Kevin Feige on ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and the Future of the MCU

July 21, 2025September 18, 2025 Mike Manalo

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, has always made himself available for the media circuit, while also displaying professional skill at giving cryptic responses to questions about upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe events. However, at a recent roundtable discussion, Feige confidently and graciously allowed us to chat not only about the MCU’s latest film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but in a surprising turn, also spoke on the future of the MCU.

Marvel, Movies

Why ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Might Work Out After All

May 1, 2025May 1, 2025 Mike Manalo

I’d like to start out by saying I’m an MCU believer. The rest of the world may be done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and with just cause after misses like Quantumania, She-Hulk, and Secret Invasion, or even after mid-tier products like Brave New World or Multiverse of Madness. However, I got into Marvel Comics in 1991, and here I am 34 years later, and I still buy them, love them, and get excited whenever a new MCU film is announced or is released.

Marvel, Movies3 Comments

Marvel Studios Confirms Full Cast of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

March 26, 2025May 15, 2025 Mike Manalo

We are only a little over a year until Avengers: Doomsday hits, and fans have been getting anxious about any sort of confirmed announcement about the tentpole, beyond the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, and the Russo Brothers directing. Well today, we finally got something pretty big, as the full confirmed cast was revealed via livestream, ending months of speculation on which MCU A-Listers would be joining the fun!

Marvel, Movies

Welcoming Sam Wilson as Captain America at the ‘Brave New World’ Press Conference

February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 Mike Manalo

Sam Wilson is Captain America. He’s been Captain America for four years in the MCU, and 10 years in the comics. As a VA PTSD counselor, and a loyal partner to Team Cap, he was always the worthiest successor to take on the shield, whether folks want to admit it or not. And yet, audiences still have trouble accepting it. However, with Captain America: Brave New World hitting theaters February 14, all that should and will soon change!

Interview, Marvel, Movies

‘Brave New World’ Star Carl Lumbly on the Forgotten Captain America

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 Mike Manalo

“The Forgotten Captain America.” It is perhaps the most tragic title to bestow any character in the MCU. Not just from a narrative standpoint, but also because of the historical implications behind what America has done to forget about its veterans, especially its POC ones. The aforementioned title belongs to Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley, who returns in Captain America: Brave New World on February 14.

Marvel, Movies, Reviews2 Comments

NOC Review: ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Soars with Solid Superheroics

February 12, 2025March 6, 2025 Mike Manalo

To all those who’d ground him, take a message back from me: Sam Wilson is flying high, defying gravity! Wait. Wrong movie. However, it’s no less true! Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is Captain America, and Captain America: Brave New World proves it unequivocally!

Interview, Marvel, Movies

A Conversation with ‘Captain America’ Himself, Anthony Mackie

February 10, 2025 Mike Manalo

It’s time to head into a Brave New World, as the next Captain America epic soars into theaters this Friday, February 14. To celebrate the latest MCU chapter, we were fortunate enough to get to chat with Captain America himself, Anthony Mackie.

Marvel, Movies

New Trailer for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Flies in from Brazil

November 11, 2024November 11, 2024 Mike Manalo

On your left! This weekend D23 Brazil celebrated Marvel Studios with some early looks at their upcoming 2025 slate, and chief among them was the latest trailer for Captain America: Brave New World!

Marvel, Movies1 Comment

Massive Marvel Studios Lineup Lines Up at SDCC 2024!

July 28, 2024August 15, 2024 Mike Manalo

On the most anticipated evening of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, 6,000 fans crowded into the massive convention center auditorium known as Hall H to hear about the highly anticipated new projects from SDCC MVPs Marvel Studios.

Conventions, Marvel, Movies1 Comment

Marvel Studios Hits Hall H Hard with Huge Announcements and Surprises

July 28, 2024July 28, 2024 Mike Manalo

Comic-Con is like Christmas for Marvel Nerds! The annual convention in San Diego has been the home of major Marvel Studios announcements since 2007, when Kevin Feige and Robert Downey Jr. brought the first Iron Man to Hall H. Well it’s wonderful to know some things don’t change. And almost 20 years later, the duo has united once more to deliver some jaw dropping bombs to the unsuspecting attendees in Hall H this year.

