Talking about comic books, TV shows, movies, sports, and the numerous other pastimes that make us Gentlemen of Leisure.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Last Week in Pop Culture #26

Around the Web 
One new review from me at Sound on Sight, for Nightcrawler #1, possibly the best new Chris Claremont comic I've read in years.

Also, and far more importantly, Monday sees the launch of the much-teased Saved by the Bell Reviewed podcast, co-hosted by me and Dr. Bitz, as well as Portland cartoonists Carolyn Main and Ryan Alexander-Tanner (Ryan, the driving force behind this project, is of course the mad genius behind the wonderful Full House Reviewed blog as well). You'll be able to download the first episode on Monday from our Tumblr site, and if you haven't already, be sure to like our Facebook page and follow the show on Twitter @sbtb_reviewed.

(And, as long as I'm asking you to like Facebook pages, if you enjoy my writing for Sound on Sight, then be sure to like their Facebook page as well).

Finally, if you're heading out to the comic shop this weekend or poking around on the newly-acquired-by-Amazon Comixology, check out Shutter #1 from Image Comics. It's about a futuristic female Indiana Jones, and features a backup story written and drawn by Ryan. 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier


A really solid follow-up to the first film (which I think is a bit underrated these days), which made the most of its 70s conspiracy thriller vibe and did an effective job of servicing everyone in its rather large cast (this was probably the best Black Widow film yet, right?). If anything, the titular Winter Soldier was the most marginalized element of the movie - there wasn't much of a reason for him to be the one leading the Hydra/SHIELD strike team other than his connection to Cap, and the real impact of that seems to have been left for a future film.  

Both the initial assault on the captive ship and Cap's escape from the Triskelion were some top notch action sequences. 

As villain monologues go, Arnim Zola's was one of the better ones, simply because his long-winded exposition served the purpose of keeping Cap and Black Widow in place long enough for the strike against them.

I was genuinely surprised when Black Widow turned up in Pierce's office, even though, in hindsight, it was painfully obvious.

I'm still not sure how I feel about the Hydra reveal and the dismantling of SHIELD, especially as it pertains to the future of the MCU. I'm assuming they're setting up a scenario in which a more formally organized Avengers team, operating out of Stark Tower, steps up to fill the void, but I still think having some kind of SHIELD infrastructure in place isn't a bad thing (more on that below).

So the first post-credits scene gave us our first look at Baron Von Strucker, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. Since the Marvel films can't use the term "mutant", supposedly Hydra will be responsible for their powers. I'm curious if they'll still go with some kind of "related to a villain" setup even though Magneto also can't be mentioned.

The Simpsons: Luca$
I don't know what the hell the ending of this episode was all about. Marge was jealous of Homer going on a date with Lisa, a date she asked him to take her on? Even by modern day standards of The Simpsons, that was just bizarre. 

Snakes name is given as "Albert Knickerbocker Aloysius Snake", or "AKA Snake". That's mildly funny.

Once Upon a Time:  It's Not Easy Being Green



Zelena has Charming's courage and wants Regina's heart...who in Storybrooke could possible have enough brains to finish the triumvirate and power her time travel spell?

Oy, the shoe-horning in of "wicked" is painful. "It's the wicked west"?!? That doesn't even make sense. 

CGI involved in the Emerald City/the Wizard's chambers: good. The CGI involved in the Flying Monkey: terrible. Even by this show's standards.

At least Emma can say she almost married the Wizard of Oz and not just a flying monkey...

Agents of SHIELD: Turn, Turn, Turn
Okay, that was a pretty big Winter Soldier tie-in. I mean, hopefully nobody watched this before watching the movie, because that would have spoiled some pretty big plot points (and to be clear, I'm not necessarily criticizing this - a crap ton more people watched the movie this weekend alone than watched this episode, and tying in to the film just makes sense - just pointing it out).  

Credit where it's due: while we'd had Garrett pegged as the Clairvoyant almost from his first appearance, that Ward was on his side as well was genuinely surprising. It even makes his interactions with Skye slightly more interesting (since they were presumably all just part of his cover), which I wouldn't have thought possible.

I'm glad that Hand turned out to neither be the Clairvoyant nor part of Hydra (it became obvious once Garrett's insistence on killing her became so striking), since that was the easy way out, but on the other hand, I'm bummed they killed her off.

