ANNUAL PUNCH-UP: 2017 HERO OF THE WEEK RECAP
It was a year dominated by live-action adaptations, major motion pictures, a return to HOTW's video games roots, and a comics industry struggling with its own identity!

With major upheaval of the past few years yielding mixed results, both DC and Marvel dabbled in returns to a more iconic past. The phenomenon of replacement heroes was a frequent topic, as was the toll of heavily marketed 'event' stunts, still regularly built around the demise of iconic heroes. Neither company went all-in on their iconic past, continually allowing movies and television to overshadow the source material.

In 2017, Hero of the Week grappled with many of the big issues of the day, maintaining a through line when the regular schedule of Friday Night Fights took a hit. Weekly notes meant moments were captured as they happened, even if publishing slipped slightly out of sync.

Marvel edged out DC at the end of the year, with major stories giving them a few more heroes to consider. 2017 was also the year we touched on characters from other publishers - and parts of the world! Enjoy the complete list of the year's Heroes of the Week below! You can find more by navigating with links in each entry, or flash back to the full list of 2016 HOTWs!

#1 Son Goku (January 2nd)
#2 Chinese Hero (January 9th)
#3 Jessica Jones (January 16th)
#4 Black Adam (January 23rd)
#5 Reverse-Flash (January 30th)
#6 Black Canary (February 6th)
#7 Black Lightning (February 13th)
#8 Cheetah (February 20th)
#9 Wolverine (February 27th)
#10 Doctor Fate (March 6th)
#11 Iron Fist (March 13th)
#12 Firestorm (March 20th)
#13 Major Kusanagi (March 27th)
#14 Ironheart (April 3rd)
#15 Ego The Living Planet (April 10th)
#16 Cable (April 17th)
#17 Cloak (April 24th)
#18 Ultron (May 1st)
#19 Captain America (May 8th)
#20 Forager (May 15th)
#21 Venom (May 22nd)
#22 Gorilla Grodd (May 29th)
#23 Red Hood (June 5th)
#24 Black Panther (June 12th)
#25 Wonder Woman (June 19th)
#26 Thing (June 26th)
#27 Spider-man (July 3rd)
#28 Cyborg Superman (July 10th)
#29 Sabretooth (July 17th)
#30 Mister Terrific (July 24th)
#31 Vulture (July 31st)
#32 Shocker (August 7th)
#33 Domino (August 14th)
#34 Ghost Rider (August 21st)
#35 Hawkman (August 28th)
#36 Black Manta (September 4th)
#37 Sinestro (September 11th)
#38 Hellboy (September 18th)
#39 Silver Surfer (September 25th)
#40 Catwoman (October 2nd)
#41 Rorschach (October 9th)
#42 Juggernaut (October 16th)
#43 General Zod (October 23rd)
#44 Punisher (October 30th)
#45 Captain Marvel (November 6th)
#46 Raphael (November 13th)
#47 Morbius The Living Vampire (November 20th)
#48 Deathstroke (November 27th)
#49 Thanos (December 4th)
#50 Atom (December 11th)
#51 Mister Fantastic (December 18th)
#52 Hulk (December 25th)

HERO OF THE WEEK: HULK (Marvel)
Real Name: Dr. Robert Bruce Banner
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #1 (May, 1962)
Fight Club Ranking: #6

Featured Fights:
- vs HERCULES: Tales to Astonish #79 (May 1966)
- vs CRYPTO-MAN: Incredible Hulk #205 (Nov 1976)
- vs EGGHEAD: Defenders #43 (Jan 1977)
- vs DAREDEVIL: Daredevil #163 (Mar 1980)
- vs SPIDER-MAN: Marvel Treasury Edition #25 (1980)
- vs THE STALKER: Incredible Hulk #335 (Sep 1987)
- vs SUPER-SKRULL: Incredible Hulk #374 (Oct 1990)
- vs METALLO: Marvel versus DC #3 (Apr 1996)
- vs SUPERMAN: Marvel versus DC #3 (Apr 1996)
- vs MOLEMAN: DC versus Marvel #4 (Apr 1996)
- vs IRON MAN: Iron Man #2 (Dec 1996)
- vs THUNDERBOLTS: Incredible Hulk #449 (Jan 1997)
- vs AVENGERS: Avengers #4 (Feb 1997)
- vs THOR: Avengers #5 (Mar 1997)
- vs DEADPOOL: Deadpool #4 (Apr 1997)
- vs GREEN LANTERN: Unlimited Access #1 (Dec 1997)
- vs JUGGERNAUT: Marvel Adventures #14 (May 1998)
- vs SILVER SURFER: Incredible Hulk #95 (Jul 2006)
- vs US MILITARY: World War Hulk #3 (Oct 2007)
- vs SENTRY: World War Hulk #5 (Jan 2008)
- vs HERCULES: Hulk VS Hercules: When Titans Collide #1 (Jun 2008)
- vs RED HULK: Hulk #6 (Nov 2008)

