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  • Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 12

    Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 12

    Whatever happened to Gwen Stacy? Watch below, and find out. But ONLY if you’ve seen every other episode of Return to the Spider-Verse! If not, please Click Here to watch those first. If you have, then proceed…

    Well, that was a lot, wasn’t it? The twists, the turns, the reveals, the heartbreak! Oh my, it was nearly too much to bear! I hope this was as worth the wait for you as it was for me!

    A lot of dots have finally been connected. All of those post credits scenes (you have been sticking around for those, right?) have been tied together. Gwen’s rise, or rather fall, to become the Master Planner revealed at last.

    Bringing Gwen to life is the always incredible Eileen Nestman. Have I praised her enough? The answer is a big NO! I haven’t! Because I literally can’t for the heavy lifting she did in this episode. My goodness, Eileen always comes to play but I’ll tell you, True Believers, I think this was her BEST performance to date. She really sold Gwen’s descent into the Master Planner. Such raw emotion, I am so grateful every day that she’s my friend.

    And a few months ago, you all helped thank her for her contributions to Face Front by voting her for Super Mom! She unfortunately didn’t win, but we helped get her up to 11th place! And as promised, I put the names of everyone who voted in the credits of this video. Let’s see them again:

    The_Graytforever
    Wars the Marvel
    MrMisterMelon
    The Amazing Gamer Djmc
    Anselmo Gutierrez Pérez/SemISkUIZ
    King VA Productions

    Thanks again guys! Eileen and I really appreciate your support.

    Rounding out the cast was Emily Tatsumi who never fails me as Peni Parker, and my sister Jaelen Westbrook, who gave me Lyla’s lines literally the night before the episode went live. Lyla’s role was so small I forgot she was in the video and had no one to voice her! Thank goodness Jaelen always comes through for me in a pinch.

    Now, this video had a ton of references, homages, and Easter Eggs, so let’s not waste anymore time and get right to them.

    Let Her Go

    The video begins with some eerily familiar dialogue during the logo which then transitions into a recreation of the death of Gwen Stacy from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, everything down to the score. A cold open to be sure, but, I feel like from even the video thumbnail, you guys knew what you were in for.

    The New Goblin

    I put up a Friend or Foe poll a while ago and you guys voted to reveal a friend, after which I revealed Harry Osborn, the New Goblin, would be making his debut in the Face Front Universe. Harry arrives in Loomworld referencing the events of Spider-Man 3. From confusing Gwen with Bryce Dallas Howard’s version to the final battle of the movie, Harry makes it evident that he remembers everything up to his death. And look, his face is fine too! (I always personally believed the Goblin serum would fix that eventually.)

    Unfortunately he freaks Gwen out, so he has to take off. But that just means that he’s out there somewhere in Loomworld. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll see him again…

    The Rose

    While Gwen is wondering through the Noir portion of Loomworld, she bumps into a rather polite masked man in a suit, who gifts her with a rose before leaving. Spidey fans know this man as Wilson Fisk’s son, Richard Fisk, aka, the Rose. What was he doing there, though? Who knows? Well, I do. Maybe you will too. Eventually…

    Lyla

    As mentioned earlier, Miguel O’Hara’s AI assistant Lyla makes an appearance in this episode. She collects a Spider-Bot that appears to be gathering data and reports to Miguel that there are quantum anomalies everywhere. A mysterious little cameo, that perhaps holds something further? Only time will tell.

    Loomworld

    Gwen names this new patchwork world she’s found herself in “Loomworld”. Fans with a sharp ear will have heard this before in Spider-Man: Web-Warriors episodes 3, 10, and Turning Point. But what exactly is Loomworld? Well, in the comics, it’s Earth-001, and HQ for the Inheritors, made up of worlds they conquered and pieced together. It was the location of quite a few battles in the original Spider-Verse comic, way back in 2014, and was at one time an access point to the Web of Life and Destiny. It’s been home to the Inheritor-turned-Master Weaver Karn, and the Web-Warriors from the comics.

    In my series, Loomworld is this new world that’s been created out of pieces of different Spider-Man universes, apparently pulled together by our one and only MCU Peter. There are still many mysteries behind this world’s conception, but that is, at least for now, the gist of it.

    Sandman

    Flint Marko, aka Sandman, appears in Loomworld, confused and using familiar lines (No Way Home anyone?) This is indeed the Spider-Man 3 version of Sandman, as noted by his demanding where his daughter Penny is. Yes, that also means that Marko is hiding out there somewhere as well! By the way, Sandman was the Foe option for the Friend or Foe poll, in case you were wondering.