Winter Soldier made it sound like SHIELD was done and gone - this episode did a decent job of clarifying the sweep wasn't quite so final. Remnants are in place, certain facilities (like the Fridge) held by loyal agents. Not only does this create an avenue for the show to continue on (with Coulson and his team working to root out Hydra on limited but still existent SHIELD resources), it makes a fair amount of sense. I mean, Captain America's insistence that SHIELD be shut down is well-intentioned enough, but what happens to all the dangerous items and people they have on lockdown when you just fire everybody? Not only is it good for this series, but I think it's good for the MCU in general for some kind of SHIELD framework to remain in place, even if it isn't the gargantuan entity it has been.

Another thing this episode did that I appreciated: it suggested that the infiltration of Hydra wasn't quite as sweeping as the movie did (even if Pierce, the highest higher up, was in on it), and it also suggested that at least some people within SHIELD were aware enough of it not to be taken completely by surprise, which does a lot to maintain the credibility of what is supposed to be a super awesome spy agency.

Glee: New New York


Boy, that sure felt like a season premiere wedged into the final quarter of an existing season. Heck, it felt like a re-pilot more than anything (here's a show about a group of musically-inclined high school graduates trying to make it in the big city!).

Bleck, I'm not thrilled about Mercedes showing up in NY. She's probably my least favorite of the show's initial graduating class.

Where are Santana and Brittany? I know they were going to go on a trip to Lesbos and Hawaii before returning to the city, but this seemed to take place at least a few months after the last episode (Rachel having already completed an out-of-town Funny Girl tour).

Given that he's now the sole remaining character with a lick of common sense and a distaste for drama, I think Elliot/Starchild may be my new favorite character. 

Community: Basic Story
Abed, the Dean and Annie spastically dancing over the discovery of buried treasure (or, rather, than buried treasure existed somewhere) was a thing of beauty.

It's a little thing, but I like that Jeff refers to the Dean as "Craig" since becoming a teacher.

I'm pretty sure the re-opened Shirley's Sandwiches should still be running at this point; even if not, I feel like we should have gotten more of a reaction from Shirley for the school getting bought out by Subway.

Parks and Recreation: Flu Season 2


"Flu Season" is one of P&R's all time great episodes, so it would be tough to top that with a direct sequel. Wisely, this episode doesn't really try to directly recreate the first iteration (the flu is mentioned early on, then more or less forgotten), so while the end result still isn't an all time classic, it's doesn't suffer from direct comparisons to one.

Though Adam Scott, who plays drunk very well, climbing over that fence came very close to Rob Lowe ordering his body to "stop pooping".

Leslie having a kid is an obvious plot development, but still a good one for this show, both in terms of how it will affect her career aspirations and the way it will present her with someone else she can't fully control and strong-arm into her way of thinking.

Other Shows I Watched
American Dad "Honey I'm Homeland", Bob's Burgers "I Get Psy-chic Out of You", Family Guy "Herpe the Love Sore", Silicon Valley "Minimum Viable Product", Veep "Some New Beginnings", Trophy Wife "The Minutes", The Big Bang Theory "The Indecision Amalgamation".

Quotable Quotes
The Simpsons
Homer: Then that makes me the Jackie Robinson of the sport and you the racist Phillies manger.
Marge: Stop comparing me to Ben Chapman!

Bob's Burgers
Linda: Sounds like Sandy Duncan.
Louise: Everybody sounds like Sandy Duncan to you, Mom! Sandy Duncan this, Sandy Duncan that.

Parks and Recreation
Andy: This guy’s the worst! I mean, it sucks that they didn’t have ham, but you can’t treat your dad like that.

16 comments:

  1. My son and I did a late showing of Winter Soldier last night to make up for missing the midnight premiere. He put it as his 2nd favorite Marvel Universe movie, while I placed it third. Avengers tops both our lists and I place the first Capitain America second.

    I thought the opening boat scene and Cap's run through the building after The Winter Soldier were the best depictions of Cap in action on screen to date.

    We're hopping back into Agents of SHIELD tomorrow.

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  2. @MOCK!: He put it as his 2nd favorite Marvel Universe movie, while I placed it third.

    Avengers still tops my list as well. This would probably be near it, though it's been awhile since I did a conscious ranking of all the films. Might be fun to do again.

    I thought the opening boat scene and Cap's run through the building after The Winter Soldier were the best depictions of Cap in action on screen to date.

