Month: March 2019

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Marvel’s Key Avengers: Part Two

The Incredible Hulk

Although Edward Norton began Bruce Banner/Hulk’s journey in The Incredible Hulk (2008), it’s Mark Ruffalo who has taken the character far. Most of the Norton-led solo outing has been discarded or retconned and Avengers: Endgame, which opens April 26th is being described as the conclusion to the Hulk’s storyline as established in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). We know very little about Bruce/Hulk’s role, although there has been a great deal of speculation, but Ragnarok is a Phase Three film, which ignores his previous appearances, despite what Ruffalo has done with the role.

Very little is taken from The Incredible Hulk. It’s only been referenced as when the Hulk “broke Harlem” and with the characterization of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who is played by William Hurt consistently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie has a number of key elements and characters integral to the Hulk canon, including Betty Ross, Samuel Sterns, and Leonard Samson. Remembering the long ago success of the TV show, which ran for five seasons from 1977-1982, this film, much more than Iron Man (2008), was preparing to spawn a series of sequels. It did well, but in light of Iron Man, perhaps not well enough, especially as it doesn’t have the benefit of Iron Man‘s influence, which came out only months prior and serves as the foundation for the MCU and Marvel films at large.

As a result, Incredible Hulk‘s secondary characters are abandoned for the most part (save for Ross). The Hulk becomes a supporting player until Ragnarok, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a storyline. In Marvel’s The Avengers (2012), Bruce is brought in by Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow for his scientific work, although the presence of the Hulk proves crucial later on. This movie is used to establish what kind of control Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce has over the Hulk and how he maintains that control. He is used primarily as a plot device, but as “the strongest Avenger” he has his big hero moments.

Although there is no real hint of it in Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) establishes a romance between Bruce and Natasha. Despite their significant interactions in Avengers, I argue that this wasn’t necessarily the intention until Ultron began production. I feel like it would’ve been more heavy handed, were that the case. This romance becomes a lifeline for both Bruce and Natasha, and Infinity War makes it clear there are still feelings there.

The storyline in Ragnarok gives Bruce’s character more weight. While Thor is figuring himself out, Bruce has been the Hulk for two years and the line between the two personalities has blurred. When Bruce comes back to himself, he’s shocked to learn how much time has passed and that he is now on another planet. Thor develops a new appreciation for Bruce, who proves himself to be an asset even without the Hulk. He seemingly gives himself up for the Hulk at the film’s end, which leads directly into Infinity War.

In Infinity War, Hulk returns to being Bruce and is able to warn Earth about Thanos. Despite being “the strongest Avenger”, the Hulk refuses to fight Thanos again. It’s a huge change for the character, where previously, it’s seemed like neither of them had control over the switch, or, if anyone did, it was the Hulk. His last appearance in Infinity War has him trying to negotiate or reason with the Hulk, and there is speculation as to what this means for the character in Endgame.

Rumor has it that ‘Professor Hulk’ will be making an appearance, which has been explained to me as combining Hulk’s body with Bruce’s mind. I’m also curious to see if/how the tension between Bruce and Natasha will be resolved, especially since Bruce’s characterization consistently includes references to his feelings for her. While we know certain contracts are up after this movie, the plans for the Hulk have not been announced. At this point, I’m mainly hoping for a satisfying conclusion, one that makes sense with the character’s arc and doesn’t feel forced. The Hulk has proved a successful franchise in the past, but it seems the focus has thoroughly shifted to something new.

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Marvel’s Key Avengers: Part One

Iron Man

Although Marvel may not have realized at the time, Iron Man (2008) was the first member of a team of heroes that would protect the Earth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony Stark’s journey has remained a clear focus throughout the first three phases, while his first solo outing set the tone for the films that followed.

