Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooo!

I never got to meet him!!!

And you never would have.

He didn't do anything in the public eye; I'd use the often used comparison, but it would go right over your head. He didn't do conventions, he didn't do interviews, he didn't do anything in the public eye and only ever met with a very small and select group of friends and already established acquaintances in the last few decades. Even the director of Dr. Strange tried to contact him to no avail and hoped Ditko saw his movie at some point.

Even if he did, he has never talked about his work at Marvel, he'd spent his years making comic stories for himself rather then to sell for profit and that's what he was interested in.

...annnnnnnnnnd....they sent it anyway. Meh.. I could think of worse things that could happen.


********************

Finally finished Luke Cage on Netflix. I though the last 4-ish episodes finally picked up. I liked it.
I think they definitely don't need to try to stretch it out to 13 episodes. It's what makes it drag. Not like any of it was UNinteresting...but, that's not the type of show we got on this ride for. 9 or 10 episodes would have been good.
I love me some Misty now. Also, the team up from episode 10 is what is needed more in the show.. exciting, interesting fight scenes. ..and Black Mariah....is nuts. She got progressively more interesting.
*EDIT* oh and Danny def. had a little more swag this time around and ditched some of his bitch like qualities. I can respect this character now.

******************

Saw Ant-Man and the Wasp. My son really liked it, and I thought it was a fun outing. But I still give it a C. (average). I laughed twice, chuckled about 4 times and smirked once. Nothing was really bad about it, It's just comparing it with other marvel movies...They set the bar SO high. The story was eh...but it looked great...and the action was decent.

Ill take them redskulls and sif ;)

I'm still only two episodes into Luke Cage season 2, just please tell me the writing gets better. I was pleasantly surprised to see Michael and Jemele show up. And then they said words, and none of them were interesting. Missed opportunity. I winced a little at the timing, because I miss their show.
I loved the first season a whole lot, though it did slow down a little for me after Cottonmouth caught that messy beatdown. Misty's arc is the thing I'm most interested in, right now. Just need to make time.

Ant-Man and the Wasp was fun, I feel like it pressed a lot of the right buttons for making a solid MCU movie. The standard to live up to is lofty as hell, though. I enjoyed it more than the first one, the combat was choreographed well. Michelle Pfeiffer has held it together really well. I mean... god damn.
Cassie with the very small nod to her character in the comics was cute. You can book that one for filming ten years from now, and somehow Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will look exactly the same. Sorcery.
The Infinity War tie-in at the end I was anticipating happened, so that kiiiiinda sucked the air out of it.

Jemele and Michael in Cage? That's rich. Good on them...I'd prefer a return of His and Hers (NNL) to them showing up randomly...still laughing at that Boyz n' the Hood parody..."and get them damn babies out the street!"

I wasn't a huge fan of SC6. Honestly, ESPN was screwing around with them well before the fallout, but I truly do miss their chemistry...

To the thread - as it regards Ant-Man and MCU flicks, in a more general sense: Does anyone else feel like MCU ventures are becoming formulaic? In the way of full disclosure, I've been here on this issue for a minute. I don't speak on the matter much, even with friends, because I often get labeled as a contrarian or "crazy." Some of my boys have morphed into these semi-creepy non-objective super-fans who have bought so very much into the "phases" of Kevin Feige's master plan that efforts at discussion become either obnoxious, or flat out impossible. The films usually have the accoutrements and trappings to be expected of a solid "box-office winner," but I always know when to expect the laugh and when to anticipate gravitas. To me, they often don't feel very organic and many of the experiences bleed into others given the almost cookie-cutter similarities. The last three films that I truly enjoyed as standouts were Guardians (1), Strange, and Panther...personal fandom of the complement of characters involved notwithstanding...

Yeah, that sounds like fatigue setting in. I definitely understand it. I keep thinking that the drop is imminent, but they're still rolling in success after a decade. Testament to the immense talent they're throwing around. Skipping through the origin stories has helped me push past it, Ant-Man and the Wasp is better for not needing to waste time on one.
Whatever they're doing must not be having a profound impact though, because a lot of people still don't know evil when they see it. That's a different discussion, though!

His and Hers was too good. It's like they flew too close to the sun or something, I dunno. It's a shame. The only sensible thing is to bring them back later, in some capacity. Bomani and Pablo are a *really* nice substitute in the meantime, when I remember to DVR them. Give Mina and Sarah a show, and I'd be set forever.

