Tag: marvel

Geekly News: July 27, 2025, MCU Ready to “Reset”

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. It’s the beginning of a new week, and it’s time for us to break down the geek news from the previous week. A lot happened over the past week, but we’ll begin with some fun MCU news.

MCU Will “Reset” After Avengers: Secret Wars

“Reboot is a scary word,” President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige said during a media bonanza this past weekend. Instead of a “reboot,” Feige claims the MCU will “reset” after the Multiverse Saga concludes with Avengers: Secret Wars. This MCU reset will include Marvel Studios recasting The X-Men. Geekly may have jumped the gun with this recasting. We did our own X-Men Geekly Casting a couple of months ago, and personally, I thought Deadpool and Wolverine was the Fox X-Men’s swansong, but we only saw a handful of mutants in Deadpool and Wolverine, and I’m okay with one final sendoff.

The X-Men may not be the only ones getting recast. Feige suggested that the MCU will recast several of its characters after Avengers: Secret Wars. While Feige cited Superman (2025) as a great show and didn’t expand on the statement more than that, Superman’s success could have pushed Marvel Studios to make this decision. The MCU was always going to do something after several box office failures; the young DCU’s success shows that the MCU could find success by “resetting.”

The MCU has already shifted to projects (like Fantastic Four: First Steps) that require less homework before viewing. I’m all for less MCU homework. And while Thunderbolts* was one of the MCU’s best recent films (here’s a link to Geekly’s Thunderbolts* review), Feige made another statement last week that Thunderbolts*’ poor box office sales could be attributed to the film having too many characters who originated on Disney+ shows. Feige has a point. I count at least five members of the main cast who came from Black Widow (released exclusively on Disney+ due to the pandemic) and Falcon and Winter Soldier.

The combination of the MCU organizing their releases on Disney+ and theaters to certain character types (Disney+ shows are for street-level heroes, while MCU films are for larger-than-life characters) and an MCU “reset” should result in more cohesive storytelling. And the MCU would mirror its source material. Every decade or so, the major comic book publishers “reset” their universes. Now, we only need to see Thor crying over Deadpool’s death.

GameFound Buys IndieGoGo

For five years, GameFound competed directly in the board game industry with crowdfunding giant, KickStarter. On July 20, 2025, the Polish-based crowdfunding giant GameFound acquired the tech-centric crowdfunding website, IndieGoGo. This merger opens GameFound to other avenues of innovation.

IndieGoGo has raised billions of dollars since its inception in 2008 (note: IndieGoGo was the first crowdfunding site), while GameFound has revolutionized the board game industry over the past five years, offering flex spending (allowing donors to pay over time) and insurance for online pledges. GameFound raised over $165 million in 2024 for board games alone. Think of how much business GameFound can do by absorbing tech giant IndieGoGo.

GameFound not only protects backers, but it also offers a lower cost of entry for creators on its site. IndieGoGo has struggled with campaign costs in the past. The GameFound-IndieGoGo merger may cause a seismic shift in the crowdfunding landscape.

Pixie Trails Prepares to Launch on GameFound

Speaking of GameFound, Pixie Trails will launch in the next two days on the crowdfunding site. Pixie Trails is a light strategy game. Pixie Trails uses a simultaneous selection game mechanism. Each player simultaneously picks the direction their Pixie (denoted by a standee) will move on a three-by-three tile grid. After everyone reveals their direction (card), they take the actions pictured on their tile, gaining extra instances of the action for each other pixie on the tile. I love this trend in modern board games. Your choices can improve if others choose the same action. And Pixie Trails sounds like it has a lot of meaningful choices in a small game.

You win the game if you’ve eaten the most food at the end of four rounds, or you can alternatively win the game if you reach seven (the max level) on the Friendship Track. I don’t yet know how the Friendship Track works, but I wonder if this has something to do with landing on the same tile as another player. A twist like that could pour gasoline on the fire of each player’s choices. Color me intrigued.

Since Pixie Trails has yet to launch, we don’t have information on the various pledge levels. Pixie Trails also marks publisher Mystic Circus Game’s first release, so we also don’t have previous campaigns for comparison, but Pixie Trails should have a few pledge options in a day or two. Feel free to follow Pixie Trails’ GameFound page.

