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10 More Diabolically Funny Anime Memes | CBR

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Anime memes are a special subcategory of jokes that usually hit all the right marks and makes you go "Wow, that's so true." Between all the battle sequences, filler episodes, and the ever so present tropes, anime is a breeding ground for some of the best memes online.

RELATED: Attack On Titan: 10 Memes That Are Too Hilarious For Words

Anime jokes can go one of two ways: They can make you laugh and shake your head in agreement or they could make you nervously chuckle as you realize your life is falling apart. Hey, at least your watchlist will never be empty. Here are 10 more brilliant anime memes to distract you from the anime that's distracting you from your priorities.

10 Subtitles

Viewers that prefer dubbed anime will never experience this, but subtitles occasionally require superhuman levels of reading talent. A line of dialogue at the bottom of the screen is rookie stuff, but try reading multiple rows within the two seconds you're granted while also keeping up with the action happening onscreen.

You don't actually have to be a wielder of the Sharingan like Naruto's Kakashi to handle an influx of subtitles. However, you'll certainly feel like one after successfully grasping every word.

9 Recommendations

Bless the innocent, uninformed souls that think asking for anime recommendations will yield helpful results. As the meme implies, it's basically just opening the door for rabid Jojo's Bizarre Adventure fans and trolls suggesting Boku no Pico. Scientists have yet to determine which one is worse.

Of course, a quick Google search will tell you all about Boku no Pico's notorious... concept, so to speak. A little common sense is all it takes to realize you're diving headfirst into hentai. The wildly popular Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is as odd as the name suggests, so it might not be the best choice for anime newbies.

8 Trap Card

Isekai is a genre of Japanese anime, manga, and video games where the main characters are transported to a fantasy world or a parallel universe. Sword Art Online and Inuyasha are two prominent examples, but there are many others that anime fans can always delve into.

RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh: 10 Worst Things Seto Kaiba Ever Did

While Yu-Gi-Oh's Seto Kaiba has no faith in the future of Isekai, Yugi hits him with a witty rebuttal — let's just go ahead and call it a "trap card" — that demolishes the Debbie Downer. Nobody puts Isekai in a corner.

7 Glasses

We've all seen this meme. Maybe with a different format, but the concept makes the rounds quite often. That doesn't make it any less accurate. Why do anime characters with glasses do this all the time? Why do their glasses slide down their nose exclusively during dramatic moments? Also, why do their eyes become flashlights?

That last question is possibly the most important one in this scenario. What's with the lenses that emit bright white lights? Is this a prototype of glasses available only in Japan?

6 Anime vs. Manga

Anime vs. manga is similar to the movie/TV adaptation vs. book debacle present in Western pop culture. The biggest difference is that manga comes equipped with visuals and books usually don't.

Manga typically generates far more plot than the anime can keep up with. That means readers know way more than anime-only viewers and have already experienced the turns, twists, and untimely deaths that will dampen the mood on the corresponding TV adaptation. Sure, knowledge is power, but knowing who will die in a show and not being able to cry about it with your friends is truly painful.

5 Kid Animation

Those who hate on anime are generally the same people who obsess over pop stars, cry over Star Wars announcements, and put their friends into one of the four Hogwarts houses even though no one was talking about Harry Potter. We're not shaming any hobbies here, but everyone should provide that same non-judgemental courtesy for anime viewers.

RELATED: 10 Hilarious Hunter x Hunter Memes True Fans Will Love

The worst of the bunch has to be the sports fanatics that gratuitously offer their opinions on the matter. If you get drunk and yell at a TV screen because a man did something with a ball, you're in no position to ridicule others. Take your loss and get out. We have a new episode of My Hero Academia to watch.

4 Isekai Writers

Isekai was already mentioned once on this list, but this meme takes a peek at how writers come up with their story ideas. Who knew NASA was ghostwriting anime this whole time? A black hole that leads to an alternate reality sounds simultaneously interesting and daunting, but those mixed emotions keep us on edge.

While this is just a meme, chances are that it's also hilariously accurate. Isekai writers have definitely borrowed inspiration from the mysteries that lie in outer space and no one will convince us otherwise.

3 Distracting Anime

There are a lot of great anime series with a fun roster of characters and excellent storylines. Who wouldn't choose that over homework, getting some sleep, or having a life? Well... the last point is debatable, but the other two still stand.

The truth is, anime is ridiculously distracting and this meme doesn't even cover the half of it — though it gets its point across perfectly fine. These shows sometimes serve as a momentary escape, but after pressing "Next Episode" one too many times, you'll notice the sun is starting to come up and you never finished that essay about protons.

2 Nothing Strange Here

No one will understand your anime/manga hobby less than your family. They're usually on par with the football dad meme above where they consider it child's play because it's too "cartoony." The only reasonable course of action is to hide all your stuff and hope for the best.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 1-A Students & The Comic Superheroes They're Most Similar To

My Hero Academia's Tenya Iida is so appropriate for this meme that his presence only makes it more amusing. Show us what you're hiding in that bookshelf, buddy.

1 Priorities

As previously mentioned, anime is super distracting. No one feels this more than that old neglected anime that you've been putting off for years now. It's borderline impossible to keep up with all of the amazing new seasonal releases and make time to watch that classic series with 300+ episodes.

Priorities have to be established and sacrifices must be made. However, the cat in this meme is adorable and we feel bad that he's being ignored. You'll be tended to eventually, just... give it another three years, perhaps.

NEXT: 10 Hilarious Out Of Context Anime Scenes You Wouldn't Want Your Parents To Walk In On


STAR WARS: JEDI FALLEN ORDER - DARK TEMPLE #5 | CBR

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  • MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W)
  • PAOLO VILLANELLI (A)
  • Cover by WILL SLINEY
  • Variant Cover by Paul Renaud
  • ONE AGAINST A WORLD
  • Jedi Master Eno Cordova will have to use all his wits and training if he hopes to survive the mysteries of the Dark Temple!
  • Meanwhile Jedi Padawan Cere Junda strikes a blow in the hopes of ending the battle with the Daa Corporation’s army. But was it too late?
  • If Cordova and Junda hope to survive they’re going to need to get off Ontotho. And they can’t do that alone!
  • It all ends here! Read the shocking conclusion to the epic comic series featuring characters from the videogame STAR WARS JEDI: FALLEN ORDER.
  • 32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
  • Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2019 Lucasfilm Ltd.

It's Time For Action Games to Stop Aping Uncharted's Structure

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Few video games have influenced the modern game industry like the Uncharted series. The franchise blends platformers and shooters into one of the most palatable gameplay formulas around. Action-packed, narrative-driven, and full of giant set pieces, Uncharted has left footprints in some of the biggest games in recent memory -- God of War, Control and, most recently, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderWhile these were all met with love from fans and critics alike, what makes this video game structure so appealing? More importantly, with so franchises taking cues from Uncharted, is this the only future for action games?

Obviously, many of Uncharted's closest gameplay relatives are more than mere clones of the series. God of War isn't just a linear action game with big set pieces. It has a deep combat system and RPG-like elements that Uncharted totally lacks. Jedi: Fallen Order takes things a step further as well -- not only does it feature blockbuster action and a story-driven campaign, but it comes with extremely challenging combat and a "Metroidvania" level design that makes Uncharted's linear chapters look simple. That might seem like a jab at Uncharted, but it isn't. Simplicity is exactly what makes the series so beloved and successful.

RELATED: Uncharted: Mark Wahlberg Joining Tom Holland in Sony Adaptation

Uncharted is linear; it contains straightforward mechanics, and it puts all of the focus on the way the game feels. Once you learn to jump, fight, and climb, the game's linear design takes care of the rest. Each chapter feels like a monumental ordeal -- not because Uncharted is especially challenging, but because the game's scripted action makes each moment look stressful and daunting. For example, let's look at Uncharted 2Among Thieves and its iconic second act.

Throughout four different chapters, Uncharted's Nathan Drake must stowaway on a moving train and fight his way to the front. This involves scaling the sides of the train, surfing atop train cars, and several intense shootouts. After a battle against a helicopter (destroyed by hijacking a tank while on the train), the train derails and teeters off of a cliff. Famously, Drake has to scale the entire train in time or fall to his doom. Now, as over-the-top and ridiculous as that sounds, the level isn't actually that challenging.

Aside from the combat encounters -- which is where the challenge really lies -- the game mostly plays itself. This is one of the biggest criticisms of Uncharted's design. If you aren't fighting, you're climbing, and Uncharted's climbing is a breeze. Sure, Drake might spend half of the level dangling from a moving train, but survival is guaranteed as long as the player holds a direction and taps the jump button.

RELATED: Tom Holland's Uncharted Movie Won't Copy the Games

Now, Uncharted's traversal system is what other games often mimic the most. Climbing sequences always have well-defined ledges (usually brightly painted) indicating the next spot to move towards. Drake locks on to ledges as well, so each one only requires a button tap. Is it simple? Yes. Does it feel awesome? Absolutely. The movement mechanics are easy to master, and while they aren't particularly challenging, they allow for the illusion of danger and flashy action. You'll rarely fall off the train, but you'll feel like one wrong move means death. This is what makes Uncharted so satisfying-- while some people may see this as bland game design, it's probably some of the purest escapism that video games can offer.

Despite the simple-yet-exhilarating gameplay, does it benefit the game industry to see this in every third-person action game? Sure, it makes games less unique, but could this be a way to make fantastical stories and experiences -- ones that may lack a well-defined gameplay structure -- easier to create? Let's use Jedi: Fallen Order as a lens of analysis. There hasn't been a Star Wars action game of widespread renown since the Jedi Outcast games. Thankfully, Jedi: Fallen Order does Star Wars right, and the game benefits from its Uncharted-inspired action.

Fallen Order features the same well-defined ledges and simple controls, as well as the high-energy set pieces and dangerous climbing sequences. Climbing maintains a sense of urgency and footholds still crumble under the player's feet, but everything turns out fine so long as the player keeps moving. Despite Nathan Drake's clear influence, Fallen Order is still way more challenging and a wildly different experience than Uncharted. The same goes for all of the previous games we mentioned -- following the Uncharted formula only helps raise the stakes.

Related: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Reveals the Construction of Starkiller Base

Jedi: Fallen Order takes those Uncharted elements and supplements them. For example, aside from Uncharted's movement, the game features: a deep and twitchy combat system, a detailed progression system, non-linear levels, weapon customization, and more. All of these are absent in the Uncharted series. With all of these in mind, it isn't difficult to see that Fallen Order is a different beast overall despite Uncharted's signature stamp. That structure is a surefire way to make games feel more challenging than they are and allows for developers to find more creative ways to make their games distinct.

Uncharted has changed games forever. Despite the somewhat divisive nature of its influences, the franchise's gameplay has become the new standard for action games. Some gamers don't like that, and that stance makes perfect sense, especially for players who relish a learning curve. Uncharted is often the illusion of challenge -- so much so that sometimes it feels more like a movie you steer, and not a game you actually play.

With that said, this iconic genre of action isn't going anywhere. If Fallen Order, Control, God of War, and other blockbusters are any indication, Uncharted's blueprint will only evolve from here on out. Developers shouldn't look at Uncharted as something to echo, but as something to build upon to create that next exhilarating train sequence. The last decade features some of the best action games ever made -- and each innovation, no matter where it comes from, can only serve to make games more immersive, more escapist, and more fun than they've ever been before.

