Entrance to the Tower Suite in the Disney Destiny, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
There are rooms aboard the Disney Destiny, the latest addition to Disney’s cruise fleet, and then there are suites. To say the following residential experiences are just rooms on a cruise ship would be the precise definition of understatement. To be more precise, here is the exact Merriam-Webster’s definition of an understatement: a statement that represents something as smaller, less intense, or less important than it really is, or the act of making such a statement; a statement that understates something.
The Tower Suite and the Hero Suite inside the Disney Destiny are special in their own right. Both suites will provide guests with unique living quarters.
The Tower Suite has four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, and an unbelievable view. Located in a funnel of the ship, the entrance is off the beaten path from guest traffic. And that is the point. Upon entering the suite, a brief climb up two short staircases opens up to a Tony Stark-themed kitchen and living room. Photos of Iron Man adorn the suite, and an Iron Man helmet rests on a shelf in the dining room.
Photos of Iron Man (above in the stairway) adorn the Tower Suite. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The Hero Suite, located on the 13th deck of the Disney Destiny, also offers a unique vacation experience. There’s an outdoor hot tub, equally impressive views, a large kitchen, and a spacious living room. The dining table is made of marble and gives off a luxurious vibe akin to what the Greek Gods might eat at if they were staying aboard the newest Disney cruise ship.
Disney’s Hercules (above) reigns supreme inside the Hero Suite in the Disney Destiny. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The Hero Suite has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living room couch can be pulled out into a third bed.
The outdoor hit tub in the Hero Suite. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
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Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports and news in Atlanta nearly two decades ago. Since then he has written for Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Southern Cross…
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HOUSTON, TX — The rumble is back. Monster Jam is returning to Houston’s NRG Stadium! Don’t miss the U.S. debut of the Marvel Monster Trucks, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Amazing Spiderman.
“I grew up as a little kid watching Monster Jam and I dressed up as Spiderman, so having the two come together is absolutely wild. I’m just a big kid driving a 12,000 pound Monster Truck flying high through the sky,” Monster Truck driver Camden Murphy says with a smile.
Monster Jam is an edge-of-your-seat experience for both the drivers and the fans. Add in the Marvel Superheroes and it takes the ride to a whole new level!
“We all grew up watching superheroes, to be behind the wheel of Iron Man is a dream come true,” said Iron Man Monster Truck driver Brandon Arthur. “We are doing stuff in the trucks we shouldn’t be doing. You pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only be using the edge.”
It’s fun for the entire family, so buckle up for a Monster Jam Marvel weekend spin!
“If you’ve never been to Monster Jam, you have to come,” said Murphy. “I guarantee you, I promise you, if it’s your first time, it will never be your last.”
HOUSTON, TX — The rumble is back. Monster Jam is returning to Houston’s NRG Stadium. Don’t miss the U.S. debut of the Marvel Monster Trucks, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Amazing Spiderman.
“I grew up as a little kid watching Monster Jam and I dressed up as Spiderman so having the two come together is absolutely wild. I’m just a big kid driving a 12,000 pound Monster Truck flying high through the sky,” Monster Truck driver Camden Murphy says with a smile.
Monster Jam is an edge-of-your-seat experience for the drivers and the fans. Add in the Marvel Superheroes and it takes the ride to a whole new level!
“We all grew up watching superheroes, to be behind the wheel of Iron Man is a dream come true,” said Iron Man Monster Truck driver Brandon Arthur, “We are doing stuff in the trucks we shouldn’t be doing. You pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only be using the edge.”
It’s fun for the entire family, so buckle up for a Monster Jam Marvel weekend spin!
“If you’ve never been to Monster Jam, you have to come,” said Murphy. “I guarantee you, I promise you, if it’s your first time, it will never be your last.”
According to Variety, however, there’s nothing to fear as Marvel has smashed the panic glass by announcing Roberty Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU. During Saturday’s San Diego Comic-Con, RDJ returned to Hall H and announced he would return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.
“New mask, same task,” Robert told the stunned crowd. “I like playing complicated characters,” he said as fans chanted his name.
Thanks to the source material, they can take several routes with RDJ portraying Victor Von Doom. It’s unclear if he will play a Tony Stark variant that becomes the iconic villain, or if he will be a new version of the character.
Regardless, fans can rejoice as the MCU seems to have a solid path forward after a disappointing string of past releases.
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters in May of 2026 and will also feature the return of the Russo brothers behind the camera.
