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Destination: Avengers Campus at Disneyland California Adventure

A fresh look inside one of the newest, hottest experiences at Disneyland.

Imagine a land where you can immerse yourself in the glorious world of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. A land where all ages are welcomed to bask in the ancient teachings of the Mystic Arts, join Rocket on his quest to rescue the Guardians and savor the delicious foods at Pym Test Kitchen, where the Pym Particles brings your dining experience to life, literally.

If this sounds like your destination, then I humbly welcome you to Avengers Campus.

Avengers Campus is the newest land brought to us by Imagineers at Disney’s California Adventure Park. Having just celebrated their one-year anniversary, Avengers Campus has welcomed thousands of guests from all over the Multiverse.

I’d like to consider myself a permanent resident of this enticing campus. If you’ve never been to Avengers Campus and are planning to visit, allow me to tell you a little bit about the adventures that await you. With so much to see and do, I always recommend planning your visit out in advanced. Check show times for the day and always prioritize what is important for you to do, see and eat while you are here. Now, let’s dive into it.

Read More: Fandom Merch and Collectibles

Characters

You can find a good variety of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes roaming the land and strolling up top the Avengers Headquarters. While most characters do not have a specific time they come out, it’s always best to do a lap or two around the campus as you never know who you’ll bump into.

Shows

Avengers Campus has some of the best shows in the park in my opinion. As show times do vary, as always, it’s best to check the Disney App for showtimes.

Starting off with my favorite show, Doctor Strange: Mysteries of the Mystic Arts where you can indulge in the ancient teachings of the Mystic Arts and see which superhero will appear to assist Doctor Strange. For this show I do highly recommend trying to see it at night, as the Sanctum is lit up beautifully and gives the entire show a whole vibe.

Ever dreamed of fighting alongside the Dora Milaje? If you have, be sure to catch the Warriors of Wakanda: The Disciplines of the Dora Milaje where General Okoye invites you to train amongst the best to become a warrior of Wakanda. If there is one show, I can say that Disney nailed, it’s got to be this one.

Feel like getting your grove on? Dance on over to Join Star-Lord and Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off! Watch Peter Quill show off his amazing moves and rock out to some Rock & Roll classics.

The Amazing Spider-Man! show is one for the books. Watch Spider-Man test out the new enhancements on his suit as he slings across the WEB Slingers building.

To catch some Avengers in action, you’ll want to make sure you check out the Avengers Assemble! Show. Currently you can catch Black Widow descend from up top the Avengers Headquarters to take on the Taskmaster. 

Dining

After the marvelous encounters you’ll have immersed yourself in, refueling your energy is something that is highly needed. Avengers Campus has very limited but great dining options.

Head on over to Pym Test Kitchen where Ant-Man and the Wasp are spearheading a group of research chefs to deliver a menu that is out of this world. Using Pym Particles to grow and shrink food items, you’ll be sure to enjoy this unique dining experience. Vegetarian options are available such as the Impossible Spoonful which is Rigatoni and Ditalini Pastas with Plant-based Meatballs, a fan favorite! When it comes to my go-to menu item, it’s got to be the Not so Little Chicken Sandwich, served with crispy potato bites. With great food comes great drinks and a great non-alcoholic option is the Proton Punch, which is a Lemonade, Berry Puree, cherry flavored-filled Boba that comes with a Grenadine-filled Pipette. Allery-friendly options are also available.

 If there’s one thing that has always been on my mind since the first Avengers movie, it’s Shawarma. Luckily you can get a taste at what Tony Stark wanted to eat during the New York battle. Head on over to the Shawarma Palacecart to try out New York’s Tastiest, which is a Chicken Shawarma wrap with Coconut Yogurt-Tahini sauce. Want to switch it up? You could also try the Impossible Victory Falafel which is a plant-based Falafel and cauliflower wrap with Coconut yogurt-tahini Sauce. Both options are, Chef’s Kiss!

We’ve all got sweet tooth and what better place to conjure up the craving than Teran Treats. Savor in the deliciousness of the Sweet Spiral Ration, a churro spiral. The Cosmic Cream Orb will truly leave you wanting more, this is a crisp cream puff filled with whipped raspberry cheesecake.