KEEP READING: Tom Holland's Uncharted Movie Eyes Bumblebee Director

Robert Pattinson Doubles Down: 'Batman Is Not a Superhero' | CBR

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What makes a superhero?

Whatever the answer may be, The Batman's Robert Pattinson believes that his titular character does not fall under that category.

Speaking on Today, Pattinson was asked about his role as Batman. When interviewer Willie Geist used the word "superhero," Pattinson was quick to correct the NBC reporter.

RELATED: The Batman: Zoë Kravitz Debuts Her New Catwoman-Style Haircut

That came to you and you thought what? You wanted to be a superhero?" Geist asked.

"Batman's not a superhero," Pattinson laughed. "It doesn't count. You need to have like magical powers to be a superhero."

However, when Geist brought up the fact that Batman has a cape, Pattinson conceded that that might give him some claim to the title of superhero.

"The cape. I will give you that one."

This is not the first time Pattison has commented on Batman's status as a hero. Previously, the Twilight star stated that Batman's complexity makes him ineligible for the title of "hero."

Directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro and Jayme Lawson. The film opens on June 25, 2021.

KEEP READING: The Batman May Lead to Multiple Solo Villain Spinoff Films

Fan Favorite Anime That Have Received a Musical Adaption | CBR

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When an anime series is popular in Japan, one can expect anything from dedicated theme parks to branded items, such as toiletries and stationary. However, some series are even transformed into musicals.

Series as recent as Pokemon and as classic as Sailor Moon are just a couple that have had a musical adaptation. With how well the reception is to some of these musicals, it wouldn’t be surprising seeing a demand for these adaptations from Western audiences in the future as well.

Pokémon Live! premiered with American audiences, and it is the only major musical adaptation of the franchise to date. While familiar characters from the original anime were featured, such as Team Rocket members, Jessie and James, Ash, Misty, and Brock, the musical's plot branched out and created a character just for the musical: MechaMew2. The show was available from September 22, 2000, until January 19, 2001, and it used songs from existing Pokémon soundtracks, such as Totally Pokémon and Pokémon 2BA Master. 

Since Pokémon Live!, there has been one similarly based production called The Pokemusical, which received a surprisingly good review.

Death Note has multiple adaptations outside of its original anime manga, such as two spin-off novels, an American Netflix show, a Japanese TV drama, Japanese live-action movies, and a musical: Death Note: The Musical. Scored by Frank Wildhorn, the musical has received positive reviews in Korea. and the musical is scheduled to return to Tokyo in January 2020. The plot of the musical strays from the original, primarily making L the individual responsible for revealing 'Kira's' true identity.

While there is no English adaptation of the musical yet, there is an English soundtrack available on YouTube. There isn't news yet this year, but it was previously reported that an American musical adaptation was in the works.

RELATED: Netflix's Death Note 2 Is 'Alive & in Good Hands,' Says Writer

Naruto is a popular and beloved anime series, often finding its way into many 'top' lists. There are numerous adaptations for Naruto, and the series' musical adaptation, Live Spectacle Naruto: Akatsuki no Shirabe, returned to Osaka this year between October 25 and November 4 and is currently playing in Tokyo until December 1. For fans outside of Japan, Live Spectacle may be watched in parts (with subs) on YouTube.

Popular sites provided images of the cast and set, while a majority of reviews were via comment thread by ticketholders. So far, Live Spectacle has put on a solid show with satisfied viewers.

RELATED: Boruto: 10 Characters Who Need More Screentime

Sailor Moon has been an adored classic since its anime premiere in 1992. With variations in cast and staff between 1993 and 2005, twenty-seven stage musical runs and over 800 performances were inspired by the original manga. The anime had a reboot fairly recently called Sailor Moon Crystal, and fans are awaiting a release date for season four.

Some musicals were recorded and aired in movie theaters in America, Canada, and Australia. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Musical - Le Mouvement Final is one of the musicals recorded and shown in these Western cinemas and was well-received, described by one reviewer as "a triumphant culmination of everything that was so [expletive] good about the original manga and the animation."

Bleach's most recent musical adaptation titled Rock Musical Bleach, or more commonly known as BuriMyu, was produced by Studio Pierrot and Nelke Planning as a series of rock musicals with original music. The performances altogether follow the Soul Society arc from the manga, except for The Live Bankai Shows, which has an original script. Its most recent run was in 2016 and reviewed as an 'A+ performance' by fans. The Live Bankai Show Code 001, is available on YouTube with subs for fans.

The Prince of Tennis, or TeniPuri, is hailed as a classic, sports manga and anime. Between 2003 and 2010, twenty-two musicals were produced with five full cast rotations. The musical bases its plot on the anime's third season with the Seigaku v. Rokkaku arc.

Despite an accident regarding an attendee being struck in the head by a cast member's tennis racket in one of the past shows, the musical still retained positive reviews.

In 2012, the musical adaptation of Blue Exorcist premiered in 2012 for Tokyo residents. The first adaptation was based on the Impure King Revival Arc, while the next adaptation followed the Illuminati arc of the original manga. Reviews on the musical itself were not available. However, clips from the musical itself are on YouTube for fans to view and decide if the musical is up to par.

Black Butler received five musical adaptations: That Butler, Friendship; Lycoris that Blazes the Earth; Musical Black Butler: The Most Beautiful Death in the World - A Thousand Souls and The Fallen Grim Reaper; Black Butler: Noah's Ark Circus; and Tango on the Campania. Fans wholeheartedly listed their favorite aspects of the shows they viewed. Consistent praises included 'great music' and 'great characters.'

KEEP READING: 10 Anime That Will Be Impossible For Hollywood To Adapt

The Flash's Superpower Is Completely Broken - and More Dangerous Than Ever

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WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Flash #83, by Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval and Jordi Tarragona, on sale now. 

The Flash continues to explore the nature of the Speed Force, with the latest issue turning the mystical power into perhaps the most dangerous force in the DC Universe. The Flash #83 sees Barry trapped by King Cold in Iron Heights as the Rogues run wild in Central City. Trapped in a power dampening collar, Flash is saved by Cold’s sister, Golden Glider, and taken to Kid Flash and Avery Ho, the Flash of China, as a show of loyalty.

Barry demands Glider removes his power dampening collar despite Kid Flash’s warnings. Once the collar is removed, he suffers a type of "Speed Force aneurysm" as he experiences a surge through time. Kid Flash saves him by replacing the collar and cryptically telling Barry the Speed Force was too dangerous to use. It isn't the first time the safety of the Speed Force has been brought into question, but this current run of The Flash seems to be aiming to definitively flesh out its dangers.

RELATED: The Flash Strikes Back Against King Cold With Help From An Unlikely Rogue

Since it was introduced during the '90s run of The Flash, the Speed Force has helped speedsters as often as it has hurt them. However recent runs have established it as downright deadly. Only Wally could safely navigate the Speed Force after he was nearly lost in it, only able to return due to his love for Linda Park.

But even with his mastery over the powers, Wally couldn't navigate the Speed Force without Linda to lead him home. When he lived in a timeline where she never existed, or after Flashpoint when the world had forgotten who Wally was, he appeared hopelessly lost in the Speed Force. Though Barry, too, has ventured into it on occasion in recent stories, it's always portrayed as incredibly dangerous, and he often has trouble moving around in it without being injured or lost.

Though Barry had been unable to use the Speed Force prior to his death in Crisis on Infinite Earths, The Flash: Rebirth established that Barry generated the energy for the Speed Force when he ran. But as Barry generated Speed Force energy by running, so too did Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash; generating a Negative Speed Force. Possessed by this bizarre energy and accidentally atomizing Johnny Quick and Max Mercury, Barry would learn quickly that it was a ploy by Thawne to fool Barry into merging with the Speed Force so that Thawne could be freed.

The Negative Speed Force would return following DC Rebirth when Barry and Iris would be stranded in the future by Hunter Zolomon. The Negative Speed Force here would perverse Barry and turn him into a malicious shadow of his former self. Bary would eventually be freed of the Negative Speed Force when it was stolen by a former ally and lover, Meena Dhawan, who became the Negative Flash. Possessed by the Negative Speed Force and mentally controlled by Gorilla Grodd, she nearly aided in the destruction of Central City before defecting. Currently, Meena remains in Iron Heights with a power-dampening collar locking down the Negative Speed, and has tried to persuade Barry of the dangers of the Speed Force.

RELATED: The Flash: Every Comics Character Connected To The Speed Force, Ranked

Most recently, Barry discovered that other forces threatened the very existence of the Speed Force. The Still, Sage and Strength Forces all threatened Barry by diluting his own powers. While all four Forces were active, this left Barry and his fellow speedsters much slower. Worse yet, it triggered the appearance of the Black Flash.

The Black Flash has been an ongoing threat to Speed Force users, appearing as a skeletal body clad in a black Flash costume. He's said to appear whenever a Speedster is destined to die but has also served as a guardian of the Speed Force. With the new Forces active, the Black Flash was changed and viewed them as tumors it had to excise. However, this brought about the return of Hunter Zolomon, who stole the Forces to bait out Black Flash.

In possession of all four Forces, Hunter was able to go toe to toe with Black Flash but risked destroying all the Forces forever in the process. However Flash was able to persuade Hunter by showing him how he had been betrayed by Reverse-Flash decades earlier. Zolomon would seemingly sacrifice his life to repair the broken Speed Force, but Barry and Black Flash were trapped inside and the Speedsters outside were affected by the implosion.

Now the Speed Force is so dangerous that even Barry cannot control it, and a powerless Flash must find a way to save Central City from the Rogues. But even if he gets it back, the question remains: what happened to the Speed Force? And is it ever going to be safe for the world to have even a single user of the power? This volume of The Flash has brought the power into question in a big way, and it looks like we may be working towards a final answer.

KEEP READING: Rogues Revenge: The Flash Has Been Defeated - and Central City Has Fallen

One Piece: The 10 Best Episodes Of The The Arlong Park Arc (According To IMDb)

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Arlong Park is one of the best arcs in One Piece. The arc is focused on Nami and her recruitment. Nami stole the Going Merry and Luffy and co. were surprised to see Nami behaving in such a way. They followed Nami to her home, which was Cocoyasi village.

RELATED: One Piece: The 10 Best Episodes Of The The Enies Lobby Arc (According To IMDb)

Cocoyasi village was being ruled by Arlong, who was a tyrannical fish-man. Arlong and his crew had a great deal of hatred towards humans. Nami was forced to work for them in order to protect her village. The arc stretches from episode 31 to episode 44. In this post, we will be ranking the best episodes of the arc based on IMDb ratings.

10 Episode 33: Usopp's Death?! Luffy - Yet To Land? (7.7)

This episode left fans perplexed. Nami had helped Zoro escape from Arlong Park. In the meantime, Usopp was caught by the fish-men. In order to prove her loyalty to the Arlong Pirates Nami was forced to "kill" Usopp.

It is obvious that she wasn't going to him, so he conjured up a cunning plan to save him.

9 Episode 35: The Hidden Past! Female Fighter Bell-mère! (7.7)

Nojiko talked about the past and her childhood with Nami. Both the girls were adopted by Bell-mère, who was a Marine officer. They barely had any money for themselves and they worked really hard to support each other.

They weren't even related by blood, but they loved each other a lot. However, things changed when Arlong Pirates came to their village and ruined everything.