    Daughter of Captain Stacy

    Gwen mentions that she studied Captain Stacy’s suspects boards and knew how to get into the minds of criminals. This was a little tidbit I got from the Giant-Size Gwen Stacy comic book, which tells the story of Gwen before she meets Peter Parker. Surprisingly, that hadn’t been explored until that 2022 comic. Technically it began in 2020, but COVID paused it 2 issues in and they put out the Giant-Size two years later, finishing it. Which I was very grateful for, because I really wanted to know how that story ended. Doubly grateful, actually, because it was reading this comic that got me past a serious writer’s block I had writing this episode. Seriously guys, if you ever need inspiration for your stories, read the comics!

    The Prowler

    Prowler’s been working for the Master Planner since literally the post credits scene of episode 1. Now we finally see how that team-up came to be. Having just died saving Miles, Prowler’s now unemployed, and back in an unfamiliar world. Gwen’s offering him a chance to not only return to normalcy, but to save the nephew he gave his life to protect. Harry Osborn’s black card doesn’t hurt either.

    The Web of Life and Destiny

    When attempting to explain how Loomworld will inevitably be destroyed, Gwen uses a metaphor, a web that controls the life and destiny of all living beings in the multiverse. A not-so-subtle reference to the Web of Life and Destiny, the great web that connects all the Spider Totems in the Spider-Verse!

    Amazing Spider-Man #121

    When running failed Super Collider trials, Gwen gives up after 129. But the first number I have listed up there is 121, which is a reference to the issue of Amazing Spider-Man where Gwen Stacy was killed by the Green Goblin.

    The Sinister Six

    The “Special Projects” file on Oscorp’s computers is from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The mystery man in the end of the movie who approached Harry in his cell was Gustav Fiers, someone called “The Gentelman”, as I subtly have Gwen state. They talk about turning a small group of men in to super criminals, stating everything they need is already at Oscorp. It doesn’t seem like their plan ever came to fruition, but Gwen dug it up, and reactivated it to form the Sinister Six.

    Also note that a lot of the members, when being recruited, use lines from the previous movies. Mysterio’s capes and lasers rant from Far From Home. Electro’s “I got my body back” from No Way Home. Vulture’s comment about the food from Morbius (yeah, I know). And Doc Ock’s “NOOOOOO” from Spider-Man 2. Remember how in episode 7 Doc Ock said he heard the Master Planner’s voice on repeat, telling him to destroy Spider-Man? Yeah, now you know what that’s about. In addition to that, the same alarm sound was used in episode 2 to flip Connors into the Lizard, who Gwen finally got revenge on for killing her father.

    Another callback, when recruiting the Spectacular Green Goblin, is from the Christmas episode, where he tells Spectacular Spider-Man he was approached by the Master Planner but refused, stating it would be “The end of everything”. The Dafoe Goblin, on the other hand, uses a line from the Spider-Man movie video game. When he kidnaps Mary Jane in a cutscene, he tells her “Put your heart into the screams my lovely girl! The better to bait my trap!” Of course, this is because he kidnapped Mary Jane to lure Spider-Man.

    The Master Planner

    Now in the comics, the Master Planner was an alias Doc Ock used to lure Spider-Man to his doom. I of course made it clear from early on that the Master Planner was someone completely different in this series. We finally got the reveal last episode, but now we know how she came upon the name! Granted, it was more or less an accident, but she owned it. Especially later in the video…

    What the Heck was That!?

    Okay, so Gwen definitely saw something here. What is it? Zoom and enhance! Turn up the brightness! Look closely.

    Got a Minute?

    Now, in Across the Spider-Verse, they recreated this moment where Gwen comes to get Miles. He’s listening to Hummingbird, she’s got a pink sweater, they’re both a bit older. But in Into the Spider-Verse, he’s clearly listening to Sunflower, and it’s not much longer after the first movie ends. And even back in 2020 when I made Return of the Sinister Six, I had always imagined that this is where Gwen picked up Miles before they arrived to help. So that’s when my version of the “Got a minute?” scene takes place.

    Vanessa67

    The Kingpin’s password to access the encrypted Collider file (which we never actually discovered in episode 4) is Vanessa67. This is a reference to his wife, Vanessa Fisk, and the year of Kingpin’s first appearance, 1967.

    Christmas Records

    When Prowler mentions he has some Christmas records from his brother, this is actually a reference from the Insomniac game Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. At one point in Miles’ apartment, you can play his father’s Christmas records. In the next game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Miles hears the records playing downstairs and rushes down to find that Uncle Aaron is now in possession of them. While it’s technically a different version of Aaron Davis, we know from Into the Spider-Verse that he does own a record player, so it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility he got some Christmas record from Jefferson!