Don't they know it's Christmas time at all? I sure don't! As the last Monday of 2017, this installment of Hero of the Week carries the weight of an entire year. It was a big one! Hollywood dominated much of the discussion. Even as we do our best to say nothing at all about November's Justice League, there was also Thor: Ragnarok -- the movie that demands we celebrate the Hulk!

There was a lot to like about the hodgepodge of Thor: Ragnarok. For one: it was a Marvel movie with an aesthetic -- something we've talked a lot about wanting in Hero of the Week.

At times that aesthetic veered into dubious CG backdrops, but there was an energy that recalls the big, thrash metal lines of Walt Simonson's spired arenas. Vibrant colours were a welcome change of pace. Even if Thor himself got a downgrade that elicits flashbacks to James Remar's Raiden in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Granted, the "new look" for Marvel's thunder god was a lot less silly.

The presence of Hulk, and the loose adaptation of Planet Hulk, was by far the most intriguing pitch in the extensive advertising campaign.

It's easy to say Planet Hulk should've been its own faithful film adaptation, but if rights issues mean a Hulk solo film is difficult to unlikely, repackaging him as a support player is a great way of elevating lesser material. For what it's worth, there was a pretty decent animated Planet Hulk film that probably renders a live-action version a tad redundant.

The animated Planet Hulk didn't have access to Silver Surfer, so a substitute for the famous Incredible Hulk #95 fight had to be found. Intriguingly, they chose Beta Ray Bill - a character I really would've loved to have seen in Thor: Ragnarok. It's a fun link in the chain to Thor taking that spot.

Marvel movie overlord Kevin Feige told Crave Online that there was a small appearance by Bill, who can be seen on the totem of former champions (along with Man-Thing). He also says it didn't do the character justice, so it's better to wait until they can. Which is a philosophy I can definitely get behind! Beta Ray Bill is a great character, with a story that could definitely fill out a future movie!

I could probably talk a whole lot more about Beta Ray Bill, but for now we celebrate Hulk, who will be back on Earth for a major role in next year's Avengers: Infinity War. Which has already shown Hulk running into battle with Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther, and the heroes who'll stand against Thanos. Which seems to rule out any kind of World War Hulk fallout from his trip to space. At least for now.

That brings us to the end of a big year of Hero of the Week! Be sure to stick around for a recap of all of this year's HOTWs! Thanks to everyone who's followed along. With any luck we'll have better luck with a smooth publishing schedule in 2018! Cheers!

<< Hero of the Week 1/1: Flash Gordon     [Home]     Hero of the Week 12/18: Mister Fantastic >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: MISTER FANTASTIC (Marvel)
Real Name: Reed Richards
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #1 (November, 1961)
Fight Club Ranking: #9

Featured Fights:
- vs EGO THE LIVING PLANET: Fantastic Four #235 (Oct 1981)
- vs AHAB & INVISIBLE WOMAN: X-Men Annual #14 (1990)
- vs JUSTICE PEACE: Fantastic Four #354 (Jul 1991)
- vs PAIBOK: Fantastic Four #358 (Nov 1991)
- vs DOPPELGANGER: Fantastic Four #366 (Jul 1992)
- vs SUB-MARINER: Fantastic Four #412 (May 1996)
- vs MOLE MAN: Fantastic Four #2 (Dec 1996)
- vs SUPER-SKRULL: Fantastic Four #6 (Apr 1997)
- vs ANNIHILUS & DEFILE: Fantastic Four #13 (Nov 1997)
- vs ICONOCLAST: Fantastic Four #2 (Feb 1998)
- vs SUPER-APES: Fantastic Four #3 (Mar 1998)
- vs FRIGHTFUL FOUR: Marvel Adventures #12 (Mar 1998)
- vs WOLVERINE: Wolverine #22 (Jan 2005)
- vs SINISTER TWELVE: Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11 (Apr 2005)
- vs SECRET AVENGERS: Civil War #3 (Sep 2006)
- vs GOMDULLA: Spider-man Family #3 (Aug 2007)