8 Episode 39: Luffy Drowning! Zoro vs Octopus Hatchan! (7.9)

Luffy was clearly struggling to hold his breath underwater. He knew that in order to defeat Arlong, he must break free. On the land, Hatchi, one of Arlong's top fighters, was engaged in a duel with Roronoa Zoro.

RELATED: One Piece: The 10 Worst Things Akainu Did, Ranked

Zoro was struggling to fight Hatchi as he had just one sword and he also had trouble with the wound on his chest. Zoro asked Johnny and Yosaku for their swords and they give it to him. After an intense fight, Zoro managed to beat Hatchi.

7 Episode 40: Proud, Tall Warriors! Dramatic Battle of Sanji and Usopp! (7.9)

This episode focuses on the fight between the remaining Kuroobi and Sanji and also Chew versus Usopp. After Sanji went underwater, Kuroobi followed him. Kuroobi knew that he had a clear advantage underwater and it would be impossible for Sanji to beat him. Sanji was almost done for when Kuroobi grabbed him, but he managed to conjure up a plan to escape to the surface.

Sanji challenged Kuroobi to fight him on land and he accepted. Sanji demolished Kuroobi easily on land. Usopp, on the other hand, was just regretting his decision to fight a fish-man, but he manned up and fought Chew to the best of his abilities. Somehow Usopp managed to beat Chew with his hammer.

6 Episode 41: Luffy's Best! Nami's Courage and the Straw Hat (7.9)

Arlong was left in awe after Zoro and Sanji managed to beat Kuroobi and Hatchan. At one point, it seemed that Sanji and Zoro might put up a decent fight against Arlong.

However, Arlong easily overpowered them, especially in their current state. Zoro was keeping Arlong busy and in the meantime, Sanji dived into the sea to save Luffy before he died. After a lot of struggling, Luffy was finally freed and then he began his onslaught.

5 Episode 42: Bursting Out! Fish-Man Arlong, Fearsome Attack From The Sea! (7.9)

Arlong was very confident in his strength as a fish-man. He ensured that he would boast about his superior strength after every five minutes. Arlong was powerful no doubt, but he was too annoying.

RELATED: 10 One Piece Characters Who Are Based On Real Life Pirates

Arlong was clearly mad at Luffy's antics and he couldn't believe that Luffy was dodging most of his attacks. Luffy was enjoying himself out there, but Arlong just seemed to get madder by the minute. As the fight dragged on, Luffy entered a room that Nami recognized.

4 Episode 36: Survive! The Mother Bell-mère and Nami's Family! (8)

Nojiko reveals the past of her family. She reveals the life their family was going great until the Arlong Pirates came to the village. Arlong and his crew had come to the village in order to extort money from the villagers. Due to not having enough money, Belle-mère sacrificed her life so that her daughters might live.

It was a very emotional episode and it showed the love Bell-mère had for Nami and Nojiko even though they weren't her own daughters, but she would gladly die for their sake. This is without a doubt one of the best episodes in the series and one that is remembered by every One Piece fan.

3 Episode 38: Luffy in Trouble! Fish-Men vs. Luffy Pirates! (8)

The Straw Hat Pirates finally reached Arlong Park and they already started beating up Fish-Men. The fodder Fish-Men are easily defeated by Luffy and co. Luffy wanted to know who Arlong was and once Arlong confirmed his identity, Luffy landed a punch on him that sent him flying.

Due to being overzealous, Luffy gets his foot trapped and becomes an easy target for Arlong. Arlong casually throws Luffy into the sea. Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp immediately realize that they need to beat Arlong's goons as quickly as possible in order to save Luffy.

2 Episode 43: The End of the Fish-Man Empire! Nami is My Friend! (8)

Luffy and Arlong continued their fight in the same room where Nami had been forced to draw maps for Arlong. Arlong never had any intention of leaving Nami and her village alone. He would have made her work tirelessly until she probably died.

Luffy's anger was slowly building as he thought of Nami's suffering. He proceeds to destroy the entire room with his attacks, in order to ease the suffering of Nami. He finally beat Arlong with his attack, which brought down the entire Arlong Park. Nami was moved after seeing the crew go so far for her.

1 Episode 37: Luffy Stands Up! End of a Broken Promise! (8.2)

Nami had been working for so many years in order to gather her treasure so that she could free her village. Arlong never had any intention of freeing the village, so he sent the Marines to confiscate her treasure. When Nami confronted Arlong, she soon realized that she had been played and with no other option, she returned back to the village.

Every villager had reached the boiling point and they decided to fight Arlong and his crew. Luffy saw Nami's plight and he knew what to do. He entrusted his straw hat to her. Luffy along with Sanji, Zoro, Usopp finally reach Arlong Park to fight the Fish-Men.

NEXT: One Piece: 10 Fights That Might Happen In Wano Arc

Robert Pattinson Can't Wait to Get Started on The Batman | CBR

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Robert Pattinson is just as ready as many fans for production to begin on Matt Reeves' The Batman. Pattinson is set to portray the titular character, the Caped Crusader himself.

While on with the Today Show, Pattinson shared his admiration for the history of Batman on screen and all the actors that came before him. He then explained his excitement for production to begin. “I think Matt Reeves has got a really good direction for it," the actor said. "I’m very kind of eager to get started on it.”

RELATED: The Batman: Zoë Kravitz Debuts Her New Catwoman-Style Haircut

Batman/Bruce Wayne has been portrayed live-action by Val Kilmer, Lewis G. Wilson, Robery Lowery, Adam West, Micheal Keaton, George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. Kevin Conroy famously provided the voice for Batman in Batman: The Animated Series. Conroy will be playing a live-action version of the character in The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths.

There has been no official word on when exactly production will begin on The Batman. There is also no information on the plot, though there have been rumors that the film will be based on the classic Batman story The Long Halloween. 

Directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro and Jayme Lawson. The film arrives June 25, 2021.

KEEP READING: The Batman May Lead to Multiple Solo Villain Spinoff Films


J.J. Abrams On Why Baby Yoda Is 'The Heart' of Star Wars | CBR

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J.J. Abrams is in the middle of making the press rounds for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But that does not mean that he has not found time to enjoy Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian

Speaking to Esquire, Abrams spoke about the expansive nature of the Star Wars universe and how that allows familiar characters, locations and themes to be consistently reinvented and reintroduced.

RELATED: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Edit Pits Baby Yoda Against Darth Sidious

"Look, I think that the fun of telling stories in this galaxy is that you get to take things that are familiar and you get to adjust them, augment them, comment on them, continue them," he said. "It’s a world that is looking to be expanded. I mean, the original movies did the most remarkable thing in referencing the Clone Wars and the Empire and the Senate, and the Old Wars, and never showing any of these things. But the painting that was created of this past canvas, it’s incredible how intimate it was. But you always felt that there was a peripheral life and history and world beyond what you were seeing."

He then went on to explain why Baby Yoda specifically speaks to the true nature of Star Wars.

"Star Wars is sort of constantly expanding and sort of ever-expanding," he continued. "And the ability to choose a character like Yoda and say, “What if we created a baby Yoda?” The reason these things are reasonable to people is because it’s not just nostalgia but it’s taken something that is meaningful, a story that has deep roots and potency and resonates with a human heart, a beating heart. These are the kind of things that, when they hit, when there’s something that feels like, 'oomph,' it’s not just cute but it implies a story. It sparks the imagination. That’s the thing, whether it’s bringing back Lando, and wanting to know what’s been going on, to introducing a brand new character, and brand new droid or a brief glimpse of a baby Yoda. All these things are about the possibility, potential, and that’s the very heart of what Star Wars is."

Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog and Nick Nolte. It is now available to stream on Disney+.

KEEP READING: The Mandalorian Proves Star Wars Still Has a Lot of Stories to Tell

Eiichiro Oda's 6 Best Works That Aren't One Piece, Ranked | CBR

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Eiichiro Oda is one of the best mangaka in the history of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, popular for the long-running manga One Piece. Beginning its serialization in 1997, the manga is still going on, arguably featuring the greatest known adventure in fiction. Funnily enough, Oda's magnificent work on One Piece has earned him the title of 'GODA' among the fandom.

RELATED: One Piece: The 10 Best Episodes Of The The Enies Lobby Arc (According To IMDb)

Oda started his journey in One Piece quite a long time ago, and surprisingly, One Piece isn't the only thing that he's ever worked on. Oda has several other pieces of works that you might know little about, and here's a complete list of things that the One Piece author is known to have worked on.

6 Wanted!

Eiichiro Oda began his journey as a mangaka with Wanted! This one-shot was written by the Japanese author back in 1992 when he was still in the senior year of high school. Interestingly, Oda wrote this one-shot under the pen name of Tsuki Himizu Kikondo. It was also submitted at the 44th Tezuka awards, where the one-shot managed to win Second Class, in the process of which Oda earned ¥500,000 and made an explosive entry to the manga industry.

RELATED: One Piece: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Romance Dawn

The story of Wanted! is just as interesting as the one would imagine Oda's story to be. It features a bounty hunter named Wild Joe who is out looking for Gill Bastar, a wanted criminal. Interestingly, Gill's huge bounty is because of the fact that he ends up killing people while protecting himself, and when he faced Joe, he kills him too. However, Joe's spirit is unable to move on to the afterlife because he was killed in a shameful manner. With great conviction, Joe's spirit declares that it'll only pass when it faces Gill once again with honor or the day Gill dies.

5 God's Gift For The Future

Yet another one-shot manga, God's Gift For The Future was drawn by Oda a year after Wanted! in 1993. This manga one-shot got published in the October Issue of Monthly Shonen Jump Original. As expected, Oda's peculiar qualities shone here as well, which led to the one-shot receiving great praise throughout Japan. In 1998, God's Gift For The Future was reprinted in a compilation of Oda's stories that he did before One Piece.

Featuring a fantastic story of a man named Bran, God's Gift For The Future is an incredible experience for the readers, even more so if they're fans of One Piece. The story is based on a pickpocket who tries to correct his habit but fails every time. Even God deems his habit punishable, yet Bran's wits end up impressing God as well. Packed with a lot of wits, this remains one of the fans' favorites from Eiichiro Oda.

4 Ikki Yakō (Night Parade of One Demon)

One of Eiichiro Oda's best pre-One Piece works, Ikki Yakō was published back in April 1994 in the Shonen Jump Spring Special. As expected, the one-shot ended up bagging the first place in that year's  Hop☆Step awards for manga. Just like Wanted!, Ikki Yakō was then compiled with the other one-shots written by Oda in 1998.

RELATED: One Piece: The Strongest Members Of The Heart Pirates, Ranked According To Strength

Once again, it goes without saying that Oda's work on this one-shot is nothing short of breathtaking. The story might just be the best piece of work that Oda has done pre-One Piece, and among the fans, this one-shot holds a special place. It follows the story of Guko, a monk who travels across a forest looking for a place to stay for the night. Attacked by a monster, Guko makes way to a village, the people of which want him to slay the very same monster which he encountered earlier. With no place else to go, Guko ends up taking the task on and attempts to think of a way to get the job done.

3 Monsters

A year after Eiichiro Oda published Ikki Yakō (Night Parade of One Demon), Oda came up with Monsters, yet another one-shot, a year later. Surprisingly, Oda revealed in SBS Volume 47 that Monsters is actually a part of One Piece, although the timeline isn't really the same. Along with all the other one-shots, Monsters was republished in 1998 as well.