Watch Robert Downey Jr. during Marvel’s Hall H presentation below.
Marvel’s Ultimate Universe always has an Avengers, and the newly reborn one is no different. In a few months, the team is returning with The Ultimates, the first real team book of the new Ultimate line. Written by Deniz Camp and drawn by Juan Frigeri, the new book sees Tony Stark gathering superheroes—both those fully-formed and ones who haven’t become their heroic selves yet—to bolster his ranks alongside Doom, Sif, and Captain America.
Ms. Marvel’s Directors Talk Embiggening the Show’s Superhero Action
Talking to ComicBook, Camp explained how his series will build upon the Ultimates foundation previously set by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s original version. Instead of fighting extraterrestrial threats and terrorists around the world, they’re fugitives framed for the murder of thousands back in Ultimate Universe and Ultimate Invasion. Likening them to the Partisans of WWII, Camp called them “a resistance network in occupied territory. Their status as outlaws/terrorists means they are under constant threat.”
Stark’s big plan to build a resistance network of superheroes means every issue will be one-and-dones that introduce the new Ultimate version of a Marvel hero. Beyond Ant-Man and the Wasp for the inaugural issue, Camp isn’t saying who else is part of the roster, but he did note the team’s got an 18-month timetable to build their ranks and save the world from whatever the Maker and his Council have got cooking up with their own personal City. Complicating matters further is Tony himself: as a younger, “more idealistic” version of his 616 self, he’ll find himself pulled in opposite ends by Doom and Captain America.
Team friction will be a big part of the book, especially as the ranks grow. “[They’re] people with very different backgrounds, beliefs, and reasons for fighting, united by [a] common enemy,” continued Camp. In the way OG Ultimates was focused on post-9/11 paranoia, his and Frigeri’s version will look at “that nagging sense that everything’s gone wrong somehow, that things were supposed to be better than this. In that way the two Ultimates will feel very different, but I think (hope) ours is true to the spirit and the ambition of the original.”
Growth and “changing the world” is the Ultimates gameplan, one Camp said will make it very differernt from the primary Marvel universe. Given free reign, he’s most excited to have the chance to make something of his own inside the Marvel sandbox different from his previous contract work. “This feels a lot more like writing a creator owned book,” he said, “albeit one that is directly working with classic Marvel iconography and archetypes. I consider it a real responsibility, and I’m doing my best to live up to it.”
The Ultimates kicks off its debut issue on June 5.
That was the appeal of making Oppenheimer with Nolan and his producing partner Emma Thomas, who, like the Downeys, are another husband-and-wife filmmaking duo prone to taking big swings. “For him, Chris and Emma have just figured that out like nobody else,” Susan says.
Even their process for casting has a no-nonsense streamline to it. “When you’re doing a Chris Nolan thing, basically you get a phone call: ‘Chris wants you for this. Will you come read the script at his house?’ ” says Susan, who joked that her husband’s curiosity clashed with his, let’s say, more inert tendencies. “Robert’s like, ‘Wait, I have to drive that far east?… Okay.’ Once he was willing to do that, I already knew his mindset was very open.”
The Oppenheimer team was surprised to meet a movie star who was willing to cast off his armor. “Honestly, he kind of subverted all my expectations of him,” Thomas says. “We’ve often talked about how amazing it’d be to work with him, but we work in a very specific, fairly stripped-down way. I wasn’t sure how he was going to adjust to that way of working because, when you’re a big movie star like Robert, that isn’t necessarily the way you’re used to working.”
But his Avengers experience had also prepared him for being part of Oppenheimer’s gargantuan ensemble, one of 79 speaking roles in a cast that includes three best actor Oscar winners. Downey’s Strauss clashes repeatedly with Murphy’s Oppenheimer but also with his own aide (played by Alden Ehrenreich) and even with Albert Einstein (Tom Conti). Fueled by a potent mix of sincere conviction and petty grievance, he commands scene after scene of crowded public hearings, strategy sessions, and backroom machinations, but without the bemused pizzazz of his Marvel alter ego. Strauss may be a politically savvy survivor, but he’s also a black hole of personality who doesn’t so much fill a room as draw everyone into his own.
As he had on his Marvel films, Downey relished the opportunity to stray from best-laid plans, carefully mapping out a scene with filmmakers and crew only to go rogue. “From a creative point of view, he came extraordinarily well prepared,” Nolan says. “It’s a very complicated part, and he had it absolutely down. And he also had a number of, I wouldn’t call them improvisations because a lot of it was very carefully planned, but he had a number of embellishments, things that he wanted to bring to the character, things that he wanted to try out.”
Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema would follow Downey in a room as he delivered monologues that stretched multiple pages.
“I think he loved that freedom to move around the room and present himself with whatever energy he felt like: ‘Let’s try it again! Let’s try it a different way!’ ” Nolan says. “However heavy the 70-millimeter camera was, Hoyte would never get too tired. In a way, Robert was probably waiting for him to get tired, but he didn’t. So he was able to really thrash it out, really reach for something and stretch himself.”
Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed Downey in three Marvel movies, describe the Downey method in similar terms: “When he’ll come back to set, Robert is famous for throwing the plan out the window and climbing on top of the couch and whatever, sort of going off-book,” Joe says. “He does this because he likes to surprise himself. He likes to keep things fresh. He lights up for that.”
Yes, I’m sorry, all these iconic flicks came out 10 years ago and you are old. I am, too. But consider an alternate take: These movies stood the test of time and you had the privilege of being around to see them in theaters. Personally I think 2013 was a super strong year for movies, to the extent that getting a list of just 15 was tricky. But here they are, ranked from “very good” to “very, very, very good.”
15. The Purge
(Universal)
Sure, The Purge franchise has its detractors, but you can’t deny the impact it made. The dystopian premise is simple and stark: for one night every year, all crime is legal, including murder. What will the characters do? What would you do? In this first ever Purge film we follow Ethan Hawke’s James and Lena Headey’s Mary as they attempt to get their family to morning alive. That story and this movie spawned a impressive four more Purge movies (to date) plus a TV show!
14. Fruitvale Station
(The Weinstein Company)
Fruitvale Station tells the incredibly important real-life story of Oscar Grant (here played by Michael B. Jordan), who was killed by police in 2009, sparking protests that are now considered a precursor to the Black Lives Matter movement. This was Ryan Coogler’s feature film debut and it deservedly won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for a drama film at Sundance. “Every single choice that I made was based off research, and off things people told me about Oscar,” Coogler told The Independent, “because I didn’t want to go out and invent this character out of thin air.”
13. Gravity
(Warner Bros.)
“Life in space is impossible” warns the opening of Gravity. No kidding. This masterpiece from Alfonso Cuarón follows Dr. Ryan Stone (Sanda Bullock) as she fights to survive in space after debris strikes her shuttle. The only other survivor is Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) and he’s determined to get her home. An absolute nail-biter of a movie, but it’s incredibly beautiful too.
12. The World’s End
(Focus Features)
The third film in the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost/Edgar Wright “Cornetto Trilogy.” This one is a little darker than the other two, as it’s really mostly about Pegg’s character’s alcoholism. Oh, and people are being replaced by robots, that’s also a thing that’s going on. Pegg puts in a truly great performance as the addicted, unhappy Gary King here.
11. The Wolf of Wall Street
(Paramount)
Martin Scorsese’s three-hour epic about very bad people doing very bad things. Sex, drugs, crime and live fish-eating are all covered in this movie, which won Leonardo DiCaprio a very well deserved fourth Academy Award nomination. Although he carries the movie, all the cast — which includes Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, and Margot Robbie in her breakout role — are excellent.
10. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
(Warner Bros.)
I know, I know, I’ve heard it. The Hobbit movies weren’t as good as their predecessors. But on the other hand, what in the world could have been? The original Lord of the Rings movies were masterpieces that can never be repeated. And despite having so much to live up to, The Desolation of Smaug knocked it as far out of the park as it could have possibly gone. It has its flaws but Peter Jackson’s love for the source material shines through.
9. Iron Man 3
(Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Iron Man 3 isn’t remembered as a particularly strong MCU entry, curiously, but I think it holds up very well indeed. The twist involving the Mandarin had me first gasping and then giggling, it was a genuine rug pull that I appreciated very much. It’s nice to look back and remember a time when the MCU was much smaller. There’s not a multiverse in sight here and it’s all the better for it. A movie as compact as one of Tony Stark’s gadgets.
8. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
(Lionsgate)
Another excellent mid-quel that dropped in 2013. Katniss Everdeen goes back into the Games arena and the stakes are even higher this time. The Hunger Games movies may not have had quite the raw power of the books, but they were nonetheless incredible and a whole generation remembers them fondly. Catching Fire gave us introductions to some of the best characters in the series, including Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason, as well as the iconic visual of Katniss’s mockingjay dress.