In Iron Man, Tony is living in his father’s shadow, completely unaware of his legacy beyond a weapons manufacturer. His life changes when he is captured in Afghanistan and saved by Yinsen, who opens his eyes to the true meaning of wealth (Spoiler: it’s having people you love). With a focus now on saving lives (something he’d thought Stark Industries was doing all along) he takes matters into his own hands by becoming a globe trotting vigilante. By the end of the movie, Tony has taken back his company and moved it into a new direction, away from weapons manufacturing, with the trustworthy Virginia “Pepper” Potts by his side.

Pepper, Tony’s love interest is promoted to Stark Industries CEO in Iron Man 2 (2010) when he learns that the arc reactor keeping him alive is also poisoning him. In this sequel, we see Tony continue to grow, learning more about his father’s true legacy and SHIELD. This is further expanded on in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) where we get to actually watch Howard Stark in action. But, all roads lead to the conclusion of Phase One, Marvel’s The Avengers (2012), where Tony once again demonstrates what he’s willing to do to keep others safe by nearly sacrificing his own life to save New York from a nuclear bomb. By the end, he’s found a kind of family in the Avengers.

Family, a theme common in the MCU, is further explored in Iron Man 3 (2013), where we see the aftermath of the Attack of New York. While struggling with PTSD, Tony realizes what and who is most important to him when both Happy Hogan (his former bodyguard played by Iron Man and Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau) and Pepper Potts (and later Tony’s best friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes) are put at risk. When he crash lands in Tennessee, he connects with a young boy named Harley, who helps him regroup and go on the attack. Having been influenced by the events and by Harley, he makes a choice at the end of the film to further prioritize family and stop putting himself at risk, destroying the evidence of his obsession.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) drives home how Tony’s choices affect the world around him. Despite destroying his army of suits at the end of Iron Man 3, he still worries about the safety of those around him and the world at large. Tony has put the weight of the world’s safety on his own shoulders and it leads to the creation of Ultron, who nearly kills all of humanity.

Captain America: Civil War (2016) is the aftermath of Ultron and perhaps one of Tony’s most difficult films since returning home in the first Iron Man movie. Weighed down by guilt, Tony has realized that he needs someone to keep him in check. Although he is no longer an active Avenger, he ascribes this need to the rest of the team, readily agreeing to sign the Sokovia Accords, which would put the Avengers under government supervision. His family is nearly torn apart when Steve Rogers/Captain America chooses his childhood best friend, James “Bucky” Barnes/Winter Soldier, over the team, and later over Tony himself. At the end of Civil War, Tony has lost the family he had gained in Phases One and Two.

We don’t see Tony Stark again until Avengers: Infinity War (2018), where Tony’s deepest fears finally come to fruition, just as he seems to be getting his life back on track, creating a home and family with Pepper and finding a surrogate son in Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Tony loses everything in Infinity War, watching as Peter disintegrates and stranded on a planet far from Earth with no idea of anyone else’s health or safety at home.

It has been speculated that Avengers: Endgame, which opens April 26th, will have a runtime over three hours. Comparatively speaking, trailers have given us only a tiny percentage of that, and that’s assuming that they aren’t utilizing fake footage, like they did with Infinity War. We know, however, that Tony will play a huge role in the events. With Robert Downey Jr.’s contract ending with this movie, it is likely that this film will mark the end of an era and the completion of the journey Tony began in 2008.

There has been speculation that Tony Stark and/or Steve Rogers may not survive the end of what Marvel is now calling “The Infinity Saga” (Phases One, Two, and Three). With Chris Evans’s contract ending with this film as well, it is likely that his story will conclude here too. I’ve maintained since before Infinity War was released that I believe that Steve will not make it out of this Saga alive. While I’ll expand on that in another post, I’d like to explain why I think Tony will live through it.

Tony Stark has a life on Earth, but more importantly, he has a love interest. In Infinity War, he and Pepper are talking about getting married. He is set to begin a new journey with her. I think he will get this ‘happily ever after’, choosing to step away from the superhero thing completely. Considering where Tony started in Iron Man, it makes sense narratively speaking that he would end his arc with the kind of wealth Yinsen described to him in that cave in Afghanistan: family.

