The reason behind Dr Disrespect's Twitch ban may still be a mystery, but it might also be affecting his eligibility for tournaments, as the popular streamer has been banned from competing in the upcoming Toronto Ultra Call of Dutytournament. This is ostensibly because the tourney will be streamed live on Twitch, and allowing the good Doctor to participate would violate the conditions of his ban.
Dr Disrespect's digital drama started in June 2020 when Twitch suddenly banned the popular and often controversial streamer without explanation, a ban that has since been confirmed to be permanent and irrevocable. While the Doc had garnered a reputation for being brash, and was briefly banned by Twitch in the past for filming himself and others in a restroom at TwitchCon, the second ban was given without reason, and without an expiration date either. After a few months of speculation and silence, Doc resurfaced on YouTube to resume streaming, and while he's offered insight on how the ban has affected him, both personally and professionally, to date there is no official reason why he has been permanently ousted from Twitch.
Doc has speculated on the reasoning behind his ban, but otherwise has largely moved on from Twitch and the whole debacle, until it became clear that the ban was going to affect his career beyond his ability to stream on the platform. Dr Disrespect and fellow streamer, Zack "ZLaner" Lane, with whom Doc has played Call of Duty: Warzone on YouTube, and last year's Toronto Ultra Tournament winner, were expecting to participate in this year's tournament. But as reported by Game Rant, ZLaner announced via livestream that, to his disappointment, Dr Disrespect would not be able to participate in the tournament.
"I got a message back from the organizers from Toronto Ultra and Call of Duty, they’re the ones pulling the tournament off, and they said Doc is not allowed.”
Doc, when asked about the issue, could only respond that he didn't know why he wasn't allowed to participate in the tournament, but it isn't exactly a difficult connection to make. Twitch is the only platform handling the tourney's official video livestream, and if Dr Disrespect participates in the tournament, Twitch would have no choice but to stream him, which would basically create a loophole in his ban. That loophole could be one he or other gamers who have been similar banned could exploit in the future, and Twitch has enough of its own legal problems without creating the possibility for more. That is, of course, entirely speculation, but it is reasonable speculation, especially considering that Doc's ban is still otherwise unexplained.
The Toronto Ultra Call of Duty: Warzone tournament kicks off tomorrow, March 1, at 1 PM EST, and is offering a first place prize of $100,000. ZLaner is still scheduled to play, but unfortunately, he will be doing so without the Doc.
With an endless supply of pop culture reference material, licensed LEGOvideo games were once as commonplace as Madden or Call of Duty releases. Each iteration was a nostalgia trip, taking players on a toy-based adventure through their favorite fantasy worlds, and the LEGO name itself is synonymous with many people's childhood memories. With LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagaset to release later in 2021, these nostalgia trips aren't over. But hard truths must sometimes be said, and the truth about LEGO games is they simply aren't that good.
The many licensed LEGO video games are well crafted, with great attention to detail in recreating toy versions of the properties they represent, and there's no shortage of fan demand for more movie franchises to become LEGO games. That doesn't change the fact, though, that the core functions of the games don't always work the way they're intended, and, at the end of the day, their gameplay can border on maddening.
Take away the theme from each LEGO game, and players are left with an action-adventure game full of puzzles. Some of the best and most popular video games are exactly that, from Uncharted to the Batman: Arkham series. The biggest difference between those games and LEGO games isn't just the serious narratives and highly detailed, realistic settings; it's that the mechanics of those games work, whereas the mechanics of LEGO games are often clunky and inconsistent.
Ask any fan of what they like best about the LEGO games, and the answer will almost certainly be something about how fun it is to relive cinematic moments from the films or to unlock their many characters. Seldom, if ever, would someone mention how fluid or fun the combat is - because it's not. It's not uncommon to flail around at enemies while accidentally smashing teammates to bits or to constantly get knocked off a ledge because of way enemies cluster and players respawn. More times than not, LEGO game combat is just running around frantically, jumping up and down, and haphazardly playing whack-a-mole.
If the combat is frustrating, the puzzles can be downright infuriating. Players might have to use Wingardium Leviosa or the Force to raise a series of objects, for example, only to have their cursor constantly drift away from each object, sending it back to the floor to start over again. And half of the time, the nearly-always-simple puzzle solutions aren't evident without aimless wandering. No amount of unlockable, fan-favorite Star Wars characters can change the fact that unlocking them, or sometimes just unlocking the next level, can take hours of metaphorically beating one's head against a wall. Almost anyone who's ever played the LEGO games has likely found themselves combing through an area, swapping characters and interacting with everything they can multiple times over, just to try to find a hidden item or the right way forward.
These problems don't make the LEGO games bad; they can be very fun adventures through beloved franchises. But it's possible to think pizza is tasty and to recognize that it's not a balanced, nutritional meal. It's time to accept that, although the LEGO video games can be fun, they can also be not very good.
Warning: Spoilers for King in Black: Thunderbolts #3!
The Thunderbolts have teamed up to take down the King in Black… whether they like it or not! Much like DC's Suicide Squad, Marvel's current iteration of the Thunderbolts stars an unlikely band of supervillains brought together - with little say in the matter - by a greater authority than themselves. In this case, it's current Mayor of New York Wilson Fisk who forms this oddball team of expendables. Their mission: kill Knull, the King in Black, at all costs.