    Ditto. I really liked that they had him using the shield more, throwing it and bouncing it off stuff and all that.

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  3. I'd put it right behind Avengers and probably Iron Man 1. I mean, I really have no complaints about the film. Great acting, awesome action. It's just well-done all around. Somebody had major guts to put Batroc and robot Arnim Zola in a film and it worked!! Really liked Redford, too.

    I don't follow Agents of SHIELD but I was reading about Bill Paxton's character and realized I really need to read Elektra: Assassin.

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  4. Is that really Elektra: Assassin's Garrett in Agents of SHIELD? I may have to tune in.

    I like the semi-dissolution of SHIELD. I don't like super-heroes being government agents across the board.

    - Mike Loughlin

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  5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

    [T]his was probably the best Black Widow film yet, right?).

    That's a pretty low bar to clear.

    Both the initial assault on the captive ship and Cap's escape from the Triskelion were some top notch action sequences.

    The action sequences were simply excellent. Between these (the captive ship especially) and the assault on Fury, I'd say that "Winter Soldier" has the best action sequences of any MCU movie.

    I'm still not sure how I feel about the Hydra reveal and the dismantling of SHIELD, especially as it pertains to the future of the MCU.

    I walked out of this movie feeling very conflicted, but felt a little better after seeing "SHIELD." But then felt conflicted again after seeing the final scene in "SHIELD." (More on that later.)

    So the first post-credits scene gave us our first look at Baron Von Strucker, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. Since the Marvel films can't use the term "mutant", supposedly Hydra will be responsible for their powers. I'm curious if they'll still go with some kind of "related to a villain" setup even though Magneto also can't be mentioned.

    I may have misheard the dialogue, but I seem to recall the conversation between the nameless Hydra henchman and von Strucker implying that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch had volunteered for the experiment that gave them their powers:

    Henchman: "What about the volunteers?"
    Strucker: "The dead will be buried so deep their ghosts won't be able to find them."
    Henchman: "And the survivors?"
    Strucker: "Ah, the twins..."

    So, whether they're related by blood to a primary villain or not, it would seem that the twins at least start off villainous. (Why else would they volunteer for a Hydra experiment?)

    Agents of SHIELD: Turn, Turn, Turn

    Okay, that was a pretty big Winter Soldier tie-in.

    Yeah -- and a pretty good one, too!

    I am pleasantly surprised by how the mostly-lame Clairvoyant arc turned into a major movie tie-in. I wasn't expecting that -- and even though I'm not totally satisfied with its ending, I am happy that the show has broken away from its monster-of-the-week format and stopped being so painfully predictable.

    Credit where it's due: while we'd had Garrett pegged as the Clairvoyant almost from his first appearance, that Ward was on his side as well was genuinely surprising. ... I'm glad that Hand turned out to neither be the Clairvoyant nor part of Hydra (it became obvious once Garrett's insistence on killing her became so striking), since that was the easy way out, but on the other hand, I'm bummed they killed her off.

    The big reveal that Ward was a member of Hydra cuts both ways for me: 1) Wow! I didn't see that coming. But 2) I was really looking forward to Hand and Coulson picking up the pieces from "Winter Soldier" and building HAMMER out of the ashes of SHIELD in order to deal with Hydra.

    [Ward's betrayal] even makes his interactions with Skye slightly more interesting (since they were presumably all just part of his cover), which I wouldn't have thought possible.

    I wouldn't go that far.

    Also, I fully expect Skye's Mary Sue-ism to bring Ward back to the good side. My guess is that Garrett and Ward comes face-to-face with Coulson's team and Skye's tearful pleas to Ward make him turn on Garrett -- maybe at the cost of his own life.

    Then, Ward dies a hero and Skye spends season two moping about how the man she loved died.

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  6. I loved CAP 2. AVENGERS is still my favorite Marvel Film, but I believe CAP 2 sets a new quality bar for any future solo character movies. It was just that great.

    Regarding the mutant thingie: I don't get this. I understand that Marvel can's use the word, silly as that is, since I don't believe Marvel holds a copyright on the word "mutant". But are they also prohibited from saying that the twins were born with their powers, without using the M-word? Because that's just asinine.