With delicious foods and treats, we must have delicious drinks. I’d imagine Thor would agree with me. Craft beers and cocktails are awaiting you at Pym Tasting Lab. My go to drink is a Honey Fusion. This savory drink features, Plymouth Gin and Elysian Space Dust IPA with lemon juice and honey syrup, capped off with a honey straw. There’s truly a drink for everyone here.

Rides

Avengers Campus features two rides and believe me when I tell you that these two rides will take you through such a thrilling experience.  Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: BREAKOUT! Will take you on an exciting mission to help Rocket rescue the Guardians.

Join Spider-Man in WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure to shoot your own webs at Spider-Bots before they take over Avengers Campus.

Shopping in Avengers Campus

If you need that Avengers Swag, you’ll want to make sure you check out these great shopping options.

WEB Suppliers is your one stop shop for everything Spider-Man! From pins to apparel and Spider Bots, you’ll be sure to find all the available Spider-Man swag here!

The Campus Supply Pod is the campus mini shop cart, filled with your essential Avengers gear like shirts, hoodies and water bottles all decked out with the Avengers “A” logo.

One of the shops not to be missed is The Collector’s Warehouse which is located at the exit of Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: BREAKOUT! Here you’ll find an array ofunique items acquired by The Collector himself such as but not limited to: Comic Books, Pins, Apparel, Action Figures, ride themed apparel and so much more!

While technically not in Avengers Campus, the one store that is truly spectacular is the Super Store featuring Avengers Campus, or as most people like me like to call it, the Marvel Superstore. This is a dream store where you can find some of the most amazing Marvel themed merch! So many action figures, apparel, Loungefly, comic books and more! This major Marvel store is located in Hollywood Land. Did I also mention that you can find a life size Iron Man suit here that is available to purchase?

If there’s one thing, I truly recommend doing is to take a 5–10-minute break out of your day, sit on the steps in front of the Sanctum, and just enjoy the sights of the Avengers Headquarters, the Quinjet and listen to the beautiful sounds of this Campus. I truly hope you found this information helpful for your visit to Avengers Campus!

‘The Black Phone’s’ Jordan Isaiah White on His Big Break, Getting Into Character and More

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a kid in a horror film?

RELATED: Creator Spotlight: ‘The Voice of Wisdom’ as told by Mickey (aka cellphone_wallet_keys)

Nerd Initiative’s own Donavan Rose sat down with Jordan Isaiah White from The Black Phone and talked about his experience on set of his first feature film.

They discuss what it took to get into character, favorite memories from set, working with Ethan Hawke and more!

Watch the full interview below!

Creator Spotlight: ‘The Voice of Wisdom’ as told by Mickey (aka cellphone_wallet_keys)

*Record Scratch* Yep, that’s me.

You’re probably wondering how in the world I got myself into this situation. Well, it’s a long story. A story full of ups and downs. A story full of superheroes and imaginary worlds!

One guided by big dreams, a wild imagination, and a drive to create. Most importantly, it’s a story of resilience and a positive attitude.

Free Advice

I’ve been pushing myself towards goals that seem unachievable my whole life. All of them seemingly impossible to achieve. Even so, I have refused to give up:

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”

Norman Vincent Peale

You’ve probably seen it on inspirational posters. It may seem idealistic and silly to some, but it’s true. Of course, it takes more than just shooting for your goals to achieve them.

Read all Our Creator Spotlights

This Part Is Important

First, it takes a village. No one gets there by themselves. You need people. Good people. A community of people that want to see you succeed as well. A community of people lifting each other up with positive attitudes and empathy.

Secondly, it takes willpower. On your journey you will have doubts. Thoughts such as “I’m not good enough” and “I don’t belong here” will creep into your mind. I assure you that lots of successful people felt that way at some point too.

They were probably thinking of quitting too. What they did was put their best foot forward anyway, in spite of fear and doubt.

Finally, and most importantly, it takes patience. You have to understand that it’s a marathon and not a sprint. It’s deceptive for us to see successful, talented people pop up, seemingly overnight. That fact of the matter is, we don’t always see the struggle. We don’t see the low moments.

Those times where it feels like nothing is gonna happen. When it feels like all of the hard work isn’t paying off. The truth is that any work you put in pays off, if you’re really invested. There are lessons to be learned, skills that can be sharpened, and relationships that will be made in those moments.

That’s All Folks!

I feel like I didn’t really talk about me here at all (that’s what the video above is for lol), and if I’m being honest, that’s the way I like it. It’s rare that I talk about me, it makes me uncomfortable.