Scratch Island Sets a Course for GameFound

Publisher Garlock Games is another relatively new board game company, but they have a stellar reputation with 2023’s deckbuilding game, Dorian. The company’s follow-up title is Scratch Island, a treasure-hunting game. Scratch Island has an exciting new game mechanism of scratching the board to play.

As of the time of this write-up, little is known about Scratch Island’s gameplay aside from scratching various locations on the game pad and the tagline of “Kingdoms Rise and Fall,” which is similar to Garlock Games’ first title, Dorian. Scratch Island may be set in the same world. Either way, a scratchable board is good enough of a hook. If you’re interested in Garlock Games’ latest title, check out Scratch Island’s GameFound page.

Goats & Goblins Emerges on KickStarter

Full Disclosure: I may have played a very early version of Goats & Goblins at a Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska, game designer meet-up. I may be a little biased.

Goats & Goblins is a great twist on the push-your-luck mechanism. Each round, one player is the expedition leader. They choose how deep into a cave they intend to go (how many facedown cave cards they will draw). Everyone else chooses if they’re “in” or they’re “out.” The expedition leader flips over the number of cards from the cave deck that they chose, and then players can play cards to help or hinder the expedition. If the expedition succeeds, the players who were “in,” including the leader, split the gold. If the expedition fails, the players who were “out” split the gold. Whoever has the most gold at the end of the game wins.

Goats & Goblins offers a couple of pledge options and some add-ons. The base pledge is $20, while the “All-In” runs $38. You can also pick up a copy of B. A. Games’ other titles, Cult of the Deep for $35 or Forges of Ravenshire for $65. Goats & Goblins is a phenomenal gateway game that’s sure to pack a lot of giggles. Check out Goats & Goblins’ KickStarter page.

Melancholy Happy Trails

This past week saw the passing of a lot of geek culture icons. Typically, we don’t include too much about celebrity deaths, but this past week was brutal.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theodor Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, died Sunday, July 20, 2025, in an apparent drowning off the coast of Costa Rica. He was 54. A preliminary investigation found Warner allegedly swept away by a current while in the Caribbean Sea. I always liked Warner in The Cosby Show. Warner was also known for his role as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama The Resident (2018-2023). Thank you for the memories, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Rest in peace.

Julian LeFay

Father of The Elder Scrolls Julian LeFay passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025, after years of battling cancer. He was the chief engineer behind The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Daggerfall. In 2019, he cofounded game studio OnceLost Games and began work on the spiritual successor to the original Elder Scrolls, The Wayward Realms. LeFay’s visionary design continues to inspire open-world RPG development. Thank you for your guiding light, Julian LeFay. Rest in peace.

Chuck Mangione

Legendary composer and jazz musician Chuck Mangione passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. He was 84. A virtuoso flugelhorn and trumpet player, Mangione began taking music lessons at age 8 and played in a jazz combo with his pianist brother, Gap, during his high school years. Mangione made jazz cool again in the 1970s with hits like “Feels So Good.” “Children of Sanchez” is still one of my favorites, and don’t be surprised if Mangione’s album An Evening of Magic, Live at the Hollywood Bowl makes my Geekly Tunes post for August 2025. Thank you for the good vibes, Chuck Mangione. Rest in peace.

Ozzy Osbourne

Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Birmingham, England, at age 76. Osbourne died weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for a final concert. Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne, found rock ‘n roll stardom as a member of Black Sabbath before branching out on a solo career. Osbourne found success later in life as a reality television star with his wife and children. I’ll piggyback on Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan’s idea, and add that I’d love to see Ozzfest return as an annual tribute concert to Ozzy Osbourne. I always liked how Ozzy did things on his own terms. The next life got a lot more interesting with Ozzy. Rest in peace.

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan passed away Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Clearwater Beach, Florida, at age 71. Hogan (born Terry Bollea) died from a reported cardiac arrest. Hogan rose to prominence as a wrestler in the 1970s but attained superstardom in the 1980s as part of the World Wrestling Federation (now the WWE). I’ve never been a huge pro wrestling fan, and Hogan had some problematic political and ideological views, but our thoughts go out to his family.