7. Frozen
(Disney)
All this time and I still can’t let it go. Yes, over-exposure has made many people (even Disney fans) sick to death of Frozen, but it was so good when it first came out. The music was catchy, the storyline was strong, the animation was gorgeous, and the characters were so, so fanfiction-able. It was also probably the last Disney movie to pull off the “you think this character is an ally but they’re really an enemy!” twist with any level of success.
6. 12 Years a Slave
(New Regency Productions)
Steve McQueen’s passion project, 12 Years a Slave was named the Best Picture winner of 2013 and I think most people agree it was a very well-deserved accolade. This extremely disturbing film stuck very closely to the Solomon Northup memoir it was based on and pulled absolutely no punches when it came to depicting the horrors of slavery. It also introduced the wider world to British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, and made the previously-unknown Lupita Nyong’o an Oscar-winning superstar. The movie industry owes a LOT to this film!
5. Philomena
(The Weinstein Company)
Not one of the “big” films of 2013, just a small and quiet goddamn heartbreaker. Judi Dench plays Philomena Lee, a woman seeking the son she was forced to give up after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. It’s based on a true story, and the real Philomena—now an adoption rights campaigner—had input into it. It’s absolutely an uplifting film, Dench’s performance makes sure of that, but it also sparked an intense rage in me.
4. The Great Gatsby
(Warner Bros.)
My thoughts when news of this movie hit: BAZ LUHRMANN is directing an adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY? Oh my gosh. With Leonardo DiCaprio and SPIDER-MAN? WHERE DO I SIGN? Yes, I admit that there are some members of the moviegoing public who find Luhrmann’s style grating but I am absolutely not one of them. I love his rollercoaster-like approach to things. This film has a mere 48 percent on Rotten Tomatoes which baffles me to this day, though it did rightly take home the Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
3. Belle
(Searchlight Pictures)
A beautifully understated period drama from Amma Asante, Belle tells the tale of a little-known figure in British history. Dido Elizabeth Belle was the daughter of an enslaved woman and a British officer who ended up being raised by white relatives in an upper-class household, and her story is absolutely one everyone should know. Gugu Mbatha-Raw brings Dido to life beautifully, and I was so happy that she became a huge star after this!
2. Snowpiercer
(The Weinstein Company)
Snowpiercer lived in my head rent-free long after the credits rolled. How to even sum it up? “A terrifying dystopia, on a train, starring Chris Evans as a reluctant cannibal” gets the basics but still doesn’t really sell this masterpiece by constant masterpiece-maker Bong Joon-ho. It’s equal parts brutal and beautiful and I promise you will never forget it.
1. Pacific Rim
(Legendary Pictures)
It is very, very easy to get wrong a film about humans creating giant robots to destroy giant monsters. The ill-advised sequel proved that pretty conclusively. But the original Pacific Rim from Guillermo del Toro is everything cinema should be: colorful, bold, sincere, and just plain loving towards the art of film and indeed humanity in general.
The Scarlet Witch’s transformation into a villain in the MCU’s Phase 4 holds deeper origins than meets the eye, intricately woven by none other than Tony Stark’sIron Man. As we delve into key moments from the MCU’s past, a captivating narrative unfolds, shedding light on the unforeseen influence that set Wanda Maximoff on her path towards becoming the enigmatic Scarlet Witch.
Stark’s unintended Role: Avengers: Age of Ultron
Back in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Elizabeth Olsen’s portrayal of Wanda Maximoff, alongside her brother Pietro, introduced a simmering resentment towards the Avengers. Unveiled in “Previously On,” a poignant episode of WandaVision, the Maximoffs’ tragic backstory emerges. Stark’s Stark-branded missile held them captive for days during a war, pushing them into the arms of HYDRA. This choice ultimately unlocked their superhuman abilities through the Mind Stone, with Stark inadvertently triggering the creation of the Scarlet Witch.
Wanda’s imprisonment: From Civil War to WandaVision
Stark’s impact on Wanda continued to unfold in Captain America: Civil War, as he confined her to the Avengers Compound after a tragic incident in Lagos. This seemingly well-intentioned move, meant to control her potentially-dangerous powers, bore striking similarities to events in WandaVision. The series depicted Wanda’s inadvertent control over the town of Westview, mirroring her own confinement by Stark. The parallel between Iron Man’s decisions and Wanda’s actions adds layers to her character’s complex evolution.
