Comics and Movies

[quickccc]

Marvel Slated For Drastic Cutbacks After Disappointing Phase 4

If you happen to be one of the people suffering from superhero “fatigue” then you might in luck, as Marvel is set to engage in a ton of cutbacks that will diminish the number of MCU projects that we see in 2023. Apparently, the media giant is not happy with how their Phase 4 movies and shows panned out, so the idea is to focus on “quality over quantity” for the Phase 5 and 6 slate in the coming years.
This means that 2023 might be the first year in a long time that many Marvel properties are not jam-packed into a strict schedule.

https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/marvel-slated-for-phase-4-cutbacks.html

- I'm wondering if the new DC Comic movement does play a part of it too.
in this possible change to Marvels/Disney's Superhero fatigue movement. Competitive measures ?
.
- Throwing superhero flood gate at fans, ..just for the sake of doing so.
Throwing full load of " quantity" over quality (ala Ms. Marvel, She Hulk, Loki)

- Now i'm wondering if Marvel movies releases will be more spaced out,.. more separated apart, ..than combined, clumped together in one season.
instead of 3 to 4 mini-series in one year. Could we see no more than two per season ?
And the movie presentations as no more than two per season ?

- I believe we had at least four in 2022 - Morbius, ...Dr Strange 2, ..Black Panther 2 ..and at no fault of Marvel, Black Adam (DC comic)
Imo, it's the series, that can caused the beat down fatigue toll,..especially when those series are mediocre and don't amount to any appeal and captivation.

 

[DallasEast]

I found the Magneto exclusion interesting too.
I too echo that I dunno if villains have to categorized tagged as 'evil ‘

Could I be "guessing' with @DallasEast that since the Magneto's has allied with Xmen-Superheroes' ..that would take Maggy out of the villain list ?
Because despite his intent and commitment to preserve his own mutant kind, Magneto actually killed and took human lives.

Gonna point out I exclude Michael Fassbender's Magneto. I did not exclude Ian McKellen's Magneto from my list, who slotted in at number 10 on my list. I am working but will try to quickly and briefly explain my reasoning, film by film, for including one and not the other in my list to avoid my misunderstandings, which I know may or may not be agreed with by others:

McKellan
X-Men (2000)

Spoiler

Magneto creates a diabolical plan with worldwide consequences changing humans into mutants. He tested and killed Senator Kelly using his conversion method. He would have done the same to United Nations world leaders if not for the involvement of the X-Men despite being warned of the fatal consequences for using his converter.

X-Men (2003)

Spoiler

Magneto manipulates Col. Stryker's genocidal plan from killing all mutants to killing all humans across the globe.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Spoiler

I do not directly apply a villain label to Magneto here. However, he allows himself to be fully engrossed in defending mutant kind autonomy from a human threat, while totally ignoring the threat posed by Jean Grey to every living thing on Earth--even after witnessing Jean obliterate Professor Xavier's physical body.

Fassbender
X-Men: First Class (2011)

Spoiler

Magneto hunts and puts down World War II war criminals searching for Sebastian Shaw. The motivation is revenge and could be easily argued as justifiable. Same goes for the Quarter death penalty imposed on Shaw.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Spoiler

Magneto's "big moment" of utilizing Sentinels against humans was short-lived and nullified by Mystique. Villainy could have been spectacular in presentation by showcasing what he could have done to the greater human population but was neutered to only derailing Trask Industries plan. Having Wolverine experience a living death was pretty spectacular though but extremely small in the overall picture of what could have been.

X-Men: Apocalypse

Spoiler

Even Magneto's manipulation of the world's electromagnetic field was itself orchestrated by Apocalypse. As powerful as Magneto was, he was essentially a willing puppet. Villains can be puppets but the character does not elevate my criteria for him in this instance.

I think Magneto cannot be seen as a villain in both The Wolverine (McKellan) and Dark Phoenix (Fassbender). Not in my book at least. And McKellan was definitely a protagonist in X: DOFP.

In all cases, I believe both McKellan and Fassbender's versions are relatable with understandable motivations with occasionally funny exhibitions. There are varying shades of evil shared between the two as well. However, I feel McKellan's version exists solidly more on the opposite side of those considerations from Fassbender's version. These are the reasons why I left Fassbender off my list but kept McKellan on it. Just my two cents.

 

[quickccc]

Gonna point out I exclude Michael Fassbender's Magneto. I did not exclude Ian McKellen's Magneto from my list, who slotted in at number 10 on my list. I am working but will try to quickly and briefly explain my reasoning, film by film, for including one and not the other in my list to avoid my misunderstandings, which I know may or may not be agreed with by others:

McKellan

X-Men (2003)

Spoiler

Magneto manipulates Col. Stryker's genocidal plan from killing all mutants to killing all humans across the globe.