The new series started out with Fisk assigning this task to a handful of villains, explaining that if they succeed and survive this nearly impossible undertaking, he'll pay them handsomely. The only caveat is that if any of them refuse to accept this mission, Fisk will lock them up in a jail cell where they'd be sitting ducks as Knull's symbiote army consumes the earth. Left with practically no choice at all, these Thunderbolts - spearheaded by Taskmaster, Star Mister Fear and Batroc the Leaper - have already lost plenty of teammates while also picking up some new ones along the way.
A new preview for King in Black: Thunderbolts #3 by Matthew Rosenberg and Juan Ferreyra picks up shortly after the team received a new directive from Norman Osborn: acquire the Sentry's dead body and use its leftover energy to blow up Knull's lair. Seeing as how this team has been cursed with bad luck from the jump, it's no surprise their stolen getaway bus breaks down right as this new issue begins. Star, the only one amongst them with something of a moral compass, has to practically pull Taskmaster's teeth to convince him not to leave the Ravencroft inmates they brought with them behind.
As they make their way on foot through the symbiote-infested streets of New York, one panel showcases the team walking together as one. On their way to their climactic final destination, unsure if any of them will survive, this is typically the epic moment in most superhero stories when the team finally learns to work together as one and bring down the enemy. Only, given that none of this team really wants to be there and would gladly stab each other in the back if it meant their own survival, this is a hilarious subversion that's made even funnier by Mr. Fear threatening to kill Foolkiller for mentioning he'd rather not be a Thunderbolt.
Given how popular it currently is, the superhero genre often runs the risk of following its familiar narrative patterns a bit too closely. Specifically, when it comes to super powered team up stories, it's quite rare not to see the team overcoming their differences to become something greater than their individual selves. The current Thunderbolts series is having a blast exposing its absurd squad for exactly what it is: a group of villains with absolutely nothing to lose. Find out just how ludicrous things get from here when King in Black: Thunderbolts #3 releases on March 3.
Here's how a young J.J. Abrams and his father helped shape Escape From New York. John Carpenter was hot off the success of Halloween - which helped kickstart the slasher movie boom of the 1980s - and The Fog when he directed Escape From New York. This action thriller finds Kurt Russell's outlaw Snake Plissken forced to break into New York, which has been converted in the movie's bleak dystopian future into a walled-off prison, to rescue the kidnapped President. The movie was a solid hit at the time and would help launch Russell's career.
Escape From New York would also inspire countless low-budget ripoffs and be a major inspiration on the character of Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid games. Carpenter and Russell would later reunite for 1996 sequel Escape From L.A., which sadly proved to be a major letdown and a box-office failure. A remake of the original movie has been trapped in development hell for over a decade and shows - ironically - little sign of breaking out.
Escape From New York has been a noted inspiration on several filmmakers, including Robert Rodriguez, who claims it influenced his decision to become a filmmaker. The other is J.J. Abrams, with both the concept and poster of Cloverfieldbeing heavily inspired by Carpenter's 1981 film; the head bomb from Mission: Impossible III is another nod to the explosive device planned in Snake's neck. It turns out young J.J. had a hand in shaping the final cut of Escape, as he and his producer father Gerald W. Abrams attended an early rough cut.
John Carpenter himself was in attendance for this test screening, and this version of Escape From New York lacked many sound and visual effects. Abrams recalled in an NPR interview being mortified when Carpenter asked for feedback and his father raised his hand. He noted the original opening scene, which depicted Snake and his partner being caught after committing a robbery, undermined the character's mythical outlaw status. Despite his embarrassment, J.J. later raised his hand too and noted that he was a little confused by the fate of Adrienne Barbeau's Maggie, who disappeared after a car crash in the finale.
Carpenter thought that was an interesting note and when Abrams later saw the final cut of Escape From New York, he noted the original opening was gone and an insert had been added of Maggie's dead body to confirm her fate. While it may have been entirely possible John Carpenter came to make those creative choices separate of the feedback from the Abrams' boys, J.J. later met the movie's DP Dean Cundey, who confirmed after that test screening they went back to shoot a close-up of Maggie's corpse. The deleted opening scene itself is a fascinating little curio, but snipping it was the smart choice.
The new Pokémon McDonald's cards are being sold online for outrageous costs. Pokémon is currently celebrating its 25th-anniversary and has teamed up with McDonald's. The Pokémon Company is celebrating by releasing exclusive stained glass Pokémon figures, a new video game in the form of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and a music album featuring Katy Perry and Post Malone.
The Pokémon Trading Card game initially released in the United States back in 1998. It has remained popular to the present day, as the Pokémon franchisecontinues to receive support from a large and loyal fanbase. Billions of cards continue to be bought, traded, and sold. Pokémon TCG continues to be one of the top-selling card games as well. As the value of certain cards increases, there is a greater incentive for outsiders to come in and hoard rare cards and sell them later for a much higher price. Legacy cards in particular are becoming more valuable.
As part of the collaboration, certain Pokémon cards can be found in a Happy Meal box at participating McDonald'slocations. Each box contains 50 different cards, including some rarer holographic cards. However, according to Gamerant, some scalpers have marred the release of McDonald's Pokémon cards. Similar to the PS5 scalping controversy, boxes of McDonald's 25th-anniversary cards are being sold on sites like eBay for hundreds of dollars. This includes a recent transaction in which a single Pikachu Pokémon card sold for $500.
Pokémon cards remain a hot commodity. A Japanese man committed fraud by forging 25 different popsicle sticks in an attempt to acquire rare Pokémon cards from an ice cream company. This was done to boost his chances of winning a rare Mythical Zarude card, in perhaps the strangest example yet of the lengths fans are willing to go through in order to get their hands on these highly valuable cards.
