“I Don’t Have Anyone But You”: Love in the MCU

There’s nothing quite as important to human existence as love.  Love should define the core of all our relationships – with our significant other, our families, our friends, our God, and (though we often disregard this) ourselves.  As such, love has always been a central feature – in message as well as in inspiration – of many of our artistic works.  Love fills our novels, our pop songs, our films (from rom coms like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days to deep, philosophical examinations like Her), our paintings, our plays, and even our comic books.  Being such a foundational part of our lives, we continue to seek and explore it, always and in all ways.  It should come as no surprise then that we find lots of looks at love in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  But, of all the relationships and flirtationships Marvel’s given us, there’s only one power couple – Pepper Potts and Tony Stark.

Lovin’ Loki: When A Villain Evolves

As early news for 2012’s The Avengers began to spread, we learned (much like in the comics) the villain who would unite these heroes for the first time was a familiar face.  Loki Laufeyson had survived his self-imposed fall from the Bifrost at the end of 2011’s Thor and would be leading a Chitauri invasion force to take Earth as his own.  This had two major implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  First, most obviously, it gave the Avengers a reason to form.  Second, it showed the MCU was finally ready to depart from the default/cliché ending to almost every superhero movie ever.  A villain had lived!  This would be a game changer.  In allowing Loki’s character to evolve (over the course of five films by the time Avengers: Infinity War hits), fans have been able to embrace him as Tom Hiddleston has built an engaging, complicated, and evolving character.

The Great Chris Debate: In Defense of Chris Hemsworth

Guest Post by Kalie Zamierowski of Just Dread-full

I will be the first to admit: there are a lot of great Chrises in Hollywood right now – a lot of talented, attractive, funny men who warrant our attention. If you’ve been following the series so far, you’ve read two arguments: one explaining why Chris Pratt is the best Chris in the business, and one explaining why Chris Evans is. Well, I have no particular vendetta against Chris Pratt or Chris Evans or (the yet-to-come) Chris Pine – all of whom are brilliant, funny, incredibly good-looking men. Indeed, I might even assert that Chris Pratt or Evans or Pine were the best Chris in Hollywood, if….if….if Chris Hemsworth didn’t exist! But let’s face it, Chris Hemsworth does exist. Oh, he exists, and his wit, charm, and brazen sex appeal make him, undoubtedly, the best Chris. Let’s delve into, with a little more specificity, why Chris Hemsworth is the best Chris there is.

The Great Chris Debate! Part 2: Chris Evans

Guest Post by Kathleen of Graphic Novelty²

This week, Michael of My Comic Relief, Kalie of Just Dread-full, Nancy, and I are going head to head – trying to decide which cinematic superhero Chris is best!!! Yesterday, Michael posted a pretty good case for Chris Pratt. However, read on to see my case for the obvious choice, Chris Evans ;D

The Great Chris Debate: In Praise of Chris Pratt

As superhero movies have become a larger and larger part of our popular culture, a question has vexed fans and scholars alike.  Which of the cinematic superhero Chrises is the greatest Chris of all??  Now, three incredible blogs and four intrepid bloggers have banded together to try and definitively answer this daunting question.  Nancy and Kathleen of Graphic Novelty², Kalie of Just Dread-full, and yours truly are going to get to the bottom of this.  So fasten your seatbelts as we spend the next few days exploring all things Chris…although, sadly for my collaborators, I don’t know if we’ll need more than one post.  Because I’ve solved it.  It’s Chris Pratt for the win – easy.  No contest.  Game.  Set.  Match.  Now here’s why.

My Avengers: Infinity War Preparation!

It’s coming.  The “most ambitious crossover event in history” is almost here.  And, while I might think the most ambitious crossover ever thing is a little heavy-handed, this is undeniably HUGE.  On 26^th April, ten years of interconnected storytelling will come together in Avengers: Infinity War, bringing together all the characters Marvel has introduced into their cinematic universe over the last decade.  This brings with it many pressing questions.  Who will live??  Who will die?!?  And, perhaps most vexingly of all…how do I go about preparing for this?!?!?

Avengers: Infinity War – A Trailer, A Wardrobe Choice

Alright, so the new and final trailer for Avengers: Infinity War dropped yesterday.  Aaaaaaahhhh – as if Fridays weren’t exciting enough!!  Naturally, I watched it as soon as it came out (thank you well timed prep mod/trailer release) and then I spent my entire lunch break watching it again (and again (and again (and again and again and again (and again)))).  We are barely a month away from the culmination of ten years of storytelling within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  We are finally here.  They are finally going to do battle with Thanos.  In and around grading exams today, I figured I’d write about my excitement with the trailer, ALL THE FEELS it elicited, and the major clothing conundrum it caused.

The Future of the MCU: A Little Speculative Fun

With the premiere of Black Panther just two weeks away, my excitement couldn’t be higher!  I have fallen in love with the character through Ta-Nehisi Coates genre-defining run on the title and my anticipation of seeing the world of Wakanda on the big screen has legitimately surpassed – by far (and for real!) – my excitement for Avengers: Infinity War.  And now Black Panther has taken the record for the largest ticket presale for any superhero movie ever!!  As I get ready for Black Panther, I’ve been thinking a lot about what Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will look like.  Who lives?!?  Who dies?!?  What movies will we see down the line?!?  Here are my guesses…

Avengers: Infinity War – A Trailer, A Comic

Well, The Last Jedi FINALLY comes out today.  So let’s discuss what’s on everyone’s mind…the Avengers: Infinity War trailer!  Woo!  A few weeks ago we got our very first look at the massive MCU crossover that’s been (depending on how you look at it) ten years (going from Iron Man) or six years in the making (going from The Avengers).  The Avengers!  The Guardians of the Galaxy!  The nation of Wakanda!  Everyone’s ready to go to war with the mad titan Thanos as he seeks the transcendental power of God.  YIKES.  With the trailer in mind, I sat down to re-read Jim Starlin and Ron Lim’s original Infinity War series from 1992 the other night, wondering what light it could shed on the impending cinematic epic.

Will the MCU and Marvel Television Just Break-Up Already?

“There are two dates at the end of every relationship, the day you should have broken up and the day you actually do.”  This brilliant wisdom was offered by a lifelong friend of mine back when we were in college and Lauren was absolutely right.  Everyone has known couples that should have broken up but, for whatever reason, are still ambling along…making life rough for each other and super awkward for everyone who knows them.  There is no couple I can think of more in need of accepting reality, admitting their relationship is broken beyond repair and just moving on than the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel Television.