I think Magneto cannot be seen as a villain in both The Wolverine (McKellan) and Dark Phoenix (Fassbender). Not in my book at least. And McKellan was definitely a protagonist in X: DOFP.

In all cases, I believe both McKellan and Fassbender's versions are relatable with understandable motivations with occasionally funny exhibitions. There are varying shades of evil shared between the two as well. However, I feel McKellan's version exists solidly more on the opposite side of those considerations from Fassbender's version. These are the reasons why I left Fassbender off my list but kept McKellan on it. Just my two cents.

oh, I'm just itching to address another scene from 2003 Xmen United,..that plays into Magneto's good evil debate, (sigh) but i know how i'll just screw up the "spoliers" again ..lol

Hint: ..Remember the Ian McKellan " smile" ..... ? .. Or the Grenade pins ..?

 

[DallasEast]

oh, I'm just itching to address another scene from 2003 Xmen United,..that plays into Magneto's good evil debate, (sigh) but i know how i'll just screw up the "spoliers" again ..lol

Hint: ..Remember the Ian McKellan " smile" ..... ? .. Or the Grenade pins ..?

Just remember specific detail = spoiler.

I remember both examples for McKellan. He is on my list. Are you mentioning those as a setup comparison with Fassbender? If so, let me have it.

 

[DallasEast]

 

[quickccc]

Finally sat down and compiled the villains listed at the above links, although I did remove a few for not being "evil" enough. Here is my Best Superhero Comic Book Movie Villain of All-Time list:

01. Thanos (Josh Brolin) Avengers: Infinity War
02. Joker (Heath Ledger) The Dark Knight
03. Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) Black Panther
04. Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) Spider-Man
05. General Zod (Michael Shannon) Man of Steel
06. Doomsday Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
07. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) Thor
08. Ultron (James Spader) Avengers: Age of Ultron
09. Hela (Cate Blanchett) Thor: Ragnarok
10. Magneto (Ian McKellen) X-Men
11. Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) Joker
12. The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
13. Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina) Spider-Man 2
14. Joker (Jack Nicholson) Batman
15. Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) Spider-Man: Far From Home
16. Bane (Tom Hardy) The Dark Knight Rises
17. Vulture (Michael Keaton) Spider-Man: Homecoming
18. William Stryker (Brian Cox) X2: X-Men United
19. Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart) The Dark Knight
20. Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) Superman
21. Lucifer Morningstar (Peter Stormare) Constantine
22. Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) Batman Returns
23. Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) Superman Returns
24. Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) Zack Snyder's Justice League
25. General Zod (Terence Stamp) Superman II
26. Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) Suicide Squad
27. Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) Batman Begins
28. Joker (Jared Leto) Suicide Squad
29. Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) Blade
30. Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) X-Men
31. Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) Iron Man
32. Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) Batman Begins
33. Ares (David Thewlis) Wonder Woman
34. Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson) Aquaman
35. The Penguin (Danny DeVito) Batman Returns
36. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen III) Aquaman
37. Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) Avengers: Age of Ultron
38. Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
39. Joker (Mark Hamill) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
40. Syndrome (Jason Lee) The Incredibles
41. Talia al Ghul (Marion Cotillard) The Dark Knight Rises
42. Barbara Minerva (Kristin Wiig) Wonder Woman 1984
43. Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) Batman & Robin
44. The Riddler (Jim Carrey) Batman Forever
45. Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson) Unbreakable
46. Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) Batman & Robin
47. Ozymandias (Thomas Goode) Watchmen
48. Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) Batman Forever
49. Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong) Shazam!
50. Erich Ludendorff (Danny Huston) Wonder Woman
51. Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
52. Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) Captain America: Civil War
53. Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) Wonder Woman 1984
54. Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) Green Lantern
55. Lauren Hedare (Sharon Stone) Catwoman
56. Parallax Green Lantern
57. Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina) Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
58. Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya) Wonder Woman
59. Prowler (Mahershala Ali) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
60. Bane (Jeep Swenson) Batman & Robin
61. Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) Batman Returns
62. Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) Jonah Hex
63. Royal Pain (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) Sky High
64. Selena (Faye Dunaway) Supergirl
65. Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) Superman III
66. Dr. Anton Arcane (Louis Jordan) Swamp Thing

Wow, Thanks for Sharing @DallasEast

This is impressive,
i know it had to take some time and effort to configure name of the villain, actor/actress portraying the villain as well
as the name of the movies the villains appeared in.