It features the story of Ryuma, a character that the One Piece fans are familiar with already. The story is set a long time ago, and the one-shot does an incredible job of fleshing out Ryuma's character a lot more and depicting why he was renowned not only throughout Wano Country, but the entire world. The tail of Ryuma famously slicing apart a massive dragon is told in this one-shot as well. Fans of One Piece have mostly read it already, but if you haven't, get started on it right now!

2 Romance Dawn

Published by Eiichiro Oda in 1996, Romance Dawn was Oda's initial take on what ended up becoming One Piece later on. The one-shot was published in Shōnen Jump 1996 Summer Special, where the works on young and upcoming mangaka were displayed. A lot of the original One Piece manga is actually similar to Romance Dawn, and as such, it has already been adapted into an anime as well.

RELATED:One Piece: 10 Fights That Might Happen In Wano Arc

Just like One Piece, Romance Dawn features the adventure of a rubber-boy named Luffy who aspires to be more like Red-Hair Shanks, his idol. The story opens up with Crescent-Moon Gally attacking a nearby village and Luffy meeting Silk, an orphan from the village (likely Nami's prototype). Undoubtedly, this story is just as adventurous as One Piece itself and definitely something that everyone should read.

1 Romance Dawn Version 2

Published back in 1996's Weekly Jump issue #41, Romance Dawn Version 2 was Oda's last piece of work before he finally came up with One Piece. It was recently adapted into an anime episode as well in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the One Piece anime. This one-shot also bears a lot of resemblance to One Piece, and once again, serves as a prototype for Oda's later work.

It follows the story of Luffy, a boy with Devil Fruit powers of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Luffy's grandfather plays a significant role in the story, taking the place of Red-Haired Shanks as Luffy's inspiration as a pirate. Interestingly, his grandfather (Garp's prototype character) was the one who gifted the Straw Hat to Luffy. The story also features Ann (Nami's prototype) who is at odds with a villain named Spiel the Hexagon. The story, while short, is incredibly satisfying, and something that every One Piece fan should check out.

NEXT: 15 One Piece Fan Theories That Turned Out To Be True

Marvel: The 10 Most Powerful Heroes Of Marvel 2099, Ranked | CBR

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There have been many alternate universes, future timelines and multiverse events in the pages of Marvel Comics over the years. From events like Secret Wars and Spider-Verse to the constant time travel adventures of the X-Men, Marvel Comics is home to many tales of alternate and future versions of heroes and villains alike.

One of those futures is known as Marvel 2099, a future timeline that has more recently been discovered to be the main Marvel Universe’s future. Popularized by Spider-Man 2099, there are many powerful heroes in this future. Here are the ten most powerful heroes of the Marvel 2099 universe, ranked.

10 Punisher

No future in the Marvel Universe would feel complete without some version of the ultimate anti-hero, the Punisher. The Marvel 2099 version of The Punisher is Jake Gallows, a former member of the Church of Thor and employee of Public Eye Police Force, who charged citizens money to protect them.

After losing his mother, brother and sister-in-law to Kron Stone, the son of businessman Tyler Stone, Jake found the War Journal of Frank Castle, and took it upon himself to become the New Punisher, ending Kron, who later became Venom 2099. He later worked under President Doom and created a brutal police force.

9 Captain America

There have been a couple of different versions of Captain America in 2099, but for this list let’s focus on Roberta Mendez, created by Alchemex during Secret Wars and patrolling the 2099 sector of Battleworld. Forced to take the Super-Soldier Serum by her husband, Roberta became the leader of Alchemex’s Avengers.

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Captain America and Roberta are two separate personalities in the same body, with Roberta unaware of her other half. She physically and mentally changes into Captain America when the words “Avengers Assemble” are uttered. She returns to the main Marvel Universe and works for Miguel O’Hara at Parker Industries.

8 Daredevil

Another hero that has become a staple of the Marvel Universe and became a legacy lived up to in Marvel 2099 was Daredevil. Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who protected Hell’s Kitchen and the world (at times) as the infamous Daredevil inspired many in the years after his tenure as the hero.

Interestingly two separate people took on the Daredevil 2099 mantle. The first was the grandson of Wilson Fisk, aka The Kingpin, who felt remorse for the actions of his grandfather years ago. The second was the grandson of Matt’s friend Foggy Nelson, who fought corporate criminals of Alchemex in New York City in 2099.

7 Moon Knight

There have been many heroes who briefly appeared in the Marvel 2099 universe with new versions of themselves, and although their appearances were brief, they had a lasting impact on the course of the Marvel 2099 universe. One such hero was the Moon Knight 2099 hero.

This version of the infamous vigilante hero was a woman who took on the mantle herself and fought to protect the innocent and punish the guilty in the lunar city of Attilan. Originally appearing in a one-shot comic in 1998, the character emerged as a hero in 2015 in Spider-Man 2099’s original series.

6 Hulk

One powerful hero who had a much different approach to his heroic persona than his predecessor in the main Marvel Universe was Hulk 2099. Studio executive John Eisenhart for Lotusland Productions began studying and researching the Knights of Banner, a group of migrant worshippers of the original Hulk, Bruce Banner.

RELATED: 10 Manga Marvel Fans Must Read

After failing to secure the rights to their story, he reported them to the police, but this led to violence that left John wracked with guilt, leading him to join the Knights to help their cause. Another knight, Gawain, tried ending the violence by setting off several gamma bombs, but John was caught in the blast and became Hulk 2099.

5 Thor

One of the more interesting aspects of the Marvel 2099 universe has to be the creation of Thor 2099. In the Marvel 2099 universe, an entire religion known as the Church of Thor has been created, and one of the priests of the church, known as Thorites, was a man named Cecil MacAdam.

Worshipping the original Thor, MacAdam was chosen by the CEO of Alchemex to become one of several people to be given the power of the Norse gods. They were brainwashed into believing they were the real Norse gods, and did the bidding of Alchemex as they were kept under control of the CEO.

4 Ravage

One new hero that was interesting to see come to life in the Marvel 2099 universe was Ravage. Originally Paul-Phillip Ravage, CEO of the company ECO, a subsidiary of Alchemex created to combat the threat of polluters, was framed for a crime he didn’t commit when he began questioning the violent methods used by his own company.

On the run from the police and Alchemex, the fugitive Ravage fought alongside an orphan named Dack and his former secretary turned friend Tiana. Eventually his adventures would result in mutations that gave him abilities like bio-energy blasts, enhanced strength and even a healing factor.

3 Ghost Rider

One of the most powerful and unique heroes of Marvel 2099 has to be Ghost Rider. Known to be a powerful demonic based hero in the main Marvel Universe, the 2099 version of the hero is actually based more on technology than the supernatural.

RELATED: The 10 Biggest Marvel Deaths Of The Decade

A hacker named Kenshiro “Zero” Cochrane stole information from a company, and was shot as a result. Facing his demise, he downloaded his mind into cyberspace to protect the information he’d stolen. Found by AI living in a hidden sector of cyberspace known as Ghostworks, he agrees to become their avatar in the real world, and is downloaded into a robot body he uses to get vengeance and justice for in the real world.

2 Doom

One shocking hero in the Marvel 2099 universe is in fact Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom. Known in the future as Doom 2099, this Victor appears suddenly in the 2099 universe, younger and with his memories incomplete as to how he arrived there. He later discovers he was badly injured in the past and was put into a rejuvenating pod by his former love interest Margaretta, aka Neon Angel.

Determined to save the world, he decides the best way to do this is by conquering it. He eventually becomes President of the United States, fighting the Corporate Barons who once controlled the nation.

1 Spider-Man

The most powerful and iconic hero of the Marvel 2099 universe is Spider-Man 2099. Otherwise known as Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man 2099 is a brilliant scientist who gained spider-like abilities after rewriting his DNA to end an addiction to a toxic substance his boss forced upon him, only for a jealous co-worker to put 50 percent of his DNA to that of a spider.

Using armor to protect himself and his identity while fighting pursuers from Alchemex, Spider-Man 2099 quickly becomes an inspiration and source of heroics for the Marvel 2099 universe, even causing the Thorites of the Church of Thor to believe him the real Spider-Man resurrected and a sign of the return of Thor.

NEXT: Fairy Tail: 10 Things You Never Knew About Laxus

Marvel: 10 Best Alpha Flight Villains, Ranked | CBR

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There have been several different iterations of heroic teams within the Marvel Universe. From the Avengers to the Champions and more. While the main teams tend to take place in the United States, there is one team that has become Canada’s premiere Marvel team. That team is known as Alpha Flight.

Many fans know that Wolverine is one of the most recognizable Canadian born heroes of the Marvel Universe, but Alpha Flight has become a Canadian staple in the comics. From Puck and Guardian to Aurora and Sasquatch, Alpha Flight is a premiere squad of heroes, and being a hero means having a number of villains. Here are the ten most powerful Alpha Flight villains, ranked.

10 Great Beasts

The first foe that the Alpha Flight team is notorious for is that of the Great Beasts. Introduced during the 24-issue run of Alpha Flight by John Byrne, the Great Beasts were antagonists of the team and also appeared in several Marvel events, from the Chaos War storyline to the Secret Invasion and more.

There have been several of the Great Beasts in Alpha Flight’s career. There is Tundra, the first beast to appear who fights Alpha Flight using his connection to the land itself. Also Neooqtoq the Ravager, the deadliest of the Great Beasts, whom Snow Bird assumes it’s shape to battle the Skrull God’s army during Secret Invasion.

9 Wendigo

This foe of Alpha Flight is a consistent problem, as the villain is a curse of the Northern Canadian Woods. Wendigo is a creature created whenever a person commits an act of cannibalism in the woods. First seen battling the Hulk, the Wendigo has also battled Wolverine and of course Alpha Flight.

RELATED: Marvel: Old Man Logan Villains, Ranked

One notable case that Alpha Flight took on was when a college professor named Georges Baptise became the Wendigo, forcing Wolverine and members of Alpha Flight to fight him until Shaman was able to cure him. Only one person at a time was able to become Wendigo, but packs of the creatures have since been spotted.

8 Bedlam

There tends to be a trend where heroes often inadvertently create new villains. Whether it be a former friend or love interest who felt spurned by the hero, or a small time criminal who became a villain after an attempt to help them. One example of this in Alpha Flight’s career was the villain Bedlam.

Otherwise known as small time criminal William Nowlan, and later The Brain Blast, Bedlam was found to have the potential for superpowers by Guardian, and Bedlam agreed to undergo experimentation to activate the powers. Attempting to create more heroes, the experiment worked, but Bedlam still had a criminal outlook on life. Using his psionic powers, he has become a foe for Alpha Flight.

7 Caliber

The next villain to face Alpha Flight over the years is Caliber. Real name Quinn Pullman, Caliber made his debut in a big way in the pages of Alpha Flight. His first attack on the team came when he took the entire city of Vancouver hostage and threatened to take the lives of the city’s citizens if his demands were not met.

This led to Alpha Flight stepping in. Caliber’s weapons managed to hurt Sasquatch, but he recovered enough to land a punch to Caliber’s face, ending his threat with ease. He would appear again later, freed from prison by Delphine Courtney.

6 Deadly Ernest

One villain with a very unique origin story in Alpha Flight’s history has to be Deadly Ernest. Otherwise known as Ernest St. Ives, the villain was a French soldier during WWI when he was thrown into a shell hole filled with the toxic and deadly mustard gas used during the war.