The ongoing commercial success of Pokémon is undoubtedly a major factor behind the huge profits these cards are generating. This is influencing many people who hold no real interest in Pokémon to swoop in, purchase popular cards and sell them at a higher price to bring in some major profit. Considering how common scalping has become within the Pokémontrading card game, the McDonald's 25th-anniversary cards never stood a chance from the moment they were first leaked in early January. The hope is these high prices will eventually decline.
DC's black Superman is set to play an integral role in the future of their comics universe. Calvin Ellis debuted more than a decade ago and has been used in a smaller roles since his introduction, but in the upcoming Infinite Frontier initiative, one of the newest iterations of Superman will play a part in the next storytelling era for the publisher.
DC Comics has introduced a few of Black Superman before in the pages of Animal Man, Tangent Comics, and Crisis on Infinite Earths. However, it wasn't until Final Crisis #7, when a black Superman would get a starring role that wasn't limited to a single miniseries or one-and-done appearance. Ellis was created by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke and was from Earth-23 in the multiverse, where he was president of the United States. Ellis was said to be influenced by former President Barack Obama. Post-Final Crisis, he's appeared in The Multiversity. The character has recently been revealed to be part of DC's Infinite Frontier initiative.
This week there's been a renewed focus surrounding the character, after it was reported Warner Bros was planning on introducing a brand new black Superman in a film produced by J.J. Abrams and written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Actor Michael B. Jordan has previously said that he would like to play a version of Ellis in the films. Even before the announcement, DC Comics had already revealed plans to give the character a bigger role, as he was featured on the splash page showcasing the Infinite Frontier era for DC Comics. Ellis can be seen standing beside Nightwing.
DC Comics hasn't revealed what role Ellis would be playing in the Infinite Frontier era, but the fact he's one of the characters on the splash page is a big deal. These characters weren't random, they are all set to play sizable parts in DC's future stories. The question is: will Ellis join the main DC Universe or will he be a part of his own universe on a different Earth?
It's great to see DC showcase some new diverse superheroes as part of their upcoming comics. With Calvin Ellis in the image with both Nubia and Tim Fox, Infinite Frontier will feature a black Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman alongside the heroes who originally held the mantles. There's more than enough room for multiple versions of each character and with the inclusion of Calvin Ellis, DC is ready to make sure the black Superman is going to play a much bigger role than he has before.
Even if David Ayer eventually gets to complete his original vision of Suicide Squad, it won't be enough to salvage Jared Leto's take on the Joker. After the massive social media campaign to allow Zack Snyder to complete his version of Justice League proved to be a success, fans began a similar campaign for Ayer's DC bad guy film.
Ayer has been candid about the fact the studio made several changes to Suicide Squad he didn't agree with, like adding elements of humor to more closely resemble the wildly popular Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Suicide Squad took a drubbing from critics, but it made plenty of money at the box office. A second film, The Suicide Squad, is coming from Guardians Of The Galaxy writer/director James Gunn, and will reportedly have little to do with Ayer's film beyond the inclusion of Harley Quinn and a few other returning characters.
Even if the fan campaign to let Ayer finish his version of Suicide Squad is successful, it likely won't be enough to reconcile the film's most polarizing aspect - Jared Leto's version of the clown prince of crime, the Joker. Taking on the character after Heath Ledger's legendary performance in The Dark Knight was never going to be easy, but the version in Suicide Squad dropped the ball in several different ways. Beyond what audiences already know about the character, Leto's Joker never seemed to have a coherent motivation or story. His relationship with Batman is wholly absent from the film, concentrating instead on his twisted love affair with Harley.
Leto's Joker had clearly been through a lot, what with his fake teeth and "damaged" head tattoo. But we never get that backstory as an audience, leading this Joker to come off as a weird, humorless bully rather than any kind of grand supervillain. Both Ledger's and Joaquin Phoenix's Joker were given room to breathe as characters and develop into truly scary, compelling antagonists. Suicide Squad was simply too crowded to give that sort of attention to the Joker, who is in no way central to the film's plot. It's a disservice both to the actor and the character that such a radically different Joker was introduced with almost no context for why he's so different.
Leto's Joker is set to return in Zack Snyder'sJustice League, a physically changed creature from the last time we saw him in Suicide Squad. This will be the first time Leto's Joker comes face to face with Affleck's Batman, which illustrates part of the problem with the Suicide Squad version. The relationship between Batman and Joker is crucial to understanding both characters, and the fact we never got to see them face off before Suicide Squad was a huge missed opportunity to explain and expand on such a radical reinvention of the classic villain.
It's unclear if there's any real chance for Ayer to finish his version of Suicide Squad. It's a decidedly tinier fan campaign than the one that was undertaken for Snyder's Justice League cut. But even if Ayer does get to realize his vision for the film, it's unlikely his version of the Joker would be redeemed; there's simply too much of what makes the character work that's missing.
Emmanuel Acho has been chosen as Chris Harrison's replacement and the host for The Bachelor's After the Final Rose special. While it'll certainly be a big change for fans to see a different face hosting the show, it will be interesting to see how he navigates the sensitive topics of the season, especially the controversy concerning Rachael Kirkconnell. Acho already hosts the popular web series, Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man, so it's safe to assume many issues will be addressed like never before in the history of The Bachelor.
