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My Thoughts on Deadpool and Wolverine
I saw Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel Studios’ newest flick in the MCU featuring the Merc with the Mouth teaming up with the best there is at what he does. These are my thoughts. LFG! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Deadpool and Wolverine was a fun adventure pack with humor, action, and heart! The most unhinged opening I’ve ever seen in a movie. A cameo that masters the subversion joke. Action sequences that fans have been waiting to see. And more comic book characters, plot points, and references than you can shake a web at! It was a great movie, and I think my favorite of the Deadpool trilogy.
What about you True Believers? Have you seen Deadpool and Wolverine? Vote in the weekly poll below and let me know what you thought. That’s it for this Merry Marvel Mayhem, until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Spider Man 2 Turns 20!
Spider-Man 2 came out 20 years ago, so in today’s Merry Marvel Mayhem we’re going down memory lane as I relive the full, authentic 2004 Spider-Man experience!
Spider-Man 2 was, is, and always will be, one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. You’ve heard my story, but what about you? Hit the weekly poll and let me know when you first saw Spider-Man 2!
That’s all I’ve got, see you next week for more Merry Marvel Mayhem! Until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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2024 Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit Unboxing
I’m busting into the 2024 Nova-themed Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit this week in Merry Marvel Mayhem!
Overall, I’m pretty happy with this year’s kit! The comics are great (especially the Marvels one with my name on it!) I love new pins, the patch is cool, and the Nova figure is great. That’s it for me, but what about you? Tell me what you thought of this year’s Marvel Unlimited kit in the weekly poll below! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Upgrade Your Marvel Legends First Avenger Captain America!
Hasbro has only ever made one version of the Marvel Legends line Captain America from the First Avenger movie, and 13 years later he’s really outdated. It’s time to fix that!
Simply use:
- Head from Marvel Legends Endgame Quantum Suit Captain America (masked)
- Shield from any other MCU Marvel Legends Captain America (Age of Ultron or Civil War preferred)
- Head from Marvel Legends Peggy and Steve 2-Pack (unmasked)
Check out the images below, and see how much of an improvement the modifications make!
I honestly think this is such a huge and necessary upgrade to a really old figure. I’m definitely happier displaying him in my collection now. Try it out if you’ve got the figures, I promise you won’t regret it! Face Front True Believers, I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Julia Carpenter Spider-Woman SAVED Uncle Ben!
Julia “Cornwall” Carpenter saved Uncle Ben in Madame Web. How do I know? Well, walk with me True Believer, and let’s find out together.
There is a scene in the end of the film where Madame Web see’s Julia’s Spider-Woman stopping a criminal who appears to be in the middle of breaking and entering.
First off, from the moment I saw the movie in theaters I clocked this guy as Uncle Ben’s killer. Why? Because he’s wearing the same getup usually seen on who is canonically called “The Burglar”. The brown jacket over a yellow shirt, green pants, and some form of cap. It varies, depending on the comic or iteration, but this is the base design.
Second, we can see in this shot (from the Blu-Ray extras, a scene not in the actual movie) Adam Scott’s Ben Parker coming home with groceries. Now remember, unlike in the Tobey and Andrew movies, in the comics Uncle Ben was killed in a home invasion. The layout of the house is not the same as earlier in the film, but that’s because he was staying in Mary Parker’s house while Richard was out of town, so it’s safe to say this is Ben’s house.
The important thing to note about this scene is that it takes place in the future. Ben is wearing glasses that he didn’t have in the film, and probably now needs because he’s older. And you’ll notice a flat screen TV, when earlier in the film we were looking at an old 4:3 television set. So definitely an indication that some time has passed.
But is this the house that Spider-Woman is in, stopping the Burglar? Well, yes. Let’s take a look at this shelf. In both shots you see this speaker, a trophy, and a photo on top.
You’ll also notice a flashlight on the floor. In the confrontation scene, when the Burglar stumbles over the couch, he’s got a flashlight that he appears to drop, as he’s only holding a gun in the next shot.
Still don’t believe me? Well, the last piece of evidence, which I probably should have looked up first, is a credit on IMDb that lists Michael Papajohn as “The Burglar”. The same man who played The Carjacker, aka Dennis Carradine, in Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).
