Pokemon Nicknames: Marvel

A few weeks ago, my daughters were watching Spidey and His Amazing Friends (a great cheesy way to introduce kids to classic superheroes). I’m minding my own business and sn adorable and unfamiliar character appeared: Jeff the Shark. I had to look up the character and see if there was a comic book basis for the cute land fish. The resemblance to Gible is uncanny so immediately went into Pokemon Go and nicknamed my Garchomp “Jeff”. Naturally that led me to more Marvel-inspired nicknames—lots of them based off heroic pets. So here are some of my first favorites:

Trevenant as Groot

Ariados as Man-Spider

Golduck as Howard

Obstagoon as Rocket

(Shiny) Growlithe as Lucky

Gallade as Dr. Strange

Tyrunt as Old Lace

Granbull as Lockjaw

Gible as Jeff

Rhyperior as Rhino

5 Marvel Shows to Watch Before Avengers Doomsday

Several months ago, I did a blog post about pre-Endgame movies to watch before Avengers Doomsday. Especially with the recent Doomsday trailers, I thought it a good time to revisit some more Marvel projects to rewatch before the big day. One thing the post-Endgame saga did was canonized television series on Disney Plus. Say what you will about the inter-workings of movies and series, but I’ve enjoyed it. (Though I'm still waiting for them to officially canonize SHIELD)

WandaVision

In the midst of the pandemic, this was our saving grace for nine episodes. It was definitely an amazing way to begin the Multiverse Saga. Remember all the theories and anticipation, watching for Mephisto and Agatha? While Wanda isn't confirmed to be in Doomsday (or alive for that matter) this was our first look at grief during early post-Blip life. A lot of mysteries have been answered from this series, but there are still plenty of question marks, including Wanda's boys and White Vision.         

Extra Credit - The Marvels

Say what you will about this movie (and it making Carol Denvers into a Disney princess) but there's one big thing from this movie to address leading into Doomsday: The X-Men. After getting her superpowers in WandaVision and teaming up with the Marvels in this movie, Monica ended up thrown into another corner of the multiverse where she met Beast and Binary from the X-Men universe. Plus I swear I'm one of the few people who wants to see Ms. Marvel back.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier 

A number of mixed emotions during this series but I think we were all happy to have this adventure during the pandemic. I'm not sure it was the best received Marvel project, especially after the energy surrounding WandaVision (that was a hard act to follow). It was an emotional adventure transitioning Sam Wilson from the Falcon to being Captain America, but it also introduced our new Falcon, US Agent, and of course Val.

Extra Credit - Captain America: Brave New World

If you went straight from Falcon and the Winter Soldier and straight past this movie on your way to Doomsday, you'd probably be alright. There's no indication that Red Hulk or Sterns will play a part in the next Avengers movie. That being said, this movie serves to further establish Sam's role as Captain America and Joaquin's role as Falcon (I had honestly forgotten there was a new Falcon).

Loki

We can't have a multiverse movie without addressing the Loki who triggered the multiverse. After this variant escaped in Endgame, there was humbling to happen and some Kangs to be discovered. If it weren't for this Loki, we wouldn't have the X-Men universe, What If, Tobey's Spider-Man, or any of the parallel worlds. Last we saw of Loki, he was woven into the fabric of the multiverse, so I'm curious what his role will be in Doomsday.

Extra Credit - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

This movie was underwhelming for many people (especially since the Kang storyline was scrapped). However, it attempted to connect the threads of our Avengers to the big bad of Loki. I'm curious what would've happened with this movie and Loki if Kang Dynasty were still happening. I heard rumors we'll see something of Kang being taken care of off-screen in Doomsday, but we'll see.

Hawkeye

On the grand scale of things, this show probably won't have much impact on the events of Doomsday (especially since Jeremy Renner isn't confirmed to appear). However, it does feature Yelena, previously seen in Black Widow, who would become a major player in Thunderbolts. Plus, I also just adore her character interacting with Kate Bishop. 

Extra Credit - Black Widow

Like Hawkeye, this movie doesn't look like it will have direct impact on Doomsday. That being said, this movie introduced the aforementioned Yelena and her adopted father. Both these powerhouses (Red Guardian for his strength and Yelena for her wit) reappeared in Thunderbolts. It's hard for me to decide if this movie or Hawkeye are more crucial.

