ass and taking names together? Sure, it might be “just” animation” to some.  But for Disney and Marvel Studios, it would be a true event series.

A Showcase for Unused Marvel Comics Heroes and Villains

Marvel Comics

An animated series would also be the perfect way to see official versions of certain villains that the movies never got to cover. It would be a blast to see the MCU Avengers fight off their corresponding villain team, the Masters of Evil, at last. Or get into a brawl with the Super Adaptoid, and android that can mimic all of their abilities. Or even the omnipotent Michael Korvac, one of their biggest threats ever in the comics.

Could all of those things have happened in just the year between Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron? Well, look how much happened in just one year in the real world! So why not?

Marvel Comics

Marvel Studios could also use this Avengers series to explore why the “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” didn’t expand their ranks until after Age of Ultron. We may find out that they did, adding members from the comics that fans have long wanted to see. Comic book Avengers stalwarts like Wonder Man and Tigra. Perhaps those new members didn’t work out, forcing the team to take an “original members only” stance for a time. It would sure be a great way to see some of these characters as Avengers in the MCU canonically.

A Celebration of the Comic Book Avengers

Marvel Comics

Although we’ve had four Avengers films, only one featured the team as we’ve known them in the comics for the past 58 years. And that is Avengers: Age of Ultron. In that movie, we see the team going out on missions, residing in a cool headquarters, partying and bickering together, and ultimately coming together to defeat a big bad. Just like the majority of Avengers comics for the past five decades.

The other three films in the series follow different templates. The first Avengers movie details how these characters meet and fight together for the first time. Infinity War and Endgame follow how they come back together. Ultimately, we only got to see the fully functional comic book-esque version of the team once in their entire film series. This seems like a waste.

Sadly, we’ll likely never get to remedy that fact in live-action. But an animated series showcasing the Avengers as the comics do would be an absolute delight for longtime fans. So what do you call this series? Avengers: Assemble and Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are taken. May we suggest The Mighty Avengers? Hopefully, this is something that Marvel Studios considers as they double down on their Disney+ offering in the years ahead.

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I miss Thanos. I know that might sound weird, but he was a great villain. Having him around made the MCU a better place. But I’m not sure I will ever love the Mad Titan enough that I’d want him moving in. First there’s the whole “universal genocide” thing. But just as important is that I don’t have enough space. That guy is freaking huge. And I’ve never appreciated just how enormous he truly is until I saw this life-sized, hand-knitted Thanos.

The talented Jenna Bates of WoolyMcWoolface has pieced together a gigantic tribute to Marvel’s very big baddie. To knit this humongous piece—which stands over seven feet tall and seems to get larger the more you look at it—she needed a whole lot of time and a whole lot of material.

It took over four months and over four kilograms of yarn. She also used a duvet, several pillows, and “who knows how many bags of stuffing” to fill him out. Bates told us that her best guess for his weight is around ten kilograms (22 pounds). His fully-loaded Infinity Gauntlet, which is clearly activated as evidenced by the glowing veins in his arm, also features some eyeshadow to give it depth.

As you can imagine, getting something this big and this heavy to stand was not easy. Brooms and mops couldn’t do it. So she had to outfit Thanos with some bean tin cans to help keep him upright. Knitted Thanos needs to be perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

Not only does this genuinely delightful piece loom over his creator, he looms large over her flat. For him to “fit” he needs to bend his neck. So really, the only life-sized Thanos that can comfortably live in this apartment is the one Thor beheaded.

You can check out more of Bates work at her Etsy shop. Thanos is not for sale, though. And that’s fine. I miss seeing the Mad Titan on screen, but that doesn’t mean I want him taking up half my living room.

Marvel

Featured Image: Marvel

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We all may be missing Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, and the Hulk on the big screen. But this fall, fans will be able to revisit the world of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes via the epic gameplay of Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix’s Marvel’s Avengers. The upcoming game features an entirely original story. It mixes iconic characters along with some heroes who haven’t had as much love in recent years.

But a game’s characters are only as good as the actors who voice them. In this installment of Nerdist Now, Dan Casey interviews several members of the cast of Marvel’s Avengers, including Laura Bailey (Black Widow), Troy Baker (Bruce Banner), and Sandra Saad. She’ll be playing the newcomer to the team, Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel. Watch the interview:

This interview drops several fun nuggets of behind-the-scenes information about the making of the game. And we learn a bit about the cast’s own Marvel Comics fandom. We discover Laura Bailey’s favorite Marvel heroine wasn’t Black Widow but the equally badass Silver Sable. And how Troy Baker for sure thought he was being cast as Hawkeye and not Bruce Banner. There are even more fun tidbits like that spread throughout the nearly 30-minute interview.

Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

Marvel’s Avengers begins during the so-called “A-Day,” where the team gathers to unveil a new high-tech Avengers Headquarters in San Francisco. During A-Day, they also reveal a brand new Helicarrier powered by an experimental energy source. This joyous celebration quickly turns deadly when an accident involving the new energy source results in tragedy. Blamed for the resulting devastation, the Avengers disband. Five years later, all super heroes are outlawed. But a major crisis calls for the return of Earth’s greatest protectors.

Marvel’s Avengers launches September 4, 2020, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC.

Featured Image: Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

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It looks like an MCU movie that would make billions of dollars.

This video (which we first came across at Kotaku) comes from the YouTube channel BabyZone. Using DeepFaceLab 2.0 AI machine-learning technology (and some other tech we don’t fully understand) they created a faceset for each actor from images found in Marvel’s Avengers movies. The virtual “masks” of the real people then replaced the faces of the game’s characters.

The entire process took more than a month. Some characters definitely look better than others. Black Widow, Captain America, and Iron Man mostly look excellent with the faces of Johansson, Evans, and Downey.

However, Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo both appear to have faces that are too big for Thor and Bruce Banner’s heads.

Square Enix/BabyZone

The great work that went into this far outweighs those issues, though. This video does exactly what we’ve been thinking about for more than a year. It offers a clear idea of what the new Avengers game would look like with Marvel’s stars reprising their roles.

The Marvel’s Avengers—without their MCU faces—is set to be released on September 4.

Featured Image: Square Enix/BabyZone

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The final battle in Avengers: Endgame remains the ultimate superhero fight scene in movie history. The Russo brothers threw every MCU hero, their friends, and then the kitchen sink into protecting the Earth from Thanos’ forces.

At one point in the story process for the film however, it was even cooler. Jackson Sze, a Senior Visual Development Artist at Marvel Studios, graced Instagram with some art from the Endgame development process. This concept art showcased several of Ant-Man’s flying ants, all giant-sized and attacking one of Thanos’ leviathans. You can see Sze’s concept art for the ants vs. aliens scene above.

The scene in question wound up not making the cut. That climactic battle was already crowded, and it could have been confusing if many more elements were added in. But this would have been the closest thing to a kaiju battle that the MCU has seen, at least so far. Sze posted some other unused Endgame concepts to his Instagram, one which featured a super-sized ant covered in wooden armor, created by Groot!

Other unused concepts from the Endgame finale are up as well on Sze’s Instagram, like a moment highlighting the “creature Avengers,” a.k.a. Meek and Korg. Another one featured Okoye and Valkyrie leading their respective armies side by side, in what would have surely been a crowd pleasing moment.  Wouldn’t it have been cool to see those two badass ladies having a moment together like that though?

A lot of MCU concepts that don’t make the final cut of a given movie can sometimes work into later projects. It’s not out of the question then that we might see some of these scenes show up somewhere, in some form, down the line. If not, Sze’s art is a cool window into what could have been.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

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In early July, a six-year-old named Bridger saved his younger sister from a dog attack. It was a truly selfless act that left him with some very serious injuries. But that was only the beginning of an incredible story about a kid who defines what it means to be one of Earth’s mightiest heroes. To honor his heroism, some of Bridger’s own personal heroes have reached out with messages of love and appreciation. That includes Chris Evans, who sent Bridger a beautiful video message, along with a promise to deliver Bridger one of Steve Rogers’s shields.

And now Bridger’s family has shared even more personal messages he’s received from the Avengers.

On July 9, Bridger and his four-year-old sister walked into a friend’s backyard and immediately found themselves in danger when a German Shepherd charged at them. Desperate to protect his baby sister, Bridger stood in front of her, taking the full brunt of the attack. The dog bit his face and head multiple times. But Bridger was still calling for his sister to run while it was happening. He then helped her get to safety when the dog let up.

Bridger was incredibly heroic throughout the entire painful, bloody ordeal. He needed over 90 stitches to pull his face and scalp back together. Yet he only cried when he got an IV. The young man was also worried something bad would happen to the dog.

But the most amazing part of the story might be what Bridger said when asked why he protected his sister. According to his aunt, he answered, “If someone was going to die, I thought it should be me.” What a kid.