So there you have it! Spider-Woman saved Uncle Ben! What a cool detail. It probably explains why Spider-Man hasn’t shown up in any of these SonyVerse movies! Because Uncle Ben is still alive. Is that enough evidence? Do you believe me? Vote in the weekly poll below, and let me know any other theories you’ve got in the comments. That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
EDIT: Yeah, so… I’m dumb. Julia Carpenter is in the room. This proves everything. Including that I wasted a lot of time…
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X-Men ’97 is Perfect!
The first season of Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 is finished, and I’m here to give you my thoughts in the latest episode of Merry Marvel Mayhem!
Doing Cyclops justice, adapting some heavy-hitting storylines, and revving the much beloved 90’s cartoon, X-Men ’97 never stopped firing on all cylinders! This is the perfect way to revive an old show and modernize it for today’s audience. From the cheer-worthy fight scenes to the dramatic story threads, I can’t think of a single moment X-Men ’97 missed.
This show was truly, in every sense of the word, perfect, and I can’t wait for more. Today’s weekly poll: What was your favorite episode of X-Men ’97? Answer down below, and then let me know in the comments what your favorite moment was, or who’s your favorite X-Men! That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Spider-Man Returns to Theaters!
That’s right True Believers, Spider-Man, the original 2002 movie, returned to theaters on April 25, 2024. And I finally got to see it for the first time on the big screen! I detailed my entire experience below in the first episode of Merry Marvel Mayhem!
I loved finally getting to see the movie that changed my life in an actual theater. I still have distinct memories of my time in the theater watching every other Spider-Man movie that swung into cinemas after the initial smash hit 22 years ago.
Since this was the film that kicked off my love for Spider-Man, I wasted no time ordering my tickets when Sony said they were putting it back out for a theatrical rerelease! Armed with the only Spider-Man 1 shirt I have that’s not made for a 9-year-old, my ToyBiz Super Posable Spider-Man, and a little plushie names Traveling Spidey I got years ago, I made my way to the cinema. Being surrounded by so many fans of Spider-Man simply there to celebrate his return to the big screen was such a magical experience!
What about you True Believers? Comment below your fondest memory of watching a Spider-Man movie in theaters. I’m also going to be doing a weekly poll! And for this week, the question is simple:
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Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 11: For the Love of MJ
It’s Peter B. Parker’s anniversary with his ex-wife Mary Jane! He’s trying to set things right, but the Master Planner’s forces will do anything to stop true love!
What an episode! Don’t worry, we’ll save THAT part for the end, make sure you watch the ENTIRE EPISODE before you scroll any further True Believers. You don’t want to be spoiled, do you?
Firstly I’d like to thank Face Front newcomer Rhema Thom for providing her voice to the iconic Mary Jane Watson! Rhema seemed like a natural, and delivered me a robust performance unlike any I’ve seen before!
Also for the first time on Face Front is my brother, Justin, who voiced Ned Leeds, with my mom and sister returning as Dr. Kafka and Michelle Jones respectively. Thanks fam!
Xavier Hernandez returns as Spider-Man 2099, and for the first time since episode 3, is actually able to have a conversation with Peter! Imagine that!
And then there’s Eileen Nestman. Not only did she once again provide the voice of Ghost-Spider to perfection, but she (with the help of sculpting artist Ashley Cazier) created the entirety of Aunt May’s house. More on that below. Eileen also pulled double duty in this episode, in a role we’ll discuss later…
But of course, what’s an episode of Spider-Verse without the Easter Eggs? So let’s go over them!
The Handshake
If you’ve seen any MCU Spider-Man movies, then you know Peter and Ned have a special handshake! I did the best I could to recreate it in figure form, it was actually kind of difficult if you can believe it.
The CEO
Um, Ned Leeds is the CEO of… well, if you know, you know. This is a family website!
A Good Dream
Small Easter egg here, but Peter telling Miles this time he was having a good dream is the last line from the comic Spider-Man: Life Story. And yes, the panel makes me cry every single time I read it.
The Photo
The Marvel Legends VHS line Wolverine came with a picture frame that had Scott and Jean in it so fans could recreate the now memed moment from the classic X-Men show. Fortunately, they made the frame so that you can stick any appropriately sized picture in there. So I swapped one redhead for another and recreated the meme with Peter B. Parker!
May Parker’s House
The aforementioned Eileen Nestman provided this episode with way more than just her voice. She and Face Front’s sculpting artist Ashley Cazier worked meticulously to recreate the version of Aunt May’s house seen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which you all know is above the Spider’s Nest.
Everything from the retro TV to the pictures on the wall, this near 1:1 creation elevated this set to the next level, providing a wonderful centerpiece for the episode!
