Avengers (2023) #21–23

Avengers (2023) #21–23

The Avengers traveled to Alaska to visit Cyclops and his new team of X-Men at their headquarters, the Factory. Although Captain Marvel and Cyclops initially made it look as though another Avengers/X-Men confrontation was about to erupt, the whole thing was essentially a joke. The teams had actually gathered for a baseball game and dinner, giving them a rare opportunity to interact without trying to kill one another.

The visit was particularly important for Storm, who had recently joined the Avengers but remained very much a part of the mutant community. Rather than forcing her to choose between the two groups, the meeting reinforced that she could belong to both. Scarlet Witch also had an important reunion with Magneto, allowing the two to address their complicated family history. Meanwhile, Captain Marvel and Cyclops privately discussed the long and often ugly relationship between the Avengers and X-Men. Rather than reopening old wounds, they agreed that the two teams needed to work together going forward, particularly with larger threats looming.

Back at the Impossible City, Captain Marvel decided the Avengers needed to become more proactive about the Tribulation Events Kang had warned them about rather than simply waiting for each disaster to occur. Scarlet Witch learned through her mystical contacts that an old archive belonging to Kang was about to be auctioned at the Speculatorium, an enormous intergalactic casino owned by the Grandmaster. The archive contained information concerning the mysterious Missing Moment, but its expected auction price made legitimately acquiring it virtually impossible.

Tony Stark offered the obvious alternative: steal it.

The Avengers infiltrated the casino and divided into two groups. Scarlet Witch, Storm and Vision created an enormous distraction on the casino floor by staging a fight between Wanda and Ororo. Meanwhile, Iron Man, Captain America and Captain Marvel disguised themselves and slipped toward the vault. Tony managed to defeat the security system, but when they finally opened the vault they discovered that someone had already beaten them to the prize.

Vision scanned the casino and found the thieves: Kang the Conqueror and Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat. Even more surprisingly, they were accompanied by Felicia’s deceased father, Walter Hardy, whom Kang had retrieved from approximately twenty years in the past.

The Avengers weren’t the only people being manipulated. Grandmaster knew exactly what was happening and had turned the entire affair into one of his games. His opponent was Myrddin, Kang’s mysterious rival in the race to reach the Missing Moment. Grandmaster had wagered on the Avengers while Myrddin backed Kang.

The Avengers pursued Kang and Black Cat through the casino, but Felicia had planned for that possibility. Kang had recruited her because he needed one of history’s greatest thieves to recover his stolen information, while Felicia agreed partly because Kang could give her something money couldn’t: another chance to see her father.

Felicia had also hired Gatecrasher and the Technet as muscle. When Scarlet Witch, Storm and Vision caught up with the thieves, the Technet attacked, giving Kang and Felicia time to escape. The rest of the Avengers joined the battle and eventually defeated the bizarre mercenaries, allowing them to corner Kang and Felicia before they could leave.

It appeared that the Avengers had finally recovered Kang’s archive when Kang surrendered the box carrying it. Unfortunately, the box was empty.

Felicia had pulled off another trick. The real archive had secretly been given to Walter Hardy, who had already escaped with it. Kang had specifically traveled twenty years into the past to recruit the younger Walter for the heist, allowing Felicia to work alongside her father without initially telling him that she was his daughter.

With Walter safely carrying the real prize, Kang summoned an entire army to the casino to complete their escape.

By the end of the confrontation, Kang and Black Cat had successfully outmaneuvered the Avengers. More importantly, Kang once again possessed the information concerning the Missing Moment that the Avengers themselves had hoped to acquire. Grandmaster and Myrddin had also been watching the entire affair as a game, suggesting that the Avengers and Kang were still pieces in a much larger contest neither side fully understood.

The Avengers were therefore left in a worse position than when they started: they still didn’t possess the information they needed about the Missing Moment, Kang did, and Myrddin’s actual intentions remained unclear.

Meanwhile, Felicia had gotten something considerably more personal out of the adventure. Kang had given her an opportunity to spend time with her father again, even if Walter came from a point in history before his death and couldn’t simply remain with her in the present.

Unfortunately for the Avengers, the casino job wasn’t actually over yet. Kang’s army had just arrived, meaning the confrontation continues directly into Avengers #24.

