Thunderbolts the Movie

I finally watched Marvel's Thunderbolts last night and I loved it. While most of the story focused on Yalena Belova (Florence Plugh) and Bob aka Sentry (Lewis Pullman), the rest of the group were great too. I loved the humor of Alexei Shostakov aka the Red Guardian (David Harbour), the snarkiness of John Walker aka the Super Soldier (Wyatt Russell) and the seriousness of Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). I did wish that Ava Starr aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) had more scenes in the movie, but she was still great. I also thought killing off Taskmaster kind of sucked. I really hope a sequel is coming even if it's called New Avengers.

Movie Poster for Thunderbolts from Marvel

I still need to watch the Black Widow movie.

Women Wednesday: Black Cat #1

Mavel dropped Black Cat #1 today and I lost count how many different mini-series and series she's had over the years.

Anyway, here's the official summery: "Super-thief, super… Hero?! Felicia Hardy is the Black Cat, the world’s slyest and most skilled super-thief! She loves a good score. The longer the odds — the better! But her entire world turned upside down after the Amazing Spider-Man’s battle with Hellgate, so Felicia is turning over a new leaf as New York City’s newest… super hero?! The first super villain on her list — the Lizard! But will the Black Cat risk it all after her do-gooding moral high ground attracts dangerous attention from the lowest of the city’s underworld? Easy, Kingpin of Crime, she’s still skimming off the top — honest! Superstar G. Willow Wilson joins rising star Gleb Melnikov to chart the winding road of twists and turns, laughs and mind-bending action of Black Cat’s next exciting chapter!"

Cover of Black Cat #1 from Marvel

Werewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise Special

Marvel released Werewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise one-shot special this week. It's loosely based on the tv special.

Here's the official summery: "From the director of the critically-acclaimed Marvel Studios Special Presentation WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, MICHAEL GIACCHINO, comes a first-of-its kind tale of terror in the Marvel Universe with one goal in mind: to show you why WEREWOLF BY NIGHT is as captivating as ever, with over fifty years of comics history — and a hundred times as many bodies in his wake!"

Cover of Werewolf by Night: Blood Moon Rise Special from Marvel

This one-shot special has two stories. "Nail in the Coffin" has Jack Russell aka Werewolf by Night as a prisoner of Count Dracula and his first meeting with Man-Thing. "A Howling Nightmare" features Jack Russell, his younger sister Lissa aka the Were-Demon by Night and Jake Gomez aka another Werewolf by Night. The trio is known as the Wolf Pack by Night and they clash with Nightmare.

Science Fiction Saturday: Lucky Charms Featuring Invisible Woman

I picked up a box of Lucky Charms featuring Susan Storm aka the Invisible Woman a week ago at the local Walmart's. This is another General Mills cereal promoting the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps movie. While I like the jumbo rainbows in the cereal, I'm not crazy about the artwork since Sue has no mouth or nose.

Front of Lucky Charms Box Featuring Invisible Woman

The back of the Lucky Charms box has the entire Fantastic Four, which includes Susan Storm aka the Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch, Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic and Ben Grimm aka the Thing. Yes, the FantastiCar is also shown. There is also a hidden message and a decorder. It's a different message than the one found on the Honey Nut Cheerios Featuring Human Torch box.

Back of Lucky Charms Box Featuring Invisible Woman

The other two General Mills cereal boxes promoting the Fantastic Four: First Steps movie are Cinnamon Toast Crunch featuring Mister Fantastic and Reese's Puffs featuring the Thing. I won't be getting those boxes because I'm not a fan of those cereals and I don't want to be stuck eating them.

Fantastic Friday: Blue Raspberry PopTarts Featuring Fantastic Four

I actually found a box of the Blue Raspberry PopTarts promoting the Fantastic Four: First Steps movie a few weeks ago at the local Walmart's. I ate them last week and found the flavor is much stronger and sweeter than the Frosted Strawberry PopTarts. The front of the box features the Fantastic Four that includes Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch, Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic, Ben Grimm aka the Thing and Susan Storm aka the Invisible Woman.

Front of Blue Raspberry PopTarts Box featuring Fantastic Four

The back of the box features five of the eight different images on the PopTarts. I finally got one with the Invisible Woman on it. Unfortunately, the images were still blurry.

Back of Blue Rapberry PopTarts Box featuring Fantastic Four

Warning: You may have problems with the blue dye used in the Blue Raspberry PopTarts several hours later (if you know what I mean, then you know). I had problems after the first two but not with the rest of the package.