I can tell you that my conversation with Michael was a different experience. I felt comfortable just chatting. It felt like talking to an old friend. It felt like the community I spoke of earlier.

The Nerd Initiative is new to me, just as it is to you. I’m still learning, still “sharpening my tools”, but I know that this is a special place to do it.

I hope that if you’ve read this far, you feel as though this could be a safe place for you too. A place to learn and explore worlds and cultures far beyond us, and hopefully find yourself in a better place for it. I’m terrible at endings and good-byes, so I’ll just sign off with my final words of wisdom. No matter what, you have to stand tall, chin up, and always move forward.

Anime Fans are Heartbroken by the Real Reason Shoji Wears a Mask

Many Anime fans have wondered what the mask represents for Shoji … Yasin from Yaseenthatguy uncovered the real reason, and it makes all of us feel for him and his struggle.

MORE FROM YASIN: Representation Matters: A Conversation about Ms. Marvel

Follow along on our Anime page, as Yasin and other creators uncover more on your favorite characters.

And watch the video below for the full, heartbreaking explanation!

‘Ms. Marvel’: Podcast Examines What Worked and Importance of Representation

With the finale of Ms. Marvel streaming now on Disney+, The Daily Kazoo interviewed two amazing content creators – Amira from The_AmiraReview, and Maria from CallmethisnameMaria for their latest podcast.

The discussion is powerful and thought-provoking, as they discuss what they enjoyed, what didn’t work well, and how important it is for the MCU to show representation of Muslims and South Asian culture.

MORE: Amira’s Inspiring Journey as a Creator, MCU fan and Representation Activist

Listen to the full podcast below!

A Masterpiece: Ms. Marvel’s Perfectly Executed Season Finale

This Article Contains Spoilers on the finale of Ms. Marvel

With the finale of Ms. Marvel Season 1, Marvel has made one of its best MCU shows to date.

Episode 6 did not disappoint and did not waste time in getting us back into the story after our trip to the past. Kamran and Bruno are on the run from Damage control and Kamala is made aware after she announces that she has abilities to her family. Kamala’s friends and family are the heart of this show and the motivation for our hero. Marvel did an exceptional job fleshing out and building the bond of the Khan family and surrounding community.

(L-R): Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, Travina Springer as Tyesha, Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan, Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan, and Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan in Marvel Studios’ MS. MARVEL. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Muneeba has an important moment with Kamala as she gives her daughter the iconic costume she had made for her, showing support for Kamala’s desire to do good with her abilities.

What the ‘Ms. Marvel’ Finale Meant to Fans, Those Represented and More – (Spoilers)

Damage Control forces are led by Agent Sadie Deever (Alysia Reiner) who is easily one of the most unlikable characters in the MCU, showing her blatant disregard for the Mosque and the people within. Sheikh Abdallah has provided some of the most eloquent lines of the series.

(Far left): Laith Nakli as Sheikh Abdallah, and (Far right): Alysia Reiner as Agent Sadie Deever in Marvel Studios’ MS. MARVEL. Photo by Daniel McFadden. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

The ultimate show down occurs at the high school with assistance from Bruno, Nakia, Zoe, and Aamir (Sent by their parents to watch out for Kamala). The group team up and provide distractions and traps for the Damage Control Officers giving time for Kamala to get Kamran to the pier so she can get him to Pakistan to Red Dagger/Kareem (Aramis Knight).

(L-R): Laurel Marsden as Zoe Zimmer and Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia in Marvel Studios’ MS. MARVEL. Photo by Daniel McFadden. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

What ensues is a fun and elaborately executed Scooby Doo plan in Marvel style. Unfortunately, Kamran discovers the fate of his mother and appears to lose control of himself and his newly discovered powers. Kamala then has to begin protecting officers and civilians from him.

(L-R): Rish Shah as Kamran and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ MS. MARVEL, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

As Damage Control continues to press and with her friends and family at risk from the destruction caused by Kamran, Kamala takes her powers to a new level while whispering the word “embiggen”. This is a reference to an ability Ms. Marvel has in the comics to enlarge her size, and it was glorious. Kamala is able to convince Kamran to stop by telling him, “there is no normal, only us and what we do with what we are given.” As Kamran escapes, and Damage Control attempts to apprehend Kamala, her community rallies around her, including local police, allowing her time to escape herself.