If you've been watching the sands of Marvel Comics over the past few years, you may've noticed something changing of late. Back in September I started wondering if an increase in X-Men and Fantastic Four related publishing might be the signal of a new deal between Disney and Marvel licensors: 20th Century Fox. As it turns out - I may've been right.

Variety has reported that wayward Marvel properties could finally be brought back into the fold as Disney acquires FOX's intellectual properties in a mere $52.4 billion dollar deal.

Granted, this is much bigger than my half-baked questions about Silver Surfer finding a spot in next year's Avengers: Infinity War movie. It muddies the creative waters with the practical impositions that come with such a major proprietary deal. You don't simply drop a sack full of billions of dollars on Fox's counter and walk out with a multi-media empire. This deal will take time.

The obvious excitement is the possibility that Marvel Comics might end their two-year drought of publishing Fantastic Four: the comic that launched the Marvel Age. Or that the Fantastic Four might finally get a decent cinematic representation, one that's faithful to the beloved characters, and overlaps with the rest of Marvel's movie empire. Good old fashioned fear & loathing of mutants would be a welcome change from the bogus Inhuman hate seen in the television branch, as well.

All of that's great -- but there is the small matter of Disney's blossoming corporate stranglehold that threatens to dominate an already lagging 21st century culture.

The deal includes many of FOX's other popular properties (I think of Alien), and really will see Disney gobbling up more of Western culture's biggest pop franchises. Which, after the acquisition of Marvel and Lucasfilm a few years back, means they've got a very deep bench. Which is only slightly nauseating if you dwell on the dearth of exciting new ideas in our world.

As already discussed, I'd love to see Silver Surfer crashing unannounced into the Marvel movie universe. I think everyone clings to the vain hope Disney could somehow deliver a Fantastic Four that wasn't mangled beyond reason - or pleasure. I do spare a thought for the world at large, though.

<< Hero of the Week 12/25: Hulk       [Home]      Hero of the Week 12/11: Atom >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: ATOM (DC)
Real Name: Ryan Choi
First Appearance: DCU: Brave New World (August, 2006)
Fight Club Ranking: #288

Featured Fights:
- vs KILLER MOTH: Justice League: Cry For Justice #1 (Sep 2009)

After many months of anticipation - Injustice 2 has finally unveiled its smallest downloadable fighter: The Atom! As reported on Mortal Kombat Online, the new trailer reveals the Ryan Choi incarnation of the character, fighting in search of his missing mentor and predecessor: Ray Palmer.

In the context of a fighting game, there aren't a whole lot of differences between the two generations of Atom. Some might consider it a small blessing that Ray Palmer's spared the NFL Superpro looking design NetherRealm Studios has saddled the character with. Not that their usual junk action figure aesthetic is solely to blame - several of their DC designs are hindered by inspiration from their CW television counterparts, or movie compatible New 52 updates.

The look is a suitably small complaint when seeing the Atom in action! Small characters have a troubled history in fighting games, but it looks like Atom is going to be a whole lot of fun! It seems NetherRealm have done well to take standard issues into consideration. Though he'll fight at a variety of heights and scale, the Atom shouldn't permanently frustrate like Gon or Yoda in Namco's Tekken and Soul Calibur series.

It's hard to say if it's deliberate reference, but when Atom goes half-pint, it reminds of the Golden Age Atom, whose short stature was his trademark. The real fun kicks in when the character becomes a mere glowing blue dot scrambling across the battlefield. That's about the closest you can practically get to the molecule-riding Atom we love from comics -- and it looks like it'll be fun to play with!

Long time comics readers will think fondly of Ray Palmer riding phone lines to get from one destination to the next. I hope we can all appreciate the meta value of Atom being downloadable content, added to the game only after travelling through your connection.