    One More Day

    When Prowler asks how close they are to completion, Gwen states that she needs one more day. This is a direct reference to the (universally hated) comic One More Day, where Peter infamously makes a deal with Mephisto and dissolves his marriage to Mary Jane, a decision that’s affecting Spider-Man comics nearly two decades later. Unfortunately. It’s also revealed after the credits of this video that the finale of Return to the Spider-Verse will be called One More Day! Now I’m not arrogant enough to state that I’m gonna do a better job than the House of Ideas, but I promise my One More Day at the very least won’t be universally hated!

    The Night Gwen Stacy Died

    Notice how this episode doesn’t have a title? That was intentional! In Amazing Spider-Man #121, they don’t have the title at the beginning of the book like they usually do because the story was called “The Night Gwen Stacy Died”, which was obviously a spoiler. So, as an homage to that, I gave episode 12 the same name, and revealed the title at the very end!

    So there we have it. Answers, at long last! But more questions yet have arisen from this chapter in our tale. Why was Spidey in that void? What the heck happened around the 34:30 timestamp? What will happen to Loomworld now that the Master Plan has been initiated? Will the Amazing Friends be able to reconcile before it all goes boom!? All good questions. And they will be answered in Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 13: One More Day. The finale. The end. Man, it’s frightening and exciting! I’ve had this planned for years, and to be so close… Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. Thank you all for watching, for supporting Face Front, I do this for you guys. I hope you enjoyed this episode, and I can’t wait for the next. Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Prequel Comic #1: What We Know

    Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Prequel Comic #1: What We Know

    Hey there True Believers! While we impatiently await Marvel Animation’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, coming to Disney+ January 29, Marvel has so graciously decided to satiate us with a prequel comic series (by Christos Gage), of which I’ve read the first issue! What makes this special is that this is the first glimpse into the world of this new version of Peter Parker! I learned quite a bit from this issue, and there seem to be quite a few differences in the Spider-Man lore we all know. So, let’s break it all down.

    We open with poor Peter getting tossed off a building by a man I immediately clocked as Man Mountain Marko (I was right, by the way, but I’ll get back to that). Pete’s in his Mk1 Spidey suit we’ve seen in promos and on the cover of this very comic. But before he meets his doom, we flash back…

    … To Midtown High. Which has been destroyed. (This is probably the result of a battle between Dr. Strange and -maybe- Shathra, as described in the D23 footage.) The comic doesn’t tell us because the scene is clearly going to be in the show, we’re told as much in an author’s note. But in the aftermath, Peter meets Nico Minoru (from the Runaways), gets bitten by a spider, then passes out for a second.

    Now here’s what caught my attention. Peter doesn’t want to go to the ER for money concerns (he’s broke, broke in this universe) and because he and May “spent enough time in hospitals”. After which May insinuates Ben is already dead (before Peter was bitten!), and that he would be upset if he was the reason Peter couldn’t take care of himself.

    Not only this, but Peter later confides in Nico that at his old school, before High School (remember, the show was once called Freshman Year) he came to be known as “the poor kid whose uncle died”. So I’m guessing that Uncle Ben wasn’t murdered. I think he got sick, was hospitalized for a long time, costing the Parkers a lot of money, then died.

    This is obviously a major departure from your standard Peter Parker Spider-Man fare, so I’m quite curious to see how this shakes out in forming his identity as a hero. Moving on, Peter and Nico decide to investigate the explosion at Midtown, which they discover happened after the chaos that brought the spider bite, and deduce it was likely caused by Silvio Manfredi (aka Silvermane), who’s been trying to buy up Midtown’s land.

    I’m not sure if Silvermane’s going to carry over to the show, or be dealt with in the comic, but it’s good to see him included in some new Spidey media. After that, some cleanup guys show up to get rid of all traces to Manfredi, and end up chasing after Peter. He’d used his Spider-Sense and reflexes earlier to save a cat and catch Nico sneaking up on him, but now he really gets to use his powers.

    First of all, I love how Silvermane’s guys are like, unabashed mobsters. Like, “shuddup” and “so long, sucker” mobsters. And second, Peter kind of fumbling through the fight but handing it to Silvermane’s guys was a good sequence. I can’t explain it, but Peter Spider-Manning in civilian clothes is always something I love to see.

    After a narrow escape, he and Nico decide to keep quiet about Manfredi as not to endanger their families. Nico has a foster mom because I’m guessing she’s already run away (she mentions LA a lot) and the whole ‘Mom is a supervillain with the Staff of One’ is a lot of baggage to bring into what is ultimately Peter’s story.