That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Thank you for reading and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Fantastic Four Villains

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Last month Geekly discussed the X-Men’s top 5 villains. Marvel’s first family, the Fantastic Four, has as many contenders for their top five as Marvel’s merry mutants. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Top 5 Villains List. With Fantastic Four: First Steps releasing later this week, let’s discuss the Fantastic Four’s top five villains. We know one that one of these villains will make an appearance in Fantastic Four: Four Steps. Who knows? More than one of these villains will make their MCU debut soon.

Honorable Mention: The Frightful Four

The Frightful Four is a cheat; they’re a supervillain group. Supervillain groups began with Spider-Man’s Sinister Six in 1964. The Frightful Four debuted the following year. Members of the Frightful Four have also served in the Masters of Evil (who made the Avengers Top 5 Villains list) and the Sinister Six. In fact, Sandman is an original member of the Frightful Four and the Sinister Six. The Frightful Four have had a rotating roster, but Wizard (the team’s founder) has stayed the team’s one constant.

The Frightful Four takes its lead from its founder, the Wizard. Dr. Bentley Wittman is a twisted version of Reed Richards. But while Doctor Doom (another twisted version of Reed Richards) combines arcane knowledge with technology, the Wizard combines technology with smoke and mirrors. Think of the Wizard as a beefed-up Mysterio.

5: Maker

Our first Fantastic Four villain is another twisted version of Reed Richards. Maker is the Mr. Fantastic of the Marvel Ultimate Universe. In this universe, Reed proposes to Sue after Sue’s father dies. This universe’s Sue rejects Reed. While somewhat sympathetic (the Ultimate Universe’s Reed Richards witnesses the family he and Sue could’ve had while visiting the main Marvel timeline), Reed gives in fully to his selfish tendencies. He turns his anger on his would-be family by torturing Sue. Subsequently, the Human Torch attacked Reed with his hottest flame, which permanently scarred Reed’s face. After a brief exile in the Negative Zone, Reed emerged as the Maker.

Maker vows to mold the world in his image of perfection. The helmet he wears isn’t just for show. It adjusts to his head. Maker will stretch his brain, learning as much as he can of the universe’s secrets. Maker serves as a warning to Reed Richards. He must not give in fully to his self-centered nature.

4: Super-Skrull

Super-Skrull is an alias used by multiple Marvel comics characters. Essentially, Super-Skrull can refer to any enhanced member of the Skrull race. But when comic book fans refer to “Super-Skrull,” they typically mean Kl’rt, who appeared in Fantastic Four #18, and Kl’rt is the “Super-Skrull” who takes this spot. The Skrulls imbued Kl’rt with the Fantastic Four’s powers. Kl’rt possesses all the Fantastic Four’s powers. He’s an obvious threat.

But Kl’rt’s dominance runs deeper. Typically, he has better control over his powers, and his powers are improved versions of the Fantastic Four’s. Since he’s a Skrull, Kl’rt has natural shapeshifting abilities. Throw in hypnosis, and one can see why Super-Skrull Kl’rt was chosen to pave the way for a new Skrull Empire invasion. While Super-Skrull poses a threat to the Marvel universe as a whole, Kl’rt was designed to take on the Fantastic Four and has been a constant thorn in the side of Marvel’s first family.

3: Annihilus

Annihilus is another villain who poses a threat to the entire Marvel universe. Spoiler alert: The same can be said of the remaining villains on this list. Annihilus is an interdimensional insectoid conqueror and tyrant hailing from the Negative Zone, a pocket dimension located within Marvel’s main timeline. He attempted to take over the Negative Zone by wielding the Cosmic Control Rod. In classic Reed Richards fashion, he postulated that he needed the Cosmic Control Rod to treat Susan Richards during her pregnancy, and instead of asking for the rod, he stole it from Annihilus. The team intended to return the rod when they were done using it, but Annihilus took exception to the theft. Leave it to Reed to kick a hornet’s nest.

Since their first meeting, Annihilus and the Fantastic Four have been uneasy allies and foes on various occasions. Annihilus works best as an irritant to the Fantastic Four. The animosity has led to some stellar storylines that get personal.