Injustice 2 has done a really good job of putting together a fun cast of characters who pull from all corners of the DC Universe. Some of the favourites are still missing: the sequel has lost the likes of Martian Manhunter and Captain Marvel from the first game, and never went for the natural choices of Steel or Bronze Tiger. Small sacrifices when you consider just how much it's added!

About the only other complaint I'd have for Atom is that his moves include a sequence that takes him giant-size. I just don't associate the character with that.

Atom's great hook is packing the punch of usual mass into the head of a needle, or riding electrons at microscopic level. If you want a fist as big as your body you can leave that to Atom Smasher. The super-move in I2 just compares unflatteringly to Ant-Man, who many unread gamers will know from the recent movie(s). It would be great to see NRS sharpen up their references, throw out the New 52 books WB may or may not have comped them, and tap more iconic and definitive references.

<< Hero of the Week 12/18: Mister Fantastic     [Home]     Hero of the Week 12/4: Thanos >>

COVER TO COVER: 2017 TOP 20 FEATURE FIGHTS!

Technically a year of Secret Wars on Infinite Earths ends at the conclusion of November. Which means it's already time to look back at the best battles of a big year!

Our glorious schedule was cut to ribbons in 2017, but that didn't stop "The Comic Book Fight Club" featuring an amazing array of truly satisfying statements in superhero smackdown! Today we spotlight the twenty most popular battles as determined by your direct traffic to each file!

Simply hit the cover pics below to discover legendary battles featuring: Wolverine, Batman, Thor, Superman, Supergirl, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Thanos, Deathstroke, Black Adam, Martian Manhunter, Drax, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Fate, Hawkman, Green Lantern, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Deadshot, Brainiac, Gorilla Grodd, the warriors of Dragon Ball, and so many more!

HERO OF THE WEEK: THANOS (Marvel)
Real Name: Thanos
First Appearance: Iron Man #55 (February, 1973)
Fight Club Ranking: #352

Featured Fights:
- vs TERRAX: Green Lantern/Silver Surfer (Dec 1995)
- vs AVENGERS & JUSTICE LEAGUE: DC versus Marvel #4 (Apr 1996)
- vs DRAX: Annihilation #4 (Jan 2007)
- vs GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: Guardians of the Galaxy #25 (Jun 2010)

Holy toot! The new trailer for Avengers: Infinity War finally lifts the lid on one of Marvel's most anticipated theatrical releases! There's a whole lot to unpack, but it goes without saying that the man of the hour is Thanos. The Mad Titan has been threatening for years - now he's coming to Earth!

There are a whole lot of pregnant images flickering through the packed 1 minute 44 second preview!

"Get this man a shield" serves double duty to forecast a new-look Captain America, and stir excitement for February's long awaited starring turn for Black Panther! There's also the usual bait and tease of familiar faces in peril, or new gear. An armored Spider-man, a concerned Iron Man, and a rampaging Hulk back from last month's space battles with Thor in Ragnarok.

One of the things that most interested me is what looks like the insectoid hordes of the Annihilation Wave! There was a lot of fan debate over whether the first Avengers film's mystery character "The Other" might actually be some version of Annihilus. This may lend some vague credibility to the theory, even if the Negative Zone villain is kept plausibly available to debut another day.

It was pretty much a given the movie would have little to do with the Infinity War of the comics. Evil doppelgangers of our favourite heroes might be interesting, but it's a concept that wears thin, and could tread on future plans for Skrull invasion [circa Captain Marvel].

The presumption, then, was that the movie would borrow most of its cues from The Infinity Gauntlet, but that now seems more likely for the former "Part 2" of Avengers 4. There are a few allusions to the Gauntlet story. Iron Man taking a thorough butt whooping, being one of them. Heroes rushing into streets flooded with panic -- another familiar scene to the 1991 story.

That little peak of Bruce Banner lying beneath a hole in what may or may not be Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum rings true of the beginning of The Infinity Gauntlet, as well, even if it may mean it's time to give up on those Silver Surfer theories I had.

There's bound to be more teasers and theorizing as we await next year's biggest blockbuster. For now, we commemorate anticipation with a humble entry into Hero of the Week!