    So Peter decides that if he wants to pursue Silvermane, he’s got to be someone else… Spider-Man? Perhaps? The symbolic mask on the floor beneath Pete there seems to indicate so.

    Meanwhile at Silvermane Hair Products for Men Inc. (which is a hilariously perfect front for Silvermane’s operation) Silvermane is appalled at the idea of a superhero in Queens. He mentions the Avengers stick to, essentially, Avenger-level threats, meaning they exist in this universe already (Peter is shown to be fond of Captain America). Then he mentions that he doesn’t want what’s happened in Hell’s Kitchen to happen on his turf. We know Charlie Cox is back and voicing Daredevil for the show, so not only is his reputation already up and running, but he’s become a problem for criminals by this point as well.

    Silvermane then tells the man, the size of a mountain, named Marko (told you) that he needs Peter dealt with in a very public “send a message” kind of way. And he orders him to summon The Enforcers. The lasso wielding Montana, the dapper Fancy Dan, and the brutish Ox, for the uninitiated. So I’m pretty excited to see what they’re like in this new Spider-Man universe!

    That’s where the issue ends, and we get a tease for the next issue of Peter in his wrestling outfit reminiscent of the one worn in Amazing Fantasy #15, fighting against presumably Crusher Hogan, but so many things have changed I don’t want to assume anything!

    Uncle Ben dead before the spider bite. He’s best friends with Nico Minouru. He may not be going to Midtown (if Silvermane isn’t stopped and they can’t rebuild). So much to wrap my head around! Not having context for a lot of this made the story a little jarring, but this isn’t strictly a prequel. Christos Gage said on Twitter that they’re filling in a time jump that takes place in episode 1 of the show.

    As our first little glimpse into this new Spider-Man world, I definitely have a lot of questions and am very curious to see the story they’re telling. I’ll let you guys know what I find out in issue #2 when it drops, and I can’t wait to watch the show when it comes out! Until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Venom: The Last Dance – Is it Really the End?

    Venom: The Last Dance – Is it Really the End?

    Venom’s final movie is out, but is this truly the end for Eddie Brock and his Symbiotic pal? And what’s this I hear about an Agent Venom movie? Is Knull still a threat!? Find out in today’s Merry Marvel Mayhem!

    Venom: The Last Dance definitely could have been a lot better. As the final installment in this Venom trilogy, I feel like it just didn’t deliver on that big finale feeling. With attention divided between too many new characters, a reason for the title character to be absent most of the movie, and the lack of real connective tissue to the first two movies, The Last Dance just couldn’t stack up to the rest of the trilogy. Rumors of an Agent Venom movie are swirling, I personally think Sony needs to stop, but I guess we’ll see. I mean, Knull has to fight someone…

    What’d you think True Believers? Am I wrong? Is this actually the best of the three movies? Vote in the poll below and let me know what you thought in the comments! That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

    What did you think of Venom the Last Dance?

  • Nick Fury: The New Initiative

    Nick Fury: The New Initiative

    Faced with a dark future, Nick Fury rallies his allies to confront this new threat, and fight in a Secret War!

    The Story so Far…

    Nick Fury: The New Initiative was pitched all the way back in 2019 as a prequel to the Infinity Showdown. While Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Loki were all supposed to deal with the fallout of Falcon’s snap, Nick Fury was supposed to set the stage for how it all happened. Though some changes have been made since then, the base story is still the same at its core as it was all those years ago.

    The New Initiative sees Fury in the aftermath of the Infinity War, which in the Face Front Universe played out a bit differently. Falcon never blipped, and as a result Thanos was killed in Wakanda and Thor was able to reverse his snap in 5 minutes instead of 5 years. Determined to make sure an extinction-level event like that never happens again, Fury tasks Captain Marvel with finding someone that can guard the Infinity Gauntlet full time, which as we saw led her to Adam Warlock.

    Unfortunately, a simple mistake was made just after the Infinity War, with grave consequences. The Infinity Gauntlet was of course taken into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s possession, and Captain America was tasked with locking it away. Brining along Black Widow and Falcon, Commander Maria Hill led them to a top secret vault that only he and Widow had access to, per Fury’s orders. But Steve felt that Sam should be able to get into the vault as well, convincing Hill to give the Falcon full unfettered access. The simple mistake I mentioned earlier.

    As we all know, that decision backfired in a major way when Sam abused his privileges to gain access to the Infinity Gauntlet in order to get Episode 3 of his Face Front show, Sam Says, which had been cancelled due to lack of funds. We still don’t know exactly why Sam went straight to the Infinity Gauntlet, but that may be revealed in time…

    With the Gauntlet missing, and being thrust into the throes of a Secret War for the Cosmic Cube against the long believed to be dead Red Skull, Nick Fury decides that a new initiative is necessary. He creates a new team: The Secret Avengers. To fight the battles that only they can.