 

What If...?

Slim chance of any of these characters appearing in Doomsday (except perhaps a variant of Captain Carter), but this hit series gave us a glimpse of what a multiversal epic could be. Three seasons and three epic finales. I think it would be a shame to let this series fade into obscurity, despite the release of Marvel Zombies, so I'd love to see Kahhori or the Hydra Stomper again.

Extra Credit - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

If we're going into a multiverse grand finale, we ought to include the epic (and horrific) journey that Doctor Strange took across the worlds. This movie isn't exactly what I'd envisioned from a multiverse hopping story, but it was the first (aside from Loki) so it would be a fun (and traumatic) one to revisit.

I'm sure there are plenty of other movies and series to revisit before the epic crossover of the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. In a few months I plan to highlight a few more post-Endgame movies. I have my list already and I probably won't finish it (especially as more and more cast members are revealed). I appreciate all that the MCU has done for superhero movies and, despite what vocal internet people say, it's not dead and I can't wait to see it continue to grow and evolve.

Clint Barton and Kate Bishop

There were some beautiful and epic things about the recent Hawkeye series on Disney+:

• The inept Tracksuit Mafia
• The inclusion of a character who is both deaf and used a prosthetic
• The return of Yelena
• The use of sporadic subtitles when Maya was reading lips
• All the trick arrows
• LARP-ing!
• The reveal of Kingpin
• The entire ending sequence at Rockefeller Center
• Rogers: The Musical

But the most wholesome and most relatable element included in Hawkeye was the unlikely relationship between Kate and Clint. Clint is a seasoned Avenger who fought aliens, saved the world, lost his entire family, gained them back, dealt with the death of his best friend, and went through a dark period of being a ruthless assassin. Kate, on the other hand, is a spoiled rich girl who idolizes the Avengers and recently pulled a prank that resulted in a bell tower being severely damaged. 

Yet, over six incredible Die Hard-inspired episodes, Clint and Kate forge a really incredible relationship. It starts off light and simple, two unlikely people whose paths cross unexpectedly. But as things get deeper and more real, they really form a deep and abiding love for each other. It was fun to watch them throw coins, fight the baddies, get tied up, and banter. How could you not enjoy their conversations when Clint lost his hearing aid, and they were talking in circles? But the best moment for their friendship was when Clint was talking to his family, and Kate was tenderly writing down what they were saying so Clint could understand. It was a moment of vulnerability that really helped bond these two damaged individuals.

The relationship between Clint and Kate reminds me that we can’t always dictate who will enter our lives, and who will cross our paths in this life. If Glinda from Wicked is to be believed, then people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return. I’ve had so many people come and go in my life. Sometimes I would get frustrated that people would only show up for a few moments of my life. But I’ve learned to view relationships with other people as wonderful moments that may or may not last. I’ve learned to enjoy what they’ve brought to my life, how they’ve helped inspire me or support me or the humor they’ve helped me see. And I’ve learned to enjoy helping them in return, giving to them of myself, being vulnerable with them, sharing my experiences with them. 

But I’m rambling on about relationships in a review of Hawkeye. So back to the Marvel series. It was good. Lots of fun. Great action sequences. Terrific cast. Sharp writing. Clever direction. And I would totes watch it again next Christmas.

Who is Kingpin?

The first time I remember seeing Kingpin was when watching a Spider-Man cartoon growing up. I didn’t know until recent years that he was also an archenemy of Daredevil and Hawkeye. But as he was revealed to be the head of the Tracksuits in Hawkeye episode 5, I wanted to flashback to when we last saw him in Daredevil. No spoilers for the Hawkeye season finale, just in case you haven’t seen it yet.

Now we don’t have any distinct confirmation that this Kingpin is the same as the Wilson Fisk in Netflix’s Daredevil series. It could be the same actor, but different version of the character. We are about to delve into a multiverse of madness after all. But until otherwise proven wrong, I’m going to assume this is the same MCU version of Fisk that Matt Murdock fought for three seasons. And since Daredevil was rated TV-MA, many of our readers might not know who he is leading into Hawkeye. So here’s what you need to know about Kingpin. 

