Geekly News: August 10, 2025, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Update

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. A lot has been happening in the tabletop/board game industry this past week, but I may take another week to gather some thoughts. Something to look forward to for next week. XD Instead, we have a couple of MCU updates this past week, and of course, we’ll discuss this past week’s new releases. There were some good ones. But first, let’s discuss the rumors and leaks for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Several Spider-Man: Brand New Day Rumors and Leaks

We already received word from Michael Mando that he will return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as Matt Gargan, Scorpion. Mando even teased that he will be sporting a comic book accurate Scorpion costume, he’ll be involved in the alien symbiote story teased during a post-credit scene for Spider-Man: No Way Home. While Tom Hardy may be done with the Venom character, the alien symbiote does exist in Earth-616 (the MCU). The alien symbiote that is Venom has bonded with more characters than Eddie Brock and Peter Parker in Marvel comics. One of those other characters is Matt Gargan, so Mando saying his character will be involved with the alien symbiote makes sense. And Peter bonding with the alien symbiote aligns with the original 1980s Secret Wars, which will be a future MCU movie.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton, and his camp have already shared multiple leaks about the upcoming Spider-Man movie. They plan to bring two comic books to life: Amazing Spider-Man #134 and Amazing Spider-Man #345.

Amazing Spider-Man #134 has Tarantula on the cover, and Tarantula was confirmed to be in Spider-Man: Brand New Day months ago by Marvel’s merchandising firm. Scorpion was also featured in this comic book, and we’ve received word from Michael Mando, who plays Scorpion in the MCU, that he will be in the next Spider-Man movie, so the leak is accurate, but this brings us to the second comic book.

Amazing Spider-Man #345 has Boomerang on the cover, and he was also leaked in a similar fashion to Tarantula and Scorpion. But look at the top of this issue (pictured above). Venom returns. It looks as though Cretton intends to include Venom, or at least the alien symbiote, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man’s next cinematic outing looks like it’ll be packed with villains. Earlier this year, a savage Hulk was leaked to appear in the film, and Shang-Chi (the protagonist of director Cretton’s first MCU film) is also set to return. We’ll keep you posted if we find out any more about Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Chris Hemsworth Clarifies Recent Thor Video

Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role as Thor for Avengers: Doomsday, and the actor recently shared a video titled “Thank You! The Legacy of Thor,” which ignited speculation that he might be preparing to hang up the hammer for good, after Avengers: Doomsday. Heck, I’ve seen speculation that Thor could be one of the MCU heroes Doctor Doom slays in the upcoming crossover movie.

But Chris Hemsworth clarified that he will return in Thor 5, which will most likely be set in Valhalla. Valhalla is the Asgardian version of heaven, so there’s a chance Thor could perish in Avengers: Doomsday and then star in a fifth Thor installment. Rumors suggest that Natalie Portman will also star in Thor 5, and since her character Jane Foster perished at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder, this furthers speculation that Thor 5 will take place in Valhalla. We’ll have to wait and see.

Gradius Releases on Multiple Platforms

Konami partnered up with M2 to deliver the perfect 40th Anniversary celebration for Gradius. Gradius Origins compiles most entries of the series into a single title. Gradius Origins chronicles Gradius from its arcade roots in the mid-80s all the way to the brand-new spin-off, Salamander 3. The game features over a dozen different game variations. It includes numerous quality of life additions and historical artwork.

Gradius Origins is available on PC, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.

Tiny Bookshop Releases on Steam

Tiny Bookshop looks like it’ll be right up my alley. I love books and cozy video games. I even like resource management games. Tiny Bookshop includes all three of those things. Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea. Stock your Tiny Bookshop with different books (some of them are real-world classics) and items. Take in scenic locations and run your cozy second-hand bookshop while getting to know the locals.

And what would a second-hand bookshop be without the occasional cat? Yes! Tiny Bookshop gives you the experience of running your own bookstore. If Tiny Bookshop sounds like something you’d be interested in, the game has a playable demo on Steam. Meow!