    The Talent

    I would like to welcome Face Front first-timer Leslie Schwan to the team! She brought her A-game to voice the most powerful hero in the Marvel Universe: Captain Marvel! Leslie is an experienced D&D player, so I knew she could do characters and voices. On top of that, she sounds just a little like Brie Larson herself! Leslie was so excited to be a part of the project, and I’m glad she came aboard.

    I would also like to welcome back Rhema Thom as the voice of Commander Maria Hill! Rhema previously did a spectacular job as Mary Jane Watson-Parker in Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 11: For the Love of MJ. Now Rhema’s back, and in almost a complete 180 to the character she was before, is playing the no-nonsense Commander of S.H.I.E.L.D. And I must say, she CRUSHED the role!

    Face Front veteran Eileen Nestman pulls double duty in this video as Black Widow and Minerva! Known mostly for her role as Ghost-Spider in the Spider-Verse videos, Eileen has done countless voices for the channel and I’m glad she’s always down to do more for me. And let’s not forget the beautiful sets and props she’s built for the channel, several of which I use in this very video! Thank you Eileen! And make sure to Click Here to check out her YouTube channel!

    Xavier Hernandez comes back as Nova, a character he previously did in Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 7: Ultimate Spider-Man Part 1! Xavier is a big fan of Sam Alexander, and he captures the role so well. He’s also not afraid to improvise a line or two, which is where Nova’s vow to get the Infinity Gauntlet somehow came from!

    And lastly, my sister Jaelen, who whenever I’m in a pinch and need a quick female voice, or just flat out forgot about one, she always comes through for me! She picked up additional voices for Gamora and the one female HYDRA agent in the bunch this time around. Thank you Jaelen!

    Secret Wars Prequel Comic

    Now, to longtime Face Front fans, the S.H.I.E.L.D. vs. HYDRA sequence may have looked familiar. Maybe a tickle in the back of your mind, some images unlocking core memories you didn’t know you had? Well, that’s because literal years ago, I told that story in a prequel comic detailing the beginning of the Secret War!

    So why did I retell it in video form? Well, it’s because the Secret War is a big part of the Face Front canon, and I’m not sure how many people read that comic from years ago. So I decided to make it a part of Nick Fury: The New Initiative, and bring it to life nearly panel for panel! Check it out below if you feel so inclined, and see the source material that part of the video was based on.

    With all that covered, you know what time it is now. All of the hints, homages, and little surprises I’ve sprinkled throughout the video! It’s time for Easter Eggs!

    Easter Eggs

    The Blip

    That’s right! I recreated the post credits scene for Avengers: Infinity War shot for shot (ish)! If you didn’t realize, the video opens with what is probably the most traumatic experience of Nick Fury’s life. But just before all hope was lost, he was sure to page his most trusted Avenger, Captain Marvel!

    Links to the Tesseract

    When Coulson informs Fury of the Cosmic Cube construction, he mentions several things you should note:

    -It is being created by A.I.M., who were the original creators of the Cosmic Cube in the comics.

    -Project Pegasus in the MCU was the department dedicated to studying the Tesseract, spearheaded by Mar-Vell and her light-speed engine, and continued by Dr. Selvig in The Avengers movie.

    -Stuttgart, Germany is the location in the first Avengers movie where Loki arrives and makes his big “You will always kneel” speech.

    Return of the Red Skull

    Red Skull returns in The New Initiative, but I didn’t take bringing back one of the biggest Marvel villains lightly! I recreated the final battle between him and Captain America from Captain America: The First Avenger. He also addressed his stay on the “desolate void in space known as Vormir”. This, you’ll recall, is the planet where Red Skull was exiled after that fated battle to become the keeper of the Soul Stone.

    If you do recall these scenes from Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, you’ll also know he greeted Soul Stone hopefuls with their full names and the name of their father. That is why in my video, I kept it consistent, with him addressing Fury as Nicholas Joseph Fury, Son of Jack.

    We’re the Line

    I had a few Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. references in here. From mentioning Agent May, to Quake joining the Secret Avengers. One you may have missed was pretty subtle, but when Fury is giving his speech, he says: “We’re the line between the world, and the battles they could never fight. We are S.H.I.E.L.D.”

    This was actually inspired by a line from Grant Ward (yeah, the HYDRA scum!) during his interview with Maria Hill in the first episode of the show. During this, Hill asks Ward what S.H.I.E.L.D. means to him, and after a snide remark about the acronym, he says “It means we’re the line. Between the world and the much weirder world.” That line stuck with me, and so I used it here!