2: Galactus

Galactus needs little introduction. He’s the big guy in blue and purple. Even if Galactus needed an introduction, he has countless heralds to do that for him. Galactus is more of a force of nature. He needs to feed on a planet’s essence to survive. Earth and Galactus happen to collide, and when they do, the Fantastic Four serve as Earth’s guardians.

But Galactus’s link to the Fantastic Four (and the Marvel universe) runs deeper than the surface. Galactus wields the power cosmic; the Fantastic Four were transformed by cosmic rays, originating from the power cosmic. Galactus also happens to be the last surviving member of the previous multiverse, the Sixth Cosmos. Due to a plague named the Black Winter, the universe began dying, and Galan (Galactus before he became Galactus) searched the cosmos to find a cure. He failed. Galan proposed to the remaining survivors that they die with glory by piloting one of their starships into the heart of the Cosmic Egg. Everyone aboard the vessel died, except for Galan. He fused with the Sentience of the Sixth Cosmos to become Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

I love Galactus’s origin. It humanizes him. He’d easily take the top spot if it weren’t for one Fantastic Four villain.

1: Doctor Doom

Obviously, Doctor Doom takes the top spot. As mentioned before, Victor von Doom blends magic and science to become one of the Marvel universe’s greatest threats. He rules Latveria with a literal and figurative iron fist and intends to do the same with the rest of the world. Doom believes the world/universe needs a ruler smart and cunning enough to lead. He happens to be the best person for the job.

Even though Doctor Doom threatens the universe, he’s the perfect Fantastic Four villain because of his ties to Reed Richards. The two were college rivals. Doom blames Reed for the accident that cost him his face and drove him to the far reaches of the earth, where he studied magic to coincide with his brilliant scientific mind. Doctor Doom is forever linked to the Fantastic Four. He’s iconic. He’s a threat as big—if not bigger—than Thanos, and I can’t wait to see what the MCU has in store for this character.

Did we get the list right? Let us know who your favorite Fantastic Four villains are in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Ironheart: Episode 4-6 Review

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Happy Friday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and we’re going to discuss Ironheart’s final three episodes. There’s little chance that we’ll cover this subject without major spoilers, so this is your spoiler warning. Last week, Ironheart finished strong, but I wondered if it would continue this momentum during its second episode release. In short, it did.

Ironheart managed to raise the stakes with almost every scene; that’s good to see. Sacha Baron Cohen was electric as Mephisto. Unlike my thoughts from last week (I guessed Ironheart would show Mephisto ruing its fifth episode), Ironheart held off showing Mephisto until its final episode. That’s a fantastic choice. This kept Mephisto from being watered down over two episodes. The MCU has been building toward Mephisto for a while. (Yes, there will be some minor MCU homework, but Ironheart does a good job revisiting Dormammu and the events of the first Doctor Strange.) The show ends on a cliffhanger. It looks as if Mephisto wins. That’s an intriguing ending for what would’ve been Ironheart’s first season. We’ll have to discuss Ironheart’s future at some point. Why not now?

Few Marvel shows on Disney+ have received second seasons, and that’s before considering Ironheart’s potential for underperformance. Disney+ hasn’t yet released its streaming numbers for Ironheart, but I’d imagine it didn’t do well because the show starts slow–really slow–and there’s a chance fewer viewers will give Ironheart episodes 3-6 a watch. Seriously, the last four episodes save the show. Despite leaving a lot of bread crumbs, I doubt Ironheart receives a second season. We’ll see Mephisto and Ironheart again in future MCU projects, but it’s a shame their story won’t continue through a second Ironheart season or an Ironheart special. I’d be okay with a one-shot Ironheart Disney+ special.

Getting back to Ironheart’s final three episodes, the characters grew on me. I was warming up to them during episode three, but Ironheart really did ramp up the tension and/asked interesting questions with each of its scenes. Of course, there were the ubiquitous battles. Ironheart wouldn’t be a Marvel project without the fights growing in intensity. But Ironheart did enough groundwork to make Riri’s showdown against The Hood’s gang, Zeke Stane, and The Hood meaningful. Each of these factions (and yes, The Hood’s gang and The Hood) has different goals and desires, and I like how Ironheart pitted these characters’ motivations against each other.

