Superfan44

For a while now, I've been hoping for Star Wars to return to the big screen again, and I have to say, with this movie, it delivered on exactly what I was expecting. An entertaining galactic adventure that works well as an extension of the TV show as well as a standalone feature. The action sequences are fun, Pedro Pascal is still great as Din Djarin, and the moments with his pint-sized co-star, humorous and/or heartfelt, gives you the kind of good vibes that you would want in something like this. In short, I had an absolute blast.

My first theater viewing of 2026, and boy what an experience it was. This is a dazzling science fiction adventure that's buoyed by a charismatic, funny, and moving performance by Ryan Gosling (along with a likeable, uniquely designed alien companion). Once the story gets going, it grabs your attention and keeps you engaged until the very last frame. The visuals leave you in complete awe and the emotional moments really shine through. See it on the biggest screen you can find, it's totally worth the price of admission alone.

As many of you know, I love to talk about movies, but of course, that’s not my only interest. So today, I’d like to talk about another storytelling medium I love, one that I think deserves more recognition: comic books!

One of my most anticipated movies of the year is DC Studios’ “Supergirl”, set to be released this summer. What makes this particular one so exciting for me is that it is based on a specific comic story that I read back when the film was initially announced. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”.

Written by Tom King and illustrated by Bilquis Evely, with colors by Matt Lopes, this outer space odyssey offers a bold new perspective on the man of steel’s cousin, giving her a dramatic depth never before seen, while also serving as a great introduction to her for newcomers. Here, we see the story told from the perspective of Ruthye Marye Knoll, an alien farm girl whose father is killed by a low life criminal known as Krem of the Yellow Hills. When she sets out to avenge her father’s death, she meets, and ends up hiring, Supergirl to help her track Krem down. What follows is a journey through a beautiful and dangerous cosmos as the two come to grips with their respective tragedies.

Right away, the thing that really sucks you into this book is the artwork. Evely’s illustrations are absolutely beautiful, with an amazing attention to detail in the different alien planets our characters travel to. The Sweeping landscapes both gritty and colorful, along with the amazing line work, a mix of elegant brushstrokes and sharp edges, grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. This also applies to how Evely draws the characters as well. Just the way she draws a person’s hair alone is so interesting.

Of course, it’s the storyline and character arcs that really elevates this book, a big part of it due to Tom King’s writing. In most iterations, Kara is portrayed as Superman’s cheerful cousin. but here, King really dives deep into her history and personality, making her feel more three-dimensional as a result. Unlike Superman, who was sent to Earth as an infant and doesn’t remember Krypton or its destruction, Supergirl was old enough to witness that cataclysmic disaster firsthand. We see how messed up and jaded this left her, as her entire world, her culture, friends, and family, perished before her eyes.

And yet, despite all of that, she chooses to push forward, persevere, and channel that pain into something positive. It’s when Ruthye, who has just experienced the loss of her father, meets and spends time with Supergirl that she realizes this. As they travel together, we see these two learn to help and rely on each other, confronting this question of what one chooses to do when confronted with grief and hardship.

To sum up, “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” is a must read. I seriously cannot recommend it enough. Whether you’re a longtime comic book fan, or if you’ve never read a superhero comic before, this is a great one to jump into. This perfectly showcases everything that makes this medium a great form of storytelling. With its fantastical science fiction setting, eye catching artwork, and layered writing, this is a modern classic that you’ll want to experience again and again.

1. Superman

2. Sinners

3. One Battle After Another

4. Wake Up Dead Man

5. Frankenstein

6. The Fantastic 4: First Steps

7. Thunderbolts*

8. Avatar: Fire and Ash

9. F1

For the past couple of years, director Dan Trachtenberg has been doing some interesting things with the Predator franchise, and this movie is no exception. Instead of the usual manhunt plotline of the previous installments, here we have a sci-fi action-adventure that offers a fresh new perspective on these iconic extraterrestrial hunters. To top it off, it's also got great action sequences, some fun worldbuilding, and totally sick imagery. I'll be curious to see what they do next with this series.

Ok, let's do this one more time.

As a kid in the 2000s, Nickelodeon was one of my absolute favorite TV channels. Most of the shows that I watched on there that I loved (aside from their live action shows) were the animated shows. Jimmy Neutron, Danny Phantom, Avatar: The Last Airbender, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, and My Life as a Teenage Robot were just a few of the shows I tuned into. Even a few shows in the 2010s like The Legend of Korra and the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series I had the pleasure of tuning in to.

It had been a long time since I had seen or even thought about most of them. Then, not too long ago, I found myself sucked into a fan fiction series that takes many of these beloved shows, and with them, weaves together an interesting web so to speak. I'm taking about the Spider-Nick series!

Co-written by Epiclot214 and their collaborator MajorBrony95, this Spider-Verse inspired crossover series presents seven stories based on seven Nicktoons. Spider-Man and the Ninja Turtles (TMNT 2012), The Web Tech (Glitch Techs), The Spider Spirit (The Legend of Korra), Ectorachnid (Danny Phantom), Sp/dr: Peni and Jimmy's Adventures (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius), My Life as a Teenage Spider-Bot (My Life as a Teenage Robot), and La Arana (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera).

In each one, we see a different version or variation of spider-man teaming up with the primary characters of the corresponding show, the adventures that follow, and the bonds they share. Some variants are familiar, like Peter Parker and Peni Parker (SP/dr), while the rest are original characters created specifically for select stories. A couple of changes are made to some of the plotlines and character dynamics, due to the presence of the spider heroes.

