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From Pants to Paramount – Amanda Castrillo’s Inspiring Story

Ben Schubert
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From Pants to Paramount – Amanda Castrillo’s Inspiring Story

The Journey of a Social Media Influencer

Amanda Castrillo’s been invited to blockbuster movie premieres and has gotten free merchandise from brands like Nickelodeon, Universal and Marvel. At the big events she wore the nicest outfits her closet could provide, and she walked the red carpet with all the celebrities.  

When the event was over, she would go home and get some sleep, because she had work in the  morning. 

That was the life of Castrillo before February 2022. She worked at a women’s retail store folding jeans, but in her free time she was making it big on TikTok. Castrillo talks about and makes up skits about nerdy franchises including Marvel, DC, Avatar and anime. 

Castrillo started her first TikTok account at the beginning of the pandemic. She had a two-week quarantine that turned into three months.  

@amandajustvibin

#duet with @target 👁👄👁

♬ original sound – amandajustvibin

“I had a lot of time on my hands.” Castrillo said. “Then Avatar went back on Netflix, and I know way too much about that show. So, I started talking about it and they just kind of popped off.” 

At the end of 2020 Castrillo created a new account called Amandajustvibin, and now she has more than 290,000 followers. She also made great friends along the way. 

Danielle Silverstone is a TikToker with more than 100 thousand followers. She makes videos  about Jewish and LGBTQ representation in media. Castrillo met Silverstone through the app, and found out they live near each other in California. 

“We started chatting back and forth.” Silverstone said. “We have gone to events together; she is literally one of my favorite people on the planet. I adore her, and I am so proud of her.”

Castrillo also connected with TikTok creators with massive followings like Nicque Marina. She currently has 1.6 million followers, and also talks about and makes skits about nerdy media. 

“When I started blowing up, in the back of my head I hoped this opens doors for women who look like me and for women darker skinned than me.” Marina said. “I think Amanda was one of the first  creators that started to emerge after me, and that made me really happy.” 

With this following on TikTok, brands like Nickelodeon, Marvel, DC and Disney started to reach out to Castrillo asking her to do unboxings and promote their products. 

@amandajustvibin

@Universal Pictures #BlacklightMovieKit

♬ original sound – amandajustvibin

“I was getting contacts and people emailing me. Asking me to promote things and go to things.” Castrillo said. “I was like what? I’ve only seen other people do that. But I remember my first PR box was  from Malignant by James Wan. I thought it was so cool. I got a sweatshirt and a hat and did my first  unboxing video.” 

Castrillo has grown to become an internet celebrity. However, balancing life as an influencer and her retail job was becoming more of a problem. 

“I got to a point where I started to miss out on opportunities.” Castrillo said. “I never asked for days off. I never called out. Even when I asked two weeks in advance, 9 times out of 10 there was a  magical reason why I couldn’t go.” 

On top of trouble at work, Castrillo also had to deal with harsh comments directed at her for who she is. She is a woman of color and is openly queer. Sometimes people just can’t look past that. 

“Like I will be saying something completely unrelated to my physical appearance, or my gender, or sexuality anything — but someone will find a way to bring it up.” Castrillo said. “And if I do bring it up it’s also a problem. So, I am damned if I do. Damned if I don’t.”

@amandajustvibin

@IMAX @Marvel Studios #IMAXPartner #IMAX #DoctorStrangeintheMultiverseoMadness #DoctorStrange

♬ original sound – amandajustvibin

Castrillo has always been a creative person and has had support from her family since she was a child. 

“They told me to leave my job.” Castrillo said. “They have been following my page since I started it and have been there every step of the way. They had faith that I would figure it out.” 

She quit her job in retail on February 22, 2022. 

For a month Castrillo put in applications to countless different companies. She has a degree in media arts and animation and wanted to put it to good use.  

“LinkedIn basically became my best friend,” Castrillo said. “And one day one of my mutuals told me about a job opening at Paramount. So, I applied, and after a month-long interview process. I got hired.” 

Today Castrillo is a social media producer at AwesomenessTV for the reality show, “My Dream  Quinceañera.” She helps run the TikTok page by creating content to promote the show. 

With this new job came support from her friends. Both Silverstone and Marina used the same word to express how they felt. 

“I was one of the first people she called,” Silverstone said. “We screamed on the phone for a good minute or two, and I was just so proud of her.” 