Once upon a time, Wilson Fisk may have actually been a sweet kid. But his abusive father taught him to gain respect through violence. As this abuse involved beating Wilson’s mother, it was during one of her beatings that WIlson finally stood up for himself and his mother… and killed his dad. And then his mom helped him hide the body… in pieces… yeah, dark.

All this taught him that you have to make hard decisions to make the world a better place. So in wanting to rebuild New York after the Avengers fought the Chitauri… even if he has to hurt countless people to make it happen. Meanwhile, Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) has taken the case of Karen Page, who was framed for murder. And as he digs into her case… he finds Fisk. After Kingpin kills Karen’s reporter friend, Daredevil takes on Fisk in the season finale battle (both figuratively in court and literally in blood).

While a power vacuum has gangs in a frenzy in Hell’s Kitchen, Fisk ascends into powerful positions in the prison. Once Frank Castle (who was fighting those gangs as the Punisher) is sent to prison, a temporary alliance is made between Punisher and Kingpin. And that’s the last of Kingpin… until after the Defenders fight the Hand.

After that point, Kingpin makes a deal to get out of prison (and finds out Daredevil’s secret identity along the way). Naturally, Fisk uses this to his advantage and frames Matt, while he himself goes free. In the end, things come to fists again as Daredevil fights Kingpin (in front of Fisk’s new wife). After this fight, and as new evidence comes to light, Kingpin is taken into custody again. With that taken care of, Matt is finally able to be Daredevil again and a friendly neighborhood lawyer-man.

As I mentioned before, we don't know exactly how or if Daredevil's Kingpin connects with what we saw in the Hawkeye episode 5 cliffhanger. However, we can assume he survived Thanos's Snap. And if he's the same Kingpin, we can also assume he got out of prison sometime after Daredevil and before the snap. But to explain why would go into some episode 6 spoilers.

With no particular superpowers in the comics (just some great strength and kevlar armor), his powers come from being a mob lord. Working his criminal connections and betraying those who might betray him first, he’s able to keep the upper hand. Even when he was an unknown man in season 1, he’s always one step ahead. 

If you want to learn more in depth about Kingpin’s MCU history, check out the YouTube videos at the bottom of this post, They’re the ones I used to refresh my memory for this post. Honestly, I’m just excited we’ve started reintroducing Netflix characters. This opens the door for more heroes to return. Maybe a Heroes for Hire Disney Plus show? Or Chloe Bennet returning as Quake in Secret Invasion? Or inhumans coming up in Ms. Marvel? Honestly, with the multiverse, anything is possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3auTZEC8VE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPzuK3rsK54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOfsvf4o1z4

Hawkeye Binge List

It’s almost time for another installation of the Marvel epic. In a month, we’ll finally get a close-up on one of the original Avengers (and one of the only still active in any sense). We know that he’s going to be bringing in a protégé to potentially take over the Hawkeye mantle. In the meantime though, let’s look back at the history of Clint Barton, better known as Hawkeye.

Thor (1 hour 55 min)

He only appears for one scene as Thor is trying to lift the hammer, so you could probably just skip this movie as you’re preparing for Hawkeye. However, it’s still his first appearance and our first glimpse of his skills and his sass.

The Avengers (2 hours 23 min)

Sure he’s mind-controlled for most of the movie, but here we get our first true appearance for Hawkeye. From Black Widow’s talk with Loki, we learn they have shared history. We also get reference to Budapest (which is later discussed in Black Widow). But what really matters here is Hawkeye joining the team and becoming an Avenger.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2 hours 21 min)

The Avengers return to the fight after Loki’s scepter is located. First, he’s attacked. Then he’s the only one to avoid mind control. And then we find out he has a secret family. Just when we thought he was just the guy with the bow and arrow, he’s the one who holds the team together by giving them reprieve. Not only that, but he ends up being a motivating factor to Wanda and Pietro joining the cause.

Captain America: Civil War (2 hours 28 min)

After seemingly retiring, Clint gets pulled away from his family to help Cap. I honestly wish we’d seen more of his story here. He shows up, helps Team Cap in the airport fight, and then gets imprisoned at the Raft. I wish we knew exactly why he joined Team Cap. Was he against the accords? Did he just want to stop Zemo? All he said was he was disappointing his kids. Maybe someday we’ll find out.

