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The hit Shonen anime series Food Wars! is just that: a high-voltage anime about competitive cooking. In it, the adolescent diner chef Soma Yukihira finds himself at the elite Totsuki culinary school, and his cooking skills and wits are tested time and again. He also makes plenty of friends and rivals along the way, and it's a blast to watch them face off in the kitchen.

Eventually, new battle lines are drawn when Azami Nakiri seizes Totsuki and creates Central, to maintain his absolute power at the academy. Many of the Elite 10 student chefs join him, but others turn away and join the rebelling students. So now we ask: who are the top 10 best student chefs in Totsuki, excluding Council members who support Azami? These heroes are the best of the best.

Update July 1st, 2020 by Louis Kemner: The fifth season of Food Wars! was delayed after just two episodes due to COVID-19, but fans of this culinary adventure can rejoice since it's coming back in just a few days. This show proves that competitive cooking is just as fierce and intense as the scenes from any conventional fighting series, and there are many hero chefs who are ready to take on any challenge from Azami Nakiri or the BLUE. Here are five more notably heroic chefs.

15 Ikumi Mito

Ikumi Mito hasn't had many chances to prove her worth since season 1, but her skills are for real, and she has passed all the major tests that weed out the lesser students at Totsuki. She's now a second-year, and has totally earned it like the rest.

Her specialty is beef, and Ikumi knows how to get her hands on the finest quality meats for some intense flavor in any dish. She knows good meat when she sees it, and once helped some professionals handle their frozen beef before sending it to restaurants.

14 Zenji Marui

Poor Zenji doesn't have much of a constitution, and he gets pretty flustered when all his friends gather in his room without permission to party. His cooking skills are legit, though, and he has the power of good books to thank for that.

Zenji is the "knowledge is power" student of the Polar Star Dorm, and he's devoured one culinary volume after another to build up an impressive mental archive of ingredients and recipe ideas. No matter the culinary challenge, Zenji has the book smarts needed to cook his way through it.

13 Ryoko Sakaki

This girl is also a member of the Polar Star dorm, which says a lot about her capabilities as a student chef at Totsuki. She has not yet been seen scoring any major victories, but she has the potential, and she is a very helpful classmate too.

Ryoko is an expert in fermenting foods, such as beans, and that makes any cooking challenge involving fermentation a snap for her. She is perfectly willing to lend this expertise to her friends and classmates if their own fermenting skills fall short.

12 Yuki Yoshino

Yuki is the most excitable and upbeat member of the Polar Star dorm, and anyone who met her might think, at first, that she doesn't take things that seriously. But that's the opposite of the truth: Yuki is always on a quest to find the best recipes around, and cook them.

As for her specialty, Yuki is something of a wild game expert, and she knows how to handle wild game meat of any species. She is also known to handle the chickens, pigs, and other livestock at the Polar Stor dorm. She's just the right pick for the job.

11 Isami Aldini

Isami is the younger brother of Takumi Aldimi, and these brothers are capable of cooking some serious Italian dishes when they are working together in the kitchen. Their parents are right to trust them to run the family restaurant alone at times.

Isami has not yet reached his big brother's level, but he's getting close, and his handling of tomatoes and Italian cooking as a whole are absolutely worth taking seriously. It may not be long before he scores his first major victory in a shokugeki.

10 Megumi Tadokoro

Coming up next is Megumi Tadokoro, a soft-spoken but kind girl from Tohoku who specializes in home-style cooking and seafood. At first, the poor girl is a nervous wreck, and she's on the brink of getting expelled for good.

But with Soma's help, she turned things around, and by the climax of season 2, Megumi is a confident and capable cook who can stand up to nearly anyone. She has some ground left to cover, but she's come far, and we're proud of her.

9 Takumi Aldini

This half-Italian boy and his brother Isami are quite a tag team, but whenever they cook separately, Takumi (the older one) is the sharper cook. Both brothers grew up in Italy, and they have restaurant experience to back up their skills.

Takumi has accomplished more than his little brother has, though, so he's #9 on our list. He has suffered some defeats, but he's got some serious grit to match Soma's, and he has made huge strides and has pushed Italian cooking to new heights. He does his homeland proud.

8 Hisako Arato

This pink-haired girl tends to blend into the background, and as Erina's loyal assistant, she's inconspicuous on purpose. But if Hisako does end up in a cooking match, she is quick to prove why Erina keeps her company.

Like many Totsuki students, Hisako has a specialty. In this case, herbs. She can concoct just about anything, even hamburgers, for maximum fragrance and flavor, but it's not heavy-handed. Her food has a light and delicate touch, and her ingredients have a medical quality to them, too.

7 Alice Nakiri

Is this girl a lab technician or a chef? Both! Many students at Totsuki have a unique angle for cooking, and Alice's is the sheer power of science. She has intricate knowledge of chemistry and gastronomic, and the skills to use lab equipment to prepare her dishes with astonishing precision.

Alice falls short of her cousin Erina, but her prowess is remarkable, and she hardly has any blind spots, given her encyclopedic knowledge about food and flavor. That, and it's just plain old fun to see her cook bizarre but delicious foods this way.

6 Ryo Kurokiba

At first, Ryo seems like a meek and quiet boy, until we see his true face in the kitchen and witness his ferocious cooking style. He grew up having everything to prove, and seafood is his specialty. As a young girl, Alice scouted him and made him her partner.

And for good reason! Ryo has a competitive spirit that may 0utshine even Soma's, and his aggressive seafood cooking style is like the angry cousin of Megumi's. He gets results, though, and he made it to the final three-way cookoff in the Autumn Election.

5 Terunori Kuga

This is the first member of the original Council to appear, the second-year student Terunori Kuga. His specialty is one anyone would love to eat: Chinese food. More specifically, he cooks with the Szechuan style.

Kuga isn't afraid to make his dishes spicy, either, and he knows exactly how to make his food hot enough to make an impression, but add flavor rather than be spicy for its own sake. Spice is a flavor if you use it correctly, after all. Eventually, Kuga learns to branch out a bit and become more creative in his cooking style, though there are still more capable chefs out there.

4 Satoshi Isshiki

Now for another member of the Council, and what a guy he is. A second-year like Kuga, Isshiki is an upbeat chef who settled on traditional Japanese cooking as his specialty. He grew up in a traditional household, and he had many talents.

Most of all, he had talent in the kitchen, and he fought well for the rebel faction during the final 8-vs-8 shokugeki. Nene Kinokuni, another member of the Council, always envied him and his skills, but after she admitted this, Isshiki extended a helping hand and explained how much he believed in her. Their friendship got right back on track after that.

3 Tosuke Megishima

This is another member of the Council, and it was a real twist when he turned against Azami Nakiri and sided with the rebels. At first, the strong-but-silent Megishima wanted nothing to do with either side, but Soma, being Soma, tracked him down and earnestly talked him into helping.

Once Megishima started cooking, he proved himself a master. Though he narrowly lost to Rindo Kobayashi, he invented the very concept of African ramen, a creative and astounding new dish that took everyone by surprise. And one on one, he easily trounced Soma in one cook-off against another. This is one ramen master not to mess with.

2 Soma Yukihira

The protagonist himself appears, and not a moment too soon. What is Soma's specialty? It's simple: family diner experience. Soma knows what it's like to juggle a hundred tasks at once during a rush hour, and he knows how to keep customers coming back by balancing familiar dishes with inventive new twists.

All this makes him tough, creative, and open to new ideas, and he learns a lot from his defeats. Soma assimilated cooking ideas from every chef he met, friend and foe alike, to create a mental cookbook with near-infinite recipes. Now that's some fine dining!

1 Erina Nakiri

The daughter of Azami Nakiri narrowly edges out Soma for the top spot, and she's the commander of the rebel faction in the fight against Azami. To put it simply, Erina has it all: the famed God Tongue, incredibly broad knowledge of ingredients and fine dining, elegance and class, connections, and of course, cooking skills that are through the roof.

Even a major cooking challenge is just a quaint trifle to her, and master chefs and food critics from around the globe are climbing over each other to have her taste their dishes or give a food review. Oh, and she responded well to Soma's cocky challenge during the final shokugeki against Central, and she made a stunningly creative dish to follow Soma's bizarre appetizer. After all that, how could we not award Erina the top spot?

NEXT: 10 Awesome Things You Didn't Know About Food Wars Season 3

One of the famed "Big Three" of Shonen Jump is Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, the tale of a cursed boy who aspires to become the next Hokage and become a hero everyone can admire and respect. He gets into plenty of fights along the way in his ninja career and proves himself every time.

While Naruto Shippuden has some of the biggest fights and features many new characters, the first major story arc (with younger Naruto) is not to be overlooked. Some of the most creative and personally intense battles take place during Naruto's younger days, and now, it's time to review the 10 coolest fight scenes in this part of the story (in no particular order).

Update July 1st, 2020 by Louis Kemner: While Naruto Shippuden offers some of shonen fans' favorite battles in all of manga, none of it would be possible without the first major story arc to set the stage. Even before he became a great toad sage and Biju master, Naruto was an inspiring and thrilling hero to watch, since this boy had incredible courage as well as the strength of spirit and conviction to see him through any battle. In these early days, some short but clever action scenes set the tone for the series, and it's high time to check out more of these original-era battles.

15 Naruto Uzumaki & Iruka Umino Vs Mizuki

The first-ever battle in Naruto lacks much of the flair and fancy jutsu of later fight scenes, but it's symbolically important. In desperation, Naruto had "borrowed" a forbidden jutsu scroll, and Mizuki was out to kill him.

Iruka backed Naruto up and even took a few hits for him, and just when Mizuki had him cornered, Naruto unlocked his first powerhouse technique: shadow clone jutsu. A thousand times over, Naruto pummeled Mizuki flat and earned his first major victory. That night, Iruka proclaimed Naruto an official Leaf Village ninja.

