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

Runaways: A Retrospective

It’s been just about a month since Runaways season three aired on Hulu. With all of Marvel’s television shows moving to Disney+, this show, like the Netflix series, finally got its cancellation. Now, I don’t know where it was in production when everything started getting asked, but this season did seem to have a better resolution than previous seasons. But I’ll get to that in a moment. So since I will be discussing Runaways today, obviously be prepared for spoilers through season three.

Season 1: Kids vs. Parents
Season one followed a fairly simple premise: the six kids chanced upon the information and the secret that their parents were part of an evil organization. I’ve never read the comics, but from what I understand, the writers for the Hulu series text some artistic liberty with the source material. Instead of being straight up evil, the parents became more complex and gray as the series went on. I’m not sure what the writers would have decided to do if it hadn’t been picked up for season two, but season one definitely laid the groundwork for the series. It included origin story on all of our hero Runaways, backstory on some of the parents, and mystery to lead into season two. Because of how it was set up, with suspense dodging their parents every episode, and stuff like that, season one was easily my favorite. It was the only season to include a single story arc. And they executed it well.

Season 2, Part 1: Runaways vs Parents again
Season two was the longest of the three seasons, by three episodes. And it was the slowest season of the three. So it’s a good thing it was divided into two story arcs. The first one, involves a lot of similar conflicts to season one. Except that now, the kids had finally run away. Hence the name Runaways. The kids explored their powers and worked on how to thwart their parents. But as the arc went on, even the parents began to be skeptical of their associate Jonah. And eventually the arc culminated in a fight between Jonah and the kids and their parents.

Season 2, Part 2: Runaways vs. Aliens
From early on in season two, we knew that Jonah was an alien. And as a result, that meant that Karolina was part alien. So with his ship destroyed at the end of the first arc, Jonah and his family took new hosts. A lot of the major excitement of this arc was still the parents versus the kids. But on the side, we had three of the parents blacking out and soon discovering that they’ve become host to Jonas family. We also got introduced to a new alien, Xavin, a shape shifter who believed she was Karolina‘s soulmate. The end of season two left us with the second cliffhanger season finale, so thank goodness we got a season three. The Runaways and the parents were all split up. And some of them were in life or death situations.

Season 3, Part 1: Runaways vs. Aliens again
The first arc of season three didn’t last very long. With everyone split up at the end of season two, the first order of business was to get the gang back together. At the same time, they discovered Jonah’s family inhabiting four bodies, not just the three that we had seen in season two. So as the fourth host was revealed, things quickly turned to final battle. A little bit anti-climactic, but I found it fulfilling all the same.

Season 3, Part 2: Runaways vs. Morgan
She was teased throughout the first arc of season three, but we didn’t get to actually see Morgan Le Fay in the flesh until the second arc of season three. This was the story arc that paid service to Marvel fans. It dropped Easter eggs from other Marvel series and tied it into the greater Marvel cinematic universe. Now, the finale left timeline issues involving Thanos’s snap, but so did Agents of SHIELD. So I’m willing to let that go even if I don’t like it. I feel like each of the Runaways got a fair shot at the spotlight during this arc. Even most of the parents did. It’s hard with a cast so big to give everyone decent screen time. But they did a good job.

As for MCU Connections, we got special guest appearances of Cloak and Dagger. That one was special, because it had been explicitly linked to the larger universe during its series before cancellation. In addition, seeing those two work together with the Runaways was amazing. It made me feel validated for re-watching their show again before Runaways season three came out. In addition to that, we also got appearances of the Dark Dimension from Doctor Strange, though it looked different this time, and the Darkhold from Agents of SHIELD. As much as I loved Runaways during seasons one and two, the big thing that was missing was the universe building. So this really made me happy.

In regards to how the series ended, I felt like it got a sufficient finale. However, it felt rushed. The last episode is a standalone story that was a bit convoluted. If Disney+ decides to do a season for later on, great. They can pick up some of these loose threads. But I’d honestly rather have the Runaways just appear in other series. They had their trilogy of seasons. They had a good run. They kicked butt. And now I think it should be done.

Conclusion
In the end, Runaways was what it promised: a teenage drama with superpowers. We definitely have the teenage angst and drama, but we also had the superheroics. I enjoyed the twists and turns and the distinct character development, despite having so many characters. I don’t know if we will ever see our Runaways again in the MCU, but I think it would be a waste just to let them sit and be forgotten. I would especially love to see Nico or Molly appear in some version of the Young Avengers or something. Can’t tell you how happy that would make me.

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.

Joe's top ten best graphic novels

Collecting an entire story arch in comic books can be tricky on a good day and near impossible on a bad. Shifting for hours through back issues of Batman for that last piece to your collection is literally a needle in a haystack. Luckily, comic book companies happily supply us with graphic novels, complete sets of some of their most popular story arcs in a couple easy volumes, and you can pick them up almost anywhere. It's a great way to keep up with your favorite characters without spending a fortune or valuable time. For those who are interested in starting their collections, here's my top ten pick of best graphic novels of all time.

10. Star Wars Infinities

"What if" stories are hit and miss, especially miss. Infinities is definitely a hit by taking a look at three what if stories from the original Star Wars trilogy. The New Hope story is where you really get your money's worth. The what if is if the Death Star wasn't destroyed. Instead, Luke damages the main gun, so that instead of destroying Yavin 4 it just devastates the Rebel base. Leah and C3-PO are captured, Luke and R2 go to Yoda for training, and Han and Chewbacca go into hiding. Four years later, the gang gets back together when Leah is named as Darth Vader's new apprentice. I won't reveal the rest but needless to say it's just as incredible as the original story.