    Even When I’m Out, I’m In

    Aside from that quote (which, by the way, I believe is Nick Fury’s hardest line in the MCU) Nick Fury references that Skrulls have been involved in US politics since the 90’s. Both of these references are from the Secret Invasion TV show, where it was revealed that since the Captain Marvel movie, Fury had Skrulls in key positions in government, which also helped him rise through the ranks. This also is an example of how the Face Front Universe diverges from the MCU. We know that Fury went up to S.A.B.E.R. in the MCU, which is why Tales had to take his place, but in my universe, it’s the Secret War that draws Fury’s attention away from S.H.I.E.L.D.

    Destroyer Rifle

    We all know the big weapon Coulson used on Loki when he famously told him he lacked conviction. The weapon was used again against John Garret in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. But did you know it was officially called the Destroyer Rifle? Since it was built off the remains of the Destroyer from Odin’s treasure vault. It’s also been known as the ‘Coulson’s Revenge’!

    Go Take a Lunch Break

    You’ll notice Talos told Coulson and Hill to go take a lunch break when they took down Grim Reaper and Crossbones respectively. This is a nod to the post credits scene in Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six, where Coulson reports that they found Peter Parker, and Face Front viewers are first introduced to Talos as Fury when he responds with a very out-of-character “Good job Coulson, go take a lunch break!”

    His Callsign is Taskmaster

    You all may remember that Taskmaster was revealed to be Antonia Dreykov in the Black Widow movie. But when I was first doing the Black Widow themed Secret Wars chapter back in 2020 to tie in with the movie, well, unfortunate world events postponed the movie by like, a year. So I moved forward with no knowledge, using Taskmaster’s comic persona to base his Face Front appearance. Making him, canonically, a talkative man. Whoops.

    So! Since Black Widow took place in 2016 and Antonia’s version of Taskmaster was stopped, I worked some classic Marvel retcon magic. I made the official Face Front Taskmaster a new one, since it was stated that the Taskmaster was part of a program. And this one is more akin to the comic Taskmaster, that way, the MCU canon before 2018 (when Face Front diverged) is still in tact, and Antonia’s Taskmaster is free to join the Thunderbolts! When that movie rolls around. I promise, I’ll wait this time!

    Age of Miracles

    Eagle-eyed Marvel fans will recognize the conversation between Zola and Red Skull as a direct reference to the one between Baron Strucker and Dr. List in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. When they were referring to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch with the “Nothing more frightening than a miracle” line. Even more eagle-eyed fans will recognize Zola’s line about the land of opportunity coming from Zola himself in the season 1 post credits scene of Agent Carter!

    Captain Marvel and the Kree

    Okay, so a few things here. Yes, Ronan the Accuser is alive. If you’ll remember The End of the Marvel Universe Part 1: The Unknown, Thor wished to bring back not only all snapped away by the Infinity Gauntlet, but everyone lost to Thanos’ quest as well. This carries some implications, as most Phase 1-3 MCU deaths tied back to Thanos or an Infinity Stone in one way or another. Ronan’s was very clearly because he was pursuing the Power Stone for Thanos, so he definitely got revived.

    Then there’s the differences in the plot for The Marvels. Captain Marvel is still the Annihilator, since she took down the Supreme Intelligence between movies. But since Ronan returned, he stopped the Kree civil war that started because of Carol’s actions. He mentioned ‘self-appointed’ Supremer Dar-Benn, the villain of The Marvels, speaking of myths such as Quantum Bands. Recall in The Marvels, Dar-Benn’s plan was to use the Bands, the one she found and the one possessed by Ms. Marvel, to restore Hala. But in this world, because of Ronan’s return, she never got a chance to carry her plan to fruition.

    Genis-Vell, as mentioned in the video, is the son of Mar-Vell. He’s actually an aged up clone in the comics, but I took some liberties in the Face Front Universe, especially since the MCU version of Mar-Vell is quite different from her comic counterpart. Also, fun fact, Kree Sentry 459 is the most popular Kree Sentry. Why 459 in particular? I have no idea, but he’s always the one they use whenever a Kree Sentry shows up!