“I was so proud. So happy.” Marina said. “To see her genius and her intellect rewarded, It’s so amazing. I was happy for this win. I was happy for this validation that she is amazing. She is good at what she does and is truly a good person. 

With this new job Castrillo is not only able to make time for big events like the Spider-Man: No Way Home premiere and WonderCon, but she also has time to do social media because that’s her job.

She has gone full circle. She started with talking about Avatar on TikTok, and now she works down the  street from where it is produced. 

“Whenever I feel bad about myself,” Castrillo said. “I just think about how cool 14-year-old me would think I am.”

Enchanted Sequel Finally Coming After 15 Years

Donavan Rose
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Enchanted Sequel Finally Coming After 15 Years

It’s been fifteen years since we saw Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey get their happily ever after in the 2007 film “Enchanted.” Between the story, elaborate costumes, and catchy music, this film became an instant classic. Ever since the first film fans have demanded a sequel and there have been several rumors of one but there hasn’t been anything confirmed. Now nearly two decades later we are finally getting a sequel to this Disney classic.

The film will not be in theaters but rather directly hit the Disney+ streaming platform. The film is set to hit the platform this Thanksgiving, Thursday November 24th. There is not much known about the plot other than a brief synopsis on IMDb. “Ten years after her happily ever after, Giselle, Robert, and Morgan move to a new house in the suburb of Monroeville with their newest addition. The community is overseen by Malvina Monroe, who has nefarious intentions for the family. When problems arise, Giselle wishes that their lives were the perfect fairy-tale. The spell backfires, with Giselle rushing to save her family and her homeland of the Kingdom of Andalasia before the clock strikes midnight.”

A lot of the original cast is returning to this magical sequel including Amy Adams as Giselle, Patrick Demsey as Robert, James Marsden as Prince Edward, and Idina Menzel as Nancy. Robert’s daughter Morgan is returning in this movie but she is being portrayed by newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino. Unfortunately with the film being set only ten years after the original, Rachel Covey is now too old to portray the sixteen year old Morgan.

Along with most of the original cast returning there are some other stars joining them in this sequel including; Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids) as Malvina Monroe,  Kolton Stewart (Sneakerella) as Malvina’s son Tyson Monroe, Jayma Mays (The Smurfs Movie) as Ruby, Oscar Nunez (The Proposal) as Edgar, and Yvette Nicole Brown (Commuity) as Rosaleen. The only new character we have information about is Rudolph’s Malvina Monroe. She will be the main antagonist and Mayor of Monroeville, the city where Giselle, Patrick, and Morgan move to. The film was originally supposed to come out in 2021 but initial test audience reactions were not too positive, forcing re-shoots.

The film is only about six months away and all we have is the synopsis and a couple First Look Photos (see below). Hopefully we get some sort of teaser trailer in the next few weeks! Are you excited for Disenchanted? I know I’ll be filling my belly while watching on Thanksgiving!

First Look Images of Disenchanted

First look at Giselle (Adams) in Andalasia style attire and with a baby carriage.

First look at Robert (Dempsey) in Andalasia style attire.

First look at Giselle and Robert together, 10 years later.

Amy Adams and Maya Rudolph in Disney’s “Disenchanted”

First look at Giselle and Malvina Monroe (Rudolph) in elegant royal clothing.

See the original movie “Disenchanted” this Thanksgiving only on Disney+

Hero Initiative – A Cause for Comic Book Artists

Michael Rothman
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Hero Initiative – A Cause for Comic Book Artists

We got a chance to talk to Steve Borock, a man who has helped shape the comic book industry over the past 40 years, as the Founder and President at CBCS, having started CGC at a time when comic book grading was just getting started (the man basically set the standards we see today for comic book grading) and now with MyComicShop.com as their Senior Consignment Director.

But above all else, Borock is a fan of comics, the genre and its creators.

Comic Legend Steve Borock on his Collecting Journey, Early Days of Grading and more

He’s been a fan since his father used to bring him home comics after work, being struck by the gorgeous art in DC Comics and later Marvel.

Steve Borock, founder of CGC, CBCS and new Senior Consignment Director at MyComicShop.com

But the artists who create and shape the art we know and love within our favorite comics haven’t always been compensated correctly for their work.

That’s where the Hero Initiative comes in.

As the nonprofit’s website states, “The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work.

Since inception, the Hero Initiative has been fortunate enough to benefit creators with more than $1 million worth of much-needed aid, fueled by your contributions!”

Borock, who sits on the board at Hero Initiative, spoke to us about what this cause means to him and how important it is for all of us to give back!