Honey Nut Cheerios Featuring Human Torch

General Mills promoted Fantastic Four: First Steps with several of their cereals. The Honey Nut Cheerios box has Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch. The artwork is a retro design but I would rather have images from the Marvel movie.

Front of Honey Nut Cheerios Box featuring Human Torch

The back features the entire Fantastic Four that includes the Invisible Woman, the Thing, Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic and the Human Torch. The FantastiCar is shown but no sign of H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot. There is also a hidden message with a decoder.

Back of Honey Nut Cheerios Box featuring Human Torch

Fantastic Friday: Fantastic Four #1 (2025)

Yep, Marvel released a new Fantastic Four #1 earlier this week. Susan Storm aka the Invisible Woman stands in the center of the cover with Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch, Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic and Ben Grimm aka the Thing around her. Doctor Doom...er, Emperor Doom appears at the beginning of the issue.

Here's the summery: "The Fantastic Four return with a new issue #1, kicking off a whole new volume of their adventures through time, space, science, and the human condition! When the Fantastic Four take on Doom, things go well until they suddenly go catastrophically wrong — and they’re sent to four different eras in Earth’s history! Alone and isolated in wildly different time periods, Reed, Johnny, Ben, and Sue all have to fight to survive. Their only hope is to reach the Forever Stone: a mass of dense granite that happens to be one of the longest-lasting rocks on the planet, which — through a combination of obscurity and raw geological luck — has stayed both intact and accessible for most of Earth’s history!"

Cover of Fantastic Four #1 (2025) from Marvel

Superhero Sunday: Captain America #1 (2025)

Yes, Marvel has come out with a new Captain America series starting with a new number and was released last week. Iron Man and the Fantastic Four briefly appears. Here's the summery and cover for Captain America #1 (2025): "While Captain America slumbered in ice, the world changed — for better and for worse. Steve Rogers awakens to a reality where battles are fought in the shadows through secrets and subterfuge, and villains aren't so easy to identify. When a fledgling dictator named Victor Von Doom conquers Latveria, Steve faces a critical decision: adapt to a new kind of warfare, or forge his own path? And what will the choice he makes in the past mean for his future?"

Cover of Captain America #1 (2025) from Marvel

Fantastic Friday: Fantastic Four People Ads

First off, I would like to wish everyone a safe and fantastic Fourth of July.

People magazine, cover dated July 14, 2025, has several ads for the Fantastic Four: First Steps movie. Ben Grimm, Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm and H.E.R.B.I.E appear on a fake cover:

Fantastic Four Movie Ad in People

There is a great ad for H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot:

People Ad for H.E.R.B.I.E.

My favorite is the ad for the FantasiCar (I really hope Hot Wheels make one):

People Ad for FantasiCar

Goodnight Jim Shooter

Sad news for Jim Shooter: Comic Book Icon, Passes Away at Age 73.

Fantastic Friday Featuring Fantastic Four Pop-Tarts

I actually found a floor display of Fantastic Four: First Steps Pop-Tarts at the local Dillons last Saturday. I picked up a box of eight frosted strawberry because I wanted to try that first. The front of the box features artwork of the Fantastic Four based on the movie along with a Pop-Tart featuring the group's logo.

Front of Fantastic Four Pop-Tarts Box

The back of the box features five Pop-Tarts with different art that is supposed to be on them. There are supposed to be eight different designs, but I only found four in this box: H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot (twice), Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch (twice), Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic (twice) and Ben Grimm aka the Thing (twice). I would have loved finding a Pop-Tart with Susan Storm aka the Invisible Woman on it.

Back of Fantastic Four PopTarts Box

The top flap of the box shows two Pop-Tarts with artwork. It also states that images were made with food coloring.

Top Flap of Fantastic Four Pop-Tarts Box

I was really disappointed with the images and the taste. Every Pop-Tart that I had featured blurry images. The strawberry flavor was very faint probably because the layer was so thin. I might try the blue raspberry ones just to see if I can get a Pop-Tart with the Invisible Woman on it. The other flavors are frosted s'mores and brown sugar cinnamon.

Morbius DVD

I picked up this Morbius dvd at the local Walmart's for five dollars last Tuesday. I finally watched it last night and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would considering all the negative reviews that I had read. Yes, it's a super vampire movie with more action than horror but still a fun ride. It was worth the five dollars just for the special features alone.