After his aunt shared his amazing story of bravery on Instagram, some of Bridger’s own big-screen heroes began reaching out to him. Hugh Jackman, Zachary Levi, Anne Hathaway, the Russo Brothers, Robbie Amell, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Holland have all sent messages to him.

Now the family has shared some more videos of those interactions. The brave boy got a call from his favorite Avenger, Spider-Man himself. And as though that wasn’t enough, Tom Holland told Bridger he will have him visit the set during filming of a future Spider-Man movie.

Chris Hemsworth also recorded a message in an Instagram story praising Bridger’s heroism.

But in classic Iron Man fashion, Robert Downey Jr. says he will outdo Captain America. Chris Evans will be sending Bridger a shield. But Tony Stark promised to outdo that on Bridger’s next birthday.

All of these videos are obviously incredible. But they aren’t surprising.

Earth’s mightiest heroes always look out for one another.

Featured Image: Marvel

Originally published on July 16, 2020.

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“Marvel’s Avengers offers players a truly rich experience, with a combination of Hero Missions and War Zones,” Square Enix said in a press release. “Hero Missions are single-player only and are part of the initial campaign. They are designed to showcase each hero’s unique abilities as you reassemble your growing roster. War Zones can be played solo or with a group of up to four players as any hero in your roster. Each mission dynamically scales based on the team size and player level.”

“Players in Marvel’s Avengers will also be able to customize Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a number of ways,” Square Enix said. “While each superhero will play true to their unique power sets, each will have the flexibility to play differently based on the gear you equip them with and the skills you enable, so no two players’ heroes will play in exactly the same way. Each hero has dynamic combo systems, heroic moves, an intrinsic ability, and signature move sets to unlock and customize.”

Square Enix

The game stars Troy Baker as Bruce Banner, Jeff Schine as Captain America, Travis Willingham as Thor, Laura Bailey as Black Widow, and Nolan North as Tony Stark.

Marvel’s Avengers launches September 4, 2020, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. Players who buy the game on PS4 will be able to upgrade to the next-gen PlayStation 5 edition at no additional cost; Xbox One players can do the same for the Series X version.

Featured Image: Square Enix

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With 22 films, countless characters, and dozens of intersecting plot lines, the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be a daunting place. But between the multiple series, retcons, and years of stories, Marvel’s comic book world is arguably even more daunting. For MCU fans newly hoping to to get into the books, the 80-plus-year comic history can be overwhelming. Especially when it comes to iconic mainstays like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. Fortunately, Nerdist is here to help with recommendations for which comics you should check out for each avenging superhero.

Marvel Comics

Black Widow

Mark Waid and Chris Samnee bring the assassin back to her roots with their Black Widow series, which is quintessentially a spy drama. But between the spy missions and dark shadows of her past, the story is filled with quiet moments where we get to see Natasha as a person and not a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. It’s a story where the plot is largely driven by Samnee’s beautiful art, and one of the best balances of action versus character when it comes to an Avenger who isn’t always as relatable as other superheroes because of her hard past.

Marvel Comics

Hawkeye

It’s cliché to say that Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye series changed superhero comics, but there’s no mistaking why this series is as acclaimed as it is. In addition to superhero shenanigans, Fraction and Aja take Clint Barton down to the streets of grungy Brooklyn, focusing on the arching Avenger’s everyday life and bringing some very real stories and emotions to a character who hadn’t had a huge amount of solo spotlight before appearing in the MCU. Mark our words: Kate Bishop will become your new favorite character and Lucky the Dog will become your new best friend.

Marvel Comics

Iron Man

As you might expect, there are a bunch of defining Iron Man stories that helped shape the character into a relatable human—someone we could identify with as opposed to an egocentric billionaire—but Warren Ellis and Adi Granov’s Extremis is one of the best. (And you might recognize Extremis from Iron Man 3, which took its cue from sections of Ellis’ and Granov’s run.) This creative team not only gets into Tony’s head; they humanize him in a way that makes you realize just how important the character is to the entire Marvel Universe. Plus, that Granov art!

Marvel Comics

Captain America

We gotta go with Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting’s Captain America: Winter Soldier—what many consider to be the “definitive” Cap run. There are good reasons for that: Brubaker brought back Bucky Barnes, added some political drama, and defined the character in a way that no comic had been able to do previously. If you like Steve Rogers in the MCU, this comic set up Cap in a way that would go on to influence his on-screen story and allow us to identify with and love the “kid from Brooklyn.”

Marvel Comics

Thor

In our opinion, there’s no run that compares to Jason Aaron’s long-running Thor series. (It’s so good, it’s even the potential inspiration for 2021’s Thor: Love and Thunder.) Aaron humanizes the God of Thunder by crafting a tale filled with empathy, faith, and grandeur. Tag-teaming with talented artists and colorists such as Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, Esad Ribic, and Ron Garney, Aaron’s tale springs to life: a visually dazzling Thor that is complemented by Aaron’s epic storytelling. Yes, with six years worth of stories, this run is definitely an undertaking. But we guarantee you’ll be hooked as soon as you start reading.

Marvel Comics

Hulk

We love an intriguing, unique story about an intriguing, unique character. And that’s exactly what Incredible Hulk: The End is. Peter David and Dale Keown spin a tale of a Hulk who exists in the future, where everyone except himself is dead. It’s a story unlike most Hulk comic runs, one with a slight horror slant and a psychological deep dive into a character whose identities are always at odds. And that’s exactly why it’s brilliant. Alas, the comic is a one-shot, which means that you unfortunately won’t find more stories about Banner’s solo life on Earth. But it’s absolutely worth reading.

Marvel Comics

Bucky Barnes

Okay, we’re cheating here a little. We chose Brubaker and Eptings’ Captain America: Winter Soldier as our Cap recommendation, but we couldn’t not choose Brubaker’s Winter Soldier arc for Bucky Barnes. It’s our opinion that no one knows Bucky better, and that’s apparent in the beloved run that teams the former soviet spy with another spy: Black Widow. Although their rapport has never really materialized in the films, the two characters had a long relationship in the comics. And this is the perfect “Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe” story.

Marvel Comics

Spider-Man

Gwen’s death is as personal and significant to Peter as Uncle Ben’s is, in that the event pretty much defines his life both as Spider-Man and a regular teen. Which is why The Night Gwen Stacy Died resonates. Hurting and overcome with rage, it’s Peter at his best and worst: he almost kills Norman Osborn out of pure anger but eventually realizes that revenge isn’t the answer. The lesson is an important one and a reminder that we can learn and grow from our mistakes and grief. Gerry Conway and Gil Kane’s story maybe an obvious pick as it’s at the top of most “best of” Spidey lists, but it’s there for a reason.

Marvel Comics

Guardians of the Galaxy

You know that feeling that you experienced when you watched Guardians of the Galaxy? That fun, adventure-in-space, found family feeling? That’s what you get when you read Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Paul Pelletier’s Legacy. The story is a classic romp through the cosmos, and it doesn’t hurt that it features instances from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that fans might be familiar with, such as the Universal Church of Truth. More importantly, the strong writing gives the ragtag group a sense of connection that other comics have found hard to wrangle. The Guardians are crazy in the best way—why not read a comic that reflects that?

Marvel Comics

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver

House of M is one of Marvel’s more emotional miniseries, but it’s a beautiful story for Wanda and a great deep dive into Wanda’s relationship with her powers. Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel create an alternate reality where mutants run the world. After all, doesn’t everyone in the superhero world just want to be happy? The comic itself is a gateway to numerous other events and arcs for X-Men and Avengers, but don’t worry about all that. Just check out House of M and prepare to have a new appreciation for Wanda Maximoff after you read it.

Marvel Comics

Doctor Strange

Is there any other way to define Doctor Strange than by mentioning Stan Lee and Steve Ditko? We’re reaching back to the classic era with Strange Tales, because there’s no better comic that shows off Strange’s trippy, magical elements and dramatics. The comic shows the superhero’s beginnings as a surgeon, introduces his greatest foe, and sets the stage for everything that we know of Doctor Strange today. It’s Doctor Strange at his best—written and drawn by comic icons responsible for turning him into one of the most mystical beings of the Marvel Universe.

Marvel Comics

Captain Marvel

We can’t recommend Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Captain Marvel run enough. Not only was it the inspiration for Carol’s big screen adventure (with DeConnick consulting on the character for the film), the series perfectly captures Carol. This is the most well-rounded, fully realized version of the character that arguably set the tone for Captain Marvel-centric comics going forward. Unlike previous iterations, this Carol isn’t here to be your sex symbol in a super suit. She’s feisty, a bit temperamental, emotional, driven, and sarcastic. And with all of that, she’s going to save the world.