Watch the video below!

Head over to www.heroinitiative.org to learn more and to donate to a worthy cause.

@superherotok

This is such an important cause in our industry – Heroinitiative.org #heroinitiative #FrunktheBeat #comicbooklife #comicbookedit #georgeperez

♬ original sound – SuperheroTok

Comic Review: Shang-Chi – A Story about Family

Jonathan Chou
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Comic Review: Shang-Chi – A Story about Family

The publication history surrounding the character of Shang-Chi can for a lack of a better
term be described as problematic.

For close to 46 years Shang-Chi was portrayed to be a caricature of Chinese people merged with different stereotypes that surround the general Asian
population.

While the character was created with the intent to appreciate the kung-fu craze that
occurred during the 70’s and even he was even modeled after the legendary Bruce Lee. There
was a clear lack of understanding and appreciation for the culture that played into the kung-fu
craze at that time.

However, that has all since changed with the release of the Shang-Chi
(2020-2021) series by Gene Luen Yang (well known for: Superman Smashes the Klan and
American Born Chinese.) Following that brief 5 issue mini-series there came this recently
concluded 12 issue series also titled Shang-Chi from the same writer as a continuation to that
mini-series.

The 12 issue series contains the following arcs titled: “Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel
Universe”, “Family of Origin” and “Blood and Monsters.

Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe (Issues #1-6; Vol. 2):

With this being the first arc of the relaunch with a new #1 this most likely could have
been the general public’s first introduction to the comic book version of Shang-Chi seeing that it
came out so close to the release of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings.

Keeping such a factor in mind this was a very interesting method of showing off what Shang-Chi
could accomplish in comparison to the grand pantheon of much more notable heroes within the
Marvel comics universe for new readers who might think that all he can do is kung-fu. Seeing
Shang-Chi take-on the likes of Wolverine, Spider-Man and Thor was quite the spectacle in the
books, and as surface level as the story could have been by having the story solely be Shang-Chi
taking on the superhero community it decides to tell a deeper story.

It takes the chance to examine what family and friends mean to Shang-Chi and what happens when the two come into opposition of each other. This premise is also further elevated by seeing how unstable his family dynamic with his siblings can be and how volatile the superhero community can be when there is
even the slightest hint of distrust between them and Shang-Chi. To the superhero community’s
defense, Shang-Chi is running a secret organization that was known for being a major crime
organization.

Family of Origin (Issues #7-8; Vol. 3):

In the first appearance of Shang-Chi (Master of Kung-Fu #15) it is seen that Shang-Chi’s
mother was allegedly a white woman who fell in love with Zheng Zu due to his power, wealth
and influence. This has since been retconned and it is revealed in this 2 issue arc that his real
mother (Jiang Li) is a warrior from the mystical land of Ta Lo. This retcon was most likely
inspired by the film’s iteration of Jiang Li. As retcons go, this is one that is for the better seeing
that Shang-Chi’s alleged mother at the time lacked any autonomy and was not much of a
character. Seeing that this was a 2-issue arc that primarily acted as a focus piece for how the
relationship between Jiang Li and Zheng Zu (Shang-Chi’s father) developed and helped set-up
the conflict of the next arc involving Shang-Chi’s grandfather it was quite good, but is noticeably
rushed. The story also tells the reader that Zheng Zu’s had motivations for going to Ta Lo, but it
is not explored or told until the end of the next arc. The main highlights of this story evidently
lies with the relationship between Jiang Li and her father, Chieftain Xin. Seeing how Chieftain
Xin drove his daughter away from him was an excellent decision on Yang’s part and it acts as a
way to add more family dysfunction to the Shang-Chi lore, which has been the overall theme of
Gene Luen Yang’s time on the character.

Blood and Monsters (Issues #9-12; Vol. 3):

Now that the final arc of this run has been set up, these final 4 issues of Shang-Chi takes
on the responsibility of paying off the last 8 issues to this run and the prior 5 issues from the last
run. Does it properly pay off 13 issues of comics? At the mere scope of this arc it can easily have
been more than 4 issues under most writers, but it is a surprisingly well balanced story, capable
of making long time readers satisfied who were with Yang since his 2020 run. While it is a very
satisfying read for long time readers, this one arc is still a very approachable story for new
readers as well. Assuming the reader jumps in at issue #7 or #9. Focusing on issues #9 and #10.
The story does a tremendous job at reestablishing the family dynamic of the Five Weapons
Society and reunites the five children of Zheng Zu, while also giving a tantalizing taste of how
much of a threat Chieftain Xin is with his army of Qilin Riders (Qilins are mythological Chinese
dragon deer creatures.) These 2 issues lead into the final confrontation between Shang-Chi and
his grandfather and it is quite the sight to behold.