(L-R): Travina Springer as Tyesha, Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan, and Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan in Marvel Studios’ MS. MARVEL. Photo by Daniel McFadden. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

As this episode wraps up, we see Kamala finding acceptance from online posts praising her. The conversation that she has with her father is beautiful. As he talks about how they struggled to become pregnant to have her it leads into her discovering that her name actually means Marvel and that she is his little “Ms. Marvel.”

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ MS. MARVEL. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

A week later Bruno tells Kamala that there is something genetically different about her from the rest of her family, some type of “Mutation”-queue X-Men theme song. Kamala Khan is officially a Mutant in the MCU! Considering that Ms. Marvel was first introduced in a Captain Marvel comic book in 2013 and her first run in 2014, during the time 20th Century Fox had the rights to the Marvel Mutants license, it makes sense that her being an inhuman was to keep her with Marvel/Disney, and the best way to start introducing the concept of mutants in the MCU proper.

There was an end credit scene that will make you excited for The Marvels coming out in 2023, but you will just have to go check that out on Disney+ for yourself!

Go watch the entire 6 episode Ms. Marvel story, now streaming on Disney+

I Saw ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ at the El Capitan Theatre, and It was a Mighty Experience!

Thor: Love and Thunder finally released in theaters last week and what a movie it was!

I was absolutely in love with the story, the characters, and even the central themes of the movie. But all my praise aside, I want to talk about the amazing experience I had watching this movie in the most iconic setting!

Read: Thor: Love and Thunder – A Discussion on Gods, Family, Sacrifice

First Impressions Are Everything

Rather than going off to my local movie theater, I took a trip to South California and reserved tickets to see Thor: Love and Thunder at the legendary Disney-owned El Capitan Theatre!

This theatre does not play around with the experience it gives its audience. The doors open just a half hour before showtime, and yet, there is so much to see and so many opportunities for photo ops. 

As soon as we scanned our tickets, we sped over to the snack bar. Lo and behold was the new Mjölnir Sipper, modeled after the same hammer wielded by Jane Foster aka The Mighty Thor. This souvenir sipper is sold only at the El Capitan Theatre as well as at Avengers Campus located in Disney’s California Adventure. 

But that’s not everything! As you turn to the left of the snack bar to enter the theater, it’s impossible to miss the stunning displays of different costumes from the movie worn by the cast themselves.

Being able to see the costumes of Thor and Mighty Thor up close was amazing. Also, featured were the costumes of Valkyrie, Gorr and even Zeus! The details put into these costumes are phenomenal and if you didn’t already, you’ll have a larger appreciation for costume designers after seeing these. 

Theatrics in True Asgardian Fashion

At long last, we headed into the theatre, took our seats, and we were entertained by classic Marvel themes being played on the organ.

A show before the pre-show, who would have thought? Before we knew it, the performer disappeared beneath the stage, signaling it was time for the pre-show to begin. 

It was a subtle and quiet beginning before the show got real. Performed to the tune of the Guns N’ Roses song that’s been stuck in our heads for weeks, the light effects were incredible.

And sure, to some, it’s just a light show. But this is a performance I’m sure took so much time and effort to work on, and to be able to see it before our showing of Thor: Love and Thunder was magical. It felt like I was back at Disneyland watching a light show!

On our way out of the theatre after the movie, we each received this super cool exclusive poster! I cannot wait to hang this up!

Is It Worthy?

The El Capitan is known for putting on magnificent pre-show performances for various movies that play at their theatre. If you get the chance to check out Thor: Love and Thunder at The El Capitan in Hollywood, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Grab yourself some popcorn and a Mjölnir sipper, take some photos with your favorite character’s costumes, and enjoy the show from start to finish. Trust me, it’s totally worthy of your time and you’ll have a blast!

You can also check out the montage vlog I made of the experience below!

Marvel Studio’s Thor: Love and Thunder is now playing in theaters.

Thor: Love and Thunder – A Discussion on Gods, Family, Sacrifice

Some of the brightest and best at Nerd Initiative got together to talk about the latest MCU epic that just hit theaters, Thor: Love and Thunder!

Read More: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ REVIEW (No Spoilers)

There was so much to discuss that two parts were needed!

Enjoys the videos here about family, love, gods and so much more!

A Beginner’s Guide To Comic Books | Batman

A Guide To Help New Readers Get Into the Dark Knight

This ongoing series of articles is designed to help new readers get into comic books for the very first time.