Featured Image: Marvel

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We recently celebrated the anniversaries of both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the incredible final chapters of the story that began in 2008’s Iron Man. Mondo is commemorating this massive moment with an incredible release of Alan Silvestri’s stunning soundtrack on Infinity Stone-inspired vinyl!

Mondo

The official press release explains just why this is such a huge release and the impact of Silvestri’s score:

 “The importance of Alan Silvestri’s four decades of scoring films cannot be understated. His iconic theme for the The Avengers (2012) is just one of his many landmark achievements in the world of film music. His scores for the epic conclusions to the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, are a masterclass in fantasy and science fiction film compositions.”

It continues, “His score for the penultimate chapter of the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Infinity War, is full of triumphant bombastic beats, and solemn down notes, perfect for one of the most shockingly tragic films of the genre. His score for the final chapter of the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, is brilliantly meditative, sweeping in scope, and features quite possibly one of the most beloved tracks of the genre, Portals. We are honored to present them both in their complete format on vinyl for the first time.”

Mondo

The awesome release also features all new original artwork by Matt Taylor, and you can either buy the boxsets separately or together and the score for each film is housed in their own tri-fold jacket, pressed on 180 Gram “Infinity Stone” vinyl. The Avengers: Infinity War box-set features the following stones: Disc 1: Reality Stone, Disc 2: Soul Stone, Disc 3: Mind Stone, while Avengers: Endgame finishes the gauntlet with Disc 1: Time Stone, Disc 2: Space Stone, Disc 3: Power Stone.

We still can’t quite believe that we’re living in a world where you can get a Thanos themed prestige vinyl set, but we can’t wait to take home this infinite cosmic power home with us and relive the magical music of the MCU on vinyl!

The set is available for preorder at Mondo right now!

Header Image: Mondo

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Not even Earth’s mightiest heroes are immune to the coronavirus. Chris Hemsworth is practicing safe social distancing at his home in Australia just like the rest of us. And just like parents around the globe he suddenly finds himself having to serve as part tutor and part entertainment director for his kids. But his wife, Elsa Patakey, has to deal with one very specific problem the rest of us only wish we had to worry about: she keeps putting away his Marvel props every time he leaves them out.  Because while we might be impressed by Thor’s original hammer and Stormbreaker, the real Mrs. Odinson isn’t.

Hemsworth was the latest Avenger to join Jimmy Kimmel Live. The late night host recently had Tom Holland on to wish his three-year-old Spider-Man obsessed son a happy birthday. Hemsworth, who was on to promote his upcoming Netflix action-film Extraction, didn’t have to get into character. That didn’t stop him though from showing off iconic Marvel props he owns. He brought out the original Mjölnir from the first Thor movie. It’s the heavier one used in non-action scenes—the one that “has some weight to it.” He said he likes to leave it around the house and that his three young kids enjoy picking it up to prove they are “worthy.” That’s exactly what we would do, so those kids sound pretty smart. (Even if Hemsworth is worried his homeschooling skills will have them coming out of quarantine with IQs “under par.”)

But not everyone loves having Thor’s hammer in their home. His wife is constantly putting it away every time he leaves it laying around. This is now our favorite cat-and-mouse game in the Nine Realms. (Though she might want to keep the hammer around in case any more snakes get inside.)

ABC

Actually, she’s probably better off using Stormbreaker if that happens. Yes, Hemsworth also owns a version of Thor’s newer weapon, which is a lot harder to store away.

Not that we’d put either one away. It wouldn’t help us teach kids math, but it would make being stuck in our homes a lot more fun.

Featured Image: ABC

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Look, we’re all in the thick of it now. It’s a lot of worrying and fear and isolation and cabin fever. All in service of making our communities safer, by the way. It just doesn’t make the act of sitting alone for days on end any easier. We have plenty of movies to watch, of course, and that does help. Still, for those of us who relish the communal act of watching movies in a theater with a big crowd, this stings. So maybe it’s the perfect time to relive one of the best packed-house experiences of last year: the third act of Avengers: Endgame.

We’re all pretty against talking during a movie; stow it for after the thing you paid for, right? But when a movie’s hitting you in the right emotional spot, and the whole cinema feels it too, you have to express it. And boy is that a magical time. Endgame did that in spades. I tell you all, with only a hint of embarrassment, that I let out a room-shattering “YES!” when Cap summoned Mjolnir. It was, for transparency, a critics screening, at 8 in the morning. Among colleagues and peers (and frankly, my betters), I couldn’t contain myself.

Marvel

All those feelings came flooding back watching these clips of opening night audio from an Avengers: Endgame screening. The original audio comes from YouTuber thecandyman but journalist Scott Gustin shared the clips on Twitter, and boy they are hitting us right in the feels, as the kids say.

So let’s look at what the opening night crowd did when Cap wailed on Thanos with that lightning hammer.

Pretend I’m screaming “YES!” right when it flies passed Thor and Thanos and reaches Steve’s hand. It’s . . . it’s a moment, you all. I love the guy screaming “Oh my God!” every time another cool thing happens.

Another great moment from the opening night crowd is when Steve, all but defeated, with an army of Thanos’ goons ahead of him, getting a little help on his left.

I love the small eruptions of cheers when another new hero joins. Black Panther, Shuri, and Okoye get a deserved round of applause; Dr. Strange, the Guardians, and Spider-Man get another. But I’m surprised whatever theater this was still had a roof when all the Avengers lined up as Cap quietly says “Assemble”. They probably had to do a ton of repairs.

Or when Captain Marvel and all the women on the Avengers march out to protect the Gauntlet. That killed in every theater I saw it in, and it absolutely slayed in this audio.

A slightly different response, but the final Thanos v. Tony Stark moment also received its due adulation from the assembled (ha) audience.

In a movie full of full-on hero moments, and everybody (especially Cap) got several, it’s Iron Man, fittingly, who gets the big “F-U” to Thanos and thusly the biggest roar from the crowd.

God, Avengers: Endgame is still an amazing feat of blockbuster moviemaking. Listen to that crowd; that’s what pulling off a 22 movie story arc over 11 years sounds like. People are invested in the characters, they were devastated after Infinity War, and they were ready to have some good stuff. And boy did they get it.

Also, they love Captain America’s butt.

Thanks, Mr. Gustin, for giving us a memory of one of the great we’re-all-in-this-together theater moments in recent years. I welled up a few times watching these clips to write this piece, and I gotta tell you all, I needed it. I bet you did too.

Featured Image: Marvel

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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Talk about What If! Could it be that Avengers: Endgame isn’t the last time we’ll see Chris Evans as Captain America? It’s a possibility, according to the man himself! Dan has all the details on today’s Nerdist News!

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Comedian Billy Eichner has been stopping strangers on the streets of New York City for his game show Billy on the Street for fifteen years now, believe it or not. As a way of celebrating his big decade and a half TV milestone, Eichner recently did a special episode with none other than Captain America himself, Chris Evans. You can check out the clip down below:

As is customary on any episode of Billy on the Street, the Lion King and American Horror Story actor was his usual Tasmanian Devil self as he did his customary schtick. Which is still pretty much just running up to ordinary folks on the streets of New York and asking them all sorts of random questions. He, of course, manages to remind everyone of his show’s milestone, with Evans’ presence jokingly serving as an afterthought. You know, in case you care about exceedingly charming and handsome celebrities or something.

Staying on brand, Eichner even managed to have another “let’s go lesbians, let’s go!” moment, which is the most famous running gag on his show. Never a dumb move to make sure one calls back to their greatest hits. Perhaps the funniest bit was when Eichner actually asked a random dude, “Sir, for a dollar, would you like to sign this petition to remove Kevin Spacey from homosexuality and add Chris Evans?” Very matter of factly, the guy signed. I too would like to know where I can sign on the dotted line for this one.

Marvel Studios

The most endearing part of these shenanigans though was when Eichner and Evans apparently just ran into actor Paul Rudd while filming the episode. I mean, what are the odds that one Avenger would run into another Avenger randomly like that in a city of eight million people? Let’s just say my eyebrows are raised at the prospect of this being any kind of a  “random” moment here. Ok, so Paul Rudd really does live in New York, but still.

Of course, as soon as Rudd appears, Eichner immediately made him a part of the show. And so we got to see Cap and Ant-Man hug it out for moment. Staged or not, who doesn’t love that? And if you’re Billy Eichner you are most certainly going to take advantage of this moment, and start asking random folks just which of these two handsome heroes you would rather have intimate relations with. Honestly, that is a nearly impossible Sophie’s choice to make, and it’s mean to even ask anyone to make such a decision.

Evans, of course, made sure to mention that he’s got a major movie coming out soon, director Rian Johnson’s murder mystery comedy Knives Out. Evans is part of an all star cast which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, and Christopher Plummer.