Slight spoilers for the last 2 issues of this arc going forward. It is revealed that Zheng
Zu’s motive for going to Ta Lo was to gain possession of the Ten Rings. While a different set of
Ten Rings exist in the Marvel Universe, these are a whole new iteration of the Ten Rings from
the previous versions that some comic book fans are familiar with. These new
ones are very much inspired by the MCU’s interpretation of the Ten Rings where they take
influence from rings that would be used in the martial arts style of Hung Gar. It is not known if
these new Ten Rings have any ties to the already previously established Ten Rings best known for being
used by the Mandarin. However, it is revealed that the rings are linked to the lore that surrounds
Ta Lo and quite possibly back to Shang-Chi.


The final confrontation between Xin and Shang-Chi is quite the artistic spectacle and
while it feels obvious that Shang-Chi is not in any immediate risk the story is still fueled to the
brim with emotions and stakes for the character. From whether or not the Ten Rings would take
hold of Shang-Chi and turn him evil, the attack on the House of Deadly Hand, the threat of Xin
exterminating Zheng Zu’s entire bloodline and the perception that Shang-Chi faces from the
superhero community. This last arc is a testament to Yang’s skills as a writer and is such a
fantastic story that anyone who has an interest in Shang-Chi as a character should check out.

Conclusion:

While this series’ relaunch was most likely made with the intent of being a fresh jumping
on point for new readers who might have gotten pulled in by the release of the Shang-Chi film it
still satisfies this long time reader from 2020. However, that should not be an intimidating factor
for anyone who might have the slightest of interest in jumping into this run of Shang-Chi comics.
All volumes to this on going run is indeed new reader friendly, but if there were to be a volume
to pick-up as a starting off point then it would have to be Shang-Chi Vol.1: Brothers & Sisters.

If reading trade paperbacks are not your thing though and there are no available single
issues left for you to pick-up then luckily this series is coming back with a new title called
“Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings.” So there are still jumping on options for anyone who might be
interested in grabbing the single issues and it will most definitely be a continuation of this
recently concluded series.

Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artists: Dike Ruan and Marcus To
Cover Artists: Sunny Gho and Leinil Francis Yu
Editor: Darren Shan

A ‘Nerd’ Origin Story – It Feels Good to be Home

Michael Rothman
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A ‘Nerd’ Origin Story – It Feels Good to be Home

This is my Nerd Origin Story.

I still remember the first comic book I ever bought. (Well, my parents bought me because I didn’t have any money when I was 7, but not important right?)

I was at the local pharmacy, picking up my latest prescription and there she sat in those cool, old comic book spinner racks you don’t really see anymore – Fantastic Four #320.

Not really a historically relevant book, but a damn cool cover and I gave my mom the best puppy dog eyes I could, so she bought it for me. My life was forever changed.

I remember getting home, reading the book cover to cover in about 5 minutes and immediately thinking, “Which issue will mom buy me next?” I was 7, I was a greedy little kid, what can I say.

You have to also understand the circumstances I was under at that age. Remember how I discovered this book at the pharmacy, well, there’s a reason for that.

For years, I had been battling major health issues, my stomach to be precise, had missed months of school during some pretty formative years, and being home for days on end had really isolated me. There was no internet back then, or at least none I was aware of, and I needed an escape. Plus, playing that finger flick football game alone in my room had gotten really old.

Fast forward a few years and my room would be filled with shortboxes, memorabilia, autographs and so much more. And it all started in that little pharmacy with that flashy cover sticking out and calling to me. I also can’t believe books were $.75 back then, but that’s not really important.

I would attend any card and comic show I could, meet some of the best in the business and read everything I could get my hands on, imagining those heroes I loved so much like Punisher and Spider-Man were actually my friends. They felt so real to me. And the world of Marvel felt like home.

A Fan Reborn

Like many kids, I watched as the bottom dropped out for comics in the mid-1990’s and as I grew older and entered high school, I drifted away from reading and collecting and put more time into organized sports and prepping for college.

I wasn’t going to my local comic shop anymore, most had sadly closed down by then, and I had put all that joy and excitement aside as I planned to become a full-fledged adult.