Black Widow (2 hours 13 min)

Obviously Clint doesn’t appear in this movie and Natasha isn’t going to appear in Hawkeye. However, this movie introduces Yelena, another Widow and Natasha’s adoptive sister. As you could assume from the post-credits scene (which takes place after Endgame), we can expect to see Yelena in Hawkeye. Whether she’ll be antagonistic or Clint wins her over… I guess we’ll see.

Avengers: Endgame (3 hours 2 min)

We start with that heartbreaking scene with his family dusted during the Snap. As the world falls into chaos, Clint just loses himself. As he started assassinating people as Ronin, it was a dark time (to say the least). As a father and husband, I can’t imagine the pain and the grief he experienced. And then after five years to go back in time and lose his best friend Natasha… by the time Thanos 2.0 was defeated, it would be a vast understatement to say he had some difficult trauma to deal with. But I suppose that might be what the Hawkeye series is going to be about. 

Now the countdown begins for Hawkeye. Not long after that, Spider-Man. And Disney has no intention of slowing down! 

Who are the Young Avengers?

(Guest Post by Jared)

**SPOILERS ahead for WandaVision finale**

It seems that Marvel is setting up a brand new Avengers team in the form of a fan favorite long running comic. This team was formed by a kid named Iron Lad from the future who came back in time to have the Avengers help him fight a time travelling Kang the Conqueror. When Iron Lad arrived he found that the Avengers had been disbanded after the Scarlet Witch lost her mind and killed several team members. Without the Avengers to aid him Iron Lad went through the Avengers files to find and build a new team, the next generation of Avengers.

Stature

Cassie Lang is our first Young Avenger to be introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She appeared as daughter of Scott Lang in both Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp. She again appeared, but now as a teenager in Endgame reunited with her missing father. We’ll see a re-casted Cassie in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania next year in 2022 portrayed by Kathryn Newton.

In the comics Stature was not one of the original Young Avengers, but joined the team shortly after. She has the same powers as her father, however she doesn’t need a suit to grow and shrink in size. She confesses to her teammates that she repeatedly stolen Pym particles from her father for years, but only had recently begun to experience any effects.

Wiccan and Speed

The comic versions of Vision and Wanda’s twins is very convoluted, but now that they’re official in the MCU after appearing in several episodes of WandaVision, we can be confident they’ll join the Young Avengers team, but the biggest question mark is how since by the finale of WandaVision the kids have been erased and Wanda is off isolating and searching for a way to return them to reality. We hear them screaming as she’s searching the darkhold in the finale after credits scene. Are they in pain or in danger somewhere? This tease would only exist if Marvel planned for their return.

In the comics the twins are created by Wanda, and then removed from reality by Doctor Strange. Later when Iron Lad comes from the future to form the Young Avengers he finds two teenagers who mysteriously look alike, but have never met. Turns out that these two are the long lost twins whose souls had been merged with teenagers.

Their comic characters share the same powers as their MCU counterparts, magic and super-speed. Only time will tell how these will emerge on screen when their fully grown. Assuming that they age up again to teenagers and are recast, which would line up with their story in the comics.

Hawkeye

Kate Bishop first appeared alongside the original Young Avengers team after Clint Barton’s Hawkeye had been killed by the Scarlet Witch. The Young Avengers accidently ran into Bishop during a fight where she jumped in as a highly skilled archer and swordswoman. She later followed the team and insisted she join permanently. 

There’s a common misunderstanding that Barton’s daughter in the MCU will be joining the Young Avengers after her quick appearance with the bow in Endgame before she was snapped out of existence. However Bishop has no biological connection to Clint Barton’s Hawkeye in the comics. Will it be the same for the MCU? Only time will tell, but we know she is not the daughter we’ve seen several times already. 

Bishop will take on the codename Hawkeye in the upcoming Hawkeye series where she’ll costar with Jeremy Renner. Hailee Steinfeld has been cast to portray her in the upcoming series slated for late 2021.

Patriot

In the comics Eli Bradley was actually the second hero to go by the name of Patriot, the first was his grandfather who was a test subject for a super soldier serum project. When approached to join the team by Iron Lad, Bradley claimed he gamed powers through an emergency blood transfusion from his grandfather, but this was untrue. He had gained his abilities by using a street enhancement drug called Mutant Growth Hormone and later left the team.