Prequel Game Mafia: The Old Country Releases

The upcoming Xbox Series X game, Mafia: The Old Country is a prequel to the original Mafia trilogy. It explores the origins of mob life in the United States, transporting players back to the birthplace of one particular crime family.

Set in 1900s Sicily and following one man’s ascent from an underling to a mafioso, Mafia: The Old Country offers a new angle to the Mafia formula. Narrative-driven, Mafia: The Old Country provides a singular Mafia experience. While not Grand Theft Auto 6 (which got pushed back to May 2026), Mafia: The Old Country scratches a similar itch. It’s available on PC, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5.

Care Bears: Unlock the Magic Deck Builder Game Launches on KickStarter

Care Bears receive the deck-building game treatment. Care Bears: Unlock the Magic Deck Builder Game has players spread caring and compassion while facing off against unpredictable weather, wild creatures, and the mischievous Bluster and his Bad Crowd. The game features multiple difficulty settings, perfect for younger players and gamers who want more of a challenge.

Like most deck builders, each player begins with a basic deck in Care Bears. You can purchase new cards with Wish (stars), and prevent Bluster and his Bad Crowd from spreading uncaring with Care (hearts). Care Bears hasn’t received a major tabletop game since the Eighties (there have been some reskinned games like Monopoly and an odd Chutes & Ladders-like game a couple of years ago), so Care Bears: Unlock the Magic Deck Builder Game is great for Care Bears fans who’ve been waiting for a deeper Care Bears board game experience.

Care Bears: Unlock the Magic Deck Builder Game has multiple pledge levels that range from $34 (for the base game, plus shipping) to the massive All-In Pledge of $400. But the best bang for your buck may be the popular Care-a-Lot Expansion Edition ($119) that includes all base Care Bears (to include Grumpy and Tenderheart Bear) and a neoprene playmat. If you’re interested in Care Bears: Unlock the Magic Deck Builder Game, check out its KickStarter page.

Vines and Flowers: Blooming Harmony Sprouts on KickStarter

Vines and Flowers: Blooming Harmony offers 3d tile placement. What? Players take turns taking tiles from the offering and then collectively building a pergola. Watch your vines and flowers climb and trigger effects, scoring you points, on your way to victory.

I love how Vines and Flowers: Blooming Harmony turns tile placement on its head by simply adding a vertical axis. The game has stunning table presence. Tell me you wouldn’t gravitate toward this game. You’d have to know what the players were doing.

Newcomer, Whales Entertainment, has done a great job with Vines and Flowers: Blooming Harmony’s production value. While you can enjoy Vines and Flowers with cardboard pieces ($35 pledge), this Kickstarter campaign includes an exclusive wooden pieces upgrade for a $45 pledge. I’m watching this campaign closely. If you’re interested in Vines and Flowers: Blooming Harmony, check out its KickStarter page.

The Voynich Puzzle Set to Launch on GameFound

Publisher Salt and Pepper has been releasing some fantastic games on GameFound this year. We covered The Battle of the Divas, and The Voynich Puzzle looks like it’ll be another amazing game with an interesting theme.

In The Voynich Puzzle, players reconstruct the mysterious Voynich Manuscript. All the art is inspired by this ancient text, and I love that The Voynich Puzzle includes actual puzzle pieces. We don’t know much about the game’s mechanisms yet (it’s set to launch on Monday or Tuesday), but the production value looks fantastic and thematic, and Salt and Pepper has been on a roll. They’re a well-respected board game publisher with titles like Resist! and Witchcraft! to their credit.

I may have to pick up a copy of The Voynich Puzzle for the artwork alone. We don’t yet know what pledge levels The Voynich Puzzle will have, but if you’re interested in this title, too, you can follow The Voynich Puzzle’s GameFound page.

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, Geekly Gang.

