King T'Challa: The Newest Cinnamon Roll of the MCU

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If you're like me, Captain America: Civil War contained a lot of things you didn't expect. A recreation of young RDJ, Vision cooking, and hints of a Pepperony break up... but also, the completely badass introduction of Black Panther, aka T'Challa. I mean, I knew Black Panther would be awesome, but I didn't expect him to be that awesome or for him to completely steal my heart away. 

With his menacing-looking supersuit and his sharpened metal claws, the thing I expected least was for T'Challa to be so pure. I mean, seriously. If you need a good definition of "Cinnamon Roll," just look at T'Challa.

T'Challa went through so much in this film. Not only did his dad die in his arms, but he also became a king. It would be far too easy for him to run away or to be grumpy about it, but instead, he takes on the role with grace. He aims to be noble. He always tries to do the right thing.

Yes, yes, I know. Most of T'Challa's role in Civil War consisted of him chasing after Bucky. However, we see in the end that T'Challa repents of his search for vengeance and chooses not to let Zemo die. (I know that Zemo will come back later to bite him, but whatever. Still noble.) He also chooses to put himself at risk by putting Bucky in cryo, and though I'm sad that it's necessary, I'm so happy that we have another person willing to protect Bucky at all costs. (Also, they've been given the ship name "T'Chucky" on Tumblr, which never fails to make me laugh.)

I totally sense the beginning of a beautiful friendship. (source)

In the end, T'Challa is a cinnamon roll not because he was perfect but because he was good. Though T'Challa made plenty of mistakes, ultimately he regretted them, apologized for them, and did the best he could to make amends. Instead of continuing down his path of revenge, T'Challa acknowledged he was wrong and then promised to do better.

"Vengeance has consumed you. It's consuming them. I'm done letting it consume me."

One of my favorite things about T'Challa is that his very nature seems to be a contradiction--not only is he totally terrifying, but he's totally good too. His dedication to nobility, virtue, and pursuing the right path never once compromises his badassness. As both a lover and a fighter, T'Challa is the male character I've been looking for.

In summary, T'Challa is an honest-to-goodness hero. I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to be pure(ly badass) in his titular movie, Black Panther, releasing in just a little over two years. (No! I don't want to wait that long.) Until then, I'll continue to stand on my belief that T'Challa is one of the best Marvel characters. Not only that, but I'll shout it from the rooftops. Where did I put my megaphone?

T'CHALLA IS A HERO. WHAT A CINNAMON ROLL. TOO PURE.

(Also, he likes cats. Pass it on.)

SAYS THE FALCON.

Why do you like T'Challa?

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Whose Side Are You On?: TFI Picks a Side for Captain America: Civil War

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All week we've been celebrating the release of Captain America: Civil War. Today, the movie releases in theaters, and fans of Marvel are crumpling into despair as a result. But before we lose ourselves entirely to the weeping and gnashing of teeth, let's make a stand. Let's make a decision. Let's declare who we support. Let's pick a side. So are you Team Iron Man or Team Cap? 

Bethany Baldwin

To me, the choice of Team Iron Man or Team Cap is pretty simple. I'm all about truth, justice, and real chivalry, so Cap wins my vote. I have always preferred Cap's humbleness and the way he cares for people over Iron Man's egotism (sorry, Iron Man fans). Someone told me that they preferred Iron Man because he would do what is necessary while Cap would lose the world to save one person. That makes me love Cap all the more, though. That he would risk everything for a person in need shows that he really cares about the people and the world he works for. I also think that the Superhuman Registration Act is dangerous for the heroes who would sign, and I support Cap (and his dedication to friendship) completely. :)

Galahad Strange

Civil War is arguably the most complex, bloody, divisive, and masterfully crafted comic arc in Marvel’s library. Granted, Captain America: Civil War is probably not going to follow it blow-by-blow, but the attention to detail and the spirit of that story will no doubt be honoured.

In the comics, Civil War is the story of the now infamous Superhero Registration Act, which was a government mandate requiring superheroes to essentially unmask and reveal themselves so that they could be held accountable for their actions. Tony Stark sided with the government on this, believing that heroes should indeed be held responsible, and Steve Rogers opposed him on the grounds that the Act was in fact un-Constitutional, demanding that heroes basically give up their freedom—or part of it.

As stated before, obviously Civil War is most likely not going to follow this line.