Nuremberg (2025)

Nuremberg is a gripping historical drama that brings one of the most consequential trials in modern history to life with remarkable intensity. Directed with a steady focus on both the legal stakes and the human emotions behind them, the film examines the aftermath of World War II through the lens of the Nuremberg Trials, where leading figures of the Nazi regime were held accountable for their crimes. The story balances courtroom tension with moments of reflection, reminding viewers that these proceedings were not only about justice, but also about defining the moral boundaries of a new world order.

Rami Malek delivers a thoughtful and restrained performance, portraying a character caught between the legal complexities of the trial and the overwhelming moral weight of the evidence presented. Malek’s ability to convey quiet intensity works well in a story driven by testimony, strategy, and the slow unfolding of truth. Opposite him, Russell Crowe brings a commanding presence that anchors many of the film’s most powerful scenes. Crowe’s portrayal carries both authority and nuance, giving the courtroom confrontations a sense of gravity that feels appropriate for a moment of such historical magnitude.

What makes Nuremberg especially effective is how it avoids turning the material into a simple good-versus-evil narrative. Instead, the film explores the legal and philosophical questions surrounding responsibility, obedience, and justice after unimaginable atrocities. The pacing allows the arguments and testimony to breathe, creating a slow-burn tension that builds throughout the trial. By the end, the film leaves viewers reflecting not only on the events of the past, but also on how those principles of accountability still resonate today. It’s a thoughtful and well-acted historical drama that succeeds in making history feel immediate and meaningful.

Incredible Hulk (2023) #20-25

In The Incredible Hulk (2023) #20–25, the story continues the dark horror tone of the run, focusing on Bruce Banner, the Hulk, Charlie Tidwell, and the looming threat of ancient monsters tied to the villain known as the Eldest. These issues move from a supernatural wolf-demon storyline into a plot centered on Charlie’s unstable skinwalker powers and eventually lead Banner into the magical side of the Marvel Universe.

In issues #20–21 (“Wolves of the Old World”), Hulk’s destruction of the skinwalker cult draws the attention of ancient supernatural predators. Hulk and Werewolf by Night confront the immortal wolf-demon Varcolac, one of the oldest monsters on Earth, whose hunt is triggered by Hulk’s recent actions. Meanwhile, Charlie Tidwell—who was resurrected earlier with skinwalker powers—begins reveling in her newfound strength but also fears she may be losing control of herself. The battles with Varcolac reinforce the series’ horror theme, showing that Hulk’s presence is awakening primal forces tied to the monstrous mythology surrounding the Eldest and the coming “Age of Monsters.”

In issues #22–23 (“The Skin of Charlie Tidwell”), the focus shifts to Charlie. Bruce Banner becomes increasingly suppressed inside Hulk’s mind, effectively trapped as Hulk’s personality dominates. As Charlie’s transformation into the skinwalker entity Lycana grows more violent, she tries to reach Banner within the Hulkscape—the mental world shared by Hulk and Banner—to seek guidance and retain her humanity. At the same time, mysterious forces connected to the Eldest begin abducting gamma-mutated individuals around the world, suggesting a larger supernatural plan unfolding behind the scenes. In a key turning point, Charlie briefly loses control when one of Eldest’s servants steals her supernatural “skin,” forcing her to confront both the power and danger of the monster she has become.

By issues #24–25, Bruce and Charlie pursue magical help to deal with the escalating supernatural threats and Charlie’s unstable condition. They travel to the Sanctum Sanctorum, where Clea recognizes Banner’s battle against the Eldest and begins assisting them with mystical knowledge. Charlie admits she does not want to lose her power—she simply wants to control it. Their search for Doctor Strange ultimately points them toward Asgard, where the storyline culminates in a confrontation with Thor. The arc ends with Hulk entering the realm of gods and magic, expanding the series from monster-horror territory into a larger mythic conflict tied to the fate of Charlie, the Eldest, and the cosmic forces gathering around Hulk.

If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You (2025)

Just like everyone, I'm not stupid - I know that if you see the characters "A-2-4" together, you know you can't go wrong. This was a good one. Spoilers, but I didn't' know Christian Slater was in it until the end. I think that was a shock to most. And Conan O'Brien can act? Who knew? Other than that, it was good. Rose Byrne is a great actress who I guess you're supposed to sympathize with because motherhood is hard.

In the end, I'm sorry. She's a pretty bad mom. Just saying. But a good movie. I'd recommend for sure.