14 Shikamaru Nara Vs Kin Tsuchi

Here's another personal first, this time for Shikamaru. He's a support-type ninja and isn't well-suited for dueling, but he sure gave it a shot against Kin Tsuchi of the Sound Village. He won with minimal bloodshed, too.

Kin used her needles, wires, and bells to confuse and disorient Shikamaru with sound, but Shikamaru's sneaky shadow made its way to her and took control. Shikamaru bent over backwards and Kin was forced to do the same, so she hit her head on the wall, knocking her out cold.

13 Neji Hyuga Vs Hinata Hyuga

Up until now, Hinata Hyuga of Squad 8 was a meek and shy girl, unwilling to show her true potential on the battlefield. Then she went up against her talented but bitter cousin, Neji, and endured a great deal of verbal abuse.

Then Naruto snapped Hinata out of it, and she fought her cousin with newfound strength and courage. She didn't win, but this set her on the path to becoming a great ninja, and Kurenai (her mentor) was deeply impressed. Hinata changed that day.

12 Squad 7 Vs Zabuza Momochi & Haku

This was one of the more straightforward fights in the early days, but it was a thrilling battle all the same. On that bridge to the Land of Waves, Haku demonstrated his crystal mirror and needle jutsu, putting Sasuke and Naruto on the defensive.

Once Sasuke seemingly succumbed, Naruto turned the tables in grief with his Nine Tails cloak. Meanwhile, Kakashi defeated Zabuza with his first on-screen use of the Lightning Blade. Finally, Zabuza touchingly gave his life to defend Haku once he turned on his thuggish employer.

11 Sasuke Uchiha Vs Gaara

This match never had a winner, but it was thrilling to watch, and the arena audience was dearly looking forward to it. Sasuke stepped into the arena with a new outfit and new heights of taijutsu power, and Gaara soon got a taste of it.

Gaara's sand defenses were baffled when Sasuke streaked across the battlefield in a blur, bolstered by his all-seeing Sharingan and his advanced jutsu. Gaara was on the defensive the entire time, and he was soon forced to resort to devastating new powers. At that moment, the operation to crush the Leaf Village was launched.

10 Naruto, Tsunade, & Jiraiya Vs Orochimaru & Kabuto

This is one of the more chaotic battles to take place in pre-Shippuden storylines, and it involves the three famed Sannin, or the legendary three ninjas Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade. It's an earth-shaking battle with no holds barred.

Orochimaru approached Tsunade to have his arms healed, but negotiations broke down, and a 3-vs-2 battle soon erupts. The Rasengan, healing jutsu, summoning jutsu, chakra scalpels, and more are all showcased in this fight, and Orochimaru does well against the odds before finally retreating.

9 Rock Lee Vs Gaara

This is one of ten duels to take place during the tower phase of the Chunin exams, and it reflects one of the recurring themes of Naruto: putting raw, inborn talent vs hard work and diligence. Some ninjas are born gifted, and others have to earn it.

Gaara wields the awesome power of the one-tailed Shukaku, while Rock Lee trained like crazy to become a taijutsu master. In this fight, Rock Lee suffers defeat, but not before showcasing some truly incredible combat moves and pushing Gaara pretty far. Might Guy was moved to tears.

8 Shikamaru Nara Vs Temari

This was a truly extraordinary (and bizarre) fight scene during the final stages of the Chunin exams. Although Shikamaru Nara has a support-type combat style (using shadows to control people), he made it to the final tournament and was pitted against the fan-using Temari.

Temari was largely on the defensive, trying to avoid Shikamaru's shadow jutsu while trying to come up with a counter-attack plan. Being the boy genius he is, Shikamaru outmaneuvered her and seemed to have won... only to surrender, due to exhaustion. He's brilliant, but he still has room to grow.

7 Squad 7 Vs Zabuza Momochi

This is one of the first serious fights to ever take place in the series. Early on, Naruto was thrilled to accept a C-ranked mission, and Squad 7 was asked to escort a bridge-builder back to his homeland, the Land of Waves.

But water ninja attacked them, first two Chunin, then the rogue Jonin Zabuza. Despite the odds, Naruto and Sasuke worked as a seamless team to outmaneuver their foe, and Kakashi took over with his Sharingan eye and some quick water jutsu.

6 Naruto Vs Neji Hyuga

Here is another battle that took place in the final stages of the Chunin exam, and unlike Shikamaru and Temari's duel, it was an intense slugfest. Neji's Byakugan eyes and devastating Eight Trigrams jutsu were powerful weapons against Naruto.

But this time, guts and training finally triumphed over talent, and Naruto's stubborn will and creative use of the battlefield allowed him to land some surprising blows on his opponent and claim a stunning victory. This was one of many instances where Naruto's optimism and grit inspired a former enemy.

5 Naruto Vs Gaara

Naruto vs Gaara is perhaps one of the most emotional and intense battles in part one, tying with Naruto's duel with Sasuke (more on that soon). In fact, Naruto fought Gaara on the same day as when he fought Neji.

It was one jinchuriki vs another, and both boys had long since suffered the pain of housing horrible monsters that made them pariahs. By the end, both of them were exhausted, and Naruto opened up his heart and shared his experiences with tearful words. From that moment on, Gaara was a villain no more!

4 3rd Hokage Vs Orochimaru

Orochimaru was hell-bent on crushing the Leaf Village once and for all, and only the aging 3rd Hokage stood a chance against their might. While the Sound, Sand, and Leaf ninjas fought across the town, this boss battle was taking place on a rooftop.

Incredible (and forbidden) jutsu were used on both sides, from resurrection to death seals, and the 3rd Hokage gave his very life to seal Orochimaru's arms and render them powerless. He may have died, but Orochimaru was forced to retreat, and the "will of Fire" lived on.

3 Kakashi, Asuma, & Kurenai Vs Itachi & Kisame

This battle wasn't terribly conclusive, but it was a fine first impression of what Kisame and Itachi are capable of. Both Akatsuki members arrived in the Leaf Village to capture Naruto, but these three Jonin intercepted them.

Kisame's brute strength and water jutsu proved pretty scary, but Itachi's brilliant tactics and vicious Mangekyo Sharingan were even more fearsome. Kakashi endured mind-shattering torture at Itachi's hands before Might Guy arrived and the Akatsuki finally retreated.

2 Naruto, Rock Lee, & Gaara Vs Kimimaro

Kimimaro is a teenager who can use a bone-based kekkei genkai, and he's too powerful for any single hero to take on. Naruto challenged him first, but not even a battalion of shadow clones could put a stop to Kimimaro's rampage.

So, Rock Lee arrived next and demonstrated some literal drunk-fu, but Kimimaro wasn't yet defeated. Finally, Gaara arrived and challenged this bony monster, demonstrating some new powers along the way. But even Gaara was on the ropes by the time Kimimaro's deadly illness caught up with him, and he died.

1 Naruto Vs Sasuke

And now, it is time for the defining battle of the pre-Shippuden arc of this anime. Sasuke fled the Leaf Village to pursue power, and his curse mark was making him stronger than ever. Out of loyalty, Naruto pursued him, despite the danger.

Both rivals faced off at the waterfall, and they dueled right there under the towering statues of Madara Uchiha and the 1st Hokage. Sasuke's curse and Chidori faced off against Naruto's demon fox cloak and Rasengan, and the results are climactic to say the least. Not to mention the intense emotional stakes. Would ambition or friendship triumph in Sasuke's mind?

NEXT: Naruto: 5 Reasons It's the Definitive Ninja Anime (& 5 Better Alternatives)

Grandmaster Hanzo Hasashi, AKA Scorpion, has been the poster child of the Mortal Kombat franchise for over 20 years now. Thanks to his iconic moves, catchphrase, a design that has evolved yet remained similar over the years, and a story that makes him one of the more relatable, Scorpion is one of Mortal Kombat's most popular Kombatants

With this kind of popularity would eventually spark the imagination and creativity of cosplayers around the globe, leading to some truly admirably made pieces of wearable art. These fans have tested their might and these are the results of that test.

10 Classic Scorpion By TheWellBlack

This cosplay is an impressive recreation of the classic Scorpion from earlier games as well as the recent Mortal Kombat 11. The twist here is in the worn and gritty detail that gives this cosplay a darker edge– a simple design yet somehow enhanced to almost movie quality with just the added details of dirt and grime.

This Christopher Nolan-esque version of classic Scorpion comes from Instagram user TheWellBlack who has many different cosplays on display, including alternate Scorpion looks as well as Marvel and DC characters.

9 Mortal Kombat X Scorpion By Pyramidhead_Cosplay

Often considered one of the best designs for the leader of the Shirai Ryu clan, pyramidhead_cosplay on Instagram brought it to life with stunning amounts of detail, beautiful composition, and some added effects that make the cosplayer look straight out of the tenth game in the series.

Though mainly a Scorpion cosplayer, his profile does show off other cosplays such as The Mandalorian, Jason Voorhees from Friday The 13th, and as his username suggests, a cosplay of Pyramid Head from the Silent Hill franchise.

8 Mortal Kombat 11 Scorpion By Syzygy_Cosplay_

This version of Scorpion was created by syzygy_cosplay_ on Instagram and she gives a genderbent cosplay that's equally beautiful as it is imposing. With a mask and tunic straight out of Mortal Kombat 11, she has the presence of a ninja warrior that one would not want to anger, but would also enjoy the company of in times of peace.

On syzygy_cosplay_'s profile, one can find a plethora of different cosplays to marvel at, including D.Va from Overwatch, Meowth from Pokémon, and many more. She has a true talent for cosplaying as the characters she loves.

7 Custom Scorpion Design By Joelxero

Though recreating an iconic look is always impressive, it is equally as so when the cosplayers create their own unique designs; such was the case with Instagram user joelxero, who looks like an intimidating mix of Scorpion from Injustice: Gods Among Us and an Assassin's Creed character.