Anthony and Joe Russo once again helm the Captain America machine as they did for The Winter Soldier, and as both avowed fanboys and seasoned filmmakers—it is my personal belief that as they did with The Winter Soldier, they will not be afraid to pose the hard questions and take this film to realistic and challenging places.

I stand with Team Cap—perhaps based for the most part on the Civil War from the comics and the fact that I sided with Steve then. Then—Steve was right of course. And he’s Captain America—as darn near perfect as any human being can aspire to be.  But I have reason to believe that given the Russo brothers’ masterful handling of The Winter Soldier, no matter which side you choose there will be a point in the film when you regret your choice…for good reason.

Sky Destrian

When I took TFI's quiz to see which side I should be on in Civil War, my result was neutral, which I think is pretty accurate. It sums up my "I don't want anyone to fight" stance--I'm definitely on Team Hug It Out and Team Why Do We Have to Fight at All?. 

However, for purposes of this post, I'm selecting Team Iron Man. (Is anyone really surprised?) 

There is really no good solution to the Sokovia Accords and the complicated world our superheroes have been brought into. But having more regulations definitely will help keep the human population safe. My only hesitancy about a superhero database is what would happen if it was put in the wrong hands--S.H.I.E.L.D. was Hydra, after all, so we've seen what evil can do and how sneaky it can be. However, I do believe that working on regulations helps protect both superheroes and the general population. Finding a happy medium between complete freedom and complete security is the plan I'm most in favor of.

Ultimately, however, there is no true, good solution, and finding a happy medium may be difficult. The Marvel universe is complex now with more gray areas than ever before, and that's part of why I love it so much. Neither Team Cap nor Team Iron Man have it all correct, and that's what makes this battle so heartbreaking. In the end, I'm Team Crying a Lot, and that's exactly what you can find me doing in the theater this weekend.

Jameson C. Smith

To be honest, I've had a really difficult time choosing sides for Civil War. Both sides have really good reasons and strong teams!

Tony has seen what can happen when the team is allowed to do things without supervision and understands what the price is for everyone, Avenger or civilian. For him to say that the Avengers need an accountability system makes a lot of sense.

Steve has trust issues with people dictating what he (and the team) can or can't do. The SHIELD/Hydra reveal only further reinforced his idea that the best way to keep the world safe is for the Avengers to act without interference from other people who might use them for their own motives.

I love both Tony and Steve. It's difficult to say one is entirely right and the other is entirely wrong because both guys have valid reasons and experiences to back up their point-of-view. That being said, I'm finding myself slightly more in agreement with Cap. (But if Team Please-Be-Friends-Again is an option...)

Mirriam Neal

'Are you Team Cap or Team Iron Man?' I've been asked this question a lot recently, and each time I respond, 'Team Cap, all the way.'

The following jokes about my 'Team Cap' stance being a cover for my actual #TEAMBUCKY lifestyle (not that I'm guilty *cough*) give way to, "But I like Tony!" Well, I like Tony too. And I completely understand his stance - I just disagree with it. When someone asks me if I stand with Captain America, I echo Bucky and say, "Hell, no. That little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb to step down from a fight."

I stand with Steve Rogers.

Anna Gensimore

I'm Team Cap.

To be honest, I didn't want to pick sides for the longest time. I just wanted (and still want) everyone to sit down and eat shwarma. I'm a pretty empathetic person, which sometimes leads to my own opinion getting lost because I'm too busy trying to figure out the motivations of others. I understand the intentions behind the Superhero Registration Act, but I  sympathize more with the heroes against and neutral to this fight. In this case, my declaration of being on Team Cap came down to a few factors:

1. Bucky Barnes: Steve Rodger's loyalty to Bucky is admirable. He simply cares for Bucky and wants to help give him a second chance. If the public were made aware of Bucky's identity, the things he did while brainwashed would likely come to light as well. There are quite a few heroes with questionable pasts that the Act would put in danger if their identities and pasts were made known. The public doesn't always tend to care about why something happened, just that it did.

2."Just give me some peace and quiet": Heroes like Clint Barton  just want to live normal lives outside their heroism. This is often for the sake of their family or their own sanity. If you were gifted with extraordinary abilities and were just trying to do some good in the world, I'd think you would want a safe place from being misunderstood. I know I would.