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St. P, TTG, and DBZ

What’s fun about Teen Titans Go! is that this show can make an episode out of anything. Seriously. There have been episodes on rental property, quantum physics, and even labor day. As a result, it’s not surprising that there is a holiday special for almost every holiday. In addition to yearly Christmas and Halloween specials, TTG has also done two St. Patrick’s Day episodes. As a show meant to poke fun at the superhero genre, St. Patrick’s Day takes it up a level but parodying the anime classic, Dragon Ball Z. 

For those who are unfamiliar with the franchise, Dragon Ball Z began as something of a fairy tale in the form of Dragon Ball. The manga upon which both are based is just called Dragon Ball for the seven magical stones that, when brought together, can grant a wish. Though it has fairy tale elements, it’s also a technologically advanced society, which is why characters are able to use the dragon radar to find the dragon balls more quickly than the would otherwise. In the latter half of the manga, the Dragon Ball Z anime, alien species and planets are introduced, with some of the characters being retconned as aliens.

So, what does an Irish holiday have to do with a Japanese program? Well, let me tell you…

The first St. P’s special revolves around the superstition of someone wearing green pinching someone who is not. Beast Boy argues that since he wears his skin, that counts and doesn’t hold back on the pinching. When the other Titans retaliate (while not wearing green) they are cursed with Bad Luck and must find a leprechaun’s gold to free themselves from the curse.

So, do they have to use some kind of leprechaun gold radar? Nope!

SPOILER ALERT

Robin reveals himself to be a leprechaun! Which therefore enables him to power up and utilize leprechaun attacks, which look at lot like DBZ moves. For those who are unaware, one thing that classic DBZ is known for is the countless power ups. (We’re talking episodes spent yelling while the ground is shaking.) The primary alien race, the Saiyans possess the ability to ascend to a more powerful Super Saiyan form, during which their hair gets spikier and turns gold. Here, as Robin powers up his hair turns orange and a beard manifests along with green leprechaun garb.

Teen Titans Go!’s Robin (left) and Dragon Ball Z‘s Goku (right)

His most powerful attack is a parody of DBZ main character Goku’s attack, the Kamehameha Wave: the Shillelagh Wave. As Robin and the other leprechaun battle, they also parody the constant back and forth of evenly matched characters moving at extreme speeds, but instead of trading punches and kicks, they trade pinches. In the second St. Patrick’s Day special, all of the Teen Titans come together for the most powerful attack. Parodying Goku’s Spirit Bomb, they perform the Spirit Clover.

While there’s a lot of humor in this Irish-Japanese parody, both episodes poke fun in other ways as well– a common feature of TTG episodes. Although the show is aimed at children, it’s very aware of its older audience, something that is evident in both of these specials. In another post, I hope to go deeper into the commentary I believe Teen Titans Go! is providing. 

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Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel is the MCU’s highly anticipated first female solo film. Lately, female-led and minority-led films have become more desirable in light of the successes of Wonder Woman (2017) and Black Panther (2018). And, with a huge number of women on staff, the film avoids a lot of trappings that female-led films tend to fall into.

That being said, Disney obviously wasn’t too concerned with that. All of the previews before the movie either had a female or minority lead/storyline, save for Shazam! which opens April 5th. This is a terrible choice as it establishes that the movie is meant for women/minorities rather than “mainstream”. These previews were not what you’ll see before Avengers: Endgame, which opens April 26.

Already there have been concerns with Captain Marvel opening so close to Avengers: Endgame. Last year, Black Panther premiered in February, but Captain Marvel is almost a full month later (Infinity War opened April 27). She’s being hyped as bringing a new level of strength and power to the MCU, but there are concerns she will be overwhelmed by Endgame, even if she is set to play a large part in it. (Not that we’ve seen her in any of the trailers.)

That she brings a new level of strength is not an exaggeration. The movie is different from previous MCU and other superhero origin films, which although refreshing, felt a little slow to me and left me chomping at the bit for baby Fury (who does lose his eye in this movie). Directors/Writers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (with additional writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Nicole Perlman, and Meg LeFauve) do some creative storytelling both in writing and visually. The use of CGI is appropriate and well done, especially the de-aging of Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson (with the 1995 setting, I definitely felt some Pulp Fiction (1994) moments).

