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Is Fantastic Four (2025) Marvel’s Best Comeback Yet?

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After what seems like 123,456,789 attempts at trying to make the perfect Fantastic Four movie, Marvel may have finally gotten it right. 

The cinematic universe has somehow remembered that this story was never about dark realism or angsty heroes. It’s about a weird, lovable make-shift family of superpowered nerds trying to keep it together.

And it is glorious!

The Fantastic 4 Movies Across The Years

Marvel has had a rough couple of years: a few hits, too many misses, and fans starting to drift away from the cinematic universe as a whole. But Fantastic Four (2025) feels like a creative reset. It’s not trying too hard to connect to twenty other films or shove in cameos. It’s just telling a good story with charm, humor, and a genuine sense of fun.

Back to the Sixties (Kind Of)

This version, titled Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), throws the audience into a retro-futurist New York (think 1960s sci-fi with flying cars and round TVs). It’s nostalgic, colorful, and weird (which is honestly very fitting for the storyline, to be honest.)

In the movie, Pedro Pascal graces the screen once again, but this time as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic). 

This time around, however, Reed isn’t your typical brooding genius. Instead, he’s awkward, warm, and often hilariously overconfident. Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman) is, in Gen Z speak, “MOTHER.” She brings calm to the chaos, balancing Reed’s restless energy with wit, strength, and insane amount of aura.

Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) is pure charisma as the Human Torch, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm, the rock-skinned Thing, is a total scene-stealer. His dry humor and heart make him one of Marvel’s most endearing characters in years. Together, they’re messy, relatable, and incredibly fun to watch, kind of like The Incredibles met I Love Lucy on caffeine.

Cosmic Chaos: Silver Surfer and Galactus

Then comes the cosmic curveball. Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer enters like a ghostly ballet dancer on a board of light. The Fantastic Four (2025) Silver Surfer scenes are visually stunning and emotionally charged which helps to add real depth to the story. And right behind her looms Galactus. Ralph Ineson’s deep, bone-rattling voice gives the gives the planet-eating giant a terrifying, godlike presence. The Fantastic Four (2025) Galactus sequence turns the movie’s energy up to eleven. It is massive, dramatic, and visually jaw-dropping in that classic Marvel way.

Now let’s talk about that scene—the Fantastic Four Dr Doom scene. No spoilers, but it’s easily one of the coolest post-credit moments Marvel’s pulled off in a long time. It’s just a glimpse, but that’s all it takes. Fans in my theater literally gasped. And if the next movie delivers on that tease? Yeah, it’s going to be huge.

A Love Letter to Comic Book Weirdness

Director Matt Shakman (yep, the guy behind WandaVision) clearly gets what makes this team special. He leans into the old-school comic book energy by seamlessly incorporating the color, the optimism, the playful banter, all without making it feel corny. The production design is pure retro eye candy, with every costume and gadget bursting with personality.

Even before opening weekend ended, Fantastic Four Marvel movie box office numbers were already looking strong which just goes to show that audiences are hungry for something light, warm, and a little silly again.

If you’re tired of gloomy, overcomplicated superhero movies, Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) might just be your palate cleanser. It’s charming, it’s goofy, and it’s absolutely worth the trip to the theater.

Movies

Black Panther (Wakanda Forever) 2023: A success or Not

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 Marvel’s Black Panther films have broken records and redefined the face of superhero cinema from the outset. Now, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has broken yet another big barrier in the field of female-led films. According to the most recent box office figures, the MCU film has surpassed Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Black Widow to become the most grossing female-led superhero film in the United States.

Today, let’s discuss the financial smashes and hits of the blockbuster Wakanda Forever, which is still making its rounds on Box Offices across the globe. Stick around.

In other conditions, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever might not have been in contention for a new record. Following the death of Chadwick Boseman, the script for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had to be drastically altered in order to reflect the deaths of both the actor and his on-screen character, T’Challa. This included the Black Panther sequel removing its male lead and replacing him with Letitia Wright’s Shuri, who features as the film’s key character with Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong’o. Because of this alteration, the film’s success has seen it smash a record that it would not have been in contention to challenge under other conditions.