3. Thunderbolt Ross: This is a man with a personal vendetta against heroes, particularly the Hulk. He is a man with power and a bone to pick that seems as if he will do anything to achieve his goals of controlling any person with powers, even unethically. Considering he was in charge of the Gamma radiation study that caused Bruce to become the Hulk in the first place, the element of wanting to cover up his own mistakes may be a factor as well. Yes, superpowers can be a risk to civilians, but so are freaky alien things, deranged figures of Norse Mythology, and murderbots. Against those odds, I would take a  bunch of deeply flawed and human heroes any day.

At the end of the day, I will always be Team Cap. I'm too much of an idealist not to.

Izzy Stevenson

Every once in awhile, I’ll hear on the news about some vigilante who decided to take justice into his own hands and ended up getting people killed. There’s a reason people say to leave crime fighting to the professionals. Luckily, the Marvel heroes have a professional level of skills and sense of responsibility. At least, the main ones we hear about, such as Captain America or Black Widow. But the Marvel universe is more true to life than we’d expect. And for every responsible hero out there, there are a few dozen more lacking the stability and maturity to use their powers without killing innocent civilians. Turns out acquiring magical powers from freak accidents isn’t quite the same as years of professional training. That’s why heroes need to be kept accountable. It’s not about limiting freedom. It’s about keeping innocent civilians safe from the metahumans who don’t know what they’re doing. Law and order exists for a reason. And I believe organization, documentation, and training is the best way to ensure all heroes can carry out their destinies without endangering those around them. Superheroes should be allowed to be superheroes. But no civilian deserves to die when some paperwork and a few training sessions could prevent it. That’s why I’m Team Iron Man. 

Jaime Heller

Ten years ago, I didn't know who Captain America was. I didn't know who Tony Stark was either. In fact, I had very little knowledge of any superheroes other than the ones with movies before 2008. But then, in 2006, I was introduced to Captain America. And to Iron Man. And all the rest. I was introduced to so many superheroes I couldn't even list them all. Eventually, I fell in love with Steve Rogers and with Tony Stark and all the rest. Most importantly, I fell in love with superheroes and their stories. As Amanda said in her post earlier this week, superhero stories "reflect life on a larger scale." They dive into the deepest issues, the most painful and most beautiful parts of life, the most profound truths of humanity.

For me, Civil War has never been about Team Iron Man or Team Cap. It's been about the issues: security vs freedom. If Tony Stark stood before the world and proclaimed to be anti-Registration Act while Cap supported it, I would side with Tony Stark. While I love Captain America, I love Iron Man also. I'm not choosing sides because of the figurehead behind the movement or any of the other heroes that chose a side. (Though I think there are fundamental reasons why my favorite superheroes have lined up with what I believe in.)

The greatest thing about the Civil War comic event (and I hope the movie) is that both sides are equally explored. The reason it's so hard to choose a side is because both are valid, both are reasonable, and both have merit. Tony Stark is not a villain for wanting to protect the people and his fellow superheroes. Steve Rogers is not a rebel for wanting to protect the people and his fellow superheroes. They both have the same goal; they just have different perspectives. When people have different perspectives, there are different ideas for a solution to the same problem. Civil War is the result of those differences.

For me, I will always choose freedom over security. It may be risky or more dangerous in the end. There will be tragedy and chaos at some point. Perhaps it won't end in a state of hallowed peace in the world, but it's freedom. It's the freedom to choose. It's the freedom to be. It's the freedom that the United States was founded on. (Can you tell who my favorite superhero is yet?) It's important, to me, that people have freedom.

So am I Team Cap or Team Iron Man? I want to say both. I want to say don't fight because I've read the end of the story, and we all know it might not be worth it anyways. But I can't. If I have to choose, I choose freedom. I stand with freedom. Whether that's Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Matt Murdock, or Tony Stark: I choose freedom.

Whose side are you on?

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Life on a Larger Scale: Why I'm Grateful for Marvel Superheroes

I have a confession to make: I didn't grow up with superheroes. It wasn't until I was 13 or 14 that I grew out of my hazy understanding of what a superhero actually was. When I did understand (and started to learn more about the heroes), it turned out that they make for some of the best story material that I had ever heard in my life.

Superheroes -- but more specifically Marvel -- have added so much to my life over the course of these few short years. Not only have I felt an enormous sense of community with other people who love superheroes, but I have also learned so much about what works in a story and why we make the reactions to stories the way we do.

Marvel has opened up a world to me that I never understood existed. This is a world of fighting for right and saving people and hard choices and (in the case of the Civil War storyline) fuzzy lines between choices. It has renewed a sense of wonder in me, a sense that so much more is possible than I ever dreamed of. 