This movie had me very excited going in and I’m still very excited. Captain Marvel depicts a strong woman as something to be expected, not an exception, and continuously shows her to be more than a match for her male counterparts. Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers has some definite Buffy (1997-2003) moments, approaching almost every fight with a smirk and a witty comment, though she does not have a male romantic lead to distract her. The humor is what you’d expect for MCU, but no less funny, with a soundtrack to rival Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). It’s primarily female artists chosen with a very clear nod to the early 90s.

Without giving too much away, Captain Marvel had some surprising twists and authentically sincere moments. What’s really fun is seeing how/why things are the way they are in the MCU. There are some creative changes to the character’s original backstory, but it works, although there are also some moments and inconsistencies that make you wonder if the original script/cut was different than what’s presented. In addition to seeing 90s Shield (though no appearance from founder Peggy Carter) and getting a closer look at the Kree Empire, Captain Marvel also introduces the alien race, the Skrulls, who are shapeshifters, and slips in a young Monica Rambeau, who also takes up the Captain Marvel mantle in the comics.

Basically, this is a movie you need to see! For many reasons! First, because it was something fun and refreshing. Second, because of the female lead. Third, because of the number of women attached creatively to the project. While DCEU hasn’t been afraid to bring in female directors (and capitalize on female leads), Marvel/Disney still seems wary. While I doubt Captain Marvel will be nominated for Best Picture like Black Panther was (although I could see it in some of the other categories), I think it has the potential to be just as powerful for the industry.

The last thing I want to mention is how important it is to stay for the mid and end credit scenes. Both are relevant to the Infinity War/Endgame plot line and definite must-sees. Also, be prepared for a heartwarming tribute to Stan Lee, who filmed his cameo before his death in November.

This review is written the morning after I saw a “midnight” showing (7 pm on Thursday, thank you– some of us have to be up at 6 am), so I’ve only watched it once, but am eager to see it again. I typically try to watch a creative property multiple times before writing a review, so this is perhaps not as in depth as I might go on specific aspects. Regardless, Captain Marvel does bring something new and different to a well-established universe, both in terms of content and in terms of film as an art.

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My Favorite Things

This week I’m talking about some of my [current] favorite things (beyond whiskers on kittens– though, to be honest, I prefer dem footsies). I have some exciting (well I think so) posts planned for the next few weeks, but in an attempt to get back to posting more regularly, I’m doing something a little mellower: my current favorites and why I like them.
Fair warning: this is a little bit rambling.

1. FanFiction

As a kid, I was a HUGE snob about this. I felt it was betraying the creator’s vision. I no longer feel that way for a range of reasons, not least of all the fact that characters are often rewritten by different artists and storytellers. Comic books are a prime example of different people writing different stories with not always different continuities.

It’s one of my favorite things and has been for a while for a few reasons.

  • First, it’s not limited by ability to publish or financial constraints. You don’t need a literary agent or to worry about selling copies.
  • Second, sometimes authors will do things with the characters that are better or more interesting than canon. For example, last week I wrote about the implied romance between Steve Rogers/Captain America and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. It’s currently the most popular relationship to write fanfiction about. Another example is the Dragon Ball franchise, which ran in print from 1984-1995 and on screen from 1986-1997. It was recently revived in 2013 to… mixed reviews. To put it mildly, I am not thrilled with the choices the creator has made with the characters. I’ve read a number of fanfictions that do a lot more interesting things with the characters and the world established by the franchise.
  • Third, with sites like Archive Of Our Own, it’s easy to find exactly what you’re in the mood for. You search and browse through characters, relationships, tags; and now you can also exclude things you are not interested in. I don’t have to browse scanning titles and book jackets. I already have an idea what I’m going to get, beyond a simple description.
  • Fourth, this has to do with artistry. Some of the stories are amazingly well written. For new writers, it can be like riding a bike with training wheels. You can hone your craft without worrying about plot elements or character. Like artists/fanartists, there are communities. In these communities, it’s possible to make some money, either for yourself or for charity. There are also groups that will come together specifically for charity or to make a statement.