RELATED: The 10 Most Powerful Members Of Marvel’s Invaders Ranked

When Death herself came for him, he refused to go with her. Angry he rejected her, she instead cursed him with the “Death Touch,” which turned his left hand deadly. Allowing him to end anyone’s life instantly with a touch, Ernest became Deadly Ernest, rising to become the head of a crime syndicate in Montreal.

5 Pestilence

One of the more dangerous foes that Alpha Flight faced during their career was Pestilence. Once known as F.R. Crozier, Pestilence was a member of the infamous expedition to the Northern Passage in 1845 by famed explorer Sir Jonathan Franklin in the Arctic. After the ships became stuck in the ice and Jonathan left to find help, never to return, Crozier led the remaining crew away.

Taking an elixir to keep him in suspended animation until the weather warmed up, his crew thought he’d passed on and buried him, leaving him to slowly go insane for nearly 150 years. Upon the birth of Snowbird’s child, Alpha Flight encountered Pestilence, becoming a notorious Alpha Flight villain.

4 Pink Pearl

One of the more unique foes the heroes of Alpha Flight faced over the years had to be Pink Pearl, aka Pearl Gross. Once a member of a circus troupe, the large woman turned to a life of crime, determined to become a terrorist and take over the circus she once ran with.

Attempting to bomb the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada, Alpha Flight stopped her plot. She has increased strength, durability, and agility thanks to her large size, and is a brilliant criminal mind. She later joined the Shadow Council’s version of the Masters of Evil.

3 Omega Flight

When teams like Alpha Flight come along, there is an inevitable moment in their history when a team of supervillains get together to stop the heroes in their tracks. One such team of adversaries for Alpha Flight is Omega Flight. The villainous team has had several iterations. While the last two iterations have been heroic in nature, the first two were created with the sole purpose of destroying Alpha Flight.

RELATED: 10 Secrets About Avengers Mansion Every Marvel Fan Should Know

The first team was led by Jerome Jaxon, the former boss of Guardian who sought revenge against him, blaming Guardian for him losing his job. A second team was created by the team’s nemesis Master of the World later on.

2 Gilded Lady

One powerful foe the team has faced time and again in their adventures has to be the Gilded Lily. Otherwise known as Lillian von Loont, Gilded Lily was a renowned and powerful alchemist who studied under Fantastic Four villain Diablo, who was also a renowned and evil alchemist himself.

Originally seen in a golden mask, golden gloves, and a fur coat that covered her entire body all the way to her feet, Gilded Lily is believed to have lived for a very long time, with her makeup on her mask and her own style being fashioned in a 1920’s era look.

1 Master Of The World

The most powerful villain Alpha Flight has ever faced has to be their longtime nemesis, the Master of the World. Born over 40,000 years ago, the former caveman named Eshu was captured by an alien ship from the people known as the Plodex. Experimented on for thousands of years, Eshu’s intellect grew and he eventually tapped into the ship’s systems.

Luring Alpha Flight to the ship, he battled the team along with Namor the Sub-Mariner and Invisible Woman, until his ship exploded and he escaped. With a genius level intellect, advanced combat suit with alien weaponry, and superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability, Eshu now goes by the Master of the World.

NEXT: My Hero Academia: 10 Reasons Why Mina Should Be Your New Favorite

Demon Slayer: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About The Nichirin Blade

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Boy, Demon Slayer or Kimetsu No Yaiba really is the new hotness. So big in fact that it's beating out One Piece in certain ways, a franchise with hundreds of games under its belt. What do we mean by that? Well, it's a Shonen manga adapted into an anime made by UFOtable that took off recently thanks to some amazing storytelling and stellar animation! Plus, there are tons of twists and turns.

RELATED: Demon Slayer: 10 Amazing Works Of Fan Art That We Love

Tanjiro is a Demon Slayer, as much as he doesn't want to be, and these swordsmen are only able to defeat demons thanks to their Nichirin Blades, otherwise known as Color Changing Blades. These weapons are honestly still underexplained even during the current manga arc, and not much is known about their qualities or smelting process. So, let's take a look at the prized possession of all Demon Hunters, and see what we can dig up.

10 They Aren't Only Blades

Now the name might confuse you, but Nichirin "blades" don't actually need to be swords. The reason they can kill demons is because of the sunlight they absorb, so the actual shape of the weapon doesn't matter. Now, something that can actually cut seems crucial, but Demon Slayers could use a Nichirin spoon if they wanted to. We don't see many examples of it in the show, but there are one or two in the manga. Gyomei, the Rock Pillar, is the primary example of this. The blind monk uses an ax and chain ball weapon that seem to kill demons. So, we can only assume he had those specifically crafted for him. Honestly, it's a big reason to read the manga over the anime, so you can see Gyomei in action early.

9 The Color Corresponds To The User's Breath Style (Usually)

Color Coordination is important in Demon Slayer, and that only becomes clearer as time goes on. Zenitsu has yellow hair because of his Breath of Thunder, Tanjiro's is Red because of his hidden history with the Breath of The Sun, and most of the Pillars have this similarity as well. But, it's not just hair, the color of the blade can usually be attributed to the style of Breath as well. Yellow is Thunder, Red is flames, blue is water, green is wind and so on. All of the pillars have color in their blades the correlates to their Breath Style, yet Tanjiro's blade is black...why is that? Hmm.

8 The Depth And Amount Of Color Is Also Important

Something else that hasn't been 100% confirmed, but makes a lot of sense, is the depth of color in the blade. Color changing blades don't just become a sword entirely painted a certain color. sometimes they do, but mostly it's little hints or patterns of color. Zenitsu, for example, has a blade with a lightning bolt of yellow across it.

RELATED: Demon Slayer: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Demons

It's not tons of color, but that's because Zenitsu isn't especially connected to his Breath Style, it was something that was forced on him. Others have more color, Tanjiro's entire blade is black, and even Giyu's blade isn't entirely blue.

7 The Only Change Color Once (Mostly)

Another thing about the swords that many people probably assumed was common knowledge is the fact that they only change color once. These aren't mood rings, they change color initially and then never again (except for one specific example with Tanjiro). So, once it's done its business, the color is locked in! Luckily, the series has never had a Breath user who had a blade, then switched Breath styles while keeping the same sword, because hoo boy would that get confusing. But, if new anime kids were expecting these swords to change colors as the users grow, that's not what Demon Slayer has in mind.

6 Every Demon Slayer Has Their Own Nichirin Artisan

Much like a knight needs an armorer, a samurai needs a katana artisan. And, luckily, Demon Slayer has an entire village of them. An arc that occurs later in the manga actually takes place entirely in this village. So, with every demon hunter, comes a swordsmith. They're assigned as soon as a Slayer's first blade is crafted, and they're the ones to craft all their blades from then on.

RELATED: Demon Slayer: 5 Characters Nezuko Can Beat (& 5 She Can't)

So far we've only seen 2 of them, but we can confirm that yes, most of them are as eccentric as Haganezuka, the swordsmith who tried to kill Tanjiro for breaking his blade. And yes, they all wear masks. It makes us wonder just who were the swordsmiths assigned to all the fodder Demon Slayers we've seen so far.

5 The Black Blade Has A Story To It

Tanjro's Nichirin Sword seems to be special, though that honestly might be his blood rather than the sword. Tanjiro is descended from a line of warriors who use the Breath of the Sun. And, there have been moments where Tanjiro's blade goes from pitch black to a vibrant red, almost as if it's been pulled straight out of the forge. Tanjiro's immediate family are coal harvesters, and his own name translates to a coal-furnace or charcoal itself. So, this charcoal-colored blade that turns bright when exposed to heat is actually more much fitting for our protagonist good boy than people may have thought.

4 They're Not ID Locked To Their User, Demons Could Use Them If They Wanted

Like we said before, blade color usually represents the breath style of the user, and blades can't change color more than once. Because of these two factors, people have unconsciously associated Slayer's blades with the users themselves. But, remember, they're just tools. Slayers can use any other slayers sword, and they aren't at all locked to any specific fighter. Heck, a demon could use one of these swords if they wanted to. There's nothing that makes them specifically dependant on Demon Slayers, it just so happens these warriors are the best people to make use of them is all.

3 They're Made From Scarlet Ore

First and foremost, we should probably talk about how these swords are made. These blades aren't ordinary iron or steel, they're actually crafted from a fictional ore called the "Scarlet Ore" that can be found on Sunlight mountain. Because this place is so constantly exposed to sunlight, the ore itself has absorbed the UV energy and holds it tight even when forged into a blade.

RELATED: Demon Slayer: 10 Reasons Why It's A Must-Watch Anime Series

Now, the name is Scarlet Ore, and while that may suggest fire, Scarlet or Crimson actually tie closer to the Breath of the Sun. We're fully speculating here, but maybe the Ore has a connection to the original style of Breath or something.

2 They're Basically UV Batteries

Like we said earlier, these blades don't actually exude this sunlight energy when swung. It's more like they're batteries, and the energy contained inside them is lethal on contact with a demon. That's why we don't see any of the Demon Slayers using ranged "sunlight" attacks or anything like that. Demon Slayer might have supernatural elements, but the entire premise is very much built on a foundation of reality. Still, it makes us wonder, is there anything in this universe that uses Scarlet Ore like a battery of sorts? We know that the Wisteria flower can also harm demons as well, but we'd love to see some other inventions that use either of these weaknesses as a base.

1 They're Not The Only Demon Killers

Finally, there's no better way to end a discussion about what Nichirin blades are, then to summarize what they aren't. And one thing that constantly surprises fans of the series, is that the blades aren't the only thing that can kill demons. First of all, demons can kill other demons! Secondly, Muzan's blood is both a steroid and a lethal poison to demons in certain doses. Third, direct sunlight or even UV lightbulbs (if they existed) kill a demon outright. And lastly, the Wisteria flower is commonly used as a way to ward off demons, but it can also kill them when mixed into a poison. Flower Pillar Shinobu was known for this, and this poison actually plays a huge part in taking down one of the Upper Moons later on.

NEXT: Demon Slayer: 10 Muzan Kibutsuji Memes That Are Too Hilarious For Words

10 Valiant Titles to Read Before The Bloodshot Movie | CBR

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Recently, Sony Pictures has released their first trailer for the upcoming Bloodshot (2020) movie. Starring Vin Diesel, the film seems to capture the same action-packed mystery that is constantly circling the character. However, Bloodshot is also going to be the first Valiant Comics character to get a high budget live-action film.

RELATED: Bloodshot: 10 Things Fans Need To Know About Valiant’s Most Dangerous Hero

While some are looking forward to the film due to the action or stars, many others are simply just unfamiliar with the character, as well as the rest of the Valiant universe. Currently, Valiant actually has the 3rd largest superhero universe, following both Marvel and DC. With so many great characters to choose from, here is our list of 10 Valiant titles to read before the Bloodshot movie.

10 Archer and Armstrong

Archer and Armstrong have a very interesting relationship with each other in the comics. Armstrong himself is an immortal being who has basically partied his way through the past 7,000 years or so. When he first meets Archer though, Archer is actually tasked with killing Armstrong, as the organization Archer was raised in believes that Armstrong is too powerful to be kept alive.