Emmanuel Acho is a former NFL linebacker. The 30-year-old Fox Sports analyst will anchor the After The Final Rose special on March 15 after the final episode of The Bachelor has aired. It is sure to be a tense conversation if his web series is anything to go by. The former NFL player has had conversations about race, inclusion, and diversity with various celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Rachel Lindsay and her husband Bryan Abasolo, Lindsey Vonn, and more. He does not hold back in addressing sensitive subjects, which is certainly a much-needed change for Bachelor Nation.
Acho has also written a book with the same title as his web series, Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man, which tackles the ins and outs of racism in America. The book was a 2020 New York Times bestseller. Acho describes his work as, "A book that answers all the racial questions you've been too afraid to ask." In an Instagram post where Acho announced his intention to host theBachelorfinale, he wrote, “I’ve accepted the Rose and am honored to be hosting the @bachelorabc After the Final Rose this year. It’s been a pivotal season, and this episode will hopefully be one of the most storied shows in TV history. Empathy is needed and change is coming. Share the news! I’ll see y’all then!” Acho also says he loves being a bridge for reconciliation, which is what Bachelor Nation needs right now.
Emmanuel Acho was drafted in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, where he finished off his NFL career. Acho studied Psychology at the University of Texas, and earned his degree in Sports Psychology. Acho is also very accomplished and was featured in the Forbes Under 30 list in 2018. He is also incredibly charitable. He raised enough money with his family’s charity, Living Hope Christian Ministry, to build a hospital in rural Nigeria. In short, Acho is a man of many talents. Bachelor Nation is lucky to see him bring his expertise to the After the Final Rose stage.
With a host like Acho, this tell-all is bound to be like no other. Fans can expect tough lessons, and uncomfortable moments as the contestants and audience battle and recognize their own unconscious biases. This upcoming episode of The Bachelor After The Final Rose is sure to be one for the books.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday features a star-making performance from Andra Day, complimented by a strong cast that takes on the roles of real-life figures. Based on Johann Hari's 2015 book Chasing the Scream, the 2021 Hulu movie focuses on America's War on Drugs, and how a famous blues singer became public enemy number one, at least according to the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. The United States vs. Billie Holiday was directed by American filmmaker Lee Daniels.
In The United States vs. Billie Holiday, the focal singer gains the government's attention after performing "Strange Fruit," a song about the lynching of Black Americans. Holiday refuses to remove the number from her set, which prompts Harry J. Anslinger — the commissioner for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics — to set up the singer because of her well-known heroin problem. FBI agent Jimmy Fletcher is assigned to frame Holiday, but ultimately becomes part of her inner circle, and even her lover too. The Hulu movie primarily follows the singer's life throughout the 1940s.
The main cast for The United States vs. Billie Holiday on Hulu mostly portrays individuals who were close to Holiday in real life, many of whom enabled her drug addiction problem. Garrett Hedlund has a prominent role as the aforementioned Anslinger, but Day is indeed the main attraction alongside Trevante Rhodes as Fletcher. Here's a cast and character breakdown for The United States vs. Billie Holiday, including side by side images for the main historical figures.
Andra Day stars as the iconic blues singer Billie Holiday. After performing "Strange Fruit," she's targeted by the U.S. government in an effort to spin the narrative from racial injustice to drug abuse. Holiday knows that the FBI doesn't have strong evidence, but also understands that they can easily sway the narrative to their advantage. Day voiced Sweet Tea in Cars 3 and appeared as Minton's Singer in Marshall. She received two Golden Globe nominations for her performance in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
Trevante Rhodes co-stars as Jimmy Fletcher, a real-life FBI agent who was responsible for Holiday's arrest, only to later develop a romantic relationship with her. A military man, Fletcher initially appears stoic while working for the government, but eventually develops a drug problem while on the road with Holiday. Rhodes headlined Barry Jenkins' 2016 film Moonlight as Black. He also appeared as Nebraska Williams in The Predator and Tom in Bird Box.
Garrett Hedlund portrays Harry Anslinger, the commissioner for U.S. Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics who believes that Holiday performs the "devil's music." Hedlund starred as Sam Flynn in TRON: Legacy and Dean Moriarty in On the Road. He also appeared as Johnny Five in Inside Llewyn Davis and Jamie McAllan in Mudbound.
Natasha Lyonne appears as Tallulah Bankhead, a Hollywood actress and Holiday's red-haired girlfriend who warns the singer about looming threats. Lyonne portrayed Jessica in American Pie and starred as Nicky Nichols in Orange Is the New Black. She also headlined the Netflix showRussian Doll as Nadia Vulvokov and voiced Suzette in Big Mouth.
Melvin Gregg portrays Joe Guy, a trumpet player who struggles with a drug addiction. He's also romantically involved with Holiday. Gregg appeared as Erick Scott in High Flying Bird and Marcus Parrish in The Way Back. He currently portrays Drew "Manboy" Miller in Snowfall.
Tyler James Williams portrays Lester Young, a saxophonist in Holiday's band who is known as "Prez." William starred as Chris in Everybody Hates Chris and portrayed Lionel Higgins in Dear White People. He also appeared as Noah in The Walking Dead.
Rob Morgan appears as Louis McKay, a businessman whose is initially described as "a boxer and a pimp." He eventually marries Holiday, abuses her, and then disappears. Morgan portrayed Turk Barrett in Daredevil, Hap Jackson in Mudbound, and Officer Powell in Stranger Things.
Erik LaRay Harvey portrays James Monroe, Holiday's first husband who verbally abuses her while trying to please promoters. Erik LaRay Harvey appeared as Willis "Diamondback" Stryker in Luke Cage on Netflix and Del Chance in Godfather of Harlem.