Knives Out will hit movie theater screens on November 27.  Meanwhile, Billy on the Street Seasons two through five are currently available for fans to stream on Netflix. New episodes of Billy on the Street are now also available on YouTube.

Featured image: billyonthestreettv

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With every single character introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe having their moment in the spotlight in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, there’s no way they could have crammed anyone else into the the story, right? Well it turns out they were going to try! Amy’s got the scoop on how Nova may have joined the fight on today’s Nerdist News!

Would you have wanted Nova in Infinity War? Let us know in the comments below!

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Since debuting in 2013 in the pages of Captain Marvel #14 and gaining her own solo series in 2014, Kamala Khan—aka Ms. Marvel—has become something of a phenomenon. The Jersey City teenager, known for her fangirl tendencies and her adoration of the Avengers (notably Captain Marvel) has gone from breakout comic character to fan favorite, appearing in everything from animated television shows to her own upcoming Disney+ series. So it’s not surprising that when Marvel Games recently unveiled the sixth mystery playable character in Square Enix, Crystal Dynamics and Marvel Entertainment’s upcoming Marvel’s Avengers game, it was revealed to be none other than Kamala herself.

And she’s not just there to entice players to smash with her embiggening powers—though, as Crystal Dynamics narrative designer and Marvel’s Avengers writer Hannah MacLeod noted at a press event, “these powers introduce a dramatically new element and make her combat aspiration feel so unique.” Kamala is very much the centerpiece of one of most anticipated games of the year. “She’s our games’ protagonist,” revealed MacLeod. “You’ll experience our Avengers story through her unique perspective.”

As part of a private demo session, Nerdist had a chance to play Kamala at a training level—and we had a blast. While each superhero feels unique to control and customize, being able to use the character’s embiggening powers, stretching abilities, and punching strength added a whole new level of fun to the game.

Marvel/Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

Kamala comes into the picture as a bystander at A-Day, primed and excited to cheer on her heroes. Her life turns upside-down as the attack from Taskmaster exposes Kamala to the terrigan mist that awakens her Inhuman abilities. Five years pass after the events in San Francisco. In that time, superheroes become outlawed, the Avengers split up, and AIM takes charge of the world. Frustrated, lonely, and concealing her powers, Kamala seeks out Bruce Banner in an attempt to bring the Avengers back together.

“The world decides that unchecked superheroes are too dangerous to exist,” explained MacLeod. “But Kamala believes the Avengers were framed; she will stop at nothing to prove that people with powers deserve a place in this world, including her.”

While some have taken issue with the game for its different visual portrayals of the heroes best known as their Marvel Cinematic Universe counterparts, the emotional components of the characters ring true to the Avengers we’ve come to know and love—and Kamala is no different. (In the game trailer, she even sips her Slurpee noisily in the car, without any regard for the Avenger sitting next to her.) “She still writes fanfiction. She still knows everything there is to know about the Avengers; and yes, Captain Marvel is still her favorite,” said MacLeod. “That is something she and her players will have in common—they love these heroes.”

That real world relatability is a large part of what has made the Pakistani-American hero so popular. Sure, we might not all be teenagers or Inhumans, but we know what it feels like to idolize our heroes. We know what it’s like to not have our family members understand us. And we know what it’s like to just want to be ourselves without judgement from others. It’s also something that actor Sandra Saad, who voices Kamala in the game, sees as incredibly important.

Marvel/Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

“I feel like everyone’s got their struggle, every single person. And you don’t realize your heroes do too because you put them on such a pedestal,” Saad told Nerdist during an interview. “And I think that’s really important to take away from all of them. Because you see Thor’s struggle and Widow’s struggle and everyone has got their own. You’re looking up and you’re like, okay, these are superheroes, these are my heroes but they have the same kind of struggles as I do.

“Kamala, she’s got her own stuff going on. She’s a first generation American who doesn’t fit in; her parents are strict and don’t really get the Avengers, but she loves them so much. I’m a fangirl, I’m a huge geek about stuff, and my family doesn’t necessarily connect. So I feel like everyone can find that in Kamala. I don’t know one person who has never felt left out or misunderstood or not accepted.”

Marvel’s Avengers releases May 15, 2020, on PC, Stadia, Xbox One, and Playstation4.

Image Credit: Marvel/Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

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Smash some concrete like the Hulk. Swing a hammer like Thor. Kick a bad guy like Black Widow. We all watch Marvel Studios films wishing we could suit up as our favorite heroes and thanks to Marvel’s Avengers, the highly-anticipated game from Marvel Entertainment, Square Enix, and Crystal Dynamics, we can.

Nerdist had a chance to preview the game during a private demo session at New York Comic Con, which involved cycling through all six playable characters (including the newly announced Kamala Khan) in order to get a hands-on feel for each of the heroes’ unique gameplay—what Crystal Dynamics’ Studio Head Scot Amos calls “a cinematic combat experience.” From an all-original story to new looks for these iconic heroes, the game gives fans a fresh look at characters we know and love. And when Nerdist sat down with the all-star voice cast—many of whom have been voicing these particular characters for years in different iterations—it was clear that resonated.

“I think that the story is really sophisticated, and it’s different than anything we’ve been able to explore in the past as these characters,” said Laura Bailey, who voices Black Widow. “Personally, I get to see aspects of Widow’s character that I had never been able to portray—that guilt and that grief she’s feeling after A-Day is heavy and it’s a really cool road to get to go down.”

Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics/Marvel

“Everyone knows these characters in one form or another, but the dynamic of these characters is so unique and so singular,” added Thor’s Travis Willingham. “For me in particular, I love that there’s this sort of competitive nature between Tony Stark and Thor—man and god, machine and mighty… but it’s just amazing to watch what each one of these talented actors brings to these characters. It informs how we think of the characters as well. I had an idea of who Thor was in certain situations, and going off of Nolan [North] or Troy [Baker] or Jeff [Schine] just changes things.”

Marvel’s Avengers begins after the events of A-Day, the Avengers’ celebration in San Fransisco. But the joyous occasion is cut short when Taskmaster (yes, the same Taskmaster who will appear as the titular villain in next year’s Black Widow film) shows up and tragedy strikes. Arguably one of the most exciting things about Marvel’s Avengers is that the world is narratively driven, from the interactions between the characters to their physical actions to how they evolve—something that parallels the long-time friendship between a group of actors who have made careers out of lending their talents to the gaming world.

“I think in the mo-cap stage, just getting out there and doing it, it becomes incredibly collaborative,” shared Nolan North, who voices Iron Man. “We’d written something like Tony has a snarky comment so we’d do it one way and add multiple takes, then we’d try to one up each other. We’d be like what’s another one?”

“That’s the beautiful thing about having been friends already,” noted Bailey. “A lot of the times when you’re starting work on a new project, you have to build that camaraderie to feel like it’s already been there. And for us it already has been. So it felt so natural, all of the jokes.”

Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics/Marvel

Each Avenger has their own special set of skills (and of course, their own special gear) that, according to Amos, players will be able to customize based on how they choose to advance through the game. Unlocking new “hero missions” allows you to advance even further and assemble a roster of heroes, which in turn gives the option of a co-op experience. It’s a smart way to bring fans closer to characters they already know and love, while also putting them in control of the narrative.

“The way that they do the demo is perfect because you cycle through but you come out great,” explained Troy Baker, who voices Bruce Banner. “You start off with Thor which is super fun, because it’s just beat ‘em up. Then you go to Iron Man, which is a fly-around, and then you go to Widow, which is the most strategic, tactile… you can kind of button mash your way up to that point. And then the game, through Taskmaster, kind of looks at you and goes everything you’ve been doing is not going to work and you really have to be careful. It’s a great way to narratively tutorialize the player, which you try to get away from because it doesn’t make sense—I’m going to teach you to do how to do the things you already know how to do.”

While only the beginning of the game was available to demo, we know the general path of the overall story. Following a five year time jump, superheroes are outlawed and the Avengers have disbanded, each dealing with the aftermath of A-Day in their own way. Bringing the team back together isn’t easy and it’s a job for Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, who receives her Inhuman powers after the events of A-Day.

Officially announced at the Marvel Games New York Comic Con panel, Kamala will bring her embiggening powers to Marvel’s Avengers in a unique way, as she ends up being the catalyst for the group to find their fight again. “My first day, we shot all the A-Day scenes where Kamala is meeting them for the first time, so it was the perfect parallel,” revealed Sandra Saad, who likened her experience of coming into the role of Kamala to the character’s own introduction into the superhero world. “And truly, looking up at Travis and hearing that voice is like… there is a definitely a parallel between Kamala’s relationship with the Avengers and my relationship with these guys.”

Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics/Marvel

Since the game’s initial debut at E3 this summer, fans and critics have had the chance to familiarize themselves with the story and as the release date grows closer, the voice cast, along with the development team, are working hard to make sure fans have an immersive and exciting experience on the controllers.

“I really hope they get into the story,” said Jeff Schine, who voices Captain America. “Superpowers are great, but you can only smash somebody so many times before you care about why you’re doing that. So the narrative is really, really important. And then for me, at the end, what I hope they feel is unsatisfied. You know when you have something amazing and you’re satisfied for a second but because it was so good, you want it again? I think if people are left they want more, a little unsatisfied, like I want more of that then we’ve really hit a good thing.”

Marvel’s Avengers releases May 15, 2020, on PC, Stadia, Xbox One, and Playstation4.

Image Credit: Marvel/Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

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Scot Amos, Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics, says that one of the goals of the development team is to create a Marvel story that’s both familiar and fresh. “We love telling epic stories with a human heart,” he said at PAX West. The studio is working very closely with Marvel, he continued, giving an authenticity to the Avengers and the world the team is building.

As the game demo begins, San Francisco is celebrating Avengers Day when an attack interrupts the festivities. The Avengers assemble, and the player gets to take a spin with each one. While none of the heroes follows a particular archetype (like tank or support), each has their own distinctive play style that will be customizable as the game progresses. Iron Man can take to the air for ranged attacks, for example, and Hulk, naturally, smashes. (He can pick up an enemy and use them as a weapon to whack the other baddies, which is as fun as it sounds.)

Despite the team’s efforts, however, the city is practically destroyed, Captain America is lost, and the Avengers bear the blame. Thor, Black Widow, Iron Man, and Hulk go their own ways, just as broken as the city, and superheroes are no more.

Five years later, Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) has taken over protecting the world. But a new threat demands the band get back together, and the bulk of the game involves reassembling the team’s ranks and exploring each character’s storyline. Players will see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes through a new lens, says Amos, as they rebuild, reassemble, and customize heroes to take on a villain worthy of the Avengers.

The demo ‘s gameplay matches Crystal Dynamics’ goal of a “cinematic combat experience” as opposed to simple button mashing. Normal attacks, special skills, and dodging and blocking all combine to keep the hero and the player on their toes. Quick time events and jumping through rubble also keep the action moving without becoming repetitive. Thor’s attacks and combat style in particular were a blast to play (no pun intended), unleashing lightning and tossing Mjölnir at bad guys unlucky enough to be in the way.

Heroes will ultimately be incredibly customizable, from skill trees, to optional side missions to earn gear, to cosmetic outfits based on 80 years of Marvel Comics that are both rewarded in missions and purchased in real life. New heroes for the lineup and new missions are also planned for post-launch at no additional cost.

It’s obvious the Crystal Dynamics team loves the Marvel universe and are putting their own stamp on it, even adding Easter eggs in the world just for fans. “Marvel taught us well,” Amos said with a smile.

Marvel’s Avengers will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and PC on May 15, 2020.

Images: Crystal Dynamics / Square Enix

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If the story told in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame feels like two parts of a whole when you’re watching it, imagine what the experience must have been like for the thousands of cast and crew members who shouldered the responsibility of delivering Marvel’s biggest and most ambitious adventure yet across six hours of epic filmmaking, delivered to audiences in chapters released just one year apart. While post-production unfolded on Infinity War, pre-production ramped up on Endgame, forcing that talented team to juggle some enormous responsibilities with an eye simultaneously held on the past, present and future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and most remarkably, they pulled it all off.

Visual effects supervisor and second unit director Dan DeLeeuw has been a part of the Oscar-nominated team that brought the MCU to life since Iron Man 3 in 2013, and his responsibilities have only grown with each film. He tackled both roles on Endgame, managing teams of visual effects supervisors while capturing much of the footage that they would transform into operatic battle scenes or moments of devastating intimacy. And as Avengers: Endgame arrives on 4K Blu-ray and DVD, DeLeeuw talked to Nerdist about just a handful of unexpected challenges he faced in between those extremes – some that enabled him to draw upon the vast library of reference materials and assets created for past Marvel movies, others that required him to think more like a costume designer than a computer effects wizard, and a few that simply demanded he not share what he knew before the world was ready to watch events unfold on screen.

How much of Endgame were you making simultaneously with Infinity War and how much was staggered?

We shot Infinity War and then we shot as much of Endgame as we possibly could before we had to start going into post production on Infinity War. But while we were finishing Infinity War, we were prepping Endgame and it was this weird overlap where we were in post-production and pre-production at the same time.

In that dovetailing of post production and pre production between Infinity War and Endgame, how seamless a flow was there from one to the other?

We definitely had the assets we could carry over, like Thanos was built and the death scene was figured out. So there was definitely that continuity, and ILM had worked on the Hulk for the flashbacks. But Endgame is interesting because you have the continuity between the two films, but then you have the continuity between the films that came before in the Marvel Universe. So when we went back to do Morag again, we could go back to Guardians of the Galaxy and get their scan of the set, because we built smaller portions where Quill was dancing and expanded our set with that. And for New York, we went to ILM and they had New York from the first Avengers. So there was efficiency in shooting two films together, and there was the efficiency of having this entire library of every Marvel film that they’ve done and we could pull the assets from that.

Were there specific challenges that you tackled on Infinity War that you knew would help when you got to Endgame?

There were definitely assets that we could share, like the Avengers compound that was shared across the movies, and technology and ideas that we had developing Thanos that would apply to Smart Hulk later on. There was definitely a time saver and an artistic and kind of a brain power savings working on the two movies together. But then also, working on that many visual effects shots back to back, and the complexity of everything, we needed that efficiency. Otherwise we couldn’t have completed the two movies with the complexity of effects that we were working with.

Thanos laid the groundwork for Smart Hulk. But were both of those characters always meant to be created through performance capture?

Starting with Thanos, we knew that if the character didn’t work, then the movie wasn’t going to work. So it was something that started with a motion capture performance and then finding the right teams to work on it with Weta and Digital Domain. And then getting the level of detail we were able to achieve across their two different pipelines is what took Thanos outside of that uncanny valley, based on all of this really fine, detailed movement on the face. You’re actually capturing all of Josh Brolin’s skin movement, and then you could then import it to the Thanos model. Brolin’s performance is very subdued and intense, but with very small movements, so the challenge was to capture that incredibly small movement. But then you get to Mark Ruffalo’s performance with Smart Hulk and his performance is very broad and bright, so now you’re dealing with an elasticity to the face that you didn’t have to deal with with Thanos. So the two characters kind of bookended what you would have to do with the definition of a CG character to keep making him look real.

Were there projects from past movies that were particularly relevant to showcasing what you knew you needed to do with either of those two characters or any others in the film?

Yeah, Disney was working with Digital Domain on Beauty and the Beast and we saw what they were doing with machine learning and their solutions, and then with Weta, who are famous from Gollum and many other CG characters, that started us down the path. We had done initial tests for Thanos very early on that gave everybody else confidence in terms of what we were able to do with that performance as Thanos got more and more lines. And then with Smart Hulk, we started him in the same way – we had done a motion capture test on Thor: Ragnarok, and the Russos caught up with Taika, who ad libbed a scene with Mark where Banner is in Hulk’s body and he’s trying to type on a keyboard and nothing’s working because he’s too big. We later showed Mark and he got a big kick out of it, but we were really ahead of the curve on that one in terms of kind of having confidence in terms of what Hulk could do – be funny, but then to carry the emotion of doing the snap and bringing everybody back.

For those flashbacks, how much was there a juggling act of trying to balance whatever technological differences there were between then and now in terms of rendering a character like the Hulk, or any of the other characters?

With shots we’ve seen before, we have access to those because they’re all in the archives, so you’d go back and get the completed shot. There was the color space that they used on the first Avengers that have changed over the intervening years, so we would go back to the original file and then convert it into our color space and then color time it into the surrounding bodies that we photograph for our film. And then with if you look at the Hulk from Avengers and the Hulk in Ultron and the Hulk in Ragnarok, there’s been a little bit of a migration to his design, but since we were going back to the first Avengers, we wanted, like we did with some of the Avengers, making them look more like their first Avengers counterparts. So we went back to the design of the Hulk and used the same scope, but then modified the shaders and the rigging on him so that we took advantage of new technologies for skin and muscles but still use the way he looked back in the first Avengers.

There’s obviously literal hundreds and even thousands of characters in some sequences, but was there one scene or shot that was uniquely difficult that people might not even notice but was a real challenge to get right?

