Once upon a time, we thought that Spider-Man was out of the MCU, and the fandom almost went to war over it. I even gave my two cents about the whole thing. Earlier today, though, we got a special announcement:

That is right, Spider-Man shall remain in the MCU for the time being. This has made fans go crazy with joy. I actually squealed in sheer happiness when I heard about this!

For those not aware, over the summer Disney and Sony’s deal over the use of Spider-Man fell apart. Sony owns Spider-Man and the film rights, so Disney has to give up most of the profits. They only got 5% and merchandising. Then they got dollar signs in their eyes and wanted half of what Sony was making, which led them to break off their deal.

I said that both sides were to blame, but I felt that Disney was being too greedy. Fortunately, it appears that the Mouse came to its senses and compromised. According to Variety, this new deal let’s them keep merchandising rights, but they only get a quarter the profits.

This is the best deal we could have gotten, and I think everyone will benefit. Tom Holland can keep playing his breakout role for a little longer. Sony gets to move forward with its own Spider-Plans, and Disney gets the hero who could be the MCU’s new anchor back. I’m happy with this!

Spider-Man: Far From Home Review

Well, true believers, we’ve reached the end of an era for the MCU. The Infinity Saga that it’s been building up to since the beginning is over, and so are the Stan Lee cameos. The only question now is how Marvel will be able to top something as massive Avengers: Endgame? I’m worried about the MCU’s future, but after seeing Spider-Man: Far From Home, I realized that even as the old cast exits, the movies are in good hands.

Spoilers for Endgame are to follow.

Quick Plot

It’s been eight months since the events of Avengers: Endgame, and Earth’s trying to adjust to having half its population return, all while asking who will take Tony Stark’s place as its greatest hero. All eyes seem to think Spider-Man’s the next Iron Man, but after everything he’s been through, all Peter wants to do is take a vacation. No matter how hard Peter tries, though, trouble seems to find him. Next thing he knows, his summer trip to Europe’s been hijacked by Nick Fury and a man named Mysterio as a new threat emerges. Now he has to save the world, all while dealing with typical teen angst like telling MJ he likes her. So much for summer vacation.

A Hilarious Epilogue

This film is essentially an epilogue to the universe-shaking events of Endgame, and I cannot thank Marvel for doing this for us. After dealing with the highest-grossing superhero film of all time, fans needed a chance to unwind and relax. Granted, this is a superhero movie, but Far From Home’s as close as we’re going to get to a relaxing story.

Like Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home’s as much of a comedy as it is a superhero movie. Most of the characters give us moments that make us want to laugh that include classic scenarios such as:

• Walking in on something at the worst possible time and misunderstanding the situation
• Dorky/useless teachers
• Awkward confessions when everyone thinks they’re about to die (“I’m in love with Spider-Man’s aunt.)
• Awkward Teen Romance
• And More!

After seeing Endgame, this film’s what we needed: a good, long laugh. The kind that we can count on Spider-Man giving us.

Legacies and Next Generation

A significant part of the film’s plot is dealing with the aftermath of Endgame and Iron Man’s passing. After giving his life to save the universe, Earth considers Tony Stark, the greatest hero of all time. Everywhere you look in the film; you see images of Tony. There’s graffiti art, tribute videos, and photos. I think I saw a documentary or movie about his life. It’s both annoying and heart-warming to see how everyone almost everyone loves Tony Stark now. I say annoying because I know that if he were still alive, it would inflate Tony’s already massive ego.

All joking aside, this film’s about dealing with the loss of the character who started the MCU, and figuring out who will take his place. Everyone, both in film and in real life, hopes that Spider-Man will be Iron Man’s successor. I do, too; Spidey is Marvel’s poster boy. Nick Fury even gives Peter the proverbial keys to the armory: a set of glasses with one of Tony’s AI’s that gives him access to the Stark satellite network. The AI’s also named EDITH: Even Dead, I‘m The Hero. Classic Tony.

A New Hero

As the film makes visible, though, Peter doesn’t think he’s ready or able to be Iron Man’s successor. He’s still a teenager, and he’s being thrown into the deep end without any floaties. He even tries to pass on EDITH to someone else, only for it to nearly end in disaster.