    The Ravagers

    As mentioned earlier, a lot of folks came back due to Thor’s wish while he had the Gauntlet. This includes the Ravager, Yondu Udonta! Having taken control back over his old group, he’s teamed up with Minerva, who despite Korath the Pursuer’s disgust of Ravagers, has joined up as a side hustle, and his former right hand Kraglin, who still wields a version of Yondu’s Yakka Arrow-controlling fin! But alas Brigadiers, there’s a new member of the Ravagers that joins the fray…

    Adam Warlock

    As mentioned, I planned this video back in 2019, when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had yet to come out. I made some changes here and there, but the majority of the video’s premise remained the same, and one part that was alway there was Adam Warlock. I was going to simply use the comic version of the figure, but since I took so dang long that Adam eventually made his MCU debut, I used that version, and slightly adjusted his personality, to keep it inline with the rest of my universe.

    One big liberty I took was the gem in his head. In the MCU, I don’t believe it had any specific purpose, while Vision’s was made to be the Mind Stone. In the comics, Vision’s gem is the one with no significance, and Adam Warlock’s is actually the Soul Stone! I wanted to have that aspect to connect him to the Infinity Gauntlet so that he could sense Sam was taking it, but the Stone itself was supposed to be locked away with the Gauntlet! So instead, I made it so that his gem has access to Soulworld, which is actually where the Soul Stone takes you in the comics, and the place in the MCU where Thanos spoke to Gamora (What did it cost?) as mentioned in the video. I liked using the movie Warlock while keeping true to some of his comic roots!

    Also, I couldn’t resist the “Wait, you guys are getting paid?” meme, since Will Poulter is also the actor that portrays Warlock in the movie!

    Mitchell Carson

    After he’s busted by Woo and Fury, Ant-Man spills that he was stealing back Pym Particles from the former S.H.I.E.L.D. Head of Defense Mitchell Carson. For those of you who don’t remember, that’s the man in the beginning of the Ant-Man movie that got his head slammed into the desk by Hank for bringing up Janet, and later tried to buy the Yellowjacket off of Darren Cross. In the confusion of the final battle, he nabbed a vial of Pym Particles and slipped away. The MCU is usually good about circling back and paying off small moments like this, but this one seems to have slipped through the cracks. So I decided to tie up that loose end myself!

    The New Initiative

    In an homage to Fury coming up with the original Avengers Initiative in the end of the Captain Marvel movie, he sits alone at a desk pens a new initiative. One that seeks to fight the battles only they can. This leads to the Secret Avengers Initiative.

    The Secret Avengers

    A new team has been introduced into the Face Front Universe! They’re called, The Secret Avengers. So let’s go over each member one by one, and see exactly where they are and how they fit in to this new version of the Marvel Universe!

    Ant-Man (Scott Lang)

    After the Infinity War, having completed the terms of his house arrest, Ant-Man was recruited by the Avengers to help clean up the mess left after Thanos snapped. This included fighting the dragon Fin Fang Foom, where his assistance was personally requested by Captain America, much to Sam Wilson’s dismay (Sam Says Episode 1: That Blue Feeling).

    Ant-Man now finds himself recruited to Nick Fury’s Secret Avengers. Having not been in contact with the Avengers proper since his last mission with them puts Scott in a perfect position to fight the battles that only they can.

    Quake (Daisy Johnson)

    Quake has been through a lot. From her hacker days in the Rising Tide as Skye, to finding her mother in the Inhuman city of Afterlife, and her deranged father Mr. Hyde. Becoming an Inhuman with earthquake powers, fighting against foes such as Lash, LMDs, Ghost Rider, Madame Hydra, and Graviton. Her last mission saw her traveling through space with her time displaced sister Kora and sweetheart SSR Agent Daniel Sousa.

    However, she’s been summoned back to Earth with the emergence of the Red Skull and the Secret War. Daisy’s no stranger to covert teams, having been part of the Secret Warriors herself. But Nick Fury now calls upon her to become something more: A Secret Avenger.

    Monica Rambeau

    Monica is the daughter of trailblazer, and friend of Captain Marvel, Maria Rambeau. In the Face Front Universe, being that the Blip only lasted 5 minutes as opposed to 5 years, Monica was able to be there for her mother when she passed away of cancer. This led to her becoming the director of S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division) instead of the crooked Tyler Hayward.

    Monica’s experience makes her a prime candidate for Nick Fury’s Secret Avengers. But the events of WandaVision never happened in this world, so how she obtained her powers, remains to be seen…

    White Vision

    During the Infinity War, the Vision fought valiantly against the forces of Thanos, but was unfortunately destroyed, once by his beloved Wanda attempting to keep the Mind Stone away from Thanos, and then again when Thanos revived him and ripped it from his head. Luckily, Thor stopped Thanos and reversed his snap, but without the Mind Stone, Vision could not be revived in Thor’s wish.