Zodiac (2007)

 

David Fincher’s Zodiac is a masterclass in slow-burn suspense, transforming a decades-long investigation into one of the most haunting procedurals ever put on screen. Rather than relying on jump scares or sensationalism, the film builds its tension through meticulous detail—newspaper clippings, coded letters, phone calls, and dead-end leads. The atmosphere is heavy and unsettling, and Fincher uses his signature precision to pull you into the obsessive world of journalists and detectives who can’t let the case go.

What makes the film especially effective is the cast’s grounded intensity. Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. all deliver performances that feel lived-in and human, never overplayed. As the investigation drags on, the characters’ lives slowly unravel, and the movie captures that spiral with an almost documentary-like realism. The sense of frustration becomes palpable—you feel every missed opportunity and every unanswered question. It’s gripping without ever needing to manufacture drama.

Overall, Zodiac is just a good, rock-solid film—smart, atmospheric, and surprisingly rewatchable. It doesn’t give you the neat resolution most thrillers do, but that ambiguity is part of what makes it stick with you. If you enjoyed it, it’s because Fincher knew exactly how to keep you absorbed: not with action, but with the unsettling truth that sometimes the most terrifying mysteries are the ones that remain unsolved.

The Chair Company S1

The Chair Company feels like someone took I Think You Should Leave, fed it protein powder, gave it a storyline, and then whispered “don’t hold back.” It is exactly the kind of bizarre, uncomfortable, spiraling-absurdist comedy that Tim Robinson fans (like you) eat up, because it operates on his core principle:

“What if the most unhinged person in the room never stops doubling down?”

Tone & Style

This show is weird—not “quirky,” not “eccentric,” but full-on Robinson-weird, where every scene starts normal and then plummets into a fever dream of screaming, denial, wildly misplaced confidence, and workplace meltdowns. And the best part?
It’s coherent. There’s plot structure… just barely… like scaffolding holding up a collapsing clown car.

Tim Robinson, as Tim Robinson

He isn’t playing a character so much as a variant of himself from a different multiverse branch where HR violations are spiritual.
Every line delivery is tense, cracked, and perfectly unhinged.
Every outburst feels like a natural law of physics in this universe.

If you loved him in:

• I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

• Detroiters

• or his SNL sketches that somehow survived censors

…then The Chair Company feels like his ultimate form.

Why Season 1 Works So Well

• The premise is stupid… but smart-stupid.
  It treats office drama like world-ending crises, which is where Robinson thrives.

• The escalation is immaculate.
  A small misunderstanding becomes a nuclear meltdown every episode.

• The supporting cast buys in.
  Everyone plays it straight, which makes Tim’s unhinging even funnier.

Bottom Line

The Chair Company Season 1 is chaotic, brilliant, uncomfortable, and absolutely in the spirit of everything Tim Robinson does. If you go in expecting polished sitcom storytelling, you’ll be confused. If you go in wanting the exact flavor of comedy that makes you say,
“Oh my God, stop—why is he LIKE THIS?”
…you’ll be in heaven.

John Wick 1, 2, and 3

 

John Wick (2014) – John Wick

The original film is still the cleanest and most emotionally grounded entry. What begins as a simple revenge story—man loses wife, loses dog, loses car—becomes a surprisingly elegant dive into a hidden criminal underworld.
Keanu Reeves delivers one of his most iconic performances, balancing grief with lethal precision. The action is tight, practical, beautifully choreographed, and shot in a way that lets you see the skill rather than hide it behind shaky cam.

Verdict: A modern action classic that redefined the genre.

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John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) – John Wick: Chapter 2

The sequel expands the universe massively and confidently. We get the High Table, more Continental lore, blood markers, and new assassin factions. The movie feels like a graphic novel—stylish neon palettes, heightened rules, and more elaborate set pieces.
The action escalates without losing clarity, and the Rome sequence is one of the best in the franchise. Wick himself becomes less a grieving husband and more a mythic force.

Verdict: Bigger, richer world-building; a near-perfect sequel.

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John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) – John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

Parabellum is pure, operatic action. It starts with Wick on the run, and for nearly two hours the movie barely lets up. Knife fights, horse chases, Halle Berry’s dogs—this one hits a creative peak in choreography.
The plot becomes more about survival and global politics within the High Table, which means the emotional grounding is lighter than in the first film, but the spectacle and inventiveness reach their highest point.

Verdict: The wildest, most relentless chapter—more stylized and world-heavy, but massively entertaining.

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Overall Series Takeaway

The first three films create a beautifully consistent trilogy: grounded revenge → expansive mythology → all-out war. Together they form one of the most stylish and influential action franchises of the 21st century.