Only pet peeve is you fell short of the top 75 list ...

 

[DallasEast]

Wow, Thanks for Sharing @DallasEast

This is impressive,
i know it had to take some time and effort to configure name of the villain, actor/actress portraying the villain as well
as the name of the movies the villains appeared in.

Only pet peeve is you fell short of the top 75 list ...

Honestly, I thought about adding to the list after cutting a handful of the choices listed at the four links you provided. However, I ended up not wanting to spend even more time on the project than I did.

There were some names I thought about while doing the list--for instance like Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) from Thor: The Dark World, the far superior The Riddler (Paul Dano) in my opinion from The Batman, Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) from Captain America: The First Avenger, etc. Plus, I was batting around shady characters like Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) from Suicide Squad.

Who knows? I may eventually tack on a few more names. 75 may not be enough.

 

[DallasEast]

"Justice League of America No. 195" Cover Art Fetches $288K at Auction
By Neil Cole | Superman Super Site
December 12, 2022

The price on the cover to 1981's Justice League of America No. 195 reads just 60 cents. The original cover itself, featuring an all-star roster's worth of heroes and villains rendered by the late, legendary George Pérez, sold Saturday afternoon at Heritage Auctions for $288,000. That is by far the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by the beloved, influential artist without whom DC would never have experienced its first great Crisis.

The final price, realized after one of myriad bidding wars that broke out during Heritage's Dec. 10-11 Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction, served as testament not only to the beloved creations featured on the comic's cover but the man who brought them to life. In fact, just moments later, another historic Pérez Justice League of America cover - for issue No. 207, another cherished work crowded with heroes spanning DC's history - realized $132,000.

These landmark pieces by Pérez, whose death in May left the comics world brokenhearted, were among the beloved books and bedecked Bristol boards offered during this completely sold-out event, which drew 2,145 bidders worldwide and realized $4,507,000 by weekend's end.

Read more

 

[Stash]

"Justice League of America No. 195" Cover Art Fetches $288K at Auction
By Neil Cole | Superman Super Site
December 12, 2022

The price on the cover to 1981's Justice League of America No. 195 reads just 60 cents. The original cover itself, featuring an all-star roster's worth of heroes and villains rendered by the late, legendary George Pérez, sold Saturday afternoon at Heritage Auctions for $288,000. That is by far the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by the beloved, influential artist without whom DC would never have experienced its first great Crisis.

The final price, realized after one of myriad bidding wars that broke out during Heritage's Dec. 10-11 Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction, served as testament not only to the beloved creations featured on the comic's cover but the man who brought them to life. In fact, just moments later, another historic Pérez Justice League of America cover - for issue No. 207, another cherished work crowded with heroes spanning DC's history - realized $132,000.

These landmark pieces by Pérez, whose death in May left the comics world brokenhearted, were among the beloved books and bedecked Bristol boards offered during this completely sold-out event, which drew 2,145 bidders worldwide and realized $4,507,000 by weekend's end.

Read more

Loved the artwork of the late, great George Pérez.

 

[quickccc]

Honestly, I thought about adding to the list after cutting a handful of the choices listed at the four links you provided. However, I ended up not wanting to spend even more time on the project than I did.

There were some names I thought about while doing the list--for instance like Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) from Thor: The Dark World, the far superior The Riddler (Paul Dano) in my opinion from The Batman, Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) from Captain America: The First Avenger, etc. Plus, I was batting around shady characters like Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) from Suicide Squad.

Who knows? I may eventually tack on a few more names. 75 may not be enough.

https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-supervillain-performances-in-movies/stewart-chyou
https://screencrush.com/worst-superhero-movie-villains/
https://www.cbr.com/bad-bad-guys-the-15-worst-comic-book-movie-villains/
https://nerdist.com/article/every-marvel-mcu-villain-ranked-from-worst-to-best/
https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/worst-comic-book-movie-villains/

The Worst Villains in the Comic Book Movies:

My List:

Nuclear Man - Superman IV
Bane – Batman & Robin
Hector Hammond - Green Lantern
Maxwell Lord - Wonder Woman ‘84

Laurel Hedare - Catwoman -Sharon Stone
The Lizard - Amazing Spiderman
Cheetah – Wonder Woman ‘84

Lex Luthor - Jessie Eisenberg - Justice League
Ares/Sir Patrick Morgan- Wonder Woman (2017)

Electro - Amazing Spiderman 2 (Jamie Foxx)
Dr. Doom – Fantastic Four (Toby Kebbell)
Stephenwolf – Justice League

Absorbing Man – Nick Nolte -Hulk (2003)
Venom - Spiderman 3, Venom movies
Sandman – Spiderman 3