With the combined abilities of the two, they have gone on all sorts of wild and crazy fantastical adventures. For as ridiculous as some stories are, there is also a great charm within the series that almost any audience can enjoy. Any fan of unique and unlikely pairings is sure to enjoy this Valiant series, despite its tonal differences from Bloodshot.

9 Ivar, Timewalker

Ivar the Timewalker is a bit more of an unconventional character. On top of his abilities of incredible strength and speed, Ivar is also immortal and can access time arcs. Though he has no control over where the time arcs take him, he has still been to many different times and locations.

RELATED: The Other Guys: 20 Valiant Characters That Are Actually Rip-Offs Of Popular Characters

Searching for a way back to his home, Ivar tries as many time arcs as he can, hoping to one day find one that will bring him back to his true love and proper time. However, because of his unique abilities, Ivar is also a target in almost every time he visits. With abilities that are a bit more unique, Ivar is easily one of the more intriguing characters that Valiant has to offer.

8 Quantum and Woody

Like Archer and Armstrong, Quantum and Woody make for an unlikely yet humorous pairing. However, what sets this duo apart from others in their abilities. Thanks to a science experiment gone wrong, these two must now “Klang” together every 24 hours if they wish to stay alive. The only problem with this setup is that the two individuals absolutely hate each other.

With wildly different personalities, there are many things to enjoy about this book. Though it is far from the most serious comic out there, Quantum and Woody is an action-packed thrill ride full of humor with a little something for everyone.

7 Shadowman

Fans of Bloodshot’s darker tone can also appreciate that of Shadowman. Jack Boniface grew up with a rough life, from being orphaned to having to fight to survive. One day, however, Jack discovers that he is to become the next Shadowman, a lineage of individuals tied to loas, or powerful voodoo spirits.

As Shadowman, Jack possesses a plethora of abilities, ranging from superhuman strength and reflexes to all kinds of supernatural powers. Unlike other traditional superheroes, Shadowman is actually centered around a lot of New Orleans’ culture, blending a lot of elements into the actual narrative. Though the series may not be for everyone, Shadowman is perfect for any fan of the dark and supernatural.

6 Harbinger

Valiant’s Harbinger series falls very similar to that of Marvel’s X-Men. Though the two groups aren’t nearly on the same scale as one another, fans of the X-Men could find a lot to appreciate about Harbinger. Depending on the series, the protagonist may be different, but they do follow the same continuity.

Furthermore, unlike the X-Men, Harbingers all possess the same psionic abilities. While some are more powerful than others, the series mostly follows them as they learn to control their powers. With all sorts of twists and turns though, Harbinger is an excellent and far more grounded view of a very large superteam.

5 Rai

While he may be the more popular character, Bloodshot actually made his first appearance within the pages of Rai. The actual mantle of Rai has been held by several different individuals. Set in the year 4001, Rai is the defender of Japan, equipped with nanites that give them access to all sorts of abilities.

RELATED: The 15 Best Valiant Superheroes

While the series has had several different protagonists as well as several different backstories over the years, virtually every version of Rai has been a servant of Father, an A.I. that rules Japan in very suspicious ways. Though this is different depending on the continuity, Rai is still a very intriguing character. Likewise, their unique ties to Bloodshot also make them worth checking out.

4 Ninja-K

Ninja-K (or Ninjak) is a great character for any fan of Batman, as the two go on very similar types of missions. Colin King is one of Weaponer’s dealiest assassins, having mastered several fighting styles and becoming an expert in weaponry. With a great blending of espionage, history, and epic action, Ninja-K is very likely to get a movie of his own one day.

Though Colin himself isn’t as dark as Batman typically is, he is still a very deadly assassin. Furthermore, Colin has a bit of a James Bond flair about him, making him all the more ideal for fans of the genre.

3 Faith

Faith herself is actually a Harbinger, with all the same powers and abilities as the others. However, she is far more independent than the others are typically depicted, setting out to be her own hero in Los Angeles. Under the code name Zephyr, Faith sets it to fight crime as best as she can, setting a shining example in the process.

Though she doesn’t have the same powers, Faith’s personality strongly resembles the moral similarities of Superman. Furthermore, her modern look and themes of acceptance have helped make the book one of the most celebrated Valiant titles yet. Though the title is a significant departure from that of Bloodshot, Faith has received a lot of high praise for a reason, making it worth checking out for any Valiant Comics fan.

2 X-O Manowar

Raised during the reign of the Roman Empire, Aric of Dacia found himself facing a far greater enemy. After being kidnapped by an alien race known as The Vine, Aric’s only chance of escape was to steal a sentient suit of alien armor. After bonding with him, however, Aric found that his troubles were only beginning.

RELATED: Ranked: Top 10 Most Powerful Weapons In The Valiant Universe

Armed with a suit that is arguable more powerful than Iron Man’s X-O Manowar tells a great “man out of time” story. With some strong elements of science fiction wrapped around a strong protagonist, this series is easily one of Valiant’s more compelling reads.

1 Bloodshot

Of course, no other series will help fans prepare for the Bloodshot movie other than the Bloodshot series itself. As one of the most popular Valiant characters, Bloodshot has undergone several series and major changes in recent years. Thanks to the character’s darker nature, fans of characters like Punisher have easily been able to fall into the series.

Following a military experiment, Bloodshot was injected with billions of nanites that not only heal all of his wounds, but effectively make him immortal. Armed with a heavy artillery, he then set out as Bloodshot, breaking away from the people who made him to seek his own vengeance. With several storylines at their disposal, it is unclear which direction the film will take the character in. However, with such great source material, fans will hopefully have a lot to look forward to.

NEXT: The 10 Most Powerful Valiant Characters, Ranked

Emma Frost: 10 Things Everyone Forgets About The White Queen

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Let's be clear: no one messes with Emma Frost. She is one of the coolest, boldest, and most sophisticated characters in the entire X-franchise. Able to turn her skin into diamonds, her power set seems appropriate given her unflinching confidence and rich appetites.

RELATED: X-Men: The 10 Worst Things Mutants Did To Humans

For all that can be said about her, a lot of details about this complicated character's life are shrouded in mystery. She seems like a tangle of contradictions (and maybe she is) but that's just because she's such a complex character. At different times, Emma has been a villain and a hero, rich and down on her luck. Here are ten things about the Hellfire Club's White Queen that everyone forgets.

10 She Cares About Her Kids

Emma has a tough exterior. She's  condescending, manipulative, sarcastic, and more than a little sadistic at times. She also genuinely cares about people, especially her students.

The best quality in Emma might very well be her devotion to those pupils in her care. She has insights into how to help them and is very protective of their well being. When writer Grant Morrison first brings her into the pages of his New X-Men series, he introduces her as a teacher first and foremost. Her cynical worldview and libertine attitudes have resulted in some unorthodox lessons, but there's nothing she wouldn't do for the kids in her care.

9 Ethics Classes

There is no delicate way to put this: the White Queen of the Hellfire Club teaches Ethics classes. Yes, a former supervillain whose virtues seem built around how best to enjoy half of the Seven Deadly Sins teaches Ethics to children. This is both terrifying and hilarious to contemplate.

After the X-Men split into two groups at the end of the Schism storyline, Kitty Pryde starts teaching her own Ethics classes at the new Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters. As shown in Wolverine and the X-Men, Kitty's class description in the syllabus says "Forgetting Everything You Ever Learned From Emma Frost."

8 Kitty Pryde HATES Her

If that last class description is not enough to make it clear, Kitty Pryde hates Emma Frost. In the event that Emma ever catches fire, Kitty will probably resist the urge to throw gasoline on the fire, but definitely is unlikely to put out the blaze without at least offering a snarky comment.

RELATED: X-Men: The 10 Best X-Men Stories Of The Decade, Ranked

As Kitty tells Emma at one point, it all started on Kitty's first ever mission with the X-Men when she and her friends were kidnapped by the White Queen and the rest of the Hellfire Club back during the events of the Dark Phoenix Saga. To Kitty, Emma is the face of evil. To Emma, Kitty's morality is an annoying but still (probably) useful quality.

7 Loyalty

For all her faults, Emma Frost is deeply devoted to those she cares about. In the context of her students, this makes sense as she is nurturing to them. However, she is also devoted to her lovers, even long after they break up. Furthermore, she's loyal to her teammates, even when she joins opposing teams.

When Scott Summers dies, she preserves his memory by making the X-Men hallucinate him having a more glorious death. When Shaw loses his sense of self, she looks out for him. Emma always stands by those she cares for.

6 She Survived A Genocide

Grant Morrison's New X-Men is considered one of the great modern X-books for new readers and old fans alike (though as it's fifteen years old now, maybe "modern" no longer applies). In the opening story arc, Sentinels attack the mutant island nation of Genosha, killing everyone there.

Almost everyone, that is. Emma Frost manages to survive the genocide due to her diamond skin. This is a shock to her as much as anyone else, and while she may pretend to be okay, she is still haunted by the memory of staggering out of the wreckage of a demolished building, carrying the body of a dead student in her arms.

5 Secondary Mutation

Emma's ability to turn her skin into diamond is actually a fairly new power for her. In fact, the genocide at Genosha is the first time she demonstrates this ability. Prior to this, her only power was her telepathy (though she was one of the more powerful telepaths in the world).

Nowadays, it seems obvious to fans that Emma and diamonds go together like Beast and blue fur. However, this crystalline exoskin is a power given to her by the villain Cassandra Nova. Beast's explanation about Emma's secondary mutation is the first time anyone ever discusses them in the comics.

4 Family Troubles

To say Emma's family is possessed of a frosty disposition is an understatement. The Frost family lives in a bubble, isolated from the suffering of others by their privilege (the most distinct form of that privilege being the mountains of money they've hoarded).

RELATED: The Richest Mutants In The World, Ranked By Wealth

Substance abuse and mental health struggles are prevalent. Her father is emotionally abusive, playing the family members against each other, resulting in her sisters being cruel and petty. While her mother is prone to taking mind-altering substances with daily regularity, her brother is finally clean--though he's also living in a room with padded walls. For all that, the Frost family are highly educated and cultured, donating their wealth to prestigious events where rich elites socialize with each other.

3 Her Dominant Side

Emma Frost definitely has a kinky side. She is a licensed sex therapist and has never been hesitant about embracing her sexuality as an empowering force to both enjoy life and use to influence others. She even uses her knockout good looks to motivate students to pay attention.

One aspect about this people often overlook is that this love of kink extends to her relationship with Scott Summers. What is more, there are clues that the leader of the X-Men seems to have embraced his submissive side in their relationship. It's nice to see a strong leader like Scott respects strong women.

2 Her Fight With Iron Man

During Avengers vs. X-Men, both teams come to blows as the Phoenix flies toward Earth. The Avengers attack the X-Men's home on the island nation of Utopia off the coast of San Francisco. During this brawl, Iron Man and Emma Frost throw down with one another.

The suit Iron Man wears to battle is worth a billion dollars. Emma Frost turns her skin to diamond. The comic explicitly states that the first blow struck in this fight set the record for the most expensive punch in history! Just a little later, Emma's powers change to a point beyond being something whose value can be measured.

1 The Phoenix

The Phoenix Force is one of the most powerful forces in the cosmos--capable of giving life or destroying whole worlds. It is a force of resurrection, change, and ultimate power. Few can wield it and survive. Emma Frost is among that rare few.

