Tag: mcu

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.

Geekly News: July 6, 2025, Far Far Out and Others Launch of Crowdfunding Sites

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of geek news. This week is a little quiet due to the United States Holiday, the Fourth of July, and the upcoming DCU and MCU movies: Superman and Fantastic Four: First Steps, respectively. So, we don’t have any major news to report. Instead, let’s discuss some board game releases for the upcoming week.

Mafia Blitz Launches on KickStarter

Honestly, I’ve never cared for social deduction games, but fast-paced social deduction games that don’t include player elimination (like One Night: Ultimate Werewolf), I can get behind. That is the premise of Mafia Blitz. Mafia pioneered the social deduction game. Mafia Blitz, designed by frequent Meeple Mountain contributor Mark Iradian, aims to do the same for quick social deduction games. Each role has unique win conditions, with many roles having overlapping win conditions. There are even some roles that include end-game triggers.

I like Mafia Blitz’s approach of having one price point: $20. Too often, crowdfunding projects include multiple add-ons, which can lead to a different gaming experience from one copy of the same game to the next. Mafia Blitz doesn’t have that issue. If you’re interested in Mafia Blitz, check out their KickStarter page.

Paradise: A Wastepunk Boardgame Launches on GameFound

Paradise: A Wastepunk Boardgame is another board game type I don’t typically care for (a skirmisher combat game), but it’s another one that has me intrigued. Its setup reminds me of a Memoir ’44 that has character abilities. Coincidentally, Memoir ’44 is one of the few skirmisher games I enjoy.

Throw in some quick dice combat, what appears to be gear cards, and detailed terrain pieces, and Paradise: A Wastepunk Boardgame has my attention. I also love the colorful palette Mindwork Games uses. Paradise: A Wastepunk Boardgame is Italian board game design studio Mindwork Games’ first design. They give me strong early CMON vibes. Both companies began as purveyors of awesome miniatures. That fact should let you know the level of detail this game’s miniatures will have. I wonder what the quality difference is between the PVC and resin miniatures. The resin minis are more expensive, and resin minis tend to break more easily than PVC minis. It’s something to consider.

On a personal note, I’m considering backing Paradise: A Wastepunk Boardgame because of the character named Kyra Rhust. We’re both Kyra. And this Kyra looks like she may be a healing sniper like Ana from Overwatch (Ana was one of my mains–yay!). If you’re interested in Paradise: A Wastepunk Boardgame, give its GameFound page a look.

Far Far Out Lands on GameFound

Far Far Out looks fantastic. The Netherlands-based game design group Studio Inifinitus offers multiple ways to win in this Civilization-like board game. The system tiles look amazing. These system tiles interlock and contain planets.

Players then place planets on top of the system tiles. I’m unsure if the planets always spawn on specific systems or if it differs each game. My guess is that players can change up which systems a planet can be placed. Far Far Out is stunning.

The game lists three ways to win. Far Far Out’s inclusion of 64 battle dice–64!–suggests that one method for victory is military/combat, but Far Far Out insists these battle dice serve multiple purposes. Far Far Out features a lot of exploration. I like that in a game set in outer space. We don’t know too much about the game’s mechanisms, but they have us intrigued.

Far Far Out’s more expensive pledge (around $175) includes intricate miniatures, while its less expensive pledge (around $117) includes detailed standees. The only difference I’ve found between the two versions is the unpainted miniatures (pictured above), but Far Far Out leaves the description of its more expensive pledge as “all deluxe content.” The campaign could add more deluxe content, so keep an eye out. The price tag is a bit high because Far Far Out includes a lot of bits. This is a premium game with a premium price. If you’re interested in Far Far Out, zoom to its GameFound page.

Rest in Peace, Jim Shooter

Former Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief and comic book visionary Jim Shooter passed away on June 30, 2025. Shooter has a complicated comic book history. On one hand, he “rescued” the comic book industry. By the mid-1970s to early 1980s, comic books had gone stale. A 13-year-old Shooter would get his start with DC Comics and proceed to pull comic books out of its slump. During his time as Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief, Shooter orchestrated the massive crossover event, Secret Wars, which is the major event the MCU is currently building toward. But Shooter wasn’t without his share of controversy.

Shooter’s Marvel Comics was openly homophobic, refusing to feature queer stories. Writer/artist John Byrne was forced to conceal Northstar’s sexual orientation for years before the character became the first openly gay comic book character. Instead of letting Northstar out of the closet, Shooter penned the first comic book that featured a queer storyline: two gay men attempt to r*pe Bruce Banner and this caused Banner to transform into The Hulk. Shooter had a “Don’t Say Gay” Policy with Marvel Comics. This restriction prevented positive queer representation in Marvel Comics for over a decade.

Still, Jim Shooter (during his teen years) wrote the first race between Superman and The Flash. This race between titans has become a tradition for DC Comics, and he solidified much of the Legion of Super-Heroes lore during his early tenure. Shooter even created one of my favorite Superman villains, Parasite. And Shooter’s jump to Marvel Comics ended the revolving door of editors after Stan Lee had transitioned to Marvel Films. Shooter was the editor who oversaw the growth of Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s classic run of The Uncanny X-Men, which led to the team becoming a global phenomenon. The Uncanny X-Men also saw the inclusion of many BIPOC stories.

Shooter has an impressive comic book history and a checkered past with queer inclusion. His contributions to comic books, and especially Marvel Comics, will not be forgotten. As a member of the LGBT community, I wish Shooter had done more for LGBT inclusion in Marvel comics. Even so, my thoughts go out to Shooter’s family. Rest in Peace.

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.

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

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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.