If you walk into any given comic book shop, the sheer number of books on the shelf can seem like an overload to the senses. So many different titles, artwork and publishers that a first time reader can feel lost very easily.

READ: A Beginner’s Guide To Comic Books | Spider-Man

That is what I hope to alleviate with this series. I want to introduce this art form that I know and love so much to new fans.

The community can only grow if we make the fandom accessible to new and old readers alike. So I’ve made it my mission to expand this community with helpful tips and a little bit of positive energy sprinkled on top.

A Beginner’s Guide To Batman

Batman TM and © 2020 DC Entertainment

Batman is another one of those characters that can seem overwhelming to try and get into for the first time. With over 80 years of Batman stories, even the seasoned comic book reader can get lost from time to time.

From the humble beginnings of the 1930s to campy censored style of the 60s and all the way until modern day, there is a lot of Batman content.

These recommendations are for the true first time comic book readers. Even if you have never seen any Batman media in your entire life, this article should be able to give you a good place to start. I’m going to start you off with my top 3 Batman series that I think are a great starting point.

Batman: Year One TP Cover TM and © 2020 DC Entertainment

Batman: Year One

  • Written By: Frank Miller
  • Artwork By: Dave Mazzucchelli
  • Release Date: 1987

Batman: Year One is touted by many fans as a ‘must read’ Batman story.

The story follows Batman, aka Bruce Wayne, during his very first year of crime fighting. This is before most of the high tech gadgets, the fancy vehicles, and sidekicks.

Batman: Year One shows a side of the Caped Crusader that we rarely see in most media. The vulnerable, stubborn, reckless young man that preceded the calm, cool, collected leader of the Justice League.

SHORTBOXED STEALS – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1

Batman: The Court of Owls

Batman: The Court Of Owls TP Cover TM and © 2020 DC Entertainment
  • Written By: Scott Snyder
  • Artwork By: Greg Capullo
  • Release Date: 2011

Batman: The Court of Owls is a collection of the first 7 issues of the ‘New 52’ Batman run. In this reboot series, a new secret society was introduced known as The Court of Owls.

The Court is a group of the super elite in Gotham City, who secretly pull the strings of the city. Which keeps Gotham crime ridden and corrupt despite the best efforts of the authorities or Batman.

The Batman series within the New 52 continuity is thought of by many DC fans as one of the better series of books to come out that era. With outstanding storytelling and a gritty modern art style, Batman: The Court of Owls is a great jumping off point for anyone looking to read modern Batman for the first time.

SHORTBOXED STEALS – DC Comics The New 52 #1

Batman: Earth One

Batman: Earth One TP Cover TM and © 2020 DC Entertainment
  • Written By: Geoff Johns
  • Artwork By: Gary Frank
  • Release Date: 2012

Batman: Earth One is more than a retelling of Batman’s origin story. It also gave us revamped versions of classic characters, such as Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred Pennyworth.

Alfred is no longer a simple butler who helped to raise Bruce after the death of his parents, yet he is a former MI-6 agent tasked with raising and protecting the young Wayne, and is more than capable of holding his own.

The first 3 issues of this series are available in a collected trade paperback format. If you’re looking for a Batman origin story that is a bit more up to date, then this series is perfect.

SHORTBOXED STEALS – Batman: The Killing Joke

The Future Of This Article Series

In the next article we are going to veer away from specific characters for a moment. We are going to dive head first into some amazing independent titles that have nothing to do with super heroes. Yes, you read that correctly.

Not all comic books are about super powered beings fighting in spandex costumes. There are amazing stories out there from all kinds of writers and artists that have just as much substance and character depth as your favorite novels. Everything from horror filled fright fests, to romance stories that will bring a tear to your eye.

So in the next article you will get a selection of 5 amazing independent comic book series that would be great for newcomers to the comic book scene. Especially if 80 years of super hero history is just too daunting to tackle right away.

Make sure you head over to your local comic book shop, and maybe one day I’ll see you there.

A Conversation About ‘Thor Love and Thunder,’ MCU Phase 4 and More

With Thor Love and Thunder out in theaters this weekend, fans are getting a better picture of how Phase 4 of the MCU is shaping up.

There are still a lot of questions about this film and the entire phase of movies and shows.

A few of Nerd Initiative’s best got together to discuss where things are heading and the questions they have. Watch the full panel below for more!