That’s just a few quick reasons why fanfiction is one of my favorite things. I’ve even tried my hand at writing them, which I’d compare to playing with action figures/dolls. It’s freeing to be able to make such expressions as an adult.


2. The Masked Singer

This show is so dumb! It’s ridiculous and I love it. I don’t watch a lot of reality TV, and I’ve never been a huge fan of singing competition shows, but this show adds some really fun elements that make you more invested and the show more fun.

The premise is this: twelve celebrities sing wearing costumes that hide their identities. A panel of judges (and the audience) tries to decide who is behind the mask, but each week someone is eliminated based on who the audience wants to keep seeing. Once eliminated, their identity is revealed. 

What’s been fun is that I actually know most of the songs. Rather than be concerned with what’s popular, it’s a choice made by the contestant. I also love a good mystery! I’ve actually been right about a couple of them, which was super exciting; it’s a nice little reward for the audience. The costumes are also gorgeous. They are completely crazy, designed to hide as much about the celebrity as possible. You have to appreciate the artistry that went into these intense costumes. 

The downsides are that the musical numbers are not always the most interesting, but I can usually get into it if I recognize the song. Then there are the judges. The show is presented by Nick Cannon, and judged by Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, and Robin Thicke. I generally enjoy the judges commentary and interactions, but I have a lot of issues with Jenny McCarthy. She is part of why the anti-vaccine movement is so strong and, while I can appreciate her commentary, I hate that she’s on there.

Overall, it’s not really a show you sit down to watch, so much as something you watch when you’re wrapping gifts or crocheting dolls. It doesn’t require much focus, aside from the clues, if you want to see if you can guess who’s inside the mascot suit.

3. The Marvel Cinematic Universe

When I was little, Star Wars was super popular. Even before the prequels, I grew up on those films. I learned later, as I got older, that there was all this extended universe stuff mostly books. Later, cartoons were made. I feel like the MCU is like that, but a little more consistent.

The thing about comic book canon is that there is already so much of it. The standard, main continuity in Marvel is called Earth-616, so that should tell you something. The movies have their own continuity, but Marvel did something brilliant; not only are the movies all connected, but so are the TV shows. Because Disney is the distributor, it has allowed for media in theaters, online, and on cable and network television. While I love the world that has been created, its what they are doing that has me the most excited. There are even tie-in comics and books!

Above, I mentioned how and why I like fanfiction, citing a specific Marvel pairing. While I enjoy the work of fanfiction writers and like the worlds and scenarios they create, I’m never not going to be excited by what Marvel is doing. It’s brilliant marketing and storytelling and I love it. There’s other TV shows and spin-offs in the works, too. 
I don’t know if I can adequately express why I get so excited by this, but one way of looking at it is this: these are projects being written/filmed/produced all around the same time and often with different people working on each project, but they still have come together for a singular continuity. I doubt there’s some kind of show bible, but in the last 10 years, I feel like they’ve created the kind of interconnected content that Star Wars and Doctor Who could have, were they to expand, but already have in some ways just due to sheer amount.

I love the MCU from a lot of different perspectives: as an English teacher interested in plot and character development, as a film/tv student interested in plot and character plus the industry and surrounding politics, as a long time fan of superheroes. I think there’s a lot Marvel could do to improve; for example, more female-led projects (one area where DC DEFINITELY has them beat!), and content directed towards audiences beyond the PG-13 rating. R-rated films like Fox’s Deadpool and Logan, yes, but also it would be nice to see content created in the other direction. Now that Disney has purchased Fox, we’ll see if they continue with R-ratings, something rumored to be the case for the Black Widow movie, but I think from a commercial perspective, it would be a wide move. Disney is all about pure, family entertainment, but I think if they could diversify they could be the option that has something for everyone.  

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