Then, I went off to college, got a job in newspapers covering local news and entertainment (I know … newspapers), but something was ALWAYS missing. I was ALWAYS searching for something.

For years, I thought about leaving media and trying something different, but something I couldn’t quite put a finger on was keeping me in the industry.

Then, I was hired at ABC News about 10 years ago. As a senior reporter and basically the most knowledgable Marvel fan on my team, I had free rein to cover the MCU, new Marvel shows and other sister properties like Star Wars.

I had spent the previous years going to see Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy or new films like Iron Man and Avengers, but only as a casual fan. I had never been able to bring my past love for comics into my professional life.

This new lease on fandom was the closest thing to my time as a kid at the local comics shop, waiting for new issues to drop and reading 10-15 books a week.

I started hosting a show called Inside Marvel, going to conventions again, working with the company to break news on new series (i.e. Civil War 2) and for the first time in 20 years, I felt at home again. I felt like a kid again.

Imposter Syndrome

We often talk about imposter syndrome in fandom, especially among creators.

Are we good enough, why should anyone care what we think, is anyone listening at all?

For a few years while working at and then after leaving ABC, I let these thoughts and personal questions dominate my consciousness. I even let it drive some career choices and away from my passions in lieu of “safer” professional decisions.

After all that enjoyment and excitement I got covering fandom at ABC, I let my fear take hold and suddenly, I was doing something entirely different in my professional life and once again, I wasn’t fully satisfied. I began “chasing” something yet again.

Then, I connected with Tony (MrMARVELite) and an incredible fandom community on TikTok. Suddenly, I was talking about, collaborating with and supporting other fans and creators and once again on this new platform. Or at least new to me.

I was watching and consuming so many insightful videos from Tony, Straw Hat Goofy, Supes, KingVonSchweetz, CBR and the list goes on and on and on.

I was adding my spin on things, involving my wife in these videos and having the time of my life.

Once again, I felt at home. See a pattern forming here?

Only, this time, I was fully aware of how much these characters, comics, movies and the creators who love them like me mean to my happiness.

I’m also aware of how important a supportive, collaborative environment is to me and to all my friends and peers on this platform. We build on each other’s ideas, creativity and consistently push each other to be the best we can be.

And that’s what Nerd Initiative is at its core.

Tony and I started talking about this crazy new concept because we wanted to create a collaborative, fun, accessible space for creators and fans. No toxicity, no negativity, just support, inspiration and love for these books, shows, characters and movies we all grew up with.

This platform and this community is as much about you as it is about us.

The one thing that unites Tony, myself and other creators on the platform is not just our love for fandom, but our love to help and uplift others. It’s the essence of the Initiative.

So, while this may be a story about me, it’s also just as much a story about all of you. And I just want to thank all of you for coming on this crazy journey with us, for inspiring us and driving our passion daily.

I also want to say welcome to Nerd Initiative … Welcome to our home.

Multiverse of Madness: What WE know about Wanda and the Darkhold

Tony Abdullah
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Multiverse of Madness: What WE know about Wanda and the Darkhold

Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has gained a large amount of discourse since its premiere. Fans appear to be divided on their reception of the film, as well as their satisfaction regarding some of the writing, pace, and character development.

The focal point of this article is specifically on Wanda Maximoff as the Scarlet Witch and how she has progressed from where we left her in from WandaVision and were we find her at the beginning of Multiverse of Madness. Please be advised, spoilers from this point forward.

The Perceived problem

Viewers have argued that we do not get to see the corruption she undergoes from the exposure and use of the Darkhold. This sounds reasonable and often, there is a gap in the general audience’s perception of time as it flows through a franchise. For example, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Volume 2” occur within 6 months of each other, yet the movies were 3 years apart. So, if we consider the events of Endgame and how time has progressed a bit let’s head down the rabbit hole!

The Timeline

“Avengers: Infinity War”, and the beginning of “Avengers: Endgame” take place in 2018, the remainder of Endgame takes place 5 years later in 2023.

“WandaVision” occurs weeks after the events of Endgame according to Episode 8 “Previously On” when Agatha Harkness takes Wanda back to discover her power’s origin.

(L-R): Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

The Movie following directly after Endgame was “Spider-Man: Far From Home”, in which Peter Parker and his friends have finished their Junior year and are planning to take an educational European trip. At the start of the movie, during the Midtown High news program, Betty Brant and her co-host Jason Ionello, Jason complained that after returning from the blip all returned students had to repeat the whole school year instead of getting credits for the semester completed. This would mean that Far From Home took place in Summer 2024.

