Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit tie-in comic delayed

Marvel has announced it will delayed its planned comic book limited series Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit. The comic was timed for release alongside the Disney+ series which is also expected to be delayed to late 2021/early 2022.

Eternals actress Gemma Chan talks Sersi

Gemma Chan has recently remarked on her role in Eternals where she plays 'Sersi', currently set for release later this year.

"Sersi's not necessarily the best fighter, she doesn't have the most obviously impressive powers. The main thing is she's an empath, she has a connection with humans, and with the world and the earth. That is her strength, so I leant into that."

Gemma Chan previously played the role of Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel.

Eternals tells the story of a group of superpowered individuals who have lived on Earth for thousands of years who team-up once again to battle against a race known as the Deviants.

Iron Man (Game)

Iron Man is a 2008 game based on the film and features an expanded warped version of the films storyline which generally involves Obadiah Stane allying with A.I.M and the Maggia supplying weapons to the Ten Rings. Due to this the events of the game are considered non-canon.

The enemies featured in the game are a mishmash of varying Iron Man opponents including Advanced Idea Mechanics, the Maggia and the Ten Rings terrorist group. The super-villains in the game include Blacklash, Madame Masque, Controller, Titanium Man, Melter, and Iron Monger.

The game was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Microsoft Windows and Mobile Platforms. Though it is worth noting that the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions contain considerable differences to the plot of the game

Lego Marvel's Avengers

Lego Marvel's Avengers was released on January 26th 2016. The characters are Lego versions of themselves along with some of the environments, enemies and vehicles also being built-brick.

The game itself is primarily a warped retelling of the first two Avengers films, however also features solo levels inspired by Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier - along with DLC for other films in the Marvel franchise.

It features a large open-world hub environment of New York City along with several significant areas you can travel to including Asgard, Malibu, South Africa, The Helicarrier, The Bartons' Farm, Washington D.C. and Sokovia.

Lego Marvel's Avengers is available on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, OS X, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man 2, released in 2010 was directed by Jon Favreau, produced by Kevin Feige, written by Justin Theroux. The film focuses on Tony Stark facing the consequences of revealing his identity along with the nature of his own mortality and his past as he is confronted by Ivan Vanko, also known as Whiplash.

Plot:
After the passing of his father, Anton Vanko, Ivan Vanko discovers that the Arc reactor technology that resulted in the success of Stark Industries was partially due to his father. He finds an old blueprint of an Arc reactor and successfully miniaturises it. 

Six months later Tony has continued to use his suit to protect people and has re-opened the Stark Expo to celebrate the legacy of his father, however at the Expo he realises that his blood toxicity is rising and attempts to keep this a secret from everyone.

Tony faces increasing pressure from the government to hand over his technology to them, however he rejects it humiliating Justin Hammer, a rival tech industry leader, in the process. After returning home he examines the blood toxicity levels and determines the Arc Reactor palladium is slowly killing him, yet he cannot remove it otherwise the shrapnel would reach his heart and kill him. 

With no suitable alternatives to palladium he ends up promoting Pepper Potts to CEO of Stark Industries with Natalie Rushman replacing her as his personal assistant. She proves herself very quickly but Tony and Pepper are a little suspicious of her talents.

Realising he might soon end up dying, Tony recklessly decides to compete in the Monaco Historic Grand Prix where he is attacked by Ivan Vanko sporting an arc reactor and electro-whips. Tony uses a new suit, the Mark 5, that unfurls form a brief case to fight back.

Although Tony ends up managing to defeat Ivan Vanko, in a cell, Ivan reveals he only intended to prove that Tony could be beaten - this would show he is not invincible as Iron Man and encourage others to turn against Tony Stark. Impressed by Ivan's actions and jealous of Tony Stark, Justin Hammer helps fake Ivan's death and encourages him to build a line of armoured suits to upstage Stark.