Even Mephisto’s goals differ from The Hood’s. Did I mention Sacha Baron Cohen is amazing as Mephisto? I have? Well, I’d watch Ironheart just for his performance, but Ironheart had plenty of amazing acting performances. I don’t want to list them all here. Few, if any, Ironheart characters fell flat, but I’ll take this moment to give a shout-out to the surprise Doctor Strange (from the comics) character Zelma Stanton.

Regan Aliyah’s adorkable Zelma Stanton does a great job of tying Ironheart into Doctor Strange and Wandavision/Agatha: All Along. I like how Marvel digs deep into its comic book lore in odd but meaningful ways. Ironheart wouldn’t work without Zelma. Kudos for including her. I have one small gripe. The now iconic scene of Mephisto tempting Riri Williams is a little on the nose (from a writing perspective), but Cohen’s gravitas is outstanding, and I don’t care if I’ve heard a similar version of the devil.

So, is Ironheart worth your time? I’d consider skipping the first two episodes and watching the episode recap for episode three. I’d definitely skip Ironheart’s first episode; it’s a slog. I’m concerned about how the MCU will continue the stories introduced in this show, so I’d have to give Ironheart an incomplete. It ends with a compelling cliffhanger, but there’s little chance we’ll get a satisfying payoff. Please, give us an Ironheart Disney+ special. Beyond those early hiccups, Ironheart was a fun watch. It even manages to set up a solid foundation for future MCU stories.

Ironheart’s future is up in the air. I wish I could tell you that all the great story threads introduced in this show will get a satisfying resolution, but only time will tell. Honestly, Riri’s reunion with Natalia and showing signs of Mephisto taint gave me a smile. Not since Thanos have we seen a Marvel villain succeed, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto can serve as a fantastic MCU villain.

Geekly News: June 29, 2025, Fantastic Four Final Trailer

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang. Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. I wrote this post a day or two early because my birthday is this weekend. Yay! I’m leveling up another year. But before I eat my body weight in key lime pie and beef stroganoff, we have some Geek News to cover, starting with the final Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. I know. I know. We’ve covered every Fantastic Four trailer. Somehow, I keep missing some of the Superman trailers. I’m equally excited for both films.

Marvel Releases Fantastic Four: First Steps Final Trailer

The MCU released the final trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps. I appreciate that we didn’t get too many new spoilers with this trailer, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some peppered in. We may venture into spoiler territory.

The trailer begins with the Fantastic Four at the Ted Gilbert Show when an alarm on their watches sounds. The scenes before this moment give us the longest looks we’ve seen of Marvel’s first family using their powers: Mr. Fantastic stretching, Invisible Woman throwing up a force field and manipulating objects, The Human Torch flying past a Coppertone billboard of himself and setting it on fire, and a bystander wanting The Thing to say, It’s Clobbering Time.

I love the running gag of everyone trying to coax The Thing into saying, “It’s Clobbering Time.” This is a trope used in certain Fantastic Four comics, where The Thing may have said Clobbering Time once, or it was used for a television show (in First Steps, it’s a cartoon), and I can’t wait to see the payoff because, undoubtedly, he will say Clobbering Time, perhaps in the scene where Johnny carries The Thing (with a beard–look at his rock beard, that’s awesome).

A few more moments stick out. We get a better look at Shalla-Bal. I’ve talked about how I didn’t like the CGI for this Silver Surfer, and I’m glad to see an improvement with this trailer. We get an extended look at Galactus, but not a straight-on look at the titan. The Fantastic Four fly into a black hole, and it’s implied that Sue may be pregnant with Franklin at the time. Flying into a black hole while Sue is pregnant with Franklin could supercharge Franklin’s powers. Someone in the crowd by the Fantastic Four carries a sign that reads, Earth Believed In You, which implies that the Fantastic Four have already failed in some way.

And there are those three massive devices. One is by the Eiffel Tower. I’m unsure where the other two in the distance are from Paris. Could this be what Reed was working on with his massive blackboard? We’ll have to find out. I’ll paraphrase one of the top comments on this trailer. The marketing team is doing a great job by holding back three things: 1) Galactus’s face, 2) The Thing saying, “Clobbering Time,” and 3) Johnny saying, “Flame On.” I agree. It’s best to see and hear these things when Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25th.

