Marvel Announces Eternals Film

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So, let’s talk about The Eternals.  These folks are, allegedly, going to be Marvel’s next big thing going into phase 4 and the 2020s.  I use the word “allegedly” there because I feel like we’ve definitely been here before and done the “next big thing” dance enough times for it to feel decidedly old hat by now.  In particular, we were last here in 2017 when Marvel spent 2 years and countless comics trying to make the Inhumans into their next big thing only for the property to completely flame out after ½ a season of subpar television.  

Even if you LIKED the Inhumans TV show there’s no denying the concentrated effort to rebrand the Inhumans as the new it thing from Marvel was both a failure and embarrassment, especially with how much they’ve receded from the public eye at this point.  One wonders if the Eternals, a very similar group conceptually, aren’t just Marvel’s new flavor of the month, to be forgotten within a few short years of their culmination? 

Panel Vision - 7 Possibilities for Black Panther 2

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So, by now Black Panther is a bona fide hit, one of the biggest films of the year and on track to be one of the biggest films of all time frankly.  As such a sequel is now pretty much all but inevitable.  Indeed, our very idea of the superhero is probably going to have to start adapting to this new post-Black Panther age: it’s a milestone movie much in the same vein as Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Dark Knight, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, or Deadpool.  

I get the unique sense Black Panther is going to basically be Marvel’s license to print money going forward into the 2020s so it’s time to milk this particular topic for all its worth by diving into the next big question for Black Panther: what do you do next?  Obviously, anything is on the table and the events of Infinity War are probably going to reshape things quite a bit as well but I think I’ve got a few ideas for 7 characters we might see in Black Panther 2.

Winston Duke Cast as Man-Ape in Black Panther

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As the first black lead superhero film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s safe to say Black Panther has a lot on its shoulders.  The film is already in a weird place, with the character’s origin story already getting laid out in Captain America: Civil War and his archenemy appearing as a bit player in Avengers: Age of Ultron.  Speaking of Civil War, that film’s ending also set-up the issue of the Winter Soldier to be resolved in Black Panther, with the brainwashed bionic assassin interred to Black Panther’s custody until he can get his head screwed on right.  Throw in the looming fact that Black Panther is the last Marvel Phase 3 film before Avengers: Infinity War and it’s starting to seem a bit like the movie might be biting off more than it can chew.  That fact has now been exacerbated by the addition of Man-Ape as the film’s newest and possibly a fourth major bad guy.

Luke Cage Trailer Analysis

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Edited by Robert Beach

At the time of writing, we’re a little over one month out from the premiere of Marvel’s 3^rd Netflix series Luke Cage. The series promises to be a major debut as its the first ever Marvel Studios production to star a black man as well as the first comic book adaptation since Blade Trinity to revolve around a black superhero. It’s also pretty clear that Marvel is leaning heavily into the overt blackness of the hero based on how hip-hop heavy the scoring of his trailers are and the presence of Cheo Hodari Coker as showrunner. 

After a couple of great teasers and very interesting set photos, we have our first full trailer. And boy is it awesome. The trailer gives us some great insight into both the super-powered action of the new show and its very interesting themes and atmosphere. Lastly, it blends a gritty, urban crime story of glossy hip-hop opulence with a politically minded superhero story about whether or not the world is ready for a bulletproof black man. 

Black Panther Casting Break Down

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Edited by Robert Beach 

2016 has been a peculiar year for Marvel Studios.  Captain America: Civil War was a massive hit that dominated the other big superhero team-up films of the year. Not only that, it reaffirmed people’s interest in the Marvel Universe after the lackluster response to Avengers: Age of Ultron.  

However, Civil War looks a bit like the sole Marvel mega-hit of the year after Daredevil season 2 met with mixed interest and little staying power compared to contemporaries like The Flash or Netflix’s Stranger Things. Meanwhile, the slow march towards Doctor Strange has left many fans apathetic towards the Master of the Mystic Arts. 

All of that uncertainty about the rest of Marvel’s 2016 nearly calcified with San Diego Comic Con. Aside from some interesting shake-ups with their TV work, Marvel’s biggest emphasis of the con was on 2017 and 2018 projects. While there were several announcements, the centerpiece of the con has emerged to be some major casting announcements concerning 2018’s Black Panther. 

It makes sense given Black Panther was the most popular character to emerge from Civil War’s success.  Given that, it makes sense Marvel would want to start teeing up the excitement this far in advance. So let’s dive in the announcements and see the who’s who of the Black Panther movie. 

How Civil War Will Impact Phase 3

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Edited by Robert Beach

We’re now less than a week out from San Diego Comic Con, the biggest week of the professional nerdist’s calendar as we all get to see the latest projects we get to meticulously obsesses over for the next year.  Ever since geek culture took over the mainstream the gem of SDCC has become the Marvel announcement.  Even though Marvel has taken to announcing a bit more at the Disney Expo recently everyone is still waiting with baited breath to see what news will emerge from them this year. 

I’ve already used this set-up to publish a bunch of spec pieces and this another one, addressing the big elephant in the room left over from May’s Captain America: Civil War.  At the end of that movie, spoilers, the Sokovia Accords mandating superheroes register with the government are still in effect, they aren’t overturned or anything.  That’s a pretty major change-up for the Marvel universe and is sure to have a major impact on future films, so I ask the question: how will Civil War shape Marvel’s Phase 3?