While his future in the MCU is uncertain it’s heavily rumored that he’ll be appearing soon in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier played by Elijah Richardson. The story revolves around the US government demanding that the Captain America codename belongs to the military and can’t simply be handed over to Falcon. Since the story revolves around the super soldier serum and a new government created Captain America it seems likely we could be introduced to others who have been experimented on.

Miss America

Although she wasn’t an original member of the Young Avengers she’s become one of the most popular. America Chavez is an inter-dimensional traveler with superhuman strength and speed.

With her reality hopping powers it’s no surprise she’s rumored to be in Doctor Strange the Multiverse of Madness, this rumor has gained speed since it was announced that Xochitl Gomez has been confirmed for the cast of the film in an unknown role.

Ms. Marvel

Even though she’s never appeared as a Young Avenger in the comics it seems very likely that she’ll be joining the team in the MCU. We already have an upcoming television series starring Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, Ms Marvel slated to premiere in late 2021. She is also confirmed to be co-starring alongside Brie Larson in Captain Marvel 2 in November of 2022.

In the comics Khan was an American Muslim from New Jersey who idolized Captain Marvel, and taking a previous codename from her now that Danvers was solely going by "Captain". Khan was introduced and then later revealed to be an Inhuman, so with the cancelled (and seemingly non-canon) television show Inhumans it’s unknown how they’ll introduce her powers for Disney+, but her powers will be unique to see as we haven’t had a elastic powers appear in the MCU yet so Khan will premiere these before even Mr. Fantastic!

Hulkling

We met both the Skrulls and the Kree in first Captain Marvel film, and the story did a 180 from the comics making the Skrulls the lesser of the two evils. We’ll see how this plays out for Hulkling as he is actually half Skrull and half Kree and destined to be the ruler of both and finally bring peace to the races.

In the comics he has absolutely no connection to the Hulk but takes on his persona for public relations as the shapeshifting Skrulls are very much hated across Earth. He typically appears as a large green man with giant gargoyle wings.

We do not have any rumors on casting, and nothing is confirmed for an MCU story as of the ending of WandaVision but there are a few places he could easily pop up that make the most sense. We have an upcoming Secret Invasion TV show with Nick Fury in production and an estimated early 2022 release. The comics Secret Invasion story revolves around several key Avengers, X-Men and world leaders that are replaced by shapeshifting Skrulls in hopes of taking over Earth. Fury finds out and goes into hiding not knowing who to trust. Since we saw Fury at the end of Far From Home and he’s working with the Skrulls we can guess as to what the story will turn out to be, but with the Skrulls being a huge player it seems like the most likely place for Hulkling to pop up! 

Hulkling is the only member of this lineup that is not announced or rumored, however with his romantic relationship to Wiccan and his status as an original Young Avenger it seems unlikely they’d leave him out of the team’s first teamup!

There are other members of the team such as a newly rebooted Vision, Kid Loki from an alternate timeline, Prodigy a former student at Xavier’s School for the Gifted, and Iron Lad who turns out to be a younger Kang the Conqueror from the future. These kids could show up down the line, but with these previous mentioned eight other Young Avengers already all but confirmed or rumored (aside from Hulkling) it seems like the lineup is pretty large as it is. 

What We Know About the MCU Post-SDCC (TV Shows)

Last week I checked in with updates on the MCU news Post-San Diego Comic Con for the movies. We also got a chunk of news/release dates for some upcoming Disney+ MCU shows. With the release of Jessica Jones Season 3, the Marvel Netflix shows have officially ended, leaving us now with Disney+, Hulu, and (for one more year) ABC as our MCU TV Show distributors. So let's see where we're at.

Runaways Season 3 (December 13, 2019 on Hulu)
Last we saw the Runaways, they were all split up. So were the parents. Alex, Nico, Molly, and Leslie were last seen at the Hostel. Karolina, Chase, and Janet were captive by the Magistrate's family (currently possessing Victor, Stacey, and Tina). Gert is captive by her father Dale. We haven't really heard much about where we'll be taken during Season 3, but I think it's pretty safe to assume that we'll pick up right after Season 2. That means the whole of the series will take plenty of time before the Snap. The only thing we really know that's coming up is the introduction of Morgan le Fay, a sorceress from the Dark Realm. She's fought the Avengers in the comics, but it'll be interesting see how she approaches "Runaways".