A man of many talents, joelxero is a voice actor, YouTuber, and of course, a cosplayer. A wide variety of characters can be found on his profile: Nathan Drake, the Joker, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Hulk Hogan to name a few.

6 Scorpion VS Reptile By Kenrampersad & Ryuuken_07

With Mortal Kombat characters, it is only inevitable before a fight brews between two iconic ninjas. In this case, we have a Mortal Kombat X cosplay by kenrampersad, featuring a friendly confrontation with Reptile cosplayed by ryuuken_07 in a shot that is nothing short of iconic.

Both cosplayers display equal amounts of love and dedication to the characters they portray on both their Instagram accounts, with kenrampersad's profile focusing more on his cooking with a side of cosplay, while ryuuken_07 focus more on his cosplays of many famous characters.

5 MK11 Fem-Scorpion By Diochavesch

From fiochavesch on Instagram comes her own genderbent take on MK11 Scorpion. Her pic is shot with some nice composition, the colors stand out really well, the pose is dynamic, and she has done a great job creating her own MK11 Scorpion without it feeling too similar to the previous genderbent one on the list.

Her profile focuses mainly on her video game streaming, but she does have a fair amount of cosplays across to enjoy such as Captain Marvel and Spider-Gwen from Marvel Comics.

4 Another Mortal Kombat X Scorpion By Sensei-Scorpion

With the most fitting of usernames, sensei-scorpion focuses his cosplays mainly on the character of Hanzo Hasashi, ranging from the various video game incarnations to the movies. With this, we see his head to toe perfectly translated to life cosplay of the MKX version of Scorpion.

Though Scorpion is his favorite, he does have other cosplays to enjoy on his profile such as Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Deadpool, and more. Being a stuntman, Alexey also has entertaining fitness & cosplay videos to enjoy.

3 Lady Scorpion By Stellaraujoo_

With a design as complex and intricate as Scorpion's from Mortal Kombat 9, this cosplay is a truly stunning reinvention that pays close attention to detail and gender swaps the character perfectly. She looks akin to a real character one would see in the gaming franchise; perhaps as one of Kronika's many timelines? The pic also gives off a tone that resembles the first season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy.

This cosplay was created by stellaraujoo on Instagram, who has cosplayed as other characters in the past such as Tomb Raider's Lara Croft, a genderbent Sub-Zero, Hela from Thor: Ragnarok, black suit Daredevil, and more. A very talented woman indeed.

2 New/Classic Scorpion By Herbztiu

With a minimalistic look that merges elements from Mortal Kombat X with the classic Scorpion of the '90s, stuntman cosplayer herbztiu gives us a battle-ready Master Hanzo Hasashi. The pose, the lighting, and the impressive cosplay all lend to a shot that will make anyone scared to fight this undead ninja.

On herbztiu's profile, there are several different looks at his Scorpion cosplay, but he has also portrayed many other characters such as Michael Morbius from Marvel, Quinlan Vos from Star Wars lore, and even Scorpion's nemesis: Sub-Zero.

1 Grand Master Hasashi By Sledgehammer Creative

The first cosplay on this list to portray the older & resurrected version of Scorpion from Mortal Kombat 11, sledgehammer creative perfectly brings that incarnation of the character to life not only in the well-crafted costume but in aesthetics as well, having a nearly identical look to the character model's face in the game.

The profile for sledgehammer creative contains several impressive cosplays many would consider too difficult to accomplisht: from the massive Gladio from Final Fantasy XV to Gibraltar from Apex Legends, this man has created some stellar cosplays.

NEXT: The Ten Most Iconic Character Archetypes in Fighting Games

Valiant Entertainment is now accepting portfolios from aspiring comic book creators, including interior artists, letterers and colorists. The Virtual Portfolio Review program will take place on Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10 from 12 pm - 2 pm EST on both days.

The press release and submission instructions appear in full below.

Valiant Entertainment is proud to announce its Virtual Portfolio Review program to nurture aspiring comic book creators, help them grow, and find new voices to work with on future projects.

In lieu of open-call portfolio review sessions at conventions, the award-winning publisher will offer digital one-on-one portfolio reviews for aspiring interior artists, cover artists, colorists, and letterers.

These virtual one-on-one sessions will take place with senior editors Heather Antos (QUANTUM & WOODY, X-O MANOWAR) or Lysa Hawkins (RAI, BLOODSHOT) and will run for approximately ten minutes. Please read the below information very carefully for submission details, deadlines, and suggestions.

Dates of Digital Portfolio Reviews

Thursday, July 9th from 12pm-2pm EST
Friday, July 10th from 12pm-2pm EST

How to Submit

Email your submission to PortfolioReview@valiantentertainment.com
Subject line: Name, Discipline, Available Date
Subject line example: Ray Garrison, Cover Artist, July 9th & 10th
Please note: Submissions should be a single PDF document with an information page in the back that includes your name, a link to your online portfolio, and your contact information.

Submission Deadline

For July 9th Session: Wednesday, July 8th at 12pm EST
For July 10th Session: Thursday, July 9th at 12pm EST
Those selected will be notified by Wednesday, July 8th, and Thursday, July 9th, no later than 10pm EST.

Submission Suggestions

Interior artists: Feature action beats and talking heads.
Letterers: Include a variety of genres and SFX.
Colorists: Present covers and interiors.
All submitters: Include no more than 15 pages of materials.

"With convention season on pause due to the pandemic, it's been important to us at Valiant to continue the outreach with both fans and creators alike that we would normally be able to do in person -- and that includes one-on-one portfolio reviews with up-and-coming talent," stated Heather. "Furthermore, we recognize that not every creator out there has the means or ability to travel to conventions, and it's important to us to be as accessible as possible to those creators looking to get their feet in the door."

Please remember to review all of the above information carefully before sending your submission. 10 people will be selected for each day of portfolio reviews. Valiant's senior editors look forward to reviewing your work!

A fan film titled "Play For Keeps" takes a darker look at the X-Men universe, particularly where Gambit is concerned.

The film opens with the Ragin' Cajun pulling off a heist before he's intercepted by Illyana Rasputin, AKA Magik. Illyana takes Gambit to a poker game hosted by arms dealer Nicky Lonero (Eric Roberts) who he robbed years ago. To force Gambit into playing, Lonero has kidnapped Rogue and hooked her up to a machine that sends painful shocks coursing through her body if he uses his powers.

Director Jensen Noen shows a deep love for the Marvel Universe, particularly its mutant corner. Nowhere is this more evident than with lead actor Nick Bateman, who portrays Gambit. Bateman nails Gambit's accent, mannerisms and combat skills. Actors Ellen Hoffman and Anna Butkevych, meanwhile, also sound pitch-perfect as Rogue and Magik, respectively.

The visual effects are also top-notch, from beginning to end. When Gambit uses his powers, his eyes glow red in a nod to the comics and violet energy surrounds the objects he touches. Whenever Rogue uses her powers, veins spread across her victims' faces. Even Magik's portals have a hellish look to them. This may be a fan film, but it definitely looks and feels like a big-budget production.

KEEP READING: The Spider-Man vs. Kraven Fan Film That Most People Will Never Get To See

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Adapt or Die," the latest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode.

Director Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie and Deke Shaw are lost in time.

In "Adapt or Die," the latest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode, Mack and Deke were stranded in an as-yet unspecified time period. This was a direct result of the Chronicom's latest attack, which badly damaged the Zephyr and revealed Mack's parents were replaced by Chronicoms in the timeline.

The episode picked up right after Mack ordered the Zephyr to fire on Project Insight, which destroyed it. He made the move in effort to stop the satellite while protecting his parents, who were being held prisoner in the Lighthouse. However, this gave away their position, allowing the Chronicoms to fire back. The counter strike ripped a whole in the top of the Zephyr and destroyed the special shielding that protects it during time jumps.

Ultimately, the team evaded the Chronicoms and landed the Zephyr somewhere safe. Simmons, Deke and Enoch stayed on the plane to do repairs, while Mack and Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez took off on the quinjet to rescue Mack's parents. They were successful in freeing the Mackenzies, and even picked up May on the way out. As they flew back to Zephyr one, though, May made a startling -- and heartbreaking -- discovery.

Once they were out of danger, Mack relaxed and caught up with his parents. At one point, John Mackenzie wandered over to thank May for rescuing them. When he put his hand on her shoulder, she felt no emotions from him, which has only been the case with Coulson and the Chronicoms. She immediately set the quinjet on autopilot and expressed her concerns to Mack, who was horrified by the suggestion. Nevertheless, he trusted her instincts and looked for proof.

With dread in his voice, Mack asked John to show him an injury he got during their escape. John resisted at first, then finally gave in. The wound revealed metal plating under the skin, which proved he was indeed a Chronicom. A fight ensued, with a devastated Mack battling the spitting image of his parents.

At one point, Mack demanded to know what became of his parents. "They've been gone a while," the Chronicom replied, punching him square in the face. "I harvested their skins. We're going to have so much fun together, son." By the end of the fight, he threw both Chronicoms off out of the hatch mid-flight, but not before his mother's doppelganger begged him for her life.

When the quinjet returned to the Zephyr, Mack didn't speak. He simply sat with Yo-Yo for a long while, holding her hand as they experienced another jump through time. Before they could even acclimate to the new time period or figure out where they were, Mack headed to the hangar and got on his bike, while Deke looked on in concern.

"Where are you going, man?" Deke asked, as Mack revved up the engine.

"I just need some air," Mack replied without looking at him.

Despite Mack's request to be alone, Deke headed out after him. Mack parked a short distance away, but without his own set of wheels, it took Deke some time to catch up. As he made his way across the field, though, Simmons called out to him over his walkie talkie: "Deke, where are you?"