At his birthday party, that he believes to be his last, Tony Stark ends up getting very drunk while wearing the suit resulting in James Rhodes putting on the Mark II armour trying to restrain him. The fight ends in a stalemate as the two use repulsors against each other resulting in an explosion. Rhodey leaves and takes the armour to the U.S. Air Force but is reluctant to let others have access it, choosing to upgrade it himself with tech from Justin Hammer. 

Nick Fury meets with Stark and reveals that Natalie Rushman is actually Natasha Romanoff, also known as the S.H.I.E.L.D agent Black Widow. He also reveals that Howard Stark was one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. and someone Nick Fury knew personally. Fury reveals that Vanko's father, Anton, worked together with Howard to develop the Arc reactor, but Anton tried to sell it and Stark had him deported. After failing to sell the Arc reactor to the Soviets, Anton was sent to the Gulag. 

Fury gives Stark some of his fathers old materials prompting Tony to look through his fathers stuff, discovering a hidden message in the diorama of the 1974 Stark Expo - which appears to be a diagram of the atomic structure of a new element. Seeing his father in a new light, Tony ends up working with his A.I. Jarvis to replicate the new element using it to replace his arc reactor. He also learns that Ivan Vanko is still alive and heads to the Stark Expo believing that he'll make an appearance.

Justin Hammer reveals a bunch of armoured drones for varying military purposes along with James Rhodes wearing a new weaponised version of the prototype suit as War Machine. Ivan, partially to get revenge on Tony, partially to get revenge on Justin Hammer for threatening and using him, causes the drones and War Machine to attack Stark.

Teaming up with War Machine, Iron Man defeats the drones however Whiplash appears in a new upgraded suit. He is quickly defeated by Iron Man and War Machine using the repulsor explosion to injure him, resulting in him self-destructing all the drones and his own suit, killing him.

Tony manages to save Pepper from the drones and reveals the truth, finally kissing Pepper Potts. In a debriefing with Nick Fury, it is revealed that they only intend to use Tony as a consultant, tying into 'The Consultant'. Tony Stark and James Rhodes recieve medals for heroism while Justin Hammer is arrested. In a post-credit scene, Agent Phil Coulson reports to a scene where a Hammer has been found in a crater in New Mexico, teasing Thor.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

 

The Incredible Hulk, released in 2008 was directed by Louis Leterrier, produced by Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd & Kevin Feige, written by Zak Penn. The film focuses on the gamma infused Bruce Banner who transforms into a green monster known as the Hulk when enraged.

Plot:
During an experiment gone wrong, Bruce Banner is exposed to gamma radiation - in the process he becomes Hulk killing several people and injuring General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and his daughter Betty Ross, who was dating Bruce at the time. Bruce attempts to apologise but General Ross is motivated by almost losing his daughter and makes Bruce a fugitive of the U.S. Military, at the same time hoping to weaponise the Hulk for the military.

After five years, Bruce has managed to control his transformations using Yoga and other techniques to prevent his heartbeat rising above 200 beats per minute which is the trigger for him becoming Hulk. He is also in contact with 'Mr. Blue' a mysterious individual who is also researching Hulk. He is now working at a factory in Brazil, however when he injures his finger a drop of his blood is enough to cause someone to get Gamma sickness resulting in him being tracked down by the U.S. Military once again - this time led by Emil Blonsky.

After failing to capture Hulk, Emil Blonsky is injected with a similar serum resulting in improved speed, strength, agility and healing. Bruce returns to the university where he encounters Betty again, however is attacked by General Ross and the U.S. Military forcing him to transform into Hulk. Having improved since the last fight, the military use sonic weapons to try and subdue Hulk but they fail. Emil Blonsky is slowly losing his sanity and in the process taunts Hulk resulting in him getting severely injured.

After fleeing with Betty, Bruce and Betty meet with 'Mr. Blue' who is revealed to be a cellular biologist known as Samuel Sterns. Sterns has synthesized Banner's blood and provides him an antidote, however the antidote might be needed for each specific transformation so Sterns has mass produced the blood.