What Peter learns in the movie, though, is that he doesn’t have to be like Tony Stark. No one can replace Tony Stark. Instead of focusing on living up to Iron Man’s legacy, Peter learns that he needs to be the hero only he can be. When he learns to stop living in his late mentor’s shadow, we see he’s more than capable of being Tony’s successor. In a particularly touching moment before the final battle, we see Peter hard at work on a new suit in a moment that mirrors that of Tony Stark. That’s the moment I knew the MCU was in good hands.

Plus, it helped that Happy put on “Back in Black” by AC/DC. That’s a callback to the very first scene in Iron Man.

Conclusion

I’m still worried about the future of the MCU, but after watching this film, I can tell that it still has plenty of fire left in it. The story of the Avengers may be over for now, but there are plenty of other stories waiting to be told. If anything, I think Spider-Man: Far From Home has shown me that the MCU’s in good hands. Tom Holland’s still my favorite Spider-Man, and I hope that he has the time of his life playing him for years to come.

This film’s a fun story that bids goodbye to the Infinity Saga and paves the way for the next stage in the MCU. I can see it becoming a must-see film for the Summer of 2019. So, get ready for plenty of action, teen drama, and laughs with Spider-Man: Far From Home, now in theaters.

I Give Spider-Man: Far From Home a 4.5/5.

In a few days, I will be talling about the post-credit scenes for Far From Home. Check back soon.

By the way, I TOTALLY CALLED IT ABOUT MYSTERIO!

Click here to see my reviews for various films.

All right, if you are here, then that means that one of two things: you’ve seen Spider-Man: Far From Home, or don’t care about spoilers.

Now that’s that out of the way, I want to look at the what that big mid-credits scene from Spider-Man: Far From Home.

A Secret Is Out

One of the basic tenets to Spider-Man is that he goes out of his way to keep his civilian identity a secret. He lacks the resources that Iron Man has to keep thugs away. While his many incarnations have done a good job of keeping his identity as Peter Parker a secret, the MCU changed everything.

After Mysterio’s defeat in London, one of his associates escaped with a flash drive. That drive contained edited footage that made it look like the Elementals were real. Worse, it showed Spider-Man murdering Mysterio to get control of Stark’s arsenal.

To top this conga line of lies off, Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world, and J Jonah Jameson’s the one who reported it to the world.

Plus side: JK Simmons came back to play J Jonah Jameson again!

What Happens Now?

The way I see it, there are currently two options for Peter Parker at this point.

First option: he’s going to have to go on the run and live as a fugitive from authorities. He won’t be able to go to school anymore. At the least, Aunt May will need to go into hiding.

Second option, and I hope this will be what ends up happening: Peter uses EDITH. Think about it: EDITH can hack into any computer in the world. She could easily get onto the Internet and erase all traces of Mysterio’s video. Without that, there would be no evidence to back up these claims, and Peter could deny them. It’s not like anyone else has seen him without him mask.

If I know the people from How It Should Have Ended, then I think they’ll end up doing just that.

Everything Changes

No matter how you look at this, this changes everything. More than anyone, Spider-Man has fought to keep his identity a secret. The one time he did reveal it during the Civil War event, it ended in disaster. Now that it’s been revealed in the MCU, Peter’s life will get much harder.

Yet, this could end up being a new opportunity. The MCU looks like it’s going to use Spider-Man as its flagship character going forward. Having his identity know could be an interesting angle to work with. I’d be interested in seeing how that turns out.

For now though, the MCU’s on vacation until 2020. They’ll need to come up with a new overarching story soon if they want to keep people interested. Right now, my money’s on Dr. Doom or Kang the Conquerer.

To read my review for the film, click this link.

Favorite Mode of Transportation

In a world filled with Mutants, Inhumans, Gods and more, there are going to be a lot of cool ways to get from Point A to Point B. Some characters in Marvel are either born with or develop the ability to travel wherever they want. Others get to where they need to go using a conventional method like a vehicle. Of all the means of travel, there’s one I would want as my favorite mode of transportation.

The Sling Ring

As soon as I saw this in Doctor Strange, I thought to myself, “I wish I had one.” A mystical ring used by the Masters of the Mystic Arts, the Sling Ring’s simple but effective. By concentrating while using magic, a user can open a portal to any destination they desire. As shown in the MCU, the Rings can not only send a person anywhere in the world but even distant planets. Someone with enough skill can also use it to travel between dimensions.

