The Tangled Web of Our New Spider-Man

Marvel fans were sitting on the edge of their seat last year, when our friendly webbed-hero swung into action in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR! It was a dream come true. Spidey had finally been moved into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was an Avenger in the comics and we finally got to see him take his first steps into the world of the Avengers on screen. After 5 other movies under the Sony umbrella, we were wondering if it would ever happen. 

Funny we had to endure the Toby McGuire films, then the two Andrew Garfield films, which really to me weren't that bad. But now casting has brought us Tom Holland, who did a fantastic job in Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming looks to be just as epic and MARVEL-ous as any of the other films in the MCU. Along for the ride will be our favorite armored hero, Iron Man and the return of Happy Hogan and rumor of Pepper Potts? That's what they say. But with movie rumors flying around all the time, you never really know what to believe or expect.

Now we are hearing that even after all the deals and contracts have been signed and all the years of waiting to get Spidey in the MCU, there are stories out there that after the Homecoming sequel, Spider-Man will be leaving the MCU and Sony will "do" their own universe. WHAT??!! Why work so hard to get him in there, and then contract him out? We were finally gonna see Spider-Man in his rightful place. Alongside the Avengers.

I wish Marvel had enough money, to buy back ALL their characters, so we could have ONE BIG universe. WE will never get to see Hugh Jackman's "Wolverine" with the Avengers, still up in the air about the Fantastic Four and now they wanna take Spidey back? I just don't get it. I guess time will tell what will all eventually happen. But for now, at least we got Spidey and we might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Why do we love superheroes so much? Is is the tights...the capes...the toys...the backstories? I don't guess we will ever really know. All I know for the last 9 years since I have been a Marvel superhero fan, those are the only movies I look forward to and the comics I love to read. But why are they so addicting? How come we have fallen in love with all these different characters...that aren't real, but live in the imagination of our mind and spirit? We may never know the real reason, but I do know that with each hero or villain...inside of us there is that one little trait of our favorite characters that we seem to identify with and almost wish it could be us scaling that mountain, or flying over that horizon or putting the bad guys in their place.

Little boys growing up, always look up to someone. They have that "hero" in their life that makes them want to achieve something greater. They want to grow up to be somebody and make a difference. There has always been "heroes" of some sorts. It goes all the way back to Errol Flynn and Robin Hood, the Three Musketeers and then eventually into the world of "superheroes." That list is too long for this blog. I think back to the WW2 days when Stan Lee created Captain America. I can just imagine every little boy in the world wanting to be Captain America and fight the bad guys and beat up Adolf Hitler and be the hero that everybody looked up to.

There's something about "saving the day." Who doesn't want to do that?! Everybody likes to get the girl, and save the day and be the "hero" and have everybody love them! I think the little kid in us, just longs to be just like our favorite hero. To do what they do...act like they act...live like they live.

I grew up liking Batman, Robin, Superman, The Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, etc etc...it actually was not til 2008 that I even heard of Iron Man believe it or not. I never got into comics when I was little. I read a few, but didn't collect them, and I look back and can say...I HATE IT that I didn't. I missed out on the golden age of comics when heroes were cool...though we are definitely coming into what I call the second golden age of comics. The heroes are cool again! In all my years of pretending to be Batman when I was little, doesn't even compare to all the hype, the dressing up, the cosplay, the toys, the collectibles...nothing compares to now. This is a very cool time to be a comicbook, hero loving, nerd, geek...whatever they call us.

In 2012 when I first saw Iron Man, I was hooked. Watched all of the Marvel Phase 1 movies. One right after the other to prepare for The Avengers. There was something about Tony Stark and Iron Man that captured my attention. It mesmerized me. I was glued to the TV and that still remains one of my favorite movies of all time. Tony's life was changed after being captured by the Ten Rings. He found out his real purpose in life. To help people. He took the tragedy of the cave and turned it into something that would eventually help people. PLUS being a genius, helped him as well. The fact he created his own hero, his own suits, his own legacy....that was something I could identify with. That's what pulled me in. I'm sure we each have our own story of what hero changed us. How we wish we could fly, or bounce bullets off our chest or stand up to a bad guy and say, "NO WAY BUB"

All in all...it's a good time to be a geek. Superheroes will be around for a long time. They're pretty much a way of life. After all, with great power, comes responsibility.

Marvel Marches On...The Guardians Step Up. AGAIN.

OK...it's been awhile since my last post. Several Marvel movies have been released and many, many more are in the making. Thought it was time I catch up a bit.

Marvel never seems to disappoint their fans when it comes to releasing the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At least they never disappoint me! The excitement behind every film, gets bigger and bigger with each movie and they only seem to get better and better.

The next one to be released is no different! The second chapter in the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise is set to be released on May 5th of this year. Volume 2 will be released in select cities as a double feature in RealD and 3D. Marvel fans will have the opportunity to see both films back to back on Thursday May 4th at 4:30pm. This type of screening always gets me excited. When I hear of a Marvel movie marathon, I scour the internet to see if it's showing in my city! I am excited to say, this one is! The last time my city held any kind of Marathon for the Marvel franchise was back in 2012 for the Ultimate Avengers Movie Marathon. This was when all movies in Phase 1 were shown, all in one day leading up to the first Avengers movie. This double feature won't be quite as long, but still worth almost 5 hours of Marvel goodness! 

I always say before going to see a new Marvel movie, I have this plan to go back to the very beginning and watch all the movies up to date to the one in the theater. At current standing, if you were to do just that...it would take you 29 hours and 22 minutes. Starting with Iron Man and watching all the way through to and including Doctor Strange. A daunting task, but if you have the time, the patience and plenty of rest...I say go for it!  A true Marvel fan is die-hard and committed to their movies. (well at least this Marvel fan is!) 

The double feature comes with a pretty neat package! All that Guardians is all well and good, but those who buy tickets will also receive some sweet movie swag. Attendees will get an exclusive poster and a souvenir collectible button set. That Marvel fans is worth it, just for that! Sure you could stay home, watch the first one, then come to the theater, but why miss out on cool movie swag and all the fun?!! 

If nothing else, this double feature should play very smoothly. Vol. 2 takes place just a few months after the events of the first Guardians Of The Galaxy as the former criminals turned protectors are still settling into their new roles. However, events lead some of them to question their new lot in life, while Star-Lord finally learns the truth about his parentage. The film is written and directed by James Gunn and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and Kurt Russell.

Guardians Of The Galaxy opens on May 5th, 2017. While the double feature screenings are on Thursday May 4th, 2017. (Star Wars Day) And it's Free Comic Book Day Weekend! Make a weekend of it and have fun!

K, that's my take, I will see you at the movies!