In a lot of ways, it was the entire movie. It ran the gamut. You’ve got the big oner in the final battle where you’ve got every Avenger, all of the villains that we faced before with all of the associated warriors that go along with them with Ravagers and Asgardians, Giant Man punching a Leviathan, the dragonflies and talons for Black Panther and sky cycles for the Ravagers and chariots with Chitauri on them. So the giant scenes with everything in it would go on for quite a length of time. But then you’ve got Smart Hulk, and we got concept art and he’s kind of wearing sweats and a hoodie. And then Joe Russo was like “he should have more costumes,” so Hulk originally had his casual wear and then his superhero suit and we ended up making eight different costumes for this CG character. And you don’t normally generate that many costumes for a CG character, but then he started getting this really awesome wardrobe with these cool sweaters and t-shirts and jeans and glasses. Like the [time travel] planning session, the idea is that it happens over a number of days, so you can see the rest of the Avengers’ costumes changing – they’re kind of taking coats off to get the idea that the [discussion] happened over maybe three days. So then we had to do the same thing with the Hulk, of figure out when they changed clothes and then the change Hulk’s clothes to go along with them. So we didn’t really expect that one when we started out.

You are in a unique position in that you have to know all of the secrets of the Marvel movies because you are responsible in a very real way for creating them. Over the course of working on and being a part of these films, what has been the most difficult secret that you’ve had to keep?

Well, with Infinity War and Endgame together, I was doing an interview talking about Spidey blipping out at the end of Infinity War and the implications with Uncle Ben and Peter Parker having a problem with father figures kind of disappearing on him. And I said, “first it was Uncle Ben and then Tony going,” and I couldn’t believe I’d said it because we knew for three years that Tony was going to die in Endgame. And I kind of gave it away, but just in the sense of Peter losing father figures, not literally losing his father figure, and there was a sheer moment of terror where I was like, did I just give the movie away? But between Infinity War and Endgame, you knew all of the secrets, and if you had to talk about, Thanos and Gamora, you had to be careful that you never slipped and actually said Natasha because it’s the same set and the same sequence where it’s throwing someone off. And you’re just hoping against hope that you don’t accidentally slip up and say the wrong name.

Featured Image: Marvel

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Avengers: Endgame has finally been ported to home video release, complete with commentary from the filmmakers! We listened to the whole thing, and Amy’s got the best nuggets of trivia for you on today’s Nerdist News!

What surprised you most in the Avengers: Endgame commentary? Let us know in the comments!

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But worry not. We’re here to sort it all out for you. In an exclusive clip from the digital and Blu-ray release of Endgame, this special feature highlights all the cameos that even the most hardcore MCU fan might have missed.

Among these cameos is Howard the Duck, who makes a quick appearance in the big final battle. This is only fitting, as Howard was Marvel’s first character to make it onto the big screen (not counting the 1944 Captain America serial film) way back in 1986. Comic book legend, and creator of Thanos, Jim Starlin shows up in the post-Snap support group, along with the film’s co-director Joe Russo. In fact, Lia Russo, Joe’s daughter, also appears taking a selfie with the Hulk. Meanwhile, Joe Russo’s other daughter Ava appears as Clint Barton’s kid Lila Barton in the opening scenes of the movie.

As with most movies directed by the Russo brothers, there are a couple of brief moments from former cast members of the show Community, which the filmmakers worked on extensively back in the day. And although the Marvel Studios films almost always tend to ignore their television counterparts like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Daredevil (despite taking place in the same universe), Avengers: Endgame did give us two character cameos from the late, great Agent Carter series. Proving that is indeed all connected. There are other cameos I haven’t mentioned yet, so be sure to check out the entire video above.

Avengers: Endgame is available for digital download now, and hits Blu-ray on August 13.

Images: Marvel/Disney

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The Avengers: Endgame re-release is here, but is that extra footage worth the price of admission? Jessica dishes on the bonus content in today’s Nerdist News!

What do you think? Is the extra footage worth seeing in theaters? Let us know in the comments!

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It’s been a couple of months since Avengers: Endgame came out, and I think we can safely say now that the final battle  is indeed the greatest and most epic fight scene in the history of comic book movies. It’s the kind of thing we all dreamed of seeing as kids, but never thought would actually happen. Of course, if it had happened on the big screen when we were all kids, there would have been the inevitable tie-in 16-bit video game to go along with it. Thankfully, YouTube channel Mr. Sunday Movies has created a 16-bit version of the Endgame final battle for all of us to enjoy. And it’s perfection.

We kind of hope we get a sequel video to this one; the action ends pretty much right when the cavalry shows up. I mean, I think we need to see Spider-Man go into “instant kill mode,” not to mention the whole running of the Gauntlet scene. And of course we need to see Captain Marvel show up and lay waste to Thanos’ forces, because who doesn’t want to see that awesomeness again?

Images: Mr. Sunday Movies

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A new version of Avengers: Endgame hits theaters in a couple of weeks, but will it be worth it to see? Amy goes over the new additions in today’s Nerdist News to tell you!

What do you think? Will this be enough to get you back in theaters for Endgame again? Sound off in the comments!

The post “New Cut” of Avengers: Endgame Coming to Theaters Isn’t What You Think! appeared first on Nerdist.

Make sure to get to the theater to see the re-release of #Endgame on the big screen for the very last time! Also, you’ll get an exclusive sneak peek at the first 2 minutes of Spider-Man Far From Home! And a deleted scene starring the Hulk! There may also be a few surprises… pic.twitter.com/OAUmPPfVRX

— Russo Brothers (@Russo_Brothers) June 28, 2019

SECOND UPDATE, 2/25/2019 – We now know even more about this special “we-want-to-break-Avatar’s-record” re-release. Marvel tweeted out that in addition to getting a new poster featuring the Iron Gauntlet, the new cut will include a pre-movie message from co-director Anthony Russo, an unfinished deleted scene (which could mean it has unfinished CGI, like the kind you often see on home release extras), and a sneak peek at Spider-Man: Far From Home. No mention of the special Stan Lee tribute we told you about before, but that doesn’t mean it won’t still be included.

See #AvengersEndgame again before it leaves theaters! Fans can receive this exclusive poster (at select theaters while supplies last), see an intro from dir. Anthony Russo, an unfinished deleted scene, and a sneak peek from #SpiderManFarFromHome. Get tix: https://t.co/shJOGD0tfA pic.twitter.com/o0V51Is7hA

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) June 25, 2019

UPDATE, 6/20/2019 – IGN unearthed some specifics for what Marvel fans can expect when they see the extended cut, thanks to a Cinemark listing, and it’s a little different than what we expected. Avengers: Endgame – with Bonus Content has a runtime of 188 minutes, which is seven minutes longer than the original version. A synopsis for the film, which comes to theaters on June 28, says this cut includes “bonus content and Stan Lee tribute.”

Thanks to Screen Rant we have an idea of where that “bonus content” will be found. Kevin Feige told them there will be “a few new things at the end of the movie” and that after the credits “there’ll be a deleted scene, a little tribute, and a few surprises.”

Avengers: Endgame is getting an after credits scene (or scenes) after all.

6/19/2019 – Before Avengers: Endgame was released there was a lot of talk about its lengthy runtime, which clocked in at three hours and 58 seconds. That led to a lot of absurd fearmongering over ruptured bladders and box office letdowns that proved as silly as it all sounded, since the film has gone on to become the second highest grossing film in the history of worldwide cinema. And now, just as it looked like that’s where it would remain forever as its time in theaters came to a close, Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige has revealed Endgame will get a second release, this time with never-before-seen footage.

When Comicbook.com asked Feige about a possible rerelease for Endgame, Feige told him that “next weekend” Marvel is “doing that” with extra scenes that weren’t included in the original. Feige said he didn’t “know how much” would be included in the new cut, nor did he reveal the nature of the scenes, but we knew there was plenty left on the cutting room floor, so anything is possible.

Now, there are two ways to look at this announcement. The first is that it gives Marvel fans an opportunity to see the movie on the big screen one more time, while also creating a new experience. Does anyone ever skip the deleted scenes on a Blu-ray? No, so why not show them with a special re-release?

The second is that this is a blatant plot to take the all-time box office record from Avatar. James Cameron’s sci-fi trip to Pandora earned $2.788 billion worldwide. Endgame currently sits at $2.743.4 billion, but with no momentum left to get over the hump. Until now. This extended rerelease should probably do the trick.

So which is the real reason they are doing this? They both are. Marvel is pretty good at making fans happy while also making a lot of money.

Just remember if you do go see this second, longer cut: go to the bathroom before the movie starts. It was pretty long already.

Images: Marvel

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Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were taken aback this week by the reveal of an Avengers video game at E3, but not in a good way. Will there be any updates to the divisive character designs? Amy zooms and enhances on the developer’s response in today’s Nerdist News!