                                                       


                                                            9: Runaways volumes 1-3

I know Marvel has plenty of really amazing stories from it's more mainstream titles, but Runaways is just so accessible to new readers it deserves special mention. Six kids find out that their parents are an evil cabal of super villains ruling LA. They run away (clever title) after stealing a small pile of their parents weapons and finding out their own special abilities to do what's right. It's a great coming of age story as well as a really good super hero story. Best part is that the Runaways stories rarely cross over into any of Marvel's other story arcs, so someone who doesn't know their Galactis from their Green Goblin can jump right in and get it.

8: Emperor Joker
So here's a frightening thought: What if Joker was a god-like being? Well that's what happens when Superman's fifth-dimensional friend Mitzelplik is tricked into giving the Joker nearly all his power. Using what he has left, Mitzelpitlik protects Superman from Joker's galaxy-warping spells. It's up to the Man of Steel, the imp and the Specter to save reality before Joker unravels it permanently. It's fun to see the world as interpreted by Joker, like a bald Lois Lane ruling a multi-million dollar empire in Metropolis. I won't say what he does to Batman, but it shows why Joker is one of the greatest villains of all time.



                                                       7: No Man's Land volumes 1-4

This story actually was one of the influences for Dark Knight Rises, as well as Arkham City. After a massive earthquake hits Gotham City, the government decides that due it's record breaking crime rate in every crime known to man, Gotham isn't worth saving, blow the bridges, and exile it from the US. Arkham Asylum is opened up and the villains turn the city into a massive playground. Batman and his allies must then try to maintain order and find a way to protect the innocent people left behind. It's a dark tale that takes the Dark Knight right to his edge, and is the first time that Harley Quinn was introduced into the comic book canon.

6: Star Trek: Countdown
Plenty of movies get comic book adaptations in an attempt to squeeze just a little more money from the film, but few are as truly spectacular as Star Trek: Countdown. The story follows Spock as he tries to save the Romulan Empire from their dangerous sun. Along the way he runs into the Next Generation crew in various new capacities, suck as Picard being an admiral and Data v2.0 captaining the Enterprise. It's a nice farewell to the old universe that blends seamlessly into the latest Star Trek movie, as well as shows what all our favorite characters are up to now.

                                                            5: Justice volumes 1-2
Remember that silly Super Friends cartoon in the 70's? My personal favorite line was Wonder Woman at one point saying "Look, it's the Pacific ocean-and it's on fire!" Justice is the same characters, only with the legendary writing of Alex Ross and Jim Kruger, combined with Ross's incredible art to make it an amazing read. This thing is so good it makes Bizarro a creepy villain. The bad guys unite after they all have a strange dream where nuclear war ends the world and the Justice League is powerless to stop it. United, they incapacitates the league and start herding people onto space ships where they can rule over them, in an attempt to save them. It's dark, thought provoking, and great to look at.

4: Funeral for a Friend
Right after the death of Superman and before DC brought him back, the world grieved for the Man of Steel. Funeral for a Friend follows heroes, villains, and especially Lois Lane in how they live in a world without Superman. The funeral itself even has a guest appearance from President Bill Clinton, as well as a great scene of Batman in Metropolis. In my top ten saddest moments in geekdom post, I said Lois Lane and the Kent's mourning is the second saddest moment in geekdom, and it's in this graphic novel that you can find it. It's a touching moment well worth picking up.




                                                                     3: Kingdom Come

It shouldn't surprise anyone that Alex Ross appeared twice on this list, considering he almost exclusively creates graphic novels, and Kingdom Come is definitely his magnum opus. It's thirty some odd years in the future and the Justice League has gone their separate ways, either protecting their own cities or disappearing entirely. The world is left in the hands of a new generation of heroes with no regard for public safety, justice, or decency. When an accident destroys the entire mid-west, Superman has to reunite the league to try and restore order to a world he no longer knows. Slap in a psuedo-religious aspect to it and you have a great story worth checking out.




           
 2: Hush volumes 1-2

Batman is a hard character to write for sometimes, since he's a millionare/playboy/detective/ninja/inventor/mentor to underprivileged half-dressed youth. Hush though shows off all the aspects of the Dark Knight as well as showcasing some of his coolest villains. It's not even about a real murder mystery or someone trying to take over the world, it's just a bunch of the Arkham gang messing with Batman with a mysterious puppet master behind it all. It also explores some rarely unexplored aspects of Batman, including his relationships to Catwoman and Superman. If you're a Batman fan, this is a must-have.





                                                         

                                                              1: Identity Crisis

This comic sparked nearly everything that's happened in the last ten years in DC Comics. Someone is killing those closest to heroes, revealing that he knows their secret identities and is out for blood. The Justice League and allies must race against time before the madman strikes again, all while an incredible conspiracy threatens to destroy the League at it's core. What's really great is that Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are barely in this thing, focusing most of the storytelling through some of the lesser known characters. This comic was also featured in my Top Ten Saddest Moments post, and is guaranteed to make you call your dad by the end of the book. Check out this dark masterpiece as soon as you can.

For those of you wanting to get into comics but don't know where to start, there's ten good places to find something you'll really love and not break the bank doing it.
-JOE