Marvel Knight's Black Panther

 

A six episode animated mini-series, showcasing the rise of Prince T'Challa to the throne,  A gallery of villains spearheaded by Klaw, Black Panther's well noted villain from comic book history, and the geo-political interests that the nation of Wakanda presents to a contemporary world.

In many respects there are similarities to the Ryan Cooglier movie, but this mini-series approaches its main character as a decisive protagonist right out of the gate.  To begin with the animation predates the MCU movie by eight years, released on DVD in January 2010.  This Black Panther is assertive and definitive in his decisions; in the MCU movie the entire supporting cast drives the movie forward as its star the late Chadwick Boseman sits back and lets each of his co-stars shine by bouncing of his performance. Marvel Knight's Black Panther offers an equally impressive cast of actors providing their voices Kerry Washington, Djimon Hounsou, Stan Lee, Jill Scott, Alfre Woodard, and Carl Lumbly to name a few.  Prince T'Challa in disguise, is similarly to Wonder Woman's Diana Prince disguise to win a tournament and enter a mission into the world of Man, T'Challa enters a tournament to become the new king of Wakanda. Whereupon immediately assuming command his decisions are steadfast and revolves around the safety of his people.

In the comics, T'Challa and X-men's Ororo  (Storm) have a budding relationship, their history is touched upon here and opens a door to a cast of villain's including X-men nemesis Juggernaut, the Radioactive man, Batroc the Leaper, Black Knight and Klaw.  The coming of these enemies is a well constructed all out assault from many fronts; the feeling is Black Panther and the Wakandans are out matched and outsmarted, which brings high stakes and tensions to a really invested  viewer. It's within these positioned conflicts where we meet the royal family of Shuri, the younger sister, his mother and his uncle as the deadly onslaught escalates. .

A surprise guest reveal is Deathlok, or the origins of the Deathlok program, and how the US government uses their technology and military expertise to try and win over Wakanda.  With a prevailing sense  and clearer understanding of their position to the rest of the world, like the United Nations, Wakanda refrains from joining and sharing their knowledge and resources to the world and has been unconquerable for centuries; as noted throughout recorded history.  The world runs on a capitalist's model, so there are those who do benefit but many are misfortunate as they suffer, either by poverty, famine, sickness, war, or the experience of an injustice  prejudice. Wakanda is not a democracy, but remains in a dictatorship, however they have an annual tribal election to see who will be the successor as its new king, and for decades the title has remain in T'Challa's family lineage. The secrets and knowledge that the El Dorado known as Wakanda is said to potentially reshaping to the modern world.. The internal dialogue to in fact share does weigh in storied comics, and largely in the establishing MCU movie.

Spiderman HomeComing (2017)

 True to form, a friendly neighborhood Spiderman;  fresh off his travels from Germany to stop team Captain America in Civil war;  Finds our hero brought back home to Queens, New York to stop local and petty crimes.  A conundrum of youth wanting to take part in grown up roles  when sampling the highlights and benefits, Ultimately what is learned is that they sometimes miss out on the offerings and  short lived experiences of  what youth has to offer.  The expression to stop and smell the roses comes to mind in this case.

Thankfully this film decides to look past his origin story and his departed uncle Ben; We are given Year-two of Spiderman as he now meets up with untapped villains from his usual rogue gallery.  Making their first appearance on the big screen are Vulture, a member of the would be sinister six, and Shocker another colorful villain in Spiderman's past.  Here they are everyday blue collar workers picking up the scraps to get by. The time frame provided is 8 years after the battle of New York  (2012), making it 2020 or late 2019; which is technically already in the period of the blip since five years after infinity war the heroes come back to fight again in 2023.  The exact time in relation to the MCU is not entirely accurate; nor should every detail and continuity completely hold up as the intellectual film distribution rights is owned by Sony Pictures not Disney. However, from the audience perspective we should give thanks in  part to the Sony hack scandal, the removal of Andrew Garfield, and the negative publicity of  revealing emails that put Sony Pictures and Amy Pascal a very high ranking and  influential executive producer to be more receptive to co-work with Marvel Studios and Disney on this historical joint venture and have the beloved character work among the sandbox of other major marvel characters.