    AGENTS OF SHIELD became a must-watch show for me based on that final scene. I hope it stays that way, but we'll see. After seeing CAP 2, I remarked to my brother that, given the number of Hydra sleepers within SHIELD in the movie (it seriously looked like at least a 50/50 split), the odds would seem to favor at least one person on Coulson's team being Hydra as well. But, I added, this being a safe, tame, 8 PM network show, I couldn't see them going that far. Ward's turn at the end was a genuinely shocking moment, worthy of a series like 24 (where, ironically, it might have been predictable).

    I read some interviews with the SHIELD showrunners after that episode, and they all said that they knew going in from the beginning that Ward would be bad. They note that there are several small moments in previous episodes that foreshadow his turn.

    They also knew, since last year, what would happen in CAP 2, so they were well aware of the Hydra threat. But they were not allowed to mention Hydra at all, so they had to use things like Centipede and the Clairvoyant until the big reveal. On one hand I appreciate the effort, but on the other hand, I can't help feeling if the show had overtly involved Hydra from the beginning, it might've been better received.

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  7. We talked about how they titled Cap 2, The Winter Soldier because they couldn't actually call it Hydra Returns without blowing the surprise.
    But man, we loved it. And loved the AGents of SHIELD huge tie in and i'm excite about everything in the MCU now.

    So frickin excited about all of it

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  8. @Jeff: I don't follow Agents of SHIELD but I was reading about Bill Paxton's character and realized I really need to read Elektra: Assassin.

    I haven't read Elektra: Assassin either, but from what I gather, Paxton's character is the same character more or less in name only. But I could be wrong.

    @Mike: I don't like super-heroes being government agents across the board.

    Yeah, I thought Avengers involvement with SHIELD in the first film was fine, but glad they didn't hang on and become an official element of SHIELD (ala the Ultimates). Like I said, I'm assuming they're setting it up for the Avengers to somewhat fill SHIELD's void, but I do like the idea of there being some kind of SHIELD in place, if just to give the Avengers something to compare/contrast with (not unlike in the regular MU).

    @Michael: That's a pretty low bar to clear.

    True, but at least they're getting progressively better.

    I walked out of this movie feeling very conflicted, but felt a little better after seeing "SHIELD."

    Ditto.

    I wouldn't go that far.

    I only said slightly. ;)

    Also, I fully expect Skye's Mary Sue-ism to bring Ward back to the good side.

    I could see that. Then again, there's already a lot of speculation that Ward is actually a triple agent and Hand is either only mostly dead or will be resurrected or considered a necessary casualty or something, and that at the last possible second it'll turn out that Ward has been good all along and got in good with Garrett on Coulson or Fury or someone's orders.

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  9. @Matt: But are they also prohibited from saying that the twins were born with their powers, without using the M-word? Because that's just asinine.

    I don't believe there's any *legal* reason that can't say the twins were born with their powers, so long, as you say, they avoid explicitly using the "M word". But at the same time, it seems like (so far) Marvel is trying to keep the MCU free of random "born with it" super powered people.

    Everyone we've seen so far in a Marvel Studios film is either just highly trained (Black Widow, Hawkeye), in possession of an awesome weapon (Iron Man), product of a specific scientific event (Cap, Hulk) or a near-alien (Thor). And even when Thor flies, it's very specifically because of the whole "hurl the hammer and hold on" thing, and not a natural ability. And of course, the SHIELD show is always very insistent that there's essentially no "super powers" in their world.

    So I'm guessing, in sticking with that approach, that the Twins' powers will be the result of some kind of experiment and not a natural thing, unless, this is the point in the MCU where they introduce that idea.

    And, of course, that still begs the question of whether the conscious effort to avoid naturally-occurring powers is a conscious style choice (to keep things more "grounded/realistic" and more palatable to a general audience or something like that), a direct reaction to not being able to use mutants, or a little of both.

    They note that there are several small moments in previous episodes that foreshadow his turn.

    I'd say I'd like to go back and look for those things, but man, too many of those earlier episodes aren't exactly enticing me to watch them again...

    On one hand I appreciate the effort, but on the other hand, I can't help feeling if the show had overtly involved Hydra from the beginning, it might've been better received.

    Ditto. I mean, I spent a decent amount of time anytime Centipede was brought up thinking, "why isn't SHIELD fighting Hydra instead of this made up thing?". Well, now I have my answer, and while I find it fascinating that the show was conceived, mapped out, cast, created, etc. with the specter of this Hydra reveal hanging over it, I do wonder if it was the best thing for the show.