Iron Man’s Dual Role
Tony Stark’s decisions inadvertently laid the groundwork for Wanda Maximoff’s dual transformation into the Scarlet Witch. His past actions, born out of good intentions yet morally questionable, mirrored in her own choices. Stark’s inadvertent role in creating and confining Wanda casts a new light on her journey, underscoring the intricate tapestry that connects these two characters.
As audiences explore the symbiotic relationship between Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch, fans uncover a narrative that adds depth to both characters, enriching the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s intricate storytelling.
This weekend marks the release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which boasts a stellar ensemble led by Cillian Murphy. Besides that, Robert Downey Jr. plays a character in the movie for the first time in more than three years. The actor recently proclaimed that Oppenheimer is the best movie he has ever been in. Of course, Downey Jr. is best known to most people for his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz of Happy, Sad, Confused, Nolan referred to the MCU’s choice of Downey Jr. as “one of the greatest casting decisions in film history.”
Christopher Nolan was gushing about Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man performance
Although Robert Downey Jr. may have second-guessed taking on the role of Iron Man, Christopher Nolan considers Downey Jr.’s Iron Man to be “one of the greatest casting decisions” in film history.
“One of the best casting choices in film history, in my opinion, was when [Jon] Favreau had the vision to cast him as Iron Man. And you examine what happened and the direction that everything took as a result. And I believe Jon knew exactly how amazing of an actor and how amazing of a promise Downey had. Then the allure of a movie star, that amazing magnetism, enters the picture,” Nolan said.
Talking about what was great about working with Downey on this project, Nolan said, It “was that you could go to him and say, ‘Okay, set your charisma and movie star fantasies aside for a moment and let yourself become engrossed in this real-life character who is so nuanced and has such an amazing role to play in Oppenheimer’s story. And I think a lot of his fan base is going to be quite shocked to see him sort of revert to that genius as an actor, just finding the truth in another human being and expressing it, and the things he accomplishes in the movie. Being able to flip fully and expand oneself in a way that many people haven’t seen someone who has achieved such greatness as a movie star do is pretty cool.”
Robert Downey Jr. questions his role as Iron Man, but Christopher Nolan feels otherwise
The effects of playing the same part for so long have been questioned by Robert Downey Jr. The actor told The New York Times in an interview that he was concerned that playing Iron Man for such a long time might impair his acting abilities. When asked specifically if playing Iron Man in numerous Marvel movies for more than a decade caused him to worry about his ability, he replied, “Yes, without a doubt, and I was aware that Chris Nolan had supported this idea at one point: let’s exercise those other muscles while depriving you of your go-to resources.” He made reference to his standard acting approach, which he developed while playing Iron Man which is known as “fast-talking.”
Nolan, however, seems to have a different opinion of Downey Jr.’s acting abilities, as revealed by his comments in the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast. RDJ is set to appear in an HBO adaptation of The Sympathizer after Oppenheimer.
Listen, I get that you’re new here. From what I understand, you transferred out of Anime High because you couldn’t sit with the most popular anime boys and girls of all time. But why did you think Superhero High would be any different? You’re NOT one of the popular superheroes. I don’t even think you’re super at all! HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IN HERE? DID YOU BREAK INTO SCHOOL GROUNDS? HOW DID NO ONE NOTICE?
Okay, maybe your superpower is that you’re so unpopular you’re basically invisible. Cool. Whatever. Why don’t you go and sit with the other invisible kids. They’re around here somewhere—I think? That could be them over there. Or maybe that table is just empty? Idk. Go sit down. If you sit in Captain Invisible’s, it’ll probably be the most action he’s had all year.
You’re still HERE? Okay, listen. If I introduce to the popular heroes you will you PROMISE to leave?
*sigh*
Okay fine. Let’s go.
10. Iron Man
(Marvel Entertainment)
Okay, see the guy whose lunch box is feeding him with mechanical arms? That’s Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. He’s what we call “new popular”. He wasn’t really all that cool when he first hit the scene. I mean, don’t get me wrong. He was still pretty popular. There was like… a Black Sabbath song about him I think? Idk some Dad music. But he got SUPER popular when he was played by Robert Downey Jr. in 2008. And it’s all been uphill from there.