Ghost Rider (2020 on Hulu)
We don't know much about "Ghost Rider" yet except that we have the same Robbie Reyes coming back to star in this Hulu series. It'll be interesting to see where they take this show. We last saw Robbie/Ghost Rider at the defeat of AIDA in 2017. So presumably at least 3 years will have passed. However, which timeline will he be in? Agents of SHIELD has deviated from the MCU Timeline, so will he be in that timeline or will this series be before/during/after the Snap? More details to come, I hope.

Helstrom (2020 on Hulu)
This series was announced around the same time as Ghost Rider. However, we don't know much yet. Daimon and Ana Helstrom will appear. They're the children of a mysteriosu serial killer. Their father in the comics was Satan, so it'll be interesting how they swing that in the live action. Being half-demon hybrids (according to the comics), I'm curious what'll happen. Like with "Ghost Rider" we'll have to see what happens with "Helstrom".

Agents of SHIELD Season 7 (Summer 2020 on ABC/Hulu)
Since Season 6 has yet to complete, it's unknown what's going to happen with Season 7. However, we know that they're done filming. Because of how they've filmed it, I've wondered if it's going to be more like two halves of a season, instead of two separate seasons. Presumably the main cast of Season 6 will all return. But with the last couple episodes still yet to aire, we could stil have some fatalities for all we know. I think at this point it's pretty safe to say that we won't have any MCU crossovers in the last season.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Fall 2020 on Disney+)
This six-episode series will be the first of the Marvel series on Disney+. It seems like these series will play more into the movies than previous TV series have, so it'll be interesting to see how that happens. Currently we know that Sam/Falcon/New Cap and Bucky/Winter Soldier are returning as obvious series regulars. Helmut Zemo (last seen in custody in "Civil War") seems to be returning as the show's villain. We also have it confirmed that Sharon Carter will return (last seen in "Civil War"). Since this show is reportedly going to take place after "Endgame" we can expect to see Sam dealing with the Captain America mantle being transferred on to him and how that impacts him.

WandaVision (Spring 2021 on Disney+)
We don't know much of what's going on yet with WandaVision. I've seen differing reports on whether it'll take place before or after Infinity War. If current reports are correct and this takes place after Endgame we must be in for some sort of craziness. With Vision dead and Wanda resurrected in the Blip, who knows what'll happen. In the comics, Scarlet Witch used her powers to "create" children for her and Vision. So is that what she's going to do for Vision? Is she going to "resurrect" him using her powers? It could be an interesting take on the grieving process for Wanda. The only other thing we know is that Monica Rambeau, last seen as a child in Captain Marvel will appear. Since they've recasted her it would make sense that she'll appear primarily in the present day. Also, since Scarlet Witch is set to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, this series (or at least season one) will act as a prequel of sorts to the movie.

Loki (Spring 2021 on Disney+)
Not much is known yet about the Loki series. In the main timeline, Loki is dead, as of 2018. However, this series will reportedly take place in an alternate timeline, after Loki stole the Tesseract during the Time Heist of "Endgame". This was the villainous version of Loki though, instead of the anti-hero from "Ragnarok" and "Infinity War". So that leaves me with a lot of questions about how the series will proceed.

What If...? (Summer 2021)
The "What If" comics are ones I'd never heard of before. Basically, as the name implies, it follows the idea of "what if" certain events had unfolded in the Marvel universe. As the other Disney+ series will tie into the movies, I'm curious how they'll make this one relevant. Will more time travel be involved? Or will it be a stand-alone series that doesn't make an impact on the others and is just for fun? Regardless, we have confirmation that many MCU characters (25 that were listed on the MCU wiki) will return. The ones I found most interesting were Thanos, Dum Dum Dugan, Jane Foster, and the Grandmaster.