<< Hero of the Week 12/11: Atom       [Home]      Hero of the Week 11/27: Deathstroke >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: DEATHSTROKE (DC)
Real Name: Slade Wilson
First Appearance: New Teen Titans #2 (December, 1980)
Fight Club Ranking: #96

Featured Fights:
- vs X-MEN: Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #1 (1982)
- vs JUSTICE LEAGUE: Identity Crisis #3 (Oct 2004)
- vs FREEDOM FIGHTERS: Infinite Crisis #1 (Dec 2005)
- vs JUSTICE LEAGUE: Justice League of America #15 (Jan 2008)

The Justice League have finally made it to the big screen, but the single most interesting aspect of their theatrical arrival isn't the heroic assembly, or the immediate threat of New God: Steppenwolf. It's the headline grabbing post-credits meeting between Lex Luthor and Deathstroke!

We got our first glimpse of a cinematic Deathstroke more than a year ago, with speculation that he might just turn up somewhere in Justice League, before featuring in The Batman. The man beneath the two-tone mask is Joe Manganiello, and he tweeted out a great photo of himself in full costume.

So far the DC Cinematic Universe has been one big, ugly hot mess, but the innate good of the source property keeps fans hanging on. The presence of an obscure, alien Green Lantern (seen in flashback) was another allusion to the good things Warner Brothers could still put on screen, if so inclined.

Deathstroke shows up to aid Lex Luthor, whose appearance comes with a foreboding vision to form a League of their own. Unfortunately, it's still Jesse Eisenberg beneath the bald scalp.

Fortunately, Manganiello shows plenty of promise in his limited, menacing appearance. The visual alone is enough to get comics fans excited, even if cinema's Deathstroke has gone for a more off-the-shelf look. Bright flourishes of orange and a silhouette of swords at back do enough to imply the character we know and love. That Slade Wilson has retained his age and eyepatch -- more bonuses.

It's been surprising to see the DECU do so little to build its universe of characters. It may compare unfavourably to the Marvel post-credits tradition, but tacking this expansion on at the end of the film helps remove it from the quagmire of what came before.

It's surprising that it's taken this long for a superhero film to build towards a team-up of villains.

The short-lived Andrew Garfield Spider-man was heading for a collision with the Sinister Six, before that franchise was unceremoniously put out of its misery. Marvel Studios have made character conversion points a major part of their business, but emphasis on heroic ensemble has typically made villains too unconvincing to demand reprisal. Otherwise, we may've seen the likes of Red Skull, Baron Zemo, or Abomination coming together to form The Masters of Evil.

DC already have a natural antagonist team in play in the Suicide Squad, but building up a team of super-villains is one way they can finally blaze a trail Marvel hasn't already walked. The injection of name villains like Deathstroke will certainly be a welcome step forward!

<< Hero of the Week 12/4: Thanos       [Home]      Hero of the Week 11/20: Morbius >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: MORBIUS (Marvel)
Real Name: Michael Morbius
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-man #101 (Oct, 1971)
Fight Club Ranking: #57

Featured Fights:
- vs THE WEREWOLF: Marvel Premiere #28 (Feb 1976)
- vs DOCTOR STRANGE: Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #10 (Nov 1989)
- vs SPIDER-MAN: Ultimate Spider-man #95 (Jul 2006)
- vs NIGHT SHIFT: Marvel Zombies 4 #2 (Jul 2009)

Sony seems intent on constructing a tangled web of Spider-man movie properties -- and it has the potential to be glorious! The Hollywood Reporter has added Morbius The Living Vampire to the growing slate of spin-offs, which already includes Tom Hardy as Venom, and a rumored Black Cat and Silver Sable team-up called Black & Silver.

Morbius is one of those curious characters who's kicked around Hollywood since the nineties. The final word always seemed to be that he could sustain his own film. If Sony follows through on plans, it could be another exciting signal of diversifying their options to break away from the monotony of most Marvel and DC offerings.

Considerations were passed over for all three Blade movies, but an unused teaser was filmed to close the first, showing a shadow cast Morbius watching Blade emerge at dawn from his battle with La Magra.

The Norrington directed city, and pseudo-science of vampirism, lent itself well to introducing Michael Morbius: A doctor whose blood condition leads him to accidentally turn himself into a "living" vampire.