Spider-Man: Far From Home ©Columbia Pictures 2019. All Rights Reserved.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home”, we pick-up from Far From Home in Summer 2024 but the majority of the film occurs after Halloween 2024. This is identified in the diner that MJ works still having Halloween decorations that her boss insisted she take down. The same decorations that look like Stephen Strange and provide the idea of Peter going to the Sanctum to seek Dr Strange’s help. No Way home ends around Christmas 2024.

“Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” happens post No Way Home and if the scene with Strange battling Gargantos is observed we have trees blossoming but civilians still wearing coats. This would bring us to early spring, about 2-3 months shy of the 2-year anniversary of the Endgame battle.

It All Adds Up

It is often difficult to immediately identify the length of time between movies, yet with the MCU we have milestones that we can gauge time on. Wanda Maximoff, a powered individual that can cast complicated spells and hexes with no working knowledge of Marvel Witchcraft, now has a booked designed specifically for her that is known to corrupt the bearer, let alone the user. How long did she have this book? Almost 2 full years.

The Effect

Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

When Strange visits Wanda she appears normal, but we discover that is an elaborate illusion that even Strange could not tell. Once Wanda removes the illusion, the many surrounding acres and hundreds of trees are dead and corrupted, her cottage is destroyed in the background as well. The results of exposure are physically visible on Wanda as well, she is leaner, her face sicklier and her fingertips are dark black. Her physical appearance can only hint at the corruption of her mind. This is the toll that 2 years of handling the Darkhold will inflict. Even with Stephen Strange at the end of the movie and the potential hours he was exposed while day-walking he manifests a third eye.

Conclusion

In any Marvel film, there will be issues that can be pointed out. There will never be a perfect film, but I would argue that this specific complaint is not as big of an issue that many have considered it. Yes, it would have been nice to visibly have seen the progression into dark madness that Wanda experience, but the signs were there and just waiting to be pieced together. Go see “Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” now in Theaters.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – FIRST LOOK

KingVonSchweetz
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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – FIRST LOOK

A Nerd Initiative look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Many people are curious as to why only Disneyland got an Avengers Campus and not Disney World.

Unfortunately, for those East of the Mississippi, there is a tight grasp on the Marvel Comics characters within theme parks. Universal Studios has access to Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man and many more.

However, with some of Marvel’s “lesser known” characters when this deal was made Disney can still build attractions including what used to be B and C list characters but are now, thanks to the MCU, household names.

This allows Disney to use characters that Universal may not be utilizing. Such as Doctor Strange, AntMan, Black Panther and those “bunch of a-holes”, the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Lucky for East coast Marvel fans, Disney has just made its first Marvel themed attraction at Walt Disney World, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This ride is a mixture of pure thrill and the hilariously odd situations that the Guardians find themselves in.

The rest of this article with contain spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Starting at the end of May, guests who enter EPCOT and immediately head to future world will find that a Nova Corps ship has landed and a mysterious building is placed right behind it.

Once inside, guests find out that the Nova Corps home planet of Xandar, seen in Guardians of the Galaxy, is light years away and there is no way for us Terrans to reach it.

Destination: Avengers Campus at Disneyland California Adventure

Fortunately, Nova corps have a device called the “Cosmic Generator” (this is the device that allows the Guardians to travel through those hexagonal portals in both films) which has allowed them to bring their culture to EPCOT, where many cultures are shared.

While Nova Prime (Glenn Close reprising her role for Guardians Vol. 1) is telling you about this magnificent technology she and her assistant (MCU newcomer Terry Crews) are given the news that a celestial has taken the Cosmic Generator to utilize it to go back in time and “correct” things.

Nova Prime and Terry Crews call upon the Guardians of the Galaxy for help and tell you that they will need all the help they can get. Nova Prime authorizes a teleportation to her ship and gives you and your party a Nova Corps ship to chase after the celestial and retrieve the Cosmic Generator.

Once in your ship you speed off into space to meet the celestial and unfortunately just as you and the Guardians pull up, the celestial utilizes the Cosmic Generator and goes back to the dawn of time.

The blast from him using the generator sends you along with him…backwards.

You are now in a time skipping battle with a celestial and as you chase him through time you also see the development of Earth/Terra sped up from space. During your ride Peter Quill AKA Star Lord, Legendary Outlaw, has equipped you with a Walkman to jam out to while kicking names and taking ass.