According to the most recent data from Box Office Mojo, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s domestic gross was $431.5 million, just enough to surpass Captain Marvel’s $426.8 million and reshuffle Wonder Woman ($412.8 million) and Black Widow (a pandemic affected $183.65 million), who came in second and third, respectively. Although it is unlikely that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will surpass Captain Marvel’s pre-pandemic global box office total, the achievement at the box office is still something to be proud of because of the many factors that went into it, including post-covid audience volumes and certain countries’ refusal to release the film.

Ryan Coogler wants the Black Panther franchise to last for a very long time.

Yes, Ryan Coogler has been the main inspiration behind the MCU’s Black Panther films. Despite the difficulties the year’s sequel experienced, which were made worse by the Covid pandemic delays and Chadwick Boseman’s passing, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has emerged as a stunning success. Director Ryan Coogler would therefore dearly love to be able to carry on the Black Panther story for as long as he is able to. Recently, he stated:

“I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to work on these movies, bro. When I got asked to do the first one, it was like a moving train. I thank God every day that I was able to jump on it and meet these people, these actors, and to meet Chadwick during some of the last years of his life. I’ll do it as long as folks will have me. But I think it’s bigger than just me or Joe. Between the first and second movie, we made $2 billion at the box office, which is what matters the most to corporations. So I hope that it continues, man. I hope people are still making movies about Wakanda long after we’re gone.”

Let’s see how well the movie has done in Africa.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently still in theaters around the world, and will be added to the MCU archive this 2023. The sequel to Ryan Coogler’s 2018 blockbuster “Black Panther” has drawn moviegoers, enthralling crowds in Nigeria and other West African nations. The fact that “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” broke box office records is evidence that the film industry in West Africa is not only alive but also healthy and  booming . Wakanda Forever has received spiffing reviews from critics in the area for to its captivating plot, fantastic visual effects, and excellent cast. There are bigger things coming, and this is just the beginning. The performance of the movie, according to Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa, demonstrates the strength of narrative and the lasting popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“We can’t wait to bring even more exciting and memorable films to audiences in West Africa and around the world”, she said. 

Now Let’s see how well the movie has done across Asian cultures. 

Marvel films have historically performed incredibly well in China, with “Black Panther” (2018) earning $105 million there and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” earning $121 million. With great excitement, Black Panther passed the $1 billion mark worldwide. The movie’s success demonstrated that, despite some skepticism, a black-centered film can not only travel but dominate in the international market. It was bolstered by a strong opening in South Korea, where it reigned as number one at the Box Office, as well as its leap to the top of the Chinese Box Office. Its popularity in the Asian market, however, represented much more than just sales figures, as many people noted, since it also served to forward a more complex narrative about blackness.

Nevertheless, as demonstrated by K Pop’s cultural pre-existent appropriation issue and Koreans’ clear ignorance of what is and is not offensive, a handful of films won’t be able to undo decades of unfavorable reviews overnight. Even the box office success of Black Panther in China was hampered by the overwhelmingly bleak and openly racist comments about the film that were posted on Chinese social media.

TV Shows

The Fall Of Female Superheroes in the MCU

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Over the years, Marvel Comics’ incredible superheroes have been brought to life in movies ever since the MCU debuted. Although there have been many strong, independent women over the years, they have rarely had leading roles. Rather, they are frequently cast as supporting characters or the love interest.

 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has evolved to include a mixed range of characters, along with a steadily rising number of female superheroes, although the early films in the MCU had a largely male cast of superheroes. The steadily increasing inclusion of women in this next stage of the MCU is remarkable. In addition, female characters in general are given more opportunities to showcase their talents and potent powers.

 

Marvel women were praised and highlighted in a notable number of movies and television shows that were released in 2021. Some well-known characters, including Wanda Maximoff and  Natasha Romanoff made a good comeback for female MCU superheroes. But unfortunately, the most recent MCU superhero movies with female leads only seem to be a shadow of their former self. With the introduction of movies like She-hulk and Ms. Marvel, we might be experiencing the rise and fall of MCU female superheroes.

 

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In 2021, Black Widow and Maria Hill both appeared in the first Avengers movie, however, they mostly played supporting male characters. Similar to Tony Stark’s assistant in Iron Man 2, Pepper Potts was depicted as Tony Stark’s romantic lead rather than being a fully realized character in her own right.