Who’s your favorite of the game Avengers? Let us know in the comments below!

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Even though Endgame has been out for over a month, many fans are still grieving the loss of Iron Man. If rewatching his movies or clutching your Iron Man plushie isn’t helping, there may be something else you can do. If you’d like to pay your respects to Mr. Stark, you can now visit his lakefront cabin. An Airbnb listing for a cabin in Georgia was recently confirmed as that of Tony Stark’s in Endgame.

Thanks to dedicated fans on reddit, users were able to match photos of the cabin with clips from the film. According to the listing, Stark’s cabin is within the Fairburn woods and a convenient 20 minutes away from Atlanta International Airport. Nestled in Bouckaert Farm, the home of Chattahoochee Hills Eventing, this cabin is great for spending time in the outdoors. Or, you know, walking in the footsteps of the Avengers.

The cabin fits six guests, with three bedrooms and three baths. Besides a kitchen, free parking, and WiFi, guests can also lounge in front of the indoor fireplace. Perhaps the same fireplace where Tony and Pepper talked about him joining the time travel fight against Thanos? Regardless, guests can sit out on the veranda eating cheeseburgers or pondering the probability of time travel during their stay. Reviews of the place have highlighted its beautiful scenery and cozy ambiance, which would have befit the then-retired Stark.

However, spending a night in the cabin will cost you a pretty penny: $800 a night, to be exact. So unless you’re a genius billionaire like Mr. Stark, good luck making a booking anytime soon. Even if you do have the money, bookings for the summer are filling up fast. If you do visit the cabin, make sure to send flowers down the lake in Tony’s honor. It’s the least we can do to pay respects to him and his sacrifice.

Images: Marvel Studios

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When Square Enix dropped the trailer for their upcoming Avengers game Monday, a kit if fans thought they dropped the ball too! What caused the big backlash? Jessica assembles the evidence on today’s Nerdist News!

What do you think about the Avengers game trailer? Let us know in the comments below!

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After the worldwide success of Avengers: Endgame–and, you know, the 21 movies that came before–the desire for a proper Avengers video game is high. Who wouldn’t want to suit up as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and take on some world-shattering villainy? Luckily, fans got a taste of just such an endeavor during Square Enix’s showcase at E3 2019. The game, from Crystal Dynamics and Marvel Games, is set in its own Marvel universe distinct from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with its own version of the powerful good guys.

The game begins on A-Day, San Francisco’s celebration of the Avengers’ new West Coast base. Unfortunately, the festivities aren’t what everyone hoped. Villains steal new technology, people die, and the government outlaws the Avengers. And since they’re on the outs, they disband. Five years later, the Avengers have to reassemble to fight back against evil. Do they have to put their fractious relationships right in the process? Probably! True blue Avengers stuff.

As Marvel’s Avengers exists in its own separate continuity, you won’t see Chris Hemsworth or hear Mark Ruffalo’s voice. A whole new roster of some of the gaming industry’s most popular voice actors has assembled to bring the characters to life. Nolan North is Iron Man; Troy Baker is Bruce Banner; Travis Willingham is Thor; Laura Bailey is Black Widow; and Jeff Schine is Captain America. It’s honestly weird to hear a different voice come out of a familiar face that isn’t an MCU actor, but North as Tony Stark truly is something we’re happy to get used to.

During the conference, the developers promise both single and mutliplayer action. There will be more unlockable heroes and locations the further into the game you go. But they promise every new hero and every new region will be delivered at no additional cost, without loot boxes or pay-to-win scenarios. Which is great, because the press conference ended with a scene featuring a scruffy version of professor and size expert, Hank Pym. Ant-Man action for no extra charge is a pretty sweet deal.

Attendees of E3 can swing by the booth to get their hands on Marvel’s Avengers first, but PlayStation users will get early beta access further down the line. The game will drop on PS4, Xbox One, Stadia (yes, that new thing we didn’t know about until the other day), and PC. And when, you ask? The Avengers will assemble in your hands on May 15, 2020. 11 months away, friends!

Images: Marvel/Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics

Kyle Anderson is the Editor at Large for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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It’s arguably one of the coolest moments in Avengers: Endgame. At the finale when everything looks lost for our heroes, Tony Stark wears his own version of the Infinity Gauntlet, and repeats the iconic lines from his first movie outing – “I am Iron Man.” And thus, he snaps his fingers and saves the entire universe from the threat of Thanos. And sadly sacrifices his own life in the process. But we learned that the Iron Gauntlet was now one of the coolest gizmos ever in a Marvel movie.

Fans who want to commemorate that moment of heroic sacrifice can of course buy one of the high end replicas, or maybe one of the toy plastic versions. But what if you want something you made yourself, just like Tony did? Well, thanks to this DIY video from SeansCrafts, (via Geeks Are Sexy)  you can now learn how to make your own Iron Gauntlet. Only not out of metal, out of everyday ordinary cardboard. And a few bottle of acrylic paint as well.

There are a lot of DIY videos out there. Some for making props and costume based on famous movies and TV shows. We’ve seen everything from how to make Wonder Woman’s costume to how to create Freddy Krueger’s infamous gloves. But most of them require products not commonly found in one’s own home to make them. But almost everybody has some form of cardboard gathering dust in their garage.

If the Iron Gauntlet isn’t enough, the same YouTube channel has instructions on how to make a similar version of Spider-Man’s web shooters. He also has a ton of other non movie related cardboard creations, like pinball machines and even a skee-ball machine. To check out those and other videos, be sure to head on over to the SeanCrafts YouTube channel.

Images: SeanCrafts

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The makeup of Marvel’s Avengers team will definitely be going through some changes after what happened in Endgame, but who has what it takes to join up? Amy rounds up the usual suspects on today’s Nerdist News!

What deep cut Marvel character do you want to see join the Avengers? Let us know in the comments!

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Warning, we’re in the Endgame now, so if you still haven’t seen the latest Avengers adventure beware of SPOILERS.

The epic conclusion to Avengers: Endgame saw Iron Man deliver the finishing blow using his own Infinity Gauntlet to save the day. It was an iconic moment that ultimately came with a heavy cost, but what exactly happened to Tony Stark when he used the stones? Kyle sets out on his own time heist in search of answers on this week’s Because Science!

Learn More:
GAMMA RAYS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_ray#Health_effects
ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_radiation_syndrome#Signs_and_symptoms
EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_nuclear_explosions#Ionizing_radiation
IONIZING RADIATION DOSE RANGES CHART: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/01/f46/doe-ionizing-radiation-dose-ranges-jan-2018.pdf
TICKLING THE DRAGON’S TAIL: https://archive.nerdist20.wpengine.com/tickling-the-dragons-tail-the-story-of-the-demon-core/

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Recently Avengers: Endgame writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely sat down to discuss popular fan theories about the movie. Which did they confirm, and which did they debunk? Jessica has the scoop on today’s Nerdist News!

What’s a pet theory you have about Endgame that you’d like confirmation on? Let us know in the comments!

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In a post-Avengers: Endgame MCU, many of the original members of the superhero team have made their final curtain calls. But the need for a group like the Avengers remains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So who among the MCU’s greatest heroes will become the New Avengers? Rumors are making the rounds (via MCU Cosmic and CBR) suggesting that Captain Marvel 2 will set up the next Avengers film, as well as seeming to confirm Spider-Man being a member as well. But who else should make the cut? Here are the heroes who we think should be the main contenders for the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Black Panther 

Marvel

He’s the biggest hero the MCU has in terms of box office and brand recognition, especially now that Robert Downey Jr. has said his farewell. And Black Panther’s solo film made more money than any Iron Man movie ever did. If the Avengers’ leaders are to be the biggest names in the MCU, then T’Challa has to be front and center and leading the charge. He will be the new Iron Man of the group, in a sense. He’ll provide the advanced technology and money, and essentially bankroll the team. How he’ll juggle roles as team leader and King of Wakanda is anyone’s guess, but we are pretty sure he’d make it work.

Captain Marvel 

Marvel

With her amazing box office success, Carol Danvers is now the second biggest solo MCU hero behind Black Panther. If T’Challa is the money and tech behind a new iteration of the Avengers, then Carol will fill the Captain America role. And by this we mean years of military experience and leadership. Both on Earth and out in space. Much like Iron Man and Cap were co-leaders for the Avengers in Age of Ultron, we could see Carol co-leading with T’Challa. And probably butting heads with him just as much as Tony and Steve did.

Sam Wilson/Captain America 

Marvel

With Steve Rogers passing on the mantle of Captain America over to his friend Sam Wilson at the end of Avengers: Endgame, we think that Sam should be the link between the old Avengers and the new. It just feels like it’s not really the Avengers unless someone is carrying that famous shield into battle. He would also likely serve as the even tempered character to balance out the co-leaders, who will no doubt quarrel much of the time.