Cover of Morbius DVD

 

Goodnight Jackson "Butch" Guice

Sad news according to An ‘X-Men' Legend Has Died: Jackson Guice Was 63. He co-created Apocalypse for Marvel and Resurrection Man for DC Comics. The artist also did work for several independent comic companies.

Jackson "Butch" Guice (June 27, 1961 – May 1, 2025)

Archie is Mr. Justice #1-3 Cover Galleries

If you haven't been reading Archie is Mr. Justice series, then you should. Each issue spotlights the different relationships that being a superhero brings. The first issue focuses on Jughead and Archie's relationship. There is also a cool alternative cover paying homage to the very first Superman cover on DC Comics' Action Comics #1.

Cover Gallery from Archie is Mr. Justice #1

Archie is Mr. Justice #2 focuses on Veronica becoming Visionary and there is a cool alternative cover that pays homage to DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths #17 (death of Supergirl).

Cover Gallery from Archie is Mr. Justice #2

The third issues focuses on Betty's relationship with Archie as Mr. Justice. There is also a cool alternative cover paying homage to Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man #50.

Cover Gallery from Archie is Mr. Justice #3

The next issue is going to be spotlighting Reggie as Kid Wicked and will be the final issue of this mini series from Archie Comics.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Official Trailer

Here is the official trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie coming July 25, 2025:

Werewolf by Night Red Band #4, 5 and 6

Elsa Bloodstone and Jack Russell in his werewolf form share an interesting embrace on the cover of Werewolf by Night Red Band #4:

Cover of Werewolf by Night Red Band #4 from Marvel

The Hulk guest stars in Werewolf by Night Red Band #5:

Cover of Werewolf by Night Red Band #5 from Marvel

Jack battles Darkwolf on the cover of Werewolf by Night Red Band #6:

Cover of Werewolf by Night Red Band #6 from Marvel

Marvel Avengers Black Panther Action Figure

I picked up this Marvel Avengers Black Panther action figure this morning at the local Walmart's. It was on clearance sale for two dollars but I had seen him a week ago for four dollars. He is four inches tall and comes with a purple claw accessory. This Black Panther is part of the Epic Hero Series from Hasbro with a copyright of 2024.

Marvel Avengers Black Panther Action Figure

Here is a close up look of the Marvel Avengers Black Panther action figure:

Close up of Marvel Avengers Black Panther Action Figure

Marvel Avengers and Other Heroes #2 Magazine

I picked up this Marvel Avengers and Other Heroes #2 magazine at the local Dollar Tree this morning. The cover features Iron Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel and Count Dracula. Most of it is dedicated to the Marvel Avengers Secret Wars story titled "Wings in the Night!" The Avengers (Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, Iron Man and Vision) battles Count Dracula as Chthon possesses his body. There are activities like mazes, match games, puzzles and how to draw. Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy only appear once on a match game page. Spider-Man and his friends also appear only once with a two-page crossword puzzle (this should have been devoted to the Avengers). Overall, the magazine is not bad for the price, but I have the feeling that I have read this story before.

Cover of Marvel Avengers and Other Heroes #2 Magazine

Goodbye Marvel Insider

I knew it was coming since Disney Movie Insiders closed down a few months ago. Now Marvel Insider is closing down for I received the following email earlier today:

Since launching Marvel Insider in 2016, millions of fans have made Marvel theirs by earning and redeeming points for a variety of unique rewards, from comics to games and more. We are deeply grateful for your membership since 2023. Now, we must bring this chapter to a close.

The Marvel Insider program will sunset on March 3, 2025. After that date, you will no longer be able to earn points. You still will be able to redeem rewards through May 27, 2025.

We encourage you to redeem your points for rewards, including digital comics, digital wallpapers, sweepstakes and more.

Our members’ passion and fandom for Marvel means the world to us. Thank you for your amazing loyalty over the years, and we hope you will continue to be a True Believer.

Sincerely,

The Marvel Insider Team

Note: I have 42,550 redeemable points but there is nothing in the rewards section to spend them on because nothing is showing up but advertisements.

T-shirt Tuesday: Believe in Yourself Deadpool T-shirt

I usually do T-shirt Thursdays, but I couldn't wait to show off one of my finds yesterday (I could have done a Marvel Monday, but I digress). The local Walmart's has a bunch of t-shirts on sale for two dollars. The Believe in Yourself Deadpool t-shirt was originally $8.98. I would have gotten two, but they only had one in XXL. I guess you could say that this is belated birthday and Valentine's Day present to myself.

Believe in Yourself Deadpool T-shirt