"Hey. I said I would check on Mack. Believe it or not, I kind of get what he's going through," Deke explained.

"No!" she cried. "Where are you? The Zephyr is leaving! Both of you get back now! Deteriorating -- about to jump --"

At that, Deke took off running -- towards Mack, rather than the Zephyr. "Mack!" he yelled in a panic. "Mack, we've got to go! Z1 is in trouble!"

Despite Deke's pleas, Mack didn't even turn around. He simply stared ahead and didn't even flinch as the Zephyr blipped away from the time period. Deke, on the other hand, watched in horror as S.H.I.E.L.D. was whisked away without them.

At the time of writing, it is unclear where and when the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents got stuck. The Zephyr jumped out of 1976, so it must be some point in time after that. Further, it is unknown when the Zephyr jumped to, so Mack and Deke could be stranded for days, months or even years. Next week's episode is titled "The Totally Excellent Adventures of Mack and the D," which suggests it will take place in the 80s. For the time being, though, the team has been left leaderless.

Additionally, the episode suggested the Chronicoms have altered the timeline. After all, the Chronicom impersonating John Mackenzie confirmed Mack's parents are dead, which should have some serious ramifications on Mack's upbringing. Considering his name is in the title of next week's episode, though, it looks like the show will explore the fallout of that change.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s final season airs Wednesdays at 10 pm ET/PT on ABC. The series stars Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Henry Simmons, Iain De Caestecker, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Elizabeth Henstridge and Clark Gregg.

KEEP READING: Agents Of SHIELD: May's New Powers, Explained

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Adapt or Die," the latest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Phil Coulson just made the sacrifice play -- again.

In "Adapt or Die," Coulson discovered the Chronicom's time ship, which was filled to the brim with Hunters ready to impersonate S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. So, he did what he does best: he sacrificed himself to blow up the craft, and took many Chronicoms with him. However, he probably isn't gone for good.

At the start of the episode, Coulson and Melinda May found themselves imprisoned in the Lighthouse by General Rick Stoner. Between interrogations, the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had an overdue conversation about Coulson's return and May's reaction to it, with May angrily admitting she didn't want to mourn him again -- despite the fact she hasn't been able to feel any emotions since the Season 6 finale.

"Don't look now, but your emotions are coming back, unless you just picked that up from watching me," Coulson sneered. Then, something clicked. "[The Chronicoms] are mimicking me! Adapting... On the train, he said they adapt. They saw me and realized they could steal personalities! What if they're doing that? What if they have a method of taking our memories, our identities, and uploading them into Chronicom bodies? Replace the agents, use them to take over."

In light of this revelation, Coulson ripped his handcuffs off and freed May as well. They quickly tracked down Stoner, saving him just before the Chronicoms killed him and stole his identity. Before they dispatched the Chronicoms, though, they overheard one mention the location of their ship. As it turns out, it was below the Lighthouse the whole time.

So Coulson made his way down to the Lighthouse's lowest level, where he found a room filled with Chronicom Hunters. There, he also encountered Sybil the Predictor, who has been guiding the Chronicom forces all season. They had an enlightening conversation, where she answered some questions and appealed to his LMD side.

Upon arriving in her digital landscape, Coulson asked where he was. "Surrounded by Hunters in our time ship. It appears underground, which is why you had difficulty finding it," she explained.

They went back and forth about the Chronicom's invasion of Earth, with Sybil explaining why the alien race felt entitled to the planet. When he asked her the difference between Chronicoms and humans, she said, "Time. Humans have a limited amount of it, and therefore fear death. They act irrationally to prevent themselves or others from experiencing death. Chronicoms cannot die. Time has no consequence. You should ask yourself which category you fall into."

"So that's the difference that makes your species more valuable," he mused, for her to correct him with, "Less fleeting."

Sybil argued humanity would either give up or realize they were out of time. "I would argue that you're wrong about three things, if you don't mind," Coulson replied. "First, the difference is sacrifice. Yeah, time is limited, which means sacrifice comes at a real cost. Not just data: heart, and pain, and blood, and sweat, and tears. All the good human stuff. And we will never give up."

"You said I was wrong about three things. What's the third?" Sybil inquired.

"Me," he shot back. "You see, I haven't feared death for a long time. The fact is, dying? It's kind of my superpower."

With that, he exited the digital landscape and grabbed his duffel bag, which was filled with explosives that were originally intended to flood the Lighthouse. He pulled out the trigger and then his walkie talkie. "May, if you're out there, I found the ship. I just hope you're right about this next part," he said, referring to her earlier jab about him never dying.

As Chronicoms began to descend on him, Coulson took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. The whole ship exploded, and he went with it. As a result, he successfully struck a major blow against the enemy, but sacrificed himself in the process. After all, he doesn't know if the team will be able to bring him back, but he seems to have faith that they can and will.

In the comics, Nick Fury himself has pulled this ploy many times. He often uses LMDs to engage in dangerous or suicidal missions. Then, just when it would appear he was dead, he'd return and reveal it had been an LMD along. This was particularly relevant in Original Sin by Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato; the event saw Fury emerge as a much older man, who used LMDs as his public front for years.

Now, it seems Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is borrowing this trapping for Coulson. Since Simmons has already brought him back from the dead as an LMD, she could certainly do it again, given time and resources. However, they may be short on those, since the Zephyr's time jump drive appears to be malfunctioning. As a result, Coulson's fate is up the air for now.

KEEP READING: Agents Of SHIELD: May's New Powers, Explained

My Hero Academia and Naruto are among of the most popular anime to have ever been released. Each follows similar themes; the story of a young boy with a mysteriously absent father, attempting to be the best through grit and determination while villains work from the shadows and his peers and neighbors initially doubt his abilities.

Even though My Hero Academia is still airing and Naruto has finished, the popularity of both anime has still begged the question; which is better? It's time to go beyond and believe it, examining elements of each show and determining which is better from the aggregate of their contents.

10 MY HERO ACADEMIA: Side Characters

My Hero Academia's side characters are far more defined than Naruto's (as one might insinuate from the show's names). Though Naruto may excel at giving certain characters depth like Kakashi and Sasuke, it is only because they are in the immediate vicinity of the protagonist.

On the other hand, My Hero Academia sees characters that Deku has seldom interacted with grow and shine in their own fascinating way. An example of which can be found in the season four finale, where Endeavor came into his own as the symbol of peace and the father Shoto deserved.

9 NARUTO: The Setting

My Hero Academia may present fascinating new ideas and an interesting take on a society where (almost) everyone was born with a superpower, but it pales in comparison to Naruto's unique synthesis of Japanese folklore and artistic license.

While quirks may be an interesting concept, the ideas of Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu are far more versatile. It allows characters to surprise viewers in ways that would not otherwise be possible in a gimmicky world and helps to construct their identity further than a single power. Additionally, the Five Great Nations provide a wider range of settings than the urban settings showcased in My Hero Academia.

8 MY HERO ACADEMIA: Cohesion

Naruto's long runtime may give it an opportunity to flesh out its universe and rules more, though it also works to its detriment. Many of the episodes are either filler or flashbacks (sometimes of scenes that were insultingly recent), dragging out fights and prolonging arcs well past their welcome.

Conversely, My Hero Academia presents cohesive stories that are abbreviated enough to remain interesting without being too short to be satisfying. Each season has roughly two concepts, with the latter concept segueing into the next arc.

7 NARUTO: Moral

Though My Hero Academia may benefit from its better-developed characters, it does not have a strong moral foundation like Naruto does. The only lessons to be gleaned are that anyone can be a hero (in the case of Deku) and learn to forgive (as in the case of Todoroki and Endeavor). One could argue they advocate standing up for yourself such as with Kirishima, though that's too recurring of an element to be considered.

Naruto unpacks their messages and takes it a step further. It emphasizes the value of hard work over natural talent, never to abandon your friends even if they might cause you suffering, and that a thirst for revenge might never truly be quenched.

6 MY HERO ACADEMIA: Fights

Naruto's fight scenes share a problem with the overall anime; they're extended past their intrigue. Excessive dialogue and unnecessary flashbacks stretch what would otherwise be an engaging battle from what should be between five to ten minutes to an hour or longer.

My Hero Academia is concise and deliberate with its combat. It seldom use massive, terrain-altering explosions to disorient its audience, and the banter inserted is brief and meaningful. Additionally, many characters have an opportunity to show their skills, whereas the bulk of Naruto's combat revolved around either himself or Sasuke.

5 NARUTO: Rivalry

Though Sasuke's actions may have become inexcusable later in the series, his backstory elucidates a sound reason for his villainy. His family and people were slaughtered before his eyes at the hands of his brother, creating an incessant drive to become strongest and defeat him. This often puts him at odds with Naruto when he is outperformed, as it invokes feelings of inadequacy.

Bakugo has no tragic backstory or even compelling reason to become strongest, save how he was inspired by All Might's power, like almost every hero his age. His natural gifts made him foulmouthed, obnoxious, and abusive to Midoriya since their childhood, which he inexplicably tolerated.

4 MY HERO ACADEMIA: Relatability

Given its contemporary setting, My Hero Academia holds an inherent advantage over Naruto. However, it isn't enough to exceed it entirely; where it excels is in how it presents its strongest characters.

As powerful as All Might is, he still arrives at his toughest battles with reinforcements (such as the League of Villains bust in the Kamino arc). Naruto and Sasuke are both essentially gods, able to protect entire armies and are untouchable by capable fighters like Kakashi. This makes it less satisfying to picture oneself in their universe, especially as an ordinary shinobi.

3 NARUTO: Villains

Naruto does its villains justice, often using their tragic backstories to convey messages which reflect on reality. For example, Nagato's lesson is that pain only begets pain and that equal suffering cannot bring others together, or Obito's message that it is better to face reality than to live a convenient lie.