9. Thor
(Marvel Entertainment)
Thor is also what we call “new popular”. He wasn’t really all that back when his first comics started. Tbh I thought he looked like kind of a dork with the winged helmet. He debuted in Journey Into Mystery #83 all the way back in the 1960s. But it wasn’t till the Avengers movies took off that he saw his popularity soar. The first Thor movie was okay, but he didn’t hit home with fans. But then the people at Marvel had the bright idea to make him comic relief in movies like Thor: Ragnorok and the fans went wild. And who wouldn’t go wild over Chris Hemsworth, am I right?
8. The Incredible Hulk
(Marvel Entertainment)
Okay so the Incredible Hulk was always cool, but a lot of people didn’t give him the time of day because his mild-mannered Bruce Banner persona wasn’t as cool as, say Bruce Wayne. I mean Bruce Banner is kind of a nerd, and nerds weren’t really in for a while. Now nerds are so in; basically everyone on Earth is a nerd in some fandom right now. Just wasn’t the case back then. But what’s not to love about a guy who turns huge and green and smashes things when he gets mad? I wish I could do that.
7. Wolverine
(20th Century Fox)
Wolverine was also always cool, but again, he didn’t get MEGA cool until he a Hollywood makeover. The original Wolverine is kinda ugly. He’s short, stocky, hairy, and looks like he got punched in the face one too many times. He’s not exactly movie-star quality. Then some genius of a casting director decided that Hugh Jackman would be a perfect fit and the rest was history. Besides, he’s got KNIVES IN HIS HANDS. So cool. Yeah he’s cutting up his sandwich with them. Wouldn’t you?
5. Wonder Woman
(Warner Bros.)
You see that woman with the rippling biceps? That’s Wonder Woman. She’s in the big leagues. She’s been popular forever, and is arguably the most popular female superhero of all time. She’s got it all: brains, beauty, and a hero’s heart. Ugh. I just wanna be her. She grew up in a community of Amazonian warrior women, and is the strongest of them all. She was always a heavy hitter on the popularity front, but her popularity shot up even further now that she’s played by the incredible Gal Godot in the movies.
6. Captain America
(Marvel Entertainment)
To be honest, America is kind of a scary place to be right now, but Captain America makes it just a little bit brighter. He was a symbol of American strength and resilience since the 1940s. He has his roots in antifascism, and he was pictured punching Hitler in his debut comic in 1941. He represents all of the best parts of American ideals: courage, optimism, and tolerance of all cultures and beliefs (except for fascism). It also helps that he was played by that hottie Chris Evans and now second hottie Anthony Mackie. Definitely a popularity booster.
4. Black Panther
(Matt Kennedy / Marvel Studios)
WAKANADA FOREVER! Omg sorry I just get really excited whenever I talk about Black Panther. I’m a big fan. His popularity EXPLODED back in 2018 with the release of the first Black Panther film. It was the first Marvel film with a Black director and a predominately Black cast, and was also the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture. Needless to say, it’s a serious touchstone in pop culture. T’Challa was played by the late, great actor Chadwick Boseman. A modern cinema legend.
3. Superman
(Warner Bros.)
You see those three dudes in the middle of the table? Those are the Big Three. The most popular superheroes of all time. And you see that guy in the red cape who also looks suspiciously similar to a certain mild-mannered journalist at the Daily Planet? Yeah, that’s Superman. He was one of the first superheroes ever conceived. He also has antifascist roots. He was created by two Jewish illustrators named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 to beat the shit out of Nazis, and his name, Kal-El, is a Hebrew phrase meaning “God is in everything”. This guy didn’t need Hollywood to make him popular, he had been a legend for DECADES.
2. Batman
(Warner Bros)
See that guy in the dark cape next to Superman? He’s vengeance. He’s the night. He’s totally NOT a billionaire playboy named Bruce Wayne. What gave you that idea? Batman was created by Bob Kane in 1939, and since then he’s aged like the fine wine in Bruce Wayne’s mansion. But again, he’s totally not Bruce Wayne. Batman has it all. He’s got the dark past, the utility belt full of gizmos, and the mind of a master detective, and the body of a black-belt martial artist. He also didn’t need help from Hollywood, but one could argue that The Dark Knight is the greatest superhero movie of all time. Bruce Wayne is even in it! And yes, it is totally a coincidence that he and Batman are never in a scene together.
1. Spiderman
(Marvel Entertainment)
Okay, see the cute kid sitting in between Batman and Superman? The kid who caught that redhead and her lunch tray when she tripped earlier? That’s the most popular superhero of all time: Spiderman. There have been a few Spidermans (a whole Spiderverse of them, actually) but the first and most famous is Peter Parker. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, and has gone on to sell BILLIONS of dollars worth of comics and movies. Peter Parker is unstoppable, probably because he’s so charming! What’s not to love about a loud-mouthed kid from Queens? I know I love him. I pass notes to him in class all the time. He stopped opening them, but I know if I keep trying he’ll dump that ginger and take me to prom.