Panel Vision - Captain America: Civil War Review

Edited by Robert Beach

Something that’s been on my mind a lot lately in the endless build-up to Captain America: Civil War is how much Captain America has become the embodying ideal of the superhero. This happens sometimes when a specific superhero property explodes into the popular consciousness, transforming its title character from well-known hero to universally recognized heroic ideal. Superman in 1978, Batman in 1989, Spider-Man in 2002, and now Captain America, they all stand as the best example of the superhero in their moment in time. 

The hows and whys of that phenomenon vary from character to character, but the essential unifying factor is each of these characters embodied some necessary conflict or fantasy that spoke innately to the concerns and ideas of their time. In the case of Captain America, I think what’s elevated him to nationalistic ideal and ambassador of an entire genre to the masses is his sense of loyalty, his commitment to ideals and to people. The quiet genius of Captain America: Civil War is it takes Cap’s great strength and turns into the fracture that shatters the entire Marvel status quo. 

Captain America: Civil War Trailer 2

Edited by Robert Beach 

There’s really no need for a preamble here is there? Captain America: Civil War is easily going to be one of the biggest films of the year, the starting pistol on phase 3 of Marvel’s vaunted cinematic universe after the mixed bag of phase 2 and the next installment of the seminal superhero of the 2010s. What’s more, the movie stars almost the entire Marvel roster of characters at the moment making it, in function if not in form, basically Avengers 2.5. 

It’s also serving as the introduction point for both Black Panther and Spider-Man, two long-awaited heroes finally making their way into the Marvel cinematic universe. The fact that everyone and their mother are breaking down this new trailer is as simplistic and acceptable a fact of life as gravity or the sky being blue.

Panel Vision - Who Is The Black Panther

So, Ryan Coogler is going to be directing Marvel’s Black Panther.  That’s a big news story I’ve already pretty conclusively explored but it’s also given me a nice chance to dip into the Black Panther barrel of article material now that he’s momentarily topical.  We’ll probably come back to Black Panther again in the future given his movie won’t be here till 2018 so I’m saving the meatier explanation of his character history for future installments.  For now, this will just be a look at one of the best Black Panther stories of the modern era and a great introduction to the character for new readers: Who Is The Black Panther. 

Ryan Coogler Directing Black Panther

So, the first major comic book adaptation news story of 2016 is officially here with the announcement that Ryan Coogler will be directing Black Panther for Marvel Studios.  This is one of those announcements that’s been in the post for a long time but it’s nice to finally have official confirmation on it.  Black Panther has been lingering over Marvel’s phase 3 schedule alongside Captain Marvel ever since they both got bumped from the 2017 spot by the new Spider-Man movie so getting some kind of information on it is thoroughly welcome.  At the same time it’s great to see Marvel pursuing an African American director for the film, especially an up and coming talent like Ryan Coogler. 

Coogler may be new but so far he’s shown amazing directorial skill mixed with a consummate and confident sense of vision that makes him feel like an old pro.  His twin success, Fruitvale Station and Creed, have helped make him a serious name in both critical circles and with audiences so throwing him the reigns to a big budget Marvel superhero film feels like the next natural step in his evolution as a filmmaker.  However, Black Panther isn’t just a big budget superhero film, it’s an adaptation of the most important black superhero of all time and possibly the biggest mark for diversity in this genre since Blade.

Captain America: Civil War Teaser

Let’s not drag this out.  Captain America: Civil War is the 3^rd film in the Captain America series and will be the 13 Marvel Studios film overall.  Picking up in the wake of Avengers: Age of Ultron it follows the new team of Avengers led by Captain America and backed financially and logistically by Tony Stark who’s adopted quasi-retirement.  The film swirls around an international incident that causes the world governments to question the necessity of the Avengers overall and, at the very least, how smart it is to allow them to run around completely unsupervised leading to legislation to bring the heroes under the control of the government.  The decision brings a split between heroes as Iron Man supports the decision while Captain America opposes it owing largely to its impact and relation to his lost friend and comrade Bucky Barnes the Winter Soldier.  The division splits the heroes down the middle all while sinister forces seek to manipulate the situation and now it has a trailer and it’s great.

10 Marvel Superheroes to Fill in the 3 New Mysterious Marvel Films in 2020

Edited by Robert Beach

In case you haven’t heard, Marvel has made a major announcement. After making a bundle of cash at the box office (more than Captain America: The First Avenger incidentally), Ant-Man is officially getting a sequel. This is a big victory lap for Marvel, turning a troubled and public production history on a C-list hero into a financial hit and a real cultural connection with audiences. The sequel, entitled Ant-Man and The Wasp is slotted to come out July 6, 2018. This has lead to some pretty major shake-ups. 

Black Panther will now be released in February 2018 to coincide with Black History Month and Captain Marvel has been pushed back yet again, this time to 2019. Though I’m glad we’re getting more Ant-Man because I was a big fan of the first film, I don’t think it was really worth the price. Captain Marvel is getting so continually delayed it only feels like a matter of time before Marvel delays it into oblivion, and I certainly don’t like that Ant-Man 2’s title frames Wasp as his sidekick. 

I don’t want to judge too quickly too soon. Marvel still has 3 years to hammer Ant-Man 2 into something great, and it’s possible Wasp will get to take more of the center stage she deserves in this follow up. The Marvel announcement also came with the date of 3 new, unnamed Marvel releases: May 1, July 10, and November 6 all in the year 2020. This mysterious update is what we’ll be discussing today. It’s time for some wild speculation with 10 guesses on Marvel’s secret projects.