Tone Bell portrays John Levy, the owner of the Ebony Club who has a sexual fling with Holiday. Like many males in the film, he puts on a confident facade but displays poor judgment behind closed doors. Tone Bell portrayed Carter in Disjointed and Scott Evans in The Flash. He recently appeared as Nick in Fam.
Leslie Jordan (Above) as Reginald Lord Devine: A radio show host who interviews Holiday throughout the film. He's a fictional character who asks inappropriate questions about the singer's persona life. Leslie Jordan portrayed Mr. Blackly in The Help and Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace. He currently appears as Phil in Call Me Kat.
Miss Lawrence As Miss Freddy: Holiday's stylist and a member of her inner circle. She is with the singer during the interview with Reginald Lord Devine. Miss Lawrence portrayed Miss Bruce in Star and also appeared in Empire season 2.
Dusan Dukic as Joe Glaser: Billie's manager at the beginning of the film. He seems to be doing his job; however, his client describes him as "crooked." Dusan Dukic portrayed a drug trafficker in The Terminal and a newscaster in Birdman.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Roslyn: Billie's good friend who wears an eye patch and provides emotional/career support. Da'Vine Joy Randolph portrayed Carla in Office Christmas Party, Cherise in High Fidelity, and Lady Reed in Dolemite Is My NameonNetflix.
Adriane Lenox as Mrs. Fletcher: Jimmy's mother who wants him to carry on his father's mortuary business. Her demeanor changes when she discovers that her son met Holiday. Adriane Lenox portrayed Rose Woods in Black Snake Moan and Denise Oher in The Blind Side.
Evan Ross as Sam Williams: Jimmy's FBI colleague who is curious about his success. Evan Ross portrayed Jeff in Kevin, Who Lives at Home and Messalla in The Hunger Games movie franchise. He recently appeared as Angel Rivera in Star.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday released in February 2021 on Hulu.
WandaVision episode 8 revealed Agatha Harkness is a much more experienced but less naturally talented witch than Wanda Maximoff, so how do their magical abilities compare? Ever since Wanda was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron, it has been suggested that she has the potential to be the most powerful MCU character. Avengers: Endgamecemented her as a Thanos-level fighter as Wanda almost defeated the Mad Titan by herself. Not long after, WandaVision has confirmed she is a Scarlet Witch, a living legend among witches.
How powerful magic users are compared to each other is trickier to determine than, say, artificially enhanced beings like Captain America or armored characters like Iron Man, as it isn't yet clear how magic can be measured precisely in the MCU. So far, it's known that sorcerers like Wanda Maximoff, Loki, and Billy Maximoff aka Wiccan are innately endowed while others, such as Karl Mordo and Agatha Harkness have had to actively study the ways of magic. Both opposites are bound to clash, although it seems that the former has a natural advantage over the latter.
Although Stephen Strange is destined to be the best Sorcerer Supreme in history, the legend of the Scarlet Witch suggests Wanda Maximoff will be the most powerful magic user in the multiverse. Wanda only showed a tiny sliver of her true potential during her stint with the Avengers, and even then, Agatha Harkness is brimming with envy at the sight of her abilities. Here's why.
Agatha Harkness has many advantages over Wanda Maximoff. She has been a powerful sorceress for centuries, with her earliest display of power dating back to the Salem Witch Trials back in 1693. Apparently, she also tapped into an unknown source of dark magic that allowed her to deflect the simultaneous attacks of various witches and drain their life force, which also seems to have given her an extended lifespan and a greater amount of power. Besides, she has a deep knowledge of incantations that allow her to achieve similar feats to Wanda's, such as mind control and transmutation, and enchantments not even Wanda knew were possible, such as necromancy.
WandaVision has only shown a tiny fraction of Agatha's powers. However, Agatha's deception all throughout the first seven episodes of WandaVision is enough to establish her as an intimidating presence. She was able to "create" a fake Pietro, complete with superspeed and a few false memories to trick Wanda. Agatha adapted to the rules of Westview and transformed her appearance accordingly. She mind-controlled Herb with a flick of her fingers (which apparently requires less energy from her than Wanda's nightmare-inducing mind control in Avengers: Age of Ultron). Agatha also seems to know how to fly without being impulsed by her hands and can nullify Wanda's powers with runes. In short, Agatha could defeat the multiverse's most powerful witch with enough knowledge and discipline.
For a long time, it was thought that Wanda Maximoff's powers were a direct consequence of Hydra's experimentation with the Mind Stone. However, WandaVision episode 8 revealed that Wanda always had dormant abilities that allowed her to disable the missile that killed her parents. This Chaos Magic was awakened with the Mind Stone, which enhanced Wanda's magical skills that otherwise would have faded away. Afterward, Wanda started developing telekinesis and mind control by mere intuition and was able to fight the Avengers and Ultron's army without previous combat experience. Wanda soon developed other skills, such as telepathy (Ultron's vision of a cataclysm), force fields, matter disintegration, and even the ability to alter Vision's density.
The most evident power upgrades have always aligned with Wanda's grief. All the accumulated pain of all the tragedies she faced before the events of WandaVision culminated in an explosion, which affected the very fabric of reality. Hence, Westview is not an illusion, but rather a place where reality is actually altered at a molecular level. Vision's consciousness was resuscitated out of Wanda's pure energy and the Hex materialized without Wanda knowing how it happened. The Hex also modified Monica Rambeau's genes to the point that she developed her own superpowers. At this rate, it's possible that Wanda's powers of "spontaneous creation" can easily affect the entire world. With her status as a potential Nexus Being or her connection to the Nexus of All Realities, Wanda could easily affect the entire multiverse.