Geekly News: June 1, 2025, Hulk Joins Spider-Man Brand New Day Cast

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I’m away on a second trip (another Protospiel, this time in Minnesota), so today’s Geekly News will be brief like last week’s. It will also be MCU-heavy because of news and trailers that drop earlier this week. Without further ado, let’s get to this week’s geek news.

Hulk Returns in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Industry insider Nexus Point News reported on Memorial Day that Mark Ruffalo is set to return as Jade Jaws in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Since Brand New Day will likely be a multiverse film (our Geekly News post last week confirmed as much), we won’t know which version of the Hulk Ruffalo will portray. Nexus Point News even suggested that Ruffalo could portray more than one version of the Green Goliath.

Fans have stated that they prefer a more savage Hulk. The Russos (who helm this leg of the MCU) could oblige and revert Hulk to his savage self. This could work to set up a World War Hulk project that the MCU has teased for years but hasn’t produced because of copyright issues.

A second industry insider, Alex Perez, shared that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will contain the biggest stunt sequence in the MCU. This stunt sequence will mostly include practical effects and will take a month to shoot. Typically, the MCU adds the Hulk through motion capture, but this doesn’t exclude a potential battle between the Hulk and Spider-Man. Brand New Day could shoot the practical effects and add Hulk later. Regardless of who will be involved in this stunt sequence, it bodes well that the MCU will use mostly practical effects. The scene’s scale also hints that this battle could occur in New York City, which would include a lot of coordination and blocking of city blocks. Spider-Man: Brand New Day sounds exciting. Director Destin Daniel Cretton has a history of brilliant stunt sequences. I loved Cretton’s practical effects in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

I still have my fingers crossed for a Spider-Man and Hulk battle. We’ve seen Spider-Man and the Hulk side-by-side in the MCU, but they haven’t had many interactions. It would be fun to see the two spar.

This news also muddies the waters of who will be Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s villain. Will it be an alternate version of Hulk? Is someone pulling the strings? If so, who? Let us know who you think will be Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s villain or villains.

MCU 2025 Preview Fantastic Four

New Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer

There isn’t much to cover with the latest Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. Essentially, the third trailer is a recut of the second trailer with a few shots added for good measure. First off, I like how Fantastic Four: First Steps is marketing itself. During the fourth game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, ESPN incorporated the spot as a game sponsor. The trailer proceeds to show its events as something that happened in the past (specifically the 60s) and runs with it. I also like Fantastic Four: First Steps’ choice of not showing too much before the movie releases. Too many trailers spoil the movie’s plot.

Our first new shot is a new angle of Shalla-Bal asking if the Fantastic Four are the protectors of this world.

She looks about the same as she did in the first two trailers. The second new shot we get is a good look at Marvel One, the Fantastic Four’s spaceship, and the ship that transported Marvel’s first family to Earth-616’s timeline during Thunderbolts* end credits. Oops! I guess that was a spoiler.

H.E.R.B.I.E. does more than cook. He’s flying up toward Marvel One, possibly conducting some final calibrations before liftoff. The third trailer’s third new shot is an extended look at the Fantastic Four’s classic vehicle, the Fantasticar.

I did omit a couple of longer shots of the Fantastic Four before they presumably climb into the Fantasticar, and a recut, an extended shot, of the same scene we saw of Galactus’s shadow over New York City.

In the bottom left, you can see Galactus’s hand as if he’s reaching out to claim this world. Awesome stuff. Those were the only differences I spotted between the second and third Fantastic Four: First Steps trailers. Did you spot any others? Let us know in the comments.

Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos Launches on KickStarter

Even though Iconiq Studios is a relatively new board game company, they have experience bringing popular intellectual properties (like They Live, SAW, and Evil Dead 2) to the tabletop space. Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos looks promising. This board game adaptation of the popular video game series features many Tomb Raider hallmarks: exploring, some combat, puzzle solving, and researching unique artifacts. Throw in some crafting, and Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos offers a lot of options for tabletop gamers.

Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos features plenty of detailed miniatures. An Adventure Book provides a story-driven game, but gamers can ditch the story for some chaotic tomb raiding fun. I like the fact that the game offers various player counts (1-6). Explore four unique locations with Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos. If you’re interested in an epic Tomb Raider board game, check out Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos’s KickStarter page.

The Battle of the Divas Set To Launch on GameFound

While we don’t know much about The Battle of the Divas’ gameplay (because it hasn’t yet launched on GameFound), publisher Salt and Pepper has a history of making stellar games with interesting themes. Resist! is a modern solo-game classic. The Battle of the Divas could do the same for a two-player-only game. Take the stage against your opponent and become the best diva.

Players will perform classic arias at iconic venues like The Met and La Scala. I like the artwork. I don’t know how the keyboard element works, but it has me intrigued. If The Battle of the Divas strikes the right chord, check out the game’s page on GameFound.

That’s all the Geekly News we have for this week. I’m on the road again this weekend. If you’re at Protospiel: Twin Cities feel free to say hi. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: May 20, 2025, Sadie Sink’s Role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. My partner and I are celebrating our 28th anniversary, and it happens to be Memorial Day weekend as well, so we’ll have a shorter Geekly News than usual. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have anything to talk about. Let’s get to this week’s Geek News.

Sadie Sink’s Role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

A leak about Sadie Sink’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day occurred the day last week’s Geekly News posted, so we’re a little late with this update. Geekly has also covered Sink’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day in a previous geek news post, but we may have been bamboozled. A month ago, we learned that Sink’s character would be a mutant. Geekly assumed that meant that Sink would tie into the X-Men in some fashion (possibly Jean Grey, more likely Firestar). Now, it appears that Sink’s character will be connected with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, but Sink could still be a mutant.

Marvel kept a tight wrap on who Sadie Sink would play until Podcaster and MCU insider John Rocha revealed on The Hot Mic podcast that Sink will be playing Mayday Parker, the daughter of Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man. This reveal lines up with Maguire’s Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home. While Garfield and Holland’s Spider-Men (Spider-Mans?) complain about not being lucky in love, Maguire’s Spider-Man suggests that he’s married. In the comics, the Spider-Baby (the child of Earth-982’s Peter and Mary Jane Parker) becomes Spider-Girl. This would also track with what we learn about Maguire’s Spider-Man in No Way Home. Maguire’s Spider-Man is retired. Why would he need to fight crime when his daughter is Spider-Girl?

Sink as Spider-Girl solidifies Spider-Man: Brand New Day as a Multiverse story. This also makes sense. The MCU will need to tie up loose ends to its Multiverse Saga before it can begin the Mutant Saga. And Spider-Girl could still count as a mutant. If she inherited her abilities from her father, Peter, this version of Mayday Parker would’ve been born as Spider-Girl. May Parker would be a mutant.

Murder on the Rocks Launches on Kickstarter

Murder on the Rocks looks amazing, even if the game doesn’t appear to be one I typically like. Gamers take on quirky roles at a cocktail, masquerade party. One player is a murderer. The murderer attempts to kill each partygoer one by one, while the other partygoers try to deduce who the murderer is. In short, Murder on the Rocks sounds like it plays similarly to Werewolf. If you like Werewolf, Mafia, or any tabletop game with hidden roles, you should check out Murder on the Rocks.

I like the inclusion of red and green vials. If the partygoers get aspects of the murder correct, they add drops from the green vial. Whenever the murderer claims a victim, they add drops from the red vial. I assume the red and green liquids inside the vials are food coloring, so gamers should be able to add more “envy” or “blood” to each vial. Players also wear blindfolds (masquerade masks). That could be a fun twist on Werewolf. And Murder on the Rocks ditches a game box for a drink mixer. Oddly shaped game containers can be difficult to store, but this container strengthens the game’s theme.