My Hero Academia attempts to capture this depth and occasionally succeeds, but only with minor antagonists (such as Overhaul, Stain, and Gentle Criminal). Shigaraki is ridiculously unpleasant, and All For One is the self-proclaimed "Symbol of Evil," a title few real villains would reasonably claim.

2 MY HERO ACADEMIA: Protagonist

Naruto may be the picture of heroism, but that is exactly why he falls short. He is so excessively upbeat and doggedly idealistic that he feels more like an idea than a real person, and his willingness to convert and forgive his enemies seldom backfires, which is just unrealistic.

Midoriya is far more well-rounded, making hard decisions in difficult situations and not always taking "the high road." He was willing to step over his classmates to win the Sports Festival and knew that a man like Overhaul could not be redeemed.

1 CONCLUSION: My Hero Academia

As compelling as Naruto's universe might be, My Hero Academia ultimately depicts what its predecessor attempted to do, but better. Midoriya is a more practical protagonist, both in concept and execution. He is not the son of his universe's equivalent of the president, nor the harbinger of an ancient power. The strength he was given was won through his heart and augmented by his resolve.

Additionally, putting more focus on supporting characters (even at the expense of the main protagonist) keeps the story at a refreshing pace and makes Izuku's interactions with the world around him more fulfilling.

NEXT: 10 Powerful Ultimate Forms In Anime That Are Actually Kind Of Useless

Since Goku first reached the golden-haired form in his fateful fight against Frieza, the Super Saiyan has become a staple of the Dragon Ball franchise. As Goku’s saga has continued, more variations of Super Saiyan have appeared, such as spikier-haired Super Saiyan 2 and long-haired Super Saiyan 3. Most recently, Dragon Ball Super has introduced the game changing Super Saiyan God, Blue, and Rosé, which all approach the form from another angle entirely.

As familiar as these power-ups has become, however, there are a few facts about Super Saiyans that even some of the most dedicated fans may not know about.

10 Super Saiyan 2 And 3 Were Almost Phased Out

For many years, Super Saiyan 3 was considered the pinnacle of Super Saiyan transformations, with the exception of Dragon Ball GT’s non-canon Super Saiyan 4. Yet Super Saiyan God left Super Saiyan 3 in the dust, giving Goku a fighting chance against Beerus that the previous Super Saiyan form had not. After Battle of Gods, Akira Toriyama had actually considered phasing Super Saiyan 2 and 3 out entirely, arguing that Goku would gain more strength and waste less energy training in his base and first Super Saiyan form. Toriyama likely changed his mind, however, as Super Saiyan 2 and 3 returned repeatedly during Dragon Ball Super’s run.

9 Super Saiyan Gods Can Heal

As the article’s title suggests, Super Saiyan God allows its users to heal themselves to some degree. When Beerus stabbed Goku’s heart during their fight in the Dragon Ball Super anime, the Saiyan managed to heal himself while underwater. Since then, it hasn’t always been clear when Goku’s used this ability again, although it does explain how he's been able to recover from injuries in later fights. Some fans have speculated that God Heal may not be a move Goku consciously uses, however, as he has not been shown to heal from similar attacks by other enemies, like Zamasu.

8 Super Saiyan God Was Almost Much Buffer

The original script for Battle of Gods was not written by Akira Toriyama, but Yūsuke Watanabe, who came up with both Beerus and the Super Saiyan God. However, Toriyama radically revised both concepts when he heavily rewrote the script and overhauled certain character designs. Beerus was changed to resemble Egyptian cat-gods, as well as Toriyama’s own cat, while Goku became much slimmer in his Super Saiyan God form.

The original version of Super Saiyan God, designed by longtime Dragon Ball animator Tadayoshi Yamamuro, was given a more muscular build than a Super Saiyan’s, and even had a cape. Toriyama, however, decided on “paring it down to the absolute limit.”

7 Goku And Vegeta Might Be Able To Access Super Saiyan Rosé

Zamasu’s Super Saiyan Rosé was essentially Super Saiyan Blue with a different hair color and aura to reflect Zamasu’s godhood. Goku and Vegeta are mortals, but characters in Dragon Ball don’t have to be born deities to become them. Whis is specifically training Goku and Vegeta to become Gods of Destruction, and Dende became the god of Earth when replacing Kami. The title of god has also been shown to be more than cosmetic: in the Super anime, Top outright transformed into a God of Destruction. Therefore, if named gods, Goku and Vegeta might be able to go Rosé, but may find it redundant.

6 Super Saiyan God Was Almost A One-Off Form

While the Super Saiyan God form would continue to appear regularly in the manga, the transformation made far fewer anime appearances after Resurrection ‘F,' being essentially supplanted by the stronger Super Saiyan Blue. Still, it may be surprising to learn that Battle of Gods almost became the Super Saiyan God form’s only appearance. Toriyama originally felt that Goku absorbing Super Saiyan God’s power boost into his base form had made the God state redundant. Having not yet conceived Resurrection ‘F,’ Toriyama had likely not yet decided that Super Saiyan God could also be performed without the ritual, which Goku had expressed dissatisfaction about.

5 Super Saiyan Blue Can Be Perfected

For all of its power, Super Saiyan Blue has one major flaw: its energy can run out quickly. Though rarely addressed in the anime, it was initially a constant concern for Goku and Vegeta in the manga. Both fighters would compensate by primarily fighting as Super Saiyan Gods, switching to Blue at key moments for a strength boost. Eventually, Goku finally found a fix by absorbing Blue’s aura into himself, preventing any energy from passively leaving his body. However, this manga-only, “completed” Super Saiyan Blue was also imperfect, as holding in all of that power could eventually start damaging a Saiyan’s body.

4 Super Saiyans Save On Ink

Toriyama’s a practical creator who likes to keep things simple. Why are Super Saiyan Gods’ hair red? Because Toriyama considers it a strong color. Why did the Super Saiyan God ritual need six Saiyans? It was convenient for the story.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be too surprising to learn he made the original Super Saiyan forms were blonde so his art assistant on the manga could spend less time inking Goku’s hair! Similarly, Goku’s eyes were made clear (except in color, where they were green) so readers would have less difficulty telling when he’d look to one side, e.g. when scowling at Frieza from below.

3 The “Tingly Back” Reveal May Explain Some Things

Dragon Ball Super introduced the divisive revelation that the Super Saiyan form can also be reached by gathering energy at the center of the spine. Yet despite the “tingly back” method’s controversy, it would explain how Goten and Trunks become Super Saiyans so easily in Dragon Ball Z.

Previously, Toriyama has stated that Goten and Trunks had transformed easily by lacking tails, as well as being less encumbered by Earth’s lighter gravity. That explanation never made it into the manga or anime, however, and Toriyama has changed his mind about backstory before. Given how S-Cells are arguably even more controversial, the “back tingle” explanation may be the slightly better option.

2 Super Saiyan God And Blue Have Distinct Fighting Styles… Sometimes

Initially, there wasn’t a big difference between how Saiyans fought as Super Saiyan Gods versus how they fought as Super Saiyan Blues. When working on Dragon Ball Super: Broly, however, director Tatsuya Nagamine and his fellow animators took great care to show how Goku and Vegeta approach combat differently in each form. In his words, “God relies on predicting and dodging the opponent’s movements, plus godly techniques rather than power. Then Blue puts all the emphasis on bulldozing the opponent with brute force.” This is certainly conveyed in the movie, with even Vegeta evading more than usual when using Super Saiyan God against Broly.

1 The Bruce Lee Connection

Akira Toriyama is a well-known fan of martial arts cinema, including the work of Bruce Lee. When introducing the Super Saiyan form for the first time in the manga, Toriyama decided to homage the legendary actor/martial artist by basing the glare Goku gave Frieza on the look Lee would have in some of his films. Interestingly, when adapting the scene to animation, Tadayoshi Yamamuro decided [apparently on his own] to also look to Lee for inspiration, immediately recognizing Lee’s iconic stare and posture when seeing the image of Super Saiyan Goku.

NEXT: Dragon Ball Super: 10 Hidden Details Everyone Completely Missed About Team Universe 7

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Adapt or Die," the latest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. just dropped a major clue regarding Leopold Fitz's current whereabouts.

In "Adapt or Die," the latest episode, his wife Jemma Simmons began to experience some memory problems. She turned to their Chronicom ally Enoch for help, and he did so by examining the memory suppression device implanted in her brain. When Deke Shaw saw Enoch performing this task, he thought something more nefarious was going on and knocked Enoch out. Simmons quickly came to and let slip a piece of information about Fitz's location.

Furious at the interruption, Simmons stalked away from Deke to begin working on ship repairs again. "Enoch had you unconscious and was implanting something in your brain! All of my actions were completely on the up," he insisted as he followed her.

"Yeah, and completely misguided," Simmons shot back. "Forget what you saw. Enoch is a friend."

"No! What I just saw is Creepytown, USA. Population: the two of you!" he yelled. "No. I want answers. Real ones."

Simmons sighed. "He was fixing my memory so we can fix the ship," she said flatly. "You cannot imagine how impossible it was to track the Chronicoms through time, but Fitz and I found a place where all their moves could be observed. To guide us, Fitz stayed there. He is completely exposed and they will kill him if they find him, so no one can know his location."

"But you know," he replied softly.

"Yes," she admitted. "I designed a biological implant to suppress my memories. I named her Diana. She's adorable and we're inseparable, literally."

Deke was troubled at that. "But then you won't remember how to find Fitz again," he pushed.

"I'm worried I might. Diana is acting up, and I'm forgetting the things I'm supposed to know and, more dangerously, I'm remembering the things I'm not," she said.

When they revived Enoch, he completed his work on Simmons' implant. "No one can know about me," she told him. "I mean it, Deke. Even you knowing puts you at great risk. Can you carry this secret?" After a moment's hesitation, he nodded in acceptance.