Although natural, Wanda Maximoff's magical power needs certain skills from her. Wanda has always used hand gestures to wield her magic. For instance, she moves her wrists and fingers when employing her telekinesis, and in Captain America: Civil War, she manipulated a central orb of energy to modify Vision's density, which she struggled to maneuver. However, these gestures seem to have come to her subconsciously, as Wanda has never had any mentor to teach her. The combination of her natural skills and the effects of the Mind Stone may have awakened expertise that takes other sorcerers and witchers years to perfect, and it's possible the Scarlet Witch vision that appeared before her eyes when she first interacted with the Infinity Stone instantly downloaded all of this knowledge into her mind.
On the contrary, Agatha Harkness uses more complex hand gestures and needs to utter enchantments in Latin to achieve the same feats as Wanda. As Agatha tells her in WandaVision episode 8, it took her "years of study to achieve the smallest convincing illusion." So, as talented as she could be, Agatha still hasn't come remotely close to Wanda's power. The same happens to most of the students in Kamar Taj, who need years of practice to become sorcerers. Similar to Agatha, Kaecilius needed to utter incantations in order to make contact with Dormammu and the Dark Dimension, and even Doctor Strange had to separate his soul from his body in order to study ancient texts while his body slept, which he did for a long time.
It's no secret that Agatha Harkness has control over Wanda during most of WandaVision. The beloved "Agatha All Along" sequence is a testament to the advantages her experience and deceit give her over Wanda's raw potential. However, Wanda happens to be at her most powerful when she's in dangerous situations. Outside Agatha's basement, Wanda can use her powers even if she doesn't really know where they come from or how they work. On the other hand, Agatha must have a whole gallery of incantations for every situation. Thus, nothing can compare to the power of the Scarlet Witch, which Wanda will probably harness before WandaVision ends. As powerful as Agatha can be - and as cheesy as it may sound - Wanda has the power of love and grief (which is love persevering) on her side.
Starfield could've turned out to be visually stunning, if only the latest leaked screenshot, claimed to be captured in Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG, hadn't been identified as a scene from an environmental game called Mýrdalssandur, Iceland. Despite that, Starfield is still rumored to be releasing this year, which implies there could be more leaks, both fake and genuine, coming in the near future.
A week ago, an industry insider shared their knowledge regarding Bethesda’s plans to launch Starfield at the end of 2021. According to a short post on ResetEra forums, the company was allegedly aiming at a 2021 release date as of a few months ago. These plans could’ve been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has negatively affected many titles that are being currently developed. The insider also added that the alleged 2021 release was being discussed at the end of 2020, which basically means that a lot could’ve changed since then.
Another industry insider, Skullzi, who is known for gaming investigations and reports, has shared a leaked screenshot allegedly taken from an in-development build of Starfield. Although the screenshot had poor quality, it nonetheless represented a huge leap forward in terms of improved visuals compared to other Bethesda’s RPGs. Realistic lighting, reflections, shadows, and detailed environments implied that Starfield could be a true next-gen title. In the bottom-left corner, the picture included the same piece of HUD that was present on previously leaked Starfield screenshots, which added a bit of credibility. But as the story was rapidly developing, Skullzi had to take down the post on Twitter since some users claimed the leak was fake. They pointed out a visible similarity between the alleged screenshot and environmental walking simulator Mýrdalssandur, Iceland. Skullzi's source (presumably from Bethesda) later confirmed that the leak was 100% fake.
Despite the increased amount of Starfield-related leaks, the game continues to remain a mystery. This disappointing situation, however, might change quite soon as Microsoft is reportedly planning to hold a Bethesda-related gaming event somewhere in the middle of March. It could be an excellent opportunity to reveal some enticing information about Bethesda’s future and its upcoming projects - including, of course, Starfield. The event is yet to be officially confirmed as it is just another insider statement at the moment.
For a few hours, the leaked Starfield screenshot looked really exciting, until it was debunked by the community. Interestingly, Skullzi has a record of reliable reports, and earlier in 2020, he leaked and confirmed a few other Starfield screenshots that were proven to be true. This time, however, the insider fell victim to the hype surrounding Bethesda's anticipated sci-fi RPG. That's a great lesson for everyone who naively assumes that everything they see on the Internet is true.
Comic books and comic book-based media isn't slowing down any time soon, and video games are one of the avenues where tights and capes will be more prominent. August 2020 had DC hold their own personal and virtual Comic-Con in the form of DC FanDome, to much fan delight with so much to celebrate and anticipate.
Rocksteady, of Batman: Arkham fame, revealed their next game to be Arkhamverse-set, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Meanwhile, Arkham Origins developers WB Games Montréal unveiled Gotham Knights. It's definitely not what fans expected, but it certainly presents some exciting possibilities. It could be a great move post-Arkham or it might have been better to wait a bit longer.
10 Right Move: More Batfamily
Gotham Knights seemed to come out of left field for some fans since the star of this corner of the DC multiverse, Batman, has been killed off. Whether the game's story does a surprise reveal that he somehow survived is fan speculation, but it's certainly a bold move if nothing else. While it would've been nice to get another "Batman" Batman game, this presents one clear bright side: the Batfamily.
They were present in the Arkham series but didn't feature nearly as prominently. The chance to give Nightwing, Robin, Red Hood, and Batgirl a stage for them to purely shine could prove to be a welcome change of pace.