Marvel is releasing special variant covers in January 2023 to introduce their newest class of … [+] “Stormbreakers,” or illustrators to watch.
Marvel
Hands may be wringing in the film world over what Marvel series releases next or who portrays the next big super hero, but for collectors these aren’t issues at all. In January, avid collectors can relive key aspects of Marvel history through a new lens: that of artists who have reimagined covers of cultural significance.
But the variants themselves are only part of the story. The illustrators who created them are a story onto themselves. They are the 2023 class of “Stormbreakers,” the artists Marvel says are up-and-coming in the industry (though up-and-coming in this sense largely means they’ve already worked with Marvel quite intensely.) It’s a diverse class, and it’s the more modern iteration of the company’s “Young Guns” program, which launched many a lauded career, including those of Steve McNiven, Jim Cheung, Sara Pichelli and Ryan Stegman.
The new class of Stormbreakers includes Elena Casagrande, Nic Klein, Jan Bazaldua, Chris Allen, Martin Coccolo, Lucas Werneck, Federico Vicentini and C.F. Villa. Between them, they’ve drawn Thor, Spider-Man, X-Men and Black Widow.
The variant covers, to go on sale for weekly drops starting January 2023, include:
X-FORCE #36 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by NIC KLEIN
AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME #1 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by MARTIN COCCOLO
X-MEN #18 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by ELENA CASAGRANDE
IMMORTAL X-MEN #10 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by FEDERICO VICENTINI
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #2 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by CHRIS ALLEN
ALL-OUT AVENGERS #5 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by JAN BAZALDUA
SINS OF SINISTER #1 STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER by C.F. VILLA
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 10: John Stamos poses at the IMDb Official Portrait Studio during … [+] D23 2022 at Anaheim Convention Center on September 10, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb)
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John Stamos is still fully embracing what made him a household name nearly 35 years ago: being a family entertainer. You can now see Stamos in season two of Big Shot on Disney+.
This season on Big Shot, “Marvyn Korn” (John), a disgraced college basketball coach, is out to prove his high school women’s basketball team belongs on ESPN and recruits an unlikely player to do so.
The role was a major challenge for Stamos, who’s not a sports guy.
“It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, and I’m not kidding,” the 59-year-old actor told me via Zoom video. “I’ve put myself out there a lot. Being a doctor on ER was easier than being a coach, because I’m telling you, the lingo is just as foreign to me. At least the medical stuff is Latin, so you can kind of piece it together. I know nothing about it.
Fortunately, I have a good friend, Roger Lodge (current California sports radio host, former host of Blind Date), and he helped me out a lot. I really did have to dig deep into it because if I wasn’t believable as this coach, then there’s no show. And I didn’t know what was going to happen.
“I prepped as much as I could. I talked to people. I read books, John Wooden (legendary UCLA basketball coach) stuff and Bobby Knight (Legendary Indiana coach). And by the way, that guy’s funny, Bobby Knight. But I didn’t know.
“The first day of shooting the show, I was finishing Fuller House. And it was in the backyard, and the girls were getting married, and it was a whole wedding, and it was speeches, and very emotional and sweet. And then I drove across town, and I had to scream at these college kids and throw a chair and have all this anger. And I don’t know where— I think a little bit of it was my father.
John Stamos arrives at the American Music Awards on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater … [+] in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Invision
“He was sort of a gruff guy— loving guy, but gruff. And just the writing, I trusted the writing, and it just kind of fell into place. But I constantly have to sort of work hard on the terminology and just the— I’m not a jock. I just didn’t come from that world. My dad said, ‘You go out of your way to hate sports.’ Someone always had to lose.
“I tried to golf. My dad was a golfer, and I wanted to spend time with him, so I took lessons. I said, ‘Dad, let’s go.’ And I went to the thing and I sliced the ball. And it flew right past a woman who’s maybe 85 years old, missed her temple by that much. My dad said, ‘Put the club— get in the car.’ But I could have killed somebody. So I said that’s it for sports for me.”
Taking on the role gave Stamos a new perspective on sports.
“I really do have a newfound respect for sports, especially women’s sports,” the Cypress, California native said. “We talk a lot about the inequality, which is an important thing to get out there. I talk about getting the high schools, the championship game on ESPN, because they only broadcast the boys.