Marvel has reminded me that there is pain in life, and even the people with the most amazing abilities feel that pain. Their friends die, they can't find the peace they so desire. This is us. Inside, we aren't any different, and that's why we love superheroes. This is why I love them, because I can relate. I relate to Bruce Banner, with his introversion. I relate to Peter Parker, with his incurable dreaminess. These are people who would have been more or less normal (if a small bit eccentric), except for one fact: they have powers.

Marvel has introduced me to some of the most vivid characters that I have ever had the privilege getting to know. They have personalities that range all over the map (which makes it oh so interesting to see them try to work together), but not only are they different, but their differences are believable. The team dynamics are accurate, and so much like what I expect to see in a group like this.

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Marvel has given me stories that are grounded in the emotional truth of what we all face. Why am I so heartbroken about Civil War? Because, at its core, it's about friends fighting. Fighting with people we love? That's what breaks us, and we see that in this story. Marvel has given me stories of determination and strength but also vulnerability and tenderness and love. I see every side of human emotion in these stories, and that's real.

Marvel has shown me that there can be laughter even in the most absurdly hopeless and dangerous situations. From shawarma after a battle to bags of blueberries in a lab, Marvel has made me laugh, which is something so special to me. Laughter brings relief to these characters throughout their stories.

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People may not always understand my serious love of superheroes. I may not always be taken seriously. But that does nothing to diminish my fierce love for these stories that remind me of who I am and what I can do. Marvel has given me so many good times and good stories, and I won't ever forget that.

Marvel reflects life on a larger scale, and that's something that I am immensely grateful for. 

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In Defense of Tony Stark

As we get closer to the approach of Captain America: Civil War, a movie which contains an epic and heartrending battle between two of my all-time favorite characters, I find myself feeling nervous. This movie has the ability to change the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as our perceptions of its characters, for all time.

The problem is that, with a movie of this nature which contains our heroes fighting against each other, one of those characters is perceived as the villain. I've seen plenty of support for Captain America's team, which is great. Please know that this post isn't meant to bash Steve Rogers in any way. I'm not anti-Steve or anti-Bucky. However, due to the fact that our team is pitted against each other, as well as Tony's questionable actions in Age of Ultron (creating a murderbot), Tony hasn't been getting as much love, and sometimes he's even referred to as a villain. I'd like to prove this isn't the case. Civil War is about two points of view and two characters that happen to clash. Neither of them are better than the other, but unfortunately, our beloved characters have had to choose sides. This is Tony's.

It's not hard for me to see why people find Tony Stark unlikable... at least not at first. In Iron Man, we see a highly immature playboy who really only wants to have a fun time. He sleeps around, drinks quite a bit, and parties. Often he does all three at once. He's also the head of Stark Industries, a company that manufactures weapons, which doesn't exactly lend itself to being perceived as the best kind of guy. But at the same time, he's also incredibly smart. This is supported by comic evidence that states that he graduated from MIT at age 17. Tony Stark is a self-described genius (among other things).

All of this changes when Tony is kidnapped by an extremist group who wants to use his knowledge to help them build a weapon. He's injured by one of his own missiles, and to keep the shrapnel from reaching his heart, his fellow captive Yinsen builds him his very first arc reactor. Yinsen himself changes Tony's life in other ways by becoming a friend to him and ultimately sacrificing himself so Tony could escape. This is one of the first moments we can see Tony really change. He's taken out of his comfort zone. He's lost someone, someone who cared about him, and that makes him look at life a little differently. When he returns, Tony is a different man. After going through hell, he returns and changes the purpose of Stark Industries: they will no longer manufacture weapons. He builds his suit, and one of his first missions as Iron Man is to defend Yinsen's home village. Tony's capture and thus meeting Yinsen were the catalyst to help Tony become a changed man and a better one.

Tony's change is not immediate. Over the course of Iron Man 2, he still regresses several times, and it's a slow process. But eventually, he learns to work as a team player, he learns how to conquer some of his inner demons, and he falls in love with Pepper Potts. While Pepper didn't change Tony singlehandedly, she's still one of the people who consistently keeps him grounded. The Avengers were also a huge part of his character development as they showed him he could have team members... and even friends.

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Speaking of the Avengers, one of the biggest turning points for Tony's character was during The Battle of New York. Throughout the movie, Steve insists that Tony isn't willing to make sacrifices.