9 Too Early: Could've Been A Spinoff To A 'Batman' Game
At least from a marketing standpoint, perhaps it may have worked better if WB Montréal eased into Gotham Knights by opening with a proper Batman game first. Fans would have gotten another Batman game who've been craving the beloved Dark Knight's next video game outing since Arkham Knight closed the (main) series, and then Gotham Knights may have been set up easier.
From a narrative standpoint, it could've provided some drumroll to Batman's apparent fate--and Commissioner Gordon's--making the Gotham Knights' call to arms more emotionally impactful. Particularly so since Dick, Tim, Jason, and Barbara could've gotten introductions as supporting roles in one more Batman-centered game as build-up.
8 Right Move: A Fresh Timeline
There was some initial confusion during and for a while after the reveal at FanDome, but WB Montréal's game is confirmed to not take place in Rocksteady's Arkhamverse. The Arkham games have been fleshed out quite a bit in terms of lore, so starting over seems like a good call for the developers to have fresh air to breathe and space to stretch their creative legs.
While starting with a dead Bruce Wayne is a shock, it could set the tone for a potential series of games that has WB Montréal's unique stamp on a corner of the DC mythos that's firmly their own. Rocksteady's trilogy set a high standard for Batman and superhero gaming in general, but it's understandable to not want to live in that shadow forever.
7 Too Early: The Court Should Be Reserved For Batman
Another narrative reason why this could be seen as coming too early is the main supervillains of the game. The Court of Owls was famously created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo for their hit New 52 run of Batman and were a rare example of a modern supervillain(s) being introduced for a legendary superhero, with several decades of lore built already, still managing to be fan-favorites.
It flipped the idea of Batman being the eye in the sky and ear to the ground who knows everything about Gotham and threw in figures that were more mythical and feared than the Dark Knight himself. For these reasons, it's a missed opportunity to finally adapt the Court to a game, but take out the protagonist that makes these rogues so personal.
6 Right Move: Genre Change
Along with separating from the last acclaimed game series and starting fresh canonically, the opportunity to use a new genre--with Batfamily characters--is another liberty. Rocksteady is also doing this with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, though aside from Harley Quinn, they're avoiding using too many high-profile Batman-associated characters compared to Gotham Knights.
The latter is set to be an action-RPG, which could be an exciting twist on superhero gaming, as that's typically not explored. An open-world, Gotham-set RPG sounds interesting on paper, and the promise of story focus--not live-service--and co-op play adds more intrigue.
5 Too Early: The Cancelled Damian Wayne Batman Game
Apparently, the Arkham Origins developers were allegedly not finished with working in that world originally. In late 2019, concept art of a supposed Damian Wayne-starring Batman game that was canceled surfaced. Connecting the dots, it seems possible that the game would've been set years after Arkham Knight, with the son of Bruce and Talia al Ghul taking up his father's mantle.
Considering Talia was a major love interest of Bruce's in Arkham City and was murdered by the Joker, this seemed like a fantastic way to have Batman again through a different POV. Perhaps it could've been set in a Gotham post-Bruce that saw the criminals and rogues gradually regain the vice-grip on the city before he originally became Batman--all sounding like inspiration from Grant Morrison's work.
4 Right Move: Tim Drake Batman Setup
As for those disappointed at a Batman-less Batman game, a way for fans to get that while still having Gotham Knights proceed as planned is if the current Robin gets set up to take up the legacy mantle of his adoptive father. Dick Grayson served for a stint, but Tim Drake hasn't gotten the love he deserves in the comics.
He had a distinctive suit after becoming Red Robin pre-New 52, which was an homage to the Batsuit and Robin suit, and now he's largely sidelined and given what is essentially a generic Robin suit, despite being another superhero identity. He's been talked up by both Ra's al Ghul and Batman as Bruce's most likely successor, citing his incredible detective prowess at such a young age. Having Knights set that up down the line is a "best of both worlds" situation.
3 Too Early: Batman With The Nemesis System
WB's Middle-earth games were best known mechanically for the "Nemesis System." It was understandably received well, as it was innovative to throw this feature into the open-world action-adventure genre. Especially since some open-world games suffer from bloat and open-world wastelands that were bigger just for the sake of it--Arkham Origins suffered from the latter.
Factions of enemies/rogues that attack the player and respond to protagonist progression as well as competing factions for power is something that would've been mouthwatering for Batman. Add the shadow puppet-masters that are the Court of Owls, and the missed target looks even more glaring.
2 Right Move: Batman Prelude DLC
DLC is something WB could experiment with since that's the most common post-launch practice for a game's longevity. Fans can have their cake and eat it too if the base game focuses entirely on the Batfamily as intended but adds a substantive story-based expansion that shows Batman's fate as a prelude.
It doesn't need to just be fan service, as Batman-focused DLC could give gamers a new perspective to potentially reveal some hints at what a potential sequel might do. Show players something only Bruce was able to catch that may be relevant later.
1 Too Early: Big Cast
While getting to play as the four main cast members of Batman's supporting family, it could be biting off more than it can chew from a gameplay perspective. The payoff could be great if this works out well, but the balance will be a major key to pulling this off as the player shouldn't be overwhelmed with the characters to manage and feel like missing out by prioritizing one over the other.
Plot-wise, it raises questions as to how much time each character will get for development. It would be a shame if the plot doesn't give enough time for each, and may have been better to start off with two focal characters.