This Walkman is cued up with 6 different songs and each ride through gets to hear one song as they traverse through the cosmos.

“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire

“Disco Inferno” by The Trammps ◦ “Conga” by Gloria Estefan

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears

“I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls

“One Way or Another” by Blondie

This gives each ride-through the opportunity for a new experience.

The Nova Corps and the Guardians retrieve the Cosmic Generator in time and save the Galaxy again.

This ride’s story exists within the MCU and takes place between the first and second Guardians films however has a grown up Groot which causes a continuity error but the ride is so much fun you just don’t care. The ride will be opened for the entire galaxy to enjoy on May 27th, 2022.

Multiverse of Madness: We Gotta Talk About Wanda

Michael Rothman
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Multiverse of Madness: We Gotta Talk About Wanda

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD for Multiverse of Madness

For those of us who have seen “Multiverse of Madness,” we know once again Elizabeth Olsen turned in an emotional and heartfelt performance as Wanda Maximoff aka the Scarlett Witch.

She also turned in a bada$$ performance as one of the baddest, most ruthless super villains the MCU has EVER seen.

But for some, her path to the Dark Side was somewhat abrupt and maybe a little too horrific. Especially for those who truly loved the Wanda character up to this point.

Let’s break it down.

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The Gap Between “WandaVision” and “Multiverse of Madness”

We left off the finale of WandaVision with Wanda taking control of the Darkhold and her having ascended as the Scarlett Witch.

We know the Darkhold has that nasty tendency to corrupt its user so we can assume in the time between WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness that she’s been vastly changed and corrupted, but where people might be caught off guard in the film is how much changed she’s changed.

There’s not a major attempt in the film to share flashbacks of the Darkhold taking over and augmenting the worst parts of Wanda and her pain, and thus some fans are confused by her dramatic turn.

It’s not just that she’s corrupted, it’s the level at which she’s been corrupted.

To fill those gaps, we have to remember her pain. She lost here brother in Age of Ultron. Then Lost the only man she ever loved in Vision. She brought him back through magic only to lose him again and also her children. Basically, her whole life has been one long tragedy.

The Revenge of the Sith comes to mind immediately. Anakin for much of that movie was battling his dreams, his love for his wife and trying to protect her from certain death. He was battle his heart with the ways of the Jedi.

Then, he attacks Mace Windu and all of the sudden, “Rise, Darth Vader.” A lot of major Star Wars fans were troubled by that, especially his killing of the Younglings in that film.

But I would go as far as to say Wanda’s corruption goes even further than this.

Someone Left to Raise Them

Let’s just cut to the chase and say Wanda did the Illuminati, more specifically Mister Fantastic, dirty!

It was pretty epic to see Scarlett Witch in all her glory. She was beyond powerful and took no prisoners in Multiverse of Madness.

This kind of power was awe inspiring and fun for any Marvel fan. What caught Wanda stans off-guard could be the fact that she wielded this power as a villain, not a hero.

During the film’s climax, we see Wanda battle and absolutely destroy the Illuminati.

Specifically, her reaction to Mister Fantastic was jarring to some fans.

Reed tells Wanda “I understand your pain. I have children of my own,” to which this former Avenger replies basically saying she’s glad his wife is alive so that the children will have someone left to raise them.

Damn Wanda, where the funk did that come from. Sure, they are trying to stop you from getting to your kids BUT … what a comment!!

It’s taunting, punitive and reminiscent of a character like Thanos, a previous super villain in the MCU.

She then proceeds to murder Reed and the rest of the Illuminati. It’s an absolutely incredible scene, but fans just can’t believe what Wanda has become. Maybe that’s where much of the pain from fans stems from.

A Strange Comparison

Another aspect of her personality that fans may have trouble digesting is the comparison to Dr. Strange.

She says that when he acted and gave the time stone to Thanos, he became a hero, while she does something similar and becomes the villain. This would be a true statement if She were looking to take America’s powers to truly save the multiverse, but to use them to be with her children, not so much.

Strange’s actions in Infinity War were calculated and based off 14 million futures he saw. He was also acting on behalf of billions of lives.

Now, let’s not give Strange a complete pass. The man has long been in the vain of a character like Tony Stark, with the ends justifying the means. His bravado and inability to see “other paths” has and will continue to get him in trouble.

But Wanda’s actions are purely for her own means. She ignores the possibility of destroying universes just so she can go be with her kids. Understandable and heartfelt, but still she is RUTHLESS in this mission.