Grail Games Launches The Pixel Series on KickStarter

Grail Games returns with a trio of retro-art board games. Even though Aliens Attack!, Ohio Bob, and Harvest Valley use the same 8-bit art style, they couldn’t be more different in gameplay. Aliens Attack! is a tower defense game, Ohio Bob offers a fun adventure, and Harvest Valley is a farming sim. All three games are smaller, easier to store and transportable.

The Pixel Series even features some board game designing giants like Bruno Faidutti and Hisashi Hayashi. You can back this project and receive individual games for $10 or the entire set for $26.You can even throw in a fourth game in the series, Level 10, which is a reprinting of Okey Dokey.

I like Level 10’s retheme of guiding Izzy through a video game level without the character perishing. If you’re interested in Grail Game’s Pixel Series, check out their KickStarter page.

Mesopotamia by Meeple Pug Launches on GameFound

Even though it isn’t the Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur, the board game Mesopotamia does include knucklebone game pieces, which were game pieces in the classic board game. Meeple Pug’s Mesopotamia puts players in the role of civilization leaders in this stunning 4X game (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate). Mesopotamia foregoes a tech tree for research tiles that make each player’s civilization unique.

I love Mesopotamia’s customizable player boards. This gaming component could spark a series of games with a similar component. Mesopotamia’s gameplay encourages trading, exploration, and combat. Those knucklebone game pieces come in handy when attacking one of your opponents. Mesopotamia’s game pieces are top-notch. This is a gorgeous game, and that’s before considering the prelaunch Hanging Gardens Miniature.

That miniature looks amazing, and Mesopotamia has plenty of other detailed miniatures. I like the addition of note one, but three solo-player modes: exploration, siege, and castle defense. Mesopotamia offers a lot of gameplay options. It launches early next week, so we don’t yet know how much this campaign costs. If you’re interested in Mesopotamia, follow its GameFound page.

Modern Classic Board Game Colosseum Receives a Glow-Up on GameFound

Yes! If you’ve ever been interested in the Wolfgang Kramer and Markus Lubke design Colosseum, The Grand Spectacle may be the edition to add to your collection. Ian O’Toole is one of the best board game graphic designers/artists working today, and Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle is a feast for the eyes.

I’ve always liked Colosseum’s take on the roll/spin and move game mechanism, which is often maligned and hated in the board game community. Colosseum does it right; take some of the chance out of rolling dice. I also agree with the Dice Tower’s Tom Vasel. Colosseum works at 5-players, which is rare in a game of this type.

If you’ve ever wanted to run your own Colosseum, you should check out Fantasia Games’ reprint of this modern board game classic. Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle has a variety of pledges, ranging from $80-140.

Death Stranding 2’s Mysterious Update

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was released this past week and topped video game sales. In case you haven’t played the original, the first Death Stranding is on sale for most systems. Modern video games have updates during their first week, so Death Stranding 2 adding one a day after its release doesn’t raise any eyebrows. Oddly, we know nothing about this Death Stranding 2 update. The update offers no information about what it’s patching. The Death Stranding 2 team offers no clues. No one seems to know what this patch does. Hopefully, it fixes some of the game’s audio issues. Perhaps Hideo Kojima likes keeping this update a mystery.

Tamagotchi Plaza Releases on the Nintendo Switch 2

Tamagotchi Plaza, a shop simulator, was released for the original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It looks adorable. I have fond memories of Tamagotchi, and I’m happy if Tamagotchi Plaza popularizes the pet raising sim to a new generation of gamers. Tamagotchi Plaza looks interesting–I may check out this title at some point–but Tamagotchi Plaza continues a disturbing trend for Nintendo Switch 2. If you already own a game for the original Switch, you can play it on the Switch 2 for a small Switch 2 upgrade fee.

While the upgrade fee isn’t the same price as a full-fledged game, it comes off as a shameless cash grab. Why should I have to pay an additional $10 for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when I already own the game? Yes. $10 isn’t that much, but if you convert each one of your original Switch titles to the Switch 2, that adds up quickly. And this practice will embolden other console producers to do the same. We already got a Horizon: Zero Dawn remaster for the PlayStation 5 when it was released on the previous console.