In a third attempt to capture Banner, Emil Blonsky ends up tracking down Samuel Sterns and injects himself with synthesized blood from Bruce. In the process he begins to transform and some of the blood spills on Samuel Sterns, warping his head implying he may become the super villain known as 'The Leader'

Meanwhile Emil Blonsky has become the Abomination, attempting to cause chaos in Harlem to draw out the Hulk. After a battle through Harlem, The Hulk manages to defeat Abomination almost killing him however Betty manages to break through to him and get him to spare his life. Hulk flees New York.

A month later, Bruce is in hiding but manages to perform a controlled transformation smirking as he does. In a post-credit scene Tony Stark is shown approaching General Ross mentioning that a team is being put together, tying into 'The Consultant'

All Hail The King

All Hail the King is the fifth in a series of Marvel One-Shots. It was attached to Thor: The Dark World physical media release on February 14th 2014 and takes place after the events of Iron Man 3.

An interviewer by the name of Jackson Norriss has been attempting to interview Trevor Slattery, an actor who convinced the world he was a terrorist known as The Mandarin, at Seagate Penitentiary. Trevor has generally been oblivious to his interview attempts and has gotten caught up in his newfound fame, using it as a method of exerting control over the other prisoners.

Jackson Norriss reveals what he knows about Trevor so far; That he is an actor, his first acting role was October 12th 1964 in Shakespeare's Tempest, his mother died in 1986 while he was filming a TV pilot called 'Caged Heat'. 

While Trevor remains oblivious of the events, Jackson Norriss remarks on how Trevor's portrayal of the Mandarin might have angered people - potentially a commentary on how the twist in Iron Man 3 had a mixed reception in real life also. Jackson Norriss continues by revealing that his portrayal has angered the terrorist organization known as the Ten Rings.

Jackson Norriss reveals that he is a follower of the Ten Rings, arming himself with a gun and a baton concealed in his camera equipment. After killing everyone else in the room, it is revealed that Jackson is at Seagate Penitentiary to break out Trevor and take him to the real Mandarin for execution. In a post-credit scene Justin Hammer is shown in Seagate Prison commenting on Trevor.

All Hail the King is designed as a self-stated apology from Iron Man 3 director Shane Black to the fans; "Marvel saw so many negative things they made a whole other movie just to apologize called Hail to the King. In which they said, 'No, no, the Mandarin is still alive. That wasn’t him. There’s a real Mandarin.' The only reason they made that was an apology to fans who were so angry."

In that sense, All Hail the King does attempt to build on the mystery of the Ten Rings, implying it is sort of a religious terrorist organization with Jackson remarking on Trevor being an insult to his faith. It's also implied that the inclusion of The Mandarin in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings may have been influenced by the backlash that Iron Man 3 recieved. Let's hope Marvel deliver on the Mandarin this time around...

Agent Carter

Agent Carter is the fourth in a series of Marvel One-Shots and was attached to the Iron Man 3 physical media release on September 3rd 2013. The one-shot is set after the events of Captain America: The First Avenger.

 

After revisiting Captain America's sacrifice during the events of Captain America: The First Avenger we see that Peggy Carter now works for John Flynn at the Strategic Scientific Reserve. She is generally avoided being selected for missions and treated poorly by her colleagues and her boss.

As her boss and colleagues go to get drinks after another failed mission, Peggy Carter winds up recieving a call detailing a mission - in which recommends 3-5 agents. She rejects this notion as the other agents are all out drinking. She end up going alone taking a briefcase filled with weapons including a smoke bomb, using her combat training to take out the guards.

She ends up acquiring Zodiac which appears to be a chemical vial however she is ambushed and almost killed, barely managing to survive by reaching for a knife concealed in her briefcase. 

While she was succesful her actions were reckless and she did not follow any form of procedure, resulting in her boss criticising her. It's revealed that he felt she was being kept around because she was the love interest for Captain America and did not feel she had a use.

Getting a phone call from Howard Stark, who appears to have monitored the situation, John Flynn is instructed to inform Peggy Carter that she will be running S.H.I.E.L.D - as Peggy Carter heads to Washington to work with Howard Stark. In a post-credit scene Dum Dum Dugan is shown with Howard Stark commenting on the invention of the Bikini.