She murders about 100 people in this film without breaking a sweat. This reminds me of Loki in Avengers (2012). He, like Wanda, was impacted by the Mind Stone and went on an absolute killing spree.

He was clearly a troubled villain in Avengers as Wanda was in Multiverse of Madness. It’s hard for fans because you know there’s good in her, much like Loki, she’s just so tormented and corrupted to get through to.

Loki eventually had redemption, so maybe we’ll see the same from Wanda.

Where We End

The way in which Multiverse ends is also a bit jarring and tough for fans to handle.

She’s battling everyone and everything throughout to get to her kids only to scare them at the very end dressed in full Scarlett Witch gear and then snap out of her rage once she sees their frightened faces.

She sees herself as Wanda once again and then is suddenly transformed back into the hero we know and love.

Wanda then decides to destroy the Darkhold and kill herself in hopes of saving the multiverse.

The scene itself is powerful and Olsen is again incredible in her performance.

It’s just abrupt.

Maybe we could have seen a few moments in the film with Wanda trying to break through.

Even Loki in Avengers has a moment with Thor where he says “It’s too late,” while New York is being invaded and Thor tries to reason with his brother. You can see in that moment that there is reason left in Loki, though he then stabs Thor and rides off to kill some more people.

We don’t really get this from the Scarlett Witch, she’s solely committed to one goal and does not budge on it. In this instance, she really has become Thanos.

And I think that really sums it up. She was one of the most formidable super villains the MCU has ever seen. But she’s just that – a super villain. And for fans of Wanda in the past, this is hard to swallow.

This one-time hero really has no redemption left in her in Multiverse of Madness, but there is always the future. We see a variant version of her, still full of love and hope, and one that closes the film telling her corrupted self that her children “will be loved.”

So hopefully we see that version of Wanda in the near future. One who has come back to the light and back to dreaming again. No more waking nightmares.

Though This Major Hero Didn’t Appear in ‘Multiverse of Madness,’ He Certainly Made an Impact

Michael Rothman
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Though This Major Hero Didn’t Appear in ‘Multiverse of Madness,’ He Certainly Made an Impact

If you haven’t seen Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, you may want to click away.

This story contains major spoilers from the plot of the film … Last Chance!!

OK, you’re still here, good! Let us continue….

Though Spider-Man didn’t physically appear in “Multiverse,” his impact from “No Way Home” could be felt, especially as it pertained to one Stephen Strange.

The usually cocky hero (Strange), who has shown a proclivity to lean towards the side of “the ends justify the means,” showed a major sign of change near the end of the film and can certainly thank Peter Parker for that.

Yes, yes … he did cast a spell at the end of “No Way Home” that made him forget Parker, yet it was clear by the end of “Multiverse of Madness” that Peter was still with him in spirit. Some things stay with you even though the memories aren’t there.

If you recall in “No Way Home,” Peter fights to save even villains from death, believing everyone deserves a second chance. He battles Strange in the film on this issue, with Strange telling Peter that Doc Ock and others dying in battle with Spider-Man is just their “fate.” Peter does not agree.

By the end of “No Way Home,” you see Strange feeling and being affected by the impact of Peter’s innate goodness and desire to help others, no matter who. This has clearly carried over to “Multiverse.”

While a variant of Strange was ready to kill America Chavez to begin the film to take her power and save the multiverse, this version of Strange would not during the film’s climax. He believed in her and not sacrificing one’s life for the greater good … sound familiar??

Whether Peter’s impact was subconscious because he doesn’t remember him, remains to be seen, but Strange was clearly a changed man. And isn’t that kind of change and growth what Marvel is known for with their characters?

Even when America offers herself up for the greater good at the end of “Multiverse,” Stephen says “No,” in a moment that feels very much Captain America-esque – i.e. – “We don’t trade lives.”

Strange has always been in the same vain as Tony Stark when it comes to the greater good theme, but after “No Way Home” and especially after the sacrifice Peter made to close that film out, Strange took this to heart … though, again, he may not be fully aware of it.

It’s a really incredible theme and amazing sign of Strange’s evolution as a hero and human being.

It’s also a great counter to the absolutely selfish and villainous character Wanda played throughout the film.

He may not have been there in person, but your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was certainly standing beside his friend Stephen in spirit at the end of “Multiverse of Madness.”

And that’s what Peter does and has done for 60+ years in the Marvel Universe, he entertains and inspires us all to be better.

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