The introduction in civil war which acted as teaser and promotional appetizer,  enticed viewers to see Tom Holland and his role as Spiderman  to really take off,  Being 19 years of age when he shot the movie; making him to be the first ever real teenager or age accurate performer to play the coveted role.  Tom Holland embraces the perfect balance of youthful innocence. likeability and demeanor that a character of Peter Parker would portray.  Being a trained dancer and gymnast allowed Tom the skill set to pull off the necessary requirements to become Spiderman.  This is a hero of expected awkwardness and most importantly a youth on a journey of being a grown up, his destiny is to overcome the odds,  yet not to be on top to bask in success nor always get the girl, as what Stan Lee had devised.  Future films will see Peter Parker struggle and rise above it all only to stumble a bit, and not always have the perfect balance in his life.  It has been the successful recipe and trade mark of Spiderman that fans have come accustom to expect , wanting to root for this hero as he is destined to be larger than life, but always struggling behind the 8 ball of personal failures as his sacrifices as a  hero has left him wanting.

 The relationship Peter has with his Aunt May, his friendship with Ned Leeds and his potential love interest with MJ. Is a more modernized tale from when Stan Lee wrote the hero back in the August 1962 for Amazing Fantasy.  This Peter Parker is taken similar to that of the Avengers' storyline, which is of the Ultimates comic-book line;  This is a Peter Parker/Spiderman of the 21st century. The high school bully is no longer a football jock, and the girl does not need to be saved, she can mine her own path.  The love interest in this movie is a mcguffin, but it services the point of the plot and ultimately the balanced accord between the Vulture and Spiderman when watching the post credit scene. It;  like moving past an origin retelling is a welcome swerve for the audience, giving us something new, and potentially setting up something exciting for the future.
 

Amazing Spiderman (1977 Pilot)

Spiderman made his first ever live action televised appearance  as shorts  between 1974 -1975 on the children series Electric Company with the moniker  ' Spidey Super Stories'.  The character took a more adult and family friendly position debuting in a primetime slot on CBS.  The Amazing Spiderman began airing in September 1977 and shared superhero billing along with the Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno's Incredible Hulk also on CBS.

Stan Lee who was the publisher for Marvel sold the rights to CBS and was acting producer, but felt the character was portrayed too juvenile on the series and was not as happy with the final product.  Juxtaposition to the backdoor pilot movie for Doctor Strange  which Lee was a strong supporter of. Strange did not get picked up as series and Spiderman gained decent ratings  but slowly declined as air dates was sparse out,  the series aired 2 episodes in its second season as it got cancelled notably by creative differences in direction, and production costs.

The pilot and the series was based in New York as far as story, but was filmed mainly in Los Angeles, this was painfully obvious with the repeat stock footage of the Rosslyn Hotel, where Spiderman would repeatedly swing from; production did not hide the large landmark marquee.  Running in syndication at the time was the morning 60's cartoon which help gain the younger demographic audience, CBS did not get the 18-49 yrs of age demographic as it was hoping. Though the ratings made the series the 19th highest series in all of primetime that season. 

J. Jonah (David White)

The pilot touched on quickly of Spiderman's origins as he slowly comes to grip with his new abilities, and struggles to find a job within the Daily Bugle.  Featuring veteran actor David White as J Jonah Jameson who would only appear in the pilot before being replaced.  The first episode has Spiderman trying to foil a man with a device to control the minds of people, the villain has ransomed the city of New York in exchange to save 10 random upstanding citizens from suddenly taking their own lives. Peter  Parker the alter ego is a university science student who comes across displaying naïve looking mannerisms but is  very self aware and intelligent. Parker coincidently shows up taking photos at crime scenes bringing attention to him as the only common element to a string of mind controlled heists.  For its time; the television production was considered high budget and perceived high quality in effects and stunts, utilizing various camera cranes and helicopter shots as the series would progress with a couple of elaborate aerial shots (not used in the pilot).

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

At its roots' Civil War is the difference of opinion, the accountability for your actions and being the right hero equipped to handle the job.  Stemming originally from the comics as reflection of a post 9/11 era.  The marvel cinematic universe employs the same principle from three tragedies', to initiate the fracture of points of view.