 

[DallasEast]

The Worst Villains in the Comic Book Movies:

My List:

Nuclear Man - Superman IV
Bane – Batman & Robin
Hector Hammond - Green Lantern
Maxwell Lord - Wonder Woman ‘84

Laurel Hedare - Catwoman -Sharon Stone
The Lizard - Amazing Spiderman
Cheetah – Wonder Woman ‘84

Lex Luthor - Jessie Eisenberg - Justice League
Ares/Sir Patrick Morgan- Wonder Woman (2017)

Electro - Amazing Spiderman 2 (Jamie Foxx)
Dr. Doom – Fantastic Four (Toby Kebbell)
Stephenwolf – Justice League

Absorbing Man – Nick Nolte -Hulk (2003)
Venom - Spiderman 3, Venom movies
Sandman – Spiderman 3

I mostly agree. Nuclear Man and Dr. Doom would be battling for Mr. Irrelevant on my list.

However, Steppenwolf was presented far better in Zack Snyder's director cut of Justice League than Joss Whedon's <expletive> 2017 version in my opinion. He ranks number 24 on my all-time list.

I am more iffy about Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. Then again, I am not as critical of his Mr. Baldy rendition as others.

 

[quickccc]

I mostly agree. Nuclear Man and Dr. Doom would be battling for Mr. Irrelevant on my list.

However, Steppenwolf was presented far better in Zack Snyder's director cut of Justice League than Joss Whedon's <expletive> 2017 version in my opinion. He ranks number 24 on my all-time list.

I am more iffy about Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. Then again, I am not as critical of his Mr. Baldy rendition as others.

The 2015 Fantastic Four reboot was so incredibly awful and so quickly forgettable, that i don't even remember if it had a Dr. Doom in it.
It's one of few comic movies that I don't remember much of it, and i have no desire whatsoever to ever see it again.

Imo, ..Dr Doom and the Incredible Hulk have been two of the most significant,
under-developed characters in the Marvel Cinema.

 

[DallasEast]

The 2015 Fantastic Four reboot was so incredibly awful and so quickly forgettable, that i don't even remember if it had a Dr. Doom in it.
It's one of few comic movies that I don't remember much of it, and i have no desire whatsoever to ever see it again.

Imo, ..Dr Doom and the Incredible Hulk have been two of the most significant,
under-developed characters in the Marvel Cinema.

You mentioned Toby Kebbell in the previous post, so I assume his Dr. Doom was so bad it gave you amnesia.

I strongly agree with the Dr. Doom sentiment. Not so much about The Incredible Hulk. His character has been very much fleshed out since the MCU started. Everything about the character from his 2003 movie and back-and-before Bill Bixby's television show was underdeveloped in my opinion--although they always got his grunting right.

Now, I would fully agree Hulk has not gotten more exposure on the big screen. I am hoping the next MCU phases, along the introduction of She-Hulk, will help shine the spotlight more on the Gamma Ray Bomb wonder.

 

[quickccc]

You mentioned Toby Kebbell in the previous post, so I assume his Dr. Doom was so bad it gave you amnesia.

I strongly agree with the Dr. Doom sentiment. Not so much about The Incredible Hulk. His character has been very much fleshed out since the MCU started. Everything about the character from his 2003 movie and back-and-before Bill Bixby's television show was underdeveloped in my opinion--although they always got his grunting right.

Now, I would fully agree Hulk has not gotten more exposure on the big screen. I am hoping the next MCU phases, along the introduction of She-Hulk, will help shine the spotlight more on the Gamma Ray Bomb wonder.

yeh, i cannot relate with " eye-glasses' nerdy professor Hulk that Disney seems to want to portray the Hulk.
I just cannot take " smart-bug" Hulk serious at all. - Hulk's body but with Banner's brain.

And to make matters worse, Hulk has gamma rays cells which are oozing thru his entire body that makes his cells vastly stronger, but yet he has to wear bifocals eye glasses ?
You don't see radioactive Peter Parker still wearing post- spider bite bifocals. ..

I think it's Disney's way of evolving the Hulk into a speaking role, instead of the grunting, snarling Hulk.
And it's clear that they do not want to portray the mind of a 9 year old child Hulk, .and hearing " ..Hulk Smash puny humans...!! "

 

[Runwildboys]

yeh, i cannot relate with " eye-glasses' nerdy professor Hulk that Disney seems to want to portray the Hulk.
I just cannot take " smart-bug" Hulk serious at all. - Hulk's body but with Banner's brain.