The Mighty Thor

YouTube

It’s not really the Avengers without some Asgardian type wielding a big ol’ hammer. And now that we know that Natalie Portman is returning to the MCU as the new Thor, we think Jane Foster should take her ex-boyfriend’s place on the team. As Thor: Love and Thunder is almost two years away, it’s hard to say just how she’d fit in the team, but we think Goddess of Thunder needs to be there to bring down the lightning.

She-Hulk

Marvel Comics

She hasn’t even been cast yet, but the Sensational She-Hulk is getting her own series on Disney+ soon. And she’s already been described as a future Avenger by the folks at Marvel Studios, so we think she’s a lock for this movie. It just wouldn’t quite feel like a proper Avengers movie without a rampaging Green Goliath, now would it? As an added bonus, she’s a lawyer, so Jennifer Walters could always serve as the team’s legal counsel as well.

Ant-Man and the Wasp 

Marvel

These two have only worked as members of the Avengers in the final installment. However, in the comics Ant-Man and Wasp were actually founding members (although it was the Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne versions). Paul Rudd provides a ton of comic relief, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have another strong female member on the team either. It would make a ton of sense to have these two finally graduate to full Avengers status.

Spider-Man 

Marvel

Spidey has been an Avenger in the comics, but it took him nearly forty years to make the cut. But we don’t think he will take as long to officially become an Avenger. As Iron Man’s protégé, he might want to serve as an Avenger to represent Tony Stark’s legacy. Iron Man did knight Peter as an Avenger in Infinity War. By the time the new movie takes place, Peter will surely have graduated from high school, and at least be college age. And it doesn’t hurt to have Marvel’s company mascot on the team.

Black Knight

Marvel Comics

Another classic Avenger from the comics’ early days, Dane Whitman was a mainstay of the team during the ’80s and ’90s as the Black Knight. The character is being introduced into the MCU by Game of Thrones‘ Kit Harrington in the upcoming Eternals film, where he will get to show off his Medieval mystical weapon, the Ebony Blade. But after that film, he should definitely make his way to being on the New Avengers when that group finally comes together.

Monica Rambeau

Marvel Comics

She’s been called Captain Marvel, Photon, Pulsar, and Spectrum. But whatever she winds up using as her codename, this cosmic powerhouse deserves a spot on the New Avengers. The character was introduced as a child in Captain Marvel, but an adult version will soon debut on WandaVision on Disney+, played by Teyonah Parris. So she’s obviously being set up to become a superhero herself. In the comics, she was leader of the Avengers for a time, and we think she deserves a spot on the team.

Doctor Strange 

Marvel

Yes, he’s super powerful and would be a tremendous asset, as we saw in Avengers: Endgame. But Stephen Strange tends to not be a team player in the traditional sense. Generally, he only emerges from the Sanctum Sanctorum to work with other heroes when all of reality itself is as stake. In the comics, he was an Avenger briefly, but he prefers to work with the Defenders. And that’s because they only come together to stop giant threats, and then go their separate ways. On the other hand, if the Avengers are to fight a threat that’s more mystical in nature, they might want Stephen Strange with them.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

Article updated April 17, 2020.

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Tom Holland is notoriously bad at keeping secrets. It’s a joke among the Marvel Studios folks that Holland will spoil anything if given the opportunity. Not out of malice, just out of excitement. It’s admirable, really, and a trait that makes him the perfect Peter Parker. But he’s also evidently not great at knowing where he is a lot of the time. Holland shared in a recent visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live that when he showed up to film that scene from the end of Endgame, he thought it was a wedding.

Imagine turning up for a happy affair only to realize everyone was there to mourn Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. “I showed up to the ‘wedding,'” Holland says with a chuckle. “And I was like ‘where’s Robert?’…I thought it was a wedding! I was so excited”.

Now this might go down as another humorous “Oh, Tom Holland is so out of the loop” story. But let’s cut the guy a break. As far as the cast and crew were concerned, it was a wedding…at least on paper.

At a recent Academy screening and Q&A for Endgame, producer Kevin Feige joined co-director Joe Russo and co-writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely on stage to talk about their favorite secret cameos. Naturally, the final funeral scene was on their mind; it brought together roughly four million characters, eight of whom were played by Oscar-winners. Feige revealed this Q&A was the first time he’d ever called the funeral scene what it is.

“On the call sheets and the script, it was called ‘The Wedding,'” Feige said. “We shot it almost two years ago, and we still refer to it as ‘that amazing day we shot the Wedding shot.'”

So it’s not Holland’s fault. Now, did everybody believe it was a wedding? That was probably only our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Image: Marvel

Kyle Anderson is the Editor at Large for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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Warning: If you still haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame and are hoping to avoid spoilers, it’s probably too late. Rather than go on the internet today, you should have lived in a cave the last few weeks. Hey don’t blame us. It was the Russo Brothers themselves who announced the de facto spoiler embargo lifted on Monday. (Since the spoilery new Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer was set to hit the web that day). That’s why Marvel has flooded the airwaves with new commercials featuring major (and we do mean major) moments from the film.

It’s kind of weird how much they are openly giving away now. But, when you’ve already made $2 billion in worldwide box office, it’s probably safely assume just about everyone who wants to see it has. Maybe even a couple of times. We’re not complaining either; apparently along with these spoiler-heavy promos, we’ll also get entire scenes from the movie. Marvel has now shared Endgame‘s hilarious introduction to Professor Hulk. It’s one of Hulk’s best moments in the entire film.

Forcing Ant-Man to take a photo is genius. Yes, they did cut Scott Lang’s testy line about how the children should take their “g-damn phone back,” but these free clips on social media have to be kid-safe. If you want your g-d kids to know Ant-Man g-d swears, that’s your own g-d business.

As for the scene itself, we’re still laughing at how absurd the whole thing is. Spoiler alert: the revelation Bruce Banner has not only turned into a rage-less giant green monster, but that he’s now adopted a friendly, slightly condescending big man persona will always be funny.

Now if only Marvel could release about 700 more scenes from the movie on YouTube, preferably in order, and with the option to play them all uninterrupted, for free even, that would be something worth Hulking out over.

Featured Image: Marvel

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Ever since the arrival of the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer and the introduction of the so-called elemental monsters that Peter and new “hero” Mysterio would be battling, fans have been wondering whether the new foes had any connections to some classic Spider-Man villains. Now, with the release of the first wave of toys, it seems like those theories were correct!

Looking at the newly-released Spider-Man: Far from Home LEGO sets, the first thing that immediately struck us was the fact that the two kits that feature the fire and water elementals were were titled Molten Man Battle and Hydro-Man Attack. There are also action figures that note that the two elementals are now officially onscreen versions of the Spidey big bads. Though they both seem to differ from their comic book iterations, this is an exciting reveal as both of the characters sit alongside Mysterio in “Marvel creations we thought we’d never see in a film.”

Molten Man A.K.A. Mark Raxton was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #28 as a greedy Oscorp scientist who, in pursuit of riches and glory, ended up spilling an experimental alloy on himself, turning his skin golden whilst also giving him super strength. Hydro-Man A.K.A. Morris “Morrie” Bench is a villain intrinsically connected with Peter Parker after the friendly neighborhood hero knocked him off a ship. This ended up playing a part in the baddie getting his mysterious water-based powers.

So what does this mean for Peter and his summer vacation? Well, in short, nothing good. Both of the characters have caused chaos for ol’ Peter Parker, not to mention that Mark Raxton has a particularly interesting connection to the world of Far From Home. Remember Peter’s prom date, Liz Allen, from Homecoming? In the Spider-Man comics, she’s the stepsister of Molten Man himself, playing a large role in his life and possible redemption. There is also, of course, the connection to one of the ultimate Spider-Man villains, Norman Osborn. Fans have long wondered when the Green Goblin would make his way to the MCU, and now that Disney and Sony are working together, it’s pretty likely that this could be a way to introduce him.

Hydro-Man also has some interesting connections that could come into play in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most vitally to a certain Atlantean monarch. No, not that one! Namor was potentially hinted at during an Avengers’ meet up in Endgame, when Okoye mentioned some deep sea volcanic eruptions. In the comics, Hydro-Man has a history with the merman. It’s not just the watery anti-hero, though, as Morrie was also involved with Wakanda’s very own Nakia after she turned villainous in the comics.

However, the biggest question that these sets have us asking is whether the Earth elemental that we saw in the trailer will end up being Sandman, which would make a lot of sense now that we know Hydro-Man and Molten Man have joined the Far From Home fray! Whatever happens, it’s not long till we find out, with the movie hitting screens on July 2nd!

Images: Marvel, Disney

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