Yeah, but at its base doesn’t every super hero story come down to a formula?
1:through life changing event good guy receives super powers, must use them to bead bad guy
2: good guy looses powers, must defeat bad guy without them to earn them back
It comes down to the the whole heroes quest formula, I think the Greeks figured it out a few thousand years ago.

My grandsons have recently discovered Marvel Legends and love them. But the overwhelming volume of releases is hard to keep up with! Hey Hasbro give me and my bank account time to catch our breath!

I’d say rob a bank but that probably still wouldn’t be enough. ;)

@BFingaz

Ha! You’re a funny dude. I’m starting to acknowledge that it isn’t so much about the inability of others to recognize maleficence within ‘poli-tricks’ (or without, for that matter), but me grossly underestimating the number of evil people within the body politic writ large. Somebody’s gotta wear the brownshirts…right? ;)

It isn’t fatigue as much as it’s boredom. I get that these movies MUST be blockbusters with all of the accompanying monetized benchmarks requiring satisfaction in order to validate future ventures. That said, when you distill things down and focus on delivering only the most proven bits of previously successful films, you end up with a largely rote movie experience.

The movies are always done well and entertaining, but new ground is rarely broken. I often feel like I’m watching a well-crafted/reinterpreted heist/buddy/ensemble/teen-angst/rom com with a super-hero twist.

After ten years of success, where is the risk taking? I thought after the MCU had proven itself to be successful, which it has for some time, Marvel was going to start taking chances with more off the beaten path content and presentations. I’m still waiting…and wanting.

@Kylactus

Yes and no. Yes for many cliched heroes, no for supers that break traditional molds. Booster Gold, Moon Knight, Nova, and Dreadstar are just a few of the many heroes that have non-normative story vehicles. However, that’s not the ‘formula’ to which I’m referring.

What I mean is the “Hollywood” formula. The Tom Cruise/Will Smith/Dwayne Johnson/Vin Diesel formula. The “we don’t take chances and serve you up that shit we know you like” formula. Comics offer plenty of opportunities to deliver new experiences as seen with movies like A Quiet Place. Additionally, there is no shortage of surreal otherworldly environments to explore in the Marvel universe. One of my reasons for enjoying Panther, Dr. Strange, and Guardians of the Galaxy was because those were our first jaunts beyond the mundane, outside of Thor’s Asgard. Again, MCU movies are entertaining and I usually go to see them. However, “entertaining” is a MCU descriptor I’m hearing more often with an increasingly negative connotation, however subtle it may be.

Ant-Man and Wasp was great, though not better than the first one. The villains felt like they were from Phase 2. Also, the only bad Marvel movie is a boring one, and there hasn't been a boring one yet. Granted, Thor 2 and Iron Man 3 are not exactly great, but they are still better than most action movies out there.

Okay, so? There was still a possibility I could have until now.

I mean, did you need to go on some long ass speech over one simple comment? I really don't care how realistic my chances would have been, if was the thought process that I would love to meet him. Now I can't. So please take your bullshit to another topic. When I want sunshine and rainbows, I'll go to a My Little Pony site.

Shouldn't ditkos passing be front page news? I mean the guy was a freakin comic legend! ;)

Just found an Elektra in a Gamestop. Woohoo!

It is. i saw it on my local news this morning, amd it's on majority of internet news pages. the only thing being is the general public didn't know who he was. I'm sure majority of people whom don't know a a thing of comics could only name Stan Lee.

You're right, of course, but he wasn't celebrated enough within the modern comic zeitgeist to rate. Unsung genius of the silver age (especially his Dr. Strange work), Steve Ditko...RIP

Great pictures!

I am very happy to be getting the yellow and blue Wolverine, but I’ll probably display the earth tones one more. I knew I had to have that Apocalypse as soon as I saw it. From what I’ve seen it’s the best looking one yet.

Other than Age of Apocalypse, what are some of the better Apocalypse story arcs?

:D Thanks! That's always much appreciated.

@Trivial Psychic Great pics! I can't wait until my Apocalypse wave shows up! And oh man, I hope my Wolvie's claws aren't THAT loose. Shartimus' review made it sound like an asset because you could position them however you wanted, without any hot / cold water magic.

Here's X-23. Very cool figure and character! I'm definitely gonna need the Wolverine version.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1761/...806be36c_b.jpg

Have fun, all!

His first appearance arc in the original X-Factor is the introduction of the character so that could be worth checking out, though if I remember correctly it's not his best material since he was still being formed by the writers so not all of his character there is reflective of his other appearances. The Twelve is a long and somewhat convoluted story in which he sets a scheme into motion to gain omnipotent powers. Rise of the Apocalypse is a mini-series which details his origin story and gives some reason to his world-views. If you just want to read some B-movie dumb fun then Apocalypse vs Dracula is entertaining. Messiah War is an alternate future story in which Apocalypse gets to play a different role. Lastly, he's not actually physically present for most of it but pretty much all of Uncanny X-Force from Rick Remender revolves around Apocalypse and the fallout of actions related to him.