Pledge values for Murder on the Rocks range from $32 for the base set (Straight Up) to $116 if you want the Reserve Collector. Murder on the Rocks has a lot of cool bits. I’ve never seen vials used like this in a game. If you’re interested in Murder on the Rocks, check out their Kickstarter page.

Knight Moves Kicks Off on Gamefound

I like what I’m seeing from the board game producer, Solo Game of the Month. The company does what it says, it releases about one solo game every month. We covered Dicemancy last month on Geekly News, and Solo Game of the Month is at it again with Knight Moves. This adorable solo game features double-sided stage and boss cards. The player cards are also double-sided because gamers may choose melee or ranged attacks. Players program their knight and then execute their actions.

You can place and move barrels, defeat enemies, and upgrade your knight. Multiple scenarios provide plenty of replay value. Most games take about 45 minutes, which is a good length for a solo game. And the price tag of $25 makes Knight Moves a lot of game for not a lot of money. I’m impressed by Solo Game of the Month’s dedication to providing great solo-gamer experiences. Solo games are exploding in tabletop games. I also love the art. Solo Game of the Month keeps things clean, easy-to-read, and charming. If you’d like to pledge for Knight Moves, check out its Gamefound page.

Netflix Announces Clash of Clans Animated Series

Netflix continues a growing trend of turning popular video games into television series. The streaming giant announced this week that it intends to release an animated series based on Clash of Clans.

Clash of Clans will join Angry Birds, Splinter Cell, Cuphead, Castlevania, Dragon’s Dogma, and many more on Netflix. The streamer hasn’t given a timeframe for Clash of Clans’ release. Geekly’s guess–and it is a guess–will be that the show will release some time before May 2026.

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

Geekly News: April 6, 2025, Shelved Coyote vs. Acme Movie Saved

By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be finishing up with Protospiel Kansas City. I wrote this post before I left, so there may be some major news stories that aren’t discussed. I apologize for that. Without further ado, let’s get to some geek news.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Even though I wrote this post early, we have some geek news.

Coyote vs. Acme Movie Saved

Ketchup Entertainment has officially secured the rights to Coyote vs. Acme from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film features Will Forte and John Cena acting beside the animated character Wile E. Coyote. Warner Bros. had permanently shelved the completed movie in favor of a tax write-off in 2023, but it’s far from the only movie Warner Bros. shelved over the past several years. A Scooby Doo animated film and Batgirl saw similar fates.

During an official statement, Ketchup’s CEO said, “Coyote vs. Acme is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation. We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.” Ketchup Entertainment must believe in the project. They secured the global rights to Coyote vs. Acme for an undisclosed amount. That amount would have to defray some of the film’s original budget of $70 million.

Coyote vs. Acme was one of the shelved Warner Bros. movies that intrigued me the most. I’m glad it’ll get a theatrical release.

Zendaya Will Appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

First, the fourth Spider-Man film series breaks away from the “Home” branding (Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home) of its entries with Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This title has been confirmed. I support this change. Peter Parker is headed to college. Dr. Strange’s spell robbed Peter of his childhood friends Ned and MJ. Brand New Day is a fitting title. It also goes with Captain America: Brave New World.

Second, with Zendaya’s MJ no longer knowing Peter and Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) set to costar, there was some confusion about whether Zendaya’s role of MJ had been recast. Then, news broke that Sink will portray a mutant (to tie Spider-Man into the Mutant Saga). Sink denied rumors that she’d play Jean Grey. Another rumor cropped up that Sink would take the role of Spider-Queen (another mutant with ties to Spider-Man), but Marvel stated that they wanted an older actor (than Sink) for Spider-Queen. Even though Sink won’t portray Spider-Queen, that doesn’t mean that Spider-Queen won’t make an appearance. Before both rumors were debunked, I half-joked to Season that Sadie Sink as a live-action Firestar could happen. At the time, I thought there was a twenty-percent chance Sink would portray Firestar. Those odds may have risen significantly.