Jackpot!
For those who don’t know, Mary Jane’s first line to Peter in the comics (and last when their marriage was destroyed by Mephisto) was “Face it Tiger, you just hit the Jackpot!” Also, a fun coincidence, the Mary Jane figure used for this episode is basically in the same outfit she was wearing in the comic. A near perfect recreation of Peter and MJ’s first meeting! Well, with the exception of the door being slammed in her face…
Birthday!
When Tony gives Peter the Spider-Mobile and wishes him a happy birthday, Peter corrects him, stating that his birthday is August 10th. This is Peter’s birthday in the MCU, as seen in a deleted scene in Far From Home, and it’s also the day in 1962 that Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15.
Underoos
Did you notice that when Peter is on Tony’s HUD he’s listed as Underoos? A nod to the nickname Tony gave him in Captain America: Civil War.
Ezekiel Stane
While never appearing in the MCU, Ezekiel Stane in the comics is the son of Obadiah. Ezekiel is a genius, rivaling even Tony, and an enemy of Iron Man. He makes his debut on Earth-84061, taking up the mantle of Iron Monger to avenge the death of his father at the hands of Tony Stark!
Upgrades
Ezekiel mentions he solved several problems on the Iron Monger suit, all of which Tony used to beat Obadiah in the first Iron Man movie, most notably the icing problem. He mentions he picked up an Arc Reactor from Coney Island, which was a result of a plane full of Stark tech crashing there during Peter’s climactic battle with the Vulture at the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Watching You
MJ sneaks into the fight against Iron Monger to observe Spider-Man. At this point, she’s suspicious that Peter is Spider-Man (at least 70% sure) but just needs that last bit of confirmation.
Really Old Movie
Thanks to AV club, Peter has seen a lot of really old movies, which has led to the defeat of foes such as Giant-Man, Ebony Maw, and now Iron Monger! In Robocop, the titular hero is faced with this menacing, unstoppable death machine. However, when he flees down the stairs, the robot trips, falls, gets stuck on its back, and is ultimately defeated.
Goblin Gas
The line about the “odorless, billowing gas” is exactly how Spider-Man described the gas Green Goblin uses to take his Spider-Sense in the comics. The gas that Peter’s been doused with since Episode 9!
The World Will be Yours and Mine
This line Goblin says to Norman is a deep cut. He never said it in the movie, but the old Toybiz chair with the Goblin mask utter the line, along with “Can Spider-Man come out to play?” and the classic Goblin laugh.
Okay, now I’m only going to say this once: SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE! TURN AROUND, AND COME BACK LATER!!!!
Still here?
And you saw the episode, right?
You’re sure?
Don’t lie to me!
You know what, just scroll back up and watch it again, just to be sure.
Okay, we good?
You watched it twice?
Alright, here we go:
The Amazing Spider-Man first found a hint that his Gwen Stacy was alive way back in Episode 2, and has been searching for her ever since. He finally found her, but much to his surprise, it turns out that the love of his life, Gwen Stacy, is the Master Planner.
Screenshot That felt so weird to type, I’ve been keeping it a secret for years! Finally, the truth revealed! Not only that, but Peter now knows his world is gone! Yeah, sorry if I stopped your heart several times in the end there.
Things are getting real, and with all of the Amazing team-ups done, the Master Planner, aka Gwen Stacy, is preparing to initiate her Master Plan.
But how is she alive? Why did she become the Master Planner? What is her master plan? All in due time. But this is certainly a twist that (I hope) no one saw coming!
Hats off to Eileen for playing the Master Planner reveal to perfection. And in case you’re wondering, no, she had no idea she would be voicing the big villain of the show! That was a fun script read. She was simply floored, and I hope you all are too!
The next episode is 12. I usually reveal the titles of the episodes, but this one is different. Guess you’re just gonna have to wait and see! Thank you for sticking with me on Spidey’s journey through the Spider-Verse. Needless to say the show is reaching its climax. I just hope you’re ready!
Until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Spider-Verse!
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The Irredeemable Spider-Man
Spider-Man finally crosses the line. There may be no redemption for Peter Parker after this…
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Marvel Legends Retro Card Spider-Man Wave Showcase
I got a full wave of new retro carded Spider-Man figures from Hasbro Pulse! Below you’ll find a video showcasing all of them with some pretty sweet intros, and a closer look at the pictures I took of each along with a short review.