“It’s,’Why?’ Girls actually— they play the sport better. They’re better at it. It’s better to watch. It’s more interesting to watch these women. And I’m glad that we get that across as well.”
John Stamos presents the award for favorite villain at the Kids’ Choice Awards at the Galen Center … [+] on Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
2017 Invision
Stamos’ performance in the series garnered accolades from an unlikely radio legend, John’s friend Howard Stern.
“The last interview (with Howard) I did, I was waiting for my turn to have that in-depth, deep hour-and-a-half interview, and we did it last time for Big Shot,” John said. “He called me. He watched.
“I was getting ready to do the show, and they sent him the links for the last season. And I’m getting a call, and it’s Howard calling me. And first of all, it’s pretty rare you get a call from him. He’s a busy guy. And I thought, ‘Oh, Ralph (Cirella, Howard’s friend, on-air personality) is dead, probably. Why is Howard calling?’
“And it turns out that he watched all the episodes. And Beth (Stern’s wife) played high school basketball. And I mean, he talked about the show like it— it was really one of the greatest calls I’ve ever gotten. And then he called me when Bob (Saget) passed away, and we talked for an hour. And it was like— again, it just shows his character. And people may think that he’s just a shock jock. He’s a good man and a good friend.”
Another Disney project the actor tackled this year is voicing Iron Man/Tony Stark for the Spidey and His Amazing Friends (Disney, Disney Jr.) animated series. John approached the role with respect for the iconic character and incorporated some old and new takes on the Marvel legend, only to learn he may have been taking the gig a little too seriously.
“I did overthink it, and I’m not a Marvel guy either. My wife is [into Marvel],” Stamos said. “And so I did a deep dive. The talent that they put in these movies early on, Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth (Paltrow), what a smart— what a brilliant franchise. I get why it’s so popular.
“It was a little daunting because it’s such an important character, and I wanted to be respectful, But I kind of came in with a little bit of Downey, a little rhythm in my voice and stuff, and they’re like, ‘No, no, no. Don’t do that, don’t do that.’ First of all, it’s for three or four-year-olds, and because I was starting to call [characters] nicknames… But it finally has settled into, ‘That’s my version of Tony Stark and Iron Man.’
ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 01: In this handout photo provided by Disney Resorts, John Stamos and his son … [+] pose with Iron Man at Disney California Adventure Park on August 01, 2022 in Anaheim, California. The second season of “Spidey and his Amazing Friends” premieres on Disney Channel and Disney Junior on August 19, 2022. (Photo by Sean Teegarden/Disneyland Resort via Getty Images)
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“And it started to work. Really, I’m just trying to get my kid to think I’m cool. I’m just doing everything I can. I was on Mickey’s Funhouse, [where] I play a pirate.
“I really enjoy doing it. It’s just a way to get out there to entertain people. This world is … we need comfort food. We need good quality programming. We need, hopefully, good role models out there preaching love and happiness and appreciation and gratitude.”
The parents watching John’s Disney projects today have a special bound with the performer after growing up watching him play “Uncle Jesse” on Full House in the late 80s to mid-90s and now, they get to share his work with their children.
“I am happy to have [the bond]. This world is in a— I don’t need to tell you, it’s a little topsy-turvy right now, and we need shows like this,” Stamos said. “We need comfort food right now. And I think I could be part of that. That’s what I think about it.
“I really haven’t thought about it [much], but … I think people could look to me now and feel safe. And again, it’s like comfort food. I’ve been coming into people’s homes for 40 years, so that’s a great in. … So they go in that way, and then they trust me to take them on a pretty fun, interesting journey.”
After a long, lucrative career in Hollywood that remains steady and with a four-year-old son at home, John’s learned to appreciate “microtransactions” or the little special moments in life that are gone too soon, especially for parents.
I said in the very first episode (of Big Shot) last year, ‘Can you look in the mirror at the end of the day and say, ‘I did my very best today?’ ‘Was I loving? Was I the best father I could be?’” Stamos recalled. “Last night, [my son] was coming home from Disneyland and he was asleep.
“And I’m taking him, was going to set him down in his room quietly. And I had so much to do. I had to get ready for this, and I had other stuff. And I’m sneaking out and he goes, ‘Dad.’ I’m like, ‘Oh.’ ‘Could you read me a story?’ And in my mind, I was like, ‘I got so— yes.’”