“I’ve seen the footage. The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You’re not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you… you may not be a threat, but you better stop pretending to be a hero.” 

This culminates when the World Security Council decides to fire a nuke at Manhattan. In order to save the city, Tony flies the nuke up into an alien wormhole, something that could very well be considered a suicide mission. He laid his life down on the line willingly, and he very nearly almost lost it. This is when, in my opinion, Tony truly became one of the most heroic characters I've ever seen.

In Iron Man 3, we see him struggling with the aftereffects of that, complete with PTSD and panic attacks. I appreciate that the movie gave us a chance to see the realistic aftereffects that superheroes deal with from traumatic events. Tony did a good thing, and he saved Manhattan, but it still affected him one movie later (and even into Age of Ultron). I appreciated that your typical action flick delved into this sensitive topic.

Things start to go slightly awry in Age of Ultron when Tony and Bruce accidentally create an artificial intelligence that wants to conquer the world. Tony's actions were completely misguided, but his characterization in this film seemed to turn for the worse. Gone was the mature yet snarky hero we've come to know and love, and instead, we got a bitter, prideful man who made a joke about prima nocta (my irritation with this knows no bounds). He also didn't seem to grieve the loss of Jarvis, his closest--if not his best--friend. All of Tony's character development over three movies and six collective hours seemed to just disappear.

So, between his characterization in Age of Ultron and his undeniable flaws, it's no surprise to me that people considered Tony the villain in Age of Ultron and even Civil War. But Tony's past has proved to me time and time again that while Tony is flawed, he is a hero. Flawed heroes are hard to come by, and I personally believe that Tony Stark is one of the best.

My love for Tony has come from the fact that he is a wounded warrior. He struggled with the death of his parents, alcoholism, the pressures of carrying on his father's legacy, and finally, the kidnapping that resulted in shrapnel embedding itself in his heart. The location of Tony's injury was no coincidence and can in fact be interpreted as a metaphor.

"Here you have this character, who on the outside is invulnerable, I mean, just can't be touched, but inside is a wounded figure. Stan made it very much an in-your-face wound, you know, his heart was broken, you know, literally broken. But there's a metaphor going on there. And that's, I think, what made that character interesting." - Gerry Conway

I have seen Tony's broken heart time and time again over the past few years, and it speaks to my own heart about the challenges each of us face. Even if you are wounded, even if your heart is broken, you can still fight. You can still be a hero. And the things we think are our weaknesses can sometimes be our biggest strengths.

 "You know, I've got a cluster of shrapnel, trying every second to crawl its way into my heart." [points at the mini-arc reactor in his chest] "This stops it. This little circle of light. It's part of me now, not just armor. It's a... terrible privilege."

Tony Stark is our hilarious, snarky hero. His snark is just a part of him, and it's actually a coping mechanism disguising a broken man underneath--a broken man who is slowly learning to build himself up again. Personally, it's been a (sometimes terrible) privilege to watch him do so. Tony Stark is one of my favorite characters to grace my screen--not only because of what he does but because of who he is. He encourages me to keep fighting, to be grateful for my terrible privileges, and to be a hero not in spite of them but because of them.

As we go forth with Civil War, please remember Tony's growth. Remember he's not a bad person. Remember that the Civil War will hurt him, too.

Remember what a hero Tony is and has been over the past few years. And ultimately, remember that you can be a hero too, no matter how broken your heart may be.

What do you think about Tony Stark?

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"Whose Side Should You Be On?": A Quiz for Captain America: Civil War

When it comes to Captain America: Civil War, there is one question that rises above all the rest. Beyond your opinions of the registration act or how to deal with rogue heroes, one question remains:

Whose Side Are You On?

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I am here to offer you a solution to this heart-wringing, friendship-breaking, universe-dividing question. If you can't decide between Team Iron Man or Team Cap--because you love both dearly and would rather they didn't fight at all or you can see beyond the Registration Act's powers or you're just too lazy to pick a side already--take this quiz to find out not which side you are on but which side you belong on.

So... are you Team Cap or Team Iron Man?

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My Conversion to the MCU Fandom: The 3 Characters That Won Me Over

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This is it, the week we have been waiting for since we first heard that Captain America: Civil War would be adapted to film. In celebration, The Fangirl Initiative is getting ready by sharing our thoughts, opinions, and theories on Civil War and the Marvel Fandom in general. Welcome to Civil War Week!  I am kicking things off by sharing why I, a once unlikely fan, first became a part of the Marvel Fandom. Strangely enough, the two figureheads of Civil War were a big part of that.