While the Phoenix is most commonly associated with Jean Grey, during the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, she gains the power to control the cosmic entity. So do Cyclops, Magik, Colossus, and Namor. Known as the Phoenix Five, they eventually all relinquish their powers, but not without first doing some serious damage to the world--and to each other.

NEXT: X-Men: The Most Powerful Female Villains, Ranked


Marvel: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Spider-Man 2099 | CBR

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When it comes to the multiverse and alternate versions of heroes within the Marvel Universe, there is one hero in particular fans have come to know and love that has a plethora of alternate versions of himself across the multiverse. That hero is none other than Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker.

Related: 10 Best Spider-Man Vs Carnage Fights

One of the most popular of his alternate reality personas has to be Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of the Marvel 2099 universe. A future version of the hero in the Marvel Universe, Miguel has a vastly different origin story to that of Peter Parker. Let’s take a look at ten things fans should know about Spider-Man 2099.

10 Wins Entry Into Alchemex School

Spider-Man 2099 began life as simply Miguel O’Hara, a genius level intellect as a youth who won entry into Alchemex’s School For Gifted Youngsters in Westchester, a revised version of Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters, otherwise known as the X-Men. Miguel was born in New York City at the tail end of what would become known as the Heroic Age, the modern day Marvel Universe of heroes.

Befriending a young girl with his same level of intellect named Xina, the two become close and end up dating for a bit as adults, but the relationship falls apart after Miguel has an affair.

9 Become Head Of Genetics

Miguel’s origin story to become Spider-Man began after he was named the Head of Genetics at Alchemex. His job was to create corporate super-soldiers that could be controlled called corporate raiders. He was inspired by the exploits of Spider-Man from the main Marvel Universe, and hoped to create another version of the hero in his lifetime.

RELATED: The 10 Darkest Timelines In Marvel Comics History

After a subject passes away during an experiment, Miguel feels guilty and tries to quit, but the VP of R&D Tyler Stone tricks him into drinking an addictive substance, attempting to blackmail him. Instead he uses his own experiment to rewrite his DNA to cure his addiction, but instead gains 50% of his genetics from a spider.

8 Befriends Prophet Of Thor

When he first mutated into a Spider-Man hero, Miguel used his armor to fight his pursuers and find a cure for his condition. However, as he worked he began to see he had been blind to the evil that corporations like Alchemex had been doing to the world, and his heroics had begun to inspire others, including his own mother.

Deciding to embrace his identity, Miguel became Spider-Man 2099. He soon learned after that a scientist at Alchemex named Jordon Boone had been experimenting to create a doorway into another dimension. This leads to two figures emerging, The Net Prophet and Thanatos. The Net Prophet befriends Miguel, and the Thorites believe The Net Prophet to be Thor’s prophet.

7 Takes Down Alchemex’s Valhalla

Spider-Man 2099 ushered in the first of the major crossovers between himself and the other Marvel 2099 heroes when he went up against Alchemex and their floating city dubbed “Valhalla”. It was there he discovered that Alchemex was taking ordinary citizens, giving them the powers of the Norse gods like Thor and Heimdall, and brainwashing them into believing they were the real gods.

Teaming up with Doom 2099, Ravage, X-Men 2099, and more, Spider-Man fought to stop Alchemex, who was using the brainwashed false gods to do their bidding. The heroes fought and defeated Aesir, and Valhalla falls as a result.

6 Stopped End Of Heroic Age

One of the first times that Miguel met his inspiration, original Spider-Man Peter Parker, came during the 1995 series Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man. In this story, Miguel and Peter both woke up to discover they had switched places, with Miguel in the past and Peter in the year 2099.

RELATED: 10 Most Important Marvel Stories Of The Decade

It is discovered that Alchemex in 2099 and Fujikawa in the Heroic Age are running experiments on temporal energy generators, and Miguel discovers this temporal anomaly is what causes the end of the Heroic Age. After fighting Eddie Brock (and Peter facing Vulture 2099), the two join forces to combat the female Hobgoblin of 2211 (from an alternate Earth), alongside her father Spider-Man.

5 Takes Control Of Alchemex

During a time where Miguel discovered not only was the addictive substance forced upon him by Tyler Stone only temporary, but that Stone himself is his father, Miguel left New York for a while, going on adventures in the desert and facing homicidal robots and more.

Upon his return to New York however, he discovered Doom had become President of the United States and had taken control of the corporations. He named Tyler Stone to his cabinet, and as a result Miguel was offered to run Alchemex. He accepted, knowing he could not only change the company from within, but use his influence to order law enforcement to stop chasing Spider-Man 2099.

4 Brother Becomes Villain

Miguel’s time as the head of Alchemex came with a ton of problems for him and Spider-Man 2099 to face. Not only does he face Venom 2099, as the symbiote survived into the future and found a new host body, but their battle leads to the loss of his former girlfriend Dana.

Later a new Goblin villain arises, and begins a smear campaign against Spider-Man 2099. While battling Neo-Atlantean citizens, discovering his mother had shot his birth father Tyler Stone, and facing untold threats, he discovered his brother Gabe is the Goblin, as Gabe grew jealous of his now heroic brother.

3 Ushered In Era Of Peace

After the end of his original series, Spider-Man 2099 appeared in the 2099: World Of Tomorrow storyline. After the Phalanx, an alien race with the techno-organic virus, attempt to conquer what remains of Earth after the polar ice caps melt and destroy much of the world, Spider-Man works with Doom 2099 to stop the alien invaders.

RELATED: Fantastic Four: The 10 Saddest Deaths, Ranked

After Doom sacrifices himself and stops the threat, Miguel rebuilds Alchemex, marries Xina, and revives Steve Rodgers, giving him Mjolnir. Soon however Steve is jettisoned into space, and gives Mjolnir to Miguel, who is worthy to wield it. He uses it to help him usher in an era of peace for a thousand years, until the year 3099.

2 Assists In Spider-Verse

After the timeline is disrupted and Miguel is sent to the present day Marvel Universe, Miguel finds himself able to return to his timeline during the Spider-Verse event, traveling with other spider heroes to his world in order to use future technology to not only trap the Inheritor Daemos, but to find the weakness in the Inheritors to stop them.

He joins the other spider heroes, including Lady Spider, in the fight against the Inheritors on Loomworld, eventually defeating the Inheritors. After most of the other spiders are sent to their home worlds, Miguel and Spider-Gwen help stop Superior Spider-Man from destroying the Web Of Life and Destiny in an attempt to alter his fate.

1 Trapped In Past

After the events of Secret Wars, Miguel finds himself trapped in the past. Accepting a job from Peter Parker to help run Parker Industries, he attempts to leave his life as Spider-Man 2099 behind. However he soon discovers a plot from an organization called The Fist.

He works with Roberta Mendez, the Captain America of Marvel 2099, to stop threats and investigate The Fist. It is discovered through Elektra that The Fist is an off-shoot of The Hand, who plans on destroying the United States. After several time-travel adventures to stop The Fist, Miguel succeeds, but has his life taken in the process until he is returned to 2099 and revived by Doctor Strange 2099.

NEXT: Naruto: 10 Best Teachers In The Series

My Hero Academia: 10 Amazing Quirks Completely Weighed Down By Their Flaws

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Ever since My Hero Academia has smashed its way onto bookshelves and television screens everywhere, mangaka Kohei Horikoshi has been thrilling readers and viewers alike with some of the most unique and powerful heroes and villains to have ever been created. The thing that makes Horikoshi’s characters so interesting is that they don’t necessarily have weaknesses like most heroes. Superman has kryptonite. Martian Manhunter has fire. Batman has being a total nutcase.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The League Of Villains

The characters in My Hero Academia, however, are usually held back by some aspect of their own power, which makes it all the more interesting when they’re forced to overcome their flaws. There are some immensely powerful abilities throughout the series, but which ones are weighed down the most by their flaws?

10 Dabi - Cremation

Like the rest of the heroes and villains featured in this article, Dabi has some truly impressive power, but that power comes at a great cost. Perhaps more than any other individual featured in this article, Dabi has paid a very heavy and personal price for his quirk.

Though the high-temperature flames that Dabi is able to so easily control by the time he is introduced in the series have a devastating effect on anyone he chooses to aim them at, he likely always hasn’t had such great control over his quirk. This simple fact can be witnessed in the patches of seared flesh covering a substantial portion of the young villain’s body.

9 Tomura Shigaraki - Decay

While Dabi has paid the price for his quirk with his own body, Tomura Shigaraki was forced to make his family pay the price for his quirk. When his quirk manifested, Shigaraki accidentally killed every single member of his family. His father, mother, maternal grandparents, and sister all paid the price when the young villain accidentally killed them.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Denki Kaminari

Though his family had stood by while his father regularly abused him, Shigaraki was still devastated by the loss of his family. So much so that he took their hands, the only remaining pieces of his family, and continues to wear them on his body.

8 Aizawa Shota - Erasure

Though Aizawa has become an incredibly successful hero and teacher, it didn’t always come so naturally to him. In fact, during his time in UA, Aizawa was uncertain if he even had what it took to become a hero.

While his quirk allows him to deactivate the quirk of anyone he looks at, it comes at a price. First, he must continue to look at the person who’s quirk he wishes to stop, which means it only works on one person at a time. Next, in order for his quirk to work, he must all be able to actually see his opponent, which means that should he blink, be blinded by smoke or anything else, his quirk will deactivate and he will be left vulnerable.

7 Thirteen - Black Hole

Though Thirteen’s quirk, Black Hole, is an incredibly powerful and devastating force, it certainly comes at a cost. With just the power of one finger, Thirteen could cause untold damage to not just the city around them, but the citizens within it. Thirteen likely had to work incredibly hard to get to a point where they could master their quirk enough to actually be useful as a hero.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 Things You Never Knew About Tenya Iida

The fact that Thirteen is never seen outside of their suit, and the fact that when her suit is destroyed when the League of Villains attacks UA, has some very strange implications about what their quirk has done to their body as well.

6 Toru Hagakure - Invisibility

Though she is not a professional hero yet, Toru Hagakure has clearly experienced the downside of her quirk, Invisibility. For starters, when it comes to Hagakure’s quirk, there is no on and off switch, she is simply invisible all the time, which would become mentally tough for anyone in that same situation.

Beyond that though, in order for her quirk to work with maximum efficiency, without the help of some high-tech hero support equipment, she must remain entirely nude. While that fact likely makes it very uncomfortable for her as a hero, there are also the ramifications of situations where extreme weather conditions are present (as witnessed when she is paired up against Todoroki during the training exercises).

5 Kaminari Denki - Electrification

While Kaminari Denki’s quirk, Electrification, may be devastatingly powerful in its own right, it comes with some pretty massive setbacks. The first of which is the fact that Kaminari has very little to no control of what happens once he unleashed his quirk.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 Things You Didn't Notice About The New Season's Opening

Unlike Todoroki who can control whether or not his ice attacks his comrades, Kaminari is unable to display that kind of control. The second and biggest flaw of his quirk is that when overused, his quirk short-circuits his brain and leaves him utterly defenseless. This means that should Kaminari every go out with full force and not defeat his opponent, he’ll be left completely at the mercy of his opponents.

4 Mirai Sasaki - Foresight

Otherwise known as Sir Nighteye, Mirai Sasaki’s quirk, Foresight, while very powerful comes at quite a price. While he can see the entire lifespan of anyone he touches, he can only do so for an hour after touching that person. Alongside that, however, is the fact that after Sir Nighteye has used his quirk, it has a cool down period of twenty-four hours, leaving him without the power of his quirk should he need to use it again.