Civil War began in the Summer of 2006, crossing over every major marvel comic title beginning  in July and concluding in January 2007.  The US government  passes a superhero registration act, to regulate super powered beings under its scope of law.  As such it became mandatory under federal law; that heroes be viewed as human weapons of mass destruction and as such should be undergo proper training, with an option to working with S.H.I.E.L.D. to earn a salary with benefits.   However the powered being would have to reveal their true identity to authorities upon registration. This aggressive mode of action was birthed when  a teenage/young adult superhero team 'The New Warriors' were filming a reality television series and were pursing a villainous group. A villain named nitro exploded near a fuel line killing 600 people including a  school filled with children; with all but one surviving member of the new warriors; branded as baby killers, the sway of public opinion began drafting of the act.

The MCU's alien invasion  referred to as the battle in New York, the destruction of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters by Hydra's infiltration, and the fall of Sokovia. Tabbing a restoration bill of well over 1 Trillion dollars to taxpayers and countless deaths has triggered the United Nations (signing of 117 countries) to draft of what will be known as the Sokovia Accords to hold heroes accountable, and instill a governmental oversight. In both comic and live adaptation, Captain America and Iron Man held opposing sides to this regulations as Steve Rogers has phrased it, giving up the right to choose. A recent covert Avengers mission in Largos, Nigeria  botched with collateral damage and a large loss of life in an uninformed foreign country initiated the accords to be enacted. Followed by the death of a  diplomat/King of a nation and bombing of the UN, by the Winter Soldier as confirmed by electronic surveillance image has Captain America racing to help clear his friend Bucky and leaves Iron Man feeling political pressure to bring the fugitive to justice as this creates a schism in loyalties.       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

WHIH SEASON Two

The official news station on the front lines covering  the stories in and around the MCU; in either theatrical release, streaming service, and traditional television series.  Currently anchored by Christine Everhart the journalist from the original Iron Man (2008) who was the journalist that led Tony Stark to reveal to the world at the press conference that he was Iron Man. Everhart who was there in Monte Carlo front and center  live on the ground to report the first appearance of Whiplash, who showed us a god can bleed, and with blood in the water the sharks will come; as thousands of spectators watched Tony battle Ivan Vanko in Iron Man 2  (2010). Since then Christine has climbed up the network to head the news channel's anchor's desk.

With political correspondent Will Adams as a guest presenter,  begin to spar off,  presenting two view points over the management of metahumans  like the Avengers in crisis situations.  The situations in questions are the alien invasion in New York City, Hydra infiltration on shield and destruction of Shield Headquarters in D.C.,  and finally  the devastation in the wake of the Battle in Sokovia.   The season is presented over 5 segments,  the first was to present the argument of a need for oversight,  should the citizens pay more taxes  for a Trillion dollar repair bill,  it followed up with 50/50 response to people on the street, then to an interview with the US President Ellis - Iron Man 3 (2013) whose position to keep silent in lieu of increased tragedies has made him address matters.  The final segments transpire  8 hours after tragedy in Largos, Nigeria, as an Avengers operation had catastrophic civilian casualties.  

The purpose of season 2 is to set up  coming events within Captain America Civil War,   explaining the sudden appearance of retired general Thaddeus Ross now Secretary of State    To route out a general explanation of why the drafting of the Sokovia Accords, and its prompt enactment, so quickly after the Largos incident; and to importantly show a difference of opinion still lingers,  as that difference would be reflected upon in the movie amongst its heroes.

Dare-Devil SEASON Three

 Arguably this is the pinnacle season, with the conclusion of the Defenders all the principle characters have continued a three season arc that have left them  no where even remotely to the resembled characters they once where in the first season. All are much more self aware of who they are , the environment in which they live and the conflict they find growing from within and around them.  Most importantly its the show's star Charlie Cox who shines the brightest here having to portray and deliver scenes with sometimes no dialogue or just an off-sided glare to convey the most subtle current of emotion or a tide of the story. The bases of Daredevil has been about justice, a lawyer by day, vigilante by night, all to protect the people's of hells kitchen, in a bid to do god's work. The rule is simple thou shall not murder,  while preventing others to covet illegal criminal actions.