As far as transportation methods go, I count the Sling Ring among the most useful in fiction. It could take me anywhere I wanted to go, and I want to go to a lot of places on Earth. Heck, I could use it to go to the International Space Station; check “go to space” off my bucket list. The point is, I could go anywhere without worrying out annoying things like finances or travel fees with this wonder. The Sling Ring’s my favorite mode of transportation in Marvel’s arsenal, and nothing can change my mind.

Click here to see the rest of my comic book related writings, including the 30-Day Challenge

My Perfect Casting Choice of A Character (If I was In Charge)

I have been dreading this day; not because I can’t think of my perfect casting choice for a character. It’s because my perfect casting choice already exists. The MCU’s ensured that every character I know and love has gotten the ideal actor for them. So instead, I’ll tell you of the person who I call the best live-action Spider-Man.

Tom Holland: the Perfect Casting Choice as Spider-Man

I will always have a soft spot for the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. They’re what introduced me to Spider-Man, and by extension, so did Tobey Maguire. Yet he’s not the best Spider-Man I’ve ever seen in live-action. That honor belongs to Tom Holland.

Why do I think Tom Holland’s the perfect Spider-Man? It can boil down to three main reasons. First, he channels Spider-Man’s wisecracking behavior from the comics. One of Spider-Man’s best tactics is to crack jokes and heckle his opponents in the middle of fights. It may seem immature, but it serves a purpose: it makes the bad guys mad, which makes them more prone to making mistakes. Tom Holland channels the web-head’s great sense of humor to a T.

Two, he channels Spider-Man’s spirit and determination. Spider-Man’s not the smartest or strongest hero Marvel has, but when it comes to his willpower, I see him as someone who’s almost unmatched. From recreating the iconic rubble lifting scene from the comics to his decision to follow Iron Man into space, Tom Holland captures the spirit and drive that made Spider-Man Marvel’s flagship character.

Third, and I need you guys to pay attention to this one: he’s the right age! Tom Holland was only 18 when he got cast as Spider-Man for the MCU; at this point, Peter Parker’s 15. That’s as close as we could ask to get. Tobey Maguire was 27 when he played Spider-Man, but he didn’t look young enough. That’s one of my biggest problems with his portrayal. Same with Andrew Garfield.

Tom Holland was born to play Spider-Man, and I hope we get to see him as Spidey for years to come. He’s my perfect casting choice for my favorite superhero. ‘Nuff Said.

Click here to see the rest of my comic book related writings, including the 30-Day Challenge

For today’s part of the 30-Day Marvel Challenge, I have to choose my favorite weapon. Since I spent a lot of my time in high school reading encyclopedias about Marvel, I know a lot of great weapons. I even know of one that can erase anything from existence but can also destroy the user.

Of all the weapons in the Marvel Omniverse, though, there’s only one that I could call my favorite.

Captain America’s Shield

This simple, discus shield is one of the most iconic weapons in the history of Marvel, and one of the oldest, to boot. Introduced back in Cap’s second appearance, this shield may not look like much, but it packs quite a wallop. It is, in fact, one of the most durable artifacts in the entire universe.

The reason behind its nigh-indestructible nature lies in the secret of its creation. Something so secret, not even the man who made it knows it. While trying to create Cap’s weapon, a doctor fell ended up falling asleep on the job. While he did, the vibranium metal he was using bonded with an unknown substance. Thus, Cap’s shield was born.

Unbreakable Shield

Thanks to the vibration its made from, the shield can absorb kinetic energy like a sponge. This makes it sturdy enough to withstand blows from weapons like Mjolnir or even a punch from the Hulk. Since vibranium can redirect any energy it absorbs, the shield can make for a powerful weapon. It can rebound off any surface without losing momentum, and it’s a third the weight of steel. The only things that have damaged the item have been altering its molecular structure or reality altering weapons. It’s the ultimate weapon for Marvel’s ultimate soldier.

Why is it my favorite weapon, though? Simple: it looks cool, it is cool, and I think it could take a nuke and survive without a scratch

True believers everywhere, today’s part of the 30-Day Marvel Challenge is to name my favorite Marvel movie. Now, this would be the point where I’d do a segue into this, but if you’ve read my movie reviews, you’d know my choice. So, let’s just skip to the end.