An incredibly powerful quirk, yes, but with a cooldown that long, plus the fact that he has already been traumatized by quirk, makes it rather difficult for the hero.

3 Moashi Juzo - Centipede

Though his quirk (Centipede), which has altered his body and limbs into the shape of several centipedes, has made it rather easy for him to become an incredible sidekick to Sir Nighteye (perhaps on of the greatest heroes alive), it certainly couldn’t have been easy for Moashi Juzo to get to that point.

For instance, there must have been a point, before his quirk awakened, that he was just a regular boy, right? This means that the boy woke up one day in a real-life version of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Also, it can’t be easy trying to get a date when he’s essentially just a bunch of centipedes in a suit.

2 Eri - Rewind

With her quirk, Rewind, Eri is capable of rewinding a person’s body to any point which it had previously been. That means that she can heal injuries for people like the injury-prone Deku.

However, what it also means it that this young girl was capable of rewinding her entire family out of existence before she even knew what was going on.

On top of all that, her abilities only work on human beings, not objects. This means that it’s incredibly difficult for Eri to practice using her quirk without the risk of rewinding them right out of existence.

1 Izuku Midoriya - One For All

Though One For All is perhaps the most powerful quirk in all of My Hero Academia, for Izuku Midoriya at least, it is a source of great injury almost every single time he uses it.

While he has gotten better about the level of power he outputs during his strikes, Deku has repeatedly broken his body to the point of almost causing permanent damage (even after being heling by the school nurse’s kisses). While One For All is slowly beginning to awaken through Deku’s use, it still remains a power that his weak body cannot fully control.

NEXT: My Hero Academia: The Strongest Villains In History, Ranked

Is Marvel 2099 Setting Up A Doctor Doom Vs. Doctor Doom War?

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WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for 2099 Alpha #1 by Nick Spencer, Viktor Bogdanovic, Marte Gracia and Joe Caramagna and Amazing Spider-Man #34 by Nick Spencer, Patrick Gleason, Matthew Wilson, Dee Cunniffe, Chris O'Halloran and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now

2099: Alpha has introduced readers to a whole new take on the potential future of the Marvel Universe, featuring fresh takes on the various heroes of that era. Among them is the new 2099 version of Doctor Doom, who is far more openly villainous than the previous take on the character. But there are hints scattered throughout the new 2099 stories that suggest the original 2099 Doctor Doom may have survived - and is planning to take his world back. If that's the case, the comic could be setting up a war between Doctor Doom and Doctor Doom 2099.

RELATED: Marvel's Kindest Cosmic God Is 2099's Most Horrific Living Weapon

Introduced in 2099: Alpha, a new version of the future Doctor Doom seems to be closer to the present-day evil Victor Von Doom than the previous 2099 version. He's revealed to have attacked the heroes of Earth while they were engaged in a massive civil war, wiping them out and hiding the memories of the heroes from the rest of the world. He's even captured Uatu the Watcher and turned him into a tool to see across the entire world without anything getting in his way. The whole time, he prepares his machinations to target his enemies to maintain his control over the entire planet.

Fantastic Four 2099 revealed that some people -- notably the AI beings who reside in the Cortez Tower -- even seem to swear by Doom. He comes across as the ruler of this dark techno-future, seemingly controlling it and allowing the peoples of the world to fight out amongst themselves over their own fates. Uatu insults Doom, pointing out that the cruel and cold world that exists in the future is all built from his acts. He may have given the people of the world some of his impressive technology, but he has also allowed humanity to destroy itself with it. He's clearly the kind of villain that Doctor Doom has typically been over the years -- but for the 2099 version of Doom, that wasn't always the case.

RELATED: Amazing Spider-Man: [SPOILER] Just Crashed Into The Marvel Universe

The Doctor Doom of the original 2099 continuity was one of the most important figures of his era. After Victor Von Doom disappeared decades before, he seemingly appeared once more in the ruins of Latveria. Doom worked with others from the time period and used the technology of the future to create an advanced armor. He became a freedom fighter, helping liberate the nation of Latveria from the cruel cyborg baron Tyger Wylde. Working with the survivors of the tribe that he original hailed from, Doom reclaimed the nation and announced his intention to conquer the dark world and make it into a better place.

He fought many threats, including a traitorous lover named Margaretta and her false version of Doctor Doom, before making his way to the United States and fighting the various business tycoons and moguls who had previously controlled the nation before Doom arrived to liberate it. There, he was able to conquer the country and announce himself the new President. Working with the other heroes of the era (such as the Punisher, Spider-Man and X-Men of this era), Doom became a pragmatic but ultimately determined protector of the world, helping fight off the invading Phalanx and various threats that came. He was seemingly forced to sacrifice himself to save the world at the end of 2099: World of Tomorrow, which largely closed the book on that version of the 2099 future.

RELATED: Marvel 2099: How Marvel Destroyed (and Rebuilt) Its Wildest Future

There are hints through the initial wave of the new 2099 though that the original 2099 Doctor Doom might still exist in some form. As the former 2099 future is seemingly wiped out and altered in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, Miguel O'Hara rushes around and tries to avoid the morphing timeline around him. He eventually finds himself with the last remaining protector of the world,  Doom. He's attempting to halt the changes to the world but doesn't seem to possess the ability to do so. Instead, he charges Miguel with a mission to save their timeline and seemingly is overtaken by the reality-altering blue light.

But in the 2099 future, Uatu reveals that there's something he doesn't see, but hear. He describes it as "metal on metal -- a forge and a fire. Somewhere, a war is being declared... and with it comes Doom." The scene then briefly shifts to a man hammering what appears to be a piece of armor, wearing bandages that hide his face. The future evil Doom claims this man to be an "imposter," which suggests that he could turn out to be another version of Doom. The bandages and choice of armor are indicative of Doctor Doom across almost all forms. The apparent importance of this figure are enough to suggest that this figure could actually be another version of Doom -- even the original 2099 Doom, preparing for a battle to try and restore the future he worked so hard to save.

If so, then the evil Doctor Doom might find himself in the same kind of conflict that led him to try and wipe out all the heroes of Earth in the first place, a superpowered war that threatens the world around it. There may come a day when Doom raises war against Doom -- and it might be coming sooner than anyone expects.

KEEP READING: Marvel 2099: 15 Things That Made It Great

Sword Master #6 | CBR

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  • SHUIZHU, GREG PAK & FONDA LEE (W) • GUNJI & ARIO ANINDITO (A)
  • Cover by GUNJI
  • STRANGE DAYS!
  • When you run around the Marvel Universe with a big magic sword, you have to expect you’ll eventually get a visit from the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s time for tea and terror with Doctor Strange! Meanwhile, in our second story, co-written by Greg Pak and World Fantasy Award winner Fonda Lee, Shang-Chi and Lin Lie learn the true secrets of the dragon son of Ares!
  • 40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Watchmen Actor Talks Red Scare and His 'Schlubby Gangster Persona'

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HBO's Watchmen is a show shrouded in mysterious characters, many of whom wear literal shrouds in the form of masks. Some, like Tim Blake Nelson's Looking Glass, have had their secrets revealed throughout the first season. Others, like Andrew Howard's Red Scare, remain a secret.

Red Scare sticks out for a number of reasons in comparison to the other officers at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Police Department. His uniform consists of a red track suit, and a red ski mask, through which he's still able to eat. He speaks with a Russian accent, making him stick out among the Americana around him. And he's perhaps the most outspoken and hotheaded member of the department, a violent, tempestuous man who will stop at nothing to get his perp.

Howard (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hell on Wheels) spoke with CBR about Red Scare, as well as his thoughts on Watchmen in general.

CBR: What was your initial approach to Red Scare?

Andrew Howard: It was always my dream and vision to book an HBO show. It happened very quickly. As a matter of fact, I was one of the first cast in the show, apart from obviously the brilliant genius that is Regina King. I was out of the block fairly soon with it.

With Red being such an enigmatic character, there were very small tidbits of information that Mr. [Damon] Lindelof would deliver to me. I knew it was going to be a marathon rather than a sprint and the character would be developed as the show as running. It was about picking up little pieces and clues, as well as going to the original subject material in the graphic novel. Then I would build small blocks. Once I started getting into that costume, that helped build a likeness.

Speaking of that costume, it sticks out against the rest of the Tulsa Police Department. While Sister Night has an eye mask and a black cowl, you get a track suit and a ski mask. What does that say about his character?

[Laughs.] He can appear quite schlubby. He eats through that ski mask; we put that into the script because we thought it was funny. He's hiding a lot of secrets. I can't say too much, but what you see in front of you begs the question if he's the same guy when the track suit and mask are off. I think they are two very, very different characters. He's created a schlubby gangster persona, which maybe isn't necessarily who he truly is underneath.

RELATED: Watchmen Brings Back An Iconic Group From the Comic

It's interesting you call him a gangster, because Red Scare definitely seems like the "loose cannon" of the TPD. What do you make of that role he plays in the precinct?

On the surface, he is the "muscle." But I think there's something fiercely loyal. There's something in his past that's brought him to Tulsa and put him in this situation. Yeah, he may seem like a loose cannon, and at times he is. But my M.O. with it was that he's very protective of the people he works with. There's definitely tension between him and Looking Glass, and he really looks up to and respects Sister Night. But ultimately, he's all about loyalty and injustice.

The show is primarily about injustice and race. The Watchmen world is fiercely divided in a parallel as to what we're going through today. He's a fatalistic individual, and I think he sees the characters and people that surround him and he will defend to the hilt. His fatalism makes him feel like we're just bugs on this planet. We're trying to get through it. Religion, race, and all that other stuff that makes us fight, sweat, and combust in this world has gotten in the way of that.

Red Scare appears to be a Russian character. I find that very interesting, considering how the graphic novel focused on a time when the U.S. and Russia were at each other's throats.

I did a lot of research about the Cold War, and about Russia and the U.S. As a naive young man from Wales, you can't believe the corruption that gets to the very top of society. Back then, times were very dangerous and fraught. People are saying that now too, which is a big reason why our show mirrors the graphic novel. I find it fascinating. Coming out of the Cold War, our story has Russia and the U.S. as allies against a squid attack. It was a very interesting process, something I'm still discovering and still working on.

RELATED: HBO's Watchmen: All The References You Missed (So Far)

You've mentioned before about what Watchmen is saying about the day and age we live in. What's been your take on the show as a whole?

I feel it's breaking new ground. My folks knew nothing about the graphic novel, and they weren't versed in any Watchmen universe. They watched the show and they were immediately hooked. My mother said, "This seems like a really important show."

I remember watching the premiere and trying to gauge what America would think about the show. The Tulsa race riot had never been filmed before, so that was an extraordinary thing. It was extremely emotional for people to watch that. Lots of people came to me after watching the show and saying, "I had no idea about this part of history." It has a universal theme, a very important thing to say about what's going on with America today. It's more than a comic book presentation.

Developed by Damon Lindelof, HBO's Watchmen stars Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tom Mison, James Wolk, Adelaide Clemens, Andrew Howard, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, Lily Rose Smith and Adelynn Spoon. The series airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

KEEP READING: HBO's Watchmen Solves One of Its Mysteries - Will Reeves' True Identity

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