Awesome, I will check those out, thanks!

I know what you mean, but you have to admit that it sounds a little funny when "well-crafted" is used in your complaint.
So what constitutes the sort of change you're looking for? How far off the worn path do we need to go. Are we talking Deadpool-esque? I'm open to whatever works well enough to keep these things going. To me, Ant-Man and the Wasp is strange enough to be the sort of deviation to counteract the onset of superhero fatigue. But that's not for me to decide. My favorites are when they get really weird with it, ie. Guardians and Doctor Strange.
They have earned so much good will with me that I'll try anything, because the numbers say that they're still doing all of it right.

I’m a huge fan of the movies, if I have one complaint it would be all the small stuff that gets lost trying to shoe horn 50+ years of continuity into an easily digestable form. I love the fact that all the movies are interconnected in a way, and on a level that I don’t think any brand has tried before. But the timeline of films, and space between just leaves a lot of continuity for the viewer to figure out on there own from brief and in some cases forced dialogue, like tony and peppers relationship, (they were good in IM3, broken up in CW, and talking about kids in IW? ) or Thor and Jane foster, have they even seen each other sence dark world? I wish,( and I get the logistics, legalities, and budgets that would not allow this) that they had done and AOS type show between films, do it anthology style with maybe 10 episodes per season keeping up with the main characters between films, devote one episode to each character throughout the season. Between AOU and ragnorok they could have shown Thor traveling the universe, and the events that lead to his “capture” in the beginning of ragnorok, or just do a pure drama episode with pepper and tony reconciling. An episode of Cap and his group post CW living on the run and doing merc work. Or hell even show Rody recovering from his injuries. They could slip in hints and Easter eggs for mega fans, or even work in MU characters that are obscure enough to never have a shot at the big screen.

Sometimes I think coming on toy forums makes me spend more than I would otherwise.

I suppose it does sound odd complaining about films while simultaneously describing them as fundamentally sound. That said, something can be inoffensive, good even, while also being thoroughly uninspired. I liked Sucker Punch, but also thought it was incredibly derivative. My overarching point is that many of the MCU movies have well-heeled themes with the “super” being the “new” (not so new once you identify the underlying vehicle) hook. Once that becomes obvious, the luster and appeal quickly fades (for me). If I want to see a spy action flick, I’ll watch Atomic Blonde or a Bourne film. Although Black Widow would obviously fit that theme, I’d prefer to see her super-heroine’ing alongside the Champions or Avengers.

As far as what I’d like to see – thanks for indulging me, these convos don’t usually get this far because most fans are trapped in “MCU good and you dumb, me like things sames” mentality – I could go for a Man-thing movie. The character’s early books had this awesomely detached narrative that I think would play out well in a way that could be quite unique. It’d even be great if the Nexus of All Realities possessed him toward the end, not just to provide a voice that he previously lacked, but to demonstrate how integral Ted Sallis is to Marvel’s vast tapestry. I’d also be all over a Dr Doom movie. Just about Doom, with minor appearances by heroes. I’ve always wanted stand-alone flicks about complex villains; I’ve been clamoring for a 2hr film of Vader slaughtering Jedi for only my entire life – hyperbole for sure, but pretty close. There is enough variety in comics to provide audiences with an experience that they didn’t even know they wanted, in contrast to constantly taking the safe route and only regurgitating tropes that have proven to be successful in the past.

Alas, I know this is a pipedream given the strict financial rubric that Feige has gotten fans to buy into (pretty brilliant in a Machiavellian way on his part – he’d make for an excellent evil mastermind – I kid…don’t pounce rabid fans ;))

A couple of comparison pics and some headswap options...

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/4...524c51_k_d.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/4...2e143f_k_d.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...d1c28b_k_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...9e8c1b_k_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/...82b663_k_d.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/...375a9c_k_d.jpg

As you can see, all the heads from both the vintage and Juggernaut wave Wolverine work with the new Tiger-rine. The yellows are a pretty close match. I don't have the cowl from the Vintage Wolvie, but from what I understand, the yellow is a bit different from the Tiger-rine. I actually like the new headsculpt on the vintage/Juggernaut Wolverine better, so I might actually keep it like that. It's nice to know though that Hasbro at least gave us these options without having to do any sort of mods.