Fitz's location has been a secret since the Season 6 finale. When Simmons came to pick up the rest of the team in her modified Zephyr, she told them no one could know where he is -- even her. She has also hinted they were gone for a very long time, but has refused to get specific about this. This is the first major clue about his location, although Simmons didn't give up many details. However, this suggests he is somewhere tied to the Chronicoms and that he was left in a precarious position.

KEEP READING: Agents Of SHIELD: May's New Powers, Explained

WWE Superstar Kane, in his other guise as Mayor Glenn Jacobs of Knox County, TN, cast the only dissenting vote when the Board of Health acted to require face masks in most public buildings to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

"Knox County Board of Health votes 7-1 to mandate a mask ordinance for anyone inside certain buildings," WVLT-TV sports reporter Zack Rickens tweeted. "Mayor Jacobs is the only nay. Board will re-evaluate the order at its next meeting."

According to Knox News, the order, which calls for people to don masks while indoors at public spaces, takes effect Friday, July 3. However, people with medical conditions that interfere with masks and children under 12 are exempt. The order also does not cover government facilities, federal or state, or houses of worship. People who don't wear a mask risk a $50 fine and 30-day jail term.

Jacobs has had a 25-plus-year career as a professional wrestler, operating under different names until developing the persona of Kane in 1997. As Kane, he frequently feuded and partnered with his "brother" The Undertaker and has had numerous title runs, including a World Heavyweight Championship stint in 2010.

Jacobs was elected mayor of Knox County in 2018.

KEEP READING: Undertaker vs. Kane: WWE's WILDEST Family Rivalry Ever, Explained

At the end of the original DCeased series, Cyborg -- who played a key role in unleashing the series' deadly techno-organic version of the Anti-Life Equation -- seemingly died when his head was ripped off by Wonder Woman, ending any hope for a cure. However, DC has now given CBR an exclusive preview of Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, Gigi Baldassini, Stefano Gaudiano, Rain Beredo and Saida Temofonte's DCeased: Dead Planet #1, which reveals Cyborg survived. In the preview, the Justice Leaguer uses a tracker implanted in him by Batman to boost a distress signal to Earth's surviving heroes.

You can see CBR's exclusive preview of DCeased: Dead Planet #1 below alongside the solicitation information for the book.

written by TOM TAYLOR
art by TREVOR HAIRSINE, STEFANO GAUDIANO, and GIGI BALDASSINI
cover by DAVID FINCH
card stock variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
card stock movie homage variant cover by BEN OLIVER
blank variant cover
After a corrupted Anti-Life Equation turned billions into monsters—including Earth’s Greatest Heroes—our planet was as good as dead.
Years later, a distress call brings Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, and Cassie Sandsmark—the Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman of Earth 2—back to a dead planet...but what will this new Justice League find waiting for them? If life still exists on Earth, who—or what—is lying in wait for these heroes?
The original creative team of Tom Taylor and Trevor Hairsine reunite for the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster series DCeased!
ON SALE 07.07.20
$4.99 US | 1 OF 6 | 40 PAGES
FC | DC
CARD STOCK VARIANT COVERS $5.99 US
This issue will ship with four covers.
Please see the order form for details.

DCeased: Dead Planet #1 goes on sale July 7 from DC.

KEEP READING: DC Introduces a TRUE Joker Groupie - and Shows How Punchline Is Different

Amazon Studios has enlisted Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy to develop a television series based on the popular Fallout video game franchise.

The series is a partnership between Amazon Studios, Kilter Films, Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks; Nolan, Joy and Athena Wickham will executive produce for Kilter, Todd Howard for Bethesda Game Studios and James Altman for Bethesda Softworks.

"Fallout is one of the greatest game series of all time," Joy and Nolan said. "Each chapter of this insanely imaginative story has cost us countless hours we could have spent with family and friends. So we’re incredibly excited to partner with Todd Howard and the rest of the brilliant lunatics at Bethesda to bring this massive, subversive, and darkly funny universe to life with Amazon Studios."

Debuting in 1997, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game franchise set in the 22nd and 23rd centuries. The first game was quickly followed by a sequel, Fallout 2 in 1998, as well as Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel in 2001, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel in 2004, Fallout 3 in 2008, Fallout: New Vegas in 2010, Fallout 4 and Fallout Shelter in 2015, Fallout Pinball in 2016 and Fallout 76 in 2018.

"Fallout is an iconic global franchise, with legions of fans worldwide and a rich, deeply compelling storyline that powers it. And Jonah and Lisa are the perfect storytellers to bring this series to life," Amazon Studios COO and Co-Head of Television Albert Cheng added. "We’re thrilled to join with Bethesda to bring Fallout to television."

"Over the last decade, we looked at many ways to bring Fallout to the screen," Bethesda Game Studios Executive Producer Todd Howard said. "But it was clear from the moment I first spoke with Jonah and Lisa a few years ago, that they and the team at Kilter were the ones to do it right. We’re enormous fans of their work and couldn’t be more excited to work with them and Amazon Studios."

(via Deadline)

An old clip from The Golden Girls spin-off The Golden Palace has resurfaced on Twitter, which shows Roland Wilson (Don Cheadle) giving Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) a brutal history lesson about the Confederate flag's legacy.

Three clips were posted by freelance journalist Seb Starcevic, who noted the relevance of these scenes in light of the Black Lives Matter protests and removal of Confederate monuments. In the scene, Cheadle's character confronts Blanche over her decision to openly hang a Confederate flag in the lobby of her hotel, something she dismisses as simply being a memento of "wonderful family memories." Frustrated by her obliviousness to the flag's symbolic ties, Roland explains the flag is representative of "colleges that won't let me in. It's about jobs that won't hire me. It's about crosses that are being burned on people's lawns today."

The discussion touched on Confederacy myths through Blanche. The scene ended with both characters agreeing to understand each other better. The scene has seemingly caught the attention of the public for timely remarks made by Cheadle's character, such as, "The whole world is messed up right now, and I would like to see that get better, but in order for that to happen white people are gonna have to start making positive assumptions when they see People of Color."

The Golden Girls aired from 1985 to 1992 and followed the misadventures of four older women as they navigated their lives together in Miami. Its spin-off, The Golden Palace, ran for just a single 24-episode season between 1992 and 1993. The original show starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, while the spin-off featured everyone but Arthur.

KEEP READING: Jonah Hex: DC's Gunslinger Needs to Retire His Confederate Uniform

Wildstorm and, later, Dynamite Entertainment's The Boys took the comic book world by storm with its gritty take on the superhero genre. In the years since its debut, it has spawned a television series of the same name on Amazon Prime. Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, Dynamite Entertainment will release a novelization of the first volume of the series, The Name of The Game.

In an announcement from Dynamite, writer Dan Wickline recalled his time reading The Boys comic book series and offered his thoughts on it. He stated, "I remember reading the first issue when it came out and just being floored. It was the type of story the industry needed." He then went on to praise graphic novel writer Garth Ennis and artist Darick Robertson for their work on the book before explaining what he hoped to accomplish with the novelization. "I'm getting a chance to introduce that world to another audience that may not normally pick up a comic book, as well as revealing a few details and fleshing out parts that even longtime fans will greatly appreciate," Wickline said.

Read the official press release below:

Before it inspired the hit 2019 Prime television series and upcoming second season, The Boys shook the comic book world with its debut in 2006. Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s celebrated series focused on a world where people with incredible powers existed and were far from responsible. Now as the exciting new miniseries The Boys: Dear Becky hits comic shops as the official sequel/prequel to the original run, Dynamite Books has gone back to the original six-issue story arc and adapted it into the first The Boys prose novel.
The Boys: Name of the Game novelization by writer Dan Wickline takes a deep dive into a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky, and masked vigilantes prowl the night, and someone has to make sure the supes don't get out of line. Hughie Campbell is in love for the first time in his life. Everything is going perfectly with his girlfriend Robin until she is tragically killed as collateral damage in a battle between supes. Meanwhile, Annie January has just achieved her ultimate dream. As the hero Starlight, she is promoted to the most powerful team of heroes in the world – The Seven. That dream quickly turns into a nightmare when she traumatically learns the truth about her idols. The mysterious Billy Butcher lost his wife due to supes as well. He's tasked by the CIA to reunite his clandestine team to get the supes in check, by whatever means necessary. When Butcher recruits Hughie for The Boys, the grieving young man finds a purpose in a world of superpowered narcissists living like they're gods. When all these forces come together, all hell breaks loose.

The Boys: Name of The Game is currently available in print and digital form. Ennis and Robertson recently reunited for a miniseries, The Boys: Dear Becky; the first issue is currently on sale.

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WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The 100 Season 7, Episode 7, "The Queen's Gambit," which aired Wednesday on The CW.

Since taking control of Russell Prime's body through his Mind Drive in the Season 7 premiere of The 100, Sheidheda has steadily developed his power base while keeping his true identity a secret from other characters, including a cult of loyal to the Primes. Despite being in captivity and with more characters learning the truth, Russell brings two factions under his control and confronts one of the biggest groups that would oppose him in "The Queen's Gambit."

John Murphy is now aware Sheidheda, the malevolent leader of the Grounders generations ago, has resurfaced after his digital consciousness seized control of Russell. Murphy makes a bid to learn vital information from him by engaging him in a chess game, enticing the villain by opening with a move that exposes his queen. Similarly, Murphy's own love interest -- or queen -- Emori is trying to broker peace between the Russell's followers and the Children of Gabriel, those that violently opposed the Primes' rule and use of host bodies to keep their consciousnesses immortal. To facilitate this attempted reconciliation, Emori has the Children of Gabriel meet their children, with Sheidheda's new associate Nelson reunited with his parents.