Let's be honest, very rarely does someone who goes to the cinema to witness the big screen destruction of a monster movie want to spend time focusing on the human characters. The fact is, oftentimes these sub-plots can slow down a film that really should be about these huge beasts in combat.
For the MonsterVerse though, the creative teams behind the three films in the series thus far, have tried to create compelling human stories which complement the larger narrative involving these terrifying creatures. Needless to say, not all of these actually work, but out of the main human characters in this cinematic franchise, some have genuinely intriguing storylines to follow.
For Ford and Elle Brody, interestingly played by MCU brother/sister duo Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the film simply didn't find enough for them to do. Elle played a largely supporting role to her husband, whose main story was following on from his father's legacy by trying to shoot at Godzilla. Needless to say, despite giving them so much time, Elle barely got an arc at all, while Ford followed the military tropes of the genre.
9 Alan Jonah
2019's Godzilla: King Of The Monstersfelt it had to create a human villain which would raise the stakes and create a catalyst for the conflict that Godzilla would ultimately be drawn in to. Alan Jonah was added, an eco-terrorist with big plans for the planet.
Unfortunately, the character's own arc was pretty one-dimensional. Not only is this a very familiar trope of the disaster genre, but Jonah's main plan was to allow these impressive kaiju to destroy the world seemingly to rebuild it. There were definitely some interesting concepts there but the execution was ultimately lacking, with Jonah never backtracking on his plan when he saw the truth of his actions.
8 Dr. Emma Russell
Dr. Emma Russell's own narrative is a little more complex. She also is convinced by this terrorist plot, believing it's the best thing for mankind. However, her own emotions on the plan are muddied by her daughter, who believes what she is doing is wrong.
It sets up an interesting dynamic between Emma and the rest of her family. It also allows for a genuine arc to take place, where Emma eventually reels back her vision to try and protect the ones she loves; ultimately sacrificing herself in the process.
7 Mark Russell
Mark Russell is of course already attached to this conflict because of his wife's dangerous plan. What's more, just like Emma, he blames Godzilla for the death of his son Andrew. However, as the narrative unfolds he comes to understand the nature of the beast.
This acceptance and willingness to allow the creature to survive demonstrates Mark's moral compass. He is in the middle of the action for most of Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and thanks to the trailer, looks to play a vital part of Godzilla Vs. Kong.
6 Preston Packard
Preston Packard matches the traditional stereotype of a military general that would rather shoot first and ask questions later. In contrast to that though, the fantastic performance of Samuel L. Jackson in Kong: Skull Islandreally takes the role to another level.
Throughout the movie Packard increasingly descends into madness. Once loyal to his men, his obsession with the threat of Kong leads him to not only sacrifice his friends and military brothers, but ultimately lose his life in battle; thanks largely to his own arrogance.
5 James Conrad
One of the biggest differences for Kong: Skull Island is that the human stories really tie in well to the monster action taking place. The stakes are increased as audiences come to really like these characters, without their own arcs taking away from the overall point of a monster movie.
For the SAS soldier James Conrad, he quickly learns to become sympathetic towards Kong. While his instincts may be to think with his gun, throughout the film he continues to develop and learns to appreciate these creatures. He becomes one of the most compelling protagonists in the MonsterVerse throughout the movie, as his viewpoint on his mission shifts and adapts to the situations unfolding.
4 Mason Weaver
Surrounded by military men, Mason Weaver is an incredibly interesting character to introduce that provides an alternative point of view for audiences to explore. As an anti-war photographer, she has made a career off of showing the true nature of bloody conflicts.
She is perhaps the most important protagonist introduced into the film as she helps James Conrad come to terms with his own viewpoint regarding Skull Island and Kong himself. The character also has an interesting role to play during the action sequences, considering she is not the typical gun-wielding hero of this franchise. Overall she is just as much of a catalyst to other character's emotional arcs!
3 Hank Marlow
Hank Marlow has been trapped on Skull Island for many years. Thanks to his wit and ingenuity he has somehow managed to survive, despite the destructive beasts that roam freely across this deadly island. John C. Reilly puts on a fantastic performance as the unhinged Marlow.
Not only does he provide a lot of exposition for the other characters who are trying to survive this place in their own right, but he also has a lot of brilliant comedic moments and is ultimately one of the most sympathetic characters of the franchise. His journey from his survivalist instincts and a lack of hope evolves as he sees this may be his time for freedom; ultimately getting reunited with his family in a fitting conclusion.
2 Dr. Ishirō Serizawa
It's fair to say that Dr. Ishirō Serizawa is a bit of a hero. This educated man of science managed to see the humanity in Godzilla and ultimately helped to not only protect him but actually revive him thus sacrificing his own life.
While he might be a man of many quotes, including the iconic 'let them fight' he has also become the heart and soul of the MonsterVerse. It's a shame he has been written out of this series as his viewpoint on the kaiju was entirely unique from every other character. Just like Mason Weaver, his role was just as much about helping others understand the truth about these beasts.
1 Madison Russell
Madison Russell is the daughter of Mark and Emma. She is one of the most important players in the MonsterVerse and will be returning once more for Godzilla Vs. Kong much like her father. From a young age, she has been thrown into this dangerous world.
She has quickly discovered what is and isn't right though and sought to make a real change. Fearless and intelligent, the franchise could very much be built around Russell, especially with the kind of performances Millie Bobby Brown has demonstrated recently. Her willingness to stand up to her mother and ultimately become a major component in Godzilla's survival is in many ways a coming of age story.