Hawkeye (Fall 2021)
Last we saw Clint Barton/Hawkeye, he was back on the family ranch. Who knows where we'll head next with this show, but it's been reported that this series will take place after "Endgame". I heard rumors that it'll explore Clint's time during the Blip, acting as Ronin, but I guess we'll see. We do have reports of Kate Bishop being introduced. In the comics, she worked alongside Clint, both using the name Hawkeye. So we'll see.

Cloak & Dagger Season 3 (??? on Freeform/Hulu)
We haven't had confirmation that "Cloak & Dagger" will be back, but we also haven't heard word that it's been cancelled. Last we saw, Tandy/Dagger and Tyrone/Cloak were on a bus, presumably heading out of New Orleans. This could be our one continuation of the Netflix show, as we've seen Newspaper clippings of Luke Cage and Brigid alluded to previously working with Misty Knight in New York. But I guess this is another one that we'll just have to wait for more news.

I think I caught all the pending MCU shows. Which one are you looking forward to the most? I'm really curious how the Disney+ series will pan out. Will they make it supplemental to the movies or will they make me watch them to understand what's going on in the movies? That would bug me. But I guess I don't have to decide for another year anyway.

Sorting the Avengers into Hogwarts Houses

As if Harry Potter isn't everywhere already, I had the thought recently to (as many geeks have done before me) sort some of my favorite characters from other fandoms into Hogwarts house. Please tell me what you think. First up, The Avengers!

Tony Stark/Iron Man - Slytherin
This is maybe a controversial one to start out with. Between his genius and his ambition, it's hard to place him between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. However, in the end it's his overwhelming ambition and pride that do it for me. It seems like every Avengers movie he's overwhelmed by ambition (manifesting as pride): he made himself the leader in "The Avengers", he created Ultron in "Age of Ultron", and he tried to take control on Titan in "Infinity War". As a result, I'm classifying him as Slytherin. A good-guy Slytherin, of course.

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow - Ravenclaw
I debated between Slytherin and Ravenclaw here, as she's very intelligent but she also used to be an enemy spy. Even though she's ambitious and cunning, I think intellect and analytical mind trumps that. She speaks multiple languages, she's a strategist, and a super intelligent overall. Even as I write this I'm tossing between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I'm going to go with Ravenclaw, because as a reformed spy she isn't as focused on ambition as she is what's right.

Bruce Banner/The Hulk - Ravenclaw
The Hulk is a tricky one to place, specifically on the Hulk-side. Banner is easy. He's all about the textbooks and the analytical. Sure, his physical strength comes from the Hulk (I'd probably classify him as Gryffindor Slytherin... it's hard to tell since he doesn't have much personality in most of his movies), but the man behind the Hulk is a hardcore Ravenclaw, valuing knowledge before all else.

Thor Odinson - Gryffindor
This one should be pretty self-explanatory. Before his arrival on Earth, I might say Slytherin, because he was all about honor and power, but as an Avenger he tends to do the courageous thing, even if it's stupid. During "Ragnarok", he was willing to risk everything in order to save Asgard from Hela, even if it meant fighting off the whole of the Grandmaster's Sakaar. This bravery in risking himself for others is why I put in him Gryffindor.

Clint Barton/Hawkeye - Hufflepuff
There had to be a Hufflepuff on here. Especially since I started owning my own Puff-ness, I had to include someone. And who better than Hawkeye. In many ways he's the stereotypical Hufflepuff, quiet and loyal. But inaddition to his loyalty to the Avengers, and to making amends after breaking Loki's mind control, his fierceness and preciseness also match Hufflepuffs I've seen in my life. But in the end the biggest thing I've put him here for is his loyalty to his team and his family.

Steve Rogers/Captain America - Gryffindor
It's the easy answer, but it also makes sense. Cap is known for standing up to bullies and showing courage, whether as a scrawny kid in "The First Avenger", against corrupt SHIELD agents in "The Winter Soldier", or against his friends in "Civil War". My second choice was Hufflepuff, due to his loyalty to Bucky and Peggy, but his bravery in regards to ALL the odds leaves me with Gryffindor.

Which sorting do you disagree with? Would you put Tony as a Ravenclaw? Or Black Widow as a Slytherin? Is Cap the real Hufflepuff? Let me know your thoughts.

Check out our other Hogwarts sortings: Friends, Power Rangers (2017), Once Upon a Time, Arrow