Marvel, Movies1 Comment

Teaser Trailer for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Lands

July 12, 2024July 12, 2024 Mike Manalo

It is Sam Wilson’s time to shine folks! Today, Marvel Studios officially dropped the first teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World, and it looks stunning!

Guest Post, Marvel, Streaming, Television1 Comment

I Am Captain America: Get Used to It

April 24, 2021May 26, 2021 Guest N.O.C.

by Thaddeus Howze

While Marvel Comics has never allowed Sam Wilson to remain Captain America, it is good to see they have decided to allow him to hold the title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the comics, they engineered an excuse for him to become Captain America and when they were done with the story arc, Steve Rogers reclaimed his title and his shield.

Marvel, Reviews, Streaming, Television2 Comments

NOC Review: ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Goes for Grounded Over Grandiose

March 18, 2021May 15, 2021 Mike Manalo

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST EPISODE OF MARVEL STUDIOS’ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER

It’s easy to see why The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was originally intended to be the first of the Disney+ Marvel Studios series before WandaVision. And it is because, by comparison, it is a safer show and an easy toe dip for Marvel Studios into the world of serialized streaming shows. Many may see that as a bad thing, but, frankly, it’s not. The greatest joy in seeing the Marvel Cinematic Universe unfold the past 13 years is we can have a gritty political thriller like Captain America: The Winter Soldier AND a cosmic space opera like Guardians of the Galaxy, and have it all make sense together. And here we see that level of versatility on display again. The sheer fact that there’s room in our world for an insane, reality-bending sitcom/drama show about grief, and a realistic action drama about two people and their insecurities regarding living up to the mantle of their closest friend is nothing short of amazing.

Marvel, Movies4 Comments

Thankful for the Captain America: Civil War Trailer

November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 Keith Chow

Last night on a special all-Marvel edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live (corporate synergy, yay!), stars Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. were on to hype next summer’s Captain America: Civil War. Unsurprisingly, Disney and Marvel Studios used the opportunity to unveil the hotly anticipated first trailer, and predictably, the internet lost its shit. But in a good way!

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Marvel, Movies4 Comments

I Saw Ant-Man, You Should Too

July 17, 2015July 17, 2015 Shawn Taylor

[Disclaimer: I did not see Ant-Man in 3-D. Minor spoilers ahead. I know nothing about the Ant-Man character, aside from the Ultimates storyline and what I remember from the ’70s and ’80s.]

I went to see Ant-Man on a whim. My not being all-in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe is pretty well-known, so I wasn’t too sure if I was going to see it. I am glad I did. Most people will compare it to the other MCU films and find it lacking. It isn’t the universe/dimension/globe-spanning adventure of the other films, and this is precisely why I liked it.

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Marvel, Movies9 Comments

Captain America: Civil War is the Avengers Sequel I Wanted in the First Place

May 7, 2015May 7, 2015 Keith Chow

Marvel Studios has just announced it is starting production on Captain America: Civil War, the first installment of “Phase 3” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Filming is currently commencing in Atlanta, but the production will span the globe with filming to take place in Germany, Puerto Rico, and Iceland. Since it’s also the third film in the Captain America saga — with the Russo brothers returning to direct — you would think that the film would be following up on the events of The Winter Soldier. However, the official plot synopsis and cast list make it sound more like Avengers 2.5.

This is not a complaint by the way.

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Marvel, Movies17 Comments

Some Thoughts on Avengers: Age of Ultron

May 1, 2015May 2, 2015 Keith Chow

It’s been a few hours, but I’m still processing what I thought about the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Age of Ultron. I know that my feelings and recommendations will have no bearing on whether you will go out to see this movie. It’s guaranteed to generate a couple billion dollars in box office — and that’s probably just for this weekend alone! And while I had a great time watching the thing, I couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by the whole enterprise.

Needless to say, there will be spoilers ahead.

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Toys

Where Does He Get Those Wonderful Hot Toys?