To begin my story, we need to head back about six or seven years to my high school Anatomy class. As a 17-year-old girl, I wasn't exactly what you would call comfortable with embracing my interests and passions. I had seen at least one adaptation of the Hulk and was pretty burnt out on The Dark Knight as it was the only movie anyone really wanted to watch in 2010. At this point, I, Anna Gensimore, was a self-professed hater of super hero movies (Aside from Spider-Man, but he's always been one of my favorites). A lot of the hype seemed silly to me but that was simply because I hadn't given them a chance yet.

1. Iron Man

Yes, this is from Iron Man 2, I just love this picture.

Some time around mid-April, my teacher had given up on teaching us anything else. While we worked on our study guides for our final exams, he played a bunch of movies, most of which I wouldn't have watched by my own choice. This included Iron Man. Despite my apprehension, I put down my pencil and stopped looking up anatomy terms. Tony Stark reminded me of the deeply flawed humanity buried beneath the super suits and extraordinary abilities. His sarcasm and bravado led me to realize what I'd missed before: the heart (or ARC reactor) of these films and the very real issues that they deal with. This only continued with the films that followed. The first time I saw The Avengers, and every time really, his kindness and respect toward Dr. Banner gives me the warm fuzzies. Science Bros is probably my favorite thing to come out of the Marvel fandom. Seeing Tony intentionally try to make him comfortable and feel cared for was a huge marker of his growth. Tony Stark's evolution as a character is an important one, and I would be sorely wrong to not credit him with helping me begin to see just how important the MCU is as a commentary on events in our time.  

2. Captain America

Dear Steve.

Tony Stark's brand of sass kindled a spark in my heart that would be fully ignited in the fall of 2011 when a group of friends went to see Captain America: The First Avenger at the local dollar theater. To begin with, I loved the aesthetic of the film. The World War II era has always been one of my favorites style and decor wise. I also really liked how The First Avenger handled propaganda and nationalism without too much cynicism.

Something about Cap as a character struck me deep; he was an ordinary person who became something greater. Not out of a desire to be more powerful or to earn his place in the world but for the right reasons.  Steve Rogers became Captain America simply because it was the only way he knew how to do things. From the moment he jumped on top of that grenade, Steve Rogers claimed a piece of my heart like the loyal Golden Retriever that he personifies fetching a stick. Captain America made me care about a superhero in ways I hadn't imagined possible. (I could write a novel about his loyalty to Bucky.) He's like the friend that gives you life advice as well as a kick in the pants when you need one. Everyone needs a Steve in their life, and I'm lucky to have one. 

The First Avenger left me in disbelief that I hadn't come to love this method of storytelling much sooner. 

3. Dr. Banner, AKA The Hulk

He's beauty, he's grace, he'll smash your face.

Before The Avengers, the Hulk really wasn't my favorite. Probably because of previous film adaptations and how pop culture has skewed the character in the past. Maybe it was nostalgia from his role as Matty Flamhaff in 13 Going on 30, but something told me to give Mark Ruffalo's Hulk a chance. The result was eventually me crying while reading the Planet Hulk comics in the middle of Books-a-Million. 

In The Avengers, we find the dear doctor providing medical care in an abandoned corner of the world. He feels plagued by what he's done as "The Other Guy" and has a desire to help others in any way possible. Considering he gained his other personality through committing an act of kindness in the first place, this makes total sense. Bruce Banner has been through a lot, but overall, he still believes in the goodness of humanity and its potential for redemption. He has a heart of gold despite his struggles, he is way too hard on himself, and he is actively discriminated against. Yes, I understand that the Hulk is dangerous, but the man underneath is so much more. Bruce Banner helped me recognize my own anxiety and reminded me even more of the beautiful complexity of humanity. Despite our downfalls, mistakes, and selfishness, we are, at our heart, good. 

This is one of the many reasons why I actually loved the HulkxWidow story line in Age of Ultron. I saw so much of myself and my Dear One in it as well as the simple audacity of hope. If we dare be optimistic, something beautiful can happen in pretty much any given situation. Idealism isn't a bad thing. I would love to see this pairing work out in the long run if things were to calm down a bit. They are both extremely independent people that work well together as a team. The pairing recognizes that two deeply flawed people, who know they are strong on their own and fully capable of functioning separately, need reminded of the beauty of loving someone into being their best self (whatever that comes to mean). 