Structurally, these are basically insert stories, as they follow the events of the shows (and in the case of Peni and Jimmy's Adventures' first arc, the events of the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius movie). Still, the writing can be pretty polished to the point where it doesn't feel that way when I read them. The spider heroes, all of them diverse and unique, are worked naturally into each story, so their presence doesn't feel forced. They correspond nicely within the tone, context, and setting of whatever universes they inhabit, and emphasize the idea that anyone can wear the mask, regardless of background or identity. In addition to the great relationship dynamics between the characters, each story is also able to maintain the core themes and ideas that have always been at the heart of Spider-Man.

Of course, there are some other things that also remain a constant, no matter the universe. In addition to the show characters, each story also contains different variations of Spider-Man's supporting cast, which includes a different Uncle Ben or Uncle Ben-type figure for each spider hero. There are different versions of villains like Norman Osborn (Green Goblin), Mysterio, the Lizard, the Rhino, and many other members of the rogue's gallery. Not only that, but we also get a few variations of other Marvel heroes popping up here and there as well. For instance, Season One of The Spider Spirit features alternate reality versions of Jean DeWolff, Daredevil and Black Widow. Meanwhile, The Web Tech features a few heroes and villains as video game characters and/or glitches, which works within the context of that world.

Given the nature of Spider-Verse stories, there is very little doubt that these different spiders and their allies will cross paths with one another at some point. The author has stated that once the individual stories reach their end, all of these heroes will converge in an Endgame-style crossover event, serving as the grand finale to the series. They haven't revealed yet who the big threat is going to be, but I have a feeling that we'll find out eventually. That may seem daunting or obligatory at first to some of you but fear not! You won't get bogged down or overwhelmed on this one.

Since each story takes place in a different universe, it allows them to be more self-contained, focusing primarily on the individual conflicts and adventures of the characters. So far, there are a few moments that hint at the larger story of the Spider-Nick series, but for the most part, they're taking a back seat. This allows each installment to be easily accessible for readers and not feel like homework. If you want, you can even pick or choose specific favorites to follow and not feel lost on what's happening. That being said, exploring each of these titles can be rewarding, not just for the series as a whole, but also for fans of both Spider-Man and Nickelodeon's animation library. Reading these stories truly felt like a blast from the past, bringing me back to the good old days when I was excited to catch these shows on the TV screen.

(Admittedly, the one exception here is Glitch Techs, which is a fairly new show to me. When I heard that it was part of this series, it drove me to watch it, which helped me to appreciate The Web Tech even more.)

Having the idea to incorporate the friendly neighborhood webslinger into all of these shows makes them even more fun. The prospect of seeing them all uniting and interacting in the future is exciting in and of itself. For now, the individual stories, which are all super enjoyable, are still strong enough to stand on their own. In the end, this series is worth getting swept up in, trust me.

Links to all the stories are provided below, along with cover art by internet artist Framraw:

Spider-Man and the Ninja Turtles: Spider-Man and the Ninja Turtles Chapter 1: Webs and Shells part 1, a Spider-Man + Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

The Web Tech: The Web Tech Chapter 1: Level 1: Let the Games Begin part 1, a Spider-Man + Glitch Techs Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

The Spider Spirit: The Spider Spirit Chapter 1: The First Thread, a Spider-Man + Legend of Korra Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

Ectorachnid: Ectorachnid Chapter 1: What a Haunted Web We Weave part 1, a Spider-Man + Danny Phantom Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

SP/dr: Peni and Jimmy's Adventures: SPdr: Peni and Jimmy's Adventures Chapter 1: Another Day in Retroville, a Jimmy Neutron + Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

My Life as a Teenage Spider-Bot: My Life as a Teenage Spider-Bot Chapter 1: A New Arrival, a Spider-Man + My Life as a Teenage Robot Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

La Arana: La Arana Chapter 1: The Anti-Hero Web Warrior part 1, a Spider-Man + El Tigre Crossover fanfic | FanFiction

Nothing to see here, please disperse! Oh wait, actually, there is something to see here (and full disclosure, I'm not really a cop). This brings back a classic style of comedy that has been sorely missed in motion pictures. The jokes, sight gags, and verbal puns come at rapid fire speed and never let up. Liam Neeson is smartly cast here, delivering the deadpan humor with a straight face, similar to Leslie Nielson before him. I guess I don't really have much to say other than the fact that it had me laughing the whole entire time. If you only see one movie in theaters this year... you ought to get out more often.

After all these years, Marvel's first family finally gets the proper big screen treatment they have always deserved. This movie has so many things to love. The retro futuristic 1960s space age aesthetic sucks you in right from the get-go. All of the details of this setting, big and small, are meticulously well crafted, not to mention the little easter eggs here and there that call back to the comics. The visual language, as well as the effects, are astonishing to see. Of course, it's the family dynamic of the team, which is most important, that ties everything together. Taking place in an alternate universe, it allows for a more self-contained story, making it easy viewing for both newcomers and longtime fans. Simply put, it's fantastic!

It seems only fitting that the big blue boy scout would help revitalize the superhero genre. James Gunn's take on the iconic hero is fun, heartfelt, optimistic, and just downright spectacular. It fully embraces many of the fantastical elements of the source material, making the whole thing feel like a comic book brought to life. The action is colorful and lively, the actors are pitch perfect in their roles, and it does a nice job of establishing a lived-in universe without losing sight of the main story and characters. Basically, it had everything I would ever want in a movie like this. We could all use a little bit of hope right now, so the timing couldn't be more perfect.