December 25, 2014January 12, 2015 Keith Chow

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It is the holidays after all. Speaking of which, I Just happen to be abroad at the moment and just had to share some pics from a recent pilgrimage to the Hot Toys Secret Base in Hong Kong. Check out the photos after the break.

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Comics3 Comments

John Shaft vs. Sam Wilson: Rewriting the History of Black Comic Characters

September 29, 2014September 30, 2014 David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

I’m about to stir it up. I’m about to talk some shit, ruffle some feathers, and remind those that know me, how I break it down. Some of you will get pissed off, and that’s okay. Righteous indignation is a wonderful American tradition. Run with it, my friends.

As many of you know, in the world of comics, Sam Wilson, better known as Falcon, has assumed the mantle of Captain America over at Marvel/Disney. This has been a much-hyped story, that I have weighed in on (read HERE and HERE), but couldn’t go into as deep as I wanted because of a secret that I needed to keep. That secret was made public last week, when Dynamite Entertainment announced that I was writing their upcoming Shaft comic book.

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Cosplay, Hard N.O.C. Life2 Comments

The Nerds of Cosplay

July 22, 2014July 22, 2014 The Nerds of Color

With San Diego Comic-Con fast approaching — and shows like HeroesCon and Anime Expo in the rear view — we are definitely in the thick of con season. One of the pillars of con-going is dressing up as your favorite character and hitting the floor in costume. So Hard N.O.C. Life returns with an episode dedicated to the art of cosplay!

Joining Keith on the panel is newest NOC contributor — and host of Comics and Cosplay on YouTube — Ian (@ComixNCosplay), NYC-based comics collector and enthusiast Jay Justice (@MsJayJustice), cosplayer and costuming tutor on Saturday Morning Cosplay Nel (@NelsRandomLife), and ComicsAlliance’s superhero sartorialist Betty Felon (@BettyFelon).

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Animation, Marvel, Television3 Comments

Black Captain America vs. Black Jesus

July 21, 2014July 23, 2014 David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

Once again, I find myself on the slippery slope of pop culture commentary, in a position that requires full disclosure. Recently, I wrote a piece about Marvel’s announcement that Sam Wilson, a black man better known as Falcon, will be taking over as the new Captain America. I also admitted that I know writer Rick Remender, who will be chronicling the adventures of Black Captain America. With that in mind, it is only fair that I admit to knowing Aaron McGruder, creator of The Boondocks, as well as a new television series that is about to debut, Black Jesus.

My relationship with McGruder is far more complex than my relationship with Remender, to the extent that I’d say at one point Aaron and I could’ve been considered friends. We haven’t spoken in a long time, and based on his work as of late, I’d say that we exist in differing ideological universes. If that’s not the case, he is more than welcome to get in touch with me, as I’m sure he still has my number, and we can talk about how his work often makes me want to vomit in the corner.

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Marvel1 Comment

Thor & Captain America: Real Diversity or Gimmick?

July 21, 2014July 21, 2014 Ian M.

In this Episode Nel and I try having a Google Hangout in which we discuss whether or not the new black Captain America and female Thor are actual steps towards diversity in comics or simply a gimmick. And as always … Continue reading Thor & Captain America: Real Diversity or Gimmick?

Comics, Marvel22 Comments

Marvel & Diversity: Don’t Piss on My Head and Tell Me It’s Raining

July 18, 2014July 21, 2014 David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

Let me start by saying a few things. First, I’m trying to write less about companies like Marvel (Disney) and DC (Warner Brothers), because I’m not paid to do publicity for them. Second, although we are not close friends, I have known Rick Remender for more than a decade, and where I’m about to go is not meant to be an attack on him personally. Finally, it is no secret that if Marvel (or DC for that matter) called me tomorrow, I’d jump at the opportunity to work for them — which might make some of you view me as a hypocrite, and that’s fine with me.

All of that said, my undying childhood desire to write comics, my acquaintance with anyone who works for Marvel or DC, and my belief that both of these corporate-owned companies don’t need another bit of free publicity, does not change what I need to get off my chest.

Continue reading “Marvel & Diversity: Don’t Piss on My Head and Tell Me It’s Raining”