While her near death shows she is competent rather than infallible, her recklessness was born from a desire to prove herself in order to focus on the episode's commentary on the nature of sexism in the mid 1900's. The basic concept of depicting everyone around her as incompetent does not really demonstrate the Strategic Scientific Reserve as competent.

While her mission success proves that she should have been viewed as an equal, at the same time her lack of following protocol almost ended in her death which somewhat weakens the message of the one-shot as her doing the right thing. It would have made more sense if she was gifted this mission via Howard Stark as a method of proving herself - leaving her boss no excuses for his actions against her. Instead it falls a little flat as a commentary, but the overall one-shot delivers on Agent Carter action and works well as a follow-up to Captain America: The First Avenger.

Team Darryl

Team Darryl is a follow-up of the promotional self-parody mockumentary-style short films Team Thor and Team Thor: Part 2. It was attached to Thor: Ragnarok's physical media release on February 20th 2018.

Team Darryl follows Darryl Jacobson after Thor has left to return to Asgard for the events of Thor: Ragnarok. In the wake of that film, the Grandmaster, now without his servant Topaz has travelled to Earth and became Darryl's new roommate.

Mourning the death of his former servant, the Grandmaster becomes obsessed with Darryl including drawing him. Eventually the Grandmaster discloses that he wants to rule over the Earth, prompting them to make a video advertising the idea, however the video is not remotely popular and only gets viewed by the two roommates.

 

In an attempt to increase the popularity of the video announcing his plans to take over the world, the Grandmaster encourages Darryl to invite his work friends over - which results in them attempting to make music for the new video he intends to make. Disappointed by the quality of the music, the Grandmaster proceeds to melt one of Darryl's colleagues, David. Darryl ends up remarking on how much he misses his previous roommate Thor.

Team Darryl continues to explore the growing desperation of Darryl as his life spirals. It is currently the last in the Team Thor series although this series was directed and written by Taika Waititi who worked on Thor Ragnarok and is currently working on Thor: Love and Thunder, meaning we may eventually see some form of continuation in the future.

Team Thor: Part 2

 

Team Thor: Part 2 is the follow-up of the promotional self-parody mockumentary-style short film Team Thor. It was attached to the Doctor Strange physical media release on February 28th, 2017.

Darryl Jacobson, Thor's roommate, remarks on Thor's nature as a person. Feeling that Thor needs to contribute more around the house, Darryl recommends he gets a job. Thor is reluctant and hires a servant in the form of Shane. In another visit to the kindergarten class, Thor remarks on the nature of the conflict of Captain America: Civil War and his feelings that things never last, potentially foreshadowing the events of Thor: Ragnarok.

 

Team Thor: Part 2 generally serves as a method of exploring Thor's character through the eyes of Darryl. We reveal that Thor is a sore loser, that he has a poor understanding of life outside of Asgard and to an extent is fairly lazy - choosing to get a servant because he does not want to work.

Team Thor

Team Thor is a promotional self-parody mockumentary-style short film for Thor: Ragnarok that screened at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. It was attached to the physical media release of Captain America: Civil War on September 5th 2016.

Thor Odinson proceeds to take some time off being an Avenger in Australia during Captain America: Civil War is occuring. He proceeds to live with a local office worker called Darryl Jacobson while trying to decipher the mystery of the Infinity Stone and attempting to live a normal life which involves him visiting Darryl at work, writing an email to Tony Stark and explaining the Avengers to a kindergarten class.

Thor eventually invites Bruce Banner to a cafe and talks about his lack of hearing from the Avengers and reveals that he has founded his own team with Darryl due to lack of being wanted by the Avengers.

The short film is generally intended to explain the absence of Thor & Bruce Banner from the Avengers during Captain America: Civil War. It implies that Thor felt rejected from the Avengers while Bruce Banner seemingly felt that the conflict was trivial and did not want to join.