As Sheidheda and Murphy's chess game increasingly grows more heated as the two dredge up uncomfortable truths about one another, Emori's attempts to lead the reconciliation go wrong. Unwilling to accept peace with their son, Nelson's father attempts to strangle him, only for the wayward young man to stab his own father to death. Meanwhile, Sheidheda physically subdues Murphy with ease and reveals the true reason he entertained a chess game with him in the first place: It was all a distraction to keep him separated from Emori and allow him to take advantage of the Children of Gabriel, one of the largest factions that oppose him, being assembled all in one place.

Murphy approached Sheidheda seeking to discover what had become of the community's supply of guns, which were stolen from the armory in the previous episode. While Murphy and Indra immediately suspected Nikki and her faction of former convicts, especially after Nikki vowed revenge following the loss of her husband, they didn't have proof. However, these suspicions are confirmed in a hail of gunfire, as Nikki, Nelson and their heavily armed convicts take over the gathering of the Children of Gabriel. Sheidheda's own cult is now in league with the former prisoners, making them one of the biggest, most well-armed factions on Sanctum.

Content that his ploy worked and now in possession of numerous hostages, Sheidheda spares Murphy's life and releases him. Emori is nearly executed herself by a vengeful Nikki until Nelson reminds her that they haven't issued any demands yet. In attempting to prevent him from becoming a martyr, Sheidheda was spared at the start of the final season. However, the Dark Commander has proven once again that he is one of the most ruthlessly cunning villains in the history of the series, quickly turning the tables on his captors to become the most dominant force on Sanctum. And now with his opponents as hostages, Sheidheda has gone from prisoner to leading his own mass-hostage situation.

The 100 stars Eliza Taylor, Marie Avgeropoulos, Bob Morley, Lindsey Morgan, Richard Harmon, Tasya Teles and Shannon Kook. The series airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

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Magic: The Gathering Core Sets have many duties, such as to provide an entry ramp for new players while including powerful and complex cards for veteran players to use (such as in Commander or even Modern or Legacy). These Core Sets can sample from the game's entire library of planes, characters and mechanics, including creature types.

In Core Set 2021, it's Cats and Dogs who are getting some serious tribal support, though other animal types are getting some love, too.

Cats have been a part of the game for many years, though they did not have much tribal support until the late 2010s or so. Savannah Lions was a clear standout from the early days, being a 2/1 for just one White mana, but it was popular due to its aggressive stats, not its creature type. Things changed for the better for Cats when Amonkhet rolled around, and this Egypt-inspired block made sure to include the real-life Egyptians' love for all things feline. Many powerful Cats appeared among this block's Green and White cards, some of which were rare and used the set's best mechanics (Embalm and Eternalize).

Commander pre-constructed decks pushed Cats to the next level with the green-white commander Arahbo, Roar of the World, which made the Cat tribe official. Now, the next wave of Cat mania comes courtesy of the 2021 Core Set, which includes a new Cat lord and a few extra Cat cards to back it up. Feline Sovereign is a 2/3 Cat for 2G, and it gives all allied Cats +1/+1 and protection from Dogs. It also has a clause for destroying opposing artifacts and enchantments when friendly Cats deal damage to an opponent (a possible play on how real-life cats knock items off tables). Canopy Stalker is an aggressive 4/2 Cat with a death trigger, and Basri's Acolyte is a Cleric that can play directly into Basri Ket's White weenie combat strategy.

Dogs have been in a similar position as Cats until now. For a long time, the Hound creature type was on the fringes of Magic and received even less tribal support than their Wolf cousins, who had their heyday in the Innistrad blocks. A few notable Hounds appeared, such as Isamaru, Hound of Konda, but those were the exception. Now, the Hound creature type has been rebranded as Dog to better match the Cat creature type, and Core Set 2021 is giving Dog lovers a few new friends.

The chief example is Pack Leader, a 2/2 Dog for 1W that gives +1/+1 to all friendly Dogs. What's more, any time Pack Leader attacks, it will prevent all combat damage to attacking Dogs controlled by the same player. Like Basri's Acolyte, this Dog is playing well into Basri Ket's White weenie aggro strategy, making it clear that White will be a quick, low-to-the-ground color in this Core Set. Additionally, Selfless Savior is a tiny 1/1 Dog that is most prized for its ability to sacrifice itself to give indestructible to another creature until end of turn. Alpine Watchdog, meanwhile, is a humble 2/2 for 1W with Vigilance; in short, an improved "bear."

Core Set 2021 takes strides to unite all animals under one banner, and two splashy cards, in particular, are at the fore. One of them is Animal Sanctuary, a rare land that can tap for one colorless mana. But that's not the real draw; this card costs just {2} and tap to put a +1/+1 counter on target Cat, Dog, Snake, Ox, Goat or Bird that player controls. This may very well end up being a powerhouse card in Limited.

Cats and Dogs even earned a spot among the mythic rare cards: the legendary Rin and Seri, Inseparable. This is a Naya-colored, 4/4 Cat Dog that creates 1/1 Cat and Dog creature tokens whenever its controller casts a spell of the opposite creature type. It also has an activated ability that deals damage according to the number of Dogs controlled, then gains life equal to the number of Cats controlled.

Overall, Cats and Dogs have been hugely boosted for Core Set 2021, making them more of an option than ever for Magic players.

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Heroes always need to learn the tools of their trade before being let loose on the wider world. This is why so many fictional worlds, like the ones in My Hero Academia and RWBY, feature hero academies, in which teachers -- experienced heroes who have confronted evil in the past -- can train the next generation to replace them and keep the world a safer place.

While most of these come from young adult novels and films, such as Harry Potter's Hogwarts or Percy Jackson's Camp Half-Blood, manga and anime have their fair share, too. Two of the most notable are the U.A. High School from My Hero Academia and Beacon Academy from RWBY. While both, on the surface, are rather similar to other magic/superhero schools, both institutions have their own unique ways of pushing their students to extremes to be the best and handle the obstacles that lie ahead for them.

But which school does a better job at this? Let's examine both to find out whether U.A. is the better school for fledging heroes, or if Beacon Academy is truly as great as its reputation suggests.

Beacon Academy has a strange tendency to not properly screen new applicants. A student like Jaune can fake transcripts and manage to gain entry, while Ruby Rose skips two grades and still gets in, just by fighting off a few adversaries. Arguably worst of all, actual villains like Cinder Fall manage to become students in Beacon, infiltrating the school as spies. Because we understand so little about Beacon's application process, the only evidence we have to go on indicates that it isn't super strict about who can successfully enroll, and therefore, not that prestigious.

On the other hand, U.A. has an incredibly stringent application process. Much like Ruby Rose, Midoriya proved himself in front of a U.A. teacher by stopping a villain. But, he still had to apply like all the rest. With the exception of select students who enter due to "special recommendation," every applicant to U.A. needs to finish a practical and physical examination. Even upon entering, however, a teacher can expel a student within the first few days just for not living up to snuff. Supposedly, Aizawa has expelled numerous students for not living up to his standard.

This indicates that Beacon Academy will let pretty much anyone in without really testing them first. U.A., however, is far stricter about who it lets in because only those who can handle the difficulties ahead should be there.

Classwork in both RWBY and My Hero Academia are structurally very similar. There are oral lessons mixed with practical tests, with U.A. adapting a Japanese-inspired structure and Beacon, despite RWBY being heavily influenced by anime, basing its classes more like a western university lecture hall. However, in this case, yet again, there is a clear superior school: U.A.

Classes in U.A. always have a very practical focus, in which we see students at U.A. learning how to push their skills to the limit in a safe, heavily moderated setting. They also go to a summer training ground to experience specialized lessons designed to help hone their skills.

Likewise, the teachers at U.A. take a personal interest in each of their students. Aizawa and All Might have one-on-one talks to students, tailor-made to their needs. Every student is helped in their own, unique manner.

All of this contrasts heavily with Beacon Academy, where many lectures are rambling, unfocused messes. Peter Port, in particular, spends more time bragging about himself than actually teaching his kids anything. Most of the lessons the students learn while in Beacon have very little to do with their teachers, but rather, are formed by being dumped in horrible, extreme circumstances. The first lesson in Beacon, for example, which pits students against dangerous enemies, could kill a fully grown Hunter, much less a Hunter in training.

This apathy toward the safety of its students stands in direct contrast with U.A., where teachers like Aizawa constantly strive to provide challenging yet safe environments for students to flourish in. Consider this: what did Jaune learn from classes in RWBY that Phyrra didn't also teach him? How did Team RWBY actually grow at school? The truth is that they learned from practical combat experience, not from their lessons.

Neither school in My Hero Academia or RWBY is totally safe. The League of Villains has invaded U.A. multiple times and, come Season 3 of RWBY, Beacon is obliterated by a similar villainous invasion. However, there is a distinct difference between the safety levels of U.A. and Beacon; more specifically, that U.A. at least tries to be safe, while Beacon... not so much.

Again, the first lesson in RWBY involves throwing children off a cliff and dumping them into a murder pit of monsters, unsupervised. This is somewhat similar to the Season 3 Summer Camp arc in My Hero Academia, where U.A. students are also thrown into a forest full of monsters. However, the environment there is entirely controlled by the heroes since the monsters in question are manifested by the Wild Wild Pussycats. They aren't wild animals.

Furthermore, while U.A. does get infiltrated multiple times, the school goes out of its way to stop this from happening with its multiple security precautions -- including moving the kids to dorms in response to public concerns. Yes, a villain like Gentle Criminal can still figure out a way to break into the school campus, but that doesn't change the fact that U.A. actively tries to protect its students.

Beacon Academy, on the other hand, has very little security and, subsequently, is repeatedly invaded. In Season 3, when Beacon is destroyed from the inside out, it becomes clear that every security detail the teachers might have put in place has failed, and the students are forced to defend themselves. While it is true that U.A. also has required students to defend themselves and the school, there were still teachers who made a real difference in helping them. In Beacon, meanwhile, students like Phyrra end playing instrumental roles in the school's defense instead, unaided and unsupported, and end up dying for it.