In Closing

The MCU is in its heart a story about the human condition. Story lines and characters evolve with the times, but we are never left without a reminder of who we once were or a glimpse of the hope of what we will become. I fell in love with characters, not their superpowers (although those are pretty frigging cool). My love for characters doesn't stop here; if I wrote about every character from the MCU and comics that I care about...let's just say we'd be here for a while. So my advice to all of you who are undecided on the whole "superhero thing": watch a few phase one and two films, don't be afraid to cry, watch Civil War and probably cry a lot. Read the comics, embrace the richness of the story, and don't be afraid to be passionate. 

What character(s) made you get interested in the MCU or the comics? What was it about them that made you stop and think?

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Essential Comics to Read Before Watching Captain America: Civil War

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Last summer, I took it upon myself to read through all the comics related to the Civil War story arc in preparation for this summer's upcoming Marvel film Captain America: Civil War. I like to know the original story of something before I watch the movie, whether or not it will have the same plot, characters, or ending. When it comes to comic book adaptations, it's hard for the movies to be exact every time. (I mean, look at Captain America's movies. Bucky is his lifelong best friend in the movies, but in the comics, he was his younger sidekick. It works both ways.) However, I still enjoy both formats, and I think reading and watching gives the superhero experience so much more meaning.

Thus, I've compiled a list of the Civil War comic collections that I think are essential to read before embarking to the theater for Captain America: Civil War. (I've even included publication date and the ISBN number so you can easily look it up through a library or on sites like Amazon.) While I would recommend reading through every comic related to the Civil War event, you should at least give these titles a shot! (No pun intended...)

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Civil War: The Road to Civil War (collection)
Published: February 21, 2007
ISBN: 9780785119746
The comics under the title Road to Civil War show the beginnings of the Marvel event. The build-up to the registration act and Tony Stark's support of registering superheroes unfold within this volume. Issues from the New Avengers, the Amazing Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four draw the lines for the Civil War. While the movie will surely differ from these comics, it's interesting to see how the comic book Civil War fell into place. When all the greatest minds come together in one place... something will happen. That thing became the Civil War.

Civil War (#1-7 collection)
Published: April 11, 2007
ISBN: 9780785121794
This collection is a no-brainer. It's the heart of the Civil War arc as these are the actual issues titled Civil War. This seven-part series goes through the story line of the Civil War from start to finish. It hits the main points and wraps up the resolution. While it doesn't focus on any one character too heavily, it gives the overall story of the event and introduces the many different characters involved. And it will probably leave you a little sad since after finishing my only thoughts were: "Oh, this was painful."

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Civil War: Front Line (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 collections)
Published: May 2, 2007 and May 23, 2007
ISBN: 9780785123125 and 9780785124696
Civil War: Front Line follows two reporters, Sally Floyd and Ben Urich, as they try to keep up with the Civil War. Coming from the news reporter perspective, these two volumes are definitely crucial to grasping just how far the Civil War event expanded. In addition, the issues follow the story of the only survivor of the crisis that caused the Registration Act. While he won't be in the movie, this collection dives into multiple perspectives on support and opposition for the Registration Act.

Civil War: The Amazing Spider-Man (collection)
Published: May 2, 2007
ISBN: 9780785122371
This collection branches from the main story to follow Peter Parker--the Amazing Spider-Man--as he chooses sides for the Civil War. The protege of Mr. Stark, Peter Parker is witness to the Registration Act's passage and his own decision regarding the act. However, the Civil War event digs deep into the complications of both supporting and opposing the Registration Act, and Peter Parker finds himself in the middle of the mess. This collection spotlights Peter Parker's personal struggles over the Registration Act, and it might reveal hints about the upcoming appearance of our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, who will make his debut (once more) in Captain America: Civil War.

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Civil War Iron Man (collection)
Published: June 20, 2007
ISBN: 9780785123149
Civil War wouldn't be Civil War without Tony Stark. As one of the lead characters in the event, his story matters. This collection goes through his experience supporting the Registration Act and fighting against the heroes who have gone rogue. One of the greatest things about the Civil War event is that neither side is more correct or better than the other. Both sides have valid reasons for why they fight; both sides are right, and both sides are wrong. This is Tony Stark's side, and the entire thing is heartbreaking. Don't forget, Tony and Steve were best friends long before the Registration Act.