N'Bushe Wright's haematologist character always seemed like a natural bridge to the world inhabited by Morbius, particularly in the comics of the nineties. Their blend of gothic superhero meets The Fugitive meets General Hospital was a pretty good modern direction for the character.

You can't talk about Morbius in the nineties without mentioning Maximum Carnage: a Spider-man crossover story that seems to be presenting itself with every new announcement!

Morbius was one of several characters presented in the weird and wonderful Carnage story, paired with Nightwatch, as part of an ensemble that included: Captain America, Iron Fist, Cloak & Dagger, and Deathlok. Black Cat and Venom also had major parts.

I'm sure it's unlikely that anything as strange as the cast of Maximum Carnage could ever make it to the big screen, but if Sony continue to assemble their characters in individual films, it seems some version of that story is an inevitable Avengers-esque destination point!

Here's hoping whatever form Morbius takes on the big screen - it's worth the hype! You can be damn sure it's worth being our Hero of the Week!

<< Hero of the Week 11/27: Deathstroke       [Home]      Hero of the Week 11/13: Raphael >>

HERO OF THE WEEK: RAPHAEL (Mirage Studios)
Real Name: Raphael
First Appearance: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (May, 1984)
Fight Club Ranking: #156

Featured Fights:
- vs THE SHREDDER: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (May 1984)
- vs COMPLETE CARNAGE: Savage Dragon #22 (Sep 1995)

Injustice 2 has unveiled its third (and presumed final) DLC Fighter Pack, and as reported on Mortal Kombat Online, it comes with a big four-for-one special deal! Atom and Enchantress were expected presences in the reveal trailer, but stepping from the shadows are the surprise package of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Requested by some, but expected by few!

Typically you're either going to love or hate guest characters in fighting games. There's always the argument that they don't offer much for brand legacy, and the assets could be better spent building up in-house properties.

Ultimately, it's an argument of creative versus commerce that TMNT will inevitably further for the latter. The multimedia darlings hit the sweet spot for Millennial gamers who've aged alongside the heroes in a half-shell, and will gladly buy-in en masse.

Guest fighters as downloadable content has meant players can customize their experience for a price, selecting their character purchases individually, or as part of value (and instant gratification) incentives. Past examples reinforce the fact that the audience is embracing the novelty, making guests the most lucrative post-script option for Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.

The fact that DC Comics already permeates through so many mediums means the intrusion of guest characters stings a lot less than Mortal Kombat's awkwardly generated movie maniacs.

Injustice 2 has also done a pretty good job of plumbing from natural wells, sourcing Sub-Zero and Raiden from the developer's Mortal Kombat franchise, and independent comics icons Hellboy and the TMNT. All four have history crossing over with DC Comics in the past, with Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles among the most recent examples!

Personally, I prefer my fighting games straight and complete. Street Fighter V hasn't hit on a winner with every new addition, and the piecemeal approach to basic functions has been pretty lousy, but I like their constructive strategy for DLC characters.

If guest characters must happen -- and at NetherRealm Studios, that's the case -- I can dig a novelty like the Ninja Turtles. The TMNT fit right in with the fighting game format, offer a lot in terms of gameplay and presentation, and are just pretty radical. Cowabunga, dude.

It's going to be interesting to see how a quartet of characters functions in the game. We've seen characters like Atrocitus flanked by support options before, but there's a bit of mystery surrounding the heroic foursome. Injustice's Gear System could let players pick their turtle of choice, but this may also be the game's first fully fledged example of tag mechanics! Something for MK11 to consider?

Like any fan, I've got my favourites. I'm a little disappointed we didn't get to see Bronze Tiger, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, or Steel make the playable cut. They all have interesting arguments, and will probably show up in a future sequel. Steel seemed particularly natural, however, given the heavy emphasis on the Superman Family, and the game's armor aesthetic and customizable Gear.

By and large, Injustice 2 has been an improvement on the first game, bolstered by an excellent line-up of new additions! Don't believe it? Check out Hero of the Week entries for: Supergirl, Reverse-Flash, Black Canary, Cheetah, Doctor Fate, Firestorm, Gorilla Grodd, Red Hood, and Black Manta!