And to make matters worse, Hulk has gamma rays cells which are oozing thru his entire body that makes his cells vastly stronger, but yet he has to wear bifocals eye glasses ?
You don't see radioactive Peter Parker still wearing post- spider bite bifocals. ..

I think it's Disney's way of evolving the Hulk into a speaking role, instead of the grunting, snarling Hulk.
And it's clear that they do not want to portray the mind of a 9 year old child Hulk, .and hearing " ..Hulk Smash puny humans...!! "

Making muscles stronger doesn't mean healing sight. The gamma rays didn't make him smarter.

 

[nobody]

Making muscles stronger doesn't mean healing sight. The gamma rays didn't make him smarter.

That would depend on why he needed glasses. If it was some kind of damage or degenerative condition, then the regeneration bestowed by his gamma-spawned abilities (And his regeneration is well-documented) would account for "healed sight." But he then shouldn't need glasses.

He should have needed them. It was Hollywood's typical trope of "Let's give him glasses so he appears smarter."

 

[Runwildboys]

That would depend on why he needed glasses. If it was some kind of damage or degenerative condition, then the regeneration bestowed by his gamma-spawned abilities (And his regeneration is well-documented) would account for "healed sight." But he then shouldn't need glasses.

He should have needed them. It was Hollywood's typical trope of "Let's give him glasses so he appears smarter."

I agree, that's why they did it, but maybe his eye muscles are so strong, they're making him a little cross-eyed.

 

[quickccc]

Making muscles stronger doesn't mean healing sight. The gamma rays didn't make him smarter.

In the Marvel Comics Universe – maybe it does apply only to the Hulk, and not Dr. Bruce Banner.

Heres’ the bit with Dr. Bruce Banner – non of his alter ego superhuman Hulk abilities thru gamma radiation, kicks in until he reaches stress-trigger level
into a fully physically transformed Hulk.

- Banner as himself in normal state, is/will not super strong, ..cannot leap hundreds of miles in one jump, ...cannot rapidly heal, ..and isn't very high resistance to physical harm and injury.
But as the Incredible Hulk does his superhuman enhanced physical anatomy enhance his vision ?

- Peter Parker- all of his physical anatomy were enhanced once he was bitten and given radioactivity.
Whether movies (ala Spiderman 2001) .Marvel Comics …. Or FX animations Parker never donned his bifocal eyeglasses again.
That brings the suggestion that radioactivity must play a big part of improved vision. It’s not Xray, or seeing thru solid objects -ala Super Man

- No, Gamma Rays does not make the Hulk smarter. But yet Disney has already chose to continue up with this "smart' Hulk.by giving the impression that
eyeglasses give off the smart brain look.

- Ironically even before there was Disney/FX animation, there was a period in the Marvel Comics, where the Hulk had Bruce Banner smarts
- even as far back as " What If " comic issue.

 

[Runwildboys]

In the Marvel Comics Universe – maybe it does apply only to the Hulk, and not Dr. Bruce Banner.

Heres’ the bit with Dr. Bruce Banner – non of his alter ego superhuman Hulk abilities thru gamma radiation, kicks in until he reaches stress-trigger level
into a fully physically transformed Hulk.

- Banner as himself in normal state, is/will not super strong, ..cannot leap hundreds of miles in one jump, ...cannot rapidly heal, ..and isn't very high resistance to physical harm and injury.
But as the Incredible Hulk does his superhuman enhanced physical anatomy enhance his vision ?

- Peter Parker- all of his physical anatomy were enhanced once he was bitten and given radioactivity.
Whether movies (ala Spiderman 2001) .Marvel Comics …. Or FX animations Parker never donned his bifocal eyeglasses again.
That brings the suggestion that radioactivity must play a big part of improved vision. It’s not Xray, or seeing thru solid objects -ala Super Man

- No, Gamma Rays does not make the Hulk smarter. But yet Disney has already chose to continue up with this "smart' Hulk.by giving the impression that
eyeglasses give off the smart brain look.

- Ironically even before there was Disney/FX animation, there was a period in the Marvel Comics, where the Hulk had Bruce Banner smarts
- even as far back as " What If " comic issue.

Putting aside the fact that radiation destroys cells, rather than enhance them, for argument's sake, Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider, and gained the abilities of that spider (apparently good eyesight being one of them), whereas Banner was simply blasted with Gamma rays (which, in reality, would make soup of his cells), enhancing his own strength and healing. As you pointed out, Banner doesn't retain Hulk's abilities upon returning to his natural state, so it seems plausible that being part Banner and part Hulk, his eyesight is one of the dominant Banner traits, along with intellect.

 

[DallasEast]