Tamagotchi Plaza is a new game, and players would have to buy the Switch 2 upgrade for a game they just bought if they were to pick up a Switch 2 later this year. Okay. I get it. You could play the original version of Tamagotchi Plaza, but the Switch 2 version adds new shop types. Why would you want to play the Switch version if you were to upgrade to a Switch 2 after it becomes available again? I’m concerned about this business model for the video game community. But, hey, many of us–myself included–have purchased Skyrim eleven times. How’s this any different?

That’s all we have for Geek News this week, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Ironheart: Episodes 1-3 Review

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. The first half of Ironheart’s episodes were released this past week, and I’ll share my thoughts, but as you can see, I’m not giving each episode its own review. JK Geekly has covered Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Daredevil: Born Again, and typically, we give each episode its own post. We’re not doing that for Ironheart because it drags. With these first three episodes, the show takes double the time it needs (for at least the first two episodes), so we figured we’d cover the first three episodes as if they were one and a half episodes or a single Marvel special.

At its heart–Ha! Heart was unplanned–Ironheart has the structure for a good story. It sets up an interesting conflict between tech and magic, I like the show’s social commentary, Riri has an intriguing (enough) backstory, and I like many of its characters. Ironheart’s execution is lacking. Quick note: We will go into spoiler territory throughout this review; you’ve been warned. Ironheart actively keeps why Riri Williams wants to make an iron suit a secret for over two episodes. Really? While it makes sense for Riri to obscure her motives from other characters, it hurts Ironheart’s story, keeping the viewers in the dark. Spoiler: Her dad, Gary, was a Tony Stark superfan, and that’s why she wants to build an iron suit. We could’ve gotten that information in any one of five flashback scenes with Gary, but Ironheart deliberately keeps the audience at bay.

And Ironheart uses too many flashback scenes, with none of these scenes pulling double duty. Those flashback scenes with Gary Williams show his and Riri’s relationship, but give few other details (like Gary is a Stark fan), and it isn’t just the flashback scenes. Most of the scenes in the first two episodes are one-note. This leads to the show doubling in length. Fortunately, Ironheart’s third episode, “We in Danger, Girl” picks up the pace. Joe turns out to be Obadiah Stane’s son, Ezekiel, and this is done in a scene that pulls double duty. 1) Riri needs tech to go undetected by The Hood. 2) Ezekiel reveals who he is and why he has so much advanced tech. In fact, Ironheart’s third episode sheds most of what bogs down the previous two episodes, so I’m cautiously optimistic about next week’s Ironheart offering.

While it’s not always about the action, “We in Danger, Girl” cranks up the action and tension while raising the stakes at most turns. It even manages to throw in a few welcome comedic moments. I like Riri’s panic attack side story. We don’t get enough superheroes struggling with the very act of being a superhero. Riri’s moral ambiguity at the beginning was also welcome. I even liked how Riri struggles because of her ethnicity. I just wish Ironheart’s story were tighter.

But “We in Danger, Girl” did enough for me to watch Ironheart’s next three episodes. The cast is excellent. I like this version of Slug better than the comic book version; I need more of this Slug. The story is picking up the pace. I’m excited to see how The Hood and Mephisto interact and how Riri’s not-so-good choices will impact her future. Riri is a flawed and compelling character, and her relationship with the AI Natalie (Riri’s friend who died) is top-notch, but I wonder how many viewers will sit through Ironheart’s first two episodes. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 22, 2025

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have a couple of MCU updates and new board games to talk about. This week had an extra topic or two than last week’s. Yay! Since the MCU news is juicier, we’ll begin with the latest from Avengers: Doomsday.

Wolverine Will Be in Avengers: Doomsday

A couple of reports/rumors about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday surfaced this past week, suggesting that Wolverine will return in some capacity during the massive group film. Early this past week, veteran stunt double Daniel Stevens stated that he’s working on Avengers: Doomsday. Stevens is Hugh Jackman’s stunt double for his role as Wolverine. This admission doesn’t confirm Wolverine will be in Avengers: Doomsday because Stevens has worked as a stunt double for multiple characters during Avengers movies, but the second report may seal the deal.