U.A. has a lot of problems. However, it certainly does a far better job of choosing the right students, nurturing their individual needs and preparing them for the threats of the outside world than Beacon does for its Hunters. But the real question might not be which school is better, but rather, which one gives its students the best chance at merely surviving their time there.

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DC Comics have a long and rich history and introduced many villains over the years. Some of them became iconic, others not so much. Of course, everybody knows names as the Joker, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, or Lex Luthor. But for every Luthor or Quinn, there are a good dozen villains who never made it big. The reasons for this vary, but sometimes it's because the villain's origin happens to be quite silly, or even pathetic, and it makes him look like not that much of a threat.

On the other hand, there are also villains whose origin can be best described as tragic, and these often become well-known - because they have genuine reasons for what they're doing or the fans are sympathetic towards them.

10 Most Tragic: Cheetah

Becoming someone a person never wanted to be is never easy, let alone be stricken by a curse and changed into a completely different creature. That's what happened to Barbara Ann Minerva who became a villain when she was cursed and turned into the Cheetah. Even though Wonder Woman was her friend, Cheetah turned against her, convinced that Wonder Woman had abandoned her when she didn't come to help her. That's not a destiny anybody would deserve.

9 Most Pathetic: Catwoman

Catwoman has had her fair share of different origin stories both in the comic books and in films. But one of her older origins is rather silly and it's a good thing it was retconned in the 1980s. In this version, Selina Kyle worked as a flight attendant but when the plane crashed she suffered from amnesia and decided to join the criminal underworld, just because it felt right. And why did she start calling herself Catwoman? Surprise, surprise - because her father owned a pet store.

8 Most Tragic: Scarecrow

Tormenting one's child is one of the worst things that any person can do. Unfortunately, that's what happened to Jonathan Crane and it changed his life forever - and not for the better. When he was just a kid, his father subjected him to cruel experiments after his mother had passed away. For example, he used to lock little Jonathan in a room with fear-inducing toxins, which finally made Scarecrow insane.

7 Most Pathetic: Rainbow Raider

With a villain name like Rainbow Raider, it's hard to be taken seriously, and Rainbow Raider's origin story certainly doesn't help. When he was just a kid, he wanted to be an artist. Unfortunately, he was colorblind.

His father promised to help him and gave his son glasses that could create rainbow-colored beams of light. Not that it helped his problem or anything, it just led him to the decision to become a criminal.

6 Most Tragic: Bane

Even the fans who don't read comic books could have learned about Bane's tragic origin in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) where Tom Hardy portrayed the iconic villain. Bane was born in a prison which isn't a place where any child should live, let alone pay for his father's actions. The prison was no paradise and Bane was forced to frequently fight for his life. He killed the first person where he was just a kid. Violence and pain are all he knows since it's been with him his whole life and that's also what he brings to Gotham and to Batman.

5 Most Pathetic: Reverse-Flash

Catwoman isn't the only iconic DC villain whose older origin story wasn't all that special. That's also the case of the Flash's great enemy, the Reverse-Flash. Eobard Thawne lived in the 25th century. He found the Flash's suit in a time capsule and was able to amplify the suit's energy which gave him the Flash's speed (even though the speed emanated from the Flash himself, not his suit).

4 Most Tragic: Joker

For the longest time, any details about Joker's former life were a mystery - and the fans mostly preferred it that way since it led another layer of intensity to this iconic supervillain, Batman's biggest enemy.

However, Joker's possible origin is rather tragic - he was a struggling comedian who tried desperately to support his pregnant wife which led him to the path of crime. During a robbery, he fell into a vat full of toxic chemicals and it not only changed his appearance but also twisted his mind into something beyond repair as it ruined his mental health.

3 Most Pathetic: Ten-Eyed Man

A war veteran, Philip Reardon became a security guard when he was discharged because of an injury. Thieves decided to rob the warehouse where he was working and planted a bomb there instead of just robbing the place in a less flashy way. When the bomb exploded, it blinded Reardon. His doctor chose the unusual solutions of moving two of Reardon's optic nerves to his fingertips to give him the chance to see through his fingers - however that works.

2 Most Tragic: Red Hood

Speaking of the Joker... When he fell into the vat which changed him forever, he did so in the disguise of the Red Hood. So it's only fitting that the mask later went to none other than Jason Todd, the boy whom Joker killed when Jason was Batman's Robin. Jason later came back as the Red Hood, disenchanted, disappointed, heartbroken, and ready to get his revenge on the man who betrayed him by not killing the Joker for his crime... Batman himself.

1 Most Pathetic: Crazy Quilt

To be fair to Rainbow Rider, he's not the only DC villain on this list who was connected to the world of art. Unlike Rainbow Rider, Paul Decker was a famous painter but also a crime lord at the same time. The way he communicated with his henchmen was throughout his paintings, as he left messages in the paintings. There are about a million more effective ways of communication, but that probably wouldn't be dramatic enough.

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Once upon a time, the idea that Iron Man had multiple sets of armor was novel. But starting in the early 1980s, Tony Stark began to experiment more than ever before and started developing unique armors for dedicated environments like outer space or stealth. Once that door was opened, it became a gateway to literally endless variations in Marvel Comics and the MCU.

Some of those armors are great. Some not so much. Even a genius like Tony Stark makes a dud sometimes. Here are the five best and five worst Iron Man armors ever made.

10 Best: Hulkbuster

The Hulkbuster just looks cool, and basically makes the Iron Man armor a big giant Megazord. Plus, it serves a specific function. For all the problems the Avengers had with the Hulk from the beginning, it makes sense Tony Stark would develop an armor system to specifically deal with a threat that wasn't that easy to contain.

This hit the screen in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Unfortunately, it started a trend where Iron Man created an armor to basically beat all his allies, which was reflective of some of his less noble tendencies.

9 Worst: Submarine Armor

The Model 34 isn't the first deep-sea variant on the Iron Man armor, but it is the worst. Part of the Argonaut series of armors Tony Stark developed to augment his Extremis-based armor technology, it was essentially a pressurized suit that allowed him to operate in the deepest depths of the ocean.

The design wasn't particularly great, with an all-gold paint scheme and a pointed helmet and shoulder pads that made the armor more alien than anything recognizably Stark.

8 Best: Original

The Mark I suit Tony Stark built at the beginning of his career as Iron Man is by far the simplest, but it's still one of the best. The somewhat clunky gray suit of armor remains a testament for all designers of Iron Man armor that have followed that simple is often better.

The worst suits are the ones that get too busy or too radical with the design, pushing it out of the iconic lane that the original charted back in the '60s. There was nothing wrong with it - all the classic Iron Man elements were there.

7 Worst: 1602 Armor

Fans can likely see what Neil Gaiman and Adam Kubert were going for with this Iron Man design from the 1602 mini-series. A steampunk-like design from the Middle Ages sounds like a great idea on paper, but in execution, it's over-designed and somehow more complex than the Mark I armor.

With a busy paint scheme and design, the 1602 armor ends up making Iron Man look a bit like a Doctor Who villain, which probably wasn't the intention. Unless it was.

6 Best: Silver Centurion

A lot of Marvel superheroes changed up their looks in the '80s - Spider-Man adopted his black costume in the most famous example - and Iron Man was no different.

The debut of the Silver Centurion armor marked a dramatic shift in the design and color of the armor, while still retaining the classic elements of the costume. An upgrade in armor and capability, Tony Stark developed the armor to fight Obidiah Stane, who had adopted the Iron Monger armor.

5 Worst: Sorcerer Armor

While this specific armor hails from a What If..? issue, it's too off the mark of where Iron Man tends to go in mainline Marvel continuity. In What If..? #113, Iron Man doesn't develop an armor to combat Doctor Strange, but because he's become the new Sorcerer Supreme.

But it was kind of his fault. Tony Stark destroys Stephen Strange's hands in a drunken rage, and as a result, he was trained by the Ancient One to become the guardian of the Eye of Agamotto.

4 Best: Model IX

With the Silver Centurion armor being a big departure for Iron Man, it was natural he would eventually return to this roots, and that's exactly what he did in his very next armor. The Model IX armor went back to his classic red and gold look, with some major upgrades.

Those upgrades were sorely needed as Iron Man was in the midst of fighting the Armor Wars, in which Tony Stark discovers that his technology has been stolen and is being used in the armor of villains like Crimson Dynamo.

3 Worst: Heroes Reborn

Heroes Reborn was another attempt to update Iron Man in the '90s, this time with the help of Image Comics heavies Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. The character was placed into a bubble dimension with rebooted continuity, and the armor got a big makeover as well.

The Heroes Reborn armor was overly bulky and not very visually appealing. Instead of the more streamlined direction the armors had been going in, this one goes backward by adding in musculature and separate plates that made it way too complicated.

2 Best: MCU Mark VII

Iron Man has nearly as many sets of armor in the MCU as he does the comics; maybe more. While many of them have their own individual fandoms, the best of the best has to be the Mark VII, featured in Avengers.

The Mark VII takes the amazing technological advances of the previous versions, adds the circular chest portal from the comic books, and also makes it armor that puts itself on Tony (or anybody else), which comes in handy when he's falling off a building.

1 Worst: Iron Lantern

The product of the very '90s Marvel and DC crossover event Amalgam, Iron Lantern is a fusion of Iron Man and Green Lantern. In this alternate reality, Hal Stark not only develops a suit of armor but proves himself worthy of a Ring of Power.

The result is an okay idea in theory, but as the worst of the Iron Man armors, it's just a bit too much. Iron Man's calling card is that he's just a man, but with the ring, the armor seems redundant. This version also doesn't look that great.

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