Avengers: Endgame

It was either this or Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. Since I’ve been following the MCU since Captain America: The First Aveneger, though, I vote for this. This movie is, for all intents and purposes, a love letter to Marvel Comics.

If you have read my review for this movie, then you know that my love for this movie is very real. While the three hour run-time can be a huge pain in the butt, this is the finale to eleven years worth of story-telling. That justifies the amount of time that goes into it.

My Favorite MCU Moments #2- Every Stan Lee Cameo, The MCU

Its one of the Universal rules to seeing any Marvel film: Look for Stan Lee. The Co-Creator of Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and many of the 1960s characters that put Marvel on the map, Stan Lee was loved by millions of fans around the world for being one of the pioneers of Marvel Comics.

In his senior years, Stan became particularly famous for making a cameo in every Marvel movie, even for characters he didn’t help make. That tradition became widespread as the MCU gained popularity, becoming a game that kids and adults alike could play. Which made it even harder to accept when Stan Lee passed away in November, 2018.

Avengers: Endgame will be an important moment for Marvel fans. Not only will it be the final chapter to the Infinity Saga that’s gone on since the MCU’s start, it will also mark the final cameo done by the late Stan Lee. The world won’t be the same without him, and neither will the MCU. For that, I’m putting every one of his cameos as the number two spot on my list.

MCU Favorite Moments Countdown #3- Peter Digs Himself Out of Rubble, Spider-Man: Homecoming

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven that they can make movies about superheroes other than Spider-Man and get people to want to watch them. Even so, the MCU didn’t feel complete without Marvel’s poster-boy, so everyone was elated when the web-head made his debut in Captain America: Civil War. Then that elation doubled with his stand-alone film, tSpider-Man: Homecoming.

Near the film’s climax, Spider-Man confronts the movie’s villain, Adrian Toomes, aka the Vulture. Despite his best efforts, Spidey fails to catch the bad guy and ends up trapped under several tons of rubble as Vulture escapes. Just when he’s ready to give up, he remembers what Tony Stark told him earlier and realizes that he’s still a hero even without a fancy suit. In an impressive display of strength and will, Spider-Man then manages to lift the rubble off of him and freeing himself.

There’s a reason why Spider-Man is considered to be Marvel’s greatest creation. He may not be the smartest or the most powerful of all the heroes, and he has to do with a lot of problems most heroes don’t, yet he’s Marvel’s greatest hero. Because few other heroes in fiction have his strength of heart.

The best part to this scene, though, is that it’s actually a callback to what many consider to be Spider-Man’s greatest moment. All the way back in the 60s, Spider-Man battled the evil Dr. Octopus in order to retrieve a medicine needed to save the life of his Aunt May, only to be trapped underneath rubble in the same manner. Despite the overwhelming pain from lifting the debris, Spider-Man’s desire to save his Aunt May let him do the impossible and free himself.

The best part is that this moment in film is a tribute to the man who came up with this legendary scene: Spider-Man Co-Creator Steve Dikto. This is one of my all time favorite moments in the MCU, and a worthy addition to my top five.

MCU Favorite Moments Countdown #4- Puny God, Avengers

When I decided to do this list, I knew that it was going to involve making tough choices about my favorite moments. I love them all so much, so it’s hard to make a decision. I think, though, this next moment has earned its place.

In the midst of the Chitauri invasion of New York, Loki’s confronted by the likes of the Incredible Hulk. As the God of Mischief tries to talk down to the Hulk and proclaim itself above everyone on the planet, Hulk decides to grab him by the ankle and pummel him into the ground.

He then proceeds to walk off while saying “Puny God”.

This was one of the funniest things that I have ever seen in my entire life, and it hits all the right notes in the process. The big bad getting interrupted while doing a monologue? Check. Unexpected and comedic timing? Check. Simple post ass-kicking one-liner. Check. But the best part was that Loki was beat up so badly that afterwards, all he can do is lie there and whimper.

It gets funnier. When Loki sees the Hulk on Sakaar years later in Thor: Ragnarok, it’s revealed that he was traumatized by the experience, with the mere sight of him enough to get him to run for the hills. Definitely one of my top five favorite moments.