YouTuber UnBox PHD specializes in drone footage of Hollywood films. They’re the ones who broke that Wolverine would don his blue and yellow suit in Deadpool and Wolverine months before the movie’s release. UnBox PHD took drone images of a classic Wolverine movie scene’s recreation. Marvel asked UnBox PHD to take down the images, and in return, they all but confirmed Wolverine will be in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. It’s yet to be seen in what capacity Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will be involved. Fingers crossed for more updates.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto to Make Appearance in Ironheart

Sacha Baron Cohen as the MCU’s Mephisto, who is a Marvel variant of the Devil, was leaked several years prior. Cohen’s Mephisto had been rumored as far back as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He cropped up again in Agatha All Along. Just about any Marvel film or series that features a magical element has been rumored or teased Cohen’s Mephisto. Ironheart combines magic and technology. The show’s central theme will be magic versus tech; this conflict interested me in our MCU Preview earlier this year. During that same preview, I mentioned that The Hood would be Ironheart’s main antagonist. While I still believe The Hood will be Ironheart’s focal enemy, he’s a younger character, about the same age as Riri Williams, so it makes sense if someone bigger is pulling the strings.

Marvel leaked Ironheart’s schedule this past week. Next week, we’ll see the first three episodes, and the week after that, the second set of three Ironheart episodes will release. If Ironheart uses The Hood as a mid-boss, someone who’s working for a larger and bigger bad, narratively speaking, it makes sense for the bigger bad to show their face during the fifth and penultimate episode. The Hood may be failing to convert Riri to the dark side, so the one behind The Hood will need to get personal. Notice how the “M” in Karma is suspiciously highlighted in red. A red M for Mephisto? It could be. We won’t have to wait long to see if one of Marvel’s most dastardly enemies graces the screen. I love the Cohen casting of Mephisto.

If we do get Cohen’s Mephisto in Ironheart, I don’t think he’ll be in full makeup, or if he is, we’ll only catch a glimpse. This appearance will most likely introduce the character and sow the seeds for future MCU stories. Could Mephisto make an appearance in Doctor Strange 3 or Midnight Sons, or even VisionQuest? All of those projects make sense.

Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 Launches on GameFound

Paperback Adventures combines a roguelike deck-building game with a word game. Paperback Adventures (first volume) was a solo game only, but Volume 2 offers a 4-player simultaneous co-op game mode as well. The modular system allows for more variety with the more character boxes you have. Even though Geekly has yet to play this game, Paperback Adventures was a hit with several well-known board game reviewers, specifically Shut Up & Sit Down and The Dice Tower.

I like any modular game with a well-thought-out storage system, and Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 appears to have that in spades. The game’s Big Box, which may be an add-on (no word on the Paperback Adventures: Volume 2’s price point yet), has space for everything included in the game. Yes! I don’t know how many times I’ve had larger modular games with ridiculous storage.

Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 takes the original Paperback (which I have played on Steam, and it’s excellent) and adds a layer of adventure with small RPG elements to it. I never picked up a hard copy version of Paperback (and I missed the first wave of Paperback Adventures), but I may have to back Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 when it launches on GameFound next week.

Cozy Cat Cafe Launches on KickStarter

Run your own cat cafe. Arrange furniture. Recruit cats. Attract customers. Cozy Cat Cafe has coziness in its title. Player turns don’t appear to take long. You’ll have a handful of options, but Cozy Cat Cafe ups the ante if you’ve recruited the right cats. Certain cats can pull off special cat tricks (cards).

I don’t know what “Biscuit Boost” does, but I must play it at least once. Want to know more about Cozy Cat Cafe? Fortunately, Stami Games has a quick Instagram video, providing a quick overview. I like a couple of Cozy Cat Cafe’s game mechanisms. Players construct patterns to attract customers, but the customer cards can be altered on one’s turn if you think one of your opponents can attract a customer. Neat! The other game mechanism I like is the double-sided tiles. You can construct a basic piece of furniture, or you can upgrade it for a posh version. Me-ow!

Cozy Cat Cafe has adorable art that fits its theme. If you’re interested in Cozy Cat Cafe, the core box runs about $54 (plus shipping). The deluxe version is $81. There are several other options (some with signed copies of the game). Check out Cozy Cat Cafe on KickStarter.

That’s all the Geek News we have for you this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.