 

This is a development for diversification and inclusion in the MCU. Even while the MCU’s representation has improved, there are still issues with the way female characters are portrayed. The requirement for more depth and complexity in female characters’ characterizations is one of the major problems with developing female characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

Carol Danvers’ motivations and past were only loosely depicted in the original Captain Marvel movie, making it difficult for fans to relate to her on an emotional level. Black Widow’s past and goals were also alluded to in Avengers: Age of Ultron but never fully explained, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

 

MJ’s character growth in Spider-Man: No Way Home is overshadowed by her bond with Peter Parker. Additionally, She-Hulk, a recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has drawn criticism for how she is portrayed in the Disney+ series.

 

The incorporation of Daredevil and the legal procedural aspects of the show have received praise. She-Hulk is portrayed as a shallow and superficial heroine who is more preoccupied with her personal beauty and sexual relationships than with her legal work or her duties as a superhero, according to some critics.

 

This shows how female characters, particularly in the MCU, are not presented in a powerful way. This is a perfect illustration of the need for a more accurate portrayal of nuanced, multifaceted female characters in the MCU.

 

Movie critics have occasionally criticized the Marvel Cinematic Universe for failing to give female characters enough screen time and agency. Although Okoye is a powerful combatant, she barely appears in Avengers: Endgame and has a little role in the last battle.

 

People have argued that since men predominate in the superhero genre, many female fans feel excluded and powerless to challenge gender norms because women aren’t considered the intended audience.

 

It appears that these male-centric genres will begin to alienate female fans and fall short of their artistic and financial capacity without more and better film and comic female superheroes telling women’s tales.

 

In response to criticism of its female characters, Marvel’s president stated that the company has always gone for the powerful female superhero and cited the recent debut of She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel, two female-led superhero movies and TV shows.

 

The issue is that it’s challenging to satisfy everyone. Marvel has experienced pushback from ardent male fans who believe the studio’s approach is being driven by a feminist agenda. For instance, Captain Marvel from 2019 was promoted as adding feminism to the Marvel universe, but negative reviews and low viewership were partly attributed to political correctness and a story centered on the female agency.

 

Currently, Marvel is making an effort to include more feminist characters. In order to establish them as outstanding characters, they need to do much more than simply enhance them. Hopefully, we get to see a new generation of female MCU superheroes take the lead.

Movies

Marvel or DC : Which is the better franchise?

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The argument about which is the better franchise is one I believe is never going to end. Some people say Marvel is better than DC because of movies, while DC fans believe that the franchise is better based on comics. I must establish that I am not a fan of either Marvel or DC and I enjoy both. My favorite Marvel superhero is Spider Man and my favorite DC hero is Batman.

That being said, it honestly boils down to one thing, perspective. Some people like DC Super Heroes because they are inspiring. Even though they were super powerful, the main theme is this: Gods trying to be men.  Some people say that Super Man is the best super hero because he is a god, but still uses his powers for good, and never tries to be a dictator (except for Injustice).

He is considered by some people to be the best hero because he’s both relatable and inspiring at the same time. People also like Batman because he’s one of the most inspirational superheroes. Batman is not designed to be relatable. I don’t know too many humans who are infinitely wealthy, driven by vengeance, and pathologically broody.

But you must be thinking, gush this guy talks a lot about DC Super Hero Heroes, he must love DC right, well, not really.

Let’s talk about my boy, Spider Man over here. People like Spider Man why? Because he’s RELATABLE. People that say Batman is relatable are WRONG. Batman is inspirational because he never gives up, and even in the face of danger where he could get killed, or even when he talks down on Super Man and Wonder Woman, he doesn’t show fear. That inspires people to be more confident.

But do people relate to Batman? Are people billionaires, or at least millionaires? Are they super genius who can solve almost any problem? Can they create gadgets, as well as machines and cars and tanks? Are they the head of their company? Can they learn countless martial arts?

In DC, you had Batman. you had superman. You had all these superheroes who were amazing, who all children could aspire to, and all the children could be men and superheroes if they ate their vegetables or something like that. A nerdy kid would read that and be like “oh dang. I want to be like that. Except I’m not because I’m just a boy who’s a loser and doesn’t get any girls.”