    Tony Stark, along with Peter Parker and a restored JARVIS AI, worked around the clock to restore the Vision, stripping him down to brass tacks, meaning no color, to initiate repairs (The End of the Marvel Universe Part 2: True Believers). White Vision has not necessarily completed his repairs, but he functions well enough for Nick Fury and his Secret Avengers.

    Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff)

    Quicksilver sacrificed his life to save Hawkeye during the Age of Ultron, leaving his sister Wanda with immense grief and pain. But, being that he was killed by Ultron, a product of the Mind Stone as he himself was, Pietro was brought back to life after Thor’s wish.

    He wants nothing more than to reunite with his sister, but having been returned to his home nation of Sokovia, he finds that it has now been taken over by the tyrannical Victor Von Doom, and renamed Latveria (The End of the Marvel Universe Part 2: True Believers). Before he and Wanda can return to their home, Quicksilver must free it from the shadow of Doom. But that doesn’t stop Nick Fury from bringing him into the Secret Avengers.

    Namor (K’uk’ulkan)

    Born as the first Mutant of Talokan, Ch’ah Toh Almehen quickly became the K’uk’ulkan of his people, their Feather Serpent God. However, after being branded El Niño sin Amor (the child without love) by Conquistadors, he took on a new name to his enemies on the surface world: Namor.

    Namor’s solitary goal is to keep the underwater nation of Talokan hidden and protected from the violent natives of the surface, going as far as to kill anyone that discovers their existence. So one would imagine that could be problematic for Nick Fury, who boldly approaches Namor in the arctic. Whatever Fury’s sales pitch for the Secret Avengers was seems to have been enough to get Namor to join the team. But Fury feels this alliance will be tentative at best.

    And there you have it! This video was so much fun, and now I’m finally done with the 4 tie-ins for the Avengers: Infinity Showdown video! It only took 5 years! But I’m glad it’s here, and I truly hope you all enjoyed it. Next project is Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 12, which I know you’re all looking forward to after the shocking ending of Episode 11! But until then, that’s it for me. Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Spider-Man: Web-Warriors – Turning Point

    Spider-Man: Web-Warriors – Turning Point

    Happy Spider-Man Day True Believers! Every year Face Front does something to celebrate the Web-Head’s special day, and 2024 is no different! This year, I’ve made a special video in the Return to the Spider-Verse canon, Spider-Man: Web-Warriors – Turning Point.

    As the 90’s Spider-Man reaches his lowest point, he is approached from the shadows by the Superior Spider-Man…

    Turning Point, a name referencing the episode of the 90’s animated series where Spider-Man lost Mary Jane, is a continuation of the story that began in Web-Warriors Episode 10, and a culmination of the series as a whole.

    After Episode 10 of Web-Warriors, which ended with Otto, the Superior Spider-Man, accessing the Web-Warriors initiative, the biggest question I was asked was how Otto was going to assemble the Web-Warriors when Peter and the Amazing Friends couldn’t. This video is meant to show you how he’s going about it.

    Otto is tactical, he studies his opponents, and potential allies, and targets their weaknesses. In assembling the Web-Warriors, Otto realizes that he needs to address the reasons each candidate initially refused, couldn’t join, or were turned away.

    In Episode 3 of Web-Warriors, the 90’s Spider-Man made it clear that he wouldn’t join until after he’d found Mary Jane, with the help of Madame Web. In Turning Point, we discover that, while Madame Web has found her, MJ is tangled up in the Web of Life and Destiny. Otto sees his chance, and develops his Quantum Extractor, freeing Mary Jane and reuniting her with the 90’s Spider-Man.

    Feeling like he now owed him a great debt, the 90’s Spider-Man offered himself in any way the Superior Spider-Man needed, which is exactly what Otto had planned. He has now taken his first step to usurp the Web-Warriors from under the Amazing Friends’ noses. And nothing will stand in his way.

    So that’s it for Face Front Spider-Man Day 2024! Did you enjoy Turning Point? What else are you doing to celebrate Spider-Man today? Let me know below! Until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Spider-Verse!

  • My Thoughts on Deadpool and Wolverine

    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!

    What did you think of Deadpool and Wolverine?

  • Spider Man 2 Turns 20!

    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!

    When did you first see Spider-Man 2?

  • 2024 Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit Unboxing

    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!

    What was your favorite item in this year's Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit?

  • Upgrade Your Marvel Legends First Avenger Captain America!

    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!

    Well? Is the new First Avenger Captain America better than the old one?

  • Julia Carpenter Spider-Woman SAVED Uncle Ben!

    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!

    Do you believe that Spider-Woman saved Uncle Ben in Madame Web?

    EDIT: Yeah, so… I’m dumb. Julia Carpenter is in the room. This proves everything. Including that I wasted a lot of time…