What we do know is that Sadie Sink will portray a mutant who isn’t Jean Grey or Spider-Queen and has a connection to Spider-Man. I’m not gonna lie. I will squee if we get a live-action Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. That cartoon’s premise was Peter Parker going to college and making new friends. Could this happen?

A Message from Steve Jackson Games

We’ve discussed the impact recent tariffs by the United States government has had and will have on the board game industry. This week, the CEO of Steve Jackson Games, Meredith Placko, wrote a message to fans and customers addressing the issue. She does an excellent job breaking down the many roadblocks these tariffs create. We’re sharing what Meredith Placko had to say.

On April 5th, a 54% tariff goes into effect on a wide range of goods imported from China. For those of us who create board games, this is not just a policy change. It’s a seismic shift.

At Steve Jackson Games, we are actively assessing what this means for our products, our pricing, and our future plans. We do know that we can’t absorb this kind of cost increase without raising prices. We’ve done our best over the past few years to shield players and retailers from the full brunt of rising freight costs and other increases, but this new tax changes the equation entirely.

Here are the numbers: A product we might have manufactured in China for $3.00 last year could now cost $4.62 before we even ship it across the ocean. Add freight, warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution margins, and that once $25 game quickly becomes a $40 product. That’s not a luxury upcharge; it’s survival math.

Some people ask, “Why not manufacture in the U.S.?” I wish we could. But the infrastructure to support full-scale board games production—specialty dice making, die-cutting, custom plastic and wood components—doesn’t meaningfully exist here yet. I’ve gotten quotes I’ve talked to factories. Even when the willingness is there, the equipment, labor, and timelines simply aren’t.

We aren’t the only company facing this challenge. The entire board game industry is having very difficult conversations right now. For some, it might mean walking away from titles that are no longer economically viable. And, for what I fear will be too many, it means closing down entirely.

Tariffs, when part of a long-term strategy to bolster domestic manufacturing, can be an effective tool. But that only works when there’s a plan in place to support manufacturing for the types of products we made. This isn’t about steel and semiconductors. This is about paper goods, chipboard, wood tokens, plastic trays, and color-matched ink. These new tariffs are imposing huge costs without providing alternatives, and it’s going to cost American consumers more at every level of the supply chain.

We want to be transparent with our community. This is real: Prices are going up. We’re still determining how much and where.

We’ll keep making games. But we’ll be honest when the road gets harder, because we know you care about where your games come from—and about the people who make them.

Thank you, Meredith Placko, for your transparency about this situation. The new tariffs have rocked the board game industry. Time will tell how much of a hardship these tariffs will cause.

Good Puppers, Too! Launches on Kickstarter

One hundred new pups join the deck with the stand-alone sequel to Good Puppers. Just like the original, you’ll gather a bunch of dogs who share an important goal: bury a nice pile of bones in the yard. Good Puppers, Too! accommodates 1-5 players. It sports two solo modes. Not one, two.

Good Puppers, Too! cards are double-sided. On one side, you can play the card as a pup. The other side counts as bones. Each game takes about thirty minutes to play, and Good Puppers, Too! appeals to a wide range of gamers. The game deploys easy to learn game mechanisms that have strategic depth. And I’m a sucker for multi-purpose cards. Check out Good Puppers, Too! on Kickstarter.

Till5AM Launches QUARZ on Gamefound

QUARZ takes the simple concept of Capture the Flag to a board game. 16 unique monsters battle for the Crystal Idol in this high-energy, competitive game for 2-4 players. Snatch the Crystal Idol from the altar and race back to your base.

Each of the 16 monsters has unique powers and personalities. The Book Worm (pictured above) is one of my favorites. Who wouldn’t want to become a bookworm with your favorite bookshelf strapped to your back? QUARZ has multiple pledge options. Go for their base game (€54) or go all-in (€129). Check out their page on Gamefound.

This week’s geek news is a little light. Hopefully, some good games will be played. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.