Still not up on the comic book origins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Be sure to hit the featured fight links at the top of this post, or character tags littered throughout. You can also find a whole lot more from DC Comics by diving into the Secret Archive!

<< Hero of the Week 11/20: Morbius       [Home]      Hero of the Week 11/06: Captain Marvel >>

COVER TO COVER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS!

For years his stories claimed they'd change the status quo forever -- but nothing will shake the Marvel Universe quite as dramatically as news Brian Michael Bendis is leaving for DC Comics!

In one of the most shocking news stories of 2017; DC Comics announced a multi-year exclusivity agreement that will bring the Marvel mainstay into near-uncharted waters. It ends an almost eighteen year association that shaped the identity of Marvel both on the page - and on the screen!

Bendis rose to fame as an architect of the millennial Ultimate Marvel universe, but much of his best work was done with characters like Daredevil, Luke Cage and the creation of Jessica Jones. For better or worse he redefined what the Avengers brand meant to Marvel, creating a memorable series in the first volume of New Avengers, which controversially brought in Avengers hold-outs like Spider-man and Wolverine. These properties featured heavily on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, so it only makes sense we pay tribute with a look back at some of the weird and wild moments!

Still seeking more thrills and chills? Dive into the Secret Issue Index to discover hundreds of battles from the dark side and beyond! Like & share daily links on Facebook and Twitter to spread the blood amongst your friends! Happy Halloween from Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

HERO OF THE WEEK: CAPTAIN MARVEL (DC)
Real Name: Billy Batson
First Appearance: Whiz Comics #2 (February, 1940)
Fight Club Ranking: #110

Featured Fights:
- vs MACRO-MAN: Legends #1 (Nov 1986)
- vs THOR: Marvel versus DC #2 (Mar 1996)
- vs DARKSEID & THANOS: DC versus Marvel #4 (Apr 1996)
- vs SUPERMAN: Kingdom Come #4 (Aug 1996)
- vs SUPERMAN & BATMAN: Superman/Batman #4 (Jan 2004)
- vs BLACK ADAM: Hawkman #24 (Mar 2004)
- vs SUPERMAN: Superman #216 (Jun 2005)

Warner Brothers gave us one of the first big stories of the year when news broke of plans for a Black Adam solo movie. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been formally and informally attached to inhabit the anti-villain's role for several years now. As 2017 draws towards a close, The Hollywood Reporter delivers news that we finally have a Captain Marvel to go with him!

Zachary Levi isn't an actor who immediately conjures the square-jawed vision of Earth's mightiest mortal -- but who does? Hollywood may have once been replete with tall, dark, handsome leading men, but the Cary Grants and Fred MacMurrays of the world seem to be a thing of the past.

What Levi immediately inspires is hope that "the big red cheese" will view the world through good natured eyes. TV's Chuck can clearly handle a light touch, and with the right physical transformation, has the potential to be channeled into something the DC Cinematic Universe is sorely missing.

With talk that Black Adam won't have any role in SHAZAM, it would be nice to see a movie that goes all-in on family friendly fun, with a retro bent. Think The Incredibles meets A Night at the Museum, with a buff and sheen from a 1940s cloth. The movie is a chance to see the world in a different way, revealing the fantasy so many films -- especially modern superhero movies -- refuse to indulge.

It's easy to believe the movie will go light, but here's hoping it doesn't go light-weight.

Those who are inevitably rejecting the casting choice aren't completely without reason. Levi doesn't seem to have the obvious presence of a classic Captain Marvel, and Warner Brothers haven't shown a lot of instinct, or understanding, when attempting to initiate their various DC properties.

The New 52 has felt like a window into the DCEU, and that's a picture that isn't kind to even the modern-classic Captain Marvel who bobbed around in the 90s and mid-00s. There are a lot of ways the movie could go horribly wrong, diverging into misplaced darkness, or total slapstick. I'm sure we're all bracing for disappointment, if we're completely honest with ourselves.

As Justice League grimly sloshes its way into theatres this month; Captain Marvel has the potential to jolt the superhero movie age into a fresh era. This has the potential to be a strong entry with a wholly unique visual and stylistic aesthetic. A player that exceeds Marvel's step forward with next year's Black Panther. It may be a long shot, but it's enough to make a Hero of the Week!

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