    It's almost like they chose/were forced to do a bunch of boring episodes just to kill time until Cap 2 came out and the cool stuff could happen, which is never a good way to launch a new TV show...

    @Sarah: We talked about how they titled Cap 2, The Winter Soldier because they couldn't actually call it Hydra Returns without blowing the surprise.

    It really was a nice bit of misdirection, especially since Hydra isn't really involved at all with the Winter Soldier story in the comics, so even us comic nerds were surprised.

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  10. Teebore: And, of course, that still begs the question of whether the conscious effort to avoid naturally-occurring powers is a conscious style choice (to keep things more "grounded/realistic" and more palatable to a general audience or something like that), a direct reaction to not being able to use mutants, or a little of both.

    They do know it's the Marvel Universe, right? Where there are, or should be, superpowered people popping up left and right, so that Stan Lee had no choice but to come up with the mutant explanation in the first place. And wearing primary colors and facial masks instead of posing around in dark leather.. unless, of course, you know, Claremont-written.

    I spent a decent amount of time anytime Centipede was brought up thinking, "why isn't SHIELD fighting Hydra instead of this made up thing?". Well, now I have my answer, and while I find it fascinating that the show was conceived, mapped out, cast, created, etc. with the specter of this Hydra reveal hanging over it, I do wonder if it was the best thing for the show.

    Technically, the comic book fans should have been able to see that (=Hydra) coming beforehand. It's actually a bad thing that they couldn't, because it underlines how far it all has been stretched from the original, and that it's mostly about doing another reboot like Heroes Reborn or Ultimate universe all over again, on silver screen.

    I am of course, a purist, who generally sees no other use for S.H.I.E.L.D agents than to be beaten up to further the heroes' stories. The real Nick Fury excluded, naturally.

    So, did they give up the (real) names for the Twins yet, because I saw someone somewhere suspecting they would be von Strucker's kids rather than Magneto's in the MCU?

    Andreas "Quicksilver" von Strucker, and his witchy sister-girlfriend Andrea, the Scarlet Witch. If they only could grow a tail on him and paint him blue, it would be a brother-sister incest triple whammo.

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  11. @Teemu: And wearing primary colors and facial masks instead of posing around in dark leather

    TO be fair, the only Avenger who wasn't in his traditional garb in Avengers was Hawkeye. Everyone else was pretty brightly colored, except of course, Black Widow, whose costume is traditional gray/black anyway.

    I love me some Hawkeye and his traditional outfit, but if they'd put him in purple and a loin cloth, he'd have gotten even less respect than he's getting now.

    Technically, the comic book fans should have been able to see that (=Hydra) coming beforehand.

    Not really. I mean, to us SHIELD vs. Hydra is obvious, so we assume there must be a reason they're doing SHIELD vs. Centipede instead. Assuming that's because Hydra will eventually be revealed to have infiltrated SHIELD is just one potential explanation (and frankly, one of the more far fetched ones).

    So, did they give up the (real) names for the Twins yet, because I saw someone somewhere suspecting they would be von Strucker's kids rather than Magneto's in the MCU?

    I don't believe they have. They won't be Magneto's kids, at least not explicitly so, simply because Marvel Studios can't use Magneto. Whether that means they make them the Von Strucker kids or not, who knows? Frankly, I'd probably prefer them being Wanda and Pietro Von Strucker, just to maintain the idea that they're children of villains-turned-heroes, over sticking with the (essentially meaningless) Maximoff surname just for the sake of purity to a work-in-progress source material that is constantly undergoing revisions on the fly.

    I do know that the Quicksilver appearing in X-Men: Days of Future Past is a Maximoff, though I highly doubt he'll be in any way related to Magneto there either.

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  12. Teeb: TO be fair, the only Avenger who wasn't in his traditional garb in Avengers was Hawkeye. Everyone else was pretty brightly colored, except of course, Black Widow, whose costume is traditional gray/black anyway.

    My comment was primarily aimed at X-Men and their "more believable" carb, but Captain America is an offender in my books too with his more militaristic uniform with straps and whatnot from the first movie. He also has no business walking around without his mask on the poster, unless they have an issue that is to be solved by Steve Rogers the graphic illustrator.

    In fact, if they refer to him as "Rogers" the eighties' child in me has every right to assume same implications as calling Superman "Kent" had in The Dark Knight Returns.

    I love me some Hawkeye and his traditional outfit, but if they'd put him in purple and a loin cloth, he'd have gotten even less respect than he's getting now.