Civil War Captain America (collection)
Published: May 16, 2007
ISBN: 9781616878993
The other side of the Civil War deals with those in opposition to the Registration Act, aka Team Cap. Steve Rogers opposes the act and goes rogue, which leads other heroes to do the same. They form an underground team that works to help heroes who want to flee from the government agency. This collection follows Captain America's experience during the Civil War event. It's not always easy or happy, but it's just as important as Tony Stark's perspective. Both of their stories cross in the end, which concludes the Civil War.

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Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America (collection)
Published: October 24, 2007
ISBN: 9780785127994
It's no secret that the Civil War ends with the death of Steve Rogers. After several events, Steve turns himself over to the government, essentially calling a truce to the war. However, as he is escorted to the courthouse for his trial, he is shot and killed. This collection reveals the events leading up to Steve's death, the actual moment he is shot, and what happens after (including who actually shot him). Several issues also focus on reactions of heroes upon hearing of Captain America's death, which were both wonderful and heartbreaking to experience. In the end, this collection concludes the Civil War arc. Will the movie end in the same way? Only time will tell...

Honorable mentions:

Civil War: Fantastic Four--I left this out of the essential list because the MCU won't feature the Fantastic Four. However, their story arc was interesting because the team is split in different directions as a result of the Registration Act. This shows that even strong bonds were broken because of this event.

Civil War: X-Men--Again, the X-Men won't be featured in the upcoming movie, but it's still interesting to see how the mutants dealt with the issue. For the most part, they tried to stay out of it, which wasn't always the best option either. I suppose in every war there are two sides, or possibly three.

Civil War: Black Panther--While Black Panther will be introduced in the upcoming film, this story arc of Black Panther is vastly different than the one we'll get in Captain America: Civil War. For one thing, he's married to Ororo Munroe (aka Storm from the X-Men) in the comics. However, it's a solid story about how Black Panther works for his own interests. He didn't choose a side specifically (or at least not at first), which might just match the Black Panther of the MCU. (Again, time will tell.)

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There are many other stories that make up the Civil War event. It makes me a little sad that the MCU has decided to go toward the Civil War arc so soon, since there aren't that many established characters  yet (in comparison to the comics). Virtually every single running comic book character at the time dealt with the Registration Act in some manner. It was an interesting turn in the Marvel Universe when the Civil War erupted--everybody was affected.

Each comic series--whether the Punisher, She-Hulk, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the criminals of the Underworld, and more--gives a personal perspective of how the Civil War unfolded for individual and group of superheroes. Which side did they choose? What actions did they take? The Civil War event expanded across the entire Marvel comics, and it affected the universe permanently. I suspect the movie will do much the same.

(If you're looking for a complete list of individual issues and the best order to read them chronologically, check out this list.)

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What comics do you recommend reading before watching Civil War on the silver screen? What are you most looking forward to seeing in the movie?

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Reasons to Ship 'Scarlet Soldier'

 

Earlier this week, I was watching the Captain America: Civil War trailer for the umpteenth time when it struck me - Bucky and Wanda in the same shot. And I thought wow, that would be an interesting couple. It was a fleeting thought, but it kept coming back to me. By the end of the day, I had a ship name - Scarlet Soldier. And I was really shipping it.

Keep in mind: I've always been a steadfast Winter Widow shipper. I love the backstory with Natasha and Bucky, but the thought of the Scarlet Witch and the Winter Soldier was new, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.

When I mentioned it on Facebook, I had varied responses - either people were mortified I would stray from the Winter Widow path, or they were intrigued. I promised I would list the reasons why Scarlet Soldier makes a good ship here today, and so I give you:

REASONS TO SHIP SCARLET SOLDIER

• They share many of the same character threads - loss, time with HYDRA, affiliations with SHIELD. They have a good amount in common.

• Their abilities would blend well together. Wanda fights by bending reality, while Bucky fights with his body; but Bucky's mental trauma would be able to lean on Wanda's telepathic abilities.

• They could talk to each other in Russian. How cute would that be?

• Their personalities have the ability to play off each other with loads of chemistry. Even though they've never had a scene together (yet) they would make an excellent pair; interchanging their serious moods with their personal senses of humor.

Only four reasons? Yep - but each reason has a lot to consider. My Scarlet Soldier shipping started in the morning and by evening I was captaining the ship out of the dock and onto the high shipping seas. What do you think? Do you ship Scarlet Soldier, or do you hate the idea?

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