Last Stand Spider-Man
The Last Stand Spider-Man figure is the one that comes with the least accessories, but I feel like he doesn’t need many. In his debut appearance, he was backed against Aunt May’s grave, surrounded by armored enforcers, and threw down with nothing but the hands. Fists and open hands are perfect for this version of Spider-Man.
The jacket does limit articulation, he can’t really bend or twist in his torso area. So you’ll have a hard time getting those real Spidey poses out of him, but he’s an old man I guess, so maybe he doesn’t need to move as much. Other than that, the figure looks great and I’m glad to have him in the collection. His unique look makes him stand (get it?) out on a shelf full of other Spider-People!
Jack O’Lantern
I have two other Jack O’Lanterns, a ToyBiz one and the early Hasbro one. I have to say, this guy is the best. Opposite Last Stand Spider-Man, he came with the most accessories. His hover disk is so versatile. You can plug the little dreidel piece in at the bottom and it’ll make him look like he’s leaning. Or you can remove it and it’ll keep the disk flat. You can also plug in a glider stand if you have a spare one from the likes of the No Way Home Green Goblin or Hawkeye Skycycle.
He’s got little (definitely not pumpkin) bombs on his waist, one of which is removable and fits nicely into his hand. I also like that it clips onto the belt securely so it doesn’t constantly fall off. The pumpkin head and scale armor are some very well-done deco. I think he might just be a little too broad, but that’s a nitpick. This is undoubtedly the best Jack O’Lantern figure ever made.
Scarlet Spider
Now my main concern going in with this figures was Ben’s hoodie. It’s a separate piece, and I felt initially that it would limit articulation like Last Stand Spider-Man’s jacket. Previous Scarlet Spider figures had the hoodie sculpted on a with an ab crunch segmenting it. So this definitely looks better aesthetically.
And, I’m pleased to announce that Ben can still strike as many poses as your heart desires. The major factor in this is that he’s built on the Renew Your Vows Spider-Man buck, so he’s got that waist bend that lets him get into any Spidey pose he needs to. And I’m also pleased to announce that he’s got a full set of hands, fists, wall-crawlers and Thwip hands! Unfortunately, it’s a crapshoot lately on whether or not Hasbro will equip a full set of Spider-Man hands, so I’m glad they decided to do so for what is probably going to be become the quintessential Ben Reilly figure.
Hallow’s Eve
Of course Ben is going to need his partner in crime! Even though this version of Janine Godbe pairs better with the previously released Chasm figure! She looks great, honestly, right off the page. She’s one of those characters that has such a unique design that even those who may not know much about her (she’s a relatively new character) may want to pick her up!
She’s got some pretty vibrant colors and two of her power-granting Halloween masks with her. She’s popped up in quite a few issues of Amazing Spider-Man and even had her own book for a bit, so she’s definitely making her mark in the Marvel Universe. It’s kind of cool they’ve already got a figure for her!
Spider-Shot
This morally bankrupt version of Peter Parker is pretty great in figure form. The most unique accessory he’s got is his finger guns that actually allow you to slot in a gunshot effect. It doesn’t exactly go straight (maybe I put it in wrong?) but it’s still cool nonetheless. He doesn’t have open hands, but he’s got Thwips and fists, so that’s fine. Articulation is great, he’s got some sculpted pouches, and the deco is on point. He’s not the most recognizable version of Spider-Man, but if you know his story he’s a pretty cool figure to have.
Tombstone
Lastly is Tombstone. And he is 100 times better than the Vulture wave attempt from 2017. (Seen taking on Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 9: Leap of Faith!) He’s TALL! Not too much, but as much as Tombstone realistically should be. He’s got an alternate set of hands and an extra head (the first one had neither). And on top of all that, he’s got a crowbar!
The other major difference is that this one’s in a suit. Now yes, this did hamper him articulation-wise, but Tombstone is at his best when he’s standing tall like a stone slab (get it?). Now I’m not sure why they went with a whole neck piece instead of just an interchangeable head, but it didn’t cause any problems so I’m not complaining. All in all, this is definitely a superior version of Lonnie Lincoln!
And there you have it! Six brand new retro-carded Spider-Man figures! I love all of these guys, and definitely want to use them in some future videos! If you have a chance to get your hands on these figs, I highly reccomend them. I hope I’ve helped inform your decision if you were on the fence. As mentioned, I got mine from Hasbro Pulse. They’re the most reliable when it comes to Legends, so always preorder from there! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