    The fact that he is merely "an archer" instead of the powerless archer of the comics that totally stays on the speed of the superpowered while sporting his over-the-top costume is the reason why film him deserves no credit. It's like he's being ashamed who he is in reality: a totally awesome comic book character. That's no Hawkeye in the film, that's... Barton. With due implications.

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  13. Wanda and Pietro have had plenty of last names over the years. Don't forget they were originally believed to be the kids of the Whizzer and Miss America, and had the last name of Frank. The movies could just take that route and be done with it.

    (Then, someday, when the X-Men rights revert to Marvel Films, they could even ret-con that backstory just like the comics did!)

    I'm curious if the two Quicksilvers will confuse any casual moviegoers who don't understand the difference between Marvel Films and the licensed Marvel movies? I guess we'll find out.

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  14. True point about Wanda&Pietro, Matt, though since the Avenger's Yesterday Quest that relationship to Magneto has been essential part of both characters which I think is hard to pass even when re-imagining them. Think Hank Pym, who is demoted to a sideshow in the Ant-Man film due to his essential parts.

    I'll wait to see the ado when the world wakes up to the fact that the Roma kids of the comics world's most prominent holocaust survivor seem to have been tied to folks saying "Heil!" instead.

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  15. In fact, if they refer to him as "Rogers" the eighties' child in me has every right to assume same implications as calling Superman "Kent" had in The Dark Knight Returns.

    To elaborate on this: I don't know if this is the case but the plot part on the Wikipedia article on movie would suggest so. It's possible though that it's written by someone who wants to downplay the superheroics element and rather promote the protagonist as a human with a fancy nickname like Steve "Captain America" Rogers.

    The thing with me is that I strongly disagree with this sort of approach. Their comic books are not titled "Steve Rogers" or "Tony Stark". The superhero is supposed to be an icon of superhuman proportions.

    Of course the man (or woman) behind the mask is totally allowed to angst about falling short of that expectation, which is a legit source of superhero drama that is done better by no one else than Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man. Some more memorable Captain America story arcs kind of build on that.

    Governmental operative Steve "Captain America" Rogers of the movies is something the comic book Captain America Steve Rogers sternly refused to become. Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton of the films are government agents with a gimmick, not comic book superheroes.

    In comics, when you have supered-up governmental agents what you get is Freedom Force or John Walker as Cap. If your super-team even has an appointed governmental liaison, it's Henry Peter Gyrich, who is nothing but a hindrance for your actual superheroics.

    Superheroing is about being Neutral/Chaotic Good, not Lawful Neutral.

    Movie is so wrong a format for comic book superheroes. Chris Sims has in one of his enjoyable writings pointed out the incompatibility of the two medias: movie rules say the antagonist has to die, while in comic books they have to live for the next issue so the writer doesn't have to come up with new villains all the time, and we get the comics staples like comic books deaths and contrived "no killing" rules.

    My personal pet peeve is the use of actors in the films, and especially in the promoting of the films, which is why they have to not only make a massive point about who is the big-name star(s) in the movie and then have the characters go unacceptably unmasked showing the movie stars faces because they are already paying big money for having them in, secret identities be damned!

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  16. Teeb: Not really. I mean, to us SHIELD vs. Hydra is obvious, so we assume there must be a reason they're doing SHIELD vs. Centipede instead. Assuming that's because Hydra will eventually be revealed to have infiltrated SHIELD is just one potential explanation (and frankly, one of the more far fetched ones).

    Even after they were the bad guys in the first Captain America movie? "Cut one head and they'll grow two new ones"?

    Don't get me wrong, it's a well-executed whammo, but it's kind of sad that it was executable in the first place only because the comics reading audience can't trust the prime movers to be true (enough) to the original comic book versions. It's like they're filmatizating the Ultimate universe rather than the real deal and I have never found the Ultimate universe with their disregarding and altering stuff to be something to be excited about.

    Of course I'm extremely biased on that after having to stand the fact that in the early 00's the local published saw it fit to give nearly half of their Marvel book with rotating characters they were publishing for the Ultimate line. In the latter half of the decade they didn't have to publish the book anymore at all, because why should the paying audience be expected to believe in the original Marvel product when the publisher don't seem to?

    Now that the MCU versions of the characters will become the definite ones for the big audiences, it's lights off for the original Marvel universe.

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