Daredevil himself as said by Wilson Fisk in Season One, over a walkie talkie conversation, and echoed more profoundly by Punisher over the rooftops in Season Two. Daredevil is seen has a half measure, his crusade lacks the conviction to do what is really necessary to affect real and lasting change.  Matt himself  battles with his faith over what can be done; the straight line is not always the easiest path, to paraphrase a statement Matt gave in an opening arguments is an earlier season court case. The events of Defenders has left Matt Murdock the loss of hearing in one ear and a tremendous build up of blood and sot in his sinuses, to render all his unique sensory gifts null and void.  Matt no longer serves God, unlike  the biblical character of Job, who as a loyal follower went above and beyond in his devotion and love for god, and in return god tested his faithful servant to unspeakable depths.  Matt a soldier of god feels abandoned, and now who only serves Daredevil as he removes all contact and association to those he has loved, and plans to die as the Devil of Hell's kitchen than live another day in the life of Matthew Murdock.

Season three introduces us to Sister Maggie and re-establishes Matt's ties to Father Lantom; we see Matt's return to his black  outfit.  Conversely we met a new Daredevil of hell's kitchen in the red suit, but this devil is devoid of Catholicism, the rule of law, and remorse. We see how daredevil would be if he was released by the very things that kept him in check.  Matt who is back in black, which is also a state of mind, fights that duality both metaphorically and physically. His sanity comes into question as the devil on his shoulder comes in the form of Wilson Fisk dressed in white to remind him of his failures. Karen faces the sins of her family's past, and Foggy goes back home to save the family business and carve out his future as dignified lawyer. 

The spectre of Ben Urich still exists at the New York Bulletin surrounding Ellison and Karen as the power of will to seek the truth and tell the story. Karen and Foggy now know the truth about Daredevil going into the start of the third season, and how they've continued down the righteous path though beset on all side by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.  A good man like Agent Nadeem can be corrupted, a troubled man like Agent Pointdexter can be coerced into a dark reality, an upstanding citizen like Vanessa Marianna can be seduced by the Power of Fisk, A lawyer like Benjamin Donovan can protect the morally reprehensible at the right price, a simple man like Melvin Potter will destroy his own life from betrayal, and a lawyer Marci Stahl will walk away from hers at a crisis of faith.

Its a strong recommend to read Frank Miller's " Man without Fear" followed by "Born Again",  after watching all three seasons of Daredevil to fill in some blanks not necessarily realized  in the telling of these stories and providing more insight into characters like Sister Maggie who offer a pivotal revelation in Matt's life.

Iron Fist SEASON Two

A good compelling hero will need an equally compelling villain, a classic example would be Batman vs Joker.  Danny Rand has the Hand a sworn enemy of the Iron Fist. The second season wisely left the hand behind and focused on the conflict more closely related to Danny Rand.

What did we learn about these villains known as the Hand,  They are 5 clans of Ninjas all original descendants of K'un-Lun, Obsessed with maintaining there secrets of immortality through a blood ritual.  Immortality is in fact finite without the bones of a dragon, the same dragon  that gave Danny his Chi power.  Their  blades and arrow tips are laced with poison and yet it is not consistent on all their weapons.  Their leader was dying and the last elixir was given to Elektra over herself, because her body was ravaged with ailments that no blood ritual could  save after all these centuries ? ?

Season 2 went back to the conflict of Davos and Danny, Similarly to a Jedi who are not allowed to have emotional interests, Davos and Danny are mentally unstable because of their training to remove emotions, Anakin massacred an entire race in his confession to Padme as his bottled emotions got the best of him, Davos exhibits bizarre tantrums, he demands what is owed to him, an earned privileged through his faith and dedications.  Joy Meachum was lied too by every person she thought was family both living and dead.

So the plot of season 2 is steal the  power of the Iron fist and syphon the wealth from  both Danny Rand and Ward Meachum.

There is no Joker here, but we have Mary Walker, a woman with 2 separate personalities one is more aware over the other and brings an arsenal of pain and problems for Danny and his friends.  The character is Typhoid Mary in the comic books; a very well documented character within the Daredevil comics, and  recently a loyal servant to kingpin in the king in black crossover event within the comic books.

Mary played by British actress Alice Eve brings a welcome change to the current cast, and with a level of uncertainty as the character is unpredictable, as she is caught between being either victim or perpetrator.  The character's exit from the season is unfulfilling and has no lasting marks on the story, but her presence gives us the viewer an added investment, from the trivial bickering between siblings and an out of place monk.  As the show concludes with  Danny now wielding two Chi revolvers that fire Chi bullets, both he and Ward Meachum walk the earth - away from their life in New York  in search of an Indiana Jones adventure.