Spider Man came along and says “Hey nerdy kid, You too can be a superhero because you’re just like me.”

In conclusion, people prefer Marvel because they have characters that are more relatable. People prefer DC because they have characters that inspire you.  This is the major reason why Marvel and DC fans can never agree about anything because their mindsets are very different.  Now, which is the better franchise? At the end it all depends on how you think of super heroes 

Movies

Five Marvel Characters That Need Their Own Movies

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Most main characters of Marvel Comics have feature films or television series. However, there are many comic characters in the Marvel world without a movie or a live appearance on the screen. The increasing number of spinoffs and reboots has introduced movie fans to many Marvel blockbuster movies, including Ironman, X-Men, and Spiderman. 

But comics fans will like to see more characters have their movies or even make a debut screen appearance. In this post, we shall look at five Marvel characters that need a dedicated film or a debut screen appearance. Let’s get on with it, shall we? 

Darkhawk 

He is one of the less-known Marvel characters on our list. His lack of popularity is understandable since he was popular only in the 1990s. At the time, Darkhawk had a 50-issue comic series. His name was Christopher Powell, and he comes from the same neighborhood in Queens, New York, as Peter Parker. 

One day, he found an artifact that gave him the power to switch bodies with a full extraterrestrial android being with giant metal wings. Then, he controls the branches with his mind. 

Darkhawk had long claws like Wolverine. His scary appearance and power made him popular among teenagers in the 1990s. Darkhawk used to be a member of the Avengers for a brief period. Marvel plans a new Darkhawk series with a younger hero: Connor Young used to be a top athlete before his MS. When he finds a necklace, Young has to deal with his new medical challenge and learn to become a hero simultaneously. 

Many fans will welcome a movie about this character because he is known to most of them, usually millennials. Also, the origin, outfit, and powers make him an ideal addition to the Marvel cinematic world.

Captain Britain 

Marvel introduced this character to comic book buyers in the 1970s. He was the son of a noble British family. In a lab accident, he suffered fatal injuries and was about to die. However, a wizard, Merlyn, approached the family and offered them a chance to be the United Kingdom’s supernatural champion. 

A Captain Britain movie will increase the popularity of Marvel comics outside the United States. Also, it would allow fans to hear stories about a character outside the United States. 

Namor 

The ruler of Atlantis deserves a place in the Marvel cinematic world. He is the essential character on our list yet to have a live-screen representation. His absence from the screen may have to do with the similarities between him and DC’s Aquaman. Both men are mixed-race rulers of Atlantis’s undersea kingdom. 

Also, they struggle to get along with other people because of their slightly arrogant nature. Conversely, Marvel doesn’t own the rights to the character. It belongs to Universal Studios. 

But, many Marvel fans will still want to see a screen debut for Namor, and the movie giant should give the fans their desires.

Nick Fury 

Anyone who has seen the Avengers knows the name, Nick Fury. However, his original story remains a mystery to Marvel fans. He has made several appearances in other Marvel movies, including Captain America, Agents of Shield, and Ironman, so we hear brief details of his background. 

But fans, including me, would like to learn his background and what happened before he got the avengers together in the first movie. Fury was a hero in World War Two, going for European missions. 

He fought the Nazis in North Africa and met Captain America during one of his missions. After a grenade damaged his eyes, and the absence of medical assistance aggravated the injuries, Professor Berthold Sternberg gave him an “infinity Formula.” It was made to retard his aging process, but he needs regular injections to remain alive.

Later he worked as a spy for the CIA and other organizations before being director of SHIELD. He is the leader of the Avengers and continues to play a significant role in the defense of earth from conspiracies within and outside. 

Sentry 

You have to think of Sentry as Marvel’s Superman. He is an influential figure who has not made a screen debut yet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although his powers are comparable to Superman’s, they have different morals. So, he can be a hero or a villain with a dark past. 

Therefore, a solo movie for this complicated character, alongside his complex source of ability called the void, will excite fans. Sentry will allow Superman fans to see their hero in a new light.

Conclusion 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an exciting place filled with many superheroes with amazing original stories. However, there are many characters in need of a solo movie. In the article, we have mentioned the fabulous five. We hope to see these characters on the big screen soon.